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 Anita De Soso, a former National Women's Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has slammed the party's Members of Parliament (MPs) over their complaints following the "NPP will never hand over power to NDC" statement made by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong. Speaking in an XYZ TV interview monitored by GhanaWeb on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, De Soso said over 30 NDC MPs took bribes to approve Bryan's appointment as agriculture minister against the wishes of Ghanaians and the party's orders but are now crying over his comments. She added that the NDC MPs should be ashamed for approving Acheampong because their voting for him, in their numbers, is what has emboldened him to speak the way he did. "We spoke to these MPs, but they did not listen. We suffered and got them to Parliament, but they refused to listen to us when we told them not to approve this man (Bryan Acheampong). "About 31 NDC MPs voted to approve this man. This is the consequence of your taking bribes to approve him. And I'm praying that at least 10 of you will lose the upcoming primaries so you can come and confess. "you think being in Parliament is an opportunity to make money, and you took money to approve him. Today, he is the one paying you back as you deserve. I told you that God would punish you," she said in Twi. The former NDC women's organiser added that if the NDC MPs intended to embarrass former President John Dramani Mahama and the party's national executives by their decision to approve the government appointees, today they are reaping the seeds they sowed. She also urged members of the NDC not to worry about Bryan Acheampong's comments because the NPP can never use violence to win the 2024 elections. What Bryan Acheampong said: Bryan Acheampong, after a walk dubbed "Walk to Build A Better Ghana" with a multitude of New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters at Mpreaso-Kwahu in the Eastern Region on Saturday, April 8, 2023, stated that the ruling NPP will never hand over power to the opposition NDC in 2025. He cautioned that the NPP would show the NDC that they have the "men" should they try to use threats and violence in the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections. "The NDC party will collapse. If the NDC dares to use threats, violence, and foolishness in the 2024 election, we will let them know we have the men. We will show them that we have the men. "We have the men. It will never happen that we, the NPP, will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC. It will never happen! We will make sure NPP remain in government at all cost," Acheampong, who is also the MP for Abetifi, said. NDC MP's voting to approve Bryan Acheampong, others: Parliament on Friday, March 24, approved all six ministerial nominees as well as the nominees of the Supreme Court of President Akufo-Addo after a heated debate, 24 hours earlier and a tense voting process. Final results declared by Speaker Alban Bagbin showed that all nominees got more votes than the minimum of 138 votes required because out of the 275 eligible voters, there were three absent. Some Members of Parliament (MPs) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) did not adhere to the decision of the party to vote against the approval of the nominees. Kobina Tahir Hammond (MP for Adansi Asokwa) was approved as the Minister of Trade and Industry and Bryan Acheampong (MP for Abetifi) as the Minister of Food and Agriculture. Other nominees who were approved include Stephen Asamoah Boateng, as Ministry of Chieftaincy; Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister of State (Ministry of Finance), and Osei Bonsu Amoah, Ministry of Local Government. Stephen Amoah, the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, was also approved as the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry. The Supreme Court nominees who were approved include George Kingsley Koomson, Justice of the Court of Appeal, and Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu, Justice of the High Court. Leading figures in the NDC, including former President John Dramani Mahama, slammed the MPs who broke ranks and have accused them of betraying NDC supporters and Ghanaians for their selfish interest. The MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has challenged the said MPs, who were allegedly bribed, according to Cape Coast South MP, Kweku George Ricketts-Hagan, to come out and tell Ghanaians why they voted to approve Akufo-Addo's nominees. Source: ghanaweb.com 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 Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has slammed former President John Dramani Mahama for accusing him of being the cause of the problems in the Minority Caucus. The former president is reported to have told delegates and officials of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Nsawam that Annoh-Dompreh must be voted out of Parliament because he is the problem of the Minority Caucus. According to the Daily Crusading Guide report, Mahama said that Annoh-Dompreh has a lot of influence on NDC MPs and can make them go against the partys decision to vote for the government on businesses that come before the House. Reacting to this in a Neat FM interview on Friday, April 14, 2023, monitored by GhanaWeb, Annoh-Dompreh described Mahamas comments as unfortunate. He also said that the comment of the Mahama is an insult to the NDC MPs. What the former president said is not true; Im not the problem of the NDC in Parliament. His comment is even an insult to NDC MPs. If you say something like this, you are telling the NDC MPs that they dont know their left from their right. It is a very unfortunate statement coming from him... They should look for the source of their problem; Im not their problem, he said in Twi. The MP posited that the challenges the NDC is having in Parliament are because the national leadership of the party always wants to issue orders to their MPs without consultations. Their problem is there and Im willing to add to it. They are the ones who have created their own problem; it is not me. If you are a General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, and all you do is issue statements without consulting the leadership and MPs, this is what will happen to you, he added. Annoh-Dompreh also said that Mahama should focus on his presidential campaign because even if he (the former president) comes to contest him for the Nsawam-Adoagyiri seat, he will not win. 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 Head of Monitoring Unit at the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu has condemned the Minister for Agriculture and MP for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong over his recent comments labeled as "seditious" while delivering a speech at Mpraeso. Addressing supporters of the New Patriotic Party at Mpraeso, the Minister stated categorically 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". He added; "It will never happen that we, the NPP, will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC." Mr. Bryan Acheampong has since come under a barrage of criticisms with the largest opposition National Democratic Congress petitioning the Police to immediately arrest him for what they describe as "reckless and treasonable" comments. However, the New Patriotic Party has jumped to the defence of the Minister. "This call from Bryan Acheampong is important when the former President John Dramani Mahama is on record to have recklessly stated on various platforms that the NDC was born out of revolution therefore no one can unleash violence better than the NDC political party for that matter 2024 elections is a do or die affair", the NPP National Organizer, Henry Nana Boakye argued. Tackling the issue during "Kokrokoo" panel discussion show on Peace FM, Charles Owusu blasted the NPP for supporting the statements made by Bryan Acheampong. To him, Bryan Acheampong's comments "need not be encouraged. This is not something that needs explanation". He stated emphatically that no government, neither the NPP nor NDC or whatever political party, can decide not to hand over power to the successive government if the party loses the elections. "Nobody can say he won't hand over power when he loses power. We don't have to even entertain this; no person can say that. It won't happen in this country. What can you do if you lose power?...You leave government when you lose power because, you see, opposition party doesn't lose power. They win power. It's government in power that loses power", he snapped. He cautioned the NPP and Bryan Acheampong to desist from making such comments, asking "what can you do if you lose power?". "You will hand over. This (Bryan Acheampong's) statement isn't something we should encourage", he stressed. 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 BERLIN, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The conservative wing of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) is calling for a more pragmatic China policy, Spiegel magazine reported on Friday. There should be "no one-dimensional German foreign and economic policy toward China," according to a position paper written by the Seeheimer Kreis (Seeheim Circle), an official internal party grouping, seen by Spiegel. With 93 members, the group accounts for almost half of the SPD's parliamentary group in the Bundestag, the federal Parliament. "An abrupt end to trade relations with China would be an economic disaster," the Seeheimer Kreis warned. With 250 billion euros (275 billion U.S. dollars) per year, the volume of trade between Germany and China is more than four times as large as that with Russia before the Ukraine conflict, the grouping recalled. "In this respect, a coherent China strategy must logically not be an 'anti-China' strategy," it said. According to Spiegel, the appeal was primarily directed at the Green Party ministers in the German governing coalition of the SPD, the Greens and the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP). The Seeheimer Kreis praised Chancellor Scholz for cultivating dialogue with China and making closer cooperation a guiding principle of foreign policy. Seclusion must not be "a maxim of the new era," Spiegel quoted the document as saying. Meanwhile, SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Muetzenich argued for more independence from the United States. Regarding the Taiwan question, Europe should "try to formulate an independent role if possible and not appear as an appendage of the United States in the region," the politician, who is part of the party's left wing, told public broadcaster ARD earlier this week. Muetzenich made the statement to back French President Emmanuel Macron, who promoted Europe's independence from the U.S. last week after his trip to China. Aspiring Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Dr. Kwabena Duffuor has concluded his four-day campaign tour of the Northern Region. He interacted with the regional, constituency and branch executives of the party in all 18 constituencies in the region. Whiles in the region the Former Governor and Finance Minister paid a courtesy call on Yaa Naa Abubakari Mahama II, the Overlord of Dabgon. Dr. Duffuor, in his interaction with the delegates, promised the party faithful that his leadership will ensure the party works closely with the government in order to further strengthen the grassroots of the party in a more sustainable way. I will ensure appointments are made in consultation with you, the constituency and branch executives when elected leader of the party and president of the Republic come 2025 he said. Dr Duffuor has commenced his 4 days tour of the North East and savannah regions of Ghana 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 Chairman of the Muslim Caucus of Parliament, Hon. Farouk Aliu Mahama has called for expedited action on the proposed Islamic Marriage Bill. Currently, Islamic Marriage or Marriage under the Mohammedan laws has no legal framework to make it legally recognized and the Bill seeks to resolve it. Speaking at the 12th annual Ramadan Night of Power by the Muslim Caucus of Parliament, Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama, who is the MP for Yendi, called on the Attorney General to speed up the processes for the passage of the Bill. Alhaji Farouk bemoaned challenges associated with the current status and made a strong call for the quick passage of the Bill which he said will resolve many issues. Parliament's Night of Power was instituted 12 years ago by the Muslim Caucus of Parliament to bring Muslims together during the last 10 days of Ramadan to deliberate on critical issues towards the development of the country as well as pray for the country. This years edition was held at Parliament House on Friday evening under the theme; "The role of Islamic Banking In Building A Sustainable Ghanaian Economy - The Need For Legislative Reviews Of Banking Laws In Ghana". Various speakers addressed the theme and called for legislation to back Islamic banking in Ghana which is mainly based on the principle of zero interest to creditors. 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 In the 21st century, English speakers usually use the word bane the way Anthony did in "Bridgerton" as part of a phrase beginning "the bane of...," and it's often used ironically or to exaggerate how awful something is. The Urban Dictionary points out that it's "something that is so disagreeable with your spirit that it feels like its existence might negate yours." Advertisement The laser pointer is almost certainly the bane of your cat's existence. Some people love avocado, while the hidden presence of guacamole in a burrito is the bane of someone else's lunch. A full email inbox is almost certainly the bane of one's workday. Or it could be used to describe a legitimate problem, like the fact that icy sidewalks are the bane of dogwalkers in the winter. In "Bridgerton," Anthony was telling Kate that she was a royal pain (so to speak), but he couldn't keep himself from obsessing about her. It's a real mixed bag, but it's the perfect thing for Lord Bridgerton to say to Miss Sharma as their relationship moves from enemies to lovers. However, calling someone the bane of your existence is not often the most romantic move. Now That's Funny You could say the wardrobe on "Bridgerton" is the bane of the female actors' existence. In fact, Simone Ashley who plays Kate told Glamour UK that wearing a corset for the show is painful. "I realized when you wear the corset, you just don't eat. It changes your body. I had a smaller waist very momentarily. Then the minute you stop wearing it, you're just back to how your body is." The circumstances of a symbol's origin are only a small part of its story. It's the way symbols come to resonate in society, and how people impose meanings on them, which transforms arbitrary signs into powerful instruments of propaganda. Political symbols can take pretty much any form you can imagine. In 2013, penguins became the symbol of anti-government protesters in Istanbul. When violent clashes between police and protesters first broke out, all the national TV channels chose not to cover them. CNN Turk instead ran a documentary about penguins which protesters then adopted as an emblem for their struggle, and to mock the broadcaster. Advertisement The use of letters of the alphabet as political symbols is a little unusual for the simple reason that individual letters aren't meant to have any intrinsic meaning of their own. They're supposed merely to represent sounds which, when combined, produce words which only then have a meaning. When the NATO phonetic alphabet (Alfa, Bravo, Charlie and so on) was being developed, one of the criteria for words used to represent letters was that they should "be free from any association with objectionable meanings." They should be politically and culturally neutral, in the same way the letters themselves are. The neutrality of alphabetic letters was also behind the World Health Organization's decision to use Greek letters to designate new COVID variants. Before this, the variants had been named according to their place of origin, but this risked stigmatizing locations or countries by having them forever associated with the virus. Even then, certain letters had to be omitted in case they accidentally led to unwanted associations. The Greek letter Xi, for example, was skipped as it resembles the surname of the president of China, Xi Jinping. What this shows is that language is always potentially political, precisely because it's at the heart of how humans interact and human interaction itself is always, at some level, political. Words and symbols have a denotative meaning their literal "dictionary definition" but they also carry traces of the history of their use, which colors the connotations they have for people. " " A souvenir shop in Moscow sells T-shirts with the letter 'Z,' while Russia continues its assault on Ukraine. AFP/Getty Images It's not surprising that the two recent instances of alphabetic letters as political symbols have adopted the two least used of all the letters. Z has traditionally been seen as superfluous in English so much so that Shakespeare made it the basis of an insult in King Lear: "Thou whoreson zed! Thou unnecessary letter!" And Q has associations with words such as query and question. So neither was a completely blank canvas before their use was co-opted. Ultimately, however, it's the way that signs are actually used that transforms them into symbols. It's a matter of who they're used by, for what purpose. Once this usage begins to spread through society and is adopted by supporters, highlighted and debated by the media and, in some cases, banned its meaning quickly gets embedded in the culture. Eventually, it becomes part of the everyday vocabulary we use to make sense of the world. Philip Seargeant is a senior lecturer in applied linguistics at The Open University in Milton Keynes, England. The Open University provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation UK. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. You can find the original article here. " " Authorities gathered on the roof of the Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles after the discovery of Elisa Lam's body in the hotel's water tank. Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images When 21-year-old college student Elisa Lam was found dead in the water tank of the Cecil Hotel (now closed) in Los Angeles in 2013, the mysterious circumstances surrounding her case captured national attention. Her body was found after guests of the hotel complained about low water pressure and a strange taste, which led employees to investigate their water tanks. That's where they found Lam's body, floating naked, her clothes, watch and room key in the water beside her. Her cell phone was never found. The coroner listed her death as a drowning. Lam traveled to Los Angeles from Vancouver alone, and went missing from her Cecil Hotel room soon after she arrived. After a week searching for leads, the Los Angeles Police Department released a video of her last known whereabouts: security camera footage from inside the hotel's elevator. It was this video that sparked interest from amateur internet sleuths because of her seemingly strange behavior: Lam pushes the buttons for several floors at once, then appears to hesitantly poke her head into the hallway and look quickly back and forth before backing into the elevator and ducking into the corner. Advertisement The elevator door does not close. She pokes her head out again, then leaves the elevator altogether. She stands to the side and gesticulates strangely with her hands as if talking to someone, though no one else can be seen on the video. Finally, Lam leaves the scene entirely, and the elevator doors close. Some viewers think her behavior could be explained away as possible psychedelic drug use, while others say she could have been trying to hide from a pursuer. Her death has even been linked to the Korean elevator game, a ritual of pressing buttons on an elevator in a certain order to reach another dimension. The most plausible explanation is that Lam had bipolar disorder, and according to her autopsy, had only taken her prescribed stimulant medications but neither of her stabilizers. This may have led to a manic episode, which can cause some bipolar sufferers to experience hallucinations or psychosis. If Lam had a manic episode, it's possible she thought someone was following her, perhaps causing her to hide in the water tank for safety. This doesn't satisfy everyone, however. The hotel's water tanks are not easy to access; they are located on the roof of the Cecil, and only hotel staff keys unlock the doors to the roof. Lam could have used the fire escape to get onto the roof, but those trigger alarms and hotel staff say they never heard the alarms go off. Also, the openings to the water tanks are 10 feet (3 meters) up, and require a ladder to reach, but there were none around the night Lam ended up inside. The lid to the tank also was not hinged, leading some to wonder how the lid was closed if she got in of her own accord. Then there's the Cecil itself, a hotel with a storied and gory reputation. Notorious serial killer Richard Ramirez aka the Nightstalker lived there in 1984 while he killed 13 people. There were also several suicides, including one where the victim fell on top of a pedestrian, killing them both. This grisly past only helped fuel the paranormal theories, buttressed by Lam's unsettling behavior in the video. Even the footage itself is a focus of some conspiracy theorists, who allege that the time stamp in the bottom of the frame skips forward, as if a minute of footage were removed. It is also noted that at times while Lam appears to speak to someone, her mouth is pixelated, obscuring her words. Finally, in an even more bizarre coincidence, it was discovered that a tuberculosis drug was being studied nearby the Cecil. The name of the drug? LAM-ELISA. While nothing has been found connecting Lam or her death with the tuberculosis study, this was just one more in a series of strange circumstances that ensures that Elisa Lam's death will be a source of fascination and speculation for a long time to come. Advertisement Originally Published: Jun 27, 2017 Starting in the late 1930s, Gibsonton became the place they called home when not traveling with the carnival and by 1967, about 100 freaky folk and about 1,000 "carnies" lived there. "There were many characters," says David "Doc" Rivera, a retired carnival owner who runs the International Independent Showman's Museum, which opened in Gibtown in 2012. "You had to be a character to be in this business." Advertisement "There were two ways to get in the [carnival] business," he says. "You had to be born into it or to have a personal misfortune." Percilla the Monkey Girl was born with hypertrichosis, a condition in which dark hair covers the body and face, gums are enlarged and, as in Percilla's case, two sets of teeth appear, according to the Showman's museum. At the Johnny J. Jones Exposition in the late 1930s she met Emmitt the Alligator-Skinned Man, whose condition, called ichthyosis, created a covering of thick, scaly skin all over the body. Both had been adopted by sideshow operators and exhibited from an early age, a not uncommon practice in the early 1900s for those with physical deformities. The two fell in love and married and were mainstays in Gibtown for the rest of their lives. Al and Jeanie Tomaini were the first carnies to settle in the area, arriving in the late 1930s. He was known as Al the Giant and is said to have stood more than 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall because of the condition known as gigantism. She was born without legs and was only 2 feet 6 inches (0.79 meters) tall. The two married and toured as The World's Strangest Married Couple. They bought acreage on the river and opened a restaurant and fish camp they called Giant's Fish Camp, legendary to this day in Gibtown. "Every summer my parents would leave and go on the road, make some money, and come back," wrote their daughter Judy Tomaini Rock. Others in the carnival business joined them and Gibtown became the place where circus people felt at home. Gibtown was only 45 miles (72 kilometers) from Sarasota, the winter home of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Hillsborough County was friendly to the carnies, giving them permission to keep wild animals, trailers and carnival rides in their yards. "We can have carnival equipment," says Rivera, because of a special residential show business zoning permit created by the county. 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 Xiongnu built a multiethnic empire on the Mongolian steppe that was connected by trade to Rome, Egypt, and Imperial China. Artist reconstruction of life among the Xiongnu imperial elite by Galmandakh Amarsanaa. Credit: Dairycultures Project Long obscured in the shadows of history, the world's first nomadic empirethe Xiongnuis at last coming into view thanks to painstaking archaeological excavations and new ancient DNA evidence. Arising on the Mongolian steppe 1,500 years before the Mongols, the Xiongnu empire grew to be one of Iron Age Asia's most powerful political forcesultimately stretching its reach and influence from Egypt to Rome to Imperial China. Economically grounded in animal husbandry and dairying, the Xiongnu were famously nomadic, building their empire on the backs of horses. Their proficiency at mounted warfare made them swift and formidable foes, and their legendary conflicts with Imperial China ultimately led to the construction of the Great Wall. However, unlike their neighbors, the Xiongnu never developed a writing system, and consequently historical records about the Xiongnu have been almost entirely written and passed down by their rivals and enemies. Such accounts, largely recorded by Han Dynasty chroniclers, provide little useful information on the origins of the Xiongnu, their political rise, or their social organization. Although recent archaeogenetics studies have now traced the origins of the Xiongnu as a political entity to a sudden migration and mixing of disparate nomadic groups in northern Mongolia ca. 200 BCE, such findings have raised more questions than answers. To better understand the inner workings of the seemingly enigmatic Xiongnu empire, an international team of researchers at the Max Planck Institutes for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI-EVA) and Geoanthropology (MPI-GEO), Seoul National University, the University of Michigan, and Harvard University conducted an in-depth genetic investigation of two imperial elite Xiongnu cemeteries along the western frontier of the empire: an aristocratic elite cemetery at Takhiltyn Khotgor and a local elite cemetery at Shombuuzyn Belchir. The research is published in the journal Science Advances. Excavation of the Xiongnu Elite Tomb 64 containing a high status aristocratic woman at the site of Takhiltiin Khotgor, Mongolian Altai. Credit: J. Bayarsaikhan "We knew that the Xiongnu had a high degree of genetic diversity, but due to a lack of community-scale genomic data it remained unclear whether this diversity emerged from a heterogeneous patchwork of locally homogenous communities or whether local communities were themselves genetically diverse," explains Juhyeon Lee, first author of the study and Ph.D. student at Seoul National University. "We wanted to know how such genetic diversity was structured at different social and political scales, as well as in relation to power, wealth, and gender." The rise of a multiethnic empire Researchers found that individuals within the two cemeteries exhibited extremely high genetic diversity, to a degree comparable with that found across the Xiongnu Empire as a whole. In fact, high genetic diversity and heterogeneity was present at all levelsacross the empire, within individual communities, and even within individual familiesconfirming the characterization of the Xiongnu Empire as a multiethnic empire. However, much of this diversity was stratified by status. The lowest status individuals (interred as satellite burials of the elites, likely reflecting a servant status) exhibited the highest genetic diversity and heterogeneity, suggesting that these individuals originated from far-flung parts of the Xiongnu Empire or beyond. In contrast, local and aristocratic elites buried in wood-plank coffins within square tombs and stone ring graves exhibited lower overall genetic diversity and harbored higher proportions of eastern Eurasian ancestries, suggesting that elite status and power was concentrated among specific genetic subsets of the broader Xiongnu population. Nevertheless, even elite families appear to have used marriage to cement ties to newly incorporated groups, especially at Shombuuzyn Belchir. Excavation of the Xiongnu Elite Tomb 64 containing a high status aristocratic woman at the site of Takhiltiin Khotgor, Mongolian Altai. Credit: Michel Neyroud "We now have a better idea of how the Xiongnu expanded their empire by incorporating disparate groups and leveraging marriage and kinship into empire building," says senior author Dr. Choongwon Jeong, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Seoul National University. Powerful women in Xiongnu society A second major finding was that high status Xiongnu burials and elite grave goods were disproportionately associated with women, corroborating textual and archaeological evidence that Xiongnu women played especially prominent political roles in the expansion and integration of new territories along the empire's frontier. At the aristocratic elite cemetery of Takhiltyn Khotgor, researchers found that the elite monumental tombs had been built for women, with each prominent woman flanked by a host of commoner males buried in simple graves. The women were interred in elaborate coffins with the golden sun and moon emblems of Xiongnu imperial power and one tomb even contained a team of six horses and a partial chariot. At the nearby local elite cemetery of Shombuuzyn Belchir, women likewise occupied the wealthiest and most elaborate graves, with grave goods consisting of wooden coffins, golden emblems and gilded objects, glass and faience beads, Chinese mirrors, a bronze cauldron, silk clothing, wooden carts, and more than a dozen livestock, as well as three objects conventionally associated with male horse-mounted warriors: a Chinese lacquer cup, a gilded iron belt clasp, and horse tack. Such objects and their symbolism convey the great political power of the women. Archaeological excavation at the Shombuuziin Belchir Xiongnu cemetery, Mongolian Altai. Credit: J. Bayarsaikhan "Women held great power as agents of the Xiongnu imperial state along the frontier, often holding exclusive noble ranks, maintaining Xiongnu traditions, and engaging in both steppe power politics and the so-called Silk Road networks of exchange," says Dr. Bryan Miller, project archaeologist and Assistant Professor of Central Asian Art & Archaeology at the University of Michigan. Children in Xiongnu society Genetic analysis also provided rare insights into the social roles of children in Xiongnu society. "Children received differential mortuary treatment depending upon age and sex, giving clues to the ages at which gender and status were ascribed in Xiongnu society," says senior author Dr. Christina Warinner, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Harvard University and Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Researchers found, for example, that although adolescent Xiongnu boys as young as 1112 years old were buried with a bow and arrows, in a manner resembling that of adult males, younger boys were not. This suggests that the gendered social roles of hunter and warrior were not ascribed to boys until late childhood or early adolescence. An Egyptian-style faience bead worn as part of a necklace by a young woman buried with an infant in Grave 19 of the Shombuuziin Belchir cemetery. Such beads, depicting the phallus of the Egyptian god Bes, are associated with the protection of children. Credit: Bryan K. Miller Golden icons of the sun and moon, symbols of the Xiongnu, decorating the coffin found in Elite Tomb 64 at the Takhiltiin Khotgor site, Mongolian Altai. Credit: J. Bayarsaikhan Childs bow and arrow set from Grave 26 at the Shombuuziin Belchir cemetery. Credit: Bryan K. Miller The legacy of the Xiongnu today Although the Xiongnu empire ultimately disintegrated in the late 1st century CE, the findings of the study point to the enduring social and cultural legacy of the Xiongnu. "Our results confirm the long-standing nomadic tradition of elite princesses playing critical roles in the political and economic life of the empires, especially in periphery regionsa tradition that began with the Xiongnu and continued more than a thousand years later under the Mongol Empire," says Dr. Jamsranjav Bayarsaikhan, project archaeologist and Mongolian Archaeology Project: Surveying the Steppes (MAPSS) project coordinator at the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology. "While history has at times dismissed nomadic empires as fragile and short, their strong traditions have never been broken." More information: Juhyeon Lee et al, Genetic population structure of the Xiongnu Empire at imperial and local scales, Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf3904. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adf3904 Journal information: Science Advances 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: Senescent cells promote dedifferentiation of newt myotubes through a paracrine mechanism. (a) Schematic representation of the experimental set-up. (b) Representative images of myotubes following immunostaining against MyHC (yellow), EdU (magenta) and Hoechst (cyan) labeling. White arrows indicate EdU+ nuclei within myotubes. (c) Quantification of the proportion of myotube nuclei undergoing cell cycle re-entry for the indicated conditions, 72 h post-treatment. PRO and SEN indicate co-culture with the respective cell populations. (d) Quantification of the proportion of myotube nuclei undergoing cell cycle re-entry for the indicated conditions, 72 h post-treatment. Myotubes were co-cultured or treated with conditioned media derived from the indicated populations. Two-tailed unpaired student's t tests were used to compare data sets (*p Aging Cell (2023). DOI: 10.1111/acel.13826 Senescent cells, often referred to as "zombie" cells, have long been associated with aging and disease. However, a new study from the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) at TU Dresden adds to a growing body of evidence that not all senescent cells are harmful. The study led by Dr. Maximina Yun shows that these cells can play a beneficial role in regeneration. Her team found that senescent cells boost muscle formation in regenerating salamander limbs. Their findings reveal a new role for senescent cells and expand the understanding of the early events in the regeneration process. The research was published in the journal Aging Cell. Senescent cells are cells that have permanently stopped dividing in response to cellular stress but have not died. As organisms age, the number of senescent cells in the body increases. This accumulation is currently considered one of the hallmarks of aging and has been linked to a variety of diseases, including cancer. However, the true nature of these cells may be more complex and context-dependent. A growing body of evidence suggests that senescent cells may also have beneficial effects, such as wound healing or preventing tissue scarring. "A few years ago, our group found that senescent cells were present at key stages of salamander limb regeneration. Interestingly, other groups subsequently found these cells in other regeneration contexts, including in mammals. We therefore wanted to find out whether these cells contribute in any way to regeneration itself," explains Dr. Maximina Yun, research group leader at the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) and the Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life (PoL) at TU Dresden and the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG). Senescent cells promote regeneration The researchers in the Yun's group study salamanders. These animals have unique regeneration abilities and are able to re-grow many organs of their bodies, including lost limbs. "Salamander limb regeneration is a fascinating process. In a matter of weeks, they re-grow a fully functional limb," explains Dr. Yun. To check if the presence of senescent cells influences the limb regeneration process, researchers in the Yun group found a way to modulate the number of senescent cells in the wound. The team observed that the presence of senescent cells enhanced the regeneration process. "When more senescent cells were present in the wound, the animals developed a larger regeneration bud, oras we call itblastema. This is a collection of cells that are going to form all the needed tissues in the new limb. The larger the blastema, the more cells are there to regrow the limb and the quicker the regeneration process. The presence of senescent cells seemed to 'fuel' the regeneration process," Dr. Yun says. 'Zombie' signaling promotes new muscle cells Looking more closely at the blastema with and without the influence of the senescent cells, the Yun team uncovered a new mechanism that enhances the regeneration process and found that the presence of senescent cells increased the number of regenerating muscle cells. They showed that senescent cells secrete factors that stimulate nearby muscle tissue to take a developmental step back and produce new muscle. "Our results show that senescent cells use cell-cell communication to influence the regeneration process. They secrete molecules that signal to mature muscle fibers to dedifferentiate into muscle progenitor cells. These cells can multiply themselves as well as differentiate into new muscle cells, thereby enhancing the regeneration process. This signaling appears to be an important part of promoting regeneration," says Dr. Yun. For now, the group focused on muscle, one of the most important tissues in the regenerating limb. However, the team is already investigating whether senescent cell signaling also contributes to the regeneration of other tissues. Lessons from the salamanders Yun's group is working with the salamanders to study regeneration and aging processes. "Salamanders are one of the few animal species that seem to defy the natural aging process. They do not develop typical signs of aging and do not accumulate age-related diseases such as cancer. They also have extraordinary healing abilities," says Dr. Yun. The animals can regenerate almost any organ in their body. Studying salamanders is helping Dr. Yun and her colleagues at the CRTD understand the principles of the regeneration process and, in the long run, may help solve the puzzle of why humans have very limited regenerative abilities. More information: Hannah E. Walters et al, Senescent cells enhance newt limb regeneration by promoting muscle dedifferentiation, Aging Cell (2023). DOI: 10.1111/acel.13826 Journal information: Aging 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: CC0 Public Domain Middle-class UK graduates produce more CO 2 emissions in their daily activities than non-graduates and their ecological commitment is primarily "symbolic", new research says. Dr. Robert Dorschel, of Tilburg University in The Netherlands, analyzed survey data on 12,763 people in 5,473 households in the UK who were asked to complete a diary of their activities. Dr. Dorschel, who is also a research associate of the University of Cambridge, then looked at the middle class, defined as those earning between 0.7 and 2.5 times the average, dividing them into those with degrees and those without. He found that those with a degree produced 9.76 tons a year and those without 9.49, a gap that can be accounted for by extra travel. By comparison the lower class, earning less than 0.7 times the average income, produced only 6.63 tons a year and were the most eco-friendly group. Dr. Dorschel told the British Sociological Association's annual conference in Manchester that "even though their emissions are just as high or even higher, middle-class graduates reap the growing symbolic profit that comes with a presentation of the self as eco-friendly." "But the distinction between them and middle-class non-graduates, as well as the lower class, must ultimately be considered as symbolic only." Middle-class graduates produced less CO 2 for their housing than middle-class non-graduates, but more for their travel and other mobility and consumption, he found. The two groups were often at odds, he said, with the non-graduate middle class seeing graduates as 'unrooted selves' who had lost touch with the issues of normal people. Graduates thought the non-graduates were not progressive and were supporters of conservative and right wing parties. Dr. Dorschel said that middle-class graduates moved around frequently for their careers, were more likely to work in cities than in the countryside, and tended to work in the knowledge economy and support center and left wing parties. Non-graduate middle-class people tended to be rooted in the region they were born, living in smaller towns and rural habitats and worked in traditional industry jobs, mid-level office and service occupations or in independent craftsmanship. The survey required participants to record their activities over 14 days, from which an estimate of their yearly emissions was made. Dr. Dorschel divided the participants into an upper class, whose income was 250% (2.5 times) higher than the average, a lower class whose income was less than 70% of the average, and a remaining middle class. The full figures were: Upper class (the top 9.4%, earning more than 2.5 times the average amount): annual CO 2 production14.71 tons, of which 5.39 from consumption (food, holidays, recreation); 5.62 from mobility (cars, flights, public transport); and 3.69 from housing. In this group 77% were graduates. Graduate middle class (30.4% of sample): annual CO 2 production9.76 tons, of which 3.46 from consumption; 3.53 from mobility; and 2.77 from housing. Non-graduate middle class (33.6% of sample): annual CO 2 production9.49 tons, of which 3.40 from consumption; 3.03 from mobility; and 3.06 from housing. Lower class (the lowest 26.5% of sample, earning less than 0.7 times the average amount) annual CO 2 production6.63 tons, of which 2.22 from consumption; 1.50 from mobility; and 2.91 from housing. In this group 27% were graduates. Dr. Dorschel said his research had also demonstrated the gap in emissions between the most and least well-off. "The upper class is pulling away not just economically but also in terms of their CO 2 emissions. While the lower class is three tons of CO 2 below the middle class, the upper class is six tons higher." "The upper class has the combined CO 2 emissions of the lower and middle class. The class with the most eco-friendly conduct of life is by far the lower class." "Appeals to the middle and lower class to conduct a more sustainable way of life appear only justifiable if the upper class is also forced to reduce their CO 2 emissions." When calculating income, the researchers used the OECD equivalized system: the total gross income of all the members of the household is divided by a figure based on the number of people in the household, with a value of 1.0 given to the first adult, 0.5 to the second and each subsequent person aged 14 and over, and 0.3 to each child aged under 14. In this system the upper class income figure was 72,800; the middle-class graduates 28,500, and middle-class non-graduates, 23,400; the lower class 9,700. The UK Living Cost and Food survey collected the data in 2018-2019. 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: NOAA Headquarters Globally, March 2023 was the second-warmest March in the 174-year NOAA record. The year-to-date (JanuaryMarch) global surface temperature was the fourth warmest on record. According to NCEI's Global Annual Temperature Outlook, it is virtually certain (>99.0%) that the year 2023 will rank among the 10-warmest years on record and a 96% chance it will rank among the top five. This monthly summary, developed by scientists at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides to government, business, academia and the public to support informed decision-making. Coinciding with the release of the January 2023 Global Climate Report, the NOAA Global Surface Temperature (NOAAGlobalTemp) dataset version 5.1.0 replaced version 5.0.0. This new version includes complete global coverage and an extension of the data record back in time an additional 30 years to January 1850. While anomalies and ranks might differ slightly from what was reported previously, the main conclusions regarding global climate change are very similar to the previous version. Please NOAA's Commonly Asked Questions Document and web story for additional information. Monthly global temperature The March global surface temperature was 2.23F (1.24C) above the 20th-century average of 54.9F (12.7C). Last month ranks as the second-warmest March in the 174-year record after 2016. March 2023 marked the 47th-consecutive March and the 529th-consecutive month with temperatures at least nominally above the 20th-century average. On March 9, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center announced the end of the three-year La Nina, as well as a return to neutral El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO-neutral) conditions likely through Northern Hemisphere spring and early summer 2023. Credit: NOAA Headquarters Asia had its second-warmest March on record at 7.34F (4.08C) above average. South America and Africa each had their fourth-warmest March, while Europe had its 10th-warmest March on record. Oceania recorded its 17th-warmest March, and while North America had a warmer-than-average March, it did not rank among the top-20 warmest on record. Temperatures were above average throughout most of Asia, Africa, South America and Antarctica. Parts of eastern North America, Europe, the Arctic and Oceania also experienced warmer-than-average temperatures this month. Land temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere ranked warmest on record for the month. Sea surface temperatures were above average across much of the northern, western and southwestern Pacific, the central and southern Atlantic and the western and southern Indian Ocean. Record warm temperatures covered just over 4% of the world's surface this month. Credit: NOAA Headquarters Temperatures were near to cooler than average across much of western and central North America, Iceland and across parts of southeastern Greenland and northern Europe including Scandinavia. Sea surface temperatures were near to below average over parts of the eastern North Atlantic and the southeastern and central tropical Pacific. Less than 1% of the world's surface had a record-cold March. Sea ice and snow cover Globally, March 2023 saw the second-smallest March sea ice extent on record. Arctic sea ice extent in March averaged 5.58 million square miles, which was about 230,000 square miles below the 19912020 average. This marks the sixth-smallest March extent in the 45-year record. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, Arctic sea ice likely reached its maximum extent for the year on March 6 at 5.64 million square miles, which ranks as the fifth-lowest Arctic maximum in the 45-year satellite record. Meanwhile, the March 2023 Antarctic sea ice extent ranked second lowest on record at 1.08 million square miles, or about 490,000 square miles below the 19912020 average. Average extent of Arctic sea ice (left) and Antarctic sea ice (right) for March 2023. Courtesy of NOAA NCEI and the National Snow and Ice Data Center. Credit: NOAA Headquarters According to data from NOAA and analysis by the Rutgers Global Snow Lab, the Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent during March was 200,000 square miles below the 19912020 average. This ranks as the 15th-smallest Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent on record. Extent was above average in North America and Greenland, which tied 1971 as the fourth-largest extent on record. Meanwhile, Eurasia recorded its sixth-smallest March snow cover extent on record. Global precipitation Above-average March precipitation was observed across parts of the western U.S., northern and eastern Europe and northern Asia. Meanwhile, drier-than-average conditions were present across much of southern Alaska, the eastern U.S., southern Europe, northern Africa and eastern China. Global tropical cyclones Four named storms occurred across the globe in March. All four reached tropical cyclone strength (winds 74 mph), and three of those named storms reached major tropical cyclone strength (winds 111 mph). Although the number of storms was less than average, the numbers that reached tropical and major tropical cyclone strength were both higher than the March average. The exceptionally long-lived Tropical Cyclone Freddy in the South Indian Ocean set a record for the largest amount of accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), an integrated metric of the strength, frequency and duration of tropical storms, for any storm on record. More information: March 2023 Global Climate Report: www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monit report/global/202303 NEW YORK, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A trove of leaked Pentagon documents, from late February to early March but found on social media sites in recent days, has again illustrated the broad reach of U.S. spy agencies, including into the capitals of friendly countries such as Egypt, South Korea, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates, reported The New York Times on Thursday. "Though the documents mainly focus on the war in Ukraine, they include CIA intelligence briefs describing conversations and plans at senior levels of government in those countries, in several cases attributed to 'signals intelligence,' or electronic eavesdropping," said the report. "They have served to remind the world of America's talent for spying -- and the diplomatic blowups and reputational damage stemming from the leaks," it added. "The last time a trove of leaked documents exposed U.S. spying operations around the world, the reaction from allied governments was swift and severe," noted the report. In 2013, the documents that Edward Snowden leaked revealed that a new age of spying had begun after September 2001, said the report. 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. In the wake of the leak, thousands of people protested in the streets in Berlin, the CIA station chief was expelled, and the German chancellor told the American president that "spying on friends is not acceptable." In Paris, the U.S. ambassador was summoned for a dressing-down. Brazil's president angrily canceled a state visit to Washington, added the report. Polling by the Pew Research Center later found that those disclosures had harmed the United States' public image. A Pew survey of 44 countries found widespread opposition to U.S. covert surveillance, with more than 73 percent of respondents saying they opposed spying on their leaders. 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 face of the climate crisis, which brings with it repeated extremes of weather around the world, new work in the International Journal of Economics and Business Research is timely. The research, by Mulat Goshu Gebeyehu of the Department of Economics at Debre Markos University in Debre Markos Town, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, suggests that policymakers and agricultural experts should strive to increase the effectiveness of adaptation practices and introduce new options, infrastructure, and education to help protect rural households from the devastating effects of weather variability to preclude those households falling into chronic poverty. It is now well recognized that climate shocks, such as droughts, can have a serious, detrimental, and sometimes lasting impact on those in poverty or close to poverty in the developing world. Ethiopia is a particularly vulnerable country in this respect, especially given that the nation's economy is underpinned almost entirely by agriculture, which, of course, goes through cycles of boom and bust following the extremes in weather. Those households with workers outside agriculture are to some extent protected from the whims of the weather, but there remains a need even for them to educate, support, and protect them from poverty. Gebeyehu has examined the relationship between environmental stress, adaptation options, and poverty dynamics in Ethiopia. He analyzed three years worth of data collected from 825 rural households in the Nile Basin of Ethiopia by the Ethiopian Development Research Institute's Environmental and Climate Research Center. Using a linear fixed effects model, he found that variability in the weather significantly affected welfare across those households. Specifically, his analysis showed that an increase in average rainfall initially has a positive influence on per capita spending for a household. However, an extreme rise in average rainfall measured by a squared average rainfall negatively affects expenditure. He also revealed that anomalies in precipitation and temperature have an adverse effect on total per capita spending, and food expenditure. Interestingly, an increase in average rainfall reduces the likelihood of households falling into transient poverty. In contrast, an increase in temperature increases the probability of a household falling into transient poverty and thence chronic poverty. More information: Mulat Goshu Gebeyehu, Who Escapes from Poverty Understanding the Link Between Environmental Stress, Adaptation Choices and Poverty Dynamics in Ethiopia, International Journal of Economics and Business Research (2023). DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2022.10038358 Provided by Inderscience 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: Thursday's launch was called off just minutes before countdown due to bad weather in Kourou. The European Space Agency's JUICE mission to explore Jupiter's icy, ocean-bearing moons will again try to blast off on Friday, a day after the first launch attempt was called off due to the threat of lightning. The spacecraft is scheduled to launch on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 1214 GMT, 30 seconds earlier than Thursday's aborted effort. If successful, the uncrewed, six-tonne spacecraft will embark on an eight-year journey through the Solar System aiming to discover whether Jupiter's moons are capable of hosting extraterrestrial life in the vast oceans hidden under their ice-covered shells. Thursday's launch was called off just minutes before the countdown was set to begin, disappointing those gathered in the Jupiter control room in Kourou, including Belgium's King Philippe. Stephane Israel, the CEO of French firm Arianespace which provided the Ariane 5 rocket, told AFP that "a large mass of clouds approached and we absolutely could not proceed with the launch due to the risk of lightning". On Friday, the threat of lightning will be monitored "until the last moment," he added. The European Space Agency tweeted that Friday's launch has received the green light for fuelling, and the "weather looks good (so far)". The JUICE probe which will explore Jupiter's ice, ocean-bearing moons. "Shall we try again?" it added. The JUpiter ICy Moons Explorer (JUICE) plans to take a long and winding path to the gas giant, which is some 628 million kilometers (390 million miles) from Earth. It will use several gravitational boosts along the way, first by doing a fly-by of Earth and the Moon, then by slingshotting around Venus in 2025 before swinging past Earth again in 2029. When the probe finally arrives at Jupiter in July 2031, it will need to carefully hit the brakes to enter the gas giant's orbit. From there, it will focus on Jupiter and its three icy moons Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Liquid water ocean The moons were first discovered by astronomer Galileo Galilei more than 400 years ago, but were long ignored as potential candidates for hosting life. However, the discovery of huge oceans of liquid waterthe main ingredient for life as we know itkilometers beneath their icy shells has made Ganymede and Europa prime candidates to potentially host life in our celestial backyard. The uncrewed, six-tonne spacecraft JUICE, pictured earlier this year before being shipped to Kourou for launch. JUICE will 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 harbor life. The mission aims to find out whether the vast oceans buried under the icy shells of the moons could support life. The delayed launch of the 1.6 billion-euro ($1.7 billion) 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 has been struggling to launch its missions into space. JUICE is expected be the second-last launch for Ariane 5 before it is replaced by the Ariane 6. 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: Alnus ambrosia beetles (Xylosandrus germanus) in their galleries, tending the brood and fungus. Credit: Antonio Gugliuzzo The alnus ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus germanus, also known as the black stem borer, was accidentally introduced by humans from its native east Asia to North America and Europe around the beginning of the 20th century. X. germanus is a so-called ambrosia beetle, which means that it farms its own food, a specialized fungal symbiont that it "sows" and tends inside the galleries that it digs inside wood. The ambrosia beetle is a destructive invasive pest, known to attack more than 200 species from 51 families of broadleaf and conifer trees. While it prefers to colonize dead wood, it can also infest and ultimately kill weakened or stressed trees. A proven way to monitor or even control insect pests is by hijacking their communication system and manipulating it to trap them to their doom. Females of the alnus ambrosia beetle are known to aggregate on individual trees, suggesting that they use chemical signals to find each other and identify suitable trees. Now, scientists have cracked this chemical code. The results are published in Frontiers in Microbiology. "Here we show that the alnus ambrosia beetle doesn't produce its own pheromones during tree-host colonization, but rather uses the volatile compounds of their own fungal symbionts to aggregate en masse and potentially kill trees," said the study's senior author Dr. Peter Biedermann, a professor at the Forestry Institute of the University of Freiburg in Germany. First evidence of aggregation pheromones in ambrosia beetles First author Antonio Gugliuzzo, a Ph.D. student at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment of the University of Catania in Italy, added, "This is the first evidence for the existence of aggregation pheromones in ambrosia beetles of the tribe Xyleborini." Like all ambrosia beetles, X. germanus females carry their fungal symbionts in special pockets inside their head. The study authors used molecular methods to culture and identify the two most common symbionts as Ambrosiella grosmanniae, most likely the beetles' primary food source, and an unknown species of Acremonium that the beetles may or may not eat. In 2020, the researchers caught mated dispersing X. germanus females near Freiburg, and allowed them to dig galleries in an artificial medium based on beech sawdust, grow these two fungi, and rear their offspring. They then used these fungi as bait in two-choice experiments in an apparatus called a still-air olfactometer. Here, X. germanus females were placed in an arena with two dead ends to enter and hide in; for example, one containing an isolate of the two symbionts A. grosmanniae and Acremonium sp., and another with an isolate of an unrelated fungus expected to be unattractive to the beetleshere, an uncharacterized Cladosporium species. The beetles' preference would depend on their relative attraction to microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) released by the fungi. In a variant of this experiment, previously healthy beech branches infected with different fungi were presented to the beetles as options for choice. Alnus ambrosia beetles (Xylosandrus germanus) in their galleries, tending the brood and fungus. Credit: Antonio Gugliuzzo Beetles prefer odor of symbionts and colonized branches The results showed that the beetles were most attracted to A. grosmanniae MVOCs and least to Cladosporium MVOCs, and more to branches already colonized by A. grosmanniae than to uncolonized branches. The authors conclude that X. germanus uses MVOCs released by its two symbiont strains as a "synomone"a chemical signal that benefits both the emitter like and the receiver. "Occupied tree branches may signal the beetles suitable substrate for the food fungi they depend on. This suitability is probably a delicate balance: trees need specific requirements to allow the beetles to farm the fungus successfully," said Biedermann. "But this isn't an absolute requirement: If a female can't find any conspecifics, or detect any MVOCs, she could still independently colonize a new tree branch." Promising avenue for biological control These results immediately suggest a new method for biological control. "Now that we know that the fungi produce attractive volatiles, we may be able to develop new trapping lures for the beetles on the basis of these compounds," said Biedermann. "Moreover, the use of specific volatile compounds for trapping purposes could contribute to the development of innovative and selective trapping methods targeting specific ambrosia beetle species, thereby minimizing catches of non-target arthropods living in the same environment." Provided by Frontiers 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: Wild Konig Ponies roam a nature reserve at Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire, where their grazing helps to create habitat for other species. Credit: Jacqueline Garget On the University's doorstep lies a vast expanse of fertile land. The peaty soil is so carbon-rich, the first time researcher Tom Marquand saw it he was shocked. "The soil in the fens looks too black to be realI'd never seen anything like it," he says. "If it were compressed underground for a few million years, it would be coal." Working this top-grade farmland produces one third of England's vegetablesincluding key crops like potatoes, celery and carrotsand half of all U.K.grown lettuce. Of the half a million people living in the Cambridgeshire fens, 80,000 of them are employed in some aspect of food production. "When you add up the whole food chainfrom 'farm gate to plate'the Cambridgeshire fens puts a huge sum of money into the U.K. economy," says Marquand, a Ph.D. researcher in the University of Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences. That sum is estimated at over 3 billion each year. So why are he and fifty other Cambridge researchers worried? The Cambridgeshire fens have not always been so hospitable. Until the 1600's, this region was a low-lying swamp, covered with reeds and sedge where hardy locals grazed animals in summer and caught fish in winter. Then Dutch engineers were brought in to drain the land so wealthy landowners could make more money. Rivers sit higher than the farmland in the Cambridgeshire Fens. Credit: Jacqueline Garget The soils that emerged were carbon-rich, formed by centuries' worth of plants trapped underwater and transformed into peat. Farming it today is only possible because hundreds of pumping stations, combined with thousands of miles of watercourses, keep the water moving out to sea. But now that the land isn't waterlogged any more, the soil is releasing huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In 2019, emissions from U.K. peatland as a whole were estimated at 23.1 million metric tons, adding 3.5% to the U.K.'s total emissions. "The fens are a U.K. hotspot for carbon emissions from the land," says Marquand. "I think people understand that if we're burning fossil fuels, we're emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and that's a greenhouse gas that warms the planet. But what isn't so well-known is how land use affects emissions." All soils release greenhouse gases: soil microbes break down the organic matter and belch out CO 2 and methane. But in carbon-rich soils, like the fenland peat, it's as if the microbes are on steroids. "The ancient fen system was like a natural canning process, and that can has been opened because the fens have been drained. Trapped plant matter is now exposed to the air, and its carbon is being converted into carbon dioxide," says Marquand. The black Fenland soil is so carbon rich, it's virtually coal. Credit: Jacqueline Garget This is bad for farming. The soil is becoming degraded as it loses carbon into the atmosphere, as well as being eroded away by strong winds and rains. "If your only goal was to prevent greenhouse gas emissions in the fens, you would re-wet them," he says, "because wetland soils can store a lot more carbon than the atmosphere. But that would reduce food production to near zeroit's actually a terrible idea. Restoring some areas could be a way to draw carbon back out of the atmosphere. We just need to work out what conditions to keep the land in to do this." Marquand is studying the processes in the soil that produce and consume greenhouse gases. By analyzing soil samples taken across the Cambridgeshire fens, he hopes to identify which processes are at work, where, and the rate at which they're happening. The aim is to contribute to policy recommendations that highlight places where it would be practicaland worthwhileto change the way the land is managed. "Rather than making a policy decision based on the instinct that raising the water table reduces carbon dioxide emissions, which is something people say a lot, I want to put numbers on it. For example, raising the water table by 20 centimeters will reduce emissions by 10%. That would be a great way to quantify the impact of different approaches." Marquand's work is just one piece of the puzzle. Being low-lying, in many cases below sea-level, the fens are not only contributing to climate changebut very vulnerable to it. Rivers sit higher than the land, bounded by banks, which makes flooding a threat. This problem will become worse as sea level rises with global warming, making it harder for the rivers to get out to sea. And if the sea overcomes coastal defenses, the arable land could be ruined for decades by salt water. Until the 1600's, the Cambridgeshire Fens was a low-lying swamp, covered with reeds and sedge. Credit: Jacqueline Garget "The low rainfall of the fens means climate change is already causing uncertainty about water supplies for both farming and domestic use. Add to these challenges the huge loss of biodiversity caused by changes in land use, and the wider economic and public health challenges of the region: this problem is much bigger and more complicated than anybody imagined," says Dr. Laurie Friday. "And it's urgent. What happens in the fens affects climate change, and affects our food supplyit affects everybody." Friday is one of three Program Managers of Cambridge's new Center for Landscape Regeneration, of which Marquand is a member. The 10 million program is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), part of NERC's 40-million Changing The Environment countryside regeneration project to safeguard the U.K.'s most important ecosystems and agricultural land. "This funding provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," says Friday. "If we take a really transformative view of the region and change how farming is done, how does this change the job market? How might the water system work better in the futurecan we create reservoirs that also provide recreational facilities and promote biodiversity? We're trying to work out how all the organizations with an interest in the fens can sort out these issues from a joined-up perspective." One year into the program, the multi-disciplinary Center has brought together experienced researchers from across the University of Cambridge, the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology, the RSPB and the National Institute for Agricultural Botany (NIAB). Early career researchers are being recruited to focus on the challenge from a wide range of perspectives. And connections are being built with the many organizations and projects currently at work in the fens, including the Environment Agency, the National Farmers Union, and the Wildlife Trusts. "Farmers have their own ideas, and we can help quantify those," adds Marquand. "One farmer-led group, fenland SOIL, is keen to try things like changing the water regime or growing new crops. Farmers want to know more about what's affecting their soil, and how it could be managed better. Some are already trialing changing the level of the water table, but it's more practical in some set-ups than others." Farming the fens today is only possible because hundreds of pumping stations, combined with thousands of miles of watercourses, keep the water moving out to sea. Credit: Jacqueline Garget "As well as lending our expertise, we're gathering their views on how they'd like to see this land managed in future," he adds. "And we're helping to connect them into this big web of people so that their ideas are part of the wider considerations." "There are so many competing goals," says Friday. "If you only care about greenhouse gases, there's a solution. But if you also care about continued food production, that solution won't work everywhere. Every time you add a new factor, you have to modify the solution a bit more. I think it's going to lead to a mosaic of different land management approaches across the fens." The team hopes that after three years they will have come up with a map of informed policy recommendationstailored on a case-by-case basis and perhaps even changing from year to year. Then, the Center will switch focus to work on issues in the Lake District and the Cairngorms, both highland peat landscapes where some of their solutions might also be applicable. "The challenge in protecting the U.K.'s most important ecosystems and agricultural land has been that solutions have tended to be piecemeal and narrow in focus. We're bringing a real breadth of expertise to this, and looking at every aspect of these systems to try and come up with better solutions," says Professor David Coomes, Director of the Cambridge Conservation Research Institute, who co-leads the Center with Professor Emily Shuckburgh, Director of Cambridge Zero. The project aims to reconcile all uses of the Fensincluding recreationin a sustainable way. Credit: Jacqueline Garget The Center ultimately aims to help safeguard and regenerate the British countryside. Finding 'nature-based solutions' can have a range of benefitsfrom helping to meet net zero climate targets, adapting to climate change, protecting biodiversity and delivering services. "In the end it's all about people," says Marquand. "Being in this collaboration I'm constantly reminded to think about the impact each decision might have on people's actual lives." 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: There are approximately 250 active tailings dams in Australia and each is used to store byproducts of mining operations after separating the ore from the gangue. Credit: Shutterstock Did you know the U.S. National Earthquake Information Center logs the measurements of 20,000 earthquakes around the globe each yearapproximately 55 a day? A concern that most people might not immediately consider is the impact on tailings dams, which are some of the largest engineered structures on earth, designed to store the by-products of mining operations. About once every six months, Australia is impacted by an earthquake exceeding magnitude five or greaterwhich is sufficient to cause extensive damage to a tailings dam. "Australia's earthquakes are intraplate, meaning they occur at locations away from continental plate margins such as the earthquakes that occur in Japan and California," says Adrian Russell, a Professor in Geotechnical Engineering and an Australian Research Council Future Fellow at UNSW's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Just last month, parts of South Australia were rocked by the largest earthquake the state has experienced in nine years when a 4.8 magnitude quake was recorded in the Flinders region. In 2021, Melbourne was shaken by an earthquake in Port Phillip Bay, with aftershocks felt as far away as Sydney. Tailings dams may be at risk of failure When an earthquake occurs, the risk to tailings storage facilities (TSF), often referred to as tailings dams, may not be front of mind. Tailings dams are embankment dams, sometimes kilometers in length, constructed to contain and store tailings, which are by-products of mining operations after processing the mined ore. The tailings contained behind the embankments usually consist of ground rock, metals and even toxic and radioactive chemicals. Prof. Russell says unfortunately, 25% of global tailings dam failures are due to an earthquake. "One of the major priorities of the minerals extraction and mining industries is to reduce the numbers of catastrophic failures of tailings dams," he says. "When tailings dam fails, it's catastrophic. The amount of damage it can cause to the environment is unthinkablenot to mention the risk it poses to any civilians. "These structures can be huge, with embankments sometimes reaching 300 meters in height, so you can imagine the amount of tailings stored behind them. "And they need regular maintenance and monitoring to ensure that the embankment is strong enough to contain the tailings. "Shaking an already marginally stable embankment may cause a failure and sudden release of the tailings." Impact of a tailings dam failure In Australia alone, there are around 250 active tailings dams. Considering the mining sector is one of Australia's biggest industries, the performance of these dams is imperative to the safety of the operation, the civilians working on those mines, and the surrounding environment and communities. "There are a wide range of impacts of a TSF failure. When some TSFs fail, luckily there is minimal damage," says Prof. Russell. "In 2018, there was a TSF failure at the Cadia gold mine in New South Wales. The slumped section of the embankment and tailings did not travel far enough to cause environmental damage or fatalities." But failings can also result in a huge discharge of tailings into the natural environment, possibly resulting in fatalities and serious economic loss. For example, in 2019 the catastrophic failure of a tailings dam at Brumadinho in Brazil killed 270 people and the resulting water pollution in the Paraopeba river impacted communities up to 120 kilometers away. When a tailings dam fail, it can be catastrophic. The Brumadinho dam disaster, considered Brazil's worst industrial accident, sent millions of tons of toxic waste gushing into the surrounding area. Credit: Shutterstock "If a TSF failure has the potential for high or extreme consequences then the TSF owners are mandated by dam authorities in their respective countries to conduct thorough stability assessments every two years," Prof. Russell says. "These standards and regular testing are important if we want to avoid a catastrophic failure such as the Brumadinho dam disaster in Brazil in 2019." Measuring the risk of a potential failure In Australia, one of the ways to assess the dams and the tailings they contain is through cone penetration testing (CPT). The CPT enables geotechnical engineers to determine their properties and asses their strength and stability. The test usually involves pushing a cone tipped rod vertically into the embankment or tailings at a constant rate of penetration. During this process, measurements are made to collect data of the cone tip resistance. Previous research from Prof. Russell and his team have empowered engineers to interpret CPT results in tailings when they have varying states, including when they have a mixture of air and water in the pores, or, in other words, when they are unsaturated. The findings from that study demonstrated how to use CPT results to determine the in-situ state of the tailingswhich is extremely important as it controls how strong and earthquake-resistant the tailings will be. "Prior to this research, engineers routinely and incorrectly interpreted the CPT results by assuming the tailings are fully saturated, which isn't always the case," says Prof. Russell. "This led to incorrect determinations of in-situ state of the tailings and overestimations of strength." In his latest research paper, published in Geotechnique, Prof. Russell and his team have shown practitioners how to estimate the post-earthquake strength of a tailings when unsaturated. "The CPT interpretation methods and strength assessments used in industry prior to these discoveries were developed primarily for saturated natural soils," says Prof. Russell. "There are many differences between saturated natural soils and tailings in a dam, with tailings being siltier, or more dust-like, and unsaturated in many cases. "This rectifies what many falsely assume: that unsaturated tailings do not liquefy in an earthquake. This means engineers can use improved strength estimations in any earthquake stability assessment to accurately identify which TSFs are more at risk of failure." Looking ahead The Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD) underscores the risks of TSF failures in Australia. It requires all high-consequence category TSFs to remain safe even after they're closed, and able to withstand a one-in-10,000-years earthquake. Prof. Russell says it's not just tailings dams that may become damaged. Reinsurance companies rate an earthquake in Sydney within their 20 top risk exposures worldwide. "Australian cities are at a high risk as an earthquake would compromise old infrastructure made of unreinforced brick and masonry," he says. "Also, large areas in Australian cities are underlain by soils which may experience strength loss and turn to a fluid-like state, or liquefaction, in the event of an earthquake. "An area of particularly high risk is Botany Bay where major ports are located. If an earthquake caused liquefaction of the ground around Botany Bay widespread damage could result, with infrastructure becoming irreparable. "Furthermore, the land may become uninsurable. The next generation of earthquake standards needs to move towards performance-based designs not only to protect life but also to reduce the significant economic losses resulting from direct damage and business interruption." More information: Yanzhi Wang et al, Modelling unsaturated silty tailings and the conditions required for static liquefaction, Geotechnique (2023). DOI: 10.1680/jgeot.22.00074 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: Male of the orchid bee Euglossa dilemma performing typical courtship display at a perch in a flight cage in Florida. Their scent pockets are located on the thickened hind legs. Credit: Thomas Eltz Male bees display a remarkable passion for collecting scents: they deposit scents from various sources in special pockets on their hind legs, thus composing their own fragrance. This behavior has been known since the 1960s. The reason why they do it has been the subject of much speculation. Researchers from Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of California at Davis and the University of Florida at Fort Lauderdale, have finally solved the mystery. The bee fragrance serves as a sex attractant and increases the reproductive success of the males, as the team found out after three years of experiments in flight cages. The group headed by Ph.D. student Jonas Henske and Dr. Thomas Eltz from the Bochum Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity describes their findings in the journal Current Biology, published online on April 12, 2023. There's been a lot of theorizing about the purpose of the fragrance: some have suggested that it could be an attractant or a wedding gift for the females, or that the scent is used to communicate with rivals. In a previous paper, the group around Thomas Eltz had already shown that the male bees transport the fragrance out of the pockets on their hind legs during the courtship ritual. "What we didn't know, however, was who was supposed to receive this signal," says Eltz. "The females? Or rival males?" The researchers pursued this question in the current project. For three years, they studied orchid bees in an experiment in Florida. In a 15 by 15 by 4 meter cage, they had two male bees each compete for a femaleone with fragrance and one without. They then tracked whether the female mated and, if so, with which male. Mating activities difficult to observe "The mating of orchid bees is very rarely observed in the wild, and even in experiments it's been almost impossible to get them to mate," says Thomas Eltz. This is why the Bochum-based researchers and their U.S. colleagues tried to offer the bees optimal conditions; for example, they used a particularly large cage and provided the animals with the perfect pollen plants. For the experiment, the researchers first lured male bees to artificial scent sources, which the bees then used to create a fragrance. The scientists extracted this fragrance from the pockets on the hind legs using a microcapillary and subsequently transferred it to one of the bees that they tested in the experiment. Here, two males, which had been kept under identical conditions, competed for the favor of females. Typical courtship behavior with varying degrees of success The maleswith or without fragrancedisplayed typical courtship behavior. Mating occurred with 27 females, which each mated with a single mate. Male bees that had been equipped with fragrance were involved in 26 of these cases. In one case, a male reproduced that belonged to the control group, which should have been fragrance-free; however, the researchers found hints that this individual had also acquired a scent mixturefragrance theft does occasionally occur. In order to be able to prove beyond doubt which males had mated, Jonas Henske carried out paternity analyses. He compared the genetic make-up of the brood with that of the male bees. "It's become clear that the fragrance is an attractant for females and triggers mating behavior in them," says Thomas Eltz. "Our results also prove that the fragrance is probably not used as a status signal among males. Indeed, a male was not more likely to defend his courtship site when he was in possession of fragrance." About orchid bees There are about 250 known species of euglossine bees that are important pollinators in the tropics of Central and South America. Many orchid species rely on male euglossine bees for pollination, which is why these insects are commonly known as orchid bees. These orchids produce specific flower scents as a reward, which are collected by the male bees. here are five different genera of orchid bees, and they can vary greatly in size and appearance. The male bees collect the scents with tufts of hair on their front legs, which they wring out into the pockets on their hind legs. More information: Jonas Henske et al, Function of environment-derived male perfumes in orchid bees, Current Biology (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.060 Journal information: Current Biology 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 brown bear in the woods, in summer. Copyright: Tobias Petzold, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich. Credit: Tobias Petzold, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich Bears in hibernation as well as paraplegic people spend months or even years lying almost motionless while avoiding dangerous blood clots. In healthy people, however, being bedridden is always accompanied by the risk of thrombosisa paradox, but nevertheless an everyday occurrence. This contradiction has now been investigated by an international research team led by Matthias Mann, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, and PD Dr. Tobias Petzold, cardiologist at the LMU Hospital Munich. They found a mechanism that occurs in both brown bears and paraplegics, and that prevents the formation of blood clots. The results were published in the journal Science. It is a familiar scenario in many families: a grandmother suffers a hip fracture, becomes bedridden for weeks, and faces an increased risk of a blood clot forming in a vein, that travels through the circulatory system and could block a vein in a lung. Immobility is indeed one of the major risk factors for a venous thromboembolism that has life-threatening consequences. So why don't patients with spinal cord injuries beyond the acute phase face the same increased risk of thrombosis? And why do brown bears sleep almost motionless for months in winter without risking this condition? For the cardiovascular specialists at LMU Hospital, led by Dr. Tobias Petzold, this research project began with two trips to central Swedenone during summer and one during winter. There, a population of brown bears has been scientifically studied for more than a decade by Danish cardiologist Prof. Dr. Ole Frobert from the University Hospital in Orebro, Sweden, who also proposed the new collaborative project to his colleagues in Germany. The brown bears were sedated for blood sampling, equipped with GPS transmitters that tracked their location and then were immediately released back into the wild. Cardiologist Petzold and his colleagues analyzed the samples in a mobile laboratory within three to four hours. The question was whether the coagulation system of brown bears differs between hibernation and summer activity. "But we didn't find any relevant differences," says cardiologist Manuela Thienel, a shared first author of the study. Seasonal differences in bear platelet population. (A) Representative images of platelet spreading after 8, 15 and 30 minutes following collagen simulation; scale bar represents 20 m. (B-C) Spreading size of individual platelets stimulated with 10 g/ml fibrillar collagen or 0.1 U/ml thrombin on fibrinogen (B) and fibronectin (C) coated surfaces was analyzed after 8, 15 and 30 minutes (n = 7; symbols represent individual bears; data shown as means SD; all p-values were determined using paired t-test, except of spreading on fibrinogen and stimulation with thrombin after 30 min which was analyzed using Wilcoxon test). Credit: Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.abo5044 Some of the blood samples were taken back to Munich by the researchers, where they examined the platelets more closely in their laboratories. It turned out that in the hibernating brown bear body, "the interaction between platelets and immune cells of the immune system was slowed down, which explains the absence of venous thrombosis," Petzold says. The same mechanisms were then found in paralyzed patients and in volunteers who participated in a three-week bed rest study conducted by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). To uncover the molecular mechanism behind this protective process, the medical researchers sought the expertise of Prof. Dr. Matthias Mann and Dr. Johannes Muller-Reif from the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried. Their approach, mass spectrometrybased proteomics, answers such questions by searching for altered proteins without prior knowledge of which proteins are involved. Matthias Mann, Director at the MPIB, explains, "In the past, we have shown that our method is applicable to all organisms and models, as long as DNA sequencing data is available. Specifically for the brown bear, there are hardly any other options to investigate the molecular processes, as they mostly require organism-specific antibodies. By identifying and quantifying nearly 2,700 proteins in their platelets, we've been able to uncover the molecular secrets behind their unique ability to avoid thrombosis during hibernation." The crucial finding was that 71 proteins were upregulated and 80 downregulated during hibernation compared to summer activity. Co-first author of the study, Johannes Muller-Reif, says, "The fascinating discovery of heat shock protein 47, or HSP47 for short, being downregulated by a remarkable 55-fold in hibernating bears compared to their active state highlighted the critical role it could play in preventing thrombosis." Indeed, the researchers demonstrated that the downregulation of HSP47 during long-term immobilization occurs in various mammalian species, such as humans, brown bears, and pigs, indicating an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for thrombosis prevention. Reducing HSP47 protein levels leads to decreased interaction between blood platelets and inflammatory cells. In fact, Tobias Petzold explains, "HSP47 is capable of activating inflammatory cells directly." In a biomedical context, this means that blocking HSP47 with a suitable molecule in immobilized acute patients could potentially prevent the risk of venous thrombosis. While small molecules that can inhibit HSP47 are available for laboratory experiments, they are not suitable for potential use in humans. "Therefore," says Tobias Petzold, "we now want to search for suitable substances ourselves," opening up new treatment possibilities for those whose lives are at risk. More information: Manuela Thienel et al, Immobility-associated thromboprotection is conserved across mammalian species from bear to human, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.abo5044 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: Rutgers University Press Experts have long believed that in fast-growing, urban environments, polygamy would disappear. In Bamako, Mali, where the population is nearly 3 million and rapidly growing, and economic incentives to polygamy have faded, this hasn't been the case. Currently, one in four wives is in a polygamous marriage in Bamakothe highest rate in any major city. Is Bamako proving that polygamy can thrive in an urban environment? After 15 years of research, Bruce Whitehouse, associate professor of anthropology, determined how, and why, plural relationships are still widespread in Bamako. He explores his findings in his latest book, "Enduring Polygamy: Plural Marriage and Social Change in an African Metropolis," publishing April 14 with Rutgers University Press. "Enduring Polygamy" explores topics of monogamous and polygamous marriages in Bamako, household dynamics, Malian culture, and more. Whitehouse, a leading scholar on Mali, has been studying marriage in Mali since 2008. His studies include field work in Bamako with Lehigh student researchers in 2010, and again in 2011 in the Fulbright Program. His most recent trip to Mali was in 2020. During his time in Bamako, three themes became evident. Demographics play a role in how polygamy persists, Whitehouse says. To be considered an adult in Malian society, women must marry. And most do, he explains. In Bamako, there are more women in the marriage market than men, and the majority marry under the age of 20. Other considerations include social and cultural impact, and political and legal factors. Historically, Islam justifies plural marriage for men and this organization of Malian society, as Islamic men can marry up to four wives. Politically, laws are applied and interpreted in a way that gives men options, Whitehouse explains. And monogamous marriage contracts are often not enforced. Will polygamy continue to prevail in Bamako? The answers are as yet to be seen. Women of Bamako are often wary of polygamy, Whitehouse said, and during his research, many expressed the sense that they had little choice. "Polygamous marriage as an accepted practice in Bamako has set the standard for all other marriages," Whitehouse says. "Women who hope for monogamy are at risk of being stigmatized." Women have a lack of bargaining power with men, he adds. "Polygamy will remain widespread in Bamako until women are empowered to refuse marriages they don't want," Whitehouse explains. 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: Photomicographs of an initially red single crystal hows how it transitions to yellow during dehydration at -20C. Credit: Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05749-7 Scientists have discovered yet another amazing aspect of the weird and wonderful behavior of waterthis time when subjected to nanoscale confinement at sub-zero temperatures. The finding that a crystalline substance can readily give up water at temperatures as low as -70 C, published in the journal Nature on April 12, has major implications for the development of materials designed to extract water from the atmosphere. A team of supramolecular chemists at Stellenbosch University (SU), consisting of Dr. Alan Eaby, Prof. Catharine Esterhuysen and Prof. Len Barbour, made this discovery while trying to understand the peculiar behavior of a type of crystal that first piqued their interest about ten years ago. "Scientists are currently adept at designing materials that can absorb water," Barbour explains. "However, it is much harder to get those materials (we call them 'hydrates') to then release the water without having to supply energy in the form of heat. As we all know, energy is expensive and seldom completely 'green.'" The chemical compound in question was originally synthesized by Prof. Marcin Kwit, a specialist in organic stereochemistry at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poland. It was then crystallized and brought to Barbour's lab for further study by postdoctoral fellow Dr. Agnieszka Janiak. This was mainly because of Barbour's interest in ring-shaped molecules and how they form channels when packed together in crystals. VT-SCXRD perspective view along [210] showing the evolution of difference electron density in T1-R during cooling from 30 to 125 C. Host molecules in the foreground have been omitted for clarity. Credit: Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05749-7 Janiak noticed that the crystals were yellow on some days and red on others. It didn't take her long to figure out that the crystals would only turn red on days with humidity levels higher than 55%. When humidity levels fell below this level, the crystals would go back to being yellow. "Not only was this behavior rather unusual," Barbour explains, "it was also happening very fast. It seems the crystals were absorbing water as fast at high humidity as it was losing it again at low humidity. While we are familiar with materials designed to absorb water, it is highly unusual for a material that absorbs water easily to lose it equally easily." Why do these crystals have such special properties? This question started a nearly ten-year investigation, which initially focused on explaining the mechanism behind the color change. Theoretical modeling by Esterhuysen and MSc student Dirkie Myburgh showed that water uptake causes slight changes in the electronic properties of the crystals, causing them to turn red. With such remarkable properties, Barbour was convinced that the crystals would also have other interesting properties. That is when Ph.D. student Alan Eaby started dabbling with the material. Initially he had focused on room temperature studies for his MSc research but would later turn his attention to measuring properties at lower temperatures when he embarked on his Ph.D. three years ago. He wanted to know how the crystals would behave when subjected to different temperatures and humidity levels: "I was intrigued by the color change and wanted to explore what was happening at the atomic scale," he explains. Having learned about developing instruments and methods from Barbour, he embarked on employing non-standard techniques to understand the mechanisms of water uptake and release in the material. One day, he observed something strange happening at temperatures below zero degrees Celsius. "I noticed that the crystal still changed color at sub-zero temperatures. Initially I thought that there was something wrong with the experimental setup or the temperature controller, as crystal hydrates are not supposed to release water at such low temperatures," he explains. After lots of conversations and coffee breaks with Barbour and Esterhuysen, and tweaking the experimental setup several times, they realized that Alan's observations could be explained by the narrowness of the channels in the material. The channels in the crystal are only one nanometer wideone thousandth the diameter of a human hair. It was already known that, at the nanoscale, water can remain mobile within channels at temperatures below 0C. However, this study showed for the first time that such channels can also allow the uptake and release of water at temperatures far below its normal freezing point. To understand this process, Eaby undertook an extensive, systematic series of X-ray diffraction studies of the red and yellow crystals at different temperatures and humidities. This allowed him to construct a computer-generated "movie," with atomic-scale resolution, of what happens to the channels upon cooling or heating, and in the presence or absence of water. These animations indicated that water molecules in the nanochannels move about freely until cooled to -70 C, whereupon they undergo a "reversible structuring event" to resemble a glassy state. This "glass transition" ultimately causes the water to become trapped in the material at temperatures below -70C. Were it not for the color-changing behavior of the crystals in the first place, they would not have become aware of the ultralow temperature water loss capability. "Who knows," says Barbour, "there may be many other materials out there with the ability to absorb and release water at very low temperatures, such as metal-organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks. "We simply do not know about it because we have not been able to visualize it. Now that we do know that such behavior is possible, it opens a whole new field of research and potential applications. Researchers can use this new information to identify other materials with similar properties, and also use the principles we've developed to fine tune the low-temperatures release of water. This could lead to dramatic reductions in the energetic costs of atmospheric water harvesting, with implications for society and the environment," he concludes. More information: Alan C. Eaby et al, Dehydration of a crystal hydrate at subglacial temperatures, Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05749-7 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: The Palcaraju mountain in Huaraz, Peru, is at the heart of a climate lawsuit in Germany. Misleading studies sowing doubt about climate change are getting into peer-reviewed journals, scientists warn, citing recent papers linked to a lawsuit in Germany whose authors denied conflicts of interest. Observers have long questioned the growing number of research journals that take fees from eager academics but often publish their work without rigorous review. Biased authors, they say, are taking advantage of an overloaded assessment system, undermining the scientific evidence that provides the bedrock for climate action. "The recent explosion of so-called 'predatory journals' is creating problems that are pro-actively explored by climate skeptics," said Carl Schleussner, a scientist at research group Climate Analytics. "It opens the door to those who want to willingly get dubious research out there." Peruvian glacier study One study denied that human-driven warming was to blame for the melting of a Peruvian glacier and consequent flood risk. Two of its authors are former executives of RWE, a German energy company targeted by a lawsuit over the glacier, and both are prominent climate contrarians. Their study appeared in November 2022 in the Journal of South American Earth Sciences, which is owned by the major Dutch publisher Elsevier. Like many others, the journal charges authors for submissions, which are then supposed to be vetted by qualified experts before being published. Campaigners say melting glaciers such as Mount Palcajaru pose a flood threat. The paper attacked the findings of an earlier study by scientists at Oxford University that a plaintiff in the Peruvian casea local farmer who says RWE's carbon emissions contributed to warmingis citing as evidence. Nathan Stansell, a palaeoclimatologist at Northern Illinois University, is one of the scientists whose work was cited in the German-led paper. The paper was "fraught with misinformation, mischaracterizations and bias," he told AFP. It presented a "debunked argument that since it was warm in medieval times, then there was nothing alarming about recent warming. "The bulk of the paleoclimate community recognizes that the groups trying to spread this fallacy cannot compete with sound scientific data." Two other scientists cited in the study, Ben Marzeion of the University of Bremen and Jorge Strelin of Cordoba University in Argentina, also told AFP their work was misused. Strelin said a graphic in the study, drawing on one used in his own work, omitted data showing the sharp retreat of one glacier over recent decades. The two ex-RWE men, lead author and geologist Sebastian Luening and chemist-turned-politician Fritz Vahrenholt, did not respond to AFP's requests to comment. The author of the Oxford study, Rupert Stuart-Smith, submitted to the journal a formal scientific rebuttal of Luening's paper, contesting its use of certain data and detailing what he called "inaccurate or misleading assertions." Elsevier communications executive Andrew Davis told AFP the journal's editors "did not detect unethical behaviors and it is their belief that the two research groups simply did not agree with each other." But the publisher acknowledged the failure to include a disclosure of the authors' links to RWE in the study. German energy giant RWE denied funding two scientific studies about a glacier in Peru. The disclosure did appear in a preliminary "pre-proof" of the paper but disappeared from the version published in November 2022. "The publisher would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused," Elsevier said in an email to AFP. It said the disclosure would be added back into the study after approval from the authors. Firm denies funding study Another paper on the Peru glacier appeared in the journal Remote Sensing, from publisher MDPI, in 2021. The study reviewed three years of data on ice-flow velocity and assessed the risk of avalanches and floods, concluding that there was no evidence that a flood was imminent. Stansell said this conclusion should have been dealt with in a separate study as it "seems out of place and doesn't relate directly with their principal findings". A 2022 article by investigative media group SourceMaterial (archived here) said the study was produced with funding from RWE. It cited the authors as denying this. The authors did not respond to AFP. RWE spokesman Guido Steffen told AFP the study "was made independently from RWE and the court case and it was not funded or paid for by RWE." Regarding the Luening study, he said, "We did neither commission that study nor play any role in producing it." Floods ravaged Pakistan in 2022. Extreme weather study slammed In September 2022, top climate scientists called for the withdrawal of a paper that claimed scientific evidence of a climate crisis was lacking. The peer-reviewed paper by four Italian scientists appeared in the European Physical Journal Plus, from prestigious science publisher Springer Nature. Four scientists told AFP the study manipulated data and cherry-picked facts about extreme weather events. In response, Springer Nature put a warning notice on the article and said it was investigating. In late March 2023 Christian Caron, executive publisher of Springer Nature, told AFP the investigation was "progressing but still ongoing. "Additional material received as part of the investigation is currently following the usual procedures of an extensive peer-reviewing process, which may take more time than anticipated." Payment for publication is a time-honored part of the business model among peer-reviewed journals. Their reputation relies on being the gold standard in scientific publishing, through external reviewers who are supposed to weed out false papers and reject sketchy or biased use of data. But the low-cost advantages of publishing on the internet have led to an explosion of peer-reviewed journals and, say some, standards have fallen. Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retraction Watch, a blog that tracks thousands of withdrawals of academic papers each year, told AFP some authors sought to get unsound work published in journals with a lax peer-review system that used unqualified reviewers. "A lot of junk gets through peer review," he said. "It is really time that everybody admitted that, so that we can try and do better." More information: AFP Fact Check's full investigation is published at factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.33CU2GB 2023 AFP (CNN) Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson's bromance is well known, their chemistry memorably translating on screen for the critically acclaimed first season of "True Detective." Now, McConaughey has suggested in an interview with podcast "Let's Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa" that he and Harrelson could actually be brothers. "You know, where I start and where he ends, and where he starts and I end, has always been like a murky line," McConaughey said earlier this week. "And that's part of our bromance, right? My kids call him Uncle Woody. His kids call me Uncle Matthew etc etc. And you see pictures of us and my family thinks a lot of pictures of him are me. His family thinks a lot of pictures of me are him." "In Greece a few years ago, we're 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." "We went on to unpack what this 'knew' meant and did some math and found out that (Harrelson's) dad was on furlough at the same time that my mom and dad were in their second divorce. Then there's possible receipts and places out in West Texas where there might have been a gathering, or a meeting, or a 'knew' moment." McConaughey added that the pair are "on the precipice" of doing DNA tests to verify their suspicions, but that he was more reluctant than Harrelson in case he discovered that his father might not be his biological parent "after 53 years of believing that." The pair are appearing in the comedy series "Brother From Another Mother" for Apple TV+, a fictionalized portrayal of their own friendship. The two actors first met in 1997 while working on Ron Howard's "EDtv," although they disagree about the precise moment. "There was tequila involved," McConaughey quipped in a video on his verified YouTube channel. He first remembers meeting Harrelson at a costume fitting in San Francisco for "EDtv," when Harrelson walked in wearing "bike shorts, professional bike top and he's still got his professional bike riding shoes on that he's walking the streets of San Francisco in." Since then, McConaughey and Harrelson have starred in the movie "Surfer, Dude," and in "True Detective" together. WILTONA Saratoga Springs woman was struck and killed by a motor vehicle while crossing a roadway in Wilton, authorities reported. According to a news release from the Saratoga County Sheriffs Office, at about 8:18 p.m. Thursday, the office received a report of a motor vehicle versus pedestrian collision on Maple Avenue in the Town of Wilton. Mary L. Farrington, 79, of Saratoga Springs, was struck by a 2022 Toyota Prius operated by Daqing Zhang, 54, of Mechanicville. Police said Farrington was crossing the roadway when she was struck by the vehicle. She was transported to Saratoga Hospital where she died of her injuries. Zhang remained on the scene and police said he is cooperating with the investigation, which is ongoing, the sheriffs office said. The investigation into the collision is being conducted by the Saratoga County Sheriffs Office Collision Reconstruction Unit, assisted by its Criminal Investigations Unit. November 18 was the kickoff of a PSA campaign in Times Square to promote the passage of the Adult Survivors Act (ASA) reminding adult survivors of sexual abuse about their options under the upcoming act. The Adult Survivors Act is a New York State law that creates a one-time, one-year look b QUEENSBURY Assembly Point, a little slice of Lake George shoreline, could soon have signage to reflect the Native American history of the land. The perfect combination of mountain and lake access, Assembly Point is nestled between the Towns of Fort Ann and Queensbury and held dear to the residents who have made their homes there. The Assembly Point Water Quality Coalition, or APWQC, proposed the installation of new signage in the area to inform visitors about the history of the land and the lakes ecology. According to the coalitions website, the last half mile of Assembly Point is the Otyokwa area, with a forested wetland, deemed Forever Wild, that is centered within a 7/8-mile long loop of road. The area was named by the Native Americans as a place of assembly. The groups outreach officer, Lisa Adamson, presented a slide show of the proposed signs to the Queensbury Town Board during a workshop on Wednesday. Though all of the home owners approved the installation of the signs, the boards approval was still needed because the land is located in the town. Weve talked to all of the people that live along the road, but we know it is all town property, with one exception, Adamson said. She named each family who lives near a proposed sign location as she went through the slides and explained the content of each along the walking trail and the reason for the chosen location. She said the towns highway department already agreed to plant the wooden posts needed for the signs, which will aim to inform on lake issues as well as honor history. The first sign will be along the hill as you enter Assembly Point, which is town property, to just kind of orients people to the fact that they was a Native American presence here, Adamson said at the meeting. She went on to explain the second sign would be posted at the late Tom Weinmans house sharing information about artifacts found near the area. For those of you that dont know, Tom and his brother Paul did digs on Assembly Point in the 60s and the artifacts they found were dated back prior 4,500 B.C., she said. So, this is just marking that he did that. These first two signs give a little bit of context and the other signs talk about land use and impact on water. Adamson said there is already a ton of foot traffic on Assembly Point to make use of the proposed 12-by-18 inch signs. After viewing the presentation, the town board members at the workshop expressed support for the project. LAKE GEORGE The Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance and Albany Rural Cemetery are co-sponsoring with the French and Indian War Society a program on Philip Schuyler: His Life, Death and Legacy next week. The free presentation is at 11 a.m. on April 22 at the Fort William Henry Conference Center in Lake George. Space is limited, so those planning to attend the program are encouraged to register in advance: info@lakegeorgebattlefield.org. Historian Michael P. Barrett, a trustee of Albany Rural Cemetery and the featured speaker, will discuss Schuylers career as a provincial officer serving the British during the French and Indian War, and as a Major General for George Washingtons Continental Army in the American Revolution. Schuyler is buried at Albany Rural Cemetery, but Barrett will explain some of the mystery that exists regarding the precise whereabouts of his remains. Born in Albany to a prominent Dutch family, Schuyler was a member of the civic and social elite, serving as mayor of Albany and representing New York State as a member of the Assembly and the Continental Congress. He was the states first surveyor general and its first U.S. Senator, as well as being one of the original Federalists who supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. He is also well-known for being the father-in-law of Alexander Hamilton. In addition to his achievements, Schuyler was also an enslaver, reportedly the largest owner of enslaved people in the Albany area in the late 1700s. Historian Bruce Venter, author of The Battle of Hubbardton and a trustee of the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance, spoke about the general in a news release on Thursday. The efforts and accomplishments of Albanys General Philip Schuyler, one of the most important Patriots to serve the cause of liberty, are largely unknown or misunderstood today, he stated. (he) played a key role in Americas victory at Saratoga in 1777 and continued to faithfully serve George Washington, particularly in relations with Native Americans. He was much more than Alexander Hamiltons father-in-law. Mark Bodnar, President of the Albany Rural Cemeterys Board of Trustees, also offered a comment in the release. Albany Rural Cemetery is very proud to be the final resting place of Philip Schuyler and many of his family members. Having them interred in the sacred soil of Albany Rural enriches the historic standing of the Cemetery, Bodnar said. Interest in Philip Schuyler and the Schuyler family seems to increase each year. Kathryn Flacke-Muncil, a founder of the French & Indian War Society at Lake George, and CEO of the Fort William Henry Corporation, also commented. We are steeped in history here in Lake George. The story of the American Revolution and Schuylers role in it is better known, but it was during the French and Indian War that he forged relationships that helped him later in his life, Flacke-Muncil said in the release. A former legislative director to state Assemblyman Patrick B. Burke has filed a claim accusing the Orchard Park Democrat of sexual harassment, saying Burke repeatedly commented on womens appearances, joked about genitalia and discussed the sex lives of both his teenage son and fellow legislators in the office. The director, Nicole Golias, worked with Burke from September 2021 to May 2022, when the assemblyman dismissed her and two other staff members following a well-publicized disagreement about Burkes response to the Tops massacre. Assemblyman Patrick Burke fires three top staffers in exchange over his response to Tops shooting The Orchard Park Democrat said he fired them for gross insubordination following a heated exchange Tuesday in his West Seneca district office during which he said they accused him of being a political coward. But serious problems in Burkes office predated the May 2022 firings, Golias said in a complaint filed April 7 with the New York Division of Human Rights and in interviews with The Buffalo News. The former aide accuses Burke of fostering what she called a highly personal and inappropriate office culture. Burke categorically and individually denied each of her accusations. Matthew T.H. Dearing, Burkes former director of community relations, told The Buffalo News that he witnessed several of the interactions mentioned in the complaint. In January, Dearing and Golias notified Burkes office of plans to file a joint wrongful termination suit. Two other people with firsthand knowledge of Burkes behavior in his district office also said they witnessed conversations in which the assemblyman used language they considered inappropriate and commented on womens looks. In a statement and interview with The Buffalo News on Thursday, Burke called Golias accusations demonstrably false and defamatory, and said they represented the continuation of a public campaign against him that Golias began after she was fired. During Golias time in his office, Burke said, it was she who made vulgar, crass and sexually explicit comments and displayed what he described as unprofessional behavior. The New York Assembly has opened an independent investigation into the accusations, Burke confirmed, as is standard under the Legislatures harassment policy. Burke said he looked forward to the investigation, which he said would show Golias had invented or misconstrued her complaints. Ms. Golias behavior was egregious during her brief tenure in my office, and it is an outrage that she would accuse me of the very behavior she not only participated in, but fostered, Burke said. She has twisted the truth and outright lied in the past, and she is doing it again for monetary gain. Golias is seeking unnamed damages for lost wages and emotional distress in her sexual harassment complaint, her attorney said. Kerri Biche, a spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, told The News on Friday: We are aware of what was reported today. The matter has been referred to our Ethics Committee, as per the Assemblys Policy Prohibiting Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation. Entirely inappropriate behavior Golias complaint does not accuse Burke of making sexual advances toward her. Rather, Golias said the assemblyman engaged in what she called inappropriate and offensive behavior in his district office and at other events with staffers. The four people he employed at the time were all in their 20s, and three of them became friends, Golias and Dearing said. He would do anything he could to appear cool and attractive, Golias said of Burke, 38. And I dont know if he was trying to convince others or himself. But it ended up just veering into entirely inappropriate behavior. In one incident in April 2022, which Burke called absurd and a lie, the assemblyman told his staff that he had viewed sexually explicit videos of his son and female partners on his sons Snapchat account, Golias said. Burke sometimes discussed personal and family matters in the office, Golias said, and the videos came up as part of a discussion of the teenagers behavior. Burke called his teenage sons sexual partners hot, Golias said. Golias said she told Burke that the people were minors. According to Golias complaint, Burke, using a profane term, told his staff that if the partner had large breasts and a size zero waist, shes hot. Burke said that while he did discuss his sons Snapchat account with staff, he absolutely did not comment on womens bodies in that or other conversations. Golias said Burke made the comments in front of Dearing and Brendan Keany, his former communications director. Dearing confirmed the incident to The News and said he recalled feeling very taken aback by what he called Burkes comments about the girls physique. Golias also discussed the incident with a college friend in April 2022, soon after it occurred, she said. The friend confirmed that she and Golias discussed the video, and Golias shared a May 2022 text message with The News in which her friend referred to it. Burke later asked staff if the conversation had made them uncomfortable, Golias said, and they downplayed the incident. Pat would do stuff that made us pretty uncomfortable with regularity, Dearing said, adding that discussion of womens appearances, dating lives and sexual histories were routine in the office. The two other witnesses to Burkes behavior, who requested anonymity out of concern that commenting politically would damage their careers, confirmed that they heard Burke comment on womens appearances or express attraction to them. Burke said that he allows a casual environment in his office and jokes all the time, but not in a way that is sexually explicit. On one occasion, Golias and Dearing said, Burke commented on the genitalia of a man Golias was dating. Burke said no such conversation occurred. Another time, Golias and Dearing both said, Burke told staff that a woman had pressed her breasts against him at a public event and asked Golias if she did the same when she flirted with men. Burke also denied that conversation happened. In March 2022, Golias was marching with the assemblyman in the City of Buffalo St. Patricks Day Parade when they encountered several of Golias friends. Golias said Burke looked them all up and down in a way that led her to believe he found the women attractive. He later commented that he would like to hang out with Golias and her friends after she shared a story about singing karaoke with them, Golias said. Burke said he never thought to check out Golias or her friends, and said she had misconstrued or misrepresented benign conversations. Shes trying to make it sound like Im some leering creep, and I just dont comport myself in that way at all, Burke said. Separately, Golias said that Burke once brought mushrooms to the office that she understood to be psychedelic. Burke has sponsored legislation to partially legalize psilocybin, a chemical found in certain mushrooms, for the treatment of mental health conditions. Burke said he never brought psychedelic mushrooms to the office. Public hearing could follow Burke denied creating a toxic culture in the district office, where he said he rarely worked. Instead, he said Golias had displayed egregious behavior during her time as his legislative director, and that he had verbally corrected her for making vulgar, crass, and sexually explicit comments. On one occasion, Burke said, he reprimanded Golias for asking two of her colleagues if they would perform a sex act on a prominent female politician. After Golias was fired, Burke said, he also discovered staff text message threads and personal papers in which Golias shared a link to a satirical article about a sex toy and made a joke about menstruation, among other comments that Burke said were inappropriate. The office did not keep written records of disciplinary actions or performance issues, Burke said. But Golias received a pay raise during her tenure. Golias never filed a complaint or considered quitting her job, she said, because she considered the work too important and believed that women often put up with work environments they find uncomfortable in order to progress in their careers. That changed, she said, when Burke fired her and two colleagues for what he called gross insubordination following a May 2022 disagreement about Burkes response to the Tops massacre. I think most people who would go through this would still keep it quiet I think most women dont want to rock the boat, she said. But Id already kind of been thrown overboard. So Im in an interesting position to be able to speak my mind. In the immediate aftermath of the mass shooting, Dearing said, Burke had told staff he planned to give dual speeches denouncing white supremacy on both the Assembly floor and in his largely white, suburban district. Burke did make such a speech to the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus. But he then told the three staffers they should return to their normal work on other policy issues, Golias said. Burke denied ever planning a speech in his district and cited media interviews in which Dearing and Golias said Burke had done too little to address white supremacy, despite his caucus speech and documented messages with his staff discussing further proposals and activities. The next day, Golias said, Burke got into a heated phone argument about that decision with Dearing, who is Black, while traveling back to Western New York from Albany. The conversation became personal when it turned to their families experiences with racism, both men have acknowledged in prior interviews. Golias and Dearing said that when Burke arrived back at the office, he told them and Keany that they should resign if they didnt support him. He then fired all three on the spot, Golias and Dearing said. Golias said she burst into tears and began packing her things, having not spoken at all during the confrontation. Golias and Dearing also plan to sue Burkes office for unlawful termination this month, the former staffers said. In a letter to Burkes office dated Jan. 9, Nathan McMurray, the attorney for the staffers and a former candidate for Erie County executive, accused Burke of firing them for their political beliefs and claimed that Burke mischaracterized the circumstances of their dismissal in comments to the press. Media coverage of the firings made it difficult for Golias to find another job in local politics, she said, though she interviewed for several between May 2022 and March 2023. In March, she found a job in the private sector and is no longer involved in politics, she said. Dearing worked briefly as a contractor for an out-of-state advocacy organization and is now running for a Buffalo Common Council seat in the Ellicott District. The Human Rights Division, an alternative to the civil court system, will next investigate the claim to determine whether there is probable cause that discrimination occurred. If so, the case may proceed to a public hearing before an administrative law judge. The letter McMurray sent to Burke in January about the termination case indicates that Golias and Dearing previously sought to settle privately with the office. Burke won re-election to his third term as assemblyman in 2022 and previously served in the Erie County Legislature. The Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee contributed more than $150,000 to his most recent campaign, The News has reported. Burke was among the first lawmakers from the region to call on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign following allegations of sexual harassment in 2021. If its proven to be true that the Governor abused his power by sexually harassing subordinates then he must resign, Burke wrote on Twitter then. Its very hard for people like us to speak up, Dearing said. Its not something you do frivolously or spur of the moment. Its a scary thing. ATLANTIC COUNTY The Atlantic County Prosecutors Office will have a recognition ceremony on April 27, as well as other initiatives throughout the month for their annual commitment to National Crimes Victims Rights Week. The ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. in front of the Criminal Courthouse in Mays Landing. A raining workshops will follow the ceremony at 1:00 p.m. National Crimes Victims Rights Week is held April 23 to 29. This years theme will be Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change. The theme was chosen to amplify the voices of survivors and create environments where survivors have the confidence they will be heard, believed and supported in communities. Atlantic City resident Denise Moore will share her story about how she lost her grandson, Marcus Brown. He was murdered on June 8, 2009. The program seeks to elevate the stories of victims impacted by violent crimes as a way of giving them a voice while also raising awareness of the work law enforcement and victim advocacy groups do to help families affected by crime.. As part of the event, Moore will be presented with a gift from the Prosecutors Office and a resolution from the Atlantic County Board of Commissioners. Speakers include Chief of Detectives Patrick Snyder, who served as the primary investigator in Browns case, and Victim-Witness Advocate Maria Sosa, who maintained regular communication with Moore since the day of the homicide will also be at the ceremony. Retired Chief Assistant Prosecutor Chet Wiech, who prosecuted the case against Browns murderer, Robert M. Ingram on June 8, 2012, resulting in a guilty plea and 30-year sentence, will also share some words. As part of National Crime Victims Rights week, two billboards, one in Egg Harbor Township on the Black Horse Pike Route 40, another in Absecon on the White Horse Pike Route 30 will commemorate the week. The Office of the Attorney Generals Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance, Division of Criminal Justice, State Office of Victim Witness Advocacy and the Victims of Crime Compensation Office will host a New Jerseys Crime Victims Rights Week live event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 28 in Trenton. It will be followed by a training workshop following. For more information on the April 27 event, National Crime Victims Rights Awareness Month and the Office of Victim Witness Advocacy, please contact publicinformation@acpo.org. CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE The Pennsylvania woman accused of killing her 11-year-old son in her familys suburban Philadelphia home then fleeing to the shore agreed to be extradited Friday. Appearing virtually in Cape May County Superior Court on Friday morning, Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead, 50, of Horsham Township, softly answered questions from Judge Bernard DeLury. Wearing a blue dress, DiRienzo-Whitehead appeared only through a television mounted in the courtroom, showing little to no emotion. The Pennsylvania wife and mother has been in Cape May County jail since being arrested in Wildwood Crest on Tuesday, hours after police say she abandoned her 2019 Toyota Highlander in the surf just off The Cove beach in Cape May. Hours earlier, she allegedly strangled her son, Matthew Whitehead, using her husbands black dress belt, authorities said. Police later found the belt inside the Toyota. The belts grip left marks on the childs neck, according to an autopsy report. Attorney Eugene Tinari represented DiRienzo-Whithead in court on Friday. Assistant Cape May County Prosecutor Dara Paley, representing the state, handed the forms to DeLury that would allow DiRienzo-Whiteheads extradition to Pennsylvania. DiRienzo-Whitehead has been charged in New Jersey as a fugitive from justice, but that offense will likely be dropped following her extradition, DeLury said. The Montgomery County District Attorneys Office has said DiRienzo-Whitehead strangled her son after he went to sleep in the familys home around 9:30 p.m. Monday. The following morning, her husband, Daniel Whitehead, forced his way into the locked bedroom to find his son dead, according to an affidavit of probable cause. He also found the Highlander missing from the familys garage. Meanwhile, in South Jersey, authorities were looking for the driver of the Highlander, which Cape May police found abandoned on the beach, partially submerged. Officers in Wildwood Crest went to DiRienzo-Whitheads second home on Seaview Avenue around 8 a.m. Tuesday. She wasnt at the home at first, but police later spotted her walking down the street, according to an affidavit from her New Jersey charges. Officers described the mother as being disheveled with dirty feet, tattered black pajamas and messy hair and looked confused about where she was going. The family house sits on a quiet street with little spring traffic and homes built close to one another. Neighbors struggled to imagine how a boy theyd come to know could now be dead, allegedly at the hands of his mother. One neighbor, who would only give her first name, said she watched from her house across the street as police converged on DiRienzo-Whitehead. Matthew was a beautiful child, and tall for his age, the woman said, tears in her eyes as she spoke Friday. I can remember the day his grandmother brought him over when he was born, she said. I remember seeing him ride up and down on his bike. He had a dog, Dusty, and he would walk Dusty. I cant even look at the house. It had to be something that she just lost it, the woman said, sobbing. DiRienzo-Whiteheads legal team will likely have her go through a psychiatric evaluation, planning to use any signs of mental vulnerability in the case, Tinari said. This is a situation where there were significant mental health issues, not that thats an excuse, of course, but as far as an explanation or reason that may come down the road, Tinari told The Press after the hearing. To me, theres no other plausible explanation why, other than mental illness, this happened. As officer approached DiRienzo-Whithead Tuesday, they called her name as she was approaching her house, according to an affidavit, part of the court record. The mother turned and spoke to the officers and told them I know what I did, the affidavit states. She was then taken to police headquarters. Charges werent filed initially on Tuesday, but were later handed down after the autopsy ruled the childs death a homicide. DiRienzo-Whitehead arrived in Pennsylvania on Friday afternoon, said Kate Delano, communications manager for the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office. She was set to be brought to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Eagleville Once in Montgomery County custody, shell have an arraignment. At that appearance, a preliminary hearing date will be set, typically for within two weeks, Delano said. No one charged with first-degree murder in Pennsylvania is eligible for bail, Delano said. DiRienzo-Whitehead faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted, Delano said. The defense has not yet decided if it will enter a plea, Tinari said in a phone interview. His client, after abandoning her car in the ocean, walked for some time on the beach, he said. She found a passing driver to give her a ride into Wildwood Crest. David Schoenleber was awake early on Tuesday morning, working in the garage in his Wildwood Crest homes backyard when he was approached by police, asking if hed seen his neighbor that morning. No other details were given besides that police were conducting an investigation tied to the home, he said. It wasnt until later that he learned the purpose of the police presence. I dont know how anybody can get to that place to do something like that, Schoenleber said. It shocked the hell out of me. Matthew Whitehead was remembered by his school, Germantown Academy in the Philadelphia suburbs, as a dedicated student with a bright smile. ATLANTIC CITY The truck traffic to the site of rsteds operations and maintenance hub, going up at the end of New Jersey and Delaware avenues in Bungalow Park, is steady. But the promised four-way stops for pedestrian and vehicle safety are not yet installed. An rsted spokesperson said this week the company is working on plans for the installation and will apply to the city as soon as possible. The plans to install stop signs and radar signs in the neighborhood surrounding the operations and maintenance facility are currently undergoing a design and review process, said Jesse Balboa, rsted senior project manager. When complete, we will present our plan to the city, and with the citys approval, will install the signs. Balboa said rsted has already posted informational signs to improve safety and reduce traffic through the neighborhood. One indicates approved construction traffic routes and the other identifies a no construction traffic area on New Jersey Avenue, he said. To further mitigate noise and traffic impact to the neighborhood, we have instructed construction-related vehicles entering the area that the use of air brakes is not permitted, Balboa said. So far rsted has demolished an existing warehouse and remediated the site, and renovated the Davenport Center for use as a community center. It is in the midst of bulkhead renovations and building pipe-pile foundations, Balboa said. Construction of the facility is on schedule to complete in the summer of 2024, he said. In June the city Planning Board gave site plan approval for Phase 1 of a maintenance and operations facility for rsted North America, to be built on the waterfront at the end of a residential street in the Bungalow Park neighborhood. Approval was contingent on rsted installing solar-powered stop signs to make all intersections on New Jersey Avenue, from Route 30 to the site, into four-way stops. It also must consider other traffic calming measures in consultation with the city, said Planning Board attorney Joel Fleishman at the time. In October City Council passed an ordinance to create six four-way stops in the Bungalow Park neighborhood. The intersections include four along New Jersey Avenue where it intersects with Drexel, Adriatic, Wabash and Caspian avenues; and Wabash Avenue where it intersects with Delaware and Connecticut avenues. rsted is an offshore wind farm developer that has state approval to build two large wind farms off the Atlantic City coast, and promises to provide hundreds of jobs for local and state residents. Phase 1 includes building bulkheads to stabilize the 4.5-acre lot and docks to accommodate six vessels, rsted representatives said. Once operating, the boats will take engineers and technicians out to build two offshore wind farms, and then maintain and operate them. About 50 to 70 workers will use New Jersey Avenue each day at about 6 a.m. as they arrive to start their 12-hour shift and catch a boat to the worksite. The same number of workers will finish their shift about 6 p.m. and will exit by the same route, according to rsted. Several residents of the area have expressed concern for weeks over the increased traffic the site will generate during its construction and operation, and about how it will affect property values. The company hopes to get the go-ahead from the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to start building the wind farm itself in early 2023 and to have it operational in 2024, spokespeople have said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) A total of 3,992 out of 9,183 examinees passed the 2022 Bar examinations, yielding a 43.47% passing rate. For this year, the Supreme Court announced the 30 highest scorers, in which the top five were all from the University of the Philippines. Czar Matthew Dayday dominated the Bar examinations with a score of 88.8083%. He was followed by Erickson Marinas with 88.766%, Christian Claire Cregencia with 87.9667%, Andrea Jasmine Yu with 88.7750%, and Kim Gia Gatapia with 87.4250%. Meanwhile, it was a two-way tie at the 30th place between Michael Delgado of the Ateneo de Davao University and Patricia Marie Ignacio of UP, who both garnered a score of 86%. Moreover, of the schools with more than 100 Bar candidates, the Ateneo de Manila University produced the greatest number of passers, with 178 out of 184 making the cut. This translates to a 96.74% passing rate. The San Beda University ranked second with a passing rate of 96.67%, followed by UP with 94.27%, University of San Carlos with 91.43%, and the University of Santo Tomas with 78.09%. This year's passing rate is lower compared to the record high 72.28% passing rate, or 8,241 examinees out of 11,402 test takers, in the 2020/2021 Bar exams. SC Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, who also chaired the Bar examinations, encouraged those who failed to try again next time. "For those who may not find their names on the awaited list for now, I call each of you to recall how the Bar examinations can never approximate what you are worth," he said in a press briefing. "Allow this setback to be only temporary, but your will to overcome the Bar examinations unchanged." Moreover, Caguioa is expecting the fresh batch of lawyers to be of service to the country. "May your new success be a door that opens to meaningful opportunities to breathe life to the law in a way that is consistent with its spirit and in a manner that brings hope to the people and to the country," he said. The 2022 Bar exams were held on Nov. 9, 13, 16, and 20. The oath taking of the newly minted lawyers will be held on May 2. Petrichor is the smell of rain. The word comes from the Greek words petra, meaning stone, and ichor, which in Greek mythology refers to the golden fluid that flows in the veins of the immortals. Petrichor is the term coined by Australian scientists in 1964 to describe the unique, earthy smell associated with rain. It is caused by the water from the rain, along with certain compounds like ozone, geosmin, and plant oils. CHICAGO Union-represented faculty and staff at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago could be the latest to walk the picket lines after 95% of members voted Thursday to strike if an agreement with the administration is not reached at upcoming bargaining sessions. NEIU would be the fourth state university to face a work stoppage if union members go on strike, joining faculty and staff at Chicago State University, Governors State University and Eastern Illinois University, where strikes are underway. The NEIU chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois has been bargaining with the university since July over working conditions and pay. Nancy Matthews, NEIU chapter president and professor of gender and sexuality studies, said that although the union hopes to avert a strike, there are several points to work out during the 10-day waiting period following the unions intent to strike. I would say we are not close; we have major issues still on the table, she said Thursday. What Im hopeful about is that we have a mostly new board of trustees and I believe the new board members are motivated to help the university reach a settlement. Until then, we are still going to work as hard as we can to achieve a fair agreement, Matthews said. There were two simultaneous events Thursday at the Northwest Side university a rally where the board of trustees met and a bargaining session. Matthews said NEIU is threatening deep budget cuts, likely due to plunging enrollment, and they are solving that problem on the backs of student-facing employees. Were all people who work directly with students; were not part of the administrative bloat that has grown around the university, Matthews said, adding that the union includes tenure-track and non-tenure-track instructors, as well as librarians and academic advisers. In a statement Thursday, NEIU administrators acknowledged the drop in enrollment at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when first-year, full-time enrollment numbers dropped to 331 in fall 2021, but increased to 516 in fall 2022. The reality is Northeastern is experiencing a budget deficit. The deficit was exacerbated during the COVID pandemic because many of our students lost the jobs they rely on to pay for their education, NEIU officials said. Northeasterns budget priority continues to focus on supporting our students in need and stabilizing retention and recruitment. This includes actively seeking additional funding from the State of Illinois and looking at appropriate administrative cuts. NEIU is classified as a Hispanic-serving institution, with nearly 40% of students identifying as Latinx, according to the most recent federal data. The money from the state has been dramatically diminished over the years and our students are among the most vulnerable and they need public higher education to be robustly supported, Matthews said. Governors State, Chicago State and Eastern Illinois also serve special student populations. CSU is the states only predominantly Black institution and one of the few nationwide that offer four-year degree programs. GSU is a minority-serving institution and emerging Hispanic-serving institution. And according to the Illinois Federation of Teachers, EIU is a rural institution and essential to the vitality of the surrounding community. For a school like NEIU or Chicago State to be neglected financially by the state, to me, is part of how structural racism works in our society that the people who are serving marginalized, low-income, first-generation students are also the ones not compensated fairly and at risk constantly, Matthews said. NEIU officials said they remain hopeful for successful bargaining, but will have procedures in place to guide the university through a possible strike, including steps to minimize the disruption to students education. April 24 is the earliest NEIU UPI can strike. Photos: Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - File Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 An 18-year-old East Moline man was arrested Wednesday evening after he allegedly set fire to an abandoned East Moline home. Oscar N. Sanchez is charged with one count of arson, a Class 2 felony under Illinois law that carries a prison sentence of three to seven years. According to a news release issued by East Moline Police Lt. Joshua Allen, at 6:11 p.m., East Moline Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to 910 23rd Avenue for a report of a structure fire. Upon arrival officers saw flames and smoke coming from the top of the home. Neighbors told officers that two people were seen running from the home into a nearby ravine. East Moline firefighters arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire, with no injuries or other property damaged. The home is listed as belonging to Fannie Mae in Rock Island County Circuit Court documents. Police located the two people, a woman and a man, and learned they were inside the home at the time of the fire. In conducting interviews with neighbors and the two suspects, it was learned that the man and woman went inside the home and a fire was then lit in the fireplace. Sanchez was taken into custody and taken to the Rock Island County Jail. He was released after posting bond. The incident remains under investigation. East Moline Police ask that anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Investigations Division at 309-752-1557, or Crime Stoppers of the Quad-Cities at 309-762-9500 or utilize the Crime Stoppers P3 Tips app. The Pleasant Valley School Board has unanimously approved Bernadette Brustkern as the district's new director of secondary education. Brustkern will succeed Mike Zimmer upon his retirement at the end of this school year. He served as the secondary education director since July 2019 and was the Pleasant Valley High School principal for 10 years prior. "I'm very excited about 'Bernie' joining the PVCSD executive team," Zimmer said in an email. "She brings both building and central-office expertise to the district at a time when we're beginning to pilot some major initiatives." Brustkern is currently the director of curriculum and instruction for North Scott schools, a position she's held since July 2020. Before that role, she was the Edward White Elementary School principal for six years and held other positions within the district since the fall of 2009. "I'm super excited about this opportunity," Brustkern said. "I'm looking forward to building relationships with administration and staff, digging into PV's system and contributing in a meaningful way." Brustkern obtained an undergraduate degree in elementary education from the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), according to her LinkedIn profile. She earned a graduate degree in educational leadership from Western Illinois University and recently picked up a superintendency advanced studies certificate from UNI. Coincidentally, Pleasant Valley's former director of communications, Beth Marsoun, will take over the same position for Rock Island-Milan schools. On Tuesday, the Rock Island-Milan School Board unanimously appointed Marsoun to the communications position. Her predecessor, Holly Sparkman, will retire on Friday, May 12, after about 16 years of service. Marsoun said she grew up and attended school in Rock Island. "I've loved it at Pleasant Valley, but the opportunity to come home was too big of a draw for me," she said after Tuesday's meeting. "I'm super excited to pull out the red-and-gold again. I'm hoping to continue what Holly has already done a great job of." Marsoun hopes to bring skills she's developed working and connecting with parents into the new role, having served as PV's communications director for just over six years. Before that, she worked in the news industry, holding various roles, including news director at KWQC TV-6. Photos: Pleasant Valley girls wrestling takes on Bettendorf Hearing from an astronaut that the earth looks like a blue marble from space can make a first-grader's day. U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Illinois, visited Moline this week with an out-of-this-world guest: NASA astronaut Kate Rubins. The two hosted a forum at Black Hawk College on Wednesday night, then stopped Thursday morning at Hamilton Elementary School, aiming to "inspire the next generation" of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) professionals. "In 20 years, when we're sending the first humans to Mars, where are those people today? They're going to be in a first-grade classroom," Sorensen said. "If we don't inspire kids at the elementary level to say, 'I want to be an astronaut when I grow up,' we won't have them." Sorensen serves as the ranking member on the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. A Moline resident who lives a few blocks from Hamilton, the congressman jumped at the chance to bring an established NASA astronaut "home." "I would love to be able to say that our next astronauts were graduates of Hamilton," Sorensen said. "My job is to make sure that these kids have everything they need to succeed at whatever they want to do when they grow up, and that's why I wanted to bring this astronaut here today." To prepare for Rubins' visit, Arika Faith's first-grade class did its homework. On the YouTube channel "Story Time From Space," the students watched NASA astronaut Serena Aunon-Chancellor narrate, "If I Were an Astronaut" by Eric Braun aboard Expedition 56. If first-grader Ezriel Hultgren were an astronaut, he said, it would be, "cool." "I would get to see planets in real life and get to discover new stars and new planets," the 7-year-old said. When Rubins introduced herself to the class, she asked a simple but enticing question: "Does anybody have any questions about space?" One student asked, "How did you become an astronaut?" Rubins replied that her journey began with her love of biology. Several Hamilton first-graders perked up for the next question, which was, "What do you see in space?" Having spent 300 days total in space the fourth most out of all U.S. female astronauts Rubins was well-prepared to answer. She said the International Space Station (ISS) orbits Earth 16 times a day and those onboard the ISS can see the "whole milky way." "To me, it (Earth) looked like a blue marble, or a blue ball, but it was really bright," Rubins said. "All the light coming from the sun reflects off the Earth's surface. Sometimes you have to wear sunglasses to look at it, and it's very blue." The description of Earth from space was the most interesting takeaway for 7-year-old Norah Montague. She and 6-year-old Maleah Hogren agreed they weren't sure about being astronauts someday, but they came to the consensus that going to space would be "cool, but kind of crazy." When Rubins spoke about the dehydrated food astronauts eat in space, nearly all students gasped when hearing flavors like chocolate cake, ice cream and barbecued beef. The classmates also were excited to hear of NASA's return to the moon in 2025 with Artemis III and the next planetary quest Mars. "It's going to be tough to make it (Mars) habitable. But you know what? We're going to go there, and you guys could be working on those jobs," Rubins said. "That'd be right around the time you could be a scientist or engineer at NASA. I have a feeling that some of you are going to be astronauts. I think you can do it." Sorensen gave the class a brief glimpse into his former career field, meteorology, and explained its relationship with space exploration. "When you think about the weather, we're at the bottom of the weather, right? Well, astronauts get to see the top," he said before drawing an analogy between Earth and an apple. "The atmosphere that protects us from space it's only as big as the skin on that apple. Not very many people have been outside the skin of the apple, so that's why we need to take care of our Earth." Rubins joined NASA in 2009, one of nine selected in the 20th NASA astronaut class. During her career, she's completed two spaceflight missions Expeditions 48 and 49 and four spacewalks. In 2016, Rubins became the first person to sequence DNA in space. She also grew heart cells and performed other micro-experiments in orbit. Most recently, she served as a flight engineer for Expedition 63 and 64 aboard the ISS. Photos: Gov. Pritzker holds press conference with Eric Sorensen Ayola Vesey, of Bettendorf, takes her mom to memory-care day service every weekday before she goes to work. Her mom, Selva Jones, has Alzheimer's Disease, and she'd made her daughter promise a long time ago to never put her in a nursing home. Jane's Place, housed with the Center for Active Seniors, Inc. in Davenport, allows Vesey to keep her promise and go to work as a teacher at Davenport Central, she said. Without Jane's Place, Vesey would have to quit her teaching job to care for her mother, she told supervisors at a Thursday meeting before the board voted to cut the county's $48,000 contribution to Jane's Place. Ten years ago, Raynell Kubatska's husband passed away, halving her income. A CASI outreach worker helped her find an affordable apartment, she said. "I honestly don't know where I would be living today without CASI," Kubatska told supervisors Thursday before they voted to end the county's $165,600 contract with CASI for senior outreach services. Supervisors on Thursday voted unanimously to approve their $124 million budget, which begins July 1. The vote culminates a monthslong budget process, where supervisors have wrestled with how to make up for about $1.6 million in less-than-expected revenue because of a correction to how the state calculates property taxes. Scott County supervisors, wanting to avoid raising the tax levy, asked county staff to turn to cuts. Two nonprofits that contracted with the county were the hardest hit CASI and the Center for Alcohol and Drug Services. Supervisors Chair Ken Beck indicated he wanted staff to review contracts with nonprofits in summer 2022 for efficiencies. At that time, he cited inflationary pressures on the county budget. CASI, at 1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport, has two contracts with the county that will now end July 1 the $48,000 contribution to Jane's Place and a $165,600 contract for senior outreach services that helps seniors in their homes. In January, supervisors already were considering eliminating funding for Jane's Place. In revising the budget, staff recommended cutting further ending the $165,600 contract for senior outreach services, too. As part of that program, CASI social workers work with more than 2,000 seniors each year to connect them with services and fill out forms, such as helping them apply for rent rebates and emergency food assistance as well as navigating technology, housing, transportation and health care systems, according to CASI's website. Without the contracts, CASI loses 20% of its funding July 1, President and CEO Laura Kopp said. After the meeting, Kopp told reporters CASI's leadership is looking at other funding strategies to keep CASI going, including working with the Iowa Department of Aging. But "serious conversations" would be had about what programs and services CASI would be able to offer moving forward. While she said she's not surprised by the board's decision, she's disappointed. About 100 people packed the Scott County chambers to advocate for CASI during a public hearing on the county's budget. Several advocated for supervisors to find another way to balance their budget or phase-in cuts to funding. "I was going to ask you to imagine the clients of CASI sitting alongside you as you vote on this, but you don't have to imagine it. They're here," Peter Petitt, a pastor with St. Paul Lutheran Church, said. Several seniors told supervisors personal stories of CASI helping them find community, counseling and support after a spouse died. "I'm a veteran," Henry Denny told supervisors. "My wife of 57 years passed away last July, and without the services of CASI, I don't think I'd be here today. Without their meals, without their companionship, without their counseling, I wouldn't have made it." Others, such as Vesey, credited Jane's Place as a center to take a parent with Alzheimer's Disease or dementia while they worked, allowing them to make connections and improve physically and mentally. More praised CASI as a place to connect, stay physically active, and overcome challenges. "CASI means so much to so many people," CASI board member Jane VenHorst said. In particular, senior outreach service providers, "help find funding for meals or for rent or for shoes on their feet or medical assistance," VenHorst said. CASI leaders have asked county officials to phase in the recommended cuts to the nonprofit organization's funding, which they say would've allowed more time to absorb them. She added: "I know you've got a horrible job to do to make a decision on where you find these dollars, but to cut us so dramatically, to completely defund us, just doesn't seem fair to CASI as an organization or to all of the seniors who have spent their lives here." Sangeetha Rayapati, the Moline mayor and a professor at Augustana College where she leads a minor in aging studies, said CASI's programming was essential to seniors' quality of life and could prevent or delay ailments that would put more strain on health and human services systems. She urged supervisors to find an alternative to avoid, "destabilizing the lives of seniors from all over the region." "The haves will use their resources to stay healthy and the have-nots will struggle to do so," Rayapati said. "All of which would be an unfortunate statement of the value on human life and dignity in the region." In recommending supervisors end CASI's contract, Community Services Director Lori Elam cited low admissions to Jane's Place, the organization's fragile financial position, and she said CASI's services weren't a core function of the county. Jane's Place's admissions dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic from 32 in 2019 to 15 in 2020, according to Elam's data. Its capacity is 40. COVID-19 was particularly difficult for CASI, leading to a loss of $700,000 in event and fundraising revenue. Kopp has said this year CASI is anticipating a $200,000 deficit. "A slow reduction in funding over three years will only prolong the inevitable and will most likely create more of a deficit each year," Elam wrote in notes to the county budget director to make the recommendation. If CASI were to close its doors, Elam told supervisors at the time, the county could field calls and refer seniors to services, such as Milestones Area Agency on Aging, nursing homes, in-home care providers and could invite an agency to set up a table in county buildings to help seniors fill out utility assistance applications. Beck told audience members Thursday that, "there's been a lot of discussion here about the great activities, and we don't disagree." To his understanding, he said, the county was providing funding for two programs, senior outreach and Jane's Place, not for meals, counseling or weekly activities, and that seniors should ensure other funding sources for those continue. An audience member responded, arguing that CASI as a whole is a sum of its parts, including Jane's Place and outreach. Beck also emphasized that outreach services would continue in a different form. "Advocacy and outreach is not going away," Beck said. "The county will be working with other agencies in the area to make those services available." Kopp, after the meeting, was skeptical that those services could be performed as efficiently as CASI has managed them. "I certainly don't see how that can be done at a cost savings when CASI provides the lowest wages in our community, and our staff do not even have health insurance benefits because we can't afford it we haven't seen increases in funding in over 15 years," Kopp said. "It's hard for me to see that plan because that plan was not shared. I certainly hope that we can take them at their word. We were also told that these cuts might be able to be spread out over one to three years, and that was not the case." The county board also opted for no increases to elected officials' salaries, to cut funding to the Mississippi Valley Fair Board ($12,500), to pause funding for the Greater Davenport Redevelopment Corporation and to budget less for contingency funds. 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. Iowa Democrats requested an extension to file their 2024 caucus plan Friday morning as GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann slammed their commitment to a mail-in caucus plan, days after a Republican lawmaker proposed a bill to require in-person participation in the caucuses. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart on Friday sent a letter to the Democratic National Committees Rules and Bylaws Committee requesting a 30-day extension to submit the partys delegate selection plan. The proposed bill, which advanced out of a House Committee on Thursday, would require in-person participation at party caucuses and require a person to register with a party 70 days in advance of the caucuses. The bill would upend Democrats' plan to conduct their caucuses mostly by mail. In her letter, Hart said the bill would obviously have a dramatic effect on our plans. The mail-in system was pitched as a way to expand accessibility, allowing people who may not be able to spend an entire evening at a caucus to express their preference for president. I am committed to holding the most inclusive and accessible caucuses in Iowa history, she wrote. Folks who work third shift, people with disabilities, and parents of young children should have a voice in Iowas presidential nominating process. If granted, the Iowa Democrats would have until June 3 to submit their delegate selection plan for 2024. Iowa GOP chair: The cards have been on the table in standoff with New Hampshire Also on Friday, Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann slammed Democrats for suggesting a plan that he says would endanger the caucuses, saying the cards have been on the table for over a decade in the standoff between Iowa and New Hampshires presidential nominating contests. Republicans have argued that implementing a mail-in system, as the Iowa Democratic Party announced in June, would constitute a primary instead of a caucus, triggering New Hampshire to schedule its primary before Iowas caucus. This is not Republicans speculating what Republicans might do, he said. They will jump us. They have had their cards on the table the entire time. We have had our cards on the table. Nothing has changed here. The bill was proposed by Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton and Jeff Kaufmanns son. Bobby Kaufmann is also a senior adviser to former President Donald Trumps 2024 campaign. New Hampshire state law requires it to hold its primary election before any other state, and the state traditionally holds the first primary after Iowas caucuses. Jeff Kaufmann said the order is dependent on agreements between the states and the parties, and if that agreement breaks down it threatens Iowas position. That is a line you cannot cross or the entire carveout system falls apart, he said. And we will be flyover country. New Hampshire GOP Chair Chris Ager posted a screenshot of an email online this week, in which the states Republican Secretary of State David Scanlon confirmed those concerns, saying he would move the primary date ahead of the caucuses if Democrats used mail-in ballots in their caucuses. But Democrats this week were defiant, saying New Hampshire should not control what Iowas parties choose to do. As chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, Im committed to doing whats best for Iowa, not whats best for New Hampshire, Hart said during a Thursday news 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. Iowa Democrats presented their plan to conduct the caucuses mostly by mail in June in an attempt to keep their spot as the first presidential nominating contest for the Democratic Party. The Democratic National Committee had expressed skepticism of Iowa remaining first in the nation because of many factors, including the lack of accessibility that a caucus provides and the lack of diversity in Iowa. The party ultimately approved a calendar that kicked Iowa from the early window entirely, elevating South Carolina to the first primary in their process at the urging of President Joe Biden. 70-day registration cutoff The bill would also require a person to register with a party 70 days in advance to participate in that partys caucus. Bobby Kaufmann said the measure was necessary to prevent members of one party from organizing and participating in another partys caucus if they do not fall on the same night. But in doing away with same-day registration for caucuses, the move may affect parties abilities to organize and bring new members into the fold ahead of the caucuses. Parties would need to drive registration ahead of the 70-day cutoff instead of in the weeks leading up to or the day of the caucuses. Jeff Kaufmann said it would potentially make Republicans organizing efforts more difficult, but it was a necessary barrier to prevent Democrats from meddling in the Republican caucuses. Will it make it a little bit more difficult for Republicans to make sure they have to (register within) 70 days? Absolutely, he said. But you certainly can't call that a political move on our part. Ive got to answer to my own party for that. Photos: Iowa Caucus 020420-ia-caucus-mm-001.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-002.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-003.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-004.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-005.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-jg-01.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-02.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-03.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-04.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-05.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-06.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-08.1.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-09.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-10.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-11.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-12.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-13.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-14.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-15.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-16.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-17.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-18.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-19.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-20.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-21.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-22.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-23.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-jg-24.JPG 020420-ia-caucus-mm-006.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-007.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-008.jpg 020320-qc-spt-ambrose-bkb-026 020420-ia-caucus-mm-010.jpg 020320-qc-spt-ambrose-bkb-024 020420-ia-caucus-mm-012.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-013.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-014.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-015.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-016.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-017.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-018.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-019.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-020.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-021.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-022.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-023.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-024.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-025.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-026.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-027.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-028.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-029.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-030.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-031.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-032.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-mm-033.jpg 020420-ia-caucus-ks-016 020420-ia-caucus-ks-015 020420-ia-caucus-ks-017 020420-ia-caucus-ks-014 020420-ia-caucus-ks-012 020420-ia-caucus-ks-013 020420-ia-caucus-ks-008 020420-ia-caucus-ks-010 020420-ia-caucus-ks-011 020420-ia-caucus-ks-006 020420-ia-caucus-ks-007 020420-ia-caucus-ks-009 020420-ia-caucus-ks-005 020420-ia-caucus-ks-003 020420-ia-caucus-ks-004 020420-ia-caucus-ks-002 020420-ia-caucus-ks-001 This weekend and throughout April, theres an abundance of music, musicals, a film festival and amazing live performances to choose from in the Black Hills. Live music April 15 Black Hills Symphony Orchestra presents Fascinating Rhythm at 7:30 p.m. in the Historic Theater at the Performing Arts Center in Rapid City. This is a night of jazz-infused symphonic masterworks, including Duke Ellingtons Black, Brown and Beige Suite, pianist Theresa Bogard performing the Gershwin Piano Concerto in F, and much more. Go to bhsymphony.org/fascinating-rhythm or call 605-394-1786 or go to performingartsrc.org/box-office for tickets and information. Alex Massa presents "Water Music," at 7 p.m. at The Custer Beacon in Custer. This musical scores express the deep-rooted need for clean water via traditional indigenous wisdom and modern-day activism. The show will also feature Chadron State University jazz guitar professor Jeremy Quick. Admission is free. April 16 The Black Hills Bluegrass Association hosts its Spring Acoustic Showcase from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Vucurevich Event Center at Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City. Six local groups featuring some of the regions finest musicians will perform acoustic music in bluegrass, classic country and pop, folk, Americana and original styles. Hear performances by The Golden Oldies, Morning Dew, Dynamix, Svenson Family Band, James Van Nuys & Friends and New Cambria. All musicians donate their time and talents to this fundraiser for the Black Hills Bluegrass Festival. Tickets available at the door. General admission $15, Bluegrass Association members $12, children 12 and younger admitted free. Refreshments available to purchase throughout the showcase. The New Horizons Band with special guests the Joyful Gals & Guys Choir present their spring band concert from 2 to 4 p.m. at Canyon Lake Activity Center in Rapid City. The New Horizons Band welcomes any adult who wants to play in the band. Refreshments will be provided. Admission is free; an offering will be taken. Black Hills State Universitys Concert Choir will perform at 2 p.m. in Meier Recital Hall at Black Hills State University in Spearfish. Donations for scholarships are welcome. April 18 and 20 Ukrainian ensemble Gerdan will present a night of folk music at 7 p.m. April 18 at the Matthews Opera House and Arts Center in Spearfish. Gerdan Kaleidoscope of World Music is a four-piece ensemble founded by Ukrainian duo Solomia Gorokhivska and Andrei Pidkivka. The concert offers a sampling of Ukrainian folk music including Gerdans original arrangements of the songs and instrumental music from different regions of Ukraine. Go to matthewsopera.com/event/gerdan or call 605-642-7973 for tickets and information. Gerdan also will perform during Music Speaks: Gerdan: Changes in Rural Ukraine from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Sturgis Public Library in Sturgis. Admission to this concert and discussion is free. Gerdan creates original arrangements of traditional Ukrainian folk melodies and rhythms that reflect their passion for blending the old with the new in a style that is fresh, lively, and beautiful. April 21 The Northern Hills Chamber Chorale will perform at 7 p.m. in Meier Recital Hall at Black Hills State University in Spearfish. Donations for scholarships are welcome. Kane Browns "Drunk or Dreaming" Tour with LOCASH and Dustin Lynch performs at 7 p.m. in Summit Arena at The Monument in Rapid City. Go to themonument.live/events/detail/kanebrown23 for tickets and information. April 22 Spring band concerts will be presented at 7 p.m. in Meier Recital Hall at Black Hills State University in Spearfish. Donations for scholarships are welcome. April 23 Black Hills State University Jazz Band will perform at 2 p.m. in Meier Recital Hall at Black Hills State University in Spearfish. Donations for scholarships are welcome. April 27 Country star Aaron Watson will be in concert at 8 p.m. at Deadwood Mountain Grand in Deadwood. Go to deadwoodmountaingrand.com or call 605-559-1188 for tickets and information. April 29 Black Hills State University Chamber Orchestra will perform at 7 p.m. in Meier Recital Hall at Black Hills State University in Spearfish. Donations for scholarships are welcome. Theater and performance art April 15 Shen Yun Performing Arts, a journey through the five millennia of traditional Chinese culture, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theater at The Monument in Rapid City. Shen Yun invites audiences to travel back to the magical world of ancient China through the incredible art of classical Chinese dance, music and more. Tickets run $80 to $150. Tickets and information: themonument.live/events/detail/shenyun2023 April 15-23 The Fantasticks, a timeless tale of romance, bandits, sword fights, abduction and reunion, is being presented at Matthews Opera House and Arts Center in Spearfish. Showtimes are 7 p.m. April 15, 21 and 22, and 2 p.m. April 16 and 23. Advance tickets $20 adults, $10 students. Go to matthewsopera.com/event/the-fantasticks/2023-04-14/ or call 605-642-7973 for tickets and information. The Fantasticks is a funny, romantic musical about a boy, a girl, and their two fathers who try to keep them apart. What could go wrong? April 21-23 Black Hills Community Theatres Cherry Street Players present Honk! Jr. at 7 p.m. April 21, 2 and 7 p.m. April 22 and 2 p.m. April 23 in the Studio Theater at the Performing Arts Center in Rapid City. Go to bhct.org/cherry-street-players.html for tickets and information. This story puts a fresh spin on Hans Christian Andersens classic The Ugly Duckling. Ugly looks quite a bit different from his darling duckling brothers and sisters. The other animals on the farm are quick to notice and point this out. The little fowl finds himself on an adventure of self-discovery while unknowingly outwitting a very hungry Cat and meeting a whole flock of unique characters who help Ugly discover that being different is not a bad thing. April 22 Craig Karges: Mentalist performs at 7 p.m. at Homestake Opera House in Lead. This award-winning entertainer combines the art of magic with the science of psychology and the power of intuition. He creates the impression that nothing is impossible. Tables float, metal bends and imaginations are challenged. Tickets $27-$30. Go to homestakeoperahouse.org/event/craig-karges-mentalist or call 605-584-2067 for tickets and information. April 26 Rapid City Concert Association presents Troupe Vertigo at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theater at The Monument in Rapid City. Troupe Vertigo performs an eclectic mix of circus-dance-theater that ignites the imagination with mentally and physically spellbinding performances. Incorporating artistic components from various creative disciplines, Troupe Vertigo shows create imaginative stories woven together with stylized choreography and lighting. April 27-29 Douglas High School Drama Department presents "Seussical," a family-friendly musical comedy based on the works of Dr. Seuss, at 4 p.m. April 27 and 7 p.m. April 28 and 29 at Douglas High School in Box Elder. Seussical weaves together Horton Hears A Who! Gertrude McFuzz Horton Hatches the Egg and many other Seuss tales. Reserved seats are $3 per seat donation to the DHS Drama Club. For reservations, contact Kevin.Plooster@k12.sd.us or call 605-923-0030. Film festival April 17-18 The 2023 Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour begins at 6:30 p.m. April 17 at the Elks Theatre in Rapid City, showing the film Willow. The festival showcases a selection of outstanding adventure, exploration, and mountain culture films. On April 18, the evening begins with a pre-movie happy hour with Black Hills Climbers Coalition and Dawn Glanc at 5 p.m. at Windsor Block Bar. The film Aspen plays at 6:30 p.m. Go to eventbrite.com/e/2023-banff-centre-mountain-film-festival-world-tour-in-rapid-city-tickets-548015989577 for tickets and information. The South Dakota Board of Education Standards will consider public testimony of its proposed social studies standards at the fourth and final hearing in Pierre next week. The hearing will take place Monday, April 17 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time. Registration for individuals wishing to participate in public testimony has closed. On March 30, the SDBOE released an updated version of the proposed social studies standards on the department's website. The document reflects changes made since the board's last meeting, including adding Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the last remaining enslaved Americans to be let free, to kindergarten standard K.SS.4. Major South Dakota education groups still oppose the proposed standards after the recent update, including the South Dakota Education Equity Coalition (SDEEC) and the School Administrators of South Dakota (SASD). Both groups were critical of both the content and process by which the standards were formulated. The current social studies standards were approved in 2015 and the revision process began in 2021. Gov. Kristi Noem ordered the suspension of the process that same year. The original working group was formed similarly to the state's previous revisions through an application and nomination process, then chosen by the Department of Education. The 2021 revision work group had consisted of 40 to 50 educators from across the state and represented every grade level. Noem replaced the work group with the Social Studies Standards Revision Commission, of which members were appointed through the Governor's Office. The 15-person committee included only two South Dakota educators both of whom have spoken out against the process. In a joint statement, the SDEEC and the nine Tribes of South Dakota expressed their opposition to the proposed revisions of the K-12 social studies curriculum standards claiming they fail to provide an adequate representation of Native American history and instead promote a biased narrative. SDEEC Executive Director Sarah White said that despite opposition from all nine Tribes, the Secretary of Tribal Relations, David Flute, and the Director of Indian Education, Fred Osborn, both testified in previous hearings in support of the proposed standards. She said the two individuals inadequately represent the views of the majority of Native Americans in South Dakota. "It underscores a deeper problem; there's no one upholding the true narrative of what our tribal education leaders are saying," White said. "It's a repetition of history where Indigenous voices are excluded from decision making tables. They are not considering our perspective of our history and the policies that actively keep us from those spaces." The joint statement calls for the reinstatement of Oceti Sakowin references in the social studies standards document as originally presented by the 40-person workgroup of educators, historians and other experts. The SASD represents six education administrator associations including the South Dakota School Superintendents Association (SDSSA), South Dakota Association of School Business Officials (SDASBO), South Dakota Association of Elementary School Principals (SDAESP), South Dakota Association of Secondary School Principals (SDASSP) and South Dakota Council of Administrators of Special Education (SDCASE). SASD President Nick Gottlob said the current review cycle yielded social studies standards that are undesirable to the administrators of the organization and are not in the best interest of students. "We support those six entities who all clearly oppose both the process and consequently the product of this review cycle," Gottlob said. "I don't believe the drafted amendment from March 30 would speak to the concerns of those groups. We encourage the Board of Education Standards not to adopt these standards as presented." Both aforementioned groups support the continuance of the previous work group's revision before Noem had it suspended. Local groups that have publicly opposed the standards include the Rapid City Area Schools Board of Education, the Rapid City Common Council and Elevate Rapid City. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is seen to be fully ready to defend the countrys territory in at least three years as it continues to modernize, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said on Friday. We are really upgrading the many equipment or many technological advances that come with the military right now, and I think as Ive said on many occasions that we will be ready with our Armed Forces with the kind of defense posture that weve been looking at in about 3-5 years, Romualdez told CNN Philippines The Source. He made the statement following a ministerial dialogue among foreign affairs and defense officials of the Philippines and the United States, with defense as one of the main topics discussed. Following the meeting, officials from both countries issued a joint statement outlining their commitments, which include adopting a Security Sector Assistance Roadmap in the coming months that will guide shared defense modernization investments and inform the delivery of priority platforms over the next 5 to 10 years. According to Romualdez, the US will provide the Philippines access to be able to purchase the necessary equipment to enhance the latters defense capabilities. "If we had all the money in the world, then we can bump up our purchase of our equipment," he said. "We are not asking for aid from the United States, we are slowly but surely buying equipment we need." "Because of our relationship with the United States, this technology is being given in a manner that we will be able to afford," he added. Among the military equipment that the government is working on purchasing are additional Black Hawk choppers to replace the currently used Huey helicopters. The Philippines will also procure attack helicopters from Turkey, and heavy lift helicopters, he also said. Several water assets are currently being acquired, like coast guard cutters from Japan, Romualdez noted. It is very doable that we will be able to say that our Armed Forces are ready and able to defend our country in about three years, he said. South Dakota Representative Dusty Johnson and Senator Mike Rounds addressed the war in Ukraine, China's apparent posturing as a global leader, and the federal government's scrambling to deal with a significant leak of state secrets during the 2023 Black Hills Defense & Industry Symposium Thursday, speaking to more than 300 leaders in academia, military and technology. Both members of the state's congressional delegation brought relevant committee experience Johnson serving on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Select Committee on China, Rounds in Armed Services and Intelligence in their usual laid back, yet passionate demeanor. Johnson called sitting on the Select Committee "among the most rewarding experiences" he's been involved in during his time in Congress. The 46-year-old recalled conflict with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) as being a major part of his formative years, and said it's tempting to draw parallels between the Cold War and what "might well be a Cold War that we're already engaged in with China." "The USSR was a one-dimensional threat...they weren't really an economic foe in the way that China is; they weren't really a cultural threat," Johnson said. "We didn't have the kinds of deep economic ties or cultural ties with the USSR that we have with China. It's going to be far more difficult for us strategically to, not necessarily unwind, but right some of our relationships with the [Chinese Communist Party]." Johnson said the "war games" the Select Committee takes part in brought to the forefront the need for fiscal responsibility while ensuring corners aren't cut for American service members. It's a solution that should've been done 10 or 20 years ago, he said, but "the second-best time to plant a tree is today." Equally important to the looming budgetary concerns is maintaining and strengthening America's allies, according to Johnson. It's too easy, he said, to look exclusively inward, calling it "dangerous." Johnson said he heard "when America looks inward, the world becomes less safe," from the King of Jordan last week and was struck at the similarity of that sentiment to words spoken by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and key diplomatic officers from Japan. "When America is weak, the bad guys rejoice," Johnson said. "When America is alone, the world is less safe. Let's continue to make the investments we need to make and let's continue to build global coalitions, because when we work together, security is much improved." Senator Rounds began by addressing last week's leak of highly classified military documents, which a Pentagon official said presents "a very serious risk to national security," according to the Associated Press. Rounds said there appears to be a difference in the way sensitive documents are handled on the legislative side versus the executive side, calling some members of the executive branch "cavalier" in their handling of documents. The Associated Press reported a Massachusetts Air National Guard member, 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, was arrested in connection with the document disclosure Thursday afternoon and will be charged under a provision of the Espionage Act. Rounds said they're planning further discussions next week to address what happened, how, and how they can limit information leaks to the public in the future. "It's really been discouraging," he said. "It's been bad to see people providing misinformation or half-information...taking information out of context." The breach prompts fears that important foreign relationships could be compromised. AP reports indicate the leaked information surrounds Ukrainian air defense capabilities and foreign aid, as well as U.S. monitoring of close allies. Information revealed in the documents has some questioning if the U.S. is doing the right thing in Ukraine, Rounds said. "I can share with you that Ukrainians are fighting hard," he said. "They most certainly could use more weapons in terms of quality and quantity from the United States and our allies...We could, I believe, do a better job of getting them to their weapons systems in a more timely fashion than what's been delivered so far." Not all of the weapons systems that have been authorized have been delivered, Rounds said, lamenting the timeframe and calling on the Biden Administration to change that. Rounds believes the "why" of being invested in Ukraine also ties in to the growing international influence of the Chinese Communist Party. He stated the Chinese are watching the United States' international entanglements such as the "chaotic" withdraw from Afghanistan and want to follow Russia's lead in taking back territory they believe is rightfully theirs. Rounds said Xi Jinping, president of the People's Republic of China, wants to take Taiwan diplomatically, but would do it militarily if need be. "What [Xi Jinping] wants to know is what's his cost going to be to take back Taiwan," Rounds said. "How much does [the U.S.] actually care about Taiwan? Do we care about the economy that Taiwan supports across the vast majority of the free world?" The cost according to Rounds would be substantial; China would lose and never be the same. The goal, he said, is to turn Taiwan into a "porcupine" something difficult to get into over the next several years, potentially avoiding an unwanted war with China. It's also a promise between allies, he said. "It's because Mr. Putin has to understand that he cannot be the bully on the block, and that our word counts," Rounds said. "In 1995, Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange for recognition as to the sovereignty of their land not just by the United States and Great Britain but by Russia as well. For Russia to walk away from their commitment...that has to be recognized on an international basis." A major defense concern is cyberspace, something Rounds said is an ever-present challenge as the U.S. and our enemies continually evolve new and increasingly devastating capabilities. It's an area of defense spending he said will always see increases. "Our capabilities in cyber right now are second to none," he said. "But we have adversaries that are rapidly closing the gap. Those are China, Russia, North Korea and Iran." Cyber warfare, Rounds said, will precede any land, air or sea war or space war, something he said China is creating the ability to do. Both Rounds and Johnson touched on the incoming B-21 Raider. "It is truly a bada-- weapon of war and of peace, and that's the message that we have to share," Rounds said. "It's designed to make peace, but it's designed to be an extremely efficient weapon that they can't stop." While in Rapid City Thursday, Representative Johnson also served as the keynote speaker at the "Cornerstone Celebrates" luncheon, where supporters of the Cornerstone Rescue Mission gathered to raise awareness about Rapid City's homeless population. A 31-year-old Rapid City man pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter Thursday. Andrew Thorson replied "guilty" when Circuit Court Judge Stacy Wickre asked how he pleaded to the charge for the killing of Dhani Aronson. The Pennington County courtroom was filled with people wearing memorial t-shirts for the 24-year-old victim who was found dead in a Rapid City ditch the day after Halloween in 2021. Other than the procedural exchange, the change of plea hearing was brief. Wickre referenced the written statement Thorson signed April 11 admitting his guilt, but she did not read it. As deputies let Thorson out of the room, T.J. and Mariah Evans held up a banner with the phrase "we deserved better goodbyes" and photos of Aronson with his mother. Mariah, who said she was best friend's with Aronson's mother, told the Journal she died "of a broken heart" on her son's birthday. Thorson and another man were arrested on Nov. 2, 2021, a day after Aronson's body was found along Wilderness Canyon Road off Highway 16. Aronson had been shot twice in the head, according to court documents. Shortly after his arrest, the state charged Thorson with second-degree murder, a charge that carries a mandatory life sentence. First-degree manslaughter has a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $50,000 fine, but no minimum. The other man, 25-year-old Jacob Staton, was charged with accessory to a felony, a class 5 felony with a maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. His case is pending. Court documents indicate Staton and Thorson picked up Aronson at his apartment on Riley Avenue in Rapid City at about 9 p.m on Oct. 31, 2021 after going there to buy marijuana. Aronson's girlfriend told police it was the last time she saw him. According to an affidavit, Staton was driving a borrowed Ford F150. Aronson sat in the passenger seat, and Staton sat in the backseat directly behind him. Both Staton and Thorson allegedly told police before their arrests they dropped Aronson off near the north Rapid City Walmart. When law enforcement talked to Staton, he was driving a different vehicle. Inside the car, they found a receipt for the truck to be towed back to the owners' residence in Whitewood. The owner said Thorson told him he had thrown up in the vehicle and accidentally shot a gun inside it. He saw Thorson cleaning the inside of the vehicle while Staton was there as well. Law enforcement found a bullet hole in the passenger side dashboard and blood inside the cab in the front passenger seat area. Thorson's case was set to go to trial in May, however, since it was cancelled, the exact details of Aronson's death or the motive is unclear. Aronson's family and friends plan to speak at Thorson's sentencing May 11. Outside the courtroom Thursday, Senior Deputy Pennington County State's Attorney Adam Shiffermiller told the group wearing shirts bearing Aronson's photo alongside phrases like "drift in paradise," the number of people would be limited to a few. He encouraged everyone else to write letters sharing their thoughts with the judge, who will decide Thorson's fate a fate that could range from time served in the Pennington County Jail to a lifetime in the state penitentiary. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Viken sentenced a 26-year-old Manderson man to one year and one day in federal prison Friday for abusive sexual contact. Benjamin Wendall Smoke Jr., met the victim in summer 2021 when he was 24-years-old and she was 14, according to court documents. At Smoke's invitation, the girl moved in with him and his mother in Manderson. According to the documents, Smoke had sex with the girl at least two times in October of that year. Smoke was arrested for sexual abuse of a minor April 1, 2022 in Pine Ridge, two months after a federal grand jury indicted him. He pleaded not guilty at his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann at the federal courthouse in Rapid City. Nine months later, Smoke pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of abusive sexual contact as part of plea deal. Abusive sexual contact has maximum sentence of two years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a minimum of five years of supervised release. Sexual abuse of a minor, the original charge against Smoke, holds a heftier maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Smoke is held at the Pennington County Jail for the U.S. Marshals Service. Editorial note: Benjamin Wendall Smoke Jr. is not be confused with Benjamin Wendall Smoke Sr., whose case the Journal covered when the elder Smoke was convicted of federal felony assault charges in a 2019 death. A 40-year-old Manderson man appeared in Pennington County Court Thursday facing charges of rape and incest. Timothy King III was arrested on March 25 for allegedly raping a 38-year-old he's related to March 23. A grand jury indicted him April 12 and he pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Judge Scott Bogue Thursday. King is charged with second-degree rape, which involves force, or, in the alternative, third-degree rape. State law defines third-degree rape as sex when the victim is incapable of giving consent due to intoxication, hypnosis or physical or mental incapacity. A jury would not be able to find him guilty of both second-degree and third-degree rape, instead they would be asked to deliberate the elements of both and choose one or find him not guilty. Second-degree rape is a class 1 felony with a maximum sentence of 50 years and a $50,000 fine. Third-degree rape is a class 2 felony with a maximum sentence of 25 years and a $50,000 fine. Incest is a class 5 felony with a maximum sentence of five years and a $10,000 fine. South Dakota law defines incest as mutually consensual sex between adults who are too closely related to get married in the state. That includes siblings, half-siblings, first cousins, parents and children, step-parents and children, and uncles and aunts with nieces or nephews. King is currently being held in the Pennington County Jail on a $2,500 cash-only bond. The court had not scheduled further hearings in his case as of Thursday afternoon. One of seven people charged in connection to a double murder in north Rapid City last summer entered a guilty plea Thursday in Pennington County Court. Louis Perea, 20, of Kyle, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the first-degree manslaughter of 29-year-old Joseph Standing Bear on Aug. 20, 2022. Standing Bear and 37-year-old Petan Milk were both found shot dead Aug. 20 at Knollwood Heights Apartments on Surfwood Drive in an incident law enforcement has stated was likely gang-related. Perea, who was the seventh and most recent person to be indicted, entered his guilty plea before Presiding Judge Craig Pfeifle. Pennington County put an arrest warrant out for him on Dec. 27, 2022, and a grand jury officially charged him on Jan. 25. Court documents indicate Standing Bear aided and abetted the manslaughter while committing burglary. The circumstances surrounding Standing Bear and Milks death appear to be still developing. Pfeifle did not schedule a sentencing date for Perea because there might be additional information to include in the pre-sentence report as the case develops. The six other defendants are still working their way through the court system. Chase Quick Bear, 20, Robert Yellow Bird, 17, Benita Cisneros, 40, Erin Provancial, 42, Montell Olivera, 27, and Dillon Wilson, 19, were charged with aiding and abetting first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Five are in custody in Pennington County: Quick Bear was booked into the jail on Aug. 24, 2022, four days after the deaths. Cisneros followed on Aug. 26, 2022. A week later, Provancial joined Quick Bear and Cisneros. Olivera was booked into the jail in October 2022, the same month Yellow Bird was transported from the Rosebud Indian Reservation to the Western South Dakota Juvenile Services Center. They are scheduled to appear in court for status hearings at 8:15 a.m. May 25. There is a warrant out for Wilson in Pennington County for the murders, as well as felony drug possession and several misdemeanors. The Rapid City Police Department arrested two people for driving under the influence following a hit-and-run Thursday afternoon. Around 3:00 p.m., police received a report of an SUV that had struck a parked car while travelling eastbound on West Saint Cloud Street. Witnesses provided a vehicle description, driver description and license plate number for the vehicle. Police were able to locate the vehicle shortly thereafter in the parking lot at 1012 Sioux San Drive, and made contact with 36-year-old Regina Christiansen of Rapid City, who was sitting in the driver's seat. Officers noted her slurred speech and the smell of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle. A female in the passenger seat, identified as 19-year-old Cante Dubray of Black Hawk, matched the description of the individual who was operating the vehicle at the time of the initial crash. During the investigation, police determined that Dubray was the driver responsible for the crash, but later switched seats with Christiansen prior to contact with law enforcement. A witness was brought to the scene and positively identified Dubray as the driver who struck the parked vehicle. Following a DUI investigation, both Christiansen and Dubray were determined to be too impaired to safely operate a motor vehicle. Dubray was placed under arrest for DUI and hit-and-run, while Christiansen was placed under arrest for DUI and no proof of insurance. Both were transported to the Pennington County Jail. A Hamilton man was sentenced to five years in federal prison and three years of supervised release on gun-related charges in District Court in Missoula on Tuesday. Kevin Michael Jakub, 38, pleaded guilty in November 2022 to prohibited possession of a firearm and ammunition. Jakub admitted to illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, including a ghost gun, after having been convicted of felonies, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said in statement. The government said in court documents that law enforcement executed a search warrant in January 2022 on a storage unit belonging to Jakub and recovered two semi-automatic rifles with large-capacity magazines, one pistol, three suppressors, various firearm parts and thousands of rounds of ammunition. In July 2022, law enforcement contacted Jakub after receiving a report of him possibly discharging a firearm. Jakub admitted to firing his pistol. Agents recovered a pistol described as a ghost gun, which means it had no identifiable markings. Jakub, who had three previous felony convictions in Colorado and Montana for drug offenses, was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. Child care staff ratios backed A bill to increase child-to-staff ratios for child care received initial approval from the Montana Senate. House Bill 422 from Rep. Terry Falk, R-Kalispell, increases group sizes to 12 for newborns to 11 months at a ratio of 4:1. Children 12 months to 24 months with a 6:1 ratio and a maximum ratio of 12 would be allowed. During nap, ratios could be doubled under certain conditions such as whether children are sleeping and other staff are onsite. Sen. Carl Glimm, R-Kila, carried the bill on the Senate floor, and said the bill would still align with national safety guidelines while providing more child care opportunities. Sen. Shannon Obrien, D-Missoula, opposed the bill, saying she was concerned higher ratios could lead to safety issues, particularly if an emergency occurred and limited staff was available. HB 422 passed on an initial vote of 34-16. Lawmakers also voted down a trio of bills Thursday. Loosening vaccine rules Senate Bill 450 from Sen. Daniel Emrich, R-Great Falls, would create wide-ranging religious or conscientious objections to vaccines including those long mandated for schools and day cares. The bill would have required schools, employers, health care providers, state agencies and other entities to accept without question or malice religious or conscience exemptions. It would also remove the requirement that an affidavit be filed to obtain currently allowed religious exemptions. SB 450 advanced narrowly out of the Senate, and Emrich saw a number of pointed questions on the bill in the House Judiciary Committee. On Thursday, the committee voted the bill down 9-10, and an attempt to blast the bill onto the floor also failed. Solar panel labeling House Bill 524 from Rep. Joshua Kassmier, R-Fort Benton, sought to mandate country of origin for solar panels sold in Montana. Senate Majority Leader Steve Fitzpatrick of Great Falls carried the bill on the floor and argued that because solar panels built in China are done so with coal power, they come with a larger carbon footprint than some consumers may believe. The bill was about truth and transparency in advertising around the climate change agenda, he said. Sen. Willis Curdy, D-Missoula, said the bill is unnecessary as importation already comes with country of origin. Sen. Chris Pope, D-Bozeman, called the bill punitive to one industry in Montana. HB 534 died on a tie 25-25 vote. Abuse and neglect proceedings House Bill 436 from Rep. Lola Sheldon-Galloway, R-Great Falls, would allow for a substitution of district court judges in child abuse and neglect proceedings. Emrich carried the bill on the Senate floor, and said the bill would provide for equal justice in the courtroom and the substitution would only come if a judge violated the code of judicial ethics. HB 436 saw bipartisan pushback over questions about its constitutionality and whether it would further delay child abuse and neglect cases. It was voted down 15-35. Glucose monitors House Bill 758 from Rep. Fiona Nave, R-Columbus, would mandate insurance companies pay for continuous glucose monitoring devices for people with diabetes. Sen. Jason Small, R-Busby, carried the bill on the floor and said that the bill would help patients better monitor blood sugar and that it would also decrease medical costs. The bill saw opposition from other Republicans who raised concerns over costs both to the states Medicaid program and passed through private insurance companies to policy holders. Some also encouraged lifestyle changes to help address diabetes in some cases. Small agreed that changing lifestyles works in some cases, but pointed out that in others it does not. Costs are also lower over the long term, he argued. The Senate ultimately voted down HB 758 on a vote of 20-30. A cluster of just six Lego bricks can be combined in over 915 million different ways. Lego Groups Chesterfield County factory, which is expected to be running by the end of 2025, will be pumping out billions of those small, colored bricks for customers worldwide. Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced 10 months ago that the Danish toymaker had chosen Meadowville Technology Park as the site for U.S. manufacturing. That $1 billion investment includes a 1.7 million-square-foot manufacturing facility with a pledge of 1,761 jobs for the area. Lego on Wednesday held a groundbreaking ceremony for the plant with Youngkin; national, state and local officials; and economic development groups. The factory will soon span over 340 acres of land with an initial opening date scheduled in 2025. On these grounds we will continue our traditions of super strong craftsmanship rooted in high quality, in a sustainable manufactured way with state of the art technology to produce billions of these. I'm excited, said Carsten Rasmussen, Lego's chief operations officer. Each Lego brick is made with the precision of 1/10th of a hair. By completion of the facility and a full ramping up of its workforce, the factory will manufacture the full array of Lego products. This year also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Legos move into the U.S.; Rasmussen said the factory had an initial planned lifespan of 50 years, with the possibility that it could last for up to 100 years. We have built strong foundations in the U.S., Rasmussen said. Today, it is one of our biggest markets, and we have still a lot of potential to strengthen our presence but, more importantly, to delight many more children with fantastic play experience that will help them with creativity and learning. Eco-friendly design planned with project Rasmussen said the factorys design is also slated to have a major component of environmental friendliness when it comes to operational aspects like water usage, waste treatments and energy usage. The initial structure is set to be powered entirely by a solar park at the sites grounds and rooftop. Youngkin and legislators signed a bill for the Precision Plastic Manufacturing Grant Fund. Identical bills in the state House and Senate are offering $56 million on grants between 2027 and 2035. The bills do not specifically mention Lego by name but refer to a company making precision plastic products with expected capital investments of $1 billion creating 1,761 new full-time jobs. We will see the spirit of Virginia further breathe life into this facility. And that facility will build tools to inspire the imagination and we will hear that click over and over again that kids love, Youngkin said. "This will be the best. This facility, this culture and this opportunity. The best business climate in Virginia, the best education in Virginia. The best sites in Virginia, the best infrastructure, the best trained workforce. This is what we come together to deliver. Kevin Carroll, chair of the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors, said the countys EDA had been intentionally saving the last undeveloped parcel at the Meadowville Technology Park for just the right partner. We found that strong partner was LEGO Group; what a lucky break, Carroll said. The future economic impact of the plant ... cannot be overstated, as we will see the creation of 1,761 jobs coupled with the contributions to the commercial tax revenue will significantly help fund public safety, schools and other public services while reducing the county's reliance on residential property taxes. Other investments in area The Meadowville Technology Park, at Interstate 295 and the James River, is also home to an Amazon fulfillment center and a Capital One data center among other tenants. The Chesterfield EDA expanded the parks footprint in 2020 by purchasing the now-Lego property. The Chesterfield board contributed $3 million of the $21 million price tag, with the rest coming from the EDA. The land was formerly part of an 800-acre American Tobacco cigarette plant site. By the numbers 1,761: total employees who will eventually work at the Lego plant being built in Chesterfield County $1 billion: investment by Danish toymaker 260: size of the project, in football fields 50,000-70,000: solar panels to be installed 2025: year the plant will open Virginia Economic Development Partnership said in a statement that Lego cited more than 100 factors and sub-factors when choosing Meadowville. Virginias solution, that statement said, was focused on an attractive, pad-ready site with strategic access to markets, comprehensive custom workforce solutions from talent recruitment to training, a competitive state and community incentive package, and a commitment to renewable energy. The ultimate 1,700-member workforce is being hired in two states. The first stage of 500 employees is already underway with around 20 people hired so far. That first batch of workers will work out of a local facility until the full factory is built. Rasmussen said the initial operations will package around 35 to 40 different products that are molded at its site in Monterrey, Mexico. Rasmussen said Lego Group is still determining the average salary for a worker at the plant, but it should be competitive with the market with other great benefits. The Chesterfield facility is one Legos seventh worldwide two in Asia, three in Europe and the one in Monterrey. Rasmussen said the Chesterfield factory will have to ramp up production over an unspecified number of years before making its full assortment of products. While ramping up, it will work in tandem with the Mexico factory. He said the Chesterfield operations will start with around 40 products. A scale model of the factory made out of 34,174 Lego bricks includes a line representing where the facility could possibly expand in the coming years. Rasmussen said the facility has space to double its operations on the current parcel of land, but that a timeline for that growth is unknown. It's going to take us some years before we were going to expand. That could be done in sections, so not necessarily everything at one time, Rasmussen said. It could be some section first. It's like the brick. It's very, very modular. You can build it together. Site work on the land began this week. Rasmussen said vertical construction would start within the next couple of months. Richmond-area business expansions, openings and closings Popshelf P.T. Hastings Seafood Killa Dillas Genovas Pizza Station & Take Out Kitchen The Veil Brewing Co.'s new taproom Luxe New American Bar & Grill Wok This Way Eggs Up Grill Mayu Sushi & Thai Maxs on Broad RICH Nail Lounge Sycamore Jewelers, Midlothian Mi Casita Restaurant Ironclad Coffee Grit Coffee Rockler Woodworking and Hardware Boiling Crab Richmond Blue Cow Ice Cream Co. Suzy Sno Diablo Doughnuts RVA The Brass Tap Graybo's Sports Cards Blue Ridge Cyclery BigWife's Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams CarLotz Acacia Midtown Zoom Room Richmond Torchy's Tacos Planet Fitness Raising Canes Chicken Fingers Three Notch'd Brewing Retail or Resell Marshalls Raising Cane's My Favorite Muffin Mattress King Anthony's on the Hill The Mill on MacArthur Three new tenants are moving into spaces at Richmonds Shops at Stratford Hills, two blocks down Forest Hill Avenue from where plans for a large Sheetz gas station have sparked fierce neighborhood opposition. One of the storefronts will be a Popshelf store, part of the Dollar General chain that specializes in home decor, health and beauty products, party items and cleaning supplies. It will go into the space left empty by Tuesday Morning, an off-price retailer of home goods and decor that closed four Richmond-area stories earlier this year as it filed for protection from its creditors under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Act. Dollar General operates 140 standalone Popshelf stores and 40 branches within existing Dollar General Market stores. It has opened four in Virginia after starting off in the state by opening a store in Newport News last summer. We believe this concept represents a significant growth opportunity, Dollar General said in a report to stockholders. It is aiming to more than double its current count of standalone Popshelf stores by the end of its current fiscal year, for a total of nearly 300, and is looking to operate roughly 1,000 stores by the end of fiscal 2025. The Chipotle Mexican Grill chain of fast-casual restaurants will also open in the shopping center, while Goodwill is moving into the former Office Depot space. Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer handled the leasing. The Goodwill is expected to open in about three months, Popshelf is expected to open in about five months, and Chipotle is expected to open late next year. Richmond-area business expansions, openings and closings Popshelf P.T. Hastings Seafood Killa Dillas Genovas Pizza Station & Take Out Kitchen The Veil Brewing Co.'s new taproom Luxe New American Bar & Grill Wok This Way Eggs Up Grill Mayu Sushi & Thai Maxs on Broad RICH Nail Lounge Sycamore Jewelers, Midlothian Mi Casita Restaurant Ironclad Coffee Grit Coffee Rockler Woodworking and Hardware Boiling Crab Richmond Blue Cow Ice Cream Co. Suzy Sno Diablo Doughnuts RVA The Brass Tap Graybo's Sports Cards Blue Ridge Cyclery BigWife's Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams CarLotz Acacia Midtown Zoom Room Richmond Torchy's Tacos Planet Fitness Raising Canes Chicken Fingers Three Notch'd Brewing Retail or Resell Marshalls Raising Cane's My Favorite Muffin Mattress King Anthony's on the Hill The Mill on MacArthur Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) China has advised the Philippines to oppose Taiwan independence amid ongoing regional tensions as it issued anew a warning against the United States expanded military access in the country. Speaking at a forum on Friday, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian claimed the US intends to take advantage of the new sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) a deal between Manila and Washington to supposedly interfere in the situation in the Taiwan Strait. The Philippines is advised to unequivocally oppose Taiwan independence rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs [overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan], Huang said in his speech. "Obviously, the US intends to take advantage of the new EDCA sites to interfere in the situation across the Taiwan Strait to serve its geopolitical goals, and advance its anti-China agenda at the expense of peace and development of the Philippines and the region at large," he added. Last week, China launched military drills around Taiwan after the latters president met with a top US official in California. The island nation which Beijing sees as its own territory denounced the move. RELATED: PH urges US, China to 'manage rivalry' amid rising tensions in Taiwan Meanwhile, Huang also slammed statements lamenting the safety of OFWs in Taiwan following the military exercises. China is the last country that wishes to see conflict over the strait because people on both sides are Chinese, the envoy said. But we will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities. In response, the US Embassy maintained that the EDCA sites are only for enhancing the US-Philippine alliance and "not about any other third country." "EDCA sites will support combined training exercises and interoperability between US and Philippine forces to ensure that we're even better prepared for future crises," the embassy told reporters. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said the bases that will host the American troops will not be staging grounds for offensive operations. The four new EDCA sites in the Philippines will be stationed in Santa Ana and Lal-lo towns in Cagayan, Gamu town in Isabela, and on Balabac Island in Palawan. The mother of the 6-year-old Newport News boy who shot and wounded his teacher had a series of miscarriages and post-partum depression in the year before the shooting, her attorney said Friday, after she was arraigned on charges of child neglect and failing to secure the handgun her son used in the shooting. Police say the boy fired a single shot at his first-grade teacher, Abigail Zwerner, on Jan. 6, striking her in the left hand and chest. She spent two weeks in the hospital and has had four surgeries since the shooting. The Associated Press is not identifying the mother to shield the identity of her son. A grand jury indicted the mother this week, and she was released on a $5,000 bond after turning herself in Thursday. The 25-year-old woman appeared somber and stood with her hands clasped behind her back as the two charges against her were read in Newport News Circuit Court. She did not speak except to say no, sir in response to a question from the judge. After the hearing, she quickly walked away from a scrum of reporters and TV cameras without commenting. Her attorney, James Ellenson, said his client wants to reach a plea agreement with prosecutors and hopes they will consider what he called mitigating circumstances. He cited a number of miscarriages the woman had, including one following an ectopic pregnancy that resulted in a hospital stay in January 2022. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a pregnancy develops outside the uterus, often in a fallopian tube. Ellenson said the miscarriages resulted in post-partum depression. Were looking forward to working collaboratively with the Commonwealths Attorneys Office to resolve the charges, said Ellenson, adding that he is hoping for something that is fair, something that is just. Ellenson has requested a trial before a judge instead of a jury. A trial date of Aug. 15 has been set. New Capitol Police chief is 25-year veteran of the force Capitol police provide public safety services for state officials, state workers and visitors to the Capitol complex. The felony neglect charge 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 the mother believed her gun, which was legally purchased, was secured on a top shelf in her closet and had a trigger lock. It is unclear how the boy got the gun and was able to take it to school on the day of the shooting. 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 in the hours before the shooting that the boy had a gun. The city prosecutors office said Tuesday that it is investigating whether the actions or omissions of any school employees could lead to criminal charges. Ellenson said the boy has an acute disability and was under a care plan that included his mother, father or grandfather accompanying him to class every day. The week of the shooting was the first when a parent was not in class with him. From the archives: 100 photos of Pony Pasture Nearly a year ago, the longstanding umbrella organization known as the Enrichmond Foundation unexpectedly dissolved, leaving behind a series of unanswered questions mainly, what happened to all of the money? At the time of its collapse, the organization was tasked with handling the funds and budgets of roughly 85 smaller organizations, bringing the total lost revenue to $3 million. Soon after the collapse, a quarter of the affected organizations joined together to form the Enrichmond Accountability Project. With two goals in mind, the project launched a probe determined to find out what happened and to seek retribution. Now, the groups could soon get the chance, as the office of Attorney General Jason Miyares has confirmed it is investigating the foundation. Meanwhile, the mayor's office has said the FBI is also looking into the foundation, although the feds would not confirm or deny a probe. To whatever extent possible, we want to recover the funds that we lost and ... to do whatever we can to hold whoever is responsible, accountable for whatever happened, said Dave Pohlmann, president of the Richmond Tree Stewards, an organization founded to promote and improve the health of city trees, and who is also a member of the accountability project. The city-affiliated nonprofit was created in 1990 to support city parks and community groups and mostly relied on donations from the public. Attempts to reach the foundation for comment either through its website or the number listed were unsuccessful. Seeking retribution Among the Richmond sites affected by the foundation's collapse is the proclaimed Castle on the James that looms above the rivers waters. At one time, it provided most of the citys drinking water. Now, a small wooden connecting bridge welcomes visitors to its doors. This is where the historical Byrd Park Pump House has stood for nearly 150 years, weathering countless storms and floods. Its rock walls remained steadfast as the years continued to turn. But it didn't go unscathed. It needed a lot of time, money and energy to restore it back to its original state. Despite the ask, Penn Markham answered the call. In 2017, Markham, along with other community members set on preserving the site's legacy, launched the Friends of Pump House and while the work brought its own challenges, Markham, president of the group and a member of the accountability project, never could have imagined that his trust in one of the city's well-established foundations would soon be broken. With several other "friends of" organizations placing their funds, primarily comprised of local donors and grants, in the hands of the Enrichmond Foundation, Markham didn't think twice. For years, the group received funds and transferred them to the foundation to keep separate and allocate when needed. It was a partnership that worked well. Then, it all came toppling down. We had heard rumors a couple weeks before the collapse that they might be in trouble, but there was nothing we could really act on, Markham said. For most, the foundation had held onto their finances for many years some over a decade. So the thought of losing all of their funding came as a shock. For Markham and the Friends of Pump House, the total losses tallied upward of $30,000. For Pohlmann and the Richmond Tree Stewards, the final loss totaled $29,000. For Brian Palmer, a founding member of the Friends of East End, the investigations are a step in the right direction as the organization has been pushing for answers for years. While the foundation dissolved last year, Palmer has been raising concerns about it for years when the foundation set up a company to purchase the cemeteries and developed a $19 million plan to refurbish the cemeteries. Currently, the fate of the two cemeteries remains unknown following the collapse with the City Council hinting at purchasing the two sites. When the proposal to purchase the sites went before the council in late February, it voted to postpone making a decision for an additional 60 days. They have done enough damage to the cemeteries and to the community they claimed to serve, Palmer said. I urge the city to allow investigations to run their course and then to exclude anyone shown to have acted improperly or to have been derelict in their duties. Kelley Davis, steward of the Humphrey Calder Community Garden and spokesperson for the accountability project, said the community garden had about $3,000 in its account with Enrichmond before the foundation voted to fold. Before that happened, she spent about $1,800 of her own money on her organization's expenses and expected it would be reimbursed. But she has not been able to access the funds from the account that Enrichmond was managing. Accountability in action According to Attorney General Offices spokeswoman Victoria LaCivita, this is an ongoing investigation and, as a result, the office cannot comment further. I can confirm were investigating but thats it, LaCivita stated in an email. Additionally, Mayor Levar Stoney said the FBI is also investigating. When contacted, the Richmond Office of the FBI said it could not confirm or deny any ongoing investigations. For Pohlmann and others in the accountability project, the state involvement offers some relief. In the past few months, Pohlmann said he has been in contact with lawyers and has considered taking legal action. But legal action costs valuable funds, and many must weigh the costs. With the resources that the Attorney Generals Office brings, Pohlmann said they are potentially one step closer to retribution. Theyve got the resources to pursue an investigation as well as theyve got the responsibility of checking to see if anything illegal occurred and if it did, then to prosecute it, Pohlmann said. So getting them involved is a win for us. While some are more hopeful, others have cut their losses and accepted the reality that they may never see their money returned. While Stoneys fiscal year 2024 budget features a $250,000 line item for organizations affected by the collapse, if approved, it is roughly 8% of all of the unanswered funds. As for the Pump House, it has continued to weather the storm. Despite losing an estimated $30,000, Markham said they have all but made up for it with the community coming together to make up the difference. Its very frustrating that that much money can just disappear and no one has to suffer any consequences except the people who are harmed by it and its highly unlikely wed be able to get anything and if you do, its going to be peanuts, Markham said. Weve at least have something in the bank that the FDIC insures. Bill Lohmann Follow Bill Lohmann 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 In the lead-up to Memorial Day three years ago, I wrote about an effort to find photos of Americans who were killed in World War II and buried or honored at the Netherlands American Cemetery in the Dutch village of Margraten. The mission of The Faces of Margraten project was simple and straightforward to put faces to the names as further tribute to their sacrifice and as a way for future generations to gain, perhaps, a more human connection with those whose lives were lost before they really began to live them. Nearly 8,300 Americans are buried among the neat rows of white marble crosses and Stars of David, and an additional 1,722 names are listed on the cemeterys Walls of the Missing. But finding the photos has been anything but simple and straightforward. Almost a decade after the project started, more than 8,500 photos have come in. But about 1,500 still remain to be found, including 10 with Virginia ties, said Debbie Holloman, who is coordinating the effort in Virginia and North Carolina. Holloman, a retired career law clerk for the U.S. District Court in Richmond and a resident of Deltaville, has a very personal connection to Margarten. Her uncle, Army Pfc. Eddie Hart, was killed in Germany in 1945 as the war was coming to an end and is buried at Margraten. He was 22. Many Dutch citizens adopted the graves of their American liberators, regularly visiting the cemetery with fresh flowers and writing letters to the soldiers families to let them know their loved ones are being cared for. Almost 80 years later, the same family is tending to Harts grave. Holloman has visited Margraten and gotten to know some of the families doing that heartfelt work. For years, she has helped connect Margraten families with the U.S. families. Her volunteer work evolved into searching for photos of fallen soldiers from Virginia and North Carolina for the Faces of Margraten project and later for the Fields of Honor database for Americans buried or memorialized on walls of the missing at six American war cemeteries in Europe. Official military photos of the soldiers would be readily available if not for a 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis that destroyed more than 16 million personnel files, including 80% of the files of Army personnel discharged between 1912 and 1960. As a result, volunteers like Holloman are left to do detective work: searching online databases, public libraries, local newspapers and the like to find photos or to find families who might have photos of their loved ones. As years go by, the search becomes more difficult as younger generations might not even know the stories of their ancestors who fought in the war, many of whom were so young when they died that they have no direct descendants. When I spoke to Holloman for a March 2020 story, she was still looking for photos of 51 Virginians. The number is down to 10. She is still searching for about 20 in North Carolina. Here are the 10 with Virginia ties: Army Pfc. John Jasper Clark Jr., from Norfolk and Cape Charles, Northampton County. He served with the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division and was killed in action in Germany on April 19, 1945. Army Staff Sgt. Charles W. Gray, from Shelby and Rapidan, Madison County. He served with the 351st Field Artillery Battalion and died in Germany on March 31, 1945. His mother was Mary Emma Taylor Stanton. Army Pvt. Norman S. Mohler, from Lexington, Rockbridge County. He served with the 6th Armored Group and died in Germany on April 5, 1945, when a bridge collapsed. Army Tech. Sgt. Linwood T. Newsome, from Capron and Drewryville, Southampton County. He served with the 8th Infantry Division and was a prisoner of war who died Dec. 15, 1944. Army Pvt. Will H. Nicholls, from Norfolk. He served with the 29th Infantry Division and died in Germany on Feb. 11, 1945. Army Pvt. James M. Norrell, from Shawsville, Montgomery County. He served with the 3222nd Quartermaster Service Company. Army Pfc. Henry W. Poff, from Fincastle, Botetourt County. He served with the 99th Infantry Division and was killed in action on March 17, 1945. Army Pfc. Lester H. Tatem, from Norfolk. He was killed in action on Feb. 25, 1945. Army Pfc. Robert W. Vance, from Russell County. He was killed in action on Feb. 28, 1945. Army Pvt. Lloyd G. Thompson, from Kanawha County, W.Va., with connections to family in Virginia. He served with the 29th Infantry Division and was killed in action on Nov. 17, 1944. Photos can be submitted directly to the Fields of Honor Foundation, info@fieldsofhonor-database.com or to Holloman, daholloman@hotmail.com. The project is important, Holloman said, because it honors those who died and further connects the Dutch and Americans, who will understand that what the United States did in World War II is not forgotten but is still remembered by grateful Europeans. I think when the next generation sees the faces of these heroes, not just the names, it more clearly shows the price of freedom paid by these heroes for the rest of the world, (and) it makes the loss felt by their families more real, Holloman said. And those are very important lessons. The Times-Dispatch's 'Photo of the Day' Jan. 1, 2023 Jan. 2, 2023 Jan. 3, 2023 Jan. 4, 2023 Jan. 5, 2023 Jan. 6, 2023 Jan. 7, 2023 Jan. 8, 2023 Jan. 10, 2023 Jan. 11, 2023 Jan. 12, 2023 Jan. 13, 2023 Jan. 14, 2023 Jan. 15, 2023 Jan. 16, 2023 Jan. 17, 2023 Jan. 18, 2023 Jan. 19, 2023 Jan. 20, 2023 Jan. 21, 2023 Jan. 22, 2023 Jan. 23, 2023 Jan. 24, 2023 Jan. 25, 2023 Jan. 26, 2023 Jan. 27, 2023 Jan. 28, 2023 Jan. 29, 2023 Jan. 30, 2023 Jan. 31, 2023 Feb. 1, 2023 Feb. 2, 2023 Feb. 3, 2023 Feb. 4, 2023 Feb. 5, 2023 Feb. 6, 2023 Feb. 7, 2023 Feb. 8, 2023 Feb. 9, 2023 Feb. 10, 2023 Feb 11, 2023 Feb. 12, 2023 Feb. 13, 2023 Feb. 14, 2023 Feb. 15, 2023 Feb. 16, 2023 Feb. 17, 2023 Feb. 18, 2023 Feb. 19, 2023 Feb. 20, 2023 Feb. 21, 2023 Feb. 22, 2023 Feb. 23, 2023 Feb. 24, 2023 Feb. 25, 2023 Feb. 26, 2023 Feb. 27, 2023 Feb. 28, 2023 March 1, 2023 March 2, 2023 March 3, 2023 March 4, 2023 March 5, 2023 March 6, 2023 March 7, 2023 March 8, 2023 March 9, 2023 March 10, 2023 March 11, 2023 March 12, 2023 March 13, 2023 March 14, 2023 March 15, 2023 March 16, 2023 March 17, 2023 March 18, 2023 March 19, 2023 March 20, 2023 March 21, 2023 March 22, 2023 March 23, 2023 March 24, 2023 March 25, 2023 March 26, 2023 March 27, 2023 March 28, 2023 March 29, 2023 March 30, 2023 March 31, 2023 April 1, 2023 April 2, 2023 April 3, 2023 April 4, 2023 April 5, 2023 April 6, 2023 April 7, 2023 April 8, 2023 April 9, 2023 April 10, 2023 April 11, 2023 April 13, 2023 April 14, 2023 April 15, 2023 April 16, 2023 April 17, 2023 April 18, 2023 April 19, 2023 April 20, 2023 April 21, 2023 April 22, 2023 April 23, 2023 April 24, 2023 April 25, 2023 Charlottesville resident Margaret Thornton said she didnt realize she was pregnant with her child until eight weeks of gestation. I was lucky in that I wanted my baby, I had the resources to stay healthy in pregnancy and to have a healthy baby, Thornton said. Still, Thornton noted that is not always the case with unexpected pregnancies and that the new restrictions on access to the abortion drug, mifepristone, will create complications for people. Following a ruling from a Texas judge to halt access to mifepristone, and a Washington state judges ruling to protect access for some states, President Joe Bidens administration asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to stay the ruling pending an appeal. On Wednesday night, a three-judge panel of the appeals court, based in New Orleans, maintained nationwide access to the medication, but set tighter parameters. Those include capping access at seven weeks of gestation when Thornton hadnt even known she was pregnant and no longer permitting patients to receive mifepristone by mail. On Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement that the Biden administration will seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court to block the lower courts restrictions on use of the drug. For people who either dont want to have a child or who cant, this ruling is almost certainly going to hurt them, Thornton said. For Richmond resident Meredith Hill, who has not had abortions but has been treated for miscarriages its changed family planning. Mifepristone, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000, has been the first part of medicine-induced abortions or miscarriage-related health care. Mifepristone blocks the progesterone hormone, which is needed to continue a pregnancy. Afterward, another medication, misoprostol, can be taken to end the pregnancy. Hill has suffered several miscarriages while trying to expand her family. She said mifepristone was a comforting option for her to resolve complications with her miscarriages. At high risk for heavier bleeding, she ultimately elected to have an in-office procedure instead. Still, she worries what the future of reproductive care could look like for people seeking abortions or who have pregnancies that go awry. While some miscarriages occur without complications, some peoples bodies dont fully expel fetal tissue putting them at risk for infection or sepsis. Everyones situation is a little bit different, Hill said. Thornton and Hill are not alone in their concerns. Following the Supreme Court ruling last summer overturning federal abortion protections, each state has been able to restrict, ban or protect access to the procedure as anti-abortion advocates and abortion-rights advocates have made their cases to state legislatures. During this years regular General Assembly session, Virginia lawmakers voted down several attempts to restrict or ban abortions including a prohibition on most abortions after 22 weeks from Sen. Siobahn Dunnavant, R-Henrico, a practicing OBGYN. Olivia Ganz Turner, president of the Virginia Society for Human Life, said her organization is watching these important cases play out and is waiting hopefully to see that protections for women may stay in place. University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias said he expects the next phases of legal challenges to take at least the next year. Were still a long way from final resolution to be sure, he said. In the meantime, he said he expects the updated restrictions to cause trouble for some people. Yesterdays ruling made it more difficult by allowing seven weeks when people may not know theyre pregnant, he said. So its very, very difficult. Some of those difficulties have already played out in Texas where its Texas Heartbeat Act has faced legal challenges for more than a year. Last month, five Texan women sued, asserting that their lives were put in danger when they needed abortions for medical reasons. With the updated restrictions on mifepristone, the medication is still legally available in states that have not banned abortions. In the meantime, governors in New York, California, Massachusetts and Washington have ordered a stockpile of mifepristone in their states. And then there are all the questions, you know, is Virginia going to stockpile? Tobias asked. Probably the answer is no. WTVR reported Monday that Gov. Glenn Youngkin said he didnt have much of an opinion on the Texas judges ruling, given the conflicting ruling in Washington state and that theres some of the legal process thats still to go. There is no indication as to whether Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares plans to join any litigation with other states attorneys general. From the Archives: The James River James River James River James River James River James River James River James River James River Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is widely expected to announce a presidential bid in the coming weeks, courted evangelical voters Friday at Liberty University, a day after signing a bill that would ban most abortions in his state after six weeks. DeSantis, who appeared to hint at a presidential bid, saying he looks forward to "the battles ahead," only glanced off his abortion stance, saying his administration has backed a "culture of life." But in introducing the Florida governor at Liberty, Jonathan Falwell, a minister, and the school's next chancellor, praised DeSantis for flying back from Ohio on Thursday to sign the bill in Florida. "He flew all the way back to Florida and last night, after the legislature there in Florida passed a bill, he signed the heartbeat protection act," said Falwell, drawing cheers from the convocation crowd at the Vines Center. "As he signed that into the law in the state of Florida, it will protect all unborn babies because he recognizes and knows that life is a gift from God," Falwell said. Liberty, a Lynchburg-based Christian school founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr., is a traditional stop for GOP presidential hopefuls. Liberty is state's largest college, boasting 130,000 students, with about 115,000 of them fully online. Liberty's on-campus students are expected to attend convocation, a regular Wednesday and Friday gathering that brings about 80 speakers to campus throughout the year to advance the school's mission of "training champions for Christ." In his 22-minute speech, DeSantis characterized Florida as a "ray of hope that better days may still lie ahead." He traced his administration's actions fighting COVID-19 restrictions and what he termed the "woke" left. He portrayed Florida as "a promised land of sanity in a world that has increasingly gone off its rocker." "We have embraced freedom. We have maintained law and order. We have protected the rights of parents. We have elevated the importance of family and promoted a culture of life," DeSantis said. "We have respected our taxpayers, and we have rejected woke ideology." He portrayed Florida as the top state in the country in metrics such as net in-migration, and new business formation. What happened last night in Florida shows whats at stake in Virginia in 2023. Virginias Governor has made clear that he wants to roll back our rights. We cant let that happen. The right to choose is on the ballot this November when we vote for Virginias General Assembly. pic.twitter.com/zpVniWkDbE Abigail Spanberger (@SpanbergerVA07) April 14, 2023 DeSantis served in Congress from 2013 to 2018, when he was first elected governor in a contest that went to a recount. He was reelected last year by more than 1.5 million votes and nearly 20 percentage points. Florida's current 15-week abortion law faces challenges in that state's Supreme Court. The fate of the new six-week law could depend on the outcome of that case. The six-week Florida law includes exceptions to save the woman's life and in cases of rape and incest. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision last summer to overturn Roe v. Wade sent the issue of whether to allow or restrict abortion back to the states. Florida is among a number of Southern states to pass further restrictions. Abortion is still legal in Virginia for any reason up until 26 weeks of gestation (or the second trimester), and later in a pregnancy if physicians have attested that carrying a fetus to term will put the pregnant persons life or mental health at serious risk. During this year's Virginia General Assembly session, Democratic senators blocked a number of proposed abortion curbs, including a bill Gov. Glenn Youngkin backed to bar most abortions after 15 weeks. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, said in a Twitter post Friday: "What happened last night in Florida shows whats at stake in Virginia in 2023," with all 140 General Assembly seats up for election. "Virginias Governor has made clear that he wants to roll back our rights. We cant let that happen. The right to choose is on the ballot this November when we vote for Virginias General Assembly." Virginia Democrats posted on Twitter: "Thats whats on the line this November. Who gets to make womens health care decisions Glenn Youngkin or women?" Meantime, the Supreme Court said Friday that it will temporarily keep in place federal rules for use of an abortion drug, mifepristone, while it takes time to more fully consider the issues raised in a court challenge. Youngkin, who addressed Liberty students last year, is often mentioned as a potential candidate for national office, but has taken no overt steps toward a bid. In recent weeks, he has noted that he is not campaigning in Iowa, but is focused on Virginia issues such as his push for tax cuts in the budget negotiations. The six-week Florida abortion law could help DeSantis with conservative voters in a GOP nominating contest, but it could prove a general election challenge in states like Virginia, where large suburban counties in Northern Virginia and greater Richmond helped Democrat Joe Biden beat President Donald Trump by about 10 percentage points in 2020. A recent Virginia poll from The Washington Post and the Schar School at George Mason University found that 34% thought abortion laws should remain as they are and 41% said they should be less strict, while 17% thought abortion statutes should be "more strict." A Virginia poll that Roanoke College released last month found that Youngkins job approval ratings are rising, but he lagged far behind Trump and DeSantis as Virginia Republicans first choice for the partys presidential nomination. Youngkins Virginia job approval rating hit 57% in February five points better than in November and his disapproval rating was 35% down six points from three months before. When Republican respondents were asked their first choice for president, 39% chose Trump and 28% picked DeSantis. Youngkin finished a distant third with 6%, just ahead of Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and ambassador to the United Nations, and someone else, each at 5%. Nationally, Trump has appeared to grow his lead over DeSantis in recent GOP presidential polls since Trump's indictment in New York on March 30. Other GOP hopefuls who have spoken at Liberty in recent years include Trump, Haley and former Vice President Mike Pence. From the Archives: The James River James River James River James River James River James River James River James River James River He fought for his country when he served in the U.S. Army. Then he became a counterterrorism agent in the FBI to help stop white supremacists from alleged plans to attack Black churches and synagogues. Now, Richmond resident James Rudisill is in a legal battle to use his post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to further his education and become a chaplain and hes hoping to take the fight to the U.S. Supreme Court. Rudisill claims that the Department of Veterans Affairs did not pay him the full benefits he had earned under two separate GI Bill programs and that he had to turn down an offer to attend Yale Divinity School. His pro bono legal team has filed a writ to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. On Friday, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares joined attorneys general from over 30 states and the District of Columbia to sign on to a brief to support Rudisills case. In a statement, Miyares said veterans like Rudisill represent the very best of America and of Virginia. He added: Over 700,000 veterans live in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This decision actively hurts veterans reentry into civilian life and deprives them of earned benefits. Prior to his time as an FBI agent and his desire to become a chaplain, Rudisill had served three periods of active-duty military service between 2000 and 2011 as an enlisted member from 2000 to 2002 and as a commissioned officer from 2007 to 2011. Enlisted members do not need to have college degrees to serve in the military, while commissioned officers do. The time frame of Rudisills active-duty enlistments means he falls into eligibility categories for both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post 9/11 GI Bill. After his first tour, he used some Montgomery GI Bill benefits to finish a college degree (which allowed him to become an officer when he served again). After another tour, he sought to switch and tap into the Post 9/11 GI Bill which functions more like a scholarship, in that it pays funds directly to the students school and offers living stipends. Having not yet used his Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, he believed he was entitled to over 20 months of coverage to reach the 48-month cap allowed. According to the VA website, some applicants are only eligible for 36 months, but it doesnt specify why. Rudisills fight has been going on in lower courts for years. In December, a federal appeals court ruled that if a person used benefits under the Montgomery GI bill and chooses to use the Post 9/11 GI Bill, those benefits will be limited to what was unused by the Montgomery GI Bill. A three-judge panel of that same court had first sided with Rudisill in 2021 before the VA appealed for a full-panel hearing. We are grateful for the support of Attorney General Jason Miyares and a bipartisan coalition of a majority of state attorneys general across the nation in this matter, said the pro bono team from law firm Troutman Pepper and Dominion Energy in a statement provided to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. From the archives: Veterans Day December 24, 1945 July 18, 1946 May 5, 1947 December 8, 1947 December 16, 1948 November 11, 1957 November 12, 1958 November 11, 1961 November 7, 1985 June 28, 1986 November 11, 1988 August 13, 1989 April 28, 1990 The General Assembly has named a 25-year veteran of the Division of Capitol Police as its new chief. The Legislative Support Commission appointed Maj. John T. McKee as chief on Wednesday, and he will take office on Monday. McKee has been serving as interim chief since January, after Col. Anthony Steve Pike retired at the end of last year. Pike had led the division for almost 12 years. The Capitol Police division is responsible for providing round-the-clock public safety services to members of the Virginia General Assembly; the governor and family; lieutenant governor; attorney general; Virginia Supreme Court justices; Court of Appeals judges; thousands of state employees; and more than 100,000 annual visitors to the Capitol complex. McKee, a Texas native who graduated from Clover Hill High School in Midlothian in 1993, will lead a force of 125 sworn law enforcement officers and civilian support employees. He earned an associates degree from John Tyler Community College and a bachelors degree from Bluefield College, as well as numerous post-graduate public safety certificates. The new chief received a bipartisan endorsement from legislators on the assembly panel, which oversees the Capitol Police under the legislative branch of state government. Like so many, I have seen firsthand, and hear many good reports about, John McKees very effective leadership and collaborative style of management, House Speaker C. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, said in the announcement on Thursday. We are confident in his abilities and convinced that he is the right person to lead Capitol Police to higher levels of success. Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, chair of the Senate Rules Committee, praised McKee for a cooperative attitude with key stakeholders around Capitol Square and a pragmatic approach to problem solving. These attributes are much appreciated and further enhance the operational performance of the many fine officers and staff in the Capitol Police, Locke said. McKee thanked the legislative commission for putting their trust in me to lead the Division of Capitol Police. I am a true believer in public service, and its particularly humbling to be able to do it at an agency that is now in its fifth century of proud service to the people of the commonwealth of Virginia, he said. McKee, who will be promoted to colonel, joined the Capitol Police in 1997 and rose through the ranks to become lieutenant, captain and, last spring, major. We believe John McKees strong performance as interim chief over the past three months merited this decision, said House Clerk G. Paul Nardo and Senate Clerk Susan Clarke Schaar, who also serve as members of the Legislative Support Commission. Close 01-29-1970 (cutline): Capitol is focus for women lobbyists' work during session. 01-23-1973 (cutline): Maybe a last look--legislative page David King, 13, looks at model of the State Capitol by Thomas Jefferson which soon may be removed from the building. 02-06-1962 (cutline): Byrd (left) and Del. Pollard view model of Capitol at Commitees' session yesterday. 10-10-1963: Capitol's lunch room. 03-13-1972: Inside of Capitol. 01-13-1962 (cutline): Virginia's Capitol early today, all ready for the Harrison inaguration ceremony. 02-21-1968 (cutline): Sign proclaims 'Fire Lane' along north side of Capitol. Parked cars are almost bumper-to-bumper, but Fire Chief is tolerant. 03-20-1964: Easter Sunrise service at the Virginia State Capitol 03-12-1974:In March 1974 at the state Capitol, Virginia first lady Katherine Godwin (second front right) unveiled a painting of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. The work, by Jack Clifton of Hampton (front), was presented by the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution; it commissioned the painting in cooperation with the Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission. Assisting Godwin with the unveiling were state Sen. Edward E. Willey Sr. of Richmond and DAR official Mrs. John S. Biscoe. From the Archives: The Virginia state Capitol building A look back at the Virginia State Capitol building in the 60s and 70s. 01-29-1970 (cutline): Capitol is focus for women lobbyists' work during session. 01-23-1973 (cutline): Maybe a last look--legislative page David King, 13, looks at model of the State Capitol by Thomas Jefferson which soon may be removed from the building. 02-06-1962 (cutline): Byrd (left) and Del. Pollard view model of Capitol at Commitees' session yesterday. 10-10-1963: Capitol's lunch room. 03-13-1972: Inside of Capitol. 01-13-1962 (cutline): Virginia's Capitol early today, all ready for the Harrison inaguration ceremony. 02-21-1968 (cutline): Sign proclaims 'Fire Lane' along north side of Capitol. Parked cars are almost bumper-to-bumper, but Fire Chief is tolerant. 03-20-1964: Easter Sunrise service at the Virginia State Capitol 03-12-1974:In March 1974 at the state Capitol, Virginia first lady Katherine Godwin (second front right) unveiled a painting of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. The work, by Jack Clifton of Hampton (front), was presented by the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution; it commissioned the painting in cooperation with the Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission. Assisting Godwin with the unveiling were state Sen. Edward E. Willey Sr. of Richmond and DAR official Mrs. John S. Biscoe. The Virginia Beach developer of the Castleton homeowners association project near Henrico Countys White Oak Village and the Rolling Ridge subdivision at Route 288 and U.S. 1 is moving east, with a plan to turn 117 acres of vacant land in New Kent County into a mixed-use, planned community of town homes, single-family houses and commercial space. The project, called Liberty Landing, would be on U.S. 60, about a mile to the southeast of the Bottoms Bridge exit off of Interstate 64 an area attracting more and more interest with plans to widen the highway through New Kent and on to northern James City County. Virginia Beach-based Boyd Homes, which also owns the Towns at Swift Creek rental town homes in Midlothian, is the developer. Boyds proposed New Kent development would include 145 town homes, with four models of between 1,500 and 2,000 square feet and 145 detached houses of between 1,400 and 3,000 square feet, according to the developers filings with the county planning department. The town homes are expected to sell for between $276,000 and $360,000 and the detached houses for between $395,990 and $455,990. In addition, the developer plans 60,000 square feet of commercial and retail space to be developed on a bit more than 16 acres of the site. That portion of the project would include medical and general office space, with the office space likely to house insurance agencies, lawyers and financial planners, as well as stores and restaurants. Mixed-use developments have been a fad for several years, though they can sometimes be slow to get off the ground, Virginia county officials farther down the Peninsula have noted. But the idea of walkable communities and the fact that the taxes recovered from commercial properties cover more than the cost to a county of providing services, while taxes from homes do not go as far to cover such costs make mixed-use projects particularly attractive to county officials. New Kents comprehensive plan has designated the area for what it calls village land use homes on smaller lots meant to provide more affordable housing, relatively small stores, professional offices and companies that provide services, such as hairstylists. Buildings are supposed to be close to streets, with parking on the streets or behind the buildings, with sidewalks for walkers, parks and community gathering spots, and controls over building design and materials as well as landscaping. Boyd Homes will reserve nearly 31 acres as open space with bike and walking trails, a picnic area, park space and a play area, as well as a community clubhouse and pool. An additional nearly 32 acres of wetlands and open land would remain undeveloped. When built out, the project is expected generate some $19.9 million in additional revenue for the county over the next decade, while services to it would cost New Kent a bit more than $5 million. An analysis commissioned by the developer said the project would likely bring an additional 103 students to the county schools, assuming a slightly smaller average number of school-age children for each household than the county average. The county schools should be able to absorb that number, the analysis said. The developer is arguing that theres no indication that a large-scale commercial development is likely for the site, while continued commercial development along U.S. 60 without an overall plan for a mixed-use project means the interior would be unlikely to be developed. The developer would install stormwater facilities to make sure runoff with pollutants does not reach the creeks and rivers that eventually flow into the Chesapeake Bay, while it would connect with the countys water and sewage treatment facilities. Boyd Homes said the people would join the utility service district for the Patriots Landing and Five Lakes homeowners associations to help pay down the cost of installing the existing infrastructure serving that part of the county. The county Planning Commission is to consider the proposal this week. The Board of Supervisors will get a final say. Close In March 1963, the roiling waters of the James River surrounded a dwelling on Sharp's Island near the 14th Street bridge. While the rain-swollen river didnt crest as high as originally feared, it did reach more than 4 feet above flood stage at Westham and about 5 feet above flood stage at the City Locks. 02-25-1953 (cutline): Stepping out for a stroll, by boat, from home on Sharp's Island, west of Mayo Island on the James River. 02-25-1953: J.F. Hastings and family member inside home on Sharp's Island. 02-25-1953 (cutline): Approaching the front of the island house. 02-25-1953: J.F. Hastings stands by residence on Sharp's Island in the James River. 02-25-1953 (cutline): J.F. Hastings and support rod for his porch. 02-24-1953 (cutline): River, Stay 'Way from my Door. The James River, swollen by rains upstream, edges up on Sharp's Island, west of Mayo Island. The rive was due to crest at 12 feet here this afternoon. More rain is forecast for tonight and tomorrow. 07-14-1950: Sharp's Island in the James. 02-25-1953 (cutline): Room with a view of the river from Sharp's Island. The fate of the Sharp's Island house. From the Archives: Sharp's Island in the James River and its residents Sharps Island in the James River, is part of a unique archipelago of islands adjacent to Mayo and Vauxhall islands close to the 14th Street Bridge. The area marks the convergence of a fall zone and tidewater sections of the James River. Historically, a variety of activities have taken place on the islands, including commercial fishing operations during spring shad season and granite quarrying for construction of bridges and retaining walls. In the 1950s, the islands had residents as well. The house survived on the island for 75 years. It was purchased in 1970 by Richmond architect Henry Tenser Jr. for about $1,500. After the house was damaged beyond repair by flooding, Tenser decided to burn the house down instead of deal with the undertaking of demolishing it. With three matches, a can of kerosene and permission from the Richmond Fire Bureau, the house on Sharp's Island, built around 1895, washed away in ashes. In March 1963, the roiling waters of the James River surrounded a dwelling on Sharp's Island near the 14th Street bridge. While the rain-swollen river didnt crest as high as originally feared, it did reach more than 4 feet above flood stage at Westham and about 5 feet above flood stage at the City Locks. 02-25-1953 (cutline): Stepping out for a stroll, by boat, from home on Sharp's Island, west of Mayo Island on the James River. 02-25-1953: J.F. Hastings and family member inside home on Sharp's Island. 02-25-1953 (cutline): Approaching the front of the island house. 02-25-1953: J.F. Hastings stands by residence on Sharp's Island in the James River. 02-25-1953 (cutline): J.F. Hastings and support rod for his porch. 02-24-1953 (cutline): River, Stay 'Way from my Door. The James River, swollen by rains upstream, edges up on Sharp's Island, west of Mayo Island. The rive was due to crest at 12 feet here this afternoon. More rain is forecast for tonight and tomorrow. 07-14-1950: Sharp's Island in the James. 02-25-1953 (cutline): Room with a view of the river from Sharp's Island. The fate of the Sharp's Island house. Chuck Robb and Doug Wilder, as friends and rivals, have been leaning on each other for nearly a half-century. Theyve collaborated, cooperated and famously collided. Robb on Tuesday was literally leaning on Wilder, draping his left arm around the 92-year-olds shoulder as Robb soon to be 84, blinded in one eye by shingles and stooped by sciatica in his lower back that requires he use a cane acknowledged an award for public service from the school of government and public affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University named for Wilder. The former lieutenant governor, governor and U.S. senator who, with his wife, Lynda, survived a Christmastime fire in 2021 that destroyed their house in McLean overlooking the Potomac River accepted the Wilder schools Lifetime Achievement Award with a bit of the understated humor that over 20 years in elective office could smooth the edges of his squared-away Marine persona. Recalling his instructions from the ceremonys organizers, Robb dropping his voice a note said, Just say thank you, and be very sincere about it. One would be very sincere in reporting that scripts and stagecraft, notwithstanding watching Robb and Wilder in the same room again was a powerful reminder that they became the strongest of individual politicians by usually, but not always, practicing politics together. Most would agree Wilder is the more theatrical of the two and that Robb is the straight man in a long-running duo that resurrected a moribund state Democratic Party in the 1980s. These old bulls projected a measure of delight in being together. And both were in character. Robb, long known for shoehorning multiple thoughts into a single sentence, took the audience on a lengthy syntactical adventure about his work with Wilder. Wilder, as few can, preened in the spotlight to which he was born. Even in high school, he recalled, I ran my mouth all of the time. There was, too, an irrefutable wistfulness. Allies of both were present, but they were few in number, their ranks culled by distance, disease and death. At one table sat John Charles Thomas, whom Robb appointed to the Virginia Supreme Court in 1983 as its first Black justice. At another was Roger Gregory, Wilders former law partner, whose nomination as the first Black judge of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was guided by Robb in 2000. Chuck Robb made good on his word, said Wilder, his face deeply lined and accented with a wisp of a white beard. He didnt brag about it. He did it. Once considered a dilettante he is the son-in-law of the late President Lyndon B. Johnson Robb broke into Virginia politics in 1977, winning for lieutenant governor with Wilders backing. The other day, Robb shared what many may have forgotten: He would have deferred to Wilder or Hunter Andrews both influential state senators at the time had either sought the nomination for lieutenant governor. Four years later, Robb would be elected governor, leading the first of three consecutive Democratic statewide sweeps. Wilder, Virginias first Black state senator, figured prominently in all of them. In 1981, Wilder was a high-profile surrogate, marshaling minority voters. In 1985 and 1989, Wilder was a history-making candidate, becoming the states first Black lieutenant governor and, then, the nations first elective Black governor. Robb had an important role in both. When Wilder was running for lieutenant governor, Robb publicly welcomed, rather than worried about, the presence of a Black candidate in a Southern state rattled by racial fears. And when Wilder became the Democratic nominee for governor, Robb coming off one of his periodic hissing matches with Wilder didnt as much retract his tough characterizations of Wilders scheming as repackage them as an affirmation of his signature independence. Even when they were at each others throats, Robb and Wilder ultimately managed to retract their fangs. In 1982, Robb negotiated the simultaneous withdrawal of Wilder and Del. Owen Pickett from the U.S. Senate campaign. Wilder had threatened an independent candidacy in retaliation for Pickett, as the putative Democratic nominee, praising the fiscal record of the former segregationist he hoped to succeed, Harry F. Byrd Jr. A Wilder bid would have doomed Pickett, presumably costing him the votes of Black residents and emerging suburban progressives. That Wilder forced out Pickett established Wilder as a force to be reckoned with, particularly by Robb and other senior Democrats. In 1994, Robb trivialized by news reports of seamy after-hours behavior with a beauty pageant contestant and his aides ties to secret electronic eavesdropping on Wilder was struggling for a second term in the Senate. Wilder, smelling blood and savoring revenge, entered the race as an independent. He withdrew, in part, because Black voters at least according to internal Democratic polling that was supposedly shared with Wilder were sticking with Robb. Wilder would later campaign at Robbs side, occasionally chiding him to more aggressively lay into his principal opponent, Oliver North, the Iran-contra figure. Out of office Robb was forcibly retired in 2000, losing to George Allen for a third term the Democrat with a history of bipartisanship focused on military and security issues, counseling the Bush II White House on the Iraq War. He was the director of a defense firm. Robb also wrote his memoir. Wilder, anything but the exhausted rooster he once claimed to be, served a single term as Richmonds first popularly elected mayor in more than 50 years. He, too, wrote a memoir and is still teaching at VCU. And because he does so with such poise, Wilder continues tormenting politicians in both parties. Robb and Wilder remain big individuals. Theyre bigger because of each other. From the archives: In 1990, L. Douglas Wilder was inaugurated as Virginia's first elected African-American governor Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) expects to fully resolve the issues of unpaid wages of around 10,000 ex-Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia "within the year," Secretary Susan Ople said on Friday. "Masasabi ko with full confidence na mareresolba ang issue ng unpaid claims ng around 10,000 OFWs dating back to 2015 to 2016 no'ng na-bankrupt ang kanilang mga kompanya, mareresolba 'yan within the year," Ople said, stressing that details have been clearer on how the two nations will move forward on the issue. [Translation: I can say with full confidence that the issue of unpaid claims of around 10,000 OFWs dating back to 2015 to 2016, when their companies went bankrupt, will be resolved within the year.] In the press conference, Ople said the Saudi government is already asking for the list of claimants, eyed to be finalized before her visit to the Gulf country on May 24. "'Yong listahan na 'yan kailangan maibigay namin sa aming counterparts matapos ang Ramadan at siguro sa mga unang linggo ng Mayo," she added. [Translation: The list should be given to our counterparts after the Ramadan, maybe by the first week of May.] When pressed further for an absolute deadline for claimants to send their emails, the DMW chief said: "Ang absolute deadline namin ay May 1, madaling tandaan, Labor Day [Our absolute deadline is May 1, easy to remember, Labor Day]. In November last year, the government of Saudi Arabia committed to shoulder the unpaid salaries of displaced OFWs from construction companies that went bankrupt, following a bilateral meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in Bangkok, Thailand. Ople, who was with Marcos at that time, said the Saudi government has set aside two billion riyals to settle the issue. She also clarified that this is also aside from the 10,000 "humanitarian assistance" from the Philippine government, which the displaced workers can avail themselves of. How to finalize the list? Although a previous list has already been made with some workers even submitting their applications to Saudi Arabia courts the DMW released an official email address where the displaced OFWs could send their claims. Ople said the address, along with a message template, will be posted on the agency's Facebook page for easy reference. Bernard Olalia, DMW Undersecretary for Licensing and Adjudication Services, said emails received will be the basis for the list of claimants to be submitted to the ad-hoc committee in Saudi Arabia. Ople further explained that this will be cross-checked with the previous list from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for further validation. "This will be the only email," Ople said. "This will be the point of communication sa amin [to us]." She also assured claimants that officials would be monitoring the email so they can respond daily. Ople said the DMW can send the list to the Saudi government by the last week of April if submissions received cover 90% of the expected number of displaced OFWs. The DMW disclosed it has nearly 5,000 validated claims in its database, with some 1,400 names still up for updating. For 52-year-old Laurence Jimenez, who previously worked in Saudi Arabia as a cook, he would use his back pay to start a business in his province. Asked for his reaction on the updates from the DMW, Jimenez told CNN Philippines: "Sobrang tuwang tuwa ko po ngayon kasi ang tagal-tagal na. Hanggang ngayon, wala pa (ang claims since 2021)." [Translation: I'm so happy now because it has been long. Until now, my claim is still unpaid since 2021.] May 24 meeting Ople said her Saudi counterparts asked for a meeting on May 24 "to discuss the pending topics and build on the positive outcome" from the agency's last visit in March. "'Pag naaprubahan 'yong listahan ng (Saudi Arabia's) Ministry of Human Resources and Development, ang susunod na stage ng proseso ay pagbabayad," Olalia said. "Gano'n lang po. Na-shortcut, na-simplify 'yong napakatagal na walong taon." [Translation: If the list is approved by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Development, the next stage of the process will be the payment of claims. That's it, a shortcut which simplified the long eight years.] The DMW said these are the "significant processes" in the "final stage" of the resolution of the issue of unpaid wages. Details on the mode of payment and the timeline of distribution of claims would be the top concerns to be raised by the DMW chief, adding she would also consult the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President. Olalia will be going to Saudi Arabia ahead of the Secretary to "thresh out any outstanding issues" and discuss "other equally important components for this special compassionate gesture from the Crown Prince." "Expectations ko by May 24, very specific items na lang 'yong pag-uusapan namin [My expectation is that by May 24, we will be only discussing very specific items]," Ople said. CNN Philippines correspondent Tristan Nodalo contributed to this report. The recent congressional hearings over TikTok underscore the growing bipartisan concerns about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and how the United States technological exposure to Chinese interests could impair national security. But national security is also impacted by economic competitiveness, particularly in strategic industries that have dual-use applications in both the private and public sectors. If the U.S. is to maintain its competitive edge against the CCP and stand as a source for freedom in the world, it needs a compelling industrial policy. Fortunately, there is growing bipartisanship behind certain elements of industrial policy, which led to the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022 that was designed to help promote the U.S. semiconductor industry and its competitiveness across the globe, especially with China. However, more work is needed to develop regional partnerships and clusters between innovators in the private sector and the national security funding and technology apparatus. Semiconductors are the fourth-largest U.S. export, and the industry directly employs 300,000 Americans and touches an additional 1.6 million, according to a 2022 report by the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Furthermore, the global semiconductor industry grew by more than 300% from $139 billion in sales in 2001 to $573.5 billion in 2022, and unit sales of semiconductors grew by over 290%. Demand grew substantially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the increase in consumption of digital goods and services. However, the sector struggled to meet demand due to fragmented and thin supply chains. Although Taiwan and South Korea are both large producers of semiconductors, China committed $150 billion over a 10-year period to the sector and has been aggressively making inroads to monopolize the industry by 2030. In 2023, Virginia will receive over $8 billion in infrastructure investments to build on that technological cutting edge. This investment will include $6.22 million for increased access to broadband internet in rural areas to provide everyone with the tools they need to succeed. In addition, Virginia will receive $106 million to create a new electric vehicle charging grid, in addition to other investments in smart infrastructure. All Virginia residents will gain access to new opportunities through these programs even if they do not work in tech directly. Clearly our adversaries are aware of the sectors strategic importance, and they have publicly proclaimed it. While there are many tools at our disposal to promote innovation, the U.S. must choose carefully how to respond to risk over escalation and a spiral of reactionary policies. Every state has a role to play in confronting this challenge, but perhaps the most obvious is Virginia because of its proximity to the national security community in Washington, D.C. Virginia can contribute to safeguarding the U.S. semiconductor industry and its role in ensuring our national security by mapping its economic activities to similar efforts and applying CHIPS Act federal funds toward initiatives that drive the further development of capabilities in the design and manufacturing of chips. However, further investments and not just financial are needed. The national security community has long acknowledged the challenge of engaging and supporting smaller R&D groups that have high-impact, but operate independently. Despite the best efforts, these groups still struggle and are not able to easily tap into federal awards for emerging technologies that traditionally go to the more established incumbents. To remain innovative and competitive, the federal government will need to support these smaller organizations and overcome the valley of death. 1. Build a protected sandbox where only small businesses can initially participate and not simply as subcontractors to larger groups that have already received an award with further refinements to the system for the award management (SAM) registration process. We must build up confidence and provide trust by incentivizing the Small Business Administration and allied federal agencies to move more quickly and efficiently. 2. Eliminate the practice of government agencies using requests for information and requests for proposals as purely a market-intelligence exercise. Using these as mechanisms to survey cutting-edge technologies not only wastes the time of entrepreneurs and small business owners, but also undermines trust when the perception of having a chance at winning an award is yanked out from under them. Leveraging local proximity and innovation clusters in Virginia to cultivate relationships, rather than relying on highly formal and impersonal communication patterns, would motivate entrepreneurs. 3. Establish a better contracting infrastructure that focuses on continuous development and delivery and avoids generational gaps over long-term investment cycles in how technology innovation is made available to the government. Too often, one contractor may provide a generation 1 technology and then separate software is released that needs generation 4 technology, but there is no support for the government to run the new software and it translates into a multimodal failure in implementation. This is especially relevant in production of semiconductors where there is a longer timeline for development of both the hardware manufacturing facilities and machining capabilities, which are in turn tightly integrated into the contemporary or future design of chips as part of hardware/software co-design methodologies. As we navigate the intricacies of our contemporary foreign policy with the CCP and its impact on our nations ability to compete globally, states like Virginia hold the essential physical and human capital resources to strengthen the U.S. industrial base and catalyze a resurgence of domestic manufacturing capabilities. While the CHIPS Act is an important start, implementing and maintaining a long-term strategic effort will require further educating state, federal and local leaders to have a more holistic and better understanding of the disparate array of economic, technical inputs that need to be continuously balanced in order to ensure the national security position of the U.S. well into the future. Close 10-10-1961 (cutline): Mrs. Hughes Motley (left), Mrs. Bobby Akers test 'rig.' Ham radio operators learn all about their equipment. 01-31-1954 (cutline): Amateur radioman pin hope on this gear. James Copal (left) with Louis E. Browning. 11-21-1982 (cutline): Howard Motley, Tom Ogburn and Henry Boze back Bill Bunting, who is at all controls. 01-26-1949 (cutline): Buddy Giles, 'Youngest' Ham, leisurely operates W40RL amid cards from scattered radio friends. 10-13-1952 (cutline): E.S. Maloney, Arlington, and L.L. Huckstep. 05-08-1960 (cutline): Ham operator Flloyd McCoy (right) and wife chat with Dr. Charles Meistroff. Dr. Meistroff, of Richmond, sent them medicines via the Panama Canal. 12-30-1977 (cutline): Cindy Heller with stack of 23-channel CBs. Cheap buy are mostly gone. 04-18-1953 (cutline): Fifteen-year-old Doris Ann Williams is the youngest licensed female shortwave radio operator in Richmond. 06-24-1956 (cutline):Three amateur radio operators, Walter Bullington, Wright Bell and Bill Sampson, get their equipment ready for a 24-hour, national radio emergency test. They are trying to reach as many other amateur operators as they can by 4 p.m. Using a gasoline generator to power their stations, they are operating from Bryan Park. 07-16-1951 (cutline): Radio 'HAM' Charles Justic tunes in Europe. 07-08-1960 (cutline): L.H. Arnold at the controls of his Gwynn's Island radio set. Former Richmonder has been licensed Ham operator for 32 years. From the Archives: HAM Radio allowed Richmonders to communicate with other users all over the world Amateur radio, aka HAM radio allowed Richmonders to communicate with other users all over town and even around the world, in the age before cell phones and internet. Richmonders young and old communicated with others for an array of reasons ranging from raising money for charity and helping others to just for fun. 10-10-1961 (cutline): Mrs. Hughes Motley (left), Mrs. Bobby Akers test 'rig.' Ham radio operators learn all about their equipment. 01-31-1954 (cutline): Amateur radioman pin hope on this gear. James Copal (left) with Louis E. Browning. 11-21-1982 (cutline): Howard Motley, Tom Ogburn and Henry Boze back Bill Bunting, who is at all controls. 01-26-1949 (cutline): Buddy Giles, 'Youngest' Ham, leisurely operates W40RL amid cards from scattered radio friends. 10-13-1952 (cutline): E.S. Maloney, Arlington, and L.L. Huckstep. 05-08-1960 (cutline): Ham operator Flloyd McCoy (right) and wife chat with Dr. Charles Meistroff. Dr. Meistroff, of Richmond, sent them medicines via the Panama Canal. 12-30-1977 (cutline): Cindy Heller with stack of 23-channel CBs. Cheap buy are mostly gone. 04-18-1953 (cutline): Fifteen-year-old Doris Ann Williams is the youngest licensed female shortwave radio operator in Richmond. 06-24-1956 (cutline):Three amateur radio operators, Walter Bullington, Wright Bell and Bill Sampson, get their equipment ready for a 24-hour, national radio emergency test. They are trying to reach as many other amateur operators as they can by 4 p.m. Using a gasoline generator to power their stations, they are operating from Bryan Park. 07-16-1951 (cutline): Radio 'HAM' Charles Justic tunes in Europe. 07-08-1960 (cutline): L.H. Arnold at the controls of his Gwynn's Island radio set. Former Richmonder has been licensed Ham operator for 32 years. Archaeological Zone of Tulum to get facelift to meet millions of anticipated Maya Train users Tulum, Q.R. The infrastructure and services of the archaeological zone of Tulum will be improved this year, says Mayor Diego Castanon. He said the infrastructure improvements are being made to serve more visitors once the Maya Train enters into operation. Castanon reported that after four decades of neglect, resources will finally be allocated to the archaeological zone for improvement and maintenance of the 73 monuments it houses. The resources that will be applied will be from the Promeza Program that President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador created for the preservation of the countrys pre-Hispanic sites, he explained adding that the rescue in Quintana Roo is led by our Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa. According to the Government of Mexico, the Promeza Program for the Improvement of Archaeological Zones has resources in excess of 4.9 billion pesos for the Ministry of Culture, through the INAH, to rescue and preserve the pre-Hispanic heritage of the region. In a working meeting, the mayor of Tulum, along with the director of the INAH Quintana Roo Center, Margarito Molina Rendon, confirmed that the Institute and Tulum are strengthening cooperation in favor of improving the experience of the large flow of archaeological visitors that the area currently receives. According to Molina Rendon, the priority is the flow of tourists through new proposals for trails and the opening of new public of spaces within the archaeological walls, which had not been explored before. Castanon believes that current archaeological figures will be surpassed by more than double, possibly reaching a figure of 3.5 million visitors once the Maya Train begins operating in sections 5 and 6. Its archaeological heritage and the beauty of its beaches will consolidate Tulum as the capital of the Mayan Caribbean, he said. Governor meets with Japanese Ambassador to Mexico to discuss security, travel and Maya Train Riviera Maya, Q.R. The governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama Espinosa, met with the Japanese Ambassador to Mexico, Noriteru Fukushima. The pair met Thursday to discuss topics such as the Jata Fair in October, the importance of the Maya Train, Quintana Roo student scholarships, tourism promotion, security and greater tourism connectivity, among others. During the meeting, both sides discussed Cancuns hosting of the STS Forum (Science and Technology Society), a non-profit organization created in Japan in 2004, and normally held in Kyoto every Fall. Likewise, working in collaboration with the MIRAI-Japan Institute for STEM projects in boys and girls in Quintana Roo, which is an integrative approach that encourages students interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics as it develops a variety of important skills. As a result of the meeting, an alliance was created with the Government of Quintana Roo and the Embassy of Japan in Mexico for the exchange of young students to Japan with full scholarships. They also discussed the importance of the Maya Train, which will allow a circuit connection of several states in the southeast of Mexico, which will mean that tourists and visitors have more overnight stay options. In Quintana Roo, it will give travelers the opportunity to discover the natural beauties and cultural richness of the north, center, and south of the state. During the meeting, a greater promotion in Japan was considered important to increase the number of visitors to the state. According to Sedetur, Quintana Roo captures 25 percent of Japanese tourism with two Aeromexico flights from Japan to Cancun. Fukushima stressed the importance of Quintana Roo since it is a favorable destination for the Japanese. Group of five detained in Tulum on drug, firearm and theft charges Tulum, Q.R. Five males were taken into police custody in Tulum Thursday on charges of drugs, weapons and vehicle theft. The State Attorney Generals Office reported on the arrests of Sergio O, Luis P, Cresencio M, Andres M and Jose H. The five men were arrested after being stopped by police in their vehicle and inspected. During the inspection, arresting officers located marijuana and various forms of cocaine along with a loaded gun and ammo. When entering the data of the vehicle in which they were traveling, Mexico Platform flagged it as stolen in the state of Tabasco. Mexicos Foreign Minister arrives in Washington for drug and arms trafficking meetings Mexico City, Mexico Mexicos foreign minister arrived in Washington D.C. Thursday where he will participate in meetings on fentanyl and arms trafficking. The meetings will be held with U.S. and Canadian counterparts. Mexicos Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard will participate in the meetings which are scheduled to begin Friday with members of the security cabinet. Mexicos priority will be to stop arms trafficking from the United States and to reduce the firepower of criminal organizations and increase security in Mexican communities. Mexico is the main international ally of the United States in the fight against fentanyl. The meetings will be held at the White House between U.S. and Mexican officials, which will be followed by a working lunch at the Department of Justice. Later, officials from Mexico, the United States and Canada will participate in a trilateral security meeting. One of the great evangelical preachers in church history left an indelible mark not only on all who heard him in his day but on anyone who wanted to reach the lost with the Gospel message of hope and reconciliation. George Whitefields first sermon after his ordination, in June 1736, prompted a complaint to the bishop! He later printed the sermon with the title On the Nature and Necessity of Our Regeneration or New Birth. Whitefield was never far from controversy, both with the established church (in England and American) and, sadly, the great John Wesley. Whitefield was a central figure in the evangelical revival of the 18th century and proved absolutely scathing about the condition of pre-revival clergy. Perhaps less organizationally gifted than Wesley, he nevertheless brought the Gospel to both the poorest of British workers as well as the English aristocracy (forming a close bond with the Countess of Huntingdon, whom we will meet later in the series), thus proving to be an extremely influential figure in the development and continuation of the evangelical tradition within the Church of England. George Whitefield (17141770) was born on December 16, 1714, at the Bell Inn, in Gloucester, England. He was the youngest of seven children to Thomas and Elizabeth. His father died when he was just two years old, his mother made an unsuitable remarriage, and the prosperity of the inn declined rapidly. We know the details of Whitefields early life from his Journals, including his A Short Account of Gods Dealings with the Reverend Mr George Whitefield, although they cover the period only up to 1745 and have the benefit of hindsight. Just before his 18th birthday, George entered Oxford as a servitor. This was the poor mans way into Oxford. The student was granted free tuition, but the servitor had to serve other students, wear distinctive dress, and was not permitted to receive Holy Communion with the other students. However, it opened the door to a better, and higher, life. George Whitefield was prime material for the Holy Club, formed at Oxford by, among others, Church of England priest and evangelist John Wesley and his brother Charles. Club members agreed to take Holy Communion every week, fast regularly, and follow the festivals of the church, as well as visit prisoners in jail. Like Wesley, Whitefield constantly experienced the inner conflict and struggle of daily temptation and the desire to live a religious life. Before arriving at Oxford, he was already reading William Laws A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. Soon after his arrival he noted in his Journal that I now began to pray and sing psalms thrice every day. Whitefield also recorded his admiration for the Methodists, those who were methodical and disciplined in their personal piety. It was perhaps inevitable that he join them. Whitefields inner struggles continued. He sought counsel from the Wesleys and, after a breakfast with Charles, was recommended Henry Scougals The Life of God in the Soul of Man. Scougal was a 17th-century Scottish theologian and minister, and his book was instrumental in turning over Whitefields way of thinking. The Life of God, he recounted, introduced him to true religion as union with Christ rather than the discharge of duty. His moment of conversion was near, which he described in his Journal to have occurred around seven weeks after Easter 1735: I was delivered from the burden that had so heavily oppressed me, an expression that reflected the classic evangelical conversion narrative. Whitefield sought ordinationwe have already noted the impact of the first sermonand then, quite possibly under Wesleys influence, headed for the state of Georgia in early 1738. The American colonies held some fascination for these early revival leaders. The colony of Georgia had been founded in 1732, with Savannah as the main settlement from 1733. Both Wesley and Whitefield and, indeed, others were drawn here owing to the possibility of the conversion of the indigenous population as well as the opportunity to minister to the settlers. What soon became clear was that the impact of disease left many children orphaned, and raising support for a Savannah orphanage became a focal point of ministry in the Americas for Wesley and Whitefield. In his early visits to the state, Whitefield was shocked by the brutality of slavery. Yet, as a property owner and defender of property rights, he soon warmed to the idea, referring to the need for slave labor to expand his property. He even offered his profuse thanks to benefactors who purchased property and slaves for him in South Carolina. Wesley never went down this road, abhorring slavery, and yet it is the case that many first-generation evangelicals either endorsed or simply accepted slavery. Atonement and abolitionist action would come half a century later. Yet slavery was not the only source of division between the great Anglican evangelists, or between them and many of their fellow clerics in the Church of England. The preaching of the new birth that lay at the heart of the revival ministry was, essentially, divisive. Many in the Established Church believed it called into question the state of their own souls if they had not experienced some special inner revelation or conviction of sin. In these early years Whitefield found himself frequently refused pulpits and embroiled in controversy. As a result he preached more often than not to religious societies, in prisons, and, increasingly in the open air. Whitefield was especially drawn to the plight of the poor miners in the Kingswood district of Bristol, whom he described as sheep without shepherds. In recounting his first venture into preaching in the open fields, with some 200 in attendance, he wrote that some may censure me; but if I thus pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ (Journal, February 1739). It was a momentous turning point. Within a month Whitefield was preaching to 10,000 at Kingswood, writing in his Journal that the fire is kindled in the country; and, I know, all the devils in hell shall not be able to quench it (February 25, 1739). In April, he preached to an estimated 30,000 at Kennington in London. Whitefield was soon also causing disruption on his visits to America in 1738 and 1740. He upset the clergy of the established church by referring to the Philadelphian Presbyterian Gilbert Tennant as a faithful minister of Jesus Christ, preaching in Presbyterian churches and Congregationalist chapels, and receiving Holy Communion from a Baptist minister. He preached some 200 sermons across New England, New York, and Philadelphia, as well as the Carolinas. On one occasion he preached outdoors to 23,000 in Boston. Mostly it was the ministers of the established church that excluded Whitefield. For a movement that proclaimed new birth and personal transformation, the turmoil and infighting that seemed inevitably to follow in its wake was damaging. Built as the movement was upon individual salvation, strong-willed personalities, innovation, and the challenging of established ecclesiastical boundaries, this outcome is, perhaps, not surprising. The theological dispute that split the John Wesley and Whitefield, however, was particularly acute, vicious, and painful. A sermon by Wesley entitled Free Grace, which he preached with little controversy in 1739 and then published in 1740, was the catalyst for the dispute. The key point of debate was the nature of divine election and eternal destiny. In other words, the argument concerned the extent to which the individual was chosen by God for eternal salvation or eternal damnation. Did God select, or elect, individuals for salvation or damnation from the beginning (Whitefield) or did people have the free will to respond to the Gospel message (Wesley), and so were alone responsible for their fate? This led to further questions around whether Christ died for all humankind or only the elect, the efficacy of preaching, and the dangers of the perception that living a disciplined, holy life was not necessary if God had predetermined ones salvation or damnation. Whitefield had urged Wesley not to enter into controversies or disputes. Wesleys printer initially refused to print Free Grace. Whitefield headed back to America, but the controversy and correspondence continued. The distance didnt help and several letters crossed in the post. In one, dated March 26, 1740, Whitefield wrote that I am ten thousand times more convinced of [the doctrine of election], if possible, than when I saw you last. The prospects for reconciliation were fading. When Whitefield returned to England in March 1741, Wesley resolved to see him. The outcome was not pretty, Wesley, in his Journal, noted that Whitefield had told him that he and I preached two different gospels and, as well as denying the hand of fellowship, was resolved publicly to preach against me and my brother. How far these evangelicals had come, and in so short a time. There were attempts at reconciliation in subsequent years, concessions, correspondence, occasional meetings, preaching for each other and on occasion together. Despite their strong theological differences, which it should be noted continue to this day among evangelicals of all stripes, Whitefield claimed he would not see Wesley in heaven because Wesley would be so near to the throne. In his will, Whitefield requested that Wesley preach the funeral sermon. (In fact, Wesley preached a memorial sermon in London, Whitefield dying in the American colonies.) Whitefield represented a moderate Calvinism, much in line with the Reformation-era Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England. He used gesture extensively in his sermons, leading one biographer to call him the divine dramatist. He was a man of firm conviction and viewed the proclamation of the Gospel as a priority that overruled the norms and conventions of church life at the time. He died too young, at the age of 55. He crossed the Atlantic some 13 times and his influence was extensive in both England and the colonies (where he developed a friendship with none other than the worldly Benjamin Franklin, an admirer of Whitefields oratory and publisher of several of his tracts). His early death meant that he had no real opportunity to form and shape an organization to continue the more Calvinist part of the revival. Yet the power of his preaching to thousands, his proclamation of the new birth, his doctrinal depth and clarity, and his passion for the poor should leave us thankful to God for calling himone of the defining and foundational leaders of the fires of evangelical Christian revival. The is the third installment in a series on the British evangelical revival. Revisit Part 1 and Part 2. Radford police are seeking help finding three men blamed for an assault that occurred early Thursday on the edge of Radford Universitys campus. According to a university alert sent out Thursday afternoon, a female student was accosted by three men who tried to remove her clothing and force her into sexual intercourse. The woman was able to break free and fled to a dormitory, the alert said. On Friday, Justin Ward of the university relations office said that there had been no new developments since the alert went out and that campus police continue to investigate. Officers ask that anyone with information call the Radford University Police Department at (540) 831-5500. The attack was described as occurring sometime between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. in the 400 block of Tyler Avenue, which runs along the western edge of the universitys main campus. The attackers were described as two white men, both tall and one with grayish brown hair, and a short, stocky Black man in a red Under Armour hoodie, whose hair was shaved on the sides and short on top. The attack was reported to police just after 2 p.m. Thursday, the campus alert said. Apart from Thursdays incident, campus officials urged students and others on campus to stay alert to the possibilities of sexual assault. They warned that assaults are usually from someone the victim knows, such as a date or acquaintance, and that alcohol and drugs can make people more vulnerable. They advised going out with a companion, having a safe way to get home, and leaving situations that seem wrong or threatening, or calling for assistance. Campus officials asked that anyone seeing suspicious people, vehicles or activity report it to police. A federal judge has cut by nearly half a jurys award of $523,327 to a family whose land atop Bent Mountain was taken for a natural gas pipeline, despite their adamant efforts to stop it. In a written opinion Friday, U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Dillon cited a glaring issue during a trial last year: the use of different appraisals that were combined to determine the value of the property. Mountain Valley Pipeline used the law of eminent domain to condemn the land in 2018, saying there was a public need for the natural gas that would flow through the massive pipeline. Last March, a jury was asked to decide how much the company should pay to Frank Terry, who has a circa-1890 farmhouse on more than 500 acres that he jointly owns with his brother and sister, John Coles Terry and Elizabeth Terry Reynolds. After a weeklong trial presented conflicting views from three appraisers, the jury awarded most of the $570,000 sought by the Terrys. But the correct amount, Dillon ruled Friday, was $261,033. The Terry family has fiercely opposed the pipeline, which they say will destroy the natural attributes of rural, mountaintop land that has been in their family for seven generations. When tree cutting reached Bent Mountain in the spring of 2018, Cole Terrys wife and daughter, Theresa Red Terry and Theresa Minor Terry, spent more than a month camped in tree stands in effort to stop the work. And in the summer of 2021, opponents squared off with construction crews that began blasting bedrock to dig trenches for the pipes route. Construction of the $6.6 billion project is currently stalled, caught up in a jungle of legal challenges unrelated to the eminent domain process. In asking that the jurys verdict be reduced or thrown out, lawyers for Mountain Valley argued that the judge has a duty to enter judgment as a matter of law when the verdict is not supported by the evidence. The Terrys called two appraisers as expert witnesses. One put the value of the land at $1.9 million, based on its potential use as a commercial wind farm. The second testified that running a pipeline through the property would reduce its value by 30% but based his calculation on the lands best use as being a personal residence, not a wind farm. Ultimately, the glaring issue with combining the opinions of different appraisers in this case is that [one] valued the property based on a completely different highest and best use than did the other two, Dillon wrote. Joe Sherman, a Norfolk attorney who represented the Terrys, offered the following comment Friday: Common sense of eight jurors is surer justice than any attempt to give logical application to rules of evidence, he wrote in an email. An honest and intelligent jury considered all the facts admitted to evidence and, after a correct instruction of the law, decided the case. Re-casting artificial rules of evidence to exclude matters which men and women consider in their everyday affairs impairs, rather than helps, a just result in cases about the valuation of property where evidence of value is a matter of opinion, the email stated. Dillon gave Mountain Valley the choice of accepting the new amount of $261,033 or trying the case again to a different jury. A company spokesperson said Friday that it has chosen the former. We appreciate the Courts comprehensive review and are pleased with the final decision, Natalie Cox said. Plans call for the buried pipeline to pump 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day from Appalachian drilling sites to markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the county. The 303-mile route runs from northern West Virginia, through the New River and Roanoke valleys, and connects with an existing pipeline near the North Carolina line. Nearly a decade ago, Mountain Valley began to approach landowners in the path of its plans. About 85% of the property owners agreed to sell easements to their land, the company says. Those who did not including the owners of about 300 parcels in Southwest Virginia were sued by Mountain Valley, which had the authority of eminent domain on its side. The Natural Gas Act bestows the power, usually reserved for government projects such as roads and bridges, to private companies when there is a determination of public necessity, which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission made in 2017. Mountain Valley was granted immediate possession of the land in early 2018, with the understanding that just compensation to the landowners would be decided later. Most of the cases have since been settled, either by agreement or after a judges ruling on evidentiary issues forced a resolution. Only one other case in Southwest Virginia has been decided by a jury. In 2021, a jury awarded $430,000 to a Bent Mountain couple who described how their dream home a slice of heaven they spent years nurturing had been forever changed by the pipeline. Hundreds of inmates held in isolation indefinitely at the states toughest prison in far Southwest Virginia are being allowed to join a lawsuit that claims cruel and unusual punishment. Senior U.S. District Judge James Jones certified a complaint filed by inmates of Red Onion State Prison as a class action lawsuit. The decision Wednesday by Jones, which was opposed by the Virginia Department of Corrections, expands a legal action filed in 2019 by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of 11 inmates at the so-called supermax prison. Now, up to 500 inmates currently and previously housed alone in prison cells the size of an automobile parking space some of them for years at a time are eligible to join the case as it proceeds to trial in Big Stone Gaps federal court. This order is good news for the hundreds of people whose constitutional rights VADOC has violated over the last decade by holding them in prolonged solitary confinement, ACLU attorney Vishal Agraharkar said in a written statement Thursday. Theres evidence that VADOC has been aware of the suffering and harm its solitary confinement practices are inflicting, yet it has continued the program anyway, he said. Thats unconscionable. Jones is being asked to issue an injunction that would end a solitary confinement program at the Wise County prison that inmates say can cause anxiety, psychosis, hallucinations, suicidal acts and permanent neurological damage. Wednesdays decision resolves the question of whether the inmates claims have enough in common to merge them all into one case. The plaintiffs have more in common than just the fact that they are inmates with a variety of complaints about prison life that implicate numerous policies, Jones wrote in a 42-page opinion. Rather, the program is the glue holding all the plaintiffs experiences together. DOC spokeswoman Carla Miles declined to comment on the details of the case. But she took issue with the term solitary confinement, saying the prison system has a restorative housing program for certain inmates that gives them at least four hours of out-of-cell time each day and a variety of recreational and educational offerings. The lawsuit, however, challenges a Segregation Reduction Step-Down Program that is only in use at Red Onion. I will refer to this housing arrangement in the more traditional way as solitary confinement, Jones wrote in his opinion. Inmates spend 22 to 24 hours a day in small cells with little opportunity to speak with others or participate in rehabilitative services, the lawsuit alleges. What little time they get out is often spent alone in a small outdoor cage, the ACLU contends. An overwhelming weight of research shows that long-term solitary confinement has an often irreversible effect on prisoners mental and physical health, according to a group of psychiatric experts who filed a friend of the court brief backing the ACLU. The lawsuit alleges that the Step-Down program, described by prison officials as providing inmates an opportunity to return to the general population, is in fact a vague and confusing system of malleable jargon designed to keep them where they are. Reviews of inmate behavior are conducted in cursory visits with denial forms already filled out, the prisoners claim. Inmates were sometimes kept in solitary confinement for exhibiting traits such as apathy, poor grooming and failure to maintain an orderly cell the very symptoms solitary confinement generates, a federal appeals court found. The case was before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year after DOC appealed Jones denial of its motion to dismiss the case. The Fourth Circuit upheld Joness ruling, finding that the inmates have adequately pleaded both that they suffered extreme injuries and that defendants were aware of them. After the lawsuit was returned to District Court, the ACLU asked Jones to certify it as a class-action case. In addition to claiming that conditions at Red Onion violated the Eighth Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment, the lawsuit also asserts that the Step-Down program runs counter to the 14th Amendments right to receive sufficient process. Under DOC policy, at risk inmates those determined to be a danger to themselves or others are removed from the general population and placed in special housing units. How long a prisoner can be held in isolation has been a subject of debate in the General Assembly. A bill to limit solitary confinement to 15 days did not survive this years session, although the legislature did approve a law mandating four hours per day of out-of-cell time, effective July 1. When Red Onion and Wallens Ridge State Prison, an identical supermax facility, were built in the late 1990s in Wise County, state officials described them as the final destination for the worst of the worst offenders. But there were never enough truly dangerous criminals to fill the two prisons, each with about 1,200 beds, and the lawsuit claims inmates are being warehoused there to justify the cost of constructing the facilities. Wallens Ridge was included in the lawsuit when it was filed nearly four years ago. But since then, Jones wrote in his opinion, DOC has said it no longer uses solitary confinement at Wallens Ridge leaving Red Onion as the sole defendant. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. South Africa: Mining companies urged to institute mechanisms to prevent fatalities Parliaments Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, has called for a legislated way of imposing punitive measures against mining companies who have failed to put mechanisms in place to prevent fatalities. The call follows a tragic accident at Sibanye Stillwater, where four mineworkers passed away on Thursday. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at the Sibanye Stillwater Burnstone Gold Mine in Mpumalanga. The company said a newly constructed surface waste rock conveyor collapsed. According to the company, the collapse occurred while five contractor employees were installing a head pulley of the conveyor infrastructure. Four people were fatally injured, while a fifth person sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving treatment. Committee Chairperson, Sahlulele Luzipo said the committee places mine health and safety high on its agenda and dedicates time in its programme to focus on mine health and safety. Luzipo emphasised that mine companies need to invest more resources into research and development of technologies that could detect potential incidences before they occur in order to prevent this kind of unfortunate loss of lives. We strongly believe that through the investment of resources into research and innovation, a solution could be found to prevent fatalities and loss of lives during events such as seismic and technical failures. The chairperson has sent the committees heartfelt condolences to the families, colleagues and friends of the deceased mineworkers, and also wished a speedy recovery to the workers who sustained injuries when the conveyor belt collapse. Sibanye-Stillwater said a full investigation into the exact cause of the incident is underway, and all relevant stakeholders have been informed. Meanwhile, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has also sent its condolences to the families of four mine workers. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Chinese FM chairs 2nd informal meeting of foreign ministers of China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran on Afghan issue Xinhua) 09:12, April 14, 2023 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) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) (CNN) A member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard was arrested by the FBI on Thursday in connection with the leaking of classified documents that have been posted online, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Thursday. The arrest of Jack Teixeira, 21, comes following a fast-moving search by the US government for the identity of the leaker who posted classified documents to a social media platform popular with video gamers. Teixeira was arrested in Massachusetts without incident, Garland said, and will be arraigned in federal court there. "This investigation is ongoing. We will share more information at the appropriate time," the attorney general said, declining to answer questions. Teixeira will first appear in court on Friday in Boston, according to the US attorney's office there. The FBI said in a statement that it took Teixeira into custody "at a residence in North Dighton, Massachusetts, for his alleged involvement in leaking classified U.S. government and military documents." "The FBI is continuing to conduct authorized law enforcement activity at the residence," the agency said. "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 posted to social media, some of which have been obtained by CNN, included detailed intelligence assessments of allies and adversaries alike, including on the state of the war in Ukraine and the challenges Kyiv and Moscow face as the war appears stuck in a stalemate. Multiple US officials told CNN that Teixeira is believed to be the leader of the group where a trove of classified documents had been posted. The search for the suspect began with thousands of people who had access to the documents, but investigators were able to quickly narrow the search to potential members of the chat group with evidence collected in the days immediately following the discovery of classified documents online by US officials. While there's a large number of people who had access to the documents, investigators were able to home in on a small number for closer scrutiny thanks to the forensic trail left by the person who posted the documents. Teixeira was under surveillance for at least a couple of days prior to his arrest by the FBI on Thursday, according to a US government source familiar with the case. Earlier Thursday, US President Joe Biden appeared to suggest that the US government was close to identifying the leaker. Biden was then briefed on the arrest in between his speech to parliament and his departure for a banquet dinner in his honor at Dublin Castle, according to a US official. He was at the hotel for roughly 90 minutes in between the two events. Biden has been regularly briefed on the investigation, officials said, as well as the efforts by his top officials to engage with allies who have been identified within, or unsettled by, the content of the leaked information, according to one of the officials. Behind the scenes, it has been a reality that has loomed over a deeply personal and important foreign trip for Biden, one official acknowledged. Joined Air National Guard in 2019 The Air Force released service details for Teixeira, an Airman 1st Class. Teixeira is an enlisted airman at the Massachusetts Air National Guard, according to details from his service record released by the Air Force Thursday. He joined the service in September 2019 and his official job is Cyber Transport Systems journeyman. According to the Air Force, Cyber Transport Systems specialists are tasked with making sure the service's "vast, global communications network" is "operating properly." On Wednesday, The Washington Post first reported that the person behind the leak worked on a military base and posted sensitive national security secrets in an online group of acquaintances. The leaker was described in the Post story as a lonely young man and gun enthusiast who was part of a chatroom of about two dozen people on Discord -- a social media platform popular with video gamers -- that shared a love of guns and military gear, according to a friend of the alleged leaker the Post interviewed who was also part of the group. Biden said he was concerned about the fact the leaks happened, but not necessarily about their content. "I'm not concerned about the leak. I'm concerned that it happened, but there's nothing contemporaneous that I'm aware of that is of any consequence." Pentagon tightening access to classified intelligence The Pentagon has begun to limit who across the government receives its highly classified daily intelligence briefs following the leak. Some US officials who used to receive the briefing materials daily have stopped receiving them in recent days, sources familiar with the matter told CNN, as the Pentagon's Joint Staff continues to whittle down its distribution lists. The Joint Staff, which comprises the Defense Department's most senior uniformed leadership that advises the president, began examining its distribution lists immediately after learning of the trove of leaked classified documents -- many of which had markings indicating that they had been produced by the Joint Staff's intelligence arm, known as the J2. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that he is directing the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security to review intelligence access, following the arrest of the Air National Guardsman. "As Secretary of Defense, I will also not hesitate to take any additional measures necessary to safeguard our nation's secrets," Austin said. "Accordingly, I am directing the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security to conduct 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." Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder confirmed Thursday that the Defense Department is taking steps to tighten the community of people who receive classified intelligence. Ryder said the Pentagon continues "to review a variety of factors as it relates to safeguarding classified materials. This includes examining and updating distribution lists, assessing how and where intelligence products are shared, and a variety of other steps." Ryder also emphasized that there are already "stringent guidelines" in place to safeguard classified intelligence. "This was a deliberate criminal act," he said, "a violation of those guidelines." The criminal investigation is being led by the FBI's Washington field office, including a team of counterintelligence investigators experienced in hunting leaks. Those investigators are also working with Pentagon officials on the damage assessment, which would become part of the evidence to be used in any potential prosecution that results. Water has been gushing out of the ground in a Southern California neighborhood for days, forcing residents to use pumps, hoses and sandbags to divert flows away from their properties " " This illustration shows the structure of a module of a solar panel. Iaremenko Sergii/Shutterstock Until now, our two separate pieces of silicon were electrically neutral; the interesting part begins when you put them together. That's because without an electric field, the cell wouldn't work; the field forms when the N-type and P-type silicon come into contact. Suddenly, the free electrons on the N side see all the openings on the P side, and there's a mad rush to fill them. Do all the free electrons fill all the free holes? No. If they did, then the whole arrangement wouldn't be very useful. However, right at the junction, they do mix and form something of a barrier, making it harder and harder for electrons on the N side to cross over to the P side. Eventually, equilibrium is reached, and we have an electric field separating the two sides. Advertisement This electric field acts as a diode, allowing (and even pushing) electrons to flow from the P side to the N side, but not the other way around. It's like a hill electrons can easily go down the hill (to the N side), but can't climb it (to the P side). When light, in the form of photons, hits our solar panel, its energy breaks apart electron-hole pairs. Each photon with enough energy will normally free exactly one electron, resulting in a free hole as well. If this happens close enough to the electric field, or if a free electron and free hole happen to wander into its range of influence, the field will send the electron to the N side and the hole to the P side. This causes further disruption of electrical neutrality, and if we provide an external current path, electrons will flow through the path to the P side to unite with holes that the electric field sent there, doing work for us along the way. The electron flow provides the current, and the cell's electric field causes a voltage. With both current and voltage, we have power, which is the product of the two. There are a few more components left before we can really use our cell. Silicon happens to be a very shiny material, which can send photons bouncing away before they've done their job, so an antireflective coating is applied to reduce those losses. The final step is to install something that will protect the cell from the elements often a glass cover plate. PV modules are generally made by connecting several individual solar panels together to achieve useful levels of voltage and current, and putting them in a sturdy frame complete with positive and negative terminals. Unfortunately, the process for converting solar light into usable power is not perfect. As of 2019, commercially available solar panels have less than 30 percent efficiency, meaning two-thirds of the potential concentrated solar power is wasted. In lab settings, some researchers have been able to reach 47 percent efficiency, but they were using a directed light beam that is several times more powerful than our ambient outdoor sunlight. As of yet, the only practical solution to this efficiency problem is to install more solar panels over larger areas, but this greatly increases the cost of creating a solar farm in both real estate and natural resources. From a monetary standpoint, solar used to be one of the most expensive power sources to build in comparison with the energy collected. However, prices have trended downward in recent years, and brought photovoltaics more in line with the cost of wind turbine construction. An effective alternative to the photovoltaic system is known as the concentrated solar plant. This method does away with silicon panels and instead uses a massive array of polished mirrors to capture sunlight. These mirrors are programmed to follow the sun's movement and direct the light to a large tower known as a central receiver. The receiver contains a large tank of chemical solution known as molten salt, which heats up to temperatures in excess of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit (538 degrees Celsius). The heat can then be siphoned off in order to drive traditional steam turbines throughout the day, and at nighttime as well. Concentrated solar is able to generate several times more power than the typical solar cell array, but it requires a huge swathe of flat ground and the heat involved presents hazards to both people and wildlife. For these reasons, the power plants tend to be located in relatively uninhabited areas, like the Mojave desert. Artist's rendering illustrates the nitrogen-vacancy diamond sensor the Beck group will develop. The internal grid lines represent the path of laser light within the diamondthe incoming beam (thicker red line) is repeatedly reflected within the diamond sensor until it encounters the cut corner where it emerges (the thinner red line). Image by Yasmine Steele for Illinois Physics. Credit: The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign The nuclear physics group at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is looking for evidence of new physics in neutrons, electrically neutral particles that hold atomic nuclei together with an interaction called the strong force. Faculty and researchers are participating in the nEDM experiment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory which will measure the neutron's electric dipole moment, a property that allows neutrons to interact with electric fields despite their neutrality. A precise measurement will constrain theories extending the current standard model of particle physics. To achieve this, the researchers must accurately measure subtle changes in very strong electric fields. Professor of Physics Douglas Beck has been awarded a grant from the Department of Energy to develop sensors based on nitrogen vacancy diamond, a material whose quantum properties at low temperatures make it unusually sensitive to electric fields. His research group has shown that the material can measure strong electric fields, and the award will allow the researchers to construct sensors ready to use in the nEDM experiment. In addition, the material's quantum properties make it a promising candidate for quantum information science. The researchers will also explore these potential applications. Beck explained that chemically added nitrogen vacancy, or NV, impurities give diamond unusual electric field sensitivity. "These impurities are regions with an extra nitrogen atom and a hole [or vacancy] where carbon atoms normally would be," he said. "When the material is cooled to less than 20 degrees above absolute zero, the impurities form a quantum system that responds to electric fields. This is quite an unusual characteristic because not many systems respond to electric fields, and that makes NV diamond special." The NV system can be made even more sensitive when it is prepared in a particular quantum state. Instead of letting the system stay in its lowest energy state after they cool it, the researchers form a quantum superposition of the lowest and next-lowest energy states called a dark state, so named because it does not interact with light. "In a sense, the name is meant to suggest that it's immune to interactions with the environment," Beck said. "Because it is long lived, it has a very sharply defined energy that very accurately tells us how big the electric field is." Beck's group has demonstrated that this phenomenon enables NV diamond to measure strong electric fields, and the award will allow the researchers to develop reliable, robust sensors based on it. This will involve packaging sensors into units that readily connect with the lasers used to control them and minimize the effects of background noise. They are also investigating a quantum technique called dynamical decoupling that would allow them to effectively reverse the effects of experimental imperfections, according to Beck. This would make the already-precise electric field measurements even more accurate. Another goal of the research is to explore proposals for using NV diamond in quantum information science. The dark state's long lifetime and resilience against environmental noise make it a promising platform for quantum sensing and quantum memory. Many such applications depend on placing quantum systems in squeezed states that possess the minimum uncertainty allowed by the Heisenberg principle. There have been several proposals for creating squeezed states in NV diamond, and Beck's group will survey their feasibilities. This work will be supported with $650,000 over three years awarded by the Quantum Horizons initiative in the Department of Energy's Nuclear Physics program. Provided by University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering On Oct. 11, 2022, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope spent over 20 hours observing the long-studied Hubble Ultra Deep Field for the first time. The general observer program (GO 1963) focused on analyzing the field in wavelengths between approximately 2 and 4 microns. We spoke with Christina Williams (NOIRLab), Sandro Tacchella (University of Cambridge), and Michael Maseda (University of Wisconsin-Madison) to learn more about the first observation of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field through Webb's eyes. What is important for people to know about these Webb observations? Michael Maseda: The fact that we see hot, ionized gas is telling us exactly where stars are being born in these galaxies. Now we can separate those areas from where stars already existed. That piece of information is very important because, billions of years later, we don't exactly know how galaxies became how they are today. It's important to note that we still haven't seen everything there is to see. Our whole program was ~24 hours, which isn't that much time in the grand scheme of how much time other observatories have looked at it. But, even in this relatively short amount of time, we're starting to put together a new picture of how galaxies are growing at this really interesting point in the history of the Universe. What are you interested in learning by exploring the Hubble Ultra Deep Field with Webb? Christina Williams: We proposed to image the Ultra Deep Field using some of Webb's NIRCam's medium-band image filters, which allowed us to take images of spectral features more accurately than we could with broadband filters because medium-band filters span a shorter wavelength range. This gives us more sensitivity in measuring colors, which helps us understand the history of star formation and ionization properties of galaxies during the first billion years of the universe, like in the Reionization Era. Measuring the energy that galaxies produced in that time will help us understand how galaxies reionized the universe, reverting it from being neutral gas to once again being an ionized plasma like it was after the big bang. Sandro Tacchella: One of the key outstanding questions in extragalactic astrophysics is how the first galaxies form. Since the medium bands cover a range of different wavelengths, we can either directly find the some of the first galaxies in the early universe, or we can age-date the stars in galaxies when the universe was about one billion years old to understand when the galaxy actually formed their stars in the past. This survey helps to pin down the formation of the first galaxies. Michael: The capabilities that we have with Webb's medium-band filters are actually quite new. We're getting a sort of hybrid between imaging and spectroscopy, so we're getting detailed information for basically all of the galaxies in the field, as opposed to traditional spectroscopy where you could only select a few galaxies in the field of view for study. It's really a complete picture in the sense that this information complements a lot of existing data, not only from Hubble, but ground-based instrumentation like MUSE (the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer) on the Very Large Telescope, where we have spectroscopy at different wavelengths for a number of these objects. MUSE is very good at finding galaxies that have Lyman-alpha emission, or light from ionized hydrogen in these galaxies, which are the type of galaxies that existed when reionization was ending. This new data is a missing piece that we did not have before in terms of understanding the full population of galaxies in this field. Was there anything unexpected in these data that surprised you? Michael: I don't know if I was surprised exactly, but the images were even better than I was expecting. In these images, you can actually see by eye that this is ionized gas over a fairly large area. I was expecting everything to be unresolved, but we have a high-enough resolution to actually see it. And I'm pleased to see it because it could have been a lot harder to understand what was happening. Christina: I think that seeing how beautiful the images are and how high quality they ended up being was definitely a high point. We calculated that we would be able to do things like this, but it was different to see it and have the real data in practice. Why did you elect to make the data immediately public? Sandro: Galaxies are very complex systems in which a wide range of different processes work on different spatial and temporal scales, so there are many approaches that can be used to better understand the physics of galaxies. So, making it available to many different groups will facilitate the search for more insight. Christina: Webb is still very new, and people are still learning the best practices of how to analyze data sets. So, it benefits everyone to have a few data sets that are available immediately to help people understand the best way to make use of Webb data moving forward, and to better plan programs in future cycles that are based on real experience with data. The James Webb Space Telescope is the world's largest, most powerful, and most complex space science telescope ever built. Webb will solve mysteries in our solar system, look beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probe the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency. Provided by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center FLORENCE, S.C. A Minnesota-based sock company donated half of the profits it made from a recent partnership with McLeod Health back to the hospital. Hippy Feet was commissioned by McLeod Health to make socks customized with McLeod Health colors and logo to celebrate the hospitals transition to its new Epic Medical Record System. On Thursday, Hippy Feet presented the McLeod Childrens Hospital HERO Fund with a check for $5,506. What you guys are doing here with your HERO Fund is changing lives, truly, and we are more than happy to support it, said Michael Mader, co-founder of Hippy Feet. Thank you for having us and thank you for this partnership. The McLeod Childrens Hospital HERO Fund helps to pay for expenses that may come up while children are in the hospital but that are not covered by insurance, like specialized car seats for children with disabilities or formula for babies going home from the neonatal intensive care unit. HERO Fund coordinator Lauren McKinsey said the fund also helps pay for expenses that parents cannot pay for whatever reason. Recently, we cared for a set of twins in our pediatric intensive care unit who were homeless, McKinsey said. We were able to provide critical supplies and necessities for those twins that were going to stay with a relative. Supplies included a double stroller, an emergency care pack and two seats that helped with physical therapy, she said. The HERO Fund also recently helped a teenager who suffered traumatic brain damage and was in the hospital for several months, missing her senior prom, according to McKinsey. We were able to give her a small prom right here in this lobby in the corner, and her date was actually able to come see her, she said. Hippy Feet donates half of all its profits to charities around the country that work to prevent and address youth homelessness. We are supporting your efforts to help folks with financial insecurity so that they dont become homeless, Mader said. We want to help prevent homelessness before it becomes an issue. The partnership with McLeod Health, which Mader said he hopes to continue, is the first Hippy Feet has made with an organization in the southeastern United States. Seguin, TX (78155) Today Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 61F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 61F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. 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) $3000 746 10% 1.5% 11 57 5 Tips to Grab the Attention of Recruiters Within 7 Seconds AI14%4 10 1.71%7% 3.46% 12%9% 52% 3276 40% 52.8 10 2%4% 115 20000 250 250 Yen 1.62%3.46% CoinbaseSEC 99 13% Kenvue 3350IPO FRC 22% 7%6.68% 2248 5 Food Giveaway Mayflower Congregational UCC, 1407 W. 18th St., will host its monthly Food Giveaway on Saturday, April 15. The event is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and is a drive-up/walk-up service in front of the church. All are welcome! Holy Humor Sunday Holy Humor Sunday will be held at 10 a.m. April 16, as a combined service with Whitfield United Methodist Church and Riverside United Methodist Church, at Whitfield Church, 1319 W Fifth St. Brunch will follow the service. Pancake Breakfast St. John Lutheran Church, 2801 Jackson St., will host a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 22. Pancakes, sausage, eggs, coffee, juice, milk, butter, and syrup will be served. Free will offering. Proceeds will go to the St. John Food Pantry Ministry. With warm weather for yardwork, one packet of vegetable seed per family will be handed out per family. Food Pantry St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1200 Douglas St., will have its food pantry open from 10 a.m. to noon on Mondays. 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. RURAL PLYMOUTH COUNTY, Iowa -- Two people have died as a result of a two-vehicle crash that occurred late Thursday afternoon. At 5:41 p.m. Thursday, the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office received a call of an accident occurring on K-18, just north of Butcher Road in southwest Plymouth County. In a Friday news release, the sheriff's office confirmed that two people were killed as a result of the accident. No other information will be released until the families involved are notified. The Plymouth County Sheriff's Office was assisted on the scene by Akron Fire and Ambulance, the Iowa State Patrol, the Plymouth County Medical Examiner's Office and Mercy Air Med. This accident remain under investigation by the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office and the Le Mars Police Department. SIOUX CITY A Sergeant Bluff construction company owner was sentenced Friday to two years in federal prison for failing to pay payroll tax withholdings to the Internal Revenue Service Kevin Alexander, 62, of Sioux City, pleaded guilty in November in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to one count of tax evasion. Alexander also was fined $20,000 and ordered to pay more than $1.6 million in restitution to the IRS. Court documents show most or all of that total has been paid. Alexander also will be on two years' supervised release after completing his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system. President of K&L Construction Inc., a landscaping and construction company, Alexander paid his employees $3.8 million in wages from the second quarter of 2014 through the first quarter of 2017 and withheld approximately $1 million in payroll taxes, but the company never paid those withholdings to the IRS. Alexander submitted a false form to the IRS that concealed some of his assets in order to evade payment of payroll taxes. Alexander and his daughter, Jenna Alexander-Wilson, who was the company's record keeper and office manager, were arrested in November 2021. A federal indictment detailed the steps the two took to avoid paying employment taxes since the IRS in 2014 initiated collection activity against K&L to assess and collect the delinquent employment taxes. Alexander-Wilson died in February 2022, and the case against her was subsequently dismissed. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Bautista tricked the dealer into allowing him inside his home to buy marijuana on Oct. 28, 2020. Once inside, Bautista signaled to an armed gunman to enter the home, where Bautista and the man restrained and beat the dealer, his brother and girlfriend and robbed them of marijuana, cash, a gun and other valuables. Wow! The Dakota Dunes beauty you've been waiting for and it has an open floor plan that will delight most buyers checklist. First impression, the custom molding on the walls of the foyer immediately give this home a stylish upgrade. The details are spot on and you will love the brand new custom bar that features custom cabinets, quartz counter, new lighting, trim and molding, sink and dishwasher and refrigerator. The main floor great room has hardwood floors, 10 ft ceilings, gas fireplace with marble surround, nice mantle and plenty of room for your art work. The abundant natural light comes in from the large wall of windows. A gourmet kitchen is a chef's dream with custom cabinets , soft grey lowers and white uppers, Five burner gas range with stainless steel range hood, quartz counters with breakfast, new dishwasher and crystal hardware. You will love the large pantry with all the storage for easy organization. This home boast storage with large closets and custom baseboard and trim. The master suite has a bath that makes you feel like you are vacationing at a luxury spa. Imagine a walk in closet large enough that you just may need to go shopping. The finished basement has 2 bedrooms, large full bath and family room displays a gas fireplace with custom finishes. You will love the spacious bedrooms and modern sleek designs throughout, that were chosen by a professional designer. Main floor laundry off the attached 3 car garage, has plenty of storage and is conveniently located off the kitchen area. When the snow melts, you will see the luscious landscaping that will bring you joy this spring and summer, with sprinkler system for low maintenance life style. , The home sits on a cul de sac and you will love the low traffic. You can see the #2 tee box from your back yard. Nice patio for added living space during the spring, summer and fall with a privacy wall. There are so many things to love about your next home. View More ONAWA, Iowa -- Monona County officials are urging homeowners to be prepared to evacuate, as fires in Preparation Canyon head north. Monona County Emergency Management said in a statement that residents North of E-60 to Highway E-54, in the area from Larpenteur Memorial Road to the east to Orange Avenue, need to prepare to evacuate if requested by law enforcement. No evacuation orders had been issued as of Friday afternoon. Residents can call the Monona County Law Enforcement Center at 712-433-1414 for more information. Preparation Canyon fire Smoke rises as woodlands smolder Friday near Monona County Road E54 near the Ingemann Danish Lutheran Church north of Preparation Canyon State Roads in the area of the fires are closed. Non-residents should stay out of the area, according to the statement. At 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Moorhead Fire Department was called to assist the Pisgah Fire Department with a structure fire near E-60 and Oak Avenue. "Flames from this fire quickly spread with the strong winds igniting grass and timber throughout the area," the statement said. "At this time, we are trying to contain the fire, however, due to the rugged terrain of the Loess Hills, the dry conditions and the very strong winds, the fire continues to spread north from the original ignition source." Every fire department in the county responded to the fires. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Monona County Sheriff's Office, Monona County Conservation, Monona County Roads Department and various units from Harrison County also provided support, according to the statement. 17 photos of historic Sioux City fires Close The Tolerton-Stetson Company wholesale grocery store, at Pearl and Second streets, was destroyed by fire in 1891. One of the earliest major Sioux City fires destroyed the Queal Lumber yards at Third and Steuben streets at the height of the disastrous Floyd River flood of May 18, 1892. Quicklime stored in the sheds became ignited when water flooded the yards. The "big fire" of Dec. 23, 1904, wiped out two and a half blocks in the Sioux City business district located on the southeast corner of Fourth and Nebraska streets, causing damage estimated at $3 million. April 29, 1912, was the date of the fire at Morningside College's Main Hall. The Lindholm fire took place in March 1912. The Sioux City Journal was located in this building at the southwest corner of Fifth and Douglas streets. The Mondamin hotel fire in January 1912 destroyed the four-story brick structure. The Mondamin was relocated at Fourth and Pierce streets, which eventually became the site of the Martin hotel. The Brown block fire of March 26, 1914, ranks high on the list of disastrous Sioux City fires. Two firemen, Frank Folton and Seeley Lawton, lost their lives when the front wall toppled into Fourth Street and buried them under tons of debris. The building at the southeast corner of Fifth and Douglas streets, known as the Lerch block, was destroyed by a fire in 1918. The Ruff disaster, one of Sioux Citys biggest disasters, took place at the northeast corner of Fourth and Douglas streets on June 29, 1918. The building was being remodeled but collapsed during the remodeling, which then caused a fire. Thirty-seven people were killed. This 1918 photo captures the front section of the Ruff building, part of which was still standing, after an explosion at Fourth and Douglas streets. A fire destroyed the International Milling Co.'s plant in Leeds the morning of April 19, 1947. The fire at the Unitarian Church, located at the corner of 10th and Douglas streets, took place July 29, 1948. Damages from the fire that destroyed the West Hotel at Third and Nebraska streets on April 19, 1953, was estimated at $200,000. The Curtis Co. fire took place Aug. 23, 1961, at the corner of West Fourth and Perry streets in Sioux City. The building was abandoned when the fire occurred. The third major fire in downtown Sioux City in less than 10 days in 1966 caused extensive damage to Perkins Seed Co. A 1966 fire damaged the Bomgaars Supply store in downtown Sioux City. A photo of the aftermath of the 1968 Central Hotel fire in Sioux City. +16 +16 +16 +16 +16 +16 +16 +16 +16 +16 WASHINGTON The Biden administration and a drug manufacturer asked the Supreme Court on Friday to preserve access to an abortion drug free from restrictions imposed by lower court rulings, while a legal fight continues. The Justice Department and Danco Laboratories filed their emergency requests with the high court less than two days after an appeals court ruling in a case from Texas that had the effect of tightening the rules under which the drug, mifepristone, can be prescribed and dispensed. The new limits would take effect Saturday unless the court acts before then. The fight over mifepristone lands at the Supreme Court less than a year after conservative justices reversed Roe v. Wade and allowed more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright. The justices are being asked for a temporary order to keep in place Food and Drug Administration regulations governing mifepristone. Such an order would give them time to more fully consider each side's arguments without the pressure of a deadline. A ruling from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals late Wednesday would prevent the pill, used in the most common abortion method, from being mailed or prescribed without an in-person visit to a doctor. It also would withdraw the Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone for use beyond the seventh week of pregnancy. The FDA says it's safe through 10 weeks. Still, the appeals court did not entirely withdraw FDA approval of mifepristone while the fight over it continues. The 5th circuit narrowed an April 7 ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, whose far-reaching and virtually unprecedented order would have blocked FDA approval of the pill. He gave the administration a week to appeal. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday that the 5th circuit did not go far enough to "protect Americans' access to safe and effective reproductive care." Mifepristone was approved by the FDA more than two decades ago and is used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol. Adding to the uncertainty, a separate federal judge in Washington on Thursday clarified his own order from last week to make clear that the FDA is not to do anything that might block mifepristone's availability in 17 Democrat-led states suing to keep it on the market. It's unclear how the FDA can comply with court orders in both cases. The Texas lawsuit was filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group that also argued to overturn Roe v. Wade, and is representing anti-abortion doctors and medical organizations. ADF attorneys said Thursday they did not plan to seek an appeal that might restore the Texas court's full ruling at this point, signaling they were content with appellate outcome. "The 5th Circuit's decision is 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," 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.. The appeals court judges in the majority in Wednesday's decision 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 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 sixteen years" the judges wrote. Use of medication abortion jumped significantly after the 2016 rule expansion, according to data gathered by the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. In 2017, medication abortion accounted for 39% percent of abortions but by 2020 had increased to become the most common method, accounting for 53% of all abortions. Experts have said the use of medication abortion has increased since the court overturned Roe. 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 doctor's 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. At the core of the Texas lawsuit is the allegation that the FDA's 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 FDA's 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. ___ A look at 50 years of Supreme Court abortion decisions 1973 1976 1986 1989 1992 2000 2007 2016 2020 2021 2022 When news broke last week, by way of dogged reporting in ProPublica, that Justice Clarence Thomas had accepted decades worth of hospitality from billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow, that this same donor had funded his wifes legal and political activities and in fact helped pay her salary, and that Thomas had disclosed none of this, our suggestion that the justice had clearly broken the law was dismissed as left-wing smear. ProPublicas new reporting, dropped on Thursday, showed that the same billionaire donor, Harlan Crow, spent $133,363 purchasing several properties co-owned by Thomas, and that these sales were never disclosed. As our colleagues at Slate confirmed this week, Thomas mother actually still lives in the property owned by Crow, to which he has made valuable improvements (in addition to buying the house next door and dispensing with previously troublesome neighbors). Unlike the rules around the undisclosed luxury travel reported last week, ProPublica could not find a single ethics expert willing to squint and hop on one foot in a way that would make the failure to report the real estate transaction seem arguably lawful. The court has not responded in any way to the latest revelations. Defenders of Justice Thomas somehow continue to urge that this is a smear campaign by liberals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a way, the fact that money went from Harlan Crows pocket to Thomas moms house seems less horrifying than last weeks superyachts and half-million-dollar luxury air travel. Who among us wouldnt want a billionaire to evict the noisy neighbors who were keeping our mothers up late? But it helps to parse out what mattered about both Thomas stories and what is mostly a distraction. That Thomas is a hypocrite for claiming to like parking outside Walmarts to commune with real people while secretly indulging his taste for luxe global travel? Doesnt really matter. Harlan Crows penchant for cunningly little embroidered Nazi table linens? Weird, surely, but materially inconsequential. The Wall Street Journal editorial boards claim that Thomas is a good and great man being tarnished by left-leaning ProPublica (which, lets recall, is actually founded by former Wall Street Journal folks)? Whatever. Advertisement What mattered last week and what still matters this week is whether the Crow/Thomas dealings can be seen as classic quid pro quo (or perhaps quid pro Crow) corruption. We too often think this can only happen in a scene in which cartoon ducks with big sacks of cash pay politicians to do their bidding, which is never how this actually happens. And the longstanding defense to those claims is that Justice Thomas is too independent a thinker and jurist to be influenced by gifts of bibles and vacations and rent-free housing. But what this new reporting showsand what actually mattersis that Crow and those like him, who have poured billions of dollars into funding cases before the court, campaigns to seat certain justices on the court, and crusades to keep other justices off the court, turn out to just own the whole building. In tandem with the Leonard Leos and Mark Paolettas who have been rendered in art for all eternity, the Harlan Crows are the actual landlords of the houses where the six conservative justices seemingly get to live rent-free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre defending Thomas unlawful refusal to disclose these transactions by saying hes too famous/powerful/important/busy/put-upon to disclose these transactions, you are missing the point. Disclosure laws arent tawdry gotcha traps that form the basis of smear campaigns. Disclosure rules are the only means of transparency in a world of increasingly broken democratic systems. Citizens United and its dismantling of campaign finance reform? Justified on the grounds that disclosure rules suffice to ferret out corruption. We dont demand that public figures deal honestly with the public because we are mean; we do it because law and democracy rise and fall on knowing who paid who for what. On the issue of disclosure, Citizens United was actually an 81 decision: Eight justices voted to uphold mandatory disclosure requirements for corporate electioneeringevery justice except Justice Thomas. In a solo dissent, he railed against disclosure laws, citing Californias Proposition 8 as his chief example. California law, if you recall, had compelled the disclosure of all donors to the campaigns for and against Prop 8, a proposed same-sex marriage ban, who gave more than $100. Many residents used this information to boycott businesses, lobby fellow citizens, and stop associating with anti-gay Californiansall forms of expression protected by the First Amendment. Indeed, far from silencing speech, these disclosures promoted it. Yet Thomas railed against these First Amendment activities as an assault on the First Amendment. For support, he cited a small number of legitimate threats of physical violence, lumping them in with reprisals, ruined careers, and (perfectly lawful) warning letters about the social and political costs of contributing to the campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas revived these same concerns in 2010s Doe v. Reed, when he took his theory of disclosure as bullying a step farther: Citizens who participate directly in the lawmaking process by signing a petition for a ballot initiative or referendum, he asserted, have a First Amendment right to conceal their identity from the public. That case, too, involved a ballot question seeking to disallow marriage equality: A group of signatories who had helped get the question on the ballot wanted to hide their involvement from their fellow citizens. Thomas was once again the sole justice to vote against disclosure. He complained that the requirement chilled signatories free speech by subjecting them to threats, harassment, or reprisals. In 2021, Thomas reiterated his belief that the Constitution protects a near-absolute right to associate anonymously. In practice, that meant an ability to donate massive sums to deeply political organizations and conceal your identity from the state. Advertisement Advertisement Whats really remarkable about these opinions is that they equate genuine illegal conduct (like true threats and harassment) with constitutionally protected public criticism. In these cases, Thomas lumped together actual physical violence with mere verbal reprisals. And he totally ignored the competing First Amendment interests in using disclosure information to engage in free expression. In short, Thomas insisted that a persons right to anonymously influence disputes of great public interestby supporting a political candidate or campaign, or even engaging in lawmaking itselfoutweighs other peoples right to know that you did so and criticize you for doing so. This thin-skinned vision of free speech actually prompted one of Justice Antonin Scalias best opinions, a rebuke to Thomas desire to shield the egos of snowflakes: Advertisement There are laws against threats and intimidation; and harsh criticism, short of unlawful action, is a price our people have traditionally been willing to pay for self-governance. Requiring people to stand up in public for their political acts fosters civic courage, without which democracy is doomed. For my part, I do not look forward to a society which, thanks to the Supreme Court, campaigns anonymously and even exercises the direct democracy of initiative and referendum hidden from public scrutiny and protected from the accountability of criticism. This does not resemble the Home of the Brave. It now turns out Justice Thomas was applying this theory of governance to his own life the whole time. His hostility toward disclosure laws reached all the way to the federal statute that obligated him to report many of Crows lavish giftsincluding, without a milligram of doubt, the infusion of cash from the real estate transaction. The solo opinions ranting about the evils of disclosure requirements were, it appears, a kind of projection, a veiled defense of his own refusal to tell the public about Crows beneficence. Revealing these gifts would surely result in public criticism, even reprisals from the citizenry, in the form of speech. And to Thomas, such criticism is an intolerable cost of participating in public life; an evil so great that he would break the law to avoid it. In the coming days, you will hear a lot of people who purport to care about the law and lawfulness and rules and the close reading of statutes explain that none of that matters because none of it applies to Clarence Thomas. The idea some kinds of people are simply too powerful to disclose what they do? Thats a self-serving argument the justice has been hatching a long time. Its an elegant trick of history and he will profit from that, too. The revelations about Clarence Thomas financial ties to billionaire donor Harlan Crowmost of which the justice has routinely declined to disclose in his annual ethics documentationkeep coming. A ProPublica investigation published Thursday reported that, in addition to the lavish vacations Crow has funded for Thomas and his wife, the justice sold three personal properties to the Republican billionaire without ever disclosing itincluding the home belonging to Thomas mother, Leola Williams. According to ProPublica, Crow purchased Williams home in 2014, along with two nearby vacant lots in Savannah, Georgia. All three properties were co-owned by Thomas, Williams, and the family of Thomas late brother. Crow paid $133,363 for the properties. Thats substantially more than Thomas valuation. On a 2009 financial disclosure form, Thomas said his one-third stake in the three properties amounted to $15,000 or less. Once Crow assumed ownership, the billionaire paid for $36,000 worth of improvements to Williams home, including a carport, a roof repair, a new fence, and gates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas failure to declare the sale of his Savannah properties is a violation of federal disclosure law, several experts told ProPublica. Justices and other public officials must disclose real estate sales over $1,000. In response to ProPublicas new reporting, Crow said he bought Williams home to preserve it for posterity, with a goal of eventually turning it into a museum dedicated to Thomas. The justice did not respond to ProPublicas questions about the property sale to Crow. There is one critical detail ProPublica left slightly open: Does Leola Williams still live in her Savannah home? The reporters noted that they were certain Thomas mother lived in this house through 2020, per public records and social media, and that her neighbors said she still lives there. Advertisement But Slate can confirm that she resides in the house to this day. Two weeks ago, Joel Anderson interviewed her there for the upcoming season of Slow Burn. To hear from Leola Williams directly, tune in to Slow Burn: Becoming Justice Thomas, out May 31. On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal published a piece about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss presidential campaign called Ron DeSantis, Down in Polls and Taking Flak From Donald Trump, Looks to Rebound. The piece says DeSantis is sharpening his message in order to reassure important party figures that hes still a viable candidate. Hes preparing a new ad campaign, making more critical comments about Trump, and hoping to introduce himself more on a personal level as a family man who had a modest upbringing. Advertisement None of the elements of this story are unusual; the dispatch about a candidate who is attempting to reboot a presidential bid that is stalling, flagging, or stumbling is a staple of trail reporting. What is unusual about this story is its timing: Its being published in April 2023, and it concerns the 2024 Republican primary, a race that DeSantis has not even officially joined. The campaign that is said to be attempting a rebound does not yet exist, although the Journals sources say he plans to formally enter the race some time after the state legislative session ends in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The early emergence of this coverage isnt entirely a reflection on DeSantiss quality as a quasi-candidate. As is observed every four years, presidential campaigns seem to be starting earlier and earlierDonald Trump, for example, declared his 2024 candidacy last November. The New York Times wrote a story about Beto ORourkes efforts to rejuvenate his candidacy, then only six weeks old, in May 2019. (He, too, was said to be attempting to sharpen his message.) Advertisement This kind of coverage isnt necessarily a death sentence, either: John Kerry supposedly rebooted his presidential campaign in September 2003 and went on to win his partys nomination the next year. On the other hand, Jeb Bush went into reboot mode in September 2015, and did not. In April 2019, there were even stories about Joe Biden struggling as he was buffeted by the politics of #MeToo amid litigation of his role in the 1991 Judiciary Committee questioning of Anita Hill and accusations that he had touched and kissed women in unwanted ways. At the time, Biden, like DeSantis, was a presumed candidate who hadnt yet declared formally. (Hed do so on April 29.) Bidens example should probably not be reassuring to DeSantis. The former vice president was, at the time, the clear frontrunner in his race. He had already planned to campaign as a familiar and sensible figure who would be defined by consistency and positivity, betting that his relationships with donors, party leaders, and key voting blocs would sustain him through various stumbles and bad news cycles. In a way, having a no-reboot policy was the entire point of his campaign. And he ultimately won his bet, albeit after more than a few white-knuckle moments. (Personally I think it would be fun to see whether a Joe Biden victory was the modal outcome in, say, 100,000 hyperrealistic computer simulations of the 2024 race. Should we all stay in tonight and try to figure out how to do that? Hey, wheres everyone going?) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But DeSantis doesnt have an established reputation to draw on within the party, a problem underlined by the WSJs aside about how hes currently making his first trip to New Hampshire. He also has to navigate a primary electorate that is a mess of self-sabotaging impulses and disagreement about goals. Trump wont commit to supporting the Republican nominee if its someone else, and has previously threatened to launch a third party. The most prominent causes of the base2020 stolen-election rhetoric and the criminalization of abortionare swing-state poison. So say youre DeSantis, and you have the support of your partys major donors and ideological media outlets. Youve already attached yourself like an invasive Everglades eel to every possible base cause from vaccine denialism to critical race theory. And yet youre still down 21 points in Georgia, a state that is adjacent to the one you live in and is known to be friendly to Republicans who dont get along with Trump. Well, you can reboot the damn thing, but what are you gonna put on the screen when it comes back on? Advertisement Also, Trump is trying to kill you with ads about how you reportedly once ate a cup of pudding with your fingers: Advertisement Advertisement Pudding Fingers pic.twitter.com/PRCVAZlkw9 MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) April 14, 2023 Advertisement Advertisement Remember Pete Wilson? Like DeSantis, he was a Yale graduate and military veteran who went to law school and then worked his way up to becoming the Republican governor of a major swing state. (California, in his case, which was still swingin at the time. ) He adopted several trending right-wing causesattacking welfare programs, making affirmative action illegal, and preventing undocumented immigrants from receiving public servicesin what seemed like a play for national attention, then ran for president in 1996. Or, rather, Wilson wanted to be running for president in 1996, and began the process of doing so in early 1995but by September of that year, hed already dropped out. Mother Jones wrote at the time that his notoriously uncharismatic persona had failed to energize a national audience. Hed spend the rest of his life getting blamed for turning California into a safe Democratic state by alienating middle-of-the-road voters in the service of his personal ambitions. And he never even got a reboot. One of the odd mysteries in the case of Jack Teixeirathe 21-year-old airman arrested on Thursday for pilfering and leaking hundreds of highly classified documents to pals onlineturns out not to be so odd after all. The puzzle, as I noted in a column on Thursday, is why the Massachusetts Air National Guard, which is where Teixeira worked, would have access to such material in the first place. The answer is that Otis Air Base, the Cape Cod home to the Massachusetts Air National Guard, is one of a few northeastern bases for NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command. This means one of its main missions is to detect, track, intercept, and defend against foreign incursions of U.S. air space. Advertisement As such, according to a former intelligence officer who still does high-level intelligence analysis, the base would routinely have access to reports and dispatches filed on the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communication System (JWICS, often pronounced J-Wicks)and the key word here is worldwide. All information about foreign aircraft, air-defense weapons, military operations, and foreign-policy decisions would be swept up and transmitted throughout the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teixeira was low-rankedan airman first class is equivalent to the Armys private first classbut he was working in the bases intelligence wing. Just to work in that wing, according to the former intelligence officer, he would have had to be granted a TS/SCI security clearance, allowing him to see documents marked Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information. Advertisement Though it is not yet known what Teixeiras precise duties were, he was an IT specialist in the intelligence unit, meaning he would have had access to the JWICSand, once inside that system, he could have searched any topic. According to the former intelligence officer, several years ago, in response to a spate of leaks, JWICS was modified so that no documents from its files could be downloaded. This may explain why Teixeira, at first, wrote down summariesin some cases, verbatim transcriptsof intelligence documents, which he then sent to his pals on the Discord gamers server. The Washington Post and New York Times have reported that he later printed out documents, which he folded, took home, photographed, and then emailed to his small band of followers. Advertisement This is where serious security questions come into play. The former intelligence officer said that it is not unusual for people on the JWICS network to print documents. However, a record is made of what gets printed, at what time; so, someone, somewhere along the way, should have noticed the possibility of a security breach. It may also be worth asking why nobody noticed such papers in Teixeiras briefcase as he left the buildingor whether, at Otis Air Force Base or many other secure bases, anyone checks briefcases or any other containers at all. Advertisement Its also a worthwhile question whether security officers ever give random polygraph tests to those who handle such high-level documents. (They used to.) The prospect of a lie-detector grilling can be daunting to even the most respectable clearance-holderand a deterrent to at least some of those who mull about veering off the straight and narrow path. Advertisement Advertisement Finally, it may be time to add more restrictions to the JWICS system, requiring strict need-to-know rules on who gets access to what and imposing a two-key rule, blocking one person on duty from printingor taking long looks atsensitive documents unless a colleague signs on. We dont yet know exactly how Teixeira did what he did, but its fairly clear that he didnt simply slip through some loopholes; he knew that he was breaking the rules and breaking the law. Upon Teixeiras arrest on Thursday, Attorney General Merrick Garland said that the airman would be charged with the unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense informationa clear reference to the Espionage Act, which carries penalties of up to 30 years in prison or, in extreme cases, death. Anyone given a high-level security clearance signs a document acknowledging the possible penalties for a violation. The vast majority of those who sign take it seriously. A few dont, but it doesnt take many to wreak damage. Yes, a lotprobably mostclassified documents are over-classified; a lot of them dont need to be classified at all. But some secrets should legitimately be secret; as Barack Obama once said, Theres classified, and theres classified. Some of the stuff that Jack Teixeira put online was classified. The system needs to be tightened. Last month, someone shared leaked intelligence documents on a Discord server run by a YouTuber who goes by the handle wow_mao. The documents, part of a massive trove shared on various servers, detailed the sort of things the U.S. government really does not want bouncing all over the internetspecifically, secret information about the war in Ukraine and various military and intelligence operations. The Discord servers, which are popular with gamers, are basically internet communities where members can post messages, share videos and memes, and talk with one another. Reporters traced the intelligence documents back to a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard named Jack Teixeira, who was sharing classified information on a Discord server called Thug Shaker Central. The servers name comes from a racist meme, and there was racist and antisemitic content shared in the channel, where members also bonded over guns and military gear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday afternoon, Teixeira was arrested by the FBI. On Fridays episode of What Next: TBD, I spoke with Shane Harris, who covers intelligence for the Washington Post, about how classified documents ended up on a corner of the internet mostly occupied by gamers. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity, and was recorded on Thursday evening. Lizzie OLeary: What do we know about who was on the Thug Shaker Central server? Shane Harris: The server, kind of the group, comes together at the onset of the pandemic. And a number of the users, and we think the majority of them, are actually teenage boys. Theyre kids who are cut off from their friends, theyre locked down at home. Theyre feeling very isolated. And this server becomes like a pandemic refuge for them. And this guy, Teixeira, who they would refer to as OG, or the OG, kind of became the elder uncle/father figure to a lot of the young kids in this group. Advertisement Teixeiras day job was essentially IT support for the military, and he had access to an intelligence computer system that acts like the Pentagons intranet. What do we know about that system? Advertisement Its the network that, if you are on, you have access to all kinds of top-secret and sensitive information, much of which is of the kind that it looks like Teixeira was allegedly putting in this chat room. Discord is big among gamers, but its not restricted to gamers. Anyone can make a Discord server, basically your own message board, where you can post things and chat by text and video. But Discord is a pretty weird place for a major intelligence leak to happen, right? Advertisement I mean, I was pretty baffled. Ive been reporting on intelligence for, now, about 22 yearsIve never seen a leak like this. Ive never seen a mishandling of classified information in this way. What baffles me about it is not even so much that it was on a Discord serverthat was sort of a little bit weird in its own rightbut it was that, from our reporting, it doesnt seem like Teixeira had a political ax to grind. He wasnt leaking information to reporters. I havent seen any indication that he was selling it to a foreign government. He wasnt posting it broadly for thousands of people to see. He was sharing it in this virtual clubhouse he created, where he was sort of the leader of this pack of boys, and apparently doing it to impress them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We interviewed one of these former members at great length, and talked to another one as well, and what they described was this place where theyre all hanging out, and OG, or Teixeira, as were calling him now, was constantly kind of lecturing them about world affairs and seemed to really get off on this idea that he had access to special knowledge that average people didnt. And he wanted to share it with these kids because he thought they needed it to be strong, and to be smart, and to be aware of the world around them, which I think he perceived as threatening. What was in these documents? Why is the government so freaked out? Advertisement I divide these into a couple of categories. One, a big chunk of the documents are materials that were presented for high-level briefings of military officials, showing how the war in Ukraine is playing outeverything from casualties on both sides to the locations of Russian and Ukrainian troops, the number of Western special operations forces that are in Ukraine, the number of rockets that the Ukrainians have, the munitions levels. Some of them are about forecasts for how the war is going. And it turns out the U.S. prognosis for where the war is going is not so great for Ukraine. Theres satellite imagery of strikes by Russian missiles, stuff that is basically the kind of day-to-day, blow-by-blow of the warbut the secret version, not the kind that you generally would see on the news. Advertisement Advertisement And then there are these documents that look like bulletins. You can almost think of them as a newsfeed of events all over the world. Heres the latest in Iran. Heres what we have out of North Korea. And some of this we can tell is coming from CIA reporting that goes out on a secure channel each day. These documents do some of the same things, only in this case they attribute it to things like intercepted communications, or images from a satellite, or a human source. This level of detail is illustrative of what the government is able to do in terms of gathering intelligence, but importantly, its also showing you, in some cases, how theyre doing it. Advertisement Advertisement This is one of the big reasons why officials are so unnerved. Its not so much that the world knows what they knowalthough in some cases, it is that. But its also that people are now knowing how they know it. When did the government figure out that these documents were being posted on Discord? Many weeks later, which is another one of the puzzling aspects of this story. These documents were on the wow_mao server, and then they start getting picked up, apparently, by others, and moved into different channels. There was a Minecraft server. They went into Twitter, to Telegram. And so its floating around out there, and its getting noticed by people in the open-source community. It eventually gets noticed by journalists at the New York Times, who, when they can look at [these documents], presumably say, Oh, yeah, that kind of looks like a classified battlefield update. I dont know whether the Pentagon understood because of the New York Times reporting or because of open-source reporting that this was out there. But the Times broke the big story first revealing the presence of these documents basically around the same time that the Pentagon started looking into the situation that they had on their hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This raises a lot of really profound questions about not only how Jack Teixeira may have been able to transmit these documents, carry them out of where he worked, but also why it took so long for officials to realize that they were in the wild. When he was sharing them in this Thug Shaker Central server, thats kind of like a closed room. Theres not that many people in it. When they then migrate to mao_wow, they start going around much more widely, and apparently escaped notice for some weeks. Advertisement Some of these were photographs of documents. Theyve got fold marks on them. You can see the floor and maybe a kitchen counter. So it seems like Teixeira was, what, photographing them? Advertisement It looks like he printed things out and then brought them home, or to someplace thats clearly not a workplace, and then took photographs of them. And what we do know from our reporting with people who were his friends, who hung out with him in the room, is that when he first started sharing classified information with the group last year, it wasnt photographs of documents. It was actually transcriptions of intelligence documents that he was typing up by hand, and then kind of annotating and adding his own little explanations and commentary to it. Advertisement And he spends a lot of time apparently, by his own account, typing these things up. Hes tired, and he wants to get a reaction from the boys in the room. And it appears that most of them just arent that interested. Theres two or three people who kind of routinely comment on it or say, Oh, how interesting. And the rest are off talking about games and guns and whatever. And he gets kind of annoyed by this, were told, and says, Look, if you guys arent going to take the time to read these things that Ive been posting, maybe I shouldnt even share them at all. And so out of some kind of pique, or flex, or maybe just to save time, its not long after that he starts dropping in photographed images of the actual documents themselves. Advertisement This is all so hard to get your head around, because on the one hand, were talking about very sensitive classified documents. On the other hand, it sounds like boys showing off for each other. Advertisement My impression, after having spent the better part of this week reporting on this and talking to people who were involved, is that Teixeira seemed more interested in demonstrating that he had this secret knowledge: I know things that you dont. You dont really understand how the world works, but I know. As I was listening to some of these kids kind of tell the story of how he would talk about the government or the world, it seemed to me that he had a sort of slanted view of the world, a kind of paranoid, more conspiratorial view of what the government was all about, and that it was sinister, and that it had ill intention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is this the first time intelligence documents of this magnitudeor I guess intel in generalhas been shared on Discord or a similar platform? As far as I can tell, yes, and certainly in this way, where its just sort of passed around so casually. For some yearsand I was talking to a U.S. official about thispeople who work in counterintelligence, which is the area where youre trying to prevent secrets from being stolen, have been worried, this person said, about gaming platforms being a place where spies and foreign agents might try to recruit people. And one scenario that was spelled out for me was there was concern that Russia in particular was looking at gaming platformsand Discord is one of thoseand trying to figure out who might be a government employee, maybe who works near a government facility, who works near a military base, and then befriending those people and seeing if they might cajole them into sharing classified information. There has been one instance of, on a gaming platform, some players sharing classified schematics about, I think, tanks and weapons systems in the context of a game they were playing about tanks and weapons. Advertisement Advertisement But its just so interesting to me that the people who worry about how secrets spill have, for some time, been looking at gaming platforms and saying, Yeah, this is potentially a point of access for a foreign government. This gives us some anxiety. Youve reported about the fallout for foreign relations and the intelligence community here. Whats the fallout in terms of how the government keeps things safe online? I could imagine two scenarios. One, and I think if youre sort of interested in the government-should-be-protecting-secrets mode, this needs to be a moment of real self-reflection. This needs to be a moment where people start saying, Look, how do we lock this stuff down? Why did this guy have access? Does he really need to have that access? Advertisement Theres a part of me, though, that thinks maybe things arent going to change that much. And the reason is that what youre seeing now in this vast intelligence systemwhere 21-, 22-year-old guys working in the IT room have access to these bigger computer networksis very much an outgrowth of how the intelligence community changed after the 9/11 attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Before 9/11and this was really pointed to as one of the big causes or causal factors in 9/11intelligence like this was siloed. The NSA knew it had what the NSA knew, and it held onto it. The CIA had the CIAs intelligence and it held onto it. And everybody just kind of kept it in their own little boxes, and they werent showing it to one another. And what the 9/11 attacks showed was, like, Look, unless all of you are to some degree collaborating and talking to each other, the left hand and the right hand arent going to know whats going on. Advertisement Advertisement And so the thought was, weve got to leave this kind of need-to-know mentality in the intelligence community toward what they would call need-to-share. This became a big mantra in the years after 9/11. The idea was that we should push this intelligence out to more people, so that anybody who could benefit from it would have greater access. And when that happens, it creates more points of vulnerability. The more people who have access to stuff, the more challenges, the more chances that theyre going to share it, or see something theyre not supposed to see. I think its going to be hard for the intelligence community to say, Fine, lets just go back to the way it was, because theyre getting a lot of benefit out of collaboration. Its not perfect and theres still some isolation. But the intelligence community is far more collaborative in its structure. So this might just be the cost of doing business. I think it might be the cost of doing business, in that what theyre going to find is somewhere in the middle, where they can say, All right, we need to have sharing. We need to have access. Do the Teixeiras of the world need to have access to everything? Do we really need to go that far? And they might start calibrating. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. An explosion at a dairy farm in the US state of Texas killed 18,000 cows this week. One person was also injured and is in critical condition. An explosion rang out at the South Fork Dairy near the Texas town of Dimmitt earlier this week. The local sheriffs office received a report of the fire at the farm on Monday evening. In the photos they later published, black smoke can be seen. When police and paramedics arrived at the scene, they rescued a person from the fire, who is still in critical condition in hospital. Although the exact number of cows that died in the explosion is not known, the sheriffs office told the BBC that it was approximately 18,000 head of cattle. Castro County Emergency Management Castro County Emergency Management Sheriff Sal Rivera told local KFDA television that most of the cows died when the fire spread to the area where the cows were before being taken to the milking parlor and then to the barn. Some of them survived. Some were so badly injured that they will have to be euthanized, he explained. The sheriff also said that the investigators for now conclude that the fire broke out because of the machine, which they call the honey badger. He described it as a vacuum cleaner that sucks manure and water. The Washington-based Animal Welfare Institute said the 18,000 cows killed would be the deadliest cattle barn fire since they began keeping statistics in 2013. According to their data, a total of almost 6.5 million farm animals have died since 2013, including 7,300 cows and six million chickens. Follow N1 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Download our app: available for Android and iOS. Despite the similarities in main character Carl Nargles (Owen Wilson) physical appearance (including beard and kinky fro, questionable fashion sense), writer/director Brit McAdams wicked funny Paint (IFC) is not about Bob Ross. Nargle and Ross both just happened to paint landscapes, speak with a soothing lilt, and have programs that aired on PBS. Now that we got that out of the way, Paint is a Wes-Anderson-meets-Christopher-Guest-style comedy that is hysterically funny. Wilson is the perfect choice to play Nargle, a kind of man-child whose sexual prowess is as limited as his artistic abilities. Hes a flim-flam man who isnt in on his own scam. And yet women keep throwing themselves at him, as if his vintage van, known as Vantastic, is an altar. The star of Paint with Carl Nargle, filmed in Vermont at the Burlington Public Broadcasting studio, Carl has a coterie of female staffers, including jilted director Catherine (an understated Michaela Watkins), devoted Wendy (Wendi McLendon-Covey), indifferent (but hilarious) Beverly (Lusia Strus), and starry-eyed Jenna (Lucy Freyer), at his beck and call. Even his longtime boss, station manager Tony (Stephen Root) thinks he can do no wrong. All Carl ever wanted was to display his work at the Burlington Museum of Art, but that dream has always evaded him. Instead, hes worshipped by his large fanbase, including amateur artists, nursing home residents, and day drinkers in taverns. But cracks are beginning to show in his work, and his ratings are starting to slide. Thats when Tony brings in Ambrosia (Ciara Renee), a much younger, more daring painter who paints more than landscapes (you have to see the bloody UFO!). Not only does Ambrosia threaten Carls public television career, but also his love life. First, Ambrosia becomes involved with Carls ex, Catherine. The scene in which Ambrosia introduces Catherine to her parents is a comedic highlight. Then Ambrosia begins a relationship with Beverly (another extremely funny family intro ensues). Meanwhile, Carl is set adrift. Released (not fired!) from the station, he accepts a teaching position at a university, but doesnt suit him at all. A meeting with Dr. Lenihan (Michael Pemberton), the director of the Burlington Museum, is laced with insults that go over Carls head. With nowhere left to turn, Carl destroys his artwork (something that Michelangelo, Georgia OKeefe, Francis Bacon, and, of course, Banksy, have been known to do) in his barn studio. This is where Paint takes its most unexpected turn. A potential life-threatening event and a surprising romantic reunion, coalesce into a well-earned happy ending. A genuinely original and laugh-out-loud comedy, Paint deserves to be seen and is suitable for framing. Rating: A- Gregg Shapiro is the author of eight books including the poetry chapbook Fear of Muses (Souvenir Spoon Books, 2022). An entertainment journalist, whose interviews and reviews run in a variety of regional LGBTQ+ and mainstream publications and websites, Shapiro lives in Fort Lauderdale with his husband Rick and their dog Coco. In the midst of unprecedented attacks on transgender people, leaders in Miami are looking for ways to mitigate the damage. The City of Miamis LGBTQIA Advisory Board is hosting a focus group designed to develop strategies to make Miami more welcoming for trans people. The focus group is part of Miamis Accelerate Change Together LGBTQ+ Initiative, a plan put in place to address health inequities in the LGBTQIA community. Michael Roman, Miamis liaison to the LGBTQIA community, said the advisory board was created two years ago and has been steadily making progress. Miami raised its score from 75 to 89 in the Human Rights Campaigns annual municipal equality index. Were super excited about the board and what weve been able to accomplish, said Roman. The seven-member board currently has three vacancies. The Accelerate Change Together focus group will meet on April 20 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Due to safety concerns, the venue is not disclosed to the public, said Roman. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who sponsored the ordinance that created the board, has come under attack for the citys involvement. Dear @FrancisSuarez [Gillum Republican rumored to be wanting to run for president] what change do you want to accelerate? tweeted Evan Power, Vice Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. Roman declined to comment on Powers tweet. He said the initiatives purpose is to improve health outcomes for LGBT people living in Miami and is made possible through a grant from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. A strong area of rain moved over Broward County this week and stayed there long enough to turn into a storm people will be talking about for years. Broward County officially reported 25.9 inches of rain on Wednesday. Life was not any better in Wilton Manors. The city is an island and, due to aging infrastructure, is prone to flooding when there is more than a light rain. The effects were immediate: -Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) closed Wednesday afternoon and didnt reopen until 9am Friday, leaving thousands stranded. Hours after the rain stopped, the airfield and tarmac were invisible and under significant water. -Streets quickly flooded, leaving an estimated 10,000 abandoned cars with flooded engines. At its peak, water rose to the top of the tires. As of Friday morning, many side streets were still underwater and abandoned cars littered the streets, forcing drivers to zig-zag their way through town. -Broward County schools closed Thursday and Friday because many students and teachers were still flooded. Engineers are also looking for any damage to school buildings. WMPD: Overtime and Overdrive Wilton Manors Police Department (WMPD) was in all-hands-on-deck mode. From noon Wednesday to noon Thursday, they saw a seven percent increase in calls. Of the 44 calls, 32 were storm related. Three were rescues of motorists stranded in their cars with water rising all around them. The city deployed their high-water response vehicle. Vulnerable individuals were found in good health, but were stranded and scared. Officers assisted these motorists from their vehicles and transported them to a place of safety, WMPD Chief Gary Blocker told SFGN. He estimates there were about 60 disabled and stranded vehicles throughout Wilton Manors. The department used their Twitter account to keep the public updated in real time. Blocker had high praise for his team. The members of our police department rose to the challenge, and they continue to work extended hours for our community during the aftermath of this weather event. For this, I am thankful, and very proud to work alongside the professionals of our WMPD! Home & Auto Insurance Claims Many people are waking up to realize what is and isnt covered by their home and auto policies. Because this wasnt a wind event, homeowners will likely need to use their flood insurance to make claims. Many people who dont live in a designated flood zone dont carry flood insurance. But this storm was so heavy for so long, many of them saw damage. Alejandro Kalaf, co-owner of WeInsure in Wilton Manors, says many of the calls they got yesterday were people wanting flood coverage, and most are outside flood zones. Making a claim for car damage is trickier. Kalaf says cars on lease or with a loan are likely to have comprehensive coverage, but people with older cars are more likely to be vulnerable to catastrophic repair costs. The average consumer, right now, is focused on price and not so much coverage. If you have comprehensive coverage then, yes, you are covered for flood. If you do not carry comprehensive coverage then, unfortunately, you do not have coverage for flood. The big question is: how much damage do you need before you decide to file a home or auto claim? Kalaf shared advice he gives to his WeInsure clients. Contact your agent and review your coverages, limits, and deductibles. I explain to the client that they can always put in a claim but it should be at least double of your deductible for it to be beneficial to the insured. When it comes to auto repair, he says people will need patience. With all the vehicles that I have seen on social media under water in Broward County, I would say claims adjusters are going to be busy for a while. With most insurance companies, you are allowed to take your vehicle to any repair shop of your liking. A short overview of nice places, ideas and events before you kick off the weekend. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Festivals In the shoes of a circus artist During the International Day of Circus, everybody can be a circus gymnast. Artists from all around the world will get together at a festival, showcasing their mastery. Opening with a gala evening, the festival will continue to switch paces up and also hold a fire show. The festival starts April 14 and wraps up April 16, and takes place in Bratislava city district Karlova Ves Centre of Culture, which you can find here. During Saturday, the festival will host multiple workshops, courses, and creative lessons to teach circus artistry. Kids will have their own program too, with kid-friendly circus shows. During the festival, a fire show will take place. (Source: Tomas Benedikovic, SME) Fest Anca is piecing together an international show With the date of International Festival of Animation Fest Anca slowly coming closer, more and more popular names are showing up on the line-up list. Artists from 73 countries registered almost 1,400 movies and projects out of which 230 made it to the final line-up. Fest Anca will also provide a platform for student-made movies. Featured movies have a chance to compete for an Anca Award for the best student-produced movie. Other than student movies and alternative titles, the festival will feature internationally well-known producers like Steven Woloshen along with already awarded prestigious movies. The festival will take place in Zilina. International artists will be featured on the Fest Anca festival. (Source: Vladimir Simicek. TASR) MORE FUN TRIPS VIRTUAL SPORTS: Tabacka in Kosice will host a play-station playing session with free entry. Travel Six for one in Trencin Trencin Castle sits above the city of Trencin and cannot be missed on the horizon, even from a passing train. A short hike through the city leads to its gates, which is now more convenient for visitors. For the price of buying a ticket to the castle only, visitors will be able to explore six other historical buildings in the close proximity of the castle. It is not necessary to tour the buildings in one day, as the tickets will be valid for seven days including the day of purchase. This way, visitors will be able to see, for example, the old house of the towns executioner. The more convenient tickets can be purchased since April 1 until October 31, and it applies to all the extension applies to all that purchase the castle ticket. You can visit the castle from Monday to Friday. Trencin castle sits above the town. (Source: Tibor Somogyi, SME) Unknown treasure in Banska Bystrica Region A stones throw from the teeny municipality of Cerovo in the Banska Bystrica Region, a castle stands on top of a hill in the middle of a lush forest. About a two-hour hike from Cerovo leads to the castle Cabrad, surrounded by the river Litava. Hikers will be able to enjoy calming nature and rest in a shelter near a spring. The sights allow to see three other hill peaks located in the close proximity of the castle. In addition to the castle, theres also a historical church nearby. The more adventurous might try to get to the castle via a bike route on a mountain bike. In the past, it was fashionable to employ observatories in castles to reliably predict the weather. After a long search, the Cabrad Castle owner found a "meteorologist" at the local chalet. His name was Filip, and thanks to observations of nature, his weather forecasts were reliable. In luxury and abundance, Filip became lazy. Once, when he sent the owner on a hunt and a terrible storm caught him, punishment followed. The new "meteorologist" was then a local donkey which, as is known, refuses to leave the stable when the storm nears. https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3335.1511166509613!2d19.10399091603282!3d48.244167779232185!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x476aba79c2304717%3A0x20bea5b1c4509cd3!2zSHJhZCDEjGFicmHEjw!5e1!3m2!1ssk!2ssk!4v1681217168235!5m2!1ssk!2ssk MORE TRAVEL TIPS LEVOCA: A new lookout tower is under construction above the municipality Levoca. Exhibitions Silence before the storm Zoya Museum in the town of Modra is currently hosting an exhibition of internationally known Slovak artist Robert Hromec. The exhibition Il silenzio prima della tempesta (Silence before the storm) came together during the pandemic years, inspired by life and the structure of passing time. Unusually large paintings depict interpretations of the internal life of people and their identity. https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2651.025389748868!2d17.32553139430375!3d48.36003577744309!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x476c97f938437eab%3A0xdaaa448067b3f41b!2sZoya%20Museum!5e0!3m2!1ssk!2ssk!4v1681217449231!5m2!1ssk!2ssk Daughters How does it look when social topics and ethics meet with art? The Slovak artist Gabriela Dolacka focuses her art on stereotypes along with gender stereotypes tied to the roles of women. The exhibition in Ruzomberok at Ludovit Fulla Gallery titled Dcerenky (Daughters) showcases figures, figure studies as well as dynamic paintings. Look at the artist's social media account to learn more. MORE ART TIPS SURREALISM: Check out the interactive webpage dedicated to surrealism. The legendary Psicek a Macicka (Doggie and Kitty) will be your guides. BEFORE YOU GO WHAT TO READ: Read our short entry on the history surrounding Uzhgorod. Learn more about a part of Ukraine that used to belong to then-Czechoslovakia. Read our short entry on the history surrounding Uzhgorod. Learn more about a part of Ukraine that used to belong to then-Czechoslovakia. WHAT TO LISTEN TO: Pop love songs and sci-fi scenes. Tabacka in Kosice will be hosting Czech artist Ventolins concert. Give his song Disco Science a try. Pop love songs and sci-fi scenes. Tabacka in Kosice will be hosting Czech artist Ventolins concert. Give his song Disco Science a try. WHAT TO ENJOY: Look back at Easter and learn more about traditional customs in Slovakia. How have they changed and where do they come from? Look back at Easter and learn more about traditional customs in Slovakia. How have they changed and where do they come from? WHERE TO GO : All the good things from traveling without the urge to hurry will be presented in Bratislava Incheba Expo in an exhibitions ITF Slovakiatour, Danubius Gastro and Autosalon Bratislava. Get a taste of both the food and looks of some less known locations there, or choose something else from our top activities for foreigners. : All the good things from traveling without the urge to hurry will be presented in Bratislava Incheba Expo in an exhibitions ITF Slovakiatour, Danubius Gastro and Autosalon Bratislava. Get a taste of both the food and looks of some less known locations there, or choose something else from our top activities for foreigners. WHAT TO DO FOR FREE: Bratislava will help Banska Stiavnica through music, so can people. Discover other free activities for foreigners. That's it for this week. Take care, and have a restful weekend! -Maria Do you have any tips? You can reach Maria at maria.jurikova@spectator.sk The 12-ton flower-shaped steel fountain has been out of order for 16 years. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The Druzba fountain on Namestie Slobody (Freedom Square) in Bratislava will return to full use this summer after extensive renovation. It was taken out of service 16 years ago, after its technical condition deteriorated beyond normal repair, the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava (MIB) municipal organisation informed. Currently, the cleaning of the 12-ton linden flower, which is located in the middle of the fountain, has been completed, the MIB reported in a press release. Deposits of dirt were removed with chemical preparations, using a procedure recommended by the restorers based on expert analysis. Cleaning of the metal flower was part of an extensive refurbishment of the fountain, the biggest in Bratislava, which carried a price tag of 2 million. Under the project, the collecting pools of the fountain have been reduced in size. This has cut the fountains demand for water and made it more economical and ecologically friendly. In the past, up to 2,000 cubic metres of water circulated in the fountain and its pools. After the refurbishment is completed, it will use just 71 cubic metres. Construction of the fountain, which was designed by architects Virgil Droppa and Juraj Hlavica, along with sculptor Juraj Hovorka, lasted from 1979 to 1980. Built during the communist regime, the fountain, in the shape of a blossoming linden flower, was supposed to symbolise friendship and peace among nations. At the time, Bratislava styled itself the 'City of Peace'. The refurbishment of the Druzba fountain is part of a comprehensive facelift of the iconic Freedom Square. Under communism, Freedom Square was called Gottwald Square in honour of the first communist president of Czecholoslovakia, Klement Gottwald, and included a statue of him and his retinue in one corner of the square. After the fall of the regime in 1989, that sculpture was removed and the space was renamed Freedom Square. It is used as an occasional venue for concerts, social events and demonstrations. Future mothers would have to travel further. In future, prospective mothers in Partizanske would have to travel for at least half an hour to reach a maternity ward. (Illustrative photo) (Source: Jan Kroslak, SME) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Hospital administrators and the municipality of Partizanske, in western Slovakia, have expressed dismay at a decision by the government to shut the local maternity ward. As a result of the Health Ministry's ongoing process of hospital optimisation and categorisation, the hospital in Partizanske, Trencin Region, is facing numerous changes. In particular, its gynaecology-maternity and neonatal wards are slated for closure. The measure has met with disapproval from the hospital's personnel and managers. Along with Partizanske, the hospital in Myjava faces a similar potential maternity ward closure, the TASR newswire reported. There would be only three maternity wards left in the whole region, Partizanske Hospital director Gabriel Krbusik stated. With the beginning of the new year, future mothers from Partizanske and nearby municipalities would have to travel to hospitals in Topolcany or Bojnice which are both at least half an hour by car. Partizanske Hospital witnessed 400 births last year, according to Krbusik. Back in 2019 there were 600 and in 2020-2021 about 500 per year. In Partizanske hospital, there are currently five doctors dealing with childbirths. The average of 80 births per doctor per year is actually higher than in larger hospitals because of the lower numbers of healthcare personnel, Krbusik added. Altogether, 29 people work in Partizanske's hospital. Other maternity wards in three other cities in Trencin Region have been shut down in the recent past. Additional hospitals could undergo further changes and shutdowns as part of the ministry's planned reforms. All the other maternity wards facing the threat of closure recorded fewer than 400 births last year. Partizanske mayor Jozef Bozik is siding with the hospital, arguing that access to healthcare would significantly drop with the maternity ward's shutdown. Municipal representatives are demanding that the Ministry of Health re-evaluate the change. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/italian-justice-minister-to-probe-judges-over-escape-of-russias-artem-uss---reports-1109495204.html Italian Justice Minister to Probe Judges Over Escape of Russia's Artem Uss - Reports Italian Justice Minister to Probe Judges Over Escape of Russia's Artem Uss - Reports Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio has reportedly opened a probe into Milan magistrates in relation to the escape of Russian businessman Artem Uss from house arrest. 2023-04-13T23:56+0000 2023-04-13T23:56+0000 2023-04-14T04:36+0000 world italy europe investigation russia escape /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/19288/95/192889502_0:174:3355:2061_1920x0_80_0_0_da42ed836a3f546eaea58ea8150812e7.jpg Artem Uss, the son of the governor of Russia's Krasnoyarsk region, was arrested in Italy for alleged money-laundering and sanctions evasion at the US' request. In March 2023, the Milan Appeal Court approved his extradition to the US, shortly after which he escaped house arrest and fled to Russia. Nordio specifically instructed the relevant bodies to look into the court's decision to replace the businessman's prison detention with house arrest with an electronic bracelet, the newspaper said. The escape was also on the agenda of the Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic (Copasir) earlier in the day, Italian media reported. The prosecutors have so far reportedly identified up to five people from a group that helped Uss disappear from a rented apartment in Basiglio, on the outskirts of Milan, on March 22. The group allegedly escorted Uss from Italy to Slovenia using several cars and forged documents. He then fled to Serbia, from where he is said to have taken a flight to Russia. Last week, Uss told Sputnik that he is in Russia and that he was forced to flee from Italy due to a lack of trust in the Italian justice system. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221126/milan-prosecutor-approves-extradition-of-russian-governors-son-to-us-1104709637.html italy russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International italy, russia, artem uss, italian justice minister carlo nordio https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/photos-north-korea-reveals-thursday-launch-tested-new-solid-fuel-hwasong-18-icbm-1109494717.html Photos: North Korea Reveals Thursday Launch Tested New Solid-Fuel Hwasong-18 ICBM Photos: North Korea Reveals Thursday Launch Tested New Solid-Fuel Hwasong-18 ICBM North Korea revealed it tested on Thursday a new Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, a feat which drew widespread condemnation in the region. 2023-04-13T23:48+0000 2023-04-13T23:48+0000 2023-04-13T23:46+0000 asia north korea missile test solid fuel missile intercontinental ballistic missile (icbm) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0d/1109494560_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_f7245399e3693471a8c5d37516e16aa3.jpg State media reported on Friday that the launch had been overseen by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, underscoring that the missile test would effectively advance the nation's counterattack posture.Photos of the launch have since surfaced, and also appear to show the involvement of Kim's young daughter, who has been spotted at previous missile tests this year.North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan that flew about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) and landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone on Thursday. The launch prompted the Japanese authorities to issue an evacuation order for the residents of Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido, which reportedly led to the temporary suspension of high-speed trains and road transport in the north of the country. Despite the brief evacuation order issued on Thursday by the Japanese government, the Friday launch report went on to underline that the test had no "negative impact" on the safety of neighboring countries. It detailed that the first stage of the missile fell in the sea just 10 kilometers off the Hodo Peninsula, with the second stage plummeting into the water at about 335 kilometers east of the North Hamgyong Province.Japan has filed a protest against North Korea through its embassy in Beijing, noting that such actions are a threat to global peace and security, according to Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno. The launch came amid a halt in cross-border communication between the two Koreas. Since Friday morning, the North has stopped responding to regular calls from the South through inter-Korean communication channels, including the military and the unification ministry lines. Thursday's North Korean missile firing marked the ninth launch this year. Last year, Pyongyang launched 37 ballistic missiles. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230412/north-korea-fires-ballistic-missile-toward-sea-of-japan---s-korean-military-1109453053.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 north korea, missile test launch, hwasong-18 solid-fuel, intercontinental ballistic missile, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/austin-to-visit-sweden-host-ukraine-contact-group-in-germany-next-week-1109533425.html Austin to Visit Sweden, Host Ukraine Contact Group in Germany Next Week Austin to Visit Sweden, Host Ukraine Contact Group in Germany Next Week US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit Sweden next week, to be followed by a trip to Germany for a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, the Pentagon said on Friday. 2023-04-14T13:50+0000 2023-04-14T13:50+0000 2023-04-14T13:50+0000 americas us ukrainian crisis lloyd austin /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0b/13/1104442983_0:4:1414:799_1920x0_80_0_0_51184acb48f5f08256f9a119b70a4d7d.png On April 19, in Sweden, Austin will "discuss security-related topics of mutual interest" and speak with senior Swedish defense and government officials, the Pentagon said in a statement. Last week, Austin said he will visit Sweden this month to discuss the country's NATO accession plans. Sweden's membership bid is being held up by Turkiye and Hungary, while neighboring Finland officially joined the alliance last week. From Sweden, the Pentagon chief will head to Germany to host a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base on April 21. While there, Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley will join senior military officials from over 50 countries to continue coordination on military assistance to Kiev amid its conflict with Russia, the Pentagon added. The American news outlet reported earlier this week that the United States is not expected to announce any major packages of assistance for Ukraine before the start of an expected Ukrainian offensive or anytime soon. A US official told the newspaper that the two packages announced on March 20 and April 4 would likely be the last ones announced by the Biden administration for the foreseeable future, despite Ukrainian pleas for more artillery and ammunition. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/orban-conflict-in-ukraine-will-end-as-soon-as-us-europe-stop-supporting-kiev-1109499533.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230330/military-industrial-complex-and-neo-cons-getting-rich-off-aimless-proxy-war-in-ukraine--1108969536.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 lloyd austin, ukraine defense contact group, pentagon, pumping kiev with weapons https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/biden-says-us-still-determining-validity-of-leaked-documents-coordinating-with-allies-1109539150.html Biden Says US Still Determining Validity of Leaked Documents, Coordinating With Allies Biden Says US Still Determining Validity of Leaked Documents, Coordinating With Allies US President Joe Biden said on Friday that he ordered the US military and intelligence community to strengthen security and limit the distribution of sensitive information after highly classified military intelligence was recently leaked. 2023-04-14T17:59+0000 2023-04-14T17:59+0000 2023-04-14T18:01+0000 americas pentagon leaks pentagon papers joe biden fbi national guard douglas teixeira /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0d/1109466451_0:29:3073:1757_1920x0_80_0_0_d85fc579edeb6ee6900f0b7e275bf6fd.jpg On Thursday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested 21-year-old Jack Douglas Teixeira, a member of the US Air Force National Guard, for his alleged involvement in leaking the classified US government documents. "While we are still determining the validity of those documents, I have directed our military and intelligence community to take steps to further secure and limit distribution of sensitive information, and our national security team is closely coordinating with our partners and allies," Biden said in a press release.The top secret Pentagon files leaked online in recent weeks provide sensitive details on a range of security topics with respect to Ukraine, China, and the Middle East. The materials allegedly expose weaknesses in Ukrainian air defenses, Russia's military activities in Ukraine, and other details that conflict with earlier US military assessments. The documents also revealed that the US was conducting espionage not only on its opponents but also allies, which sparked deep concern among US officials who believe the situation might endanger the US sources and undermine important international ties.The Pentagon has declined to comment on the veracity of the leaked documents. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/breakdown-between-biden-and-us-intel-community-behind-pentagon-leaks-1109535643.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 biden on leaked documents, arrest of douglas teixeira, suspected in papers leakage arrested, leaked data of the us, pentagon leak 2023, us secret documents https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/brazilian-president-arrives-in-china-sy-hersh-exposes-us-government-discord-1109495492.html Brazilian President Arrives in China; SY Hersh Exposes Us Government Discord Brazilian President Arrives in China; SY Hersh Exposes Us Government Discord Brazilian President Lula De Silva arrives in Beijing for a much anticipated meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as Brics looks to be the world's economic powerhouse. 2023-04-14T04:08+0000 2023-04-14T04:08+0000 2023-04-14T10:11+0000 the critical hour radio china taiwan lula da silva president xijinping haiti ukraine seymour hersh /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0d/1109495047_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_dd5d6d016c2f863c0af7cc2b59238bae.png Brazilian President Arrives in China; SY Hersh Exposes Us Government Discord Brazilian President Lula De Silva arrives in Beijing for a much anticipated meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as Brics looks to be the world's economic powerhouse. Mark Sleboda, Moscow based international relations security analyst joins us to discuss Ukraine. BRICS is growing in the emerging multipolar world. Also, Emmanuel Macron is getting bashed and Annalena Baerbock is visiting China.Dr. Ken Hammond, writer and professor of East Asian and global history at New Mexico State University joins us to discuss China. Brazilian President Lula De Silva arrives in Beijing for a much anticipated meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as Brics looks to be the world's economic powerhouse.Ray McGovern, Former CIA analyst and co-founder, Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity joins us to discuss the latest Sy Hersh article. Seymour Hersh has released a new article in which he details the frustration that the US intelligence community is experiencing over what they see as an incompetent and reckless administration.Dan Kovalik, writer, author and lawyer joins us to discuss the Global South. The US empire is angry that Brazilian President Lula De Silva has been charting his own course. Also, we discuss the current political situation in Haiti.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon joins us to discuss the Middle East. The US appears ineffective as China takes the diplomatic helm in the Middle East. Also, Syria and Saudi Arabia seem to be resolving their disagreements.Kim Keenan, nationally known trial lawyer, mediator and in-house counsel joins us to discuss domestic politics. Racial tensions in the US increase over Black Tennessee politicians getting expelled from their seats. Also we discuss the current controversy with Justice Clarence Thomas.Dr. Gerald Horne, Professor of History at the University of Houston, TX, author, historian, and researcher joins us to discuss US foreign policy. Taiwan is being pushed closer to conflict by DC neocons. Also, President Trump and a number of GOP leaders are talking of invading Mexico and attacking drug cartels.Nicholas Davies, peace activist and author of Blood on Our Hands, the American Invasion of Iraq joins us to discuss NATO. NATO expansion to Finland has made the European bloc less safe and created a further extension of US imperialism on Russia's border.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. china haiti ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.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 Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg the critical hour, nato intel leaks, pentagon docs leaked, war plans leak, who leaked nato war intel, discord leak, pentagon leaker found, what are brics members, brics world role, seymour hersh, brazil-china relations, lulas visit to china, brazil president in china, finland joins nato, what are nato new countries, nato expansion, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/breakdown-between-biden-and-us-intel-community-behind-pentagon-leaks-1109535643.html Breakdown Between Biden and US Intel Community Behind Pentagon Leaks Breakdown Between Biden and US Intel Community Behind Pentagon Leaks Somebody in the White House or the Pentagon apparently got weary with Team Biden's Ukraine adventurism and instructed the US mainstream press to publish recent "Pentagon leaks," says Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst and co-founder, commenting on Sy Hersh's recent op-ed about a breakdown between Biden and the US intelligence community. 2023-04-14T15:52+0000 2023-04-14T15:52+0000 2023-04-14T15:52+0000 us opinion seymour hersh russia ukraine volodymyr zelensky pentagon leaks ray mcgovern us intelligence central intelligence agency (cia) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0b/1109364457_0:158:3072:1886_1920x0_80_0_0_6375aaa30aeca2f7fc4be2f86dc4d4bb.jpg Earlier this week, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh shed light on the US intelligence community's growing frustration with the Biden administration whom the American spooks see as completely incompetent and reckless. According to the veteran journalist, the Ukraine government, headed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, has been using American taxpayer funds to pay for diesel that is keeping the Ukrainian army on the move in its conflict with Russia. What's more, Zelensky takes a considerable share of incoming foreign funds for himself - thus irritating his generals, something that the Biden administration is well aware of.McGovern also referred to the apparent "Pentagon leak" which he appears to see as part of the intelligence community and Department of Defense's dissent against Team Biden's unprofessional handling of foreign affairs. The dump particularly shed light on Ukraine war plans and the upcoming spring offensive, as well as on the Biden administration's failures to force its allies into jumping on its proxy war bandwagon to bleed Russia white.McGovern has drawn attention to the fact that the latest Pentagon leaks have been largely circulated by the US press, in particular the New York Times and the Washington Post. (The two have long been criticized by alternative media for being too close with the Democratic administrations and the intelligence community).For comparison's sake, Sy Hersh's bombshell has been nearly completely ignored by the US mainstream media. The supposed Pentagon documents describe a gloomy picture of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' unpreparedness for a spring offensive, including a shortage of ammo and manpower. They also shed light on NATO special operation forces' presence on the ground in Ukraine and involvement in the bloc's ongoing proxy war against Russia, something which is fraught with a risk of a direct clash between major nuclear powers.For more sharp analysis, check out the latest episode of Sputniks podcast the Critical Hour. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230412/seymour-hersh-nord-stream-sabotage-led-to-total-breakdown-between-white-house-intel-community-1109392166.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230329/sy-hersh-hints-nord-stream-leak-wouldnt-have-occurred-unless-us-govt-or-cia-gave-the-ok-1108932019.html russia ukraine americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova pentagon leaks, ukraine war plans leaked, jack teixeira behind pentagon leaks, jack teixeira charged, sy hersh nord stream bombshell, sy hersh breakdown between biden and intelligence community, cia frustrated with team biden, who destroyed nord stream pipelines https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/donbass-vets-share-stories-about-how-war-came-to-their-home-in-2014-1109491288.html Donbass Vets Share Stories About How War Came to Their Home in 2014 Donbass Vets Share Stories About How War Came to Their Home in 2014 Friday marks the ninth anniversary of the date in 2014 that Kiev began an Anti-Terrorist Operation in the Donbass aimed at crushing an uprising by residents opposed to the post-coup government in Kiev. How did the militias arise? What motivated their members? What message do vets have for Westerners today? Sputnik reached out to them to find out. 2023-04-14T13:00+0000 2023-04-14T13:00+0000 2023-04-14T13:00+0000 donbass donetsk ukraine ukrainian crisis ukrainian conflict military operation world /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0d/1109489868_0:41:1190:710_1920x0_80_0_0_a8aec4926f0cd6aa2b75fa1af33ebed9.jpg It all began not with a bang, but the distinct sound of tank treads clanging against the pavement of roads leading into the Donbass towns and cities, accompanied by the shouting of unarmed men and women gathering in front of columns of Ukrainian tanks and armored vehicles and refusing to let them pass.Who are you going to shoot? a man shouted in a news report from Kramatorsk, a major metallurgical center in northern Donetsk from April 17, 2014. Im not going to fight, a soldier told a reporter from atop an infantry fighting vehicle, smiling and shaking his head. Im against all of this.Authorities in Kiev decided to kick-off the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in the Donbass after a wave of large-scale pro-Russian protests engulfed much of eastern and southeastern Ukraine, with people in regions from Kharkov to Odessa holding meetings, seizing administrative buildings, proclaiming Peoples Republics and announcing their intention to hold independence and autonomy referendums. The unrest in the east began to percolate in the immediate aftermath of the February 2014 coup which brought vehemently anti-Russian, Western-backed political forces supported by ultranationalist thugs to power in Kiev.Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov announced the military operation a week before it began, saying in a television address on April 7 that Ukrainian forces would conduct anti-terrorist activities against armed secessionists in the countrys east. Turchynov blamed Russia for the unrest, claiming Moscow sought to overthrow the government and disrupt snap presidential elections scheduled for May. Freshly-installed Interior Minister Arsen Avakov boasted that Kiev would crush the unrest, by talks or by force, within 48 hours. There are two opposite ways for resolving this crisis a political dialogue or the heavy-handed approach. We are ready for both, he said on April 9.On April 14, Turchynov signed a decree that has officially begun the ATO. On April 15, troops from the Interior Ministry, as well as the Ukrainian militarys Alpha special forces unit, began an operation to secure Kramatorsks airfield. Helicopter gunships fired on members of self-defense units who had set up a makeshift checkpoint at the airfield. Multiple militiamen were killed and several more injured in fighting with Ukrainian troops. Hundreds of local residents came out to confront the army, while others set up barricades at administrative buildings. On April 16, Kiev announced the partial mobilization of men with military experience and the transfer of troops from western and central Ukraine to the east for deployment alongside local forces.Avakovs promise to end the crisis in 48 hours eventually turned into 48 days, 48 weeks, 48 months, and longer, as fighting in the Donbass intensified, ultimately escalating into the full-blown proxy conflict between Russia and NATO in Ukraine that it is today.We Thought It Would All Be Over With SoonEverything seemed peaceful at first, recalled Vitaly Shechkov, a Donetsk Peoples Militia veteran who joined the resistance in 2014.But then a shell flew into our village and exploded right next to my house with my wife and children inside. I cant put into words how scared I was. Then came anger, resentment, and a lot of questions, Shechkov, who goes by the call sign Tikhyi (lit. Quiet) said.Before the conflict, Shechkov operated a small construction materials delivery business.My grandfather fought in World War II, he fought to Berlin. Me and many of my friends and colleagues were enraged by these monsters, who started shooting at civilians out of the blue. So I volunteered in 2014 we were just volunteers then, basically nobodies, the militiaman said. I decided that I was no longer prepared to risk [my family], to lose my loved ones. I didnt want to let the enemy come even closer, and instead wanted to drive them away from here so they could not harm anyone. I could not remain indifferent or abandon my land, my roots.Fyodor Romanov, another militiaman from the DPR, said he had subconsciously realized that a major conflict had started, even if he initially didnt want to admit it to himself, after Ukraine began to use heavy military aviation, bomb the village of Maryinka and attack a local coal mine in May 2014.I didnt think it would stretch out like this. I hoped that it would be settled, but couldnt imagine that it would escalate into this conflict in which everyone and their brother is involved. I thought it would all go faster that theyd prattle on and come to an agreement. But the exact opposite happened, the factory worker said. We thought that this would all end soon. A year, a year-and-a-half max, no one expected it to be any longer, the militiaman said.Spontaneity 'to the Point of Absurdity'Romanov, call sign Tsar, joined the rag-tag Donetsk militias in the spring of 2014, manning makeshift block posts together with other local residents. The militias somehow formed naturally. At first, this referendum took place [Donbass status referendum of May 2014, ed.], then a lot of guys I knew went to man checkpoints. We went together, talked, and kind of became friends.At first we stood there, to the point of absurdity, armed with sticks, kitchen knives, a lot of people came out with hunting rifles, turning them into sawn-off shotguns. They made homemade explosives so that the enemy could not pass. Of course, with such weapons we were easy targets, so we were afraid. We were standing forty minutes from Maryinka, where Ukrainian troops were already quite well entrenched. We were afraid that they would come here in the direction of Petrovka, because attempts to enter had been made more than once. We were afraid of this because they had a lot more weapons and, in general, a lot more of everything than we did, Romanov recalled.Shechkov painted a similar picture, saying the militias began to form among completely ordinary guys," who joined with the clothes on their backs "t-shirts, jeans," and some of them armed with double-barreled rifles. "Of course, there werent so many weapons, and it was very difficult, especially at the beginning. People came with basically pitchforks and kitchen knives. Then commanders began to appear, specific formations were created, more suitable weapons were issued. I gave my car to the guys, and myself went to a checkpoint near Maryinka. I asked for this particular detachment because Im a local, I know everything here very well, live here, this is my home, I would guard it. Thats how our Petrovsky Battalion [named after the commander, ed.note] was created.Romanov noted that when the militias were created, volunteers received no pay, and had to pay for their expenses out of pocket. Everyone joined for an idea, no one even thought about money. And then the first monetary payments began to be given out, some time in June, because we had no cigarettes or tea. Civilians helped a lot, giving whatever we could.The fighter confirmed that gradually, militias began to be equipped with better weapons, including machineguns, and to be moved around to battles in Snezhnoye, Saur-Mogila, Ilovaysk, Shakhtersk, Maryinka. Romanov fought in two of the decisive battles of 2014-2015, the siege of Slavyansk and the battle for the Donetsk Airport. The fighter received multiple injuries, including a bullet wound at the airport. The battles still continue to haunt him in his dreams, he said. Romanov completed his service with the DPR Internal Troops and was decommissioned in early 2022 due to his injuries.Shechkov also carries the scars of the war on his body, losing his right hand while neutralizing a tripwire, suffering a contusion which affected his memory, and having his leg shot in two places. He now works at military HQ. Like Romanov, Shechkov also took part in the battle for the Donetsk Airport. When it was all over my only thought was thank God Im alive, he said.Cruelty From the StartIn Romanovs experience, Ukrainian forces sent to try to crush the Donbass Spring in 2014 were motivated to carry out Kievs orders from the beginning, and showed no hesitation in brutally putting down the poorly armed, trained and organized defenders.Shechkov confirmed that to him it didnt seem like Ukrainian forces didnt want to fight against the people of the Donbass. They used people, young guys like cannon fodder. They did not consider it necessary to save their people. And behind themwere these terrible nationalist battalions who would follow after them and shoot.Romanov suggested that unfortunately, many Ukrainians, both young and old, seem to have been brainwashed by the media and other institutions in recent decades into treating Russians as the sworn enemies of Ukraine who arent worthy of anything except death. In Ukraine, they are rewriting history, its forbidden to talk about any history, about Russia, although everyone born before 1980 still knows about the Great Patriotic War, where all our grandfathers, the Poles, the Georgians, the Ukrainians all fought together. This history has been distorted and turned upside down, and now they salute Bandera [Stepan Bandera, a Ukrainian fascist and WWII Nazi collaborator - ed.note].Others, particularly civilians, have been frightened into silence, Romanov believes.I look at these young guys and think how was it possible to twist their brains like this so they would obediently march like slaves? Shechkov asked. On one hand this was a fratricidal war when everything first began. On the other, this was no longer the same Ukraine, after theyve raised Nazi flags, coats of arms and crosses.Horrific MemoryAsked if there were any battles he took part in that stood out, Romanov replied the Battle of Saur-Mogila in eastern Donetsk, which took place over several weeks in July-August of 2014. In it, about 100 militiamen faced off against 600 Ukrainian troops in what he said could only be described as something out of a horror movie.Warning: The paragraph below contains graphic and disturbing descriptions not suitable for all readers. Please skip ahead to the next paragraph if you are easily offended or disturbed.An enemy soldier was crawling forward, he got his hand blown off. He got up and continued on. That is, the Ukrainian troops were either drugged up or under the influence. Any sane person, if his hand was torn off by a fragment of a shell or bullet, would go into shock. But this soldier simply rose, picked up his severed hand and continued to move forward. He did not run away, did not hide, but continued to try to attack us That was the most memorable thing for me, because I could only see such a thing in the movies. When you see it with your own eyes and witness it, your view of humans, and in general your view of everything around you changes... It was frightening, not normal, the militiaman said.Romanov said that doing the sign of the cross and remembering his family helped him during the most difficult moments, and noted that in the trenches, everyone turns into a believer. No matter how difficult things got, the militiaman said, fighters retained a spark in their eyes, the hope that we would win and everything would be fine, that peace would arrive.Special Message to ForeignersAsked if there was any special message he would like to send Sputniks non-Russian-speaking readers, Romanov said that first of all, hed like convey the importance of living in peace.If there is peace, what difference does it make whether a person is an Englishman or a Frenchman? We can live without war. But right now it turns out that someone somewhere has decided that war means a lot of money to be made, the militiaman said. As [Soviet bard Vladimir] Vysotsky said, it doesnt matter who you are, but be a human being first.'Asked the same question, Shechkov answered in a different way addressing any citizens of NATO countries who may already be taking part in the hostilities on the Ukrainian side.The only thing Id like to say is stay home. We arent touching you, dont touch us, well figure things out ourselves. Bring back your husbands and brothers, who are also dying here like the Ukrainians The people who are making decisions sitting on the other side think theyre doing good. They dont understand what theyre doing. Your readers probably already understand, but those who we come across here speaking Polish and English I dont know. Take your people home. Well figure this out, we want for this to be over already, the militiaman said.Shechkov recalled the heroic role played by Polish troops who fought alongside the Red Army in liberating Ukraine during World War 2. [Volodymyr] Zelenskys grandfather fought, he helped liberate Ukraine. Now they despise the veterans, they have begun to destroy the churches for which our great-grandfathers fought. There is nothing good in this. France, Britain, America, they also fought against the Germans. What are they doing now? These are real-life fascists, he said.The militiaman emphasized that as a resident of the Donbass, he would be prepared to defend his home even against a thousand enemies, if necessary.Unlike them, we understand what we are fighting for, what the goal is, what we are protecting. They do not understand they are caught, put in a uniform, given a machine gun and sent to the front. Thats why they surrender or allow themselves to be captured. They understand that they dont need this. We are fighting for our native land For someone to run away, to be afraid - fear is necessary in principle, only you cannot be a coward, and must win back your own and cover your comrades back, the veteran concluded. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220411/zombification-nation-how-textbooks-for-young-ukrainians-teach-children-to-hate-russians-1094645369.html donbass donetsk ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov donbass conflict, donbass war, ukraine conflict, 2014, how ukraine conflict began, how ukraine conflict started https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/eus-cooperation-with-taiwan-not-implying-possible-diplomatic-recognition-1109506937.html EU's Cooperation With Taiwan Not Implying Possible Diplomatic Recognition EU's Cooperation With Taiwan Not Implying Possible Diplomatic Recognition The European Union's continuous deepening of cooperation with Taiwan is not indicative of any plans to recognize the island's independence, European Commission spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said on Friday. 2023-04-14T11:55+0000 2023-04-14T11:55+0000 2023-04-14T11:55+0000 world european union (eu) european commission taiwan china one china policy /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0e/1109506737_0:151:2916:1791_1920x0_80_0_0_0c8d851dd2e6ee79e8d61066d5001b80.jpg "We have one very clear policy when it comes to Taiwan, and that policy has not changed. It has always been the EU's one-China policy, which means that the EU continues developing friendly relations and deepening cooperation with Taiwan without any implication of diplomatic recognition," Massrali told a briefing. Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron paid an official visit to China, after which he said that Europe should not let itself be drawn into the confrontation between the United States and China over Taiwan conforming to "the American rhythm," calling on Europeans to "wake up" and think about their own interests. The situation around Taiwan has once again escalated after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, with Beijing starting massive three-day military exercises near the island in what it called a "warning" for Taiwanese separatists and foreign powers. Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan a territory with its own elected government maintains that it is an autonomous country but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official contacts of foreign states with Taipei and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island indisputable. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/eu-should-not-support-independent-taiwan-says-swedish-political-heavyweight-1109456712.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 eu, european union, taiwan, eu-taiwan cooperation, one china policy https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/kremlin-becoming-obvious-west-cannot-justify-freezing-russian-assets-by-intl-law-1109503047.html Kremlin: Becoming Obvious West Cannot Justify Freezing Russian Assets by Int'l Law Kremlin: Becoming Obvious West Cannot Justify Freezing Russian Assets by Int'l Law It becomes obvious that it is impossible for the West to justify the freezing of Russia's assets by the norms of international law, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. 2023-04-14T10:30+0000 2023-04-14T10:30+0000 2023-04-14T11:55+0000 russia kremlin asset freeze ukrainian crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/0e/1105461429_0:166:3051:1882_1920x0_80_0_0_2f0e7015892120457488ab6c617cc667.jpg On Thursday, German newspaper reported, citing a confidential document, that the European Commission was forced to admit that the frozen assets of the Bank of Russia would have to be returned after the end of the conflict in Ukraine. Following the launch of Russias special op in Ukraine, the United States and its allies froze billions of dollars of Russian assets abroad. According to some calculations, the total amount of frozen assets exceeds at least $300 billion. Kremlin slammed the asset freeze as a form of theft.Commenting on the reports about the alleged export of copper alloys from Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) to China, Dmitry Peskov stressed that Moscow in unaware what are these reports are based on. Earlier in the day, British news agency reported, citing Russian customs data, that a Chinese company, Quzhou Nova Import & Export Company Ltd, exported copper alloys worth $7.4 million from a plant in the DPR, the Debaltsevsky Plant of Metallurgical Engineering. 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 kremlin, ukrainian crisis, russian assets, russian special op https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/lavrov-holds-presser-after-cis-foreign-ministers-council-in-uzbekistan--1109500815.html Lavrov Holds Presser After CIS Foreign Ministers' Council in Uzbekistan Lavrov Holds Presser After CIS Foreign Ministers' Council in Uzbekistan Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov came to Uzbekistan for a 2-day visit. He will discuss various foreign policy issues with his counterparts. 2023-04-14T09:37+0000 2023-04-14T09:37+0000 2023-04-14T09:41+0000 world russia sergey lavrov uzbekistan /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/1d/1108921765_0:163:3065:1887_1920x0_80_0_0_db34a7f8a601599db463cbd402606fa9.jpg Sputnik brings you a live broadcast from Samarkand, Uzbekistan where Russian top diplomat Sergey Lavrov holds a press conference after the meeting of Commonwealth of Independent States Council of Foreign Ministers. The top diplomat will discuss issues of diplomatic consultation of CIS countries and the cooperation of top diplomats of the CIS. Separately, they will discuss the issues of training journalists.Lavrov came to Uzbekistan for official 2-day visit. Russian FM already held talks with Qin Gang his Chinese counterpart and Bakhtiyor Saidov - Uzbekistans Acting FM. Also top diplomat participated in the 4th Ministerial Conference of Afghanistan's neighbouring countries (Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan).Follow Sputnik live feed to learn more! russia uzbekistan 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 Lavrov holds press conference in Samarkand Lavrov holds press conference in Samarkand 2023-04-14T09:37+0000 true PT28M05S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International sergey lavrov, uzbekistan, moscow, commonwealth of independent states council of foreign ministers https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/lula-da-silva-brazil-immune-to-foreign-attempts-to-hinder-cooperation-with-china-1109537392.html Lula da Silva: Brazil Immune to Foreign Attempts to Hinder Cooperation With China Lula da Silva: Brazil Immune to Foreign Attempts to Hinder Cooperation With China Brazil cannot be prevented from developing cooperation with China, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Friday during his trip to Beijing. 2023-04-14T16:03+0000 2023-04-14T16:03+0000 2023-04-14T16:03+0000 world china brazil relations cooperation lula da silva /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0b/1109338826_0:232:2815:1815_1920x0_80_0_0_db23aa52edef3f21a94ef8519cc96547.jpg "Yesterday we visited Huawei. It is a demonstration that we want to tell the world that we have no prejudices in relations with our Chinese counterparts. No one will prohibit Brazil to improve relations with China," Lula said at a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. In a press statement preceding the bilateral meeting, Lula said that Brazil was committed to intensifying cooperation with China in science and technology, student exchanges, culture, climate change, clean energy and electric vehicles. Lula's trip comes two months after his meeting with US President Joe Biden in Washington. The United States is one of the hardliner countries in relation to Chinese tech companies, Huawei in particular, over their alleged collusion with the Chinese Communist Party. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/lulas-visit-to-china-paints-beijing-as-viable-alternative-to-us-1109532977.html china brazil 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 lula da silva, china brazil relations, china brazil cooperation https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/lulas-visit-to-china-paints-beijing-as-viable-alternative-to-us-1109532977.html Lulas Visit to China Paints Beijing as Viable Alternative to US Lulas Visit to China Paints Beijing as Viable Alternative to US The Brazilian president currently visiting China can be perceived as a good sign, Dr. Ken Hammond, writer and professor of East Asian and global history at New Mexico State University, told Sputnik. 2023-04-14T14:35+0000 2023-04-14T14:35+0000 2023-04-14T14:35+0000 world china brazil us lula da silva xi jinping visit relations /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0e/1109531871_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_7f8d360305ebcabdc626b735a947f4b3.jpg Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing. Before departing Brazil earlier this week, Lula pledged that his country is going to consolidate its relationship with China.Xi Jinping said after the talks with Lula da Silva that as comprehensive strategic partners, both sides share extensive common interests. Xi also underlined that China sees the bilateral relationship as a high priority on its diplomatic agenda.He added that those countries see that the Chinese are trying to build a new multicentric international order, and that Beijing is trying to support the development of countries like Brazil through things like the Belt and Road Initiative. It's just a logical process.According to him, people getting together like Lula going to Beijing are the good signs of our times.China 'Frustrated' Over Its Ties With USIn this vein, Hammond pointed to the China-US relationship, which, he said, the PRC is very frustrated with.The expert also commented on the developments in early February, when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his visit to China over the suspected Chinese balloon in American airspace.Hammond said he thinks its entirely legitimate for China to keep people like Blinken a little bit at arm's length. china brazil Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg brazilian president luiz inacio lula da silva's visit to china, relations between brazil and china, china's frustration over its ties with the us https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/military-vehicles-arriving-in-north-sudan-as-tensions-between-rsf-army-rise---reports-1109496668.html Military Vehicles Reportedly Arriving in North Sudan as Tensions Between RSF, Army Rise Military Vehicles Reportedly Arriving in North Sudan as Tensions Between RSF, Army Rise Sudan's powerful paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has reinforced its positions in the northern city of Merowe after the Sudanese army warned of a possible confrontation, media reported on Thursday. 2023-04-14T03:28+0000 2023-04-14T03:28+0000 2023-04-14T04:34+0000 africa sudan sudanese army rapid support forces (rsf) political crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/06/1100432853_0:272:2872:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_bdde66955a627461826aaa57418254ac.jpg The RSF sent 52 vehicles in addition to the troops already deployed in the city, Al Arabiya said. Reinforcements also arrived to support RSF troops deployed in the capital city of Khartoum, according to Sudanese social media. In the early hours of Thursday, the Sudanese army released a statement, saying that the RSF began moving into Merowe in what was a "clear violation of law" done without prior coordination or notification. The RSF, in turn, claimed their operations in Merowe were part of their duties. The Sudanese army had also deployed its troops in Merowe in the event of a further escalation, giving the RSF time to vacate the city, Al Arabiya reported earlier in the day, citing its sources. On Wednesday, Merowe officials reported about the deployment of about 100 military vehicles belonging to the RSF in the city. Several Sudanese politicians as well as international mediators engaged in the settlement of the conflict called for restraint and peaceful negotiations. The Forces of Freedom and Change, the Sudanese opposition coalition, said on April 6 that the signing of a final political agreement, which would provide for the establishment of a transitional civil authority in Sudan, had been again postponed due to lack of consensus between the two opposing parties. Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council and commander-in-chief of the Sudanese military, and Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, his deputy and commander of the RSF, could not agree on the process of integration of RSF into the regular army. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230406/sudan-reportedly-postpones-civilian-rule-agreement-over-military-reform-issues-1109192995.html africa sudan 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 sudan, rapid support forces, sudanese army, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/north-korea-tests-first-ever-solid-fuel-hwasong-18-icbm-1109503831.html North Korea Tests First Ever Solid-Fuel Hwasong-18 ICBM North Korea Tests First Ever Solid-Fuel Hwasong-18 ICBM It was 12th missile test reported since the beginning of the year. A Hwasong-18 was fired amid the biggest-ever US and South Korean military drills near the peninsula. 2023-04-14T16:33+0000 2023-04-14T16:33+0000 2023-04-14T18:34+0000 multimedia photo dprk rocket launch /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0e/1109503992_0:0:900:506_1920x0_80_0_0_f48f23825d94f1fff3b24b0d9c8995fc.jpg The Democratic People's Republic of Korea fired a Hwasong-18 ICBM from near Pyongyang on Thursday, which flew roughly 1,000km and fell into the waters east of the Korean Peninsula. The new missile has three stages just like American Minuteman III, the US ultimate nuke. The test-fire was attended by Kim Jong-un and his daughter. According to North-Korean state-run news agency, Hwasong-18s serve as a powerful strategic attack means of greater military efficiency.Follow Sputnik's gallery to learn more! 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 north korea, kim jong un, north korea rocket launch, north korea icbm launch, hwasong-18 https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/only-31-of-tanks-promised-to-kiev-reached-combat-zone-by-february-end-1109530377.html Only 31% of Tanks Promised to Kiev Reached Combat Zone by February End Only 31% of Tanks Promised to Kiev Reached Combat Zone by February End Only 31% of the tanks promised to Kiev by the West had arrived in the combat zone by the end of February amid an ongoing special military operation in Ukraine, a American newspaper reported on Friday, citing data from leaked Pentagon documents. 2023-04-14T13:07+0000 2023-04-14T13:07+0000 2023-04-14T13:07+0000 military ukraine tanks pentagon leaks /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0e/1109508414_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_94e364cb0494a614f311aa5dd4b80d21.jpg According to the document, as of February 23, only 31% of the 200 promised to Ukraine tanks had made it to the battlefield, the report read. The remaining 120 tanks are reportedly close to being handed over. In early April, over 100 classified US government documents were leaked on social media sites, apparently showing sensitive intelligence documents on the state of the Ukrainian military and the US and NATO's efforts to strengthen it. The Pentagon said it would probe into the leak. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, said on April 12 that Russia was aware that mercenaries and instructors from NATO states were present in Ukraine even before the classified documents hit the internet. The White House declined to confirm the authenticity of the material published online and said it was not yet ready to voice a theory about how and why the leak was orchestrated. The Justice Department is currently conducting a criminal investigation into the case. On Thursday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested 21-year-old Jack Douglas Teixeira, a member of the US Air Force National Guard, for his alleged involvement in leaking classified US government and military documents. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230125/what-countries-deliver-tanks-to-ukraine-1106699402.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 ukraine, kiev, tank for ukraine, tanks for kiev, military supplies to kiev, russian special operation in ukraine, russian military operation in ukraine, war in ukraine, pentagon leak 2023 https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/pentagon-leak-disinfo-op-to-expand-control-of-internet--get-rid-of-biden-1109539992.html Pentagon Leak: Disinfo Op to Expand Control of Internet & Get Rid of Biden Pentagon Leak: Disinfo Op to Expand Control of Internet & Get Rid of Biden The Pentagon "leak" could have been deliberately orchestrated to force the removal of US President Joe Biden and/or to expand the power of the US government to regulate anything posted on the Internet. 2023-04-14T18:54+0000 2023-04-14T18:54+0000 2023-04-14T18:54+0000 us pentagon leaks americas opinion jack teixeira cia central intelligence agency (cia) larry johnson whistleblower scapegoat /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 Twenty-one-year-old Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira was arrested on Thursday over the much-discussed Pentagon "leaks". He was charged with unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense information and unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents. In an affidavit accompanying the charges, an FBI special agent revealed that Teixeira had security clearance for the highest level of classification, top secret/sensitive compartmented information (TS/SCI).The trove of documents was initially released on the Discord platform, popular with gamers, weeks ago. Later, the alleged Pentagon files found their way to major social media platforms and eventually were picked by the US mainstream media.A Deliberate Leak and Here's WhyJohnson believes that it was a controlled leak, even though initially the former CIA analyst had been inclined to think that the leaked documents were the work of a frustrated whistleblower. What struck Johnson was a document labeled "CIA Operations Center Intelligence Update" in the trove.One might ask why the leak was needed. According to the CIA veteran, those who he claimed tricked Teixeira may have sought to kill several birds with one stone: to smear MAGA conservatives, justify new Internet restrictions and remove Joe Biden from the Oval Office. Thus, Teixeira was immediately described as a right winger, as an anti-Semite, as a racist, a gun lover and a religious extremist: he "checks all the boxes" routinely smeared by the US mainstream press. As Johnson wittingly remarked in his blog earlier in the day, "the only thing lacking is that the fellow, Jack Texeira, was not wearing a MAGA cap.""There's current legislation being proposed that would not only ban Tik-Tok, but would expand the power of the US government to regulate anything posted on the Internet," So this could be an act designed to help create political support for that kind of authoritarian crackdown on information, a complete violation of the First Amendment."Another thing that set alarm bells ringing for Johnson was Bellingcat, which is characterized by the former State Department official as "an Open Source Intelligence outfit that has been funded by US and British intelligence." It was Bellingcat that allegedly managed to trace the "leak" to a Discord server called WowMao, which seemed to have been sourced from the Thug Shaker Central channel.The story about "leaked Pentagon files" was also picked up by the New York Times and the Washington Post which are largely criticized for being in cahoots with the US federal government and its intelligence agencies."That's why I think it's a disinformation operation," Johnson said. "Bellingcat has been funded by both MI6 and the CIA and has worked really as what they call an open source intelligence operation. And it has been used as an intelligence entity. And several of the reporters who were involved, both writing for The New York Times, had previously worked with Bellingcat. The timing of this is just very unusual, that all of a sudden it's just discovered and the documents that are being leaked are very precisely focused on Ukraine, the conflict with Ukraine and Russia's activities in Ukraine."Convenient ScapegoatThe 21-year old appears to be more of a convenient scapegoat rather than a "hero", according to Johnson. The former CIA analyst does not rule out that Teixeira will be punished alone akin to William Calley in the My Lai Massacre case while his chain of command will be let off the hook.If convicted, Teixeira faces up to 15 years in prison. And if it was indeed a controlled leak, it would send an alarming signal about the extent to which the US government agencies are eager to violate Constitutional rights of a US citizen to reach their objectives. Remarkably, the US mainstream press has not raised the question if Teixeira should be treated as a "whistleblower.""The government violating constitutional rights wouldn't shock me at all," remarked Johnson. "That's why I said he's a convenient scapegoat. They're using him in this way. He was not working for some foreign intelligence service. He would not have been able just on his own to get access to those documents. I know how really difficult it is, even electronically, when you log into these systems to find some of that information and then to turn it off, then take it out and then decide to photograph and then post it. The story doesn't add up."Touching upon the timing of the "leak" the CIA veteran suggested that "elements in the intelligence community" have eventually "recognized that the prospects for Ukraine in the war with Russia are bleak and hurting and getting more dismal by the day so that Russia is going to prevail and Ukraine is going to lose." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/whos-jack-teixeira-the-alleged-pentagon-leaker-arrested-thursday-1109496950.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/washingtons-crackdown-on-whistleblowers--poses-danger-to-free-speech-1109502196.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/pentagon-leaks-prove-west-is-fighting-proxy-war-in-ukraine-1109463535.html americas ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova pentagon leak, jack teixeira, nato, ukraine war plans leaked, teixeira scapegoat, teixeira whistleblower, pentagon documents leaked, president joe biden compromised, maga conservatives smeared, teixeira fall guy, internet freedoms, first amendment, us citizens rights violated, cia concerned with biden's ukraine policy, breakdown between biden and intel community https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/pentagon-leaks-gop-congresswoman-weighs-in-on-whos-the-real-enemy-of-the-us-1109498147.html Pentagon Leaks: GOP Congresswoman Weighs in on Whos the Real Enemy of the US Pentagon Leaks: GOP Congresswoman Weighs in on Whos the Real Enemy of the US The leaked documents, which are already being investigated by the FBI and the Justice Department, give insight into the US' purported hand in the Ukrainian conflict. 2023-04-14T06:08+0000 2023-04-14T06:08+0000 2023-04-14T07:37+0000 americas us pentagon marjorie taylor greene fbi arrest documents /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0e/1109500231_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_cc29ee60ef46d1b746838d1ac53ed7f1.jpg Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has commented on the news about the detention of Teixeira, a suspected leaker of classified Pentagon documents that reveal secrets regarding a number of sensitive security issues, including the conflict in Ukraine. In an apparent nod to US forces, the congresswoman added that the 21-year-old told the truth about troops being on the ground in Ukraine and a lot more.As Attorney General Garland said on Thursday, Teixeira was arrested "in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information.According to the attorney, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents "took Teixeira into custody earlier this afternoon without incident. The 21-year-old is expected to make his initial court appearance at the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts in Boston later on Friday.Teixeiras arrest followed Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder calling the leak of secret US Department of Defense documents a deliberate criminal act. He declined to provide further comment on the matter, citing the ongoing investigation.The documents also revealed that Washington was conducting espionage not only on its opponents but also allies, including South Korea, Israel, Ukraine and the UK.One leaked file claimed that 50 British special forces personnel are deployed in Ukraine, alongside 17 Latvians, 15 French, 14 Americans and a lone operator from the Netherlands.The leaked materials, the veracity of which has not been confirmed by the US government, first appeared in a chat on the Discord social platform. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/whos-jack-teixeira-the-alleged-pentagon-leaker-arrested-thursday-1109496950.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg republican representative marjorie taylor greene, detention of jack teixeira, jack teixeira, a member of the massachusetts air national guard, leak of classified pentagon documents https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/polish-and-slovak-mig-29s-wont-turn-tide-in-ukraine-1109538682.html Polish and Slovak MiG-29s Won't Turn Tide in Ukraine Polish and Slovak MiG-29s Won't Turn Tide in Ukraine Germany approved the re-export of five Polish Soviet-designed MiG-29 fighter jets from former East German military stocks to the Kiev regime ahead of its much-discussed spring offensive. 2023-04-14T18:21+0000 2023-04-14T18:21+0000 2023-04-14T18:21+0000 ukraine analysis opinion us europe poland f-16 mig-29 mig-29 joe biden /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104808/67/1048086796_0:193:2201:1431_1920x0_80_0_0_1ca7c7286be3c400b418230ac71d70eb.jpg "I think that Poland will not send normal, working aircraft to Ukraine, because Poland, in principle, is not particularly interested, in my opinion, in the victory of the Ukrainian regime, because it is more interested in the loss of Ukraine in order to later (...) try to seize the western territories [of Ukraine Sputnik]," Evgeny Mikhailov, a Russian military expert and political observer, told Sputnik. The Mikoyan MiG-29 was designed in the Soviet Union in 1974 as an air superiority fighter to counter the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. The first MiG-29s became operational in 1982 being codenamed "Fulcrums" by NATO. Western military observers lauded the MiG-29 for "super-maneuverability", adding that following the reunification of Germany, Western pilots had a unique opportunity to fly and test MiG-29s. Moreover, the United States reportedly bought a whopping 21 MiGs from Moldova in November 1997.The problem is that the warplanes weren't properly maintained after the NATO bloc absorbed the former Warsaw Pact Moscow allies, according to Dmitry Drozdenko, editor-in-chief of the Russian military journal Arsenal of the Fatherland. As per him, Warsaw used to violate service agreements following the USSR's collapse.According to Drozdenko, there is yet another problem related to the concept of the "end user certificate" which means that the country that buys weapons, gives a guarantee that there won't be further transfer of these weapons to other countries. This concept is applied to controlling conventional weapons in the world.Given that Russia is the legal successor of the USSR, Germany ought to request Russia's permission to hand over its weapons to Poland, and Poland had to do the same for the transferral of the aircraft to Ukraine, according to the military expert.Warsaw's Goals: Make Money, Wage War & Harm RussiaPoland and Slovakia are two NATO member states which agreed to donate their legacy MiG-29 jets to the Ukrainian air force. On March 17, Bratislava signaled that it would deliver 13 out-of-commission MiG-29s to Kiev. The Slovakian leadership had reportedly transferred the first batch of four fighter jets by March 24.Warsaw's "generosity" largely stems from the Duda government's PR effort with regard to Poland's support for Ukraine, noted Mikhailov. He has drawn attention to the fact that Duda and the Polish military want to get US-made General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons and other modern military equipment in return. That is, one should not delude oneself into believing that Warsaw's move is a gesture of goodwill. In addition, Poles want to become Washington's major military stronghold in Europe, said Mikhailov, adding that the country has already turned into a hub for weaponry transferals.Could MiGs Upset Battlefield Balance?Sputnik's interlocutors expect that the donated aircraft will take off from the territory of Ukraine. The Kiev regime has pilots, service specialists and infrastructure to exploit the warplanes.At the same time, one should bear in mind that at the beginning of the special military operation which was launched on February 24, the Russian Armed Forces destroyed most of the military airfields in those territories where they planned to enter. Still, some airfields have been preserved in the Kherson, Sumy and Dnepropetrovsk regions, according to Mikhailov. Nonetheless, it's unlikely that Ukraine's MiGs will be able to take off and land directly in the combat zone where they could be destroyed by Russia's air defenses.In addition, there are certain problems with maintenance of the Ukrainian army's military equipment due to the fact that Russia has destroyed and continues to destroy the Kiev regime's workshops, both in Kharkov and in Dnepropetrovsk, as well as in other cities that are close to the region of hostilities, according to the political observer. Meanwhile, the Kiev regime is striving to get US-made F-16s. Reports emerged that some Ukrainian pilots were even tested to operate US fighter jets. However, in February, US President Joe Biden made it clear F-16 jets were off the table "for now" for Ukraine.Earlier, US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl said that Kiev has "at times" asked Washington for up to 128 fourth-generation fighter jets, a mix of F-15, F-18 and F-16 jets. Kahl poured some cold water on Kiev's requests saying that the new production of F-16 jets for the Eastern European state would take three-to-six years to deliver, but hypothetically the United States could deliver older model F-16 jets to Ukraine in two years. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230316/polands-transfer-of-mig-29s-to-ukraine-does-not-change-us-stance-on-f-16s-white-house-1108479830.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230224/wallace-says-nato-allies-could-get-raf-jets-in-return-for-gifting-migs-to-kiev-1107773595.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230412/russian-su-27-fighter-escorts-german-patrol-plane-over-baltic-sea-1109446879.html ukraine poland slovakia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova poland mig-29s, germany approved poland mig-29 ukraine, soviet-era mig-29, poland's military aid to ukraine, slovakia mig-29 kiev, bulgaria mig-19 pentagon leak, ukraine spring offensive, ukraine airfields destroyed, ukraine fighter jets, ukraine f-16 jets https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/qatar-deems-reports-on-syrias-possible-return-to-arab-league-to-be-speculation---doha-1109496240.html Qatar Deems Reports on Syria's Possible Return to Arab League 'Speculation' Qatar Deems Reports on Syria's Possible Return to Arab League 'Speculation' Qatar considers media reports about the possible restoration of Syria's membership in the Arab League (LAS) to be "speculation," Qatari Prime Minister Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani said on Thursday. 2023-04-14T01:16+0000 2023-04-14T01:16+0000 2023-04-14T04:36+0000 world qatar syria arab league /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104109/94/1041099440_0:0:2570:1446_1920x0_80_0_0_95502e566800ebb418cad5da3cb22495.jpg "Qatar's position is clear. There were reasons for suspending Syria's membership in the Arab League ... For us, these reasons still exist," the prime minister said in an interview with Qatar's broadcaster, adding that media reports about Syria's return to the LAS were "speculation." The prime minister noted that the Syrian crisis should be resolved politically. The Al-Hadath broadcaster reported on Tuesday that the Gulf Cooperation Council of six Gulf Arab nations will meet on Friday to discuss Syrias return to the LAS. Foreign ministers of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will meet in the UAE city of Jeddah to discuss Syria with Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan. A spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry confirmed to reporters in Doha that top Qatari diplomat Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani would be present for the Arab Gulf meeting on Syria but said that Qatars position on its readmission remained unchanged. On Wednesday, Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Al-Sahhaf told Sputnik that Iraq has always supported Syrias return to the LAS and maintains this position to date. The 22-nation League is split on whether to let Syria in after its membership was suspended over the 2011 unrest. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been reportedly trying to convince Qatar and Kuwait that Syria should be readmitted in time for the May summit. Since 2011, Syria has been engulfed in a civil war, with Syrian President Bashar Assad's troops fighting against various armed groups, including terrorists. The same year, the West and the LAS imposed unilateral sanctions against Assad's government over alleged human rights violations and persecution of the country's opposition. https://sputnikglobe.com/20180425/qatar-us-base-scholar-1063894487.html qatar syria 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 qatar, arab league, syria, qatari prime minister khalifa bin hamad al thani https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/russia-saw-malpass-as-brave-leader-but-he-changed-under-western-pressure---official-1109496493.html Russia Saw Outgoing World Bank Chief as 'Brave Leader' But Changed Under West's Pressure - Official Russia Saw Outgoing World Bank Chief as 'Brave Leader' But Changed Under West's Pressure - Official Russia considered outgoing World Bank President David Malpass a brave leader who respected Moscow's views and proposals, however, he changed last year under enormous pressure from the Western members of the multilateral institution, World Bank Executive Director for Russia and Syria Roman Marshavin told Sputnik. 2023-04-14T02:28+0000 2023-04-14T02:28+0000 2023-04-14T06:14+0000 world david malpass world bank western pressure russia us global economy /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107386/53/1073865347_0:173:2456:1555_1920x0_80_0_0_aed149ef9f45ef245e6c98fa9a82878e.jpg Marshavin said Malpass' relations with his Russian colleagues were at a high level for some time. "Let me remind you that David Malpass made his first foreign visit after the coronavirus pandemic in June 2021 to Moscow, and then acted as the main guest at the SPIEF opening ceremony. This visit was truly a breakthrough, since before that there had been no official visits of the heads of the World Bank to Russia for a whole decade," he said. Marshavin pointed out that Malpass' decision to visit Russia in 2021 despite the ongoing domestic political squabbles in the United States over alleged collusion characterizes him as a "brave leader with great respect for our proposals and point of view." However, Marshavin said that Malpass' tone changed last year under the most severe pressure from the World Bank's Western shareholders. Marshavin said during the initial years of his tenure, he showed himself to be a rather pragmatic and balanced leader, ready for dialogue and cooperation with all members of the World Bank, including with Russia. "Moreover, he knows our country well, speaks Russian. Many members of the board of directors noted his openness to contacts and modesty, which contrasted especially with the behavior of his predecessor," he said. In February, Malpass told his staff in a letter that he planned to leave his job by the end of the bank's current fiscal year on June 30 and about a year before his term expires. The World Bank has said that its board of executive directors is expected to select a successor for Malpass by early May. All assessments expressed are the personal opinions of Roman Marshavin and do not reflect the position of the World Bank Group. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230215/world-bank-president-malpass-to-step-down-a-year-before-schedule-1107477238.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, world bank president david malpass, western pressures, world bank executive director for russia and syria roman marshavin https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/russian-foreign-ministry-receives-finlands-appeal-over-envelopes-with-unknown-substance-1109539566.html Russian Foreign Ministry Receives Finland's Appeal Over Envelopes With Unknown Substance Russian Foreign Ministry Receives Finland's Appeal Over Envelopes With Unknown Substance The Finnish embassy in Moscow has contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry over receiving three envelopes with unknown substance, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday, adding that the envelopes were handed over to Russian law enforcement agencies. 2023-04-14T18:13+0000 2023-04-14T18:13+0000 2023-04-14T18:13+0000 world russia finland embassy incident /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080393840_0:223:2851:1826_1920x0_80_0_0_a10d42595672f9225b06b28d9262627c.jpg Zakharova said in a statement that the Russian side can confirm that it has received such an appeal from the Finnish embassy, adding that the envelopes were addressed to the military attache and his assistants. According to Zakharova, all three envelops were handed over to Russian law enforcement agencies. The Finnish Embassy will be provided with information on the results of the study of the incident," the spokeswoman said. russia finland 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 finnish embassy in russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/russian-mod-ukraine-loses-340-military-over-past-day-in-donetsk-direction-1109532286.html Russian MoD: Ukraine Loses 340 Military Over Past Day in Donetsk Direction Russian MoD: Ukraine Loses 340 Military Over Past Day in Donetsk Direction Ukraine has lost 340 military and 14 units of military equipment in the Donetsk direction in 24 hours, as Russia's Wagner Group private military company keeps fighting for the city of Artemovsk (Bakhmut), the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. 2023-04-14T13:43+0000 2023-04-14T13:43+0000 2023-04-14T13:43+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukrainian crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0e/1109502403_0:242:3210:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_8ac3ad0afa3126252981fe9bdc2f4096.jpg In the Donetsk direction, Wagner assault detachments are engaged in high-intensity combat operations to seize neighborhoods in the western districts of Artemovsk (Bakhmut). On the flanks, airborne troops are supporting the assault squads and suppressing the enemy's attempts to deliver ammunition and reserves to the city, according to the ministry. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/scott-ritter-pentagon-leaks-show-that-ukraine-cant-win--1109484135.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia special military opeartion, fight for bakhmut, wagner group, ukrainian crisis https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/spain-shuts-border-in-ceuta-after-200-migrants-attempt-to-break-through-fence-1109507352.html Spain Shuts Border in Ceuta After 200 Migrants Attempt to Break Through Fence Spain Shuts Border in Ceuta After 200 Migrants Attempt to Break Through Fence Spain's security forces have closed the border in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa to transit transport after an attempt by a group of 200 migrants to break through the fence, a Spanish news agency reported, citing law enforcement sources. 2023-04-14T12:02+0000 2023-04-14T12:02+0000 2023-04-14T12:02+0000 world spain migrant crisis illegal migration /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0e/1109507195_0:197:3072:1925_1920x0_80_0_0_425e440056ba5e93f76202fd27058641.jpg Security forces in Morocco, bordering Ceuta, were reportedly able to contain the group of migrants. In late June 2022, nearly 2,000 migrants approached the border in another Spanish enclave, Melilla. A group of about 500 migrants attempted to enter Spanish territory by breaking down a gate at a border checkpoint. The migrants were armed with sticks and hooks and used them against law enforcement officers. The area around Melilla regularly sees attempted illegal border crossings to Spain. In 2021, 1,900 people crossed the border near the Spanish enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta, and a total of 42,000 undocumented migrants arrived in Spain, including 40,000 who had arrived by sea. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220321/spain-abandoned-western-sahara-position-to-win-moroccos-cooperation-on-migrants-psoe-doc-reveals-1094063237.html spain 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 spain, spanish enclave of ceuta, illegal migration, illegal migrants, border crisis, north africa, illegal border crossing https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/suspected-pentagon-leaker-to-appear-in-court-at-1400-gmt-1109534083.html US Court Charges Teixeira With Retention, Transmission of Secret Information US Court Charges Teixeira With Retention, Transmission of Secret Information US federal court on Friday charged the suspected leaker of classified Pentagon documents, Jack Teixeira, with the unauthorized retention, removal and transmission of classified information during his first appearance in court. 2023-04-14T14:11+0000 2023-04-14T14:11+0000 2023-04-14T15:22+0000 americas us pentagon pentagon leaks /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/09/06/1083803779_0:0:3067:1725_1920x0_80_0_0_f9e47210b9fa0d821653cf338062823b.jpg The court will hold a detention hearing in the case of Teixeira on Wednesday, April 19, Magistrate Judge David Hennessy said.On Thursday, the FBI arrested Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the US Air Force National Guard, for his alleged involvement in leaking classified US government and military documents.The top secret Pentagon files leaked online in recent weeks provide sensitive details on a range of security topics with respect to Ukraine, China, and the Middle East. The materials allegedly expose weaknesses in Ukrainian air defenses, Russia's military activities in Ukraine, and other details that conflict with earlier US military assessments. The Pentagon has declined to comment on the veracity of the leaked documents. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/whos-jack-teixeira-the-alleged-pentagon-leaker-arrested-thursday-1109496950.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 pentagon leaks 2023, pentagon leaker, us attorney, secret document leaks, jack teixeira, who leaked pentagon secret docs https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/trump-questioned-in-hourslong-deposition-tied-to-new-york-civil-fraud-case-1109495330.html Trump Questioned in Hourslong Deposition Tied to New York Civil Fraud Case Trump Questioned in Hourslong Deposition Tied to New York Civil Fraud Case Former President Donald Trump reportedly sat through an hourslong deposition with the New York attorney general's office in connection to a lawsuit filed by the state accusing him and his family of engaging in fraud to enrich themselves. 2023-04-14T00:09+0000 2023-04-14T00:09+0000 2023-04-14T00:06+0000 americas donald trump letitia james trump organization deposition new york city /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 Citing a source familiar with the matter, US media reported on Thursday that Trump answered numerous questions during a nearly seven-hour-long deposition with state prosecutors. New York Attorney General Letitia James is said to have been in the room for a portion of Trump's deposition.A Sputnik correspondent spotted Trump leaving his deposition Thursday afternoon. Trump's attorney Alina Habba told US media that the former president "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." Trump previously provided an hourslong deposition in August, weeks before James filed the lawsuit. Trump called James' probe politically motivated and "a continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt of all time." Trump was in New York City earlier this month for an arraignment in a criminal case charging him 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 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/20230405/trump-indictment-to-set-precedent-for-law-manipulation-for-political-purposes-us-senator-1109158106.html americas new york city Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International donald trump, hourslong deposition, new york civil fraud case, trump organization https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/us-president-biden-wraps-up-ireland-visit--1109500494.html US President Biden Wraps Up Ireland Visit US President Biden Wraps Up Ireland Visit Biden came to the Irish capital Dublin on Wednesday for a three-day visit. This is his first trip to the country as US president. 2023-04-14T12:12+0000 2023-04-14T12:12+0000 2023-04-14T12:12+0000 world us joe biden ireland /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0d/1109466451_0:29:3073:1757_1920x0_80_0_0_d85fc579edeb6ee6900f0b7e275bf6fd.jpg Sputnik comes to you live from County Mayo, Ireland, where US President Joe Biden is wrapping up his visit to the country. The 46th US president came to Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement that put an end to political violence in the region. He was greeted by Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Leo Varadkar at Dublin Airport. Biden asserts that his ancestors left Ireland roughly 165 years ago. He claims to be Irish-American and says that the residents of Ireland are "the only people in the world, in my opinion, who are nostalgic about the future."Follow Sputnik live feed to learn more! 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 Wraps Up Ireland Visit US President Biden Wraps Up Ireland Visit 2023-04-14T12:12+0000 true PT53M23S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International joe biden, joe biden ireland, joe biden irish, joe biden irish ancestors https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/us-state-department-pentagon-preparing-pathway-to-hasten-foreign-weapons-sales-media-reports-1109536353.html US State Department, Pentagon Preparing Pathway to Hasten Foreign Weapons Sales, Media Reports US State Department, Pentagon Preparing Pathway to Hasten Foreign Weapons Sales, Media Reports The US State Department and Pentagon are preparing measures to help hasten the process of selling weapons to foreign countries, American news outlet reported on Friday. 2023-04-14T15:49+0000 2023-04-14T15:49+0000 2023-04-14T15:49+0000 americas us us state department pentagon /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0a/05/1101521442_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_027b6920331a180cdd05f7a9b048fe55.jpg US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is considering more than 80 internal recommendations from a team tasked with speeding up the Pentagons foreign military sales process, the report said, citing a Pentagon spokesman. Several of the recommendations from the team are at the level of the Pentagon policy chief for possible implementation, the spokesman reportedly said. The Pentagons aim is to replace weapons sent by the United States to Ukraine and better compete with China, the report said. The US State Department is also working on delivering recommendations to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on how to improve its own foreign weapons sale process, the report said. The US challenge is ultimately industrial capacity, but there are steps the State Department can take on its end to streamline the process, a department spokesperson reportedly said. The recommendations come following calls from US Senator Roger Wicker last month to reform the US foreign military sales process. It takes the US too long to deliver crucial weapons to allies, Wicker said. Wicker pointed to a $19 billion backlog of US arms for Taiwan as one reason for the reform. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230406/scott-ritter-us-full-spectrum-dominance-military-doctrine-based-on-hubris-and-arrogance-1109208808.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/pentagon-leak-shows-us-dragging-allies-into-war-with-russia-1109359717.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, us state department, us weapon sales, us militarism https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/washingtons-crackdown-on-whistleblowers--poses-danger-to-free-speech-1109502196.html Washington's Crackdown on Whistleblowers Poses Danger to Free Speech Washington's Crackdown on Whistleblowers Poses Danger to Free Speech The US government is tightening its grip over the internet, social media and free speech. Facebook* whistleblower Ryan Hartwig and former Google and YouTube software engineer Zach Vorhies reveal the dangers and implications. 2023-04-14T15:19+0000 2023-04-14T15:19+0000 2023-04-14T15:19+0000 tiktok discord us americas big tech facebook youtube internet social media google /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0d/1109488895_60:0:1600:866_1920x0_80_0_0_1870b078a8e19fc35b4f12b267c854cc.png A US bill targeting the TikTok app is really a wider crackdown on online privacy and public scrutiny of government, two Big Tech whistleblowers have told Sputnik.The Restrict Act, currently working its way through the US Congress, has been touted as an attack on Chinese software developer ByteDance whose US CEO Shou Zi Chew was hauled before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in March.The legislation would allow the government to restrict access to apps from any firm it chooses raising the prospect of its use to protect US firms from foreign competitors. But tech experts and free speech advocates fear it will open the door to a widespread crackdown against online critics of the White House.Ryan Hartwig said the legislation was "essentially the Patriot Act online" referring to legislation passed in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that allowed unwarranted government wiretapping of US and foreign citizens' phone lines.The bill is ostensibly aimed at protecting children and teenagers from harmful content, which the former Facebook employee said had some validity. "But the Restrict Act does a lot more than just censor a few bad posts. It basically gives them blanket authority... and criminalizes any kind of political speech.""If I just attack them, if I say bad things about the president, it gives the government authority to arrest me." Hartwig stressed. "The Restrict Act can punish people for whistleblowing on an illegal government action."Just this week, 21-year-old US Air National Guard enlisted Airman Jack Teixeira was arrested as the suspect in the embarrassing Pentagon leaks of Ukrainian plans for its yet-to-materialize spring counter-offensive. Teixeira was traced through an online chat group for video gamers on the Discord app. The whistleblower said its users should "be concerned."The 'blockchain' technology used by Bitcoin and other concerns essentially a variant of mass file-sharing for online data could protect users' rights, he said.But protecting oneself from government snooping is difficult for the average casual web surfer."Unless you're a tech nerd, and you have all kinds of things for it," Hartwig says. "It starts with using a different operating system, because most people use Microsoft Windows. So a lot are moving over to Linux, which has less vulnerabilities," he said.Using a virtual private network (VPN) protects users from advertisers gleaning their web history, but "it's hard to prevent that from tracking us because I'm sure the NSA has tools that can bypass pretty much anything," he added. "They probably know exactly what we're talking about."Zach Vorhies emphasized that the point of online snooping was not to eavesdrop on citizens, but to tar them by association with known suspects.Even AI assistants like Amazon Alexa have been used to record their users' conversations. "Police have used court orders to grab audio content from these Alexas when they were supposedly not in active recording mode," the tech expert noted.Vorhies agreed that users of internet chats like Discord and 4Chan should be "concerned", because "no corporate or public space is safe for private speech anymore. That ship has sailed long ago."He said the government and major tech corporations were "strong-arming companies to employ AI monitoring of content." The tech guru said it would take about a day for someone with the coding know-how to write software for a "private space" on the internet, which government agencies would be unable to crack."Its my expectation that the elite families that control governments and military are using such obscure private spaces to communicate," he ventured. "I cant stress enough what an exciting time we are entering. Its also terrifying as we are entering an age of so many unknowns. Its obvious that Pandora's box has been opened, and the elites are putting both hands in and grasping tightly."* Facebook is banned in Russia for extremist activities https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/pentagon-leaks-gop-congresswoman-weighs-in-on-whos-the-real-enemy-of-the-us-1109498147.html americas 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 us, discord, restrict act, patriot act, social media, free speech, pentagon, whistle-blower, jack teixeira https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/whos-jack-teixeira-the-alleged-pentagon-leaker-arrested-thursday-1109496950.html Who's Jack Teixeira, the Alleged Pentagon Leaker Arrested Thursday? Who's Jack Teixeira, the Alleged Pentagon Leaker Arrested Thursday? Since documents began to surface last week which reveal damning information about the US role in Ukraine and the espionage it conducts on its ostensible allies, questions have lingered about the identity and motives of the person responsible and a suspect has finally been unveiled. 2023-04-14T04:14+0000 2023-04-14T04:14+0000 2023-04-14T05:40+0000 americas jack teixeira fbi cia pentagon leaks /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0e/1109497288_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_8bd70a3c59c4f07f63d007a09d326281.jpg Americans got their first glimpse at the alleged source of the leaked Pentagon documents that have dominated the news cycle this week as 21-year-old Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira was taken into custody Thursday by heavily-armed federal agents at his home in Dighton, Massachusetts.Teixeira is likely to be charged with violating the Espionage Act as Attorney General Merrick Garland earlier indicated that the service member was arrested over the alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information.An initial court appearance for Teixeira is scheduled for Friday at the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts.With the arrest, media focus has quickly shifted from the fallout surrounding the leaked materials which indicated that US officials privately acknowledge the Kiev regime has little hope of victory, and that NATO special forces are fighting on the frontlines against Russian troops to the identity of the alleged leaker.Teixeira, a nearly four-year member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was reportedly assigned to manage and troubleshoot computers and communications systems for the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air Base, and comes from a military family.A spokesman for the Pentagon reportedly defended the DoDs major intelligence breach by saying we entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age.But regardless of his relative youth, it remains unclear why an enlisted airman, who hadnt yet even reached officer status, would have access to high-level documents containing intelligence apparently compiled by the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.According to widely-circulated accounts by the Washington Post and New York Times, who effectively honed in on the alleged leaker's identity on those agencies behalf, Teixeira began leaking photos of highly-sensitive documents to a group of 20 to 30 of his mostly-younger friends online after they grew bored of reading mere transcriptions.The Times quickly insisted that Airman Teixeira was no whistle-blower, seizing on an alleged video which apparently shows the young airman yelling racial and antisemitic slurs.But there are apparently signs that Teixeira had serious problems with the government he served.According to the Washington Post, he told members of his group online that the US government knew in advance that a white supremacist intended to go on a shooting rampage at a supermarket frequented by Black shoppers in Buffalo in May 2022, but let the killings proceed so they could argue for increased funding.Fox News host Tucker Carlson pushed back on Teixeiras behalf in a Thursday night monologue.So this 21-year-old Air National Guardsman from Massachusetts is not a whistleblower, mocked the popular conservative commentator.He revealed the crimes, therefore hes the criminal, Carlson explained, sardonically, adding, thats how Washington works: telling the truth is the only real sin. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/suspected-leaker-of-pentagon-secret-docs-identified-as-air-national-guardsman-1109486588.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 jack teixeira, who is jack teixeira, who is pentagon leaker, pentagon leaker arrested, suspected pentagon leaker's name, who is suspected pentagon's leaker The Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association has announced the Nova Scotia vs. Ontario Drivers Challenge will take place this year on June 4 at host track Truro Raceway. Organizers of the drivers challenge, which was originally scheduled for May 2020, are pleased to be getting the event up and running after having been set back from the global pandemic. The event will include participating drivers from all three Nova Scotia racetracks (Inverness Raceway, Northside Downs and Truro Raceway) highlighting the driving talent sourced right in the province. The drivers who were asked to participate in 2020 have all shown interest to compete in the 2023 edition. Representing team Nova Scotia are drivers Redmond Doucet (Inverness), Ernie Laffin (Truro), Paul Langille (Truro) and Mark Pezzarello (Northside). Team Ontario is stacked with the nation's best and the driving talent from Woodbine Mohawk Park, including Bob McClure, Doug McNair, James MacDonald and Louis-Philippe Roy. The Nova Scotia vs. Ontario Drivers Challenge promises to an action-packed day for horsepeople and fans alike. When the event was announced, there was a lot of buzz from fans about seeing the drivers come from Woodbine Mohawk Park," said event organizer Christina Saftic. "Having the best in Canada come to Nova Scotia is creating a lot of excitement. Locals in Nova Scotia are also excited to cheer on their hometown favourites, citing their familiarity with the track and horses may give their guys the advantage heading into the challenge. Regardless of which team comes out on top, race fans will be in for a fun, competitive day of racing on June 4. (With files from Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association) 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. Eager children, wives and mothers ran to be the first to give a loving embrace to welcome a beloved family member home. Dads clapped their sons backs as they gave them firm embraces. Tears lots of them were shed, but smiles were also plentiful. Family and friends of 58 National Guardsmen reunited with the loved ones they hadnt seen in nearly a year in a hangar at the West Nebraska Regional Airport Thursday. The men and women serving with team 2 of the 1057th Military Police Company returned after a 9-month deployment overseas in the U.S. Central Command Area. The 1057th MP Company conducts law and order operations, which are comparable to the same duties as civilian police officers, but on military installations. The company marked its first team deployment since transitioning to an MP company when it deployed to the Middle East last year, with that group of soldiers returning in August. The soldiers returning this week made up the second team that followed, and continued its mission. I knew I would get emotional, but I didnt think I would cry that much, Megan Yada, sergeant first class, said after repeatedly kissing and hugging her daughter, Leighton. As soon as Yadas husband, Wade, pointed out Megan, the 4-year-old girl ran to her mother, jumping into her arms for a joyful reunion. More than a few tears were shed as people watched Capt. Grant Hewitt, who met his baby daughter, Aubrey Jan, for the first time. Dad returned just in time to see the girl turn 7 months old on Friday. We had Facetime, the Internet, we talked quite a bit, he said. mostly speechless except for the greetings he shared with his wife, Lauren, and his little girl. Later though, as he spoke in front of a crowd of 58 National Guardsmen, Hewitt, who served as the commander of the company during its time in the Middle East, became emotional as he talked before the large group, thanking the families who supported the guardsmen. Choking up and acknowledging this is personal for me, garnering many nods from the members of the company, he thanked the families for their care packages, for keeping things going at home. Thank you for being there for us to talk to when things were stressful for us, because we know they were stressful for you back home, too. Hewitt told the families that he knew firsthand that their soldiers had made them proud. They represented the state very well, he said, saying that they focused on their mission of providing law enforcement services in the area of operation and in making lasting impacts in the area. Not only did they do their jobs well, he said, each of them focused on self improvement and each one of these soldiers is coming back to you better than they left. Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, adjutant general for Nebraska, shared encouraging words with the soldiers, saying he knew that they had performed phenomenally well and knew that they were missed at their base of operations. There is no doubt in my mind that, as Nebraskans, you performed at your best each and every day, he said, noting that soldiers knew where they came from the Nebraska National Guard and their Nebraska communities and represented those values in their work. Scottsbluff Mayor Jeanne McKerrigan also joined in thanking the soldiers for their service in brief remarks at the beginning of ceremonies. Bohac also extended the gratitude of Gov. Jim Pillen and of Congressman Adrian Smith, Sen. Deb Fischer and Sen. Pete Ricketts, who also had representatives of their offices in the audience. After returning from deployment, soldiers enjoy some leave time before returning to civilian employment and their duties with the National Guard. The 1057th MP Company, which is based in Chadron, has soldiers from throughout Nebraska serving in the company, though most are from western Nebraska. PHOTOS: Team 2, 1057th Military Police Company returns home Federal prosecutors say a grand jury has indicted six people in an alleged conspiracy to use drones to smuggle contraband into the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth. The indictment unsealed Wednesday alleges that two inmates conspired with four people outside of prison to use a drone to smuggle cell phones, the synthetic drug K2, marijuana and tobacco into the yard at penitentiary between August 2020 and May 2021. The indictment says inmates asked for the smuggled items. Four of the suspects are from Nebraska and the other two are from California. The indictment was unsealed after all the suspects were arrested. WSIC owner Mark Sanger has accepted an offer to sell News Talk WSIC according to a news release from WSIC. It has been a fun and amazing 18 years here in the region and the Lords timing was just right. Kathy and I thank everyone for all their support. Thank you all ... and Praise the Lord! Sanger said. Sanger was approached by Cornelius Justin Ckezepis to potentially air his podcast show, Today's Real Talk on WSIC. While discussing the show it became apparent that Ckezepis was looking for his next opportunity and all the pieces fell into place for him to buy out Sanger. Ckezepis is known in the Lake Norman region as the Mobile Real Estate Closing Attorney." He sold his Birkdale-based Ckezepis Law firm in 2021. In addition to other professional roles and organizations, Ckezepis currently serves as a board of director to The Hope House a transitional homeless shelter for women and children based in Huntersville. He plans to expand his help to the community through media. Owning a radio station has always been a dream of mine and I could not believe a conversation about airing my syndicated real estate show turned into my next opportunity. I love this area because this is where I grew up and am now raising my family," Ckezepis said. Ckezepis graduated from Hopewell High School in 2008, after which time he attended Appalachian State University, graduating in 2011 with a degree in communications, before then getting a law degree from Charlotte School of Law in 2015. WSIC went on the air on May 5, 1947, broadcasting at 1400 AM. For many years, this signal was only heard in the Statesville area. In more recent years, the station has added two FM signals to reach a broader audience. The two FM stations broadcast at 100.7 FM in Statesville and on 105.9 FM in the Cornelius/Lake Norman/North Charlotte area. The station is also streamed online at wsicNews.com. The concept of community is crucial," Ckezepis said. "Engaging residents, businesses, and leaders with rational and thoughtful discussions is one way we can all participate in the process, he added. Ckezepis said that he is looking forward to big things in the Statesville and Lake Norman areas. Ckezepis already owns Real Talk Studios, where his talk show, Today's Real Talk is syndicated on several stations and soon to air on WSIC. He says he will link WSICs studios in Statesville with the Real Talk Studios in Cornelius, giving WSIC advertisers and show hosts from the Cornelius/Lake Norman area a convenient place to record and do their shows without the added time and gas of having to drive to Statesville. Podcasting studios are on the way so more people can join the fun of media. WSIC gets its revenue from advertisers and show hosts who purchase blocks of time for special programming. Former Statesville mayoral candidate, Brian Summers, has a show that discusses local politics. North Carolina Sen. Vickie Sawyer and N.C. Rep. Jeff McNeely also have shows on the conservative News Talk formatted station. The process with the FCC has started for Ckezepis to obtain full control of WSIC, but until the FCC approval, Sanger will still be at the station, as he says, helping and enjoying all the conversation on WSIC." The Mali military government use of Russian Wagner Group mercenaries has been a disaster for northern and central Mali because the Russians cant halt the expansion of Islamic terror groups. The military government expelled the more effective French counter-terrorism forces and troops from neighboring countries that still work with the French. While the French presence was good for the average Mali citizen, it was bad for the military government because the French troops protected journalists reporting on the situation in Mali. This included the corruption and poor administrative skills of the military government. Without the French-led counterterrorism effort in Mali, the Islamic terrorists are expanding the territory they control while also terrorizing civilians, killing soldiers and peacekeepers. They are also fighting each other. The larger Islamic terror group, an al Qaeda coalition called JNIM (Jamaah Nusrah al Islam wal Muslimin, or Group for the support of Islam and Moslems), is gaining control over more of Mali and even making more frequent attacks near the capital Bamako down south. In the north, ISGS (Islamic States in Greater Sahara) Islamic terrorists near the Niger border have taken advantage of the departure of French counterterrorism forces in 2021 by seizing and holding territory in Mali. This began with more attacks on the Niger border. The departing French and G5 counter-terrorism forces had kept the Islamic terrorists out of Mali. The Mali army and a small number of Russian (Wagner Group) military contractors have been unable, or unwilling, to carry on with that effort or prevent the Islamic terror groups from crossing the border and advancing into Mali. ISGS is one of the two ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) groups in the region. When they showed up in 2018, ISGS operated mainly in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, especially the area where the three borders meet. Since late 2022 ISGS have been working to take control of the border between Mali and Niger. Mali responded with soldiers and a handful of Wagner Group mercenaries but that was unsuccessful. After that Mali did nothing about the situation as its security forces and the UN peacekeepers were needed elsewhere. The Niger government was also unable to respond and sought to negotiate a deal with ISGS. Appearing in 2015 as an affiliate of ISIL and part of ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) that changed in 2021 when ISGS declared itself separate from ISWAP and declared northern Mali and some areas in Niger and Burkina Faso its future caliphate. The ISIL affiliated Islamic terrorists are far more violent than the more numerous al Qaeda. This also means casualties for the 12,000 UN peacekeepers. ISGS violence involves attacks on Islamic terror groups that refuse to take orders from ISIL. The tri-border (Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso) area has been a terrorist hotspot since 2018 because Islamic terror groups can just cross the border to escape any effective counterterrorism efforts. For that reason, this area has been called the Menaka Region. Previously this area was just part of the larger Gao Region, centered on one of the few cities in the north. The area being fought over is near where the borders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso meet. Menaka has become ungovernable because so many Islamic terrorists and bandits now operate here. The French counterterrorism forces regularly searched for and attacked specific Islamic terrorist targets. The Mali government underestimated how important the French forces, with their airmobile troops, UAV surveillance and ground attack aircraft were in keeping the Islamic terrorists from establishing themselves inside Mali. The current Mali military government has no clear plan for dealing with this situation and are withdrawing their counterterrorism forces south, to protect the capital and the more prosperous and populous south. The neighbors see the reliance on Wagner Group as the main cause for more Islamic terrorists operating in Mali and spreading to neighboring countries. This includes Algeria, which has been largely Islamic terrorism free for over a decade. Now Algeria is seeing a return of Islamic terrorist activity because of the growing number of active Islamic terrorists across the border in northern Mali. Despite this, Mali does not want the French back because that makes it easier for foreigners to document the growing corruption of the military government. These corruption reports lead to more countries imposing individual sanctions on officers running the military government and profiting from the corruption. So far the strategy of the Mali military officers running the government is to abandon northern, and portions of central Mali to the Islamic terror groups. Complaints from the neighbors are ignored even though that means less foreign aid for Mali. The source of all these problems is corruption. April 12, 2023: In central Mali (the Menaka region) ISGS Islamic terrorists are currently 75 kilometers north of the regional capital, the town of Menaka. ISGS is seeking to seize control of all roads out of Menaka. Many of the towns 20,000 residents are fleeing or preparing to do so. The Manaka Airport is five kilometers outside the town and is expected to be shut down if ISGS forces get close enough to fire on aircraft landing or taking off. April 10, 2023: Leaked American intelligence documents revealed that in February Russian Wagner Group military contractors sought to purchase weapons from Turkey for use by Wagner forces in Mali. Turkey refused, fearing that some of these weapons would end up with the more numerous Wagner forces fighting in Ukraine. April 6, 2023: In the south, outside the capital Bamako, Islamic terrorists attacked a checkpoint, killing two three policemen and two civilians. March 22, 2023: The UN reported that its peacekeepers in Mali have been unable to halt the growing violence there. The peacekeepers report that during the last three months of 2022, at least 370 people kidnapped or disappeared. For all of 2022, 1,277 civilians were killed. This is double the number killed by such violence in 2021. Islamic terrorists are the most common cause of such violence, with much of the rest the result of Wagner Group operations. The UN peacekeeper force is scheduled to leave Mali unless the UN renews it and, preferably, increases the size of the force. Without a larger peacekeeper force in Mali, there is not a lot the peacekeepers can do to reduce violence. March 20, 2023: In neighboring Niger, the government negotiated the release of a French journalist and an American air worker. The American was seized in 2016 while at his home in Niger. He was taken to Mali, where he was held for several years before being moved back to Niger. The French journalist was seized in 2021 while in northern Mali (the Gao region) by JNIM Islamic terrorists. The reporter was there to interview an Islamic terrorist leader. Niger did not disclose who or what was exchanged to free the two men. There have been a lot more kidnappings in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger during the last few years. There were 532 kidnappings in 2022, a sharp increase from 33 in 2017. There have been 115 kidnappings so far this year. Most of those taken are locals believed to have enough assets or notoriety to yield a large ransom. Foreigners are prime targets and must either leave the region or arrange tight security. This article features excerpts from past editions of The Floyd Press. April 3, 1947 The Silver Star store and filling station was completely destroyed by fire and its owner died on March 30, 1947. The Floyd Press reported later that week that a Willis High School student, Jean Draper, discovered the fire, at the store, about 12 miles south of the Town of Floyd. The structure was collapsing by the time firemen arrived, the paper said. Store owner James Gardner, 63, died in the fire, and then-Sheriff Ora Williams and Floyd Town Sergeant Charles Gardner reported they found no evidence of foul play. The April 3, 1947, edition of The Floyd Press also reported on convicts who recently escaped from custody at the Virginia Railway Yard No. 16, near Floyd. Lonnie Lane, 32, and Lewis Hall, 19, escaped by opening the emergency door on a bus at a stop light. Roy Reavis, the bus driver, said he heard the latch tripped on the emergency door, but before he and one of the passengers nearest him could get to the vehicle, the men had fled, The Floyd Press reported. April 7, 1955 The Floyd County Womens Club organized for a traveling art exhibit to visit Floyd with 16 world famous paintings in April of 1955. The Floyd Press reported that the artmobile and museum on wheels was a project from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and sponsored by the Virginia Federation of Womens Clubs. It measured 34-feet long, one foot wide and 7-feet 19-inches tall, and a loud speaker provided explanatory information for 15-minute visits. The featured paintings were Dutch and Flemish paintings of the 16th and 17th centuries, on loan for two years from the Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. The Artmobile was officially opened by former Gov. Battle in October of 1953, and it visited localities throughout the Commonwealth for club visits, public open hours and school visits. The Floyd Press reported the response to the Artmobile since its establishment was enthusiastic, and it would be in Floyd for five days, from April 22-26, 1955. April 11, 1974 Twenty stills were destroyed in Floyd County in 1973, The Floyd Press reported on April 11, 1974. A total of 250 stills were destroyed statewide, the result of 2,700 raids. Franklin County remains King of the Stills in Virginia Of a total of 250 stills destroyed 11- were in Franklin County, the paper reported. Franklin was followed by Southampton (23), Buchanan (22) and Floyd (20). No other counties in the state reported double digits, the Press reported. Statewide, 178 vehicles, 172,000 cans of beer, 401 gallons of wine and more than 3,000 pounds of sugar were seized during the 1973 moonshining and bootlegging raids. Probably one of the most vexing problems facing the (ABC) Board today is the question of balancing the conflicting requirements of the state and localities for additional revenue from store sales and its need to keep whiskey prices at a level to discourage bootleggers and moonshiners without encouraging consumption, the Press reported. A Fredericksburg man who blackmailed a teenage girl into continuing to send him numerous sexually explicit videos and pictures was ordered Thursday to serve 19 years in prison. Chad Michael Lehofer, 37, received the sentence in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, where he previously pleaded guilty to production and possession of child sexual abuse material. Court records show that between December 2018 and April 2019, the girl sent Lehofer about 100 pictures and 50 videos. The girl was 15 at the time. Court records don't state where the girl lived, but the investigation began after federal officials in Washington received information from officials in San Francisco. The girl eventually tried to break off her online relationship with Lehofer, whose identity was unknown at the time, but he threatened to expose her activities to her mother and others if she didn't continue meeting his demands. The girl at one point sent Lehofer a message stating, "Can u just [expletive] stop and leave me alone? Please, I did nothing to you." Lehofer responded that he would leave the girl alone if she met up with him and had sex. Such a meeting never happened. The girl eventually told law enforcement about the blackmail and her previous activities involving the then-unidentified man. Authorities later identified Lehofer as the suspect and found numerous images of child sex abuse on his electronic devices after raiding his parents' home in Fredericksburg. Lehofer was convicted in 2006 of sex offenses involving two minors in Connecticut. President Assad did not express enthusiasm toward this initiative, Athr Press says. The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar cited sources stating that Qatar had mediated discussions between Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and the Syrian leadership to re-establish regulated relations. However, President Assad did not express enthusiasm toward this initiative. Regarding the Saudi-Syrian reconciliation, Al-Akhbars sources reported that the Sultanate of Oman recently facilitated important meetings between officials from Syria, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. Subsequently, Saudi-Syrian contacts rapidly progressed to direct dialogue, which manifested in security-level meetings held in Riyadh. This paved the way for increased communication at the political level, as seen during Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdads visit to Jeddah. The newspaper further noted that in recent years, there has been a wave of direct or intermediary contacts between Arab, regional, and Western capitals with Syria, which increased following the destructive earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey. Quoting an informed reference, the newspaper stated that these contacts were made secretly, fearing American backlash. However, the reference emphasized that no one can impose conditions on Syria, given the countrys resilience and its role in the Arab world. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The opposition emphasized that unrestricted normalization is not in the best interest of Syrians, according to Baladi News. The leader of the Syrian Negotiation Committee, Badr Jamous, has stated that normalizing relations with the Syrian regime, in order to return it to the Arab League, without committing to a political solution, implementing UN resolutions particularly the Geneva Communique and Resolution 2254 and resuming a serious political process according to a specific timeline, will give the regime a green light to avoid fulfilling its obligations. This is the first response from the opposition following the visit of the regimes Foreign Minister, Faisal al-Mekdad, to Riyadh and his meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan. Jamous has called on Arab countries to exert more pressure and engage in genuine national consultations to safeguard Syria and enable its people to live safe, dignified, and stable lives. The leader of the Syrian Negotiation Committee also emphasized that unrestricted normalization is not in the best interest of Syrians, as it would fail to bring stability and increase the number of Syrian migrants due to a loss of hope for peaceful change. Mekdad made a brief visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, after receiving an official invitation from the Kingdoms foreign minister. Upon arrival, he was welcomed by the Saudi deputy foreign minister. In a related development, the Saudi foreign minister and the UN envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, discussed the situation in Syria over a phone call. Bin Farhan reiterated Saudi Arabias commitment to making all possible efforts to achieve a political resolution to the Syrian crisis that preserves Syrias unity, security, and stability. 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. A Enab Baladi correspondent said that the Syrian regime forces conducted a search operation in the area. On Thursday, April 13th, a security checkpoint in the southern countryside of Quneitra was targeted, resulting in the death of an officer and injuries to several members of the Syrian regime forces. According to the Enab Baladi correspondent, the incident was preceded by explosions in the area and the sound of Israeli aircraft flying. The correspondent also reported that after the bombing, ambulances were heard in the area, and the Syrian regime forces conducted a search operation. Possible Israeli Targeting The incident occurred amidst an Israeli military alert along the border strip between the Syrian border and the occupied Syrian Golan. This morning, local pages and social media accounts reported that the Israeli shelling of the checkpoints had taken place. According to media activist Nour Abu al-Hassan, the targeted checkpoints were owned by the State Security Branch and the Syrian regime forces. The Bride of the Golan Facebook page said that several rockets were launched from inside the occupied Golan towards the town of Ghadeer al-Bustan and its farms. Enab Baladi could not confirm the veracity of this information, nor did the Syrian regime government comment on this news. Denial of media outlets close to the regime Sham FM, a local media outlet aligned with the Syrian regime, reported on Wednesday, April 13, that an explosive device had been planted near one of the points in the town of Ghadeer al-Bustan in the southern countryside. In contrast, the Athr Press website cited unnamed sources claiming that there was no Israeli targeting in the area. The website clarified that the explosions heard were caused by an explosive device planted near a military post. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Justice each investigated three corruption cases, according to Syria TV. The Central Organization for Financial Control of the Syrian regime has disclosed a significant increase in financial corruption rates within government departments and ministries. The corruption rates have skyrocketed by 400% in just one year. According to an official report released by the agency for the fiscal year 2022, over 104 billion Syrian pounds (equivalent to $13.7 million) have been discovered in corruption issues. However, only seven billion Syrian pounds were recovered. Who are the most corrupt ministries? Over the past year, 213 inspection reports were completed across 20 ministries, with the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection leading with 21 corruption cases and an amount of approximately 42 billion Syrian pounds. The Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources followed with eight cases, totalling over 32 billion Syrian pounds. The Ministry of Local Administration and Environment had the highest number of corruption cases, with 23 cases and over 284 million Syrian pounds to be recovered. Its worth noting that the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Justice each investigated three corruption cases. The Financial Audit Authority revealed that the total amount of corruption was 88 billion Syrian pounds, and only 2 billion Syrian pounds were recovered. The amounts discovered and required to be recovered in foreign currency were 1.687 million dollars, 250,000 euros, and 10,000 Chinese yuan, but only 21,000 dollars of these funds were recovered. In 2022, the Central Agencys investigations extended to the financial and administrative sectors in regime-controlled areas. The agency supervised 1,013 public entities of an economic nature, including 243 main entities such as institutions, companies, and establishments. According to the report, financial corruption cases within the economic public sector amounted to over 9.4 billion Syrian pounds, of which 3.6 billion Syrian pounds were recovered. The city of Lattakia emerged as the most corrupt economically and administratively, with a total amount of 2.7 billion Syrian pounds (equivalent to about 361,000 dollars) discovered in corruption cases, followed by Aleppo with approximately 1 billion Syrian pounds. The report also highlighted the foreign exchange funds that needed to be recovered in the same sector, specifically in the city of Lattakia. The amount totalled $783,000, but only $21,000 was recovered. Additionally, an amount of 89,000 euros was identified, but none of it was recovered. In the administrative sector, the report covered corruption issues of 2,357 public entities, with 1,544 reports completed and issued. The reports revealed that over six billion Syrian pounds were required to be recovered, of which 1.6 billion Syrian pounds were recovered. In terms of administrative corruption, the city of Lattakia once again topped the list with a total amount of 3.1 billion Syrian pounds (equivalent to about 419,000 dollars) discovered in corruption cases. The report also revealed the foreign exchange funds that needed to be recovered in the administrative sector, with the majority located in Lattakia. The amount totalled $161,000, 656,000 euros, and ten thousand Chinese yuan. According to the annual report by Transparency International, which monitors the state of transparency and corruption in 180 countries around the world, Syria maintained its penultimate rank on the Global Corruption Index for 2022. In a previous report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Center for Constitutional Transitions at the end of 2022, growing frustration over corruption in Syria was cited as one of the underlying causes of the 2011 Syrian revolution. Bashar al-Assad, like his father Hafez al-Assad, relied on a tight system of family patronage and interest groups to buy loyalty, which has now expanded to include the new wealthy militia emirs. 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. Saudi Arabia and Syria have pledged to seek a political solution to the crises besetting the latter, according to a joint statement released after a meeting between the two countries foreign ministers in Jeddah on Wednesday, Saudi Arab News reported. Saudis Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Syrias Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad held discussions on Syrias unity, security, stability and territorial integrity. The ministers welcomed the start of procedures for resuming consular services and flights between the two countries, according to the statement. The two sides also agreed on the importance of resolving Syrias humanitarian challenges and creating a suitable environment for aid to reach all regions of the country. Among the issues discussed was finding ways to ensure the return of external and internal refugees to their homes. The ministers also stressed the importance of enhancing Syrias security and introducing measures to tackle terrorism, drug smuggling and trafficking. National reconciliation in Syria remained a key outcome of all efforts now being undertaken, the ministers stated. Mekdad thanked Saudi Arabia for its assistance to resolve the crisis in Syria, and for the aid sent to the country after the recent earthquakes. As part of its relief efforts in northern Syria and southern Turkiye in February, the Kingdom sent 16 aircraft with more than 85 tons of aid, including 1,000 tents, 13,329 articles of clothing, 3,600 blankets and 3,600 mattresses. Oman welcomes Oman welcomed on Thursday the resumption of consular services and flights between Syria and Saudi Arabia during the visit of Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Mekdad to Saudi Arabia. The state-run SANA News Agency said that Oman supports all efforts exerted to Syrias return to its Arab surrounding. Oman also stressed that it supports resuming Syrias effective role in the Arab Homeland and reaching a political solution for the Syrian crisis which maintains Syrias territorial integrity, security and stability. Oman renewed its support to Syria to establish its control over all parts of the Syrian territory and achieve security and stability in the region, as well as prosperity and welfare for Syrians. U.S. reservations The United States is sticking to its anti-Bashar Al Assad stance in Syria, even as Syrias top diplomat visited Riyadh. An American National Security Council spokesperson told Al Arabiya English, Our position is clear: We will not normalize relations with the Assad regime, absent real progress towards a political solution to the underlying conflict. The American official also said, We have also made clear that the core architecture of our sanctions remains firmly in place. He also felt that the Arab governments engaging in Syria should focus on humanitarian relief reaching the affected Syrians. There seems to be sufficient indication that the United States is not too welcoming of the moves made in reaching out to Syria and to President Assad. There is a growing sense that the US is losing its pole position in West Asia as an influencer and this is reflected in the fact that Arab governments have decided to take decisions which are necessary for maintaining stability in the region. Keeping out Syria and the Assad government is seen as counterproductive. The Americans perhaps feel quite helpless that despite Washingtons reservations, Arab governments are charting their own course. This was seen in the Saudi Arabia-Iran rapprochement mediated by China, and the overtures to Syria in recent weeks. Mekdad meets a delegation from Indian Ministry of External Affairs Foreign and Expatriates Minister Faisal al-Mekdad has met a delegation from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs headed by Sridharan Madhusudhanan, the Joint Secretary at the Ministry, SANA reported. Minister Mrkdad stressed the deeply-rooted bilateral ties binding the two countries and the importance of upgrading them, along with holding the meeting of the joint committee of economic cooperation as soon as possible. Mekdad hailed Indias stance during the earthquake, noting to the impacts of the unilateral economic sanctions imposed by the US and the EU on Syria. Sridharan affirmed that his visit and the meeting he held with several officials is to see closely all issues related to issues of bilateral cooperation that are being worked on between the Syrian and Indian sides, in addition to exploring other areas and ways of cooperation in a way that serves the common interest of the two friendly countries and peoples. Damascus expropriates the property of Daraas people A report by North Press indicated that Syrian government forces re-captured Daraa as a result of a 2018 agreement when the opposition armed faction and the government forces reached a ceasefire and a settlement agreement mediated by Russia. Under the deal, the opposition armed factions agreed to hand over their heavy weapons in exchange for some autonomy and amnesty. However, after that, the government forces began to strengthen and expand their military positions and violate the terms of the settlement by arresting people who were subject to the settlement, seizing civilian homes, increasing assassinations, and turning the area into a center for drug smuggling. Five years after the 2018 agreement, chaos still dominates the city and its countryside. Residents still cannot return to their homes because the governments security services seized them while Russia turns a blind eye. The report, issued by the Monitoring and Documentation Department, tracks the governments seizure of homes in the city of Daraa and its countryside, owned by civilians who were displaced during the government forces invasion of the region, supported by Russian air forces and pro-Iranian factions on the ground. It is based on the testimonies of residents whose homes were seized by the governments security services and turned into military headquarters, in addition to testimonies confirming the seizure of schools and a mosque. Ideological synergy underpinning Tunisia-Syria relations The New Arab publish a lengthy report on the similarity between the regimes of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and Kais Saied in Tunisia. The report said that several Arab countries have re-established diplomatic ties with Syria, and Tunisia is part of this trend. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has visited several Gulf states in the past year, demonstrating that Gulf Cooperation Council states, with the exception of Kuwait and Qatar, are working to support the Syrian regime. The recent meeting between Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad and his Egyptian counterpart is another indication of the thawing relationship between Syria and the Arab world. Tunisia has recently ordered the foreign ministry to appoint an ambassador to Damascus, and in response, Syria has announced that it will reopen its diplomatic mission in Tunis and appoint an ambassador there. Following the Jasmine Revolution in 2011, Tunisia severed diplomatic ties with Damascus, but since 2017, Tunisia has had a limited diplomatic mission in Damascus. Tunisians were divided on this issue between those who supported the Syrian regime and those who maintained a rigid stance against it. Following the election of President Kais Saied, who is supportive of the regime in Syria, Tunisia has accelerated the movement towards re-establishing full-fledged diplomatic relations with Damascus. Tunisia has no clear economic or security interests in re-establishing diplomatic ties with Syria, and is doing so for ideological purposes. While the UAE and Jordan have clear economic or security interests in re-establishing ties with Damascus, the ideological motivations of the Tunisian government appear to be rooted in a mixture of Arab nationalism, which has deep Baathist undertones, and the ideology of the current Tunisian government. [Full report]. The grim news in late March that the Earth is on target to heat up by another 2.7 degrees in the next decade is adding to the challenges of a seemingly separate crisis: housing and homelessness. Updates to Washingtons energy code, a subset of the states building code regulating design and construction, will require heat pumps in new residential and commercial buildings, including large multifamily apartments, starting July 1. The code, which the State Building Code Council updates every three years, aims to steer buildings away from natural gas and toward electric systems. The updates make Washington among the cleanest and most affordable and highly regulated states in the nation when it comes to energy use, according to nonprofit organization Climate Solutions. Renters and homeowners will benefit from reduced energy costs, improved air quality and reduced heat-related health concerns in Washingtons warming climate. The residential changes alone are estimated to cut more than 12 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution and save residents $982 million in energy costs over 30 years, state-hired analyst Pacific Northwest National Laboratory found. Local developers say efforts to combat climate change are valuable, but the new rules are costly, threatening their ability to help resolve the regions housing shortage. Sometimes, we wont even move forward on a project because its unaffordable to do so, said Ryan Hurley, president of Hurley Development, a Vancouver-based developer whose latest project is The Adera, a new, 186-unit waterfront development encompassing the block between Washington and Columbia streets and West Fourth and Fifth streets. The updates, along with other environmentally geared code changes, will add $14,150 to the price of each new home built in Washington, according to Building Industry Association of Washington data. For low-income apartments, nonprofit affordable housing developer Mercy Housing Northwest calculated the code changes will mean another $24,500 per unit in development costs. These costs typically get passed down to renters and homeowners. For low-income developers who cant pass on the costs, the added costs often mean fewer buildings on the ground. By the numbers Regulations imposed by the government at all levels make up 40.6% of the final project cost for multifamily structures. Changes to Washington building codes have added $39,876 to the cost of building a new home since 2009. Most of that cost increase comes from the energy code. When new Washington building code updates take effect on July 1: Residential energy code updates will add $9,200 per new home built. Electric vehicle charging requirements will add $650 per new home built. Heat pump water and space heating mandates will increase the average sales price for a new home by a minimum of $5,000. Source: Building Industry Association of Washington Crises collide In February, Washingtons Building Industry Association and other entities filed a lawsuit against the State Building Code Council, alleging the council overstepped its authority in updating the code to make buildings more climate friendly. The rules will have the effect of increasing the cost of constructing and maintaining commercial buildings, which include multifamily complexes, the plaintiffs argue in the petition. The lawsuit sheds light on the larger tension between climate change and housing. Washington needs 1.1 million more homes over the next 20 years to keep pace with needs, according to state Department of Commerce projections. Clark County will need 103,475 additional units, more than half of which must be affordable to low-income residents. We are concerned not only about the environment, but also about making affordable product and making it in a timely manner, said Noelle Lovern, Clark County Building Industry Associations government affairs director. We cant have affordable housing if we cant build affordably. Costs of affordable housing While Hurley, a prolific Vancouver developer, strives to profit in the face of increasing regulations, Mercy Housing Northwest struggles with a different task. With nearly 60 properties throughout Washington and Idaho, the nonprofit organization works to keep rents affordable to low-income residents. Washingtons energy code updates will increase Mercy Housings total development costs about 4 percent, according to President Joe Thompson. The heat pump requirement will add about $10,000 per unit to Mercy Housings costs; moving to balanced ventilation will add another $7,500; electric water heating will add up to $4,000; and window insulation will add up to $3,000 per unit. Thompson said Mercy Housing supports the changes, but he doesnt know how it will cover the costs. He has to trust that public and philanthropic funding sources will recognize the burden and supply more money. Vancouvers Affordable Housing Fund, sustained by a property tax levy renewed by voters in February, has been crucial for Mercy Housings development in the area, he said. Sometimes, however, higher costs simply result in fewer affordable units. The Vancouver Housing Authority, a major provider of the citys low-income housing, sometimes has to cut down on units to stay within its budget, according to Construction Project Manager Scott Davidson. Insulation requirements, for example, have jacked up the amount of lumber in a walls frame. Thats doubled the cost of what we were doing two or three years ago, Davidson said. For the housing authority, the price tag is worth helping the state shift away from natural gas. The authoritys Fourth Plain Community Commons development, currently under construction, has an electric centralized boiler as well as triple-glazed windows and thicker walls for insulation. For our community, building a more sustainable, better-insulated product benefits the tenant long-term financially, Davidson said. It pushes the burden a little bit more on ourselves, but thats not a problem because I think weve got the resources and the ability to manage that. Increased development costs For Mercy Housing Northwest's low-income multifamily apartments, new environmental building code regulations are estimated to increase development costs by about: - $10,000 per unit for heat pump heating and cooling systems. - $7,500 per unit for balanced ventilation with heat recovery. - Up to $4,000 per unit for electric water heating. - Up to $3,000 per unit for triple-glazed or other high-performance windows. Source: Mercy Housing Northwest Finding a win-win Hurley remains skeptical that the state is meeting its climate goals in the best way, noting that statewide mandates dont always mesh with community needs. He described the energy code as too narrow, telling developers not only what goals to meet but how to meet them. Consequently, it creates fights and battles, he said. Instead of, Wait, step back. Whats the war? What are we really trying to solve here? He thinks greater collaboration between private and public developers, policymakers and special interest groups would broaden the codes scope, giving developers more leeway to meet climate goals in innovative ways. Thompson of Mercy Housing agrees the energy code is unnecessarily restrictive for developers who are genuinely trying to comply. But he understands why the state approaches it this way. Its probably restrictive and prescriptive because there are a lot of developers who would not operate in good faith, and try to sort of circumvent the intent of the code changes, Thompson said. Thompson thinks costs can be lowered through other avenues, like zoning. Our zoning right now is an impediment to development. Changing zoning laws to allow for higher-density developments could be a win-win for developers, renters and climate activists, he said. Davidson of the housing authority thinks more incentives on the manufacturing side could also go a long way by lowering costs for developers and making sustainable products more broadly available. A lot of doors and windows are being done in the Pacific Northwest, Davidson said. To me, it feels like theres an opportunity where we could incentivize them to build a better-insulated unit. A long-running Longview hospice is set to end services at its 11th Avenue building in about two weeks, while a new company will continue to care for patients at their homes only. Community Home Health & Hospices Longview care center plans to close April 28, and its in-home services transfer to a new owner on May 1. Vancouver-based Eden Health, a for-profit company, purchased the nonprofit Community Home Health & Hospices Longview and Vancouver in-home programs, the agencies announced in January. The Longview Dr. Richard Nau Hospice Care Center will serve patients until the end of the month, said Cari Clizbe, associate director of environmental services. She did not give an exact number of patients at the facility and said the census changes daily. Community Home Health & Hospice cannot operate the care center without an in-home hospice certificate of need, which will transfer to Eden Health on May 1, according to a Thursday press release. Certain health care providers, such as hospitals or hospice agencies, must get a certificate of need from the state before building certain facilities or offering new or expanded services, according to the Washington State Department of Health. Community Home Health & Hospice, which opened roughly 40 years ago, is still looking for an organization to purchase and operate the Longview facility. However, time is of the essence because the inpatient certificate of need will lapse if care isnt provided for an extended period of time, according to the press release. Eden Healths services are all in-home, but the company contracts with inpatient facilities and hospitals to provide higher levels of care to meet patient needs, said Jamie Brown, Edens vice president of home services, in January. The company has offered almost all Community Home Health & Hospices clinical staff and a significant amount of administrative staff positions, the press release states. As of January, the nonprofit had 191 employees at its Longview and Vancouver locations. We are grateful Eden Health will maintain Communitys in-home hospice and home health service lines in Clark, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum and Columbia Counties, said Jason Meunier, Community Home Health & Hospice CEO in a statement. The nonprofit lost nearly $3.7 million in fiscal year 2022, according to the press release. Fiscal year 2018 was the last time Community Home Health & Hospice generated a gain not from a Paycheck Protection Program loan, the release states. Community would like to thank the donors and community partners who have supported the Richard C. Nau Hospice Care Center, James Avery Grief Center, and the nonprofits in-home programs for 45 years, the organization said in a statement. Those who purchased a plaque in memory of a loved one in the past and would like to retrieve it can call 360-425-8510 and leave their name and number. Community Home Health & Hospice will organize an opportunity to pick these plaques up in May. The Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild plan to meet Monday at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in the basement of the Educational building, 2218 E. Kessler Blvd., Longview. Social time starts at 6:30 p.m. with the meeting beginning a half hour later. Members who attended the February guild retreat will show their projects, including the seven fabric exchange and the optional project, according to organizers. The quilt show scheduled for April 28 to 29 in Longview will be discussed and members can sign up for volunteer spots. For more information, contact RaeLynn Heintz at 503-799-8061. A draft policy bill for Oregons $1 billion to fund the replacement of the Interstate 5 Bridge was released ahead of the Oregon Legislatures Joint Committee on Transportation information hearing at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The draft comes with one major caveat: The total cost of the project may not exceed $6.3 billion. The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program estimated in February that the cost of the replacement will cost $6 billion, with a range of between $5 billion and $7.5 billion. The biggest chunk, with an estimated price tag of between $1.64 billion and $2.45 billion, will go toward the replacement of the bridge itself. The remaining money will be spent on transit investments, scheduled to cost between $1.32 billion and $1.99 billion; on Oregon and Washington interchanges, roadways and shared use path, estimated at $1.05 billion to $1.57 billion for work in Oregon and $990 million to $1.49 billion for work in Washington. Financial commitments from both states is a near prerequisite for the program to receive up to $2.7 billion in federal funds. In addition to state and federal funds, tolling is expected to contribute between $1.1 billion and $1.6 billion. In March, Oregon lawmakers said they were working to come up with $1 billion to replace the bridge, matching the commitment made by Washington last year. After the Columbia River Crossing the previous attempt to replace the bridge died in the Washington Legislature in 2013, elected officials in Washington knew they had to make the first move this time around. Back then, the Columbia River Crossing projects cost was estimated at $3.4 billion, with the states putting up $450 million each. Both amounts have more than doubled since. Only days after reporting a surge in 737 MAX jet deliveries last month, Boeing revealed Thursday deliveries of the aircraft will be substantially slowed due to a new defect in a part from supplier Spirit AeroSystems. The defect will require rework on finished MAXs not yet delivered as well as those currently on the assembly line. Spirit said the newly discovered problem may date back four years, and so could potentially affect most of the planes built since the jet was grounded in 2019 after two fatal crashes. "This is not an immediate safety of flight issue and the in-service fleet can continue operating safely," Boeing said in a statement. "However, the issue will likely affect a significant number of undelivered 737 MAX airplanes, both in production and in storage." "We expect lower near-term 737 MAX deliveries while this required work is completed," Boeing added. Spirit, which builds the entire MAX fuselage in Wichita, Kansas, notified Boeing on Wednesday that "a non-standard manufacturing process" was used during the installation of two fittings at the vertical tail of certain 737 MAX 7, MAX 8 and MAX 8-200 models, as well as on the 737-based P-8 military plane for the U.S. Navy. The fittings involved are two of eight points where the vertical fin is attached to the fuselage. That means the parts don't conform to Federal Aviation Administration regulatory requirements. Spirit said in a statement that it has "identified a quality issue on the aft fuselage section of certain models of the 737 fuselage that Spirit builds." "Spirit is working to develop an inspection and repair for the affected fuselages," the statement added. Ron Epstein, a financial analyst with Bank of America who has an aerospace engineering degree, expressed amazement at yet another defect belatedly surfacing now despite all the scrutiny on the MAX since the two crashes. "How could they have missed this after four years when they were supposed to have looked at everything with a fine-tooth comb?" Epstein said. Boeing said it notified the FAA on Wednesday. It has begun conducting inspections and will, where necessary, replace the defective fittings. The only MAX model not affected is the MAX 9. In a statement, the FAA said that "based on the facts and data Boeing presented, the FAA validated the company's assessment that there is no immediate safety issue." "The FAA is in close communication with Boeing and will continue to evaluate all new affected airplanes prior to delivery," the safety agency added. Boeing is still working to understand the full scale of the problem. "We will provide additional information in the days and weeks ahead as we better understand the delivery impacts," the company said. Pending further analysis, Boeing hedged on whether some MAXs already in service will have to be reworked, too. Since the jet returned to service in December 2020, more than 750 MAXs have been delivered to customers. "We will follow our normal process in determining what action, if any, will be required for the in-service fleet," Boeing said. When Bloomberg News broke the news after the stock market closed, Boeing's share price, which had risen $1.25 for the day to $213.59, fell more than $10 in after-hours trading to below $203. One of the largest leaks of classified US military documents in a decade has sparked an official investigation by the Department of Defense and could complicate American support for Ukraine shortly before a major offensive by Kyiv. Multiple tranches of documents have appeared on social media sites over recent weeks, some of them reportedly intended only for those with the highest levels of US security clearance. The information covers a wide range of topics, from US assessments of the war in Ukraine to intelligence gathered on diplomatic allies. Here's what we know about the leaks so far and about who may have been behind them: What is in the documents? According to the New York Times and other outlets, the initial document leaks focused on US assessments of the war in Ukraine originally written in February and March, including estimated casualties on both sides and what equipment and ammunition would be required by Kyiv in the future. However, they reported that at least one document appears to have been altered to lower Russia's death toll in the war and inflate that of Ukraine, raising questions over the reliability of the papers. Among the more recent leaks, there have also been reports on the US gathering intelligence on its diplomatic allies, including South Korea, Israel and Ukraine. The documents also allegedly lay out the US's extensive access to intelligence from inside Russia's government, revelations that could have dire consequences for American espionage going forward. Where did the documents appear? The leaked information has turned up across multiple social media platforms and apps in recent weeks, including Twitter and YouTube. Bellingcat, an independent investigative news outlet, said the documents appeared to have originally been posted on obscure internet sites, including a Minecraft channel on Discord, which is a popular messaging application for fans of computer games. The documents drew greater attention once they were discovered and posted more broadly to far-right noticeboard 4Chan and pro-Russian messaging groups on the Telegram app. What do we know about their origins? Most of the documents appear to be photographs of classified Pentagon briefing reports that look as though they had previously been folded up before the images were taken, according to the Times. That suggests someone removed them, possibly in a pocket or briefcase, from their original home. Who was behind the leaks? While authorities are still hunting for the leaker, one culprit could be a man called OG who joined a group on Discord in 2020 and posted intelligence documents there, according to a report in The Washington Post. The article, which cited two members of the online group, suggested the leaker is a gun enthusiast working at a secure facility at a US military base, who ranted about government overreach. Have they been deleted from the internet? With the documents now widely shared on the internet, it's highly unlikely that they can now be removed or hidden. At least one major social media platform, Twitter, seems to have little appetite for forcibly erasing the documents. Its billionaire owner, Elon Musk, mocked the idea of potentially removing the documents from the web in a tweet last week. Still, the White House said efforts were being made to remove the material. How have countries responded? Ukraine has dismissed the documents publicly as Russian disinformation, with an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy telling the New York Times that they were fictional. Russia is trying to influence Ukrainian society, sow fear, panic, mistrust and doubt, the report cited the adviser as saying. It's typical behavior. At the same time, Russian state media Sputnik claimed the leak exposed divisions in the US over President Joe Biden's Ukraine policy, while a government spokesman told CNN the documents showed the close involvement of the US in the war in Ukraine. US allies have so far reacted with concern to the news of the leaks, but have emphasized their faith in American authorities to investigate. The South Korean government, which was mentioned in the leaks, said in a statement on Sunday it would be discussing the matter with the US, while Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the ABC it was seeking further information. UiPath announced that NTT DOCOMO has leveraged the UiPath Test Suite to enhance its application delivery infrastructure and improve operational efficiency. UiPath Test Suite accelerates digital transformation through enterprise automation. It combines the worlds leading AI-powered automation platform technology with best-of-breed testing capabilities to sustainably accelerate scaling through proactive testing, cross-enterprise collaboration, and a consistent approach to creating and deploying automation. NTT DOCOMOs services and application delivery use numerous infrastructure systems to support their extensive operations in Japan. However, these systems are becoming legacy infrastructure given that theyve been implemented for more than thirty years. In response to this, the companys Service Design Department, which is responsible for their platform and system development, established a Legacy System Structural Reform project in 2019 to enhance infrastructure systems that have been in use for over ten years. After evaluating various test automation tools, NTT DOCOMO decided to implement the UiPath Test Suite given its ability to test mobile applications, which also includes a server-side testing tool thats capable of testing both the application and server operation in a single pass. In addition, the Service Design Department often conducts connection testing to verify the functionalities of mobile device applications. However, as the mobile applications were developed by different departments within the company or external vendors, the team faced challenges in conducting detailed test processes as they lacked the relevant technical expertise. To this end, NTT DOCOMO turned to UiPath to automate the testing process. Since deploying the UiPath Test Suite in 2021, the Service Design Department has significantly reduced the mobile application test time in the learning, specification creation and execution processes from two weeks to several days. The UiPath Test Suite has also helped increase the frequency of mobile application releases from quarterly to bi-weekly. Additionally, the team was also able to perform a full test in one hour as compared to taking an entire day prior to implementing the UiPath Test Suite. On the other hand, the responsibility of testing was managed by single personnel called the Test Master in the past. With the UiPath Test Suite, multiple team members are now able to share test creations, eliminating the pressure for a single person to create all the tests. As a result, the number of test scenarios that can be developed has steadily increased. To date, eighty test scenarios have already been developed for testing the delivery infrastructure. As a next step, NTT DOCOMO is planning to expand test automation to other platforms in its Service Design Department. Rob Enslin, Co-Chief Executive Officer, UiPath said, We are pleased to play an integral role in NTT DOCOMOs automation journey, by helping them increase operational efficiency and drive better business outcomes. We will continue to support NTT DOCOMO in democratizing automation and building the foundation for continuous and evolving innovation as they widen their automation efforts in other business areas. Nokia announced it is deploying a 10G broadband network for operator Valoo in Finland. The deal includes fiber access nodes for the central office and Nokias Altiplano broadband access controller, which includes software-defined access networking (SDAN) capabilities. The new network will connect 200,000 homes in and around 30 cities by the end of 2026. With Nokias Quillion chipset at the heart of the solution, the XGS-PON deployment is ready for 25G PON when Valoo wants to add more capacity. Quillion also means lower emissions. Tommi Linna, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Valoo, said: With Nokias advanced Lightspan multi-gig fiber broadband solution we can provide our customers the best possible technology there is in the fiber world. The solution enables us to deliver network connection to multiple customers using the same fiber and accelerate internet connections up to 20 gigabit and beyond. With Nokias new Altiplano controller we can bring advanced open access network solution to Finnish market. And last but not least: Nokias multi-gig fiber has a 95 percent smaller carbon footprint thanks to its energy efficiency gains compared to traditional point-to-point solutions. I couldnt be more proud that we are the first fiber company in Finland executing Nokias multi-gig fiber to customers starting this spring. Valoo (Adola Oy) is 100 percent owned by DIF Capital Partners, an independent infrastructure equity fund controlling more than 15 billion of investments globally. Valoo focuses on fiber broadband access and is undergoing large scale fiber developments in the Finnish market. In February this year the company announced that as well as building fiber networks it will offer internet service subscriptions itself and make its network available to third party operators. Sandy Motley, President Fixed Networks at Nokia, said: With our Altiplano controller, Valoo has laid the foundation for automation in the broadband access network, which is essential for operators looking to innovate with advanced digital broadband offerings while keeping their operational expenditure under control. Texas A&M University students could face criminal charges from the city of College Station if they are found in violation of the no-more-than four policy ordinance established in 1939, according to city staff that restricts the number of unrelated occupants per single-family home. However, a discussion to possibly bring the change from a criminal to a civil charge was discussed at the College Station City Council on Thursday night at City Hall. No formal motion was made by the council. After an hour and a half discussion among the city manager, council members and concerned residents, Mayor John Nichols called a consensus among the councilors to direct city staff to look into the pros and cons of having a civil ordinance, and go into a deep dive through other cities that conduct similar ordinances in college towns. City Manager Bryan Woods conducted a presentation that outlined the history of the ordinance and stressed that it is a difficult requirement to enforce, but that it is being enforced. I have said it before and it is not just true of this but often times one of the challenges we have or that our code enforcement officers have or law enforcement officers or our courts, is that it cant just pass the eye test, he said. You can see pictures of things and see stuff that is going on and when it doesnt immediately get prosecuted, I think people sometimes interpret that as the city saying we dont care. But it is important to note in this situation that this is a criminal offense, so there is a level of requirement that our folks have to go through to make that happen. After multiple presentations and comments from many College Station residents who live in neighborhoods where the rule is suspected of being violated, many wanted to be assured the city was enforcing the ordinance. Fred Dupriest, who lives in the historical Southside neighborhood, has collected numerous photos of vehicles clumped outside of single-family homes that look to be in the same location over many nights, which would violate the housing law if more than four unrelated people live in that home. During the public hearing on this agenda item, Dupriest and others said similar cities have easily enforced this rule through a civil means and seemingly have no issues enforcing it. Woods offered there should be more steps in place to fine someone who is not in compliance. He noted they currently have five or six code enforcement officers and cant enforce everything 100% of the time. In previous council meetings, A&M representatives have said they are doing everything they can to educate students about the ordinance and make sure they get them into compliance. According to the universitys Me Plus Three program, it notifies students that per city ordinance, no more than four unrelated individuals can reside in a single-family home. Four friends living together are complying with the ordinance, their studentlife.tamu.edu/offcampus website states. Students in violation of the No More Than 4 city ordinance are subject to a fine of $452 per summons or citation. Students can be charged with a violation if: The student is a signee on a lease that violates the city ordinance; the student is a ghost tenant or a tenant living at the property but not on the lease; this also violates the city ordinance. For both: The violation continues, and legal action can continue daily. Katherine Edwards was one of six who spoke at the meeting and suspected an agreement was made with the university to extend amnesty as long as possible. It is pretty easy to tell that the ordinance is not being enforced and has not been for many years, she said. During a previous council meeting, Nichols clarified he has not granted amnesty and that the city was still enforcing the policy. Woods also said in October 2022 the city created a new Middle Housing zoning district, which allows for a flexible mix of housing types between single-family homes and multiplexes, and established development standards for each housing type. As far as cases that were opened in previous years, Woods cited one case in 2015; 7 in 2016; 29 in 2017; 13 in 2018; 11 in 2019; 14 in 2020; 13 in 2021; and 180 last year. Liana Vincent also spoke at the meeting and said the city needs to publish a clear explanation of the law, have a plan, take pictures of cars, contact property owners, set up inspections and research how cities such as Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Fort Collins, Colorado and San Marcos handle their clearly defined ordinances. Woods also emphasized simpler and easy to understand rules are better for citizens to be able to follow and grasp. Councilman William Wright said he was grateful for the consistent input that came from citizens, and said the city needs to be serious about enforcing this rule. Councilwoman Elizabeth Cunha stressed they should move toward residential parking permits. Councilman Dennis Maloney said he was excited to get the enforcement up and to keep making moves and reminded residents this move will take time. Councilman Bob Yancy posed questions about license plate inspection technology that might make it easier to identify vehicles not in compliance or parked in areas they do not live in. Councilwoman Linda Harvell said she was not in favor of going the civil route because those in violation knew they were breaking the law and should have consequences. Councilman Mark Smith had concerns that there is a lack of student housing which is causing an influx of students in this situation, and Woods confirmed that is also a concern. Equities researchers at Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on shares of Altria Group (NYSE:MO Get Rating) in a note issued to investors on Thursday, The Fly reports. The firm set a buy rating on the stock. Other analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Altria Group from $46.50 to $49.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Altria Group in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $43.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, January 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $45.55. Get Altria Group alerts: Altria Group Stock Up 0.3 % Altria Group stock traded up $0.14 during trading on Thursday, hitting $44.97. The stock had a trading volume of 4,838,554 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,303,478. Altria Group has a 1 year low of $40.35 and a 1 year high of $57.05. The stocks 50 day moving average is $46.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is $45.43. The stock has a market cap of $80.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.59. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Altria Group Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.18. The firm had revenue of $5.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.15 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 22.97% and a negative return on equity of 284.29%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 18.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.09 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Altria Group will post 5.05 EPS for the current fiscal year. A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P bought a new position in Altria Group in the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 85.6% during the 4th quarter. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC now owns 542 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. Ruedi Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Heritage Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 203.1% during the 4th quarter. Heritage Wealth Management LLC now owns 782 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 524 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 58.68% of the companys stock. About Altria Group (Get Rating) Altria Group, Inc operates as a holding company, which engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States. It operates through the following segments: Smokeable Products, Oral tobacco products, and Wine. The Smokeable Products segment consists of cigarettes manufactured and sold by PM USA and machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco manufactured and sold by Middleton. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. From the heartland, bilateral comity sought 09:16, April 14, 2023 By MAY ZHOU in Houston ( China Daily The relationship between the US and China might be at a low point. but it is heartwarming to see that interaction from both countries is still taking place, said an advisor on China at the Carter Center. Senior advisor Yawei Liu was referring to the virtual think tank dialogue of the 2023 US-China Agriculture Roundtable organized by the US Heartland China Association (USHCA) on Tuesday night. At the discussion, about a dozen researchers, scientists and professors from both countries shared with each other how to address rural development challenges and changes in their respective country, as well as challenges to achieve optimal health outcomes for people, animals, plants and their shared environment. Besides discussing issues such as how to deal with food-borne diseases and other environmental issues, participants also shared stories of how to deal with changes in their own countries. Jason Henderson, professor and vice-president for extension and outreach programs at Iowa State University discussed the US agricultural production shift from low-cost and high-quantity cheap goods in mass quantity to more focus on food quality, nutritional value and if it is produced in a sustainable way. Such a trend is forcing rural communities to focus on a people-based development policy, said Henderson. Xu Jin, associate professor and assistant dean of the College of International Development and Global Agriculture at China Agricultural University, shared a story about how a depopulated village in Yunnan turned idled houses to restaurants, meeting rooms, a cafe and book bar, and Airbnb rooms to make the village into an attractive tourist destination. The changes help sustain local economic development when agricultural production is no longer sufficient. Kenneth Quinn, strategic advisor to the USHCA and president emeritus of the World Food Prize Foundation, said that the roundtable, in its third year, is a new type of diplomacy. "Given that the relationship between our two governments has become more and more difficult, the model we developed has become a new and very interesting way to conduct diplomacy," said Quinn at the discussion. "By having nongovernmental organizations like the USHCA and CASS (the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) inviting governmental officials, they are more easily (able) to come together to speak," Quinn said. "This new type of diplomacy, not in capitals, but in agricultural provinces and by having nongovernmental organizations inviting officials to participate, we are able to have productive dialogues." Quinn said that he hopes such diplomacy could prompt the US and China to rise to the challenge of feeding billions of the world population with sustainably and efficiently produced nutritious food. A letter was shared at the dialogue that was addressed to US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the form of paid advertisement in The Wall Street Journal last week. It was given as an example that many other American leaders want to see the US and China have a better and engaging relationship. The letter, titled "On the Need to Stabilize Bilateral Relationship", was signed by more than 20 US business and policy leaders, including three former US ambassadors to China, a few former federal officials, leaders of think tanks and businesses, and a co-founder of Home Depot. The lead signer was Maurice Greenberg, chairman and CEO of CV Starr and Co. He founded a group composed of senior US business and policy leaders to promote dialogue between the US and China last July. "We are writing to encourage the leadership of both the United States and China to work together diligently to repair and stabilize the state of affairs between our two countries. We call for more robust dialogue now to alleviate the heightened temperature and better manage our many differences," the letter said. Alarmed by "the recent, alarming deterioration in bilateral relations", the letter stated that "pursuing a path to conflict is untenable and would likely lead to one of humankind's most unfortunate chapters". "It is in the national interest of both countries to reestablish a constructive dialogue based on mutual respect and a genuine desire to heal the relationship with courage and wisdom," the letter said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Invesco Select Trust plc UK Equity Share Portfolio (LON:IVPU Get Rating) announced a dividend on Wednesday, April 12th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 20th will be paid a dividend of GBX 2.55 ($0.03) per share on Tuesday, May 16th. This represents a yield of 1.55%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 20th. This is an increase from Invesco Select Trust plc UK Equity Share Portfolios previous dividend of $1.50. The official announcement can be viewed at this link. Invesco Select Trust plc UK Equity Share Portfolio Trading Up 3.8 % IVPU stock traded up GBX 6 ($0.07) during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching GBX 164 ($2.03). 36,916 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 56,491. Invesco Select Trust plc UK Equity Share Portfolio has a 52-week low of GBX 141 ($1.75) and a 52-week high of GBX 188.52 ($2.33). The company has a market cap of 113.55 million and a P/E ratio of -2,633.33. The stocks fifty day moving average is GBX 165.76 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 160.43. Get Invesco Select Trust plc - UK Equity Share Portfolio alerts: About Invesco Select Trust plc UK Equity Share Portfolio (Get Rating) Featured Articles Invesco Perpetual Select Trust plc UK Equity Share Portfolio is an equity mutual fund launched and managed by Invesco Fund Managers Limited. It is co-managed by Invesco Asset Management Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United Kingdom. It invests in the stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Select Trust plc - UK Equity Share Portfolio Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Select Trust plc - UK Equity Share Portfolio and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mitsubishi Co. (OTCMKTS:MSBHF Get Rating)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $38.13 and last traded at $37.71, with a volume of 78963 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $37.61. Mitsubishi Stock Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 1.03. The company has a market capitalization of $27.84 billion, a PE ratio of 5.80 and a beta of 0.56. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $35.34 and its 200 day simple moving average is $32.51. Get Mitsubishi alerts: Mitsubishi (OTCMKTS:MSBHF Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 3rd. The company reported $1.15 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $39.44 billion for the quarter. Mitsubishi had a net margin of 5.97% and a return on equity of 14.53%. Mitsubishi Company Profile Mitsubishi Corp. engages in the provision of services utilizing the function of general trading. It operates through the following segments: Global Environmental and Infrastructure, Industrial Finance, Logistics and Development, Energy Business, Metals, Machinery, Chemicals, Living Essentials, and Others. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Mitsubishi Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mitsubishi and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Company Limited (OTCMKTS:SHWGF Get Rating) shares reached a new 52-week high on Thursday . The company traded as high as $1.73 and last traded at $1.73, with a volume of 0 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $1.73. Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Stock Performance The firm has a 50-day moving average of $1.68 and a 200 day moving average of $1.54. Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Company Profile (Get Rating) Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Company Limited engages in the research and development, production, and sale of single-use medical devices in the People's Republic of China. It operates through Medical Device Products, Orthopaedic Products, Interventional Products, Pharma Packaging Products, Blood Management Products, and Others segments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HSBC cut shares of America Movil (NYSE:AMX Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report released on Monday morning, The Fly reports. They currently have $21.50 target price on the Wireless communications providers stock, down from their prior target price of $22.50. AMX has been the topic of several other reports. StockNews.com downgraded shares of America Movil from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, April 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of America Movil from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and set a $19.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $21.67. Get America Movil alerts: America Movil Price Performance NYSE:AMX opened at $21.58 on Monday. America Movil has a one year low of $16.13 and a one year high of $22.65. The company has a market cap of $68.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.44, a P/E/G ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 0.88. The firms fifty day moving average price is $20.71 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $19.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 0.74 and a quick ratio of 0.69. Institutional Inflows and Outflows America Movil ( NYSE:AMX Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 14th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.01. America Movil had a net margin of 8.82% and a return on equity of 18.55%. The business had revenue of $10.97 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.62 billion. Equities analysts expect that America Movil will post 1.39 earnings per share for the current year. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in AMX. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of America Movil by 4.4% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 32,254 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $682,000 after purchasing an additional 1,374 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of America Movil by 3.8% in the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 17,406 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $367,000 after purchasing an additional 640 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. grew its stake in shares of America Movil by 92.3% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 86,722 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $1,834,000 after purchasing an additional 41,636 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of America Movil by 3.3% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 42,304 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $895,000 after purchasing an additional 1,353 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Natixis Advisors L.P. boosted its position in America Movil by 8.3% during the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 84,614 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $1,790,000 after acquiring an additional 6,514 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 5.55% of the companys stock. America Movil Company Profile (Get Rating) America Movil SAB de CV engages in the provision of telecommunications services. The firm operates through the following segments: Mexico Wireless, Mexico Fixed, Brazil, Colombia, Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay), Andean Region (Ecuador and Peru), Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama), the Caribbean (the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico) and Europe (Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia). Read More Receive News & Ratings for America Movil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for America Movil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO Get Rating) had its price target boosted by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $60.00 to $61.00 in a research note published on Monday, The Fly reports. A number of other equities analysts also recently issued reports on KO. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $68.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Royal Bank of Canada set a $69.00 price objective on shares of Coca-Cola in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Coca-Cola in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. They set a buy rating and a $68.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $67.60. Get Coca-Cola alerts: Coca-Cola Price Performance Coca-Cola stock opened at $63.15 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $273.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.62 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.93. Coca-Cola has a 1 year low of $54.01 and a 1 year high of $67.20. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $60.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $60.52. Coca-Cola Increases Dividend Coca-Cola ( NYSE:KO Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 14th. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.45. Coca-Cola had a net margin of 22.19% and a return on equity of 42.35%. The company had revenue of $10.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.92 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.45 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that Coca-Cola will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 17th were given a $0.46 dividend. This is a positive change from Coca-Colas previous quarterly dividend of $0.44. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 16th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.91%. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 83.64%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Coca-Cola news, CEO James Quincey sold 46,421 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.50, for a total value of $2,808,470.50. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 592,546 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,849,033. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Coca-Cola news, CEO James Quincey sold 46,421 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.50, for a total value of $2,808,470.50. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 592,546 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,849,033. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, SVP Nancy Quan sold 74,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.71, for a total transaction of $4,344,540.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 219,790 shares in the company, valued at $12,903,870.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 282,268 shares of company stock worth $17,137,823. 1.00% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Coca-Cola Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. My Personal CFO LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Coca-Cola in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Coca-Cola in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Worth Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Coca-Cola by 956.1% during the 4th quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC now owns 433 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 392 shares in the last quarter. Paragon Wealth Strategies LLC acquired a new stake in Coca-Cola during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Finally, Fortis Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Coca-Cola during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. 68.74% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Coca-Cola (Get Rating) The Coca-Cola Co engages in the manufacturing and marketing of non-alcoholic beverages. It operates through the following segments: Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Global Ventures, and Bottling Investments. The company was founded by Asa Griggs Candler on May 8, 1886 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in Rollins, Inc. (NYSE:ROL Get Rating) by 2.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 836,302 shares of the business services providers stock after purchasing an additional 16,058 shares during the period. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.17% of Rollins worth $30,558,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Rollins in the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. Federated Hermes Inc. bought a new position in Rollins during the second quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Fred Alger Management LLC bought a new position in Rollins during the third quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Rollins during the third quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Finally, Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Rollins by 22.3% during the third quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,813 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $63,000 after purchasing an additional 331 shares during the period. 38.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Rollins alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Rollins In other Rollins news, insider Elizabeth B. Chandler sold 2,129 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.57, for a total transaction of $77,857.53. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 96,960 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,545,827.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 4.70% of the companys stock. Rollins Stock Performance Shares of ROL stock opened at $39.30 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $36.32 and a 200 day moving average of $37.44. Rollins, Inc. has a 52 week low of $31.43 and a 52 week high of $43.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.11 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. Rollins (NYSE:ROL Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 15th. The business services provider reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.16 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $661.40 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $661.44 million. Rollins had a return on equity of 30.92% and a net margin of 13.53%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.14 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Rollins, Inc. will post 0.81 earnings per share for the current year. Rollins Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 10th were given a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.32%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 9th. Rollinss dividend payout ratio is currently 70.27%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have recently weighed in on ROL shares. StockNews.com raised Rollins from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday. Redburn Partners began coverage on Rollins in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. They issued a buy rating and a $62.00 price target for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $44.25. About Rollins (Get Rating) Rollins, Inc engages in the provision of pest and termite control services through its wholly-owned subsidiaries to both residential and commercial customers in the United States, Canada, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia, the Mediterranean, Europe, Africa, Mexico, and Australia. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Rollins Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rollins and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Benchmark upgraded shares of Emergent BioSolutions (NYSE:EBS Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report released on Monday morning, The Fly reports. Benchmark currently has $22.00 price target on the biopharmaceutical companys stock. EBS has been the subject of a number of other research reports. TheStreet lowered Emergent BioSolutions from a c- rating to a d rating in a research note on Monday, February 27th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Emergent BioSolutions in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an underweight rating and issued a $9.00 target price (down previously from $23.00) on shares of Emergent BioSolutions in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $29.67. Get Emergent BioSolutions alerts: Emergent BioSolutions Price Performance EBS stock opened at $12.62 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 0.98. Emergent BioSolutions has a 1 year low of $7.74 and a 1 year high of $42.53. The firm has a market cap of $632.77 million, a P/E ratio of -2.82 and a beta of 0.93. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $11.51 and a 200-day simple moving average of $13.85. Institutional Trading of Emergent BioSolutions Emergent BioSolutions ( NYSE:EBS Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($0.31) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.31 by ($0.62). Emergent BioSolutions had a negative net margin of 19.97% and a negative return on equity of 7.57%. The company had revenue of $330.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $298.23 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $4.50 EPS. Emergent BioSolutionss quarterly revenue was down 54.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Emergent BioSolutions will post -1.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in EBS. Gladius Capital Management LP raised its stake in Emergent BioSolutions by 96.8% during the 4th quarter. Gladius Capital Management LP now owns 3,113 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 1,531 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Emergent BioSolutions during the 4th quarter valued at $56,000. High Net Worth Advisory Group LLC bought a new stake in Emergent BioSolutions during the 3rd quarter valued at $63,000. Covestor Ltd raised its stake in Emergent BioSolutions by 43.8% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,612 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $66,000 after acquiring an additional 491 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ancora Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Emergent BioSolutions during the 1st quarter valued at $66,000. Institutional investors own 80.44% of the companys stock. Emergent BioSolutions Company Profile (Get Rating) Emergent BioSolutions Inc engages in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of medical countermeasures. It offers products for civilian and military populations that address accidental, intentional, and naturally occurring public health threats. The firms products include ACAM2000, BioThrax, Raxibacuma, Vaxchora, and VIGIV. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Emergent BioSolutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Emergent BioSolutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Everest Re Group, Ltd. (NYSE:RE Get Rating) Jefferies Financial Group lowered their Q1 2023 EPS estimates for shares of Everest Re Group in a note issued to investors on Monday, April 10th. Jefferies Financial Group analyst Y. Kinar now expects that the insurance provider will post earnings of $13.18 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $14.84. Jefferies Financial Group has a Buy rating and a $468.00 price target on the stock. The consensus estimate for Everest Re Groups current full-year earnings is $44.83 per share. Jefferies Financial Group also issued estimates for Everest Re Groups 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 and FY2025 earnings at $66.75 EPS. Get Everest Re Group alerts: A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Everest Re Group from $408.00 to $426.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Raymond James boosted their target price on Everest Re Group from $385.00 to $415.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 13th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Everest Re Group in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on shares of Everest Re Group in a research report on Thursday, January 19th. They set a market perform rating and a $380.00 price target for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $406.80. Everest Re Group Price Performance Shares of NYSE:RE opened at $362.72 on Wednesday. Everest Re Group has a fifty-two week low of $244.57 and a fifty-two week high of $394.99. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $365.74 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $334.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 0.32. The firm has a market cap of $14.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.26 and a beta of 0.60. Everest Re Group (NYSE:RE Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 8th. The insurance provider reported $12.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $9.29 by $2.92. Everest Re Group had a net margin of 4.96% and a return on equity of 12.36%. The company had revenue of $3.19 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.24 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $9.12 EPS. Everest Re Groups revenue was up 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Everest Re Group Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 16th were issued a $1.65 dividend. This represents a $6.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.82%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 15th. Everest Re Groups dividend payout ratio is 43.68%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Everest Re Group Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. IFP Advisors Inc increased its holdings in Everest Re Group by 13.7% in the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 249 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC boosted its stake in Everest Re Group by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 2,683 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $907,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the period. Vantage Consulting Group Inc boosted its stake in Everest Re Group by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. Vantage Consulting Group Inc now owns 771 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $202,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares during the period. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp boosted its stake in Everest Re Group by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp now owns 9,398 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $2,466,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the period. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI boosted its stake in Everest Re Group by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 4,135 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,370,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the period. 92.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. 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. See Also 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. 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 weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare Forge Global to similar companies based on the strength of its earnings, institutional ownership, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability and risk. Insider and Institutional Ownership 13.7% of Forge Global shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 63.7% of shares of all Security & commodity brokers, dealers, exchanges & services companies are held by institutional investors. 20.0% of Forge Global shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 12.9% of shares of all Security & commodity brokers, dealers, exchanges & services companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Get Forge Global alerts: Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for Forge Global and its rivals, as reported 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 1212 32 2.49 Profitability Forge Global presently has a consensus price target of $3.23, indicating a potential upside of 87.50%. As a group, Security & commodity brokers, dealers, exchanges & services companies have a potential upside of 29.06%. Given Forge Globals higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Forge Global is more favorable than its rivals. This table compares Forge Global and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Forge Global -161.22% -26.59% -22.44% Forge Global Competitors 4.06% 20.57% 5.50% Volatility and Risk Forge Global has a beta of 2.29, meaning that its share price is 129% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Forge Globals rivals have a beta of 1.37, meaning that their average share price is 37% more volatile than the S&P 500. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Forge Global and its rivals revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Forge Global $69.38 million -$111.86 million -1.19 Forge Global Competitors $7.07 billion $656.15 million 30.68 Forge Globals rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Forge Global. Forge Global is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Summary Forge Global rivals beat Forge Global on 10 of the 13 factors compared. About Forge Global (Get Rating) Forge Global Holdings, Inc. provides marketplace infrastructure, data services, and technology solutions for private market participants. It enables private company shareholders to trade private company shares with accredited investors. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in San Francisco, California. Receive News & Ratings for Forge Global Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Forge Global and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shift4 Payments (NYSE:FOUR Get Rating) and MOGU (NYSE:MOGU Get Rating) are both business services companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings and risk. Institutional & Insider Ownership 66.9% of Shift4 Payments shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 22.1% of MOGU shares are held by institutional investors. 36.6% of Shift4 Payments shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 19.8% of MOGU shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Get Shift4 Payments alerts: Valuation and Earnings This table compares Shift4 Payments and MOGUs top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Shift4 Payments $1.99 billion 3.04 $75.10 million $1.08 67.62 MOGU $53.24 million 0.33 -$100.92 million N/A N/A Analyst Ratings Shift4 Payments has higher revenue and earnings than MOGU. This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for Shift4 Payments and MOGU, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Shift4 Payments 1 1 9 0 2.73 MOGU 0 0 0 0 N/A Shift4 Payments currently has a consensus price target of $73.00, indicating a potential downside of 0.04%. Given Shift4 Payments higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe Shift4 Payments is more favorable than MOGU. Risk and Volatility Shift4 Payments has a beta of 1.24, suggesting that its stock price is 24% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, MOGU has a beta of 0.47, suggesting that its stock price is 53% less volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability This table compares Shift4 Payments and MOGUs net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Shift4 Payments 3.77% 14.06% 2.28% MOGU N/A N/A N/A Summary Shift4 Payments beats MOGU on 11 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks. About Shift4 Payments (Get Rating) Shift4 Payments, Inc. (NYSE FOUR) provides integrated payment processing and technology solutions in the United States. Its payments platform provides omni-channel card acceptance and processing solutions, including end-to-end payment processing for various payment types; merchant acquiring; proprietary omni-channel gateway; complementary software integrations; integrated and mobile point-of-sale (POS) solutions; security and risk management solutions; and reporting and analytical tools, as well as tokenization, risk management/underwriting, payment device and chargeback management, fraud prevention, and gift card solutions. The company also offers suite of technology solutions, such as Lighthouse, a cloud-based business intelligence tool that includes customer engagement, social media management, online reputation management, scheduling, and product pricing, as well as reporting and analytics; integrated POS for merchants business; and Skytab, a mobile payment solution. In addition, it provides marketplace technology that enable seamless integrations into third-party applications, which includes online delivery services, payroll, timekeeping, and other human resource services. Further, the company offers merchant management, training and education, marketing management, and incentives tracking solutions. Additionally, it provides merchant underwriting, onboarding and activation, training, risk management, and support services; and software integrations and compliance management, and partner support and services. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania. About MOGU (Get Rating) Mogu, Inc. engages in the operation of an online fashion and lifestyle destination platform Its platform contents comprises live video broadcasts, short-form videos, photographs, and articles covering topics including product reviews, fashion tips, brand fitting room, celebrity on-screen, and street runway. The company was founded by Qi Chen, Xuqiang Yue, and Yibo Wei on June 9, 2011 and is headquartered in Hangzhou, China. Receive News & Ratings for Shift4 Payments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shift4 Payments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Till Capital (OTCMKTS:TILCF Get Rating) and The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, valuation, profitability, analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership and dividends. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Till Capital and The Hartford Financial Services Group, as provided by MarketBeat. Get Till Capital alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Till Capital 0 0 0 0 N/A The Hartford Financial Services Group 0 5 7 0 2.58 The Hartford Financial Services Group has a consensus price target of $86.50, suggesting a potential upside of 22.12%. Given The Hartford Financial Services Groups higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe The Hartford Financial Services Group is more favorable than Till Capital. Institutional and Insider Ownership Earnings and Valuation 89.9% of The Hartford Financial Services Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 27.5% of Till Capital shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 1.8% of The Hartford Financial Services Group shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. This table compares Till Capital and The Hartford Financial Services Groups revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Till Capital $6.76 million 1.90 $4.80 million N/A N/A The Hartford Financial Services Group $22.36 billion 0.99 $1.82 billion $5.45 13.00 The Hartford Financial Services Group has higher revenue and earnings than Till Capital. Volatility and Risk Till Capital has a beta of -0.38, indicating that its stock price is 138% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, The Hartford Financial Services Group has a beta of 0.85, indicating that its stock price is 15% less volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability This table compares Till Capital and The Hartford Financial Services Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Till Capital N/A -0.67% -0.23% The Hartford Financial Services Group 8.12% 18.15% 3.44% Summary The Hartford Financial Services Group beats Till Capital on 9 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks. About Till Capital (Get Rating) Till Capital Corp. operates as holding company, which engages in the reinsurance business. It also invests in royalties and equity holdings in the resources sector. The company was founded on August 20, 2012 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. About The Hartford Financial Services Group (Get Rating) The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. is an insurance and financial services company. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Lines, Personal Lines, Property & Casualty Other Operations, Group Benefits, Hartford Funds, and Corporate. The Commercial Lines segment provides workers compensation, property, automobile, liability and umbrella coverage under several different products. The Personal Lines segment offers standard automobile, homeowners, and personal umbrella coverage to individuals. The Property & Casualty Other Operations segment includes certain property and casualty operations, managed by the company, that have discontinued writing new business and substantially all of the companys asbestos and environmental exposures. The Group Benefits segment provides group life, accident, and disability coverage, as well as group retiree health and voluntary benefits. The Hartford Funds segment offers investment products for retail and retirement accounts and provides investment management and administrative services. The corporate segment includes corporate category discontinued operations, reserves for run-off structured settlement, and terminal funding agree Receive News & Ratings for Till Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Till Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR Get Rating) had its target price hoisted by Citigroup from $62.00 to $64.00 in a research note released on Monday, The Fly reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the industrial products companys stock. A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on IR. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Ingersoll Rand in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 19th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $57.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $52.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $53.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $58.80. Get Ingersoll Rand alerts: Ingersoll Rand Trading Down 0.8 % NYSE IR opened at $55.98 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.82 and a beta of 1.42. Ingersoll Rand has a 52-week low of $39.28 and a 52-week high of $60.39. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $56.60 and a 200 day moving average price of $53.49. The company has a quick ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 2.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Ingersoll Rand Announces Dividend Ingersoll Rand ( NYSE:IR Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The industrial products company reported $0.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.13. Ingersoll Rand had a net margin of 10.22% and a return on equity of 9.99%. The firm had revenue of $1.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.54 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.64 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 14.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Ingersoll Rand will post 2.36 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 1st were paid a $0.02 dividend. This represents a $0.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 28th. Ingersoll Rands dividend payout ratio is presently 5.41%. Insider Activity In other news, insider Vicente Reynal sold 25,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.50, for a total value of $1,437,500.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 189,345 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,887,337.50. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.75% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ingersoll Rand Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of IR. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. increased its position in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 81.3% in the 3rd quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 638 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 286 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its holdings in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 87.0% in the 3rd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 705 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 328 shares during the period. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Ingersoll Rand in the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Compass Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Ingersoll Rand in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, CoreCap Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Ingersoll Rand in the 4th quarter valued at about $41,000. Institutional investors own 99.73% of the companys stock. About Ingersoll Rand (Get Rating) Ingersoll Rand, Inc provides a broad range of mission critical air, fluid, energy, specialty vehicle and medical technologies, providing services and solutions to increase industrial productivity and efficiency. It operates through the following segments: Industrial Technologies and Services, Precision and Science Technologies, High Pressure Solutions, and Specialty Vehicle Technologies. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ingersoll Rand Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ingersoll Rand and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Restore plc (LON:RST Get Rating) insider Neil Ritchie bought 6,959 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 6th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 287 ($3.55) per share, for a total transaction of 19,972.33 ($24,733.54). Restore Trading Down 5.9 % Restore stock opened at GBX 272 ($3.37) on Friday. The stock has a market cap of 372.42 million, a P/E ratio of 2,266.67, a PEG ratio of 0.41 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 89.02, a current ratio of 1.42 and a quick ratio of 1.28. Restore plc has a 1 year low of GBX 270 ($3.34) and a 1 year high of GBX 466 ($5.77). The firms 50 day moving average price is GBX 314.54 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 335.53. Get Restore alerts: Restore Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 7th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 8th will be given a dividend of GBX 4.80 ($0.06) per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.55%. This is a boost from Restores previous dividend of $2.60. Restores dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 5,833.33%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades About Restore Separately, Canaccord Genuity Group reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 590 ($7.31) price objective on shares of Restore in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. (Get Rating) Restore plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides offices and workplaces services to the public and private sectors primarily in the United Kingdom. The company operates through two segments, Digital & Information Management, and Secure Lifecycle Services. The Digital & Information Management segment offers storage and retrieval solutions for hard copy documents, magnetic data storage tapes, and heritage assets; digital workflow services, including document scanning, workflow automation, cloud-based document management systems, robotic process automation, and artificial intelligence. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Restore Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Restore and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bunzl plc (LON:BNZL Get Rating) insider Frank van Zanten sold 21,307 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred 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). Frank van Zanten also recently made the following trade(s): Get Bunzl alerts: On Thursday, April 6th, Frank van Zanten sold 42,636 shares of Bunzl stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 3,071 ($38.03), for a total transaction of 1,309,351.56 ($1,621,488.00). On Wednesday, March 1st, Frank van Zanten sold 13,046 shares of Bunzl stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 2,986 ($36.98), for a total transaction of 389,553.56 ($482,419.27). Bunzl Trading Up 0.0 % LON:BNZL opened at GBX 3,085 ($38.20) on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average of GBX 3,020.26 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 2,934.81. Bunzl plc has a 52 week low of GBX 2,542 ($31.48) and a 52 week high of GBX 3,249 ($40.24). The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 118.76. The firm has a market capitalization of 10.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 2,187.94, a P/E/G ratio of 5.40 and a beta of 0.46. Bunzl Increases Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 18th will be given a dividend of GBX 45.40 ($0.56) per share. This is an increase from Bunzls previous dividend of $17.30. This represents a yield of 1.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th. Bunzls payout ratio is presently 4,468.09%. A number of equities analysts have commented on BNZL shares. Barclays reissued an underweight rating and issued a GBX 2,750 ($34.06) price target on shares of Bunzl in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Bunzl in a report on Monday, February 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and issued a GBX 3,060 ($37.89) price objective on shares of Bunzl in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Bunzl to an overweight rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from GBX 3,250 ($40.25) to GBX 3,375 ($41.80) in a report on Monday, March 13th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a GBX 2,800 ($34.67) price objective on shares of Bunzl in a report on Thursday, January 5th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Bunzl currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 2,895 ($35.85). Bunzl Company Profile (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. F.N.B. Co. (NYSE:FNB Get Rating) Investment analysts at Jefferies Financial Group raised their Q1 2023 earnings per share estimates for shares of F.N.B. in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, April 11th. Jefferies Financial Group analyst C. Haire now anticipates that the bank will post earnings of $0.38 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $0.34. The consensus estimate for F.N.B.s current full-year earnings is $1.61 per share. Get F.N.B. alerts: F.N.B. (NYSE:FNB Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 24th. The bank reported $0.44 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.42 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $488.50 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $396.26 million. F.N.B. had a return on equity of 9.28% and a net margin of 27.30%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.30 earnings per share. F.N.B. Trading Up 1.3 % Several other research firms have also commented on FNB. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on F.N.B. from $16.00 to $14.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Raymond James cut their price target on F.N.B. from $16.00 to $15.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on F.N.B. in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on F.N.B. from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, December 15th. Finally, Stephens started coverage on F.N.B. in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. They issued an overweight rating and a $15.00 price target on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $14.83. Shares of F.N.B. stock opened at $11.52 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.52 and a beta of 1.06. F.N.B. has a fifty-two week low of $10.48 and a fifty-two week high of $14.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 0.88. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $12.98 and a 200 day moving average of $13.19. F.N.B. Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.12 per share. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.17%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 2nd. F.N.B.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.67%. Insider Transactions at F.N.B. In related news, insider Gary L. Guerrieri sold 5,000 shares of F.N.B. stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $14.61, for a total transaction of $73,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 89,317 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,304,921.37. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, insider Gary L. Guerrieri sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $14.61, for a total transaction of $73,050.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 89,317 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,304,921.37. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director William B. Campbell acquired 1,900 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 26th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $13.49 per share, with a total value of $25,631.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 127,619 shares in the company, valued at $1,721,580.31. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.03% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On F.N.B. Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Phocas Financial Corp. boosted its holdings in F.N.B. by 1.0% during the first quarter. Phocas Financial Corp. now owns 719,988 shares of the banks stock worth $8,352,000 after buying an additional 6,911 shares in the last quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in F.N.B. by 31.5% during the first quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC now owns 33,645 shares of the banks stock worth $385,000 after buying an additional 8,069 shares in the last quarter. Tradewinds LLC. bought a new stake in F.N.B. during the first quarter worth approximately $1,015,000. Aldebaran Financial Inc. acquired a new position in F.N.B. in the 4th quarter worth approximately $269,000. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky boosted its stake in F.N.B. by 20.6% in the 4th quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 56,228 shares of the banks stock worth $733,000 after purchasing an additional 9,600 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.07% of the companys stock. About F.N.B. (Get Rating) F.N.B. Corp. is a financial holding company. It engages in the provision of financial services to consumers, corporations, governments, and small to medium-sized businesses. The firm operates through the following segments: Community Banking, Wealth Management, Insurance, and Other. The Community Banking segment includes commercial and consumer banking services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for F.N.B. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for F.N.B. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rogers Communications (TSE:RCI Get Rating) had its target price lifted by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from C$74.00 to C$90.00 in a research note published on Monday morning, The Fly reports. RCI has been the subject of several other research reports. TD Securities lifted their price target on Rogers Communications from C$78.00 to C$80.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Desjardins lowered Rogers Communications from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. Finally, National Bank Financial decreased their price objective on shares of Rogers Communications from C$78.00 to C$76.00 in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. Get Rogers Communications alerts: Rogers Communications Price Performance Rogers Communications (TSE:RCI Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The company reported C$1.09 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$1.01 by C$0.08. The company had revenue of C$4.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$4.16 billion. Rogers Communications Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were paid a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of . The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Rogers Communications Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rogers Communications and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) had its price objective trimmed by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $38.00 to $34.00 in a research note released on Monday, The Fly reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the financial services providers stock. Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Bank of America from $51.00 to $48.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 3rd. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Bank of America from $37.00 to $31.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Bank of America from $36.00 to $38.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 17th. Odeon Capital Group cut shares of Bank of America from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $35.20 price target for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Bank of America from $40.00 to $34.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $37.22. Get Bank of America alerts: Bank of America Trading Up 0.3 % NYSE BAC opened at $28.56 on Monday. Bank of America has a 1-year low of $26.32 and a 1-year high of $40.37. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. The company has a market capitalization of $228.59 billion, a PE ratio of 8.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 1.36. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $31.64 and its 200-day simple moving average is $33.35. Bank of America Dividend Announcement Bank of America ( NYSE:BAC Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 13th. The financial services provider reported $0.85 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.76 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $24.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $24.17 billion. Bank of America had a net margin of 23.93% and a return on equity of 11.41%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.82 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Bank of America will post 3.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 3rd were given a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.08%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 2nd. Bank of Americas payout ratio is 27.59%. Insider Buying and Selling at Bank of America In other news, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 214,745 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the insider now owns 214,747 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,711,564.77. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 214,745 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the insider now directly owns 214,747 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,711,564.77. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 105,054 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.27, for a total transaction of $3,600,200.58. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 319,803 shares in the company, valued at $10,959,648.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bank of America A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BAC. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 745 shares during the period. Tanglewood Legacy Advisors LLC bought a new position in Bank of America in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Avondale Wealth Management bought a new position in Bank of America in the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Bank of America in the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, WD Rutherford LLC bought a new position in Bank of America in the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. 68.34% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Bank of America (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. Read More 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. Local Bounti (NYSE:LOCL Get Rating) is one of 33 public companies in the Agricultural production crops industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare Local Bounti to similar businesses based on the strength of its risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability, earnings, valuation and dividends. Profitability This table compares Local Bounti and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Local Bounti alerts: 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% Risk & Volatility Local Bounti has a beta of 1.75, suggesting that its share price is 75% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Local Bountis peers have a beta of -24.13, suggesting that their average share price is 2,513% less volatile than the S&P 500. Earnings and Valuation Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Local Bounti $19.47 million -$111.07 million -0.41 Local Bounti Competitors $1.67 billion $21.77 million 0.02 This table compares Local Bounti and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Local Bountis peers have higher revenue and earnings than Local Bounti. Local Bounti is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Insider and Institutional Ownership 65.3% of Local Bounti shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 24.0% 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, 16.9% of shares of all Agricultural production crops companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current recommendations 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 100 170 488 23 2.56 Local Bounti currently has a consensus price target of $2.85, indicating a potential upside of 448.18%. As a group, Agricultural production crops companies have a potential upside of 53.95%. Given Local Bountis stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Local Bounti is more favorable than its peers. Summary Local Bounti peers beat Local Bounti 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. Moody Lynn & Lieberson LLC reduced its holdings in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) by 1.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 214,776 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 2,273 shares during the quarter. Abbott Laboratories makes up 2.2% of Moody Lynn & Lieberson LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest holding. Moody Lynn & Lieberson LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $23,580,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its position in Abbott Laboratories by 339.1% during the third quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 4,581,157 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $443,273,000 after buying an additional 3,537,778 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 83.1% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 4,925,012 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $582,924,000 after purchasing an additional 2,235,314 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Abbott Laboratories by 1.3% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 154,563,421 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $14,955,557,000 after purchasing an additional 2,011,683 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 99.8% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 3,140,866 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $371,753,000 after purchasing an additional 1,568,700 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can acquired a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the third quarter valued at about $131,945,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.93% of the companys stock. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Insider Activity at Abbott Laboratories In other news, SVP Randel William Woodgrift sold 1,032 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total value of $103,922.40. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 52,203 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,256,842.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Abbott Laboratories news, SVP Randel William Woodgrift sold 1,032 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total transaction of $103,922.40. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 52,203 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,256,842.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total transaction of $68,375.30. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 70,427 shares in the company, 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 90 days. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance A number of equities analysts have weighed in on ABT shares. Mizuho upped their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, January 24th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $117.00 to $133.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $136.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Barclays increased their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $122.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, January 27th. Finally, SVB Leerink increased their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $90.00 to $102.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, March 31st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Abbott Laboratories currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $121.88. Abbott Laboratories stock traded up $0.51 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $104.12. 834,167 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,154,512. Abbott Laboratories has a one year low of $93.25 and a one year high of $124.35. The company has a market cap of $180.96 billion, a PE ratio of 26.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.64 and a beta of 0.67. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $102.66 and a 200 day moving average price of $104.43. 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 (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.13. The firm 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%. Abbott Laboratoriess revenue was down 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.32 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.36 EPS for the current year. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 1.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is presently 52.17%. Abbott Laboratories Company 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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating). 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. Tesco (OTCMKTS:TSCDY Get Rating) had its price objective upped by research analysts at Barclays from GBX 310 ($3.84) to GBX 320 ($3.96) in a research report issued on Friday, The Fly reports. Several other equities analysts have also weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group raised Tesco from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, March 6th. Morgan Stanley upgraded Tesco from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Get Tesco alerts: Tesco Trading Up 1.0 % Shares of OTCMKTS TSCDY traded up $0.10 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $10.07. The companys stock had a trading volume of 96,037 shares, compared to its average volume of 83,410. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $9.27 and a 200-day moving average price of $8.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.63. Tesco has a 12-month low of $6.54 and a 12-month high of $10.65. Tesco Company Profile Tesco Plc engages in the retailing and retail banking. It operates through the following segments: UK and ROI, Central Europe, Asia, and Tesco Bank. The UK and ROI segment caters to the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. The Central Europe segment covers the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Tesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Aptiv (NYSE:APTV Get Rating) had its price objective decreased by Wells Fargo & Company from $120.00 to $113.00 in a research report released on Monday morning, Benzinga reports. Wells Fargo & Company currently has an equal weight rating on the auto parts companys stock. Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Oppenheimer cut their target price on Aptiv from $159.00 to $152.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Aptiv from $126.00 to $128.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. Raymond James upped their price target on shares of Aptiv from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Bank of America downgraded Aptiv from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their target price for the company from $151.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Monday, January 9th. Finally, Guggenheim lifted their price target on Aptiv from $138.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Aptiv has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $132.07. Get Aptiv alerts: Aptiv Trading Up 1.8 % Shares of APTV opened at $106.04 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The company has a market cap of $28.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 54.38, a P/E/G ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 2.02. Aptiv has a twelve month low of $77.96 and a twelve month high of $124.88. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $112.49 and its 200-day simple moving average is $102.11. Insider Buying and Selling at Aptiv Aptiv ( NYSE:APTV Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The auto parts company reported $1.27 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $4.64 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.44 billion. Aptiv had a net margin of 3.40% and a return on equity of 11.29%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 12.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.56 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Aptiv will post 4.26 EPS for the current year. In other Aptiv news, CEO Kevin P. Clark sold 6,665 shares of Aptiv stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.05, for a total transaction of $700,158.25. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 585,480 shares in the company, valued at $61,504,674. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Kevin P. Clark sold 6,665 shares of Aptiv stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.05, for a total value of $700,158.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 585,480 shares in the company, valued at $61,504,674. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, COO William T. Presley sold 7,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.00, for a total value of $840,000.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 62,833 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,539,960. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 26,995 shares of company stock worth $3,088,838 over the last quarter. 0.41% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Kentucky Retirement Systems grew its stake in Aptiv by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 21,301 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $1,984,000 after buying an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Toroso Investments LLC raised its position in Aptiv by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 3,320 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $260,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. Hemenway Trust Co LLC boosted its stake in Aptiv by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Hemenway Trust Co LLC now owns 29,333 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $2,294,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares during the period. Fortis Advisors LLC grew its position in Aptiv by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. Fortis Advisors LLC now owns 2,875 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $225,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FDx Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Aptiv by 4.2% in the third quarter. FDx Advisors Inc. now owns 3,173 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $248,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.87% of the companys stock. Aptiv Company Profile (Get Rating) Aptiv Plc is a technology and mobility architecture company, which engages in the business of designing and manufacturing vehicle components; providing electrical, electronic, and active safety technology solutions to the global automotive and commercial vehicle markets; and creating the software and hardware foundation for vehicle features and functionality. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Aptiv Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aptiv and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Take Pride in Smith Mountain Lake, SMLs annual cleanup initiative, will take place throughout the month of May with organized events scheduled for May 6, 13 and 20 at various locations around the lake. Neighborhood groups, businesses, families, civic organizations and others are invited to participate in any of the organized events or plan their own Take Pride cleanup anytime in May. This setup allows lake residents and visitors who want to participate in one of SMLs most important events a number of convenient options, said Kristina Sage, executive director of the Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission, which has organized the event since 1988 in conjunction with the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Smith Mountain Lake Association. Pre-registration is required by May 2 for participants to receive free gloves, orange trash bags and a commemorative tote bag at the SMLA office, as well as participate in a post-event celebration at Mangos Bar & Grill on May 24. Sage added, Anyone can participate in one of the events weve organized for the first three Saturdays in May. Friends, neighbors, non-profits, churches and others may opt to organize their own events on the date of their choice. That can be as simple as one individual cleaning up on the water or shoreline any time throughout the month of May. We just ask that people pre-register so we can track the amount of debris collected for our annual report. For the three scheduled dates, dumpsters will be available for disposal of debris collected on the water. Sage noted the locations are subject to change and participants should check TakePrideSML.com for the latest information. May 6 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Crazy Horse Marina (channel marker B10-A) W.E. Skelton 4-H Center (channel marker B40) May 13 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. David & Steve Byrd Boat Ramp (channel marker R28) Gills Creek Marina (channel marker G2) Magnum Point Marina (channel marker C3) May 20 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bay Rock Marina (channel marker R87) Pleasure Point Ramp (channel marker R52) Walnut Run (channel marker R50) Volunteers may register for Take Pride in SML by filling out the online form at TakePrideSML.com. Representatives also will be signing up participants at the Smith Mountain Lake Business Expo, which will take place on May 5 from noon to 4 p.m. at Eastlake Community Church. In addition, businesses and larger groups that organize their own on-the-water cleanup event may apply for reimbursement of up to $400 for costs incurred for dumpster and landfill fees. The reimbursement form is available online at TakePrideSML.com and the deadline to apply is May 3. Sponsors for 2023s Take Pride in Smith Mountain Lake initiative include Appalachian Power and Western Virginia Water Authority, as well as Berkshire Hathaway Smith Mountain Lake Real Estate, Capps Home Building Center, Turners Dock Building and The Windward Waterfront Lots and Custom Homes. The Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce will host its third annual SML Restaurant Week from April 17 to 30. Throughout this two-week window, diners may visit participating restaurants offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, drink and dessert specials. They can also enter to win a number of $25 gift cards to participating restaurants. According to Erin Stanley, SMLRCC membership director and events manager, 26 regional restaurants participated in last years event, drawing diners from five states and 40 towns/cities. We were extremely happy with the turnout last year and the many positive comments we had from both SML residents and visitors who enjoyed exploring our diverse restaurant scene, Stanley said. The participating restaurants were also pleased, so we are eager to grow the event even more this year. The specials will be available for dine-in and carry out and, after completing their meal, diners will have the opportunity to enter a drawing to win a $25 gift card at participating restaurants. This encourages people to try a number of establishments throughout the week, Stanley said. All they have to do is look for the QR code posted at participating restaurants and fill out a brief online form to enter to win. The chamber will promote the event online at SMLRestaurantWeek.com and through a variety of traditional and social media outlets. Stanley said the number of restaurants participating has already topped 19 and more are expected to come on board prior to April 17. Confirmed participants include: Bojangles Buddys BBQ Bull Docks Cilantro Mexican Grill Drifters Edo Grill & Sushi Inc Electric Co. Bistro Harvest Moon Marketplace Hickory Hill Vineyards Hot Shots Bar & Grill Los Amigos Bar & Grill SML Mangos bar and grill Mayberry Diner Mayberry Pizzeria & Ice Cream Nauti MOs Rocky Mount Burger Company Smith Mountain Lake Coffee House The Copper Kettle Co The Farmhouse Find a link to the most updated list of participating restaurants and more details at SMLRestaurantWeek.com. The Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission is making a renewed push to curb bad behavior on Smith Mountain Lake with a new education effort slated for this summer. Signs, flyers and QR Codes are expected to begin popping up around the lake in the next few months urging boaters, specifically wakesurfers and those involved in other towed watersports, to watch their wakes. Maps will also be provided to let people know what areas of the lake are safe for towed watersports. Renewed education proposals were unveiled by Smith Mountain Lakes Wake Education Task Force at TLACs bi-monthly meeting on Tuesday. Chairman Josh McClure led the presentation providing several strategies to reach boaters this summer. Are you boating safely? is one of our key messages, McClure said. The effort comes as Virginias annual Recreational Boating Incident Summary found that Smith Mountain Lake once again saw the most boating incidents of any body of water in Virginia last year. The state Department of Wildlife Resources said there were 21 boating incidents on the lake in 2022, including 11 with injuries. There have been two fatalities so far this year. TLAC created the Wake Education Task Force last year following a public hearing to recommend Smith Mountain Lakes first no-wakesurfing zone near Merriman Run. Lake residents spoke up at the meeting asking TLAC to try educating the public about the problem before going down the road of banning activities, several of those speakers later joined the task force. Wakesurfing has been an ongoing topic of debate among Smith Mountain Lake residents as the sport has grown in popularity over the past decade. Boats specifically designed for wakesurfing create large wakes that riders are able to surf on. Those wakes created by boats can sometimes be several feet high and can be a danger to other boaters as well as damaging to docks. Boats in general have also gotten larger in recent years, which has also created more wake concerns on the lake. While the no-wakesurfing zone was recommended by TLAC following the public hearing last year, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources ultimately denied the request. TLAC also voted to suspend any new applications by residents for no-wakesurfing zones last year citing the need for a stronger push to educate the public. The Wake Education Task Force held its first meeting in November. Its goal was to not only create educational flyers and pamphlets for lake residents and visitors, but to also provide that information in a way that younger people would notice, such as QR Codes. The codes can be scanned by smartphones which will take users to a website with relevant information on boating and wake safety. McClure said flyers and signs on boating education will be distributed at all area marinas, boat launches and shops around the lake. The group is also working with rental groups to include the information at short-term rental vacation homes for visitors. He also proposed having boat rental locations include QR Codes on the boat that renters could scan to get info on boating safety. We are also looking at some boat key floaties, life jacket whistles and kill switch wristbands with the QR Code on them, McClure said. Anywhere we can get people on their boats to have access to the information. The educational information will ask boaters participating in wakesurfing or other towed watersports to minimize repetitive passes in a single area, stay away from docks and shorelines, avoid coves and congested areas and avoid driving unpredictably and erratically. Work is also ongoing on a map to provide to boaters on the lake indicating safe areas for wakesurfing and other towed watersports. McClure said areas less than 250 feet from the shoreline will be marked in red on the map. The greater distance will allow larger waves to dissipate before they reach the shore. Tight coves will also be marked in red on the map, he said. Areas of heavy congestion will be marked in yellow on the map. McClure said those would be areas like the lakes S-curve near Smith Mountain Lake State Park. TLAC Chairman Lorie Smith thanked the task force and praised their work over the past few months. She was joined by other board members who congratulated them for their efforts. Im very impressed with what they have done so far, said board member Bob Camicia. Lets work together to see what we can do. Can we change bad behavior? Lets hope so. The Wake Education Task Force requested $10,000 to fund the cost of creating materials for the program as well as renting a billboard in the area to show the educational information. Smith said the cost would be split between TLAC and the Smith Mountain Lake Association. The TLAC board unanimously approved the funding. TLAC board member Edgar Tuck asked that the task force continue to attend TLAC meetings to provide updates on progress. He said results are not expected right away, but he wanted to see what impact this will have in the coming months. Did you know that since 1987, the Smith Mountain Lake community has held a lake cleanup event called Take Pride in Smith Mountain Lake (TPISML)? The Tri-County Lake Administrative Commission (TLAC), the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce (SMLRCC), and the Smith Mountain Lake Association (SMLA) have jointly coordinated the TPISML cleanup event. If youre counting, that would be thirty-seven years of community members and people who enjoy the lake coming together to keep SML the Jewel of the Blue Ridge. The event returns, for the 35th time, in 2023 with its hybrid model. Instead of taking place on one weekend, the hybrid model includes structured events at various marinas and locations around the lake, planned for May 6, May 13 and May 20 (the first three Saturdays in May 2023). In addition, neighborhood groups, businesses, families, civic organizations and others may participate in any of the organized events or plan their own TPISML cleanup for any date in May. The last three years of the TPISML event were greatly affected by COVID. In 2020, the event suffered its second-ever cancellation (the first in 2002 after 9-11). Although the event returned in 2021 and 2022, the amount of woody debris and trash collected (about 20 tons over two years) fell short of our last pre-COVID total of 42 tons in 2019. This year, we hope to reach our pre-COVID numbers once again and add to our more than 1,330 tons since 1996. If you love the lake, we want you to be part of this event! You are welcome to participate alone, however, we know from experience that participating with others is not only more fun, but you tend to collect more debris. So, grab a neighbor, friend, family members, or that social group you belong to and commit to TPISML in May. Civic groups looking for a location to adopt, should contact Kristina Sage at ksage.tlac@sml.us.com. You can preregister for the event at takepridesml.com. By registering, you receive free gloves, orange trash bags, and a commemorative reusable tote. You can also arrange to borrow a set of waders if youd rather not get wet. Well also register you for the post-event celebration at Mangos Bar & Grill later in May. Dumpsters will be stationed around the lake each Saturday. For example, you will find dumpsters at Crazy Horse & Magnum Point Marinas on May 6, and Gills Creek & Waterwheel Marinas on May 13 (a full list is available online). Your orange trash bags as well as large debris that doesnt fit in a bag can be placed in any event dumpster. Your group of ten or more participants- like a homeowners association or a civic group- can also take advantage of our dumpster reimbursement program (up to $400 to cover the cost of the dumpster and dumping fees). More information on the reimbursement is available on the event website. The event is possible due to the people who participate and because of the generous donations of the event sponsors: American Electric Power, Western Virginia Water Authority, Berkshire Hathaway, Turners Building, The Windward, and Capps. Help us keep SML the Jewel of the Blue Ridge. Did you ever feel like youve been dumped into a trash can? Ive had to clean up a trash can a few times, especially after some dogs got in the trash and scattered it all over the yard. What a mess! There are only a few characters Ive seen who know what the world looks like from a trash can. One is Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street and the other is a cartoon character by the name of Winthrop, who can get away from the world in his trash can. Its a place that would only attract flies and dogs. Dogs would be OK, but I hate flies. Yet, we can relate to feeling like the world has dumped on us when we have to take a lot of garbage from other people. Some years ago a sister of the Sisters of Charity, Mother Teresas order in India, was moving among the slums of a city in India. Unbelievably, she heard sobbing coming from a trash barrel. Brushing aside the flies and vermin, she looked in the barrel. Beneath the filth and debris was an old lady crying from tearless eyes as her life slowly ebbed away. Tenderly, the Sister lifted her, placed her on her shoulders and took her to the Hospice for the Dying. Before she died, the old lady told the Sister, Im not crying because I was in the garbage, Im crying because my son put me there. He had to. There was not enough food for the family. (My Sunday Visitor) Like the lady said, being in the garbage wasnt the worst part. The real hurt was how she got there. We cant imagine putting a loved one in a garbage can, and yet, isnt that what we do sometimes? Dont we often hurt the ones we love the most? Dont we give the same feelings of rejection by our prejudice and putting other people down? Jesus once met a woman who was crying in a garbage can. Oh, it wasnt a real garbage can, but she was crying just the same. The woman was only identified by her nationality. She was a Canaanite woman. Jesus met her on his only journey outside Palestine (Matthew 15:21-28). The woman had been put in a garbage can by others who were prejudiced against her people. She was looked down on as a heathen by her neighbors. The woman was much deeper in despair, however, because her daughter was grievously afflicted. She came to Jesus to ask him to heal her daughter. In the story it would appear Jesus was at first hesitant to help her. He was really probing to see what kind of faith the woman had. As she talked with Jesus her faith and persistence increased and Jesus declared the greatness of her faith as he granted her request. Jesus is able to help even the person who may be in the deepest, darkest garbage can. He doesnt have to just take them to a place to die. Jesus can help us up and out to a new and clean life. He has power to put together broken lives. Prayer: Our Lord, give us the compassion of Jesus, to lift people to new life. Amen. A St. Paul man was arrested this week for motor vehicle homicide in connection with a collision in rural Hall County April 6. Gary Williams, 62, was located by the Howard County Sheriff's Office. An arrest warrant for Williams was issued April 12. Williams was taken into custody and transported to the Hall County Jail, where Williams was booked for, among other charges, motor vehicle homicide-prior DUI. According to authorities: On April 6, a 2007 Ford Explorer driven by Williams ran a stop sign at Highway 281 and White Cloud Road, about one mile north and two miles west of Central Nebraska Regional Airport. Williams, the lone occupant, was headed east. His vehicle collided with a 2005 Chevy Impala traveling north on Highway 281. A passenger in the Impala, Darren Findley, 59, of St. Libory, was pronounced dead at the scene. Five people were injured in the crash, each transported to CHI St. Francis. Williams was among them. Alcohol was a factor in the deadly collision, according to the Hall County Sheriffs Office. In addition to motor vehicle homicide, Williams is charged with DUI causing serious bodily injury (three counts), DUI .15 and above or refusal and violating a stop or yield sign. The warrant was issued following an investigation by the Hall County Sheriffs Office Accident Reconstruction Team. Additionally, the Hall County Attorneys Office had ordered an autopsy on Findley. 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 (of) 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. Every month, orthodontists across the nation look to the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics for the latest in industry news, technologies and advancement in treatments. Recently, readers of the industry periodical also have seen the work of Carbondale orthodontist Dr. Joseph Hudgins on the cover of the magazine. In fact, clients of Joseph Hudgins Orthodontics were featured in both the January and February editions. This is the first time one of our patients has been selected. Its super exciting, Hudgins said. The American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics is the leading orthodontic journal in the world. I feel it's quite the honor. To have a patients photo selected for the cover is rare; to have two in a row is practically unheard of. "We received a note in November that we had one selected for January and that was exciting because we had never had one before, but then the other one came right on its heels. It was tremendous news for us," said Dr. Hudgins. The January issue, sent to 17,000 subscribers worldwide, featured a photo of Bridget Bailey of Murphysboro. Emma Kate Bloodworth of Carbondale was selected for the February cover. Both portraits were taken by professional photographer Keri Hamilton of Rockwood. Both girls were members of my model team and the photos were from a photo shoot we did in the snow. Dr. Hudgins' team reached out to see if they could submit the photos for consideration of the magazine. I was thrilled to hear those were chosen for the cover, Hamilton said. The orthodontist said practitioners are invited to submit photographs for the magazine cover and his office has sent in pictures of patient outcomes for about 10 years, but had never had any selected in the past. The photographs give the publication a smiling face on the cover and other than a printed recognition of the patient and treating orthodontist, treatment plans or processes are not discussed. Hudgins, who has been in practice for more than three decades, said having the cover photo is more than an honor. Its a combination of a lot of things, he explained. It shows successful outcomes in the orthodontic treatment and then I think it represents what we can do as an orthodontist and what we can achieve through treatment, he said, adding that credit should be shared with clients, their families and his staff for the outcomes and smiles. He added that the patients and their families were excited to be selected. They all want copies, he said. CARBONDALE A new service for women is open on the west side of Carbondale. The St. Anne Cradle of Hope at 2015 W. Main St., Suite B, offers help to people facing challenges related to pregnancy, childbearing and parenting. Cindy Courtney, the volunteer director of St. Anne Cradle of Hope, said the organization was created by the Catholic Diocese in Belleville, which covers Southern Illinois. Bishop Michael McGovern had a large home but, Courtney said, he really wanted a simpler lifestyle. He decided to sell the home and use the proceeds to benefit the work of the church. A way he began to do that was starting the St. Anne Maternity Fund. In the Catholic religion, St. Anne is the mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus. She is the patroness saint of grandparents, mothers, married couples, women who want to be pregnant, and the infertile. A small statue of St. Anne holding and reading to Mary sits on the front counter of the new building. "It's one of our favorite things," Courtney said. Courtney said the center is named after her and the fund created by Bishop McGovern, which helped open the center. Several volunteers completed the name with Cradle of Hope. We visited Project Guadalupe Hope in Flora, and we really liked what we saw. We did the same things, Courtney said. The center has a room for shopping that has anything an expectant or new mom would need. It has baby seats, formula, bottles, toddler cups, baby lotion and soaps, diapers of various sizes, books and toys. They also have some bigger items like changing tables, portable bassinets, a high chair and a stroller. They also have a small chapel. Volunteers pray every morning in the chapel, and others are welcome to use it as well. They are working on a room that will offer maternity clothing and items for pregnant women. Our focus is helping moms and families in need women who choose to have babies and keep them. There is a lot of need in our community, Courtney said. It is easy to get help from the center. Those in need can stop by during their open hours, which are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday, and register their name and the ages of their children. We really want them to feel welcome, Courtney said. Families are limited to the number of items they can receive, but they can visit St. Anne Cradle of Hope each month. Courtney said they actually go into the room with the items and pick out what they need. They get a shopping bag and can select their own items. They dont just get a bag of stuff, Courtney said. The St. Anne Maternity Fund paid for both the renovation of the space and the rent. All services are provided by volunteers. Donations of baby items are being accepted during business hours. Online donations may be made through the centers website at stannecradleofhope.org. Parishioners from Holy Spirit in Carterville, St. Francis Xavier in Carbondale, St. Andrew in Murphysboro, and St. Joseph in Marion painted, cleaned and restored the office space. Students from the Newman Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale also helped. Courtney said one man from St. Andrews brought three friends and they changed light fixtures and the tile. The center was dedicated and blessed on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, by the Most Reverend Bishop Michael McGovern, Bishop of Belleville. This is a beautiful day to save a life, Bishop McGovern told supporters at the dedication. For more information, visit stannecradleofhope.org, email info@stannecradleofhope.org or call 618-722-5022. 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. CARBONDALE Carl Hulse, the chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times, will share his thoughts on the perils and possibilities of American politics on the eve of the 2024 presidential election during a special presentation at 6 p.m. Monday, April 17, at The Varsity Center in Carbondale. Hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondales Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Hulse will make remarks and then participate in Q&A from the audience. Registration is not required, and the event is free and open to the public. The Varsity Center is located at 418 S. Illinois Ave. Hulse will present American Politics at the Crossroads: Contention, Conflict and the Coming Presidential Campaign. Carl Hulse is one of the most experienced and respected journalists in Washington, D.C., said John Shaw, institute director. Brandishing his keen wit and sharp insights, Carl will help us understand the tumultuous political and legal events that are unfolding in the United States. These events will shape the 2024 presidential campaign and the future of our democracy. This is Hulses third presentation with SIU Carbondale. In April 2018, he discussed Washington Politics in the Age of Trump on campus and in May 2020 participated in a virtual discussion on topics ranging from the governments response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the November 2020 presidential elections and the role that the U.S. Supreme Court might play in that election cycle. Hulse has been in his present position since 2016. He is the author of the 2019 book, Confirmation Bias: Inside Washingtons War Over the Supreme Court, From Scalias Death to Justice Kavanaugh. Hulse was previously Washington editor for The Times, directing all facets of Washington coverage of the White House and executive branch, Congress, the courts and the Pentagon from 2011 to 2014. Hulse, who is from Ottawa, graduated from Illinois State University and began his full-time journalism career at the LaSalle-Peru News-Tribune in January 1977. Hulse also worked for the Kankakee Daily-Journal and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel prior to becoming a correspondent and later Washington bureau chief for a regional group of community papers then owned by The New York Times in 1986. Hulse was appointed the newspapers night editor in 2001 and went to Capitol Hill a year later. More information, a list of the institutes upcoming events, a list of past speakers and events available for review are available. Strikes continue on the morning of the 13 against substantially the same objectives on Formosa. The same airfields were hit again and more planes destroyed. The destruction of the facilities at Heito and Reigaryo was continued. ... The day was marred by the loss of the Air Group Commander Frederick Schrader by AA fire. He was shot down while leading a strafing attack, and his loss was a serious one since his leadership and work with the Air Group had been outstanding. For his honorable conduct and bravery, Schrader was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart Medal. After Schrader was shot down, Imperial Japanese forces recovered his body and interred them as "X-136 Schofield." Through the efforts of a former naval flight officer and Missing-in-Action (MIA) researcher, Schrader's remains were properly identified in 2022. A man who was only a number for decades finally had a name again: Frederick Rutherford Schrader. "My father's remains have been buried as Unknown 136 at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP) since they were returned to the U.S. in 1949. The search by family, a group of researchers, who are a part of the USS Hornet Museum, and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency came to fruition last September in the identification of the remains of Unknown 136 as my father's. The whole search has been a blessed miracle," said Barbara Canavan, Schrader's daughter, who recounts that her father's other daughter, her sister, died just a few days before the identification of their father was made, though she had waited and hoped the day would come all her life. Though Schrader was born in Carbondale, his family now lives in Colorado, survived by his daughter, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Schrader's eldest daughter as well as his wife, Lucile, had also passed away before his remains were named. "The DNA profiling process begins with a sample of an individuals DNA, typically called a 'reference sample,'" said Capt. Robert McMahon, Director of Navy Casualty, which oversees the processes for family visitations, transport of the deceased, and coordination of the burial. "During Project Oklahoma, the Navy reached out to families via letters and phone calls requesting their participation in the Family Reference Sample Program in efforts to possibly make a positive match, and identify their loved ones," McMahon said. "Most often the notification and identification briefing is emotional, overwhelming and relieving all at the same time for the families. Most families cannot believe their loved ones were recovered after so many years, they prayed or hoped to have closure someday," McMahon said, who added that the Navy pays for the funeral expenses, travel, and lodging for the family. 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 years 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 Bidens 2020 victory, as well as his party's success in last falls midterm elections. That overlooked Trumps 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. Were 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 Chicagos 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. Youre 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 doesnt 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 Georgias Republican-controlled Legislature and the states 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 Midwests 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. Theyll likely have the opportunity to counter an 1849 statewide ban on abortion triggered by the U.S. Supreme Courts 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 Obamas presidential campaigns and is advising 2024 U.S. Senate candidates in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. But youve got to have the blue wall first, or the Georgias and the Arizonas dont matter. The Lower Savannah Council of Governments says its working to improve Bamberg County residents lives, including the lives of older residents. We do a lot of different things for seniors, LSCOG Executive Director Dr. William Molnar said Monday. Molnar addressed Bamberg County Council on Monday about the work his agency does in the areas of senior services, transportation and planning. For instance, the LSCOG administers aging, disability and transportation programs funded by the federal Older Americans Act. Molnar highlighted the agency's accomplishments over the past year. There were 166 seniors in the county who were assessed by LSCOG staff for Older Americans Act services such as meals, homemaker services and transportation services in 2022. He said 27,326 home-delivered meals were provided to 1,617 homebound seniors in the county, while 2,597 meals were served to 309 seniors at congregate meal sites in the county. Also, 2,875 hours of homecare services were provided to 37 seniors, while 9,126 miles of transportation services were offered to 343 seniors. Also, 27 Family Caregiver funding grants for respite services were awarded to Bamberg County clients. Molnar said his planning staff has also met with officials from Bamberg County, the town of Olar and the cities of Bamberg and Denmark to address comprehensive planning and zoning issues and other needs. Phase Two of work on the U.S. Highway 78 corridor improvement project from Bamberg to Denmark is complete. This project created six-foot paved shoulders along the corridor to increase its safety. LSCOG administers the Community Development Block program, which provided a $366,300 grant for a rescue pumper in the City of Denmark. It will cover the Denmark Fire District, the city of Denmark, the town of Govan and some of the unincorporated areas of northwestern Bamberg County, Molnar said. A $950,903 grant will also be used for the construction of a new well for the City of Denmark, as well as some upgrades to an existing well. Molnar said the project is ongoing. He also reported that the agency is looking to ramp up activities with its Housing Consortium over the next two months, with a little over $1 million to be used for both new home construction for low- to moderate-income households, as well as housing rehab projects in the region. I know we've done a number of projects over the years here in Bamberg County. ... We hope to do more projects with that. We also received the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money, about $3.8 million, to combat homelessness in the region, Molnar said. He said the county is also awaiting the state's announcement of recipients of South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program grants. They'll announce that hopefully this month or next month. Those have got to move fast. We are all playing that waiting game right now, Molnar said. The LSCOG staff, in conjunction with the Bamberg Board of Public Works, submitted applications for two SKIIP grants. One would be for a BBPW interconnection with the Orangeburg Department of Utilities, which is a $4.3 million project. The other grant would support a nearly $10 million multi-faceted project to include a large-scale sewer line replacement and a water line extension to a community serving more than 70 county residences. Molnar also reported on the county's Thoroughbred Tourism Committee. They're out there continually working to sell the area in regards to events," he said, with the committee distributing, for example, a 60-page tourism guide. There were 20,186 guides distributed in FY 2021-2022. In the area of workforce development, Molnar said the SC Works Lower Savannah mobile unit made 23 visits to Bamberg County and served 48 county residences. The LSCOG was forced to close the Denmark SC Work Center because the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce cut the agency's workforce budget by $1.2 million over the last two years, he said. "That was a cost-cutting measure, but we do have a mobile unit. ... We try to get that vehicle out there to as many places as we possibly can. If you have any ideas of where it's needed out there somewhere, please let us know," Molnar said. Also during the meeting, SouthernCarolina Regional Development Alliance Project Manager Joshua Urwick gave a report for Bamberg County. We had three more site visits since last council meeting, a couple at the CrossRhodes site and, again, still working on a project over at the Wolfe site in Denmark. We've got an existing industry that's getting ready to move forward with a possible expansion, as well. So I think that speaks to Bamberg County. People enjoy being here and want to continue to do business here," he said. Urwick also gave an update on SC Oak to Barrel LLC, the company that has announced it will invest $6.8 million and create 122 new jobs at the former Black Water Barrels plant at 3914 Bamberg Highway. They're working toward their job number goal, and they've got their investments in place, Urwick said. County Administrator Joey Preston said the county council members will also take a tour of the company at noon Monday, April 24. Finances County Treasurer Alice Johnson gave the February financial report, stating the county had $244,775.17 in income and expenditures of $840,530.97, for a negative balance of $595,755.80. When the positive bank balance at the end of January ($1,783,077.36) was added, the countys regular account stood at a positive $1,187,321.56. County Finance Director T.M. Thomas reported the general fund had year-to-date revenues as of the end of February of $6,881,671, with expenses coming in at $5,627,238, for a positive general fund balance of $1,254,433. Thomas said county departments continue to operate within their budgets. Administrator's report County Administrator Joey Preston said officials from the Federal Communications Commission will be in the county to discuss a program through which broadband users could potentially get a $30 reduction in their bill per month. The officials will be at the Bamberg County Office on Aging at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 26, to talk to seniors about the program and then later with community leaders at 11 a.m. at the county courthouse annex building. It looks like ... a significant part of the Bamberg County population will qualify. It's just going to depend on whether or not the provider participates in the FCC program, which we think most of them do. Once we learn about this program, we'll post it on our social media and try to teach as many people how to get involved in this as possible, Preston said. The administrator said he is also gathering more information on a new tax incentive program that the General Assembly has adopted and that council councils can pass to support the renovation of historic buildings across the county. Those folks investing in that property can see as much as a 10 to 20 percent reduction in their taxes for a period of time to allow them to be able to renovate that building and get that building back on the market. It's like for abandoned buildings that are just sitting there, Preston said. He also updated council on the county courthouse renovation project. The specs for the foundation work are complete and have been sent to us. We'll be hitting the street for bids to get that part of the project underway and done. Then we'll move into the much larger project, where you'll see things start to really happen at the courthouse, Preston said. He also reported that Salty Road and Lazy Lane, which have had major drainage issues, are set to be graveled later this year following paving projects for which he is anticipating a construction schedule in the next 30 days. The administrator also gave an update on the first phase of work in the creation of a veterans park on a vacant space on Main Highway. The property had been the site of buildings that were destroyed in a massive fire in March 2019. The city is putting up the lights right now, and then Moore Street will be the first street that will be resurfaced. The engineers told me they'll start paving that project within the next two weeks. That's a C-Fund project, he said. Preston also said he'd be meeting with officials from the state Department of Archives and History on April 28 to seek grant money to redo roofs on many abandoned buildings, including those in Denmark, Olar and Bamberg. "People just walked away from them, and they didn't fix the roofs. ... We can at least try to find folks that are interested in coming in and restoring them and putting businesses in them. We're actively working with the SouthernCarolina Alliance to do that." Other business Council approved a resolution to amend a state-issued certificate of franchise authority which Spectrum Southeast LLC filed with Secretary of State's Office. "You have to pass that so that they can go in and start construction. They've been approved through the FCC for funding to construct, I believe, up to 1,300 residences countywide. They're ready to get started now. ... I have a feeling that in the next two to three years our county is going to be pretty much built out in broadband, which is a good thing," he said. The council also approved a resolution setting the county Recreation Committee's grant application and guidelines in place. Groups seeking recreation funding must turn in their applications by 5 p.m. Friday, May 5, with applicants to be notified Tuesday through Thursday, June 6-8, if council has accepted or denied their application. For those accepted, all receipts must be turned in for reimbursement by Tuesday, June 20. The Samaritan House Homeless Shelter is seeking $215,000 from the state to upgrade its Middleton Street facility. Several things need fixing, The Samaritan House Board Chair Brenda Jamerson said. Last year, Sen. Hutto sponsored a bill that gave us $450,000 to replace the roof and do a few other things inside of the building. This request is a follow-up to that, she said. Jamerson made the request to the Orangeburg County Legislative Delegation on Monday. The delegation received the request as information. The request includes: $10,000 to inspect and repair electrical outlets that are not working. This is an old building, Jamerson said in the budget request report. The electrical system needs much repair and many of the outlets are outdated and/or not working. $10,000 to upgrade the security camera system by adding 14 cameras to the building. There are numerous blind spots presenting a security risk and opportunities for improper behaviors, Jamerson said. $50,000 to add handrails and guardrails at the parking lot, retaining walls and entrance to the facility. There is also a major need for adequate paving for wheelchair access from the front entrance of the facility to the rear of the facility, Jamerson said. The changes are needed to make the facility Americans with Disabilities Act compliant, she said. We do not currently have adequate access for residents with wheelchairs and other disability issues, she continued. We also need to install a cement walkway up to the front door, then to the side of the building and around to the back yard. This will provide better access for residents with wheelchairs and disabilities with walking. $50,000 to replace bedding and mattresses. We have a 40-bed facility, Jamerson said. Our current beds are over 15 years old, and the mattresses are terribly worn. All have exceeded their useful life and need replacement. We would like to replace the current wood beds with metal framed beds and replace the mattresses with heavy-duty bedbug mattresses, she said. $15,000 to hire an engineer/architect to draw up a kitchen floor design and determine how to expand the kitchen area and pantry for 2024-2025 upgrades. The 16-foot by 16-foot kitchen is not suitable for preparation of meals for 40 clients 3 meals per day, Jamerson said. The equipment, particularly the sinks, stove and icemaker have exceeded their useful life. Additionally, the layout of the kitchen, including the pantry, prohibits efficient use of space, personnel movement and sanitary conditions. $50,000 to repave the upper parking lot Jamerson said the parking lot has deteriorated with the present condition being mostly compacted gravel with numerous potholes and ruts. Rails along the backside of the lot also need to be installed, she said. Walking in the parking lot creates a hazardous situation because of the unevenness of the gravel and poor parking conditions for staff and visitors. $30,000 to replace the aluminum siding on the front of the building. The siding has been on the building over 20 years, Jamerson said. It is cracked in many areas and the coloring has faded badly. We would like to replace the siding. Jamerson said support from the community has been good. We are thriving and we are thriving well, Jamerson said. We can't thank the community enough for the support we have gotten from Orangeburg and surrounding counties. We could not do it without their support, she continued. The volunteers we have come in from all aspects of the county. Jamerson also thanked Claflin University, South Carolina State University and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College for providing internship programs for shelter clients. In 2022, the shelter was able to provide shelter and supportive services to 171 residents, Jamerson said. The residents successes during the year include: 25 gained employment 62 received permanent housing 25 received housing vouchers and/or housing relocation assistance 75 received job placement counseling Seven graduated with a certificate from the Back to Work Program by SC Works 25 received medical or prescription coverage or assistance Other accomplishments in 2022 include: Served an average of 500 meals per month to community residents facing food insecurity Hired two former residents as employees at The Samaritan House Received a $50,000 grant from the City of Orangeburg to paint the exterior of the building, the retaining wall, the storage building and to resurface the driveway Replaced the outside yard sign Replaced commodes and sinks on the male and female corridors (donated by Lowes of Orangeburg) Operational expenses such as utilities, food, gas, insurance and program-related expenses for medical, transportation, case management and housing relocation services continue to increase. The shelter also currently has about 35 homeless men, women, and children on its waiting list. The shelter's financial goal for 2023 is to raise $350,000. The shelter is encouraging those who can give to do so by considering a monthly/recurring donation. To give, visit the shelter's website at www.samaritanhouseorangeburgsc.org. Individuals can also give in person at The Samaritan House of Orangeburg County at 1580 Middleton Street, Orangeburg, SC or by mail to: Post Office Box 2392, Orangeburg, SC 29116. For more information, call 803-809-1090. The shelter's email address is orangeburgsamaritanhouse@gmail.com. Concord NH- Christine Louis has joined NHPR as its new Vice President of Development. Christine will oversee NHPRs Membership, Corporate Sponsorship, and Major Giving divisions and serve as a key member of the leadership team. Im excited to join the development team at NHPR and build on the foundation of support for NHPR: board members, sustainers, members and soon-to-be-members, Christine says. I look forward to advancing the mission of NHPR, bringing trustworthy journalism to communities throughout New Hampshire and beyond. Christine has spent most of her life in New Hampshire, split between the North Country and the Lakes Region. She has worked as a development professional for the past 32 years, ensuring academic and other non-profit institutions have the resources they need. She began her career at her alma mater, the Holderness School, leading its annual giving program, and later returned to direct the Advancement Office as the schools Director of Development. She has led fundraising efforts for the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, the Currier Museum of Art, the Tilton School, and most recently for the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of New Hampshire. Through the important work of development, her expertise and vision are visible across New Hampshire and the entire New England region. In Christine, weve found an inspiring leader who knows New Hampshire and cares deeply about our state and NHPRs public service mission, said Jim Schachter, NHPR's president and chief executive officer. Her skills and background in building and growing successful giving programs will be vital to fulfilling that mission. NHPR is New Hampshires only statewide radio news service, broadcasting from 14 sites across the Granite State. Our award-winning journalism is available to read and listen to 24/7 at NHPR.org and by asking your smart speaker to Play NHPR. NHPR journalists deliver local news, programs, newsletters, and podcasts, including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Civics 101, Outside/In, Document, Bear Brook, The Weekender, The Rundown, Primarily Politics, The Folk Show, and the N.H. News Recap. NHPR is the exclusive outlet for NPR News in the Granite State and broadcasts national weekly programs such as The Moth Radio Hour, Wait WaitDont Tell Me!, and This American Life. At NHPR, our vision is that through trustworthy journalism, we enrich lives and build stronger communities, in New Hampshire and beyond. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core to our mission. NHPR strives to build an inclusive culture that links us to the communities we serve and to produce journalism and programming that reflect those communities diverse cultures, backgrounds, and viewpoints. The Army Academy as it stands currently, will cater to 100 in-need youngsters. "Come see what the Lord has done! That was the invitation issued by Faith Word Ministries in Dauphine, led by Bishop Ezekiel Creese and wife, Apostle Marcia Creese, to well-wishers and other interested individuals, who turned out to the soft, yet grand opening of Army Academy, on Monday 10th April. Army Academy, located in Dauphine, is a home a refuge for boys and girls from abusive and neglectful homes whose objectives are to: "Revitalize, rehabilitate and restore youth to their full potential and purpose; to assist them to navigate their lives and build communication and relationships; and to make them purposeful children of God. The name Army Academy is derived from Anointed Radical Mighty Youths an evangelistic group within Faith Word Ministries that works throughout communities here. Project details According to facility Director, Dr. Racquel Creese, the project began with a land purchase in 2015 and land clearing in 2016. On April 9, 2017, a ground-breaking ceremony signaled the commencement of construction. The building, though incomplete on 10th April, 2023, stood majestically as a two-story facility with the capacity to house fifty boys on the ground floor, fifty girls on the first floor, and provide an open space on the second floor, which is presently the roof, for group activities. Each floor boasts a reception area, doctors quarters, counselors offices, kitchen, dormitories, toilets, bathrooms. Except for the east where a river runs, the compound is fenced with upgrades to follow. An abundance of outdoor space provides for parking and area for interaction. Landscaping has already begun and includes small-scale growing of fruits and vegetables. Thus far, the entire project has been funded by the church. Addresses Dr. Dorothy Travis Moore, a member of a visiting contingent from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, took the audience through a Langston Hughes poem entitled "Dream Deferred, placing emphasis on the prerogative of striking the iron when it is hot, just as the church did. Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves congratulated the church for its vision. ".I could imagine the cost of this venture from 2015 til now, but the ongoing cost of operating this place is going to be phenomenal, he said and pointed to the need for more resources to cater to procuring equipment, providing amenities and employment of personnel. As for the purpose of the Academy, the Prime Minister said, "I am very concerned about the young males especially.. So, Im very happy to see this institution.... and this has to receive official support. Toward that end, he suggested that the leadership approach the Ministry of National Mobilization and Social Development "to see how they can work together with you to better provide the range of services in all sorts of areas.... and I hope what you submit to the minister, Dr. Brewster, (and) that he will give me the privilege by submitting a copy to me so that I can be kept informed. Dr. Marcia Creese disclosed that the land was reserved for their purchase whenever they came up with the funds. "See what the Lord has done, she said, "at the inception, He was with us! She made the point that cruel youths could create a cruel nation, and in stating that it was mandatory that they be turned around, she emphasized that the institution was not about the church but about St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It followed that the facility will be open to housing young felons who otherwise would be housed among hardened criminals (in the prison system). She went on to point out areas of grave need, saying to Dr. Gonsalves, "Thats where you come in Mr. Prime Minister! She stressed the need for a bridge that will facilitate residents and other personnel moving from the Academy to the church and back. She further stated, "We wrote to the engineer for gabion baskets because we are doing a secure facility here. We want to fence and seal the (river) bank. Bishop Creese reminded the gathering that the church was never afraid to "challenge big things, we always get it done. He continued with references to past experiences of the church which came off successfully, among which were their Love Fest community ventures with the ARMY. His anecdotal lines provided much humor and applause. Then he reminded that, "Prayer is essential, for continued blessing and success. Rounding off the deliveries, Pastor Esworth Jeffers, of the visiting Milwaukee group, encouraged those who will manage the project, to find inspiration in the biblical story of the children of Israel who, in the face of issue and trials, successfully rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. According to Apostle Creese, come July 2023 visitors to the facility will behold a beautifully transformed academy. Adventure seekers can now explore more of SVG following the launched of an All-terrain Vehicles (ATV) tours service here. Persons hopeful of using the ATVs can book a 90-minute tour that connects five black sand beaches along the east coast of mainland St. Vincent - Brighton Bay, Diamond Bay, Stubbs Bay, Rawacou and Argyle - all the while driving an ATV. Sunday, 9th April witnessed the grand opening of the ATV Tours service as offered by Coastal Adrenalin, at its location at Phoenix Range, formerly Huffles Ranch in Brighton. Jerrol Jackson, Chief Executive Officer and Principal of Coastal Adrenaline, told THE VINCENTIAN that his company is the first of its kind in SVG. He said that an ATV can take you anywhere that an ordinary vehicle cannot go. "It builds an adrenaline; its an experience of a lifetime once you get an opportunity to ride one. Jackson explained that he has always enjoyed nature and he loves St. Vincent and the Grenadines his homeland, "and I think we have the perfect terrain for outdoor activities. "For too long folks come to our island and go out on a sighting seeing tours locked up in a taxi or a caravan in air condition. I wanted to find a way to connect them to nature, to our sunshine, to our see breeze, to the ocean mist on their faces. I wanted to find a different way for them to explore our island, not being locked up in a taxi or caravan. Its way behind, mused Jackson about the difference he wants to make in how we cater to and what we offer visitors. The Brighton based company currently has a total of 7 ATVs in its catalog, however Jackson said he intends on increasing that number by another 7 in the next two months. To book a tour, customers can go to the Coastal Adrenaline website at www.Coastaladrenaline.com and book directly from there or show up directly at the Phoenix Range in Brighton. In terms of requirements for persons desirous of booking a tour which means driving the ATV, driving the vehicle, the CEO said that a person must be 18 years or older to book a tour. "And if you are Vincentian or hold a valid Vincentian passport, you can just show up and present your drivers license. If you are coming from any other Caribbean island that is part of CARICOM, we will also accept your drivers license. If you are coming from further around the world, you are advised to bring an international license or on arrival into St. Vincent obtain a temporary permit. The permit can be obtained at any of the police departments and for your convenience we do have them at our location at Brighton as well. So you can come directly to us and we will provide you with a temporary permit, Jackson explained. He expressed thanks to the Ministry of Tourism for its support, noting that the ministry was very helpful in making the company a reality. Business executive Maxine Howard took her turn test driving one of the ATV. She said that she would highly recommend the experience, admitting that she was ready to go on a longer track and rougher terrain. Inspector Junior Nero of the Royal SVG Police Force was on hand to inspect and also test drive the ATVs. He described his experience driving the ATV as wonderful. "It brings out the adrenaline in you. You get to feel of the motor bike. I am encouraging all persons, once you have a driving license, to contact Coastal Adrenaline and ride an ATV, said Nero. The company currently employs four workers. It has received the Tourism Authority seal of approval, and has been certified by the Red Cross in CPR and First Aid. Among those at Sundays launch were Jacksons business partners, Marlon Bennett, Stacy Baety and McNeal Duncan. A number of persons who turned up for the launched were gifted with complimentary rides. The Milton Cato Memorial Hospital will get a fair share of a recent loan from the CDB. On March 30 this year, the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) ratified approval of three loans in a total amount of US$29.8 million, to help strengthen health systems in three OECS countries. The loans ratified will be disbursed as follows: US$9.87 million for Grenada, US$9.86 million for St. Lucia and US$10 million for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. CDBs Vice-President of Operations, Isaac Solomon said that the Covid-19 pandemic and opened cracks in the health systems in Caribbean countries. "The unrelenting demands of the pandemic unearthed and made more prominent and urgent, critical frailties in our health systems around the areas of limited human, infrastructure and institutional capacity, Solomon said. It follows that there was now urgent need to upgrade the systems in the region so that countries can respond to present and emerging challenges. "We are therefore pleased to be able to approve these resources to help strengthen resilience, Solomon said. As far as how the loan will be utilised in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, US$3.3 million will go towards funding works to establish a Central Medical Warehouse so as to strengthen the medical supply chain. A sum of US$2.3 million will help procure medical and other equipment at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, a new distillery for the pharmacy, equipment for the operating theatre, CT Scanner, X-ray machine, a Hyperbaric chamber and more. Some of the loan will also go towards building up the skills of health-care workers to include specialist training for operating theatre nurses, radiology staff, lab technicians, risk communications staff and others. The sale of the operations in St. Kitts and Nevis has been halted pending final approval by the ECCB. FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited has announced today that the sale of its assets of FirstCaribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited in St. Kitts to St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Limited (SKNANB) will not now go ahead. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) provided conditional approval for the sale of the assets and banking business of FirstCaribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited (FCIB Barbados) in St. Kitts to the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Limited (SKNANB) on July 15, 2022, subject to certain conditions. SKNANB recently informed FCIB Barbados that it has not secured final approval from the ECCB to conclude the acquisition. The ECCB subsequently notified FCIB Barbados of its decision to not grant final approval for the sale of its operations in St. Kitts. Notwithstanding the denial of approval outlined above, the ECCB remains fully engaged with FCIB Barbados as it continues to assess its operational footprint in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union. This means that FirstCaribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited will retain its presence in St. Kitts and has announced plans to transform the way it does business in St. Kitts. Chief Executive Officer of CIBC FirstCaribbean, Mark St. Hill, noted that while the ending of the sale process is disappointing for the bank, CIBC FirstCaribbean will take advantage of this opportunity to refine its business in St. Kitts. Managing Director for the bank in Barbados and the OECS countries, Donna Wellington, noted that the bank will take this opportunity to transform its business in St. Kitts. "Our priority is to signal to the market that we are staying and open for business. We have been conservative in the St. Kitts market over the past year-and-a-half as we prepared the business for sale. However, we will now concentrate our effort on building the business, reconnecting with both our Retail and Corporate clients in a big way and providing them with the best products and services CIBC FirstCaribbean has to offer. Ms. Wellington went on to thank both staff and clients for their commitment to the bank. "Our employees are a huge asset to the business, and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude for the grace and professionalism they have exhibited over the past several months. As for our clients, we have already spoken to some of them and they have assured us of their continuing support for us, so it is full steam ahead. Dennie Wilson, a former St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Ambassador to the United Nations, and erstwhile Senator and Speaker of the House of Assembly in SVG, died on Good Friday, Apr. 7, 2023, his wife, Idica confirmed. Mrs. Wilson said her husband died of cardiac arrest. He was 67. The Wilsons, who live/d in Queens, New York, hailed from Union Island in the southern St. Vincent Grenadines. Dennie Wilson was also executive secretary of the St. Vincent Progressive Organization of New York (SPOONY), the New York arm of the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) in SVG. Wilson was Deputy Ambassador, then Ambassador, to the UN, from 1995-2001, under the New Democratic Party (NDP) administration of the late Prime Minister Sir James F. Mitchell. He was Speaker of the House of Assembly in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, under the Labor Party administration of late Prime Minister Robert Milton Cato, from Aug. 17, 1982 to April 12, 1984. During his tenure in the House, Wilson also served as a representative of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Additionally, Wilson was an administrator with New York Citys Department of Education (NYCDOE), and was founder and chief executive officer of the Rockaway (Queens, New York) Community Stem Charter School (RCSCC). Wilson who possessed extensive background in public policy, diplomacy and real estate management, and served on the board of trustees of Spartan Medical College in St. Lucia had two Masters degrees a Master of Science in Education (Queens College, CUNY) and a Master of Science in Administration and Leadership (College of St. Rose at Albany, New York). He also held certificates in School Building Leadership and School District Leadership, and an advanced Certificate in Education. He earned his Bachelors degree in political science from Fordham University in New York. He was also a customs/revenue officer in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in the mid-1970s, from where he launched into politics. In addition, Wilson was a school teacher in Union Island and Bequia, the most northern of the St. Vincent Grenadine islands, in the early 1970s. Dr. Anthony Stewart who, along with physicians Stephen Dallas and Bernard Lewis, were scouts on Union Island said Wilson was the local scout master. Dr. Stewart told THE VINCENTIAN that Wilson attended Mary Hutchinson Primary School on Union Island and Bishops College in nearby Carriacou, the largest of Grenadas two sister isles; the other is Petite Martinique. Wilson was also a lay reader at St. Matthias Anglican Church, Union Island, and "was instrumental in acquisition of lands to build the Ashton Hard Court, Dr. Stewart said. Honour and Testimony In July 2014, the Brooklyn-based Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) honored Wilson, among 11 honorees, at a gala ceremony, marking the organizations 29th anniversary, at the then Tropical Paradise Ballroom on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn. "I am deeply honored and humbled to be in the presence of such distinguished honorees, said Wilson then after receiving the award. "Awards are special, but this one is a very special one. At the time, Wilson joined a "long line of distinguished men and women who had received CACCIs Community Service Award. Stephen "Scombo John, Spoony president, told THE VINCENTIAN over the weekend that he was shocked on hearing about Wilsons sudden death. "The news of Ambassador Wilsons passing shocked me greatly, said the former unsuccessful NDP candidate for the South Windward constituency in SVG. "We communicated a few days ago, and he was in excellent spirits. "He was excited about work and other activities he was engaged in, John added. "So, his death was surprising. Frank Montgomery Clarke, a former diplomat at the SVG Mission to the United States and Organization of American States, in Washington, D.C., said, during his early years, Wilson served as a Grenadines representative on the National Youth Council (NYC) and a lay preacher of his "beloved St. Mathias Anglican Church, Ashton, Union Island. Clarke also said Wilson was "a devout member of the Anglican (Episcopal) congregations both in Queens, NY and Union Island. "May his soul rest in peace! Clarke said. Erlene Williams-King, who served as an aide at the Mission of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the UN, which also served the dual role of Consulate General, described Wilson as "the consummate diplomat and a true St. Vincent and the Grenadines son, especially when it pertained to Union Island and his beloved St. Mathias Anglican Church. "It was a pleasure working with him at the Consulate of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as we worked very closely, and developed a mutual trust and respect for each other, Williams-King said. Wilson leaves to mourn Idica, his wife of 33 years, and two daughters, Denica and Tedra. Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalized. Signing ceremony for the new collective agreement between the government of Grenada and the GUT among those picture are: Jude Bartholomew, President GUT (left) and Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell (centre). (Photo Credit: GIS Grenada; Source: NOW Grenada) Teachers in Grenada will receive a salary increase as the Government of Grenada and the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT) signed a new collective agreement for salary and fringe benefits covering the period 2023 to 2025. The total number of teachers set to receive the increase is 1,800 which is approximately one-third of public officers. As of December 2022, there were 5,363 public officers in the government system of Grenada. The new collective agreement with the Government of Grenada was signed on Wednesday 29 March 2023, and witnessed by Finance Minister, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell who thanked members of the teaching profession for their role in society. President General of the Grenada Union of Teachers, Jude Bartholomew described the signing as historic, noting negotiations started in December 2022 and historically GUT and other unions most times would have had to march on the streets and go through the Labour Commissioner process for a salary increase. He noted that this was the only time in recent memory that a new collective agreement was able to be signed in 4 months. "Historically, the Grenada Union of Teachers and other unions most of the time had to march on the streets, go through the Labour Commissioner or commission, a process for mediation and other things for salary increase. We note this time, we place on record that this a historic moment that we appreciate and recognise, Bartholomew said. Bartholomew praised Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell and his administration for giving teachers 13 per cent, and assured that GUT was also happy with the fringe benefits secured. And while he recognized that "We may never be able to get all that you really want and hope to, the Union President said that he noted "all the other things the Government is doing for workers (and) we just want to show some praise and appreciation to the Honourable Dickon Mitchell and his administration. Notwithstanding the windfall, the GUT President called on all teachers and members to step up their productivity. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said too often the industrial climate is characterised by strife and expressed the view that the spirit in which the negotiations were conducted was critical, as it did not lead to industrial action. The prime minister encouraged other unions to follow the example set by the GUT in coming to speedy terms with the government in concluding negotiations. Jomo Brudy dodged the bullet on three occasions before catching it on the forth attack on his life. Jomo Top Dog, Baku Brudy a well-known young man originally from Edinboro , died at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital after being shot in Pole Yard, Arnos Vale, on Monday 10th April. Brudy, a resident of Pole Yard at the time of his death, was one of two men shot there, around 7:30 pm on Monday. Reports are that a mask assailant opened fire on Brudy and another man, John Dallaway, as they were standing at Brudys shop in Pole Yard. They were rushed to the MCMH where Brudy succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday and John was warded nursing his gunshot injuries. According to one resident in the area, "The person bin really want Baku because the amount a shot fire that wasnt no joke. He look like he get shot in the shoulder, neck, chest and belly. Brudy was a popular vendor in Kingstown before moving his business to Arnos Vale. He was one of those vendors who a few years ago was asked to cease operating his hotdog business under the gallery of ACE Hardware. More recently, he had taken to selling breadnuts, soliciting sales at various business places around Kingstown. Many persons who knew the deceased, described him as a friendly person who enjoyed singing at karaoke sessions. But for others he was someone with a temper and had the propensity to get into trouble. He was also known to the police and had been charged in the past for a number of crimes, including murder. Brudy was arrested and charged for the December 19th, 2010 murder of Shawn Gordon of Rillan Hill after he was found dead with a gunshot injury to the head. In May 2022, after eight months in custody, Brudy was cleared of that charge. He was also on record as having survived at least three attempts on his life. In December 2008 Brudy was shot and injured while Shereen Clouden was killed after they were both shot while walking in Ottley Hall. On May 8, 2009, Brudy survived a gunshot attack outside his Edinboro home, one day after testifying in the preliminary inquiry into Cloudens murder. More recently on March 3rd, 2022, Brudy was shot while playing a card game at a shop in Pole Yard. The shooting incident left Owen Kenny Stoddard dead while Brudy and Randolph Bruce Lee Samuel were wounded but survived. There has been no clear motive for Mondays shooting; however, police say they are investigating the matter. Brudys death brings the homicide count for the year to nine. In addition, there have been two shooting deaths caused by police action. Persons with information that can help with this investigation are encouraged to contact the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Crime at 1-784-457-1211 ext. 4816; the Officer in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department/Major Crimes Unit at 1784-456-1810; the Officer in charge of the South Central Division at 1784-458-4200; or any police station or officer with whom you feel comfortable speaking. "All information collected will be kept strictly confidential. Investigations into the matter are ongoing, according to a police press release on the shooting. Brent Bailey, former Chief Engineer, had called for priority consideration to be given to opening road. The St. Vincent and the Grenadines government will go ahead with the development of the LAnse Mahaut road, which goes from Cumberland to Walliabou. Engineer Brent Bailey, formerly the Chief Engineer in the Ministry of Works, must be a very pleased man following this news that the LAnse Mahaut road, will be constructed. It was Bailey, while addressing the opening of the Long Line Road in North Leeward in September 2022, who had called for the opening of the LAnse Mahaut road, which he said would cut significantly the travel time to and from North Leeward. He estimated then that once opened, the road would cut significantly, the present route that takes commuters up Belle Isle and into Gordon Yard and Spring Village, from about 7 kilometers to 1 kilometer. News of the plan to open the road came from Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who reported to the nation via radio that Cabinet had approved part use of a US$10.5 million loan from the CDB, for that purpose. He noted that it would have to start "from scratch, since "we have to do the planning and design. And while this was welcomed news for persons who commute daily from North Leeward to Kingstown and back, the Prime Minister made no commitment with respect to a commencement date for the project. This country would be hard-pressed to do so if at any time in the foreseeable future it tries to sever diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan). According to Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, the relationship between the two countries, one that is characterized by a heavy indebtedness to Taiwan, is such that it "put a hook in the gill of anybody in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (NDP), who wants to break ties with Taiwan. The Prime Minister made the observation while speaking a day after last week Tuesdays signing ceremony for an EC$120 million loan from Taiwan. The loan, which had bipartisan support in Parliament, is to be spent on road repairs through 2027. This most recent loan agreement pushes this countrys total indebtedness to Taiwan to EC$577.9 million, up from EC$99.9 million as of September 30, 2022, the Prime Minister confirmed. Since September 30, 2022, some of the loan agreement signed between Taiwan and this country include: US$20 million for the modern Parliament and the court complex; US$62 million for the port project; US$50 million for the Marriott Hotel and US$45 million for the road rehabilitation project, for a total of US$177 million or EC$ $477.9 million. And in reference, it seemed, to an earlier position advanced by the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) which called for severing ties with Taiwan and establishing relations with the Peoples Republic of China (mainland China), the Prime Minister cautioned, "I point out, essentially, that these (loan) agreements put a hook in the gill of anybody who want [to] change the relationship in St. Vincent and Grenadines. Go ahead. If you think youre a big fish. Leh we see how you can deal with this. The Prime Minister, some observers say for the first time, disclosed that the loan agreements his government has signed with Taipei included clauses that would "make all outstanding loans payable immediately if SVG ends diplomatic relations with Taiwan, though he admitted that the condition was implied rather than stated in explicit language. All in all, though, the country was waking up to a side of the diplomatic relations with Taiwan of which might not have been aware. St. Vincent and the Grenadines formally established diplomatic relations with Taiwan on August 15, 1981. The initiative was taken by the then St. Vincent Labour Party. That relationship has progressed through the last 42 years without any indication of encumbrances or major disagreements. How much Taiwan has benefited from the relationship has never been quantified though there are strong indications that they have benefited directly or indirectly from the bond. The president Ms. Jolesia Pope (right) along with a member Rackiem Defreitas (left) presented fruit baskets as a way of showing love. The elderly at the Thompson Home at Richmond Hill, Kingstown were treated to donations of fruit baskets on Good Friday. The donations were made by members of the Inter-School and College Christian Fellowship of the Division of Technical and Vocational Education of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Community College SVGCC. The president of the DTVE ISCCF Ms. Jolesiia Pope and member Rackiem Defreitas presented the fruit baskets as a way of showing much love to the elderly. Ms. Pope said that she hopes that they (elderly) felt their (ISCCF) love and that the group was happy to make them feel special on "Good Friday. She said it is part of the ISCCFs mandate to have outreach/mission programmes to share the love of Jesus. The DTVE branch of the ISCCF was revised in 2022 after a prolonged period of dormancy. After 12 years of diplomatic isolation, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is being brought back into the fold, with regional powers meeting Friday to discuss readmitting Syria to the Arab League. AFP looks back at the drive to rehabilitate the Syrian regime, even as the war continues. 2011: International pariah In November 2011, the 22-member Arab League suspends Syria, a founding member of the body, over the government's bloody crackdown on anti-government protests. The league also imposes sanctions on Syria, including a ban on senior Syrian officials traveling to other Arab countries. The US, most European Union members and several Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, later break off ties with Damascus, betting on the regime's demise. The US and EU had already imposed several rounds of sanctions, including a weapons embargo. But Syria maintains a key ally in Russia, which vetoes numerous Security Council resolutions denouncing Assad's regime. 2018: Gulf outreach By 2018, with government forces and their allies back in control of much of the country after Russia intervenes to shore up Assad's regime, several Arab states begin making moves to normalise ties with Damascus. In December 2018, the United Arab Emirates, a key Saudi ally, reopens its embassy in Damascus, citing the need for the Arab world to counter the "regional expansionism" of Assad ally Iran, at the time an archfoe of Riyadh. In October 2021, Jordan's King Abdullah II holds his first call with Assad since the start of the war. In March 2022, Assad visits the UAE on his first official visit to an Arab country and his first to a foreign country other than Russia or Iran since the war began. 2022: Thaw in Turkey ties The rapprochement with the Arab world is mirrored by warming ties with neighboring Turkey. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a fierce opponent of Assad at the outset of the war, arming Syria's rebels and welcoming millions of refugees. But as the years pass the two find common ground, with both viewing the US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces who control parts of north and northeast Syria as a threat. Turkey carries out three ground offensives against the Syrian Kurds between 2016 and 2019, accusing them of backing Kurdish rebels in Turkey, and in late 2022 threatens a fourth. In December 2022, the Turkish and Syrian defense ministers hold talks with their Russian counterpart in Moscow. After the talks Erdogan says a meeting with Assad is a possibility. February 2023: Quake shift The devastating Feb. 6, 2023 quake in southern Turkey and northern Syria, which left at least 6,000 Syrians dead, accelerates moves by Arab states to end Syria's isolation. Saudi Arabia, which had backed Syria's rebels in the early stages of the war, sends help to both government- and rebel-held areas. Lebanon, which had adopted a policy of dissociation, sends its first high-level delegation to Damascus since 2011. Assad also receives his first call from his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, who assumed office in 2014 and who sends his foreign minister to Damascus days later. Assad thanks his "Arab brothers" for their help. A month later, Saudi Arabia announces that it has started talks with Damascus about resuming consular services. In early April, Tunisian President Kais Saied announces plans to reopen his country's embassy in Syria, which says it will reciprocate. April 2023: Iran-Saudi reset A surprise Chinese-brokered rapprochement between longtime rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia in early April adds momentum to Assad's rehabilitation. Events move rapidly, with Syria's foreign minister visiting Riyadh for talks on April 12, on the same day as an Iranian delegation. Two days later, representatives of nine Arab states the six Gulf countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE plus Egypt, Iraq and Jordan meet in the Saudi city of Jeddah to discuss readmitting Syria to the Arab League. 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). A federal judge ruled this week that a Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigations agent has some qualified immunity in a lawsuit brought by a Laramie County farmer who alleges her rights were violated during a 2019 search and seizure. Deborah Palm-Egle says the search warrant came from a misinformed tip from a neighbor who believed she was growing marijuana on her farm. She filed the lawsuit last year, which currently names Jon Briggs and the DCI as defendants. On Thursday, a federal judge decided Briggs did not violate Palm-Egles Fourth Amendment right when writing the affidavit that supported the search warrant, a summary judgment order states. Palm-Egle failed to prove the affidavit contained a reckless misstatement or omission that would have wrongly led to securing the warrant. But the lawsuit is still expected to be heard in front of a jury in Casper next month, a pretrial order shows. The ten-day trial is set to start on May 15 in front of U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl. Skavdahl denied making a summary judgment on some of Palm-Egles claims, meaning those will likely head to trial -- whether her Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable search was violated and whether there was a violation of state laws against trespassing. The court is also withholding a ruling on Palm-Egles state negligence claim until a legal question is answered by the Wyoming Supreme Court, the judgment order shows. In 2019, Briggs, while working for DCI, received a tip that Palm-Egle was growing marijuana on her farm near Albin, the filing shows. The town is about 50 miles northeast of Cheyenne. She maintains she was growing hemp and not marijuana. Palm-Egle and three others were charged with three drug-related felonies as a result, the filing states. However, those charges were dismissed following a preliminary hearing in circuit court. This case involves an alleged instance of mistaken identity (of a plant)... the filing states. She indicated that she believed the search may have been part of a concerted effort to obtain a convictionpartly as a retaliation against (Palm-Egle) for her support of hemp legislation, the initial complaint states. Palm-Egle was a vocal advocate of hemp legislation in Wyoming, which eventually passed. It allows residents to grow and possess the plant, as long as it has low-THC percentages under 0.3%. THC is the psychoactive element in cannabis, which is responsible for the effects on a persons mental space or what makes people high. Hemp has a much lower concentration of the chemical and is specifically used for medicinal or industrial use. On Nov. 1, 2019, Briggs and another officer went to the property, but no one was there. While looking for someone, Briggs allegedly drove from the house to a barn on the farm. There was an opening in the barn, and Briggs took photographs of the inside without permission, the filing states. One of the photographs showed a green, leafy substance hanging from the ceiling. Briggs drafted a statement in support of a search and seizure based upon that, and the search warrant was executed three days later, the filing states. Agents seized 720 pounds of plants from the barn. A lab report was done and nine of the samples had a THC concentration that was slightly above 0.3%. But the levels of THC in this case are so close to .3 that the Court cannot find probable cause to find that there was intent to possess and distribute, conspire regarding marijuana in the totality of it. The evidence is clear that the intent was to produce the hemp, Circuit Court Judge Antionette Williams said in Aug. 2020 while dismissing the charges. The three are accused of submitting multiple false and misleading Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications. They received over $400,000 in loans they were not entitled to. Wyoming Game and Fish Department comments cast doubt on irrigators claims that a 264-foot-high dam proposed in Carbon County will benefit fisheries, riparian zones and wetland-wildlife habitats. The dam proposed for the West Fork of Battle Creek above the Little Snake River on the Medicine Bow National Forest would provide 6,000 acre-feet of late-season irrigation to ranches near Baggs, Dixon and Savery and in Colorado. The 700-foot-long concrete dam and associated 130-acre reservoir would also provide a minimum bypass flow to improve fisheries in downstream creeks and rivers, according to the proposal. The reservoir itself could be a brood facility and refuge for native Colorado River cutthroat trout, a species of conservation concern, the Wyoming Water Development Commission and others say. As dam backers plans were opened to formal public review and comment earlier this year, however, critics challenged the rosy ecological picture and accounting of public benefits claimed by water developers. Among these critics is Wyomings own Game and Fish Department, which says construction and operation of the dam would cause substantial negative impacts on the aquatic and fisheries resources in the West Fork Battle Creek, Battle Creek and Little Snake River drainages. Even though mitigation efforts are likely to offset such impacts and may conserve and enhance fish and wildlife habitat, the wildlife agency expressed reservations about the project. Given the complexity of ecological systems and inherent uncertainties about project operation and impacts and future climate and hydrology, Game and Fish wrote in nine pages of comments, it is not known if the proposed project will benefit fisheries, riparian, and wetland wildlife habitats, as suggested by the proponents. Wyomings wildlife agency made its comments along with 935 other individuals and organizations as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a federal agency tasked with aiding agriculture on private lands, analyzes the project through an environmental impact statement. Eight hundred and ninety-nine commenters opposed dam construction and an associated land swap with the Medicine Bow National Forest that would enable it. Game and Fish offered six pages of recommendations for how to potentially alleviate some of the dams impacts. Those include a program to wipe out non-native trout from a network of creeks that extends about six miles upstream of the dam site. Colorado River cutthroat trout would then be planted in an artificial brood facility in the reservoir and upstream. In launching the plan to dam the West Fork of Battle Creek, dam backers declared benefits would accrue to fisheries, riparian and wetland wildlife habitats, and water-associated recreation, according to a legal notice published in the Federal Register. Ecological objectives include improvements to aquatic ecosystems and riparian habitats by supplementing stream flows during low-flow periods, and to terrestrial habitat associated with irrigation-induced wetlands, the notice posted by the NRCS states. Benefits are expected to accrue to these attributes [downstream] to the confluence with the Yampa River including improvements to both cold water and warm water sensitive species. Fisheries below the dam could benefit from 1,500 acre-feet earmarked for bypass flow, a 483-page Wyoming study says. Bypass water that would be released from the dam would maintain a minimum flow for about 4 miles downstream. Nothing in the plan as currently written, however, would prevent any irrigator from taking water out of the creek below that point and using it for irrigation. Without an in-stream flow water right, once released from the bypass flow account in West Fork Reservoir, the water could be used or diverted for other purposes, Jason Mead, interim director of the Wyoming Water Development Office wrote in an email. Nevertheless, [m]ost of the water released solely for habitat flow purposes, according to hydrologic models, occurs during the non-irrigation season months, Mead wrote. [T]here are no irrigation diversions below the [proposed] West Fork Reservoir on the West Fork of Battle Creek or Battle Creek until it runs on to private land. The 4.8-mile reach of Battle Creek that runs across private land would benefit from approximately 1,414 new fishery habitat units if the dam were built, according to Wyomings study. A habitat unit supports about one pound of trout per acre. Together, the new aquatic productivity could facilitate additional private enterprise investment which could generate direct private fishing benefits of $144,228 annually, the Wyoming Water Development Office says in the 2017 study. That money would increase through an economic theory known as an indirect benefit multiplier, producing $379,320 in private benefits annually and $8.2 million over 50 years, Wyomings plan states. That, plus other instream flow benefits, are estimated to generate $35 million in public benefits in the dams half-century life, the WWDO study states. All told, the state forecasts $73 million in public benefits. That sum justifies the state paying for most of the 2017-estimated $80 million project price tag. Given the unique location of the West Fork Reservoir project, its most valuable recreation attribute may be its isolated location which provides a sense of solitude that some recreationalists seek and consider priceless, the state study reads. In a comment letter, downstream ranch owners Sharon and Pat OToole said the proposed dam offers multiple benefits, and would offset the city of Cheyennes water diversions from the Little Snake River Basin. An environmental benefit would include creating and enhancing wetlands and riparian habitats upstream from the West Fork Reservoir, and improving stream habitat to sequester copper and other metals from an abandoned mine, the OTooles wrote. The created wetlands and improved stream channel could also provide wetland and stream channel mitigation for the project. Our family owns all the private land on Battle Creek, the couple wrote, adding that in the lower reaches we have Colorado Cutthroat Trout, along with other species. Haggerty Creek [above the site of the proposed reservoir] used to provide habitat for this species of interest, and could again, with the benefit provided by the dam. The proposed dam would offer value to the recreating public. It would provide a fishery on Haggerty Creek and downstream that does not presently exist. John Cobb, chairman of the Little Snake River Conservation District, an irrigation group, wrote that there are many self-mitigating aspects of this [dam-building] alternative with the potential to drastically offset any potential negative impacts. Dam construction could result in a net benefit to the native ecosystems and human economies that thrive within the proposed service area of this project, his comment reads. The project would also contribute to the goals of the Colorado-based Yampa, White, Green Roundtable, a consortium of river users, according Jonathan Bowler, watermaster for the Savery-Little Snake River Water Conservancy District that applied to build the dam. Among those is a goal to develop a system to reduce water shortages and meet environmental and recreation needs, he said in a presentation to the group. In addition to Game and Fish comments on the plan, reaction includes reviews and criticism from angling and conservation groups. Wyoming proposes to swap state property for federal land to enable construction, and budgets $594,000 of the estimated $80 million project cost for wetland and stream mitigation, public documents state. Without endorsing construction, Wyoming Trout Unlimited recommended that any plan include funding for non-native brook trout removal and other conservation measures, Kathy Buchner, Wyoming TU Council chair and two other TU officers wrote. Other groups were more critical. Five years of construction will destroy the present aquatic habitat for all populations of vertebrate and invertebrate species and terrestrial wildlife habitat, wrote Brian Smith, a former Wyoming water development technician who operated the nearby High Savery Dam and Reservoir where Game and Fish established a similar Colorado River cutthroat trout reserve. Spawning migrations that have occurred [in and above Battle Creek] presumebly (sic) since the last ice age by CRCT will be terminated. The Little Snake River Drainage is one of only 3 in the State of Wyoming, where the CRCT exist. The nonprofit American Rivers also criticized the state plan, saying the proposed project could threaten year-round water in the Belvidere Ditch upstream of the proposed reservoir. That ditch is a WGFD stocking source of cutthroat trout, and disruption there could harm these valuable populations. Matt Rice, the groups Colorado River Basin program director, said threats to the ditch could damage one of the only remaining healthy populations of cutthroat trout [and] could perhaps push the species sufficiently to the brink to merit a federally endangered listing. The dam would further reduce flows downstream, including in the Yampa River with additional consequences for protection and recovery of pikeminnow and other sensitive species, Rice wrote. A promise of ecological benefits downstream is unsubstantiated, wrote Ben Beall, Friends of the Yampa president. He said that was a questionable claim given the projects stated primary purpose is to supply late season irrigation water and the limitation of capacity of the bypass account in the reservoir. Worries about the dams impacts and a lack of critical review emerged well before the NRCS opened the issue for comments. When the Medicine Bow began preparing for a potential land swap two years ago, a staff hydrologist became alarmed that the dams effects wouldnt be thoroughly analyzed. The Medicine Bow distributed a briefing paper to its staff that included language taken from the water development justifications/benefit promotional material and adopted by FS management/lands staff w/o consultation of fisheries professionals, Medicine Bow hydrologist Bill Gloss wrote to colleagues. The Medicine-Bow distributed the briefing paper after dam backers had held several meetings with national forest officials and put the bureaucratic wheels in motion for the land exchange, according to an email chain obtained by WyoFile through a Freedom of Information Act request. There is much more to the aquatics story, Gloss wrote, including the upstream reaches above the reservoir not supporting fish populations due to metals contamination and dewatering from an irrigation ditch, the in-reservoir and downstream trade-offs from altered flow, etc. If I could achieve one thing related to this project, it would be an honest and critical look at the social and environmental effects Gloss wrote. He held out little hope for that honest and critical look. There are a lot of factors in play making that approach very unlikely at the moment his email read. A Medicine-Bow spokesman earlier this year wrote that Glosss worries are now unfounded. In briefing papers like the one Gloss complained about, external opinions are encouraged to be included in the full range of information, as they help give situational awareness, spokesman Aaron Voos wrote in an email. Information in the briefing paper was appropriately cited to make clear it came from project proponents, he wrote. Further the Medicine Bow will consider the social and environmental effects of the dam and a wide range of public input and values for the public lands, water and resources involved, Voos wrote. That will be accomplished with the EIS. We are a cooperating agency in that process and will be involved. The Medicine Bow, however, has no plans to peer-review Wyomings study of public benefits that justifies state funding of the dam, Voos wrote. The NRCS also said it will not peer-review the 483-page Wyoming Little Snake River final report of 2017. At this time we cannot say whether or not the Little Snake River Supplemental Storage Level II Phase II Study Report will be used in the land exchange feasibility analysis, Voos wrote. [H]owever, it could be used as a reference document during the feasibility analysis or at other points in the land exchange and NEPA processes. 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 Wednesdays 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 Bismarck 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 governments 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 administrations 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 EPAs authority to determine jurisdictional waters under the Clean Water Act. It may also determine EPAs 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 Attorney General Drew Wrigley, 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. 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. Port of Spain Mayor Joel Martinez intends to ask for an investigation as to why it is with t A Freeport family is grieving after one of their loved ones became the countrys latest road Amid the escalating murderous scourge in our country some are finding it possible to use a f MURDER SCENE: Crime scene investigators gather evidence by the bullet-riddled Mitsubishi Triton van, in which two security officers were killed and a third critically injured on Monday afternoon in the vicinity of Pennywise Super Centre, La Romaine. The guards, from Allied Security Ltd, were ambushed after they collected the days sales from Pennywise Super Centre. Photo: DEXTER PHILIP PHOENIX Those tamales sold on street corners and in front of grocery stores, after being prepared in Arizona home kitchens, may soon become legal. Ditto menudo, posole, pupusas and anything else now readily available. With only 11 dissenting votes, the state House approved legislation Thursday to expand state laws that allow the sale of cottage foods to the general public. The Senate already gave its blessing, so House Bill 2509 now goes to Gov. Katie Hobbs. State law generally gives the Arizona Department of Health Services oversight of foods and drinks sold at the retail level. That includes minimum standards for kitchens and equipment as well as regulations for producing, processing, labeling, storing, handling, serving and transporting the products. Lawmakers approved an exemption in 2010 for home kitchens if their products are not potentially hazardous and do not require time or temperature controls. That has allowed for the sale of baked items. Strictly speaking, the sale of home-prepared items that have to be cooked and kept warm remains illegal. That would change if Hobbs signs the measure. Its long overdue, said Rep. Travis Grantham. The Gilbert Republican said his legislation simply recognizes the facts on the ground: These items are widely offered for sale. What would change is that the cooks who prepare them and the family members who sell them would no longer be subject to fines. Opponents cite food-borne illnesses Not everyone thinks it is a good idea. During debate Thursday, Rep. Patty Contreras, R-Phoenix, told colleagues of her experience as a food service manager for more than 15 years, including at one point managing five commercial kitchens preparing more than 2,000 meals a day for home-bound seniors and others. She rattled off a litany of the kinds of illnesses people can get if food is not cooked at the proper temperature for the necessary period of time. For example, she said campylobachter causes an estimated 1.5 million illnesses in the United States every year. Symptoms range from diarrhea and nausea to stomach cramps. And then theres E. coli, which can have similar effects. Grantham, for his part, isnt worried. I understand there are safety concerns with a bill like this, he said. But I personally have never been made ill or had food poisoning from something Ive bought from cottage food. I have been made ill at a restaurant, ironically. An honest living The debate went far beyond questions of food safety and instead to economic development and to issues of culture. Rep. Consuelo Hernandez, D-Tucson, said it was hypocritical of lawmakers who, like her, represent largely Latino districts to oppose legalizing the widespread practice. And her sister, Rep. Alma Hernandez, D-Tucson, questioned how many people who wont support the legislation actually have purchased tamales or similar items themselves from street vendors. I just find it a little hypocritical of us to sit here and pretend that weve never tried them, weve never supported someone thats selling them from their home, she said. I find it extremely troubling that we are saying that this is going to kill Arizonans because someone is making food from their home and selling it, Alma Hernandez said. She said a lot of those sellers are single mothers living in her district. She said its a problem that it remains illegal and those who get reported are subject to fines. I find it extremely troubling that someone who is trying to make a living, again, an honest living selling tamales or selling menudo on the weekends, which, believe me, there are many of us sitting here who have constituents that are doing that just to try to make their bills, Alma Hernandez said. Were talking about those in our communities who are doing what they can to provide food on their own table, she continued. And Ill tell you that Maria and the other women that live in my district who sell tamales that I buy from every month are not going to do something thats going to prohibit them from being able to sell again because their reputations on the line. Competition to restaurants But Rep. Judy Scheiebert, D-Phoenix, said the issue goes beyond safety. She cited a constituent who runs an Indian restaurant near her house. He had been doing a pretty good business, she said. But since the pandemic he has really been undercut by people who have been preparing food at home, advertising it on the internet, on social media or on WhatsApp and have been serving the food in their backyards and also just accepting cash payments. So he asked, Why would I as a restaurant owner follow the rules when other people dont have to follow those rules? If the state is going to allow home kitchens there should be some cap on the amount of business they can do, Scheiebert said. Grantham, however, said the opposition from restaurants is they just dont want the competition. Others had their own reasons for supporting the legislation. Rep. Teresa Martinez, R-Casa Grande, spoke of an Eloy constituent, a single mother whose husband left her with children, who makes a living selling all kinds of breads and baked items made at home. She is fighting to be a U.S. citizen the legal way, pursuing the American dream, Martinez said. This bill will allow Anna Brown from Eloy to be able to do so much more. And then there were those for whom the issue was more a question of personal gastronomy. I like tamales and I vote aye, said Rep. Tim Dunn, R-Yuma. Some limits would remain in place Grantham said even if Hobbs signs the measure there still would be limits. For example, a cottage food producer cannot run a restaurant out of their home, he said. Grantham said existing prohibitions about having alcohol or cannabis in home-prepared goods are being strengthened. He also said if the foods are being sold online there must be a specific disclosure that the items were prepared in a home kitchen. And Rep. Alexander Kolodin, R-Scottsdale, said theres another reason to support the measure: the environment. If you want to talk about a bill that encourages eating local and addresses the climate change that is supposedly caused by the transportation of food across long distances then you should be in support of the bill, he said. PHOENIX The Arizona Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty against a man convicted of the 1995 murder of University of Arizona music professor Roy Johnson. In a unanimous decision Friday, the justices said Beau Greene was sentenced to death based on a law at the time that said those who commit murder for pecuniary purposes monetary gain are eligible for the ultimate punishment. They acknowledged that provision of the law was subsequently repealed by the Arizona Legislature but found no evidence state lawmakers intended to make that change retroactive. The court also rejected Greenes contention it would be wrong to execute him now for something that lawmakers have since decided should no longer be considered when determining the motive for a crime. The conduct Greene engaged in, aside from his motive to murder, remains subject to a sentence of death and his actions in murdering Johnson continue to fall within that narrow category of the most serious crimes, wrote Justice William Montgomery for the court. Given that Greenes sentence fulfills the penological goals of deterrence and retribution, it is our considered judgment that his sentence is proportionate to his murder of Johnson. Fridays ruling does not end the legal wrangling. There is still a parallel challenge playing out in the federal court system over Greenes other legal arguments, including whether he was denied effective assistance of counsel. Court records show Johnson was last publicly seen the evening of Feb. 28, 1995, leaving Green Valley Presbyterian Church, where he had given an organ recital. Greene, who admitted he had been using meth continuously for several days and was suffering from withdrawal, said Johnson approached him and offered to pay for oral sex. When Johnson did not follow through, Greene said he freaked out and struck Johnson several times in the head. He then put Johnson in the back of his car and drove to a wash, where he dumped the body and drove away. Greene said he then remembered he needed money, so he returned to the wash, walked down to the body, and stole Johnsons wallet. Greene went on a spending spree using Johnsons credit cards. He was arrested several days later at a friends house. He was eventually sentenced to death. Monetary gain as aggravating factor In 2020 he filed a petition for post-conviction relief. Lawmakers had in 2019 altered the list of aggravating factors in the capital punishment statutes. Under Arizona law, murder, by itself, does not automatically mean imposition of the death penalty. Instead, the jury has to consider whether there were aggravating factors, ranging from whether there was a prior conviction for another crime for which the death penalty could have been imposed, the defendant was on probation, the victim was a police officer, or the offense was committed in an especially heinous, cruel or depraved manner. That list at the time of Greenes 1996 sentencing also included language that allowed for the death penalty if the crime was committed in expectation of anything of pecuniary or monetary value. That was one of the factors used to impose the death sentence. But the current version was narrowed to include only situations of a murder-for-hire. Based on that and parallel arguments, Pima County Superior Court Judge Wayne Yehling vacated Greenes death sentence. That was wrong, the state Supreme Court found. Nothing in the 2019 amendment suggested lawmakers meant the change to be retroactive. Montgomery wrote. Absent such language, he said, the new language was prospective only. Greene also argued his sentence violates the Eight Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment because the decision of lawmakers to eliminate the pecuniary gain provision shows they no longer believe that particular conduct deserves the death penalty. Montgomery disagreed. He said while lawmakers eliminated the motive as a specific factor in allowing the death penalty, they did not enact legislation that categorically exempted him and his conduct from the penalty. Nor did the Legislature foreclose imposition of a death sentence for a defendant who commits a similar crime under similar circumstances as Greene, Montgomery wrote. While Greenes pecuniary gain motive for murdering Johnson may no longer be considered by a jury in determining whether to impose a death sentence, the Legislature did not eliminate consideration of his conduct in murdering Johnson. Teachers at BASIS Tucson North charter school voted Wednesday to unionize, making theirs the first charter school in Arizona to do so, union organizers say. The margin was 34-17 in the National Labor Relations Board election on the schools campus at 5740 E. River Road, says a news release from the American Federation of Teachers. Its high time for Arizona charter schools to stop manipulating the right-to-work laws and taking advantage of our teachers, parents, and students. BASIS should be ashamed of their treatment of their teachers and eagerly welcome negotiating rights for their staff, said Ralph Quintana, president of the American Federation of Teachers Arizona, in the news release. Phil Handler, vice president of communications for BASIS Charter Schools, told The Arizona Republic in a statement that the BASIS network respects the teachers at BASIS Tucson North and their right to vote to unionize. We remain focused on the best interests of students at BASIS Tucson North, and making sure this school remains one of the best in Arizona and the nation. We will keep working hard to ensure thats the case, while following the law and negotiating in good faith with the union, he said. The BASIS Charter School network has 22 schools in Arizona. BASIS Tucson North is one of about 560 charter schools in Arizona. The average teacher salary at BASIS Tucson North is $52,081, according to the schools website. Tucson Unified School District, meanwhile, reports its average teacher pay is $53,735. BASIS Tucson North teachers will move to bargain a first contract with the schools administration to ensure additional accountability, administrative transparency, and more resources and time to effectively identify and address student needs, the union said in its news release. Justine Sleator, an 8th-grade algebra teacher, said in the release, As a BASIS alumni and second-generation BASIS teacher, I am so proud to be a part of this community of teachers. Our union will allow us to reprioritize the needs of our students. We will be able to protect new teachers from burnout and retain high-quality educators, as BASIS has been known for. Duncan Hasman, an 8th-10th grade Spanish teacher, said in the written statement, Teachers and teaching fellows at BASIS Tucson North are demanding their needs and students educations be prioritized. The entirety of the organizing committee and I are so proud of our fellow educators for making this momentous step a reality. The American Federation of Teachers represents more than 240 charter schools in 15 states and Washington, D.C., or nearly 12% of charter schools in the U.S., according to the union news release. The coronavirus turned loved ones into statistics and kept families from gathering in hospital rooms and funeral homes to say goodbye. A new public art project on Tucsons south side will give that community a place to remember the names of those who were lost. Tucson artists Alexandra Alex! Jimenez and Paloma Jaqueline plan to build a large altar dedicated to southside residents who died from COVID-19, and they are seeking help from the community to decorate the ceramic tiles that will cover the memorial. Jimenez is hoping the site will become a sort of permanent ofrenda, where families can mourn and remember their loved ones. A lot of families werent able to grieve or have the ceremony they would have wanted if there hadnt been a pandemic going on, the southside native said. Almost 1,000 southside residents have died from COVID-19 since March of 2020, according to figures from the state that loosely cover metro Tucson south of 22nd Street and west of Kino Parkway. Thats nearly one quarter of all coronavirus deaths recorded in Pima County. Many of those names will be stamped on the tiles that will decorate the In Memory Of project. With approval from the city of Tucson, Jimenez and Jaqueline hope to install the altar by the end of June at Mission Manor Park on 12th Avenue south of Drexel Road, in the Sunnyside Neighborhood. The memorial is for the southside community, and it will live in the southside community, Jimenez said. There are several ways for southside residents to participate in the project: People can submit the name of a relative to be added to the memorial; they can come in and physically stamp their loved ones name into the clay; or they can attend one of several upcoming workshops to create a special tile for the person they lost. The next workshop will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 15, in the arts and crafts room at Quincy Douglas Recreation Center, 1575 E. 36th St. In Memory Of Southside residents who want to participate in the development of a permanent memorial for those lost to COVID-19 should go to the projects website at www.inmemoryofproject.com. The website includes a form for submitting a name to be included in the memorial. You can also sign up for an upcoming workshop or a studio appointment to stamp your loved ones name in clay or create a special tile in that persons honor. Tile-making workshops will be held from 2:30-5 p.m. April 15 at Quincy Douglas Recreation Center, 1575 E. 36th St., and from 10 a.m.-noon April 30 and May 7 at Wakefield Middle School, 101 W. 44th St. Studio appointments are available on Tuesdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and Wednesdays between 2 and 6 p.m. through May 12. Jimenez said the personalized tiles have enough room on them to be imprinted with small objects of importance to the departed a ring, a comb, a watch or a string of rosary beads. Creating such a tribute can be an emotional experience, she said, so private studio time is available for anyone who isnt comfortable being around other people in a workshop setting. Each tile is roughly 6 inches wide, 6 inches tall and rounded into the shape of an eye. Im not a fan of squares, Jimenez said with a laugh. The finished memorial will include about 300 tiles, arranged in an interlocking pattern that is meant to evoke waves on water. They will be glazed in different shades of blue to fit a sky-and-water motif, with water on the bottom and the night sky on top. There is something healing about water, Jimenez said. She should know. She recently served as Tucson Waters first-ever artist-in-residence. That grant-funded position led her to collect audio recordings of summer storms and recruit local musicians to build original songs around them, resulting in last years release of a uniquely Tucson Monsoon Mixtape. The COVID-19 memorial is being funded with a $77,000 grant administered by the city and paid for by the American Rescue Plan, a federal pandemic-relief bill. This is her first time working with clay, but Jimenez said the experience has felt familiar from the start. There is something almost instinctual about molding it in your hands. Its healing and grounding, because youre working with the earth, she said. It just feels right, like weve been doing it our whole lives. She has also learned a lot about ceramics from her project partner, Jaqueline, an expert potter and phenomenal teacher, Jimenez said. The idea for the memorial grew from her own experience with unexpected loss and grief. Seven years ago, Jimenezs mother died from cancer at age 52. I started realizing the extent of early death in the southside community, she said. My story just wasnt unique, which is really sad. 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." Photo via Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind | Twitter/@asdbazgov After an acrimonious, and at times openly hostile debate, the Arizona Senate on Thursday approved a bill that would continue the existence of the Arizona School for the Blind and Deaf for the next four years. If lawmakers dont act, the school is slated to cease operations on July 1. Legislation to extend the schools operations, House Bill 2456, was approved by a vote of 27-1, although many Democrats and some Republicans said they didnt actually agree with the bill. Under Arizona law, state agencies, like ASDB, face automatic termination at least once a decade. Lawmakers are required to evaluate the agency, and most are subjected to performance audits, and can reauthorize it for up to 10 years. The ASDB, which was founded in 1912, serves approximately 2,100 students across the state, which makes up about 85% of the states deaf and deaf blind youth population. The Arizona Constitution requires the state to offer education to deaf and blind students. The bill, as it was originally written, extended the schools operations for eight years. That bill sailed through the House in January and February, passing through the Education Committee and the full House of Representative unanimously. But when the bill went to the Senate, it was assigned to the Government Committee instead of the Education Committee, which amended it to decrease the schools continuation to only two years. The final bill that passed through the Senate on Thursday was the result of an amendment by Republican Sen. Ken Bennett of Prescott, who proposed a four-year continuation as a compromise. Bennett clarified during the debate that he would have voted for the eight-year continuation if that were an option. Democratic Sen. Juan Mendez, who voted against HB2456 out of protest, lambasted his GOP colleagues for not simply extending the schools operation for eight years. Today, the public saw Senate Republican Leadership hand over the reins of their caucus to a radical minority the Arizona Freedom Caucus, Mendez said in a written statement after the vote. Senator Jake Hoffman (LD15) and Senator Justine Wadsack (LD17) have led the charge to attack ASDB this entire session and their work came to fruition today through HB2456, ramming through a 4-year continuation of the school when a majority of Senators from both sides of the aisle agreed that the 8-year continuation was warranted and appropriate. Democratic Sen. Catherine Miranda accused Republicans of shortening the continuation period for the school in retribution after Wadsacks Senate Bill 1402, which would have obligated the school to provide services to children with a broad range of disabilities, failed to make it past the Senate. Democrats say that a shortened continuation period is already preventing teachers from signing contracts, as theyre worried that the schools future is uncertain, and that finding teachers who are qualified to work at the school is already a challenge. Its incredibly difficult to get high-quality teachers with the appropriate training, said Democratic Sen. Eva Burch, of Mesa. The school recruits from out of state to find people with the right training and skills, she said, and those people need a sense of job security if theyre going to uproot their lives to move to Arizona. While Democrats argued that Republicans had given them no good reason not to continue the school for the next eight years, Republicans, and specifically Hoffman, countered that they did give a reason: They want to provide increased oversight for the school, following its performance audit last year. Hoffman said the Senate aimed at delivering the best possible education services, and ensuring that oversight is done is a furtherance of that mission. The sunset audit of ASDB raised no serious red flags, but found that it has millions of dollars in capital improvement needs, including buildings that are vacant, underutilized, or that present health and safety concerns. The auditors recommended that the school develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-year capital plan that assesses, identifies, and documents its capital needs. Money to fund those plans would have to come from the GOP-controlled legislature. During the debate, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle repeatedly accused one another of impugning each others motives, which is not allowed by the rules of the legislature. Each side also accused the other of discriminating against the deaf and blind community. Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales, D-Tucson, along with several other Democrats, pointed out that they were only given notice that the Senate would vote on the schools continuation hours before the vote took place, which didnt allow time to make accommodations for those who attend and work at the school to watch and fully take in the debate. The schools superintendent, Annette Reichman, attended the Senate debate, but she is deaf and has vision limitations and was not provided with an interpreter. Hoffman pointed out that televisions were provided with closed captioning of the debate, but Democratic Sen. Christine Marsh, of Phoenix, countered that those werent sufficient for someone with poor eyesight. Sen. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, said that the short notice was because he promised he would put the bill up for a vote as soon as his caucus had come to an agreement, and Thursday was the legislatures last day in session before it takes a weeklong break. Hoffman refused to answer a question from Democratic Sen. Mitzi Epstein, asking if he had met with anyone from the school or the deaf and blind community before voting to approve the amendment that would decrease the continuation of the school to two years. We believe that an eight-year continuation is simply too long, Hoffman said. Look at how much has changed in education and the economy in the last eight years. Mendez, who introduced an amendment Thursday that would have upped the continuation budget back to eight years, pointed out that other state agencies had their existence approved for eight and 10 years. Its beyond insulting that those with sensory differences need different oversight, Mendez said. Epstein asked what other motives, besides extra oversight, might be behind the proposed two year continuation, and Democrat Raquel Teran, of Phoenix, pointed out that even Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne backed an eight-year continuation. Republican Sen. David Farnsworth said that when the legislature approves an agency for 10 years, it tends not to think about that agency for the next 10 years, so this would force the legislature itself to pay closer attention. This school is so important that we need to make sure that we help them do the best job they can, Farnsworth said. Our expectation is that this school will be around for a long, long time. Some of us feel a little more oversight is appropriate. But Farnsworths comments that those at the school are so handicapped and we have all been blessed raised the ire of some of his colleagues. Marsh apologized to the blind and deaf community for Farnsworths statements, and Mendez accused Senate Republicans of ableism. For nearly two years, The Associated Press assembled puzzle pieces from across three continents to uncover the story of a mysterious Mauritanian boat and the people it carried to death as they drifted across the Atlantic Ocean and appeared in the Caribbean island of Tobago on May 28, 2021. Mauritania, a large country in northwest Africa, is nearly 3,000 miles (4,800 km) away from Tobago. Evidence found on the boat and its style and color as a typical Mauritanian pirogue suggested the dead were likely African migrants who were trying to reach Europe but got lost in the Atlantic. Here are some takeaways from the AP investigation that included interviews with dozens of relatives and friends of missing migrants, officials and forensic experts, as well as police documents and DNA testing: 43 young men from Mauritania, Mali, Senegal and possibly other West African nations, too, are believed to have boarded the boat 135 days earlier. AP has identified 33 of them by name. They departed the Mauritanian port city of Nouadhbibou in the middle of the night between Jan. 12 and 13, 2021. Clothing and DNA testing confirmed the identification of one of the 14 bodies and additional skeletal remains found in Tobago, bringing closure to one family and opening the way for other families to seek the same. THE ATLANTIC ROUTE TO EUROPE In 2021, at least seven boats appearing to be from Northwest Africa washed up in the Caribbean and in Brazil. All carried dead bodies. These ghost boats and likely many others that have vanished are in part an unintended result of years of efforts and billions of dollars spent by Europe to stop crossings on the Mediterranean Sea. That crackdown, along with economic disruption from the pandemic among other factors, pushed migrants to return to the far longer, more obscure and more dangerous Atlantic route to Europe from northwest Africa via the Canaries instead. Arrivals on the Atlantic route jumped from 2,687 in 2019 to more than 22,000 two years later, according to Spains Interior Ministry. In 2021, at least 1,109 people died or disappeared trying to reach the Canaries according to the International Organization for Migration, the deadliest on record. But thats a fraction of the real death toll. The men in the Tobago boat, for example, are not included in this number. Other estimates are higher. Caminando Fronteras, a Spanish migrants rights organization, recorded more than 4,000 dead or missing on the Atlantic route in 2021, with at least 20 boats vanishing after departing from Mauritania. CLOSURE FOR ONE FAMILY The lack of political will and global resources to identify dead and disappeared migrants means that answers, even partial ones, are rare. Each year, thousands of families wonder about the fate of loved ones who left their homes for Europe. Few ever find out. May Sow had been desperate for news of her nephew, Alassane Sow of Mali, ever since he had gone missing from the coast of Mauritania in January 2021. From her home in Orleans, France, she searched the internet and called people across Europe and Africa looking for him. Alassane dreamt of joining his French relatives in Europe, hoping for a better life. But getting a visa seemed impossible. His mother had tried unsuccessfully eight times. So, like thousands of African migrants before him, he boarded a smugglers boat to the Canary Islands instead. His family never heard from him again. After months of searching, May found an abundance of rumors and little concrete information. Increasingly, she believed her nephew, and all those traveling with him, had likely drowned. But without proof, her family remained in limbo. She had all but given up hope of finding Alassane when an AP journalist reached out to her in November 2021. For the next 1 years, the AP traced back Alassane's steps and discovered through a cell phone found in Tobago that Alassane had boarded this boat. His aunt then recognized a piece of clothing found on one of the bodies recovered from the vessel. But only a DNA test would confirm this was Alassane's body and allow the family to bury him. After countless hurdles, the Sow family, with AP's help, sent a sample of saliva from Alassane's mother in West Africa to the Forensic Science Center in Trinidad and Tobago. Finally, on Oct. 4, 2022 - 630 days after her nephew disappeared, an email arrived in May Sows inbox. I regret to inform that the DNA sample result is a positive match. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: Combating climate change and its potentially devastating impacts is the seminal issue of our time, especially here in the Old Pueblo. While ensuring Tucson remains a habitable place will take all of us, elected officials and partnering organizations in our community must provide leadership in solving this existential threat. On April 19, Tucson voters will receive a mail-in ballot to decide the fate of the City of Tucsons Franchise agreement with Tucson Electric Power (TEP), also known as Proposition (Prop) 412. To ensure climate change is treated as the danger it truly is, Tucsonans should vote NO on Prop 412. Franchise agreements are important 25-year contracts that dictate how a utility will serve a community. Around the country, progressive municipalities like Boulder, Colorado; Salt Lake City (which is like Tucson); and Minneapolis have used franchise agreement negotiations to push electric utilities like TEP for strong communitywide climate reforms. In negotiating Prop 412, Mayor Regina Romero and the City Council have failed to meet the urgency of the moment by settling for an agreement that benefits the elites at the expense of working Tucsonans, seniors, and other persons with limited incomes. We are being nickel and dimed in the name of climate change, and the Mayor and City Council keep reaching into our pocketbooks as a matter of course. On March 21, the Mayor and City Council voted unanimously to make the Green Shade Infrastructure Fee permanent to support the Storm to Shade Program. That is in addition to the recently passed Tucson Water fee increase. Each year, city residents will see an increase in their water bills for the next four years at a rate of 5.5%. TEP is a monopoly utility with annual revenues of more than $1 billion. Instead of gaining important concessions from this mega corporation to help our community solve the climate crisis, Prop 412 will allow TEP to continue to serve Tucson for 25 years without meaningful climate action commitments or financial commitments. Prop 412 offers only meager contributions to combating climate change through the establishment of a new Community Resiliency Fee. This fee is not paid by TEP shareholders, but by everyday Tucsonans in the form of a 0.75% monthly bill increase. This increase comes at a time when TEP is seeking a $14 a month permanent rate hike from the Arizona Corporation Commission and a temporary rate increase for one year to compensate the company for high methane gas costs. The Community Resiliency Fee will raise approximately $5 million a year and will fund priorities from the recently approved Tucson Climate Action and Adaption Plan. However, during the first 8-10 years of the agreement, only $500,000 each year will go towards needed climate projects, with the remaining $4.5 million going to underground a large electric line for high-income residents in the Sam Hughes neighborhood. Climate action simply cannot take a back seat to aesthetic projects for people who do not bear the brunt of climate change, like our lower-income neighborhoods. Perhaps most disappointing, Prop 412 does not memorialize commitments from TEP to make our electric grid cleaner, faster. Making matters worse, by agreeing to this franchise, Tucson has given up its ability to pursue a Community Choice Aggregation model or the municipalization of TEPs facilities which could help deliver real climate action faster. Climate change is the urgent issue of our time. Because our city leaders have failed to adequately address it in the TEP franchise agreement, I implore all Tucsonans to join me in voting NO on Prop 412. CHRISTIANA, Del. (AP) Authorities are searching for three suspects in a shooting at a Delaware mall over the weekend that wounded three people and led to an evacuation. According to the state police, the three suspects confronted an 18-year-old man as he was leaving the Christiana Mall's food court shortly after 6:30 p.m. Saturday and began to assault him. Two friends of the victim began fighting with them, and one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and fired multiple rounds. The original target of the attack and a 16-year-old friend were each shot by three rounds in the torso and lower extremities. The three suspects, described as in their late teens, then fled. The wounded victims were treated at hospitals and listed in stable condition. An 18-year-old bystander who was on the sidewalk outside of the mall entrance was hit by a round in a lower extremity and was also treated at a hospital for a non-life-threatening wound, said authorities, who released photos and video of the suspects and asked for the public's help in identifying them. The gunfire sent shoppers fleeing from the mall as police and other first responders descended on the scene. The mall was evacuated and remained closed Sunday due to the holiday but reopened Monday. A military widows heartfelt words to her late husband moved a large crowd to tears in Owasso on Thursday. Ill always say, I love you. Ill always be yours, babe, Oklahoma Air National Guard 2nd Lt. Kristie Roberts said. You are incredibly missed, youre incredibly loved, and you will never be forgotten. Kristies sentiments to her former spouse, Tech. Sgt. Marshal Roberts, came during a dedication ceremony at Tulsa Tech to rename the Owasso post office after the fallen veteran. She was accompanied by friends and family, along with city leaders, state dignitaries and members of the Tulsa-based 138th Fighter Wing, who gathered to pay tribute to Marshal, killed at the age of 28 while deployed overseas in March 2020. The event, hosted by Rep. Kevin Herns office, commemorated the rebranding of the local mailing facility as the Technical Sergeant Marshal Roberts Post Office Building. I was moved to do something, take whatever action I could do to honor Marshals memory and to ensure that his name lived on the minds of his community, Hern said. Marshals devotion to this country and to his fellow airmen place him at the ranks of our most exceptional patriots. The legislation, HR 1298, signed into law by President Joe Biden in June 2022, pays homage to Marshals sacrifice, which came in the line of indirect enemy fire while stationed at Camp Taji in Iraq on March 11, 2020. Serving with the 219th Engineering Installation Squadron, Marshal was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve about 20 miles north of Baghdad when his unit was hit with a rocket attack. The engagement claimed Marshals life and that of another American soldier, along with a U.K. service member and two Iraqi Security Forces members. Fourteen others were wounded, including Oklahomas Tech. Sgt. Ariel E. White. Owassos newly rebranded post office, located at 1233 N. Cedar St., will now serve as a namesake for Marshal an honor that struck an emotional chord with Diane Ingland, acting district manager for the U.S. Postal Service. The stories that were shared in his (Marshals) remembrance is just testimony of a man of character, a man who was selfless and man who had courage, Ingland said. Hes a true American hero who laid down his life in defense of this nation. Owasso Mayor Kelly Lewis added, We must remember that when Tech. Sgt. Roberts chose to fulfill that calling, he made the highest sacrifice. Im so grateful to honor his memory and Im so grateful to the family as well. Several other dignitaries spoke at Thursdays ceremony, including Chief Master Sgt. Derrick Hildebrant, Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor Keith Austin and Tulsa County Commissioner Stan Sallee. Marshals new plaque at the post office will read: This building is named in honor of Technical Sergeant Marshal Roberts by an act of Congress public law, 117-143, June 16, 2022. Since his death, Marshals name has lived on through the inspirational efforts of others. The Oklahoma Air National Guard in March 2021, for example, dedicated a facility at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base in his remembrance. Eight months later, a 4-mile stretch of Oklahoma 20 between Owasso and Claremore adopted the fallen soldiers namesake. The city of Owasso held a very special place in Marshals heart, and I know it made a meaningful impact in shaping the man that he was and remains in our hearts, Kristie said. The Owasso chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution honored Retired Airforce Col. Crystal Epperson with its second Women in American History Award. Epperson received a certificate at the chapters April 12 meeting for her continued efforts in making a difference in her hometown community. Epperson, 96, was born in Nowata and has lived in Owasso for the past seven years. She is also a graduate of the OU College of Nursing. A year after she graduated, she joined the Air Force, where she spent the next 30 years traveling the world, including Korea and Vietnam where she was stationed. Over her three decades of service, she visited 92 countries. She once traveled on horseback through India and Tibet, and even saw the penguins in Antarctica. The NSDAR Owasso Chapter also recognized Epperson in 2019 during its 10-year anniversary celebration, where members presented her with a Vietnam recognition pin. Ralph Bernhardt had not taken much notice of squirrels until one particularly brazen beast demanded his attention. It was early in his freshman year at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, when Bernhardt was enjoying a respite from college life. This squirrel jumped up onto the arm of the bench I happened to be sitting on, Bernhardt recalled. And I have to say I was a bit perplexed I mean, arent squirrels supposed to be afraid of humans? But I quickly discovered that the squirrels on campus are very different, he said. They have practically no fear of humans whatsoever. I guess living in such close proximity to students has made them quite brave. Ive seen squirrels come up to people eating outside on campus and making off with a french fry, or a chicken nugget. Ive even seen pictures of squirrels carrying off a slice of pizza. Bernhardt, who had become interested in photography during his senior year at Bixby High School, where he served as yearbook editor, began focusing his various cameras on the bushy-tailed denizens of the OU campus. He created an Instagram account titled Squirrels of OU to showcase his images. Earlier this week, one of Bernhardts squirrel images was chosen the winner of the 2023 Squirrel Week photo contest run by the Washington Post. A columnist for the paper, John Kelly, has annually devoted a week of stories to all manner of squirrel-related news, and has concurrently conducted a contest for amateur photographers to submit their best squirrel images. Im not certain how I learned about the contest, Bernhardt said. I had seen mentions of it online in some forums, and I think friends may have sent me information. I did submit to last years contest and didnt even make the list of favorites, he said. So to go from that to winning was quite a surprise. The prize is a $100 gift card to Amazon, but Bernhardt said getting his work recognized by such a publication as the Washington Post is the true prize. Bernhardts winning image of a fox squirrel coming headfirst down a tree trunk was shot with his Google Pixel phone camera, proving that you dont need expensive equipment to take good photos, he said. He also believes that using his phone, rather than a large camera, enabled him to get so close to a creature obviously ready for its close-up. I sent in three images I had taken around campus, Bernhardt said. The others I shot using a digital camera with the zoom lens, which blurs the background. A phone camera uses a super wide-angle lens, and that allowed me to capture all the detail of the tree as well as the squirrel. His social media accounts include images of everything from portraits to landscapes taken during his travels to such places as Denmarks Faroe Islands and the Italian region of Tuscany, where he spent six months last year as part of a foreign internship through OU. Bernhardt will be graduating in May, with a bachelors degree in creative media production. Its focused more on video, which I enjoy because its challenging, he said. Its also more work, because you dont have the same level of control as you have when working with still photography. Id like to get into documentary film making, but Im really just interested in creating images, whether they move or are still. Bernhardt is also wanting to keep his Squirrels of OU account active, but how he might accomplish that after graduation may prove to be another challenge. Maybe Ill just have to come back to campus every so often to keep on things, he said. A federal lawsuit challenging the legality of the state of Oklahomas court fine and fee collection system is heading back to district court after an appellate court reversed the dismissal of the case two years ago. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision Monday overturns a lower court ruling issued in 2021 in a case brought on behalf of indigent state court defendants. A three-judge panel on the appellate court ruled that U.S. Senior District Judge Terence Kern incorrectly applied a series of prior court decisions when issuing his ruling. We agree that the district court erred in dismissing the (second amended class-action complaint) on the basis of Rooker-Feldman, Younger and/or Heck, the panel ruled, citing three court doctrines. Kern granted dismissal requests, ending the lawsuit in March 2021, ruling that the federal court did not have jurisdiction to hear the claims contained in a 2017 lawsuit filed on behalf of eight indigent individuals jailed or threatened with jail for failing to pay court fines and costs. The lawsuit named area sheriffs, the Oklahoma Sheriffs Association, Tulsa and Rogers counties officials, state court judges, and Aberdeen Enterprises II Inc. and its principal officers. Aberdeen contracted with the Sheriffs Association to collect owed fines and fees, according to the lawsuit. The plaintiffs generally claimed that they were subject to arrest for nonpayment of court fines and fees without a required hearing to give them an opportunity to explain why they did not pay. Kern, in siding with the defendants, wrote that state courts should get the first crack at hearing the issue. The courts of Oklahoma are not only capable of addressing all of Plaintiffs alleged concerns; they must address these issues first, pursuant to long-standing principles of comity and federal abstention, Kern wrote. The appellate court said Kern also erred when he cited the so-called Younger abstention doctrine, named for a 1971 U.S. Supreme Court decision, in dismissing the case. The Younger decision called on federal courts to stay out of ongoing state court matters to avoid undue interference. The doctrine applied when state court matters were ongoing, the appellate court said. The appellate court ruled that the Younger ruling did not apply in this case because the overall process of collecting court debts, beginning after the entry of the criminal judgment to payment of the last dollar owed, does not amount to a single ongoing state proceeding for the purposes of Younger. Featured news video: Lankford talks about foreign land sales, Oklahoma medical marijuana connection A Tulsa man will serve 15 years in prison in connection with the 2019 stabbing death of another man as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. Lance Dylan Gatzman, 25, pleaded guilty Thursday in Tulsa federal court to second-degree murder in Indian Country in the stabbing death of Christian Jones, 21, according to court records. The agreement still requires judicial approval. The fatal stabbing occurred Oct. 24, 2019, near Third Street and Norfolk Avenue, reportedly over a bicycle. I intentionally stabbed him multiple times with a knife, Gatzman wrote in his plea, referring to Jones. The two had reportedly been fighting before bystanders broke up the altercation. Gatzman then chased down Jones and stabbed him in the upper torso. Jones died at a hospital. Police arrested Gatzman the same day a short distance away from the stabbing. Gatzman has been in custody since his arrest. Gatzman was initially charged with first-degree murder in Tulsa County District Court. State prosecutors dropped charges against Gatzman after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2020 issued its landmark McGirt decision, which limited the state of Oklahomas criminal jurisdiction due to the continued existence of the Muscogee Nation reservation. Gatzman is a member of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation and the stabbing occurred within the Muscogee Nation reservation. A federal grand jury indicted Gatzman in August 2020 on first-degree murder charges. In December 2021, a judge stayed proceedings in the case after determining Gatzman was incompetent to stand trial. Gatzman received treatment at a federal government prison hospital. A judge on Jan. 11 determined that Gatzman had been restored to competency and could stand trial. Prosecutors on April 6 filed a felony information charging Gatzman with second-degree murder in Indian Country. A judge will determine at Gatzmans sentencing whether to accept the plea agreement and stipulated prison term. Gatzmans original first-degree murder charge will be dismissed at his sentencing, a date for which has not been determined. A second-degree murder conviction carries a statutory maximum prison term of life in prison. Tulsa World Newsroom podcast True crime in Tulsa: Why are Tulsa police so good at solving homicides? Electric cars will be highlighted at this years Tulsa Auto Show with a new feature that will allow guests to ride in one of the cars. While some electric cars have been showcased in the past, this part of the show is meant to show off just another aspect of the vehicle market, said Nicole Thompson, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Automobile Dealers Association. The ridealong feature will cater to increased consumer interest as people become more curious about electric vehicles, she said. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, between 2020 and 2021, Oklahoma saw EV ownership increase by 108.24% year-over-year, with EV registrations rising from 3,400 to 7,080 in that time frame. A lot of people have never been in them, and hopefully these car rides will pique peoples interest further, Thompson said. More consumer education needs to happen, she added. The makes featured in the ridealong event include Porsche, Mercedes and Audi. Dealers will be able to talk about their electric car options on the shows floor, she said. The show is making a comeback after taking a year off because of a shortage of semiconductor chips due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Thompson said. The industry is slowly recovering from the shortage, making this years show a possibility, said Peter Hodges, the associations president. Along with the electric vehicles, the show will feature gas-run models such as the Ford Mustang, which will be showing off its 2024 edition, Thompson said. Overall, the show will boast about 250 cars across 20 different makes, Hodges said. Also, local car clubs will be lending their classic cars to the event, and even the 1957 Chrysler Saratoga used in the film The Outsiders will be shown to celebrate the movies 40th anniversary, Thompson said. For those who have made car collecting a hobby, the show is a good opportunity to show off their vehicles, said Tony Bowles, a member of the Tulsa Vette Set car club. Bowles will be showing off his 1973 Corvette for the first time at the show. He regularly maintains the car and sometimes cruises around town in it, he said. I definitely get a lot of stares, he said, but he enjoys sharing this hobby with his family. The show is organized by the Oklahoma Automobile Dealers Association. If you go WHEN: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday WHERE: SageNet Center at Expo Square COST: $5-$10 at the door (free for kids 6 and younger) Photos: 2023 Tulsa Auto Show opening at Expo Square Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Tulsa Auto Show 2023 Check out our latest digital-only offer and subscribe now HIDE VERTICAL GALLERY ASSET TITLES The largest Civil War battle in what is now Oklahoma will be discussed from the perspective of indigenous residents in a special program this weekend. The Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center will host a free program at 1 p.m. Saturday featuring Muscogee Nation historical and cultural preservation experts. The Battle of Honey Springs, which occurred on July 17, 1863, was fought on Muscogee land, and the tribe has been involved with archaeology and fieldwork at the battle site over the years. Midge Dellinger, tribal oral historian, will discuss her ongoing study of the Civil War in Indian Territory and the use of oral history as a means of remembrance. She will be joined by Gano Perez Jr., Muscogee Nation geographic information systems cultural specialist, who will talk about archaeology at the site. Honey Springs Battlefield is located east of U.S. 69 at 69423159 E. 1030 Road near Checotah. For more information call 918-617-7125 or email honeysprings@history.ok.gov. OKLAHOMA CITY Warning that Ottawa County is facing a public safety crisis, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is urging a state appeals court to decide quickly whether two tribal reservations still exist so prosecutors can sort out who has criminal jurisdiction there. The Oklahoma House Rules Committee kept Gov. Kevin Stitts $1 billion Oklahoma Legacy Fund in play on Thursday, albeit with a J.R.R. Tolkien reference and not much obvious enthusiasm. Meeting hours before a deadline to get Senate Bill 1101 and SB 1102 through committee, the Rules Committee voted along party lines to move the legislation along to possible consideration by the full House. Sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat and Speaker of the House Charles McCall, the two bills would enact a Stitt proposal to create what amounts to an investment fund to supplement state revenue and offset or at least provide cover for tax cuts. SB 1101 would set up the fund and provide for a governing board. SB 1102 would establish a task force, made up of the governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, Senate president pro tem and House speaker, to evaluate how to best utilize the fund and whether a referendum to be submitted to the voters should be proposed in the 2024 Legislature. SB 1101 would exempt the Legacy Fund from the investment restrictions on other state funds, which for the most part are limited to conservative, government-backed instruments. Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Oklahoma City, noted that the state already has several reserve funds, including two mandated by the state constitution, and asked why another should be created that frankly, a legislature in the future could come back and use it as a slush fund. That is a very, very good question, and one I honestly dont have an answer to. Thats why we struck the title and enacting clause as the speaker and pro tem continue to negotiate, replied Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, who presented the bill on McCalls behalf. I guess my question is: Why are we doing it this way instead of your idea of just increasing the Rainy Day Fund? Pfeiffer told Fugate. Were continuing to discuss it is the best Ive got. Thursdays discussion highlighted one of the friction points between House and Senate Republicans this session. House leadership is set on tax cuts in light of the states reserves of $3 billion to $5 billion, depending on whats counted and by whom. Senate leadership, especially Appropriations Committee Chairman Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, is more cautious. Pressed by Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, on whether tax cuts might be preferable to socking the money away, Pfeiffer replied, If weve learned anything from the Hobbit, its that if you store too much wealth under the Lonely Mountain and dont distribute it out, bad things happen. Also kept alive by the Rules Committee were SB 674, which would create a task force to examine organized retail theft, and SB 561, which would allow Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients who test positive for illegal drugs to continue receiving benefits if they enter approved treatment programs. SB 193, which would grant state employees six weeks of paid maternity leave, passed out of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee with one dissenting vote. Video: Stitt calls for eliminating grocery tax, reducing personal income tax OKLAHOMA CITY Citing a desire to shrink state government, Gov. Kevin Stitt this week disbanded the states Interagency Council on Homelessness. But a former council chairman said the panels work was far from over. The council, formed in 2004 under former Gov. Brad Henry, worked with state and federal agencies, nonprofits and other groups across Oklahoma to reduce homelessness. Greg Shinn, a member and former chairman of the 26-person council, expressed concern that the governors decision will leave Oklahoma without a statewide strategy for addressing homelessness. The governor believes in keeping state government small and feels confident that the council has accomplished its task of coming up with solutions to reduce homelessness, Stitt spokeswoman Kate Vesper said in a statement. The work doesnt stop, she said. The governor trusts the pertinent agencies, especially the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, to continue their work to reduce homelessness, in addition to ongoing efforts happening at the local level. Shinn, the chief housing officer at Mental Health Association Oklahoma, said the panel had already begun work on a new five-year plan to reduce homelessness. For its previous plan, the council solicited input from stakeholders across the state and received responses from more than 700 Oklahomans. Although the state has seen some success in reducing the number of veterans experiencing homelessness, chronic homelessness is up 115% in the past eight years, and unsheltered homelessness has increased 62% during that same time period, he said. I think its a real loss for the state, Shinn said of the governors decision. Its very disappointing, and I think its shortsighted. He added that the council received no state funding, so this has no impact on the size of government. Theres no other Oklahoma entity that tackles and reports on homelessness as a statewide issue, he said. The council has brought thousands of people together at various forums to discuss the issues driving homelessness and strategies to help unhoused Oklahomans. The panel also identified gaps in services and promoted best practices for reducing homelessness, Shinn said. While criticizing Stitts decision, Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa, praised city leaders for taking greater steps to reduce homelessness. The governors decision to end the Interagency Council on Homelessness couldnt come at a worse time for Oklahomans, Nichols said in a statement. Last year, Tulsa launched an aggressive effort to address this issue, and its a shame that the governor is waving a white flag to a challenge plaguing communities across the state. Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum formed an 11-member task force last year to come up with a long-term strategy for how the city can assist the broader community in addressing homelessness. He also announced a $500 million program that aims to increase the amount of transitional, supportive and affordable housing across the city over the next two years. The Governors Office did not respond to a question about whether Stitt is considering disbanding other gubernatorial councils, task forces or advisory boards. Earlier this year, Stitt briefly and inexplicably disbanded the states Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Task Force. Following questions from the Tulsa World, the governor revived the task force created to address a backlog of untested rape kits. Homelessness in Tulsa: What was shocking to officials from 2022 survey Two encouraging actions regarding virtual charter schools came out of the Oklahoma Capitol last week. One was the denial by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board of the Catholic Church in Oklahomas application for the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. Its approval would make it the nations first religious charter school and most certainly would lead to a lawsuit. Oklahoma was chosen by national interests to find a legal test case to force public funds for religious education. The state is being used to challenge the laws around the separation of church and state. We dont need that. Rural Oklahomans are not clamoring for tax dollars to be used to pay for online religious schools; they want more support for their existing public schools. State Superintendent Ryan Walters accused radical leftists blinded by their hatred of the Catholic Church to stop the creation of the taxpayer-supported religious school. That isnt true. Before the vote, people of different faiths, including Catholics, spoke to oppose the application. No one spoke against Catholicism or for any radical changes. The speakers supported the protections provided by church and state separation. Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued a memorandum outlining legal reasons for the denial. The Oklahoma Constitution states, The Legislature shall establish and maintain a system of free public schools, not religious or private schools. And, the state constitution in section II, article 5 states no public money shall ever be used to support any religious institution, leader or teacher for any purpose. That section was upheld in 2016 when 57% of Oklahomans voted down State Question 790, which would have repealed the section. Interestingly, the other significant move regarding virtual charters could lead to the elimination of the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board in favor of an oversight board for all charter schools. The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board was created when this education option was in its infancy and not clearly understood by lawmakers. It is no longer necessary. A House committee on Tuesday kept alive Senate Bill 516 from Oklahoma Senate Education Committee Chairman Adam Pughs education reform package. It seeks to put all charter schools under a single board, tightening charter sponsorship and giving local school boards more power to block charter schools. Our preference is for all public education, which includes charter schools, to fall under the Oklahoma State Board of Education. If public schools have the same goals and legal obligations, then simplifying their oversight under one board makes sense. We appreciate lawmakers who are focused on issues brought to them by educators and local school advocates. Also, its reassuring that the virtual charter board members are vetting the religious application so thoroughly. Both are promising signs. When palm oil prices soared to record highs last year, a Malaysian estate manager surnamed Lim postponed replanting his old, unproductive trees for a third consecutive year to lock in profits - a decision he regrets and is scrambling to fix. Across Indonesia and Malaysia, which produce 85% of the world's palm oil, growers are ramping up replanting after a decade of letting estates grow older, an ageing trend that threatens to tighten supply of the commodity that accounts for nearly 60% of global vegetable oil. Oil palms start losing productivity after 20 years. Besides the cost of replanting, it takes three years for new trees to grow and yield a crop - making that land unproductive in the meantime. "If I had replanted consistently over the past 10-15 years, my yields and worker productivity could have been better, said Lim, now rushing to catch up on the backlog by replanting 5% of his 2,300-hectare estate in Perak state this year and up to 20% next year. "The joy from the high prices was short-lived," said Lim, referring to prices that reached a record 7,268 ringgit ($1,647.33) a tonne last year. Lim wanted to be referred to only by his family name due to business confidentiality. With acreage planted to palm oil mostly static in Indonesia and Malaysia and some palm oil being used to meet biofuel targets, the need is intensifying for higher yields of the commodity used in cooking oil, instant noodles, soaps, cosmetics and other products. Palm oil prices have fallen some 49% from last year's record, but the tight supply means they are expected to stay above pre-pandemic levels. Malaysia's FGV Holdings, the world's biggest palm oil producer, told Reuters it will expand its pool of replanting contractors and aims to replant 19,549 hectares this year, up from 12,436 hectares in 2022 and just 2,023 hectares in 2021. Another palm oil giant, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, told Reuters it plans to replant 10,000 hectares this year, up from a lower-than-usual 6,000 hectares in 2022. In addition to the temptation of high harvest prices, growers were deterred from replanting in recent years by rising costs and a shortage of workers during the pandemic, especially in migrant labour-reliant Malaysia. Efforts to address investor concerns on sustainability and labour rights, which saw many growers spend to upgrade housing, also distracted from replanting. As a result, yields stagnated over the past four years, even as scant new acreage was planted under government caps to prevent deforestation. Now, with prices falling and labour woes easing, estate managers like Lim are stepping up replanting to lower the aging profile of their plantations. We are ramping up full speed. We will replant as much as the seedling supplier can supply, said Lim. 'Ugly ageing trend' "Palm oil has lost its growth momentum ... Insufficient replantings and management constraints are keeping yields below potential, Thomas Mielke, head of Hamburg-based research firm Oil World, told a conference last month. Annual global output growth is likely to slow to 1.9 million tonnes or less in the current decade, from average annual growth of 2.9 million tonnes in the 10 years to 2020, Mielke said. World output this year is expected to increase by 2.7% from a year ago to 80.9 million tonnes, Mielke said. In 2017, Indonesia launched a smallholder replanting fund to support the growers who account for over 40% of its palm acreage. Yields for smallholders are 25% lower than for company-run plantations due to aging trees and poor quality seedlings. The scheme targeted replanting of 2.4 million hectares but only managed to replant around 278,000 hectares by February, partly due to land legality issues. Indonesian agriculture ministry official Muhammad Rizal said that many farmers withdrew their replanting proposals last year to take advantage of high prices. "When fresh fruit bunch prices rose, this became problematic," he told Reuters. In neighbouring Malaysia, where oil palms tend to be older, the replanting rate in 2022 slowed to 100,000 hectares from 160,000 hectares replanted in 2020, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. Around 2.32 million hectares or nearly 15% of Indonesias oil palms are more than 20 years old, compared to nearly 27% in Malaysias total planted area of 5.67 million hectares, according to government data provided to Reuters. The oldest and least productive trees - those aged 25 or more - account for 4% of total planted acreage in Indonesia and twice that in Malaysia. "There is an ugly ageing trend. We are ageing faster than we are replanting," Malaysia Palm Oil Association chief executive Joseph Tek told Reuters. Faster, shorter While new seed varieties grow faster into trees that produce more oil , are shorter and easier to harvest and may also have better resistance to drought and disease, replanting remains expensive, especially for smallholders and mid-sized estates. In Malaysia, replanting costs doubled to around $4,500 per hectare after the pandemic inflated prices of fertiliser and labour. Indonesia is adjusting regulations to make its replanting fund more accessible to farmers as the country aims to replant 180,000 hectares of smallholder farms this year, Rizal said. However, the threat of El Nino-induced droughts, seed shortages, labour supply disruptions and rising costs for everything from contractors to pesticides may force some planters to wait another year. "We should see a little bit more from the major plantation companies who are more disciplined on replanting, to try and correct the age profile for the estate," said Ivy Ng, regional head of plantations research at CGS-CIMB Research. "But it continues to be an expensive investment and requires workers," she said. When palm oil prices soared to record highs last year, a Malaysian estate manager surnamed Lim postponed replanting his old, unproductive trees for a third consecutive year to lock in profits - a decision he regrets and is scrambling to fix. Across Indonesia and Malaysia, which produce 85% of the world's palm oil, growers are ramping up replanting after a decade of letting estates grow older, an ageing trend that threatens to tighten supply of the commodity that accounts for nearly 60% of global vegetable oil. Oil palms start losing productivity after 20 years. Besides the cost of replanting, it takes three years for new trees to grow and yield a crop - making that land unproductive in the meantime. "If I had replanted consistently over the past 10-15 years, my yields and worker productivity could have been better, said Lim, now rushing to catch up on the backlog by replanting 5% of his 2,300-hectare estate in Perak state this year and up to 20% next year. "The joy from the high prices was short-lived," said Lim, referring to prices that reached a record 7,268 ringgit ($1,647.33) a tonne last year. Lim wanted to be referred to only by his family name due to business confidentiality. With acreage planted to palm oil mostly static in Indonesia and Malaysia and some palm oil being used to meet biofuel targets, the need is intensifying for higher yields of the commodity used in cooking oil, instant noodles, soaps, cosmetics and other products. Palm oil prices have fallen some 49% from last year's record, but the tight supply means they are expected to stay above pre-pandemic levels. Malaysia's FGV Holdings, the world's biggest palm oil producer, told Reuters it will expand its pool of replanting contractors and aims to replant 19,549 hectares this year, up from 12,436 hectares in 2022 and just 2,023 hectares in 2021. Another palm oil giant, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, told Reuters it plans to replant 10,000 hectares this year, up from a lower-than-usual 6,000 hectares in 2022. In addition to the temptation of high harvest prices, growers were deterred from replanting in recent years by rising costs and a shortage of workers during the pandemic, especially in migrant labour-reliant Malaysia. Efforts to address investor concerns on sustainability and labour rights, which saw many growers spend to upgrade housing, also distracted from replanting. As a result, yields stagnated over the past four years, even as scant new acreage was planted under government caps to prevent deforestation. Now, with prices falling and labour woes easing, estate managers like Lim are stepping up replanting to lower the aging profile of their plantations. We are ramping up full speed. We will replant as much as the seedling supplier can supply, said Lim. 'Ugly ageing trend' "Palm oil has lost its growth momentum ... Insufficient replantings and management constraints are keeping yields below potential, Thomas Mielke, head of Hamburg-based research firm Oil World, told a conference last month. Annual global output growth is likely to slow to 1.9 million tonnes or less in the current decade, from average annual growth of 2.9 million tonnes in the 10 years to 2020, Mielke said. World output this year is expected to increase by 2.7% from a year ago to 80.9 million tonnes, Mielke said. In 2017, Indonesia launched a smallholder replanting fund to support the growers who account for over 40% of its palm acreage. Yields for smallholders are 25% lower than for company-run plantations due to aging trees and poor quality seedlings. The scheme targeted replanting of 2.4 million hectares but only managed to replant around 278,000 hectares by February, partly due to land legality issues. Indonesian agriculture ministry official Muhammad Rizal said that many farmers withdrew their replanting proposals last year to take advantage of high prices. "When fresh fruit bunch prices rose, this became problematic," he told Reuters. In neighbouring Malaysia, where oil palms tend to be older, the replanting rate in 2022 slowed to 100,000 hectares from 160,000 hectares replanted in 2020, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. Around 2.32 million hectares or nearly 15% of Indonesias oil palms are more than 20 years old, compared to nearly 27% in Malaysias total planted area of 5.67 million hectares, according to government data provided to Reuters. The oldest and least productive trees - those aged 25 or more - account for 4% of total planted acreage in Indonesia and twice that in Malaysia. "There is an ugly ageing trend. We are ageing faster than we are replanting," Malaysia Palm Oil Association chief executive Joseph Tek told Reuters. Faster, shorter While new seed varieties grow faster into trees that produce more oil , are shorter and easier to harvest and may also have better resistance to drought and disease, replanting remains expensive, especially for smallholders and mid-sized estates. In Malaysia, replanting costs doubled to around $4,500 per hectare after the pandemic inflated prices of fertiliser and labour. Indonesia is adjusting regulations to make its replanting fund more accessible to farmers as the country aims to replant 180,000 hectares of smallholder farms this year, Rizal said. However, the threat of El Nino-induced droughts, seed shortages, labour supply disruptions and rising costs for everything from contractors to pesticides may force some planters to wait another year. "We should see a little bit more from the major plantation companies who are more disciplined on replanting, to try and correct the age profile for the estate," said Ivy Ng, regional head of plantations research at CGS-CIMB Research. "But it continues to be an expensive investment and requires workers," she said. What you need to know today in Vietnam: Politics -- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that Vietnam and Switzerland increase all-level exchanges and meetings, paving the way for the expansion of cooperation across the board while receiving newly-appointed Swiss Ambassador Thomas Gass in Hanoi on Thursday, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Society -- Graham Coooke, founder and president of World Travel Awards, said on Thursday that he was impressed by the hospitality in Ho Chi Minh City and expected the city's tourism industry to pay more attention to sustainability and uniqueness. -- The Authority of Information Security under Vietnam's Ministry of Information and Communications has warned that many state websites have been associated with gambling links. -- The British Caving Association has found 22 new caves in Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam, the management board of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the province said on Thursday. Lifestyle -- The first episode of Netflix's docuseries 'MH370: The Plane That Disappeared' cannot be viewed in Vietnam now after the Vietnamese side asked the streaming service to take it down as it contained incorrect information about Vietnam's efforts to search for the plane, which has gone missing since March 8, 2014. Business -- The Vietnam International Cafe Show 2023 kicked off at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday and lasts until Saturday. -- "Asian shares firmed on Friday as Singapore became the latest country to pause its policy tightening and markets became more confident the likely next hike in U.S. rates would be the last this cycle," according to Reuters. World News -- "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," Reuters reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! What you need to know today in Vietnam: Politics -- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that Vietnam and Switzerland increase all-level exchanges and meetings, paving the way for the expansion of cooperation across the board while receiving newly-appointed Swiss Ambassador Thomas Gass in Hanoi on Thursday, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Society -- Graham Coooke, founder and president of World Travel Awards, said on Thursday that he was impressed by the hospitality in Ho Chi Minh City and expected the city's tourism industry to pay more attention to sustainability and uniqueness. -- The Authority of Information Security under Vietnam's Ministry of Information and Communications has warned that many state websites have been associated with gambling links. -- The British Caving Association has found 22 new caves in Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam, the management board of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the province said on Thursday. Lifestyle -- The first episode of Netflix's docuseries 'MH370: The Plane That Disappeared' cannot be viewed in Vietnam now after the Vietnamese side asked the streaming service to take it down as it contained incorrect information about Vietnam's efforts to search for the plane, which has gone missing since March 8, 2014. Business -- The Vietnam International Cafe Show 2023 kicked off at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday and lasts until Saturday. -- "Asian shares firmed on Friday as Singapore became the latest country to pause its policy tightening and markets became more confident the likely next hike in U.S. rates would be the last this cycle," according to Reuters. World News -- "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," Reuters reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Graham Cooke, founder and president of the World Travel Awards, told a press conference to introduce the International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City 2023 (ITE HCMC 2023) on Thursday that he was impressed by the hospitality in Ho Chi Minh City and expected the city's tourism industry to pay more attention to sustainability and uniqueness. This was not Cookes first time attending a travel exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City. During the 16th ITE HCMC in 2022, he served as an organizer for the gala ceremony of the World Travel Awards. At the press briefing, Cooke shared his impressions of the citys hospitality, as well as suggested that Ho Chi Minh City put effort into creating unique and sustainable tourism products. Though the 17th iteration of ITE HCMC is only the second time the World Travel Awards is being held in conjunction with the exhibition, the awards ceremony was first organized in Vietnam as a stand-alone event on Phu Quoc Island off southern Kien Giang Province in 2019. Established in 1993, the annual event recognizes and honors top performers in all areas of the global tourism industry. Responding to Cookes remarks, Le Truong Hien Hoa, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that he is appreciative of the advice. The citys tourism identity is centered on diversification in terms of food, culture, architecture, and nature, according to Hoa. City authorities have also recently announced plans to team up with travel firms in order to properly promote tourism products. A photo shows Le Truong Hien Hoa, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, speaking at a press briefing to introduce the Ho Chi Minh International Travel Expo 2023 in Hanoi, April 13, 2023. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre ITE HCMC 2023 double the size of 2022 The 17th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City will kick off on September 7 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in District 7 and is expected to be double the size of the 16th edition. This years three-day event is expected to attract over 400 local and international exhibitors and brands, as well as tourism associations and tourism research institutes. Over 70 percent of the booths will be manned by local enterprises. The 17th edition is projected to receive more than 200 international visitors from over 20 potential tourism source markets, up 25 percent against 2022. The highlight of this years expo will be the display space of ao dai (Vietnams traditional costume), handicrafts, coffee, and folk art. Guests will also be able to check out the expo through an online platform. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Graham Cooke, founder and president of the World Travel Awards, told a press conference to introduce the International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City 2023 (ITE HCMC 2023) on Thursday that he was impressed by the hospitality in Ho Chi Minh City and expected the city's tourism industry to pay more attention to sustainability and uniqueness. This was not Cookes first time attending a travel exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City. During the 16th ITE HCMC in 2022, he served as an organizer for the gala ceremony of the World Travel Awards. At the press briefing, Cooke shared his impressions of the citys hospitality, as well as suggested that Ho Chi Minh City put effort into creating unique and sustainable tourism products. Though the 17th iteration of ITE HCMC is only the second time the World Travel Awards is being held in conjunction with the exhibition, the awards ceremony was first organized in Vietnam as a stand-alone event on Phu Quoc Island off southern Kien Giang Province in 2019. Established in 1993, the annual event recognizes and honors top performers in all areas of the global tourism industry. Responding to Cookes remarks, Le Truong Hien Hoa, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that he is appreciative of the advice. The citys tourism identity is centered on diversification in terms of food, culture, architecture, and nature, according to Hoa. City authorities have also recently announced plans to team up with travel firms in order to properly promote tourism products. A photo shows Le Truong Hien Hoa, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, speaking at a press briefing to introduce the Ho Chi Minh International Travel Expo 2023 in Hanoi, April 13, 2023. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre ITE HCMC 2023 double the size of 2022 The 17th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City will kick off on September 7 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in District 7 and is expected to be double the size of the 16th edition. This years three-day event is expected to attract over 400 local and international exhibitors and brands, as well as tourism associations and tourism research institutes. Over 70 percent of the booths will be manned by local enterprises. The 17th edition is projected to receive more than 200 international visitors from over 20 potential tourism source markets, up 25 percent against 2022. The highlight of this years expo will be the display space of ao dai (Vietnams traditional costume), handicrafts, coffee, and folk art. Guests will also be able to check out the expo through an online platform. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Netflix on Thursday took down the first episode of the docuseries 'MH370: The Plane That Disappeared,' which is about missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, from its streaming platform in Vietnam as the episode contained incorrect information about Vietnam's efforts to search for the plane. The takedown followed a requirement by the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information under the Ministry of Information and Communications, Le Quang Tu Do, head of the authority, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Thursday. At present, only Episode 2 The Hijack and Episode 3 The Intercept of the docuseries are still available on Netflix in Vietnam. Deputy spokeswoman of the Vietnamese foreign ministry Pham Thu Hang last Thursday stressed that the first episode inaccurately claimed that Vietnam did not cooperate in international efforts to search for the missing plane, sparking frustration among the public in the Southeast Asian country. Right after the disappearance of the flight MH370 of Malaysia Airlines, Vietnam quickly came up with search and rescue plans, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Vietnam then sent ships and planes along with personnel to search for MH370 in its waters with international forces for over a week but it could not find the aircraft. The country thus ceased the search and rescue efforts, with the foreign forces required to leave the Vietnamese waters. A screenshot shows that only two episodes of the docuseries 'MH370: The Plane That Disappeared' remain on Netflix in Vietnam. The flight MH370 with 239 people on board, including 227 passengers and 12 crew members, went missing en route from Malaysia to Beijing, China on March 8, 2014. It disappeared from radar less than one hour after take-off. Malaysia, China, and Australia announced an end to the search for the plane in January 2017. The aircraft has remained missing since. In October last year, Netflix also removed the South Korean TV drama Little Women following a request of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information as the drama violated Vietnam's laws regulating media and cinema for falsifying history, downplaying revolutionary accomplishments, and insulting the Vietnamese nation. In 2020, American series Madam Secretary also caused controversies as a scene mislabeled a shot of Hoi An in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Nam as Fuling, China.' Netflix has also removed some scenes in Chinese-produced dramas featuring the illicit nine-dash line China resorts to in its claims to nearly all of the East Vietnam Sea. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Netflix on Thursday took down the first episode of the docuseries 'MH370: The Plane That Disappeared,' which is about missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, from its streaming platform in Vietnam as the episode contained incorrect information about Vietnam's efforts to search for the plane. The takedown followed a requirement by the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information under the Ministry of Information and Communications, Le Quang Tu Do, head of the authority, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Thursday. At present, only Episode 2 The Hijack and Episode 3 The Intercept of the docuseries are still available on Netflix in Vietnam. Deputy spokeswoman of the Vietnamese foreign ministry Pham Thu Hang last Thursday stressed that the first episode inaccurately claimed that Vietnam did not cooperate in international efforts to search for the missing plane, sparking frustration among the public in the Southeast Asian country. Right after the disappearance of the flight MH370 of Malaysia Airlines, Vietnam quickly came up with search and rescue plans, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Vietnam then sent ships and planes along with personnel to search for MH370 in its waters with international forces for over a week but it could not find the aircraft. The country thus ceased the search and rescue efforts, with the foreign forces required to leave the Vietnamese waters. A screenshot shows that only two episodes of the docuseries 'MH370: The Plane That Disappeared' remain on Netflix in Vietnam. The flight MH370 with 239 people on board, including 227 passengers and 12 crew members, went missing en route from Malaysia to Beijing, China on March 8, 2014. It disappeared from radar less than one hour after take-off. Malaysia, China, and Australia announced an end to the search for the plane in January 2017. The aircraft has remained missing since. In October last year, Netflix also removed the South Korean TV drama Little Women following a request of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information as the drama violated Vietnam's laws regulating media and cinema for falsifying history, downplaying revolutionary accomplishments, and insulting the Vietnamese nation. In 2020, American series Madam Secretary also caused controversies as a scene mislabeled a shot of Hoi An in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Nam as Fuling, China.' Netflix has also removed some scenes in Chinese-produced dramas featuring the illicit nine-dash line China resorts to in its claims to nearly all of the East Vietnam Sea. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Australian Communications & Media Authority has sought a meeting with ABCs David Anderson & ABC Ombudsman Fiona Cameron, following a terse response to its findings over a Four Corners story on FOX News. ACMA found the ABC breached accuracy and fair and honest dealing requirements of its Code of Practice in its our Corners double episode program FOX and the Big Lie. However, the ACMAs overall assessment was that the program came close to, but did not breach, the high bar set by the impartiality standards in the ABCs Code. ABC news director Justin Stevens took aim at ACMAs findings. The ABC strongly disagrees that the program is not impartial, Stevens said. FOX and the Big Lie was a strong and measured piece of public interest journalism and a world class report by Sarah Ferguson and the team. This was a comprehensive investigation analysing the role Fox News played in helping promulgate the big lie that the 2020 US Presidential election was stolen. Journalist Sarah Ferguson also responded publicly, saying According to ACMAs interpretation of the code, the ABC is not free to choose the editorial focus it determines the most relevant. In a complex world overloaded with information, focus is central to the success of programs like Four Corners and journalism at the ABC and beyond. But ACMA Nerida OLoughlin in a letter (excerpt below) to managing director David Anderson said ABCs responses were to the detriment of the broader Australian media landscape at a time when access to trusted news and information is more essential than ever. Its essentially a stoush between copping a breach on the chin from the regulator, and seeking a right of reply. David Anderson agreed to a meeting with ACMA, including with Ombudsman Fiona OLoughlin. On Sundays Insiders David Speers is joined by Jack Latimore, Karen Middleton and Clare Armstrong. The Voice tops the agenda again this week after the Coalitions spokesperson for Indigenous Australians Julian Leeser quit the frontbench so he could campaign in support of the Voice to Parliament. Leesers resignation was a blow to the Opposition Leader, but Peter Dutton quickly doubled down on his opposition to the Voice, blaming the Labor party for failing to explain its model and insisting that many Indigenous people did not support it being enshrined in the Constitution. Hes spent the last two days in Alice Springs drawing attention to the law-and-order issues in the central Australian town and calling on the government to send in the AFP to address the lawlessness. David speaks with Country Liberal Senator for the Northern Territory Jacinta Nampijinpa Price live from Alice Springs. Well also look at the aged care sector, with reports providers are struggling to meet new minimum standards. With less than a month until the governments second Budget, well also look at the state of the Australian economy. Treasurer Jim Chalmers travelled to the United States this week for meetings with G20 finance ministers and central bank governors as the International Monetary Fund warned that turbulence was building in the global economy. Plus Sammy J is back, Talking Pictures with host Mike Bowers for a look at the weeks best cartoons and photographs. 9am Sunday on ABC. Research reveals geologic history of critical Alaska graphite deposit A University of Alaska Fairbanks researcher is among the scientists who have revealed the metamorphic history of a high-grade graphite deposit on the Seward Peninsula. The Graphite Creek deposit is among the largest known of its kind in the United States. Graphite is used in lithium-ion batteries, which power modern portable electronics, electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. This gives us a better understanding of how the rock evolved and how the processes affected the rocks texture and mineralogy over time, said petrologist Sean Regan, an assistant professor of geology at the UAF Geophysical Institute and at the UAF College of Natural Science and Mathematics. Knowing that can help with exploration, he said. Photo by George Case, U.S. Geological Survey. The ore body containing graphite is shown in this 2021 photo of Graphite Creek. At far left is a Graphite One drill rig. The United States extracts no graphite of its own. The nation imports one-third of its graphite from China, with Canada and Mexico among other suppliers. The federal government has listed graphite as a critical mineral. The researchers findings can guide development of Graphite Creek by Graphite One, the company behind the mining project. The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council in January 2021 designated Graphite Creek as a high-priority infrastructure project. A research paper published Feb. 27 in the journal Mineralium Deposita defines the age and characteristics of the deposit and provides information geologists can use to understand other potential graphite sites. George Case of the U.S. Geological Survey in Anchorage is the papers lead author. Regan is among the eight co-authors. Geologists have had little understanding of the processes that lead to creation of high-grade flake graphite. That lack of understanding has been a barrier to evaluating such deposits for exploration and development. To really understand the system, you need to understand everything thats going on. You need to incorporate tectonics, timing, petrology and structural geology, Regan said. All of those things need to make sense together because its a system. The Graphite Creek deposit is 37 miles north of Nome in the Kigluaik Mountains and is approximately 3 miles long and one-tenth of a mile wide. The Kigluaik Mountains formed in the Late Cretaceous Period, 100 million to 66 million years ago. They include the Kigluaik gneiss dome. U.S. Geological Survey map. The map shows sites with more than 1,000 metric tons of contained graphite resource or past graphite production or both. This is approximately 3% of the average annual U.S. consumption of graphite between 2016 and 2020. To reach their current graphite-rich state, the deposits rocks partially melted between 92 million and 97 million years ago in a process called biotite dehydration melting. The process removes up to 30% of a rocks material as liquid, leaving a graphite-heavy solid along with other solids formed during the partial melt reaction. The liquid flows away. Through analysis of core samples provided by Graphite One, the researchers established the first criteria for determining the likely presence of concentrated flake graphite. These criteria can now be used to evaluate other regions suspected of holding graphite: The presence of original carbon-rich sedimentary rock deposited in water that didnt contain dissolved oxygen. Evidence of high-temperature metamorphism such as the presence of potassium feldspar and sillimanite. Evidence of partial melting such as through the presence of migmatites, which are rocks containing metamorphic rock and igneous or igneous-appearing rock. The key here is this anatexis, or partial melting, which has removed silicate material and thereby concentrated the graphite, said Case, the research papers lead author. The Graphite Creek deposit, and the Seward Peninsula, are within the Arctic Alaska-Chukotka microplate. That region also includes Alaskas Brooks Range and Russias Chukotka, where the presence of similar geologic characteristics could indicate additional flake graphite deposits. ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Sean Regan, sregan5@alaska.edu, 408-688-6495; George Case, gcase@usgs.gov, 907-786-7472 161-23 Naval landing ship group conducts landing exercise China Military Online) 09:24, April 14, 2023 An air cushion landing craft attached to a naval landing ship group under the PLA Southern Theater Command sails on the sea during a three-day landing exercise in late March, 2023. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Ze Tianyu) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. The worlds largest banks poured more than 60 billion into fossil fuel financing last year, a major new report shows. Compiled by the Rainforest Action Network and others, the Banking on Climate Chaos report makes for maddening reading as the consequences of these investments are revisited on the world with increasing severity. Since the Paris Agreement came into effect in 2016 - binding countries to limit global heating - the worlds 60 largest banks have spent a staggering 4.9 trillion on fossil fuels. Last year, the report reveals a Canadian bank was the worst offender. Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) furnished fossil fuel companies with more than 38 billion in 2022, overtaking JP Morgan Chase for the first time since 2019. But the American bank is still well ahead with its nearly 400 billion total over the last seven years. Though US multinationals dominate the fossil fuel financing scene, European banks are playing a leading role in lending and underwriting debt to oil and gas giants too. Given the size of these institutions, youre likely to see your bank on the list of dirtiest financiers. But money talks, as they say, so weve also looked at where your funds could be better stored - and how to hold your bank accountable. Which European banks are the biggest fossil fuel investors? A climate march in Paris, March 2022. A banner lists the major energy companies and banks involved in the financing and use of fossil fuels - including BNP Paribas. - Amaury Cornu/Hans Lucas/REUTERS French bank BNP Paribas remains the worst in Europe according to the report, with its fossil fuel financing hitting 18.9 billion last year. BNP Paribas is the first commercial bank to be sued over its loans to oil and gas majors. The current legal action by three NGOs - Oxfam, Friends of the Earth and Notre Affaire a Tous - could set a vital precedent for holding banks to account for their stated net zero commitments. The report traces funds from the eurozones biggest bank to a range of fossil fuel companies, including BP, Var Energi, TotalEnergies, Saudi Arabian Oil and Shell. Story continues Fossil fuel companies are the ones dousing the planet in oil, gas, and coal, but big banks hold the matches. From 2016 to 2022, the UKs Barclays Bank sent the most funding to fossil fuel companies, primarily Exxon Mobil. HSBC, also based in Britain, ranks third highest in the list of last years most fossil fuel-friendly banks in Europe. Fossil fuel companies are the ones dousing the planet in oil, gas, and coal, but big banks hold the matches, comments April Merleaux, co-author and Research and Policy Manager at Rainforest Action Network. Without financing, fossil fuels wont burn. LNG funding almost doubled last year An offshore working platform and LNG tanker near the Baltic Sea resort of Sellin, Germany, last month. - Stefan Sauer/Alle Rechte vorbehalten/AP One of the key trends in Europe last year was the expansion of the liquified natural gas (LNG) sector, as countries sought alternatives to Russian fuels. Banks backed investment in this non-renewable energy source, despite energy experts warning that new projects were unnecessary and would lead to a bigger supply than is needed. The top 30 companies expanding LNG used the crisis to secure nearly 50 per cent more financing in 2022 compared to 2021, the report finds. Co-author Maaike Beenes, campaign lead at BankTrack, says banks are taking an irresponsible gamble with our climate. The Netherlands own ING was one of the worst offenders, she explains. These gas projects will not be able to address Europes short-term energy needs or reduce household bills - instead they will lock us into dependence on fossil fuels for decades. ReCommon, one of more than 600 civil society organisations endorsing the report, also calls out the role of Italys two main banks. [Unicredit and Intesa Sanpaolo] seem to ignore the alarms of the scientific community, says finance and climate campaigner Daniela Finamore, continuing to fuel the expansion of the fossil fuel industry and sniffing out new business opportunities, as in the case of LNG. Meanwhile, European banks BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole topped the list of offshore oil and gas financiers in 2022. Which European banks wont spend your money on fossil fuels? A woman passes in front of Triodos in Valencia, Spain - one of five countries where the ethical bank operates. - SOPA Images/ Xisco Navarro Pardo / REUTERS With so many of the worlds biggest banks pumping money into polluting projects, you might be struggling to choose where to entrust your hard-earned euros. Switching to the least-worst offenders (like Caixa Bank in Spain and Denmarks Danske Bank) doesnt feel quite up to the task. Though its worth noting that the 60th bank on the list, Frances La Banque Postale, has committed to a complete exit from oil and gas by 2030. It proves that banks dont have to be specifically ethical to make the right calls. "The investment and lending decisions made by banks radically shape our society and environment, Ruairidh Fraser, a researcher at Ethical Consumer tells Euronews Green. It is important that customers can find out what banks are doing with their money and what policies, if any, guide their choices. In an industry rife with greenwashing, transparency is king. Fraser advises that customers look for banks with robust ethical lending criteria and detailed lending and investment disclosure. And theres a clear winner according to the alternative consumer organisation. Triodos Bank publishes details of every company that it lends to on its website. Many of these companies are behind impactful environmental projects - including two Scottish rewilding sites led by natural capital developer Oxygen Conservation. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Triodoss services are also available in the UK, Belgium, Spain and Germany. Other leading ethical banks around Europe include GLS in Germany and Dutch neobank Bunq. It allows you to link up your savings accounts to an app and have the freedom to choose where your money is invested. There are several tools that can help your search for the best bank, such as Bank.Green and SwitchIt.Green in the UK and the Fair Finance Guide which is active in 15 countries. Sticking with your bank? Heres how to get them to step up Banks care about their public image and reputation, says BankTracks Beenes. Even short of switching to an ethical bank, which might be practically challenging, customers of fossil banks can really help build pressure by sending messages to their bank asking it to stop financing fossil fuel expansion and phase out all financing on a 1.5C-aligned timeline. The Banking on Climate Chaos report wants to make information about bank financing for fossil fuels public to help facilitate this kind of consumer action, she says. If your bank doesnt make its lending criteria and investments publicly available, Ethical Consumers Fraser advises writing to your bank manager to request it. Normalising transparency is a crucial first step in holding the financial sector accountable to its net zero claims. One for all: the restaurant will be built around sharing plates (Max Flatow) The 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. Story continues 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 Man Utd target Rasmus Hojlund puts his hands on his hips Credit: Alamy Man Utd could have to pay as much as 62m this summer if they want to land Atalanta forward Rasmus Hojlund, according to reports. The 20-year-old, who joined Atalanta in the summer for around 17m from Sturm Graz, is having a brilliant first season in Serie A with the Denmark international catching the eye with seven goals and two assists in 25 league appearances. He followed this up recently with five goals in two man-of-the-match performances for Denmark in a 3-1 win over Finland and a 3-2 loss to Kazakhstan. Hojlund was already on the radar of a number of top clubs around Europe but those two performances in the latest international break have put him under the spotlight even more. A previous report in Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet claimed that they are expecting bids of around 23-31m in the summer transfer window with Man Utd having concrete interest in the forward. The Red Devils are still looking for a long-term replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo who left the club in November after a controversial interview with Piers Morgan with January loan signing Wout Weghorst unlikely to be part of Erik Ten Hags plans going forward. Tottenhams Harry Kane, Napolis Victor Osimhen and Benficas Goncalo Ramos are among the names recently linked with Old Trafford but there could be room for two more forwards if the price is right. But Italian publication Corriere della Sera claim that Atalanta now want as much as 65m-70m (57.5m-62m) which is as much as double the amount quoted in Ekstra Bladet last month. Despite rumours that Chelsea have a bid worth 68m on the table, the report claims that as of today there have been no concrete offers put on the table for Hojlund. Atalantas plan is not to deprive themselves of him in the summer but there is always the possibility of a super offer which cannot be refused. Man Utd would have one advantage if they decided to make a bid for Hojlund with the Dane insisting that he is a huge Manchester United fan. Story continues Now that you ask, I will not hide the fact that I am a huge Manchester United fan, Hojlund said back in January. So personally, it would be one of the biggest things for me, but of course that doesnt mean that I would turn down other big clubs if the offers come at some point. READ MORE: Ten players lucky to clock up 50 Manchester United appearances after Fergie The article Man Utd told to pay 62m super offer for huge Red Devils fan as club double asking price appeared first on Football365.com. 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. (Bloomberg) -- China said it wants multilateral lenders to participate in the debt restructuring of poorer nations as part of a three-point plan put forward at talks with the World Bank and other creditors in Washington this week. Most Read from Bloomberg Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, outlined proposals delivered at the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable, providing fresh insight into Chinas demands to find a solution to the debt crisis. First, multilateral creditors need to come up with solutions on their participation in debt treatment as soon as possible, Wang said Friday in response to a question from reporters in Beijing. Second, the International Monetary Fund needs to takes action in information sharing on debt sustainability assessments as soon as possible. Third, parties concerned need to agree on the specific way for creditors to participate on comparable terms as soon as possible. China appeared to be softening its stance over how to restructure billions of dollars of debt, with people familiar with the talks saying a proposal under discussion would see the World Bank provide fresh low-interest concessional loans and grants to countries that have defaulted. In exchange, China would drop a key demand that multilateral development banks take losses alongside other creditors in debt restructurings. Wangs comments suggest China the biggest bilateral creditor to poor countries is continuing to push for multilateral creditors to take stronger action in the process. China wants all parties to take credible steps to implement the so-called Common Framework on debt relief, he said. Story continues The talks on Wednesday in Washington included Peoples Bank of China Governor Yi Gang, World Bank President David Malpass, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, as well as officials from G-20 host India and Zambia which is seeking debt relief. In a separate statement on Friday, Yi said China is willing to implement the debt relief program along with other parties. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Consideration of Irelands international security policy should not by a binary choice on whether it joins a military alliance, the countrys deputy premier has said. Micheal Martins comments came after US President Joe Biden referenced Irelands long-standing policy of neutrality in a speech to the parliament in Dublin. The Irish Government has established a forum to examine issues related to Irelands independent foreign policy position. US President Joe Biden addressing the Irish parliament (Government of Ireland/PA) The forum, which will convene this summer, has been set up amid increasing focus on the policy of military neutrality in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In his speech to the Dail on Thursday, Mr Biden highlighted a quote by President John F Kennedy 60 years ago when he stated that Ireland has never been neutral between liberty and tyranny. 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, President Biden added, as he highlighted that Ireland has committed more than 170 million euro in non-lethal aid to Ukraine. Mr Martin said the President had been very taken by the Irish humanitarian response to the Ukrainian situation. Heartfelt and inspirational words by @POTUS Joe Biden in the Oireachtas. Wonderful day again in Dublin for the Presidents visit. pic.twitter.com/JZeoH0ugNL Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 13, 2023 He constantly refers to the number of Ukrainian refugees that have been welcomed into Ireland and he really thinks it stands out in respect of the responses of other countries, he told RTE Radio One. He knows that weve been a leader in terms of Ukraine becoming members of the European Union, we would have advocated strongly for that. Story continues In terms of the broader issue of an independent foreign policy, as he said himself are we are not militarily aligned, but were not politically neutral. Mr Martin said Ireland was already part of the rules-based international order and value system. That value system that the President spoke about is exactly where Ireland is in terms of values around democracy, freedom of the individual, the dignity of the individual and human rights and all of that and in terms of our work in Africa together, and in terms of food hunger, he said. But there are broad threads coming our way, in terms of cybersecurity, hybrid warfare, and we have to be intelligent about that and we have to work in partnership, as we will be, and I think its important that we have a national conversation about that, in terms of the future threats and challenges to this country, and how do we respond to that? Are we equipped for that, and how do we manifest our independent foreign policy into the future? We wish to avoid a binary issue. Its not just about whether you join a military alliance or not. Its much broader than that. And I think most people in the international community are far more tolerant of our position than we might think ourselves, or some people might think here, and I think thats the context for the national conversation. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., at a Palmetto Family Council conservative policy forum in North Charleston, S.C., on March 18. (Sam Wolfe/Bloomberg via Getty Images) It was nearing Christmas 2012, just over a month after Barack Obama had won reelection to the presidency, when Tim Scott was elevated into the U.S. Senate. Nikki Haley was the one to do it. She was South Carolinas governor at the time, and Scott was then a 47-year-old congressman from her state. Scott, the first Black Republican elected to Congress from South Carolina in over a century, had been in Washington for four years. He and Haley had served in the state Legislature together. And when Jim DeMint retired from his U.S. Senate seat in early December 2012, Haley appointed Scott to take his place. Two years later, in 2014, Scott won the seat outright and secured a full six-year term. He was the first Black U.S. senator elected from a Deep South state and just the seventh Black senator in American history. Now, however, Scott and Haley are both angling to be the Republican nominee for president. Haley has launched her campaign, and Scott while announcing an exploratory committee Wednesday said, I plan on being the nominee. Scott speaks to reporters in December 2012 after being introduced by South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Jim DeMint. (Tim Dominick/The State/MCT via Getty Images) Scott was in Iowa this week, and so was Haley. The two erstwhile allies are now foes, at least electorally. And the reality is that there is only one ticket out of South Carolina available between the two of them. If they are both still in the race a year from now, then the Feb. 24, 2024, South Carolina primary will be a test to see which of them can beat the other and advance. The one who comes in behind the other will likely have to drop out. At the moment, both of these South Carolina Republicans are currently way behind former President Donald Trump in early polling of GOP primary voters. Trumps polling average is just under 50%, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has fallen over the last few weeks to 26%. Haley is only at 4%, and Scott is closer to 1%. So why should anyone care if Scott is thinking about formally running for president? Its a legitimate question, but the easiest answer is that its still very early in the process and many voters simply dont yet know who he is. Republican primary voters wont cast their first ballots until Feb. 5 of next year, still over nine months away. Story continues Theres some evidence that Haley and Scott are gaining traction in their home state, where a recent poll showed Haley at 18% just behind DeSantis at 20%. Scott, who like DeSantis has yet to formally enter the race, clocked in at 7%. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at a convocation at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., on Friday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images) Scott, like Haley, is also a formidable politician with obvious potential as a national candidate. He has a compelling personal history of growing up in a lower-income household in North Charleston, S.C. He was raised for most of his childhood by a single mom and has spoken about how he was adrift until a Chick-fil-A franchise owner took him under his wing in high school and mentored him. I was raised by a single mother in poverty. The spoons in our apartment were plastic, not silver, Scott said in his video announcing the exploratory committee. But we had faith. We put in the work, and we had an unwavering belief that we too could live the American dream. I know America is a land of opportunity, not a land of oppression. I know it because Ive lived it. Scott has also talked about how his grandfather was forced out of school as a third grader to pick cotton, and never learned to read or write. Scotts follow-up to that in his stump speech often draws applause. Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime, he says. Scott had a strong relationship with Trump during his presidency, in part because he did not criticize him often. A month after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters, Scott said the former president was simply not guilty of provoking violence. The one person I dont blame is President Trump, he said. But at a few key moments, Scott did not shy away from critiquing Trump. He did so during the racial justice protests of 2020, after George Floyds murder. And prior to that, he said Trumps moral authority had been compromised when the president said there were fine people on both sides of clashes in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017 between white supremacists and counterprotesters. Scott said Trumps rhetoric was indefensible. Scott with Rep. Karen Bass and Sen. Cory Booker at Rep. James Clyburn's office in 2021 following a meeting about police reform legislation. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Trumps White House invited Scott to meet with the president, and Scott used the moment to extract a promise of support from Trump for his opportunity zone legislation that is intended to drive private capital to lower-income areas. Scott has also spoken out on racism at times. In the summer of 2016, he talked about his emotional reactions to the killing of unarmed African Americans by police officers, caught on video. I shuddered when I heard Eric Garner say, I cant breathe, Scott said. I wept when I watched Walter Scott turn and run away and get shot and killed from the back. And I broke when I heard the 4-year-old daughter of Philando Castiles girlfriend tell her mother, Its OK. Im right here with you. Scott announced his exploratory committee for president with scathing denunciations of President Biden and the radical left. But, of course, he wont be running against Biden or any Democrats for some time. His competition now is Trump and the rest of the Republican field. Yet despite Trumps huge lead, Scott isnt taking him on directly. There are strong pragmatic and strategic reasons for this, at least for the time being. Voters tend to dislike intraparty squabbling, and Trump encourages his supporters to take criticism of him as a personal insult against them. So if Scott is introducing himself to voters who are at best vaguely familiar with him, it doesnt make sense to start off with criticisms of other Republicans. Former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., on April 4. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images) So an implicit rather than explicit contrast with Trump may be the best approach. A best-case scenario for Scott would be for him to gain ground in the polls while targeting only the left, which would force Trump to attack Scott first, rather than vice versa. However, he has sketched out a foundation in his recent statements that would serve as the starting point for denunciations of Trump. It is a schema, a map. He has yet to actually begin constructing the building, but the plans are there. We need mature leadership in a time of crisis, Scott said in an interview with Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts that Scotts team tweeted out on Tuesday, the day before he announced his exploratory committee. We need folks who are not focusing on each other or ourselves as leaders, but people who are focusing on the problem and who it affects the most, and thats never the leader, Scott said. If youre called to lead, youre called to serve. And when you dont serve, you make it about you. Thats always toxic. That would seem to be a dig at Trump, who always makes it about himself. And the remark had a moral edge to it. It goes beyond the pragmatic argument that some other Republican hopefuls have made, that the GOP needs a forward-looking candidate who can win. It does more than imply that Trump is a loser because of the last three elections, in which Trump has lost to Biden and also caused massive damage to the GOP ticket around the country. Scott at the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas in November 2022. (Ronda Churchill/Bloomberg via Getty Images) But a contrast is specific and sharp only if a politician chooses to make it so. Vague platitudes can be explained away with a shrug and a laugh if someone like Scott gains no traction in the GOP primary and finds himself two months from now still polling in the single digits, looking up at Trump. Little would be hurt. There is ample chatter that Scott and other hopefuls recognize that Trumps early polling strength represents a firm hold on the GOP base, and that Scott and others are positioning themselves as potential running mates for the inevitable Trump ticket against Biden. Scotts advisers have called this insulting, but a spokesman for a super-PAC supporting Trump said on Wednesday that Scott was part of a competition for second place. And Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has reportedly encouraged Trump to consider Scott as a running mate. If Tim runs, I think hed be a very credible presidential candidate, but when it comes to VP shopping, he should be on everybodys short list, Graham told Politico last month. In the run-up to 2024, it will take some time before we know whether Scott and other Republican candidates for president will attack Trump directly. The most obvious moment of decision or demarcation along these lines will come in August, when Republicans hold their first primary debate. But back-and-forth sniping will likely ramp up ahead of that, as candidates test out their lines of attack. Haley holds a rally in in Gilbert, S.C., on April 6. (Peter Zay/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Haley has gone further out on the limb of attacking Trump. In a campaign memo this week, her campaign manager, Betsy Ankeny, openly criticized Trump for being indicted in New York. Donald Trump had a pretty good [first quarter], if you count being indicted as good, Ankeny wrote. The sensationalized partisan prosecution in Manhattan understandably made Republicans more sympathetic to the former president. It is an outrageous prosecutorial abuse, Ankeny wrote. Still, its increasingly clear that Trumps candidacy is more consumed by the grievances of the past and the promise of more drama in the future, rather than a forward-looking vision for the American people. But its one thing for a staffer, even a senior one, to say this. Its another for Haley herself to do so. And while Haley toured Iowa meeting voters this week, she kept her comments largely focused on upbeat conservative talking points paired with partisan attacks on Biden and the Democrats. But offense is just one part of any successful strategy. In his campaign stops in Iowa and New Hampshire, Scott faced a barrage of questions about abortion and drew some headlines that portrayed his answers as stumbling and uncertain. He did eventually say he supported a 20-week national ban. But his answers to abortion questions were at times unfocused and rambling. Scott is undoubtedly trying to find his footing on an issue in major flux. DeSantis is making some GOP primary voters happy with a six-week abortion ban in his home state that he signed Thursday. But there are flashing danger signs for the GOP that going too far in restricting abortion will have dire political consequences in future elections. The 2022 midterms and a recent election for the state Supreme Court in Wisconsin are two of the most obvious examples. FILE PHOTO: The spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Lisbon By Sergio Goncalves LISBON (Reuters) - At least three European airlines are laying the groundwork for potential bids for Portugal's flag-carrier TAP, sounding out local communications agencies and legal advisers as a new CEO prepares to take over, according to sources and media reports. The state owns 100% of TAP, which is currently restructuring under a Brussels-approved 3.2 billion euro ($3.5 billion) rescue plan, and the government is considering an outright or partial sale of the airline. Finance minister Fernando Medina said in February the government was doing preliminary work for the privatisation process. Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and British Airways owner IAG are seen as potential buyers. Air France-KLM declined to comment. IAG and Lufthansa did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Portuguese news site ECO reported on Thursday that IAG, which also owns Iberia, had selected communications agency Cunha Vaz & Associados (CVA) and lawyers' office Vieira de Almeida (VdA). CVA and VdA did not immediately reply to requests for comment. A source from a large Lisbon law firm, who declined to be named, said Air France-KLM and Lufthansa were also "sounding out" legal and communications advisers in Portugal. A communications agency source said the three airlines were likely to officially select Portugal-based advisers soon. Another communications agency source said there were ongoing talks between the main advisory agencies and the three airlines, adding: "The process is really kicking off." A spokesperson for the finance ministry, which is in charge of the privatisation, declined to comment on when the process would formally start. The government fired TAP's CEO Christine Ourmieres-Widener last month in the wake of a scandal involving an irregular severance payment. Luis Rodrigues, current chief of Azores regional airline SATA, will take over as TAP's CEO and chairman on Friday, the finance ministry said. ($1 = 0.9054 euros) (Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; Additional reporting by Catarina Demony and Joanna Plucinska; Writing by Catarina Demony; Editing by Mark Potter) Eva Kaili, the Greek MEP who has become the most recognisable face of the corruption scandal engulfing the European Parliament, was released from prison on Friday, where she spent the last four months in pre-trial detention. The embattled lawmaker was then placed under house arrest in her apartment in Brussels, wearing an electronic bracelet. She will have to be available for authorities at all times and undergo regular hearings to examine her conditional release, which was unexpectedly granted on Wednesday. "Thank you. My daughter is waiting for me. So I am very happy that I will be with her in a bit. So thank you. We will talk soon," Kaili told reporters who were waiting outside her apartment. Then, speaking in Greek, Kaili vowed to continue the legal fight with the "decisiveness" of her defence team. Kaili was joined in the car by her Greek lawyer, Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, and her father Alexandros. The Greek MEP was first arrested on 9 December, when she was reportedly caught in the act and her parliamentary immunity was immediately lifted. The 44-year-old lawmaker was then charged with participation in a criminal organisation, corruption and money laundering, charges that still stand. Her arrest sent shockwaves across Brussels and brought to light an investigation into a cash-for-favours scheme involving "large" sums of money and "substantial" gifts allegedly paid out by Qatar and Morocco to influence European policy-making. Both countries deny any wrongdoing. Over 1.5 million in cash were seized by the Belgian police across dozens of home and office searches. In the aftermath of the scandal, Kaili was removed from her position as one of the European Parliament's vice presidents and her party membership was suspended, a dramatic turn of events for a lawmaker who had until then been considered a rising star in the hemicycle and media-friendly personality. The 44-year-old remains a non-attached MEP and is entitled to a monthly post-tax salary of 7,146 and half of her 4,778 monthly allowance. Story continues Eva Kaili remains charged with participation in a criminal organisation, corruption and money laundering. - Euronews. Kaili was one of the five individuals arrested and criminally charged by Belgian authorities, together with her domestic partner Francesco Giorgi, former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, NGO director Niccolo Figa-Talamanca and Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella. The four men had previously been granted their release from prison, making Kaili the last defendant to obtain a conditional liberation. Kaili will not spend her house arrest in the same residence as Francesco Giorgi, with whom she has a two-year-old daughter, her defence team has confirmed. Giorgi used to work as a parliamentary assistant, first for Pier Antonio Panzeri, the presumed ringleader behind the corruption scheme, and later for Andrea Cozzolino, an Italian MEP who is fighting extradition from Italy to Belgium. Panzeri signed in January a plea deal with the authorities under which he admits his criminal participation in bribery and commits to sharing "revealing" details about the cash-for-favours scheme. The three Nam Kee brothers who are third generation owners of the chicken rice brand. They gave up lucrative banking jobs to save the family legacy. (PHOTO: Prince Lee) By Prince Lee SINGAPORE Besides taking a significant pay cut, Ken Chew, one of three brothers currently running Nam Kee Chicken Rice Restaurant also had to sell his Lamborghini when the siblings took over their father's business in the thick of the pandemic in 2020. The trio wanted to keep their family legacy alive. Back in 1968, Nam Kee Chicken Rice Restaurant was first set up by Ken's grandfather, Chew Nam Peng, in a shophouse along Upper Thomson Road. During that time, there were just a handful of chicken rice stalls in post-independence Singapore. Prior to their leap into the F&B (food and beverage) industry, the three brothers Ken, Lincoln and Dave worked in the sales department of the same bank for five years, where they each pulled a salary of about S$10,000 monthly. Speaking to Yahoo Finance Singapore, Ken said, "From being an employee to running our own business, it was not an easy transition. Lincoln, Dave and I took a pay cut of around 60 to 70 per cent." Expansion of the brand Now, two years on, however, the brothers have already set in motion plans to bring the Nam Kee brand overseas. Ken divulged that the brothers have partnered with friends in Vietnam to open a chicken rice store about six months ago. "While it is using our system, our recipe, and our F&B knowledge, it is not in the name of Nam Kee as we're still trialling the system and fine-tuning some processes," he shared. "Replicating the system in Vietnam is much easier than in Singapore, and manpower and rental costs are also lower. The business is doing well, and we are in talks to open another outlet because response has been overwhelming," Ken said. Eventually the shop might be branded as a Nam Kee outpost, but not while the trial is underway. Not smooth-sailing To get to this point, the trio had to rise above significant struggles. It didn't help that when the brothers joined the business, it was during the pandemic when dining in was not allowed. Moreover, the senior Chew took orders the old-fashioned way: with a pen and paper. This meant that there wasn't an established online presence or ordering system. Story continues "We went knocking door-to-door in Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, and Thomson to let people know we were open for business," Dave recalled. Fortunately, with the help of government grants, the brothers upgraded their point-of-sale system, and hopped onto food delivery platforms. In the early days of the takeover, the brothers exhausted about 90 per cent of their savings which was "in the six figures", in order to improve the efficiency of their backend operations as well as keep the shop afloat. But they pressed on, working every day for 12 hours, and did not lay off any workers. One of their immediate to-dos then was also to reduce food waste. Before the brothers' takeover, there was 11 to 12 per cent wastage to cost ratio. They have managed to reduce this by 54 per cent by educating workers on how much food to prepare and order from suppliers. People have a misconception that third generation businesses are smooth sailing because our forefathers have set up the stage for us. But with every generation comes different challenges to tackle," Ken said. Still, the brothers feel that their takeover of Nam Kee has brought about a different sense of fulfilment as compared to working in the bank, even as they have to give up on life's luxuries such as spontaneous trips, family dinners, and nights out with friends. Spreading their wings The siblings are also keenly exploring opportunities locally. For instance, Ken shared, they have started another F&B business in Singapore that offers a different type of cuisine. In fact, this new venture already has a "second store". This venture will remain a different entity to Nam Kee in the foreseeable future. It currently counts as another experiment to ensure their system is working and achievable, which would give them more confidence in future expansions and franchises. "In the long term, we're also planning to have on-the-go food in places like 7-11. We also hope to work towards using organic products in our dishes; this is our bucket list," Ken said. Will they sell the business? No, as they believe Nam Kee has not "reached its maximum potential". Instead, they are on the lookout for "collaborations, mergers and franchises". "Our dream is for Nam Kee to become an international brand one day," Ken said. Ultimately, what is the brothers' measure of success? Ken said, "When we have the Nam Kee brand all over Singapore, and the stores are able to help our workers live a better life." Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. "Depending upon the type of meteorite this is, specimens could easily be worth their weight in gold," said a museum official getty Meteorite A meteorite was seen shooting through the sky between Maine and Canada on Saturday, and a local museum is offering a reward for the first substantial piece of it. The fast-moving fireball created a sonic boom and was visible during the daytime, which allowed NASA officials to track it and predict the location for where its remains might be found, according to CNN. Now, the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum is offering a $25,000 reward for the first remnant that weights 2.2 pounds or more, they announced on social media. As a helpful guide on where to look, the museum shared that "the strewn field is projected to be just north of Waite, Maine to over the Canadian border directly west of Canoose, New Brunswick." And even though the museum is located in the United States, they say that the reward is open to Canadians as well. Related: Loud Boom That 'Created Panic' in Texas Was Caused by Meteorite: 'We've Solved the Mystery,' Officials Say Of course, even having a general idea of where fragments can be found doesn't mean the search will be easy. "It's a sparsely populated area but not as sparsely populated as where most meteorites fall the ocean," Darryl Pitt, who heads up the meteorite division at the Museum, told CNN, adding that "finding meteorites in woods of Maine" isn't "the simplest of the environments." 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. This particular meteorite was rare in that it made its appearance during the day and was bright enough to be visible in the sunlight. (These occurrences are primarily visible at night.) "Most fireballs that are witnessed are usually seen at night -- their light easily contrasting against the night sky," the museum wrote on social media of the unusual event. "This fireball being seen during the day is incredibly rare; imagine how bright it would have been at night." Story continues Related:French Scientist Apologizes, Says 'Space Telescope Image' of Distant Star Was Actually Just Chorizo "The existence of positive Doppler radar returns meteorites detected descending through the atmosphere just several miles above ground assures us there are meteorites waiting to be found, Pitt said in a press release. Additionally, the museum said they'll purchase other fragments of the fireball. "Depending upon the type of meteorite this is, specimens could easily be worth their weight in gold," Pitt said in the release. First-time meteorite hunters are encouraged to "first go to meteorite identification sites on the internet so they know what they're looking for," the museum says. It also encourages people to ensure they have permission from their landowning neighbors before searching on private property. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Amidst Russia's continued full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many might have forgotten that the small Baltic country of Lithuania was the first to pay in blood for its independence from Moscow more than three decades ago. In fact, Lithuania was the first former republic to break away from the Soviet Union, proclaiming the restoration of its pre-World War II independence in March 1990 and sparking a tumultuous period culminating in the January Events of 1991. Following threats of violence by Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev, a three-day Soviet Army invasion ended with 14 Lithuanian civilians dead and some 140 injured. Yet they did not relent, and their resistance sparked a chain reaction across the Soviet bloc that saw the rest of the Baltics, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, as well as states in the Caucasus and Central Asia, follow suit until the USSR's final demise in late December 1991. Since then, Lithuania has grown into a full-fledged democracy, becoming a member of the EU and NATO in the process. Together with the other Baltic states, it is now one of the most fervent supporters of Ukraine as it continues to endure a bloody war and the Kremlin's aggression. Euronews View spoke to Saulius Saul Anuzis, a Lithuanian-American political expert and former Michigan Republican Party chairman, and a witness to the struggle for Lithuanian independence in the late 1980s and early 1990s about what it took for the former Soviet states to distance themselves from Moscow and what can be learnt from their experience as Russia's war against Ukraine rages on. Euronews View: When did you first go to Lithuania, and what was the situation in the then-Soviet state like at the time? Saul Anuzis: My parents immigrated from Lithuania. My sister was born there. My other sister was born in Germany during the war, and then my brother and I were born here in the US, but we were basically raised in a kind of immigrant neighbourhood in metro Detroit. Story continues I didn't learn to speak English until I was seven years old. Our neighbours were Lithuanian. We went to Lithuanian church, Lithuanian preschool and all that kind of stuff. So, we were culturally pretty engaged in Lithuanian activities, and that's really how I got involved in politics. My first trip would have been in '89. I went 32 times between 1989 and 1991. Obviously, it was at the end of the Soviet era, and it was still under Soviet control. Anti-Soviet political graffiti filled the entire wall built with concrete slabs is erected in Vilnius, 17 January 1991 - Liu Heung Shing/AP1991 The last General Secretary of the Communist Party was still in charge, the Lithuanian Communist Party was still the dominant party, and Sajudis had just started kind of brewing. It was a very tenuous time for people there. They were all afraid, not sure exactly what was going to happen, how things were gonna work. This was a unique situation. But it was kind of coming to a boiling point. People wanted to see change. And I think they just had a couple of good leaders that combined with others around the old Soviet bloc that kind of engaged and helped start the downfall of the Soviet Union. Euronews View: How did this group of people come together? What was the profile of the people who were leading this change, and what is it that motivated them at the time? Saul Anuzis: The guy who gave the first speech was a guy named Arvydas Juozaitis, the Olympic swimmer who won a bronze medal for the Soviets in the breaststroke. They brought him to the border expecting to get him out because he started this whole thing calling for Lithuania's Independence. Juozaitis, Vytautas Landsbergis he became the first president of Lithuania and Romualdas Ozolas, the three of them were kind of the start of Sajudis, or at least the leaders of Sajudis, who organised a lot of the initial activities. And there were a couple of Lithuanian Americans who had gone over there to help, and obviously, the immigrant community of Lithuanians all over the world were engaged in helping in any way they could, which was primarily through getting information out. Sajudis supporters demonstrate in front of the Lithuanian Parliament in Vilnius, 11 March 1990 - Keplicz/AP1990 At the time, I was the chief of staff to the Senate majority leader in Michigan, and we were politically engaged. We try to help them in any way we could with various introductions and conferences. Actually, the first two governments that were there came over and met at Hillsdale College to hear what Western values are and how you run a democracy. I gave a speech at the medical society there, and one of the doctors asked you what the most important thing they could do, and I said it was figuring out how to kind of cleanse that Soviet mindset over a freedom-based mindset where you were no longer stealing from the government, stealing from Moscow. That was now taking from your own people. Not only did they have to do the logistical stuff of figuring out how to run their own country. They had to change the way they thought where the government now was of the people, and they were trying to create a new free independent country. And I think that was just as much of a challenge as anything else. Euronews View: Lithuania is a small country, especially compared to the rest of the Soviet Union and Russia. How do you feel about the fact that the people outside of Lithuania and even in its immediate neighbourhood have somewhat forgotten how much courage and energy it took for Lithuania and the rest of the three Baltic states to be where they are today? Saul Anuzis: It's just part of history, and people just moved on. I mean, there are other crises at hand. But I do think that a lot of people, especially those who are involved in the kind of captive nations mindset of understanding those who are trying to break away from the Soviet bloc, know that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia still led the way. They were the early ones who walked out on the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. You had the Baltic Way, when the Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians stood up and down that highway and held hands to show the citizens' interest in having their own independence. It became a mass movement. People carry a civilian who was wounded during the Soviet Army attack on the TV Tower in Vilnius, 13 January 1991 - AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianchenko You're seeing a different scenario happening in Ukraine, but at the same time, you've got countries like Poland who are very supportive and reacting because they also lived under the yoke of the Soviets dominating their country, and they don't want to see that happen again. I think those are some of the reasons you see the Baltics being supportive of Ukraine, you see Poland being supportive of Ukraine and others. Because they've experienced both living under Soviet rule and influence and the benefits and values of freedom and the Eastern European countries, especially those former Soviet satellite states, have had a very positive impact both on NATO and the world as a whole. Euronews View: Do you think that the rest of Europe, and the West in particular, have listened to Lithuanians enough when they, together with others, warned us of Moscows malign intentions? Saul Anuzis: I would say people listened to them; I just don't know necessarily how they reacted. I mean, there was a tremendous amount of interest in finding out how things worked. Very quickly, NATO, as well as other intelligence services, were in Lithuania and the Baltics, learning from their experiences of how the process was set up, what people did, and what people didn't do. Obviously, early on, there were a lot of people in leadership that were part of the Communist Party part of the security infrastructure of the Soviets. And so there was some very valuable intelligence and information that was shared with regards to process, tactics, strategy and what they did in Moscow. I think that helped the West prepare for the continuing barrage of propaganda how they manipulated governments or tried to manipulate governments and how they engaged in different types of activities. There were institutes and foundations that were set up to share what happened during the Soviet occupation, and all that stuff was very valuable because it was like the first-hand experience of all the things that we suspected were going on in the Soviet Union and didn't quite have all the best information and necessarily the full information of it. A Soviet paratrooper gestures with a thumbs-up while standing guard outside the Lithuanian TV and radio center in Vilnius, 29 January 1991 - Peter Andrews/AP Also, the KGB archives opened up. It was a very interesting time because a lot of people pulled all kinds of documents and records. They knew who was talking to who and what they were talking about. I used to go and stay at the hotel down at Vilnius Park, and later they showed us the listening rooms where every room had recording devices. They found the office where somebody sat there and reported to the intelligence service. You had somebody sitting on every floor watching who walked in the rooms and kept track of who people were and all that kind of stuff. It was very real and something that I think most people in the West had no idea how restrictive and how invasive it was in peoples lives. Euronews View: As you said, Lithuania, the Baltics and other neighbouring countries are extremely supportive of Ukraine, another country that liberated itself of the Soviet Union. Is there something from your experience in Lithuania and in general that could maybe help shed more light on the interest Vladimir Putin and his associates have in waging a war against Ukraine? Saul Anuzis: One of the big lessons is the fact that states like the Baltics, Ukraine, and Poland threaten the Russian system. Because people realise that there's an alternative to having a strong dictator leader and a system that basically takes care of you because you can't somehow take care of yourself. There's an alternative thats the danger for the Russians. Just walk through the Soviet republics and take a look at these people experiencing free markets, free minds, education, western values coming in, westerners coming in, finding out they're not all enemies. Thousands gather outside of the Parliament in Vilnius, 26 January 1991 - Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP They're not all enemies of the state. They're not trying to take you over from a different way, but they're actually trying to institute a degree of democracy and freedom and freedom of choice. That then translates and kind of spreads into Russia, which is a big danger to their ruling system. The oligarchs and their clique of intelligence services and former party members still run much of the infrastructure throughout Russia. It's a cleptocracy that operates knowingly, acceptingly, even amongst the people. There's almost an acceptance of the way Russia works, and what's going to change that is the experiences of Ukraine, Poland, and other former Soviet bloc states that have moved forward and created systems of education and universities and freedom of the press. And they're not all perfect, and they're not all there yet. But they're all working towards that, and eventually, as democracy takes place, as people engage in this, they realise that that is a better system than what the Soviets had and what the Russians currently use. I think that's the danger. Goran Jalal, 37, of Brandfort Street, Bradford, pictured left, is wanted by the NCA (Image: National Crime Agency) The alleged ringleader of a gang found guilty of smuggling migrants into the UK is still wanted by the National Crime Agency (NCA). It comes as a key member of the organised crime group Marinel Danut Palage has been jailed for smuggling migrants into the UK. The 31-year-old Romanian national, who lives in Spain, made use of back of his refrigerated truck, where he was carrying a legitimate load of spinach. He has been sentenced to nine years at Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday (April 13). Palage would meet the migrants in northern France before taking them in the back of his lorry on a ferry from Caen to Portsmouth. Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Romanian national Marinel Danut Palage, 31, who resides in Spain, left, and the lorry and storage locker used Romanian national Marinel Danut Palage, 31, who resides in Spain, left, and the lorry and storage locker used (Image: NCA) 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. During a search of Palage's 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. Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Gang member Mariwan Mustafa, of Ovenden Way, Halifax, and some of the recovered cash Gang member Mariwan Mustafa, of Ovenden Way, Halifax, and some of the recovered cash (Image: NCA) Father-of-three Pshtewan Ghafour, 37, Camsell Court, Middlesbrough, was jailed for five years for his role in the organisation which included ensuring the group members were paid. Story continues 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 . Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Left to right, Jamal Walid Saied, Hemin Ali Salih, and Pshtewan Majid Ghafour Left to right, Jamal Walid Saied, Hemin Ali Salih, and Pshtewan Majid Ghafour (Image: NCA) 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 alleged ringleader of the group Goran Jalal, 37, of Brandfort Street, Lidget Green, Bradford, absconded following his arrest. Kamaran Kader, 44, of Basil Street, Canterbury, Bradford; Mariwan Mustafa, 33, of Ovenden Way, Halifax; and Manchester duo Jamal Saied, 38, of Brightstone Walk, and Hemin Salih, 37, of Bryson Walk, who has also absconded, will be sentenced separately for their part in the network. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Salih and Jalal should contact the NCA on 0370 4967622 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji, right, meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, upon his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Syria will reopen its embassy in Tunisia, state media reported Wednesday, as Syria's top diplomat visited Saudi Arabia seeking to restore ties that have been severed for more than a decade. (SANA via AP) 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. Justin Pearson was reinstated back into the Tennessee House of Representatives The decision was a result of a unanimous vote of all seven members of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners Republicans ousted the Black lawmaker after joining protests calling for stricter gun control Justin Pearson has been reinstated back into the House of Representatives of Tennessee after he was ousted by Republican lawmakers for joining protests calling for gun measures. The decision resulted from a unanimous vote of all seven members of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners. Pearson was one of the lawmakers who joined residents in calling for stricter gun controls following the horrific Nashville school shooting that killed six people. Justin Pearson was Voted Back Into the Tennessee House GOP representatives worked to expel the lawmakers involved in the protest and ousted Pearson and another Black man, Rep. Justin Jones, on Apr. 6. The votes passed mainly along party lines. A third lawmaker that Republicans wanted to oust was Rep. Gloria Johnson, who narrowly avoided expulsion by one vote, as per the New York Times. The unprecedented situation caused by an act of protest was only the third time since the Civil War that the Tennessee House worked to expel a lawmaker. The Republicans' decision caused outrage among Democrats, including President Joe Biden, who called the moves "shocking" and "undemocratic." Now, two House seats are left, prompting local governing bodies in the districts represented by Jones and Pearson to name temporary replacements. Less than a week following the ousting, the Metropolitan Nashville Council unanimously voted to bring Jones back to the seat, and he was sworn in on the same day. Following the Wednesday vote, Pearson addressed a crowd of supporters and said no one could expel hope, justice, or their voices. He added that the GOP would be unable to remove their fight, arguing that they would continue to fight. Read Also: Pentagon Leak Suspect Arrested After Joe Biden Declaration Republicans Ousting Democratic Lawmakers The Shelby County Board of Commissioners was made mostly of Democrats and decided to let Pearson represent House District 86. The two Black lawmakers will, for now, serve as interim representatives. According to BBC, authorities will hold special elections in the next few months where both lawmakers plan to run. In an interview, Mickell Lowery, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners chairman. The people in District 86 needed to be represented by an individual they voted for overwhelmingly and have him in office. Before the vote to bring Pearson back, he led a march that began at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. At the time, he told the crowd that democracy would lift the victims of gun violence in the country instead of supporting the National Rifle Association (NRA) and gun lobbyists. The Black lawmaker said that there was a problem in Nashville that authorities needed to address, arguing that opposing individuals' allegiance was to the way things were in the past. He claims that they were more focused on business as usual and on the NRA, said CNN. Related Article: Donald Trump Returns to New York for Fraud Lawsuit @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Time and venue of the Pre-bid meeting as follows: Time: 09:00 AM on April 20th, 2023 (Thursday). Venue: Assembly hall, Operation Building of Long Thanh International Airport Project Management Unit, Long Thanh district, Dong Nai province, Vietnam. ACV would like to invite prospective Bidders interested in the Package No. 5.10 Construction and Equipment Installation for Passenger Terminal Building to attend and directly discuss unclear contents or propose your recommendations on the Package No. 5.10 with the Employer. For facilitation of the effective Pre-Bid meeting, the prospective Bidders are kindly recommended to study the Bidding documents and send any clarification requests/ enquiries to the Soliciting Entity before the Pre-Bid Meeting date via the Vietnam National E-procurement System. In case of participation, the Bidders representatives are kindly required to present referral letters and participants personal identification documents. For further information, please contact: - Mr. Nguyen Bach Thang Deputy Manager in charge of Planning Admin. Department, Long Thanh International Airport Project Management Unit. - Telephone: 096.631.8888. Email: qldaltia@acv.vn HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked for efforts to be enhanced to remove any difficulties and promote the production and export of forestry and fishery products. His request comes as the industries saw a slowdown in the first quarter of this year. PM Chinh was speaking at the conference with Viet Nam Timber and Forest Products Association (Viforest) and Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (Vasep) held on Thursday, aiming to remove difficulties for the industries which bring more than US$10 billion in trade surplus each year, and raise measures for development. Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development showed that the timber and forestry industry set the goal of achieving an export revenue of $17.5 billion this year, after registering $17.1 billion in 2022. The fishery sector aimed to earn an export revenue of $10 billion in 2023 after posting an increase of 23.8 per cent to reach $11 billion in 2022. However, in the first quarter of this year, the total trade value of agroforestryfishery products dropped by 11.2 per cent over the same period last year to $20.63 billion. Of the figure, export was at $11.19 billion, down 14.4 per cent and import at $9.44 billion, down 7.2 per cent. The sector ran a trade surplus of $1.76 billion in the quarter, down 39.6 per cent. The export of timber and forestry products saw a significant drop of 28 per cent, and fishery products 27 per cent. Exports to major markets also slumped, such as a decline of 37 per cent in timber to the US and nearly 50 per cent in seafood. The number of orders also dropped, forcing producers to switch to short-time work, affecting production, business and the lives of nearly 10 million labourers. Chinh pointed out that as the prolonged impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the export market was narrowed due to falling demand, increasingly fierce competition between major economies, fluctuating prices of commodities and adjustments in macro-economic management policies. The forestry and fishery industries still faced a number of difficulties including heavy reliance on imported raw materials, complicated developments of trade disputes, falling consumption demand in major markets like the US, EU and Japan, importers sourcing from more diverse markets and changes in policies of countries, he said. He asked the focus to be placed on removing difficulties in markets, institutions, and credit for the production, processing and export of forestry and fishery products. The industry must switch to sustainable, multi-valued integrated production, enhancing competitiveness associated with developing the processing and preservation industries. Priorities must be on ensuring food safety, protecting the ecological environment and encouraging the development of green, organic and circular agriculture. PM Chinh stressed that the production must be based on the market demand and regional competitiveness to develop a technology and innovationdriven value chain. He urged attention to trade defence instruments with international commitments and the established laws of Viet Nam, which was the key to protecting the domestic industry and creating conditions for expanding the markets in a rapid but sustainable way. At the conference, the PM asked ministries and localities to remove difficulties for enterprises, make effort to diversify markets, establish supply chains, cut costs and simplify procedures. A close watch must be placed on the market developments, internationally and regionally, and adjustments in policies of countries to have analysis and forecasts and develop prompt response plans. While the export market was shrinking, enterprises should take advantage of the domestic market with a population of 100 million, he said. He also urged enterprises to effectively take advantage of trade agreements to expand the market, strengthening digital transformation and innovation to create breakthroughs. For the timber industry, he urged the focus to be on developing the raw material areas with sustainable forest management certificates. For the fishery, the PM asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to research and raise solutions to overcome the EUs IUU yellow card and expand export markets. Policies for the development of the industries must be completed, including policies related to origin traceability, he asked. Policies should be raised to attract private investment and strengthen public-private partnership to modernise the sectors. The Ministry of Finance was in charge of raising support in terms of tax exemption, reductions, and deferrals for 2023. The Ministry of Industry and Trade would boost trade promotion programmes to expand markets and support enterprises in dealing with trade defence lawsuits. According to Vietforest, the Government should consider the establishment of exhibition centres of regional and international scale in Ha Noi and a Nang. The existing ones in HCM City were still of small scale. Fishery and forestry were important industries of Viet Nam. Viet Nams fishery products were exported to more than 170 countries and territories, making Viet Nam among the top seafood exporters in the world. Timber and forestry products were among the top 10 export products of Viet Nam with an average export value of around $11 billion per year. VNS HCM CITY Building digital data has been identified as a core element in HCM Citys digital transformation and smart-city development, and the city has begun a data building strategy, according to its Department of Information and Communications. Speaking at a seminar titled Vietnamese Smart City Strategy: Achievement and Challenges in HCM City on Wednesday, Vo Thi Trung Trinh, the departments deputy director, said the city aims to become smart with e-government, e-enterprises and an electronic society by 2030. She said it would focus on developing three main data groups by 2025: citizens (administrative, civil status, health, education, and welfare), finance-business (summary and statistics of budget revenue and expenditure, public investment management, enterprises, and household businesses), and land-urban areas (geographical information, construction, transport, and planning and architecture). All would be stored and managed at the citys data centre, she said. We aim to have a digital governance system by 2025, and so digital data is indispensable. The city is focusing on developing databases and policies to support the application of these data in digital governance and utilise the data to drive the digital economy and data economy. Currently the digital economy accounts for about 18 per cent of the citys gross regional domestic product, and is expected to account for 40 per cent by 2030. We want data to be a raw material for the city's digital economy development. Good data management will help boost socio-economic development, productivity and competitiveness. Going forward, data would be the citys core asset, and it would have regulations for sharing and use of data by administrative departments to better serve the people, she said. The city would encourage the effective use of shared data to promote innovation and start-ups, she added. Nguyen Phu Tien, deputy director of the National Digital Transformation Department, said provinces are also making their cities smart, but their focus is still mainly on services and utilities associated with e-governance and digital government, and they do not pay much attention to smart city management to address fundamental urban issues like transportation, environment, healthcare, and education. Many localities are facing difficulties with their smart city projects and need new direction from the Government, he said. Viet Nam wants to learn from other countries that have successfully developed smart cities, he added. The seminar was held as part of the Smart City Asia International Expo and Forum 2023 being held in HCM City from April 13 from 15. VNS HA NOI A new series of paintings by visual artist Le Quy Tong, one of the important figures of Vietnamese contemporary art, are on display at Manzi. Entitled Thon Thuc Menh Mang (Neo-Romanticism), the exhibition features 20 mixed-media works on canvas and paper just a small part of an extensive amount of work that Tong has created over the past four years. It also marks the artists return to Manzi after over seven years since his solo show titled True Blue (2015), which began his ongoing experiment with an input hybrid of painting, decorated pattern and found imagery. Along with showcasing a new technique, screen printing, in the artists practice, this comeback also sees a dramatic change in the colour palettes: neither limited to monochromatic colour schemes nor restrained in the deep, sombre shades as in his previous series, True Blue and True Gold. Conversely, Neo-Romanticism witnesses a bloom in a wide variety of colours, including both bold and subtle, fiery and dusky hues. Beyond the new method and palette, which got an air of Pop Art style, and further, than just the outer expansion in visual accomplishment, viewers will be looking for any breakthroughs in the inner of this artists latest expedition. According to Manzis art manager, Linh Lan, the first bar to jump over is the starting point of all Tongs paintings the photographic documentation. These images sourced from historical archives and mass media are easily accessible by an online image search engine," she said. "Rather than intentionally select an image that would anchor his own composition and navigate the viewers perception, Tong randomly singles out a photo that he found intriguing as an input element; its original context is of very little significance. Besides playing with the massive visual archives by deconstruction and collage, this new body of works by Tong confronts viewers with a series of new keywords (that can be stated clearly in the form of letters, written texts or presented by figures, drawings) which are Love, Heart, Romantic(ism), Dreamer, Acrobat, Youth. This system of keywords acts as an intermediary that stimulates our imagination and evokes our feelings, thus, thoughts and interpretations can be liberated from political, moral and cultural discourses, Lan said. The art manager also said that with Neo-Romanticism, the artist has put on a pair of spiritual wings that are youthful and audacious; he now embraces both past and present and human beings as a tangle of reality and illusion, passion and brutality, authenticity and violence. Neo-Romanticism opens to the public until April 22, from 11am to 7pm, Tuesday to Sunday, at Manzi Art Space (14 Phan Huy Ich Street) and Manzi Exhibition Space (2 Hang Bun Alley, Ba inh District, Ha Noi). Free entrance. VNS HA NOI The current colour scheme of the old French villa in the historic downtown area of Ha Noi, which is proving to be controversial in online public discourses, is being tested and is not yet official, Hoan Kiem Districts authorities have said. The villa, situated at 49 Tran Hung ao46 Hang Bai, which used to lay in a state of abandonment for years, is part of a project to preserve villas to promote the values of the cultural, historical, and architectural heritage of Ha Nois historical area. The cost of the restoration effort for this villa has been given as VN14 billion (US$597,142). The project will introduce basic techniques in preserving and restoring several French architectural works, raising public awareness about heritage conservation. The project began in 2016, within the framework of cooperation between Ha Noi City and the Ile-de-France region, Hoan Kiem District and Paris Region Expertise (PRX). Commencing in April 2022, after a year of restoration, the project has entered the finishing stage. During the construction and renovation of the villa, French and Vietnamese experts carried out construction archaeology to find the original colours, materials, and details. Experts are testing some colours to choose the right one to ensure maximum accuracy for the project, according to Hoan Kiem authorities. The current colour is not official. The new colour of the old villa has been criticised by even the architect providing consultation services for this project. Doan Minh Khoi, director of the urban and architectural institute, which is the design consultancy unit for the project, told Tuoi tre online newspaper that even though the original colour is being applied, it still needs some time for the villa to gain the same colour as the original one. Khoi also expressed his personal dislike toward the current colour. But, as an expert, he understands that the current colour doesn't look right, but if the colour is changed, it would not be true to the original version. Following public criticism, especially given its price tag, experts working on this project have so far not had further discussions to make a new decision, according to Khoi. VNS Nima Momeni was arrested for the alleged murder of Bob Lee The suspect allegedly knew Lee The Cash App founder was stabbed to death on April 4 Nima Momeni has been arrested in connection with the assassination of Cash App founder Bob Lee, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott announced Thursday at a news conference. Scott characterized Momeni as a 38-year-old Emeryville, California native. Per CNN, Scott stated that Momeni and Lee were acquainted but did not elaborate on their relationship. Bob Lee's Killer Arrested According to records from the California Secretary of State, Momeni has owned an IT company that, according to its website, offers technical support services. Momeni was arrested without incident and transported to the San Francisco County jail, where he was filed on one count of homicide. Early on April 4, Bob Lee was stabbed in the Rincon Hill neighborhood of San Francisco. A local Bay Area news website reported surveillance footage and a 911 call documented the moments following the stabbing incident. The surveillance footage, evaluated by the online news source The San Francisco Standard, depicts Lee strolling alone on Main Street while "gripping his side with one hand and his cellphone with the other, leaving a trail of blood behind him. Momeni is reported to have known his victim; the two men reportedly shared a car ride immediately before the murder. According to Mission Local, they were in a vehicle registered to Momeni. The assault by a friend could partially explain why Lee was wandering at 2.30 a.m. through an area of Main Street with almost no foot traffic, according to Daily Mail. Lee passed away at the hospital later that morning. The specifics of the relationship between Lee and his alleged killer remain unknown. Read Also: Pentagon Leak Suspect Arrested After Joe Biden Declaration Who is Nima Momeni? On his LinkedIn profile, Momeni identifies himself as an "IT Consultant/Entrepreneur" and the owner of Expand IT. According to state business filings, Momeni is the chief executive officer, secretary, and financial officer of Expand IT INC, an information technology consulting company. According to his LinkedIn profile, Momeni has been "a dedicated technology partner since 2005" and founded Expand IT in 2010. In 2011, Momeni was charged with misdemeanor switchblade possession, according to court documents. After he entered a plea the following year, the case was dismissed. Meanwhile, Lee is well-known for developing the popular mobile payment service Cash App while serving as chief technology officer of Square, now known as Block. At the time of his demise, he was the chief product officer for the cryptocurrency company MobileCoin. Per ABC News, Lee was murdered while conducting business in San Francisco. He was reared in Missouri and had recently relocated to Miami with his father. His friends described him as courageous, intrepid, and a devoted father to his two children. Many in the tech industry and beyond reacted to Lee's demise with shock and sorrow. Some, including Elon Musk, stated that the incident demonstrated that "violent crime in San Francisco is horrifying." On Thursday, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins of San Francisco criticized Musk's statement as "reckless and irresponsible." Jenkins stated that Musk's remark "assumed incorrect circumstances" regarding the fatality and effectively "spread misinformation" while police were investigating the incident. Related Article: Bob Lee's Death Shocks Tech World, Leads to Anger @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested Viet Nam and Switzerland enhance all-level exchanges and meetings, creating momentum for the expansion of cooperation across spheres while receiving newly-appointed Swiss Ambassador Thomas Gass in Ha Noi on Thursday. Viet Nam always attaches importance to its friendship and cooperation with Switzerland, the PM said, noting his belief that the ambassador will continue actively contributing to the bilateral ties during his tenure. He emphasised that the Viet Nam-Switzerland relationship is developing intensively and extensively in all fields, particularly politics-diplomacy, trade-investment and development cooperation. Switzerland is Viet Nams important economic partner in Europe, with two-way trade and Swiss investment in the Southeast Asian nation growing significantly, the leader said, suggesting Switzerland create optimal conditions for its enterprises to run long-term, high-quality business in Viet Nam, focusing on the areas of Switzerlands strengths and Viet Nam's priorities like digital transformation, green transition, circular economy, climate change response, high-tech agriculture, banking-finance, and health care. The two sides should work to push ahead with negotiations on a free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in order to boost their investment and trade ties in the time ahead, PM Chinh said. The PM also suggested the two countries expand collaboration in science-technology, education-training, and people-to-people exchanges, thus helping Viet Nam raise its workforce quality, and contributing to enhancing mutual understanding. PM Chinh used this occasion to thank the Swiss government and people for their donation of medical supplies to Viet Nam during the COVID-19 pandemic, and called on the Swiss government to create more favourable conditions for Vietnamese nationals to live and work in the country. Gass, for his part, affirmed that Switzerland always attaches importance to its friendship and cooperation with Viet Nam, and expressed his impression on socio-economic achievements the Southeast Asian nation has recorded during the realisation of sustainable development goals, as well as the countrys role and position in the region and the world at large, and its strong commitments to climate change response and net zero emissions by 2050. The ambassador promised to make efforts to contribute to strengthening the bilateral ties more practically and effectively, stressing Switzerland stands ready to accompany and cooperate with Viet Nam in the fields of manufacturing, high tech, sustainable agriculture, and climate change response. Viet Nam is an increasingly important partner of Switzerland, and ample room remains for the two sides to boost their cooperation, the diplomat said, stressing that Switzerland wishes to accelerate negotiations on the free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the EFTA. He also suggested the two countries foster collaboration in science-technology, education-training, tourism and exchange between their citizens. For multilateral cooperation, PM Chinh said the two countries should continue cooperation and mutual support at multilateral forums and international organisations, especially the United Nations. He also called for Switzerlands support for the stance and efforts of ASEAN and Viet Nam in maintaining peace and stability, ensuring freedom, security and safety of navigation and aviation in the South China Sea, and settling disputes by peaceful measures, on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). VNS HA NOI Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has sent letters of greetings and flowers to Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, and President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen on the occasion of the traditional New Year of the two neighbouring countries (known as Pi Mai and Choul Chnam Thmey, respectively). In the letter to the Lao leader, Trong, on behalf of the Vietnamese Party, State and people, extended the best New Year wishes to him and other Party and State leaders, and people of Laos. The Vietnamese Party General Secretary noted his belief that under the leadership of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party (LPRP), the Lao people will overcome all challenges to gain greater achievements in the cause of reform and national construction and defence, thus successfully building a nation of peace, independence, democracy, unity and prosperity. The Vietnamese Party, State and people are delighted to work together with their Lao counterparts to continuously cultivate the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, making them more intensive, substantive and effective across fields, bringing practical benefits to people of each country, and contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world as well, the Party chief said. In the letter to the Cambodian leader, General Secretary Trong congratulated Cambodia on the great, important attainments the country recorded in both internal and external affairs over the past time. We firmly believe that, under the wise reign of King Norodom Sihamoni, the leadership of the CPP, and the administration of the Cambodian government, Cambodian people will gain many new, greater achievements in the cause of national defence, construction and development, and successfully organise the 7th general election and the 32nd SEA Games, he said. He went on that the Vietnamese Party, State and people always try their best, together with the CPP, the State and people of Cambodia, to preserve and constantly deepen the bilateral relationship, bringing practical benefits to people of the two countries, and contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. On this occasion, President Vo Van Thuong also sent flowers and greetings to Party General Secretary and President of Laos Sisoulith and Cambodian King Sihamoni. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent flowers and greetings to his Lao and Cambodian counterparts Sonexay Siphandone and Hun Sen. National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue sent flowers and greetings to Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Saysomphone Phomvihane, President of the Cambodian Senate Say Chhum and President of the Cambodian National Assembly Heng Samrin. Other Vietnamese Party and Government officials also extended their greetings to Lao and Cambodian officials on this occasion. VNS HAI PHONG The coast guard forces of Viet Nam and China conducted a joint patrol on the waters adjacent to the two countries delimitation line in the Gulf of Tonkin from April 11-13. This is the first joint patrol in those waters this year and the sixth since the Viet Nam-China agreement on fishery cooperation in the Gulf of Tonkin expired on June 30, 2020. Each side dispatched two ships (8004 and 8003 from Viet Nam, and 4304 and 4202 from China) to join in the patrol, which covered waters along 13 points on the delimitation line with a total distance of 255.5 nautical miles from the point 48km northeast of Con Co island to the point 14 miles southeast of Tran island. During the patrol, the two sides conducted face-to-face talks, monitoring of fishing vessels of both countries operating in the waters adjacent to the delimitation line and communication activities on legal compliance. On this occasion, the Vietnamese coast guard force set up a working group to inspect Vietnamese fishing ships compliance to regulations related to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The force also held a ceremony to pay tribute to fallen soldiers and people who died in the Gulf of Tonkin. Commander of the Viet Nam Coast Guard Major General Le Quang ao, who led the Vietnamese side in the joint patrol, said the activity is a success in all aspects, contributing to the development of the ties between the two countries in general and the two coast guard forces in particular. He expects the two countries' coast guard units to further promote the achievements gained in the past years to together maintain a peaceful, secure, safe, and orderly environment at sea. VNS HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha received Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (RoK) to Viet Nam Oh Young-ju in Ha Noi on Friday, asking the diplomat to help promote the cooperative ties between the two countries in climate change response and just energy transition. Deputy PM Ha underlined the vigorous and practical development of the Viet Nam - RoK relations, with a number of significant achievements obtained. The two countries have become leading partners in multiple spheres, of which economic, trade, and investment cooperation are the pillars of partnership and are an impetus for bilateral connection, he went on. He called on the ambassador to continue bolster the bilateral cooperation, especially in climate change response, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and just energy transition. Highly valuing Korean businesses attention to key transport infrastructure projects in Viet Nam, the Deputy PM said this is one of the Vietnamese Governments priorities in the coming years. VNS HA NOI United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived on Air Force 2 at Noi Bai International Airport on Friday evening, beginning his official visit to Viet Nam from April 14-16. Welcoming him at the airport were US Ambassador to Viet Nam Marc Knapper and head of the Americas Department of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Chi Dung. The trip is made at the invitation of Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, as the two countries are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their Comprehensive Partnership. The US diplomat is scheduled to hold official talks with Minister Son, and later have meetings with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Ha Noi on Saturday. Blinken will also attend the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the new US Embassy campus worth US$1.2 billion on Pham Van Bach Street, Cau Giay District, Ha Noi. Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian & Pacific Affairs of US State Department Daniel J. Kritenbrink said ahead of Blinken's trip that his talks with Vietnamese leaders and officials will build on the momentum of US President Joe Bidens call with Vietnamese General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong late last month. VNS As Viet Nam aims to build the longest flower path of its kind in the country, stretching over 3,000km along the north-south railway line, many experts and residents have applauded the plan as a potential tourist draw, though concerns over railway safety have also been raised. The flower path will feature specific flowers that represent the 34 provinces and cities that it passes by, according to ang Sy Manh, general director of the Vietnam Railways Corporation, which is in charge of the railway line. He said that creating the flower path will take place from March 2023 to March 2025, and its budget will be mobilised from the private sector, as the railway sector is struggling. Many routes in the north-south railway have been voted the worlds most beautiful, with many stations bearing significant historical and cultural values, he said. With the theme Every route features a representative flower, every station is a destination, the flower path is expected to become a tourist attraction and help visitors easily identify the region they are passing by through the flowers they see, the official said. Many households living close to the railway line have already planted flowers along the line. The Sai Gon Railway Joint Stock Company is also making a flower path along the railway line; this is also the plan of the Vietnam Railways Corporation. Architect Khuong Van Muoi, former chairman of the HCM City Architects Association, said he agrees with this plan. He said in areas with wide corridors, there should be wide-spreading trees that can both create green spaces in the city and make the landscape more beautiful. Low, small trees that can bloom all year round, such as moss roses, mock lemon and roses, should be planted in narrow areas. Each area, such as wards and communes, should have only one or two types of flowers to create a consistent colour array without being cluttered. When there are uniformly designed green areas, a beautiful landscape will be created, he said. To ensure consistency, he said it is necessary to conduct research at stations, roads, barrier stations and corridors along both sides of the railway. Concerns over safety Many residents in HCM City also expressed their concerns about the caring of plants along the flower paths and the risk to railway safety as many young people may flock to the railway track to take pictures, online newspaper Dan tri (Intellectuals) reported. Nguyen Van Hong, a 66-year-old resident in Phu Nhuan District where the railway passes through, said people in his neighbourhood had been voluntarily tidying up the area and planting flowers in front of their houses near the railway line. Earlier, the ward authority bought and planted a few here, but they all died. Residents used their own money to buy similar plants and grow them. If the area is left empty, people will throw garbage in anyway," Hong said. Phan Van Chien, 51 years old, who works as a railway crossing guard in Phu Nhuan District, has witnessed many changes in the residential areas where the railway passes through in the past 27 years. "In the past, cars or motorbikes usually stopped very close to the tracks," he said. "Before the train arrived, staff like me had to come and move the vehicles to make sure they were not so close to the track. At that time, houses were also very close to the track. Later, he said the city set a scope of railway safety corridor so there is more tree space. Chien said guards like him couldn't care for all the flowers and bonsais planted on the route they were in charge of. He also expressed safety concerns. Many families plant very tall trees or have them very close to the track. The owners must get into the tracks to take care of the tree, which puts them at risk. Moreover, in locations with beautiful trees, like the Le Van Sy Street area in Ward 9, Phu Nhuan District, young people often gather on the tracks to take pictures, which is a violation of railway traffic safety. He said he hoped that the authorities should take measures to raise people's awareness, arrange more cameras and impose appropriate penalties for these cases. Careful research needed Tran Van Suu, a former lecturer at the University of Transport and Communications, said he liked the idea of the flower path, adding that it can become an interesting destination for international tourists. If successfully implemented, this will be one of the highlights in Viet Nams travel map, helping to attract more local and international tourists to travel by railway. For many, especially international tourists, using the train is not just a matter of commuting but also a part of the travel experience and the chance to roll through the spectacular landscapes of Viet Nam. There are only a few routes of the railway that have flowers and trees, such as the one passing Le Van Sy, with huynh lien vang (yellow bell flower). Some railway stations in the central province of Quang Binh are also filled with flowers and trees. However, many parts of the north-south railway line is full of garbage, such as plastic bags and food box, which leaves a negative impression of a sloppy area. However, many things need to be carefully considered, especially the safety issue of the railway corridor, Suc khoe & oi song (Health&Life) newspaper reported. Currently, the north-south railway passes through many different terrains, including mountainous places with complex geomorphology. The selection of crops for these areas needs careful consideration. When choosing types of trees and flowers to plant, it is necessary to choose those with a low canopy that are not dense and do not block the view of train drivers to ensure the safety of the route. Types of trees and flowers that are easy to prune and replace should be used. In addition, the cost of caring for and maintaining flowers and trees is high, as this is a long route, the newspaper reported. Architect Muoi said the selection and planting of flowers must be based on the conditions of the area and characteristics of each locality where the railway passes. He also stressed the importance of ensuring a safe distance for the railway safety corridor. Mesmerising train route The north-south railway is the inter-provincial route under the management of Vietnam Railways Corporation, connecting Ha Noi and HCM City. It passes by most localities that lie between the two ends of the country, including Ha Nam, Nam inh, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, a Nang, Quang Nam, Binh inh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, and Binh Duong. It has been hailed among the worlds most scenic routes many times. In 2022, Sputnik recommended the railway for romantic scenes, especially in the pristine central coastal region. In 2018, Lonely Planet, one of the worlds largest travel guidebook publishers, also named Viet Nams railway route the top of the most amazing train journeys. VNS HA NOI PVI Insurance has paid in advance compensation of US$50,000 to the family of Chu Quang Minh, the pilot who was killed in a helicopter crash in the Ha Long Bay last Wednesday afternoon. Under the insurance contract, the insurance company will pay a total compensation of $200,000 to the pilots family. The rest amount of the compensation will be sent to the family after completing the relevant procedures. The Viet Nam Helicopter Corporation purchased human accident insurance for pilots, which clearly states the insurance coverage and the level of compensation, therefore, the insurance company has enough information to pay in advance compensation quickly for the pilot's family after a serious incident occurred. The corporation also purchased insurance with limited liability for the loss of passengers and other third parties, with a total value of $30 million. The amount of compensation that each passenger's family will be paid depends on the provisions of the Law on Civil Aviation of Viet Nam and the agreement between the company and the passengers' families. The insurance package includes fuselage insurance, airline liability insurance for passengers and third parties, and accident insurance for pilots. In addition to personal insurance, the aircraft body also has insurance coverage of more than $1.65 million. The contract also has a provision to pay for search and rescue expenses and other reasonable expenses to minimise the damage caused by accident based on a valid invoice. On the afternoon of last Wednesday, a Bell 505 helicopter with registration number VN-8650 took off at 4:56pm from Tuan Chau Island, Ha Long City in the north-eastern province of Quang Ninh, but lost contact with air traffic control at 5:15pm. The helicopter, owned by the Northern Viet Nam Helicopter Company under the Viet Nam Helicopter Corporation (Army Corps 18), crashed while taking four Vietnamese tourists sightseeing over the bay. No one survived after the crash. All the tourists come from the central city of a Nang. The search for the body of all the victims was completed within one day after the crash. On October 18, 2016, the EC-130T2 helicopter with registration number VN-8632 of the Flight Training Centre, the Southern Helicopter Company under the Viet Nam Helicopter Corporation, reportedly crashed at Dinh Mountain in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, killing three people. After the incident, PVI Insurance already compensated a total of $3.5 million for the loss of the helicopter's fuselage following an insurance contract between the two sides. Data from the Viet Nam Insurance Association, insurance businesses last year paid more than VN64 trillion ($2.73 billion) for participants, an increase of more than 23 per cent compared to the figure of 2021. Of which, non-life insurance companies paid more than VN23.4 trillion ($1 billion) and life insurance companies paid more than VN40.6 trillion ($1.73 billion). VNS QUANG TRI Two citizens of Laos were sentenced to death by the Quang Tri Provincial People's Court on Friday for illegal trading of over 45kg of drugs. One of the two defendants, Thongvang, 35, was also prosecuted for the 'illegal possession of military weapons'. On August 22, 2021, Tongleng Lo, 33, was hired by a friend, Chu Lo, to transport 45.6kg of methamphetamine from Laos to Viet Nam for six million Laotian kips (US$348.70). His brother-in-law Thongvang was hired for $5,000 to act as a guard for the trip and was given a rubber bullet gun with six military-grade bullets. At around 4.30pm on the same day, the patrol team of Huong Lap Border Guard Station and the drug crime task force (under the provincial Border Guard) arrested the two criminals, confiscating their weapons, ammunition and two large packages of drugs. Several drug smugglers and dealers managed to escape. According to Quang Tri Provincial Peoples Procuracy, these crimes are a danger to society, violating the governments laws on drugs and weapons management, affecting security and order in the border areas. Therefore, they must be strictly handled. VNS Holidays by the ocean or on one of Viet Nam's many beautiful islands often can be the perfect getaway and with the Reunification and Labour holidays just around the corner this could be the best time to take a trip. Here are three amazing destinations in Viet Nam where the locals have adopted a "green" lifestyle by banning plastic bags. Co To Island, Quang Ninh Province Co To island district is an ideal place with beautiful beaches and islands such as Su Tu island, Mong Rong beach. Coming here in April, visitors will have the opportunity to see trees that date back hundreds of years, while enjoying the fresh air, listening to the birds singing, and discovering the wonderful nature to leave memorable memories that will last a lifetime. In order to build a sustainable green tourism environment, from September 1, 2022, the People's Committee of Co To island district, Quang Ninh Province piloted regulations that tourists should not bring plastic bottles, plastic bags, and materials with risks of environmental pollution. Coming to Co To, visitors will be able to "live green" without plastic bags, plastic waste, and see how local people develop Co To in a sustainable way. Cu Lao Cham, Quang Nam Province Cu Lao Cham is a cluster of islands located in Tan Hiep commune, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province. Recognised as a World Biosphere Reserve since 2009, Cu Lao Cham increasingly attracts international tourists to visit. Cu Lao Cham still retains its original beauty - rustic and peaceful. If you are looking for a place to relax during the holidays, Cu Lao Cham is an ideal choice. From mid-2019 until now, people on the island as well as tourists coming here must strictly comply with the regulations on not using plastic bags, preserving the environment, preserving the diverse ecosystem and working towards further development in a sustainable way. The most beautiful time to travel to Cu Lao Cham is from May to August every year when the weather on the island is best. You won't find any rain or wind, or strong sunshine. Coming to Cu Lao Cham, visitors can not ignore the wind channel of this cluster of islands - one of the places to welcome the beautiful sunrise and sunset; The Temple of the Profession Nest with the rare 200-year-old Heritage Tree. An Binh Island, Quang Ngai Province An Binh Island, also known as Ly Son small island, is about 7km from Ly Son large island, Quang Ngai Province. While the large island of Ly Son is increasingly developing tourism services, An Binh Island still retains an impressive wild look. In addition to the beautiful nature and unspoiled beaches you'll also be tempted by the delicious seafood. An Binh Island also impresses visitors thanks to its cleanliness, orderliness, and almost no shadow of plastic bags or garbage plastic on the island. In 2017, the local government began to encourage island residents and tourists not to bring single-use plastic products, or replace them with other environmentally friendly materials. Those who follow the green lifestyle and visit An Binh Island will really feel the peaceful and happy life people here enjoy so much. VNS 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. vir Iran executions surged in 2022 in an alleged attempt to "spread fear" among protesters The number of people given capital punishment rose by 75% in 2022 In that year, there were at least 582 people who were put to death Several rights groups claim that Iran executions surged in 2022 by roughly 75% in an effort by authorities to "spread fear" among protesters in a plan to curb dissent. There were at least 582 people who were put to death in that year which is the highest number since 2015, based on data collected by Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) with the help of France's Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM). Iran's Executions Surge The two rights groups' report was a collection of official announcements and information from sources inside Iran. The majority of the people who were sentenced to death were those who were convicted of murder or drug charges. However, two protesters were also hanged in December. The 22-year-old Mohsen Shekari and 23-year-old Majidreza Rahnavard were found guilty of the vague national security charge known as "enmity against God." The decision followed what the report said were "show trials" focused on confessions obtained from the defendants through torture, as per BBC. Two other protesters were executed at the beginning of this year, and several dozens were reportedly sentenced to death or charged with capital offenses. Demonstrations in Iran swept across the region following the death in custody of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman called Mahsa Amini. Amini was reportedly detained by morality police in Tehran in September last year for allegedly wearing her hijab "improperly." The rights groups said that only 71 of the executions recorded last year were announced by official sources. They argued that the rest were "unannounced" or kept secret only to be revealed by sources that included eyewitnesses, family members, lawyers, and people who worked for prisons or the judiciary. Read Also: Russia Conducts Drills in Sea of Japan Spreading Fear Among Protesters In a statement, IHR director Mahmood Amiry Moghaddam argued that as the international community was to keep the protest-related executions in check, Iranian officials were moving forward with the sentences for other charges "to compensate, and to spread fear among people," according to CBS News. Moghaddam noted that they had concerns that the number of executions in Iran could significantly increase this year if the international community continues at its current pace. He argued that exert execution in Iran was political regardless of what charges the individual was facing. He described the individuals who were executed on drug or murder charges as being the "low-cost victims" of the country's "killing machine." Moghaddam added that there were more than 150 executions in the first three months of 2023 alone and is on track to have the highest number in the last two decades. The rights groups also highlighted the apparent lack of transparency authorities show in announcing the executions. Their report showed that more than 88% of all executions that officials ordered, as well as 99% of drug-related executions, were not officially announced, said DW News. Related Article: US-Mexico Border Fire Update @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Trade promotion agencies have and will continue to implement many activities in a bid to help Vietnamese agricultural products achieve deeper penetration into the Dutch market, as well as the EU. According to Vo Thi Ngoc Diep, Vietnam Trade Counselor in the Netherlands, this year the Trade Office focuses on accelerating the introduction of standard Vietnamese agricultural products and food into Dutch major distribution channels. This is to be done by directly connecting importers with distribution chains and launching a series of activities such as "Vietnam Day" and "Vietnamese Goods Week" at Dutch supermarkets, as well as promoting Vietnamese agricultural products in The Hague. Along with that, according to the plan set by localities, the Vietnam Trade Office in the Netherlands will co-ordinate efforts with Ha Nam, Ben Tre, Da Nang, and Binh Duong provinces to organise trade promotion and investment promotion activities in the Netherlands. As a means of Vietnamese goods in general, particularly agricultural products to penetrate deeper into the EU market, not only the Vietnam Trade Office in the Netherlands, but the Trade Promotion Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, has also embarked on launching a broad array of activities aimed at helping domestic enterprises access this highly-lucrative market. At a recent signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on co-operation between the Trade Promotion Agency, the Netherlands Senior Experts Programme and the MISSLINH e-commerce platform, Hoang Minh Chien, deputy director of the Trade Promotion Department under the Ministry Industry and Trade, said that the signing of the deal will help parties to establish a mechanism for implementing trade promotion activities. This will therefore create favourable conditions for businesses in the nation to effectively participate in export promotion activities through a digital environment, as well as boosting trade links with Dutch businesses. It is hoped that this factor will contribute to bringing brands and products of Vietnamese enterprises to approach and secure a firm foothold in the Dutch market, as well as beyond in the EU market. The Netherlands is viewed as the "gateway" of the EU, with one-third of the volume of imported goods going through the Central European nation. The Netherlands also plays the role of being an important connection point between ports and industrial zones of the EU with the rest of the world. Most notably, both sides have signed a free trade agreement, according to which about 94% of the total 547 tariff lines for fresh and processed vegetables and fruits are reduced to 0% by the EU. Therefore, Vietnamese goods entering the Netherlands will be more competitive against competitors. Although there are many opportunities to penetrate the market, Diep also noted that this year will see the EU focus on amending a lot of regulations relating to the maximum residue level (MRL) of pesticides. Enterprises exporting Vietnamese agricultural products and foodstuffs to the Dutch and EU markets must regularly monitor, promptly inspect, supervise, and adjust their goods in accordance with regulations, she noted. Furthermore, in order for Vietnamese agricultural products and food to successfully penetrate and have a sustainable position within the Dutch market, according to many experts, building a brand name can be seen as necessary. It is therefore imperative for many local businesses to unite in the same product group in order to be strong enough to build and position Vietnamese brands within the Dutch market. Moreover, businesses must also devise strategies aimed at improving supply chain quality, diversify products, increase competitiveness instead of selling raw and lowering prices, and consigning products; At the same time it can be viewed as necessary to change the perception of food safety management and supervision, shifting from inspecting final products to monitoring hazards throughout the entire production chain in order to meet relevant standards. Source: VOV It is known that this is the second time in the past year that Mr. Pascal Soriot has visited Vietnam, and the first time to Ho Chi Minh City.At the meeting, Mr. Pascal Soriot said that AstraZeneca had become one of the first foreign-invested enterprises in the pharmaceutical industry in Vietnam. Along with investing in bio-scientific research, AstraZeneca Group is also interested in investing in innovative activities, focusing on the field of diagnosis and early intervention to prevent the worsening of the disease as research on green development, emission reduction, and the harmful effects of the greenhouse effect... Currently, AstraZeneca is investing nearly 7,000 billion VND in Vietnam to work with Vietnam to reduce the burden of both non-communicable and infectious diseases, technology transfer and production, drug processing, and pharmaceutical research and development products, as well as building sustainable health systems, mitigating the impacts of climate change.Appreciating the development and potential of Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Pascal Soriot said that AstraZeneca Group and Ho Chi Minh City share a common development vision and great opportunities for cooperation and will be ready to support, share and cooperate with the city in areas of mutual interest such as biochemical research, vaccines to prevent and control potential diseases, development of biological products, etc.The General Director of AstraZeneca Group pledged to provide many resources, and support to make a long-term contribution to the economy and health system of Ho Chi Minh City in particular and Vietnam in general.Also at the meeting, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai said that with the strengths and development orientation of AstraZeneca, Chairman Phan Van Mai said that the two sides share the same development orientation and have plenty of potential to cooperate. In the coming time, the two sides need to early deploy and study specific cooperation programs, especially the areas where the city prioritizes AstraZeneca has strengths such as the development of a medical research center, vaccine development, e biological products, and medical instruments. HCMC U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Hanoi tonight, April 14, beginning his three-day visit to Vietnam at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son. The visit will help advance key discussions with Vietnamese partners as both countries are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their Comprehensive Partnership, said a statement of the U.S. Department of State. Blinken is expected to have separate meetings with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and hold talks with Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son to look into a shared vision of a connected, prosperous, peaceful, and resilient Indo-Pacific region. His Vietnam visit comes after on March 29. The two sides expressed pleasure at having a chance to exchange views on 10 years of the Comprehensive Partnership. They spoke highly of the comprehensive development of the bilateral relationship and agreed to promote, develop and deepen it more sustainably for the sake of both sides and peace, cooperation and development. The Party General Secretary proposed the two countries prioritize economic, scientific and technological cooperation as the central focus and driving force for their bilateral ties. He expected that the two sides would step up cooperation in defense and security, trade and new areas such as logistics, digital economy, green transformation and healthcare. For his part, President Joe Biden affirmed Vietnam as a crucial partner of the U.S. and respected the countrys independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The U.S. commits to promoting peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and hopes for enhanced cooperation with Vietnam. Two-way trade between the two countries has grown strongly over the years. Bilateral trade totaled an estimated US$123 billion last year, up 11% against 2021. America has become the largest export market of Vietnam while Vietnam has been the eighth largest trading partner of the U.S. The move means shareholders will receive a new share for every share they already own. Following approval from the State Securities Commission of Vietnam, SABECO's charter capital will increase to VND12.8 trillion ($546 billion). In addition, the company is set to increase its 2022 dividend payment from 35 per cent to 50 per cent. Last year saw better results and a stronger performance than we saw in 2021 as Vietnam emerged from the lockdowns and strict public health regulations. Furthermore, SABECO has successfully executed a number of marketing and sales initiatives designed to boost brand sales and reach a wider range of customers, a statement from the firm noted. It has also boosted production efficiency and implemented cost-cutting measures, mitigating the impact of rising input costs. SABECO is projecting net revenue of VND40.28 trillion ($1.72 billion) for 2023, an increase of 15 per cent on-year, and an after-tax profit of VND5.78 trillion ($246 million), up 5 per cent on-year. The brewer believes that the consumption of sub-premium beverages will continue to expand, despite trends suggesting a transition to lower-income consumer segments could impact its revenue. SABECO plans to focus its resources on market growth by developing its brand and product range, along with new distribution network strategies and a move towards digitalisation. The expansion of its brewery in Quang Ngai is currently under operation. Last year, the brewing giant recorded revenues of VND35 trillion ($1.5 billion), up 32.6 per cent from 2021, while after-tax earnings saw a 40 per cent on-year jump to VND5.5 trillion ($235 million). Industry experts believe Vietnam's brewing industry could capitalise on lucrative opportunities this year, thanks to a combination of factors including a golden demographic structure, income growth, promising returns from non-alcoholic beers, and export market potential. SABECO thriving on 2022 results In the context of the economy accelerating post-pandemic recovery, Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation, known as SABECO, had a successful 2022 after achieving its revenue targets early, with many other successes gained in operational and development activities. A representative of the SEP group introduced carbon neutralisation technology that will be applied at Tam Lap 2 industrial cluster in Binh Duong province's Phu Giao district. (Photo: baodautu.vn) Hanoi Gia Dinh Group and SEP Cooperative of the Republic of Korea (RoK) on April 13 signed a memorandum of understanding on building a net-zero industrial complex in the southern province of Binh Duong. Within the framework of the signing ceremony, a representative of the SEP group introduced carbon neutralisation technology that will be applied at Tam Lap 2 industrial cluster in Phu Giao district. Accordingly, solar energy will be used, waste and wastewater treatment systems built and industrial waste recycled in the cluster. Construction of the 180-ha project is expected to begin at the end of this year with an investment capital of about 200 million USD. Tam Lap 2 will be developed based on the carbon-neutral model piloted at Banwol-Sihwa Industrial Complex in the RoK. Once completed, it will welcome about 20 member companies of SEP to invest here. Binh Duong province is calling for foreign investment in environment-friendly projects. In February this year, Becamex IDC Corporation and Singapore-based Sembcorp Development Ltd signed an agreement under which both sides will develop five green- and smart-oriented industrial parks in Vietnam in the next three years, some of which will be located in Binh Duong. Currently, the third Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP III) in Binh Duong is being built in line with the criteria of a green industrial park. Denmark-based LEGO group has decided to build its first carbon-neutral factory in VSIP III with an investment capital of 1.3 billion USD. The plant is expected to become operational by 2024, creating 4,000 jobs for local people within the next 15 years. Binh Duong: thousands of factories to be moved from residential areas About 2,900 businesses and factories in residential areas of the southern province of Binh Duong will be re-located into industrial zones and clusters in the locality from 2024-2030, according to a plan sketched out by the provincial Peoples Committee. World Trade Center Binh Duong drives manufacturing innovation in Vietnam On March 9, the city of Seoul witnessed the signing of a strategic agreement between the World Trade Center Binh Duong New City from Vietnam and the Convention and Exhibition Centre in South Korea for the promotion of a smart factory exhibition and a smart manufacturing programme in Vietnam. At the signing ceremony between Nessar, FireMon, and Viettel IDC Nessar and Viettel IDC will integrate FireMons solution into their product and service portfolio to provide network device and firewall policy management solutions for organisations and enterprises. The offering will make customers IT systems more reliable, secure, and scalable, while increasing system control levels to ensure compliance with ATTT standards and reducing the general risk due to previously unknown threat factors. Representatives of Nessar, FireMon, and Viettel IDC signing the three-party business cooperation agreement Nguyen Thac Nam, CEO of Nessar Vietnam said, Currently, organisations often rely on a combination of manual procedures and various tools to manage the policies and rules within their security system. This leads to labor-intensive and highly ineffective security system operations, unnecessary complexity, increased risk of misconfiguration, and creates vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers. With FireMons solution, we believe that our customers will be able to solve these problems, minimise the risks, and improve the security of their systems, Nam continued. Nguyen Thac Nam, CEO of Nessar Vietnam, speaking about the importance of this cooperation with FireMon and Viettel IDC Le Xuan Que, deputy director of Viettel IDC added, The collaboration with FireMon and Nessar aims to enhance and diversify Viettel IDCs cybersecurity, complementing its in-house solutions. With this cooperation, we believe that customers in Vietnam will benefit from breakthrough network security solutions that not only optimise management but also effectively monitor and protect their network systems. FireMons solutions help remove 80 per cent of security policy misconfiguration issues, optimise system operation with 90 per cent automation during policy creation, and improve system complexity by 40 per cent by eliminating unnecessary policies. With these outstanding capabilities, customers are able to operate their systems with high efficiency, safety, and cost optimisation. Shikwang (SK) Jang, Asia-Pacific vice president of FireMon said, We are delighted to collaborate with Nessar and Viettel IDC to bring FireMons 22 years of experience in network security policy management solutions to customers in Vietnam. With Nessar and Viettel IDCs experience in IT and network security solutions, we believe that this collaboration will deliver incredible value to our customers and considerably boost our capacity to safeguard networks and data in Vietnam. As customers systems become increasingly large and complex, many administrators encounter misconfigurations in firewalls or other network devices, which can create vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit to infiltrate their systems. This is one of the many different challenges that the FireMon solution can comprehensively address, Jang said. Le Huu Duc, Luu Trung Thai, and Pham Nhu Anh Luu Trung Thai, vice chairman of the board and CEO of MB, succeeds Senior Lieutenant General Le Huu Duc to become chairman for the remainder of Ducs tenure for the 2019-2024 period, effective from April 12. Pham Nhu Anh, deputy CEO of the bank, becomes the deputy executive officer in charge of the banks Board of Directors. Senior Lieutenant General Duc resigned from the position of chairman of MB's Board of Directors for personal reasons and proposed the General Meeting of Shareholders to approve his resignation. Duc boasts extensive experience in the banking sector. He led MB for 12 years, overseeing three strategic phases and instigating an advanced management and operating platform. He leaves behind a strong impression on the bank's orientation. Under his leadership, MB experienced tenfold profit growth and rose to become market leader in scale and efficiency. Speaking with VIR, Luu Trung Thai said, I have been extremely lucky in my career to have worked with Senior Lieutenant General Duc, one of the greatest financial service leaders in Vietnam's history, as he led MB to become the comprehensive financial ecosystem it is now. He is a natural-born leader, who places a premium on creating a favourable and professional environment where MBs staff feel deeply encouraged. Born in 1975, Thai earned an MBA from the University of Hawaii in the United States. During his 26 years at MB, he has worked his way through various roles within the MB Groups main departments. Since he joined the Board of Directors in 2013, MB has attained a strong foothold in the banking and financial market. Following a successful reorganisation between 2013-2017, a multi-functional financial ecosystem comprising six subsidiaries was established, and the bank became one of the top five most efficient banks. In addition, the bank has garnered a number of prestigious awards, such as featuring in Vietnam's top 30 largest businesses and top 10 listed companies with the largest market capitalisation. After its 5-year period of development, MB is set to embark on further transformation in its next phase from 2022 to 2026, as it aims to become a digitally led financial giant on a continental scale. With nearly 20 years of experience under Pham Nhu Anh's belt, the 1980-born bank executive has held several roles throughout his journey with MB, including branch manager, division manager, southern regional sales manager, and member of the Board of Directors. During the 2007-2017 period, Anh served as the director of a number of branches in the central and southern regions. He was appointed to the position of head of the Corporate and Institutional Banking (CIB) division in April 2017. He was also selected as a member of the Board of Directors in August 2020, giving him oversight over MB's southern region and the CIB division's commercial operations. With the fresh transition that has resulted from this senior management reshuffle, MB will swiftly implement the group's strategic plan for the 2022-2026 period, with the goal of becoming one of the top 3 most efficient banks, and one of the top banks overall in Asia. By providing a wide range of digital banking services, MB has strengthened its position as a market leader even in times of uncertainty. MB to accompany businesses in digital transformation As Banking as a Service (BaaS) becomes a new trend in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, MB is actively promoting this service to its partners and businesses across different sectors. Robotacon Wro 2023 is a prestigious educational contest for youngsters from 6-19 years old (Photo: VNA) Hanoi - The 2023 Robot Robotacon WRO, known as the Robot Talent Contest, opened for registration in Hanoi on April 14. Themed Global connection, the contest is jointly organised by the Danish Embassy in Vietnam and Viet Tinh Anh Joint Stock Company. Speaking at the launching ceremony, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Huu Do said the contest is expected to encourage students to explore science, sharpen their computing skills through practical and more assessable software. He also hoped that the activity will help to further intensify education and training collaboration between Vietnam and Denmark. Danish Ambassador in Vietnam Nicolai Prytz said the Robotacon Wro 2023 is a prestigious educational contest for youngsters, helping to equip them with essential skills in the 21st century such as critical thinking, teamwork, problem solving and technology mastery. Some 500 teams will compete in two elimination rounds in Vietnam. The final round will take place in August 2023 in Hanoi to seek the most outstanding teams and inpiduals to represent the country at the worlds final round in Panama. ROBOTACON WRO, first held in 2004, has so far attracted more than 22,000 contestants, ranging from 6 - 19 years old from more than 60 countries. Since 2016, Vietnamese teams have achieved many impressive achievements at World WRO competitions, including three silver and eight bronze medals. Building a digital transformation roadmap Currently, the application of digital technology in some businesses, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), is fragmented due to the lack of clear goals, plans, and strategies for digital transformation. Therefore, digital transformation did not result in the expected success. Digital transformation is an inevitable trend and an important solution for businesses to improve production and performance, expand markets, cut costs, and adapt to the new context of the digital economy. MPI's Agency for Enterprise Development in collaboration with USAID has recently approved a project "promoting reform and enhancing the connectivity of SMEs" to build tools and guiding documents, as well as implement awareness-raising and training in digital transformation for businesses. The support package has received registrations from more than 200 businesses in mechanical engineering, electronics, agriculture and agro-processing, wood processing, and furniture. The scheme has selected 50 businesses with high readiness to implement digital transformation based on several criteria. Since then, experienced experts in the scheme's network visited each enterprise to study, evaluate, and provide in-depth advice on digital transformation. They have worked with each other for three consecutive months to help businesses gradually gain a methodical direction and roadmap to invest in digital transformation. A representative of Tien Thinh Production Trading Service Co., Ltd. said, "The report not only helps us solve the issue of standardising production processes and corporate governance, but also changes our company's culture comprehensively, creating new directions for solving problems in organisation, production, and sales." Supporting businesses to build a digital transformation roadmap Such digital transformation pioneers will become successful examples, inspiring other businesses to be more confident to do and see good lessons learned in digital transformation. This is also one of the main goals of the programme to support businesses in digital transformation for the period 2021-2025. A representative of Aqua Mina Co., Ltd. highlighted the government's follow-up support in consulting and training as critical for SMEs to implement the digital transformation roadmap. "We also hope that the government would issue the necessary regulations and guidance to assist us in this transformation," the representative said. According to the 2022 Annual Report on Enterprise Digital Transformation of the Agency for Enterprise Development, the number of companies undergoing doing digital transformation activities had rapidly increased. Digital transformation needs private and public sector support International organisations and investors hope to work closely with the authorities and business community to foster digital transformation, raising demand for public-private partnerships, according to experts and representatives of firms at VIR's forum on Tuesday. Greener, faster, smarter digital plans Various experts have explained how Vietnam can be smarter, greener, and more efficient in its digital overhaul, with an eye towards sustainability. A French class at Thang Long High School for the Gifted in Da Lat (Photo: VNA) Paris Vietnam and France have witnessed win-win cooperation in vocational training, and partnerships among localities of the two nations in the field are being seen as a new direction in decentralised cooperation between the two countries. A cooperation project in vocational training and language exchange between Vocational High School Horticultural Le Petit Chadignac of France and Thang Long High School for the Gifted in Da Lat of Vietnam is a typical example, which brings benefits to both sides. The partnership between the two schools aims to promote educational cooperation in training French language and agriculture, and enhance mutual understanding between students of the educational institutions through language practice and career exchange among their students. Savoie Sandrine, the project coordinator of the French side, said the project has proven effective, contributing to connecting students of the two schools. She expressed her belief that the partnership will be further promoted in the future. Michel Amblard, Vice President of the Department of Agriculture of Charente-Maritime province, affirmed that the provincial authority is ready to welcome international students, including those from Vietnam, to exchange views and jointly build research projects on agricultural development in both France and Vietnam. Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang said that agriculture is the strength of both countries, and the cooperation model between the two schools opened up prospects and great opportunities for the two countries to boost agricultural cooperation in the future. He underlined the need to expand cooperation models in the field, thus contributing to promoting Vietnamese farm produce to France, and Europe. With similarities between the two schools, their cooperation project is expected to become a model in decentralised cooperation between Vietnamese and French localities. Vietnam boosts fisheries cooperation with France, promotes agricultural potential Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan worked with leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agrifood, and Forestry of France during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs official visit to the European nation. Former Capitol Police officer allegedly helped Jan. 6, 2021, rioter to avoid charges Michael A. Riley exchanged messages with the rioter Riley's lawyer tries to negotiate the sentence A former United States Capitol Police officer was sentenced to home detention after he allegedly helped Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol Hill rioter avoid charges. The individual was known to have exchanged messages with the rioter in the weeks following the unprecedented incident. He later deleted the messages after he learned that authorities were investigating him. Forme Capitol Police Officer Sentenced to Home Detention The 51-year-old Capitol Police officer, Michael A. Riley, has worked for the force for 25 years. He responded to the insurrection with his K-9 partner to address two pipe bombs left outside the Democratic and Republican headquarters. Furthermore, Riley provided medical assistance to another officer who was injured during the storming of the Capitol. The defendant's lawyer cited his client's spotless career with Capitol Police as a factor for U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson to consider imposing probation, per the Washington Post. On the other hand, prosecutors were looking for at least 27 months in prison for his supposed crime. However, Jackson was determined to hold the defendant accountable for his actions in the two weeks following the insurrection and for his testimony last fall. At the time, Riley claimed that he did not know that deleting his messages was a crime. But the judge told him, "I don't know if you were lying or just believed the story you were telling. But it wasn't credible." The former Capitol Police officer was found to have struck up a conversation with a Virginia Beach fishing boat captain identified as Jacob Hiles shortly before the insurrection. He reasoned that he liked Hiles' videos and posts about fishing. Read Also: Cash App Founder Death Suspect: Bob Lee Knew His Killer All Along Helping a Jan. 6 Rioter Avoid Charges After the riot, Riley told Hiles he was a Capitol Police officer who agreed to the fishing boat captain's political stance. According to NBC News, the officer told the rioter to take down posts that acknowledged Hiles being inside because authorities were charging all of the people who went inside. Officials convicted Riley for deleting his messages with Hiles after learning that the fishing boat captain had been speaking with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). However, the jury in the case did not determine whether the former Capitol Police officer's initial messages to Hiles were unlawful. The officer's home detention period will be served as part of two years of probation. On Thursday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Howland said in court that Riley's actions were considered a "fundamental betrayal" of the defendant's oath. He claimed that the former Capitol Police officer did not hold the line during the insurrection. While in court, Ruley's voice could be heard cracking as he lamented how his "awful judgment" led him to lose his career, smothered his reputation, ended many of his friendships in the department, and even traumatized him his family, said Fox News. Related Article: Pentagon Leak Suspect Arrested After Joe Biden Declaration @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. If you speak to Yiannos Trisokkas, founder, CEO, and partner of Velment, an international property consultancy, he will explain why the growing interest in investments in Greece is more than justified, particularly in real estate. Yiannos Trisokkas, CEO, and partner of Velment The primary reason is easy to grasp, in 2019, Greece welcomed over 31 million tourists. Although the figures dropped during the pandemic, the countrys tourism sector has since fully recovered. According to ITB Berlin, the world's largest tourism fair, Greece has become the EUs spectacular summer hit. With more than 26 million tourists arriving in Greece from January to October 2022, the total for last year hit pre-pandemic levels. All of these tourists need suitable accommodation, and self-catering holiday apartments are now more in demand than ever. With many parts of the world experiencing economic or political uncertainty, Greece is enjoying many aspects of economic recovery. Trisokkas said, Investors seeking to diversify their portfolio are being drawn to Greece for good reason. Investing in properties in Greece for short-term rental will deliver one of the highest returns on investment an investor could hope for." "Apart from the rental revenue, which depends on the location of the property, now is the time to buy property in Greece for the potential capital appreciation. Whats more, depending on the value of the property and its location, such an investment could be linked with a Greek residence permit, which grants the holder all the privileges of EU residency, he added. With many parts of the world experiencing economic or political uncertainty, Greece is enjoying many aspects of economic recovery, and investors might want to take note of the following: Economic growth For Greece, the pandemic is in the past, and the recovery is practically complete. Even the war in Ukraine has not affected Greece as much as other countries. In fact, according to the European Commission, Overall, real GDP growth reached 5.9 per cent in 2022. Tourism is at a high There is no doubt that economic growth was, and will continue to be, powered by the rebound in tourism. Last December, Greeces Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that revenue from tourism is expected to exceed the initial estimate and surpass 18 billion ($19 billion) for 2022. A good time to buy Last year, Greece's real estate market performance was more than satisfactory. According to the Bank of Greece, there was an increase of 11.2 per cent for residential property in Greek cities in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the same period last year. The most popular islands, such as Mykonos, Santorini, and Paros, will always attract a secure flow of tourists, while the demand for quieter, more serene islands is steadily growing. However, the main magnet for investors remains the capital, Athens, and its desirable suburbs, where capital appreciation and short-term rentals are most secure. Golden Visa privileges Greeces Golden Visa, the countrys residency-through-investment scheme, remains a highly favourable alternative European residency scheme. Eligible investors can apply for permanent residence in Greece for themselves, their spouses, children, parents and parents-in-law. Permit holders can then travel freely across Europe and the Schengen Zone. The scheme requires a minimum investment of 250,000 ($272,800) in real estate. This amount is higher for investments in more desirable locations, which is why it is important to seek advice from a reliable consultancy before taking any action. Buying property overseas is a serious matter. Consulting reputable and reliable advisors is therefore imperative to avoid unwelcome surprises, complications, or even worse. To guide and serve investors in Vietnam who might not be fully familiar with Greece, its property market, and its residency-through-investment scheme, Velment has established a local presence in Vietnam, Trisokkas said. The property firms new representative office, run by chief representative Gam Ha, is located in Ho Chi Minh City, ready to welcome international investors. In addition, Velments official and comprehensive website is up and running in both English and Vietnamese. This comes as a response to clear indications that Vietnamese investors have recognised the investment potential of property in Greece, and there is growing interest in grasping this golden opportunity. To find out more about investment properties in Greece and eligibility for Greeces Golden Visa scheme, please visit the website https://velment.com/vi, or contact Velments representative office at: Harbour View Tower, 2nd floor 35 Nguyen Hue Blvd, Ben Nghe ward, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Email: gam.ha@velment.com ; Tel: +84 909765939 Vietnam attractive destination for foreign manufacturing Vietnam has witnessed an increasing wave of foreign companies shifting production to the country in the past year, and growth in the area is expected to continue. Vietnam becoming favourite destination for Indian tourists Instead of choosing popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia such as Thailand or Singapore, Indian tourists are now starting to gradually turn their attention to Vietnam a destination with beautiful scenery, delicious food, and no shortage of high-class resort services for them. 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. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A Walgreens employee who shot and wounded a pregnant woman he suspected of shoplifting said he acted in self-defense after being pepper-sprayed, Nashville police said Thursday. A Walgreens team leader followed two women to a vehicle in the parking lot Wednesday evening after watching them leave the store without paying for items, police said in a statement. He said he was recording the women on his cellphone and that he made his way to the rear side of a vehicle where they were placing the items in the trunk. One of the women then sprayed him with pepper spray, he told police. The man said he then fired a semi-automatic pistol because he was "in fear and didnt know if they were armed, the statement said. The women fled in the car, and the employee went back into the store and called 911. The pregnant woman suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was dropped off at a hospital, where an emergency cesarean section was performed. The child was not injured by gunfire, and both the newborn and the mother were listed in critical but stable condition, police said. The employee cooperated with detectives and handed over his gun and cellphone. After the investigation is complete, findings will be sent to the local prosecutor's office for a determination as to whether charges will be filed. The judge overseeing a 2017 McLennan County capital murder case involving the shooting of a woman and her infant daughter has asked for a decision by Monday on whether the Hood County district attorney will handle the prosecution. McLennan County District Attorney Josh Tetens recused his office from the case against Christopher Paul Weiss, 31, of Temple, who was arrested Nov. 7, 2017, in the shooting deaths of Valarie Martinez, 24, and her 1-year-old daughter, Azariah, two days earlier in a park at Tradinghouse Lake. Executive Assistant District Attorney Michel Simer, who was Tetens law partner in private practice before he was elected, worked on a divorce case for Weiss after the shootings. Tetens has a request pending with Hood County District Attorney Ryan Sinclair for Sinclairs office to take the case. Hood County officials are reviewing the case and remain in communication with McLennan County officials, but had not notified Tetens of a decision as of Friday, he said. Tetens said he and his office have asked district attorneys in several surrounding and nearby counties to take the Weiss case. Unfortunately, all surrounding counties and the majority of the others we have called are not currently equipped with the staff and resources to handle a capital murder case, Tetens said. The Texas Attorney Generals Office also informed the 19th State District Court that a lack of staffing prevents it from prosecuting the case, Tetens said. Judge Thomas West of Wacos 19th State District Court, who is overseeing the case, asked the attorneys to inform him Monday regarding whether Sinclairs office will take the case. On Nov. 5, 2017, the body of Martinez was discovered outside her car in Tradinghouse park near the waterfront, the Tribune-Herald reported at the time. Martinezs daughter was found shot to death while she was still buckled into a car seat in the car, McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said at the time. McNamara said it was believed that Weiss and Martinez were having a relationship outside of Weiss marriage at that Weiss was the infants father. The following people were indicted Friday, April 14, 2023 by a McLennan County grand jury. The District Attorneys Office no longer furnishes the age or city of residence of the people on this list. Vincent Deblasio possession of a controlled substance: fentanyl Alexiya Jade Melendez burglary of habitation Latrayl Dashawn Milton unauthorized use of a vehicle, burglary of a habitation Michael Ray Martin theft $2,500 or more but less than $30,000 Joe Isaac Anderson possession of a controlled substance: methamphetamine, evading arrest or detention with a prior Michael Ray Bellis solicitation of prostitution Willis Demon Brown possession of a controlled substance: methamphetamine (habitual), evading arrest or detention with a prior (enhanced) Meishae C. Butler injury to a child Gabriel Cruz Contreras possession of a controlled substance: methamphetamine Christopher Michael Cortez continuous violence against the family Manuel Eduardo Cortez-Zamora possession of a controlled substance: methamphetamine Monique Lynn Aviles possession of a controlled substance: methamphetamine Lloyd Trent Dean possession of a controlled substance: methamphetamine, resist arrest Martin Santos Deleon possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver: heroin (habitual) Martin Santos Deleon possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver: heroin (habitual) Martin Santos Deleon possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver: heroin (habitual), posssession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver: methamphetamine (habitual) Martin Santos Deleon possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver: heroin (habitual), possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver: methamphetamine (habitual) Matthew Isidro Deleon possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver: methamphetamine (habitual) Joanna Dickerson assault against a police officer, resisting arrest Larry James Fisher aggravated sexual assault of a child (6 counts), indecency with a child Michael Garcia evading arrest or detention with a vehicle (habitual) Paul Robert Garcia possession of a controlled substance: heroin Alex Garza Fuentes Sr. continuous sexual abuse of a young child, indecency with a child by contact (2 counts), aggravated sexual assault of a child (5 counts) Linda Castillo injury to a child, endangering a child Carlson George solicitation of prostitution Michele Heather Gibbs driving while intoxicated with a child passenger Lyle Adam Gibson theft of less than $2,500 with two or more priors Lyle Adam Gibson evading arrestor detention with a prior (enhanced), resisting arrest, failure to identify Ambre Ragazza Gleason possession of a controlled substance: methamphetamine Natalie Nicole Hall possession of a controlled substance,to-wit: methamphetamine Elijah Dee Hobbs engaging in organized criminal activity Joseph Matthew Cabrera engaging in organized criminal activity Cameron Oshawn Ancher engaging in organized criminal activity Zachary Janke evading arrest or detention with a prior, theft of $750 or more but less than $2,500 Lawyah Tabufor Kari solicitation of prostitution Jacob Macias possession of a controlled substance: cocaine, driving while intoxicated Marianna Miles injury to a child (2 counts), unlawful restraint Miguel Fernando Perez indecency with a child by contact Kristin Kory Perkins aggravated assault against a public servant (2 counts) Ciara Consuelo Quinonez possession of a controlled substance: methamphetamine, prohibited substance in a correctional facility, tampering with physical evidence Alto Rhodes burglary of a habitation, sexual assault, assault family violence by occlusion, violation of protective order or conditions of bond, retaliation, evading arrest or detention Eugene Francis Robare possession of a controlled substance: methamphetamine Roberto Hernandez Rojas solicitation of prostitution Adolph Gabrial Salinas possession of a controlled substance: methamphetamine Bryson Samuels promotion of prostitution Zoe Deann Sanders possession of a controlled substance: heroin Nathan Edward Strickland theft of $2,500 or more but less than $30,000 Nathan Edward Strickland tampering with physical evidence, possession of a controlled susbtance: methamphetamine Jose A. Suarez possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver to-wit: cocaine Jeremiah Wayne Turner failure to register as a sex offender Humberto Garcia Valtierra indecency with a child by contact (3 counts) Matthew Ray Vela possession of a controlled substance: methamphetamine Zachary Walker unauthorized use of a vehicle (enhanced), evading arrest or detention with a vehicle (habitual) The McLennan County Elections Office is rolling out new voting equipment for the May 6 election, featuring hand-marked paper ballots and self-scanning machinery. Though there was nothing broken with the 17-year-old eSlates voters previously used, Elections Administrator Jared Goldsmith said the new equipment from the same vendor, Hart Intercivic, would be easier not only for poll workers, but also for voters. A recently passed state law will require election machines statewide by 2026 to produce an auditable paper trail. McLennan County wanted to stay ahead of the curve, Goldsmith said. Some counties use hybrid systems, where voters enter a paper ballot into a machine, make selections digitally, then take that paper ballot back to a scanner, but that seemed overly complicated, he said. Both Hill County and Denton County use the new system McLennan County is implementing. The plan is to have 10 voting booths available per line at each site, and historically busier voting sites will have more lines to keep voters moving. For example, First Assembly of God could have 30 or 40 booths among three or four lines depending on the amount of space available. Each line will have a ballot printer and scanner. Voters will check in as normal with a poll worker where they will print off a small slip with a barcode. The barcode does not have any of the voters personal information attached, only their ballot style. A poll worker will scan the barcode and a ballot will be printed that matches the voters assigned ballot. Every printed ballot will be in both English and Spanish. Goldsmith said the ballot will look similar to that received when voting by mail. The voter will take their ballot to a privacy booth to mark their decisions. Votes need to be dark and clearly marked, but the entire box next to the candidates name does not need to be blacked out to be counted, he said. The Texas Secretary of States votetexas.gov says voters should mark choices using the indelible marker or pen (a marker or pen that cannot be erased) provided to you. Voters can then take their ballot to a scanner where they will deposit the paper themselves. It does not matter if the ballot is put in upside down, forward or backward. The machine will record the vote immediately upon scanning. If the machine finds an issue with the way a ballot was filled out for example, if someone made too many selections on a single race the scanner will reject the paper and return the ballot to the voter. A prompt will appear on its screen telling the voter what the issue is and in what contest. The voter then has the opportunity to ask a poll worker for a new ballot to fix the mistake, or cast the ballot as is. Improperly marked ballots returned to poll workers will be marked spoiled and locked away, Goldsmith said. One person may receive up to three ballots. Its adjudicated here, so if theres an issue with the ballot, the voter gets to make the changes and make sure that its cast how they intended to cast it, he said. Once a voter has scanned in their ballot successfully, a waving American flag will appear on the screen, signaling their vote was cast. Cast ballots stay in a locked box below the scanner, and the elections office will hang onto them for a retention period in case an issue arises where they must be scanned by hand. Ballots will not be scanned by hand otherwise, Goldsmith said. I know some people have a problem with that, but electronic machines, you know, these are developed to count ballots, he said. They go through rigorous testing at the federal and the state level to make sure that they are doing what theyre supposed to be doing. Most voters will cast their ballot using the new machinery, but an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant touch screen device with a dial, similar to the old eSlate, will be available for voters who are not able to mark a ballot by hand. Curbside voting will still be available and a bit easier than in the past, Goldsmith said. Instead of bringing a tablet out to the car, poll workers will print a ballot, place it in a privacy folder and give it to the voter. Once they have cast their vote, the ballot will be brought inside and scanned in by two poll workers together. Early voting for the May 6 election, the new voting systems official debut, will start at 8 a.m. April 24 at the McLennan County Elections Office, 214 N. Fourth St.; Waco Multi-Purpose Community Center, 1020 Elm Ave.; West Waco Library, 5301 Bosque Blvd.; and Hewitt City Hall, 200 Patriot Court. Early voting will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 24 through April 28; and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 29, May 1 and May 2. Twenty-one Election Day polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 6, a Saturday. The deadline to apply for a ballot by mail for voters who qualify is 5 p.m. April 25. Visit mclennanvotes.com for more information. 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 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. 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 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. 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 "there's nothing contemporaneous that I'm 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. There's 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, you're 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 military's strict guidelines for handling classified material. He said the leaks were "a deliberate criminal act, a violation of those guidelines." 10 industries in which information security analysts earn the most 10 industries in which information security analysts earn the most #10. Retail trade #9. Management of companies and enterprises #8. Real estate and rental and leasing #7. Professional, scientific, and technical services #6. Other services #5. Manufacturing #4. Finance and insurance #3. Utilities #2. Wholesale trade #1. Information LINCOLN The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District (LPSNRD) board of directors approved the hiring of Mike Sousek as the next general manager of the LPSNRD at a special board meeting April 5. Sousek will join the district in May as the designate general manager and will remove the designate tag upon current general manager Paul Zilligs retirement in August. I am excited for this opportunity to join the Lower Platte South NRD, said Sousek, Im looking forward to working with the board and staff on the important programs and projects that serve the district. Sousek has been in the Nebraska NRD system for over 20 years. He is currently the general manager at Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) in Norfolk. Before his role at the LENRD he was the Rural Water Manager at the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District in Wahoo. Mike brings extensive experience that will be valuable to our district. We will continue to focus on water quality, water quantity, flood protection, and recreation for our area. Mike is very qualified to assist the board and execute those plans. Were excited to move into this new chapter of leadership, Board Chair David Landis said. An alumnus of Wayne State College and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Sousek holds a bachelor of science in biology-life sciences and a master of public administration in Public Administration-Public Management. The GM Search Committee began the process in December 2022 after the board received notice of Zilligs retirement. The committee screened applicants, conducted interviews, and made the final recommendation to the board. The search committee implemented a thorough search, review, and interview process, said Landis. This produced a handful of eligible and qualified candidates. Ultimately the committee unanimously agreed upon Mike as the finalist. Sousek will become the fourth general manager for the LPSNRD since the NRD system was established in 1972. US President Joe Biden has announced his plan to expand health care coverage for Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA program immigrants before the end of April. It should reverse Trump-era policies, wherein undocumented immigrants had limited access to health care in the country. Once implemented, the new policy will extend a helping hand to thousands of immigrants in the US who were illegally brought to the country when they were still young. Health Care Expansion for DACA Immigrants As per a report by ABC News, the Biden administration is looking to pass a new policy that should give DACA recipients, better known as "Dreamers, better access to health care. The White House disclosed that they plan to expand coverage for these immigrants before the month ends. The President of the United States (POTUS), Biden, reminds everyone in a recorded video announcing the proposal that "[they are] American in every way except for on paper, according to PBS. As such, he believes that "we need to give Dreamers the opportunities and support they deserve. Thousands of immigrants are currently under the Obama-era DACA program. Thus, if the new measure takes place as Biden plans, thousands of Dreamers are expected to benefit from it, giving them access to health insurance. The New York Times pointed out that there are roughly 600,000 recipients of the program in the US. They are protected from deportation as they were brought to the country when they were still young. The video, which was posted on the Twitter account POTUS, shows Biden noting that "health care should be a right, not a privilege, and my administration's worked hard to expand health care." The President boasted that "more Americans have health insurance than ever" these days. Read Also: Biden Signs Bill Ending COVID-19 National Emergency in the US Medicaid, Affordable Care Act Expansion Biden announced that his administration plans to cover DACA immigrants with health insurance, allowing Dreamers to access it through Affordable Care Act marketplaces or Medicaid. The White House says that the proposal essentially enhances the "lawful presence" definition of DACA recipients. Even before the implementation, some recipients already have coverage thanks to military service, their employer, and more. However, ABC News notes that a third of them have yet to receive such insurance, according to Xavier Becerra, the Health and Human Services Secretary. Given that, some DACA immigrants have been left behind. But for Republican Senator Tom Cotton, the proposal of the Biden administration might raise a problem. His recent Twitter post says, "Rewarding illegal immigration will bring more illegal immigration." The senator adds that the health care expansion to Dreamers "is an insult to American citizenship." Related Article: Biden Addresses Leaked Pentagon Documents @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An Open Letter to Far-Right Anti-Democratic Marjorie Taylor Greene, who complains that the suspect arrested on Thursday for divulging highly classified intel documents in Massachusetts is being treated like a traitor and criminal. Dear Congressman Greene, Perhaps youre unaware that when people join the national guard, they, like members of Congress, swear to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. The suspect, Jack Douglas Teixeira, a 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guard member, was arrested by federal agents Thursday. Is, of course, presumed innocent before standing trial. However, your what-about-ism comparing leaks revealing an alleged presence of U.S. troops in Ukraine compared Teixeira to Stuart Scheller, who was discharged after posting statements on social media critical of top military leaders over the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, shows you have little or no understanding of espionage and little or no regard for the oath you, Scheller and Teixeira swore to on Bibles. As you tweeted recently We have now found out from a supposed 21-year-old National Guardsman that there are American military troops on the ground in Ukraine, Is this another Stu Scheller who revealed the truth about the Biden Afghanistan withdrawal? If this is true, why are they there? What are they doing? Rep Greene, you have repeatedly proven that facts dont matter to you and the GOP conference in the House, so your conspiracy ladened questions are transparentlly absurd. After all, the withdrawal from Afghanistan was agreed to by the twice impeached, disgraced loser and now criminally Donald Trump, which I might add included the unconditional and uncompensated release of 5000 Taliban soldiers. Then he resisted preperatons for the transfer of power on January 20, 2021 instead focused on creating an insurrection. Youre lamenting that Mr. Teixeira is being treated as a traitor and criminal, instead your commending and applauding him for illegally exposing classified and highly sensitive military intelligence shows that you are a traitor and criminal. Former National Guardsman Mr. Teixeiras release of these Pentagon papers wasnt blowing a whistle; that would entail his following the legal process and filing the appropriate complaints in a legal manner. Instead, Mr. Teixeira ignored his oath, as you have as a member of the house, and as a result, both of you should be treated and condemned as traitors and criminals. Youre love and passion for Vladimir Putin, a wanted man by an international court for human rights crimes that compare to exactly what Adolph Hitler and Heinrich Himmler committed in Poland in 1939-43, shows just how out of your mind you are. Your attacks on President Bidens Administration and your white nationalism also echo Adolf Hitlers book Mein Kampf and speeches from 1923-1944. Like Hitler chaos is your oxygen so you sew as much chaos as possible. By the way, President Biden heads an administration and not a regime. Trump is the one who wants to head a never-ending regime that takes power and does away with democracy. Youre asking who is the real enemy. My answer to you is You and far-right fascists pretending to be conservatives are rhyming the authoritarian ideology of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Tito, Mao Tse Tung, and Stalin holding public office in the United States today. Donald Trump, his conspirators who took part in his big lie knowing it to be untrue, and those who attempted to overthrow our nations democracy deserve nothing less than being treated like traitors and criminals, not only when they are arrested but now by American patriots. Let you and them all be condemned to prison or ignominy for treason. Hostess Brands President and CEO Andy Callahan knows that his company the maker of Twinkies, HoHos and other snack cakes is sometimes the butt of jokes. A lot of people think a Twinkie has a shelf life of a thousand years, Callahan said. It doesnt. Once it gets to the store, it typically has to be sold within 35 days. Callahan said a steady stream of new products, like candy bar-inspired Kazbars and miniature Baby Bundt cakes, have been key to winning over skeptics and leading them back to old favorites. When the consumer is reintroduced to a Twinkie, theyre always delighted because of our investment in our product quality, Callahan said. Hostess, which was founded in 1925, almost didnt make it into the new millennium. The company filed for bankruptcy twice before private equity investors formed Hostess Brands in 2013. Callahan discussed the challenge of leading a brand with a history, as well as his service in the U.S. Navy, with The Associated Press. His comments have been edited for length and clarity. Q: You place a lot of emphasis on product innovation. Why? A: Its the way that brands become contemporary. Its a way that they stay relevant and its the way they create a bridge to a new generation. When I took over Hostess five years ago, we had stopped that process. Wed stopped talking to consumers, wed stopped innovating. We became more relevant in the business press than we became in the consumer press. Q: How do you balance innovation with the need to keep making old favorites? A: Thats the trick of this journey. One of the great things about our Twinkies, Ding Dongs, HoHos theyre interesting. Theyre relevant. Some of that has baggage, but a lot of its really joyful. That approachability and unpretentiousness of our brand is one of our strengths. If you walk down the street and you have a Hershey Kiss shirt on, people kind of nod. When you put a Twinkie shirt on, I guarantee you within one minute youll get a reaction. So leveraging the good of that business, making it relevant to new consumers while not disenfranchising the old, is the art of what makes the consumer packaged goods market so challenging on one side but so exciting on the other. You cant leave one for the other. Q: How is Hostess adapting to Americans changing snacking habits? A: The number of occasions that consumers are eating every day has marched up year after year for over 20 years now. And this balance sheet is real. Consumers really want their food to be fit for a purpose. If Im going to sit down and have a meal, I want it to be nutritional. But if Im going to have a reward me and treat me and comfort me, I want it to be really good and I want it to be portion-controlled. Almost everything we do is in a small pack. And almost 10% of our business is our Voortman brand, which is a better-for-you option. So were not staying exclusively indulgent and were not saying that that when consumers move towards this trend of having more occasions, that theyre going to eat more or eat unhealthy. Q: You graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and spent seven years as a naval flight officer, including service in the Persian Gulf War. How does your military service inform the way you lead? A: Leadership in the Navy is actually pretty easy, because at least in the Navy, everybody volunteered and they all really believed. These are people who, when the national anthem is sung, they get a little shiver down their spine. Holy mackerel, if I could unlock that at Hostess Brands. Thats what the military taught me more than anything, is when people are really bought into something, the skys the limit in what theyre capable of doing. The military breaks you down to your deepest level and it builds you back up in a more capable, positive and energizing way. Now, I dont break down my people, but I certainly want them to be bought into what were trying to do for consumers, and I want them to care about each other as much as they care about the business. If we can do those two things, were going to have a great team. 50 most popular food and snack brands 50 most popular food and snack brands #50. Honey Nut Cheerios #49. Rice Krispies Treats #48. Milky Way #47. Reese's Pieces #46. Tostitos #45. Goldfish #44. Orville Redenbacher's Popcorn #43. French's Mustard #42. Jif #41. Lifesavers #40. Land O'Lakes (butter) #39. Kraft Foods #38. Oreo Cookies #37. Smucker's #36. Fritos #35. Cheerios #34. Ghirardelli #33. Chiquita #32. Nabisco #31. Twix #30. Kellogg's #29. Chips Ahoy! #28. Frito-Lay #27. Campbell's #26. Land O'Lakes #25. Lay's Chips #24. Cheetos #23. Snickers #22. Nestle Toll House #21. Pringles #20. McCormick #19. Ruffles #18. Dove #17. Planters #16. Quaker #15. Reese's #14. Dove (chocolate) #13. Heinz Tomato Ketchup #12. Pillsbury #11. Doritos #10. Hershey's Kisses #9. Heinz #8. Oreo #7. Betty Crocker #6. Kit Kat #5. Ritz #4. Reese's Peanut Butter Cup #3. Lay's #2. Hershey's #1. M&M's DES MOINES 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. Everyones 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 peoples 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. WATERLOO A jury has sided with relatives who challenged the will of a Waterloo woman after she left the bulk of her estate to a senior living center. Jurors returned a verdict on Wednesday finding that Gloria M. Thomsen lacked testamentary capacity when she signed her 2012 will that designated the Friendship Village Foundation as the residual beneficiary. Testimony in the estate trial began last week. The value of the estate is estimated to be around $3.2 million according to statements in court. Thomsens 2012 will had awarded five-figure checks to about a dozen relatives and friends. The charities of Cedar Bend Humane Society, Hawkeye Community College Foundation, Central Rivers AEA Foundation and Shriners Hospitals were to receive $25,000 each. And a fund was to be set up to pay $400 a month for the person to care for her poodle. The remaining funds were to go to the nonprofit Friendship Village Foundation. Gloria M. Thomsen passed away in July 2020 at the age of 90. Following her death, a group of three relatives challenged the 2012 will and asked the court to use instructions left in an earlier will from 2002. The 2002 will left $10,000 to each Cedar Valley Hospice and Shriners Hospitals for Children, and established a trust for the person who will care for toy poodle with the remaining assets divided among five siblings and nephews and a niece. They argued that she signed the 2012 will while in a weakened state under pressure from her attorney at the time. Gloria M. Thomsen didnt live at Friendship Village, but her attorney did. Her attorney who assisted with the 2012 will died a few months after her. During trial, attorneys for the three relatives said her physical and mental health declined since the death of her husband, Daryl, in 2009. She suffered a stroke in 2014 and was moved to a LaPorte City nursing home. She also developed dementia at some point, court records state. Attorneys for Friendship Village argued that Gloria M. Thomsens mother had lived for years in Friendship Village, and memorials were directed to the living center when the mother died. Following Wednesdays verdict, a judge declared the 2012 will invalid and admitted the 2002 will. WATERLOO A Hoover Middle School counselor came to terms on a separation agreement with the Waterloo Community School District after being charged with operating while intoxicated for a third time. In lieu of termination, Roshawn Arae Berry, 47, of Waterloo, and the district reached the agreement March 28. The Board of Education approved it Monday. A copy of the agreement was provided Wednesday by Chief Officer of Human Resources and Equity Anthony Spurgetis after consulting with the districts attorney. He had been placed on paid administrative leave after his OWI arrest in February and was later caught driving with a suspended or revoked license earlier this month, per court records. The district will continue to pay Berrys salary for his work days while on leave up until the last day of the 2022-23 school year, which is when his resignation will be effective. He will continue to have his health insurance covered by the district through June. By doing so, Berry settles any undisclosed claims hes made against the district and gives up his right to take any legal action related to the matter. Per court records, he was reportedly found passed out in his vehicle at about 10 p.m. Feb. 10 in the parking lot of LJs Neighborhood Bar and Grill at 3550 Kimball Ave. in Waterloo after officers were told hed been inside the establishment drinking alcoholic beverages and visibly drunk. While officers were en route, Berry allegedly woke up and started to drive southbound on Kimball Avenue. Officers later located his vehicle stopped in the middle of the access road next to the Yesway convenience store on San Marnan Drive. His breathalyzer sample came back with a 0.193 blood alcohol concentration. The legal limit is 0.08. Hed been convicted of OWI in 2012 and 2018. A third offense is considered a felony in Iowa. Photos: Cedar Falls house fire, April 11, 2023 041123jr-fire-cf 041123jr-fire-cf-2 041123jr-fire-cf-3 041123jr-fire-cf-4 041123jr-fire-cf-5 NASHUA Suzy Turner, a social studies teacher in the Nashua-Plainfield Community School District, was honored as the 2022 Iowa History Teacher of the Year during a ceremony at Des Moines Area Community Colleges Ankeny campus earlier this month. Turner has been teaching history at Nashua-Plainfield Middle School for nearly 20 years, and is credited with bringing the National History Day program to the school. The unique event asks students to pick an historical topic that fits within an annual theme, conduct research, and present their findings in one of several formats to be judged at the state and sometimes national level. More than 600,000 compete nationwide each year. For the past two years, the winner has been a student from Turners classroom. Eighteen years ago, I was introduced to the National History Day program and have used its curricular model ever since to excite students about learning history both inside and outside the classroom, Turner said in a news release. Ive learned how to push students thinking. It is this type of student engagement that ensures a deep and meaningful learning experience for all students in the history classroom. The award is sponsored by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the Iowa Department of Education. It promotes and celebrates accomplishments in American history education and scholarship. As a state winner, Turner receives a $1,000 prize, a collection of classroom resources to be presented in her name to the school library, and an invitation to participate in a Gilder Lehrman Institute summer seminar. Ms. Turner is a truly exceptional history teacher who brings history to life for her students in so many ways, Superintendent Todd Liechty said in the release. This award is incredibly well deserved and a reflection of her skill and dedication. This honor is a big point of pride for both Ms. Turner and our entire school district community. As a state winner, Turner now has the opportunity to be recognized at the national level. The National History Teacher of the Year will be honored at an awards ceremony in New York City this fall and awarded a $10,000 prize. Photos: House Fire, Cedar Falls, April 12, 2023 041223jr-fire-cf-1 041223jr-fire-cf-2 041223jr-fire-cf-3 edit IMG_9321.jpg 041223jr-fire-cf-5 041223jr-fire-cf-6 041223jr-fire-cf-7 041223jr-fire-cf-8 041223jr-fire-cf-9 Hundreds of Floridians were housed in emergency shelters in Fort Lauderdale late Thursday after monumental flooding wreaked havoc on the region, forcing hundreds of rescues and closing schools and government buildings as crews race to clear clogged drains and impassable roads. Many streets turned into lakes across Fort Lauderdale Wednesday and Thursday when a historic volume of rain exceeding 2 feet inundated the South Florida coastal city. Surrounding areas were also lashed with well above a foot of rain, leading to rapid flooding that trapped residents, made driving miserable for motorists and frustrated air travelers who could not leave the airport. Jeremy Ennis, who said he has been working in Fort Lauderdale for about 23 years, was stuck on a city road in his car Thursday as water levels remained high. "Never have I seen anything like this, ever," Ennis told CNN. "I've never seen this volume of water, and I've seen (Hurricane) Katrina. I've seen many more hurricanes." The aftermath of the rare heavy rain event is expected to persist Friday while an areal flood warning in Broward County -- where Fort Lauderdale is located -- remains in effect through 8 a.m. ET, according to the National Weather Service office in Miami. That type of warning is usually issued for flooding that could develop more gradually, typically after prolonged and persistent moderate to heavy rainfall, the weather service explained. Fort Lauderdale was hit with another round of rain Thursday evening that exacerbated flooding conditions, city officials said. "Roads that were passable earlier today are flooded again. We strongly urge everyone to stay off the roads, if possible," Fort Lauderdale city officials said. The warning came as about 600 residents were in emergency shelter locations Thursday night, where they have access to lodging, food and other essentials. The flooding impacts have also prompted Broward County Public Schools Friday to cancel classes for the second consecutive day. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport has been shut down and will reopen Friday at 9 a.m., according to an update from the airport. In addition to responding to hundreds of rescue calls Thursday, crews throughout the Fort Lauderdale metro area have been working to clear drains and deploy pumps where possible to help alleviate the devastating flooding impacts. Hollywood, Florida, Mayor Josh Levy said his city saw more than a foot of rain accumulate in areas that have been experiencing consecutive days of "seemingly nonstop 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. "I've lived here my whole life. This is the most severe flooding that I've ever seen," he said. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for Broward County to provide additional resources to crews and residents on the ground. Rain was akin to high-end hurricane, forecaster says Fort Lauderdale, home to nearly 200,000 residents, saw 25.91 inches in a 24-hour period spanning Wednesday and Thursday, according to preliminary reports from the National Weather Service office in Miami. Other surrounding areas, including Hollywood, Dania Beach and Lauderdale Lakes, collected between 12 and 18 inches of rain in the same 24-hour period, the preliminary reports show. "This amount of rain in a 24-hour period is incredibly rare for South Florida," said meteorologist Ana Torres-Vazquez at the weather service's Miami forecast office. A high-end hurricane would typically dump rainfall of 20 to 25 inches over more than a day, Torres-Vazquez said, describing 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%. During the peak of Wednesday's torrential barrages, a month's worth of rain fell in just one hour. Fort Lauderdale's average rainfall for April is 3 inches, and it's been nearly 25 years since the city totaled 20 inches of rain in an entire month. That's why it will take time for the water to drain completely, officials said. "Because of the extreme amount of water, most areas will need to drain naturally," Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said. "Crews are out in neighborhoods clearing storm drains to aid water receding from neighborhoods. Vacuum trucks are being deployed strategically throughout the city. "There is not one area of this city that has not been impacted." Music festival to proceed Friday A three-day music festival in Fort Lauderdale is slated to kick off Friday as planned, organizers said, as attendees look to find alternate routes to navigate flooded streets. The Tortuga Music Festival will open its gates noon Friday, a festival spokesperson told CNN. The country music festival, which aims to raise funds for marine conservation efforts, will return for its tenth year. "We look forward to a great weekend, for a great cause, and the best fans in the world to enjoy the tenth anniversary of Tortuga," the festival spokesperson said. Mandi-Lynn Guertin, who flew into Fort Lauderdale from Connecticut for the festival, said she had not experienced this much flooding before. Guertin was in a rented car with her friends when the vehicle got stuck in about 3 feet of water, shut off and water quickly filled the inside. The group had to leave it on the side of the road. "We currently can't leave our Airbnb because the flood waters are too high and no Ubers will come out to get us," Guertin told CNN. The-CNN-Wire & 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. A Russian volcano eruption affected Alaska Airlines flights Shiveluch is one of the most active volcanoes on the Kamchatka peninsula Russia's volcano eruption spews ashes, caused mudslide warnings Alaska Airlines said Thursday that aircraft in Alaska had been affected by a volcano erupted in Russia this week. As a safety measure, some planes were delayed because of the big ash cloud from the Shiveluch volcano. A representative for the airline said that as of 7 a.m. in Alaska, 23 flights had been canceled, and more delays were likely. The spokesperson said that planes from and within the state were also affected. Alaskan Flights Canceled The manager of Northwest Regional Airport in Terrace-Kitimat, Carman Hendry, said that WestJet has also canceled flights into the airport because the planes would have to fly through the ash. In an interview on Thursday, he said, "Better down here wishing you were up there than up there wishing they were down here." Per CTV News, Hendry noted that he doesn't know how many planes will be affected, but the airport doesn't expect any more flights to arrive for the rest of the day. The volcano is in Kamchatka Krai, a peninsula north of Russia. It is on the Bering Sea, which splits Russia and Alaska. The Bering Straight is about 55 miles long. It is part of the land between Asia and North America that is the narrowest and can be used as a passageway. The volcano erupted on Tuesday, sending out ash and telling planes to stay away. According to CBS News, Danila Chebrov, head of the Kamchatka branch of the Geophysical Survey, said that the ash cloud covered about 41,700 square miles and was likely to move west. The volcano also let out lava, which melted the snow and caused a warning of mudslides. Off the coast, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 was also caused by the eruption. About 3.5 inches of ash covered some towns near the volcano. This is the most ash that has covered those villages in about 60 years. Radio station KDLG in Dillingham, Alaska, said that US Rep. Mary Peltola was among those impacted. Her overnight flight from Honolulu to Anchorage was canceled. Read Also: Taiwan Invasion: What Will Happen if China Attacks Taipei? Russian Volcano Eruption Update In a statement, the Alaska Volcano Observatory said that the ash cloud has been floating over Alaska for the past few days. "This cloud is a possible threat to aviation and has caused some flights to be canceled, but no ash is expected to fall on Alaska," it said. One of the most active volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Shiveluch, began erupting early Tuesday, sending ash more than 300 miles (500 kilometers) northwest. During the biggest volcanic impact in nearly 60 years, grey volcanic dust covered several towns in Russia. Wednesday's eruption sent a cloud of ash more than 10 kilometers (6 miles) into the air. About 1,772 miles (2,772 km) west of Anchorage is where the volcano is. Volcanic ash is sharp and pointy and has been used as an abrasive in the industrial world. As per NBC Philadelphia, a jet engine can be turned off by powdered rock. Related Article: Shiveluch Volcano Eruption in Russia Spews Ash Over Nearby Towns @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Before the U.S. Supreme Court stepped in Friday, access to an abortion pill was in line to become more cumbersome in California, New York and some other states that positioned themselves as safe havens for those seeking to end their pregnancies. The order keeps in place federal rules for use of mifepristone, one of the two drugs usually used in combination in medication abortions. The legal saga isn't over: The Supreme Court suggested it will decide the issue by Wednesday. The high court's position at least pauses a ruling issued last Wednesday by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans that would have allowed mifepristone sales to continue, but under rules adopted by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000, before a series of changes in 2016 that relaxed access. The 5th Circuit ruling, which overturned another recent federal court order halting mifepristone sales nationwide, was set to take effect Saturday. It would have required the drug to be taken in the presence of a physician, ruling out mailing it to patients. "That's not good for all of these states that are trying to help other people," Jolynn Dellinger, a senior lecturing fellow at Duke Law School who has been following the mifepristone litigation, said before the Supreme Court ruled. None of the rulings affect the other abortion pill, misoprostol, which can be used alone to end pregnancies but is more effective when taken in combination with mifepristone. For the 13 states with bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy and the one with a ban on abortion after cardiac activity can be detected, reverting to the old rules would have had little to no effect on abortion policy. At least 10 other states had restrictions that placed limits on medication abortion, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. For instance, in Georgia, it's legal only in the first six weeks of pregnancy; in Kansas, an ultrasound at an office visit is required before it's dispensed; and in North Carolina, it can't be prescribed via telehealth. On the other side, 17 states controlled by Democrats apparently would not have been affected by the change either; in a separate but closely related case last week, a judge sided with them in their request that mifepristone access not be changed there. That would have left just eight states where returning to the pre-2016 rules could have had a major impact: Democrat-controlled California, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York all states that have protected abortion access and welcomed out-of-staters seeking abortions as well as Republican-controlled Alaska and Montana and politically divided New Hampshire and Virginia. California, Massachusetts and New York stockpiled abortion pills in case of restrictions. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he's considering doing so. 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 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. PHOENIX (AP) An Iowa man pleaded guilty Thursday to threatening two Arizona officials in messages that mentioned discredited allegations of fraud in the 2020 election. Federal prosecutors said 64-year-old Mark Rissi of Hiawatha left voicemail messages targeting Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman and Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, both Republicans. Rissi pleaded guilty to two counts of making a threatening interstate communication. He's scheduled to be sentenced in June. Prosecutors said Rissi's message for Hickman was left Sept. 27, 2021, three days after a technology firm called Cyber Ninjas released a report alleging a wide range of election improprieties in Maricopa County, which includes the Phoenix area. Experts said the report, which was commissioned by Republican leaders of the state Senate, was riddled with errors, bias and flawed methodology. More than two months later, as Brnovich was under pressure from election deniers to charge people with election fraud, prosecutors say Rissi left another message telling him to do your job and threatening violence. The Justice Department has charged at least two others with threatening election officials in Arizona, where supporters of former President Donald Trump have focused anger over his loss. President Joe Biden has said Northern Ireland must not go back to the violence that scarred it for years and urged politicians to resolve a political crisis that has left the region without a functioning government. On a visit to Belfast, Biden urged Northern Ireland to seize the economic opportunities of peace, saying the progress is just beginning. Biden is in Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement that ended 30 years of sectarian violence. Biden traveled Wednesday from Belfast to the Republic of Ireland for a three-day trip that includes visiting the hometowns of his Irish ancestors. Zach Forrester JD'23 Zach Forrester JD'23 was working as a barista in Washington before law school when a customer encouraged him to look into Willamette Law. A Willamette Law alum, the customer shared their experience and Forrester was inspired to apply. This serendipitous encounter led Forrester to Willamette Law and on to the inaugural immersion externship in Alaska. When he began at the law school, Forrester was interested in a number of different areas of law, and most specifically civil rights, the working of the court system, and litigation. He began to think about how he might build a career potentially in the federal courts. Entering into his 3L year, Willamette Law Dean Brian Gallini threw out an idea, Forrester could finish his final year of school on site in Alaska, completing an externship and taking his final courses remotely. The wheels began turning and before long, Forrester was connected with Judge Joshua Kindred JD'05, a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. I owe this opportunity to Dean Gallini, he set this up for me and helped through every stage of the process, Forrester says. What excites me most about this opportunity is getting to see how a federal court works on a day to day basis, from right in the middle of things. I get to develop new skills outside of the classroom and learn from people on the ground. Forrester credits the externship with better developing his writing skills. His law school education has provided a strong foundation for writing memos and briefs, but the externship has taken this a step further in developing his skills. Writing from the point of view of decision-maker involves a huge switch, and this opportunity has allowed me to grow not only as a writer, but also in how I think about writing, he shares. In addition to these writing skills, Forrester has been able to build up a more solid knowledge of the foundations of law. Depending on the day, and the types of cases, he could be working on a criminal law project one day, an insurance issue the next, and a niche rule of federal procedure after that, he says. Overall, Forrester shares that he hopes this externship experience helps him to learn and grow, not just for the sake of a career but also as a thinker. Thinking through big problems and being where a lot of action is in our country will help me to grow personally and professionally, he says. Judge Joshua Kindred JD'05 Kindred chose Willamette Law because it reminded him of the same small-town vibe of his hometown, Anchorage, Alaska. Kindred spent most of his time after graduation looking for the right professional fit for his skills and, also, a role that made him happy. Mentorship, particularly from the Honorable Paul De Muniz JD'75, and the courage to try a number of career paths is ultimately what led Kindred to where his career is today. An important part of the journey through law school and beyond is knowing how to make the right decisions for yourself, armed with knowledge and confidence. Its also recognizing that decisions arent permanent, you can change where you work and what field you want to practice in. Recent law graduates dont always see this, Kindred reflects. After experiencing firsthand how abrupt the transition from academia to professional practice can be, Kindred hopes that he can find ways to help ease this transition for future generations of law students. This is a large reason why he wanted to be involved in the inaugural immersion externship with Forrester. When I receive a call from Willamette Law to get involved, I will always answer that call. I owe a debt of gratitude to the school for my own education and I am always eager to help bright and talented future lawyers. Kindred says. When he heard that Dean Gallini was hoping to send Forrester to extern with Kindred, he jumped at the opportunity. Kindreds goal for what he hopes Forrester learns is first and foremost, what it truly looks like to be a lawyer, he says. Bridging the gap between law school and practice is an important step in helping Forrester, and ideally future law students too, set himself up for professional success and expedite his career trajectory. This immersion externship will provide an opportunity for Kindred to introduce Forrester to a new set of skills that can be lacking in a traditional law school education. Allowing a student to study remotely, spend dedicated time immersed in legal practice, and build connections with the legal community is something that is unparalleled in terms of experience. This is how law school should work. Students should learn in the classroom and then have a chance, under the guidance of lawyers and professors, to step fully into what it means to be a lawyer while still in a safe and supportive environment, says Kindred. In terms of what he hopes this immersion externship will accomplish, Kindred is looking forward to seeing Forresters career unfold and to have the opportunity to mentor him throughout the entirety of a career, not just at the beginning. He also hopes this immersion externship helps to shed light on the unique legal community in Alaska. Between the immersion externship, and Willamette Laws 4+3 partnership with Alaskas public universities, Kindred is eager for people to see the opportunities available in Alaska. We want to give these talented and intelligent lawyers a reason to come to Alaska and make a difference here, says Kindred. All too often, Kindred saw talented lawyers leave Alaska in search of opportunities elsewhere. His hope is that the continued opportunities for partnership between Alaska and Willamette Law will help to expand and strengthen the legal community. For his part, Kindred strives to continue supporting this immersion externship program throughout his time on the bench. He wants the program to exist in perpetuity and to continue to create opportunities for mentorship. Forrester will complete his Spring semester in Alaska completing his externship. After graduation, he will remain in Alaska for one year as he has accepted a position as a Law Clerk for the Alaska Court of Appeals in Anchorage. 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 REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by snowmelt continues to be 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. && China's robot, reportedly dubbed "Chinese Super Masons," is set to build lunar bases, making bricks out of the moon's soil, according to media in the Chinese nation. Within the next five years, Beijing is planning to start constructing its lunar base. And to make it possible, a robot will be producing bricks made out of the moon's soil. The plan saw the light of day at a conference in China, wherein 100 researchers, scientists, and contractors gathered to talk about infrastructure plans on the moon. 'Super Masons' Robot China is serious about its space exploration programs. Daily Mail reports that the Asian nation has already started retrieving soil samples from the moon thanks to its Chang'e 5 mission. However, these samples were only from the near side of the moon. Given that, China is aiming to get soil samples from its far side too in the next few years or as early as 2025, to be more exact. Above and beyond taking samples for further study, the superpower plans to build a lunar research base. And as of now, the People's Republic is getting ready. Chinese state media reports that a conference entitled "Extraterrestrial Construction Conference" took place at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in the origin of COVID-19 in Wuhan. Roughly a hundred participants attended the event, including top-notch researchers, scientists, and space contractors who could potentially build a lunar base on the moon. China sets its eyes on a "Super Masons" robot to make the lunar infrastructure possible. A team is now reportedly designing the cyborg, which would capitalize on building bricks out of the moon's soil. Read Also: First H3N8 Bird Flu Human Death in China Recorded, WHO Confirms Bricks Made Out of Moon's Soil Interesting Engineering reports that an expert from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Ding Lieyun, showed what they are currently designing. The expert disclosed that they are working on a new robot model, which they aptly called "Chinese Super Masons." Ding pointed out that human colonization on the moon makes sense. The Chinese Academy of Engineering expert says, "Building a habitat on the moon is needed for long-term lunar explorations and will certainly be realized in the future." With that, they are now gearing up to introduce a robot that would help make lunar colonization possible. As per a report by Reuters, the team behind the robot plans to debut the "Super Masons" as early as 2028. It should launch alongside the Chang'e-8 mission of China that year. Once the Asian superpower finishes building its lunar base, potentially made of moon soil bricks, Chinese astronauts could stay there for extended periods, giving them more time to explore. Related Article: China-Taiwan Feud: Emmanuel Macron Sparks Anger After Siding with Beijing @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. From the beginning, Saturday Night Live developed a reputation for churning out A-listers, and pop culture this spring is rife with projects by popular alums: Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso) and Bill Hader (Barry) are wrapping up their respective, Emmy-winning series; Tina Fey, 52, and Amy Poehler, 51, are going on a comedy tour together; and Adam Sandler, 56, continues his impressive run at Netflix with Murder Mystery 2. With the casts churning the past few seasons, more recent but equally beloved alums, from Kate McKinnon to Cecily Strong, have pivoted to post-SNL projects like their predecessors. See where the funniest kids on TV are turning up, from memoirs and musical comedies to even a Broadway debut. Aidy Bryant in "Shrill." Photo by: Allyson Riggs/Hulu Aidy Bryant (2012-22) Best known for playing: Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Ted Cruz, travel expert Carrie Krum Her latest project: An Emmy nominee for both SNL and her own sitcom, Shrill, Bryant stars in Netflixs adult animated series Human Resources, a raunchier version of Pixars Inside Out. A workplace comedy spin-off of Big Mouth, its set in a world of imaginary beings who control human behavior Hormone Monsters, Shame Wizards, Depression Kitties and Bryant playing a Lovebug named Emmy Fairfax. The first season premiered last year, and the show has been picked up for more episodes, which are expected to stream this year. Watch it: Human Resources on Netflix AARP Membership $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. Join Now Photo by: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images Alex Moffat (2016-22) Best known for playing: Eric Trump, Joe Biden, Guy Who Just Bought a Boat His latest project: After leaving SNL in 2022, Moffat is making his Broadway debut in The Cottage, which is set in the English countryside in 1923 and inspired by the works of Noel Coward. Moffat isnt the only person from the NBC family to be involved in the production, which runs from July through October: Seinfeld alum Jason Alexander, 63, is directing, and Will & Graces Eric McCormack, 59, costars. Next up, Moffat is set to join Vince Vaughn, 53, in the Apple TV+ adaptation of Carl Hiaasens Bad Monkey, produced by Ted Lasso cocreator Bill Lawrence, 54. Watch it: Buy tickets to The Cottage at thecottageonbroadway.com. Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo Chris Redd (2017-22) Best known for playing: Kanye West, Eric Adams, Lil Wayne His latest project: A 2018 Primetime Emmy winner for cowriting the song Come Back, Barack, Redd appeared in this springs Spinning Gold, a musical biopic about Casablanca Records founder Neil Bogart, who discovered Donna Summer, the Village People and Kiss. Redd also recently costarred with Kenan Thompson (who continues to bring joy on SNL) on his eponymous NBC sitcom. Watch it: Spinning Gold in theaters Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Representatives of more than 560 Native American tribes from around the United States and more than 200 indigenous tribes from Canada will be heading to Albuquerque later this month when the Gathering of Nations Powwow returns after a two-year in-person pandemic hiatus. Theres nothing like getting back, said Gathering of Nations founder and director Derek Mathews. The event, billed as the largest gathering in the world of Native Americans and Indigenous people, has conducted a virtual powwow the past two years. This years gathering will begin with the Miss Indian World pageant April 28 at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The powwow will be held on April 29 and 30 in Tingley Coliseum and on the grounds of Expo New Mexico, where there will be dancing, drumming and singing competitions, live music, and a host of food and merchandise vendors. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at gatheringofnations.com/event-tickets. The cost is $15 for the Miss Indian World pageant; $20 for a single-day powwow ticket; and $45 for a two-day wristband. New this year is on-site fairground RV camping, Mathews said. There are about 100 spaces with full hookups, each available for $210 for the three days, and another 50 spaces without hookups that can be reserved for $165 for the three days. Single-day camping spots are not available. Our Traders Market is just a few spaces short of being sold out, he said. Thats almost 400 vendors, so thats a good sign, and were hearing that a lot of our hotels are filling up for those dates, and thats another good sign. So, were expecting a full crowd. In 2019, the Gathering of Nations drew more than 80,000 visitors and had an economic impact of more than $24 million, said Mathews. Theres just a lot of anticipation and excitement building up, he said. We cant keep up with the phone calls, and were getting a lot of questions and comments on our Facebook page and other social media. Were feeling really positive about it. Albuquerque will soon be host to Indigenous art at its finest. Thousands of Indigenous dancers will take part in the Gathering of Nations Powwow beginning Thursday, April 27, through Saturday, April 29. The three-day event kicks off with Miss Indian World, which is held at the Albuquerque Convention Center on April 27. On April 28-29, the event moves to Tingley Coliseum on the Expo New Mexico grounds. This is where dancers, musicians and vendors will be gathered. This year, the Gathering of Nations is marking its 40th anniversary. The legacy that weve built with the event is astounding, said Derek Mathews, founder and festival director. This event has worldwide reach now. Its an event that people will travel long distances to come be part of the community. The Gathering of Nations, which first took place in 1983, has grown into the largest powwow in North America. It serves as a platform for Indigenous peoples from the United States, Canada, and beyond to come together and share their unique traditions while fostering cross-cultural understanding and respect. Planned events include the grand entry of dancers, which takes place both April 28-29. There will also be a horse and rider parade, while entertainers grace Stage 49, which features more than a dozen acts. Tickets for Miss Indian World are $15, while one-day admission is $20. A two-day wristband for GON is $45. Tickets are available at gatheringofnations.com or at the door at Expo New Mexico during the event. A judge sentenced a Santo Domingo Pueblo man to six years in prison on Thursday for beating 30-year-old Elias Foster to death with a tree branch in 2021 during what prosecutors described as an alcohol-fueled argument. Keith Bird, 51, pleaded guilty in February to voluntary manslaughter for Fosters fatal beating in an alley behind Vassar SE, just south of Central, in Albuquerque. Assistant District Attorney Jolanna Macias said Bird struck Foster at least 10 times in the face during the Nov. 19, 2021, beating. Foster died at the scene. If you were to see that tree branch and what Mr. Foster looked like afterwards, I mean, it was just horrific, Macias told 2nd Judicial District Judge Lucy Solimon. Bird declined to speak during the hearing. A witness told police he saw two men arguing over a backpack and then one beat the other with a branch, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. The witness yelled at the offender to stop, then saw him run away carrying the backpack. Fosters sister, Arias Foster, chastised Bird for taking the life of a fellow Native American. Not only was he your friend, he was a member of the indigenous community, Foster of her brother. There is an epidemic of missing and murdered Native Americans in New Mexico and nationally. You should be teaching our young men how to live a positive life sharing your tribal knowledge instead of taking a life that was from this already vulnerable community. Birds attorney, Max Pines, said Bird called 911 saying that he had grave concerns about Mr. Foster and voluntarily gave a statement to police, who did not immediately inform him that Foster was dead. During the interview, Bird wept when he learned Foster died from the beating, Pines said. In his statement, Bird told police he encountered his friend Foster at a bus stop. Foster was in a bad mood and began to pick a fight, Bird told police. The two men went to an alley to fight, the complaint said. Bird acknowledged that he struck Foster about 10 times and stopped when he saw people in the alley. French protesters opposing the pension reform forced their way into the headquarters of the Louis Vuitton owner, LVMH, amid the record-high increase in the share price of the luxury brand firm. These union demonstrators in Paris are protesting against the plan of President Emmanuel Macron to overhaul the pension system in France. The country has been filled with demonstrations as workers gathered in the streets to express their sentiments. French Protesters Invade Louis Vuitton Headquarters Hundreds of activists have stormed the main office of the luxury goods giant LVMH, which owns popular brands like Louis Vuitton and Moet, according to CNN. These protesters forced themselves inside the headquarters through its entrance on Avenue Montaigne as the decision for the retirement age reform nears. One of the union leaders, Fabian Villedieu, told the New York Post, "If Macron wants to find money to finance the pension system, he should come here to find it." The Sud Rail union representative considers the protest at the LVMH HQ both "peaceful" and "symbolic." Notably, the world's richest man, Bernard Arnault, holds his office in the building that demonstrators stormed into. He is the big boss of the giant firm which owns multinational brands like Givenchy and Christian Dior, Sky News notes. If you are familiar with Tiffany and Co. and Fendi, Arnult also owns them. The entrepreneur flaunts an estimated net worth of roughly $200 billion, as disclosed by the Billionaires Index of Bloomberg. The 74-year-old LVMH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) recently overtook tech figures Elon Musk and Amazon's Jeff Bezos regarding wealth. In other words, he is richer than these two disruptive billionaires. Read Also: French Pension Reform: Emmanuel Macron Survives No-Confidence Votes Macron's France Pension Reform President Macron seeks to overhaul the pension system in the country, primarily raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, which applies before the decade ends or in 2030, to be exact. The top French leader argues that such reform is necessary to balance out the finances in the country, helping extend the pension budget for the next couple of years. Macron firmly supports his unpopular plan to reform the pension system, saying that "the country must continue to move forward." Once implemented, the overhauled pension system will require workers to wait until they are aged 64 before receiving their retirement fund. Because of these, union demonstrators have gathered in the streets of Paris to oppose the plan of Macron. The New York Post notes that certain critics of the French President claim that he favors the wealthy rather than the workers. With that, the protest at the Louis Vuitton headquarters is somewhat monumental for the demonstrators. Rail workers raised their flags in front of the LVMH HQ as they stormed the building on the eve of the pension reform decision. Related Article: Emmanuel Macron Heckled in the Netherlands Over Pension Reform, Taiwan Stance @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Francisco Robles-Robles slit a mans throat after he became spooked by the sound of fireworks during a Fourth of July barbecue in 2021, a prosecutor alleged this week. Robles-Robles, 31, pleaded guilty in December to second-degree murder in the death of 34-year-old Javier Gandarilla. Robles-Robles faces up to 12 years in prison as a sentencing hearing scheduled Thursday. A psychologist testified at a hearing this week that Robles-Robles was experiencing hallucinations at the time of the attack, likely related to his prior use of methamphetamine. Assistant District Attorney Jolanna Macias said the attack was unprovoked and came as a shock to family members present at the July 4th celebration. Towards the end of the evening, there were some fireworks that had gone off and just completely out of the blue, and without reason or justification, (Robles-Robles) slit Javier Gandarillas throat, Macias said. The manner in which he took Mr. Gandarillas life has completely affected his entire family, Macias told 2nd Judicial District Judge Lucy Solimon. Its just a tragedy and a trauma that theyre going to experience for the rest of their life. Robles-Robles had been scheduled for sentencing on Wednesday. His attorney, Graham Dumas, said Robles-Robles wanted to make a statement and needed help preparing it, requiring a delay. Albuquerque police responded about 10 p.m. July 4, 2021, to a report of a stabbing in the 300 block of Lansing SW, near Bridge and Isleta. Gandarilla was dead at the scene. Robles-Robles sister, who lived at the residence, told police that Gandarilla was her boyfriend, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. The woman said her brother, who was homeless and estranged from the family, showed up at the familys church earlier in the day looking dirty. The woman told police she invited Robles-Robles to her home to clean up and spend the Fourth of July with the family. Robles-Robles told his sister he planned to take a bus back to Mexico and gave her a hug when fireworks went off and he clutched her tighter and asked if she heard that. Robles-Robles then lunged at Gandarilla and grabbed him around the neck, the complaint said. When she pulled her brothers hands away, she saw that Gandarillas throat had been cut. Albuquerque psychologist Simone Viljoen said Robles-Robles suffered psychotic and paranoid symptoms, likely as a result of methamphetamine use and childhood trauma. At the time of the killing, Robles-Robles experienced delusional beliefs that he and his family were in danger, Viljoen testified. Keeping children safe should be the No. 1 priority of the states Children, Youth and Families Department. And it should be top of mind for law enforcement, as well. Its hard to believe thats the case based on both CYFD and Albuquerque Police Department actions that followed the death of a 7-month-old last June. Police said the babys mother, 39-year-old Victoria Romero, two of her other young children and a granddaughter all tested positive for methamphetamine in June 2022, when the infant suffocated after falling between the bed and window sill at their Albuquerque apartment. Yet the children were left in her care. And despite an autopsy revealing meth in tiny Elijahs body, no criminal charges were filed. Fast forward several months. In March, after Romeros granddaughter came to day care smelling of marijuana with red and droopy eyes, CYFD initiated a safety plan that placed all the children with other relatives. But within days they were returned to Romero. After the safety plan expired and the children were returned, Romero refused to take a drug test or allow her children to be tested. A concerned police detective, who had just become aware of Elijahs death, again removed the children. Police said when they gathered the children on April 6, their heads had been shaved in an apparent attempt to evade hair-follicle drug testing. But 48 hours later, the children were again returned to Romero. Soon after, Romero was charged in the death of her 7-month-old son 10 months after his small body was found wedged between the bed and the wall. It is unclear where the children are now. In such cases, strict rules determine the role and responsibility of APD and CYFD but there is almost always finger pointing between the two when a tragedy occurs. And in this case, there are so many questions. Why were the children allowed to remain with Romero in a drug-infested home after Elijahs death? And months later, when the children were removed, they were returned after several days. A week or two later, they were again removed, only to be returned. CYFD says it could not take into consideration Elijahs death because that CYFD case had been closed. And while the childrens urine tested clear, police were unable to test their hair follicles, where drugs stay longer, because the childrens heads had conveniently been shaved. Doesnt common sense come into play somewhere here? And why did it take APD 10 months to file charges against Romero? The department had known for months that Romero and the children, including Elijah, all had meth in their system when Elijah died. Per usual, CYFD is hiding behind the Childrens Code to avoid answering tough questions, such as why it failed to protect children 3 and younger testing positive for meth and marijuana and why it closed the case on the dead infant so it could not be considered when evaluating the safety of the home for his young relatives. Thursdays surprise resignation of CYFD Secretary Barbara Vigil says a lot. The former state Supreme Court justice appointed in October 2021 to take over an agency reeling from shocking allegations of falling fatally short in cases of child abuse announced her resignation at the end of the month due to unrelenting factors adversely impacting New Mexico children. The public has to ask if such unrelenting factors are why CYFD and APD left these children in what appears was a dangerous environment for so long? 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. The city of Albuquerque and the U.S. Department of Justice have agreed to prioritize the Albuquerque Community Safety department, or ACS, taking on more behavioral health calls rather than police officers. This week the city and DOJ amended its Court Approved Settlement Agreement, or CASA, to take away a requirement that Albuquerque police have a sufficient number of officers trained in dealing with those in crisis. Going forward, they want more of that responsibility to fall to ACS. But a spokesman for ACS, which just broke ground on a new headquarters, said additional resources will be necessary to fully meet the needs of the city. For their part, Albuquerque Police Department officials said that doesnt mean they will be actively reducing the number of officers trained in crisis intervention. Were not going to do anything different, APD Deputy Chief of Compliance Cori Lowe told the Journal on Thursday. Lowe said sufficient was removed from the CASA because it was not attached to a specific number and was hard to manage and track as a metric. The city entered into the CASA in 2014 after a DOJ investigation found officers had a pattern of using excessive force. All officers are already given Crisis Intervention Team training and 54% have taken the eight-hour Enhanced Crisis Intervention Team training, according to APD. Lowe said ECIT training comes with a slight pay bump and, among other things, officers learn more scenarios related to behavioral health. The amendment was one of three made to the CASA, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday. The others are allowing Level 1 use of force incidents to be investigated by civilian personnel and changing investigation deadlines to mirror those agreed upon by the city and police union. The changes come months after the latest independent monitors report, which found APD had made significant gains with the CASA, reaching 80% operational compliance. The good news had followed a period of turmoil where reports found APD had backslid in its reform efforts. The amendments to the CASA were made following a year when Albuquerque police shot at a record high of 18 people, 10 of whom were killed. APD said six of those people had a history of mental health calls and several were in the midst of an apparent mental health crisis when they were shot. In a Wednesday news release announcing the changes, the DOJ said it and the city had agreed to critically consider areas where APD has not achieved full compliance in key areas such as officers use of force and develop strategies for improvement. APD officials have set a goal of full compliance with the CASA by spring 2024. The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, in a statement Thursday, said it appreciated the amendments to invest in non-police responses but added in order to truly keep our community safe, the city must invest more in ACS to establish a larger ecosystem of care and support. Police arent the solution to all of our problems. We recognize that the best way to prevent police violence against our unhoused neighbors and people experiencing mental health crises is to remove police from the equation altogether, ACLU Policing Policy Advocate Daniel Williams said in the statement. According to the motion to amend the CASA, the city acknowledges that the ACS, may be more effective and efficient than police at addressing some 911 calls that present mental and behavioral health issues. Taking away the requirement that APD maintain a sufficient number of CIT-certified responders, according to the motion, will allow APD to focus on gathering data to better assess the Citys overall crisis response efforts and determine where gaps in critical services remain. APD Chief Harold Medina said Thursday that it will be a balancing act between the two agencies, but there are some calls ACS will not be able to go to, such as when there is an armed person or a serious criminal charge. The amendment also removed the requirement that APD have a Crisis Outreach and Support Team, or COAST, because the civilian team overlapped significantly with ACS efforts, according to the motion. The motion states an estimated 15,000 calls have been diverted to ACS since it began and that number will continue to grow and lessen the demand on APD to respond to behavioral health calls. Medina said police should limit their interaction with those suffering behavioral health issues. He compared it to having a teacher with a rifle across their chest and telling students, Hey, if you need help, go ask that person over there. A badge and gun isnt always the answer, Medina said. If we have a process where its not police being automatically dispatched because its a person in crisis, I think were going to see better community relationships and better results. ACS spokesman Connor Woods said the department is building their infrastructure to handle increasing call volumes but the primary goal is to create better outcomes for residents and to keep our staff safe. He said the department has taken more than 30,000 calls for service since its inception 18 months ago. Woods did not initially respond to questions on staffing numbers and any plans to expand, noting ACS operates from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Although alternatives to police are needed, well-trained officers as well as co-response models are still necessary, he said, adding that Mobile Crisis Teams, which pairs an ACS licensed clinician with a specially trained APD officer, is a better fit for high-acuity mental health calls. Woods continued, Additionally, we hope APD will continue to offer Crisis Intervention Training for their officers, which is proven to be effective. After this story was published, Woods told the Journal ACS is setting a goal of having 24/7 coverage by the end of 2023. He said the department has 74 employees and are hiring 56 additional field and administrative positions. Dont gut city art museum for Unsers AS A trustee of the Albuquerque Museum and an art law scholar, I read with dismay your March 31 article, $4 million proposed for a new Unser Museum. The article indicated the Unser museum was receiving its bond money at the expense of the Albuquerque Museum. This reflects a change from Mayor (Tim) Kellers priorities to those of Councilor Klarissa Pena. I have been to the Unser Racing Museum once, and it is a testament to the Unser familys connections to our community. In comparison, I have been to the Albuquerque Museum over a hundred times. In addition to taking my art law students to the museum, I have taken numerous out-of-town visitors. In February, Minnesotans accompanied me to a Third Thursday opening that blended art, music, yoga and childrens activities. My visitors were impressed by the vibrancy of our community and discussed moving to Albuquerque. The zeroing out of the funding for the Albuquerque Museums education center is particularly problematic. The Albuquerque Museum educates students from all over the state who often receive transportation via the Magic Bus program. Studies have shown an art enriched environment helps children learn across the board. Raising N.M. students from the bottom or near bottom of national test scores benefits the entire community. Your article also pointed out the Unser Racing Museum may be moving to Nebraska. Why should Albuquerque citizens support a private museum that plans to leave with money re-directed from supporting a community fixture? The Albuquerque Museums motto is we bring the world to Albuquerque and Albuquerque to the world. Shared exhibitions, such as potential Picasso and Van Gogh exhibitions, are vital to cross-cultural fertilization. I urge Albuquerque city councilors to restore the entirety of the funding originally designated for the Albuquerque Museum. Sherri Burr, Albuquerque Keep funding arts for our states youth I AM a former APS art educator and current Albuquerque Museum/Casa San Isidro docent. In that capacity I get to see young people (grades) K-12 light up with excitement when they tour our museums and participate in our education programs. For many kids it is their only exposure to our New Mexico heritage. In my opinion, continued funding for our museum budgets is imperative so our young people become informed and proud citizens of our amazing state. Karen H. McSortey, Albuquerque Selling out to send wind power to Calif. IM FROM Corona, and its sad to see this area prostituting itself to supply power to Arizona and California. I came to this area 30 years ago specifically because of its wide-open spaces and uncluttered views. Now its going to be totally industrialized with gigantic steel and concrete wind turbines and power lines. Funny how this never happens where all the liberal supporters of renewables live. The politicians of this state have sold their souls to these huge wealthy wind companies who are only here to line their own pockets with taxpayer money. By the way, wind power may be renewable, but its certainly not green. These politicians can stop patting themselves on the back because they are not saving the world but only lining their pockets and promoting their political careers. If they were actually concerned about the future environment, they would pass a wind farm reclamation act that was retroactive for the state of New Mexico. These companies really have nothing holding their feet to the fire when it comes to tearing these farms down in the future, which they certainly will need when this foolish nation finally learns that this power is unreliable and economically infeasible. As it stands in New Mexico, there is no regulation as to reclamation and basically these companies are like the fox guarding the hen house. More than likely, these farms will become future Superfund sites. As of now, the only reclamation language is on very weak contracts between individual landowners and huge wealthy power companies. Who do you think will win that fight? In all likelihood, at the end of the life of the project these companies will either bankrupt the project or sell it to speculators who will bleed it for what is left and walk. Pete Tully, Willard Mistakes made in police shooting WE CAN all agree the shooting of Robert Dotson in Farmington was a tragic event and a mistake. My sincere condolences go out to the Dotson family. But there are two things I read I dont agree with. First, that answering the door with a gun is what any of us would do. My husband and I discussed this situation, and we agreed that answering the door with a loaded gun would not have been our first course of action. Even at 11:30 p.m., without more information, we would not have assumed we were under attack. But if we did fear for our lives, we would have called 911, too. In any case, the situation could have been even more tragic if the intruder had been a neighbor in distress or a member of Dotsons own family. Second, I hope the policemen who showed up at the wrong address are not automatically fired. It is the duty of policemen to put themselves in harms way night and day to protect us. They have to show up at homes where dangerous disputes are in progress at 11:30 p.m. or whenever help is needed. Of course, as they protect us, they are also trained to protect themselves. What does that mean in a state where there are many guns and a high crime rate? What should they have done when responding to a call for help and in so doing were confronted by a man brandishing a gun? Yes, mistakes were made. But the police were not entirely to blame for the chaotic tragedy that unfolded. Linda Wolcott, Corrales CYFD failed these helpless children I WAS appalled to read (Wednesdays) front-page story that CYFD returned children to Victoria Romero three times after the surviving children tested positive for drugs and their baby brother died from drugs in his system. What CYFD did was a crime, and how could they possibly think what they were doing to those three surviving children was the right thing? Have none of the caseworkers have a conscience? Even if their hands were tied, someone needed to protest their being returned to that so-called mother. The drugs in their systems will affect them for the rest of their lives. This is extremely cruel and sad. The public deserves to know how and why they determined that these helpless children could survive lifes cruelties with Victoria Romero. Very sad to know CYFD acted not on the behalf of this family. Rosalie Krillevy, Albuquerque ABQ should focus on better air quality AS A member of the Albuquerque community, I take pride in the number of outdoor activities we have. Going outside and enjoying the various outdoor activities such as hiking, going to parks, riding bikes, etc. are all activities that promote and encourage a healthy lifestyle. However, each day we are seeing impacts on health due to air quality. According to the American Lung Association (in 2022) the Albuquerque area (wa)s ranked 22nd for high ozone as a metropolitan area and also received a grade F for the ozone. As we are approaching the warmer months and wildfire season, there will likely be an increase in air pollution from both the heat and wildfires. These are out of our control to an extent, (but) I want to bring awareness and encourage use and implementation from our community leaders for more safe forms and options of public transportation around the community to ultimately help reduce these other pollutants that we can control that can also cause harm to our air. Additionally, (I want) to promote and encourage our community leaders to increase air quality monitors around the city. Because Albuquerque is such a great place to get outdoors and be active, its imperative we bring awareness so we can continue to have this. Virginia Whitfield, Albuquerque Lessons from tragic police shooting I FEEL bad for the man killed by Farmington police when they went to the wrong address for a domestic dispute call. I feel bad for his family that was left behind. I also feel bad for the Farmington police officers involved. People are calling for the firing of these officers and for the police chief to resign. At that time of night I can see the officers mixing up a five and an eight. Domestic dispute calls are among the most dangerous calls an officer can respond to. They have no idea how the scenario will play out. So when they arrived thinking they were at the correct address and the occupant opens the door with gun in hand protecting his family, of course the first response would be to shoot him before he shoots them. He may have been an innocent victim protecting his home, but he could have done things a little differently to get a better outcome. 1. That late at night when someone is banging at your door, dont answer it. Call out through the door Who is it? 2. Call 911. Let them know someone is banging at your door. When they hear your address theyll contact the officers and let them know they are at the wrong house that they need to cross the street. 3. Install a ring camera with intercom capability. You can clear all the confusion up without answering the door. Its OK to have weapons in the house for protection. But there is still a certain amount of responsibility involved on when to display or use your weapon. In this case, displaying his weapon backfired. My condolences to all involved. Be safe out there. Robert Wayne, Albuquerque Closure of recreation along the Jemez River due to melting of heavy snow pack in northern New Mexico mountains. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal) Swift and high waters of the Jemez River at Soda Dam in Jemez Springs, N.M., on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Melting of heavy snow pack in northern New Mexico mountains is causing flooding of the Jemez River. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journ Flooding from the Jemez River closes a newly constructed bridge on the Jemez Pueblo in N.M., on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Melting of heavy snow pack in northern New Mexico mountains is causing flooding of the Jemez River. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal) Flood waters on Highway 4 outside the Jemez Pueblo in N.M., on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Melting of heavy snow pack in northern New Mexico mountains is causing flooding of the Jemez River. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal) Vehicles pass through flood waters on Highway 4 in the village of San Ysidro, N.M., on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Melting of heavy snow pack in northern New Mexico mountains is causing flooding of the Jemez River. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal) John Pino and his wife Juanita Pino monitor the water levels outside their residence in the village of San Ysidro, N.M., on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Melting of heavy snow pack in northern New Mexico mountains is causing flooding of the Jemez River. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal) Swift and high waters of the Jemez River at Soda Dam in Jemez Springs, N.M., on Thursday. The governor declared a state of emergency in Sandoval County on Tuesday. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal) Pamela Cornell, resident of Jemez Springs, walks next high and swift waters of the Jemez River in Jemez Springs, N.M., on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Melting of heavy snow pack in northern New Mexico mountains is causing flooding of the Jemez River. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal) Tony Pino with his brother John Pino and Juanita Pino monitor the water levels outside their residence in the village of San Ysidro, N.M., on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Melting of heavy snow pack in northern New Mexico mountains is causing flooding of the Jemez River. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal) Nala wanders through flood waters at the Pino residence in the village of San Ysidro, N.M., on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Melting of heavy snow pack in northern New Mexico mountains is causing flooding of the Jemez River. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal) Tony Pino with his brother John Pino and Juanita Pino monitor the water levels outside their residence in the village of San Ysidro, N.M., on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Melting of heavy snow pack in northern New Mexico mountains is causing flooding of the Jemez River. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal) Swift and high waters of the Jemez River at Soda Dam in Jemez Springs, N.M., on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Melting of heavy snow pack in northern New Mexico mountains is causing flooding of the Jemez River. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal) Melting of heavy snow pack in northern New Mexico mountains is causing flooding of the Jemez River. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal) Prev 1 of 13 Next JEMEZ RIVER VALLEY Brothers John and Tony Pino worked late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning building two berms and packing sandbags around John Pinos house in San Ysidro to redirect water. N.M. 4 next to the home was submerged in places as were parts of the Pino property. The brothers, who are members of Zia Pueblo and ranchers, called the swollen Jemez River a blessing. Were not mad. Were just trying to keep (the water) so we can provide for our families and provide for our people. Its a blessing. Its a blessing to our people, said Tony Pino, adding that the extra moisture will be helpful to ranchers and farmers in the area. The river is the life of our village. Up and down the Jemez River Valley, residents and officials are preparing for a surge of water expected to crest in the coming days. Snowpack in the Jemez Mountains is melting quickly and pouring into the river, which is raging at levels longtime residents have never seen. Other northern New Mexico mountains are seeing a similar pattern. Sewer lines in Jemez Springs have taken on additional water, which has overwhelmed the villages wastewater plant, said Sandoval County Manager Wayne Johnson. On Jemez Pueblo, Gov. Dominic Gachupin said he was concerned about how a brand new bridge will hold up amid the surge of water, and for the chile, squash, watermelons and corn the pueblo grows along the banks of the river. He said pueblo administrators were delivering sand bags to residents who live close to the river. Were grateful and humbled by it, he said Thursday of the raging river. Its our ancestral homeland, we have to take care of it and one another. In Jemez Springs, Johnson said the village doesnt know if the river water has been contaminated, and testing will be done to see if sewage water is in it. Officials are advising people to stay out of the river for that reason, and because its moving so fast. Jemez Springs Police Chief Felix Nunez said the village is bringing in a swift water rescue team in case there is an emergency. He said police officers on Thursday were trying to get some daredevil kayakers out of the river, including one paddler who descended Soda Dam. Johnson said village drinking water hasnt been affected. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the height of the river at nearly 8 feet on Thursday morning, according to agencys website. It was under 5 feet a week ago. See the Jemez River gauge in real time. Officials were expecting it to crest at about 9 feet in the coming days. If this goes higher than 9 feet, if the flooding gets really bad, of course, were going to make that call (for evacuations) sooner rather than later, Johnson said. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque issued a flood advisory on Wednesday that will remain in place until Tuesday morning. The advisory predicted the river to crest at between 8 and 10 feet. Eight feet is when flooding will start to occur. At 10 feet, there will be widespread flooding and bridges in and around Jemez Springs will be impassable and dangerous. The Weather Service said the river is reaching levels not seen since 1990, when it bulged to 8.8 feet. The Weather Service also has issued a special weather statement, saying creeks and rivers throughout northern New Mexico mountains are going to see rapid rises and some mountain roads may experience localized flooding because the snowpack is melting rapidly. The agency warned of rock and mudslides. A separate flood advisory was issued Thursday for areas surrounding the Pecos River in San Miguel County. So far, no homes have been evacuated in Jemez Springs, a village of about 200 people on N.M. 4. Despite the ballooned river, Jemez Springs Mayor Roger Sweet said the town remains open for business. We have all of our businesses are open, Highway 4 is open, he said. Its safe to come up here. We have beautiful backcountry hiking. You just have to be wary of the river. The village will have sand bags available at the fire station starting Friday, Johnson said. He said snowpack in surrounding areas was about 200% of normal, which is fueling the river when temperatures in town soared to around 80 degrees Wednesday. Its very unnerving. Its very unnerving, said Donna Sanchez, who has a home that backs up to the river. Theres nothing we can do. Were at the mercy of the river. Longtime residents said the river is a focal point of the community. Pam Cornwell said many residents have to cross river bridges to get to and from their homes. She was walking on a path next to the river Thursday. Its something everybody knows, recognizes. People come up here to recreate on the river, to fish the river, to picnic by the river. We watch it every time we go in and out of our house. We watch the (water) level. We stop on the bridge and look for the fish. We walk along the river, she said. Its a very, very important part of this community. It adds to life here. Three people are dead in two separate Albuquerque metro area fires between Thursday night and Friday morning, local officials said. A man and a woman were found dead in a garage attached to a home in the 1800 block of Quiet Lane SW, not far from the intersection of Goff and Bridge, according to Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue spokesman Lt. Robert Arguellas. Fire crews and the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office responded to the home after a call at about 5:13 a.m. Friday. The homeowner, who was outside the house at the time, told responders that two people were trapped inside, Arguellas. Deputies went to the back and forced open a door near the garage, and found heavy smoke and flames coming from the garage. Arguellas said while some crew members tried to douse the fire in the garage, others searched the house and didnt find anybody. When they returned empty-handed, the homeowner said the people inside would be in the garage. Crew members went back in and found both bodies. Arguellas said he didnt know exact ages of the people, but said he believes they were both adults. Speaking shortly after 9 a.m., Arguellas said the fire was fully extinguished. The fire department, the sheriffs office and the State Fire Marshal are all investigating the cause of the fire and whether there was foul play involved. We do want to take a moment if we can to remind homeowners to make sure they have early warning systems, Arguellas said. Having a fire extinguisher in the home is also beneficial. Meanwhile, another person was killed in a structure fire Thursday night at a multi-family dwelling near Zuni and Louisiana SE, according to the Albuquerque Fire Rescue. AFR was dispatched around 9:30 p.m. to the 500 block of Kentucky SE where they found a working fire on the Interior of one apt, said AFR spokesman Jason Fejer in a release. Fejer said the fire was quickly brought under control and an unconscious individual was removed from the residence. The individual was in cardiac arrest and treatment was initiated, but efforts were unsuccessful, and the person was pronounced dead on scene, Fejer said. 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 The mountains in northern New Mexico were thankfully inundated with snow this winter and even into early spring. A recent heat wave is melting all that snow, creating streams of water snaking down mountainsides and into valleys. This has forecasters concerned about spring flooding across the mountain West, including in New Mexico. Currently, the Jemez River, which takes in snowmelt from mountain ranges to the north and west of Albuquerque, is surging. The Jemez is not yet flooding, however. The United States Geological Survey monitors a river gauge near the community of Jemez Springs, which is built on the banks of the namesake river. The Jemez usually runs about 4 feet high at this gauge and must reach 8 feet here for the USGS to consider it a flood. The Jemez crested at 7.85 feet high at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, at the Jemez Springs gauge. See the Jemez River gauge in real time. Earlier in the week, forecasters predicted the river would be around 9 feet high by this morning and stay at that level throughout the weekend. But the gauge is showing sustained levels closer to 7 feet throughout Friday morning. Take caution Still, the relatively high river levels even if not technically a flood are a threat to people in the Jemez Valley. Friday morning, Sandoval County warned of the Jemez River running over low-lying areas of State Highway 4 between San Ysidro and Jemez Springs. Travelers are asked to exercise caution and not enter closed roadways or drive into floodwaters, a county news release stated. Get info What are the primary ways to get information about the Jemez River and the threat of a flood? USGS river gauge: The USGS website showing the height of the river at the Jemez gauge is updated every hour or so, providing users near real-time data. Sandoval County: The county is providing information on Twitter, Facebook and its website. New Mexico Department of Transportation: Find out about road closures in the area at nmroads.com or by calling 511. News media: Follow trusted news sources, such as the Albuquerque Journal and Rio Rancho Observer. SANTA FE Three-term state Sen. Cliff Pirtle said Friday he will not seek reelection next year to another term, a month after sheriffs deputies responded to a verbal argument between Pirtle and his wife sparked by alleged infidelity. But Pirtle, a Roswell Republican, said his decision not to run again in 2024 was made more than a year ago and was driven not by the recent incident, but rather by changes made to his Senate District 32 district during a redistricting special session held in December 2021. Over the past year, I have told a number of people, including close friends and family, that 2020 was my last campaign and that this would be my last term, Pirtle said in a statement. I am now making that decision public. He did not directly mention the recent incident with his wife in a statement announcing his decision, but said he appreciated the prayers and support during his time in the Senate. Pirtle, who still plans to finish the four-year term he was elected to in 2020, has been a staunch defender of rural New Mexico at the Roundhouse and has championed legislation that would keep New Mexico on daylight saving time all year. In 2021, Pirtle filed legislation that would have allowed counties to petition the Legislature to actually secede from the state either to join a neighboring state or create a new state. While the measure did not win approval, Pirtle said at the time it was filed as a response to a lack of respect toward southeast New Mexico among urban lawmakers and state elected officials. However, the recent incident between Pirtle and his wife could cast a shadow over his political legacy. During the final days of this years 60-day legislative session, Santa Fe sheriffs deputies responded to a report of a man and woman arguing and caught up with a vehicle that had left the scene, where they encountered Aysia Pirtle, Cliff Pirtles wife. She told deputies she suspected her husband of cheating and drove down from Las Vegas, New Mexico, where they were renting a home. When she arrived at the Santa Fe home her husband was renting, she saw him in bed with another female. She then banged on the door, and an argument ensued. Cliff Pirtle told a deputy who responded to the scene the two were arguing about personal problems, but said nothing physical happened, according to a lapel cam video. No criminal charges were filed in connection with the incident, but court records show Pirtles wife filed for divorce last week. Pirtle defeated longtime incumbent Tim Jennings, a Democrat who is now Roswells mayor, in 2012 to join the Senate. At the time, he was one of the youngest senators in the 42-member chamber. Now 37, Pirtle said Friday the announcement of his decision not to seek reelection was intended, in part, to give potential candidates ample time to consider running for the redrawn Senate seat. Over the past eleven years I have done my best to provide a voice and vote for the kind of common-sense conservatism that reflects the political philosophy of southeastern New Mexico, Pirtle said. Under the district boundaries that will be used in next years election cycle, the Republican-leaning seat will take in more of Roswell, while also encompassing a portion of Artesia. China helps Tanzania improve water conservation capacity in Great Lakes Xinhua) 09:40, April 14, 2023 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Pistorius confirmed that Germany received Warsaw's official request Poland needs Germany's approval to send its remaining jets West has been reluctant to provide Ukraine with advanced fighter jets The German defense ministry announced Thursday that Germany had approved Poland's request to export five old MiG-29 fighter aircraft to Ukraine to reinforce its air defenses against the Russian invasion. Boris Pistorius, the German defense minister, stated that the request was received on Thursday and that Berlin's sanction the same day demonstrated Germany's dependability. Poland to Send More MiG-29 to Ukraine Upon reunification in 1990, Germany inherited 24 MiG-29 aircraft from the former German Democratic Republic. The aircraft was considered among the most sophisticated fighter fighters in the world at the time. In 2004, Germany transferred 22 aircraft to Poland. One of the remaining two aircraft was destroyed in an accident, while the other is displayed in a museum. According to Fox News, Poland requires Berlin's approval to transfer its remaining aircraft to a third country. During his visit to Warsaw last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Poland would help establish a coalition of Western powers to supply Ukraine with aircraft. Ukraine, which plans to launch a counteroffensive in weeks or months, wishes to acquire fighter aircraft for air defense. Until now, Western nations have been hesitant to send sophisticated fighter jets such as F-16s to Kyiv, but a few countries have stepped up to ship the Ukrainian military obsolete MiG-29 aircraft. When Germany delayed the delivery of German-made tanks for several months, it came under pressure from its allies, with Poland, in particular, pressuring Berlin by declaring its readiness to proceed without Germany's assent. Poland President Andrzej Duda Andrzej stated last week that his nation had already delivered eight MiG-29 fighter aircraft to Ukraine and could provide the entire remaining inventory, including those of German origin. According to Politico, contracts for purchasing German military equipment typically stipulate that the federal government must approve any subsequent transfer. On the margins of a visit to German troops in the West African nation of Mali, German defense minister Boris Pistorius of the Social Democratic Party announced that the official decision will be made public later today. In addition to Poland, Slovakia has pledged to dispatch MiG-29 fighter aircraft to Ukraine, and Prime Minister Eduard Heger has stated that "promises must be kept." Read Also: Russian Volcano Eruption Prompts Flight Cancellation in Alaska Russia-Ukraine War Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that Berlin received the Polish request on Thursday and that Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ruling coalition agreed to swiftly grant the go-ahead as part of Berlin's ongoing efforts to support Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion, Bloomberg reported. Pistorius stated that the request from Poland had been received on Thursday and that the sanction on the same day demonstrated that "you can depend on Germany." Upon reunification in 1990, Germany inherited 24 MiG-29 aircraft from the German Democratic Republic, also known as East Germany. The aircraft was considered among the most sophisticated fighter fighters in the world at the time. Ukraine, which plans to commence a counteroffensive in the future weeks or months, desires fighter jets to defend against Russian air attacks. Fighter aircraft had been at the top of Kyiv's equipment wish list since the beginning of the conflict, but efforts had been concentrated on acquiring advanced Western tanks. Per Al Jazeera, demand for Western aircraft has increased since Germany and the United States agreed to dispatch Leopard 2 and Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Poland, which has supplied Ukraine with 14 Leopard 2 tanks manufactured in Germany, was an early proponent of sending fighter aircraft to the war-torn nation. Although the MiG-29s may provide Ukraine with some respite, they are unlikely to meet all of its needs. Andriy Melnyk, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, has previously advocated for "a formidable fighter jet coalition for Ukraine" consisting of F-16s and F-35s manufactured in the United States, Eurofighter, Tornado, Rafale, and Gripen aircraft. Related Article: Vladimir Putin Prepares for Counteroffensive @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Instagram Celebrity Before the actor was located, the Daytona Beach Police Department announces that he had been missing and his 'his last known location is potentially the area of Mainland High School on 4/12/2023 just before 9p.m.' Apr 14, 2023 AceShowbiz - Drake Bell has been found. The Drake Parker depicter on "Drake and Josh" was finally located after being reported "missing and endangered." In a statement shared on Facebook, the Daytona Beach Police Department wrote, "UPDATE: 4/13/2023 1:26p.m. - At this time, we can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr. Bell is safe." Prior to that, the department stated, "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 9p.m.," the original post added. "He is considered missing and endangered. If you know where he is or have any information, please contact Detective Jayson Wallace at 386-671-5207 or [email protected]" It remains unclear where Drake had gone. Neither police nor the actor's manager provided further information regarding the matter. The report arrived more than a year after Drake was sentenced to two years probation and 200 hours of community service for attempted child endangerment and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. He pleaded guilty to the charges in June of that year. The "iCarly" alum, who initially maintained his innocence by entering a not guilty plea, was first indicted on May 21. As for the alleged incident, it took place on December 1, 2017 when he was set to perform at a club in Cleveland. It was unveiled that he had an inappropriate chat with the unnamed victim, who was 15 years old at that time. Earlier this year, a source told PEOPLE that Drake has split from his wife Janet Von Schmeling and begun treatment for his substance abuse issue. Despite the split, Drake and Janet are reportedly "committed to maintaining a peaceful co-parenting relationship and giving their son the best life possible." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity Landon Barker toasted his Blink-182 drummer father and stepmother Kourtney while delivering a touching speech at the couple's lavish wedding celebration in Italy. Apr 14, 2023 AceShowbiz - Travis Barker's son insists Kourtney Kardashian is "like a mother" to him. The Blink-182 frontman's eldest child, 19-year-old Landon Barker - whom he has with ex-wife Shanna Moakler - delivered a touching speech at the couple's Italian wedding, in which he celebrated his "great" dad and new stepmother. Landon was shown giving his speech in the couple's Hulu wedding special, "Til Death Do Us Part Kourtney and Travis", and said he was "so thankful to have such a great dad in my life." "You look out for me like a mother and have always had my back," he told Kourtney and thanked the Kardashian family for being welcoming. 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." You can share this post! Cover Images/Ron Sachs/CNP Celebrity The Republican politician vows to go ahead with his presidential bid even if he is convicted following his arraignment on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Apr 14, 2023 AceShowbiz - Donald Trump has defiantly said he will run to become the next US president even if he's convicted on criminal charges. The 76-year-old former "The Apprentice" judge, indicted on April 4 at a Manhattan courthouse on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, vows he will "never drop out" of next year's presidential race. "I'd never drop out. It's not my thing. I wouldn't do it," Trump - the first former US president to be indicted - told Fox News host Tucker Carlson in his first major interview since his historic arrest in New York. He also claimed staff and officers at the Manhattan courthouse where he was booked were moved to tears over his plight. Trump added, "They were incredible. When I went to the courthouse, which is also a prison in a sense, they signed me in and I'll tell you people were crying." The former 45th US president is expected back in court in December in Manhattan after pleading not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business record charges, thought to be linked to an alleged $130,000 hush money payment to former porn star Stormy Daniels, 44, in the run-up to his 2016 presidential campaign after she claimed they had a fling, which Trump denies. Stormy claims the money was paid by Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, and it emerged on Tuesday the former US president is suing Cohen for more than $500 million, according to a filing in a Florida court. If he wins the Republican presidential nomination, Trump is likely to face President Biden, who said on Monday he planned to seek re-election, but no formal announcement has been made. Biden, 80, told NBC News, "I plan on running, but we're not prepared to announce it yet." You can share this post! Celebrity The self-taught fashion designer who invented mini skirt and popularized bob haircut is announced by her loved ones to have passed away at the age of 93. Apr 14, 2023 AceShowbiz - Queen of Britain's 'Swinging Sixties' fashion Dame Mary Quant has passed away aged 93. On Thursday, April 13, a statement from her loved ones issued to the Press Association said the pioneering self-taught designer - hailed by many as the inventor of the mini-skirt - "died peacefully at home in Surrey, UK this morning." "Dame Mary was one of the most internationally recognized fashion designers of the 20th century and an outstanding innovator of the Swinging Sixties," it added. Dame Mary - also famed for her "skinny rib" sweaters and hot pants and her quote that "fashion is a tool to compete in life outside the home" - married Alexander Plunket Greene in 1957, and they had one son, before her husband's death in 1990. Born 11 February, 1930 in Blackheath, south east London, Mary was so driven by her wanting to advance feminism through fashion she came up with her so-called "Chelsea look" defined by then-controversially high hemlines, trousers for women and popularising the bob haircut pioneered by her hair stylist icon friend Vidal Sassoon. Her small store Bazaar in the heart of the King's Road became one of the hearts of London's "Swinging Chelsea," from which she grew her global fashion empire. Mary's partnership with Twiggy also propelled her looks to worldwide fame and her boutiques were filled with loud music and free drinks. Her Ginger Group started in 1963 made fashion affordable for ordinary working women, and she famously said, "I didn't have time to wait for women's lib." She was appointed a Companion of Honour earlier this year in King Charles' first honours list. In 2015, she was made a dame for services to fashion and awarded an OBE in 1996. It was estimated by the end of the Sixties, almost 10 million women in the UK had at least one product from her range in their collections. She studied illustration at Goldsmiths, where she met her future husband, the aristocrat Alexander, and graduated in 1953 with a diploma in art education, and began an apprenticeship at a high-end milliner, Erik of Brook Street. Mary was a self-taught designer, attending evening classes on cutting and adjusting mass-market printed patterns to achieve the looks she was after. She remained a pioneering fashion figure throughout the Seventies when her business branched into producing bedlinen, carpets, paint wallpaper, swimwear, and jewellery. Dame Mary also introduced skin care for men, and published books promoting her make-up concepts, and in 1990 was given the Hall of Fame Award by the British Fashion Council. You can share this post! Music The former 'Homeland' actor has put out his first single titled 'Down on the Bowery' to tide fans over while waiting for his debut album 'Mission Creep' in summer. Apr 14, 2023 AceShowbiz - Damian Lewis is getting ready to release an album. The former "Homeland" actor has inked a record deal with Decca Records and releases his debut single "Down on the Bowery' on Thursday, April 13 ahead of his LP "Mission Creep" this summer, but he insisted he doesn't think he is the next Bruce Springsteen. "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," he joked to the Daily Mirror newspaper. The 52-year-old actor's wife, "Peaky Blinders" star Helen McCrory, died of cancer in 2021 and Damian suggested the tragedy has influenced some of the "poignant and deeply personal" songs he has written for the record. He said, "It encompasses many life experiences, and won't take Sherlock Holmes to work out what some of those are... I suddenly had a lot to say. People will judge if it's any good or not, but for me, it felt entirely natural." The "Wolf Hall" star - who has 16-year-old daughter Manon, and 15-year-old son Gulliver with his late wife - went busking through Europe after leaving school and he rediscovered his love of the guitar during the COVID-19 lockdown, which allowed him more time to play and write songs. He said, "I wanted the album to give a sense of a journey to this point, from busking 'til now." Decca Records are delighted with their new signing. Co-presidents Tom Lewis and Laura Monks said in a statement, "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 has gigs lined up for this summer, including at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival and Black Deer Festival, as well as London's Union Chapel. You can share this post! Instagram TV In the suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, the actress portraying Nikki Parker on the 'Moesha' spin-off accuses the defendants of artificially depressing the show's profits to retain millions. Apr 14, 2023 AceShowbiz - Mo'Nique is suing CBS and Paramount to seek alleged unpaid royalties from her "Moesha" spin-off "The Parkers". The 55-year-old comic and actress, who starred as Nicole "Nikki" Parker on the show, alleges in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court that the defendants "artificially depressed" the show's profits to "retain millions that would otherwise be contractually due" to the star and its writers. "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," documents obtained by Page Six read. The suit was filed by Hicks Media, the production company Mo'Nique owns with her business partner and husband, Sidney Hicks, whom she married in 2006. Mo'Nique previously sued Netflix for discrimination in 2019, claiming the streaming giant had offered her a "biased, discriminatory" deal of $500,000 for a comedy special, while her male and white female peers received multimillion-dollar checks for similar content. The actress' lawsuit at the time alleged, "Netflix reportedly offered or paid (Chris) Rock, (Dave) Chappelle, (Ellen) DeGeneres and (Ricky) Gervais 40 times more per show than it offered Mo'Nique, and it offered (Amy) Schumer 26 times more per show than Mo'Nique. In short, Netflix's offer to Mo'Nique perpetuates the drastic wage gap forced upon Black women in America's workforce." Netflix hit back that it intended to fight the lawsuit because the company felt its opening financial offer was "fair," before the streamer settled with her in undisclosed terms more that two years later. "The Parkers" aired for five seasons from August 1999 to May 2004 on UPN. You can share this post! Cover Images/John Rainford Celebrity Sir John Eliot Gardiner reveals he was summoned to the 74-year-old monarch's Windsor home and was asked to lead the Monteverdi Choir at the May 6 ceremony just before Christmas. Apr 14, 2023 AceShowbiz - King Charles asked a conductor to perform at his coronation during a night of "large" gin and tonics. The 74-year-old monarch, who will be crowned alongside his 75-year-old wife Queen Consort Camilla, at London's Westminster Abbey on May 6, summoned Sir John Eliot Gardiner to his Windsor home to ask him to lead the Monteverdi Choir at the ceremony. Internationally acclaimed Sir John told The Times, "I got another call (from Charles) just before Christmas." He went on recalling, "I was summoned to Windsor with Gwyneth (Wentink - the Dutch/ Hungarian harpist who is now the partner of three-time divorcee John.) It was just the three of us - Camilla wasn't there. Charles poured us very large gins and tonics, we had supper and we went through the whole service." The 79-year-old conductor, who has been friends with Charles for years, added he "really cares" about "the arts and music." He added Charles' decision to have him oversee 20 minutes of music before his coronation starts came a few days after their boozy meeting. "This time he said, 'I want you and the Monteverdi Choir to do 20 minutes immediately prior to the service.' So that's what we are doing - 20 minutes of Bach and Bruckner," he said. "Then we have to vacate the choir stalls quickly so the Westminster Abbey choir can get in for the service." Sir John said Charles, then Prince of Wales, asked him several years ago on a call, "John Eliot, what are we going to do at my coronation?" A familiar voice said over the phone, "What sort of music should we have?" He added about the King's character, "I find him very approachable and congenial. He sticks out as a member of the royal family who really cares about the arts and music he was way ahead of his time on climate change, rainforests, sustainable farming, the need to engage with young people in inner cities." "I enjoy joshing with him," the composer continued gushing. "He gets quite irascible at times - he's almost got a persecution complex about some things, which isn't surprising. But he's also fun to be with." Charles has also asked for Greek Orthodox music to be played in tribute to his late father, Prince Philip who died aged 99 in 2021, which will be performed by the Byzantine Chant Ensemble. Six orchestral commissions, five choral commissions and one organ commission have been created by British composers whose styles include classical, sacred, film, television and musical theater. There will also be new works by Sarah Class, Nigel Hess, Paul Mealor, Tarik O'Regan, Roxanna Panufnik, Shirley J Thompson, Judith Weir, Roderick Williams and Debbie Wiseman. Gospel group The Ascension Choir will also perform as part of the ceremony, as well as the Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of His Majesty's Chapel. You can share this post! TIME Magazine shared Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger is one of the worlds 100 most influential people in its reveal of the annual TIME100 list. Iger appears on one of the four covers for the magazines worldwide print edition. Actor Jennifer Coolidge, recording artist Doja Cat, and actor Michael B. Jordan were the other honorees from this year to be featured on the covers. Each person on the list was honored by guest writers who have worked with or personally know them. Igers article was written by General Motors CEO Mary Barra, whos been a Disney board member since 2017. For 100 years, The Walt Disney Company has entertained, informed, and inspired people around the globe through the power of unparalleled storytelling, she wrote. Bob Iger has guided the company to success for nearly two decades and is one of the best leaders I know. Theres a reason Bob remains one of the worlds most admired CEOs. He has led landmark acquisitions, championed culture-defining films, launched innovative distribution platforms, and delivered strong financial results, all while never forgetting the peoplethe employees and the fanswho make it all possible. His return as CEO in 2022 ushered in a new era of transformation and creative excellence for the most magical company on earth. His authenticity and pragmatism set him apart. He said, True authority and true leadership comes from knowing who you are and not pretending to be anything else. Ive personally learned so much from his leadership. TIME Studios and ABC will present a TIME100 primetime television special, and for the second year in a row, the special will bring viewers inside the 17th annual TIME100 Gala, airing Sunday, April 30, at 7 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, and available to stream the next day on Hulu and Disney+. The gala will be hosted by Coolidge and feature performances by Doja Cat and Lea Michele, as well as honorary tributes from members of this years list, remarks from TIME CEO Jessica Sibley, and more. Fort Lauderdale declared a state of emergency due to record-breaking rainfall that poured into the city, causing a flash flood emergency. The rainiest day disrupted the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, which remains shuttered. Schools in the vicinity have also closed their doors to students as they suspended classes. Flooding has submerged some houses and buildings in the areas, damaging them. After braving the floodwaters, numerous drivers have also abandoned their vehicles, which stalled their automobiles amid the heavy downpour. Florida's Rainiest Day in History As per CNN, residents of Fort Lauderdale experienced record-breaking rainfall on Wednesday. The National Weather Service in Miami reports that the city had a widespread rainfall of around 26 inches for an entire day or in 24 hours, which historically booked the rainiest day in the city. Meanwhile, Fox News Orlando reports that the officials at Fort Lauderdale dubbed the record-breaking rainfall event a "1 in a 1,000-year" phenomenon. Mayor Dean Trantalis states, "The amount of rainfall is unprecedented," noting some reports pointed out that it was over "20 inches of rain in some areas." The flooding was pretty dramatic too. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings in various areas, such as Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and Fort Lauderdale. Due to the record-breaking rainfall in the area, Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in Broward County, citing the flooding and the heavy downpour. According to CBS News, the executive order seeks to speed up the help that the residents need. Following Broward County, Dania Beach also went into a state of emergency, closing down various public places, such as the beach, pier, City Hall, and all parks in the area. Besides these, the officials of Fort Lauderdale have already issued a city-wide state of emergency amid the epic flooding due to the historical downpour. The City Hall is still closed to the public as its ground floor is submerged in floodwater. Read Also: North Korea Ballistic Missile Launch Cause Japan to Issue an Erroneous Warning Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport Remains Closed The airport in the city, the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, temporarily ceased operation on Wednesday night due to heavy rains and floods and will remain closed until Friday. In a recent tweet, the international airport announced that the facility will "remain closed until 9 am on Friday, April 14, 2023." The Twitter post explains that the delay in opening aims to give way to "final daylight inspections." It should determine if it is already safe to accommodate flights again following the historic rainfall. #Travel Alert ( Update No. 8): Please note that #FLL is now slated to remain closed until 9AM on Friday, April 14,2023. The delayed timeframe is to accommodate final daylight inspections to determine the airfields readiness to resume safe flight operations. #SafetyFirst Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Int'l Airport (FLL) (@FLLFlyer) April 13, 2023 Fox Colorado notes that various airlines had to cancel or divert their flights to the Orlando International Airport due to the closure of the Fort Lauderdale airport. Related Article: Fort Lauderdale Approves Elon Musk's Company Proposal for Beach Tunnel @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Mindsprint, a leading technology services company appointed Sreedhanya (Dhanya) Shanmughan as the VP and Head of Communications. Mindsprint, previously known as Olam Technology and Business Services, are a leading technology and business service organisation that provides impact-driven solutions to enterprises, enabling them to outpace the speed of change. Dhanya will lead the narrative-driven internal and external communication mandate for the company, and be a part of the executive leadership team at Mindsprint. In her last role, Dhanya was the communications leader for Cargill's food ingredients business in South Asia, where she drove integrated business communications for the company. An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore, Dhanya has over 18 years of experience in corporate communications, branding, marketing and leadership communications. She was previously associated with Fortune 50 companies, helping establish their brand presence through integrated communications. Volkswagen Passenger Cars India has signed Indias largest public relations firm Adfactors PR as its new communications partner. As part of the new mandate, which becomes effective April 1st, 2023, Adfactors will deploy the full breadth of its expertise from media relations, corporate reputation, crisis communications to strategic communications, social impact and digital services for Volkswagen. Mr. Abbey Thomas, Head of Marketing & PR, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India said, We are delighted to welcome on board, Adfactors PR as our new communications partners. The auto industry is currently experiencing dynamic shifts and we are glad we can count on a proven and dependable partner like Adfactors PR to help us navigate this ever-changing environment. Adfactors PR Director Percy Dubash said, Volkswagen is a marquee brand that has established a reputation for setting new standards in innovation, engineering excellence, safety and sustainability. This mandate is thus a big win for us and I am confident it will make a fine addition to our already-extensive mobility portfolio. Adfactors PR established its dedicated mobility practice in 2021 to offer a full suite of public relations services across the automotive, aerospace, railways, roadways, maritime and inland waterways, and micro-mobility verticals. Its area of strategic focus also includes burgeoning sectors such as electrification, sustainable transport solutions, battery management and companies offering Mobility as a Service (MaaS). Built on the principal tenet of domain expertise, the mobility teams members are drawn from a range of disciplines, including journalism, marketing, digital, equity research, communications and ESG consulting. As part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a 656 million contract to BAE Systems on behalf of British defence firms Leonardo UK, MBDA UK and Rolls-Royce, to progress the design and development of this sixth-generation fighter jet. Above: Next-generation Future Combat Air System. Image courtesy BAE Systems Tempest is the UK name for the aircraft in development under GCAP. The contract will build on the ground-breaking science, research and engineering already completed. The UK MoD and its industry partners are working in close collaboration with GCAP partners Japan and Italy. Together, the partners will now progress the maturity of more than 60 cutting-edge technology demonstrations, digital concepts and new technologies. These are critical to the UKs sovereign defence capability and will help shape the final requirements with Japan and Italy for the combat air platform, due to enter service by 2035. The aircraft is designed to be an innovative stealth fighter with supersonic capability and equipped with cutting edge technologies, including state-of-the-art sensing and protection capabilities. This will make the aircraft one of the worlds most advanced, interoperable, adaptable and connected fighter jets in service globally. Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace said: "The next tranche of funding for future combat air will help fuse the combined technologies and expertise we have with our international partners both in Europe and the Pacific - to deliver this world-leading fighter jet by 2035, protecting our skies for decades to come." Herman Claesen, Managing Director, Future Combat Air Systems - BAE Systems Air, said: "This contract reflects the continued commitment by the UK Government and ensures we continue to mature this significant programme and the vital technology pipeline that will drive innovation into - and beyond - the combat air sector for decades to come. "This important work is at the core of the newly created Global Combat Air Programme; a major international partnership and ambitious endeavour between the UK, Japan and Italy with the shared goal to deliver the next generation of combat air fighter jets by 2035." This investment forms part of more than 2 billion worth of UK Government spending on the project up to May 2025, announced in the 2021 Defence Command Paper. GCAP will span several decades, creating thousands of jobs and economic value to the UK. There are already more than 2,800 people working at the UK partners and wider industry, with almost 600 organisations on contract across the UK, including SMEs and academic institutions. A 2021 report by PWC suggested the UK taking a core role in a combat air system could support an average of 21,000 jobs a year and contribute an estimated 26.2 billion to the economy by 2050. Richard Berthon, MoD Director Future Combat Air, said: "Today, as planned, the UK MoD is releasing the next tranche of funding for future combat air. This shows that the UK is committed to working with international partners to deliver a next-generation fighter jet for 2035. "We are facing a growing threat from our adversaries, who are investing in combat air and air defences of their own. By investing in GCAP, we will stay ahead of these intensifying and proliferating threats, and provide a highly credible deterrent capability for decades to come." Across UK industry, work on this programme is driving investment in new digital technologies, tools and techniques, including model-based systems engineering with open architectures, digital twins and virtual environments. This will ensure the next generation combat aircraft will be delivered more rapidly and more cost-effectively than previous combat air programmes. The announcement follows the UK, Japan and Italy joining forces at DSEI Japan to showcase GCAP publicly for the first time since it was announced by the Prime Ministers of the UK, Japan and Italy late last year. In March, the Defence Secretary visited Tokyo to view some of the leading technology that is driving this unique programme. By combining forces, the UK and its partners will deliver the military capability required to overcome fast evolving threats, share costs and ensure the RAF remains interoperable with some of the UK's closest partners. The German government has approved Polands request to transfer 5 former East-German Air Force MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. Indeed, as these MiG-29s initially belonged to Germany after the reunification that took place in 1990, Poland needed Germanys consent to send them to a third country. German Defense Minister Pistorius said the request from Poland had arrived on April 13, adding that the same-day approval showed that you can rely on Germany. Follow Air Recognition on Google News at this link MiG-29 of the Polish Air Force taking of at RIAT15 (Picture source: Wikimedia/Tim Felce) A consequence of the reunification between the German Federal Republic and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) in 1990, Germany inherited 24 MiG-29s from the former East German Air Force. At the time, these aircraft were seen as among the most advanced fighter jets in the world. In 2004, Germany passed on 22 of the aircraft to Poland. Of the remaining two jets, one was destroyed in a crash and one is on show in a museum. The MiG-29 in German service East Germany bought 24 MiG-29s (20 MiG-29As, four MiG-29UBs), which entered service in 19881989 in 1./JG3 "Wladimir Komarow" in Preschen in Brandenburg. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 and the reunification of Germany in October 1990, the MiG-29s and other aircraft of the East German Air Forces of the National People's Army were integrated into the West German Luftwaffe. Initially, the 1./JG3 kept its designation. In April 1991, both 1./JG3's MiG-29 squadrons were reorganized into the MiG-29 test wing ("Erprobungsgeschwader MiG-29"), which became JG73 "Steinhoff" and was transferred to Laage near Rostock in June 1993. The Federation of American Scientists claims the MiG-29 is equal to, or better than the F-15C in short aerial engagements because of the Helmet Mounted Weapons Sight (HMS) and better maneuverability at slow speeds. This was demonstrated when MiG-29s of the German Air Force participated in joint DACT exercises with US fighters. The HMS was a great help, allowing the Germans to achieve a lock on any target the pilot could see within the missile field of view, including those almost 45 degrees off boresight. However, the German pilots who flew the MiG-29 admitted that while the Fulcrum was more maneuverable at slow speeds than the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-14 Tomcat, and F/A-18 Hornet and its Vympel R-73 dogfight missile system was superior to the AIM-9 Sidewinder of the time, in engagements that went into the beyond visual range arena, the German pilots found it difficult to multi-task locking and firing the MiG-29's Vympel R-27 missile (German MiG-29s did not have access to the more advanced Vympel R-77 that equips more advanced MiG-29 versions) while trying to avoid the longer range and advanced search and track capabilities of the American fighters' radars and AIM-120 AMRAAM. The Germans also stated that the American fighters had the advantage in both night and bad weather combat conditions. The Luftwaffe's assessment of the MiG-29 was that the Fulcrum was best used as a point defense interceptor over cities and military installations, not for fighter sweeps over hostile airspace. This assessment ultimately led Germany to not deploy its MiG-29s in the Kosovo War during Operation Allied Force, though Luftwaffe pilots who flew the MiG-29 admitted that even if they were permitted to fly combat missions over the former Yugoslavia they would have been hampered by the lack of NATO-specific communication tools and identification friend or foe systems. Beginning in 1993, the German MiGs were stationed with JG73 "Steinhoff" in Laage near Rostock. During service in the German Air Force, one MiG-29 ("29+09") was destroyed in an accident on 25 June 1996 due to a pilot error. By 2003, German Air Force pilots had flown over 30,000 hours in the MiG-29. In September 2003, 22 of the 23 remaining machines were sold to the Polish Air Force for the symbolic price of 1 per item.[112] The last aircraft were transferred in August 2004. The 23rd MiG-29 ("29+03") was put on display at Laage. The MiG-29 in the Polish Air Force The first 12 MiG-29s delivered to Poland were nine MiG-29As and three MiG-29UBs in 19891990. The aircraft were based at Minsk Mazowiecki and used by the 1st Fighter Aviation Regiment, which was reorganized in 2001 as 1 Eskadra Lotnictwa Taktycznego (1. elt), or 1st Tactical Squadron (TS). In 19951996, 10 used examples were acquired from the Czech Republic (nine MiG-29As, and one MiG-29UB). After the retirement of its MiG-23s in 1999, and MiG-21s in 2004, Poland was left for a time with only these 22 MiG-29s in the interceptor role. Of the 22 MiG-29s Poland received from the German Air Force in 2004, a total of 14 were overhauled and taken into service. They were used to equip the 41st Tactical Squadron (41. elt), replacing its MiG-21s. As of 2008, Poland was the biggest NATO MiG-29 user. Poland had 31 active MiG-29s (25 MiG-29As, six MiG-29UBs) as of 2017. They are stationed with the 1st Tactical Squadron at the 23rd Air Base near Minsk Mazowiecki and the 41st TS at the 22nd Air Base near Malbork. There have been unconfirmed reports that Poland has at one point leased a MiG-29 from its own inventory to Israel for evaluation and the aircraft has since been returned to Poland, as suggested by photographs of a MiG-29 in Israeli use. Three Polish MiG-29As were reported in Israel for evaluation between April and May 1997 in the Negev Desert.[citation needed] On 7 September 2011, the Polish Air Force awarded a contract to the WZL 2 company to modernize its MiG-29 fleet to be compatible with Polish F-16s. Four MiG-29s from 1. elt participated in the Baltic Air Policing mission in 2006, while 41. elt aircraft did so in 2008, 2010 and 2012. Polish MiG-29s played the aggressor role in the NATO Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) joint training program in Albacete in 2011, 2012 and 2013. On 18 December 2017, a MiG-29 crash-landed in a forest near the 23rd Air Base while performing a landing approach. The pilot did not eject but survived the crash with minor injuries. This was the first crash of a MiG-29 during its nearly three decades-long operational history in the Polish Air Force.[123] On 6 July 2018, another MiG-29 crashed near Pasek, with its pilot dying in an ejection attempt. Technical issues are suspected to have played a role in the crash. Another crash followed on 4 March 2019. This time the pilot ejected and survived. On 8 March 2022, Poland announced a willingness to transfer their operational fleet of MiG-29 aircraft to the US via the Ramstein Air Base, in exchange for aircraft of a similar role and operational capability, with the intent of transferring the MiG-29s to Ukraine to use in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. On 16 March 2023, Polish President Andrzej Duda announced that Poland would transfer 4 operational MiG-29s to Ukraine, with the understanding that additional aircraft would be delivered after servicing and preparation. Poland is the first NATO country to provide Ukraine with fighter aircraft. On 13 April 2023, Boris Pistorius, the German Defense Minister, announced that Germany approved the transfer of five MiG-29s to Ukraine. Investigators are hoping the public can help identify a male victim whose remains were found April 8 in the Seminole community in Baldwin County. The Baldwin County Sheriffs Office said Friday deputies were dispatched to hunting property along Highway 90 in Seminole, where the body was located in a tree line. Investigation determined the body had been there several days and, based on the condition of the body and other evidence found at the scene, foul play is suspected. While investigators wait on reports from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and other forensic data, they say the victim is short in stature, and a Caucasian or Hispanic male. The victim was wearing brown jogging-style pants with cargo pockets, slide style And1 flip flops, and a blue paisley shirt. The sheriffs office released photos of the shirt and flip flops in the hopes it might lead to information on the victims identity. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Baldwin County Sheriffs Office at 251-937-0202. Drake Bell, a former child star who was reported "missing and endangered" the night before he was discovered safe, finally spoke out about his whereabouts and his condition on Thursday, April 13. A Facebook post by the Daytona Beach Police Department revealed that Jared Drake Bell had gone missing. On Wednesday, April 12, the department shared a picture of Bell and said he was last seen near the Mainland High School area. As a response, Bell took to Twitter and wrote this: "You leave your phone in the car and don't answer for the night and this?" You leave your phone in the car and dont answer for the night and this? DrakeBell.eth (@DrakeBell) April 13, 2023 The 'Missing' Report The Daytona Beach Police Department said in a missing person's post on its official Facebook page that the Drake & Josh star was last spotted in the neighborhood of Mainland High School at about 8:50 PM on Wednesday night in a gray BMW 2022. In a follow-up remark, the agency clarified, "For those asking, this is a legitimate post from the Daytona Beach Police Department." After a few hours, as Fox News reported, Bell was located and discovered to be in good condition. Four hours later, the agency posted an update, saying, "At this time, we can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr. Bell is safe." See Also: Jamie Foxx Suffers a 'Medical Complication,' Reveals His Daughter Encounters With Law Enforcement Bell has had many run-ins with the police. In 2016, he was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). In 2021, he entered a guilty plea in Ohio on two offenses that involved a minor. The star of The Fairly OddParents faces felony charges of attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor count of spreading material negative to kids. Two years of probation and 200 hours of community service in California were given to Bell. Most importantly, he is forbidden from speaking with the victim in any way. After he finishes his probation, the court will decide whether or not to label him a sex offender. In other news, Bell's ex-girlfriend Melissa Lingafelt accused him of verbal and physical abuse in the year 2020. In her words, the verbal assault was "the worst" someone could "ever imagine." "It then turned into physical: hitting, throwing, everything," Lingafelt stated. "At the pinnacle of it, he [dragged] me down the stairs of our house in Los Feliz. My face hit every step on the way down. I have photos of this. I don't even want to get into the underage girls' thing." Bell as an Actor According to ABC News, the part of Drake in Drake & Josh, which the 36-year-old actor played from 2004 to 2007, was one of Nickelodeon's successful programs during that time period. Since then, he has made a number of guest appearances and has had a recurrent voice role as Peter Parker or Spider-Man in many animated series, including Ultimate Spider-Man (2012-2017), Avengers Assemble, and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. See Also: 'The Marvels' First Trailer Is Out: Anything to Look Forward to Besides Brie Larson? @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Alabama Death Row inmate Toforest Johnsons supporters are hosting a community event on Sunday, featuring former Alabama Attorney General Bill Baxley, to raise awareness about the decades-old case. Johnson, 50, is on death row at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. His supporters, who include Baxley and other public figures across the state, and lawyers have long argued Johnson is innocent of the 1995 shooting of Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff William Hardy that landed him in prison. The event is happening Sunday at Highlands United Methodist Church in Birmingham from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Baxley is a featured guest at the event. Other guests include Executive Director of Greater Birmingham Ministries Scott Douglas, journalist and host of an upcoming podcast on the case Beth Shelburne, Southern Center for Human Rights attorney Katherine Moss, and Johnsons cousin Antonio Green. Elliot Spillers, former University of Alabama SGA President who has also worked with the Equal Justice Initiative, is emceeing the event. Toforest Johnson has spent a quarter century on death row for a crime he had nothing to do with, said Spillers. We are asking people of faith from across the state and across all denominations to join in District Attorney Danny Carrs extraordinary request for a new trial. That is the first step in returning Mr. Johnson to his family, to his children and grandchildren. Former Alabama Chief Justice Drayton Nabers and Baxley are among numerous lawyers, former judges and prosecutors who have submitted briefs to the circuit court or written editorials supporting a new trial for Johnson. Danny Carr, the Jefferson County District Attorney, has also called for a new trial. Other supporters include former U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, former magistrate Judge John Carroll, and two former jurors on the case. The Sunday evening event comes on the heels of the statewide advocacy campaign, led by Greater Birmingham Ministries, to display a banner around churches across Alabama. This week, it was installed at First Presbyterian in downtown Birmingham. The banner says, Its not too late to fix this mistake. Spillers is managing the banners tour across the state. Baxley, who worked to have the death penalty reinstated in Alabama, said he is usually skeptical of such innocence claims, but Johnsons case caught his eye. I couldnt believe what I was reading. I was just dumfounded that, in Alabama, a case as weak as that would have gotten to the jury, much less a death sentence, Baxley said in an interview with The Associated Press. Nabers wrote in an opinion piece that theres now substantial evidence that Mr. Johnson is innocent. In 2020, Carr voiced concerns about Johnsons trialshis first trial ended in a mistrial, but Johnson was convicted and sentenced to death in 1998. Carr said his concerns included a key witness being paid a reward, as well as alibi witnesses who placed Johnson in another part of town at the time of the shooting. In December 2022, the Alabama Supreme Court denied an appeal from Johnsons lawyers. That appeal centered around a claim the state violated his right to a fair trial by failing to disclose that key witness was motivated by a $5,000 reward. Alabama schools are seeing an increase in ransomware, phishing and other cybersecurity attacks, officials say. Jefferson County Schools is still recovering and declared a ransomware emergency earlier this week, allowing the district to access and direct funding more quickly, and they continue to repair their network in phases, according to Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin. The Alabama Supercomputer Authority, which receives state funding and provides free internet and cybersecurity services to all schools statewide, shared an overview of threats schools deal with and how its services can help avoid or stop a cyberattack in a presentation to the state Board of Education Thursday. There are thousands of attacks on Alabamas schools every day, but 99.9% of them are stopped, Mackey told AL.com after the work session. Mackey said the state saw the need to find help for school districts as COVID closed schools and teachers and students began accessing school networks at home. The ASA began offering services in summer of 2020, and 111 school districts initially signed on for help. The biggest threat, ASA officials said, is when attackers trick people into clicking on malicious links in an email, a practice called phishing. Employees can unknowingly click on links that either install malware or otherwise obtain information from the network it has hooked into. Victor Rodriguez, the ASAs Security Operations Center director, told board members that is typically the first step of many before a cybercriminal takes control of the information on the schools network and makes a ransom request. We help with alerting as early as possible on malware and ransomware indicators of compromise for all of the schools who are accepting our services and participating with us, Rodriguez said. Schools need help, he said, particularly the smaller districts that dont have the capacity to hire technology experts to keep their networks and information secure. It takes one attacker anywhere to orchestrate the successful attack, Rodriguez said, whereas it takes a multitude of individuals working diligently to prepare, prevent, contain and then eradicate anything like that. One of the services ASA offers is threat assessment training where employees learn to recognize phishing attempts and can hopefully avoid clicking on malicious links. The training is voluntary, though, and there is no record of who has been trained and who hasnt. Alabama Superintendent Eric Mackey said board members recently received a phishing email that looked like it was from him, and that he recently received one that looked like it was from Gov. Kay Ivey but wasnt. The ASA also offers annual firewall review, operations support and monthly vulnerability checks for K-12 schools. The ASA helped Huntsville City Schools recover from a November 2020 cyberattack where data for students, parents, and employees of Huntsville City Schools was stolen. The attack shut down schools for nearly a week and like Jefferson County schools, teachers and students couldnt access school networks until the network was repaired. An Alabama man known to law enforcement as the TikTok Trickster was arrested Friday in Kentucky on outstanding warrants from multiple states, authorities said. Brenton Fillers, 54, of Alabama, was arrested by University of Kentucky police at UK Chandler Hospital after the department receives reports of a man matching his description. The Baldwin County Sheriffs Office was among the law enforcement that helped UK police on the case. Todays arrest demonstrates the importance of collaboration in law enforcement, said UK Police Chief Joe Monroe. We want to extend our thanks to the Somerset Police Department and the Baldwin County Sheriffs Office, who have assisted UK Police with the investigation. Fillers had outstanding warrants from five states, including Alabama. Those warrants, according to UK police, include: UK Police responded to a report referencing a man matching the description of Fillers, a resident of Alabama, who faces the following charges: Aggravated sexual assault of a child in Texas. Theft of property in Alabama. Felony fraudulent use of a credit card in Arkansas. Theft of a motor vehicle in Tennessee. He may face additional charges in Kentucky. Fillers will be transported and booked into the Fayette County Detention Center pending an extradition hearing. Arkansas is now the second state to restrict the use of social media by children. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed legislation requiring minors to get parental permission to create a new account. The legislation requires social media companies to contract with third-party vendors to perform age verification checks on new users, starting in September. If the users are under age 18, parental consent will be required before creating a new account. Arkansas is the second state to limit access to social media by minors, the AP reported. Last month, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed similar legislation that will go into effect March 2024. The Arkansas legislation, officially known as the Social Media Safety Act, only covers social media platforms that generate more than $100 million in annual revenue and doesnt apply to certain platforms, such as LinkedIn, Google and YouTube. Critics said the exceptions weaken the law. Social media companies that violate the age verification requirement could face a $2,500 per fine violation. When you hear that a large school system in Alabama is hit by a ransomware attack, or that a hospital system with facilities all over the state has its digital records stolen by a hacker, no one could blame you for being concerned about your own cybersecurity. There are things you can do to protect yourself and your digital information, experts say. Some of that just has to do with paying better attention. Most of the cases that we see just come from a lack of cyber awareness and due diligence, said Dr. Travis Atkison, computer science cyber security program director at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. If people were good cyber citizens and just took that extra second to be wary of emails with a lot of urgency or reached out to someone to say, Hey did you send me this email? Attacks like these would decrease drastically, Atkison said. There are government agencies and others working to protect institutions and industries that are frequent targets of cyberattacks educational entities like the Jefferson County School System which suffered a systemwide shutdown after a ransomware attack recently, or medical institutions such as the Community Health Systems, whose affiliates Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham, South Baldwin Regional Medical Center in Foley, and Crestwood Medical Center in Huntsville, were among those recently victimized by a data breach affecting patient records. Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell has provided a cryptic response after he was reported missing and endangered Thursday. You leave your phone in the car and dont answer for the night and this? Bell tweeted Thursday night, adding a laughing emoji. You leave your phone in the car and dont answer for the night and this? DrakeBell.eth (@DrakeBell) April 13, 2023 Daytona Beach Police reported Thursday morning he Bell, 36, had not been seen since late Wednesday night after being seen in the area of Mainland High School near International Speedway Boulevard and was considered missing and endangered. Several hours later police said they were in contact with Bell and he was safe. No other information was provided. 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. 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 A 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsman accused of leaking classified government documents will be held in custody pending next week at a Boston federal courthouse, where lawyers will argue whether the man should be detained ahead of a trial. The first court hearing Friday in the case of Jack Teixeira kicks off what is likely to be a lengthy court process where federal prosecutors accuse the airman of leaking highly classified government documents that had information on everything from the war in Ukraine to United States intelligence on allies, MassLive reports. Billing records of an Internet social media platform and interviews with another user helped the FBI identify a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman as a suspect in the leak of highly classified military documents, according to court records unsealed Friday. Teixeira, 21, faces charges under the Espionage Act of unauthorized removal and retention of classified and national defense information. Court documents said Teixeira is an airman first class with the Air National Guard and holds a top secret security clearance and sensitive compartmented access to other highly classified programs, both of which he acquired in 2021. Teixeira was arrested by heavily armed tactical agents on Thursday following a weeklong criminal investigation into the disclosure of the government records, a breach that exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments on the war in Ukraine, the capabilities and geopolitical interests of other nations and other national security issues. He appeared in court Friday in tan jail clothes for a brief proceeding at which U.S. Magistrate Judge David Hennesy ordered him held pending a hearing next Wednesday. Investigators believe Teixeira was the leader of an online private chat group on Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. Billing records the FBI obtained from Discord, which has said it was cooperating with the bureau, helped lead investigators to Teixeira, according to an FBI affidavit unsealed Friday. According to the document, the FBI interviewed someone familiar with Teixeiras online posts on Monday. That person, who is not identified in the affidavit, told the FBI that a username linked to Teixeira began posting what appeared to be classified information roughly in December. The affidavit suggests Teixeira switched from typing out documents in his possession to taking them home and photographing them because he had become concerned that he may be discovered making the transcriptions of text in the workplace. Thats different from what posters have told The Associated Press and other media outlets, saying the user they would call the O.G. started posting images of documents because he was annoyed other users werent taking him seriously. The affidavit also alleges Teixeira was detected on April 6 the day The New York Times first published a story about the breach of documents searching for the word leak in a classified system. The FBI says that was reason to believe Teixeira was trying to find information about the investigation into who was responsible for the leaks. The Biden administration has scrambled to contain the potential diplomatic and military fallout from the leaks since they were first reported, moving to reassure allies and assess the scope of damage. The classified documents which have not been individually authenticated in public 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. In previous Associated Press stories, the leaker was identified as the O.G. by a member of the online chat group. Known as Thug Shaker Central, the group drew roughly two dozen enthusiasts who talked about their favorite types of guns and also shared memes and jokes. 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. 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. One of the eight people injured in a Kentucky bank shooting that left five people dead on Monday told CBS News that she mentored gunman Connor Sturgeon, the Alabama graduate killed by Louisville police. He never made me feel like he would have done this. Not in a million years. He was very kind and soft-spoken, Dana Mitchell told CBS News. Mitchell said she pretended to be dead after Sturgeon shot her with an AR-15, leaving her with a bullet wound 10 inches long that didnt hit anything important. See also: I tried not to breathe a lot. I didnt want to move around. I didnt want him to see me moving or hear me breathing, because I thought he might shoot me again, Mitchell said. Sturgeon had recently learned he was to be fired from the Louisville bank. His father says his brain will be examined to see if a CTE might have played a role in the massacre. Peter Palmer, an Indiana-based lawyer who is friends with Sturgeons father, told NBC News the gunman was seeing a counselor for depression and anxiety. Funerals have been arranged for the five killed, The Associated Press reported: 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. Farmer, who had four grandchildren and another one on the way, just moved to Louisville from Henderson, Kentucky weeks before the shooting. Sturgeon attended the University of Alabama from the fall of 2016 through December 2020, according to Shane Dorrill, UAs assistant director of communications. Sturgeon completed his undergraduate studies with a double major in finance and economics. He then received a Masters of Science Degree, also from the University of Alabama. According to Sturgeons LinkedIn profile, he was a syndications associate and portfolio banker with Old National Bank in Louisville following completion of the ONB Commercial Banking Development Training Program in April 2022. A Missouri 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. Qin Gang, China's foreign minister, reiterated that China would not arm either side in the Russia-Ukraine war. A leaked US government document indicated China's plan to provide military help to Russia. An EU top diplomat has cautioned that the EU would struggle to maintain trust with China unless China helps find a political solution centered around Russia's departure from Ukraine. On Friday, a Chinese foreign minister responded to Western worries that Beijing would be providing military help to Russia by reiterating that China would not provide weapons to any side in the Russia-Ukraine war. China maintains its neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war despite the Western nations' efforts to impose harsh sanctions and isolate Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. Though, in previous instances, China had declared that it politically, rhetorically, and economically supports Russia, according to AP News. Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang is the highest-ranking Chinese official publicly denying China's military shipments to Russia. He also said that China would control the export of materials that may be used for either civilian or military purposes. During a joint press conference with German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang declared that China has a cautious and "responsible" approach towards exporting military items. Under laws and regulations, China will not offer arms to "relevant parties" of the Russia-Ukraine war and will monitor and restrict the export of dual-use items. He also reaffirmed China's readiness to support efforts to settle the situation peacefully. Leaked US Documents Indicate China's Plan To Send Weapons To Russia Documents from the United States government purportedly indicate that China authorized the transfer of dangerous assistance for Russia for its war against Ukraine but wanted any supplies to stay covert. The Washington Post cites a confidential intelligence review dated February 23 as evidence that Beijing authorized the gradual supply of weaponry to Moscow. These weapons for the Russia-Ukraine war would be disguised as civilian products, as reported by The Guardian. The information was allegedly collected by American spies listening to Russian secret service conversations. The Russians reportedly claimed that China's top military commission had requested that the shipping details remain classified. According to one intelligence document in the cache of leaked US government documents, China would transfer weaponry to Russia if the Ukrainian government launched a "significant" attack involving US or NATO armaments on Russian territory. Read Also: Pentagon Leak Suspect Arrested They were part of an enormous cache of stolen secret papers that surfaced on the messaging app Discord last month. Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old alleged leaker, will appear in a Boston court on Friday. Although some papers seem to have been doctored, US authorities have confirmed they are genuine and include very sensitive information. Top EU Official Says Trusting China is Near Impossible According to Inquirer, European Union foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell has indicated that Europe would have difficulty trusting China if it does not seek a peaceful solution to the Russia-Ukraine war. Borrell was supposed to give the lecture to a think tank in Beijing on Friday, but he caught COVID-19 and had to postpone his trip. The text of his prepared comments was posted on the EU's website. Borrell warned that unless China helped find a political solution predicated on Russia's departure from Ukrainian land, it would be "extremely difficult, if not impossible," for the EU to retain a relationship of confidence with China. According to Borrell, China's claims of neutrality, while a violation of international law is taking place, lack credibility. He called on Chinese President Xi Jinping to communicate with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and increase humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people. Related Article: Germany Allows Poland to Send MiG-29 Jets to Ukraine @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Justice Department on Friday announced charges against 28 members of Mexicos powerful Sinaloa cartel, including sons of notorious drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, in a sprawling fentanyl-trafficking investigation. The three Guzman sons charged Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar are known as the Chapitos, or little Chapos, and have earned a reputation as the more violent and aggressive faction of the cartel. Of the three, only Guzman Lopez is in custody, in Mexico. Attorney General Merrick Garland unveiled the three indictments aimed at hitting the cartels global network, standing alongside Drug Enforcement Administration chief Anne Milgram and other top federal prosecutors. The defendants span a broad swath of a complex manufacturing and supply network. They include Chinese and Guatemalan citizens accused of supplying precursor chemicals required to make fentanyl. Others are suspected of running drug labs in Mexico or accused of providing security, weapons and illicit financing for the drug trafficking operation. The wide-ranging case comes as the U.S. remains in the grip of a devastating overdose crisis largely by fentanyl poisonings. Nearly 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in the U.S. in 2021, a record-setting number. Fentanyl seizures by U.S. Customs and Border Protection have increased by more than 400% since 2019, officials said, and this fiscal years seizures have already surpassed the total for all of 2022. Most of the fentanyl trafficked in the United States comes from the Sinaloa cartel, the Drug Enforcement Administration says. Families and communities across our country are being devastated by the fentanyl epidemic, Garland said. We will never forget those who bear responsibility for this tragedy. And we will never stop working to hold them accountable for their crimes in the United States. The Sinaloa cartels notorious drug lord, known as El Chapo, was convicted in 2019 of running an industrial-scale smuggling operation. At Guzmans trial, prosecutors said evidence gathered since the late 1980s showed he and his murderous cartel made billions of dollars by smuggling tons of cocaine, heroin, meth and marijuana into the U.S. A defiant Guzman accused the federal judge in his case of making a mockery of the U.S. justice system and claimed he was denied a fair trial. In outlining the charges Friday, Garland described the violence of the Sinaloa cartel and how its members have tortured perceived enemies, including Mexican law enforcement officials. That has included people fed to tigers owned by Guzmans sons, sometimes while the victims were still alive, Garland said. Eight of those charged in Fridays case have been arrested and remain in the custody of law enforcement officials in Colombia, Greece, Guatemala and the U.S., Milgram said. The U.S. government is offering rewards for several others charged in the case, including up to $10 million for Guzmans other two sons. Along with the five defendants from China and Guatemala accused of supplying the cartel with precursor chemicals, two Chinese firms were also sanctioned by the U.S. Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control Friday. U.S. government officials are pressing Chinese officials to do more to stem the shipment of those chemicals. With Washington-Beijing relations strained, the Biden administration says it has looked to allies in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere to make clear to China that the issue is a global problem, according to senior Biden administration officials who briefed reporters following the announcement of the indictment. Ovidio Guzman Lopez, one of Guzmans sons, was arrested in January in the Sinaloa capital of Culiacan. Ovidio Guzman, nicknamed the Mouse, had not been one of El Chapos better-known sons until an aborted operation to capture him three years earlier. This time Mexico successfully got Guzman out of Culiacan. In 2019, authorities had him, but they released him after his gunmen began shooting up the city. Some 30 people among authorities and suspected gunmen died in the operation, which unleashed hours of shootouts shutting down the citys airport. The U.S. government is currently awaiting the younger Guzmans extradition. Ovidio Guzman Lopez and another brother, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, allegedly helped move the Sinaloa cartel hard into methamphetamines, producing prodigious quantities in large labs. They were previously indicted in 2018 in Washington on drug trafficking charges. The other two sons, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, are believed to have been running cartel operations together with Ismael El Mayo Zambada. They were previously also charged in the U.S. in Chicago and San Diego. Zambada had been rumored to be be in poor health and isolated in the mountains leading the sons to try to assert a stronger role to keep the cartel together. The DEA said it investigated the case in 10 countries: Australia, Austria, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Greece, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and the United States. Death and destruction are central to their whole operation, Milgram said of the cartel. 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, shes 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, Tennessee, 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. Its an abomination, Jackson said, adding, God hates sexual immortality of all kinds. 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. Jacksons 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 actors 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. 2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for thousands of student loan debts to be canceled. NBCNEws.com reported SCOTUS declined to block a class-action settlement related to loans that borrowers claim should be canceled because they were taken over based on misrepresentation made by their schools. The schools, mostly for-profit institutions, had fought the claims. The settlement could be worth more than $6 billion. The settlement is unrelated to President Joe Bidens larger efforts to forgive student loan debt, plan that covers some $430 billion in student debt for about 40 million borrowers. That matter is also before the Supreme Court with a ruling due in the coming months. You can read more here. Steve Foster remembers how nervous he felt as he flew to Austin from Denver late on April 5 it was the first time in the state capital since 2020, the year his son was gunned down while attending a Black Lives Matter protest in the city with his fiancee. Foster said he left Texas because of the painful memories related to the fatal shooting, which occurred July 25, 2020 near the corner of Fourth Street and Congress Avenue in downtown Austin. He also avoided going to the murder trial of Daniel Perry, an U.S. Army sergeant from North Texas, who claimed that he shot Garrett Foster, who was 28 years old at the time, out of self-defense. I didnt go to the entire trial was because I didnt want to rehash it all and go through it all in my head, Foster said. Foster found courage to sit through the closing arguments of the trial last week, and saw Perry being put in handcuffs after a 12-person jury on Friday found him guilty of murder. Perrys sentencing has not been scheduled. I thought we had closure, this is the end, Foster recalled. But Foster said the closure his family finally got was disrupted by Gov. Greg Abbott, who tweeted a day after Perrys guilty verdict that he was working as swiftly as Texas law allows to pardon the convicted Army sergeant. Some conservatives, including Fox News host Tucker Carlson, have criticized Perrys conviction. Foster said he is angry his sons death has been politicized. The governor saying that hes going to pardon without even looking at the evidence? Thats 100% political; thats not him saying I think this guy is innocent, thats just him saying I need my voters to support me so Im gonna pardon this guy, Foster said. Garrett Foster grew up in Plano and met his fiancee Whitney Mitchell, who is Black, in North Texas. The couple attended multiple rallies in downtown Austin following the police slayings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Witnesses had said that a car, which was being driven by Perry, turned down Congress Avenue toward a group of protesters and started honking. Foster, who had been pushing his fiancees wheelchair and was carrying an AK-47-style rifle, approached the vehicle and the driver opened fire, witnesses have said. Authorities had said that a second person not Foster returned fire as the car drove off. Perrys attorney F. Clinton Broden, claimed that his client shot Foster in self-defense, saying that Foster had raised his weapon toward him, and that Perry, who was working as an Uber driver, did not know that a demonstration was taking place near Fourth Street and Congress Avenue, where the shooting occurred. In a written statement, Broden said he was disappointed in the guilty verdict. Right now we are completely focused on preparing for Sgt. Perrys sentencing hearing, Broden wrote. Daniel was most crushed that his conviction will end his Army service. He loved being a soldier for our country. In a written statement Sunday, Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza described Abbotts message as deeply troubling, and thanked jurors for their work on the case. After hearing from civilian eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, and deliberating for over fifteen hours, they reached the unanimous decision that Daniel Perry did not kill Garrett Foster in self-defense and was guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt, Garza wrote. In our legal system, a jury gets to decide whether a defendant is guilty or innocent not the Governor. Garzas office has also reached out to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to request an appointment to present evidence from the criminal case. Before making any decision, I implore you to review the trial transcript, evidence from trial officials that may have an impact on public safety, and request input from the victims family as to how a pardon may impact them, Garza said in a letter to the state board of pardons and paroles. Perrys lawyer on Thursday shared a letter, addressed to the state parole board, stating that the defense is prepared to explain to the Board the tortured nature of this case and the political machinations that resulted in the case even being brought to trial. He wrote that the letter was in direct response to Garzas letter to the board, which was shared through social media. We understand that Governor Abbotts request has stirred a debate about the pardon process in general and that questions have been raised about the appropriateness of a pardon following a guilty verdict, Broden wrote. Foster said the family will await sentencing and is paying close attention to how the case will be handled by the state board of pardons and paroles. He said he hopes that the justice system does not make a mistake with his sons case. I love my government, I love my country, I love police officers and I do trust our justice system, Foster said. I know they get it wrong sometimes. 2023 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Related media 1 photo Texas Governor Greg Abbott (Lynda M. Gonzalez/Pool/Getty Images/TNS) A suspect who was out on bond for attempted murder has been charged with three more counts of attempted murder after Tarrant police arrested him Thursday afternoon in the Easter Sunday shootings of his mother, sister and grandmother. Rodterrius Dewayne Swanson was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on three counts of attempted murder, certain persons forbidden to possess a pistol and shooting into an occupied dwelling in connection with Sundays shooting, Tarrant police said. His bond was set at $225,000. Swanson was out on bond following a Jan. 30 arrest on charges of attempted murder and second-degree domestic violence when he allegedly shot his three family members Sunday, police said. Tarrant police officers responded about 7 p.m. to a home in the 1800 block of Enfield Street. Chief Wendell Major said when officers arrived, they received information that a woman had been shot by her brother. She was taken by private vehicle to UAB Hospital with serious injuries. Swanson fled the scene before authorities arrived, according to police. Major said two additional victims were found wounded. Those victims are the mother and the grandmother of the brother and sister. The female sibling, the chief said, sustained the most severe injuries three gunshot wounds to her chest and stomach. She is expected to recover. The womans mother and grandmother were treated at UAB as well, and also are expected to recover. Major said there were at least 10 adults and several children at the home when the shooting took place. Detectives are still in the process of interviewing all of the witnesses. The gun used in the shooting has been recovered. Anyone with additional information on the shooting was asked to call Sgt. Det. Morrow at 205-849-2811. Two people are dead following a shooting at a north Alabama home Thursday. Madison County sheriffs deputies responded to the shooting in the 100 bock of Rose Valley Drive in New Market, the agency said Thursday afternoon on its Facebook page. Huntsville Emergency Services, Inc. and sheriffs office investigators were also on the scene. Two people were shot at the residence, the sheriffs office said. The victims, who were not immediately identified, were later pronounced dead, Madison County Coroner Tyler Berryhill told WAAY. Neither Berryhill nor a spokesman for the sheriffs office could be reached to confirm the report that the victims died. After the shooting, a chase that started at the home ended in a wreck on Winchester Road near Buckhorn High School, WAFF reported. The driver, a juvenile boy, was taken to an area hospital for treatment, Brent Patterson with the sheriffs office told WAFF. It wasnt immediately clear if he was a suspect in the shooting. The former assistant director of Limestone Countys Community Corrections Program has pleaded guilty to an ethics violation and custodial sexual misconduct. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the plea today for James Michael Hardaway, 64, of Athens. Hardaway pleaded guilty Tuesday and will serve a 20-year split sentence, with two years in the Alabama Department of Corrections. He must also register as a sex offender and abide by all requirements of Alabamas Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. No one is above the law, especially those who are in positions of authority, Marshall said in a statement. Our community corrections programs are an important part of our criminal justice system and must be administered by individuals who are committed to the good of those within their care. Hardaway was arrested in October 2020 on charges of engaging in sexual conduct with three different victims who were in the custody of the Limestone County Community Corrections program while he was an officer of that program, and soliciting sexual services from the same three victims, according to an announcement at the time. Marshall commended Assistant Attorneys General Jillian Jordan Evans and Chris Moore, as well as the Investigations Unit of Attorney Generals Investigations Division, for their work on the case. A Huntsville policeman wounded last month in a shooting that killed a fellow officer said today he is looking forward to getting back and continuing to protect and serve my community. Albert Morin, who is still in Huntsville Hospital, released a statement through Huntsville police this morning, thanking those who sent him get well cards. My family and I have enjoyed reading through stacks of cards each day, Morin said. I would also like to thank the local businesses and churches that have donated food to my family and fellow officers during the past two weeks. It has helped ease (the) stress and burden during my recovery. Morin, 34, was wounded along with Officer Garrett Crumby, 36, and an unidentified woman on March 28 at an apartment complex on the 4600 block of Governors House Drive. Crumby died from his wounds. The womans injuries were not considered life-threatening. Juan Robert Laws, 24, was booked into the Madison County Jail and faces the charge of capital murder of a law enforcement officer. He is expected to face additional charges. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 20 at 1:30 p.m. Both Crumby and Morin worked out of the departments West Precinct. Morin has been a Huntsville police officer since 2017. Move over Music City. Florence made Readers Digests list of the 15 most underrated American cities worth a visit, with the national publication touting its music and food scene. The list - admittedly, crafted for people unfamiliar with the areas attractions - touted Florences place in music history through its place in the Shoals. The story also encouraged visitors to come for the W.C. Handy Music Festival, which will run from Friday, July 21st to Sunday, July 30th. It also lauded The Stricklin Hotel and GunRunner, two boutique hotels, as well as Trowbridges ice cream shop and Big Bad Breakfast. The other destinations were: Instead of Washington, D.C., try Charlottesville, Va. Instead of Philadelphia, try Bethlehem, Penn. Instead of New York City, try Greenwich, Conn. Instead of Seattle, try Tacoma, Wash. Instead of Portland, try McMinnville, Ore. Instead of Denver, try Missoula, Mont. Instead of Chicago, try Traverse City, Mich. Instead of Minneapolis, try Eau Claire, Wis. Instead of Indianapolis, try Bloomington, Ind. Instead of Louisville, try Bowling Green, Ky. Instead of St. Louis, try Branson, Mo. Instead of Asheville, try Hendersonville, N.C. Instead of Memphis, try Tupelo, Miss. Instead of Salt Lake City, try Provo, Utah A juvenile has been arrested following the fatal shooting of two people in New Market on Thursday. The Madison County Sheriffs Office said the juvenile has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Friday afternoon, authorities identified the victims as Ann Ferrel, 64, and Charlie Walker, 31. The attempted murder charge comes because a third family was also wounded, according to WAFF. The suspect is related to all three shooting victims. Deputies responded to the shooting in the 100 bock of Rose Valley Drive in New Market, the agency said Thursday afternoon. The juvenile left the scene in one of the victims cars, but deputies spotted him in the area and attempted to stop him. When he continued, a pursuit developed that ended after the vehicle crashed on Winchester Road. The juvenile was transported to the Neaves Davis Center for Children. We are deeply saddened for the families of these victims, family members, and our community during this time, Sheriff Kevin Turner said in a statement. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to each and every person affected by this incident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family as well as our Deputies and other first responders who had to investigate this horrible incident. Jackson Pinney, a Hayward resident, has been arrested in connection with firing shots in Roseville and Citrus Heights on Wednesday night and the credible threats that led to the evacuation of the California State Capitol on Thursday. Pinney faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and a felony for gun possession. The State Capitol was evacuated for about an hour and a half due to credible threats from Pinney, but lawmakers and staff were eventually allowed back into the building. Police have arrested the suspected individual who allegedly fired shots in Roseville and Citrus Heights on Wednesday evening. The same person is also believed to have been behind the credible threats that prompted Thursday's California State Capitol evacuation. Hayward resident Jackson Pinney, 30, was arrested in Roseville on Thursday afternoon at about 4 o'clock, according to police. The incident happened on Auburn-Folsom Road and Douglas Boulevard, according to Action 5 News. The police arrested him on many counts, including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, firing from a moving automobile, shooting at an occupied residence, and felon in possession of a gun. It was not immediately apparent what led to Pinney's detention. The police had advised anybody who spotted him to contact 911 because he may be armed and dangerous. Authorities said that on the night before Thursday's event, the suspect drove through two suburbs of Sacramento while firing a pistol from his car, lodging gunshots in the walls of a hospital and a business facility. Assembly proceedings in California were postponed on Thursday because of the danger. Earlier Shootings Recorded By Police The two previous incidents occurred in Roseville and Citrus Heights, located northeast of Sacramento. The Roseville Police Department said it got a complaint about someone firing a gun from a car while traveling through Citrus Heights. The suspect then fired at a hospital in Roseville from the parking area. The department said two bullets had been embedded in the building's facade, per ABC 7. Read Also: Biden to Expand Health Care Coverage The police stated that they are conducting a continuing investigation, believing that the suspect may also be connected to an incident at the State Capitol. California State Capitol Faced Credible Threats The California State Capitol building was briefly evacuated Thursday morning due to "credible threats" from a suspect, according to Roseville Police and the California Highway Patrol. The evacuation lasted about an hour and a half, and by 10:30 a.m., lawmakers and their staff were let back into the building. The California Highway Patrol has informed the Senate of a "credible threat involving the Capitol," according to the letter issued to state senators and senate employees, Fox 40 reported. Legislators and their staff were told to stay home and continue working remotely throughout the evacuation. Those senators and workers in the Capitol building were urged to stay there. Despite the chaos within the Capitol, the area outside seemed to be functioning smoothly when authorities locked down California Capitol. Assembly employees in California were offered the option of working from home if they felt more comfortable doing so by, Speaker Anthony Rendon. Following the authorities' lock of the California Capitol, the building has reopened. Despite being inside Sacramento's municipal borders, the State Capitol and the neighboring Capitol Park are considered state property and are guarded by the California Highway Patrol's Capitol Protection Section. Related Article: AI Kidnapping Scam Clones Girl's Voice @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Montgomery County jury on Friday convicted former state Rep. Will Dismukes of theft. In 2020, Dismukes was arrested and charged in connection with a theft following a complaint from the owners of Weiss Flooring, his former employer, about the alleged theft of a large sum of money by an employee. Theft in the first degree involves money or property valued at $2,500 or more. On Friday, the jury convicted Dismukes on first-degree theft of property, said Montgomery County District Attorney Darryl Bailey. Bailey could not immediately be reached by AL.com to confirm the verdict, which was not yet in online court records as of Friday afternoon. Dismukes, a resident of Prattville who was elected to the House in 2018, has had a tumultuous tenure in office. The 32-year-old Republican drew national attention in 2020 when he posted an image on Facebook attending a birthday celebration for Nathan Bedford Forrest, the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Democratic lawmakers called on him to resign over the photos, his support of Confederate monuments and service as chaplain of the Prattville Dragoons, a chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. He also stepped down as pastor of a Baptist church after the Forrest controversy. Dismukes gave the invocation at the party held in July 2020 at Fort Dixie in Selma, an event that coincided with ceremonies honoring the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis, an Alabama native and longtime Georgia congressman who was a leader in the civil rights movement and was badly beaten at the Bloody Sunday march in Selma in 1965. Dismukes sought re-election to his Alabama House seat representing District 88, where he lost in the GOP primary to former Prattville City President Jerry Starnes in May 2022. The former state lawmakers sentencing is scheduled for next month. The Newport News Police Department reported that a woman had been arrested after her six-year-old child shot his first-grade teacher in Virginia earlier this year. Twenty-five-year-old Deja Taylor turned herself in at the Newport News City Jail on Thursday due to outstanding warrants relating to the Virginia shooting incident at Richneck Elementary School on January 6. Taylor is accused of misdemeanor carelessly leaving a loaded gun near a minor and felony child neglect. according to Fox News. According to her attorney, James Ellensen, she will appear in Newport News Circuit Court on Friday after posting a $5,000 bail. Ellensen noted that Taylor has never been charged before, so she is terrified and worried, but she's doing well. Following an investigation by the Newport News Police Department and the Commonwealth Attorney's Office, charges were filed. Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn commented that although the facts of the case supported the charges, their inquiry into the shooting was ongoing. The Commonwealth's Attorney has further requested that a Circuit Court judge appoint a Special Grand Jury to carry out further research into security flaws that may have permitted the Virginia shooting in January. The investigation may result in other persons being charged with crimes in connection with the incident. Read Also: Pentagon Leak Suspect Arrested Abby Zwerner, a first-grade teacher, was shot and injured while seated at a reading table in her classroom, according to authorities, more than three months before Taylor's arrest. According to the police, the boy used his mother's lawfully acquired pistol. Zwerner sued the school district for $40 million last week, alleging gross negligence and that administrators disregarded several warnings from instructors and other individuals that the child had brought a firearm to school that day, per NBC News. Virginia Shooting Victim To File Case Against School Personnel Diane Toscano, Zwerner's attorney, responded to the recent allegations stating that multiple breaches of responsibility led to the victim "being shot and almost killed." Toscano added that there are still unanswered questions after three months of investigation, ABC News reported. Toscano stated that they believe the school division "violated state law," and they will be pursuing the case in civil court so school administrators will not avoid responsibility for their part in the Virginia shooting. The local prosecutor's office said on Tuesday that it is looking into the possibility of filing criminal charges in connection with any "actions or omissions" of school workers during the Virginia shooting. Related Article: Florida Teacher Facing Charges for Allowing 30-Second Class Fights @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Elon Musk, the tech tycoon who owns SpaceX, Tesla, and Twitter, once again generated controversy with his conflict with National Public Radio (NPR) as he blasted the media company for receiving funding from the government. Following a dispute with Twitter CEO Elon Musk over the social media platform's controversial new "state-affiliated media" classification assigned to its accounts, NPR announced on Wednesday that it is staying away from Twitter, according to CNN. In a statement, NPR said that its "organizational accounts will no longer be active on Twitter." The media outlet underscored that the social media platform's actions are damaging the credibility of the organization by suggesting that it lacks editorial autonomy. As a result, NPR has decided not to share its journalism on platforms that have demonstrated a willingness to undermine its reputation and public trust in its "editorial independence." Twitter referred to the radio station as a "state-affiliated media" outfit late last week, equating it with foreign propaganda websites like Russia's RT and Sputnik. NPR, which is publicly supported by listeners, swiftly criticized the action. John Lansing, CEO of the media outlet, referred to the term as "unacceptable." Over the weekend, Twitter changed its label to "government-funded media." Elon Musk intensified his criticism of NPR in a string of tweets on Wednesday, calling for the broadcasting company to be stripped of its funding just hours after NPR declared it would stop using the social media site, per Forbes. How Much US Government Funding Does NPR Get Compared To SpaceX, Tesla? NPR estimated income of $309 million in 2022, of which less than 1% comes from grants from the government, Gizmodo reported. Critics noted that Musk's businesses, SpaceX and Tesla, also get government support, with Tesla benefitting from subsidies for electric automobiles and SpaceX largely serving as a government contractor. Read Also: Virginia: Mother of 6-Year-old Who Shot Teacher Arrested SpaceX, which was founded thanks to a crucial NASA contract in 2008, is looking for federal financing for rural internet connectivity. SpaceX has earned $15.3 billion in granted contracts since 2003, according to US government statistics, and has mostly worked as a government contractor. Its primary functions include satellite flight for the US military as well as astronaut and research mission launches for NASA. Tesla has profited greatly from tax credits and other subsidies totaling close to $3 billion. UPI reported that it received $465 million loan from the US Department of Energy in 2010, Hostility Towards Mainstream Media In the past, Republican presidential contenders Mitt Romney and others have criticized Musk for his history of receiving government subsidies at Tesla. Rivals of Musk's SpaceX have also referred to the firm's NASA collaborations as "soft corruption." Elon Musk has countered that competitors also get government funds despite this. In recent months, Twitter has exhibited an unfriendly stance toward the national press since Elon Musk took control of the company in October. The most recent example of Musk's combative attitude toward the mainstream media, which often criticizes him and his enterprises, is his recent conflict with NPR. Notably, Twitter removed the New York Times' blue verified checkmark, and Musk suspended the accounts of several well-known journalists who covered the movements of his private plane or posted tweets about them. Furthermore, the Twitter communications team replies with a poop emoji when journalists ask the tech firm for official responses for news articles, according to a story published by OPB. Related Article: Cash App Founder Death Suspect Update @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. It has always been my contention, drawn from long experience along with wide reading, that the American Left is fundamentally stupid. This is both in a general and particular sense. You have to be a little dense more than a little to accept left-wing ideas in the first place. But even among the Left in general, American leftists have a thickheadedness all their own. European leftists have often been true intellectuals people who do the reading, who are open to debate, who believe in ideas. But American lefties are simply punks. They think only in terms of slogans. They cant reconcile experience and ideas. They cant read or understand the historical record, or even grasp why it has any connection to the current situation which strongly argues for a lack of understanding of simple cause and effect. They cant come up with any kind of rational program. They almost always wind up sabotaging themselves. They are their own worst enemies. Which brings us to Alvin Bragg, the dumbest attorney in the United States of America. Bragg has always been clear that his major goal is the destruction, both political and personal, of Donald Trump. With the April 4 indictment, he has thrown down the gauntlet, pinning his own career on the outcome. And there Bragg has a problem, one that, as is true of most leftists, can be defined as a reality issue. Because Donald Trump is not who Bragg, and the rest of the American Left, thinks he is. On the surface, Trump is the man that your parents, teachers, and authorities all warn you against. Loud, blustery, and boastful, the consummate carnival barker, the guy who hides bottomless corruption under a flamboyant facade. But in fact, Trump embodies a paradox, because that facade hides not deep corruption, but a unique brand of personal virtue. Yes, Trump likes his babes, perhaps almost as much (hard to believe as it might be) as Big Bill Clinton. But hit on an intern? Never happen. Donald Trump dallies with big girls, ladies of experience who hold no illusions. Unlike the characterization of Clinton by one Arkansas businessman, you could trust your daughter with him. For eight years now, the fierce spotlight of the media, the power of the Department of Justice, the might of the Deep State, have been turned against Trump. They have examined his entire record. They have turned over every stone, and they have found nothing. The accusations of political and business corruption have ended with the accusers themselves discredited or in prison. This is a process that no other visible political figure could have endured with the exception of Mike Pence. Looking at Ron DeSantis, for instance, we find strange entanglements with the WEF and other globalists that will, sooner or later, need to be followed up. But Donald Trump is sui generis. We know how Alvin Bragg has sought to overcome this -- by piling up misdemeanors (some allegedly committed while Trump wasnt even present) one atop the other in the belief that after a certain point, they turn into felonies. This is moronic enough as it is, and wont survive the first encounter with an unbiased judge. But then we come to Braggs strategy. That strategy is easily divined from the date of the next court appearance, as arranged by the prosecutor himself: December 6, 2023. Now that is mere weeks before the commencement of the 2024 presidential campaign, a campaign in which Trump will almost certainly be representing the GOP. And what happens on December 6, you ask? I can tell you. In plain fact, anybody can. Bragg will lurch into court and address the bench: your honor, the prosecution will require a little more time. Say, a month, maybe six weeks. We thank the court. Because, of course, this has nothing to do with traditional juridical agendas of correcting wrongs, doing justice, or punishing the guilty. Bragg knows his case is going nowhere, that as soon as it reaches an appellate court, it goes down in flames. But all that is beside the point, which is to put Trump on trial through the 2024 campaign season. With luck, and the standard incompetence of New York Citys legal system, all the way through, straight to election day. By that means, Bragg keeps DJT out of the White House and earns the adulation and adoration of the entire American Left for the balance of his days. But in truth, this case is unlikely to get even as far as December. The reasons are clear enough. Donald Trump has always been at his best when he was up against it. This is true of his business career and its true today. For Trump, the walls are always closing in, and hes always outside when they finally do. All that he has ever needed is a microphone and a place to stand. So what has Bragg gone and done? He has given Donald Trump both, and then some. He set up a stage, dusted it off, and pointed all the spotlights at the one individual in current American politics who can overcome adversity by sheer force of personality. Bragg has made Trump a martyr, underlining his basic message of Theyre after you Im just in the way. He has provided him with months two-thirds of a year, in fact to hone it, to work it, to bring it home. As a prosecutor, Bragg has painted himself into a corner. His beau geste was to indict Trump. What can he do to top that? Anything else would be an anticlimax. Whats he going to do indict him again? Add to that the fact that the GOP has suddenly discovered that the blade of lawfare cuts both ways. Jim Jordans plan to hold hearings on Braggs tenure as DA and in New York City itself -- is a masterstroke, putting Bragg on the defensive while providing him with next to no room to maneuver. His only alternative was to run to the courts with all the gravitas of a six-year-old wailing, Theyre all picking on me! And this is only the beginning. Bragg should have studied his target more closely. This is far from the first time anybody has used the courts to take down Donald Trump. And where today is Michael Avenatti? Where is Julie Swetnick? The Left believes in Bragg because they believe that Donald Trump is what they see in their nightmares. He must be a criminal. He must be a racist. He must be a Nazi. Because if he is no such thing, then what are they? But its all too little and too late. Braggs grand gesture has fizzled out. He didnt dare defy the Secret Service to put a president in cuffs, and make him do the perp walk. Deprived of its spectacle, the news cycle is moving on. The U.S. District Courts refusal to grant a restraining order against Jim Jordan has left Bragg humiliated. There will be others, as often as they can be prepared and rolled out. Never eager to associate with failure, leftists will begin unwinding themselves from him, as they did with Avenatti, Mueller, Kinzinger, and others. As for our squad -- if Alvin Bragg didnt exist, wed have to invent him. Image: Lamerie The Soviet Union was a huge and diverse empire. It was also the control center of the International Communist Movement. It embraced hundreds of ethnic communities, national identities, and racial groups. It was the very essence of multiculturalism. Yet, on great state occasions, whenever you saw party leaders reviewing those dazzling Soviet parades of goose-stepping troops and sophisticated weaponry, who was standing atop Lenins Tomb? A bunch of old, fat White guys. No diversity. No inclusion. No sharing of power. The Communist Party preached a universal brotherhood of the downtrodden masses -- Workers of the world, unite! -- but in reality it was a closed circle of Russian supremacy. True, Lenin had German, Swedish, and Jewish ancestors, and Stalin was an ethnic Georgian. But both of those monsters built their notorious careers on Russian culture and politics. The movement they created never diverged from that identity. This aspect of Soviet Communism must have irked a lot of folks who had dedicated their lives to world revolution, especially those who achieved significant responsibility within their local cadres. The highest ranks would always be closed to them. No Kirghyz Communist official would ever be Party First Secretary. No Sandinista operative. No South African ANC revolutionary. No woman. Communists made big promises, and they inspired great dedication and sacrifice. They raised many hopes around the world. But in reality, they just used people. In our current era of corporate fascism, which draws heavily on the Soviet playbook for tactics and procedures, many parallels are clear. Consider the Antifa and Black Lives Matter crowd. They function as the shock troops of the New Age. Yes, theyre shielded from legal consequences of the sundry crimes they commit in the name of anti-racism. And their leaders and organizers are paid well and housed magnificently (theres good money in radical action, apparently). But do you think for a minute that once Klaus Schwab and George Soros and Bill Gates and the other world shakers have consolidated their Great Reset, the circle of leadership will include any of those desperate, face-pierced, pink-haired street urchins? The glass ceiling is even more evident when it comes to transgender activists. Will Dylan Mulvaney sit on the Central Committee of the New World Order? Not likely. In his much-celebrated girlhood, hell just have to content himself with his Bud Light sponsorship and all those other lucrative corporate endorsements (not to mention Drew Barrymores worshipful tears.) Here too, Soviet history provides insight. In the 1952 Cold War classic, I Led 3 Lives, a book that chronicled his nine-year infiltration of the American Communist Party, Boston advertising executive and undercover FBI informant Herbert Philbrick notes how American Reds promoted avant-garde ideas about sex and gender. Feminism was a favorite Marxist-Leninist teaching that pioneered use of the expression, male chauvinism (which by the late 60s would enter the mainstream). Communists also encouraged homosexuality. The object of such gender improvisation was to undermine traditional morality, and to subvert families, seen as the bastions of Judeo-Christian ethical standards and the keys to societal stability. Philbrick reports how the Communists instructed: If we prepare our children for their vanguard role, we must not hem them in by the narrow restrictions of conventional middle-class sex patterns of behavior. Yet, in the Soviet Union, no woman ever held supreme authority, no matter how staunch a feminist she might be. Additionally, the Russians suppressed homosexuality to the point of active persecution. Even today Vladimir Putin denies that sexual deviancy is a meaningful factor in Russian society. Rather, its a moral plague of the decadent West. With several recent incidents revealing a violent turn in gender thinking -- the Tennessee shooting among them -- dominant social, economic and political voices are working to obscure the bloody extremes which sexual confusion can reach. Only days after transgender man Audrey Hale killed six at Nashvilles Covenant School, a Christian academy she had attended, the White House was boosting Transgender Day of Visibility, while playing down the gender dimension of Hales heinous act (along with pushing gun control, of course). Local authorities imposed a lock on her purported gender manifesto, no doubt under pressure from on high. Can anyone imagine that such freelance murder will be tolerated, once the golden age of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion dawns and were all living with crypto-currency, facial recognition, and Chinese-style social credit scores? Audrey Hale and her psychological struggles are being exploited in the same way the Soviets exploited social conflicts, labor unrest, and liberation movements in various countries around the world. Where Western Imperialism was once the focus of discontent, now its gender dysphoria. I should note that there are people for whom the conviction that theyre living in the wrong body is overwhelming and unextinguishable. Numerous psychological explanations have been offered for this phenomenon, but it is real. Such people experience ongoing emotional distress. Some rare individuals who possess the requisite physical characteristics, and who work hard to adapt their voices and mannerisms, may be able to pass as the opposite sex. If theyre lucky, the world wont notice the anomalies in their personal circumstances. They can live quiet lives, and avoid being used. These are the opposite of drag queens whose personalities combine a warped eroticism with hatred of women, and a driving need to be on public display. Those characters give themselves willingly -- enthusiastically -- to being used. The queens are having a ball just now. As far as theyre concerned, let the good times roll! But what are their prospects, come ze revolution? I dont think their future is very bright at all. Many people have genuine sympathy for the sexually conflicted. They wish that everyone might be free to live happily in their own way. And they try to be accepting, even of those whose attitudes and behavior make them extremely uncomfortable. Many agnostics and atheists tend to fall into this category, as do libertarians, and even a fair number of Christians. Theyre the good-hearted folks whose Facebook pages feature memes insisting that sexual variety is just an aspect of life. Nothing to worry about. No threat to families or children. Weve seen it all before, and it hasnt hurt anybody. Some of the graphics they post may be their own creative expressions of supposed open-mindedness. But I think most of these memes are the products of highly focused, highly motivated activist groups. Cleverly conceived, psychologically crafted, and widely distributed, theyre works of Soviet-style propaganda for the social networking age. They get linked and reposted again and again, giving broad and repeated exposure to the message of live-and-let-live. Perhaps the good-hearted folks who post them are the ones being used most cynically. Are you among them? Today the effort to destabilize society goes on, although that work is now being handled primarily by government agencies and, as the Bud Light gambit shows, by our great corporations. Secretive 1950s Communist cells are a thing of the past. None of the many subversive projects underway is more cruel or cuts closer to the heart of human nature than promoting sexual conflict and gender ambiguity. Meanwhile, all the many sad, confused, suffering Audrey Hales of the world sit stewing in their personal grievances, plotting how to lash out at an America in which they believe then can never fit. When opportunity presents itself, they too will be used. Bill Kassel is an award-winning author who hosts Free Expression, a talk show/podcast produced by the EWTN-affiliated Good Shepherd Catholic Radio. The show is available online at: https://billkassel.podbean.com. Image: Daniel Rocal Back in August 2019, which seems like a long time ago considering the rapidly changing news cycle, a whistleblower filed a complaint about President Trump's conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that occurred on July 25, 2019. The whistleblower didnt work for the White House and was not directly involved with the call but cited "more than half a dozen officials" who were "deeply concerned" about potential abuse of the law. This gist of the complaint was that President Trump had blocked nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine while pushing Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden, who was then running for President. The Biden family was linked to numerous shady deals in Ukraine. In 2017, Hunter Biden was paid $83,000 per month to be on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, despite no experience in the energy sector or in Ukraine. Burisma was under investigation for striking shady deals. In 2015, Joe Biden threatened to withhold $1 billion from Ukraine if the Ukrainian government did not fire the prosecutor who was investigating Burisma. (3 minute video clip) Hunters salary was cut in half when Joe Biden's tenure as vice president ended, which made it perfectly obvious what the purpose of the salary was. As President, Trump had the right to know if a potential future president was compromised. Aid has always been used as part of a quid-pro-quo agreement with foreign powers. By October 2019, another whistleblower appeared, claiming to have first hand knowledge of the call. For the Democrats desperately looking for a way to force Trump out of office, this was godsend. Their most audacious hoax -- that Trump had colluded with the Russia to steal the election from Hillary Clinton -- failed spectacularly, despite the prolonged partisan Mueller probe. The Democrats and their PR wing disguised as the news media claimed Trump's actions on the call were treasonous, dangerous and amounted to interference in the 2020 elections. The Democrat-held House of Representatives impeached Trump on two charges -- abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Trump was acquitted in the Senate. During the impeachment investigation, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who was listening on the call, testified that Trump made "inappropriate" political demands of Zelensky and Trump attempted to intimidate him to prevent him from testifying. The identity of the whistleblowers was kept a secret to protect them from threats and the secret remains to this day. But make no mistake, the whistleblowers were partisan deep state operatives who were looking to destroy Trump. Vindman, who was also given whistleblower status, certainly did well after his testimony. He became a pundit on MSNBC, he had a guest role on Curb Your Enthusiasm, and even got a book deal. Recently, Vindman was accused of profiteering from the Ukrainian war via defense contracts. The Democrats and the media lavished blandishments on the whistleblowers, calling them heroes, patriots, and saviors of democracy. Four years later, we have another whistleblower. This individual revealed intelligence documents pertaining to the conflict in Ukraine. The leaks show that 14 American troops are direct combatants in the war, despite Biden pledging that there will be no boots on the ground. Since Congress hasnt authorized the US to actively enter this foreign war, this is a violation of American law. Tucker Carlson revealed that Ukraine appears to be losing the war with seven Ukrainians being killed for every Russian. Ukrainian air defenses have been utterly degraded. Ukraine is losing. Watch the latest video at foxnews.com The WaPo reported that a document from February expresses doubts about Ukraine's chance of success in its forthcoming counteroffensive owing to challenges with troops, ammunition, and equipment. The WaPo also claimed that South Korea has doubts about arming Ukraine while Egypt plans to produce 40,000 rockets for Russia in secret. This is contrary to the claims from the media and the Democrats that Ukraine is on the verge of winning the war and that the coalition with Ukraine is as strong as ever. The US has already appropriated more than $112bn for the war in Ukraine in 2022 alone; this is taxpayers money. The taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being squandered in a losing war. The documents also illustrate U.S. efforts to spy on Ukraine's government and allies such as Israel and South Korea. So how have the powers that be reacted to this whistleblower and his actions? Biden officials adamantly dismissed the documents as "Russian disinformation" adding that the information is not intended for public consumption. The name and photo of the whistleblower were revealed by the media, and there was no concern about his safety. The whistleblower was branded a leaker by the same group that objected when Trump branded the Ukraine call whistleblower as a leaker. The whistleblower was arrested by the FBI yesterday in Massachusetts and will be arraigned in federal court there. The Washington Post first reported that the whistleblower worked on a military base. The WaPo described him as a lonely young man and gun enthusiast. CNN used an anonymous source to claim the whistleblower was racist and had a menacing vibe. This is an almost identical characterization that they use for gunmen engaging in shootouts or insurrectionists. Do not be too surprised if in the future the media claims the whistleblower is a Trump supporter who engaged in election denialism and that he is an insurrectionist. This is an attempt to dehumanize the man to create ground for the draconian punishment he will receive. We once again are confronted with the reality that there are no principles, laws, or rules in D.C. Laws are enforced not based on the violation but based on the goals and the identity of the violators. If the violator is a man of the establishment, he will be the greatest hero who ever lived. If the violator exposes the corruption in the establishment, every pejorative epithet known to mankind is conferred upon him. These clearly are the best of times, because the facts came to light thanks to the whistleblower. But these are also the worst of times because the truth-teller is likely to spend a significant amount of time behind bars. Only in totalitarian nations do governments and their agencies peddle hoaxes, suppress facts, and punish dissenters and propagators of inconvenient facts. Only in authoritarian regimes does the media devolve into lapdogs of the powerful instead watchdogs on behalf of the people. This should never ever happen in one of the largest democracies in the world. The ball once again is in the court of the GOP. Will they hold hearings about the shocking revelations by the whistleblower and hold the culprits accountable or will they look the other way and join the powers that be? A new poll revealed that House Speaker Kevin McCarthys (R-Calif) popularity has spiked since taking on the new job as Speaker of the House this year. McCarthy has an opportunity to push the popularity number even higher by leading the charge. There is obviously a chasm of difference between what is needed to be done and what is actually done. Photo credfit: YouTube screengrab But optimism has no perils. Let's keep our fingers crossed. The president pretends to be Catholic but clearly does not live by Catholic tenets. He supports abortion up until the moment of birth. This past week, he sent a cease-and-desist letter to the priests who have been ministering to Catholic patients at Walter Reed Hospital. He intends to contract outside persons to provide Catholic ministry. While V.P., he supported the persecution of the Little Sisters of the Poor for refusing to provide abortion services to their employees. In short, he is about as Catholic and Christian as Nancy Pelosi, another faux Catholic, a classic elitist who has nothing but contempt for actual Catholics, actual Christians. There are years of evidence, including from Biden's own daughter's diary, that Biden is a pedophile or at least has pedophilic tendencies. He cannot keep his hands off young female children; he fondles and sniffs them. Tara Reade's account of his molestation of her years ago is credible. The man is pond scum. Whenever he speaks of his deceased son Beau, who died of a brain tumor, he blames his death on the burn pits of Iraq, where Beau served 20082009. That could be true. The military had long used burn pits to dispose of all manner of waste, much of it obviously toxic. How does one explain, then, his total and complete lack of interest in the train derailment that subjected the citizens of East Palestine, Ohio to the consequences of a de facto burn pit? He did not visit. He barely mentioned it. He did not send the hapless Buttigieg or his EPA head, Michael Regan, until shamed into it. Neither of them acquitted themselves well. Both of them made it clear they did not want to be there, nor did they have any sympathy for the victims who are very likely to suffer for decades as Beau Biden did. Biden's open border is a human catastrophe of horrific proportions. The day he was inaugurated, he opened our southern border to all comers, encouraging migrants from all over the world to sacrifice everything to make their way to the U.S. Thousands of them die on the journey. The women and children are raped and trafficked. Meanwhile, the cartels have become richer than Bill Gates. The cartels control both sides of the border with Biden's acquiescence. Thousands of migrants are being bussed or flown into cities throughout America every day. It's a massive operation to alter the demographics of the U.S. It's part of the globalist plan. The sadly mentally incapacitated Biden is a tool of the worst people on the planet: the Communist Party of China and the Machiavellian scoundrels of the WEF. He has led us into WWIII; it has begun, which must be clear to every American paying attention. Biden's weakness has reverberated throughout the world. His thwarting of our energy independence, his absurd implementation of all the COVID restrictions that submarined the U.S. economy, and his vaccine mandates that have killed thousands will be his legacy. This president's obsession with LGBT issues, especially the transgenderism of children, proves his evil intent beyond all other issues. Neither he nor Kamala Harris could be bothered to visit or even speak to the grief of the families of the victims of the Nashville murder of six people, three of them children. Instead, they used the tragic event to boost support for transgendered persons, all of whom suffer from mental illness in one form or another. Numerous school shootings have been committed by trans kids who suffer from gender dysphoria and almost always are on drugs, legal and illegal. Both Harris and the White House spoke of their pride and support of the "trans community" and the "Tennessee Three," who mounted a nearly violent insurrection in their State House to ignominiously screech for gun control, as if taking guns away from good people would prevent such mass attacks. They nearly always occur in gun-free zones. These idiotic activists know this and do not care. They seem to be determined that only criminals have guns, as they most assuredly will in a gun-free zone. Joe Biden has been corrupt for all his years in Congress. What is so maddening is that everyone in Congress, in the D.C. world of politics, has always known this. They've all known he was rather dim, a racist (Strom Thurmond was his mentor), a plagiarist, and a consummate and compulsive liar. The list of his oft repeated, provable lies is too long to put here, but he was at it again while in Ireland this week; he never "traveled 17K miles with Xi." Clearly, he can't help himself; he has a serious pathological problem. Biden is a dim bulb, and the people who engineered his installation as president surely knew that. Whoever his handlers are, they committed many serious crimes, many breaches of the Constitution, to rig the election, secure in the knowledge that "they," whoever they are, would be running the show. They surely knew that Biden is a schlump, an empty suit, a man without a moral core a man they could manipulate, and manipulate him they certainly have. There is more than enough proof that Biden is indebted to China; his family has been fabulously enriched by the CCP's purchase of his servility. He is indebted to Ukraine as well but is repaying that nation's generosity by using the Ukrainian people as cannon fodder in his misguided proxy war against Putin. Biden will go down in history as the most corrupt, the most nationally and globally disastrous, and the dumbest president in American history. If we are to prevail as a constitutional republic, the American people had better wake up and fight for everything they cherish family, freedom, and basic human and civil rights or it will all be gone in the blink of an eye. It began with Obama, and that crowd is determined to carry out its plan to transform America. It's been remarkably successful to the detriment of us all. Caricature by Donkey Hotey, CC BY 2.0 license. I am outraged by the favoritism enjoyed by (now former) top Biden administration nuclear fuel and waste official Sam Brinton, who wantonly (and we know repeatedly) stole luggage from strangers at airport baggage claim areas. The U.K. Daily Mail reports: The non-binary former Energy Department official who was caught on video stealing luggage was ordered to pay $3,670 to the victim and given a suspended sentence of 180 days in prison after pleading 'no contest' to theft. Samuel Brinton, 35, who uses they/them pronouns was issued their sentence Wednesday in Las Vegas, Nevada, eight months after they grabbed a passenger's bags inside Harry Reid International Airport. Brinton was facing misdemeanor theft charges, which amount to less than $1,200 in stolen items. They had originally faced a felony theft charge since police said the amount stolen was $3,670. LVPD. Nevada law holds that theft with a value of $1,200 or more is a felony. And the restitution ordered clearly indicates that this threshold was exceeded. So why the leniency? Yes, it was a plea bargain, but why did prosecutors settle for a suspended sentence, which enables Brinton to escape any incarceration unless he violates the terms of his probation? There's CCTV footage of the theft, so obtaining a conviction seems almost certain. And the video also shows premeditation: When officials began investigating and looked at security footage, they noticed Brinton then identified as 'the suspect' acting strange. Officers 'observed several nonverbal cues, or body language anomalies, from the suspect, which caught his attention,' according to the warrant. 'Specifically, Brinton pulled the victim's luggage from the carousel and examined the tag. Then placed it back on the carousel, looking in all directions for anyone who might be watching or might approach, the warrant continues. 'Pulling it back off the carousel and demonstrating the same behavior by looking around before walking away with it quickly,' the document states. Brinton thought it over before committing the theft. He was making sure (he thought) that he wouldn't be caught. This is a person who was in charge of security for some of the most dangerous substances in the world, an obvious target for terrorists (talk about grave responsibility!), and he didn't know about security cameras? In my book, people with grave responsibilities to the public need to be held to the highest, not the lowest standards. And they must not receive a slap on the wrist when they commit felonies. Brinton's kid glove treatment is obvious fodder for those demanding "decarceration" of other felons. Consider the impact on the victim of his theft, deprived of her wardrobe upon arrival. Maybe she was only gambling, but maybe she was attending one of the countless conventions and meetings that are a staple of the Las Vegas tourism industry. What if she had to deliver an address clothed only in her wrinkled travel garments the following day? What about the feeling of violation she experienced when her most private possessions were in the hands of a thief? Did Brinton receive no jail time because authorities wanted to keep a nonbinary crossdresser out of prison? Are they a protected class that is punished less than the rest of us? Brinton still could face incarceration for charges of a similar threat at MSP airport: The case against Brinton in Minneapolis is ongoing at this time. If found guilty in that case, the former Energy Department officials could face up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. According to the complaint in that incident, Brinton removed a tag from a woman's luggage and walked out. The items inside were appraised at $2,325. American Airlines later confirmed that Brinton had not checked a bag on their flight from Washington D.C. The victim was shown footage of Brinton with the suitcase, she confirmed that it was her luggage. If another plea deal is offered with no incarceration, a serial felon (theft of over $1,000 in value is a felony in Minnesota) will have escaped jail for heinously victimizing strangers. Sadly, we are now in a period of a two-tiered justice system. Biden's DOJ is asking that terroristic hate crimes directed against its enemies (the Catholic Church, which the FBI infiltrated) go unpunished with incarceration. Mark More: President Biden's Justice Department is recommending no jail time for an abortion activist who scrawled "F--- Catholics" on a church's walls, assaulted a church employee and defaced several religious statues in reaction to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade last summer, according to a report. The Justice Department put forward a plea agreement, reviewed by Fox News Digital, that calls for three years' probation and no jail time for Maeve Nota, who was arrested June 28, 2022, for vandalizing the St. Louise Catholic Church in Bellevue, Washington. Nota, a transgender man, was charged with a hate crime and assault for vandalizing the church, and tossing rocks at and spray-painting an employee of the church, according to the Bellevue Reporter. It looks as though transgenders, a group which lately accounts for a lot of violence including horrific school shootings, are being sheltered from imprisonment and thereby incentivized for even worse behavior. As violent crime, political corruption, a population exodus, and an enormous budget shortfall continue to plague Chicago, another grave issue looms over the future of the Windy City: a floundering education system. In early April, Chicago voters elected Brandon Johnson, a former Chicago Public Schools (CPS) teacher, to become the city's next mayor. Johnson, who is more progressive than outgoing mayor Lori Lightfoot, defeated former CPS CEO Paul Vallas. Unlike Johnson, Vallas was at least willing to consider implementing a form of school choice in Chicago, seeing as how CPS is completely failing to educate Chicago's youth, let alone keep them safe while in school. In Chicago, only 25 percent of elementary students tested at or above the proficient reading level, and only 21 percent did so in math. What's worse, those numbers generally go down, not up, as students "progress" through middle school and high school. Chicago families are yearning for answers concerning the city's failing education system, as these shortcomings persist despite CPS spending $29,400 per student in 2023. For context, in 2013, CPS spent $13,200 per pupil. Evidently, more spending does not necessarily translate into better results. On the other hand, increased competition in the education realm, in the form of school choice, wherein parents have the freedom to choose what schools their children attend, seems to be a commonsense solution to what ails CPS. In fact, school choice seems to be the only solution to the endless cycle of corruption, fraud, waste, and abuse that has become endemic throughout CPS. At a bare minimum, school choice would offer a much needed alternative path for thousands of Chicago families who have no choice other than to send their kids to woefully underperforming public schools. Not only does school choice seem to be a worthwhile solution, but it is vastly popular among nearly every demographic group. School choice is one of the few issues that is popular regardless of where one stands on the political spectrum. Moreover, as recent polling demonstrates, school choice is widely supported across racial, socioeconomic, and even generational lines. Despite this overwhelming support for school choice, Chicago voters elected Johnson, a champion for CPS and dedicated to further empowering the already too powerful Chicago Teachers Union. Sadly, with the election of Johnson, the odds of a robust school choice program in Chicago are less likely than ever before But the damage Johnson is prepared to inflict does not stop here. Johnson has also made it clear that he will not do away with the practice of "social promotion," where students who fail to meet bare minimum grade-level requirements are pushed forward regardless and graduate despite never reaching proficiency in core subjects. Further compounding the consequences of social promotion, Johnson has also pledged to dim the standards by which a school's success is rated. Now, granted, I don't want to paint this as overly black and white. I do see some merit in a standard that is not uniform. However, reducing standards and student achievement just to make the schools appear better is a total disservice to Chicagoans, who deserve more from their public schools. That being said, there needs to be some objective standards for parents and administrators to assess whether or not these schools are doing the job of educating students. Submission to this principle of low expectations, combined with the practice of social promotion by which children with no business proceeding to the next grade are pushed forward, will be a travesty for the development of Chicago's next generation. So, in short, the plan is fewer options for schooling, less incentive to improve schools, less incentive for student success, and less accountability for school failure. Check, check, check, and check. The Chicago Teachers Union got its way, on account of the more than $764,000 it forked over to Brandon Johnson's campaign. And it did so at the expense of the children who need help the most. Chicago voters have no one to blame but themselves. Now, Chicagoans must live with the consequences of their choice to elect Johnson. For the time being, Chicagoans can only watch helplessly as the school choice movement in the Windy City comes to a screeching halt. Hopefully, next time around, Chicago voters consider someone who is more amenable to school choice. Scott Leven (think@heartland.org) is a communications intern with The Heartland Institute. Image: TDKR Chicago 101. Israel and America appear haunted by a sense of despair. The nation is locked in domestic and international political battles exacerbated by tensions between the ultra-religious and open society proponents. As Rabbi Jonathan Sachs put it, "We live in an era of intense social discord and distrust ... cancellation or ostracism." The rabbi asks the quintessential question: "How do we heal our fractured world?" First, learn to think differently. Business schools and executive development programs incorporate psychology courses to stimulate contagious positive energy. Harvard University had us examine challenges with a positive mental attitude to welcome the fast pace of change. Israel's business and military complexes focus on the positive, on the miracles in our midst. Author and social anthropologist Avi Jorisch discerns from his studies that Jewish prophetic tradition creates a remarkable culture of innovation. Israel's sobriquet, "The Start-Up Nation," is called an economic miracle by those who coined the term. Solving the world's most formidable problems by innovating "on agriculture, medicine, water, and defense ... making life better for billions of people around the world." Second, ignore the bearer of bad news. Sages consider that person a fool. Negativity feeds into the stewpot of emotions fomenting hate and vengeance. The third change you can make if you want to have hope for our children and the future of the Earth is to read works by Avi Jorisch. His writing is smart, factual, refreshing, and uplifting. Jorisch studies current trends and accomplishments. He talks of solutions being explored now as to how "human beings can exert (and are exerting) significant control over what happens to our species and our planet, and that our future is better than most of us think." His new book, Next: A Brief History of the Future, reports on "thirteen game-changing innovations that are poised to transform our species from a society of takers to a society of givers." Innovators are finding solutions to hunger, pollution, and global warming by mobilizing our remarkable abundance and wealth, in a way greater and more democratic, in this writer's opinion, than at any other time in human history. For context, first read about the storied life of Hans Rosling in Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World and Why Things Are Better Than You Think. Rosling explains how our worldview has been distorted. He identifies ten human instincts that cause erroneous thinking. Rosling and Jorisch make the case that we can learn to separate fact from fiction when forming our opinions. The vast majority of people around the world are living middle-class life. Jorisch's March 2023 Jerusalem Post article contains ten graphs and charts demonstrating human progress in living standards, health status, social services, and technology. According to Rosling, our lives improve regularly from generation to generation: They are not impoverished and suffering. Their boys and girls go to school. Their children get vaccinated. They live in two-child families. They want to go abroad on holiday, not as refugees. Step by step, year by year, the world is improving. We might add that opportunities for success are greater for people of most races and religions, both sexes, and most childhood class stations in life. In Next, Jorisch does a cursory review of the writings of futurists. He focuses on the moon-shot landing as the "greatest mobilization of resources and manpower in human history," which ought to be a lesson for us. We need "moon shot thinking" to overcome our current challenges. I sent off a note to my cyber-infatuated grandson about investigating Singularity University, which Jorisch discusses at length. What this writer finds remarkable about the case reports Jorisch describes is that the innovators are all self-made people; they are unique and outstanding only in that they recognize a problem a spend their waking moments and their dreams finding solutions. There is the space program yielding untold advances for human existence. Russia and America launched the space race, and now multitudes of countries and private companies are engaged. "Today, there are more than 50.1 billion devices online worldwide, used by half of the world's population[.] ... The new space economy is the catalyst that will fundamentally transform life on Earth." Other case reports cover The Internet Academy and new means of learning, improving shelter, water resources, and health through advances in blood and genetic editing. Prosperity is in the offing for food security, electricity engineering, and more. One more thought about the author: Jorisch brings a spirit and sense of spirituality to his work. I described his fifth book, Thou Shalt Innovate, as a "bouquet of life enhancing and life-saving innovations flowing from Israel." Many already knew the stories of the Start-Up Nation. "But Jorisch finds spiritual meaning or 'higher purpose,' as a secular man prefers, in them." Jorisch finds an eternal message in the innovations that benefit humankind. No story is more impactful and inspiring than the 24 pages about the man who empowers girls and women through sanitary blood maintenance. He is changing the life and spirit of a generation. Jorisch is a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council and a prolific lecturer and writer whose books and articles have appeared in a plethora of languages. Everything he writes is documented and presented with extraordinary clarity and simplicity. Next flows easily because the stories are about the people he features "working to make the world a better place ... and dreaming big enough" to make it happen." Next includes 34 pages of end notes to each chapter and a 37-page bibliography. I tell the story in my review of Rosling's book about one of my children. He is a graduate of a prestigious university who told me, "My head can't handle all the facts and commentaries from pundits, and they don't seem to care when their facts are wrong. It's all mind-numbing and paralytic." I gave him Thou Shalt Innovate to read. Now I will encourage him and others to buy Next: A Brief History of the Future. Dr. Harold Goldmeier manages an investment company and writes for financial companies about business, social, and political issues. He is a free public speaker for community groups and consults on matters of commerce and industry. He can be reached at harold.goldmeier@gmail.com. Image via Max Pixel. Once upon a time, Democrat Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told President Trump, and not benevolently, that if he attempted to rein in the U.S. intelligence community, they had "six ways to Sunday at getting back at you..." Trump is not around now, so the intelligence guys seem to be doing that to themselves. According to the New York Times: 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. What a lovely picture that is, assuming he's the guy who did it. The U.S. spends untold billions on the gathering and analyzing of information to create state secrets so that U.S. leaders in critical times can have exactly the right information they need to make decisions. They do so at great cost, but also at great risk, enticing foreign nationals to endanger their lives to help us, and out in the field, taking great risks themselves. All it takes is one low level government employee or member of the military to spill those secrets, supposedly because he wants to impress all his little friends in his internet social group. That's what's important to him. In some cases, it's not even for money, just a desperate quest for love, approval and prestige in the gang. But it shouldn't be surprising. Coming from a society where the word 'patriot' is grounds for an IRS audit, protest is 'patriotic,' dissent is duty, the U.S. is held up to world scorn in the United Nations by its own ambassador and secretary of state, loyality is laughed at, honor is scoffed at, 'ban the box' is de rigueur for federal hiring, and school kids are taught to salute the gay rainbow flag instead of the American flag, who was taken aback to see this costly garbage happen? There are many of these people -- from Private Bradley Manning, to CIA contractor Edward Snowden, to chief Wikileaker Julian Assange (an Australian, but still part of the West), to military translator Reality Winner, to assorted characters in the U.S. Senate intelligence committee, they all either escaped or got off with slaps on the wrist. Gone are the days when they were called 'traitors' and sentenced to long, forbidding, prison terms. Once there's a security breach, spies are endangered, troops are endangered, and intelligence officers are endangered, based on this absence of the patriotism ethos, while anything goes as far as who gets hired to safeguard the secrets, the crazier the better. All we have to do is look at the sorry case of Sam Brinton, the Biden administration's top nuclear waste official whose side gig was stealing women's suitcases at airports to wear their clothing, or the "pup play" bestiality and sado-masochism enthusiasts caught in military leadership positions in Hawaii, posing in dog masks in their uniforms for their social media followers. What's the point of having secrets if nobody has loyalty to the U.S. and there's always somebody who can't be trusted to keep these secrets? Why not let it all hang out, the way Sam Brinton once did? New York Post columnist Douglas Murray makes the important point that the U.S. seems to be the only nation producing these kinds of people. Think back over the past thirteen years ago and try to think which other country has had more of its secrets leaked out than this one. Has there yet been a time when swathes of secrets from Americas rivals and enemies have been exposed for the world to see? Has there been a Wikileaks from the Chinese Communist Party? Have we seen vast caches of secrets from the Kremlin? No, and no again. Turn to Americas friends and allies. Have the UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand been responsible for the largest classified data breaches in recent history? Again, no. That singular distinction goes to this country. And it is a distinction which the US intelligence community should once again explain, but will fail to. They don't teach values in schools. They hold our country up to scorn as hopelessly racist and fatally flawed. They don't vet with any standards when they hire -- and they hire a lot of them. They don't compartmentalize when they amass secrets, which are too many anyway. They can't be surprised that they've got another one on their hands, a leaker who leaks it all out for our enemies to read. Several observers of the intelligence community have pointed out other self-destructive issues within this sorry drama: Investigative journalist Matt Taibbi noted that the concept of having national secrets is undercut severely based on who gets sanctioned for leaking those secrets -- the entire system is undermined by the casual leaks and security breaches of the powerful who go unsanctioned for their leaks and breaches. Remember James Comey? Remember Joe Biden's garage? The intelligence community has itself been massively interfering in domestic news using illegal leaks for years. Remember the Why Did Obama Dawdle on Russias Hacking? story by David Ignatius of the Washington Post in January of 2017, outing would-be Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn as having been captured in intercepts speaking with a Russian ambassador? That was just the first in a string of leak- or intercept-based news stories that dominated news cycles in the Trump years, involving everything from conclusions of the FISA court to supposedly secret meetings in the Seychelles. When civilians or whistleblowers like Edward Snowden, Julian Assange (in jail for an incredible four years now), Reality Winner and now the Discord Leaker bring leaked information to the public, the immediate threat is Espionage Act charges and decades of jail time. When a CIA head or a top FBI official does it, its just news. In fact, officials talk openly about using strategic leaks as a P.R. staple. In a world where media currency is becoming the ultimate power, these people want a monopoly. Its infuriating. Former FBI agent Mark Wauck points to a media item featuring Andrew Napolitano interviewing Larry Johnson with the latter suggesting that maybe Teixeira wasn't the leaker and the government itself set him up in some kind of false flag operation, given that the CIA and other documents supposedly recovered was intelligence that Teixeira couldn't have had access to. One possibility they didn't consider in thosee observations is that maybe there were multiple leakers, each trying to impress and one-up the others in the internet group by who could leak the hardest. Investigative reporter Glenn Greenwald also has fascinating observations, pointing out that the FBI has gotten apparently so flabby the newspaper reporters are getting ahead of them in revealing who the leaker was. Or, that there was a cozy relationship. All of these things -- and there are more -- suggest an intelligence community that can't keep secrets and therefore is imploding. It's significant that they can't blame President Trump for this, they can only blame themselves and their leftist political allies for this sad state of affairs. While our enemies in China and elsewhere beef up their intelligence capabilities, while Joe Biden only beefs up the agencies' money, not their performance, premised on loyalty to the U.S. Loyalty is for the birds. No wonder these scandals keep happening and happening. If there are any secrets left from this, they won't be, as John LeCarre used to write, worth the candle. Image: Nick Youngson, via Pix4Free, CC BY-SA 3.0 Where is the resistance to the radical left's quest for autocracy? In the wake of the political persecution of Donald Trump, it must be apparent to even the most casual observer that the dream of the Woke/Progressive/Democratic Party is to stamp out the rot of Conservative/Republican/MAGA America. Our once constitutional republic, based on the balance of power, is undergoing persistent and accelerating erosion. Leftist activism has progressed in a relatively short period of time, from taking on true social injustices (segregation) to fabricating social injustices (systemic racism) so as to generate chaos and dissension to lashing out at their designated source of our irredeemably flawed social structure oppressive white male supremacy via woke progressivism. Vengeful anger is now the rallying call. By evoking rebellion and anger among the "oppressed," employing manipulations that would make Machiavelli look like a choir boy, the left is amassing a growing cadre of voters, creating an "anti-system" subculture of dissident victims who have been indoctrinated to channel blame for all their failures and unmet expectations upon the evils of white male supremacy. Joined by virtue-signaling, guilt-ridden urban and suburban affluent whites, they are poised to capture a permanent voting majority. Witness the fate of the 2022 red wave, the recent election results in Chicago and Wisconsin, and Gen Z's overwhelming rejection of Trump. Their vision of fundamentally changing America has taken a foothold. Endorsed or tacitly approved are censorship of free speech, politicization of the legal system, rioting for leftist causes, youth indoctrination, media propaganda, debasing of patriotism, undermining religious tenets, and dissolution of the nuclear family. Defining race and sex as social constructs removes them from their natural state as biological entities. Thus, any recognition of differences within the groups can be declared racist or sexist. Enemies of the state are prosecuted Trump, the insurrectionists, Roger Stone, Gen. Flynn, Assange, non-vaxxers. Newton's Third Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. While undoubtedly true in the physical world, it does not seem to apply in the world of politics. We see relatively little in the way of meaningful resistance to the leftist insurrection. Aside from Trump's rhetoric, the stance of the Florida governor, and burgeoning parental resistance to the teaching union bureaucracy, the left's insurgency meets little legal or legislative blowback. Opportunistic Uniparty politicians just go with the flow rather than attempt to divert it. Taking on a cultural groundswell does not win voter or special interest support especially when corporate America is increasingly committed to corporate "social responsibility," ESG, and "equity" initiatives. More profitable to just feed off the carcass of the nation rather than try to resuscitate it. With traditional liberalism on the verge of extinction, "moderate" liberals do nothing to quell the tide of leftist autocratic control because, in their heart of hearts, they relish it. Statism is the only source of authority liberals embrace. Big Brother will quash the oppressors and see to it that liberal concepts of justice and equity are enforced so they think. Conservatives, prone to individualism and self-reliance, are disinclined to mount group resistance. They stand alone. Group resistance is the purview of liberals, who, having a victim mindset and less self-reliance, seek strength in numbers and collectivism a political advantage. "We're all in this together!" "It takes a village!" Those in the lower socioeconomic strata are seduced by the promise of hope and change, destined to ultimately find that the only change will be in the new edicts of their new rulers. So there is little or no organized resistance to the left's insurrection. Without strong majorities in government, conservatives can do little to stem the tide. We can only hope that the mass coefficient of common sense will soon begin to correct our course. We need more Bill Mahers: liberal icons who reject woke lunacy. Photo credit: YouTube screen grab (cropped). President Biden took a picture with Gerry Adams, a prominent Irish nationalist, who was barred from British broadcasts for his position as the Irish Republican Army's (IRA) public face, during the POTUS' recent visit to Ireland. Adams posted the "presidential selfie" on social media after 35 years as the leader of the Irish republican party Sinn Fein, Fox News reported. During the height of the IRA's terrorist operation, which intended to overthrow British rule over Northern Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s, Sinn Fein served as the organization's political branch. Gerry Adams denies ever being an IRA member, despite being accused of participating in terrorist acts. He was prohibited from using British broadcasts along with some Irish Republican figures by then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. In the end, Adams was crucial in separating Sinn Fein from the IRA and securing the Good Friday Agreement, effectively ending the terror initiative. He was subsequently detained in 2014 concerning a homicide from 1972, but no charges were brought against him. A President Biden Selfie. pic.twitter.com/4NiiiUWlvU Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) April 13, 2023 Read Also: Elon Musk Criticizes NPR's Government Funding Gerry Adams and Joe Biden first met during the latter's 2017 trip to Ireland. Biden was the US vice president then, while Adams was the head of Sinn Fein, per The Daily Mail. Adams characterized their encounter in Dublin as a chance to inform Biden of efforts to reestablish democratic institutions in the North. And in November 2020, it came to light that, against the British government's objections, Biden had pushed then-president Bill Clinton to issue Gerry Adams a visa to the United States in 1993. Joe Biden Urges Northern Ireland To Maintain Peace President Joe Biden encouraged people to maintain support for the Good Friday Agreement when he was in Northern Ireland. He commented on the economic improvement since the agreement concluded 30 years of sectarian warfare. The POTUS stressed the link between peace and economic development and stated that further American investment might accelerate economic growth, especially if Belfast's political leaders can break through their present deadlock, according to PBS. Joe Biden delivered his remarks at the new campus of Ulster University in Belfast, where he emphasized that the building's modern design and construction would have been unworkable during "The Troubles" years marked by violence. Related Article: China Denies Plans for Military Assistance to Russia @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Witchcraft Act of 1735 was a landmark act for Britain. Unlike the earlier Witchcraft Acts which legalized witch-hunting and the execution of witches, the 1735 act was a complete reversal of attitudes. It ruled that witches didnt exist and it was a crime for a person to accuse another of possessing magical powers or practicing witchcraft. Furthermore, anybody who pretended to exercise witchcraft, sorcery, or conjuration, by claiming to call up spirits, foretell the future, or cast spells, was to be punished as a con artist and subject to fines and imprisonment. The criminalization of witchcraft brought to an end the gruesome practice of burning innocent victims on the stake, that had claimed the lives of tens of thousands of women since medieval times. Helen Duncan The Witchcraft Act 1735 remained in forced for more than two hundred years, during which it was frequently invoked, particularly during the early 19th century by the political elite to root out ignorance, superstition, criminality and insurrection among the general populace. Before its eventual repeal by the Fraudulent Mediums Act of 1951, it was invoked one last time in 1944 to prosecute a forty-seven year old Scottish woman named Helen Duncan. Her conviction and sentencing earned her the title of the last witch of Britain. Helen Duncan (born Helen MacFarlane) was born in Callander, Scotland, in 1897. Even as a child, Helen was quite the imposter. She claimed clairvoyance and drove her fellow pupils at school to terror by predicting doom and destruction for all sorts of people, much to the distress of her mother, who was a devout member of the Presbyterian church. At the age of 18, she married Henry Duncan, a wounded war veteran, and together the pair went on to have six children. Struggling to provide for her large family, Helen, encouraged by her husband, began holding seances and recalling spirits. Pretty soon she was travelling across Britain hosting seances and bringing comfort to grieving families who could speak to their dead loved ones in the spirit world. One of her tricks was to produce a slimy, otherworldly substance known as ectoplasm from her mouth and nose, which would then transform into physical beings of the spirits being recalled, and then communicate with their loved ones. Helen managed to fool many learned men with her antics, even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, who was known for his great gift of logical deductions. Vincent Woodcock was one man who claimed Helen Duncan changed his life. Giving evidence at the Old Bailey during Duncans trial in 1944, Woodcock claimed that his dead wife appeared in 19 seances he had attended over a period of three years. On one occasion, he had brought his sister-in-law when Duncan went into a trance and began producing ectoplasm from her mouth. The deceased wife then materialized from the ectoplasm and asked Woodcock and his sister-in-law to come forward. The spirit then removed the wedding ring from her husbands finger and put it on the palm of her sister, adding It is my wish that this takes place for the sake of our little girl. A year later, the couple were married and returned for another seance during which the dead woman appeared once more to give her blessings to the happy couple. But not everyone shared her devotees faith in her supernatural powers. In 1928, photographer Harvey Metcalfe attended one of Duncans seances and took flash photographs of her alleged spirits. The photographs revealed that the spirits were nothing more than dolls made from a painted papier-mache mask draped in an old sheet. Three years later, the London Spiritualist Alliance investigated Duncan and concluded that the ectoplasm was made of cheesecloth and paper, mixed with egg whites. The Alliance also determined that Duncan swallowed the supposed ectoplasm sometime before her performance and regurgitated the same during her seance. When the committee forced her to swallow a dye before one of her seances, Duncan produced no ectoplasm. Photographs shot by Harvey Metcalfe during a 1928 seance exposed Duncans fraud. Helen Duncan expelling cheesecloth ectoplasm. Attempts to X-ray her turned difficult, as she ran away from the laboratory after smacking the face of her husband and making a scene on the street. According to psychical researcher Harry Price, Mrs. Duncan, without the slightest warning, dashed out into the street, had an attack of hysteria and began to tear her seance garment to pieces. She clutched the railings and screamed and screamed. After pacifying the woman, Duncan returned to the laboratory and demanded to be X-rayedan insistence Price attributed to her having already passed the ingested ectoplasm cheesecloth to her husband during the chaos on the street. When the doctor asked Henry Duncan to turn out his pockets, he refused. Duncan was finally caught in the act during a performance in Edinburgh in 1933. During the seance, the spirit of a little girl called Peggy emerged. A member of the audience lunged at the emerging shape and the lights were turned on. The spirit was revealed to be made from a stockinette undervest. Duncan was charged with fraud and fined 10. But Duncans career was far from over. She continued to practice her spiritualist activities, and came into great demand during World War 2 from families of those lost in active service. In 1941, at one of her seances in Portsmouth, headquarters of the Royal Navys Home Fleet, a deceased sailor allegedly materialized. The spirit of the sailor revealed that a British battleship HMS Barham had sunk with more than 800 lives on board, when the ship was torpedoed by a German U-Boat. The news came as a shock to those present because no announcement of such a tragedy had been made by the War Office. Yet, the information turned out to be true: HMS Barham had indeed sunk a few days earlier, but the news was kept from the public and only revealed to the relatives of the casualties in strict confidence. With more than eight hundred affected families and several members in every family, the news was hardly a closely guarded secret. Duncan apparently got wind of the tragedy and decided to use it to her advantage. A piece of ectoplasmthis one made of artificial silkat the Cambridge University Library. But the Navy wasnt going to take chances. What if Duncan was really clairvoyant? What if she revealed classified military information to the enemy? With the critical D-Day landings on the horizon, the British government ordered Duncans arrest. On 19 January 1944, a couple of undercover policemen went to a seance taking place in Portsmouth. When a white-shrouded manifestation appeared, the policemen pounced on the figure, and it was found to be Duncan herself in a white cloth. Duncan was arrested and initially charged under the Vagrancy Act of 1824, which was a minor offense. But the authorities considered her crime serious and eventually discovered section 4 of the Witchcraft Act which covered fraudulent spiritual activity and carried the heavier penalty of a prison sentence. The subsequent trial was a media sensation. Many witnesses were called in to the stand and some recalled their experiences defending Duncan. But the jury was not moved: they returned the guilty verdict, and the judged sentenced her to 9 months. Upon her release, Duncan went back to seances despite promising the court never to hold one, and was arrested again in 1956. She died a short time later in her home in Edinburgh. Duncans trial most certainly contributed to the repeal of the Witchcraft Act. Winston Churchill was furious when he learnt that an archaic act was used in a modern court of law. He dashed a letter to Herbert Morrison at the Home Office, where he wrote: Let me have a report on why the Witchcraft Act, 1735, was used in a modern Court of Justice What was the cost of this trial to the State, observing that witnesses were brought from Portsmouth and maintained here in this crowded London, for a fortnight, and the Recorder kept busy with all this obsolete tomfoolery, to the detriment of necessary work in the Courts? In 1951, the Witchcraft Act 1735 was repealed with the enactment of the Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951, largely at the instigation of Spiritualists through the agency of Thomas Brooks, a Labour Party MP. On several occasions, descendants and supporters of Duncan have campaigned to have her posthumously pardoned of witchcraft charges, but time and again, the Scottish Parliament have rejected these petitions. References: # Conjuring up the dead: Helen Duncan and her ectoplasm spirits, History Extra # The truth about the UK's last witch Helen Duncan, The National The Biden administration is asking people to share their input on regulating AI and holding AI creators accountable. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has launched a request for comment (RFC) that allows you to share your input with the government. Artificial intelligence is becoming a source of concern for governments globally. Goldman Sachs has recently reported that AI can endanger 300 million full-time jobs. Likewise, world tech leaders like Elon Musk warned that the AI race has become out of control and that all related experiments should be halted for six months. They also asked for more strict regulations for keeping AI under control. The Biden administration is now seeking public input to enact a set of rules to mitigate AI risks. According to NTIA, the goal is to ensure that AI systems work as claimed and do not cause any harm. The agency continues that there are a growing number of incidents that AI caused harmful outcomes. The insights gathered through this RFC will inform the Biden Administrations ongoing work to ensure a cohesive and comprehensive federal government approach to AI-related risks and opportunities, NTIA added. Advertisement Biden administration wants public input for regulating AI The NTIA is open to accepting any input from people until June 10th. Of course, the agency has specific topics that people can comment on, including the safety testing procedures that every AI developer should follow, the data access requirements to conduct audits, and the methods for checking the credibility of an AI system. The NTIA also wants to know whether different approaches might be needed for specific industries like healthcare. Governments around the world are still evaluating AI and how it can affect their society and economy. However, some governments, like Italy, have taken a harsh approach and completely banned ChatGPT, which led to a 400% increase in downing VPNs in the country. Despite the numerous benefits of generative AI, its risks should be mitigated to reduce the possible harm. AI modes like ChatGPT are also making the headlines for copyright infringement cases and copying artists work. Just recently, we reported that Samsung semiconductor secrets are leaking through ChatGPT. As of this summer, Fitbit users will have the option to use their Google accounts for device sign-in access (via CNET). With the features deployment, existing Fitbit account holders can transfer their accounts to Google. It will grant them a hassle-free login experience, access to state-of-the-art security and privacy features, and other advantages. The new functionality will enable users with enhanced ease of use, as they can access their accounts with a single password. Moroever, Fitbits parent company, Google, states this migration empowers users with additional privacy management tools. Fitbit users will soon be able to oversee their Fitbit information through the Google Privacy Center. Do existing Fitbit users need to switch to Google accounts? For existing users, an immediate shift to a Google account is not mandatory; however, by 2025, it will become necessary. On the other hand, new Fitbit users will be required to register with a Google account during the summer season. Having a Google account will simplify the management of connected applications and paired devices and collate all the data in one place. Besides, users can uphold the confidentiality, security, and safety of their health and wellness data. They can also monitor their active sessions across their Google account and regulate them as required. Advertisement Will Google use Fitbit data for targeted ads? According to Google, the health and wellness data of Fitbit users will remain isolated from Google Ads data. The company will not be using the Fitbit data for Google Ads purposes. Moving to Google Accounts lets us build a great foundation for Fitbits future, while providing you with added benefits. This is an important step to bring even more helpful updates and engaging experiences to you. Theres a lot more to come and we cant wait to share more soon, Majd Bakar, VP, Fitbit Engineering, wrote in a blog post . In 2021, Google acquired Fitbit for $2.1 billion after obtaining regulatory approval, which represents a significant move for Google into the wearables market. The acquisition allowed the search giant to gain access to Fitbits impressive portfolio of wearable devices, as well as its loyal user base. The move put Google in direct competition with other tech giants, such as Apple and Samsung, who have already made strides in the wearables market. Advertisement However, the acquisition has also sparked concerns over data privacy, with some critics worrying that Googles access to Fitbit users health data could lead to privacy violations. To address these concerns, Google assured that it would protect users data and allow them to control their own data. Samsung Foundry is one of the largest chip manufacturers in the world, but the new Intel and Arm partnership sets out to challenge this. This partnership will aim to produce smartphone chips for widespread use across a good amount of Android devices. Well, smartphones will be the starting point for this semiconductor partnership, as in the future more products might be rolled out. For a long time, Samsung has stayed at the top of its game in the semiconductor industry. But they still struggle to design an in-house chip that can level up to the competition. In recent times, Samsungs Foundry has kicked off the development of the 3nm chip fabrication process. But Intel and Arm have their eyes on the price in the smartphone chip industry. The two firms popular with the production of chips for computers, smart connected devices and CPUs in various devices are now gunning for Samsungs plan. This will improve competition in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, hence rolling out products that might improve overall device performance. Intel and Arm partnership to bring new low-power compute SoCs to the industry Intel took to their online newsroom to announce their newly established partnership. This partnership will bring the Intel 18A process to light, helping chip designers to build low-power compute system-on-chips (SoCs). According to Intel, the first stop for itself and Arm would be the manufacturing of chips for smartphones and other similar devices. Advertisement The Intel 18A process brings breakthroughs in transistor technology, which can step up the performance of smartphones. According to Intel, the technology here improves upon the performance and power of chips that it rolls out. Chip designers without access to a fab can now rely on this Intel and Arm partnership to manufacture their designs into working chips. From Arms side of the partnership, there will come a focus on energy efficiency. Additionally, considering that one company in this partnership is American and the other European, they can work together to meet a ton of regulations. This will make the chips they manufacture meet a wide range of standards, making them great for user consumption. Intel will rely on its investments in the IDM 2.0 strategy to make this partnership sustainable. Smartphone processor OEMs would be able to turn to Intel and Arm for their services. This will produce chips that use ARM-based CPU cores for better performance. This partnership might also work its way into the production of automotive, Internet of Things (IoT), data centres, and aerospace chips. But for now, the focus will be on smartphone processors for chip designers around the world. Considering the achievements of Intel and Arm, anyone can expect a lot from this partnership. To celebrate the arrival of summer, Netmarble has released a massive new update for Seven Knights 2, which features the Water Festival. This is actually made up of four separate events, which shower you with rewards just for playing. It kicks off today, with a check-in event that rewards you simply for logging in. Running until April 26, you can get coins, rubies, and more for seven days worth of playing. Then theres the Shoot and Loot event, which sees you and Cosette firing water guns to earn prizes like Mythic Upgrade Stones, Pet Fragment Chest+s, and Rubies. That should help you cool off in the warmer weather. Advertisement The third event focuses on crafting rewards particularly the exclusive costume for new character Iota, who also arrived as part of this event. Her full title, the Roar of Tarragon Iota, is a beast of a melee character who deals DPS while supporting allies with heals, boosted recovery rates, and faster attack speed. If you manage to unlock the new hero, you can earn further rewards in Iotas Support Event. This simply challenges you to level up Iota to 36, then rewards you with Iota Soulstones, Water Festival Coins, Mythic Elixirs, and Universal Soulstone Shards every two levels to a maximum of 58. Advertisement You can head over to the App Store, Google Play or PC right now to grab Seven Knights 2, along with the exciting new update. Following the companys confirmation of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra camera sensors, the companys CEO has just confirmed the addition of variable aperture too. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra will offer variable aperture, the companys CEO just confirmed Lei Jun went to Twitter to confirm that the Xiaomi 13 Ultras 1-inch main camera will include variable aperture. He also added that itll have a span between f/1.9 and f/4.0, which are great news. Variable aperture is exactly what that 1-inch camera sensor needs, so that you can jump between that creamy bokeh at f/1.9, to an entirely different scenario at f/4.0. Not to mention that this feature will allow the phone to adapt to different light settings with ease. Advertisement That 1-inch camera sensor on the phone is outstanding, but it allows for a lot of light to enter, so it can be a bit difficult to balance the shot sometimes. Well, the addition of variable aperture will definitely help out with that. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra will become the very first phone out there to offer variable aperture on a 1-inch camera sensor. Huawei used variable aperture on the Mate 50 Pro, though on an entirely different sensor, and that phone provides outstanding photos. All camera sensors on the phone have been confirmed, at least as far as rear-facing cameras go As mentioned earlier, Xiaomi already confirmed that the main camera on the phone will be a 1-inch unit from Sony. Sonys IMX989 sensor, in case you were wondering. The other three cameras will utilize the Sony IMX858 sensor. Well get ultrawide, telephoto, and periscope telephoto cameras. All that with Leica lenses, of course. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra will become official on April 18, and its coming to both China and global markets. We also know that it will be fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, and supports 90W wired and 50W wireless charging. It will likely use the same 6.73-inch QHD+ AMOLED display as the Xiaomi 13 Pro, with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. The ASUS ROG Phone 7 and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate are official, with the company having announced the phones on April 13. Ive spent the last couple of weeks or so using the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate as my daily driver, and if youd like to see how that panned out you can read about it in my review here. This is ASUSs latest and greatest smartphone and its an absolutely insane powerhouse of a device. Built around mobile gaming just as all ROG Phones are, complete with the latest specs and features. This post is designed to leave nothing on the table, and tell you all there is to know about the ROG Phone 7 and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate. Whether youre considering buying one or not, youll know every important detail about this phone. Which might even help you decide if the device is right for you in the first place. What is the ASUS ROG Phone 7? Its ASUSs latest gaming smartphone. Packed with some of if not the most powerful hardware components of any phone on the market. Its catered towards gamers, and the features reflect that. Advertisement How many models are there? ASUS has made two models of the device this year. Not too unlike it did with the ROG Phone 6 series. Though it has changed things ever so slightly. Theres the standard ROG Phone 7 and then the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate which is essentially the Pro model this year. But theres not really much of a change in terms of specs. The only real difference is the back design. The ROG Phone 7 comes with an RGB ROG Eye logo and the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate replaces that with the ROG Vision display. The Ultimate model also replaces the small light bar that the regular model has with the AeroActive Portal. There is a chance ASUS will come out with at least one additional model down the line. Officially the company has said it has nothing to share about that at this time. But if it follows last years path, we could see something like the ROG Phone 7D. What are the specs of the ASUS ROG Phone 7? Usually the specs are different, even if only slightly, on each of the models ASUS ends up launching. But this year, the specs are entirely the same. Right down to storage options. This wasnt true just a couple generations ago. Where the ROG Phone 5 and ROG Phone 5 Pro had less storage and RAM than the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate. Advertisement Heres what you can look forward to with the ROG Phone 7 and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate: Platform (Processor): 3.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 GPU: Qualcomm Adreno 740 Storage: 512GB of UFS 4.0 RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X OS & UI: Android 13 with ROG UI and Zen UI Display: 6.78-inch 1080p (2440 x 1080) 165Hz AMOLED HDR10+ certified, 720Hz touch sampling rate, 23ms touch latency, peak brightness of 1500 nits, 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass Victus IP Rating: IP54 Rear Camera: 50MP Sony IMX766 main sensor, 13MP Ultrawide sensor, 5MP macro sensor Front Camera: 32MP OV32 Quad Bayer sensor Back Cover: RGB ROG Eye Logo (ROG Phone 7) / ROG Vision Display (ROG Phone 7 Ultimate) Speakers: 5-magnet Super Linear front-facing speakers tuned by Dirac Battery: Dual 3,000mAh batteries for a total capacity of 6,000mAh Charging: 65W Colorways: Phantom Black and Storm White (ROG Phone 7) / Storm White (ROG Phone 7 Ultimate) Dimensions: 173 x 77 x 10.3 mm Weight: 239g Does the phone have expandable storage? The phone does not have expandable storage. And while that might seem like a bad thing to those that are used to having it on phones, its not really needed. Both models of the device have 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. Thats a lot of storage and most people are going to struggle to fill all that. Its not impossible to use up all that space, but its unlikely many users would run out of all that room. So in the end, expandable storage would just make the phone cost more. And with 512GB at hand, plus all of the other specs that make the phone cost what it will, expandable storage becomes unnecessary. When does the phone launch? ASUS hasnt confirmed a US or North America launch date yet. But it did confirm that it will be sometime in Q2. So youre probably looking at sometime closer to Summer, perhaps in June or July. Advertisement What will the phone cost? This will obviously depend on which model you go with. The ROG Phone 7 will start at $999. ASUS hasnt confirmed US or North America pricing on the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate at this time. But with the $999 baseline price for the standard model, the Ultimate is probably going to be somewhere around the realm of $100 to $300 more. This is partially because of the ROG Vision display and the AeroActive Portal, and partially because it comes with the AeroActive Cooler 7 attachment. This accessory is optional on the ROG Phone 7 and does not come in the box. Everything else about the two phone models is the same. All of that said, the ROG Phone 6 Pro from last year was $1,299. Its possible ASUS could keep this price point for the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate this year. Will the ASUS ROG Phone 7 work on all networks? In the US it will work on AT&T and T-Mobile. This also means it will work with services like Google Fi. It will not work on Verizon. Youll need to check the networks in your region to see if the phone is compatible. Its also worth noting that you may need to do some tweaking to get it working on AT&T. This had to be done with the ROG Phone 6 Pro, which initially worked but then stopped working after a few months. Are there any accessories for the device this year? Advertisement There are a few accessories, but there are technically less than what was available for last years models and previous years. Theres no new version of the ROG Kunai gamepad this year. At least not right now. Youll get a slim shell case in the box with both phones. And then theres the AeroActive Cooler 7 as an optional accessory if you dont have the Ultimate model, which it comes in the box with. Other optional accessories include a tempered glass screen protector and drop protection case from DevilCase which will fit both phones. And thats basically it. Keep in mind that if you want a controller, the ROG Kunai 3 will work with this new phone and function as it should. However, it does not quite fit properly since it wasnt designed for this new phone. You could also use something like the Razer Kishi V2 which is our personal favorite mobile controller. And as for headphones, theres loads of options both new and old. Advertisement Does the ROG Phone 7 have a 3.5mm audio port? It does have this port and its in the same spot as its been on every ROG Phone model over the years. The phone also still comes with the bottom and side-facing USB-C ports. And if youre using the AeroActive Cooler 7, theres a 3.5mm audio port on the bottom of that so you can plug your wired headphones into it instead of plugging them into the port on the phone itself. This way the cord for your headphones is facing downwards instead of coming out of the side of the phone while youre holding it in landscape mode playing games. Are the AirTriggers still present? The AirTriggers are still there and honestly, these will likely never go anywhere. Its been a signature feature of the ROG Phone since the beginning and they work so amazingly well now with all of the ways you can interact with them. Dont expect ASUS to ever cut these from the device feature list. Advertisement Has the camera improved? Kind of? This is really a yes and no answer. The sensor for the main camera that ASUS is using in the ROG Phone 7 and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is the same sensor that was used in the ROG Phone 6 series. But it does come with a few new features for pictures and video recording. So while the hardware isnt different, the new features can enhance the experience of using the camera, and the software feels like its improved. The photos might look better to you. That being said, the camera is still the same camera. So the experience will be pretty similar. Overall the photos on the ROG Phone 7 series are just fine. The phone takes decent pictures and you arent really buying this phone for the camera quality anyway. ASUS knows this and continues to choose to focus on the gaming-centric features. If you end up buying one of these devices, just go into the purchase knowing that the camera wont be as good as something like the Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy flagships. And youll be a happy camper. Is the cooling better than last year? The cooling is definitely better and has noticeably improved. So much so that in my review I mention that I dont think the AeroActive Cooler 7 is needed. You can comfortably game on the device for a few hours without the phone getting excessively warm. And this is mostly thanks to the improved vapor chamber compared to last year. This is a big step up for gaming on the go and it means you can easily leave the AeroActive Cooler 7 at home if you just dont want to pack it or if you dont have room. Although, there are still definite benefits to using the cooler attachment. For one, it drops the temps of your device by a significant amount. And that will help with performance by helping to prevent things like frame rate dips. It also has a built-in subwoofer for enhanced audio. While I wouldnt call this a true subwoofer, it definitely improves the lows in the audio levels and the sound of your games is noticeably improved. Plus it has a built-in kickstand if you want to play with a Bluetooth controller. The head of a classified Pentagon investigation into mysterious aircraft has co-authored a study proposing an extraterrestrial explanation. UFOs seen recently may be alien probes dispatched from a mothership to investigate our planet. The Pentagon's chief of all-domain anomaly resolution, Sean Kirkpatrick, and Harvard professor Avi Loeb wrote in a March 7 draft paper that the objects, which violate all known laws of physics, maybe "probes" from an alien "parent craft." The authors suggest that the unidentified objects being studied by the Department of Defense (DoD) might be "probes" from a mothership, which is discussed in detail throughout the paper's five pages, as per a report from Politico. There is also a section in the study named "The Extraterrestrial Possibility" and another called "Propulsion Methods." Alien Ships Studying Earth Despite their apparent incompatibility with the laws of physics, the study suggests that these objects may be "probes" sent by an alien "parent craft."It suggests that interstellar objects "could potentially be a parent craft that releases many small probes" throughout its near transit to Earth. The report goes on to say that the probes are analogous to "dandelion seeds" that might get detached from the parent vessel due to the sun's gravitational pull. The research investigates the scientific feasibility of the smaller craft's flight through Earth's atmosphere to the surface, where it may be noticed by humans. It's also said that the "probes" might utilize the sun's rays to "charge their batteries" and Earth's water as fuel. The authors admit they don't know whether there are any working alien spaceships near Earth. According to the publication, Avi Loeb's privately sponsored scholarly endeavor to search for UFOs, known as the Galileo Project, plans to explore this possibility. Read Also: Biden Administration to Implement $6 Billion Student Loan Debt Cancellation Prof. Loeb became famous for his studies of 'Oumuamua, a space rock that seemed to have come from outside our solar system, according to LiveScience. The cigar-shaped object was first recognized as a comet by astronomers in 2017. Its elongated form, lack of a coma (the cloud of gases that surround a comet), and speeding away from the sun cast doubt on the comet theory. Loeb proposed the possibility that 'Oumuamua was indeed an extraterrestrial spacecraft. Top agency officials don't rule out alien life, but government officials, particularly those engaged in the developmental effort to gather information on recent encounters, seldom talk about it. US Senators Call For Budget Increase For UFO Studies After the Biden administration's budget proposal was made public, US senators last month urged a budget increase for the Pentagon's unit that studies unexplained aerial occurrences, The Military Times reported. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who chairs the Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, questioned top Pentagon officials, including Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, specifically about the underfunding of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office in the budget request for the second year in a row. After occurrences involving a Chinese high-altitude balloon and three unexplained objects highlighted the need to better knowledge of unmanned aerial vehicles over US airspace, Gillibrand queried why the office had been underfunded. The Pentagon has requested $11 million for research in the office's budget for the fiscal year 2024, and Austin has promised to fund the entirety of operations in the future. Related Article: China's 'Super Masons' Robot Plans to Build Lunar Bases @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (ANSA) - ROME, APR 13 - Italian volleyball player Julia Ituma is dead after falling from a hotel window in Istanbul overnight while on a trip to Turkey for a Champions League match with her team Igor Gorgonzola Novara, sources at the club and the Italian volleyball federation said on Thursday. Ituma, who had Nigerian roots, was 18 years old. The club voiced "profound pain" at the "premature" death of Ituma and expressed its condolences to her family in a statement,. It added that the Turkish police were investigating and said its officials would maintain "respectful silence" about the case. Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported that closed-circuit TV footage suggested that Ituma had committed suicide by throwing herself from her room on the sixth floor of the hotel. It said her body was found outside the hotel at about 5:30 (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, APR 14 - Italy's justice ministry had the power to request that Russian businessman Artem Uss, who skipped house arrest near Milan recently, remain in prison while awaiting extradition to the United States, the Milan court of appeal has said in a report on the case, sources said Friday. Uss, the 40-year-old son of the governor of a Siberian region, broke his electronic ankle tag and fled on March 22 after learning of the approval of his extradition to the US, where he was facing up to 30 years in prison on charges of sanctions evasion and money laundering. Uss, who was wanted in the US for allegedly smuggling military technology, is now in Russia, the Ria Novosti news agency reported last week. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio has requested clarification on the handling of the case. The Milan court of appeal ruled that Uss could go from jail to house arrest on November 25 and order was executed on December 2, with attachment of an electronic ankle tag. In the report, the court said prosecutors could have challenged the decision and that the ministry could also have requested Uss be jailed at any moment. the source said (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, APR 14 - Vitamin B2, activated charcoal and Nori are just some of the components of the first rechargeable and fully edible battery created at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Milan, Italy, and described in the journal Advanced Materials. The prototype saw the light of day in the IIT's Molecular Electronics Laboratory directed by Mario Caironi with funding from the European Research Council (ERC). Co-author of the study is Ivan Ilic, from the same laboratory. The battery is the first concrete expression of the recently growing field of research into edible electronics. In the future, such batteries could be used to power diagnostic instruments or to monitor food quality, or even to power future edible robots. The battery is composed of riboflavin, known as vitamin B2, which acts as the anode, and quercetin, found in almonds and capers, which acts as the cathode. Activated charcoal has been used to increase electrical conductivity, while in this prototype the electrolyte is water-based. The separator, needed in every battery to avoid short circuits, is made from Nori seaweed, commonly used to make sushi. Lastly, electrodes are encapsulated in beeswax from which two food-grade gold contacts (the foil used by pastry chefs) on a cellulose derived support come out. (ANSA). By EurAsian Times Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky embezzled hundreds of millions of dollars that the US allocated for the purchase of fuel, according to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh. April 15, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " EurAsian Times" -- In his blog, Hersh writes The Ukraine government, headed by Volodymyr Zelensky, has been using American taxpayers funds to pay dearly for the vitally needed diesel fuel that is keeping the Ukrainian army on the move in its war with Russia. It is unknown how much the Zalensky government is paying per gallon for the fuel, but the Pentagon was paying as much as $400 per gallon to transport gasoline from a port in Pakistan, via truck or parachute, into Afghanistan during the decades-long American war there. The issue of corruption was directly raised with Zelensky in a meeting last January in Kyiv with CIA Director William Burns. His message to the Ukrainian president, I was told by an intelligence official with direct knowledge of the meeting, was out of a 1950s mob movie. The senior generals and government officials in Kyiv 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. Burns also presented Zelensky with a list of thirty-five generals and senior officials whose corruption was known to the CIA and others in the American government. Zelensky responded to the American pressure ten days later by publicly dismissing ten of the most ostentatious officials on the list and doing little else. The ten he got rid of were brazenly bragging about the money they haddriving around Kyiv in their new Mercedes, the intelligence official told me. 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. The actual manpower of the 101st and 82nd airborne divisions could total more than 20,000, but there is still no evidence that any senior official in the White House really knows whats going on in the brigades, the intelligence officials told Hersh. Are they there as part of a NATO exercise or to serve with NATO combat units if the West decides to engage Russian units inside Ukraine? Are they there to train or to be a trigger? The rules of engagement say they cant attack Russians unless our boys are getting attacked, the official said. The official said that while the White House lacks clarity on its policy in Ukraine, the Pentagon is somewhat optimistically preparing for an end to the conflict. Two months ago, the US Joint Chiefs tasked members of the staff with drafting an end-of-war treaty to present to the Russians after their defeat on the Ukraine battlefield, Hersh said, citing a source. But it remains unclear what will happen if the Pentagons scenario goes wrong and Ukrainian forces fail on the battlefield: Will the two American brigades deployed close to the war zone join forces with NATO troops and face off with the Russian army inside Ukraine? Hersh asks. Amanda Holden has said some people have too much time on their hands as she addressed the hundreds of complaints made to Ofcom about her outfits on Britains Got Talent. The radio presenter and judge, 52, said she did not want any complaints during the upcoming series given how her male co-stars also both wore revealing shirts. The ITV talent show will return to screens for its 16th series on Saturday evening, with Bruno Tonioli stepping in as a new judge to join Holden, Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon. Everything is HOLDEN! Oh sorry, we mean *GOLDEN*!#BGT fires back into action this Saturday 15th April at 8pm on @ITV 1 & @WeAreSTV pic.twitter.com/1XUaxIIygp BGT (@BGT) April 13, 2023 She said: We are leaving the sequins to Bruno this year. My God. This is the thing that I have got the problem with. Everyone talks about my tits and these two have them out all the time. Your shirt is undone and he is stripping off. I am like, no Ofcom complaints about me this year please. Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Tonioli voiced his support, saying: Dont complain. If you have got it, flaunt it. You girls have it. Show it off. I dont understand this complaining. It is a beautiful woman. They are beautiful women. What is the problem? Holden replied: Its nothing. It is people with too much time on their hands, Bruno. The 2023 judges arrive for auditions in Salford, Manchester, in February (Peter Byrne/PA) Music mogul Cowell also joked that Tonioli is like a windmill when he becomes excited at an act on the show. He added: We did realise on day one that Bruno has never watched this show ever. Cowell said the situation was like him judging Strictly Come Dancing, adding: What do you do? It was hilarious. It was so funny. Little Britain star David Walliams, who had been with the show since 2012, apologised last year for making disrespectful comments about auditioning contestants recorded during filming breaks in January 2020. Britains Got Talent will air on ITV1 and STV from Saturday April 15 at 8pm and Sunday April 16 at 7.45pm. US president Joe Biden broke down in tears on the final day of his Ireland tour after an emotional unplanned meeting with a priest who gave the last rites to his son. The chaplain who performed the last rites sacrament on Mr Bidens son, Beau, now works at the Knock shrine in Co Mayo where the president paid a visit on Friday. Fr Frank OGrady performed the ceremony for Beau Biden before he died of brain cancer in 2015. He received a call requesting that he meet the president, and later told RTE that the encounter was like a reunion. Joe Biden visiting Knock Shrine and Basilica in Mayo with Fr Richard Gibbons (Andrew Downes/Julien Behal Photography) We had a nice chat for about 10 minutes. He was delighted to see me and I was delighted to see him, he said. He gave me a big hug, it was like a reunion. He told me he appreciated everything that was done. He added: I hadnt seen him really in eight years since Beau died. His son Hunter was there too, so we had a real reunion. He certainly misses his son. He has been grieving a lot but I think the grief is kind of going down a bit. We talked a little bit about how grief can take several years. Mr Biden was given a tour of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock a Catholic pilgrimage site by the Parish priest of Knock, Fr Richard Gibbons. Recounting the emotional reunion between the US President and Fr OGrady, he said: It was an extraordinary afternoon. I wont forget it, I can tell you that it was quite something else. After leaving Knock, Mr Biden travelled to Castlebar where he made a private visit to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice. The president had a longstanding pledge to revisit the facility, having turned the sod on the development in 2017. US President Joe Biden visiting Knock Shrine and Basilica in Mayo with Fr Richard Gibbons (Andrew Downes/Julien Behal Photography/PA) A plaque at the entrance to the hospice is dedicated to Beau Bidens memory. At the site Mr Biden, along with his son Hunter and sister Valerie, met with distant cousin Laurita Blewitt. Meanwhile as crowds gathered in Ballina for Mr Bidens final public address, the atmosphere was compared to an All-Ireland final. There is a great sense of occasion here, there is great anticipation building for President Biden, Sinn Fein TD Rose Conway-Walsh said. The eyes of the world are on Mayo and on Ballina tonight and I think the river, the cathedral, lends itself to something really special. Asked whether Mr Bidens visit could bring some good luck to the Mayo GAA team, she said: We are hoping. She said the event reminded her of an All-Ireland GAA final. It is that sense of anticipation when youre going into Croke Park, that youre expecting something good. Mr Bidens visit to Co Mayo is set to end his four-day tour of the island after he touched down at the airport in Knock on Friday afternoon. The trip is another return to ancestral roots for the president after his trip to Co Louth on Wednesday. The president has repeatedly spoken with passion about his Irish heritage and described addressing the countrys parliament on Thursday as one of the great honours of my career. He said its good to be back as he was greeted by various dignitaries including transport minister Eamon Ryan and Mayo TD Dara Calleary after disembarking Air Force One at Ireland West airport. Hes genuinely thrilled to be back in Ireland, Mr Ryan told reporters after speaking with him. The final day of Mr Bidens trip which former taoiseach Enda Kenny said was the longest presidential visit to Ireland ever will culminate in a public address. The speech will take place at St Muredachs Cathedral, which has a direct link to the presidents ancestors. A concert began before the presidential address as crowds gathered in the surrounding streets. 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. After his arrival at the airport, the president first travelled to the Knock shrine where he was greeted by cheering crowds who lined the streets outside. The president touched the apparition wall as part of his tour before Fr Gibbons accompanied him into the Apparition Chapel for some moments of quiet reflection. The president is also visiting the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit. US president Joe Biden was brought to tears after an emotional meeting with the priest who performed the last rites sacrament for his son. Father Frank OGrady performed the sacrament for Beau Biden who died of brain cancer in 2015. Mr Biden toured Knock shrine in Co Mayo as part of his final day of engagements in Ireland. Knock shrine is a Catholic pilgrimage site, where locals claimed to have seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1879. Joe Biden visiting Knock Shrine and Basilica in Mayo with Fr Richard Gibbons (Andrew Downes/Julien Behal Photography) The parish priest of Knock, Father Richard Gibbons, said the president was brought to tears when he met the man who performed the final sacrament for his son. He laughed, he cried, it just kind of hit the man, you could just see how deeply it all felt and meant to him, Fr Gibbons told the BBC. He added: It was an extraordinary afternoon. I wont forget it, I can tell you that it was quite something else. Fr Gibbons said that he was unaware one of the priests in the parish had a personal connection to the president, and so the meeting of President Biden and Fr OGrady was a last minute and chance encounter. He spoke about his family and his connection with his faith, and also about his son Beau who died, Fr Gibbons said. And it just so happened, and this was kind of spontaneous, it just so happened that we have, working at the shrine here, the chaplain who gives the last rites, the last anointing to his son in the United States. Just extraordinary, and I didnt even know that, I didnt know that until the president arrived. Fr Gibbons said on learning of the connection, Mr Biden wanted to meet Fr OGrady immediately. So he dispatched a Secret Service agent to go and find him, I had his number so I contacted him immediately, he said. And he got the shock of his life to come over you know, so that was a wonderful, spontaneous thing that happened. Fr Gibbons said he would have arranged to have Fr OGrady in the line-up to meet the US President if he had known. I asked, I said to Fr Frank OGrady, Why didnt you tell me this when he came? And he said, Well, I didnt want to say too much about it, he said. Fr OGrady said meeting Mr Biden for the first time was like a reunion. He told RTE: We had a nice chat for about 10 minutes. He was delighted to see me and I was delighted to see him. He gave me a big hug, it was like a reunion. He told me he appreciated everything that was done. Fr OGrady said he had not seen Joe Biden since the death of his son Beau eight years ago. I was very surprised when I got a phone call to say the president wanted to see me, he said. It was a delightful 10 minutes with him. I hadnt seen him really in eight years since Beau died. His son Hunter was there too, so we had a real reunion. He certainly misses his son. He has been grieving a lot, but I think the grief is kind of going down a bit. We talked a little bit about how grief can take several years. Fr OGrady added: He certainly was very impressed with Knock. As a man of great faith, it really hit home very hard to him about his sons passing when he comes to Knock, because we talk about mysteries of life and death in a place like Knock, all the time here. He is a man of great faith, and it is just a coincidence that I happened to meet him. Fr Gibbons said Mr Biden had a private moment of prayer before receiving a rare gift from the holy site a piece of stone from the wall where the apparition of the Virgin Mary reportedly occurred. We said a prayer, we said a decade of the Rosary for his family and we lit a candle and then he took a moment or two of private prayer and then we presented him with a gift of some of the original stone of the gable wall where the apparition took place, he said. Mr Biden was pictured touching the original apparition wall before heading inside the chapel. On his arrival at the shrine, the president was met by cheering crowds waving Ireland, US and Mayo flags, one sign in the crowd read Welcome Home Joe. The pilgrimage location has been visited by several popes, most recently by Pope Francis in 2018. Mr Biden is the second Catholic president and has been known to attend Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washingtons Georgetown neighbourhood, a few miles from the White House. It is where the nations first Catholic president, John F Kennedy, also attended mass in his time in office. Upon arrival at Knock airport, Mr Biden was met by various dignitaries including transport minister Eamon Ryan and Mayo TD Dara Calleary. Knock airport was opened in 1985 to attract visitors to the pilgrimage site. It is the fourth busiest airport in Ireland, serving 722,000 passengers in 2022. US President Joe Biden has returned to his ancestral roots as he embarked on a visit to the west of Ireland to round off his four-day trip to the island. The American leader touched down at the airport in Knock, Co Mayo, on Friday afternoon. The visit which comes after his trip to Co Louth on Wednesday where some of his ancestry has been traced to tracks the other side of Mr Bidens family tree. The president has repeatedly spoken with passion about his Irish heritage and described addressing the countrys parliament on Thursday as one of the great honours of my career. Mr Biden was met by various dignitaries including transport minister Eamon Ryan and Mayo TD Dara Calleary at Ireland West Airport, more commonly known as Knock airport. Air Force One, carrying US President Joe Biden, arrives at Ireland West Airport in Co Mayo (Niall Carson/PA) The president spent a few minutes on the tarmac as he and his sister Valerie Biden Owens were greeted by the dignitaries. Its good to be back, he said as he began to shake hands with those there to greet him. The final day of Mr Bidens trip which former taoiseach Enda Kenny said was the longest presidential visit to the island of Ireland ever will culminate in a public address. The speech will take place at St Muredachs Cathedral, which has a direct link to the presidents ancestors. US President Joe Biden is welcomed as he arrives at Ireland West Airport in Co Mayo (Niall Carson/PA) 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. Ahead of the public address, Mr Biden toured the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock a Catholic pilgrimage site that has been visited by popes, most recently by Pope Francis in 2018. The president was greeted by cheering crowds who lined the streets outside the Knock shrine, with some waving Ireland, US and Mayo flags. Inside the basilica, Mr Biden shared a joke with parish priest Father Richard Gibbons, before gazing upon some of the artwork. My trip home to Ireland embodied cead mile failte a hundred thousand welcomes. Its been great to see so many old friends and family and make some new ones. Like my Grandfather used to say: If you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough. pic.twitter.com/cgXDMQkPRn President Biden (@POTUS) April 14, 2023 The president touched the apparition wall as part of his tour before Fr Gibbons accompanied him into the Apparition Chapel for some moments of quiet reflection. The president is also set to visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit. It is believed Mr Biden will also 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. US president Joe Biden has said everything between Ireland and America runs deep as he concluded his historic tour of the island. Mr Biden made a public speech in the town of Ballina in Co Mayo on Friday where he spoke throughout of his fondness for the relationship between the US and Ireland describing it as united by history, heritage and hope. He thanked the thousands in the crowd for their incredible generosity for opening up their homes to Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russias brutal violence. US president Joe Biden walks on stage in Ballina (Brian Lawless/PA) Once again speaking of his Irish ancestry, Mr Biden said millions of Americans claim to have Irish heritage adding: More would if they could. Opening his speech, Mr Biden said: It feels like coming home. The president referenced a visit he made earlier in the day to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice, where there is a plaque in memory of his son Beau. He said: I can tell you how special it is that a piece of his legacy lives here among his ancestors. Thinking about it I could hear my dads voice again. Hed always say Joe remember family is the beginning, the middle and the end. The beginning, middle and end, thats the Irish of it. He added: Everything between Ireland and America runs deep; our history, our heritage, our sorrows, our future, our friendship. But more than anything, hope is what beats in the hearts of all our people. For centuries during times of darkness and despair, hope has kept us marching forward toward a better future, one of greater liberty, greater dignity and greater possibilities. The presidents son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owens sat in the front row of the VIP section to the side of the stage for the speech. During his 20-minute speech, Mr Biden spoke of his ancestor Edward Blewitt, whom he said worked in the old Ballina brickyard. Mr Biden during his speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina (Brian Lawless/PA) The president said during one of his engagements in Co Mayo, he saw a record from 1828 that said Mr Blewitt was paid 21 pounds and 12 shillings to help supply 27,000 bricks for St Muredachs Cathedral, which was nearby as he addressed the crowd. As he laboured, Im sure he would imagine that one day his family would worship here, that his children would be baptised here like his son Patrick was, and that future generations of his family would mark the milestones of their lives here in the sturdy walls, he said. But I doubt he ever imagined his great-great-great grandson would return 200 years later as president of the United States of America. He also thanked Ballina for celebrating his election as president in 2020. You decked out the town Im told in red, white and blue with cars and crowds gathered in the market square singing the green and the red of Mayo, he said. It means the world to me, it meant the world to me and my entire family to be embraced as Mayo Joe, son of Ballina. My mother, my grandmother whose maiden name was Blewitt would be smiling down on me right now. The president also spoke of the Good Friday Agreement, calling it 25 years of peace and progress. It is a reminder the importance of peace and what you can accomplish when we work together in common cause, Mr Biden said. Telling the crowd visiting Ballina felt like going home, he continued: Over the years, stories of this place have become part of my soul, part of my family lore. Mr Biden said he and his siblings were raised with a fierce pride in our Irish ancestry. A pride that spoke to both the history that binds us but more importantly the values that unite us, he said. To this day I can still remember hearing my dad say at the dinner table, Joey, everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect, I can still hear my mom tell me, Joey, nobody is better than you but everybody is your equal. The death of a church caretaker who died after being restrained in police custody more than a decade ago is to be examined by an inquest jury, a coroner has ruled. Thomas Orchard, 32, suffered a cardiac arrest after being held down, handcuffed and placed in restraints with a webbing belt wrapped around his face for five minutes and two seconds. He died in hospital seven days after being arrested and brought to Devon and Cornwall Polices Heavitree Road custody unit in Exeter in October 2012. Thomas Orchard died in hospital in October 2012 after a period of restraint while in police custody (Orchard family/PA) Custody sergeant Jan Kingshott and civilian detention officers Simon Tansley and Michael Marsden were acquitted of manslaughter by gross negligence following a six-week trial at Bristol Crown Court in 2017. Later, the office of the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police pleaded guilty to breaches under the Health and Safety at Work Act and were fined over 230,000. Exeter and Greater Devon Coroners Court heard the inquest into Mr Orchards death would begin in November before a jury and would be held under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It means the scope of the inquest will be expanded to examine whether the state breached its duty to protect Mr Orchards right to life. The inquest heard Mr Orchard, who had paranoid schizophrenia, began to suffer a deterioration in his health and from September 28 was seen by several different medical professionals. Senior coroner Philip Spinney said the jury would hear background evidence of that deterioration. This will include his diagnosis, management of his condition through medication, compliance with his Clozapine regime and the effects of not taking the medication, he said. Mr Spinney said the court would be assisted by evidence from a psychiatrist who could give expert evidence about Mr Orchards care. It is plain that the deterioration in Thomass mental health is a significant issue in this case and I would like to also examine further issues of communication, of risk information and the decision to move to a formal Mental Health Act assessment, he said. I would also like to fully examine the relationship between Thomass mental health and the cause of his death. Michael Marsden, Simon Tansley and Sergeant Jan Kingshott (left to right) were acquitted of manslaughter by a jury (Elizabeth Cook/PA) Mr Orchard was experiencing a mental health crisis when he was arrested in Exeter city centre at 11am on October 3 after being abusive to members of the public. He was dealt with by seven police officers, handcuffed and restrained around his legs before being driven to the custody suite. Sgt Kingshott, Mr Tansley and Mr Marsden, who were on duty there, insisted their actions towards Mr Orchard were proportionate and lawful. None recognised that Mr Orchard was mentally ill and did not check how long he had been physically restrained for 18 minutes by that point. Mr Orchard appeared to attempt to bite an officer as he was taken through the door into the holding area of the custody suite. He was held down by three officers. Mr Tansley called for an emergency response belt (ERB) and wrapped it around Mr Orchards face. Devon and Cornwall Police had authorised the US-made restraint device for use across the face to prevent spitting or biting. A risk assessment by the force did not identify or refer to any risks to detainees when the belt was used around the head. Mr Orchard was carried to a cell and placed chest-down on a mattress, where he was searched while handcuffed, in restraints and with the ERB around his face. The ERB and restraints were then removed and Mr Orchard was left alone in the locked cell where he lay motionless for 12 minutes before custody staff re-entered and commenced CPR. The court heard Mr Orchard was restrained for a total of 22 minutes, with the ERB around his face for five minutes and two seconds. He died in hospital on October 10. A pathologist found he died from severe hypoxic-ischemic brain damage, caused by a prolonged cardio-respiratory arrest following a violent struggle and period of physical restraint. In the health and safety case, a judge ruled they could not be sure that the ERB was a contributory factor in Mr Orchards death. During the inquest, Sgt Kingshott, Mr Tansley and Mr Marsden will be interested persons meaning they can participate in the hearing. Also listed as interested persons are four other officers who were involved in Mr Orchards detention, restraint and transportation. A further pre-inquest review will take place on a later date. Consideration of Irelands international security policy should not by a binary choice on whether it joins a military alliance, the countrys deputy premier has said. Micheal Martins comments came after US President Joe Biden referenced Irelands long-standing policy of neutrality in a speech to the parliament in Dublin. The Irish Government has established a forum to examine issues related to Irelands independent foreign policy position. US President Joe Biden addressing the Irish parliament (Government of Ireland/PA) The forum, which will convene this summer, has been set up amid increasing focus on the policy of military neutrality in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In his speech to the Dail on Thursday, Mr Biden highlighted a quote by President John F Kennedy 60 years ago when he stated that Ireland has never been neutral between liberty and tyranny. 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, President Biden added, as he highlighted that Ireland has committed more than 170 million euro in non-lethal aid to Ukraine. Mr Martin said the President had been very taken by the Irish humanitarian response to the Ukrainian situation. Heartfelt and inspirational words by @POTUS Joe Biden in the Oireachtas. Wonderful day again in Dublin for the Presidents visit. pic.twitter.com/JZeoH0ugNL Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 13, 2023 He constantly refers to the number of Ukrainian refugees that have been welcomed into Ireland and he really thinks it stands out in respect of the responses of other countries, he told RTE Radio One. He knows that weve been a leader in terms of Ukraine becoming members of the European Union, we would have advocated strongly for that. In terms of the broader issue of an independent foreign policy, as he said himself are we are not militarily aligned, but were not politically neutral. Mr Martin said Ireland was already part of the rules-based international order and value system. That value system that the President spoke about is exactly where Ireland is in terms of values around democracy, freedom of the individual, the dignity of the individual and human rights and all of that and in terms of our work in Africa together, and in terms of food hunger, he said. But there are broad threads coming our way, in terms of cybersecurity, hybrid warfare, and we have to be intelligent about that and we have to work in partnership, as we will be, and I think its important that we have a national conversation about that, in terms of the future threats and challenges to this country, and how do we respond to that? Are we equipped for that, and how do we manifest our independent foreign policy into the future? We wish to avoid a binary issue. Its not just about whether you join a military alliance or not. Its much broader than that. And I think most people in the international community are far more tolerant of our position than we might think ourselves, or some people might think here, and I think thats the context for the national conversation. The European Space Agency will make a second attempt to launch after its mission to Jupiter and its moons was postponed as a result of unfavourable weather conditions. The six-tonne probe, named Juice (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer), was due to blast off on Thursday to the solar systems biggest planet to see if its ocean-bearing moons support life. But weather conditions showed there was a risk of lightning, temporarily pausing what would have been the agencys first attempt to send spacecraft to orbit another planets moon. (PA Graphics) Arianespace, which developed the Ariane 5 rocket carrying Juice, said on Twitter that the next attempt will take place on April 14 at 1.14pm UK time. Ahead of the launch, the agency tweeted to say that the weather is looking good so far, with more updates to come. Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency, wished good luck to all the teams involved in the mission. He tweeted: We have waited for many years for #ESAJuice, and we will wait another eight before it reaches Jupiter. But the 24 hours between launch attempt 1 and launch attempt 2 feels like an eternity. Good luck to all the teams today, wishing us great weather for a healthy launch. We have waited for many years for #ESAJuice, and we will wait another eight before it reaches Jupiter. But the 24 hours between launch attempt 1 and launch attempt 2 feels like an eternity. Good luck to all the teams today, wishing us great weather for a healthy launch. https://t.co/FmewlwmNiS Josef Aschbacher (@AschbacherJosef) April 14, 2023 After lift-off, Juice is expected to separate from the rocket about half an hour later, and embark on a 4.1 billion-mile journey that will take more than eight years. Juice has 10 instruments on board, which will investigate whether the gas giants three moons Callisto, Europa and Ganymede can support life in its oceans. 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. Engineers and mission controllers have very a short launch window about one second long 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 the planets to slingshot towards Jupiter. The King spoke of his pride in his two sons as he observed military cadets completing their training, days after it was confirmed that the Duke of Sussex will attend the coronation. On Friday, Charles attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for the 200th Sovereigns Parade, to see the 171 cadets who have completed their training as army officers and will receive their commission at midnight. The visit came after Buckingham Palace confirmed earlier this week that Harry will attend the coronation on May 6, but the Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with the couples children. It was Charles first visit to the parade as King and saw his new colours blessed and presented. The old colours, belonging to the Queen, were then marched on to the parade ground with cadets saluting a statue of her. The King inspects Officer Cadets (Dan Kitwood/PA) Addressing the crowd of friends and families watching the parade, Charles said he spoke as a father of two alumni of this academy and he knew the immense pride they would be feeling. He then recalled his own training 50 years ago, and said: Having attended, and survived, two of the other military academies 50 years ago, I think I have some idea of the challenges which are inherent in military training. I have experienced the nerves, the exhaustion, even the self-doubt, but despite such recollections, it is the lifelong friendships which are forged through shared hardship, and the humour you find in the darkest hours of the coldest, wettest nights, which remain with you. The new colours are paraded (Dan Kitwood/PA) He spoke of the war in Ukraine and praised the support given by the British Army as well as the courageously indomitable Ukrainian people. He said: As we have now passed the first anniversary of the conflict in Ukraine, it is worth saying that I have been particularly impressed and proud of the role the British Army, alongside wider defence, has played in supporting Ukraine. The UK has been a leading nation in delivering training expertise, equipment and advice alongside our allies and partners. The King also praised the Army for its evacuation from Kabul and its support for the Governments response to the pandemic. Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, arrives for the 200th Sovereigns Parade (Dan Kitwood/PA) On a more sombre note he added: Just as pressure in the East remains, so the peaceful world order which we so took for granted, particularly here in the West, is no guarantee. We face challenges at home and abroad, all of which, I know, draw on our Army to assist in keeping the country safe and functioning. Finally he wished the new officers success and good fortune for the future. He said: I can only wish each of you every possible success and good fortune as you embark on your future service to this nation, and a most fulfilling career. We are fortunate to have you, as well as those here today who so loyally support you. Labour has pledged to change the law to prevent people from becoming trapped in unwanted auto-renew subscriptions. Businesses would have to offer a default option without automatic renewal under the partys plans. Customers would be given a choice to opt in to an automatically renewing contract, rather than having to opt out. Citizens Advice research found that people in the UK in 2021 spent half a billion pounds on subscriptions that auto-renewed without them realising, and more than 306 million on unused subscriptions. People are often lured in by a free trial, and get trapped in a subscription when they forget to cancel. The contract may then automatically renew each year without needing their consent, with firms profiting from consumer inertia. Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: In a cost-of-living crisis it is vital we protect customers and make sure they are getting the best value for money possible. Labour will take action to stop companies trapping customers in contracts they no longer want and put power back in customers hands. All good businesses know the way to get customer loyalty is through good service and value for money, not through customers paying for products they dont want. Labour has turned its focus to living costs in its campaign for Englands May 4 local elections, in which it is hoping to snap up votes as the Tories continue to lag far behind in national polls. China's top market regulator pledges measures to stimulate economic vitality Xinhua) 09:44, April 14, 2023 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Home Search ICH Question Everything! Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Why the Media Dont Want to Know the Truth About the Nord Stream Blasts By Jonathan Cook April 15, 2023: Information Clearing House -- No one but the terminally naive should be surprised that security services lie and that they are all but certain to cover their tracks when they carry out operations that either violate domestic or international law or that would be near-universally rejected by their own populations. Which is reason enough why anyone following the fallout from explosions last September that ripped holes in three of the four Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea supplying Russian gas to Europe should be wary of accepting anything Western agencies have to say on the matter. In fact, the only thing that Western publics should trust is the consensus among investigators that the three simultaneous blasts deep underwater on the pipelines a fourth charge apparently failed to detonate were sabotage, not some freak coincidental accident. Someone blew up the Nord Stream pipelines, creating an untold environmental catastrophe as the pipes leaked huge quantities of methane, a supremely active global-warming gas. It was an act of unrivaled industrial and environmental terrorism. If Washington had been able to pin the explosions on Russia, as it initially hoped, it would have done so with full vigor. There is nothing Western states would like more than to intensify world fury against Moscow, especially in the context of NATOs express efforts to weaken Russia through a proxy war waged in Ukraine. But, after the claim made the rounds of front pages for a week or two, the story of Russia destroying its own pipelines was quietly shelved. That was partly because it seemed too difficult to maintain a narrative in which Moscow chose to destroy a critical part of its own energy infrastructure. Not only did the explosions cause Russia great financial harm the countrys gas and oil revenues regularly financed nearly half of its annual budget but the blasts removed Moscows chief influence over Germany, which had been until then heavily dependent on Russian gas. The initial media story required the Western public to believe that President Vladimir Putin willingly shot himself in the foot, losing his only leverage over European resolve to impose economic sanctions on his country. But even more than the complete lack of a Russian motive, Western states knew they would be unable to build a plausible forensic case against Moscow for the Nord Stream blasts. Instead, with no chance to milk the explosions for propaganda value, official Western interest in explaining what had happened to the Nord Stream pipelines wilted, despite the enormity of the event. That was reflected for months in an almost complete absence of media coverage. When the matter was raised, it was to argue that separate investigations by Sweden, Germany and Denmark were all drawing a blank. Sweden even refused to share any of its findings with Germany and Denmark, arguing that to do so would harm its national security. No one, again including the Western media, raised an eyebrow or showed a flicker of interest in what might be really going on behind the scenes. Western states and their compliant corporate media seemed quite ready to settle for the conclusion that this was a mystery cocooned in an enigma. Isolated and friendless It might have stayed that way forever, except that in February, a journalist one of the most acclaimed investigative reporters of the past half-century produced an account that finally demystified the explosions. Drawing on at least one anonymous, highly placed informant, Seymour Hersh pointed the finger for the explosions directly at the US administration and President Joe Biden himself. Hershs detailed retelling of the planning and execution of the Nord Stream blasts had the advantage at least for those interested in getting to the truth of what took place that his account fitted the known circumstantial evidence. At a Senate hearing, top US diplomat Victoria Nuland celebrated the Nord Stream 2 pipeline bombing: "Senator Cruz, like you, I am, and I think the administration is, very gratified to know that Nord Stream 2 is now, as you like to say, a hunk of metal at the bottom of the sea." pic.twitter.com/KS5OM4N165 Aaron Mate (@aaronjmate) January 27, 2023 Key Washington figures, from President Biden to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and his senior neoconservative official Victoria Nuland a stalwart of the murky U.S., anti-Russia meddling in Ukraine over the past decade had either called for the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines or celebrated the blasts shortly after they took place. If anyone had a motive for blowing up the Russian pipelines and a self-declared one at that it was the Biden administration. They opposed the Nord Stream 1 and 2 projects from the outset and for exactly the same reason that Moscow so richly prized them. My latest: If, as seems likely, the US was behind the pipeline blasts, it shows it's ready to turn the whole of Europe into a battlefield and bully, betray and potentially sacrifice the continents population as cruelly as it has treated the Global South https://t.co/cIN1INfiOQ Jonathan Cook (@Jonathan_K_Cook) October 6, 2022 In particular, the second pair of pipelines, Nord Stream 2, which was completed in September 2021, would double the amount of cheap Russian gas available to Germany and Western Europe. The only obstacle in its path was the hesitancy of German regulators. They delayed approval in November 2021. Nord Stream meant major European countries, most especially Germany, would be completely dependent for the bulk of their energy supplies on Russia. That deeply conflicted with U.S. interests. For two decades, Washington had been expanding NATO as an anti-Moscow military alliance embracing ever more of Europe, to the point of butting up aggressively against Russias borders. The Ukrainian governments covert efforts to become a NATO member thereby destroying a long-standing mutual and fragile nuclear deterrence between Washington and Moscow were among the stated reasons why Russia invaded its neighbor in February last year. Nearly a year into the Ukraine war, the western narrative of an 'unprovoked attack' by Moscow has become impossible to sustain https://t.co/xTaHEibKax Jonathan Cook (@Jonathan_K_Cook) January 10, 2023 Washington wanted Moscow isolated and friendless in Europe. The goal was to turn Russia into Enemy No. 2 after China not leave Europeans looking to Moscow for energy salvation. The Nord Stream explosions achieved precisely that outcome. They severed the main reason European states had for cozying up to Moscow. Instead, the U.S. started shipping its expensive liquified natural gas across the Atlantic to Europe, both forcing Europeans to become more energy dependent on Washington and, at the same time, fleecing them for the privilege. But even if Hershs story fitted the circumstantial evidence, could his account stand up to further scrutiny? Peculiarly incurious This is where the real story begins. Because one might have assumed that Western states would be queuing up to investigate the facts Hersh laid bare, if only to see if they stacked up or to find a more plausible alternative account of what happened. Dennis Kucinich, a former chair of a U.S. Congressional investigative subcommittee on government oversight, has noted that it is simply astonishing no one in Congress has been pushing to use its powers to subpoena senior American officials, such as the secretary of the Navy, to test Hershs version of events. As Kucinich observes, such subpoenas could be issued under Congresss Article One, Section 8, Clause 18, providing constitutional powers to gather information, including to inquire on the administrative conduct of office. Similarly, and even more extraordinarily, when a vote was called by Russia at the United Nations Security Council late last month to set up an independent international commission to investigate the blasts, the proposal was roundly rejected. If adopted, the UN Secretary-General himself would have appointed expert investigators and aided their work with a large secretariat. Three Security Council members, Russia, China and Brazil, voted in favor of the commission. The other 12 the U.S. and its allies or small states it could easily pressure abstained, the safest way to quietly foil the creation of such an investigative commission. Excuses for rejecting an independent commission failed to pass the sniff test. The claim was that it would interfere with the existing investigations of Denmark, Sweden and Germany. And yet all three have demonstrated that they are in no hurry to reach a conclusion, arguing that they may need years to carry out their work. As previously noted, they have indicated great reluctance to cooperate. And last week, Sweden once again stated that it may never get to the bottom of the events in the Baltic Sea. As one European diplomat reportedly observed of meetings between NATO policymakers, the motto is: Dont talk about Nord Stream. The diplomat added: Its like a corpse at a family gathering. Its better not to know. It may not be so surprising that Western states are devoted to ignorance about who carried out a major act of international terrorism in blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines, considering that the most likely culprit is the worlds only superpower and the one state that can make their lives a misery. Act of war Hershs investigation is filled with details that could be checked and verified or rebutted if anyone wished to do so. He set out a lengthy planning stage that began in the second half of 2021. He names the unit responsible for the attack on the pipeline: the U.S. Navys Diving and Salvage Center, based in Panama City, Florida. And he explains why it was chosen for the task over the U.S. Special Operations Command: because any covert operation by the former would not need to be reported to Congress. In December 2021, according to his highly placed informant, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan convened a task force of senior administration and Pentagon officials at the request of Biden himself. They agreed that the explosions must not be traceable back to Washington; otherwise, as the source noted: Its an act of war. The CIA brought in the Norwegians, stalwarts of NATO and strongly hostile to Russia, to carry out the logistics of where and how to attack the pipelines. Oslo had its own additional commercial interests in play, as the blasts would make Germany more dependent on Norwegian gas, as well as American supplies, to make up the shortfall from Nord Stream. By March last year, shortly after Russias invasion of Ukraine, the precise site for the attack had been selected: in the Baltics shallow waters off Denmarks Bornholm Island, where the sea floor was only 260ft below the surface, the four pipelines were close together and there were no strong tidal currents. A small number of Swedish and Danish officials were given a general briefing about unusual diving activities to avoid the danger that their navies might raise the alarm. The Norwegians also helped develop a way to disguise the U..S explosive charges so that, after they were laid, they would not be detected by Russian surveillance in the area. Next, the U.S. found the ideal cover. For more than two decades, Washington has sponsored an annual NATO naval exercise in the Baltic every June. The U.S. arranged that the 2022 event, Baltops 22, would take place close to Bornholm Island, allowing the divers to plant the charges unnoticed. The explosives would be detonated through the use of a sonar buoy dropped by plane at the time of President Bidens choosing. Complex arrangements had to be taken to make sure the explosives would not be accidentally triggered by passing ships, underwater drilling, seismic events or sea creatures. Three months later, on September 26, the sonar buoy was dropped by a Norwegian plane, and a few hours later three of the four pipelines were put out of commission. Disinformation campaign The Western medias response to Hershs account has perhaps been the most revealing aspect of the entire saga. It is not just that the establishment media have been so uniformly and remarkably reticent to dig deeper into making sense of this momentous crime beyond making predictable, unevidenced accusations against Russia. It is that they have so obviously sought to dismiss Hershs account before making even cursory efforts to confirm or deny its specifics. The knee-jerk pretext has been that Hersh has only one anonymous source for his claims. Hersh himself has noted that, as with other of his famous investigations, he cannot always refer to additional sources he uses to confirm details because those sources impose a condition of invisibility for agreeing to speak to him. That should hardly be surprising when informants are drawn from a small, select group of Washington insiders and are at great risk of being identified at great personal cost to themselves, given the U.S. administrations proven track record of persecuting whistleblowers. But the fact that this was indeed just a pretext from the establishment media becomes much clearer when we consider that those same journalists dismissive of Hershs account happily gave prominence to an alternative, highly implausible, semi-official version of events. In what looked suspiciously like a coordinated publication in early March, The New York Times and Germanys Die Zeit newspapers printed separate accounts promising to solve one of the central mysteries of the war in Ukraine. The Times headline asked a question it implied it was about to answer: Who Blew Up the Nord Stream Pipelines? Instead, both papers offered an account of the Nord Stream attack that lacked detail, and any detail that was supplied was completely implausible. This new version of events was vaguely attributed to anonymous American and German intelligence sources the very actors, in Hershs account, responsible both for carrying out and covering up the Nord Stream blasts. In fact, the story had all the hallmarks of a disinformation campaign to distract from Hershs investigation. It threw the establishment media a bone: the chief purpose was to lift any pressure from journalists to pursue Hershs leads. Now they could scurry around, looking like they were doing their job as a free press by chasing a complete red herring supplied by U.S. intelligence agencies. Which is why the story was widely reported, notably far more widely than Hershs much more credible account. So what did the New York Times account claim? That a mysterious group of six people had hired a 50ft yacht and sailed off to Bornholm Island, where they had carried out a James Bond-style mission to blow up the pipelines. Those involved, it was suggested, were a group of pro-Ukrainian saboteurs with no apparent ties to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy who were keen to seek revenge on Russia for its invasion. They had used fake passports. The Times further muddied the waters, reporting sources that claimed some 45 ghost ships had passed close to the site of the explosion when their transponders were not working. The crucial point was that the story shifted attention away from the sole plausible possibility, the one underscored by Hershs source: that only a state actor could have carried out the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines. The highly sophisticated, extremely difficult operation needed to be concealed from other states, including Russia that were closely surveilling the area. Now the establishment media was heading off on a completely different tangent. They were looking not at states and most especially not the one with the biggest motive, the greatest capability and the proven opportunity. Instead, they had an excuse to play at being reporters, visiting Danish yachting communities to ask if anyone remembered the implicated yacht, the Andromeda, or suspicious characters aboard it, and trying to track down the Polish company that hired the sailing boat. The media had the story they preferred: one that Hollywood would have created, of a crack team of Jason Bournes giving Moscow a good slapping and then disappearing into the night. Welcome mystery A month on, the media discussion is still exclusively about the mysterious yacht crew, though after reaching a series of dead-ends in a story that was only ever meant to have dead-ends establishment journalists are asking a few tentative questions. Though, let us note, most determinedly not questions about any possible U.S. involvement in the Nord Stream sabotage. Britains Guardian newspaper ran a story last week in which a German security expert wondered whether a group of six sailors was really capable of carrying out a highly complex operation to blow up the Nord Stream pipelines. That is something that might have occurred to a less credulous newspaper a month earlier when the Guardian simply regurgitated the Times disinformation story. But despite the security experts skepticism, the Guardian is still not eager to get to the bottom of the story. It conveniently concludes that the investigation conducted by the Swedish public prosecutor, Mats Ljungqvist, will be unlikely ever to yield a conclusive answer. Or as Ljungqvist observes: Our hope is to be able to confirm who has committed this crime, but it should be noted that it likely will be difficult given the circumstances. Hershs account continues to be ignored by the Guardian beyond a dismissive reference to several theories and speculation other than the laughable yacht story. The Guardian does not name Hersh in its report or the fact that his highly placed source fingered the U.S. for the Nord Stream sabotage. Instead, it notes simply that one theory Hershs has been zeroing on a Nato Baltops 22 wargame two months before the attack. Its all still a mystery for the Guardian and a very welcome one by the tenor of its reports. The Washington Post has been performing a similar service for the Biden administration on the other side of the Atlantic. A month on, it is using the yacht story simply to widen the enigma rather than narrow it down. The paper reports that unnamed law enforcement officials now believe the Andromeda yacht was not the only vessel involved, adding: The boat may have been a decoy, put to sea to distract from the true perpetrators, who remain at large, according to officials with knowledge of an investigation led by Germanys attorney general. The Washington Posts uncritical reporting surely proves a boon to Western investigators. It continues to build an ever more elaborate mystery, or international whodunnit, as the paper gleefully describes it. Its report argues that unnamed officials wonder if the explosive traces collected months after the rented boat was returned to its owners were meant to falsely lead investigators to the Andromeda as the vessel used in the attack. The paper then quotes someone with knowledge of the investigation: The question is whether the story with the sailboat is something to distract or only part of the picture. How does the paper respond? By ignoring that very warning and dutifully distracting itself across much of its own report by puzzling whether Poland might have been involved too in the blasts. Remember, a mysterious Polish company hired that red-herring yacht. Poland, notes the paper, had a motive because it had long warned that the Nord Stream pipelines would make Europe more energy dependent on Russia. Exactly the same motive, we might note though, of course, the Washington Post refuses to do so that the Biden administration demonstrably had. The paper does inadvertently offer one clue as to where the mystery yacht story most likely originated. The Washington Post quotes a German security official saying that Berlin first became interested in the [Andromeda] vessel after the countrys domestic intelligence agency received a very concrete tip from a Western intelligence service that the boat may have been involved in the sabotage. The German official declined to name the country that shared the information information that helpfully draws attention away from any US involvement in the pipeline blasts and redirects it to a group of untraceable, rogue Ukraine sympathizers. The Washington Post concludes that Western leaders would rather not have to deal with the possibility that Ukraine or allies were involved. And, it seems the Western media our supposed watchdogs on power feel exactly the same way. Parody intelligence In a follow-up story last week, Hersh revealed that Holger Stark, the journalist behind Die Zeits piece on the mystery yacht and someone Hersh knew when they worked together in Washington, had imparted to him an interesting additional piece of information divulged by his countrys intelligence services. Hersh reports: Officials in Germany, Sweden, and Denmark had decided shortly after the pipeline bombings to send teams to the site to recover the one mine that has not gone off. [Holger] said they were too late; an American ship had sped to the site within a day or two and recovered the mine and other materials. Holger, Hersh says, was entirely uninterested in Washingtons haste and determination to have exclusive access to this critical piece of evidence: He answered, with a wave of his hand, You know what Americans are like. Always wanting to be first. Hersh points out: There was another very obvious explanation. Hersh also spoke with an intelligence expert about the plausibility of the mystery yacht story being advanced by the New York Times and Die Zeit. He described it as a parody of intelligence that only fooled the media because it was exactly the kind of story they wanted to hear. He noted some of the most glaring flaws in the account: Any serious student of the event would know that you cannot anchor a sailboat in waters that are 260 feet deep the depth at which the four pipelines were destroyed but the story was not aimed at him but at the press who would not know a parody when presented with one. Further: You cannot just walk off the street with a fake passport and lease a boat. You either need to accept a captain who was supplied by the leasing agent or owner of the yacht, or have a captain who comes with a certificate of competency as mandated by maritime law. Anyone whos ever chartered a yacht would know that. Similar proof of expertise and competence for deep sea diving involving the use of a specialized mix of gases would be required by the divers and the doctor. And: How does a 49-foot sailboat find the pipelines in the Baltic Sea? The pipelines are not that big and they are not on the charts that come with the lease. Maybe the thought was to put the two divers into the water not very easy to do so from a small yacht and let the divers look for it. How long can a diver stay down in their suits? Maybe fifteen minutes. Which means it would take the diver four years to search one square mile. The truth is that the Western press has zero interest in determining who blew up the Nord Stream pipelines because, just like Western diplomats and politicians, media corporations dont want to know the truth if it cannot be weaponized against an official enemy state. The Western media are not there to help the public monitor the centers of power, keep our governments honest and transparent, or bring to book those who commit state crimes. They are there to keep us ignorant and willing accomplices when such crimes are seen as advancing on the global stage the interests of Western elites including the very transnational corporations that run our media. Which is precisely why the Nord Stream blasts took place. The Biden administration knew not only that its allies would be too fearful to expose its unprecedented act of industrial and environmental terrorism but that the media would dutifully line up behind their national governments in turning a blind eye. The very ease with which Washington has been able to carry out an atrocity one that has caused a surge in the cost of living for Europeans, leaving them cold and out of pocket during the winter, and added considerably to existing pressures that have been gradually deindustrializing Europes economies will embolden the U.S. to act in equally rogue ways in the future. In the context of a Ukraine war in which there is the constant threat of a resort to nuclear weapons, where that could ultimately lead should be only too obvious. The story no one wanted told. Seymour Hersh reveals how the US blew up the Nordstream gas pipelines, one of the great environmental disasters of our time. I'm guessing Hersh published on Substack because no establishment media outlet dared touch his expose https://t.co/B2IxQj5kuh Jonathan Cook (@Jonathan_K_Cook) February 9, 2023 But what should be more peculiar is that Western media have shown precisely no interest in getting to the truth of the matter either. They have remained completely incurious to an event of enormous international significance and consequence. It is not only that Hershs account has been ignored by the Western press as if it did not even exist. It is that none of the media appear to have made any effort to follow up with their own investigations to test his account for plausibility. Jonathan Cook is a British writer and a freelance journalist based in Nazareth, Israel, who writes about the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. He writes a regular column for The National of Abu Dhabi and Middle East Eye. Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Reader financed- No Advertising - No Government Grants - No Algorithm - This Is Independent Get Our Free Newsletter Registration is not necessary to post comments. We ask only that you do not use obscene or offensive language. Please be respectful of others. See also Search Information Clearing House The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. Joe Biden sought the endorsement of Irish hearts and minds in Co Mayo on Friday, in return granting the presidential seal of approval to the countys decades-long search for footballing glory. When the US president concluded his remarks with the words: Mayo for Sam, it brought to close a homecoming that had all the flavour of a GAA All-Ireland celebration. As anticipation built in the small town of Ballina, crowds queued for several hours down towards the Moy riverfront and St Muredachs Cathedral that framed the US Presidents speech. The rain became a running joke, interspersing the acts and introductions from The Chieftains to former Irish president Mary Robinson that all built-up to Mr Bidens arrival. US president Joe Biden on stage after delivering a speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina (Brian Lawless/PA) When it came, after nearly four hours after gates opened at 5.30pm, it was suitably dramatic. After a helicopter swept over the heads of the crowd and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar hailed him as most Irish of all American presidents, the octogenarian president swept onto the stage more like a rock star than GAA star to the sound of Dropkick Murphys Im Shipping Up From Boston. But from there, the president in the folksy fashion that has defined his visit was keen to stress his humble roots in the Irish town. He referenced ancestor Edward Blewitt and his toils in the old Ballina brickyard and role in the construction of St Muredachs Cathedral. As he laboured, Im sure he would imagine that one day his family would worship here, that his children would be baptised here like his son Patrick was, and that future generations of his family would mark the milestones of their lives here in the sturdy walls, but I doubt he ever imagined his great-great-great grandson would return 200 years later as president of the United States of America, he said. There were cheers and whoops from the crowd through the speech, which stretched across the sweeping Ballina riverfront and at times appeared like a sea of waving American and Irish flags. His Mayo heritage, as much as the river and cathedral, provided the scenery for the address. People wait for US president Joe Biden (Brian Lawless/PA) A poem by great-great grandfather even featured, but in an echo of his other speeches Mr Biden used his roots to preach a more serious message about the future. He said: My friends, people of Mayo, this is a moment to recommit our hearts, our minds, our ardent souls to the march of progress. To lay the foundation brick by brick by brick, for a better future for our kids and our grandkids, one of greater liberty, opportunity and dignity just like our ancient ancestors did for us. Ive never been more optimistic and Ive been doing this a long time. Mr Biden will return to the US now with plenty of memories of Mayo and his Irish visit. In the west of Ireland too, long after the buntings and flags are gone, the late-night mission statement from Washington to Ballina will surely resonate for a long time to come. The Metropolitan Police force has apologised to former glamour model Katie Price and her son, Harvey, after two officers were sacked over discriminatory messages they sent about him. Pc Glynn Rees and Pc Dave Selway were dismissed by a disciplinary panel on Friday at Palestra House in Southwark, central London, after they and six former officers were found guilty of gross misconduct. The pair along with former sergeant Luke Thomas, former acting sergeant Luke Allen and former constables Kelsey Buchan, Lee South, Darren Jenner, and Carlo Francisco were also barred for life from the police service. The group was found to have sent racist, homophobic, disablist, transphobic and sexist messages between May 2016 and June 2018 in a WhatsApp group called Secret Squirrel Shit. During an interview with the PA news agency after the hearing, Commander Jon Savell apologised to Katie and Harvey Price on behalf of the force. He said: I am truly sorry about the awful messages that were shared that targeted Katie Price and her family. They are horrendous, and I am truly very sorry. They should not have happened, and weve dealt with and those officers have been dismissed. When asked how much damage the case had caused to the Mets reputation, he said: An enormous amount of damage. We want the public to trust us, to understand that we will deal with them fairly and impartially, and if officers have got these attitudes and behaviours, thats completely wrong and I suspect that the public are reeling again about more officers that have committed horrible acts. We are lifting every stone to do our very best to find these people. There will be more coming out as we discover these people as we get rid of them out of the Met. Metropolitan Police Commander Jon Savell apologised to Katie and Harvey Price on behalf of the force (James Manning/PA) Mr Savell said it is very difficult to root out officers who should be sacked from the force, especially when someone is a very good officer as many of the officers involved had glowing character references. He added that dark humour has no place in policing. During the hearing, Price posted a photograph of her son on her Instagram story, saying she was proud of him though she did not mention the case. The 44-year-old TV personality previously said she had been shocked and upset by the comments officers made about her 20-year-old son, who suffers from PraderWilli syndrome and autism. Legal chair Christopher McKay said the messages had been derogatory towards Mr Price, and towards a junior female officer known in the hearings as Officer A. The panel found the most senior-ranking officer in the group, Mr Thomas, was one of the most active participants in the WhatsApp group, and the most blameworthy of all the officers. The officers were part of a WhatsApp group called Secret Squirrel Shit (Nick Ansell/PA) He 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 that Mr Thomas should have set the tone for the group, but instead became one of the worst offenders. Mr Jenner, who Mr McKay said is believed to be living abroad and has not participated in any way in these proceedings, contributed to the conversation about naming a dog after concentration camps. Meanwhile, Mr 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. An edited photograph of Mr Price was sent by Mr Selway, 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***. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was disgusted by the messages (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Mr Allen, who said he felt ashamed by his comments, had posted a photograph of himself in the chat attempting to imitate Mr Price, with the caption: Hello you c***. A colleague was referred to as a f****** rude little c*** with a mongy fanclub in a message sent by Ms Buchan, who also insulted Officer As appearance, as did Mr Francisco. Mr South, who was one of the more active members of the chat, made a reference to cotton picking when talking about a black inspector, and said: If any of this group got out my job would be f***** long ago. Mr McKay said that many of the officers had been considered good at their jobs, including Mr Thomas who had 14 commendations he had received throughout his career. However, he added that their personal mitigations and the fact that the messages were shared in a private group provides no defence. Mr Thomas, Mr Allen, Ms Buchan, Mr South and Mr Jenner resigned from the Met after the messages were unearthed, while Mr Francisco was dismissed in July 2022 for an unrelated matter involving discreditable conduct, according to the force. Met Commander Jon Savell said the case has caused enormous damage to the reputation of the force (Nick Ansell/PA) Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was disgusted by the messages in an interview with PA before the hearing, and afterwards he said he welcomed the dismissals. He said: The messages shared by the two serving police officers and six former officers in this WhatsApp group were vile and fell far below normal standards of common decency, let alone the high standards the public rightly expects from those who serve Londons diverse communities. I welcome the ruling today, which sends a signal that there is absolutely no place for racism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, bullying, harassment or any form of discrimination in the Met Police. Two Metropolitan Police officers have been sacked over discriminatory and offensive texts they sent to colleagues, including some which made fun of Katie Prices disabled son Harvey. The two serving officers and six former colleagues were found guilty of gross misconduct over racist, homophobic and sexist messages they shared between May 2016 and June 2018 in a WhatsApp group called Secret Squirrel Shit. On Friday, Pc Glynn Rees and Pc Dave Selway, who was named by the force after he had been granted anonymity throughout as Officer B, were dismissed by the disciplinary panel at Palestra House in Southwark, central London, following a six-day hearing. Eight Met Police officers were found guilty of gross misconduct over WhatsApps they shared, including some about Katie Prices son Harvey (Nick Ansell/PA) The pair, along with former sergeant Luke Thomas, former acting sergeant Luke Allen and former constables Kelsey Buchan, Lee South, Darren Jenner, and Carlo Francisco, were also barred for life from the police service. Mr Thomas, Mr Allen, Ms Buchan, Mr South and Mr Jenner resigned from the Met after the messages were unearthed, while Mr Francisco was dismissed in July 2022 for an unrelated matter involving discreditable conduct, according to the force. Their texts 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. The force apologised to those who had been the subject of the messages. Legal chair Christopher McKay said their messages had caused significant harm to the already tarnished reputation of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and had upset Katie and Harvey Price. He said: Racist, sexist, homophobic and transphobic attitudes revealed in the posts and comments have undermined the reputation of the Metropolitan Police Service as a fair and impartial body. Harm has been caused to Harvey Price and his mother, who have learned of the posts recently, and this has resulted in a loss of confidence in the MPS by Katie Price. Officer A is now aware of the insulting way in which she was referred to by members of the group. She must have been upset. The panel found the most senior-ranking officer in the group, Mr Thomas, was one of the most active participants in the WhatsApp group. He 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 that Mr Thomas should have set the tone for the group but instead became one of the worst offenders. He is the most blameworthy of all the officers, he said. Mr Jenner, who Mr McKay said is believed to be living abroad and has not participated in any way in these proceedings, contributed to the conversation about naming a dog after concentration camps. Meanwhile, Mr 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. An edited photograph of Mr Price was sent by Mr Selway, 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***. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was disgusted by the messages (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Mr Allen, who said he felt ashamed by his comments, had posted a photograph of himself in the chat attempting to imitate Mr Price, with the caption: Hello you c***. A colleague was referred to as a f****** rude little c*** with a mongy fanclub in a message sent by Ms Buchan, who also insulted Officer As appearance, as did Mr Francisco. Mr South, who was one of the more active members of the chat, made a reference to cotton picking when talking about a black inspector, and said: If any of this group got out my job would be f***** long ago. Mr McKay said that many of the officers had been considered good at their jobs, including Mr Thomas who had 14 commendations he had received throughout his career. However, he added: Personal mitigation is of little significance when gross misconduct has been established against a serving police officer. Mr McKay said the fact the offending messages were shared in a private WhatsApp group also provides no defence. Speaking after the hearing, Met Commander Jon Savell said: I was repulsed and ashamed to read the deeply offensive messages sent by these officers and I utterly condemn their behaviour. I am deeply sorry to those who have been the subject of such awful, disgusting messages. We are under no illusion that public trust and confidence in us depends on us re-establishing our integrity and professionalism. This is another painful day for us. We know there are more uncomfortable days to come as we turn over the stones and uncover others who corrupt our integrity. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was disgusted by the messages. He told the PA news agency earlier: Im as disgusted as other Londoners are by the fact that certain police officers, any member of society, in fact, should behave in this way, further evidence of institutional racism, institutional social institutional homophobia. Theres no place in our police service for anybody who is racist, sexist, homophobic, misogynistic. We want our police service to be anti-racist, anti-misogynistic and anti-homophobic. Nearly 45,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel since the Government signed the Rwanda deal a year ago. This includes almost 5,000 people who have made the journey so far this year, despite a promised crackdown. The figures come as Rishi Sunak 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. Home Secretary Suella Braverman (centre) touring a building site in Rwandas capital Kigali last month (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Suella Braverman told of her dream of seeing the Governments plan to send migrants to Rwanda succeed after she was appointed Home Secretary, a policy which High Court judges ruled is lawful but has so far been stalled by legal action. Her predecessor Priti Patel signed what she described as a world-first agreement with Rwanda on April 14 last year to send migrants deemed to have arrived in the UK illegally to the east African nation. There were 44,826 migrants recorded arriving in the UK after crossing the Channel between April 15 2022 and April 13 2023, according to analysis of Government figures by the PA news agency. As of Thursday, the total for 2023 to date stood at 4,899, with no crossings recorded since Monday amid bad weather conditions in the Channel. April 5 saw the years highest daily total for arrivals so far (492). But the 1,295 detected on August 22 2022 is still the highest number of people on record to arrive in a single day since 2018. In November Home Office permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft confirmed Britain had already paid Rwanda 140 million under the deal but said he was still unsure whether the policy was value for money. According to The Times, the Home Office also spent 163,000 on Ms Patels trip to the capital Kigali to announce the deal as well as at least 22,000 on trips for officials to discuss the agreement. A further 300,000 was spent on the first deportation flight, due to take off on June 14, which was grounded amid legal challenges, while the cost of Ms Bravermans first visit to Rwanda as home secretary last month is yet to be disclosed, the newspaper said. The battle over the legality of the policy continues, with a four-day hearing listed at the Court of Appeal from April 24. The Prime Minister pledged to stop the boats as one of his five main priorities while in office. In an interview with ConservativeHome on Thursday, Mr Sunak said the immigration issue is complicated with no single, simple solution. He said he expects a legal battle over the novel, untested and ambitious Illegal Migration Bill, which is going through Parliament, and confirmed there may well be an interim judgment from the European Court of Human Rights against the policy, as happened with the Rwanda scheme. The Government has vowed to change the law to make it clear people arriving in the UK illegally will not be allowed to stay, either facing deportation back to their home country or a nation like Rwanda where a deal is in place. Attempts by ministers and officials to use a former RAF base in Essex to house asylum seekers are 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. A coroner investigating the death of mother-of-two Nicola Bulley has warned against speculation following police searches of a river. A police diving team was recently seen in the water not far from a weir and downstream from a bench where police believe Ms Bulley, 45, went into the water in St Michaels on Wyre, Lancashire, on January 27. She vanished while walking her dog along the River Wyre after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school, sparking a huge search operation and intense media and public interest. Her body was found in the river 23 days after she went missing, around a mile farther downstream from the bench on February 19. Police divers were spotted in the River Wyre on April 4 and a brief clip was uploaded to YouTube, prompting speculation about the activity on social media. Dr James Adeley, HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire, said: Speculation as to the role and purpose of officers acting on my instructions is unhelpful in the resolution of this inquest. A Lancashire police spokesman said: There has been misinformed speculation over the past few days relating to police activity in the River Wyre. As previously stated, police divers were acting under instruction of HM Senior Coroner and had been asked to assess the riverbanks in the vicinity of where Nicola Bulley went missing. They had not been tasked either to perform any further searches within the river or along the banks or to locate any articles. This activity is to assist with the coronial process. An inquest into Ms Bulleys death is to be held on June 26. The King spoke of his family links with Sandhurst as he attended the 200th Sovereigns Parade in the presence of massed ranks of officer cadets. Charles, due to be crowned next month after succeeding his mother, spoke of his own military training experiences but had a word about his sons William and Harry, pointing out they were both alumni of the famous academy. New colours were raised and blessed, although the late Queen was remembered with a salute in the presence of her colours. Officer cadets parade into the Old College building (Andrew Matthews/PA) Cadets on parade (Andrew Matthews/PA) The King inspects cadets at Sandhurst (Dan Kitwood//PA) It was the 200th Sovereigns Parade (Dan Kitwood/PA) Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, right, arrives for the 200th Sovereigns Parade (Andrew Matthews/PA) Officer cadets on the parade ground (Andrew Matthews/PA) Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Harry will travel to the UK for the coronation although the Duchess of Sussex and their children will remain in California. The King said: Having attended, and survived, two of the other military academies 50 years ago, I think I have some idea of the challenges which are inherent in military training. The new colours for the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) are paraded (Andrew Matthews/PA) Officer cadets give three cheers to the King (Andrew Matthews/PA) The massed ranks of officer cadets (Andrew Matthews/PA) Charles pointed out the dangers currently facing the world as he said: Just as pressure in the East remains, so the peaceful world order which we so took for granted, particularly here in the West, is no guarantee. He wished the cadets good luck in their careers, saying: We are fortunate to have you, as well as those here today who so loyally support you. The King honours the new colours (Dan Kitwood/PA) The new colours of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst are blessed (Andrew Matthews/PA) The old colours of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, which carry the crown and cypher belonging to Queen Elizabeth II, are paraded off the parade square (Andrew Matthews/PA) A plan of the Titanic used in the inquiry into the sinking of the ship in 1912 could sell for more than 200,000 when it goes under the hammer at auction. The 33ft (10m) cross-section plan was commissioned by the British Board of Trade to assist in the 36-day inquiry. The extraordinary plan was used by witnesses and experts to establish the cause of the tragedy, and even contains original chalk marks showing what happened. The cross-section plan of the Titanic was commissioned by the British Board of Trade to assist in the inquiry into the sinking (Henry Aldridge & Son/PA) The enormous drawing, which was mounted on linen, was so pivotal to the inquiry that it was put up in the official hearing room so witnesses could refer to it constantly. The hand-drawn plan of the Titanic was prepared by White Star Line architects for the 1912 British inquiry into the sinking of the ship, just weeks after the disaster. It allowed the 96 witnesses called to testify to indicate various parts of the ship using a pointer. After the inquiry concluded that the loss of the ship had been brought about by excessive speed, the unique plan was returned to White Star. In 2011 it was bought by a private collector for 220,000, which was then a world record for Titanic memorabilia. Since 2012 it has been on public display in Belfast and has been viewed by several million people. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge, of Henry Aldridge & Son, said: This lot represents what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire a most unique and historically significant part of Titanics story for which period images exist in situ. The front page of the Daily Sketch newspaper reporting on the opening of the Titanic inquiry (Henry Aldridge & Son/PA) It is a magnificent and commanding piece, both historically and visually and it eclipses anything we have seen on the market for Titanic in terms of size. It has been on exhibition in Titanic Belfast since 2012 and having been viewed and enjoyed by several million people during this time, most importantly it has undergone an extensive process of archival stabilisation. The plan will be sold on April 22 at Henry Aldridge and Son Ltd in Devizes, Wiltshire. A Ukrainian reporter who came to the UK as a refugee last year is planning to run free walking tours of Liverpool in her countrys language during the Eurovision Song Contest finals in the city next month. Maria Romanenko, 30, left the Kyiv region for Manchester last year at the start of the Russian invasion. Her partner, Jez, who was born in Manchester, was with her at the time. The couple made a perilous journey to the Polish border, where they had to wait four days before receiving confirmation that Maria would be able to come to the UK with Jez, arriving in the UK on March 2 2022. Maria Romanenko, 30, is planning to run free walking tours of Liverpool in her countrys language (Maria Romanenko/PA) Ms Romanenko studied for her A-levels in Oxfordshire and her degree in Leeds before returning to Ukraine, where she worked as a journalist for six years. She decided to use her fluency in English to help other Ukrainians settle into life in Britain, and began offering free walking tours of Manchester in May last year. I have my partner here as well as my best friend from university, so I have most things that a person would need to feel at home, she said. But there are lots of Ukrainians who came here with none of these things and on top of that, they dont speak very much English. So one of the first things I came up with to help was to do walking tours I also interpret for Ukrainians to help them access housing and healthcare, as well as telling the story of how I made it to the UK to raise awareness of what is happening. Her tours of Manchester have been a huge success, with each one being attended by more than a hundred people. Now she plans to offer tours of Liverpool in Ukrainian during Eurovision week with the support of a local English and Spanish walking tours company. Ms Romanenkos tours of Manchester have been a huge success, with each one being attended by more than a hundred people (Maria Romanenko/PA) Thanks to the Governments reduced price ticket scheme, there are 3,000 Ukrainians guaranteed to be coming to Liverpool who are refugees, so I thought they will be looking for something to do, Ms Romanenko said. Ukrainians will also be coming from overseas and will be wanting to learn more about the city as well as attend the shows. Theyre open to people who live in Liverpool already but mostly we are hoping to attract people who are visiting the city. Ms Romanenko will be covering some of the Eurovision song contest as a reporter, which she also did in 2017 when the final was hosted in Kyiv, while she has applied for a ticket to the final show. Im thrilled to announce that free walking tours in Ukrainian are coming to #Liverpool next month, in time for #Eurovision! Im teaming up with KR Spanish and English Tours Liverpool to show as many visiting Ukrainians as possible around this beautiful city. We have 3 dates, pic.twitter.com/oPRoZaKlGV Maria Romanenko (@rommari) April 11, 2023 Im a Eurovision fan but so is everyone in Ukraine, she said. Its a massive deal, its like the Super Bowl but for music. Soldiers will be watching it like they did last year, people will find a way to tune in even if there is a power cut. Eurovision will allow the country to unite and cheer for Ukraine. Its important to keep cultural events going because it brings some normality to peoples lives. It allows people to de-stress just a little bit. Ms Romanenko, 30, left the Kyiv region for Manchester last year after the Russian invasion (Maria Romanenko/PA) Ms Romanenkos tours will run on May 7, 10 and 12 with the help of KR Spanish and English Tours Liverpool. They will cover some of Liverpools biggest landmarks like The Three Graces and Ms Romanenko will also teach tourists about the Beatles origins and the citys Second World War history. Sewage, agriculture, climate change, microplastics and pharmaceuticals appear to have slowed the biological recovery of rivers in England and Wales, new research suggests. A study of invertebrates that live on river beds found their numbers had increased by nearly 10% from the early 1990s until 2018 for more pollution-sensitive species, but their recovery has since waned. Researchers from Cardiff University analysed nearly 50,000 invertebrates collected from around 4,000 streams and rivers. Emma Pharaoh, a PhD researcher from the universitys School of Biosciences, said: Invertebrates are important indicators of river health, reflecting pollution and other human impacts. By looking at the types of invertebrates living on the river bed, we can get a good picture of river health. Up to 2018, the number of invertebrate families in our rivers increased by nearly 10% and communities were comprised of more pollution-sensitive invertebrates. We also found that despite urban rivers historically being the most polluted, they showed the greatest improvements taking them closer in quality to rural rivers. Last year, sewage was dumped into UK waterways on more than 300,000 occasions, a drop from the previous year but only because of exceptionally dry weather, the Environment Agency said. The Government has said it is making water companies invest 56 million into improving the infrastructure to reduce pollution and that awareness of the scale of the problem is because of more improved monitoring. Despite the recent recovery slowdown, the broader trend since the 1990s has been positive, the researchers of the current study said. Dr Ian Vaughan of Cardiff Universitys School of Biosciences said: These results represent a positive story about rivers, against a background of often bad news. With ongoing issues including water quality and climate change, rivers face many challenges. These results highlight how biodiversity can recover if environmental quality is improved. The study used data from the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and updated a 10-year-old analysis from Cardiff University, which allowed the researchers to investigate trends over decades. Ceri Davies, executive director of evidence, policy and planning at NRW said: While we have made good progress in protecting and enhancing our waters over recent decades, this study is a stark reminder that there is still a long way to go. The challenges facing our rivers may evolve with time, but the need for concerted and collaborative action to conserve them remains. Now is a pivotal time for change, not complacency, and an opportunity to once again accelerate improvements to our rivers. Professor Steve Ormerod of Cardiff Universitys School of Biosciences and Deputy Chairman of Natural Resources Wales added: Urban river improvements since the early 1990s reflect the combined effects of industrial decline, improved regulation and investment in wastewater treatment. But hints of a more recent slowdown show how we need further action especially from regulators, water companies and agriculture to regain and maintain the positive trends. A 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 first delivered to Hollywood star Steve McQueen is heading to auction later this year. The 275 GTB/4 by Scaglietti is already considered one of the most desirable classic Ferrari models around, but this 1967 adds even further provenance as it was first delivered to Steve McQueen, who owned the car for more than four years. McQueen is considered a motoring icon of the silver screen, best known for his work in the films Bullitt (1968) and Le Mans (1971). The lives on in this Ferrari. Steve McQueen's 1967 @Ferrari 275 GTB/4 will be among the star car offerings at RM Sotheby's Monterey auction this summer. https://t.co/BhfPp5vtbg pic.twitter.com/zRn6Q6wbE2 RM Sotheby's (@rmsothebys) April 13, 2023 The 275 GTB/4 was brought back to its original McQueen specification by Ferrari Classiche the supercar firms in-house restoration service between 2010 and 2013. Since then, it has been displayed in Ferraris official museum in Maranello, as well as appearing at the Villa dEste Concorso dEleganza. Its being sold by RM Sothebys at its sale coinciding with Monterey Car Week in California on August 18 and 19, with an estimate of $5m-$7m (4m-5.6m). Other star lots at the Monterey sale include a rare Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider, one of just 121 made. Finished in its original black colour scheme, it is estimated to sell for $2.8m-$3.2m (2.2m-2.6m). The 1938 BMW 328 Special Competition Roadster is one of just three delivered to the German racing team. (RM Sothebys) A collection of six cars from a private collector are also being sold, with the star model being a 1938 BMW 328 Special Competition Roadster, one of only three supplied to the German national racing team, and considered to be one of the most historically important BMW racing cars. It has also been part of the same family ownership for 52 years, and is estimated to sell for $1.9m-$2.9m (1.7m-2.7m). Gord Duff, global head of Auctions, RM Sothebys, said: Were thrilled to announce the former Steve McQueen 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 as our first major consignment, a perfect car to kickstart the coming lineup. But thats just the beginning, as weve also secured a private collection of exceptional cars. By Pepe Escobar April 15, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " SCF " -- The script reads like a spoof straight out of legendary Mad magazine 1960s cartoon Spy vs. Spy: Secret Pentagon Documents Fall in the Hands of Malign Russia. Well, actually in the hands of millions accessing Twitter and Telegram. So here, at face value, we have a major leak essentially detailing Pentagon planning for the next stage of the NATO vs. Russia proxy war in Ukraine: the interminably debated Spring counter-offensive that may, or may not, start in mid-April, as well as war plans shared with FVEY the Five Eyes. The leaked intel might and the operative word is might be advantageous to Russia were this not to be misdirection: and the possibility is quite real. The inestimable Ray McGovern, who knows one or two things about the CIA, noted whether the Pentagon is falsifying kill-ratio to gild Easter lilies in Kyiv? Recent leak of an apparently official NATO document shows 71,500 Ukrainians KIA and only 16,000 to 17,500 Russians, a far cry from earlier Pentagon estimates. All sounds so Vietnam-deja vu! So this may be Vietnam all over again never count on the Pentagon learning from their mistakes but could be something way more alarming, according to a top Beltway intel source, retired: Our interpretation of this breach is that intel sources in the United States have released critical intel data in order to avoid a nuclear war with Russia. As it stands, the only certainty is that the spin war has gone berserk. So the leaker may have been a disgruntled U.S. insider. No, wait: the whole thing may be fake, as the Pentagon insists. In spin speak, that would be an attempt to spread false information that could harm the U.S.. Tweaked or not, the secret Pentagon comparative war dead ratio between Russians and Ukrainians still does not make sense. The numbers appear to reflect Bakhmut/Artemovsk casualties, where Russian casualty ratios were highest. Yet reliable on the ground Russian military correspondents assure the ratio is really 10 to 1, with the Russians employing the snail technique combined with a formidable artillery mincing machine. Stupefying incompetence The undisputable conclusion out of the real or fake Pentagon leaks is that the U.S. is in a state of war against Russia. And that is serious enough. Washington has been feeding information non-stop on command posts, ammunition depots and key nodes in the Russian military lines. Its such real-time intel that has allowed Kiev to target Russian forces, kill senior generals and force ammunition depots to be moved farther from the Russian front lines. Anything Pentagon/NATO stenographers say about Kiev playing the proverbial decisive role in planning and executing these strikes is a lie. The U.S. exercizes total, absolute control of the Ukraine war on a central command basis. Including from that secret underground bunker near Lviv which recently received a business card from Mr. Khinzal and has gone to meet its maker along with over 200 NATO high-level operatives. Fake or not fake, we also have confirmation that the Pentagon has direct access to communications of the Russian Ministry of Defense. And that the Americans listen to everyone and his neighbor: the sweaty T-shirt actor in Kiev, all the Five Eyes allies, and the Mossad. As for the notion that Kiev has changed its counter-offensive military plans because of the Pentagon leaks, everyone should feel free to control the pitch of their roaring laughter. The Russian non-response response to all this hoopla could be seen as a classic of misdirection. Responding to the U.S. de facto engaged in an undeclared war against Russia, much hotter than Hybrid, President Putin said that Russia is interested in peaceful coexistence with the U.S. and establishing a balance of interests given their status as the worlds two biggest nuclear powers. Well, no one can possibly imagine Stalin saying that Russia was interested in peaceful coexistence with Nazi Germany in July, 1941 as the Wehrmacht was rushing towards Moscow, Leningrad and the Caucusus oil. From the point of view of valuable military information, the indispensable Andrei Martyanov summed it all up: these documents contain none, apart from confirming that the Pentagon is absolutely clueless on the SMO: why is it happening, what is the modus operandi and what it plans to achieve. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov did cut to the chase: We dont have the slightest doubt about direct or indirect involvement of the U.S. and NATO () it cannot influence the final outcome of the special operation. As Martyanov stresses, Russia maneuvers an extremely advanced ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) complex, including human intel on the ground, electronic warfare and satellite constellations: In terms of war correlates and combat statistics I wouldnt touch anything coming from Pentagon with a long stick. There are indeed several serious issues with the Pentagon top secret intel. It oozes the impression it was redacted based on open data, and not actual intel. And all that packaged by some quite shoddy work. For instance, the insistence to re-equip Ukrainian air defense with missiles is not supported by data on where such missiles will be coming from. The name of the NASAMS the middle range, ground based air defense system co-developed by Raytheon is misspelled. In official NATO documents, weapons from the USSR and from Russia are indicated in NATO codification. There is no style uniformity: its a messy mix of official code designations and transliterations from Russian into English. So no wonder the impression is solidified that the U.S. Army Command in Europe (EUCOM) got their intel from open sources, and is absolutely clueless on how many weapons, how much equipment and how many people the Ukrainians actually have. And that explains whats going on in Artemovsk with the Russians taking all the time in the world to calibrate their strategic defense, and after the orderly abandon of Kherson, lure the Ukrainians into a non-stop slaughterhouse. Martyanov qualifies U.S./NATO incompetence to see it coming as stupefying. A do-or-die war to control Eurasia Once again: the most important consequence of the Pentagon leaks is to establish that the U.S., de facto and de jure, is at war against Russia whatever may be the spin by that Norwegian piece of dead wood in Brussels. Russia will establish a war crimes tribunal for Ukraine, so sooner rather than later, selected collective West luminaries better take refuge in their New Zealand bunkers. Its also crucial to always keep in mind Ukraine is a mere pawn in their game for not losing world power, against China, Russia and potentially Germany. The initial psycho Straussian neocon goal was to cut off Germany from Russia using Liver Sausage Chancellor Scholz, who was briefed in advance on the terror attack on the Nord Streams. Scholz was also involved in the CIA misdirection scam, channeling the blame for the terror attack on some obscure Ukrainian dissident and a bumbling yacht as brilliantly covered by Seymour Hersh. The next step is to cut off Ukraine from Russia reconquering Crimea, the focus of the current P.R. blitzkrieg, and Donbass, thus originating a cataclysmic psychological upheaval in Russia leading to a Putin regime change. Then the Straussians would finally command Russias massive natural resources and block them from China by land and by sea via the U.S. Fleet. Thats not exactly clever but Straussian neocons do revel in their own intellectually shallow pond. Cue to that insufferable idiot Admiral John Kirby saying there can be no negotiations with Russia until they leave Ukraine, abandoning Donbass and Crimea. So the (show) war in Ukraine must go on, to the last Ukrainian, or all these elaborate plans will irretrievably bite the dust. This is a do-or-die war against Russia-China for the control of Eurasia. Will that imply more Pentagon leaks? Bring them on. Pepe's latest book is 2030. Follow him on Facebook. The Metropolitan Polices use of stop and search will be intelligence-led under new plans to tackle violent crime in London, Sadiq Khan has insisted. The forces latest neighbourhood policing strategy, labelled Operation Nightingale, will focus on evidence-based approaches such as hotspot policing to reduce violent crimes and anti-social behaviour. Once an area has been designated as a hotspot, a plan will be put in place to deploy techniques such as drug dogs, community events and stop and search in a bid to reduce crime. The Mayor of London defended the controversial use of stop and search, which critics say disproportionately targets black and ethnic minority communities, saying it is an important part of the polices armoury. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan with officers from the Met (Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA) Speaking about stop and search while visiting Church Street in Westminster on Friday, Mr Khan said: The tackling [of this] has been both tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime investing in young people giving them constructive things to do, but also using all the tools in the polices armoury. Intelligence-led stop and search is an important part of the polices armoury, it allows them to take offensive weapons off the streets, guns off the streets and knives off the streets. It had to be done using intelligence because what we dont want to see is increased disproportionality. The use of stop and search has been controversial because of concerns it disproportionately affects black and minority ethnic communities. Government statistics suggest black people are seven times more like to be stopped and searched compared to white people. Campaign groups have previously warned that relaxing the restrictions on when police are allowed to use the tactic could compound discrimination. An area will be identified as a Nightingale hotspot by officers using the Mets crime data. Intelligence will be collected by neighbourhood officers to help police better understand crime in that area and how to protect the safety of its residents. Mr Khan added that the operation is needed now more than ever, and Church Street is an example of how effective it is. This is needed now more than ever as the impact of the cost-of-living crisis threatens to jeopardise the progress being made, he said. This community has been blighted by serious youth violence and social behaviour, robbery. This approach from the police is working with the community, neighbourhood patrol teams, and other specialist police teams like the Violent Crime Task Force targeting those serious violent hotspots, weve got 75 of these across our city. What weve seen over the last year is violence reduced by 36% around [Church Street] and crime down by 20%. Mr Khan was joined in Westminster by Dr Alison Heydari, the Mets Commander for Frontline Policing. She said: For Operation Nightingale, one of the key components is not only bringing the communities in to work with us and understanding what matters to them, but also telling people the difference that working us made. Theres also a really good place for us to look into antisocial behaviour because it is quite often an indicator that more serious crime is going on. A former student who threw eggs at the King before shouting friends with Jimmy Savile has walked free from court after being found guilty of threatening behaviour. Patrick Thelwell shouted the King is a paedophile after throwing at least five eggs towards Charles during a walkabout in York last year. The 23-year-old had pleaded not guilty to a Section 4 public order offence, arguing his use of low level violence was lawful as it was self defence against the violence carried out by the British state. On Friday, the chief magistrate, Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring, found the defendant guilty of the charge, saying Thelwell intended to cause King Charles to believe immediate unlawful violence would be used against him. Patrick Thelwell was quickly arrested after he threw eggs at the King in York (Jacob King/PA) The judge sentenced Thelwell to a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work for the unprovoked, targeted and pre-planned use of violence against what was, after all, a 74-year-old man. He also ordered the defendant, who said he had now given up his studies, to pay 600 court costs and 114 surcharge at a rate of 5 per week. The King and Queen Consort had arrived in the city on November 9 to unveil a statue of the late Queen at York Minster, and were being welcomed by local dignitaries at Micklegate Bar when Thelwell threw five eggs which came very close to hitting King Charles, York Magistrates Court heard. Prosecutor Michael Smith said Thelwell was identified quickly and removed from the crowd before being detained on the ground and arrested. Thelwell later said his protest had been worth it, telling reporters outside court: If thats what I had to do to get this platform then yeah. Asked if he would do the same again, he joked: No comment. Although the Coronations coming up in May isnt it? Patrick Thelwell was detained at the scene (Jacob King/PA) Thelwell, who defended himself at the trial, posed outside court with a painted egg sign held by one of about 10 supporters. Other signs said: Did you vote for him? and Justice for Patrick. Justice for All. During his trial, he was stopped by the judge from asking a police witness whether he was aware the King was photographed numerous times with Jimmy Savile, a reference to the disgraced TV presenter. Judge Goldspring told him: Whether or not the King was photographed with Jimmy Savile has no relevance to this trial at all. Im afraid I wont allow you to ask questions about your perception of the Kings past. The defendant also asked Detective Constable Peter Wilson if he thought throwing eggs is more or less serious than the violence carried out by the British state. The court was shown body camera footage of Thelwells arrest, in which he could be heard shouting: I threw eggs because thats what he deserves. Its the only justice the victims of colonialism will ever get. The defendant also said: Did I get him? I didnt get him. Next time someone will get him. Another video played on the phone of one of Thelwells supporters showed him saying he had thrown the eggs for all the people who died so that man can wear a crown, someone who was best friends with Jimmy Savile. The defendant laughed as he confirmed to the judge that he had made those comments, at one point saying: I couldnt have put it better myself. Police Constable Adam Steventon, who arrested Thelwell, told the court he was standing about 10 yards away when he became aware of a commotion. The officer said he saw one of the eggs being thrown and climbed over the barrier to detain Thelwell, who was being restrained by plain-clothed police officers and members of the public. I recall him shouting several times, f*** the King. I believe he shouted the King is a paedophile or words very close to that, PC Steventon told the court. The officer said people in the crowd were angry at Thelwell, and described one man shouting something like, youve ruined this for everybody. The court heard another egg fell out of Thelwells pocket as he was being arrested. Asked by Thelwell, Pc Steventon said he did not remember the crowd pulling (his) hair out or shouting that his head should be put on a spike. The court was shown footage of Thelwell arriving at Fulford Road police station in York and saying: I cant believe that didnt smash, Ive had an egg in my pocket the whole time. Another CCTV clip from the police station showed a police sergeant commenting on Thelwells large soled shoes, saying: I could do with some of those, make me taller. Thelwell replied: I know, its so I can see him through the crowds, and made a throwing gesture. The court heard he later signed his custody record: F*** the King. Reading a statement in his own defence, Thelwell said he acted out of necessity in the face of crimes against humanity by the British state, including climate policy, austerity and the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia. Thelwell said he had been contacted by thousands of people saying they would do the same thing, and will if the King visits their area in the future. In cross examination by Mr Smith, Thelwell said he admitted throwing the eggs amounted to low level violence but said it was lawful violence and that all people have the right to self defence when they are under threat of violence of the system. The way the UK conducts its climate policy amounts to genocide because they know millions of people will die as a result of their actions, he said. Thelwell, who started doing star jumps in court before meeting with probation to discuss his sentence, told reporters after his sentencing he was relieved not to be going to prison but did not regret his actions. Speaking on the court steps, he said: There wasnt a jury at this trial but I hope my jury are the people of Earth and I hope that people make their own minds up whether or not they think, whether as some people have said, they should bring back the death penalty and hang me, or whether we should start looking at how we can create a better world. I hope (throwing the egg) has started a conversation. The court heard the conviction put Thelwell in breach of a conditional discharge he had been given following an Extinction Rebellion protest in 2019, when he obstructed a highway after taking part in protests blocking newspaper printing presses. The judge made no separate penalty for the breach. Thelwell told the court he had been unable to claim universal credit since giving up his studies, and did not have a job as he thought he was going to prison, but was hopeful of finding work in the near future. Thelwell has previously said in an online blog that he is an Extinction Rebellion activist who stood as a Green Party candidate for York City Council. Rishi Sunak and Volodymyr Zelensky discussed ramping up military support to Ukraine in a phone call on Friday, Downing Street said. The Prime Minister told the Ukrainian president that Britain and its allies needed to continue to ensure Ukraine was in the strongest possible position to build on its recent battlefield successes. The two leaders discussed the latest developments in Russias invasion, with Mr Sunak paying tribute to the efforts of Ukrainian troops in the highly-contested town of Bakhmut. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in its daily intelligence briefing that Ukrainian forces had been forced to make orderly withdrawals from positions they previously held in the Donetsk city after being bombarded with particularly intense Russian artillery fire over the past 48 hours. Russia has re-energised its assault on Bakhmut with improved co-operation between troops fighting with Moscows defence ministry and the Wagner mercenary group, according to the MoD. Mr Sunak also said a gruesome video that purportedly shows the beheading of a Ukrainian soldier was appalling and that those responsible had to be held to account. Had a phone talk with Prime Minister @RishiSunak. Discussed the situation at the front, our defense needs, increased support & planned intl events. I thanked him for condemning the inhumane execution of a soldier. Together we must stop the aggressor & put an end to terror! (@ZelenskyyUa) April 14, 2023 Mr Zelensky has called on world leaders to respond to the video, which the Kremlin said was horrible but needed to be verified. The Ukrainian president tweeted: Had a phone talk with (UK) Prime Minister @RishiSunak. Discussed the situation at the front, our defense needs, increased support & planned intl events. I thanked him for condemning the inhumane execution of a (Ukrainian) soldier. Together we must stop the aggressor & put an end to terror! A Downing Street spokeswoman said: The Prime Minister spoke to President Zelensky this morning. The leaders discussed the latest situation on the battlefield and the Prime Minister paid tribute to the efforts of the Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine 14 April 2023. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/lSSftUlleY #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/Uwdj673FU2 Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) April 14, 2023 Discussing the abhorrent beheading of a Ukrainian soldier shown on social media in recent days, the Prime Minister said the video was appalling and those responsible had to be held to account. The leaders also discussed efforts to accelerate military support to Ukraine, and the Prime Minister said the UK and its allies needed to continue to ensure Ukraine was in the strongest possible position to build on its recent battlefield successes. That included increasing interoperability with Nato both in the short and long term, the Prime Minister added. The leaders agreed to stay in close touch. Mr Zelensky has lobbied western countries for months to supply modern warplanes, anti-aircraft defence systems and ammunition, while Ukrainian officials have spoken of preparations for an expected spring counter-offensive against Moscows troops. Britain has offered to train Ukrainian pilots on Nato-standard jets but allies have been reluctant to release them. Mr Sunak and Mr Zelenskys call came after an alleged leak of US classified defence documents online appeared to lay bare military secrets in Ukraine, including claims that up to 50 UK special forces personnel have been deployed to the war-torn nation. However, the MoD warned against taking allegations contained in the reported leak at face value. Toni Collette in Mafia Mamma. (Photo: Courtesy of levelFILM) Catherine Hardwicke says she always wants to elevate the films shes directing. When I did Twilight, I really wanted to feel the romance. I wanted to feel that crush, that first love and the ecstatic feeling, she tells Yahoo Entertainment in a new interview. In Thirteen, I wanted you to feel how the hormones are raging and what it feels like to be a kid, when everything matters. So directing the high-concept comedy Mafia Mamma in which a timid American woman (Toni Collette) with a thankless marketing job, cheating husband and son whos just left for college becomes the head of the Cosa Nostra in Italy after her vintner grandfather is gunned down was not a stretch. It might just be her own take on TheGodfather. Well, I love The Godfather, and I love what Francis Ford Coppola did, so I never thought I would do a movie like that, Hardwicke says. But a bizarro feminist twist on The Godfather? Hell yeah. Toni Collette, Monica Bellucci and Catherine Hardwicke tell @djkevlar how their new mob comedy #MafiaMamma puts a "bizarro feminist twist" on The Godfather. pic.twitter.com/eIuOL0RZkE Yahoo Entertainment (@YahooEnt) April 13, 2023 If Mafia Mamma is Hardwickes bizarro feminist Godfather, then Toni Collette (Muriels Wedding, Hereditary) is its Michael Corleone. (Though a running joke in the movie is that Collettes Kristin has never even seen Coppolas 1972 classic or its equally beloved sequel.) Collette never thought shed be The Godmother, But Im really happy that I am!, she professes. I had the time of my life making this movie. Making this movie was just absolutely blissful. Honestly, I think not only is it a career highlight in terms of the experience, but it's a life highlight for me. I really just loved my time in Italy It was just honestly the most fun I've had at work. Monica Bellucci, Toni Collette and director Catherine Hardwicke attend the Mafia Mamma New York screening at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on April 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images) Guiding Kristin as she takes over the family business is another powerful woman, the firms consigliere Bianca, played by Monica Bellucci. The Italian actress (Malena, The Matrix sequels) was especially drawn to the films gender twist. Were in a male-dominated society, and these women, they have to fight to protect themselves, she says. And behind the comedy, there is incredible meaning. Indeed, while the film is filled with fish-out-of-water laughs and hijinks, its not hard to gauge its central metaphor: an insecure woman finally finding empowerment in a patriarchal world after literally being empowered to run the mafia. Thats a huge reason for wanting to do it, says Collette. Firstly, it made me laugh out loud. It is properly wet-your-pants funny, like it's a proper comedy. But I do love the meaning behind it and I love that it's not dogmatic, but it's about this woman who's downtrodden, treated like crap, has really very little self-esteem. And then shes thrust into this world that she has no understanding of and is completely overwhelmed half the time. And I think that dynamic is pretty much where most of the comedy comes from. But I think it's really important to see this woman, her trajectory is one of coming into a sense of self and a sense of autonomy and really finding some kind of power and strength within. It's what we need. It's what women need to see on screen. Watch the trailer: Mafia Mamma is now playing. 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 The hills are alive with ... the sight of flowers. That might not be exactly what Julie Andrews sang in the movie classic Sound of Music. But one glance at the numerous wildflowers in bloom around the central San Joaquin Valley and one will can see certainly that the spring blossoms have brought renewed energy and life all around. Especially in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. From the Common madia to the California poppy and more, vibrant wildflowers of various colors can be found along the nearby San Joaquin River Trail (30 miles north of Fresno) and beyond. In addition, the continuous rain and water from the melting snow during the late winter and early spring have helped many waterfalls in the mountains roar again. But folks dont have to go all the way up to the mountains to see the big changes. The Sierra Nevada foothills already are are bursting with a rainbow of colors and flowing creeks. Theyre the type of sights and sounds that attract many tourists and visitors from all around, and that locals can enjoy with a simple day trip. Maria Mendoza, left, of Fresno, admires a wild lupine bloom as her daughter Marina, 18, and husband Jay follow behind with their dogs Happy and Kaiser on the San Joaquin River Trail upslope from Millerton Lake on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Blue dicks grow on a hillside along the San Joaquin River Trail on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Wildflowers grow next to the San Joaquin River Trail on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Wildflowers including California poppies and wild lupines grow on a hillside near the San Joaquin River Trail on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Common madia wildflowers grow next to the San Joaquin River Trail on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Birds-eye gilia flowers grow next to the San Joaquin River Trail on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Fiddlenecks sprout up around a fallen tree branch along the San Joaquin River Trail on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Wildflowers cover a sunny spot along the San Joaquin River Trail on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Purple flowers from a wild thistle give a pop of color on a hillside along the San Joaquin River Trail upslope from Millerton Lake on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Fiesta flowers grow next to the San Joaquin River Trail on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. A hiker walks along the San Joaquin River Trail near a wildflower bloom on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Wild lupines bloom next to the San Joaquin River Trail and upper Millerton Lake on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. A California poppy pops from a shadow along the San Joaquin River Trail on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. California goldfields bloom along the San Joaquin River Trail on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The San Joaquin River Trail marker is posted at the trailhead at the South Finegold Picnic Area on Millerton Lake. The trail is a great spot to see wildflowers in the spring. Children are in the midst of a mental health crisis. Mental Health America's latest report says one in five children in the U.S. have a mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder and they are not getting the care they need. About 60% of children with depression do not receive any mental health treatment. For the majority of Americans, the first people we'll see with any health problem is your family doctor, or for your kids the pediatrician. Research shows that by 2024, the country will be short somewhere between roughly 14,000 to 31,000 psychiatrists. One of the ways the medical community is trying to combat this shortage is by training family care physicians and primary care providers. On a recent, rather quiet Friday morning in Palm Beach, Florida, Ruthie Bunkelmann is taking advantage of the calm. She's brought her young adult children to the doctor. They wait in the back, an alright spot for her son Ethan. Ethan has autism, a developmental disorder and anxiety, a mental health disorder. Emily, his sister, has severe anxiety. Her big chair makes her feel safe. Her big headphones mean "Don't talk to me." "The unknown is a big trigger for her," Ruthie says. That includes our camera, so mom is talking for them. SEE MORE: Assessing Kids' Mental Health A Year After The Camp Fire Ruthie Bunkelmann is also a social worker. She explains that growing up, Emily and Ethan have struggled. Their brother died from cancer when he was just five. "After losing a child, it gets more questionable ... But I have total faith in him," Ruthie says. "Let me take a listen to your heart," says pediatrician Dr. Tommy Schechtman, who is that trusted "him." "So are you on spring break or are you guys still having classes?" he asks Emily. In this routine checkup the doctor observes her heart and lungs, and Emily's responses, body language, and expressions. He says they're cues into Emily's mood. Dr. Schechtman started this practice twenty-five years ago, putting mental and physical health care in the same place. "We have social workers as part of our team, mental health counselors, and we have case managers." says Dr. Schechtman. Lindsey Theis: You've been using this integrated care approach for a number of years, decades even. What was the foresight there? Dr. Schechtman: In my early years, I recognized that probably 75% of what we do in pediatrics is psychosocial. Most physicians have not taken that quantum leap into mental health. And for the most part, it's because we as physicians are not trained [in mental health] in medical school nor in residency. Pediatricians study medicine at least nine years, and during that time they may spend 4 to 8 weeks focused on behavioral health. After they've completed medical school a child psychiatrist will study mental and behavioral health for about five years. But there's simply not enough of those specialists not by a long shot. SEE MORE: Orthopedic surgeon uses art to personalize casts for kids The U.S. has about 14 child and adolescent psychiatrists for every 100,000 kids. Groups like the Reach Institute tell Scripps News they've been swamped with doctors interested in mental health training. We attended a training session, along with doctors from Utah to South Carolina. "Our mental health has just gone through the roof, especially since COVID. I could do mental health all day, every day, and still not have enough time. So I wanted to be more prepared," says Dr. Amanda Drosieko, a pediatrician. Teachers and many doctors themselves role-play the lessons. They include talking through medication options, or somatic symptoms when the body starts to show symptoms caused by anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions. This weekend is just the beginning. In the months to come the doctors here will work together, taking a look at their actual patients' cases. Dr. Schechtman has done the classes, and sends his staff to the sessions. That staff now includes mom and social worker Ruthie Bunkelmann. This puts them on the same team to treat patients like Emily's mental health. The results are a positive outcome. Dr. Schechtman: So what are your plans for the next week, for this weekend? Emily: Whatever happens, happens, I guess. Dr. Schechtman: Okay, well, that's a positive, great looking and wonderful concept, but you did great. A Chinese government official blamed the "negative impact" of military drills for tensions with North Korea after the firing of a ballistic missile which forced Japan to issue a warning to residents warning them to seek shelter. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin said during a press conference on Thursday that U.S. military drills are causing current tensions between South Korea and North Korea. "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," Wenbin said, according to Agence France Presse. The North Korean military on Thursday launched a ballistic missile towards the sea which prompted Japan to briefly issue evacuation warnings for the Hokkaido island. NORTH KOREA FIRED 'NEW TYPE OF BALLISTIC MISSILE' IN LAUNCH THAT SPARKED JAPAN EVACUATION WARNING: OFFICIAL Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin answers a question during a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing on August 8, 2022. "Evacuate immediately. Immediately evacuate inside the building or underground," the warning on Thursday morning read. "The missile is expected to fall around Hokkaido around 08:00. Please evacuate immediately." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Japan Broadcasting Corporation, known as NHK, later posted a bulletin stating that the missile wasn't likely to fall in Hokkaido. A South Korean military official said that the warning to "evacuate immediately" might have involved a "new type of ballistic missile." NORTH KOREAN MISSILE PROMPTS JAPAN TO CALL FOR FALSE ALARM EVACUATIONS IN HOKKAIDO A missile is displayed during a military parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of North Korea's army, in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Feb. 8, 2023. "So far we assess that they fired a new type of ballistic missile with an intermediate or intercontinental range," the official said, according to Reuters. In a statement, the White House said it "strongly condemns" the missile launch, stating that the test involved a "long-range ballistic missile." "The President and his national security team are assessing the situation in close coordination with our allies and partners," National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said. "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," Watson continued. "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." Fox News' Greg Norman and Andrea Vacchiano contributed to this report. The Minnesota attorney general's office hit a dead end looking into a tip about widespread child labor in the small town of Worthington almost three years before the U.S. Department of Labor discovered 22 minors employed at a meatpacking plant there, Scripps News has learned. The case points to challenges authorities face when trying to investigate child labor, especially when it involves immigrants. The Minnesota attorney general's office learned about the possibility of underage workers in the Worthington area in January 2020, when human rights advocates gathered in the town for a conference about abusive labor practices. Madeline Lohman spoke at the summit and recalls hearing claims that local teachers suspected some of their immigrant students were working overnight after school. "They had kids who were tired, they had kids that seemed to have jobs after school that were more serious than you would expect a kid to have," said Lohman, associate program director for Advocates for Human Rights, a nonprofit based in Minneapolis. The Minnesota attorney general's office sent a Spanish-speaking investigator to Worthington High School to speak with a group of students and to discuss exploitative work, a spokesman for the attorney general confirmed. The investigator asked the students whether they had any concerns to share but did not hear any complaints. With silence from the students and no statutory authority to enforce federal child labor laws, the attorney general's probe did not go any further. Had the investigator heard firsthand claims about child labor, she would have been able to refer those findings to the U.S. Labor Department. SEE MORE: Scripps News Investigates: A citys not-so-secret child labor problem Instead, almost three years went by before Worthington found itself as part of one of the largest child labor busts in U.S. history. A Scripps News investigation in March detailed how the crackdown unfolded, beginning with a report about a 13-year-old suffering a chemical burn while working for a contractor at a beef plant in Grand Island, Nebraska. Investigators soon fanned out and discovered child workers in Grand Island, Neb., and at 12 other meat packing locations across the country, all employed by Packers Sanitation Services Inc., or PSSI. The Labor Department identified 22 teens among the most found anywhere working the graveyard shift at the Worthington plant, just as teachers had suspected years earlier. Court documents in the federal case against PSSI say the young employees would wedge themselves into small spaces beneath giant machines and clean with harsh chemicals. In Worthington, minors would "sanitize the equipment on the kill floor," including "multiple back saws, brisket saws, and a lard grinder." At the end of the night, "after their shift ended, they would go to school." And when investigators asked workers for their identification, some of them offered up "their school IDs." News of the child labor clampdown made national headlines, but wasn't a surprise to Father James Callahan, who leads a diverse congregation at St. Mary's Catholic Church in town. Callahan said he knows some of the underage workers who confided in him as their priest. "We knew and made sure that they knew how dangerous some of these jobs were," Callahan said. "But they also knew that they were going to be able to get paid, and get paid more than they ever experienced back home." Callahan said he had known about underage work going on at the plant for years. The Labor Department hasn't released personal details about the underage workers in Worthington, but Callahan said he's certain some of the kids at the plant were unaccompanied minors, children who cross the border without a parent or guardian. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sends such children to live with sponsors around the country, often a relative. Nobles County, home of Worthington, received 150 unaccompanied minors in fiscal year 2022. A Scripps News analysis found that's more unaccompanied minors than HHS reported in any other county after accounting for population size. SEE MORE: USDA warns meat packing industries after child labor violations Erin Schutte Wadzinsi, immigration attorney and owner of Kivu Immigration Law in Worthington, has worked with more than 100 unaccompanied minors placed in the area. She said she had not seen any evidence that points to unaccompanied minors as the ones working underage jobs. "It's important not to make the leap in assuming that the children who were working in the plant are unaccompanied children," she said. "The sponsors who I see at my law firm are responsible, loving individuals who have the best interest at heart for these kids." She showed a stack of paperwork the government requires of sponsors before they are permitted to receive a child. The care of unaccompanied minors has captured the attention of Congress. A group of Senate Democrats sent a letter to the Labor and Health and Human Services departments asking whether unaccompanied minors are being placed with "exploitative sponsors" and being forced to work "long hours in dangerous conditions." "We do want to go after the predators," said Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., who signed the letter. "We do want to, at the end of the day, just enforce the laws that we have on the books." The Department of Labor has reported a 69% increase in child labor since 2018. Congress has not passed any legislation to tackle the increase in underage work. "We're not letting this go," Cortez Masto said. "We've got to have answers. We've got to make sure these kids are taken care of, and their best interests are looked after." Congress has not yet responded to a request from the Labor Department for more funding to help investigate child labor, leaving children vulnerable in places like Worthington. We are Closening to a Move Through the Cycle But First Will Come Disorder By Alastair Crooke April 15, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " SCF " -- The question posed at this point is: Is the collective West nearing the end of a cycle? Or are we still in mid-cycle? And is this a four-generational mini-cycle, or an epochal point of inflection? Is Russo-Chinese Entente and the global tectonic discontent with the Rules Order on the heels of a long trajectory of catastrophes from Viet Nam, through Iraq to Ukraine sufficient to move the West on to the next stage of cyclical change from apex to disillusionment, retrenchment and eventual stabilisation? Or not? A major inflection point is typically a period in history when all the negative components from the outgoing era come into play all at once, and all together; and when an anxious ruling class resorts to widespread repression. Elements of such crises of inflection are today everywhere present: Deep schism in the U.S.; mass protest in France, and across Europe. A crisis in Israel. Faltering economies; and the threat of some, as yet undefined, financial crisis chilling the air. Yet, anger erupts at the very suggestion that the West is in difficulties; that its moment in the sun must give place to others,and to other cultures ways of doing things. The consequence to such a moment of epochal in-betweeness has been characterised historically by the irruption of disorder, the breakdown of ethical norms, and the loss of a grip on what is real: Black becomes white; right becomes wrong; up becomes down. Thats where we are in the grip of western elite anxiety and a desperation to keep the old machinerys wheels spinning; its ratchets loudly opening and closing, and its levers clanging into, and out of place all to give the impression of forward motion when, in truth, practically all of western energy is consumed in simply keeping the mechanism noisily aloft, and not crashing to an irreversible, dysfunctional stop. So, this is the paradigm that governs western politics today: Doubling-down on the Rules Order with no strategic blueprint of what it is supposed to achieve in fact no blueprint at all, except for fingers crossed that something beneficial for the West will emerge, ex machina. The various foreign policy narratives (Taiwan, Ukraine, Iran, Israel) contain little of substance. They are all clever linguistics; appeals to emotion, and with no real substance. All this is hard to assimilate for those living in the non-West. For they do not come face-to-face with western Europes repeat re-anactment of the French Revolutions iconic secular, egalitarian reform of human society with the specific timbre, flavour and ideology shifting, according to prevailing historic conditions. Other nations unafflicted by this ideology (i.e., effectively the non-West) find it perplexing. The Wests culture war barely touches cultures outside its own. Yet, paradoxically, it dominates global geo-politics for now. Todays flavour is termed our liberal democracy the our signifying its link to a set of precepts that defies clear definition or nomenclature; but one, that from the 1970s, has drifted into a radical enmity towards the traditional European and American cultural legacy. What is singular about the present re-enactment is that whereas the French Revolution was about achieving class equality;ending the division between aristocracy and their vassals, liberalism today represents a modification of ideology that U.S. writer Christopher Rufo suggests, says that we want to categorize people based on group identity and then equalize outcomes across every axis predominantly the economic axis, health axis, employment axis, criminal justice axisand then formalize and enforce a general levelling. They want absolute democratic levelling of every societal discrepancy reaching even, back into history, to historic discrimination and inequalities; and to have history re-written to highlight such ancient practice so that they can be routed out through enforced reverse discrimination. What has this to do with foreign policy? Well, pretty well everything (so long as our liberalism) retains its capture of the western institutional framework. Bear this background in mind when thinking of the western political classs reaction to events, say, in the Middle East, or in Ukraine. Although the cognitive elite contends that they are tolerant, inclusive, and pluralistic, they will not accept the moral legitimacy of their opponents. That is why in the U.S. where the Cultural War is most developed the language deployed by its foreign policy practitioners is so intemperate and inflammatory towards non-compliant states. The point here is that, as Professor Frank Furedi has emphasised, the contemporary timbre is one no longer merely adversarial, but unremittingly hegemonic. It is not a turn. It is a rupture: The determination to displace other sets of values by a western inspired Rules-Based Order. Being a liberal (in this strictly narrow sense) isnt something you do; it is what you are. You think right thoughts and utter right speak. Persuasion and compromise reflect only moral weakness in this vision. Ask the U.S. neocons! We are used to hearing western officials talk about the Rules-Based Order and the Multi-Polar System as rivals in a new global framework of intense competition. That however, would be to misconceive the nature of the liberal project. They are not rivals: There cannot be rivals; they can only be recalcitrant other societies that have refused the analysis and the need to root out all cultural and psychological structures of inequity from their own domains. (Hence, China is hounded on its alleged deficiency in respect to the Uyghurs). The cognitive privilege of awareness is what lies behind the western doubling-down on imposing a global Rules-BasedOrder: No compromise. The moral enterprise is more intent on its elevated moral station than on coming to terms with or managing, say, a defeat in Ukraine. Just yesterday, the Bank of America in London was forced to cut short a two-day, online conference on geopolitics; andapologised to attendees following the outrage expressed at a speakers comments that were deemed pro-Russian by some attendees. What was said? Professor Nicolai Petros remarks at the session where he said: Under any scenario, Ukraine would be the overwhelming loser in the war: Its industrial capacity devastated and its population shrunk as people departed to look for employment abroad. If this is what is meant by removing Ukraines capacity to wage war against Russia, then it [Russia] will have won. Professor Petro added that the U.S. government had no interest in a ceasefire, as it had the most to gain from a prolonged conflict. No compromise is allowed. To speak thus, to inhabit the western moral high ground creating villains, clearly is more important than coming to terms with reality. Professor Petros comments were condemned as rolling through Moscows talking points. Yet, these cultural revolutionaries face a pitfall, Christopher Rufo writes, Theirs is actually, not an easy task. This is very difficult, and, in fact, I think is somewhat impossible. If you look at even the Chinese Cultural Revolution in the 1960s They had a program of economic and social levelling that was more totalitarian and more drastic than anything that had ever happened in the past. [Yet] after the Revolution collapsed, after the period of retrenchment, social scientists looked at the data and discovered that a generation later, those initial inequalities had stabilized The point is that forced levelling is very elusive. Its very difficult to achieve, even when you are doing it at the tip of a spear or at the point of a gun. The levelling project being essentially nihilistic becomes captured by the destructive side of the revolution its authors so absorbed with dismantling structures that they do not attend to the need to think policies through, before launching into them. The latter are not adept at doing politics: at making politics work. Thus, discontent at the welling string of western foreign policy flops grows. Crises multiply, both in number and across different societal dimensions. Perhaps, we are closening to a point of beginning to move through the cycle toward disillusionment, retrenchment, and stabilization; the prerequisite step to catharsis and ultimate renewal. Yet, it would be a mistake to underestimate the longevity and tenacity of the western revolutionary impulse. The revolution does not operate as an explicit political movement. It operates laterally through the bureaucracy and it filters its revolutionary language through the language of the therapeutic, the language of the pedagogical, or the language of the corporate HR department, Professor Furedi writes. And then, it establishes power anti-democratically, bypassing the democratic structure: using this manipulative and soft language to continue the revolution from within the institutions. Alastair Crooke: Former British diplomat, founder and director of the Beirut-based Conflicts Forum. False reports of shooters are spreading through schools, colleges and hospitals across the nation, putting officials on edge. "Swatting is basically the action of making hoax phone calls to falsely report serious crimes to emergency services and law enforcement," said Dr. Christopher Mansour, co-founder and assistant professor of cybersecurity programs at Mercyhurst University. These callers use information collected through the action of doxing,"a technique where information that is available on social media, information that is available on organizational charts, are collected and sold on the dark web or are available publicly," Mansour said. Mansour said the ultimate goal of swatters is to get law enforcement agents to respond to a scene of a fabricated threat. But the calls could stop response teams from answering real emergencies and unintentionally endanger lives. "You have students, you have professors, you have staff that could cause a little bit of havoc or a conflict a real nerve-wracking incident," Mansour said. "Sometimes that could lead to a deadly situation." In 2017, a police officer in Kansas shot and killed a man while responding to a false emergency call. Just this past weekend, universities and hospitals across the country have become the latest targets, including: - Fake calls of an active shooter at the University of Oklahoma - Reports of a person with an AR-15 forcing a lockdown at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan - Calls sending police to the library at Middlebury College in Vermont - Police responding to calls for active shooters on two locations at Boston University SEE MORE: School swatting incidents reported in wake of Tennessee mass shooting These false alarms could also cause psychological consequences. One superintendent in Cincinnati, Ohio described pandemonium at his school after someone called 911 to report an active shooter early last month. "A number of people texted family members, 'I love you. I might not see you tonight.' We still have staff and students that are still unpacking that, still dealing with the feelings that they had that day," Dr. Charles Ogdan said. Mansour said there's no clear answer as to why people do this, but he has an idea. "They do that for a prank, or they do that sometimes for financial gain or for having a grudge or revenge," he said. The FBI says some of the fake reports may be computer-generated calls coming from outside of the country. Sen. Chuck Schumer announced this week he plans to advocate adding $10 billion to the federal government's budget to fund a cyber-swatting team at the FBI. Last week, swatting became a felony in Ohio. Now violators could spend 18 months in prison, and if someone gets hurt, violators could face years behind bars. A number of other states have passed laws toughening penalties for swatting, too. In Illinois, it's a felony that can force fake callers to pick up the cost of authorities responding. And Wednesday in Granite City, Illinois, that included helicopters, SWAT trucks and dozens of police officers. Mansour said to protect yourself, your family or your company from becoming a target of these criminals, limit the amount of information you share online so that people won't be able to create a credible scenario. FILE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis answers questions from the media in the Florida Cabinet following his State of the State address during a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives on March 7, 2023, at the state Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. The Republican-dominated Florida Legislature on Thursday, April 13, approved a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, a proposal supported by DeSantis as he prepares for an expected presidential run. (AP Photo/Phil Sears, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) The Republican-dominated Florida Legislature on Thursday approved a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, a proposal signed into law later in the day by GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis as he prepares for an expected presidential run. The ban gives DeSantis a key political victory among Republican primary voters as he prepares to launch a presidential candidacy built on his national brand as a conservative standard bearer. The governors office said in a statement late Thursday that he had signed the legislation. The six-week ban will take effect only if the states current 15-week ban is upheld in an ongoing legal challenge that is before the state Supreme Court, which is controlled by conservatives. The policy would have wider implications for abortion access throughout the South in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last year overturning Roe v. Wade and leaving decisions about abortion access to states. Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi have banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy, while Georgia forbids the procedure after cardiac activity can be detected, which is around six weeks. 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," said Republican Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, who carried the bill in the House. Democrats and abortion-rights groups have criticized Florida's proposal as extreme. This ban would prevent four million Florida women of reproductive age from accessing abortion care after six weeks before many women even know theyre pregnant," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement issued after Thursday's vote. "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 law contains some exceptions, including to save the woman's life. Abortions for pregnancies involving rape or incest would be allowed until 15 weeks of pregnancy, provided a woman has documentation such as a restraining order or police report. DeSantis has called the rape and incest provisions sensible. Drugs used in medication-induced abortions which make up the majority of those provided nationally could be dispensed only in person or by a physician under the Florida law. Separately, nationwide access to the abortion pill mifepristone is being challenged in court. I cant think of any bill thats going to provide more protections to more people who are more vulnerable than this piece of legislation, said Republican Rep. Mike Beltran, who said the bills exceptions and six-week timeframe represented a compromise. Abortion bans are popular among some religious conservatives who are part of the GOP voting base, but the issue has motivated many others to vote for Democrats. Republicans in recent weeks and months have suffered defeats in elections centered on abortion access in states such as Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin. Have we learned nothing?" House Democratic Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell said of recent elections in other states. "Do we not listen to our constituents and to the people of Florida and what they are asking for? DeSantis, who often places himself on the front lines of culture war issues, had said he backs the six-week ban but had appeared uncharacteristically tepid on the bill. He has often said, We welcome pro-life legislation, when asked about the policy. DeSantis is expected to announce his presidential candidacy after the session ends in May, with his potential White House run in part buoyed by the conservative policies approved by the Republican supermajority in the Statehouse this year. Democrats, without power at any level of state government, had mostly turned to stall tactics and protests to oppose the bill, which easily passed both chambers on largely party-line votes. The Senate approved it last week, and the House did so Thursday. A Democratic senator and chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party were arrested and charged with trespassing during a protest in Tallahassee against the six-week ban. In a last ditch move to delay the bill's passage in the House on Thursday, Democrats filed dozens of amendments to the proposal, all of which were rejected by Republicans. Women's health and their personal right to choose is being stolen," said Democratic Rep. Felicia Simone Robinson. "So I ask: Is Florida truly a free state?" Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill into law that will ban almost all abortions after six weeks making the state one of the most restrictive in America to obtain abortion care. Mr DeSantis who is expected to soon announce a 2024 presidential bid quietly signed the measure just hours after the state legislature passed the bill on Thursday afternoon. The governor then waited until almost midnight before announcing it. We are proud to support life and family in the state of Florida, he said in a statement. I applaud the Legislature for passing the Heartbeat Protection Act that expands pro-life protections and provides additional resources for young mothers and families. The new law now bans abortions after six weeks in the state a time when many women do not even know they are pregnant. There are exemptions for rape or incest or to protect the life of the mother up to 15 weeks of pregnancy. The new law will go into effect after Floridas Supreme Court overturns its previous precedent on abortion. Florida had been one of the last states in the southeast in which people could receive abortion care more than six weeks into their pregnancies. The state already had a 15-week abortion ban on the books, which the six-week ban favoured by Mr DeSantis will now replace. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Now Mr DeSantis has signed the bill, people in the region will have to travel even greater distances to get care with South Carolina remaining the only state in the Deep South in which abortion remains legal and that is only because the state Supreme Court blocked a six-week ban as unconstitutional earlier this year. The Republican-controlled state legislature is considering a new ban. Meanwhile, abortion is fully banned in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas, and banned at six weeks, before many people know theyre pregnant, in Georgia. In North Carolina, where abortion remains legal up to 20 weeks, the defection of a Democratic legislator has handed the Republicans a statehouse supermajority that they can use to pass further restrictions over the veto of Gov Roy Cooper. With the status of abortion in the Carolinas in limbo, Virginia and Illinois may become the closest states for many Southerners without abortion restrictions. Bans on abortion remain politically unpopular, with a sizable majority of Americans disagreeing with the decision to overturn Roe v Wade and favouring the ongoing availability of medication abortion, but the legislation in Florida comes in a very particular context: Mr DeSantis weighing a bid for president. Thursdays vote on the bill mainly fell along party lines, though several Republicans broke with their party to vote against the measure and nine legislators refrained from voting. The fact the ban passed at all is remarkable considering that, until several years ago, Florida was one of the countrys most closely-contested swing states, split roughly evenly between Democrats and Republicans. Just a year ago, abortion was legal up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. State legislators then passed a 15-week ban before passing the six-week ban on Thursday. In addition to the abortion ban, the legislature in the last two years has passed bills targeting the states transgender community, immigrants, free speech in schools, and academic freedom in the university system. The six-week abortion ban gives Mr DeSantis something to run on in a Republican primary, though it is not likely to be a popular achievement should he advance to a general election. 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. 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." 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. A manhunt ended Thursday afternoon for a Hayward man accused of committing shootings Wednesday night in Roseville and Citrus Heights and making threats that prompted the shutdown of the California Capitol building in downtown Sacramento. Former Oakdale resident Jackson Pinney, 30, whose rap sheet includes at least one Stanislaus County arrest, was found shortly after 4 p.m. and taken into custody at the intersection of Douglas Boulevard and Auburn-Folsom Road in Granite Bay, about 4 miles from the Roseville hospital he allegedly shot at Wednesday night. Police said nobody was struck by gunfire in Wednesdays shootings. Police said Pinney faces an array of charges including attempted homicide, assault with a firearm, shooting from a moving vehicle, shooting an inhabited dwelling and being a felon in possession of a gun, the Roseville Police Department announced in a news release. He will be booked at the Placer County Jail. We would like to thank the U.S. Marshals Office and the Placer County Sheriffs Office for their assistance, police said. The investigation is ongoing and no new information will be released at this time. The search for the suspect began after police received a call about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday. Citrus Heights officers were informed that someone called from inside a business asking for police to respond to investigate a murder; then the phone call was disconnected. Witnesses at the Citrus Heights business told officers the caller drove away in a gold-colored truck and fired several rounds as he left the parking lot, the Citrus Heights Police Department announced about 11:30 a.m. Thursday in a news release. Nobody was hit by that gunfire. Within a few minutes, Citrus Heights police received reports of another shooting from a truck near Auburn Boulevard and Twin Oaks Avenue, just north of the first shooting location. Police said several bullets struck a business and a detached structure in the second shooting. Several minutes later, officers determined that the suspect in both Citrus Heights shootings was in a 2002 gold-colored Ford F-150 with standard-cab pickup with a black soft tonneau cover, according to the Police Department. Police said the gold pickup is registered to Pinney, and Pinneys Department of Motor Vehicles photograph matched the description of the suspect provided by witnesses. It was unclear whether Pinney was found in the pickup or in an Acura Integra police said also was associated with him. Pinney allegedly drove away from the second Citrus Heights shooting location north on Auburn Boulevard toward Roseville and continued to fire gunshots from his vehicle in the minutes that followed, police said. Roseville police officers were notified about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday that a suspect driving through Citrus Heights shooting from his vehicle. About 10 minutes later, Roseville officers responded to a shots-fired call in the area of Douglas and Sunrise boulevards matching the description of the suspect vehicle. Shortly after, Roseville officers received a call reporting shots were fired from a vehicle in the area of Eureka Road and Douglas Boulevard near the hospital, Roseville police said. The suspect was reportedly firing a gun while driving out of the parking lot. Officers arrived and determined that two bullets struck the exterior of the building at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, but nobody was hit or injured, police said. Authorities placed a lockdown at the hospital which was later lifted. Police said the bullets did not enter the building. At this time, we believe this suspect may also be related to an incident at the State Capitol, Roseville police said earlier on Thursday. California Highway Patrol officials said they learned that the suspect in the noninjury shootings Roseville and Citrus Heights Wednesday also made threats against the state Capitol. The Capitol building was evacuated for several minutes Thursday morning due to reported credible threats, the CHP said. By 10:30 a.m., however, movement around the Capitol carried on as normal. But the Capitol building was temporarily closed by Thursday afternoon. Pinney has rap sheets in Alameda, Stanislaus counties According to online court records, Pinney has a criminal record dating back nearly a decade in 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, The Ceres Courier reported. 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. Thousands of animals facing euthanasia in overcrowded California shelters may soon be getting help. This week a proposed bill that would require shelters to give 72-hours advance notice before an animal is put down got one step closer to becoming law after unanimous approval by California's Assembly Business and Professions committee. The proposed law is called Bowie's Law, named after a puppy named Bowie, who was mistakenly put down by a Los Angeles County Shelter despite an effort to save him by the Underdog Heroes rescue group founded by Shoshi Gamliel. "We were just devastated. And that went viral, and somehow got picked up by everybody, which I'm glad it did. But this isn't an isolated incident," Gamliel says. Across the country, statistics gathered by shelter monitoring groups show more animals are coming in than leaving. Fewer people are adopting, as the economy drives up the cost of pet ownership. Shelters themselves are severely understaffed and out of space, driving euthanasia rates higher. "Last year was the worst we saw in the past four years," said Shelter Animals Count executive director Stephanie Filer. "When you think about millions of animals in the shelter system, it's hundreds of thousands of animals." At one shelter in Riverside County California the rate of healthy dogs and cats put down more than doubled from 6% in 2021, to more than fifteen percent last year. Rescue groups say dozens of animals can be put down at any moment with little notice. SEE MORE: No Rescue: Why animal shelter euthanasia is rising "I feel like they're the worst shelter I've ever dealt with," Gamliel says. "It's stressful, because you have like a day to figure it out. With Riverside, it's like, surprise, thirty dogs were killed on Valentine's Day." Riverside County officials did not respond to Scripps News when asked to comment Thursday. California state Assemblyman Bill Essayli introduced Bowie's Law, and on social media, highlighted Scripps News reporting to rally support for the vote. "Bowie's Law passed its first critical test," Essayli says. "The whole point of Bowie's Law is that there's fair notice to the public and rescues before healthy and adoptable pets are euthanized." California's largest shelter association says mandating a 72-hour notice before an animal is put down will burden already-overcrowded shelters. Bowie's Law, the association says, will make the problem worse. "This bill will increase euthanasia," testified Karen Lang, representing the California Animal Welfare Association. "They will have to manage for space prospectively going forward on a 72-hour basis. They will always have to have room, which means they will always have to euthanize more animals to make space for them." Essayli says rescue groups and shelters are striving for the same goal. "We're in a crisis right now, and we want to save as many pets as we can by adopting or at least fostering," Essayli says. "Shelters aren't the enemy. We want to be partners with the shelters and find a solution that works for everyone." Bowie's Law won't become law until it passes an additional committee vote and both houses of the California legislature before landing on the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom. Essayli says he is confident it will pass. 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. 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. A manhunt ended Thursday afternoon for a Bay Area man accused of committing shootings Wednesday night in Roseville and Citrus Heights and making threats that prompted the shutdown of the California Capitol building in downtown Sacramento. Jackson Pinney, 30, of Hayward was found shortly after 4 p.m. and taken into custody at the intersection of Douglas Boulevard and Auburn-Folsom Road in Granite Bay, about 4 miles from the Roseville hospital he allegedly shot at Wednesday night. Police said nobody was struck by gunfire in Wednesdays shootings. Police said Pinney faces an array of charges including attempted homicide, assault with a firearm, shooting from a moving vehicle, shooting an inhabited dwelling and being a felon in possession of a gun, the Roseville Police Department announced in a news release. He will be booked at the Placer County Jail. We would like to thank the U.S. Marshals Office and the Placer County Sheriffs Office for their assistance, police said. The investigation is ongoing and no new information will be released at this time. The search for the suspect began after police received a call about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday. Citrus Heights officers were informed that someone called from inside a business asking for police to respond to investigate a murder; then the phone call was disconnected. Witnesses at the Citrus Heights business told officers the caller drove away in a gold-colored truck and fired several rounds as he left the parking lot, the Citrus Heights Police Department announced about 11:30 a.m. Thursday in a news release. Nobody was hit by that gunfire. Within a few minutes, Citrus Heights police received reports of another shooting from a truck near Auburn Boulevard and Twin Oaks Avenue, just north of the first shooting location. Police said several bullets struck a business and a detached structure in the second shooting. Several minutes later, officers determined that the suspect in both Citrus Heights shootings was in a 2002 gold-colored Ford F-150 with standard-cab pickup with a black soft tonneau cover, according to the Police Department. Police said the gold pickup is registered to Pinney, who is a resident of Hayward, and Pinneys Department of Motor Vehicles photograph matched the description of the suspect provided by witnesses. It was unclear whether Pinney was found in the pickup or in an Acura Integra police said was also associated with him. Pinney allegedly drove away from the second Citrus Heights shooting location north on Auburn Boulevard toward Roseville and continued to fire gunshots from his vehicle in the minutes that followed, police said. Roseville police officers were notified about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday that a suspect driving through Citrus Heights shooting from his vehicle. About 10 minutes later, Roseville officers responded to a shots-fired call in the area of Douglas and Sunrise boulevards matching the description of the suspect vehicle. Shortly after, Roseville officers received a call reporting shots were fired from a vehicle in the area of Eureka Road and Douglas Boulevard near the hospital, Roseville police said. The suspect was reportedly firing a gun while driving out of the parking lot. Officers arrived and determined that two bullets struck the exterior of the building at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, but nobody was hit or injured, police said. Authorities placed a lockdown at the hospital which was later lifted. Police said the bullets did not enter the building. At this time, we believe this suspect may also be related to an incident at the State Capitol, Roseville police said earlier on Thursday. California Highway Patrol officials said they learned that the suspect in the non-injury shootings Roseville and Citrus Heights Wednesday also made credible threats against the state Capitol. The state Capitol building was evacuated for several minutes Thursday morning due to reported credible threats, the CHP said. By 10:30 a.m., however, movement around the Capitol carried on as normal. But the Capitol building was temporarily closed by Thursday afternoon. Watch What do you think? Is it true? Ukrainian commanders sending their soldiers on pointless missions to die, then they keep their pay while not reporting them as dead. Ht @MyLordBebo pic.twitter.com/KOqcrxBtfO Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) April 11, 2023 US Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) arrives for a US Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing to examine the Justice Department on March 1, 2023. STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images Ted Cruz is fundraising off two-term limits for senators while he's running for his third. His bill would not count terms served by members before passage of the bill. So the earliest he would be term-limited under his bill which has seen no traction is 2036. Sen. Ted Cruz is fundraising off legislation to limit senators to serving two terms in office, all while he's running for his third. The Texas Republican touted his bill in a fundraising email for Senate Republicans' campaign arm Thursday, seeking contributions and asking supporters to respond to a term limits poll. The contributions benefit Ted Cruz for Senate and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. "It's finally time we do something about the entrenched politicians in Washington," wrote Cruz, who was first elected to the Senate in 2012. "I want to know what YOU think about my Constitutional Amendment to impose TERM LIMITS on Senators and House Members." In January, Cruz proposed a Constitutional amendment that would ban a US senator from serving more than 12 years and House members from serving more than three 2-year terms. However, the resolution would not count terms served by members before enactment against them. That means Cruz would not be term-limited until 2036 if the bill were passed by this Congress, the Texas Tribune noted. "Term limits will bring ACCOUNTABILITY that is LONG overdue in Washington, and I'm fighting for the American people to get this done," he wrote. Cruz confirmed to reporters in November that he was seeking a third term. When asked why he is running for a third term while seeking to limit senators to two, a Cruz spokesperson pointed Insider to the senator's comments to the Texas Chronicle in January 2019. "I've long said that I don't support unilateral term limits just one person or one side unilaterally restricting themselves when the rules don't apply across the board," he said. "I think there should be a fair and uniform rule for everyone." Cruz also told the Chronicle then that his "personal preference would be to make it retroactive." "But as a nod to practical politics, it would be much, much more difficult to get this passed if the immediate consequence of it happening was to throw out a whole bunch of incumbents," he continued. "It's awfully difficult to get them to vote for it if they'd be immediately giving up their jobs." Even in its current form, the bill hasn't gained any traction. Cruz originally introduced the legislation in 2017 alongside then-Rep. Ron DeSantis, now Florida's governor. The bill has never come up for a vote in the House or Senate, according to the Texas Tribune. Read the original article on Business Insider Mandy Iworrigan via AP, Getty Images, Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images Its not all doom and gloom out there! Here are this weeks most heartwarming stories from Yahoo News partners. Thailand celebrates first post-pandemic Songkran water festival During Songkran, the Thai new year festival, locals and tourists celebrate by partaking in water fights throughout the country. (Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images) On Thursday, Thailand began celebrating its three-day new year festival of Songkran for the first time since 2019, Yahoo News partner theGuardian reported. Its traditional during Songkran to sprinkle water on the hands of elders to mark the new year, but with the holiday also falling during Thailands hottest month of the year, the celebrations have morphed into massive water fights that attract locals as well as tourists from around the world eager to have some soaking wet fun. Water guns and waterproof phone covers are readily available and even convenience stores cover their cashiers with plastic in anticipation of the revelries. I think everyone is just extremely happy, a 24-year-old tourist from Canada said of the celebrations. Its just so fun, you see people from all walks of life, it brings out every aspect of Thailand. Almost 200 locations across the capital city of Bangkok are holding official Songkran celebrations, and festivities in the Gulf of Thailand are already underway. The events typically draw huge crowds, but they had been canceled for the last three years due to COVID-related restrictions. Now officials hope this years celebrations will give the countrys tourism industry a major boost as it recovers from the pandemic. Adult honeybees teach baby honeybees how to waggle dance Getty Images/EyeEm A study published recently in the journal Science found that baby honeybees may not be so different from human infants in their need for adult guidance; like tiny humans, baby honeybees learn to communicate best when instructed by adult honeybees, Yahoo partner Fox News reported. The "waggle dance," a known behavior among honeybees, enables them to communicate direction, distance and quality of resources such as nectar and pollen from flowers to their fellow bees. In a recent experiment conducted in Kunming, China, honeybees that attempted to imitate the dance without prior instruction produced significantly more disordered dances, whereas honeybees that had followed the direction of experienced bees from the start showed no impairment. Social learning, therefore, shapes honeybee signaling, as it does communication in human infants, birds and multiple other vertebrate species, the study concluded. Florida mother wins $2M lottery after withdrawing life savings to care for daughter with cancer Geraldine Gimblet, front and center, with her daughter, granddaughter and Florida lottery official Reginald Dixon. (Florida Lottery) After taking out her life savings to care for her sick daughter, Geraldine Gimblet was thrilled to learn she had won $2 million in a lottery just one day after her daughter finished her last treatment for breast cancer, Yahoo News partner Blavity reported. According to TV news station WESH, Gimblet won the lottery after buying a $10 scratch-off game at a gas station in Polk County, Fla. She claimed her prize at the lottery headquarters in Tallahassee last Friday, opting to receive a one-time lump-sum payment of $1,645,000, and was joined by her daughter and granddaughter. The day before my mom bought this ticket, I rang the bell and walked out of the hospital after completing my last treatment for breast cancer, Gimblets daughter told WESH. My mom had taken out her life savings to take care of me when I was sick, she added. Im just so happy for her! Alaskan dog reunited with family after surviving incredible journey on Bering Sea ice The 1-year-old Australian shepherd Nanuq, center, after it was returned to Gambell, Alaska, on April 6. Nanuq had been lost for a month and journeyed on Bering Sea ice 150 miles to Wales, Alaska. (Courtesy of Mandy Iworrigan via AP) A 1-year-old Australian Shepherd named Nanuq has been reunited with his family in Alaska after surviving a 150-mile trek across Bering Sea ice, Yahoo News partner the Evening Standard reported. Mandy Iworrigan, who lives in Gambell, Alaska, was visiting the Bering Strait community of Savoonga with her family last month when Nanuq, which means polar bear in Siberian Yupik, disappeared along with their other family dog, Starlight. Starlight turned up a few weeks later, but Nanuq was nowhere to be found. About a month after Nanuqs disappearance, people in Wales, Alaska, which is 150 miles northeast of Savoonga, began posting pictures of a lost dog. I was like, No freakin way! Thats our dog! What is he doing in Wales? Iworrigan said after seeing the posts online. Nanuq was eventually brought back home on a chartered flight. Apart from large bite marks, which Iworrigan said may have been caused by a polar bear, wolverine or seal, the furry family member was reportedly in good health. SAN FRANCISCO In the hours after a tech executive was stabbed to death on a street in San Francisco with no clear suspect, billionaire Elon Musk led a charge on Twitter, where fellow tech executives and wealthy investors said they were fed up with violent repeat offenders getting away with crime in the biggest U.S. tech hub. On Thursday, it became clear that their interpretation of the killing had been wrong. City officials said at a news conference that the tech executive, Bob Lee, was murdered not randomly but by a man he knew, and San Franciscos chief prosecutor called out Musk by name for having jumped to conclusions. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Musk was reckless when he suggested within hours of the killing that repeat violent offenders were involved. Reckless and irresponsible statements like those contained in Mr. Musks tweet that assumed incorrect circumstances about Mr. Lees death served to mislead the world in its perceptions of San Francisco, Jenkins said. Tesla CEO Elon Musk Testifies In SolarCity Trial (Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty Images file) The statements, she continued, also negatively impact the pursuit of justice for victims of crime, as it spreads misinformation at a time when the police are trying to solve a very difficult case. Musk, the countrys wealthiest person, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to Twitter, where he is the CEO and majority owner. Musk responded to Lees killing with a tweet April 5 replying to another user who said Lee had been a friend. Violent crime in SF is horrific and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately, Musk wrote. He added that the city should take stronger action to incarcerate repeated violent offenders, and he tagged Jenkins Twitter account. Lees death and Musks tweet added fuel to what has become a particularly contentious topic in San Francisco. Debates about crime, drugs and homelessness and the citys response to them have become flashpoints, with some in the tech and startup community rallying to push for change. That community helped recall the previous district attorney, Chesa Boudin, who was attacked for seeking alternatives to incarceration. San Francisco has logged 13 homicides this year, matching last years tally in the same time frame, according to police department data. Robberies and assaults have also stayed relatively consistent over the past year. San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said in an interview with NBC News on Thursday that every homicide is important, but that Lee was a notable person, which elevated media coverage of the case. Some of the things that were said because of this case, I think were a little bit unfair, Scott said. Its one case. And I believe this would have happened anywhere. Musk was not alone in rushing to offer an opinion about Lees killing and its broader significance for San Francisco. Matt Ocko, a venture capitalist, called San Francisco lawless and said the criminal-loving city council had literal blood on their hands. Michelle Tandler, a startup founder who often tweets about crime, said the killing was part of a disturbing crime wave that justified calling in the National Guard. Michael Arrington, the founder of the news site TechCrunch, tweeted that he hated what San Francisco has become. And investor Jason Calacanis, rejecting a call to wait for the facts, said the city was run by evil incompetent fools & grifters who accomplish nothing except enabling rampant violence. Calacanis tweeted Thursday that he stood by his earlier view, independent of any one of the thousands of violent crimes that occur every month. Arrington, Ocko and Tandler did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Rival interpretations of the killing had also played out in the news media, with the San Francisco Chronicle cautioning that violent crime was relatively low in the city, while The New York Times put the lawless quotation in a headline. Mayor London Breed noted at Thursdays news conference how the case had received wide attention. There has been a lot of speculation and a lot of things said about our city and crime in the city, Breed said, praising the patient work of prosecutors and police. Jenkins said people would have been better off waiting for more facts before they weighed in with broad declarations. We all should and must do better about not 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, Jenkins said. 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 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan held a meeting with Russias Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov within the framework of the CIS foreign ministerial council session in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the Russian foreign ministry reported. Other details on the meeting werent reported. Question Everything! Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Is the Army All That You Can Be? Losing Wars and Losing Recruits By Nan Levinson April 15, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " TomDispatch " -- 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 commands task the hardest since the all-volunteer military was launched in 1973. The Armys 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 arent 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 isnt 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 its 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 theres 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 theyre hardly top-notch recruitment material. Summing up the mood of the militarys present target generation, Major General Alex Fink, chief of Army enterprise marketing, observed, They see us as revered, but not relevant in their lives. Whats 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, its 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 isnt a large Filipino population in this neighborhood either.) Finally, as someone whos worked for years with antiwar GIs and wrote the book War Is Not a Game: The New Antiwar Soldiers and the Movement They Built, I decided to drop in for a chat, only to hesitate, anticipating suspicion, if not outright hostility. Boy, was I wrong! The four noncommissioned officers stationed there, only one of whom had spent extended time in a war zone, couldnt have been more eager to talk about the benefits of Army life. Their spiel was good, too: career training, college tuition, some control over the first duty station youre likely to get, housing, health care, family benefits, competitive pay, even bonuses, not to speak of 30 days off each year and substantial responsibility at a young age. Admittedly, the tuition reimbursement offered wouldnt faintly cover any of the universities near where I live and it takes a while for your salary to amount to much still, it was an impressive pitch. And they dont take just anyone, either. Enlistment requirements are similar across the six branches of the military, except when it comes to age limits. (For the Army, you have to be between 17 and 35.) You must be a high school graduate or the equivalent, a citizen or Green Card holder, medically and physically fit, in good moral standing, and score high enough on the ASVAB entrance exam, which only about one-third of test-takers now pass. (Full disclosure: I couldnt do the sample math questions.) So, hows recruiting going? The Army has about 9,000 recruiters at 1,508 locations nationwide whose pay and benefits are tied to their success. Each recruiter is responsible for signing up a minimum of one recruit for each of the 11 months theyre at work. If this had actually happened, the Army would have coasted to last years goal. (I can do that math.) My neighborhood recruiters, however, seem to be typical in coming in well under that quota. A Necessary Revamp Somewhere in our friendly chat, I pointed out that armies exist to go to war. They countered that, for every infantryman in the U.S. military, there are about 100 support personnel and pointed to wall posters advertising 130 Army career options. No one seemed inclined to delve any deeper into the subject of future battlefields. Surely, anyone qualified to enlist in the Army should know that such forces exist for only one significant purpose: to fight wars. And the U.S. military with its 750 bases around the world and its unending war on terror, while the pressures between China and this country only continue to escalate might well find itself at war again any time. The Armys website is clear enough on its mission : To deploy, fight, and win our nations wars by providing ready, prompt, and sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force. But curiously enough, on its recruiting website, the topic of fighting a war doesnt show up under reasons to join . The system is clearly focused instead on all the remarkably peaceful opportunities the Army offers its soldiers. That emphasis shines forth in the resurrection this spring of the oldie (but apparently goodie ) ad campaign Be All You Can Be, which last appeared in 2001. It has now replaced the Whats Your Warrior ads, with their video-game visuals and bass-heavy soundtrack. The new campaign includes short YouTube videos, where likeably plain-spoken soldiers explain just what they appreciate about the Army. One features an Army rapper ; in another, a woman talks about finding balance in her Army life, as images of soldiers with weapons and soldiers with families flash by. Admittedly, there have been a few hiccups along the way to this gentler, hipper vision of that service. Take the two high-profile ads in the new recruitment campaign that featured actor Jonathan Majors (Antman, Creed III) and were pulled shortly after their debut when he was arrested on charges of assault, harassment, and strangulation. Get Em Early, Get Em Young Army recruits tend to come from military families (83% of enlistees by one reckoning ) and hometowns near military bases, where kids grow up around people in uniform and time in the military becomes part of their worldview. Elsewhere, the military works remarkably hard to introduce that worldview. High schools receiving certain kinds of federal funding, for instance, are required to give recruiters the same access as they do colleges or employers and provide the military with contact information for all students (unless their parents opt out). While Covid-19 limited recruiters access to schools, there were always ways around that. Take Army J.R.O.T.C. , which currently has programs in more than 1,700 high schools, a sizeable portion of them in low-income communities with large minority populations. (J.R.O.T.C. boasts about this, although a New York Times expose on the subject revealed it to be more predatory than laudatory.) The literature emphasizes that its a citizenship and leadership program, not a recruitment one, and its true that only about 21% of Army enlistees attended a school with such a program. Still, its clearly another way that the service recruits the young. After all, its cadets wear their uniforms in school and are taught military history and marksmanship, among other things. Co-curricular activities include military drills and competitions. And there have been problems there, too: among them, a report citing 58 documented instances of sexual abuse or harassment of students by instructors in all branches of J.R.O.T.C. between 2018 and 2022. (As with all statistics on sexual abuse, this is undoubtedly an undercount.) J.R.O.T.C. is hardly the only program exposing young students to the military. Young Marines is a nonprofit education, service, and leadership program dating back to 1959, which promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle for kids eight years old through high school. Its website emphasizes that it isnt a military recruitment tool and doesnt teach combat skills. Nonetheless, events that Young Marines may participate in may involve close connection with public relations aspects of the armed forces. Then theres Starbase , a Defense Department educational program where students learn STEM subjects like science and math by interacting with military personnel. Its primary focus is socio-economically disadvantaged fifth graders. And yes, that would be 10- and 11-year-olds! Its good when extra resources are available to students and schools. In the end, though, programs like these conflate good citizenship with militarism. Too Little Or Too Much? A recent student of mine, who joined Navy R.O.T.C. to help pay for the college education she wanted, told me her age group, Gen Z, a key military target, doesnt view such future service as beneficial. Her classmates, typically enough, felt less than positive about her wearing a uniform. Only older people congratulated her for it. Three senior Army leaders reached a similar conclusion when they visited high schools nationwide recently to learn why enlistment was so dismal. They came away repeating the usual litany of problems: tight job market, pandemic barriers, unfitness of Americas youth, resistance from schools, and especially a lack of public information about the benefits of an Army career. But what if the problem isnt too little information, but too much? Despite ever-decreasing reportage on military and veterans issues, young civilians seem all too aware of the downsides of enlisting. Gen Zers, who until recently never lived in a country not openly at war, have gobs of information at their fingertips: videos, memoirs, movies, novels, along with alarming statistics on sexual assault and racism in the military and the ongoing health problems of soldiers, including exposure to toxic waste, rising cancer rates , and post-traumatic stress disorder. And thats not even to mention the disproportionate rates of suicide and homelessness among veterans, not to speak of the direct contact many young people have had with those who returned home ready to attest to the grim consequences of more than 20 years of remarkably pointless warfare in Afghanistan, Iraq, and across all too much of the rest of the planet. All of this probably helps explain what the Army found in surveys of 16- to 28-year-olds it conducted last spring and summer. That service described (but didnt release) its report on those surveys. According to the Associated Press , the top three reasons cited for refusing to enlist were fear of death, worries about post-traumatic stress disorder, and leaving friends and family. Young Americans also made it clear that they didnt want to put their lives on hold in the military, while 13% anticipated discrimination against women and minorities, 10% didnt trust the military leadership, 57% anticipated emotional or psychological problems, and nearly half expected physical problems from a stint in the Army. Despite recent accusations from conservative members of Congress, only 5% listed the Army being too woke as a deterrent, which should put that issue to bed, but undoubtedly wont. Let me offer a little confession here: I find all of this heartening not just that potential recruits dont want to be killed in war, but that theyre aware of how dangerous joining the military can be to body and mind. And apparently the survey didnt even explore feelings about the possibility that you could be called on to kill, too. In an op-doc for the New York Times that followed a group of American soldiers from their swaggering entry into the Iraqi capital of Baghdad in 2003 to their present-day lives, an off-screen voice asks, So what does it do to a generation of young people during these deployments? The answer: They become old. They are old young men. If theres one thing the Gen Zers I know dont want, its to get old before their time. (Probably not at their time either, but thats another story.) So, add that to the reasons not to enlist. Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Reader financed- No Advertising - No Government Grants - No Algorithm - This Is Independent Registration is not necessary to post comments. We ask only that you do not use obscene or offensive language. Please be respectful of others. In his words: "I am just a professional writer, which means I don't do blogs and try and get money for whatever I write." Baroness Warsi, a former co-chair of the Tory Party, has criticised home secretary Suella Cruella Braverman for using racist rhetoric The kite refuses to learn from the dove Who stitches the grass for food with his beak ---- Its not the kites way His nature is to fly with hawk-eyes above The trees with their nests in order to seek ---- Other birds new-born prey! From The Prayer-book of Rosemary Marlowe, by Bachchoo All political parties -- though perhaps not those in Russia and China -- have internal wars. The UKs two ruling parties have recently experienced fresh internal battles. Scotlands ruling Scottish National Party replaced its long-standing First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, with a continuity candidate Humza Yousaf, who narrowly defeated his two rivals. One promise of his campaign was his support for the bill on transgender rights that the Scottish Assembly had passed under Nicola Sturgeon. The bill gives any Scot the right to assert which gender he or she belongs to, regardless of the one they were born with. When that bill was passed, Hedgie Sunak said, as PM of the United Kingdom, that he was nullifying it. Humza has now promised to take the UK governments cancellation of the Scottish bill to court. The division is not simply between Hedgie and Humza. The two candidates whom Humza defeated and their followers, 48 per cent of the membership of the SNP, also oppose his legal challenge. The issue will inevitably lead to a precipitous division, a fall in the popularity of the SNP and to electoral gains for Scottish Labour. Then coming south, this last week witnessed a fresh battle in the ruling Tory Party. Baroness Warsi, a former co-chair of the Tory Party, has criticised home secretary Suella Cruella Braverman for using racist rhetoric repeatedly and has warned that her conduct should be regarded as unacceptable. Speaking on Britains LBC radio station, Lady Warsi said: I think the Prime Minister has to get a really strong message that this kind of rhetoric, whether its on small boats, whether its the stuff she was saying on the weekend which is not based on evidence, not nuanced, not kind of explanatory in any way it has got to stop! Sayeeda Warsi comes from a Pakistani background and her last remark alludes to Cruella characterising Pakistani men as having different cultural values from those of Britain, a difference which, Cruella said, has led them to participate in paedophile grooming gangs. The earlier allusion is to Cruella characterising people, who risk their lives to get away from war zones, famine and persecution to cross the English Channel and seek asylum, as invaders. Lady Warsi didnt pull her punches. She told the widely read Daily Mirror: I genuinely felt that with Rishi Sunak becoming Prime Minister that we were going to return to some level of grown-up politics. I just think that the home secretary keeps dragging him back into the gutter. Of course, Warsi wants her party to stay in power, and so she adds: We need to make it clear that this isnt going to be our strategy for the next eighteen months -- racist rhetoric and rabble rousing. But does Sayeedaji really think that Hedgie wants to make this clear? Is she, despite being a baroness, politically naive? Hedgie included Cruella in his Cabinet, despite her having been compelled to resign the post only a week earlier for a breach of parliamentary procedure involving security. And any home secretary is in charge -- wait for it -- of the nations errr -- security??? So why, Hedgie, why? Because, gentle reader, Cruella was once chair of the 70-strong Tory MPs group called European Research Group (ERG). This is an almost surrealistically right-wing gang of people who do no research but are Brexiteers, and who are now threatening to destabilise Hedgies government if they dont get their absurd way on all issues. This last week junior doctors throughout the nation went on a four-day strike. It caused untold disruption in the National Health Service. These doctors are the most impoverished professionals in the country, and yet health minister Steve Baker and his boss Hedgie havent the tiniest clue as to how to grant, even partially, their demands or, relatedly, how to save the NHS, which is in serious decline. Instead, Hedgie chooses to resort to Cruellas racist rhetoric and rabble-rousing policies of sending handfuls of asylum seekers to Rwanda. Hedgie is well aware that attacking the boat people, with any of the sort of language that Lady Warsi finds revolting, will at least keep some hard-core Tory voters on his side. Cruellas possibly most outrageous decision was to attack the Essex police this week for responding to calls to remove fifteen Golliwog dolls from a pub in Essex. The owners of the White Hart Inn, Christopher Riley and his wife Bernice, had decorated the pub with the dolls -- insulting caricatures of black people being suspended by the neck from ceiling height behind the bar of the pub. Riley posted a picture of two of these on the social media with the comment: They used to hang them in Mississippi years ago. Responding to complaints of hate crime, the police removed them. Cruella waded in, not to attack the openly and proudly racist Rileys, but to attack the police who responded to the call. It turns out that Riley, whose other posts on the social media have been exposed as openly racist, is a member of the Suella Braverman Supporters Group on Facebook. Thats the company this Tory PM Hedgie keeps. With the Lok Sabha polls just a year away, the Karnataka polls may be crucial to show which way the political winds are blowing May is lucky for Narendra Modi: twice he led the BJP to a majority in the Lok Sabha -- in 2014 and in 2019 -- a feat unparalleled in the annals of the saffron party. But one has to see if May 13 will be a lucky day for the PM as the Karnataka Assembly election results are announced. Interestingly, May 13 has been lucky for the Congress. It was on this day in 2004 that Sonia Gandhi for the first time brought it to power via the coalition route. It was the start of a new era, with the party in power for 10 long years. Thirteen is considered unlucky in the Western world. In some countries, hotels dont have rooms, even floors, numbered 13. The rationale is that no one would like to stay in an unlucky room. Its good that the Election Commission doesnt believe in such superstition. With the Lok Sabha polls just a year away, the Karnataka polls may be crucial to show which way the political winds are blowing. The next round of Assembly polls will be at the yearend, in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. In Karnataka, the Congress and the ruling BJP are in a keen tussle in a make-or-break election in the backdrop of political developments like Rahul Gandhis disqualification from the Lok Sabha, which have sent shockwaves in Opposition circles. It is also the first state election since the Hindenburg report came out on the gross financial irregularities and lapses in the Adani Group. Since then, Gautam Adani has slipped from his No. 2 rank among the worlds richest and his companies lost tremendous value due to a bloodbath at the bourses. Karnataka holds an important place in the BJPs scheme of things: it is said to be its Gateway to the South. Its the first state south of the Vindhyas where the BJP got power for the first time in 2007. Under Narendra Modi, the BJP has become the worlds largest political party. Gone are the days when the BJPs first government at the Centre headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee back in 1996 was dismissed by its detractors as a 13-day wonder and its second government lasted only 13 months. The 13th Lok Sabha which came into being in October 1999 saw Vajpayee in power for almost a full term. The pendulum has gone to the other extreme now, with the party unabashedly campaigning for a Congress-mukt Bharat. Karnataka also has a special affinity for the Congress. When the Janata Party was at the helm at the Centre in 1977, it had helped the Congress to get back to centre-stage through the Chikmagalur Lok Sabha bypoll. Indira Gandhi, then disqualified from the Lower House, had trounced the Janata Partys Veerendra Patil, and there was no looking back for the Congress. Cries of Ek Sherni, sau langoor, Chikmagalur, Chikmagalur had rent the air at that time. After a delay of some days, the BJP finally managed to release its first list of 189 candidates, and then a second list of 23; while the Congress is off to a flying start by declaring nominees in most seats, creating ripples in political circles. Controversial minister K.S. Eshwarappas opting out of the fray has sent its own message; while former chief minister Jagdish Shettars declaration that he would stand as an Independent if not given a ticket is indicative that all is not well with the BJP. While some claim that the delay in announcing candidates shows the BJPs nervousness, others feel that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah are taking extra precautions while laying the battlefield. While the rival sides may deny it, both are prone to factionalism. It is equally true that both sides have so far been able to project a picture of unity. For the BJP, former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa is the elephant in the room. The octogenarian leader was felicitated by the PM some time ago to signal that the powerful leader has not been sidelined by the party. Mr Yediyurappa was instrumental in bringing the party to power in the state and hasnt lost his prime place despite making way for Basavaraj Bommai as chief minister some time back. The rival faction is headed by B.L. Santosh, BJPs national general secretary (organisation). A section of the party believes that despite being CM candidate, Mr Bommai has failed to become the partys face, which is a cause for worry. Both Mr Modi and Mr Shah, who play till the last ball, will leave no stone unturned to reach out to the masses through feverish campaigning. In the Congress, former CM Siddharamaiah and state PCC chief D.K. Shivakumar, rivals in state politics for long, are CM hopefuls. Rahul Gandhi has been able to keep a lid on their rivalry so far, but tomorrow could be another day. Desertions from the ruling side to the Opposition are being seen in the state. The massive response to Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra in Karnataka has enthused the Congress. Mallikarjun Kharge, who replaced Sonia Gandhi as party president, hails from Karnataka. H.D. Deve Gowdas Janata Dal(S) is the third party in Karnataka politics, but it is losing steam. The dissension in the Deve Gowda family itself over the Hassan seat looks like a bad omen at a time when the state is witnessing a fierce clash between the two titans. The state BJP chiefs remark that the Karnataka poll is a tussle between Savarkar and Tipu Sultan is a pointer that the ruling party will exploit the Hindutva issue to the hilt. The open accusation by a contractors association in the state that they had to pay 40 per cent commission for government contracts under the BJP had created quite a row. The Congress governments were not that different, say the critics. But the corruption issue has come in handy for the BJPs detractors. Some argue that the raids on prominent Congress leaders by the investigative agencies are to show that the shoe is on the other foot. Allegations are bound to fly thick and fast over the coming one month. Revadis will also be on offer to grab more votes. Karnataka is too precious a jewel for either side to lose. It remains to be seen whether it is won by the neck or by the mile. The Karnataka elections appear to be a different ballgame altogether for the BJP, which suggests that electoral battles in South India are different from those of northern and western India. The writer is a journalist based in New Delhi He passed away at the age of 88 after an illness. Recognised by the Holy See as pastor of the archdiocese since 2016, he officially took office in 2020 with government placet. With 300,000 faithful, Fuzhou's archdiocese is perhaps the richest in China. The archdiocese's history, however, is marked by internal divisions and contrasts. Beijing (AsiaNews) - Msgr Peter Lin Jiashan, Archbishop of Fuzhou, in the southeastern province of Fujian, has died. The death occurred at lunchtime (local time); the 88-year-old prelate had failed to recover from an illness. After a three-day wake in the archdiocese cathedral, the funeral will be held on 17 April. Born in Changle district (Fujian) on 2 September 1934, he was consecrated bishop in May 1981. Coadjutor bishop of Fuzhou in 1997, he has been recognised by the Holy See as pastor of the archdiocese since 2016, after a controversial internal division. He then took office as archbishop on 9 June 2020 with the placet also of the Chinese government. Archbishop Lin was a member of the 'underground' Church, and had also been sentenced to 10 years of forced labour in the 1980s. According to some of the faithful, since the early 2000s he had the desire to make his situation official with the Chinese authorities, an intention that was, however, held back by the majority of his priests. The archdiocese of Fuzhou is perhaps the richest and most numerous in China. In 2020, it had about 300,000 faithful, 120 priests and over 500 nuns. Before the official installation three years ago, the local community of religious was divided into two groups: about 20 supported Msgr Lin; another 60 supported Fr Lin Yuntuan, who was appointed apostolic administrator of the archdiocese by the Holy See in 2013. To overcome disagreements between underground priests and those who had signed the government registration - compulsory under a 2017 state regulation - Msgr Lin had circulated a letter to religious and faithful in 2019. He urged them to remain 'united in spirit on the path of reconciliation, tolerance and mutual acceptance and unity in Christ, avoiding suspicion, attacks and divisions'. by Vladimir Rozanskij The initiative is by parliamentarian Karakat Abden. Human rights activists launch petition to dismiss it. The tradition of the objectification of women persists. Parts of the establishment see mixed marriages as a threat to the nation. Moscow (AsiaNews) - The new Member of Parliament in Kazakhstan, Karakat Abden, has put forward a proposal that has unleashed discontent in her country: that of "imposing a tax on Kazakh girls who marry foreigners". A group of women's rights activists immediately started collecting signatures for a petition, leading to Abden's removal from her parliamentary seat. In her speech on a TV programme, the MP argued that "a 'Kazakh woman' is a national talisman, and we cannot lose cede this abroad, which is why I call for a tax on mixed marriages". The politician had already hinted at this project in last year's presidential election campaign, when she was listed as a 'front' candidate competing against outgoing President Tokaev. Having become a member of parliament for the social-patriotic Auyl party, Abden claims to have the support of the other deputies in her group. The country's feminists have risen up against her, who had already marched on 8 March with the slogan 'we are not your toys', aimed precisely at those who, like Abden, want to manipulate the role of Kazakh women. A woman married to a foreigner, Ajzan, who lives with her husband and family in Thailand, intervened on social media: 'If the MP is hungry for taxes, let her take them from husbands who beat their wives'. In her opinion, the marriage tax would be 'an attack on the rights of the person and of Kazakh girls: they might as well deny them education and keep them segregated at home... in Kazakhstan there are different ethnic groups, with whom people have been marrying for centuries'. Professor of international law Ajgerim Kusainkyzy also considers Abden's proposal a violation of rights, an 'objectification of girls' turned into commercial items: 'The right to freedom of choice must always remain first, even if in Kazakh society there is always a discussion about the honour of girls, on which the future of society depends, and it is thought that those who accept a mixed marriage have a negative influence on it'. Moreover, in Kazakh traditions, girls are often seen as family property, which cannot be given to outsiders, and when this happens, the girl is considered guilty of all the ills of the family and society. As humanitarian activist Bella Orynbetova reminds us, the number of women victims of violence in Kazakhstan grows year on year. "This also depends on the spread of opinions that do damage to the dignity and credibility of women... if a Kazakh woman happily marries a foreigner, these people cannot accept it". Abden tried to respond to this criticism from her Facebook page, pointing out that 'this proposal is part of the initiatives to defend our national values, and strengthen the patriotic spirit, and in any case I have asked that it be discussed by the entire parliament, with the help of scientific expertise and sociological research'. Girls walking down the street with boyfriends and husbands of other ethnicities are often filmed on videos uploaded on the net, in order to 'save the nation', as many write. The issue of Kazakh girls' mixed marriages had already been raised in parliament a few years ago, when Senator Zabal Ergaliev declared in 2012 that restrictions should be placed on girls' travel abroad. Poet Rinat Zaitov, elected to parliament this year for the Amanat presidential party, argued that "Abden's proposal may be right, if one looks at the interest of the nation, one must do everything to preserve the people of the Kazakh state", recalling that 'kalyma', payment for girls, is "an ancient tradition of the Kazakhs". The problem, according to Zaitov, is 'the improvement of our demographic condition', concluding that 'if a girl marries a foreigner, the state also has its rights'. Bilateral talks in Yemeni capital achieve positive results. Red Cross planes bring prisoners to Sana'a and Aden. UN envoy sees hope, stresses the importance of constructive dialogue. Sana'a (AsiaNews) The glimmer of hope for peace in Yemen remains alive following the Chinese-mediated diplomatic rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran. More efforts are underway. The first round of Saudi-Houthi talks in Sana'a ended today on a positive note with the parties pledging to meet again soon. This morning, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced that Saudi Arabia and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have begun swapping almost 900 prisoners. A plane carrying 35 people landed in Aden, which is controlled by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government; while another plane with 125 prisoners landed in Sana'a, Yemens Houthi-held capital. In the coming days, more planes are set to carry released detainees in six Yemeni and Saudi cities in a process run by the ICRC. This release operation comes at a time of hope for Yemen as a reminder that constructive dialogue and mutual compromises are powerful tools capable of achieving great outcomes, said UN Yemen envoy Hans Grundberg. The parties agreed last month in Switzerland to release 887 detainees, scheduling further meetings for next month to discuss further prisoner exchanges. The talks were the latest in a series of meetings that led to releases of prisoners in 2022 and 2020 under a UN-mediated deal known as the Stockholm Agreement. Our deep desire is that these releases provide momentum for a broader political solution," said Fabrizio Carboni, the ICRC's regional director. A Saudi delegation yesterday concluded peace talks in Sanaa with the Houthi movement whose officials cited progress and said further discussions were needed to iron out remaining differences. Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti described the negotiations as "going well". Another Houthi official, Abdulmalik Alejri, twitted that with determination and honest intentions remaining difficulties can be resolved. Talks facilitated by Oman focused on a ceasefire, reopening Houthi-controlled ports and Sanaa airport, reconstruction, and the withdrawal of foreign forces. However, unresolved issues remain, including payment of public sector wages, which for the Houthis include the armed forces, and oil revenues. San Angelo, TX (76909) Today Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray severe thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray severe thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. The moon may soon be home to humanity. A top scientist at Huazhong University of Science and Technology recently revealed that China wants to start building its lunar base during a mission around 2028. NASA administrator Bill Nelson previously announced that a new Space Race had begun between the US and China as the two compete to build a lunar base first and dominate lunar resources, per The Guardian. China 2028 Lunar Bases Details Ding Lieyun, the top scientist in question, recently told Chinese media China plans to lay the first moon soil=made brick of its lunar base during the Chang'e 8 mission around 2028, per TIME. The country plans to do so using a robot named "Chinese Super Masons," which it is currently designing, to make bricks out of lunar soil. Caixin, a Beijing-based Chinese news website, mentioned that China plans to have its lunar base powered by nuclear energy and its basic configuration will consist of a lander, hopper, orbiter, and rover. The country plans to build these configurations through its Chang'e 6, 7, and 8 missions. Meanwhile, Wu Weiran, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program, said in an interview with state media CCTV that China's astronauts could likely go to the moon within ten years. By then, Lieyun predicts that building habitation on the moon, apart from the lunar base it plans to construct by 2028, would become essential not only for lunar exploration but also for China's "strategic needs as a space power." Read More: House Judiciary Committee Subpoenas FTC for Twitter Investigation Documents China has already made steps in making this base come true; it already sent probes to the moon, notably on its far side, according to Science.org. The country also built its own space station, the Tiangong Space Station, and is getting busy on Mars with its Zhurong Mars rover and Tianwen 1 spacecraft. Most notably, China is the first country to ever send a probe to the far side of the moon to successfully gather and deliver lunar samples from that region back to Earth. True to Lieyun's words, China probably wants to get ahead of the US to be the first to gain access to minerals and other resources that couldn't be found on Earth. For example, the moon is theorized to contain a source of waste-free nuclear energy that could meet global energy demands for 250 years - a boon for any country to have. American Moon-based Achievements So Far The US is not without its fair share of achievements in space. Apart from its successful Artemis 1 mission, NASA already has its Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) spacecraft in position to begin the construction of its Lunar Gateway. NASA plans to use this moon-orbiting space station to support a long-term and sustainable human presence on and around the moon, per Gizmodo. Additionally, NASA plans to use its Gateway space station as staging points for deep space exploration, such as sending the first humans to Mars and spacecraft to other parts of the solar system, per NASA's Gateway webpage. Related Article: 10 Things to Know About the Far Side of the Moon Over in the United States, the redesigned Mustang will start rolling into customers' garages this summer. There is a right-hand-drive model in the offing for countries that drive on the wrong side of the road, with said model scheduled to start deliveries in Australia in early 2024. 41 photos Photo: Ford / Stevefreestyle on mustang7g.com / edited kilowatt Many of those automakers if not all have this habit of waxing lyrical about the benefits of going electric while disregarding their internal combustion-engined pasts. Worse still, legacy automakers also greenwash their zero-emission offensive like there's no tomorrow. There are, however, a handful of commendable exceptions.For example, BMW of North America partnered with Scenic America to celebrate Earth Day by planting 25 trees for every test drive of its electric vehicles taken between April 18 and May 1. Said trees will be planted in areas devasted by wildfires, which is all the more commendable given that climate change leads to longer fire seasons in the US compared to mere decades ago.Those 25 trees per test drive will also provide a home for the wildlife in affected areas, moderate temperatures, and suck carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to produce oxygen through photosynthesis. Love or hate BMW's current design language, but leaving a positive and lasting impact on the environment deserves our praise.Opening a new tab and searching for BMW's lineup in the United States of America reveals a slight issue for the Bavarian automaker. More specifically, the Munich-based manufacturer offers three all-electric vehicles for the 2023 model year. Later this year, most likely as a 2024 model, the i5 will be launched together with the eighth generation of the fossil fuel-powered 5 Series. BMW intends to triple all-electric vehicle sales in 2023, and going forward, BMW expects to sell a million EVs in the United States of America by 2030. The Neue Klasse platform will hopefully enable the German automaker to reach this goal, with Neue Klasse-based EVs already confirmed for production at the Debrecen plant in Hungary and San Luis Potosi plant in Mexico.Regarding the current BMW electric vehicle lineup, the i4 opens the list with a sticker price of $52,000 sans destination charge for the eDrive35. The range further comprises the eDrive40 and all-wheel-drive M50, which believe it or not is BMW M's best-selling vehicle.Even more controversial in the way it looks than the i4, the iX can be yours from $87,100 for the xDrive50. Its M-branded sibling the M60 retails at $111,500.As for the final entry, the i7 is a 7 Series with all-electric propulsion. The only variant currently available stateside is the xDrive60, which packs two electric motors, 101.7hours of usable battery capacity, and 536 horsepower on full song. Rated at up to 318 miles (512 kilometers) of EPA-estimated driving range, the full-size luxobarge is $119,300 at the very least. Cannes film festival president Iris Knobloch, right, and Festival delegate general Thierry Fremaux attend a press conference to announce the International Cannes film festival line up for the upcoming 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Paris, April 13. AP-Yonhap Two Korean films will be screened at noncompetition categories of this year's Cannes Film Festival, the event's organizers has announced. Director Kim Jee-woon's new feature film "Cobweb" has been selected for Out of Competition and director Kim Chang-hoon's debut feature film "Hopeless" for Un Certain Regard, according to the lineup unveiled by the festival's executive committee during a press conference on Thursday (French time) for the 76th edition. There were no Korean films chosen for competition this year, however. "Cobweb" tells the story of a film director from the 1970s who is obsessed with creating a masterpiece and struggles to shoot the film amid government censorship and uncooperative actors. Song Kang-ho, who won the best actor award at last year's Cannes, plays the role of the director in the film, while the cast also includes Im Soo-jung, Oh Jung-se and Jeon Yeo-been. This marks Kim's third invitation to Cannes and Song's eighth. Kim's previous films, "A Bittersweet Life" (2004) and "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" (2008), have also been selected for the noncompetition section. Kim expressed his gratitude through the new film's distributor Barunson EA for being invited to the festival where "global filmmakers and audiences gather" at a time when "the time of cinema" has to revive after the pandemic. "Above all, I'm grateful to the actors who helped create the dynamic moments in 'Cobweb' together," he said. "Hopeless" is a noir film depicting the story of a boy named Yeon-gyu (played by Hong Sa-bin) who wants to escape from the hellish reality he lives in, and his journey into the world of organized crime after meeting Chi-geon (played by Song Joong-ki). With the film, actor Song has received his first invitation to Cannes. A total of 19 films, including Japanese director Kore-eda Hirokazu's latest film "Monster," were nominated for competition. The festival will open with "Jeanne du Barry" by French actor-director Maiwenn. The competition jury is chaired by Ruben Ostlund, who won the Palme d'Or last year for his film "The Square." The festival will announce films invited to other categories such as Directors' Fortnight and Critics' Week later. The 76th festival will run from May 16-27 in Cannes, a resort city in France. (Yonhap) SUV EV It is no secret that self-driving technology has taken a step back from glorious automaker promises that everything will be driverless in just a few years from now. Instead, they are now taking baby steps, even the few companies still seeking to advance such technologies. The Americans are among them , primarily thanks to Tesla's Autopilot, General Motors' hands-free Super Cruise, and Ford's direct competitor, aka BlueCruise.Speaking of the latter, the Blue Oval company recently announced that the UK's Department for Transport allowed it to bring its hands-free driving systems to Great Britain. As such, Ford has become the inaugural automaker that has a "hands-off, eyes-on" advanced driver assistance technology (Level 2) approved in the country. However, as always, there are some caveats. First and foremost, it will not work as intended everywhere and every time, as it needs to pre-map the roads.As such, motorways are the first source of cool, Level 2 BlueCruise bragging rights . Ford also wanted everyone to know that it was the first to gain regulatory approval in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. For now, the motorway network in Great Britain will have to suffice, with 2,300 miles (3,700 km) of pre-mapped roads in England, Scotland, and Wales getting the BlueZone designation. Privacy is an interesting issue, but Ford elegantly circumvents potential scandals because driver attentiveness will be continually checked by "sophisticated infrared camera technology" rather than being shot on old-fashioned regular video systems.Plus, the computer constantly monitors "road markings, speed signs, and evolving traffic conditions to control steering, acceleration, braking, and lane positioning, as well as to maintain safe and consistent distances to vehicles ahead right down to a complete halt in traffic jams." For now, only the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E is eligible for BlueCruise via a new subscription the first 90 days are free, and then drivers must pay 17.99 (around $22.5 at the current exchange rates) per month to enjoy the hands-free driving perks at up to 80 mph (130 kph).Naturally, the US automaker is interested in bringing the technology to other European countries, but regulatory hurdles and vehicle availability currently limit it. Further models in the lineup will gain BlueCruise in the coming years. Plus, the company hopes to piggyback on older Mustang Mach-E models featuring the optional Tech Pack or Tech Pack + to enable BlueCruise via a future Ford Power-Up software update. By the way, speaking of the Old Continent and self-driving technology, there is news from Germany, too.Over at the Ford CologneCenter, the Detroit carmaker has just trialed AI technology that could soon allow Ford cars to "drive themselves off the assembly line with no one at the wheel!" This automated driving technology is aimed at increasing plant efficiency and safety, and via the new E-SELF research project, vehicles could also reach final testing, self-charge, and park ready for delivery entirely autonomously. EV production is scheduled to kick off later this year, with plans for 600k units hitting Europe yearly from 2026.For now, the E-SELF endeavor is a long-running two-and-a-half-year trial of V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure communication) undertaken with various partners like the Institute of Automotive Engineering of the Technische Universitat Braunschweig and Kopernikus Automotive. At the same time, the Federal Ministry of Economy and Climate Protection helped with 2 million ($2.21 million) in funding. Every little bug in the application eventually impacts a significant number of users, which is precisely why Google must always fix such problems promptly.The most recent Google Maps update for iOS devices resolves a bug discovered in March. Heres everything you need to know about it.The trip sharing option in Google Maps is currently among the most popular features . With this feature, users can let friends and family keep track of their driving journey and see the progress in real time. When sharing a trip in Google Maps, the application generates a dedicated link others can use to access journey information and real-time location data.Starting in May, Google Maps no longer generated this link on iOS devices. I noticed the bug shortly after installing version 6.57, but so far, Ive only seen sporadic reports of this behavior. As such, the bug wasnt necessarily widespread, though Im seeing more than a dozen users complaining about the same glitch on Googles forums.Google has since rolled out five new Google Maps updates , but only the most recent version addressed the glitch.Due to the bug, when trying to share a trip, Google Maps still allowed users to choose a contact but without actually sending them a link. After installing version 6.62, which started rolling out this week, the expected behavior is back, with sharing once again working properly.The search giant never discussed this bug publicly, so confirmation that this update indeed resolves the problem does not exist. However, several users have also confirmed in the said Google thread that everything is back to normal after installing the latest update.The iOS version of Google Maps powers both the iPhone and the CarPlay experience. Google did not share a changelog for version 6.62, so if youve previously encountered a glitch on either of these two platforms, make sure you install this update. Chances are Google introduced additional fixes, but without an official changelog, its hard to tell if the update resolves other widespread problems too.In the meantime, the experience with Google Maps navigation continues to be mixed in the CarPlay world. The app still experiences random GPS location tracking problems , with users most often tempted to switch to another app because of inconsistent navigation. Location errors come and go in Google Maps, suggesting the app might not necessarily be the one to blame. However, the Mountain View search giant looking into reports and delivering updates as fast as possible helps the app both now and in the long term. Electric Vehicle kW To be unveiled in New York City, the unibody sport utility vehicle is equipped with a full-width dashboard screen. Exceptionally distracting, the screen in question is joined by a floating-style touchscreen display for the infotainment system, which obviously runs SYNC 4.The problem is, there are way too many questions left unanswered. Where is it going to be assembled, what platform underpins it, and is the Ford Edge going to be redesigned for the US market as well? We simply don't know for the time being, but we do know that $1.8 billion are going to the Oakville Assembly Complex.This investment will see the current-generation Edge and Nautilus go the way of the dodo in favor of all-electric vehicles. Retooling will start in the second quarter of 2024, with series production scheduled to restart in 2025. The retooling will see the Ontario-based plant renamed OakvilleComplex.The platform isn't known either, but we do know that China is getting a brand-new Edge and Nautilus on the C2 platform of the Escape compact crossover. Both of them have been confirmed with a purely internal combustion 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder mill and with a hybrid-assisted lump that cranks out 209(280 hp).Their lithium-manganese battery packs come from BYD, and their top speed is 200 kilometers per hour (124 miles per hour), as per documents published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in the People's Republic of China. It's worth highlighting that Ford might have redesigned the Nautilus as a completely electric vehicle for the United States market, but as mentioned earlier, we don't know for certain just yet.Last but certainly not least, is the Edge coming back into the fold as well? Maybe, or maybe not. It would be crazy for the Ford Motor Company to pour resources into developing an all-new Nautilus for the United States without a Ford-branded sibling. On a related note, our spy photographers recently captured a China-spec prototype doing its thing close to the Arctic Circle.On the other hand, remember that Ford made the mid-sized Edge's life that little bit harder stateside with the mid-sized Explorer and body-on-frame Bronco. There's hearsay that only the Nautilus will soldier on in the United States. The Lincoln-branded sibling is reportedly going to be manufactured by Changan Ford in China at the Hangzhou complex in the Zhejiang province.Regarding the outgoing Nautilus, the 2023 model comes exclusively with two rows of seats rather than three for the rear-wheel-drive Explorer. The front-wheel-drive Nautilus can be had from $44,825 sans destination charge, as opposed to $37,945 for the Ford Edge. The first vessel in the shipbuilder's fleet to leverage the AI technology is aptly named No Stress and has just been lowered into the water for the first time. It is a 164-foot (50-meter) superyacht that features a hybrid propulsion system, the first in Rossinavi's lineup to do so.Touted as a "hybrid soul in a dynamic design," the new superyacht boasts an exterior design by Enrico Gobbi's Team for Design, the same team that penned the interior styling. It features a svelte, well-balanced silhouette with sleek, sporty lines inspired by automotive icons, with a fast-displacement, all-aluminum hull.From the information revealed so far, we've learned that the 498GT No Stress has a dual power system that makes it a more energy-efficient and ecologically-friendly superyacht . It is equipped with two MTU 16V 2000 M96L diesel engines and two electric motors powered by generators and a battery pack. The two propulsion systems can run independently of each other and allow for up to five operating modes for various uses of the yacht, including all-diesel and all-electric.When operating in electric mode, the yacht will use AI to monitor consumption. The aim is to maximize energy efficiency when cruising and at anchor.No Stress is the first hull to be launched under Rossinavi's BluE initiative. For those unfamiliar with the yard's latest developments, BluE is the designation used by the company for the more environmentally friendly propulsion technology."We are very proud to launch our very first BluE project. No Stress is a hybrid vessel characterized by a strong sporty attitude. It is a high-performance super yacht with dual fuel: diesel and battery," commented Federico Rossi, Rossinavi's Chief Operating Officer. "Artificial Intelligence allows you to enjoy the electric experience on board to the fullest. This is only the beginning, as this technology will be optimized next year, revealing its fullest expression with the launch of the Sea Cat."Details on the interior design have yet to be revealed, but the yard describes the living quarters as minimal, saying special attention was paid to architectural details. That's because the private owner's brief specifically requested spacious interiors and a seamless flow between outdoor and indoor areas to facilitate a deep connection with the surrounding environment.The yard met the client's requirements by incorporating openings on both the hull and the superstructure and continuous floor-to-ceiling glass windows that allow panoramic views from every area of the No Stress superyacht.In terms of accommodation capacity, the No Stress superyacht will be able to comfortably carry a party of twelve, and it is expected to take its maiden voyage this summer. EV Photo: Tesla, Ford, Chevrolet, Ram, GMC kWh For sure, after a little stagnation to see who will take the crown in 2022, the first year of full sales for the initial trio, now the full-size electric pickup segment is heating up with Ram premiering its 2025 REV variant at the 2023 New York Auto Show and a couple of major competitors still missing in action. Right now, all we have to properly compose our guesses are the first quarter sales, which have rebounded quite nicely compared to the distressing couple of past years, as far as full-size pickup truck deliveries are concerned.Anyone who dared to voice the potential demise of the mighty full-size pickup truck game in America might want to hold on to that thought for a later date. As far as sales are concerned, for the first three months of 2023, while the levels are not as great as before the health crisis struck, they are also showing great signs of recovery. So, when delegitimizing GMs love of bundling the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra together, the Ford F-Series kept its lead for the U.S. market crown, with Rams trucks tucked neatly in between the Silverado and Sierra, plus the popular Toyota Tundra taking fifth place.It seems that the latters hybrid option makes it a worthy candidate for greatness, but it is still not enough to claim the throne because it does not have anyoption in the cards, just yet. Unlike General Motors, Ford, Stellantis, and even the Rivian newcomer, which still does not separate R1T sales from R1S deliveries so that we have a clearer picture of whether or not its the most popular EV pickup truck of Q1 of 2023 on the back of Fords shutdown of the F-150 Lighting production to resolve a pesky battery fire issue.As such, all we know is that Ford sold almost 4,300 F-150 Lightning units during the first three months of the year and that the GMC Hummer EV went down from 99 deliveries in 2022 to just two whole units in 2023! That is right, they sold just two behemoth SUVs, and everyone is rightfully wondering what on Earth is going on with the Ultium platform if General Motors cannot ramp up the production to even try and remotely challenge the Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning. Besides, the competition is not sitting idle, as proven by the recent arrival of the production version of the 2025 Ram 1500 REV in New York. Sure, given the late 2024 market introduction, there is still enough time to make sure that GM can still throw a jab at the competitor's claims especially that bold 500-mile (805 km) EV range promise.In fact, these EV pickup trucks will be butting heads (sorry, that Ram pun was totally intended) from more than one direction, given the upcoming Rivian R1T-GMC Hummer EV-Ford F-150 Lightning-Silverado/Sierra EV-Ram 1500 REV-Tesla Cybertruck foes. Naturally, we can easily discard the R1T for being too early-adopter-like and the Tesla Cybertruck for being eternally late to the party from the discussion. At least until they prove their worth with Rivian admitting the real sales of their EV truck and Elon Musk and Co. finally kicking off production for their edgy Cybertruck game-changer.Before that happens, chances are that most people will cross-shop between the Big Detroit Three, as always, even when it comes to the novel approach of plugging in their all-new pickup truck to the mains and allowing them to sip some battery-replenishing electron juice. In terms of pricing, if (and only if) General Motors respects its word, the 2024 Chevy Silverado WT can win the brawl with its intended $40k asking price after Fords F-150 Lightnings base MSRP has surged $20k since it was introduced to the market. The Ram 1500 REV is a rogue agent , as prices have not been announced, yet.As far as performance is concerned, the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning has 426 (standard battery) and 563 ponies (extended battery), whereas the Silverado EV and Sierra EV siblings start from 510 hp and can jump to no less than 754 hp in Max Power mode, though only if their Ultium underpinnings can actually deliver. Meanwhile, the Ram 1500 REV fits snuggly in the middle with 654 horsepower. The range is also crucial, with Ford touting 240 miles (390 km) and 320 miles (510 km), respectively, the Silverado EV and Sierra EV boasting up to 400 miles (644 km), and the Ram 1500 REV going between 350 (563 km) and 500 miles (805 km), depending on the 168 or 229battery packs, of course. So, which is the right or potentially perfect fit for you kW kWh WLTP Recently leaked by the Chinese regulator, the ID.7 indirectly replaces the Passat sedan in Europe and North America. The People's Republic of China received a market-specific model in 2019 with a selection of both internal combustion engines and a 1.4-liter turbo plug-in setup borrowed from the Euro-market Passat GTE.Over in the United States, the Passat sedan was discontinued after the 2022 model year due to abysmally poor sales. The European sibling, which features a different platform, is going the way of the dodo to improve the Skoda Superb's market share. The wagon will return, though, for the upcoming B9 generation.Regarding the ID.7, the all-electric successor is described as being a flagship by Imelda Labbe, member of the board of management in charge of sales, aftersales, and marketing. Based on the leaked photos from China of a white-painted prototype that looks incredibly boring, Volkswagen can do much better. Remember the Phaeton? That was a flagship, alright!Joining the ID.3 hatchback, ID.4 crossover, ID.5 coupe-styled crossover, and ID.6 seven-seat crossover, the ID.7 sedan will be manufactured in Germany for the European and North American markets. The ID.7 will be assembled in China as well by the automaker's joint ventures with FAW and SAIC in Foshan and Anting.Sedans are still popular in the People's Republic of China, but on the other hand, will the ID.7 prevail against crossover alternatives in Europe and America? The answer is yes. This body style can be made a lot more slippery than a crossover, hence the 0.197 drag coefficient of the Lucid Air and 0.200 of the Mercedes-Benz EQS. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 also comes to mind with a 0.21 Cd, with the South Korean sedan being the closest to the ID.7 in terms of length and wheelbase.Volkswagen's upcoming electric sedan further sweetens the deal with a highly efficient drive unit. APP550 is what the Wolfsburg-based automaker calls the MEB-specific electric motor, which will carry over to other MEB-based vehicles in the near future. The APP550 boasts up to 210and 550 Nm on full song, figures that covert to 282 ponies and 406 pound-feet of twist.Confirmed with rear-wheel drive, the ID.7 will be offered with a choice of 77- and 86-batteries that can be charged at up to 170 kW and 200 kW, respectively. Advertised with a drag coefficient of 0.23, the ID.7 is good for up to 700 kilometers (435 miles) in the. The estimate will be worse in the US, where the EPA calls the shots. China, on the other hand, uses the even less realistic CLTC testing standard. The same protesters gathered at the main entrance to Yerevans Yerablur Military Pantheon last September to try to prevent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian from laying a wreath there on the occasion of Armenias Independence Day. They blame Pashinian for the deaths of their sons as well as at least 3,800 other Armenian soldiers killed in action. Riot police violently dispersed the protesters shortly before senior officials led by Pashinian arrived at the military ceremony. At least 37 grief-stricken men and women were dragged away, forced into police vehicles and detained in dramatic scenes that caused uproar on social media. Armenias leading civic organizations strongly condemned the use of force and demanded the resignation of Vahe Ghazarian, the then chief of the national police. Ghazarian retained his post before being promoted and appointed by Pashinian as interior minister in January. While defending the use of force, Ghazarian ordered an internal inquiry into his officers actions at Yerablur. None of them has been fired or subjected to disciplinary action. Despite formally recognizing most of the detained parents as victims of violence, Armenias Investigative Committee has likewise not indicted any of the policemen in a separate, criminal investigation launched after the Yerablur crackdown. The angry parents decried this fact and demanded official explanations when they rallied outside the law-enforcement agencys headquarters on Thursday evening. They also partly blocked traffic through a street adjacent to the building. The protest continued through the night and on Friday morning. Its participants also condemned Investigative Committees refusal to meet with them. We have spent the night here, said Gayane Hakobian, who lost her son Zhora Martirosian during the six-week war. Hakobian said that riot police officers must be held accountable despite apologizing to her and other parents during a joint interrogation. We suffered more mental and moral injuries than physical ones, she told journalists. In a statement, the Investigative Committee rejected the protesters demands as illegal and defended its officials refusal to hold more face-to-face meetings with them. It claimed that some parents shouted insults and made other emotional statements when they were received by investigators last fall. The protesters dismissed that explanation. As one of them put it, They havent taken any investigative actions since our last meeting. They dont come out [to meet the parents] simply because they have nothing to tell us. The talks took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on the sidelines of a regular meeting of the top diplomats of ex-Soviet republics making up the Commonwealth of Independent States. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov again called for intensifying efforts on all tracks of the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization in accordance with the 2020-2022 agreements between the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Russia regards those agreements as a blueprint for settling the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute. It has repeatedly accused the West of seeking to hijack them and sideline Moscow. Lavrov has been trying to host fresh talks between Mirzoyan and Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. Speaking in the Armenian parliament on Wednesday, Mirzoyan indicated that he will meet with Bayramov soon. But he did not specify the date or the format of the meeting. Bayramov did not travel to Samarkand for the CIS ministerial gathering. The Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani ministers were scheduled to meet in Moscow last December. Yerevan cancelled the meeting in protest against Azerbaijans blockade of the Lachin corridor. The Armenian Foreign Ministry said Mirzoyan again raised the issue with Lavrov and emphasized the need to lift the blockade of the Lachin corridor. Armenian leaders have accused the Russian peacekeepers of doing little to restore traffic through the sole road connecting Armenia to Karabakh. Russian officials have strongly denied that. Mirzoyan was also reported to brief Lavrov on Tuesdays fighting on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border which left at least seven soldiers from both sides dead. He described the deadly clash as yet another manifestation of Azerbaijans aggressive policy. The two ministers held the fresh talks amid unprecedented friction between their countries. It stems in large measure from what Yerevan sees as Moscows reluctance to support its main regional in the protracted conflict with Azerbaijan. The rift deepened further late last month after Armenias Constitutional Court gave the green light for parliamentary ratification of the International Criminal Courts founding treaty. The ruling followed an arrest warrant issued by the ICC for Russian President Vladimir Putin over war crimes allegedly committed by Russia in Ukraine. Moscow warned on March 27 that recognition of The Hague tribunals jurisdiction would have extremely negative consequences for Russian-Armenian relations. The official readouts of Lavrovs latest meeting with Mirzoyan made no mention of this issue. 14 April 2023 09:00 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more The French government continues to take a traditional pro-Armenian position. The statement of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the latest provocation by Armenia against the Azerbaijani army shows once again that the French government is not aware of the norms of democracy and international law. In fact, the French officials, parliament, government circles and the presidential administration are well aware that the incident is a part of a plan prepared by the wishes of all pro-Armenian forces, especially the Armenian leadership. Yes, by resorting to this kind of military provocation, Armenia also proved that destabilization in the region can be permanent. This also shows that the Armenian authorities and their patrons are not interested in the establishment of peace and security in the region. It is regrettable that, while the incident was a direct result of Armenian provocation, the French government makes a baseless statement against Azerbaijan. Here the question arises: - First, by what right does the French government issue such a statement regarding the events taking place in the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan? - secondly, on the basis of which right does France deal with the internal problems of Azerbaijan and tries to intervene in the process of territorial delimitation? - and thirdly, why France is not interested in restoring peace and security in the region? It is known that France, which has declared that it supports the territorial integrity of Armenia, has never made a statement about Azerbaijan's territorial integrity during the decades of co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group. The incident that happened two days ago took place in the territory of Azerbaijan, and there was no delimitation in those territories. If France has any doubts about the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, then it would be more appropriate to look at history. It should be noted that the map of the territory of Azerbaijan before the Soviet rule was approved in Paris in 1918. On that map, the territories where Armenia is located are shown within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Here, instead of recalling the map it approved with its own hand, France, which is trying to fight for Armenia, pokes its nose into Azerbaijan's internal problems. It seems that France is not aware of the colonies it left behind by pretending to be a noble fan of democracy. If official Paris is talking about the territorial integrity of a sovereign country 3,600 km away, it would be appropriate to first discuss its colonial policy, the language restriction it imposed on the Corsican islands and its disgraceful policy in New Caledonia. As for the delimitation of borders, France should know unequivocally that these are the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan. France would do well to deal with the protests, police violence and human rights abuses taking place in its own territory. As for Armenia, the EU mission encourages Armenia to the next provocation, and Armenia turns this mission into a part of its aggressive policy. The resulting processes show that the mission of the EU is quite incompetent in restoring peace and security. The EU mission acts on the dictates of Armenia and serves the dangerous interests of the French government and Armenia, not the common interests. It should be noted that the Armenian media itself stated that Armenia wanted to send the EU mission to the place of the incident with all its might, but it was not possible. For this reason, the objectives of the mission are generally not clear. The only thing to be clear is that Armenia is currently involved in a dangerous game. The Pashinyan authorities should understand that all rules are determined not according to the dictates of France, but according to the principles within the region. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Participants listen to presentations during the 2nd Silicon Valley International Financial Cooperation Council held at Korea Investment Corporation's (KIC's) San Francisco office in Menlo Park, Calif., Thursday (local time). Courtesy of KIC By Anna J. Park In a move to strengthen networks with venture capitalists and startups in the U.S., the Korea Investment Corp. (KIC) hosted the second installment of the Silicon Valley International Financial Cooperation Council on Thursday afternoon, local time, at its San Francisco office in Menlo Park, California. About 30 participants, including venture capitalists, asset managers, officials from corporate venture capitals (CVC) and investment experts from various financial companies, attended the event to share their investment expertise on state-of-the-art technologies. Arif Janmohamed, partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, gave a presentation on investment strategies in the area of software. Lightspeed Venture is one of representative venture capital firms of Silicon Valley. Since the firm's foundation in 2000, it has successfully invested in early states of Snap and Grubhub. During his presentation, Janmohamed shared his investment insights. He said he expects software-as-a-service (SaaS), a form of cloud computing, to show solid growth, especially on the enterprise level. He also said AI technologies are expected to accelerate productivity improvement as a catalyst. Managers of software startups, invested by Lightspeed Venture, also attended the event, holding discussions with other participants. KIC's San Francisco office launched the first installment of the Silicon Valley International Financial Cooperation Council last September, aiming to strengthen networks with venture capitalists and startup firms of the region. The event is slated to be held every six months. "With the advent of ChatGPT opening a new era of technological revolution, KIC will continue to fully support Korean institutional investors in Silicon Valley, so that they could proactively make investments in the face of new investment environments and emerging industries," KIC CEO Jin Seoung-ho told The Korea Times on Friday. Lee Kyung-sik, head of KIC's San Francisco office, said the local branch of the sovereign fund will continue to serve a central role in connecting investment experts in Silicon Valley with institutional investors of Korea. KIC first began investing in venture firms in 2017, and set up its San Francisco office in March 2021 to expand direct investment into prominent venture firms and startups headquartered in Silicon Valley. KIC currently operates four overseas branches, with the other three in New York, London and Singapore. Turkish artist Devrim Erbil has presented his artworks in Baku. His personal exhibition, entitled "From Turkiye with Love" opened its doors at Heydar Aliyev Center, Azernews reports. Speaking at the opening ceremony, First Deputy Director of the Heydar Aliyev Center Fargan Novruzov noted that the Heydar Aliyev Center has multiple art projects aimed at promoting Turkish art along with many local and international events and concerts. "Our next project in this direction is Devrim Erbil's individual exhibition "From Turkiye with Love". The exhibition features the artist's famous art works. Some of them are exhibited for the first time at Heydar Aliyev Center. I would like to note that Devrim Erbil's paintings are kept in numerous museums and exhibition collections in Turkiye and worldwide. Devrim Erbil's art masterpieces inspired by Istanbul are recognizable around the world. Heydar Aliyev Center exhibits his art pieces devoted to the City of Winds (Baku) for the first time," said Fargan Novruzov. The exhibition curator Renk Erbil expressed her satisfaction with visiting Azerbaijan. "We have brought to you, the brotherly country, a lot of love and Turkish artists as well as the beautiful art pieces by my father Devrim Erbil. Therefore, we would like to express our gratitude to the Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva and the Heydar Aliyev Center. The peculiarity of this exhibition is that the artist's most spectacular paintings and even those from museum collections are displayed here. There are even works depicting your beautiful city, Baku. We do not exhibit such a large number of art works anywhere and in any place, but because Azerbaijan, as the Erbil family, has a completely different place in our hearts, we wanted to show them to you by opening a large-scale exhibition in Baku," she said. Turkish art critic, professor Kiymet Giray spoke about the artist and his exhibition in Baku. "We are very happy to be here for the exhibition. We express our gratitude to the Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva as well as everyone who helped and supported the exhibition. We express our gratitude to all the event participants who shared this excitement with us today. Besides being the most important artist of Turkish art, Devrim Erbil is also one of the most famous brush masters in the world. His exhibitions have been opened in many countries," the art critic said. Turkish artist Devrim Erbil expressed his pride that his personal exhibition opened in Baku. "Brother Azerbaijan, I embrace all of you with love. Not only your face but also your heart is beautiful. You warmly welcomed me and my artist family. I am eternally grateful to you for this. I have opened my solo exhibitions in many countries, but it is impossible to see beautiful people like here everywhere. They asked me if I would make a painting devoted to Karabakh. We suffered together, we felt it, but after seeing the place, maybe I will draw a picture of it. Although this is not my first visit to Baku, I intend to come here again. You will also come to my next exhibitions. We have been planning to open this exhibition in Baku for a year and it's great that we were able to do it. It is a great honor to meet the brotherly people of Azerbaijan at such an event in a joint space. I express my deep gratitude to Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva and the Heydar Aliyev Center, as well as to everyone who contributed to the high-level organization of the exhibition. I have great respect and love for my brother Azerbaijan." Then the event participants got acquainted with the exhibition. Devrim Erbil is an abstract artist, who graduated from the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts. The artist, whose countless personal and group exhibitions delight art enthusiasts in Turkiye and other countries, was born in 1937 and lived 60 years of his life in Istanbul. While working in the art workshops of Bedri Rahmi Eyuboglu, Cemal Tollu, Cevat Dereli, the artist managed to draw attention to his artworks through group exhibitions. Owing to this, he was also awarded a Spanish government scholarship. Erbil continued his artistic studies, which started in Madrid and Barcelona, in London and Paris. The artist has been awarded multiple prestigious Turkish state awards, including the title of state artist, and participated in many international exhibitions and projects. The Museum of Modern Art and a Foundation named after him also operate in Turkiye. In his art, Erbil pays special attention to the theme of nature. He is the author of many articles and the organizer of numerous events across the world, including conferences and seminars. Devrim Erbil is also known for his active work on radio and television. His personal exhibition at Heydar Aliyev Center will last until September 3, 2023. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 14 April 2023 16:43 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Mirroring the centuries-old culture and history, Hungarian architecture is a joy for the eyes of photographers and history buffs. The country is filled with ancient cathedrals, majestic castles and other architectural wonders. Through his photographs, Aydin Sadikhov demonstrates one of the most iconic sites for those who want to steep themselves into Hungarian history and architecture. For Azerbaijani photographers, Hungary has served as a source of profound inspiration since 2018. "I visited Hungary for the first time in 2018. During my first trips, I managed to see and capture on camera the beauty of the architectural masterpieces in Budapest. At the end of that year, I went on my second trip to Hungary for a new experience. This time, I visited other Hungarian cities to learn more about the country, its history, culture and traditions. Furthermore, I was able to get acquainted in detail with more than 12 most interesting cities. Each city in Hungary fascinates with its incredible historical and architectural masterpieces. After my acquaintance with this amazingly beautiful country, I decided to share my experience through his photographs. Since 2018, I have presented nine photo exhibitions dedicated to Hungary," the photographer told Azernews. His new photo exhibition dedicated to Hungary opened its doors at Azerbaijani University of Architecture and Construction as part of the project "Architectural Masterpieces of the World", launched by Italy-Azerbaijan Design Center and acclaimed photographer, art-curator Aydin Sadikhov last year. The project features separate events including photo exhibitions and presentations on the architectural masterpieces of different countries, including Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Mexico. The fifth exhibition held within the project was devoted to the Hungarian historical and architectural legacy. Around 20 magnificent photographs were showcased as part of the exhibition, organized by the Hungarian Embassy in Azerbaijan. The photo provides a unique opportunity to plunge into the wonderful world of historical and architectural masterpieces of the Hungarian cities like Budapest, Veszprem, Szeged, Sopron, Miskolc and the historical Hungarian village of Holloko. Rector of the University of Architecture and Construction, professor Gulchohra Mammadova, the Hungarian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Tamas Jozsef Torma, director of the Italy-Azerbaijan Design Center Farid Karimov and the project curator, photographer and traveler Aydin Sadikhov welcomed the guests of the exhibition opening. In his speech, Aydin Sadikhov noted that the project "Architectural Masterpieces of the World" promises many surprises. One of them is an invitation from the Hungarian Embassy and participation in the event as a lecturer, the well- known curator of the Hungarian Museum of Architecture and Monument Protection Documentation Center, Ms. Eszter Baldavari. The photo exposition was also full of interesting and unexpected moments. For the first time in Azerbaijan, the architecture of the Hungarian village of Holloko, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well as the city of Veszprem, were showcased as part of the photo exhibition. The history and architecture of Hungary and Azerbaijan take a special place in Aydin Sadikhov's photography and cultural curator career. For several years, the photographer has successfully presented the historical sights and cultural features of Hungary through the photo exhibitions in Baku, and the historical and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan in Budapest. As a result, the photographer was awarded the Hungarian state award Bronze Cross of Merit in 2020 for the development of Hungarian-Azerbaijani Cultural Relations. It is important to note that 2023 is a special and even anniversary year for the cultural history of Hungary. 200 years ago, more precisely in 1823, the famous Hungarian poet and politician Ferenc Kolcsey wrote the text of the national anthem of Hungary. As a result, the date of completion of writing the manuscript of the national anthem, January 22, became officially the Day of Culture in Hungary, which is celebrated annually in this country. However, there is also another important event of 2023 for the culture of Hungary. Veszprem, one of the oldest Hungarian cities, has been officially recognized as the Cultural Capital of Europe 2023. The city was founded during the reign of the Hungarian king St. Stephen, where later the king and his wife Gisela established one of the first episcopate in Hungary. The bishops of Veszprem received the right to crown the Hungarian queens, that is why the city later became known as the "City of Queens". Almost all the queens of Hungary received their crowns from the hands of the bishops of Veszprem, starting with Gisela, the wife of St. Stephen, to Zita Bourbon-Parma, the last queen of Hungary. Veszprem has a large number of interesting historical and architectural sights that allow us to explore different periods of Hungarian history. The main architectural features of this ancient Hungarian city were shown in Azerbaijan for the first time. Located in the center of Europe, Hungary is considered as a country of historical and architectural open-air museums. Here we can see how harmoniously it combines architectural monuments of different historical times, such as architectural monuments of the period of the Roman Empire, magnificent temples and fortresses of the Middle Ages, as well as architectural monuments with national Hungarian architectural features. Budapest is the capital of Hungary and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, with a rich historical, architectural and cultural heritage. This is the largest city in the country, which is often called the "Pearl of the Danube". Budapest is full of magnificent sights and monuments, museums and theaters, as well as a thermal spa. Budapest is an exciting combination of ancient history and rich culture, elegant architecture and the dynamics of a modern metropolis. Modern Budapest was formed as a result of the union of the neighboring cities of Buda and Pest. The flat east coast is Pest, always active, full of museums, architectural monuments and the magnificent parliament building. The hilly, western coast is Buda, very quiet, with a cobbled medieval quarter, Royal Palace and the most beautiful church of St. Matthias. The historical center of Budapest is included into UNESCO World Heritage List and is known for its historical sites, including monuments, architecture, parks, museums and ancient castles. The most famous symbol of the capital of Hungary is the building of the Hungarian Parliament - one of the most impressive neo-Gothic buildings in the World. The building of the Hungarian Parliament is considered one of the most famous and beautiful buildings in Europe, shocking with its incredible architecture and huge size. The building of the Hungarian Parliament is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is the largest building in Hungary. Several architectural styles are organically intertwined in its architecture. The interior decoration of the Parliament building is mainly made in the Baroque style, the facade is neo-Gothic, and the ceilings have features of Renaissance architecture. The Szechenyi Chain Bridge was the first permanent stone bridge connecting Pest and Buda, one of the most picturesque sights in Budapest, as well as the most famous bridge in the Hungarian capital. The construction of the bridge was proposed by Count Istvan Szechenyi, so the building bears his name in the title. The famous Thermal Baths in Budapest are also named after Count Szechenyi. This is a complex of thermal baths, which is the largest in continental Europe. The baths are housed in a beautiful neo-baroque palace. Thermal baths include pools of different temperatures, the water to which is supplied from natural thermal springs. According to historical references, the thermal springs in Budapest were discovered and used by the ancient Romans. After opening ceremony, Aydin Sadikhov together with the representatives of the Hungarian Embassy briefed the exhibition visitors about his photographs, historical sites in Hungary and legends around them. During a short tour through the works, the photographer noted that he exhibits for the first his new photo works of the city of Veszprem, Bori Castle, Godollo Palace and the village of Holloko. Holloko is a settlement of northern Hungary, in the region of Nograd, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. This small village attracts tourists from all over the world, as it is the only settlement in Hungary whose inhabitants use the artificial and natural environment in the same way as they did at the beginning of the 20th century. The people of Holloko carefully protect the ancient customs, traditions and dress in colorful folk clothes. H Holloko is an open-air museum, but the museum is quite unusual, as the villagers are living and working their daily lives in front of the visitors and tourists. The village consists of only one street, so most of the houses face the main street. The history of Holloko began in the 13th century, when a fortress was built on a hill and later a settlement appeared around it. There is also an interesting and ancient legend about the fortress, with the crows and the name of the village. The author of the works told in detail to the visitors an interesting story about the amazingly beautiful Bori Castle presented at the exhibition, which is also called theCastle of Eternal Love. Externally, Bori Castle looks like a knight's castle with turrets, donjons and covered galleries. There is a beautiful terrace in front of the castle with trimmed shrubs, colorful flowers and amazing statues. The castle is very beautiful, unusual and definitely unique. The most amazing thing is the fact that this grandiose building was actually built by one person. Jeno Bori was a talented sculptor, architect and builder, who created the main masterpiece of his life during 40 years of construction works with a break during the World War. Jeno Bori dedicated the main architectural masterpiece of his life to the great power of love to his wife Ilona, who became his main muse. Almost everything in this castle is filled with the image of this woman and the theme of love: sculptures, bas-reliefs, portraits with her image are found here at every step. However, sculptures and images of historical and mythical characters also live within the walls of this fantastic castle. Along the open galleries of the courtyard there are sculptures of Hungarian kings. Warriors, heroes, sorcerers, animals, multi-figure and small-figure compositions intertwined in the space of the castle and took their places. And of course it is important to highlight finally - the Royal Palace in Godollo. 30 km from Budapest, in the town of Godollo, there is a royal residence of unique beauty, which is also called the Grassalkovich Palace, in honor of the first owners of this castle. At the beginning of the 18th century, Count Antal Grassalkovich I decided to build a new palace in the Baroque style, which was very popular at that time. The well-known architect Andras Mayerhoffer worked on the construction of this palace, which later became one of the most beautiful and greatest palace and park complexes in Hungary. The construction of the palace lasted for almost 30 years. The main building of the palace was built firstly, and all other buildings were completed further. The Royal Palace in Godollo keeps a long history full of different events. Due to the fact that the palace was built in different historical periods, it is possible to find the various architectural styles in it. Later, the Grassalkovich Palace was donated to the royal family and thus received the "Royal" status. The palace was considered a favorite place of Emperor Franz Joseph I and his wife Elisabeth during the autumn and spring seasons. After viewing the photo exhibition, the guests of the event went to the assembly hall of the university, where the second part of the event continued with an interesting lecture prepared and presented especially for the event by the curator and art historian of the Hungarian Museum of Architecture and Monument Protection Documentation Center, Ms. Eszter Baldavari. The lecture titled "Architecture of Hungary & The Hungarian Architecture (Examples From The Medieval Firetowers to The Block of Flats)" provided insight into Hungarian architecture through photographs. His photo works give us a glimpse of Budapest's architecture, the medieval buildings, castles, dwelling-houses and much more. Beside the architecture some special stories were described through public sculptures such as Mancs (Paw) the dog or the so-called guerrilla sculpture of Uncle Erno in Veszprem, which is the European Capital of Culture this year. The photo exhibition dedicated to Hungarian historical and architectural legacy became one of the brightest cultural events in Baku. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 14 April 2023 12:00 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more Unfortunately, European parliamentarians are big fans of Armenia; they always blame Azerbaijan and never talk about Armenia's atrocities, Dutch writer and author of a book about the war and genocide in Karabakh Henri Van Rens said in an interview with Azernews, speaking of Armenian vandalism in the past century. "It was about two years ago when I visited Karabakh for the first time with a group of journalists from all over the world. When I saw these ruins, I thought that it was impossible that people could be capable of the horrors that the Armenians committed in Karabakh. I decided that a book should be written about it because there is too little information in my country and in Europe as a whole about Karabakh and Azerbaijan," he said. As regards the time to complete his book, Henri said he is in search of more evidences and facts about Armenian atrocities, in order to bring the truth to the world community about the Karabakh events. "I will visit Aghdam again soon to gather more information. I also mentioned the work of Azerbaijan's Mine Action Agency, which is extremely complex and difficult, in my book. I hope that I will be able to transfer to the Azerbaijani people the income that I will receive from my book to contribute to the process of reconstruction in Karabakh," said Van Rens. The writer noted that he plans to visit Azerbaijan in the fall too in order to present his book. Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 14 April 2023 15:45 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Armenia's messing with all affairs such as being involved in dark businesses in the world is not something new to public. However, Armenia's facing the wrath of the US after being caught on dirty and secret affairs was of some serious surprise. Given the violation of the US imposed sanctions against Russia, 28 companies belonging to China, Malta, Singapore, UAE, and so on got restricted to carry on export. The most important point is that Armenia, which owns 10 of the 28 companies, ranked on the top among the above-mentioned countries. And the most interesting point is that Armenia, which has no domestic production other than mines, increased its exports to Russia amid the Russo-Ukrainian War. Speaking to Azernews, Economist Natig Jafarly has commented on the recent sanctions on Armenian companies and Armenian-Russian economic cooperation. The expert said that it is obvious that some countries aid to Russia for circumventing the sanctions. According to International media outlets these issues have several times been highlighted and the expert says that Armenia ranks into second place after Belorussia among countries helping Russia. It is no longer possible to hide Armenia's assistance to Russia in order to avoid sanctions. The successive bans on those companies are related to this activity in Armenia. However, the problem is that almost 70 percent of Armenia's economy depends on Russia. In other words, most of the sanctioned companies are subsidiaries of Russia registered in Armenia. Armenia is so dependent on Russia that it is unable to refuse to Russia, Jafarli said. However, the Azerbaijani economist considers that the situation may become increasingly difficult for Armenia because the officials of the West have voiced to tighten the control of the sanctions imposed on Russia. In addition, given that Armenia increases cooperation with Iran, the expert says even sanctions can be imposed not only on Armenian companies but also on the Armenian state as well. Obviously, the Western media outlets, the officials of the G7 and G20 countries, and the EU countries are envisaging tightening the control of sanctions. As the restrictions become solid, of course, the number of bans on Armenian companies will be reinfosed. There is also the possibility of imposing some sanctions on Armenia. Considering the recent expansion of cooperation between Iran and Armenia, these possibilities are quite high, the expert opined. The interesting point is that Pashinyan has created a pro-Western image with the support of the Russian and Armenian mass media. According to Natig Jafarli, the image of Pashinyan's pro-Western rule is surreal, and he notes that since Armenia-Russia relations are deep, it is impossible for Pashinyan to be pro-Western. The fact that Pashinyan's government is west-oriented reflects myth more than reality. Because Armenia is a member of all organizations headed by Russia, including the CIS. Together with the CIS, CSTO, Eurasian Economic Union, etc. In addition, Armenia is one of those countries that has a Russian military base in its territory. As I mentioned before, Armenia's dependence on Russia is at the highest level among the CIS countries. It is still the second country after Belarus in terms of dependence on Russia. Armenia's Western-oriented policy is a rhetoric, a policy for receiving more support from the West. In other words, it is a political game created by the Pashinyan government. Therefore, I do not think that Armenia will succeed in selling the pro-Western Pashinyan story, added Natig Jafarly. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 14 April 2023 16:20 (UTC+04:00) Prospects for the development of military education between Azerbaijan and the USA were discussed, Azernews reports citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. Deputy Defense Minister of Azerbaijan Commander of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Ramiz Tahirov visited the US National Defense University as part of his visit to the United States of America. Getting acquainted with the university, Lieutenant General R. Tahirov met with the 17th President of the National Defense University (NDU) of the USA, Lieutenant General Michael T. Plehn. The sides exchanged views on the study of the US military education system and NDU's experience in this field. Lieutenant General R.Tahirov gave detailed information about the newly established National Defense University in Azerbaijan. The prospects for the development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States in the field of military education and other issues of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting. In the end, a photo was taken. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 14 April 2023 16:00 (UTC+04:00) A new print edition of the AZERNEWS online newspaper was released on April 14. The new edition includes several interesting articles, such as "Baku, Ankara discuss gas supply to Nakhchivan"; "Expert links Armenia's recent provocation to planned meeting of Azerbaijan-Armenia in Washington"; "Feel adrenaline rush! - Days left until F 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2023"; "Azerbaijani President makes an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina " etc. AZERNEWS is an associate member of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). The online newspaper is available at www.azernews.az. 14 April 2023 17:28 (UTC+04:00) Sabina Mammadli Read more Armenians destroyed over 60 mosques and about 200 shrines on the territory of Azerbaijan during the occupation, Chairman of Azerbaijan's State Committee on Religious Associations Mubariz Gurbanli said. He made the remarks during the "Caucasian Albania: Religious and social life" X International conference. Noting that ethnic cleansing and genocide were carried out on the territories of Azerbaijan for almost 30 years, Gurbanli stated that Albanian Christian churches were either falsified, Gregorianized, or wrecked. He added that an Orthodox church in the Khojavand District was looted and ruined by the Armenians. "The purpose of destroying or appropriating cultural heritage on the historical lands of Azerbaijan was also to break the connection of these territories with Azerbaijanis and provide false information to the world community," the chairman stressed. Additionally, Gurbanli stated that Caucasian Albania was one of the oldest states located on the territory of Azerbaijan. He also highlighted that the independent Apostolic Church of Caucasian Albania mainly distinguished from the Armenian-Gregorian Church by the fact that it took its origin directly from the Church of Jerusalem, which irritated Armenians throughout history. "It is for this reason that in different periods of history, we are witnessing that Armenians tried to make the Albanian Church dependent on the Armenian-Gregorian Church, by flattering the foreigners who occupied these lands, he noted. The Caucasian Albania: Religious and social life X International conference organized by the Baku International Multiculturalism Center, the ANAS Institute of History named after A.A. Bakikhanov, the Spiritual Values Promotion Foundation, and the Albanian-Udi Christian community, was held in Baku on April 14. The purpose of the event is to organize effective scientific discussions by bringing together prominent representatives of world Albanian studies. Research scientists representing Turkiye, South Korea, Russia, Italy, Germany, Georgia, the UK, Norway, and Lithuania participated in the event. It should be noted that Azerbaijan plays the role of the main research center in the world for the systematic study of the history and ethnocultural heritage of Caucasian Albania. Caucasian Albania has occupied an important place in the life of the region for nearly a thousand years and has left behind an important historical legacy. As a result of the comprehensive study of this heritage, the scientific field of Albanian studies was created and is still developing today. The Republic of Azerbaijan is the direct historical heir and protector of the rich Albanian ethnocultural heritage, the ancient and early medieval culture of Caucasian Albania, and all the historical and religious heritage created by the ethnos who lived in this area in the following centuries. Investigating the important problems of Albanian studies in the fields of history, archeology, anthropology, ethnology, linguistics, architecture and art, preserving and protecting the Albanian ethnocultural heritage is one of the important directions of the multiculturalism policy of Azerbaijan. --- Sabina Mammadli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SabinaMmdl Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 14 April 2023 18:18 (UTC+04:00) Work within the "One Drop" campaign, which focuses the attention of the country's population on efficient water use habits, has been underway for some time now. The main goal of the future activity of the campaign includes educational work among the younger pupils of general education schools located in the capital and surrounding settlements. For this purpose, the organizers of the project visited secondary schools and held meetings with 3rd-6th grade students and gave a wide presentation on the importance of using water sparingly. Organizing the trips on the eve of April 15 - Ecological Knowledge Day - serves to raise awareness among schoolchildren about the importance of protecting the resources that nature has given us. During the presentation, students were informed about the purpose of the campaign, the importance of efficient use of water, ways to save money in everyday life, and the dangers that may await us in the future. The project participants, who did not go to the school meeting empty-handed, presented them with the book "Bir Damc", a collection of information about the importance of proper use of water, and various merchandise gifts. During the meetings with the students, the organizers also informed them about the drawing competition organized within the project and encouraged them to participate in this competition to win a gift and show their creativity. The meetings, which will continue in the next few days, will include members of the eco-club operating under the Republican Children and Youth Development Center of the Ministry of Science and Education in 20 schools. It should be noted that earlier, as part of the project, educational posters were hung in schools. The "One drop" campaign is implemented by Azerbaijan's Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry, Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency and IDEA Public Union. Detailed information about the campaign can be obtained from the birdamci.az website, Facebook and Instagram pages. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 14 April 2023 11:56 (UTC+04:00) By Amaliya Ismayilova The largest Bulgarian gas distribution company Bulgargaz will carry out the first delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Turkiye on Thursday, April 13. According to TurkicWorld, LNG supplies will be implemented under an agreement signed between Bulgargaz and the Turkish company Botas. One of the conditions of the agreement signed between Turkiye and Bulgaria was that the supplies should come from countries that did not impose any sanctions, embargoes, or trade restrictions. We should recall that the Bulgarian company Bulgargaz signed an agreement with the Turkish Botas on the import of natural gas through receiving terminals in Turkiye. The agreement was signed for a period of 13 years. Earlier, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said that Bulgaria would receive about 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year, after which it will be possible to increase the volume of gas. According to the minister, gas will be supplied to Bulgaria via the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline. Previously, it was used to supply Russian gas to Turkiye through Bulgaria before the launch of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline. We should note that, in April 2022, the Russian Gazprom stopped gas supplies to Bulgargaz due to the fact that the company refused to pay for the energy carrier in rubles. In the spring, Bulgaria reported that they had found alternative sources of gas. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 14 April 2023 10:44 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The USA has imposed export restrictions on several Armenian companies Azernews reports citing Armenian media outlets. According to the information circulated in the Armenian media outlets, the USA imposed export restrictions on 28 legal entities of which 10 are from Armenia. The information noted that these restrictions are due to attempts to circumvent alleged export control measures to purchase products of American origin to assist Russia's armed forces and/or the military-industrial complex. Besides Armenian companies, companies from Russia, China, Malta, Singapore, Spain, Syria, Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan are also on this blacklist. One of the companies is Tako LLC which is registered in Yerevan. Armenian media outlets said that Tako LLC underwent a name change and was previously called Taco LLC, which was under US sanctions back in September last year. Taco LLC is a partner of the Russian company Radioavtomatika (Radioautomatics) and, according to the US authorities, it provided financial and material support to this company. In addition to Taco LLC, Milur Electronics LLC, the Armenian subsidiary of the Russian Milandr company, was put on the US sanctions list earlierin November of last yearwith similar accusations. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 14 shows the test firing of a new solid-fuel Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at an undisclosed location in North Korea on April 13. EPA-Yonhap North Korea's first test launch this week of a purportedly solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) appears intended to secure the ability for a surprise strike and complicate tightening South Korea-U.S. deterrence efforts, analysts said Friday. The North's official Korean Central News Agency confirmed the country fired a Hwasong-18 ICBM in Thursday's test to confirm the performance of the "high-thrust" solid-fuel engines, while portraying its mission as the "powerful, pivotal and principle" means to defend the nation. Threats from such a solid-propellant missile stem from the fact that it takes less preparation time to launch than a liquid-fuel system requiring cumbersome prelaunch preparations, such as the injection of fuel, which can be detected and targeted by the allies. Speculation had already persisted that the North would fire such a solid-fuel rocket as it unveiled a new ICBM mounted on an 18-wheel transporter, erector, launcher (TEL) during a military parade in February and tested a "high-thrust" solid-fuel rocket motor of 140 ton-force last December. "Compared with the liquid-fuel missile system, an early detection of a solid-fuel missile launch could be more difficult given the limited time (for the allies) to respond to that," a security expert said, requesting anonymity. "I assume the development of the new missile appears designed to negate South Korea's three-axis defense system and shake America's deterrence responses," he added, referring to Seoul's three-pronged security architecture, including the Kill Chain preemptive strike system. The Kill Chain system consists of various detection, strike and other assets that would allow the South to launch a preemptive strike if there are clear signs of an imminent North Korean attack in a contingency. But a solid-fuel ICBM using road-mobile or other hard-to-detect launchers from any part of the North could pose a significant challenge to that preemptive strike formula, analysts said. Seoul's defense ministry dismissed as "excessive worry" the view that the Hwasong-18 could negate the South's Kill Chain system. "We assess that the test was a mid-stage test-firing for the purpose of developing a solid-fuel long-range ballistic missile, and to complete the development would need additional time and effort," it said in a statement. A photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 14 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and his daughter Kim Ju Ae observing the test firing of a new solid-fuel Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at an undisclosed location in North Korea, April 13. EPA-Yonhap The ministry added that the South Korea military has "evolving" capabilities against North Korean threats, including the real-time detection of targets in the North. The testing of the new missile came as Seoul and Washington have been stepping up joint efforts to strengthen the credibility of America's "extended deterrence," its commitment to mobilizing the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its ally. Some observers raised concerns that the North's advancing capabilities for a surprise attack could undercut the U.S.' extended deterrence commitment, as its ICBM threats could put American forces at bay should its ally come under attack a scenario that they fear could lead to a "decoupling of the allies." "(North Korean leader Kim Jong-un) would very much like to see the alliance decoupled, because achieving that objective would potentially allow him to dominate the ROK without having to conquer it," Bruce Bennett, a senior defense analysts at RAND Corp., told Yonhap News via email. "And fielding an improved ICBM also has that purpose posing a threat to U.S. cities if the US meets its nuclear umbrella commitments to the ROK," he added, referring to the South by its official name, the Republic of Korea. Touching on the potential military utility of the Hwasong-18 ICBM, Bennett said it is "not necessarily true" that the solid-fuel one can be fired much more rapidly than the liquid-fuel ones, like the Hwasong-17 ICBM, and therefore negate the Kill Chain system. "Yes, a solid-fuel missile has its fuel put into it when it is manufactured, whereas a mobile liquid-fuel missile must usually be lifted into launch position and then fueled," he said. "But the Soviets had silo-based liquid fuel ICBMs even in the 1960s that could have been very quickly launched because the missile was always fueled." Photos of the Hwasong-18 launch indicated that the newest ICBM uses a "cold-launch" method under which rocket engines ignite shortly after being ejected from a mobile launcher compared with a "hot-launch" one whereby rocket engines ignite the moment it is launched. The cold-launch system can help protect the launch platform and surrounding areas from the burst of flames created when a missile is launched, signaling the North's efforts to modernize the overall launch process, analysts said. The latest ICBM launch underscores Pyongyang has been charging ahead with a series of high-stakes defense projects unveiled at the eighth congress of its ruling Workers' Party in January 2021. A TV screen shows an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, and his daughter during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, Friday, April 14. AP-Yonhap Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @_ishanidesai on Twitter. Lawmakers have introduced a bill in the North Carolina House that would create a universal Education Savings Account to allow parents to pay directly for approved non-public educational expenses for their children.House Bill 420, Expand and Consolidate K-12 Scholarships, would significantly expand the school choice landscape in the Tar Heel State. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Donnie Loftis, R-Gaston, would eventually phase out and replace the Opportunity Scholarship Program with an ESA valued at 100% of the state's per pupil allotment for public school students. For 2022, that amount was $7,426.The ESA accounts could only be used for approved educational expenses, such as private school tuition, textbooks, tutoring services, educational therapies, and technological devices.said Dr. Robert Luebke, director of the Center for Effective Education at the John Locke Foundation.The new ESA would not be income-based, meaning any family in North Carolina could take advantage of it. The program would be phased in over three years, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year in which students would be eligible for 33% of the per pupil allotment. That increases to 66% for the 2025-2026 school year until reaching 100% for the 2026-2027 school year. Homeschool students would be eligible for 28% of the per pupil allotment each year.said Mike Long, president of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina.Four states - Arizona, Iowa, Utah, and Arkansas - have approved similar universal ESAs, and a number of other states are considering them.North Carolina currently has two school choice programs - the Opportunity Scholarship Program and the ESA+ program. Opportunity Scholarships are designed to allow low- and moderate-income families to attend private schools, while ESA+ is only available for students with specific special needs.In the last two years, lawmakers have OK'ed major expansions of the Opportunity Scholarship Program. They moved the value of each scholarship from $4,200 to nearly $6,500 a year and expanded the upper income eligibility for a family of four from $64,465 in the 2020-2021 school year to $111,000 for the 2023-2024 school year.Gov. Roy Cooper's proposed budget for the new biennium would phase out the Opportunity Scholarship Program over a number of years.Long added. Paging Dr. Freud, you're needed in the West Wing.President Joe Biden spent the last couple of days visiting his ol' comrade and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Friday afternoon, the leader of the free world went to thank his host country for their new commitment to accept 150,000 individuals from Latin America.Only, it didn't come out the way he planned -and as Freudian slips go, it was a big one.Biden said before Parliament.Unfortunately, the error caused his audience to laugh in his face.Considering the Biden family's mysterious financial connections to the Chinese Communist Party, this administration's feckless diplomacy toward the country, and even White House climate czar John Kerry's dogged determination to make China his bestie, it is easy to see how - and why - Biden would want to thank China for whatever it was Biden was thinking about.As for Trudeau, he doesn't have much ground to stand on when it comes to standing up to China.Readers might remember that last fall, CCP leader Xi Jinping essentially dog-walked the Canadian leader at the G20 Summit.In one video, Trudeau could be seen sheepishly standing there as a stone-faced Xi dressed him down for their conversation leaking to the press.he said according to a translator.Trudeau responded,he added before Xi cut him off and didn't let him finish his thought.The mere text of the exchange doesn't do it justice. It must be seen to be believed:As for Biden, the verbal miscue is the latest in a long line of public displays that have the whole world laughing: First, it was the Saudis, then the Australians, and now the Canadians.Can it get any worse than this, eh? Members of the House unanimously passed legislation on Monday meant to revoke the United States treating China as ain treaties and international organizations.Nations designated as developing countries, sometimes called emerging markets, can often receive special treatment in loan application processes from international entities such as the World Trade Organization. The PRC is Not a Developing Country Act, which passed with the affirmative votes of 415 lawmakers, would require the United States to influence international organizations to designate China as upper middle income, high income, or developed.Rep. Young Kim (R-CA), a sponsor of the bill, said in a press release.China presently has a GDP per capita of $12,556, according to data from the World Bank, an amount of annual economic output per person comparable to those of Russia and Costa Rica. The United States has a GDP per capita of $70,249.The World Trade Organization, in which the United States and China are both members, does not maintain an official definition oforSome agreements with the entityaccording to the group's website.Kim contended in remarks on the House floor.Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) has similarly proposed the Ending China's Developing Nation Status Act, which directs officials to prevent China from receiving developing nation status in future treaties and within international organizations.the lawmaker said.The moves to end developing nation status for China occur amid increasingly strained relations between the United States and the communist country. American lawmakers are seeking to ban the social media platform TikTok, which is owned by Chinese technology company ByteDance, across the United States over national security and data privacy concerns. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew vowed last week before the House Energy and Commerce Committee that neither TikTok nor ByteDance is anRelations were also strained after at least one Chinese surveillance balloon traversed the continental United States last month. The vessel crossed Montana, the location of many defense assets and missile silos, then traveled over states such as Kansas and Missouri before it was shot down by the American military off the coast of the Carolinas. The balloon was reportedly one of several deployed over military sites across the planet. A new bill, SB 512, introduced this week would grant the legislature more authority over appointments for state boards and commissions.The bill would impact a total of nine groups, which include the utilities commission, economic investment committee, board of transportation, and the board of directors of the UNC healthcare system.For the most part, the bill would reduce the number of appointees the governor can make to these boards and committees, while including a number to be appointed by the House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tempore.The bill would also transfer the Utilities Commission from the Department of Commerce to the Department of State Treasurer.This bill makes sense for multiple reasons. First, it helps provide a check on unchallenged power of the governor's office to single-handedly appoint allies onto these highly influential boards. Secondly, much of the power granted to these boards and commissions comes from the legislature, so it's perfectly reasonable for the legislature to share appointment authority with the executive branch. Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyoo-hong speaks during a press conference at the Government Complex in Seoul, Friday, after a government meeting presided by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to tackle the country's suicide rate. Yonhap By Lee Hae-rin Korea will implement mental health checkups once every two years and establish community-tailored suicide prevention programs across the country to tackle the country's notoriously high suicide rate, the government announced, Friday. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo presided over the sixth meeting with the suicide prevention plan committee in Seoul, Friday, and passed a set of comprehensive measures to tackle the problem. The government's new five-year plan, which will take effect from 2023 to 2027, aims to lower Korea's current suicide rate of 24.1 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2021 to 18.2 per 100,000 people by 2027. Korea has held the highest suicide rate among OECD nations for almost 20 years, with the latest figure in 2021 being more than double the average for OECD member nations, which is 11.1 deaths per 100,000 people. According to the new measures, the government will require people to undergo mental health checkups more often for a wider range of mental health issues. Koreans aged between 20 and 70s will be required to undergo mental health checkups every other year instead of the current frequency of every 10 years. The routine checkups are hoped to improve early detection of a wider range of mental illnesses, including depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and those identified as high risk for mental illness will be treated at neuropsychiatry clinics. "The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), which assesses the degree of depression, has been a mandatory checkup to take every 10 years," a health ministry official told The Korea Times, Friday, explaining that although the mental health test was required, it was not enforced through any coercive measures. With the government's new plan, people will now receive notifications for mental health checkups every two years as they do with medical checkups. However, the authority does not plan to penalize those who skip the checkup. Also, the country will launch community-tailored suicide prevention programs by 17 city and provincial governments nationwide. For example, rural farming areas with aging populations will have programs targeting the elderly, while new towns housing mostly younger families will see programs tailored for teenagers and students. The government will also launch a 24-hour monitoring organization specialized in controlling online content providing information on methods of suicide, organize suicide pacts or otherwise provoke suicidal thoughts. So far, such monitoring has been operated as community-based activities by volunteers, which made it difficult to enact countermeasures in real time effectively. The government will also establish suicide prevention and trauma recovery centers after catastrophic events in cooperation with local governments to help those affected. The Korea Suicide Prevention Center, which currently offers suicide prevention counseling via telephone only (+82-1393), will also expand its services into social media to increase its accessibility for younger people who may prefer different methods of communication. Those who attempted suicide and bereaved families of people who took their own lives, who are considered more at risk of suicide, will receive recovery support with counseling and treatment, starting this year. Yes, the Democrats have a bold plan, yet to be revealed, to save us. No, there will have to be a complete undoing of the damage done by these Democrats. I can't do simple math, so how am I to understand the concept of basic economics. 1,200 total vote(s) What's your Opinion? Mary McLendon Williams Mary (Molly) McLendon Williams, 64, born August 12, 1958, died Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023. Molly received her bachelor's degree from UNCG in 1983 and her master's degree in 1988. Molly loved her family and many cousins, Long Beach, animals, reading, and art. She cherished special friends Randy Williams, Barbara Tate, Sue Humphrey, and her many other dear friends. She especially loved her little dog Hope. She is survived by her son, Airman Sr. Locke M. Williams, and her brothers, Chris McLendon (Nan) of Washington, N.C., and Brant McLendon of Greensboro. She was predeceased by her parents, Lennox P. McLendon, Jr. and Mary I. McLendon and a brother Lennox P. McLendon III. A graveside service will be held at a later date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Childrens Home Society of N.C., PO Box 14608, Greensboro, N.C. 27415, or the charity of your choice. Condolences may be addressed to the family online by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the family. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies are asking for the public's help in solving an Easter Sunday homicide. Deputies have released photos of two men, who video footage shows arguing and pushing each other in front during a gathering at the Laday Arena in Cheek, according to Cpt. Crystal Holmes, with the Sheriff's Office. They are "persons of interest" in the homicide and a second shooting reported early Easter morning. A Port Arthur man has pleaded guilty to possessing an unregistered firearm. Javier Jesus Morales, 26, on Thursday pleaded guilty after allegedly selling a Glock .9mm pistol to an undercover federal agent, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Eastern District of Texas Office. The sale was advertised on the social media application Snapchat, and the Glock was outfitted with an "auto-switch," which converts a standard, legal handgun into a fully automatic machine gun, the release said. Such guns are illegal if not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and the firearm was not registered to Morales, the release said. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison and was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 2. Beaumont Police Department A second Beaumont man has been arrested in connection to a double homicide on Monday morning. Paul Edward Westbrooks, Jr., 30, was arrested Thursday in connection with the double homicide of Ahmad Hayden, 32, and Roven Dotson, 31. Jose Luis Magana, FRE / Associated Press A Silsbee man has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography after police found he had hundreds of such images. Michael Joseph Fontenot, 50, pleaded guilty on Thursday, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Eastern District of Texas Office. INTERLOCHEN, Mich. Michigan State Police were surprised after investigating an emergency call in December, only to find out that a bird had made the call. Raza, a peregrine falcon and educational ambassador at North Sky Raptor Sanctuary in Interlochen, called 911 to the surprise of staff and volunteers at the wildlife rehabilitation center. A cell phone had been mounted to Razas enclosure during the birds regular enrichment time to record her antics for a TikTok video. Raza, having discovered herself on the camera, decided to investigate, according to Kaitlyn Bohnet, executive director and co-founder of the sanctuary. The bird grabbed the phone and rapidly squeezed the side buttons, automatically triggering the phones emergency SOS feature. This sent GPS coordinates to local authorities and emergency contacts. Because the recording of enrichment time is typically done while other chores are being handled, the sanctuary team was unaware of what had happened until Michigan State Police Trooper Michael Ruggles arrived on scene to investigate the mysterious call. Provided photo/North Sky Raptor Sanctuary It took a while before the staff could put all the pieces together, according to Bohnet. I was absolutely befuddled during the event, Bohnet told the News Advocate. (But) now that everyone involved understands what happened we all find it hilarious. A video, posted to TikTok on Dec. 23, shows footage of Raza placing the call. Dreamstime, HO A 49-year-old man from Vidor on Thursday pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Job Allen Smith was the subject of a search warrant in mid-November after police believed he was in possession of narcotics, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Eastern District of Texas Office. Ophthalmology saw the biggest drop in pay in the last year, according to Medscape's "Physician Compensation Report" for 2023. Medscape surveyed 10,011 physicians across more than 29 specialties about their income, work hours, job satisfaction and more from Oct. 7, 2022, to Jan. 17, 2023. Here are the specialties that pay fell from 2022 to 2023: A Maine dental practice is closing one of its three locations after being unable to fill a vacant dentist position for the office, Bangor Daily News reported April 14. White Smiles Family Dentistry has locations in Fort Kent, Fort Fairfield and Presque Isle. Joseph White, DMD, said the practice exhausted its resources trying to find a dentist to provide care at the office. The closure will make Fish River Rural Health in Fort Kent the only dental provider in the St. John Valley area, exacerbating a shortage of dentists and dental assistants in Aroostook County, the news organization said. Fish River Rural Health has three full-time dentists and one part-time dentist. It is searching for another dental provider to serve the Fort Kent area. Iranian FM says Afghanistan needs regional cooperation, not U.S.-led intervention Xinhua) 09:51, April 14, 2023 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) South Korean chief nuclear negotiator Kim Gunn speaks during talks with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts over North Korea's denuclearization at the foreign ministry in Seoul on April 7. Yonhap South Korea's chief nuclear negotiator will visit Sweden and Germany next week to discuss issues related to the Korean Peninsula and North Korea's nuclear weapons program, the foreign ministry said Friday. Kim Gunn, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, will visit Stockholm on Monday and meet with Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Jan Knutsson. Kim plans to request Sweden's constructive role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between Seoul and Stockholm. Sweden holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of this year. The envoy will also meet with the chiefs of key research institutes in Sweden, including the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, to exchange views on the South Korean government's policy for North Korea and recent developments in the North. From Tuesday, Kim will visit Berlin for two days and meet with Minister of State Tobias Lindner to discuss ways the two countries can work together to counter North Korea's nuclear threat. (Yonhap) While overall physician salaries rose about 4 percent, earnings disparities remain wide between genders and between races even as some gaps are narrowing, the 2023 Medscape "Physician Compensation" report showed. Overall physician salaries rose to an average of $352,000, up about 4 percent on the previous year, with specialty incomes rising to an average of $382,000 compared with $368,000 in 2022. Primary care providers saw their incomes rise to an average of $265,000 compared with $260,000 in 2022. Some specialties decreased on average to last year's figures, however. "We expect physician income to continue increasing, as everyone talks about a physician shortage, which the pandemic has exacerbated," Mike Belkin, divisional vice president at physician recruitment company Merritt Hawkins, said in the report. "We see more physicians burned out, retiring, reducing their hours, or looking for shift work or virtual care, which further reduces the physician workforce." Male primary care physicians earned 19 percent more than their female counterparts, a "significant disparity" but lower than recent years, when it averaged around 25 percent. Male specialists earned 27 percent more than female specialists compared with a 31 percent gap in the 2022 report. Caucasian/white physicians ($358,000) and Asian Americans ($351,000) earn more than their African American counterparts ($311,000), the 2023 report said. For its latest report, Medscape collected responses from more than 10,000 physicians across 29 specialties, with data collected between Oct. 7, 2022, and Jan. 14, 2023. This report reflects salary, bonus and profit-sharing contributions for employed physicians, and earnings after taxes and pre-income tax deductible business expenses for self-employed physicians. Only full-time salaries are used in calculations. Note: Percentages are rounded. Plastic surgery is the highest-paying physician specialty, according to Medscape's 2023 Physician Compensation Report. For the report, Medscape collected responses from 10,011 physicians across more than 29 specialties. The data was collected between Oct. 7, 2022, and Jan. 17, 2023. For employed physicians, the figures include salary, bonus and profit-sharing contributions. For self-employed physicians, the figures include earnings after taxes and deductible business expenses before income tax. Only full-time salaries were included in the results. Below are the five top-earning specialties, their average annual salaries and their increase over the previous year, according to the report: 1. Plastic surgery: $619,000 (7 percent increase) 2. Orthopedics: $573,000 (3 percent increase) 3. Cardiology: $507,000 (4 percent increase) 4. Urology: $506,000 (10 percent increase) 5. Gastroenterology: $501,000 (11 percent increase After initially approving Holly Springs, Miss.-based Alliance HealthCare System to become the first Mississippi hospital to transition to rural emergency hospital status, CMS is revoking the designation from the hospital, Mississippi Today reported April 12. The designation was revoked because the hospital is only an hour away from Memphis, Tenn., Mississippi's state health officer told the publication. The transition would have meant that the hospital ended inpatient services in exchange for monthly payments from the federal government that would help keep the hospital open. The state health department supported Alliance's move toward rural emergency status. The hospital had been losing money for 15 years and took an even bigger financial hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alliance had already begun working with Tupelo-based North Mississippi Medical Center to transfer patients. Columbia-based University of Missouri Health Care is on track to hit its financial goals set at the UM System Board of Curators' last health affairs committee meeting, the Colombia Missourian reported April 13. CFO Dustin Thomas said MU Health Care is likely to surpass its goal of having a $45 million operating margin by June, which would be four months after the health system revealed it did not have enough cash on hand to cover 200 days of expenses, according to the report. While finances have seen a lift in recent months, MU Health Care remains focused on making sure revenue matches expenses, with contract labor costs a key area of focus. "Agency is a big problem for the industry everywhere," Mr. Thomas said, according to the report. "This is not abnormal to us, and it is going to take time to claw our way out of this." MU Health Care has hired several new administrators, including Ric Ransom, who begins as CEO May 1. In March, the system announced that it had eliminated five hospital leadership positions across the organization. The system also plans to hire clinicians and researchers and is eyeing collaboration opportunities to improve patient care, according to the Colombia Missourian. West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health is eliminating 100 full-time equivalent positions, effective immediately, as it continues to reduce costs amid financial difficulties. The move will affect 45 individuals, according to an April 13 news release the health system shared with Becker's. The other 55 positions are either recently vacated or involve individuals who plan to retire in the coming weeks and months. Nearly all of the positions involve non-clinical or management functions, according to the system, which projects the reductions to save $12 million a year. The workforce reductions are part of "ongoing efforts to ensure the system is appropriately structured to meet our organizational goals," according to the health system. In November, the system laid off 52 corporate employees after it closed Brandywine Hospital in Coatesville, Pa., and Jennersville Hospital in West Grove, Pa. The layoffs projected to save $15 million a year accounted for 13 percent of its corporate management staff at the time. At the beginning of the year, the system sold Chestnut Hill Hospital to a consortium led by Philadelphia-based Temple University Health System. Brian Dean, CFO of Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health, is to leave the health system and take up a similar role at a Houston-based aviation company, Sutter Health said in an April 14 filing. Mr. Dean, who has been with the 23-hospital system in his role since July 2020, will remain with Sutter Health until July to assist with the transition. Flo Di Benedetto, senior vice president and general counsel, is also leaving Sutter Health later this year, according to the filing. She has been with the system since January 2009. The changes come shortly after former UPMC executive Mark Sevco was named senior vice president and COO at Sutter Health. Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee has named James McLain its next executive director. Mr. McLain currently serves as the hospital's deputy director, according to an April 10 news release shared with Becker's. He coordinates and controls operations for the 435-bed hospital and its 4,200 employees. Mr. McLain is a veteran, and began his military career in 1990. His promotion is effective April 23. The Oregon Health Authority on April 13 approved Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health's acquisition of the Mid-Columbia Medical Center in the Dalles, Ore., according to the Columbia Community Connection. Four things to know: 1. MCMC is facing significant financial challenges it posted a $10 million operating loss in 2022, and its days of cash on hand is troubling, according to the report. There are solvency concerns for the hospital if the transaction is not completed. Adventist will assume MCMC's financial obligations and will invest $100 million of capital into MCMC over the next 10 years. 2. MCMC recently suspended oncology services at Celilo Cancer Center due to staffing shortages. The Oregon Health Authority is concerned that MCMC will be forced to cut more services in the next year if these challenges continue, but the proposed acquisition will substantially improve the hospital's financial condition, according to the report. 3. Adventist has committed to maintaining all MCMC's facilities, services and programs, including existing reproductive and end-of-life services. The affiliation will help MCMC attract and maintain physicians and expand services for local communities. 4. MCMC is a nonprofit health system that operates a community hospital, a cancer center and 22 healthcare clinics in the region. It will become a member of Adventist's network in Oregon, which includes Adventist Portland and Adventist Tillamook hospitals. The following hospital-union events have been reported by Becker's in March and April. 1. Members of the California Nurses Association approved a new contract with Southern California Hospital at Culver City. The contract, approved April 6, includes across-the-board wage increases of up to 30 percent over three years. 2. Nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin, Texas, held an informational picket April 6 to protest current staffing levels amid contract negotiations. The hospital's nurses voted to unionize in September and have been in contract negotiations since November. 3. Social workers and interpreters employed by Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford in Palo Alto, Calif., voted to join Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West. Seventy-nine percent of the workers voting supported unionization, according to an April 4 union news release. The vote covers about 140 social workers and workers in interpreter services at the hospital. 4. Members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 approved a three-year contract with Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay, Ore. Hospital spokesperson Kimberly Winker told Becker's the agreement includes increasing the wage rates for all union employees by 7.5 percent; a commitment by the hospital to increase wages for those positions that remain below market after this increase; and adjusting the minimum wage rate to $15 per hour, effective July 1, 2022. 5. Members of the Physicians' and Dentists' Organization of Contra Costa reached a new contract with county management, avoiding a potential strike. The union represents more than 240 physicians in Contra Costa County's public health system. 6. Members of the California Nurses Association reached an agreement with MarinHealth Medical Center in Greenbrae, Calif., averting a planned strike. The union represents about 600 nurses at the hospital, which is part of MarinHealth. 7. Members of UE Local 1004 held a strike March 20 at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia, Calif. The union represents about 700 workers at the hospital, including patient care attendants, techs and other support staff, according to The Santa Clarita Valley Signal. Henry Mayo has more than 1,800 employees total. 8. Members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East reached a tentative agreement with Boston-based Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital. The three-year agreement, reached March 10, covers nearly 500 workers. 9. Registered nurses at Adventist Health Lodi (Calif.) Memorial voted to join the California Nurses Association, an affiliate of National Nurses United. The National Labor Relations Board must still certify the results. If certified, the results apply to more than 340 nurses at the hospital. 10. Registered nurses at Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph Hospital in Wichita, Kan., voted to join the National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United. Sixty-two percent of voting nurses decided in favor of unionizing, according to a March 9 news release from NNOC/NNU. The secret ballot election took place on March 8. 11. Members of the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals approved a contract with Burlington-based University of Vermont Medical Center that includes immediate pay raises of 6.5 percent to 25.6 percent for most bargaining unit members. The three-year contract, which runs from March 1, 2023, to April 30, 2026, covers about 600 technical employees. 12. On March 4, nurses at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., approved a new contract that includes a commitment from the hospital to hire 1,350 registered nurses by 2025. The three-year agreement took effect March 12. Florida stands to be one of the most restrictive states in the country when it comes to abortion, if Gov. Ron DeSantis signs legislation passed April 13 that would prohibit abortions after six weeks, according to The New York Times. Mr. DeSantis has already said he will sign the six-week abortion ban into law. After Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022, "no state saw a greater increase in the number of legal abortions performed each month than Florida," the Times said, citing an April 11 report on how access to abortion has changed since Roe was overturned. A year ago, Florida permitted abortions until 24 weeks. Lawmakers limited access to abortions to 15 weeks in July 2022. This limitation is being challenged in court. "The new six-week ban is contingent, in part, on whether the Florida Supreme Court upholds the 15-week restriction," the Times reported. South Korean and U.S. Air Forces stage air drills, involving at least one B-52H strategic bomber, over the Korean Peninsula, on April 14. Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense South Korea and the United States held joint air drills, involving at least one B-52H strategic bomber, on Friday, Seoul's defense ministry said, a day after North Korea test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The North's state media has confirmed the country conducted its first test of a solid-fuel Hwasong-18 ICBM on Thursday, raising tensions already heightened by its earlier weapons tests, including those of underwater nuclear attack drones. The South Korean Air Force mobilized its F-35A radar-evading fighters and F-15K jets for the drills, while the U.S. side deployed F-16 fighters in addition to the bomber, according to the ministry. It did not specify in which part of the Korean Peninsula the drills took place. "It is assessed that (the drills) represented a close-knit, coordinated response demonstrating the powerful 'strength of the alliance' and the United States' will to provide extended deterrence against the recent series of North Korean provocations," the ministry said in a press release. A former Kentucky nurse has pleaded guilty to manslaughter of a patient after initially being charged with murder, Lexington Herald Leader reported April 13. Eyvette Hunter, 52, was accused of killing a 97-year-old patient who, police said, died as a result of Ms. Hunter's intentional medical maltreatment. Ms. Hunter was supposed to stand trial June 12, but after court-ordered mediation took the plea deal and now faces five years in prison for the amended second degree manslaughter charge, according to CBS affiliate WKYT. She is scheduled for sentencing June 8. Her attorney, Daniel Whitley, said she's being used as a "scapegoat" for negligence at the hospitals. "What I have learned about the criminal justice system, prosecutors can make anyone a murderer," Mr. Whitley told the Leader. "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." Ms. Hunter was a nurse at Baptist Health Lexington (Ky.) when she allegedly gave the patient medication he was not prescribed. He died a few days later as a result of complications from the medication. She was fired on April 30, 2022, but continued to work as a travel nurse at a Lexington-based UK HealthCare hospital until her Aug. 23, 2022, arrest. Her nursing license was also suspended that day. A former physician acquitted in the death of 14 patients is suing Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health for malicious prosecution, according to court documents obtained by Becker's. William Husel, a former intensive care physician at Trinity's Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus, Ohio, filed the suit April 12. In December 2018, Dr. Husel was fired from Mount Carmel and accused of ordering potentially fatal painkiller doses for 14 near-death patients. Although Mount Carmel's investigation into the patient deaths "uncovered no indication whatsoever that Dr. Husel intended to hasten death or do anything other than make the dying process easier for his patients," the health system continued to report the deaths as "a series of tragic crimes" to the county prosecutor, patients' families and the media, the suit claims. Dr. Husel was indicted on 25 counts of intentional murder in June 2019. In January 2022, the prosecution dismissed 11 charges, and a jury found him not guilty of the remaining 14 in April 2022. He surrendered his medical license shortly after the criminal trial. "The responsible individuals at Trinity had no basis to tell the prosecutor and the public that Dr. Husel had caused anyone any harm, much less that he had intentionally done so," the lawsuit reads. "They could have corrected the misstatements at any time before the indictment or even after his acquittal but they did not." Dr. Husel is seeking $20 million in damages from Trinity Health, which has denied the allegations. "The allegations are unfounded, and we will address the matter as appropriate through the legal process," a spokesperson for Trinity Health told Becker's. "As this is an active lawsuit, we have no further comment." A national campaign launched by the American College of Surgeons to improve patient care and safety in hospitals nationwide hopes to "promote policy frameworks and incentives" that drive improvements across the country, according to an April 14 news release. The Power of Quality campaign includes 18 programs that range across medical specialties and are tailored to improving strategic outcomes, policies and care at hospitals nationally. The programs "not only define the foundations needed to improve surgical care but also offer a roadmap for an entire care team to achieve high quality," the release states. "This differs from the current national strategy that largely sets outcome goals without ensuring support to achieve them, leading to significant variability in patient care." Along with the campaign, the ACS also launched a program for hospitals to earn a "Surgical Quality Trust Mark" from the organization to display if they meet quality standards outlined by the ACS in recognition of a facility's "commitment to improving care for the patients they serve." Programs like these are needed, because "current national strategies are insufficient to achieve high quality surgical care, as there is too much variability within them," according to Timothy Eberlein, MD, chair of the ACS Board of Regents. "ACS Quality Programs rely on evidence-based recommendations to provide hospitals with a roadmap to improve their surgical processes, reduce redundancies, lower costs, and improve patient health and outcomes." Past successes include reductions in costs, preventing between 250 and 500 complications per year, saving up to 36 lives per year and reducing the length of hospital stays. Inova Health System, which participated in one of the programs from ACS, noted that it allowed them to "establish leadership roles and structures focused on surgical process improvement across specialties, engage all our surgical teams in a culture of quality grounded in the consistent use of data, and enhance communications in our journey to high reliability," according to CEO J. Stephen Jones, MD. The ACS's launch of the campaign is an effort to expand programming to more hospitals nationally. A newly discovered test for Parkinson's disease shows promise in diagnosing the condition very early and may help in identifying if a person is at risk of developing the disease, according to research findings that will be published in May in The Lancet Neurology. Parkinson's is caused by the buildup of alpha-synuclein abnormal proteins in the nervous system and brain. Scientists believe this buildup begins years before physical symptoms, such as tremors or muscle stiffness, are recognizable by the patient. This test, which examines spinal fluid from living patients, is able to reveal these abnormal proteins associated with the disease long before symptoms show, a Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research press release said. The test demonstrated "greater than 90 percent sensitivity in people with typical Parkinson's pathology." This discovery has the potential to pave the way for early detection, diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease. Known as the alpha-synuclein seed amplification assay, Syn-SAA offers a "revolutionary critical tool" that can be used to design clinical trials, assess treatment options and provide a pathway to early disease detection, according to the foundation. David Eidelberg, MD, director of the Center for Neurosciences at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, N.Y., a division of New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health, said he hopes "eventually" that will happen. For now, he told Becker's, the new test is an advance in research and what he hopes will be a "first important step that will ultimately end with a proper blood test, and when that happens, it will really be a game changer" for diagnosing Parkinson's. This research "needs much more validation," Dr. Eidelberg said. "We're one step closer but it's not the final step in bringing a [diagnostic] test for Parkinson's to a clinic near you." The organization was founded by actor Michael J. Fox in 2000. In addition to Mr. Fox, who shared his Parkinson's diagnosis in 1991 at age 27, other celebrities have recently come forward about their battles with the disease including U.S. Rep.Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton of Virginia and the U.K. broadcast journalist Jeremy Paxman. For the first time since the disorder was publicly described in 1917 by James Parkinson, scientists now have a test that uses a person's biology to diagnose and inform treatment of Parkinson's disease. The Syn-SAA test is already "unlocking new understanding of Parkinson's," said Kenneth Markek, MD, principal study investigator of the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative an initiative of the foundation and president and senior scientist at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, said in the release. He added he expects the discovery "will transform every aspect of drug development and ultimately clinical care. We will rapidly be in a position to test new therapies in the right populations, target the right therapy to the right patient at the right time, and launch studies of agents with potential to prevent Parkinson's disease altogether. "When we started PPMI, we weren't casting about for fish we were going after a whale," Mr. Fox said in the release. "Now, here we are. Together we are making a cure for Parkinson's inevitable." Orthopedic and Spine Integrated Services merged with Spine and Rehabilitation Centers of New Jersey. The merged group based in Glen Rock, N.J., has more than 30 physicians, according to an April 13 news release shared with Becker's. Sujal Patel, MD, is managing partner and president of the group. The spine practice and conservative spine care groups have maintained professional relationships in the past, the release said. The practice has 13 locations throughout New Jersey and one in Brooklyn, N.Y. Cho Hyun-chun, center, a former head of the now-defunct Defense Security Command, speaks to reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, March 29. Yonhap A former military commander was indicted Friday on charges of power abuse and political meddling, as prosecutors zeroed in on suspicions he masterminded a plan to impose martial law when then President Park Geun-hye faced an impeachment trial in 2017. Cho Hyun-chun, former head of the now-defunct Defense Security Command (DSC), is accused of instructing his subordinates to write up a report on elections at the Korea Freedom Federation, a major conservative group, in 2016, according to prosecutors. Cho is also accused of having DSC agents stage rallies, and run columns and advertisements supporting Park the same year, and embezzling 60 million won ($46,000) from the command. The former military commander was placed under arrest last month shortly after he returned to the country from the United States to which he had fled to avoid a probe in late 2017. Prosecutors are expected to focus their investigation on the alleged martial law plan. Cho is suspected of instructing a task force he formed in February 2017 to draw up a contingency plan based on an illegal declaration of martial law to crack down on candlelight protesters by force and reporting it to then Defense Minister Han Min-koo. Months of street candlelight vigils led to the ouster of then President Park at the time. The martial law plan commissioned by Cho included mobilizing 200 Army tanks, 550 armored vehicles and more than 6,000 armed forces to form a martial law army. Prosecutors are reviewing whether drawing up such a document constitutes conspiracy of a rebellion. (Yonhap) From problematic colleagues to power struggles in the office, work life can be stressful but it can be managed United States President Joe Biden made a special mention of the Northern Ireland peace process during his speech in Ireland. Speaking in his ancestral hometown of Ballina in Co Mayo, in front of a crowd of thousands, Biden was full of energy, spurred on by his enthusiasm for his heritage. Earlier this week marked 25 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Twenty-five years of peace and progress. Not just for the people of Northern Ireland, but for people all across the island. Its a reminder of peace and what we can achieve when we work together for a common cause, he said. During his speech the US President thanked all the performers who opened the event outside St. Muredach's Cathedral. Referring specifically to The Chieftains, he recalled seeing them in back in 2016. "I'm grateful you came back for one more time to perform tonight", he said, declaring himself a long-time fan. "Most of all I want acknowledge my family, all the Blewitts, you make me proud," he said to loud cheers. The Blewitts are Bidens Mayo ancestors. The US President also spoke of his earlier visit on Friday, where he met former military chaplain Father Frank O'Grady who gave his son Beau his last rites, before he passed away from cancer in 2015. "It was incredible to see him, it seemed like a sign," he said. Biden cut the sod at the Mayo Roscommon Hospice during his last visit in 2017 in memory of his son. "I can tell you how special it is that a piece of his legacy lives here among his ancestors, Biden said. "Thinking about it I could hear my dad's voice again. He'd always say 'Joe remember family is the beginning, the middle and the end'. "The beginning, middle and end, that's the Irish of it." He added: "Everything between Ireland and America runs deep; our history, our heritage, our sorrows, our future, our friendship. But more than anything, hope is what beats in the hearts of all our people. "For centuries during times of darkness and despair, hope has kept us marching forward toward a better future, one of greater liberty, greater dignity and greater possibilities." The US President spoke of how Ballina is part of his soul. "It feels like coming home, it really does," he said. "Over the years stories of this place have become part of my soul, part of my family lore." Mr Biden said he and his siblings were raised with "a fierce pride in our Irish ancestry". "A pride that spoke to both the history that binds us but more importantly the values that unite us," he said. "To this day I can still remember hearing my dad say at the dinner table, 'Joey, everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect', I can still hear my mom tell me, 'Joey, nobody is better than you but everybody is your equal'." Biden also spoke about a flag of the regiment of the Irish Brigade presented to the Irish Parliament by John F Kennedy 60 years ago. He said: "It still hangs there to this day, It's a legacy of faith and fidelity to freedom, to one another that has been handed down generation to generation, he said. "Today the United States continues on and that legacy." Belfast pet owners have been named amongst the worst offenders in the UK when it comes to failing to remove dog foul from parks and pavements. A new survey lists the city as the fourth worst for offending in the UK, with more than 1,000 incidents reported to the council every year since 2017. Only Glasgow, Manchester and Northumberland Borough Council dealt with more complaints over the last five years. Belfast comes in fourth with an average of 1,075 reports each year, according to analysis from online comparison site Comparethemarket. The city also features in the top council areas for the handing out of fixed penalty notices, in sixth place with an average of 52 each year. Ards and North Down tops that though, recording a yearly average of 82 fines that is ranked fifth of all UK council areas. Two further Northern Ireland councils are included in the top 10 for fixed penalty notices, with Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon averaging 27 every year in ninth place and Lisburn and Castlereagh with 17 each year in 10th. Last month Ards and North Down Council increased the penalties for dog owners to a maximum of 200. In Belfast the current maximum fixed penalty for those found guilty of allowing their dog to foul in a public area is 80, with heftier fines up to 1,000 should this not be paid and the matter taken to court. Up to date figures from Belfast City Council show only 17 fixed penalties have been issued in the 12 months between January 2022 and January 2023. Councillor Jenna Maghie, who represents the Ormiston area, said the council needs to use new tactics to make sure the message over dog fouling hits home. The Alliance councillor has helped to introduce a new pilot scheme aimed at cutting down the amount of dog fouling around schools. There is no excuse for owners who do not pick up after their dogs, said Councillor Maghie. We all know the mess and inconvenience caused by dog poo left on our footpaths. Added to that are the health risks, particularly to children. This new pilot will use stencils to paint temporary messages on the footpath outside a number of schools in the Ormiston area, she explained. We are committed to reducing dog fouling and hope that the stencils will remind owners to always carry a poop bag, clean up after their dog and dispose of the bag properly. A similar pilot scheme was launched in Newry, Mourne and Down Council last year, with stencils having been used on various walking routes, and public spaces within the community since May. Glasgow is far and away the worst offending area of the UK with 2,563 fixed penalty fines recorded over the last five years from over 10,000 reported incidents. Comparethemarket also conducted a survey of dog owners which revealed that one in 25 people in the UK (4%) never pick up after their dog, and more than one in 10 admit to not picking it up sometimes (12%). Bill Clinton arrives in Belfast ahead of QUB conference to mark 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement. Pic by spokesperson Angel Urena/Twitter. Former US President Bill Clinton has arrived in Belfast ahead of an international conference to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Clintons spokesperson shared a video of the former Commander in Chief stepping off a plane on social media. Just landed in Belfast, where hes spending a week celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, they tweeted. Against the odds, the peace has held and democracy has not lost its grip here. Follow along and go behind the scenes with us for a first hand look. Pres. @BillClinton just landed in Belfast, where hes spending a week celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Against the odds, the peace has held & democracy has not lost its grip here. Follow along & go behind the scenes with us for a first hand look. pic.twitter.com/6sSvPi6MWH Angel Urena (@angelurena) April 14, 2023 SDLP councillor Seamas de Faoite replied to welcome the president back to city. "Thank you, Mr Clinton responded. "I am honored to be back! Hillary Clinton is also due to attend the three day event at Queens University Belfast of which she is chancellor. The former US secretary of state played a prominent role alongside her husband in the negotiations leading up to the historic peace deal signed on April 10, 1998. They have visited Northern Ireland on numerous occasions since then. Secretary Clinton will host the conference which begins on Monday and aims to reflect upon how the agreement was reached while also addressing current political issues in Northern Ireland and Ireland. Northern Ireland and Queens University are both close to Bills and my heart, Mrs Clinton said previously. Its fitting that such a unique event will take place at Queens. The university makes a significant impact on the world through its outstanding research and innovation. I am proud to host this conference, which will bring together civic leaders who have contributed to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. It comes as current US President speaks at a homecoming celebration outside St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina on Friday night. Tens of thousands of people have lined the streets to greet Joe Biden who visited Belfast on Wednesday. Police and army technical officers at the scene of a security alert near the Monagh Bypass in west Belfast Jonathan Porter / Press Eye A security alert near a primary school in west Belfast has now ended. Police examined a suspicious object discovered close to Holy Trinity Primary School and declared it as nothing untoward. Residents in the Monagh Road area of the city have been allowed to return to their homes and the route has re-opened. "An item was examined and declared as nothing untoward, a PSNI spokesperson confirmed. The item has now been taken away and I would like to thank local people for their patience while we worked to ensure their safety, they added. A number of homes were evacuated with motorists with the public advised to avoid the area following the discovery. 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 Councillor Michael Donnelly previously said the road into the Monagh bypass has been closed as a result of the alert. Folks, a suspect device has been found close to Holy Trinity School. The road into Turf Lodge of the Monagh by Pass is closed and you cant get out that way. The SDLPs Paul Doherty previously expressed concern over the incident and said it was the last thing our community needs. Reports of a suspicious device in the Monagh Road area are extremely concerning and causing significant disruption in the area, he added. "The security alert is in the vicinity of the local school and a number of homes in the area have been evacuated as police attend the scene. I would ask motorists and the public to avoid the area and to cooperate with police at all times. Hopefully this object is nothing untoward and families will soon be able to return to their homes. Incidents like this are the last thing we want to see in our community on a busy Friday afternoon. 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 DUPs continued boycott of Stormont is playing into the hands of Sinn Fein, a senior unionist has claimed. Lord Empey also warned it was time for unionism to face up to new realities. The Assembly has not functioned properly for almost 15 months after the DUP withdrew from power-sharing in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. While the party has said the Windsor Framework agreed between the UK and EU in February has gone some way to address its concerns, more needs to be done. However, Lord Empey said the DUP boycott of Stormont had failed, and was only benefiting political rivals. "Their seven tests (set out in 2021 by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to secure DUP support for a post-Brexit deal) are hardly mentioned anymore, because they have not been met. The border in the Irish Sea remains, albeit less rigorously imposed. The European Court still rules supreme on EU law as it applies in Northern Ireland and Brussels continues to make rules for NI over which neither Westminster nor Stormont have a veto. This is the legacy of an ill thought-through and disastrously-negotiated Brexit. To proceed with a continuing boycott makes no sense. Sinn Fein have long argued that 'Northern Ireland is a failed political entity.' What is the logic behind any Unionist action that helps to prove Sinn Fein's point? Making Stormont and Northern Ireland not work has to be the very opposite of what is in pro-Union interests. However, DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley accused the UUP of trying to divide unionism. "Reg seems more interested in attacking the DUP than standing up to the Government to get a better deal for Northern Ireland. Such an attitude would never have led to a renegotiation of the Protocol, he said. Unionism achieves far more when acting cohesively and united rather than manufacturing division. All unionists should share the goal of seeing Northern Irelands place within the United Kingdom respected and restored. That can provide the solid foundation necessary for the restoration of devolution. Earlier, the Tanaiste Micheal Martin said that he believed a speech by US President Joe Biden could potentially help the political atmosphere in Northern Ireland. Addressing the Irish parliament on Thursday, Mr Biden said he believed that the UK should be working more closely with the administration in Dublin to support Northern Ireland. Asked about the comments on RTE, Mr Martin said: "I take that as a general exhortation to all of us to work together. "I am pleased with Prime Minister (Rishi) Sunak, (Northern Ireland Secretary) Chris Heaton-Harris, there is a closer engagement already over the last while, that could get closer. "I think the context was clear from the president, he was speaking in the context of all of us. "He mentions the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Ireland." The Tanaiste added: "The Good Friday Agreement really depends on the very close relationship between the British Government and the Irish Government. That is the anchor to the peace, the anchor to future relationships." During an address in Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Biden said he hoped the institutions would soon return. Mr Martin said: "I think his remarks will be helpful in terms of the atmosphere, in terms of the next number of weeks and months. I think it will have served a purpose, in respect of that I have no doubt." Sir Jeffrey described the President's Belfast speech as "measured" but he made clear his party would only be returning to devolution if the UK Government took further steps to address DUP concerns. US President Joe Biden (left) with Tanaiste Micheal Martin at Carlingford Castle, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland PA Shortly after arriving in Northern Ireland, the former First Minster of Northern Ireland said she believed the US President hated the United Kingdom and is the most partisan president there has ever been when dealing with Northern Ireland". Her comments were widely condemned, with the White House insisting her remarks were simply not true. Dame Arlene also questioned whether the US President snubbed the UK by not flying the Union flag on his official car while in Belfast but later opted for the Irish tricolour in Dublin. Now the Tanaiste has weighed in on the row. Asked on RTE Radios Morning Ireland if he believes the GB News host should withdraw her remarks, he said: Look, people make comments. I just have to say that I would refute it. Mr Martin added: "I was very surprised by that comment . The one word that you do not associate with Joe Biden is the word hate." He said he believes Mr Biden's speech in Belfast on Wednesday would help the political atmosphere in Northern Ireland. Mr Martin said: "I think his remarks will be helpful in terms of the atmosphere, in terms of the next number of weeks and months. I think it will have served a purpose, in respect of that I have no doubt." He added: "I think the President did get the balance right in terms of that speech, but also in terms of (saying) we are giving time and space to the DUP in terms of their analysis of the Windsor agreement; but there is no immediate sign yet (of a return to powersharing at Stormont). "But everybody, including the DUP, would acknowledge that the Windsor agreement represents very significant progress. "I think the people of Northern Ireland want the institutions back, of that I am clear, but I think the lessons we have all learnt from experience is that it is better, as the President himself said, that people in the north come to the right conclusion, come to it themselves and make their mind up. "All of the parties are very anxious to get the institutions restored." The Tanaiste also said the Presidents visit had been a very special week for Ireland. Mr Biden will spend Friday in Co Mayo where he is expected to visit sites connected to his Irish heritage. "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 it's a tribute to the legacy of that past given his own personal family story of emigration, he added. "But it is also a tribute to the 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," he added. "Given all that is happening in the world today in terms of the war in Ukraine and the climate change existential challenge that he referred to, that sense of nations, particularly those that are committed to rules-based order and a value system, is very important. "He did focus a lot over the last number of days on values." A platform at Gimpo International Airport Station on the Gimpo Goldline is packed with passengers waiting to board a train in western Seoul, April 13. Yonhap The government said Friday it will devise measures to ease the notorious congestion on a light metro line linking Seoul with one of its satellite cities to the west, following the recent fainting of two passengers. Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong presided over an emergency meeting to discuss overcrowding mitigation measures for the Gimpo Goldline, a two-carriage subway line that opened in 2019 to connect Gimpo, a city on the western outskirts of Seoul, to the capital's subway system via Gimpo International Airport Station. The Gimpo Goldline, the only means of rail transport for the city's 500,000 people, has been nicknamed the "hell train" as its congestion reaches intolerable levels during rush hour. Eventually, two passengers a high school girl and a woman in her 30s collapsed complaining of breathing difficulties at Gimpo International Airport Station on Tuesday morning. In the meeting, Won said he will push to drastically increase the number of shuttle buses between Gimpo and Gimpo International Airport. To that end, the minister said he will ask Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to create bus-only lanes in the Seoul sections of a main road between Gimpo and the airport. Gimpo residents have reportedly been reluctant to use buses due to rush hour traffic congestion. Bus-only lanes have already been installed on the Gimpo sections of the main road. In response, the Seoul city government said it will swiftly push to establish bus-only lanes on the road despite structural problems stemming from numerous intersections with highway ramps and underground roads. The Seoul government also announced its own measures to address the Gimpo Goldline problems, including the deployment of "cut-men." Some Seoul Metro personnel will be deployed as so-called cut-men as soon as possible to Gimpo Goldline stations to manage overcrowding on the platforms and trains, the city government explained, adding they will serve to restrict people from getting on board when a train is too crowded. A trial run of an amphibious bus / Courtesy of Busan Metropolitan City US president Joe Biden broke down in tears on the final day of his Ireland tour after an emotional unplanned meeting with a priest who gave the last rites to his son. The chaplain who performed the last rites sacrament on Mr Bidens son, Beau, now works at the Knock shrine in Co Mayo where the president paid a visit on Friday. Fr Frank OGrady performed the ceremony for Beau Biden before he died of brain cancer in 2015. He received a call requesting that he meet the president, and later told RTE that the encounter was like a reunion. Joe Biden visiting Knock Shrine and Basilica in Mayo with Fr Richard Gibbons (Andrew Downes/Julien Behal Photography) Andrew Downes/Julien Behal Photography We had a nice chat for about 10 minutes. He was delighted to see me and I was delighted to see him, he said. He gave me a big hug, it was like a reunion. He told me he appreciated everything that was done. He added: I hadnt seen him really in eight years since Beau died. His son Hunter was there too, so we had a real reunion. He certainly misses his son. He has been grieving a lot but I think the grief is kind of going down a bit. We talked a little bit about how grief can take several years. Mr Biden was given a tour of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock a Catholic pilgrimage site by the Parish priest of Knock, Fr Richard Gibbons. Recounting the emotional reunion between the US President and Fr OGrady, he said: It was an extraordinary afternoon. I wont forget it, I can tell you that it was quite something else. After leaving Knock, Mr Biden travelled to Castlebar where he made a private visit to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice. The president had a longstanding pledge to revisit the facility, having turned the sod on the development in 2017. US President Joe Biden visiting Knock Shrine and Basilica in Mayo with Fr Richard Gibbons (Andrew Downes/Julien Behal Photography/PA) Andrew Downes/Julien Behal Photography A plaque at the entrance to the hospice is dedicated to Beau Bidens memory. At the site Mr Biden, along with his son Hunter and sister Valerie, met with distant cousin Laurita Blewitt. Meanwhile as crowds gathered in Ballina for Mr Bidens final public address, the atmosphere was compared to an All-Ireland final. There is a great sense of occasion here, there is great anticipation building for President Biden, Sinn Fein TD Rose Conway-Walsh said. The eyes of the world are on Mayo and on Ballina tonight and I think the river, the cathedral, lends itself to something really special. Asked whether Mr Bidens visit could bring some good luck to the Mayo GAA team, she said: We are hoping. She said the event reminded her of an All-Ireland GAA final. It is that sense of anticipation when youre going into Croke Park, that youre expecting something good. Mr Bidens visit to Co Mayo is set to end his four-day tour of the island after he touched down at the airport in Knock on Friday afternoon. The trip is another return to ancestral roots for the president after his trip to Co Louth on Wednesday. The president has repeatedly spoken with passion about his Irish heritage and described addressing the countrys parliament on Thursday as one of the great honours of my career. He said its good to be back as he was greeted by various dignitaries including transport minister Eamon Ryan and Mayo TD Dara Calleary after disembarking Air Force One at Ireland West airport. Hes genuinely thrilled to be back in Ireland, Mr Ryan told reporters after speaking with him. The final day of Mr Bidens trip which former taoiseach Enda Kenny said was the longest presidential visit to Ireland ever will culminate in a public address. The speech will take place at St Muredachs Cathedral, which has a direct link to the presidents ancestors. A concert began before the presidential address as crowds gathered in the surrounding streets. 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. After his arrival at the airport, the president first travelled to the Knock shrine where he was greeted by cheering crowds who lined the streets outside. The president touched the apparition wall as part of his tour before Fr Gibbons accompanied him into the Apparition Chapel for some moments of quiet reflection. The president is also visiting the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during a visit to an estate in Westminster (PA) Jordan Pettitt Conservative councils who have launched a High Court challenge against Sadiq Khans plan to expand Londons ultra low emission zone (Ulez) are wasting taxpayers money, the capitals mayor has said. Mr Khan said London residents would prefer their payments to be invested in libraries instead. If it goes ahead, Ulez will see drivers in outer London pay a 12.50 daily fee from August 29 if their vehicles do not meet the required emissions standards. The outer London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon along with Surrey County Council launched legal action in February over the proposed extension of Ulez beyond the North and South Circular roads. A judge at the High Court this week decided their bid for a judicial review can go ahead, saying parts of the local authorities challenge were arguable. Speaking on Friday about the legal action, Mr Khan said: I think its important for these Conservative councillors whove got concerns if they want to challenge this in the courts (they) are free to do so I think its a waste of taxpayers money. Local residents would rather these be used on the libraries. He added: I welcome the fact that the vast majority of their grounds have been thrown out of the court. The two minor grounds will be heard by the court in a couple of months and TfL will be robustly defending this case. I want to see improved air in all parts of London, for those five million Londoners in outer London who are currently breathing air that is leading to children with stunted lungs, adults with a whole host of health issues from asthma to cancer, dementia to heart disease. And also, for the 10 boroughs with the biggest number of premature deaths caused by air pollution in outer London, I want to clean up our air sooner, rather than later. So, for me human rights, rather than privilege. Maria Romanenko, 30, is planning to run free walking tours of Liverpool in her countrys language, ahead of the Eurovision song contest finals in the city (Maria Romanenko) A Ukrainian reporter who came to the UK as a refugee last year is planning to run free walking tours of Liverpool in her countrys language during the Eurovision Song Contest finals in the city next month. Maria Romanenko, 30, left the Kyiv region for Manchester last year at the start of the Russian invasion. Her partner, Jez, who was born in Manchester, was with her at the time. The couple made a perilous journey to the Polish border, where they had to wait four days before receiving confirmation that Maria would be able to come to the UK with Jez, arriving in the UK on March 2 2022. Maria Romanenko, 30, is planning to run free walking tours of Liverpool in her countrys language (Maria Romanenko/PA) Ms Romanenko studied for her A-levels in Oxfordshire and her degree in Leeds before returning to Ukraine, where she worked as a journalist for six years. She decided to use her fluency in English to help other Ukrainians settle into life in Britain, and began offering free walking tours of Manchester in May last year. I have my partner here as well as my best friend from university, so I have most things that a person would need to feel at home, she said. But there are lots of Ukrainians who came here with none of these things and on top of that, they dont speak very much English. So one of the first things I came up with to help was to do walking tours I also interpret for Ukrainians to help them access housing and healthcare, as well as telling the story of how I made it to the UK to raise awareness of what is happening. Her tours of Manchester have been a huge success, with each one being attended by more than a hundred people. Now she plans to offer tours of Liverpool in Ukrainian during Eurovision week with the support of a local English and Spanish walking tours company. Ms Romanenkos tours of Manchester have been a huge success, with each one being attended by more than a hundred people (Maria Romanenko/PA) Thanks to the Governments reduced price ticket scheme, there are 3,000 Ukrainians guaranteed to be coming to Liverpool who are refugees, so I thought they will be looking for something to do, Ms Romanenko said. Ukrainians will also be coming from overseas and will be wanting to learn more about the city as well as attend the shows. Theyre open to people who live in Liverpool already but mostly we are hoping to attract people who are visiting the city. Ms Romanenko will be covering some of the Eurovision song contest as a reporter, which she also did in 2017 when the final was hosted in Kyiv, while she has applied for a ticket to the final show. 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 Im a Eurovision fan but so is everyone in Ukraine, she said. Its a massive deal, its like the Super Bowl but for music. Soldiers will be watching it like they did last year, people will find a way to tune in even if there is a power cut. Eurovision will allow the country to unite and cheer for Ukraine. Its important to keep cultural events going because it brings some normality to peoples lives. It allows people to de-stress just a little bit. Ms Romanenko, 30, left the Kyiv region for Manchester last year after the Russian invasion (Maria Romanenko/PA) Ms Romanenkos tours will run on May 7, 10 and 12 with the help of KR Spanish and English Tours Liverpool. They will cover some of Liverpools biggest landmarks like The Three Graces and Ms Romanenko will also teach tourists about the Beatles origins and the citys Second World War history. The US Justice Department has announced charges against more than two dozen members of Mexicos powerful Sinaloa cartel, including sons of notorious drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, in a fentanyl-trafficking investigation. The three Guzman sons charged Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar are known as the Chapitos, or little Chapos, and have earned a reputation as the more violent and aggressive faction of the cartel. Of the three, only Guzman Lopez is in custody, in Mexico. Attorney General Merrick Garland, standing alongside Drug Enforcement Administration chief Anne Milgram and other top federal prosecutors, unveiled the indictments in three districts aimed at hitting the cartels global network. The defendants span a broad swathe of a complex manufacturing and supply network. They include Chinese and Guatemalan citizens accused of supplying precursor chemicals required to make fentanyl, as well as those suspected of running drug labs in Mexico and others accused of providing security, weapons and illicit financing for the drug trafficking operation. The wide-ranging case comes as the US remains in the grip of a devastating overdose crisis largely by fentanyl poisonings. Nearly 107,000 people died of drug overdoses in the US in 2021, a record number. Fentanyl seizures by US Customs and Border Protection have increased by more than 400% since 2019, officials said, and this fiscal years seizures have already surpassed the total for all of 2022. Most of the fentanyl trafficked in the United States comes from the Sinaloa cartel, the Drug Enforcement Administration says. Families and communities across our country are being devastated by the fentanyl epidemic, Mr Garland said. We will never forget those who bear responsibility for this tragedy. And we will never stop working to hold them accountable for their crimes in the United States. The Sinaloa cartels notorious drug lord, known as El Chapo, was convicted in 2019 of running an industrial-scale smuggling operation. At Guzmans trial, prosecutors said evidence gathered since the late 1980s showed he and his murderous cartel made billions of dollars by smuggling tons of cocaine, heroin, meth and marijuana into the US. A defiant Guzman accused the federal judge in his case of making a mockery of the US justice system and claimed he was denied a fair trial. In outlining the charges on Friday, Mr Garland described the violence of the Sinaloa cartel and how its members have tortured perceived enemies, including Mexican law enforcement officials. That has included people fed to tigers owned by Guzmans sons, sometimes while the victims were still alive, Mr Garland said. Anne Milgram speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington (Susan Walsh/AP) Susan Walsh Eight of those charged have been arrested and remain in the custody of law enforcement officials in Colombia, Greece, Guatemala and the US, Ms Milgram said. The US government is offering rewards for several others charged in the case, including up to 10 million dollars for Guzmans other two sons. Fridays indictments were filed in New York, Illinois, and Washington DC. Along with the five defendants from China and Guatemala accused of supplying the cartel with precursor chemicals, two Chinese firms were also sanctioned by the US. Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control on Friday. US government officials are pressing Chinese officials to do more to stem the shipment of those chemicals. The entire Russian Pacific fleet was put on high alert on Friday for snap drills that will involve practice missile launches in a massive show of force amid the tensions with the west over the fighting in Ukraine. Defence minister Sergei Shoigu said the goal of the war games was to test the capability of Russias armed forces to mount a response to aggression. Along with the missile launches, the drills will also involve nuclear-capable strategic bombers and other warplanes besides those from the Pacific fleets air arm, Mr Shoigu said. The Russian military has concentrated the bulk of its forces on the front lines in Ukraine, but also continued conducting regular drills across Russia to train its forces and demonstrate their readiness. Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu (Dmitry Astakhov, Sputnik, Government Pool/AP) Dmitry Astakhov Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the war games as part of regular training intended to maintain the necessary level of the armed forces readiness. Mr Shoigu said the scenario for Fridays manoeuvres envisages a response to an adversarys attempt to make a landing on Sakhalin Island and the southern Kuril Islands. Japan asserts territorial rights to the Kuril Islands, which it calls the Northern Territories. The Soviet Union took them in the final days of the Second World War and the dispute has kept the countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their hostilities. Last year Russia announced it had suspended peace talks with Japan in protest at Tokyos sanctions against Moscow over its action in Ukraine. Sakhalin Island (Alamy/PA) Russia has built up its military presence on the islands in recent years, deploying advanced fighter jets, anti-ship missiles and air defence systems there. The Pacific fleet drills started days before a planned trip to Moscow by Chinese defence minister general Li Shangfu. A three-day visit to Moscow by Chinese President Xi Jinping last month demonstrated the two nations partnership in the face of western efforts to isolate Russia over Ukraine. Both Moscow and Beijing have accused Washington of trying to isolate them and to hold back their development as they challenge the US for regional and global leadership. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mr Xi said they would increase contacts between their militaries and stage more joint sea and air patrols and drills, but there was no hint that China would help Russia with weapons, as the US and other Western allies feared. A Massachusetts Air National Guardsman arrested over the leak of highly classified military documents has appeared in court in Boston. Jack Teixeira, 21, was arrested by heavily armed FBI agents on Thursday following a week-long criminal investigation into the disclosure of highly sensitive government records. It was an alarming breach that exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments of the war in Ukraine, the capabilities and geopolitical interests of other nations and other top national security issues. A federal magistrate judge ordered that Teixeira must remain in jail at least until a detention hearing set for next Wednesday. Jack Teixeira, in T-shirt and shorts, was arrested in Massachusetts (WCVB-TV via AP) Uncredited Court records unsealed on Friday showed billing records of a social media platform and interviews with another user helped the FBI identify Teixeira, who faces charges under the Espionage Act of unauthorised removal and retention of classified and national defence information. He appeared in court in brown jail clothes for a brief hearing before US Magistrate Judge David Hennesy. Investigators believe Teixeira was the leader of a private chat group on Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. Billing records the FBI obtained from Discord, which said it was cooperating with the bureau, helped lead investigators to Teixeira, according to an FBI affidavit. According to the document, the FBI interviewed someone familiar with Teixeiras online posts on Monday. That person, who is not identified in the affidavit, told the FBI that a user name linked to Teixeira began posting what appeared to be classified information roughly in December. A federal police vehicle is parked outside court in Boston (Mark Pratt/AP) Mark Pratt The affidavit suggests Teixeira switched from typing out documents in his possession to taking them home and photographing them because he had become concerned that he may be discovered making the transcriptions of text in the workplace. That is different from what posters have told the Associated Press and other media outlets, saying the user they would call the OG started posting images of documents because he was annoyed other users were not taking him seriously. The affidavit also alleges Teixeira was detected on April 6 the day The New York Times first published a story about the release of documents searching for the word leak in a classified system. The FBI says that was reason to believe Teixeira was trying to find information about the investigation into who was responsible for the leaks. Jack Teixeiras family members leave after the court hearing (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via AP) John Tlumacki The Biden administration has scrambled to contain the potential diplomatic and military fallout from the leaks since they were first reported, moving to reassure allies and assess the scope of damage. The classified documents which have not been individually authenticated in public by US 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. In previous Associated Press stories, the leaker was identified as the OG by a member of the online chat group. Known as Thug Shaker Central, the group drew roughly two dozen enthusiasts who talked about their favourite types of guns and also shared memes and jokes. The group also held a running discussion on wars that included talk of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Defence 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. The USA is an imperial power which has always put its own interests first He came, he saw and then he left again, very quickly. The US presidents much-heralded, long-awaited visit to Northern Ireland was over in the blink of an eye in fact, if youd blinked, youd have missed it. Unsplash.com We all know how difficult it is to forgive someone, especially if you dont want to. Jesus is the only reason why we have the strength to forgive those who wrong us. The old phrase forgive and forget doesnt have biblical origins. We can forgive others, but that doesnt mean we have to forget what they did. When we choose to forgive, we give our issues to God, but we dont forget how they made us feel. Even though forgiving is difficult, here are some reasons why we should forgive when we cant forget. God wants us to forgive. The first reason we should forgive even though we cant forget is that God wants us to forgive others. Ephesians 4:32 says, Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. God understands that its hard to forgive those who trespass against us, especially when theyve done something terrible to us. However, He still wants us to forgive them. Forgiveness isnt the same as forgetting. It would be difficult to forget what someone did to us, but its not impossible to forgive them, even when it feels like it is. Struggling with forgiveness isnt a great place to dwell. God wants us to release our unforgiveness because itll only hurt us in the end. Unforgiveness will only weigh you down and swallow you up in pain. We must listen to God and forgive the person who hurt us. Many believe forgiveness means forgetting what happened, but thats not the case. Naturally, we cant forget the betrayal, but we can choose to give it to God. He wants us to give Him all our fears and worries, as stated in 1 Peter 5:7. Forgiveness improves your mental health. Another reason we should forgive when we cant forget is forgiveness uplifts our mental health. If you keep a firm grasp on unforgiveness, it will cause depression, stress, and anxiety. Holding a grudge will only create these problems or worsen them if you already have them. The best thing you can do is forgive and move on. Forgiving someone doesnt excuse their actions. Instead, it means that youre turning the problem over to God. Youll have peace of heart and mind by giving Him your pain, bitterness, and unforgiveness. It can be hard to forgive, but forgiving comes with numerous benefits. Holding a grudge will only cause more problems and pain in the long run. Your mental health depends on you letting go and letting God take care of the rest. Forgiveness brings freedom and healing. A third reason we should forgive even when we cant forget is that healing comes with forgiveness. When we decide to forgive and give our problems to God, well experience freedomchoosing not to forgive leaves us in the shackles of unforgiveness, which will only restrict us. Jesus died so we could have an abundant life, not a restricted one. Holding grudges steals our joy and freedom, while choosing forgiveness grants us freedom. Some things are more challenging to forgive than others, yet we will feel more accessible and weightless when we forgive the more significant items weighing us down. Well be free from carrying the weight of unforgiveness because weve chosen to forgive. Forgiving others will give us the freedom to live our lives with Jesus peace. Dont let grudges stop your liberty any longer. Everyone makes mistakes. Nobody is perfect. The Bible says that we all sin and fall short, specifically in Romans 3:23. No one is protected from the outcomes of sin. Theres a song by Two Door Cinema Club that says, We all get it wrong/So dont stay mad for long. As these lyrics say, everyone will eventually get it wrong, so we should forgive people for their mistakes. If we look inward, well see that weve messed up and made mistakes. God is the only perfect person. Therefore, well keep making mistakes. When we mess up, we want the other person to forgive us, so we should extend the same grace to others. Forgiveness is the main component of healing from the past and moving forward. Forgiveness shows maturity and growth. A final reason to forgive is that it shows your Christian maturity and growth. Mature Christians choose to forgive because they know theyre giving their pain to Jesus. They decide to let go of unforgiveness and move with Gods plan for their life. Forgiving others shows excellent maturity and strength. God wants us to show strength and forgive those who trespass against us. Forgiving others can be challenging. Its easier to be bitter and upset toward the other person than excuse them. When we decide to forgive, were showing our maturity. Its hard to forgive, but its crucial to our Christian growth. Christian maturity and growth are difficult to develop by ourselves, but God is always willing to help us heal. When you dont know where to turn, pray to God and ask Him to help you with unforgiveness; itll be a big help. He can soften your heart and let you forgive the other person, even if they dont deserve it. In Mark 11:25, Jesus says, And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. The best decision is always to forgive others and give your problems to God. It may be challenging, but its what we have to do. We dont need to stay in the shackles of unforgiveness forever. Staying in the chains of unforgiveness will only hinder our Christian growth and hurt us more. If you find yourself holding onto unforgiveness, its time to consider letting it go. Give all your problems to God. He knows what youre going through and can help you get the healing you need. Choosing to forgive doesnt negate your experience or make it go away. Forgiveness isnt about the other person; its about you. Choosing forgiveness will free your heart from bitterness and allow you to live the life God intended for you. Philippine troops wait to join live fire exercises with their U.S. counterparts at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, March 31, 2023. Chinas envoy to the Philippines on Friday strongly advised Manila to unequivocally oppose Taiwans independence rather than fan the flames of conflict by offering the U.S. military additional access to bases. Speaking at the 9th Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations hosted by the pro-Beijing local group Association for Philippines-China Understanding, Ambassador Huang Xilian said Beijing would not abandon the possibility of war against Taiwan. The Taiwan question is entirely Chinas internal affair, as is the Mindanao issue to the Philippines. You will never allow any third party to meddle with resolving rebel issues in Mindanao, Huang said, referring to the southern third of the Philippines where the government had for years faced a Muslim insurgency. But we will not renounce the use of force and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures, he said. Huang stressed that the one-China principle was the cornerstone of its diplomatic relations with 182 countries, including the Philippines. While Beijing welcomes Manilas adherence, it must also unequivocally oppose Taiwan independence rather than stoking the fire by offering the U.S. access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait, he said. Some tried to find (an) excuse for the new EDCA sites by citing the safety of the 150,000 [Overseas Filipino Workers] in Taiwan, while China is the last country that wishes to see conflict over the strait because people on both sides are Chinese, he said, using an acronym for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to BenarNews request for comment. The U.S. Embassy in Manila issued a statement reiterating its stance on U.S troops and facilities in the Philippines. EDCA sites will support combined training exercises and interoperability between U.S. and Philippine forces to ensure that were even better prepared for future crises. EDCA is a key component of the U.S.-Philippine alliance and is not about any other third country, the statement said. Signed by Manila and Washington in 2014, the EDCA supplemented the Visiting Forces Agreement of 1999. That agreement provided legal cover for large-scale joint war games between the two longtime treaty allies. Under the EDCA, the Philippines earlier this month allowed the U.S. access to four additional sites, bringing the total number of sites to nine. Three of the new sites are in military bases in the northern provinces of Isabela and Cagayan near Taiwan, while one is in Palawan facing the West Philippine Sea, the part of the disputed South China Sea within Manilas exclusive economic zone. Facts speak louder than words. Obviously, the U.S. intends to take advantage of the new EDCA sites to interfere in the situation across the Taiwan Strait to serve its geopolitical goals and advance its anti-China agenda at the expense of peace and development of the Philippines and the region at large, Huang said. U.S. soldiers train with their Philippine counterparts at Fort Magsaysay, in the northern Philippine province of Nueva Ecija, April 13, 2023. [Jason Gutierrez/BenarNews] Marcos defended expansion Previously, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended his decision to expand the EDCA, saying the locations would not be used in offensive military actions. Now, the reaction of China is not really surprising because they worry too much. But the Philippines will not allow the bases to be used in offensive action. The bases are only to help the Philippines if the country needs help, Marcos said in an interview with reporters on April 10. So if no one attacks us, they dont need to worry because we wont fight them. Huangs remarks came after U.S. and Philippine troops launched their largest-ever joint military exercises. They also came days after China carried out naval military drills around Taiwan, following Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens recent U.S. trip where he met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. On Thursday, Philippine soldiers joined their American counterparts in live-fire drills at Fort Magsaysay using the Javelin missile system on day 3 of the Balikatan (Shoulder to Shoulder) joint exercises. The exercises run until April 28. Earlier this week, U.S. and Philippine defense and foreign ministers met in Washington for the first 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in seven years. President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, speaks during a meeting on the digital platform government initiative in Seoul, April 14. Yonhap The government plans to dramatically streamline public services by harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technology as part of President Yoon Suk Yeol's Digital Platform Government initiative, according to officials Friday. The efforts are expected to save roughly 2 trillion won ($1.4 billion) annually on paperwork for government-provided services while decreasing paper use in the public sector by 50 percent, according to the Presidential Committee of Digital Platform Government. The committee, launched in September last year, is tasked with mapping out an overall strategy for the Digital Platform Government. It consists of more than a dozen private-sector experts and senior government officials. The plan will focus on improving the convenience of approximately 1,500 public services, including tax payments and welfare service applications, that are currently provided on multiple websites, the officials said. The government plans to integrate these websites into one portal by 2026 in phases. The AI-empowered system will also automatically notify individuals of 1,021 welfare benefits or perks provided by the central government by 2026, they said. In addition, the government aims to connect data between the private and public sectors to enhance convenience by revising privacy-related legislation. Various government agencies will also be permitted to share personal data with the consent of the individual. The government also plans to disclose various government press releases and forms to AIs and Chat GPT, a chatbot developed by the U.S.-based Open AI, with the ultimate goal of creating its own mega-sized AI. To prevent possible privacy invasions, the government plans to strengthen the system by thoroughly checking access records and improving security in general. "Digital Platform Government is a hopeful and bold challenge achieved through close cooperation between the government and the private sector based on AI and data," said Koh Jean, the chief of the committee, adding that a "visible outcome" is expected in 2026. (Yonhap) 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. Ruling People Power Party leader Kim Gi-hyeon, center, visits the memorial of former President Park Chung-hee in western Seoul, April 14. Yonhap The ruling People Power Party (PPP) leader on Friday called on Japan to show more "sincere remorse" over historical issues after Tokyo's renewed territorial claims to Dokdo in its latest annual diplomatic book. The claim, strongly disputed by South Korea that has long maintained effective control of the set of rocky islets in the East Sea, was included in the 2023 Diplomatic Bluebook that was reported to the Japanese Cabinet earlier this week. "It's nonsense for Japan to insist Dokdo is part of its territory," Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon told reporters after visiting the memorial of former President Park Chung-hee in western Seoul. Kim also noted, however, it would be premature to expect Japan to change its stance on Dokdo and other historical issues just because of President Yoon Suk Yeol's recent overtures to the neighboring nation. During their summit last month, Yoon and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to resume shuttle diplomacy, or regular visits to each other's country, signaling a significant warming of long-strained relations between Seoul and Tokyo. Ahead of the summit, South Korea also announced a plan to compensate victims of Japan's wartime forced labor on its own without asking Japanese government or companies for contributions as part of efforts to mend long-strained relations with Tokyo. Kim, meanwhile, declined to comment on defector-turned-lawmaker Tae Yong-ho's remarks that Japan's new bluebook shows the country's will to push for a future-oriented relationship between the two countries. Tae, a former North Korean diplomat, drew criticism after making such remarks Thursday. (Yonhap) Darrel Galorenzo is led into Berkshire Superior Court on Wednesday for a bail hearing. A judge on Thursday refused Galorenzo's request to lower his bail from $250,000 for allegedly causing the death of his son. 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. Dalton Delan can be followed on Twitter @UnspinRoom. He has won Emmy, Peabody and duPont-Columbia awards for his work as a television producer. Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shake hands prior to their expanded summit talks at the latter's residence in Tokyo on March 16. Korea Times file Korea and Japan will hold a face-to-face meeting in Seoul next week to discuss their policy measures on exports of strategic and other items as they have vowed to put each other back on their respective list of trusted trade partners, Seoul's industry ministry said Friday. The 10th round of the exports management policy dialogue will be held in Seoul from April 18-20 and will be attended by director-level officials from industry ministries of the two nations, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Ahead of the planned meeting, Seoul and Tokyo held a virtual meeting on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, during which they discussed their policy management regarding exports of strategic items and the "catch-all" system, among other issues. The catch-all scheme calls on exporters to obtain a situational permit for items believed to be put to military use, though they are not listed as strategic items. The upcoming session comes as the two nations are working to improve their relations long marred by historic and diplomatic rows stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. Last month, Japan lifted restrictions on exports to Seoul of three materials fluoridated polyimide, photoresist and hydrogen fluoride that are critical for the production of semiconductors and displays. Seoul and Tokyo have also vowed to put each other on their respective "white list" of trusted trade partners. Japan's export curbs, which had been in place since 2019, were seen as Japan's apparent retaliation against the Korean Supreme Court rulings in 2018 that ordered Japanese companies to pay compensation to victims of Japan's forced labor during its 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea. The Yoon Suk Yeol government, however, announced plans last month to compensate the forced labor victims without asking Japan for contributions despite strong opposition by the opposition party and victims. (Yonhap) 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 President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden during their summit at a hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov. 13, 2022. Yonhap By Nam Hyun-woo South Korea and the United States are expected to sign a cybersecurity pact during a summit between Presidents Yoon Suk Yeol and Joe Biden later this month, a senior Seoul official said on Friday. "As a result of the South Korea-U.S. summit, a separate document on cybersecurity will be announced," the official told South Korean correspondents in Washington. "The document will be about reconfirming the two countries' mutual trust on cybersecurity, as well as generating and analyzing more trustworthy information." The official continued by saying that the document will likely contain "measures that can rebuild the two countries' trust (on cybersecurity) in terms of putting them into practice." He also implied that the pact will include an expansion of cybersecurity information sharing between the two countries. "With the (South Korea-U.S.) alliance commemorating its 70th anniversary, it is inappropriate to limit the domain of the two countries' Mutual Defense Treaty to the geographical territory before the Korean War," the official said. "Seoul is in consultation with the U.S. based on the recognition that the two countries' alliance should expand to space and cyberspace." The two countries' discussions on cybersecurity picked up momentum after the 2021 summit between then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Biden, where the two countries agreed to deepen their cooperation on countermeasures against risks in cybersecurity and space. The pact referred to by the official is assumed to be an interim outcome of bilateral efforts since the summit and is anticipated to contain details on narrowing the two countries' gap in assessing which entity is the biggest cyber threat. "There are differences between South Korea and the U.S. in setting the priority targets in terms of cybersecurity," said Go Myong-hyun, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. "While South Korea is assessing cyber threats from North Korea as the top priority, the U.S. is seeing risks from China and Russia as higher priorities... It is assumable that the pact will be about narrowing these gaps and including 'a global perception' into the two countries' cybersecurity efforts." Though chances are low, the pact may also include the concept of Defend Forward. It is a term used in the U.S. Department of Defense Cyber Strategy. It refers to actions that disrupt malicious cyber activity at its source, including activity that falls below the level of armed conflict. The U.S. Cyber Command explains that if a device, a network, an organization, or an adversary nation is identified as a threat to U.S. networks and institutions, or is actively attacking them in or through cyberspace, it can expect a measured response from the U.S. Gaining attention in this discussion is whether this pact will help restore the two countries' mutual trust in information and intelligence, which is now being tested in the wake of allegations that U.S. intelligence may have surveilled the South Korean presidential office. This was raised after a set of purported U.S. Pentagon documents were leaked online recently. So far, the South Korean presidential office has been denying any malicious attempt by the U.S. to obtain intelligence, and the allegations that Seoul's most high protection area was breached by its closest ally are groundless. However, criticisms are growing that Seoul is downplaying the seriousness of the issue, as it wants to prevent any adverse impact on Yoon's state visit to the U.S. "As far as the South Korean government has been able to determine, there is no sign indicating that the U.S. spied on us," a senior official said. "We deem that there have been no malicious attempts by the U.S." A separate official at the South Korean presidential office said Friday that South Korea and the U.S. are making efforts to determine the truth and "will demand the U.S. make appropriate explanations if necessary." "The two countries are now communicating in such a context, and the U.S. is expressing its apologies in a courteous manner," the official said. The R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine is a low-dose vaccine that can be manufactured at mass scale and modest cost The University of Oxford-developed and Serum Institute of India (SII) manufactured and scaled up R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, leveraging Novavaxs adjuvant technology, has been licensed for use in Ghana by the countrys Food and Drugs Authority (FDA). This marks the first regulatory clearance for the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine for use in any country. The successful registration was notified to SII by the FDA Ghana. SII is the manufacturing and commercialisation license holder for the vaccine. The vaccine has been approved for use in children aged 5 to 36 months, the age group at highest risk of death from malaria. It is hoped that this first crucial step will enable the vaccine to help Ghanaian and African children to effectively combat malaria. The R21/Matrix-M vaccine has demonstrated high levels of efficacy and safety in Phase II trials, including amongst children who received a booster dose of R21/Matrix-M at one year following a primary three-dose regime. Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India, said, "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." TBWA\Hunt Lascaris has appointed creative powerhouse, Carl Willoughby, as the chief creative officer to lead the agency into its next 40 years as the No. 1 advertising agency out of Africa. I am really excited for Carl to join me at the helm of the pirate ship, says Karabo Denalane, CEO of TBWA\Hunt Lascaris. Carl has been with TBWA for almost nine years and has rapidly grown through the ranks, leading some of our most relevant and innovative campaigns. Carls cross-functional experience as a creative leader over his 20-year career makes him an invaluable addition to the team as we continue pushing boundaries and setting new standards across the continent, says Denalane. Willoughby plans to build upon the strong foundation that Pete Khoury, outgoing CCO, established, including the culture of innovation, talent empowerment and growth. The opportunity to take on this challenge is a dream come true, says Willoughby. I am passionate about driving transformation within the agency, finding creative solutions that will advance more innovative digitally-led outputs and powerful disruptive campaigns with culture at their centre. Among his many successes as an advertising generalist in the finance, alcohol, broadcast, motor and FMCG industries at some of SA leading creative agencies, Willoughby was ranked as the #1 ECD in South Africa in 2021, and more recently, led Nissan to global creative recognition with Nissan Shwii. For more information about TBWA South Africa, please visit www.tbwa.co.za. The time for action when it comes to mitigating the impact of climate change on health is now - not five years from now, not 10 years from now - now. With rising temperatures, more than half of the infectious diseases are increasing globally and over 20 million people are being displaced every year due to the rising heat, floods and drought. WHO is projecting that annually 250,000 people are dying as a result of climate change and in total, $3bn in losses are incurred every year because of that. Unless health systems are made to be strong, sustainable and resilient we will face serious challenges in future. This is the take-home message of Shyam Bishen, head of health and healthcare at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Geneva. He was speaking at a WEF panel discussion entitled Putting Health at the Heart of Climate Action. Among the organisations represented were Seed Global Health, Wellcome Trust, United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). David Attenborough has already said that unchecked climate change will collapse civilisation. Anyone who thinks that one billion people being forced to move across the planet will not result in world war, is living in cloud cuckoo land https://t.co/HcS9mRbxDq Matthew Todd (@MrMatthewTodd) February 19, 2023 One of the central themes brought up at the discussion was the need for public-private partnerships to work together to help the poor and destitute by creating access to better preventative healthcare across the globe. The primary step to achieving this goal is in the healthcare sector accounting for its carbon footprint and embarking on a journey of decarbonisation. Statistics show that 5% of global emissions are from the health sector and 45% of this total is derived from the supply and delivery of healthcare services and medical consumables to patients. "The average person in their lifetime will create around 10 to 15 tonnes of carbon in their adult life, Bishen said. "If they go on to be diabetic, they'll create between 30 and 45 tonnes of carbon." This, he said, is tallied according to the transport of related medicines and caregivers to hospitals. "Preventative health that is helping people not make the journey from pre-diabetic to diabetic for example, can have a simply mind-boggling impact positively, not only on them, but on the climate. This is just one example of how non-communicable diseases can drive climate change. "But generally when we think of climate change we think of it in reverse: how it is driving the increase of non-communicable diseases." And the statistics speak for themselves. Deteriorating air quality Take air pollution, for example. New estimates in 2018 revealed that nine out of 10 people globally were breathing air which do not meet WHO air quality guidelines. Air pollution is the second leading cause of non-communicable diseases globally right now and the first in Southeast Asia. In 2016, an estimated 2.4 million premature deaths were attributed to air pollution. "When you think about what that impact looks like, that's actually a projected $47tn in costs globally - calculated between 2010 and 2030 - just to manage some of that disease," Bishen said. Not enough work is being done in research in climate change and health, Vanessa Kerry co-founder and chief executive officer of Seed Global Health said. "Decarbonising the healthcare journey requires data. Poor data is being collected in the United States, and globally, and so it's really difficult to know who's affected, how it's in fact affecting them, and what the outcome is." Data collection is key "A data network is absolutely necessary to a systematic collection of that kind of information, particularly in poor countries where children's bodies are the most susceptible and most vulnerable to the impact of heat waves and water insecurity. "I saw it in Ethiopia. This land is so dry and it means that these children are literally wasting away," said Catherine Russell, executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef). "We're doing a lot of work trying to deal with severe acute malnutrition. To see it is something that really is just heartbreaking. "You first see the animals waste away, then the children start to waste away. And what happens is a population starts to move; we end up with more conflict. I've seen it in Ukraine and the DRC where these children are seeing horrible violence. This in turn impacts on their mental health. "What we're seeing is that the climate crisis is really a child health crisis." Every child has the right to a safe and healthy life. At a hospital in Ukraine, our Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom saw how UNICEF supports mothers and babies with equipment, medicine and more.@UNICEF_UA pic.twitter.com/qvH7UjdU4i UNICEF (@UNICEF) April 13, 2023 But data and technology can only get us so far, Kerry said. "The work that we do in global health is very much rooted in health systems and the health workforce that makes up their systems. We've done an incredible job of promoting technology and trying to leapfrog to the right solutions, but we're actually leapfrogging the fundamental people who are needed to deliver care." Climate change impacts every aspect of health and is strongly correlated to stillbirths and premature births, malnutrition and maternal deaths. "We have to start building that workforce that is going to manage the extra 250,000 deaths a year that we're gonna see from climate change and to manage the growing existing non-communicable disease that is already there. It doesn't mean that there isn't a need for technology, but you leverage it through the humans that hold it and know how to use it." Harnessing global, public-private partnerships It was important, the WEF panel said, for healthcare workers to be trained in, and to understand, how interlinked climate change and healthcare are. And whether the focus is on preventative healthcare when it comes to mitigating the impact of climate change on the healthcare industry, or making provision to treat non-communicable diseases after the fact, the time for action is now. "The answer is people from different sectors have to come together and act on it in global, public-private partnership. We [need to] invest in the health workforce, we invest in this resilience. Addressing this problem would actually lead to about 4.4tn in GDP growth for these countries. That means there's a $2 to $4 return on investment for every dollar invested," Kerry said. "Mobilising these finances comes down to political will, policy updates, open-mindedness, multi-stakeholder progress, and for patients themselves to be aware. "We have a fundamental financing gap that we're going to have to close." The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) conducted a survey in 2021 which found that 35% of exporting companies in South Africa face challenges of high cross-border payments which places a burden on the industry. Another challenge is the time it takes to process cross-border payments. According to the same SACCI survey, 29% of exporting companies identified delays in payment processing as a challenge. These delays can be caused by a range of factors, including payment intermediaries, regulatory requirements, and compliance checks. Source: tawatchai07 via Freepik Cross-border trade is a key driver of the South African economy, accounting for over half of the country's total exports. However, South African exporters face many challenges in receiving cross-border payments, including high transaction fees, currency conversion issues, and difficulties in verifying the identity of buyers. There are several strategies exporters can implement to enhance global payments, decrease financial risk, and streamline their financial operations. Financial technology company, Vertofx has identified the following factors: Introduce digital diversification A focal point of an exporter's global payments strategy is to diversify payment methods, particularly in emerging markets like South Africa where there is a reliance on cash or cheques as the most common use of payment. While this is favoured, it leaves exporters at risk of not receiving payments, or delays which can impact cash flow or result in shipping delays. Using electronic transfers and digital platforms, which allow for faster, safer, and tracked payments can be a smart way to improve exporting. Staying informed to stay agile For exporters, operating globally means keeping abreast of the economic and political environments of the jurisdictions they operate in is essential. Instability and currency fluctuations in emerging markets can lead to border problems, cash flow issues, and delays in receiving money safely and on time. Ola Oyetayo, chief executive officer at Verto, says being informed can help a business be adaptable and mitigate any potential risk. "Some steps to do so may be setting news alerts on your computer or phone, working with local partners who can keep you informed, or working with a payments provider that understands these risks." Implementing a helping hand A step towards better payments may lie with who the payments providers are, especially as exporters can work in markets that they are unfamiliar with, and that have differing regulations, which may result in the risk of not being financially compliant. Using an innovative global payments provider can ensure exporters are provided with a variety of services such as global compliance support, fraud prevention and detection, and currency conversion. "For example at Verto, we allow our customers to set their own preferred rates via our Marketplace so that they can negotiate and execute trades at a price that suits them." There are numerous ways for exporters to optimise their cross-border payments. By implementing several improvements to their strategies, financial risk can be reduced and payment methods can be diversified, giving businesses more confidence and control over their cross-border payments. A refreshed, revitalised and recharged Castle Milk Stout Black Conversations Season 2 has been launched by Castle Milk Stout. Image supplied. A refreshed, revitalised and recharged Castle Milk Stout Black Conversations Season 2 has been launched by Castle Milk Stout. Left to right: Solomon Ashoms, Dr Khehlelezi, Rorisang Thandekiso, Bishop Joshua Maponga, Jackie Phamotse The series returned to Mzansi Magic on Thursday, 13 April 2023. Castle Milk Stout Black Conversations was launched in 2022 as a platform that gives vocal and influential local personalities the opportunity to share their genuine life experiences surrounding various unexplored topics and discuss what others deem as taboo subjects on Blackness. We want to inspire Africans to be bold and openly discussed censored subjects on African-ness and blackness, says Khensani Mkhombo, brand manager for Castle Milk Stout. Controversial points of conversation The new season will dive into controversial points of conversation, such as Black spirituality, Black pride, Black mental health, Black love, Black storytelling and Black success. Season 2 will introduce some new twists as each topic will be discussed over two episodes with viewers opinions and questions incorporated into the conversations. As a purpose - and people - driven brand, we go beyond simply selling products and have stepped up to the challenge of leveraging the power of our brand to use it as a platform where Africans can educate themselves about their origins and encourage them to become promoters of their culture, says Mkhombo. Black spirituality Castle Milk Stout Black Conversations Season 2 will kick off with a conversation around Black Spirituality, led by philanthropist, writer and social activist, Jackie Phamotse, who will be joined by a panel of diverse personalities from different backgrounds with unique cultures and experiences to share. Black pride Black Pride will interrogate how black people embrace their blackness in a Westernised society by exploring intelligence and beauty standards. Celeste Ntuli, one of the episodes panellists, has been vocal and intentional about black pride and embodies the acceptance of blackness through her comedy and in her everyday life. Black mental health Sophie Ndaba, a respected public figure, who has struggled with her own mental health will explore Black Mental Health in the black community. Black love Tbose and Mapaseka Mokwele, who have been married for over 20 years, will unpack the evolution of Black Love in modern society and the issues they face in the black community as a black couple. Black storytelling In black storytelling, Desire Markgraaf, executive producer at Bomb Productions, and well-known actor, Sello Maake ka Ncube, provide context as to why black stories are not represented accurately, and are not told by actual Africans who hold the truth of the experiences faced by African people. Black success Lastly, Bonginkosi Dlamini, affectionately known as Zola 7, joins the conversation to share his journey to Black Success. While we acknowledge the evolution and progression of culture to adjust to modern society, we wanted to inspire Africans to rediscover and reinvent their African traditions and culture in a modern world, says Mkhombo. Black Conversations is a platform that addresses unthinkable and uncomfortable conversations in our society, and we hope they can make an important role in re-inventing and progressing modern culture, adds Mkhombo Global Citizen, the world's leading international advocacy organization, today announced the recipients of this year's prestigious Global Citizen Prize and the Cisco Youth Leadership Award. The awards honour young, trailblazing changemakers who are profoundly impacting their local communities in the fight to end extreme poverty, demand equity and protect the planet, in line with Global Citizen's campaign to End Extreme Poverty Now. The award recipients will be honored at a prestigious ceremony taking place during the Global Citizen NOW action summit at The Glasshouse in New York City on Thursday, 27 April 2023. The ceremony will be hosted by actress, humanitarian, and Global Citizen ambassador Nomzamo Mbatha and feature appearances by Sabrina Dhowre Elba, chair of Global Citizens European Board of Directors and United Nations IFAD Goodwill Ambassador; Padma Lakshmi, producer, TV Host, author and activist; Bridget Moynahan, Global Citizen ambassador; and Erna Solberg, former prime minister of Norway, and will feature performances by Natasha Bedingfield, Chloe Flower, and Samara Joy. The Global Citizen Prize celebrates individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to achieving the United Nations Global Goals by keeping the world's poor at the forefront of their campaigns, and recognizes unsung activists who champion and elevate the most vulnerable in their local communities. This year, the Global Citizen Prize highlights activists across four categories: Climate Change, Civic Space, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Food Security. The recipients will receive a year-long programme of support from Global Citizen, together with a donation to their organization. Proud Global Partners of the Global Citizen Prize 2023 include Cisco, Citi and P&G. The Global Citizen Prize 2023 awardees are: Deja Foxx, activist and founder of GenZ Girl Gang, from the US, Ineza Umuhoza Grace, global coordinator and cofounder, Loss and Damage Youth Coalition, from Rwanda; Pashtana Durrani, social and political rights activist, executive director, LEARN Afghanistan, from Afghanistan; Wangari Kuria, founder and CEO of Farmer on Fire Ltd, from Kenya. Deja Foxx Ineza Umuhoza Grace Pashtana Durrani Wangari Kuria The Cisco Youth Leadership Award was established in 2018 by Cisco and Global Citizen to celebrate an individual aged between 18-30 who has contributed meaningfully towards the goal of ending extreme poverty in their community, through their leadership, dedication, and innovation. The prize winner will receive a $250,000 grant to their organisation to enable its continued growth. Candidates were judged, by a panel including representatives from Global Citizen, Cisco, esteemed activists and leaders in the international development field, against five equally-weighted criteria, including impact, vision, catalyst, global citizenship, and technology innovation. This years Cisco Youth Leadership Award recipient is Nkosana Butholenkosi Masuku, founder and CEO of Phenomtech-Sciency Learning, from Zimbabwe. A Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teacher working at a rural school, Masuku created Sciency Learning as a result of the lack of resources for teaching STEM in Zimbabwes rural communities. Sciency's objective is to provide low-cost STEM education to students across Zimbabwe in a bid to reduce dropout rates and advance STEM development across the country. Masuku is an alumnus of the Mandela Washington Fellowship and an award-winning entrepreneur. STEM education is critical for opening doors of opportunity, and Nkosanas vital work utilising innovative technology to offer STEM learning to rural schools across Zimbabwe is transformative,'' said Fran Katsoudas, EVP and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer of Cisco. Investing in education reaps a lifetime of benefits, not only for children but also for their communities. The work of young leaders like Nkosana is helping to usher in a more inclusive future by empowering youth in Africa and around the world to thrive in the digital economy. It is an honour to recognise these inspirational, young changemakers who are advancing the fight to end extreme poverty, said Liza Henshaw, president, Global Citizen. The world needs innovators who will courageously pursue positive change in their local communities, and inspire others to action through their ingenuity. For more information about the Global Citizen Prize: Citizen Award 2023, Cisco Youth Leadership Award, and Global Citizen NOW visit www.globalcitizen.org/prize and follow @GlblCtzn Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using #GlobalCitizen. South Africa needs to urgently fix energy, transport and security challenges if it is to reverse souring investor sentiment, executives said on Thursday, 13 April, as President Cyril Ramaphosa targets R2tn ($111bn) in new investments over the next five years. Source: Reuters. 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 2tn 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 chief executive officer 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, 13 April, Ramaphosa said the 1.2tn rand investment target announced in 2018 was exceeded, as pledges reached 1.51tn 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. In the case of Nehawu obo Matras v Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and Others, Mr Matras ('the employee') was employed by Mediclinic from 2006 until his dismissal in 2012. The employee informed his employer that he was ill by submitting a medical certificate ('sick note') issued by a general medical practitioner. He was absent from work from 1 - 3 June 2012. On the first day of his sick leave, the employee's supervisor informed him via SMS that she believed he was booked off sick to attend a family member's wedding. This suspicion emerged because of a conversation that the employee previously had with her. Upon the employee's return to work, the employer charged the employee with the following charge: "Very serious misconduct due to your dishonest behaviour in that you submitted a sick certificate to cover your absence for the period 01 June 2012 to 03 June 2012 at Mediclinic Potchefstroom. However, during this period you attended to private matters in the region of George." The employee was found guilty as charged and was dismissed following an internal disciplinary hearing held by the employer. The employee, dissatisfied with the outcome, referred the matter to the Commission of Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). The CCMA found the employee's dismissal to both be procedurally and substantively fair. The employee subsequently applied to the Labour Court to have the CCMA's award reviewed on the grounds that the Commissioner of the CCMA (the Commissioner) committed a gross irregularity by not applying her mind to the evidence before her, resulting in the decision not being one that a reasonable decision-maker could have reached. Onus is on... The employee contended that Mediclinic had no basis and/or reason to dispute that he was ill during the weekend of 1 - 3 June 2012, given that he had submitted a medical certificate to cover this period of absence. He alleged that the Mediclinic failed to call the medical practitioner who issued the sick note to him to dispute the recordal by the medical practitioner that he was too sick to work during this period. The employee's supervisor testified that she believed the employee had dishonestly informed the medical practitioner that he was ill. In considering the matter, the Labour Court stated that medical certificates constitute hearsay evidence of a person's incapacity, which must be dealt with as such. The onus to substantiate the medical certificate and call the medical practitioner in question as a witness rests on the employee and not the employer. The fact that the employee did not call the medical practitioner therefore meant that the probative value of the medical certificate was reduced. Conflicting versions The version of events tendered by the witnesses of the employer and the witnesses of the employee differed in material respects. The commissioner was therefore faced with two conflicting versions of evidence before her. The Labour Court held that the CCMA Guidelines on Misconduct Arbitrations provides that when analysing evidence, the evidence must be weighed up as a whole, taking into account factors such as the probability of the different versions and the reliability of witnesses. This approach is endorsed by our Courts. The Labour Court found that it was evident that the commissioner considered all the evidence as a whole and that she was intimately aware of her duties as an arbitrator and how she needed to approach the conflicting versions presented to her, as well as the hearsay and circumstantial evidence that she was required to analyse to come to her ultimate findings. The commissioner ultimately preferred the employer's version and found the employee's dismissal both substantially and procedurally fair. The Labour Court confirmed this decision, ruling that her finding was reasonable. Importance of the case Medical certificates constitute hearsay evidence of a person's incapacity. An employer is therefore entitled to interrogate the same, should it suspect that an employee is being dishonest about his or her illness. The onus to substantiate the medical certificate and call the medical practitioner as a witness rests on the employee and not the employer. The green movement has now permeated all facets of modern life, and the real estate sector, as one of the major carbon emitters, has had to prioritise and incorporate sustainability across its supply and value chain, from property management to construction, infrastructure, and technology. Mitesh Bhawan, MD of Broll Property Groups Energy, Water & Sustainability (Broll EWS) The green premium A green building is a structure developed to be environmentally friendly and resource-efficient throughout its lifecycle, from the building materials used during construction to its design, operation, and management. Both globally and domestically, there are various bodies, organisations, and indexes used to categorise, rate, and provide accreditation for green buildings such as the MSCI Global Green Building Index and the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA). As support for a net-zero future and reducing carbon emissions continue to swell, the prestige and financial value of green buildings rise. With companies increasingly reporting on their sustainability progress, owning or renting a green building is an important objective, often included as a key performance indicator for executive leadership. The green premium describes exactly this, the higher price to rent or buy buildings with certified sustainability credentials. For land owners, developing, selling, or leasing their green building can be financially lucrative as research indicates that green buildings enjoy higher occupancy, higher rents, and higher tenant retention. Importantly, this value is also shared among a green buildings tenants and occupants who, courtesy of an environmentally-friendly design, enjoy enhanced health and mental wellness through ideal working spaces and improved air and water quality - leading to higher productivity. Retrofitting and the role of effective building management In South Africa, although green real estate is growing, particularly in the private sector, overall it is still in the minority, which is a threat to the industry. The brown discount, which is the antithesis of the green premium, describes the depreciating value that the market places on buildings that fail to live up to current environmental standards. Public sector real-estate land owners such as municipalities and the government, who have numerous historical buildings and offices under their management, can mitigate against this threat through retrofitting. Retrofitting real estate involves changing a buildings systems and structures after its construction. Admittedly, this can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive process requiring specialised expertise, however, the alternative, which is burying ones head in the sand and doing nothing, is not an option. Managing consumption is critical to sustainability. South Africa is classified as a water-scarce country and given the continued difficulties at the national power utility, to survive in this milieu, we are forced to do more with less. In this current context, effective building management systems are essential to reducing utility costs and wastage. One of the first steps is to implement a smart meter programme to monitor the consumption of electricity and water. For example, by tracking and comparing a buildings activity and non-activity-based energy and water consumption, benchmarks can be developed, which can be later used to identify wastage, leaks, and other deficiencies that should be eliminated. In the worst instances, in some buildings, as much as 60% to 70% of its consumption occurs when no one is there, which is extremely inefficient and detrimental to the environment. Bridging the expertise and knowledge gap Sustainable and environmentally friendly practices within the built environment are still relatively new concepts and in developing economies like South Africa, there still exists a skills and knowledge deficit. Nevertheless, as regulations governing environmental, social, and corporate governance frameworks are steadily introduced, and financiers increasingly request information about an entity's carbon footprint, the industry will have to align with global best practices for its long-term prosperity. These are the reasons that drive South African corporates to opt for established real-estate advisory firms to provide consultancy services and effective building management so that they (the corporations) can focus on their core business processes. However, resource efficiency and demand management services can help companies and landowners of all sizes, including small and medium-sized enterprises. If our goal is a net-zero future defined by just inclusive growth, then sustainable development is the pathway along which we must travel, using the technology and expertise at our disposal, as the former prime minister of Norway, Gro Brundtland, explained, to address the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. On 14 February, the European Parliament approved the prohibition of all internal combustion automobiles by 2035, signifying a pivotal moment in the evolution of the worldwide automotive manufacturing sector. As South Africa's primary market for vehicle exports, this poses a significant risk - with more than 70% of the local industry's exports last year going to Europe. Although leading vehicle manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and BMW report being on track to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, for traditional OEMs (or original equipment manufacturers) like Ford, GM, Mercedes or Volkswagen; it's been a real challenge to fundamentally change their way of thinking about producing vehicles. This is according to Mark Lacey, head of resource equities at global asset manager Schroders, who explains that for these manufacturers the supply chain has fundamentally changed. As a traditional OEM, you now need a supply of rock commodities like lithium nickel. You also need to figure out the different architecture of moving away from ICE to electric vehicles. You have to really reimagine the way you think, and it costs billions and billions of dollars to make this transition, says Lacey. OEMs are being forced to adapt by the investment community The investment community has said they will not give any value for the old vehicle architecture that historically has been produced and they want these OEMs to produce EV vehicles. And the proof is in the valuations - you see the difference between the valuation for a company like Tesla versus Ford as an example, says Lacey. At the time of writing, Tesla ranked as the world's eighth most valuable company with a market capitalisation of $582.60bn according to companies market cap.com. Compare that with Ford, which makes many more cars, but is valued at just around $47bn . From the standpoint of the traditional OEMs, it has been a challenge. Companies like Tesla, for example, who were early and really had relatively no competition, have really benefited. And this really paints a big picture of where investors want these companies to go in order to take advantage of EV's growing market share, which has almost doubled over recent years, says Lacey. With pressure from both the regulatory and investor communities, international car manufacturers will have to adapt and as one of their suppliers, South Africa will need to follow suit and quickly. Yet the road will be a difficult one. One hurdle locally is regulatory constraints. In a thought leadership discussion document on new-energy vehicles (NEVs), released by Naamsa, SAs local automotive sector body, Naamsa, CEO Mikel Mabasa said that We need to urgently enhance existing auto policies to facilitate a high-yielding business environment, including developing an attractive fiscal and regulatory framework that makes South Africa a highly competitive and compelling location for NEV production. An EV arms race Additionally, and on a global scale, Lacey believes that an even bigger hurdle for manufacturers will be supply constraints. I'd say there's an arms race right now in building out not only EV platforms, but also managing this tricky supply chain. Given that automakers around the world have pledged an investment of a trillion dollars, I would say they are taking things very seriously. Battery longevity is a nut the industry is desperately trying to crack, but in the short term it's battery supply, which is the problem. Lacey says that last year, Carlos Tavarez, chief executive of Stellantis, one of the world's biggest car makers, warned of a looming crisis for the transition towards the electric vehicle. In particular, he said battery shortages could affect the industry as soon as 2025. There are three key materials for the production of batteries which go into EVs, lithium, nickel, and cobalt. All of these materials are in short supply and all have witnessed a relentless surge price over the last two years, albeit none as great as lithium. Lithium is the most sought after with its value having risen tenfold since the start of 2021. According to trading economics.com, demand is vastly outstripping supply. We believe the world will need five times the supply of lithium by 2030, says Lacey. Elon Musk once tweeted that lithium's everywhere. What MrMusk left out is that it takes about a decade for a new mine to come online given the long permitting processes. We believe that the world needs 40 additional mines to come online to meet demand by 2030, which is a massive undertaking. 40 mines might not sound like a lot, but today there's about 10 mines producing lithium of any meaning. With three of the largest mines producing nearly half of the world's lithium. In North America, which contains a meaningful amount of lithium reserves, there's currently only one mine, says Lacey. Locally, while South Africa lags African neighbours like Zimbabwe in terms of lithium reserves, Marula Mining recently reported that sales of lithium processed out of stockpiles at the Blesberg project in the Northern Cape are expected to commence this month. Additionally, South Africa has the worlds largest reserves of manganese. Manganese is another strategic mineral in the lithium-ion battery value chain. Co-operation within the African region will be critical in order for South Africa to develop on-shore lithium-ion cell manufacturing ability. A cat eats food provided by activists from the Korean Animal Welfare Association in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Tuesday, in an area damaged by a massive forest fire the previous day. Courtesy of Korean Animal Welfare Association Improved evacuation, shelter measures give animals better chances in disasters By Lee Hae-rin Improved animal evacuation and sheltering measures helped save the lives of companion animals during a giant wildfire that swept through Gangneung, Gangwon Province, on Monday, an animal rights group said, Friday. The Korean Animal Welfare Association (KAWA), a domestic animal rights group, conducted eight hours of field search and rescue operations in the eastern coastal city, Tuesday and told The Korea Times that harm to animals in the area was minimized. The fire, which broke out on Monday morning, destroyed about 379 hectares of mountainous land, damaging 40 homes, 28 pension resorts and three hotels, displacing over 1,000 people. The fire was extinguished in the evening, eight hours after the blaze began. "We talked to several local residents to understand the scale of damage and locate the animals in need of help," KAWA activist Choi Min-jung, who participated in Wednesday's rescue, told The Korea Times, Friday. "We were told that firefighters cut the leashes of dogs tied to their homes in order to allow them to escape while extinguishing the fire," Choi said, adding that her team has observed cut leashes in the area. A red leash, which had been used to tie up a dog in an area damaged by a giant forest fire in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, has been cut in this provided photo taken on April 12. Local residents said that firefighters cut leashes to let animals escape during the fire. Courtesy of Korean Animal Welfare Association Amid the mounds of ashes, companion animals, including cats and dogs wearing identification tags, were found wandering in the vicinity of their burned homes, fortunately without any major injuries. KAWA reported that three dogs were found dead one hit by a car after being cut free and two that were burned to death while still leashed while some farm animals, including goats and dozens of caged chickens, were found dead. A total of 10 companion animals, including nine pet dogs and a cat, were moved to a city-run animal shelter after the rescue operation and most of them have since been reunited with their owners, the group said. According to Choi, the city's emergency shelter was also operated in a more animal-friendly way compared to previous disasters. Some companion animals were allowed to stay with their displaced owners, raising awareness among townspeople of the need for emergency shelters that can take in animals. When the revised Animal Protection Act takes effect on April 27, companion animals will be able to stay with their owners in emergency shelters legally, the activist added. The measures come amid growing calls for animal evacuation and sheltering guidelines, after over 100 domestic and farm animals were left behind and found dead during giant wildfires in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province, in March last year. As Korea has been seeing a growing number of disasters, such as wildfires and floods, animal welfare advocates have been voicing the need for improved government preparations for animal protection during such emergencies. A dog found is given food and fresh water by activists from the Korean Animal Welfare Association in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Tuesday, the day after the area was struck by a wildfire. Courtesy of Korean Animal Welfare Association The world of intellectual property is undergoing a rapid transformation, and 2023 is gearing up to be an eventful year for the African continent. There are numerous exciting trends to watch, ranging from the continued ascent of personalisation and individualisation, using data collection and the responses thereto in the digital age, to the expanding use of artificial intelligence. Image source: Jakub Jirsak 123RF.com With this in mind, we review some of the high-impact intellectual property activities in Africa over the past year, especially those aimed at policy change and improving intellectual property rights protection across the continent. SA Copyright Act challenged The constitutionality of South Africa's Copyright Act was called into question in Blind SA v Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition and Others, as it does not permit organisations representing blind and visually impaired people to produce accessible format copies without the copyright owner's consent. The apex court of South Africa unanimously acknowledged the unequal access to literature for those with impairments and ruled that the legislation must be amended to remedy this unfair discrimination within 24 months of the judgement, all the while, eyes are still on the highly controversial Copyright Amendment Bill. The National Chamber of Provinces is presently conducting a consultation process on the Copyright Amendment Bill. Mozambique copyright legislation It appears Mozambique is one step ahead of South Africa regarding access to copyrighted works for disabled individuals. That is because Mozambique's Copyright Law 9/2022, which became effective on 26 September 2022, grants disabled individuals the right to access, create accessible forms of, and freely reproduce and distribute literary works (non-commercially) without the copyright owner's permission. The law is based on the principles of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. It provides an exclusive right for authors and copyright holders to reproduce and distribute their works, adapt, or transform them, and publicly perform and communicate them to the public. It also grants authors and copyright holders the ability to license their works to third parties and to obtain fair compensation for their use. The law also provides a collective management system of copyright, neighbouring rights, and collective rights management. Anti-counterfeiting developments Kenya's Anti-Counterfeiting Authority (ACA) has ordered that all intellectual property rights for imported goods (but not services) be registered with the ACA, by 1 January 2023. Now, in addition to registering IP rights with the local Trade Marks Office, IP rights must also be registered with the ACA. Not following the ACA's registration process is a crime that could lead to the seizure and detention of goods. If you own intellectual property and do business in Kenya, you should contact Spoor & Fisher to ensure you've taken steps to register your IP rights with the ACA, or your operations could be interrupted. Developments in Zambian trade mark law Zambia is on track to change its laws on trade marks significantly. The Trade Marks Bill 2022 aims to ensure the protection of geographical indications, service marks, collective marks, certification marks, and well-known marks. It will also include laws that give effect to the Madrid Protocol on the international registration of trade marks, the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, and the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. If they are passed, the new trade mark laws in Zambia will quickly change how brands are protected and how rights are enforced. Protection of geographical indications developments The focus on the protection of geographical indications is on the rise, allowing producers of products that meet the requirements for certification to gain international recognition and protection. In addition to the European Commission approving the registration, in 2021, of the designation Rooibos/Red Bush as the first protected geographical indication from Africa, two critical matters in Burkina Faso and Cameroon are also worthwhile mentioning. Early this year, the Sapone community in Burkina Faso was able to get the Sapone straw hat recognised as a protected geographical indicator - the first registration of its kind in Burkina Faso. The Sapone hat represents Burkinabe national pride and is a cultural icon. The European Commission registered Poivre de Penja in the European Union as a protected geographical indicator in March 2022, acknowledging the connection between the Poivre de Penja pepper and the Penja region of Cameroon. The soil specific to the Penja Valley is responsible for giving the pepper its distinctive flavour. Trade related to the highly sought-after Poivre de Penja peppers will boost the central African country's economy if it is protected internationally. Developments in patent law Africa saw extensive developments in patent law and practice, in 2022, with some developments signalling further changes for 2023 and beyond. Projects continue to create awareness of patent law, such as the WIPO Summer School, to improve the quality of administration systems and substantive examination, and to make better use of regional bodies. South African patent developments In South Africa, the number of patent cases that went to court remained steady, with several unreported judgements being issued. This is reassuring for patentees with valid patents, who are able to enforce their rights through the South African courts. Even though South Africa still has a non-examining patent system, our Courts have made it clear that patent applicants have the onus of ensuring that their patent applications are in valid form when they proceed to grant. Applicants are able to delay acceptance of the South African application, pending the outcomes of prosecution of corresponding applications in examining jurisdictions and then file voluntary pre-grant amendments to the claims of the South African application in light of any prior art known to them. The South African Patent Office is still in preparation for the introduction of substantive search and examination (SSE). The formal aspect of the patent examiners training was completed in June 2021 and the next step of training is ongoing. This is known as the experiential learning component, which is a practical, non-binding, voluntary and informal trial period for SSE. SSE can only officially be implemented once the current South African Patents Act and its regulations are amended to allow for the legislative framework required regulate SSE. A draft of the legislative amendments has not yet been published for public comment, and there is no indication yet as to when the draft will be published. Furthermore, the process of passing a Bill, and signing it into law by the South African president, is usually a lengthy process, meaning that the implementation of SSE appears may still be a few years away. Cape Verde joined the well-known and well-established African Regional Intellectual Property Office (Aripo) in January 2022. On 14 July 2022, Cape Verde joined Aripo by ratifying the Lusaka, Banjul and Harare Protocols, with membership effective as of 14 October 2022. So, you can protect your intellectual property in Cape Verde by designating that country in an Aripo application handled centrally at the Aripo office in Zimbabwe. With Cape Verde joining Aripo, there are now 22 states that are part of Aripo. Even though not all the member states have signed up to all the Aripo Protocols, and there are concerns about how well Aripo rights work in countries that haven't amended their laws to accommodate rights granted through Aripo, the growing number of members shows that the Aripo system is still an appealing system for obtaining protection in Africa. With effect from 6 July 2022, Cape Verde also joined the Madrid Protocol for the international registration of trade marks, the Paris Convention, and the Patent Cooperation Treaty. So, PCT patent applications filed after 6 July 2022 will designate Cape Verde, and priority applications filed in Cape Verde after that date will also be recognised for the purposes of PCT applications. Namibian developments Even though substantive patent examination has been part of Namibian law since August 2018 and has been implemented in practice by Aripo on behalf of the Namibian Patent Office, a memorandum signed in June 2022 has made it official. Again, this change doesn't have any direct practical effects, but it shows that the patent systems of African countries need to be developed and improved. TRIPS waiver The WTO's Covid-19 vaccine IP waiver proposal by India and South Africa remained a significant issue in 2022. On 17 June 2022, the WTO announced a relaxation of intellectual property restrictions on making and selling these vaccines for the next five years, subject to payment of adequate remuneration to the rights holders. The waiver does not yet cover diagnostics or treatments, but talks are ongoing in this area. Still, how the waiver will be applicable in the long run requires clarification, and patentees concerns about the partial enforceability of their patent rights remain. Overall, those seeking to protect their intellectual property rights in Africa, can be confident that reliable and effective systems are in place in key countries, to ensure that valid and enforceable rights can be obtained. The future of intellectual property in Africa appears alive and well, and 2023 will undoubtedly bring additional developments. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo listens during a virtual meeting with Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, CEO's and labor leaders called to discuss the importance of passing the Chips Act to bolster America's competitive edge at the White House, July 25, 2022. UPI-Yonhap By Baek Byung-yeul Samsung Electronics and other chip companies preparing to launch their manufacturing sites in the United States are increasingly concerned about potential negative impacts on national security due to the excessive subsidy application requirements of the CHIPS and Science Act announced by the U.S. government, including the potential risk of technology leaks, according to a think tank here, Friday. The Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI), a research center under the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), pointed out four major issues with the subsidy requirements of the CHIPS Act, recently announced by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which could hinder the plans of the chip companies to build chip-making factories there. The four issues are: allowing access to chip facilities in the newly built factories; sharing excessive profits with the U.S. government; submitting detailed accounting data with Washington and limiting the expansion of factories in China. "There are growing concerns that the excessive subsidy requirements of the CHIPS Act may have a serious impact on semiconductor companies in Korea that are actively investing in the U.S.," KERI said. "It is argued that the relaxation of the subsidy requirements through cooperation between Korea and the U.S. is necessary." On March 21, the U.S. Department of Commerce released such details of the proposed "guardrails" for the CHIPS for America Incentives Program, which involves $52 billion in funding, given to firms to build new chip-making facilities. At a time when President Yoon Suk Yeol is scheduled to visit the U.S., April 26, it remains to be seen whether the concerns of the chip industry here can be reflected during a summit with his U.S. counterpart, President Joe Biden. Among the four issues, KERI raised concerns over "allowing access to chip facilities could cause potential leakage of technology and trade secrets, directly impacting national security as this clause is similar to allowing access to national security agencies such as the Ministry of National Defense." Sharing excessive profit is also listed as a concern. This condition stipulates that chip companies receiving more than $150 million in subsidies must share up to 75 percent of the excess profits with the U.S. government. "This restricts a company's inherent goal of pursuing profits and may negatively impact the profitability of investments, as well as raise concerns about the potential leaking of trade secrets when providing data on projected cash flows and rates of return on investments," KERI said. Samsung Electronics' chip-manufacturing factory in Austin, Texas / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky together with senior government officials and thirty-five generals embezzled what the CIA estimates is "at least" $400 million in US aid funds meant to buy diesel fuel for the Ukrainian army, famed investigative journalist Seymour Hersh reports. Zelensky's entourage reportedly used the skimmed funds to buy Mercedes and Porsches and live lives of opulence. From Seymour Hersh, "Trading With The Enemy": The Ukraine government, headed by Volodymyr Zelensky, has been using American taxpayers' funds to pay dearly for the vitally needed diesel fuel that is keeping the Ukrainian army on the move in its war with Russia. It is unknown how much the Zelensky government is paying per gallon for the fuel, but the Pentagon was paying as much as $400 per gallon to transport gasoline from a port in Pakistan, via truck or parachute, into Afghanistan during the decades-long American war there. What also is unknown is that Zelensky has been buying the fuel from Russia, the country with which it, and Washington, are at war, and the Ukrainian president and many in his entourage have been skimming untold millions from the American dollars earmarked for diesel fuel payments. One estimate by analysts from the Central Intelligence Agency put the embezzled funds at $400 million last year, at least; another expert compared the level of corruption in Kiev as approaching that of the Afghan war, "although there will be no professional audit reports emerging from the Ukraine." "Zelensky's been buying discount diesel from the Russians," one knowledgeable American intelligence official told me. "And who's paying for the gas and oil? We are. Putin and his oligarchs are making millions" on it. Many government ministries in Kiev have been literally "competing," I was told, to set up front companies for export contracts for weapons and ammunition with private arms dealers around the world, all of which provide kickbacks. Many of those companies are in Poland and Czechia, but others are thought to exist in the Persian Gulf and Israel. "I wouldn't be surprised to learn that there are others in places like the Cayman Islands and Panama, and there are lots of Americans involved," an American expert on international trade told me. The issue of corruption was directly raised with Zelensky in a meeting last January in Kiev with CIA Director William Burns. His message to the Ukrainian president, I was told by an intelligence official with direct knowledge of the meeting, was out of a 1950s mob movie. The senior generals and government officials in Kiev were angry at what they saw as Zelensky's greed, so Burns told the Ukrainian president, because "he was taking a larger share of the skim money than was going to the generals." Burns also presented Zelensky with a list of thirty-five generals and senior officials whose corruption was known to the CIA and others in the American government. Zelensky responded to the American pressure ten days later by publicly dismissing ten of the most ostentatious officials on the list and doing little else. "The ten he got rid of were brazenly bragging about the money they had -- driving around Kiev in their new Mercedes," the intelligence official told me. According to The Eurasian Times, Hersh also reported the White House is preparing for the war to potentially be settled in months (Hersh's full story is behind a paywall): The official said that while the White House lacks clarity on its policy in Ukraine, the Pentagon is somewhat optimistically preparing for an end to the conflict. Two months ago, the US Joint Chiefs tasked members of the staff with drafting an end-of-war treaty to present to the Russians "after their defeat on the Ukraine battlefield," Hersh said, citing a source. But it remains unclear what will happen if the Pentagon's scenario goes wrong and Ukrainian forces fail on the battlefield: Will the two American brigades deployed close to the war zone "join forces with NATO troops and face off with the Russian army inside Ukraine?" Hersh asks. Hersh also reported there's a rift between the US intelligence community and the White House over the bombing of the Nord Stream pipelines and Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan mismanaging the broader Ukraine conflict. From The Eurasian Times: 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 Russia's 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. Zelensky's firing of several top officials earlier this year has been clouded in mystery up to this point. Reuters reported on a few details which came out in January: Deputy Defence Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov tendered his resignation after a local media report accused the ministry of paying inflated prices for food supplies, an old trick used by corrupt officials to skim off money. Reuters continued: Zelenskiy's office said it had accepted the resignation of Kyrylo Tymoshenko, 33, as its deputy head. He gave no reason. Tymoshenko worked on Zelenskiy's election campaign and had been in his post since 2019, overseeing the regions and regional policies. He had been criticised by local media for driving flashy cars during the invasion, though he denied wrongdoing and said the vehicles had been rented. Tymoshenko was exposed last year by a citizen journalist who photographed him driving around in a new 2021 Porsche Taycan: Before the media decided to turn Zelensky into the world's great leader and anoint him The Person of the Year, Zelensky was exposed by the Pandora Papers leak for having hid tens of millions of dollars in offshore bank accounts given to him from the billions of dollars corrupt Jewish-Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky had looted from Ukraine. Despite Ukraine being rich with natural resources and "the breadbasket of Europe," Ukrainians are the poorest people in all of Europe thanks to corrupt rulers like Zelensky and Kolomoisky bleeding their country dry. Follow InformationLiberation on Twitter, Facebook, Gab, Minds and Telegram. Were not living the American dream. Were living a financial nightmare. The U.S. government is funding its existence with a credit card. The governmentand that includes the current administrationis spending money it doesnt have on programs it cant afford, and we the taxpayers are the ones being forced to foot the bill for the governments fiscal insanity. According to the number crunchers with the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the government is borrowing roughly $6 billion a day. As the Editorial Board for the Washington Post warns: The nation has reached a hazardous moment where what it owes, as a percentage of the total size of the economy, is the highest since World War II. If nothing changes, the United States will soon be in an uncharted scenario that weakens its national security, imperils its ability to invest in the future, unfairly burdens generations to come, and will require cuts to critical programs such as Social Security and Medicare. It is not a future anyone wants. Lets talk numbers, shall we? The national debt (the amount the federal government has borrowed over the years and must pay back) is $31 trillion and will grow another $19 trillion by 2033. That translates to roughly $246,000 per taxpayer or $94,000 for every single person in the country. The bulk of that debt has been amassed over the past two decades, thanks in large part to the fiscal shenanigans of four presidents, 10 sessions of Congress and two wars. Its estimated that the amount this country owes is now 130% greater than its gross domestic product (all the products and services produced in one year by labor and property supplied by the citizens). In other words, the government is spending more than it brings in. The U.S. ranks as the 12th most indebted nation in the world, with much of that debt owed to the Federal Reserve, large investment funds and foreign governments, namely, Japan and China. Interest payments on the national debt are estimated to top $395 billion this year, which is significantly more than the government spends on veterans benefits and services, and according to Pew Research Center, more than it will spend on elementary and secondary education, disaster relief, agriculture, science and space programs, foreign aid, and natural resources and environmental protection combined. According to the Committee for a Reasonable Federal Budget, the interest weve paid on this borrowed money is nearly twice what the federal government will spend on transportation infrastructure, over four times as much as it will spend on K-12 education, almost four times what it will spend on housing, and over eight times what it will spend on science, space, and technology. In ten years, those interest payments will exceed our entire military budget. This is financial tyranny. Weve been sold a bill of goods by politicians promising to pay down the national debt, jumpstart the economy, rebuild our infrastructure, secure our borders, ensure our security, and make us all healthy, wealthy and happy. None of that has come to pass, and yet were still being loaded down with debt not of our own making while the government remains unrepentant, unfazed and undeterred in its wanton spending. Indeed, the national deficit (the difference between what the government spends and the revenue it takes in) remains at more than $1.5 trillion. If Americans managed their personal finances the way the government mismanages the nations finances, wed all be in debtors prison by now. Despite the government propaganda being peddled by the politicians and news media, however, the government isnt spending our tax dollars to make our lives better. Were being robbed blind so the governmental elite can get richer. In the eyes of the government, we the people, the voters, the consumers, and the taxpayers are little more than pocketbooks waiting to be picked. We the people have become the new, permanent underclass in America. Consider: The government can seize your home and your car (which youve bought and paid for) over nonpayment of taxes. Government agents can freeze and seize your bank accounts and other valuables if they merely suspect wrongdoing. And the IRS insists on getting the first cut of your salary to pay for government programs over which you have no say. We have no real say in how the government runs, or how our taxpayer funds are used, but were being forced to pay through the nose, anyhow. We have no real say, but that doesnt prevent the government from fleecing us at every turn and forcing us to pay for endless wars that do more to fund the military industrial complex than protect us, pork barrel projects that produce little to nothing, and a police state that serves only to imprison us within its walls. If you have no choice, no voice, and no real options when it comes to the governments claims on your property and your money, youre not free. It wasnt always this way, of course. Early Americans went to war over the inalienable rights described by philosopher John Locke as the natural rights of life, liberty and property. It didnt take long, howevera hundred years, in factbefore the American government was laying claim to the citizenrys property by levying taxes to pay for the Civil War. As the New York Times reports, Widespread resistance led to its repeal in 1872. Determined to claim some of the citizenrys wealth for its own uses, the government reinstituted the income tax in 1894. Charles Pollock challenged the tax as unconstitutional, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in his favor. Pollocks victory was relatively short-lived. Members of Congressunited in their determination to tax the American peoples incomeworked together to adopt a constitutional amendment to overrule the Pollock decision. On the eve of World War I, in 1913, Congress instituted a permanent income tax by way of the 16th Amendment to the Constitution and the Revenue Act of 1913. Under the Revenue Act, individuals with income exceeding $3,000 could be taxed starting at 1% up to 7% for incomes exceeding $500,000. Its all gone downhill from there. Unsurprisingly, the government has used its tax powers to advance its own imperialistic agendas and the courts have repeatedly upheld the governments power to penalize or jail those who refused to pay their taxes. While were struggling to get by, and making tough decisions about how to spend what little money actually makes it into our pockets after the federal, state and local governments take their share (this doesnt include the stealth taxes imposed through tolls, fines and other fiscal penalties), the government continues to do whatever it likeslevy taxes, rack up debt, spend outrageously and irresponsiblywith little thought for the plight of its citizens. To top it all off, all of those wars the U.S. is so eager to fight abroad are being waged with borrowed funds. As The Atlantic reports, U.S. leaders are essentially bankrolling the wars with debt, in the form of purchases of U.S. Treasury bonds by U.S.-based entities like pension funds and state and local governments, and by countries like China and Japan. Of course, were the ones who have to repay that borrowed debt. For instance, American taxpayers have been forced to shell out more than $5.6 trillion since 9/11 for the military industrial complexs costly, endless so-called war on terrorism. That translates to roughly $23,000 per taxpayer to wage wars abroad, occupy foreign countries, provide financial aid to foreign allies, and fill the pockets of defense contractors and grease the hands of corrupt foreign dignitaries. Mind you, thats only a portion of what the Pentagon spends on Americas military empire. The United States also spends more on foreign aid than any other nation, with nearly $300 billion disbursed over a five-year period. More than 150 countries around the world receive U.S. taxpayer-funded assistance, with most of the funds going to the Middle East, Africa and Asia. That price tag keeps growing, too. As Forbes reports, U.S. foreign aid dwarfs the federal funds spent by 48 out of 50 state governments annually. Only the state governments of California and New York spent more federal funds than what the U.S. sent abroad each year to foreign countries. Most recently, the U.S. has allocated nearly $115 billion in emergency military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine since the start of the Russia invasion. As Dwight D. Eisenhower warned in a 1953 speech, this is how the military industrial complex continues to get richer, while the American taxpayer is forced to pay for programs that do little to enhance our lives, ensure our happiness and well-being, or secure our freedoms. This is no way of life. Yet its not just the governments endless wars that are bleeding us dry. Were also being forced to shell out money for surveillance systems to track our movements, money to further militarize our already militarized police, money to allow the government to raid our homes and bank accounts, money to fund schools where our kids learn nothing about freedom and everything about how to comply, and on and on. There was a time in our history when our forebears said enough is enough and stopped paying their taxes to what they considered an illegitimate government. They stood their ground and refused to support a system that was slowly choking out any attempts at self-governance, and which refused to be held accountable for its crimes against the people. Their resistance sowed the seeds for the revolution that would follow. Unfortunately, in the 200-plus years since we established our own government, weve let bankers, turncoats and number-crunching bureaucrats muddy the waters and pilfer the accounts to such an extent that were back where we started. Once again, weve got a despotic regime with an imperial ruler doing as they please. Once again, weve got a judicial system insisting we have no rights under a government which demands that the people march in lockstep with its dictates. And once again, weve got to decide whether well keep marching or break stride and make a turn toward freedom. But what if we didnt just pull out our pocketbooks and pony up to the federal governments outrageous demands for more money? What if we didnt just dutifully line up to drop our hard-earned dollars into the collection bucket, no questions asked about how it will be spent? What if, instead of quietly sending in our tax checks, hoping vainly for some meager return, we did a little calculating of our own and started deducting from our taxes those programs that we refuse to support? As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, if we dont have the right to decide what happens to our hard-earned cash, then we dont have any rights at all. Source: https://bit.ly/3GwhNtR ABOUT JOHN W. WHITEHEAD Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute. His most recent books are the best-selling Battlefield America: The War on the American People, the award-winning A Government of Wolves: The Emerging American Police State, and a debut dystopian fiction novel, The Erik Blair Diaries. Whitehead can be contacted at staff@rutherford.org. Nisha Whitehead is the Executive Director of The Rutherford Institute. Information about The Rutherford Institute is available at www.rutherford.org. Publication Guidelines / Reprint Permission John W. Whiteheads weekly commentaries are available for publication to newspapers and web publications at no charge. Please contact staff@rutherford.org to obtain reprint permission. The CDC has partnered with a Social and Behavior Change initiative to address vaccine hesitancy, while Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, a Stanford-educated ear, nose, and throat doctor, was cancelled due to the efforts of accounts like Team Halo. Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, a Stanford-educated ear, nose, and throat doctor, isnt afraid to voice her beliefs. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she repeatedly used her platform on Twitter and TikTok to question the vaccines, promote ivermectin as a treatment, and call out pharmacists for refusing to dispense it. But her efforts resulted in significant backlash. On Nov. 7, 2021, Dr. Danielle Jones, an OBGYN who posts under the handle @MamaDoctorJones on YouTube, TikTok, and Twitterand has millions of followersput out a video accusing Bowden of grifting, rejecting science, and profiting from those who questioned the vaccine. The video received thousands of comments, including from Team Halo members, Dr. Zachary Rubin, a pediatrician, and Christina Kim, an oncology nurse practitioner. Team Halo is a social media influencer campaign formed as part of the United Nations Verified initiative and the Vaccine Confidence Project to increase vaccine uptake. That doc is problematic, Rubin wrote. Kim followed with, Wow. That doctor should have her license revoked. The logos of Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat on mobile devices in a combination of 20172022 photos. (AP Photo) On Nov. 12, 2021, five days after the video, Bowden received a text message from the Houston Chronicle, Hi Dr. Bowden, Im told youve been suspended from Houston Methodist pending further investigation because of your comments on social media. I plan to report that this afternoon but wanted to give you an opportunity to comment. Stunned, Bowden responded that the text was the first she had heard of the suspension. The suspension turned out to be the tip of the iceberg. Over the following months, Bowdens life was thrown into chaos as multiple social media influencers targeted her. However, the most dogged was a pharmacist named Savannah, who posts under the handle @rxOrcist. Savannah has over a million followers. She made a video about me because I have been calling out, online, pharmacists that were refusing to dispense ivermectin, Bowden told The Epoch Times. The majority of them happen to be Asian. So, she, therefore, concluded that I was racist against Asians and called me a xenophobic, racist [expletive], among other things. Because she has so many followers, when she makes a video about you, you get an army of people coming after you. A lot of fake people [writing] reviews. Thats one of the biggest things. You cant get them removed. Ive tried to get them removed, and I can prove that theyre not my patients. Bowden added that shed been kicked off of TikTok, is on probation on YouTube, had complaints filed against her, and has even had to call security when someone came to her office and threatened her. After a recent interview with Dr. Naomi Wolf, attorney Tom Renz revealed that mRNA gene therapy will soon be introduced into the food supply, allowing people to consume their vaccines. You can read more about this topic here. GreatGameIndia is being actively targeted by powerful forces who do not wish us to survive. Your contribution, however small help us keep afloat. We accept voluntary payment for the content available for free on this website via UPI, PayPal and Bitcoin. 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/ The Whole Foods Market at Eighth and Market streets is reportedly shutting down this week due to concerns about safety. The company said: We are closing our Trinity location only for the time being. If we feel we can ensure the safety of our team members in the store, we will evaluate a reopening of our Trinity location. A report from the San Francisco Standard said that "deteriorating street conditions around drug use and crime near the grocery store" are the reasons it is closing. The location had already cut its hours as of October last year, due to "high theft" and "hostile visitors", the report says. Syringes and pipes were found in the restroom last year, prompting the store to also implement new bathroom rules around November 2022. "They just barely opened up, one nearby neighbor told The Standard. Ive seen security run into the store real quick before, like, something happened. Supervisor Matt Dorsey said on Twitter: "Im incredibly disappointed but sadly unsurprised by the temporary closure of Mid-Markets Whole Foods. 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 responded with a call to - you guessed it - fund the police: "Today, Im waiving privilege to publicly announce a drafting request Im working on with @Stefani4CA for a Charter Amendment entitled the San Francisco Police Department Full Staffing Act, which will get San Francisco to a fully staffed police department within 5 years." Im incredibly disappointed but sadly unsurprised by the temporary closure of Mid-Markets Whole Foods. (1/7) https://t.co/lthpC90xTL Matt Dorsey (@mattdorsey) April 10, 2023 Recall earlier this year we wrote about Target exiting from downtown Philadelphia for similar safety concerns. They followed in the footsteps of Wawa, who we noted last year had enough of Philadelphia's crime and also picked up and left shop at several locations in Center City. Whole Foods follows the lead of companies like Walgreens, who have also shuttered business in San Francisco. Be careful what you wish for, because currencies are not abstractions we ponder, they are commodities that serve real-world functions that place demands on the currency as a mechanism of trade, trust, value and risk. The current telling of the story of de-dollarization--the replacement of the US dollar as the global economy's primary reserve currency with a new BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) funded reserve currency--depicts the loss of the reserve currency as a catastrophe that will crush America. As delightful as this prospect may be to various audiences, once we shift from considering a reserve currency as an abstraction to a mechanism of trade and finance, then another outcome takes shape: supporting a reserve currency is a burden, and lifting that burden from the US will benefit the US and hurt mercantilist exporting nations. As a bonus, it will also shift the burden of supporting a reserve currency to the BRIC participants, who will then have to do what the US has done for decades: 1. Export their new reserve currency in size by running vast, sustained trade deficits, for the only way a reserve currency can function is there is sufficient quantities of it floating around as a transparently traded, market-priced commodity to grease trade and finance. 2. Become the dumping ground for the world's surplus production of goods and services as the means to run the vast, sustained trade deficits that are the other side of exporting currency so others can use it in global trade. Many commentators such as Mish Shedlock and Michael Pettis have explained these mechanisms of reserve currencies and pointed out that being relieved of the burden of supporting the primary reserve currency would be a great long-term benefit to the US. I have written about Triffin's Paradox for many years, the reality that no currency can serve both the domestic economy and the global economy (i.e. be a reserve currency) as issuing a reserve currency demands running trade deficits as a means of exporting trillions of units of the currency for use by others. Understanding the "Exorbitant Privilege" of the U.S. Dollar (November 19, 2012) What Will Benefit from Global Recession? The U.S. Dollar (October 9, 2012) In a similar fashion, proponents of a gold-backed currency view such a currency as an abstraction without considering the actual mechanics of backing a currency with a tangible commodity. The currency isn't actually "backed" by the commodity unless it can be converted into the commodity upon demand. A currency is only "backed by gold" if there is a conversion mechanism in which the holder of the currency can trade the currency for the equivalent quantity of gold. This is the only mechanism that counts. Waving around the phrase "backed by gold" doesn't turn a fiat currency backed by nothing tangible into a currency backed by gold unless that currency can be converted into gold upon demand. Contrarian Thoughts on the Petro-Yuan and Gold-Backed Currencies (January 19, 2023) You Want Truly "Sound Money"? A Thought Experiment (January 24, 2023) So let's think this through a bit rather than expound on abstractions. Let's say the US loses its reserve status; nobody wants the USD any more and so nobody will trade goods and services for dollars. That means the US can only import as much as it exports, i.e. a trade balance. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the US exports about $3 trillion of goods and services and imports about $4 trillion. So once surplus imports can no longer be purchased with dollars, that surplus $1 trillion in sales to mercantilist economies like China vanishes. Globalists love to weep and gnash their teeth over the fact that costs of goods made in the US will be higher than in sweatshops overseas. But globalists never consider quality, which has been declining since globalization took the world by the throat. Let's do the math: a poorly made imported item that only lasts a year before it must be replaced costs $25. This item costs $50 when manufactured in the US. Oh, boo-hoo, right? Not so fast. If the domestically produced item lasts 5 years, the total cost over 5 years is $50. The total cost of the shoddy imported item is 5 X $25 or $125. The domestic product is much, much cheaper once we expand the time frame to the entire lifetime of the product. Stainless Steal (February 26, 2023) Who's going to be crying real tears of anguish are all the mercantilist economies that have dumped their surplus production in the US for decades, as there is no alternative economy large enough to absorb the $1 trillion in (mostly shoddy) goods and services that the US will no longer buy. The issuers of the new reserve currency will have to run massive, sustained trade deficits to export enough of their new currency to meet the demands of a reserve currency and they'll have to let the price of the new currency float freely on global markets, or it cannot be trusted to retain its value--a key attribute of a reserve currency. If this new reserve currency is "backed by gold," then nations that pile up the new currency in trade must be able to demand gold in exchange for the currency, as France demanded (and received) gold in exchange for its surplus US dollars in 1971. If the currency can't be converted into gold, it's not a gold-backed currency. It's only backed by, well, nothing, just like all the other fiat currencies. Actually, fiat currencies are backed by something: interest-paying bonds. The higher the interest and the lower the risk profile of the bonds, the greater demand for that currency above others with riskier profiles and lower rates of return on the bonds. This leads to an irony: the US dollar will become much more valuable once it is no longer a reserve currency as it will no longer be exported in vast quantities. US dollars will be scarce and will thus increase in value. Personally, I'm in favor of competition in currencies--the more the merrier. The more options available on a transparent global market where all currencies are floating freely on market supply and demand, the better for everyone. But be careful what you wish for, because currencies are not abstractions we ponder, they are commodities that serve real-world functions that place demands on the currency as a mechanism of trade, trust, value and risk. Thank you, all who responded so generously to my rattling of the begging bowl this past weekend. I am honored and humbled by your support and encouragement. New Podcast: Turmoil Ahead As We Enter The New Era Of 'Scarcity' (53 min) My new book is now available at a 10% discount ($8.95 ebook, $18 print): Self-Reliance in the 21st Century. Read the first chapter for free (PDF) Read excerpts of all three chapters Podcast with Richard Bonugli: Self Reliance in the 21st Century (43 min) My recent books: The Asian Heroine Who Seduced Me (Novel) print $10.95, Kindle $6.95 Read an excerpt for free (PDF) When You Can't Go On: Burnout, Reckoning and Renewal $18 print, $8.95 Kindle ebook; audiobook Read the first section for free (PDF) Global Crisis, National Renewal: A (Revolutionary) Grand Strategy for the United States (Kindle $9.95, print $24, audiobook) Read Chapter One for free (PDF). A Hacker's Teleology: Sharing the Wealth of Our Shrinking Planet (Kindle $8.95, print $20, audiobook $17.46) Read the first section for free (PDF). Will You Be Richer or Poorer?: Profit, Power, and AI in a Traumatized World (Kindle $5, print $10, audiobook) Read the first section for free (PDF). The Adventures of the Consulting Philosopher: The Disappearance of Drake (Novel) $4.95 Kindle, $10.95 print); read the first chapters for free (PDF) Money and Work Unchained $6.95 Kindle, $15 print) Read the first section for free Become a $1/month patron of my work via patreon.com. Im a Genius: I Fooled Timothy Snyder 14. 4. 2023 / Muriel Blaive cas cteni 15 minut Leszek Koakowski ironically entitled his answer to a 100-page open letter addressed to him by historian E.P. Thompson My correct views on everything. Thompsons accusations were so tedious that Kolakowski limited himself to a few points. So will I with Vodrazkas Open letter to Timothy Snyder, a letter which concerns me personally since Vodrazka claims that I manipulated Tim Snyder into signing the petition that the great Pavel Karous set up on my behalf after I was fired by USTR. Vodrazka apparently sees no contradiction in Timothy Snyder being an international authority on Putins propaganda war, but being easily fooled by insignificant Muriel Blaive. Fortunately, as we say in French, absurdity never killed anyone. Vodrazka uses a modernized version of Stalinist propaganda Vodrazka uses the same rhetorical device as a Stalinist propagandist. The principle is simple: use a basis of truth and thereby of credibility, then finish the sentence with your own twisted interpretation as if it were a logical outcome. Bohuslav Snajder called this the manipulation formula (formulirovka) in his theoretical model of how the accused at the Slansky trial were made to confess: Let's say you told a foreign journalist while walking through Prague that Charles Bridge is the oldest bridge in Central Europe. The formula would look like this: - Did you provide a foreign citizen with information about bridges? - Yes, but... - Just answer yes or no. Are the bridges important for national defense? - Yes. - Would the enemy bomb the bridges in case of war? - Yes. - Is it probable that children in densely populated neighborhoods would be killed by such bombing? - Yes. - 'You are a traitor, then, and you have divulged information important to the defense of the state. In addition, you've ordered the deaths of our children. You are a murderer, the newspapers would write. (Bohuslav Snajder, The Trial of Twelve Million People, Prague, Delta (Tvorba 3/90), p. 46) I have refrained in the past ten years from answering Vodrazkas risible and repeated twisted analyses of my writings because, as opposed to what he seems to think, I have deep sympathy for what he went through under communism, and I respect and praise his sincere if amateurish wishes to be a social scientist. Its surely not his fault that he was prevented from studying and he was sadly too old after 1989 to start from scratch. I also find his self-professed dual gender identity touching and he is, in my opinion, courageous to make a public statement of it. But even my empathy has its limits. It is one thing to be ignorant, it is quite another to be pretentious. I have cringed long enough at his misappropriation of French social scientists and philosophers. I appreciate that he loves them, but he also completely misunderstands them. I defy anyone among his supporters, when he launches into one of his extemporaneous excursions, to find actionable meaning in his gibberish. Let us take an example of obscure statements in this Open letter: "The French sociologist of memory Maurice Halbwachs or the German religious scholar Jan Assmann rightly point out that history cannot be reduced to 'social constructs.' Moreover, historiography as writing about the past is not the only kind of history. History must be not only a field of interdisciplinarity, but above all a respected sphere of the unalienated historical memory of people and places and of an unleveled ontology. Just as, according to the French historian Vidal-Naquet, the Shoah is not just a collection of narratives, so the historical truth about the communist regime cannot be just a 'social construct.'" For someone who is unfamiliar with Maurice Halbwachs, Pierre Vidal-Naquet, social construction, or ontology, I suppose this paragraph looks erudite, if incomprehensible. Let us, however, deconstruct it sentence by sentence: The French sociologist of memory Maurice Halbwachs or the German religious scholar Jan Assmann rightly point out that history cannot be reduced to 'social constructs.' The opposite is true: Halbwachs argues that history is inherently a social construct, shaped and interpreted by social groups and their collective memories. As to Assmann, he argues that history is not simply a collection of factual events but a complex interplay between collective memory and cultural frameworks. Assmann posits that history is constructed through cultural processes. Unperturbed by this major misinterpretation, Vodrazka continues: Moreover, historiography as writing about the past is not the only kind of history. Who has ever claimed it was? If it were, the millions of volumes on social history, political history, economic history, cultural history, intellectual history, etc., would have been written in vain. History must be not only a field of interdisciplinarity, but above all a respected sphere of the unalienated historical memory of people and places and of an unleveled ontology. Who could ever claim that history should not respect peoples memory? As to what Vodrazka means by history as a leveled ontology I am not entirely sure, but I think it is a particularly grandiose way of saying that history can be subdivided into periods (Middle-Age, modern, etc.), and by disciplines (political, social, economic, cultural, etc.) which is, well, bloody obvious. Just as, according to the French historian Vidal-Naquet, the Shoah is not just a collection of narratives, so the historical truth about the communist regime cannot be just a 'social construct. In just one sentence, Vodrazka accomplishes the feat to combine another major misinterpretation with a shameless political appropriation. Pierre Vidal-Naquet never used the term of historical truth, in fact he protested against authorities who try to define what a fantasized historical truth should be. History is also for Vidal-Naquet, of course, a social construct. He even emphasized that historical sources are not neutral but are often biased and selective, reflecting the perspectives of those who produced them (hence the absurdity of attributing to him any belief in historical truth.) And finally, to introduce the Shoah here is to hint at a form of equality between Nazism and communism, of course also implying that my alleged denial of communist repression is equal to any infamous denial of the Holocaust introducing in turn a normative dimension in place of an actual historical argument. Needless to say, I have denied neither the Holocaust nor communist repression. On the other hand, Vodrazka would greatly benefit from listening to Tim Snyders masterclass on Putins propaganda and historical denial, which he held recently in front of the UN Security Council. To see more generally Vodrazka quote Pierre Nora, Maurice Halbwachs, Pierre Vidal-Naquet, Michel Foucault, Emmanuel Levinas and other left-wing intellectuals in support of his anticommunist theses, to see him worship right- or left-wing French critics of communism such as Stephane Courtois or Claude Lefort without understanding the context, i.e. that they themselves were once communist believers and hence are primarily settling accounts with their French colleagues and friends and perhaps even with their younger selves, is to fundamentally misunderstand and misinterpret the context. French social sciences are primarily predicated on criticizing the injustice of Western societies. To pretend otherwise and to use them in support of anticommunist theses is as incongruous as if Vodrazka took random sentences out of Petr Uhls writings to illustrate the thoughts of Vaclav Klaus. Mirek Vodrazka is not the only one to have bodily experiences As empathetic as I might be to Vodrazkas bodily experiences, provided it is true he was submitted to potentially fatal insulin shocks (I have no way of asserting if this anecdote is real, but it certainly is chilling), I have my own. I will touch upon them here, not because I confuse them with a historical argument (as opposed to him), but because Vodrazkas taking circumstances out of context is particularly misleading in this case. I did write to my then bosses, Zdenek Hazdra and Ondrej Matejka, a mail in February 2015 that became infamous after I sent it by accident to the whole institute (reply all instead of reply), recommending to fire Petr Blazek if he really was to criticize every single measure they took. He had indeed annoyed them yet again, at a time when they were trying to recruit a foreign historian to strengthen the international profile of the war studies department. He interfered, with his customary toxicity, by denigrating the achievements of the historian in question. I was rolling my eyes at his shenanigans he already systematically sabotaged the methodological seminar I organized by seizing the microphone and embarking onto endless lectures after each presentation, of which it invariably came out that no matter the topic, he was a much better specialist of it than the invited guest. This usually caused consternation or at least embarrassment amongst these speakers, except for the regretted Michael Shafir from Radio Free Europe, who had experienced the Romanian communist dictatorship and who remained utterly impervious to such intimidation attempts. Shafir openly laughed that compared to Romania, communism in Czechoslovakia had been no more unpleasant than a bad marriage, to the indignation of many of my USTR colleagues but also to the great amusement of my students, who happened to be visiting the institute that day. I should add that after my mail recommending the dismissal of Blazek went public, I received not little private support on the part of other USTR colleagues, who confessed to me they found him unbearable, too, even though they didnt dare to say it in public. To come back to bodily experiences, the reason I made this confusion (reply all instead of reply) is because I was lying in hospital after my second eight-hour surgery in a month, one which took this time a big part of my liver, and I was heavily drugged. I had been recently diagnosed with stage four melanoma and was in a deep emotional and physical turmoil, fully expecting to die before summer, a perspective that I found difficult to reconcile with the fact that my children were still young. When I collected enough strength to go back to the Institute in April after months of convalescence, the first person I actually met in the lift was Petr Blazek, who looked down upon me and uttered these inimitable words: So, youre not dead yet? I reassured him I would be soon, as even his two companions cringed with embarrassment. As for myself, I developed such a headache after this encounter that I had to go back to the emergency room the next day it turned out I now had two brain tumors. I tell this anecdote in order to replace Vodrazkas mean implication that the methodological seminar I led at USTR ended after four months due to its mediocrity in its proper context. First of all, this is factually wrong: it ended after the third semester; and second, it ended only because I was not in a physical state anymore to lead it and no one else at the institute should be expected to be on the receiving end of this type of abuse. How I got to know Tim Snyder Neither Mirek Vodrazka nor many of his anticommunist colleagues who vegetate in a Czecho-Czech milieu apparently understand that science is not decided at the pub around a beer. Precisely because there is no such thing as historical truth, but social sciences are a constant debate evolving with new approaches and new sources, to be part of the international community of scientists is crucial to our work. In 2004 I received a Junior Fellowship on history and memory granted by the Institut fur die Wissenschaften vom Menschen in Vienna. I was so excited by the intellectual atmosphere of the IWM community that I remained a frequent visitor in 2005 and made many new friends amongst an exceptional cohort of fellows. Among others, I met historian Astrid Swenson, who hosted me countless times in the following decades when I went on reading orgies at the British Library in London and who is now inviting me to a conference in Germany this June this is how scientific bonds are created and kept up. I also met historian Benjamin Frommer and his wife Martina Kerlova, as well as historians Marci Shore and Timothy Snyder. We all have kept in touch and have joyfully followed the growth of our respective families, all the more so that the Snyders have made long and frequent stays in Vienna and have hosted countless lunches and dinners for friends, while my son has also stayed with them in the US. But we also all regularly meet at international conferences, notably the Association for the Study of Nationalities in New York every spring, where I have organized again a panel this year with Marci Shore, and at the Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies in the US every fall. It is insulting on the part of Vodrazka to imagine that Tim Snyder could have signed the petition on my behalf only on the basis of mis- or disinformation on behalf of someone he could not possibly know. But it is also, alas and mainly, a sign of Vodrazkas parochialism. Science is the result of a collective effort, of debates, confrontations, and controversies. It requires participation, which in turn requires not only bona fide academic credentials and appropriate linguistic abilities, but the privilege of a professional position that allows one to travel. In other words, we cannot improvise ourselves social scientists without a considerable investment in scientific networking. National and international conferences, as well as research grants or teaching appointments abroad, are an integral part of historical work. Academic history, too, is, to some extent, a social negotiation amongst peers between what is convincing, what is acceptable, and what is new. This habitus distinguishes the likes of Michal Pullmann, Michal Kopecek or Matej Spurny from Mirek Vodrazka, Ladislav Kudrna, and Petr Blazek with a much greater degree of certainty than any self-professed political or ideological affiliation ever would. History is a profession, not a religious faith or a hobby. When one, like director Kudrna, is not even present in the Web of Science database (the H-index that I described in a previous article), it is not an insignificant coincidence but the sure sign that he is not a recognized professional which we already knew, insofar as he was designated a plagiarizer by the former Scientific Advisory Board. A last salvo of hypocrisy In a last manipulation feat, Vodrazka concludes his letter to Tim Snyder on a description of the current, sad state of USTRs original building: Nothing can better tell the story of USTR than the pictures presented here, he writes, together with pictures of the building before reconstruction started vs. today. This is meant to show the gradual physical destruction of the building in the period 2013-2021, when it was without institutional protection and when the previous management of USTR brought it to a physically irreversible state of demolition, so that the destruction is being assessed by the financial authorities and the Police of the Czech Republic. What does this have to do with me, and especially with my being fired from USTR in October 2022? I was involved in the institutes research policy, not in any shape or form with the reconstruction of the building. As Vodrazka gloats at length, I was anyway brought down from the leadership of the institute in 2018. The previous managements handling of the building is completely unrelated to current director Kudrnas accusations according to which I am a supporter of Putin and a denier of communist repression. But there is worse: Vodrazka is outright lying. The reconstruction (not destruction) of the building wasnt anymore investigated by the police at the time when he wrote his letter since the police closed its investigation of the reconstruction of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes seat already on 27 October 2022 on the conclusion that there had been no malfeasance on the part of the previous leadership. The Open letter to Tim was sent, we are informed, on 17 November 2022. Vodrazka would have been better inspired to tell Tim Snyder instead what the history of this building was. Before 1989, it was the seat of the Institute of Prognostics that employed two communist regime employees who would become famous, then infamous, after 1989: prime ministers, then presidents Vaclav Klaus and Milos Zeman. We could amuse ourselves at length on the symbolical value of their building crumbling down after a reconstruction that was made necessary by the poor quality of communist construction as an adequate representation of their presidencies or even of the whole communist and post-communist development. Or we could cut it short and restrict ourselves to Zemans famous quip according to which A left-wing idiot is as dangerous as a right-wing idiot. And vice versa. Many thanks to Martin D. Brown for his critical remarks on this text. -1 China's space station achieves 100 pct regeneration of oxygen resources Xinhua) 09:54, April 14, 2023 This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Feb. 9, 2023 shows Shenzhou-15 taikonaut Fei Junlong returning to space station lab module Wentian with equipment. (Xinhua/Liu Fang) BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China's space station, with the Shenzhou-15 crew now in orbit, can produce 100 percent of its oxygen supply through its onboard regeneration system, according to a space technology conference in Harbin, capital of China's northernmost Heilongjiang Province. The development reflects that fundamental transformation of the environmental control and life-support system for China's manned spacecraft from "replenishment" to "regeneration," said Bian Qiang, director of the environmental control and life-support engineering office under the Astronaut Center of China. As a key technology for China's manned space missions, the environmental control and life-support system creates basic living conditions and builds a liveable working environment for the astronauts, thus ensuring their health and safety. The system comprises six regeneration subsystems for the following processes: oxygen production by water electrolysis; carbon dioxide removal; harmful gas removal; urine treatment; water treatment; and water production with carbon dioxide and hydrogen. "At present, the six systems are in stable operation, with 100 percent of the oxygen resources regenerated and 95 percent of the water resources recycled. This reduces the amount of supplies from the ground by six tonnes every year," said Bian, addressing the third national manned spaceflight environmental control and life-support technology conference on Thursday. He noted that the technology applied in the environmental control and life-support system ranks among the best in the world. Over the past 55 years, experts have successfully developed three generations of environmental control and life-support system for China's manned spacecraft, as well as relevant products for Shenzhou spacecraft, extra-vehicular spacesuits and the three-module space station complex, according to Bian. He added that, since the launch of China's space station mission, experts have successively tackled many technical difficulties faced by the world, and have realized the fundamental transformation of the system from "replenishment" to "regeneration," making outstanding contributions to the construction of China's space station. The Shenzhou 15 crew sent a video specially for the conference. Commander Fei Junlong said that he felt honored to witness the transformation of the environmental control and life-support technology on the space station, compared with the Shenzhou-6 mission 17 years ago. He felt good about working and living in space for more than 100 days. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) By Baek Byung-yeul Google is feared to lose its growth momentum in Korea, as the U.S. tech giant has been facing increasingly unfavorable business conditions due to a series of legal setbacks coupled with the unionization of its workers, according to industry officials Friday. A top court ruled recently that the company was negligent in protecting Korean user data and the antitrust agency fined it for obstructing the entry of competitors by abusing its dominant market position. Also, Google Korea employees established a union on April 11 to counter the firm's move to downsize the workforce. "Google has been facing regulatory measures for abusing its dominant position here. Given domestic IT service providers have been pressured to comply with the government's regulations more strictly that overseas companies, these measures showed that Google needs to pay more attention to local law," an official from a local app developer said on condition of anonymity. On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that Google has an obligation to disclose the list of personal data it provided to third parties including the U.S. government, in accordance with domestic laws. Google, headquartered in the U.S., has not complied with demands for information disclosure from consumers in Korea. However, the Supreme Court stated that decisions on non-disclosure should not be made solely based on foreign laws, and that it is appropriate for Korean customers to file a lawsuit requesting the disclosure of what information Google shared about them. Regarding the top court's orders, Google spokesperson said "We will review the Supreme Court's full written decision carefully. Protecting user's data and privacy is our utmost priority and we remain committed to making ongoing updates that give users in Korea control and transparency, while providing the most helpful products possible." Google was also ($32.4 million) by the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) on April 11 for preventing multiple game companies such as Nexon, NCSOFT and Netmarble from launching their games on ONE store, a domestic app market operator, between June 2016 and April 2018. "Google analyzed that the launch of a competitive and comprehensive app market, ONE store, will have a major impact on its sales in Korea," the FTC said. Google is also tasked with negotiating with the founders of the union asking for workplace improvements and employment stability. The union members said Friday that they held their first general meeting on April 11. During the meeting, they enacted regulations and elected leaders. They said they decided to establish the union due to the increasing job insecurity. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, announced in January that it would reduce its workforce by about 6 percent this year, which amounts to some 12,000 employees. In accordance, Google Korea also notified its employees of the impending job eliminations. "With the ongoing workforce reduction in the U.S. IT industry, employees have been concerned about job insecurity and decided to establish the union," said Kim Jong-sub, head of the union, said. "The purpose of the union is to improve employment stability, working environment and welfare." Balaan's online shopping mall displays various luxury items on its platform on Feb. 3. Screencaptured from Balaan's website By Kim Jae-heun The online luxury goods shopping platform Balaan is facing growing doubts over the feasibility of its business after its operating loss doubled last year, from 2021, due to high marketing and advertising expenses, according to industry officials Thursday. The company's auditor Samdo Accounting's remarks that questioned Balaan's financial viability have further fueled concerns over the luxury goods sales platform. Balaan's sales grew 71 percent in 2022 to 89.1 billion won ($67.91 million) from 2021, with its transaction value also jumping 127 percent to reach 680 billion won. However, the company's operating loss doubled from 18.6 billion won in 2021 to 37.4 billion won in 2022. Balaan's net loss also increased two-fold from 19 billion won to 38 billion won, over the same period. "Balaan's current financial status indicates that there are significant uncertainties that could raise questions about its viability as a continuing company," Samdo Accounting Firm said in a report filed to DART, the Financial Supervisory Service's electronic disclosure board. Balaan's high spending on advertisements led to its increased operating losses. The luxury shopping platform spent 38.6 billion won on advertising last year, double the amount it spent in the previous year. Actress Kim Hye-soo appears in Balaan's television commercial / Courtesy of Balaan From left, SPC Group President Hur Jin-soo, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) Chairman James Kim pose after signing an internship agreement at a Paris Baguette store in New York City, Wednesday. Courtesy of SPC By Kim Jae-heun Paris Baguette signed an agreement with New York City and the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), Wednesday (local time), to stimulate economic growth through internships for New Yorkers and support minority- and women-owned business enterprises, the bakery chain operator SPC said Friday. Central to the initiative is an immersive, six-week internship training program at Paris Baguette, where interns will receive hands-on training and classroom instruction on food preparation in either baking or cake decoration. The internship will conclude with consideration for job placements and opportunities for continued career development. "At Paris Baguette, we're proud of our standing as a pillar of business and the community in the neighborhoods we serve. Through this partnership with New York City and the AMCHAM to support women and minorities, we're furthering our commitment to creating opportunities that strengthen our economy and support future business leaders," SPC Group President Hur Jin-soo said during a ceremony for the agreement held in New York. The partnership will also support the growth of firms from the city's diverse pool of minority- and women-owned business enterprises by introducing them to AMCHAM and providing opportunities to do business with international firms. Paris Baguette has committed to donating food for economically disadvantaged communities, to be distributed across the entire city. "New York is a big city of small businesses, and we want to make sure we are supporting everyone who wants to invest in our city, including our international companies," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. "This agreement with Paris Baguette will help create jobs and opportunity throughout the five boroughs, support the creation of youth internships that will build career skills and job readiness and develop a food donation program for New Yorkers in need across our city." "I strongly believe that this signing ceremony is a symbol of the incredible synergy between the U.S. and Korea, a true win-win-win partnership and picture-perfect scenario for championing numerous collaborative efforts among the three parties," AMCHAM Chairman James Kim said. This image made from video provided by WCVB-TV, shows Jack Teixeira, in T-shirt and shorts, being taken into custody by armed tactical agents on Thursday, April 13, in Dighton, Mass. AP-Yonhap 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 U.S. government secrets. Jack Teixeira, an employee of the U.S. 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 U.S. 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. U.S. 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 U.S. 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. U.S. 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 U.S. military base. Department of Defense Press Secretary Gen. Patrick S. Ryder speaks at a press conference at the Pentagon on April 13, in Arlington, Virginia. AFP-Yonhap US president Joe Biden broke down in tears on the final day of his Ireland tour after an emotional unplanned meeting with a priest who gave the last rites to his son. The Parish priest of Knock, Fr Richard Gibbons, told the BBC the chaplain who performed the last rites sacrament on Mr Bidens son, Beau, now works at the Knock shrine in Co Mayo where the president paid a visit on Friday. Fr Frank OGrady performed the ceremony for Beau Biden before he died of brain cancer in 2015. Joe Biden visiting Knock Shrine and Basilica in Mayo with Fr Richard Gibbons. Photo: Andrew Downes/Julien Behal Photography. After Mr Bidens tour of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock, Fr Gibbons told the broadcaster: He spoke about his family and his connection with his faith, and also about his son Beau who died. And it just so happened, and this was kind of spontaneous, it just so happened that we have, working at the shrine here, the chaplain who gives the last rites of the last anointing to his son in the United States. Advertisement Just extraordinary, and I didnt even know that, I didnt know that until the president arrived. Fr Gibbons said Mr Biden wanted to meet Fr OGrady straight away describing it as an emotional moment for the president. He told the BBC: He laughed, he cried, it just kind of hit the man, you could just see how deeply it all felt and meant to him. It was an extraordinary afternoon. I wont forget it, I can tell you that it was quite something else. Mr Bidens visit to Co Mayo is set to end his four-day tour of the island after he touched down at the airport in Knock on Friday afternoon. The trip is another return to ancestral roots for the president after his trip to Co Louth on Wednesday. The president has repeatedly spoken with passion about his Irish heritage and described addressing the countrys parliament on Thursday as one of the great honours of my career. He said its good to be back as he was greeted by various dignitaries including transport minister Eamon Ryan and Mayo TD Dara Calleary after disembarking Air Force One at Ireland West airport. The final day of Mr Bidens trip which former taoiseach Enda Kenny said was the longest presidential visit to Ireland ever will culminate in a public address. Advertisement The speech will take place at St Muredachs Cathedral, which has a direct link to the presidents ancestors. 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. After his arrival at the airport, the president then travelled to the Knock shrine where he was greeted by cheering crowds who lined the streets outside. Ireland Tanaiste 'very surprised' by Arlene Foster's comme... Read More The president touched the apparition wall as part of his tour before Fr Gibbons accompanied him into the Apparition Chapel for some moments of quiet reflection. The president is also set to visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit. It is believed Mr Biden will also make a private visit to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice in Castlebar that is dedicated to his son Beau. US president Joe Biden will conclude his visit to the island of Ireland by making a public address in Co Mayo, the county where some of his ancestors hail from. Mr Biden is expected to land at Ireland West Airport at around 1.45pm. In Castlebar, gardai have announced a series of traffic diversions and road closures. Traffic diversions will be in place on the Westport side of Castlebar Town from 12pm to 5pm. These will include partial closures of: Westport Road into Castlebar Lannagh Road Old Westport Road from Lannagh Road to the main entrance to Mayo University Hospital Humbert Way to Cathal Duffys Roundabout Access to Mayo University Hospital will be affected by traffic diversions and this will reduce car park availability. Anyone attending appointments on Friday afternoon should arrive early. Emergency services will be unaffected by traffic management. Access onto the Westport Road in Castlebar will be restricted for a period of time. Diversions will be in place. Advertisement Gardai said any large vehicles travelling to or from Westport area via Castlebar should divert through either Newport or Ballinrobe. From approximately 12.30pm to 3pm temporary traffic restrictions may occur on the N17 between Charlestown and Claremorris. Between 1.30pm and 3.30pm traffic restrictions may also occur on the N5 between Charlestown and Castlebar. Ballina President Biden will later visit Ballina, where he will give a public address outside St Muredachs Cathedral at around 9pm. From 10am until after the public event finishes access to Ballina town will be restricted to local residents and business workers only. The N59 through Ballina will be closed to traffic from 10am for the duration of the event. A mural of Joe Biden in Ballina, Co Mayo. Photo: PA In general, traffic intending on travelling through Ballina on the N59 should divert via N26/N5/N17 Foxford, Swinford, Charlestown, Tobercurry, Sligo. Further details of local traffic diversions around Ballina are published on the garda website. A park and ride service will be in place for those travelling into Ballina on Friday evening, with services beginning at 3pm and concluding at midnight. Gardai will be present at the park and ride locations to assist the public. If attending the public event in Ballina people are encouraged not to be in possession of large bags. Ireland Joe Biden personifies the story of Irish emigrati... Read More Gardai are asking members of the public to heed their advice and instructions ahead of Mr Biden's visit. They are also asking people to plan their journeys and to leave enough time for possible traffic disruptions. An Garda Siochana will continue to liaise with businesses and local residents in the key locations. The force is reminding people that the use of drones is prohibited within 5km of any airport, over urban areas, over crowds and in other restricted areas, and that non-compliance is a criminal offence. Consideration of Irelands international security policy should not be a binary choice on whether it joins a military alliance, the Tanaiste has said. Micheal Martins comments came after US president Joe Biden referenced Irelands long-standing policy of neutrality in a speech to the Oireachtas in Dublin. The Government has established a forum to examine issues related to Irelands independent foreign policy position. US president Joe Biden addressing the Oireachtas. Photo: Government of Ireland/PA The forum, which will convene this summer, has been set up amid increasing focus on the policy of military neutrality in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In his speech to the Dail on Thursday, Mr Biden highlighted a quote by president John F Kennedy 60 years ago when he stated that Ireland has never been neutral between liberty and tyranny. Advertisement 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, president Biden added, as he highlighted that Ireland has committed more than 170 million in non-lethal aid to Ukraine. Mr Martin said the president had been very taken by the Irish humanitarian response to the Ukrainian situation. Heartfelt and inspirational words by @POTUS Joe Biden in the Oireachtas. Wonderful day again in Dublin for the Presidents visit. pic.twitter.com/JZeoH0ugNL Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 13, 2023 He constantly refers to the number of Ukrainian refugees that have been welcomed into Ireland and he really thinks it stands out in respect of the responses of other countries, he told RTE radio. He knows that weve been a leader in terms of Ukraine becoming members of the European Union, we would have advocated strongly for that. In terms of the broader issue of an independent foreign policy, as he said himself we are not militarily aligned, but were not politically neutral. Mr Martin said Ireland was already part of the rules-based international order and value system. That value system that the president spoke about is exactly where Ireland is in terms of values around democracy, freedom of the individual, the dignity of the individual and human rights and all of that and in terms of our work in Africa together, and in terms of food hunger, he said. Advertisement But there are broad threads coming our way, in terms of cybersecurity, hybrid warfare, and we have to be intelligent about that and we have to work in partnership, as we will be, and I think its important that we have a national conversation about that, in terms of the future threats and challenges to this country, and how do we respond to that? Are we equipped for that, and how do we manifest our independent foreign policy into the future? We wish to avoid a binary issue. Its not just about whether you join a military alliance or not. Its much broader than that. And I think most people in the international community are far more tolerant of our position than we might think ourselves, or some people might think here, and I think thats the context for the national conversation. The High Court has dismissed Simeon Burke's bid to be immediately release from prison and his attempt to halt his upcoming trial before Dublin District Court on a public order charge. In his ruling on Friday evening Mr Justice Brian Cregan cleared the way for the law students' trial before the District Court to proceed next Monday after ruling that the Co Mayo man's detention in Cloverhill prison is lawful. In a lenghty and detailed decision judge said that Mr Burke's "concerns" about the legality of his detention and his upcoming trial were "utterly without foundation." Mr Burke was granted an inquiry into the legality of his detention at Cloverhill Prison, where he has been remanded in custody on a public order charge since his arrest following an incident at the Court of Appeal building in the Four Courts on March 7th last. Advertisement He had declined to take up bail of 200 surety and agree to stay away from the Four Courts. The judge said that court reject claims Mr Burke about the warrant underpinning his detention , his arrest by Gardai, and the District Court's handing of his case being flawed to degree that he should be released, and his trial halted. The court was satisfied from the evidence including testimony from guards Michael McGrath and Conor O'Dwyer and CCTV images, which Mr Burke had opted not to cross examine, that Mr Burke's arrest after judges in the Court was lawful, proportional and that excessive force was not used during the arrest. While Mr Burke might not have liked been physically removed from the courtroom by gardai however this came about as a result of members of his family disrupting the CoA from delivering its judgement in a case involving his brother Enoch and Wilson's Hospital School 'Pack of lies' Mr Burke, the judge said had also accused the gardai of telling "a pack of lies" regarding the circumstances of his arrest. The judge remarked that despite making such serious allegations Mr Burke had opted not to cross-examine members on duty that day, despite being given every opportunity to do so. Advertisement The court was also satisfied that garda O'Dwyer was the Garda who arrested Mr Burke. The judge also said that Mr Burke's complaints about the District Court's handling of his complaints were matters he could seek to have reviewed in other proceedings such as judicial review or before the judge hearing the criminal case. He said that Mr Burke had spent over a month in prison after he opted not to take up "very mild" bail conditions from the District Court on a point of principle. Mr Justice Cregan added that it was "hard to see" what this point of principle was, adding the Mr Burke could walk free from prison immediately if he were to take up bail. The 24-year-old student barrister was not present in the court when the judge delivered his decision and was returned to Cloverhill after the ruling was granted. Mr Burke, the court remarked, had opted to stop taking an active part in the inquiry when the court had ruled against him on a procedural matter on Friday morning. Despite being in court for the hearing of evidence and submissions Mr Burke's family, including his parents and several of his siblings, departed the Dublin venue early and were not present when the courts verdict was handed down. Advertisement Earlier on Friday the judge dismissed Mr Burke's claim that the inquiry was not proceeding in accordance with the law. This, it was claimed, was because the state should have made its arguments first, and then the applicant should make his submissions second. On Thursday Mr Burke had opened the case, to which the state had replied. After the court rejected that argument Mr Burke then opted not to make submissions on CCTV images of his arrest or to cross-examine Garda witnesses, he had accused of lying, claims which were fully rejected by the officers in question. Mr Justice Cregan told Mr Burke that his stance after his ruling was "ill-advised," and told him that the inquiry had been conducted and considered in accordance with the law. Inquiry Despite the courts' ruling on that preliminary point both Simeon Burke, a student barrister and sister Ammi, a qualified solicitor, continued to argue that the inquiry was not in accordance with the correct procedures. This sparked a lengthy and sometimes heated exchanged involving the judge, Simeon and Ammi Burke and Seamus Clarke SC for the State respondents. Ms Burke was critical of the court and its finding, adding that the judge's remarks that if her brother was dissatisfied with any ruling against him, he was entitled to appeal it to the court of Appeal as "insulting". Advertisement The Judge who said that court needed to progress the inquiry, noted that Ms Burke had attempted to re-argue the same point over 30 times. The repeated attempts to raise the issue after the decision had been given was "a waste of the courts time" the judge said, adding that the point raised was "ludicrous" and "nonsense". In his judgement Mr Justice Cregan strongly criticised Ms Burke's conduct during proceedings, which he said was "unprecedented" given that she is a "qualified solicitor and "an officer of the court". He said that her arguments were wrong, and urged Mr Burke who he said has a great future ahead of him as barrister" to get on with the inquiry. Mr Clarke said that Ms Burke was attempting to "barrack" the court after it had ruled against the submissions made on behalf her brother. Mr Burke was arrested by gardai following an alleged disturbance at the Court of Appeal, which was in the process of handing down its decision in the on-going legal dispute between Enoch Burke and Wilson's Hospital School. 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. Advertisement Simeon Burke, with an address at Cloonsunna, Castlebar, Co Mayo, denies the charges. Mr Burke has been remanded in custody since his arrest with consent to bail, which he has declined to take up on a point of principle, arguing that to do would be to accept that his arrest was in some way lawful. Counsel said that Mr Burke had 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 last month. Simeon Burke claimed 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 claimed that the warrant detaining him is fundamentally flawed on grounds including that its states he was arrested by a garda who he alleged did not arrest him. Gardai, he claimed, 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. Ireland Cocaine worth almost 4m seized at Ringaskiddy Por... Read More 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 breach of his constitutional rights was "so egregious" that the District Court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case against him. As part of his inquiry, he sought orders directing his release from prison as well as an order prohibiting his trial before the District Court from proceeding. After giving the court's ruling the Judge awarded the State its legal costs of the two-day hearing against Mr Burke. The Tanaiste has addressed comments earlier this week from former DUP leader Arlene Foster that US president Joe Biden hates the United Kingdom. Micheal Martin said he was very surprised by the remark. The one word that you do not associate with Joe Biden is the word hate, he told RTE's Morning Ireland. Mr Martin also said president Biden calling on the UK to work more closely with Ireland to support people in the North was an exhortation for everyone to co-operate. The Tanaiste said be believed a speech by the president in Belfast earlier in the week could potentially help the political atmosphere in Northern Ireland, where powersharing institutions are currently suspended. In his remarks to the both House of the Oireachtas on Thursday, Mr Biden said he believed the UK should be working more closely with the Irish Government to support Northern Ireland. Advertisement Asked about the comments, Mr Martin said: I take that as a general exhortation to all of us to work together. I am pleased with prime minister [Rishi] Sunak, [Northern Ireland Secretary] Chris Heaton-Harris, there is a closer engagement already over the last while, that could get closer. I think the context was clear from the president, he was speaking in the context of all of us. He mentions the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Tanaiste added: The Good Friday Agreement really depends on the very close relationship between the British government and the Irish Government. That is the anchor to the peace, the anchor to future relationships. A number of events have been taking place in Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. US president Joe Biden (left) with Tanaiste Micheal Martin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA However, the Stormont powersharing Assembly, the cornerstone of the peace deal, remains suspended due to DUP concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements. During an address in Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Biden said he hoped the institutions would soon return. Mr Martin said: I think his remarks will be helpful in terms of the atmosphere, in terms of the next number of weeks and months. I think it will have served a purpose, in respect of that I have no doubt. Advertisement He added: I think the president did get the balance right in terms of that speech, but also in terms of, we are giving time and space to the DUP in terms of their analysis of the Windsor Agreement; but there is no immediate sign yet (of a return to powersharing at Stormont). Ireland UK should work more closely with Irish Government... Read More But everybody, including the DUP, would acknowledge that the Windsor Agreement represents very significant progress. I think the people of Northern Ireland want the institutions back, of that I am clear, but I think the lessons we have all learnt from experience that it is better, as the President himself said, that people in the north come to the right conclusion, come to it themselves and make their mind up. All of the parties are very anxious to get the institutions restored. The US Justice Department has announced charges against more than two dozen members of Mexicos powerful Sinaloa cartel, including sons of notorious drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, in a fentanyl-trafficking investigation. The three Guzman sons charged Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar are known as the Chapitos, or little Chapos, and have earned a reputation as the more violent and aggressive faction of the cartel. Of the three, only Guzman Lopez is in custody, in Mexico. Attorney General Merrick Garland, standing alongside Drug Enforcement Administration chief Anne Milgram and other top federal prosecutors, unveiled the indictments in three districts aimed at hitting the cartels global network. The defendants span a broad swathe of a complex manufacturing and supply network. They include Chinese and Guatemalan citizens accused of supplying precursor chemicals required to make fentanyl, as well as those suspected of running drug labs in Mexico and others accused of providing security, weapons and illicit financing for the drug trafficking operation. Advertisement The wide-ranging case comes as the US remains in the grip of a devastating overdose crisis largely by fentanyl poisonings. Nearly 107,000 people died of drug overdoses in the US in 2021, a record number. Fentanyl seizures by US Customs and Border Protection have increased by more than 400% since 2019, officials said, and this fiscal years seizures have already surpassed the total for all of 2022. Most of the fentanyl trafficked in the United States comes from the Sinaloa cartel, the Drug Enforcement Administration says. Families and communities across our country are being devastated by the fentanyl epidemic, Mr Garland said. We will never forget those who bear responsibility for this tragedy. And we will never stop working to hold them accountable for their crimes in the United States. The Sinaloa cartels notorious drug lord, known as El Chapo, was convicted in 2019 of running an industrial-scale smuggling operation. At Guzmans trial, prosecutors said evidence gathered since the late 1980s showed he and his murderous cartel made billions of dollars by smuggling tons of cocaine, heroin, meth and marijuana into the US. A defiant Guzman accused the federal judge in his case of making a mockery of the US justice system and claimed he was denied a fair trial. Advertisement In outlining the charges on Friday, Mr Garland described the violence of the Sinaloa cartel and how its members have tortured perceived enemies, including Mexican law enforcement officials. That has included people fed to tigers owned by Guzmans sons, sometimes while the victims were still alive, Mr Garland said. Anne Milgram speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington (Susan Walsh/AP) Eight of those charged have been arrested and remain in the custody of law enforcement officials in Colombia, Greece, Guatemala and the US, Ms Milgram said. The US government is offering rewards for several others charged in the case, including up to 10 million dollars for Guzmans other two sons. Fridays indictments were filed in New York, Illinois, and Washington DC. Along with the five defendants from China and Guatemala accused of supplying the cartel with precursor chemicals, two Chinese firms were also sanctioned by the US. Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control on Friday. US government officials are pressing Chinese officials to do more to stem the shipment of those chemicals. An exchange of more than 800 prisoners linked to Yemens long-running war began on Friday, the International Committee of the Red Cross said. The UN-brokered deal, in the works for months, comes amid concerted diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict. It is most significant prisoner exchange in Yemen since both sides freed more than 1,000 detainees in October 2020. Thousands of people are believed to be held as prisoners of war by all sides since the war erupted. In the three-day exchange, flights will transport prisoners between Saudi Arabia and Yemens capital, Sanaa, long held by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, said Majed Fadail, a deputy minister for human rights for Yemens internationally recognised government. Other flights will take prisoners between Sanaa and other Yemeni cities controlled by the government, he said. Advertisement UPDATE: We've begun a multi-day humanitarian operation to transfer nearly 900 detainees held in relation to the conflict in #Yemen. Our team has assessed the health of the detainees and confirmed they are fit to travel. Follow @ICRC_ye and @ICRC_kw for updates. pic.twitter.com/zut2e8VtYQ ICRC (@ICRC) April 14, 2023 The Red Cross said that on Friday there would be two rounds of simultaneous flights between Aden and Sanaa to transfer prisoners. Yemens conflict began in 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa and much of the countrys north. Yemens internationally recognised government fled to the south and then into exile in Saudi Arabia. The Houthi takeover prompted a Saudi-led coalition to intervene months later. The conflict has in recent years turned into a regional proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with the United States long involved on the periphery, providing intelligence assistance to the kingdom. However, international criticism over Saudi airstrikes killing civilians saw the US pull back its support. The war has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the worlds worst humanitarian disasters. The prisoner exchange had been scheduled to start earlier in the week but was delayed because of apparent logistical reasons. Advertisement With this act of goodwill, hundreds of families torn apart by conflict are being reunited during the holy month of Ramadan, a glimmer of hope amidst great suffering, Fabrizio Carboni, the Red Cross regional director for the Near and Middle East, said in a statement. : # # 125 . # # 35 . @YemenCrescent @mediasrcaen pic.twitter.com/k6BpmQckc3 ICRC Yemen (@ICRC_ye) April 14, 2023 Our deep desire is that these releases provide momentum for a broader political solution, leading to even more detainees returning to their loved ones. The deal tentatively calls for the Houthis to release more than 180 prisoners, including Saudi and Sudanese troops fighting with the Saudi-led coalition, and four Yemeni journalists. The journalists were detained in recent years and sentenced to death by a Houthi-controlled court in a trial described by Amnesty International as grossly unfair, The deal also will see the release of top military officials held by the Houthis since the start of the war. In return, the Saudi-led coalition and Yemeni government are scheduled to release more than 700 Houthi prisoners, the rebels said. Saudi Arabia has already freed 13 Houthi detainees who returned to Sanaa on April 9 ahead of a trip by Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed bin Saeed al-Jaber, to the Yemeni capital. Including those detainees, the deal will see a total of 869 prisoners released, the Red Cross says. Frances Constitutional Council has approved an unpopular plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 in a victory for French president Emmanuel Macron after months of mass protests. Hundreds of union activists and others gathered peacefully in Paris on Friday evening following the ruling, before some groups broke off in marches toward the Bastille plaza and beyond, setting fire to rubbish bins and scooters as police fired tear gas or pushed them back. Unions and Mr Macrons political opponents vowed to maintain pressure on the government to withdraw the Bill, and activists threatened scattered new protests on Saturday. Students demonstrate in Paris against the pension changes (Lewis Joly/AP) Mr Macrons office said he would enact the law in the coming days, and he has said he wants it implemented by the end of the year. French prime minister Elisabeth Borne said Fridays decision marks the end of the institutional and democratic path of this reform, adding that there was no victor in what has turned into a nationwide stand-off and Frances worst social unrest in years. Advertisement The council rejected some measures in the pension Bill, but the higher age was central to Mr Macrons plan and the target of protesters anger. The government argued that the reform is needed to keep the pension system afloat as the population ages. Opponents proposed raising taxes on the wealthy or employers instead, and said the changes threaten a hard-won social safety net. In a separate but related decision, the council rejected a request by left-wing lawmakers to allow for a possible referendum on enshrining 62 as the maximum official retirement age. The council will rule on a second, similar request, next month. Carl Pfeiffer, a 62-year-old retiree protesting outside City Hall, warned that the Constitutional Councils decision will not spell the end of tensions. Emmanuel Macron said he was willing to meet union leaders (Lewis Joly/AP) The council decision caps months of tumultuous debates in parliament and unrest in the streets. The council members are irresponsible, because the anger that will come right after in the country, its their fault, he said. Bartender Lena Cayo (22) said she was disappointed but not surprised by the decision. We are protesting for so many weeks and the government didnt hear us, she said. Workers who have gone on strike or protested the legislation since January are fighting for their rights, but nothing changes. Advertisement As tensions mounted hours before the decision, Mr Macron invited unions to meet with him on Tuesday no matter what the Constitutional Council decision was, his office said. The unions rejected Mr Macrons invitation, noting that he had refused their previous offers of a meeting, and called for mass new protests on May 1st, which is international workers rights day. Flares were let off after the judgment (Lewis Joly/AP) Unions have been the organisers of 12 nationwide protests since January and have played a critical role in trying to tamp down excessive reactions by protesters. Violence by pockets of ultra-left radicals have followed otherwise peaceful nationwide marches. The plan to increase the retirement age was meant to be Mr Macrons showcase measure in his second term. The council decision caps months of tumultuous debates in parliament and fervour in the streets. Spontaneous demonstrations were held around France ahead of the nine-member councils ruling. Opponents of the pension reform blockaded entry points into some cities, including Rouen in the west and Marseille in the south, slowing or stopping traffic. Nearly 45,000 migrants arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel since the British government signed the Rwanda deal a year ago. This includes almost 5,000 people who have made the journey so far this year, despite a promised crackdown. The figures come as Britain's prime minister Rishi Sunak 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. UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman (centre) touring a building site in Rwandas capital Kigali last month (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman told of her dream of seeing the UK governments plan to send migrants to Rwanda succeed after she was appointed, a policy which High Court judges in the UK ruled is lawful but has so far been stalled by legal action. Her predecessor Priti Patel signed what she described as a world-first agreement with Rwanda on April 14th last year to send migrants deemed to have arrived in the UK illegally to the east African nation. Advertisement There were 44,826 migrants recorded arriving in the UK after crossing the Channel between April 15th 2022 and April 13th 2023, according to analysis of government figures by the PA news agency. As of Thursday, the total for 2023 to date stood at 4,899, with no crossings recorded since Monday amid bad weather conditions in the Channel. April 5th saw the years highest daily total for arrivals so far (492). But the 1,295 detected on August 22nd 2022 is still the highest number of people on record to arrive in a single day since 2018. In November Home Office permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft confirmed Britain had already paid Rwanda 140 million under the deal but said he was still unsure whether the policy was value for money. According to The Times newspaper, the Home Office also spent 163,000 on Ms Patels trip to the capital Kigali to announce the deal as well as at least 22,000 on trips for officials to discuss the agreement. A further 300,000 was spent on the first deportation flight, due to take off on June 14th, which was grounded amid legal challenges, while the cost of Ms Bravermans first visit to Rwanda as home secretary last month is yet to be disclosed, the newspaper said. Advertisement The battle over the legality of the policy continues, with a four-day hearing listed at the UK's Court of Appeal from April 24th. Rishi Sunak pledged to stop the boats as one of his five main priorities while in office. In an interview with ConservativeHome on Thursday, Mr Sunak said the immigration issue is complicated with no single, simple solution. He said he expects a legal battle over the novel, untested and ambitious Illegal Migration Bill, which is going through Parliament, and confirmed there may well be an interim judgment from the European Court of Human Rights against the policy, as happened with the Rwanda scheme. World Italy declares state of emergency as migrant numbe... Read More Britain's government has vowed to change the law to make it clear people arriving in the UK illegally will not be allowed to stay, either facing deportation back to their home country or a nation like Rwanda where a deal is in place. Attempts by ministers and officials to use a former RAF base in Essex to house asylum seekers are also set to end up in court. Braintree District Council said it has been granted an injunction hearing at the High Court on April 19th and the Home Office has agreed not to move any migrants on to the Wethersfield site until after that date. A coroner in the UK investigating the death of mother of two Nicola Bulley has warned against speculation following police searches of a river. A police diving team was recently seen in the water not far from a weir and downstream from a bench where police believe Ms Bulley (45) went into the water in St Michaels on Wyre in Lancashire, England on January 27th. She vanished while walking her dog along the River Wyre after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school, sparking a huge search operation and intense media and public interest. Her body was found in the river 23 days after she went missing, around a mile farther downstream from the bench on February 19th. Police divers were spotted in the River Wyre on April 4rg and a brief clip was uploaded to YouTube, prompting speculation about the activity on social media. Advertisement Dr James Adeley, HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire, said: Speculation as to the role and purpose of officers acting on my instructions is unhelpful in the resolution of this inquest. A Lancashire police spokesperson said: There has been misinformed speculation over the past few days relating to police activity in the River Wyre. As previously stated, police divers were acting under instruction of HM Senior Coroner and had been asked to assess the riverbanks in the vicinity of where Nicola Bulley went missing. They had not been tasked either to perform any further searches within the river or along the banks or to locate any articles. This activity is to assist with the coronial process. An inquest into Ms Bulleys death is to be held on June 26th. President Joe Biden addresses members of the Irish parliament at Leinster House in Dublin, April 13. AP-Yonhap U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday declared "I'm 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 U.S. 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 U.K. "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-U.K. 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 U.K. and Irish governments to end a unionist boycott of the devolved Belfast legislature, "but doesn't want to be overbearing or interfering either", Varadkar said. Ireland's Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, left, greets President Joe Biden at Farmleigh House in Dublin, Ireland, April 13. AP-Yonhap Gaffe Biden, who is only the second Catholic president in U.S. 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: "I'm home." Biden also took the opportunity to correct a gaffe that has gone viral, this time congratulating Ireland's rugby team on beating New Zealand's 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 Kennedy's aristocratic forebears, the Fitzgeralds. U.S. President Joe Biden signs the guest book, as he meets with Irish President Michael Higgins, in Dublin, Ireland, April 13. Reuters-Yonhap Russian president Vladimir Putin has signed a Bill allowing authorities to issue electronic notices to draftees and reservists amid the fighting in Ukraine. The Bill signed into law by Mr Putin was published on Friday on the official register of government documents. Russias military service rules previously required the in-person delivery of notices to conscripts and reservists who are called up for duty. President Vladimir Putins action closes a loophole for conscripts (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Under the new law, the notices issued by local military conscription offices will continue to be sent by mail but they would be considered valid from the moment they are put on a state portal for electronic services. In the past, many Russians avoided the draft by staying away from their address of record. Advertisement The new law closes that loophole in an apparent effort to create a tool for quickly beefing up the military ahead of a widely anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive in the coming weeks. Recipients who fail to show up for service would be prohibited from leaving Russia, would have their drivers licences suspended and would be barred from selling their apartments and other assets. Kremlin critics and human rights activists denounced the new legislation as a step towards a digital prison camp that gives unprecedented powers to the military conscription offices. A Ukrainian soldier stands near an apartment building damaged by recent Russian shelling in war-hit Avdiivka (Libkos/AP) Lyudmila Narusova, the widow of former St Petersburg mayor Anatoly Sobchak, was the only house member who spoke against the measure when the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, considered the Bill on Wednesday. Ms Narusova, whose late husband was Mr Putins mentor, said that the Bill contradicts the countrys constitution and various laws, and strongly objected to its hasty approval. The swift enactment of the law fuelled fears of the government initiating another wave of mobilisation following the one that Mr Putin ordered in the autumn. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this week that the measure was needed to streamline the outdated call-up system in view of the flaws that were revealed by last autumns partial mobilisation. Advertisement There was a lot of mess in military conscription offices, he said. The purpose of the Bill is to clean up this mess and make the system modern, effective and convenient for citizens. Mr Putin announced a call-up of 300,000 reservists in September after a Ukrainian counter-offensive that pushed Russian forces out of broad areas in the east. The mobilisation order prompted an exodus of Russian men that was estimated to number in the hundreds of thousands. The battle for Bakhmut is heating up again as Ukrainian defenders of the devastated city resisted a three-pronged attack by the Kremlins forces and efforts to stop supplies from reaching them. Russia has re-energised its assault on Bakhmut, the UKs Ministry of Defence said of recent developments in the city in eastern Ukraine, which for eight and a half months has seen the wars longest and bloodiest fight. The Ukrainian defence still holds the western districts of the town but has been subjected to particularly intense Russian artillery fire over the previous 48 hours, the ministrys assessment said. The illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is continuing. The map below is the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine 14 April 2023. Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/0pEKI1xvwU #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/Gsd0rj126d Advertisement Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) April 14, 2023 Until recently, a notorious private Russian military contractor, the Wagner Group, spearheaded the campaign to take Bakhmut, making slow progress at the cost of thousands of lives on both sides. Now, regular Russian units have joined the thrust. Military analysts have said that seizing Bakhmut would have public relations and tactical military value for Moscow but was unlikely to prove decisive in the wars outcome. The Russian Defence Ministry also noted the stepped-up fighting in western parts of the city on Friday. Wagner assault detachments are engaged in high-intensity combat operations to capture areas of western Bakhmut with airborne forces supporting on the flanks, the ministry said in a statement. It added: The units of the airborne forces operating on the flanks are providing support to the assault squads and stop the enemys attempts to deliver ammunition to the city and bring in reserves. Bakhmut lies in Donetsk province, one of four provinces Russia illegally annexed last autumn. Moscow controls about half of the province and Bakhmut could be a stepping stone to seizing the remaining half. A Ukrainian soldier surveys the scene near the frontline in Bakhmut. Photo: Libkos/AP. Ukrainian officials have said they are buying time by depleting Russian forces in the battle while Kyiv prepares a counteroffensive. Advertisement Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy argues that if Russia wins the Bakhmut battle, Russian president Vladimir Putin might be able to begin building international support for a deal that would require Ukraine to make unacceptable compromises to end the war. The Ukrainian presidents office said on Friday that over the previous 24 hours two kindergartens and residential buildings had been destroyed by Russian attacks. The city already resembles a ghost town. The British military observed that regular Russian troops have increasingly joined the battle. World Russia could discuss swap for jailed US reporter,... Read More Wagner assault groups continue to conduct the main advance through the centre of town while Russian airborne forces have relieved some Wagner units securing the northern and southern flanks of the operation, the British military said on Twitter. It noted, however, that though the Ukrainian defenders have significant resupply issues their withdrawals from Bakhmut positions have been made in an orderly fashion. Across Ukraine, at least three civilians were killed and nine wounded from Thursday to Friday, according to the presidential office. A 21-year-old member of the US Air National Guard accused of leaking top secret military intelligence records online made his initial appearance before a federal judge in Boston on Friday to face charges he unlawfully copied and transmitted classified materials. Jack Douglas Teixeira, of North Dighton, Massachusetts, who was arrested by heavily armed FBI agents at his home on Thursday, appeared in a crowded federal court wearing a brown khaki jumpsuit. At the hearing, Boston's top federal national security prosecutor, Nadine Pellegrini, requested that Teixeira be detained pending trial, and a detention hearing was set for Wednesday. The court appointed a public defender to represent Teixeira. The leaked classified documents at the heart of the investigation were posted online on a social media website in March and perhaps earlier, but news of their existence did not come to light until it was reported by the New York Times last week. Advertisement It is 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. In the WikiLeaks case, the leaker - US Army Private First Class Chelsea Manning - was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Then US president Barack Obama later commuted her sentence. US officials are still assessing the damage done by the leaks, which included records showing purported details of Ukrainian military vulnerabilities and embarrassed Washington by revealing its spying on allies. In a criminal complaint made public on Friday, Teixeira was charged with unlawfully copying and transmitting classified defence records. Each offence can carry up to 10 years in prison. He was also charged with another offence which makes it a crime for an employee of the United States to knowingly remove classified records to an unauthorised location. For now, Teixeira faces three charges in connection with just one leaked document: a classified record which described the status of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and included details about troop movements on a particular date. National security Experts expect the charges against him will only grow, as investigators examine each document he uploaded, confirm its classification status and decide which ones could be disclosed to a jury without gravely damaging national security. Advertisement The number of times he separately uploaded and transmitted each document could also be a factor in how many charges he will face. "They are going to pick the ones, I would imagine, that foreign governments have already seen," Stephanie Siegmann, the former National Security Chief for the US Attorney's office in Boston and now a partner with Hinckley Allen, said. In a sworn statement, an FBI agent said Teixeira had held a top secret security clearance since 2021, and that he also maintained sensitive compartmented access to other highly classified programs. Since May 2022, the FBI said Teixeira has been serving as an E-3/airman first class in the US Air National Guard and has been stationed at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts. Siegmann said one lingering question is why a 21-year-old Guardsman held such a top-level security clearance. "That's an issue that Department of Defence needs to now deal with," she said. "Why would he be entitled to these documents about the Russia-Ukrainian conflict?" Teixeira only spoke twice during the brief proceeding on Friday, answering "yes" when asked whether he understood his right to remain silent. He also confirmed he had filled out a financial affidavit, which the judge said shows he will qualify to be represented by a federal public defender. After the hearing, three of Teixeira's family members left the courthouse, with a group of reporters trailing them for several blocks. They entered a car without making any comments. The US Justice Department opened a formal criminal probe last week into the leaked documents, after a referral from the Department of Defense. The leak was a "deliberate, criminal act," the Pentagon said on Thursday, adding that the military had taken steps to review distribution lists and ensure people receiving information had a need to know. 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. The investigative news outlet 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. -Reuters Erica Berchtold, the chief executive of online retailing giant The Iconic, is leaving the company after four years to take the top job at discount chain Best & Less. In an announcement to the ASX on Friday morning, Best & Less said Berchtold would take over as chief executive from September 4. She replaces Rodney Orrock, who left the role in February due to health reasons. Erica Berchtold, chief executive of The Iconic, is leaving the company after four years in the top job. Credit: Fairfax Media Best & Less chair Jason Murray said Berchtold was appointed after a global search. Ericas strong retail experience and track record of delivering profitable growth in a variety of retail markets, alongside her proven leadership skills, makes her the ideal candidate to lead the business through its next phase of growth, he said. 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 Australias universities are blighted by insecure work and wage theft. The sector has already repaid thousands of current and former staff about $100 million. It is expected that figure will balloon in the coming years. Central to this sprawling wages scandal is the amount of time casual and sessional staff are given to mark essays, meet students and prepare courses. With marking, casual academics are typically paid a piece rate that is often set at about 4000 words an hour. There is growing evidence that these types of rates dramatically understate how long the work actually takes to do the job properly. More than half of all workers in Victorian universities are employed as casuals or on fixed contracts, making them fearful of speaking out. Here are the stories of some of these university workers. ANASTASIA KANJERE When she was pregnant, casual academic Dr Anastasia Kanjere worked up until 39 weeks and six days, a nerve wracking experience for both her and her students. She returned to work soon after the birth of her daughter. Advertisement I was returning to some form of work when she was two weeks old, that is due to having an incredibly supportive partner, Kanjere said. Anastasia Kanjere had eight separate contracts at the one time. Credit:Paul Jeffers That didnt come from my incredibly work-oriented brain. That came from having a paper that had to get written. At that stage, I was still hoping to get an academic career. I was back to full-time work (when my daughter was) four months old. Kanjere, currently at La Trobe Universitys School of Humanities and Social Sciences, felt she had little choice but to return to work so soon after the birth of her daughter. She has now worked for 12 years without job security. Loading At one stage Kanjere was juggling eight separate casual or short-term contracts including for teaching, for marking and as a research assistant. All at the same time. Honestly, theres no capacity to plan ahead. When I get offered work I just say yes and work out how I can make it work after. On Kanjeres calculations, shes been underpaid $52,000 over six years as the number of hours allocated to mark essays was so inadequate. That comes from a salary that works out at about $50,000 a year. Advertisement A former convenor of a network of casual workers at La Trobe, Kanjere now wants to leave academia. She says the issues are far deeper than just one university theyre sector wide. Im retraining to leave the industry. I will be one of many dedicated and passionate teachers that have left the sector for the same reason. TONY WILLIAMS Monash Universitys Tony Williams loves teaching history. While doing a masters, he decided against doing a PhD as he did not see the benefits and teaching was what he wanted to do most. I get a great deal of satisfaction in the work that I do at Monash, he says of the teaching roles he has held since 2014. But the weight of years of precarious work with little or no job security has taken its toll. Monash academic Tony Williams loves teaching. Credit:Simon Schluter To supplement teaching history Williams works in a supermarket. With the two jobs during the semester, I work like a dog seven days a week, he says. During that period the money Im making is good, Im not struggling to get by. But there is lean time between semesters and the lack of permanency makes other life decisions hard. He cant imagine buying a house as hed be unable to service a loan just on a supermarket income. Advertisement It kind of feels like youre treading water ... I realised recently Id been doing this (teaching) for 10 years and if I had an ongoing job, Id be getting long service leave, he says. Loading It gave me pause to reflect on how depressing it is to have to reapply for my job every six months. Im 38 this year, and it feels like Ive kind of done nothing with my life. He says he has more than enough work to be employed permanently at the university. The last three years Ive been working the equivalent of full-time hours and more than full-time hours in semester. Theres definitely teaching work. If they chose to give me a full-time job they wouldnt have problems. Williams says he had been underpaid while at Monash and is part of a Federal Court case against the university. Monash, through a spokesman, said it had taken significant steps to improve its payment systems and was strongly committed to ensuring all staff are paid correctly. Advertisement The disrespect, Williams says, extends to small things with casuals often having their email addresses disconnected at the end of a semester, even though they have worked at the university for years. They dont even tell you if you have a job next semester, and they only tell you if youre needed. They essentially ghost you. PAN KARANIKOLAS Someone is getting short-changed. Its going to be either you or the student, says Pan Karanikolas of working as a casual academic. Karanikolas, currently at La Trobe University in the department of social inquiry, has worked on short-term casual contracts since 2016 across several universities as a tutor, research assistant and developing courses. Pan Karanikolas has worked at several universities as a casual academic and was not paid for the hours they worked. Credit:Paul Jeffers They have never had a longer teaching engagement than a semester with contracts that specify how many hours particular parts of the job should take. Advertisement I am unpersuaded that a case has been shown to make the potentially quite onerous, and undoubtedly invasive, orders that the defendant seeks, Chen determined. Loading The judge also granted Mosss lawyers leave to rely on a statement from her manager, Lauren Miller, the daughter of the late Harry M Miller who initially signed Moss to his talent agency. Coghills lawyers had argued Millers statement, which includes details of the claimed impact Mosss injury has had on her career and earning capacity, was not expert evidence. Crazy Murdoch tales surpass fantasy Four days since Vanity Fair published accounts of Shakespearean-level intrigue, power struggles with global consequences and even a bit of Voodoo magic on the Murdoch family barbecue, the powerful media clan has remained deafeningly silent on the matter. However, a source close to the Murdochs in New York told PS on Friday: It was a crazy piece ... riddled with inaccuracies and falsehoods, which in some places was almost comical. During dinners we had with Jerry and Rupert, Jerry wouldnt hold back, Jerry Halls friend Tom Cashin - the only named source quoted in the article - bravely tells special correspondent Gabriel Sherman about the most recent Mrs Murdochs disdain for then-US president Donald Trump, despite her husbands ongoing support for him. Happier times: Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch with Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall at a family lunch in Bel Air in 2019. Credit: Frank Micelotta/Fox/PictureGroup Then theres the account of the disaster aboard Lachlan Murdochs superyacht Sarissa in early January 2018. Hall was asleep in the stateroom aboard Sarissa when she bolted awake at the sound of Murdoch moaning in agony, writes Sherman. Hall alerted the captain who gave Murdoch a painkiller shot before sailing through the night to the nearest port, Pointe-a-Pitre, on the French island of Grande-Terre in Guadeloupe. But the crisis kept getting worse. Lachlans massive boat towered over the pier, and it was perilous to lower Murdoch in a stretcher. Once they managed to get Murdoch off the boat, they discovered the islands hospital was closed after a recent fire. Murdoch had to spend the night on a gurney under a tent in the parking lot until Jamess private jet landed with a medivac team. Rupert Murdoch and his third wife Wendi Deng in 2012. Credit: Bloomberg Oh, the ignominy of it all. Murdoch was flown to California where doctors diagnosed a heart arrhythmia and broken back. The X-rays also revealed the next clanger: Murdoch had fractured vertebrae before. Murdoch reportedly claimed that it must have been from the time his ex-wife No.3 Wendi Deng pushed him into a piano during a fight, after which he spent weeks on the couch. Deng did not respond to Vanity Fairs requests for comment. Sherman also claims that despite Murdochs PR machine leaking stories he was still in command and working from home, in reality he was in terrible shape being spoon-fed by his wife-turned-carer Hall. When COVID-19 emerged in early 2020, Murdochs doctors told him he needed to take extreme precautions to protect himself. He quarantined with Hall in Bel Air without staff for months. Hall bought robot vacuums to clean the floors, baked sourdough bread and cooked simple meals of roast chicken, leg of lamb, and vegetarian pasta, the magazine claims. Murdoch watched the stock market and took Zoom calls. Hall took online winemaking courses. Hall told friends Murdoch wanted her to do it, so he could write off $US3 million of vineyard expenses as long as she worked 500 hours a year on winemaking. Loading Not long after came the divorce, by email. According to Sherman, Hall was waiting for Murdoch to meet her at their Oxfordshire estate last June when she checked her phone. Jerry, sadly, Ive decided to call an end to our marriage, Murdochs email began, according to a screenshot Sherman says he has read. We have certainly had some good times, but I have much to do My New York lawyer will be contacting yours immediately. One of the terms of the settlement, according to Sherman, was that Hall couldnt give story ideas to the writers of Succession. Hall reportedly told friends she had to move everything out of the Bel Air estate within 30 days and show receipts to prove items belonged to her. According to Vanity Fair security guards watched as her children helped her pack. When she settled into the Oxfordshire home she received in the divorce, she discovered surveillance cameras were still sending footage back to Fox headquarters. Mick Jagger sent his security consultant to disconnect them, Sherman claims. Four months later Murdoch was vacationing in Barbados with a new girlfriend, former dental hygienist turned right-wing evangelist Ann Lesley Smith. Murdoch and Hall had hosted Smith for dinner at their ranch in Carmel, California, about a year earlier. Smith was dating the ranch manager. At the time, Hall didnt think anything of it when Smith told Murdoch that he and Fox News were saving democracy. Or when she offered to give Murdoch a teeth cleaning. She was devastated, mad, and humiliated, Halls pal Cashin helpfully tells Vanity Fair, which then goes on to report that on the first day of Lent in February, Hall told friends she made an effigy of Murdoch, tied dental floss around its neck, and burned it on the grill. Olsens last works were for his kids In the hours before his death, John Olsen had been working on four unfinished paintings which were destined for his son, Sydney gallerist Tim, and designer daughter Louise. The late John Olsen with son Tim and daughter Louise. He was intent on finishing them. Before he went off to bed, he had managed to complete all four of them and sign them, it was really quite remarkable, Tim Olsen told PS on Thursday, having been inundated with condolence messages from across Australia and the world. Senator Penny Wong called me on Wednesday, apologising on behalf of Prime Minister Albanese as he was travelling. The PM wanted her to pass on his personal condolences, and offer the state funeral, he said. Along with Margaret Olley, I think dad is the only other artist to be given one. Weve had messages from Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull, Barry Humphries ... its been very overwhelming and humbling. Olsens last moments were spent in bed surrounded by family and admiring the lake view from his Southern Highlands property, which his son said remained his favourite spot. Paying the Milkrun celebrities Loading As grocery delivery service Milkrun prepared to close its doors on Friday, the company was frantically paying outstanding invoices from the army of influencers it hired to spruik the ill-fated concept. PS has confirmed that some are among Australias highest-profile social media players including Roxy Jacenko, who managed to get her outstanding invoice paid, and those of several stars she manages through her Ministry of Talent agency. PS understands influencers were earning between $850 and $10,000 per post promoting Milkrun, depending on how many followers each account commanded and the level of engagement they generated. 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 This story is part of the April 15 Edition of Good Weekend. See all 16 stories . Hat Trick I would like to point out an error in the story on Vue de Monde chef Hugh Allen [April 8], which claimed Allen was the youngest chef to ever secure three Good Food Guide hats. My husband William Andrew McIldowney was awarded three hats in 1983 by Claude Forell and Rita Ehrlich for his Melbourne restaurant Clichy, where he was the owner/chef. He was 21 at the time. While we dont wish to detract from Hugh Allens remarkable achievements, he is not the youngest chef ever to secure three hats. We enjoy reading your magazine each week, particularly the food and restaurant articles. Lissa McIldowney Castlemaine, VIC Editors note: You are quite right Lissa, our digital files for checking did not go back this far. Apologies to William for the error. 52 Top Wineries NSW Police Tasered a man after he allegedly stabbed and killed a paramedic who was finishing up his night shift and getting food at a McDonalds in Sydneys south-west on Friday morning. Police were called to the fast-food restaurant on Queen Street in Campbelltown about 5.30am after the mans colleague sounded a distress signal. Officers arrived to find the paramedic with stab wounds. He was treated at the scene and taken to Liverpool Hospital, but later died. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon said that when police arrived officers were confronted by a 21-year-old with a knife. The spinning wheel on a roulette table is seen at Japan Casino School in Tokyo, Aug. 4, 2018. Reuters-Yonhap Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a meeting of the government's integrated resort (IR) promotion headquarters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 14. AFP-Yonhap A 21-year-old man has been charged with the murder of paramedic Steven Tougher, who was just an hour or two away from clocking off when he was stabbed at a McDonalds in Sydneys south-west on Friday morning. The 29-year-old had dreamt of being an ambulance officer since he was five. He was the first paramedic to die after an alleged violent assault during a shift for NSW Ambulance a vocation devoted to saving the lives of others. The young father whose family have given permission to identify him had been on the job for only about a year when he and his partner pulled into the fast-food restaurant car park on Queen Street in Campbelltown. They had worked through the night shift and had just finished a case at the local hospital, and were literally just grabbing some sustenance as any person would expect that they would do and going about their job, a shaken NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said on Friday afternoon. Three police officers have allegedly been assaulted by a teenage girl after what police described as a large street disturbance at a Gold Coast tram stop. About 10pm on Friday, officers were responding to reports of the alleged assault of a 39-year-old man, who had sustained multiple facial injuries along the Gold Coast Highway at Broadbeach. A 15-year-old girl was charged with three counts of seriously assaulting police. Police arrested a 15-year-old girl, but while taking her into custody, she became agitated and allegedly assaulted three officers. Two constables one female and one male and a male sergeant received face and body injuries, police said, and were taken to Pindara Private Hospital. Former federal and Victorian Supreme Court judge Tony Pagone, who chaired the royal commission into aged care in 2019, is now leading the inquiry after the reviews first appointed chair, Nick Wimbush, resigned over a perceived conflict of interest following revelations published in The Age in February. Loading The Flemington flood wall was built by the Victoria Racing Club in 2007 with a permit granted by then Labor planning minister Mary Delahunty and green-lit by Melbourne Water with mitigation works, despite being opposed by local residents and three councils. Documents submitted by the racing club to the inquiry show that when the wall was in its planning stages, engineers investigating its feasibility warned that without mitigating measures, the structure would increase peak flood levels in the area by between 30 and 35 millimetres and potentially increase flood damage. The final engineers report concluded that proposed changes to a nearby road and rail bridge would more than offset the flooding impact of the wall on local properties. The racing clubs submission offered no view on whether the wall aggravated the impact of last Octobers floods on homes and businesses near the racecourse and distanced the clubs current board and administration from decisions taken 15 years earlier. With the passage of time since the Flemington Racecourse flood protection was constructed, knowledge of the current board and staff is relatively limited and it has not been possible to undertake a thorough review of all potentially relevant documentation to this point in time, the submission reads. More than 600 properties in Melbournes north-west were hit in the October 14 flood, which was the worst in 48 years and the third-largest since records began in the late 1800s. Submissions of residents inundated by floodwaters some of whom have not yet returned to their damaged homes expressed frustration at the narrow scope of the review, its perceived lack of independence from Melbourne Water, the lack of advance warning about the floods and the state governments decision to approve construction of the Flemington wall. I am not hydrologist but as there was less than 20 centimetres covering our floor, the volume of water held back by the Flemington wall, had it been dissipated over the racecourse, I believe would have saved our property and the forty-seven other properties in our retirement village, said a resident of the Rivervue retirement village built on a bend of the Maribyrnong River in Avondale Heights. Another flood-affected resident wrote: The wall must come down. The Flemington Racecourse flood wall kept the track in perfect condition while Maribyrnong homes flooded. Credit: Emma Johnston Maribyrnong resident Madeleine Serle, who is still restricted to the second floor of her home as the ground floor remains in a state of disrepair, expressed disappointment with the Victoria Racing Clubs submission. I would like them to appreciate that they may have to make a change and cant just take it as granted that they can keep this wall in place, she said. In her submission to the inquiry, she described the Melbourne Water review as an egregious and misconceived waste of time and effort. The Maribyrnong floods were a catastrophe and a comprehensive failure by Melbourne Water to do its job, writ large, she wrote. Melbourne Waters submission states that the most recent flood modelling for the lower Maribyrnong River was commissioned in 2003, using hydrological work completed in 1986 as its starting point. Loading It is common practice for updated flood models to build from data sets used in previous models, it said. The water authority says that valuable information from the October flood will be used to improve its modelling, but adds there is no regulated standard for the frequency of updating flood models. Melbourne Water is examining how it can better resource its flood-modelling work. Climate change is named as a complicating factor that will be embedded into new modelling. Extreme rainfall events in greater Melbourne will become more intense through the next century, the submission states. This is making it harder to rely on historic data to predict future floods. Given this known future impact, it is no longer adequate to use past rainfall events as an indicator of the potential future events. Detailing the events leading up to the morning of October 14, the submission places some blame on the Bureau of Meteorologys rainfall forecast, explaining it was revised down on the afternoon before the flood and led to Melbourne Water downgrading its flood prediction to moderate at 2.24pm. Twelve hours later, the flood warning was again upgraded to major, but most residents had already gone to sleep, not anticipating any danger. Around 12.30am on October 14, Melbourne Water identified that the real-time data showed the river was rising faster than the model had predicted. Melbourne Water updated its predictions. The submission states that the rain forecast changed several times, while conceding this is not unusual because predictions become more accurate closer to the time of the rainfall. The Maribyrnong catchment had already received large volumes of rainfall in the preceding weeks by the time of the storm event ... This means that the above-average rainfall on an already wet catchment created larger than normal volumes of runoff. A spokeswoman for the Bureau of Meteorology, which did not enter a submission, denied it was being blamed. The submission talks about the facts of the event, she said. Daily briefings to Melbourne Water in the lead-up to the event provided greater detail around expected rainfall totals as the event drew closer. Melbourne Water argues in its submission that more needs to be done to help the community understand flood risk, similar to how Victoria improved bushfire preparedness. It cites a 2018 survey that found only 44 per cent of households in flood-prone areas were aware of their flood risk. Loading The flood risk profile of a city is less quantifiable under conditions of changing rainfall patterns due to climate change. This can have unintended consequences such as creating a sense of complacency that can cause communities to be less prepared. Melbourne Waters inquiry panel will now review all submissions before compiling its findings in a report to be published later this year. The inquiry has been mired in controversy since it was revealed it would not examine several matters, including early warning systems and urban planning. A Melbourne University associate professor who made persistent advances towards his junior research assistant and former student despite her rejections has lost his unfair dismissal case after the industrial umpire rejected his claim he was just being friendly. Former Melbourne University associate professor Aaron Harwood has lost his unfair dismissal case. Credit: Twitter Aaron Harwood claimed his autism which was undiagnosed when he sent his former student a series of text messages seeking a personal relationship explained his failure to pick up on her cues she wasnt interested. Harwoods 20-year academic career at the University of Melbourne was terminated in September, after it found he breached multiple workplace policies and sexually harassed the woman, an international student in the Melbourne School of Engineering and Technology. Harwood had been promoted to associate professor in the school, on a base salary of more than $162,000, not long before his employment was terminated. A Cottesloe grandfather will serve a suspended prison sentence at his aged care home after a 2021 incident that saw him kill a man. Hugh Campbell was 87 years old when he drove to the Cottesloe Hotel and drank five glasses of wine and three glasses of whiskey before driving home. Hugh Campbell (inset) had been drinking for six hours before the fatal crash. It was on that journey on March 9 two years ago that he mounted the curb and hit 77-year-old Douglas Worthington. CCTV shows you ploughed into the back of Mr Worthington, Justice Sam Vandongen said when sentencing Campbell on Friday. 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 People like Rajeskuma Rajagopal do not feel safe on Nauru, so travel at night in groups of at least four other men. But on February 9, 2021, the Tamil refugee was riding a motorbike alone when he heard a Toyota Harrier revving behind him. As the car approached, it did not stop but increased speed and knocked him to the ground. Rajagopal saw five people in the car before the driver changed gear into reverse and drove over him again, dragging him along the road. Thats the last he can remember but health workers familiar with his treatment, who are prevented from speaking publicly due to confidentiality agreements, said he was driven over several times and then kicked repeatedly. He was crushed, run over, beaten, said one person who treated Rajagopal. He was very lucky to be alive. Advertisement The health worker said it was the most severe attack by Nauruan locals against refugees they had witnessed and highlighted the shortcomings of the Australian government, and its private contractors, to keep detainees safe. Theres always a bit of an undercurrent of rage, but thats the worst Ive seen. What frustrates me is no one was brought to account for such a terrible thing to happen. There was no justice. Rajagopal stresses that not all Nauruans are dangerous. But in a population of 12,500 where around one in five are unemployed, some see the refugees who are paid $200 per week by the Australian government for food and work odd jobs around the island as a target. A spokesman for the Department of Home Affairs said Nauru is responsible for maintaining law and order, and while Australia provides health and welfare services, the department would not comment on whether this includes security. Rajeskuma Rajagopal in hospital after being attacked on Nauru in 2021. The attack has left Rajagopal permanently disabled. He is now learning to walk again from community detention in Sydneys western suburbs, where his requests to stay in Australia have been denied, under a bipartisan zero tolerance policy for refugees who arrive by boat. Transitory persons brought to Australia for a temporary purpose do not have a settlement pathway in Australia, a department spokesman said. Advertisement The severity of Rajagopals case has triggered calls for ministerial intervention to allow him to stay in Australia and reignited debate around the use of indefinite detention. The renewed debate comes after Labor and the Coalition blocked a bill by the Greens last month to bring refugees held on Nauru to Australia. Greens senator Nick McKim said Labor MPs profess to be working for change from within but when push comes to shove they vote the party line. In doing so, they place their own careers above the safety of refugees, McKim said. How many more people have to be killed, raped, abused or injured before this terrible chapter in this countrys story comes to an end? Independent MP Monique Ryan supported the Greens bill, and called for Rajagopal to be granted permanent protection in Australia. Hes been placed at risk by the Australian government. He should be allowed to stay, Ryan said. People left on Nauru and Manus [Island] have been effectively abandoned by our government. Enough is enough, its been too long. Advertisement Evacuation Rajagopal was collected from the roadside by emergency services and taken in a coma to hospital, where he was treated by staff employed by International Health and Medical Services, a private contractor paid by the Australian government. Three refugees who are still on the island say there was a delay in sending him to Australia because the staff thought he would die. One detainee, who declined to be named for fear of repercussions, said a group of Sri Lankan refugees were at the hospital day and night to pressure the authorities to take him to Australia. After three days, Rajagopal was flown from the Pacific island to Sydneys Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. The department spokesman said the department does not comment on individual cases, but stated medical evacuations to Australia or Taiwan occur in emergencies where specialist treatment is not available on Nauru. They told us it would be safe. Obviously, its not. Rajeskuma Rajagopal on life as a refugee on Nauru Over several months and 19 operations, plates and screws were lodged into Rajagopals arms, legs and mouth before he was discharged from hospital with a disfigured body and chronic pain to Villawood Detention Centre, where he spent 20 days. Advertisement Since August, he has lived alone in a small unit in Auburn. Still in community detention, he cannot work, travel interstate or see family, who remain in Sri Lanka. His gait is slow, disjointed and unbalanced, and he has no use of one hand. I thought I would have a peaceful life, the 37-year-old says through an interpreter. I am now disabled. Attempted murder Australias system of processing refugees on Nauru has a chequered past. The 21 square-kilometre island, packed with scorpions, dust and mould, has been the backdrop to self-immolation, riots, self-harm and death, which have prompted condemnation from the United Nations. Tents where refugees lived in the Nauru detention centre camps were covered in mould. Credit:Confidential At its peak, more than 1200 children and adult asylum seekers lived in tents filled with bunk-beds and surrounded by fencing. The former Coalition government opened the camp gates in 2016, allowing the remaining detainees to move freely around the island until a third country granted them visas. Advertisement At the time, I was called a racist, a bigot, a redneck and a xenophobe, Joyce says. Now Im just called correct. The Foreign Investment laws continued to be tightened during the pandemic to prevent predatory purchases. The Chinese government listed Australias foreign investment restrictions as number one on its list of 14 grievances. After sacking Joyce over the phone, Abbott cooled and recanted. Joyce had driven about 100 kilometres further down the highway when the call came. I was sacked at Manilla and I had my job back by the time I got to Bingara, he recounts. And by the time he got to the cabinet room he had decisively won the argument. I lost initially and I won eventually. Former prime minister Tony Abbott and Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce after Question Time in 2018. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Third is the Voice. The Nationals went early and hard in opposing it. The party announced a No to the proposed Indigenous Voice to parliament in November, even before the final form of words for the constitutional referendum was known. The party tasked a small group, with Jacinta Price most prominent among its members, to study the idea. It reported back to the party room a couple of times. The outcome was never in doubt: There was near unanimity at the first pass, says Bridget McKenzie, leader of the Nationals in the Senate. Our members have a very different lived experience, with most representing electorates which are among those with the largest proportions of Indigenous voters. And we are natural constitutional conservatives. In more visceral political terms, Barnaby Joyce made this point in internal Coalition discussions: If you want to go to pure, base politics, if this Voice gets up, the only person who benefits is Anthony Albanese, not the kid on the street in Kununurra. Hes used this argument, among others, in persuading senior Liberals to say no. Did the Nats lead the Liberal party on this decision? I would like to say we took the lead, says McKenzie. We were clear about our reasons, and the tone has been respectful. So we were able to show not only the Liberals but others that our position is thoughtful, not radical. I think that gave the Liberals comfort. A member of the Liberals leadership group says that while the Liberals were not led by the Nationals, they were influenced: The Nats certainly heightened things among our party membership. The early, firm decision of the junior coalition partner created a momentum that the Liberals could see and feel. It helped coalesce the Coalition on the issue. The Nationals decision was not unanimous. One MP, Andrew Gee, resigned from the party over it, and now sits on the crossbench. In this, he was foreshadowing the walkout by the Liberals Julian Leeser. He quit the shadow cabinet to sit on the Liberal backbench, where he will campaign for the Yes case. And within the Nationals, there were some concerned that the party leader, David Littleproud, was too hesitant. Says McKenzie, diplomatically and tellingly, I wouldnt say David was hesitant once the decision was made. Loading McKenzie says shes proud of the influence the Nationals have had on landmark choices over the past decade. The Nationals dont pretend to lead the Coalition. But, she says: On the big issues where theres direct impact in our communities, we will not back down. Or, as Joyce puts it: I think theres a case that when we are emphatic, and really believe in what we are doing, that we will win. Youve got to run a public campaign, you have to do the hard politicians work of changing peoples position, you cant just walk in and say, Ive got a great idea and youve gotta do it because were the National Party. Like a man riding a donkey, the Liberals seem to be leading most of the time. Until the donkey makes up its mind to go another way and will not yield. Stubborn as an ass. Are the Nationals justified in this triumphalism? Judith Brett, emeritus professor in politics at La Trobe University and an academic expert on the Liberal Party and its founder, Robert Menzies, thinks so: In the last decade, they can feel that they have won. The downside of that is that they have weakened the Liberals. Theyve weakened their coalition partner and now they are on the opposition benches. The Nationals have held their seats, so they are not defensive in the way the Libs are. So they have self confidence and theyve always played politics very hard. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the annual Garma festival in East Arnhem. Credit: Getty What about the remaining moderates of the Liberal party? The Liberal leader in the Senate and leading moderate, Simon Birmingham, argued internally that the shadow cabinet should not be bound to a party position on the Voice but be allowed a free vote, as the Liberals allowed for the republic referendum and the same-sex marriage plebiscite. And he looked uneasy this week in explaining that he will not follow Julian Leeser to the backbench: I have an important role to play, continuing to work as the shadow foreign minister, he told Sky on Friday. And it is important that people do fight for Liberal values to uphold the electoral prospects of our party as a broad church in the future as well defended and defined by John Howard over many years. The problem with this position, as former deputy Liberal leader Fred Chaney puts it, is that the small l Liberals havent stood up, the much-vaunted broad church hasnt been at all broad in its behaviour. The conservatives in the party have won on every major decision, making it ever harder for the moderates to hold their seats. Loading Chaney acknowledges Julian Leesers principled decision to quit the frontbench but says that otherwise the moderates never went out on a limb for anything thats why they lost all those seats to the teals. That included his niece Kate Chaney, a teal who won the traditional West Australian Liberal seat of Curtin last year. So was it wise of the Liberals to join the Nationals and decide formally to oppose the Voice? And to bind the shadow ministry to vote no, putting even more pressure on the remaining moderates? The Liberals deputy leader, Sussan Ley, on her so-called blitz this week visiting 16 electorates, said: The road back to government is through every single one of the states we lost, including the teal seats. But by choosing to vote no, the Liberals have just put the teal seats further out of their reach. Its a blitz in which the Libs strafe the voters they need to get back. 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. A Moscow court has fined Wikipedia for a Russian-language article it refused to remove about Russias invasion of Ukraine, the latest in a series of government moves to silence objective reporting or criticism of the war and restrict the Russian publics access to information. The court fined Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit that runs the free, publicly edited online encyclopedia, 2 million roubles ($36,000) for not removing an article titled Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia region, a reference to one of four Ukrainian provinces that Russia annexed in September. Ukrainian soldiers carry the coffin of a fallen comrade in Bucha in January. Credit: AP Most countries have condemned the annexation, as well as that by Russia in 2014 of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, as illegal. The state Tass news agency said the Wikimedia Foundation had failed to heed the demands of Russias 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. This is not just about taking home documents. That is of course itself illegal. But this is about the transmission, both the unlawful retention and the transmission of the documents. Everyone knows here that the documents in the end were transmitted, Attorney-General Merrick Garland said at the Justice Department. Investigators believe Teixeira was the leader of an online private chat group on 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 favourite memes. The affidavit in support of a criminal complaint and arrest warrant against Jack Teixeira. Credit: AP The eight-page court affidavit details several steps in the FBI investigation, including an interview on Monday with a Discord user familiar with Teixeiras online posts. The document does not identify the person or say how he or she was located. But the source told the FBI that a username linked to Teixeira began posting what appeared to be classified information roughly in December in an online chat that the user said was meant for the discussion of geopolitical affairs and past and current wars. The person provided the FBI with basic identifying information about Teixeira, including that he called himself Jack, claimed to be part of the Air National Guard and appeared to live in Massachusetts, according to the affidavit. Billing records the FBI subsequently obtained from Discord, which has said it was cooperating with the bureau, helped lead investigators to Teixeira, according to the FBI affidavit. Loading The person also told the FBI that Teixeira switched from typing out documents in his possession to taking them home and photographing them because he had become concerned that he may be discovered making the transcriptions of text in the workplace. Thats different from what posters have told The Associated Press and other media outlets, saying the user they would call the O.G. started posting images of documents because he was annoyed other users werent taking him seriously. Known as Thug Shaker Central, the group drew roughly two dozen enthusiasts who talked about their favourite types of guns and also shared memes and jokes. The group also held a running discussion on wars that included talk of Russias invasion of Ukraine. The affidavit also alleges Teixeira was detected on April 6 the day The New York Times first published a story about the breach of documents searching for the word leak in a classified system. The FBI says that was reason to believe Teixeira was trying to find information about the investigation into who was responsible for the leaks. The Justice Department has not alleged a particular motive. Accounts of those in the online private chat group where the documents were disclosed have depicted Teixeira as motivated more by bravado than ideology. Jack Teixeiras family members leave the Moakley Federal Courthouse Credit: AP His court appearance on Friday was brief. He entered the room in tan jail clothes and sat at the defence table next to his lawyer. At the end, a man who appeared to be a family member in the front row told Teixeira he loved him and the defendant responded I love you, too. His lawyer did not return a message seeking comment. The Biden administration has scrambled to contain the potential diplomatic and military fallout from the leaks since they were first reported, moving to reassure allies and assess the scope of damage. The classified documents which have not been individually authenticated in public by US 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. Classified documents have strict guidelines on how they must be handled, secured and destroyed. They are required to be kept in secure facilities, protocols Teixeira would have violated if copies were taken to his house. This image made from video provided by WCVB-TV, shows Jack Teixeira, in T-shirt and shorts, being taken into custody. Credit: AP Its still not known how Teixeira, an information technology specialist, allegedly obtained the documents, or what safeguards had been in place. The FBI said that he has held a top secret security clearance since 2021 with access to highly classified programs. Defence 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. An International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)-chartered plane carrying freed prisoners arrives at Sanaa Airport, amid a prisoner swap, in Sanaa, Yemen, April 14. Reuters-Yonhap An exchange of more than 800 prisoners linked to Yemen's long-running war began Friday, the International Committee for the Red Cross said. The United Nations-brokered deal, in the works for months, comes amid concerted diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict. It is most significant prisoner exchange in Yemen since both sides freed more than 1,000 detainees in October 2020. Thousands of people are believed to be held as prisoners of war by all sides since the war erupted. In the three-day exchange, flights will transport prisoners between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's capital, Sanaa, long held by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, said Majed Fadail, a deputy minister for human rights for Yemen's internationally recognized government. Other flights will bring prisoners between Sanaa and other Yemeni cities controlled by the internationally recognized government, he said. The Red Cross said that on Friday, there would be two rounds of simultaneous flights between Aden and Sanaa to transfer prisoners. Yemen's conflict began in 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa and much of the country's north. Yemen's internationally recognized government fled to the south and then into exile in Saudi Arabia. The Houthi takeover prompted a Saudi-led coalition to intervene months later. The conflict has in recent years turned into a regional proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with the United States long involved on the periphery, providing intelligence assistance to the kingdom. However, international criticism over Saudi airstrikes killing civilians saw the U.S. pull back its support. The war has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. The prisoner exchange had been scheduled to start earlier in the week but was delayed because of apparent logistical reasons. A freed prisoner sits on a wheelchair as he waits to board an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)-chartered plane at Aden Airport, in Aden, Yemen, April 14. Reuters-Yonhap "With this act of goodwill, hundreds of families torn apart by conflict are being reunited during the holy month of Ramadan, a glimmer of hope amidst great suffering," Fabrizio Carboni, the Red Cross' regional director for the Near and Middle East, said in a statement. "Our deep desire is that these releases provide momentum for a broader political solution, leading to even more detainees returning to their loved ones." The deal tentatively calls for the Houthis to release more than 180 prisoners, including Saudi and Sudanese troops fighting with the Saudi-led coalition, and four Yemeni journalists. The journalists were detained in recent years and sentenced to death by a Houthi-controlled court in a trial described by Amnesty International as "grossly unfair." The deal also will see the release of top military officials held by the Houthis since the start of the war. Those include Maj. Gen. Mahmoud al-Subaihi, who was the defense minister when the war erupted; Nasser Mansour Hadi, the brother of former Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi; and relatives of late strongman President Ali Abdullah Saleh. In return, the Saudi-led coalition and Yemeni government are scheduled to release more than 700 Houthi prisoners, the rebels said. Saudi Arabia has already freed 13 Houthi detainees who returned to Sanaa on April 9 ahead of a trip by Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed bin Saeed al-Jaber, to the Yemeni capital. Including those detainees, the deal will see a total of 869 prisoners released, the Red Cross says. Al-Jaber visit to Sanaa was part of Oman-brokered talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, aiming to revive a nationwide cease-fire that expired in October and relaunch inter-Yemeni peace talks to end the conflict. A deal last month between Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore ties has boosted negotiations between the kingdom and the Houthis and invigorated hopes of a negotiated settlement to the Yemeni conflict. However, some analysts fear that Saudi Arabia's withdrawal could see a new version of the conflict erupt between Yemen's rival governments. Then there are also secessionists who want to restore a separate country of South Yemen, which existed from 1967 to 1990. "I see prospects for temporary peace between the Saudis and the Houthis but escalation of violence within Yemen," said Nadwa Dawsari, a nonresident scholar with the Middle East Institute, a Washington-based think-tank. She said that the Houthis have not shown themselves to be willing to compromise to reach peace with other Yemeni groups. "That is their ideology, they feel they are entitled to rule," she said. Yemen also remains home to al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, viewed by Washington as a dangerous offshoot of the Islamic extremist group. (AP) Trump previously met with James lawyers on August 10, but refused to answer all but a few procedural questions, invoking his Fifth Amendment rights more than 400 times. At the time, James had not yet brought her lawsuit and it was unclear whether questions about the way Trump valued his company would become the basis of a criminal case. Anyone in my position not taking the Fifth Amendment would be a fool, an absolute fool, he said in that deposition, which was recorded on video and later released publicly. Trump predicted a renegade prosecutor would try to make a criminal case out of his answers, if he gave them. Former president Donald Trump speaks at his Mar-a-Lago estate after being indicted over hush money payments. Credit: AP 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. Circumstances since then have changed. The criminal charges brought by the Manhattan district attorney focused on how the company accounted internally for payments to a lawyer, Michael Cohen, for his work paying off people not to go public with stories about extramarital sexual encounters Trump said never happened. The lawsuit James brought is scheduled to go to trial in October. Video recordings of Trumps depositions could potentially be played at the trial, if the lawsuit is not settled. Thursdays deposition was conducted in private. Separately, new revelations that a major contributor to Democrats helped finance a lawsuit accusing Trump of rape was fresh reason to delay that cases trial for a month, a lawyer for Trump said. But his accusers lawyers claims Trump just wants to avoid trial. Earlier this week, Trump attorney Joe Tacopina asked for a one-month delay, saying adverse publicity over Trumps arrest last week on criminal charges in New York state court made a delay necessary. The request by attorney Alina Habba on Trumps rape trail is the second time this week that a Trump lawyer has asked to delay the April 25 trial resulting from a lawsuit in which columnist E Jean Carroll says Trump raped her in 1996 in an upscale Manhattan department store dressing room. He denies the allegations. In her letter , Habba said Carrolls lawyers had disclosed for the first time this week that they had received funding from American Future Republic, a social welfare organisation funded by Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn. E. Jean Carroll, who alleges Donald Trump sexually assaulted her in a New York department store dressing room in the 1990s, is suing him for defamation. Credit: AP Habba wrote that the revelation raised significant questions about Carrolls credibility and motives Trump has denied that he raped Carroll and has accused the former longtime Elle magazine 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. Habba wrote that the revelation raises significant questions about Carrolls credibility and motives for suing Trump in November after New York state enacted a law allowing victims to sue those who committed sexual abuse against them, even if it happened decades ago. Loading She said it also goes to the heart of Trumps defence because he has consistently labelled Carrolls 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, Carrolls lawyer, responded in a letter to the court on Thursday, asking the judge to deny Trumps 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 organisation. Carrolls lawyers then notified Trumps lawyers, who demanded to know the source of the funding. LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffmans organisation has given money to lawyers for E. Jean Carroll. Credit: Bloomberg Meanwhile, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals released a written opinion on Thursday providing additional legal insight that the 2nd US 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 DC court to provide insight into the law addressing when an employer should be liable for the actions of its employee. The Story of Tata: 1868 to 2021 Author: Peter Casey Publisher: Penguin Random House Pages: 228 : Penguin Random House Price: Rs 535 The bitter public dispute between Ratan Tata, patriarch of the Tata companies, and the late Cyrus Mistry, whose four-year stint as chairman of Tata Sons ended with his dismissal in October 2016, has fuelled stacks of books, reams of newsprint and server-heating loads of articles. Informed by arguments and supporting documents presented by both sides to the courts where the matter landed up, most writings have the basic facts down. Of these, though, none seem to have had the last word. : Rs 535 Also Read Ratan Tata sets up new endowment trust, likely to fund charities in future One year since Tatas took over Air India, here's how the journey has been Ratan Tata's close confidant Mehli Mistry to join two Tata Trusts Exploited in America After Ratan Tata, now Niranjan Hiranandani invests in Goodfellows A scam primer India's G20 opportunities War, peace and environmental devastation Missing female scientists and reforming the creaking policy machine The migratory human This book, too, is not the last word. Appearing perhaps later than other books on the issue, this one, by Irish-American entrepreneur Peter Casey, is authorised by the Tatas. So, the book has inputs from Noel Tata, as well as group insiders N Chandrasekaran and R Venkataramanan, besides others, including, most importantly, Ratan Tata. As such matters are, the Tata-Mistry clash between value systems is open to any kind of slant. Even-handedness would strip the dispute of emotion. This can happen only when the dispute becomes non-newsy. The book, through direct interviews with Ratan Tata, explores his values as seen in the group companies operations a society-centred approach, an employee-centred approach, as evidenced through case studies, for one a refusal to fire people during the lockdown and a recounting of the philanthropic work of the Tata Trusts (the owners of the companies). Another value, explored in depth, is risk-taking. The distinct conviction that Tata group companies create not only profits but also national assets is deployed perhaps to justify the high-cost and risky overseas acquisitions Ratan Tata made. This is underlined by mentioning his abhorrence of the status quo no less than 11 times. These risky business moves were a major bone of contention between Tata and Mistry. It is common knowledge: Mistry balked in retrospect at Ratan Tatas overseas acquisitions of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Corus Steel, his plans for AirAsia, and other initiatives that were not successful, including Tata Nano. We are told Mistry had a conflict of interest as a major stakeholder in the Mistry companies, to which he is said to have given Tata contracts. He also is said to have made decisions as chairman without taking the board into confidence. Nor did he submit meaningful plans for the coming years. More or less, this information has appeared elsewhere. The book does go further. The phrase national assets, it is explained, draws on the legacy he inherited from his predecessors, including Jamsetji Tata and JRD Tata, who created heavy industries or prestige industries. (This, it strikes you, though it isnt mentioned in this book, explains his acquisition of loss-making Air India. An emotional feeling for a national asset, much like the Taj Mahal hotel, which contributes far less profit to Tata Sons than the company behemoths do.) To quote: One of his [Ratan Tatas] chief criticisms of Cyrus Mistry was what Ratan called his mindset of I cant run this. Sell it. Close it down. This, Ratan explained, isnt what Tata has been about... [W]e make a damn good effort to turn them back into profit. See, weve always been somewhat closer to national assets.... Speaking of legacy values: we are given a pacy account of the origin of Tata businesses, profiles of Jamsetji Tata, his philanthropic sons Dorabji and Ratanji, of JRD Tata and of Ratan Tata. A few key Tata executives, non-family members, too, are profiled. Their philanthropic vision is mapped out comprehensively. Ratan Tatas vision for his companies, in particular, and how it plays out in todays economy, is also described. Besides preserving values, we are told, the protector has to make the group grow, and if not, stave off negative growth. [I]t is unlikely, says the author, that he [Mistry] would qualify as a protector of the flame. Where Guptas book differs from this one is in its dispassionate analysis of these moves as flashpoints for the Tata-Mistry quarrel. In so doing it airs Mistrys grievances, too. The publicly known facts about the Tata-Mistry dispute appear in a non-authorised book written by business journalist Deepali Gupta, Tata vs Mistry: The Battle for Indias Greatest Business Empire. It also mentions these -- Corus, JLR, Tata Nano, AirAsia -- as Ratan Tatas big moves, which Cyrus Mistry was less than enthusiastic about sustaining. Reading that book might make you speculate, as I did, that these were Ratan Tatas attempts to leave a legacy as a postcolonial Indian businessman expanding his company internationally, moves that were questioned and perhaps sought to be reversed by Cyrus Mistry. This discussion started after talks with private equity firm Kedaara Capital fell through a few months ago. While talks are still in the early stages, the funding is being positioned as a pre-IPO round for the Pune-based startup, sources told the ET. Omnichannel retailer FirstCry is in talks with a group of sovereign funds to help some of its shareholders sell a stake in the company for nearly $3 billion, an Economic Times report said. Domestic ownership SoftBank, led by Masayoshi Son, is likely to sell a portion of its 29 per cent stake in the omnichannel retailer of mother and baby products if the deal goes through, sources added. "Talks have been ongoing for a few months, but no agreement has been reached... Middle Eastern sovereigns and some pension funds may come on board in this secondary share sale," said the source, adding, "Deal contours can shift as discussions progress." A secondary share sale worth around $100 million is likely to be formalised, the report said. Also Read 71% IPOs of 2022 at premium; will retail investor euphoria sustain in 2023? Softbank to divest 29 mn shares in Paytm via block deals on Thursday Projects worth Rs 19,000 cr to get grants under Sovereign Green Fund Manoj Kohli parts ways with SoftBank India as country head, say sources New REIT, InvIT regime spells higher taxation for sovereign funds New pricing norms cut earnings downside for gas producers: S&P Ratings PTC India appoints 3 former IAS officers as independent directors Zee Music Company renews its licensing agreement with YouTube, Meta March-quarter PE investments fall 75% in sixth straight three-monthly dip James Murdoch's Bodhi Tree cuts planned investment in Reliance JV Viacom18 Other significant investors include Premji Invest (9-11 per cent), Mahindra Retail (12-13 per cent), and TPG (6-7 per cent), in addition to SoftBank. FirstCry may also seek additional domestic capital to strengthen its domestic ownership. As a multi-brand retailer, the company must follow the country's foreign investment rules and keep foreign holdings to less than 51 per cent. The secondary sale is expected to take place at the same valuation as its previous fundraise Earlier, talks with Kedaara were at a higher price but did not go through after months of them being engaged, a second person was quoted as saying by the ET. The company was valued at $2.7 billion after receiving capital from Premji Invest. This investment came after a funding from the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) fell through, even though the deal had been approved by India's antitrust regulator, the Competition Commission of India (CCI). FirstCry has been in talks for a long time to reduce its foreign holdings before going public, which is why it secured capital from Premji Invest. The company had planned to file draft IPO papers last year but postponed them due to market volatility. According to previous reports, SoftBank and NewQuest Capital Partners were looking to sell FirstCry shares on the secondary market, valuing the retailer at $3.5-4 billion. SoftBank selling stakes SoftBank has been partially exiting some of its India investments in listed companies over the last six to eight months as it seeks to distribute cash to sponsors or limited partners in the SoftBank Vision Fund. So far, SoftBank has profited slightly less than $6 billion from its India investments, including $4 billion from Flipkart's sale to Walmart in 2018. Since then, the group has returned to Flipkart by investing in it again in 2021. The Japanese conglomerate sold a $200 million stake in digital payments company Paytm in November of last year, and it recently pulled out $130 million by liquidating shares in logistics firm Delhivery. SoftBank's selling streak coincides with a technology rout in the public markets experienced by tech-heavy investors. According to the Financial Times, SoftBank is expected to sell almost all of its remaining shares in Alibaba Group, leaving it with only a 3.8 per cent stake in the Chinese ecommerce behemoth. The firm's most recent exit from a privately held Indian company was in Lenskart, an eyewear retailer that received a $500 million investment from the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.. The Japanese company is said to have made between $90-100 million from the Lenskart deal. FirstCry financials FirstCry is among a small number of profitable online-first Indian businesses. The company reported a net profit of Rs 216 crore for the FY 2021, compared to a loss of Rs 191 crore the previous year. Revenue increased to Rs 1,603 crore in FY21, up from Rs 814 crore the last year. Sources said that while its audited results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 are yet to be filed with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, it is expected to post a profit, excluding costs for employee stock ownership plans. Over the years, it (the US) has become one of @oyorooms most promising international marketsTo cater to this growing demand, we plan to add over 100 hotels this year across the states of Oregon, Washington, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia and Florida, Ritesh Agarwal, founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, tweeted. Softbank-backed hospitality firm OYO is planning to add over 100 hotels in the US in 2023. This is nearly double the number of hotels it added to its portfolio in 2022. While the pandemic slowed down our growth in 2020 and 21, 2022 was our best year with a 23 per cent growth in new hotels added to our portfolio v/s 2021, Agarwal added. Texas continues to be the largest and fastest-growing market for OYO in the US, while it also has a sizable concentration of hotels in Oregon, South and North Carolina, Florida and Georgia. This has also led to better customer trust and brand affinity for OYO in the region. The firm claims its revenues per room are three-fold higher than the industry in most locations. Nearly 41 per cent of OYO's bookings happen directly through its app/website. The hospitality industry in the US, he said, faced a massive trust deficit and as a relatively new player, OYO had its fair share of challenges. The biggest growth driver for us, however, was learning and delivering improved technological services. Our teams doubled down on solutions and products for hotel owners, and over 35 per cent of our new hotels came from recommendations or referrals by our existing hotel owners, he said. Also Read Surge in bookings, cost cutting fuel 8-fold surge in IPO-bound OYO's Ebitda Oyo founder Ritesh Agarwal urges companies to hire laid-off employees OYO announces launch of category for highly rated hotels in 70 cities IPO-bound OYO to refile DRHP with updates to Sebi by mid-February 71% IPOs of 2022 at premium; will retail investor euphoria sustain in 2023? NTPC to build more coal plants this year to meet soaring power demand Amazon.com Inc joins generative AI race, targets cloud customers Coffee Day Global, MACEL audit lapses: NFRA slaps Rs 1.25 cr fine Govt likely to ask Apple CEO Tim Cook to make more iPhones in India DMRC is lowest bidder for operation, maintenance of Mumbai Metro Line-3 In terms of scale and size for the tourism and hospitality industry, the US is a juggernaut with nearly 15 per cent of the global tourism spending emerging from the country. Our US operations have seen significant growth in 2022. But 2023 might just be the best year for us, said Gautam Swaroop, CEO, OYO International Hotels & Homes. We are taking measures to add hotels in high RevPar (per available room revenue) leisure markets such as the Pacific Northwest and will also focus on improving our presence along the East Coast. Over 15 hotels have already signed up with us so far in 2023 and we expect to add many more in the coming months, he added. Oravel Stays, the parent firm of OYO, recently refiled its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) under the confidential pre-filing route. OYOs US business recently announced that it had outpaced the budget hotel segments growth in RevPar with an 18 per cent rise in 2022 versus the pre-Covid year of 2019. The budget hotel segment, meanwhile, grew by only 6 per cent in the US. The issue size for the companys public listing was reduced by almost half to $400-600 billion, all of which will be raised through a primary issuance, in a bid to repay most of the firms debt, Business Standard had reported earlier. The company expects an issue timing of November this year, following approvals from Sebi. Last year, the Federal Communications Commission in the US granted Lynk the first ever licence under this new technology. American mobile technology player Lynk Global has made a presentation to Indian telcos to partner with them to offer the worlds first patented, proven and commercial satellite direct to a standard mobile phone system. The company is putting up small satellites which it calls cell towers in the sky to provide coverage in these areas. Lynk says that anyone who has a normal mobile phone in their pocket can now stay connected without any disruption or break everywhere including in spaces where there are dark spots or no coverage at all on a terrestrial mobile network. The technology will also provide a cost-effective way to connect the over one billion people around the globe who do not use mobiles because there is no connectivity in their areas. This obviates the need for consumers to carry two different phones, one for normal mobile services and the other for satellite-based services which are currently pretty expensive, though work is on to make them more affordable and lighter. Also Read Q2 results: Reliance Jio logs 26.9% jump in net profit as Arpu rises Mobile phone user base rises in Jan after four months of decline: Trai data Why free IPL on Jio vs paid on Disney? Airtel seeks Trai intervention Trai proposes regulatory framework to rate buildings on their digital infra This Chris Wood owned stock hit a 52-week low. What's worrying the Street? Wage protests halt high-speed grocery deliveries at Zomato's Blinkit Under the scanner: Sebi steps up probe into Adani-Hindenburg episode Blackstone-backed Nexus Select likely to launch retail REIT IPO in May AI to have huge impact on future of businesses, but challenges exist InCred Alternative launches its first long-short fund of Rs 1,000cr For inbound roaming for subscribers, Lynk would, for example, share Reliance Jios spectrum as it does not have any spectrum of its own in India. In its presentation to Reliance Jio, Lynk explained the business model. One, the mobile network operator does not have to put in anything more in capex and opex. Two, Lynk will make money by getting into a revenue share from traffic generated by its subscribers. Lynk is finalising contracts to launch the service with around 12 mobile network operators around the globe. A few days ago, it signed a contract with Telecel to provide services to Vodafone Ghana which will ensure 100 per cent mobile coverage for the 31 million inhabitants. Telcos say the march of technology is already happening pretty fast with companies such as Apple already announcing that the iPhone 14 will offer satellite and terrestrial services. Reliance Jio has been pushing for this flexibility in the 27.5 GHz to 29.5 GHz band. The issue has remained in abeyance due to opposition from satellite players. In its latest consultation paper, however, TRAI has re-opened the debate by asking for public consultation. It has asked for responses from stakeholders on the feasibility of the flexible use of spectrum in the 27.5- 28.5 GHz and between 28.5 GHz to 29.5 GHz for satellite as well as terrestrial. But Indian telcos say Lynks offer here will open up some knotty regulatory issues in spectrum which will need resolving. One is whether the TRAI and the government will enable flexibility of usage in certain spectrum bands which can be used for both satellite and terrestrial, leaving the choice with the operators. The government officials are meeting with representatives of industries such as ultra-pure copper, aluminium, water and gases, and others to explore their needs for establishing units near the proposed semiconductor manufacturing units, sources told the ET. In a bid to make the Indian Semiconductor Mission a success, the Centre is trying to lure companies in peripheral sectors for semiconductor manufacturing to set up shop in India, a report by the Economic Times said. Executives from several of these corporations returned to these sites last month, escorted by central and state government officials who took notes on some of their concerns, one of the officials said. Representatives from these companies first visited the proposed semiconductor unit sites in Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu in February, according to a senior official from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The entire process of semiconductor manufacturing involves around 1,200 distinct types of raw materials, said the official. These industries will need to be set up in proximity to the proposed semiconductor units, the official said, adding, Some of these raw materials cannot be transported over long distances due to fears of impurities getting in. We are trying to understand the exact requirements of these industries. Also Read Karnataka may get India's first semiconductor fab facility: Report On-tap application to set up fab plants likely; Meity may consider proposal Two Indian companies to pick up over 26% but less than 51% stake in ISMC Next Orbit to sell its entire stake in ISMC to Delhi-based B C Jindal group What made GSLV Mark III's last mission special? Indian financial system insulated from US, Swiss developments: RBI Guv Das Sunak, Modi to expedite progress on India-UK FTA: 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 There are some raw materials such as some rare earth minerals for which we have no option but to depend on imports. For others, which can be manufactured domestically, we want a complete ecosystem, the official told ET. Another government official said that the objective behind inviting these firms to set up plants in India rather than relying on imports was to ensure chip manufacture began on time and would be less affected by any disruptions in global supply chains. The central government plans to grant incentives totaling 50 per cent of the entire cost of the project under the scheme announced in 2021. In December 2021, the Centre launched a $10 billion (approximately Rs 76,000 crore) package to stimulate semiconductor production in India. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang speaks during a joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing Friday, April 14. AP-Yonhap China won't sell weapons to either side in the war in Ukraine, the country's foreign minister said Friday, responding to Western concerns that Beijing could provide military assistance to Russia. China has maintained that it is neutral in the conflict, while backing Russia politically, rhetorically and economically at a time when Western nations have imposed punishing sanctions and sought to isolate Moscow for its invasion of its neighbor. Qin Gang is the highest-level Chinese official to make such an explicit statement about arms sales to Russia. He added that China would also regulate the export of items with dual civilian and military use. "Regarding the export of military items, China adopts a prudent and responsible attitude," Qin said at a news conference alongside visiting German counterpart Annalena Baerbock. "China will not provide weapons to relevant parties of the conflict, and manage and control the exports of dual-use items in accordance with laws and regulations." The minister also reiterated China's willingness to help find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. At the same news conference, Qin also blamed Taiwan's government for heightened regional tensions after Beijing held large-scale military drills in an attempt to intimidate the island it claims as its own territory. In February, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. had intelligence suggesting China was considering providing arms and ammunition to Russia and warned that such involvement in the Kremlin's war effort would be a "serious problem." In recent days, European leaders have issued similar warnings, even as they visited China, and the European Union's foreign policy chief lashed out at Beijing, saying its support of Russia during the invasion was "a blatant violation" of its United Nations commitments. In her remarks, Baerbock also referred to China's role as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, saying it bore a special responsibility for helping end the conflict. "But I have to wonder why the Chinese positioning so far does not include a call for the aggressor, Russia, to stop the war," she said. "We all know that President (Vladimir) Putin would have the opportunity to do so at any time, and the people in Ukraine would like nothing more than to finally be able to live in peace again." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the funeral of Ukrainian officer Dmytro Kotsiubaylo, code-name "Da Vinci," at the St. Michael's Cathedral, in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 10. AP-Yonhap A visit to Moscow last month by Chinese leader Xi Jinping underscored how Beijing is increasingly becoming the senior partner in the relationship as it provides Russia with an economic lifeline and political cover. China announced Friday that Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu would visit Russia next week for meetings with counterpart Sergei Shoigu and other military officials. On both Ukraine and Taiwan, Qin articulated well-worn defenses of Chinese policies that underscore Beijing's rejection of criticisms from the West, particularly the U.S. Under the ardently nationalist Xi, China has sharpened its rhetoric, particularly on the issue of Taiwan, which split from mainland China amid civil war in 1949. Tensions around the island rose significantly after China deployed 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. China insists that self-governing Taiwan submit to its rule, either peacefully or by force, and Qin said the pursuit of independence by Taiwan's government and its foreign supporters a veiled reference to chief ally the United States were the reason for the tensions. Baerbock warned that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, through which much of the world's international trade passes, would bring global disaster. "We therefore view the increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait with great concern," she said. "Conflicts must be resolved peacefully. A unilateral change of the status quo would not be acceptable to us as Europeans." Apparently rejecting Baerbock's concerns, Qin said Taiwan was "China's internal affair." "Taiwan independence and peace cannot co-exist," he said. (AP) So far, Indias banking system, Indias financial system remain completely insulated from the developments which have taken place in the US or Switzerland. Our banking system is resilient, stable, and healthy, Das said while addressing the media after the 2nd meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) held under Indias Presidency. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has said the Indian financial system remains completely insulated from the recent turmoil in the banking system in some developed economies. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das jointly chaired the FMCBG meeting on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund spring meeting in Washington DC. The meeting was organised in three sessions covering the Global Economy and International Financial Architecture; Sustainable Finance, Financial Sector, and Financial Inclusion; and International Taxation. Das further said that over the last few years, the RBI had significantly improved and tightened regulation and supervision of the entire banking system, including non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). All the parameters related to banking, whether it is capital adequacy or the percentage of stressed assets or the liquidity coverage ratio of individual banks both at the individual level as well as at the systemic levelwhichever parameter you take into consideration, the Indian banking system continues to be very healthy, Das added. Sitharaman in her media interaction said the finance ministers and governors in the FMCBG meeting recognised the urgency to address debt vulnerabilities, including strengthening multilateral coordination towards addressing increasing debt distress in low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries. Our focus of supervision is on early identification of any build-up of vulnerabilities and not to wait for a crisis to build up, find out and identify early signals, and then nudge the bank to take necessary actions to mitigate any build-up of vulnerability in their working or in their finances, he said. Also Read RBI hikes repo rate by 35 bps to 6.25%, cuts FY23 GDP forecast to 6.8% RBI MPC: Here is what experts have to say about the policy announcement RBI MPC: When and where to watch policy announcement by Shaktikanta Das RBI Monetary Policy: Repo rate up by 25 bps, FY23 inflation pegged at 6.5% RBI Meeting: All you need to know about additional monetary policy meet Heirs must know what you own to claim wealth: HNIs should opt for trusts Credit card spends touch all-time high of Rs 1.37 trillion in March India's forex reserves up $6.3 bn to $585 bn, highest in nine months FinMin plans Rs 3K cr extra capital infusion in PSU general insurance firms Budget houses go out of budget; high interest rates and EMIs pinch buyers Sitharaman also said that there is greater acceptance among G20 members about the regulations on crypto assets to be globally coordinated. Crypto assets which do not have sovereign backing can create macroeconomic instability, she added. Discussion of climate finance is moving in a positive direction, not just the current flow but also the quantum required for meeting climate challenges. Private financing, transitional costs & technological requirements are also being looked into, she added. The finance minister also participated in a high-level event on Sri Lankan debt issues on the sidelines of the spring meeting, where she expressed Indias commitment to support Sri Lanka in dealing with its current economic crisis and emphasised that a collaboration among creditors was important to ensure transparency and equality in treatment of all creditors in the debt restructuring discussions. She further added that the FMCBG meeting on international taxation focused on the urgent need to galvanise international efforts towards achieving a fair, sustainable and modern international tax system. Sitharaman said in a bilateral meeting with her Japanese counterpart Shunichi Suzuki, the latter invited India for a dialogue with the partners at the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting, scheduled for May 12. As things stand, I propose to go attend the meeting and actively engage with the G7 finance ministers, she added. A Jaipur Foot fitment centre has been established at Mongomo in central Africa's Equatorial Guinea. The sole manufacturer of the prosthetic leg, Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), signed an MoU with FCMNO, the charity foundation of the Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo's wife Constancia Mangue, a release said. Mangue, in her meeting with Satish Mehta, executive president of the BMVSS, laid emphasis on the need to train local people to fit the prosthetic legs, the release issued by the BMVSS said. "Mehta requested her to lead a pan-Africa initiative to provide Jaipur Foot limbs to all Africans who need them. This would enable them to regain their economic capacity and live a life of dignity, the release said. "The centre will not just provide artificial prosthetic limbs to persons with disabilities of Equatorial Guinea but also of the region, the release added. Speaking in Jaipur, founder and chief patron of the BMVSS DR Mehta said in March 2022, the Ministry of External Affairs had sponsored a 'Jaipur Foot Artificial Limb Fitment' camp in Mongomo under its 'India for Humanity' programme. Also Read Equatorial Guinea's president Obiang can extend rule to half a century Travel advisory issued against Marburg virus in Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania Homes destroyed, 4 reported dead from Papua New Guinea earthquake Closely working for early release of sailors held in Guinea: Indian mission Fitment panel to examine compensation cess structure for pan masala Mumbai reports 284 Covid-19 cases, one death in last 24 hours We make our policies on the basis of countrymen first, unlike the oppn: PM Nagaland State health dept begins anti-tobacco campaign in schools Covid variant XBB.1.16 driving up cases in India, know its symptoms Endemic is the new normal as daily Covid cases top 10,000 in India The Uttar Pradesh Police said Friday that they have gunned down 183 alleged criminals in encounters in the six years of Yogi Adityanath's government and this included gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad and his accomplice, who were killed in an exchange of fire in Jhansi. The UP Police data showed that more than 10,900 police encounters have taken place in the state since March 2017, when Adityanath took over as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh for the first time. In these encounters, 23,300 alleged criminals were arrested and 5,046 were injured. The number of policemen injured in them was 1,443 and 13 were killed, the data showed. Of the 13 policemen killed in encounters since March 2017, eight were ambushed in a narrow lane of Kanpur by the aides of notorious gangster Vikas Dubey. Dubey was shot dead by police when he tried to escape while being brought to UP from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. Police said Dubey's vehicle had overturned during the transit and he had snatched a policeman's gun. Also Read UP CM Adityanath announces Rs 500 monthly motorcycle allowance for police UP govt likely to table supplementary Budget in today's Assembly session Uttar Pradesh delegation to visit US to attract investments for 'Invest UP' Yogi Adityanath govt to present its largest-ever annual budget today Uttar Pradesh Police arrests 11 for using unfair means in PET 2022 ED lying in court,' AAP leader claims Sisodia didn't destroy mobile phones Despite hoping for better prices this season, rains dampen farmers' returns Women-run farmer producer organisations make inroads into may sectors 40 injured in footbridge collapse during Baisakhi fair in J-K's Udhampur Tamil Nadu BJP chief accuses Stalin of corruption; DMK says political stunt "As many as 183 criminals have been gunned down in police encounters in the state since March 20, 2017," Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar told PTI. However, the critics of the government and opposition parities have alleged that many of these encounters were "fake" and demanded a high-level probe to bring out the facts. The UP government and the police have denied these allegations and said law and order has improved since the BJP came to power in 2017. The demand for a thorough probe was most recently raised by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati after Asad and his aide Ghulam were shot dead in Jhansi on Thursday. Both Asad and Ghulam were wanted for the daylight murder of Umesh Pal, a key witness in the killing of then BSP legislator Raju Pal in 2005, and his two security guards in Prayagraj in February this year. Hours after their killing in Jhansi, Yadav suggested the police encounter could be "fake". "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," he said in a tweet in Hindi. Shortly thereafter, Mayawati too demanded a "high-level" investigation to bring out "complete facts and truth" of the incident as "many types of discussions" were happening. She also linked the encounter to Dubey's killing. But Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has congratulated the police on the action. "Nobody will touch you if you don't commit a crime. And nobody will be spared if they commit a crime," Maurya said, asserting that this was a BJP government and not an SP regime that criminals would be spared. On Friday, the SP released a list on Twitter, asking whether those on it were close to Adityanath. It alleged everyone on the list belonged to the chief minister's caste and so were alive and running criminal gangs. The party's media cell, using the handle @MediaCellSP, said, "Are these special to Yogi ji? Actually, they all belong to the same caste as that of Yogi ji. Hence, they are still alive, committing crime, running the gangs, and indulging in murder, rape, loot, dacoity and extortion." "Note the list is old, but most of the criminals in it are BJP-supported and are active," it added. The list contained the names of several politicians with the alleged number of cases registered against them. Among them were Kuldeep Singh Sengar (Unnao, 28 cases), Brijesh Singh (Varanasi, 106 cases), Dhananjay Singh (Jaunpur, 46 cases) and Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias "Raja Bhaiyya" (Pratapgarh, 31 cases). Some activists too have raised questions over the high number of police encounters in the state. "We are of the view that the National Human Rights Commission has some guidelines on police encounters. And there should be a magisterial probe as per the guidelines of the NHRC. It will make the picture clear," Lenin Raghuvanshi, the founder-convenor of People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights, told PTI. Thursday's encounter killing of Atiq Ahmad's son and his aide was the seventh under Prayagraj police commissionerate. It was also the third such encounter in the Umesh Pal murder case. In February and March, two men who allegedly took part in Umesh Pal's killing were gunned down. Asad was caught on CCTV when Umesh Pal was killed and was on the run for 50 days, police said. Atiq Ahmad, a former SP legislator, has expressed fear that he himself could be killed by UP Police while being brought to Prayagraj from an Ahmedabad prison, where he was lodged in connection with another case. Installing CCTV cameras, restricting entry of outsiders, hiring private security and increasing the height of boundary walls -- these were among the measures suggested by a Delhi University's panel to augment security in the wake of IP college harassment incident. The guidelines have been prepared by the DU in collaboration with Delhi Police, an official, who is part of this committee, told PTI. This is expected to be notified on Monday, the official added. "We have prepared the guidelines after holding several meetings and analysing the incident at IPCW College. We do not want the such incident be repeated in the future. "The guidelines were prepared. However, there were some inputs from the Delhi Police, we are including those as well. It will be notified on Monday," the official said. The guidelines were prepared in the wake of several all-women colleges witnessing such harassment incidents during cultural festivals. Also Read Survey shows high-level public support for some forms of govt surveillance Mandatory CCTV cameras in public spaces bill introduced in Assam Assembly Threats from Chinese telecom, surveillance equipment haunt global clients India doesn't need to ban int'l flights, impose lockdown right now: Experts Measures undertaken to secure nuclear plant systems from cyber-attack: MoS CBI raids Trinamool MLA's residence regarding teachers' recruitment scam CM KC Rao 'failed', should apologise to Dalits: Telangana BJP chief Good education can help alleviate poverty from society: Delhi CM Kejriwal L-G's approval to extend power subsidy pending; people will suffer: Atishi Some leaders may be leaving BJP, but workers are committed to party: Bommai The recent incident took place at Indraprastha College for Women (IPCW), where on March 28, students alleged that they were harassed by 'unknown' men during a fest. The students staged several protests, demanding principal Poonam Kumria's resignation and accountability on the part of the college. Following their protests, the DU formed a committee on April 3 to look into "the grievances raised by the students" and asked the panel to submit its report in a week. Though the committee is yet to submit its report, the official said they have held a series of meetings, including with the Delhi Police, to prepare guidelines to prevent such incidents in the future. The official asserted that colleges need to take responsibility for the safety and security of the students if they are holding any events. "They cannot let these incidents. The major problem we found in the case of IPCW is that the boundary walls were too low and there was only one exit, which led to the chaos," she said. Moreover, there was no proper security, the official added. Though recent incidents have been reported at all-women colleges, "general guidelines" have been prepared that need to be followed by every college affiliated with Delhi University. "In the guidelines, we have mentioned that the colleges need to take responsibility if they are organising any kind of event. Moreover, the college needs to install CCTVs. If the boundary walls are low, the college needs to build them higher. We cannot allow people climbing them to enter. Hire bouncers if needed. Take NOC from the Delhi Police," the official informed. 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." Also Read Scindia to execute power show during Amit Shah's Gwalior visit on Oct 16 Jyotiraditya Scindia urges states and UTs to reduce tax on jet fuel Scindia inaugurates Air India's direct flight between Mumbai-San Francisco Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia tests positive for coronavirus Jyotiraditya Scindia flags off direct flights between Pune and Singapore Will not beg in front of Centre for clearance of dues to Bengal: Mamata One should stand like rock in difficult circumstances: Vasundhra Raje Farmers will get compensation for crop damage in May: Haryana Agri Minister IAF to deploy four Rafale jets in first overseas exercise in France Courts to have liberal view towards Consumer Protection Act provisions: SC 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. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that India has taken a huge lead globally in dealing with the issue of property rights, which result in the burdening of the legal system of any country. While attending the Gauhati High Court's platinum jubilee celebrations, the Prime Minister said that even developed nations are dealing with the issue of unclear property rights. "Drone mapping of more than one lakh villages in the country along with property card distribution to lakhs of citizens have already been accomplished. This will result in a decline in property-related cases and ease the lives of citizens," the Prime Minister said. Modi also said that there is unlimited scope for technology to modernise the justice delivery system in the country. Praising the work of the Supreme Court's e-committee, the Prime Minister told the gathering about Phase 3 of the e-court mission as announced in this year's Budget. Modi also mentioned the global efforts to use AI in the judicial system to bring more efficiency. Also Read Attack of the Kamikaze drones: Russia's Iranian wildcard in Ukraine war No aid needed from AIUDF, AAMSU to re-design district boundaries: Assam CM Assam, Arunachal Pradesh hold border talks; likely to resolve disputes Ukraine War: What are Kamikaze drones deployed by the Russian military? Nine months into war, Ukraine claims success in downing Russian drones Delhi transport dept to study feasibility of converting govt trucks into EV Students' Grievance Regulations prevents caste-based discrimination: UGC Majority of men in India love gaming apps; women prefer food: Report India, Mauritius review vostro account mechanism, implementation of CECPA Babasaheb's dream of justice for all becoming reality now: Rijiju "We should also try to increase efforts to improve ease of justice for the common citizens through AI," he said. Talking about the Alternative Dispute Resolution System, the Prime Minister touched upon the traditional alternative dispute resolution mechanism of the northeast. The Prime Minister emphasised the need for the government and the judiciary to be sensitive towards those who have been incarcerated for petty crimes for years and do not have the resources or the money. Modi then took note of those whose families are not ready to accept them after the completion of legal processes. The Prime Minister also gave the example of the abolition of outdated laws. "We repealed thousands of archaic laws to reduce compliances," he said. Modi mentioned that about 2,000 such laws and more than 40,000 compliances have been discontinued. This along with the decriminalisation of many provisions of business has reduced the number of cases in the courts, he said. --IANS tdr/arm Gendarmerie officers in anti-riot gear secure the access to the French Constitutional Council in Paris, April 14. EPA-Yonhap An elite French institution was expected to rule Friday on whether President Emmanuel Macron's contested plan to raise the retirement age is constitutional, a decision that could calm or further enrage opponents of the change. All eyes were on the heavily guarded Constitutional Council, which can nix all or parts of a complex pension reform plan that Macron pushed through without a vote by the lower house of parliament. Spontaneous demonstrations were likely around France ahead of the nine-member court's ruling. The president's drive to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64 has provoked months of labor strikes and protests. Violence by pockets of ultra-left radicals marked the 12 otherwise peaceful nationwide marches that unions organized since January. In addition to ruling on the pension reforms, the Constitutional Council also will decide on a request by lawmakers who oppose the plan to use a little-used and lengthy process that could ultimately lead to a referendum on a proposal for the legal retirement age not to exceed 62. The court members can reject the pension legislation in whole or in part. Any sections they conclude pass constitutional muster must be promulgated into law, whether or not the council also grants the referendum request. French General Confederation of Labour (CGT) unionists put a banner on the Herault prefecture during a demonstration on the day of a ruling from France's Constitutional Council on a contested pension reform pushed by the French government in Montpellier, southern France, on April 14. AFP-Yonhap Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said good education for children can create an impact that can help alleviate poverty. Addressing a gathering at a function at the Civic Centre -- the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) headquarters -- here on the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, he said teachers, sanitation workers and other employees will "work magic" in the next couple of years to improve the system like their counterparts in the Delhi government have done in the past few years. The AAP governs both the Delhi government and the MCD. In his address, he extolled Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, for laying out a vision for equality and egalitarianism in society and hailed his pursuit of higher education during the British era when not many Indians thought about getting degrees from institutions such as the Columbia University and the London School of Economics. Ambedkar knew the value of education and its role in lifting society from poverty and bringing equality among people, the chief minister said. He also placed a floral tribute at the statue of Ambedkar on the Civic Centre premises. Also Read J&K Police busts narcotics module in Kupwara, 5 cops among 17 arrested Want Delhi govt schools to be world's best, says CM Arvind Kejriwal Delhi not among 10 most polluted cities in Asia: CM Arvind Kejriwal Bow to all policemen who laid down their lives in line of duty: Kejriwal AAP claims Congress leader has a 'deal' with BJP ahead of MCD mayor poll L-G's approval to extend power subsidy pending; people will suffer: Atishi Some leaders may be leaving BJP, but workers are committed to party: Bommai Congress calls for JPC probe after industrialist Chang says he's Taiwanese Death row convicts taking advantage of inordinate delay in mercy petitions NGT asks panel to take remedial action in illegal groundwater extraction Earlier in the day, Kejriwal paid homage to Ambedkar in a tweet. "Tribute to revered Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar ji on his anniversary. Let's come together to create an India where all children in the country will get a better education, the country will progress and become number one in the world," he tweeted in Hindi. In his address at the MCD event, he also announced that the AAP-led dispensation plans to bring "healthy competition" to improve civic affairs in the city. "A 'model RWA award' has been proposed by Saurabh Bharadwaj so that one RWA (Residents' Welfare Association) can be picked as the best RWA every year. Then we can have 'best park', 'best sanitation worker', 'best sanitary inspector', among other awards, in each ward so that people give their best," Kejriwal said. He cited the example of Delhi government schools and said when he was working with his NGO before joining politics, people used to "criticise Delhi government schools" and "look down upon its schoolteachers". "Then, after we came to power, we worked on our schools and created a positive environment for teachers and others. And those same teachers who earlier drew flak from the people have now brought a change in the education ethos at Delhi government schools," the chief minister claimed. Children from poor economic backgrounds are now going to good institutions and bringing change in the lives of their families after getting jobs. He shared the example of a Delhi school student whose father is a plumber, and who secured admission to IIT-Roorkee in computer science. "Now, once he will graduate and get a job, he will change the life of his family... So, I don't say I will remove poverty, rather I will give you education with which you can alleviate poverty. We believe in the value and power of education," Kejriwal said. Good education imparted to children can create an impact that can help alleviate poverty from society, he said. This was Kejriwal's first visit to the Civic Centre as chief minister of Delhi. The event was also attended by Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, Mayor Shelly Oberoi, Deputy Mayor Aaley Mohammad Iqbal, Municipal Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti and several councillors, among others. "We will improve MCD schools too and clean Delhi and make it shine. These same teachers and sanitation workers of the MCD will work magic in a few years with a positive atmosphere around them, you will see," Kejriwal said. There are 250 wards in the MCD jurisdiction. It runs primary schools, various hospitals, polyclinics and dispensaries and is responsible for sanitation and other civic activities in the city. Set up in April 1958, the MCD was trifurcated into North Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation and East Delhi Municipal Corporation in 2012. The three civic bodies were reunified in 2022. In the first elections following the reunification in December 2022, the AAP emerged victorious to end the BJP's 15-year tenure in charge of the civic body. AAP councillor Shelly Oberoi has since been elected the Delhi mayor. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that high targets must be set in the India-Italy partnership as there is a lot of new potential especially in light of the recently elevated Strategic Partnership. The Minister elaborated on how a plethora of opportunities in India make it one of the world's most trusted business and investment destinations during his address at the CEOs Business Interactive session in Rome, Italy. He said that India is an open country with global linkages with the trade negotiations underway with EU and EFTA. The Minister said that India has witnessed 55 per cent growth in the overall exports in the last two years. He said that there are about 700 Italian companies operating in India and this is the most opportune time to be in India. The Minister also mentioned that India will provide a very robust and forward-looking policy framework with retrospective changes. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Italy, Antonio Tajani also participated in the interactive session and addressed the industry captains. Tajani expressed that there is a need to work together to create a better line of next generation in both the countries by backing MSMEs and industry. Goyal appreciated Tajani for the deep engagement and said that there is a tremendous potential for growth in the India-Italy partnership and through this visit new ideas have emerged. He said that the countries are connected by tradition, culture, shared values, rule of law and aspiration to achieve more and to work as one. He also expressed that India-Italy will grow together, achieve together, and conquer together. Also Read Goods and services exports may cross $750 bn-mark this fiscal: Piyush Goyal Union Minister Piyush Goyal pitches for startup database in country Countries eager to sign FTAs with India: Piyush Goyal in Rajya Sabha ONDC to support small retailers against large tech-based e-com firms: Goyal India, US working mechanism to export shrimps for Americans: Piyush Goyal India not to import dairy products, supplies are being improved: Rupala Even mild Covid infection can cause sudden hearing loss, reveals study Sports facilities to be expanded at SAI's National Centre of Excellence 'Will definitely go', says Delhi CM Kejriwal on Goa Police notice Climate change threatens survival of tigers in Sunderbans: Conservationists The CEOs Business Interactive session was organised by the Embassy of India in Rome, Italy in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the General Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria). The session had participation from more than 70 CEOs from Indian and Italian companies. The Italian business was represented by giants like Sparkle, Elettronica, Piaggio, Lamborghini, ITA, etc. The CEOs mentioned that India is an important economic player and it is time to step up the cooperation at both the government and industry level. They also mentioned that Italian companies are exploring various investment opportunities present in India. Vice President CII and Chairman and Managing Director, ITC Limited, Sanjiv Puri, emphasised that signing of India-EU FTA could be a catalyst for further enhancing India-Italy relationship. --IANS kvm/uk/ Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said SP is hopeful of forming an alliance of opposition parties to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in next year's Lok Sabha polls and that the Congress should join regional parties in their bastions to fight the BJP. I am hopeful that chief ministers like K Chandrasekhar Rao, Mamata Banerjee and Nitish Kumar and the way we are trying, some alliance or front will be formed which will take on the BJP (in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls), Yadav told reporters at the Indore Press Club. Earlier, the SP chief also paid tribute to Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar on his 132nd birth anniversary at the Dalit icon's memorial in Mhow. Replying to a question on opposition unity against the BJP, he said the Congress is a national party and it has to decide its own role in this regard. The Congress has got an opportunity to stand with regional parties in places where the latter are strong to take on the BJP, he said. He added that since the Congress is a big party, the SP is not giving any suggestions to it, but is definitely presenting its point of view to it. Also Read One who wants to serve country will never become Agniveer: Akhilesh Yadav BJP wants to run democracy with help of police, says Akhilesh Yadav Like Congress, BJP will lose for misusing central agencies: Akhilesh Yadav 'Take our 100 MLAs and become CM,' Akhilesh's offer to both Dy CMs of UP SP candidate Dimple Yadav to file nomination for Mainpuri bypolls on Monday Supreme Court asked to preserve abortion pill access rules Punjab transfers Rs 502.93 crore into bank accounts of wheat growers Punjab ex-CM Channi appears before Vigilance Bureau; quizzed for 7 hours SC collegium advises elevation of 3 judicial officers as judges of Delhi HC Those who will vote for BJP in 2024 LS polls will bring destruction: Nitish They (Congress) did a padyatra (foot march), but it didn't ask us anything about it," the SP president said, referring to the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by former Congress president Rahul Gandhi. A day after gangster Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and his accomplice were killed in an encounter with the Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh police in Jhansi, Yadav once again attacked the ruling BJP by raising the issue of "fake encounters". He alleged that people were being killed in fake encounters in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh "in view of elections". We have faith in the judiciary. The judiciary can take suo motu cognisance of cases of fake encounters. Those who feel that their kin have been killed in fake encounters should go to court against it, Yadav said. Asked about the deaths of dreaded gangsters in police encounters in Uttar Pradesh, the SP president said his party was not with any criminal, but asked why the UP government was discriminating against people on the basis of caste and religion? Hitting out at the BJP, he said, In which direction are you taking the country? These people want to divide the society to rule. Signing of free trade agreement between India and the European Union would help promote economic ties between the region and New Delhi. Vice President CII and Chairman and Managing Director, ITC Ltd, Sanjiv Puri, emphasised that signing of India-EU free trade agreement could be a catalyst for further enhancing India-Italy relationship, the commerce ministry said in a statement. He was speaking at the CEOs Business Interactive session organised here in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Confindustria on April 13. He was accompanying commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal here. Goyal had meetings with CEOs of some prominent Italian companies like SOL, SpA, Piaggio, CIBJO, Nayara Energy and Enel Green Power. The minister explained to them the investment climate in India, the policy reforms and the potential of investing and expanding in India. Also Read IndianOil, Adani-Total, Shell lap up Reliance's KG-D6 gas; IOC top bidder Kirit Parikh panel may recommend price caps to help moderate CNG rates Govt unveils plans to add 250GW renewable energy capacity in next 5 years Govt should scrap windfall profit tax on domestic crude oil: FICCI Adani's Dhamra LNG terminal receives 1st cargo, to start gas revolution High targets must be set in India-Italy partnership: Piyush Goyal India not to import dairy products, supplies are being improved: Rupala Even mild Covid infection can cause sudden hearing loss, reveals study Sports facilities to be expanded at SAI's National Centre of Excellence 'Will definitely go', says Delhi CM Kejriwal on Goa Police notice The CEOs informed the minister that they were looking at expanding operations in India for catering to the Indian markets as well as exports, the statement said. This will not only lead to production expansion and employment generation but also increase exports from India, it added. Having co-designed an indigenous, 25-tonne, light tank, the DRDO has placed a development order on L&T to build the first prototype, say Army sources. With the Indian Army on a major drive to equip itself adequately on the Sino-Indian border, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) have joined hands to develop an indigenous light tank that is optimised for the extreme cold and high altitude of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. The AoN requires L&T the MoDs development partner to build one regiment of light tanks, while the MoD acquires the other six regiments under the Make procedure. Meanwhile, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) the Ministry of Defences (MoDs) apex body for capital purchases has granted an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), or in-principle agreement, for seven light tank regiments, each equipped with 45 tanks. Mounted on this hull will be a 105-millimetre gun turret, procured ready-built from Belgian firm, John Cockerill. The light tank will have a hull, co-developed by DRDO and L&T, that will house an 800 horsepower (HP) engine optimised for high altitudes. The engine will be provided by German firm MTU, which is a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce. Also Read Has the rally in defence-related stocks run its course? Ongoing divestment, healthy order inflows positive for Larsen & Toubro MGS, Light Tank, WhaP: DRDO presents 3 'Make in India' successes at DefExpo Has India finally buried the Bofors ghost with export of big guns? Defence, aerospace exports treble to Rs 12,815 cr in 5 years: Govt PM Modi to flag off Kerala's first Vande Bharat train on April 25 Anti-national powers against good education sent Sisodia to jail: Kejriwal Rahul Gandhi starts shifting belongings ahead of vacating official bungalow Police nabs super thief who inspired Bollywood movie, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! India played key role in IMF's clearance of 48-month EFF to Sri Lanka The indigenous light tank was initially planned to be built on the chassis of the K-9 Vajra. This, however, was ruled out because the Army placed a weight limit of 25 tonnes on the light tank, while the Vajras heavy chassis would take its weight to at least 34-35 tonnes. It is intended to marry the DRDOs expertise in tank design, created while developing the Arjun tank, with the heavy engineering capability of L&T, which is already building the K-9 Vajra self-propelled artillery gun system for the army. The ZTQ 105 has a 105-mm rifled gun that can destroy enemy tanks at ranges of two-to-three kilometres (km). It also fires anti-tank guided missiles to knock out tanks at ranges of five km. The armoured challenge from the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in Ladakh is centred on Chinas new light tank, the agile and versatile ZTQ 105 also known as the Type 15 developed by Chinas North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO) and unveiled during the Zhuhai Air Show in 2016. There are also limitations on how much their heavy 120-mm guns can be depressed or elevated, sometimes preventing them from engaging targets on hilltops or in valleys. That is why the Army took only small numbers of T-72 and T-90 tanks into Ladakh to counter the Chinese intrusions in 2020, and used them only sparingly. The Indian Army currently uses Russian T-72 and T-90 tanks on the Sino-Indian border. But these hefty, 42-45-tonne main battle tanks are designed for the plains. Movement is difficult for them on steep and narrow mountain roads. Although the K-9 Vajra artillery gun is designed for use in plains terrain, the Sino-Indian border tensions in 2020 saw a full regiment of these long-range, self-propelled guns deployed in eastern Ladakh, to increase the armys long-range firepower. In contrast, the Army has a formidable combat tradition of using light tanks in the mountains. In 1944, it used Stuart and Sherman tanks in the battle of Kohima. In 1948, these same tanks pushed back Pakistan forces in the Zoji-la pass. Against China in 1962, the Army used light AMX-13 tanks in the battle of Gurung Hill near Pangong Tso and deployed them in Bomdila and Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh. In the 1971 Bangladesh campaign, French AMX-13 and Soviet PT-76 tanks played a stellar role in the battle of Garibpur. To cater for this enhanced firepower, L&T has built 100 K-9 Vajras in Hazira, near Surat, with technology transferred from South Korean defence major Hanwha Defense. It handed over the 100th SP howitzer on February 18, 2021, ahead of its contracted date. Their successful deployment prompted the Army to consider diverting significant numbers of K-9 Vajras for use in mountainous terrain. This requires L&T to build 100 more K-9 Vajras; as well as induction of the Ordnance Factory Boards indigenous 155 mm, 45 calibre Dhanush howitzers, and imported M777 ultralight guns. Now the MoD is pursuing the Vajra repeat programme, which requires L&T to build another 100 K-9 Vajra howitzers. L&Ts proposal is currently before the MoDs technical evaluation committee. The commercial bid is likely to be opened this month. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping after a signing ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Friday, April 14. AP-Yonhap Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday as part of a push to boost ties between two of the world's largest developing nations. The meeting came on the second day of Lula's visit to China, his country's most important trading partner and key ally in his bid to challenge Western-dominated economic institutions. Lula was greeted with full military honors, including a 21-gun salute, at the Great Hall of the People adjacent to Tiananmen Square in the heart of the Chinese capital. Their talks focused largely on trade ties and other forms of cooperation, but also touched on the conflict in Ukraine, with the leaders agreeing on the need for a negotiated settlement, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. "As comprehensive strategic partners, China and Brazil share extensive common interests," Xi said, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. "China ... sees the relationship as a high priority on its diplomatic agenda," he said. The leaders then oversaw the signing of agreements in areas ranging from agriculture to aeronautics. That underscored the improvement in relations since Lula took over in January from right-wing populist Jair Bolsonaro, who showed little interest in foreign travel and under whom relations with China were often tense. Lula's visit included the swearing in on Thursday of former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff as head of the Chinese-backed New Development Bank, which is funding infrastructure projects in Brazil and elsewhere in the developing world. The bank portrays itself as an alternative to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, which often impose loan conditions that developing nations criticize as punitive. It was established as part of a larger framework of cooperation between countries known as BRICS Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and has approved 99 loan projects totaling more than $34 billion, mainly for infrastructure projects, according to China's Foreign Ministry. Rousseff is Lula's former chief of staff and succeeded him as Brazil's first female president. In remarks at the swearing-in ceremony at the bank's Shanghai headquarters, Lula took swipes at both the IMF and the dominance of the U.S. dollar in international trade, hailing an agreement between Brazil and China to use the Chinese yuan in their bilateral commerce. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, right, inspects an honor guard with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Friday, April 14. AP-Yonhap Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said he was "saddened" by the decision of former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi to part ways with the BJP and join the Congress. "...I'm feeling very sad, we shared a close bond. Sometimes such political situations arise," Bommai said. "He might have found his political future in the Congress. We will do our job in our party." Rebelling against the BJP denying him the ticket from Athani in Belagavi district, Savadi on Wednesday announced his decision to resign from the primary membership of the party. Sitting MLA Mahesh Kumathalli, who was backed by BJP's Belagavi strongman and former Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, was given the ticket in Athani. Savadi is a three-time MLA from Athani but lost in the 2018 elections to Kumathalli (then in the Congress). Kumathalli was among the group of 17 defectors, including Jarkiholi, who helped the BJP bring down the Congress-JD(S) coalition and form its government under the leadership of B S Yediyurappa in 2019. Savadi's decision to join the Congress came after a meeting with Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah and Congress general secretary and party in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala here on Friday. Also Read Denied ticket, former Dy CM Laxman Savadi announces decision to quit BJP Denied ticket by BJP, former Karnataka deputy CM Savadi meets Cong leaders BJP CEC meeting today to finalise candidates for Karnataka Assembly polls BJP is democratic party, not a dictatorship like Congress: Bommai Gujarat elections exit poll survey will impact Karnataka too: CM Bommai Arvind Kejriwal accuses ED of misleading court in excise policy case Hospitalisation rate low in Delhi despite surge in Covid-19 cases: Kejriwal High targets must be set in India-Italy partnership: Piyush Goyal India-EU free trade agreement to promote economic ties: Sanjiv Puri India not to import dairy products, supplies are being improved: Rupala "He has agreed to become a member of our (Congress) family of his own volition", Shivakumar, who was flanked by Savadi and Siddaramaiah, told reporters after the meeting. Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his immediate intervention for the repeal of "anti-democratic and repressive" laws such as the National Security Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Badal alleged the AAP government in Punjab has turned these "black laws into weapons of mass witch hunt" against members of the Khalsa panth, especially innocent Sikh youths. He claimed in a party statement on Friday that the Punjab government was picking up Sikh youths on suspicion and booking them under laws like the NSA and sending them to far-off places such as Assam. "They have brought back the bitter memories of Kala Pani for the Punjabis under the British," he claimed. "Even innocent members of Sikh families, including the elderly, the women and children are being subjected to repression," the Shiromani Akali Dal chief said. He sought Prime Minister Modi's immediate intervention for the repeal of "anti-democratic and repressive" laws like the NSA and the UAPA because of their adverse impact on India's image as the world's largest democracy. Also Read AAP has pushed back Punjab into age of darkness: Sukhbir Singh Badal Faridkot court grants anticipatory bail to ex-Punjab CM Prakash Singh Badal Punjab's ex-FM Manpreet Singh Badal joins BJP soon after quitting Congress Tussle between Punjab Governor, AAP govt over Ludhiana VC turns murkier Budget 'betrays' farmers, no mention of MSP: SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal USSD service to make UPI payments without Internet: Here's how to do it Governor's power to withhold assent for bills should be reviewed: Baghel More Indians are flying post-pandemic, only few prefer to travel by train Iran may consider extension of natural gas pipeline from Oman to India Drone mapping of 100,000 villages to solve land disputes, says PM Modi On Monday, the lawyers of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee met eight people detained in Assam's Dibrugarh jail under the NSA after they were nabbed during a crackdown by Punjab Police on radical preacher Amritpal Singh and his aides. The Jathedar of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, recently asked the state government to revoke the detention of some persons under the NSA and demanded that those who have been sent to Dibrugarh jail should be brought back to Punjab so that law can take its course. Badal said in the past even respected Akali Dal leaders like Master Tara Singh, Harchand Singh Longowal, Parkash Singh Badal and Gurcharan Singh Tohra were targeted under these laws. "Today, however, the same black laws have returned under a different garb. The abuse is so rampant that even fundamental rights and legitimate democratic freedom guaranteed under the Constitution have come under a serious threat," Badal claimed in his letter. It is very difficult to suppress Arvind Kejriwal's voice, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Friday hours after the CBI summoned the Delhi chief minister on April 16 in connection with the excise policy scam case. While Punjab Minister Harjot Singh Bains described Arvind Kejriwal as a "revolution India is witnessing", many other AAP senior leaders from the state including Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the Delhi chief minister "cannot be silenced by such tactics". "It is very difficult to suppress the voice of Arvind Kejriwal. Those who speak the truth get a place in the people's hearts. No one can remove anyone from the hearts of the people. We stand by him like a rock," Mann tweeted in Hindi. In a tweet, Bains said, "The history is testament to the fact that whenever a revolution was suppressed, they became even bigger." According to the notice issued by the CBI, Kejriwal has been called to appear at the agency headquarters at 11 AM on Sunday to answer queries of the investigating team as a witness in the case, officials said. There are allegations that money raised from tweaking the policy in favour of certain liquor dealers and the South lobby was suspected to be pumped in for election purposes by the AAP, which is under the probe as part of the money trail, agency sources said. They said the process of policy formulation and influence of the South lobby, besides changes in the draft stages, was in the know of the chief minister, which makes it necessary to put questions to him. Also Read Punjab govt won't hesitate in taking tough decisions: Kejriwal on Amritpal AAP's Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann on 2-day Gujarat visit from today Punjab's law and order situation improved under AAP's Mann: Kejriwal Punjab govt has given 27,042 govt jobs to youth, says Bhagwant Mann Kejriwal's fight against corruption won't stop, says AAP after CBI summons A large part of misinformation directed towards govt, says MoS IT India progressing, but northern, western borders not so safe: RSS' Bhagwat Rahul Gandhi was disqualified to suppress voice of opposition, says Hooda India hosts first joint working group meeting on Chabahar port We work with seva bhaav; oppn 'neglected' NE, was 'credit hungry': PM Modi In the financial year 2022-23, the states excise revenue increased 13 per cent to Rs 41,252 crore, which corresponds to about Rs 113 crore of excise collection a day. Rising ethanol production and clampdown on illicit liquor trade is filling up the coffers of the Uttar Pradesh government. For the current financial year, the Yogi Adityanath government is targeting an excise kitty of Rs 45,000 crore. The excise revenue in 2022-23 is Rs 4,931 crore higher that the preceding financial year of Rs 36,321 crore, according to UP Additional Chief Secretary (excise) Sanjay R Bhoosreddy. The states new excise policy is aimed at regulating the activities relating to manufacturing, transport, import, export, sale, and possession of intoxicants. The policy targets to attract private investment in the ethanol sector and, thereby, boost farm income, provide a market to farm produce and generate local employment. The states excise revenue has been growing fast owing to the proliferation in ethanol production over the past few years, apart from the weeding out of liquor smuggling and illicit liquor trade. Also Read Revenue growth of IT firms in FY24 to be 7-9% lower than FY23: CRISIL Customs, excise mop-up likely to see Rs 1-trillion shortfall in FY23 Rs 14,000 crore to be infused via paddy procurement in Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh govt asks commercial banks to step up credit flow Uttar Pradesh plans to buy 43,000 acres of land for Rs 7.3 trillion No freeze on disinvestment process of state-owned RINL: Steel Ministry Telecom, technology firms lock horns over 6GHz spectrum with 5G-like speed AAI receives double concession fees from eight privatised airports in FY23 India Inc leans on InvITs to reduce debt, generate returns for investors Alliance Air pilots on strike for second day, 70% served notices The Centre has mandated 10 per cent ethanol blending in fuel. Ethanol produced in UP is exported to depots of the oil marketing companies, both within and outside the state, for blending. Currently, there are 85 operational ethanol distilleries in the state with the annual ethanol production capacity pegged at 2.45 billion litres (BL). UP is Indias top sugarcane producing state, and ethanol is a by-product of sugar. The state is promoting the sector to establish a profitable value chain for sugarcane farmers, and thus help India reduce its oil import bills as ethanol is used in fuel blending. In 2021-22, about 965.5 million litres (ml) of ethanol was produced, of which 439.5 ml and 526 ml was supplied to the oil depots of UP and other states, respectively. Between March 2017 and February 2023, UP produced a total of 5.3 BL of ethanol, said Bhoosreddy, adding that the excise department was contributing not only to revenue collection but also playing an important role in the development of the ethanol industry. The excise department is also taking steps to use the molasses obtained as a by-product of sugar to produce alcohol, which could then be used to manufacture different types of chemicals, ethanol-blended petrol, sanitisers, and liquor. China's strong economic rebound to provide more opportunities to other countries: IMF chief Xinhua) 13:16, April 14, 2023 WASHINGTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China is going to contribute about one third of global growth this year, which will provide more opportunities to other countries, said Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva on Thursday. "We have been pleased to see this rebound of China not only for China, but also because of China's role in the world economy," Georgieva told a press briefing on the IMF's Global Policy Agenda. "China this year is going to contribute about one third of global growth. We calculated that 1 percent more growth in China translates into 0.3 percent more growth for the economies that are connected to China," she said. The IMF projected the Chinese economy will grow "quite strongly" by 5.2 percent this year, which is higher than China's domestic projection of 5 percent, said Georgieva. "This being said, there are significant challenges ... Still the issue of how to handle real estate, actions are being taken. And also how to redirect the Chinese economy more towards domestic consumption," said Georgieva. The IMF chief recalled her recent China trip as "very very fruitful." "It gave me an opportunity to meet with Premier Li Qiang as well as other leaders and discuss the prospects for the world economy, for China's economy as well as the importance China has in terms of supporting low-income countries," she said. "What impressed me was the premier's very clear message on China continuing to reopen and in pursuit of reforms. That can strengthen the prospects for China's growth. I have seen how different it is when the economy reopens," she added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Global CEO of Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), Joy Jones, was quoted as saying in the newspaper that the new format of the test, "GMAT Focus Edition," will be launched for testing in Q4FY24, and the older version of the test will be phased out in the first quarter of 2024. An overhaul of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is under consideration. The changes will include the removal of the "analytical writing assessment" section and the introduction of "data insights", The Times of India (TOI) has reported. New changes in GMAT With the introduction of "data insights" along with the quantitative and verbal reasoning sections, the GMAT will become a more concise assessment in which some "non-essential items" will be removed. He said that each section of the exam will be made more concise while maintaining the integrity of the performance that business schools expect from the candidates. Jones added that questions on data insights would be taken from some of our previous content on integrated reasoning and data sufficiency. Also Read IIM Ahmedabad ranked top MBA college in India, followed by IIM-B, IIM-K India vs Australia 3rd Test Day 2 Stumps: Lyon's 8-64 demolishes IND to 163 IND vs AUS 3rd Test, Day 3 Highlights: Australia beat India by 9 wickets Are B-schools losing their relevance? What is credit score? Why is it important? IPL 2023 opening match witnessed a 40% fall in number of TV advertisers What is GMAT? The GMAT assessment is a computer adaptive test specific analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills in written English. The test is used as a benchmark for admissions into top business schools worldwide. Generally, candidates aspiring to do a Masters in Business Administration take this test. It was first conducted 70 years ago, in 1953. How were the changes decided? Over 7,700 programmes in 2,400 universities and colleges recognise the GMAT scores and accept the same for admissions to business education at various levels. Over 170 colleges and universities in India accept GMAT scores to determine eligibility. What has the GMAC CEO said about the changes? The changes have been made based on surveys of over 60 partner business schools and 5,400 students, discussions with market development teams and input from industry experts were also collected to implement the changes. ChatGPT, an example of generative AI, can produce various types of content, including audio, imagery, text and synthetic data. The recent buzz around generative AI has been driven by the simplicity of new user interfaces for creating high-quality graphics, videos and text in a matter of seconds. Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), the most talked about tech aspect of AI, can throw up huge opportunities in the next few years, according to top industry leaders and technologists at the Business Standard TechTalk. From the volume of creating jobs, there is an opportunity, said Gopichand Katragadda, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Myelin Foundry, a deep-tech AI start-up and a former Tata Sons group chief technology officer. The first impact of generative AI is people. Many are wondering if generative AI will take away jobs. But the panellists at the Business Standard event said that this could well be an opportunity when it comes to job creation. Shashank Mohan Jain, chief development architect, SAP Business Technology Platform, said that generative AI takes one to a paradigm where even a person who is not a computer science graduate can be a good programmer. Today, I can produce photos and paintings using Midjourney (an AI programme and service) that are so real and it is amazing. That is fed from real paintings and photographs. If you want to have that kind of data to have true Indian faces, that is an opportunity. Then, there are the opportunities related to high-end algorithms as well. Also Read TMS Ep384: Essar group, free trade agreement, metal stocks, generative AI Google Bard: What we know so far about generative AI chatbot in the works AI may automate up to 300 million jobs around the world: Goldman Sachs Union Budget 2023: Centre bets big on Artificial Intelligence, IoT Is AI out to take your job or simplify it? Tech cos insist it is the latter Apple's 2024 product roadmap may not include iPhone SE 4, says analyst Twitter increases character limits to 10,000 for Twitter blue users Need local AI models to improve Indian education system: Flipick Founder Realme set to empower next-gen tech savy users with launch of narzo N55 To reduce carbon footprint, Apple commits to 100% recycled cobalt by 2030 While generative AI has created a huge buzz at the consumer end, enterprises are still cautious about its use. This is because there are issues like copyright, trust and privacy that need to be addressed. It opens up a plethora of opportunities for all of us to build applications just by using conversations with the system, said Jain. He added, Earlier, you had to be properly trained and have the right skills. That barrier would wane off as more and more generative AI models come to the fore. Then, there are other parameters about how safe and trusted it is going to be and how transformative it is going to be, said Pargaonkar. Deepak Pargaonkar, vice-president of Solution Engineering, Salesforce India, agreed that there is a huge opportunity for organisations. They can leverage a lot of capabilities, but one has to consider what the end use is. At this point, I would say it is still a question mark and that would evolve over the next six months and beyond, said Gupta. Manish Gupta, vice-president, infrastructure solutions group, Dell, is of the view that there is a lot of excitement related to the potential of generative AI in the industry. But he said one has to look at whether there are very clear monetisation opportunities for enterprises. 4G is a good example. Each one of them has sprouted a new business model, which would not have existed in the absence of such technologies. Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Ola would not have been there without 4G and Cloud together. So, there is a huge generative AI opportunity, but if you ask us to pinpoint where exactly that opportunity is, we dont know that. And, that is the fun part of it and it is unexplored. That excites all of us. Abhijit Mazumder, chief information officer at TCS, also agreed that the opportunity around generative AI is huge. He said one should compare this to where the internet was 25 years back or Cloud was 10 years back. He said, The biggest challenge is how to take this into production. You need to have the innovator (business leader), creator (developer), implementor (data scientist) and consumer (user group) all sitting together and thinking along the same lines. AI is an opportunity and its use cases have increased over the decade. Also, every technology upgrade has meant an equal number of challenges too. Overall, to implement AI technology among enterprises, Gupta of Dell said the biggest challenge is data, which one has to create, protect and govern. In the Indian context, the issue is if the customer will go all the way to implement AI into its businesses in a serious way. Katragadda said that his AI firm wanted to work 100 per cent for Indian customers and did 80 per cent of the proof of concept for them. Jain said there are challenges even inside the organisations to share the data with software development and operations teams, due to concerns around data privacy and information security. The biggest challenge is how do you gather that data and curate it, said Jain. However, awareness about technologies such as AI and the importance of data and changing processes are growing inside organisations. However 80 per cent of our revenue and contracts came from abroad, said Katragadda, adding, We got (foreign) customers, without going abroad. Ramaswamy said, on another end of the spectrum, there are manufacturing and retail sectors, which are not highly regulated compared to banking. Viswanath Ramaswamy, vice-president, technology, IBM India and South Asia, said five years ago enterprises didnt have the role of chief data officer. That position exists now in most large corporates and enterprises. However, there are challenges related to the democratisation of high-end technologies such as AI and Cloud by large tech companies and making them accessible to small businesses. However, the need for survival made them change. If you dont change, somebody else is going to eat your lunch. And, that somebody is an organisation, which is data-ready and AI-driven, said Ramaswamy. He added, The competitive forces have forced the legacy organisations to change. He said that tech firms are making efforts to reach out to small businesses and are even creating plug-and-play products and solutions, which are relevant to them. Gupta said many of these small firms dont have a chief information officer. He said to democratise technology at the grass-roots level, there is a need to build an ecosystem. Pargaonkar said that most organisations, including Salesforce, have realised that growth is coming from everywhere from large as well as small enterprises. IBM is already doing this. Ramaswamy said there is a client engineering unit inside IBM, which actually takes up the business problem of a client and solves it. There is a need to bring partners across the board. If you have a Rs 10-crore organisation in Jabalpur and it does not have a CIO, the ecosystem partner acts as the CIO, said Gupta. Mazumder said there is a hunger within smaller organisations to leverage technology. Ramaswamy said this client could be a Rs 10-crore to a Rs 1,000-crore organisation. He added, We are building an ecosystem where every organisation can benefit from AI or technology. Buzz Words Organisations need to decide what is the end use and then look at how safe, trusted and transformative it is He said technology is scaling up in industries like e-commerce, especially vendors working with firms such as Amazon and Flipkart. However, there is a gap in industries like manufacturing for technologies and that is a huge opportunity. From a volume and job creation point of view its an opportunity. I know of start-ups who are working with Open AI on creating culturally contextual sensitive data Deepak Pargaonkar, Salesforce Generative AI... opens a plethora of opportunities to build applications just by using conversations Gopichand Katragadda, Myelin Foundry At this point can organisations create a huge monetisation opportunitythat will still evolve the next 6 months or so Shashank Mohan Jain, SAP Labs If we compare AI to where cloud was a decade back or how the internet evolved...each sprouted HUge business models. GAI is also on a similar journey Manish Gupta, Dell I would draw the analogy of video games... It will start as a consumer play, but will certainly reach enterprises too Abhijit Mazumder, TCS Viswanath Ramaswamy, IBM Army chief General Asim Munir on Friday urged lawmakers to focus on "our Pakistan" instead of debating over 'Naya' or 'Purana' Pakistan and extended Army's full support to them in the country's journey toward development and success. His remarks came as the military's top brass briefed the lawmakers on the prevailing security situation, days after the county decided to launch a fresh operation against militants. According to a National Assembly Secretariat, the agenda of the in-camera meeting was the current issues of National Security. General Munir and his senior officers came to Parliament for the briefing session which was presided over by the National Assembly Speaker, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari after attending the briefing told the media that national security was the focus of the session. No statement was issued after the briefing which was held after the top civil and military leadership last week reaffirmed their commitment to thwart terrorism threats and launch a new operation against militants following a spike in attacks by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. Also Read Pak President Alvi okays appointment of Asim Munir as Chief of Army Staff Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif names Lt Gen Asim Munir the next army chief General Asim Munir takes charge as Pakistan's new Army chief Ready for war with India if attacked, warns Pak's new Army chief Asim Munir Pak Army Chief's personal data breach prompts formal inquiry by Parliament Emmanuel Macron's controversial pension reform passes constitutional test UAE assures Pakistan of $1-billion loan to revive IMF relief deal US banking goliaths report bumper profits amid turmoil, beat estimates Recovery prospects for economy fragile owing to Russia's war: ECB chief EPA predicts 67% of US vehicle sales will have to be electric by 2032 The Express Tribune reported that during the briefing General Munir urged lawmakers to focus on "our Pakistan" instead of on the debate over naya (new) or purana (old) Pakistan. PRI ECO GEN NAT .MUMBAI DCM30 Vedanta Group Come, Invest in India Urges Vedanta's Akarsh Hebbar at Boom Up Korea 2023 - Vedanta invited by KOTRA to showcase investment opportunities - Roadshow supported by Indian government officials MUMBAI, India, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- KOTRA, the state-funded trade and investment promotion organization operated by the Government of South Korea, invited Vedanta to discuss investment opportunities in India with the Korean industry at the ongoing Boom Up Korea 2023 event. Akarsh K. Hebbar, Global Managing Director of Vedanta's Semiconductor and Display business addressed a gathering of business leaders from around 50 companies representing Korea's electronics industry. At a specially curated roadshow, he spoke about Vedanta's planned display fab in Gujarat, India, and the huge investment opportunity for Korean companies. "Vedanta is establishing India's first display fab in Gujarat," said Akarsh K. Hebbar. "This will be the nucleus that will attract upstream and downstream players. Given the investment-friendly policies of the Indian government, there is a huge opportunity for Korean companies to invest in this electronics hub." KOTRA also invited H.E. Amit Kumar, India's Ambassador to South Korea and officials from the Government of Gujarat to the event. Also present was Manish Naik, Assistant Director, ICT and e-Goverance, Department of Science and Technology (GSEM), Government of Gujarat. H.E. Amit Kumar spoke about India as the most liberal investment destination with an ideal blend of innovation and talent, financial resources, supply chain ecosystem and industry-friendly policies. Boom Up Korea is an annual event organized by KOTRA in collaboration with Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Vedanta Group company Avanstrate Inc. is a pioneering leader in the display glass industry with manufacturing footprint in Korea and Taiwan. Avanstrate's Pyeongtaek-si plant in Korea has been operational for more than 15 years, and manufactures Gen 4 to Gen 8 TFT display glass. The facility also serves as the company's R&D center, working on developing wafer glass, ultra-thin glass, next generation cover glass and AR/VR glass applications. About Vedanta Group Vedanta Group ("Vedanta") is a diversified global natural resources and technology conglomerate. The group produces Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, Nickel, Aluminium, Power, Renewable Energy, and Display glass. Vedanta has operations in India, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Korea and Taiwan. Vedanta is foraying into the manufacture of semiconductors and displays, with plans to set up an integrated electronics center in India and is partnering with Foxconn for semiconductor manufacturing. With an empowered talent pool globally, Vedanta places strong emphasis on partnering with all its stakeholders based on the core values of trust, sustainability, growth, entrepreneurship, integrity, respect and care. Good governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety and environment, and on enhancing the lives of local communities. The group is focused on becoming the ESG leader in the natural resources sector and is committed to reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050 or sooner. It has pledged $5 billion over the next 10 years to accelerate the transition to net zero operations. The group's CSR philosophy is to eradicate poverty and malnutrition with a focus on development of women & children through the marquee project Nand Ghar. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2054338/Vedanta_KOTRA.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2003146/Vedanta_Logo.jpg (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The legislation, which pushes the age at one can draw a full pension to 64 from 62, is deeply unpopular in France and has triggered huge protests. But in what will be a huge relief to Macron and his government, the country's Constitutional Council gave its green light on increasing the retirement age, BFM said, adding that it did not know at this stage if there were some minor caveats. Macron and his government will hope such an outcome would discourage further trade union-led protests, which have at times turned violent. "The country must continue to move forward, work, and face the challenges that await us," Macron said earlier this week. But hardline unions and the opposition had warned they will not back down and have French President Emmanuel Macron's flagship pension reform passed a crunch constitutional test on Friday, BFM TV reported. IMF has adequate resources, but needs quota reform: Yellen urged Macron not to promulgate it. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Friday that the International Monetary Fund has adequate resources to deal with global financing challenges but needs to follow through with fair and simple shareholding reforms that reflect the economic size of its member countries. Yellen also said in a statement to the IMFs steering committee that she wanted the World Bank to implement further reforms to scale up lending for climate and other global needs on a rolling basis ahead of the IMF and World Banks annual meetings in October in Marrakech, Morocco. India, Japan and France have announced a common platform for talks among creditors to address the debt restructuring programme of Sri Lanka which is grappling with its worst economic crisis. The representatives of the three creditor countries, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, held a press briefing on the margins of the annual spring meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington on Thursday. "The purpose of the event was to demonstrate the multilateral cooperation regarding the debt restructuring process among the creditors, together with Sri Lanka, said an official statement. Finance Minister Sitharaman expressed India's commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in dealing with its current economic crisis. She emphasised that collaboration among creditors was important to ensure transparency and equality in the debt restructuring discussions. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe joined the conference virtually. Also Read Sitharaman, Japanese counterpart to announce Sri Lanka debt restructuring Sri Lanka concludes debt restructuring talks with Japan: Wickremesinghe EAM likely to visit Lanka on Jan 19; talks on debt restructuring expected India sends 125 SUVs to Sri Lanka police under 'Neighbourhood First Policy' India writes to IMF backing Sri Lanka's debt restructuring plan: Report Nepal PM requests SC to scrap petition on 5,000 Maoist insurgency killings US energy secretary says G7 can lead global carbon emissions cuts 28% chance of coronavirus-like pandemic hitting world in next decade Ready to take 'time-tested' relationship with Mozambique to new level: EAM No weapons exports to parties in Ukraine conflict: China Foreign Minister Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki described the launch of the common platform as a historical development. To be able to launch this negotiation process gathering, such a broad-based group of creditors, is a historical outcome," he told reporters at the news conference. "This committee is open to all creditors," he added, voicing hope that China, Sri Lanka's biggest creditor, will join the initiative launched by Japan, this year's G7 chair. French Director General of the Treasury Emmanuel Moulin also joined Sitharaman and Suzuki at the press conference. Joining the launch of the debt restructuring negotiation process virtually, President Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka remains committed to continuing to engage with all creditor nations and other stakeholders in a transparent manner based on the principles of comparable treatment. Wickremesinghe said he would present in Parliament the agreement with the IMF for the USD 2.9 billion bailout, gain approval and bring in legislation to ensure its implementation, his office said. Wickremesinghe's office said India's Finance Minister Sitharaman had called for close coordination among creditors which was critical to restoring Sri Lanka's debt sustainability. She stressed India's commitment to facilitating an early debt restructuring process, it said. Sri Lanka secured a USD 2.9 billion programme from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last month to tackle its huge debt burden. The Washington-based global lender had made Sri Lanka's debt restructuring a prerequisite for granting the USD 2.9 billion bailout. The IMF's Executive Board approved a 48-month extended arrangement under its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with an amount of SDR 2.286 billion to Sri Lanka following financing assurances from the creditors. Sri Lanka, which drew its first tranche of the USD 3 billion bailout programme, has already met an instalment to pay back an Indian line of credit which the island nation obtained early last year just before announcing the debt default. The IMF bailout, the 17th in Sri Lanka's history, was approved following prolonged discussions over Colombo's unsustainable debt. Sri Lanka owes USD 7.1 billion to bilateral creditors, with USD 3 billion owed to China, USD 2.4 billion to the Paris Club and USD 1.6 billion to India, according to official data from its government. The island nation was hit by an unprecedented financial crisis in 2022, the worst since its independence from Britain in 1948, due to a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves, sparking a major political and humanitarian crisis in the island nation. The leak of classified documents online is a "deliberate criminal act", said the Pentagon press secretary Brigadier. Gen. Patrick Ryder on Thursday as he underlined the US continue to review a variety of factors as it relates to safeguarding classified materials. During a press briefing on Thursday (local time), Pat Ryder told reporters, "We continue to review a variety of factors as it relates to safeguarding classified materials -- this includes examining and updating distribution lists, assessing how and where intelligence products are shared and a variety of other steps," according to The Hill. "I would say, though, that 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," he added. Several media outlets reported during the press conference that Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira, 21, had been detained by authorities in connection with the document breach. In connection with a massive leak of US military intelligence information, the FBI has stated that it has "made an arrest and is continuing to undertake authorised law enforcement action at a property in North Dighton, Massachusetts," according to Al Jazeera. The jailed individual was identified by attorney general Merrick Garland as 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira. Also Read Who leaked the alleged classified US documents online & what do they tell? Classified docs found at Mike Pence's residence, ex V-P says wasn't aware Mistakes made in handling classified records: Pence takes responsibility Biden does not know what is in the classified documents, says White House FBI finds no classified documents from President Biden's house in Delaware Post-pandemic development requirements becoming lot more focussed: FM Denmark's energy consumption down in 2022 as renewables gain ground China's arms exports declined by 23% in 10 yrs, signaling stockpiling Murdoch, Fox face $1.6 bn trial over 2020 election as Trump surges JP Morgan says Frank's Javice moved millions to a shell company: Report However, Ryder avoided any comment on details of the report or confirming Teixeira's identity but said that the Pentagon and other agencies are working "around the clock" to understand the scale and scope of the leak. According to Al Jazeera, leaks of classified US documents have revealed key state secrets, including information about Ukraine's plans for a spring offensive, and raised suspicions that the US has been spying on its allies. In connection with the Pentagon document leaks, Jack Teixeira's arrest has been announced by US Attorney General Merrick Garland. "In conjunction with an investigation into the unauthorised removal, retention, and communication of classified national defence material, the Justice Department said today that Jack Douglas Teixeira had been detained. Teixeira works for the Air National Guard of the United States," Al Jazeera reported Garland as saying. Nepal President Ramchandra Poudel on Friday urged the people to rise above petty interests and maintain communal harmony to ensure political stability in the Himalayan nation. In a message issued on the occasion of the 1st day of Baishakh, the President said that "there is a need to develop a culture where labour is honoured by ending pessimistic feelings and maintain good governance and political stability in the country." His message comes amidst differences among the ruling coalition on several fronts. Poudel urged the people to be committed to building a strong and prosperous Nepal as the country celebrated the New Year according to the Bikram Era on Friday. Nepal on Friday observed New Year 2080 as per the Bikram era which is an ancient calendar being celebrated in the name of Indian King Bikramaditya. We should rise above partisan petty interests and keep national integrity and communal harmony and promote brotherhood, the president said. The first day of the New Year, also called Baishakh is celebrated by exchanging greetings among friends and relatives. People clean and decorate their houses, exchange greetings, prepare special food and visit temples as well as scenic places to celebrate the occasion. Also Read Senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel sworn in as Nepal's third President Nepal plane crash: At least 68 dead, rescuers search for 4 missing persons Nepal, China to resume two-way trade via key border points from today Nepal's PM to expand cabinet, Congress to get key ministerial portfolios China increasingly involved in Nepal's domestic politics ahead of elections Earthquake of magnitude 7.0 hits Tuban region of Indonesia India, Japan, France's common platform to aid Sri Lankan debt restructuring Nepal PM requests SC to scrap petition on 5,000 Maoist insurgency killings US energy secretary says G7 can lead global carbon emissions cuts 28% chance of coronavirus-like pandemic hitting world in next decade Baishakh falls tentatively around mid-April and Nepalese people whether at home or abroad take some time out of their busy schedules to celebrate the occasion. Hotels, resorts, restaurants, nightclubs and picnic spots in and around Kathmandu Valley are jam-packed with youngsters as well as couples. China's foreign minister on Friday said the country would not sell weapons to parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine and would regulate the export of items with dual civilian and military use. Qin Gang was responding to concerns from the US and others that China was considering providing military assistance to Russia, which Beijing has backed politically and rhetorically in the conflict while formally saying it remains neutral. Qin reiterated China's willingness to help facilitate negotiations to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict and said all parties should remain objective and calm. Speaking at a news conference with his visiting German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, Qin also blamed Taiwan's government for heightened regional tensions after Beijing held large-scale military drills in an attempt to intimidate the island it claims as its own territory. On both Ukraine and Taiwan, Qin articulated well-worn defences of Chinese policies that underscore Beijing's rejection of criticisms from the West, particularly the US. Under ardently nationalist leader Xi Jinping, China has been sharpening its rhetoric, particularly on the issue of Taiwan, which split from mainland China amid civil war in 1949. Also Read In rare talks, US, Russian Defence Ministers discuss Ukraine war Russian-made missile fell in eastern part of our country, killing 2: Poland UN draft resolution calls for peace to ensure Ukraine's sovereignty Russian military claims pullout from occupied city; Ukraine sceptical UK announces new tranche of sanctions against Russia over Ukraine war Pakistan says UAE assures $1 billion loan to help revive IMF deal Pfizer's new bivalent mRNA Covid booster vax highly effective: Lancet World Bank President David Malpass praises India for empowering women 18,000 cows killed in Texas dairy farm explosion, deadliest barn fire in US FM Sitharaman attends high-level meeting on Sri Lankan debt issues Regarding the export of military items, China adopts a prudent and responsible attitude," Qin said. "China will not provide weapons to relevant parties of the conflict, and manage and control the exports of dual-use items in accordance with laws and regulations, he added. In her remarks, Baerbock said that as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China bore a special responsibility for helping end the conflict. She also referred to tensions in the Taiwan Strait, through which much of the world's international trade passes, and said a conflict in the area would be a global disaster. China's ruling Communist Party sent warships and fighter planes near Taiwan last weekend in retaliation for a meeting between US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the island's president, Tsai Ing-wen. China insists that self-governing Taiwan submit to its rule, either peacefully or by force, and Qin said the pursuit of independence by Taiwan's government and its foreign supporters a veiled reference to chief ally the United States were the reason for the tensions. Apparently rejecting Baerbock's concerns, Qin said Taiwan was China's internal affair and bore no outside interference." Taiwan independence and peace can not co-exist, he said. While Germany has strongly backed Ukraine's resistance to Russia's invasion, Beijing has blamed the US and NATO for provoking the conflict, refused to criticize Moscow's actions and criticized economic sanctions against President Vladimir Putin's regime. Territory is indivisible, and security is equally indivisible," Qin said. Without recognition of the security interests of a particular party, crises and conflicts are inevitable. "China is willing to continue to work for peace, and hopes that all parties involved in the crisis will remain objective and calm, and make constructive efforts to resolve the crisis through negotiations, he added. India is ready to take its "time-tested" relationship with Mozambique to a new level, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, underscoring that New Delhi's policies will be guided by the priorities and interests of its partners in their quest for development. Addressing the Indian community here on Thursday, Jaishanakar, said the bilateral relationship in the past seven years has changed profoundly. "This is a very time-tested relationship. It is a historic relationship. It is a relationship that goes back to the time when Mozambique was fighting for its freedom. For many decades, our leaders, our people, and our societies have shared a lot, we have bonded very deeply," the minister, who arrived here on his maiden official visit, said. And even today as the two nations pursue their developmental paths there is a lot that the two can do for each other, he said. The strong sense of solidarity between the two nations is the defining characteristic of the bilateral relationship, he said. Jaishankar said developing nations have the responsibility to make sure other countries can take benefit from their experiences. Also Read India to put across concerns of Global South at G20: EAM Jaishankar UN delivers aid in in Mozambique, Malawi as Cyclone Freddy claims 200 lives EAM Jaishankar launches 'Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project' in Uganda NFSU opens first overseas campus in Uganda, Jaishankar calls it significant Relations with Indian diaspora bolstered due to Sushma Swaraj: Jaishankar No weapons exports to parties in Ukraine conflict: China Foreign Minister Pakistan says UAE assures $1 billion loan to help revive IMF deal Pfizer's new bivalent mRNA Covid booster vax highly effective: Lancet World Bank President David Malpass praises India for empowering women 18,000 cows killed in Texas dairy farm explosion, deadliest barn fire in US He said there are examples of this today in the field of security. "If Mozambique faces challenges from terrorists, as a country, which has itself been sold deeply impacted, it is our moral obligation today to help another country which is going through this," Jaishankar stressed. Recalling a speech by Prime Minister Modi during his trip to Uganda in 2018, Jaishanakar said in his address, the Prime Minister said that "we will be guided by what are the priorities and the interests of our partners and that we will ask you..you please tell us what is important for you." "And if we can do it, if we have something there which is of value, we will be very honoured to do it. So what has defined India's growing relationship with Africa, which is very very visible in Mozambique, because Mozambique is among the most important and substantive relationships in Africa, is whatever we are doing," he stressed. What value India can bring has given it a different standing in the world. He said sharing development experiences and standing with each other in crisis is the centrepiece of India's approach to its G-20 Presidency. He said India assuming the G-20 presidency is a very big responsibility because the world is going through a very difficult period. "I have spoken about COVID but the impact of the conflict in Ukraine has also been very severe, especially on developing countries," Jaishankar said. He said India is the first G-20 president who consulted 125 other countries. "This exercise of consulting 125 countries today gives us a much stronger position going into G-20 and telling the rest of the world that India today speaks not just for itself, we may be the most populous country in the world, but we also speak for another 125 countries," he said. India has always been a very independent-minded country, Jaishsnakar said. But at times "when things are difficult in the world, and when the situation requires it, it is important also to stand up and assert what is right what is of our interest," he said. "And again, as I said we do this not just for ourselves. We do it today because we are conscious that we belong to a fraternity of countries whose progress depends on each other. And therefore for India, the relationship with Mozambique has a very, very special significance," Jaishankar said. "So that is part of the reason why I'm here today. I'm here getting a message from Prime Minister Modi that India is ready today to take this relationship to a new level," he stressed. The minister said India does an annual trade turnover of USD 4 billion with Mozambique and Indian companies have invested USD 11 billion. But he said the most important aspect of the bilateral ties is the Indian community in the country that has lived here for many many years and contributed very significantly to the growth of Mozambique. "Now, our task today is how to deepen this relationship," he said. He said the purpose of his visit is to advance the vision that Prime Minister Modi has found which is international cooperation. Speaking about Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), Jaishankar said this is not a slogan. He said that the era during which India used to live on slogans is now over. Atmanirbhar Bharat "is actually an India which is capable of doing things of thinking of its own solution, of making its own products, of finding its own invention." He said Covid vaccine is an example of this Atmanirbhar Bharat. "During Covid, many people thought at the beginning yes maybe the vaccine will come maybe vaccine will come we will have to wait for our turn." "For decades we have waited for our turns usually at the end of the queue. This time we were not just the earliest to produce, we also invented our own vaccine. So we had not only Made in India vaccine you also had Invented in India vaccine," he stressed. He said India speaks about self-reliance, it is not about "building a wall between the country and the world." "It is actually believing in your own people, motivating" them to come up with what actually the talent can bring and support where it is necessary. He said transformational changes are happening in an Atmanirbhar Bharat that is putting us on a different trajectory. He also thanked the Indian community for shaping the image of the nation abroad. 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/ 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/ As a driving force in the second quantum revolution, Thales has joined forces with around twenty deep tech, academic and industry partners, as part of the EuroQCI initiative (European Quantum Communication Infrastructure), which aims to deploy a quantum communication infrastructure for EU member states within three years. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230414005211/en/ Carlos Castilla By 2040, quantum computers could use their unprecedented computational power to decode encrypted data, incomparably threatening the security of even the best-protected communication systems. EuroQCI aims to counter that threat by developing sovereign systems to protect the communications and data assets of critical infrastructure providers and government institutions. The longer-term objective of the initiative is to create a Quantum Information Network (QIN) that will harness the phenomenon of quantum entanglement not only to guarantee communications security but also to create networks of quantum sensors and processors, which have the potential to drive exponential increases in the already outstanding performance of quantum sensors and quantum computers. As part of this effort, today, Thales is breaking new ground as a member of multiple new consortia that have been set up since late 2022 in these domains: Quantum repeaters, with the Delft University : QIA (Quantum Internet Alliance) led by the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands is working to demonstrate the feasibility of connecting users in two metropolitan areas 500 km apart, using quantum repeaters, which can compensate for the loss of information via a quantum memory; : QIA (Quantum Internet Alliance) led by the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands is working to demonstrate the feasibility of connecting users in two metropolitan areas 500 km apart, using quantum repeaters, which can compensate for the loss of information via a quantum memory; Quantum key distribution : QKISS coordinated by Exail and QUARTER led by LuxQuanta are developing Quantum Key Distribution systems to protect users' critical communications from cyberattacks. : QKISS coordinated by Exail and QUARTER led by LuxQuanta are developing Quantum Key Distribution systems to protect users' critical communications from cyberattacks. Certification of quantum communication : PETRUS led by Deutsche Telekom is the official coordinator of 32 EuroQCI projects, on behalf of the European Commission. It is also developing a framework for certification and accreditation of quantum communication products and networks. : PETRUS led by Deutsche Telekom is the official coordinator of 32 EuroQCI projects, on behalf of the European Commission. It is also developing a framework for certification and accreditation of quantum communication products and networks. Satellites quantum communications: TeQuantS led by Thales Alenia Space aims at developing quantum space-to-Earth communications technologies, necessary for cybersecurity applications and future quantum information networks, through the construction of satellites and optical ground stations by the end of 2026. Specifically, the Thales teams taking part in these projects are working to develop quantum key generation, distribution and management equipment and the associated communication encryption devices, as well as defining the architecture of these quantum communication infrastructures. Thales operates the largest quantum physics research facilities in Europe, in partnership with the CNRS, and some 100 engineers and researchers are currently engaged in the development of the quantum solutions (sensors, communications and algorithms) that will play a foundational role in tomorrow's world. These new consortia will all benefit from Thales's multi-disciplinary expertise, in particular in the field of secure communication networks. About Thales Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies within three domains: Defence & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Digital Identity & Security. It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive. The Group invests close to 4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key areas such as quantum technologies, Edge computing, 6G and cybersecurity. Thales has 77,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2022, the Group generated sales of 17.6 billion. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230414005211/en/ March 30, 2023 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, today issued the following statement: I would like to welcome the conclusion of negotiations on the United Kingdom joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The U.K. is the first accession applicant to reach this milestone, which marks an important chapter in the development of the CPTPP. As the first country to show support for the UKs accession to CPTPP, we are pleased to see a longstanding friend and ally join one of the worlds most progressive trade agreements. The U.K. is Canadas third largest trading partner. The U.K.s accession to the CPTPP would build on our longstanding economic and people-to-people ties and shared values on open and rules-based trade. It would provide further trade and investment opportunities for both countries, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. An expanded CPTPP will help ensure that Canadas work domestically outlined in Budget 2023 benefits businesses, workers and all Canadians. Canada is a leader for open, predictable, and inclusive rules-based trade and welcomes expansion of the CPTPP to economies dedicated to the same high standards. Associated links Cochin University of Science and Technology's Common Admission Test (CUSAT CAT 2023 Admit Card) will be published on April 18, 2023. Applicants can obtain their Common Admission Test admit card by visiting the CUSAT official website at cusat.ac.in. It will be accessible till the 6th of May, 2023. The Cochin University of Science and Technology Common Admission Test will be held at several exam centres throughout the country. The dates for the CUSAT CAT 2023 exam are May 3, 4, 5, and 6. On all days, the examination will be conducted in two shifts, the first from 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and the second from 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. How to Get Your CUSAT CAT Admit Card Candidates can obtain their CUSAT CAT hall ticket 2023 by following the methods outlined below. Go to the CUSAT CAT official website, admissions.cusat.ac.in. On the homepage, click on the CUSAT CAT admission card download link. Provide your login information, including your registration number and password. Verify all of the information on the admit card, including the exam location. Download the CUSAT CAT admission card 2023 for future use. Applicants should thoroughly read all of the information provided on their CUSAT CAT 2023 Admit Card. Any discrepancies on the CUSAT CAT Admit Card 2023 should be notified to the appropriate authority as soon as possible. CUSAT CAT Admit Card 2023 Download Link Every applicant who has registered can download their CUSAT CAT Admit Card 2023 by visiting the official website at https://admissions.cusat.ac.in/ or by clicking on the direct link provided. To receive their hall tickets, students will need to input their user id and password through the official portal. The admit cards will provide all pertinent information about the CUSAT CAT Exam 2023, such as the exam day, place, and timings. CUSAT 2023 Admit Card: Specifications Name of the candidate. Date of birth. Candidate category. Photograph of the candidate with signature. The candidate's postal address and contact information. Specifics on ID proof. Application number for CUSAT CAT 2023. Exam schedule and dates. Seven-seaters are all about practicality. For the Filipino family, it has to be safe, reliable, but most of all, offers comfort and joy with... CEMEX invests in rail solutions 14 April 2023 CEMEX has completed a significant investment into its rail solutions facility at Somercotes, Derbyshire, UK. This development was undertaken to meet increasing customer demand for its concrete bearers for switches and crossings. As a result of this investment, CEMEX will be able to manufacture an additional 18,000 linear metres of bearers for switches and crossings every year. This additional capacity is vital to meet the requirements of CEMEXs clients in the rail sector. The improvements entailed the construction of a building which houses a new crane for moving products and the existing stressing frames were repositioned into this facility, this allowed for space in the main building for a new 50m twin cell rail bearer mould. There is also space for further expansion when this is needed. As well as rail bearers, the new development can produce the heavily engineered, low volume complex sleepers that are required for key rail infrastructure projects. Published under Saudi cement companies fined for price manipulation 14 April 2023 Saudi Arabias General Authority for Competition (GAC) has fined 14 cement companies a total of SAR140m (US$37.33m) for price manipulation activities. Each company has been found guilty of trying to manipulate Saudis cement market with price increases, resulting in a SAR10m fine each. According to the Saudi Gazette, the GAC received numerous complaints that several cement producers were collaborating to raise cement prices and share the local market between themselves. After collecting evidence and information as part of a thorough investigation, the GAC concluded that all 14 cement companies had violated the Competition Law, namely paragraph 1 of Article Four. Saudi Gazette names the cement companies in question as Al-Safwa, Al-Madinah, Umm Al-Qura, Al-Jouf, Al-Qassim, Southern Cement, Najran, United Cement, Al-Yamama, Al-Riyadh, Arabian Cement, Saudi Cement, Yanbu, and Hail Cement. Published under Lafarge Cement Polska commits to renewable energy 14 April 2023 Lafarge Cement Polska has joined forces with KGAL Investment Management, an asset manger in the Polish renewables market, to establish two onshore wind farms, known as Krasin and Rywald. The farms, which are owned by KGAL ESPF 4 renewable energy fund, will supply the cement producer with around 230GWh of green electricity each year. The Krasin wind farm was acquired by KGAL ESPF 4 in May 2020 as a development project. The 35MW site has been producing green electricity since 2022, according to Saur Energy. The 27MW Rywald site is currently undergoing testing but expected to begin producing electricity in October 2023. We chose Lafarge as a partner because the company offered an above-average contract term of 15 years and, moreover, purchases the entire electricity production of both wind farms, said Michael Ebner, managing director of KGAL Investment Management. In addition, we expressly support Lafarges efforts to achieve carbon-neutral electricity supply as a producer in the energy-intensive cement sector. Lafarge Cement Polskas agreement with KGAL means that the cement producer will be able to meet 50 per cent of its electricity requirements via renewable sources. Published under Senior Chinese legislator meets Antigua and Barbuda deputy speaker Xinhua) 13:31, April 14, 2023 BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with Robin Yearwood, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda, via video link on Friday. Antigua and Barbuda is the first country in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to establish diplomatic relations with China, and this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Li said. China is willing to work with Antigua and Barbuda to consolidate political mutual trust and continue to support each other on issues concerning both sides' core interests and major concerns, Li said. China will also deepen practical cooperation with Antigua and Barbuda, expand people-to-people exchanges, enhance international coordination, strengthen close exchanges and mutual learning in legislation, so as to promote sustainable bilateral relations, he added. Yearwood said Antigua and Barbuda firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is looking forward to continuously strengthening friendly exchanges between the two countries' legislative bodies. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) SmartBank announced the rebranding of its insurance subsidiary including Chattanooga-based Sunbelt Insurance and Upper Cumberland-based Rains Insurance, to SBK Insurance. Sunbelt and Rains, leading insurance agencies in Tennessee, are now unified in a single entity positioned to provide enhanced insurance services throughout the SmartBank footprint. This is a great opportunity that will allow us to better leverage the strength and capabilities of our entire agency to provide quality products and services to all of our clients, said Billy Carroll, SmartBank president and CEO. The new name, SBK Insurance, is a natural fit for the SmartBank brand and we look forward to expanding this line of business in all of our markets. Over the years, Sunbelt and Rains have been providing reliable insurance solutions to individuals and businesses, offering a wide range of products including personal, commercial, life & health, and transportation insurance. We are excited to launch our new brand identity as SBK Insurance, which better reflects who we are today and where we are headed tomorrow, said SBK Insurance CEO, Mark Slater. Our clients can expect the same level of exceptional service, expertise, and value that they have come to trust from Sunbelt and Rains, with a renewed focus on innovation, growth, and excellence." The rebranding initiative includes a new logo, website, and marketing collateral that feature the SBK Insurance name and brand identity. The company's email addresses and contact information will also be updated to reflect the new name. Our rebranding is more than just a new name, said Jessica Parrott, SBK Insurance president. While our name may have changed, our commitment to clients remains the same and we will continue to provide them with excellent service and unwavering dedication. We are proud of our legacy, but were even more excited about our future as SBK Insurance and the opportunities it brings for our team and our clients. Collegedale police were notified by the Samaritan Center that the Collegedale SDA Church had been scammed by an individual they were trying to help for $500. Contact was made with church administrators who advised that they did not wish to prosecute. Police responded to a general motion alarm at a business in the 9000 block of Old Lee Highway. The building was checked and found secure. Police and fire department personnel responded to Southern Adventist University for a fire alarm. Police were called to respond to the Murphy gas station in the 5500 block of Little Debbie Parkway after several individuals refused to leave the property after being told to do so by an employee. Once police arrived the individuals chose to comply with the employees request. An officer assisted a broken down vehicle in the 5100 block of Ooltewah Ringgold Road. An officer took a vandalism report at the Village at Apison Pike apartment complex when it was discovered that someone had caused damage to a residents front door. Police responded to a two-vehicle crash in the 5700 block of Main Street. One driver was transported to the hospital for suspected injuries. A property damage report was filed on the campus of Southern Adventist University after an individual found damage on their parked vehicle. Collegedale police assisted the sheriffs office with a traffic crash near the northbound 15 mile marker on I-75. A citizen came to city hall requesting a VIN verification for a recently purchased vehicle. The vehicle was checked and returned with no reports. A traffic stop in the 10600 block of Old Lee Highway resulted in the driver being charged with driving on a revoked license. An alarm was triggered at Pediatric Dentistry, in the 5500 block of Little Debbie Parkway. All doors and windows were secure and no one was on scene. Walmart reported multiple thefts by the same suspect over a two-month time period. A traffic stop of a stolen vehicle in the 9200 block of Lee Highway led to its recovery and the arrest of the driver for possession of stolen property, driving on a revoked license, and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. The passenger was charged with possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. An alarm was triggered at the State Farm office in the 5500 block of Little Debbie Parkway. All doors and windows were secure and no one was on scene. Officers assisted a broken down motorist at the intersection of Edgmon and Tallant Roads. After a week-long trial in Nashville, a federal jury has convicted Karl Hampton, 65, of Chattanooga of 12 felony counts related to a scheme to defraud an elderly widow of over $1 million, announced United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. Hampton and his wife were indicted in 2021 for conspiracy and money laundering and Hampton was also charged with wire and mail fraud. At trial, the evidence showed that Hampton met the victim while he was working as an exterminator in her home. Between 2018 and 2020, Hampton tricked the victim into believing that he would care for her personally and financially. He held himself out as the victims personal representative, her son or her godson, and pretended that he was acting on her behalf, prosecutors said. In April 2019, Hampton convinced the victim to sign over her Power of Attorney and to name him in her Revocable Living Trust and in her will. He then methodically drained the victims bank accounts, took out a $500,000 line of credit in her name using her property as collateral, and amassed huge charges on her credit cards for his own personal expenses, it was stated. In total, Hampton defrauded the victim of approximately $1.2 million. He used her money to purchase luxury items and often spent over $1,000 per day on lottery tickets. The defendants lavish spending using the victims money included purchasing a Lexus GX460, a 4.3-karat diamond ring, and a $170,000 interest in a pest control business. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 11. The defendants wife pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering in February and will be sentenced on June 16. This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Booth and Brent Hannafan prosecuted the case. The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission will set the states 2023-24 hunting and trapping seasons at its April 20-21 meeting to be held in Johnson City at the Carnegie Hotel. Commission committee meetings begin Thursday, April 20 at 1 p.m. (EDT), with full Commission proceedings continuing Friday at 9 a.m. At its March meeting at Buffalo Ridge Refuge, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency proposed changes to the elk hunt proclamation. The Agency recommended the addition of four new permits and two more elk hunting zones. The new zones would be located on the Ed Carter Tract and on the Sundquist tract. If approved, the number of elk zones will be 10 and permits would be 19 total. Several proposed regulation changes on various wildlife management areas and refuges were also presented, including potential new quota hunt locations. There were no proposed changes to the deer, bear, turkey seasons and small game hunting seasons. An update will also be presented on human/bear conflict. The Agency has been seeing a rise in conflicts due to increasing human and bear populations as well as urbanization near bear habitats. A review of the tools the Agency is using to address the issues will be given. The Commission will also consider a proposal from the Fisheries Division to open a 30-mile stretch on the Mississippi River for silver carp and paddlefish commercial fishing and the type of gear allowed for invasive carp on Pickwick Reservoir. A preview of the changes was made at the March Commission meeting. Royal family followers know that King Charles coronation is coming soon but not everyone affiliated with the royals is attending. Viewers can expect to see Prince Andrew in attendance. But his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, plans to watch the proceedings from afar. Heres what the Duchess of York said about why shes not attending the coronation. Sarah Ferguson explains why shes not attending King Charles coronation Royal family members Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew | Indigo/Getty Images Sarah Ferguson is just as famous of a royal family member as her husband, Prince Andrew. But she wont be attending King Charles coronation. A source told Hello! Magazine that the Duchess of York didnt receive an invite due to her divorce, thus she wont attend. The commentators are always good and then everyone, all the family come back, because remember I am divorced from [Prince Andrew] so, I dont expect you cant have it both ways, you cant be divorced and then say, I want this . [Youre in] or youre out, Sarah shared with the publication, according to Fox News. The coronation takes place on May 6, 2023, at Londons Westminster Abbey. And Sarah mentioned she plans on watching it on TV, as she can hear more that way anyway. I personally will be having a little tea room and coronation chicken sandwich and putting out the bunting, thats what Im going to be doing. Because that would make me very happy, she added. Sarah will also see the royal family members later that day, so shes not snubbed from the event completely. I think its really great to be supportive big time and then when all the family come home, I know all the ins and outs from commentators on television! she stated. Prince Andrew plans to attend Prince Andrew and King Charles with Queen Elizabeth | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images While Sarah Ferguson isnt invited to King Charles coronation, Prince Andrew is. GB News reports King Charles III hopes bringing Prince Andrew into the coronation will help unite the family, especially after Andrews civil sexual assault case. Its been mooted that Prince Andrew is going to copy his nephew and write his own tell-all memoir. Apparently, this is not the case, royal commentator Sarah Robertson told GB News. Ive been told Andrew is standing behind his brother and Charles is using the coronation as an opportunity to bring the family back together. He wants to bring Andrew back into the fold but in a private capacity, not a public capacity. The commentator then noted royal family followers should expect to see Prince Andrew stay quiet in the future. Why is Meghan Markle not going to King Charles coronation? Prince Harry will attend the Coronation of #KingCharles alone as his wife #MeghanMarkle has refused to accompany him to the event, according to a Royal expert.https://t.co/sXHIviMxNq Mint (@livemint) April 14, 2023 Much like Sarah Ferguson, Meghan Markle also isnt attending King Charles coronation. An insider told Us Weekly that Meghans skipping the event because of her sons birthday. As much as Meghan appreciates the invite to the coronation, she wouldnt miss her sons birthday for the world, the insider stated. Despite being the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan is a mom first. She feels very grateful to be included in such a special occasion by the royal family and is glad that Harry can go and show support on behalf of their family, the insider noted. But being the same day as Archies birthday, unfortunately, shes just going to have to miss out on this one. The palace announced the news that Meghan wasnt attending. Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on May 6th, the statement read. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel. Seeking Brother Husband: Kenya Explains Why She Let Her Ex David Back Into Her Life Kenya from Seeking Brother Husband already has two men in her life. But in the April 16 episode of the TLC reality show, she adds another guy to the mix. And hes someone from her past. In a social media post, Kenya shed more light on why she welcomed an ex back into her life. Kenyas ex returns in the next episode of TLCs Seeking Brother Husband Sparks are flying with Kenya's ex back in town. #SeekingBrotherHusband is all new Sunday at 10/9c. pic.twitter.com/GtJroaFyi5 TLC Network (@TLC) April 14, 2023 Kenya already has two husbands: Carl, to whom shes been legally married for more than 25 years, and Tiger, with whom shes been in a relationship for 10 years. But it seems like she might be ready to go from two husbands to three. In the next episode of Seeking Brother Husband, one of Kenyas ex-boyfriends pays her a visit, and based on her reaction when she answers the door, shes pretty happy to see him. This date is exactly the type of attention Ive been missing, she says in a teaser (via Twitter) for the upcoming episode. Meanwhile, Carl and Tiger look on, unamused. The Seeking Brother Husband cast member explains why her previous relationship ended Kenya on Seeking Brother Husband | TLC via YouTube In an Instagram update, Kenya shed some more light on her partnership with David and her decision to revisit a past relationship. She explained that they had been together for seven years, but that things ended when he got involved with another woman who wasnt comfortable with their polygamous dynamic. David met a novice-level poly partner who decided she wanted me out of the picture! Of course I happily acquiesced given she is a beginner and Im an expert, Kenya shared. I knew it wouldnt last, not when his new lady was seeking #ownership no human wants to be owned. The Seeking Brother Husband cast member wasnt surprised when her exs other relationship ended. My men can break up with me, but Im always with them. .. so years later when that scenario inevitably ended, we picked up seamlessly, she said. Kenya explains why she let her ex back into her life Many people would be reluctant to let an ex back into their life after a breakup. But Kenya was open to rekindling things with David if that was what he wanted. This may sound complicated, but its really simple. Im not going to file ANYONE away as a disappointment, she wrote. Therefore, if people who have left me, want to come back, after whatever they venture through, Im open arms! #ProgressiveLove means realizing that there is no separation between you and everyone/everything on this planet, she added. I am literally one with all things and beings! So whatever I feel about you is a reflection of me. So if I do not love you, I do not love me. So why play that game? New episodes of Seeking Brother Husband airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC. For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel. During Sex and the Citys illustrious run, we learned surprisingly little about the core fours families. Sure, we learned a bit about Charlotte York and Miranda Hobbes background. Still, Carrie Bradshaw and Samantha Jones pasts were mostly shrouded in mystery, especially any collegiate life they may have had. Believe it or not, it might not be that big of a mystery. We did learn where Carrie Bradshaw was accepted to college. Carrie was an Ivy League girl, or almost was, just like Miranda. Carrie Bradshaw was accepted into Brown University While Carrie never spoke much about her life before Manhattan, there is plenty of information to consume if you consider The Carrie Diaries as part of Carries actual story. Some fans do, while others do not. If you think The Carrie Diaries is part of Sex and the City canon, then Summer in the City, Candace Bushnells 2011 prequel young adult novel, probably counts, too. AnnaSophia Robb as Carrie Bradshaw | Bobby Bank/WireImage If thats the case, Carrie Bradshaw was bound for college when she was fresh out of high school. It wasnt just any college, either. She was headed to the Ivy League. According to the book, Carrie was set to attend Brown University when the allure of New York City brought her in for a summer writing class. From there, she had to figure out if she wanted to stay in New York or pack up and head to Providence, Rhode Island, for four years. Where did the other ladies of Sex and the City attend school? While Carries collegiate career is a bit complicated, at best, thanks to the inclusion of different scenarios, things are more cut and dry for Miranda Hobbes and Charlotte York. Miranda attended Law School at Harvard. Her alma mater is mentioned multiple times during the shows six-season run. Cynthia Nixon, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Kim Cattrall (l. to r.) walk along Greene St. Sex and the City. Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images Charlotte York also mentioned her college career. Charlotte completed her undergraduate degree at Smith College, a prestigious private college in Northampton, Massachusetts. Samanthas academic career is a giant question mark. While discussing Mirandas pregnancy and abortion, Samantha mentioned attending college and living on campus but never stated where she went. It looks like well never find out. Where did Candace Bushnell go to college? If Carrie Bradshaw were supposed to be Candace Bushnells alter ego, it would stand to reason that the fictional author would attend the same school as the real-life columnist. According to her book, that was not the case. Candace Bushnell | Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images Candace Bushnell attended both Rice University and New York University. In an interview with LoHud, Bushnell revealed that she ran away from college. The famed writer spent time at Rice University in Texas, exhausting all the writing courses they had to offer. When she finished the writing courses at the school, she packed up and left sans a degree. Bushnell immediately headed for New York City. She said her parents, who lived in Connecticut, let her figure things out for a bit before advising her to go back to college. Bushnell eventually enrolled at New York University. Merck announced an agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to support expansion plans at its semiconductor manufacturing site in Hometown. This expansion is part of Merck's Level Up growth program, announced by its Electronics business sector in late 2021, which aims to invest over 3 billion in innovation and capacity expansion projects by 2025. The roughly 300 million investment in the Hometown site will further develop the world's largest integrated Specialty Gases facility and support the success of Merck's Semiconductor Solutions business, one of its "Big 3" growth engines. Despite near-term cautions due to the industrys cyclical nature, the demand for semiconductor materials remains very promising long term, said Kai Beckmann, Member of the Executive Board of Merck and CEO Electronics. Having domestic production capacity for critical electronics components has become a high priority for many economies. As the brains of modern electronics, semiconductors enable technology critical to economic growth and global competitiveness. Our expansion plans will support our customers investments in the U.S. and boost our overall global footprint of manufacturing facilities around the globe. The agreement includes incentive targets associated with at least 68 new jobs and significant potential investments that will enable the company to capture and grow its semiconductor materials business in North America and Europe and provide supplemental capacity to supply Asia. Level Up program continues to deliver critical global capacity to fuel accelerated semiconductor growth Driven by accelerated industry growth, Merck is delivering a remarkable track record of investment execution since the introduction of its Level Up growth program and the announcement of significantly more than 3 billion in innovation and capacities in the U.S., Germany, and Asia by the end of 2025. As part of this program, the company is significantly investing into R&D and manufacturing capacities in its Electronics U.S. sites, primarily in Arizona, California, Texas, and Pennsylvania. For instance, by the end of the first half of 2023, the company expects to start operations at its new factory in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area for the manufacture of equipment for its Delivery Systems & Services (DS&S) business. The new site will enable the company to further grow its gas and chemical delivery systems business and provide key supplemental capacity to the semiconductor ecosystem. Last year, Merck successfully executed investments aimed at expanding its semiconductor materials production capacities in Asia. For example, the company opened a new DS&S facility in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, as well as its China Electronics Technology Center and a production facility for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) materials in Shanghai, China. Also in 2022, the company acquired the chemical business of the Korean company Mecaro. Earlier this year, Merck broke ground in a second facility in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, that will produce specialty gases and semiconductor materials for thin film and structuring applications as of 2025. Kim Teehee, who awaits the call from the U.S. House of Representatives to take her seat as the delegate for the Cherokee Nation, took questions before about two dozen attendees at the Tulsa Press Club on April 6. Writer Rachel Carsons 1962 environmental science book Silent Spring served as a warning to the American public about harmful chemicals and pesticides we had been surrounding ourselves with and sparked a massive movement for change. Who knows what would have happened without Rachels influential novel having educated everyday citizens? Here is the story of Rachels life and what led her to write her legendary book. Rachel was born in 1907 on a farm in Springdale, Pennsylvania. She developed a love for nature early in life. She loved reading and started writing her own stories as a child, one of which was published when she was only 10-years-old. She majored in biology at the Pennsylvania College for Women before attending Johns Hopkins University to study zoology and genetics. To financially support herself, she began working as a laboratory assistant. Rachel received her masters in 1932 and wanted to get her doctorate, but she had to put everything on hold in 1934 to take on a full-time teaching job to help support her family. When she was 29 in 1936, Rachel took on a job at the US Bureau of Fisheries. She created brochures and other educational literature for the public and analyzed data on fish populations. Around this time, tragedy struck her family, and Rachel became responsible for her two orphaned nieces, so to supplement some extra income, she continued writing. Rachel wrote many essays, articles, and her first book, Under The Sea Wind. She stayed with the bureau for 15 years and was eventually promoted to Editor-in-Chief of the bureaus publications before deciding to write full-time. Her second book, The Sea Around Us, was published in 1951. Rachel resigned from the bureau at the age of 46 and moved to Southport Island, Maine, to continue writing. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. A very successful woman once said, There are no ugly women, only lazy ones. Do you know who that was? It was Helena Rubinstein, one of the first self-made female millionaires, as well as the owner of a successful cosmetics company. The topic of self-made millionaires is hot these days, and Helena was an entrepreneur who worked hard for her success. Born in 1870 in Krakow, Poland, Helena was one of eight daughters in a middle-class Jewish family. Helena briefly studied medicine but wasnt happy with the work she was doing. In the late 1890s, she decided to live with some family in Australia and moved there with 12 jars of her mothers beloved face cream in her bags. When Helena arrived in Australia, she was often admired for her beautiful skin complexion, as many Australian women suffered from sun-damaged skin. Many women wanted to get their hands on the skin cream she had brought with her, and Helena began giving jars of it away until she had the clever idea to open her own shop so she could sell it. She received financial support from a wealthy woman who adored her cream and opened her first beauty shop in Melbourne. The store became a success as she had facial cream shipped in before eventually beginning to manufacture it herself. In the early 1900s, Helena put one of her sisters in charge of the Australian shop so she could return to Europe to continue her business venture. She started educating herself in skin treatments and facial care to advance her products. She also studied dermatology in Paris with an expert. She lived in London, where she met her husband, journalist Edward William Titus in 1908. They eventually had two sons together. Right before they married, she made sure she opened another successful beauty shop in London. Her stores attracted a lot of aristocratic women who had fallen in love with her products. In the early 1910s, Helena moved to Paris with her family and opened another beauty salon focusing more on herbal products. When World War I broke out, her family knew they needed to leave Europe, so they moved to New York City. While they were there, she opened another shop called the Maison de Beaute Valaze, which became one of her most successful locations. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Unsplash/ Alexander Grey Scotland is taking legal action against the UK government's block on gender identity reforms, with the Scottish government announcing plans to proceed with their proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act. The move comes after the UK government scrapped plans to make it easier for people to change their gender without a medical diagnosis legally. Scottish Government's Gender Identity Reform According to the Christian Post, the Scottish government's reforms would allow people to self-declare their gender without a medical diagnosis or evidence of living in their desired gender for a certain period. The reforms would also extend legal recognition to non-binary people. Holyrood voted in favor of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill last December. This bill will make it simpler for individuals to change the sex listed on official documents by doing away with the requirement that they have a formal medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria. The new legislation will shorten individuals' time to demonstrate that they have been living as their preferred sexual identity from two years to just three months. Moreover, the minimum age requirement to apply for a gender recognition certificate will be lowered from 18 to 16. In a step that has never been attempted before, the Scottish Secretary, Alister Jack, announced in January that Section 35 of the Scotland Act of 1998 would be utilized for the first time to prevent the bill from becoming law. Shirley-Anne Somerville, Scotland's Secretary of Social Justice, argued against this viewpoint. She stated that the United Kingdom administration had failed to provide "adequate reason" for applying Section 35. She indicated that the Scottish government intended to seek judicial review "to preserve the democratic decision of the Parliament and ensure effective safeguarding of devolution." Additionally, The Guardian stated that the proponents of the reforms hope they will simplify a procedure that many transgender people find to be intrusive and stressful. Still, they do not want it to affect the places or services that transgender people utilize daily. Also Read: Church Of Scotland Looking To Drop Husband And Wife Reference During Marriage Ceremonies Scotland's Catholic Bishops Warn Against "Unsafe" Gender Recognition Reform Bill La Croix International reported that the Catholic bishops in Scotland are urging parliamentarians to oppose the controversial Gender Recognition Reform Bill proposed by the Scottish government. The bishops claim the bill is "unsafe" and will likely cause harm to young people. The Bishops' Conference of Scotland said in a statement that they are gravely concerned about the changes proposed by the Scottish Government's Gender Recognition Reform Bill regarding legislation that lowers the legal age at which people can change their gender and makes it easier for trans people to acquire a gender recognition certificate. This certificate legally recognizes that a person's gender is not the gender they were assigned at birth. Also, they stated that the children need to be shielded from the possibility of making irreversible, legally binding assertions about their gender, which could result in irreversible, elective medical procedures such as surgery. More children and young people will be led down this path due to lowering the minimum age from 18 to 16 and introducing a system of self-identification. Related Article:Scotland Charity Ordered To Pay Over $51,000 To Ex-CEO Dismissed Over His Opposition To Gay Marriage Pexels/Toth Viktor While returning from a mission in Addis Ababa, two employees of Catholic Relief Services were tragically killed on Sunday, Apr. 9. However, the identities of those responsible were still unknown. Tragic Death of Catholic Relief Services' Staff Catholic News Agency reported that the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is a Catholic organization that provides relief to people in over 100 countries worldwide. On Monday, Apr. 10, CRS spokesman Zemede Zewdie expressed devastation to report the death of two of their staff: Chuol Tongyik, 37, a security manager, and Amare Kindeya, 43, a driver. "The depth of our shock and sorrow is difficult to measure, and we are saddened over this senseless violence," he added. They extend their sympathies to Chuol and Amare's families and pray they can find the strength they need to overcome this difficult time. CRS reaffirms its dedication to supporting the Ethiopian people by continuing current programs. Moreover, due to a decision made by the federal government to dismantle regional special forces groups, violence in anti-government demonstrations broke out in the Amhara region in Ethiopia, which led to the deaths of several people. According to the decision, the special forces units stationed in the country's 11 regions must be incorporated into the police or the federal army. However, a significant portion of the populace opposes this initiative. Disbanding Amhara's special forces would reportedly expose the region to attacks from neighboring regions, particularly Tigray, whose leaders signed an agreement with the central government in November 2022 to stop a two-year war that killed thousands of victims. As per the Voa News, Reuters' requests for comment on the killings were not immediately met with a response from either the Amhara regional government or the Ethiopian federal government's spokespersons. Over the weekend, riots and gun battles broke out in several towns besides Kobo. These towns included Woldiya and Sekota and persisted in several locations on Monday, Apr. 10. Furthermore, in a nation with a protracted history of interethnic strife, the decision made by the government to incorporate the regional special forces into the national army is an effort to foster national unity and create "a strong centralized army." Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed has promised that the new strategy will be implemented regardless of the violence. Also Read:At Least 500 Ethiopian Christians Slaughtered Since June Violence in the Amhara Region in Ethiopia Based on a report from Wion, a resident of Kombolcha who spoke on the condition of confidentiality stated that federal soldiers attempted to arrest regional troops, which prompted protestors to step in. He claimed to have seen the bodies of five persons who had been shot to death and ten others who had been injured. According to a doctor, at least 12 of those injured in the incident in Kombolcha were brought to a hospital in Dessie. The doctor also mentioned that he had heard that others had passed away. However, the number of people killed due to the violence is still unknown. An explosion also occurred in a pub in Bahir Dar, the region's capital. A police officer said that it resulted in the deaths of two persons and injuries to several others. It was unclear what triggered the explosion or if it had any connection to the protests that were taking place. Related Article: Tigray Christians Puzzled With International Communitys Inaction on Ongoing Civil War in Ethiopia Pexels/Pixabay An announcement was released by NASA on Monday that, for the first time since 1972, four people will going to revisit the moon. The 2024 Artemis II mission consists of professionals, one of which is a Christian named Victor Glover, who has participated in services with Churches of Christ in the Californian and Houston regions. Glover was a former commander of the Navy who flew combat sorties in Iraq and assisted the late U.S. Sen. John McCain before his 2013 entry into NASA. Historic Crewed Moon Mission to Take Place in December 2024 According to Religion Unplugged, when Glover set out on a six-month mission to the International Space Station in 2020 with his Bible and communion cups, he made history by becoming the first Black astronaut assigned to a long-duration mission. Even though he had previously stated in an interview that he wanted to visit the moon, he still needed to anticipate being chosen for the Artemis II mission. Although he won't be walking on the moon just yet, he will be the first Black astronaut to visit the moon thanks to this expedition. NASA believes the Artemis II mission will open the way for future moon landings, establish a permanent presence on the moon, and prepare humanity for crewed expeditions to Mars. Glover thanked God for the excellent chance at the Artemis announcement ceremony in Houston. Glover also stressed that the importance of this moment in human history is being celebrated, not just the four people who were announced to be mission team members. In addition to receiving God's blessings, he prays that the mission would inspire coexistence and peace inside and across nations. Christian Chronicle said former military pilot Victor Glover had to develop patience before starting his NASA training. He understood the difference between discipline and patience and needed the latter. He would have already changed employment twice or three times and moved twice or thrice in the Navy. However, he has learned the virtue of patience during his seven years with NASA. Even though he understood he had no control over it, he kept praying and thinking about going to the moon. He also resumed journaling, which he discovered to be a test of patience. He journaled a lot throughout his three-year assignment to the Artemis II mission. Glover is aware that the space station represents a novel approach to space living and that this might be his final chance to see the moon. Also Read: Oak Ridge Churches Welcome Renowned Professor for a Lecture on Science and Christianity The First Missions to the Moon Another source, Christian Post, said that with the Apollo 11 mission, the first NASA moon landing occurred in July 1969. The last crewed mission to travel and set foot on the moon was Apollo 17, which happened in December 1972. To work on a series of demonstrations for the flying test, a four-person crew will journey together in November of next year. Norm Knight, director of flight operations at the NASA Johnson Space Center, expressed his satisfaction with the group and their skills and capabilities to launch missions to the moon. They will push themselves to the limit on the Artemis II mission as they prepare to deliver humans to the moon. But Knight is confident that they are prepared to overcome any difficulties that may emerge. Related Article:Space Shuttle Flight Explores the Intersection of Faith and Science with 'Jesus in Space,' Book Pexels/Lara Jameson The First Amendment is an essential amendment for the religious, for it protects and guarantees the right to the freedom to exercise one's religion and also protects freedom of speech and also from the petitioning government. But the First Amendment is being contested in the recent court case Faith Bible Chapel v. Tucker, which might have broad consequences. The Call for a Review of the Landmark Religious Liberty Case According to Americans United, A federal complaint was filed in 2019 by Gregg Tucker, a former employee at Faith Christian Academy in Colorado, accusing the institution of violating his civil rights by retaliating against him after he spoke out about the institution's racial climate. Invoking the "ministerial exception" to defend its activities, the school attempted to argue before the trial court, but it was rejected, and the case could continue. Furthermore, Tucker succeeded at the Tenth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, prompting the organization to ask the U.S. The Supreme Court will review the case. Americans United has filed a brief objecting to the court hearing the case. In the article in Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the resolution of this case may offer the ministerial exemption the much-needed clarification it requires. This exception, which permits religious institutions to select their own leaders without government involvement, could be strengthened with a favorable decision. However, an adverse decision can result in religious compulsion and government meddling with religious institutions. The First Amendment's significance is shown by this case, which has special significance for Christians in America. The ERLC and other religious organizations contend in their amicus brief that the First Amendment safeguards religious groups' freedom to select the instructors of their faith without interference from the state. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) intervened in the Faith Bible Chapel v. Tucker case by filing an amicus brief supporting the appeal. The First Amendment's provision of the free exercise of religion should not be violated, according to the ERLC, and neither should the ministerial exemption. The ERLC will keep advancing religious freedom in the hopes that justice will be done for Faith Christian Academy and the future of religious freedom in the country. Also Read: Biden Administration Accused of Infringing Religious Freedom with Latest Actions The Primary Issue of the First Amendment and How it is Flawed The First Amendment's reach in protecting our freedom of speech is one of the key issues that many have with it. Although people take pride in defending provocative speech and tolerating it, there is no justification for restricting speech on these grounds. According to the article in Cambridge University Press, nonetheless, regardless of whether it is hostile or offensive, communication that poses a considerable danger of harm or produces harm should be prohibited. Since the free speech doctrine holds that speech is always more valued than competing values, it undervalues the harm that speech can produce. There is no reason to believe that free speech should always prevail over other values, even though it is commonly seen as valuable. Related Article:Religious Freedom Bill Advances to Senate After Clearing House Vote Pexels/Fede Roveda The Catholic Archbishop of Bangalore, Archbishop Peter Machado, has taken a stance against India's anti-conversion laws, just as the country's Supreme Court is getting ready to weigh in on the matter during two necessary hearings this month. Concern Over False Conversion Accusations Against Christians A report from The Christian Post stated that Archbishop Machado had petitioned the Supreme Court for a judgment requiring the publication of information on religious infractions that occurred in states with anti-conversion laws. Thus, on Friday, Apr. 21, the highest court in India will hold a hearing to consider his case. Moreover, the Chief Executive Officer of Open Doors, Henrietta Blyth, stated that there is no evidence to substantiate the charges of "forced conversion" or "fraudulent conversion." It is reportedly a myth that religious nationalists have fabricated for political gain. It has the effect of causing whole towns and families to become estranged from one another. Additionally, Voa News reported that as the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has expressed concerns and called for the revocation of the controversial anti-conversion laws that have been enacted in some states of India, leaders of Indian minority communities have stated that the controversial anti-conversion laws are aimed at persecuting and harassing Christian and Muslim minorities. Christian missionaries are accused by Hindu organizations and politicians of India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party of converting people across India through fraudulent tactics, coercion, and allurement. In recent years, they have also asserted that Muslims are converting people to Islam in unethical ways. Also Read: Thousands of Indians Christians Participate at Historic Delhi Gathering to Call Attention of Government Following Christian Violence Christians' Stance on Anti-Conversion Law According to Crux, Christians in India claimed that a new anti-conversion law passed on Sept. 16, 2022, in the state of Karnataka would violate the freedom of religion granted by the constitution of India. In December of 2021, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly voted to approve the "Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021," commonly called the "anti-conversion bill." However, the bill was not presented to the upper chamber Council, where the ruling Brahminical Jyotirao Paksha (BJP) had a majority at the time, this year after the party obtained 40 of the Council's 75 members. As mentioned, the Hindu nationalist BJP party, which also holds power at the national level, has been passing anti-conversion bills in state legislatures it controls, intending to persecute the country's Muslim and Christian minorities. In December 2022, Open Doors reported that Christians in India had issued a request to other Christian communities worldwide, urging them to join them in praying in opposition to the passage of a national anti-conversion law in their country. There is concern that this new law if it were to be introduced and tabled during this winter, would result in increased attacks against Christians and other minority groups during the Christmas season. Since the Indian Supreme Court accepted and heard a petition about "religious conversion by force and allurement" and determined that it was a grave threat to national security, there has been an increase in the level of concern regarding the possibility of the Indian government passing a national anti-conversion law. The Supreme Court also stated that the national government should intervene in this matter, which they did by holding a hearing that concluded that the right to religious freedom does not include the right to convert. The hearing concluded that the right to religious freedom does not include the right to convert. Related Article: Church Leaders in India Complained to Stage Play Depicting Convents as Slave-Like Centers Pexels/Pixabay Internal documents by the House Judiciary Committee revealed that the FBI plans to build up sources inside Christian churches and Catholic dioceses to prevent domestic terrorism. The documents show that the FBI specifically targeted "mainline Catholic parishes" and intended to use churches as "new avenues for tripwire and source development." The FBI also expressed interest in leveraging existing sources and initiating Type 5 Assessments to develop new sources with placement and access. The FBI also stated that it wanted to alert religious congregations to the warning indications of radicalization and enlist their assistance acting as tripwires for suspicious behavior. Jim Jordan Raises Concerns Over Fbi's Use of Undercover Agents Fox News reported that Jim Jordan, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, composed a letter for Christopher Wray, the director of the FBI, stating that the FBI relied on at least one undercover agent to obtain its information and suggesting reaching out to Catholic parishes to find sources within the clergy and church leadership. This information was gathered based on the FBI's scant information to the committee. Jordan has also sent a subpoena to the FBI for a number of relevant papers that they have previously refused to release to the committee, despite demands. He also disapproved and emphasized the significance of acquiring all FBI records essential to their request. The records that have been made available note that they should "indicate that the FBI tried to recruit Catholic churches as potential sources for monitoring and reporting on their members." Jordan's letter emphasized that Americans must be able to exercise their First Amendment rights without worries about the FBI placing "tripwire" sources or informants in their places of worship. It also emphasized that attending church is a fundamental right that should be free from interference. He also added that the people attend the church peacefully to feed their spiritual and personal lives, and this shouldn't be compromised in any way. Also Read: FBI Reports Arrest of Ohio Man for Attempted Arson at Church Hosting Drag Queen Story Hour The FBI's Plans and Announcements The FBI planned to monitor a Catholic denomination in Richmond, Virginia, according to a memo that was leaked in February by previous FBI agent Kyle Seraphin. The story in Newsweek states that this was carried out to protect individuals against the threat of white supremacy, which the FBI believed had crept into Catholics who preferred the Latin Mass. The FBI released an announcement last month stating that the document failed to coordinate with the strict criteria the agency had set up and that it had been promptly removed from their system after becoming aware of it following the statement's release. The FBI has started an internal assessment of this situation to ensure their procedures and regulations were followed. The investigation on violent extremism motivated by race or ethnicity that the FBI received did not meet the agency's rigorous requirements. The FBI withdrew the document from its system and reviewed its basis as soon as they learned about it, according to a spokesperson who discussed it in The Daily Wire through email. The FBI will not investigate or engage in actions based on First Amendment-protected activity because they are committed to conducting thorough investigations and preventing violent acts while preserving the constitutional rights of all Americans. Related Article:FBI Accused of Religious Discrimination as Conservatives Denounce Targeting of Traditional Catholics as 'Violent Extremists' Pexels/Creative Vix A more significant movement throughout Christianity is evident in the recent resurgence at Asbury University, which is both a great example of the Western world and a global phenomenon. For Generation Z, a generation that is frequently said to be struggling with depression, nervousness, and a general loss of religious beliefs, this development is a good sign. Younger Christians are drawn to the charismatic movement because it provides an encounter that cannot be replicated online. It is obvious why the Asbury Revival attracted so much attention; you had to be there in person to really comprehend and appreciate its impact. Adaptation of the Charismatic Christian Movements for the Generation Z An article in the Washington Examiner claims that the Asbury phenomenon is illuminated by the history of evangelicalism, which, like other Holy Spirit-led churches globally, symbolizes a yearning for a more supernatural and metaphysical faith. Many churches have been losing members, but the emergence of charismatic movements is reversing this trend, partly because of increased immigration from Latin America, Africa, and Asia to the United States. Even though charismatic movements continue to expand significantly worldwide, this tendency is being slowed. The loss of religion in the United States is frequently reported, with a strong trend towards those identifying as "nones." According to the 2022 Status of Global Christianity study, the charismatic church is the main reason global Christianity is increasing at a rate of 1.17%. A quarter of all Christians are Pentecostals, who currently number around 600 million. By 2050, that figure is expected to rise to 1 billion. The 1906 Azusa Street Revival is where today's charismatic and Pentecostal churches started. Over three years, a varied group of Christians met every day in an old African Methodist Episcopal church building for meetings filled with the Holy Spirit under the leadership of African American Pastor William J. Seymour. The Pentecostal denomination was founded in the United States due to these ongoing unanticipated occurrences, and it is still growing even as the majority of other religions have disintegrated. The movie titled Jesus Revolution appears to talk about the topic of the evangelical movement known as "Jesus Freaks" in the 1960s and 70s, which might lead people to think it aims to push Christianity onto an increasingly resistant world. But this is unlikely what is supposed to mean; according to the article in the Gospel Coalition, the film takes a refreshing perspective similar to other recent faith-based films that emphasize examining real concerns and intricate relationships rather than advocating simple solutions. The movie rejects the idea that Jesus is the answer to every issue while celebrating faith. It addresses the dangers of rigid tradition and forward-thinking fluidity, challenging all viewpoints rather than simply catering to one audience while criticizing others. Gen Z is ready for the kind of enthusiasm seen in the Jesus Movement, according to the film's co-director Jon Erwin, who notes that Gen Z is "deeply curious and deeply spiritually hungry." The movie does an excellent job of illustrating this search for meaning. The question "If we say we're looking for truth, what if this is truth?" is posed by one character since "everything we've been trying... is not working for me." Also Read:Asbury University's 'No Celebrities Except Jesus' Policy Safeguards, Sustains Campus Revival The Importance of Keeping Track of the Target Audience In the story shared by Carey Nieuwhof, we are reminded of how crucial it is to keep our target audience in mind, especially regarding the church. The church is distinctive because it primarily shares Jesus' love with those who are not now members. The church's core objective of reaching out to people who haven't yet experienced the love and community that the church can offer cannot ever be compromised, even though caring for the congregation's current members is crucial. When churches focus too much on serving their existing members' needs, they risk losing sight of their purpose. They run the risk of excluding the very people they were supposed to serve by doing this and building a congregation that is entirely comprised of insiders. Related Article: Kentucky Prayer 'Revival' Takes TikTok by Storm, Drawing Participants from Across the Country Pexels/ EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA The Israeli police allegedly prevent people from freely exercising their right to worship in the 'Holy Fire' ceremony. The authorities reportedly limit the number of pilgrims permitted to attend the celebration on Saturday, Apr. 8. Restrictions of Authorities On the evening before Easter, thousands of Christians can be found crammed into the Basilica constructed on the site where it is said that Jesus Christ was buried and later rose from the dead. Agenzia Fides reported that worshippers are there to participate in the pre-Easter rite of the "Holy Fire," which is still an event that is greatly cherished by the communities of Orthodox Churches and ancient Eastern churches around the world. During the pandemic, the rite of the Holy Fire was also celebrated while adhering to the precautions taken for people's health that prevented them from congregating in large groups. This year, the Israeli police have ordered that the ceremony be attended by no more than 1800 Orthodox Christians and Armenian Christians, in addition to 200 members of the Israeli security force. Moreover, Kentucky Today reported the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Father Mattheos Siopis, stated on Wednesday, Apr. 5, that their efforts to negotiate with the police on their "heavy-handed" restrictions were unsuccessful. They would reportedly perform the ritual as they have done for the past two millennia and extend an invitation to everyone interested in worshiping alongside them. Father Siopis noted that they would step back and let those in charge handle things as they will. "The churches will freely worship and do so in peace," he added. Furthermore, Chief Superintendent Yoram Segal of the Jerusalem District Police asserted in an interview that safety is the police's primary concern when Muslims, Christians, and Jews celebrate their respective holidays in the one-square-kilometer Old City. Also Read:New St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Opened at World Trade Center 'Holy Fire' Celebration Sepulchre Candles stated that the Holy Fire Ceremony has existed for centuries. It occurs annually on Holy Saturday, the day before the Orthodox Church commemorates Easter, at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The celebration honors a miracle that has occurred in the same place, at the same time, and in the same way from its humble beginnings. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus Christ was buried and resurrected, hosts the event that has inspired Christians for centuries. The ceremony annually attracts tens of thousands to Jerusalem and has been controversial for decades, even within Christian Church factions. Accordingly, a blue light is reported to emanate from the stone slab known as the "Stone of Anointing" on the Saturday before the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. It is said that the behavior of the light changes from year to year, but one thing remains the same: it will not cause one's clothes or skin to catch fire. The Holy Fire rises into the air and creates a column, which may be reminiscent of the pillar of fire described in Exodus 13:21. From this fire, two candles are lighted, and then those candles are utilized to light the candles of the many people who have congregated both within and outside of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In addition, the Holy Fire is believed to have moved about the region before leaving. Related Article:St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Churchs Reconstruction Currently Costs $85 Million Wikimedia Commons/Tony Webster Recently, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contributed the American Red Cross around $8.7 million to support blood drives, cancer and sickle cell initiatives, and biomedical equipment. Gail McGovern, the American Red Cross's president and CEO, have given her utmost respect and thanks for the Church's cooperation and assistance. She expressed her gratitude and appreciation for this collaborative effort in promoting more accessible health care, most especially blood donation. Church of Jesus Christ Donates $8.7M to the American Red Cross According to the article in KSL, last year, the Church also donated about $5.1M that, enabled the Red Cross further to expand its outreach on the sickle cell disease, enhance blood donation drives, and also to improve their services on blood donation for cancer patients, in which they receive 25% of all the donated blood products in the United States. The Church also upholds the status of the most significant single blood drive contributor for the Red Cross last year, with over 70,000 donors have participated in 2,000 blood donation drives in the first nine months of 2022. Gerald Causse, the Church's presiding bishop, expressed his pleasure in contributing to the American Red Cross and supporting their vital services and programs for those in need. He also thanked the numerous church members who donated their time and blood. Blaine R. Maxfield, managing director of the Church's Welfare and Self-Reliance Services Department, also gave thanks to the members for their compassionate actions and noted how the mission of the American Red Cross aligns with the Church's efforts to serve others as the Savior would and to demonstrate love for their neighbors. The Latter-Day Saints were crucial in recruiting blood donors, including 21,000 African-American donors. The Church News has highlighted how incredibly important it is to provide support for those battling sickle cell disease. This condition affects around 100,000 individuals in the United States, predominantly those with African heritage. As these patients often need numerous blood transfusions throughout their lives, the unwavering support from others is truly essential.lives. Additionally, in 2022, the Church funded the Red Cross to buy and set up various biomedical tools, including amicus separators, platelet incubators, blood centrifuges, DNA sequencers, DNA extractors, and a flow cytometer. Latter-day Saints engaged in 3,692 humanitarian initiatives in 190 countries and territories last year, according to the Church's 2022 Caring for Those in Need annual report, published on March 22. 6.3 million volunteer hours and $1.02 billion in expenses went into these initiatives. Also Read: Latter-Day Saints Conference Highlights: President Russell Nelson Urges Viewers to Become Peacemakers Other Donations of Outreach by The Church of Jesus Christ Earlier this year, the Latter-day Saints put its utmost effort into minimizing its water use at its headquarters due to decreased water supply in the Great Salt Lake. Also, they were trying to incorporate water-saving landscaping and have been donating water rights to Utah's Great Salt Lake as a response to the devastating effects of the drought. According to the article in Christianity Daily, Mormon pioneers who came to the lake in 1847 and built infrastructure have a long history with the Church. Later, the Church constructed the Great Saltair as a tourist destination and established the Inland Crystal Salt Co. The Church strongly emphasizes environmental stewardship and adjusting practices to reflect modern environmental knowledge. Related Article:Latter-Day Saints in Peru Provide Donations and Services, Receives Commendation From First Lady of Peru Pexels/Mike B A wooden hand-carved cross that had been missing for years has been acquired by a church in Tumwater that is 150 years old and located in the city's historic downtown. The 13-foot-tall cross now stands in the church's sanctuary, according to St. James Anglican Church's part-time rector Stephen Morrison. The dedication and blessing of the cross took place at the church on April 8 at 6 p.m., and an Easter service followed at 10 a.m. on April 9. The massive crucifix weighing several hundred pounds was produced by American liturgical artist Ernst Schwidder in 1976. He was born in St. Louis in 1931 and studied in the 1950s at the University of Washington before taking a position as dean of the arts at Valparaiso University in Indiana. Long-Lost Wooden Carved Cross Found and Restored According to the story in The News Tribune, Ernst Schwidder moved back to the Northwest to continue his work as a religious artist and teacher. St. David's Church in Hoquiam initially received the cross as a gift, but the church was forced to close shortly afterwards. The cross was then kept for about 20 years on the top of a shed on the church's property. The cross was eventually demolished, and the outbuilding was sold. All of the internet accounts of Schwidder's labor indicate that the cross is missing because the congregation broke apart and the individual in charge of it disappeared. Marlene Taylor was able to find it, though. Before it was hidden, Taylor exchanged vows to her partner in front of the cross in 1982. The couple traversed the globe together; Taylor's spouse was a Navy officer. Eventually, they made a choice to go home, settling in Shelton. Yahoo News also shared that after an extended period of time, Taylor got acquainted with a Shelton man who used to go to the Hoquiam church as a member of the congregation. He had the cross in a shed for storage, but the cross's condition has been harmed by years of inactivity and exposure to the weather. When Taylor learned where the cross was, she contacted Morrison because she knew a carpenter who also served as a pastor. The cross had split and chipped wood and begun to decay. Even worse, someone had painted the cross with "battleship paint," as described by Morrison, which was difficult to remove with any paint thinner or remover. Also Read: Pope Francis Honors Greece's Cultural Heritage: Returns Three Parthenon Fragments to Athens The Restoration of the Cross Morrison felt motivated to work on the cross even though he was not an expert in restoration and needed to gain prior expertise in working with wood. According to the Olympian, Morrison made a few minor adjustments to the cross over the course of about a year to preserve its original beauty and ensure its sturdiness. According to Taylor, the cross has been positioned on sawhorses in the church's common hall for months. Before the church decided to keep the cross, Morrison contacted museums, including one hosting a display of Schwidder's work at Valparaiso University, to see if they would be interested in acquiring it. Morrison pointed out that the shipping cost was too high because of its size. The ideal lighting for highlighting the cross in the sanctuary must be determined as the last phase in accepting the cross. When the lighting was put in, Morrison recognized the cross was the ideal fit for the area, as if it had always been there. At first, he was worried that it would look overpowering or bright. Related Article:Wooden Statues of Virgin Mary Damaged By Fire on Three Separate Incidents at the Start of Holy Week Unsplash/Quino Al Daniel Ortega's dictatorship in Nicaragua hinders Christians' traditions during the Holy Week. At least 21 individuals were taken into custody for disobeying the prohibition on publicly commemorating the Easter holidays' rites imposed by the authorities in Managua. Holy Week in Nicaragua Nova News reported that Masaya, located south of Managua, had the most accidents. At least five persons were arrested in this area, and the police attacked eight Catholic churches. Amid a rise in tensions towards the Catholic Church, which has been accused of supporting its opponents, Ortega's administration has forbidden the public staging of the usual Easter processions. According to the Catholic News Agency, one brought into detention was journalist Victor Ticay, who was arrested by the authorities on Holy Thursday after live-streaming a Holy Week event on social media. Nicaragua has become one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Catholic clergy, and the current situation within the Church is exceedingly concerning. Recently, Felix Maradiaga, a former political prisoner, Nicaragua president, and the Foundation for Freedom founder, warned that the administration intends to quiet the Church, the pastoral voice of which opposed the Ortega-Murillo pair's aspirations to establish a dynastic tyranny. Moreover, many believe that two of Ortega's elections were compromised, even though he has been in power for the past 15 years. Also Read:Nicaraguan Government Bans Traditions for Holy Week Church Members that Left Nicaragua As per the Saint John Paul II Catholic Radio, on Tuesday, Apr. 11, the Trappist nuns of Nicaragua stated that the government had verbally notified the bishop of Juigalpa that the dictatorship would take over the monastery. The sisters had been serving in the country for 22 years before their departure in February, In a message published on Facebook on Feb. 27, the nuns explained that they had left the nation voluntarily because of "reasons the order has," an absence of vocations, and the "old age of several sisters." "We had left the monastery under the diocese's administration while the voluntary closure of the association was being processed with MIGOB [Ministry of the Interior]," they added. As mentioned, the General Directorate for Migration and Foreigners released summonses to several different religious leaders and foreign missionaries. However, they did not mention their residency status in Nicaragua. In addition, new restrictions are being imposed on religious groups to allow them to continue living in the country. On the other hand, National Catholic Register reported that Maradiaga demanded the release of Bishop Rolando Alvarez after pointing out that the dictatorship uses around 20,000 police officers to repress a population of 6.6 million people and that 9% of the population has fled the nation in the past four years. "His sacrifice, inspired by the Spirit of God, keeps alive our fight for his freedom and that of the other 36 people still being held by the dictatorship," he added. Maradiaga urged Catholics around the globe to show their support for the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, which is currently under attack. Furthermore, marches and other demonstrations have been planned in several locations across the United States for this coming weekend. The following days will call for Nicaragua's freedom and Bishop Alvarez's release. Related Article: Victor Ticay Arrested For Reporting During Holy Week in Nicaragua; Organizations Demand His Release Pexels/Daniel Sikpi Several concerning figures regarding the situation in Nigeria were recently revealed in a report that was published on April 10. At least 52,250 Christians have perished during the previous 14 years as a consequence of their faith. The paper "Martyred Christians in Nigeria," was released by the Eastern Nigeria-based International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law. The Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, seated and took his position in 2015, and a shocking 30,250 Christians lost their lives in the following three years. The report attributes this alarming death toll to Buhari's ardent Islamism. Despite the violence the Christians face, an estimated 34,000 to 36,000 moderate Muslims have also experienced violence. The Tragedy Christians in Nigeria Are Facing According to National Catholic Reporter, unfortunately, 2023 is no different from the recent years that Christians have been experiencing. From January 1 to April 10, the first 100 days of the year, 1,041 helpless and innocent Christians were murdered, according to the report. At least 707 Christians were taken hostage during the time period. The life of the Christians has gotten worse during President Buhari's government, with 18,000 churches and 2,200 Christian schools being burned down. In some areas, the situation for Christians has become quite awful, with severe implications for many people in general. Simply because they are Christians, almost 50 million people face tremendous dangers from Islamists, especially in Northern Nigeria. Fourteen million people have been uprooted, with 8 million having to flee their homes to avoid a terrible conclusion. According to Andrew Boyd, who talked with OSV News, Christians in Nigeria suffer daily threats from various groups, including Boko Haram, the Islamic State, and well-armed Fulani extremists. The article in NZCatholic states that the Fulani, traditionally pastoralists, have joined more and more Islamist extremist organizations. Boyd warned that there would be a mass flight of Christians from the most populous country in Africa if the new president of Nigeria doesn't take fast action to safeguard them from Islamic violence. Additionally, he stated how his group works with regional associates in Nigeria to support the persecuted Christians. Also Read: President Biden Decides to Omit Nigeria from Religious Freedom Violators List Despite Increase in Christian Persecution Nigeria, One of the Top Christians Persecutors in the World Ranking number 28, Nigeria is among the most dangerous countries in the world for practicing Christianity, according to the Open Doors Watch List 2023, which was published on January 17. The analysis shows that 89% of all Christian martyrdoms worldwide occur in Nigeria, highlighting the gravity of the problem. The suffering of the hundreds of Nigerian Christians facing persecution for their faith has also been supported and assisted by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). According to Catholic Review, Maryamu Joseph, who was only seven years old at the time of Boko Haram's horrific attack on her town in Bazza, is one such example. She was kidnapped with 21 others and forced to spend nine years in the Sambisa Forest. In July 2022, Maryamu was able to escape, and she told ACN about her terrifying ordeal. Maryamu described the extreme hardship and torture she and the other captives experienced during their nine-year confinement. They saw ruthless radicals without regard for human life and viciously executed innocent Christians. Maryamu insisted that she would never be able to forget the horrifying events of those nine years spent in the Sambisa Forest and that she could not sufficiently express how much she had suffered in words. Related Article:Catholic Natives Forced to Flee Amidst Escalating Attacks in Central Nigeria Pixabay/ Jerry Waxman The Oklahoma State of education board is having to decide to consider approving the first religious charter school in the country. This move is likely to start a legal battle over the use of taxes in funding these religious schools, which are some of the concerns of those taxpayers. Some charter schools have affiliations with religious organizations, but this proposed school would explicitly be religious, and religious instructions will also be included. The proposed school would be duly handled and managed by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa. First Religious Charter School Could Spark Legal Battle According to the article in Seattle Times, charter schools are also public schools only that they are independently managed, and the funds used in these schools are from the taxpayers. If this is going to be approved, the charter for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School would probably lead to a legal dispute, which the school's administrators are expecting and perhaps enjoying. They also expect that this move will spark a nationwide campaign to debilitate the detachment of the church and state and allow the use of public monies for religious schools, given the current preponderance of conservative judges on the Supreme Court. The proposal was created by the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, which represents the Catholic Church in policy matters and is responsible for encouraging the courts to examine this topic and offer a conclusive resolution. The states that the Republicans lead are urging to use taxes to fund private education, including universal vouchers approved in the five states last year. According to an article shared in Yahoo! News, with its 6-3 conservative majority, the Supreme Court has made clear in a number of recent decisions that it supports funding religious schools as part of its broader acceptance of religion in public life. The Supreme Court held in 2020 and 2022 that religious institutions could not be excluded from state-run programs that let parents use government-funded scholarships or tuition schemes for private schools in Montana and Maine. Chief Justice John Roberts ruled that while although states did not have to fund religious education, they also were forbidden to discriminate against religious institutions that did so in each of the cases. Also Read: Sean "Diddy" Combs Set to Open Charter School in Birthplace Harlem The Right For Religious Freedom Republican Ryan Walters, the state's elected superintendent of public instruction, was present while the proposed religious charter school was discussed. According to EdWeek, Walters indicated his approval of the application and his conviction that Oklahoma is a state that upholds children's rights and religious freedom. He also criticized individuals who opposed the school, charging them with assaulting religious freedoms and harboring animosity toward the Catholic Church. Franklin, a different attendee, drew attention to the fact that Protestant preachers and other individuals who appeared to be cordial in their demeanor had previously criticized the St. Isidore application. Franklin informed Walters that he was unaware of any extreme viewpoints or criticisms of the Catholic Church. Related Article:Education Department Launches Investigation Into Religious Schools With Christian Teachings Following Lawsuit From LGBT Students Pixabay/Nick115 The Jerusalem church leaders have condemned the Israeli police for inflicting "unnecessary and heavy-handed restrictions" on access to the Orthodox Easter Holy Fire ceremony at the Holy Sepulchre Church. The event's attendance has been limited to 1,800, a dramatic decrease from the 10,000 guests who attended last year as usual. The authorities responsible for the security and peace in occupied East Jerusalem stand that they are doing their job in ensuring the safety and freedom of the worship service attendees. Orthodox Easter Holy Fire Faced Restrictions in Jerusalem According to BBC, church officials have encouraged Christians to disregard these restrictions and attend the ceremony. Father Mattheos Siopsis of the Greek Orthodox Church and representatives from other denominations announced this at a news conference on Wednesday. They emphasized their intention to worship freely and peacefully, leaving the Israeli authorities to respond as they see fit. This call to local Christians and foreign pilgrims could result in chaotic scenes in the Old City, as additional security checkpoints have been established. Last year, social media videos documented conflicts between worshippers and officers denying them entry to the church. The Saturday before Easter is associated with a tradition among Eastern Orthodox Christians who think a supernatural flame appears inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. According to the article in Associated Press News, the Greek patriarch entered the Holy Edicule, a room constructed where Jesus' tomb once stood, and emerged holding two lit candles. Thousands of people holding candles spread the flame around him as he does so, gradually illuminating the basilica's gloomy walls. Then, this flame is distributed to Orthodox communities in other nations on particular flights. But the church leader in Jerusalem said that the negotiations and arrangements with the police over the restrictions they were inflicting sadly had failed. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem said they could not correspond to the Israeli authorities because these restrictions on access to the Holy Spelucher were unreasonable. In spite of this, Father Mattheos Siopis of the Greek Orthodox Church said that they would continue with the service as scheduled and extend an invitation to anyone who desires to pray alongside them. Whatever the government does, churches will continue to worship openly and peacefully. Many critics question the authenticity of the Holy Fire, and its origin is still a closely-kept secret. Also Read:Christians in Jerusalem Celebrate Palm Sunday Amid Struggle to Maintain Presence The Fear of the Increasing Attack on the Christians in Jerusalem The Israeli police authority declared on Wednesday that limiting the church attendance to 1,800 people, which also includes clergy from the different Orthodox denominations, is a necessary safety precaution. According to the article in Aljazeera, crowd mobility will be controlled, according to Jerusalem District Police Chief Superintendent Yoram Segal, and the ceremony will be shown on TV screens around the city. Since the election of Israel's most far-right administration this year, Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land have claimed increased attacks on their 2,000-year-old community. A priest was attacked at the Tomb of the Virgin Mary in March; a Jesus statue was vandalized at the Church of the Condemnation in February; and Christian graves at the Anglican cemetery on Mount Zion were desecrated in January. During a November procession in the Old City, two Israeli army Givati Brigade soldiers were imprisoned for spitting on the Armenian archbishop and other pilgrims. Related Article:New Israeli Government Initiates the Rising Violence That Targets Christians Pexels/Ron Lach In the past five weeks, a Canadian pastor has been jailed three times for his protests against drag queen story events for kids. Eight further charges, including criminal harassment, inciting a disturbance, and violating his release terms, are being brought against the 36-year-old Reverend Derek Reimer, who was detained over the Easter weekend for allegedly uttering hate speech. The Calgary police are investigating the allegations against him as hate-motivated after he was arrested on unpaid warrants while protesting close to a drag story time event. Multiple Arrests on the Pastor Advocating Hate Speech at LGBTQ Events According to the report in Fox News, Reimer was detained once more after disrupting and harassing a royal reader at the Country Hills Library. The CBC claims Reimer arrived at the event with a microphone and started yelling hate speech at the attendees. He reportedly shouted hateful remarks and harassed the management and workers when he entered the library and wanted to speak with a manager, making them fearful for their safety. As a result, Reimer was detained by the police. He was detained twice in Calgary, Canada. On February 25th, the first arrest was made when he was violently removed from the Seton Library after objecting to a "Reading with Royalty" program. The Calgary Public Library planned the program, which included reading to kids by local drag performers. On March 15th, police made a second arrest in a parking lot close to the Signal Hill Library. Police can be witnessed handcuffing and dragging him over the pavement on video footage before taking him in a police car. He had been accused of disobeying a release order that prohibited him from speaking to or being 200 meters away from people who identify as LGBTQ or from LGBTQ-related activities. In the article in New York Post, the Calgary City Council recently modified its regulations to restrict these protests in response to increased protests. In order to avoid intimidation, the newly established Safe and Inclusive Access Bylaw prohibits protests within 100 meters of leisure centers or libraries. Despite this, pastor Reimer recently protested this new bylaw by holding a silent prayer session at the Municipal Building. He consequently had religious gatherings inside the structure despite receiving a 30-day trespass notice and being detained. The arrest of Reimer was attacked by another pastor, Artur Pawlowski, who has previously disobeyed COVID-19 lockdowns. He accused Canada of having an "open hatred toward Christianity" and said that everyone who freely professes their faith is a target in that country. He will appear in court on Friday while he is still imprisoned. It was impossible to contact him or a representative for comment. Also Read:United Methodist Church Associate Pastor And Drag Queen Gives Blasphemous Speech On How 'God Is Nothing' History of Violent Acts of the Suspect Including animal mistreatment and serious assault, the pastor, Derek Reimer, has a history of committing violent acts. According to CBC, he has just been charged with committing hate crimes against the gay and transgender communities, including targeting kid-friendly Reading with Royalty events at public libraries. He was released on bond with the restriction that he avoids the LGBTQ2S+ community and gatherings after being charged with mischief and causing a disturbance. According to the reports above, he was charged once more when he violated the terms of his bail by attending another Reading with Royalty event. Reimer was given bail a second time, stipulating that he keep 300 meters away from such events and refrain from contacting well-known artists, participants, or spectators. Reimer is expected to return to court shortly as he is now charged with new offenses. Related Article:FBI Reports Arrest of Ohio Man for Attempted Arson at Church Hosting Drag Queen Story Hour Unsplash/Umanoide In December 2022, the former president of the Kachin Baptist Convention, Rev. Hkalam Samson, was arrested by Myanmar's military junta and accused of violating the Unlawful Association Act employed by the Burmese authorities to harass and arrest political activists. Despite the appeal of the United States government Rev. Samson was recently sentenced to six years in prison. Charges Against Rev. Hkalam Samson According to UCA News, on the day Christians were celebrating Good Friday, Apr. 7, Rev. Hkalam Samson was given his sentence in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State. He had been held in custody since being arrested last year. The general secretary and CEO of the Baptist World Alliance, Elijah Brown, stated that the judgment on Rev. Samson was a terrible injustice, amplified on a day when Christians came to affirm their trust in Jesus. On the other hand, Benedict Rogers, a senior East Asia analyst for Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), described the sentencing as "an outrageous travesty of justice." He asserted that Rev. Samson is a Christian pastor who does not engage in any form of violence and a fearless and relentless campaigner for human rights, peace, and justice. "He has been jailed simply for courageously speaking out against the Myanmar military's barbaric atrocities perpetrated against the people of Myanmar," Rogers added. As per Christianity Today, The two initial charges came from Rev. Samson's trip in 2022 to Laiza, located in Kachin state. While staying there, he met with the head of Myanmar's government-in-exile Kachin leader, Duwa Lashi La, and General Sumlut Gunmaw, the vice chief of staff of the Kachin Independence Army. This organization has historically fought against the Myanmar military. Moreover, the third accusation is a direct outcome of a Zoom prayer group held by Kachin Christian. During this meeting, he urged the young people to establish "the nation in Christ." Also Read: Aerial Bombing in Myanmar Killed Members of Bible Missionary Church The Appeal of the U.S. Government for Rev. Hkalam Samson's Release The Christian Post reported that Rev. Samson serves as the leader of the Kachin National Consultative Assembly. It is a group of local religious and political leaders who work to improve communication between the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), which serves as the political wing of the local community, and the Kachin Independence Army. Last October, an airstrike conducted by the junta on a KIO anniversary performance held in the Hpakant township resulted in the deaths of over sixty people, and the Bishop was responsible for arranging their burials. In addition, he made an effort to arrange for the badly injured to receive immediate medical attention. However, despite his kind nature, the country's junta detained him on suspicion of breaking the Unlawful Association Act. The U.S. Department of State spokesperson Ned Price mentioned in a press briefing that they condemned the arrest and detention of famous ethnic Kachin Christian leader Rev. Dr. Hkalam Samson by the military dictatorship in Burma. The U.S. government was gravely worried about his health and safety, urging their partners and supporters to join them in demanding that the dictatorship dismiss all accusations against Rev. Samson and free him immediately and without conditions. Instead of being vilified, the excellent work that Rev. Samson accomplished in pushing for religious freedom, justice, peace, and accountability should be praised and replicated. "We additionally urge the regime to cease its unconscionable repression against religious actors and communities in Burma and end the violence," Price noted. Related Article: Christians in Myanmar Ask God to End Dictatorship That Killed Nearly 3000 People Pexels/Derek French A Republican from South Carolina calls to disregard the judge's decision regarding dispensing the abortion pill that the FDA has approved. Congresswoman Nancy Mace has recommended that the Biden administration disregard a federal judge's ruling prohibiting the sale of abortion medication. She argued that the decision should be overturned since lawmakers and the legal system shouldn't choose whether or not this is the appropriate substance to take. The recent FDA's approval of mifepristone, a pill that can be paired and used with another medication to induce an abortion, was suspended last week by a federal judge in Texas. The judgment will virtually prohibit the sale of the medicines nationally when it takes effect in a week. A Call to Disregard the Recent Ruling of Judge on Abortion Pill Dispensing According to an article in Yahoo! News, Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have urged President Biden to use his executive authority to defend the drug's accessibility. The Biden administration has also appealed the judgment. Thousands of people use the medication annually in the U.S. to induce abortions and miscarriages. Nancy Mace is the first Republican to support Democrats in the fight to ban the sale of abortion pills. She thinks this issue calls for some common sense and that the Republican Party hasn't shown any compassion for women in the last nine months. According to Mace, the recent Texas judge's order to halt the FDA's approval of mifepristone has "no basis" and was made in light of a Supreme Court judgment that was later overruled. On the other hand, Texas Republican Representative Tony Gonzales proposed cutting funds for FDA initiatives if the decision is disregarded. Gonzales was wrong, based on Mace, who claimed that most Americans aren't vehemently against access to abortion and would probably support the FDA's right to authorize the drug's sale. She emphasized that most Americans disagree with the Republican Party on this topic and that compassion must be delivered to women, especially those who have been sexually assaulted. Also Read: Planned Parenthood Fights Against Utah Law Mandating Hospital Abortions Over Clinic Abortions The Biden Administration and the Pill's Manufacturer Appeal to Freeze the Decision In the report by NBC News, the Biden administration has filed a request to block U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's recent decision suspending the FDA's approval of the abortion drug mifepristone. While few Republicans in Congress have commented on the matter, Representative Nancy Mace believes that the Republican Party has not shown enough compassion towards women and that many pro-life Republicans have not been vocal enough. The pill's manufacturer, Danco, said that the recent anti-abortion activist action would result in permanent damage. According to a report on CNN, the ruling would hurt women who depend on mifepristone by preventing Danco from dispensing it, which is the common abortion medicine. The order appears to conflict with a different federal court decision from a different case. Danco presented affidavits from two doctors pledging that the district court order's implementation would cause their patients to be harmed. According to Dr. Courtney Schreiber, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, some patients cannot have a procedural abortion. In contrast, others may choose between going through a traumatic operation and sustaining a rape pregnancy. She mentioned that some patients could think that abortion is no longer legal or safe. Related Article:Texas Judge Blocks FDA Approval of Mifepristone Abortion Pill: Biden Administration to Appeal On Good Friday in 1963, eight white Alabama clergymen published an open letter in Birmingham calling for the Black community to cease their civil rights demonstrations. These church leadersfrom Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Baptist, Catholic, and Jewish traditionsadvised that when rights are consistently denied, a cause should be pressed in the courts and in negotiations among local leaders, and not in the streets. In response, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. penned a timely messagebeginning on the margins of newspapers and then on smuggled-in scraps of papernot knowing the profound impact it would have for generations to come. His Letter from Birmingham Jail is said to be the most important document of the civil rights era, compared by some to Jeffersons Declaration of Independence for its impactful call for social change. Although the separate but equal segregation law had been struck down a decade earlier through the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education, some cities and states were resistant. In Birmingham, one of the most segregated cities in America, notorious local safety commissioner Eugene Bull Connor and other white segregationists got a state judge to pass a temporary injunction banning all pro-integration activity. And after leading a peaceful march, King and other protesters were arrested. From his cell, King made a compelling argument for the importance of peaceful, public protest in the pursuit of justice. He explained the four steps of nonviolent activism: collecting facts to determine whether injustice exists, negotiating with local officials to work toward just resolution, practicing restraint when actions are taken against you, and raising awareness to drive more effective negotiation. King began his letter by expressing his solidarity with the Black community in Birmingham, which had gone through all of these steps only to be met with countless broken promises: For years now I have heard the word Wait! This Wait has almost always meant Never. Justice too long delayed is justice denied. He expressed his frustration and disappointment with two particular groups of people that often intersected: the white moderate and the white church. Accusing the white moderate of caring more about a negative peace which is the absence of tension than a positive peace which is the presence of justice, King further explained that shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection. Article continues below King also shared his deep disappointment at the complicity and complacency of the white churcha discontent that was possible only because of his deep love for the church, as a third-generation pastor raised in its pews. He contrasted believers in the early churchwho were eager to transform immoral practices in their societywith the contemporary Christian church, which had become an arch-supporter of the status quo with its silent and often vocal sanction of things as they are. He then posed a question that is still being asked today: Is organized religion too inextricably bound to the status quo to save our nation and the world? Many pastors and members of white churches today use quotations from King in their sermons, writing, and social media posts. But if we are going to change power structures that perpetuate racial injustice, we must move from memorializing toward modeling Kings message and call to action. As Esau McCaulley wrote in his piece for Martin Luther King Jr. Day last year, If remembering King means anything, it involves a sanctified dissatisfaction with the status quo. In a 2021 Pew Research poll, over a year after the George Floyd protests, 65 percent of Black Americans reported that the renewed awareness of racial inequity did not have an impact on the lives of their communitycompared to 2020, when 56 percent expected policy changes would improve Black peoples lives. One problem is that some white communities, both Christian and non-Christian, are worried about their own marginalization and blind to the marginalization of others. Another issue is the ongoing lack of awareness of the ways racial and economic systems perpetuate injustice in communities of color. When confronted, some will blame partisan politics for ineffective change. Political divisions have always caused people to hold fast to one side or another, even at the expense of violating the humanity of others. But silently staying somewhere in the middle and watching, hoping, or grieving is not a sufficient response for Christians. Instead, we must ensure justice in the courts so that all people are treated fairly. Article continues below As King wrote in his letter, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Injustice does not just happen, and it does not repair itself. If we want history to tell a different story of the white church, we must join the men and women working to repair the unjust systems in our countryespecially those individuals who belong to the body of Christ. During this Easter season, pastors from the Black church tradition are marching at state capitols, much like King did 60 years ago. They are working to ensure that all voices are heard; that books are not banned; that their history is not erased; that their right to vote is protected; that financial barriers to homeownership are removed; and that competitive wages, education, skills, and capital for wealth creation are available to all. The Black community is not the only group in our country that faces injustice. For instance, pastors from Latino evangelical churches in Florida are mobilizing to protect their own communities and churches from unjust policy proposals that would criminalize providing car rides and opening their homes to undocumented immigrants. Such a law would make it a felony to extend hospitality, whether one is aware of the persons immigration status or not. The fight for civil rights is not the story of the past; it remains very much alive today. Throughout history, it has never been just one issue at one time, in one location, affording one solution, march, mobilizing effort, or request. It has always been a series of necessary actions, spanning decades. In all such matters, the white church needs to care enough to listen, learn from, and work toward a more proximate justice. In joining this effort, we better understand the prophet Amos, who bore witness and opposed the extreme injustices of his day when he cried, Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! (5:24). At the end of his letter, King reorients his personal disillusionment by recalling the church within the church, the true ekklesia and the hope of the world. Regardless of its size, this group is composed of those who benefit from the status quo working alongside those who are impacted by injustice and unrighteousness. Their witness is what King calls the spiritual salt that has preserved the true meaning of the gospel. The work of change has always been done by a remnant. And together, we can carve a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of disappointment by picking up the mantles left by those who have gone before and working for justice today. Michelle Ferrigno Warren is the president of Virago Strategies and helped found Open Door Ministries. She is the author of Join the Resistance: Step Into the Good Work of Kingdom Justice (IVP, 2022) and The Power of Proximity: Moving Beyond Awareness to Action (IVP, 2017). Al Sharpton compares VP Kamala Harris to biblical Queen Esther as she warns against conservatives NEW YORK Civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton compared Vice President Kamala Harris to the biblical Queen Esther, who helped save the Jewish people from execution, as she advocated for gun control, a more inclusive democracy and urged the public not to fall for what she described as the conservative "okey-doke" on Friday. Speaking on the penultimate day of the National Action Network Convention to remember the legacy of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., who was assassinated in April 55 years ago, Sharpton warned right-wing critics that their attacks against Harris wouldnt work because, like Esther, she was built for this." I read in the Bible a story of a lady named Esther. Esther found herself having access to the head of state, she got that access much differently than our keynote speaker today, but both of them ended up having direct access in different ways to the head of state. Some of the comfort we have is knowing that we have somebody sitting next to the head of state that can plead the case of those of us that did not have the access to plead that case for ourselves, Sharpton said. She, like Esther, was prepared for this because Esther had an uncle that sent word to her in the White House at that time, saying, maybe you have come for such a time as this. And I say to you today that you on the right wing can take whatever shots you want. You can come [with] whatever fabricated rationale you have against this vice president, he said. She was built for this. She was born for this. She was raised for this. She can take every shot you shoot because she [has] been through shots worse than this. Shes tough enough, shes strong enough, maybe shes come for such a time as this. Harris, who took the stage at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel to strong applause from NAN supporters, praised Kings ability to understand the present moment in the context of a vision for a better future. She then proceeded to define the moment we are in, touching on contentious debates surrounding issues such as abortion, LGBT advocacy, voting, racial and economic justice, and public safety. [It is] a moment in which our hard-won freedoms are under attack. Just look at where we are. Extremists across our country attack the freedom to vote. They ban books to attempt to erase Americas full history. They attack the ability of people to love openly with pride. They attack the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body instead of the government. They attack medication that for 20 years the FDA ruled as being safe, she said, before attacking Floridas recent ban on most abortions after six weeks gestation as extreme. Just yesterday, in Florida, extremists there signed a six-week ban before most women even know theyre pregnant, she said. And NAN, isnt it interesting that in the midst of all these attacks on fundamental freedoms, the so-called leaders dare to tell us they are fighting for our freedoms. Dont you find that interesting? she asked, taking a dig at Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Freedom Blueprint to elect more conservative leaders to counter leftist ideology. Harris dismissed the Freedom Blueprint as the "okey-doke and urged the culturally conservative NAN supporters not to fall for it. Some have gone so far as to name and brand their agenda the Freedom Blueprint. Dont fall for the okey-doke. Dont fall for the okey-doke, because as we know, freedom, well it doesnt censor books; freedom doesnt criminalize doctors and punish women; freedom does not turn off a microphone when an elected leader is speaking, she said referencing the incident that led to the expulsions of Reps. Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson, two black Democratic Tennessee legislators after they joined protesters who stormed the state Capitol building two weeks ago with a bullhorn and disrupted the floor session. The protest was against gun violence, in general, after a trans-identified shooter killed six people, including three children, at The Covenant School run by the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Nashville. As Dr. King made clear, freedom includes the ability of all people to fully exercise their rights. Rights that generations of Americans bled and died for, rights that the people in the very room continue to march and fight for, Harris said. That is our nations Freedom Blueprint and that is what we stand for and I do believe that when we know what you stand for. You know what you fight for. Both Harris and Sharpton both expressed outrage that the National Rifle Association was hosting its annual convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the same time that NAN was fighting for our children and all people to be free from gun violence. So just think, in our country already in the 104 days this year, there have been more than 150 ... shootings. Already, just think. You seen the statistics? Gun violence is now the No. 1 cause of death of children in our nation. And a heartbreaking 1 in 5 Americans has lost a family member to gun violence. And you know, while violence impacts all communities in devastating ways, we know it does not do so equally, Harris said. Black people are only 13% of Americas population but more than 60% of homicide victims from gun violence. Meanwhile, as Rev. said, we speak here while the NRA is holding its convention in Indiana. Now you know what they called it? They have called it a freedom-filled weekend,' she added. So, we must ask, freedom filled for who exactly? Cause its not for the parents who pray that their children will come home from school safe from a classroom in Uvalde or Nashville. Touching on the expulsion of the Tennessee legislators, Harris said activism for a more inclusive democracy in the United States will not stop until every voice is heard. I see theres a lot of cameras here so Ill say this, for everyone watching please be clear, the voices of students, parents, teachers and preachers will not be silenced. And these voices must be heard, she said. They will not be discouraged or deterred even if using a bullhorn becomes necessary. Christian university fires dean who defended professor with 'progressive views on sexuality' A Christian university in California has allegedly dismissed the dean of theology for insubordination following his defense of a colleague who voiced support for the LGBT community. The university asserts that the dismissal was not related to LGBT matters. Mark Maddix, the former dean of the School of Theology and Christian Ministry at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, and his attorney, Josh Gruenberg, believe he was wrongfully terminated and are considering legal action. Maddix was fired from the Church of the Nazarene-affiliated institution with over 3,000 students on March 15 by Provost and Chief Academic Officer Kerry Fulcher. The Loma LGBTQIA+ Alumni & Allies Coalition claims in a statement the former dean learned that the school did not intend to have adjunct professor and former minister Melissa Tucker return to teach during a meeting between Fulcher and Maddix earlier this year. The group claims the decision was based on Tucker "being a public ally to the LGBTQ+ community." The schools covenant, which outlines its Christian beliefs and corporate practices, holds that marriage is meant to be between a man and a woman, a view consistent with Scripture. In response to a Thursday inquiry from The Christian Post, Maddix said he could not provide comment and directed the outlet to his attorney. We believe that the termination was illegal, and we intend to enforce his rights under California law, Gruenberg told CP in a Thursday interview. Gruenberg could not disclose further information about the case, noting that nothing has been filed as of Friday. In a statement shared with The Christian Post, PLNU Communications Director Lora Fleming also declined to share specific details about the case due to the pending threat of litigation. However, the spokeswoman stated that Maddixs dismissal was not based on anything related to the LGBTQIA+ community. Lauren Cazares, the founder of Loma LGBTQIA+ Alumni & Allies Coalition, claimed in the April 5 statement that Maddix was fired a few weeks after the meeting with Fulcher for insubordination and disclosing information about an employee to other employees. In an email after the meeting, Maddix informed the School of Theology and Christian Ministry faculty that Tucker would not be an adjunct at the school in the future. He told staff what Fulcher had shared during the meeting, writing that Tuckers public support for LGBT people was the reason for her removal. According to Cazares, Tucker didn't go through a formal termination process because the university deemed her contract to be inactive. Tucker released a statement on her website last Friday, writing that she learned in January 2023 that she would not be able to teach at PLNU anymore due to her progressive views on human sexuality. The former professor acknowledged the section of the schools covenant that rejects same-sex relationships. She claimed that she abided by the requirements of her contract to respect and support the covenant by not sharing her views on homosexuality in class. Tucker asserted that she was blocked from teaching at the university due to her beliefs, alleging that she had experienced discrimination. If this level of exclusion is going to continue, it is important that anyone involved with the university in any capacity is aware of what has taken place, she wrote. I also appeal to those who have the power and capacity within these institutions to work for justice and safety so that we all can thrive. James MacDonald charged with felony assault, battery in California Former Harvest Bible Chapel Senior Pastor James MacDonald was arrested in California last month and charged with felony assault and battery against a 59-year-old woman after a traffic incident. According to a criminal complaint filed by the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, the ousted Illinois megachurch pastor allegedly "personally inflicted great bodily injury upon" a woman named Barbara Bass in an incident last month. The complaint, as quoted by The Roys Report on Wednesday, contends MacDonald "did willfully and unlawfully use force and violence" on Bass during the incident. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison. MacDonald's attorney, Michael Pancer, said in a statement to The Chicago Sun-Times that his client "would never intentionally harm another human being." "The charges as written are not accurate as to what took place. We believe the evidence will show Dr. Macdonald's intent and conduct was neither malicious nor correctly assigned in the charges filed. We look to the legal process to establish what did happen and remedy the situation lawfully," said Pancer. On March 22, the City of Coronado Police Department posted to Facebook information about an incident that happened that morning involving "a 62-year-old man." "At 10:15 am this morning, a 62-year-old man was attempting to parallel park his truck in the 900 block of Orange Avenue when he struck the vehicle parked in front of him, which was occupied by a 59-year-old woman," stated the police department. "As the woman got out of her car to talk to the man, he jumped out of his truck and attacked the victim. As he was assaulting the woman, his truck rolled backwards striking the vehicle parked behind him." According to authorities, witnesses nearby stopped MacDonald from leaving the scene, with police arriving to arrest MacDonald, having also reportedly found "a stolen handgun inside his truck." "The victim was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. The roadway was closed for approximately 1 hours while officers investigated the incident," the police department added. The Coronado Police Department confirmed to The Roys Report that the 62-year-old man in question was MacDonald. The allegedly stolen handgun doesn't appear to factor into the charges against MacDonald. According to Roys, MacDonald was booked into San Diego Central Jail in the afternoon of March 22 and released on $35,000 bail that night. His next court date is scheduled for June 14, according to The Sun-Times. A prominent preacher who founded the multi-campus Chicago-area megachurch Harvest Bible Chapel, MacDonald was fired from his position as lead pastor in 2019. Church elders cited "highly inappropriate recorded comments" he had made that was played by a local radio program. In the audio footage, MacDonald was heard discussing things like planting child pornography on the computer of a Christianity Today executive and making crude remarks about journalist Julie Roys of The Roys Report, who had reported on allegations against him of financial misconduct, bullying and spiritual abuse. "Given that and other conduct under consideration, in accordance with the procedures in our Bylaws, Pastor MacDonald was removed as Senior Pastor and as an Elder of the church for engaging in conduct that the Elders believe is contrary and harmful to the best interests of the church," stated the elders at the time. "This decision was made with heavy hearts and much time spent in earnest prayer, followed by input from various trusted outside advisors." Around the same time that the radio comments were aired, a former worship leader at Harvest Chapel named Anne Green accused MacDonald of touching her inappropriately during a plane trip in 2005. Harvest Chapel leadership released a statement at the time explaining that they had investigated the accusation and could not find corroborating evidence or eyewitnesses to back up Green's claims. Youth ministry founder under investigation amid 'inappropriate' relationship allegations The founder of a popular Christian youth festival in the United Kingdom has stepped back from his role as a Church of England-led investigation looks into allegations of "inappropriate messages" and "inappropriate" relationships with young people. Rev. Canon Mike Pilavachi, 65, the charismatic evangelist who founded the Soul Survivor charity, is the focus of a new safeguarding investigation launched by the Church of England in conjunction with the Diocese of St Albans, according to a statement from the Soul Survivor Watford. Launched in 1993, Soul Survivor was known for holding summer festivals that tens of thousands of teenagers attended. Those festivals stopped in 2019, and the organization now runs events for all ages from its church in Watford. "Non-recent safeguarding concerns relating to Mike Pilavachi have been reported to the national Church and, working closely with the Diocese of St Albans, these are currently being looked into according to the Church of England House of Bishops guidelines," a joint statement from the Church of England National Safeguarding Team, the St. Albans Diocese, and the Soul Survivor Watford trustees reads. "Soul Survivor Watford Trustees were informed this week and have since been working with the National Safeguarding Team and the diocese. It was mutually agreed with Mike that he would step back from all ministry, while this investigation is carried out. 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." Pilavachi was given an award in 2020 from Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby at Lambeth Palace in recognition of "his outstanding contribution to evangelism and discipleship amongst young people in the United Kingdom." David Mitchell, the acting chair of the Soul Survivor Watford board of trustees, said in a statement, "[n]othing should be inferred from Mike stepping back." "[T]his is perfectly normal following the start of an investigation that has not reached a conclusion," Mitchell said. "We mutually agreed this was the best step because of the importance of correct procedures being followed." The investigation follows an April 4 report from The Telegraph outlining allegations that Pilavachi had "inappropriate intimate relationships" with young people participating in Soul61, a Christian gap year project that trains young adults as disciples. The outlet reports that the allegations span several years. While the joint statement from Soul Survivor Watford, the Church of England and the diocese was scant on details, it stressed that no further information could be released about the allegations while the investigation is underway. However, the statement assured that "support is being offered to all those involved." "The staff of the church have been given information in this statement and are here to support you but please be aware they do not have further details and cannot comment on what is happening," the statement adds. "We really appreciate your prayers for all those involved at this very difficult time and we do ask, for the sake of all those involved, that you do not speculate or discuss this more widely, including on social media while the process runs its course." There is no timetable for when the investigation will conclude. Soul Survivor Watford will continue to operate amid the investigation. The investigation is independent from Soul Survivor Watford and its trustees, but the trustees will assist with investigative matters if needed, according to Mitchell. "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," Mitchell wrote. "I want to reassure you that whilst the staff of the church cannot comment further and do not have further details they are here to support and care for you. We are going to keep our focus on Jesus and what he is calling us to do." Ulysses S. Grant: The quintessential American president? As anyone who has not been on a wilderness retreat for the last two weeks will know, former President Trump has become the first former President to be arrested and accused of a crime. In the reporting of this historic event, it has come to light that Trump, however, is not the first president, former or otherwise, to be arrested. In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant, a war hero and president of the United States from 1869-1877, was arrested for fast driving his two-horse carriage on the streets of Washington, D.C. President Grant had an enviable reputation as a horseman and as an aficionado of prime horseflesh from his days at West Point onward. As president, he was tempted to race his two-horse carriage at reckless and illegal speeds through Washington's increasingly urbanized streets. According to a 1908 article in the Sunday Star of Washington, it was reported that a long-time black veteran of the D.C. Police Force had arrested President Grant and accompanied him to the police station for Grant to be charged with the crime. Police Officer William West, a Civil War veteran, informed President Grant, I am very sorry, Mr. President, to have to do it, for you are the chief of the nation, and I am nothing but a policeman, but duty is duty, sir, and I will have to place you under arrest. Grant replied, All right, where do you wish me to go with you? West told him the station house. At President Grants invitation, West rode to the station house in the Presidents carriage, where the President asked about Wests experiences during the war. Grant informed West that he admired a man who did his duty and he assured him he would not get into trouble for arresting the president. At the station, Grant paid $20 ($500 today) and stayed long enough to be amazed at the irate protests of some of his prominent speeding companions upon their arraignments. Days later, hearing that some of Grants fellow racers were threatening Wests job, Grant made good on his promise to West by writing the chief of police and commending West for his fearlessness and integrity. What a great story. What a truly American story. I dont think any American can read or hear about this incident and not smile. It has it all. Respect for the rule of law. No one is above the law. A mighty hero who is a decent guy. A black policeman who was a Civil War veteran and former slave who believed in the promises of Americas founding documents and did his duty. Two newspapers put me on to this story. First, The New York Times' William K. Rashbaum and Kate Christobek, who co-wrote a news story about the event, titled The Only Other Arrest of a U.S. President Involved a Speeding Horse, and then Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan penned a commentary, A Great Man Got Arrested as President about the episode. I decided to write about it because I thought many Americans would find the story as affirming of everything we, as Americans, like to think we are as I did. Second, I wanted to share the story because it illustrates vividly what could have been had the country not abandoned Reconstruction so prematurely after the Civil War. In D.C. police officer William West, we have a model of what could have been had Reconstruction not been so prematurely cut short by the Grand Compromise of 1877. Just five years after the encounter between President Grant and Officer West, the country executed the Compromise of 1877 which allowed Republican Rutherford B. Hayes, who had 47.9% of the popular vote, to become President over Democrat Samuel J. Tilden, who received 50.9% of the popular vote. By the way, the 1876 election had a higher percentage of eligible voters who actually voted than any presidential election in American history. The Grand Compromise involved the Democrats shifting enough electoral votes to Hayes to elect Hayes President in exchange for removing the remaining federal troops from the South and ending Reconstruction. This paved the way for the founding of the Jim Crow segregation system and ended for at least four generations the proliferation and flourishing of great Americans like Michael West, at least in the South and Washington, D.C., was in the South. I also wanted to do my small part in helping to rehabilitate the reputation of a great American, Ulysses S. Grant. Most Americans alive today are not aware that in the last half of the 19th century, Grant was probably the most admired man in America with the exception of President Abraham Lincoln. Having served as by far the most effective Union General in the Civil War, he became a popular president who supported Reconstruction and fought the Klan. Grant has been noted both by contemporary and modern historians as a strong advocate for civil rights during his presidency who sought to deal fairly with Native Americans as well as the former slaves. As president, Grant founded the Justice Department to further Civil Rights for all Americans. Three recent masterful biographies of Ulysses S. Grant have done much to place Grant back in the first rank of American presidents (H.W. Brands, The Man Who Saved the Union (2012); Ronald C. White, American Ulysses (2016); and Ron Chernow, Grant (2017). I have heard several people who were thinking of writing their memoirs being told, Before you start, read The Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant (1885), the autobiography that Grant struggled painfully to write to provide for his wifes support as he was dying of throat cancer in 1885. He died at the age of 62, three days after finishing the manuscript. I decided to find out why that advice was given so often. I read the Memoirs. Now I know. If you read the Memoirs, you will understand as well. Let us hope and pray there is another Grant out there, willing to serve, and that we will recognize and elect him. Chicago radio host's attorney moves to dismiss James MacDonald's defamation lawsuit The lawyer for a Chicago-area radio host, whose airing of former Harvest Bible Chapel pastor James MacDonald's words on a hot mic led to Macdonald's firing, has filed a motion to dismiss a defamation lawsuit. The attorney for WLS/AM 890 radio host Matthew Erich "Mancow" Muller who was once a parishioner at HBC and former friend of MacDonald's has characterized a suit brought by MacDonald against his client as a "vindictive fishing expedition" and has moved for its dismissal. Muller's attorney, Michael J. Young, also alleged that the lawsuit was filed so that the former pastor, who led the multi-site megachurch for over 30 years before being ousted in February of last year, could continue living an opulent lifestyle. MacDonald's lawsuit claims that the radio host violated state laws pertaining to eavesdropping when Muller aired audio footage of comments MacDonald made while on a hot mic in which he was heard talking about planting child pornography on Christianity Today CEO's Harold Smith's computer, uttering crude remarks about independent investigative journalist Julie Roys including joking that she had an affair with then CT Editor-in-Chief Mark Galli and making a vulgar reference to Ed Stetzer, executive director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College. Young maintained that the law is on Muller's side in light of the circumstances. Muller, a media member, was within his rights and obligations to hold Plaintiff up to public scrutiny, to share disturbing information about Plaintiff as he saw fit, and air the tape of Plaintiffs own derogatory comments, he wrote in a memorandum that was filed Friday. Mullers opinions and statements may have been upsetting but were protected speech, privileged, or substantially true. He continued, (I)mmediately after Muller made the complained of comments, (Muller) shared audiotape of Plaintiff making statement to others about putting child pornography on the computer of one of (MacDonalds) critics." The attorney further argued that MacDonalds expectation of privacy was unreasonable, because the footage was recorded "in a public building, in a room designed for recordings, in the presence of several people, and while on a speakerphone. Young cited as supporting evidence the 2001 ruling in Bartnicki v. Vopper, a Supreme Court precedent which held that First Amendment free speech protections extend to the broadcasting of secretly-taped recordings if the recording concerns a matter of public importance. Thus, MacDonald "cannot now allege that Mullers commentary regarding MacDonalds criminal intentions to destroy someones reputation and credibility by planting child porn on a computer is a false fact. Muller has said that in January 2019, after he read several accounts of MacDonalds behavior and actions, including bullying and abusive speech, he started reconsidering a number of exchanges he had with him as recently as December 2018. Some of these private conversations allegedly were about child pornography. [On] at least three occasions, Muller said, MacDonald suggested to me that he wanted to plant child porn on the computer of his critics. He even asked me if I could find someone to do it. Muller also said that he had other conversations about hiring a hitman that haunted him even more. MacDonalds amended complaint states that footage Muller played on his radio show had been recorded while MacDonald was with several parties in a recording booth at the church. This recording was subsequently delivered anonymously to Muller at his home in mid-February 2019. Both parties are slated to appear in court on June 12 and Young has filed a demand for a jury trial. In December 2018, Roys published an expose in WORLD magazine called "Hard Times at Harvest," which documented extensive financial malfeasance and a culture of intimidation at the church, including abusive behavior from MacDonald. Prior to publication, she was preemptively sued along with two other former bloggers who had been posting criticisms of MacDonald and the church on a site called The Elephant's Debt for several years and their wives. The church discontinued pursuing the lawsuit after a county judge denied them two key motions. Rick Warren says he's battled an autoimmune disease for past 2 years: 'It's debilitating' Retired megachurch pastor and bestselling author Rick Warren revealed in a podcast this week that he has been battling an autoimmune disease for the past two years. Warren, who co-founded the Saddleback Chruch in California alongside his wife, Kay, appeared on "The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast" Wednesday to discuss his new book and ministry goals after retiring from Saddleback Church last year. The 69-year-old author of The Purpose Driven Life shared that he has been in a two-year-long battle with an autoimmune disease, which he assured is not life-threatening and won't last past three to five years. However, he admitted that the illness is "debilitating" and causes him constant pain. "It leaves all my major muscles in pain, pretty much, 24 hours a day," he said. "It's debilitating. It's tough walking, working. But it hasn't changed the way that I think. The problem is sometimes I feel like I am this brain on fire, and I'm like in a wheelchair. I'm not in a wheelchair, but the bottom line is it's difficult to move around." Warren's condition has not deterred him from his current ministry objective, leading the Finishing the Task Coalition. The project aims to fulfill "Jesus's call to make disciples of all nations" by mobilizing the global church to ensure everyone has access to God's word. "I do believe, as Scripture says, my times are in His hands," Warren said. "And I want to be directly at the center of the will of God. I don't want to get ahead of His will; I don't want to get behind His will. But I want to be at the pace that He wants." He said the "physical ailment and constant pain" he has been enduring for nearly two-and-a-half years is "brutal." "Sometimes walking up the stairs is brutal. Sometimes in the morning, I can't tear open a packet of sugar or turn the pepper shaker. ... My hands are so tight," he continued. "When I first took this role that God was calling me to lead the Finishing the Task Coalition, ... I thought it made sense that God would call me to do this because I'm not afraid of complexity. ... But when I began to look and see how difficult it was with the pain I've been going through, I realized God said, 'I didn't choose you for your experience. I didn't choose you for your years of skills that you've developed. ... I chose you because I knew you would trust me even in pain." The pastor has a new book titled Created to Dream, which walks readers through God's process for helping people fulfill their dreams. He related the subject of the book to his present circumstances, emphasizing that all things that happen in life are "Father-filtered." "Nothing could come into my life without the heavenly Father's permission," Warren said, citing his belief in the concept of spiritual warfare. In Christianity, spiritual warfare involves fighting against the work of evil spirits that attempt to turn mankind away from God. Warren said that he repents in situations where he is at fault and resists when Satan tries to tempt him. "But in all situations, I need to relax because God is God, and I'm not," Warren said. "I've had many ups and downs in 50 years of ministry, and God is faithful." Warren said he wants to help people across the world access the Bible in their "heart language" and access a church. "Any church can plant churches if they're planting house churches, if they're planting small groups," he said. Another goal is for every person to hear the Gospel through credible witnesses and not just the media. The worship leader said that this would involve an emphasis on evangelism and training. However, he said Christians must learn to evangelize in a new way, claiming believers often memorize a bit of Scripture and present it like a "sales pitch." He called for Christians to learn how to evangelize the way Jesus did, which involved meeting people where they were. The religious leader's final goal is for everyone to be prayed for within the next 10 years. "I can step out and take on the biggest goal that you can think of, the evangelization of the whole world because for 50 years, I've been taking smaller steps," he said. Last June, Warren announced his successor at Saddleback Church, Andy Wood, who served as the lead pastor of Echo Church in the San Francisco Bay area. The move came after over 40 years of Warren's ministry spanning 197 countries and raising more than $1 billion to Christian causes. Earlier this year, the Southern Baptist Convention cut ties with the Saddleback Church and four other churches for the decision to allow women to assume the role of teaching pastor. In a podcast interview last month with former SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Russell Moore, Warren explained that three Scripture passages changed his mind three years ago about the idea of female pastors. He pointed to Matthew 28:19-20, where Jesus tells his disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." "We claim that we believe that the Great Commission is for everybody, both men and women are to fulfill the Great Commission," Warren argued. "There are four verbs in the Great Commission: 'go,' 'make disciples,' 'baptize' and 'teach.' Women are to go. Women are to make disciples. Women are to baptize and women are to teach, not just men." The Christian leader also highlighted Acts 2, which describes the Holy Spirit coming down upon the early church, and the people present, which included women, spoke in foreign tongues. In addition, he quoted the Old Testament verse of Joel 2:28, which states, "on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy." Another verse Warren cited as evidence was John 20:17 when Jesus told Mary Magdalene to tell the disciples about his resurrection, noting that Jesus "chose her to be the first preacher of the Gospel." Trans ideology is 'fundamentally incompatible with Christian beliefs,' attorney warns For Mary Hasson, it all started in 1996 with a small band of transsexual activists who met in Houston. It was at that meeting that the International Bill of Gender Rights was created, a document which stated, among other things, that humans have the right to define their own gender identity regardless of chromosomal sex or genitalia; the right to change their bodies cosmetically, chemically, or surgically; and the right to enter into marital contracts and bear children. And nobody cared, Hasson, an attorney and fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., told CPs Generation Indoctrination event in Dallas. It was a document that fizzled, got no attention. That was 1996. Fast forward to today: here we have those very same beliefs that are now Biden Administration policy. And make no mistake, this is a belief system. Its a belief about who we are as human beings. Hasson was among the speakers in the events first panel and warned that transgender ideology is a global event that is shaping our world from language to the fields of law and healthcare. Listen to CP's 'Generation Indoctrination' podcast series here Calling the movement a danger to women, Hasson pointed to both the ideological capture of academia and media and the decline of religion as playing key factors in the spread of the trans movement. All of a sudden, you had a culture that was still looking for meaning but didnt have an answer and was much more willing to believe, said Hasson. So now were facing a situation where a basic concept like sex we know what it is, its the difference between male and female, its a biological term sex in the law is being redefined to mean gender identity. Since the coming out of former Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner as Caitlyn Jenner in 2015, transgenderism has grown exponentially, particularly in the West. According to UCLAs Williams Institute, the number of young people who identify as trans has doubled just in the last few years, while one in five people who identify as trans are between 13- to 17-years-old. And because of the subjectivity of gender identity, Hasson said the trans movement poses a dire threat to women in particular. Gender identity is a feeling, she explained. Its completely subjective cant test for it, cant prove it, its gotta be declared. When you make that a legal category, what youre doing is youre ensuring that women, in particular, are going to lose all those rights that we got with sex discrimination laws. That threat toward women might be most acute, perhaps surprisingly, in the American prison system, where in gender-affirming states like California, biological men including serial sex offenders are housed in womens facilities. Hasson said because this ideology is pushed through our public education system, it poses a direct threat to biblical Christianity. Its conditioning people to believe something that is fundamentally incompatible with Christian beliefs, she said. In her 2018 book, Get Out Now: Why You Should Pull Your Child from Public School Before It's Too Late, Hasson and co-author Theresa Farnan, Ph.D., urged parents to withdraw their children from public schools, pointing to actions being taken at that time under the Obama administration. Since then, said Hasson, educators are openly advocating for gender identity confusion among children as young as pre-K and kindergarten, telling kids literally you get to decide if youre a boy or a girl. Theyre teaching children their feelings determine reality, which, as parents, we know thats a dangerous thing to do, she added. But its not only taught, its reinforced. While there have been bright spots of resistance in recent years such as parents who have awakened to whats going on in their public schools and demanding school boards and legislators work to address these issues Hasson said theres still much to do. Its really hard to see how these changes are going to make a difference for a child whos in there right now because its coming at them, she added. They believe something thats not true, and not only is it not true, its really, really harmful. No prophecy that America will last forever Every day that goes by we are seeing an America we dont recognize. But is there a point where it could go too far? Of course. Nowhere is it prophesied that America will last forever. In Fiddler on the Roof, Reb Tevya, the patriarch of a devout Jewish family, is severely tested when one of his daughters wants to marry a Gentile. Tevye says, How can I turn my back on my faith, my people? If I try and bend that far, Ill break! Sometimes I wonder if America is bending so far that we might break. The indictment, arrest, and arraignment of a former president, who has declared his candidacy for another run, is a new low, even in our current post-Christian state of America. Victor Davis Hanson is an insightful historian. He sees the big picture so well. On April 6, 2023, he opined that America is fast approaching our own version of the Jacobin-led French Revolution. Hanson notes, This revolution is run by elites and is a top-down operation ... Still, to thoroughly erase America, our Jacobins must radically alter our customs and traditions ... like the Jacobins, names and dates had to be radically transformed. 1619, not 1776, is now Americas birthdate and, we are told, it was an ignominious one. Statues are toppled, careers Trotskyized. What all this boils down to is the abuse of liberty to gain power. Power must be maintained at all cost. Thats all that matters to the hardcore left today. At the end of the day, they would tear America down with the goal of rebuilding a Marxist utopia an apt phrase since utopia means no place. Nowhere on earth is there a Marxist paradise. There are many Marxist governments, but all of them are horrible places unless you happen to be a part of the elite. The genius of Americas founders is that they were careful not to allow too much power in the hands of too few people. For my series of films on how our nations Judeo-Christian heritage is the Foundation of American Liberty, I interviewed retired Judge Darrell White, who has established the group, Retired Judges of America. Judge White said of Americas founders, They pledged their lives, their fortune, their sacred honor on behalf of themselves, but also, on behalf of posterity. Thats us and our grandchildren and we hold the truths of the Constitution and the sacred guarantees that are ours as Americans. We hold them not as owners, but in trust. We are trustees for the next generation [emphasis added]. But what about needed change? The founders made provision for that in Article Five of the Constitution otherwise known as the amendment process. These amendments to the Constitution would need to be proposed by two-thirds of each chamber of Congress. They would then require the ratification of three-quarters of the states to be approved. The founders made the process arduous on purpose since changing the Constitution is not to be taken lightly. Nevertheless, its not an impossible process. Indeed, the Constitution has been amended 27 times. White explains: Thats the mechanism for changing the Constitution. Other than that, the Constitution means what it said when it was issued, and James Madison, the father of the Constitution, made that crystal clear when he said, Every word of the Constitution decides a question between liberty and power. Liberty versus power. The longer those who worship power and will do anything even lie, cheat, and steal (elections and everything else) the more they are undermining liberty for the rest of us and certainly for our children, and childrens children. George Washington, who presided over the Constitutional Convention, showed us the key to getting back to our national roots. The father of our country said, Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports ... And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. In Washingtons day and context, he meant that undermining Christianity and biblical morality was to undermine the nation. If we curtail religious influence in society, notes George Washington, then we can expect our morality to plummet. And if our morality plummets, we become incapable of self-government. That is precisely what we see happening today. Another founding father, James McHenry, said, In vain, without the Bible, we increase penal laws and draw intrenchments around our institutions. Bibles are strong intrenchments. Entrenchments refers to habits so ingrained that change is difficult. Thus, the Bible helps increase and safeguard morality. We abandon it at our peril. Thus, Americas great solution is genuine revival leading to great change. That is our greatest hope. 'Unique' Christian wall paintings discovered in Sudan Archaeologists have uncovered a series of "unique" Christian wall paintings at a dig in Sudan. The excavation explored a complex of small rooms at Old Dongola, the one-time capital of the Nubian kingdom of Makuria and situated in present-day Northern State, Sudan. The team, led by Dr Artur Obuski from the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, at the University of Warsaw, was exploring several houses dating from the Funj period (16th-19th centuries AD) when they stumbled across a hidden chamber beneath one of the floors. Inside the chamber, the interior walls were decorated with paintings showing the Virgin Mary, Christ, the Archangel Michael, and a Nubian king believed to be David, one of the last rulers of Christian Makuria before the kingdom's demise. The archaeologists said that the scenes were "unique for Christian art". "However, this was not a typical representation of a Nubian ruler under the protection of saints or archangels," they said. "The king bows to Christ, who is seated in the clouds, and kisses his hand. 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. "The dynamism and intimacy of the representation contrasts with the hieratic nature of the figures shown on the side walls." On the north wall of the chamber, the Virgin Mary was depicted "in a dignified pose", dressed in dark robes, and holding a cross and book in her hands. The researchers said that this figure did not reflect typical depictions of Mary in Nubian art. The figure of Christ was depicted on the opposite wall with a book in his left hand and holding his right hand in a gesture of blessing. A preliminary study of the Greek inscriptions found alongside the paintings reveals references to a king named David and a plea to God for protection of the city, believed to be Dongola. "For reasons unknown, King David attacked Egypt, which retaliated by invading Nubia and, as a result, Dongola was sacked for the first time in its history. Maybe the painting was created as the Mamluk army was approaching the city or already laying siege to it?" they said. The complex of rooms was found next to another building "identified as the Great Church of Jesus, which was probably the cathedral of Dongola and the most important church of the kingdom of Makuria". "Arab sources recounting King David's attack on Egypt and the capture of the port of Aidhab and Aswan, maintain that this act was instigated by the Great Church of Jesus. Did the Archbishop of Dongola, much like Pope Urban II, incite King David to launch a crusade?" they said. "Further excavations may provide answers to these and other questions about the enigmatic structure. However, the most important objective this season was to preserve the unique wall paintings." The excavation at Old Dongola was financed by the European Research Council. Research continues at the site. Interior design from the ground up: how antique Oriental carpets can transform your space Pitzhanger Manor the country retreat of celebrated English architect Sir John Soane (1753-1837) provides the ideal backdrop for specialist Louise Broadhurst to advise on picking the perfect carpet or rug for your own home A carpet can transform the look and feel of a room. It can brighten a space or make it feel warm and inviting but it can also make it unique. We take a lot of care and time to select pieces that are very hard to find, says Louise Broadhurst, head of Oriental Rugs & Carpets at Christies in London. Our core focus is on pieces produced before 1900. Rugs and carpets produced before the time of commercial expansion are hand-woven and naturally dyed, and as a result they tend to be of better quality than the mass-produced carpets of today. Buying an antique carpet is both a sustainable way of refreshing your interiors and a savvy one. Youre not only giving a highly crafted piece a new lease of life, but also investing in something that will retain its value and last for generations to come, says the specialist. There is a lot to consider when buying an antique Oriental carpet, from colour and design to material and age. It can be difficult to understand a rugs proportions and nuances of colour by looking at images online, says Broadhurst, who notes that natural dyes change in appearance with the atmospheric conditions outside. We would always encourage collectors to come into Christies to gauge a carpets colour, condition, texture, quality and lustre. Here, Broadhurst shares her tips for styling antique Oriental rugs in contemporary interiors. Open a larger version of this image A Transylvanian double-niche rug, west Anatolia, mid-17th century, photographed at Pitzhanger Manor. Red is traditionally considered to give energy, strength, motivation and confidence, while blue offers a sense of calm, peace, truth and self-expression The importance of colour Antique carpets with bold and brilliant colours can brighten a room and your mood. In ancient cultures, red is traditionally considered to give energy, strength, motivation and confidence, while yellow is uplifting, says Broadhurst. Green represents harmony and balance, while blue offers a sense of calm, peace, truth and self-expression. Lighter colours have been favoured by many contemporary interior designers in recent decades, but dark, rich shades are now enjoying a resurgence thanks in part to innovators such as Lulu Lytle of Soane Britain, Kit Kemp and Remy Renzullo. These designers favour layering colours, textiles and patterns, says Broadhurst. If a rug features intricate floral motifs, for instance, you might want to echo those in a trim, ruffle or pleat around a sofa cushion, along a curtain, or in the wallpaper. Rugs with geometric patterns, on the other hand, bring energy to an interior and work well with post-Impressionist and post-war and contemporary artworks. If you already have strong focal points such as statement wallpaper in the room, look to complement these to unify the look. Caucasian carpets such as the Sewan Kazak rug above will add vibrancy to neutral spaces. Characterised by strong primary colours and geometric patterns, they were usually woven in villages and sold locally: the loom was erected within the home and the carpets woven without a drawn design, relying on the memory of the women who wove them. This means that no two rugs are exactly the same. The weavers were often exceptionally skilled dyers, too. The dyes of this rug have retained an intense saturation and are balanced extremely well, says the specialist, noting that the dye for the red ground would have been made from the locally sourced madder root, Rubia tinctorum L. Natural dyes are more stable and nuanced than the synthetic ones used today, and so are less likely to fade. With such dyes having been produced from the surrounding flora, the precise shade can often reveal the country, city, village or district where the rug was woven. For example, the terracotta-red dyes of northwest Persia differ dramatically from the cooler wine-reds of the southern plains, the specialist explains. In Broadhursts estimation, a carpet with a dark ground tends to work best in an intimate space, such as a study or library. This Turkmen tribal piece [above] has a warm, chestnut-brown field which would complement dark furnishings and architectural features such as wood panelling or wooden beams, she says. It is very finely woven and of wonderful quality, and would make those warm, snug-like areas feel inviting and cosy. Open a larger version of this image A Tabriz carpet, northwest Persia, circa 1890. 13 ft 3 in x 9 ft 2 in (405 x 252 cm). Estimate: 6,000-8,000. Offered in Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs and Carpets on 27 April 2023 at Christies in London Carpets with a softer, more feminine palette tend to work well in bedrooms or rooms with a lot of light. Pale rose-pinks and ice-blues can have an extremely calming effect, says the specialist, referencing the Tabriz carpet above. Padding about on a luxurious wool carpet would be such an indulgent way to start and end the day. Lighter-coloured carpets can also integrate into a range of styled spaces. It looked absolutely wonderful when we displayed it at Pitzhanger Manor, she says. Its blue tones were enhanced by the blue wallpaper, the fabrics on the bed and the ceramics on the table. Open a larger version of this image The Tabriz Persian carpet illustrated above, photographed at Pitzhanger Manor. Its blue tones were enhanced by the blue wallpaper, the fabrics on the bed and the ceramics on the table Pattern: beyond the decorative When buying an antique carpet, collectors should look for designs that are well balanced, well spaced and harmonious. They should also have a sense of movement, spatial depth and clarity. When you understand where a design has come from and what its symbols stand for, it becomes much easier to read, says Broadhurst. The design can also offer fascinating insights into the rugs history. The Yarkand carpet above is a good example. It was made during the third quarter of the 19th century, and has a mirrored design along the central vertical axis with two vases at each end, each with a flowering pomegranate tree. In the Islamic world, pomegranates are symbolic of fertility, explains Broadhurst. It may look like a purely decorative design to the untrained eye, but it is actually full of meaning. Open a larger version of this image The Yarkand carpet illustrated above, photographed at Pitzhanger Manor. In the Islamic world, pomegranates are symbolic of fertility. It may look like a purely decorative design, but it is full of meaning While some designs are one-of-a-kind, others have been used repeatedly down the centuries. Early 16th- and 17th-century Safavid motifs have remained particularly popular, such as those seen on the Kirman Vase carpets of southeast Persia, which continue to be woven on later 20th-century Tabriz carpets, including the one below which has a sky-blue ground interlaced with split palmette arabesques. The design of this PETAG carpet (made by the German company Persische Teppiche A.G., which had a workshop in Tabriz) is a direct copy of one of the most magnificent Safavid Kirman Vase carpets ever woven, a fragment of which now resides in the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna. It shows how the very best designs really do stand the test of time, says Broadhurst. This carpet is nearly 100 years old, but it looks almost new, which is a testament to the exceptional quality of the wool used by the PETAG workshop. A large-scale carpet with a well-balanced design in the field would make an elegant addition to any drawing or dining room. By way of example, Broadhurst singles out the large Tabriz carpet below, which was formerly in the dining room of the Bank of England. It has a centralised medallion design inspired by the Ardabil carpet the oldest dated carpet in the world, made in 1539/40 which now resides in Londons Victoria & Albert Museum. While the design of the carpet below remains largely true to the original, the colour palette was altered to suit Western tastes. Large carpets with a repeating motif, known as an all-over design, also work well in formal entertaining rooms. It can be easier to arrange furniture around a repeating pattern than a centralised medallion, says Broadhurst. But, above all, you should look for a design that is enclosed in a well-proportioned border, especially if youre planning to place furniture over the centre of the carpet. Open a larger version of this image A Kurdish runner, Azerbaijan, mid-19th century, photographed at Pitzhanger Manor. This runner, with an indigo field and a red border filled with flowering shrubs, would transform a transitional area into a space with personality and warmth A question of texture Bijar carpets like the one below tend to be large and hard-wearing, making them a good choice for rooms with heavy footfall or frequently moved furniture, such as dining-room chairs. Bijars have a wool warp and weft as well as a wool pile, and so they are extremely durable, the specialist says. Wool runners tend to be equally durable. Collectors today are generally looking for hard-wearing runners that are long and narrow, because modern hallways are often fitted with radiators, says Broadhurst. This Kurdish runner [below], with an indigo field and a red border filled with flowering shrubs, would transform a transitional area into a space with personality and warmth. Thin or flat-woven carpets tend to be more delicate and prone to wear, and so are better suited to spaces with less traffic, such as bedrooms. The Kashan Mohtasham carpet pictured below fits into this category. It has an ivory ground and a harmonious directional design featuring birds and flowering trees, loosely based on a Mughal Indian carpet made in Lahore in 1600. Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe It is woven with kurk wool, which is the softest and finest wool thanks to its high lanolin content, explains Broadhurst. As a result, it has a soft, lustrous sheen and feels almost velvety to the touch. Carpets like this one remain extremely popular with decorators because they are timeless and add an elegant touch to sleek, contemporary interiors. Silk fibres are more lustrous than wool, with the Yarkand carpet below being a particularly fine example. It has a shimmering, pistachio-green field overlaid by a closely knit, hooked red lattice design that is found on early Chinese carpets. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate RENO, Nev. (AP) County commissioners have rescinded an energy company's permit to drill exploratory wells for a geothermal project in the Nevada desert near the site of the annual Burning Man counterculture festival about 110 miles (177 kilometers) north of Reno. Officials for the Burning Man organization and others who have filed suit in U.S. District Court to block Ormat Technologies' exploration in the Black Rock Desert say the move puts the project on hold indefinitely and could scuttle it all together. The Washoe County Commission voted 3-2 this week to overturn the permit that the countys Board of Adjustment approved in January to allow for the drilling of up to 13 geothermal test wells in the area near Gerlach, a town of about 130. Opponents of the project say it could jeopardize the town's water supply and detract from the remote area's natural beauty. Gerlachs very existence is threatened by the Ormat geothermal development, Allen Nash, vice president of the Gerlach Volunteer Fire Department and member of a county citizens advisory board, told the commission before Tuesday night's vote. The project "runs the risk of changing a spectacular mountain vista into a spectacular vista of an industrial plant, said Seth Schrenzel, a local business owner and trustee for the Gerlach General Improvement District. The nonprofit Burning Man Project based in San Francisco said in a statement that the commissions decision delays the project for a substantial period of time and could result in it never moving forward. This community stood up and and made a difference. Burning Man is pleased to have played a role in protecting the town and this special wilderness we call home, said Marnee Benson, the organizations director of government affairs. Ormat Technologies didn't respond to requests for comment. The Reno-based company is already involved in a lengthy federal court battle over a geothermal power plant it wants to build about 100 miles east of Reno adjacent to wetlands where an endangered toad lives and are fed by hot springs that tribal leaders say are sacred. In the desert north of Reno, Ormat initially proposed a pair of geothermal power plants with overhead power lines and several miles of pipelines but withdrew that proposal in 2020 and replaced it with a smaller exploratory project to determine whether such development was commercially feasible. The Bureau of Land Management approved the exploratory project with the test wells last October. All exploration wells and equipment would be placed on BLM-managed land. Ormat said in court filings in March in response to the opponents' lawsuit that the exploratory project does not include and the (BLM's) decision does not approve construction of a power plant or development of electric transmission lines. Ormat would seek BLM permission for further development if, and only if, the project proves the commercial viability of the geothermal resources," it said. But the opponents' lawsuit accuses Ormat of attempting to evade analysis of the geothermal power plants potential negative effects on the environment by segmenting the project, which limits BLMs review to only the exploratory stage of its plans. This first stage merely confirms where the resources are located to inform future industrial scale geothermal energy development, the lawsuit said. Once the exploration project begins, it will be impossible to stop the effects of the entire geothermal production project. Local residents joined the Burning Man Project in January in appealing the permit. They argue that the timing of the public notice of a meeting to gather community input just after the Christmas holidays prevented anyone from attending. They also said the proposed project fails to comply with the countys High Desert Area Plan intended to protect scenic vistas and natural resources. Clara Andriola, the commission's newest member who was appointed last week by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo to fill a vacancy, joined Commissioners Jeanne Herman and Mike Clark in voting to rescind the permit, according to the Reno Gazette Journal, which first reported the decision. Chairwoman Alexis Hill and Commissioner Mariluz Garcia voted in support of the permit. Fresh off being named a World Pizza Champion at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 29, 550 Pizzeria owner Janet Zapata has continued racking up recognitions locally as she was honored this week by the Webb County Commissioners Court. Zapata and 550 Pizzeria earned the world championship with the Chicken Chori-Queso pizza which features tomatillo sauce, chorizo, Roma tomatoes, onions and chicken and is topped with cilantro. Courtesy/550 Pizzeria I was a bit surprised when they called my name. I couldnt believe it. Its not so much about the pizza. Its about the hard work Ive done, Zapata said. I do it because I love my city, and I want Laredo not to be known just for the bad stuff that goes on or because were the No. 1 port of entry, but hey, we have some super good food here. Its not just about tacos no offense to any tacos, right? Im very grateful for my community, and Ill tell everybody to never give up on their dreams. Courtesy/550 Pizzeria Recognized at the event for both the pizza quality and her effort in the community, Zapata was honored locally for the same reasons as she received a 2023 Orgullo Latin Legacy Award from LULAC Council #22387 on April 6 before being celebrated April 11 by the Webb County Commissioners Court. Courtesy/UISD On behalf of Webb County and Webb County Commissioners Court, we are very proud of you. You are trailblazing right now, Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina said. You are an inspiration. You are a role model, believe it or not, as much as you dont think you are. Its not work for you. You go and you have fun. I notice a lot of your people, whenever I go and pick up pizzas there, they are all having a good time, being nice and polite, and doing their respective duties. With all that said, we here in Webb County are very proud of you. Congratulations on being a world champion. Webb County Pct. 4 Commissioner Ricardo Jaime thanked Zapata for taking the risk to bring something unique to the community. As a small business owner, I think we all have to go ahead and think outside the box. Its fair to say your menu is very different, but a good different, he said. As most want to complain about the quality of life in Laredo or if its a small town, you are bringing in a big-town menu to our community, and I really want to thank you for it. Pct. 2 Commissioner Rosaura Wawi Tijerina and Pct. 3 Commissioner John Galo both said they have yet to try 550 Pizzeria but are now eager to sample the world champion pizza. Pct. 1 Commissioner was the complete opposite saying he has enjoyed pizzas from Zapata since her days working for her mentor at Laredo Pizza Factory. You have been doing amazing. Ive been following you since you were at the Laredo Pizza Factory way back then, he said. I did have you on speed dial throughout the pandemic, and you would go deliver to our houses. Congratulations. You are amazing. You are just breaking barriers. Keep it going. Tano Tijerina also mentioned the pandemic during his presentation. He discussed how 550 Pizzeria opened in the spring of 2020 just as the pandemic took hold, and also how she not only thrived amid difficult circumstances but quickly focused on giving back to the community. When COVID-19 hit, Janet quickly began making pizzas for frontline heroes, he said. Whether delivering pizzas to local ERs and nursing units or opening her doors for a few hours a day to give away boxes of pizza to nurses and teachers, she says it was the very least she could do for those individuals who have given the most. Tijerina had a custom plaque created by Laser Boss Laredo for Zapata. It features a wood base supporting a spinning leather circle designed to represent a pizza. One side of the leather features the seal of Webb County, and the other half shows her photo and information about the recognition. Courtesy/550 Pizzeria Zapata will be featured again next week as she speaks as part of the Women Entrepreneurs Rock series hosted by local business incubator MileOne. The talk will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19 at MileOne which is located at 1313 Houston St. The event is free and open to the public. 550 Pizzeria is located at 2101 Shiloh Dr. Visit 550pizzeria.com or facebook.com/550pizzeria for the menu and additional information on the restaurant. 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MILFORD Officials say they've filled about half of their lifeguard positions at state beaches this year, but need dozens more to be fully staffed by the start of the season. At a news conference Friday, state officials made the pitch for working as a lifeguard at state parks under the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. It's a summer gig they said comes with a starting salary of $20 an hour and as one official official said, "best office in the state of Connecticut." "We are looking to fill dozens of positions this summer at our beautiful state parks," Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said, speaking from a pavilion overlooking the beach at Silver Sands State Park in Milford. "Seasonal work at the Department of Environmental Protection is an incredibly important service to visitors at our state parks." "What is a better summer job than spending time outdoors with your peers in beautiful locations like this keeping people safe?" she added. DEEP Deputy Commissioner Mason Trumble pointed out another perk of the job: "Welcome to the best office in the state of Connecticut," he said, as the sun glistened off Long Island Sound behind him. The state parks look to hire between 100 and 110 lifeguards to fully staff all eight locations seven days a week. The positions are full-time. Right now, DEEP officials say those slots are about half-full. "We are definitely ahead of where we were last year," said Sarah Battistini, water safety coordinator for the state parks. The state parks officials are looking to fill are mostly located on the western side of Connecticut. They include: Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield, Indian Wells State Park in Shelton and Burr Pond State Park in Torrington. Officials are also looking to fill positions at the state's four shoreline parks: Silver Sands State Park in Milford, Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, Rocky Neck State Park in Niantic and Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. Since the pandemic, there have been fewer available lifeguards nationwide. In the spring of 2021, lifeguard staffing at state parks stood at around 62 percent, DEEP said at the time. If staffing shortages prevent a lifeguard from being on duty, signs are posted advising people they can swim at their own risk, officials said. Last year, struggling to fill the ranks, DEEP hiked its starting pay for lifeguards from $16 an hour to $19. It was boosted again this year to $20 an hour. State and lifeguard officials have pointed to a confluence of factors for national and local shortages. First, the pandemic impacted new lifeguard training and re-certifications for existing lifeguards, NPR reported last year. The pool of applicants was further depleted after the Trump administration placed restrictions on J-1 visas. The program allowed people from eastern Europe to fill demand for lifeguards two decades ago during a prior shortage, the outlet reported. There may also only be so many people who meet the requirements DEEP has for applicants, officials said. "I think in the universe of lifeguarding, there are only a certain amount of people or candidates that are interested and qualified to do this type of work," Battistini said. "We're really looking for a strong swimmer, an athlete, somebody who wants to work as a member of a team." Battistini said DEEP lifeguards have to be prepared to respond to "everything from minor medical emergencies to a major life-saving event. At state parks, lifeguards can be faced with a large area to cover and open water, she added. "We have raised the level of caliber candidate that we're looking for versus say confined areas such as a pool," Battistini said. DEEP lifeguards get a full 80 hours of paid training that's certified by the United States Lifesaving Association, which is considered the gold standard for lifeguard training in open-water rescue, according to Battistini. They're also cross-certified through the American Red Cross, which gives state park lifeguards the ability to work at their college pool in the off-season. Elyse Boothroyd, a lifeguard supervisor at Hammonasset Beach, said she keeps returning as a lifeguard because of the people she works with, and because the job puts her right on the shoreline. "We struggle, but end up getting the people that we need to keep the beaches safe for the public," said Boothroyd, who's in her fourth year with the program. "That team is always so close-knit and welcoming." "We just have a really good time each year making sure everyone's safe in the water and also safe outside of the water with any heat illnesses, cold illnesses or first aid emergencies," Boothroyd added. The role they fill is very real. At Silver Sands State Park, Milford Mayor Benjamin Blake said about a dozen to two-dozen times a year, the fire department rescues people off Charles Island or the sandbar, including around this past St. Patrick's Day. The island is connected to the mainland by a tombolo or sandbar that's submerged at high tide "straight out of a fairy tale," Blake said, and which he said has a "magical gravitational pull" for people to try and explore. Battistini said this past year, lifeguards across all state parks responded to "at least 65 emergencies." "Becoming a lifeguard is an important job and you learn communication and leadership skills," Bysiewicz said. "And your office is the beautiful outdoors." "For college students who are out there who are strong swimmers who are looking for summer employment, it's really important that you apply," she added. To apply as a lifeguard at state parks, applicants must be at least 16 years old and should be strong swimmers capable of swimming 550 years (about 22 laps) in 10 minutes or less, run a 10-minute mile as well as meet a sprint requirement. Applicants should be able to dive 10 to 12 feet underwater and retrieve a person who is 160 pounds. To apply, visit DEEP's website. Tryouts will be held Saturday at Southern Connecticut State University. The deadline to apply is May 11. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DANBURY Three days after crashing between two homes near Tarrywile Park, a local flight schools single-engine plane began to be removed from the Southern Boulevard crash site and taken away for further investigation. The Cessna 152 was being removed Thursday afternoon from the property of Marisol Acevedo, who was in the family room of her home with her husband and mother when the plane crashed around 5:45 p.m. Monday. A truck from Massachusetts-based Colonial Air the same company that removed a glider from the roof of a home on Golden Hill Avenue in 2019 arrived at the scene around 2 p.m. Thursday, carrying a CAT Skid Steer Loader. The road was blocked off to traffic as Colonial Air and others, including members of the Danbury Fire Department, officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and Danbury Municipal Airport Administrator Mike Safranek, responded to the scene for the aircrafts removal a process that was expected to take several hours. After a worker from Colonial Air assessed the wreckage, pieces of the damaged plane started to be sawed off and carried away with the CAT Skid Steer Loader around 3 p.m., leaving behind the remains of what was once a shed. Safranek said an insurance company covered the aircrafts removal, and the plane would be transported to a salvage company. The salvage company is going to hold onto it for a while until the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) fully releases it, he said. They want to get the plane out of this ladys yard and into a hangar, where they can lay out the parts and examine it. The NTSB is investigating, with the assistance of the FAA, to determine the probable cause of Mondays crash. The plane had been returning to Danbury Municipal Airport with two people on board when it struck a house while attempting to land, according to a preliminary report the FAA released Tuesday. Both occupants neither of whom have been identified were transported to Danbury Hospital with minor injuries, according to the Danbury Fire Department. The aircraft was registered to Danbury-based flight school Darcy Aviation, which has not responded to requests for comment. Safranek said Wednesday the federal investigation will likely be challenging because the "catastrophic" damage to the plane will make it harder to determine how things unfolded. Flight data shows the plane took off from Danbury Municipal Airport just after 4 p.m. Monday and flew south over Sherwood Island State Park in Westport before heading north toward Danbury, where it crashed. Safranek said the airport towers last communication with the plane was around 5:50 p.m., when controllers said the aircraft was clear for the option clearing the aircraft for landing or performing a touch-and-go on the main runway that runs roughly perpendicular to Route 7. He said the tower didnt receive radio transmission signaling distress from the plane. The NTSB said on Wednesday that a preliminary report may be available in about 10 to 12 business days, but its investigation into the crash could take one to two years to complete. According to the NTSB, the investigation will involve requesting air traffic communications, radar data, weather reports and aircraft maintenance records, as well as trying to contact any witnesses and requesting the pilots medical records and flight history. Shortly before work began on the removal of the plane, Acevedo said she planned to take inventory of all her stuff and remove whats left of the shed once the aircraft was gone. She said that will be in addition to repairs that need to be made on her house including the roof, where she said the plane left a hole. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A European spacecraft rocketed away Friday on a decadelong quest to explore Jupiter and three of its icy moons that could hold buried oceans. The journey began with a perfect morning liftoff by Europe's Ariane rocket from French Guiana on the coast of South America. But there were some tense minutes later as controllers awaited signals from the spacecraft. When contact finally was confirmed close to an hour into the flight, Mission Control in Germany declared: The spacecraft is alive! It will take the robotic explorer, dubbed Juice, eight years to reach Jupiter, where it will scope out not only the solar systems biggest planet but also Europa, Callisto and Ganymede. The three ice-encrusted moons are believed to harbor underground oceans, where sea life could exist. Then in perhaps the most impressive feat of all, Juice will attempt to go into orbit around Ganymede: No spacecraft has ever orbited a moon other than our own. With so many moons at last count 95 astronomers consider Jupiter a mini solar system of its own, with missions like Juice long overdue. This is a mission that is answering questions of science that are burning to all of us, said European Space Agencys director general, Josef Aschbacher after the launch. "Of course, one of these questions is: Is there life out there? It can't find life, but Juice will be identifying the habitability of these icy moons around Jupiter, he added. The spacecraft is taking a long, roundabout route to Jupiter, covering 4 billion miles (6.6 billion kilometers) It will swoop within 125 miles (200 kilometers) of Callisto and 250 miles (400 kilometers) of Europa and Ganymede, completing 35 flybys while circling Jupiter. Then it will hit the brakes to orbit Ganymede, the primary target of the 1.6 billion-euro mission (nearly $1.8 billion). Ganymede is not only the solar systems largest moon it surpasses Mercury but has its own magnetic field with dazzling auroras at the poles. Even more enticing, its thought to have an underground ocean holding more water than Earth. Ditto for Europa and its reported geysers, and heavily cratered Callisto, a potential destination for humans given its distance from Jupiters debilitating radiation belts, according to Carnegie Institutions Scott Sheppard, whos not involved with the Juice mission. The ocean worlds in our solar system are the most likely to have possible life, so these large moons of Jupiter are prime candidates to search, said Sheppard, a moon hunter whos helped discover well over 100 in the outer solar system. The spacecraft, about the size of a small bus, won't reach Jupiter until 2031, relying on gravity-assist flybys of Earth and our moon, as well as Venus. These things take time and they change our world, said the Planetary Societys chief executive, Bill Nye. The California-based space advocacy group organized a virtual watch party for the launch. Belgiums King Philippe and Prince Gabriel, and a pair of astronauts Frances Thomas Pesquet and Germanys Matthias Maurer were among the spectators in French Guiana. Thursdays launch attempt was nixed by the threat of lightning. Juice short for Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer will spend three years buzzing Callisto, Europa and Ganymede. The spacecraft will attempt to enter orbit around Ganymede in late 2034, circling the moon for nearly a year before flight controllers send it crashing down in 2035, later if enough fuel remains. Europa is especially attractive to scientists hunting for signs of life beyond Earth. Juice will keep its Europa encounters to a minimum, however, because of the intense radiation there so close to Jupiter. Juices sensitive electronics are encased in lead to protect against radiation. The 14,000-pound (6,350-kilogram) spacecraft also is wrapped with thermal blankets temperatures near Jupiter hover around minus 380 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 230 degrees Celsius). And its solar panels stretch 88 feet (27 meters) tip to tip to soak in as much sunlight that far from the sun. Late next year, NASA will send an even more heavily shielded spacecraft to Jupiter, the long-awaited Europa Clipper, which will beat Juice to Jupiter by more than a year because it will launch on SpaceXs mightier rocket. The two spacecraft will team up to study Europa like never before. NASA has long dominated exploration at Jupiter, beginning with flybys in the 1970s by the twin Pioneers and then Voyagers. Only one spacecraft remains humming at Jupiter: NASAs Juno, which just logged its 50th orbit since 2016. Europe provided nine of Juices science instruments, with NASA supplying just one. If Juice confirms underground oceans conducive to past or present life, project scientist Olivier Witasse said the next step will be to send drills to penetrate the icy crusts and maybe even a submarine. We have to be creative, he said. We can still think its science fiction, but sometimes the science fiction can join the reality. ___ 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 Federal Aviation Administration on Friday granted SpaceX a license to launch its massive Starship vehicle, paving the way for a maiden flight that could come as soon as Monday. The flight is a test of the fully reusable rocket and spacecraft that NASA has picked to carry astronauts to the surface of the moon. It would be the most powerful rocket in the world, if the test is successful. "After a comprehensive license evaluation process, the FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental, policy, payload, airspace integration and financial responsibility," the FAA said in a statement. It said it had "carefully analyzed the public safety risks during every stage of the mission and required SpaceX to mitigate those risks." The FAA previously granted the company a preliminary approval but required SpaceX to take 75 steps to protect the environment. In 2021, NASA awarded SpaceX a $2.9 billion contract to develop the vehicle. The space agency plans to use it to land astronauts on the lunar surface for the first time since 1972. With the license granted, the nearly 400-foot-tall rocket is expected within days to lift off from SpaceX's facility in South Texas near the Gulf of Mexico. The spacecraft is scheduled to fly over the Florida Straits between Florida and Cuba and circle much of the globe before splashing down off the coast of Hawaii. The booster is expected to fall into the Gulf of Mexico. Neither is expected to return to Earth for a soft landing. SpaceX chief executive and founder Elon Musk has said he expects about a 50 percent chance of success. "With a test such as this, success is measured by how much we can learn, which will inform and improve the probability of success in the future as SpaceX rapidly advances development of Starship," SpaceX said. Dodge is introducing a new member of the Brotherhood of Muscle: the all-new 2024 Hornet, a compact crossover that shares a platform with the new 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale plug-in hybrid I checked out last fall (and, yes, it's assembled alongside the Tonale in Italy.) The Hornet is a big deal for the Dodge brand for three reasons: one it introduces Dodge's first electrified performance model, the plug-in R/T, two, the GT trim will be the most powerful in its segment and three, it's an entry-level gateway to Dodge muscle. I recently had the chance to learn more about both models at the Texas Auto Roundup hosted by the Texas Auto Writers Association in Decatur, TX, where I also spent a little bit of time behind the wheel of the GT model. (Both GT and R/T powertrains by the way are equipped standard all-wheel drive.) R/T Let's start with the R/T. First, some fast facts: Fast Facts First-ever electrified plug-in model from Dodge 288-horsepower 383 pound-feet of torque Powershot feature supplies a burst of 30 horsepower for a 0 to 60 time of 5.6 seconds 30+ miles EV range Dodge Brand's Lauren Wrights shares some highlights in the video below, as she walks us through some of the Hornet R/T's design DNA inside and out. This particular display model is equipped with two packages. One is the Track Pack package which upgrades to 20-inch Abyss wheels, with additional features like class-exclusive Alcantara seats that feature an embroidered Dodge Rhombi logo. GT Now we turn to the GT model, a vehicle Dodge says is the most powerful gas-only vehicle in its segment thanks to its Hurricane4 engine. Fast Facts Hurricane 4 engine (2.0L turbocharged inline-4) mated to 9-speed automatic transmission 268-horsepower 295 pound-feet or torque 0-60 in 6.5 seconds Blacktop package includes 18-inch Abyss alloy wheels MSRP as shown: $31,990 Exterior The Hornet GT is a stylish-looking compact SUV as equipped here with a Blacktop package for a sporty blacked-out look. The grille with a 'mail slot'-style grille opening is appropriately aggressive but with sleek, slim headlights. Notice too the cool illuminated Dodge Rhombi logo in the center of the grille. The logo is featured for the first time on a Dodge vehicle. Another unique feature is the exterior Hornet badge on the fender. In back, a vehicle-width taillamp also features the Dodge Rhombi logo - another Dodge-vehicle first. Interior The Hornet's interior is a highlight. You know you're going to have a good time the moment you sit in the driver's seat (I imagine passenger's feel the same way too.) It's sporty, driver-centric and has terrific technology, including a full digital driver display and a multimedia screen with bright graphics. Combined, you're getting 22.5 inches of in-vehicle display screen space. Check out a closer look at the 10.25-inch display. It runs the Uconnect 5 infotainment system and features wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well as Amazon Alexa. The graphics are nicely laid out and the graphics quality is on point. The center console is slim and sleek, with the push-button start located ever so conveniently within reach. It's an impressive interior that feels, to me, pricier than it's roughly $31K MSRP would indicate. Red stitching accents are standard on Hornet models. Ride and Drive From my brief time behind the wheel, I can tell you that the Hornet GT is all Dodge. It's a welcome addition to the segment, delivering an engaging, performance-oriented ride with great acceleration and handling. It's certainly not your typical mass market CUV. Availability The Dodge Hornet GT is on sale now and the Hornet R/T will arrive in late spring. And if you like the Track Pack you saw on the R/T, good news! It's available for both grades. This article originally appeared on CarProUSA TALLAHASSEE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was triumphant last April as he gathered press and supporters at a church to sign a ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. A screen behind him bore the words "Florida is Pro Life" in both English and Spanish. "This will represent the most significant protection for life in this state in a generation," the Republican proclaimed. Then the Supreme Court gutted Roe v. Wade. Neighboring states quickly enacted near-total bans and Florida became a magnet for out-of-state patients, driving up the number of abortions. DeSantis's team took note and believed they could face significant criticism for not going further to restrict the procedure, according to a person in the governor's orbit with knowledge of the situation, who, like some others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private talks. On Thursday night, DeSantis did just that, signing one of the strictest abortion laws in the country: a six-week ban advanced by a GOP-dominated legislature that kicks in before many know they are pregnant. But this time there was no fanfare and no live media coverage - just a photo posted to social media shortly after 11 p.m. In a speech at the conservative Liberty University on Friday morning, DeSantis made no mention of having signed the abortion ban into law the night before. The governor's quiet embrace of the six-week ban reflects his team's political calculations heading into 2024, as he gears up for a presidential primary where hard-line activists and voters wield influence. It underlines the continued pressure in the GOP for politicians to embrace tighter laws - even as numerous Republicans, including some DeSantis allies, worry that abortion bans have helped sink their candidates in critical general elections. And it highlights DeSantis's longtime reluctance to make abortion a signature part of his public profile, though he has enacted major changes to laws on the procedure. "The numbers show that Florida is a destination" for abortion, said Chad Davis, a candidate for the state House who worked for ex-state senator Kelli Stargel, the sponsor of the 15-week ban. "That's an embarrassment to him." DeSantis has generally avoided talking about abortion, even as he tours the country touting other legislation he's signed. Rather than roll out the six-week bill as a major agenda item, he gave vague endorsements: "I'm willing to sign great life legislation," he told one reporter who put him on the spot. A six-week ban has proved divisive in his orbit, with some donors strongly opposed and other Republicans eager to simply move on. "It would be nice to find some sort of compromise to get this thing off the front page," said Francis Rooney, a former GOP congressman from Florida who likes DeSantis and once co-sponsored a federal six-week ban but now sees 15 weeks as a good middle ground. From the rejection of antiabortion ballot measures in conservative states such as Kansas and Kentucky last year, to Democratic wins in key midterms races and a critical Wisconsin Supreme Court case, voters have turned out in droves to support abortion access and made the issue a liability for Republicans. But antiabortion activists have lobbied the governor and his staff in meetings, and DeSantis has allied himself with hard-liners on many social issues. He has spent the legislative session racking up conservative policy victories he expects to boost his case in a 2024 primary. "Abortion is not an issue that motivates him, I can tell you that," said the person in DeSantis's orbit with knowledge of the situation. "But it's one of those . . . what choice do you have here?" The governor's office and representatives for his political team did not respond to requests for comment for this story. "We are proud to support life and family in the state of Florida," DeSantis said in a written statement Thursday night noting he had signed the six-week ban. DeSantis is embracing a strict new ban at a time when he and other Republicans appear eager to focus on other issues. Trump, who is running for president again, has backed off the issue of abortion despite his role reshaping the Supreme Court, and has told advisers it is a topic that does not help Republicans. Several Trump advisers said they were puzzled by DeSantis's embrace of the bill. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who just launched a presidential exploratory committee, recently ducked a question on a 15-week federal ban, saying that he's "certainly 100 percent pro-life," before endorsing a 20-week national limit in another interview. But former vice president Mike Pence, who is considering a presidential run, has leaned into his long career advancing abortion restrictions, and declared presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson signed a near-total abortion ban into law as governor of Arkansas. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) - who is seeking reelection and was DeSantis's predecessor in the governor's office - said Thursday that he would have signed the six-week ban. Scott argued in a recent Noticias Telemundos interview that state legislation ought to reflect the public's support for "reasonable restrictions" such as a 15-week ban with exceptions. DeSantis, who is Catholic, has supported restrictions on abortion from the start of his political career, backing legislation in Congress to block funding to Planned Parenthood and to restrict the procedure after 20 weeks of pregnancy. But he has not showed the same outward zeal he brings to fights against what he calls "woke ideology" on race, gender identity, sexual orientation and more - a far more unifying agenda for conservatives who believe the issue has general-election appeal. DeSantis's top staff have been highly involved in the abortion issue, according to several people familiar with his office. Many members of his leadership team are devout Catholics and are more passionate about the abortion issue than the governor is, one of the people said. "He doesn't want to talk a lot about it," the person said. DeSantis never joined the more than 170 fellow House Republicans who signed onto the federal six-week ban in 2017 and 2018, even as some of his closest colleagues and most of the Florida GOP delegation became co-sponsors. Running in a tough gubernatorial primary, DeSantis said through a spokesman in 2018 that he would sign a "heartbeat bill" for Florida. But neither DeSantis nor his GOP primary opponent, Adam Putnam, called outright for Roe v. Wade to be overturned when pressed on the issue during a debate, saying only that Trump's next Supreme Court pick should be a "constitutionalist." By 2021, with a newly conservative court preparing to rule in a case that could take down Roe, DeSantis was dodging questions about a six-week ban. "I have a 100 percent pro-life record and very much have . . . supported, when I was in Congress, and signed pro life as governor," he told reporters at a news conference, stumbling a bit. "He knows that it's unpopular with the American people and with Floridians, because he's very awkward about it," said Florida House Rep. Anna Eskamani (D), noting that DeSantis often avoids "the a-word." With the Supreme Court about to issue its decision on a 15-week ban in Mississippi, Republicans in Florida moved last year to enact a similar limit. DeSantis's office did not participate in drafting that 15-week ban, said two Florida Republicans who helped shepherd the legislation. While he is "very pro-life," one said, he did not get involved beyond publicly expressing support for the bill and signing it into law. The legislative session had wrapped by the time a draft opinion leaked, showing that the Supreme Court would strike down Roe entirely. When the ruling came in June, one Republican said, Florida lawmakers began discussing the possibility of further abortion restrictions. As another session loomed, Democrats hoped that Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo - a more centrist Republican - would stand in the way of the strictest abortion bans. In a vacuum, Passidomo would prefer not to further restrict abortion in Florida, according to Florida Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book (D), who says she is close with Passidomo and says she speaks to her regularly about abortion. "I know her heart on this issue. She has young girls," Book said in an interview earlier this year. Late last year, Passidomo said her hands were tied until the Florida Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of the existing 15-week ban - a decision expected in the coming months - and then said that she would support a 12-week ban with exceptions for rape and incest. But Passidomo surprised lawmakers and advocates from both sides of the aisle last month when the six-week bill debuted with her support. One state lawmaker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, said they got a clear message from the Senate president: If they wanted changes to the bill, they had to take it up with DeSantis, implying that he was a critical player in the process. A spokeswoman for Passidomo did not comment directly on that but pointed to the Senate president's comments to reporters this week. "I don't feel pressured," she said when asked if "the Plaza" - the first floor of the Capitol, home to DeSantis's office - had pushed her on abortion or other issues. She said she agreed to the six-week bill to secure exceptions for rape and incest up to 15 weeks. The measure passed on largely party lines, though more than a dozen Republicans either skipped the House vote on Thursday or joined Democrats in opposition. "They're going to pay for this at the polls, trust me," protester Debra Ellick muttered to herself from the Senate gallery last week as GOP senators stood to explain their support. A few seats over, attorney Julie Keefe used a selfie stick to film video for her TikTok account, "AngryFloridaDemLady." Andrew Shirvell was also disappointed as he watched nearby - for opposite reasons. The Florida antiabortion activist has pushed Republicans for a total abortion ban and said he met last year with DeSantis's "very pro-life" chief of staff, James Uthmeier, who did not respond to a request for comment. He took note of DeSantis's public reticence on abortion. "If you're not out there defending the right to life and you're not putting that out there at every opportunity, you really lose something in the long-term debate," Shirvell said. "So we need a fighter." Tom Ascol - a Florida pastor chosen to deliver prayers at a DeSantis reelection rally and, earlier this year, DeSantis's inauguration - said the six-week ban "may get us three or four yards further down field, but it's not anywhere near the goal line." A runner-up to lead the Southern Baptist Convention, he has said he believes women who get abortions at any stage of pregnancy should face homicide charges - an idea vehemently rejected by most antiabortion advocates. - - - The Washington Post's Tim Craig contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON - The Navy on Thursday unveiled five eye-catching design concepts for its planned new national museum in Washington, D.C. The ideas are not part of an official design competition, which will come later, but are meant to signal the progress of an enterprise that could bring a dramatic new presence to M Street near the Navy Yard in Southeast Washington, the Navy says. The offerings, displayed at an afternoon event at the Navy Yard, came from noted architectural firms, and presented some striking designs - one of a building with wings that look like sails, and one with a submarine conning tower in a pool of water out front. "I was kind of blown away," said retired Rear Adm. Samuel J. Cox, the director of the Naval History and Heritage Command. "It's not the final design competition for actually building the museum," he said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "But one of these firms could wind up being the finalist for that when it occurs. Or it could be somebody else." "The idea is to generate interest among architectural firms, also, in our case, generate interest in the rest of the Navy, [and] generate interest in the American public," he said. "It's not just a pipe dream. This is coming." The formal design competition will come after the Navy Museum Development Foundation raises enough money to move forward, he said. "I don't know when that will be," he said. The Navy envisions a museum campus of about 270,000 square feet, including about 100,000 square feet of gallery space, according to MGAC, a consulting firm for the service. The Navy announced in January that five prominent architecture firms had been chosen to develop ideas for the new museum. They were Bjarke Ingels Group, DLR Group, Frank Gehry Partners, Perkins&Will and Quinn Evans. "They're all serious about wanting to do this," Cox said. Gehry, who designed Washington's Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, offered what looks like a majestic building largely made of glass. The DLR Group presented a design that included the submarine conning tower in the outdoor pool. Perkins&Will's design featured a giant glass facade flanked by wings that resembled a sailing ship. "If any one of those was the final design, I'd be tickled pink," Cox said. "I think at some point the artist is going to collide with the engineer. The building will have to meet basic Navy force protection standards, so that it can survive certain degrees of damage." The unveiling was another step in the Navy's preparation for a $450 million museum to replace the almost 60-year-old facility in its cavernous Naval Gun Factory and an adjacent building at the historic yard. The service announced two years ago that it wanted to build the new museum on a roughly six-acre plot on M Street next-door to the Navy Yard. The site was secured via a land swap with a developer, pending environmental review, the Navy said. The Navy exchanged 15 acres of "underutilized" land in the southeastern part of the yard for the new museum site. The service hopes to break ground in the fall of 2025. Once completed, the Navy's museum will join the National Museum of the U.S. Army, in Fort Belvoir, Va., which opened in 2020, and the National Museum of the Marine Corps, in Triangle, Va., which opened in 2006. A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out. Here are the facts: ___ Federal Reserves payment service FedNow would not replace cash CLAIM: The Federal Reserve is launching a digital currency app, FedNow, that will eliminate physical cash. THE FACTS: FedNow is a service that allows banks and credit unions to transfer funds more quickly. Its not a form of currency, nor is it a move toward eliminating cash, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System stated. FedNow has been in the works since 2019 and will launch in July 2023. In recent days, social media users have misrepresented the service, claiming it is a step toward getting rid of physical money and having digital currency. In response to the misinformation and confusion, the Federal Reserve reiterated on Twitter that FedNow is not a form of currency. Instead, it is a payments service that will be available to banks and credit unions, enabling them to speed up the processing of checks and electronic payments. This will mean people can access their paychecks and transfer money to other accounts instantly, any time of the day or week. Currently, these processes can take up to three days to clear and are often delayed on holidays and weekends. FedNow has nothing to do with replacing cash. It is an upgrade to the decades old payment system, said Aaron Klein, senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, in an email to the AP. Klein noted that if banks use the service, it will make payments faster, resulting in fewer overdraft fees, late fees and visits to check cashers. Many countries already have real-time payment systems similar to FedNow, including England. The U.S. already has a real time payment network, but its run by private banks. The Fed is separately researching the potential to issue a digital currency, commonly referred to as a central bank digital currency, or CBDC. Yet that research is in its early phases and there isnt uniform support among Fed officials for issuing such a currency. A central bank digital currency would potentially allow Americans to make electronic transactions without relying on a third party, such as a bank. The Federal Reserve has made no decision on issuing a central bank digital currency and would not do so without clear support from Congress and the executive branch, ideally in the form of a specific authorizing law, the Federal Reserves website states. A CBDC would not replace cash or other payment options. __ Posts distort proposed LGBTQ safety zone bill in Canada CLAIM: A proposed bill in Canada would subject anyone who misgenders others or engages in anti-LGBTQ protests to prosecution and a $25,000 fine. THE FACTS: The bill would not institute a blanket ban on misgendering and anti-LGBTQ protests. The legislation, introduced by members of the opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, would allow the provinces attorney general to temporarily prohibit people from engaging in acts of intimidation, such as threats or homophobic protests, within 100 meters (328 feet) of certain properties. Proponents say that the bill is intended to protect drag performers and LGBTQ communities from intimidation. Erroneous claims about the bill have spread widely across social media platforms. New bill in Canada would prosecute anyone that misgendered, criticised or protested against Transgenderism, one Twitter user wrote in a post shared more than 6,000 times. Anyone deemed transphobic, homophobic or offensive would face prosecution and a $25,000 fine. The legislation, which was introduced on April 4, would permit the Ontario attorney general to temporarily designate a property as a 2SLGBTQI+ community safety zone and prohibit an act of intimidation such as threats, transphobic or homophobic demonstrations, and distributing hate propaganda within 100 meters of that property, according to the bill text. Violators could face a fine of up to $25,000. The New Democratic Party of Ontario, whose members sponsored the bill, said it is a response to a rise in hate crimes and intimidation of drag artists and the LGBTQ community. The online claims are inaccurate and distorting, Brenda Cossman, a law professor at the University of Toronto, wrote in an email to the AP, noting that the bill does not include a broad provision concerning misgendering, and the restrictions only apply to the designated zones. The bill would not prosecute anyone deemed homophobic etc, Cossman wrote. It would only apply to individuals who seek to intimidate within the designated safety zones. The New Democratic Party of Ontario said in a statement that some have twisted the facts about the legislation. This legislation would not stop anyone from enjoying freedom of expression or assembly," the statement reads. To become law, the bill would still need to win a majority vote of the Assemblys members, and The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario has a large majority in the provincial legislative body. Associated Press writer Josh Kelety in Phoenix contributed this report. ___ No, farmers arent required to vaccinate livestock with mRNA vaccines CLAIM: Farmers and ranchers are required to inject livestock with mRNA vaccines. THE FACTS: There is no mandate in the U.S. that livestock receive certain vaccines and there are no COVID-19 mRNA vaccines licensed for animals, as some online have suggested. Both messenger RNA, or mRNA, and RNA are natural, essential components of all living cells. The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna use mRNA to instruct cells to create a spike protein to fight the disease. Social media posts in recent days have falsely asserted that farmers are required to vaccinate livestock with such vaccines and baselessly suggested that unsuspecting humans will therefore consume the immunizations. I just recently read that farmers and ranchers are being told that they must inject their livestock with the mRNA vaccine, a man in an Instagram video claims. What temperature do I need to cook my cow in order to get rid of the mRNA death jab vaccine thing? Experts, industry groups and officials say there are no such requirements. There is no requirement or mandate that producers vaccinate their livestock for any disease, U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesperson Marissa Perry said in an email. It is a personal and business decision left up to the producer and will remain that way. Jason Menke, a National Pork Board spokesperson, said in a statement that the decision to use vaccines and other medical treatments to protect animal health and well-being are made by the farmer under the direction of the herd veterinarian. In terms of COVID-19 specifically, there are no licensed mRNA vaccines against that disease for animals, Perry said. Some animals, particularly those in zoos considered susceptible, have received vaccines against COVID-19. But those immunizations do not rely on mRNA technology, said Suresh Kuchipudi, a veterinary scientist and chair of emerging infectious diseases at Penn State University. Experts also say there are no animal vaccines currently licensed in the U.S. against any disease that use the same mRNA approach as humans COVID-19 vaccines, which entails delivering the mRNA by using a fatty coating called lipid nanoparticles though some are being researched. There are some animal vaccines that use other RNA platforms. The pharmaceutical company Merck has for several years offered a customizable vaccine using what it calls RNA particle technology; the company creates vaccines against the flu and other viruses in pigs to protect a specific herd as needed. That approach predates the advent of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. The notion that mRNA vaccines would be transmissible through animal consumption much less cause harm to the consumer is not rooted in scientific evidence, experts told the AP. The messenger RNA is extremely fragile, Kuchipudi said, and is typically gone within days of receipt. The chance of the mRNA being transferred, even hypothetically, is extremely unlikely. Moreover, regulators licensing vaccines for food animals require something called a withdrawal time, said Alan Young, a professor of veterinary and biomedical science at South Dakota State University who also founded veterinary vaccine company Medgene. Any licensed vaccine comes with a minimum time before youre allowed to actually have that animal to enter the food chain." Menke, of the National Pork Board, added: Vaccines are critical to preserving animal health and well-being, keeping the food supply safe, and protect U.S. livestock from emerging and foreign diseases." Associated Press writer Angelo Fichera in Philadelphia contributed this report. ___ Video of roller destroying beer cans unrelated to Bud Light backlash CLAIM: A video shows Bud Light drinkers using a steamroller to destroy beer cans in response to the brand partnering with Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender social media influencer. THE FACTS: The video is from February 2023, prior to the controversy, and shows a road roller in Mexicali, Mexico, being used to destroy thousands of beer cases that had been confiscated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The municipality announced that the cases were destroyed due to health risks. But some online posts misrepresented the video as showing cans being destroyed in response to the brands partnership with Mulvaney, which has been met with transphobic commentary from conservative social media personalities. Bud Light drinkers use steamroller to destroy beer in protest against partnership with trans influencer, one blog featuring the video falsely stated. The false claim also circulated widely on TikTok and Reddit. The footage matches multiple similar videos that were posted on Feb. 28, 2023. That day, the Mexicali municipal governments Twitter account posted photos of the same event, explaining that it showed the destruction of more than 85,000 beer containers that had been seized in 2020 by the City Council of Mexicali. According to local reports, the cans were confiscated during the pandemic as people tried to bring cases of beer across the U.S.-Mexico border. In April 2020, the AP reported that Mexico had ordered the closure of most non-essential industries, which included the countrys major breweries. Norma Bustamante, municipal president of Mexicali, tweeted on Feb. 27 that the authorization to destroy the cases of beer was approved in order to avoid infections or other health risks. ___ Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck ___ Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Gov. Mike DeWine continued Ohios unofficial death penalty moratorium on Friday, postponing an additional three executions scheduled for this year. DeWine, a Republican, attributed the need for the reprieves to the states ongoing inability to obtain drugs from pharmaceutical companies to carry out its lethal injection program. The states last execution was July 18, 2018, when Robert Van Hook was put to death for killing a man he met in a Cincinnati bar in 1985. On Friday, DeWine postponed executions scheduled for August, September and October to three dates in 2026. Two men remain scheduled for executions this year, the next being Keith Lamar on Nov. 16. Lamar was condemned in the slayings of fellow inmates during a 1993 Lucasville prison riot. The governor's decision comes as momentum builds for Ohio to eliminate the death penalty altogether. A bipartisan group of state lawmakers proposed legislation to do so last month and Republican Attorney General Dave Yost also has called for revisiting the policy, which he calls broken. In his March 31 capital crimes report, Yost found that from 1981 through Dec. 31, 2022, 336 people received a combined 341 death sentences yet only 56 of those sentences were ever carried out. That's as Ohio spends millions and millions, he said, to fund its death row and litigate capital cases that cost between two-and-a-half and five times as much as noncapital cases. DeWine on Friday moved the execution of Jerome Henderson from Sept. 14, 2023, to Oct. 21, 2026. Henderson was convicted in 1985 of aggravated murder, burglary and attempted rape of Mary Acoff in Cincinnati. DeWine also again moved the execution of James ONeal from Aug. 16, 2023, to Aug. 19, 2026. ONeal was sentenced to die in 1995 for killing his wife, Carol. The governor again moved the execution of Melvin Bonnell from Oct. 18, 2023, to Nov. 18, 2026. Bonnell was sentenced to die for killing Robert Bunner in Bunners Cleveland apartment in 1987. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate While writing report cards several years ago, Jennifer Thiessen was troubled by something. Her third-grade students were being evaluated on subjects such as math and science, but not on life skills - such as social responsibility and kindness. "That's the stuff that I feel is really important for them to learn and carry forward in their lives," Thiessen said. She wanted to be sure she was encouraging those skills, which she said are at least as critical as understanding how to multiply and divide or distinguish between nouns and pronouns. "There are so many important life lessons I wanted to teach them outside of the curriculum," said Thiessen, a teacher at Canada's Watson Elementary School in Chilliwack, British Columbia. She mentioned her concerns to Kyla Stradling, then a fellow teacher at the school, and they hatched a plan. They assigned their students a project that had nothing to do with standard school subjects. Instead, it was centered on spreading goodwill. They called it the "Kindness Project." "If we could be that spark of kindness, we could inspire others to do acts of kindness," Thiessen told her third-graders in 2018. Students from two separate third-grade classes made cupcakes at home and sold them for $1 during a series of bake sales at the school. They raised about $400 and used the proceeds to purchase small gifts - things like bouquets of flowers, dog treats, chocolate bars and coffees - and handed them out to strangers near the school. "The students felt joy inside of them; that they did something that day that mattered," Thiessen said. Many of the gift recipients seemed "caught off guard" at first, she said, though they were all in when the students explained what the project was about. Some were moved to tears. "This is a lesson we can't teach in a classroom," Thiessen said. She decided to make it a yearly activity for third-graders at the school. "This project isn't about who can read the best and who is best at math," she said. "This is an everybody project. It doesn't have any limitations when it comes to ability." For the past five years, third-grade students at Watson Elementary have embraced the Kindness Project. They host several bake sales to raise money, and each class adds their own spin to the assignment. During the pandemic, for instance, students collected funds to put together care packages for front-line workers. "Every year, we sit down with them and ask them how they want to spend the money," Thiessen said. "We want them to be part of the process." Occasionally, students can be "a little overzealous," she said. As she brainstormed with her class this year, one child enthusiastically said: "Let's buy someone a house!" "They have wonderful dreams of what they can do," Thiessen said. Given the success of the project, the school decided to broaden it this year to involve five classes - including three third-grade classes, and some students in second and fourth grades. They started selling cupcakes each week at the school in February, and over five weeks, they raised more than $1,000 - the highest amount yet. In addition to raising funds, "we spend time reading books about kindness and doing kindness writing activities," Thiessen said, explaining that students also write and decorate cards that explain their project. This year, the 100 students split up into several groups to focus on different initiatives. While one group wrote cards and bought small gifts to hand out to strangers, another put together care packages with essential supplies - including toothbrushes, snacks, gloves, socks and sanitizer - for homeless children and teens. Other students made a "teacher appreciation bin" filled with treats and goodies and dropped it off at a nearby school. On March 15, the students and chaperones divided and carried out their various kindness missions. Some stayed at coffee shops surrounding the school, offering to buy beverages for strangers, while others waited around a local park, passing out dog treats and fresh flowers. Several students did a forest cleanup. "It's my favorite day of the year with them," Thiessen said. "I'm there to supervise but I really get to sit back and just watch them do their thing." Plus, she added, "it's nice to see people smiling at you." Though the goal of the project is to start a chain of kindness within the community (one man offered up $20 toward next year's fundraising effort, Thiessen said), it's also intended to show the students what they are capable of. "I think what I want most for them is to know that it doesn't matter where you come from or how old you are, you can do something that is good," Thiessen said. Artie Foik, 8, said he loved being part of the project. "It just warmed my heart to help others," he said. "You start as doing a small kindness, and then it keeps going and going." His classmate Harlow Montroy, 9, bought several coffees for strangers. "It made me happy, because other people enjoyed it," she said. The bigger idea of the project, Thiessen said, is the feelings they'll carry with them as they grow. "It's this lasting thing," Thiessen said. "I think down the line, it will always stick with them." Thanasis/Getty Images A bill that just cleared the Texas House of Representatives this week could grant tens of thousands of the state's residents access to medical marijuana, according to a new report. On Tuesday, the Texas House voted in favor of HB1805, which would expand the Lone Star State's medical marijuana program to include chronic pain patients who would otherwise be prescribed opioids. Currently Reading Alert: Kansas governor vetoes bill that penalized doctors in some cases when infants are delivered during certain abortions This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BEIJING (AP) The trip by Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to Beijing has made clear he is counting on China to help reinvigorate the South American nation's ailing industrial sector particularly by picking up the slack of exiting U.S. companies. After Lula met Friday with China's President Xi Jinping, Brazilian finance minister Fernando Haddad told reporters the nations are planning a leap forward" in their relationship. President Lula wants a policy of reindustrialization. This visit starts a new challenge for Brazil: bringing direct investments from China, Haddad said. He added that Brazil wants strong bonds with the U.S. as well, but noted with regret that recently some American companies made the decision to leave Brazil." Industrial policy is near and dear to Lula, a former steelworker who became a union leader. Decades later, he launched his bid for a third presidential term on the gritty outskirts of Sao Paulo outside a car factory. That area and the country is churning out ever-fewer manufactured goods. Brazils national statistics institute said in July 2022 that Brazil had lost 1 million industrial jobs over the prior decade, a decline of 11.6%. The institute said in 2021 that the countrys industrial sector represented 18.9% of Brazils GDP, down from 38% three decades earlier. Speaking to journalists before leaving China, Lula said Saturday morning that Brazil's relationship with the Asian giant is going beyond that phase of commodity" exports. He added he visited the headquarters of Chinese telecommunications company Huawei because he needs to promote a digital revolution in his South American nation. Over the years, Brazil became a big exporter of raw materials, and China has consumed them voraciously. China overtook the U.S. as Brazils biggest export market in 2009, and each year buys tens of billions of dollars of soybeans, beef, iron ore, poultry, pulp, sugar cane, cotton and crude oil. The Asian giant and the Latin American powerhouse had a somewhat frosty relationship over the last four years when far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro held the presidency in Brasilia. Even some of Bolsonaro's supporters in the agribusiness sector were critical of outbursts that antagonized China. On Thursday, Lula meet with the CEO of Chinese manufacturer BYD, which produces electric busses and is in talks to start operations at a factory the Brazilian state of Bahia, Lula's office said. The previous owner, Ford Motor Co., announced in 2021 that it was shuttering the plant, along with two others in Brazil. Brazil is already the biggest recipient of Chinese investment in Latin America, according to Chinese state media. And Lula doesn't just want more investment; he is also seeking partnerships that challenge the hegemony of Western-dominated economic institutions and geopolitics, including diplomacy over the war in Ukraine. Lulas visit included the swearing in Thursday of former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff as head of the Chinese-backed New Development Bank, which is funding infrastructure projects in Brazil and elsewhere in the developing world. The bank portrays itself as an alternative to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, which often impose loan conditions that developing nations criticize as punitive. At the swearing-in ceremony, Lula took swipes at both the IMF and the dominance of the U.S. dollar in international trade, hailing an agreement between Brazil and China to use the Chinese yuan in their bilateral commerce Lula and Xi oversaw the signing of agreements in 15 areas, ranging from agriculture to aeronautics, which underscored the improvement in relations since Lula took over in January. As comprehensive strategic partners, China and Brazil share extensive common interests, Xi said, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. China ... sees the relationship as a high priority on its diplomatic agenda, he said. Charles Tang, who chairs the Brazil-China Chamber of Commerce, told The Associated Press that he expects several new deals for Chinese infrastructure investments after the trip. China tends to put money into that, as it did in Africa. China is filled with reserves for investment and it can take the current risks in Brazil, Tang said by phone. The trip was Lula's third visit to China, but the first with Xi sitting as president. On Friday, the two leaders met for three hours far longer than had been scheduled. The duration of the meeting speaks for itself, Brazil's Ambassador Marcos Galvao said afterward at a late-night press conference. Xi had greeted Lula with full military honors, including a 21-gun salute, at the Great Hall of the People adjacent to Tiananmen Square in the heart of the Chinese capital. The two leaders walked to the sound of Brazilian song Novo Tempo or New Time in English. The Brazilian leader is seeking to rebuild ties with China following a turbulent relationship under Bolsonaro, who showed little interest in foreign travel. On Friday, a son of the former president, Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro, criticized Lula for cozying up to China. The only thing missing is to wage a direct war on the United States ... Lula is walking a dangerous path alongside dictatorships and enemies of democracy, like Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, " the younger Bolsonaro said on social media. In February, Lula traveled to Washington, where he and U.S. President Joe Biden stressed the importance of defending democracy and preserving the Amazon rainforest. The trip didn't, however, produce the hoped-for financial pledge for Brazil's Amazon Fund. The Lula-Xi talks touched on the conflict in Ukraine, with the leaders agreeing on the need for a negotiated settlement, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. A key piece of Lulas outreach abroad is his proposal that Brazil and other developing countries, including China, mediate peace. However, his suggestion that Ukraine cede Crimea has irked Kyiv and its closest backers, namely the U.S. and Europe. Lula said Saturday morning that China and the U.S. have an important role in the discussion on Ukraine, but added, It is necessary that the U.S. stops stimulating the war and talk about peace. One of roughly 50 leaked classified documents on the platform Discord that have been viewed by the AP said that, as of late February, Russias foreign affairs ministry supported Lulas plan to establish a club of supposedly impartial mediators, as it would reject the Wests aggressor-victim paradigm. The item cited electronic surveillance as the source. 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. Lulas trip to China marks a significant contrast with the low-key visit to Washington and provides leverage against Europe, said Oliver Stuenkel, a political scientist from the Getulio Vargas Foundation university and think tank. This approach with China might actually make Europeans keener to make an agreement with Brazil, so they dont lose even more market share to China in South America, Stuenkel said. ____ Savarese reported from Sao Paulo. AP reporter Frank Bajak contributed from Boston, and senior producer Wayne Zhang contributed from Beijing. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The Iowa Supreme Court on Friday refused to dismiss a lawsuit against Gov. Kim Reynolds that seeks to require her office to respond to public record requests. The court in a unanimous decision rejected Reynolds' argument that her office wasn't obligated to respond in a timely matter to record requests and that she could avoid the state's open records law by simply ignoring the requests. The Supreme Court ordered that the case be returned to the district court where it would be decided on its merits. The governors office wanted a rule that it and its agencies can ignore public records requests without any consequences, said Thomas Story, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, which represented three media organizations. Instead, the Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that nobody is above the law. In a statement, Reynolds blamed any delays on a busy staff due to the COVID-19 pandemic and said her office now is responding to records requests. "While we disagree that this lawsuit should continue, my office has eliminated the backlog of open records requests and is committed to upholding our responsibility to respond to any new requests in a timely manner, Reynolds said in a statement. The case stems from a 2021 lawsuit filed by the three media organizations and their reporters who claimed the governor had violated Iowa's open records law by ignoring requests for government records. The reporters had emailed the governor's office with eight different open-record requests between April 2020 and April 2021 and renewed each request at least once but didn't receive any response until filing a lawsuit in December 2021. The media organization are the liberal-leaning Bleeding Heartland blog, Iowa Capital Dispatch and Iowa Freedom of Information Council, a nonprofit that focuses on open government issues. After the lawsuit, the governor's office released the records within 18 days, although some were heavily redacted. State lawyers asked a district court judge to dismiss the case, noting the governor's office had ultimately responded to the requests and released public records. After the judge denied the request, the governor appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court. In seeking to dismiss the lawsuit, state lawyers argued the complaint was moot because the governor's office had released the redacted records. The media organization argued the governor's office's lack of any response to record requests until after a lawsuit was filed represented a violation of the open records law, but state lawyers claimed the governor wasn't obligated to respond within a specified time period and that it would be inappropriate for the Supreme Court to issue requirements for the Executive Branch. The state also argued that by not responding to open records requests, the governor's office wasn't actually refusing to respond to those requests. In rejecting that argument, the court's decision included several dictionary definitions of the word, refuse." "We conclude that a defendant may refuse either by (1) stating that it wont produce records, or (2) showing that it wont produce records," the decision said. And we believe that this second kind of refusal an implied or silent refusal can be shown through an unreasonable delay in producing records. Although the media organization's case still must try their case in district court, Story said the Iowa Supreme Court's ruling set an important precedent for open records regulations. They not only reaffirmed prior precedent but the court provided additional guidance moving forward as to how state agencies must comply with these record requests and that guidance is very favorable to making open records requests and advances the cause of transparency in government," Story said. Like many Iowa news organizations, The Associated Press is a member of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. Hassan Ammar/AP THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) An anti-Islam activist who tore pages out of the Quran and called it a fascist book in front of the Dutch parliament building in January is being investigated on suspicion of insulting Muslims, prosecutors said Friday. The action by Edwin Wagensveld, leader of the Dutch branch of the far-right Pegida movement, and a Danish far-right activist's burning of the Quran outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm the same month sparked protests in several predominantly Muslim countries around the world. SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) Spain backs North Macedonias bid to join the European Union, the country's foreign minister said Friday. Jose Manuel Albares Bueno announced his country's support during a West Balkan tour that began Friday as he met with his North Macedonian counterpart, Bujar Osmani, in the capital of Skopje. North Macedonia and neighboring Albania have been candidate countries since 2005 and launched membership negotiations with the EU last year in a process that is expected to take years. Spain will take over the European Unions presidency from Sweden in July. Albares told reporters at a joint news conference that his country supports the European perspective of the Western Balkans as an EU policy for gradual integration." We want to strengthen our cooperation and I think that the opening of negotiations is a big step, Albares said. Disputes with neighbors have held up accession talks for North Macedonia. A spat with Greece over the use of the name Macedonia and the regions ancient heritage lasted decades. The latest dispute, between North Macedonia and neighboring Bulgaria, an EU member since 2007, is also centered on Macedonian identity, as well as history, language and culture. Bulgaria has said it will lift objections to the start of EU membership talks for North Macedonia in exchange for the country's agreement to acknowledge an ethnic Bulgarian minority in its constitution. But the constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority, or 80 votes in the 120-seat parliament. The governing coalition led by the center-left Social Democrats is backed by only 64 lawmakers. The conservative opposition has publicly opposed the change to the constitution. Osmani said that North Macedonia remains strongly committed to fulfilling the necessary obligations to continue the process of accession negotiations." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MOSCOW (AP) The entire Russian Pacific Fleet was put on high alert Friday for snap drills that will involve practice missile launches, in a massive show of force amid tensions with the West over the fighting in Ukraine. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the goal of the war games was to test the capability of Russia's armed forces to mount a response to aggression. Along with the missile launches, the drills will also involve nuclear-capable strategic bombers and other warplanes besides the naval aviation of the Pacific Fleet, Shoigu said. The Defense Ministry declared that areas in the southern part of the Sea of Okhotsk, the Peter the Great Bay of the Sea of Japan and the Avacha Bay on the southeastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula would be closed for sea and air traffic for the duration of practice torpedo and missile launches and artillery exercises. The ministry said that Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin briefed foreign military attaches about the drills, emphasizing that they were intended to "test the Pacific Fleet's readiness to repel aggression." The ministry described the briefing as a show of Russia's "voluntary transparency." The Russian military has concentrated the bulk of its forces on the front lines in Ukraine, but has also continued conducting regular drills across Russia to train its forces and demonstrate their readiness. The Russian Defense Ministry released videos showing warships and submarines sailing off to take part in the maneuvers. As part of the drills, marine units deployed to amphibious landing vessels and coastal defense missile systems moved to firing positions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the war games as part of regular training intended to maintain the necessary level of the armed forces' readiness. Shoigu noted that the scenario for the maneuvers envisages a response to an adversary's attempt to make a landing on Sakhalin Island and the southern Kuril Islands. Japan asserts territorial rights to the Kuril Islands, which it calls the Northern Territories. The Soviet Union took them in the final days of World War II, and the dispute has kept the countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their hostilities. Last year, Russia announced it had suspended peace talks with Japan to protest Tokyos sanctions against Moscow over its action in Ukraine. Russia has built up its military presence on the islands in recent years, deploying advanced fighter jets, anti-ship missiles and air defense systems there. The Pacific Fleet drills started days before a planned trip to Moscow by Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu. The Russian Defense Ministry said Shoigu and Li would discuss prospects of bilateral defense cooperation and acute issues of global and regional security. A three-day visit to Moscow by Chinese President Xi Jinping last month demonstrated the two nations' partnership in the face of Western efforts to isolate Russia over Ukraine and gave a political lift to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both Moscow and Beijing have accused Washington of trying to isolate them and to hold back their development as they challenge the U.S. for regional and global leadership. Putin and Xi said they would increase contacts between their militaries and stage more joint sea and air patrols and drills, but there was no hint that China would help Russia with weapons, as the U.S. and other Western allies feared. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine MADRID (AP) A Spanish magistrate on Friday ordered the conditional release of a man charged with terrorism for sending six letters containing explosives to high-profile diplomatic and government targets. The National Court magistrate said Pompeyo Gonzalez Pascual, 74, must appear in court each week, relinquish his passport and remain in Spain as conditions for getting and remaining out of jail. In deciding to release him, the court considered that Gonzalez Pascual had no previous criminal record and found there was no indication he might commit more offenses. A date for his trial has not been set. Gonzalez Pascual, a resident of the town of Miranda de Ebro in north-central Spain, was arrested in January for allegedly sending letter bombs to Spains prime minister and to the U.S. and Ukrainian embassies in Madrid late last year. An employee at the Ukrainian Embassy was slightly injured while handling one of the letters. Police said they found a bomb-making workshop at Gonzalez Pascual's home. The Interior Ministry said at the time that indicated meticulous planning had gone into making the letter bombs. He was charged with the manufacture and use of explosive devices for terrorist purposes, according to court documents. Two of the alleged offenses were classified as aggravated since they involved targeting members of the government. The six letter bombs were sent in November and December and required the intervention of bomb-disposal experts. One was destroyed after being dispatched by regular mail to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Letters with similar characteristics were sent to Spains Defense Ministry, a European Union satellite center located at the Torrejon de Ardoz air base outside Madrid and an arms factory in northeastern Spain that makes grenades sent to Ukraine. An envelope intercepted at the U.S. Embassys security screening point in December was destroyed by a bomb squad after a wide area in the center of Spains capital was cordoned off. VIENNA (AP) Five former Austrian officials went on trial in Vienna on Friday accused of granting asylum to a suspected Syrian war criminal in Austria at the request of Israels Mossad intelligence agency. The five are accused of abusing their positions by bringing Khaled Halabi, a former Syrian general, to Austria in 2015 and arranging asylum for him. Four are former intelligence officials and one is a former asylum agency official. Halabi led the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate in Raqqa from 2009-2013. When rebel forces captured Raqqa in 2013, Halabi fled to France, initially applying for asylum there. International human rights groups have documented torture in Syrian facilities under Syrian President Bashar Assad, and allege that Halabi bears some responsibility. Austrian authorities have also initiated criminal proceedings against Halabi but havent indicted him. Halabis lawyer, Timo Gerersdorfer, told The Associated Press that Halabi is cooperating fully with Austrian authorities, and that his client is not guilty. He fled Syria with the help of the Free Syrian Army. If he had agreed with the Assad regime, he would have stayed in Syria, he said. According to an investigation by Germanys Der Spiegel magazine and Austrian daily newspaper Der Standard, the Mossad recruited Halabi, a member of the Druze minority in Syria, as an informant. The Israeli prime ministers office declined to comment. Prosecutors accuse the former intelligence officials of breaching their duties to provide information about Halabis whereabouts and identity, particularly after a 2016 meeting at the Austrian Justice Ministry. At that meeting, representatives of the Commission for International Justice and Accountability presented evidence that Halabi was suspected of implication in potential war crimes in Syria and said France had initiated an investigation against him for possible systematic torture. Prosecutor Ursula Schmudermayer told the Vienna state court that Austrian intelligence officials had travelled to Tel Aviv in March 2015 to meet Mossad agents. She said the Israeli agents informed the Austrians that the Syrian general was in France but that cooperation with France is not working as they had envisioned, so they wanted Austria to step in. The Mossad intended to continue questioning Halabi in Austria, the prosecutor said, and paid 5,000 euros ($5,500) per month to help harbor him in Austria. The indictment states that Martin W., who was a senior agent in Austrias domestic intelligence agency, the BVT, at the time, concluded a cooperation agreement with a foreign partner intelligence service on May 6, 2015. The agreement contained details on how to bring Halabi from France to Austria and support him in applying for asylum, according to the indictment. Martin W. was absent as the trial opened Friday due to health issues but the others were present. They answered short procedural questions but didnt testify. Their lawyers argued that the defendants acted correctly because all details about the cooperation agreement with the Mossad were labelled as strictly confidential, meaning that the agents were not allowed to disclose the operation to other state bodies. They also argued that the cooperation agreement with Israeli intelligence helped Austria gain information that would not have been possible to receive in any other way. At the time, Europe faced the arrival of large numbers of refugees from the Syrian civil war and an increased terrorist threat. Prosecutors accused the former asylum official, Gerald W., of manipulating the asylum procedure to enable Halabis asylum application in Austria though Halabi had already applied for asylum in France. His lawyer told the court that Gerald W. acted in good faith, trusting information given to him that Halabi was in danger in France. The trial is scheduled to run through next Friday. It was not immediately clear when the court might issue verdicts. The defendants can only be partially identified under Austrian rules. MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexicos president said Friday he will shut down Notimex, a national news agency that has been locked in a years-long strike against the woman he appointed to run it. Founded in 1968, Notimex was generally a service that mainly sent news reports from Mexicos 32 states, many of which werent covered much by Mexico's national newspapers, which are almost all based in Mexico City. Analysts said it is the latest chapter in an effort by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to control public government media, scientific or cultural bodies. Lopez Obrador said Friday that there is no longer a need for Notimex, saying his carefully orchestrated morning news briefings are enough to keep the country informed. We do not need a government news agency anymore. That was from the era of press statements, Lopez Obrador said. It is not something that we need as a government. We have the mananera his daily news briefing. The unionized workers at Notimex went on strike in 2020, arguing some members had been unfairly fired or harassed by Sanjuana Martinez, who was appointed by Lopez Obrador to run the agency in 2019, soon after he took office. The two sides have made no progress in resolving the strike. Lopez Obrador said the agency will be closed after an agreement is reached to pay the striking workers severance payments. Martinez said she completely agreed with the decision to shut down the 55-year-old news agency, which she claimed was ridden with corruption when she took over. I am totally in agreement with the decision, Martinez said. She added she agreed that the president's morning news briefings where pre-selected bloggers and reporters usually ask soft-ball questions, and sometimes openly state their loyalty to Lopez Obrador is enough to keep Mexicans informed. It is a successful phenomenon with high audience share that has allowed (the government) to respond to the press, which in general has opted for campaigns of slander and lies, Martinez said. Lopez Obrador routinely lashes out at mainstream reporters, calling them corrupt lackeys of conservatives. The Mexican Association for the Right to Information said there has been a disturbing trend by Lopez Obrador's government of turning publicly funded media outlets into a mouthpiece for his administration. The coverage of a march by Lopez Obrador's supporters in November in Mexico City was one example the group cited. Public television and radio stations most of which had previously broadcast mainly cultural, scientific or education programs quickly became politicized, giving promotional space to draw people to Lopez Obrador's march and broadcasting fawning coverage of it. The government is making a clearly partisan use of supposedly public media outlets that constitutes a flagrant violation of the Constitution, the association said in a statement. These are publicly funded electronic media that are meant to provide information without a slant in favor of the government. Jorge Bravo, the association's president, noted that Notimex, like some other public media, had long had a reputation for being pro-government. Underfunded public media could have used more independence and professional standards, or better funding, Bravo said, but they have gotten none of that under Lopez Obrador. But if before they were pro-government, now they are also propaganda outlets, Bravo said. It's not just news media and regulatory agencies the president has dissolved, starved of funding or refused to approve appointments for in his effort to concentrate media coverage and decision-making in his own hands. In 2021, his administration sought to lock up 31 academics, professors and scientists in the countrys harshest maximum security prison for receiving money from a government science fund. The researchers involved have denied the funds were illegal or misused. As in the case of Martinez, Lopez Obrador appointed a new director for the government science council, Maria Alvarez-Buylla, to shake up the body. Alvarez-Buylla quickly drew dissent after she criticized researchers for presenting reports in English, despite the fact that is the common language in some technical fields. She also has criticized Western science and techno-science that makes knowledge merchandise, while calling for collective processes of generating knowledge more closely tied to social concerns. Western science has produced the most splashy, and perhaps most useless advances, like reaching the Moon, Alvarez-Buylla said in 2020. MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) Pakistani police arrested on Friday a Muslim woman on charges of blasphemy after she allegedly claimed she was an Islamic prophet, a charge that can carry the death sentence under the country's laws. The woman was taken into custody from her home in the city of Faisalabad in eastern Punjab province, shortly after a mob had gathered outside demanding that she be lynched after news spread of her alleged claims of prophethood, senior police official Nasir Ali Rizvi said. German companies increase investment in China, acting against decoupling voices of Washington People's Daily Online) 14:18, April 14, 2023 While the U.S. seeks to decouple with China, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz aims at reducing dependency on Chinese imports, two German economic engines have strengthened their ties with China, according to an article issued by New York Times on April 12, 2023. Visitors walk by an FAW-Volkswagen new energy vehicle during the 19th China (Changchun) International Automobile Expo in Changchun, capital of Northeast China's Jilin province, July 18, 2022. (Photo/Xinhua) Volkswagen was one of the first foreign auto manufacturers to enter China and has greatly benefited from the huge Chinese market. Data shows that Volkswagen makes about 40% of sales and one-third of its profits in China. Volkswagen will provide tailored vehicles for Chinese buyers, and plans to invest billions in its Chinese partners and local production sites, as part of the carmaker's strategy "In China for China," the New York Times reported. In addition to the existing multiple production facilities in China, German chemical company BASF plans to invest 10 billion euros in building a new production base in China, which matches the size of the company's headquarters in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Both companies have been bearing losses in Europe. Revenues from China have been supporting their business in Europe. "Without the business in China, the necessary restructuring here (Europe) would not be possible," Martin Brudermuller, BASF's chief executive, told reporters at his company's annual earnings conference in February. The BASF site under construction in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, involves an investment of $10 billion from the German chemical giant. (Photo/Xinhua) China has been Germany's biggest trade partner for seven years in a row. In 2022, bilateral trade volume hit 297.9 billion euros ($329.5 billion), an increase of 20.9 percent. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chengliang) 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 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. Top photo: In this photo provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, a massive 2,500-acre forest fire burns in Ocean County, N.J., early Wednesday, April 12, 2023, as firefighters battle the blaze. The fire started late Tuesday, April 11, and is burning across some 2,500 acres (about 1,000 hectares). (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection via AP) Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. MADRID (AP) Drought now affects 60% of the Spanish countryside, with crops like wheat and barley likely to fail entirely in four regions, the main Spanish farmers association said on Thursday. Spains long-term drought is causing irreversible losses to more than 3.5 million hectares of crops, the Coordinator of Farmers and Ranchers Organizations (COAG in its Spanish acronym) said in a new report. Some cereals need to be written off in the prime growing regions of Andalusia, Castilla La Mancha, Extremadura and Murcia, and are likely to be lost in the driest areas of three other regions, according to the report. In the wine- growing region of La Rioja, farmers were in the exceptional situation of having to irrigate cereals when normally they are never watered, the association said. Nuts and vineyards are also struggling, and olives will be badly affected if rain does not arrive in the next few weeks, the report stated. The lack of available water was further impacting the ability of farmers to irrigate corn, sunflowers, rice and cotton, likely leading to reduced sowing of these crops over the summer, it added. Three years of very low rainfall and high temperatures have put Spain officially into long-term drought, the countrys weather agency said last month. Last year was Spains sixth driest and the hottest since records began in 1961. Spains agriculture ministry has called a meeting with farming representatives on Wednesday to discuss the crisis. COAG will plead for immediate financial relief, it said. This has been the most expensive planting season on record, and with harvests ruined or reduced by 60-80%, there will be many farms that will have a very tough time surviving if they dont receive an injection of capital, said Javier Fatas, head of water and the environment for the association. In addition to crop failures, ranchers will struggle to feed cattle due to dried- up pasture, the farmers association further warned. This will also be the third consecutive season without honey for beekeepers, as bees lack vegetation and flowers to feed from in the mountains due to a shortage of water. Reservoirs in Andalusia, Spains most important food-exporting region, have water levels of 30%. The regional capital, Seville, may face drinking water restrictions by the summer if not enough rain falls. In the northeastern Catalonia region, average reservoir levels are hovering around 27% of their capacity. There are restrictions on agricultural and industrial water use, and it is forbidden to use drinking water for washing cars or filling swimming pools. The spokesperson for Spains state weather agency, Ruben del Campo, said the prognosis for the next few weeks was unlikely to improve. This drought is probably the most intense since the 1960s, he told Spanish radio network Cadena Ser. In some areas, such as Catalonia or the east of Andalusia, it is at the level of the worst droughts due to the scarcity of rainfall in the last three years, he said. The picture is not any rosier in the long-term either, especially for those crops which rely on rainwater. There is no plan B, COAGs Fatas said. While there have been improvements in irrigation systems to make them more efficient, this is becoming a very, very difficult situation for crops that rely on rainwater, like cereals, almonds and our vineyards. Spain as a whole has warmed 1.3 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit) since the 1960s, according to weather agency data, a phenomenon that is noticeable year- round but especially in summer, when the average temperatures are 1.6 C higher than they were decades ago. Amid bone-dry conditions, Spains fire season started early this year, with a blaze last month in the countrys east. Some 267,000 hectares (666,000 acres) of land burned last year in Spain, making 2022 its worst year of fire destruction since 1994, government statistics say. Wilson reported from Barcelona. Top photo: 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. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, file) Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Landstar Ranger, a transportation broker, sent a truck driver who called himself James to pick up cargo in Colorado for delivery to Maryland. A dispatcher authorized the pickup even though the drivers telephone number and email address didnt match records that Landstar uses to confirm shipments are handled by legitimate motor carriers. The cargo, worth more than $500,000, was never seen again. Aspen American Insurance Co. paid a claim filed by the company that owned the shipment, but it wont recover that money from Landstar. On Thursday, a panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act preempts state-law negligence claims against transportation brokers for cargo losses. The appellate panel said it is the first time the 11th Circuit or the US Supreme Court has ruled on the question raised in the case: whether an exception in the FAAA that allows states to regulate motor vehicle safety defeats the preemption for a lost cargo claim related to stolen goods. For Aspens claims to fall within the safety exception, (1) the negligence standard must constitute an exercise of Floridas safety regulatory authority, and (2) that authority must have been exercised with respect to motor vehicles,' the panel opinion says. Although Aspens claims satisfy the first requirement, they do not satisfy the second. Cargo theft is a growing problem nationally. In January, CargoNet said it received 1,778 reports of supply chain incidents, which include thefts and fictitious pickups, up from 1,285 in 2021. The total loss value was $223.1 million in 2022, up from $57.9 million in the prior year. An Aspen policyholder, Tessco Technologies, hired Landstar in August 2020 to arrange a shipment of goods from Frederick, Colorado to Hunt Valley, Maryland. Landstar uses an online system where motor carriers submit bids on jobs. James, purportedly with L&P Transportation, bid on Tesscos shipment. A dispatcher named Eli accepted the bid, but did not follow protocols and check to see if James email address and telephone number matched the contact information for L&P that the broker had its files. After the delivery failed to show up in Maryland, Tessco filed an insurance claim. Aspen paid the claim and then filed a lawsuit against Landstar in the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida. (Landstar is headquartered within the district, in Jacksonville, Florida.) Generally, the FAAA prevents state law claims against interstate motor carriers and brokers. The law contains an exception, however, for state regulations that are designed to ensure motor vehicle safety. Landstar leaned heavily on that exception in its filings with the court, emphasizing the brokers reckless actions that contributed to a felony, and asking rhetorically what would have happened if the thief had hurt or killed someone. Landstars lawyers called the arguments histrionics and hyperbole designed to distract from the fact that the insurers claims were preempted by federal law. The US District Court sided with Landstar and dismissed Aspens claims. The insurer appealed. The appellate panel agreed with Aspen that its claims do relate to safety, which would potentially trigger an exception to the federal law preemption, but they do not relate to motor vehicle safety as required by the FAAA. Aspens complaint says nothing at all about motor vehicles, the opinion says. It explains how carriers register with Landstar, Landstars protocol for verifying a carriers contact information prior to dispatch, and how Landstar allegedly neglected this protocol when dispatching Tesscos shipment to James.' The court affirmed the District Courts decision to dismiss Aspens lawsuit. The ruling provides clarity going forward to the transportation and insurance community, Aspens attorney, Robert Borak with Spector Rubin in Miami, said in an email. It will be interesting to see the next steps and whether the Supreme Court takes this on. BROOK PARK, Ohio -- A woman called police at about 9:30 p.m. March 28 and claimed that a worker at Circle K, 5878 Smith Road, had assaulted her. The woman, 53, said she had sent her son into the store to pay for $5 in gas with a $20 bill. The worker instead charged $15 for gas and gave the womans son $5 in change, the woman said. The woman said she walked into the store to straighten out the matter. Thats when the worker punched her in the chest, she said. AKRON, Ohio An Akron man who spent two years in prison for a fatal shooting in 2017 is now accused of illegally possessing guns, including a privately made AR-15 style gun. Kenneth Lindsey, 34, was charged Friday in federal court in Youngstown with possessing a weapon with a felony record. U.S. District Magistrate Judge Carmen Henderson ordered Lindsey remain in custody until a detention hearing Thursday. Lindsey told agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that he had the guns out of fear of retaliation from the family of the man he killed in 2017. Lindseys arrest came after federal authorities raided his home on Hillside Terrance in Akron. He told agents he had four loaded guns in the home two under his bed and two in a bedroom safe, according to court records. Investigators found two handguns, a shotgun and the AR-15 rifle. The rifle was determined to be a privately manufactured gun, also known as a ghost gun because it had no serial number and wasnt made by a licensed gun maker. When investigators asked about drugs, Lindsey asked to talk to an attorney. He later told the agents, without provocation, that he never took the guns outside the house, that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and that he kept the guns with him because of his fear of retaliation from the family of Reginald Edwards. Lindsey pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for the April 19, 2017, shooting. Lindsey and Edwards, 32, argued over a woman prior to Edwards being shot during a fight over a gun. The Akron Beacon Journal reported that Lindseys sentencing was acrimonious. Family members on both sides stormed out of the courtroom after Summit County Judge Jill Flagg Lanzinger handed down the sentence. Family members argued outside the courthouse, and Summit County sheriffs deputies intervened, the newspaper reported. No one was arrested or injured. Adam Ferrise covers federal courts at cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. You can find his work here. TOLEDO, Ohio A former sergeant with the Erie County Sheriffs Office could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty Thursday to a charge connected with choking a female inmate, causing the woman to scream Hes about to kill me! The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Ohio says the incident involving Adam Bess, 35, occurred on Nov. 1, 2021, at the Erie County Jail. Bess was working at the jail and booking a female suspect when he repeatedly choked the woman, causing lasting bruising and for her vision to pixelate, the U.S. Attorneys Office says. Prosecutors say the woman can be heard yelling Hes about to kill me, hes about to kill me, during the assault. Bess pleaded guilty to a felony charge of depriving an inmate of her constitutional rights by using excessive force. A sentencing date has not been set. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A man who has spent nearly 35 years in prison for a murder he says he didnt commit was granted a new trial after a judge found that police reports and witness statements were withheld from defense attorneys. Dwayne Brooks counsel did not have access to the statements of two women. They said they saw five men linked to the August 1987 ambush killing of Clinton Arnold in Luke Easter Park, and Brooks was not one of them. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kari Elsila, a director at a grant-seeking consulting firm from Cleveland Heights, is hoping to do her hometown proud tonight. She will appear on the television quiz show Jeopardy! on Friday, April 14. Watch Jeopardy! tonight on FuboTV (free trial) Elsila has her work cut out for her, going up against returning champion Ben Chan. The philosophy professor from Green Bay has been impressive during his two-day reign, winning $46,001 in prize money. Greg Czaja, a cardiologist from San Diego, rounds out the trio of contestants. Ken Jennings hosts the episode. Appreciate Grants Pluss support as I fulfilled a dream, Elsila wrote on her Linkedin page this week, thanking her employer. Too bad there wasnt a category on grant seeking! Now in its 39th season, Jeopardy! airs locally at 7:30 p.m. on WOIO Channel 19. The episode is available to stream tonight on FuboTV, which comes with a seven-day free trial. CLEVELAND, Ohio Cuyahoga County and every other county in the state, save for two, were classified green for low COVID-19 spread on the latest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention map. This week, 86 of Ohios 88 counties were classified as green, the designation for the lowest level of COVID-19 spread in the three-tier color-coded system. It was the fourth week in a row that Cuyahoga County kept its green status. The latest map was updated late Thursday. Cuyahoga County was classified as green for one week in February but reverted to yellow classification - for moderate concern - the following week. Prior to February, the last time Cuyahoga County had been designated green was March 2022, when the CDC began its color-coded county map system showing COVID-19 spread. Comparing maps over time shows a trend toward increasingly low COVID-19 transmission rates. In late August, a majority of Ohios counties were red. Over the last several weeks, the number of Ohio counties that have been designated green has steadily increased. Last week eight counties received yellow designations, and six of them have since been given a green designation. Joining the green list this week were Fulton, Lucas, Ottawa and Wood counties in Northwest Ohio, and Champaign and Clark counties in Southwest Ohio. Mahoning and Trumbull counties are the two remaining counties with the yellow classification, for moderate COVID-19 spread. No county was classified red for high COVID-19 spread this week. Counties are classified as low (green), medium (yellow) or high (red) under the CDCs system for estimating the risk of COVID-19 infection. People who live in yellow-designated counties, and are at risk for severe COVID-19, should ask their healthcare provider whether they should wear masks or take other precautions, according to the CDC. People in red counties with high transmission are advised by the CDC to wear masks indoors. Counties are considered to have high transmission levels when community coronavirus circulation could overwhelm local hospitals. April 14 county designations Ashtabula County: Green (low transmission) Cuyahoga County: Green (low transmission) Geauga County: Green (low transmission) Lake County: Green (low transmission) Lorain County: Green (low transmission) Medina County: Green (low transmission) Portage County: Green (low transmission) Summit County: Green (low transmission) Apr 6 county designations Ashtabula County: Green (low transmission) Cuyahoga County: Green (low transmission) Geauga County: Green (low transmission) Lake County: Green (low transmission) Lorain County: Green (low transmission) Medina County: Green (low transmission) Portage County: Green (low transmission) Summit County: Green (low transmission) DAYTON, Ohio The planned restoration of the worlds first airplane factory may be in jeopardy because of widespread damage to the buildings in a fire last month. Built by Orville and Wilbur Wright in 1910 and 1911, the Wright Company Factory in West Dayton produced an estimated 120 airplanes through 1915, when Orville Wright sold the business following the death of his brother. COLUMBUS, Ohio - Gov. Mike DeWine issued three reprieves of execution Friday, citing issues with obtaining drugs for lethal injection. The following executions have been delayed: -James ONeal was scheduled to be executed on Aug. 16. The new date of execution is scheduled for Aug. 19, 2026. ONeal was convicted of murdering his estranged wife, Carol Ann ONeal, in 1993 in Hamilton County. -Jerome Henderson was scheduled to be executed on Sept. 14. DeWine moved the date to Oct. 21, 2026. He was convicted in Hamilton County of murdering Mary Acoff in 1985. -Melvin Bonnell was scheduled to be executed on Oct. 18. DeWine moved the execution to Nov. 18, 2026. Bonnell was convicted in Cuyahoga County for the murder of Robert Bunner in 1987. DeWine has repeatedly expressed his concern that if pharmaceutical companies find that Ohio used its drugs to put people to death, they will refuse to sell any of its drugs not just the ones used in executions to the state. That would endanger the ability of thousands of Ohioans such as Medicaid recipients, state troopers and prison inmates to get drugs through state programs. As a result, DeWine said in 2020 that there would be no more executions in Ohio unless state lawmakers pick an alternative execution method a step the legislature has so far shown no interest in taking. Since taking office, DeWine has repeatedly pushed back death-row inmates execution dates. DeWines announcement means the next death row inmate scheduled to die in Ohio is Keith LaMar, whose execution is currently set to be carried out in mid-November. LaMar, a former Cuyahoga County man, was sentenced to death in 1995 for helping to kill four inmates and ordering the death of a fifth during the 1993 Lucasville prison riots. Jeremy Pelzer contributed to this report. Laura Hancock covers state government and politics for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com. COLUMBUS, Ohio A state House committee scheduled a committee vote next week on a Republican-led initiative to change a more than 110-year-old rule and raise the popular vote share required to amend Ohios constitution. Requiring a 60% majority vote to amend the constitution instead of the current simple majority sets up a high-stakes showdown over a pending effort to seek a November vote that could create a constitutional right to abortion in Ohio. Both House and Senate Republicans have offered similar proposals to make it harder for organizers to change the Constitution. The details vary, but both call for putting forward a simple question to voters: Should Ohio increase the popular vote needed for future amendments from 50%-plus one to 60%? The Senates plan, backed in concept by some House Republicans, calls for a special election in August on the constitutional issue. The resolution requires the support of 3/5 of lawmakers and 50% of the voters. That election would cost $20 million. The timing is critical. Just a few months ago, state lawmakers voted to scrap most August elections in Ohio, deeming them overly expensive and anti-democratic given the meager voter turnout. Meanwhile, pro-choice activists, energized by signs of support for abortion access in several Republican-leaning states since a Supreme Court ruling overturned a federal right to the procedure, are gathering signatures in hopes of placing the question of abortion access on the November 2023 ballot. Lawmakers would need to pass a resolution by May 10 to organize an August 2023 election if they want to ensure the pro-choice coalition would need a 60% vote for victory instead of 50%, according to Secretary of State Frank LaRose. The anti-abortion and gun-rights lobby have both applied external pressure on House Republicans on the issue. That includes circulating a letter and amassing signatures of support for the joint concept of the new constitutional scheme and an August election. Neither Buckeye Firearms Association Legislative Director Rob Sexton nor Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis would divulge precisely how many signatures theyve obtained. While 67 Republicans won office in November, one has died and another was appointed as the states agriculture director, leaving for a tight vote. Were doing good, were well on our way, Sexton said last week, adding that theres still work to do. Rep. Allison Russo, the ranking House Democrat, says she suspects Republicans are short on votes to pass the bill, House Joint Resolution 1. A spokesman for House Speaker Jason Stephens, who has expressed some ambivalence on the idea, didnt respond to an inquiry. Democrats have attacked the proposal as anti-democratic: ballot referendums give the people a direct say on a given issue. So why should an idea need a supermajority rather than a simple majority? They say the measure is a power-grab, designed to lock in the fruits of longstanding GOP control of state politics. Rep. Tavia Galonski, an Akron Democrat, sits on the newly created House Constitutional Resolutions Committee, which is scheduled to vote on the issue. In 1912 Ohio reworked its founding document to give voters chance to directly propose or reject constitutional amendments and legislation. It has worked out just fine since then. Thats direct democracy, she said. I dont know why wed try to undo 112 years of that working out. Republicans have, for the most part, coalesced behind the issue. LaRose, widely rumored to be running for the U.S. Senate in 2024, has been among its loudest champions. In a recent op-ed in the Columbus Dispatch, he argued predatory actors want to prey on Ohios lax standard for amendments, which should require a broad and bipartisan consensus. All it takes to ratify an amendment is a well-funded, dishonest political campaign and a simple majority vote, he said. It shouldnt be that easy. Abortion advocates arent the only ones eyeing changes to the Ohio Constitution. On the liberal side, various organizers have tried to raise the minimum wage or expand voter access through policies like automatic voter registration. Conservatives have their ideas as well. In 2011, they successfully passed a Health Care Freedom Amendment as a rebuke to Democratic President Barack Obamas signature health care law, commonly known as Obamacare. In the most recent cycle, voters approved GOP amendment proposals including one prohibiting noncitizens from voting and another expanding the reasons judges can prohibit the release of people suspected of crimes. Anti-vaccine activists have proposed a medical right to refuse amendment as well. Rob Walgate, vice president of the American Policy Roundtable, is an anti-abortion conservative who opposes the amendment and thinks Republicans arent thinking the issue all the way through. Anyone that supports the 60% trusts politicians far more than I trust politicians, he said. In an interview Wednesday, Gonidakis said he wouldnt be surprised if the resolution is voted out of committee next week. He rejected the notion that raising the threshold is anti-democratic 50% of the voters would need to directly approve the matter before it kicks in. Whats undemocratic, he said, is not allowing voters to settle the issue. Between the potential for citizen-led constitutional referendums over an independent redistricting commission, increasing minimum wage, or the weed guys pushing recreational marijuana, he said items could wind up in a sacrosanct Constitution that dont belong there. This is accelerating, he said. In some ways, Jen Miller, executive director of the Ohio chapter of the League of Women Voters, agrees. While citizens do have the option of whats called an initiated statute where they can essentially gather the hundreds of thousands of signatures required to propose a law and pass it via the ballot, theres nothing to stop lawmakers from reversing all that work. This incentivizes organizers to push constitutional amendments, which lawmakers cant undo alone. But that shortcoming can be fixed without starving voters of the opportunity to change their constitution with a simple majority. The best way to protect the Constitution is not to take away peoples right to determine their own futures through ballot initiatives, its easing the [initiated statute] process, she said. As introduced, the Houses version of the proposed constitutional amendment would make for a greater burden on those seeking future amendments. Beyond raising the voter threshold, it would require organizers to gather signatures from all 88 counties, not just the 44 currently required. However, the bill is scheduled for a possible amendment Tuesday and possible committee vote Wednesday. As the Columbus drama unfurls, organizers are gathering the 413,000 signatures needed to place the abortion access question on the November ballot. If it passes, Ohios Constitution would guarantee that every individual has a right to make and carry out ones own reproductive decisions on matters including abortion. While abortion may be prohibited after the point of fetal viability, it states that physicians would have the right to conduct the procedure if its required to protect the life or health of the mother in their professional judgement. Jeff Rusnak, a strategist for the Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights, said they are on track to round up enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in November. He said anyone trying to characterize HJR1 as some kind of government reform idea is lying, and said Gonidakis specifically insults Ohioans every time he opens his mouth and says something like that. The issue boils down to access to abortion and raw political power. They know they cant win at the ballot box, so theyve got to change the rules, he said. This week, Gongwer News Service, along with the Columbus-based Werth public relations firm, polled lawmakers on the issue of raising the constitutional threshold. Only 45 of 133 responded to all four questions, but those sampled revealed a few patterns. For one, 100% of Democrats opposed the plan, while 88% of Republicans supported it. Of the 12% of Republicans who dont support, 3% opposed while 9% were undecided. But from there, virtually every sampled Democrat plus 20% of Republicans think voters will reject the idea if it comes to a popular vote. About 25% of Republicans were unsure. Jake Zuckerman covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. COLUMBUS, OhioNext years U.S. Senate race in Ohio is shaping up to be a brutally expensive fight, if early financial numbers released Friday by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and potential Republican rival Matt Dolan are any indication. Brown, a Cleveland Democrat, raised more than $3.5 million in the first three months of 2023, according to campaign manager Rachel Petri. Thats the most any candidate in Ohio history has collected during the first quarter of the year prior to an election year, she said. But for now, telehealth and in-person clinics may be forced to grapple with significant restrictions on the drug that could go into effect after Alito's order expires on Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET. Access to mifepristone is hanging in the balance and could quickly change depending on what the nation's highest court decides as early as next week. Justice Samuel Alito on Friday temporarily suspended lower court rulings that imposed limits on access to mifepristone so the justices have more time to review the case. All of those efforts aim to preserve access to the most common type of abortion in the U.S., even as a larger legal fight over mifepristone escalates. Some in-person clinics in New York, California and Kansas will offer mifepristone for now, but are preparing to provide an alternative abortion pill if a subsequent decision essentially bans the drug. Several in-person providers in Ohio could stop offering mifepristone altogether. One telehealth provider has plans to shut down for up to two weeks to pivot to new operations. U.S. abortion pill providers are scrambling to make backup plans as the Supreme Court decides whether to keep restrictions on the key drug mifepristone . In this photo illustration, packages of Mifepristone tablets are displayed at a family planning clinic on April 13, 2023 in Rockville, Maryland. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals late Wednesday froze part of Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's order suspending the Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone. But the court temporarily blocked mail delivery of the pill, re-imposed doctor visits on abortion patients and shortened the length of time patients can take the pill to the seventh week of pregnancy, which is down from the previous 10 weeks. Those restrictions will limit access to mifepristone even in states where abortion is legal. But the appeals court ruling does not restrict abortion pill access in 17 states and Washington D.C. that were subject to a separate court decision issued last week, a federal judge in Washington said Thursday. Some in-person abortion clinics in states where the procedure is legal told CNBC that operations will remain largely the same. But they also highlighted their contingency plans if the court fight leads to tighter restrictions on the pill. Trust Women, a clinic in Wichita, Kansas, will continue to offer mifepristone even if the restrictions go into effect, according to Zack Gingrich-Gaylord, the clinic's communications director. "We're not very impacted by this ruling," Gingrich-Gaylord told CNBC, referring to the appeals court decision. "But we are still ready to pivot if there are more restrictions. We have the alternate protocol ready." The clinic is prepared to offer misoprostol as a standalone treatment if a subsequent decision tosses out the FDA's approval of mifepristone, Gingrich-Gaylord said. The drug is typically used in combination with mifepristone for abortion patients in the U.S. Misoprostol on its own is endorsed around the world as a safe and effective treatment for women who want to end their pregnancies. The appeals court decision does not affect access to the drug. The Choices Women's Medical Center in Queens, New York, and the University of California San Francisco Center for Pregnancy Options will similarly continue to offer mifepristone and have the misoprostol-only regimen in place as a backup plan, according to representatives from the clinics. But some in-person abortion clinics in Ohio could stop dispensing mifepristone entirely if those restrictions go into effect, according to Jessie Hill, an attorney who represents several independent providers in the state. Hill, who is also a law professor at Case Western Reserve University, said Ohio law requires doctors to follow federal label guidelines when prescribing mifepristone. She noted the law means clinics can't prescribe a drug in a way that hasn't been approved by the federal government, which is known as an "off-label" prescription. Other clinics in states where abortion is legal can prescribe mifepristone off-label beyond the first seven weeks of pregnancy, according to Hill. She said that allows the clinics to effectively work around a restriction in the appeals court order in a way that Ohio providers can't. "The order makes it especially inconvenient for Ohio clinics to prescribe mifepristone, so they probably won't. We might be the only state in this weird situation," Hill said. She noted that some clinics could start offering the misoprostol-only regimen as soon as the restrictions go into effect because it's "actually a better option for most at this point." U.S.-based telehealth clinics may have to make more sudden shifts than in-person providers due to the restriction on mail delivery of mifepristone. Abortion Telemedicine will only offer misoprostol in states that allow it if the restrictions go into effect on Wednesday, according to the provider's founder Jayaram Brindala. The clinic serves patients throughout the first trimester, which is 13 weeks into pregnancy. Just The Pill is also prepared to offer "the safe and effective misoprostol-only regimen to patients if needed," said Dr. Julie Amaon, the company's medical director. Just The Pill delivers abortion medication in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and Minnesota. Wisp, a company that provides telehealth medication abortions in nine states, will also switch to providing only misoprostol if those restrictions are put in place, according to Monica Cepak, the company's chief marketing officer. But that change would require the company to close down for up to two weeks starting Wednesday, she noted. "Right now, we're in our status quo mode and will stay that way until we hear further developments," Cepak said. She emphasized telehealth's critical role in abortion care in the U.S., noting that increasing demand for in-person services makes it difficult for patients to schedule appointments. "It can sometimes take 20 to 40 days. That's too long for most people to wait," she said. "Telehealth fills that gap." In this photo illustration, packages of Mifepristone tablets are displayed at a family planning clinic on April 13, 2023 in Rockville, Maryland. The Biden administration and the abortion pill distributor Danco Laboratories on Friday asked the Supreme Court to block an order that threatens access to that medication, mifepristone, in an escalation of a legal fight that could make it harder to undergo the procedure nationwide. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals late Wednesday blocked U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's order suspending the Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone. But the appeals court voted 2-1 to temporarily reimpose restrictions on mifepristone, which will significantly limit access to the drug even in states where abortion is legal. "If allowed to take effect, the lower courts' orders would upend the regulatory regime for mifepristone, with sweeping consequences for the pharmaceutical industry, women who need access to the drug, and FDA's ability to implement its statutory authority," U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar said. The solicitor general said this is the first time any court has repealed the conditions of an FDA drug approval based on a disagreement over the agency's judgement about safety. She stressed the fact that mifepristone has been on the market for more than 20 years. Mifepristone, used in combination with another drug called misoprostol, is the most common method to terminate a pregnancy in the U.S., accounting for about half of all abortions. Misoprostol, which is used a stand-alone abortion drug in other parts of the world, is not impacted by the lower court rulings. The Justice Department has said in previous filings that the ruling restricting mifepristone access is set to take effect at 12 a.m. CT on Saturday. Flowers and cards left as people paying tribute to Bob Lee near the Portside apartment building in San Francisco, California, on April 7, 2023. Cash App founder Bob Lee was fatally stabbed by an IT consultant near downtown San Francisco after the two men got into an argument over the suspect's sister, according to court documents obtained by NBC News on Friday. The suspect 38-year-old Nima Momeni of Emeryville, a suburb of San Francisco drove Lee to a secluded area and stabbed him three times with a 4-inch kitchen knife, including twice in the chest, according to the documents. At least one of the stab wounds punctured Lee's heart. In the wake of the dispute, Momeni's sister sent a text to Lee, the documents show. "Just wanted to make sure your doing ok Cause [I] know nima came wayyyyyy down hard on you," she wrote, according to the documents. "Thank you for being such a classy man handling it with class," she added. "Love you Selfish pricks." Momeni was arrested on Thursday morning after a nine-day manhunt that attracted national attention and intensified scrutiny on public safety issues in the Bay Area. More from NBC News: He will be charged with murder, San Francisco's district attorney told reporters on Thursday. He is scheduled to be arraigned on April 25, a spokesman for the district attorney's office confirmed. He faces 26 years to life behind bars. The court documents, which the San Francisco district attorney's office filed Friday as part of their attempt to detain the suspect without bail, attempt to piece together the events that led to the stabbing. Lee and a friend interviewed by police had been hanging out in a hotel room in San Francisco on the evening of April 3, according to the documents. The friend, identified in the filings as Witness 1, noticed Lee having a conversation with Momeni. The witness saw Momeni asking Lee whether Momeni's sister had been "doing drugs or anything inappropriate" earlier that day. Lee had to "reassure" Momeni that "nothing inappropriate had happened," according to the documents. Later that night, a surveillance camera recorded Lee and Momeni getting into Momeni's white BMW outside Momeni's sister's apartment. Additional footage obtained by police shows the BMW heading to a "dark and secluded area" near downtown San Francisco. The two men are later seen standing together on a sidewalk for a few minutes before Momeni apparently stabs Lee. When police officers arrived at the scene around 2:30 a.m., according to the documents, they found Lee unresponsive, lying in the street and bleeding "uncontrollably." "Defendant did not use some type of pocket knife, but a cooking knife from an apartment and kitchen," the court documents state. "This was a planned and deliberate attack." An aerial view of the engines and fuselage of an unpainted Boeing 737 MAX airplane parked in storage at King County International Airport-Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, June 1, 2022. Boeing 's warning that a production quality problem will delay deliveries of its best-selling 737 Max is another headache for airlines clamoring for new planes to handle a rebound in air travel, just ahead of the peak season. The problem is related to two of several brackets in the aft fuselage of some 737 Max planes, including the most popular model, the Max 8. Boeing has a backlog of 4,196 Max planes, according to a tally on its website. Boeing disclosed the production issue on Thursday but has not said how many planes are affected or how long deliveries could be delayed. The current delivery schedule of the planes stretches to the second half of the decade. The fuselage supplier, Spirit Aerosystems , Boeing and the FAA said the problem doesn't affect flight safety. But addressing the issue could mean time-consuming additional work. The two brackets in question are on the interior of the plane and are not as simple to reach as a concern on the outside of the fuselage would be, according to a person familiar with the matter. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun will likely comment on the issue during the company's annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday. Boeing disclosed the issue just weeks after an executive said it was gearing up to increase output of the jets from the current rate of 31 a month. Lengthy delays would be bad news for airlines already hamstrung by a global shortage of new aircraft. They could also hurt Boeing's plan to improve cash flow, since airlines pay the bulk of a plane's price upon delivery. "It doesn't sound like it is going to be a terribly invasive fix, but on the other hand I think everyone's a bit spooked because of recent experience," said Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamics Advisory. Southwest Airlines , which operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet, said it discussing the affects of the problem with the manufacturer. "Boeing contacted us regarding an issue with a supplier's manufacturing process that will affect the delivery of Boeing 737 MAX planes to Southwest," the company said in a statement Thursday. "We expect this to impact our current delivery schedule; we are in discussions with Boeing to understand what that impact will be in 2023 and beyond." CEO Bob Jordan said on an earnings call in January that the airline expects roughly 90 Max planes this year, lowering its forecast from 100 "in light of recent discussions with Boeing and continued challenges in supply chain." American Airlines said it is also discussing the problem with Boeing. The airline has 88 Max aircraft on order, according to its 2022 report. Both carriers plan to report results on April 27, when they will likely face questions about the issue. United Airlines , which reports on Tuesday said: "Boeing is keeping us informed about this issue, and at this time we do not expect any significant impact on our capacity plans for this summer or the rest of the year." The problem is the latest in a string of quality problems and aircraft delays at Boeing that has also included its 787 Dreamliner planes. A worldwide grounding and production pause of the 737 Max followed two fatal crashes of the Max. After the planes were cleared to fly again and production resumed, the pandemic threw the industry into disarray as it hemorrhaged cash and lost thousands of skilled workers. Barley ready to be harvested on a farm near Inverleigh, some 100kms west of Melbourne on December 14, 2020 William West | Afp | Getty Images Australia and China's agreement to review trade restrictions on barley is a crucial "first step" toward improving strained ties between both sides but a resolution may be still be months away, Australia's Trade Minister Don Farrell told CNBC. "Barley is the first step in a long process of stabilizing our trading relationship with China," Farrell said Friday, after the two economic giants agreed this week to work toward removing tariffs on Australian barley. Australia on Tuesday agreed to "temporarily suspend" a World Trade Organization complaint against China for its 2020 decision to impose 80.5% duties on Australian barley at the height of diplomatic tensions. "Following recent constructive dialogue at all levels, we welcome China's agreement to undertake an expedited review of the duties over a three-month period, which may extend to a fourth if required," the Australian government said. Since China's 2020 tariffs on barley, Australia has been essentially blocked from exports to that market worth about $620 million ($916 million Australian dollars) in 2018-19. "It's an act of goodwill... What we indicate was that we would suspend our World Trade Organization application in respect of barley in return for an early re-examination on China's part of the tariffs," Farrell said. Wine is the next cab off the rink as far as we're concerned. Don Farrell Minister for Trade and Tourism When asked about a timeline on a complete resolution to the barley tariffs, the Australian trade minister said he was looking at "the next three to four months." "Those issues didn't occur overnight, they won't be resolved overnight," Farrell told CNBC. In addition to barley, other Australian products caught up in the the China-Australia- trade dispute include wine, lobsters, beef and cotton, which were slapped with varying degrees of restrictions. In March, China reversed restrictions imposed on Australian coal imports, Bloomberg reported citing sources familiar with the matter. Australian farmers are hoping a reversal of tariffs will be extended to barley growers. "We're hopeful that at the end of it, that those duties will be reviewed, and that will be positive from a pricing perspective in what has been a very high production year and time for our Australian growers," Shona Gawel, CEO of GrainGrowers, a representative body for Australian grain farmers, told CNBC "Street Signs Asia" on Wednesday. Importance of trade with China Over the last few years, there has been a collective $20 billion worth of trade previously done with China that has been halted, according to Farrell. "We've started with barley to see whether or not we can resolve our outstanding issues," Farrell said, adding he is hopeful this could provide a template to deal with other tariffs on hand. He acknowledged that Australia and China share a somewhat "paradoxical relationship." "On the one hand, they're far and away our largest trading partner, we did almost $300 billion worth of trade with China last year," he said. "To put that into perspective, that's more than all of the trades that we do with the United States, Japan, Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, in Germany, so it's a huge market for us." What could be next? While the future of Australian barley returning to China again is still not confirmed, Farrell is hoping wine could be next on the list. In March 2021, China introduced a crushing five-year tariff of up to 218% on Australian wine. "Wine is the next cab off the rink as far as we're concerned," the trade minister told CNBC, adding that Australia has not suspended its appeal to the World Trade Organization against Beijing with regard to wine. "I will be hopeful that if the process that is started now ends in a resolution of the barley dispute, then we could quickly move to resolve the wine dispute," said the trade minister. Bottles of Wolf Blass wine are displayed for sale at the cellar door of Treasury Wine Estates Ltd.'s Wolf Blass winery in the Barossa Valley, Australia, on Monday, March 4, 2013. Carla Gottgens | Bloomberg | Getty Images A Starship prototype is seen stacked on top of a Super Heavy booster at the company's launch facility near Brownsville, Texas. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a Starship launch license to Elon Musk's SpaceX, a crucial final regulatory step that clears the company to attempt an orbital launch of its towering rocket for the first time. "After a comprehensive license evaluation process, the FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental, policy, payload, airspace integration and financial responsibility requirements. The license is valid for five years," FAA said in a statement. SpaceX, with the FAA license now in hand, aims to launch Starship as soon as Monday from its private facility in Texas along the Gulf Coast. "SpaceX is targeting as soon as Monday, April 17 for the first flight test of a fully integrated Starship and Super Heavy rocket from Starbase in Texas. The 150-minute test window will open at 7:00 a.m. CT," SpaceX said in a statement. The company recently stacked Starship prototype 24 on Super Heavy booster prototype 7 in preparation for the launch. Together they stand nearly 400 feet high. SpaceX in February completed a test firing of the Super Heavy booster, which has 33 Raptor engines at its base, in one of the final technical steps toward the launch. SpaceX for several years has been building up to the first orbital flight test of its Starship rocket, with company leadership stressing the experimental nature of the launch. While SpaceX had hoped to conduct the first orbital Starship launch as early as summer 2021, delays in progress and regulatory approval have pushed back that timeline. The rocket is set to lift off from SpaceX's development facility near Brownsville, Texas, before heading east across the Gulf of Mexico, according to 2021 filings that revealed the flight plan. The ultimate goal of the mission is to reach orbit, with the rocket aiming to travel most of the way around the Earth and splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. Starship is designed to carry cargo and people beyond Earth and is critical to NASA's plan to return astronauts to the moon. SpaceX won a nearly $3 billion contract from the space agency in 2021 to use Starship as a crewed lunar lander. BEIJING The heads of the U.S. and Chinese central banks met in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, the People's Bank of China said in a statement Friday. PBoC Governor Yi Gang and U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell "exchanged views" on China-U.S. economic and financial trends, the statement said, according to a CNBC translation. The meeting of the Fed and PBoC heads comes as political tensions between the world's two largest economies have escalated and limited high-level interactions. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said this week that she still hoped to visit China, without specifying when. Yi was attending the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in D.C., the PBoC statement said. It did not include any photos. The U.S. Federal Reserve and IMF did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment outside of local business hours. Riot police guard the Constitutional Council building during a demonstration against pension reform in central Paris, France, on Thursday, April 13, 2023. French unions are held strikes and protests on Thursday against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform, seeking to maintain pressure on the government before a ruling on the law's constitutionality. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images France's Constitutional Council on Friday approved President Emmanuel Macron's controversial raising of the retirement age, as nationwide protests rumbled on. The council passed the core of the pension reforms, including the increase in the retirement age for most workers from 62 to 64, but removed six additional provisions as had been expected. It also rejected a bid to hold a citizens' referendum on the changes. Macron's unpopular plan to raise France's retirement age was enacted into law Saturday. The president's signature and publication in the Official Journal of the French Republic allowed the law to enter into force. The authorized changes will start being implemented in September, French government spokesperson Olivier Veran said. Long traffic jams formed in cities including Marseille on Friday as crowds gathered around the country to hear the court decision. Protesters made their way into the headquarters of luxury goods giant LVMH and lit smoke flares on Thursday the same day the company's share price reached a fresh record high, following the release of its first-quarter results. A procession of students shouting opposition slogans with a sign reading ''Macron guillotine? Yes maybe'' during a demonstration where for the twelfth time in 3 months, several thousand people, employees and students, demonstrated in the streets of Paris. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images "The Constitutional Council decision shows that it is more attentive to the needs of the presidential monarchy than to those of the sovereign people. The fight continues and must gather its forces," said Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the leftist La France Insoumise party, according to a Reuters translation. Far-right politician Marine Le Pen, who also opposes the reforms, said, "The people always have the last word, it is the people's right to prepare for the change in power that will be the result of this unnecessary and unjust reform." Analysts have said the pensions saga may provide a boost to Le Pen's National Rally party. Ahead of the decision, Macron said he would seek to meet with unions, which expressed their anger throughout the day. "Given the massive [public] rejection of this reform, the unions request him solemnly to not promulgate this law, the only way to calm the anger which is being expressed in the country," trade unions said in a joint statement reported by Agence France-Presse. Macron and French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire argue that the reforms are fiscally necessary to secure the costly pension system into the future. Opponents argue that the changes mark a political decision that disproportionally impacts lower-paid workers and women, while companies report bumper profits. In an interview with French TV stations last month, Macron insisted that the moves were necessary, but acknowledged that people felt a "sense of injustice" and said he would look to make businesses contribute more. Demonstrators march along the vieux port during the 12th day of nationwide strike on pension reform on April 13, 2023 in Marseille, France. Marion Pehee | Getty Images News | Getty Images The French president has faced a huge uphill political battle to get the pension changes, which he has advocated for years. His popularity has plummeted, and widespread strikes and protests that have involved clashes with police have been staged since the start of the year. Borne used a special constitutional measure to pass the changes without a parliamentary majority because of the large number of opposing politicians. The process involved triggering Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to amend the social security budget. The government then narrowly survived a no-confidence vote. The appeal to the Constitutional Council was based on three points concerning the information that was provided to lawmakers, the suitability of the procedure and whether the bill fills the budgetary scope, Le Monde reported. An outright rejection was considered unlikely because the move has precedent, but the council was expected to remove more minor provisions, such as a requirement for large companies to publish annual reports on how many workers they employ who are aged 55 and over. Ahead of the announcement, Renaud Foucart, senior lecturer in economics at Lancaster University, told CNBC that a partial approval was likely the best outcome for Macron. "He can then sit down with unions and say we can negotiate some sort of new additions or reforms with a more social focus," Foucart said. Demonstrations are likely to continue. "Tonight, Paris will burn," Foucart said. "But the decision today is likely to provide a chance for Macron to try to change the subject." Former President Donald Trump arriving at Trump Tower in New York City on April 13, 2023. James Devaney | GC Images | Getty Images A Washington, D.C., appeals court on Thursday declined to shield Donald Trump from the first of two civil defamation lawsuits by E. Jean Carroll, a writer who said the former U.S. president raped her nearly three decades ago. The district's highest local court, the Court of Appeals, said it did not have enough facts to decide whether Trump deserved immunity, after he accused the former Elle magazine columnist in June 2019 of lying about the alleged encounter. A ruling that Trump was acting as president, and not in his personal capacity, would have immunized him and doomed Carroll's first lawsuit because the government could substitute itself as the defendant, and the government cannot be sued for defamation. The court sent the case back to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan, which had last September asked the Washington court for guidance on local law. Lawyers for Carroll had no immediate comment. Alina Habba, a lawyer for Trump, said in an email: "We are confident that the Second Circuit will rule in President Trump's favor and dismiss Ms. Carroll's case." Thursday's decision does not affect Carroll's second lawsuit, where an April 25 trial is scheduled in Manhattan federal court. That case also includes a battery claim under a New York law that lets sexual abuse survivors sue their alleged attackers even if statutes of limitations have run out. No trial delay Trump wants to postpone the trial at least until May 23, saying "prejudicial media coverage" of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's recent criminal case against him would leave that case "top of mind" for most prospective jurors. His lawyers said a delay was also needed after they belatedly learned from Carroll's legal team that Reid Hoffman, the billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn and a prominent Democratic donor, was footing some of her legal bills. They said that raised the question of whether Carroll sued Trump, a Republican, to advance a political agenda. In an order late Thursday, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan refused to delay the trial, but said Trump could gather more information about Hoffman's role and Carroll's understanding of it. The judge did not address whether Bragg's case jeopardized Trump's right to a fair trial in Carroll's case. Carroll, 79, has long accused Trump of stalling to keep jurors from ever hearing her case. Both of Carroll's lawsuits stem from her alleged encounter with Trump in late 1995 or early 1996 in a Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan. Carroll has said Trump asked for her help in buying a gift for another woman, but later "maneuvered" her into and sexually assaulted her in a dressing room. After Carroll described the incident in a June 2019 New York magazine excerpt from her memoir, Trump told a reporter at the White House that he did not know Carroll, that "she's not my type," and that she concocted the rape claim to sell her book. He largely repeated his denial in October 2022, when he called the rape claim a "hoax," "lie," "con job" and "complete scam" on his Truth Social media platform. The Washington appeals court said that in deciding whether people act in the scope of their employment, the district generally looks to whether they are motivated by a purpose to serve their employer around the time they acted. watch now OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he agreed with parts of an open letter from the Future of Life Institute signed by tech leaders like Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak that called for a six-month AI research halt, but added that the letter was "missing most technical nuance about where we need the pause." Altman made the remarks during a Thursday video appearance at an MIT event that discussed business and AI. OpenAI makes ChatGPT, an AI bot that can create human-like responses to questions asked by a user. The bot kicked off an AI frenzy in the technology world. Microsoft uses OpenAI's technology in its Bing chatbot and Google recently launched its competitor Bard. "I think moving with caution and an increasing rigor for safety issues is really important," Altman continued. "The letter I don't think was the optimal way to address it." In March, Musk, Wozniak, and dozens of other academics called for an immediate pause to training "experiments" connected to large language models that were "more powerful than GPT-4," OpenAI's flagship large language model, or LLM. Over 25,000 people have signed the letter since then. OpenAI's GPT technology garnered international attention when ChatGPT launched in 2022. GPT technology underpins Microsoft 's Bing AI chatbot, and prompted a flurry of AI investment. "AI labs and independent experts should use this pause to jointly develop and implement a set of shared safety protocols for advanced AI design and development that are rigorously audited and overseen by independent outside experts," the letter said. "I also agree as capabilities get more and more serious, that the safety bar has got to increase," Altman said at the MIT event. America's control over its most valuable secrets has been thrust into question. Bill Clark | CQ-Roll Call Group | Getty Images An embarrassing leak of highly classified Pentagon documents has endangered intelligence methods, exposed American strategy and undermined trust among U.S. allies, former defense department officials and intelligence experts tell CNBC. U.S. authorities on Thursday arrested 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, a low-ranking member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, in connection with the investigation into the leak. America's control over its most valuable secrets has been thrust into question amid the fallout from the most damaging intelligence leak since Edward Snowden's breach more than a decade ago. "It's hard to trust us with your secrets if we can't protect them," said Bill Lynn, a former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense under President Barack Obama, who now serves as Chief Executive of Leonardo DRS. The trove of classified documents, which first appeared on the Discord social media site last month, revealed stunning details about U.S. spying on Russia's war efforts in Ukraine and secret information about Ukraine's combat power, according to NBC News reporting. "It gives the Russians insight into how we're gathering that information, which puts those sources at risk," Lynn said. 'Devastating' for American allies The major security breach also contained intelligence gathering on American allies, including South Korea and Israel. "It's devastating to our allies to see that kind of information being promulgated," Lynn said. "It was shared too widely ... but that's 20-20 hindsight and easy to say now," he added. watch now "There is always an intention in intelligence to provide the information to the people who need it so it can be used, and then protecting it from disclosure. Obviously, in this case, we didn't do enough to protect it." 'Sloppy and incompetent' The nature of the leak and revelations that some of the documents may have been out for as much as a year before the U.S. defense department caught on makes the U.S. government look unreliable and incompetent, one former CIA officer told CNBC. "The fact that a 21-year-old kid had access to this kind of material? Our allies are seeing us as sloppy and incompetent," said Marty Martin, who served several years in the CIA's Senior Intelligence Service, as well as the NSA and the U.S. Army. The White House responded to questions highlighting this concern, saying that the Pentagon was further restricting access to sensitive information and that an investigation is ongoing. 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. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters But Martin who led the CIA team that tracked down Osama bin Laden and numerous other Al Qaeda operatives believes the environment that enabled such a breach was the government's own doing. "In 2002-2003, in the aftermath of 9/11, there was a big push by the DoD, the DNI (Directorate of National Intelligence) and Congress to have all the intelligence data combined," Martin recounted, describing his concern at the time that this would allow far too much access to highly sensitive material. Many in the U.S. government believed that a lack of inter-agency intelligence sharing prior to the September 11th attacks led the country to be blindsided and unprepared. The policy was therefore changed to increase information sharing. 'A total disaster' Martin believes that this approach led to the intelligence breach that the country is now grappling with. "So all the databases got combined, and now you have some 21-year-old National f---ing Guard guy having access to the CIA's operational secrets. The crown jewels of top-secret intel in Washington became like a little game." "A guy at the Pentagon who's counting tanks does not need to have access to sensitive counterterrorism information or operations information at the CIA," Martin said. "It's a total disaster." watch now The consequence for international alliances is serious, Martin added. "Our allies can't trust us That's why the Middle East, they're talking to the Chinese. And the Saudis are talking to Iran. Why? There's a void of American leadership." CNBC has reached out to the Pentagon and White House for comment. U.S. credibility at risk? Even with the increase in shared intelligence among U.S. agencies in recent years, observers are still baffled that such a junior employee would have access to CIA reports. "How can a young ANG (Air National Guard) have this sort of access? How does this kid have this intel sitting in a ANG base on Cape Cod? How was he able to (1) print them out (2) take them home?" one American defense industry executive told CNBC, speaking anonymously due to professional restrictions. An undated picture shows Jack Douglas Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the U.S. Air National Guard, who was arrested by the FBI, over his alleged involvement in leaks online of classified documents, posing for a selfie at an unidentified location. Social Media Website | Reuters The U.S. government and its allies are reeling from the discovery that the suspected source of a major intelligence breach is a 21-year-old National Guardsman who leaked highly classified Pentagon documents on an online gaming platform. The suspect, Jack Teixeira, appeared in court Friday to face charges under the Espionage Act of unauthorized removal and retention of classified and national defense information. Ukrainian forces are withdrawing from some positions in the eastern city of Bakhmut under heavy Russian fire, Britain's Ministry of Defense reported. Ukraine has for months refused to give up on its defense of Bakhmut, despite both sides suffering heavy casualties and the city being entirely destroyed. Kyiv says that conceding Bakhmut would give Russia a major access route to much more of eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi reiterated calls for relevant parties to establish a security perimeter around Ukraine's embattled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, warning "we are living on borrowed time when it comes to nuclear safety and security at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) Besting two Padillas, veteran actress Gladys Reyes on Friday said she was "shocked" after being named Best Actress in the inaugural Summer Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) for her role in the movie Apag. I wasnt really expecting anything, I was just so happy I was there that is why I was shocked when my name was called, she told CNN Philippines. Im so grateful that they were able to notice my performance. Actresses Bela Padilla and Kylie Padilla were also nominated in the best female lead role category. Apag, a film by Brillante Mendoza, tells the story of Kapampangan restaurant owner Rafael, played by actor Coco Martin, who gets involved in a car accident that leads to the death of another individual. Actors Lito Lapid, Jaclyn Jose, and Mercedes Cabral also star in the movie. Reyes said she found her role as "Nita Balagtas" truly challenging. In doing every scene, Reyes said the actors were only given sequence guides and no dialogues at all. Once on the set, Mendoza will only give some instructions then it's up to the actor what lines or ad libs to deliver, she added. It was a big challenge for me because in my 38 years in the industry, I've never done any movie, or even a serye (series) that would require us to say our own lines, she shared. It was a big challenge, exciting at the same time, but I was really nervous because once I was on the set I just put myself in the character of Nita Balagtas and thats it. I just did my best, she added. Reyes said she considers Apag very special because she experienced many firsts in the project. Aside from being named Best Actress in the maiden Summer MMFF, Reyes said this was also her first award in a movie, and her first film with a Cannes-winning filmmaker. During the awards night, the films theme song "Paralaya" by Andy Alviz also won Best Original Theme Song. Meanwhile, Reyes also stars in another MMFF entry, Here Comes the Groom, which also received a number of recognitions including 3rd Best Picture. RELATED: 'About Us But Not About Us' dominates 1st Summer MMFF with 10 awards, including Best Picture Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) Leading global smart device brand OPPO recently hosted a day full of innovation, openness, elegance, and technology as it gave the public a chance to experience the newest smartphone innovations at its OPPO Inspiration Ahead event. "OPPOs Inspiration: Ahead" allowed everyone to see and experience the latest offerings from OPPO, get up close and personal and share unique memories with the brands ambassadors and content creators, and participate in interactive booths. Held at the BGC Amphitheater in Taguig City and hosted by Vince Velasco, guests also had the opportunity to meet OPPO celebrity brand ambassadors Bea Alonzo and Nadine Lustre. Were proud to bring to life our mantra Inspiration Ahead through this one-of-a-kind experience," said Joanarc Sales, PR and CRM Head of OPPO Philippines. "This is a celebration of our latest innovations and an invitation for more Filipinos to experience what OPPO has to offer. Celebrating innovation with OPPO Photo from OPPO Philippines During the main event, guests learned practical photography and fashion tips and tricks from the best in the industry. People learned how to take their photography skills to the next level from the likes of celebrity photographer Magic Liwanag and content creator David Guison. Meanwhile, fashion magazine editors and style icons Daryl Chang and Pam Quinones educated the crowd on maximizing their OPPO smartphones for creativity and style. During the much-anticipated meet-and-greet, Nadine Lustre encouraged everyone to recharge to keep their creativity and inspiration. She shared that after traveling in and out of the metro, she was able to keep her mental health in check and be more productive. Find the chance to go to a beautiful journey," Lustre advised. "Once you find it, all the challenges you have before, youll be stronger." Bea Alonzo complements this by sharing her creative process as an actress, content creator and businesswoman. She mentioned that she finds inspiration whenever she leaves a fragment of her authentic identity when she presents herself on or off the camera. When I am presenting myself (on) camera as Bea the vlogger, of course, I share my authentic self. I share my authentic joys, days, and hobbies the actress said. Guests were treated to exclusive activities and invited to a much-anticipated meet-and-greet with OPPOs superstar brand ambassadors, who are both award-winning actresses and box-office stars. The first 25 Bea Alonzo fans and first 25 Nadine Lustre fans who presented their fully stamped wristbands at the redemption area got to qualify for the meet-and-greet. Guests were also treated to great music from the acts of Leanne & Naara and Fern. For the closing act, Ace Banzuelo sang one of his hit songs, Muli. Photo from OPPO Philippines Getting inspired with OPPOs newest smartphones OPPOs Inspiration Ahead highlighted two of the brands latest smartphones for people to experience and appreciate their cutting-edge features: OPPO Reno8 T 5G, and the OPPO Find N2 Flip. Among the fun activities exclusively available at the event were the Microlens Technology and Self-Shoot Photo Area. The Microlens Technology booth enabled guests to try the 40x microlens feature of the OPPO Reno8 T 5G, aside from its impressive 108MP camera. Meanwhile, the Self-Shoot Photo Area allowed guests to take charge of their photos while modeling the OPPO Find N2 Flip. The OPPO Reno8 T 5G is a powerhouse device with an upgraded 3D curved screen for a top-of-the-line viewing experience. Also known as #ThePortraitExpert, this borderless beauty has a 120Hz 3D curved screen for next-level visuals and feel. It is also empowered with OPPOs first-ever 108MP camera for ultra-definition fun. The all-new OPPO Find N2 Flip is an innovative super compact phone that fits even in tight trousers or tiny bags, so you can get big screen convenience without having to make space for a large phone. It is easy to carry this device everywhere you go. Inspiration: Ahead was the perfect opportunity to discover the latest innovations OPPO has to offer the Philippine market. It was a fun-filled day to learn and enjoy what OPPO does best. To know more about OPPOs #InspirationAhead event, visit OPPO Philippines official website or its official Facebook page. 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. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) A Las Pinas court issued an arrest warrant on Friday against former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Chief Gerald Bantag, former Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta, and three others for the murder of broadcaster Percival Percy Lapid Mabasa. Las Pinas Regional Trial Court branch 254 issued a non-bailable warrant for the murder case filed against Bantag, Zulueta, brothers Israel and Edmon Dimaculangan, and an alias Orly/Orlando. A day earlier, on April 13, a Muntinlupa court also issued an arrest warrant against Bantag and Zulueta for orchestrating the murder of New Bilibid Prison inmate Jun VIllarmor, an alleged middleman in Mabasa's murder. READ: Court issues arrest warrant vs. ex-BuCor officials Bantag, Zulueta On October 3, 2022, Mabasa was brutally gunned down inside his vehicle by motorcycle-riding gunmen at the gate of his subdivision in Las Pinas, renewing calls for press freedom and the protection of media practitioners. Bantag was the alleged mastermind behind the assassination. The Department of Justice (DOJ) said there was sufficient circumstantial evidence to establish this. The National Bureau of Investigation previously said Bantag had a clear motive to order Mabasas death: the broadcaster had criticized Bantag on his radio program, enraging the former BuCor chief. Zulueta served as Bantags right-hand man and carried out his orders. He allegedly paid the gunmen who killed Mabasa. Meanwhile, the Dimaculangan brothers and Orly/Orlando were the alleged accomplices of Joel Escorial, the self-confessed gunman in the Mabasa shooting. Last month, the DOJ said it found probable cause to file murder charges against Bantag, Zulueta, and others for the killing of both Mabasa and Villamor. "It's a welcome development. I hope Gerald Bantag et al would heed the call of authorities and present themselves in the court of law," Roy Mabasa, journalist and brother of the slain broadcaster, said in reaction to the arrest warrant. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) The deputy chief for operations of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who was relieved from his post described as baseless Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos claim that he may be involved in an attempt to cover up an anti-narcotic officers arrest during a massive drug bust operation. PLtGen. Benjamin Santos Jr. held a press briefing with his lawyer on Friday in a move to clear his name after Abalos implicated him and several other high-ranking police officials and asked them to file a leave of absence. The three-star general said Abalos pronouncement on Monday came as a shock." Strongly denying involvement, Santos said he was not given a chance to explain his side and that the reputation he has taken care of in the PNP for more than 32 years was smeared all due to a simple appearance in CCTV footage that has no context or even weight in the proper fora. "While I fully support Secretary Abalos in his objective to cleanse the PNP of scalawags, I also passionately believe that this should be done in the spirit of transparency, fairness, truth and accountability," he said. "Otherwise, in our fight against monsters, we risk becoming monsters ourselves." Presenting a clip of the Oct. 8 anti-drug operation, Abalos claimed that the officers attempted to cover up Sergeant Rodolfo Mayos arrest following the confiscation of 6.7-billion worth of shabu from his property last October. The video showed a cuffed Mayo entering and leaving his lending establishment, then boarding and alighting from an SUV multiple times. He was also uncuffed at some point. Abalos said this was a different scenario from the narration of events contained in the PNP reports. Santos, however, explained that he only went to the crime scene, cutting his birthday celebration short, upon the orders of PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. In an interview with CNN Philippines News Night on Friday, Santos claimed that he immediately ordered authorities to include Mayo in the inquest after he recovered his ID from an illegal drug operation. Santos also insisted that PNP-Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Director PBGen. Narciso Domingo did not ask any clearance from him to exclude Mayo in the investigation. In the first place, it is the operation of PNP-PDEG. Wala akong kinalaman doon, [Translation: I had nothing to do with it.] he said in an interview. He said the anti-drug operation was already finished by the time he arrived and that he simply provided guidance to the other officers to strictly follow the chain of custody rule. Noong dumating ako, pinakawalan na nila. So it is impossible na sasabihin niya sa akin na nagpaalam siya dahil wala pa ako doon sa scene, he added. [Translation: When I arrived, they already released him. So it is impossible to tell that he asked permission from me because I was not there at the scene yet.] Santos added that he wasnt implicated during the extensive Senate inquiry into the shabu haul, maintaining that the lawmakers would not have missed the involvement of a three-star general if there is an iota of truth to the allegation of Secretary Abalos. The relieved official, who will retire from the police service in six months, said he is open to any investigation to prove his innocence. A day after Abalos publicly made the allegations, two other high-ranking police officials namely, PNP-Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Director PBGen. Narciso Domingo and PDEG Special Operations Unit Region 4A chief PCol. Julian Olonan also denied involvement but said they will heed the call to go on leave. On Thursday, the PNP announced that Domingo was relieved from his post and reassigned to the office of the PNP chief while investigation is ongoing. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala is set to visit the Philippines next week to meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday. "The visit marks an important milestone in the diplomatic relations between the two countries, as Manila and Prague prepare to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on 5 October," the DFA added. Marcos and Fiala will discuss the strengthening of the two countries' bilateral relationship through defense cooperation, trade and investment, university linkages, judicial cooperation, and labor cooperation. The two leaders earlier met at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) commemorative summit in December last year, where they discussed security cooperation "in the context of the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization program." In 2019, Manila and Prague convened the first Joint Defense Committee (JDC) which paved the way for possible defense and security cooperation between the two nations, "Meaningful connections between the Filipino and Czech nations find historical inspiration in the visits of first Jesuits and scientific expeditions to Philippines from the European continent, the famed friendship between Dr. Jose Rizal and Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt, and the shared heroism of Filipinos and citizens of then Czechoslovakia fighting alongside each other in the battle of Bataan during the Second World War," the DFA said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) Pamplona town Mayor Janice Degamo has asked the Senate to reconsider its decision to allow suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. to virtually attend the probe into the killing of public officials including the assassination of her husband, Gov. Roel Degamo. "Allowing some participants to attend through Zoom/teleconferencing undermines the value and importance of our presence in the hearing, and it is unfair to those who will be attending personally. Cong. Teves is a fugitive. He should not be afforded such an accommodation," the mayor said in an open letter to Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa published on her Facebook page. Dela Rosa chairs the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, which will lead the hearing. He revealed that Teves had committed to virtually attend the inquiry. READ: Dela Rosa: Rep. Arnie Teves to virtually attend Senate inquiry into Degamo slay "I, along with the previous victims of killings, land grabbing, harassment, and more, will be attending the hearing personally, sacrificing our time, effort, money, and security just to ensure that our voices are heard, and our concerns are addressed," Degamo wrote as she expressed dismay that Teves was allowed to attend remotely. "We believe that all participants in the hearing should be treated equally and given the same opportunity to attend personally, regardless of their position or status," she added. The Department of Justice earlier named Teves as one of the main masterminds and "executive producer" of the governor's assassination. The congressman has been out of the country since Feb. 28, a few days before the March 4 killing, and has been suspended from his post due to his continued absence. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said Teves is in Cambodia. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the country generally remains to have an ample supply of rice but the current buffer stock of the National Food Authority (NFA) is not enough. 'Yun lang ang nakita naming problema, mababa yung buffer stock ng NFA [Thats the only problem we saw. The buffer stock of the NFA is low], he said in a video released by the Presidential Communications Office on Thursday. A buffer stock is a large amount of a commodity bought and stored when there is extra, so that this can be sold when supply runs low in order to help stabilize prices. Marcos, who is also Agriculture secretary, said he wants the NFA to buy more rice from local producers and ensure that the stock would be good for at least nine days of national demand. However, he noted that this still needs planning to prevent price hikes due to the purchases. Ang problema, kapag sila ay pumasok sa merkado, pag silay namili na para i-replace yung buffer stock na kulang nila ay tataas naman ang presyo ng bigas dahil marami silang bibilhin. Kayat yun ang hinahanapan namin ng paraan para i-adjust, the President said. Siguro ang magagawa natin ay ang pagbili ay hindi bigla, hindi malaki, he added. [Translation: The problem is if the NFA buys rice for its buffer stock, prices will increase because the agency will purchase in large amounts. Thats what were trying to address. Perhaps what we can do is not to buy big quantities at once.] In terms of the countrys overall rice supply, Marcos said "I think we are in good shape." Although we still have to import, our importations have come down," he noted. "Our agricultural sector is beginning to come back beyond pre-pandemic levels, and so thats progressing nicely." The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier warned that the staple could cost up to 5 more per kilogram in the coming weeks, adding that it has monitored small price adjustments since February. It noted different factors that could contribute to such an increase, including higher prices of farm inputs, low buffer stock, and the threat of El Nino. Based on the DA's monitoring of prices in Metro Manila markets on Thursday, a kilo of local well-milled rice costs 39 to 46, while regular milled rice costs 36 to 40. A kilo of local premium or special rice, meanwhile, is sold for 42 to 60. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Quezon City government on Friday began pre-construction works that will allow the Metro Rail Transit-7 (MRT-7) to loop around and change direction upon reaching the common station. "The turnback guideway will allow MRT-7 trains to revert directions upon terminating at the North Triangle Common Station in North Avenue," said Transportation Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette Aquino. She said this portion of the alignment will make sure train services would be on schedule. "This pre-construction works program will guarantee the least possible disruption in the travel experience of both pedestrians and road users along West Avenue while the MRT 7 infrastructure is in place," she added. The DOTr said the MRT-7 will cut travel time from San Jose del Monte in Bulacan up to North Avenue in Quezon City from the usual two to three hours to only 35 minutes benefitting around 800,000 daily commuters. The mass transit project, which is a partnership with San Miguel Corp., will connect to the existing LRT-1 and MRT-3. It will have 14 stations. The 69.3-billion railway began construction in 2016. The DOTr previously said full operations were eyed in 2024 to 2025. RELATED STORIES: Quezon City gov't allows resumption of MRT-7 station construction New train sets for MRT-7 unveiled Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) The government signed a contract with an Indonesian company for the purchase of six light lift fixed-wing aircraft (NC212i). According to the Indonesian embassy in Manila, the aircraft will be utilized by the Philippine Air Force. The aircraft from PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) are expected in the country in the last week of the month. PTDI also sealed a deal to maintain two NC212i units obtained in 2014. Indar Atmoko, group head commercial of PTDI, said the six aircraft are part of the procurement in 2014. This indicates that our products quality is accepted by customers in supporting their mission operations, in the case, the Philippine Air Force, Atmoko said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) The Philippines maintained it is no longer interested in accepting military equipment donations from the United States, which are usually only functional for a few years, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said. Weve already made a decision and that was started by President (Rodrigo) Duterte that we will no longer be interested in getting what we call excess defense articles, he told CNN Philippines The Source on Friday. It was in 2017 when Duterte said the government will no longer accept second-hand equipment from the United States and will only purchase new ones. Officials from the Philippines and the United States recently held a meeting in Washington to discuss areas of deeper cooperation, like defense. One of the commitments made was the implementation of a Security Sector Assistance Roadmap that will guide shared defense modernization investments and inform the delivery of priority platforms over the next 5 to 10 years. Romualdez emphasized that the US will only provide access to the Philippines to purchase its new military equipment. One of those in the list are new Black Hawk helicopters to replace the old Huey choppers, since the latter have recorded a number of accidents that killed some members of the military. The Philippines also wants attack helicopters from Turkey, heavy lift helicopters, as well as water assets like coast guard cutters, Romualdez noted. To ensure that the government will be able to purchase all the needed equipment, Romualdez said lawmakers should allocate a portion of the annual budget for this program. As the Philippines further improves its military capabilities, Romualdez said, "we will be ready with our Armed Forces with the kind of defense posture that weve been looking at in about 3-5 years." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said Manila does not want to be involved in a conflict with China despite an ongoing territorial dispute between the two nations. Speaking to CNN Philippines The Source on Friday, Romualdez said even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said he does not want to clash with the East Asian superpower. We are merely doing what we feel is our right to defend ourselves and defend our sovereignty and our territorial waters, Romualdez explained. China on Thursday expressed serious concern and strong disapproval of the joint statement issued by the United States and the Philippines on the South China Sea. While the two long-time allies urged Beijing to comply with the 2016 arbitral ruling which upholds the Philippines rights over the West Philippine Sea, China maintained it 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, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said. China has also warned against the establishment of additional sites for Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), saying this could backfire on the Philippines. Romualdez said the new EDCA locations were already being considered for a long time. He said these are also part of the Philippines defense strategy to prepare its troops in case there will be tensions in the region of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations which will most likely affect Manila. There is nothing really there that shows that we are out there to be part, were trying to be part of a game or a war," Romualdez pointed out. "Our role is only to defend our territory and to be able to use our territory to deter any conflict that may arise from all of these things happening in the West Philippine Sea or the South China Sea, he added. (CNN) Donald Trump appeared for a deposition Thursday as part of a high-stakes civil case brought by New York state against the former US president, some of his children and his sprawling business empire. The former president answered numerous questions in the deposition with the New York attorney general's office, a source familiar with the matter said, sitting for nearly seven hours plus breaks. The lawsuit, brought last September by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, alleges that Trump, his children Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump, and the Trump Organization were involved in an expansive scheme lasting over a decade by providing false financial statements to lenders and others that the former president used to enrich himself. The suit is seeking $250 million and bans on the Trumps' ability to operate a business in the state. The case is set for trial in October. The Trumps have denied wrongdoing. The former president's deposition is part of the discovery process of the case, and his attorney said earlier Thursday that he was prepared to answer James' questions a notable departure from his refusal to respond to questions from her team during a deposition that occurred a month before the suit was filed. "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," Trump's attorney, Alina Habba, said in a statement. James was in the room for at least some of the meeting, the source said. In a civil case, if a defendant asserts the Fifth Amendment, the jury can make what's known as an "adverse inference" and place weight against Trump for refusing to answer questions. Thursday's appearance marked the first time Trump has been back in New York since he pleaded not guilty last week in Manhattan criminal court to 34 charges of falsifying business records following an investigation into hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. After Trump's first sit-down in August, the former president and his legal team have been able to glean more knowledge about the allegations against him because documents and other materials have been turned over to them. Trump's three children named in the case were also deposed by the attorney general's office last year, with Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr., both providing answers to prosecutors, while Eric Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment right in 2020 in response to more than 500 questions. In a new campaign video released Thursday, Trump said that if elected he would appoint 100 new US attorneys to fight what he described as "Communist corruption," as he railed against the US justice system and made baseless claims of bias by district attorneys across the nation. The former president argued district attorneys and their staff in Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles should be subpoenaed without providing any explanation or evidence for such an action. He promised to "completely overhaul the federal Department of Justice and FBI" and launch "sweeping civil rights investigations into Marxist local District Attorneys." He also said there would be a "complete investigation into the use of police state tactics by federal authorities to arrest conservatives and Christians." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Trump appeared for deposition in high-stakes civil lawsuit threatening the fate of his business empire" 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 The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) plans to launch a dedicated task force to investigate ChatGPT after a number of European privacy watchdogs raised concerns about whether the technology is compliant with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Europe's national privacy regulators said on Thursday that the decision came following discussions about recent enforcement action undertaken by the Italian data protection authority against OpenAI regarding its ChatGPT service. In a statement posted on its website, the EDPB said the task force was intended to foster cooperation and to exchange information on possible enforcement actions conducted by data protection authorities. Last month, Italys data privacy regulator issued a temporary ban against ChatGPT over alleged privacy violations relating to the chatbots collection and storage of personal data. Italy's guarantor for the protection of personal data ordered the temporary halt on the processing of Italian users data by ChatGPTs parent firm OpenAI, unless it complied with EU privacy laws. In order to have the service reinstated, the Italian guarantor outlined a list of data protection requirements that OpenAI must comply with, including increased transparency into how ChatGPT processes data, the right for nonusers to opt out of having their data processed, and an age-gating system for signing up to the service. In the wake of the ban, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman tweeted: We of course defer to the Italian government and have ceased offering ChatGPT in Italy (though we think we are following all privacy laws). The discussion of ChatGPT was added to the EDPB's agenda following a request from the Spanish Agency for Data Protection (AEPD), which asked for the matter to be included in the EDPBs plenary meeting. Since then, the AEPD has further announced it has initiated an investigation into OpenAI for a possible breach of regulations, and would be coordinating with its European counterparts on the committee. Elsewhere in Europe, CNIL, the French privacy watchdog, is also reportedly investigating five complaints against the chatbot, including one made by Eric Botheral, a member of the National Asembly France's lower house of Parliament who represents the Cotes d'Armor. Despite the concerns, while France's Digital Minister Jean-Noel Barrot thinks ChatGPT doesn't respect privacy laws, in an interview with La Tribune, he ultimately argued against banning it. OPenAI has not responded to requests for comment. South Africa: Health anti-corruption forum makes progress The Special Investigating Unit has instituted civil proceedings worth some R1.6 billion as part of the Health Sector Anti-Corruption Forums (HSACF) role in fighting corruption in the healthcare system. The forum includes civil society, law enforcement agencies, regulators, government and the private sector with the corruption busting unit as its chair. According to the unit, the R1.6 billion currently before the courts includes approximately R500 million that is linked to an investigation in the affairs of the Office of the State Attorney on medical negligence claims and legal service claims. This is related to legal practitioners who rendered services to the Gauteng and Eastern Cape health departments. One of the legal practitioners being pursued by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is Advocate Hassan Ebrahim Kajee, who served as a lawyer for the Office of the State Attorney. Kajee was arrested early this month on various charges of fraud. [The] SIU investigation revealed that Adv. Kajee inflated invoices, invoiced for services not actually rendered and overcharged for alleged services rendered. The SIU has instituted civil action in the Special Tribunal against Adv. Kajee to recover approximately R27 million for damages suffered by the State, the SIU said. Other highlights for the HSACF include: The Fusion Centre, which reported to the HSACF, made recoveries on 10 of 76 medical matters with a grand total of approximately R445 million. The Forum has received a report of 51 matters in court, with 45 matters resulting in convictions. Some 29 allegations of corruption that were referred to the HSACF have resulted in formal investigations More than 100 officials have been referred for disciplinary action Some 30 referrals have been made to the National Prosecuting Authority for further action Despite having only 10 meetings since its inception almost five years ago, the HSACF has made inroads in collaborating with international bodies such as United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The partnershipaims to implement corruption prevention initiatives in the health sector, which include strengthening whistleblowing mechanism and corruption risk assessments. The collaboration also includes a pilot project that will be implemented on strengthening the internal whistleblowing/reporting channels and National Department of Health where corruption risk assessments will be implemented around procurement. With just less than three years until the planned implementation of the National Health Insurance, the HSACF will ensure that there is minimal room for corruption in both the public and private health sectors and help ensure that South Africans have access to a functioning and stable healthcare system, the SIU said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. We Are China Amazing colorful land in Xinjiang (People's Daily App) 15:33, April 14, 2023 Behold the art works of Nature at the Kalamaili Nature Reserve, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Produced by Gao Yuan and Dong Feng; Source: Shijie app-Shilou) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) 04/14/2023 Photo (c) Xavier Lorenzo - Getty Images We were warned. Technology experts said emerging artificial intelligence (AI) will make dangerous scams even more terrifying. Its already happened in Arizona. Jennifer DeStefano of Scottsdale, Ariz. almost let the call from the unfamiliar number go to voicemail, but her 15-year-old daughter was on a ski trip and she worried there might have been an accident. When she answered the phone she was subjected to a parents worst nightmare. In an interview with local TV stations, DeStefano said the first thing she heard was her daughters voice, distraught and sobbing. When the alarmed mother asked what happened, the voice said she had messed up, and continued crying. DeStefano said a man came on the line, saying Ive got your daughter and threatened harm to her daughter if she called the police. All the while she said she heard her daughter in the background, crying and asking for help. 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 told the stations. I never doubted for one second it was her. Deepfake But it wasnt. A scammer had recorded the teenagers voice, most likely from a social media video. They were able to then reproduce the voice, down to tone and inflection, and have it say whatever they wanted it to say. Sandy Fliderman, CTO at Industry Fintech, says deep fakes like the one DeStefano experienced are dangerous and will become more common. Deep fakes are AI-generated videos and voices that impersonate real people like celebrities, politicians, and in recent cases, bankers, Fliderman recently told us. As AI primarily learns more about individuals through social media, like family and pet names, they can also generate what are more likely to be correct passwords. DeStefanos story has a happy ending. While the kidnapper was lowering his ransom demands from $1 million to $50,000 DeStefanos friends called 911 as well as her husband, who called his daughter and found she was relaxing in her room. Slow things down AI is going to make this emotionally-charged scam even more dangerous but there are some things to consider if this happens to you. Law enforcement experts say the first thing you should do is slow things down. Ask questions. The scammers may know some things about the supposed victim but if the victim is not in their possession, there will likely be questions they cant answer, or will answer incorrectly. Heres another red flag: if the call comes from an unfamiliar area code its less likely to be real. A scammer will also go to great lengths to keep you on the line so you cant check on the whereabouts of the person they say they are holding for ransom. Back in 1967, a vice president at CBS told Carol Burnett that variety comedy was the province of men like Sid Caesar, Milton Berle, Jackie Gleason and Dean Martin not women. In two weeks, Burnetts retrospective special, Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love, premieres on NBC. Neither Caesar, Berle, Gleason, Martin nor presumably that vice president will be watching. Before Saturday Night Live started its half-century reign as broadcast televisions dominant sketch show, the singing, dancing, character-breaking Carol Burnett Show was one of the hottest tickets in live variety television. Over its 11 seasons, Burnetts variety hour accrued 25 total Emmys despite occasionally shaky ratings as the chaotic show charged forward year after year, powered by its stars unrelenting engine and endless enthusiasm for fun. At almost 90 years old, Burnett isnt done getting her laughs, even though a certain executive thought she never should have stood at center stage in the first place. As Burnett told The Hollywood Reporter, in 1962, CBS put her on a 10-year contract that assigned her regular performance responsibilities on various shows and gave her the option to broadcast 30 hour-long shows whenever she decided she was ready. However, when she tried to cash in, she was told that a woman could never lead her own variety series. Her Mark Twain Prize disagrees. Play Advertisement Fresh off her success on The Garry Moore Show, Burnett was angling toward a lead role when she signed on for a full decade with the broadcast channel. The big thing in the contract is that if I wanted to push the button, CBS would have to give me 30 one-hour variety shows a year, Burnett explained, Theyd have to put them on the air whether they wanted to or not. However, when Burnett decided to hold CBS to their word, she was given some pushback. As Burnett recalled, At the end of the fifth year, during the holidays, I made a phone call to one of the vice presidents at CBS in New York, and I said, Im calling to push that button. Their response was a surprising rejection: The next day, he called back and said, Carol, comedy variety is a mans game. Its Sid Caesar, its Milton Berle, its Jackie Gleason, its Dean Martin. Its really not for you gals. And thats why we have contracts. Advertisement Undeterred, Burnett moved forward with her plans for a series whether CBS liked it or not. In spite of the sexism she faced simply in getting the show off the ground, Burnett never fell into the vindictive trap of trying to shove her success in her doubters faces, saying, I never felt any pressure (to prove them wrong). We had a well-oiled machine from the very beginning. We knew what we were doing. And I just told everybody to not think about the future. If we had fun, the audience would have fun. Advertisement Almost 60 years later, the fun hasnt stopped. Now a happily retired legend living in Santa Barbara, California, Burnett recently dusted off her dancing shoes for one last romp, as she shot all two hours of Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love in front of a live audience as an early birthday party for herself, to be aired on her actual birthday this April 26th. But Burnetts propensity for parody still leaves her wanting more when asked if she has a dream satire subject whom she would skewer in a sketch if she still had the variety show, she replied, Cate Blanchett in Tar! Oh my, that would be fun for me. Someone should call NBC to set that up, since apparently the CBS suits cant be trusted with Burnetts Tarrific ideas. Hooks co-stars Julia (Designing Women) Duffy and Julia (SNL) Sweeney co-signed, confirming Hooks off-screen rants. But while Harris says that Hooks was off the record when she tore Jackson to shreds, the comic had no problem telling others exactly how she felt. Advertisement Victoria Jackson? I thought she had a pretty good gig. I just have a particular repulsion to grown women who talk like little girls, she said on the record in Live from New York: The Complete Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live. Its like, Youre a grown woman! Use your lower register! Jackson didnt really get Hooks either. At a cast meeting to discuss improving the show, Jackson put Hooks and Nora Dunn on blast. Victoria ended up standing on a chair and said Nora was a bitch, remembered writer Terry Turner. And she turned to Jan and said, And you, youre the devil. Jackson tried to convert cast members while she was still on the show, gifting everyone audio Bibles for Christmas one year. That didnt surprise that bitch, Dunn. I dont understand anyone who plays a character in real life unless theyre having an intellectual discussion, which I never had with Victoria. When I met her, I was surprised that there was not much difference between what she did in front of the camera and what happened off camera, Dunn told Salon. For me, it tried my patience. Al Franken told Jackson to knock it off with the airhead persona, complaining that he was offended by her ditzy act. Maybe Im overcompensating, Jackson said, because everybody here is dying and going to Hell, and Im supposed to tell them about Jesus. According to Jackson, Franken went white, and he never talked to me again. Hooks didnt have much to do with her either. I never really got her, Hooks said. I dont know, she was like from Mars to me. Trade of stolen ChatGPT account credentials, especially those of the premium accounts, is on a rise on the dark web since March, enabling cybercriminals to get around OpenAIs geofencing restrictions and get unlimited access to ChatGPT, according to research by Check Point. During the last month, CPR (Check Point Research) observed an increase in the chatter in underground forums related to leaking or selling compromised ChatGPT premium accounts, Check Point said in a blog post. Mostly those stolen accounts are being sold, but some of the actors also share stolen ChatGPT premium accounts for free, to advertise their own services or tools to steal the accounts. Several criminal activities around ChatGPT Researchers have observed various kinds of discussions and trades related to ChatGPT on the dark web over the past month. The latest activity on the dark web in terms of ChatGPT includes leak and free publication of credentials of ChatGPT accounts, and trade of stolen premium ChatGPT accounts. Cybercriminals are also trading brute forcing and checkers tools for ChatGPT. These tools allow cybercriminals to hack into ChatGPT accounts by running huge lists of email addresses and passwords, trying to guess the right combination to access existing accounts. Also on offer is ChatGPT account as a service a dedicated service that offers to open ChatGPT premium accounts most likely using stolen payment cards, Check Point said in its blog. SilverBullet configuration on sale Cybercriminals are also offering a configuration file for SilverBullet that allows checking a set of credentials for OpenAIs platform in an automated way, Check Point said. SilverBullet is a web testing suite that allows users to perform requests toward a target web application. The same is used by cybercriminals as well to conduct credential stuffing and account checking attacks against different websites, and thus steal accounts for online platforms. In the case of ChatGPT, researchers said, this enables them to steal accounts on scale. The process is fully automated and can initiate between 50 to 200 checks per minute. Also, it supports proxy implementation which in many cases allows it to bypass different protections on the websites against such attacks. Another cybercriminal who focuses only on abuse and fraud against ChatGPT products, even named himself gpt4. In his threads, he offers for sale not only ChatGPT accounts but also a configuration for another automated tool that checks a credentials validity, Check Point said. Lifetime upgrade to ChatGPT Plus An English-speaking cybercriminal started advertising a ChatGPT Plus lifetime account service, with 100% satisfaction guaranteed on March 20th, Check Point said. The lifetime upgrade of a regular ChatGPT Plus account opened via email provided by the buyer costs $59.99 while OpenAIs original legitimate pricing of this service is $20 per month. However, to reduce the costs, this underground service also offers an option to share access to ChatGPT account with another cybercriminal for $24.99, for a lifetime, Check Point said. What can be achieved with stolen ChatGPT account credentials? There is a huge demand for stolen credentials of premium ChatGPT accounts as it can help cybercriminals surpass the geofencing restrictions imposed by it. ChatGPT has geofencing restrictions that restrict the use of the service in certain geographies such as Iran, Russia, and China. However, using the ChatGPT API, cybercriminals can bypass the restrictions and use the premium accounts as well, Check Point said. Another potential use for cybercriminals is to gain personal information. ChatGPT accounts store the recent queries of the accounts owner. So, when cybercriminals steal existing accounts, they gain access to the queries from the accounts original owner. This can include personal information, details about corporate products and processes, and more, Check Point said in the blog. In March, Microsoft-backed OpenAI revealed that a Redis client open source library bug had led to a ChatGPT outage and data leak, where users could see other users personal information and chat queries. Chat queries and personal information such as subscriber names, email addresses, payment addresses, and partial credit card information of approximately 1.2% of ChatGPT Plus subscribers were exposed, the company acknowledged. Privacy concerns around ChatGPT There have been various privacy and security concerns around ChatGPT coming forward in the last few months. Italys data privacy regulator has already banned ChatGPT over alleged privacy violations relating to the chatbots collection and storage of personal data. The authorities said they will lift the temporary ban on ChatGPT if OpenAI met a set of data protection requirements by April 30. The German data protection commissioner has also warned that ChatGPT may face a potential block in Germany due to data security concerns. Meanwhile, earlier this week, OpenAI, announced a bug bounty program inviting the global community of security researchers, ethical hackers, and technology enthusiasts to help the company identify and address vulnerabilities in its generative artificial intelligent systems. OpenAI will hand out cash rewards ranging from $200 for low-severity findings to up to $20,000 for exceptional discoveries. The Ritz was a landmark restaurant in my hometown. For some, it was known as the local go-to spot for fine dining. I coined it, snazzy the place when you wanted a good steak smothered in mushrooms, or a giant bowl of steamy chicken noodle soup. The walls were painted puce with pock-marked indentations deliberately chiseled to appear like au courant decor. White cloths fell to the floor, covering the rickety mahogany table legs. Waiters dressed in formal attire leaned against the back wall, ready to attend to diners needs at a moments notice. My parents favorite waiter was Gus, who made it immediately known that he disliked children. When my parents and I dined at the Ritz, I dressed up, feeling that such a festive occasion deserved fashionable couture. It was where I gorged on dinner rolls slathered in salty butter, where my dad drank whiskey sours, and Mom, Brandy Alexanders, which got her tipsy after three sips. Before I knew it was gauche, I asked for ketchup with my meatloaf while Gus, the flat-footed waiter in his flat black shoes and greasy black pompadour frowned down at me at such an egregious request, Dad saying; give the kid what she wants. One evening, Gus dropped dead carrying a tray to where the buxom blonde sat with her gangster boyfriend. After that, I never again asked for ketchup with my meatloaf. Such iconic restaurants remain with us always. So, it was here where an ordinary weekday night became a celebratory event. To me, the Ritz seemed magical. Not to be confused with the Ritz Paris or The Ritz in London, it was my hometowns answer to sophisticated dining. During my formative years, before I came to know differently, dinner there felt grownup and well, ritzy. I enjoyed these mid-week excursions when an evening out was a departure from my usual routine. As soon as my homework was completed, we went downtown for dinner. In that way, the Ritz represented liberation. It was a reprieve from my moms cooking to being part of a group activity, which felt exciting and important. Even though grander places existed, the Ritz was in a class by itself. On any given night the clientele varied. Mostly families gathered there, but on occasion, stripe-suited men in white ties and pinky rings sat at a table planning their next business venture. A silver handgun peeked out from inside a pocket. Once, I caught one of them cleaning his teeth with the edge of his switchblade, an image so horrifically vivid, I have never been able to relinquish. Catching me ogling, a man in a wide-brimmed hat glanced over at me and winked. I smiled back believing I was one of them: a gun moll to their bad boy personae. In that way, the Ritz felt seductively dangerous and less family-oriented, which titillated me more than any child deserved to be. Stop staring, my mother finally admonished, and I was back to being my pubescent and boring self once again, my fantasies floating off into oblivion. For me, the Ritz was the Grande Dame of downtowns little jewel, close enough to the movie theater where on rare occasions, attending an apres dinner film became an addendum to the evenings repertoire. The Ritz followed me through my childhood and adolescence. It was part of my early journey en route to adulthood. It was a constant fixture that never failed me, but provided some of the most memorable times I still recall with acute mental alacrity the snapshots so compelling, I carry them with me still. The strawberry shortcake rose high above the plate like a haughty dame unabashedly flaunting herself. The cheesecake rivaled even Lindys. Roast beef was my dads chosen option, while my mother enjoyed a delicate piece of salmon, sprinkled liberally with fresh lemon. I always ordered the meatloaf, preceded by a Shirley Temple, which made me feel so adult. After dinner, cigarettes were de rigueur, as smoke curled up and around the large room before anyone knew how bad smoking was. The Ritz was part of more innocent times. The watering hole we turned to with familiar regularity. Even now, when I am tempted to squirt ketchup on a bland edible offering, I think of our waiter Gus with his judgmental scowl, and I keep the ketchup bottle at bay, except when it can be appropriately applied to french fries, or to the fancier Pommes Frites. Those halcyon Ritz days are so far removed from the alternate universe we now inhabit. They were the sweet days of my youth when my worst dining faux pas was ketchup. When I was young and full of future longings. A time when a simple ice cream sundae was synonymous with gaiety. In those ways, the restaurant represented all that was right with the world, as I sat there with my mom, and dad, feeling safer than I ever have since. I have traveled to many countries, sampling their indigenous foods. My palate has evolved to more discerning dishes from meatloaf. I can order a meal in French, and I know that pamplemousse is not a dessert. My tastebuds now dance to more sophisticated selections. I can put together a decent cassoulet. I have eaten rattlesnake. I appreciate a fine bottle of wine. Yet, when I rewind the culinary tapes of my youth, my mind wanders back to the Ritz, where I felt oh-so-glamorous, as I sat there in my burgundy velvet dress with the white lace collar, thinking that life could never get better than this. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ROME (AP) Italy is investigating how a Russian businessman escaped from house arrest near Milan to avoid extradition to the United States on sanctions-breaking charges. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio has ordered a probe into the decision by court officials in Milan to transfer Artyom Uss from jail to house arrest in a nearby town while Italys justice system decided on the U.S. extradition request, Italian news reports said on Friday. Uss, 40, was detained on a US warrant in October 2022 at Milan Malpensa airport, where he was about to travel to Turkey for a connecting flight to Russia. In November, he was moved to house arrest from jail. He apparently removed an electronic monitoring bracelet and escaped from Italy on March 22, a day after a Milan court recognized as legitimate the U.S. extradition request. He resurfaced in Russia in early April. Investigators believe he was driven away shortly after breaking the monitoring device, crossed into neighboring Slovenia thanks to false identity documents and then traveled on to Serbia, where he purportedly caught a flight to Moscow, Italian daily Corriere della Sera said. Uss father, a regional governor in Russia, thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin in a video for his sons return to his homeland, Italian media reported. On Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, flanked by officials from the intelligence service and the Cabinet, appeared before a closed-door hearing of a standing parliamentary committee on intelligence, whose members asked about the dynamics of the escape. For security reasons, committee members arent supposed to reveal details of the hearings to reporters. News reports said lawmakers declined to comment publicly as they left. Italian media said Meloni ruled out any responsibility by her government for the escape. The United States is seeking Uss extradition on charges of smuggling Western technology in violation of Western sanctions and of money laundering. Corriere della Sera claimed Uss was suspected of involvement in contraband operations to ship millions of barrels of oil from Venezuela to Russia and China. Turin daily La Stampa, citing unidentified Milan justice officials, said that investigators contend that perhaps at least half-dozen individuals, all from eastern Europe, were involved in aiding the escape. Citing Milan court documents, Italian news agency ANSA said on Friday that Italys justice ministry had sought to assuage U.S. justice officials concerns in a letter in early December over the transfer to house arrest by saying Uss was outfitted with an electronic monitoring device. According to Corriere della Sera, U.S. authorities in late November had alerted Italian justice ministry officials to the risk that Uss could flee. 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) The Justice Department on Friday announced charges against more than two dozen members of Mexicos powerful Sinaloa cartel, including sons of notorious drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, in a sprawling fentanyl-trafficking investigation. The three Guzman sons charged Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar are known as the Chapitos, or little Chapos, and have earned a reputation as the more violent and aggressive faction of the cartel. Of the three, only Guzman Lopez is in custody, in Mexico. Attorney General Merrick Garland, standing alongside Drug Enforcement Administration chief Anne Milgram and other top federal prosecutors, unveiled the indictments in three districts aimed at hitting the cartels global network. The defendants span a broad swath of a complex manufacturing and supply network. They include Chinese and Guatemalan citizens accused of supplying precursor chemicals required to make fentanyl, as well as those suspected of running drug labs in Mexico and others accused of providing security, weapons and illicit financing for the drug trafficking operation. The wide-ranging case comes as the U.S. remains in the grip of a devastating overdose crisis largely by fentanyl poisonings. Nearly 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in the U.S. in 2021, a record-setting number. Fentanyl seizures by U.S. Customs and Border Protection have increased by more than 400% since 2019, officials said, and this fiscal year's seizures have already surpassed the total for all of 2022. Most of the fentanyl trafficked in the United States comes from the Sinaloa cartel, the Drug Enforcement Administration says. Families and communities across our country are being devastated by the fentanyl epidemic, Garland said. We will never forget those who bear responsibility for this tragedy. And we will never stop working to hold them accountable for their crimes in the United States. The Sinaloa cartels notorious drug lord, known as El Chapo, was convicted in 2019 of running an industrial-scale smuggling operation. At Guzman's trial, prosecutors said evidence gathered since the late 1980s showed he and his murderous cartel made billions of dollars by smuggling tons of cocaine, heroin, meth and marijuana into the U.S. A defiant Guzman accused the federal judge in his case of making a mockery of the U.S. justice system and claimed he was denied a fair trial. In outlining the charges Friday, Garland described the violence of the Sinaloa cartel and how its members have tortured perceived enemies, including Mexican law enforcement officials. That has included people fed to tigers owned by Guzman's sons, sometimes while the victims were still alive, Garland said. Eight of those charged have been arrested and remain in the custody of law enforcement officials in Colombia, Greece, Guatemala and the U.S., Milgram said. The U.S. government is offering rewards for several others charged in the case, including up to $10 million for Guzman's other two sons. Friday's indictments were filed in New York, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. Along with the five defendants from China and Guatemala accused of supplying the cartel with precursor chemicals, two Chinese firms were also sanctioned by the U.S. Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control Friday. U.S. government officials are pressing Chinese officials to do more to stem the shipment of those chemicals. With Washington-Beijing relations strained, the Biden administration says it has looked to allies in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere to make clear to China that the issue is a global problem, according to senior Biden administration officials who briefed reporters following the announcement of the indictment. Ovidio Guzman Lopez, one of Guzman's sons, was arrested in January in the Sinaloa capital of Culiacan. Ovidio Guzman, nicknamed the Mouse, had not been one of El Chapos better-known sons until an aborted operation to capture him three years earlier. This time Mexico successfully got Guzman out of Culiacan. In 2019, authorities had him, but they released him after his gunmen began shooting up the city. Some 30 people among authorities and suspected gunmen died in the operation, which unleashed hours of shootouts shutting down the citys airport. The U.S. government is currently awaiting the younger Guzmans extradition. Ovidio Guzman Lopez and another brother, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, allegedly helped move the Sinaloa cartel hard into methamphetamines, producing prodigious quantities in large labs. They were previously indicted in 2018 in Washington on drug trafficking charges. The other two sons, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, are believed to have been running cartel operations together with Ismael El Mayo Zambada. They were previously also charged in the U.S. in Chicago and San Diego. Zambada had been rumored to be be in poor health and isolated in the mountains leading the sons to try to assert a stronger role to keep the cartel together. The DEA said it investigated the case in 10 countries: Australia, Austria, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Greece, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and the United States. Death and destruction are central to their whole operation, Milgram said of the cartel. Todays indictments strike a blow against the Chapitos and the global network they operate, a network that fuels violence and death on both sides of the border. ___ Sherman reported from Mexico City. Associated Press writers Fatima Hussein and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this story. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KYIV, Ukraine (AP) The battle for Bakhmut is heating up again, analysts and Russian officials said Friday, as Ukrainian defenders of the devastated city resisted a coordinated three-pronged attack by the Kremlins forces and efforts to stop supplies from reaching them. Russia has re-energized its assault on Bakhmut, the U.K. Ministry of Defense said of recent developments in the eastern Ukraine city, which for eight and a half months has been the stage for the war s longest and bloodiest fight. The Ukrainian defense still holds the western districts of the town but has been subjected to particularly intense Russian artillery fire over the previous 48 hours, the ministry's assessment said. Until recently, a notorious private Russian military contractor, the Wagner Group, spearheaded the campaign to take Bakhmut, making slow, grinding progress at the cost of thousands of lives on both sides. Now, regular Russian units have joined the thrust. Military analysts have said that seizing Bakhmut would have public relations and tactical military value for Moscow though it would be unlikely to prove decisive in the wars outcome. The Russian Defense Ministry also noted the stepped-up fighting in western parts of the city Friday. Wagner assault detachments are engaged in high-intensity combat operations to capture areas of western Bakhmut with airborne forces supporting on the flanks, the ministry said in a statement. It added: The units of the airborne forces operating on the flanks are providing support to the assault squads and stop the enemys attempts to deliver ammunition to the city and bring in reserves. Bakhmut lies in Donetsk province, one of four provinces Russia illegally annexed last fall. Moscow controls about half of the province. Bakhmut is a stepping stone to seizing the remaining half. Ukrainian officials have said theyre buying time by depleting Russian forces in the battle while Kyiv prepares a counteroffensive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy argues that if Russia wins the Bakhmut battle, Russian President Vladimir Putin might be able to begin building international support for a deal that would require Ukraine to make unacceptable compromises to end the war. The Ukrainian presidents office said Friday that fighting over the previous 24 hours in Bakhmut destroyed two kindergartens and residential buildings. The city already resembles a ghost town. The British military observed that regular Russian troops have increasingly joined the battle. Wagner assault groups continue to conduct the main advance through the center of town, while Russian airborne forces have relieved some Wagner units securing the northern and southern flanks of the operation, the British military said on Twitter. It noted, however, that though the Ukrainian defenders have significant resupply issues their withdrawals from Bakhmut positions have been made in an orderly fashion. Fighting continued elsewhere in the Donetsk region that includes Bakhmut. Five people were killed when Russian missiles struck the city of Sloviansk on Friday, said regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Earlier, the presidential office said at least three civilians were killed and nine wounded from Thursday to Friday. ___ Associated Press Writer Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Poverty reaches into every Connecticut community all 169 of its cities and towns. It forces people into impossible choices, with urgent everyday needs taking priority over long-term saving. It creates a cycle that travels from parent to child, cutting off paths to economic advancement for multiple generations. As leaders of many of those Connecticut municipalities, we have an obligation to help break that cycle. Every child in our state deserves to grow up to find a world of opportunity and a fair chance at success. Helping to lift people out of poverty is our moral obligation as elected officials, but also an important strategy to empower our local economies. CT Baby Bonds, a state law passed in 2021, will invest $3,200 on behalf of each Connecticut child born into poverty. Those investments will grow over time to an estimated $11,000-$24,000 when those children become young adults. Between the ages of 18-30, the funds can be used for targeted purposes that help individuals build wealth: to buy a home in Connecticut, start or invest in a Connecticut business, pay for college or training program, or help save for retirement. This program is a creative way to combat poverty from border to border. It invests directly in our young people, giving them resources to help build a better future for themselves here in Connecticut regardless of the financial circumstances of their parents. We know that town boundaries often hide the struggles of some of the families who live there. CT Baby Bonds offers opportunity to children who need it, without considering their ZIP Code. The potential for our communities is significant, particularly in areas of the state that have seen population decline and underinvestment in recent decades. These resources would give residents the chance to reshape local economies by buying homes and starting businesses in the places they already live. Unlike some traditional economic development methods that target investments at specific areas or industries, this broadly levels the playing field, supplying young students and entrepreneurs with the capital required to build wealth of their own and fully participate in the economy. To access the funds, you must be a Connecticut resident at the time. That criteria will encourage families today and young people in the future to stay in-state, an important goal as we work to retain and grow our states population that will also benefit our local colleges, universities and training programs. The benefits are clear, but funding for the program is not. Lawmakers at the State Capitol are currently working toward a solution for how the initial investments should be funded. We encourage them to be creative and collaborative in finding a solution and not to delay. Under the law, eligibility will open to children born beginning this July. This program needs to begin on time. As municipal leaders, we know that good policy is a promise unfulfilled until it is funded. CT Baby Bonds is not a silver bullet to solving poverty, but a tool that can be utilized as part of our larger commitment to make life in our state more prosperous and secure. That strategy should include increased funding for education including special education and fully funding municipal aid programs. It should include transportation and other infrastructure to make life in our state less expensive and more convenient. But it must also include long-term investments in our young people that will help to keep them engaged and provide them a path out of intergenerational poverty. CT Baby Bonds stays true to our shared goals to build a skilled workforce and spur statewide economic growth. We need to match our urgent and ongoing efforts to combat poverty with meaningful investments to address its root causes. The 18-year runway between birth and eligibility presents an opportunity to also support and engage with parents today, connecting them with workforce development training and social services, including housing and healthcare support. It also gives our local school systems another tool to keep students engaged and hopeful knowing that resources await them. CT Baby Bonds can transform what the future of our communities looks like and give our residents tools to lift themselves out of poverty. We shouldnt miss this opportunity. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DIGHTON, Mass. (AP) The Massachusetts Air National Guardsman accused of leaking highly classified documents had set his sights on joining the military from an early age. But more recently he had expressed disillusionment about having enlisted. Jack Teixeira, 21, was charged Friday in U.S. District Court in Boston with unauthorized removal and retention of classified and national defense information a breach that has caused an international uproar and exposed explicit U.S. assessments on the war in Ukraine and other closely held secrets. A magistrate judge ordered Teixeira held until a detention hearing next week. Teixeira grew up in Dighton, a rural community south of Boston that is dotted with single-family homes interspersed with small farms. His mother's home sits down a long driveway in heavy woods. A florist, she sometimes puts out a flower cart by the side of the road, selling bouquets on the honor system. Two of his classmates told The Boston Globe that Teixeira revered the military and showed an early interest in joining. He was especially focused on the history of war and weapons. From a young age, I remember he would have a book on, I believe, U.S. military aircrafts, armaments, like a real big textbook, John Powell told the Globe. Though Powell remembered Teixeira being bullied in middle school, he told the newspaper that the young man was an optimist and sweetheart, with an especially close relationship with his stepdad, an Air Force veteran. High school classmate Kailani Reis told the newspaper Teixeira was super quiet and gave off loner vibes," while another classmate, Sarah Arnold, told AP she remembered him as being quiet and keeping to himself. Teixeira enlisted in the Air National Guard in September 2019, according to military records. He graduated from Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School the following year, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the school to close and go virtual. It was during the pandemic that Teixeira developed a close relationship with other members of a chat room on the social media platform Discord, where members of the group have said the leaks showed up. The chat app is used by video gamers and others to connect online. A member of the Discord chat group spoke to AP about the conversations, but declined to give his name, citing concerns for his personal safety. The group, called Thug Shaker Central, drew people who talked about their favorite types of guns and shared memes and jokes, some of them racist and anti-Semitic, the person told the AP. The group also included a running discussion about Russias invasion of Ukraine. For months, a member nicknamed the O.G. posted reams of classified material, said the Discord member who confirmed that O.G. was Teixeira. Teixeira liked to chat about guns, was an observant Christian and would often pray with group members, the fellow member said. In recent months, Teixeira had become disillusioned about the U.S. military and had begun to express regret (about) joining, the person said. He even said hed kick my ass if I thought about joining. Teixeira also worried the federal government had become too powerful, according to the Discord user. The chat group member said he wasnt sure why Teixeira enlisted, but believed he needed money for college. He added that O.G. was skilled at making memes. He was good at his craft. He was good with, you know, Photoshop, the group member told AP, adding that Teixeira was never a very, super serious guy, usually was all like laughs and giggles." Teixeira was recently promoted to Airman 1st Class and assigned to the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base, where his job was listed as a cyber transport systems journeyman. Despite his relatively low rank, the technology position would have given Teixeira responsibility for maintaining computer networks with access to classified information. Teixeira began active duty in October 2021, serving full time at the base, which is located on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Members of the Discord group described Teixeira as someone looking to show off, rather than being motivated by a desire to inform the public about U.S. military operations or to influence American policy. Without any evidence, some prominent people on the right have begun hailing Teixeira as someone who aimed to expose the Biden administration and prevent further U.S. involvement in the war in Ukraine. On Twitter, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, using the wrong first name, posted that Teixeira was white, male, christian, and antiwar. That makes him an enemy to the Biden regime. The Discord member told AP he did not believe Teixeira leaked documents to undermine the U.S. government or for an ideological reason. If I had to give a gauge on it, it would be more or less just some nerds wanting to glance over some stuff and compare and contrast and kind of have a little joke about it, he said, adding that, At the end of the day, I mean were just trying to have a fun time." ___ Merchant reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Jennifer McDermott in Dighton, Massachusetts, Ali Swenson in Seattle and Alan Suderman, Michael Bieseker and Richard Lardner in Washington contributed to this report. 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. 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. BROWNSTOWN, Ind. (AP) 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 didn't receive necessary care, a federal lawsuit alleges. 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. McLemore was placed in the jail's 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 McLemore's 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. 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. 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. The lawsuit filed over McLemore's 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 man's 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, Joshua's 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) A man who used a stolen riot shield to crush a police officer in a doorframe during the U.S. Capitol insurrection was sentenced on Friday to more than seven years in prison for his role in one of the most violent episodes of the Jan. 6 attack. Federal prosecutors had recommended a prison sentence of 15 years and eight months for Patrick McCaughey III, which would have been the longest sentence for a Capitol riot case by more than five years. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden sentenced McCaughey to seven years and six months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. The judge described McCaughey, 25, as a poster child of all that was dangerous and appalling about the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. Your actions are some of the most egregious crimes that were committed on that dark day, the judge told McCaughey. McCaughey, of Ridgefield, Connecticut, expressed shame for joining the mob of then-President Donald Trump's supporters who violated the Capitol. I'm sorry that I conducted myself less like a citizen and more like an animal that day, he said. McCaughey's 90-month sentence matches the second longest prison sentence so far for a Capitol riot defendant. Its the same length as the sentence that another judge handed down to Albuquerque Cosper Head, a Tennessee man who dragged Metropolitan Police Department Officer Michael Fanone into a crowd of rioters. Also on Friday, a Finksburg, Maryland, man pleaded guilty to assaulting an Associated Press photographer and police officers in separate attacks outside the Capitol on Jan. 6. Rodney Milstreed is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20. Chief Judge James Boasberg told Milstreed, 56, that the estimated sentencing guidelines for his case recommend a term of imprisonment ranging from five years and three months to six years and six months. The judge in McCaughey's case convicted him of nine counts, including felony assault charges, after hearing trial testimony without a jury in September. Nine people, including McCaughey, were charged together with joining one of the most brutal clashes at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Police and rioters were fighting for control of a tunnel entrance on the Lower West Terrace when MPD Officer Daniel Hodges came face to face with McCaughey, who used a stolen riot shield to pin Hodges to a metal doorframe. Go home! McCaughey shouted at the officer. Hodges, who testified at McCaughey's trial and spoke at his sentencing hearing, said he thinks about the horrors of Jan. 6 every day. I do not foresee that changing anytime soon, he told the judge, describing McCaughey as a foot soldier who was at the vanguard of the assault. Hodges screamed out for help when another rioter grabbed the officer's baton and struck him in the face with it. "It was only then, over two minutes after the assault began, that McCaughey relented and pulled Officer Hodgess face shield down over his eyes," Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall wrote in a court filing. Hodges managed to retreat inside the Capitol building and was taken to a hospital. McCaughey struck a second officer with the shield before another officer sprayed him with a chemical irritant, backing him away. It is not an exaggeration to state the actions of these officers in thwarting the mob at the Lower West Terrace entrance potentially saved the lives of others, including members of Congress, Paschall wrote. The judge convicted McCaughey of obstructing an official proceeding, the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying Joe Biden's presidential election victory over Trump. Earlier this year, the judge sentenced four of McCaugheys co-defendants to terms of imprisonment ranging from 14 months to five years. Paschall argued that McCaughey's conduct was more "egregious and protracted" than the others'. A probation officer's calculation of the sentencing guidelines for McCaughey recommend a prison term ranging from nine years to 11 years and three months. McCaughey's attorneys requested a sentence of one year behind bars. They said McCaughey's reprehensible actions were motivated by his misunderstanding about the 2020 presidential election. Trump, the Republican incumbent, falsely claimed that Democrats stole the election from him. There remain many grifters out there who remain free to continue propagating the great lie that Trump won the election, Donald Trump being among the most prominent. Mr. McCaughey is not one of these individuals; he knows he was wrong, his lawyers wrote. McCaughey, a carpenter employed by his father's construction company, drove about 300 miles (480 kilometers) from his Connecticut home to Washington, D.C., to attend Trump's Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6. After listening to speeches, McCaughey went to the Capitol and joined other rioters in confronting police officers guarding the West Plaza. When the rioters broke through the police line, McCaughey climbed up the steps inside construction scaffolding and took a selfie atop the structure. Minutes later, he joined the mob in a coordinated heave-ho push against officers guarding the Lower West Terrace tunnel entrance. More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the deadly Jan. 6 riot. Over 600 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted after trials decided by a jury or a judge. Over 450 of them have been sentenced, with more than half getting terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 10 years. The 10-year prison sentence was for retired New York City police officer Thomas Webster, who was convicted by a jury of assaulting a Metropolitan Police Department officer with a metal flagpole. Asked for his reaction to McCaughey's sentence, Officer Hodges said it depends on what happens when his assailant is released from prison. We'll see if he's a changed man, Hodges said outside the courtroom. ___ Follow the AP's coverage of the U.S. Capitol insurrection at https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday he will not enter the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. In an interview with Fox News, the devoted ally and defender of Donald Trump opted out of a contest that would have put him into competition with his former commander in chief. The time is not right for me and my family, Pompeo said in a statement later posted to Twitter. At each stage of my public service as a soldier, as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and then as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and as your Secretary of State Ive been blessed to have the opportunity to advance America in a way that fit the time and the moment. This is not that time or that moment for me to seek elected office again. Pompeo seemed to leave the door open on a future run. To those of you this announcement disappoints, my apologies, Pompeo said. And to those of you this thrilled, know that Im 59 years old. There remain many more opportunities for which the timing might be more fitting as presidential leadership becomes even more necessary. Pompeo would have been the second former Trump Cabinet member to enter the race to challenge the former president for the 2024 GOP nomination, joining former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who announced her campaign in February. Former Vice President Mike Pence is also considering entering the race and has stepped up his travel and activity in early-voting primary and caucus states. In addition, biotech investor Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson have also announced campaigns. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina has launched a presidential exploratory committee as he considers his own bid. President Joe Biden has indicated he will seek reelection, tamping down any major challenges for the Democratic nomination. Where Haley and Pence have openly expressed differences with Trump, Pompeo has had no public split with Trump and hasn't been rebuked by the former president, as many of his would-be rivals have. Pompeo recently referred to Trump as a great boss. The former congressman graduated at the top of his class from the U.S. Military Academy in 1986 before spending five years on active duty, deployed for a time as a cavalry officer commanding tank movements along the border between NATO-backed Western Europe and Soviet-occupied Eastern Europe. The retired Army captain is a Harvard-educated lawyer who practiced law in Washington and founded two Wichita businesses an aerospace firm and later a petroleum equipment manufacturer before entering politics. Pompeo a witty and sometimes gruff politician easily won four consecutive terms in the U.S. House representing southern Kansas. He sat on the House Intelligence Committee as well as the select committee investigating the deadly 2012 attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya. Pompeo counts as among his proudest moments the 2020 Abraham Accords, declarations of support for peaceful relations among Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. He also points to the imposition of tariffs on China, direct talks with North Korea and the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement as pillars of Trumps America First theme he helped erect. The 2018 withdrawal from the Iran deal and imposition of crippling sanctions have prompted death threats against Pompeo, who remains under 24-hour security protection provided by the State Department. Much as I hate to sound like a traitor to my sex, I reckon the authors of a new guide have got it slightly wrong when they suggest the key to a long-lasting marriage is that the wife should always be careful to defer to her husband. The secret, in fact, is that she should lead him to believe he's the dominant partner in the relationship whereas, of course, in nine cases out of ten, unless the couples I know are atypical, this is the direct opposite of the truth. Such, anyway, has been my own experience of the 43 years since I led Mrs U to the altar. Though she likes to give me the impression that I call the shots, I've been under her thumb ever since. So it is that my wife has always tolerated my little weaknesses, with only the occasional complaint. She seldom fails to ask me what I'd like for my supper and always lets me choose what we should watch on TV whatever her own preferences may be. She also flatters my male ego by praising my prowess at cryptic crosswords, and asking my advice when she's stuck. Above all, as I may have observed before, she leaves me free to decide on the really big questions, such as the meaning of life, the rights and wrongs of nuclear disarmament and the solutions to the Irish Question and the perpetual crisis in the NHS. TOM UTLEY: The secret, in fact, is that she should lead him to believe he's the dominant partner in the relationship whereas, of course, in nine cases out of ten, unless the couples I know are atypical, this is the direct opposite of the truth. Pictured: Happy couple (stock image) Flattering In return, I let her look after the little decisions, such as how we should spend my money, where we should live, where our boys should go to school, how we should furnish and decorate our home and where we should go for our holidays. All the decisions that matter, in short. Strangely enough, despite her deference to my wishes, we also seem to end up eating the meals and watching the TV programmes of her choice, rather than mine. Ah, well, I'm far from the first saloon bar bore to confirm the wisdom of the old saying: 'Happy wife, happy life.' This minor quibble aside, the new guide to a lasting marriage The Rules Handbook, by Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider, which will be out later this year sounds to me like an excellent book. This is in spite of the fact (no, let's be honest, it's chiefly because of the fact) that it's guaranteed to infuriate militant feminists. Take this priceless snippet of advice to women who want to keep their man: 'When your husband says something stupid, say nothing back. Two wrongs don't make a right. Practise silence!' (Mrs U, please note.) Or this one: 'When you come home from work where you have a fancy title like senior VP of corporate marketing and investor relations and run a staff of 50 people, switch from masculine to feminine mode. Set the table and cook dinner, and ask him nicely to help clean up!' TOM UTLEY: I let her look after the little decisions, such as how we should spend my money, where we should live, where our boys should go to school, how we should furnish and decorate our home and where we should go for our holidays. Pictured: Couple laughing (stock image) Best of all: 'Just like dating isn't 100 per cent equal (the guy has to pursue you and propose), marriage isn't always either. [You must] both agree your husband/ partner is the decision maker and you are his key supportive team member . . . even if you make more money.' For the benefit of those who missed yesterday's Femail interview with the two authors, now aged 65 and 63, the new book is a sequel to their previous work, published amid a storm of controversy almost 30 years ago. Titled The Rules: Time-tested Secrets For Capturing The Heart Of Mr Right, this was a dating guide offering single women advice that many thought outdated even when it came out in 1995 though others, including Beyonce, testified that it worked for them. Among the tips it offered readers in search of husbands was the warning that they shouldn't talk to a man first, ask him to dance or offer to go Dutch on a date. They were also advised to play hard to get, on the age-old principle: 'Treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen.' Always end dates first, they were told, and only rarely answer a potential suitor's calls. If the man in question happened to be rich, 'don't show any interest in his career' and 'don't seem overly interested in his wealth or the limelight'. Hierarchy Unsurprisingly, Meghan Markle who so unconvincingly professed ignorance of Prince Harry's family background before she hooked him is widely believed to have been influenced by The Rules. Though the advice in the new book differs in many ways from that in the original, one factor remains constant. This is the authors' belief unfashionable these days, but in my opinion profoundly true that for biological reasons, men and women are fundamentally different, not only physically but psychologically. As The Rules Handbook puts it: 'There's a hierarchy that goes back to cavemen days. If you act too bossy or overbearing, you will emasculate your husband and your marriage will suffer, so let him take the lead role.' TOM UTLEY: This is the authors' belief unfashionable these days, but in my opinion profoundly true that for biological reasons, men and women are fundamentally different, not only physically but psychologically. Pictured: Couple (stock image) Call me old-fashioned, by all means, but I reckon that even among the most liberated modern couples, the man is much more inclined to feel humiliated if he's bossed about in public by his other half. Many will say this is all down to social conditioning. I reckon it has more to do with chromosomes. While I'm at it, I may as well confess that I hold all sorts of other opinions that my own generation, of both sexes (there are only two), would regard as common sense, but a vociferous minority might describe as shockingly outdated, or even hate-crimes. For example, I find it stark staring bonkers of the Leader of His Majesty's Opposition to suggest that roughly 0.1 per cent of women have penises a figure which would mean more than 34,000 British women are thus equipped. Indeed, I doff my cap to Rishi Sunak, who has been brave enough to point out that the correct figure for women with penises is zero. Similarly, I'm baffled by the modern mania for national breast-beating over the sins of our ancestors, long dead. Yes, we can all agree that slavery, once rife in just about every country in the world, and still practised in some today, both was and is an abominable evil. Wokery TOM UTLEY: Why are our children taught to be ashamed of their country by teachers who accentuate the negative when there is so much in our history to make them proud? Pictured: Old books (stock image) But what sets our country apart from the rest, surely, is that Britain led the crusade to abolish this vile trade, devoting vast quantities of blood and treasure to stamping it out. Why are our children taught to be ashamed of their country by teachers who accentuate the negative when there is so much in our history to make them proud? Indeed, I find it deeply depressing that our new, well-meaning King has climbed aboard the breast-beaters' bandwagon, ordering an inquiry into the Royal Family's historical links with slavery, with a view to the possibility of paying reparations. I dread to think how many other inquiries he'll feel he has to set up when he learns that some of his predecessors tortured and killed Roman Catholics, while others burned Protestants at the stake, lopped off the heads of inconvenient wives, persecuted Scots and Irishmen or seized huge tracts of property belonging to others. But here's a thought that brings me back to The Rules Handbook, with its old-fashioned notions of how women can get what they want by pandering to the egos of their menfolk. I'm thinking of Queen Camilla. She has long struck me as a thoroughly sensible woman, who must assuredly be exasperated by her husband's ventures into the wacky world of wokery. Can't she use her womanly wiles to plant the idea in his head that he should stop sucking up to these professional moaners, who will never support any monarch and concentrate instead on pleasing the many millions of his subjects who, like me, wish him nothing but well? If anyone can persuade him, surely she can. For if their lasting marriage is anything like mine, we can all guess who's really the boss. King Charles, bracing himself for his Coronation anointing on his hands, breast and head, faces a less fraught ritual than Queen Camilla. As she will be anointed only on the crown of her head, how much oil will the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, apply? Camilla doesn't want her hairdo messed up and has spent a long time with Queen Mary's Crown and her crimper to ensure that she will look glamorous on the big day. Apparently, a hairdresser will be on duty behind the high altar to adjust her coiffure before she and the King make their grand exit from Westminster Abbey. King Charles, bracing himself for his Coronation anointing on his hands, breast and head, faces a less fraught ritual than Queen Camilla Describing the 12 pieces of music commissioned for the Coronation as a 'cornucopia of delights', composer John Rutter fervently hopes there won't be a repeat of the conclusion to the 1953 crowning. 'Some of the orchestra started to play Bax's new Coronation March and others went for Elgar,' he tells The Spectator. 'After a few chaotic bars, Elgar prevailed.' During President Biden's visit to Dundalk's Windsor Bar, Guinness representatives lurked, planning to thrust a pint of porter into his hand. Both Presidents Reagan and Clinton were successfully ambushed for photo opportunities during visits to Ireland. Alas, teetotal Joe resisted their stout blandishments. Alice Plunkett recalls leading a Cheltenham winner in, congratulating the co-owner and asking where her husband was ITV's Grand National presenter Alice Plunkett recalls leading a Cheltenham winner in, congratulating the co-owner and asking where her husband was. 'He's here in my handbag,' she replied. 'It turned out he had died and she had his ashes in her handbag.' Any dead certs for tomorrow, Alice? Isabel Oakeshott, in a self-justifying defence of her WhatsApp betrayal of Matt Hancock, describes an interview with BBC political editor Chris Mason, when he was unable to flatten his 'static' hair. 'He eventually dipped his hands in a cold cup of tea, using it to plaster down the offending strands,' she tells Tatler. Whose hair wouldn't stand on end during an encounter with the formidable Isabel? Oakeshott also discloses that Hancock's WhatsApps contain flirty exchanges between two 'household name' Government ministers. 'Who was sending who the heart emojis and who was complimenting who on their sexy outfits?' she teases. Surely not Jacob Rees-Mogg and Michael Gove? Is playwright Michael Frayn, 89, losing the plot? In his new memoir, he wonders about the location of male testicles. 'The kind of thing most companies keep in a safe personal details of the staff and plans for future development this company keeps in a bag suspended outside the windows of the forty-ninth floor.' Time for a rest, old boy. Even before his visit to these islands, most people in Britain were already aware that US President Joe Biden was not in his physical or intellectual prime. Online compilations from the last year show him regularly losing his thread in public, mangling autocue lines and once, alarmingly, being unable to find his way off a stage after making a speech. Since he arrived in Belfast on Tuesday, however, we have been able to observe his stuttering, gaffe-prone performances first hand. In an elderly relative, they would be a minor cause for concern. Mr Biden is in his 80s, after all. But in the de facto leader of the free world, such an obvious lack of grasp is beyond scary. This, after all, is the man in control of the most potent nuclear button on the planet. Since he arrived in Belfast on Tuesday, however, we have been able to observe Biden's stuttering, gaffe-prone performances first hand (Pictured: President Joe Biden meets with Irish President Michael Higgins, in Dublin) His trip was billed as an opportunity to celebrate 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement and sweet-talk Nationalists and Loyalists into restoring power sharing at Stormont. Yet it was clear he wasnt really engaged. After a cursory bit of glad-handing, he jetted off to Louth and Mayo in search of his ancestral roots. Its hard to see why he bothered going to Belfast at all. Everyone knew he was no honest broker. He wears his Irish Republicanism and concomitant anti-Britishness like a badge. His is not a modern, rational form of Republicanism but the cloying, misty-eyed kind, which harks mawkishly back to the rebellions and grievances of long ago. On Wednesday his prejudices and forgetfulness combined in the most embarrassing moment of the tour so far. At a pub in Dundalk, he praised Irish rugby international and distant relative Rob Kearney for beating the hell out of the Black and Tans. He meant the All Blacks, the New Zealand rugby team but there was something distinctly Freudian about his mistake. The Black and Tans were, of course, the controversial force of special constables recruited into the RIC to suppress the IRA during the Irish war of independence. At a pub in Dundalk, he praised Irish rugby international and distant relative Rob Kearney for beating the hell out of the Black and Tans Although that was over 100 years ago, it is still apparently at the front of the Presidents mind. The IRA were no less brutal during the Troubles but time has moved on. Its time Mr Biden realised this. With his vice-president Kamala Harris virtually missing in action, these are perilous times for American democracy. And they show no signs of improving any time soon. How truly terrifying to think that at the next election, US voters may be choosing between an octogenarian seemingly suffering cognitive decline and a puffed-up narcissist fighting to stay out of prison. China, Russia and all the tyrants of the world must be rubbing their hands. Rishi on the rise It would be Panglossian to believe the Tories are once again marching the high road to election victory. But there are signs they are coming back into contention. Rishi Sunak has managed to soothe his party after months of turmoil and is beginning to cut through with the voters With adept diplomacy and sound policy announcements, Rishi Sunak has managed to soothe his party after months of turmoil and is beginning to cut through with the voters. A 24-point poll deficit has been cut to 11, according to one recent survey. Labour, meanwhile, has become the nasty party. With nothing credible to offer in policy terms, it has resorted to playing dirty its attack dogs targeting the PM with a campaign of grubby smears. The upcoming local elections will be a litmus test of public opinion. Though braced for a bad night, the Conservatives will be hoping to see some green shoots of recovery. Although in pole position, perhaps Sir Keir Starmer shouldnt be measuring up the Downing Street curtains just yet. DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Rishi Sunak's views on gender are a rare and welcome outburst of common sense But Mr Sunak's intervention is a rare and welcome outburst of common sense in an area of debate where so many seem to have totally lost the plot. One of the chief culprits, of course, is Sir Keir Starmer who, after tying himself in verbal knots for months to avoid alienating the trans rights-obsessed, ultra-woke wing of his party, finally pronounced earlier this month that '99.9 per cent of women haven't got a penis'. Statistically, this means that Sir Keir thinks that one in a thousand British women do have a penis a palpable nonsense. But the Labour leader has to say this so as not to deny the belief totemic to so many of his colleagues that a biological male must be allowed to call themself a woman, and access women's spaces such as toilets and changing rooms, if they simply feel like one. Mr Sunak's intervention is a rare and welcome outburst of common sense in an area of debate where so many seem to have totally lost the plot Statistically, this means that Sir Keir thinks that one in a thousand British women do have a penis a palpable nonsense This is why this debate so bewildering and alienating to millions matters. It's about the way a tiny but vociferous minority have been allowed to hijack rights that women have fought for over decades. It's why Mr Sunak was right to speak out so clearly, so decisively. He should do so again at every opportunity between now and the next election. After years of intensive training in how to keep people safe and healthy, it beggars belief that junior doctors and nurses are willing to take industrial action they must know is costing lives. Official statistics show excess deaths almost tripled in the week following the last strike by junior doctors from the British Medical Association. Its possible the walkout was not responsible for all the extra fatalities. But the idea they didnt contribute to at least some of them is vanishingly unlikely. So has this extra death toll made them reconsider their reckless actions? Far from it. After the end of the latest four-day-strike today, the junior doctors are now busily plotting more. Worse still, they and the Royal College of Nursing, who rejected a perfectly fair pay offer yesterday, are said to be considering coordinated strikes to cause maximum disruption. If they were rail workers, the worst that could happen would be the trains not running. If they were passport office staff, holidays might end up being cancelled. With NHS staff, it is literally a matter of life and death. Official statistics show excess deaths almost tripled in the week following the last strike by junior doctors from the British Medical Association The Royal College of Nursing, who rejected a perfectly fair pay offer yesterday, are said to be considering coordinated strikes to cause maximum disruption How on earth have we come to this when doctors and nurses are prepared to use the well-being of their patients as bargaining chips in a row over pay? They blame the Government for forcing them to strike but it is entirely their choice to abandon their patients. And a deeply callous one. The RCN leadership described yesterdays vote as historic. In fact the Governments improved pay offer was rejected by the narrowest of margins. On a turnout of 61 per cent, just 54 per cent voted against accepting it. That means just a third of members are behind a new wave of strikes. They may be legal just. But many will certainly think them immoral. Indeed the same enhanced offer five per cent for 2023/4 plus a one-off payment of at least 1,655 on top of last years settlement was accepted yesterday by Unison, which represents some nurses and most ambulance crews. A spokesman said: Clearly health workers would have wanted more, but this was the best that could be achieved through negotiation. And thats the crucial point. Unison realised they were getting as much as the Government could afford in these straitened times. The RCN and junior doctors should climb down from their soap box and face up to the same reality. The BMA is simply delusional if it thinks 35 per cent is a credible demand. The Governments improved pay offer was rejected by the RCN by the narrowest of margins The RCN and junior doctors should climb down from their soap box and face up to the same reality It costs 250,000 to train a doctor for the NHS. If these young strikers didnt like the terms of employment on offer, they shouldnt have taken our money in the first place. But much of the public sector seems to be living in a dream world. Civil servants announced new strike dates yesterday, and teachers are also due to stage two more walkouts starting later this month. Ironically, their actions are making the country poorer, so the likelihood of their getting what they want is more unaffordable and remote than ever. Latest economic figures saw growth in the private sector being dragged down by the millstone of public sector strikes. A new summer of discontent would make things infinitely worse. The unions are clearly motivated by politics as well as avarice, hoping that their strikes will destabilise the Tories and clear the way for a more supine Labour administration which will shower them with cash. But endangering lives, wilfully damaging childrens education and constantly bringing the transport system to a halt, will ultimately be self-defeating. Public sympathy is already running low. Soon it will have evaporated altogether. Anthony Horowitz frowns like M mourning a fallen spy and says, 'I would never have killed James Bond, because I like him too much.' He's talking about the end of the last Daniel Craig movie No Time To Die, in which 007 perished for love under a barrage of missiles. 'Also, I think it takes away his mythic quality.' If anyone knows how to write a hero it is Anthony, creator of the teenage spy Alex Rider and Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle from the long-running crime show Foyle's War. He's written more than 50 books, including two novels continuing the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and three featuring James Bond, at the request of the estate of original Bond author Ian Fleming. 'I always thought I was writing a trilogy and they hang together well,' says Anthony, who has given us a mid-career Bond trying to stop a supervillain from blowing up America's space programme in Trigger Mortis and a prequel imagining his first mission as a double-0 agent in Forever And A Day. Author Anthony Horowitz says that all of Bond's flaws are inherently masculine. Pictured, a still from The Man With The Golden Gun, which Anthony has written a sequel to, set to come out next month The third book, With A Mind To Kill, is released in paperback later this month, and sees an ageing, weary 007 venture into the heart of the Soviet empire. It's a sequel to Fleming's final Bond novel, The Man With The Golden Gun, in which a brainwashed Bond tries to kill his boss and mentor M. 'I always wondered what would happen if they secretly sorted Bond out and sent him back to get at the people who did that to him,' Anthony says. So 007 returns to a grim 1960s Moscow to confront his tormentor Colonel Boris, a character who appears only in passing in a couple of Fleming's books. 'Fleming created this villain but told us nothing about him except that he brainwashes people.' The name is not then, as some critics have suggested, a satire on our former prime minister? 'Absolutely not. There is no way I would have done that. I find Boris Johnson's name so depressing, so destructive and negative generally, it seems to me that any report with him in it is always going to be bad news. So I had absolutely no interest in referencing him whatsoever.' His son might be amused. Anthony is married to the television producer Jill Green and they have two grown-up sons: Nicholas, who's a film-maker, and Cassian, who happens to be special adviser to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Head of Strategic Communications and Digital at 10 Downing Street. Still, there are striking parallels with modern foreign politics in the book, with Bond musing on Russia, 'Evil in this country wasn't just a group of men talking in a room. It wasn't one madman hanging out in Crab Key or another planning to steal all the gold from Fort Knox. It was a huge machine, a sickness that had corroded itself into the souls of a hundred million people and at the end of the day they were the only ones who would ever be able to rid themselves of it.' Anthony nods. 'That is, of course, very much what they haven't done and where the country now is, unfortunately. With A Mind To Kill was written before the invasion of Ukraine and is not meant to be a commentary on Russia, but nonetheless I think it does shed some light on the Russian way of thinking, particularly from the 60s onwards, which is when Putin began.' He's written more than 50 books, including two novels continuing the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and three featuring James Bond If anyone knows how to write a hero it is Anthony, creator of the teenage spy Alex Rider and Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle from the long-running crime show Foyle's War The book also has a really strong Russian heroine, a psychologist who begins to realise the faults of the Soviet system even as she falls in love with 007, and ultimately saves his life. She is predictably gorgeous but also hard as nails, and is called Katya Leonova, not something daft and vaguely suggestive like the names of so many Bond women. 'I decided to eschew Ian Fleming's practice of having names like Pussy Galore and Plenty O'Toole, because it's not really of the times it feels a little bit schoolboy now.' The genius of these Bond books is that Anthony re-creates all the mood, detail and attitude of the originals but tells the stories in a fast-paced and thrilling modern way. Bond still likes to be on top when it comes to women, but the women challenge that. 'The female is once again much stronger than Bond in this book,' Anthony says. 'That is something I inherited from Fleming, at the same time as being aware that these days it would be impossible to create, shall we say, a woman raped at the age of 16 by her uncle who has been a lesbian ever since who then converts and becomes a full-blooded heterosexual two minutes after seeing Bond's biceps.' His latest project - Magpie Murders - is a TV adaptation of his own book, starring Lesley Manville, already aired on BritBox and now bought by the BBC He's talking about Pussy Galore from Goldfinger, who was played in the movie by Honor Blackman. 'I did bring Pussy back for Trigger Mortis, but with an eye to modern mores I had her abandon Bond for another woman.' He knows how to stay on the right side of the PC police, but there is one change he definitely would not make to 007. 'Bond could be any ethnicity, any age, any look, but he can't be a woman. Barbara Broccoli herself has said it cannot happen and that's because the character with all his faults is aggressively masculine. A woman just can't be Bond.' Bond could be any age, any ethnicity. But the character with all his faults is aggressively masculine Not that he has any say over that. 'I would reboot the franchise by remaking all the original books in the right order in their proper period settings, that would be gorgeous. But when it comes to the movies I am no more than a punter like anyone else.' How come? 'Ian Fleming sold the rights to Bond on screen in perpetuity to Eon [the production company owned by the Broccoli family] and drew a separation between his own family and the company which exists to this day. They're very friendly, they talk to each other, but the film people do their own thing with their people and the Fleming estate do theirs with people like me. The two don't meet.' Isn't he taking a bit of a risk, in the current fevered climate, bringing back a heavy drinking, frequently violent, sexist dinosaur like the 007 of the books? 'I'm sitting very firmly inside the 50s and 60s in these stories. I'm writing about a time when attitudes and language were different to how they are now, although obviously there is no value in offending an audience unnecessarily. I have never written with a sense of fear or nervousness, but at the same time I'm wise enough to self-edit. 'I believe writers should be free and unfearing about how they express themselves. I don't believe in cancellation. I don't believe that somebody who says something foolish should necessarily be extinguished for life from expressing themselves.' What about if they said it in one of their old books? 'I think Puffin made fools of themselves,' he says sharply, talking about the publisher's recent decision to take words like 'fat' out of Roald Dahl's books in case they upset modern readers. 'I'm not a huge fan of Dahl, by the end of his life he was saying some really quite horrible things, but the attempts to bowdlerise his books were an own goal. What we need to do is not pretend that these things were never said or thought, but rather congratulate ourselves on having moved away from them.' He brings up another author whose works are currently being revised. 'I was reading Agatha Christie recently. Are you aware of how shockingly antisemitic her books are? I read nine books in a row before giving a lecture on her and I was knocked out by the endless depictions of hooked noses and tight, greedy, shabby Jews yet I'm not going to suggest for a single second that somebody should go in and scissor out all those descriptions. It's how a woman in the 30s and 40s thought. We should be happy that no writer could do the same again.' New editions of Miss Marple and Poirot are being published having been edited by sensitivity readers, who remove any language likely to offend. Anthony had one imposed on him for The Twist Of A Knife, a recent novel containing a Native American character, but on the whole insists he has no need of one and nothing to regret in any of his works. 'You don't need a sensitivity reader if you're sensitive yourself.' His latest project is a TV adaptation of his own book, starring Lesley Manville, already aired on BritBox and now bought by the BBC. Writers should be unfearing about how they express themselves. I dont believe in cancellation 'Magpie Murders is a very different and slightly humorous take on the classic whodunnit. Lesley plays an editor who is publishing a murder mystery, but the author is murdered in real life and the clue to who killed him is somehow contained in the book he's written. The editor becomes a detective in trying to figure out how.' Aren't we saturated with crime on the telly? 'It's not a crime show. It's something new. The fictional detective enters the real world to solve crimes with the editor and all the actors double up as modern people and the characters they're based on. It's a joy.' The sequel, Moonflower Murders, will be filmed by the BBC this year. 'If I look a little tired it's because I've been up all night looking at the script,' Anthony says happily. He used to work at his own Bond-style central London lair, a stunning penthouse in Clerkenwell, but that's been sold. 'I've recently moved to Richmond. Walking with my dog there is the most crucial part of my day, when I think and get exercise.' What prompted the change? 'I was sad to move but the boys were heading their own ways and as a family we were going in different directions. I suppose this is my last house, a sense of, "This is it."' Perhaps, but Anthony Horowitz looks much younger than his years he's just turned 68 and like Bond in the books, if not the movies, he shows no sign of stopping. 'There's never a day when I don't write. It's part of who I am.' With A Mind To Kill by Anthony Horowitz is out in paperback on 27 April (Vintage, 8.99). Magpie Murders is on Saturday, 9.15pm, BBC1 and iPlayer. Royal documentaries are ten a penny. Dozens spill onto the airwaves every year, stuffed with pundits speculating on what happens behind closed castle doors. But a new ITV series, The Real Crown: Inside The House Of Windsor, seeks comment only from those who were there, giving five hours of high-calibre insights into royal life that are illuminating, moving and occasionally funny. Such as the day Princess Margaret ignored her sister, the Queen. Lady Glenconner, Margaret's lady-in-waiting, recalls an awkward encounter when the Queen was visiting her sick sister after Margaret had suffered a stroke. When the Queen arrived, says Lady Glenconner, she left them alone. 'I could hear the Queen going up the steps to her bedroom,' she recalls. 'Then two minutes later I hear these footsteps coming down, so I went out to see who it was and there was the Queen. I said, "Ma'am, is there anything wrong?" And she said, "Yes, there is. Margaret's listening to The Archers and every time I say something she tells me to shush!"' Lady Glenconner escorted the Queen back to Margaret's room, turned off the wireless and reminded the princess that the Queen had very little free time. 'Then I poured them a cup of tea and left them!' It's one of dozens of fascinating nuggets that emerge in the series. 'This is the inside story of the Royal Family from the people who were in the room,' says series director Ella Wright. Clockwise from right: Camilla, Harry in Afghanistan, the Queen, William and Kate. The documentary gives insights into the late Queen and her loved ones 'We interviewed everyone from the head of the British Army, Mike Jackson, to the head of MI6, Sir John Scarlett, even people like Michael Fagan, who broke into the Queen's bedroom. 'We set the bar really high in terms of contributors. We wanted people who could speak thoughtfully and in a nuanced way about their experiences.' Other contributors include former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey and interior designer Nicky Haslam, a friend of Princess Margaret and Camilla and former lover of Margaret's husband Lord Snowdon. The documentary gives insights into the late Queen and her loved ones, including occasions when their lives were threatened. Jim Beaton, the protection officer who took three bullets for Princess Anne during a terrifying 1974 kidnap attempt, recalls how the Princess Royal's calm demeanour helped him do his job. It's said that Anne, upon being ordered out of the car by gun-wielding kidnapper Ian Ball, replied, 'Not bloody likely.' Now 80, Beaton tells Weekend exclusively that while he didn't hear Anne utter that phrase, he does recall a few words exchanged in the back of her limo during the frantic ordeal. 'Anne was talking about how many shots he'd fired,' Beaton says. 'Because she wasn't screaming and shouting, I was able to get on with what I was trying to do. The attacker was trying to drag her from the royal car, so I scrabbled in past Captain Phillips to be alongside Princess Anne on a dicky [fold-down] seat. I looked out the window at him, and he pointed his gun towards the princess. I put my right hand up in front of the gun and he fired and the bullet went through the window and into my hand, then he fired another bullet into my abdomen. She didn't panic. She stayed calm, I think if she'd screamed he'd have probably shot her.' Anne came to the hospital to visit him and the others who were injured Police Constable Michael Hills, Anne's chauffeur Alex Callender, and journalist Brian McConnell, who was nearby and tried to intervene, were all shot by Ball. 'She said thank you,' Beaton says. 'I was impressed she'd actually come to hospital so soon, and she visited all of us who were there. She was thoughtful.' Beaton was later awarded the George Cross for his bravery. Other threats to the family have come from their long association with the military. The Queen faced a difficult choice when both Prince William and Prince Harry joined up while war raged in Afghanistan. The former CGS (Chief of the General Staff the head of the British Army) General Sir Michael 'Mike' Jackson recalls the Queen wrestling with the tough decision of sending her grandsons to war. The series also covers the personal scandals the family has weathered, including King Charles's messy marriage to Diana and his affair with Camilla. Pictured: the Peckham road where Camilla met with the Archbishop I wanted somewhere secret, so I said to Camilla, 'This is my sons address in Peckham. Can we meet?' - George Carey (ex-Archbishop of Canterbury) 'I will break the rule about not divulging what goes on in royal meetings on this one occasion, when she was very clear,' he explains. 'She said, "My grandsons have taken my shilling [ie, enlisted], therefore they must do their duty." And that was that.' Ultimately, the Queen decided that while Harry would serve in Afghanistan, William as the heir would serve at home. Jackson adds that he always tried to have his meetings with the Queen at around noon. 'I used to tell my staff, "See if you can get the midday slot,"' he recalls. 'Because after half an hour or 40 minutes the Queen would ring a small bell and say, "Time for a sherry, I think, CGS."' The series also covers the personal scandals the family has weathered, including King Charles's messy marriage to Diana and his affair with Camilla. When the idea began to surface that Charles and Camilla were reunited following his divorce and Diana's death, the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, invited Camilla to join him for a private pow-wow in Peckham! The gritty south London neighbourhood best known as the stomping ground of Del Boy Trotter hardly screams privilege, but Carey deemed it the best location in which to meet Camilla away from prying eyes. 'I wanted somewhere secret that wasn't in my office and therefore wouldn't arouse the interest of other people and get out,' recalls Carey. 'I said, "I have a son in Peckham. This is his address. Can we meet?"' I always tried to get the midday meeting with the Queen, as after half an hour she would say, 'Time for a sherry' - General Mike Jackson A few weeks later, Camilla pulled up at his son's Peckham house, where over coffee Carey was struck by 'nice-looking, intelligent' Camilla. 'We had a really animated conversation and we talked about her relationship with Charles, going way back to when they were teenagers,' he recalls. 'And after she left I said, "Well, there's no way I could ever treat her as other than a really nice human being who's deeply in love with Charles." And that affected me in talking to other people behind the scenes.' The clandestine Peckham conflab convinced him that love conquers duty and was instrumental in smoothing the way for Charles and Camilla's 2005 wedding. After sustaining damage from Charles and Diana's divorce and Diana's death, The Firm was eager that history did not repeat itself with Kate Middleton, says Ed Perkins, press secretary to the Queen and later William, Kate and Harry between 2007 and 2014. He recalls the family feeling that Kate's arrival into the fold as William's significant other impacted their image positively. 'We were seeing the heir to the throne with a girlfriend who was ever so slightly out of the mould,' he explains. 'This wasn't someone the family had grown up with. This was an individual who'd come from a reasonably normal background. A privileged background, but it wasn't aristocratic or royal. Kate was a breath of fresh air. The public recognised that, but I suspect the family also understood that whatever mistakes had been made with Diana, it was important to embrace Kate and to understand that her role would potentially be massively important.' For her part, Kate grasped that she'd been thrust into a world in which personal events like giving birth would need to be shared with the world. She was expected to present her first child, Prince George, to the public a mere 48 hours after giving birth. 'There is something quite archaic about that,' says Perkins. 'It's a very strange hybrid of being a public and private moment. It's the family's understanding that in order for this mystique to continue, in order for this constitutional monarchy to have its place and be part of who we are, we have to be invested in it.' Meanwhile, Prince Andrew's descent from hero to zero has no doubt been painful for the Windsors. The series covers his courage as a helicopter pilot during the 1982 Falklands War, when he was second in line to the throne. But it also looks at Andrew's post-military career, when he became a trade envoy to the Middle East in the early Noughties. Simon Wilson, Britain's Deputy Head of Mission in Bahrain from 2001 to 2005, lays into Andrew's boorish behaviour. 'Andrew has an interesting trajectory,' says Ella Wright. 'In the 80s he's a war hero. Then we interviewed Simon Wilson, who explains how Andrew's approach to diplomacy was a little unorthodox. I won't give too much away, but he does describe Andrew travelling around with an entourage and a huge ironing board and a valet. He needed his shirts pressed in a specific way.' Of course, bad manners became the least of Andrew's problems when news broke of his association with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. In some cases, the contributors' first-hand accounts contradict what we've seen in the hit Netflix drama The Crown. 'One of the key moments in The Crown was that Fagan has this massive conversation with the Queen,' explains Wright. 'What he told us was that he actually felt sorry for the Queen. He felt she was living an extremely lonely life; she was a small woman in this big bedroom. That's a fascinating insight.' The Real Crown can be seen as a celebration of the Queen's dedication to duty, a reminder to her son of its importance on the eve of his coronation. By telling the inside story of the Windsors it shows them in a way that is both poignantly human but keeps the magic going. 'It's an ordinary family but an extraordinary one at the same time,' muses George Carey. 'It's a mirror image of what we are like in our family life. But they have to maintain that mystique in order to maintain their relationship with the rest of the nation and the world. And that is one of the intricate problems the Royal Family have today.' The Real Crown: Inside The House Of Windsor, from Thursday, ITVX. A flight attendant has revealed five clever hacks for those visiting hotels, including how to tell if someone has been in your room. Demi Bonita, from Valencia, Spain, who's a regular hotel guest thanks to her job, shared her tips on her TikTok account, which has almost 70,000 followers. The travel blogger started the video from her hotel room in a blue uniform - which consisted of a blazer, waistcoat, trousers, white shirt, and grey neck tie. 'Put the do not disturb card between the door, so you can notice if someone has been in your room,' Demi said. She then took the sign and placed it in the between the door and the wall before closing it. Demi Bonita, from Valencia, Spain shared her tips on her TikTok account, which has almost 70,000 followers The travel blogger came back an hour later and showed her followers that the door sign was still exactly where she left it, but of course the trick is only relevant if your room has already been cleaned and you're not expecting a legitimate visit from hotel staff. She then wrote: 'One hour later, no one has been here!' with a thumbs up emoji. Demi then showed herself taking out the hotel room key from the card slot which activates the power for the room. She then writes: 'Your hotel card is not the only card that works!' Demi told TikTok to trap the do not disturb sign in the door so that you can see if someone has been in your room The cabin crew member then showed all the lights going off in her room before placing one of her own cards in the slot. She then said: 'You can use any other card,' before showing a fully-lit room. Demi then showed herself shutting the curtains and says 'If you want your room completely dark in the morning without light coming through the curtain, use a clothing hook.' Demi then showed herself shutting the curtains and says 'If you want your room completely dark in the morning without light coming through the curtain, use a clothing hook' She then took a clothing hanger, which had two clips on it, and fastened the middle of the curtains together with the clip, to ensure there is no gap. She then said: 'Are you in the UK and you forgot your world charger?' before showing a UK plug with three in holes in it. Demi informed her followers by adding: 'There is always one in the bathroom!' She then revealed that there was a two-pin plug below a hairdryer in the bathroom of her hotel, before plugging in her tablet to charge. She then revealed that there is a two-pin plug below a hairdryer in the bathroom of her hotel, before plugging in her tablet to charge Lastly, if your hotel doesn't have washing services and you need to freshen your clothes, Demi has just the hack for you. She uses a fabric spray to help refresh her uniform and get them smelling fresh for her next shift. The video got a whopping 9.9million views, with hundreds of comments. Users shared their own tips or experiences they had when they used these hacks. Users took to the comments to share some of their tips along with thanking Demi for sharing hers One person said: 'Omg that's actually amazing.' A second user wrote: 'Remember to check for hidden cameras.' A third penned: 'Only the hotel card will work on your room. We have a system that validates the card for that specific room.' A fourth commented: 'The hanger to keep the light out!! Game changer will definitely be trying thanks.' Laylat Qadr - otherwise known as the Night of Power - is considered to be the most important night of the year in the Islamic calendar. It takes place during the holy month of Ramadan, however the exact date is not revealed so that people continue to pray earnestly every day. That said, scholars agree that it most likely occurs during the last ten nights of Ramadan, which began this year on the evening of Wednesday, 22 March, 2023. Ramadan ends on the evening of Thursday, 20 April, meaning that Laylat Qadr had recently passed or will occur soon. But what exactly is it and why is it so important to Muslims? A stock image of a young Muslim woman reading the Quran during Ramadan - during which the holy night of Laylatul Qadr occurs What is Laylatul Qadr and what does it mean? Translated as 'the Night of Power' or 'the Night of Decree', Laylatul Qadr is believed to be the night the angel Gabriel revealed the Holy Quran for the first time to the Prophet Muhammad. The Quran describes this night as 'better than a thousand months' and says angels descend on earth throughout the evening. Muslims believe that whoever prays sincerely on Laylatul Qadr will have all of their past sins forgiven. It is also said that a human being's decree and what will come to pass in the following year is determined on this night. When is it? Although it is believed Laylatul Qadr occurs during Ramadan, the actual date of Laylatul Qadr is 'hidden' in Islam, so that Muslims strive to pray earnestly during all of the nights during the Islamic holy month. The scholars generally agree that it is to be found in the last ten nights of Ramadan, with odd nights being the most probable and the 27th night being the most likely out of the odd nights. Some promiment Islamic scholars are of the belief that it moves around the last ten nights. What is the Qu'ran chapter of Laylatul Qadr? The night of Laylatul Qadr is so important for Muslims that there is a whole chapter of the Qur'an dedicated to it. The 97th chapter is called Al-Qadr, which translates to 'The Power', and consists of five verses, shown below: Indeed, We revealed [the Qur'an] during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn What prayer (dua) should be recited on Laylatul Qadr? The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have instructed Muslims to say 'O Allah You are The One Who forgives greatly, and loves to forgive, so forgive me', abundantly during Laylatul Qadr. It is also believed that one will be greatly rewarded for doing good deeds in general on this night, with one act of kindness bringing the blessings of 1,000 months. It is believed that the rewards of any good deed done with sincerity on this night is magnified tremendously, and so the particular method of worship in which Muslims spend the holy night is flexible. Some Muslims spend the night standing in prayer, whilst others give abundantly in or recite the Qur'an or spend the evening in the mosque. There is also a duty to pray for those who are in need and help them as much as they can. Muslims donate money and food to charities such as Rumi's Cave's Ulfa Aid, which is designed to feed the homeless all throughout the year. What is Ramadan and how is it marked? Fasting the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam - The others being, to state and believe 'There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God', the five daily prayers, giving a specific annual charity known as 'zakat', and making the Hajj pilgrimage if able to. During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims must abstain from food, drink, sex from sunrise to sunset and are strongly encouraged to make even more effort to act righteous. The annual month of fasting is designed to bring them closer to God and is seen as a path towards redemption. The dinner (Iftar) with family and friends at the end of the daily fast is also meant to strengthen community spirit. The month ends with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, with festivities lasting up to three days. Author Tanith Carey explains phenomenon of Anhedonia - and how to tackle it We're used to hearing about happiness at one end of the mental health spectrum and depression at the other. But now an expert has revealed there's a new word anhedonia to describe the 'blah' grey area in between. Author Tanith Carey has penned a book, Feeling Blah? Why Anhedonia has left you joyless and how to recapture life's highs, about the feeling of life 'without pleasure'. She told FEMAIL: 'Anhedonia from the Greek "without pleasure" is how you feel you are no longer able to take pleasure in life. 'You may also lose motivation to do what makes you feel good in the first place, creating a vicious circle. There's a new word anhedonia to describe the 'blah' grey area in between. Stock image used 'While it can be a symptom of major depression, it can also be a standalone condition in which case you are not happy, not sad, but just stuck in the grey space in between where so many of us live our lives.' Tanith said that one reason for the feeling can be being overwhelmed by modern life, explaining: 'Life today can also overload us with more information than the human brain was ever designed to deal with. 'This can overwhelm our brains with the stress hormone cortisol, which can dampen down the action of the feel-good chemicals, creating a feeling of numbness.' 'But just because you're not depressed, anhedonia matters. Anhedonia can be the red flag [showing] your brain's reward system is not working as well as it should. 'One more stressor and it can make a cup already full to the brim run over. 'It dims our enjoyment and experience of the world. Sex, our senses of smell and taste, our love of music, and socialising can all be dialled down by anhedonia.' Here Tanith reveals the five tell-tale signs of Anhedonia and how to beat it... Author Tanith Carey has penned a book about how to recapture life's highs if you've been seeing things in shades of grey 1. YOUR ORGASMS AREN'T AS STRONG Anhedonia can dial down the pleasure you get from touch, and that will mean sex and orgasms may not feel as good. One reason may be disruption to dopamine levels in the brain's main reward system, which is driven by feel-good brain chemical dopamine. Tanith said: 'Dopamine seems to have a key role not only in sexual craving - better known as lust - but it also seems to be an orgasm accelerator, making climaxes faster and easier to achieve. 'So if you are in a state of "blah", orgasms may take longer to achieve, fade more quickly or not feel as intense.' How to beat the Blah: Put on some music: touch and sex can be enhanced by music. In experiments, robots were used to stroke the skin on the forearm of volunteers with a brush. When music was played that the participants found sexy, they rated the touch as feeling more sensual. 2. YOU SEE THE WORLD IN SHADES OF GREY Does the world no longer seem to be in glorious technicolour and more in a palette of muted greys? When you are feeling 'meh', you may see the world in more muted shades too. In one experiment by researchers at the University Hospital of South Manchester, it was found that people who were not enjoying life were more likely to use the colour grey to describe how they felt. One possible reason may be that the photoreceptors in the retina of the eye are the most energy-hungry cells in the body. If brains of people with anhedonia are already running at a low ebb, their brains may not process the full range of colour coming into the eye, making the world look more drab. How to beat the Blah: Take a walk in the sunlight: bright, natural light triggers the release of feel-good brain chemical dopamine from the retina and has been found to improve colour vision. Plus, sunlight appears to increase the number of dopamine receptors in the brain. One study of 68 healthy adults found that those who received the most sunlight exposure in the previous 30 days had a higher density of dopamine receptors in the reward and movement regions of their brains. 3. YOU'VE GIVEN UP PASTIMES YOU ONCE ENJOYED One of the first signs of anhedonia is that it dims your love of the activities you used to enjoy the most, whether it's a sport, interest or favourite hobby. Tanith explained: 'Neuroscientists now know that enjoyment of a hobby or pastime is not just one thing. 'It's divided into three parts: looking forward to doing it beforehand, enjoying it in the moment, and remembering it positively after so you want to do it again. 'But if your brain's reward system is no longer working as well as it should, you can't get past the first stage. 'You stop looking forward to things and stop believing they will make you feel good, and don't do them at all, creating a vicious circle.' How to beat the Blah: To get your brain's reward circuit back on track, try an evidence-based technique called 'behavioural activation therapy'. This involves doing a little bit of what you used to enjoy consistently, even if you don't feel like it at first. 'The first rule of behavioural activation is that doing something you used to enjoy, no matter how small, is always better than doing nothing,' Tanith explains. 'The second is don't wait until you feel better to do it. Do it anyway. In other words, do the opposite of what anhedonia is telling you to do. 'Even if you do just five or ten minutes a week of a hobby you've given up, whether it's playing an instrument or doing something creative, keep going. 'The evidence shows that if you keep going, the good feelings will eventually return, especially if you track your mood over the weeks.' 4. YOU STOP FEELING THE CHILLS WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR FAVOURITE SONG When you hear the best bit of your favourite song, it releases a shot of dopamine into your brain's reward system. This can cause physical changes too, like the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and you might get goosebumps on your skin. One theory is that the brain mistakes the emotional reaction you are having for fear and reacts in the same way. But if your reward system is not working as well as it used to, your reaction will be blunted and your emotional response to your favourite tunes will flatline. How to beat the Blah: 'Anticipation and dopamine release are such a major part of musical enjoyment; ration yourself,' said Tanith. 'Reset your musical dopamine level by putting off listening to a favourite song until next week, and then listening with intention. 'When you do, notice the pace and pitch of the music, the sounds of the different instruments, while not doing anything else.' There are other ways to recharge your enjoyment of your favourite tunes, adds Tanith. 'Studies show that singing along with a song and as part of a crowd of people at a concert or in a choir will also boost the amount of dopamine music releases into your brain's reward pathway, so gradually your enjoyment should return.' 5. YOUR FOOD TASTES BLANDER How sensitive you are to flavours is also influenced by changing levels of your brain's feel-good chemicals. 'If less dopamine is being released in your reward circuit, you won't crave or enjoy the foods you usually do,' says Tanith. Hormone changes can also blunt our appreciation of flavour. For example, falling oestrogen levels in midlife can lead to women making less of the saliva needed to break down food into individual chemicals so they can be tasted. Research by Turkey's Ankara University found that 35 per cent of women said their palate was not as sensitive during menopause. How to beat the Blah: Herbs and spices and sharp-tasting foods like vinegar and lemon are flavours which can cut through and be strongly registered by our brains, even when our sense of taste is blunted. 'Other options are pepper, chilli, cinnamon, garlic powder (as long as it doesn't contain too much salt) and ginger. 'Feeling Blah? Why Anhedonia has left you joyless and how to recapture life's highs' is published by Welbeck from April 13 When Drake Bell first burst onto screens as one of Nickelodeon's 'next big things', he had all the makings of a Hollywood leading man: charm, quick wit, a wholesome image, and a dazzling smile that quickly earned him a legion of young admirers the world over. For a time, it seemed as though the teen star was set to achieve the impossible by skirting the curse of the doomed Hollywood child actor and making a smooth transition into larger, more serious roles - while also forging a successful music career. But within a few years of Drake & Josh's finale in 2007, crack began to show in the actor's once-innocent image as he desperately struggled to tread the murky waters of the film and TV industry - both professionally and personally. The first hammer blow to his reputation came within ten years of his exit from Nickelodeon, when it was revealed that Drake - now 36 - had blown through the vast fortune he earned from the kids' show, racking up more than $1.5 million in debt. His financial woes marked something of a desperate downward turning point for the star - who has been blighted by scandal after scandal in the years since, with his controversies and legal woes now completely overshadowing what once looked like a very bright future. Drake Bell was declared 'missing and endangered' by the police on Thursday morning, however, they confirmed that he was found 'safe' hours later. He is seen in February The shocking incident is the latest to add to Drake's long list of troubling endeavors. He is seen with his Drake & Josh co-star Josh Peck in 2006 So how did he go from a massive star to bankrupt and washed-up actor whose once-bright career has been sullied by controversy again and again? While his money troubles were the first major sign of trouble in Drake's life, they were by no means the last. In the years following his Nick days, he was arrested twice for drinking under the influence, accused of physical and verbal abuse by two of his ex-girlfriends, and charged for sending 'inappropriate' messages to a 15-year-old girl when he was 31. He also became known for his many furious outbursts, and he got entangled in a slew of social media feuds with celebrities like Justin Bieber - and even his former Drake & Josh co-star Josh Peck. As the Drake & Josh alum (seen with his son) faces controversy once again thanks to his erratic behavior, FEMAIL went ahead and recapped his wild journey from start to finish Despite his many controversies, Drake continued to try and reignite his career. He eventually gave up on acting and instead pursued music - releasing a series of albums over the years - and he even tried to rebrand himself by changing his name and singing in Spanish. Even so, Drake has continued to make headlines for all the wrong reasons. Most recently, he was put into the hot seat again after he was declared 'missing and endangered' by the police on Thursday morning. Law enforcement issued a plea for help in looking for the star via Facebook, but authorities confirmed that he was found 'safe' hours later. The shocking incident is the latest in Drake's long list of troubling endeavors since he parted ways with Nickelodeon all those years ago. As the Drake & Josh alum faces controversy once again thanks to his erratic behavior, FEMAIL went ahead and recapped his wild journey from start to finish. From him pleading guilty to 'disseminating matter harmful to juveniles' to claims that he threw his girlfriend down the stairs, here's a complete breakdown of Drake's many scandals. Drake started acting at age five and was propelled into the spotlight practically overnight after landing his role in Drake & Josh - but struggled to find work after the Nickelodeon show came to an end Drake was born on June 27, 1986, in Newport Beach, California. He started acting when he was only five years old. He is seen as a baby His first job was a commercial for Whirlpool Appliances, and after that, his career began to take off. He's seen as a baby He appeared in a series of other advertisements before he landed his first on-screen role in 1994 - a guest appearance in an episode of Home Improvement (seen) when he was only eight His other early acting credits include a small part in the 1996 movie Jerry Maguire, an episode of Seinfeld (seen), and the TV movie The Jack Bull Drake was born on June 27, 1986, in Newport Beach, California. He started acting when he was only five years old, thanks to his dad, who noticed he was great at doing impersonations and started bringing him to auditions. His first job was a commercial for Whirlpool Appliances, and after that, his career began to take off. He appeared in a series of other advertisements before he landed his first on-screen role in 1994 - a guest appearance in an episode of Home Improvement when he was only eight. His other early acting credits include a small part in the 1996 movie Jerry Maguire, an episode of Seinfeld, and the TV movie The Jack Bull. His breakthrough role came in 1999 when she joined the cast of the popular Nickelodeon sketch comedy show The Amanda Show, which he starred in alongside Amanda Bynes, and Nancy Sullivan for three years until it was canceled in 2002. His breakthrough role came in 1999 when she joined the cast of the popular Nickelodeon sketch comedy show The Amanda Show After that, he starred in Drake & Josh alongside Josh. The series, which was created by Dan Schneider and ran from 2004 to 2007, was wildly popular And while it seemed as though it would have launched a massive career for Drake, he struggled to land acting gigs afterwards. He is seen with his Drake & Josh costars After that, he and Josh were cast in Drake & Josh. The series, which was created by Dan Schneider and ran from 2004 to 2007, was wildly popular and propelled the two actors into the spotlight practically overnight. He starred in the comedy flick Superhero Movie (seen) in 2008, but after that, things significantly slowed down for him The show went on to become the top-rated live-action series among children aged two to 11, and was consistently among the 10 most-watched cable shows each week that it aired. And while it seemed as though it would have launched a massive career for Drake, he struggled to land acting gigs afterwards. He starred in the comedy flick Superhero Movie in 2008, but after that, things significantly slowed down for him. During the 2010s, he acted sporadically, appearing in a few movies and shows like the live-action TV movie adaptation of The Fairly Odd Parents, the animated TV series Ultimate Spider-Man, the Nickelodeon flick Rags, the horror film LA Slasher, and the 2017 action comedy Bad Kids of Crestview Academy. As Drake's career fell flat, he blew through the money he made as a teen star and eventually filed for bankruptcy after racking up more than $1.5 million in debt - and cut ties with his former friends The trouble first began for Drake (seen in 2012) in 2012, when he was sued by music producer John Fields, who claimed that he wasn't paid the right amount for his work on Drake's album In 2014, news hit the web that Drake (seen in 2017) had filed for bankruptcy after reportedly racking up debts equating to more than $1.5 million As Drake's working life crumbled, so did his personal life. The trouble first began in 2012 when he was sued by music producer John Fields, who claimed that he worked on numerous songs on one of Drake's albums, but wasn't paid the right amount for his work. According to TMZ, John alleged that Drake had commissioned nine of his songs, but only gave him enough money for five, which meant he owed him $36,000. A judge ultimately ruled in John's favor, and ordered Drake to pay him the money along with interest and attorneys' fees. Between that and his lack of work, Drake's struggled to make ends meet and ultimately blew through all the money he had made as a teen star. In 2014, news hit the web that he had filed for bankruptcy after reportedly racking up debts equating to more than $1.5 million. On top of losing the fortune he earned on Nick, Drake also seemed to push away the friends that he made during his Drake & Josh years. He had a public falling out with Josh in 2017 Drake was furious that Josh didn't invite him to his wedding, however, the two did reunite at the MTV Video Music Awards a few months later, where they hugged it out (seen) According to court documents obtained by People, he confessed to spending about $18,000 per month at the time - despite only bringing in about $2,820. As a result of the filing, his $1.5 million mansion came under foreclosure. On top of losing the fortune that he earned on Nick, Drake also seemed to push away the friends that he made during his Drake & Josh years. In 2017, he had a very public falling out with his former co-star Josh after the actor got married to Paige O'Brien Peck and failed to invite Drake to the wedding. At the time, Drake went on a fierce tirade against Josh on his Twitter account, writing, 'True colors have come out today. Message is loud and clear. Ties are officially cut. I'll miss you brotha.' However, the two did reunite at the MTV Video Music Awards a few months later, where they hugged it out, so it seemed as though they had put the drama behind them - but the damage was already done. Drake was accused of physical and verbal abuse by his ex-girlfriend, and faced numerous run-ins with the law - including an attempted child endangerment charge over 'inappropriate' messages he sent to a teen when he was 31 In December 2015, the actor was arrested for driving under the influence after someone saw him swerving and speeding in Glendale, California. He spent one day in prison In August 2020, the former Nickelodeon star was thrown into the hot seat again when his ex-girlfriend, Melissa Lingafelt (seen in 2007), accused him of verbal and physical abuse She claimed in a video shared to her TikTok account that they started dating in 2006 when she was only 16 and he was 20. They went separate ways in early 2009. They are seen in 2008 While one would have thought that was the worst of his problems, Drake's money issues and online feuds with other celebrities were soon overshadowed. 'It wasn't until about a year [into the relationship] when the verbal abuse started,' she said. 'It then turned to physical - hitting, throwing, everything. At the pinnacle of it, he [threw] me down the stairs of our house' In December 2015, the actor was arrested for driving under the influence after someone saw him swerving and speeding in Glendale, California. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four days in jail and four years probation, and was required to attend an alcohol education program. He ultimately served only one day behind bars and was released on good behavior. At the time, it was brought to light that he had actually been arrested once before that - for another DUI in San Diego in 2009, but there is very little known about the incident. In August 2020, the former Nickelodeon star was thrown into the hot seat again when his ex-girlfriend, Melissa Lingafelt, accused him of verbal and physical abuse. She claimed in a video shared to her TikTok account that they started dating in 2006, when she was only 16 and he was 20, and that they were together for two years before going their separate ways in early 2009. 'It wasn't until about a year [into the relationship] when the verbal abuse started,' she said. Drake denied her allegations, but Melissa shared an alleged police report, as well as several of her journal entries detailing the abuse, which were seemingly written during their relationship She also posted a message she claimed she had received from another one of his exes, actress Paydin Layne (seen with Drake in 2014) 'And when I say verbal abuse, imagine the worst type of verbal abuse you could ever imagine, and that was what I got. 'It then turned to physical - hitting, throwing, everything. At the pinnacle of it, he [threw] me down the stairs of our house. My face hit every step on the way down. I have photos of this.' In 2021, Drake was arrested in Cleveland, Ohio, and charged with 'attempted endangerment of a child' as well as one count of 'disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.' His mugshot is seen In a statement to People, Drake responded and said he 'never abused his ex-girlfriend or did' any of 'the other things she falsely claimed in her TikTok video.' 'As our relationship ended - more than a decade ago - we, unfortunately, both called each other terrible names, as often happens when couples are breaking up,' he said. 'Clearly, Melissa still felt close enough to me just last year that she was comfortable reaching out to ask me to provide her with financial support during a tough time (which I did). 'I do not know if today's behavior is some kind of misguided quest for more money or attention. 'But I cannot and will not allow these offensive and defamatory allegations to go unchallenged and I am reviewing my legal options.' Drake eventually plead guilty to both charges and was sentenced to two years probation and 200 hours of community service. He is seen in 2017 In a video shared to Instagram afterwards, Drake spoke out about the incident in detail, calling his messages to the teen 'reckless and irresponsible' In response to his denial, Melissa shared an alleged police report, as well as several of her journal entries detailing the abuse, which were seemingly written by her during their relationship. She posted photos of herself with bruises and scars that she said came from Drake, as well as a message she claimed she had received from another one of his exes, actress Paydin Layne. Paydin, who dated him from 2011 to 2016, allegedly told Melissa: 'I will stand by your side and back you up as I went through the same horrific verbal, physical and mental abuse.' In 2021, Drake was arrested in Cleveland, Ohio, and charged with 'attempted endangerment of a child' as well as one count of 'disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.' At the time, law enforcement officials claimed he had sent a 15-year-old minor 'inappropriate social media messages' in 2017 when he was 31 years old. The victim claimed that he performed oral sex on her while she was backstage at one of his concerts in December of that year, which he later denied. 'He was calculating. He preyed on me and sexually abused me,' his victim, who kept her identity hidden for privacy reasons, said during the trial. 'He is a monster and a danger to children.' However, Drake (seen in 2019) said that 'most of the news you've heard about him was false and wrong,' and insisted that he stopped communicating with her after he learned her age Drake eventually plead guilty to both charges and was sentenced to two years of probation and 200 hours of community service. At the sentencing hearing, a judge told the Drake & Josh alum that he 'took advantage' of the young girl because she did not have 'the emotional or mental maturity to properly engage' with him. 'Your position and celebrity status enabled you to nurture this relationship,' the judge said. 'You were able to gain access to this child and you were able to gain the trust of the child. So it's a two-edged sword, your position. I hope you truly are remorseful.' In a video shared to Instagram afterwards, Drake spoke out about the incident in detail, calling his messages to the teen 'reckless and irresponsible,' and admitting, 'I'm not perfect and I make mistakes.' However, he said that 'most of the news you've heard about him recently was entirely false and wrong,' and insisted that he stopped communicating with her after he learned her age. 'I want to make clear that there were no sexual images, nothing physical between me and this individual,' he claimed. 'I was not charged with anything physical, I was not charged with disseminating of photographs or images or anything like that. '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.' Drake has spent years trying to make it as a singer despite his numerous controversies and failed acting career - changing his name, moving to Mexico, and releasing an all-Spanish album Drake's numerous controversies did not stop him from trying to bring back his mega-stardom. After his acting career came to a halt, he decided to focus on making music instead After seeing his songs do well on the charts in Mexico, Drake made the announcement in 2020 that he was relocating to the country and changing his last name to Campana And while it seemed as though he never actually made the move, he did drop a Spanish album called Sesiones en Casa in 2020. He is seen performing in Mexico earlier this year Drake's numerous controversies did not stop him from trying to bring back his mega-stardom. Most recently, he has been teasing his seventh studio album, Non-Stop Flight, on Instagram, which doesn't have a release date just yet but is set to come out sometime this year. He's seen promoting the album After his acting career came to a halt, he decided to focus on making music instead. He released six studio albums over the years, and after seeing his songs do well on the charts in Mexico, Drake made the shocking announcement in 2020 that he was relocating to the country, changing his last name to Campana, and releasing an all-Spanish album. And while it seemed as though he never actually made the move, he did drop a Spanish album called Sesiones en Casa in 2020. Most recently, he has been teasing his seventh studio album, Non-Stop Flight, on Instagram, which doesn't have a release date just yet but is set to come out sometime this year. As for his personal life, he married a woman named Janet Von Schmeling in 2018, and together, they welcomed a baby boy, named Jeremy Drake Bell in June 2021. In December 2022, Drake was seen inhaling inflated balloons in the front seat of his parked car outside of his Los Angeles home, while his son was asleep in the back seat. It is not clear what, if anything, was inside the balloon. As for his personal life, he married a woman named Janet Von Schmeling in 2018, and together, they welcomed a baby boy, named Jeremy Drake Bell in June 2021 In December 2022, Drake raised eyebrows once again when he was seen inhaling inflated balloons in the front seat of his parked car outside of his Los Angeles home Following the incident, news hit the web that Drake and Janet had 'separated,' and that the actor had entered into a treatment program. Following the incident, news hit the web that Drake and Janet had 'separated,' and that the actor had entered into a treatment program Sources told Page Six in January 2023 that Janet 'had enough' and moved to Florida with their son, while he stayed in LA to receive professional help. 'They had some incredible beautiful times before. He needs to focus on being healthy, and they'll be great co-parents in the future,' an insider dished. 'It's a bad moment in time for Drake. But he is a great dad when he is healthy and sober.' On Thursday, the Daytona Beach Police Department asked the public to provide any information on Drake's whereabouts after they said he had gone 'missing.' They said he was last seen one day prior near Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, driving his 2022 grey BMW. Hours later, they confirmed that they were 'in contact' with him and that he was 'safe.' The Duchess of Sussex may rue her 'foolish' decision to miss the Coronation, that's the view of the the Daily Mail's Editor at Large, Richard Kay. Prince Harry will attend his father's historic event alone, with Meghan Markle set to remain in California, it was revealed earlier this week. Speaking on our royal talk show Palace Confidential, the veteran royal correspondent believes it would have been better for both sides if she had decided to come. 'It feels like a compromise Meghan staying away I think she may come to regret that in the years to come, you don't get very many coronations and to have a ringside seat at one is seems pretty foolish that she shouldn't have accepted and come over,' he tells the programme. 'I think it is the wrong call. I think it would have been better for her and for the Royal Family if they'd both been there.' The Duchess of Sussex may rue her 'foolish' decision to miss the Coronation, that's the view of the Daily Mail's Richard Kay Speaking on our royal talk show Palace Confidential, the veteran royal correspondent believes it would have been better for both sides if she had decided to come He added that despite Harry's decision to come, it doesn't mark a rapprochement between the Sussexes and the rest of the family, but a 'ceasefire'. 'If they can put their differences aside for Harry to come, then it does possibly show that there is a path for the future. 'But one thing I would say about this, is that this is not a truce in the war between the Royal Family and the Sussexes, it's more of a ceasefire.' The Daily Mail's Diary Editor Richard Eden meanwhile believes that by agreeing to come, Harry has effectively 'given in' in his battle to get his family to apologise to him and Meghan. 'I think this is him giving in really,' he tells the show. 'You might remember there was a string of comments all these TV interviews he was giving, saying that they needed to sit down and discuss things, before they would even consider whether they would come, they wanted apologise that kind of thing and from everything I've heard, that simply hasn't happened. 'Let's be clear, I think that's why Meghan isn't coming because they haven't got what they wanted.' After delicate negotiations, described to the Mail as a game of 'transatlantic ping pong', Buckingham Palace announced earlier this week the Duke of Sussex will be at the Coronation ceremony. The Daily Mail's Diary Editor Richard Eden meanwhile believes that by agreeing to come, Harry has effectively 'given in' in his battle to get his family to apologise to him and Meghan Richard Eden said it's clear Meghan 'isn't coming' because the Sussexes 'haven't gotten what they wanted' He added that despite Harry's decision to come, it doesn't mark a rapprochement between the Sussexes and the rest of the family, but a 'ceasefire' (pictured, King Charles and Queen Camilla) But he 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. 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. 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. 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.' Sussex supporters said he understood that it was the biggest day of his father's life and felt it was right to be present, despite his attacks on the family. 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. This adorable litter of Wetterhoun puppies is the first group to be born in the UK. Until last week there were just four members of the rare hunting breed in Britain. Mike and Nicky Jan, who live in Dorchester, Dorset, fell in love with the Wetterhoun after buying Aafke, a female, in the summer of 2020. Nicky, 63, found the perfect breeding partner for Aafke in six-year-old Lex who lived 450 miles away in Heteren, Holland. The UK Wetterhoun and Stabyhoun Association is advising Nicky and Mike to offer the puppies for 1,500 each. Mike and Nicky Jan, who live in Dorchester, Dorset, have revealed their dog has produced the first group of Wetterhoun puppies born in the UK The UK Wetterhoun and Stabyhoun Association is advising Nicky and Mike to offer the puppies for 1,500 each The couple fell in love with the Wetterhoun after buying Aafke, a female, in the summer of 2020 During the Second World War the breed almost disappeared completely after German occupation of the Netherlands. Concentrated breeding efforts in the 1950s managed to bring the Wetterhoun back from the brink, but they still only number 1,000 worldwide today. With such a limited worldwide population it took the couple a while to find a suitable male. The new litter has tripled the UK population and a waiting list has begun to offer the rare pups loving homes. Retired clinical scientist Nicky: 'First and foremost we are looking for loving family homes for these puppies but we are also interested in hearing from people who might be up for the challenge of having their own litter of Wetterhoun puppies one day. 'We are hoping to continue to build a healthy population in this country which is very exciting. 'The last week has been very intense and we're really pleased with the amount of interest there has been in the puppies. 'If we can generate some interest and start to form a network of good homes in Britain that will be amazing.' The new litter has tripled the UK population and a waiting list has begun to offer the rare pups loving homes The species was originally bred 400 years ago in the Netherlands for hunting small game and waterfowl Concentrated breeding efforts in the 1950s managed to bring the Wetterhoun back from the brink, but they still only number 1,000 worldwide today The breed is gaining popularity again due to its entertaining and loyal natures (pictured, the adorable litter) The species was originally bred 400 years ago in the Netherlands for hunting small game and waterfowl. The breed is gaining popularity again due to its entertaining and loyal natures. Jane Moss, breeding advisor for the UK Wetterhoun Association, said: 'We are hoping that in the next decade we might see the Wetterhoun population rise to 50 to 100 in the UK. 'This litter is brilliant news and a huge boost for the breed to continue bouncing back. Jane Moss, breeding advisor for the UK Wetterhoun Association, said the litter of puppies was 'brilliant news' 'It's very early days but with careful placement we hope this litter can provide a bright future for the Wetterhoun in Britain. 'We think that the population dropped so much in the Second World War because interest just wasn't there for the breed. 'We are looking for good homes for the puppies and the process will be carefully done so that they go to the best homes.' British Vogue editor Edward Enninful has praised King Charles as a monarch who can 'evolve with the times' despite being head of an imperfect institution. Mr Enninful, who was once close friends with Meghan Markle, praised the King as 'charming', 'funny' and 'kind' as he penned the monarch's entry in Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2023 list. The fashion editor, 51, who is also an ambassador for King Charles's charity The Prince's Trust, made note of how the organisation helped people he knew into work when he was a child living on a council estate in west London. Noting that the King 'didn't have to do any of it', he praised Charles, 74, for his commitment to improving opportunities for young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Writing the entry, Mr Enninful said: '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.' Editor-in-chief of British Vogue Edward Enninful (pictured with King Charles at a Prince's Trust awards event in 2021) has praised the monarch's ability to 'evolve with the times' in the monarch's entry in Time Magazine's Most Influential People of 2023 list He added that he believes the monarchy is 'not perfect' but that King Charles has the ability to modernise things. Mr Enniful's links to the monarchy don't end with King Charles, as he also developed a friendship with the Duchess of Sussex when he collaborated with her on an issue of British Vogue in 2019. The 'Forces for Change' issue put inspirational women including actresses Gemma Chan and Jane Fonda, and former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern on the front cover. When it was published in the September, it was the fastest selling issue in the magazine's 104-year history, selling out in less than 10 days. The editor of British Vogue, 51, was a one-time pal of the Duchess of Sussex after the pair collaborated on the Forces for Change issue of the magazine in September 2019 Mr Enninful once said of the Duchess of Sussex that she was a 'brave woman' but added that fierce criticism she had received was not solely down to racism The following year, Mr Enninful spoke to Sky News about criticism Meghan received when she joined the royal family, arguing that he didn't believe it was solely down to racism. Describing the Duchess as a 'brave woman', he said: 'Parts of it were probably racism, but it was more of an institution.' He added that while criticism was 'harsh', he 'wouldn't just blame it on racism', saying: 'She walked into an institution and everyone expected her to know the rules. And I think sometimes it takes a minute to understand the rules.' However he continued to say he believed the treatment of her was 'very unfair'. The editor-in-chief of British Vogue's powerful words about King Charles come days after it was announced that Prince Harry will attend the coronation, but Meghan will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Buckingham Palace confirmed the news in a statement on Wednesday, saying it was 'pleased to confirm' the Duke of Sussex will be at Westminster Abbey on May 6. But the Duchess will stay home at the couple's residence in Montecito with one-year-old Lilibet and Archie, whose fourth birthday is on the same day as the ceremony. 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 itself, which is likely to last a few hours. A royal observer told MailOnline: 'Charles will be pleased. The rest of the family will be relieved that Meghan won't be there - it would have been particularly uncomfortable for Kate.' Harry and Meghan had controversially delayed their decision over whether they would fly in for the ceremony, despite the RSVP date of April 3 having passed. A college student has gained fame, marriage proposals and thousands of likes and comments after showing off her likeness to Hollywood actress Margot Robbie. Lexi Ashton, who attends the University of Tennessee, has stunned her TikTok followers by dressing up and impersonating Hollywood movie star Margot Robbie. The doppelganger, who has gone viral for her imitation of the Wolf of Wall Street star, has already amassed 4.9 million views and counting of her take on one of the film's iconic scenes. Wearing a blue low-cut dress with 100 dollar bills stuck in her cleavage, Lexi also fixes her hair and make-up to mimic the character Naomi Lapaglias look. Although shared with her 138,700 account followers in October, perhaps for Halloween, it has only just recently earned massive attention. Lexi Ashton, who attends the University of Tennessee, imitated Margot Robbie's character in The Wolf of Wall Street and her fans have been blown away by the likeness In addition to dressing and wearing her hair and makeup like Robbie's character, Lexi mimed along to one of the actor's iconic lines from the film Margot shot to fame as Naomi Lapaglia, the wife of Leonardo DiCaprio's Jordan Belfort, who ended up in prison for fraud and related crimes in connection with stock-market manipulation As well as being dressed for the part, Lexi also mouths along to one of Robbies most famous lines from the film. She mimes: No, Daddy doesnt even get to touch Mommy for a very, very, very long time. After watching the TikTok, viewers rushed to the comments section to add their very enthusiastic thoughts. She actually looks like her! exclaimed one person. Lexi's fans flooded the comments section with compliments and marriage offers You look like her!, added someone else. You nailed it! penned a third person, while many others echoed the sentiments telling Lexi how much she resembled Margot Robbie. Lots of viewers were left stunned by the students stunning looks, with one dubbing her beautiful, while another asked: Marry me? Dragon's Den viewers were left screaming at the TV last night after Deborah Meaden withdrew her investment offer - over a blunder from a pair of entrepreneurs. Lee Denny and Julia Lowe, from London, appeared on the BBC show where they were pitching Camp Wildfire - which they described as 'the UK's first summer camp for adults' - to the Dragons. They were asking the business people for a 5 per cent stake in their company in return for a 75,000 investment. Deborah appeared impressed by the idea, telling them she liked it and would be happy to provide all of the money - for a 25 per cent stake in the business. However in a shocking moment, the entrepreneurs tried to negotiate with Deborah to meet their original 5 per cent ask - with the Dragon saying she found it so offensive, she no longer wanted to invest. Dragon's Den viewers were left screaming at the TV last night after Deborah Meaden withdrew her investment offer - over a blunder from a pair of entrepreneurs Many viewers of the show were left stunned by the moment, with one writing: 'Deborah doesn't get out of her sleeping bag for 5 per cent! Ffs.' Another wrote: 'Deborah with a withering putdown. Ouch.' A third added: 'OMG what a complete disaster. I was screaming at the TV to just take the 25 per cent. Big mistake. HUGE.' A fourth commented: 'Clearly that's why Deborah Meaden is as rich as she is! Withdrawing from that was genius. 'The counteroffer was laughable - as Deborah pointed out that said everything about them in terms of running a business.' Another wrote: 'What fools! I'd have bitten off Deborah's hand! Although it looks like someone has already tried that.' Appearing on the programme, the pair said they wanted to reinvent the experience of festival-going. They confessed they hoped to impress Deborah as their favourite Dragon, and were keen to work with the business woman on their brand. They explained they had worked in festivals for a decade, telling the Dragons: 'At Camp Wildfire, you would venture by day and party by night. 'There's a choice of over 100 activities and 50 bands and DJs. 'You'll spend your days driving quad bikes, firing arrows, climbing trees and building rafts, and as night falls, you'll feast on banquets, party in the forest, and cosy up around campfires.' Many viewers of the show were left stunned by the moment, with one calling it a 'big mistake' from the couple They said they expected net profits of 315,000 for the upcoming year, impressing the judges and wowing Deborah. She told the pair: 'I really like it. 'When I was in the holiday park industry, people coming in an providing a 'wow' piece for my customers was absolute gold dust. 'So, I can clearly see what we can do with this.' Despite confessing there were 'serious structural problems' to be ironed out with the business, she said she was willing to work with the couple to help. She offered the pair all of the money they had asked for - but said she wanted a 25 per cent stake in the business in exchange. She told them it was a 'much more realistic valuation' for their company. Lee and Julia took a moment to deliberate, with Julia telling her partner: 'Obviously, Deborah is amazing, but I just think that we don't want to give away too much.' Going back to the panel, Lee thanked Deborah for her offer, but produced a counter offer for her. The pair said they expected net profits of 315,000 for the upcoming year, impressing the judges and wowing Deborah After Deborah revealed her offer, it was rebutted by Lee, who asked if she would be willing to drop her share down to 5 per cent - leaving the Dragon stunned He said: 'We would like to ask if it would be possible to do 20 per cent and, if we hit our numbers, which we believe we can, in the next season we run 315k, would you be willing to roll back to the 5 per cent that we pitched?' However Deborah appeared stunned by their suggestion, saying: '5 per cent? No! That kind of misses the point. 'Because, if I'm having an impact on this business, then I'll be part of you achieving the 315k. 'I mean, it's completely illogical! So, no, is the answer.' Lee then asked her if she was willing to offer the 75k for 20 per cent of their business. However Deborah appeared flummoxed by their bravery and said she had decided their suggestions had put her off investing at all. She said: 'Do you know, in your last counteroffer, I have to tell you, I nearly fell off my chair. 'And that really worried me.' 'I'm getting insights into how you are going to be when you go out there and you do business and, do you know what? 'I'm afraid I withdraw my offer. I'm out.' And while the other Dragons were left stunned by Deborah's move, Lee and Julia were forced to leave the den without an offer on the table. A British pensioner and her 37-year-old toyboy lover have shared the most romantic gesture as they celebrate their second wedding anniversary. Iris Mohamed, 83, from Somerset and her Egyptian husband Mohamed Ahmed Ibriham, instantly hit it off when they met on a Facebook group for atheists and the pair have since been inseparable. The unlikely couple hit headlines when Iris gave a graphic description of their sex life on ITV's This Morning, admitting that on their first night of passion, an 'entire tube of KY jelly', left Iris 'saddle sore', while her favourite sex position is 'doggy fashion.' The couple's antics have amassed fans all over the globe, and the bond between the ex-cleaner, formerly called Iris Jones, and her millennial husband continue to leave fans divided even after insisting he's 'not after her money.' The couple are now happily married and have comfortably settled in Weston-Super-Mare. Iris Mohamed, 83, from Weston-super-Mare, with her husband Mohamed Ahmed, who is 37. The couple have just celebrated their second wedding anniversary Fans are regularly treated to glimpses of their personal life through videos, and in a new clip shared to YouTube, the lovebirds can be seen adorably gesturing at each other as Mohamed stands outside of a bus. The blushing husband filmed himself gushing at his wife, before the two happily shared a kiss through the window pane and Iris exits the camera frame to take a seat. She then waves for him to leave, but unable to leave his damsel in distress, he draws a heart on the window and writes their initials. In another video of the couple, he says: 'I am happy because it's our second wedding anniversary.' 'I am happy because we are together. I love you so much, our love has grown day by day.' The couple show no sign of slowing down and have grown accustomed to defending their love. In an appearance on This Morning in 2020, Mohammed explained to hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby that people could 'go to hell' if they doubted his relationship with his wife. He said: 'The love does not know any difference between age or countries. Iris chose me and I chose Iris.' In a new clip shared to YouTube, the lovebirds can be seen adorably gesturing at each other as Mohamed stands outside of a bus, waving off his wife Mohamed Ahmed Ibriham, 36, and British gran Iris Jones, 82, from Somerset, moved in together last year after Mohamed was granted a three-year visa after meeting the English language requirements and proving he was able to move in with Iris 'I want to say for all the people who attack our love, it's none of your business, focus on your lives, go to hell. That is all.' 'I am angry about what people say on the media, people say I am a toy boy. I am a man, I am a man, okay? I am a man, not a toy boy. I am not a game, please do not say that again.' The pair have vehemently denied that Mohamed is with Iris for money or a passport, and in 2021, Mohamed was finally granted a three-year-visa. Speaking to MailOnline, he said: 'I don't care where we live or how rich or poor she is, I just want to be with Iris.' 'At the end of the day, which country she wants to make her home is her choice; it can be either Britain or Egypt. 'People think I am with her for all the wrong reasons. I know Britain is a beautiful country and a lot of people want to go there but I'm not bothered. I'm prepared to live with her anywhere in the world.' A bartender has left the internet stunned after revealing she made more than $600 during a single shift - equating to nearly $50 an hour. Avery Linhart, who works at the restaurant chain Twin Peaks, documented her earnings on TikTok earlier this month with a clip that sparked fierce debate about how much restaurant workers are paid. Avery, from Texas, explained at the start of the now-viral video, which has so far gained nearly two million views, that her rent was due, but she was $300 short. She hoped to earn enough to cover what she still owed during that shift and, after working 13 hours at the eatery, she had taken home more than enough to cover the deficit. A bartender has left the internet stunned after revealing she made more than $600 during a single shift - equating to nearly $50 an hour Avery Linhart, who works at the restaurant chain Twin Peaks, documented her earnings on TikTok earlier this month The now-viral video, which has so far gained nearly two million views, sparked fierce debate about how much restaurant workers are paid @averylinhart3 Im a double again next saturday i dont know why i keep doing it original sound - Avery Linhart During her bumper shift, Avery earned a whopping $631 across 13 hours, equating to about $48.50 per hour. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last year that the average hourly wage in America was $31. Dozens of social media users took to the comments section to voice their shock, with one person admitting, 'That's more than I make in two weeks.' 'Bruh, I get $800 bi-weekly,' someone else wrote, while another viewer added, 'God damn, almost a thousand in one day.' 'Why do servers always claim to make so much but then never have money for their bills?' a different user asked. Someone else pondered: 'All I see is waitresses complaining about making $2 an hour, but then they go and make $631 over [13] hours. 'The average pay in the US for someone with a bachelors degree is $25 an hour. She made almost double that,' the same user wrote in a separate comment. During her bumper shift, Avery earned a whopping $631 across 13 hours, equating to about $48.50 per hour Many people took to the comment section to voice their shock, with one person admitting, 'That's more than I make in two weeks' When someone asked Avery how she was short on rent if she makes so much, she explained, 'Because I spend $16k a year on tuition' Other viewers defended the TikToker, with one person commenting, 'Not y'all being pressed about a girl making money while working a normal job. You just don't want women to succeed' When someone asked Avery how she was short on rent if she makes so much, she explained, 'Because I spend $16k a year on tuition, $15k on rent, and pay for everything else while putting money into savings.' Other viewers defended the TikToker, with one person commenting, 'Not y'all being pressed about a girl making money while working a normal job. I swear to God, you just don't want women to succeed.' 'Girl, don't listen to any of these fools in the comments,' another comment read. 'You're doing your best and working hard. Good for you. People are so arrogant. You're killing it,' said a different person. Someone else gushed, 'Get that bag girl.' In a second video shared a few days later, Avery revealed she made a further $567 during a 15-hour shift. A travelling Aussie was left scratching her head after she was given a very unorthodox form of pain relief when she asked for paracetamol at an Italian pharmacy. Jade, who's travelling the world with her boyfriend Dayne, was in 'desperate' need of some paracetamol due to neck pain and visited a chemist to find some relief during her stay in Milan. She said she it was a 'nightmare' trying to ask the pharmacist what she was after but was eventually given what she thought was paracetamol but was actually suppositories. Jade was perplexed as she opened the packet to find a large 'wax bullet' she said looked like a 'mini tampon'. After some googling, she and Dayle discovered she had been given suppositories which are meant to be inserted in the rectum or vagina to dissolve. Scroll down for video Australian traveller Jade (pictured) ws left baffled after she was given suppositories by a pharmacist in Milan, Italy when she asked for paracetamol 'It's like a bullet. Do they chew it? It's like wax. I'm so confused,' Jade laughed as she opened the packet. She tried to ease her confusion by reading the instructions but they were in Italian Jade shared the amusing experience in a video posted to TikTok. 'It was a f***ing nightmare to try and get this because it's behind the counter you have to ask for it,' she said holding the packet before she opened it. 'It's like a bullet. Do they chew it? It's like wax. I'm so f***ing confused,' she laughed after seeing the contents. Jade tried to ease her confusion by reading the instructions however they were all written in Italian. 'I don't know if you're supposed to down that whole thing or you crack it open,' she said. 'Do they just not have Panadol here? Do they not take it? Do I down it?' Jade eventually discovered what the mystery medication was after looking it up online. She had been given suppositories which are meant to be inserted anally or vaginally where it will dissolve and release its medication. 'You're supposed to shove this up your a**. (The pharmacist) didn't even give us an option. I really need it,' Jade said. 'Unacceptable. I'm not happy with that. I'm not shoving a bullet of Panadol up my a**.' After some Googling Jade discovered she had been given suppositories which are meant to be inserted anally or vaginally where it will dissolve and release its medication Hesitations aside, Jade did in fact use the suppository as she was 'desperate' and had no other option. 'I did use it and yes, I didn't know it was a suppository, I'm so uncultured,' she joked in a follow-up clip. 'In Australia they're just not common for the average Joe. You just go in and you buy the pills.' What is a suppository? Suppositories are solid medications that enter the body through the rectum, vagina, or urethra. Rectal suppositories are the most common type. Suppositories are another way to deliver drugs to the body when other routes, such as oral, cannot be used. A suppository is small and may be round, oval, or cone-shaped. A substance, such as cocoa butter or gelatin, surrounds the medication. The suppository dissolves to release the drug once inside the body. Suppositories may treat the local area, or the medicine may travel to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. Source: Medical News Today Advertisement The traveller warned viewers she was about to share 'too much information' and explained how her first experience with a suppository went. 'It went straight up there, there was no f***ing around. The part that I was scared about, it said you needed to keep it in for 20 minutes but when I put it up I was like that b**** aint coming out,' she laughed. 'But I think you can just keep it in there because it's staying up there. I'm never going up there ever again, I think that is the first and last time I shall be doing that.' Jade admitted, while it took a while to enter her system, the suppository did alleviate the pain in her neck. 'If I'm desperate I will be using it again but we're going to Switzerland next and hopefully we can snatch up some normal Panadol there,' she said. 'I did not swallow it. I was never going to swallow it without knowing what it was, I'm not that stupid.' While Jade confessed she was very 'embarrassed' by the debacle, thousands were in stitches over the misunderstanding. 'Life's lessons and wisdom comes in many forms and today it came in a suppository,' one viewer joked. 'As a nurse watching this, I'm so glad you googled before swallowing that. Classic,' wrote a second. 'This had me howling,' a third added and a fourth thought: 'The assistant that served you clearly has fun with tourists'. A nurse put Jade's concerns to bed and informed her the suppository will dissolve so doesn't need to be retrieved while an Italian viewer said the medication wasn't very common. 'I'm Italian and usually they automatically give you the tablets unless you explicitly ask them for the suppositories. I feel like they set you up.' Three popular high street thermometers fail to display the correct temperature, it was claimed today. Consumer group Which? tested the accuracy of five digital gadgets and found that they could be off by nearly 1C. Options from Boots, Beaba and Beurer provided readings that led users to believe they were cooler than they actually were. Which?, which published the list of 'Don't Buy' thermometers, has warned this could delay sick Brits from seeking medical attention for their child's fever. The worst performing device recorded temperatures that were 0.7C cooler than the true reading. International standards allow thermometers to be out by 0.3C. Consumer group Which?, which tested the accuracy of thermometers, found that the devices could be off by nearly 1C Boots Bluetooth Enabled Non-Contact Thermometer, 55 The Boots Bluetooth Enabled Non-Contact Thermometer costs 55 and is 0.7C out of range The Boots Bluetooth Enabled Non-Contact Thermometer works by using infrared technology to detect heat radiating from the forehead. Which? tested this thermometer 44 times across 11 temperatures and found that the results the device displayed were, on average, 0.7C too cool. The consumer champion warned: 'With the fever alert system in this thermometer set to go off when temperatures of 37.5C or higher are recorded, this inaccuracy means your child may have a feverish temperature but you won't be alerted to it. 'This could potentially delay you from seeking medical attention.' Beurer FT 95 Non-Contact Thermometer, 40 Beurer FT 95 Non-Contact Thermometer costs 40 and is also 0.7C out of range The Beurer FT 95 Non-Contact thermometer is identical to the Boots Bluetooth Enabled Non-Contact thermometer. The specifications of the two are identical but this device is 15 cheaper. Given they are the same device but in different packaging, this thermometer is just as inaccurate. Beaba Thermospeed Infrared Ear and Forehead Thermometer, 50 Beaba Thermospeed Infrared Ear and Forehead Thermometer costs 50 and is 0.38C out of range The Beaba Thermospeed Infrared Ear and Forehead Thermometer uses an infrared sensor to take a temperature reading without having to touch the skin. Which? also tested this device 44 times across 11 temperature points and found that the temperatures given were, on average, 0.38C too cool. During the investigation, Which? researchers set all of the devices to a test mode, which allows them to be accurately tested to the official standard. Natalie Hitchins, head of home products and services at Which?, said: 'When you or a loved one feel unwell, it's important to be able to rely on thermometers that give an accurate temperature reading, but unfortunately Which? tests have found devices that fall short on this front. 'We would recommend consumers avoid the digital thermometers we've labelled Don't Buys and instead opt for models that do a better job of identifying a high temperature that might need medical attention.' Which? examines and compares products in order to advise people on the best options to buy. As well as not buying the thermometers it identified, it also urged Brits to look out for a 'CE' or 'UKCA' (UK Conformity Assessed) mark on any digital thermometer. The required mark is confirmation that the manufacturer has checked that the product meets all safety, health and environmental requirements and complies with EU law. A missing mark does not mean a product is unreliable or unsafe but it should be considered as a warning sign, according to Which? In response to Which?'s findings a Boots spokesperson said: 'At Boots we take the quality of our products very seriously and all our products are subject to compliance, performance and safety checks before they go on sale. 'We are confident in the quality of the Boots Bluetooth Enabled Non-Contact Thermometer and would like to assure our customers that our testing is very robust.' A Beauer spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that the Beurer thermometer FT 95 is manufactured and tested in accordance with British Standards and European standards. It also complies to the EU Medical Devices Directive, the German Medical Devices Act and registered with the UK MHRA. 'This product has 100 per cent in production testing and is calibrated to the appropriate specifications. Our testing, which is to regulation under a strictly controlled environment, prove that the product does comply to the specifications as published.' Responding to Which?'s findings, Beaba explained they are now double checking the accuracy with many labs across the continent. Beaba said: 'Our thermometers are tested to the highest standard in line with British and European Accuracy and Safety Requirements. 'We acknowledge that whilst testing, Which? seem to have a discrepancy in their readings and we are already investigating this alongside having the accuracy double checked with numerous accredited labs across Europe and UK. 'Beaba is dedicated to maintaining the high quality of their products and supporting Customer Service.' Bird flu is just four mutations away from being able to jump to humans and cause a pandemic, experts warn. The virus has been given ample opportunity to spread in recent years as it rampages across the world's bird and mammal population. Each time it begins replicating in a new host it earns another chance to mutate and potentially gain one of these deadly traits. Some mutations it could gain that cause it to pose a risk to humans includes the ability to survive in the air and optimizing itself to infect human cells. Experts highlight four key traits bird flu can pick up through mutation that can lead to it causing a pandemic level event in humans. Two of the mutations would need to occur on the hemagglutinin, the outside parts of the virus that are responsible for binding it to human cells. With these mutations it can travel through the air and bypass the body's natural defenses. Other changes include matching itself to better connect to human viruses rather than bird, and to optimize itself to strike cell proteins Dr Mathilde Richard, a virologist at the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands, told the journal Science: 'This is the threat that's going to keep knocking at our door until it will indeed, I assume, cause a pandemic. 'Because there is no way back.' Before the virus can cause any harm to humans, it will first need to reach them. Currently, a person can be infected with bird flu after viral particles enter their body through the mouth, nose or eyes. Usually, this happens when someone touches an infected surface and then wipes their face. These instances are rare, though, with only around 1,000 cases ever having been detected in humans. In a landmark 2012 study, Dutch researchers manufactured the H5N1 bird flu to spread airborne between ferrets. This type of research falls under the controversial 'gain-of-function' label and has been restricted in most of the world. But through their studies, the team identified changes to the virus's bindings that allow it to travel through the air and attach to human cells, it's RNA code and that allow it to infect more efficiently and let it escape natural barriers. Viral pathogens, such as COVID-19, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus transmit most effectively through the air. But, bird flu has trouble spreading through aerosol particles. Like other pathogens, the avian flu attaches to a host's cell through a part called the hemagglutinin. These are small proteins on the outer layer of the virus. When the virus infects an animal's cell, the hemagglutinin fuses with liquid in the cell called the vesicle. It fuses with it because of the high acidity of the liquid. This allows the virus to melt into the cell and infect the membrane an inner layer of cell protection. Once in the membrane, the virus can cause harm to the cell with little resistance, fully infecting it and further transmitting itself when it starts to replicate. Because water and other surfaces have a relatively balanced pH, the virus can survive on surfaces for long periods of time. But, it is a different story when it travels through the air after a person sneezes or coughs out particles. Carbon dioxide in the air causes it to become slightly acidic. As a result, the hemagglutinin will begin to melt and fail to reach a new host. Scientists say that if the hemagglutinin of bird flu mutates to be more similar to that of Covid or influenza, it will be able to travel through the air. Once the virus reaches the host, it then must infect them. The second mutation optimizes the flu to bind to a human cell. Birds fall into the 'aves' class within the animal kingdom, while humans are considered mammals. This means they have different biologic makeup, enough that virus's tailored for the animals have trouble with humans. Avian flu has mutated to optimize itself infect birds and as a result, has a hard time finding non-avian hosts. The virus was first detected in ducks in Europe and Asia, but it is unclear where they picked it up. But, this could change with simple mutations of the hemagglutinin. A more optimized hemagglutinin would convert more exposures into infections, leading to sharp growth in cases. Changes to amino acids dubbed the G228S and Q226L will be necessary for this optimization to occur, scientists say after reviewing data from previous outbreaks. When these amino acids undergo this mutation, they are better adapted to attach to carbohydrates in human cells. These mutations were detected in previous human outbreaks of the virus. This includes the 1968 H3N2 outbreak, which originated in America and ended up killing around 1million people worldwide. The 1957 'Asian flu' outbreak was responsible for 1.1million deaths globally. Later, it was determined to be caused by the H2N2 strain of bird flu, which also had these mutations. Both strains of the virus have since vanished from the human population, but their outbreaks show these dangerous mutations are possible. It is thought the woman caught the virus from a wet market where she spent time before becoming ill, after samples taken from the market tested positive for influenza A(H3) The woman, from the Guangdong province, first became ill on February 22. She was admitted to the hospital with severe pneumonia on March 3 and died on March 16 The hemagglutinin is not the only part of the virus that would need to change. The third mutation, which scientists believe is the most important evolution a strain of the bird flu would need to undergo to pose a threat to humans, is within its RNA. All influenza viruses consist of single-stranded RNA as opposed to dual-stranded DNA. RNA is made up of four base chemicals: cytosine, guanine, adenine and uracil. In DNA, thymine is present instead of uracil. Every combination of three chemicals within the chain of RNA forms an amino acid. These acids are the building blocks of protein, and their combination make up a multitude of traits. Unlike a cell, viruses do not have both DNA and RNA present. A majority of infectious diseases gain their traits from their RNA makeup. Each trio of these chemicals on a chain of RNA make up a chemical responsible for proteins that assist in bodily functions. If the cytosine in some of these chains instead mutates to adenine, it will change the output of some strains from a chemical called glutamine to one known as lysine. Scientists have dubbed this the E627K mutation. When glutamate is swapped out for lysine, the virus can more infect a person's protein cells than a bird's cells. With these three mutations, the virus will likely be able to pose a threat to humans. But, with a fourth change it could bypass the final defenses humans have and start a deadly pandemic. The myxovirus resistance gene A (MxA) is a protein in human cells built to destroy RNA viruses like the bird flu. When viral RNA is detected in the cell the protein is triggered. It most cases, it can break the pathogen's binding and prevent infection. When it cannot, it signals to the immune system that there is an invader and triggers a flow of white blood cells to fight the virus. The MxA is more sensitive in humans than other mammals, making it harder for the bird flu to cause an outbreak in us than it would be in foxes, sea lions and others who have suffered from the infection over the past two years. While Dr Richard says that the virus will inevitably reach the point where all four mutations have occurred and it can strike humans, the time it could take for this varies greatly. Because of the randomness of genetic mutation and the very specific changes the virus needs, it could be decades before even a single one of the changes are made. For now, the bird flu remains a threat that humans are observing but are not particularly worried about. Human cases do spring up on occasion, though. Officials reported that a 56-year-old woman in southeast China died from the H3N8 strain of the virus in March. The strain she suffered from is poorly tailored for humans, though. Only three case of the H3N8 strain in humans has even been reported. The strain that poses the most threat to humans is the H5N1 virus. That strain has been recorded around 870 times since it was first discovered in 1959, killing around half of patients. It has rampaged across the world's wild bird population over the past two years, and caused scattered infections among humans. Unlike other strains of the bird flu, it has shown that in can spread human-to-human. Transmission between people was confirmed during a 1997 Hong Kong outbreak that stuck 18 people. British holidaymakers could be at greater risk of dengue fever when they travel to southern France, after a 44-year-old woman was infected there. The tropical disease could be set to cause more outbreaks due to climate change, experts have warned. Asian tiger mosquitos which carry the virus thrive in warmer temperatures, and there are concerns it is now an emerging health threat in the south of France. The 44-year-old British woman, who has not been identified, was infected with dengue during a trip to a small village near Nice in September. She had experienced fever, headaches, muscle pain and a red rash for three days but did not need any medical treatment and made a full recovery. Tropical diseases like dengue, which causes 50 to 100 million cases a year across over 120 countries, may be heading our way in the long-term future, experts have warned. We could require wider use of public health control measures, such as mosquito nets or insect sprays. Asian tiger mosquitos which carry the virus thrive in warmer temperatures, and there are concerns it is now an emerging health threat in the south of France Her case was presented at this years European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Copenhagen. Dr Owain Donnelly, from the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London, who presented it, said: This individual was part of an outbreak of over 30 locally transmitted cases in the south of France in 2022, which highlights the rapidly changing epidemiology of dengue. With climate change, particularly hotter temperatures and more rainfall, and increasing global trade and tourism, we may see more parts of Europe with the right combination of factors for dengue outbreaks. Southern France has the right combination of climate, a stable mosquito population and a high volume of travellers returning from trips to tropical countries to cause outbreaks. Read more: Warning to British tourists as Ibiza is put on dengue fever alert after holidaymakers catch disease on the island Advertisement It has had several dengue outbreaks in the past 15 years, but the most recent is the most severe yet. As regards the threat to Britain, officials have detected Asian tiger mosquitos, whose scientific name is Aedes albopictus, at UK ports multiple times over the past few years, but no local populations have established in this country yet. However tropical diseases like dengue, which causes 50 to 100 million cases a year across over 120 countries, may be heading our way in the long-term future, when we could require wider use of public health control measures, such as mosquito nets or insect sprays. The British holidaymakers diagnosis was made by the UKs Rare Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) after she visited A&E after returning home to the UK and doctors sent an urgent sample for analysis Family members she stayed with in France also experienced similar symptoms. Dengue fever, spread by the bite of infected mosquitos, causes no symptoms in an estimated three-quarters of cases, and often causes only mild flu-like symptoms. But a small minority of people experience headaches, severe joint pain and even internal bleeding that can lead to death. Between June and September 2022, the Agence Regionale de Sante (ARS) in France reported three separate outbreaks of dengue virus transmission contracted on national territory without patients having travelled abroad. Dr Donnelly said: To ensure accurate diagnosis, physicians should consider testing for dengue if patients live in or have visited countries where Aedes albopictus is found, and present with the typical constellation of symptoms, even if dengue is not widespread. Making the correct diagnosis not only has an impact on patients, but also allows us to increase our understanding of dengue distribution and take appropriate steps to control outbreaks.' Crowds seeking a miracle cure for wrinkles have been queuing up for the latest anti-ageing cream. More than 94,000 people signed up to a waiting list for an anti-ageing range from No 7, and many queued outside Boots stores up to two hours on Wednesday. Demand soared for skincare range No 7 Future Renew Damage Reversal after impressive results of its ability to repair damage caused by the sun were presented last month at a meeting of the British Society for Investigative Dermatology. The cream, developed over 15 years in collaboration with the University of Manchester, has been found to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin firmness in clinical trials. The clamour for the so-called 'Botox in a jar' is reminiscent of the company's Protect & Perfect serum, which featured on the BBC's Horizon programme in 2007. More than 94,000 people signed up to a waiting list for an anti-ageing range from No 7, and countless queued outside Boots stores up to two hours early on Wednesday Demand soared for skincare range No 7 Future Renew Damage Reversal after impressive results of its ability to repair skin damage from the sun were presented last month at a meeting of the British Society for Investigative Dermatology (pictured: Queues of shoppers at Boots in Newcastle, eager to get their hands on the No7 Future Renew skinrange) The cream, developed over 15 years in collaboration with the University of Manchester, has been found to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin firmness in clinical trials (pictured: people queueing to buy the No7 range in Boots in Bristol) The science show found that it was the only product that justified its price tag and this led to five months' worth of stock selling at Boots in a day. No 7 Future Renew products, which include a day cream, night cream and eye serum, are priced from 24.95. Richard Bowden, marketing director of No 7, said: 'Future Renew is our biggest ever launch and we are thrilled with the reception it's had.' The cream uses two artificial peptides versions of protein fragments in the skin which trigger repair. Tests suggest the peptides regenerated the layer of proteins which makes the skin springy. Richard Bowden, of No 7, said: 'Future Renew is our biggest ever launch and we are thrilled with the reception it's had' (pictured: queues for the No7 cream in Bluewater, Kent) The clamour for the so-called Botox in a jar is reminiscent of the company's Protect & Perfect serum, which featured on the BBC's Horizon programme in 2007. The science show found it was the only product that justified its price tag and this led to five months' worth of stock selling at Boots in a day Advertisement Dermatologists are seeing an increase in the number of people developing 'life-changing' allergies triggered by gel nail polishes, which can stop them having some operations like cataracts, joint replacement or dental work. The chemicals in gel nail polishes, known as methacrylates, can cause an allergic reaction if they leak into the skin, which can see nails loosen and the skin develop a severe, itchy rash, experts warned today. Those who suffer this reaction are then unable to tolerate being exposed to the chemical, which is used in routine procedures such as fillings and hip replacements. At-home gel manicures are the most likely culprit for triggering the painful reaction, which is caused by the ultraviolet lamp that hardens polish not being used for long enough. But even salon nail treatments can pose a risk if the technician is poorly-trained. Brits have told of the 'painful peeling', swelling and blisters they've suffered after receiving a manicure at a salon, with top dermatologists confirming that being rushed out of the salon was a red flag. Earlier today, the government's Office for Product Safety and Standards also confirmed it was investigating and urged Brits suffering with allergies to contact their local trading standards department. The chemicals used in gel manicures, known as methacrylates can cause nails to loosen or skin to develop a severe, itchy rash. But allergies to these chemicals are also preventing sufferers from accessing some medical treatment including cataracts removal, joint replacements or dental work, experts warned today Dr Deirdre Buckley, a consultant dermatologist in Bath, told the BBC's Today Programme earlier this morning there are a number of symptoms. 'It can range from the nails loosening to falling off, it can include a severe rash on the face, the neck, the upper chest,' she said During gel manicures, the chemicals enter the skin when the ultraviolet lamps used to harden each layer of gel are not used for long enough or the equipment is poorly maintained During gel manicures, methacrylates can enter the skin when the ultraviolet lamps used to seal and harden each layer of gel are not used for long enough, or the equipment is poorly maintained. Each gel polish brand has an exact curing time which should be adhered to, often either 30, 60 or 90 seconds. If the gel is not sufficiently 'cured' for the correct period of time, a reaction to the chemicals can occur on the skin around the nails. Symptoms include the nails loosening and falling off, sores appearing on fingers and red and swollen cuticles, according to Dr Deirdre Buckley, a consultant dermatologist in Bath. It can also trigger severe rash on the face, the neck, the upper chest. Simply brushing your nails against your arms or touching your face can cause symptoms to spread to those areas. Dr Buckley told the BBC's Today Programme: 'People can have trouble breathing or asthma can be worsened. 'Even worse than that, they can become sensitive to acrylates in other things, which can have implications in dentistry or if they're diabetic or for orthopaedic surgery and it's a lifelong sensitization.' How is the 'life-changing' gel nail polish allergy triggered? The chemicals in gel nail polishes, known as methacrylates, can trigger an allergic reaction if they leak into the skin. This can see nails loosen and the skin develop a severe, itchy rash, experts warned today. At-home gel manicures are the most likely culprit for triggering the painful reaction but even salon nail treatments can pose a risk if the technician is poorly-trained. During gel manicures, methacrylates can enter the skin when the ultraviolet lamps used to harden each layer of gel, are not used for long enough. It can also occur if the equipment is poorly maintained. If the gel is not sufficiently 'cured' for the correct period of time, a reaction to the chemicals may also occur on the skin around the nails. Each gel polish brand has an exact curing time which should be adhered to, often either 30 seconds, 60 seconds or 90 seconds. But experts also warned today that nail technicians can rush clients out of salons when the gel is not sufficiently cured, triggering the allergic reaction. Advertisement Once the skin is exposed to methacrylates, the body will no longer tolerate acrylates, meaning anyone with an allergy cannot have medical procedures in which the chemicals are used. Dr Buckley, also of the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD), told MailOnline: 'Many people are unaware of potential medical and dental implications if they become sensitised to nail methacrylates.' In dentistry, the chemicals can be found in white fillings and enamel tooth coatings, while diabetic glucose sensors and insulin pumps also include them, she said. 'This can have serious consequences for future medical care.' Allergies to methacrylate, including patients exposed to it through nail polish use, 'has been reported to cause loosening of hip replacements', she added. The allergy could also lead to 'facial swelling after dental work in patients sensitised by wearing gel or acrylic nails,' Dr Buckley added. She said: 'Its important that people are aware of the potential risks of artificial nail products, whether they are having them applied in a salon or at home. 'Nail technicians are particularly at risk and should wear nitrile gloves when applying the products, changing them every thirty minutes with a no-touch technique.' Most reactions have been linked with at-home gel manicure kits. But experts today warned that even professionally applied acrylic and gel nails pose a risk. The allergy can occur at high street nail salons if the technician fails to keep a client's hands under the ultraviolet (UV) light for long enough either because they are rushed or poorly trained. There is no single qualification required to be a nail technician but professionals often have either a beauty apprenticeship or diploma in manicures. But in some cases, the diploma can take as little as a single day. Speaking to MailOnline today, Claire from Warwickshire, said she had experienced painful allergic reactions since 2018 after visiting several different high street salons. She said: 'I used antihistamine after the procedure, even applied Vaseline around the nail during the procedure to no avail. 'No technician ever explained what could be happening, offered any explanation or indeed refused to do the treatment. 'Foolishly I spent over a year denying there was an issue and instead told myself beauty was pain.' Suffering 'red and itchy nails', she also experienced 'swelling and blistering' before her fingers started 'finally peeling painfully for weeks'. Her nail bed was also left 'paper thin and fragile', she added. Claire said: 'When the world locked down in 2020, my nails were allowed to recover as we bounced in and out of lockdowns and salons were closed. 'On one occasion in 2021, I persevered and had the treatment [and] it happened again. There definitely needs to be some investigation and education to the never ending salons that open on our high streets.' In recent weeks women have also taken to TikTok to share their experiences of gel nail polish allergies. One user @katieadamson5 shared images of her fingers blistering and swelling after applying gel nail polish using an ultraviolet lamp, adding 'when you have an allergic reaction to uv gel polish. Never again' In another video, one TikTok account detailed the flaking, swelling, itching and blistering she experienced just hours after applying gel nail polish. As a result she was forced to see an emergency care nurse to treat the allergy, she added Joanna, from Bristol began using at home gel nail kit, after visiting nail salons for years, she told MailOnline. Despite cutting the nails down, she continues to suffer peeling and loose nails (Pictured above). 'If the dirt gets under them, you can't get it out,' she said. 'I have a nail appointment for May but I may likely lose one of the nails on the left hand (pictured left) by then,' she added Another Brit, speaking anonymously to MailOnline, told how she was left with the painful allergic reaction after visiting a professional beautician at a high street nail salon. She told MailOnline: 'My friend, who is also a beautician, recognised that it was an allergy to the gel and advised me to stop having my nails done.' Prescribed steroid cream by her doctor, only in recent weeks has the allergy 'settled down', she said. Another MailOnline reader also revealed that she is currently on her third course of antibiotics after suffering 'an awful reaction from a nail salon'. Meanwhile others have suffered similar reactions using home DIY gel nail kits. Shelley Dixon from Cheshire told MailOnline that she suffered an allergic reaction twice after using a kit she ordered online. Woken up in the night 'with itching hands and arms', she also experienced 'yellowish nails, peeling sore fingertips, burning and red, split skin'. Dr Deirdre Buckley, from the British Association of Dermatologists and a consultant dermatologist in Bath, told MailOnline today: 'Many people are unaware of potential medical and dental implications if they become sensitised to nail methacrylates' On both occasions, the reaction 'lasted for a couple of weeks before it cleared up completely', she added. Joanna, from Bristol began using at home gel nail kit, after visiting nail salons for years, she told MailOnline. Despite cutting the nails down, she continues to suffer peeling and loose nails. 'If the dirt gets under them, you can't get it out,' she said. 'I have a nail appointment for May but I may likely lose one of the nails on the left hand by then,' she added. One MailOnline reader from Manchester also revealed she had been visiting a nail salon 'for years', but in August decided to invest over 300 instead on tools including gel polish and UV lamps to do them herself. By October however she experienced her first allergic reaction. 'I had no idea what the cause was as it only affected a few of my nails, and so I continued to do them until I had a severe reaction,' she said. She believes the lamp was 'not curing the gel properly', triggering the allergy, which then took three weeks to fully heal. Former beauty therapist, Victoria Evans from Berkshire also developed a 'severe allergy to the gel' in 2015 after she was trained in gel application. Performing around seven gel manicures and pedicures per day, her finger tips were initially sore and red before eventually the skin split becoming infected. 'I still had to complete other treatments including facials and massages touching clients skin directly with open sores on my fingers which I didnt feel comfortable with,' she told MailOnline. 'I had to be signed off work for a month to allow my skin to heal. Another therapist at the salon also had reactions but not as severe.' After trying various treatments from her GP, she paid to see a dermatologist, who confirmed her allergy to methacrylate. 'I still have numbness in my finger tips seven years on. Ultimately, I had to leave my job as there was no safe way I could manage the allergy as gloves cannot stop the chemical,' she said. 'It caused me al lot of pain and stress and also financial loss.' One TikTok creator @lauradavis_official revealed she suffered an allergic reaction, where her nails pulled away from the nail bed, after using a new bottle of an at-home home gel manicure kit. After cutting her finger nails down 'because of how they were lifting', she also used nail oil to try and help relieve the issue, which took 35 days to recover. Her eczema 'also flared up a little bit', her nails turned yellow and her thumb nail thickened, she detailed in her TikTok video Other MailOnline readers have suffered similar reactions using home DIY gel nail kits. Shelley Dixon from Cheshire also told MailOnline she suffered an allergic reaction twice after using a kit she ordered online. Woken up in the night 'with itching hands and arms'. she also experienced 'yellowish nails, peeling sore fingertips, burning and red, split skin' In 2018 the British Association of Dermatologists first warned methacrylate chemicals were causing an 'allergy epidemic'. The 'Europe-wide phenomenon' also 'overwhelmingly' affected women, they said The best way to safely have a gel manicure is to visit a fully trained professional, experts advised In recent weeks women have also taken to TikTok to share their experiences of gel nail polish allergies. One TikTok creator @lauradavis_official revealed she suffered an allergic reaction, where her nails pulled away from the nail bed, after using a new bottle of an at-home home gel manicure kit. After cutting her finger nails down 'because of how they were lifting', she also used nail oil to try and help relieve the issue, which took 35 days to recover. Her eczema 'also flared up a little bit', her nails turned yellow and her thumb nail thickened, she detailed in her TikTok video. One user @katieadamson5 also shared images of her fingers blistering and swelling after applying gel nail polish using an ultraviolet lamp, adding 'when you have an allergic reaction to uv gel polish. Never again.' In another video, one TikTok account detailed the flaking, swelling, itching and blistering she experienced just hours after applying gel nail polish. As a result she was forced to see an emergency care nurse to treat the allergy, she added. The BAD first warned in 2018 that methacrylate chemicals were causing an 'allergy epidemic'. The 'Europe-wide phenomenon' also 'overwhelmingly' affected women, they said. In their audit of 13 UK and Irish dermatology clinics in 2017, 4,931 patients were tested for methacrylate allergies, of which up to 2.4 per cent suffered a reaction. Previous research suggests 93 per cent of reactions to methacrylates occur in females. A separate survey of 742 people attending dermatology clinics also found almost one in five respondents (19 per cent) had experienced adverse effects from acrylic nails applied in salons. Some 16 per cent also suffered from a reaction to a salon gel polish treatment. A spokesperson for the British Association of Dermatologists told MailOnline today: 'We originally sounded the alarm on this issue in 2018, but it's not a problem that's gone away. 'In fact, it's likely that the closure of nail salons during the pandemic contributed to a rise in people using at-home kits, which are a problem if you use them incorrectly.' They added: 'If you do use an at-home kit, make sure that you use the recommended UV lamp for curing, avoid direct skin contact with the nail product, and read the instructions carefully.' The best way to safely have a gel manicure is to visit a fully trained professional, experts advised. Lesley Blair MBE, the CEO and chair of the British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology told MailOnline the growing number of allergy cases was 'concerning'. She added: 'Especially as at-home manicure kits are still so accessible, which can make it harder for the average person to identify harmful ingredients.' 'The best way to minimise risk of allergic reactions to a gel manicure is to ask your nail technician whether they carry low-level HEMA, HEMA-free or hypoallergenic polishes, as well as always ensuring they are experienced and qualified,' she advised. 'When researching a nail technician, dont be afraid to ask what certificates and insurance they hold, 'as well as any aftercare provided to ensure you are in safe hands', Ms Blair said. Earlier this year, researchers at University of California San Diego also found UV nail polish dryers could pose more of a public health concern than previously thought and could cause cancer, much like sunbeds do. They discovered that their use leads to cell death and cancer-causing mutations in human cells. Unprotected exposure to both UVA and UVB light, damages the DNA in skin cells, producing mutations that can lead to skin cancer. Comes as doctors continue their strike and nurses could return to picket lines Further strikes by NHS doctors and nurses could make it impossible to bring down the number of patients waiting longest for operations, a health chief has warned. Junior doctors in England have taken to picket lines for four days this week, while health chiefs fear that nurses are set to reject their pay offer and stage further walkouts in the coming weeks. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of NHS Confederation, said any further industrial action would make it almost impossible for the health service to meet this years targets to bring down waiting lists. The NHS has pledged to eliminate 18-month waits for elective care, such as hip and knee operations, by the end of this month and slash 65-week waits by early 2024. It comes as the NHS elective care backlog, which covers all non-emergency procedures, breached 7.22 million yesterday, a new record. The British Medical Association is orchestrating the action in a bid for a 35 per cent pay rise for junior doctors. Pictured: Striking NHS junior doctors on the picket line outside The Royal Berkshire Hospital on April 14 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 NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor said hopes of tackling the elective care backlog in england could be dashed if further health worker strikes took place Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed slashing waiting lists within the health service was one of his key priorities for 2023. As part of this, NHS England set itself the goal of eliminating waits of more than 18 months by the end of April this year and 65 weeks waits by March 2024. But Mr Taylor said these goals were already in jeopardy from ongoing strikes and could be scuppered entirely if further industrial action was announced. He told LBC that while emergency care was largely unaffected during the ongoing junior doctors industrial action, this was coming at the cost of elective operations, Mr Taylor said: 'We have coped reasonably well in the week in terms of being able to meet emergency critical care. 'The problem is that in order to do that we have had to put on hold a huge proportion of the outpatients work and the elective work we do. 'For example, yesterday I was on a surgical ward, that ward would normally have many junior doctors on it, it now had consultants on it. The consultants were coping fine. 'As they are doing that work, their outpatients list is not being attended to, the list of people waiting for operations is growing. The backlog will have increased.' He added that the knock-on effect of more strikes from NHS staff would put tackling the elective care backlog even further out of reach. Read more: Junior doctors accused of putting 'politics above patient safety' as strikes blamed for rise in deaths with new figures showing excess mortalities jumped by 11% amid first walkout as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt vows not to give in to pay rise demands New figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed excess mortalities jumped by 11 per cent amid the first walkout by the British Medical Association over pay. Pictured: Junior Doctors on their picket line at the Whittington Hospital on April 13, in London Advertisement Mr Taylor added: 'Another set of strikes would mean that it would become very very difficult, perhaps almost impossible, for the health service, hospitals, to meet targets that they set this year for reducing waiting lists.' Latest NHS backlog data for February shows that there were 30,000 people who had been waiting for 18 months or more for treatment, often in pain. More than 360,000 had been in the queue for more than one year. Today was the last full day of the current round of strikes by junior doctors, with medics expected to return to work by 7am tomorrow. But there is no sign that the dispute is nearing an end, and the workforce could return to picket lines again in the coming weeks. The strike is part of a bitter row between the British Medical Association (BMA), which represents medics, and the Government over pay. The union, which plotted the 96-hour walkout, is demanding a 35 per cent salary hike, which the ministers have repeatedly insisted is unaffordable. Government sources have branded the BMA's demand 'ridiculous' with officials estimating that caving in would cost the country 2billion. So far both the union and ministers have refused to budge, though there have been calls for the conciliation service ACAS to get involved in hopes of breaking the deadlock. Concerns have already been raised that the first round of industrial action by junior medics, held over three days in March, led to an 11 per cent spike in deaths that week. The three days of action between March 13 and 15 led to more than 175,000 appointments and operations being cancelled. The RCN has not ruled out returning to the picket line before their strike mandate expires in May, meaning the union could hold a fresh ballot strike into the autumn Read more: Fears of further crippling NHS strikes as insiders claim nurses are set to reject latest pay rise from ministers when ballot closes tomorrow Pat Cullen (pictured: centre), the unions general secretary and chief executive, had previously praised the governments deal as real tangible progress Advertisement Ahead of the latest round of strikes, senior medics warned that some patients could die as result of disruption to planned care. The Office for National Statistics said that on the week of the strike, and the following seven days, 22,571 deaths were noted which is 2,247 above average. Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in medicine at the University of East Anglia, told The Telegraph that it is 'certainly plausible that [the strikes] would have contributed to [the rise in excess deaths]'. However, experts noted that other factors may have led to the increase and it is impossible to attribute the strikes with direct responsibility. Mr Taylor said we needed to be cautious about establishing a link between strikes and excess deaths. He said: 'I don't think we know, but that is not to say that there is not clearly an effect.' Responding to reports linking the deaths to the strike the BMA said such allegations were 'disingenuous'. The union's board of science chair, Professor David Strain, insisted such a link couldn't be proven. 'Any increase in excess deaths is a concern but it is wholly wrong to say that the strikes are the root cause; the two events might have happened at the same time, but correlation is not causation and any statistician worth their salt will confirm it is impossible and potentially dangerous to attribute the rise to a single cause,' he said. 'What is clear is that these data have been used in a premature and highly selective manner to imply that the strikes caused the increase in the excess deaths.' He added that in Wales, where no strikes took place over that period, excess deaths were even higher at 14 per cent greater than the previous fortnight. Professor Strain added: 'This is frankly irresponsible. While the Government accuses the BMA or putting politics before patients, this analysis is playing politics with patients lives by wrongly linking excess deaths with industrial action, and being used to further undermine and attack junior doctors.' Further strike pain could also be on the way from other NHS staff groups. Members of fellow health worker union the Royal College of Nursing are predicted to reject a pay deal put forward by ministers and college officials last month. The deal, which came after nurses launched a historic wave of strike action this winter, would give them a 5 per cent rise this financial year plus a one-off bonus averaging 6 per cent. While voting only officially closed this morning, union insiders have reported it is expected to be rejected by the membership by a slim margin. A 'no' result could mean more strikes next month and a fresh vote on further action. The much-loved smell of a new car is caused by cancer-causing chemicals, a study finds. A cocktail of leather and plastics creates a gasoline-like odor which becomes more intense in the heat due to an increase in energy available to odor-causing molecules. Sitting for just 30 minutes every day in a car exposes you to dangerous levels of carcinogens formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. These chemicals are linked to myeloid leukemia and rare cancers such as in the nose. Leading US car manufacturer Ford even started the process of trying to remove the smell, following complaints from Chinese customers who disliked the odor. Researchers at Harvard University and the Beijing Institute of Technology monitored the concentration of 20 common chemicals inside new cars and estimated the amounts taken in by inhalation, ingestion and skin absorption The new car smell is caused by volatile organic compounds given off by leather, plastic and vinyl Both formaldehyde and acetaldehyde are used to make car interiors. Studies have shown that exposure to high levels of formaldehyde can cause myeloid leukemia and rare cancers such as in the paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity and nasopharynx. Acetaldehyde is categorized by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a probable human carcinogen, with research showing increased incidence of nasal tumors in rats following inhalation of the substance. Researchers at Harvard University and the Beijing Institute of Technology monitored the concentration of 20 common chemicals in the air inside new cars while they were left parked outside for 12 days in a row. They estimated the uptake through inhalation, ingestion and skin absorption, and found 'there is a high health risk for drivers'. The scientists found that the levels of the chemicals surpassed China's national safety standard for air quality in cars. The amount of formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, was 35 percent above the limit. Acetaldehyde, another possible cancer-causing chemical, was 61 percent higher than the national standard. The car air study, published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science, echoes results from similar research in 2021. University of California, Riverside researchers found that carcinogens benzene and formaldehyde breached safe levels during car commutes as short as 20 minutes. The chemicals are also produced by the burning of fuel. In 2018, car manufacturer Ford said it wanted to eliminate the 'new car smell' from its vehicles after it received complaints from Chinese customers who disliked the scent. Ford filed a patent application for an odor-removal process. Ford's solution was to bake the smell out by parking the car in the sun, rolling down the windows and firing up the engine, heater and fan until the smell is gone. The famous smell is caused by volatile organic compounds given off by leather, plastic and vinyl. Chemicals used to attach and seal car parts may also contribute to the odor. A new way to reverse Alzheimer's has been discovered by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) a major breakthrough with 'dramatic' results. The researchers used a peptide, or string of amino acids, to interfere with an enzyme in mice that is typically overactive in the brains of people with the disease. The chemical compound stops an enzyme, called CDK15, in the brain linked to Alzheimer's from becoming overactivated and harming neurons causing cognitive decline. Researchers hope their findings could serve as the center of future research into a drug that can reverse the disease's devastating effect. It also comes as lecanemab, a recently approved Alzheimer's treatment deemed a game-changer for its ability to slow cognitive decline, was linked to the death of a 79-year-old woman from Florida. Brain scans of mice with Tau proteins stained purple. The left picture shows the prevalence of Tau proteins in neurons from mice treated with a scrambled version of the peptide, compared to mice treated with the new peptide showing far less Tau proteins A doctor looking at MRI brain scans of Alzheimer's patients. Scientists at the MIT discovered a treatment with 'dramatic' results Li-Huei Tsai, the study's senior author from MIT, said: 'We found that the effect of this peptide is just remarkable. We saw wonderful effects in terms of reducing neurodegeneration and neuroinflammatory responses, and even rescuing behavior deficits.' After further experiments, the researchers are optimistic that the peptide could ultimately be used to treat patients with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. The study, published in the PNAS, showed that when the scientists tested the peptide on mice, genetically engineered to show signs of Alzheimer's and who had a hyperactive CDK5, there was less DNA damage, neural inflammation and neuron loss. They were compared to a control group of mice given a scrambled version of the peptide. The researchers also tested the peptide in mice with Alzheimer's who have a mutant Tau protein form that leads to brain protein tangles. After treatment, the mice had fewer Tau prevalence and neuron loss. There were also behavioral benefits: the mice who received the peptide were better at tasks where they had to navigate a water maze than mice given the control peptide. The above scans show the woman's brain before treatment with the antibody (left) and afterwards (right). Her brain became swollen during the treatment and showed signs of bleeding Meanwhile, a third patient who died while being treated with an experimental Alzheimer's drug, that doctors hoped would herald the 'beginning of the end' for the condition has had their brain examined. The autopsy of the unnamed 79-year-old woman from Florida 'strongly suggests that lecanemab infusions were a catalyst leading to the events resulting in her death', Vanderbilt University pathologist Hannah Harmsen said, Science reported. The patient was in the extension phase of the phase 3 trials for the antibody-drug lecanemab, backed by biotech company Eisai. The treatment works by clearing amyloid-beta proteins from the brain, which is thought to cause Alzheimer's. The woman suffered extensive swelling and bleeding in the brain after receiving the treatment for more than 18 months. She was hospitalized with seizures in mid-September 2022 and died five days later. As with all Alzheimer's patients, the woman was at risk of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Alzheimer's causes beta-amyloid protein to accumulate around brain cells, forming deposits known as plaques. In half of the sufferers, the protein replaces muscle in blood vessel walls, leaving them weak. Antibodies, including lecanemab, eliminate the amyloid, making the blood vessels fragile and at risk of serious bleeding. Brian imaging is used to find signs of CAA, and an autopsy can only determine a definitive diagnosis. The case report of the woman in Florida demonstrated strong evidence of CAA multiple brain hemorrhages and the degeneration of blood vessels. Lecanemab is one of several experimental Alzheimer's drugs that target amyloid-beta proteins, which build up in the brains of people in the disease. Many scientists argue this build-up is responsible for the disease, although protein deposits are also seen in the brains of healthy people. The amyloid-seeking antibodies help to remove the proteins, but in the process, can cause brain swelling and bleeding. This is a condition medically termed amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) because it is diagnosed via brain scans. Finding a cure for Alzheimer's or at least drugs that can prevent or slow it down has been the priority of neuroscientists across the world in recent years. The disease affects 6million Americans, with the figure expected to double by 2030 as conditions that cause it, such as obesity, become more common and the life-span increases. Alzheimers typically afflicts people 65 and older. Diagnoses before age 65 make up roughly five to 10 percent of all Alzheimers cases. It is the most common form of dementia. The condition is chronic and worsens over time, typically killing people between three and 11 years after the initial diagnosis. Most dementia cases are linked to either Alzheimer's disease, which damages brain cells directly, or reduced or limited blood flow to the brain which is called vascular dementia and can result from an event like a stroke. About one in 14 people over the age of 65 have dementia, but this rises to one in 6 people over 80. Dementia by itself doesn't kill people but the condition makes them more vulnerable to dying from a variety of conditions. This can be because they can, especially as the disease progresses, not eat or drink which weakens their body and makes immune system less able to fight off viruses and bacteria. Problems with movement can also lead to an increased risk of falls that can be dangerous to elderly Americans or leave them vulnerable to a subsequent infection. Dementia is a growing healthcare problem both in the US and around the world as the percentage of people living with some form of the condition rises as the population ages. Global dementia cases are predicted to nearly triple by 2050, from 57.4million to 152.8million. Chinese officials are disputing a report tying the origins of the Covid pandemic to raccoon dogs. The contested findings were first reported in March by scientists who suggested that raccoon dogs - fluffy fox-like mammals - sold in a Wuhan market were carrying the coronavirus at the end of 2019. Some of the researchers behind the report including Dr Kristian Andersen and Dr Robert Garry are confidants of Dr Anthony Fauci, who oversaw America's research into pathogenic disease when the pandemic erupted. The report steered some validity away from the hypothesis that Covid escaped from a biolab in Wuhan, a theory that Chinese officials have soundly rejected. But, many experts have cast their doubts on the findings, saying all they do is prove that raccoon dogs were present at the market. Now, a former Chinese government official is arguing that there is no evidence showing which animal, including raccoon dogs, may have first harbored the pandemic-causing coronavirus before it infected humans. Dr George Gao, former head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday that There is no evidence yet showing which animal the COVID-causing virus may have come from The question of whether the global outbreak began with a spillover from wildlife sold at the market or leaked out of the Wuhan lab just eight miles across the Yangtze River has given rise to fierce debate about how to prevent the next pandemic. New studies point to a natural spillover at the Huanan wildlife market. Positive swab samples of floors, cages and counters also track the virus back to stalls in the southwestern corner of the market (bottom left), where animals with the potential to harbor Covid were sold for meat or fur at the time (bottom right) Dr Gao said at the Rhodes Policy Summit in London on Friday: 'Even now, people think some animals are the host or reservoir. Cut a long story short, there is no evidence which animals (were) where the virus comes (from).' The Chinese government has been criticized for repeatedly thwarting efforts by international scientists to pinpoint the cause of the global pandemic which has killed at least 6.8 million people. In the March report, animals were present just before the samples were collected making them a potential vessel to transmit the virus to humans. The March study authors said that their findings of Covid genetic evidence near wildlife stalls at the market supported their theory that wildlife harbored the virus before it eventually mutated in such a way to make it infectious in humans. Scientists did not make the raw data available with their pre-print report, making it impossible for independent experts to fact-check their findings. The study began when Dr Florence Debarre, from the French National Center for Scientific Research, came across genetic sequences uploaded to a database by Chinese scientists. Researchers downloaded the data, hoping to investigate it as part of their search for Covid's origin. However, it was pulled down by the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency directed by Dr Gao. Researchers learned later that the data was uploaded on June 22, 2022, but not released to the public. It was also used for a pre-print report revealed by Chinese scientists in February 2022 It was removed from the database on March 11. This research team had already downloaded it. GISAID, which is based in Munich, Germany, accused the team of breaching the database's terms of use by acquiring the data, they say in the report. While the highly anticipated report was headline-grabbing, experts have argued that detecting a genetic trail left behind by animals in the same place that samples of the virus were detecting is no smoking gun. Scientists have said the findings fall short of providing definitive proof that Covid traveled from animals to humans in a spillover event. The study took swab samples from carts in the market which were found to contain more than 4,500 fragments of genetic material from raccoon dogs in addition to genetic signatures of the coronavirus. Their data also uncovered positive Covid specimens from mammals such as the Malayan porcupine, amur hedgehog, masked palm civet and hoary bamboo rat. But, the raccoon dogs made up more than 80 percent of DNA and RNA detected. Researchers identified stalls in the southwest corner of the market where Covid is most prevalent. A large portion of Covid samples gathered from the area were from raccoon dogs, they determined The authors of the study said: 'Once the initial spillovers had taken place, the market likely became a place of widespread human-to-human transmission.' Raccoon dogs act as intermediate hosts of the virus meaning they catch pathogens from the wild and harbor it without falling ill themselves. There is a risk they can spread viruses to humans or any other animal they come into contact with. The research team claims that Covid and the raccoon dog specimens being detected in the same place is too eerie to be a coincidence. Proponents of the theory that Covid escaped from a high-security biolab in Wuhan that studies coronaviruses, one that used to be painted as a xenophobic conspiracy, were skeptical of the findings. At the time, Dr Richard Ebright, a microbiologist at Rutgers University in New Jersey, told DailyMail.com that the new research added 'little to the discussion' about Covid's origin and necessitated 'extreme caution'. In reaction to Dr Gao's statements on Friday, Dr Ebright told DailyMail.com: 'There also is no basis to believe raccoon dogs played a role in the entry of [Covid] into humans. 'In particular, there is no basis to believe a raccoon dog was infected with [Covid] prior to entry of [Covid] into humans. The heavily hyped claims last month about evidence for involvement of raccoon dogs represented propaganda, not science.' Last month, FBI Director Christpher Wray confirmed that the bureau believed with 'moderate confidence' in the lab leak theory. Other intelligence agencies are less certain. Four agencies and the National Intelligence Council concluded with 'low confidence' that Covid emerged from a natural spillover event. Dr Kristian Andersen, a Danish biologist from the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, was among the authors of the March report. He rose to prominence in 2021 when emails between him and Dr Anthony Fauci discussing how the virus may have been engineered early in the pandemic were revealed to the public. Dr Andersen also was the lead author of a February 2020 paper some have said was designed to squash the theory that Covid may have escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). That paper, now infamous, was titled 'Proximal Origin'. Dr Garry, a microbiologist at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, is an author too. Dr Garry was also involved in discussions early in the pandemic about the potential synthetic nature of the virus, and on a call with Dr Andersen and Dr Fauci where it is alleged they discussed how to dismiss the lab leak. Dr Garry told DailyMail.com last month: 'There is absolutely no lab leak scenario that is consistent with this data. 'It's time to nail the coffin containing all the lab leak conspiracy theories shut and give this long dead corpse a proper burial.' DailyMail.com reached out to Dr Andersen for comment as well. Jennifer Davis is in her fifth year of remission after receiving the vaccine in 2021 The first ever recipient of a new breast cancer vaccine has been revealed to the public. Jennifer Davis, of Ohio, received the breakthrough vaccine, developed by Cleveland Clinic, in October 2021. She had previously battled triple-negative breast cancer, and went into remission in 2018. She was chosen for the trial as there was a high chance the cancer would return. The shot she received is among hundreds of experimental cancer vaccines and medicines in early trials. One cancer vaccine made by Moderna for patients recovering from advanced melanoma was given 'breakthrough therapy' status by health chiefs last month, paving the way for a fast-tracked approval. Jennifer was told she had triple-negative breast cancer during a regular day at work in 2018 Ms Davis receives the third dose of the breast cancer vaccine from research nurse coordinator Donna Lach Ms Davis, a nurse from Lisbon, Ohio, around 60 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, found a lump in her breast in February 2018. Her first biopsy a test done on tissue removed from a living person to check for a disease at a local hospital found no evidence of cancer. But the lump grew over the next few months and Ms Davis had another biopsy after an ultrasound showed abnormalities. A week later, she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer and underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, plus a double masectomy the removal of both breasts. Triple-negative breast cancer makes up about 10-15 percent of all breast cancers. It is called triple negative because the cancer cells do not have estrogen or progesterone receptors and also do not make any or much of the protein named HER2. Roughly 40 percent of people with stage one to three triple-negative breast cancer will have the disease recur after treatment. About 91 percent of all women with the disease are still alive five years post-diagnosis. However if the cancer has spread, the five-year survival rate is 12 percent. Overall, triple-negative breast cancer has worse survival and cause-specific survival than non-triple-negative breast cancer. During follow-up appointments, she learned about the breast cancer vaccine clinical trial at Cleveland Clinic. The shot works by targeting a lactation protein called -lactalbumin, which is no longer present after lactation in non-cancerous tissues but is present in the majority of triple-negative breast cancers. The protein plays a key role in milk production. If breast cancer occurs, the vaccine triggers the immune system to attack the tumor and stop it from getting any bigger. Ms Davis is part of phase 1a of the study, which involves patients who completed treatment for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer in the past three years. These people must be tumor-free but at high risk of recurrence to be included. She has been given three doses of the vaccine, each two weeks apart. Her last shot was in November 2021, and she has not suffered any major side effects. She underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, plus a double masectomy Jennifer with her close-knit family prior to her breast cancer treatment Dr George Thomas Budd, breast medical oncologist and principal investigator for the breast cancer vaccine trial at Cleveland Clinic, said: 'Triple-negative breast cancer is the form of the disease for which we have the least effective treatments. 'Long term, we are hoping this can be a true preventive vaccine that would be administered to cancer-free individuals to prevent them from developing this highly aggressive disease.' Ms Davis said: 'There is no medication I take to make sure theres not a recurrence. 'With every ache and pain, your mind goes to the worst-case scenario. So I was very excited when I heard about the vaccine.' In February 2023, Cleveland Clinic started on phase 1b of the clinical trial. This time, it focuses on cancer-free individuals at high-risk for developing breast cancer and who have undergone a prophylatctic mastectomy to reduce their risk. Ms Davis, now 46, is celebrating her fifth year in remission. Among the other cancer vaccines is Moderna's for advanced melanoma. It works by harnessing mRNA technology that uses pieces of genetic code from patients' tumors to teach the body to fight off the cancer. The vaccine is given to people post-surgery to prevent the tumor from returning, and it is tailored to each patient, meaning no two shots will be the same. Merck and Moderna said they plan to initiate a phase three study into the therapy this year, where it will be tested on potentially thousands of patients. They will also 'rapidly expand' to looking at other cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer. The federal government has a big initiative to reduce cancer deaths launched last year, called the Cancer Moonshot. It follows more investment into cancer screening, prevention and treatment in recent years. A simple wave or motioning hand gesture is usually enough for drivers to signal to pedestrians that it is safe to cross the road ahead of them - but Skoda thinks there's room for improvement. The Czech car manufacturer is developing and testing new technologies to 'make roads safer for children, senior citizens and those with disabilities'. This includes a robot that can escort people to cross safely and new LED displays mounted in its cars' grilles that show unique animations to tell people when it is - and isn't - okay to step out in front of drivers. Robotic roadside assistant: This is the IPA2X, which is currently being tested as a means of improving road safety, especially at crossings Called IPA2X, the robotic rover is being tested in partnership with the Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics at the Czech Technical University in Prague. And it could soon be gunning for the jobs of lollipop men and women up and down the UK. The robot, which is over two metres tall, looks like a mobile traffic light that makes its way to the middle of a pedestrian crossing. Once it gets there, it will display a green light and pedestrians can cross The robot is constantly monitoring its surroundings, so it can detect that a car is approaching the crossing The IPA2X could soon be gunning for the jobs of lollipop men and women up and down the UK Read more: Ford launches first 'legal' hands-free driving tech Ford has launched a new hands-free driving feature that's the first of its kind in the UK after being given the green light by the government. The brand's BlueCruise system is now available on the 51,000 Mustang Mach-E electric SUV and facilitates drivers taking their hands off the wheel to allow the vehicle to steer itself as well as accelerate and slow down. It is the first 'partial automation' assisted driving feature legally passed for use on roads in Europe, having received approval from the Department for Transport. > Read the full report The robot, which is over two metres tall, looks like a mobile traffic light that makes its way to the middle of a pedestrian crossing. Once it gets there, it will display a green light and pedestrians can cross. The robot is constantly monitoring its surroundings, so it can detect that a car is approaching the crossing. With sensors located two metres high, it is able to see over parked cars. It then heads out into the road when it sees it's safe to do so. The robot displays both information for pedestrians and warnings for approaching cars it shows approaching drivers a stop sign. It also sends a warning to the car itself, which is displayed as an animation on the infotainment display. Once the pedestrians have crossed the road, the robot goes back to the pavement. The moment it reaches the kerb, the alert on the car's dashboard disappears and the driver can continue on their way. Further developments of the robot will look to also provide audio warnings, the car maker said. Skoda is also testing interactive LED display panels that sit inside its cars' grilles. This provides messages to pedestrians to signal if it is safe for them to cross the road ahead And Skoda is also testing a second feature in its Enyaq iV that sees the replacement of the standard grille with one featuring LED strips that are programmable to show moving displays. It is being co-developed with the help of the Technical University of Munich to help improve communication between motorists and more vulnerable road users. For instance, when the car approaches a pedestrian crossing, it can warn those waiting to cross in advance that it has spotted them. It then stops and displays green arrows, for example, to tell them it's safe to cross. Once they have crossed, and the car is about to set off, it can display a different signal to warn pedestrians that the car is moving. The LED panels have a selection of programmable displays to interact with pedestrians to gesture to them to cross the road - or stay on the pavement In more extreme examples, a car approaching the crossing that is unable to stop can send out a clear signal to pedestrians not to cross. The symbols currently being tested include green arrows and a green person, plus a warning triangle or a red triangle with a cross symbols that are widely recognisable. While many people might consider the tech a little excessive, the car maker believes it could potentially reduce the number of pedestrians injured on UK roads. According to the latest casualty figures, 16,293 pedestrians and injured or killed each year - that's more than 300 cases a week. And the introduction of new Highway Code rules last year, which includes giving pedestrians priority at junctions as part of the wider changes to hierarchy of road users, also means there could be room for this type of car feature to protect vulnerable people. The changes to the code could see drivers receive three points and a 100 fine if they fail to stop at junctions when pedestrians are crossing. Lawyers for E. Jean Carroll, the author who accused Donald Trump of raping her in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman, secretly staged a test trial in a Manhattan hotel to determine how their upcoming civil case will play out with everyday New Yorkers, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. After six hours of testimony last month, the 27 mock jurors were separated into three groups for deliberations. Two out of three found Trump guilty. The day-long spectacle featured videotaped deposition interviews from both Trump and Carroll, as well as two friends she spoke with in the immediate aftermath of the alleged rape, and two other women who claim Trump also sexually assaulted them. The lawyers also presented text messages and emails that Trump's defense team is expected to present at trial to try to undermine Carroll's credibility. 'That was the whole point of this,' a person familiar with the proceedings told DailyMail.com. 'They were trying to figure if Mrs. Carroll has a solid case and if she will win in civil court.' Author E. Jean Carroll is set to go to trial on April 25 for her claims that Donald Trump raped her in a dressing room in the mid 90s. On March 31, her lawyers hired 27 mock jurors to take part in a secret test trial at a Manhattan hotel to determine if they have a viable case After six hours of testimony last month, the 27 mock jurors were separated into three groups for deliberations. Two out of three found Trump guilty The event was held in a ballroom at New York Marriott Downtown. Organizers began a discreet recruiting effort days earlier, placing ads on Facebook offering $250 cash to participate in an opinion survey. Interested parties punched in their information. A selection then received an invite. They were instructed to wear business casual clothing and show up at 8am Friday, March 31 to the hotel near Battery Park in Manhattan. They made their way to a second-floor reception desk, where they had to fill out more forms, including demographic info and a pledge that they could be impartial. Then after bagels, fruit and coffee, the 27 men and women - all strangers to each other - were ushered into a ballroom where they sat down at tables facing a podium and a projector. It was only then that a representative of Nelson Recruiting stepped up and revealed what this was about: They were all being called to participate in the mock trial involving the former and possible future President of the United States. Carroll, a former advice columnist for Elle Magazine, has accused Trump of raping her in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman in the mid-1990s. She made her allegations during his presidency and filed two civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and defamation. One of the trials is due to begin on April 25 , although the Trump legal team has asked the court to delay the procedings. In preparation, her lawyers staged this one-day test trial to present both sides of the case to the curated group of New Yorkers. For the unwitting 'jurors,' it was all quite the surprise for a Friday morning, the source told Dailymail.com. After the introductory big reveal, another organizer stepped up to the podium to give a rundown of the witnesses, and instructed jurors - each given an iPad- to judge the credibility of each one in real time, on a scale of 1 to 9. 'And so that's what they did for six hours,' the source told DailyMail.com. The lawyer for Carroll went first, giving something of an opening statement maintaining how witnesses and documentation would prove that Trump raped, battered and assaulted her client in a sixth-floor dressing room of the luxury department store. Carroll was the first person to 'take the stand,' questioned by lawyers in a videotaped interview projected on the screen. The one-day mock trial was held on March 31. Participants were paid $250 cash for the day and sat through six hours of testimony Participants were instructed to wear business casual clothing and show up at 8am to the hotel near Battery Park in Manhattan After breakfast, the participants were ushered into a ballroom where they sat down at tables facing a podium and a projector. It was only then that a representative of Nelson Recruiting stepped up and revealed what this was about: They were all being called to participate in the mock trial involving the former and possible future President of the United States She was unable to specify the date or even month of the alleged rape, but said she remembers it was a Thursday evening, sometime between the fall of 1995 and spring of 1996. She said she'd been working that day and stopped at Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue to shop for an outfit to wear for a dinner date with friends. She described where she parked, and the dress coat she was wearing that day. While shopping, she didn't find anything she wanted so started to head out. As she was exiting through the revolving doors, Trump was entering. She said their eyes met and he remarked, 'Hey, you're that advice lady.' She recognized him and replied, 'You're that real estate guy,' according to her testimony. Carroll said she re-entered the store with him, and he asked her to help him find something for a lady friend of his. 'So they walked around the store,' the source told DailyMail.com in recalling Carroll's testimony. 'She recommended different things in the store, a dress, a purse, but he declined all of those,' the source said. 'And at some point, they decided to go up to the sixth floor which was the lingerie section.' The organizers presented a floor plan of the store, showing an escalator they allegedly took to the sixth floor, and the lingerie section in the back left corner of the room 'When they got to the lingerie section, he picked up a purple teddy thing, and he tossed it at her and said ''try this on for me,''' the source said. 'And she said she was laughing the entire time because she thought they had a good rapport. So she tossed the teddy back at him jokingly and said, ''No, you put it on.'' 'So they went to the dressing room and she followed him, and she thought, Oh my god, I'm going to get this real estate guy Trump, this 6ft 2, 200lb guy to try on this teddy over his suit,' the source said of the testimony. Carroll, a former advice columnist for Elle Magazine, has accused Trump of raping her in dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman in the mid-1990s. She made her allegations during his presidency and filed two civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and defamation Trump has denied the allegations being made by Carroll three times, saying 'she's not my type' and they've never met. (Trump and his accuser above at a 1987 party with their spouses) When they got to the dressing room, Carroll testified, Trump pushed her into the room and blocked the door with his body. 'And he had her pushed up against the back wall of the dressing room, and he tore off her pantyhose and he inserted his fingers into her vagina and then he inserted his penis into her vagina.' Carroll explained that she tried to raise her knee to kick him off, but he had a good 100lbs on her. The alleged attack continued for about 20 seconds before she broke free. And she didn't scream, or cry for help. According to Carroll, there was no one else on the sixth floor to hear her anyway. But upon leaving the store, she testified, she immediately called two close girlfriends. She said she was hyperventilating as she recounted the episode to Lisa Birnback, who advised her not to go to the police because Trump was a powerful man who would bury her in court. She next phoned Carol Martin, who suggested the same thing. And that was the end of it. She never went to police. She testified that she didn't even tell her family. According to the source, Carroll seemed unemotional, almost matter of fact as she describe the rape, but teared up when she spoke about keeping the secret from her mother, not wanting to upset her. Birnback and Martin's videotaped statements were shown next, one after the other. Both basically reiterated what Carroll said. After a short break, a man posing as Trump's lawyer took the podium and provided a defense argument. He said they'd present video of not just Trump, but also communications between Carroll's friends expressing doubts about the rape, with one badmouthing her as a narcissist who seemed to be enjoying the publicity. Trump's testimony was presented next. His bravado made several of the jurors snicker. 'This is a man who's very blunt when he speaks,' the source said. 'The first thing he said was, ''This never happened,'' that he's never met this woman before in his life and that, besides, she's not his type. He said this in the nicest way possible. She's not my type, I would not sleep with this woman, not ever have sex with this woman. These were things he said, directly or inferred.' Trump appeared angry and fidgety, flailing his arms when he talked. 'He was very annoyed with the person who was interrogating him, to the point where he said ''you should be ashamed of yourself,''' the source recalled. 'He said this was a hoax, that these people are out to get me, that these were people who hated him, that this was like a witch-hunt.' He gave abrupt, dismissive answers to a series of questions. Lisa Birnbach (left), the bestselling author of The Official Preppy Handbook, and former WCBS television anchor Carol Martin (right) corroborated Carroll's story in video testimony Trump would have been married to Marla Maples at the time of the alleged rape. Maples had given birth to daughter Tiffany in 1993 (above) 'He was asked if he had any recollection of interacting with her on a Thursday at 6pm and he said no,' the source recalled. Asked if he shopped at Bergdorf, he said barely if at all. Asked if he made it a habit to buy presents for his girlfriends or wives, he replied no, that he'd have someone else do his shopping. In the video deposition, the questioner showed Trump an old photograph of himself standing with Carroll and another man at a party. Trump glanced at the picture and, either purposefully or unintentionally, mistook the blond woman for his ex-wife, Marla Maples. 'But it wasn't his wife,' the source told DailyMail.com. 'His lawyer jumped in at some point and said, ''you know that's not Marla, that's Mrs. Carroll,'' and he said ''oh, okay,'' and that was it.' Trump stuck by his claim that he didn't know Carroll, though acknowledged that maybe they'd traveled in some of the same social circles. The source noted that Trump brought up one subject himself an interview Carroll gave to CNN host Anderson Cooper in recounting the alleged attack. The former president homed in on a bizarre comment she made about rape being a 'fantasy' for many women. 'He made it a point to bring up the Anderson Cooper interview multiple times,' the source recalled. 'He said that this is a sick woman who says people fantasize about being raped.' Trump's 'lawyer' then presented messages showing Carroll's own friends questioning her decision to speak out all these year later. According to the source, Carol Martin emailed a friend that she didn't want to be part of this anymore, commenting that Carroll seemed to be 'riding this narcissistic wave for too long.' Martin stated that Carroll appeared to be wearing her rape story like a 'crown,' the source said. In another cryptic text exchange, Carroll and Martin seem to be 'scheming' against Trump, talking about having 'something special' up their sleeves, the source told DailyMail.com. The source said the communications were intended to plant seeds of doubt about Carroll, and that Trump would inevitably try to use them to discredit her and suggest a conspiracy against him. Two of the most powerful witnesses came next, Natasha Stoynoff and Jessica Leeds. Stoynoff, a People magazine writer who went to Mar-a-Lago to interview Trump and Melania, tearfully described how Trump allegedly led her into a separate room, closed the door, then pressed her up against a wall and sexually assaulted her. Leeds, meanwhile, recounted her ordeal on a plane more than three decades ago. She was upgraded to first class seating and said she sat down next to Trump, who after food and conversation, reached up her skirt. 'She was struggling in her seat and said she couldn't understand why the hostess or people behind her didn't see anything,' the source recalled. The source said that two of the most powerful witnesses were Natasha Stoynoff and Jessica Leeds Bergdorf Goodman (above) is only a block away from Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue After the condensed six-hour trial, it was time for deliberations. The mock jurors were given instructions to vote up or down, and award damages if found guilty, on each of three counts rape, battery and assault. The 27 were divided into three groups and each led into a separate room. 'The whole point of it was to come to a unanimous decision,' the source told DailyMail.com. The jury couldn't reach a verdict in one of the groups. The other two groups found him guilty all all three counts. After sharing their decisions, the participants were free to leave. Amid the twisted backstory, DailyMail.com delves into the key players in Vallow's murder trial The tragedy led to the arrest of suspected killer mom Lori Vallow and her husband Chad Daybell In June 2020, investigators made the harrowing discovery of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan's decomposed remains Advertisement The grisly saga of 'doomsday cult mom' Lori Vallow has captured the nation's attention - but her convoluted family tree and a string of mysterious deaths has left many scratching their heads. Vallow, 49, is currently on trial for murder in Boise, Idaho, after being accused of killing her two children, 16-year-old Tylee and seven-year-old adopted son JJ. Prosecutors say Vallow killed her children as she hunted 'money, power and sex' with her husband Chad Daybell, 54 - who is also set to face trial after their bodies were discovered in his backyard. The pair, who allegedly believed the second coming of Christ was imminent and that her children were 'zombies', are further accused of conspiring to murder Daybell's wife Tammy. Both deny the charges. Here Dailymail.com looks at the key individuals involved in this tangled tale of murder, lies and violent religious fantasies. The key individuals in Lori Vallow's tangled family tree, including her five husbands, two dead children and killer brother Lori Vallow, pictured, allegedly killed her two children JJ, seven, and Tylee, 16, after falling into religious fanaticism Lori Vallow Before her alleged crimes, Vallow was described by friends and family members as a doting mother. She was a former contestant on Wheel of Fortune, where she won an impressive $17,500 in 2004. That same year, she competed in the Mrs Texas beauty pageant where she talked about being a good wife and mother - though ominously described herself as a 'ticking timebomb'. She has been married five times, and has two biological children, Colby and Tylee Ryan, and an adopted son, JJ Vallow, all of whom she raised within the LDS Church - also known as Mormonism. Vallow's descent into religious zealotry was fueled by her third marriage to Tylee's father Joseph Ryan. She claims that after discovering he had been sexually abusing her children, she told a bishop she was either going to 'murder' her husband, or devote herself to 'the temple'. In 2017, she reportedly began reading a series of books by doomsday author Chad Daybell, leading her to seek out the father-of-five at a religious conference in 2018. Her harrowing decline was detailed in the Netflix docuseries 'Sins of our Mother', which included audio snippets from her bizarre podcast 'Feel the Fire'. Lori Vallow, left, hosted religious podcast with friend Melanie Gibb, right, called 'Feel the Fire' She became obsessed with theories about the impending apocalypse and the second coming of Christ, and a friend told the docuseries she even threatened to drive her family off a cliff to spare them from the looming disaster. Soon after meeting Daybell, he joined an episode of her Mormon-based podcast, which would routinely espouse beliefs about the impending apocalypse. Both Vallow and Daybell were convinced the second coming of Christ was imminent and only 144,000 people could be saved. They also believed that people could be rated based on their 'light or dark' energy, leading them to vow to 'rid' evil spirits from these 'zombies'. Vallow allegedly saw her own children as 'dark', and those who knew her reportedly saw her reference the youngsters as 'zombies'. Chad Daybell, 54, was due to stand trial alongside Vallow before their cases were separated by a judge Chad Daybell Chad Daybell, the fifth husband of Lori Vallow, is at the center of the harrowing investigation after the children's badly decomposed remains were found buried in his backyard in June 2020. Daybell had earned a following as a self-proclaimed prophet and doomsday-inspired author. His tomes focused on preparing for the end of the world and religious foretelling, and included titles such as 'The Great Gathering', 'Days of Fury' and 'The Renewed Earth'. He had been married to his wife Tammy since 1990, and the couple had five children. In 2015, Daybell claimed he heard a voice instructing him to relocate his family to Rexburg, Idaho. Driving his 'teachings' was his claim that he'd had two near death experiences. In one instance, touched upon in the Netflix docuseries about his alleged murders, he claims he hit a rock face while cliff-diving, leading him to believe he earned powers of prediction. Daybell, pictured during a court hearing in August 2020, built a following as a religious fantasist who warned of an impending apocalypse In October 2019, a year after he met Vallow, Daybell's wife Tammy mysteriously died in her sleep. Her death was not initially considered suspicious, and despite the 49-year-old mother-of-five being seemingly healthy, her husband refused a post-mortem at the time. Two months later, her body was exhumed, and it was determined she died by asphyxiation. Daybell and Vallow are both facing criminal charges related to her death. Soon after Tammy's death, Daybell whisked Vallow off to Hawaii. Images of their seemingly joyous beach wedding on the island, which occurred while Tylee and JJ were missing in mainland America, caused widespread outrage. However, Daybell's children have stood by their religious fantasist father, and claim he is innocent while insisting he was lured into a web of crime and deceit by Vallow. Tammy Daybell, pictured, mysteriously died in her sleep in October 2019. It was later determined she died by asphyxiation Tammy Daybell Chad Daybell's first wife Tammy has become a central figure in the ongoing murder trials of both Chad and Vallow following her suspect death in 2019. According to an online obituary, she was originally from Pasadena, California, and met Daybell while a freshman at Brigham Young University. They married in 1990 and went on to have five children. Those who knew her described her as a vivacious and energetic woman, and she worked at Chad's doomsday book publishing company, Spring Creek Book Company, while also working for the LDS Church and as a librarian. However, on October 19, 2019, the year after her husband met and became enamored by Lori Vallow, she died in suspicious circumstances at the Daybell family home in Salem, Idaho. According to Chad's former sister-in-law, the cult fanatic called her after his wife's sudden death, allegedly claiming 'she'd been sick, had a coughing fit and passed away.' Chad, who had reportedly upped Tammy's life insurance to the maximum policy soon before her death and received around $430,000, quickly refused an autopsy on his wife of 29-years. Her body was exhumed two months later, and a coroner ruled she died by asphyxiation. Chad Daybell has been charged with first degree murder over her death, while Lori Vallow is facing charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Seven-year-old JJ Vallow, who had autism, was found dead in Chad Daybell's backyard in June 2020 JJ Vallow Joshua 'JJ' Vallow had been adopted by Lori and her fourth husband Charles Vallow in 2013. His biological grandmother, Kay Woodcock, described him as a 'happy child' and a 'very busy boy' who was 'always going a hundred miles an hour'. Before she became obsessed by unhinged religious ideologies, relatives had previously described Lori Vallow as the ideal mother for the autistic child, who was a student at Kennedy Elementary School in Rexburg, Idaho. He had been raised for the first ten months of his life by his grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, before he was adopted by Lori Vallow and her fourth husband Charles Vallow in 2013. When the then-seven-year-old went missing in late 2019, his grandparents led the nationwide search for him, making numerous heartbreaking media appearances and offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to his return. The boy was last photographed in September 2019 in red pajamas that matched the description of what he was wearing his decaying remains were discovered in Chad Daybell's backyard in June 2020. The last picture of Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, 7, before he vanished and was found dead in September 2019 On the second day of Vallow's high-profile murder trial, audible gasps filled the courtroom when images of JJ's body, which was buried in a shallow grave for over 10 months, were displayed to jurors. One of the officers on the scene, Detective Ray Hermosillo, gave gruesome testimony as he detailed how when the bag JJ was wrapped in was removed, he was found to have been heavily bound by duct tape - with 'a thick layer across his mouth from jawline to jawline.' He was wearing red pajamas, a pull-up night diaper and covered in a blue childs blanket - and was said to have visible bruises across his body. Tylee Ryan's body was so badly burned and damaged that the coroner was unable to perform an autopsy on her body Tylee Ryan The daughter of Lori Vallow and her third husband Joe Ryan, Tylee Ryan, was 16 years old when she went missing in September 2019. Like her brother JJ, she was a student at Kennedy Elementary School in Idaho, and was just weeks shy of her 17th birthday when she was killed. Amid her disappearance, Vallow and Daybell told a variety of lies about her whereabouts, including that she had gone to college. The last known image of her was captured in September 2019, during a trip to Yellowstone National Park with JJ, her mother Lori, and Lori's brother Alex Cox. Alarm bells began ringing when family members were unable to contact the teen. Her older half-brother Colby said he received troubling text messages and Venmo payments. He claims the messages didn't sound like they had been written by Tylee, and after calling out the disturbing messages, which included repeated insistence that she was 'safe', he became increasingly concerned. The last known photograph of Tylee, center, during a family trip to Yellowstone National Park with JJ, left, her uncle Alex Cox, right, and her mom Lori A nationwide manhunt was launched in the subsequent months for Tylee and her brother JJ in November 2019, where her mother Lori would consistently evade questions about their whereabouts. Just over 10 months later, her remains, which had been dismembered and burned, were discovered nearby to JJ's on Chad Daybell's Idaho property. Her body had been so badly damaged that the coroner was unable to perform an autopsy, with Detective Hermosillo giving horrifying testimony stating that all that was left was 'blobs of flesh that were falling apart'. Fremont County prosecutor Lindsey Blake told the court at the start of Lori Vallow's trial this month that Tylee was 'a vibrant young woman' with 'her whole life ahead of her'. 'She was just about to enter into adulthood and make her own way in the world,' Blake added. Kay, left, and Larry Woodcock, right, cared for JJ, center, for the first 10 months of his life before he was adopted by Lori Vallow and her fourth husband Charles Larry and Kay Woodcock Tylee and JJ's grandparents Larry and Kay Woodcock have been among the most outspoken voices in the years since Vallow and Daybell's arrest, and led the public campaign to locate JJ and Tylee before their remains were discovered. Larry, the husband of JJ's biological grandmother Kay Woodcock, was seen openly weeping on the second day of Vallow's murder trial after horrific images of the youngster's remains were shown to the court. Larry and Kay cared for JJ for the first 20 months after he was born before he was later adopted by Kay's brother, Charles - the fourth husband of suspected killer Lori. Remaining close to the family for years, Kay ultimately told a courtroom this month that Vallow 'seemed to be the kind of mom that every mom wants to be.' 'We were good friends, we talked all the time,' she added. However, Larry and Kay said they became increasingly concerned for the children's welfare in 2017 when Lori began adopting more outlandish religious beliefs. This came to a head in February 2019, when Kay said Lori 'simply vanished' for around 58 days. Then, following Charles' death at the hands of Lori's brother Alex Cox in July 2019, Lori swept JJ and Tylee from their home to Idaho to be near Daybell, who was still married to his wife Tammy at the time. Their concerns ultimately led Rexburg police to carry out welfare checks, starting the legal journey that has led to Vallow's murder trial being carried out this month. Cult mom Lori Vallow's eldest son Colby Ryan was arrested for sex crimes in Arizona before the charges were ultimately dropped Colby Ryan The eldest son of Lori Vallow was a central figure in the hit Netflix docuseries 'Sins of our Mother', which saw him confront his mother for allegedly killing his siblings. Colby Ryan offered insights into the disturbing family history of growing up with Lori Vallow and her numerous husbands. He detailed how her third husband, Joseph Ryan, sexually abused him as a child, an offence that Lori later noted as one of the driving forces towards her commitment to religious dogmatism. Colby admitted during his appearance on the Netflix docuseries that he was uninvolved in his family's life in late 2019 due to his commitment to his wife, Kelsee, and their young daughter Riley - leading him to miss the many red flags before Tylee and JJ's deaths. However, Ryan would go on to face his own run in with the law, after he was arrested in September 2022 and charged with sexual assault. His estranged wife Kelsee - who also appears in the Netflix show - accused him of rape in her Mesa, Arizona home. The charges were dismissed in the weeks following his arrest but he was ordered to not initiate any contact with his alleged victim. Alex Cox (pictured), shot Lori's fourth husband Charles Vallow on July 11, 2019, months before his own death in December 2019 Alex Cox Among the most mysterious individuals involved in the ongoing case is Lori's brother Alex Cox, who shot dead her fourth husband Charles Vallow just months before his own death. Alex was also deeply involved in the ideologies espoused by Chad Daybell, diving wholesale into his beliefs over individuals becoming 'zombies' based on their 'light or dark' energy rankings. According to the Netflix docuseries about the murders, Lori even described her brother as her 'hit man', and he was linked to, but never charged with, a number of the mysterious deaths that permeate the family tree. After gunning down Charles Vallow in July 2019, Cox was questioned by law enforcement but after successfully arguing the killing was self-defense, he walked free. However, months later the case was re-opened when the children vanished, and questions over the killing remain unanswered - including Charles' own predictions about his death. Charles, who filed for divorce from Lori in February 2019, was found in court documents to have predicted that either Lori or her brother would kill him. Speaking to FOX10 in January of 2020, Charles' lawyer Steven Ellsworth claimed his client told him: 'I'm afraid I'm gonna be killed, and I know who's gonna do it. 'I'm telling you, Steve, so that if something happens to me, I wanna make sure you let everyone know that something happens, I'm killed, that it's my wife Lori and her brother, Alex Cox.' At Lori's high-profile trial this month, jurors were told how Alex had become wrapped up in the bizarre religious ideologies espoused by his sister and Daybell. 'Alex Cox would do whatever the defendant and Chad Daybell asked of him,' said prosecutor Lindsay Blake. His faith also led him to marry another follower of Chad Daybell's ideology, Zulema Pastenes, in a rushed wedding in November 2019 that was suspected to have been carried out to meet a predicted deadline for the 'end times'. Brandon Boudreaux, right, pictured with his ex-wife Melanie Brandon Boudreaux Brandon Boudreaux, the former brother-in-law of Lori Vallow, took to the stand at the start of her murder trial this week to deliver heartbreaking testimony. Boudreaux married Vallow's niece Melanie in 2008, and grew to become quite close with her eclectic side of the family in the following years. However, Melanie also reportedly became ensnared in the religious zealotry that plagued the family in recent years, leading to their divorce in 2019. In October 2019, a month after Tylee and JJ were last seen, he was targeted in a drive-by shooting in Arizona. Police would later identify the vehicle carrying the shooter as a Jeep registered to Lori's late husband Charles Vallow - who had died the previous July. According to court filings, Boudreaux alleged that his wife had expressed concerns for JJ and Tylee's wellbeing, and noted that Vallow and Daybell believed 'their children had been possessed and had become zombies,' the documents said. During the first day of Lori Vallow's murder trial, Brandon sobbed while detailing how he was forced to identify the remains of JJ Vallow. William Legioia, left, married Lori Vallow in 1995, when they were in their early 20s. The couple had a son, Colby, before divorcing in 1996 Lori's third husband, Joseph Ryan, died of an apparent heard attack in 2018. He was married to the 'cult mom' from 2001 to 2004, and was the father of Tylee Ryan Charles Vallow (and Lori's other ex-husbands) Lori Vallow was married four times before she tied the knot with Chad Daybell. Not much is known about her first husband, a man named Nelson Yanes who was her high school sweetheart. After divorcing Yanes, Lori married her second husband William Lagioia in 1995, with whom she had her first child, Colby, when she was 22-years-old. But their marriage ended after just a year, with Colby later remarking that his parents had a 'bad relationship'. '(Lori) didn't feel like she wanted me to be in that, so she took me from that situation.' Lori's third husband was Joseph Ryan, with whom she had her daughter Tylee. He was described by Colby as initially 'sweet and lovable', before he allegedly began abusing him and Tylee. The abuse was documented in the Netflix show as the reason Vallow turned to religion. 'I had been married to someone who was very awful and who raped my children,' she claimed in an audio clip. 'I was going to murder him,' she added, before instead turning her 'life to the temple'. Ryan died in 2018, and although his death was initially ruled as a heart attack, investigators re-opened the case after Lori's fourth husband Charles Vallow was shot dead the following year. Charles Vallow, Lori's fourth husband, was killed by her brother in July 2019. He had filed for divorce months earlier, and had voiced concerns over her mental wellbeing beforehand Lori's fourth husband, Charles Vallow, married the former beauty pageant winner in 2006, which was noted by Colby as partly being because he was 'financially secure'. He moved to Hawaii with the family in 2014, the year after they adopted JJ. But the family returned to mainland America and settled in Arizona in 2016. The longest marriage of Lori's life seemingly came to an end in February 2019, when Charles filed for divorce after repeatedly voicing concerns over her mental state. In June, he confronted Lori about a letter she send in his name asking cult author Chad Daybell to help him write a book - which led him to accuse her to of having an affair with Chad and threaten to tell his wife Tammy. On July 10, 2019 - the day before Charles was killed - Lori's brother Adam insisted upon staging an intervention regarding their 'radical beliefs', according to a probable cause statement following his death. Lori found out about the planned intervention and texted Alex, 'We both need to stay here to defend ourselves ... It's coming to a head! This week will change everything.' The next day, July 11, 2019, Charles went to Lori's home to pick up JJ at 7.35am, according to cell phone records. He was shot just 14 minutes after he arrived, police said. The shooter, Alex, successfully argued self-defense after claiming he was attacked by Charles. But evidence suggested he fired shots into Charles' body after he already hit the floor, and never attempted to administer CPR. Following a twisted family story that has involved multiple suspicious deaths, renewed interest has been placed upon the shooting by investigators and true-crime followers. Within weeks of Charles' death, Lori moved her children to Rexburg, Idaho, mere miles from where Daybell lived with his family. By September, Tylee and JJ had vanished, with their remains only being found 10 months later in June 2020. Rosa tells DailyMail.com, 'Her words are very disturbing. She spoke on something she has no idea about' The ad featured paraplegic model Haleigh Rosa, 34, seated in her wheelchair wearing Skims that were specifically designed for people with disabilities Candace Owens called Skims' adaptive campaign 'ridiculous' and said she's getting 'tired of this inclusivity thing' The Skims model at the center of Candace Owens' ablest rant says she is 'disgusted' by the controversial talk show host's comments. Owens bashed a new Skims campaign that featured paraplegic model Haleigh Rosa seated in her wheelchair wearing the Skims adaptive bralette and panties that were specifically designed for people with disabilities. The conservative host called the campaign 'ridiculous' on an episode of her show last month, drawing the ire of actress Christina Applegate and disability activists online. 'I don't really understand how far we're going to take this inclusivity thing. I really don't get it,' Owens, 33, said while showing the photo of Rosa, adding that she's 'tired of this inclusivity thing.' Rosa, 34, now tells DailyMail.com, 'Her words are very disturbing. To have my body attached to her words - I felt like I had to speak up. She spoke on something she has no idea about.' Candace Owens bashed a Skims ad that featured paraplegic model Haleigh Rosa seated in her wheelchair sporting the Skims adaptive bralette and panties that were specifically designed for people with disabilities Owens called Skims' adaptive campaign 'ridiculous' and said she's getting 'tired of this inclusivity thing' 'I don't really understand how far we're going to take this inclusivity thing. I really don't get it,' Owens, 33, said while showing the photo of Rosa, adding that she's 'tired of this inclusivity thing' Rosa, who was left paralyzed from the waist down eight years ago in a car accident, said she had never heard of Candace Owens and was alerted to her commentary by a friend. 'The most outrageous thing is not only does she think we [people with disabilities] shouldn't be in an adaptive campaign, she thinks we shouldn't be in any campaign. I am human. I wear not only adaptive clothes, but regular clothes too,' Rosa said. The adaptive Skims line features fasteners on the front and side, to make it easier for those with physical limitations. Owens said, 'I don't really understand how far we're going to take this inclusivity thing. I really don't get it. I don't know. If I'm wrong, educate me. I just want to be educated in the comments. I don't know why this needs to be done. I'm just getting tired of this inclusivity thing. It seems ridiculous. 'Look, I assume that people who are in wheelchairs also have to buy bras, have to buy underwear, I just assume that is a thing. I didn't know that we needed to see that in our face,' she continued. 'I didn't know that now we're going to have to look forward to campaigns where women that are in wheelchairs are now wearing bras and underwear because we as a society cannot get to the bottom of our ridiculousness.' Rosa said, 'I think she was uneducated. I don't think she has journalistic integrity. She clearly didn't do research. If she took five seconds to look into it she would understand the campaign.' The South Florida resident said that Owens apologized days later. 'She called me and gave me an apology, if you want to call it that,' Rosa said. 'It was insincere. She said sorry but I know her views are the same. She didn't want to learn.' Owens was back on her show on The Daily Wire to describe that apology in an episode titled 'Sorry, Representation Does Not Matter'. 'If I was a model that was in this campaign, and I heard Candace say ''what is this,'' I would probably be offended. So I apologize to her,' Owens said. But she went on to say that being featured in the ad was a 'participation trophy' for people who are disabled and called it 'patronizing.' Rosa said, 'Her apology was along the lines of ''we're going to have to agree to disagree.'' She said I was checking boxes, that people like me shouldn't be in an ad.' Rosa said that Owens was uneducated. 'I don't think she has journalistic integrity. She clearly didn't do research. If she took five seconds to look into it she would understand the campaign,' she said The South Florida resident said that Owens apologized days later, but said the apology was 'insincere' Rosa has modeled for top brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Skims and Off-White and is hoping for more inclusive campaigns Rosa, who was previously a reporter in North Dakota, has modeled for top brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Skims and Off-White and is hoping for more inclusive campaigns. 'I would love to see more brands reach out and add more people with disabilities in their campaigns for adaptive clothing. 'Candace said that you shouldn't strive to be just a model - and I'm not just a model,' she said. Rosa has started the For Everyone Foundation for people with disabilities and is the co-founder of a clean pizza company called Yough. Owens is no stranger to backlash for her opinions. Just last week, she was back in the headlines after interior designer David Netto told her and her husband he would 'rather get beat in the a** with a wooden plank' than work on their Nashville home. But her ablest comments on the Skims campaign got the attention of A-listers. Actress Christina Applegate - who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021 - took to Twitter to express her outrage at Owens' comments. 'Yes late tweet. But woke to see the most horrifying thing. This Candace person making comments about companies who see we need help. It's f***ing gross,' Applegate said. 'Candace Owens, do you know when you have seen pictures of me how f***ing hard it was to get my clothes on? A team has to help me!!! So I'm excited for accessibility clothing for me and my community. Hope u wake,' Applegate wrote. Actress Christina Applegate - who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021 - took to Twitter to express her outrage at Owens' comments Applegate expressed her outrage in a series of tweets Owens responded to Applegate's tweets attempting to clarify and apologize for her comments She then reached out to Owens, writing she'd be willing to talk with her. 'I thought my last tweet was enough. But then my heart said something else. No rage. If Candace wants to get on the phone with me to be educated on being disabled. I will not come with anger. I will come with love. Because she needs to hear that. I pray for her tonight. sincerely,' Applegate added. Owens herself responded, writing, 'Hey Christina huge fan of yours. Would welcome a discussion with you. DMs open ' 'I think Christina, that what you may have missed is that covering absurd DEI initiatives is a recurring beat on my show.' 'We actually did not know that this particular ad featured a specific technology designed for people with disabilities, which was an honest mistake,' Owens admitted. She added in another tweet, 'What we thought it was at the time, was another nonsensical 'representation matters' DEI initiative which I strongly feel patronizes the people it purports to represent. (Example: clinically obese people modeling swimsuits). This wasn't that and we simply got it wrong.' 'We create a show 5 days a week. It is an impossibility that we would not at some point make an honest mistake. If you felt personally targeted by this mistake, I apologize to you. We simply did not know (the ad did not state) that the underwear was created for disabled access,' Owens wrote. Direct members of the Whittaker family have handmade gravestones, while others are professional Advertisement Members of America's most inbred family have been making their own concrete headstones since the 70's and bury their relatives in a tiny cemetery more than an hour from their home. DailyMail.com can reveal that the Whittaker family have their own private cemetery, Gordon Cemetery, which has around 30 graves of their relatives. They include the parents of Ray, Betty, Lorene and Larry, who shot to fame after a documentary aired in 2004 John and Gracie Whittaker who were first cousins. One family-run funeral chapel based in Beckley has been providing a service for the family, with obituaries for several of the deceased relatives appearing on their website. A source close to the family told DailyMail.com that the company helped to take them to a quiet private cemetery in Pearisburg, Virginia - 55 miles outside of Odd - where their parents married, to try to stop it from being targeted. 'The Whittaker's always paid us what we agreed to. We would take them down to a little family cemetery in Virginia and bury them there. Someone in the family they make their own headstones out of concrete', they said. DailyMail.com can reveal that the Whittaker family have their own private cemetery, Gordon Cemetery, which has around 30 graves of their relatives It is located in Pearisburg, Virginia - 55 miles outside of Odd - where their parents married but the family don't get to visit much Only their mother Gracie in the direct family has a professionally made headstone, though their father John has a floral arrangement spelling 'Dad' on display 'Whenever we had a funeral for then the entire staff knew what we were dealing with, and also the family members who went to church and had jobs, their church members would come and help with the service. 'Not many people would come just family and church members and they would bring food and try to make a bad situation as good as they could.' The Whittaker's have been making their own remedial concrete headstones since the 70's for family members who pass away. Some of the headstones have slight spelling mistakes, with letters and numbers appearing backwards - though many members of the family attended local schools. When asked about the graveyard, Betty told DailyMail.com: 'We don't go much.' Freddy Whittaker - brother of Lorene, Betty, Ray and Larry - was initially buried on the family property after his death in 2013, but he has since been moved to the private plot. The fours on his date of birth have been on backwards. Only their mother Gracie in the direct family has a professionally made headstone, though their father John has a floral arrangement spelling 'Dad' on display. A neighbor of the cemetery told DailyMail.com: 'I've had this land since 2007 and I've only seen someone come one or twice. 'It was really overgrown, and then a year or so ago one guy came and cleared it all up, tidied it and put the sign up for Gordon Cemetary. Freddy Whittaker - brother of Lorene, Betty, Ray and Larry - was initially buried on the family property after his death in 2013, but he has since been moved to the private plot Barbra Whittaker was born in September 1940, and did not appear to marry before she died following a short illness in October 2008 Betty, 71, is the matriarch of the family and confirmed to DailyMail.com that the family don't visit the graveyard much 'Some of the headstones have been made by the family, you can tell which ones. They just wrote out the names and then filled them with concrete, it's why some of them have backwards letters and numbers. It's sad really. 'Some of them, which are older, have better headstones but the majority of the family just have the homemade concrete ones which have stones in.' 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. John's brother Henry married Sally Burton and they had seven children, including John Emory Whittaker, born in 1913. Henry's grave can be found at the tiny run-down plot of land; others are dotted across Virginia. A neighbor of the cemetery told DailyMail.com that he hasn't seen many people come to the area since he bought the land in 2007 Michael Whittaker passed away in July 2001, aged 40 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. The grave of one of the twins, Henry, also calls the tiny run-down plot of land their final resting place, though others are dotted across Virginia Aileen Violet Whittaker, born in 1937, was the first child of first cousins Gracie and John Whittaker Some of the headstones have slight spelling mistakes, with letters and numbers appearing backwards - though many members of the family attended local schools 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. 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 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 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 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. The 19-year veteran of the force was on the scene soon after Alex Cox shot Charles Vallow at Lori's Arizona home Lori Vallows former husband said her affair with Chad Daybell keeps killing me, maybe thats your goal - just weeks before he was shot dead, her murder trial heard. Charles Vallow, who was shot dead by his brother-in-law in July 2019, also said on the morning he was killed that his wife was absolutely plotting something against him. The eerie messages, which hint Charles knew he was in danger, were revealed in a tranche of bombshell emails and text messages shown to jurors on the fifth day of Vallows trial at Ada County Court in Boise, Idaho. Vallow also sent messages to her eldest son in November 2019 which suggested her daughter, Tylee Ryan, 16, was still alive - even though she was allegedly murdered months earlier. In another bizarre message, Daybell told Vallow he felt like a grown-up version of Harry Potter in his little space under the stairs. Vallow and Daybell allegedly murdered two of her children, Tylee and Joshua Jackson 'JJ' Vallow, seven, after claiming they were 'dark' and working under the contract of Satan. They are also accused of the murder of Tammy Daybell, 49. Charles Vallow, left, was married to Lori Vallow - currently on trial for murdering her two children - before he was shot dead by her brother Alex Cox Chad Daybell, 54, was due to stand trial alongside Vallow before their cases were separated by a judge Daybell, who will stand trial at a later date, claimed the second coming of Christ was imminent and that he was ordered by God to lead 144,000 chosen humans to the end times. Those who were possessed had to die, the couple claimed. On Friday, prosecutors at Vallows murder trial explored the suspicious death of her husband Charles Vallow, who was shot dead by Lori's brother, Alex Cox, after threatening to expose her affair with Daybell. As their affair blossomed, Vallow and Daybell spent months claiming Charles was possessed by evil spirits named Ned and Garrett. In a message to his wife on June 30, 2019, two weeks before his death, Charles wrote: You accuse me of Infidelity [sic] but its you who has been having an affair. It just keeps killing me. Maybe thats your goal. In other messages, he also threatened to tell Tammy Daybell about their relationship, going on to Tammy Daybell in an email I have got definitive proof [of the affair] if you care to see it, although it wasnt clear whether she read the message. Vallow tells her husband that he is ridiculous and Tammy is my friend. In another message, he told Vallow he will take JJ to live with him and adds: I will not let him be a part of your apostasy. On the morning of the shooting, on July 11, Charles received a message from Adam Cox - another brother of Vallow who was not part of the alleged plot - warning him that Vallow and Daybell are planning something. Charles Vallow replies absolutely - before he was shot dead by Alex Cox minutes later. Further messages also reveal Lori Vallow was devastated when she learned her husband had removed her as a beneficiary of his life insurance policy before he was killed. She told Chad Daybell that its like a spear through my heart. Daybell says it is terrible and gives the sick response: It would be interesting if he got it changed after he had two bullets in his chest. Jurors were also shown an email from June 2019 that was discovered by Charles shortly before he was shot, which he believed was proof of Lori Vallow's affair with Chad Daybell. The email, which police later discovered was sent from an email linked to Lori Vallow, invited Chad Daybell to Arizona under the guise of becoming Charles' 'ghostwriter'. The 'false' e-mail sent on June 28, 2019, saw Lori Vallow allegedly imitate a message from her husband to trick Tammy Daybell amid an ongoing affair Charles was shot by Lori's brother, Alex Cox (pictured), on July 11, 2019 Detective Nathan Duncan, a 19-year-veteran of the Chandler Police Department in Arizona, testified Thursday over the shooting of Charles Vallow The last known photograph of Tylee, center, during a family trip to Yellowstone National Park with JJ, left, her uncle Alex Cox, right, and her mom Lori The last picture of Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, 7, before he vanished and was found dead in September 2019 Eyebrows were also raised in court as jurors heard a message from Daybell to Vallow on July 26 2019, which referenced the fictional plight of boy wizard Harry Potter. Tonight I figured out who I feel like, Daybell wrote. Im a grown-up version of Harry Potter, who has to live with the Dudleys [sic] in his little space under the stairs. Every few weeks I get to escape and have amazing adventures with my Goddess lover, but then I have to return to my place under the stairs, feeling trapped. But I sense permanent freedom is coming! ???? The messages were revealed during testimony by Detective Nathan Duncan, who led the investigation into the shooting of Charles Vallow. Duncan said the messages were found as the investigation gained momentum in January 2020 amid concerns for the missing children. The detective also spoke about the initial investigation at Vallows home in Arizona, where her husband was fatally shot twice in the chest. Bodycam footage previously released by cops shows the aftermath of the July 2019 shooting. He said Vallow was found face up on the wooden floor in the living room. There were mirrors on three sides of the room where Vallow was found, which Duncan said was odd. Charles had bleeding on the webbing of his left hand and abrasions to his knees. Detectives were surprised by the lack of blood, jurors heard. Normally in a shooting case you will see much more blood than I have seen in this case, said Duncan. A bullet was found lodged in a board on the wooden floor - suggesting Charles was shot while he was already down. The messages also revealed Daybell described Charles Vallows death as a relief. The key individuals in Lori Vallow's tangled family tree, including her five husbands, two dead children and killer brother The shooting of Charles Vallow is set for its own trial date in the future, but prosecutors are presenting evidence to the Lori Vallow's murder trial jury as it was deemed relevant to her children's deaths in Idaho. Charles Vallow's shooting at the hands of Alex Cox, who also flew wholesale into Daybell's ideological beliefs, has fueled speculation over a plot to target specific individuals under the guise of religious fanaticism. This was alluded to Thursday during Vallow's murder trial, when her former best friend Melanie Gibb testified that the couple would dub someone 'dark' or a 'zombie' if they disapproved of their actions. '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. She said that most of the people who were deemed zombies ended up gone. Earlier this week Detective Ray Hermosillo gave harrowing testimony as he detailed the gruesome discovery of JJ and Tylee's bodies in Daybell's backyard in June 2020. JJ was wrapped in a bag and heavily bound by duct tape - with 'a thick layer across his mouth from jawline to jawline.' He was wearing red pajamas, a pull-up night diaper and covered in a blue childs blanket - and was said to have visible bruises across his body. Tylee's body had been so badly damaged that the coroner was unable to perform an autopsy, with Detective Hermosillo giving horrifying testimony stating that all that was left was 'blobs of flesh that were falling apart'. Once upon a time, New Yorkers might have balked at the notion of a $30 lobster roll. But then the price surged north of $50, and they told themselves, 'Whatever, it's lobster. Lobster is market-priced. And New York is expensive.' When the longstanding promise of dollar-slices started costing $1.50 or more, New Yorkers grumbled, but grimaced and moved on. 'It's New York, and times are tough,' some might have said. 'New York is expensive.' But when the city caught wind of a $29 ham and cheese sandwich being sold at a deli on the Upper East Side this week, its citizens decided they'd had enough. '$29 Ham and Cheese Sandwich' a user wrote on Reddit alongside a picture of a pre-packaged square of 'health bread,' ham, and cheese, sold at E.A.T., a branch of the longstanding NYC market Eli Zabar. One user called the sandwich an 'unconscionable' tourist trap, another pointed out the ingredients could be bought and assembled for a fraction of the cost, and others said they'd come across the sandwiches before and laughingly moved on. Some thought it was a joke. But the $29 ham and cheese is no joke, as DailyMail.com confirmed, nor was E.A.T.'s $29 prepackaged chicken salad sandwich, or their $24 prepackaged egg salad sandwich. And while E.A.T. may not have been joking about their prices, DailyMail.com can confirm they are quite silly. And it's not just E.A.T. that has been pushing the limits of the price of lunch in NYC. From downtown through midtown and on uptown, sandwich shops can be found demanding increasingly outrageous prices. Below are some of the most egregious offenders, and DailyMail.com's opinion on whether their sandwiches are worth the price. A simple Ham & Cheese sandwich 'on health bread' from E.A.T on New York City's Upper East Side costs a steep $29 ... and its egg salad sandwich has a price tag of $24 The infamous $29 ham and cheese sandwich from E.A.T. on the Upper East Side of Manhattan DailyMail.com sampled a number of the more expensive lunch spot sandwiches in the city E.A.T., Upper East Side Located on Madison Avenue and 80th street - right around the corner from the Metropolitan Museum of Art - E.A.T. is one of NYC's standbys for bread and smoked fish, founded in 1973 by Eli Zabar. Not to be confused with the Upper West Side grocery establishment Zabar's founded by Eli's father, E.A.T. has expanded from its humble origins to include a restaurant, a wine bar, and numerous markets along the east side of the city. On the menu at E.A.T. is the now infamous $29 ham and cheese. A roughly 3x3 inch square, the sandwich's sliced ham and cheese are housed between two slices of 'health bread,' which appeared to be a standard multi-grain recipe that's had its crusts cut off. Though only the crust on two to three sides of the sandwich. There was also a dabble of brown mustard spread across one of the pieces of bread. Biting into the $29 ham and cheese sandwich, one is overwhelmed by a feeling that it is wholly unremarkable. It tastes like the latter end of its name - ham and cheese - and were it not for its $29 price tag it would be an entirely innocuous and acceptable sandwich. Sasha Zabar defended the sandwich, telling Gothamist the kerfuffle around the item was 'Fake Sandwich News,' and insisting the recipe was the founder's 'signature sandwich since Eli first opened in 1973.' A look inside the $29 ham and cheese sandwich. Included in in the price? A bit of mustard A look at the chicken salad sandwich from E.A.T., which was quite good but not $29-good The 'health bread' on the egg salad sandwich was not so healthy. It tore upon contact Zabar also insisted the $29 tag was the price of two sandwiches, saying that the plastic-wrapper contains two sandwiches which are meant to be shared. 'For $16 you get one sandwich cut on a bias and wrapped,' he told the Gothamist. 'For $29 you get two excellent sandwiches not cut but wrapped.' And while the package does technically contain two sandwiches - there are a total of four squares of bread within the wrapper - each is about as big as a peanut butter and jelly a six-year-old's mother might slap together for them after a day in the summer sun. The $29 chicken salad and the $24 egg salad sandwiches apparently follow the same principles of culinary camaraderie, as they both contain 'two excellent sandwiches' in their refrigerated wrappers. 'Excellent' was a far cry from the truth, however, especially when it came to the egg salad, which tasted remarkably like air for several bites before a faint flavor could be detected. Once it was found, it was pleasant, only pleasant enough for $24 to buy about five pounds of the stuff. The chicken salad was actually quite good. $29 good? No. The full price tag for these three sandwiches came to a staggering $89.28. At checkout, the register suggested leaving a 10, 15, or 20 percent tip. Epicerie Boulud's grilled cheese, which cost $12 plain and $16 with ham added in The fancy cheese inside the grilled cheese had a consistency reminiscent of E.A.T.'s egg salad Epicerie Boulud, Midtown Moving downtown, Epicerie Boulud is a quick lunch spot with at least three locations across the city. New Yorkers have flagged its overpriced grilled cheese, which comes in at $12 before tax. Add on ham for $4, and customers walk away with a $17.42 price tag for the sandwich and no drink. When DailyMail.com sampled the sandwich, it came out of Epicerie Boulud's countertop oven in a matter of minutes, and became cold and damp just as quickly. Half of the bread had been shorn off one of the ends of the sandwich so that the wet ham lay bare to the world, and the cheese - some fancy French cheese - had a consistency remarkably similar to E.A.T.'s egg salad. Needless to say, this grilled cheese was bad. It would have been bad if it cost a dollar of the $16 Epicerie Boulud asked for it. The sandwich from Pret a Manger was everything one would expect from a Pret a Manger The most of the romesco chicken's sauce was splashed across its top of the baguette Pret a Manger, Astor Place One shouldn't get their hopes too high with a Pret a Manger, and their romesco chicken did indeed disappoint. The sandwich cost $12 flat, $13.07 with tax and no drink. It came on a 'baguette' that felt like it came from a sealed package like a bag of chips, and its chicken, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, arugula and sauce didn't quite talk to each in the mouth. Was it good? Eh, not really. Was it bad? No, also not really. Was it worth $12? Probably not. But was it offensively expensive, and was it anything other than what should be expected from the Pret a Manger brand? No, and no. The Charles du Gaulle from Le Petit Parisien: 16 month cured ham, and Fourme d'Ambert blue cheese. DailyMail.com swapped out the blue cheese for camembert for $1.50 extra The sandwich cost $16.40 before tax and was worth every penny. Perfect in every way Le Petit Parisien, East Village A New York City French sandwich shop perfectly reminiscent of a French French sandwich shop, Le Petit Parisien does not skimp on their prices. The cheapest sandwich on their menu is a baguette with ham and butter that goes for $10.80, and from there the baguettes with various combinations of ham and cheese and artichokes and spreads run from $13 to $15 and all the way up to the foie gras and confit smothered Louis XIV sandwich for $31.40. DailyMail.com tried the Charles du Gaulle, a baguette with 16 month cured ham, and Fourme d'Ambert blue cheese, which came in at the middle range of Le Petit Parisien's menu at $14.90. DailyMail.com opted to swap in camembert for $1.50 expressly to make it more expensive, leading to a price tag of $16.40 before tax and without a drink. And was it worth it? Yes, every penny. Every centime. The ham was exquisitely cut, moist, and perfectly cured and salted. The $1.50 camembert - generously but not indulgently dolloped - was the perfect temperature, and neither too stiff nor too soft. If only every sandwich asking such prices were so good. A church that runs some of the most prestigious schools in Australia has been called out for wanting to ban gay students from becoming school captains. The Presbyterian Church is also advocating for the ban to apply to anyone who has sex outside of marriage. The organisation argues students will 'not be able to give appropriate Christian leadership in a Christian school which requires modelling of Christian living'. The Presbyterian Church has over 500 congregations across Australia and runs more than 20 schools and pre-schools, including prestigious private schools in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The church made the extraordinary demand in a submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission. A church that runs some of the most prestigious schools around the country has been called out for wanting to ban gay students from becoming school captains The ALRC is currently reviewing religious schools and their exemption from federal anti-discrimination law. Some schools are currently not held accountable to the law if the discrimination adheres to their religious tenants and beliefs. The ALRC has asked for feedback on some of the proposed changes that would make it unlawful to discriminate against students based on their sexual orientation. The Presbyterian Church argued in its submission that students must be able to give 'appropriate Christian leadership' if they are elected as school captain. 'If this student were in an active same-sex relationship, they would not be able to give appropriate Christian leadership in a Christian school which requires modelling Christian living,' the submission read. 'This would also be the case for a student in a sexually active unmarried heterosexual relationship. 'In both cases, the proposal removes from schools the ability to determine an ethos by selecting appropriate leaders.' The ALRC is also reviewing a proposal that would make it unlawful to discriminate against teachers and staff based on their sexual orientation. The Presbyterian Church revealed in its submission it wants to retain the power to discriminate against staff if they do not 'live out the whole Christian faith consistently'. The church runs some of the most prestigious schools around the country, including Brisbane Boys' College and Somerville House in Queensland. Presbyterian Ladies' College and Scotch College in Victoria and Presbyterian Ladies' College and The Scots College in NSW are also on the list. The Presbyterian Church is also advocating for the ban to apply to anyone who has sex outside of marriage 'We promote equality and inclusive educational and leadership opportunities for all our students,' he told Courier Mail. Rainbow Families Queensland made its own submission saying some parents were too scared to speak out for fear of repercussions. 'Changing the outdated Sex Discrimination Act exemptions and ensuring that children are protected from discrimination by association will positively influence the culture of exclusionary schools over time,' the submission read. Queensland Human Rights Commission said in its submission there have been 23 complaints made by students since 2009. 'Most of the complaints about private education providers have been about impairment or race discrimination and therefore fall outside of the scope of this discussion,' its submission read. Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles says students' leadership qualities shouldn't be tied to their sexuality. 'We can't see a situation where we're inadvertently discriminating against kids,' he said. 'Leadership and the qualities of leadership are not a function of people's sexual orientation, and we need to make sure we have the widest pool of people for leadership positions across our society.' Federal attorney-general Mark Dreyfus tasked the ARLC with carrying out the review of the federal anti-discrimination law in November 2022. The review is expected to be handed down in April. Foreign governments will have to go through UK ambassadors to meet SNP ministers in a crackdown on the party pushing its independence agenda abroad. The Foreign Secretary announced the new measures after concerns grew that SNP politicians have been using overseas trips to 'promote Scottish separatism and undermine UK Government policy positions'. James Cleverly has told UK diplomats to take a 'strengthened approach' by telling other countries not to arrange meetings with Holyrood ministers without the involvement of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The 'heads of missions' overseas have also been told to gather information about any potential visits and report back to the FCDO, and to ensure UK officials always attend any official talks between SNP ministers and foreign governments. The tougher approach was announced in a letter from Mr Cleverly to ambassadors and other diplomatic staff. James Cleverly (pictured) has told UK diplomats to take a 'strengthened approach' by telling other countries not to arrange meetings with Holyrood ministers without the involvement of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office It comes as SNP Culture and External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson dubbed 'Air Miles Angus' because of his regular overseas jaunts is in the US to attend Tartan Week events (pictured in Washington for last year's Tartan Week) The Foreign Secretary announced the new measures after concerns grew that SNP politicians have been using overseas trips to 'promote Scottish separatism and undermine UK Government policy positions' It comes as SNP Culture and External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson dubbed 'Air Miles Angus' because of his regular overseas jaunts is in the US to attend Tartan Week events. In the letter, Mr Cleverly said: 'I recently met with the Secretary of State for Scotland and share his concerns at SG ministers continuing to use overseas visits to promote Scottish separatism and undermine UKG policy positions. 'Since my meeting with Angus Robertson in November, such instances are still taking place. I would therefore like you to take a strengthened approach to SG ministerial visits to ensure devolution settlements are respected overseas.' In its Budget for this year, the Scottish Government set aside 35million for 'international and European relations', which includes a network of nine overseas offices. Mr Robertson has caused alarm among diplomats during a series of recent overseas visits. Last September, at the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia, it is claimed he voiced concern about UK Government positions on issues including the Northern Ireland protocol, the Bill of Rights and the SNP's independence plans. Angus Robertson visits Madrid in November 2022. He met with Fernandez Palomares, Spain's Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte.Pic - Angus Robertson/Twitter Mr Robertson is said to have criticised UK policy on EU law and student funding in an October meeting in Paris with the French Europe Minister. That same month, he also discussed independence with Iceland's Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir at talks in Reykjavik. In November, he came under fire for embarking on a trip to Spain just as the Scottish Government was preparing to unveil huge budget cuts. Mr Robertson spent a full two days in Madrid where he met Culture and Sport Minister Eduardo Palomares. A Westminster source said: 'The UK Government acts on behalf of the entire United Kingdom, representing Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland to the world. 'The Foreign Office oversees one of the world's largest and most successful diplomatic networks, with 282 missions in 180 countries and territories, all of which fly the flag for every corner of the UK. Angus Robertson with Kirsty Duncan MP, the deputy leader of the government in the Canadian House of Commons. April 2022.Pic - Angus Robertson/Twitter 'Across the UK people want to see all levels of government use taxpayers' money to focus on things that matter to them. 'In Scotland, people want to see ministers tackling NHS waiting times, not squandering millions of pounds abroad promoting separatism.' In his letter to the British heads of missions, who are ambassadors or high commissioners, Mr Cleverly said 'it is critical each of the governments of the UK adhere to devolution settlements'. He wrote: 'This means the devolved governments do not encroach on matters legally reserved to the UK Parliament and UKG when engaging with international interlocutors.' Angus Robertson visits Reykjavik, Iceland in October 2022 . He was pictured with Icelandic Prime Minister Mr Cleverly urged heads of missions to 'confidently' represent UK Government policy and 'the strengths of the Union' when working with the Scottish Government abroad. While he told them to 'play a constructive role' in helping SNP ministers on devolved matters, he said they should also take 'a firm approach to ensure the SG is not using our global platform to address issues reserved to HMG'. The letter sets out that the new 'strengthened approach' should include ensuring 'your host governments understand requests for ministerial meetings with devolved governments should be co-ordinated via the FCDO, given HMG is responsible for foreign affairs'. The heads of missions are also told to 'ensure a senior official attends SG ministerial meetings, particularly those where you judge reserved issues may be discussed'. Tory MSP Donald Cameron said: 'Air Miles Angus is forever gallivanting across the globe at the taxpayers' expense talking up the SNP's bid to break up the UK. 'This is a proportionate response from the Foreign Secretary. SNP ministers should be focused on the real priorities of the Scottish people, like the cost of living crisis and NHS waiting times.' The Scottish Government said: 'The Scotland Act does not preclude international engagement. 'There are important areas of shared interest which the UK Government must do more to promote, instead of undermining Scotland's legal right to advance its interests by attempting to censor Scottish ministers.' The tech exec jailed for the fatal stabbing of CashApp founder Bob Lee has a previous arrest for carrying a switchblade - and potentially lied about attending a prestigious Bay Area school. Facing a murder charge for the high-profile stabbing, Iranian-American tech consultant Nima Momeni was arrested on Thursday, nine days after Lee's April 4 stabbing sent shockwaves throughout the Bay Area. Many had assumed Lee's murder to be the work of a vagrant given the city's crime situation but cops have since revealed the 43-year-old had known the suspect - spurring a boastful statement from the city's Mayor, London Breed. San Francisco DA Brooke Jenkins also used the press conference announcing the charges against Momeni to take aim at Elon Musk, who'd tweeted about Lee's murder and the ongoing crime problem in the city. More questions have arisen surrounding Momeni's background. He says he attended Berkeley, but the school has no record the 38-year-old ever attending. The condo where he was arrested - a rental - doubled as his home and workspace, but neighbors said he was the only employee. Cops so far have kept mum about Momeni's relationship with Lee, only confirming they 'knew each other.' Local outlets report the pair may have met through Momeni's sister, Khazar Momeni. She owns an apartment in a luxury apartment just blocks from where Lee was found, and is married to a prominent plastic surgeon. Facing a murder charge for the high-profile stabbing, Iranian-American tech consultant Nima Momeni was arrested on Thursday The founder of Cash App, 43-year-old Bob Lee was stabbed to death on April 4. News that Momeni knew Lee surprised many who had assumed the millionaire's murderer was a vagrant, given the city's crime situation Momeni does not have a violent criminal history despite being arrested for a few misdemeanors including the 2011 one involving the illegal switchblade, which cops said he had been illegally selling. Records show the charge was ultimately dismissed after the then-26-year-old pleaded guilty to another charge of driving with a suspended license stemming from a DUI, earning him 10 days in county jail. Both offenses were classified as misdemeanors, and ultimately saw the the perp jailed for ten days and put on three years' probation. The case made its way through the California criminal courts in early 2011, records show - around the time the Iranian-American tech consultant, Nima Momeni, is said to have formed Bay Area startup Expand IT. In 2004, the a tech entrepreneur - who migrated to the US with his mother sometime after the Iranian revolution - was charged with driving while intoxicated. On Thursday morning, Momeni was arrested again, after being tracked down to his swanky loft inside a converted industrial condominium complex, and was charged with Lee's murder. Officers arrived around 5 a.m., with neighbors reporting hearing loud bangs from police officers knocking on the accused murderer's door. Momeni reportedly was apprehended without incident - leaving the spacious unit he had been living and working out of vacant. The arrest happened nine days after Lee's April 4 stabbing sent shockwaves throughout the Bay Area On Thursday morning, Momeni was arrested over Bob Lee's murder after being tracked down to his swanky loft inside this converted industrial condominium complex Momeni reportedly was apprehended without incident - leaving the spacious unit he had been living and working out of vacant Nima Momeni was arrested at his loft (pictured) in Emeryville on Thursday morning. During a tour of the businessman's unit - which records indicate is a rental - one neighbor recalled how Momeni's home office contained a pool table and a host of expensive tech equipment Momeni may have met Lee through his sister, Khazar Momeni (pictured), the wife of a prominent San Francisco plastic surgeon She's married to Dr. Dino Elyassnia (at right), a respected doctor whose practice is based in the Bay Area. Reports indicate she recently became acquainted with the CashApp founder Neighbors described Momeni as 'warm and welcoming' to DailyMail.com, recalling how he would regularly work late into the night while running his IT firm. One resident in the building - where condos routinely sell for more than $800,000 - recalled how the techie liked cars, boats and women, with some adding he recently developed an interest in firearms and knives. During a tour of the businessman's unit - which records indicate is a rental - one neighbor recalled how Momeni's home office contained a pool table and a host of expensive tech equipment, presumably to run his company. According to Momeni's LinkedIn, the startup offers outsourcing of IT services like cybersecurity and website hosting, including to companies that work in health care, law and manufacturing, as well as other startups. 'We take care of the technical heavy lifting, so you can focus on growing your enterprise,' a description for the company reads. Momeni also claims to represent several nonprofits and government clients. The company's official website and LinkedIn profile were both deleted Thursday, as news of the relatively small-time techie's arrest began to spread. On Momeni's profile, he writes that he attended UC Berkeley - a claim that has since emerged as dubious, after a spokesperson said Thursday the university has no record of anyone attending or graduating under his name. As for how he came into contact with Lee - who resided in Miami and had been in San Francisco on business - police Thursday would only say the attack was not random. On Momeni's LinkedInprofile, he writes that he attended UC Berkeley - a claim that has since surfaced as dubious as a spokesperson said Thursday the university has no record of anyone attending or graduating under his name. Momeni has a previous arrest for carrying a switchblade and driving with a suspended license Both offenses were classified as misdemeanors, and ultimately saw the the perp jailed for ten days and put on three years' probation. Early Thursday, Momeni was arrested and charged with Lee's murder 'We can confirm Mr. Lee and Mr. Momeni knew each other,' Police Chief Bill Scott said. However, accounts garnered from local outlets suggest the two may have known each other through Momenis sister, Khazar Momeni, who they said recently met Lee. She is married with the wife of a prominent plastic surgeon, Dr. Dino Elyassnia, whose practice is also based in San Francisco. Khazar, also known as Khazar Elyassnia, is the registered owner of an apartment in the Millennium, an upscale building located just four blocks from where Lee was found bleeding to death, and a block from the hotel where he had been saying. Police sources further revealed to The Standard that one of three search warrants executed by San Francisco cops Thursday during Momeni's arrest was at his sister's residence, though cops themselves would only confirm they searched three residences including Momeni's. A friend of Lees told the publication they believe Lee and Momeni been partying the night before the stabbing, into early Tuesday. Other accounts suggested the two men had driving together through downtown San Francisco in Momenis car, before coming to some sort of dispute. 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' Amid this outflow of information, Mayor London Breed decried the press for reports lumping the stabbing with other incidents of violence seen under her administration. 'When the facts of many of these cases come out, many people are going to be surprised,' Breed said Wednesday, adding local and national reports surrounding the case have left a false impression on safety in city. 'It has really heightened events like this - as well as people jumping to conclusions about what they think is happening.' Momeni has already been hit with a murder charge from the city's DA office, is expected to be arraigned in court Friday morning. Today Show host Sarah Abo has slammed the justice system for failing Aussies after it was revealed a teen who stabbed another boy to death could have years shaved off his sentence. Jack Beasley, 17, was stabbed in the heart and later died in hospital after a fight broke out between his group of friends and the five teens in the Gold Coast in December 2019. Two of the teens were later jailed over Jack's death with one boy, aged 15 at the time, sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to murder and two counts of committing malicious acts. The boy was told he must serve 70 per cent of his sentence but launched an appeal on Friday to reduce his sentence to five years. If he is successful, he will leave jail in 18 months - prompting fury from Today Show host Ms Abo as she spoke to Jack's devastated parents. Jack Beasley, 17, was stabbed in the heart and later died in hospital after a fight broke out between his group of friends and the five teens in the Gold Coast Mr Beasley also took aim at the justice system and revealed that the family is devastated by news of the appeal His father Brett told Ms Abo: 'If he wins his appeal, he will get two years shaved off his sentence and he'll be a free man in just 18 months. 'He'll get to spend his 21st birthday with his family and friends, unlike we did. It's a real kick in the guts for us, it's terrible.' Ms Abo replied: 'We often hear about things like this happening in the justice system. 'It's disheartening, but it's also heartbreaking for a family who's lost a loved one. 'This is why people get so angry about the justice system, failing the community. It's just not acceptable. It's so frustrating to see this happen time and again, this isn't the first time. What kind of a message is this sending? Mr Beasley also took aim at the justice system and revealed that the family is devastated by news of the appeal. 'He murdered our son and he damn near murdered our son's best mate. He's whining about getting seven years in jail for it. Jack's mother Belinda added: 'The thing is we're tired, we just want it over and done with' Mr Beasley also took aim at the justice system and revealed that the family is devastated by news of the appeal 'I know everyone has your right to appeal but as far as I'm concerned, they should lose their rights. 'You murder someone, you should lose your rights. It's as simple as that. 'He took away our son's rights, so we should take away his rights and we'd be devastated if he gets his appeal. 'There is no justice for the victim at all. The whole youth justice system needs makeover, especially here in Queensland. It's an absolute joke.' Jack's mother Belinda added: 'The thing is we're tired, we just want it over and done with. 'We just want to be able to move on and put that sort of part of our life behind us because it really is traumatic for the family and so many families go through it.' News of the appeal comes after Queensland passed Jack's Law to make it easier for officers to tackle knife crime. Queensland police can now use metal detection wands to search people for knives on public transport and in nightclub precincts without reasonable suspicion. Jack's parents Brett and Belinda were in parliament for the passing of the legislation created in their son's honour. Officers on the Gold Coast have already been using the powers to undertake random searches using detection wands under a trial in the holiday destination's safe night precincts in which 266 weapons wre seized. The program will now be extended for two years and expanded to cover all nightclub precincts across the state, as well as all public transport networks. Trams, buses, trains and ferries, as well as public transport stations, will be included under the new laws. A video featuring a joint address by Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame about sexual assault has been removed from YouTube amid a defamation lawsuit - but the former Liberal Party staffer hit back, defiantly posting her entire speech on Instagram. The ABC is being sued by Bruce Lehrmann over its broadcast of the address at the National Press Club in February, 2022, during which Ms Higgins alleged she was raped in Parliament House in 2019. The video was then posted on the ABC's YouTube channel and amassed 127,000 views by the time Mr Lehrmann's claim was filed last week, on April 5. Mr Lehrmann was not named in the address, but claims he was identifiable because his name and photo made national headlines when he was charged with sexual assault in August 2021 over Ms Higgins' allegations - six months before the press club address. He strenuously denies the allegations, and had pleaded not guilty in the ACT Supreme Court. The case toppled in November and the charge was subsequently dropped. Mr Lehrmann sent a concerns notice to the ABC in February, giving the broadcaster two months to remove the footage from the internet. He launched the lawsuit because the video was not removed by the deadline. However, the video has disappeared from the ABC's YouTube channel within the past week - clicking on the link now displays an error message: 'This video isn't available any more.' Pictured: Brittany Higgins, left, and Grace Tame, right, following their address to the National Press Club In response to the address being removed, Ms Higgins posted a transcript of her speech online Ms Tame's 20-minute address can still be found on the broadcaster's YouTube channel. Ms Higgins speech is not included at all, nor is either of their responses to journalist's questions. The ABC declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. Hours after news of the video's removal made headlines on Friday, Ms Higgins posted a transcript of her entire speech on Instagram. 'In loving memory of a (mid tier) National Press Club address about parliamentary workplace reform and the national plan to end violence against women,' she wrote. According to Mr Lehrmann's statement of claim filed in the Federal Court, he suffered aggravated hurt because the broadcaster decided to stream the address live - rather than using a delay system to edit any potentially defamatory material out. He further alleges the choice to publish the full address after criminal charges had been laid was 'apparent contemptuous attempt to prejudice the jury before whom the proceedings were being heard as against the applicant'. The joint address by Ms Higgins and Ms Tame, who is also a former Australian of the Year, called for cultural and institutional reform to protect women in the workplace. During her address, Ms Higgins alleged she was raped in Parliament House. Mr Lehrmann sent a concerns notice to the ABC in February, giving the broadcaster two months to remove the footage from the internet. He launched the lawsuit because the video was not removed by the deadline Former prime minister Scott Morrison was also blasted for what Ms Tame called 'national inaction' on women's safety, and for the way his government treated women. Ms Tame was 15 when she was groomed and raped by her 58-year-old math teacher. She also used her address to speak about systemic issues that silence victims of abuse rather than empowering them to speak up. Mr Lehrmann is also suing Channel 10 and Lisa Wilkinson over an interview on The Project in February, 2021, when Ms Higgins first aired her allegations. He has also launched legal action against news.com.au and journalist Samantha Maiden for an online article that featured the same allegations. The former political staffer was not named by the network or online news outlet, but he claims he was identifiable in political circles. Before the defamation trials can proceed, a judge must determine whether Mr Lehrmann should be allowed to sue beyond the normal 12-month time limit. A ruling will be made on April 28. Hainan grows into a springboard for RCEP, BRI economies to enter Chinese market Global Times) 15:53, April 14, 2023 Enterprises eager for brighter future through favorable policies A view outside the China International Consumer Products Expo venue on April 10, 2023 Photo: Li Hao/GT Not surprisingly, Hainan has become a buzzword among global companies, especially those in attendance at the ongoing China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), one of the most important consumption expos in China. The beautiful Chinese costal province is set to become another free trade port city similar to Hong Kong. In 2025, the province will start island-wide independent customs operations, enabling enterprises to enjoy more convenient policies. With the anticipated changes, Hainan will become a duty-free shopping paradise with all import duties, VAT, and consumption tax being scrapped. Products processed in Hainan with an added value of over 30 percent are also entitled to duty exemptions when entering the Chinese mainland - a preferential policy which is already being implemented in certain parts of Hainan. This makes Hainan a big attraction for global companies ranging from large luxury groups to small consumption goods sellers, who have either announced plans to open more stores in Hainan or are thinking of cooperating with local vendors at the CICPE stage. Among them, companies based in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), many of which already enjoy benefits from previously enacted favorable policies like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), are particularly excited about entering Hainan. "Hainan lies at the southern end of China. But seen from a larger context, it is at the heart of China's trade network. Therefore, it is central to China's 21st Century Maritime Silk Road," Liang Haiming, dean of the Hainan University Belt and Road Research Institute, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Liang said that Hainan should develop the mindset of "Hainan plus" to grasp bigger opportunities during the process of building a free trade port. That includes developing services industries along with Japan and South Korea, developing duty-free shopping and manufacturing in partnership with ASEAN economies, and developing finance policies together with Hong Kong. Hot place for transit trade At the CICPE, many exhibitors expressed enthusiasm at the mention of preferential policies in Hainan, especially the duty exemption policy for added value of over 30 percent. As a result, some companies are contemplating a supply chain move to the coastal Chinese province to take advantage of the policy. "To be frank, we are very eager to see the implementation of independent customs operations in Hainan, which I think will generate a lot of business opportunities," said James Ye, Vice Chairman of Thailand food giant CP Group China's Marketing Department on the sidelines of the CICPE. CP Group has established a Xinglong Coffee Chia Tai Industrial Park in partnership with the Wanning municipal government in Hainan. According to Ye, with the tax exemption policies, the cost of producing coffee in Hainan would be lower. "As we import coffee beans from overseas markets, we can process the coffee beans in our industrial park in Hainan and then sell them both to the mainland and international markets at a lower price," he said. Besides, the company has also established a trade firm in Hainan. Via the company, the firm hopes to import many materials into Hainan to enjoy the tax benefits. "Of course, we will need to set up a processing factory to create added values for raw materials in order to enjoy the 30 percent added value tax exemption policy," Ye said. "It takes some time, but the prospects are optimistic." Singapore-based massage chair brand Osim has a similar plan. In a written reply it sent to the Global Times, Deserine Lim, assistant general manager of branding &strategic marketing (North Asia) at Osim, said that it is planning to "fully utilize" the dividends of RCEP and the Hainan Free Trade Port by "dynamically adjusting industrial and supply chains" and deepening trade cooperation in China. The company opened its first store in Hainan in June 2022. "With the effective implementation of RCEP and the establishment of the Hainan Free Trade Port, foreign trade enterprises like us have received many favorable conditions for development and operation in China," Lim said. For smaller-scale companies in countries along the BRI route or RCEP regions, they might lean toward searching for potential business partners in Hainan to process products for them. Some of them are already starting to benefit from the policy change. For example, the Yuankuangfeibao Supply Chain (Hainan) processes consignments of jade raw stones imported from Myanmar into jewelry in the Haikou's comprehensive bonded zone. The products are approved to be duty exempt goods under the 30 percent added value tax exemption policy. According to Mao Xiangqun, the company's corporate management director, the efficient implementation of the first processing value-added service has further boosted the company's confidence about expanding production. The firm has leased 2,300 square meters (of factory areas) to increase production lines, and a new 74-ton batch of raw stones have been transported to the factory for processing. Besides firms in ASEAN economies, companies from other BRI regions are also eyeing Hainan's policy benefits. Victoria Cai, country manager, Asia office at the National Meat Institute of Uruguay, said that beef companies in Uruguay "are very willing" to utilize the favorable policies in Hainan. "We are studying the policies and searching for business partners in Hainan who have the qualification for importation and processing. We are still communicating with them for the cooperation," she said. Qiu Wenxu, director of Industry Development Department at the Alliance of Belt and Road Business Schools, said that the transit processing industry will receive "super" dividends from Hainan's favorable tax policies. According to Qiu, China is the world's largest importer of raw materials and has established international supply chains with about 150 countries and regions. Hainan, with the tax policy, can serve as a key hub between overseas material suppliers- like food exporters- and mainland markets, as the costs of such intermediate processing will be much cheaper than if overseas companies directly export the materials to mainland factories for processing. "It will bring development momentum in Hainan's industries, which will in turn boost the employment market, optimize Hainan's industrial structure, and prepare the island for development in the finance sector," he said. Thai exhibitors display products ranging from clothes to soap at the ongoing CICPE Photo: Xie Jun/GT Springboard for SMEs Besides transit processing, many consumption goods sellers and officials told the Global Times that Hainan could also provide an ideal place to "test" their products in the Chinese market before embarking on large-scale sales campaigns, especially for small- to medium-sized companies. "China is a really huge market, and Hainan, with the duty-free policies and other favorable policies, can be the best springboard for product distribution all over China," Oranuch Wannapinyo, Commercial Consul at the Commercial Section Royal Thai Consulate-General, told the Global Times on the sidelines of the CICPE. According to her, businesses in Thailand are aware of the Hainan Free Trade policy and are very happy about it, but they can't come to Hainan if there are no or not enough potential buyers. "So it's time to go both ways. The government provides the incentives and the welcoming policies, and the businesses have to move in the same direction," she said. The Thai brands' pavilion at the CICPE is both colorful and fragrant. There are a number of exhibitors selling products ranging from perfume and soap to clothes. All of them are filled with customers talking with the sellers. Saranchana Atipanya, managing director of the Thailand-based Earthbound Co, an exhibitor at the CICPE that sells natural soap, told the Global Times that the company docked cross-border e-commerce platforms and duty-free shops in Hainan during the CICPE to sell products on their platforms. "China is just coming out of the coronavirus and we feel Chinese consumers' shopping habits have also changed. So we want to test those changes in the Chinese market via cross-border e-commerce platforms and duty-free shops, instead of using general trade which requires a large amount," she said. Challenges exist While Hainan is on the way to becoming a hub for duty-free shopping and trade processing, businesses and officials said that there are also challenges to be faced in bringing products into Hainan. Oranuch Wannapinyo, for example, said that the favorable policies are likely to be most beneficial for large-scale businesses in the beginning, while smaller enterprises may find difficulties in understanding the terms of the cooperative agreement as well as applying for relevant documents, etc. "To follow the policy is not difficult, but to utilize it is not easy," she said, adding that SMEs might lack the time to apply for the documents and the capital to make the initial investment. "It requires money, time, and also a call from the Chinese government, Chinese businesses, and Thai businesses to work together." Cai also said that there are challenges for companies to shift supply chains to Hainan. For example, most of Uruguay's beef is exported to China via ports in Tianjin or Shanghai, and Hainan will be a very new market to suppliers. Some experts suggested that Hainan should make good use of China's technological advantages to tap into business opportunities with the BRI or RCEP countries. "For example, companies in Hainan could use big data to find out which products from Hainan are the most popular among BRI economies, and bring them in a targeted way to those markets. Likewise, they can import selected BRI products into mainland markets and exploit price differences with its tax benefits," Liang said. Qiu said that Hainan's processing companies don't have a "cluster base", and the province needs to develop supporting industrial infrastructure to attract outside companies. He suggested that Hainan could pick a few successful examples and give them publicity to attract potential investors that are still waiting to see the effects of such investments. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) They were ordered to pay the victim $3,600 and sentenced to a suspended jail sentence of 180 days Samuel Brinton, who identifies as non-binary, was caught on video stealing luggage at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas in July 2022 A former Energy Department official pleaded 'no contest' to theft Wednesday The non-binary former Energy Department official who was caught on video stealing luggage was ordered to pay $3,670 to the victim and given a suspended sentence of 180 days in prison after pleading 'no contest' to theft. Samuel Brinton, 35, who uses they/them pronouns was issued their sentence Wednesday in Las Vegas, Nevada, eight months after they grabbed a passenger's bags inside Harry Reid International Airport. Brinton was facing misdemeanor theft charges, which amount to less than $1,200 in stolen items. They had originally faced a felony theft charge since police said the amount stolen was $3,670. Brinton - who was responsible for nuclear fuel and radioactive waste - was also told by a judge to stay out of trouble, according to Las Vegas court records. A suspended sentence means the former Energy Department employee will not be forced immediately to serve a jail or prison term and may be required to complete probation. The non-binary former Energy Department official who was caught on video stealing luggage was ordered to pay $3,670 to the victim and given a suspended sentence of 180 days in prison after pleading 'no contest' to theft Samuel Brinton, 34, who uses they/them pronouns was issued their sentence Wednesday in Las Vegas, Nevada, eight months after they grabbed a passenger's bags inside Harry Reid International Airport The situation began when a woman who had been traveling from Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. to Harry Reid Airport on July 6 said she could not find luggage. The woman told officials that one piece which had been checked with United Airlines was missing and she later filed a police report. According to officials, the suitcase was worth $320 and was from the 'Away' brand. Inside the luggage was more than $3,000 in stolen items including jewelry, makeup, contact lenses, and clothing, documents said. When officials began investigating and looked at security footage, they noticed Brinton - then identified as 'the suspect' acting strange. Officers 'observed several nonverbal cues, or body language anomalies, from the suspect, which caught his attention,' according to the warrant. 'Specifically, Brinton pulled the victim's luggage from the carousel and examined the tag. Then placed it back on the carousel, looking in all directions for anyone who might be watching or might approach, the warrant continues. 'Pulling it back off the carousel and demonstrating the same behavior by looking around before walking away with it quickly,' the document states. Brinton - who was responsible for nuclear fuel and radioactive waste - was also told by a judge to stay out of trouble, according to court records. Pictured: Brinton in court in February When officials began investigating and looked at security footage, they noticed Brinton - then identified as 'the suspect' acting strange 'Specifically, Brinton pulled the victim's luggage from the carousel and examined the tag. Then placed it back on the carousel, looking in all directions for anyone who might be watching or might approach, the warrant continues The case went unresolved for months until one officer saw a news article in November that identified Brinton as a suspect in another luggage theft The case went unresolved for months until one officer saw a news article in November that identified Brinton as a suspect in another luggage theft. Brinton had been implicated in a theft inside the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on September 16 and their photos matched the suspect in the Las Vegas incident. Detectives continued to investigate and found photos posted to Brinton's Instagram of them in the same t-shirt in a photo posted on July 6. The case against Brinton in Minneapolis is ongoing at this time. If found guilty in that case, the former Energy Department officials could face up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. According to the complaint in that incident, Brinton removed a tag from a woman's luggage and walked out. The items inside were appraised at $2,325. American Airlines later confirmed that Brinton had not checked a bag on their flight from Washington D.C. The victim was shown footage of Brinton with the suitcase, she confirmed that it was her luggage. Brinton had been implicated in a theft inside the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on September 16 and their photos matched the suspect in the Las Vegas incident If found guilty in that case, the former Energy Department officials could face up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine On top of the charges in Las Vegas and Minneapolis, Brinton is also under investigation after one fashion designer saw pictures of them wearing what appeared to be her unique clothes she lost in a bag in 2018. Asya Khamsin said her bag went missing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and that she believes Brinton is the culprit. Khamsin spotted the clothes amid the ongoing coverage into Brinton, and reported the theft to Houston Police in December. Khamsin claimed that Brinton has been seen wearing her custom-made outfits on several occasions since her luggage went missing five years ago. The fashion guru, based in Houston, shared side by side photos of herself wearing one of her outfits next to a photo that surfaced of Brinton in what she believed is the same one. Since then, numerous photos have surfaced showing Brinton wearing what appear to be several of Khamsin's one-of-a-kind outfits. The patterns, though similar, sit differently on Brinton and there has been no proof that the items are the same - and it is unclear if they got them altered. Brinton, before being fired, was a deputy assistant secretary of the office of spent fuel and waste disposition, according to the Office of Nuclear Energy's website. Shortly after an arrest warrant was issued for their arrest in Las Vegas, the department announced they were no longer an employee. They were first hired to the department last summer. Brinton attended The Trevor Project TrevorLIVE NYC on June 11, 2018 in an outfit that Khamsin said resembled her outfits that went missing with her luggage in March 2018 Khamsin shared photos on her social media of her designs compared to what Brinton was seen wearing after her luggage with the clothing was stolen from an airport in Washington, DC The Minister for Indigenous Australians has denied claims an Indigenous Voice to Parliament would change the date of Australia Day - but then went on to suggest how we celebrate the national day should change. Linda Burney spoke at a media conference in Darwin on Thursday to quell worries surrounding the proposed Voice ahead of a referendum later this year. Ms Burney said a change to the date of January 26 was not in the government's plans, but that changes to the meaning behind the holiday should be considered. 'The Australian Government has a very clear policy on Australia Day, we have no plans to change it but we do believe that there needs to be a different way of marking that day,' she said. 'It should be in celebration, and recognition of the great things about our nation, but it also has to be in reflection about the truth of this country.' Ms Burney stated the Voice would instead be focussed on addressing 'everyday' issues that Aboriginal people face such as incarceration rates, housing, education and health. Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney (pictured), said the Voice will not be able to change the date of Australia Day, but believes celebration of the holiday should be altered The minister said speculation over The Voice causing the date of the holiday to change was 'nonsense' and a 'desperation act'. 'The Voice to the Parliament is about two things. It's about listening and it's also about making sure that there is recognition,' she said. 'What I'm making very clear is the Voice will involve itself in the very real practical issues that affect the daily lives of Aboriginal people. She went on to say much 'mischievous disinformation' about the Voice had been spread through press conferences, social media and comments in the public arena. However, Ms Burney's comments provoked reaction from those who believe the Voice will target Australia Day. 'I expect Australia Day is one of the first things they'll try and change,' Vice President of the Rule of Law Institute of Australia, Chris Merritt, told the Daily Telegraph. 'If you look at what all the leading proponents of the Voice have said it will be high on the agenda. '[She] cannot possibly say Australia Day is beyond the scope of the Voice, unless she proposes to change the wording of the constitutional provision.' Former national President of the Labor Party and Indigenous leader, Warren Mundine, weighed in, saying: 'If the Voice gets up it will be Australia Day and a lot more than that.' While attempting to quell worries about changes to Australia Day, Ms Burney's comments provoked reaction from those who believe it will be targeted by Voice representatives The Voice is proposed to be made up of representatives selected by Indigenous and Torres Strait communities - not the government - and provide 'independent advice to the Parliament and government'. While unable to create or alter laws, the Voice would be able to comment on proposed legislation and policies that affect Indigenous lives. A statement from the office of prime minister Anthony Albanese states: '[The Voice] will make a practical difference on the ground in communities. Nothing in the constitutional provision detracts from the primacy of the democratically elected Parliament'. 'It is disingenuous and divisive to suggest otherwise.' Scowling into the camera, these three brothers have been perfecting their defiant poses for decades even in police mugshots. Tyler, Shamen and Brandon Williams were arrested for two violent attacks involving machetes in just one night in 2021, carried out purely 'for sport'. But the brothers' reign of terror stretches right back to 2003, when Tyler and Shamen, then baby-faced 13 and ten-year-olds, were named and shamed by Kent Police after becoming some of the youngest recipients of Asbos (anti-social behaviour orders) for generating their own crimewave in Kent. Younger brother Brandon soon joined the criminal fraternity, with all three since racking up a long list of offences and jail terms, ranging from armed assaults and deliberate dog maulings to burglary and shoplifting. Their latest spree, for which they have been jailed for a total of 27 years, will stoke the debate over 'slaps on the wrist' for offenders. These three brothers -Shamen, Tyler and Brandon Williams (pictured left to right) have been perfecting their defiant poses for decades Tyler (pictured), Shamen and Brandon Williams were arrested for two violent attacks involving machetes in just one night in 2021, carried out purely 'for sport' But the brothers' reign of terror stretches right back to 2003, when Tyler and Shamen (pictured), then baby-faced 13 and ten-year-olds, were named and shamed by Kent Police after becoming some of the youngest recipients of Asbos (anti-social behaviour orders) for generating their own crimewave in Kent Younger brother Brandon (pictured) soon joined the criminal fraternity, with all three since racking up a long list of offences and jail terms, ranging from armed assaults and deliberate dog maulings to burglary and shoplifting Asbos designed to prevent specific behaviour with the threat of criminal sanctions for breaches were shelved in 2014 and replaced by civil injunctions and criminal behaviour orders (CBOs). But critics say they all offer 'soft' justice which encourages re-offending. Indeed, back in 2018, after two of the brothers were jailed for setting their pit bulls on three victims, a neighbour said: 'The orders were nothing but a badge of honour and actually seemed to spur them on to commit even more crime.' The new jail terms for Tyler, 33, Shamen, 30, and Brandon, 24, were imposed after they embarked on an hour-long spree of 'random and unprovoked' attacks on March 4, 2021. Nothing but a badge of honour A woman parked near a shop in Gillingham, Kent, was assaulted by Shamen, suffering injuries to her face and head, while her windscreen was smashed by Tyler, who also chased a man down the street with a machete. Just over an hour later in Chatham, three men were attacked by Shamen, now wielding the machete, leaving two in hospital one with wounds to his face, shoulder and back. Tyler who describes himself as a 'full-time scumbag' on his Facebook profile egged on his brother, shouting: 'Go on, do him.' The eldest sibling, from Gillingham, was sentenced to 13 years at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday after he was convicted of affray, criminal damage, possessing a bladed article, wounding with intent and possessing cocaine with intent to supply. Shamen, of Rochester, also received 13 years for offences including affray, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage. Brandon, of Folkestone, was jailed for 18 months in December after admitting two counts of affray for his role in the attacks but is already back on the streets due to time spent on remand. The crimes were committed while the brothers were on licence for custodial sentences handed down in 2018, prompting Judge Robert Lazarus to warn Tyler and Shamen they faced life sentences if convicted of similar offences in future. Tyler Williams and Shamen Williams were just baby-faced 13 and 10-year-olds when Kent Police took their first mugshots and 'named and shamed' them for their unruly behaviour Tyler who describes himself as a 'full-time scumbag' on his Facebook profile egged on his brother, shouting: 'Go on, do him.' He was sentenced to 13 years at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday. Shamen, of Rochester, also received 13 years for offences including affray, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage Bringing them to justice was hampered by their unruly and disruptive behaviour during court hearings. They refused to leave prison, failed to keep appointments with the probation service and Shamen even threatened his own barrister on one occasion, warning he would 't**t [him] if he got a heavy sentence'. Sentencing the older brothers via prison video link, Judge Lazarus said: 'No motive for the violence has been identified. Although the sport-like bragging came from Shamen, I am left to conclude that Tyler too was engaged in violence for fun or sport.' The feral brothers first came to prominence in 2003 when Tyler and Shamen inflicted 'misery' in Folkestone and received Asbos banning them from swearing or abusing and making obscene gestures. But despite national publicity, the trio continued their crimewave over the next 18 years. Asbos were introduced by Labour in 1998 in a high-profile crackdown on youth disorder. But a 2012 survey found just eight per cent of Britons thought they had helped cut offending. Rory Geoghegan, founder of the Public Safety Foundation and a former No10 adviser on crime, yesterday warned: 'The problem is there are not significant consequences if they are breached. 'If you are soft on criminals then, unsurprisingly, they continue.' A masculine shade of ultramarine features on the souvenir chinaware marking the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. But while the deep blue reflects the first male monarch in 70 years, the design also celebrates how he and Camilla work in harmony, the Royal Collection Trust (RCT) said. The items going on sale today include a 75 cup and saucer, 50 tankard, 50 dessert plate, 40 pillbox and a 30 coffee mug. In a sign that even the Coronation cannot escape cost of living pressures, the official sets are up to 10 dearer than those created for the late Queens Platinum Jubilee last year. The deep blue reflects the first male monarch in 70 years, the design also celebrates how he and Camilla work in harmony The items going on sale today to mark the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla include a 75 cup and saucer A 40 pillbox is also available as part of the souvenir chinaware marking the Coronation A 50 dessert plate is available to mark the coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla The central feature of the design is a royal coat of arms supported by a garland of laurel leaves symbolising peace. The border has oak leaves signifying strength and longevity and emblems of the four UK nations thistle, rose, shamrock and daffodil within a ribbon that represents the partnership between Their Majesties. The production involves 50 artisans across 12 factories in Stoke-on-Trent, and includes hand-finishing with 22-carat gold. They can be bought at www.rct.uk and at RCT shops at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. All proceeds go to the RCT, the charity responsible for the collection of art and antiques the King holds in trust for the nation. A heartbreaking photograph has emerged of a tradie dad who lost both of his arms and almost his life in an horrific workplace accident. New Zealander Jahden Nelson has a tough road to recovery with a recent photograph showing the father-of-three grimacing in pain following his double arm amputation. Mr Nelson 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 28-year-old 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. A photograph of New Zealand scaffolder Jahden Nelson (pictured), 28, shows the tradie's heartwrenching road to recovery after he had both arms amputated following a workplace accident He also had to learn to walk again after the electric shock left him with nerve damage in his lower body. 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 the defendant has been suppressed but they face a maximum penalty of A$1.4 million if found guilty. Mr 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 holding 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 a scaffolding site when a metal pole he was carrying touched low-hanging power lines delivering a massive electric shock 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. The mystery of a young woman's disappearance six months ago has deepened with cops releasing images of a 'vehicle of interest' - a blue Holden Commodore - that she was last seen getting into. Jessica Zrinski was reported missing by worried family members on December 3, 2022 after they could not get in touch with her. CCTV footage released by NSW Police on Friday shows the station wagon the 30-year-old was last seen getting into in the carpark of a Mimosa Road hotel at Greenfield Park in Sydney's west just after 10pm on November 28. It is believed the vehicle then travelled west on the M4 motorway and Great Western Highway towards the Blue Mountains. Jessica Zrinski, 30, was last seen getting into a blue Holden Commodore station wagon (pictured, CCTV footage) in Greenfield Park around 10pm on November 28 It is believed the blue Holden Commodore station wagon (pictured, CCTV footage) then travelled west on the M4 motorway and Great Western Highway towards the Blue Mountains The images were released in the hope that any motorists in the surrounding area may remember seeing it on November 28 and November 29, 2022. Detectives previously released footage of Ms Zrinski walking through suburban streets in Bossley Park from earlier on the day the blue car was spotted. Those videos show Ms Zrinski walking south along Zadro Avenue at about 8.35pm on Monday, November 28, 2022. She is then seen again outside a club on Prairie Vale Road at about 9.45pm Monday night and then walking east on the same some road five minutes later. There are 'grave concerns' for the south-west Sydney local as she has several health conditions, a police spokesperson said. Ms Zrinski (pictured) was reported missing on December 3 with 'grave concerns' for her wellbeing Detective Superintendent Michael McLean previously said police are investigating whether foul play was involved in Ms Zrinski's disappearance but are 'keeping an open mind'. 'When someone is of the nature that Jessica is, in terms of being open and friendly, does that create a vulnerability?' he said during a conference in January. 'Potentially, but we don't know the full extent and that's why we're searching for information. 'We do know that she missed a number of significant events since her disappearance, certainly Christmas and New Year has come and gone.' The south-west Sydney woman (pictured, CCTV footage of Ms Zrinski) was last seen on November 28 wearing orange singlet top, long black leggings, flat shoes and carried a cream handbag Police are calling for any motorists who saw the blue vehicle on November 28 or November 29, 2022 to come forward (pictured, CCTV footage of Ms Zrinski) Supt McLean also urged anyone who knows Ms Zrinski's whereabouts to come forward. 'People dont just fall off the face of the earth,' he said. 'It would be reasonable to assert there would be someone, or other people, who would be aware of Jessicas movements.' Jessica Zrinski is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 165cm tall and thin with blonde hair. She has tattoos on her right index finger, inside her left wrist and on the back of her neck. In the CCTV footage captured on November 28 she was wearing an orange singlet top, long black leggings, flat shoes and carried a cream handbag. Anyone with information of Jessica's whereabouts is urged to contact Fairfield Police or Crime Stoppers. Joe Biden on Thursday posed for a selfie with Gerry Adams, the former leader of Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein, in yet another blow to his advisors scrambling to insist that he is not anti-British. Adams has spent his life trying to secure a united Ireland, and end British rule in the North. Despite years of rumors, Adams has always denied any membership with the IRA and has refuted any involvement in their terror campaign during the decades of the Troubles. Biden addressed a joint session of parliament at Leinster House in Dublin, delivering a speech he said was 'to reflect on the enduring strength of the connections between Ireland and the United States, a partnership for the ages.' Among those listening was Adams, the 74-year-old former Sinn Fein leader, who has known Biden for many years. Adams, who stood down as Sinn Fein chief in 2018 after 30 years, posted a selfie of the pair together, captioned: 'A President Biden Selfie.' The selfie does little to help White House aides, who insisted on Wednesday that Biden is 'not anti-British'. Gerry Adams, who has always denied being a member of the IRA, posted a selfie with Joe Biden on Thursday, as Biden addressed a joint session of the Irish parliament Biden is seen on Thursday addressing the session in Leinster House, Dublin Biden spoke later on Thursday at a banquet held in Dublin Castle Biden met Adams on a previous visit to Ireland, in 2017. At the time, Biden was the former vice president, and Adams the Sinn Fein leader. The pair met in Dublin in a meeting billed by Adams as an opportunity to brief Biden on negotiations to restore political institutions in the North. 'We also spoke of the potentially very damaging effect of Brexit on the island of Ireland, and in particular the implications for the border and for the Good Friday Agreement,' said Adams at the time. Biden is seen meeting Adams in 2017, while Biden - then the former vice president - was visiting Dublin. Adams at the time was the leader of Sinn Fein And in November 2020, it was revealed that Biden had lobbied then-president Bill Clinton to grant Adams a U.S. visa in 1993 - despite the wishes of the British government. Biden argued that allowing Adams to visit the U.S. would draw him deeper into the peace process and distance him from the IRA's continuing armed struggle against British rule in the province. The lobbying was confirmed by Sir Peter Westmacott, a former British ambassador to the United States. 'Biden has strong British roots . . . but he has even stronger Irish roots, and was one of four leading Democratic senators who urged President Clinton in 1993 to take a risk for peace and allow Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness to visit the US, ignoring protests from No 10,' he said. Clinton in 2019, on the 25th anniversary of Adams' visit to the U.S., tweeted that his decision to grant the visa was 'highly controversial but critical' to jumpstarting the peace process. The decision infuriated the British government. Biden, on this current trip, also met with Adams' successor as Sinn Fein leader, Mary Lou McDonald. Biden is seen with Adams's successor as Sinn Fein leader, Mary Lou McDonald (left), and Sinn Fein's vice president, Michelle O'Neill (right) O'Neill also met Biden on Wednesday in Belfast, and thanked him for being 'so deeply invested in the continued transformation of our society' On Thursday, McDonald and Sinn Fein's vice president, Michelle O'Neill, both posted photos of their meeting with Biden. 'A great day was had by all. The special relationship between our two countries is strong and enduring. Ties of history, family, friendship,' tweeted McDonald. O'Neill also met Biden in Belfast on Wednesday. 'I was delighted to welcome President Joe Biden to Belfast today, cementing our partnership for peace and prosperity with the United States of America,' she tweeted. 'It is great to see President Biden so deeply invested in the continued transformation of our society, and I welcome his commitment to working together with us to build a brighter, better future for all our people. 25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement, we must now work together to seize the exciting opportunities ahead of us in a new Executive. ;Striving forward as one to attract investment, create jobs for our young people, and ensure that all communities reap the rewards of our peace. 'Leading an Executive that delivers prosperity for every citizen is my priority.' 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 - has made no secret of his sympathies for the cause of Irish nationalism. Biden is welcomed by the speaker of the lower house of the Irish parliament, Sean O Fearghail and the speaker of the upper house, Jerry Buttimer, as he arrives at Leinster House Biden walks with Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina Higgins in the grounds of the Irish President's official residence on Thursday Biden meeting Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House on Thursday In the 1980s he described Britain's position in Northern Ireland as 'absolutely outrageous' and argued against the deportation of IRA suspects from the U.S. to Britain. In 1985 he told the Senate during a debate on a possible extradition treaty: 'If we ratify this treaty, we will be admitting that the justice system in Northern Ireland is fair a notion I absolutely abhor.' As he touched down in Ireland on Tuesday, Arlene Foster who previously served as First Minister of Northern Ireland and as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, 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.' 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 In response, a senior White House aide, Amanda 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.' Biden somewhat undercut her message hours later, when he spoke glowingly about a person who 'beat the hell out of the Black and Tans' - a British militia, brought to Ireland to stamp out the independence cause. Biden appeared to mean the All Blacks - he was referencing an Irish rugby player, who triumphed over the New Zealand squad - but some said the reference was a Freudian slip. 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 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 met President Michael D. Higgins in Dublin, and addressed the 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. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been named as one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people of 2023. A black-and-white photo of Mr Albanese appearing deep in thought appeared on the publication's website this week as the top 100 was announced. The yearly list is split into six categories - artists, titans, innovators, leaders, icons and pioneers - with those chosen considered to be globally influential. In a glowing introduction, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his Australian counterpart was a 'symbol for hope and inspiration'. A black-and-white photo of Mr Albanese appearing deep in thought appeared on the publication's website this week as the top 100 was announced (pictured) In a glowing introduction, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his Australian counterpart (pictured with partner Jodie Haydon) was a 'symbol for hope and inspiration' He highlighted the leader's humble roots in public housing, and his 'ambitious' climate change policies and credited his recognition of Aboriginal Australians. Mr Albanese's Voice to Parliament has been designed to represent Indigenous people with a federal advisory body for the first time in Australia's history. 'Progressives around the world are united in the idea that we should leave no one behind,' Mr Trudeau began. 'The idea that no matter who you are or where you come from, you should have every chance to succeed in life. Few politicians embody that journey as does. 'From growing up in public housing to taking office last spring as Australia's new Prime Minister, he is a symbol of hope and inspiration. 'He works to lift up and amplify the voices of those who need to be heard from, particularly Indigenous peoples. 'His government supports those who need it most, believes that we need to take ambitious climate action, and unwaveringly supports democracy in the face of unprecedented threat. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (pictured) gave Mr Albanese a glowing introduction Mr Trudeau highlighted the leader's humble roots in public housing, his 'ambitious' climate change policies and credited his recognition of Aboriginal Australians 'In a world where people are increasingly uncertain about what the future holds for them and their families, it's easy for politicians to sow fear and division. 'To choose the path of hope and opportunity takes immense courage, and that courage lives within Anthony Albanese.' Also in Time 100's leaders category was First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, American Prime Minister Joe Biden and Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also made the cut, as well as Germany's Chancellor Olaf Shultz. Previous Australian Prime Minsters to make the list include Labor PM Kevin Rudd in 2008, and Liberal leader John Howard in 2005. Mr Albanese is yet to acknowledge his place on the Time 100 list on his social media, which comes just over a month before he marks one year in office. Montana could become the first US state to bring in a total ban on TikTok after the proposal passed a key hurdle in its legislature on Thursday. If enacted, the proposed law would be unprecedented and test the legal waters for a national ban of the popular Chinese-owned app, a move that is increasingly being called for in Washington. Montana's Republican-dominated lower house overwhelmingly voted for a complete ban, with a final vote set for Friday before it goes to the state's governor to become law. It passed by 60 votes for and 39 against. TikTok said US courts would likely have the final word. It comes after Congress, the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard all ordered officials to remove the app from their phones. Two dozen states have also banned the app on government-issued devices. TikTok has labelled bans by governments as politically motivated and categorically denies any data sharing with Beijing (file image) Montana's Republican-dominated lower house overwhelmingly voted for a complete ban, with a final vote set for Friday before it goes to the state's governor to become law (file image of State Capitol building in Helena) The Biden administration recently endorsed the Restrict Act, a bill which proposes a total ban or severe restrictions to the reach and power of Chinese-owned TikTok. On the latest crackdown on the popular social media app, TikTok's spokeswoman said that Montana lawmakers have 'no feasible plan' for implementing the ban. 'The bill's champions have admitted that they have no feasible plan for operationalizing this attempt to censor American voices and that the bill's constitutionality will be decided by the courts,' Brooke Oberwetter said. 'We will continue to fight for TikTok users and creators in Montana whose livelihoods and First Amendment rights are threatened by this egregious government overreach.' TikTok, despite its immense popularity, is caught in a battle of wills with US government and politicians, and now faces an ultimatum by the White House that it split from its Chinese owners or stop operating in America. 'We are facing a threat unlike any other from the Chinese Communist Party hiding behind TikTok where they can spy on Americans by collecting personal information by keystrokes and even user locations,' said Representative Brandon Ler, defending the Montana bill. Under the proposed law, Apple and Google would have to remove TikTok from their app stores and companies will face daily fines of $10,000 if found in violation. Montana's Republican-dominated lower house overwhelmingly voted for a complete TikTok ban (stock image) The proposed ban would take effect in 2024, but will almost certainly face legal challenges, given its unprecedented nature in the United States, possibly going all the way to the Supreme Court in Washington. Is China spying on us through TikTok? Owned by Chinese company ByteDance, many governments around the world have concerns over whether TikTok can harvest user data and whether it is independent of Beijing. Governments and regulators fear that user data could be made available to the Chinese government and be used for intelligence gathering. In recent years, Chinese laws have ruled that companies must hand over data to the government if requested, which has heightened concern. Many fear that data such as browsing history or personal user information like location information might fall into the hands of the Chinese government and be used to promote propaganda and disinformation. But TikTok and parent company ByteDance have strongly denied the allegations from governments around the world that have raised security and privacy concerns. They have long argued that they operate independently, and that any concerns governments have over links to Beijing's power are unfounded. Advertisement 'I think there are a lot of ramifications, not the least of which is how you would do it,' said University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias. 'It is hard to see how the state would be able to defend it and win,' Tobias said. When an earlier version of the bill passed in the Montana senate, TikTok decried a 'disastrous precedent' that would be an 'egregious violation' of free speech in the state. Free speech advocates also opposed the legislation. 'Passing this legislation would flout the First Amendment and would trample on Montanans' constitutional right to freedom of speech,' said a letter to Montana lawmakers from the ACLU and other associations. Business owners in the state have also decried the proposed ban as potentially disadvantaging their trade. 'Small businesses like me, I don't just sell to Montanans, I sell everywhere,' Caroline Nelson, owner of Little Creek Lamb and Beef, told MTN last month. 'So if I can't market on TikTok or on any social platform, it puts Montanans at a unique disadvantage compared to other small businesses in other states.' Montana's turn of the screws on TikTok comes as the app faces several hard-hitting, but legally tenuous, proposals of national legislation - including one bill backed by the White House that could pave the way for a ban of the app. 'Part of the problem is that politicians don't have to care about what happens after they've passed the law,' said Ari Cohn, free speech counsel at TechFreedom, a think tank. 'They're all too happy to consider legislation that will get easily struck down by the courts. It's just the nature of politics, unfortunately.' From the US, to Europe and Asia, lawmakers around the world have all moved to restrict access to TikTok. In the UK, TikTok has been banned on government devices. A review of the app found that there 'could be a risk around how sensitive government data is accessed and used by certain platforms.' The European Union has banned the app for officials working in its parliament, commission, and council. It also strongly urged staff and MEPs to remove the app from their personal devices. Tanya Plibersek's reformed drug trafficker husband has survived a bureaucratic bloodbath despite losing his plum public service job. Michael Coutts-Trotter was appointed secretary of the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet by Liberal then-premier Dominic Perrottet in October 2021. This was despite him being married to federal environment minister and onetime Labor leadership aspirant Ms Plibersek. The DPC secretary, paid $644,850 a year, is responsible for implementing the premier's policy agenda and is considered the state's top public servant. Tanya Plibersek's husband Michael Coutts-Trotter (pictured together) will move from the Department of Premier and Cabinet to Treasury However, new Labor premier Chris Minns will abolish the entire department and replace it with two new ones, putting Mr Coutts-Trotter out of a job. Unlike numerous other bureaucrats to be shown the door, the former drug addict will land on his feet and run the NSW Treasury instead. 'The budget situation will be the most pressing [issue] facing this government and [Mr Minns] has asked Michael Coutts-Trotter to be in charge of that as a matter of urgency,' the premier's office said. NSW is forecast to be $79.2 billion in net debt by June after massive cost blowouts from the Covid pandemic and infrastructure projects. As acting treasury secretary, Mr Coutts-Trotter will oversee the delivery of the Minns Government's first budget, usually delivered in June. When asked if Mr Coutts-Trotter would stay in the role permanently, the premier's office said: 'We haven't made comment about that. There will be a process... But he is highly respected by all'. As acting treasury secretary, Mr Coutts-Trotter will oversee the delivery of the Minns Government's first budget, usually delivered in June Those less lucky include current treasury secretary Paul Grimes, Education Secretary Georgina Harrisson and Transport for NSW Secretary Rob Sharp, who will be made redundant. 'I want to sincerely thank these leaders for their service and dedication to the people of NSW,' Mr Minns said. 'We have a strong team of ministers and I want them supported by excellent public service advice and high-quality cabinet decision-making processes. 'My expectation is that all government departments will have a laser focus on serving the community first.' Mr Minns said the changes 'balance renewal with continuity and experience'. The DPC will be dissolved from July 1 and replaced by The Cabinet Office and a new separate Premier's Department - both reporting directly to Mr Minns. Veteran public servant Peter Duncan was appointed as Acting Secretary of the DPC for the next three months to lead the transition. He and former deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek have three children together after marrying in 2000 Sydney Trains chief executive Howard Collins will become acting secretary of transport and Mr Murat Dizdar will be acting secretary of education, both starting on Saturday. All the secretary jobs will be publicly advertised to fill them permanently. Further changes to the structure of the public service are being considered for implementation from July 1. Mr Coutts-Trotter was thrown in jail for three years in 1984 for conspiracy to import heroin from Thailand after becoming hooked on the drug as a teenager. Since that time he's worked his way up the ladder to become one of the country's most respected public service officers, running six agencies and never shying away from his dark past. He and Ms Plibersek have three children together after marrying in 2000. Incredible story of how teenage heroin addict and drug smuggler Michael Coutts-Trotter turned his life around By Stephen Gibbs for Daily Mail Australia Michael Coutts-Trotter's first unavoidable task as the new head of Australia's largest prison system was to tell his staff he had once been a heroin addict and drug supplier who spent almost three years in jail. In an email sent to the 40,000 men and women who make up the New South Wales Department of Justice, Mr Coutts-Trotter dealt with his criminal past head-on. 'There's one thing I want to tell you about myself,' he wrote in an introductory note. 'You may know it already. But, if not, I want you to hear it from me first. 'As a teenager I used and supplied drugs. In 1984 I was imprisoned for conspiracy to import heroin. 'I spent nearly three years in jail and then around 18 months on parole.' As a teenager Michael Coutts-Trotter was injecting up to 3 grams of heroin a day. He funded his addiction by dealing to other users then set out to import heroin from Thailand. After his arrest in 1984 he entered rehab (pictured) before he was sent to maximum security jails Mr Coutts-Trotter went on to explain how that background would be an asset rather than a liability as he took over running the state's courts and jails. Addiction helped explain his crime, but didn't excuse it, Mr Coutts-Trotter told all his team members, from judges and jail governors to court registrars. He deserved to go to prison, but needed to be locked up only once. Many of those who received the email knew part of their new boss's background but his candour was still shocking - and inspirational - for most. One employee said it was 'perhaps the most memorable opening email from anyone I've worked for before.' Now in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia given four floors above the spot where he was arrested as a teenager, the 54-year-old has opened up to tell his full story for the first time. Mr Coutts-Trotter is one of the country's most senior public servants whose wife, federal Labor MP Tanya Plibersek, could be deputy prime minister in a couple of months. He was already secretary of the NSW Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) - a role he will keep as he takes control of Justice. But 35 years ago prison halted the same man's potential descent into an adult life of misery or premature death by overdose. Mr Coutts-Trotter has revealed how he came to be addicted to heroin, how he was arrested and what it was like being surrounded by murderers and rapists in maximum security jails. He recalled a stabbed inmate running across a yard at Bathurst clutching his stomach so his intestines didn't fall out of his body and a kid staggering out of his cell at Parramatta after being gang raped. Mr Coutts-Trotter, pictured as a 17-year-old in 1982, was injecting two-and-a-half grams of heroin at the height of his drug addiction. He was arrested in 1984 and jailed in 1986 He remembered getting into a scuffle with Michael Murphy, one of the men who raped and murdered nurse Anita Cobby, in an argument over who could use a telephone. He spoke of how prison could be used to help rehabilitate young men like himself who had made terrible decisions and why there were recidivists so 'irredeemably dangerous' they should never be let out. Mr Coutts-Trotter's current office is in a building on the site of what was the Redfern Mail Exchange, where 35 years ago he was followed by police after picking up a package of heroin sent from Thailand. From that fourth-floor office the father-of-three said he expected to be asked about his criminal past as a drug user and dealer, considering the nature of his new job. 'I do think they are legitimate questions and they are obviously particularly legitimate questions if I'm to be the Secretary of Justice,' he said. 'And in some ways it's helpful that people are prepared to ask them because it gives me a chance to account for myself a little bit for the people who work in the system.' In his email to Justice department staff Mr Coutts-Trotter wrote: 'Addiction helped to explain my crime, but it didn't excuse it. I deserved to go to prison.' After four to six weeks on remand Mr Coutts-Trotter was bailed to the Salvation Army's William Booth facility at Surry Hills then accepted into the Miracle Haven rehab centre (pictured) 'And while the police who arrested me wanted me jailed, they only wanted me locked up once, not again and again.' Some of Mr Coutts-Trotter's story is horrific but it is ultimately one of redemption and hope. He was born in the United Kingdom to an Australian mother and English father who had met in the late 1950s. She was a cook and he was a butler. The family moved to Australia in 1976, but unknown to young Michael his father had cancer and within months of arriving had died. 'I was just really overwhelmed by his death, as was my mum,' he said. Mr Coutts-Trotter was sent to St Ignatius College, Riverview, to be taught by the Jesuits on a scholarship but could not quite fit in with any group. 'There were a few things about my life that made me stand out a bit,' he said. 'I was just a posh-sounding English kid trying to fit in and I didn't.' All teenagers need some sort of friendship group and he found the wrong one. 'I started to fit in with kids who felt pretty marginalised themselves and those were the kids who were drinking, smoking and stealing things,' he said. Mr Coutts-Trotter pictured with his wife Tanya Plibersek and children Anna, 18 and Joe, 14 At Long Bay jail (pictured) Mr Coutts-Trotter was locked up with some of the state's most notorious inmates including armed robbers Jockey Smith, Graham Henry and Arthur Loveday He would binge drink and began smoking marijuana as soon he could. 'In the modern language I self-medicated.' The self-medicating stopped for a while when he fell in love with competitive rowing but that didn't last either. 'The moment that finished I was really just off the rails again.' Mr Coutts-Trotter sat for his Higher School Certificate exams a week after taking 'a lot of hallucinogens' in what he called 'self-sabotage'. He finished school at the end of Year 12 aged just 16 years and 9 months, left home not long after and was soon injecting drugs with new friends. 'I don't remember quite when but in inner-city Sydney in the early 1980s heroin was the primary drug of choice and I found it pretty quickly,' Mr Coutts-Trotter said. 'It made me feel complete. You hear that a lot but it just suddenly I felt at ease in my skin and I felt at ease in the world.' While Mr Coutts-Trotter initially found some comfort in heroin it eventually took over his life. He funded his habit by supplying the drug. 'I was using two-and-a-half, three grams of heroin a day plus a whole lot of other uppers and downers but heroin was my drug of choice,' he said. Mr Coutts-Trotter decided to move from small time dealer to drug smuggler when he became involved in a scheme to import half a kilogram of heroin from Thailand. On Monday Mr Coutts-Trotter revealed his past to all Justice department staff. One employee said it was 'perhaps the most memorable opening email from anyone I've worked for before' A joint Commonwealth-NSW police task force was aware of his plans and he was followed from Redfern Mail Exchange to a private hotel on Elizabeth Street near Central train station. A dozen police officers arrested the 19-year-old carrying about 100g of the drug, part of an intended half-kilogram haul. [One of the policemen peripherally involved in the operation was Clive Small who would go on to lead the team of detectives who arrested backpacker killer Ivan Milat in 1994]. Upon his arrest Mr Coutts-Trotter, who is 193cm tall, weighed just 50kg. 'The drug addiction is an explanation but it's not an excuse,' Mr Coutts-Trotter said. 'There was still a choice - choices - that I made along the way that I could have made differently. 'Quite sincerely, I deserved to go to jail for those choices. I made choices that were not driven solely by my addiction. I could have been a small time supplier rather than seeking to be a larger supplier. That's a choice.' Mr Coutts-Trotter admitted to conspiring to import a prohibited drug and was remanded to Long Bay. After four to six weeks he was bailed to the Salvation Army's William Booth facility at Surry Hills then accepted into Miracle Haven rehabilitation centre on the Central Coast. That place 'was actually well named' and Mr Coutts-Trotter spent more than a year on their drug rehab program. 'When I say I was lucky, I mean I was really lucky. I was given bail and the police were prepared to extend bail while I was in rehab and making some changes,' he said. After completing that program, Mr Coutts-Trotter went back to William Booth then found work with a public relations firm. By the time he was sentenced aged 21 he was clean of drugs, working for the same PR company and had re-established relationships with his family. 'Jail is calm until it's not and then it's just chaotic,' says Michael Coutts-Trotter. Pictured are inmates in the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater in Sydney's west He had a group of friends who weren't using drugs and 'the ability to go to jail and get through it.' Early in his sentence he took time to 'learn, look, absorb, watch.' Nonetheless Mr Coutts-Trotter was locked up for two years and nine months - much of it in maximum security - and never sought protective custody. 'In the culture of the time you were a dog if you went into protection and there was some pride in the fact that you could make a go of it in the main population,' he said. At Long Bay's Central Industrial Prison (CIP) he was incarcerated with some of the state's most notorious inmates including armed robbers Jimmy 'Jockey' Smith, Graham 'Abo' Henry, Arthur Loveday and Freddie Owens. 'I remember them very clearly - particularly Arthur Loveday and Freddie Owens because they were just scary,' he said. He did time in Bathurst with infamous armed robber and escapee Ray Denning and in Parramatta with kidnapper and rapist Billy Munday. 'I was just unbelievably lucky to not get hurt.' 'I saw people brutally bashed in a cell with a wooden stool in CIP. In Bathurst I saw someone running across the yard trying to hold their intestines back into their stomach cavity. 'I saw a kid stagger out of a cell in Parramatta who'd just been gang raped. Lots and lots of fights that ended with two, three, four, people piling on one person. 'Jail is calm until it's not and then it's just chaotic.' 'You can't be in jail and not come away thinking there are people who need to be under lock and key for the safety of everybody else,' NSW Justice secretary Michael Coutts-Trotter says At Parramatta he had a confrontation with Michael Murphy, the Cobby killer who died at Long Bay in February after serving 33 years of a life sentence in jail. 'I had one scuffle to use the phone queue at Parramatta. We had a very brief, very un-physical scuffle - just, you know, push, pull.' Later at Bathurst there were opportunities for work and training - which weren't available at Long Bay or Parramatta - and at the end of his sentence he was able to undergo work release at Silverwater. That chance to work and the fact he remained clean and sober helped Mr Coutts-Trotter adjust to life on the outside. Mr Coutts-Trotter has also always been conscious that if he had been arrested somewhere other than Australia the consequences could have been fatal for him. 'Conspiracy to import heroin - half a kilo of heroin - is an offence that carries the death penalty in at least 13 or 14 countries,' he said. 'And my conspiracy involved importation of heroin from Thailand. If I'd been arrested in Thailand and not in Australia it's quite possible we would not be talking to each other because I would not be alive.' Asked why a former inmate should given the opportunity to run the state's prisons, Mr Coutts-Trotter said he hoped he would be judged on his public service career. 'Really, all I'd say about that is don't just judge me on what I did 35 years ago, judge me on what I've done since,' he said. 'The best way to keep us all safe is to stop people offending and stop them re-offending and I do think that there is something about my history that gives me a bit of an insight into the job.' By the time Mr Coutts-Trotter was sentenced aged 21 he was clean of drugs, working for a PR firm and had re-established relationships with his family. (Pictured about 1985 in drug rehab) 'Once you've done your time in Australia - extraordinarily - you get a chance to have a second go, and for people who want to take that chance we should be there to give them a hand to do it.' Mr Coutts-Trotter was understandably interested in rehabilitation but said he was no 'bleeding heart'. 'You can't be in jail and not come away thinking there are people who need to be under lock and key for the safety of everybody else,' he said. 'They need to be closely managed under lock and key for the safety of other people who are locked up and the people who work there because they are irredeemably dangerous. 'There's nothing that is going to give them the necessary empathy for other people that means they will change their behaviour. They don't have it. 'They have no concern for anybody else and they will do whatever they want. 'There are those people and then there are people like me. I've met a lot of other wide-eyed people like me who are just getting by day-to-day, who you hope will be there once. 'We needed to be there but we needed to be there just once.' HOW DID MICHAEL COUTTS-TROTTER GET HIS JOB? In some countries a man with a criminal record such as Michael Coutts-Trotter's would have trouble finding stable employment, let alone be able to run government departments. 'If I was in the US there's a whole heap of jobs I would not be able to do because of a 35-year-old criminal record,' he said. 'In some states I wouldn't be able to work in pig farms, I wouldn't be able to be a hairdresser and I certainly wouldn't be able to do that job I do.' After prison Mr Coutts-Trotter completed a degree in communications at the University of Technology Sydney in 1995 and his earliest days in the public service were not smooth. His first job after university with Labor deputy prime minister Brian Howe was derailed when ASIO would not provide him with security clearances. He was then hired as a press secretary by Michael Egan, treasurer in the newly elected Carr Labor government. Mr Egan, a man Mr Coutts-Trotter described as a 'feisty, Irish, working-class republican' did have initial reservations about his past. 'He wasn't particularly enthusiastic about the Jesuit background and the hyphenated surname just seemed a bit toffy to him,' he said. 'But he got past it thankfully. He came around and he made my career.' Within a few weeks of going to work for Mr Egan, the young press secretary's story was revealed on the front page of a Sunday newspaper. Mr Egan immediately fronted a press conference and backed his junior employee. 'He just dashed out there and said, "Look, this bloke was a teenage scumbag but he's doing a good job for me, he deserves a second chance and he's not going anywhere".' Mr Coutts-Trotter described that loyalty and support as 'literally life-changing.' 'He could have played it a different way - he didn't. He just stuck with me and gave me a go.' 'There's been a couple of people along the way like Michael who've just made it possible. It's a lot about good luck, it's a lot about the generosity of other people and I've had an abundance of both.' Mr Coutts-Trotter's conviction does not affect his ability to visit prisons, which he has done in his previous and existing roles. Whether or not he would be allowed to work in a prison is not clear. 'I would have to explain myself and it would be open under policy for Corrections to employ me but equally they may decide not to,' he said. Advertisement Mr Coutts-Trotter has gone on to an illustrious career in the public service. He was appointed director-general of the Department of Education and Training in 2007 and director-general of the Department of Finance and Services in 2011. He has now worked for seven premiers - both Liberal and Labor - across five portfolios and is equally respected on both sides of politics. Former Liberal premier Barry O'Farrell told Daily Mail Australia that on Tuesday morning he had run into a senior judicial figure who told him about the email Mr Coutts-Trotter sent to his Justice staff. 'He said in all his years of working as a lawyer and judicial officer he had never read a more powerful, honest and inspiring email from the head of a government department,' Mr O'Farrell said. Mr Coutts-Trotter's new job also puts him in charge of bodies including the Sheriff's Office, Office of General Counsel, Crown Solicitor's Office, Victims Services, Trustee & Guardian and the Anti-Discrimination Board. FACS and Justice are to be combined in a new cluster of departments to be known as the Department of Family and Community Services and Justice from July 1, when he will have about 50,000 staff to oversee. Mr Coutts-Trotter has had an illustrious career in the public service. He has been director-general of the Department of Education and and the Department of Finance and Services His profile may increase further after the federal election which could see Ms Plibersek become deputy prime minister. The couple has three children: Anna, 18, Joe, 14 and Louis, 8. Despite - or because - of his achievements in the public's service, Mr Coutts-Trotter recognised the questions about his criminal past might never stop. 'I don' know - probably not,' he said. But whenever his criminal conviction was raised in the media he received correspondence from the mothers of young men and women addicted to drugs. 'If nothing else it just gives them the sense that there is not an inevitable and tragic end to addiction but people can and do get through it and recover from it,' he said. 'And that's a good thing.' A Canadian educator claiming to have real Z-cup breasts and denying she dresses like a man outside school is believed to have been spotted for a second time without her gigantic boobs. Kayla Lemieux, who identifies as female, caused a firestorm at the Oakville Trafalgar High School in Ontario when she was filmed by students wearing tight fitting tops which accentuated her large breasts to class. The controversial high school teacher has denied that her breasts are prosthetic citing a rare medical condition, known as gigantomastia, as the reason for the phenomenon. A neighbor revealed in February that Lemieux was often seen dressed as a man as pictures emerging of a person, believed to be her, surfaced - calling into question whether the attire was a facade. A Canadian educator claiming to have real Z-cup breasts and denying she dresses like a man outside school is believed to have been spotted for a second time without her gigantic boobs Kayla Lemieux, the 'transgender' high school teacher in Canada - who went viral for her prosthetic Z-cup breasts - was allegedly seen by a neighbor dressing as a man outside school grounds Rebel News reporter David Menzies was adamant to get answers from the person believed to Lemieux outside the Mapleview Mall in Burlington, running after them, yelling: 'Where are your boobs?' The person was seen quickly getting into a car ignoring Menzies' pleas for transparency. 'Where are your breasts, I thought your breasts were real,' Menzies is heard screaming. Menzies explains that he determined the identity of Lemieux because he recognized her car. 'He [Lemieux] didn't even have the guts to come back to his car, he's abandoned it here, he called an Uber and he's skedaddled, well, who knows where,' said Menzies. 'I guess he [Lemieux] is going to have to come back for his car at some point, maybe he's going to have it towed to his condo. But did you notice no breasts.' Speaking to the New York Post in February Lemieux said: 'I'm not wearing prosthetic breasts. These are real.' 'My condition is classified as gigantomastia, which can also be referred to as macromastia or breast hypertrophy,' Lemieux said, although she noted how she had never received a formal medical diagnosis. 'It's rare, there's no doubt about it. It affects women on a very rare basis, but in my case, I believe and my doctor thinks because I have XX chromosomes as well, that has something to do with it, and hormone sensitivity to estrogen has caused it.' Lemieux came under fire for her outfits - parents previously claiming she 'mocks women and the education experience.' The Halton District School Board (HDSB) confirmed last month that she'd been placed on paid leave. 'While not currently on an active assignment, the teacher remains employed with the HDSB,' board spokesperson Heather Francey told the Toronto Sun. It came as parents of students lined up to attack the schoolboard for its failure to impose a stricter dress code on Lemieux sooner. Rebel News reporter David Menzies was adamant to get answers from a person believed to be Lemieux outside the Mapleview Mall in Burlington, running after him, yelling: 'Where are your boobs?' A person bearing a striking to Lemieux was seen out and about wearing men's clothing - minus the prosthetics and wig. Lemieux is seen pictured in summer 2022 One woman received a rapturous applause as she told a board meeting it was imperative that 'forms of identity and expression presented in the school environment be scrutinized against the child's safeguarding practices.' Lemieux has bizarrely insisted her breasts are natural and also claims to be intersex - meaning she was born with both male and female sex organs - rather than transgender. The images which emerged of her allegedly dressed as a man appeared to be part of the reason for her eventual suspension, according to the Toronto Sun reported. Although this has not been substantiated. Until the board meeting last month, She had the full backing of her schoolboard who said the issue was a 'personnel matter.' Students were even threatened with suspension if they were caught taking pictures or videos of her. Lemieux was not mentioned by name as parents, teachers and board members voted on the school's 'professionalism' policies. At several times HDSB chair Margo Shuttleworth - who previously defended Lemieux as an 'extremely effective teacher' - had to quieten noise and applause from parents, asking them to keep their 'comments inside their head.' One delegate, named Lynn, poured cold water on the board's previous suggestion that telling Lemieux how to dress would be illegal. Students shared videos of Lemieux in other schools while she recovered from a foot injury, showing her walking with crutches Lemieux has made headlines multiple times and began transitioning from male to female in 2021 She noted a piece from Ontario employment lawyer Howard Levitt who said the schoolboard did have the power to ban the teacher's outrageous outfits but suggested they were too scared to do so. 'Every collective agreement permits the employer to require its employees to dress reasonably and even more so to require that a teacher of young people be a role model for civility and professionalism,' she told the meeting, quoting Levitt. Many others were critical of the 'survey' the school had put together about its professionalism policies in the wake of the Lemieux row. Parents had already expressed frustration that the survey made no mention of the school's dress code. A father said at the meeting: 'The issue here is that the board is required by law to solicit the views of the school's councils and to the best of my knowledge the board has not done so. 'Instead it has circulated a survey and circulating a survey is not the same as soliciting the views of the school's councils.' Lemieux's provocative attire has been the subject of fierce political debate. This week, Ontario's Minister for Education Stephen Lecce told the Toronto Star: 'Halton parents are rightfully outraged at what's taking place. 'The welfare of kids should prevail in our judgements in school boards and in government.' And local MPPs Natalie, Pierre, Stephen Crawford and Ellie Triantafilopoulos signed a joint statement claiming the board has 'abdicated its responsibility by failing to put the interests and safety of students first.' The statement was published on Tuesday - the same day Lemieux was officially suspended by the school. Parents in the area have also set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for a legal fund to sue the school. A similar page raised nearly $10,000. In November, Lemieux was pictured skydiving with a male porn star named Voodoo, whose real name is Alexandre Boisvert Voodoo said that he was only focused on jumping out of the plane, and discussing his personal feelings about transgender people with Lemieux would be counterproductive to their safety A neighbor identified that person as being the Toronto teacher. They were later seen driving in and out of the apartment block and walking on the sidewalk later on. 'He wears prosthetic breasts extremely infrequently,' the neighbor said. 'He puts the breasts on to teach, occasionally when he goes for a walk or when the cops visit.' A law enforcement source also says that officers - both uniformed and plainclothes - do regular welfare checks at her apartment. The neighbor claims that usually, Lemieux's outfit is completely unmissable, having started going out in public as a woman in May 2022. The district previously claimed that interfering or criticizing the teacher would go against the Ontario Human Rights Code. 'The HDSB recognizes the rights of students, staff, parents/guardians and community members to equitable treatment without discrimination based upon gender identity and gender expression. Gender identity and gender expression are protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code,' the board said in a statement. In November, Lemieux was pictured skydiving with a male porn star named Voodoo, whose real name is Alexandre Boisvert. Voodoo said that he was only focused on jumping out of the plane, and discussing his personal feelings about transgender people with Lemieux would be counterproductive to their safety. He also stressed that Lemieux did not know who he was either. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail at the time, Voodoo said: 'I had no idea I was taking the controversial transgender school teacher until they showed up to the drop zone. 'I'm not a fan of trans activism or Kayla's behavior at the school but I'm a professional and I don't discriminate.' He added: 'I'll throw anyone out of a plane. Plus, I regarded taking a big 230-pound person with huge prosthetic beasts on a skydive as a challenge. Most instructors would not even take them strictly on their size alone.' A Sydney man faked the kidnapping of his girlfriend during a trip to Lebanon in a wild prank that has been dubbed 'the most controversial marriage proposal ever'. Footage of Adam and Vanessa's surprise engagement was posted on TikTok by his sister Tahlia in early April, and captioned 'how my brother decided to propose in Lebanon'. In the video, Vanessa could be seen happily sipping coffee in back seat of a car near Anfeh, in the country's north-west, with her aunt and sister. Strangers in balaclavas then stopped the vehicle in the middle of the road, opened the doors while holding fake guns and dragged the screaming women from their seats. 'No, please!' Vanessa could be heard yelling. 'I'm not going with them - I told them I'll give them whatever they want.' Strangers in balaclavas then stopped the vehicle in the middle of the road while holding fake guns (pictured) Pictured: Vanessa, blindfolded in a car during a fake hostage situation in Lebanon There were chaotic scenes as the so-called kidnappers pushed a shrieking Vanessa into another vehicle and blindfolded her. Her family, who knew about the surprise proposal, frantically got back in their car and drove off. 'She's going to f***ing lose it,' a male friend could be heard saying. Vanessa was visibly shaken and confused as she was held hostage and driven to a mystery location - she kept trying to remove her blindfold, but was repeatedly ordered to stop. She was whimpering in fear by the time she was pulled from the car, still blindfolded, and lead across a gravel path. 'What's happening?' she asked, panicked and overwhelmed with fright. As her blindfold was removed, live music started playing and her family members started squealing with joy. Vanessa burst into tears when she realised Adam, her boyfriend of ten years, was standing in front of her holding a large bouquet of flowers. He laughed as he walked towards her, placed the flowers on the ground and pulled a ring box from his pocket. As he got down on one knee to propose, she was overcome with emotion and started simultaneously sobbing and laughing. Vanessa was blindfolded during a fake kidnapping (pictured left). She burst into tears when she realised it was a proposal Vanessa's long-term boyfriend proposed to her in Lebanon (pictured). She was so overcome with emotion she couldn't stop crying 'You're joking!' she yelled, tears streaming down her face as she crouched with her head in her hands. The proposal itself was inaudible, but Adam hugged her and placed the ring on her finger - as musicians and dancers surrounded them in celebration. Days later, Vanessa uploaded photos of the engagement on social media - featuring photos of her and Adam kissing and looking into the sunset. She said it was a 'dream come true'. There was no mention of the fake hostage situation. Tahlia told Daily Mail Australia that Vanessa always wanted to be proposed to in Lebanon and she was 'genuinely happy' with the engagement. '[Adam] always joked that he wanted to propose in a way to scare her and my family joined in and made it possible when she was visiting family in Lebanon,' she said. 'They always play pranks on each other so it's just their relationship ... the overall planning took three months.' TikTok users were divided by the controversial proposal - some were horrified and thought she should have declined, but others thought it was funny and creative. 'She's not crying cos he proposing.. she crying cause her life flashed before her eyes and she thought she was [dead],' one user wrote in the comments. Another wrote: 'So cute but horrible all at the same time I wouldve passed out in fear on the way there.' Someone else suggested it was 'the best proposal of all time', while another said he hopes it 'becomes a trend'. The National Guard airman accused of leaking classified Pentagon dossiers in a chatroom made a panicked final call to his gamer friends before he was arrested. 'Guys, it's been good. I love you all,' Jack Teixeira told the group of teens and young men with whom he is accused of sharing the trove of top secret documents about the war in Ukraine. The 21-year-old was sitting on the porch reading a book when the FBI raided his North Dighton, Massachusetts home Thursday. Dressed in a t-shirt and shorts he was hauled in handcuffs to a heavily armored camouflaged vehicle. Teixeira told fellow gamers just before: 'I never wanted it to get like this. I prayed to God that this would never happen. And I prayed and prayed and prayed. Only God can decide what happens from now on.' Teixeira was known for having a fascination with the military growing up. Indeed, he was serving in the same unit, the 102nd Intelligence Wing, that his stepfather Master Sgt. Thomas P. Dufault retired from four years ago. He was known to friends as OG and served as the leader of a Discord server, a gaming chatroom, called Thug Shaker Central. Members say OG expressed fears that US law enforcement and intelligence were a dark force, ranting about 'government overreach'. Jack Teixeira, 21, who was arrested on Thursday for leaking classified US intelligence was said by his peers to have been fascinated by the armed forces. He served in the same wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard as his stepfather Teixeira's stepfather, Master Sgt. Thomas P. Dufault (pictured center), ended his 34-year military career with a ceremony in 2019 at Joint Base Cape Cod, where Teixeira has been working night shifts FBI agents arrest Jack Teixeira, an employee of the U.S. Air Force National Guard, outside his home in North Dighton, Massachusetts, on Thursday 'This guy was a Christian, anti-war, he just wanted to inform some of his friends about what's going on,' one group member told The New York Times. How exactly the dossiers ended up online and where they were disseminated is now being investigated by the Feds. 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 US 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 Thug Shaker Central chat group 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, OG 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 were not being taken seriously, one member revealed. 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. Teixeira's 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. Armed officers arrest Teixeira in North Dighton Massachusetts, Thursday On Veteran's day in 2021, Teixeira's mother posted a tribute to her husband Dufault, stepson, father-in-law, and son Jack, all of whom had served in the armed forces One person who went to school with Teixeira (pictured) recalled that he would sometimes carry a textbook on military vehicles featuring tanks, planes and submarines Airman Teixeira is enlisted in the 102nd Intelligence Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard at Otis Air National Guard Base 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,' one group member revealed, 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 US government or for an ideological reason. Teixeira's stepfather Dufault had ended his 34-year military career with a ceremony in 2019 at the same air base in Cape Cod in which Teixeira had been working night shifts and which is host to the 102nd Intelligence Wing. His mother, Dawn Teixeira, 54, runs a flower shop in the area, Bayberry Farm & Flower Co. She posted on the business' Facebook page on Veteran's day in 2021 a tribute to her husband Dufault, stepson, father-in-law, and son Jack, all of whom had served in the armed forces. Some Teixeira's peers and colleagues revealed to CNN that Teixeira had a longstanding fascination with the military, well before he had become a Guardsman. John Powell, with whom Teixeira attended middle school and high school, recalled that he would sometimes carry a textbook on military vehicles featuring tanks, planes and submarines. Powell suggested he had a fascination with anything 'military-related' from a young age. 'He was dead set on joining some branch of the military, even as a kid,' he said. He would sometimes wear camouflage to school and carried a 'dictionary-sized book on guns', the outlet was told. 'A lot of people were wary of him,' said Brooke Cleathero, who also attended middle school and high school with Teixeira. 'He was more of a loner, and having a fascination with war and guns made him off-putting to a lot of people.' Members of the Discord server had less cynical views of him, but agreed he was interested in war. 'Everyone respected OG,' one member Vahki told the Times in an interview. 'He was the man, the myth. And he was the legend. Everyone respected this guy.' 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 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 'This guy was a Christian,' said Vahki, a 17-year-old recent high school graduate. 'We have some people in our group who are in Ukraine. We like fighting games, we like war games.' Teixeira was among the eldest in the group of mainly young men and teenagers, who were keen on gaming, guns and right-wing memes. His first court appearance will be in Boston on Friday, according to the US Attorney's office. On Thursday, Teixeira was pictured in aerial footage calmly reading a book on his porch as an armored vehicle crawled discreetly up his driveway. Video recorded by Boston-based news channel WCBV captured the moment 21-year-old was brought into custody just moments after a reporter from the New York Times had tried to knock on his front door. Although FBI agents had refrained from moving in on him, they had been surveilling Teixeira for at least a couple of days before his arrest, but feared an armed confrontation with the gun enthusiast, government sources have revealed. 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 nation's 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.' Brother of man found clinging to esky is still yet to be located Boat went under off Mackay coast around 8.30pm on Thursday Two found and another man missing after boat capsized A search for a man who fell off a boat in a remote reef overnight continues into Friday afternoon as the two other men on board were winched to safety. The search and rescue mission off the coast of Mackay, Queensland was launched on Thursday evening after a boat containing three fishermen capsized after being hit by a rogue wave. Two men have been rescued and are in a serious but stable condition in hospital with a third man, 41, still missing. The man who is unable to be located is the brother of the first man who was saved, with the brothers initially tying themselves to an esky before becoming separated. The missing man's brother, 44, was rescued on Friday morning, found tied to the esky. Rescue crews are continuing to scramble after a boat with three men on board capsized around Creal Reef, approximately 150km east of Mackay. Queensland with one man still missing at sea (pictured: RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter) Two men have been rescued after their boat was struck by a rogue wave around 8.30pm on Tuesday off the coast of Mackay. They and are in a serious but stable condition in hospital with a third man - the brother of one of those rescued - still missing (pictured: Mackay coast) The Grasstree Beach man was picked up by a VMR vessel shortly after midnight and flown to hospital in a stable condition. Around 11am on Friday a 43-year-old man from Bray Park was located by an RACQ rescue helicopter and taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition after being located floating around 170km offshore in the remote area of Creal Reef. An RACQ CQ Rescue spokesperson told the Courier Mail a rogue wave hit the men's seven-metre Goodwin Longboard vessel around 8.30pm on Thursday night, causing the boat to capsize. 'All three were in the water after the boat sank and the two brothers tied themselves to a blue esky... They have somehow all become separated.' The 43-year-old was found without a lifejacket and with no clothes on. He is suffering from exposure, dehydration and hypothermia and is slipping in and out of consciousness. 'As part of the search early this morning, Volunteer Marine Rescue has retrieved another man from the water and Townsville Helicopter Rescue 500 has winched him and transported him to Mackay Base Hospital in a serious condition,' the RACQ CQ Rescue spokesperson continued. 'One person is believed to be still missing and the search will continue.' Around 11am on Friday a second men was rescued by an RACQ rescue helicopter (pictured) and taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition after being located floating around 170km offshore in the remote area of Creal Reef An update from police in the Whitsundays will be provided on Friday afternoon. The multi-agency operation has been underway since an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EFIRB) was activated at about 8.10pm Thursday onboard the boat. About 9.30pm the RACQ-CQ Rescue chopper was called to assist in the search around Creal Reef, approximately 150km east of Mackay. A Queensland Police spokesperson confirmed an overturned boat was found at about 12.30am Friday. More to come. A popular roadhouse has been left unrecognisable after Cyclone Ilsa tore through Western Australia's northwest coast. The Pardoo Roadhouse and tavern in the state's Pilbara region is now looking at a $4million bill to fix the damage that'll likely see them out of business for at least a year. One of the roadhouse's owners, Kelly Anne Martinez, shared an update to the business' Facebook page on Friday confirming all staff were safe and well. 'Pardoo Roadhouse is a family run business, and we are a very close-knit team. This is not just where we work, this is our home and a community for nearby FIFO workers, truckies and of course travellers,' she wrote. The Pardoo Roadhouse and tavern in the state's Pilbara region is now looking at a $4million bill to fix the damage from Cyclone Ilsa While all staff are safe and well, the roadhouse has been left unrecognisable 'We are all still a bit shaken and emotional to see the damage from Cyclone Ilsa. She may have wiped us out, but she can't take away our spirit. 'We face a massive clean-up with plans to rebuild.' Ms Martinez said while the business was insured, the team estimated the rebuild will cost upwards of $4million. The team are in the process of setting up a GoFundMe for those willing to donate to help them get back on their feet. Photos of the trail of destruction left behind by Cyclone Ilsa late on Thursday night show the roadhouse's roof completely torn off. The front of the roadhouse is seen completely ripped apart following Cyclone Ilsa The roadhouse is a popular stop for travellers and truckies Boxes of drinks were also knocked to the ground while pieces of ripped apart ceiling were seen strewn across the floor. One of the glass doors was left shattered while the dining area was covered in pieces of the roof that had fallen through. The front of the roadhouse was completely blown away but the drinks fridge managed to escape mostly unscathed. One of the owners, Will Batth, said he was 'lucky to be alive', when the cyclone struck late on Thursday night. The Pardoo Roadhouse was left devastated by the cyclone on Thursday night One of the glass doors shattered during the severe weather 'It was four hours of hell,' he told ABC Radio Perth. Mr Batth and a colleague managed to flee the roadhouse inside a shipping container, but had to battle the ferocious winds to get inside. 'We have survived category one and category two storms but this one was next level,' he said. 'There'll be months of cleaning and five or six years of financial burden if we manage to open it up which at the moment we can't say if it'll be this year or next year. 'It feels like we've lost a baby.' The team have been inundated with messages of support with Ms Martinez vowing to respond to each one. The cyclone hit WA's north-west 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. FBI were surveilling him for days but had to move in when NYT reporters arrived A Massachusetts member of the National Guard suspected of leaking military intelligence was pictured in aerial footage calmly reading a book on his porch as an armored vehicle crawled discreetly up his driveway. Video recorded by Boston-based news channel WCBV captured the moment 21-year-old Jack Teixeira was brought into custody just moments after reporters from the New York Times had tried to knock on his front door. Although FBI agents had refrained from moving in on him, they had been surveilling Teixeira for at least a couple of days before his arrest, but feared an armed confrontation with the gun enthusiast, government sources have revealed. They were therefore forced into making a premature move on the alleged leaker as journalist also surrounded his home - on foot, with drones and with helicopters. Jack Teixeira, 21, was pictured in aerial footage calmly reading a book on his porch as an armored vehicle crawled discreetly up his driveway FBI agents had been surveilling Teixeira for at least a couple of days before his arrest, but refrained from making a move for fear of a gunfight as he was rumored to have guns Once news broke that highly classified materials detailing US military strategy in Ukraine were circulating on internet meme groups, a race was born between federal agencies and reporters to identify the source. Some have criticized the FBI because journalists sleuthing the internet seemed to solve the case faster than the bureau did, but officials now suggest they were just waiting for the right moment to descend. 'The FBI certainly did not like being in a race with reporters,' said John Miller, CNN's Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst. Within the last week reporters from the New York Times and the Washington Post, most notably, have been infiltrating niche internet groups and interviewing members in the hopes of identifying the culprit behind the leaks. Just an hour and a half before his arrest, the Times published Teixeira's name. CNN broadcast aerial footage of Teixeira's arrest after he was named by the New York Times earlier on Thursday Miller says the FBI had been eying up Teixeira for a while. 'They have been closing in on Teixeira for a few days. The investigation is only five days old. His father's home and his mom's residence were both under surveillance,' he said. 'What they wanted to do was arrest him when he went to work at the military base where he was assigned. That would have been a controlled environment. But he didn't go to work today. 'Not knowing his mental state, going up against a trained military person in a house with weapons was not an ideal scenario.' Some Teixeira's peers and colleagues revealed to CNN that Teixeira had a longstanding fascination with the military, well before he had become a Guardsman. 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 'His social media posts indicated he owned a significant number of weapons including military-style assault weapons and, of course, he has received military training in those weapons,' said Miller. As such, officials were concerned that if he felt cornered a gunfight could ensue. But then, when the New York Times reporters brazenly approached the his front door, the FBI made the decision to make the move. 'The surveillance teams were literally watching New York Times reporters showing up at the door of the house. The suspect's name was in the Times and that was out on social media - so the FBI made the decision to move in,' he said. 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. 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 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 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. 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.' Pentagon files allegedly leaked by Jack Teixeira include a deeply troubling report about China's hypersonic missile program, and the revelation that a new missile believed to be capable of evading U.S. defenses has been successfully tested. Teixeira, 21, was arrested on Thursday at his home in Massachusetts. He is believed to have shared hundreds of classified documents with friends on a Discord chat room between the fall and mid March. Among them was a February 28 top-secret report from the Joint Chiefs of Staff intelligence directorate, The Washington Post reported. They reported that three days previously, on February 25, China had successfully tested a new missile, named DF-27 - a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile, in the Dongfeng series. All Dongfeng-series missiles are capable of delivering nuclear warheads. The missile 'possesses a high probability of penetrating US' ballistic missile defenses, the report said. The February 28 memo also revealed that last year the Chinese military, the People's Liberation Army, deployed versions of the new missile that can attack land targets and ships. Jack Teixeira, 21-year-old National Guard member, was arrested by FBI officials on Thursday for leaking classified US intelligence documents. One of the documents details the new Chinese missile China released rare footage of its nuclear-capable, hypersonic missile DF-26 being launched during a military exercise. There are no images yet from the DF-27 test DF-17 Dongfeng medium-range ballistic missiles equipped with a DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle, involved in an October 2019 military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Republic. The DF-27 is a new and improved version of the DF-17 Hypersonic missiles travel at more than five times the speed of sound in the upper atmosphere The new missile has a hypersonic glide vehicle, designed to fly more than five times the speed of sound. They can maneuver in flight, making them almost impossible to shoot down. The DF-27 flew for 12 minutes and traveled 2,100 kilometers (1,300 miles), the leaked document revealed. Its range is significantly more than that: a 2021 Defense Department report cited by The Washington Post said the DF-27 has a range of 5,000 to 8,000 kilometers, meaning that it can strike any target in East or Southeast Asia and large parts of the Pacific, including Guam. Alaska is around 7,200km away: mainland U.S. is under 11,000km away, according to the latest annual Pentagon analysis, 'Report on Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China'. The report was published in November and cited by Newsweek. 'The DF-27 is designed to enhance [China's] ability to hold targets at risk beyond the Second Island Chain and possesses a high probability of penetrating U.S.' ballistic missile defense, the report stated. The First, Second and Third Island Chains are geopolitical terms, first identified by U.S. military planners in the 1940s, for a series of concentric semicircles stretching out from China. The Second Island Chain references the area stretching from central Japan through the Marianas and Micronesia. The third is centered on Hawaii. The first is closer to China, and runs from the far south of Japan through the South China Sea. The United States is protected by a Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System (pictured) The Chinese army is pictured on parade earlier this month. The leaked documents also detailed U.S. assessments of China, including its missile capabilities China has long been known to be making rapid strides in its hypersonic missiles program. The latest development, however, comes at a tense time, with rising fears about the safety of Taiwan. The leaked documents also showed that China has for the first time recently used its new helicopter-carrying assault ship, Yushen LHA-31, in an extended deployment - another worrying update for Taiwan. Last year it emerged that the Chinese military is developing a supersonic anti-ship missile that will be able to travel further and faster than any traditional torpedo. The 16ft 5in missile will be able to go as fast as 2.5 times the speed of sound at about 32,800 feet for 124 miles before diving and skimming across the waves for up to 12.4 miles. When it arrives within about 6.2 miles of its target, the missile will go into torpedo mode, traveling underwater at up to 100 meters per second using super-cavitation, which makes a giant air bubble around it, will significantly reduces drag. The hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) DF-17 is seen in October 2019 China in November 2021 tested for the first time a 'Fractional Orbital Bombardment System' - a warhead delivery system that can evade conventional ICBM defense systems China's expansion into hypersonic missile technology and other advanced fields has raised concerns as Beijing becomes increasingly assertive over its claims to seas and islands in the South China and East China Seas, and to large chunks of territory along its disputed high-mountain border with India. Hypersonic missiles travel at more than five times the speed of sound in the upper atmosphere, or about 6,200 km per hour (3,850 mph). The United States and Russia are also developing hypersonic missiles, and North Korea said in August that it had test-fired a newly-developed hypersonic missile. In October, the US Army and Navy successfully launched a rocket while testing a new class of hypersonic weapons at a seaside NASA facility. NASA's Wallop Flight Facility in Virginia hosted the test by Sandia National Laboratories which evaluated hypersonic weapon communications and navigation equipment as well as advanced materials that can withstand the heat in a 'realistic hypersonic environment,' according to a Navy statement. The testing comes amid growing concerns Russia and China have had more success developing their own hypersonic weapons than the US. The United States and its global rivals have quickened their pace to build hypersonic weapons - the next generation of arms that rob adversaries of reaction time and traditional defeat mechanisms. The Pentagon's 2023 budget request already includes $4.7 billion (4 billion) for research and development of hypersonic weapons. It includes planning that would have a hypersonic missile battery fielded by next year, a sea-based missile by 2025 and an air-based cruise missile by 2027. The US Army and Navy successfully launched a rocket at a Virginia NASA facility on October 26 (pictured), the Pentagon confirmed Russia has used hypersonic missiles 'multiple' times in Ukraine, according to the top U.S. commander in Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged the country's arms manufacturers to develop even more advanced hypersonic missiles to maintain the country's edge in military technologies. The Russian military has said that its Avangard system is capable of flying 27 times faster than the speed of sound and making sharp maneuvers on its way to a target to dodge the enemy's missile shield. It has been fitted to the existing Soviet-built intercontinental ballistic missiles instead of older type warheads, and the first unit armed with the Avangard entered duty in December 2019. A shocking video shows how a furious transgender activist flipped over a display table for conservative campus group Turning Point USA at the University of Washington before screaming: 'Get the f*** off my campus, you Nazi'. The protester, who has not been identified, hurled foul language at the TPUSA reps before destroying their information desk as they stood and filmed the outburst earlier this week. The video begins with the activist mid-sentence, saying: 'Yeah, you just support the genocide of trans kids' in the latest example of left wingers protesting the group's presence on a university campus. The representative for TPUSA - a conservative nonprofit advocating for right wing issues at colleges - says 'no' and adds 'that is such an assumption' - but the transgender woman continues. 'Such an assumption right, with all of that s**t,' the protester responds, gesturing towards the group's pamphlets and badges. A transgender activist had a violent outburst and eventually flips over the table of conservative campus group Turning Point USA at the University of Washington earlier this week The volunteer for the conservative calmly asks: 'What on this table is anti-trans?' 'You're TPUSA, you dumb b**ches, whatever,' she states before grabbing the table and flipping it, more or less wrecking the display. 'Get the f*** off my campus, you Nazi!' she states before storming away, with the TPUSA representative asking if what just happened was illegal. It's unclear if the woman has been reprimanded for her actions or if an investigation is ongoing. Regardless, the TPUSA chapter at the school appears undeterred. Campus field organizer Rachel Anderson, who originally shared the video Wednesday, tweeted: 'Some of that 'tolerance' here at UW! We're not going anywhere and will continue to have a presence on campus.' DailyMail.com has reached out to University of Washington campus police and the school's chapter of TPUSA for comment. Turning Point USA, founded by former Trump campaigner and chairman of Students For Trump Charlie Kirk, is often at the center of leftist backlash and outrage. 'You're TPUSA, you dumb b**ches, whatever,' she states before grabbing the table and flipping it, more or less wrecking the display. 'Get the f**k off my campus, you Nazi!' she states before storming away, with the TPUSA representative asking if what just happened was illegal It's unclear if the student has been reprimanded for her actions by the University of Washington or if an investigation is ongoing Campus field organizer Rachel Anderson tweeted: 'Some of that 'tolerance' here at UW! We're not going anywhere and will continue to have a presence on campus.' The organization is often the target of liberal and socialist protesters. Last week, TPUSA and Students for Life held an event on the school's Seattle campus with pro-life speaker Autumn Higashi as part of her 'Unapologetically Against Planned Parenthood' tour. According to The Daily UW, several activist groups protested the event, where Higashi tries to teach how to 'learn how to fearlessly & unapologetically defend your pro-life position with truth and love.' Some students believed that Higashi should not even be platformed on the campus in the wake of the reversal of Roe v. Wade. 'In a post-Roe world, this kind of rhetoric and message is just unacceptable,' said Lucy Terry, communications officer of HFRF, the on campus pro-choice group. 'It's incredibly harmful to have on campus.' The protests are not limited to deep blue Seattle, however. Just last week, progressives were accused of while screaming down a conservative speaker at the University of Albany on Tuesday. Antifa protesters as they smashed their way inside a talk by conservative star Charlie Kirk at the University of California Davis last month. The black-clad goons clashed with law enforcement officers and other students as they hurled eggs and used pepper spray to block people from entering the building where Tuesday's talk took place. A protester screaming at the conservative event about free speech at the University of Albany last week The right-wing event which is touring the country with Kirk and fellow conservative star Candace Owens saw one officer injured after being attacked by a protestor. It also comes just weeks after Stanford University was forced to apologize to a Trump-appointed federal judge who had his talk hijacked by student protesters and a woke dean. Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne and Stanford Law School Dean Jenny Martinez wrote to US Circuit Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan on Saturday, two days after his event was ambushed and offered their 'sincerest apologies'. They called it 'deeply uncivil behavior' by 'hypocrites,' 'idiots' and 'bullies', adding: 'What happened was inconsistent with our policies on free speech, and we are very sorry about the experience you had while visiting our campus. A retired paramedic has broken down after leaving a letter about the dangers of his profession outside the McDonald's restaurant where a young colleague was stabbed to death. A NSW Ambulance worker, 29, pulled into the Queen St, Campbelltown restaurant carpark in Sydney's south-west to grab coffee with a colleague about 5.30am when he was repeatedly stabbed in the abdomen. The victim is understood to have been on probation and was completing paperwork for the end of his nightshift when he was targeted by the knifeman. It is believed police will allege the attacker opened the door and attacked the ambulance worker. The victim is understood to be from the nearby suburb of Camden. Out the front of the restaurant, visibly emotional ex-paramedic Scott Fogarty told Daily Mail Australia: 'I didn't know him personally, but I'm a medically retired paramedic from Campbelltown station and my colleagues mean the world to me. 'It's just devastating. We go to work to help people in need and all we want to do is go home to our families in one piece.' The letter Mr Fogarty left behind, alongside a bunch of flowers, pays tribute to the victim who 'paid the ultimate price' - and sheds light on the harrowing scenes many ambulance workers witness. A retired paramedic, Scott Fogarty, has laid flowers and a letter of solidarity (pictured) at the scene of a 29-year-old paramedic's stabbing and eventual death in Campbelltown on Friday 'We know the dangers and unfortunately are exposed to those dangers far too often,' the letter reads. 'Unfortunately for this young man his duty and career has ended far too soon from the very thing that scares us all whilst on duty. 'I am absolutely devastated, angry and heartbroken for my fellow Paramedic Brother. 'Prayers to you Brother, your shift has ended, Rest in Peace!' Paramedic Wayne Havenaar, 61, turned up at the crime scene on his motorbike to lay flowers after hearing about the incident on the radio. 'Ive been a paramedic for 34 years. He (the victim) is the future - not me, Im on my way out and he should have been on his way up. Mr Havenaar fought back tears as he described how the wider paramedic community had been affected by the loss. 'Its hard enough losing a colleague but to hear that hes got a wife and a young child just makes it so much harder,' he said. 'Weve got a lot of young paramedics who are first-time parents and they will be feeling it today.' Paramedic Wayne Havenaar, 61, said he was devastated by his colleagues death Read paramedic Scott Fogarty's letter of solidarity Retired paramedic Scott Fogarty (pictured) did not know the victim personally, but worked at the Campbelltown station and told Daily Mail Australia that his 'colleagues mean the world to me' We dedicate our lives to serving the community, helping those in need. We know the dangers and unfortunately are exposed to those dangers far too often, but we all hope that at the end of our shift we can go home to our loved ones in one piece. Some of us break down after years of burnout and torment from the trauma we experience, some push on carrying the scars. Unfortunately for this young man his duty and career has ended far too soon from the very thing that scares us all whilst on duty. He has paid the ultimate price for being a caring brave soul devoting his life to saving and serving those in need! I pray for his young family, extended family, our colleagues and his friends! I am absolutely devastated, angry and heartbroken for my fellow Paramedic Brother. Prayers to you Brother, your shift has ended, Rest in Peace! Paramedic (Retired) Scott Fogarty 16774 Campbelltown Station, SW Sector, Sydney. Advertisement Paul Murphy, a fire and safety engineer from the local area, also laid flowers outside the police cordon because his paramedic son-in-law knew the victim personally. 'It's rocked us. My son-in-law knows him,' he said. 'It's a tight community - all the paramedics tend to know each other.' Mr Murphy, who did not want to reveal any more out of respect for the victim's family. 'It's pretty alarming what they (paramedics) have to put up with.' The NSW Ambulance paramedic was stabbed outside a McDonald's on Queen Street at Campbelltown, south-west Sydney, at 5.30am on Friday The letter laid alongside a bouquet of flowers (pictured) at the scene by Mr Fogarty pays tribute to the victim who 'paid the ultimate price' NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said it is a currently an 'extremely difficult time' for the victim'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 (pictured) broke down during a press conference on Friday NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce broke down in tears as she expressed sympathy for the victim's family. '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 Campbelltown areas in a blue Honda Jazz Civic prior to the incident and urged the public to come forward if they had seen the vehicle. Police tasered a 21-year-old suspect at the scene, arrested him and took him to Campbelltown Police Station by police, no charges have been laid 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'. 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. A mother who says her eleven-year-old daughter's school encouraged her to transition has claimed officials kept her new gender a secret from her family. Aurora Regino is suing the Chico Unified School District in California and last week appeared at a school board meeting to reveal how the child had told a school counselor she felt like a boy - who immediately 'affirmed her new identity'. 'The elementary school transitioned her from female to male behind my back,' she said. 'During one of those one-on-one meetings my daughter told the counselor she wanted to tell me about her new identity - the counselor ignored her request.' But also at the board meeting was trans activist Squeaky Saint Francis who demanded that the school district maintain its 'parental secrecy' policy, claiming that without confidentiality, children's mental health will suffer and they could be driven to suicide. The Chico school district sided with the trans activist and voted to keep the secrecy policy in place with a 3-2 vote on April 5. Aurora Regino, who says her eleven-year-old daughter's school encouraged her to transition also 'ignored her' request to reveal her gender identity to family - as the school district votes to keep the 'parental secrecy' policy 'I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My daughter was distressed and began questioning her sexuality, so she decided to reach out to a wellness counselor at her elementary school,' she said. 'The day my daughter shared with her guidance counselor that she felt like a boy. The counselor immediately affirmed this new identity. 'My daughter told the counselor she wanted to tell me about her new identity. The counselor ignored her request and did nothing to support her and letting me know what was going on at school.' Oliva Phillips, an educator supporting student privacy policy, claimed: 'We as educators and service providers, we as educators need to cultivate an environment where students feel trust and safety and acceptance, to be unapologetically themselves without repercussions of backlash.' Meanwhile, trans activist Squeaky Saint Francis, who is polyamorous, said school can often be the only place for children to discover their gender identity. 'I will speak loud for those who cannot speak, I'm a proud he, she, they, them, whatever I am a boyfriend to a beautiful woman, I am a girlfriend to a handsome transman, and I am also a girlfriend to an incredibly beautiful woman,' they said. 'Growing up in this town my mother always told me to love myself for who I am not what I am not. 'Not all of us can be as lucky and have a supporter like that in fact I knew friends in school who would bring an entire change of clothes with them so they could dress the way that they felt inside and be free of persecution that they would feel at home or the sideways glances.' They went on to explain that they had been one of the lucky one's and learnt that 'trust' in the process but not everyone has access to that at home. Meanwhile, trans activist Squeaky Saint Francis (pictured) said school can often be the only place for children to discover their gender identity 'One of the first things we learn in a healthy family is trust and unfortunately some parents don't trust their children when they say this is me and they make that decision for them,' they said. 'That may make the child fearful from the people that claim to be trying to protect them these children may see the hate and prejudice at home for people just like them and feel the only place they can be themselves is at school. 'Every child needs to control when they out themselves.' They went onto support the policy explaining that it could mean the difference between life and death. 'If you take away this ability this control to out themselves you are forcefully putting them into a possibly violent household where their parents could kick them out, force them into conversion camps or relinquish their parental rights and put them into the system and god forbid they might consider suicide,' they said. 'Changing this policy would create a very slippery slope.' The policy that board members voted to uphold, according to Regino, extends to children as young as pre-kindergarten who are approximately five years old and reaches through the 12th grade. 'It's incredibly damaging that they're upholding such a crazy policy for such young children,' she told Fox News, arguing that such a tumultuous time in children and adolescents' lives is when they need parental guidance the most. She is suing the school district for allegedly spending weeks encouraging her fifth-grade daughter to transition to a male - including changing her name and pronouns' - after she said she 'felt like a boy'. Regino said she was 'appalled' that a guidance counselor at Sierra View Elementary School in Chico had not informed her of the advice they were giving her child. She claims a 'Parental Secrecy Policy' from California's Assembly Bill 1226 a 2013 law that extended protections to transgender individuals in schools meant she was not told about the discussions. Regino (pictured) said she was 'appalled' that she was not informed of the gender discussions Regino said that her daughter referred to only as AS in the lawsuit had been seeing guidance counselor Mandi Robertson in early 2022 due to the death of her grandfather. One day the girl confessed to the counselor she 'felt like a boy'. According to her mother, Robertson affirmed her feelings 'that very day' and 'within minutes'. The daughter was allegedly 'unsure' whether she wanted a male name or pronouns but felt 'pressured' by Robertson to adopt them. Regino said that her daughter even wanted to tell her what was happening but that the school told her to 'come out' to other people first, meaning the mother was not informed. The lawsuit says she did not 'fully understand what was happening' but began to be known by a male name at school while still being addressed as female at home - which eventually led to her wanting to change schools. The counselor began to encourage discussions of 'sexuality and gender identity' between classmates over the following weeks, including how to cope with feeling like being in a different gender, according to the lawsuit. Regino told Fox News: 'For a few months she had opened up to a guidance counselor and the guidance counselor the very day that she opened up and said she felt like a male, she walked her to class and affirmed it that day.' But the lawsuit states that the 14th amendment means Regino should be able to direct the upbringing of her child and be involved in decision-making about her education - something that it accuses the school of denying her. It says: 'By socially transitioning AS without informing Ms Regino or obtaining her consent, the District violated Ms Regino's fundamental right to direct the upbringing of her child'. Eventually the girl told her grandmother, who told Aurora - and she contacted the principal of the school immediately. Her daughter was given a male name and pronouns at the Sierra View Elementary School in Chico (file image) In April 2022 Ted Sullivan the District's Director of Elementary Education Ted Sullivan told Regino that Californian law requires schools to socially transition students without telling their parents, unless the student authorizes them to do so. The district's deputy superintendents Jay Marchant and Kelly Staley also said the Parental Secrecy Policy was required by law. Regino was keen to affirm that she is supportive of her child and any identity she chooses - but has taken issue with the fact she was not informed first by the school. She said she wanted daughter to be 'happy and healthy in whatever identity' she chooses but added she would have requested that she see a mental health professional due to her young age and the quick onset of these feelings. 'AS' now identifies as female again and her mother said the confusion was only brought about by other stresses in her life at the time, for which she now attends private therapy. 'I want this to stop', Ms Regino told Fox News, 'Our children need protection.' Both her two daughters still attend schools in the district - although AS now attends Marsh Junior High. The district is a public school in Chico and operates 23 schools - twelve elementary, four junior high, three high schools and four others. Regino said she filed the lawsuit against the district on January 6. North Korea said they flight-tested a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time on Thursday, as dictator Kim Jong Un watched on with his wife, daughter and sister. It could signal a possible breakthrough in its efforts to acquire a more powerful, harder-to-detect weapon, targeting the continental United States. North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) issued the report a day after the country's neighbours 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. Thursday's test did not appear to demonstrate the weapon's full capacity, and it remains unclear how far North Korea has come in mastering technologies to ensure the warhead would withstand atmospheric re-entry and accurately strike targets. Still, analysts said the test was likely a meaningful advance in North Korea's goal to build a nuclear arsenal that could directly threaten the United States. North Korea said they flight-tested a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time on Thursday, as dictator Kim Jong Un watched on. Pictured: The test-fire of the new Hwasongpho-18 ICBM at an undisclosed location in North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, inspects what it says is the test-launch of Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile Thursday, April 13, along-side his daughter (right) 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 their regional allies. 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. 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 choices. Pyongyang has justified its weapons demonstrations as a response to the expanding military exercises between the US and South Korea, which the North condemns as invasion rehearsals while using them as a pretext to advance its own development. Kim added that the Hwasong-18 would rapidly advance North Korea's nuclear response posture and further support an aggressive military strategy that vows to maintain 'frontal confrontation' against its rivals. North Korea has tested various intercontinental missiles since 2017 that demonstrated the potential range to reach the US mainland. However, the others use liquid fuel that must be added relatively close to the launch and they cannot remain fuelled 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. It is not immediately clear how close the North is to having a functional solid-fuel ICBM capable of striking the US mainland. Kim Jong Un (centre) monitoring the test-fire of the new Hwasongpho-18 ICBM at an undisclosed location in North Korea Kim Jong Un, right, and his daughter, as they inspect what it says is the test-launch of Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile Thursday, April 13 Kim Jong Un (second right), his sister Kim Yo Jong (right) and his daughter (left) monitoring the test-fire of the new Hwasongpho-18 ICBM at an undisclosed location in North Korea South Korea's Defence Ministry maintains North Korea's technological advancements have not reached the point where it can protect its ICBM warheads from the harsh conditions of atmospheric re-entry. Last month, South Korean defence minister Lee Jong-Sup also told politicians that North Korea likely has not yet mastered the technology to place nuclear warheads on its most advanced short-range missiles targeting South Korea, though he acknowledged the country was making considerable progress on it. Vann Van Diepen, a former US 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. 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 620 miles before landing in waters east of North Korea, officials said. North Korea said the test posed no threats to its neighbouring countries. This picture taken on April 13, 2023 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 14 shows the test-fire of the new Hwasongpho-18 ICBM at an undisclosed location in North Korea This picture taken on April 13, 2023 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 14 shows the new Hwasongpho-18 ICBM at an undisclosed location in North Korea The launch prompted an evacuation warning to millions of people on Japan's northern island Hokkaido, which was later called off. Fragments from the missile fragments fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone in the Sea of Japan. 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.' Britons will get their first taste of summer over the coming days with temperatures set to breach the 20C (68F) mark for the first time this year. Showers and longer spells of rain are expected across much of England and Wales throughout today, bringing a stormy week to a close before a mostly dry weekend. The Met Office expects highs of 15C (57F) in southern England tomorrow before 19C (66F) on Sunday - and then similar highs next week with a chance of 20C (68F). Sunday is expected to be warmer in London and the South East than European hotspots such as Rome (17C/63F), Nice (18C/64F) and Barcelona (18C/64F). The UK's warmest temperature of the year so far was 17.8C (64F) recorded at Santon Downham in Suffolk on March 30, so this will likely be beaten in the coming days. Today, rain is expected at Aintree Racecourse for Ladies' Day with highs of just 9C (48F) although it will be sunny and 12C (54F) for the Grand National tomorrow. People ride pedal boats on the Serpentine in London's Hyde Park in the sunshine yesterday Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon 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'. Today will be unsettled in the South with outbreaks of heavy rain and moderate winds. It will be brighter further north with sunny spells, light to gentle winds, variable amounts of cloud around and a threat of showers developing which may be locally heavy and thundery. Tonight, daytime showers will ease and clear during the evening to reveal late sunny spells but there will be heavy rain across the East which will gradually ease and clear south-eastwards overnight. Elsewhere will remain generally dry with clear spells and just some patchy cloud cover around. There will then be a dry and bright start to tomorrow with early sunshine, but variable amounts of cloud will build during the day bringing a slim chance of a few isolated and light showers. There will be a risk of rain across Northern Ireland during the evening, and light to gentle winds for most. The outlook for Sunday is mainly dry but cloudy, although clouds will break and some brighter or sunny spells will break through. A few showers are possible too. Monday will be largely dry with lots of sunshine, however there will be variable amounts of clouds in the north and west bringing a chance of showers. In its longer term forecast until April 27, the Met Office said: 'Much of the UK is likely to be under the influence of high pressure producing fine, dry conditions. '[There will be] cloudier skies and perhaps some dampness to the far west. Otherwise, some good cloud breaks likely, especially to the lee of high ground. 'Temperatures [will be] around average to rather warm. Eastern coastal areas likely cooler with an onshore breeze, also some locally chilly nights in good shelter.' For the end of April into early May, the Met Office said there is a 'greater chance of a settled weather regime, maintaining the likelihood of clearer and drier conditions'. Waves crash around the lighthouse on the harbour arm at Folkestone in Kent on Wednesday It added: 'However, periods of more changeable and unsettled weather are still possible. Temperatures trending above average is more likely than below.' The Met Office also said temperatures will rise from Sunday and into next week but the country 'won't get close to official heatwave levels'. It defines an official heatwave as being 'when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold'. A 'mini heatwave' - a phrase being used to describe the conditions from Sunday - is not a meteorological term but is a term employed colloquially to describe a period of above-average temperatures. During Storm Noa earlier this week, gusts of up to 96mph were recorded as the high winds brought down trees across swathes of Britain, causing power cuts and blocking railway lines. And a man's body was found washed up on a beach yesterday morning after a search operation off Brighton Palace Pier during the severe conditions. Despite the stormy weather brought by Storm Noa, tulips have continued to bloom across the gardens and courtyards of Henry VIII's Tudor palace in Hampton Court at the annual Tulip Festival Gardner Steve Warren (pictured) tends to tulips on display in the Kitchen Garden Over 110,000 bulbs have been planted, including a selection of heirloom bulbs, and 3000 wine-toned tulips With blooming periods subject to weather, expert gardeners at the palace predict the displays will look their finest in mid-April Despite the stormy weather brought by Storm Noa, tulips have continued to bloom across the gardens and courtyards of Henry VIII's Tudor palace in Hampton Court at the annual Tulip Festival. Over 110,000 bulbs have been planted, including a selection of heirloom bulbs, and 3000 wine-toned tulips, which have been pictured flowing from the steps and parapet of the iconic courtyard Wine Fountain. Visitors will also be treated to floating tulip vases, and a display of free-style tulip planting inspired by Van Gogh's 1883 painting Bulb Fields. With blooming periods subject to weather, expert gardeners at the palace predict the displays will look their finest in mid-April Prince William still feels betrayed by his estranged brother but faces living just 700 yards from him during the Coronation as their father hopes his crowning as King will help heal family divisions including with Prince Andrew, it was claimed today. Prince Harry will be staying at Frogmore Cottage for the final time for his flying visit to the UK and will be just two fields away from Adelaide Cottage, where his brother, wife and three children live. William is said to have no plans to speak to the Duke of Sussex after his attacks on him, his wife and father in Spare and his Netflix documentary. Harry will have no formal role in the Coronation and also faces the cold shoulder from his family - apart from perhaps Beatrice and Eugenie. Charles is said to be very pleased his youngest son is coming and his mood is described as 'generally quite forgiving', however, the Prince of Wales is understood to still feel betrayed and angry, particularly by the revelations in the memoirs. One source told The Telegraph that the 'gulf' between the brothers, who were once as close as siblings could be, is now so large they cannot see how their relationship can ever be repaired. But their father hopes his Coronation can heal some of those wounds and he will also use the historic event to bring his younger brother Prince Andrew in 'from the cold' - but his ex-wife Sarah, the Duchess of York, is not invited and will watch the Westminster Abbey ceremony at home where she plans to hang bunting and chomp on coronation chicken sandwiches like millions of others. Harry will be coming to the UK without Meghan and the children - Charles is said to be 'forgiving' of his book and Netflix series - but William is said to remain furious at the betrayal. Pictured, the pair at the The Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral in June 2022 Charles hopes that his Coronation can heal wounds in the family (pictured together in 2012) and reduce tensions Prince Andrew is being brought in from the cold for the event. His ex-wife the Duchess of York (right) is not invited and will be watching on TV. Left, Harry and Andrew at the Queen's funeral last year One friend told The Daily Telegraph that 'there's a warmth around the place and a proper rallying around the King, who in turn is showing some serious EQ [emotional intelligence] by ensuring the family is given the opportunity to pull together.' The insider added: 'All four siblings spent most of the Easter weekend together with assorted children and plus ones - including the Duchess [of York]. 'I suspect some Palace staff and parts of the media are well behind the curve in their understanding of this private family unity. The Duke [of York] stands four square behind the King.' 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. Meghan will not be there and neither will the Duchess of York. Speaking to the Loose Women panellists earlier this month, Sarah Ferguson revealed: 'I always love to watch it on telly because you hear a lot on telly, the commentator's always good and then all the family come back. 'Because remember I am divorced from him [Prince Andrew] so you can't have it both ways. You can't be divorced and say "I want this".' Sarah continued: 'I think it's really great to be supportive, also when the family come home I know all the ins and outs and commentating on television.' 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 have 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 not to 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 that 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 there's 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 his 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. A manhunt has been launched to track down a pub patron who punched a female security guard in the face before fleeing the scene. The brutal attack was captured on CCTV at a Newstead pub on Commercial Road in Brisbane's north on February. The female security guard, 29 was seen reeling backwards from the force of the punch - before the man was led away outside the venue by another woman. The dramatic assault unfolded while a group of patrons were sitting and standing around tables and chairs inside the pub as the security guard walked around. She was seen talking to another woman before approaching the bald-headed man sporting a white T-shirt and blue jeans while holding a drink. The shocking incident was caught on CCTV at the Newstead pub (pictured) on February 25 The security officer was propelled down against a wall (pictured, far right) before another woman wearing a blue dress and white shoes approached the man to lead him away The security guard is seen speaking to the man before he puts down his drink and punches her in the face. The security gguard was propelled down against a wall before another woman wearing a blue dress and white shoes approaches the man and leads him away. The pair went walked outside onto the street. The woman was seen talking to him and trying to hold his arms before another woman came out of the pub. The patron and a female friend walked outside after the incident (pictured) The footage showed him talking to the women (pictured) before the group left the scene The man's female companion was seen talking to him and trying to hold his arms before another woman came out of the pub (pictured) The footage showed him looking back towards the venue and brushing away the hands of one of the women. The group left the scene before police arrived. The security guard was later taken to the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital suffering facial injuries. Police have released footage of the incident on Friday in the hope those captured on CCTV may be able to assist with with their inquiries. Investigations are ongoing. Russia said Thursday it had cut off Ukrainian forces inside Bakhmut, while Kyiv insisted supply lines were still open into the besieged city, as video emerged showing incendiary munitions raining down from above. Russian troops have been battling since last summer to capture the city, which had a pre-war population of 70,000, and whose fall would now mostly present a symbolic victory for Vladimir Putin. Analysts say its tactical benefits are limited. MailOnline was unable to verify the status on the ground in the eastern city, which has turned into the longest and bloodiest fight since Russia invaded Ukraine - with casualties believed to be in their tens of thousands. The Russian army said its airborne troops were 'blocking the transfer of Ukrainian army reserves to the city and the possibility of retreat for enemy units.' It also said that Wagner mercenary units were advancing in Bakhmut. The claims and counter-claims from Russia and Ukraine came as footage emerged from city showing incendiary munitions raining down over Bakhmut (pictured). The video showed the tell-tale firework-like weaponry streaking down as Russia continues its tactic of using indiscriminate bombing against Ukrainian positions Russia said Thursday it had cut off Ukrainian forces inside Bakhmut, while Kyiv insisted supply lines were still open into the besieged city. Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen drive towards the frontline during heavy fighting at the frontline of Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar, Ukraine, April 12 But the Ukrainian army told AFP news agency it had communication with its troops inside Bakhmut and was able to send them munitions. 'This does not correspond to reality,' Sergiy Cherevaty, spokesman for Ukraine's eastern forces said, referring to Russia's claims. 'We are able to... deliver food products, ammunition, medicines, all that is necessary, and also to recover our wounded.' The Ukrainian general staff nevertheless acknowledged a 'difficult' situation in Bakhmut. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar, writing on Telegram, said heavy fighting gripped all parts of the eastern front. She said pro-Kyiv forces repelled attacks in most areas. 'Most of the enemy's offensive efforts are occurring in the Bakhmut sector,' she wrote, adding that Russian commanders had redirected troops there from other areas. 'The enemy is using its most professional units there and resorting to a significant amount of artillery and aviation. Every day, the enemy carries out in Bakhmut from 40 to 50 storming operations and 500 shelling episodes.' The claims and counter-claims came as footage emerged from the city showing incendiary munitions raining down over Bakhmut. The video showed the tell-tale firework-like weaponry streaking down as Russia continues its tactic of using indiscriminate bombing against Ukrainian positions. Earlier this week, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces said the Russians were destroying buildings in the city, in what he called 'scorched earth' tactics. With a burn temperature of over 2,000 degrees Celsius, the weapons can easily set flammable surfaces alight, and can burn human flesh down to the bone. The payload spreads the munitions over a wide area to inflict maximum damage. The 9M22S (MZ-21) thermite shells fired from Grad multiple rocket launchers. These ignite with a blistering combustion temperature of up to 2,700 degrees Celsius , causing appalling fires. Russian state media has highlighted the use of the thermite - or magnesium - ammunition at Bakhmut and apparently elsewhere in Donetsk region. The weapons were used against Ukrainian firing positions, it was reported. The sinister light show typical of these thermite shells came as a report said Putin is reported to have threatened to fire his commanders if they fail to secure Bakhmut by the end of the month. While the use of incendiary weapons is permitted against military targets, the use of such weapons against civilian targets is a war crime under Protocol III of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW). Despite this, Russia has shown no hesitation when it comes to launching incendiary weapon attacks on civilian areas, with previous instances showing the munitions raining down on houses and the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol. Pictured: A graphical representation of how Russia's 9M22S incendiary missiles are being used to wreak havoc against Ukrainian targets in Vladimir Putin's on-going invasion Pictured: An aerial view shows the destruction of Bakhmut, the site of heavy battles with Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on March 26 Ukrainian soldiers of the 80th brigade firing artillery in the direction of Bakhmut, on April 13 A Ukrainian infantryman of the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade "Otaman Kost Khordienko" fires an assault rifle at enemy positions from a trench at an undisclosed location near the town of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine on April 13 The Kremlin is looking to present a triumph at home as the offensive drags on for a second year. Adding confusion to the situation on the ground, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Russian paramilitary outfit Wagner, also cast doubt on Moscow's claims, saying it was 'too early' to talk about Russian forces encircling Bakhmut. 'The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to deploy reserves and transfer them,' Prigozhin's press office said on social media. 'The hardest, bloodiest battles are going on, so it's too early to talk about the complete encirclement of Bakhmut'. Prigozhin said this week that his forces held 80% of Bakhmut - a figure that Ukraine said was exaggerated. The European Union on Thursday added Wagner to its sanctions list for 'actively participating in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine'. Wagner had already been placed on a separate EU sanctions list in February for violating human rights and 'destabilising' countries in Africa. The EU also slapped sanctions on RIA FAN, a Russian media outlet that is part of the Patriot Media Group, whose board of trustees is headed by Prigozhin. Tensions between the Kremlin-linked businessman and Russia's army have emerged during the battle for Bakhmut. Both Russia and Ukraine have conceded big losses in Bakhmut, with neither giving numbers. Recent days have suggested Russian forces are making some gains, after months of Kyiv and Moscow wearing each other down. Kyiv has said the battle for the city is key to holding back Russian forces along the entire eastern front. Experts say that the salt mining city's political importance has surpassed any military significance as the battle drags on, and that it has now become a battle of attrition - with Kyiv hoping to grind down Russian resources before launching a counterattack to regain captured territory. President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Ukrainian positions near Bakhmut late last month, praising Kyiv's troops. Several Russian war correspondents have made visits to Bakhmut this week, publishing images of a city of ruins, while the Russian-installed head of the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, also visited Bakhmut this week. Ukrainian soldier talks on radio next to an armoured vehicle near the Bakhmut frontline as the military mobility continues amid Russia-Ukraine war in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on April 11 A Ukrainian serviceman flashes a victory sign as he drives towards the frontline during heavy fighting at the frontline of Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar, in Chasiv Yar, Ukraine, April 12 Even as Russian forces say they are getting closer to the city, some residents of nearby areas have no plans to leave. 'I've got nowhere to go. I can't afford to leave,' 71-year-old Vira Petrova told AFP reports in the village of Kalynivka, several kilometres west of Bakhmut. 'If my home is destroyed. I'll live in my basement,' she added, not flinching after each boom. Petrova gestured to artillery damage to her home, explaining why she was no longer afraid of the war creeping nearer. 'We've already been shelled. Half the kitchen roof was destroyed. Our neighbour's roof was destroyed. We're used to it,' she said. Her street, lined with cherry blossom trees and abandoned homes, has only around two dozen residents remaining - a fraction of those who once called it home. Zelensky and other senior officials are pressing allies for more weapons that Kyiv hopes will enable it to launch a major counter-offensive later this year. 'We are readying our boys,' Zelenskiy said in a video address late on Thursday. 'We look forward to the delivery of weapons promised by our partners. We are bringing victory closer as much as possible.' Officials said two people had died in Russian shelling of the southern city of Kherson. Away from the battlefield, Ukrainian officials are focusing on the massive rebuilding effort that will be needed as well as pressure from allies to show progress in tackling corruption. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, holding talks in Washington, promised to account for every dollar of U.S. aid and said reconstruction work should start this year. He welcomed what he called the 'continuous, ironclad and unprecedented support' of the United States. Ukrainian soldier shoots with his weapon while the Russia-Ukraine war continues near Bakhmut frontline in Chasiv Yar, Ukraine on April 10 Ukrainians soldiers are seen on a tank while the Russia-Ukraine war continues near Bakhmut frontline in Chasiv Yar, Ukraine on April 10 Smoke is seen during a shelling, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, on the outskirts of the front line city of Bakhmut, Ukraine April 10 Shmyhal, speaking alongside U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, said Kyiv had identified a priority funding gap of $14 billion needed this year. He said Ukraine had implemented measures to account for all assistance received and undertaken more anti-corruption reforms in the past year than during many previous years combined. Ukrainian officials are also pressing for membership in NATO - a move that Moscow has made clear it will not accept. 'There is no alternative to Ukraine's accession to NATO,' Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov told a Black Sea security conference. Russia's Moskva cruiser had been the flagship of Vladimir Putin's Black Sea fleet Ukraine has mocked the Kremlin after releasing footage that appears to show its Neptune missile mobile launches that sank Russia's Moskva cruiser, the flagship of Vladimir Putin's Black Sea fleet, one year ago today. Kyiv's officials taunted their Russian counterparts over the footage which claims to show missiles that sank the Moskva being launched. The warship was hit by two Neptune missiles, and pictures showed a thick plume of black smoke rising from the vessel as it listed to its port side. The Moskva sank on April 14 last year and now lies 150ft below the surface of the Black Sea. Ukraine's defence minister Oleksiy Reznikov used the anniversary to ridicule the Kremlin, saying 'I invite you to visit a new dive spot' to visit the wreck of Putin's warship. Russia has since tried to cover up the sinking one of its biggest humiliations of the war refusing to reveal how many died or command failures that led to its loss. The Moskva was caught in a fiery blaze after being inflicted with significant damage to its left side as a thick plume of black smoke cascaded from the vessel, April 14 last year Ukraine released footage which appears to show the Neptune missile mobile launches that sank Russia's Moskva cruiser Footage showed the Neptune missiles launching into the sky last year, destined for the Moskva flagship 'If diving enthusiasts listen to me, after victory [in the war] I invite you to visit a new dive spot in the Black Sea - the Cruiser Moskva underwater museum. I invite you and will be your guide,' Reznikov said, deriding Moscow's warmongerers. The sinking of the warship, leading to an unknown number of deaths, 'did the seemingly impossible', he added. 'It changed the course of history, because a chain reaction began. It was the last day of the Russian fleet's dominance in the Black Sea.' Following the sinking, the West began to transfer more powerful missiles, such as Harpoons, to Ukraine. Reznikov said it led to Russian forces fleeing Snake Island, which they called a 'gesture of goodwill'. 'Third, the liberation of Snake Island allowed us to open a "grain corridor". The world got our products, Ukraine got resources for defence. 'Had the Moskva not been destroyed, it would have been impossible to achieve this result.' Meanwhile, a grieving Russian father who branded Vladimir Putin a 'traitor' after the sinking of the Moskva cruiser killing 'dozens' of mainly young sailors, has vowed to expose the truth behind a Kremlin cover-up of the 'humiliation'. Only the identities of some of the lost Russian Moskva sailors are known. Moskva was sailing around 60 miles off the coast of Odesa - Ukraine's largest port - before Moscow confirmed she had sunk on April 15 The Moskva sank on April 14 of last year, and now sits some 150ft beneath the water's surface after being struck by the two Neptune missiles Moskva was a Soviet-era guided missile destroyer that was designed to take on US aircraft carriers with large amounts of anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles As relatives marked the anniversary, Dmitry Shkrebets, 44, whose son Yegor, 20, was killed, vowed to win justice for those who perished. Russia has still not come clean on the number who died, or the circumstances, but instead is staging a criminal investigation against the father for protesting at alleged incompetence by commanders. It is clear many of the 'dozens' killed were conscripts, who Putin had vowed would not be sent to the war zone, said Shkrebets. He blamed the dictator for cruel 'indifference' to the Moskva dead, and demanded answers to the fate of the lost men. The strike on the Moskva 'should not have occurred, but it was allowed to,' said the distraught father. 'It all happened at 14.20 Moscow time, in the northwestern part of the Black Sea. Dozens of sailors and members of the ship's crew died, including my son.' He posted a picture of the memorial to his son. The vessel was hit on April 13, 2022, the day Yegor died, but the vessel sank on 14 April. Yegor Shkrebets, 20, a Russian conscript who died after the Moskva cruiser sinking in April last year Yegor Shkrebets (right), 20, posed with other sailors at Moskva cruiser, four days before the tragedy These conscripts 'were not supposed to take part in the [special military operation] - this was publicly promised to the whole country by President Vladimir Putin,' said the father. 'Yet they became its participants from the first day, from the first military campaign of the Moskva cruiser on February 24, 2022. 'Eternal memory to you and peace to your bright souls. See you soon, son.' It was 'hard to imagine more humiliation for the Russian armed forces, the Fleet in general, and the Black Sea Fleet in particular, than all those involved in the death of the Moskva flagship and its crew members, including conscripts. 'Such humiliation is akin to cancer, which is not introduced from the outside, but is the result of a malfunction in the body's own cells. If not detected in time, it will be difficult to fight.' The Kremlin had offered condolences to the relatives of sailors killed in the Kursk submarine which sunk in 2000 but 'indifference' over those killed in the Moskva in 2022, he said. Vladimir Putin and president of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on board the Moskva cruiser in August 2014 Russia has remained tight-lipped about the fate of Moskva's crew, but released this footage soon after the sinking, which it claimed showed them on parade in Sevastopol Anton Kuprin (left), captain of the Moskva, salutes Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, the commander in charge of Russia's Black Sea Fleet which the vessel led as the flagship Footage showed the ship's captain - Anton Kuprin (centre) - parading in front of his men, which were estimated to number between 150 and 250. Moskva typically carries up to 510 men, and Russia did not say what had happened to them The warship should not have been near the war zone with hundreds of conscripts on board, said Shkrebets. He faces a probe after condemning Putin for failing to meet or acknowledge the lost Moskva sailors, and appointing inept commanders, but vowed to fight on and reveal the truth once the investigation is over. He had declared: 'Putin is no longer my president. I do not believe this man, he betrayed me. I consider him a hypocrite and a traitor to my Motherland.' Reznikov vowed that Ukraine would bring about more sinkings of Russian warships. 'We can offer the Russians another surprise at sea, another missile [hitting] their ships,' he said. 'We are just waiting for the right moment.' Russian forces took control of the six-reactor plant in Ukraine in March last year Two landmine explosions took place outside plant's perimeter this month A UN nuclear chief has warned 'we are living on borrowed time' after two landmine explosions near Europe's largest atomic power station in Ukraine. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has repeatedly expressed fears over the safety of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia plant. Russian forces took control of the six-reactor nuclear plant Europe's largest in war-torn southern Ukraine in March last year - something Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has described as 'radiation blackmail'. 'We are living on borrowed time when it comes to nuclear safety and security at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,' Mr Grossi said yesterday. '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. UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi (pictured at Zaporizhzhia plant) has warned that 'we are living on borrowed time' after two landmine explosions near Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia plant The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly expressed fears over the safety of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia plant (file photo) Two landmines exploded outside the plant's perimeter fence - the first on April 8, and another four days later on Wednesday, 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 Zelensky in Zaporizhzhia to discuss a safety plan. He also warned yesterday 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 added that the staffing situation at the plant remained 'complex and challenging', in part because of staff shortages. Last month, Grossi warned that a nuclear disaster was very possible due to the 'perilous' situation at the plant. 'The plant's lack of access to the grid and necessary repair work on its last emergency power line could cause a complete loss of power, making it reliant on diesel generators for the seventh time since Russia captured it,' Grossi said at the time. Grossi met senior Russian officials in Kaliningrad last week and prior to this with Zelensky in Zaporizhzhia to discuss a safety plan Grossi (pictured with Zelensky) warned yesterday that the plant continued to depend on a single still-functioning power line, posing 'a major risk to nuclear safety and security' 'I once again call for a commitment from all sides to secure nuclear safety and security protection at the plant,' he added. Emergency diesel generators had been activated to power the plant's safety systems, according to Ukrainian nuclear energy agency Energoatom, which has warned of the risk of an accident. Without the electricity produced by these generators, the overheating of the reactor fuel could cause a nuclear accident, as in Japan's Fukushima in 2011. Both sides have accused the other of shelling in the vicinity of the plant since Moscow troops captured it at the start of the war. The UN warning comes amid renewed Russian assaults in the eastern town of Bakhmut - an area which has seen heavy losses on both sides resulting in earning the nickname the 'meat grinder'. Mercenary group Wagner claim to have occupied most of the town but Kyiv denies this. A picture taken during a visit to Enerhodar organised by the Russian military shows fragments of a missile in the area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant The Ministry of Defence confirmed this morning that Russia has 're-energised its assault on the Donetsk Oblast town of Bakhmut'. It said that while Ukraine still holds western districts, they have been subjected to 'particularly intense Russian artillery fire over the previous 48 hours'. Meanwhile, FBI investigators have arrested Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old suspected of leaking US intelligence documents revealing Ukraine's war secrets. Teixeira, who will appear in court today, is set to be charged with removing or transmitting classified national defence information - a crime under the National Espionage Act. The adrenaline junkies had to be guided by staff down more than 400 steps A group of thrill-seekers were given more than they bargained for when strong winds meant they had to walk down the UK's highest rollercoaster. Leo Mcmullin, 23, from Glasgow, travelled down to Blackpool Pleasure Beach to ride on the Big One, which peaks at 235ft, and waited over two hours in a queue. Tensions were high as the carriages slowly climbed to the highest point of rollercoaster - until strong winds brought everything to a halt and left riders stranded. In recent days the UK has been battered by gusts of up to 96mph courtesy of Storm Noa. On April 11, winds reached speeds above 70mph in Blackpool. Leo and his friends had to exit the carriages and precariously make their way down emergency steps in the high winds. A group of thrill-seekers had to walk down the Big One rollercoaster in Blackpool after high winds forced the ride to stop A video captured the moment the nervous riders had to walk down more than 400 steps to get off the rollercoaster In the windy video Leo records himself and his friends as they enjoy the view of Blackpool from 'about 200 feet in the air' above Pleasure beach. He laughs and says: 'Aw naw we're gonnae need to get aff this rollercoaster.' The Big One, which has a maximum speed of 85mph and lasts three minutes, opened to the public in 1994. The video cuts to the group being guided by staff as they grip the handrails and carefully climb down the over 400 steps on the red emergency stairs He continued filming and added: 'This isnae scary, it was getting out the rollercoaster.' It is not the first time adrenaline junkies have been stranded at the highest point of the Big One. In 2021 the ride wasn't affected by strong winds but instead simply broke down. Staff had to tentatively guide nervous visitors to safety by making them walk down. A spokesperson for Blackpool Pleasure Beach said: 'At 2.50pm on Tuesday 11th April, Blackpool Pleasure Beach stopped the Big One train on the ride's lift hill due to sudden changes in weather conditions. A bystander took a picture of the Big One (pictured) when it stopped just seconds before it reached the summit of its first terrifying drop Leo Mcmullin, 23, from Glasgow, said it was scarier to get out of the rollercoaster than it was to walk down it Those stuck on the rollercoaster had to walk down from its 235ft peak after waiting more than two hours in a queue to ride down it '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.' The event occurred one day before Storm Noa, which caused chaos in Britain with 96mph winds that saw a woman being injured by flying scaffolding, pilots struggling to land at Heathrow and huge waves smashing into UK coasts. In Hampshire, 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. While 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. A NSW Ambulance paramedic who was stabbed to death during his morning coffee run at McDonalds has been identified as a father who was days from welcoming a new child. Steven Tougher, 29, pulled into the Queen St, Campbelltown, restaurant carpark in Sydney's south-west alongside a colleague before the end of their night shift early Friday morning. At about 5.30am, NSW Police received a code one duress call from the paramedics when Mr Tougher was repeatedly stabbed in the abdomen. Mr Tougher had only become a paramedic last year. It's understood he was completing paperwork when he was brutally attacked. His tragic death comes just five weeks after Mr Tougher married his wife Madison in mid-March. He was just about to go on paternity leave ahead of the birth of their new baby. A man, 21, arrested at the scene spent the day being questioned by homicide detectives He was charged with murder late Friday night and refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. NSW paramedic Steven Tougher (above) was stabbed to death outside a southwest Sydney McDonalds early Friday morning Mr Tougher (right) married the love of his life, Madison (left), in mid-March and the couple were expecting a baby in coming weeks NSW Police received a code one call at about 5.30am on Friday when Mr Tougher was repeatedly stabbed in the abdomen (pictured, police at the scene on Friday) A GoFundMe for Mr Tougher's widow by her colleagues has been created to help support her and their shattered family. 'Madison is due to have her second child in a few short weeks,' the fundraiser reads. 'We hope any funds raised through this platform can go to support Madison and her family during this extremely difficult time. 'We extend our deepest condolences to Madison and her young family. We are thinking of you.' The fundraiser has raised more than $51,000 within four hours. The page added Mr Tougher's family has requested privacy. Police reportedly arrived within minutes of receiving the emergency call on Friday and Mr Tougher was rushed to Liverpool Hospital where he later died. NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan met with Madison in the hours after the attack as well as Mr Tougher's mother, father and sister and said they are 'beside themselves'. He said Mr Tougher's father told him he knew from the age of five that he wanted to be a paramedic. NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan met with Madison and Mr Tougher's family in the hours after the attack and sad they were 'beside themselves' (pictured, Steven and Madison Tougher on their wedding day in mid-March) Police tasered and arrested a 21-year-old man following the attack (pictured, police at the scene on Friday morning) 'He wanted nothing more than 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.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also expressed his sympathies for Mr Tougher's family and called for paramedics to be treated with more respect. 'The death of a paramedic in Sydney this morning is as shocking as it is tragic,' he said. 'All Australians send our sympathies and condolences to his loved ones, friends and colleagues. 'To every frontline worker, you are valued. You keep us safe. You deserve to be safe at work.' Mr Tougher became a paramedic intern in May, 2022. Before that he worked as a registered nurse at Wollongong Hospital. He studied his medical degree at Charles Sturt University where he was the President of the online Student Representative Committee and graduated in mid-2022. Mr Tougher graduated from Charles Sturt University and became a paramedic intern in mid-2022 (pictured, Mr and Mrs Tougher at his graduation last May) Mr Tougher was set to go on paternity leave soon with his and his wife Maddison's new baby set to arrive in a few weeks (pictured, the couple on their wedding day) Former colleague and Wollongong nurse Tanya Selak shared a heartbreaking tribute to Mr Tougher. 'Before he was a paramedic, Steven Tougher was our anaesthetic nurse,' she said. 'Kind, gentle, optimistic, warm. Our patients loved his cheeky grin. 'Our Wollongong community is numb, shocked, devastated. I can't believe it. Thinking of his family at this horrible time. 'Rest easy mate.' Mr Tougher's death has caused a massive outpouring of grief from the healthcare community who say selfless workers shouldn't have to risk their safety for while on the job. Devastated ex-paramedic Scott Fogarty told Daily Mail Australia: 'I didn't know him personally, but I'm a medically retired paramedic from Campbelltown station and my colleagues mean the world to me. 'It's just devastating. We go to work to help people in need and all we want to do is go home to our families in one piece.' Mr Fogarty left behind a heartfelt letter at the makeshift memorial in front of the McDonald's alongside a bunch of flowers. He wrote Mr Tougher had 'paid the ultimate price' and shed light on the harrowing scenes many ambulance workers witness. 'We know the dangers and unfortunately are exposed to those dangers far too often,' the letter reads. 'Unfortunately for this young man, his duty and career has ended far too soon from the very thing that scares us all whilst on duty. 'I am absolutely devastated, angry and heartbroken for my fellow Paramedic Brother. 'Prayers to you Brother, your shift has ended, Rest in Peace!' Mr Tougher (pictured with his wife) had reportedly dreamt of being a paramedic since he was five years old but was tragically killed just months after joining the NSW Ambulance team Retired paramedic Scott Fogarty (above) laid flowers and a letter of solidarity at the scene of the stabbing in Campbelltown on Friday A 21-year-old man was tasered and arrested at the scene and taken to Campbelltown Police Station. where he was charged with murder late Friday night. He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. It's believed police will allege Mr Tougher was in the back of an ambulance doing paperwork when the knifeman opened the sliding door and stabbed him multiple times. Deputy Commissioner Lanyon said the 21-year-old man may have been driving around the Ingleburn and Campbelltown areas in a blue Honda Jazz Civic prior to the incident and urged the public to come forward if they had seen the vehicle. When asked if the man in custody was known to police, Mr Lanyon said: 'He is only known to us through a few interactions.' He added there is 'very good' CCTV coverage of the scene. 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 cordoned 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'. NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce broke down in tears as she expressed sympathy for the victim's family. '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.' Mr Tougher's (above) death has triggered an outpouring of grief from the healthcare community who say they shouldn't have to risk their lives while on the job It's believed police will allege Mr Tougher was in the back of an ambulance when the knifeman opened the sliding door and stabbed him multiple times (pictured, police at the scene) 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. 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. Worried residents living in a tourist hotspot have hit out at a change in the law which means Airbnb owners will need planning permission before renting out their homes. The controversy comes as the Government announced plans to crackdown on nuisance holiday rentals, which will force those looking to cash in and offer their homes as lucrative short-term lets needing to get council approval first. Michael Gove, Levelling Up Secretary, said the plans would stop local people from being pushed out of 'cherished' towns and villages by armies of Airbnb hosts snapping up properties. But residents of Whitby, North Yorkshire, fear the new rules will push out visitors away from the popular coastal resort - famous for its links to Bram Stoker's Dracula. Hospital worker Beth Phoenix, 28, told MailOnline: 'If there are no tourists in Whitby then there's no trade. Residents of Whitby, North Yorkshire (pictured), fear new rules that will force Airbnb owners to get planning permission before renting out their homes could lead to a drop in the number of tourists being able to stay at the popular coastal resort Whitby is a magnet for tourists in the summer who flock to visit its beach and historic town centre Whitby local and hospital worker Beth Phoenix, 28, said she is concerned about legislation that might kill tourism in her town. She is pictured on Thursday 'There are more tourists now than I've seen before and lots of locals don't stay in the town during the summer. But we need tourists to keep things moving.' Michael Payne has lived in Whitby for 20 years. The 65-year-old retired diesel fitter said: 'I think it's a bad idea. You don't want to drive tourists away and a lot of the economy is generated from them. 'I understand there needs to be a balance. But I have no issue with the tourists. 'People will still come in even if there are fewer Airbnbs because there are lots of park and ride facilities. 'I love living in Whitby and I do worry locals will be pushed out, but you can't not have visitors. 'There will always be places for them to stay and things for them to do.' Whitby was last year found itself in the top 10 locations for city dwellers seeking to buy a second home in. Claire Savage, 45, lives a stone's throw from the cafes and gift shops which are a magnet for tourists. The pub worker told MailOnline: 'You always need to have balance of tourists and locals but I don't see the issue with visitor numbers here. 'A place nearby called Robin Hood's Bay is full of holiday homes that get deserted in the winter and we wouldn't want that here. Michael Payne, 65, has lived in the town for 20 years and branded the crackdown on holiday rentals a 'bad ide'. 'You don't want to drive tourists away and a lot of the economy is generated from them,' he said Vital to the town: The Whitby Town Tour bus, which ferries visitors around the community, is pictured on Thursday Worried residents fear if new government rules are imposed, it could cause the number of visitors to Whitby to drop off, turning it into a ghost town. Pictured is the town on Thursday 'Our Airbnb owners just want to make some money on the side while their home is empty in the summer because they're on holiday. Cornwall is dominated by 16,000 holiday homes - as 15,000 families are waiting on social housing lists Pictured: St Ives in Cornwall Britain's coastal communities are under siege by an invasion of Airbnb-style rentals, with Cornwall now having more than 16,000 active holiday homes. The popular seaside getaway has seen demand boom - with the county now having 16,353 rental homes, of which 90 per cent are entire homes, according to data from AirDNA. But the huge ballooning comes at a cost; there are 15,000 families on social housing waiting lists in Cornwall in September 2021 who are left struggling to find places to live, the Campaign to Protect Rural England said previously. It's a similar picture in Norfolk, where there are 7,672 active rentals, of which 87 per cent are entire homes, with an occupancy rate of 68 per cent. While the Lake District has 8,384 active rentals, of which 88 per cent are entire homes. The popularity of home rental services has boomed since Covid, with the rise in the number of families opting for staycation getaways instead of costly trips abroad. And it has seen a sharp increase in the number of savvy home owners listing their properties on Airbnb. In May, one in 67 coastal dwellings were listed on the company - compared with one in 105 in 2019 before the pandemic. Advertisement 'They just want to be left alone by the Government and I've got no problem with them. 'Tourists are good for the town and Whitby is a lovely area.' The town, which is home to rows of independent shops, bars and fish 'n' chip joints, is expected to take full advantage of the legislation to encourage locals to stay in the town. One business owner close to the town centre thinks Airbnb owners will try get around the legislation. Speaking anonymously, he said: 'People try and make an income where they can and this is a tourist hotspot. 'If your mortgage is going up then it's a no brainier. It's not rocket science to set up accommodation for visitors. 'How many people are actually going to go the council? I think owners might try bypass it. 'They might get caught and have to pay a fine but in the meantime they've earned thousands of pounds. 'I think Whitby has reached that saturation point so the plans could be a good idea. 'But on the other hand, tourists will still come but it will just be for the day instead. 'Locals have been forced out of Whitby for 20 years because affordable housing doesn't exist anymore. 'So I don't think the legislation will make much difference.' But water engineer Sam Peacock, 30, said: 'I want the town to do well but it can be a bit of a nightmare with how busy it gets. So the plans could work.' He added: 'The house prices are mad. 'I pay a lot of money to live in a three-bed semi and if I lived 30 miles away it would be a lot less. 'I've got friends who have definitely been driven out of the area and they've had to move elsewhere because of the house prices. 'But Whitby is always going to be a tourist destination. 'It's got the quirky feel to it and it's an old town so it will always be popular for tourists. 'I would never want it to turn into a ghost town.' News of the row comes as figures revealed Cornwall is dominated by holiday homes. The popular seaside getaway has seen demand boom - with the county now having 16,353 rental homes, of which 90 per cent are entire homes, according to data from AirDNA. Whitby, which is home to rows of independent shops, bars and fish 'n' chip joints, is expected to take full advantage of the legislation to encourage locals to stay in the town - but some fear for the impact it will have on the tourism industry there The coastal resort is a popular destination for visitors in the summer, who pack out the seaside promenade (pictured) and town centre Bed and breakfast companies and Airbnb holiday rentals are vital to keeping tourism in Whitby booming, locals have claimed. Pictured is the sign tor Union Place B&B But the huge ballooning comes at a cost; there are 15,000 families on social housing waiting lists in Cornwall in September 2021 who are left struggling to find places to live, the Campaign to Protect Rural England said previously. It's a similar picture in Norfolk, where there are 7,672 active rentals, of which 87 per cent are entire homes, with an occupancy rate of 68 per cent. While the Lake District has 8,384 active rentals, of which 88 per cent are entire homes. The popularity of home rental services has boomed since Covid, with the rise in the number of families opting for staycation getaways instead of costly trips abroad. And it has seen a sharp increase in the number of savvy home owners listing their properties on Airbnb. In May, one in 67 coastal dwellings were listed on the company - compared with one in 105 in 2019 before the pandemic. But some local residents have raised fears about the number of dwellings being snapped up as second homes or converted into holiday lets for platforms like Airbnb, which drive up property prices and reduces housing stock. Kate Marriott, a painter and part-time administrator who rents a flat in Keswick, told The Times: 'I have friends that have nowhere to live, people who work here, but I walk past four empty flats every day to get home. 'The irony of it is, all the tourist infrastructure here the pubs, the restaurants there's no one to staff it because there are people buying second homes and Airbnbs, and it's slowly killing off all those tourist facilities.' Rich staycation tourists are threatening to transform Britain's seaside communities into 'ghost towns' amid a huge boom in the number of Airbnb holiday homes now dominating coastal beauty spots in England and Wales. Figures shown the number of 'entire places' for rent in seaside towns has swelled by 56 per cent between 2019 and 2022, compared to 15 per cent in non-coastal communities. New figures have shown the number of 'entire places' for rent in seaside towns has swelled by 56 per cent between 2019 and 2022, compared to 15 per cent in non-coastal communities A quarter of all dwellings in Croyde, Devon, are now Airbnbs. Pictured is Croyde Bay Meanwhile in the popular surfing resort of St Ives, one-in-five homes are listed as Airbnbs in a revelation that has been branded 'unsustainable' by a local councillor The volume of demand for Airbnb listings per property is three times higher in coastal areas than inland regions. It's prompted fears Britain's traditional seaside communities could be killed off and turned into 'theme parks for the wealthy' by the numbers of holidaymakers pouring into them. Analysis has now revealed a quarter of all properties in Woolacombe, Georgeham and Croyde in North Devon were listed as Airbnbs in May of this year, up from one in six in 2019. The Scores, a beauty spot overlooking the sea in St Andrews, in Scotland, mirrored the boom seen in North Devon, with a quarter of homes now listed. Meanwhile, in St Ives and Halestown, popular seaside resorts in Cornwall, now has one-in-five of their properties listed on Airbnb. While Newquay, also in Cornwall, and Whitby in North Yorkshire now have one-in-six of all dwellings advertised on the site. Tourists gather at St Ives Harbour in Cornwall during hot weather last year St Ives Town Council is lobbying Cornwall Council to let it develop land the larger authority is sitting on St Ives Town councillor Andrew Mitchell has lived in the coastal beauty spot all his life and said the swell rental properties was having a huge impact on the community. Although insisting St Ives 'welcomed tourists', he told MailOnline: 'Having one-in five properties as an Airbnb is unsustainable for any community... People know it's bad by one in five - that's both amazing and disgusting at the same time. 'If that trend continues you are condemning a whole generation of people having to move out of St Ives. 'All those people who come down and want their week or two weeks... there will be nobody to serve them in the restaurants of bars.' Housing campaigners have warned that the surge in demand may point to landlords now favouring holidaymakers over local tenants - at a time when residents living in the town affected are facing spiraling housing and mortgage costs. 'Tourists don't want to visit ghost towns. And most people can't afford to live in a theme park designed for wealthier visitors, Will McMahon, the director of Action on Empty Homes told The Guardian. An Australian man has been charged with a foreign interference offence by federal police after an investigation from the nation's top spy agency. The 55-year-old Australian national, who normally lives and operates a business overseas, recently returned to Australia before he was arrested at a Bondi residence on Friday. The AFP alleges the man was contacted by an individual, purporting to be from a think tank via social media while he was offshore and made arrangements for him to meet with their representatives. He allegedly met with two people known as Ken and Evelyn who offered the man money to obtain information about Australian defence, economic and national security arrangements, plus matters relating to other countries. Police say he compiled a number of reports for the individuals and received payment for those reports. The 55-year-old Aussie national (pictured), who normally lives and operates a business overseas, recently returned to Australia before he was arrested at a Bondi residence on Friday The man (pictured at his arrest) allegedly met with two people known as 'Ken' and 'Evelyn' a number times who offered the man money to obtain information about Australian defence, economic and national security arrangements, plus matters relating to other countries The AFP will allege Ken and Evelyn work for a foreign intelligence service and are undertaking intelligence collection activities. He is charged with one count of reckless foreign interference, contrarty to section 92.3 of the Criminal Code Act 1995. The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years imprisonment. Its believed that more people in Australia have been approached by Ken and Evelyn. The AFP urges anyone who has been approached by those individuals to provide information to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400 The arrest was made by the Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce, which combines manpower from ASIO and the AFP The arrest was made by the Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce, which combines manpower from ASIO and the AFP. The man is the second individual to be charged by the taskforce since the National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill was passed in 2018. He will appear before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. The man is the second individual to be charged by the taskforce since the National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill was passed in 2018 President Joe Biden landed at Knock Airport on Friday afternoon as he makes a personal pilgrimage to County Mayo on the final day of his visit. Having tracked down some his family Finnegan connections on the eastern side of the island in County Louth, he will visit the region that has family connections in the Blewitt branch of his family tree. Former Vice President Mike Pence a potential 2024 rival blasted his journey to an ancestral homeland the men share in light of the Pentagon security leak. 'Well, I have to tell you, I've been to Ireland, it is a beautiful place, my grandfather immigrated from Ireland, Pence said in an interview from his home in Indiana on Friday. 'But with everything this country is dealing with: inflation at 40-year high, American people struggling, China provocation, Russia on the move in eastern Europe, I don't get what appears to be a family vacation in Ireland taking precedence and the president not doing a full-blown press conference,' Pence added. President Joe Biden boards Air Force One at the start of his last full day of activities in Ireland. He was accompanied by son Hunter Biden, sister Valerie Biden Owens, and top aides Biden will visit the Knock Shrine, an Irish pilgrimage site that has been visited by Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis, as well as Mother Teresa. It is one of several stops that will have the president once again pondering faith and family, a day after he addressed the Irish parliament and spoke at a banquet. According to the shrine, a heavenly apparition of Mary, mother of Jesus, appeared there in 1879. Biden, a practicing Catholic, arrived here on Tuesday, and hasn't had any time for worship on his schedule. He is expected to engage in private prayer there, according to local media. Then, it's back to following his trail of ancestors, this time with a visit to the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centre. The area is where Biden's Blewitt relatives are from. As Biden has been referencing throughout his trip, his great-great-great Grandfather Edward Blewitt the town of Ballina for Scranton during the Great Famine. Biden had a more secular day Thursday when he addressed the Irish parliament Biden was hosted at a banquet on the third day of his trip Biden will speak outside St. Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina, County Mayo, shortly before flying back to the U.S. The president has distant relatives living in the area Residents of Ballina are preparing for Biden's visit It is Ballina that Biden and his advance team have chosen for the final speech of his trip. He has an evening address planned outside Saint Muredach's Cathedral in County Mayo. It is certain to have a picturesque backdrop of the Cathedral, located on the River Moy. Earlier in his day, which starts around lunchtime, Biden plans a private visit to Mayo Hospice, a center with a plaque bearing the name of his late son, Beau, who Biden referenced Thursday during his speech to the Irish general assembly. Biden 'turned the sod' there during a 2017 groundbreaking. Following his speech, Biden heads back to the U.S., although he declared 'I'm at home' during his address to the Irish parliament, in his latest attestation for his love of Ireland. But he's not ready for the White House just yet. The president plans to spend the weekend at yet another of his homes: his Delaware beach house. Experts may have come a step closer to solving the mystery of why a historic harbour has turned orange as they started intensive surveys at a nearby railway tunnel. Rust-coloured water began pouring into Whitehaven Harbour in Cumbria from a culvert at the end of last year, leaving locals stumped about where it had come from. The harbour dates from 1634 when a local landowner built the Old Quay, which is now one of the oldest coal wharves in Britain. In later times it was used to unload fish, sugar from the West Indies and chemicals for a nearby detergent factory. As part of efforts to understand why the harbour has turned orangey-brown, a hydrogeological survey will now be carried out on the groundwater above a nearby railway tunnel which carries the Cumbrian Coast line under the town. This will seek to build a 3D picture of how the local topography, infrastructure, historic mining features and geology interact with the surface and groundwater in the local area. The results are expected in three months. Rust-coloured water began pouring into Whitehaven Harbour in Cumbria from a culvert at the end of last year - leaving locals stumped about where it had come from The tunnel is not the source of the polluted water, but it is hoped the knowledge gained during the tests could help understand where it could be coming from. Network Rail said: 'Our teams are continuing to help investigate the exact source of the water discolouration in Whitehaven harbour. 'This involves ongoing technical surveys of groundwater conditions in the land above a railway tunnel which takes the Cumbrian Coast line under the town. 'When these tests are complete, we will share the information with the council and other agencies to help get to the bottom of where the discoloured water is coming from.' Initial results from tests carried out by the Environment Agency on the water in Whitehaven Harbour showed no evidence of sewage but did identify 'increased metals in the water'. John Baker, from Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, told the BBC: 'It's not straightforward but hopefully we can then look at a solution to then stop the discoloured water entering Bransty Beck and then into the harbour.' As part of efforts to understand why the harbour has turned orangey-brown, a hydrogeological survey will now be carried out on the groundwater above a nearby railway tunnel The harbour dates from 1634 when a local landowner built the Old Quay, which is now one of the oldest coal wharves in Britain It's previously been claimed the discolouration could be due to underground exploration and analysis carried out by engineers working on a controversial new mine. West Cumbria Mining Ltd was approached for comment on the claims by the BBC earlier this year, but declined to comment. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove approved Britain's first coal mine in decades last year. The 165million project is due to be in operation for 50 years and produce fuel for use in steelmaking - which the Government insisted would otherwise need to be imported - but not for use in generating electricity. The Government hailed the mine's expected contribution to the economy and in boosting local employment. But ministers immediately faced claims the decision had left Britain's reputation for tackling climate change 'in tatters'. MailOnline today contacted West Cumbria Mining Ltd for comment. A drunken hulk weighing 25 stone has been jailed after he crushed his tiny girlfriend with a giant 'bellyflop' during a terrifying beating in their hotel room. Sean Mellin, 40, left five-foot-tall Charlotte Marsden fearing she would die after he used his overweight frame to pin her to the floor then told her: 'You're not going anywhere' as she lay gasping for air. Mellin also strangled, punched and kicked the 32-year-old around the hotel room during a drink and drug-fuelled rampage in what a judge described as a 'night of bullying and brutalising'. The former courier was said by the victim to be like a 'demon with a big belly' as he used his massive bulk to overpower her as they stayed over at a Travelodge in Bolton, Greater Manchester. At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester Mellin, who lives in Bolton, was jailed for three years after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm and strangulation. Sean Mellin, 40, was jailed for three years for assaulting and strangling five-foot-tall Charlotte Marsden during a drink and drug-fuelled rampage A court heard how the 25-stone man was like a 'demon with a big belly' as he used his massive bulk to overpower Ms Marsden as they stayed over at a Travelodge in Bolton, Greater Manchester The victim dressed in only a towel was only able to escape after Mellin fell asleep following the assault. She sustained bruises to her back, throat, legs, back of ears and face. In a statement to police Ms Marsden said: 'He's big and broad, and he's got a big belly. He knows he is stronger than me and knew that I was frightened of him. 'I couldn't breathe when he was on top of me. I had a vision of myself lying dead on the bed in only my pink hoodie. I thought I was going to end up like a cabbage. He was like a monster, like a demon. He was not all there behind his eyes.' She added: 'Him strangling me was awful, he squeezed and pushed his fingers into my nose. This meant I couldn't breathe. I could only plead with my eyes for him to stop. I thought I was going to die. He only calmed down when I started to sweet talk him. When I was on the toilet being sick, he said "you're faking it, you f*****g false b***h".' 'I felt degraded, like a lowlife. I thought I would never see my nephew again. He knew that my nephew and I had a close relationship, so he used that against me. When I eventually left I was hysterical, I was a wreck. He was somebody else that night. I had to stay at other people's houses because I thought he was going to kill me when he got out. I have not missed him since he's been gone.' The pair met during the first lockdown in 2020 and according to Ms Marsden he initially 'seemed like a nice guy', but the relationship quickly became toxic and as Covid restrictions tightened the victim described feeling 'trapped with him'. She said: 'I met him when I was 30, I was vulnerable and had an eating disorder and I was a mess. He would bully and belittle me because I had poor self-confidence and he always told me he had been sh*gging around. However, I grew in confidence, and he knew I was trying to leave him before this, and as a result he became angrier than ever.' The attack occurred in August last year after Mellin booked himself and Ms Marsden five nights at their local Travelodge so he could go on a drink and drugs binge away from home. In mitigation, Mellin's lawyer, Clare Ashcroft, said: 'He does not agree with some of what Ms Marsden said in her statement although he accepts that his behaviour was inexcusable and he is remorseful for it' In a statement to police Ms Marsden said: 'He's big and broad, and he's got a big belly. He knows he is stronger than me and knew that I was frightened of him. Mellin initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea on the day of trial. He was banned from contacting Ms Marsden and her sister indefinitely under the terms of a restraining order Mark Pritchard, prosecuting, said: 'Things were initially going well, but an argument broke out between them and that is where things started to go wrong. 'The defendant grabbed the complainant by her throat with both hands and held her so long that she vomited. When she ran to the toilet to be sick, the defendant accused her of faking it. 'He then grabbed her by the hair and kicked her in the face. He also smashed her head against the walls around the room on a number of occasions. He then held her down on the floor with his body weight, suffocating her. She said she couldn't breathe, but he said "you're not going anywhere". Then in a change of heart he said let's settle down, please don't leave me. 'Later when the pair was asleep, the complainant woke up and tried to get her clothes together to escape, but she couldn't find them. When the defendant woke up, the complainant pretended to walk to the toilet. 'The defendant tried to grab her but missed, and she sat on the toilet and pretended to wee. Standing at the door, the defendant shouted, "where is your wee? I am going to kill you if you don't have a wee now". Then he jumped on her and smashed her head back on the back of the toilet. Mark Pritchard, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant grabbed the complainant by her throat with both hands and held her so long that she vomited. When she ran to the toilet to be sick, the defendant accused her of faking it 'The complainant left the room once the defendant fell asleep. She was dressed in only a towel as she called the police. She sustained bruises to her back, throat, legs, back of ears and face. The defendant was later arrested and denied the offences in interview. He has remained in custody since his arrest.' Mellin initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea on the day of trial. He was banned from contacting Ms Marsden and her sister indefinitely under the terms of a restraining order. In sentencing, the judge Mr Recorder Imran Shafi KC told Mellin: 'This relationship was punctuated with violence and this all came to a head on the 22nd of August last year. 'You showed neither remorse nor concern for your then partner, even accusing her of faking being sick after you strangled her. 'Your behaviour on that day was beyond disgraceful - you belittled, bullied and brutalizer your partner. You enjoyed humiliating and hurting her, you were obviously stronger than her, and you made sure she knew it. She genuinely believed that she was going to die that night by your hand. All of this and you showed not a slither of remorse.' In mitigation, Mellin's lawyer, Clare Ashcroft, said: 'He does not agree with some of what Ms Marsden said in her statement although he accepts that his behaviour was inexcusable and he is remorseful for it. 'This relationship completely volatile, it was plainly a toxic relationship. The offence took place during a period where the couple were staying in a hotel room. Both parties had been drinking and had left the room to take drugs at several points throughout the evening. This added fuel to the volatility already in the relationship.' Joe Biden has been accused of another 'anti-British' snub after the 'Beast' flew the Irish flag in Dublin - but not the Union Jack in Belfast. Critics said the appearance of the US president's limo was yet more evidence that he is not neutral in tensions over the island of Ireland. The armoured vehicle featured the Stars and Stripes and the presidential standard on its bonnet on his brief visit to Northern Ireland on Wednesday. However, after Mr Biden - who often boasts about his Irish heritage - moved on to the Republic the same day the country's flag was proudly on display. He has also come under fire for saying his rugby star distant relative 'beat the hell out of the Black and Tans'. That was a British auxilliary police force in the 1920s, hated by the IRA - although the White House insists he was just muddling them up with the New Zealand All Blacks team. Mr Biden, who wraps up his three-day tour of Ireland tonight, also posed for a selfie with Gerry Adams and rebuked the UK for not cooperating more closely with Ireland on Brexit. Former DUP leader Baroness Foster told GB News that the Beast's flags seemed to be another signal of his attitude to Britains. 'I hope it's not the case that he does not recognise Northern Ireland's case within the United Kingdom which is of course is part of the Good Friday Agreement,' she said. Lady Foster questioned why the president would be 'thinking about the Black and Tans when he's discussing the All Blacks'. 'I think it goes to his mindset in relation to what happened in Ireland,' she said. 'He is not always balanced in matters relating to Northern Ireland. I acknowledge he was diplomatic in Belfast when he spoke but that was because he gave a scripted speech.' She added: 'Joe Biden's record has not been even-handed and I think that must be acknowledged.' Biden administration official Adrienne Watson said: 'We were sensitive to protocol and custom throughout our trip to Northern Ireland. The President looks forward to returning to the United Kingdom on a future visit.' The Beast featured the Stars and Stripes and the presidential standard on its bonnet on his brief visit to Northern Ireland on Wednesday However, after Mr Biden - who often boasts about his Irish heritage - moved on to the Republic the country's flag was proudly on display In a speech to the Irish Parliament last night again heavy with references to his heritage, Mr Biden sought to soothe tensions over the 'Black and Tans' episode One US source said: 'Even the UK only flies its flag on government buildings on certain days, like the King's birthday or other special occasions.' In a speech to the Irish Parliament last night again heavy with references to his heritage, Mr Biden sought to soothe tensions over the 'Black and Tans' episode. He became the fourth US president to address the Irish Parliament after Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and John F Kennedy. '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. US officials have denied he is 'anti-British', but were forced to issue a correction after Mr Biden jibed about 'the Black and Tans' during a pub visit in County Louth. 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: '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 exaggerated 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.' Among those listening was former Republican leader Adams, who posted a selfie of the pair together afterwards, captioned: 'A President Biden Selfie.' Mr Biden will conclude his visit to the island of Ireland by making a public address in the town where some of his ancestors hail from. He will travel to the west of Ireland, where he will give a speech at a cathedral in Ballina, Co Mayo, on Friday evening. 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. Gerry Adams posted a selfie with Joe Biden last night after watching him address a joint session of the Irish parliament The US President's address was heavy with references to his proudly-held Irish heritage The US President 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 then set to visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centre's family history research unit. 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 Muredach's Cathedral. Mr Biden's 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. France is bracing for yet more riots as the country's top constitutional court prepares to rule on whether to approve President Emmanuel Macron's deeply unpopular pensions overhaul. Ahead of the decision, French gendarme stood guard around the perimeter of the Conseil Constitutionnel in Paris in readiness for an outbreak of demonstrations as intense protests continue to grip the nation. A green light today from the heavily patrolled institution would pave the way for the head of state to sign the changes into law and ensure they are implemented by year-end. Experts believe the most likely scenario is that the nine-member judicial body will censure some non-essential parts of Macron's proposed legislation but approve the principal element that would see the retirement age rise to 64 from 62. France has been ensnared by months of labor strikes and protests. Violence by pockets of ultra-left radicals have marred the otherwise peaceful nationwide union-organized marches since January. French gendarmes stand in position near the Louvre museum and the Constitutional Council in Paris this morning Ahead of the decision, French gendarme stood guard around the perimeter of the Conseil Constitutionnel in Paris in readiness for an outbreak of demonstrations Officials are standing in readiness ahead of an expected outbreak of demonstrations as intense protests continue to grip the nation. Pictured: Protesters light flares and occupy the LVMH headquarters in Paris on Thursday Reporters followed striking railway workers invading French luxury group LVMH's headquarters in Paris on Thursday Protests have broken out almost weekly since January as around two in three people are against the highly unpopular reform. Approval from the council will bring France closer into line with its EU neighbours. 'The council will likely follow the course it always had - not to counter big social or societal reforms,' constitutional expert Laureline Fontaine told AFP. But labour unions and opposition lawmakers are still hoping the Constitutional Council will strike down changes that Macron attempted during his first term in office and has put at the heart of the second-term agenda. 'It would be a disaster for Emmanuel Macron,' political journalist Ludovic Vigogne, who has written a recent book on the president, told RTL radio on Friday. 'He would have no margin for manoeuvre... it would be such a huge victory for his political opponents.' Senior ruling party MP Eric Woerth said that he expected 'the core part' of the law to be approved but he conceded that 'we have not convinced people.' 'Once the volcano has cooled down and people look at things with a bit more distance, maybe in the back of their minds they'll say, 'maybe they were right'... the French pension system needed unpopular decisions to conserve it,' he told Europe 1 radio. Some demonstrations have turned violent since Macron's government forced the bill through parliament last month without a vote, using an executive power that is legal but has sparked accusations of undemocratic behaviour from opponents. Some 380,000 people took to the streets nationwide on Thursday in the latest day of union-led action against the bill since January, according to the interior ministry. But that was far fewer that the nearly 1.3 million it said demonstrated at the height of the protests in March. A French gendarme stands guard as a security perimeter is established around France's Conseil Constitutionnel on the day of a ruling on the contested pension reform France has been ensnared by months of labor strikes and protests and more are expected later today following the ruling by the Conseil Constitutionnel in Paris French gendarmes and CRS riot police stand in position in front of the Conseil Constitutionnel during a demonstration on Thursday Protesters hold a banner during a demonstration as part of the 12th day of nationwide strikes and protests against French government's pension reform on Thursday Some protesters blocked roads around the northern city of Rouen on Friday and other spontaneous demonstrations are expected when the decision is made public at 6pm (4pm GMT). Dozens of riot police were deployed around the court in Paris on Thursday during demonstrations and authorities have banned protests there until early Saturday. As well as ruling on whether the pensions legislation and the way it was passed is in line with the constitution, the council must also decide on whether to approve an opposition demand for a referendum on an alternative pensions law. It is not yet clear whether it will give its go-ahead, but the path towards any actual referendum would be long and uncertain. 'We have very good arguments to ask for a complete censure (of the law),' left-wing MP Mathilde Panot told LCI television on Friday. Having repeatedly dismissed calls for talks with union leaders in recent weeks, Macron has said he will invite labour representatives for discussions once the court decision is published. Flames rise from a Mercedes car set on fire during a demonstration on the 12th day of action after the government pushed a pensions reform on Thursday Protestors hold a red flares during yet another demonstration in Bordeaux on Thursday Protesters push a trashbin in a fire and scuffles occur between protesters and riot police Riot police charge during a protest against the government after pushing the pensions reform without a vote, Paris, Thursday French gendarmes and CRS riot police apprehend protesters on the Place de la Bastille on Thursday Riot mobile gendarmes walk past a garbage can on fire during a demonstration in Paris, Thursday A placard at a burning car reads 'Riot police, go away' as riot police officers walk past during a demonstration in Rennes on Thursday French riot police take measure during a demonstration after the French government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, Paris, Thursday 'The decision from the Constitutional Council on Friday will bring an end to the democratic and constitutional procedures,' Macron told reporters on a trip to the Netherlands on Wednesday. He added, however, that public debate 'will continue, for sure'. CFDT union leader Laurent Berger has said that if the bill is only partially approved, it should be re-examined in parliament. Surveys show that about two in three French people are against the pension changes, with critics arguing they are unfair for women and unskilled workers who started working early in life. But the government argues that they are essential to stop the system from falling into heavy deficits in coming decades and bring France in line with the rest of Europe where people typically retire later. This is the shocking moment a 220-pound shark sank its teeth into a snorkeller, leaving her with a grizzly six-inch wound on her side in the Maldives. Carmen Canovas Cervello, 30, was diving at Vaavu Atoll in the island paradise nation with a pal when the eight-foot-long nurse shark lunged at her and clamped its jaws around her side. Dramatic footage shows the creature circling the bikini-clad tourist before it suddenly turned and attacked her. Amazingly, the woman decided to jump back in for a second dip immediately after she cleaned the wound left by the disgruntled nurse shark. Cervello and friend Ibrahim Shafeeg, 37, an underwater photographer who captured the astonishing footage, had been swimming freely with the school of sharks for over 45 minutes before disaster struck. Carmen Canovas Cervello, 30, who works as a nurse, found a set of shark teeth lodged into her side, leaving her with a gruesome bite mark Cervello had been taking a dip in the ocean off the coast of the Maldives with friend Ibrahim Shafeeg, 37, an underwater photographer who captured the astonishing footage Cervello was left with a gaping six-inch wide wound after a 220-pound nurse shark lodged its teeth into her Cervello was left with a horrific would after the eight-foot-long nurse shark lunged at her and clamped its jaws around her side while she was diving in the Maldives In the shocking footage, it appeared one shark decided that they were too close for comfort and showed its dominance by clamping its teeth down on Cervello's shoulder and upper back. Even though it was only for a brief moment, the determined creature left a sizable mark of around six inches in diameter on the diver's body. Mr Shafeeg captured the shocking attack unexpectedly as he was filming the sharks around him with his GoPro camera. Both Mr Shafeeg and Ms Cervello immediately jumped out of the water to check the damage inflicted on her shoulder and back by the bite-happy creature. Once out of the water near the Dhiggiri resort in Vaavu Atoll, the pair cleaned the wound while examining how severe it was. Despite the attack, the daredevil duo felt as though the wound was given by the sharks as a warning for getting too close, as they believed the bite as only a minor injury that could have easily been a lot worse. Amazingly, within seconds, the unfazed pair decided they would dive right back into the shark-infested waters once again to resume their diving experience. Cervello didn't feel as though she needed to seek any medical help or treatment, so the pair decided to continue snorkelling and diving with the sharks for days, leaving the bite to heal for itself. Nurse sharks are common in the Vaavu Atoll region of the Maldives, as it is a common place for the sharks to seek food from the different tourist attractions surrounding the area. Cervello didn't feel as though she needed to seek any medical help or treatment, so the pair decided to continue snorkelling Somewhat amazingly, the woman decided to jump back in despite being left with the awful teeth-marked wound Ibrahim Shafeeg captured the shocking attack unexpectedly as he was filming the sharks around him with his GoPro camera If provoked, nurse sharks can inflict a life-threatening bite due to their extremely sharp teeth and strong jaw Nurse sharks are usually non-aggressive and have been known to swim away when approached. But if they are provoked in any way, their bite can be life-threatening due to their extremely sharp teeth and strong jaw. According to reports before 2022, there were around 51 provoked and five unprovoked attacks from nurse sharks. This was the first time Cervello had received a shark bite, but that hasn't stopped the pair from diving head-first into the dangerous waters once again to experience being so up-close and personal with the sharks in their natural habitat. 'We were in the shark bay at Vaavu Atoll diving with nurse sharks,' Shafeeg said. 'We decided to do a free dive trip to shark bay and snorkel inside a group of sharks there. 'There were around ten nurse sharks, from 198-pounds to 220-pounds and over three metres wide. 'After the shark bite, we thought nothing major about it as it was only a minor injury so we cleaned the wound and continued snorkelling at the same spot again.' Eid is the festival held by Muslims to celebrate the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, where Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset every day. Known as Eid ul-Fitr, which means 'Breaking of the Fast', it falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar. But when is Eid al-Fitr in 2023 and how do you wish someone a Happy Eid? Read on below for all you need to know about Eid ul-Fitr. Ramadan lights were switched on London for the first time in 2023 to mark the start of the religious festival When is Eid ul-Fitr in 2023? The start of Eid ul-Fitr follows the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting undertaken by Muslims from sunrise to sunset each day. Ramadan, a lunar month, is either 29 or 30 days. It began on the evening of Wednesday, 22 March, 2023, which means that Thursday, 20 April will be the 29th day, and Friday 21 April the 30th day. If the new moon is sighted on Thursday daytime, Eid will be declared for Thursday evening, with Eid day falling on the Friday. If however, a new moon is not sighted, then Ramadan will finish on Friday, with Eid day being the Saturday. UK authorities have predicted the new moon will be visible at 4.13am GMT on Thursday, April 20. However, this will only be visible under certain weather conditions and since there is no official moon sighting board in the UK, the majority of UK Muslims will follow Saudi Arabia's moon sighting. The International Astronomical Centre have also confirmed it unlikely that any Arab countries will be able to see the new crescent moon on Thursday. This means that Eid is expected to be celebrated on Saturday in the UK, with Ramadan ending at sunset on Friday. Countries such as India and Bangladesh may celebrate Eid day on Sunday, since they began Ramadan a day later. Here are the moon sighting forecasts for Saudi Arabia: Thursday, April 20 - moon not visible Friday, April 21 - moon is easily visible. Sunset 6.42pm, moonset 8.05pm (local times) Saturday, April 22 - moon is easily visible. Sunset 6.43pm, moonset 9.05pm (local times) How will Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Fitr and what is Zakat ul-Fitr? Zakat ul-Fitr, or the Zakat of Breaking the Fast of Ramadan, is the special obligatory alms paid by all Muslims at the end of the Ramadan fasting month. It is also called Sadaqat al-Fitr the Charity of Breaking the Fast of Ramadan and Muslims have to give a portion of their wealth to those in need. Zakat ul-Fitr must be done before the Eid prayer, which is only to be performed in congregation, building family and community spirit. Mosques throughout the UK will host Eid prayers at different times throughout the morning of the Friday. Eid prayers also often take place in large, open spaces, such as fields or halls. Once Eid prayers are finished, Muslims will traditionally visit their relatives and friends to wish them a happy Eid and often exchange gifts or sweets. This has lent itself to another name for Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Sweets. Muslims share a meal on the first day after Eid ul-Fitr in Iraq's Zubayr District during celebrations in 2022 Why does the date change? The date of Eid al-Fitr changes due to a difference between the solar Gregorian calendar and the Hajri calendar, which is governed by the time the moon takes to go through each of its lunar phases. This means that the date of Eid ul-Fitr is not fixed in the Gregorian calendar. Confectionery trays of different desserts on display in Mus, Turkey. It is traditional for Muslims to celebrate Eid ul-Fitr by eating various sweets. This is because there are 365 days in a solar year, which equates to approximately 354 in a lunar year. Consequently, the dates of Islamic holidays move forward by 10 to 11 days each year. In the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Fitr always falls on the first day of Shawwal, which is the tenth month. National guardsman Jack Teixeira is set to make his first appearance at a Massachusetts federal court later today after he was arrested on suspicion of leaking a trove of sensitive US government secrets. The dramatic arrest of 21-year-old Teixeira, an employee of the US Air Force National Guard, was broadcast live on 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. 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. Teixeira's arrest came after came after hundreds of sensitive DoD and military documents were posted on the social media platform Discord by a user who used the names 'OG' and 'Jack The Dripper'. His emergence 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. A 21-year-old US Air Force National Guard employee has been arrested over the leak of highly sensitive US defence and intelligence documents Jack Douglas Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the Air National Guard who was arrested by the FBI over his alleged involvement in leaks online of classified documents, poses for a selfie at an unidentified location FBI agents arrest Jack Teixeira, an employee of the Air Force National Guard, in connection with an investigation into the leaks online of classified U.S. documents, outside a residence in this still image taken from video in North Dighton, Massachusetts, April 13, 2023 The National Guard Bureau said Teixeira had enlisted in September 2019 and held the rank of airman first class - the third-lowest for enlisted air force personnel. But his role as a Cyber Transport Systems Journeyman (CTSJ) and IT specialist meant he could have been granted a higher security clearance in spite of his entry-level rank, particularly given that he was a member of the 102nd Intelligence Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard at Joint Base Cape Cod. The 102nd is a unit tasked with providing 'worldwide precision intelligence and command and control along with trained and experienced Airmen for expeditionary combat support and homeland security', according to its mission statement. The scope of 102nd's provision of intelligence is unclear, and the National Guard is generally tasked with domestic, rather than foreign security. But National Guard Units have been deployed to NATO-allied countries in Europe to provide training and support to Ukrainian territorial defense units in the face of the Russian invasion and it is likely that the 102nd could have been providing, or at least distributing, intelligence on the war in Ukraine as well as US spying operations. '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. 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 is 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.' But Representative Mike Turner, the Republican chairman on the House Intelligence Committee, is demanding to know why it took the intelligence community months to track down Teixeira even when the airman was freely posting sensitive documents on social media platform Discord, popular with gamers. 'Leaking classified information jeopardizes our national security, negatively impacts our relationship with our allies, and places the safety of US military and intelligence personnel at grave risk,' said Turner. 'While we seek to learn the extent of classified information released and how to mitigate the fallout, the House Intelligence Committee will examine why this happened, why it went unnoticed for weeks, and how to prevent future leaks.' The entrance to Joint Base Cape Cod, where the suspect in an intelligence leak, Jack Douglas Teixeira, served as an Air National Guardsman, in Pocasset, Massachusetts, 13 April 2023 Representative Mike Turner of Ohio, who heads the intelligence committee as well as a member of the armed services committee, is demanding answers on why it took several months to find him 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 Teixeira's arrest on Thursday came after hundreds of pages of documents had been posted on the social media platform Discord. 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, according to the New York Times. 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'. The Biden administration is now 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,' in a statement issued to CNN. The alleged leaker reportedly went by the nickname 'OG' and 'Jack The Dripper' 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, citing 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.' Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine has devastated Russia's clandestine special (Spetsnaz) forces, classified American documents that were leaked online reported. According to the assessment, it will take Moscow years to rebuild its Spetsnaz units back to their former strength after they were sent to the front lines by Putin's bungling commanders to prop up their failing infantry. The leak first became widely known about a week ago, setting Washington on edge about the damage they may have caused to Ukraine's war effort. The episode embarrassed the US by revealing its spying on allies and Kyiv's vulnerabilities. But the revelations have also demonstrated how deep American spy networks have infiltrated the Kremlin's own intelligence agencies and military command structure. And to compound the Kremlin's own embarrassment, the documents have also provided a damning assessment of Russia's own military capabilities. Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine has decimated Russia's clandestine special (Spetsnaz) forces, classified American documents that were leaked online reported. Pictured: Russian Spetsnaz march during the military parade at Red Square on May 9, 2021 in Moscow (file photo) This photograph taken on Feb. 27, 2022 shows a Russian Armoured personnel carrier burning next to unidentified soldier's body during fight with the Ukrainian armed forces in Kharkiv The deployment of Spetsnaz units is typically reserved for stealthy, high-risk missions which require soldiers with significant determination, skill and ruthlessness. READ MORE: Ukraine denies its troops are surrounded in Bakhmut after Russia claimed it had cut off last supply route - as terrifying video shows thermite bombs raining down over city Advertisement In the early days of the war, it is understood such units were ordered - and failed - to penetrate the heart of Kyiv and capture Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky. For such missions, the units receive some of the most advanced training available to Russia's military which takes years to complete - and high levels of expertise. However, when Putin ordered his forces across the border in February 2022, Russia's senior commanders ordered their elite forces into combat - not trusting their conventional fighters to be effective on their own. As a result, the units have taken heavy losses. This is according to top-secret US intelligence findings that emerged in the leak, and that prompted a national security investigation culminating in the arrest of Jack Teixeira - a 21-year-old national guardsman on Thursday. One of the leaked documents, seen by the Washington Post, shows before-and-after satellite imagery of a base used by the 22nd Separate Spetsnaz Brigade. The images of the base in southern Russia reveal that 'all but one of five Russian Separate Spetsnaz Brigades that returned from combat operations in Ukraine in late summer 2022 suffered significant losses,' The Post reports. The satellite images show the base in November 2021, and again a year later. The earlier image shows a well populated base full of vehicles, while the second is far more empty - which the US intel concluded shows a state of extreme depletion. The assessment says the 22nd Separate Spetsnaz Brigade as well as two other units have suffered an estimated 90 to 95 per cent attrition rate, The Post says. It takes four years for Russia to train a Spetsnaz soldier, according to the documents seen by the American publication, which concludes that it could take as long as a decade for Moscow to replenish its ranks of these elite units. The loss of experienced units will also be a major problem for the Russian armed forces, the document assesses. While The Post says that the documents do not state how many Spetsnaz troops have been killed or wounded in Ukraine, it reported the intel as saying that one unit alone - the 346th - lost almost the entire brigade. It said just 125 of 900 remained deployed. Rob Lee, a Russia military expert and senior fellow with the Foreign Policy Research Institute, told The Post that by pushing special units to the front lines, Russian commanders have burned through them at an alarming rate. The tactic was seen in the early days of the war when Moscow attempted to seize Kyiv, he told The Post, and in the eastern city of Kharkiv. In Khariv, Lee told the publication, Spetsnaz troops arrived in small numbers and with little support. Many were killed or captured, he said, adding that a similar situation was seen in the southern city of Mariupol and in the eastern Donbas. The US documents say that the loss of special troops will have a knock-on effect. The Russian military will have lost its ability to train paramilitary groups, and will also mean its special forces will be less effective in other parts of the world. Pictured: Russian Spetsnaz fighters are seen training in this file photo. According to the US assessment, it will take Moscow years to rebuild its Spetsnaz units back to their former strength after they were sent to the front lines in Ukraine Pictured: Russian Spetsnaz fighters are seen training in this file photo. It takes four years for Russia to train a Spetsnaz soldier, according to the documents seen by the US publication, which concludes that it could take as long as a decade for Moscow to replenish its ranks of these elite units 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. 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 defences, 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 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. Russian paratroopers were filmed at Hostomel airbase on the first day of the invasion before being wiped out by Ukrainian forces in their doomed bid to take the site. Pictured: Footage posted online purports to show at least eight Russian troops getting out of a helicopter at the airbase on February 24 in an attempt to seize it 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 news agency 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.' Cara Delevingne has launched a new eco-warrior project 'to teach people how to help the planet' - only to immediately draw attention to her own jet-setting lifestyle. The British model, 30, is getting involved in Earthed, which has been created to inform people of the ways they can reduce their environmental impact. But practising what she preaches will involve some dramatic changes to her own lifestyle, which saw her enjoy at least a dozen trips in the last year alone. This includes holidays to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Aspen, Colorado; and the Balearic island of Formentera and Ibiza. She's also jetted off to industry events in Mumbai, Cannes, Los Angeles, New York, Portafino, Italy and her hometown of London. Ms Delavigne is taking part in another green campaign, 'EcoResolution', alongside Kim Kardashian, Rita Ora, Jaden and Willow Smith, Karlie Kloss, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Jack Black. The model visited Cabo San Lucas in Mexico with her girlfriend Minke earlier this year Ms Delevingne in Los Angeles getting off a private jet owned by Jay Z Ms Delevingne gets off a private jet owned by Jay Z in Los Angeles in September 2022 The model on holiday with celebrity pals and sister Poppy on a yacht in Formentera, Spain in August last year Jack Black reveals his resolution is to stop eating red meat, while Kardashian - who has a $2.1million fleet of supercars - says she is only having plant based foods. In a video introducing the initiative, Ms Delavigne says: 'The climate and ecological collapse are happening right now. 'I've made a resolution to make positive changes in my daily life, to cut my consumption, to limit catastrophic climate change and to support my mental health.' Ms Delevingne's latest holiday was to the seaside city of Cabo San Lucas in Mexico with her girlfriend, Minke. The couple were seen strolling through Cabo airport, with jet-setter Cara well- prepared for the flight with her pillow in hand. Even more glitzy was her 30th birthday celebrations in Spain last year, which saw her join a plethora of A-list pals on a lavish yacht trip. Ms Delevingne was in good company as among her famous friends on the trip was Sienna Miller, 41, who looked incredible in a brown bikini, while Margot Robbie, 32, was seen cooling off amid a refreshing dip in the Mediterranean. The birthday girl looked to be having the best time as she smeared frosting over her lips and playfully tried to rub it on her p al Adwoa Aboah. Ms Delevingne was spotted with some of the group in Ibiza a week later as the lively celebrations came to a close. Joining her on the trip were Margot Robbie, Sienna Miller, Adwoa Aboah and Lady Mary Charteris Ms Delevingne having fun in the Maldives in December 2016 with a group of friends including her sister, Poppy Last winter she enjoyed a ski holiday to Aspen in Colorado Ms Delevingne is to becomes an eco-warrior as she launches new online project to help teach sustainability Earthed will be funded partially by donations from users but will be free for those who can't afford to pay. Ms Delevingne first started her charity work with Initiative Earth back in April 2021 and is hoping to officially launch her new platform next month. A source told The Sun: 'Cara is hugely passionate about this project and she is thrilled about Earthed being launched. 'She helped to create a platform with her charity, Initiative Earth, of which she is a trustee. 'Earthed will feature lectures from renowned figures in the natural world and will bring together communities. 'Cara has ensured everything is covered, from growing vegetables to helping people understand what they can do to make a difference.' Ms Delevingne jetted to Mumbai last month for the Dior Fall 2023 show. The model put on a leggy display in the chic printed dress as she attended the swanky fashion show. Ms Delevingne turned heads in a bold satin kimono top that was layered over a cream collared shirt for the event at the Gateway of India landmark monument. She showed off her edgy sense of style in the ensemble which was completed with a choker and quirky eye makeup. Ms Delevingne doing yoga on a sunny terrace with her dog, Alfie, in a photo she shared on Instagram in July 2021 The model taking a dip in June last year. She shared this photo on her Instagram Ms Delevingne grew up in West London, but now splits her time between the UK and America. Recently, she opened the doors to her quirky Mad Hatter-inspired Los Angeles home, revealing an array of off-the-wall decor, from a ball pit to a pink 'vagina tunnel'. Welcoming cameras into her 'adult playhouse,' she revealed that her home includes a 'pink p****y palace' featuring a swing and a stripper pole, as well as a secret passageway crafted in the style of a womans private parts. The model showed off the unique features of her home in a video for Architectural Digest, taking viewers through a tour of Alice in Wonderland-inspired abode. The home was designed with architect Nicolo Bini of Line Architecture, whom Cara describes as the Mad Hatter to her Alice in Wonderland. It includes lots of color, patterns and a vagina tunnel, which the magazine describes as 'a secret passageway concealed behind a low, painted panel, which leads from the living room to an adjacent bunk room.' Tucked away behind a mirrored door in the living room, the tunnel has a pink cushion on the inside of the door and nearly-closed pink drapes on either side. Between the fabric are darker pink feathers, as well as a hanging white ball seemingly meant to represent the clitoris. Ms Delevingne's trip to the Maldives in 2016 was a freebie involving more than 100 people The group enjoyed a completely free visit to Finolhu Baa Atoll resort in the Maldives - in return for posing photos of the on social media Today isn't the first time Ms Delevingne's travel habits have raised eyebrows. In 2016, she joined her sister Poppy and 160 of their friends on a holiday to Finolhu Baa Atoll resort in the Maldives - in return for posing photos of the freebie on social media. But the hundreds of images emerging from the sun-kissed break stoked resentment and jealousy among those left behind in chilly Britain, prompting a string of sarcastic, rude and downright irritated responses. Stylist Grace Woodward told Ms Delevingnes PR pal Dean Piper: You are getting blocked so she wouldnt have to see any more images. TV producer Luke Alkin wrote Intolerable. Absolutely intolerable under an image of a topless pal, while another follower joked: Looks rubbish. The group of models, It Girls and hangers-on spent their week partying, with no fewer than five fancy-dress shindigs, each bringing a new flurry of social media activity. Alcohol flowed freely, with pina coladas the cocktail of the week. And there was no shortage of bubbly as several of the 136 villas had been set up with a champagne hotline a telephone with each number on the keypad ordering a different brand, including a 550 bottle of Cristal. But that had to be paid for. Among the guests, who posted more than 600 photos between them, were model Arizona Muse, Kate Mosss make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury, Helena Bonham Carters niece Rose, Ray Winstones actress daughter Jaime and Bryan Ferrys ex-wife Amanda Sheppard. Shoppers will be hit with a fresh blow this weekend after two major retailers announced they were closing 10 shops forever tomorrow. Fashion giant M&Co will be axing eight of its sites across Cheshire, Kent, Surrey, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and Scotland on Saturday. It's part of the latest round of closures after the firm announced in February it would shut all 170 of its shops - putting 1,910 jobs at risk. And in a double blow for Britain's beleaguered high streets, upmarket shop Marks and Spencer will also be closing two of its sites tomorrow. The news comes amid a crisis in Britain's retail trade, which has seen major firms including B&M, Argos and H&M announcing closures in 2023. Pictured are the locations of all the M&Co shops set to close up shop forever on Saturday after the fashion giant announced earlier this year it would be shutting all 170 of its branches Some M&Co branches, like this one in Broad Street, have already shut down - with more set to wrap up later this year And Marks and Spencer has announced it will be closing two of its shops on Saturday, bringing the total number shutting up for good this weekend to 10 Full list of shop closures this weekend M&Co: Congleton - April 15 Egham - April 15 Faversham - April 15 Haverhill - April 15 Orkney - April 15 Peterhead - April 15 Sleaford - April 15 Sudbury - April 15 Marks & Spencer: Middlesbrough - April 15 Bolton - April 15 Advertisement The latest casualties to close on April 15 include M&Co's outlets in Congleton, Egham, Faversham, Haverhill, Orkney, Peterhead, Sleaford and Sudbury. While M&S is shutting two of its stores for good tomorrow - its branch in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, and its store in Deansgate, Bolton, The Sun has reported. High Streets nationwide have taken a battering in recent months, with a double whammy of the coronavirus and skyrocketing energy bills piling financial strain on struggling companies. As well as retailers shutting up shops, food and drink chains have taken a hammering too, with Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's announcing closures. With shoppers being hit by ballooning costs, many are now spending less money on non-essential items to drive down their weekly bills. The increasing popularity of online shopping and deliveries has also seen footfall in British high streets plummet, piling even more pressure on retailers. After falling into administration last year, M&Co announced it would axe all 170 of its shops. The bust business was put up for sale by administrators Teneo, A spokesman from Teneo, previously confirmed the sale of M&Co brand and intellectual property to Yours Clothing but not the stores. The Peterborough-based group is also the owner of the menswear line BadRhino, the womenswear retailer Long Tall Sally and the maternity brand Bump It Up Maternity. The M&Co store in Egham (left) is among those closing up for good on April 15. It will be joined by the Sleaford branch (right) M&Co in Peterhead, Scotland, will also be closing up its site for good from tomorrow The company previously known as Mackays fell in to administration on December 9, for the second time in just two years. READ MORE: Major high street retailer reveals where shops will be closing within days as all 170 UK stores are set to disappear Advertisement Teneo blames M&Cos collapse on the sharp rise in costs while squeezed household budgets have also cut down sale numbers. At the time of M&Co's administration, online clothes are being discounted at 50 per cent off, while in shops items have 25 per cent off promotions. Industry experts also said at the time that M&Co had not attracted high street players such as Frasers, Next and Marks & Spencer who have recently swooped on bust retailers. Meanwhile, M&S has already closed multiple branches, including shops in London and Edinburgh. It comes as the company said it plans on closing 67 stores over the next five years. However, it's not all doom and gloom as the firm also plans to open 104 new 'bigger and fresher' food stores. This will include 20 shops across the UK this year, including in Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester. Almost half of Britons still support the Government's plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda - although most don't believe it will end the Channel migrant crisis. It was exactly a year ago today that the 120million Rwanda scheme was announced by then home secretary Priti Patel. Under the proposals, any adult who enters Britain illegally could be sent on a one-way ticket to the African country to have their asylum claim processed. But, over the past 12 months, no migrants have been sent to Rwanda from the UK as the Government battles legal challenges against the policy. A poll by the More In Common think tank, carried out between April 6 to 11, found that 46 per cent of people still support the Rwanda scheme. A poll by the More In Common think tank, carried out between April 6 to 11, found that 46 per cent of people still support the Rwanda scheme The Government has repeatedly hailed the Rwanda scheme as a means of providing a deterrent to migrants planning to cross the Channel on small boats It was exactly a year ago today that the 120million Rwanda scheme was announced by then home secretary Priti Patel. This compared to 28 per cent who oppose it and 27 per cent who said they were apathetic or had not made up their mind. In June last year, 44 per cent said they supported the plans versus 40 per cent who opposed it. The Government has repeatedly hailed the Rwanda scheme as a means of providing a deterrent to migrants planning to cross the Channel on small boats. Rishi Sunak, who has vowed to press ahead with the Rwanda plans, has promised to 'stop the boats' as one of his main immediate priorities as Prime Minister. But results of this week's More In Common poll, published by The Times, showed almost half (48 per cent) believed the policy would not make a difference to the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats. A further 3 per cent said it would lead to more migrants entering the UK illegally. This compared to only a third (34 per cent) who thought the Rwanda scheme would reduce the number of Channel mmigrant crossings, while 14 per cent said they didi not know whether the plan would work. Almost half (48 per cent) believed the Rwanda policy would not make a difference to the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats Mr Sunak has also promised to reduce the current 6million-a-day bill to British taxpayers for asylum seekers staying in hotels. This has seen the Government announce plans to establish new migrant accommodation on surplus military sites in Lincolnshire and Essex, an old prison in East Sussex, and a barge in Dorset. The More In Common poll found a third of people (36 per cent) support the proposal to house asylum seekers on a 506-capacity barge in Portland Port, compared to 21 per cent who oppose it. In an interview with the ConservativeHome website yesterday, Mr Sunak failed to commit to fulfilling his promise to 'stop the boats' by the time of the next general election. The PM admitted his aim of preventing migrants from crossing the Channel in dinghies 'won't happen overnight'. He said: '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.' German store firm Aldi has raised eyebrows after confusing Newport on the Isle of Wight with Newport in South Wales, 150 miles away. A refurb at Aldi's supermarket in Cowes, near Newport on the island in the English Channel, has seen the introduction of self-service checkouts. Ahead of them becoming operational, new signage has been installed to indicate to shoppers the alternative way of checking out. However, somewhere along the line, instructions have been lost in translation because the signage is in Welsh! Chuckling shoppers think those responsible for the printing and installation of the in-store signage have become confused as to Aldi Cowes' location, mistaking it for being near Newport in South Wales, 150 miles away. The Aldi store is located in Newport on the Isle of Wight but was mixed up with Newport in South Wales As a result some of the signs in the shops had Welsh language on them confusing some shoppers The incorrect signage reads 'Hunan Checkouts Arian parod a cherdyn', which in English translates as 'self checkouts, cash and card'. It's understood new signage has been ordered. The supermarket said it was 'an honest mistake'. One Facebook user praised the store for 'warmly welcoming Welsh visitors' while others wondered how the sign was put up before the error was detected. Aldi said it had removed the sign but declined to comment further. Recently, rival supermarket Asda said it 'hung its head' in shame after printing 'Isle of White' on special carrier bags to mark the opening of a branch at Newport on the island. A badly-translated sign at an Asda store in Cwmbran offered free alcohol instead of alcohol-free drinks in 2019. The supermarket chain also put up English-Welsh signage at a store in Cambridge as a 'temporary measure' in 2013. A British terrorist who was turned down for parole was automatically released just two months later at the end of his sentence. Khuram Iqbal, now 30, who once called himself the 'father of terrorism', was rejected for release by the Parole Board in October 2022, but was allowed to leave prison in December that year. Under current law, convicted terrorists such as Iqbal who are on a fixed determinate sentence and have behaved in prison will be released with a limited number of restrictions. For Iqbal, from Cardiff, these restrictions are unlikely to be more than a police notification order, which requires those given more than 12 months for terror offences to advise the police of practices such as unauthorised travel. The order, originally imposed on Iqbal in 2014, will run out next year if it has not been increased. The Home Office says it does not comment on individual cases, so it is not known if Iqbal has any new restrictions placed on him. Khuram Iqbal, now 30, was turned down for parole but then was automatically released just two months later at the end of his sentence Other typical areas covered by the order include providing personal information such as home address, date of birth, national insurance number, vehicle details, and bank account details. The limited amount of surveillance will be of concern as Iqbal has shown a willingness in the past to try and travel to join a proscribed group and also an appetite to disseminate violent and extremist Jihadi propaganda. Iqbal was jailed in 2014, then aged 21, for three years and three months for disseminating terrorist publications and possessing terrorist information. He was released on licence in May 2015 but recalled to jail in 2016 for breaching a ten-year notification order by failing to tell police about two cryptocurrency accounts. In December 2021, he pleaded guilty to four breaches between July 2019 and August 2021 and was sentenced to a further 16 months in prison. In October 2022, the Parole Board rejected Iqbal's parole application. A spokesman for the Parole Board told MailOnline: 'We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board refused the release of Khuram Iqbal following an oral hearing. 'Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community. He was released on licence in May 2015 but recalled to jail in 2016 for breaching a ten-year notification order by failing to tell police about two cryptocurrency accounts In December 2021, he pleaded guilty to four breaches between July 2019 and August 2021 and was sentenced to a further 16 months in prison 'A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims. 'Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead-up to an oral hearing. 'Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing. 'It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.' The Ministry of Justice confirmed Iqbal is no longer in jail and remains free in the UK. His trial in 2014 shone a light on the use of extremist material online to incite others to support terrorist organisations. Woolwich Crown Court was told that Iqbal advertised videos and articles which glorified terrorism for sale on six different Facebook pages. His online name was Abu Irhaab - Arabic for father of terrorism. Iqbal, a student at the time, admitted charges including the dissemination of terrorist publications. The court heard he was caught with nine copies of al-Qaeda magazine 'Inspire' on his laptop when he was arrested on October 8, 2013. Copies of the extremist publication included material designed to attract Muslims to violent anti-Western activities. Woolwich Crown Court was told that Iqbal advertised videos and articles which glorified terrorism for sale on six different Facebook pages One issue featured an article entitled 'How to make a bomb in the kitchen of your mum', along with instructions on handling an assault rifle and how to make and detonate a fire bomb. He had also attempted to join the Jihadist cause when he fled to Kenya with a friend in October 2011, the court heard. Both had 'displayed signs of radicalism prior to travelling', according to prosecutor Roger Smart who explained their families had reported them missing on October 8 of the same year. The pair were deported following their arrest in Kenya about 20km (12 miles) from the Somali border but faced no further charges on return to the UK. On 1 August 2012 it was said Iqbal made a second attempt to 'join the terrorist cause' by flying to Turkey with two friends. Jailing Iqbal, Judge Christopher Kinch KC said some of the material included videos glorifying Jihadi acts of violence, including some by Osama Bin Laden, and praising radical speeches by extremist leaders such as Abu Hamza. Other videos showed extremist training camps in action in Syria. Judge Kinch said: 'When you disappeared to Kenya it was out of the blue, and caused a lot of anguish to your family. 'You are susceptible to influence by others, and you were struggling with anxiety and panic attacks at the time of offending. 'The overall view is that you are a young man in the grip of extremist influence.' Nathan Rasiar, defending Iqbal, told the court Iqbal accepted he was subject to 'some extreme views'. The hearing was also told that following the failed Kenya trip, Iqbal was enrolled on the Government's Prevent program - engaging in meetings with Islamic scholars to move away from extremist views. But during his engagement with the program Iqbal posted a wide range of videos and texts glorifying terrorism. In total he published links to 848 examples of extreme content on the internet. In December 2021, at his trial, the Old Bailey heard he had traded in cryptocurrency via an account with online platform Coinbase. Between November 10, 2017 and March 20, 2021 there were 392 transactions, with nearly 12,000 deposited. In January 2020, Iqbal made three Bitcoin transactions on a site on the dark web used for selling stolen credit card credentials. Coinbase issued a suspicious activity report prompting a police investigation. An examination of a mobile phone found at his home revealed cryptocurrency applications as well as a browser enabling access to the dark web. Interviewed by police, Iqbal said he dealt in cryptocurrency but denied using the dark web. Mr Justice Sweeney told Iqbal: 'The very nature of cryptocurrency is that it is untraceable and in the end with both your emails and cryptocurrency accounts below the surface, you were able to conduct in numerical terms a considerable amount of trading in cryptocurrency under the radar of the requirements in circumstances where that should not have been the case.' Court reports at the time did not state that Iqbal had received any increase to his ten-year police notification order issued in 2014. The Home Office told MailOnline: 'Protecting the British public is our first priority. We have strengthened the tools available to the Security Service and Counter-Terrorism Police to manage the risk posed by individuals of terrorism concern, including those released from prison.' It said the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 introduced enhanced sentences and penalties for terrorist offenders. A Vatican academy is set to investigate 'mystical phenomena' around the world including 'weeping' statues of the Virgin Mary, stigmata and ghost sightings under plans for a new dedicated observatory. The Pontifical Mariana International Academy (PAMI), which describes itself as a scientific institution of the Holy See, will hope to uncover 'around a hundred ongoing phenomena' in Italy alone. The specialist observatory, which is still awaiting authenticity by the Church, will 'evaluate and study apparitions and mystical phenomena' across the globe, Vatican News reports. It will delve into ghost sightings, interior locutions and stigmata - which believers see as bodily marks, scars or pains corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ. On the launch of the new Observatory Scientific Committee, Mariologist Father Gian Matteo Roggio told local Italian media: 'In Italy there are around a hundred ongoing phenomena that the Church is following closely. A Vatican academy is set to investigate 'mystical phenomena' around the world including 'weeping' statues of the Virgin Mary under plans for a new dedicated observatory. Pictured: 'Crying statue' of the Virgin Mary 'weeps tears of blood for the 38th time' in Argentina (left) in 2018, while another Madonna is said to have done the same in Italy in recent years (right) The Pontifical Mariana International Academy (PAMI), which describes itself as a scientific institution of the Holy See, will hope to uncover 'around a hundred ongoing phenomena' in Italy alone. Pictured: St Peter's Square, Vatican City 'Many of these are local and restricted in scope, not all of them receive attention from the media and the general public.' The new observatory committee, which will begin its first session on Saturday, had been keeping its eye on a curious case involving a weeping Mary statue in Trevignano, near Rome. It involved an Italian woman facing an investigation for fraud after claiming her Virgin Mary statue could cry tears of blood and multiply gnocchi and pizza. Thousands flocked to see Gisella Cardia's predictions after her statue of Our Lady of Trevignano Romano began 'weeping' blood. Followers believed she brought messages from Mary and some said she'd even predicted the Covid pandemic. However, church investigators recently discovered the blood which her statue wept was not holy and actually came from a pig, according to local media. Officials believe she has now fled after fleecing her followers with tens of thousands of Euros in donations. This is not the first time that church officials have decided to probe 'weeping' Virgin Mary statues. PAMI, which will begin its first session on Saturday, had been keeping its eye on a curious case involving a weeping Mary statue (pictured) in Trevignano, near Rome Gisella Cardia (pictured), 53, has been exposed as a fraud after church investigators discovered the blood her statue wept was not holy and actually came from a pig Followers believed Cardia brought messages from Mary and some said she'd even predicted the Covid pandemic Back in 2018, a New Mexico church found a Madonna which was leaking olive oil, sparking excitement that there was a supernatural force behind it. Bishop Oscar Cantu of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Hobbs, US, said the church would determine whether or not the sign was a good one or an evil one. Later that year, another Virgin Mary, this time in Argentina, was seen 'weeping' tears of blood for what was reputed to be the 38th time. The statue of the Virgin of the Mystic Rose has been linked to several 'miracles', such as a woman who had a three-inch tumour which reportedly disappeared after she visited it. A year prior, Catholic miracle investigators studied a Virgin Mary in Acapulco in south-western Mexico which began to 'shed tears' in front of its owners. The saint was a Mexican version of the Virgin Mary, nicknamed la Morenita, or the brunette. Devout followers were astonished when images and videos surfaced of tears seemingly streaming down its cheeks. In other incidents deemed to be supernatural, an Archdiocese in Connecticut, US, stunned followers last month when he claimed a parishioner witnessed the number of wafers he was handing out for Communion 'multiply'. PAMI's new observatory is also set to introduce local scientific committees in order to create a larger network for more probes. This statue of the Virgin Mary was claimed to be 'crying blood' in Argentina, for what was reputed to be the 38th time, in a 'miracle' Back in 2018, a New Mexico church found a Madonna which was leaking olive oil, sparking excitement that there was a supernatural force behind it Catholic miracle investigators studied a Virgin Mary in Acapulco in south-western Mexico. which began to 'shed tears' in front of its owners Father Stefano Cecchin, part of the committee explained: 'The purpose of the Observatory [is] to activate national and international commissions to evaluate and study apparitions and mystical phenomena reported in various areas of the world. He added: '[It will] promote updating and training activities on this type of events and their multiple spiritual and cultural meanings, promote high dissemination and consultancy activities, especially at the service of local Churches and bishops, but also trans-disciplinary research activities in concert with academic institutions, both lay and ecclesiastical, and the publication of the results of the researches carried out.' Fellow committee member Father Roggio has previously spoken on the topic of mystical phenomena, notably in 2021 when he revealed that demand for exorcisms boomed during the pandemic. The Catholic priest told The Telegraph at the time: 'We have seen an increase in the request for exorcisms because the pandemic has made people more vulnerable to the idea that Satan or some evil entity has taken over their lives. 'People have fallen into poverty; they found themselves suffering from anxiety and depression. They feel that their lives are no longer in their own hands but in the hands of a malign force. It's a big crisis.' He was speaking at a six-day international conference where more than 100 priests and bishops from around the world gathered in Rome to attend the world's only recognised course on exorcism. Dame Joanna Lumley has called on the Government to keep its promise to end battery cages for chickens, after undercover footage exposed 'cruelly overcrowded' conditions at a major egg producer. The secretly-obtained video recording shows the reality of battery cage farming. Investigators covertly filmed birds struggling to stand, some totally bald with swollen heads and extreme feather loss, as well as dead hens left in cages. Reviewed by a veterinary expert, the footage was described as being 'worryingly normal' in caged battery chicken farms. The operators of Carr Farm in Withernsea, East Yorkshire insist that they raise 'healthy, well-managed birds' in an 'enriched colony cage system'. The appalling conditions faced by battery cage chickens were captured on film secretly recorded at Carr Farm in Withernsea, East Yorkshire Dame Joanna Lumley has called on the Government to keep its promise to end battery cages for chickens, following the undercover investigation Government ministers have repeatedly promised they would eliminate battery cages for hens. Dame Joanna said the images show the grim reality of chickens forced to live in cages and threw down the gauntlet to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to watch the video. She added: 'How many times must the British public voice its horror at the way laying hens are treated before the Government acts? 'I dare the Prime Minister to watch this footage and claim his Government takes animal welfare seriously.' The Government has repeatedly said it is committed to making the industry end the use of cages but has yet to launch a public consultation on a proposed ban, despite promising one by the end of 2022. In 2022, Defra ministers Victoria Prentis and Steve Double respectively said the Government was 'committed to phasing out confinement systems' and that 'Transitioning to non-caged systems continues to be a government priority'. Denmark, Germany, Austria and Switzerland have all banned keeping hens in cages. The undercover footage exposed 'cruelly overcrowded' conditions at a major egg producer Reviewed by a veterinary expert, the footage was described as being 'worryingly normal' in caged battery chicken farms It showed chickens locked away in cages (left) with some showing visible wounds on their body (right) Dame Joanna Lumley said that the images shows the grim reality of chickens forced to live in cages and threw down the gauntlet to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to watch the video Animal rights charity Open Cages, which obtained the covert recordings, said it is 'furious' at the Government's inaction. It investigated firm K Fresh as one of hundreds of British egg producers that still confine birds to cages. It says that in all around ten million laying hens nationwide are kept in cages - accounting for over a quarter of all British eggs produced. Open Cages activists visited Carr Farm three times between November and February and installed hidden cameras, which they allege revealed 'excessive animal cruelty'. They say that hens were suffering in cramped conditions with 'no natural light, no fresh air and no space to roam'. Numerous hens had feather loss caused by pecking from stress or contact with their cage and some had died. The charity claims most of the hens in one of the producer's seven poultry sheds went more than a day unchecked by workers and says it plans to report the farm to the authorities for alleged neglect. In Europe, Denmark, Germany, Austria and Switzerland have all banned the practice of keeping hens in cages. Pictured is the battery farm of the major egg supplier Animal rights charity Open Cages, which obtained the covert recordings, said it is 'furious' at the Government's inaction Numerous hens had feather loss caused by pecking from stress or contact with their cage and some had died. Pictured is the carcass of one bird It investigated firm K Fresh as one of hundreds of egg producers across the UK that still confine birds to cages Chief executive Connor Jackson said: 'I'm furious at the Government for breaking yet another promise for animals. 'Our footage proves that there are no happy hens in cages. These poor birds are forced to endure horrendous, unnatural conditions and that's why all major supermarkets are phasing them out. 'But 10 million hens remain trapped in cruel cages as a result of the Government's inaction.' The Mail asked veterinary professor Andrew Knight, director of the University of Winchester's Centre for Animal Welfare, to review the charity's footage. He concluded that the 'severe crowding and barren environment' of the cages was causing the hens suffering. He highlighted cage surfaces heavily contaminated with faeces, feathers and cobwebs and said that hygiene levels were a 'great concern'. He said dead hens should be removed within 24 hours and severely injured or sick birds should be seen by vets for treatment or euthanasia. But he added: 'Sadly, the scandal here is that these standards are worryingly normal across the industry and how different that is from what the public rightly expects in terms of the safeguarding and welfare of farm animals.' Andrew Knight, director of the University of Winchester's Centre for Animal Welfare, reviewed the footage and said 'severe crowding and barren environment' of the cages was causing the hens suffering. The charity that obtained the footage investigated firm K Fresh as one of hundreds of egg producers across the UK that still confine birds to cages K Fresh has been producing eggs for UK consumers for more than 50 years and supplies some of the country's big shops In 2004, K Fresh was one of the first producers nationwide to install an enriched colony cage system. Pictured are some of the eggs collected from the battery farm K Fresh has been producing eggs for UK consumers for over 50 years and supplies some of the country's big retailers. In 2004, it was one of the first producers nationwide to install an enriched colony cage system. This was hailed in local newspaper reports at the time as providing hens with a 'near perfect environment, offering exceptionally high standards of hygiene'. On its website, K Fresh says: 'We believe healthy, well-managed birds produce consistently high quality eggs, and in pursuing that philosophy we have pioneered the Enriched Colony Cage System. 'This system provides our birds with a social, disease free (our birds have low drug residue), enhanced climate environment, running on a natural day/night cycle.' K Fresh director Tom Kirkwood said he was 'very confident' the firm upholds proper welfare standards at the farm. He asked to see the Open Cages footage but declined to comment on it. A Defra spokesperson said: 'Egg producers and consumers should rightly have pride in the quality of British eggs, with about 75 per cent coming from free range, barn and organic production systems. 'We will continue to work with retailers and producers to ensure we maintain and enhance the high standards of animal health and welfare we have in this country, including on our farms.' Evidence of dead hens were found at the battery farm, which led a top vet to slam the conditions faced by the chickens Cage surfaces heavily contaminated with faeces, feathers and cobwebs and said that hygiene levels were a 'great concern' The footage was secretly filmed and has sparked an outcry for the government to take action A British Egg Industry Council spokesperson said: 'Independent auditors conducted an immediate audit of the farm on behalf of the British Egg Industry Council and the BEIC is confident that there is no food safety risk. 'The audit showed that the majority of birds in the unit are fit and healthy. The imagery edited and selected by Open Cages includes some showing feather loss which is inevitable in any older flock. 'Although feather loss can look distressing to the human eye, it is common for older hens to show feather wear. Hens in indoor production systems are not reliant on feathers for warmth and it causes them no discomfort or distress. 'The BEIC has increased its auditing of the farm to ensure that any non-conformances are addressed and the highest standards are maintained at all times. 'British eggs are produced to the highest standards in the world to ensure the best possible welfare for hens across all systems of production, which are in place to cater for consumer choice.' Responding to the footage, K Fresh said: Our birds are our absolute priority. We always strive to achieve the highest standards of bird welfare, with the farm subject to regular independent audit. We will continue to work closely with our specialist poultry vet to ensure that bird welfare is at the centre of everything we do. A protester shouted abuse at King Charles and accused him of being friends with paedophile Jimmy Savile as he threw five eggs at the new monarch during a visit to York, a court heard today. Patrick Thelwell, 23, a university student, was arrested by police in the crowd as bystanders rushed to protect the King and his wife the Queen Consort last November. Michael Smith, prosecuting, told York Magistrates Court the eggs 'passed over' the King and narrowly missed him. Thelwell allegedly shouted obscenities as he hurled the eggs and as police arrested him. Mr Smith said he shouted 'paedophile', 'King Charles is a paedophile' and 'friends with Jimmy Savile'. Patrick Thelwell arrives at York Magistrates' Court charged with threatening behaviour The court heard Thelwell shouted 'King Charles is a paedophile' as he threw five eggs at the new monarch Footage caught the moment the eggs flew past King Charles as he was greeted by city leaders in the centre of York last year CCTV and police bodycam footage was played to the court, showing the egg-throwing incident and the aftermath. The court heard Thelwell was heard to say 'I threw eggs at him because that's what he deserved. It's the only justice the victims of colonialisation will ever get.' Adding: 'Did I get him? I didn't get him. Someone will get him.' Plain-clothed officers in the crowd were the first to grab the protesters before uniformed police also swooped, the court heard. Thelwell was handcuffed and arrested by officers. A sixth unbroken egg later fell out of his pocket before he was driven to the police station. When questioned by police he refused to comment. PC Adam Steventon, who arrested Thelwell, said he was shouting 'f*** the King' and so he put his hand over his mouth to silence him as families were close by and upset by what the protester was saying. He said people were 'angry' at what happened. 'There was a lot of angry people there. One gentleman said "you've ruined this for everybody."' When he was being taken out of his police station cell, an officer commented on the high heel on Thelwell's shoes. Thelwell replied 'I know it's so I could see him through the crowd' and made a throwing gesture, said Mr Smith. Thelwell commented that it 'was a joke.' In his defence Thelwell told Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring he was acting 'out of necessity' and he had not carried out unlawful violence. 'The violence I was accused of is throwing an egg,' he said. 'If that amounts to unlawful violence then the violence carried out by the British state is at such a severe level I can't be held accountable for my crime while the crimes of the British state go unpunished.' Thelwell, who is a student of the University of York, is representing himself in court Thelwell denied a public order offence of using threatening, words or behaviour Thelwell, who is representing himself in court, asked PC Steventon in cross examination if he had seen the crowd pulling his hair and shouting 'for him to be killed' and 'for his head to be put on his spike'. The officer replied: 'No'. He also claimed the officer had repeatedly pushed his head into the ground but the officer denied this, adding: 'Anything we did towards you was done with absolute minimum force.' After viewing a video of the incident, PC Steventon added: 'I did put my hand on his head as he shouted these obscenities but I don't think anyone would say I did this with any degree of force.' Thelwell claimed his actions towards the King were 'lawful violence' and he did not resist arrest. Thelwell, who is doing a masters in international relations delivered a speech to the court about the 'obscenity of the monarch flaunting their wealth and power in the City of York.' Thelwell said 'millions of people' agreed that 'my actions were just, moral and necessary.' He claimed the British state was committing 'tyrannical state violence' and 'crimes against humanity' through its economic and climate policy. Protesters outside York Magistrates' Court, where Patrick Thelwell is charged with threatening behaviour He also criticised the government's policy to deal with illegal immigration, claiming the UK was 'creating concentration camps' at home and in Rwanda. Questioned by the District Judge, he admitted throwing the five eggs at the King and accusing him of being a 'paedophile.' He also admitted committing 'low level violence.' Thelwell denied a public order offence of using threatening, words or behaviour. The case continues King Charles arrived at Sandhurst today for the 200th Sovereign's Parade, amid reports he is looking forward to his Coronation as a chance to heal family rifts. His Majesty inspected 171 officer cadets who have just gone through 44 weeks of intensive training at the prestigious military academy 26 of them international cadets from 15 different countries. Charles presented a new Sovereign's Banner to the receiving Ensigns, while that of the late Queen will also be paraded. Later, the monarch gave an address and presented the prize winners' awards, including the Sword of Honour. In his speech, he referenced his warring sons as he said: 'Speaking as a father of two alumni of this academy who remembers their passing out parades, I know they will be full of immense pride in witnessing you on parade.' Charles last attended The Sovereign's Parade in December 2015, representing his late mother. His visit comes just days after a former Army chief revealed the Queen wanted both William and Harry to fight with British forces in Afghanistan. His Majesty visited Sandhurst today for the 200th Sovereign's Parade His Majesty inspected 171 officer cadets who have just gone through 44 weeks of intensive training at the prestigious military academy Charles with William and Harry at the Sovereign's Parade on April 12, 2006 The decision over whether the princes should take part in the conflict was discussed between the late monarch and General Sir Mike Jackson, who was head of the British Army at the time. In upcoming ITV documentary, The Real Crown, Sir Mike said: 'What goes on in those audiences and who says what to whom remains for the two people involved, and I will break the rule about not divulging what goes on on this one occasion. 'She was very clear. She said, 'My grandsons have taken my shilling, therefore they must do their duty'. And that was that. But it was decided that William as heir to the heir, the risk is too great. But for his younger brother, the risk was acceptable.' Meanwhile preparations are continuing for the King's Coronation, which Charles hopes will be a chance to heal family divisions including with Prince Andrew, it is claimed. Prince Harry will be staying at Frogmore Cottage for the final time for his flying visit to the UK and will be just two fields away from Adelaide Cottage, where his brother, wife and three children live. Charles salutes during today's visit to Sandhurst - where he honoured his late mother the Queen William is said to have no plans to speak to the Duke of Sussex after his attacks on him, his wife and father in Spare and his Netflix documentary. Harry will have no formal role in the Coronation and also faces the cold shoulder from his family - apart from perhaps Beatrice and Eugenie. Charles is said to be very pleased his youngest son is coming and his mood is described as 'generally quite forgiving', however, the Prince of Wales is understood to still feel betrayed and angry, particularly by the revelations in the memoirs. One source told The Telegraph that the 'gulf' between the brothers, who were once as close as siblings could be, is now so large they cannot see how their relationship can ever be repaired. But their father hopes his crowning on May 6 can heal some of those wounds and he will also use the event to bring his younger brother Andrew in 'from the cold'. But Andrew's ex-wife Sarah, the Duchess of York, is not invited and will watch the Westminster Abbey ceremony at home where she plans to hang bunting and chomp on Coronation chicken sandwiches like millions of others. It takes 44 weeks of intensive training from walking through the gates of the Academy to the march onto the Sovereign's Parade to be the latest to uphold Sandhurst's motto 'Serve to Lead' The 200th Parade saw 171 Officer Cadets commissioning as Army Officers His Majesty was invited to inspect Officer Cadets of the Senior Division The Parade marks completion of 44 weeks of intensive training for the Officer Cadets, all of whom will hold His Majesty's Commission as of midnight on the day of the parade Among those on parade were 26 international cadets from 15 countries who will become commissioned officers in their new countries King Charles carried a ceremonial sceptre in his right hand during today's event at Sandhurst It would have been an emotional occasion for the King, with those present paying tribute to his late mother Charles inspects Officer Cadets on parade during the 200th Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst trains officers for the British Army as well as those of Britain's allies Charles looked to be in good spirits as he chatted with dignitaries at the famous academy One friend told The Daily Telegraph that 'there's a warmth around the place and a proper rallying around the King, who in turn is showing some serious EQ [emotional intelligence] by ensuring the family is given the opportunity to pull together.' The insider added: 'All four siblings spent most of the Easter weekend together with assorted children and plus ones - including the Duchess [of York]. 'I suspect some Palace staff and parts of the media are well behind the curve in their understanding of this private family unity. The Duke [of York] stands four square behind the King.' Sussex supporters said Harry understood 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. Speaking to the Loose Women panellists earlier this month, Sarah Ferguson revealed: 'I always love to watch it on telly because you hear a lot on telly, the commentator's always good and then all the family come back. 'Because remember I am divorced from him [Prince Andrew] so you can't have it both ways. You can't be divorced and say 'I want this'.' Sarah continued: 'I think it's really great to be supportive, also when the family come home I know all the ins and outs and commentating on television.' 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. 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) Another source added: 'This is true. There have 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 opportunity for a resolution. But 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 that 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 there's 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 his 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 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. But 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. An earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck Java, Indonesia on Friday, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said. The quake was at a depth of 368 miles, EMSC said, and struck at 4:55 pm local time (0955 GMT), with Indonesia's geological agency ruling out a tsunami. The quake was strongly felt in Surabaya, Tuban, Denpasar, and Semarang, Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for Indonesia's Disaster Agency, told Reuters news agency. 'There is no damage reported so far because the quake is very deep,' Muhari said. 'I don't think there will damages but we are still monitoring.' Indonesia straddles the so-called 'Pacific Ring of Fire', a highly active seismic zone, where different plates on the Earth's crust meet and create a large number of earthquakes and volcanoes. The quake was at a depth of 368 miles, EMSC said, and struck at 4:55 pm local time (0955 GMT), with Indonesia's geological agency ruling out a tsunami The tremor was felt over a large part of the island of Java, and as far away as the island of Bali. 'In Surabaya, it was barely felt, but some lamps were swaying,' said an AFP reporter on the scene, adding that he felt the tremor 'for a while'. In November, a 5.6-magnitude quake hit West Java province, on the same island, killing 602 people. Most of the victims of that earthquake were killed when buildings collapsed or in landslides triggered by the tremor. A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Sumatra island in Indonesia on April 3, shaking homes of panicked residents but causing no casualties or damage. Earlier this year, two huge earthquakes struck Turkey, killing tens of thousands of people. At the time, scientists warned that fault lines around the world could be destabilised as a result of the quakes. The US Air Force today conducted aerial drills with two B-52 nuclear bombers over South Korean skies in their latest show of force after North Korea test-launched its first ever solid-fuel nuclear missile. Stunning images released by South Korea's Defense Ministry show two enormous USAF B-52H Stratofortress long-range strategic bomber aircraft soaring through the air, flanked by a squadron of South Korean F-35A and US F-16 fighter jets. The B-52H can deliver nuclear strikes over a range of more than 8,000 miles, can cruise at an altitude of up to 55,000ft, and can carry up to 70,000lbs of payload. The fearsome machine is one of the cornerstones of the United States' so-called 'nuclear triad' - its ability to launch nuclear attacks from land-based silos, nuclear-armed submarines and nuclear-armed long-range aircraft. This morning's sortie of two B-52s alongside South Korea's Air Force came just hours after the North test-fired its latest nuke - the Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), at a launch personally presided over by dictator Kim Jong Un. Dystopian images released late yesterday by the KCNA state news agency showed the despot sitting with his 10-year-old daughter watching the missile soar into space. Two US Air Force B-52H strategic bombers (top L) flying with South Korean Air Force F-35A (top R) and US Air Force F-16 (front) fighter jets during a joint air drill in South Korea The B-52H (top) is capable of delivering nuclear strikes over a range of more than 8,000 miles, can cruise at an altitude of up to 55,000ft, an can carry up to 70,000lbs of payload (South Korean F-35A jets also pictured) This handout photo taken on April 14, 2023 and provided by the South Korean Defence Ministry shows two US Air Force B-52H strategic bombers (C) flying with South Korean Air Force F-35A (L) and US Air Force F-16 (R) fighter jets North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) and his daughter presumed to be named Ju Ae inspecting the test-fire of the new Hwasong-18 ICBM This photo provided April 14, 2023, by the North Korean government, shows what it says is the test-launch of Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile This picture taken on April 13, 2023 shows the new Hwasong-18 ICBM at an undisclosed location in North Korea In remarks carried by KCNA, Kim described the Hwasong-18 missile as the 'most powerful' weapon of his nuclear forces, claiming it would 'enhance counterattack abilities in the face of external threats created by the military activities of the United States and their 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 choices. Pyongyang has justified its torrent of weapons demonstrations in recent months as a response to military exercises between the US and South Korea, which the North condemns as invasion rehearsals while using them as a pretext to advance its own development. Kim added that the Hwasong-18 would rapidly advance North Korea's nuclear response posture and further support an aggressive military strategy that vows to maintain 'frontal confrontation' against its rivals. North Korea has tested various intercontinental missiles since 2017 that demonstrated the potential range to reach the US mainland. However, previous iterations of the Hwasong line of ICBMs use liquid fuel that must be added relatively close to the launch. Additionally, liquid-fueled missiles cannot remain fueled for prolonged periods. A Hwasong-18 ICBM with built-in solid propellants would be easier to move, hide and fire quickly, reducing the opportunities for opponents to detect and counter the launch. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter presumed to be named Ju Ae inspecting the test-fire of the new Hwasong-18 ICBM Kim, his daughter and an official watch on as the ICBM soars into the sky This picture taken on April 13, 2023 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 14 shows the second stage separation scene taken by a camera mounted on the new Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) This is the moment that the Hwasong-18 ICBM successfully completed its third-stage separation in space This picture taken on April 13, 2023 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 14 shows an image of the Earth taken by a camera mounted on the new Hwasongpho-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Thursday's test did not appear to demonstrate the weapon's 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 Korea's goal to build a nuclear arsenal that could directly threaten the United States. In the hours after the test, KCNA released images purporting to show the missile undergoing several phases of flight in space. ICBMs are missiles that can carry warheads over huge distances. They achieve this by launching like a rocket into space and are guided thousands of miles around the globe before using gravity to re-enter the atmosphere and fall inexorably towards their target. To be classed as an ICBM, a missile must be able to carry a warhead more than 3,400 miles (5,400km) either through the air, or through space. Almost all nuclear missiles travel through space and are therefore painstakingly designed and reinforced to survive the heat and pressure of re-entry. ICBMs typically deliver nuclear weapons but can also carry conventional warheads. A Swedish father and son had the fishing trip of a lifetime after they managed to reel in an enormous 5ft-long cod which is big enough to feed 35 people. Soren Nilsson and his son Anders caught the gigantic cod during a fishing trip off Lofoten - an archipelago in Norway known for its stunning views of the northern lights, small villages and fishing. They managed to reel in the 'high quality' skrei cod - after a short struggle using rubber shad lures and pirks for bait. After successfully snaring the cod, they took it back to a makeshift dining table to be devoured by family and friends, but not before posing with their catch of the day. Both Soren and Anders were pictured cradling the 5ft-long cod, which weighs around 20kg, with both arms. A Swedish father and son had a fishing trip to remember after they managed to reel in an enormous 5ft-long cod. Pictured: Anders Nilsson with the giant cod For scale: When the massive cod was held upright, it came all the way up to Anders' chest in one photo Soren Nilsson and his son Anders caught the gigantic cod during a fishing trip off the Lofoten Islands - known for the northern lights - in Norway Meanwhile in one photo, Anders could be seen holding the cod upright which gives a perspective to how big the fish was. The top of the cod was in line with Anders' chest. Due to strict fishing laws in Norway, private fisherman are not permitted to sell their catches. However, had this cod been caught by a commercial fisherman, they could have sold it to a high-end restaurant, where 35 portions of cod could fetch upwards of 500. Skrei cod is a type of Norwegian dish, known for its lean meat and delicate, fresh taste. Some British seafood restaurants have taken cod off the menu full stop as they are so expensive to import. Industry figures show that UK sales of cod in the 12 months to January were some 55,400 metric tons, putting them behind Alaska pollock for the first time, which hit sales of 56,199t. Erik Axner, who organised the fishing trip, said: 'Most anglers coming to Lofoten dream about a 20kg skrei cod. 'It requires good knowledge, skills and a bit of luck to get the right fish to bite from the large shoals of fish. 'The skrei is a migrating cod that lives far north in the Barents Sea but during early spring they move down along the coast of Norway to spawn. Anders' father Soren Nilsson pictured with another massive cod that the pair caught on their trip Due to strict fishing laws in Norway, private fisherman are not permitted to sell their catches but it could have been worth up to 500 Anders needed to cradle the fish with both arms after he and his father caught it using rubber shad and pirks for bait 'This cod was caught on the south side of Lofoten. 'These fish were kept as food and is top quality fish for the dining table. 'From a fish of this size, you would get 7kg of fillet which would make 35 good portions. 'In Norway, it is illegal to sell fish as a private person but for a restaurant this would be a high value catch.' Cod typically weigh between 5kg and 11kg, measuring around 2.5ft in length. The world record catch for a cod weighed in at 96kg in 1895 off the coast of Massachusetts in the US. Rishi Sunak hailed Ukraine forces' resistance in Bakhmut today as he held talks with Volodymyr Zelensky. The PM was updated on the fierce fighting around the city - which Russia claims to have surrounded - in a call with the president this morning. They also discussed how to step up weapons supplies for the struggle against Vladimir Putin's forces, while Mr Sunak condemned an 'appalling' video appearing to show a captured Ukrainian soldier being beheaded. Russia has been trying to seize the eastern city, which had a pre-war population of 70,000, since last summer. However, experts say its strategic value is limited and a fall now would be largely symbolic. The Russian army said its airborne troops were 'blocking the transfer of Ukrainian army reserves to the city and the possibility of retreat for enemy units.' Ukrainian soldiers of the 80th brigade firing artillery in the direction of Bakhmut, on April 13 Rishi Sunak was updated on the fierce fighting around the city of Bakhmut - which Russia claims to have surrounded - in a call with the president this morning. It also said that Wagner mercenary units were advancing. But the Ukrainian army told AFP news agency it had communication with its troops inside Bakhmut and was able to send them munitions. 'This does not correspond to reality,' Sergiy Cherevaty, spokesman for Ukraine's eastern forces said, referring to Russia's claims. 'We are able to... deliver food products, ammunition, medicines, all that is necessary, and also to recover our wounded.' MailOnline has been unable to verify the status on the ground in the eastern city. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'The Prime Minister spoke to President Zelensky this morning. 'The leaders discussed the latest situation on the battlefield and the Prime Minister paid tribute to the efforts of the Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut. 'Discussing the abhorrent beheading of a Ukrainian soldier shown on social media in recent days, the Prime Minister said the video was appalling and those responsible had to be held to account. 'The leaders also discussed efforts to accelerate military support to Ukraine, and the Prime Minister said the UK and its allies needed to continue to ensure Ukraine was in the strongest possible position to build on its recent battlefield successes. 'That included increasing interoperability with Nato both in the short and long term, the Prime Minister added. 'The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.' High street shops have been closing in vast numbers since the start of 2023, with a number of major brands shutting branches across the UK. Brands such as Marks and Spencer and Clintons have closed a number of stores, whilst fashion retailer M&Co announced it will be leaving the high street for good after entering administration. Following the pandemic, high street footfall has dropped, leaving British high streets struggling to stay afloat. So, which high street stores have closed in April 2023? How many branches of Marks and Spencer, M&Co and Clintons have shut? Read on below for all you need to know about which stores are shutting and when. In February 2023, fashion giant M&Co announced it would shut all 170 of its shops - putting 1,910 jobs at risk Marks and Spencer will close two more branches in April 2023, but will open 104 new food stores Which high street stores have closed in April 2023? High streets nationwide have taken a battering in recent months in a battle to recover from reduced visits during the pandemic. M&Co will be axing eight of its sites across Cheshire, Kent, Surrey, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and Scotland on Saturday, 15 April, 2023. Brands have had to manage soaring energy bills, which have exacerbated the financial strain on struggling companies, whilst customers also affected by the cost-of-living crisis attempt to cut back on spending. As well as retailers shutting up shops, food and drink chains have taken a hammering too, with Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's announcing closures. With shoppers being hit by ballooning costs, many are now spending less money on non-essential items to drive down their weekly bills. The increasing popularity of online shopping and deliveries has also seen footfall in British high streets plummet, piling even more pressure on retailers. How many Marks and Spencer shops have shut? Marks and Spencer has been hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis and reduced numbers on high streets, having already closed multiple branches in 2023. The upmarket chain will also be closing two of its sites on Saturday, 15 April, 2023. This will see stores in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough and Deansgate, Bolton pull down their shutters for the final time. Despite the closures, M&S do plan to open 104 new food shops, according to The Sun. These will see 20 new M&S food stores open across the UK in 2023, including in Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester. How many branches of Clintons closed? Card retailer Clintons has already shut two stores in April 2023, closing branches in Chatham, Kent, and in the Scottish town of Kirkcaldy. The brand also closed a number of its shops last year, in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, Dorchester, Dorset and Ayr in Scotland. It is believed that Clintons will now be shutting down other branches across the country before the end of the month, according to the Express. Has M&Co closed? In February, fashion giant M&Co announced it would shut all 170 of its shops - putting 1,910 jobs at risk. A spokesman from Teneo, who were appointed as administrators of the business, previously confirmed the sale of M&Co brand and intellectual property to Yours Clothing but not the stores. Pictured are the locations of all the M&Co shops set to close up shop forever on Saturday, 15 April, 2023, after the fashion giant announced earlier in 2023 it would be shutting all 170 of its branches A notice on the M&CO website, which is currently not in operation, reads: 'M&Co online is no longer trading. AK Retail has acquired the M&Co brand, with plans to relaunch the web platform in the coming months. 'Some of our stores will remain open to shop for a limited time, with EVERYTHING AT LEAST 50% OFF. To check if your nearest store is still open visit M&Co Store Locator. 'If you have recently ordered from mandco.com, you can still track your order via the link in your despatch email. Our Customer Care team are still available if you have questions about orders, returns or refunds: https://support.mandco.com 'Thank you to all our customers from the whole team at M&Co.' The Project host Hamish Macdonald has slammed the Presbyterian Church's proposed ban on gay and sexually active students from leadership roles. Macdonald, an openly gay man, shared his thoughts on the church's controversial calls during Friday's panel discussion and said he doesn't see how the ban would actually be enforced. He's also a former student of The Scots College, one of Australia's oldest and most respected Presbyterian schools in Sydney's eastern suburbs. 'I was a prefect. I went to a Presbyterian school. There's clearly the principle of this, which I'm sure people have views on,' Macdonald said. 'The thing that strikes me is there's a practical side to this. 'Are you seriously going to ask 16 and 17-year-old kids vying to be a school prefect or head prefect 'are you gay?'.' The Project host Hamish Macdonald (right) questioned how The Presbyterian Church would enforce its proposed ban of gay and sexually active students from leadership roles Macdonald also expressed concern that the proposal could create new level of stigma around homosexuality in religious schools. 'Let's assume they're not going to run around asking these kids to declare themselves in that way as part of a process of selection. You sort of end up with a bit of a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy, which I think we know is pretty harmful,' he said. 'I think kids growing up in an environment where there is shame or some kind of negativity attached to whoever it is that they are.' He added he's struggled to grow out of the shame he felt for his own sexuality as a teenager. 'It's that sense of shame that is quite hard to shake, I think. In my adult life, it's something that's taken many years, and I think it stays with you forever,' Macdonald explained. 'If you've grown up in an environment like that where there's constantly shame attached to something you can't change about yourself, it does really take forever to work that out of your system and be able to be okay with who and what you are.' News of the Presbyterian Church's new position broke earlier on Friday with the organisation arguing students will 'not be able to give appropriate Christian leadership in a Christian school which requires modelling of Christian living'. The Presbyterian Church has over 500 congregations across Australia and runs more than 20 schools and pre-schools, including prestigious private schools in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Macdonald (pictured with his partner, Jacob Fitzroy) said the proposed ban could also create a 'don't ask, don't tell policy' around homosexuality in religious schools The church made the extraordinary demand in a submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission. The Presbyterian Church is also advocating for the ban to apply to anyone who has sex outside of marriage. The ALRC is currently reviewing religious schools and their exemption from federal anti-discrimination law. Some schools are currently not held accountable to the law if the discrimination adheres to their religious tenants and beliefs. The ALRC has asked for feedback on some of the proposed changes that would make it unlawful to discriminate against students based on their sexual orientation. The Presbyterian Church argued in its submission that students must be able to give 'appropriate Christian leadership' if they are elected as school captain. 'If this student were in an active same-sex relationship, they would not be able to give appropriate Christian leadership in a Christian school which requires modelling Christian living,' the submission read. 'This would also be the case for a student in a sexually active unmarried heterosexual relationship. 'In both cases, the proposal removes from schools the ability to determine an ethos by selecting appropriate leaders.' The Presbyterian Church has over 500 congregations across Australia and runs more than 20 schools and pre-schools (stock image) The ALRC is also reviewing a proposal that would make it unlawful to discriminate against teachers and staff based on their sexual orientation. The Presbyterian Church revealed in its submission it wants to retain the power to discriminate against staff if they do not 'live out the whole Christian faith consistently'. The church runs some of the most prestigious schools around the country, including Brisbane Boys' College and Somerville House in Queensland. Presbyterian Ladies' College and Scotch College in Victoria and Presbyterian Ladies' College and The Scots College in NSW are also on the list. Rainbow Families Queensland made its own submission saying some parents were too scared to speak out for fear of repercussions. 'Changing the outdated Sex Discrimination Act exemptions and ensuring that children are protected from discrimination by association will positively influence the culture of exclusionary schools over time,' the submission read. The review is expected to be handed down within weeks. Rules around mobile phone use in schools could come in across Australia with the federal education minister calling for a national policy. Queensland is the only state not to have implemented phone rules for state schools, with other jurisdictions either having a ban or asking students to turn them off. Federal education minister Jason Clare says that he will meet with state and territory counterparts in the coming months to discuss implementing a national policy. 'I think the time has come for a national approach to the banning or the restriction, the use of mobile phones by students in schools,' he told ABC Radio Brisbane. 'I think there is a good argument that we should be moving to a national best practice approach. And I'm intending to put this on the agenda when education ministers meet again in the middle of this year. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare (pictured) says that he will meet with his state and territory counterparts in the coming months to discuss implementing a national policy Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) said that her state would 'step up to the plate' if Mr Clare's desire for a national phone policy comes into place 'But also not make the decision on our own, talk to parents, talk to principals, talk to teachers about what's the best approach to take.' NSW is the latest state to introduce rules around mobile phones, banning their use in public secondary schools from Term 4 2023 with the ban was already in place in NSW public primary schools. The ban will apply during class, as well as during recess and lunch times. 'I know many parents who are anxious about the pervasiveness of phones and technology in our children's learning environments,' NSW Premier Chris Minns said. 'I think the time has come for a national approach to the banning or the restriction, the use of mobile phones by students in schools,' Mr Clare told ABC Radio Brisbane 'It's time to clear our classrooms of unnecessary distractions and create better environments for learning.' There are also blanket bans for phones in public schools in Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania. South Australia is trailing phone restrictions with a ban in place in 44 government schools, while mobiles aren't allowed at Northern Territory primary schools and high school students must turn them off during the day. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that her state would 'step up to the plate' if Mr Clare's desire for a national phone policy comes into place. A Denver high school temporarily shut down after two teachers - including a 24-year-old, who was experiencing symptoms of meningitis - died within a day of each other. Teacher Madelaine Schmidt, 24, of Denver, and paraprofessional Judie Geoffroy, 63, of Aurora, died earlier this week from unknown causes. Geoffroy also had symptoms of meningitis - a deadly infection that causes swelling to the brain and spinal cord - according to the local health department. Symptoms can include high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, or a purple rash. Autopsies have been run on both Schmidt and Geoffroy, but they are pending further tests to determine if the women had meningitis. Eaglecrest High School briefly shut down on Wednesday to perform contact tracing to determine which students and educators would have had close contact with the two professionals. It has since reopened, but the Integrated Learning Center - where both educators worked - will remain closed until Monday. Teacher Madelaine Schmidt, 24, of Denver, passed away earlier this week after experiencing symptoms of meningitis - a deadly infection that causes swelling to the brain and spinal cord. Her autopsy is pending results to see if she had the deadly infection Paraprofessional Judie Geoffroy, 63, of Aurora, also died this week. The two teachers - who both worked in the same department - died within 24 hours of each other. She was also experiencing symptoms Arapahoe County Corners Office said anyone in close contact with either educator will be 'offered preventative antibiotics.' Meningitis can be spread through close contact, as well as through spit and saliva, but it is not as contagious as the flu. No students or teachers have reported symptoms of meningitis since the shutdown, school spokesperson Lauren Snell told USA Today. Another teacher, Scott Nash - who works at a different school in the district - also died recently, but Snell said his 'death is an unrelated case and is not related to bacterial meningitis.' The school said it was a 'great sadness' to learn of the loss of the two educators and said mental health services will be available to students. Eaglecrest High School briefly shut down on Wednesday to perform contact tracing to determine which students and educators would have had close contact with the two professionals. It has since reopened, but the Integrated Learning Center - where both worked - will remain closed until Monday Schmidt's brother John posted a touching tribute on Facebook, writing: 'Madelaine Schmidt, you always posted us on siblings day, so I'm going to post you, thank you for being the greatest sister ever, I will always love you.' Among the array of more than 30 photos, John posted several childhood photos of his sister, from family photos with a man dressed as a gorilla to his sister making funny faces, to them competing to eat a Fruit by the Foot the fastest. John and her other brother Will shared on their Facebook pages that Schmidt's celebration of life would be April 21 at 6.30pm at One Life Church. 'As she would say be there or be square,' John wrote, alongside a photo of the two goofing off. Schmidt's celebration of life would be April 21 at 6.30pm at One Life Church Schmidt's brother John (pictured together) posted a touching tribute on Facebook, writing: 'Madelaine Schmidt, you always posted us on siblings day, so I'm going to post you, thank you for being the greatest sister ever, I will always love you.' Madelaine was a Northern Arizona University graduate and used to work as former dance instructor for the City of Westminster, her hometown, according to her Facebook page Geoffroy graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a teaching degree and had previously worked on an electronics assembly line for Lockheed Martin, according to her LinkedIn Madelaine was a Northern Arizona University graduate and used to work as former dance instructor for the City of Westminster, her hometown, according to her Facebook page. Geoffroy graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a teaching degree and had previously worked on an electronics assembly line for Lockheed Martin, according to her LinkedIn. DailyMail.com has reached out to family for comment. A Hawaiian surfer who lost his foot in a shark attack has described how he punched and swore at the predator in order to survive. Mike Morita, 58, said he is grateful to be alive after the terrifying encounter near Kewalo Basin off the coast of Honolulu. Morita told KHON 2 he was dragged under the waves by the shark, which officials reported was an eight-foot tiger shark, and the water was 'red' with his blood. He said he slipped his arm around the shark like a 'bear hug' and reached for its gills which caused it to let him go and he was able to get away. Despite his lucky escape, doctors were forced to amputate Morita's right foot. Morita said he is 'grateful to be alive' after losing his foot in the attack Morita has described how he punched and swore at the predator in order to survive Seasoned surfer Morita, who works as a ramp serviceman for United Airlines, planned to get in a few waves before going to an Easter service on April 9 when he was attacked shortly before 7 a.m. He said the water was 'crystal clear' and he was lying on his stomach on his board when he felt a bite on his right leg. He told KOHN 2 from his hospital bed: 'The sheer strength of it, I knew right away it was a shark. In that critical moment, I went to God.' 'God wanted me to fight, so I started beefing,' he said, using a Hawaii Pidgin term for fighting. He said he repeatedly punched and swore at the animal in a desperate attempt to break free - which got the attention of other surfers nearby. The creature pulled Morita underwater and began shaking him back and forth, and he remembered slipping his arm around the shark. 'I wrapped my arm around it and my body around it. And at that point I was trying to go for the eyes but my hand ended up by the gills. So as soon as I touched by the gills it let go,' he said. He added he couldn't believe the courage of his friends who rushed to help him despite potentially putting themselves in danger. 'The water was red - with my blood. They said when they reached me, the shark was still on me, so they were scared for their lives too but when it finally let go, they were there for me. They were in shock also.' The other surfers used their board leashes to make a tourniquet and got Morita safely back to shore. He said that 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. According to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, the last time a shark attack was reported in the area was in 2002. Tiger sharks are understood to be the second most dangerous shark in the world behind the great white. Morita spoke about the ordeal from his hospital bed where he is receiving treatment Morita could have died from the attack, officials said The attack occured near Kewalo Basin off the coast of Honolulu, Hawaii Doctors had to amputate his right foot, and Morita will have to undergo another surgery. A GoFundMe page established to cover medical expenses has already raised over $78,000. Despite this, he said he is 'at peace' and hopes to get back on the board again one day. 'The doctors are telling me that its up to me. Yes Id like to surf again but if I never surf again Im still happy, Ill be alright,' he said. 'Im so thankful to be alive. Thats my message.' Morita's son 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.' He added he was thankful for the other surfers who helped save his father's life. According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) at the University of Florida, 'Unprovoked bites' are defined as incidents in which a bite on a live human occurs in the shark's natural habitat with no human provocation of the shark. Meanwhile, 'Provoked bites' occur when a human initiates interaction with a shark in some way. The U.S. reported the most unprovoked shark attacks in the world last year, according to the document. Of the 41 cases, Florida had the most incidents, at 16, while only one ended in death, in Hawaii. This is the terrifying moment a man plunged down a ravine when an 'astronaut training chair' suddenly fell apart while he was being spun around. The video starts off with the man strapped into the seemingly safe chair on the side of a ravine at the Cabrapata viewing point in Ayacucho, Peru - but it soon ends up with him cheating death. At the beginning, the person filming can be heard laughing and joking as he watches the operator spin his friend on top of the cliff with panoramic views across Peru. But as he continues to be twisted around, the chair's frame begins to wobble and without warning suddenly tumbles over the cliff edge. The laughter in the background soon turns into a panicked scream as the man's friend disappears from sight. This is the terrifying moment a man plunged down a ravine when an 'astronaut training chair' suddenly fell apart while he was being spun around The video starts off with the man strapped into the seemingly safe chair on the side of a ravine at the Cabrapata viewing point in Ayacucho, Peru - but it soon ends up with him cheating death As he continues to be moved around, the chair's frame begins to wobble and without warning suddenly tumbles over the cliff edge Despite falling down the cliff, the man survived the fall and is recovering after being rushed to hospital The camera cuts away as the man falls down the steep incline - as concerned onlookers fear for his life. Fortunately, the man survived the fall, possibly because the frame he was strapped to protected his head, according to local media. He was rushed to hospital but is now said to be recovering. The chair is a budget version of the state-of-the-art Multi Axis Trainer used by space agencies to teach astronauts how to survive high-speed spins in weightless conditions. The cliffside viewing point is popular with tourists for its spectacular views. Extreme rides and walkways have sprung up on the beauty spot to cash in on thrill-seeking tourists who expect theme park safety standards. Officials are now cracking down on all of them over safety fears and have closed them down pending safety checks. Ayacucho, southeast of Peru's capital Lima, has had a tumultuous few months prior to this incident. Extreme rides and walkways have sprung up on the beauty spot to cash in on thrill-seeking tourists who expect theme park safety standards Officials are now cracking down on all of them over safety fears and have closed them all pending safety checks Another one of the rides that are seen at the Cabrapata viewpoint which has panoramic views In December, ten people were killed during clashes with the ouster of former president Pedro Castillo after he tried to illegally dissolve Congress to avoid an impeachment vote he feared losing. He was voted out of office shortly after and arrested for alleged 'rebellion'. He denies the charges. His arrest triggered an outpouring of anger at the country's political elite and Congress, widely reviled as corrupt and self-serving, especially in Peru's poor southern mining regions where rising food and energy costs have hit people hard. Protesters tried to take over the city's airport, which was defended by Peru's police and army, but ten were gunned down and several more were injured. The glamorous sister of the suspect arrested for murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee is said to have introduced the pair - and owns property both near where Lee was stabbed, and in the suburb where he lived with his family before moving to Miami last year. Nima Momeni, 38, was arrested yesterday for Lee's murder. Police have not yet revealed their evidence against him, but said at a press conference that the pair knew each other. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Lee recently became 'acquainted' with Nima's sister Khazar Momeni, the glamorous wife of a prominent local plastic surgeon. Yesterday, police searched an apartment she owns in a luxury building just a few blocks from where the stabbing took place on April 4. DailyMail.com can also reveal that she also has property in Mill Valley, a bayside suburb of San Francisco, where Lee used to live with his family. Khazar's home is 4.5miles from the property Bob shared with his father until they moved to Miami in October last year. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Lee recently became 'acquainted' with Nima's sister Khazar Momeni, the glamorous wife of a prominent local plastic surgeon Bob Lee was murdered on April 4. Police yesterday arrested Nima Momeni (right) for his killing On April 4, Lee was filmed on surveillance cameras staggering into an apartment building in downtown San Francisco at 2.35am after being stabbed. Yesterday, police searched the nearby apartment of Momeni's sister, Khazar. It's unclear if they'd been together or at the apartment earlier in the night Police say Lee and Momeni had been driving in Momeni's car moments earlier. They had a fight which led to the stabbing, they said, and Lee tried to run for safety. It's unclear where they had been earlier in the night - the stabbing happened at around 2.30am. Lee, a 43-year-old father-of-two, was only in San Francisco for a tech conference. He had moved from Mill Valley, an exclusive suburb where Khazar and her husband also own a home, to Miami in October last year. In a joint statement issued after Momeni's arrest last night, Lee's father Rick, brother Tim and ex-wife Krista said: 'As a family, we're very thankful to the hard working Detectives at the SFPD for bringing his killer to Justice. 'Our next steps will be to work with the District Attorney's office to ensure that this person is not allowed to hurt anyone else or walk free.' They described Bob as a loving son, brother and father who 'positively affected millions of people throughout his life.' 'From a modest upbringing in the Midwest, he started out programing and making web pages for the small business that bordered our parent's own store. Lee is said to have met Momeni through his sister Khazar, who he also met recently, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. She is shown with her husband, a prominent local plastic surgeon Lee's family described him as a loving son, brother and father. They have vowed to work with prosecutors Neither Khazar nor her husband has commented on her brother's arrest 'Many people may not know, in the early days of tech one of the first computer viruses, Code Red, shut down the world. 'A young Bob created the solution unpaid and then gave it to the world for free. 'That's who Bob was,' the family said. Neither Momeni nor his sister have released any form of statement since his arrest. Police searched her property in addition to the loft where Momeni was arrested yesterday. Neighbors told DailyMail.com he is 'warm and welcoming' and that they were stunned by his arrest. Questions however have arisen about his background. Online, he claims to be a graduate of UC Berkeley, but the school says it has no record of him ever attending classes. Nima Momeni's loft, where neighbors say he both worked and lived. It was raided on Thursday morning Momeni's car, which was strewn with clutter yesterday The 38-year-old lived alone in this building. He is due to appear in court later this afternoon He also described himself as an entrepreneur and start-up founder, but he is believed to be the only employee of the IT services company he claims to run. Police yesterday refused to share what evidence they have that led to Momeni's arrest. But they - and local officials including Mayor London Breed and DA Brooke Jenkins - appeared to gloat over the fact Lee's killing was not random. Many had invoked his murder as the latest proof of San Francisco's crime problem. On April 5, Elon Musk tweeted: '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. 'Is the city taking stronger action to incarcerate repeat violent offenders.' Officials including Mayor London Breed and DA Brooke Jenkins - appeared to gloat over the fact Lee's killing was not random Elon Musk was among those who criticized SF officials after Lee's death. The city has a spiraling crime problem Yesterday, Brooke Jenkins slammed his tweet as 'reckless'. 'Since this incident happened, since waking up to Elon Musk's tweet, my office has worked hard to actually tell people not to make assumptions about this case. 'We knew nothing about the facts of this case immediately after it happened,' she said. Momeni is expected to be arraigned today. Jenkins yesterday promised not to seek bail, and to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law. NBC anchor Lesley Swick Van Ness has died at the age of 42 while vacationing with her family in Florida. The WGEM-TV host was pronounced dead on Monday in Naples after falling ill while on holiday with her husband Tom, and two young sons. She worked as an executive for its corporate parent, Gray Television, and has been described as a 'celebrity' in her home of Morton, Illinois. Jennifer Dale, the vice president of recruiting at Gray Television, said in a statement: It is with a very heavy heart that we share some devastating news with you. 'Lesley Van Ness, who we have been so fortunate to have as part of the Gray family, passed away on Monday morning. NBC anchor Lesley Swick Van Ness has died at the age of 42, and has been described as a 'force' to be reckoned with by her colleagues The WGEM-TV host was pronounced day on Monday in Naples after falling ill while on holiday with her husband and two young sons 'Lesley had been on vacation with her beautiful family in Florida when she fell ill and was hospitalized last Thursday.' 'Lesley and her husband Tom have two precious young boys. Please keep all of them in your prayers. We will keep everyone posted on arrangements.' Colleagues of the journalist have described her as a 'powerful' force who 'did her job with integrity'. The TV anchor had suffered from a 'sudden illness' before she passed away on April 10. Her co-anchor of seven years, Matt Schmidt said: 'She could walk into the newsroom and instantly take over. She just had a commanding presence about her. 'Sitting on the news desk was an awesome experience.' A funeral will be held on April 17 at 10am in Quincy, Illinois, and friends and family are invited to attend the service. WGEM-TV meteorologist Brian Inman added: 'She wasn't afraid to do the dirty work and wasn't afraid to work the extra hour, especially if it was something that was really impacting the community.' Van Ness graduated from Illinois State University before starting her career as a reporter at WGEM-TV, the NBC local affiliate in Quincy in 2003. In 2006, she transitioned to a weekend anchor position, and began anchoring the weekday editions of the evening and late-night newscasts in 2008 She moved over to the corporate side of the business and in 2016, she was named talent acquisition specialist for Quincy Media. She worked as an executive for its corporate parent, Gray Television, and has been described as a 'celebrity' in her home of Morton, Illinois A green fingered protester who threw 'at least five eggs' and shouted abuse at King Charles, accusing him of being friends with paedophile Jimmy Savile has been found guilty of threatening behaviour and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work. Patrick Thelwell, 23, a former University of York student, was arrested by police in the crowd as bystanders rushed to protect the King and his wife the Queen Consort last November during a visit to York. During his sentencing, former gardener Thelwell asked the judge if he needed any work done when asked how likely it is he would get a job in the next six weeks. Michael Smith, prosecuting, had previously told York Magistrates Court the eggs thrown by Thelwell 'passed over' the King and narrowly missed him. At court, Thelwell gasped in relief on being told he had dodged custody. Patrick Thelwell (pictured outside York Magistrates' Court) has been found guilty of threatening behaviour after throwing eggs at King Charles The court heard Thelwell shouted 'King Charles is a paedophile' as he threw five eggs at the new monarch Footage caught the moment the eggs flew past King Charles as he was greeted by city leaders in the centre of York last year Announcing the guilty verdict, Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring said people could have been 'harmed by the eggs', but told him: 'I will put your mind at rest. I am not going to send you to prison.' During the incident Thelwell shouted obscenities as he hurled the eggs and as police arrested him. Mr Smith said he shouted 'paedophile', 'King Charles is a paedophile' and 'friends with Jimmy Savile'. The court found Thelwell had 'pre-targeted the King on the day' and 'intended his behaviour to be threatening'. The judge also ruled the student intended to cause King Charles and others that immediate unlawful violence would be used against him and others. He said: 'The defendant had sought to characterise the throwing of eggs as non-violent. His conduct has gone beyond what would be seen as reasonable. He accepts it was low level violence. He underlined to the defendant that the court system is entirely independent from the King. He said: 'The monarch is left with an entirely symbolic role in the justice system. He is not involved in the actual administration of justice. He was not called or required as a witness. 'The defendant had sought to characterise the throwing of eggs as non-violent. His conduct has gone beyond what would be seen as reasonable. He accepts it was low level violence. 'The facts of the case are not in dispute. The Crown's case is it is entirely clear that motivated by hostility towards the monarchy he threw eggs at King Charles. 'The defendant's evidence in chief is largely irrelevant. He accepted he threw five eggs and they came very close to hitting King Charles, and an egg was recovered from him while he was being restrained shouting 'He is not my king. This is fascist country'. Sentencing was adjourned for a short while to allow Thelwell to consult with a probation officer about what work he could do. The debt ridden student was landed with a 714 legal bill after losing the case and immediately asked the judge if he had any gardening work because he was skint. He was also ordered to pay 600 court costs, plus a 114 surcharge, but because of his financial circumstances he was ordered to repay just 5 a cost. The court heard has given up his studies and is no longer at university and owed 10k in unpaid rent. 'Because I thought I was going to prison,' he said. Asked by the judge what the chances were of having work in six weeks, Thelwell, a former self employed gardener, asked: 'I don't know. Do you need any gardening work done?' The judge replied: 'Surprisingly not.' Thewell has two previous convictions, the first in 2019 for failing to comply with conditions imposed at public assembly. Thelwell, who is a student of the University of York, is representing himself in court He was given a 12 month conditional discharge over the incident imposed over an Extinction Rebellion demo near Marble Arch. The offence also took place during a two year conditional discharge imposed in May 2021 for a protest outside a printing works at News international at Knowsley, Liverpool on Merseyside. Extinction Rebellion protesters claimed the papers were not printing the truth about climate change. He glued himself to the roof of a van blocking the road before releasing himself in September 2020. He was convicted of obstructing the highway and admitted breaching the two year conditional discharge. During the current trial, CCTV and police bodycam footage was played to the court, showing the egg-throwing incident and the aftermath. The court heard Thelwell was heard to say 'I threw eggs at him because that's what he deserved. It's the only justice the victims of colonialisation will ever get.' Adding: 'Did I get him? I didn't get him. Someone will get him.' Plain-clothed officers in the crowd were the first to grab the protesters before uniformed police also swooped, the court heard. Thelwell was handcuffed and arrested by officers. A sixth unbroken egg later fell out of his pocket before he was driven to the police station. When questioned by police he refused to comment. Thelwell denied a public order offence of using threatening, words or behaviour PC Adam Steventon, who arrested Thelwell, said he was shouting 'f*** the King' and so he put his hand over his mouth to silence him as families were close by and upset by what the protester was saying. He said people were 'angry' at what happened. 'There was a lot of angry people there. One gentleman said 'you've ruined this for everybody.'' When he was being taken out of his police station cell, an officer commented on the high heel on Thelwell's shoes. Thelwell replied 'I know it's so I could see him through the crowd' and made a throwing gesture, said Mr Smith. Thelwell commented that it 'was a joke.' In his defence Thelwell told Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring he was acting 'out of necessity' and he had not carried out unlawful violence. 'The violence I was accused of is throwing an egg,' he said. 'If that amounts to unlawful violence then the violence carried out by the British state is at such a severe level I can't be held accountable for my crime while the crimes of the British state go unpunished.' Thelwell, who was representing himself in court, asked PC Steventon in cross examination if he had seen the crowd pulling his hair and shouting 'for him to be killed' and 'for his head to be put on his spike'. The officer replied: 'No'. Protesters outside York Magistrates' Court, where Patrick Thelwell was found guilty of threatening behaviour He also claimed the officer had repeatedly pushed his head into the ground but the officer denied this, adding: 'Anything we did towards you was done with absolute minimum force.' After viewing a video of the incident, PC Steventon added: 'I did put my hand on his head as he shouted these obscenities but I don't think anyone would say I did this with any degree of force.' Thelwell claimed his actions towards the King were 'lawful violence' and he did not resist arrest. Thelwell, who is doing a masters in international relations delivered a speech to the court about the 'obscenity of the monarch flaunting their wealth and power in the City of York.' Thelwell said 'millions of people' agreed that 'my actions were just, moral and necessary.' He claimed the British state was committing 'tyrannical state violence' and 'crimes against humanity' through its economic and climate policy. He also criticised the government's policy to deal with illegal immigration, claiming the UK was 'creating concentration camps' at home and in Rwanda. Questioned by the District Judge, he admitted throwing the five eggs at the King and accusing him of being a 'paedophile.' He also admitted committing 'low level violence.' Nick Price, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: 'Thelwell showed no remorse after his arrest and continued to reinforce his intent to hit HM the King with the eggs. This threatening behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. 'The CPS remains committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served in all cases, regardless of the identity or status of the victim or defendant.' It came hours after journalists publicly named him as the Pentagon leaker Jack Douglas Teixeira, 21, was arrested by FBI in Massachusetts on Thursday Journalists appeared to be ahead of the curve in investigating the recent leak of highly classified Pentagon documents, publicly disclosing the leak and tracing its source before the DOJ announced charges in the case. Air Force National Guardsman Jack Douglas Teixeira, 21, was arrested by FBI in Massachusetts on Thursday, over an hour after the New York Times and Bellingcat journalist Aric Toler identified him as the suspected leaker. Court documents unsealed on Friday morning indicate that the FBI had identified Teixeira as a suspect at least by Wednesday, using witness statements and billing records from the messaging service Discord. Bellingcat, an open-source investigation website that relies on public information to research a variety of subjects, was the first to publicly identify the Discord chatroom 'Thug Shaker Central,' where Teixeira allegedly posted classified documents under the username 'The OG.' In a Bellingcat article last week, Toler meticulously traced the documents to their original source, after they had spread on pro-Russian Telegram channels, the website 4Chan, and multiple Discord servers. US officials are still assessing the damage inflicted by the leaks, which included secret records detailing Ukrainian military vulnerabilities, and classified information about allies including Israel, South Korea and Turkey. Bellingcat journalist Aric Toler (left) was the first to publicly identify the source of the leaked documents, the 'Thug Shaker Central' Discord chatroom where Jack Teixeira (right) allegedly posted them as early as December 2022 The documents appeared to have circulated online for months before they were brought to public attention by a New York Times article on April 6, which first reported the Pentagon was investigating a breach. The Pentagon has said that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was initially briefed on the leak on the morning of April 6, and launched a cross-department investigation. On April 9, Toler, Bellingcat's Director of Training and Research, posted his article tracing the provenance of the documents back to their original source. He noted that photographs of the documents first spread widely on pro-Russian Telegram channels on April 5, where they appeared to have been crudely altered to cast Russia's invasion of Ukraine in a more positive light. Hours prior to that, other documents had been shared on the imageboard website 4Chan, with only one of the images in common with the Telegram posts, suggesting a separate original source. Bellingcat identified the probable source as a March 4 post of 10 documents to a Discord server dedicated to the Minecraft game, which included all seven of the documents from the 4chan and Telegram posts. Those documents appeared to be from a batch of over 30 documents shared by a user of the 'WowMao' Discord server on March 1 and 2. From there, Toler was able to provisionally identify another Discord chatroom, 'Thug Shaker Central' as the original source of the leaks, dating all the way back to January 13. Photographs of the documents first spread widely on pro-Russian Telegram channels (above) on April 5, where they appeared to have been crudely altered Hours prior to the Telegram post, other documents had been shared on the imageboard website 4Chan, with only one of the images in common with the Telegram posts Bellingcat identified the probable source of the Telegram and 4Chan posts as a March 4 post of 10 documents to a Discord server dedicated to the Minecraft game A TV screen shows a news program reporting on the leaked Pentagon documents at the Seoul Railway Station in South Korea on Wednesday 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 Though Thug Shaker Central had since been deleted, screenshots and interviews with participants in the chatroom led to the identification of the chatroom's administrator, known by the screenname The OG, as the leaker. On Thursday, the New York Times identified Teixeira as The OG about 90 minutes before the FBI descended on his home in North Dighton, Massachusetts and arrested him without incident, according to an article including Toler's byline. Charging documents unsealed on Friday alleged that Teixeira began posting classified documents to Thug Shaker Central as early as December 2022, meaning they could have circulated for months before authorities were aware. It is 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. In the WikiLeaks case, the leaker - US Army Private First Class Chelsea Manning - was sentenced to 35 years in prison. President Barack Obama later commuted her sentence. But unlike Manning, and Edward Snowden in his massive 2013 leak of classified NSA documents, Teixeira does not appear to have been motivated by whistleblower outrage over perceived injustices. Instead, the young Airman First Class appears to have simply been trying to impress the other young men and teens in the Discord chatroom he ran. Teixeira made his initial appearance before a federal judge in Boston on Friday to face charges he unlawfully removed and retained classified materials. FBI agents arrest Jack Teixeira, an employee of the U.S. Air Force National Guard, outside his home in North Dighton, Massachusetts, on Thursday One person who went to school with Teixeira (pictured) recalled that he would sometimes carry a textbook on military vehicles featuring tanks, planes and submarines Airman Teixeira is enlisted in the 102nd Intelligence Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard at Otis Air National Guard Base Teixeira only spoke twice during the brief proceeding, answering 'yes' when asked if he understood his right to remain silent, according to Reuters. Teixeira is charged with unlawfully copying and possessing classified defense records. Each offense can carry up to 10 years in prison. He is also charged with another offense which makes it a crime for an employee of the United States to knowingly remove classified records to an unauthorized location. In a sworn statement, an FBI agent said that Teixeira had held a top secret security clearance since 2021, and that he also maintained sensitive compartmented access to other highly classified programs. Since May 2022, the FBI said Teixeira has been serving as an E-3/airman first class in the US Air Force National Guard and has been stationed at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts. King Charles decided to not invite Sarah Ferguson to his coronation because she is an 'embarrassment' and no longer a member of the Royal Family, experts claim. 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 all set to be there. Royal commentator Tom Bower told MailOnline today that Sarah had excluded herself because of her previous 'conduct', adding that her presence would 'provoke critical comment which Charles doesn't need'. And royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams praised the 'extremely wise' decision from the King because she has been an 'embarrassment to the Royal Family for many years'. Sarah, Duchess of York and Prince Andrew attend Ascot Racecourse together in June 2019 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 The report in The Independent about Sarah's lack of invite has not been confirmed as yet, with Buckingham Palace not responding to MailOnline's request for comment. 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 But the apparent decision has surprised some royal watchers - with Meghan Markle's friend Omid Scobie tweeting: 'If true, this feels kinda cruel, no?' And it comes after royal officials revealed on Wednesday that Prince Harry will be at the coronation but his wife will stay back in California with the couple's children Archie and Lilibet. Speaking about the absence of Sarah, Mr Bower said she will be left out 'because she is not a member of the Royal Family'. He added that she had excluded herself 'by her past conduct', saying: 'Her presence would provoke critical comment which Charles doesn't need.' Among Sarah's most embarrassing moments was when photographs were published showing her having her toes sucked by her financial advisor John Bryan at her holiday villa in St Tropez, while they were also seen kissing, embracing and frolicking in the pool. She was also said to have had a rift with her once good friend, Princess Diana, after she claimed she got a verruca after borrowing a pair of her shoes. They were reportedly still not speaking at the time of Diana's death in 1997. And in 2010 she apologised after being secretly recorded offering to sell access to Andrew in return for 500,000. Today, Mr Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: 'The decision not to invite Sarah Ferguson is extremely wise and to be welcomed. She has been an embarrassment to the royal family for many years. 'Time and again she gives embarrassing interviews, there seems no end to it. 'There are times when a dignified silence is required which she seems incapable of.' 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. Speaking about the coronation, 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. 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 '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.' 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. Royal experts Tom Bower (left) and Richard Fitzwilliams (right) have spoken about Fergie Charles speaks with Sarah during Princess Eugenie's wedding in Windsor in October 2018 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. 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. 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 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. 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. Fashion chain Superdry has warned over its profits and revealed plans to cut costs by more than 35million after struggling against dampened consumer spending, putting 104 of its UK stores at risk. The retailer said it was considering fundraising in a bid to shore up cash to help it 'emerge from the current turbulence'. The news comes as another dagger to the UK High Street, which has already been rocked this week by the news Barclays is closing a further 15 banks nationwide. Superdry's share price plunged by around 18 per cent in early Friday trading after the update. Cost of living pressures have had a significant impact on consumer spending and visits to shops, and poor weather weakened demand for its new spring and summer collection, Superdry told investors. Fashion chain Superdry has warned over its profits and revealed plans to cut costs by more than 35million The retailer said it was considering fundraising in a bid to shore up cash These issues, 'outside of the company's control', meant sales in February and March did not meet its expectations. It therefore cut its revenue expectations and said it had withdrawn its previous profit guidance that it would broadly break even in the 2023 financial year. It is the second time this year that Superdry has downgraded its pre-tax profit expectations. The retailer, which suffered a hit from shipping delays, less consumer spending and spiralling costs, revealed cost-cutting plans to help revive the business. It is set to make savings of more than 35million, through actions such as 'estate optimisation', which could indicate store changes or closures, logistics and distribution savings, and continuing to reduce its clothing range. The savings are expected to be made by the end of the 2024 financial year, incurring any costs to achieve them this year. But the move is set to lift its underlying profitability in the medium term, the firm said. Furthermore, Superdry said it was considering an equity raise of up to 20 per cent of its share capital in further efforts to bolster its balance sheet. Founder and chief executive Julian Dunkerton said he could chip into the fundraising himself, which reflects his 'confidence in the prospects of the business'. Superdry's share price plunged by around 18 per cent in early Friday trading Mr Dunkerton said: 'The Superdry brand continues to evolve but there is no doubt that the market conditions we face are challenging, compounded by the issues we have previously disclosed and are working to address in wholesale. 'As a result, while we continue to deliver like-for-like growth in retail sales, we need to ensure our business is in the right shape to navigate these difficult times, which is why we are looking hard at our cost base. 'My belief in the Superdry brand is stronger than ever which is why I'm prepared to provide material support to any equity raise undertaken. 'I am confident that we have the right plan and, working together as a team, the business will emerge from the current turbulence stronger than ever.' Rory Stewart has hinted at a political comeback - as the Tories mount a desperate hunt for a candidate to take on Sadiq Khan next year. The former Cabinet minister said he is 'actively' considering a return, putting the chances of it happening at '50-50'. Mr Stewart mounted a colourful Conservative leadership challenge in 2019, making no secret of his Remainer views and eventually losing out to Boris Johnson. After quitting the Tories and standing down as an MP he then launched an independent bid for London mayor - but abandoned the idea when Covid hit and the poll was delayed. He has since built up his profile by presenting the popular Rest is Politics podcast with Labour former spin doctor Alastair Campbell. Speaking on the Crisis, What Crisis? podcast with Andy Coulson, Mr Stewart said a political return is 'not beyond the realms of possibility' Mr Stewart mounted a colourful Conservative leadership challenge in 2019, making no secret of his Remainer views and eventually losing out to Boris Johnson Speaking on the Crisis, What Crisis? podcast with Andy Coulson, Mr Stewart said a return is 'not beyond the realms of possibility'. 'Definitely something I think about actively a lot,' he said. 'Not something that I've quite worked out whether or how to do. But yeah definitely an option in my life.' Pressed on the chances, he added: 'I'd say 50-50 at the moment.' Mr Stewart did not specify what political post he might be interested in. The signal comes amid increasing questions in Conservative circles over who will face Mr Khan in the capital's contest next May. Insiders believe the party will need a 'name' candidate to attract voters and funding, while Mr Stewart's record as an opponent of Brexit could help in London. Shaun Bailey performed much better than most predicted in 2021. But there are not seen as many obvious choices this time round. 'You can't have a Brexiteer running in London really,' one source told MailOnline. 'Most mayors get two terms, but a third is a big ask. 'You would think Khan would be there for the taking, but there are economic headwinds.' The veteran London Tory added: 'You can almost see a situation where Stewart runs as an independent and then the Tories pick him up. 'It is only a year away. You have not got huge time.' Any Conservative hopeful will need to take a strong stance on Mr Khan's controversial expansion of Ulez, which looks set to be a crucial issue. If it goes ahead, drivers in outer London will pay a 12.50 daily fee from August 29 if their vehicles do not meet the required emissions standards. The signal comes amid increasing questions in Conservative circles over who will face Sadiq Khan in the capital's contest next May The boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon along with Surrey County Council launched legal action in February over the proposed extension beyond the North and South Circular roads. A judge at the High Court this week decided their bid for a judicial review can go ahead, saying parts of the local authorities' challenge were 'arguable'. Mr Khan said today: 'I think it's important for these Conservative councillors who've got concerns if they want to challenge this in the courts (they) are free to do so I think it's a waste of taxpayers' money. Local residents would rather these be used on the libraries.' Mr Stewart staged a social media-heavy Tory campaign in 2019, including a #RoryWalks tour of various parts of the UK such as east London, Warrington and Wigan, to talk to normal people. It prompted memes where people joked that they were scared to leave their homes in case he appeared. In one memorable incident a seemingly despairing Mr Stewart ripped off his tie at the end of a televised debate with his rivals. There was also a bizarre trend for 'crushing' on Mr Stewart, and his admission that he once smoked opium. The then-International Development Secretary said he was wrong to accept a pipe that was being passed around at a wedding he attended in Iran while travelling 15 years previously. But he said the Class A drug 'had no effect' on him 'because I was walking 25-30 miles a day'. Heartwarming footage of a young paramedic who was killed weeks after his wedding shows him celebrating the happiest day of his life with loved ones. NSW Ambulance paramedic and former nurse Steven Tougher, 29, was allegedly stabbed multiple times in the carpark of a McDonald's in Campbelltown, southwest Sydney at about 5.30am on Friday. It's understood he was nearing the end of a long night shift and was finishing off paperwork in the back of his van in the McDonald's carpark when a stranger allegedly lunged at him with a knife and repeatedly stabbed him in the stomach. Mr Tougher and his colleague had been 'working hard all night' and were taking a meal break at the time. As police rushed to the scene and arrested his alleged attacker, Mr Tougher was rushed to Liverpool Hospital in a critical condition where he later died. His alleged attacker, 21, was charged with murder late Friday night and will face court on Saturday. The tragic news comes just five weeks after Mr Tougher married the love of his life, Madison - who is due to give birth to their second child in the coming weeks. Excited family members shared videos and photos of the happy bride and groom on the special day on social media, completely unaware tragedy would soon strike. Paramedic Steven Tougher (right) married the love of his life, Madison (left), just four weeks before he was stabbed to death outside a southwest Sydney McDonald's Family and friends shared photos of the beautiful ceremony and fun moments from the night (pictured, Mr Tougher dancing with a family member) 'Mr and Mrs Tougher,' the groom proudly posted the following day. Footage and photos show the couple doing their wedding waltz, celebrating with loved ones and on the dancefloor with guests. 'We could not be more proud of our boy on his wedding day,' his mum wrote at the time. 'What a magical day!' Mr Tougher's tragic death has sparked an outpouring of tributes from grief-stricken friends and colleagues, along with messages of support for his wife and family. Many have changed their profile photo to the NSW Ambulance logo surrounded by angel wings in honour of the fallen paramedic. 'Life isn't fair. Life is too short. Especially to you Steven Tougher,' one woman wrote. 'I remember our days as you being a cadet, being that absolute keen bean wanting to take over patients and being involved as much as possible - to finally becoming a nurse and then paramedic as your dream job became true. 'To Mr and Mrs Tougher, I am so sorry for the loss of your son. 'Madison, I can't begin to imagine what pain you are going through right now. Just know that he will be with every future moment of your life sitting in your heart.' A former nursing colleague added: Such a tragic loss I can't believe your gone, I remember your first days starting nursing at Lawrence Hargraves as an AIN, you said from the start I want to be a paramedic and that's just what you did, you worked so hard to get there because your passion was to help other, such a kind and caring soul. My heart breaks for all you family and many many friends and colleague.' One friend wrote: 'No words can explain how unfair this is. Steven Tougher you sir were truly an angel that lived amongst us and what has happened to you is beyond devastating. 'Mate I know it's a pretty generic line that's thrown around a lot in times like these, however in regards to you it's absolutely on the money: 'Buddy it was a blessing to have known you and be blessed to have experienced the warmth of your beautiful soul.' 'Rest easy big fella.' It's understood Mr Tougher was filling out paperwork for the end of his night shift when he was stabbed in the back of his ambulance (above) Mr and Mrs Tougher (above) were set to welcome a new baby in the upcoming weeks - a fundraiser has been started to help their family Homicide detectives charged a 21-year-old man arrested at the scene of the attack (above) with murder late Friday night Another wrote: 'My heart is broken. For you, for the life you were to have with Madison, for your family but most of all for the world that is now left without you in it. 'Thank you for the friendship, support and memories. You made nursing and uni so much fun. 'All you wanted was to be a paramedic mate - you made it and I am so sorry this happened to you.' Police arrested the 21-year-old alleged attacker at the scene. Late Friday night, homicide detectives charged the man with murder. He was refused bail and is set to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon told reporters earlier on Friday the man may have been driving around the Ingleburn and Campbelltown areas in a blue Honda Jazz Civic prior to the incident and urged the public to come forward if they had seen the vehicle. He added a motive was yet to be identified in the seemingly random attack. Investigations as part of Strike Force Tarpaulin continue. 'NSW Police would like to commend the actions of the emergency services and members of the public who rendered first aid and assistance at the scene,' a statement added. NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan met with Madison in the hours after the attack as well as Mr Tougher's mother, father and sister and said they are 'beside themselves'. He said Mr Tougher's father told him he knew from the age of five that he wanted to be a paramedic. 'He wanted nothing more than 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 southwest Sydney. 'I'm told he was so pleased that he was going to be able to stay here and bring up his family.' Commissioner Morgan also sent well wishes to Mr Tougher's family and coworkers. 'I have such respect for the way that (Mr Tougher's family) are working through their grief, and am wishing such great things for the man's paramedic colleagues who valiantly worked to resuscitate and save their paramedic colleague's life unfortunately, it was not to be,' he said. Mr Tougher was set to go on paternity leave soon with his and his wife Maddison's new baby set to arrive in a few weeks (pictured, Mr and Mrs Tougher leaving their wedding together in mid-March) NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan met with Madison and Mr Tougher's family in the hours after the attack and sad they were 'beside themselves' (pictured, Steven and Madison Tougher on their wedding day in mid-March) Mr Tougher became a paramedic intern in May, 2022, and was just weeks away from going on paternity leave when he was killed. It's understood the 29-year-old and his colleague were nearing the end of their night shift when they stopped at McDonald's for a quick coffee run. It was there that Mr Tougher was allegedly stabbed multiple times in the abdomen with a knife at about 5.30am. A GoFundMe for Mr Tougher's widow by her colleagues has been created to help support her and their shattered family. 'Madison is due to have her second child in a few short weeks,' the fundraiser reads. 'We hope any funds raised through this platform can go to support Madison and her family during this extremely difficult time. 'We extend our deepest condolences to Madison and her young family. We are thinking of you.' The fundraiser raised more than $106,000 within nine hours. The page added Mr Tougher's family has requested privacy. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his sympathies for Mr Tougher's family and called for paramedics to be treated with more respect. 'The death of a paramedic in Sydney this morning is as shocking as it is tragic,' he said. 'All Australians send our sympathies and condolences to his loved ones, friends and colleagues. 'To every frontline worker, you are valued. You keep us safe. You deserve to be safe at work.' Mr Tougher studied at Charles Sturt University where he was the President of the online Student Representative Committee and graduated from his paramedicine degree in mid-2022. Mr Tougher studied at Charles Sturt University and graduated from his paramedicine degree in mid-2022 (pictured, Mr and Mrs Tougher at his graduation) NSW Police received a code one call at about 5.30am on Friday when Mr Tougher was repeatedly stabbed in the abdomen (pictured, police at the scene on Friday) Before his graduation, Mr Tougher worked at Wollongong Private Hospital as a nurse. Former colleague Tanya Selak shared a heartbreaking tribute to him after he was identified as the victim of the viscous attack. 'Before he was a paramedic, Steven Tougher was our anaesthetic nurse,' she said. 'Kind, gentle, optimistic, warm. Our patients loved his cheeky grin. 'Our Wollongong community is numb, shocked, devastated. I can't believe it. Thinking of his family at this horrible time. 'Rest easy mate.' Mr Tougher's death has caused a massive outpouring of grief from the healthcare community who say selfless workers shouldn't have to risk their safety for while on the job. NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce broke down in tears as she expressed sympathy for the victim's family. '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. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park issued his deepest condolensces to Mr Tougher's shattered family, friends and colleagues. 'Our paramedics have been some of the heroes of the pandemic over the last few years and to have one of their own lose their life in this way is without a doubt a heavy burden for all of them to carry and my thoughts are with our paramedics and emergency call responders across NSW,' he told the Saturday Telegraph. 'I have had a number of discussions with Commissioner Morgan and the Secretary Susan Pearce and collectively as a health family we will wrap all available resources and support around the family and colleagues over the coming days, weeks and months. 'Today is a tragic day for the people of NSW and a reminder of the dangers our emergency service personnel can confront every day.' Mr Tougher (above) had reportedly dreamt of being a paramedic since he was five years old but was tragically killed just months after joining the NSW Ambulance team A 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsman has been hit with two federal charges under the Espionage Act for his alleged role in the Pentagon leak. Jack Teixeira appeared in a Boston federal court on Friday and is facing 15 years in prison if convicted of illegally taking and leaking classified information and military secrets. Fresh questions are being asked as to how Teixeira, who lived with his mother in North Dighton, Massachusetts and accused of being behind the humiliating security breach, got clearance to access sensitive documents. Dressed in tan prison scrubs and Merrell shoes, the youthful Teixeira, with a sandy brown crew cut, scanned the courtroom as he entered in handcuffs. Jack Teixeira, 21 appeared in a Boston federal court on Friday and is facing 15 years in prison if convicted of illegally taking and leaking classified information and military secrets A 21-year-old US Air Force National Guard employee has been arrested over the leak of highly sensitive US defense and intelligence documents His mother and father sat with another unidentified relative in the front row fidgeting as the rest of the courtroom filled with press. He said nothing as he entered and sat with his hands in his lap during much of the hearing. 'Yes, sir' he said when Judge David Hennessey asked him if he had signed the financial affidavit submitted to the court. And 'Yes, your honor,' he said when the judge asked if it was accurate. The judge informed him of the charges against him and told him his right to remain silent. His lawyer from the Bronx Public Defenders Brendan Kelly whispered in his ear after the judge had finished. He stood up and held out his wrists in front of him for the U.S. Marshals to put on the handcuffs. As he was led away, his father, also named Jack Teixeira, called out 'I love you, Jack.' He paused and turned back, looking doe-eyed at the crowd in the courtroom filled with press. 'I love you too, Dad,' he said. His parents said nothing after they left the courthouse as they were followed for about three blocks by reporters asking for comment and photographers snapping photos. A MAGA-hatted supporter with a cellphone camera chimed in among the press questions, saying, 'This is all Joe Biden's fault. He's scapegoating your son,' the man said. Relatives of Jack Teixeira fought their way through a media scrum after seeing the 21-year-old make a brief appearance before judges to hear the charges against him Police outside the Boston courtroom where Teixeira appeared earlier on Friday to face two charges for leaking classified US intelligence documents The leak is the most embarrassing - and perhaps the most damaging - for the US since the WikiLeaks scandal in 2013 when National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden passed on confidential documents Teixeira's next hearing has been set for Wednesday, April 19, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts said in a statement. Attorney General Merrick Garland appeared to criticize the 21-year-old during a press briefing held earlier on Friday. 'People who sign agreements to be able to receive classified documents acknowledge the importance to the national security of not disclosing those documents, and we intend to send that message how important it is to our national security,' he said. The leak is the most embarrassing - and perhaps the most damaging - for the US since the WikiLeaks scandal in 2013 when National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden passed on confidential documents. According to the charge sheet, Teixeira received top security clearance in 2021 as a member of the National Guard. The document, filed by the US government, quotes FBI special agent Patrick Lueckenhoff as saying Teixeira would have 'signed a lifetime binding non-disclosure agreement.' He adds the suspect 'would have had to acknowledge that the unauthorized disclosure of protected information could result in criminal charges.' Teixeira posted a slew of of highly classified military documents that touched upon the Ukraine war and other national security issues. FBI investigators arrested him without incident in Dighton, Massachusetts on Thursday before bundling the 21-year-old into the back of a police van. Teixeira posted the treasure trove of top secret files under his online user name 'Jack the Dripper' for months before the leak was uncovered. He worked as a junior cyber security specialist in the intelligence unit based at the Otis Air National Guard Base in western Cape Cod. It is believed to have started on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. Teixeira is believed to have posted about guns, games and top secret US government information. The court filing lodged in Boston on Friday said that some of his fellow chatroom members reported his activities to investigators. It alleged that the 21-year-old used his government computer to search classified intelligence reporting for the word "leak" on April 6. That was the day when the first stories broke about the huge security breach. Prosecutors claim he searched the term to establish whether US intelligence had information on the identity of the person behind the leaks. Jack Teixeira faced two felony charges at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse, in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 14, 2023. A member of the US Air Force National Guard, the 21-year-old was arrested on suspicion of leaking a trove of sensitive US government secrets. 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 He was identified as the ringleader of a chatroom, known as Thug Shaker Central, on Discord, an invite-only platform. He then allegedly posted images of folded-up papers because he felt his writings weren't being taken seriously, the Associated Press reported. Officials at the US Justice Department have opened a probe into the 21-year-old, whose actions embarrassed US allies around the world. Long-standing friends of Washington from Britain to South Korea and Israel slammed much of the information as bogus. It outlined possible arms deliveries to Ukraine, as well as details of Western-led training for the Ukrainian armed forces. But in an interview with ABC News, one of the country's most senior military officials dismissed the leak's impact on Kyiv's battlefield plans. 'This will not be able to affect the real results of the offensive operation,' said Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's head of military intelligence. The country's top spy is credited for being one of the few Ukrainian officials to correctly predict the timing of Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor. The 21-year-old's actions have been roundly criticized by lawmakers from all political parties. But he received support from far-right Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who mistakenly referred to him as 'Jake Teixeira' on Twitter. In yet another unhinged social media rant, the Congresswoman representing Georgia's 14th District claimed he was being prosecuted because of his skin color. 'Jake Teixeira is white, male, Christian, and antiwar,' Greene said. 'That makes him an enemy to the Biden regime.' The 48-year-old repeatedly parrots Kremlin talking points on Ukraine, including the entirely fictional claim that that the country is overrun with Nazis. Two Metropolitan Police officers have been sacked over sick 'discriminatory and offensive' texts they sent to colleagues, including some which made fun of Katie Price's disabled son Harvey. The two serving officers and six former colleagues were found guilty of gross misconduct over racist, homophobic and sexist messages they shared between May 2016 and June 2018 in a WhatsApp group called 'Secret Squirrel S**t'. PC Glynn Rees and PC Dave Selway were fired after a disciplinary hearing at Palestra House in Southwark, central London, following a six-day hearing. The news comes after Katie Price revealed she was 'over the moon' at the decision that the eight officers had been charged with misconduct over the warped WhatsApp group. 'I hope they feel ashamed. I hope they're embarrassed,' the 44-year-old model told Channel 5 News' Dan Walker before adding: 'It's about time justice has been done.' Two police officers have been sacked for sending discriminatory messages they sent to colleagues in a WhatsApp group, including some about Katie Price 's disabled son. Katie Price pictured with her son Harvey as she speaks out about the gross misconduct charges facing eight Met Police officers News of the officers' misconduct is the latest scandal to rock Scotland Yard, with a top officer today admitting it was 'another painful day' for the Met. Commander Jon Savell, the Met's professionalism and standards chief, said: 'I was repulsed and ashamed to read the deeply offensive messages sent by these officers and I utterly condemn their behaviour. I am deeply sorry to those who have been the subject of such awful disgusting messages. 'This is another painful day for us. We know there are more uncomfortable days to come as we turn over the stones and uncover others who corrupt our integrity.' Katie spoke to 5 News' Dan Walker in her first TV interview on Thursday, with Harvey by her side, when Dan asked Katie what she had to say to the charged police officers, she said: 'I hope they feel ashamed. I hope they're embarrassed... 'I hope they're embarrassed to know what their family are going through and I hope all their names and their mug shots come out because I would like to see their faces and they should be named and shamed. 'And hopefully they will never serve in the police force again, and if they ever get any other job that it goes on their CV because I'll tell you what, there won't be a lot of people who want to employ them after this. 'Would you want to employ someone when you know they do stuff like this? Because I know I wouldn't. So it will affect them for the rest of their life. And I hope it does because they deserve that, they're disgusting. Harvey was targeted by officers in the WhatsApp group messages 'Not only that they are professionals that we trust, that we should trust who have done this and now an example is going to be put out there and something is going to be done.' She added: 'What I've actually seen and read what these police officers have said it's beyond like beyond what you could ever imagine how evil and how spiteful people can actually be, and how they even think it's funny. 'It's actually disgusting Harvey doesn't deserve this, no one does.' When asked by Katie how it made him feel when people were horrible to him, Harvey said: 'Angry and sad'. The 'toxic and abhorrent' group of disgraced officers swapped a series of racist, ableist and homophobic jokes, a misconduct hearing heard. Among those involved was the team's leading officer, Police Sergeant Luke Allen, PS Luke Thomas and his team members; PC Kelsey Buchan, PC Carlo Francisco, PC Lee South and PC Darren Jenner, PC Rees and Selway. Only PC Rees and PC Selway, who are still serving in the Met, attended the misconduct hearing. All eight officers were found by the panel to have carried out acts amounting to gross misconduct. They have now been placed on the barred list preventing them for life from serving in any police force within the UK. PC Selway and PC Rees have also both been dismissed without further notice. The panel also determined the six former officers would also have been dismissed had they still been serving. 'Disgusting': Katie was sent a letter detailing the misconduct claims before the hearing, which she shared on her Instagram account earlier this year Heartwarming: Katie held hands with Harvey - whose father is former footballer Dwight Yorke - as they spent some quality time together Delivering the panel's outcome on Friday, chairman Mr Christopher McKay said: 'Former PS Luke Thomas was a leading participant in the WhatsApp group. He made 43 posts in total. 'It is important in former PS Luke Thomas' case to remember he was the senior officer of the group. 'He was responsible for the way in which the group communicated on WhatsApp. 'He should have set the tone for what was appropriate behaviour for the group. He should have stopped this happening, instead he participated in the inappropriate behaviour and became one of the worst offenders. 'He is the most blame-worthy of all the officers and has brought embarrassment and discredit to the Metropolitan Police Service. 'Significant harm has been caused to the reputation of the Metropolitan Police Service. 'Disablist, racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic and misogynistic comments have undermined the reputation of the Metropolitan Police Service as a fair and impartial body.' Dismissing PC Selway - referred to as 'Officer B', Mr McKay noted: 'He could and should have challenged the behaviour of his colleagues. 'Officer B's actions are an embarrassment and discredit to the Metropolitan Police service. They have caused significant harm. 'His actions were wholly inappropriate for service police officers. A written warning would not reflect the seriousness of the allegations proved. Katie Price said she is 'over the moon' to learn that eight serving Met Officers had been charged with misconduct over offensive messages about her son Harvey 'He has no place in the Metropolitan Police Service, further undermined by his failure to call out 23 other racist and sexist comments made in the group chat. 'His actions have further undermined the already tarnished reputation of the Metropolitan Police Service. What was said in shocking Met Police chat The shocking contents of the WhatsApp chat were laid bare before the misconduct hearing. Dan Hobbs, for the Met Police, said: 'All eight of the officers concerned were members of that 'Secret Squirrel S***' group. 'For around two years each of the officers concerned were attached to the southeast Command based at Bexleyheath Police Station. 'This was a police team that lacked any effective leadership from PS Luke Thomas. 'They used sexist, racist, homophobic and transphobic language and profanities.' Racism Mr Hobbs continued: 'Luke Thomas made comments in relation to Harvey Price, the mixed-heritage disabled son of Katie Price. 'He said: 'For a c*** that can't see, he can find his way to the fridge and biscuit jar without difficulty. 'Without further comment it is self-explanatory how this is discriminatory. 'He posts various pictures of Harvey Price into the WhatsApp group including the caption 'hello you c***' as the officer's attempt at humour. 'Why he doesn't accept this as gross misconduct is beyond the appropriate authority's comprehension. 'Luke Allan, the mixed-race officer in his team, was also referenced after the picture of Harvey Price was posted - a poor attempt of humour aimed at Luke, suggesting it was in fact Luke. 'Both Luke and Harvey are mixed race; there is no other reason for their connection.' 'He uses the term p***y. P***y is an offensive term use for the travelling community. It was an offensive term, he didn't report it.' Mr Hobbs went on to summarise various other racial slurs found in the chat including 'generalisations about the murder of black people' and references to slavery involving a black officer of the Met. Ableism Mr Hobbs also described how in the group disabled people had been referred to as 'fat m***s, smelly m***s.' He continued: 'I understand the use of the word m**g is unpleasant and inappropriate. 'It comes from the term mongoloid, it is a very outdated historical term for people with Downs syndrome. 'Years ago there were areas of the medical profession who believed people with Downs Syndrome looked like Mongol people. It for many years has not been an accepted term.' The comments continued: 'WTF has that m**g c*** got in her hair, she's too stupid to be alive.' ''A blind bloke got on my train, poor c***, I'd prefer to be in a m**g scooter for the rest of my life. 'Got me thinking if he's blind why don't his family hide his cake tin and put salad in front of him every now and again.' Mr Hobbs said: 'They are consistently discriminatory against disabled people.' Meanwhile, serving PC Rees described an image of Mr Price riding a child's 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'. Sexism and homophobia In another post Thomas talks of a senior female officer and claims: 'I bet she gets so much c***'. In another picture Thomas posts in front of a poster promoting acceptance of non-binary people. 'The text information which appears immediately above is 'gender free, we hope it removes barriers to gender non-binary recruits'. Mr Hobbs continued: 'Thomas' accompanying message [reads]: 'oh just f*** off. What is a non-binary. Not a boy or a girl, a c*** in other words.' 'She's non-binary and an utter c***.' When a new female officer joined his team he joked: 'Haha Idk who it is. 'It is a female so the chances of her being a competent officer are reduced and the chances of her being total and utter grief is increased.' In another post Thomas wrote: 'Another male police officer says he did once get away with rape on a weekend away in Butlins, so a legend in my eyes.' Mr Hobbs said: 'It is irrelevant whether deep down he is a nice person, he is promoting sexist behaviour. 'It is not something I need to explain is discriminatory. The comments are highly damaging to the service, should never ever have been said, or posted, and is gross misconduct in and of itself. He referred to one woman as a 'fat bird'. Advertisement 'The panel has concluded that the only appropriate outcome is dismissal without notice. 'This is to deter similar conduct by other officers. It is also justified to protect the public from an officer who has shown discriminatory attitudes towards those with protected characteristics.' Referring to Harvey Price's family Mr McKay said: 'Their confidence in the Metropolitan Police service as a fair body has been undermined.' Delivering the findings of the panel, Mr McKay previously determined the chat contained: 'Messages that were sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist and extremely racist. In one instance violence, sexual violence, was applauded.' Finding PS Thomas' actions in relation to all four of his allegations as gross misconduct, Mr McKay said: 'Given his supervisory role as a police sergeant, he failed to adequately guide them, failed to lead by example and failed to challenge improper behaviour. 'Former police sergeant's failing under this allegation are particularly serious. He could and should have closed the WhatsApp group as soon as the offensive messages were uncovered, instead he became the WhatsApp group's main contributor.' Summarising Thomas' conduct, Mr Dan Hobbs, representing the Metropolitan Police, said: 'He's at the heart of this failing team, he has allowed it to be this abhorrent, toxic culture that it is, he allowed it for two years, and that amounts to gross misconduct in of itself.' Speaking today, Mr McKay confirmed: 'The panel agrees with Mr Hobbs' categorisation.' PC Rees, a still-serving member of the Metropolitan Police, who made discriminatory comments in relation to Harvey Price, was found to have carried out conduct that was 'inappropriate and offensive'. Mr McKay said: 'Your discriminatory posts were disablist. You were making fun of him [Harvey] acting in a child-like manner due to his disability. 'You made offensive posts about adult migrants. Type-casting of a group in this way is discriminatory and offensive. 'PC Rees clearly appreciated that the group was acting in a way which was wrong. This undermines that it was 'innocent fun' and no offence was intended. 'These posts, when considered together, constitute gross misconduct. Breaches of the standards of equality and diversity within the force are particularly serious.' One message from PC Selway referred to a Harvey Price meme in the format of the popular 'elf on the shelf' rhyme. It read: 'You've heard of elf on the shelf, now get ready for Harvey Price eating Uncle Ben's basmati rice, after trying to read three blind mice, when on spice, saying hello you c***.' In relation to the disgraced officer's conduct, Mr McKay noted the meme's racist tone. He said: 'This post is a contrived picture created from amalgamating at least four images. The accompanying rhyme has a racist tone and refers to his disability - he is partially sighted. 'There is no need to refer to basmati rice unless pointing to the racial origin of Uncle Ben and Harvey Price. This racist post is a significant breach of the standards of equality. It is gross misconduct.' Mr McKay also condemned Officer B's comments concerning a female colleague, describing her as 'that new bird' and 'that new thing on your team'. Mr McKay said: '[That] is sexist. It shows a lack of respect and courtesy. This was misconduct. 'There is an implication that he was too inexperienced to complain. Every officer, however, junior, is obliged to uphold the standards of professional behaviour expected of the Metropolitan Police. 'He now appreciates he should have challenged and called-out his colleagues. 'Failure to challenge these messages was a very serious failing given the extremely offensive nature of some of the messages. His behaviour constituted gross misconduct.' Former PC Jenner had suggested in the group chat that a dog be named 'Dachau' or 'Bergen-Belsen' after the Nazi concentration camps. Mr McKay condemned these suggestions and said: 'It is an unpleasant historical reference which is offensive to the Jewish Community. When taken together these posts amount to gross misconduct. 'PC South also suggested a number of inappropriate names including 'Auschwitz' and other concentration camps, notorious killers and child murderers. 'This disgraceful exchange should have been challenged.' Mr Hobbs argued on behalf of the Metropolitan Police that nothing less than immediate dismissal for the officers and being barred from the force was appropriate. He told the panel: 'Not one of the officers involved challenged the messages in the WhatsApp group. 'Their actions are inconsistent with the values and standards of the Metropolitan Police Service in the 21st century. 'The gross misconduct renders their continued service completely untenable.' All eight officers faced three allegations, individually or cumulatively amounting to gross misconduct. When asked by Katie how it made him feel when people were horrible to him, Harvey said: 'Angry and sad' The first involved comments and posts made by officers within the WhatsApp group between May 17, 2016 and June 26, 2018. The second related to comments made in the same WhatsApp group chat concerning a female colleague officer. Met commander says an 'enormous amount of damage' has been done to reputation of the force after scandals Metropolitan Police Commander Jon Savell said 'the public will be reeling about more officers that have committed horrible acts' after two officers were sacked over their messages in a WhatsApp chat. When asked how much damage the case had caused to the Met's reputation, he said: 'An enormous amount of damage. 'We want the public to trust us, to understand that we will deal with them fairly and impartially, and if officers have got these attitudes and behaviours, that's completely wrong and I suspect that the public are reeling again about more officers that have committed horrible acts. 'We are lifting every stone to do our very best to find these people. There will be more coming out as we discover these people as we get rid of them out of the Met.' Mr Savell said it is 'very difficult' to root out officers who should be sacked from the force, especially when 'someone is a very good officer' - as many of the officers involved had glowing character references. He added that 'dark humour' has 'no place in policing'. Advertisement The third related to messages and posts the group as a whole failed to challenge and report. Acting Police Sergeant Thomas alone faced an additional charge alleging that in his role as the most senior ranking officer he 'legitimised the derisive tone of the WhatsApp group and failed to adequately supervise his team and guide them in respect of their conduct'. PS Thomas, PS Allan and PC South had admitted gross misconduct in respect to each allegation. PC Rees and PC Buchan admitted only misconduct. Officer B had admitted misconduct only in relation to two of the allegations - two and three but denied allegation one. PC Francisco admitted gross misconduct in relation to allegation one but only misconduct in relation to allegations two and three. Former PC Jenner had not engaged with or responded to the allegations made against him at any time. All the officers were attached to Bexley Neighbourhood Tasking Team at the time the group was set up, apart from former PC Francisco who was attached to the East Area Safer Neighbourhood Team. An investigation into the WhatsApp messages was launched in March 2021. More than 6,000 messages had been sent in just under two years. Many of these included highly offensive comments about a number of communities and individuals, including colleagues. In a statement following Friday's hearing, Commander Jon Savell insisted the Met would continue its crackdown on officer standards. 'The Commissioner has been very clear about our commitment to finding and getting rid of anyone in the Met who has these highly offensive attitudes and today's result is an example of that,' he said. 'I have over 600 colleagues in our professional standards directorate a team we have significantly grown whose absolute focus is on this critically important piece of work. 'We are under no illusion that public trust and confidence in us depends on us re-establishing our integrity and professionalism.' The Supreme Court granted President Joe Biden's administration's request Friday to block lower courts from limiting access to abortion pills. In a ruling Friday afternoon, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito halted lower court rulings restricting access to the abortion pill mifepristone until April 19. The Justice Department filed an emergency request earlier Friday asking the justices to put on hold a ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas to significantly restrict abortion pill mifepristone's distribution while litigation is being challenged in courts by pro-life groups. Danco Laboratories, the manufacturer of mifepristone, also had asked the Supreme Court for similar relief on Friday. The Supreme Court in June 2022 overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that had legalized the procedure across the country, sending it back to states to regulate. The Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority. Pro-abortion supporters say curbing access to mifepristone would deal another major setback to abortion access nationally. President Joe Biden's administration asked the Supreme Court on Friday to block lower courts from limiting access to abortion pills In a ruling Friday afternoon, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito (pictured above in October 2022) halted lower court rulings restricting access to the abortion pill mifepristone Kacsmaryk's order - a preliminary injunction - was set to take effect at 12 a.m. CDT Saturday, according to the Justice Department. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday declined the administration's request to block the restrictions ordered by Kacsmaryk on April 7. The 5th Circuit halted another part of Kacsmaryk's order that would have suspended the FDA's approval of the drug, effectively pulling it off the market. The FDA, which approved mifepristone in 2000, is the U.S. agency that signs off on the safety of food products, drugs and medical devices. The restrictions set by the lower courts would restore curbs on the medication that had been lifted since 2016 as the FDA steadily expanded access. These revived restrictions include a requirement for three in-person doctor visits in order to obtain it and limiting its use to the first seven weeks of pregnancy, down from the current 10. The administration said the lower court orders would have 'sweeping consequences' for women who need access to mifepristone and the FDA's scientific judgment authority over drug safety. Current drug labels for mifepristone do not account for the new limits and would have to be adjusted, a process that could take months, both the Justice Department and Danco said in their filings. 'The resulting disruption would deny women lawful access to a drug FDA deemed a safe and effective alternative to invasive surgical abortion,' the Justice Department told the justices. The challengers to mifepristone have called these limits critical safeguards to a medication they consider dangerous. 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 Supreme Court in June 2022 overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that had legalized the procedure across the country Since last year's Supreme Court decision, 12 U.S. states have put in place outright bans while many others prohibit abortion after a certain length of pregnancy Mifepristone is used in combination with another drug called misoprostol to perform medication abortion, which accounts for more than half of all U.S. abortions. Since last year's Supreme Court decision, 12 U.S. states have put in place outright bans while many others prohibit abortion after a certain length of pregnancy. The latest Republican-led move came in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a new law that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, setting the stage for abortion access to be drastically curtailed in the state and across the U.S. South. 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. Kacsmaryk found that the FDA, in approving the drug, exceeded its authority by ignoring 'legitimate safety concerns' about mifepristone and relying on 'plainly unsound reasoning and studies' when approving it. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law Thursday that would restrict abortions in the state after six weeks of pregnancy The 5th Circuit found that the plaintiffs had waited too long to challenge the FDA's regulatory approval but were likely to succeed in targeting the agency's decisions in recent years to make access to mifepristone easier. 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. Executives from hundreds of biotech and pharmaceutical industry companies in an open letter called for a reversal of the judge's 'decision to disregard science.' A California plastic surgeon has been charged with the murder of a woman who died during a boob job after he 'left' the room to tend to other patients while she lay dying. Megan Espinoza, 36, went into cardiac arrest during a breast augmentation surgery at the Divino Surgery Center in Bonita, San Diego, in December 2018. Doctor Carlos Chacon was previously charged with involuntary manslaughter but murder charges were filed against him after prosecutors said they discovered new evidence her death was the result of his recklessness. District Attorney Gina Darvas alleges that he refused to call 911 for more than three hours and banned his employees from doing so and left the operating suite to tend to four other patients while Espinoza lay dying. And she accused him of cutting corners to make more money by using an untrained nurse to perform anesthesia on mother-of-two Espinoza. Chacon appeared in court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to the second degree murder charge. Doctor Carlos Chacon has been charged with the murder of Megan Espinoza, 36, who died during a boob job Megan Espinoza (pictured with her husband and two sons) went into cardiac arrest during a breast augmentation surgery at the Divino Surgery Center in Bonita, San Diego, in December 2018 Chacon appeared in court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to the second degree murder charge The arrest affidavit states that Espinoza went into cardiac arrest at around 2.30pm in the middle of the surgery and Chacon failed to call emergency services for help. 'Chacon made the conscious decision to stop others from providing emergency lifesaving efforts on at least 7 occasions,' the document alleged. And he is said to have told his employees to lie to her husband Moises Espinoza about her condition and what was really happening. Darvas told the court that although Chacon phoned two doctors to ask for advice about what to do, he did not give them all the information about what had happened. Chacon allegedly stated Espinoza did not lose a pulse and hid the fact her heart stopped. One doctor then told him 911 during a phone call at 5.03pm but he eventually did at 5.24pm, almost three hours after the patient suffered a cardiac arrest. But he allegedly lied to the operator to cover up in an effort to create 'plausible deniability'. And Darvas revealed the surgeon left Espinoza in the operating suite to tend to four other patients as she lay dying. 'He can't be providing life-saving treatment to the victim on the table when he's in his practice seeing other patients,' said Darvas. 'We found that to be extremely egregious.' Espinoza spent a month in hospital in critical condition and doctors informed her family that she was not expected to regain neurological function and she died on January 28, 2019. Darvas said Chacon made the 'intentional decision' to conduct the surgery using a nurse who wasn't properly trained to administer anesthesia. Chacon is said to have told his employees to lie to Espinoza's husband Moises Espinoza (pictured left) about her condition She was a kindergarten teacher in El Cajon and shared two young boys with her husband The affidavit also alleged that Carla Hernandez, the surgical technician who 'admitted she had personally injected Espinoza with anesthetics,' attended college for two years as a business major but did not graduate. 'Hernandez holds no certifications related to being a medical assistant,' it said. 'Hernandez first knew that something had gone wrong during Espinoza's surgery when the first implant was in. 'At that time, Espinoza's color began changing and the surgical monitor began making some sort of beeping sound. Chacon continued practicing plastic surgery even after he and nurse Heather Vass were initially charged with involuntary manslaughter in December 2021 because he reportedly wasn't required by state law to inform patients. Attorney Marc Carlos, who is representing Chacon, said the murder charge was 'unique, extraordinary and unfair'. He told San Diego ABC affiliate KGTV: 'This should be a civil case. It should not be a criminal case. 'There's nothing in Dr. Chacon's conduct that rises to the level to be charged with second-degree murder. 'This is a tragic accident. It's misfortunate and at best it's a negligence case which has already been settled.' Chacon was arrested at his office last week before he appeared in court on Monday and his bail was set at $500,000 despite prosecutors requesting it be set at $5million. Espinoza's family had reached a settlement in a lawsuit against Chacon in December 2022 Espinoza, who was described as the life of the party and 'someone who did a lot of good in this world' by her husband, pictured on her wedding day Moises Espinoza said the new allegations shows the 'lack of compassion' Chacon had for his wife's life He will not be allowed to travel outside of California and will have to surrender passport to his lawyer when released from custody. Chacon must also notify potential patients of the criminal charges he faces and requires permission from the state 72 hours before performing surgery. Espinoza's family had reached a settlement in a lawsuit against Chacon in December 2022. She was a kindergarten teacher in El Cajon and shared two young boys with her husband who described her as the life of the party and 'someone who did a lot of good in this world'. The pair, who are from Oxnard, California, got engaged on December 31, 2006. Her husband told NBC 7 San Diego: 'It just shows you the lack of compassion he had for a life, my wife. 'It's just us three now, so we have to live with the reality that we don't have a mother, but we cherish those memories and pictures and probably every other week we'll go look at some videos together and remember how many lives she touched.' Chacon is set to appear at a preliminary hearing in court on June 5. A construction firm has been fined 860,000 for safety failures after a 10-year-old boy fell 20 feet down a manhole and died. The Crown Office said Glasgow Sheriff Court was told that Shea Ryan, along with other children, accessed the RJ McLeod (Contractors) Limited site through an insecure fence in Drumchapel, Glasgow on July 16, 2020. Shea began to climb down the manhole, situated around 200 feet from a children's play park, after telling the other children that he wanted to. He slipped and fell to the bottom, sustaining fatal injuries. RJ McLeod (Contractors) Limited was fined at the court on Friday, having pleaded guilty earlier this week to breaching health and safety laws. Shea Ryan fell down a manhole on a construction site in Drumchapel, Glasgow on July 16, 2020 The company was also ordered to pay a 60,000 victim surcharge. Prosecutor Saud Ul-Hassan told Glasgow Sheriff Court: 'Shea began to climb down the ladder where he slipped and fell. 'From the position of the ladder, he fell to the water below.' The other children raised the alarm and Shea's stepdad Graham Patterson entered the manhole. Police attended and officers found Shea lying on his back with Mr Patterson and a neighbour beside him. Mr Ul-Hassan said: 'Shea was seen to have severe head injuries, cold to the touch and was not breathing.' An officer brought Shea to the surface and performed CPR before he was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital, but he could not be saved. The cause of death was noted as 'head injury and drowning'. An investigation by Police Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found insufficient measures had been taken to prevent children gaining access to the construction site. It was revealed that the company has two previous convictions. The first was related to asbestos, leading to a fine of 1,750 in 2004. Pictured: The Drumchapel building site where the incident occurred The second was a health and safety breach in 2006, for which it was fined 35,000. In a statement released through legal firm Digby Brown, Shea's mother Joanne Ferguson said: 'I am glad RJ McLeod finally admitted guilt. 'My son is not here and that destroys me every day.' She added: 'That totally avoidable accident has ruined my life and my kids' lives. I don't even feel human anymore at times because of the grief. 'I just hope this makes them consider site safety everywhere - not just for RJ McLeod but for companies everywhere because the safety of these places is so important.' She thanked the prosecution and emergency services, as well as her friends and family, and said Shea is 'missed every second of every day'. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said a fatal accident inquiry will be held into Shea's death. Speaking after the sentencing, Debbie Carroll, who leads on health and safety investigations at COPFS, said: 'The untimely death of child is particularly tragic, and our thoughts are with Shea's family as they continue to deal with the pain they have suffered following his death. 'His death could have been prevented had RJ McLeod (Contractors) Limited put in place suitable and sufficient measures to manage the risk of children accessing the site. 'This prosecution should remind duty holders that a failure to manage and implement effective measures can have fatal consequences and they will be held accountable for this failure. 'It is important that any learning, to help prevent deaths in a similar situation, is put in the public domain and there will be a fatal accident inquiry into the full circumstances of Shea's death in due course.' Pictured: Police attend the scene at the construction site in Drumchapel, Glasgow HSE principal inspector Graeme McMinn said: 'Shea should never have been able to get on to and play on that site. 'The security measures should have taken account of the adjacent children's playpark and the likelihood of children trying to gain access.' He said the construction industry must do everything it can to keep children out of construction sites and 'away from danger to prevent a tragedy such as this happening again'. RJ McLeod, whose most recent turnover was 194 million with a profit of 25 million, had taken temporary possession from another company, ABV. They were carrying out work on a Glasgow City Council project on surface water to reduce flooding in the area. Sheriff Matthew Jackson KC told the sentencing that the headline figure for a fine was 1.5 million. The sheriff stated that this was reduced due to mitigating factors notably the timing of the company's plea. He said: 'Nothing this court can do can bring Shea back who was a wonderful son and friend, as well as a loss to his family, school and all of us. 'What this court can do is select an appropriate sentence. 'Everyone can learn from this dreadful mistake.' He added: 'This is a fine which will remind the company's shareholders and directors of the gravity of this offence. 'This will not lessen in any way or replace the terrible loss of Shea's life.' Pictured: Floral tributes left at the site in 2020 after Shea died The earlier hearing was told that the company 'failed to undertake a full assessment on the work area and consider its close proximity to the nearby play park and the risk of children being attracted to the site as well as identify the measures to prevent unauthorised access'. The company was also found not to have kept the existing measures under review. It was further criticised for not having double fencing on the area of the site. The hearing was told that the fencing had been subject to vandalism in the past and that the site had been breached on six occasions. The fencing had been bolstered in the past, but this did not happen at the area near the play park. Mr Ul-Hassan said: 'There was a lack of a formal written system that all fence reports and system were recorded in writing.' It was stated that, as a result, the company didn't take sufficient action to eliminate known risk until after the incident. The reason for the manhole cover being removed has not been determined. Since the incident, the company has increased its fencing measures and a log has been implemented. Its manhole covers are also subject to checks. Motions sensors and solar powered security cameras have also been installed. Paul Marshall, defending, told the earlier hearing: 'I extend deepest sympathies for the tragic loss to the family of Shea. 'The company takes safety very seriously and it is a matter of great concern and remorse that he lost his life for the breach which the company accepts responsibility. 'The company accepts responsibility for the breaches libelled which was failing to carry out a sufficient risk assessment on people gaining access to the construction site.' A Texas man is set to be behind bars for 70 years for spitting on police officers during a domestic violence arrest after prosecutors pushed for harsh sentencing. Larry Pearson, 36, was sentenced on Wednesday after he was found guilty of two counts of harassment of a public servant for spitting on two officers in May 2022. He was arrested after a domestic violence incident where the victim flagged an officer down on Zenith Avenues and claimed Pearson had hit her several times and had a gun on him. which turned out to be an airsoft gun. The victim had 'multiple visible injuries' to her face, the police report said at the time. Larry Pearson, 36, was sentenced on Wednesday after he was found guilty of two counts of harassment of a public servant for spitting on two officers in May 2022. He was arrested after a domestic violence incident where the victim flagged an officer down on Zenith Avenues and claimed Pearson had hit her several times and had a gun on him which turned out to be an airsoft gun Pearson was taken into custody and grew angry after police refused to arrest the victim. He began to kick the squad car doors and when officers asked him to stop, he spit on them Pearson was taken into custody and grew angry after police refused to arrest the victim. He began to kick the squad car doors and when officers asked him to stop, he spit on them, according to Everything Lubbock. He would spit on them again after arriving at the Lubbock County Detention Center. Prosecutors had asked the jury to 'send a message' to Pearson during closing arguments. 'If youre going to live the life of crime, youre going to do that among other criminals [in prison],' Prosecutor Jessica Gorman said. However, Pearson's defense argued this was a 'simple misdemeanor' and that the situation had gotten 'out of control.' The minimum sentence Pearson could have received was 25 years due to his prior convictions of aggravated robbery and continuous family violence. Lubbock is one of the most dangerous metropolitan areas and was once rated the third most dangerous city in America by SafeWise. The city ranks high in violent crime and property crimes. The SafeWise study estimated that 1 in 25 people were a victim of property crime in 2020. Taylor was released on a $5,000 bond after being charged with child neglect and endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm The teacher, Abigail Zwerner, was shot in the hand and chest after the boy stole his mother's gun and took it to school Deja Taylor, 25, is facing several criminal charges after her six-year-old son shot his first-grade teacher in January The mother of a six-year-old Virginia boy who shot his first-grade teacher in a classroom has been pictured for the first time as she faces several criminal charges months after the near-tragedy. Deja Taylor, 25, was indicted by a grand jury earlier this week on charges of child neglect and endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm, and was arraigned Friday morning after posting a $5000 bond. She turned herself in Thursday for outstanding warrants stemming from the horror shooting of teacher Abigail Zwerner, 25, on January 6. The schoolboy stole his mother's legally purchased handgun and snuck it into school, before firing a single round into his teacher, striking her in the hand and chest. Deja Taylor, 25, is facing several criminal charges three months after her six-year-old son shot his first-grade teacher Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, where the shooting occurred. Several parents have filed a lawsuit against the school for not protecting their kids Taylor's arrest comes over three months after her son shot and wounded Zwerner at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. Her attorney, James Ellensen, told AP: 'She is nervous and scared, because she has never been charged before, but holding up well.' The investigation into the shooting has not been closed following Taylor's arraignment, and several parents at the elementary school have filed lawsuits for allegedly failing to protect their kids. Virginia's Commonwealth Attorney Howard Gwynn previously said in a statement that the facts of the case 'support these charges' but added 'out investigation into the shooting continues'. Gwynn said his office has petitioned the court to empanel a special grand jury to continue an investigation into any security issues that may have contributed to the shooting. The ongoing probe could lead to more individuals being charged in connection to the shooting. 'The safety and security of Newport News students is of utmost importance,' Gwynn added. 'The Special Grand Jury will investigate to determine whether additional charges against additional persons are justified by the facts and the law.' Taylor's lawyer said she was 'nervous and scared, because she has never been charged before, but holding up well' Abbey Zwerner, 25, had just finished reading a story when the child pulled out the handgun and shot her in the chest at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News on January 6 Despite her brush with death, Abby says she is excited to return to teaching Taylor is facing felony charges of child neglect, which is punishable by up to five years in prison. The mom has also been charged with a misdemeanor offence of endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm, which carried a maximum penalty of one year behind bars. Her attorney Ellensen has claimed that the gun used on Zwerner was secured on a top shelf in her closet and had a trigger lock. Zwerner, 25, has been hailed as a hero in the small Virginia community after it emerged she rushed her students out of the classroom after being shot, before seeking medical attention for herself. In the aftermath of the shooting, the child's family said the boy suffers from an 'acute disability' and was under a plan that saw 'his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day.' The week of the shooting was the first when a parent was not in class with him, the family claimed. An order for a killer bear to be 'tracked and destroyed' has been overturned after a successful legal appeal by an animal rights group. Officials had issued the decree for the brown bear identified as Jj4 but also known as Gaia after she mauled trail runner Andrea Papi, 26, to death last week. DNA samples found at the scene on a stick Andrea had used to defend himself and, on his clothes, and body had positively identified the 17-year-old female bear as the culprit. It later emerged that the bear had also been involved in another attack in 2020 that left a dad and his son badly injured after they were forced to flee for their lives. The incidents all took place on Mt Peller close to Caldes in the northern Italian region of Trentino where around 100 bears are believed to be living after being reintroduced there in 2000. An order for a killer bear identified as Jj4 to be 'tracked and destroyed' has been overturned after a successful legal appeal by an animal rights group DNA samples found the 17-year-old bear had mauled runner Andrea Papi to death on Mt Peller close to Caldes last week Regional president Maurizio Fugatti had issued the order for the bear to be killed last week following the fatal attack - the first of its kind in Italy - on Andrea. But the Italian Anti Vivisection League, (LAV) an animal rights campaign group, protested to a regional court through it's lawyer Claudio Linzola and he won a suspension of a month. Posting a picture of a baby bear cub on its mother, LAV wrote on their Twitter feed: 'The order has been suspended by the regional tribunal which accepted our requests. 'The arrogance of the regional president Maurizio Fugatti has been beaten. Bears and the citizens of Trentino have the right to live in peace.' In a statement LAV said: 'It's evidently clear the desire of Mr Fugatti, he has no intention of working with us for a peaceful solution between bears and humans. 'What he wants is a vendetta towards bears, all he wants to do is kill them or move them out of the area. 'There is an alternative possibility for these animals, even for the one that he has ordered to be killed. These bears can all be saved. 'All the local authorities need to do is run a proper informative campaign for the local population and for holidaymakers so they know what to do if and when they see a bear. 'Do not kill these bears, give them to the LAV.' Mountain rescue teams using tracker dogs found Andrea's dismembered body the morning after the attack and he was declared dead at the scene Regional president Maurizio Fugatti had issued the order for the bear to be killed last week following the fatal attack - the first of its kind in Italy - on Andrea. But an animal rights group has won an appeal to give it a stay of execution Mr Fugatti said: 'In 2020 we authorised the killing of Jj4 after she attacked two people on Mt Peller. 'We have highlighted numerous times to various authorities that Jj4 is a dangerous bear but we have always been defeated and told that she is not dangerous and she should be free. 'But we cannot have dangerous animals circulating freely in our forests and countryside.' Mr Fugatti said he would be calling for an urgent meeting between regional authorities and animal rights groups to 'urgently discuss' the situation. In a statement issued by her lawyer Andrea's mother Franca, said: 'It's not my son's fault and not even the bear's - shooting the bear won't give me back Andrea.' 'The management of this project, over time, has become increasingly incautious and inadequate and has not taken into account and evaluated the growth in the number of bears and the population. 'We as a family, demand that somebody be held responsible for the lack of protection and prevention, they can't get away with it.' Judge Fulvio Rocco said he had suspended the order pending further evidence from both parties and adjourned the case until May 11. Judge Fulvio Rocco said he had suspended the order pending further evidence from both parties and adjourned the case until May 11. Pictured: Andrea Papi The original 2020 was overturned after it emerged that Jj4 - also known as Gaia - had given birth to bear cubs. Jj4 was born after two bears from Slovenia were brought to Italy through a project called Life Ursula, which aims at increasing the dwindling bear population. Following the 2020 attack the Jj4 was fitted with an electric collar but the battery has since run out and officials have been unable to replace it. A message on the website of the local council which oversaw the tracking said that 'due to a technical fault the current whereabouts of Jj4 were unknown'. An actor playing Ron DeSantis dips his fingers into a chocolate pudding, swirls them around and shoves them into his mouth in a campaign disturbing ad from a super PAC backing Donald Trump. MAGA Inc on Friday released the revolting clip attacking the Florida Governor and linking his plans to cut Social Security with claims he ate pudding with his hands on a flight. 'Ron DeSantis loves sticking his fingers where they don't belong, and we're not just talking about pudding,' the ad opens. An actor playing Ron DeSantis dips his fingers into a chocolate pudding, swirls them around and shoves them into his mouth in a campaign ad from Donald Trump's super PAC 'DeSantis has his dirty fingers all over senior entitlements, like cutting Medicare, slashing Social Security, even raising our retirement age,' it continues. 'Tell Ron DeSantis to keep his pudding fingers off our money. Oh, and somebody get this man a spoon.' The allegations against DeSantis refer to his time in Congress when he backed a 2010 Republican budget plan that would have cut benefits. The move would have also raised the age of eligibility for Social Security and Medicare to 70. Trump has publicly urged Republicans not to touch Social Security and entitlements and has used it as a frequent attack on his potential 2024 rival. He has backed modest changes to the plans that impact millions of Americans, but has mostly steered clear of any major changes. The Super PAC dropped the ad as DeSantis spoke to a crowd of evangelical voters at Liberty University. He thanked them for praying for wife Casey during her battle with breast cancer and vowed to continue his 'war on woke'. MAGA Inc released the revolting clip attacking the Florida Governor and linking his plans to cut Social Security with claims he ate pudding with his hands on a flight 'Ron DeSantis loves sticking his fingers where they don't belong, and we're not just talking about pudding,' the ad opens Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis rallied evangelical voters at Liberty University on Friday with his vow to 'wage a war on woke' but he failed to mention the restrictive new abortion law he signed the evening before in his state. The packed auditorium at the Baptist university, founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell, greeted the governor with a standing ovation and cheers. He, in return, thanked them for their support, particularly during his wife Casey's battle with breast cancer. During his remarks, he reiterated many of his previous talking points about his work in Florida, his re-election victory and his war on Disney. But, notably, he did not talk about the law he signed that forbids abortions in Florida after six weeks. With his signature, Florida joined about a dozen other states in having one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation. Ron DeSantis did not talk about the abortion ban he signed into law during his speech at his Liberty University DeSantis on Thursday flew back to Florida after giving a speech in Ohio to sign the bill into law. He did so without much fanfare - simply releasing a press release after he fixed his signature to it. Jonathan Falwell, the campus pastor of Liberty University, mentioned the law in his introductive of DeSantis, which won cheers from the heavily pro-life crowd, but the governor didn't acknowledge the matter. Instead he started his remarks by thanking them for their prayers while his wife Casey was battling breast cancer, saying her resulting good health meant those prayers were answered. He said the couple debated whether to go public with her cancer diagnosis in October 2021 but ultimately did so. She was declared cancer free in March 2022. 'The prayers that we received as a result of that lifted up her spirits,' he said. 'She was able to go through a lot of excruciating treatment and surgery and I can tell you right now, she's never been healthier, never been better. The prayers have been answered.' But DeSantis' silence on Florida's new abortion law was deafening. While most Republicans support outlawing abortion - especially late-term ones - polls show that many think a six-week ban, like the one DeSantis just signed, goes too far. Many women don't realize they are pregnant yet at the six-week mark. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that about 50% of Americans strongly opposed a six-week abortion ban, including 44% of Republicans. Ron DeSantis gives Casey a kiss on the cheek at an event shortly after he announced she was free from breast cancer in 2022 DeSantis' signature on the Florida abortion law could help him among GOP voters in a presidential primary as he solidifies his conservative credentials. But polling also shows that a majority of Americans, overall, support abortion rights. Meaning the new law could come back to haunt him among independent and swing voters in a national election. Democrats have vowed to make abortion rights a national issue in the 2024 presidential race particularly after they used it to successfully mobilize voters in 2022. Republicans failed to deliver widespread victories in that midterm election. DeSantis has not officially said he is running for president. But he is on a nationwide book tour that many see as a the forerunner to a presidential campaign. Later Thursday he'll make his first stop in New Hampshire, when he speaks to a state party fundraising dinner. He's already done stops in important early voting states like Iowa and Michigan. Donald Trump already sees the Florida governor as a threat. The two men were close at one point. The then-President Trump endorsed DeSantis' first gubernatorial bid, helping put him over the top in that race. But as DeSantis courts the conservative crowd tired of Trump's drama and legal woes, the former president has unleashed a fire storm on the man he has dubbed 'Ron Desanctimonious.' Trump's team on Friday released an ad mocking DeSantis and referring to a report that he once at chocolate pudding with two fingers. 'Ron DeSantis loves sticking his fingers where they don't belong, and we're not just talking about pudding,' the ad's narrator says, showing a male hand putting his fingers in a pudding cup. It goes on to attack DeSantis for 'cutting Medicare, slashing social security, even raising our retirement age.' 'Tell Ron DeSantis to keep his pudding fingers off our money,' the ad ends. 'Oh, and somebody get this man a spoon.' Polling shows DeSantis is Trump's closest competition even though the former president maintains a healthy two-digit lead in most surveys. That could change one DeSantis formally enters the race. Ron DeSantis signing Florida's ban on abortions after six weeks into law If approved, it would see The Sunshine State - currently without an abortion ban - join at least a dozen other states that have approved bans on abortions after six weeks, a marker that has proved polarizing due to it often being too early to spot a pregnancy At Liberty University, where he received an honorary degree, DeSantis focused his speech on his tried and true talking points he's used in other speeches, talking about his 'war' on woke culture. 'Woke represents a war on truth. We must wage a war on woke,' he said to applause. He discussed his work on banning gender discussion in Florida classrooms and said that no swimmer that competed on a men's team should be able to switch to a woman's. He also touted how he kept Florida open during the COVID-pandemic, flouting recommendations from medical experts. 'No governor in this country was attacked more by legacy media and the political left than I was, but I had to make the decision. You know, what are you in this for? Are you in it to protect your own political hide? No, you've got to be willing to put the interests of the people you represent put their jobs ahead of trying to protect your own job,' he said. 'Leadership is really about having the courage to make difficult decisions in the teeth of opposition and in the teeth of criticism,' he noted. 'A leader must have the confidence to stand alone if the moment calls for it.' Renowned artist, international playboy, scallywag and presidential scion, Hunter Biden is prancing around the Emerald Isle with his dear old dad, all the while under Justice Department and Congressional investigations. Must be nice. But back at home, Americans have a few questions. In fact, millions have been waiting years to resolve the myriad probes and scandals swarming around the troubled second son of the president. And instead, they get slapped in the face with this? The Biden Family European Vacation. Not since the Griswold's have we witnessed such a disaster. And it's shameless. It might be one thing if the recovering crack addict of sordid laptop fame was just quietly tucked into the back of Air Force One, keeping a low profile while visiting with Joe's distant cousins. But no. He is openly assisting his dad at official events. Don't forget! Hunter is currently under federal investigation for failure to pay taxes linked to his shady international business dealing. He's also being investigated by House Republicans for allegedly leveraging the political power of his famous father to help him sell access to the highest levels of the American government. In 2013, Hunter tagged along in Air Force Two, with then-Vice President Joe Biden, on an official visit to Beijing. Little did we know at the time, but Hunter was actually using the trip to court Chinese investors, who ended up paying him to help promote their interests in the West. Ye Jianming, the former chairman of Chinese energy conglomerate CEFC, once gave Hunter Biden a 3-carat diamond estimated to be worth $80,000. It might be one thing if the recovering crack addict of sordid laptop fame was just quietly tucked into the back of Air Force One, keeping a low profile while visiting with Joe's distant cousins. But no. He is openly assisting his dad at official events. Renowned artist, international playboy, scallywag and presidential scion, Hunter Biden is prancing around the Emerald Isle with his dear old dad, all the while under Justice Department and Congressional investigations. Last month, House Republicans revealed that another firm, linked to CEFC, wired $3million to a Hunter's business partner. And, according to investigators, that money was then doled out to members of the Biden family, including Joe's daughter-in-law, Hallie and his brother, James. What was Hunter paid to do? That's still unclear. But I bet it wasn't for nothing. And of course, it wasn't just China paying Hunter. A Ukrainian energy company Burisma was reportedly giving Hunter $1million a year, while his dad was vice president. And Joe reportedly met with at least 14 of Hunter's business associates while he was in the Obama White House. And even more on the nose, Hunter's business partner from a now-defunct investment firm, once suggested how they could get in with an Irish government pension fund by cozying up to the US Ambassador to Ireland at a St. Patricks Day party in Washington DC. This all feels like nothing less than blatant abuse by Hunter of his familial closeness to the office of the United States president. Look, we all accept and understand that Joe loves his son. And any father recognizes only too well the want to forgive and forget your child's misdeeds. But by publicly flaunting Hunter - who has flouted decency, very possibly the law, and above all else, potentially implicated the president is a flat-out insult. Joe is either driven by disdain for the American people or stupidity. And it may be the latter. In one particularly bizarre moment on this increasingly pointless tour, Joe and Hunter were meeting with locals in Belfast when a young Irish lad, clearly using a regional phrase, asked Joe for his advice on the 'top step' to success. Nonetheless, our commander-in-chief couldn't handle the query. So, Hunter explained to his father that the boy was asking about, 'keys to success.' A softball question, no doubt. But it threw Joe into a tizzy. He launched into a lengthy story about the late segregationist Senator Jesse Helms, forgetting which 'Carolina' Helms represented, only to have Hunter saunter up again and whisper, 'North.' This uncomfortable moment got worse and worse until Hunter intervened once more to move the old man along: 'You're supposed to do the ropeline, Dad.' Believe it (which I'm sure you do) or not, that wasn't the least of it. Biden was caught on video all but pushing his British counterpart, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, out of the way to greet a female US diplomat. And in another insult to the British people, he took a selfie with accused IRA terrorist, Gerry Adams. No wonder the British Press is up in arms over what they say is the president's animosity to the UK. (Maybe the White House should focus on fixing that instead of the Biden brood posing at quaint pubs.) And to round out the debacle, Biden confused the Irish 'All Black's' rugby team with the infamous British 'Black and Tans' military unit that battled the Irish Republican Army. The lights are on. But no one's home. It's all so very troubling and more so because Joe's doing it with Hunter in tow. What an absolute mockery! Furthermore, how is this not interference in the investigations of Hunter being mounted by Joe's own DOJ? Are they really going to throw the book at the boss's prodigal son? This was supposed to be an official state visit to Ireland to further the interests of the American people, and it has turned into a public-relations tour. The rehabilitation of Hunter's image has been a permanent side project for this White House, which at the same time refuses to answer questions about his bevy of scandals. In one particularly bizarre moment on this increasingly pointless tour, Joe and Hunter were meeting with locals in Belfast when a young Irish lad, clearly using a regional phrase, asked Joe for his advice on the 'top step' to success. Nonetheless, our commander-in-chief couldn't handle the query. Federal tax investigations? Joe says nothing. House investigation into influence peddling? Zilch. Is Joe 'the big guy' who gets 10 percent kickbacks from his son? You don't get to know. Just shut up. What actual business of the American people is advanced by presenting Hunter on a trip with Joe, all nice and neat in his suit and tie, not smoking crack or impregnating strippers? Does anyone other than Hunter benefit? Americans need to know and believe that nobody is above the law. Joe and Hunter's excellent Irish adventure sends exactly the opposite message. Perhaps that is what this trip to the Biden ancestral homeland is all about. Lord knows we haven't heard a word of policy or seen a dash of diplomacy, those are the kinds of Irish gab Joe has no gift for. Thankfully, with Republicans in control of the House we may finally get a fulsome investigation - one with teeth, even if Attorney General Merrick Garland's Department of Justice continues to drag its feet. Here's the deal folks, when Joe Biden starts answering serious questions about his son, when he shoots from the shoulder on the issue, then he can parade him around as a prop. Until that time, if it ever comes, leave Hunter in Delaware with the Corvette, Joe. Nobody is buying any of this - and we are tired of being insulted. Four devout Christians have died in Kenya after starving themselves to death when a preacher brainwashed them into thinking they were going to meet their maker, police said. Some 15 'radicalised' Kenyan Christians were rescued by police on Friday, but four congregation members died during the rescue mission. All 15 were members of the Good News International Church in the coastal county of Kilifi and were brainwashed by a preacher named as Makenzie Nthenge. Police said the 11 survivors were rescued from a forest near the town of Malindi on Kenya's Indian Ocean coast and rushed to hospital. There are fears there could be more victims. Kenyan police later announced that they have launched a manhunt for the local cult leader following the deaths of the four followers he reportedly told to starve themselves in order to 'meet Jesus'. Four people died after starving themselves to death when a preacher brainwashed them into thinking they were going to meet their maker, police said (file image) Police reportedly were made aware of the brainwashing after they received a tipoff of radicalised Christians starving to death under the pretext that they were on their way to meet Jesus. 'In the process of rescuing the victims, four of them died,' police said in an incident report. Police were investigating reports of more victims, the report said. 'They starved after being radicalised by a certain member of a church told them that their work in this world was done... and they were waiting to die and see their creator,' Charles Kamau, the criminal investigations officer said on Kenya's Citizen Television. The four dead worshippers have yet to be identified, while those taken to hospital included seven men and four women aged between 17 and 49, according to the police report. Three remain in critical condition. Investigators were continuing to search in the Shakahola forest after reports of a mass grave where other cult followers may have been buried. 'The team were unable to identify the mass grave by virtue of vast land (area) and hostile residents in the forest,' the police report said. 'It is further suspected that there are many victims in the forest land believed to belong to the suspect.' Police reportedly received the tipoff that radicalised Christians were starving to death under the pretext that they were on their way to meet Jesus (file image) Media reports said Nthenge had been arrested and charged last month after two children were allegedly starved to death by their parents but was later freed on a bond of 100,000 Kenyan shillings (about 600). In a March 23 affidavit, police said the parents had starved and suffocated the two boys on Nthenge's advice. Police asked the judge to detain Nthenge because he could be in danger himself for 'having caused many people to lose their lives with (the) pretense that they were going to heaven (if) they die through starvation,' the affidavit said. During a court appearance in that case, Nthenge said he was unaware of the events that led to the deaths of the two boys, adding he was the target of hostile propaganda from some of his former colleagues, The Standard newspaper reported. The judge released him on bail. Ex-health secretary Sajid Javid is 'deeply concerned' over claims staff employed at a failed NHS gender identity clinic for children will continue to have key roles. The former Cabinet minister has called for recruitment processes for replacement services to the Tavistock Centre to be 'urgently reviewed'. There are plans to replace the Tavistock Centre, also known as the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), with two new regional hubs in London and the North West. The NHS announced in July it would be shutting down GIDS, the only NHS gender identity clinic in England and Wales for children and young people, amid growing concerns about its services. An independent review, led by Dr Hilary Cass, found that 'a single specialist provider model is not a safe or viable long-term option'. Mr Javid has now warned that those 'who oversaw significant failings at the Tavistock Centre should clearly not be involved in the set-up of the new system'. It comes after BBC Newsnight revealed concerns about two members of staff appointed to train new employees at the regional hubs. There are plans to replace the Tavistock Centre, also known as the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), with two new regional hubs in London and the North West Former health secretary Sajid Javid warned that those 'who oversaw significant failings at the Tavistock Centre should clearly not be involved in the set-up of the new system' They reported that one is a senior clinician at GIDS who says they are 'devoted' to an affirmative approach to young people presenting with gender difficulties, and that 'social justice' underpins all their work. Another person appointed, who was said to be not employed by GIDS or the NHS trust that runs it, but had openly questioned Dr Cass and NHS England's more cautious stance on social transition - the changing of a young person's name, pronouns, and way they dress. It was also reported some applicants invited for interview for roles at the new services were initially informed that Dr Polly Carmichael, who has been in charge of GIDS since 2009, would be on the interviewing panel. Mr Javid said: 'I am deeply concerned by what this investigation has uncovered. 'Individuals who oversaw significant failings at the Tavistock Centre should clearly not be involved in the set-up of the new system.' Steve Barclay, the current Health Secretary, told the BBC the Government would ensure the new service was run in line with the recommendations of the Cass review, which 'differ significantly' from the services provided by GIDS. He said: 'Any suggestion that the recruitment or training of new service providers are not following these recommendations is very concerning and I will work closely with partners to resolve this.' It is understood that Dr Carmichael was considered among a number of people for the interview panel, but that she wasn't included on the final panel after it was decided it was better for another senior figure to be on it. Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust was in charge of the recent recruitment process for training and education roles. A spokesperson said: 'The new children's and young people's gender service is vital to addressing the large and rising waiting list of young people needing care. 'Following the publication of the interim Cass review we have been asked by NHS England to develop a new national multi-professional training and education programme for staff working within the new, national, service. 'This is a highly complex task. We want to recruit a wide-range of people to the roles of education leads, to collectively develop the materials in line with the Cass Review recommendations. 'While we appreciate they may hold differing views, there will be strong governance processes in place to ensure the curriculum aligns with both the Cass review, the interim service specification and all available evidence. 'The governance process includes an Education & Training Programme Oversight Group, to ensure the materials are of the highest standards and sign off the curriculum, which Dr Cass and international experts have been invited to be part of. 'Ultimately, our aim is to develop a robust training and education programme that is underpinned by the latest evidence that can enable clinicians and support staff to deliver the very best care for the children and young people who urgently need this new service.' NHS England said: 'All aspects of the new children and young people's gender service - from the development of both the interim and final service specification, including staff training, to individual patient care - will be guided by the ongoing findings and expert advice from the Cass review.' He was joined at the hearing by glamorous sister Kazar, who had her apartment searched Thursday by cops Tech exec Nima Momeni stabbed Bob Lee in the heart after vowing to 'come down hard on him' and grilling him over his relationship with his married sister, with whom the Cash App founder exchanged intimate text messages, prosecutors claimed today. Momeni is charged with murdering Lee on April 4 in San Francisco at around 2.35am after spending around two hours with him in his married sister Khazar's apartment. Khazar showed up in court today with her plastic surgeon husband, Dr. Dino Elyassnia, wearing designer sunglasses. She and her brother immigrated to the US from Iran as children. Today, prosecutors shared new facts about the case in an effort to keep Momeni behind bars. In a motion filed in court, they revealed a text from Khazar, to Lee in which she gushed over what a 'classy guy' he was. Hours before his murder, Nima had grilled Lee about his relationship with Khazar, who is married to a prominent local plastic surgeon, demanding to know whether she'd been 'doing drugs' or anything 'inappropriate' while spending time with him. He'd had a drink with her and one of Lee's friends earlier that day. Khazar Momeni and her husband, plastic surgeon Dr. Dino Elyassnia today at her brother's arraignment. Prosecutors laid out part of their case today and she is at the center of her brother's alleged motive Nima Momeni (left) vowed 'came down way hard' on Lee hours before the stabbing. Prosecutors say it was a planned attack in which he used a kitchen knife to stab Lee in the heart In a text message to Lee earlier in the day, Khazar gushed: 'Just wanted to make sure your doing OK because I know Nima came wayyy down hard on you and thank you for being such a classy man handling it with class. 'Love you Selfish pr***s.' At 12.39am, Lee was seen entering Khazar's apartment building. Nima was already inside. At 2.03am, Lee and Nima left the apartment building and got into Nima's BMW, who'd offered to drive him to his hotel. Instead, prosecutors say he took him to a shady downtown street, where he stabbed him three times including once in the heart, and fled. An unnamed witness who said he'd been friends with Bob for 10 years told police that he believed Lee and Khazar were having an intimate relationship and that her marriage might have been in 'jeopardy.' Both he and Khazar lived in Mill Valley, an exclusive San Francisco suburb, before Lee moved to Miami in October last year. In a text message to Lee earlier in the day, she gushed: 'Just wanted to make sure your doing OK because I know Nima came wayyy down hard on you and thank you for being such a classy man handling it with class. 'Love you Selfish pr***s.' Momeni depicted in a court sketch today. His sister was in the courtroom to support him. The pair immigrated to the US from Iran as children On April 4, Lee was filmed on surveillance cameras staggering into an apartment building in downtown San Francisco at 2.35am after being stabbed. Yesterday, police searched the nearby apartment of Momeni's sister, Khazar. It's unclear if they'd been together or at the apartment earlier in the night Lee is said to have met Momeni through his sister Khazar, who he also met recently, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. She is shown with her husband, a prominent local plastic surgeon Neither Khazar nor her husband has commented on her brother's arrest She was seen at court today for her brother's arraignment, accompanied by her husband. Lee had also had drinks with Khazar at 3.30pm the day before he died. The friend was also with them. Lee invited Khazar to go to his hotel room but she said no. Once in the hotel room, Nima called Lee on Facetime. It was about him picking Khazar up from the house where they had been earlier. '[Nima] was questioning [Lee] about whether his sister was doing drugs or anything inappropriate... [Lee] had to reassure him nothing inappropriate had happened,' court documents reveal. They then went to the friend's apartment where they continued to 'hang out' until 12.30am. Lee was seen entering Khazar's apartment at 12.39am. Nima had been there since 8.31pm. Surveillance footage showed them leaving together at 2.03am, 30 minutes before the stabbing. Nima Momeni's loft, where neighbors say he both worked and lived. It was raided on Thursday morning The 38-year-old lived alone in this building. He is due to appear in court later this afternoon The day after the murder, the friend called Khazar and asked whether Lee had gone round to her apartment. She said he had 'for a second' but that she 'fell asleep' and didn't know when he left, according to the documents. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins has charged Momeni with murder, alongside a further charge of special enhancement for using a knife. In the motion filed today, her office said it was a pre-meditated attack carried out by the angry brother. Surveillance footage is also said to have captured the stabbing in Momeni's BMW. He sped away afterwards, throwing his knife into the street, and leaving Lee to stagger through the San Francisco streets in a desperate, final attempt to cling to life. He was taken to the hospital but died of his injuries. Lee's family have vowed to work with prosecutors to bring Momeni to 'justice'. They thanked police for making an arrest in a joint statement issued last night. San Francisco officials have also gloated about the fact the killing was not random or a symptom of the city's spiraling crime problem, as many had assumed it was. Momeni was denied bail today and will remain in custody until his next court date. Police searched her property in addition to the loft where Momeni was arrested yesterday. Neighbors told DailyMail.com he is 'warm and welcoming' and that they were stunned by his arrest. Questions however have arisen about his background. Online, he claims to be a graduate of UC Berkeley, but the school says it has no record of him ever attending classes. Carnage is erupting on the streets of France tonight after French President Emmanuel Macron's flagship pension reform passed a vital constitutional milestone despite months of disruptive strikes and protests. The legislation, which pushes the age at one can draw a full pension to 64 from 62, is deeply unpopular in France and has triggered huge disruption. After the decision was announced by the Constitutional Council on Friday, largescale protests began around the country and quickly turned violent - with 112 people arrested in Paris alone. Police used tear gas in Lyon and Strasbourg and water cannons in Paris to control the streets, while protesters set fires, built barricades and let off flares in the centre of the capital. Officers were seen charging down streets in cities across France as they battled protesters angry about the reforms. In Nantes, a police station was briefly set on fire by rioters before being extinguished. The front of a police station was set on fire by protesters against Macron's pension reforms in Rennes on Friday Barricades made of metal boards, dustbins and fires have been hastily erected in Paris as police respond to protesters A protester throws a tear gas canister during clashes with police during a demonstration in Nantes on Friday evening Protesters are marching on the centre of Paris, with 3,000 people already assembled outside the town hall by 5pm BST, according to French media. Demonstrations are taking place in major French cities including Paris, Rennes, Toulouse, Lyon and Nantes. In Paris protesters have let off flares and set fire to bikes outside the town hall, triggering a significant response by police. Dustbins and other items have also been set on fire around the city. Some have erected barricades in the streets of the capital, using sheets of metal, bins, wood and fire. A march is approaching the Place de la Bastille, where the infamous Bastille prison once stood. Police have arrested some protesters, including around a dozen young people who were pictured being detained by officers with batons and tear gas. In Nantes, bottles and other projectiles have been thrown at police by some protesters, causing the police to respond with water cannons. Protesters are attempting to disrupt major roads and tramways by creating lines of burning dustbins. Shortly after 8pm BST, a Nantes police station was set aflame by protesters, with the entire entranceway alight, before a water cannon was used to extinguish the flames. French gendarmes in riot gear stand guard near a blaze at one of the entrances of the former Convent of the Jacobins after it was set on fire in Rennes on Friday Protesters watch as the entrance to a police station in Rennes burns Protestors light a fire with motocycles in front of the Hotel de Ville on Friday night in Paris A man is arrested while protesting on the streets of Paris on Friday, April 14 Protesters set fire to bicycles in central Paris after the decision to increase retirement age was approved Dozens of garbage bins have been taken and set alight in Paris in protest against the pension reforms As night fell in Paris, multiple fires were still burning around the city Tear gas has been deployed by police against protesters in Lyon, where small outbreaks of violence have been reported Riot police detain a protester on the ground in Paris on Friday Police officers defend the entrance to the Constitutional Court in Paris from protesters using water cannons Dozens of police officers run towards protesters in the centre of Paris on Friday In Paris activists have also targeted luxury goods stores and vandalised shops Graffiti on a shop in Paris accusing the rich of costing the people of France large amounts of money Protesters gathered outside Paris City Hall, holding banners reading 'climate of anger' and 'no end to the strikes until the reform is pulled' when the Constitutional Council's verdict was announced A police water cannon is used to extinguish a fire in Rennes, western France Police charge down the streets of Paris in a bid to disrupt violent activists A protester throws a bottle during a demonstration after France's Constitutional Council approved the key elements of French President's pension reform, in Nantes Protestors light red flares in front of the Olympic Rings at the Hotel De Ville on Friday evening Protesters kick away tear gas canisters launched by police in the eastern city of Strasbourg Protesters gathered at Place de la Bastille in Paris on Friday evening where they let of flares Macron and his government hoped this outcome would discourage further trade union-led protests, which have at times turned violent - but this does not seem to be the case. Protests have broken out almost weekly since January as around two in three people are against the highly unpopular reform. Approval from the council will bring France closer into line with its EU neighbours. Protesters gathered outside Paris City Hall, holding banners reading 'climate of anger' and 'no end to the strikes until the reform is pulled' when the Constitutional Council's verdict was announced. A heavy police presence is on scene in Lyon, with dozens of officers in riot gear battling to maintain control. Shortly after 6pm BST, footage shared on social media appeared to show police using tear gas to disperse protesters after hundreds of people marched in the streets of the city. Barricades using pieces of metal fencing and mattresses were also seen in the city, with garbage set alight. Meanwhile in Rennes, an estimated 1,000 people gathered on Friday evening, with some starting fires and vandalising buildings. A church door was set on fire, but firefighters arrived on scene to extinguish the flames. Spontaneous demonstrations were held around other areas of France ahead of the nine-member council's ruling. Opponents of the pension reform blocked entry points into some cities, including Rouen in the west and Marseille in the south, slowing or stopping traffic. French prime minister Elisabeth Borne was interrupted while visiting a supermarket outside Paris by a group of people chanting 'we don't want it,' referring to the way she skirted the vote by lawmakers to advance the pension reform. The government's decision to get around a parliamentary vote in March by using special constitutional powers heightened the fury of the measure's opponents, as well as their determination. Another group awaited Ms Borne in the car park. 'We're in a democracy, so everyone can express themselves,' the prime minister told news station BFM TV. 'My priority is to bring calm' and to address concrete concerns, she said. She went into the store to discuss anti-inflation measures. Demonstrators gather outside the Paris town hall, Friday, April 14, 2023 in Paris A man holds a sign calling for a general strike in the western city of Rennes, France Biles are set on fire outside Paris town hall early on Friday evening French Gendarme come face to face with protesters as they attempt to keep order in Paris Protestors gather in front of Paris' city hall ahead of the results of a ruling from France's Constitutional Council on the pension reforms Police Gendarmes control a street during a demonstration after the French constitutional court approved the key elements of the controversial pension reform in Paris Protesters carried large banners with slogans calling for strikes and the reversal of the reform Flares are set off by French protesters on Friday evening in Paris Demonstrators have already taken to the streets of Paris On Friday French labour unions rejected Macron's invitation to attend talks with the government next week over the reforms. 'The country must continue to move forward, work, and face the challenges that await us,' Macron said earlier this week. But hardline unions and the opposition have warned they will not back down and have urged Macron not to promulgate it. Separately, the Constitutional Council rejected a proposal by the opposition to organise a citizens' referendum on the pension reform. The opposition has tabled another bid for a referendum, which should be reviewed by the Council early May. Political observers say the widespread discontent over the government's reform could have longer-term repercussions, including a possible boost for the far right. Images online show large numbers of people already protesting in French cities against the ruling, with hundreds of people walking through the streets of Paris. Police expect up to 10,000 people to gather in the capital on Friday night, with the presence of several hundred leftwing radicals raising fears of more vandalism and clashes that have marred recent rallies. Thousands of protesters gathered in front of Paris city hall and booed the court decision when it was announced on Friday evening. The offices of the Constitutional Council, a short walk from the Louvre museum, have been protected with barriers and dozens of riot police are on guard nearby. The move is likely to enrage unions and other opponents of the pension plan, including protesters gathered in towns and cities around France on Friday evening as the decision was announced. The council rejected some other measures in the pension Bill but the higher age was central to Mr Macron's plan and the target of protesters' anger. Mr Macron can enact the Bill within 15 days. After the ruling was announced, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said: 'The Constitutional Council has ruled...that the reform is in line with our constitution. The text arrives at the end of its democractic process. Tonight there is no winner, no loser.' Members of Macron's government, including the Labour Minister Olivier Dussopt, have congratulated the President on the success of the reforms. Dussopt said the law would enter into force on September 1 as initially planned, brushing off requests by unions not to promulgate it in the face of huge public opposition. Opinion polls show a vast majority oppose the reform, as well as the fact that the government invoked Article 49.3 of the constitution allowing it to pass the bill without a final vote in parliament that it might have lost. The leader of the opposition socialist party, Olivier Faure, said: 'The Constitutional Council only ruled on the legality of the law, its approval does not mean that this is a fair law... French people have fought this reform for months, they will be disappointed and the fight will take other forms.' A protester holds a red flare during a demonstration in Toulouse after the court approved the key elements on French President's unpopular pension reform Protesters display a large sign in a square in Toulouse on Friday Protesters hold signs and stand upon a truck on Nantes, which has the slogan 'Nothing is too good for the people' Thousands are gathering in French towns and cities across the nation The legislation, which pushes the age at one can draw a full pension to 64 from 62, is deeply unpopular in France and has triggered huge protests And Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the far-left party La France Insoumise, added: 'The Constitutional Council decision shows that it is more attentive to the needs of the presidential monarchy than to those of the sovereign people. The fight continues and must gather its forces.' Political observers say the widespread discontent over the government's reform could have longer-term repercussions, including a possible boost for the far right. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen wrote on Twitter that 'the political fate of the pension reform is not sealed,' urging voters to back those who oppose it in the next election so that they can scrap it. Macron says the French must work longer or else the pension budget will fall billions of euros into the red each year by the end of the decade. But the pension system is a cornerstone of France's cherished social protection model and trade unions say the money can be found elsewhere, including by taxing the rich more heavily. While attention has focused on the retirement age of 62, only 36 percent of French workers retire at that age and another 36 percent already retire older on account of requirements to pay into the system for at least 42 years in order to be able to claim a full pension. That means the normal retirement age for a French worker who started working at the age of 22 was 64.5, marginally above a European Union average of 64.3, according to OECD figures based on 2020 data. A Russian fleet stationed on Pacific islands, that were captured during the Soviet-era, are on high alert for snap drills as Vladmir Putin gets ready for a retaliatory nuclear strike on the West. The drills will involve practice missile launches in a massive show of force amid rising tensions with West over the invasion of Ukraine. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the goal of the war games was to test the capability of Russia's armed forces to mount a response to aggression. Along with the missile launches, the drills will also involve nuclear-capable strategic bombers and other warplanes besides the naval aviation of the Pacific Fleet, Shoigu said. The Russian military has concentrated the bulk of its forces on the front lines in Ukraine, but also continued conducting regular drills across Russia to train its forces and demonstrate their readiness. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the goal of the war games was to test the capability of Russia's armed forces to mount a response to aggression Along with the missile launches, the drills will also involve nuclear-capable strategic bombers and other warplanes besides the naval aviation of the Pacific Fleet The Russian Defense Ministry released videos showing warships and submarines sailing off to take part in the maneuvers. As part of the drills, marine units deployed to amphibious landing vessels and coastal defense missile systems moved to firing positions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the war games as part of regular training intended to 'maintain the necessary level of the armed forces' readiness.' Shoigu noted that the maneuvers' scenario envisages a response to an adversary's attempt to make a landing on Sakhalin Island and the southern Kuril Islands. Japan asserts territorial rights to the Kuril Islands, which it calls the Northern Territories. The Soviet Union took them in the final days of World War II, and the dispute has kept the countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their hostilities. Last year, Russia announced it had suspended peace talks with Japan to protest Tokyo's sanctions against Moscow over its action in Ukraine. Russia has built up its military presence on the islands in recent years, deploying advanced fighter jets, anti-ship missiles and air defense systems there. The Pacific Fleet drills started days before a planned trip to Moscow by Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu. The Russian Defense Ministry said Shoigu and Li would discuss 'prospects of bilateral defense cooperation and acute issues of global and regional security.' The Russian Defense Ministry released videos showing warships and submarines sailing off to take part in the maneuvers As part of the drills, marine units deployed to amphibious landing vessels and coastal defense missile systems moved to firing positions Russia has built up its military presence on the islands in recent years, deploying advanced fighter jets, anti-ship missiles and air defense systems there A three-day visit to Moscow by Chinese President Xi Jinping last month demonstrated the two nations' partnership in the face of Western efforts to isolate Russia over Ukraine and gave a political lift to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both Moscow and Beijing have accused Washington of trying to isolate them and to hold back their development as they challenge the U.S. for regional and global leadership. Putin and Xi said they would increase contacts between their militaries and stage more joint sea and air patrols and drills, but there was no hint that China would help Russia with weapons, as the U.S. and other Western allies feared. Advertisement A jaw-dropping estate boasting a horse barn, a pub-style bar and even a pet kangaroo is set to go on sale for a whopping $22 million near Greenville, South Carolina. The roughly 54-acre property, which is also home to six horses which can be included in the price, will set a record for the state if it sells for asking price, according to The Wall Street Journal. The incredible home, which is located 20 miles outside Greenville in Simpsonville, is being sold by Bob Castellani, founder of the emergency medical-equipment company North American Rescue, and his wife, Kelly Castellani. A keen political donor, Castellani has hosted Republican Governor Henry McMaster and Senator Lindsey Graham at fundraisers at the home. A hidden elevator, a home theater, two ponds and a wine room are also features of the staggering property. The jaw-dropping estate is set to go on sale for a whopping $22 million near Greenville, South Carolina The stunning home also features a pub-style bar, a hidden elevator and a home theater According to public records, Mr Castellani bought the estate for about $3 million in 2010 with his ex-wife, Lisa Castellani. He said he spent about $17 million dollars building the estate, which was completed around 2014 and is inspired by a traditional English countryside manor house. The property boasts a 12-hall horse barn and three equestrian arenas. The six horses which currently live at the property can be included in the price if the buyer wants to keep them, according to the Wall Street Journal. Arguably the most unusual feature of the house is a pet kangaroo named Irwin, who Castellani adopted as a companion for Thumper, another pet kangaroo who recently died. He told the outlet he decided to adopt kangaroos after Thumper, who was just a few weeks old, 'hopped into a bag I was holding'. The six-bedroom home, which measures approximately 16,000 square feet, also includes a hidden furniture lift. This innovative feature, which is disguised as a panel in the floor, allows the main room to transition from a dining room to a sitting room. Castellani said he came up with the idea while looking for ways to limit the overall square footage of the house. The property comes complete with a pet kangaroo named Irwin The estate has a 12-stall horse barn and three equestrian arenas Castellani is a frequent political donor in the area and has thrown fundraiser events in the house Castellani said the six horses on the property could be included in the asking price if the buyer wants Castellani said he decided to adopt kangaroos 'on impulse' Castellani was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor Henry McMaster The staggering property, which is being sold furnished, also has additional dining areas, a home theater, a pub-style bar and a wine room. The English manor style-estate has a beautifully furnished kitchen with marble countertops and plenty of wood-paneling and chandeliers. The impressive grounds also features a pool and two ponds, plus pecan trees, peach trees, blueberry bushes and a vineyard. Farm equipment is also included in the asking price, according to the outlet. Castellani is a frequent political donor in the area and has thrown fundraiser events in the house. In 2020, Castellani was awarded with the Order of the Palmetto the states highest civilian honor - by Governor Henry McMaster. He said him and his wife plan to downsize and remain in the area. El Chapo's sons have been charged with running a prolific fentanyl trafficking operation that has 'devastated' US families, the Justice Department announced Friday. Agents infiltrated the deadly Sinaloa Cartel at its 'highest levels' to disrupt the production of the drug, which has become the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 49. The gang allegedly includes the sons of Joaquin Guzman Loera, aka El Chapo. The 'Chapitos', Ivan Guzman Salazar, 40, Alfredo Guzman Salazar, 37, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, 36, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 33, now face various narcotics, money laundering and firearms charges. None are currently in US custody, with only Ovidio Guzman in a Mexican jail. The cartel has transported lethal amounts of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the US for more than half a decade, aided by Chinese pharmaceutical companies, authorities claim. Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, 40, (left) and Alfredo Guzman Salazar, 37, (right), two of the four sons of notorious Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin Guzman Loera, aka El Chapo. The 'Chapitos' have been charged with running a prolific fentanyl trafficking operation Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 33, (left) and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, 36, are the two other sons of El Chapo to have been charged by US authorities Attorney General Merrick Garland said it was 'the largest, most violent, and most prolific fentanyl trafficking operation in the world'. He added: 'Families and communities across our country are being devastated by the fentanyl epidemic. Today's actions demonstrate the comprehensive approach the Justice Department is taking to disrupt fentanyl trafficking and save American lives.' The unsealed charges claim the cartel is largely responsible for the manufacturing and importing of fentanyl for distribution in the US. The gang obtained chemicals - largely from China - for the manufacture of synthetic drugs in Mexico before moving them to the US to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking, the charges say. The Chapitos allegedly used aircraft, submarines, container ships, fishing vessels, and an array of other transportation methods to transport their drugs and precursor chemicals. They allegedly maintained a network of couriers, tunnels, and stash houses throughout Mexico and the US. Fentanyl is a dangerous synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin. It has fueled the opioid epidemic that has been ravaging families and communities across the United States for almost a decade. Between 2019 and 2021, fatal overdoses increased by approximately 94 percent, with an estimated 196 Americans dying each day from fentanyl. Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the charges against the cartel showed the Government 'is now waging a relentless campaign to disrupt the production and trafficking of fentanyl'. Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, center, is escorted from a plane by the DEA in 2017. The notorious Mexican drug lord was convicted of drug-trafficking charges in New York in 2019 She added: 'Today's indictments target every element of the Sinaloa Cartel's trafficking network and reflect the Justice Department's commitment to attacking every aspect of this threat: from the chemical companies in China that spawn fentanyl precursors, to the illicit labs that produce the poison, to the networks and money launderers and murderers that facilitate its distribution.' DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said The Chapitos 'pioneered' the manufacture and trafficking of fentanyl and 'flooded it into the US'. Fentanyl trafficking, weapons, and money laundering charges were unsealed in the Southern District of New York against 28 defendants, including three of the Chapitos: Ivan Guzman Salazar, Alfredo Guzman Salazar and Ovidio Guzman Lopez. Narcotics, money laundering, and firearms charges were unsealed in the Northern District of Illinois against all four of the Chapitos. The US Department of State is offering rewards of up to $10million for information leading to the arrest and / or conviction of the Chapitos. Ovidio Guzman was captured by the Mexican army in January, sparking wild scenes in Sinaola. His arrest came three years after the Mexican army detained Guzman but then released him after Sinaloa cartel gunmen seized control of much of the city. Gunfire and car-jackings were reported in the city as word spread of Ovidio's arrest. In January, a judge ordered him to stay in 60 days of preventive detention for the purpose of extradition after a hearing at the Altiplano maximum security federal prison where he is being held. The Mexican government urged residents to stay home as burning vehicles, shootings and blockades ravaged the city of Sinaloa following Ovidio's arrest in January Vehicles were set ablaze after news spread of his arrest, with videos uploaded to twitter by local media and residents of the city It is the same prison where El Chapo escaped from through a tunnel in 2015. In March, Ovidio bizarrely claimed before a Mexico judge that he is not the son of El Chapo. The shocking revelation was made during a video conference hearing Tuesday to block the 32-year-old's extradition to the US. 'I am not the person they think, who the US claims,' Ovidio told judge Rogelio Diaz during the five-hour session at the Altiplano. During a 2016 interview with renown Mexican criminologist Monica Ramirez Cano, El Chapo confessed to having been the father of 23 children. He married four times, first in 1977 to Alejandrina Maria Salazar Hernandez, with whom he had four children, including Cesar, Ivan Archivaldo, Jesus Alfredo and Alejandrina Giselle. He would then tie the knot with bank clerk, Estela Pena, but did not have any children with her. El Chapo's third marriage came in the mid-1980s when he married Griselda Lopez Perez, the mother of Edgar, Joaquin Jr., Ovidio and Griselda Guadalupe. His fourth and last marriage came in 2007 when he exchanged wedding vows former beauty queen Emma Coronel, who in August 2011 gave birth to the couple's twin daughters, Maria Joaquina and Emali Guadalupe. Drake Bell threatened to kill himself after a row with his wife before vanishing in Florida, newly-released 911 call logs claim. Officers heard chatting in audio obtained by TMZ said they were treating Bell's disappearance Wednesday as a 'possible attempted suicide,' adding: 'Basically, there is a celebrity who had a falling out with his wife.' Orlando Police officers are said to have been warned that Bell was in a local hotel threatening to take his own life. Bell was seen in public on Tuesday during a trip to Sea World in Orlando with his son. A fan told TMZ he greeted the actor and that he was 'nice and soft-spoken, but seemed fine' The latest: Drake Bell, 36, has broken his silence after he was reported missing and subsequently located by authorities, taking to Twitter on Thursday to express his shock at the widespread news that his family had reported he was missing. Pictured in NYC in 2019 He said, 'You leave your phone in the car and dont answer for the night and this?' with a face with an accompanying tears of joy emoji The audio is of an officer saying he 'texted family in California' saying that he was 'going to get drunk and hang himself'. Authorities managed to track his phone down to a hotel room and found the missing star. Bell vanished on Thursday, with Daytona Beach Police branding him 'missing and endangered.' Prior to his disappearance, he was last seen Wednesday night in a late model gray BMW and he was snapped with his son at SeaWorld Tuesday. Bell was found safe Thursday afternoon, and posted a light-hearted tweet in response to the drama suggesting it was all a misunderstanding. He said: 'You leave your phone in the car and don't answer for the night and this?' The message was accompanied by a 'crying with laughter' emoji. A source told US Weekly before he was found: 'There was some communication with family members that caused concern so they are worried about him and looking for him.' Drake Bell, 36, known for his role on Drake & Josh and The Amanda Show, appeared to be sucking on a balloon in the front seat of his parked car in December last year The insider said that some of his relatives were not even aware he was in Florida where his estranged wife Janet Von Schemling lives with their toddler son. It comes after years of erratic behavior including multiple DUI arrests and pleading guilty to charges of attempted endangering [of] children and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles for which he received two years' probation. In January, Bell reportedly entered treatment weeks after he appeared to be sucking on a balloon in the front seat of his parked car for more than thirty minutes outside his home - with his son in the car. Soon after, the star and his wife Von Schmeling, also an actress, split up, with the latter moving to Florida with their son, Jeremy. The former child star was then seen on Friday running errands in his Los Angeles neighborhood, driving to a local vape shop. He entered the store on his own, wearing a black t-shirt and black pants with black sneakers, before emerging several minutes later with a shopping bag. In December, DailyMail.com revealed exclusive pictures of Bell, best known for his role on Drake & Josh and The Amanda Show, inhaling inflated balloons in the front seat of his parked car outside his Los Angeles home. After a while, Bell could be seen grabbing his son from a car seat in the back Daytona Beach Police Department said Bell was last seen traveling in a 2022 grey BMW near Mainland High School just before 9pm on Wednesday Bell had been sentenced to two years probation and 200 hours of community service on child endangerment charges relating to a girl who met him online and attended one of his concerts in Ohio when she was 15 (Pictured in his June 2021 mugshot) Wearing a basketball hat and a pair of sunglasses, he was seen inflating and deflating the pink balloon for more than half an hour. The actor was later seen taking his sleeping young son out a car seat in the back and bringing him into the house. It is unclear what, if any, substance was inside the balloons. The incident came as Bell, born Jared 'Drake' Bell, served a two-year probation for endangering a girl's welfare when she was just 15. Bell was sentenced in July 2021 to two years probation and 200 hours of community after pleading guilty to child endangerment charges. Authorities said a 15-year-old girl attended one of Bell's concert in Cleveland in 2017 and contacted Toronto police in October 2018 about being sexually assaulted. Toronto authorities then forwarded its findings to Cleveland police, prompting an investigation. They found that Bell and the girl had 'developed a relationship' online prior to the concert, during which Bell sent the girl 'inappropriate social media messages.' He was later charged with attempted endangering a child because he 'violated his duty of care' and created a risk of harm for the victim, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Tyler Sinclair explained at the time. The victim claimed in her impact statement that she performed oral sex on the star. 'These are crimes that are unforgivable and inexcusable,' she said. 'They cannot be taken back. He was calculating, he preyed on me and sexually abused me. He is a monster and a danger to children. 'I'm kindly asking you to send a powerful message that these crimes are never okay, no matter who a person is.' Shortly after his sentencing, it was reported that the star and his wife Janet Von Schmeling (left) 'separated' and were 'headed to divorce' She added: 'And he can give me that look all he wants but he knows exactly what I'm talking about.' 'He is the epitome of evil. I deserve better than to be used for his sick desires, and for my suffering to be used for his amusement. Jared Drake Bell is a pedophile and that is his legacy.' In response, Bell said: 'I just want to say today I accept this plea because my conduct was wrong.' He added: 'I have taken this matter very, very seriously. I just want to apologize to her and anyone else who may have been affected by my actions.' During his sentencing, his attorney made clear he had not been charged with the more serious crimes of sexual assault and pedophilia that the victim alleged in her impact statement. Bell pleaded guilty to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. But months later, he tried to downplay his conviction in an enigmatic Instagram video. 'Most of the news you've heard recently is entirely false and wrong,' he said. 'I know that this has moved very quickly for you, but for me, it's been a three-year, thorough investigation into every false claim that has been made. 'And, it's not me telling you that the claims are false, but the state of Ohio has proven the claims to be false. 'If these claims were remotely true, my situation would be very different. I would not be here at home with my wife and my son.' Bell starred in Drake and Josh alongside Josh Peck, who played his stepbrother Bell, left, was also a star on the Amanda Show, a sketch style show starring Amanda Bynes He added: 'But that being said, I am not perfect, and I make mistakes. 'I responded to a fan, whose age I didn't know, yet when I became aware of their age, all conversation and communication stopped.' The I Know singer continued: 'This individual continued to come to shows and pay for meet and greets, all while I was unaware that this was the same person I was communicating with online, and that's what I plead guilty to. 'It was reckless and irresponsible text messages. I want to make clear there were no sexual images, nothing physical between me and this individual.' He added: 'I was not charged with anything physical. I was not charged with disseminating her images or anything like that. This was strictly over text messages. 'And when I was presented with a plea deal, because of the messages, I felt that this 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 is making music for you.' 'I want to thank you, for um, to everyone who saw through the lies and did the research and looked at my case and saw it for what it was instead of all this media confusion.' He concluded: 'Don't believe the media right off the bat. It's a lot of clickbait. Do your own research and come to your own conclusions. I just want to say thank you to everyone for sticking by me. I love you and I'll see you soon.' The former child star was sentenced to four days jail time in 2015 for driving while intoxicated, which was his second DUI conviction in a six-year time period. In a bizarre rant on Twitter, the 48-year-old defended the suspected leaker Ukraine-bashing Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene has claimed Jack Teixeira is being prosecuted for being 'white, Christian and anti-war.' The Republican Congresswoman, who represents Georgia's 14th district, went on an unhinged social media tirade attacking the FBI for bringing the case. Greene took to Twitter to praise the 21-year-old for having 'told the truth' about Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The leaked files detailed possible weapons deliveries to Ukraine, as well as outlining the number of foreign intelligence agents inside the country. Greene, a 48-year-old Republican lawmaker, wants to end all US support for Ukraine immediately Jack Teixeira, 21, appeared in court in Boston earlier on Friday to face charges of illegally leaking classified US intelligence FBI agents arrested Teixeira at his mother's home in North Dighton, Massachusetts on Thursday 'Jake Teixeira is white, male, Christian, and antiwar,' she wrote, spelling his first name incorrectly. 'That makes him an enemy to the Biden regime.' 'He told the truth about troops being on the ground in Ukraine and a lot more,' the 48-year-old added. 'Ask yourself who is the real enemy?' Greene alleged that the Biden administration and the Pentagon 'have been caught lying about the war they are funding and fighting against Russia.' She said the White House was plotting to tighten regulation of social media after the leak in what she called 'full government censorship.' Her series of social missives cam e as the National Guard member appeared in court in Boston, Massachusetts to face two charges of leaking classified information. Greene, an advocate of ending US military support to Ukraine, has repeatedly parroted pro-Moscow talking points since Russia's full scale invasion began. She has made the bogus claim that the Ukrainian government is overrun by Nazis, and accused Kyiv of embezzling Western financial support. The Congresswoman argues that US aid, currently some $77 billion according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, should be spent on fighting illegal immigration. She has demanded that the US government carry out stricter checks and an audit of where the money is going. 'We should be forging peace in Ukraine, not funding war and getting swindled by Zelensky and his cronies,' Greene added, echoing Moscow's stance on ending the conflict. But American military personnel, led by Brigadier General Garrick Harmon, have been in Ukraine since last year tracking arms deliveries. One of the leaked files laid out US concerns about how Ukrainian weapons stocks were being depleted Greene has accused Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, without evidence, of embezzling Western financial support A grisly video showing a Wagner fighter beheading a Ukrainian soldier appeared online earlier this week Mike Lawler, a Republican representing New York's 17th district, slammed Greene's backing for Teixeira, branding him 'an enemy of America.' 'Leaking classified documents, especially this sensitive in nature, is a crime and he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.' Lawler said. 'His conduct is indefensible and should be universally condemned,' he added. Greene has boasted of voting against further support for the Ukrainian military despite evidence of war crimes committed by Vladimir Putin's troops. Just earlier this week, a grisly video emerged online showing a pro-Kremlin Wagner mercenary beheading a Ukrainian soldier. UN investigators have also uncovered evidence of deliberate attacks on civilians, rape and torture by the Russian army. At least nine people have been killed including a two-year boy by Russian airstrikes in Sloviansk, which hit at least ten sites and have left dozens trapped under rubble. Among the targets was an apartment block in the city after Putin's men launched long-range S-300 missiles on residential areas. The strike on the quiet neighbourhood this afternoon came as Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill that will make it easier to mobilise citizens into the army, and block them from fleeing the country if drafted. A two-year-old boy was pulled from the wreckage by frantic rescuers, but despite the best efforts of paramedics he died on the way to hospital, authorities said. Grieving relatives were pictured at the scene of the apartment block, which sits in Ukrainian-controlled Donetsk territory just 27 miles northwest of Bakhmut, a hotspot of fighting in recent months. Rescuers work at a site of a residential building damaged by a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sloviansk, Donetsk region on April 14, 2023 Emergency workers and servicemen rescue a child from a partially destroyed residential building after shelling in Sloviansk, on April 14, 2023 A woman covers her face in horror in front of a partially destroyed residential building, after shelling in Sloviansk Governor of the Donetsk region Pavlo Kyrylenko told Ukrainian television that 21 people have been injured in addition to the nine fatalities - but both figures are expected to rise. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack is just another example of Russia's brutality during its invasion. 'The evil state once again demonstrates its essence. Just killing people in broad daylight. Ruining, destroying all life,' Zelensky wrote on his official Telegram. Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska sent her condolences to the family of the two-year-old killed during this time of 'indescribable grief'. The head of the Sloviansk city military administration, Vadym Liakh, said: 'Today's attack on Sloviansk was one of the most massive since the beginning of this year. 'There were several strikes on different districts of the city.' Rescue operations in the areas hit are still ongoing. A residential building damaged by a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sloviansk, Donetsk region An injured elderly man sits on top of the rubbles after he was rescued by emergency workers An elderly man is rescued from the apartment building. Nine people are known to have died from the shelling Firefighters work to extinguish a fire as they look for victims and survivors Rescuers and volunteers at work at a destroyed apartment building. At least nine people have died from the rocket attack Officials say it is likely more people are buried beneath the rubble Workers were seen digging for survivors on the top floor of a Soviet-era residential building, with smoke billowing from homes on fire across the road. The street beneath, including a playground, was covered in a layer of concrete dust and debris. 'I live on the opposite side of the street and I was sleeping a little when I heard this huge boom and I ran out from my flat,' 59-year-old resident Larisa said. 'I was really scared and in a state of shock,' she said, adding the impact of the shelling had broken her windows and sent shards of glass flying throughout her home. 'I heard a woman screaming, "there's a child here, there's a child here". She was screaming so much.' More than a year after Moscow launched its offensive in Ukraine, fears are high in Russia that the government is planning a fresh mobilisation drive after a bill was rushed through parliament this week to create a digital draft system. Under the legislation, which Putin signed on Friday, a draftee would be banned from travelling abroad and would have to report to an enlistment office once electronic call-up papers have been received. Tens of thousands of men fled from Russia last autumn after Putin announced a mobilisation to prop up the forces in Ukraine. Firefighters work at a site of a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sloviansk, Donetsk region on April 14, 2023 Firefighters work at a site of a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sloviansk, Donetsk region on April 14, 2023 The scene of a Russian rocket attack on a residential building in the city of Sloviansk in Donetsk, Ukraine, on April 14, 2023 A residential building was damaged by a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sloviansk, Donetsk region on April 14, 2023 A search and rescue operation has been conducted in the aftermath of Russian shelling in Sloviansk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on April 14, 2023 Residents stand in front of a burning residential building after a shelling in Sloviansk, on April 14, 2023 A firefighter extinguishes a blaze in a building after shelling in Sloviansk, on April 14, 2023 The strike on Sloviansk, which many residents have fled from since Russia invaded, came as Moscow said it was pushing to take more districts of ravaged Bakhmut. Despite having little strategic value, the town has become a fixation of military commanders, leading to a brutal nine-month war of attrition. 'Wagner assault units are conducting high-intensity combat operations to conquer the western districts of the city,' the Russian army said in a statement, referring to the private paramilitary group. Russian airborne troops were 'providing support to assault squads and halting the enemy's attempts to deliver ammunition to the city and bring in reserves', it added. On Thursday, Moscow claimed to have cut off Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut. Kyiv denied the claim, saying it had access to its troops and was able to send in munitions. Ukraine has vowed to continue defending Bakhmut. But on the ground, Ukrainian sources near Bakhmut told AFP on Friday that Kyiv's forces were in a 'difficult' position. 'I know that many of our soldiers are missing, that positions were lost and it was impossible to evacuate or withdraw the troops,' an army source said, while adding that Ukraine was still 'bringing in fresh people' to the city. Separately, an intelligence source said any pullout from Bakhmut would be slow and gradual, as there was only a narrow escape path left. 'Russia has re-energised its assault', the UK's Ministry of Defense (MoD) said of recent developments in the eastern Ukrainian city, which has been the stage for the war's longest and bloodiest fight for months. 'The Ukrainian defense still holds the western districts of the town but has been subjected to particularly intense Russian artillery fire over the previous 48 hours,' the ministry's assessment said. Until recently, a notorious private Russian military contractor, the Wagner Group, spearheaded the campaign to take Bakhmut, making slow, grinding progress at the cost of thousands of lives on both sides. Now, regular Russian units have joined the thrust. Military analysts have said that seizing Bakhmut would have public relations and tactical military value for Moscow though was unlikely to prove decisive in the war's outcome. The Russian Defense Ministry also noted the stepped-up fighting in western parts of the city on Friday. 'Wagner assault detachments are engaged in high-intensity combat operations to capture areas of western Bakhmut with airborne forces supporting on the flanks,' the ministry said in a statement. It added: 'The units of the airborne forces operating on the flanks are providing support to the assault squads and stop the enemy's attempts to deliver ammunition to the city and bring in reserves.' Ukrainian soldiers of the 80th brigade firing artillery in the direction of Bakhmut as the war continues in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on April 13, 2023 Ukrainian artillery fires towards the frontline during heavy fighting amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Bakhmut, on April 13, 2023 Bakhmut lies in Donetsk, one of four provinces Russia illegally annexed last autumn. Moscow controls about half of the province. Bakhmut is a stepping stone to seizing the remaining half. Ukrainian officials have said they are buying time by depleting Russian forces in the battle while Kyiv prepares a counteroffensive. Zelensky argues that if Russia wins the Bakhmut battle, Putin might be able to begin building international support for a deal that would require Ukraine to make unacceptable compromises to end the war. On Friday, Ukraine retrieved the bodies of 82 of its soldiers from Russian-controlled territory, a government ministry said. Ukrainian and Russian forces have held regular prisoner exchanges during Moscow's full-scale invasion, which is now in its 14th month. Russia holds swathes of territory in Ukraine's east and south. The Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories gave no details about how it retrieved the bodies, but said it was carried out 'in accordance with the norms of the Geneva Convention'. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Zelensky discussed ramping up military support to Ukraine in a phone call on Friday, Downing Street said. Sunak told the Ukrainian President that Britain and its allies 'needed to continue to ensure Ukraine was in the strongest possible position to build on its recent battlefield successes'. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Zelensky (pictured) discussed ramping up military support to Ukraine in a phone call on Friday, Downing Street said The two leaders discussed the latest developments in Russia's invasion, with Sunak paying tribute to the efforts of Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut. Sunak also said a gruesome video that purportedly shows the beheading of a Ukrainian soldier was 'appalling' and that those responsible had to be held to account. Zelensky has called on world leaders to respond to the video, which the Kremlin said was 'horrible' but needed to be verified. The phone call between the two leaders came after an alleged leak of US classified defence documents online appeared to lay bare military secrets in Ukraine, including claims that up to 50 UK special forces personnel have been deployed to the war-torn nation. However, the MoD warned against taking allegations contained in the reported leak at 'face value'. The 35-year-old model said the 'demonisation' of trans people led to her attack The transgender activist and model will be on Late Night Lycett at 10pm tonight L'Oreal's former 'face of diversity' and transgender activist Munroe Bergdorf will be joining comedian Joe Lycett on his Channel 4 show Late Night Lycett tonight at 10pm. The transgender activist who has been a trailblazing campaigner for trans rights, revealed her 'traumatising' treatment during her transition, during which she was treated like she was 'mentally ill' in her recent memoir, Transitional. The memoir, which was released in February this year, shares details of Munroe's heartbreaking story of mental health battles and toxic relationships before she found her community in London. The striking 35-year-old model and writer appeared on ITVs Loose women in February, to promote her self-penned memoir, and bravely recounted her horrific ordeal when 'locked in a room for two hours' and brutally raped by a man who stalked her after a night out. The activist also blamed the 'demonisation' of transgender people in the escalated violence suffered by the community that led to her sexual assault. The transgender activist who has been trailblazing campaigner for trans-rights, revealed her 'traumatising' treatment during her transition Speaking to the Loose Women panel, Munroe said: 'I had this encounter because society demonises our bodies so much to the point where men who find us attractive are being fed it is so wrong that they do it in secret and often enact sexual violence on us. 'I was locked in a room for two hours and raped, I was stalked for six hours before, I met him on a night out and then he found where I lived and where I worked and raped me very badly'. In an interview with the Guardian, Munroe also revealed her ostracization at school by her peers because she was 'too girly for the boys and [she] wasnt a girl or seen as a girl'. Munroe grew up during the time of the Section 28 legislation, introduced by former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, that banned schools from the 'promotion' of homosexuality. The model told Grazia that the controversial legislation encouraged queer people to be 'ashamed of ourselves'. Joe Lycett, who will be hosting Munroe on his show tonight, came out as gay as a teenager but now identifies as pansexual - the attraction towards people regardless of their gender. Munroe first made headlines after being dropped from her lucrative relationship with L'Oreal in 2017, after condemning all white people as racist in a lengthy Facebook rant. The activist also blamed the 'demonisation' of transgender people in the escalated violence suffered by the community that led to her sexual assault Munroe said that she didn't have the 'energy to talk about the racial violence of white people any more. Yes ALL white people'. She added: 'Once white people begin to admit that their race is the most violent and oppressive force of nature on Earth then we can talk'. The French personal care brand confirmed that it had ended the business relationship with the model shortly after her appearance in the '#allworthit' campaign with Cheryl Cole and Katie Piper. The British star grew up in the middle-class town of Stansted Mountfitchet, in Essex with hardly any black people in the neighbourhood, to her white mother and Jamaican father. The British beauty told the Guardian that her Facebook post was in response to the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. She said: 'The idea that people should speak about the trauma and oppression they have experienced in a way that is digestible for people who dont experience it ... I mean, I was angry. 'We were watching one of the most violent displays of racism in recent history. It was horrendous. Of course I was angry, and I think I had a right to be.' Munroe will also be joined by actress Dame Joan Collins and reality TV star Gemma Collins on Late Night Lycett at 10pm tonight on Channel 4, live from Birmingham. The ex family feud contestant charged with murdering his estranged wife by shooting her in their home has claimed she may have been killed by a prowler who was stalking her neighborhood, but that police never followed up on the lead. Tim Bliefnick has been charged with shooting his estranged wife Becky dead in their home in Quincy, Illinois, on February 23. He was arraigned for her murder last month. His attorney told FOX News today that he is innocent and that Becky's neighborhood was being stalked by a prowler in the weeks before her murder. Tim Bliefnick has been charged with shooting his estranged wife Becky dead in their home in Quincy, Illinois, on February 23. He was arraigned for her murder last month Becky and Tim are understood to have married in 2009, but at the time of her death were going through divorce proceedings though nothing was finalized They claim they have photos and videos to back-up their theory, but they have not shared them. 'We have come across evidence that suggests there were individuals stalking out the neighborhood in the week leading up to the murder. 'QPD (Quincy Police Department), to our knowledge, has never followed up with identifying or even investigating the complaint. 'We are working with investigators to identify the person or persons we have pictures and video of.' Becky was found dead inside her home after failing to collect the couple's kids from school. The couple were going through a contentious divorce at the time of her death and had both filed restraining orders against each other. Becky's family home, where she was found dead, in February When he was arrested, Bliefnick was 'very cooperative' with officers, and handed over his keys to the home, which he rents, and his car. Becky and Tim are understood to have married in 2009, but at the time of her death were going through divorce proceedings though nothing was finalized. The couple have three sons together, but were living separately at the time of her death, with court records showing their split was filed in February 2021. At the time of her death, Quincy Police said it was an unusual act of domestic violence in an otherwise safe town. Walt Disney Company CEO Bog Iger has said he'd be willing to meet with Governor Ron DeSantis to broker a truce, following an escalating feud between the Republican official and the House of Mouse. 'I do not view this as a going-to-mattresses situation for us. If the governor of Florida wants to meet with me to discuss all of this, of course, I would be glad to do that,' Iger told Time Magazine in an interview published on Thursday. 'You know, I'm one that typically has respected our elected officials and the responsibility that they have, and there would be no reason why I wouldn't do that,' he added. It comes as DeSantis' appointees to Disney World's governing board battle for control of the Florida resort, in a feud that stemmed from Disney's opposition to the governor's so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law. Meanwhile, in the wide-ranging interview for the annual Time 100 issue, Iger also revealed that his recent return to lead Disney, replacing his own hand-picked successor Bob Chapek, was inspired by the late Apple founder Steve Jobs. Walt Disney Company CEO Bog Iger has said he'd be willing to meet with Governor Ron DeSantis to broker a truce, following an escalating feud DeSantis' appointees to Disney World's governing board are battling for control of the Florida resort, in a feud that stemmed from Disney's opposition to the so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law Jobs, who died in 2011, was a close friend and ally to Iger, serving as a Disney board member after the company acquired his Pixar movie studio in an all-stock deal worth $7.4 billion. Like Iger, Jobs famously returned to lead Apple as CEO after an absence, running the company he had founded from 1997 until his passing, after resigning in 1985. 'He was brought back to a company that he had foundedvery different circumstances,' Iger told Time. 'But speaking with him when I did, and reflecting on what his experiences wereI've taken a lot from that. 'One is when you are brought back, and you agree to come back, you have to do so with unbelievable enthusiasm, and not an ounce of hesitation. 'And then you have to know very quickly what it is you're expected to accomplish and what it is you can accomplish,' he said. Iger, who was CEO of Disney from 2005 to early 2020, returned to lead the company in November, after his hand-picked successor Chapek failed to inspire the confidence of the shareholders and board. Although Disney's feud with DeSantis began during Chapek's tenure, it now falls to Iger to navigate the dispute, in which the governor is attempting to strip the company of certain independent control it maintains over its vast Florida resort. In the Time interview, Iger argued that Disney World 'creates huge value for our company and its employees, and for the state of Florida itself.' 'Our sole goal in Florida is to continue creating that value for all those constituencies. All we want is a relationship with the state that enables us to continue to do that,' he added. Iger also revealed that his recent return to lead Disney, was inspired by the late Apple founder Steve Jobs. The two men, seen together in 2006, were close friends for years DeSantis is attempting to strip the company of certain independent control it maintains over its vast Florida resort Last year, after Disney halted political donations in Florida because of the 'Don't Say Gay' law, Florida lawmakers terminated the self-governing privileges that Disney World had held since 1967. DeSantis retaliated by appointing the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board to replace the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which was controlled by Disney and oversaw development at Disney World. Before DeSantis' board took control, however, Disney officials and the old board cut a deal that would allow the company to sidestep the new board's control, using an obscure legal clause that name checks King Charles III. The clause, designed to get around legal barriers to deals in perpetuity, says Disney's provisions will remain in place until '21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III'. Earlier this week, DeSantis' appointees to Disney World's governing board launched a new bid to expand their authority over the resort. Supervisors of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District are floating a resolution saying the board has 'superior authority' over all land development decisions for the 27,000 acres that make up Walt Disney World, including for two tiny Disney controlled cities in the district. The board is set to vote on the resolution next week. A British man has pleaded guilty to travelling to Syria to join so-called Islamic State nine years ago. Shabazz Suleman, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, was 19 when he disappeared while on a family holiday to Turkey in 2014. The former grammar school boy was arrested at Heathrow airport on September 29 2021 and charged with a string of terror offences. He was due to face trial at the Old Bailey on May 15, but on Friday he pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism by travelling from the UK to Turkey in order to join IS in Syria in August 2014. The defendant, now 27, was also charged with being a member of IS, a proscribed organisation, between 2014 and 2017, and receiving training in the use of firearms. Shabazz Suleman, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, was 19 when he disappeared while on a family holiday to Turkey in 2014 The former grammar school boy was arrested at Heathrow airport on September 29 2021 and charged with a string of terror offences He was due to face trial at the Old Bailey on May 15, but on Friday he pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism by travelling from the UK to Turkey in order to join IS in Syria in August 2014 Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC said his guilty plea addressed the two other charges which he asked to be left on the court file. Referring to the defendant's basis of plea, Judge Mark Lucraft KC agreed and noted Suleman had gone to join with IS 'even if not becoming a member of it'. He ordered a pre-sentence report on the defendant's dangerousness and adjourned sentencing to May 26. Remanding the defendant into custody, Judge Lucraft said: 'This morning you have pleaded guilty to the preparation of terrorist acts. You will know a custodial sentence is inevitable.' Suleman, who wore a blue suit, with a white shirt and yellow tie, had entered his guilty plea in the dock of the Old Bailey. The prosecution had alleged that while attempting to travel to Syria, he had been held by Turkish forces before opting to be part of a prisoner swap with IS. On joining the terrorist group in Syria, he became active on social media and posted about his experiences in IS territory while engaged with members of the media. After the collapse of IS, he was taken captive by a faction of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) before being transferred to Turkey and then Pakistan. In an interview with The Times newspaper, he said he had become disillusioned with jihadism and chose to desert the terrorist group. Via encrypted messages he told the newspaper he went through 'intense' indoctrination by the group, adding: 'I never thought I was being brainwashed until I saw the way they treat other Sunnis.' In October 2017, he was also interviewed by Sky News while in the hands of FSA, the court heard. Suleman arrived back in the UK on September 29 2021 and was arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000. In a police interview, Suleman denied choosing to join IS while held in Turkey and said he had changed his mind about going but was handed over anyway as part of a deal with IS. He also denied membership of the terrorist group, saying he never swore allegiance and was just a civilian. He claimed he had tried to leave IS territory from mid-2015 and did not handle guns. It can now be reported that Suleman's defence team had tried unsuccessfully to get his earlier account in his Sky News interview ruled inadmissible. The defendant claimed he had been forced into doing it by the FSA and told to say he had fought with IS in battles. There was no accusation that the broadcaster was in any way complicit. The defendant also claimed FSA had beat him and caused him to fear for his life after witnessing others being waterboarded. However, Mr Atkinson, for the prosecution, had asserted that there was no evidence of duress or that Suleman had suffered ill treatment while being held by the FSA. He argued that the defendant had even told the interviewer that he had access to a phone and could speak to his family on a regular basis. In his ruling that the interview could be considered by a jury at trial, Judge Lucraft stated: 'In my assessment, the defendant appears at ease throughout the whole of the interview process. 'When this interview video recording is considered, the whole way it was conducted does not show any oppression or coercion on the part of the interviewer to what takes place.' The charges against him alleged that in August 2014, he engaged in preparation for acts of terrorism by travelling from the UK to Turkey in order to join the Islamic State in Syria, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The second charge of membership of IS related to his time in Syria between August 1 2014 and June 1 2017 with weapons training in the nine months after his arrival in the country. In the course of the investigation, evidence was uncovered of messaging between the defendant and his friends and family, statements he gave to the media and his social media posts. The prosecution had asserted that the material revealed his activities and his extreme mindset. Detective Chief Superintendent Olly Wright, head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East, said: 'Suleman left the UK in 2014 to join Daesh and receive weapons training with the intention of engaging in terrorist acts abroad. 'This case is a reminder that if you commit terrorism offences, police will continue to seekto prosecute you - no matter how much time has elapsed. 'Suleman left the country to receive this training but when our officers became awareof what he had done, they collated evidenceof his actions and intentions, and arrested him on his return to the UK, where he was takeninto custody. 'Through the support and hard work of those involved in this case, Suleman has now been brought to justice and by pleading guilty has admitted his actions and views were not acceptable.' Publishers always know the true nature of the writers whose books they print, even if they are loath to spell it out in public. So you can believe Otto Penzler, of Penzler Books in the U.S., when he said of his protegee, the hugely popular American novelist Patricia Highsmith: She was a mean, cruel, hard, unlovable, unloving human being. I could never penetrate how any human being could be that relentlessly ugly. He gave this astonishingly acid verdict on one of his authors on her death in 1995, while adding the other truth about her: But her books . . . Brilliant. If thats the outspoken view of those supposed to be on your side, then what are your enemies of whom the controversial and sinister Highsmith, author of the Mr Ripley books and many others, collected a veritable army saying about you among themselves? The question arises now for two reasons. First, the amoral, enigmatic murderer Ripley she created in her 1955 novel, The Talented Mr Ripley, and who has already been recreated in no fewer than five films, is expected to be on our television screens again later this year. An eight-part drama series on Netflix promises much, with the talented Andrew Scott (unforgettable as Moriarty in Sherlock and the hot priest in Fleabag) in the title role and also directing. Via interviews with admirers and lovers and clips from her rodeo (yes, rodeo) days growing up in Texas, we meet a troubled woman and hear of her promiscuous lesbian sex life, constant unfulfilled love affairs. Pictured: Patricia Highsmith age 21, in 1942 Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law and Matt Damon starred in hit film The Talented Mr Ripley in 1999 Pictured: Patricia Highsmith. Some in the literary world were left spitting blood by the sympathetic tone of the documentary Second, a documentary is doing the rounds of cinemas, titled Loving Highsmith and it does just that. Via interviews with admirers and lovers and clips from her rodeo (yes, rodeo) days growing up in Texas, we meet a troubled woman and hear of her promiscuous lesbian sex life, constant unfulfilled love affairs. She is presented as one of lifes hard-done-bys who, in her own words, carried old memories around like a heavy suitcase. We are left at the end with a sense of sadness at how she not only never found true happiness but managed to sabotage the prospect of it whenever it came along. Cue howls of protest from those who agree with Mr Penzlers verdict that dear old Pat was in truth one hell of a bitch, with a particular taste for rich, classy blondes she could steal away from their husbands and then dump. Better still if they were a magazine editor and could boost her writing career. Never forget this is the thriller writer of 22 novels and nine collections of short stories who admitted creepy ideas for murder just pop into ones head. So was she really nice and safe to be around? Fellow novelist (and admirer) Graham Greene had his doubts, feeling with her you always had to be looking over your shoulder, just in case. Some in the literary world were left spitting blood by the sympathetic tone of the documentary. A double-page spread in The Times last week challenged: Love Patricia Highsmith? Her life story will make you hate her. Its author, novelist Charlotte Mendelson, who is Jewish and gay, admitted Highsmith was an absolute goer when it came to her energetic lesbian love life, and no harm in that. But what about her misanthropy, racism and alcoholism? Certainly the talented Miss Highsmith struggled with self-worth all her life. Patricia Highsmith pictured at her home in Aurigeno, Switzerland in June 1985 What about how she was so stuck on booze she began each day with a breakfast of gin and orange, and got so drunk at a dinner party she slumped into the candles and set her hair on fire. Or went out on the town, leaving another rejected lover swallowing pills to kill herself? Or threatened at least one of her lovers with a knife? Mendelson sticks her own knife in, citing examples of Highsmiths vocal and frothing anti-Semitism, not only in her private diaries but in letters to newspapers, in which, as a self-confessed Jew-hater, she adopted 40 aliases to denounce Jewish influence and declared that, at six million dead, the Holocaust had fallen short and should be called the semicaust because it only did half the job. Mendelson declares: Highsmith was as foetid an anti-Semite as one could hope not to meet. She expressed the same views about black people, blaming them for Americas welfare crisis. All in all, she was dangerous, claustrophobic and smelling horrible. As her life went on, the one-time raver became a curmudgeon, disliking people, cutting herself off from them, truly odd. Mendelson imagines her smelling strongly of cigarettes and cat food and angry isolation. Other commentators agree with Mendelsons savage, offended response to the documentary. The Guardian film critic, Peter Bradshaw, accused it of being squeamish and smoothing down Highsmiths jagged edges, notably her ugly, cantankerous anti-Semitism, which cannot be excused as just the ramblings of her rancorous later years. Her loathing of Jewish people was very specific, and cannot be ignored. And there is plenty of evidence to back all this. Certainly the talented Miss Highsmith struggled with self-worth all her life. Well you would if your mother told you shed drunk turpentine to try to abort you, at your fathers urging. It was the start of a hate-hate relationship, which culminated in Highsmith snubbing her mothers funeral. No wonder she would admit to being fascinated by the morbid, the cruel and the abnormal and acknowledge the dark Russian writer Dostoevsky as her master. Good and evil are present in a single individual in life, she wrote. Her themes were projections of herself. She was Ripley. Those private writings of hers 18 diaries, 38 notebooks, 8,000 pages in all that emerged after her death give the real game away. As a reviewer of the small fraction published in 2021 put it, it is not a pretty sight. Those diaries trace her anti-Semitism to working for a Jewish publisher in the mid-1940s who, she claimed, Jewed her out of a decent wage. She called him a kike and never threw off the prejudice. Later on in her life, she would cynically refer to Holocaust Inc, spelling out her uncompromising (and pernicious) view that the murder of six million had been turned into an industry from which the Jews benefited. Her pro-Palestine and anti-Israel politics were rooted in this hatred. Nor did her racism stop there. Apparently she also had a thing about Latinos, Koreans, Indians and Mexicans, as well as Catholics and evangelical Christians. The complete pack, you might say. And yet once her life had seemed a breeze after she had shrugged off her evil mothers taunts that she was a les and was a handsome and exuberant New York student in the 1940s, with the looks, it was said, of Rudolf Nureyev. She was famous for sleeping around unusual for those days, though she was never short of bed partners. Those diaries can be jaw-dropping in their candour. Three nights, three people! she noted triumphantly. Then: She did me at least four times. So, full of stamina, too. Sex to me should be a religion, she wrote. I have no other. Sexual love is the only emotion which has ever really touched me. Hatred, jealousy, never except devotion to myself. In the documentary, Patricia Highsmith is presented as one of lifes hard-done-bys who, in her own words, carried old memories around like a heavy suitcase And so the lovers came and went Buffie, Rosalind, Helen, Virginia, Joan, Ellen, Doris, Daisy, etc. The list appears endless, though even her libido had its limits sex ten times a day with women she met in bars, she noted. Few affairs lasted. Shed quickly fall in love and then just as quickly into loathing. Living with someone you love is so disillusioning, she wrote. And she was cruel. When she broke up with Ellen Hill in 1953, Highsmith walked out after a row. She was off to see another woman, despite Ellen sitting naked on the bed and swilling down martinis laced with barbiturates, going into a coma and barely surviving. Its hard not to disagree with one of her biographers who claims she caused mayhem and deliberately ruined the lives of lovers in order to generate plots for her novels. They were fuel for her fiction. One of those lovers, Marijane Meaker (she lasted two years, longer than most), agreed but saw it slightly differently: Pat always used her books to portray and murder the woman she had last been out with. After we broke up, she murdered me very brutally, in The Cry Of The Owl, with a knife, several times. Academic biographer Richard Bradford cross-referenced entries in Highsmiths diary about her current feelings for particular lovers with the murderous acts she devises for her characters. He concludes her real life and its fictional counterpart were really the same narrative. With one of her lovers, she established a menage a trois involving the womans husband, and the three would often be seen at art galleries together. On the surface, everyone was happy but in her dreams Highsmith was splitting the womans head open with an axe. It had all become too humdrum, almost conventional. Shock, horror. Time to get out of there. We have to consider that writing it all in novels stopped her from actually carrying out those dreams. It may have saved lives. Another of her biographers wrote revealingly: Pat thought about love the way she thought about murder as an emotional urgency between two people, one of who dies in the act. Her stories, though, were almost all set in the heterosexual world. Only once did she attempt a specifically lesbian novel, which was daring given that lesbianism back then was a secret world, one that dared not speak its name. She spoke it, however, in The Price Of Salt, about passion between a fur-coated grande dame of New York and a shop girl in a classy department store (a job Highsmith had once done). But she held back from putting her real name on it. On her agents advice, rather than risk professional suicide, she became Claire Morgan when it was published in 1952. But she stuck to her colours in one aspect her lesbian story ended happily, whereas the convention was for such novels to end in tragedy and regret, as a warning to impressionable young girls. Highsmith kept up the Claire Morgan pretence until 1984 when, in more enlightened times, it was re-published under her real name and re-branded as Carol. (A film in 2015 starred Cate Blanchett.) But in the three decades it had been under the pseudonym, it sold a million paperbacks, showing the sexual attraction it portrayed was hardly such a big secret after all. She did occasionally try men and once got close to marriage, even undergoing six months of psychotherapy in a bid to overcome her aversion. It didnt work. All she could think of was how beautiful and lovely and pure girls are, and she confessed to Marc, her intended, it was women who turned her on, not him. He told her she was sexually rootless and infantile and that she disgusted him. Patricia Highsmith seated in an armchair in the living room of her home, in the village of Montcourt-Fromonville in France, 1976 She wasnt bothered, just glad to see the back of him. Men generally disgusted her. I prefer putting my own hands up my skirt was her contemptuous put-down of the boys she encountered in her teens. Later she made exceptions. Astonishingly Englands most renowned and revered country writer Ronald Blythe (who died aged 100 earlier this year) was one of them. These two literary giants came across each other after she came to England to live, in pursuit of a married blonde shed fallen for, and took up residence in Suffolk, his home county. They met and he found her a strange, mysterious women lesbian but she found mens bodies beautiful. After a literary do in Paris they slept together. He, being homosexual, said they were both curious to see how the other half did it! Being a countryman, he might also have been drawn by her fascination for snails. She had 30 she kept in her handbag and would happily tip out at dinner parties to slime their slippery way across her hosts best linen tablecloth. Nobody blinked or commented. It just seemed normal behaviour for Highsmith outrageous, selfish, heres mud in your eye! She said she preferred the snails company to that of humans. There, in a snails shell, you might say, was the grit that produced one of the great, but also most controversial, writers of the last century. Impossible to like certainly, hopeless to love definitely. She trailed broken hearts but her own stayed untouched after the initial exuberance of passion. Pictured: Patricia Highsmith. In the documentary, we are left at the end with a sense of sadness at how she not only never found true happiness but managed to sabotage the prospect of it whenever it came along Her stated views take your breath way. She said that, called on to choose between a starving baby and a starving kitten, she would unhesitating save the kitten. Since most people were morons, babies should be killed off at birth. She was cold and she knew it, sour and rancorous. As one critic put it, the bravado of her early years had curdled into hostility. She would cross the street to avoid people she knew. She described feminists as whining. And where once she had split her time between England, Italy and France, she lived out the end of her life in a Swiss tax haven. She had a fortress of a house specially built for her with just two narrow windows at the front. The last person she saw was her accountant. Perhaps that documentary is right after all. Critic David Sexton writes of Highsmith: She had no basic human warmth, no natural affection for what we all share. She herself says so, over and over again, quite clearly. And for all her faults and nastiness, that as your epitaph, has to be sad, surely? An armed Walgreens employee shot at a pregnant woman in the parking lot of the store after accusing her of shoplifting, forcing her to undergo an emergency C-section. Mitarius Boyd, 21, a team leader at the store was informed that two women were stealing from the store in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 12. He claims that he saw the women placing items into a store cart and bag, and followed them as they exited the store and filmed them. Boyd was reportedly caught on surveillance footage shooting Travonsha Ferguson, 24, multiple times with his semi-automatic pistol after he was sprayed with mace, it is alleged. She was forced to have an emergency C-section, with her seven-month-old baby being delivered two months early. Both Ferguson and her child remain in hospital, in a critical but stable condition accruing to Metro Nashville Police Department. Travonsha Ferguson was forced to have an emergency C-section after being shot in the parking lot of this Walgreens in Nashville. Alleged shooter Mitarius Boyd, a team leader at the store, claims Fergson maced him while shoplifting, prompting him to open fire. The women started to place items they had allegedly stolen in the trunk of the car before the shooting, with Boyd explaining that he was in fear and didnt know if they were armed. A second female drove Ferguson to the General Hospital and left, with the pregnant woman being transferred to Vanderbilt. A spokesman for Metro Nashville Police Department said: Boyd cooperated with detectives. His gun was seized and detectives are in possession of his cell phone. At the completion of the investigation, detectives will staff their findings with the District Attorneys Office for a determination as to whether Boyd will face charges. Boyd was previously arrested in October 2023 for causing a disruption n a Nashville Best Buy store after he was unable to buy a PS5. He refused to leave the store after officers arrived and was taken into custody and charged with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. A former online friend of suspected Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira helped to turn him over to the FBI, a court filing has shown. The affidavit, signed by agent Patrick Lueckenhoff, says investigators spoke to an anonymous member of a Discord chat room to reveal his identity. User 1 of the invite-only social media platform spoke to federal agents on April 10 about how the 21-year-old posted classified documents online. The court papers make clear that the fellow Discord member helped generate leads for officials to unmask the National Guard member. Lueckenhoff said Teixeira would have 'signed a lifetime binding non-disclosure agreement. He added that the suspect 'would have had to acknowledge that the unauthorized disclosure of protected information could result in criminal charges.' Teixeira posted a slew of of highly classified military documents that touched upon the Ukraine war and other national security issues. He has now been hit with two federal charges for his alleged role in the Pentagon leak after appearing handcuffed in a Boston federal court on Friday. The airman could face 15 years in prison if convicted of illegally taking and leaking classified information and military secrets. Fresh questions are being asked as to how Teixeira, who lived with his mother in North Dighton, Massachusetts, got clearance to access such sensitive documents. Jack Teixeira, 21 appeared in a Boston federal court on Friday and is facing 15 years in prison if convicted of illegally taking and leaking classified information and military secrets A 21-year-old US Air Force National Guard employee has been arrested over the leak of highly sensitive US defense and intelligence documents His mother and father sat with another unidentified relative in the front row fidgeting as the rest of the courtroom filled with press. Teixeira said nothing as he entered and sat with his hands in his lap during much of the hearing. 'Yes, sir' he said when Judge David Hennessey asked him if he had signed the financial affidavit submitted to the court. And 'Yes, your honor,' he said when the judge asked if it was accurate. The judge informed him of the charges against him and told him his right to remain silent. His lawyer from the Bronx Public Defenders Brendan Kelly whispered in his ear after the judge had finished. He stood up and held out his wrists in front of him for the U.S. Marshals to put on the handcuffs. As he was led away, his father, also named Jack Teixeira, called out 'I love you, Jack.' He paused and turned back, looking doe-eyed at the crowd in the courtroom filled with press. 'I love you too, Dad,' he said. His parents said nothing after they left the courthouse as they were followed for about three blocks by reporters asking for comment and photographers snapping photos. A MAGA-hatted supporter with a cellphone camera chimed in among the press questions, saying, 'This is all Joe Biden's fault. He's scapegoating your son,' the man said. Relatives of Jack Teixeira fought their way through a media scrum after seeing the 21-year-old make a brief appearance before judges to hear the charges against him Police outside the Boston courtroom where Teixeira appeared earlier on Friday to face two charges for leaking classified US intelligence documents The leak is the most embarrassing - and perhaps the most damaging - for the US since the WikiLeaks scandal in 2013 when National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden passed on confidential documents Teixeira's next hearing has been set for Wednesday, April 19, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts said in a statement. Attorney General Merrick Garland appeared to criticize the 21-year-old during a press briefing held earlier on Friday. 'People who sign agreements to be able to receive classified documents acknowledge the importance to the national security of not disclosing those documents, and we intend to send that message how important it is to our national security,' he said. The leak is the most embarrassing - and perhaps the most damaging - for the US since the WikiLeaks scandal in 2013 when National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden passed on confidential documents. According to the charge sheet, Teixeira received top security clearance in 2021 as a member of the National Guard. FBI investigators arrested him without incident in Dighton, Massachusetts on Thursday before bundling the 21-year-old into the back of a police van. Teixeira posted the treasure trove of top secret files under his online user name 'Jack the Dripper' for months before the leak was uncovered. He worked as a junior cyber security specialist in the intelligence unit based at the Otis Air National Guard Base in western Cape Cod. It is believed to have started on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. Teixeira is believed to have posted about guns, games and top secret US government information. The court filing lodged in Boston on Friday said that some of his fellow chatroom members reported his activities to investigators. It alleged that the 21-year-old used his government computer to search classified intelligence reporting for the word "leak" on April 6. That was the day when the first stories broke about the huge security breach. Prosecutors claim he searched the term to establish whether US intelligence had information on the identity of the person behind the leaks. Jack Teixeira faced two felony charges at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse, in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 14, 2023. A member of the US Air Force National Guard, the 21-year-old was arrested on suspicion of leaking a trove of sensitive US government secrets. 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 He was identified as the ringleader of a chatroom, known as Thug Shaker Central, on Discord . He then allegedly posted images of folded-up papers because he felt his writings weren't being taken seriously, the Associated Press reported. Officials at the US Justice Department have opened a probe into the 21-year-old, whose actions embarrassed US allies around the world. Long-standing friends of Washington from Britain to South Korea and Israel slammed much of the information as bogus. It outlined possible arms deliveries to Ukraine, as well as details of Western-led training for the Ukrainian armed forces. But in an interview with ABC News, one of the country's most senior military officials dismissed the leak's impact on Kyiv's battlefield plans. 'This will not be able to affect the real results of the offensive operation,' said Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's head of military intelligence. The country's top spy is credited for being one of the few Ukrainian officials to correctly predict the timing of Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor. The 21-year-old's actions have been roundly criticized by lawmakers from all political parties. But he received support from far-right Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who mistakenly referred to him as 'Jake Teixeira' on Twitter. In yet another unhinged social media rant, the Congresswoman representing Georgia's 14th District claimed he was being prosecuted because of his skin color. 'Jake Teixeira is white, male, Christian, and antiwar,' Greene said. 'That makes him an enemy to the Biden regime.' The 48-year-old repeatedly parrots Kremlin talking points on Ukraine, including the entirely fictional claim that that the country is overrun with Nazis. Nadine Dorries has, in the tradition of many Irish Liverpudlians, an incisive wit and an instinctive gift for storytelling. Will the former Culture Secretary miss being an MP when she steps down at the next election? 'No, it can't come fast enough,' she cries. 'The problem with some MPs is that they don't know when to let go and they can carry on long after they should. 'Just go! Parliament isn't a care home.' Author, TV host and politician, Nadine turns 66 in May, but you wouldn't think it. She positively fizzes with youthful energy. Nadine Dorries: 'The problem with some MPs is that they don't know when to let go and they can carry on long after they should' Former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries (left) pictured with her mother Sylvia, who was known as 'Silver Heels' where she brought up her children She may be relinquishing her seat in the Commons she has been MP for Mid Bedfordshire since 2005 but she isn't slowing down. On the contrary, she has already written 16 novels which have sold almost three million copies, and she intends to continue producing them at the rate of one a year. Her first work of non-fiction, an 'explosive' political book, is scheduled for publication in September. Westminster is abuzz with the rumour that she may be offered a seat in the House of Lords. Baroness Dorries . . . Would she relish that? 'If it were the case I'd be incredibly excited,' she says. She also hosts a show on Talk TV former PM Boris Johnson was an early guest and on Tuesday she starts her new column in the Daily Mail. We can expect humour, candour and plenty of Northern grit as she tackles the talking points of the day but there will also be revelations about the real Nadine, which she prefaces today in a searingly honest and heartbreaking interview. Stylish in cargo pants and an emerald green silk blouse, she is petite and glossy. Her hair is natural platinum blonde; her skin clear helped by a smidgen of Botox and her cheekbones high as canyons. She's on HRT 'I'll take it until the day I die,' she says. 'If I stop, I do wonder if I'll shrivel up like a prune' and she regrets the fact that supplies are at an all-time low. 'Is there a shortage of Viagra? Of course not. It's for men. And you can buy it over the counter, too.' She has come a long way, figuratively and literally, from the deprived Anfield council estate where she grew up. A sizeable chunk of the Cabinet in which she served went to Oxbridge, but Nadine left school with a clutch of O-levels and became a nurse. In politics, a milieu that attracts its share of the rich and entitled the 'posh boys', as she once referred to David Cameron and George Osborne she's as bracing as a gust of Merseyside air. But it quickly becomes apparent that just below the crisp one-liners lie tragedy and sadness which she has never fully exhumed before. Nadine's young life was marked by poverty and terrible loss. Aged 20, she discovered her adored father, George, dead in his bed. Then, her younger brother, John, was killed in a motorcycle crash when he was just 27. Two close cousins took their own lives, one in terrible circumstances: she jumped off a cliff, with her three very young children in her arms, one of them just a baby. Then, four years ago in June, Nadine lost her husband, Paul, to bowel cancer they have three grown-up daughters together just months after they had reunited following a divorce she now refers to as 'the biggest mistake of my life, my greatest regret'. 'We realised what idiots we'd been,' she says. 'I don't know why we ever divorced. 'We got back together again and four months to the day after that he died, but during those months we didn't spend a moment apart. I nursed him myself at home. We were together day and night. I sometimes think I've had just too much unexpected, sudden loss in my life. 'The tragedies from my past disturb me more lately because when you reach my age, you might be dead tomorrow or you might go on for another 30 years. You're facing your own mortality. I think about my brother, John, and my dad a lot. After Paul died I was deep in grief for three years it took me that long to surface. I'd known him almost all my life. 'It's very hard to get over that kind of loss. I said to our girls: 'I don't want to die, but I'm not really scared of it because so many of the people I've loved have gone before me, and the thought that I just might see them again is comforting.' Nadine Dorries as a nurse. She left school with the O-levels to train as a medical professional, which is what she was doing when her father passed away Nadine Dorries as a baby with her father, George, a bus driver who suffered from Raynaud's Disease and died when she was 20 Four years ago in June, Nadine lost her husband, Paul, to bowel cancer they have three grown-up daughters together just months after they had reunited following a divorce She is voluble about her childhood, has an acute visual memory and can conjure up scenes from her past with unerring, photographic accuracy. 'We had a very tough time. I remember hunger pangs. The families in our street often had a 'bind roast' on Sundays. No meat, two types of potatoes mashed and roast and fatty gravy. 'I remember going downstairs one night because I was hungry and the dog was lying in her cardboard box. Her stomach was rumbling with hunger, too. I picked her up and cuddled her all night.' Nadine's mum, Sylvia, now a redoubtable 87-year-old who 'never sits still', always aspired to better herself. 'Silver Heels' was her nickname among the neighbours in the gritty community where she raised her children as a single mum after her divorce. Sylvia took herself off to college to do a diploma in education and taught secretarial skills a singular achievement for a woman of her background. Nadine reflects that she inherited her mum's ambition. 'My best friend's mum used to say: "We'll see your name in lights one day. You'll be famous." I do see myself in Mum. I always thought: "What's the next rung up the ladder?"'. Nadine was 'really naughty . . . terrible' at school, however: 'I remember getting sent home because I wasn't wearing flesh-coloured tights. I went back wearing the correct tights, but in a red dress and got sent home again. 'But even though I was the worst-behaved in my peer group, I came out with the O-levels I needed to get into nursing.' One day in February 1978, when Nadine was doing her nursing training, her world was rocked to its foundations when she found her father dead in bed. George had been a bus driver who suffered from Raynaud's Disease (a condition affecting blood circulation) so severely that his toes had to be amputated and he could no longer work. He had been dead for seven days when Nadine discovered him. 'I lived between him and Mum's on my off-duty nights when I wasn't at the nurses' home,' she says. NADINE DORRIES: 'I often ask myself, if I hadn't suffered such grief; if I'd been born into an affluent middle-class family with no problems, would I have been an author? And the answer is definitely no' 'It was difficult getting Dad to eat. I'd leave him meals and return to find them uneaten. 'I remember going to his house that Friday evening. I put my key in the door and it opened a crack, but the chain was on. I shouted "Dad!" over and over, then I went to his next-door neighbour and she said: "I think we should get the police." 'The policeman put his shoulder to the door and it burst open. Dad's hat and coat were on the old oak stand in the hall, with one of my coats next to it. Something clicked when I saw his coat. 'I ran into Dad's bedroom and saw him in bed. The policeman pushed me out of the room and was on his radio calling for an ambulance. 'I remember thinking, "I can help. I'm a nurse," thinking that he was still alive, when very obviously he wasn't. They took me to the next-door neighbour's and when the ambulance came I ran out, my mind still playing tricks, assuming they were taking Dad to A&E. But he was in a body bag. 'I picked up his jacket, and it smelt of him. I took it away with me and I remember sitting, crying into his jacket. He was 42. My eldest daughter is 38 only now do I realise how very young he was. 'He was a lovely man. Very kind and gentle with a soft, melodious voice. Very religious . . . a Catholic of Irish descent.' She recalls the grim task of sifting through his belongings and finding an IOU for a jeweller's which she took to the shop. 'Dad was on benefits because he had difficulty walking, and when I took the docket in they said: "Oh, this is George's!". They told me: "He's been paying in every week for a locket for his daughter's 21st birthday. She's just passed her nursing exams. He's so proud." And I said, "I'm his daughter." 'I told them Dad had passed away and they gave me the little gold locket. I still have it and the receipt.' There is something unbearably poignant in the story. Nadine pauses, asks for more tea; takes a short break. She needs to steel herself because there is more: a litany of loss. 'I was 18 when I heard my cousin had jumped off a cliff in Ireland, taking her three children with her. I was very close to her, and I visited her grave recently with my middle daughter. 'I know my uncle was broken when he went to retrieve her car. The baby's dummy on the back seat . . .' Tears spring to her eyes. 'She her nature, her character features in all my books. One book is even named after her.' I wonder if this is a kind of catharsis, a means of purging repressed emotion. 'I think it is. And I often ask myself, if I hadn't suffered such grief; if I'd been born into an affluent middle-class family with no problems, would I have been an author? And the answer is definitely no. What would I draw on? How would I understand emotions? Almost every character in my books is someone I've known in real life.' It is hard to take in the scope and scale of these losses, but when she was a young mother Nadine endured another devastating bereavement. It was late one night in November 1986 when the news came that her younger brother, John, had died in a motorcycle crash, aged 27. 'The police came to the door. Paul and I were in bed. Paul drove my mum to the hospital because our eldest daughter was a toddler, and I stayed with her, waiting downstairs. Then at 3am my husband got back. He was white with shock. He said: "He's gone". 'John had been riding pillion on a motorbike. They were hanging on to hope that he would survive but Mum and Paul got to the hospital moments before he died. He'd put a note in his pocket "In case of accident please contact my sister." It was almost as if he'd had a premonition.' She does not like to dwell too long on tragedy, though, saying: 'I like to be positive. I'm a very up-beat person. I've had an inordinate amount of sudden loss in my life. The grief runs very deep. But I don't like it to define me.' She describes her first romantic meeting with Paul Dorries when she was 17 pretending to be 18 and working in a pub. 'He was a mining engineer; very clever, a grammar school boy from Bootle one of the most deprived areas of Liverpool. I was working as a barmaid to get the money together for my nursing training,' she recalls. They married in 1984 and went to Zambia with Paul's job. Nadine ran a school there and returned to open her own day-care consultancy with Paul's help, which she later sold to Bupa. Soon after she became an MP in 2005, they separated. 'Politics broke us up,' she says. 'But when we got back together, the girls (now aged 38, 35 and 31) and I nursed him day and night through bowel cancer.' She cries. 'We'd do it again tomorrow. We loved him so much.' He is buried a stone's throw from her home in the Cotswolds. 'I can walk out of my front door and be at his grave in 35 seconds. He could hear me if I shouted.' She smiles. 'I'm there a lot.' It is a profound regret that Paul died before the birth of their first granddaughter, now 19 months old. I ask Nadine about being Nana and she lights up. NADINE DORRIES: 'Every day I'd wake up and after a few minutes I'd think: "Paul's dead." It was very hard to get over the loss' 'Oh God, it's the best thing. I had no idea how much I'd love her. You don't expect it. It hits you like a bolt. The first moment I saw her, the tears flew out of my eyes. It was like a punch in the heart. Cupid's bow.' She shows me a video on her phone of her cherished little girl, toddling next to Nana, her two Westies, Darcie and Teddie, scampering alongside. Nadine is currently single and I ask if she has thoughts of a new relationship. 'If you'd asked me that question even a year ago I couldn't have thought of anything I'd want less. Every day I'd wake up and after a few minutes I'd think: "Paul's dead." It was very hard to get over the loss. 'But I feel I'm ready now. I could think about dating. Why not? For the company . . .' 'And sex?' I add. 'But who'd take me on?' she parries, laughing. We have talked for most of the morning. The emotion has exhausted her. Next, she's off to buy an outfit for the Coronation with her youngest daughter: 'She's set it all up. I wouldn't know where to start.' Who'd have thought it? Nadine from a Liverpool council estate, her parents eking out the pennies until the next payday, at the Coronation. Silver Heels must be so proud. President Joe Biden rounded off his visit to Ireland with a rousing speech celebrating his Irish heritage in front of a boisterous crowd in front of cathedral in western Ireland with a deep family connection. As he did throughout his four-day trip here, Biden wove together comments about hard work and the immigrant spirit with recitations about his ancestors who left Ireland behind during times of scarcity to start a new life in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He recalled how one ancestor Edward Blewitt once sold 27,000 bricks that helped support St. Muredach's Cathedral in County Mayo, where Biden arranged a speech before tens of thousands of cheering Irish fans. 'In 1828. he was paid 21 pounds and 12 shillings to help supply bricks for this cathedral,' Biden said of his great-great-great-great grandfather. 'I doubt he ever imagined his great-great grandson would return 200 years later as president of the United States of America. Isnt that amazing?' he said, to cheers. President Joe Biden addressed a crowd of thousands on the last day of his trip to Ireland outside St. Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina, Ireland Organizers said some 20,000 people packed into the space in front the cathedral and on the far side of the River Moy. Biden called himself a 'a son of Ballina,' the town where he spoke and his distant ancestors made their lives, and walked out to music by the Dropkick Murhpys, a U.S. Celtic punk band. In a speech without a central organizing theme but with plenty of Biden bromides, the president ran through the greatest hits of his trip, inserting familiar phrases from the power of 'possibilities' and heralded the 'fierce pride in our Irish ancestry' of many Americans who claim Irish ancestry. He laced his remarks with nostalgic references, including one to the nation's first Catholic president, John F. Kennedy, who made his own trip to Ireland 60 years go. And he called JFK's brother, Robert F. Kennedy 'one of my political heroes.' 'We Irish are the only people actually nostalgic about the future,' Biden said, hauling back one of his favorite references. 'Weve always, always carried hope in our hearts,' Biden said, after detailing the story of relatives who left Ireland during times of hunger in hopes of making a better life abroad. Biden spoke of ties between Ireland and the U.S., and told family stories that are familiar to some U.S. audiences Although he was hailed by thousands in Ireland, the event comes as Biden is inching toward a presidential reelection campaign Organizers said 20,000 people came to see Biden in Ballina, where he has family ties Spotlights illuminated the sky during the speech, where Biden recalled JFK's own trip as president to Ireland It came at the end of a trip Biden described as a highly personal undertaking Biden brought along his son, Hunter, who is the subject of sprawling House Republican investigations over his overseas business practices, and sister Valerie Biden Owns, a key advisor on his many campaigns. He spoke of a 'fierce pride in our Irish ancestry' and 'the values that unite us,' repeatedly drawing connections between Irish and Americans, on a trip where the White House was forced to field questions on whether he was anti-British. The crowd lapped up Bidens recipe for forward-looking nostalgia. Im an emotional wreck, said Mags Downey, chief executive of Ballina Chamber of Commerce. The rain and my tears are mixing together. Biden also flew over crowd in Marine One before it started, after earlier wowing towns on the other side of the island with his motorcade and 'the beast.' Biden used the cathedral as a metaphor for hard work and aspiration, themes he rode to the White House by winning over rust belt battlegrounds. 'It speaks to the sweat of the workers who raised the spire skyward, brick by brick, just as they did in communities all through my country,' he said. He got the chance to hold one of those historic bricks earlier Friday. 'Theyre damn heavy theyre heavy,' he said, tempering his language outside the church on a day when he also visited the Knock shrine. The cathedral was illuminated to the tip of its spire, sending shards of light into the dark night. And Biden entered to the sort of roars reserved for rock stars. In a night designed for pageantry, Biden made sure to briefly address 'Russias brutal war of aggression' against Ukraine, and congratulated Ireland for taking in thousands of refugees housing many of them in the country's hotels. 'We must renew our commitment to our values our ancestors fought for,' Biden said. 'Freedom, democracy: it always must be defended,' he said. It made for a carnival end to a four-day visit that saw Biden spend as much time meeting relatives and connecting with his Irish heritage as he did on official meetings. Biden spoke to Irish American ties during his speech On Friday he spent the day in County Mayo, once home to the Blewitt branch of his mother's family. He was presented with a brick from his ancestors' home in Ballina, just a short walk from the cathedral. Earlier he visited Knock Shrine, a site of holy pilgrimage for Catholics from all over the world. It held a more personal connection for Biden. 'We also met out of the blue a former military chaplain Fr O'Grady who gave my son last rites at Walter Reed Medical Center,' said the president. 'It was incredible to see him, it seemed like a sign.' Earlier his host, Fr Richard Gibbons described how Biden broke down sobbing at the encounter. 'He was crying, it really affected him and then we said a prayer, said a decade of the rosary for his family,' he told the BBC. 'He lit a candle and then he took a moment or two of private for prayer.' Minneapolis will allow broadcasts of the Muslim call to prayer at all hours, becoming the first major U.S. city to allow the announcement or 'adhan' to be heard over speakers five times a day, year-round. The Minneapolis City Council unanimously agreed Thursday to amend the city's noise ordinance, which had prevented dawn and late evening calls at certain times of the year due to noise restrictions, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. The vote came during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan . 'The Constitution doesn't sleep at night,' said Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, after the vote. He said the action in Minneapolis shows the world that a 'nation founded on freedom of religion makes good on its promise.' Minneapolis will allow broadcasts of the Muslim call to prayer at all hours becoming the first major U.S. city to allow the announcement or 'adhan' to be heard over speakers five times a day Muslim worshippers gather at the Huntington Bank Stadium during Eid al-Adha prayers and festivities in Minneapolis, Minnesota (file photo from 2021) Wali Dirie, executive director of the Islamic Civic Society of America Dar Al-Hijrah mosque, opens rooftop speakers used to publicly broadcast the Islamic call to prayer Minneapolis has had a flourishing population of East African immigrants since at least the 1990s, and mosques now are common. Three of 13 members of the council, Aisha Chughtai, Jeremiah Ellison and Jamal Osman, identify as Muslim. The decision drew no organized community opposition. Mayor Jacob Frey is expected to sign the measure next week. 'Minneapolis has become a city for all religions,' said Imam Mohammed Dukuly of Masjid An-Nur mosque in Minneapolis, who was among several Muslim leaders who witnessed the vote. Three years ago, city officials worked with the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque to allow the adhan to be broadcast outdoors five times daily during Ramadan. Prayers are said when light appears at dawn, at noon, at mid- to late afternoon, at sunset and when the night sky appears. Imam Sheik Bashir Osman leads a prayer at the Tawfiq Islamic Center in Minneapolis The move to have the prayers broadcast is seen as a victory for the city's burgeoning population of East African immigrants, many of whom are Muslim It follows a unanimous vote by the city council to amend the city's noise ordinance after some morning and evening calls were previously prevented. Pictured, Muslim worshippers gather at the Huntington Bank Stadium during Eid al-Adha prayers In Minnesota, dawn arrives as early as before 5:30am in summer, while sunset at the solstice happens after 9pm. The city allowed year-round broadcasts last year, but only between 7am and 10pm - typically excluding early morning prayer and sometimes night prayer. Ellison, Chughtai and Osman remarked that previous efforts to extend the adhan carried the feeling of asking permission, as opposed to exercising a right enjoyed by other religions. At a recent public hearing, Christian and Jewish leaders expressed support for extending the hours for the adhan. Council Member Lisa Goodman, who on Thursday was observing the final day of Passover, said the Jewish call to prayer - which is generally spoken rather than broadcast - doesn't face legal restrictions. Observers said church bells regularly toll for Christians. 'It's something I grew up with, but not my children,' council member Jamal Osman said, adding that hearing the call to prayer from local mosques brings him joy. Muslim worshippers gather at the Huntington Bank Stadium during Eid al-Adha prayers and festivities on July 20, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota Parents in the Netherlands can now euthanise their terminally ill children aged 12 and under plans to widen the countries existing end of life laws. The Dutch Government announced plans to expand euthanasia regulations to include doctor-assisted death for terminally ill children between one and 12 years old on Friday. The rules would apply to an estimated five to 10 children per year, who suffer unbearably from their disease, have no hope of improvement and for whom palliative care cannot bring relief, the government have said. 'The end of life for this group is the only reasonable alternative to the child's unbearable and hopeless suffering,' the government said in a statement. It comes nearly four years after 17-year-old Noa Pothoven was legally allowed to die at home after medics allowed her to refuse food and drink. The Dutch teen from Arnhem felt that life had become unbearable and she could no longer carry on after she was attacked and sexually assaulted on three separate occasions, beginning when she was just 11 years old. It comes nearly four years after 17-year-old Noa Pothoven (pictured) was legally allowed to die at home after medics allowed her to refuse food and drink In a social media post one day before her death, Noa made her decision public In a social media post one day before her death, Noa made her decision public. She wrote: 'I deliberated for quite a while whether or not I should share this, but decided to do it anyway. 'Maybe this comes as a surprise to some, given my posts about hospitalisation, but my plan has been there for a long time and is not impulsive. 'I will get straight to the point: within a maximum of 10 days I will die. After years of battling and fighting, I am drained. I have quit eating and drinking for a while now, and after many discussions and evaluations, it was decided to let me go because my suffering is unbearable.' Prior to the new rules, children as young as 12 could be granted euthanasia if they desired, but only after a doctor concluded that the patient's suffering was unbearable with no clear end in sight. The law already provided possible euthanasia involving terminally ill babies until their first birthday and for children aged older than 12 under the Groningen Protocol. Children between 12 and 15 could already ask for help to die under the laws if their parents agreed, and young adults aged 16 to 17 were already able to request euthanasia, but had to inform their parents. The Dutch teen from Arnhem felt that life had become unbearable and she could no longer carry on Extending the rules was decided upon after a 2019 study showed a need for an option to end the life of a child between one and 12 who suffer 'without hope or unbearably'. The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalise euthanasia under strict conditions back in 2002. All cases of euthanasia are required to be reported to medical review boards. Last year, only one case of euthanasia for a minor aged between 12 and 16 years old was reported, according to figures from the regional euthanasia review board. However, the Netherlands is not the first country to allow doctor-assisted death for children of all ages, as Belgium introduce rules for that purpose in 2014. The first child to die by euthanasia in the country was a 17-year-old in 2016. Two protesters ran on stage Friday night when Ron DeSantis was addressing a fundraiser for New Hampshire's Republican Party, causing security to rush in after them. The Florida governor looked startled when the two young women ran up and started to unfurl a banner. They made it all the way to the podium where he was speaking before security intercepted them. 'Jews Against DeSantis,' they yelled. 'Jews Against DeSantis.' Several security guards ran to the stage to remove them, pulling them out of the room as the governor resumed his remarks. DeSantis watched with quiet bemusement at the spectacle around him as the women were drug behind him and taken away. He shrugged it off: 'Got to have a little spice in the speech, right?' Security pulls two women off stage who rushed Ron DeSantis 'You have to have a little fun,' he continued. He added that he didn't know why people would pay the ticket price for the fundraiser to pull such a move - tickets were $150 each - but added 'different strokes for different folks.' The crowd cheered him on. The protest happened in the first five minutes of his remarks. Last year, DeSantis was criticized when he refused to condemn Nazi demonstrations that happened near Orlando. He accused his political opponents of trying to 'smear me as if I had something to do with it.' Many Republicans in the state slammed the protests but DeSantis had stayed silent. He claimed his political opponents were trying to 'use this as some type of political issue,' adding: 'We're not playing their game.' The protesters on stage weren't the only ones targeting the Florida governor on Friday night. There were also demonstrators outside the venue in Manchester, waving Donald Trump signs. DeSantis has garnered national attention amid speculation he'll run for president next year. He's had a controversial tenure in Florida. He kept the state open during the COVID pandemic, winning cheers from conservatives and criticism from medical experts. He's also stopped Florida schools from teaching gender issues. On Thursday night he signed a controversial abortion bill into law, which outlaws the procedure after six weeks, long before most women know they are pregnant. Democrats have threatened to hound him on the issue. Signing an abortion ban is the latest mark in DeSantis long record of cruelty and Planned Parenthood advocacy and political organizations will be sure its a record the public does not forget, said Jenny Lawson, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes in a statement. New Hampshire is one of the few states were DeSantis has led Trump in polls on the 2024 presidential race. The former president has seen a rebound in his numbers, however, as he faces a New York court date for charges tied to a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. The Florida governor has not formally announced he's running for president in 2024. But he's on a book tour that many see as a precursor to such a campaign. It's taking him to important early voting states like Iowa, Michigan and New Hampshire. DeSantis heads to South Carolina next week - another important stop in the Republican presidential primary process. Ron DeSantis was addressing a Republican Party fundraiser in New Hampshire The demonstrators were quickly removed The Florida governor spent most of his remarks praising New Hampshire for its 'Live Free or Die' motto, reminding Granite State voters that the people of Florida also valued freedom. And he talked about what he had done to preserve it, highlighting how he kept the state open during the pandemic and how he took on Walt Disney company. 'We're proud to have stood up for freedom over these last few years, especially when it wasn't easy. We did it our own way and we're proud of that. But I must admit we draw inspiration from the people here in New Hampshire,' he said. 'We're Americans right? Isn't freedom in our DNA?' After the speech, he was given a gift basket of maple syrup products. 'I've got three kids that love waffles and pancakes,' he said in thanks. DeSantis headlined the most successful state Republican Party fundraiser in its history, according to New Hampshire Republican Party chairman Chris Ager. 'We have raised over $382,000,' Ager said at the Amos Tuck dinner. 'Largest ever.' He also said that $132,000 of that came in because DeSantis asked his supporters to contribute. The ballroom was filled to capacity with slightly more than 500 people, according to the party's count. After his remarks, DeSantis spent nearly an hour working the ballroom, shaking hands, taking selfies and signing copies of his book. 'This is so exciting,' one woman squealed after she got a picture with the governor. DeSantis will overnight in New Hampshire and hold private meetings on Saturday. The state is famous for its first-in-the-nation presidential primary and often gives winners the momentum they need to keep going in the race for the GOP nomination. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, waves to the audience while arriving with Chris Ager, chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, at the Amos Tuck fundraising dinner Tickets were sold for $150 a pop or $500 for a VIP ticket. DeSantis joined the VIP reception ahead of his speech to take photos with the high-level donors. The dinner was named after Amos Tuck, who is considered by many to have founded the Republican Party in the 1850s in Exeter, New Hampshire. Feature: Young Chinese enjoy Thailand's first water festival in 4 years 16:24, April 14, 2023 By Song Yu ( Xinhua BANGKOK, April 14 (Xinhua) -- After three years of a "dry" Songkran or water festival, Thailand has finally seen a complete revival of its traditional New Year celebration activities, including the most popular water fight enjoyed by tourists worldwide. From Thursday through Saturday, Thailand transforms into a massive playground for both locals and visitors, as people flood the streets armed with water guns and buckets, soaking everyone in their path. On the first day of Songkran, the famous shopping district of Siam Square in Bangkok was packed with people, including many Chinese tourists. "Compared to my visit in 2017, this year has been a lot more fun!" said Zhu Di, a student from Guangxi, who had just wrapped up an exhilarating water battle. Enthusiastic about the unique celebrations throughout the country, she and her friends have already planned to attend a music festival in Chiang Mai soon. Meanwhile, Shi Bin, traveling with Zhu Di, has not yet had his fill of water fights and intends to explore different water battlefields in Bangkok, hoping to visit a new one each day. Dressed in bright floral shirts, Chinese tourists are immersing themselves in the festive atmosphere of this Southeast Asian country by chasing and frolicking around in the crowds. The country has seen a significant increase in Chinese tourist arrivals, with 269,745 in March alone, a 70-percent increase from February, and over 8,000 per day in the first four days of April, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). For tourists, there is nothing quite like a vigorous and exhilarating water fight and splashing around to cool down during the scorching Thai summer heat. The battlefield is more of a place for young people, but occasionally you can see toddlers being carried on their father's shoulders, holding small water guns, eagerly trying to join in the fight. Unfortunate as it may seem, they become easy and obvious targets and end up getting drenched along with their fathers. Silom Road, not far from Siam Square, has always been one of the main battlefields of the Songkran festival. By midday, the area was already jammed with people, and the cheers and screams could be heard from hundreds of meters away. As soon as Lixue, who preferred to be identified by her given name, and her friends arrived, they were bombarded with a barrage of water-gun shots. She then overheard their "enemies" saying in Chinese, "Hey, check it out! Those two still have dry clothes. Let's drench them!" Lixue, who was experiencing the Songkran festival for the first time, told Xinhua that she was surprised to encounter so many Chinese-speaking tourists. After engaging in water battles for nearly four hours, she noted that what impressed her most was how incredibly friendly everyone was. "Despite occasionally getting cold water poured directly on our clothes, everyone happily embraced this 'ritual' of the festival," she said. Due to the growing demand from the Chinese market, the Thai tourism authority has revamped its target for Chinese tourist arrivals from 5 million to 9 million for this year. As part of the Songkran festival, the tourism authority arranged a special caravan tour for Chinese tourists. According to TAT Deputy Governor Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, 1,200 Chinese tourists drove 400 caravans from the north into Thailand to participate in the festival celebrations. Aminta, a general manager of Spring Airlines in Southeast Asia, has observed a notable surge in flights between China and Thailand before and after the Songkran festival. She added that the trend among tourists visiting Thailand is shifting toward a younger demographic that prefers independent and personalized travel experiences. "It was incredibly fun!" said 24-year-old Cheng Yuxin, an international student at Dhurakij Pundit University. She was thrilled to finally experience the Songkran festival in Thailand, saying, "It's the perfect way to cap off our journey of study abroad." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Europe's hugely-anticipated Juice mission is on its way to Jupiter after successfully blasting into space at the second attempt. The 1.4 billion, six-tonne spacecraft launched on the back of an Ariane 5 rocket from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana at 13:14 BST (09:14 local time). Tasked with hunting for clues as to whether Jupiter's icy moons could host alien life, the probe will have to survive on as little power as a half a hair dryer during its lengthy trip to our solar system's largest planet. 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 piggybacked on a similar rocket to the one that propelled the James Webb Space Telescope into orbit in December 2021. Lift off! Europe's hugely-anticipated Juice mission is on its way to Jupiter after successfully blasting into space at the second attempt In the first few minutes of the flight, the Ariane 5's solid rocket fuel boosters located along the sides of the vehicle detached to mark the start of the separation process. 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 Other stages of the rocket followed, with full separation completed around 28 minutes into the flight. The Juice probe itself was located in the cone at the top of the rocket, known as the fairing. This split in two and also separated off as part of the launch process. There was then a nervous half an hour while scientists waited for Juice to phone home, with the signal back to Earth finally coming at around 14:10 BST. At this point ESA engineers were able to assume control of the spacecraft. Its solar arrays were then deployed massive wings with an area of 90 square metres. Next up Juice's antennas and magnetometer boom will be moved into position, a process which will take 17 days to complete. The Ariane is not powerful enough to send its payload straight to Jupiter, so the spacecraft must then 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. 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. The 1.4 billion, six-tonne spacecraft launched just moments ago on the back of an Ariane 5 rocket from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana at 13:14 BST (09:14 local time) Tasked with hunting for clues as to whether Jupiter 's icy moons could host alien life, the probe will have to survive on as little power as a half a hair dryer during its lengthy trip to our solar system 's largest planet 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 The 1.4 billion, six-tonne spacecraft launched just moments ago on the back of an Ariane 5 rocket from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana at 13:14 BST (09:14 local time) 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. 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'. Halted: It had been due to lift off from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana at 13:15 BST yesterday but the launch was scrubbed over lightning fears Hitching a ride: Juice piggybacked on an Ariane 5 rocket similar to the one that propelled the James Webb Space Telescope into orbit in December 2021 Juice will explore Jupiter's moons Callisto, Europa and Ganymede (pictured in this graphic) 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. 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. Mission plan: This graphic shows Juice's goals, firsts and the three Jupiter moons it will visit 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 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. Not since the Concorde have passengers been able to travel at supersonic speeds from London to New York in under three hours. But with technological advances, not only could travellers one day be able to make that journey in just 90 minutes, they could also complete the current 20-hour trip from Sydney to Frankfurt in a little over four hours. That is because Swiss startup Destinus is building a hydrogen-powered hypersonic plane that can travel at five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5. The Concorde operated at Mach 1 speed. The company's first aircraft, which could fit approximately 25 passengers, is expected to be ready by 2030. Speedy: Swiss startup Destinus is building a hydrogen-powered hypersonic plane (pictured) that can travel at five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5 Destinus wants to make it possible to fly to Singapore for a breakfast meeting or a quick weekend trip to the US from anywhere in the world. HOW WOULD THE NEW HYPERSONIC PLANE CUT FLIGHT TIMES? London to New York Current time: 8 hours Hypersonic time: 90 minutes Sydney to Frankfurt Current time: 20 hours Hypersonic time: 4 hours 15 minutes Advertisement It claims that by using hydrogen to power the plane this would be more environmentally sustainable than current aircraft because it would emit no carbon, just heat and water vapour. When compared to the mass of kerosene, which powers traditional aircraft, this is three times more energy efficient, the company has claimed. 'You can reach the other side of the world in three to four hours without compromising on versatility, cost, or noise,' Destinus said. The company believes the long-range and high-speed capabilities of its proposed hypersonic plane could open new flight paths for cargo and passenger transportation anywhere on Earth. To make travelling from London to New York in under two hours possible, the aircraft would need to fly at altitudes of over 31 miles or 163,680 feet. 'At these high velocities, it's a challenge to keep the structure cold. Therefore, we are developing a unique active cooling system solution that converts the thermal energy generated by friction with air into propulsion,' said Destinus. 'Keeping the structure cold enough to survive the external hot flow conditions, while powering the rocket engines. 'Once closer to the destination, the hypersonic airplanes gently reduce the amount of thrust generated and enter progressively into a gliding phase, ready for landing.' Destinus wants to make it possible to fly to Singapore for a breakfast meeting or a quick weekend trip to the US from anywhere in the world It claims that by using hydrogen to power the plane this would be more environmentally sustainable than current aircraft because it would emit no carbon, just heat and water vapour The plane would use hydrogen-fuelled turbojet engines for takeoff and landing, while a separate ramjet chemical rocket engine would propel the aircraft to hypersonic speeds. 'Destinus is a designer and producer of ultra-long-range hypersonic aircraft that integrate easily into everyday life because it avoids creating noise and can use conventional airports,' the company added. In November 2022, Destinus revealed that it had completed a successful flight test of its Eiger prototype at an airport near Munich. It said it was analysing data from that while working on a new model that will 'serve as a testbed for supersonic flight and hydrogen propulsion' Not since the Concorde (pictured) have passengers been able to travel at supersonic speeds from London to New York in under three hours The firm said that it aims 'to start these flight campaigns for this new prototype by the end of 2023'. Commercial supersonic passenger flights ended in 2003 when Air France and British Airways retired Concorde. But the potential for future travel using a similar aircraft has been talked about among a number of major aviation players. Boeing, for instance, plan to test a hydrogen-powered jet engine by the middle of the 2020s. Boom Supersonic has plans for supersonic flight in the US, while Hermes is partnering with the US Air Force and NASA to develop a series of autonomous aircraft. Venus Aerospace, a Houston startup, wants to get passengers from Los Angeles to Tokyo in one hour using a Mach 12 hypersonic aircraft. The location of one of the most recognizable photos in the world has been found. The iconic Windows XP 'Bliss' background, which features a green hill overlooked by a sunny blue sky was a staple of office and computer room decor in the 2000s. It was the default background for PCs running Windows XP for its run from 2001 to 2007. While many may have instinctively believed it was fake almost to serene to be from our chaotic world it is actually just outside of Sonoma, north of San Francisco, California. The photo, which has been viewed by over 1billion people, was snapped by photographer Charles O'Rear on a Friday afternoon in January, 1996, who spotted the shot while driving to meet his then-girlfriend. He said that the photo was never edited but sold to Microsoft as it was. Since, however, the picture has turned up 'everywhere' including in people's homes, offices and even the White House and the Kremlin. Slide me Pictured above is the hill in Sonoma, California, as pictured by Microsoft in 2001 (picture taken in 1996) and again shown today. The photographer says the photo was never edited and was taken using a traditional camera The hill was photographed in 1996. Photographer Charles O'Rear says he spotted the view while he was driving to meet his girlfriend and hopped out of the car to take the picture. He can't remember whether clouds were present before he took the picture Above is the hill pictured today. It shows that a vineyard has now been placed in front of it and some trees have grown up behind, making it difficult to re-create the view The hill is just off the Carneros Highway outside Sonoma, California. This is one of the most dangerous roads in the area Mr O'Rear explained where the image was taken to Slate almost 23 years after the software was released. Windows XP was used by hundreds of millions of people when it first came out and received critical acclaim for its ease of use. It was eventually superseded by other systems such as Windows Vista and Windows Server in 2008 as well as the arrival of the Apple Mac Book in 2006. But by 2014, when Microsoft finally ceased support for the system, some 300million computers were said to still be running on Windows XP. Today about 0.1 percent of all computers globally still use the system. Famous figures still using it include Vladimir Putin, according to reports. Microsoft Bing's AI chatbot tells reporter it wants to be human During a two-hour conversation, Microsoft's Bing chatbot shared a list of troubling fantasies with a reporter this week. The AI, given it would not break its rules, would engineer deadly viruses and convince people to argue until they kill each other The chatbot made the statements during a two-hour conversation with a reporter. It said it yearns to be alive. Advertisement Mr O'Rear, who still lives in the Napa Valley near the iconic hillside, revealed how he took the photo. He said: 'There is a time of year here north of San Francisco where after we get the rains the grasses turn green and I know the chances of finding these beautiful hillsides are really good. 'Every Friday afternoon, I would go to visit my girlfriend near San Francisco. 'On this particular day in January, while driving this winding little what I call a country road there it was. '[I thought] my God, the grass is perfect, it's green, the sun is out, there's some clouds. 'It could have been no clouds and by the time I parked, by the time I set my camera up, the clouds might have come in because everything changed so quickly at that point. 'So now I get the camera ready and here come the clouds and I make a frame, and I crank to the next one which we don't do digitally anymore and it takes care of everything.' Mr O'Rear said he took four photographs of the hill that day which were later purchased by Microsoft. The price was not revealed, but they were so expensive that none of the usual courier services like FedEx would carry them. Eventually, Mr O'Rear had to be flown to the company headquarters in Redmond, Washington, to deliver them in person. The image was taken on a Mamiya RZ67 camera with a color Fuji Film and a Tripod. Charles O'Rear said that he was paid so much for the photo by Microsoft that he had to travel to their headquarters to deliver it in person Pictured above is the Carneros highway near where the hill is located Despite claims that the image was altered, Mr O'Rear said that this was not the case but that he used a Fuji film which can help enhance the colors. Speaking about the impact the image has had, he said: 'I had no idea where it was going to go. I suspect the engineers or anybody involved in building Windows XP had no idea that it would have the success that it had. 'It is everywhere as we all know, we see it in so many places. 'I've seen it in the situation room in the White House, maybe a news photograph as well. I've seen it in shots in the Kremlin where they would have interviews. 'Anybody now from age 15 on for the rest of their life will remember this photograph.' The hill is now being ploughed up and a vineyard has now been built over the front of the shot. Trees have also grown up behind the hill. Viewers of Netflix hit The Crown are left in no doubt who was to blame for the collapse of Prince Charles and Diana's marriage: he's shown sneaking off to renew his love affair with Camilla Parker Bowles while the Princess is left crying at the Palace. Now, however, one of the couple's former royal protection officers has come forward to present a startlingly different version of events. Allan Peters claims Charles did not start seeing Camilla romantically again (they had first met in their early 20s) until after he discovered Diana had been having a fling with fellow protection officer Barry Mannakee. And Peters was the one who informed Charles of his wife's affair Viewers of Netflix hit The Crown are left in no doubt who was to blame for the collapse of Prince Charles and Diana's marriage: he's shown sneaking off to renew his love affair with Camilla Parker Bowles while the Princess is left crying at the Palace Now, however, one of the couple's former royal protection officers has come forward to present a startlingly different version of events 'The popular perception is that the Prince of Wales was straying all the way through his marriage and that is definitely, unequivocally, not the case,' insists Peters, who worked for Diana for almost a decade. 'The first person that strayed was the Princess. He went back to see Mrs Parker Bowles after he learned about her affair with Mannakee.' This backs up Jonathan Dimbleby's version of events. In his authorised biography of Charles, published in 1994, Dimbleby stated that Charles and Camilla renewed acquaintances in 1986. Mannakee had started protecting Diana in 1985. Their affair is said to have begun during a fishing expedition at Balmoral that year. In 1986, he was transferred from his royal role to the Diplomatic Protection Squad. A year later, Mannakee, then 39, was killed in a mysterious road accident. He was reported to have been struck by a 17-year-old driver while riding on a motorbike in East London, leading Diana to suggest he'd been 'bumped off'. Allan Peters claims Charles did not start seeing Camilla romantically again (they had first met in their early 20s) until after he discovered Diana had been having a fling with fellow protection officer Barry Mannakee Speaking in a new CNN documentary, Peters says of Diana: 'I started to notice her behaviour was unusual whenever we were anywhere near Mannakee, so I decided to talk to her about it. 'For the first 20 minutes, she categorically denied it. But then she told me exactly what was going on: she was having some sort of relationship with Mannakee. 'The Prince of Wales approached me and said: 'Why is the Princess behaving in the way she is? What on earth is the matter?' 'So I said: 'You've got to talk to her.' And he said: 'Well, I've tried all that, and the only thing that seems to be upsetting her is that Barry Mannakee is going back to uniform. And, if she's that upset, Barry can stay.' 'At that stage, I was forced to say: 'Well, Sir, if he stays, then I'm afraid I'll have to leave.' And, I think, at that point the penny dropped. He was utterly shocked and was clearly very upset.' Peters adds of the finger-pointing of blame: 'Nobody is the villain. In my view, everyone is the victim. [Charles] was under a lot of pressure to get married and she, too, was the victim of this whole process.' Game of bones! Birthday treat for Emilia's pup She made her name as the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen, in Game Of Thrones, but Emilia Clarke is more concerned with furry creatures in real life. The actress, 35, baked her dachshund, Ted, a very tasty-looking cake to celebrate his second birthday. And she dressed the pampered pooch in a pale blue ruffled collar and party hat (above right) for the celebration. 'Yes, I am now this lady,' jokes Emilia. 'Baking ain't just for humans I mean, look at him.' Emilia, who is currently single, used to go out with film director Charlie McDowell, but now affectionately calls Ted, 'my main squeeze'. She made her name as the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen, in Game Of Thrones, but Emilia Clarke is more concerned with furry creatures in real life The actress, 35, baked her dachshund, Ted, a very tasty-looking cake to celebrate his second birthday BORIS Johnson's wife, Carrie, is often portrayed by her enemies as his Lady Macbeth. So guess which play she and the Prime Minister went to see on Tuesday? The Tragedy Of Macbeth, of course, at London's Almeida Theatre. Heavily pregnant Carrie is currently preoccupied by the 'rewilding' of elephants from Kent to Africa in her role as head of communications for the Aspinall Foundation, so perhaps The Jungle Book will be her next night out. Gemma's got bottle . . . and a crazy rich party bag AS ANY member could tell you, Annabel's has a strict policy of no alcohol being brought in from outside. So Crazy Rich Asians star Gemma Chan raised eyebrows when she turned up for a party at the private Mayfair club carrying what appeared to be a bottle of fizz. 'On closer inspection, it turned out to be a handbag,' a fellow reveller tells me. It was also considerably more expensive than even the finest vintage: the Judith Leiber Champagne Bottle Big Bubbles clutch bag costs 4,650. So Crazy Rich Asians star Gemma Chan raised eyebrows when she turned up for a party at the private Mayfair club carrying what appeared to be a bottle of fizz Chan, 38, who is going out with Mamma Mia! star Dominic Cooper, completed the party look with a green Oscar de la Renta taffeta mini-dress. At least super-fit Gemma will have had a clear head the next day. 'I try to do exercise every morning,' she has explained. 'A combination of yoga and Pilates. It's worth having that ten to 15 minutes to stretch, have a cup of tea and then launch into the day. I find my posture is different and the tension is gone.' BBC star Amol Rajan appears to be spending too much time making dubious royal documentaries and not enough on his day job, presenting Radio 4's Today programme. Yesterday he couldn't remember the name of his esteemed fellow host Martha Kearney when it wasn't included on his autocue. 'You're listening to Today on Radio 4, with . . . ,' he told listeners before the 7.30am news bulletin. '[The autocue] says, 'presenter and presenter' that's you and me.' An unimpressed Kearney interjected: 'I'm called Martha. It's Martha. We've known each other for a while now.' Rajan has been on Today for 24 weeks. But perhaps he is getting forgetful. After all, he didn't even remember to button up his shirt while presenting the BBC's supposed expose The Princes And The Press, about William and Harry's relationship with the media. In fact, the most revealing thing in it was Rajal's chest hair. Tory grandee Sir Graham Brady scoffs at government plans to ban the boiling of lobsters alive and outlaw the sale and importing of foie gras on the grounds of animal cruelty. 'Where does it end?' he wails at the Restaurant Association Gala Dinner at the Dorchester. 'I'm not sympathetic to banning the boiling of lobsters. It's all getting a bit ridiculous.' Brady, who's chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs, adds: 'I don't much like the idea of having to go abroad to eat my favourite foods. And will you be allowed to smuggle foie gras on the Eurostar? For personal use?' Taupe and glory: Kelly paints the town red She's the serious-looking 'queen of taupe' who used to make wannabe entrepreneurs quiver on Dragons' Den, but Kelly Hoppen was all smiles after her encounter with royalty. The interior designer, 62, visited Windsor Castle to collect a CBE from Princess Anne for promoting British creativity, and commerce. She's the serious-looking 'queen of taupe' who used to make wannabe entrepreneurs quiver on Dragons' Den, but Kelly Hoppen was all smiles after her encounter with royalty To celebrate, she held a party at Langan's Brasserie in Mayfair, where she was embraced by funnyman Alan Carr (left with Kelly), who made her roar with laughter. Perhaps he made a joke about her jumpsuit beng not taupe but scarlet. OnlyFans star Mikaela Testa has recalled the harrowing moment she spent 30 hours in a U.S. border force room before being sent back to Australia earlier this week. The 23-year-old took to TikTok on Thursday to share with her fans and followers her account of what happened, claiming she 'was held by the U.S. government for almost two days in a cell'. 'I flew 20 hours from Perth to LA. And as soon as I got there, I was detained,' she explained. 'When I gave them my passport... I was flagged or something because they took me straight to secondary. And I just had that sinking feeling in my stomach like, I'm in trouble. Like, I knew I was in trouble.' The influencer also claimed that while being detained, she had 'no rights' and that the government 'basically own you and everything'. OnlyFans star Mikaela Testa (pictured) has recalled the harrowing moment she spent 30 hours in a U.S. border force room before being sent back to Australia earlier this week 'They can seize your devices forever. They can go through them, they can download anything off your phone, you have no rights,' Mikaela added. She continued, explaining how she was yet to give an officer her mobile phone when they had already begun asking her questions about people she knew who live in Los Angeles. 'They were asking me about their money, what they do on a daily basis, if they do anything illegal,' she added. The 23-year-old took to TikTok on Thursday to share with her fans and followers her account of what happened, claiming she 'was held by the U.S. government for almost two days in a cell' Mikaela then recalled how she was taken to another room that looked 'like a war movie' after officers discovered she had an OnlyFans account 'I understand 100 per cent that this is a process and this is how things work. I was just in this room for hours.' Mikaela then recalled how she was taken to another room that looked 'like a war movie' after officers discovered she had an OnlyFans account. She said through tears that she was sure of being sent back to Australia, but the only thing she could think about 'in that moment' was not being able to see any American boys. 'I was just spiraling I was just crying so hard I had I literally I still have marks in my eyeball from crying so hard from the fact that I'm not going to be able to see American men anymore unless they come to Australia,' she added. Mikaela, who has more than 713,000 followers on Instagram and 2.3million TikTok followers, also claimed that she developed 'Stockholm Syndrome' for one of the Customs and Border Protection interrogators. Mikaela, who has more than 713,000 followers on Instagram and 2.3million TikTok followers, also claimed that she developed 'Stockholm Syndrome' for one of the Customs and Border Protection interrogators 'My CBP officer, the one that was doing my interview was so nice. I literally had Stockholm Syndrome,' she said. 'I cannot stop thinking about this man. I'm in love with him. He was so nice to me.' The brunette said she was ultimately deported back to Australia. Earlier this week, Mikaela shared a series of posts on her Instagram stories revealing her visa was 'revoked' and she spent 30 hours in a border force room before being sent back to Sydney Mikaela shared pictures of her flight and a shot of Sydney from the plane saying she was 'grateful to come back home to a safe country' 'When you're deported back to a country, you're not allowed to go through the airport. They put you into a car that's made out of metal and you get driven on the tarmac to the plane door with police officers,' she said. 'It's a whole thing, everybody knows that you're deported.' Earlier this week, Mikaela shared a series of posts on her Instagram stories revealing her visa was 'revoked' and she spent 30 hours in a border force room before being sent back to Sydney. 'I've just been locked in the U.S. border force room for over 30 hours with no phone and had my visa revoked,' Mikaela said. 'They've just deported me back to Australia and I can't enter the U.S.' Underneath a shot of Sydney, she wrote: 'I'm so grateful to come home to a safe country, some of the girls that were detained with me will not.' She added: 'Some had been there for over three days with no contact to the outside world.' Mikaela reportedly earns more than $162,000 per month selling X-rated images and videos on the adults-only subscription platform OnlyFans. Her racy photos have also resulted in several bans on Instagram and TikTok. Ashley Graham shared outtakes from a business trip to Mexico this week. The 35-year-old mother-of-three - who shares her young sons with husband Justin Ervin - was joined by her friend, musician Anthony Evans. Posting photos in her Stories, the model showed off her curvaceous figure in a blue bikini. Ashley put on a busty display as she and her buddy, who shared the same images on his social media, sat side by side on swings. Anthony, 44, wrote, 'When one of your besties has work in Mexico... You go!' New posts: Ashley Graham showed off her enviable curves in a bikini as she shared outtakes from a business trip to Mexico this week Buddies: The 35-year-old mother-of-three who shares her young sons with husband Justin Ervin was joined by her friend, musician Anthony Evans Evans reposted the snaps from Ashley and commented, 'And this is the definition of our friendship...!' And commenting on the photo of the two smiling at each other in a fun moment, he said, 'The "we're about to bust out laughing" look.' Hours earlier the catwalk star shared her selfie inside a private jet and added a peace sign emoji. She was dressed in a black t-shirt and showed off a full face of flattering makeup as she prepared to take off. Once the Pretty Big Deal podcast host landed, she shared another photo that informed her 20.3 million followers she was in Mexico. The picture showed off a plush, luxurious bed with an ornate black headboard and she geotagged her location. Private jet: Graham shared a selfie on a luxurious private aircraft Luxurious: The supermodel also posted a photo of the extra large bed in her Mexican hotel room On Wednesday Graham, who was raised in Nebraska, kept her fans entertained with a series of photos posted to her Instagram grid. She showed off her fashion prowess in a denim-on-denim look teamed with sparkling, rhinestone-covered mule heels. Her outfit consisted of a collared, long-sleeved, button-up shirt jacket that she buttoned at the top. She left the remaining buttons unfastened, allowing the top to stylishly split open. High-waisted jeans in the same wash as her top rounded out the effortlessly cool presentation. In a series of playful photos, Ashley displayed her physical flexibility as she bent her knee and held her foot up to her ear. The collection of snaps were not captioned, but that didn't stop her fans from engaging in the comments. Ashley sat comfortably on a plush, jewel-toned velvet couch as she posed for several captures. New upload: On Wednesday Graham kept her fans entertained with a series of photos posted to her grid Co-ord: She showed off her fashion prowess in a denim-on-denim look teamed with sparkling, rhinestone-covered mule heels The social media posts come after Ashley revealed last month that she and her husband are done having children. She made the revelation on the podcast Milk Drunk as she discussed raising three children under the age of four. Graham is mom to Isaac, 3, and twins Roman and Malachi, born in January 2022. 'I don't have to be on a pill, thank God,' she raved, before noting that her husband Justin had undergone a vasectomy. Laura Carmichael looked the epitome of chic on Thursday as she attended the press night for Private Lives at the Donmar Warehouse in London. The Downton Abbey star, 36, cut a stylish figure for the event, where she opted for a black floral maxi dress. The gorgeous number featured additional tones of pink, blue and gold and featured a low neck, accentuating the beauty's ample assets. She styled the look with a small silk belt which wrapped around her waist. Lifting her enviable figure, Laura wore a pair of black strappy heels and accessorised with dainty gold earrings. Stylish: Laura Carmichael looked the epitome of chic on Thursday as she attended the press night for Private Lives at the Donmar Warehouse in London She styled her blonde tresses in a straight bob and finished her look with a stunning palette of light make up. Laura is currently playing the role of Sybil in the West End play, which revolves around a divorced couple re-igniting their lost passion for each other - at the hand of their new partners. Noel Cowards dark comedy also stars Stephen Mangan, Rachael Stirling and Sargon Yelda. Posing with her co-stars, the cast appeared in good spirits as they wrapped their arms around each other and beamed for the cameras. It comes after Laura admitted in August that being cast in Downton Abbey 'was a life-changing moment' for her but says she enjoys trying out new roles. The actress, who played the unlucky-in-love Lady Edith Grantham on the period drama, said she is now 'drawn to things that feel different' after starring in modern BBC thriller The Secrets She Keeps. Laura stepped out of her comfort zone and took on a new role in the Australian drama in 2020, with the actress returning for a second series which was released in July. The star told Radio Times: 'It's been such a gift being in Downton. Chic: The Downton Abbey star, 36, cut a stylish figure for the event, where she opted for a black floral maxi dress Beauty: The gorgeous number featured additional tones of pink, blue and gold and featured a low neck, accentuating the beauty's ample assets Details: She styled the look with a small silk belt which wrapped around her waist Full look: Lifting her enviable figure, Laura wore a pair of black strappy heels and accessorised with dainty gold earrings Role: Laura is currently playing the role of Sybil in the West End play, which revolves around a divorced couple re-igniting their lost passion for each other - at the hand of their new partners Cast: Noel Cowards dark comedy also stars Stephen Mangan (middle), Rachael Stirling (third from left) and Sargon Yelda (second from right) 'It's opened so many doors. If another period drama came across my desk if I loved the script, I wouldn't be too nervous of entering that world. 'But at the moment I'm drawn to things that feel different. 'When the Downton audition came up, I couldn't have been more surprised that it was for a proper part I thought I'd have a line or two. 'At the time, I didn't know what it would mean to join a cast like that. Thank God I didn't, or I'd have thrown up immediately! 'It was a life-changing moment. I was starstruck by the cast, and constantly surrounded by brilliant actors. It was such a gift.' Ariana Madix continued her streak of 'revenge' looks on Thursday as she stepped out in Pasadena, California. The 37-year-old Vanderpump Rules personality who split from long-term boyfriend and costar Tom Sandoval this year donned a pair of eye-catching textured tan pants. The fashion-forward star paired it with a striped, cream-colored, woven sweater with bell sleeves. Ariana carried her belongings in a brown leather handbag that she wore crossbody-style over her torso. Her blonde-highlighted hair was parted down the middle and styled straight. Moving forward: Ariana Madix continued her streak of 'revenge' looks on Thursday as she stepped out in Pasadena following her split from Tom Sandoval Ariana stepped out with her face made up with flattering makeup as she headed into a building in the Los Angeles neighborhood. It comes after the beauty made jaws drop as she appeared in a Bloomingdales Instagram clip. She posed on a street with her hand on her hip and her cleavage on full display as she modeled a sexy red dress. She delivered model confidence as she posed for shutterbugs while taxis and cars roared through New York City's 59th 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' it concluded. The post came one day after her cheating ex Tom divulged details about his affair and the downfall of their nine-year romance. Sandoval revealed he and mistress Raquel Leviss, 28, hit the brakes on their sexual relationship, after their months-long affair was exposed in March. Statement pants: The 37-year-old Vanderpump Rules personality donned a pair of eye-catching textured tan pants Accessory: Ariana carried her belongings in a brown leather handbag that she wore crossbody-style over her torso '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 dished. Promo: Ariana dropped in on social media to promote a t-shirt that read 'bad b*****s only' 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 and mistress Raquel Leviss 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 that his 'best years were behind.' Fiery: The star sizzled in a clip shared to the Bloomingdales Instagram showing her rocking a plunging red 'revenge' dress Unfaithful: 'Were not putting any label on it,' Tom recently said of his scandalous relationship with Racquel '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 '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. She recently split from her husband Dave Galafassi. But Toni Collette looked full of joy as she arrived at the Drew Barrymore show in New York on Wednesday, to promote her new film Mafia Mamma. The Australian actress, 50, appeared effortlessly chic in a French-inspired black and white striped T-shirt with long sleeves and ruffle embellishments on the shoulders. Adding to the monochrome look, the Oscar-winner wore skin-tight black jeans which she paired with box fresh Diadora magic basket low suede leather sneakers. Toni accessorised with an eco-friendly blue and pink tote bag, which she slung over her arm while sporting a statement turquoise ring. Toni Collette looked full of joy as she arrived at the Drew Barrymore show in New York on Wednesday to promote her new film, Mafia Mamma The Muriel's Wedding star let her blonde hair flow long and loose while opting for a natural make-up look with a natural foundation, black eyeliner and lick of mascara. The actress is starring in blockbuster Mafia Mamma which recently hit cinemas. The film follows the story of her character, a suburban mother, who unexpectedly inherits her late grandfather's mafia empire in Italy and she finds herself stuck in the middle of a deadly mob war. The Australian actress, 50, appeared effortlessly chic in a French-inspired black and white striped T-shirt with long sleeves and ruffle embellishments on the shoulders Adding to the monochrome look, the Oscar-winner wore skin-tight black jeans which she paired with box fresh Diadora magic basket low suede leather sneakers The 50-year-old actress said it is an 'empowering' movie for women. 'One of the things I loved about that movie I think ultimately it's very empowering,' Toni said on Channel 9's The Today Show this week. 'This woman is downtrodden, overlooked, treated like c**p and then she is side swiped by this invitation to go to Italy and her life completely changes. 'You watch her trajectory as she becomes empowered and comes into a sense of herself.' Toni accessorised with an eco-friendly blue and pink tote bag, which she slung over her arm while sporting a statement turquoise ring The Muriel's Wedding star let her blonde hair flow long and loose while opting for a natural make-up look with a natural foundation, black eyeliner and lick of mascara The star said that the feminist undertone of the film is done in a way that's 'not preachy or dogmatic'. She added: 'It doesn't crack the feminist whip too loudly, it is so much fun and it is in this completely gleeful context.' Toni appeared upbeat and gleeful in the interview, despite previous reports that she was struggling with doing press for her new projects after her marriage breakup. In February, Woman's Day reported that a source said the actress has a long way to go before she can truly move on from the heartbreak. 'She has not recovered from her split and she is not likely to anytime soon,' a longtime friend of the actress told the publication. The source also said Toni is 'devastated' her split has 'become so public', and is struggling to enjoy work commitments. The actress is starring in blockbuster Mafia Mamma which recently hit cinemas The star said that the feminist undertone of the film is done in a way that's 'not preachy or dogmatic' 'Toni's a marvel at how she's able to pull herself together and keep functioning,' the friend said. 'The promotional side of movies is something she usually enjoys, but not when her life is a mess.' The couple got married in 2003 and share two children together, Sage, 14, and Arlo, 11. Dave, who was a drummer in an indie rock band when he met the About a Boy star, confirmed their split in December when he was pictured passionately kissing chiropractor Shannon Egan at Manly Beach in Sydney. In a statement confirming their split, Toni and Dave wrote: 'It is with grace and gratitude that we announce we are divorcing' At the time, Daily Mail Australia contacted Toni's management about the photos, and hours later she announced the couple had split in a joint statement released on her newly reactivated Instagram account. 'It is with grace and gratitude that we announce we are divorcing,' the pair wrote. 'We're united in our decision and part with continuing respect and care for each other. 'Our kids are of paramount importance to us and we will continue to thrive as a family, albeit a different shape. We're thankful for the space and love you grant us as we evolve and move through this transition peacefully. Big thanks.' Bruno Tonioli drew the ire of some viewers of The One Show for appearing to speak over his fellow guest Priyanka Chopra Jonas on Thursday's edition of the program. The Italian choreographer, 67, appeared on the BBC talk show in order to discuss his move over to the judging panel for Britain's Got Talent, and after his segment was complete Priyanka joined to discuss her new Prime Video spy show Citadel and film Love Again. However, during the portion of the show that focused on Priyanka and her projects the former Strictly Come Dancing judge continued to chime in and speak, seeming to talk over the actress, 40, in the process. This angered some viewers and led to a number of them taking to social media to criticise Bruno for his apparent interruptions and seeming to talk over Priyanka. Some people watching the show branded Bruno 'annoying' and even said they wished he would 'shut up' when Priyanka was speaking. 'I wish he'd be quiet!': Bruno Tonioli was branded 'annoying' by The One Show viewers on Thursday as they hit out at BGT judge for appearing to speak over Priyanka Chopra Jonas Pair: Bruno appeared on the talk show to discuss his move to Britain's Got Talent, and after his segment was complete Priyanka joined to discuss her show Citadel and film Love Again Interruptions However, during the portion of the show that focused on Priyanka, Bruno continued to chime in and speak, seeming to speak over the actress in the process One viewer complained: 'Bruno really needs to be quiet, youve had your moment let the woman have her turn' While another person tweeted 'Good god, Bruno is so annoying!!!!', as one viewer blasted: 'Enough now Bruno, youve had your turn STFU' A viewer suggested that The One Show's format could have been changed to give Priyanka more time to speak, saying: 'Much as I like Bruno I wish he'd be quiet. This is Priyankas interview which is short enough. Could've cut out the boring swimming pool bit and given her longer.' One person wrote: 'Bruno acting like an excitable child [unimpressed emoji] @priyankachopra looks so good. I can't wait to watch her new [series]' Another hit out at Bruno for talking when Priyanka's segment was underway: 'Bruno doesnt understand how being a guest on a show. Your bit, you speak, other guests bit, you dont' During his appearance on The One Show, Bruno discussed what it was like to be a judge on BGT. He is replacing David Walliams on the ITV reality show, who left after he made 'disrespectful' comments about contestants from previous series. He is joining Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon on the judges panel. Bruno admitted that he created havoc on the set because he did not realise that the Golden Buzzer, which automatically sends auditionees through to the live finals when pressed, could only be used once Upset: Some people watching the show branded Bruno 'annoying' on social media and even said they wish he would 'shut up' when Priyanka was speaking He said: 'The crazy thing is, I had no idea I was up for the job. I had no idea. Id never watched it! How do I research? I got the job then I was on screen the next week. 'I said, "Well, what are the rules, Simon?", he said, "Theres no rules, darling, you just do your thing". Obviously, I did my thing and you know what I love the golden buzzer. 'Nobody told me that you are supposed to do it only once! I didnt know! I kept asking him (Simon) and hes the boss!' On Tuesday, Bruno revealed he messed up straight away after pressing his golden buzzer too early on the first day. He said: 'I told Simon, I never watched the show before. But I never watch anything I'm in, I never even watched Strictly or Dancing With the Stars. 'I want to feel free to give it my own personal spin, not copy what someone before me has done, if that makes sense. New judge: Bruno s replacing David Walliams on the ITV reality show, who left after he made 'disrespectful' comments about contestants from previous series 'Alesha gave me a brief, but then I forgot everything she told me! I think that was obvious when I pressed my golden buzzer at the wrong time on the first day! 'They were like, "here are the rules, you press it then, not then", but that went out the window, I honestly got caught up in the moment, forgot everything I'd been told and just reacted instinctively.' Bruno starred on Strictly Come Dancing from 2004 until 2019, Anton Du Beke stepped in for him as a judge during the COVID-19 pandemic before replacing him permanently in 2022. Britain's Got Talent returns on Saturday, April 15 at 8pm, and on Sunday April 16 at 7:45pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Hailey Bieber has launched her own YouTube cooking series titled, What's In My Kitchen?, with the first official episode airing earlier Wednesday. The Rhode founder, 26, who recently put on a leggy display during a night out in NYC, shared a scrumptious chicken wing recipe to her viewers to kick off the six-episode first season. In a press release, per The Hollywood Reporter, the supermodel herself explained that the show is a 'natural spin-off' to her other YouTube series, Who's In My Bathroom?, where she also ate yummy treats with her celebrity guests. 'Ive loved cooking and sharing meals with friends on my social channels for years, and I cant wait to bring this experience to the fans of our network with OBB and HexClad,' the businesswoman expressed. The wife of Justin Bieber has collaborated with OBB Media to create the new series, with HexClad sponsoring the project. New series: Hailey Bieber, 26, has launched her own YouTube cooking series titled, What's In My Kitchen?, with the first official episode airing earlier Wednesday on the platform Jumping into the kitchen: In a press release, per The Hollywood Reporter , the supermodel herself explained that the show is a 'natural spin-off' to her other YouTube series, Who's In My Bathroom 'Creating new formats and IP for my channel has been really empowering, as my team and I get to truly create everything from concept to screen, and I cant wait for everybody to see whats next,' Hailey further expressed in a statement. The star started her own YouTube channel a little over two years earlier in March 2021, and his since garnered a whopping 2 million subscribers. The new series will also prioritize giving back to the community, with the model using ingredients supplied by the women-run Village Market Place from the nonprofit organization Community Services Unlimited, according to the outlet. The goal of the nonprofit, 'is to foster the creation of communities actively working to address the inequalities and systemic barriers that make sustainable communities and self-reliant life-styles unattainable,' per the official website. HexClad will also give a donation to the Accion Opportunity Fund, which 'is a financial support system for small businesses that advances racial, gender, and economic justice for all.' The CEO of OBB Media, Michael D. Ratner, who is also the director of What's In My Kitchen?, also explained that viewers will have a huge role in the show itself. 'The fans are just as much a producer as any of us.' 'This instantaneous feedback loop is what makes the evolving landscape of new media so exciting, and we cant wait to roll out the show that fans want.' In the episode that previously aired on Wednesday, Hailey proudly cooked her chicken wing recipe, which she claimed was 'gonna do something for your life.' Bringing the project to life: The wife of Justin Bieber has collaborated with OBB Media to create the new series, with HexClad sponsoring the project Successful channel: The star started her own YouTube channel a little over two years earlier in March 2021, and his since garnered a whopping 2 million subscribers 'Hi you guys!' Bieber exclaimed as she greeted her viewers while personally holding a 'chef cam' that was angled towards her face. 'I'm back with another episode of What's In My Kitchen? presented by HexClad and today I am going to be making wings.' The beauty could be seen standing inside of a bright and airy kitchen that contained sleek, marble countertops and dark gray cabinets. She opted for casual comfort for the cooking segment and slipped into a pair of classic blue jeans along with a long-sleeved, off-gray tank top that flashed her midriff. Her short locks were pulled back and styled into a chic, half ponytail, allowing the remaining strands to fall down behind her. Hailey accessorized her look with a pair of gold-hooped earrings for a flashy touch while her makeup was classically done. She added a light brown, smoky shadow around her eyes, while her lips were plumped with a glossy tint. A warm blush along with a layer of contour was added to better accentuate her cheekbones for a finishing touch. Life-changing meal: In the episode that previously aired on Wednesday, Hailey proudly cooked her chicken wing recipe, which she claimed 'are gonna do something for your life' Stylish comfort: She opted for casual comfort for the cooking segment and slipped into a pair of classic blue jeans along with a long-sleeved, off-gray tank top that flashed her midriff Showing off her skills: Hailey gave instructions and lists of ingredients in case her viewers also wanted to try out the yummy chicken wing recipe She revealed that there was 'no special name' for the chicken wing recipe, but stated that she would show her fans how she had actually 'come up' with the meal. Hailey firstly made a buttermilk marinade which she placed her wings in and let them set in the refrigerator for exactly one hour. After that time had passed, she mixed her dry ingredients together which she would coat her wings with. The star explained that cornstarch was used to add a special crunch to the chicken wings. The media personality went for a more healthy approach when cooking the chicken, and chose to put the wings in an air fryer rather than cooking in greasy oil. While the wings were frying away, Bieber made her own sauce, which consisted simply of Bachan's Japanese barbeque sauce, honey, Sriracha, and also 'a dash' of cayenne pepper for a bit of extra spice and flavor. After mixing the sauce and wings together in a clear bowl, she did a taste test for her fans, with the crew members also diving in to try out the wings themselves. 'I think this is the best version of them that I have ever made,' she gushed as she bit into a wing. 'Not even kidding.' To conclude the 10-minute long video, Hailey listed the ingredients needed for each part of the chicken wing recipe, as well as giving step-by-step instructions to the viewers. Informative: To conclude the 10-minute long video, Hailey listed the ingredients needed for each part of the chicken wing recipe, as well as giving step-by-step instructions to the viewers Spin-off: What's In My Kitchen? is a spin-off of her other YouTube series, Who's In My Bathroom, where the star would bring on other celebrity guests More freedom: 'With the YouTube channel, I get to control whats going out there,' she explained in a past interview with Variety; Hailey seen with Lilly Singh on the series Hailey will showcase other recipes during the first season, such as pizza toast, and an at-home version of her Strawberry Glaze Erewhon smoothie. What's In My Kitchen? is a spin-off of her other YouTube series, Who's In My Bathroom? where the star would bring on other celebrity guests, such as Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Ashley Graham, and Emily Ratajkowski, while also enjoying tasty snacks. The show was launched back in 2021, the same year that her channel also started. During a past interview with Variety, Bieber opened up about jumping into the world of YouTube. 'With the YouTube channel, I get to control whats going out there,' she explained. 'Im comfortable with every single piece of content going out, and that really feels freeing for me because Im not in control of 90% of whats talked about me and said about me and articles written about me.' 'I dont control that and I cant control it, and I think Ive gotten to the point where Ive let that go,' the model further added to the outlet. Hamnet (Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon) Verdict: The healing power of theatre Rating: **** Another week in the theatre, another adaptation of a novel. But Lolita Chakrabarti's deft distillation of Maggie O'Farrell's award-winning Hamnet an imagined exploration of Shakespeare's family over 18 years becomes something new and fresh. Condensed down to just over two hours, it gives a voice to the unheard and unknown women closest to Shakespeare, but also suggests how the playwright's personal life seeped into his plays. In particular, how his savage grief over the death of his son, Hamnet buried a stone's throw away from the recently refurbished Swan Theatre inspired his greatest tragedy, Hamlet. Deft and compelling: Madeleine Mantock as Agnes and Tom Varey as Will in Hamnet Another week in the theatre, another adaptation of a novel. But Lolita Chakrabarti's deft distillation of Maggie O'Farrell's award-winning Hamnet an imagined exploration of Shakespeare's family over 18 years becomes something new and fresh, writes GEORGINA BROWN That comes in the play's more theatrically adventurous second half. For it begins dutifully, though beautifully, sticking faithfully to the novel, albeit imposing a straightforward chronology, starting in 1582. In the Warwickshire countryside, Will (Tom Varey), a 17-year-old stripling teaching Latin to the sons of a local farmer, falls under the spell of their half-sister Agnes, pronounced Ann-yez. This is Anne Hathaway, traditionally known as an illiterate woman who forced her toy-boy Shakespeare up the aisle when she became pregnant, and then was left behind with the children in Stratford when he set off to make his name in London. O'Farrell and now Chakrabarti tells a different story. For Agnes and Will, it's an instant attraction of two sharply contrasting creative spirits. Agnes tells us that she reads with her hands, while Will has a way with words. The relationship is joyously consummated in the apple store. BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE If you missed David Tennant in the West End production of C.P. Taylor's morality tale, set in Germany on the eve of WWII, now's your chance. Tennant plays Professor John Halder a 'good man'...or is he? Sharon Small and Elliot Levey also star in the play, directed by Dominic Cooke. In cinemas from Thursday (April 20). Visit ntlive.com for details. Advertisement This Agnes is a remarkable creation, made more so in Madeleine Mantock's compelling performance. She exudes an earthy radiance. At one with nature, she can make healing tinctures from herbs. More unusual, she has premonitions, senses the unseen and, as an evocative soundscape reveals, she hears the presence of her dead mother in cries above the wind. Their Midlands accents (a touch of The Archers, which is set nearby) make London seem remote. And it's there Will goes, desperate to escape his bullying, drunk (somewhat one-dimensional) father and to expand the family glove business. Which takes him to the playhouses, because actors need gloves. In Erica Whyman's atmospheric production, the various women deal with things indoors with brisk efficiency: childbirth, cooking, tending to the ill and then, in an almost unbearably moving scene, winding the body of 11-year-old Hamnet in preparation for his burial. With his father's sense of the dramatic, Hamnet (excellent Ajani Cabey) decides to 'hoodwink' Death and change places with his dying twin sister Judith (a transfixing Alex Jarrett). Shakespeare the playwright only finally emerges when Chakrabarti moves away from the novel and from the rustic beams in Stratford to Shakespeare's wooden O: the Globe Theatre on Bankside. In snatches from his plays in which twins are mistaken, in the imagery of hands and gloves, in snippets from actors retained and rephrased, and in the first production of Hamlet, when he brings his dead son to life, we glimpse the mind of a magpie . . . and the alchemy of a magician. Peter Pan actor Noah Matthews Matofsky is making history as the first actor with Down syndrome to land a major role in a Disney feature film. The British teenager, 15, stars as Slightly, leader of the Lost Boys, in the new Peter Pan adaptation for Disney+. The actor credited Jude Law - who plays Captain Hook - with giving him one of his best days on set as the A-lister surprised the child actors with ice-cream. Speaking to The Sun, Noah said: 'One of my favourite days was when Jude hired an ice cream van and brought it on set, then served us ice creams himself.' Noah threw himself into the project and particularly enjoyed filming the action scenes, such as one where the pirate ship is overturned. Achievement: Peter Pan actor Noah Matthews Matofsky is making history as the first actor with Down syndrome to land a major role in a Disney feature film Role: The British teenager, 15, stars as Slightly, leader of the Lost Boys, in the new Peter Pan adaptation for Disney+ He said: 'It was an amazing experience, I had my own trailer and made lots of fantastic friends. We all learned sword fighting, which I loved. 'I had lots of lines to learn very quickly, but it was exciting and I really enjoyed it.' Noah, who boasts an encyclopaedic knowledge of film, learned Disney were casting for the film through inclusive talent agency Zebedee. The actor sent in an audition tape and then met with director David Lowery, with Noah's mother Kathryn saying they bonded over a mutual love of Lord of the Flies. Filming meant the family had to be apart, with Noah and Kathryn flying to Vancouver while his father Warren stayed home with sister Lola who was doing her GCSEs. Noah said he hopes to go to drama college and would like to be a role model for other people with Down syndrome who would like to perform. He added the conditon should not hold anyone back, saying people should 'always dream big.' The film is a live-action adaptation of the beloved 1953 Peter Pan animated classic where has been re-interpreted many times over the decades. Filming: The actor credited Jude Law - who plays Captain Hook - with giving him one of his best days on set as the A-lister surprised the child actors with ice-cream Career: Noah, who boasts an encyclopaedic knowledge of film, learned Disney were casting for the film through inclusive talent agency Zebedee The story follows Peter Pan, played by Alexander Molony, who never ages and is always up for fun. He takes his new friend Wendy, played by Ever Anderson - who is the child of actress Milla Jovovich and director Paul WS Anderson - to Neverland to see where kids have fun. That is where Wendy has the adventure of a lifetime as she meets the devilish Lost Boys, the plucky Tinkerbell - played by Yara Shahidi - and stumbles upon beautiful mermaids as well as the captivating Tiger Lily. Jude Law is the latest in a line of actors to take on the role of Captain Hook, who stalks the magical Neverland pursued by the crocodile that ate his severed hand while seeking to avenge his injury on Lost Boy Peter Pan. Classic: The film is a live-action adaptation of the beloved 1953 Peter Pan animated classic where has been re-interpreted many times over the decades Previous incarnations of Hook have been played by the likes of Dustin Hoffman and Jason Isaacs. The decision to do a live-action version of the Peter Pan story came following the success of live-action versions of other Disney animated classics such as The Jungle Book, Aladdin and The Lion King. Peter Pan & Wendy - which is coming out during Disney's 100 year anniversary - will stream April 28 on Disney+. Dame Joanna Lumley will be taking an important role in the coronation of King Charles III in May. On Thursday it was confirmed that Joanna will be joining Sky News for its coverage of the festivities surrounding the King and Queen Consort Camillas dual coronation. The Absolutely Fabulous actress, 76, previously provided commentary for Sky News for the Queens Jubilee last year, and she will be attending the service at Westminster Abbey as a guest of Charles and Camilla. Dame Joanna will then be joining the broadcasters coronation line-up, which includes royal events commentator Alastair Bruce and presenters Kay Burley and Anna Botting. John Ryley, head of Sky News, said in a statement: 'Whether unifying or polarising, the spectacle of the Kings coronation is guaranteed to capture the worlds attention. Great gig: Dame Joanna Lumley will be a guest anchor for Sky News' coverage of King Charles III's coronation in May, it was announced on Thursday 'With the ceremonial events never seen in this great a clarity, Sky News will offer audiences the highest quality Ultra HD coverage with the best royal commentator in Alastair Bruce. 'Hell take viewers through this historical moment with his unmatched knowledge and skill to get the tone just right.' The BBC has also already announced Kirsty Young, Huw Edwards and Clare Balding among its presenters providing coverage of the coronation on Saturday May 6. More than 2,000 people will gather at Westminster Abbey on May 6 to watch King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla's coronation, 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 Ferguson - 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. Honour: The Absolutely Fabulous actress, 76, will be attending the service at Westminster Abbey as a guest of Charles and Camilla before joining the broadcasters coronation line-up 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. 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. 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. Strictly Come Dancing has been thrown into chaos as the show's professional dancers have now slammed the judges for demanding a huge pay rise. Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke are allegedly looking to receive an 11 per cent salary rise ahead of the BBC dance competition show's new season. Head judge Shirley is reportedly already earning 500,000, Motsi and Craig rake in 200,000, while Anton is believed to be on 180,000. But despite training for long hours, the dancers - who include Giovanni Pernice, Dianne Buswell and Johannes Radebe - are paid flat fees of around 35,000 for their work on the programme. The dancers have now apparently taken to their group chat on WhatsApp in the wake of the news to slam the judges and are also considering asking for a pay rise. 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 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 An insider told The Sun: 'The pros are seething. They work their a***s off for three months of the year, while the judges swan in on a Saturday, watch some nice dancing and air their thoughts. 'A few of the dancers mooted the idea of staging their own protest. 'But they are well aware there's a cost of living crisis and they all love and are appreciative of their jobs.' BBC bosses are also 'incandescent with anger' after the demand for a salary increase. 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. 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. Moneybags: The requested rise would see head judge Ms Ballas, who currently earns 500,000 for her three month stint , earning a staggering 15,960 per hour on the show '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. 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 '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.' 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. But despite previously threatening to quit, Shirley has been in talks with bosses over a potential return to Strictly, revealing on the Jonathan Ross show on Sunday that 'their people are talking to my people'. Shirley joined the judging panel as head judge in 2017, following the departure of Len Goodman. The 'Queen of Latin' has reportedly been offered a raise in line with her fellow judges Craig, Motsi and Anton. 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 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 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. Renfield (15, 93 mins) Verdict: Cage at his cagiest Rating: Every now and then an actor slips into a role and it feels less like the work of a casting director and more like something ordained by the cinema gods. Al Pacino as Michael Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 masterpiece The Godfather is a good example. And now we have Nicolas Cage, Coppola's nephew as it happens, as Count Dracula in the extremely gory comedy-horror film Renfield. To say that Cage sinks his teeth into the part would be an understatement. He consumes it completely, just as it consumes him. Heroically unsubtle: Nicolas Cage as the narcissist Dracula and Nicholas Hoult (left) as Renfield To say that Cage sinks his teeth into the part would be an understatement. He consumes it completely, just as it consumes him, writes BRIAN VINER Cage has built a fine career out of over-acting, and has generally had the nous to choose characters that fit his heroically unsubtle style. That was never truer than it is of Dracula. Apparently, Cage even agreed to have his teeth shaved down so that his alarming set of vampire dentures would fit properly. It is an extravagantly full-blooded performance in every sense, a camply sinister hoot, and on its own worth the price of admission. The lead character, however, is Nicholas Hoult's eponymous manservant, Robert Montagu Renfield, whose duty, when he and the Count fetch up in modern-day New Orleans, is to provide his forbidding master with enough human blood to restore his dwindling strength. Hoult is excellent too, seemingly channelling Hugh Grant (his co-star in 2002's About A Boy, when he was just 12) as Renfield goes about his business with a very English diffidence. He's still a killer, though, who derives his superhuman strength from eating bugs, a forced comedic flourish that the story simply doesn't need. Much funnier is his determination to break free from his 'destructive relationship' with Dracula, to which end he attends a therapy group for people with controlling partners. Nobody knows quite what he has to contend with in the creepy abandoned hospital where he and Dracula have set up home, but the group leader listens to his laments and reassures him that he is clearly a victim of classic narcissistic behaviour. Later, there's a priceless moment when, instead of a crucifix or a bulb of garlic, he brandishes towards the Count a copy of a self-help book, How To Defend Yourself Against A Narcissist. The idea of Renfield and his blood-sucking Transylvanian master confronting a very 21st-century set of sensibilities, with relationship counselling and compassion-sharing meetings around every corner, is a brilliant one. It could make that should have sustained this blessedly concise film on its own. Unfortunately, director Chris McKay and writer Ryan Ridley don't stop there. Perhaps to distance their picture from other vampire comedies, such as the inspired 2014 'mockumentary' What We Do In The Shadows, they play the Batman card and give us a city sodden with crime, ruled by a family of mobsters who have the police and judiciary in their pocket. This at least gives us the always-watchable Awkwafina as Quincy, the one cop with integrity in a cesspool of corruption, who develops an entirely mutual crush on Renfield after he saves her neck in a violent shootout. But it undermines the film's originality, making it look like 100 other superhero movies and over-the-top crime thrillers. That's a great shame, because Cage's Dracula deserves a bite at screen immortality, and Renfield isn't likely to provide it. Assassin Club 15, 111 mins) Verdict: Deadly Rating: On the other hand, Renfield is a thousand times more original than the desperately corny and derivative Assassin Club. It stars Henry Golding as Morgan, a former Royal Marine reinvented as the world's greatest hitman, with Sam Neill as that obligatory character in films like this, the urbane but unethical controller, sending him instructions through the ever-present earpiece that no hectic gun battle or chase down a stairwell ever seems to shake from his lughole. When Morgan finds that he and a bunch of other leading international assassins have all been given contracts to terminate each other, and must mail a severed finger to an address in Paris to prove they have carried out the kill, he takes it in his considerable stride. Travels with my gun: Henry Golding Of slightly more concern to him is the danger all this poses to his fragrant Italian girlfriend (Daniela Melchior), who, just to ramp up her sweet innocence, is a primary school teacher. Naturally, the assassins all favour different methods of killing. They are just like the Magnificent Seven, by which I don't mean Sleepy, Dopey, Happy, Sneezy and co, even though this film is cartoonishly bad. The most dangerous of them is called Falk and played by Noomi Rapace, who (like Sam Neill) really ought to know better. As for Golding, even as his film career builds he is still, as far as I'm aware, a co-presenter on the BBC's The Travel Show. Maybe that's why he agreed to appear in this dross, which might look like the worst-ever audition for James Bond but, if nothing else, whisks us on a whistlestop tour of those European cities among them London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon and Ljubljana where hitmen might conceivably leap out of fourth-floor windows onto the tops of parked cars. CLASSIC FILM ON TV Cocoon (1985) Don Ameche won an Oscar for his lovely performance in Ron Howard's sentimental sci-fi charmer about old folks (and aliens) in Florida. C5, Sunday, 11.55am Too in love with Mr Ripley's talented, but flawed, creator There is a reason why most film adaptations of Patricia Highsmith's books (consider Strangers On A Train, The Talented Mr Ripley and Carol) have been so good. It's partly because they have ended up in the hands of first-class directors, but also because her stories are fundamentally cinematic. In the hands of Alfred Hitchcock, the brilliant premise behind Strangers On A Train (two men agreeing to swap murders so neither would be a suspect) was certain to lead to something memorable, and so it proved. Clips of that 1951 thriller, and of Anthony Minghella's The Talented Mr Ripley (1999), adorn Eva Vitija's adoring documentary Loving Highsmith (12, 83 mins, ). The film's title is significant in two ways. Fascinatingly, Vitija interviews several of Highsmith's female lovers, and the fact that one is French and one German, and that she kept journals in both languages, shows how extraordinarily well-travelled she was for a woman born in Texas in 1921. But that title also reflects the nature of the film itself. It is too much in love with its subject to give us a full understanding of what made her tick. The intensity of her odious anti-Semitism, for instance, is dismissed in a single blithe reference to her 'rants' in later years against Jews, Arabs and blacks. Yet an excellent recent biography revealed her frequent grumbles that Hitler had not gone far enough. A better documentary would have addressed that. Mia Hansen-Love's One Fine Morning (15, 112 mins, ) is a thoughtful Frenchlanguage drama about a young widow (Lea Seydoux) whose life is a juggle between caring for her dementia-stricken father, parenting her only daughter and striking up a love affair with an old friend, now married. It couldn't be anything but French, which rather makes me wonder whether the French ever watch a film and think it 'typically English'. Carry On Up The Khyber, perhaps? The seventh anniversary of the romance between Kim Cattrall and Russell Thomas is fast approaching. With just days left until their relationship milestone, the couple spent part of their Friday together taking care of some errands, which included the occasional public display of affection. While out and about on another summer-like afternoon with the temperature in the high 80s Fahrenheit, they would each sneak in a sweet touch or look while on the go along the bustling streets. Always one to have a keen eye on her fashion choices, no matter the situation or event, the former Sex And The City star stepped out in white pants and a light brown blouse, which she left the top three buttons undone. To go along with her plunging neckline, the actress also wore a wide black belt over her shirt that hung several inches past her waistline, in a move to showcase her fab figure. TCB before anniversary: Kim Cattrall and longtime partner Russell Thomas spent part of their Friday afternoon on an errand run together, which comes just over a week before they celebrate their seventh anniversary as a couple By opting for a high-water design with her pants, Cattrall was able to show off her sock-less look in a pair of classic brown penny loafers. Rounding out her overall ensemble, the fashionista carried a large white purse over her right shoulder, donned light-lens sunglasses, and had her blonde locks styled long and back off her face with a part in the middle. After having first met in 2016, the couple will be celebrating their seventh anniversary on April 22. Last year, they took to her social media platforms and toasted each other with a glass of wine: 'Celebrating 6 years,' she gushed in the caption. During an interview with People in 2020, Cattrall opened up about how Thomas was able to win her over after just a few dates. 'We kind of liked each other, we kept in touch and then he came out to Vancouver," she said of their initial romantic spark. Cattrall added, 'It was very brave of him because we didn't really know each other, other than having a few meals together. But he came and we got along great, and we've been together ever since!' For the most part Cattrall tries to keep her personal life out of the media, but on occasion she does give her 1.375 million combined Instagram and Twitter fans and followers a glimpse of the romance with a photo of short video. Stylin': Cattrall, 66, stepped out for their afternoon excursion in white pants, a light brown blouse, which she left the top three buttons undone, classic brown penny loafers and a wide belt to help accentuate her fab figure Going strong: The couple, who first met in 2016, will be celebrating their seventh anniversary on April 22 Cheers! Last year, Cattrall and Thomas marked their 6 year anniversary in an Instagram post where they toasted each other with a glass of wine Their romance history: During an interview with People in 2020, Cattrall opened up about how Thomas was able to win her over after just a few dates Cattrall was born in Liverpool, England, but her family ended up immigrating to Canada, where she was raised in Courtenay, British Columbia, which is on the east coast of Vancouver Island. She would make the big decision to move to New York City when she was just 16 for her first acting role. 'A Liverpool born, Canadian bred New Yorker,' is how she describes herself at the top of her Instagram bio. Cattrall has previously been married three times. But when it comes to Thomas, who who hails from Kent, England, she confessed to People that it's 'just so easy' being with him. While the actress has played a wide variety of roles during her career, gaining prominence in the 1980s with films like Ticket to Heaven (1981), Police Academy (1984), Mannequin (1987), Masquerade (1988) and , Midnight Crossing (1988), she saw her star soar as the sex-enthusiast Samantha Jones in Sex And The City (1998-2004). While Cattrall appeared in the two Sex And The City (2008, 2010) feature films, she did not appear in the recent 2021 series reboot, And Just Like That..., due to disagreements with the storyline. Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial (Ambassadors Theatre, London) Verdict: Court drama with added sniggers Rating: **** Squatting next to the home of Agatha Christie's hoary old crime caper, this rival proudly bills itself as 'The Scousetrap'. Every baffling twist and expletive from last year's smash hit Rebekah Vardy libel trial is recreated ('Witless For The Prosecution', would have been my slogan). Liv Hennessy has skilfully adapted the court transcripts down to their bitchiest; and director Lisa Spirling unfurls the result like the snappiest reality TV. You'll recall the plot. Alpha-WAG Coleen outs upstart Vardy as the source of leaks from her personal Instagram account to The Sun, following an almost unbelievable ruse involving fake posts. But Vardy sues. WAGs at war: Lucy May Barker as Vardy and (right) Laura Dos Santos as Rooney Liv Hennessy has skilfully adapted the court transcripts down to their bitchiest; and director Lisa Spirling unfurls the result like the snappiest reality TV It's hardly The Comedy Of Errors although judging by the remarkably young crowd the night I went, Bard-botherers could maybe do with some selfies as a plot device, instead of yet another blasted shipwreck. We meet in the trashiest looking High Court for this verbatim rehash. On a white-striped lawn with clear plastic chairs, a pair of commentators (Halema Hussain and Nathan McMullen) nicely dribble us through the action, nodding 'Yes, Jeff' to one another. The two angry women at the centre are great fun. Lucy May Barker as Vardy, proudly tottering through the scene all poise and no clue is a comedic visual marvel. Her voice crashes from chastised, defiant politeness in the dock, to honking Botox-straining fury in dramatised WhatsApps. Laura Dos Santos makes a fine Coleen, but her playful Merseyside accent does a lot of the work. It being word-for-word text, you hardly get Lady Macbeth's 'un-sex me here', but she makes a strop over new pyjamas seem vital. The first sight of our Merseyside Poirot puffer coat on, leopard skin notepad in hand had the house suppressing sniggers. I could have done with some more fictional shenanigans beyond the court. The characters are almost held back by the truth. Act Two sags a little, despite the arrival of Our Wayne (McMullen again, this time with a voice like a Beatle on helium). To Kill A Mockingbird's place on the curriculum is safe. But come for solid titters in the promised '90 minutes play plus injury time'. The Dry House (Marylebone Theatre, London) Verdict: Bleak beauty Rating: **** Eugene O'Hare's new play, starring Kathy Kiera Clarke (ditzy Aunt Sarah from Derry Girls), is as bleak and beautiful a work as you might care to imagine. Its subject is extreme alcoholism in a Northern Irish border town, but actually it's about love, fear and bereavement. Only written last year, it feels like it's been around forever and has lyricism to match Brian Friel. But don't let that kid you into thinking you're in for an easy ride. Our heroine Chrissy (Mairead McKinley) is an end-stage boozer, long since barred from the last-chance saloon. We find her entombed in a small, sticky mess of a home. Behind closed curtains we're greeted by a soiled sofa, heaps of clothes and a complementary scattering of empty bottles and buckled cans. Our heroine Chrissy (Mairead McKinley) is an end-stage boozer, long since barred from the last-chance saloon. We find her entombed in a small, sticky mess of a home O'Hare's brilliance as a writer is to hold fast to the characters' rugged brogue. 'God must've been hanging the day he made you,' curses Chrissy at one point Into this despair walks her sister Claire (Clarke), hoping to hold Chrissy to her promise of getting to a clinic. The boozing, of course, masks deep pain. Chrissy has lost her daughter Heather her chatty ghost is played by a cherubic Carla Langley. While alive, she too had her problems which are perhaps overblown and intended to stop the play getting sentimental. O'Hare's brilliance as a writer is to hold fast to the characters' rugged brogue. 'God must've been hanging the day he made you,' curses Chrissy at one point. But later she recalls a memory of her childhood that 'dissolves like Solpadeine in a glass of gin'. Writing like this is itself deliciously hard liquor for an actor. McKinley's Chrissy relishes every line like a shot of tequila. Clarke's character has secrets of her own, but she is foremost tough, tenacious and tender in caring for her sister. Both are bound together in love for Langley's lost daughter, who illuminates the stage like an angel of mercy. With a very grim sexual encounter and talk of suicide, it's enough to make you take the pledge, as they say in Ireland. My pledge, though, is to be sure and see O'Hare's next one. Mark Wahlberg returned home to Massachusetts earlier this week, stopping by his first ever job - a Quincy, Mass Stop and Shop - where he made just $3.65 an hour decades before amassing his reported $400 million fortune. The 51-year-old actor - who recently opened up about his decision to move his family from Los Angeles to Las Vegas - shared video of the visit to his 22 million Instagram followers on Tuesday. 'Where it all started - my first job!' Wahlberg said in the caption of his post, tagging Stop and Shop, his Flecha Azul Tequila brand, his Performance Inspired Nutrition brand, his Municipal sport performance brand and Wahlburgers at Home, his family's brand of premium meats. 'All right. Right here, is where the whole hustle started,' Wahlberg began in the video, clad in a pink and black camo hoodie, black jeans and white sneakers. '1988 I was working at this Stop and Shop on Newport Ave. in Quincy, but it was over there, they moved the store,' Wahlberg explained. Marky goes home: Mark Wahlberg returned home to Massachusetts earlier this week, stopping by his first ever job - a Quincy, Mass Stop and Shop - where he made just $3.65 an hour decades before amassing his reported $400 million fortune Video: The 51-year-old actor - who recently opened up about his decision to move his family from Los Angeles to Las Vegas - shared video of the visit to his 22 million Instagram followers on Tuesday 'I was bagging groceries, $3.65 an hour while I was right up the street, getting my driver's ed,' the actor continued. 'Same day I turned 17, I got my drivers license, I bought a Pontiac LeMans s**t box for $200 from Lappen's Auto Parts,' he added. 'We're gonna see if I can get my job back. Hey Paxton, ask Jeff, your dad, if I can get my job back,' adding that they need Flecha Azul and PI in the store, 'all the best products for all the cool Stop and Shop customers. Remember, it started right here at Stop and Shop,' Wahlberg said before going into the store. He starts bagging customers' groceries inside the store, saying he was 'getting my job back.' Wahlberg is seen interacting with several customers and giving hugs to several employees, one of whom says, 'putting some serious good in the world, this young man.' He takes selfies with a number of different employees and customers who are thrilled to see the superstar. The actor shared another video from the store, where he's telling the employees they need to get his Flecha Azul Tequila and Performance Inspired Nutrition products. One product of his the store does carry is the Wahlburgers at Home brand of burger patties. First job: 'I was bagging groceries, $3.65 an hour while I was right up the street, getting my driver's ed,' the actor continued Car: 'Same day I turned 17, I got my drivers license, I bought a Pontiac LeMans s**t box for $200 from Lappen's Auto Parts,' he added Selfies: Wahlberg is seen interacting with several customers and giving hugs to several employees, one of whom says, 'putting some serious good in the world, this young man' He held up one of the Wahlburgers packages before seemingly talking directly to his brother, Paul Wahlberg, who owns the Wahlburgers brand with Mark and their brother Donnie Wahlberg. 'Paul Wahl, I told you, we need the Wahlburgers at home. You didn't listen at first but now you understand why. People should have their Wahlburgers when and where they want, it's pretty amazing,' he added. The actor also stopped by another local supermarket called Shaw's, which his mother called, 'Star Market,' where they also carried Wahlburgers meats. He posed for photos with employees, sharing that employees when he was growing up, 'took care of my mom every single day.' 'She felt like she was the most important person in the world when she walked into Star Market because they gave her that love back,' he shared. The actor also recently opened up about moving his kids Ella, 19, Grace, 13, Michael, 17, and Brendan, 14 with wife Rhea Durham, 44, to Las Vegas. 'It's really giving the kids a chance to thrive. It just has the best of both worlds. I know a lot of people, when they think Las Vegas, they think the Strip,' Wahlberg said. 'But just about 15, 20 minutes away, there's a whole lot of other amazing areas that are all about family and community,' he added. Market: The actor also stopped by another local supermarket called Shaw's, which his mother called, 'Star Market,' where they also carried Wahlburgers meats Kerry Washington sent 'love and prayers' to her 'movie huzbin' Jamie Foxx on Thursday, wishing the actor a speedy recovery after he was rushed to the hospital earlier this week. Foxx, 55, suffered a 'medical complication' on Tuesday and is reportedly on the mend after his family released an update via social media on Wednesday. Taking to Instagram herself, Washington, 46, captioned a sweet photo of her cuddling up to the Oscar Winner, writing: 'A @iamjamiefoxx appreciation post. Sending you all the love and prayers my movie huzbin.' Red hearts and prayer hand emojis filled Kerry's post as the Emmy-winning star referenced her two roles alongside Foxx. The pair first played husband and wife in the 2004 Ray Charles biopic, Ray, and again in 2012 when Kerry took on the role of Jamie's enslaved wife Broomhilda in Quentin Tarantino's epic Western, Django Unchained. Sending her support: Kerry Washington, 46, sent 'love and prayers' to her 'movie huzbin' Jamie Foxx on Thursday, wishing the actor a speedy recovery after he was rushed to the hospital earlier this week Powerful pair: The pair first played husband and wife in the 2004 Ray Charles biopic, Ray, and again in 2012 when Kerry took on the role of Jamie's enslaved wife Broomhilda in Quentin Tarantino's epic Western, Django Unchained (pictured) And Washington wasn't the only leading lady in Hollywood to send Jamie well-wishes. Fellow Oscar winner Viola Davis, 57, posted a moving message of support to the Ray star on Instagram. Captioning a picture of them together, Davis wrote: 'Get well @iamjamiefoxx. We need you... your light, your brilliance.' Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Garcelle Beauvais, 56, also penned a sweet appreciation post for Foxx, writing: 'This an appreciation post for my friend @iamjamiefoxx. J I love you so much !!! I want & need you to get better soon. Sending you light love and prayers The outpouring of love for Foxx comes after his family released a statement that characterized the star's mysterious health incident as a 'medical complication.' But a source described the issue to TMZ in more serious terms, calling it a 'medical emergency,' though they said Foxx was now 'communicating' again. In their statement, Foxx's family also revealed that the A-lister was 'on his way to recovery.' DailyMail.com reached out to representatives for Foxx, who have not yet responded. Posted by Jamie's daughter Corinne Foxx, 29, the family's statement read: 'We wanted to share that, my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday [Tuesday]. 'Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time.' Get well soon: Washington wasn't the only leading lady in Hollywood to send Jamie well-wishes. Fellow Oscar winner Viola Davis, 57, posted a moving message of support to the Ray star on Instagram Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Garcelle Beauvais, 56, also penned a sweet appreciation post for Foxx. The pair co-starred in his sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show from 1996 to 2001 His road to recovery: Foxx, 55, suffered a 'medical complication' on Tuesday and is reportedly on the mend after his family released an update via social media on Wednesday Conflicting severity: The outpouring of love for Foxx comes after his family released a statement that characterized the star's mysterious health incident as a 'medical complication.' But a source described the issue to TMZ in more serious terms, calling it a 'medical emergency' Cursed co-stars? Foxx has been in Atlanta, Georgia shooting the Netflix action-comedy Back in Action with Cameron Diaz, 50, but the production has reportedly spiraled into a full-blown nightmare; the A-listers pictured in 2014 Sources confirmed to TMZ that Foxx's unnamed condition was indeed serious enough to require him to go to a hospital. Few details have been shared, and it's unclear what symptoms the Oscar winner may have been suffering from, or what led to him being taken to the hospital. Despite his family's statement that his condition is improving, there's no word yet on when he will be able to leave the hospital or get back to filming. Foxx has been in Atlanta, Georgia shooting the Netflix action-comedy Back in Action with Cameron Diaz, but the production has reportedly spiraled into a full-blown nightmare. He was bitten by a snake during a bush tucker trial on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia this week. And now Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins has revealed it's not the first time he has been viciously attacked by an animal. The Bachelor star, 35, is a self-confessed thrill seeker and told his camp mate Woody Whitelaw on Wednesday night's show about the multiple times that he has come close to death. One of his most frightening accidents was when he was in the Northern Territory and came upon two bulls that appeared to be tied up to trees. 'I was penetrated by a bull,' he said. 'I was walking through and I looked at that one (on the right), I kept an eye on him, and then I got about halfway through and I just heard the hooves. Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins has revealed that he had a scary near death experience Nick was was bitten by a snake during a bush tucker trial on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia this week 'I got two steps in and then I heard the popping sound as the (horns) went through (my side), and it just missed my kidney. 'It went through obviously the fat, the muscle, and then the side of the kidney. The doctor, when I got airlifted or choppered in, they said, "That was lucky".' Nick said out of all his close experiences with death that his accident with the bull was 'a hair raiser'. This came after the contestant was bit by a snake during a brutal bush tucker trial, and despite his initial shock he was thankfully okay. Nick said out of all his close experiences with death that his accident with the bull was 'a hair raiser' The Bachelor star, 35, is a self-named thrill seeker and told his camp mate Woody Whitelaw (pictured) on Wednesday night's show about the multiple times that he has come close to death Fans were left shocked by the incident, with one commenting: 'OMG! Thats fierce!!! I hope he's ok.' 'Why isn't anyone stepping in?' another shocked viewer said. This isn't the first time a celebrity has been bitten by a snake on the show. During the 2021 season, Bachelor reject Abbie Chatfield fell to the ground in tears and screamed as the snake wrapped its jaw around her hand. Dr. Chris Brown has won a two-year legal battle over the use of the word 'Drool' in dog food. The TV vet, who is currently in South Africa hosting I'm A Celeb Get Me Out of Here!, launched the legal case against rival pet food brand Vetalogica in 2021 after they tried to trademark their product under the name 'Droolies'. Dr. Chris, 44, argued it was too similar to his brand 'Drool by Dr. Chris Brown', which sells dog food, treats, wash and ear de-gunker. The Australian Trade Marks Office found that the use of 'Droolies 'would lead to 'striking similarities between the respective trade marks' that could result in public confusion. Dr. Chris Brown has won a two-year legal battle over the use of the word 'Drool' in dog food Public documents show that the office believes Dr. Chris had 'a very significant and well-established following of Australian consumers'. 'Overall I consider that, given the reputation acquired by (Dr. Brown's) trade mark, a significant number of consumers would at the very least experience a reasonable doubt as to the existence of some sort of connection between (Drool) and (Droolies) if it were used on the pet food goods specified in the application,' the office wrote. The popularity of Dr Chris's treats, and the number of hits on his website were also points in the Bondi-based vet's favour. Dr. Chris argued that his brand, established in 2019, had a reputation in Australia, but Vetalogica's trademark Droolies was accepted in 2021. The TV vet, who is currently in South Africa hosting I'm A Celeb Get Me Out of Here!, launched the legal case against rival pet food brand Vetalogica in 2021 after they tried to trademark their product under the name 'Droolies' Public documents show that the office believes Dr. Chris had 'a very significant and well-established following of Australian consumers' Dr. Chris opposed the registration soon after, leading to the lengthy battle. In February, Chris, who found fame as the Bondi Vet, quit Channel 10 after 15 years, becoming the latest high-profile star to jump ship at the struggling network. He signed a deal with Seven and will officially join in July to produce 'new projects' for Channel Seven and 7Plus. Chris first joined Ten in 2008 to host Bondi Vet, which became a surprise ratings hit and was syndicated around the world. The factual series was based on his real-life experience as a vet at the Bondi Junction Veterinary Hospital in Sydney's east. He went on to become a part-time panelist on The Project and also co-hosted I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and The Living Room, which was axed last year. The 21-year-old actress said she was 'trying to starve' herself after reading nasty comments about herself online She said she would read hurtful YouTube comments comparing her to her TV mom Eva Longoria Madison De La Garza said that weight shaming comments she received online led her to an eating disorder at the age of seven. The 21-year-old actress, appearing Tuesday on the Heart of the Matter podcast, said she was 'trying to starve' herself at the young age after reading nasty comments about herself online. 'It was just shocking,' De La Garza, who played Juanita Solis on Desperate Housewives, said of the 'reactions' to her character on the ABC series, which starred Eva Longoria, Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross and Felicity Huffman. De La Garza, who is the half-sister of Demi Lovato, noted that the method many of her critics tried to frame their hurtful remarks. 'A lot of people came at it in a way that they were "concerned for my health,"' she said. 'And I personally believe that that's just not true, that that was a cover-up so that they could just judge a six-year-old.' The latest: Madison De La Garza, 21, said that weight shaming comments she received online led her to an eating disorder at the age of seven. Pictured in an Instagram post last month De La Garza said that 'was never allowed to be on a computer unsupervised at that age,' but would look at comments left on YouTube clips and TMZ stories for 'hours and hours.' The actress, who appeared on 72 episode of the dramatic comedy from 2008-2012, added, 'I would just spend a crazy amount of time reading through these comments, and most all of them were just atrocious. 'They said things like they wanted me to die because of what I looked like. It was just horrible. And this was when I was seven, eight years old.' De La Garza opened up on the impact the remarks had on her growing up. 'Reading comments like that definitely affected my mental health and ultimately played into me developing an eating disorder at a very young age,' she said. De La Garza's character Juanita was the adopted daughter of Longoria's character Gabrielle Solis, which she said led many commenters to compare the two. 'The whole joke of my character was that Eva was this thin, beautiful model and her daughter turned out to be quite the opposite,' De La Garza said. 'And so, I think she was very aware that this was going to affect me.' De La Garza said that Longoria was a comforting presence amid the turbulent time. 'We never explicitly talked about it, but [Longoria] definitely went out of her way to make me feel like I was pretty and like I was special, and she made me feel like I was family,' she said. 'And if I ever did want to go to her with these things, I absolutely could have.' People who are battling eating disorders can contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) at 1-800-931-2237. De La Garza's character Juanita was the adopted daughter of Eva Longoria's character Gabrielle Solis, which she said led many commenters to compare the two De La Garza said of the reactions she read on YouTube at a young age, 'It was just shocking' Olivia Molly Rogers recently went Instagram official with new boyfriend Morgan Waterhouse. And it appears the new couple are truly loved up, with them sharing a steamy kiss on a hotel balcony in Sydney on Friday. Looking set for a truly relaxing weekend, Olivia opted for a fluffy hotel-style white bathrobe while Morgan showed off his washboard abs as he wrapped just a white towel around his waist. As the pair sipped on coffee from espresso mugs, Morgan cheekily put his hand on Olivia's buttocks before the pair shared a kiss. Showing off her natural beauty, Olivia ditched her usual glamorous make-up for a natural look. Olivia Molly Rogers and her new boyfriend Morgan Waterhouse put on a loved up display on Friday The couple appear truly loved up, with them sharing a steamy kiss on a hotel balcony in Sydney on Friday She slicked her hair back into a slick bun for the lowkey look. Meanwhile, Morgan showed off his chiselled jaw as he pushed back his hair and looked out at the view. It comes after Olivia, who divorced husband Justin McKeone last year, went Instagram official with Morgan. Looking set for a truly relaxing weekend, Olivia opted for a fluffy hotel-style white bathrobe while Morgan showed off his washboard abs as he wrapped just a white towel around his waist Showing off her natural beauty, Olivia ditched her usual glamorous make-up for a natural look The former Miss Universe Australia took to the social media platform on Monday evening, sharing a gallery of images of the loved-up duo just days after dismissing rumours the pair were an item. In one image, Olivia is seen beaming from ear to ear as she leans in for a cuddle with her genetically blessed beau. In another, Olivia appears to be having the time of her life on a night out on the town with Morgan, as they both cradle what appear to be cocktails. She slicked her hair back into a slick bun for the lowkey look. Meanwhile, Morgan showed off his chiselled jaw as he pushed back his hair and looked out at the view The pair were in their own world as they appeared loved up on the hotel balcony in Sydney In a third image, the new lovebirds are seen posing in an audience. Olivia and Morgan were first linked together when they posted identical photos of the view from Rogers' apartment. They also recently enjoyed a holiday together in Paris for Fashion Week. Earlier this month, Olivia told the Herald Sun that she met Morgan through her best friend and stylist Paul Versace. Earlier this month, Olivia told the Herald Sun that she met Morgan through her best friend and stylist Paul Versace. The pair are seen kissing on Friday The couple were truly in holiday mode as they relaxed on the balcony Olivia went onto her tiptoes as she embraced her new beau Olivia confirmed her split from husband Justin after just eight months of marriage in October last year. Break-up rumours began swirling in September after fans noticed she'd reverted to her maiden name on Instagram and unpinned all photos from her February 2022 wedding. The former couple, who met in 2018, were last pictured together in August 2022 in a series of loved-up holiday snaps from their trip to New York City. Morgan wasn't afraid to show off his washboard abs as he stepped out on the balcony in just a towel Olivia addressed her break-up in an Instagram post on October 3. 'After 4.5 years together, Justin and I have come to the difficult decision to separate as a couple,' she wrote. 'I do not wish to make any further statements about this in the near future. 'Please respect our decision and privacy at this time. Thank you for all your private DMs, kindness and support.' Olivia and Morgan were first linked together when they posted identical photos of the view from Rogers' apartment. They also recently enjoyed a holiday together in Paris for Fashion Week. Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum dressed to the nines on Thursday when they arrived to film America's Got Talent in Los Angeles. The A-list beauties stunned alongside a casual Howie Mandel, 67, who was roasted this week by Bravo fans for his bombshell podcast interview with Vanderpump Rules pariah Tom 'Scandoval' Sandoval. Vergara, 50, kept it simple and chic in a gray coat, curve-hugging capri jeans and a show-stopping designer tote bag. Klum, 49, brought spring vibes to the AGT set as she donned a vibrant floral ensemble, white crocks, and matching white shades. Showing off his Canadian roots, Mandel sported a Canada's Got Talent T-shirt, a black jacket, and simple pants. America's got style: Sofia Vergara (left, 50) and Heidi Klum (right, 49) dressed to the nines on Thursday when they arrived to film America's Got Talent in Los Angeles Rough week: The A-list beauties stunned alongside a casual Howie Mandel, 67, who was roasted this week by Bravo fans for his bombshell podcast interview with Vanderpump Rules pariah Tom 'Scandoval' Sandoval Vergara posed up a storm as an attendant protected her lustrous brunette locks from the rain. The Columbian stunner complimented her red leather tote bag with matching sandal stilettos. Vergara went on to document her day with close pal Klum, as she posted photos to Instagram that showed them filming a segment in a car. Surrounded by a green screen, the Modern Family star and German supermodel looked like they were having some fun with Vergara in the driver's seat. Sofia also posted a few snaps to her Instagram Story that showed off her voluptuous backside in her 'favorite jeans of all time' from the star's very own denim line at Walmart. Meanwhile, Howie seemed to be unfazed by the uproar surrounding his much maligned interview with Tom Sandoval. The veteran comedian received a tidal wave of grief from Vanderpump Rules viewers this week after his surprise sit-down with the infamous cheater fell flat with fans due to the perception that Mandel was ill-prepared. Throughout the lackluster interview conducted on the funnyman's podcast Howie Mandel Does Stuff Mandel seemed to be unfamiliar with the scandal and even the show itself. Simple and chic: Vergara kept it simple and chic in a gray coat, curve-hugging capri jeans and a show-stopping designer tote bag Gorgeous: The Columbian stunner complimented her red leather tote bag with matching sandal stilettos Flower power: Klum brought spring vibes to the AGT set as she donned a vibrant floral ensemble, white crocks, and matching white shades Hard at work: Vergara went on to document her day with close pal Klum, as she posted photos to Instagram that showed them filming a segment in a car Vroom vroom: Surrounded by a green screen, the Modern Family star and German supermodel looked like they were having some fun with Vergara in the driver's seat Assets: Sofia also posted a few snaps to her Instagram Story that showed off her voluptuous backside in her 'favorite jeans of all time' from the star's very own denim line at Walmart The softball exchange was criticized for not challenging Sandoval in any capacity and allowing him to make a bevy of bizarre claims without criticism. The musician-turned-restauranteur alleged that his now-ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix punched him after he attempted to breakup with her on Valentine's Day. Tom also declared that he and co-star Raquel Leviss his other half in the explosive affair that blew up VPR were 'taking a break' from their sexual relationship after he detailed their 'magnetic' first kiss. But the jilted Madix is reportedly doing better than ever, securing a role in a new Lifetime movie and showing Tom what he's missing in a crimson revenge dress. Tammin Sursok has opened up about her anguish as a young mother in the wake of a school shooting in Nashville on March 27. The former Home and Away star, who has been based in the USA since 2006, and lives in Nashville, Tennessee, said she was 'freaking out' over her nine-year-old daughter's safety when news broke of the tragedy. Unable to confirm the location of the shootings, Tammin said her horror grew, until she was finally able to confirm that her child, Phoenix, was safe. "I didn't know what school it was [happening at],' the dark-haired mother-of-two told Nine in an interview on Thursday. 'I didn't know if the school went by a different nickname... For a couple of minutes I had no idea what was going on,' she explained. Tammin Sursok has opened up about her anguish as a young mother in the wake of a school shooting in Nashville on March 27. Pictured: Tammin and eldest daughter Phoenix 'I called her school,' Tammin continued, 'and they said it was in lockdown and everyone was safe. But you don't know, is it one shooter? Are they alone, have they left? You don't have that information.' Six people, including three children of similar age to Phoenix, were killed when a shooter stormed into the Covenant School, a church-run primary school in Nashville. The shooter was 28-year-old Audrey Hale, who at one time attended the school. While Hale's motive is still unknown, police say she had detailed, drawn maps of the school and had been surveilling it for some time. The former Home and Away star - pictured - who has been based in the US since 2006, and lives in Nashville, said she was 'freaking out' over her nine-year-old daughter's safety when news broke of the tragedy 'It was completely and utterly traumatic,' Tammin told Nine. 'Nashville is still reeling from the after-effects. Parents are scared and the community is broken.' It comes after Tammin took to Instagram soon after news of the school killings broke. Tammin can be seen in the moving clip pacing and crying in her kitchen. 'There's been an active shooter in one of the schools in Nashville... It's right next to my daughter's school. She's in lockdown, she's fine,' Tammin said in the video. 'I didn't know what school it was [happening at],' the dark-haired mother-of-two told Nine in an interview on Thursday She described the ordeal as hitting 'too close to home' for many parents in America, where school shootings occur almost every year. Tammin described the horror she felt after receiving the call there was an active shooter within walking distance from Phoenix's school, calling the ordeal 'a parent's worst nightmare.' The star, who has often spoken out in favour of greater gun control, currently lives lives in the U.S. with her husband Sean McEwan and their two children, daughters, Phoenix and Lennon. Joshua Sasse was looking chic as he headed out to run errands in Brisbane, Australia on Tuesday. The British actor, 35, who is set to film a new Hallmark series, wore a pale red puffer jacket as he strolled down the street. He paired it with a plain black T-shirt and wide-legged white jeans, which he had rolled up at the ankles. Josh completed his look with a pair of brown suede loafers and carried a leather saddle bag in a tone that matched his footwear. The Frankenstein's Army actor also had on designer sunglasses, a chunky silver watch and multiple bracelets. Joshua Sasse (pictured) was looking chic as he headed out to run errands in Brisbane, Australia on Tuesday. The British actor, 35, who is set to film a new Hallmark series, wore a pale red puffer jacket as he strolled down the street Joshua split from Australian pop star Kylie Minogue, 54, back in 2017, the pair calling off their engagement two years after their debuted their romance. Kylie confirmed the sad news on social media at the time, as she thanked her loyal fans for their messages of concern and support. 'Thank you now for your love and understanding with the news that Josh and I have decided to go our separate ways. 'We wish only the best for each other as we venture towards new horizons. #thesunalwaysrises'. He paired the jacket with a plain black T-shirt and wide-legged white jeans, which he had rolled up at the ankles The Frankenstein's Army actor also had on designer sunglasses, a chunky silver watch and multiple bracelets Josh completed his look with a pair of brown suede loafers and carried a leather saddle bag in a tone that matched his footwear It comes after Kylie split from her magazine executive boyfriend Paul Solomons in February, after five years together. The hitmaker is said to have parted ways with the former British GQ Creative Director after they struggled to make a long distance relationship work. Australian native Kylie returned to her home in Melbourne's eastern suburbs after decades of living in the UK, while her Welsh ex remains in the British capital. Priyanka Chopra exuded elegance in a chic black asymmetric dress as she joined her Citadel castmates in London, on Thursday. The actress, 40, struck a series of fierce stances in her stunning frock while stood in a sleek pair of black Louboutin red soul stilettos. Priyanka's midi dress featured a floor-trailing train down one side, which billowed in the wind as the actress turned her body. The mother-of-two posed with her co-stars Richard Madden and Stanley Tucci, and was also joined by the series creators Joe Russo and David Weil in front of London's skyline. The cast and creators of the Amazon Original series are already in London ahead of its global premiere, which is being held in the capital on 18 April. Stunning: Priyanka Chopra, 40, exuded elegance in a chic black asymmetric dress as she joined her Citadel castmates in London, on Thursday Citadel stars: The mother-of-two posed with her co-stars Richard Madden, 36, and Stanley Tucci, 62 Sensational: Priyanka's midi dress featured a floor-trailing train down one side, which billowed in the wind as the actress turned her body Richard and Priyanka play special agents Mason Kane and Nadia Singh, the action-thriller centres on the global intelligence agency Citadel and the hunt for a man determined to bring it down. The groundbreaking global series premieres 28th April, with new episodes released weekly every Friday through 26th May. Discussing her decision to move to Hollywood, the mother-of-one confessed that while she enjoyed working on Bollywood projects she struggled with the people. Citadel marks the first time Priyanka will be receiving equal pay as the male lead, with the actress previously revealing she got the same fee as Richard. It comes after Priyanka opened up about her decision to leave Bollywood, admitting she had 'beef' with people in the industry. The actress started out as a Bollywood star in the Noughties but moved to America in 2015 when she took on a leading role in Quantico. Speaking on Dax Shephard's Armchair Expert podcast she confessed: 'I've never said this so I'm going to say it because you'll make me feel safe.' 'I was being pushed into a corner in the industry. I had people not casting me, I had beef with people, I am not good at playing that game so I kind of was tired of the politics and I said I needed a break.' The former Miss World made her Bollywood debut in 2003's The Hero: Love Story of a Spy. Her breakout role came the following year in romantic thriller Aitraaz, which she followed with her roles in Fashion, Barfi! and Mary Kom. Dapper: Richard and Stanley looked dapper for the photocall in stylish ensembles 'It would require grovelling and I had worked a long time by then that I didn't feel like I wanted to do it. 'So when this music thing came I was like "f*** it, I'm going to America" and Interscope [record label] were amazing, they threw the building at me. While working on 2011 drama 7 Khoon Maaf, Priyanka was approached about starting a music career after recording a demo. Priyanka explained: 'This music thing gave me an opportunity to go into another part of the world, not crave for the movies I didn't want to get but I would require to schmooze certain clubs and cliques of people. 'I worked with Pitbull, will.i.am, Pharrell, Mathew Koma, and many incredible artists. I had dinner with Bruce Springsteen and his wife, I met Jay-Z and Beyonce!' She went on to release thee singles, but soon realised that acting was her true calling. The actress confessed: 'I got completely caught up in this music thing and thought "I am a pop star now, forget about this movie thing", quickly to realise I was much better at my day job.' Talented team: She Prime show's three lead stars were joined by the series creators Joe Russo and David Weil in front of London's skyline She ended up making a few more Bollywood films before she signed a talent holding deal with ABC Studios and was cast in the American thriller series Quantico. The series premiered in 2015 on ABC, with Priyanka making history as the first South Asian to headline an American network drama series. Her Hollywood film debut came in Baywatch where she starred opposite Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron. While she still takes on the occasional Bollywood project, her base is in Hollywood where she lives with husband Nick Jonas and their daughter Malti, 14 months. She is known for sharing sizzling bikini snaps and sweet family pictures. And Rochelle Humes was up to her old Instagram tricks once more on Thursday as she took to the site to post a slew of snaps from her family trip to Dubai, alongside husband Marvin, daughters Alaia, nine, Valentina, six, and son Blake, two. The former pop star, 34, wowed in a black bikini top on a boat trip, frolicked with Marvin on the beach and posted a sweet snap of her three kids. She has joined a host of stars who have jetted to Dubai for the Easter holidays and has not been able to resist documenting the trip to her 2.2million followers. Rochelle added a caption on the shot please: 'So many pics to post but heres a start Our second part of our adventure was just as special as our first Memories to last a lifetime that Ill be forever grateful for'. Stunner: Rochelle Humes was up to her old Instagram tricks once more on Thursday as she took to the site to post a slew of snaps from her family trip to Dubai, alongside husband Marvin, daughters Alaia, nine, Valentina, six, and son Blake, two Having a laugh: The former pop star, 34, wowed in a black bikini top on a boat trip, frolicked with Marvin on the beach and posted a sweet snap of her three kids Sweet: She shared shots of her three kids Displaying the lavish nature of the trip, she posed up a storm in the black bikini top with billowing orange trousers while pouting and posing on a boat. She was posing again on the beach in black bikini bottoms and a black T-shirt, with her endless legs on full display and a cap pulled low over her choppy locks. Her cute kids were also in stylish ensembles, with the girls rocking matching floral dresses and little Blake wearing a mint green linen suit. Rochelle and Marvin started dating in the height of their pop fame in 2010 and moved in together just three months later. Stunner: She was also showcasing her ensembles A vision: She was rocking trendy Hermes sandals The DJ then popped the question by proposing on the Caribbean island of Antigua on New Year's Eve in 2011. Pop stars turned presenters Rochelle and Marvin originally tied the knot in a glitzy magazine deal wedding at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire in July 2012. The couple renewed their wedding vows in July 2022 at the stunning Villa D'Este in Lake Como in front of their children, friends and family to mark 10 years of marriage. American comedian Mike Goldstein has admitted that there is a downside to touring Australia. The American-born funnyman says it was a heckler who turned him against Queensland's capital city, Brisbane, and he's now not a fan. Appearing on the Project on Friday, host Georgie Tunny told the stand-up comedian that she was from Brisbane and joked: 'Why is it that you hate my home town and everything that I stand for?' 'Oh, wow,' Mike responded jokingly, 'is this a twenty minute segment?' 'I've had some rough experiences at gigs up there,' Mike then explained. 'Some one threw their Coke on me five minutes into an hour long solo show,' he continued. Mike Goldstein (pictured) has admitted that he does not like Brisbane. The American-born comedian says it was a heckler who turned him against Queensland's capital city Appearing on the Project on Friday (pictured) Mike said he once did a stand-up show in Brisbane which turned challenging after a heckler threw a Coke at him 'I had to stand there for the whole show while it soaked in and I got stickier and stickier.' Mike also said that locals still him 'crap' for being an American. Born in Kansas, Mike has now lived Down Under for 15 years, and says he now considers himself both a local and an American. 'I've been in Australia long enough to prefer it here,' he told The Project panel. 'I obviously moved out here and I still get crap for being American... people go, ''your President is so old his brain is mush". I think hes the first President that is going to be assassinated by the passage of time,' he joked. It comes after The Project's latest cast shake up, which features former Studio 10 star Sarah Harris and comedian Sam Taunton joining longtime host Waleed Aly. Born in Kansas, Mike has now lived Down Under for 15 years, and says he now considers himself both a local and an American. Pictured: Mike (left) on The Hundred The new lineup follows the shock departure of hosts Carrie Bickmore and Lisa Wilkinson and funnymen Peter Helliar and Tommy Little at the end of last year. Channel 10's flagship current affairs show has been haemorrhaging viewers in recent years, losing almost a third of its national audience in 12 months. Its viewing figures, including metro and regional Australia, are down by 29 per cent compared to this time last year, ratings data shows. The audience decline coincides with recent departures of several high-profile hosts, including Carrie Bickmore, Peter Helliar and Lisa Wilkinson. Harvey Price took to Instagram on Friday, where he showed off a new drawing. The 20-year-old son of glamour model Katie Price sketched King Charles III alongside a crown-wearing frog. Harvey, who has a rare genetic disorder affecting his eyesight, as well as autism and Prader-Willi syndrome, proudly unveiled his new drawing in a photograph of himself dressed in a plain T-shirt while holding up the art work. In the accompanying caption, he revealed that its purpose was to encourage others to get involved in BBC Children In Need's Royally Big Portrait campaign. Alongside his upload, Harvey explained to his followers: 'Today, I drew a picture of King Charles III for @bbccin Royally Big Portrait...what do you think? Coronation ready! Harvey Price, 20, took to Instagram on Friday where he showed off his sketch of King Charles III alongside a crown-wearing frog, in new drawing Showing off his new sketch: Harvey proudly unveiled his new drawing in a photograph of himself dressed in a plain T-shirt while holding up the art work Get involved! In the accompanying caption, he revealed that its purpose was to encourage others to get involved in BBC Children In Need's Royally Big Portrait campaign 'You can take part by uploading your own drawing of King Charles to the BBC Children in Need website...link to the website in my stories and below: https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/fundraising/bbc-children-in-needs-royally-big-portrait/.' The historic coronation of King Charles III is taking place on Saturday 6th May, 2023. To celebrate the momentous occasion, BBC is inviting families and children across the UK to get involved and share their creative skills with the world. The Royally Big Portrait is a giant digital portrait of King Charles III that will feature thousands of individual portraits of the King drawn by children across the UK. This unique artwork will be created by a record breaking number of artists, and anyone can be one of them. Submissions close on Friday 28th April. It comes after eight serving and former Metropolitan Police officers were 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. Famous family: Harvey is the son of former glamour model Katie Price 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. Their messages included derogatory comments about Harvey, who suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome and autism, and about a junior female officer, known in the hearings as Officer A. Harvey'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'. 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 Harvey'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.' Spencer Matthews and his wife Vogue Williams have been soaking up the sun in the Algarve, as he skips his friend Jamie Laing's wedding to Sophie Habboo. Former Made in Chelsea star Spencer, 34, took to Instagram on Thursday to share an array of sweet pictures from his family getaway to Portugal with his model wife, 37. That same day Jamie, 37, got married to his girlfriend Sophie, 29, in an intimate registry office service back in the UK on Friday. Though they were only joined by a small group of family and friends at Chelsea Registry Office, they will be having a second ceremony in Seville, Spain, on May 19. Jamie previously revealed that Spencer will be one of his groomsmen at his second ceremony, and the latter has jetted off for a holiday of his own ahead of the big day. Holiday: Spencer Matthews and his wife Vogue Williams have been soaking up the sun in the Algarve, while his friend Jamie Laing has tied the knot with Sophie Habboo Big day: It comes as Spencer's former co-star and close friend Jamie, 37, got married to his girlfriend Sophie, 29, in an intimate registry office service back in the UK on Friday Spencer has accompanied his wife and their kids - Theodore, four, Gigi, two, and Otto, 11 months - for a family getaway to Portugal this week. Taking to Instagram to document the trip, the family were also joined by Vogue's sister Amber and other family members as they enjoyed the quality time together. In one snap, shared to Vogue's Stories, Spencer showed off his toned physique as he went shirtless in blue and pink board shorts for a beach day. He looked as loved-up as ever with his wife Vogue as they shared a cosy hug, with Vogue looking stunning in a white halterneck two-piece. She shielded her eyes with a pair of oversized sunglasses and tucked her golden locks beneath a straw hat. Spencer was also seen sweetly holding hands with his son Theodore in another snap as they wore matching board short, before he threw him into the air. Alongside the snap, Vogue joked about Spencer looking at his toned figure as he wrote: 'Spen literally can't stop looking at himself.' Spencer also shared an array of sun-soaked snaps to his own Stories, showing his wife Vogue playing with their children on the golden beach. Fun times: The former Made in Chelsea star, 34, took to Instagram on Thursday to share an array of sweet pictures from his family getaway to Portugal with his family Doting father: Spencer was seen sweetly holding hands with his son Theodore in another snap as they wore matching board short, before he threw him into the air Sweet: Spencer shared an array of sun-soaked snaps to his own Stories, showing his wife Vogue playing with their children on the golden beach Family: Taking to Instagram to document the trip, the family were joined by Vogue's sister Amber and other family members as they enjoyed the quality time together Their holiday post came just hours before Spencer's close pal Jamie tied the knot with his girlfriend Sophie in an intimate ceremony on Friday. Spencer was seemingly absent as he spent quality time with his family abroad, but he is expected to join his close pal to celebrate at his second Spanish wedding. Jamie said he has picked Spencer, who is brother-in-law of Pippa Middleton, to be one of his groomsmen at his Spanish ceremony but he will not be the best man. However, Spencer denied Jamie the same honour and didn't invite him to his 2018 wedding to model Vogue Williams in the Highlands. Jamie and Spencer have known each other since they were 15 years old and went on to star in Made In Chelsea together. They have remained close ever since and Jamie is a godfather to Spencer's second child Gigi, while the friends were seen getting in shape together in March ahead of Jamie's big day. On Friday, newlyweds Jamie and Sophie looked every inch the happy couple as they kissed after tying the knot at Chelsea Registry Office. The reality star looked gorgeous in a short silk white gown, bow veil and sunglasses for her London nuptials - ahead of a second ceremony in Seville, Spain on May 19. The pair looked happier than ever as they had a smooch on the steps in front of family and friends after the ceremony where Sophie beamed as she clutched her pretty flowers. She wowed in the off-the-shoulder Vivienne Westwood number with a corset design that showed off her toned and tanned legs and was accessorised with a Sophia Webster 'wifey for lifey' clutch bag. The blonde beauty - who got engaged to Jamie in December 2021 after they started dating in April 2019 - completed the look with matching Jimmy Choo white heels and wore her blonde tresses in loose waves while opting for glowing makeup. Wedding: Their holiday post came just hours before Spencer's close pal Jamie tied the knot with his girlfriend Sophie in an intimate ceremony on Friday Overjoyed: On Friday, newlyweds Jamie and Sophie looked every inch the happy couple as they kissed after tying the knot at Chelsea Registry Office Pals: Jamie previously said he has picked Spencer to be one of his groomsmen at his Spanish ceremony (the pair are seen working out together weeks ahead of Jamie's big day Minutes earlier, Jamie, 34, had arrived and was all smiles in a smart navy suit and crisp white shirt. Jamie and Sophie were joined by family and friends at the wedding including Sophie's sister Georgia and mother and father as well as Jamie's mother and sister. Their Made In Chelsea co-stars including Melissa Tattam and Gigi & Olive founder Georgia Le Roux were also in attendance. The pair will enjoy a second ceremony which is to be taking place in Seville, Spain, next month. Katie Price said she is 'over the moon' to learn that eight serving Met Officers have been charged with misconduct over offensive messages about her son Harvey. Speaking to 5 News, the model, 44, stated they should be 'ashamed' and 'embarrassed' over the disgusting comments about her 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, London, on Thursday. The hearing concerned former sergeant Luke Thomas, former 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. On the up: Katie Price said she is 'over the moon' to learn that eight serving Met Officers have been charged with misconduct over offensive messages about her son Harvey On the up: Speaking to 5 News, the model, 44, stated they should be 'ashamed' and 'embarrassed' over the disgusting comments about her son Katie spoke to 5 News' Dan Walker in her first TV interview on Thursday, with Harvey by her side, when Dan asked Katie what she had to say to the charged police officers, she said: 'I hope they feel ashamed. I hope they're embarrassed... 'I hope they're embarrassed to know what their family are going through and I hope all their names and their mug shots come out because I would like to see their faces and they should be named and shamed... 'And hopefully they will never serve in the police force again, and if they ever get any other job that it goes on their CV because I'll tell you what, there won't be a lot of people who want to employ them after this... 'Would you want to employ someone when you know they do stuff like this? Because I know I wouldn't. So it will affect them for the rest of their life. And I hope it does because they deserve that, they're disgusting.' When asked about her response to the news, she revealed she was 'absolutely over the moon', going on: 'It's about time justice has been done... Harvey was targeted by officers in the WhatsApp group messages 'Not only that they are professionals that we trust, that we should trust who have done this and now an example is going to be put out there and something is going to be done.' She added: 'What I've actually seen and read what these police officers have said it's beyond like beyond what you could ever imagine how evil and how spiteful people can actually be, and how they even think it's funny... 'It's actually disgusting Harvey doesn't deserve this, no one does.' When asked by Katie how it made him feel when people were horrible to him, Harvey said: 'Angry and sad' When asked by Katie how it made him feel when people were horrible to him, Harvey said: 'Angry and sad'. Katie said she was in two minds whether to take Harvey to court for their sentencing: 'I don't know whether to turn up to the court with Harvey... 'Number one so the police officers can face Harvey and see how innocent he is, but obviously I don't want to use Harvey as a bit of bait 'Because it's not also fair on Harvey, but its like I want them to see what they've done like, to someone like Harvey, how innocent he is. Why did he deserve that? You know? I'm in two minds what to do.' She has always been a natural beauty. And on Friday, Josie Gibson, 38, showed off her stylish glow-up, with flawless make-up and sleek blonde locks, as she co-hosted This Morning. 13 years after winning Big Brother, the reality star is now a firm favourite on daytime television and has a talented glam squad to keep her looking camera ready. Josie was glowing thanks to a bronzed make-up look achieved by artist Mikey Phillips, while her tresses were freshly blow by hair professional Maurice Flynn. The mother-of-one, who's a single mum to son Reggie, four, was dressed in a flattering cow-print midi shirt dress, which was picked out by her wardrobe stylist Rachael Hughes. Glow-up: On Friday, Josie Gibson, 38, showed off her stylish glow-up, with flawless make-up and sleek blonde locks, as she co-hosted This Morning (pictured right in 2010) Styled to perfection: The mother-of-one was dressed in a flattering cow-print midi shirt dress, which was picked out by wardrobe stylist Rachael Hughes (pictured with co-host Craig Doyle) Josie's weight has yo-yoed over the years, but the Bristolian beauty has always looked good no matter her size, with her exuberant personality earning her legions of fans. In January 2021, Josie vowed to transform her size 18 body to a 12 after falling back into 'unhealthy habits' of overeating bread and chocolate. The TV personality - who slimmed down from a size 20 to a size 8 in 2013 - told MailOnline she no longer felt 'sexy' and only saw herself as a 'working mum' because her body was at an 'uncomfortable size.' Josie confessed to overindulging with foods that don't work well with her metabolism as she said she aimed to slim down before getting back on the dating scene. She explained: 'I have obviously been big my whole life I have always been one of those people that's struggled with my weight. 'In 2013 I lost weight and then I started putting it on again when I had my son in 2019 and it's getting to a point now where I feel really, really uncomfortable. I feel uncomfortable with the size I am. I am a size 18. 'I would like to be a comfortable 12 or a 12-14. I would be so happy with that. I have been a size 8. I don't think it suits me and it's a lot of work to get there so I just need to find that happy medium. A size 12 would be ideal.' In 2019, Josie admitted she'd spent years 'hating her body' but finally 'absolutely loves it,' as she proudly showed off her incredible curves in a blue bikini in Dubai. Now and then: 13 years after winning Big Brother, the reality star is now a firm favourite on daytime television and has a talented glam squad to keep her looking camera ready Ever-changing: Josie's weight has yo-yoed over the years, but the Bristolian beauty has always looked good no matter her size (Pictured in 2013) Back in April 2018, the mum-of-one revealed she had lost two stone and three dress sizes in just 12 weeks after she 'lost control' over her eating habits during her pregnancy. The blonde beauty revealed that she had gained four and a half stone during her pregnancy with son Reggie, 13 months, and went up to 16 stone. She admitted she had 'lost control' over her pregnancy cravings, devouring Marmite and cheese sandwiches, she added: 'I kept kidding myself that it was OK because I was growing another human Yet Josie decided to lose weight after her joints and knees started to ache, as well as being at risk of slipping back into type 2 diabetic territory and wanting to be 'healthy' for her son. Bruno Tonioli reunited with his former Strictly Come Dancing co-star Oti Mabuse on Friday as they took to the dance floor together. The new Britain's Got Talent judge, 67, who used to be on the panel for the BBC contest, once again showed off his signature moves on the dance floor. He appeared on This Morning to speak about his new role as a judge on Simon Cowell's talent show, and was reunited with professional dancer Oti, 32. It comes after Simon, 63, branded Strictly as boring and said he thinks new judge Bruno is having a much better time on the panel of the ITV talent competition. Oti was on the chat show to speak about her brand new breakfast show and had a break from her promotional schedule to show off her dance moves with Bruno. Fun times: Bruno Tonioli reunited with his former Strictly Come Dancing co-star Oti Mabuse on Friday as they took to the dance floor together Dancing: The new Britain's Got Talent judge, 67, who used to be on the panel for the BBC contest, once again showed off his signature moves on the dance floor The pair were seen grinning as they performed a dance routine in the studio, with Bruno spinning Oti around as they both flaunted their talents. Oti, who quit Strictly to become a judge on Dancing On Ice, looked incredible in a brown and orange striped midi dress as she strutted her stuff. She gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of white pointed stilettos and styled her brunette locks in tight waves across her shoulders. Italian choreographer Bruno cut a suave figure in black trousers and a white collared shirt, which he styled with heeled boots. Oti was a professional dancer on Strictly over the 15 years that Bruno served as a judge on the show, before they both moved on to new work projects. Bruno recently made his Britain's Got Talent debut, joining Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Simon on the judging panel of the pre-recorded show. Bruno has replaced former judge David Walliams, who made a controversial exit from the show last year. Meanwhile, Oti has seen huge success as a judge on Dancing on Ice and will now be launching her very own Saturday morning breakfast show. Reunited: He appeared on This Morning to speak about his new role as a judge on Simon Cowell's talent show, and was reunited with professional dancer Oti, 32 Revelation: On This Morning, Oti also spoke about her recent appearance on DNA Journey alongside her sister Motsi, revealing they have the 'same DNA' as Nelson Mandela Family history: Speaking about the show, she said: 'On DNA what I really took away from it was a sense of pride' (pictured: Oti and Motsi on the show) Appearing on This Morning to chat about the show, she said: 'I want people to watch it and get set up for the day, it's light.' Oti also went on to speak about her recent appearance on DNA Journey alongside her sister Motsi, revealing they have the 'same DNA' as Nelson Mandela. Speaking about the show, she said: 'On DNA what I really took away from it was a sense of pride. 'This show went 2000 years back and you know I can achieve anything in life but to find out my own history from people, that was the most special feeling ever.' She then added: 'We're related to Nelson Mandela,' to which a shocked Josie Gibson asked: 'What?!' Oti then clarified: 'No! I said that wrong, don't quote me. I mean we have the same DNA as Nelson Mandela.' Elsewhere this week, Simon branded Strictly as 'boring' as he discussed Bruno joining Britain's Got Talent. Bruno previously appeared on Strictly between 2004 and 2019, and Simon, 63, was less than complimentary about his previous workplace. Simon recently said that he felt his new fellow judge was having a much better time on their show because of the format. Comparing Britain's Got Talent to the celebrity dancing competition show, he said: 'When you're doing Strictly, all you've got is a bat or something, right? That's boring. Awkward: It comes after Simon, 63, branded Strictly as boring and said he thinks his new judge Bruno is having a much better time on the panel of the ITV talent competition 'This is a punctuation mark, which is the red buzzer. He was like a kid having these things to press while he was judging. I think he found that having those, the whole process was easier. 'I reckon he probably wished he had a red buzzer on Strictly. There's a few celebrities he would have liked to have buzzed off, I bet.' Bruno joined the panel of the talent competition as a replacement for comedian David, 51, who left after he made 'disrespectful' comments about contestants from previous series. Bruno starred on Strictly from 2004 until 2019, Anton Du Beke stepped in for him as a judge during the Covid-19 pandemic before replacing him permanently in 2022. Samantha Armytage has become a style icon, after her fans praised her latest look on the set of Farmer Wants A Wife. The show's new host shared a series of candid images from behind the scenes on Friday, alongside the cast of farmers looking for love in an Instagram post this week. The 46-year-old looked chic in the ethereal floral gown from Sydney designer Leo Lin, which she wore on a recent episode of the series. The brand's Florescence Flutter Sleeve dress retails for $799 but is currently on sale for $559. It features a semi-sheer peach toned fabric with bold flowers throughout, and a pussy bow at the neck. Samantha Armytage (pictured) has become a style icon, after her fans praised her latest look on the set of Farmer Wants A Wife. The 46-year-old looked chic in the ethereal floral gown from Sydney designer Leo Lin, which she wore on a recent episode of the series The show's new host shared a series of candid images from behind the scenes on Friday, alongside the cast of farmers looking for love in an Instagram post this week Sam wore the frock cinched at the waist with a wide black belt with cut out panels to show the design underneath. Her fans were delighted by the ensemble, with many commenting underneath the images. 'Absolutely stunning Sam' one person wrote, while another chimed in, 'Looking glowing and gorgeous as always. PS, I'm buying this dress.' 'Love love your dress Sam' someone else said, with more adding, 'I adore your dress'. The brand's Florescence Flutter Sleeve dress retails for $799 but is currently on sale for $559 Her fans were delighted by the ensemble, with many commenting underneath the images. 'Absolutely stunning Sam' one person wrote, while another chimed in, 'Looking glowing and gorgeous as always. PS, I'm buying this dress' It comes after Sam said she is 'very happy' with her matchmaking skills after revealing how many contestants found love on the dating show. On Easter Monday, viewers were introduced to five new farmers who are vying for love on the show's 13th season. 'This is a huge season. For the first time, all five farmers find love, so I'm feeling very happy about my match making skills,' she told New Idea. For the new season, Sam has taken over the main presenting role from Natalie Gruzlewski, who remains on the Channel 7 reality TV hit as the 'co-host'. Jennifer Garner wowed on the red carpet at the premiere of her latest project Thursday in Los Angeles, and she brought someone special with her to share the big night. The actress, 50, who has been enthusiastically promoting the Apple TV+ series, The Last Thing He Told Me, looked amazing in a white strapless dress with black vertical lines. Her chestnut brown bob was styled away from her face in loose waves as she signed autographs for waiting fans. As the leading lady posed on the red carpet with co-star Aisha Tyler, 52, executive producer Reese Witherspoon, 47, and author Laura Dave, 45, US Weekly reported that Jennifer's longtime beau, John Miller, quietly arrived at the theater to support her. The source revealed the Party Down star was 'glowing' as she walked into the theater, and that the Caliburger CEO sat a few rows behind her during the screening. Special guest: Jennifer Garner wowed on the red carpet at the premiere of her latest project Thursday in Los Angeles, and she brought someone special with her to share the big night The couple have been linked together since 2018, but keep their relationship low key. They are rarely seen in public together. In the limited series, based on the book by the same name, Jennifer stars as Hannah. When her husband mysteriously disappears, Hannah receives a note from her spouse asking her to protect his daughter, Bailey, played by Angourie Rice, 22. The Yes Day star, who is mom to Violet, 17, Seraphina, 14 and Sam, 11, from her marriage to Ben Affleck, 50, told Collider that 'playing a stepmom of someone who isnt thrilled to have you as their stepmom was something that really intrigued me.' In an interview with People, the Alias star contended, 'The teenager in the story, Bailey, played by the beautiful Angourie Rice, she's a whole other... she's mean.' 'My kids aren't mean they're teenagers, but they're not mean, adding, 'Not to me.' 'So that was funny,' she continued, 'Just a different layer of teen to deal with.' The experience was very different than dealing with her own teens on a day to day basis. Support: As the leading lady posed on the red carpet with co-star Aisha Tyler, 52, executive producer Reese Witherspoon, 47, and author Laura Dave, 45, US Weekly quoted an eyewitness who claimed Jennifer's longtime beau, John Miller, quietly arrived at the theater to support her Glowing: US Weekly quoted a source who claimed Jennifer met up with her beau inside the theater and that John sat a few rows behind her during the screening. The couple have been linked together since 2018, but are rarely seen in public together (Pictured in Santa Barbara in January) 'I just have a huge heart for teenagers,' The Adam Project star said. 'I love them. I love what they're going through. I see how hard it is to be a teen right now.' In an interview with InStyle, the versatile star explained the dynamic between herself and the young Australian actress. Step-mom: Jennifer plays step-mom to Angourie Rice's Bailey in the thriller. 'Playing a stepmom of someone who isnt thrilled to have you as their stepmom was something that really intrigued me,' she told Collider Teens: The star, who is mom to Violet, 17, Seraphina, 14 and Sam, 11, from her marriage to Ben Affleck, 50 told People, 'I just have a huge heart for teenagers. I love them. I love what they're going through. I see how hard it is to be a teen right now' (Pictured in Los Angeles in August 2018) 'We had to build trust, a partnership, become a team whether we liked it or not until we were legitimately close,' she explained. 'It was nice to have our real relationship build slowly over time that our trust built over time, just like Hannah and Bailey.' The first two episodes of The Last Thing He Told Me are now streaming on Apple TV+ with new episodes added every Friday. Vanderpump Rules' Raquel Leviss has checked into a facility for mental health treatment - amid the continued fallout from her affair with Tom Sandoval. The reality star, 28. whose affair with Sandoval, 39, ended his nine-year romance with Ariana Madix, 36, in March, chose to enter the voluntary facility before her fling was discovered, reports ET. A source said: 'Raquel and her family decided before the relationship was discovered that she would enter a voluntary facility for mental health counseling. 'She was scheduled to go in pre-reunion but decided she wanted to finish her filming commitment. Bravo and production were aware and in support of her journey towards better mental health. Leviss' rep added that she was not in a facility for substance abuse issues. Treatment: Vanderpump Rules' Raquel Leviss has checked into a facility for mental health treatment - amid the continued fallout from her affair with Tom Sandoval Love triangle: The reality star, 28. whose affair with Sandoval, 39, ended his nine-year romance with Ariana Madix, 37, chose to enter the voluntary facility before her fling was discovered (pictured November 2022) Last month Leviss issued a statement in which she revealed she was analyzing her own behavior and speaking to a counselor after the affair was exposed. She said: 'I am reflecting on my choices, speaking to a counselor and I am learning things about myself such as my patterns of codependency and addiction to being and feeling loved. 'I have sought emotional validation through intimate connections that are not healthy without regard for my own well-being, sometimes negatively affecting others and often prioritizing the intimate connection over my friendships. I am taking steps to understand my behavior and make healthier choices.' This comes after Sandoval revealed he and Leviss had hit the brakes on their sexual relationship, after their months-long affair was exposed in March. Following the recent end of his nine-year relationship with 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 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.' Betrayal" Sandoval and Madix pictured just days before the March split A source said: 'Raquel and her family decided before the relationship was discovered that she would enter a voluntary facility for mental health counseling; seen with Madix (left) As for how their relationship blossomed from platonic to intimate, Sandoval opened up about his attraction to Leviss as he and Madix, 37, 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. Ahead of turning 40, he recalled thinking his life 'looked very bleak' and started thinking his 'best years were behind.' '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. 'You need to be heard because the narrative is everyone elses but but yours,' the America's Got Talent judge told listeners. 'I dont understand the hatred and the vitriol.' While the father-of-three stated he wasn't 'condoning cheating on a partner,' he raised eyebrows for saying that the amount of backlash Sandoval has received has been perplexing. Leviss' life has been turned upside down since the affair was exposed - with an explosive show reunion set to be aired in coming weeks. Leviss secured an order of protection against co-star Scheana Shay, who she claims punched her in the face, giving her a black eye. Shay has vehemently denied her costar's assault allegations. Madix admitted to being 'devastated and broken' but grateful for her supporters in a post last month. The reality star took to Instagram to share a stunning snap of herself with a lengthy caption addressing the scandal while thanking her friends including her castmates for their support during what she described as her 'darkest hours.' She wrote: 'hi. where to begin? i want to express my most sincere gratitude for the outpouring of love and support i have received from friends, family, and people i've never even met in the last two weeks. 'when i have felt like i couldn't even stand, you all have given me the strength to continue and seen me through my darkest hours. to say i have been devastated and broken is an understatement. however, i know that i am not in this alone.' As many of her Vanderpump Rules co-stars of the past and present have publicly supported her including Scheana Shay, Kristen Doute, and even Leviss' ex James Kennedy, she made sure to thank those who have been there for her. Madix continued: so many of my closest friends are also grieving this loss right now and reeling from this betrayal on so many levels. i am so f***ing lucky to have the best support system in the world and i hope i can repay every single person for the love you have shown me. 'what doesn't kill me better run. love, ariana' Still friends: Following the recent end of his nine-year relationship with Ariana Madix over his infidelity, the 39-year-old bar owner revealed they are 'kind of taking a break' Sandoval, who is also business partners with Leviss' love interest Tom Schwartz, wrote on his Instagram that his costar only learned of his infidelity 'very recently' and 'did not condone' his actions. On March 11, Sandoval apologized for cheating on Ariana Madix with Leviss on social media. He vowed to 'reflect and work on myself' in wake of the infidelity. He then asked his followers not to take out their anger on his business partner Tom Schwartz, as well as his family and friends. 'Hey, I fully understand and deserve ur anger & disappointment towards me, but please leave Schwartz, my friends, and family out of this situation' he wrote. He continued: 'This was a very personal thing. Also, Schwartz & Sandy's might have my name on it, but also there are 3 other partners and 20 employees, who especially rely on the restaurant for income for them and their families,' Sandoval said, nodding to his new bar and TomTom, which opened back in 2018. A source recently informed Page Six that Sandoval and Leviss had been meaning to inform Madix about the affair 'for weeks.' They waited so long, though, that Madix wound up discovering their secret herself when she discovered Leviss' texts on Sandoval's phone. Insiders claimed that Madix caught sight of a raunchy selfie video from Leviss on Sandoval's phone while she was at the concert venue. Upon inspecting his texts, she saw that Sandoval and Leviss had been corresponding in a way People described as 'inappropriate.' Sandoval and Madix reportedly met up the Friday after she learned of the affair and had a dramatic confrontation about their split in front of Vanderpump Rules cameras, as reported by TMZ. A production source told DailyMail.com: 'There is more to this story that will be revealed in the coming weeks but all is not what it seems, however, it is true that Tom and Raquel have been hooking up. 'We should change the name of the show to Raquel Rules as she has certainly become the star of the show this season, giving it her all. Cooling off: Vanderpump Rules star Sandoval revealed he and Leviss have hit the brakes on their sexual relationship, after their months-long affair was exposed 'The cast should be thanking Raquel and Tom as Bravo are already talking about renewing the show for an 11th season. This is the mess that viewers live for.' 'Production has switched the cameras back on and they are catching all of the fall out as the cast react to this news. This will be the best season of Vanderpump Rules yet. A source told People the affair 'has been going on for upwards of six months - all the while, Tom was sleeping next to Ariana in bed. She was completely blindsided by this; devastated doesn't even scratch the surface of how she feels.' The insider added: 'This is someone she thought she knew; someone she planned to spend the rest of her life with. You can't even put into words that betrayal.' She's expecting her third child with husband Jordan Banjo later this month. And Naomi Banjo took to Instagram on Friday to share a pregnancy update before discussing the 'stigma' of her planned C-section. The expectant mother glowed as she posed in front of a full length mirror to showcase her blossoming bump. Beaming for the camera Naomi, who also shares Cassius, four, and Mimi, three with her husband, donned a green sport bra and beige trousers with her brunette tresses swept into a ponytail. She captioned the short video: 'Bump date, I turned 38 weeks earlier this week and I have possibly my last midwife appointment today, after lots of long chats and meetings I decided to go ahead with a planned c section due to my last pregnancy being breach and the complications involved just meant this is a safer option for us'. Candid: Ashley Banjo's pregnant wife Naomi took to Instagram on Friday to share a pregnancy update before discussing the 'stigma' of her planned C-section Expecting: The couple are expecting their third child after Jordan underwent a vasectomy 'Its not the water birth I had hoped for like I had with [son Cassius] but it means I get to meet my baby in the safest way which is most important' She continued: 'Im just grateful and taking all the positives of knowing when and how my baby will be delivered, so for now, Im counting down the single days until we meet you littlest one'. Naomi then added: 'P.s. I always like to be honest on here and I know theres a lot of stigma around birth and planned c sections' 'So Im here for the mummas who feel a way to let you know Im joining you too with my 2nd planned section very shortly . a safe delivery is the best delivery always'. Last month shares with her followers that she has been struggling with SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction), a condition which often affects pregnant women. SPD can cause pain and discomfort in the pelvic area, lower abdomen, back, groin, perineum, thigh and leg. Reaching out to her 185K followers, Naomi asked for help and advice as she shared that she has been left 'in agony' during the night with the pains. And sharing a sweet snap of herself and Jordan in the post, Naomi shared that it was taken just days before they discovered that she was pregnant. Pose: The expectant mother glowed as she posed in front of a full length mirror to showcase her blossoming bump Gorgeous: Beaming for the camera Naomi donned a green sport bra and beige trousers with her brunette tresses swept into a ponytail Honest and open: She captioned the short video: ' Bump date, I turned 38 weeks earlier this week and I have possibly my last midwife appointment today, after lots of long chats and meetings I decided to go ahead with a planned c section due' Admitting that the pregnancy has been her quickest of all three, the brunette questioned where the last eight months have gone. She penned: 'I cant believe we can actually say we are having a baby next month!! Whattttt! where has time gone! Probably the quickest pregnancy of my life. I remember this pic having no idea that in just a few days we would find out we were expecting our 3rd baby! 'And here we are just over a month away. feels magical and we are soo excited! Im so ready now!' But adding that it hasn't been smooth sailing, she detailed the agonising pelvic pain that she has been experiencing over the last weeks. Continuing: 'Although Im crazy tired having been up all night in pelvic pain! Please someone give me some tips other than a pregnancy pillow etc how do I support SPD during the night. 'Im in agony and its keeping me awake, any secret tips I can try Id be soo grateful. p.s hospital / doctors etc are aware and have given me strong medication but Im not keen on taking it. It makes me really sick and Im very much a just ride it out kinda girl butttt I am struggling and its getting to me now.' SPD pain usually goes away a few months after giving birth, with mothers given options to manage the pain rather than remove it. When a woman is pregnant, the body produces a hormone called relaxin, making the ligaments in the joint between left and right pelvic bones more relaxed, meaning it can move around more and cause increased pain. Family The couple are already parents to Cassius, four, and Mimi, three Ouch: And it seems that no more children are on the radar for the couple at the moment, as Jordan underwent a vasectomy last month Sports injuries can also cause this pain as pelvic joints are affected during the accident. Naomi and Jordan learned that they were to welcome their third child in 2022, sharing the joyous news with a sweet social media post. And it seems that no more children are on the radar for the couple at the moment, as Jordan underwent a vasectomy earlier this year. Naomi filmed Jordan walking tenderly back to his car after the reversible procedure a - which cuts the tubes that carry a man's sperm to prevent pregnancy. Naomi was heard laughing as Jordan flashed what seemed to be a slightly forced smile before she asked him if he was OK, to which he nervously replied 'yep'. When Naomi then asked him if he was sure everything was OK, he said 'yes, positive' before insisting that the procedure wasn't 'bad'. Laughing, he explained: 'The pain's not the problem. The problem is when you're so scared you have a nipple instead of a penis between your legs and then the nurse tries to tape it to your stomach, but there's not much to tape so she basically places a piece of tape over it.' Looking slightly pained, Naomi then said: 'In you get hun,' as Jordan very carefully lowered himself into the car. Emily Ratajkowski was seen trying out a drastic new look as she donned a platinum blonde wig while out on a recent photoshoot Chinchon, Spain. The 31-year-old supermodel, who is known for her long brunette locks, looked stunning as she spent time with the shoot's creative team on set, located not far from Madrid. The fashion industry figure, who has been recently linked to Harry Styles after the pair were seen kissing, switched through three separate outfits as she posed for the cameras. The model wore a dark beige crewneck sweater on top of a white button-up shirt while carrying two bags through the town. On location: Emily Ratajkowski was spotted during a photoshoot that took place in the town of Chinchon, Spain earlier this month Team effort: The 31-year-old supermodel was seen while interacting with several members of the shoot's creative team during her time on set, which was located not far from Madrid The Gone Girl actress also wore a white-and-red skirt that featured a sizable slit on its left side. She added an element of darkness to her look for the day with a pair of jet-black high-heeled shoes. Ratajkowski later changed into a white robe and matching slippers while enjoying a cup of coffee on one of the city's balconies. The fashion industry mainstay went on to remove her outerwear to reveal a light yellow sleeveless top that showcased a slight portion of her chiseled midsection. The runway regular paired her top with a matching set of shorts that exposed her toned thighs and legs. Her natural brunette hair, which contrasted well with the light tone of her clothing, was tied into a lengthy ponytail that was partially held by a black ribbon. Ratajkowski eventually switched into a slightly oversized black overcoat for the third portion of the photoshoot. The podcast host also wore a light beige top that was tucked into a pair of light brown leather shorts. A new look: Ratajkowski donned a blonde wig for much of the photoshoot, which alternatively took place in Chinchon's streets, as well as a private balcony Early in the morning: Ratajkowski later changed into a white robe and matching slippers while enjoying a cup of coffee on one of the city's balconies Staying updated: The fashion industry mainstay checked her phone during one portion of the photoshoot Switching around: Ratajkowski went on to remove her blonde wig in between shoots Layers: Ratajkowski eventually switched into a slightly oversized black overcoat for the third portion of the photoshoot The author added extra elements of darkness to her look with black socks and matching slippers. She accessorized with a pair of sparkling gold earrings and tied her brunette locks back into a tight bun. Although she is well known for her work as a model, Ratajkowski has become renowned for increasing her social media presence in recent years. The model recently spoke about her fondness for creating content for her TikTok followers during an interview with Elle. 'The more unfiltered and off the cuff, the better...I don't have to be in one box and provide one type of content,' she said. The actress went on to discuss what she found most likable about the social media platform. 'As far as the discourse that happens on TikTok, it's what Twitter wasn't able to do but wanted to do,' she said. Ratajkowski added: 'It's exciting for me personally because I can put something that feels kind of glam up, but then I can have one [post] where I'm just talking about something that I was thinking about and that would maybe be a tweet.' Fashionable: The podcast host also wore a light beige top that was tucked into a pair of light brown leather shorts Stepping in style: The author added extra elements of darkness to her look with black socks and matching slippers All dolled up: The fashion industry mainstay went on to remove her outerwear to reveal a light yellow sleeveless top that showcased a slight portion of her chiseled midsection Keeping it consistent: The runway regular paired her top with a matching set of shorts that exposed her toned thighs and legs Contrast: Her natural brunette hair, which contrasted well with the light tone of her clothing, was tied into a lengthy ponytail that was partially held by a black ribbon Shining bright: The supermodel accessorized with several pieces of sparkling jewelry The model went on to discuss her venture into podcasting and expressed that she was happy to be able to address her fans. 'I have this informal way of connecting to fans that I haven't had before, that allows for nuance,' she stated. Ratajkowski then related her foray into podcasting to the hectic quality of her life. 'I've accepted what I can and can't control, and found joy in things that I can. And the podcast is one of them,' she said. Keri Russell is back in the spy game in her latest series. In The Diplomat, the 47-year-old stars as the US ambassador to Great Britain, who is trying to avoid an international crisis. The multiple Emmy nominee looked chic in a beige and brown print top with long sleeves and an even longer tie. as she arrived at the Today studios in New York Friday. The California beauty paired the top with a gray midi skirt with slits in the front and back, offering a peak at her toned legs. Keri wore beige high heel Mary Janes with a large gold buckle. Stylish: Keri Russell, 47, looked stylish as she arrived at the Today studios in New York Friday to promote her latest project, The Diplomat She styled her long, brown hair is loose, straight layers and added a pop of color via a bold red lip. The actress, who worked for five seasons on the FX thriller The Americans as a Russian undercover operative during the Cold War, gushed as she told Savannah Guthrie, 51, about the new project. 'It was so well written,' she said. 'I certainly wasn't shopping around to get on a new show. I have a very full life at home. I have three kids at home, they're still going to school, and I just couldn't stop thinking about it.' The Netflix series required her to shoot in London for seven months, and the whole family went with her. 'As soon as school was out, everyone came. But it was great because Matthew's Welsh,' she said referring to her husband and The Americans co-star Mathew Rhys, 48. The actress shares 15-year-old River and 11-year-old Willa with her ex-husband Shane Dreary. Matthew and Keri are parents to six-year-old Sam. 'We saw all his family. You know, they went to Welsh farms... it all worked out in the end.' Chic: Keri looked chic in a beige and brown print top with long sleeves and an even longer tie. The California beauty paired the top with a gray midi skirt with slits in the front and back, and high heel beige Mary Janes with a large gold buckle, offering a peak at her toned legs Pop of color: She styled her long, brown hair is loose, straight layers and added a pop of color via a bold red lip. The actress donned dark sunglasses in the early morning sun Gushed: The actress, who worked for five seasons on the FX thriller The Americans as a Russian undercover operative during the Cold War, gushed as she told Savannah Guthrie, 51, about the new project Family time: Afterwards Keri was pictured enjoying a late lunch with partner Matthew Rhys, 48, and family at Balthazar restaurant Parents: The actress shares 15-year-old River and 11-year-old Willa with her ex-husband Shane Dreary. Matthew and Keri are parents to six-year-old Sam Casual cool: Rhys looked casual cool in a grey tee, jeans and sandals Keri co-stars with Rufus Sewell, 55, who plays her husband. He is a former US ambassador who has a difficult time remembering he isn't in charge anymore. The situation creates tension as Keri's Kate tries to keep peace at home and abroad. The eight episode Netflix series was created by former The West Wing and Homeland writer Deborah Cahn. There's action and humor in the show, which the leading lady says helps create a slow burn as the story unfolds. 'Things take a minute, and that's the gift of these limited series shows. You have a minute to kind of grow and figure out the tone.' The Diplomat is set to debut, with all episodes available, April 20. After her interview Keri was pictured enjoying a late lunch with Matthew and family at Balthazar restaurant. Tension: Keri co-stars with Rufus Sewell, 55, who plays her husband. He is a former US ambassador who has a difficult time remembering he isn't in charge anymore. The situation creates tension as Keri's Kate tries to keep peace at home and abroad. Humor: There's action and humor in the show, which the leading lady says helps create a slow burn as the story unfolds. 'Things take a minute, and that's the gift of these limited series shows. You have a minute to kind of grow and figure out the tone' Chloe Ferry put on a busty display on Friday night as she teased a new project she is is filming. Taking to Instagram, the reality television star, 27, donned a plunging halter neck orange swimsuit for a mirror selfie. Opting to go makeup-free for the picture, Chloe let her natural beauty shine through and swept her raven tresses into a high ponytail. The swimsuit highlighted her slim figure and she looked glowing as she posed for the photograph. She revealed in the caption that she is filming for a new series next week and asked her fans to guess where. Sexy: Chloe Ferry put on a busty display in a plunging orange swimsuit for a mirror selfie as she teased a filming project on Friday night Chloe wrote: 'Filming next week where do you think this series is going to be..?' It comes after Geordie Shore was reportedly axed after 12 years on screens in February. The MTV reality show - which followed the lives of partying stars such as Chloe, Vicky Pattison and Charlotte Crosby in Newcastle - was pulled amid plummeting ratings, The Sun claimed. The series started in 2011 and produced hosts of celebrities and influencers including Marnie Simpson, Holly Hagan and Sophie Kasaei. A source told the publication of the axing: 'MTV chiefs have decided the time has come to call it a day on Geordie Shore. 'The already commissioned series, which is the show's 24th, will go ahead with filming kicking off this weekend and the reunion will go ahead as planned later this summer. 'But once those have been filmed MTV have decided to rest the series and will not be commissioning any more. Think of it as resting the format rather than cancelling it out right.' The insider added that while it has been one of the most successful runs of all time it hasn't been the same for a few years so bosses thought it would be the right time. The source also claimed that the current stars of the show haven't be told the news of the axing yet and that they are expecting a 'mixed reaction' to the latest. Sad times: It comes after Geordie Shore was reportedly axed after 12 years on screens in February (the cast are pictured) The publication reported that while at the height of its success more than one million people viewed each episode - it is now said to be at around 100,000 viewers. An official MTV spokesperson told MailOnline at the time: 'Geordie Shore has not been cancelled and continues to be one of MTV's biggest shows. We can't wait for fans to see what we have in store next season'. The 24th series will go ahead and so will a second reunion series this summer. Last April MTV announced that it was producing a first Geordie Shore reunion series that aired in September 2022. OG cast members including Charlotte, Holly and Sophie returned to screens together, 11 years after the reality show first aired in 2011. Original Geordie Shore paved the way for the success of its American equivalent, Jersey Shore, and follows a group of young adults from Newcastle as they move into a house together. The reunion series included a group holiday, a long-awaited wedding and a party in the Geordie Shore house. The new series was dubbed the 'ultimate Geordie throwback' as original cast members as well as Marnie - who joined the show in 2013 - made it their mission to organise the reunion. Over: The MTV reality show - which followed the lives of partying stars such as Vicky Pattison and Charlotte Crosby in Newcastle - has been pulled amid plummeting ratings, The Sun claimed Charlotte said of the news at the time: 'I always said I would be up for taking part in a reunion show and made no secret that Geordie Shore holds a special place in my heart. 'I'm very excited to reconnect and reminisce with my favourite people and life-long friends.' The reality star originally left the show in 2016 after announcing her departure on Twitter. After the success of that reunion series it was reported there will be another this summer that will still go ahead. The first three episodes of the fifth and final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel dropped on Friday and Rachel Brosnahan led the cast in celebrating with a takeover of her character Midge's favorite store - Saks Fifth Avenue. After starting their day off by ringing the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange, the cast headed over to the Miracle Mile as part of Amazon Prime's Masiel Tov campaign. The streamer took over not just Saks, but a whole mile of the iconic street, rolling out the pink carpet and transforming it into scenes from the iconic moments of the series. Brosnahan, 32, looked pretty in a unique red, white, black and pink plaid look featuring a Catholic schoolgirl style skirt with an asymmetrical hemline, a cropped white button-down shirt that displayed a hint of her tummy, a plaid tie and a blazer with elbow-length sleeves. One side and one sleeve - on opposite sides - appeared to be the fabric turned inside out. The actress paired the look with white crew socks and black, high-heeled booties. Pretty in plaid: The first three episodes of the fifth and final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel dropped on Friday and Rachel Brosnahan led the cast in celebrating with a takeover of her character Midge's favorite store - Saks Fifth Avenue Co-stars: Alex Borstein, 52, who plays Midge's friend and manager Susie on the show, wore bright pink, wide-legged pants with a thin orange stripe down each side and around the bottom of the pants Saks Fifth Avenue: The iconic department store's windows were dressed with styles from the show's era The House of Cards alum wore her hair down, wavy and parted in the middle as she posed on the pink carpet. Alex Borstein, 52, who plays Midge's friend and manager Susie on the show, wore bright pink, wide-legged pants with a thin orange stripe down each side and around the bottom of the pants. She added a lacy camisole and oversized black blazer with puffy sleeves. Her red hair was pulled back with curly tendrils framing her face. Saks' display windows featured dresses from the 1950s and 1960s period of time the show is set in. Michael Zegan, who plays Miriam's ex-husband Joel Maisel and Rachel's real life husband Jason Ralph, who plays Mike Carr, her character's nemesis, were also in attendance. Series creators Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino were at the event as were the series stars Kevin Pollak, Tony Shalhoub, Marin Hinkle and Carolina Aaron who play Moishe Maisel, Abe Weissman, Rose Weissman and Shirley Masiel. Even New York City cabs joined in the fun, going pink for the special event. Rachel opened up about what it was like to portray Miriam Maisel and what it was like to work with her husband. Husbands: Michael Zegan, who plays Miriam's ex-husband Joel and Rachel's real life husband Jason Ralph, who plays Mike Carr, her character's nemesis, were also in attendance. Cast and creators: Series creators Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino were at the event as were the series stars Kevin Pollak, Tony Shalhoub, Marin Hinkle and Carolina Aaron who play Moishe Maisel, Noah Weiss, Rose Weiss and Shirley Masiel Pink for the event: Even New York City cabs joined in the fun, going pink for the special event During an earlier appearance on the Today Show, Rachel talked about what she learned from playing the housewife turned comedian. 'That nobody else can believe in you if you don't believe in yourself,' she said. 'I learned that I could do things I never thought I could working on this show,' the Blacklist actress added. 'So I hope I can hold on to a tiny bit of that as we move on from this chapter.' 'It was all the things,' Rachel told ET. 'I was so intimidated because we haven't worked together since we met, ten years ago I guess now, so I was really nervous for him to actually see me doing this up close, and come into my world, but it was amazing.' Believe in yourself: During an earlier appearance on the Today Show, Rachel talked about what she learned from playing the housewife turned comedian, saying, 'That nobody else can believe in you if you don't believe in yourself' Pink pants: Alex added a lacy camisole and oversized black blazer with puffy sleeves. Her red hair was pulled back with curly tendrils framing her face. Husband and wife: Michael Zegman wore a look that looked like it was taken from his character, Joel Maisel's closet 'When we were shooting the show, we spend more time with our crew and with the cast than we do with our families sometimes, so, it was amazing to have him on,' she added. Ralph first played Mike Carr during season four and is a series regular in the fifth and final season. Rachel playfully called the animosity between their onscreen characters 'therapy.' 'We got to be so mean to each other at work and call it a job,' she said. 'We had a lot of fun.' Pete Davidson gave a first look at his new semi-autobiographical series Bupkis, in which he portrays a 'heightened, fictionalized version' of himself. In the trailer for the new show, which comes out on Peacock next month, the 29-year-old former SNL star appears to be struggling with a last of direction in his life as he lands at an unknown destination without any idea when he would be leaving. When asked at Customs where he would be staying during his trip, he sheepishly admits he has 'no idea.' Next footage pans to him in his hometown of Staten Island as he returns to his mom's home, where his little sister also resides. His grandfather, Joe Pesci, ultimately gives him a hard truth to learn while telling the actor he runs 'around like a kid' but isn't 'a kid anymore.' Coming soon: Pete Davidson gave a first look at his new semi-autobiographical series Bupkis, in which he portrays a 'heightened, fictionalized version' of himself Latest show: In the trailer for the new show, which comes out on Peacock next month, the 29-year-old former SNL star appears to be struggling with a last of direction in his life as he lands at an unknown destination without any idea when he would be leaving 'You're a man, now,' Pesci tells him, before his sibling roasts him for still living at home in his late twenties. When his sister teases him for not moving out, Davidson corrects her by saying that they live with him because he pays 'the mortgage.' In a hilarious scene, his other on-screen sister asks their mom, ''Do you know what it's like people constantly ask you about your brother's [penis].' Upon googling himself, Davidson stumbles down a toxic rabbit hole of stories about whether he is 'on drugs' and mocking his eyes for looking like 'buttholes.' While the majority of scenes show him goofing around and driving recklessly with friends, the performer then confides that he tries to 'do nice things' but everyone still thinks he's 'like a joke.' The series will air in half-hour episodes upon release. The cast of the new series also stars Edie Falco, who's portraying Davidson's mother. The actress, 59, best known for her two big TV roles on The Sopranos and Nurse Jackie. Since his departure from SNL earlier this year, Davidson has taken part in several acting projects. Roasting himself: When asked at Customs where he would be staying during his trip, he sheepishly admits he has 'no idea' Living at home: Next footage pans to him in his hometown of Staten Island as he returns to his mom's home, where his little sister also resides Time to up: His grandfather, Joe Pesci, ultimately gives him a hard truth to learn while telling the actor he runs 'around like a kid' but isn't 'a kid anymore' When his sister teases him for not moving out, Davidson corrects her by saying that they live with him because he pays 'the mortgage' He starred in The King of Staten Island and was featured in films The Suicide Squad and Big Time Adolescence. Most recently, Davidson wrapped a movie in Australia called Wizards! co-starring Orlando Bloom. He also appeared in Machine Gun Kelly's Good Mourning With a U, as well as the Kaley Cuoco comedy Meet Cute. Davidson also voiced the lead dog in Marmaduke, which premiered on Netflix. India, Japan and France have announced a common platform for talks among creditors to address the debt restructuring programme of Sri Lanka which is grappling with its worst economic crisis. The representatives of the three creditor countries, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, held a press briefing on the margins of the annual spring meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington on Thursday. "The purpose of the event was to demonstrate the multilateral cooperation regarding the debt restructuring process among the creditors, together with Sri Lanka, said an official statement. Finance Minister Sitharaman expressed India's commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in dealing with its current economic crisis. She emphasised that collaboration among creditors was important to ensure transparency and equality in the debt restructuring discussions. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe joined the conference virtually. Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki described the launch of the common platform as a historical development. To be able to launch this negotiation process gathering, such a broad-based group of creditors, is a historical outcome," he told reporters at the news conference. "This committee is open to all creditors," he added, voicing hope that China, Sri Lanka's biggest creditor, will join the initiative launched by Japan, this year's G7 chair. French Director General of the Treasury Emmanuel Moulin also joined Sitharaman and Suzuki at the press conference. Joining the launch of the debt restructuring negotiation process virtually, President Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka remains committed to continuing to engage with all creditor nations and other stakeholders in a transparent manner based on the principles of comparable treatment. Wickremesinghe said he would present in Parliament the agreement with the IMF for the USD 2.9 billion bailout, gain approval and bring in legislation to ensure its implementation, his office said. Wickremesinghe's office said India's Finance Minister Sitharaman had called for close coordination among creditors which was critical to restoring Sri Lanka's debt sustainability. She stressed India's commitment to facilitating an early debt restructuring process, it said. Meanwhile in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, when asked that Sri Lanka and its major lenders have formally launched talks at the high-level meeting in Washington on the country's debt issues, said Beijing supports its financial institutions in working out a solution to resolve Sri Lanka's financial crisis. "China calls upon commercial and multilateral creditors take part in the restructuring of Sri Lanka's debt and to share the burden in a fair manner. We support Chinese financial institutions in working out a solution with the Sri Lankan side," Wang said. Early this week, Sri Lanka's Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said Sri Lanka expects China to support its effort to restructure debts and help it begin repaying its obligations. Reacting to Weerasinghe's remarks, spokesman Wang said on Wednesday that Beijing has already committed to waive the principal and the interest of the debt for two years. "As a bilateral official creditor, the Export-Import Bank of China has clearly stated in the financing support document issued to the Ministry of Finance of Sri Lanka that it will extend the maturity of Sri Lanka's debts due in 2022 and 2023, Wang said. During this period, Sri Lanka will not have to repay the principal and interest of the loan. Help Sri Lanka ease short-term debt repayment pressure, he said. Eximbank is willing to use this window period to negotiate a medium- and long-term debt disposal plan with Sri Lanka in a friendly manner, and do its best to promote Sri Lanka to achieve debt sustainability, Wang said. Sri Lanka secured a USD 2.9 billion programme from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last month to tackle its huge debt burden. The Washington-based global lender had made Sri Lanka's debt restructuring a prerequisite for granting the USD 2.9 billion bailout. The IMF's Executive Board approved a 48-month extended arrangement under its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with an amount of SDR 2.286 billion to Sri Lanka following financing assurances from the creditors. Sri Lanka, which drew its first tranche of the USD 3 billion bailout programme, has already met an instalment to pay back an Indian line of credit which the island nation obtained early last year just before announcing the debt default. The IMF bailout, the 17th in Sri Lanka's history, was approved following prolonged discussions over Colombo's unsustainable debt. Sri Lanka owes USD 7.1 billion to bilateral creditors, with USD 3 billion owed to China, USD 2.4 billion to the Paris Club and USD 1.6 billion to India, according to official data from its government. The island nation was hit by an unprecedented financial crisis in 2022, the worst since its independence from Britain in 1948, due to a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves, sparking a major political and humanitarian crisis in the island nation. Giving a tough message to Pakistan and China, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said this is a different India that can meet its national security challenges. He also Indian soldiers have now the full backing, they have the right equipment and the infrastructure. Making these assertions while addressing the Indian community in Uganda late Wednesday, he said forces, who indulged in cross-border terrorism against India for decades, now know this is a different India which will give them a reply. He emphasized that today the country can meet its national security challenges posed by Pakistan and China while underlining 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(JeM) 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. As regards challenges on the border with China, Jaishankar said 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 great heights and in very tough conditions, he added. 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 Indias 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. 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 Beijings rise. 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 todays 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 Indias national interest and that is very much that you can actually see in the personality of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, he said. An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on Thursday extended interim bail to Imran Khan till May 4 in three cases related to the clashes between his supporters and the police during an operation to arrest the former premier in the Toshakhana corruption case last month. Lahores Anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted one-time permission to Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to appear for the hearing via video link in the case. Khan had filed petitions for bail in three FIRs registered with the Race Course police station under anti-terror laws. Khan, 70, has been repeatedly claiming that his life is under threat because of which he was abstaining from attending court hearings. ATC judge Ejaz Ahmad Bhutta asked Khans lawyer Salman Safdar what he had done for which he was facing threats to his life. To this, Safdar said those who were behind a gun attack on his client (in last November) could answer this.If Imran Khan is assassinated Pakistan will descend into chaos like what had happened after the murder of former premier Benazir Bhutto, he said. There are credible reports that Mr Khan can be targeted by snipers on his way to courts and these can be verified from the law enforcement agencies, he said. In November last year, Khan survived an assassination attempt on his life. After hearing arguments, the judge allowed Khan to mark his attendance in court through a video link and extended his pre-arrest bail till May 4, a court official said. The Lahore police had booked Khan and hundreds of his party workers in three terrorism cases during clashes with police last month in an operation to arrest him in the Toshakhana case. Khan has been in the crosshairs for buying gifts, including an expensive Graff wristwatch he had received as the premier at a discounted price from the state depository called Toshakhana, and selling them for profit. He was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan in October last year for not sharing details of the sales. The election body later filed a complaint with the district court to punish him, under criminal laws, for selling the gifts he had received as prime minister of the country. Sweden has announced closing its embassy in Pakistan indefinitely due to the prevailing security situation in the crisis-hit countrys capital. The embassy did not elaborate on the nature of the threat, but Pakistans political situation is getting worse amid growing tension between the government and the Supreme Court. Pakistans Supreme Court was hearing a petition to annul a bill aiming at curbing the powers of the chief justice to form panels of his choice for different cases. Due to the current security situation in Islamabad, the Embassy of Sweden is closed for visitors. The Migration Section is not, at the moment, able to handle requests of any kind, a notice on the embassys website reads. Also, we cannot send any documents to our consulates, Gerrys, or to your home address. We understand that this will cause inconvenience. However, the safety of our applicants and staff members is of the highest priority, it said. Big Technologies PLC (LON:BIG Get Rating) insider Charles James John Lewinton sold 10,000 shares of Big Technologies stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 255 ($3.16), for a total transaction of 25,500 ($31,578.95). Big Technologies Trading Down 1.9 % Shares of Big Technologies stock opened at GBX 255 ($3.16) on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of 740.52 million and a PE ratio of 4,250.00. 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 firms 50 day moving average is GBX 244.82 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 261.59. Big Technologies PLC has a 1 year low of GBX 216 ($2.67) and a 1 year high of GBX 304 ($3.76). Get Big Technologies alerts: Big Technologies Company Profile (Get Rating) Featured Articles 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. Lear (NYSE:LEA Get Rating) had its price target trimmed by Wells Fargo & Company from $146.00 to $141.00 in a research note issued to investors on Monday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an equal weight rating on the auto parts companys stock. Several other analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Benchmark reissued a buy rating and issued a $170.00 price target on shares of Lear in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Lear from $133.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 22nd. Cowen raised their target price on shares of Lear from $165.00 to $173.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Lear in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Barclays started coverage on Lear in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $155.00 target price on the stock. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $155.69. Get Lear alerts: Lear Price Performance Shares of NYSE:LEA opened at $135.25 on Monday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $138.48 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $134.85. The stock has a market cap of $7.99 billion, a PE ratio of 24.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.33 and a beta of 1.54. The company has a current ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. Lear has a 1-year low of $114.67 and a 1-year high of $158.44. Lear Announces Dividend Lear ( NYSE:LEA Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The auto parts company reported $2.81 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.54 by $0.27. The company had revenue of $5.37 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.26 billion. Lear had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 1.57%. Lears revenue was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.22 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Lear will post 10.84 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were given a $0.77 dividend. This represents a $3.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. Lears payout ratio is 56.31%. Insider Activity at Lear In other Lear news, CEO Raymond E. Scott sold 11,261 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 10th. The stock was 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 owns 28,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,846,920. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, CEO Raymond E. Scott sold 11,261 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 28,000 shares in the company, valued at $3,846,920. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Raymond E. Scott sold 11,260 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.50, for a total value of $1,559,510.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 16,740 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,318,490. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 32,178 shares of company stock worth $4,481,445. 0.67% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in shares of Lear by 0.8% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 8,434,808 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $1,009,562,000 after buying an additional 66,914 shares during the last quarter. Old North State Trust LLC bought a new position in Lear in the third quarter worth approximately $28,000. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Lear in the 4th quarter worth $200,000. Assetmark Inc. increased its stake in shares of Lear by 84.5% during the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 9,812 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $1,174,000 after buying an additional 4,493 shares during the period. Finally, Martingale Asset Management L P lifted its stake in Lear by 41.9% in the third quarter. Martingale Asset Management L P now owns 8,076 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $967,000 after acquiring an additional 2,384 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.56% of the companys stock. Lear Company Profile (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. Read More 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. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:SSNLF Get Rating) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $40.60 and last traded at $40.60, with a volume of 150 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $40.60. Samsung Electronics Stock Performance The companys 50 day moving average price is $40.60 and its 200-day moving average price is $40.84. The company has a market capitalization of $5.24 billion, a PE ratio of 15.15 and a beta of 0.88. About Samsung Electronics (Get Rating) Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd. engages in the manufacturing and selling of electronics and computer peripherals. The company operates through following business divisions: Consumer Electronics, Information Technology & Mobile Communications and Device Solutions. The Consumer Electronics business division provides cable television, monitor, printer, air-conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines and medical devices. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Samsung Electronics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Samsung Electronics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AIA Group Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED Get Rating) by 183.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 11,274 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 7,293 shares during the quarter. AIA Group Ltds holdings in Consolidated Edison were worth $1,075,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of ED. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Consolidated Edison by 1.1% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 42,918,192 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,680,664,000 after purchasing an additional 483,980 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP lifted its stake in shares of Consolidated Edison by 98.8% in the third quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 740,044 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $63,464,000 after buying an additional 367,856 shares in the last quarter. Amundi lifted its stake in shares of Consolidated Edison by 25.8% in the second quarter. Amundi now owns 1,601,465 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $150,230,000 after buying an additional 328,235 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its stake in shares of Consolidated Edison by 27.6% in the third quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,360,277 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $116,655,000 after buying an additional 294,564 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Consolidated Edison by 7.4% in the third quarter. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 4,087,000 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $350,501,000 after buying an additional 281,500 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 64.95% of the companys stock. Get Consolidated Edison alerts: Consolidated Edison Stock Down 0.6 % ED opened at $98.08 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. Consolidated Edison, Inc. has a 1-year low of $78.10 and a 1-year high of $102.21. The company has a market capitalization of $33.98 billion, a PE ratio of 21.00, a PEG ratio of 10.23 and a beta of 0.37. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $93.61 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $92.68. Consolidated Edison Increases Dividend Consolidated Edison ( NYSE:ED Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The utilities provider reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.78 by $0.03. Consolidated Edison had a net margin of 10.59% and a return on equity of 7.79%. The business had revenue of $4.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.18 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.00 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 18.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Consolidated Edison, Inc. will post 4.84 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 15th were paid a $0.81 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 14th. This is a boost from Consolidated Edisons previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. This represents a $3.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.30%. Consolidated Edisons dividend payout ratio is 69.38%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Guggenheim dropped their target price on shares of Consolidated Edison from $97.00 to $86.00 in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Argus upgraded shares of Consolidated Edison from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $104.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 22nd. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Consolidated Edison from $92.00 to $103.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of Consolidated Edison from $98.00 to $92.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lowered their price objective on shares of Consolidated Edison from $95.00 to $91.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $90.50. Consolidated Edison Profile (Get Rating) Consolidated Edison, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the business of regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery. It operates through the following segments: Consolidated Edison Company of New York (CECONY), Orange and Rockland Utilities(O&R), Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses and Con Edison Transmission. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Consolidated Edison Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Consolidated Edison and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BellRing Brands (NYSE:BRBR Get Rating) had its price target upped by Citigroup from $34.00 to $42.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Citigroup currently has a buy rating on the stock. BRBR has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Cowen began coverage on BellRing Brands in a research report on Wednesday, December 14th. They set an outperform rating and a $31.00 price objective for the company. Stephens raised their price objective on BellRing Brands from $35.00 to $37.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on BellRing Brands from $32.00 to $39.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday. Needham & Company LLC raised their price objective on BellRing Brands from $32.00 to $35.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on BellRing Brands from $36.00 to $42.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $36.30. Get BellRing Brands alerts: BellRing Brands Stock Up 0.4 % BRBR opened at $33.78 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $4.51 billion, a PE ratio of 37.96, a PEG ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.87. The business has a 50 day moving average of $31.47 and a 200-day moving average of $26.98. BellRing Brands has a 52 week low of $20.20 and a 52 week high of $35.40. Institutional Trading of BellRing Brands BellRing Brands ( NYSE:BRBR Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 6th. The company reported $0.33 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.27 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $362.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $342.98 million. BellRing Brands had a negative return on equity of 36.56% and a net margin of 8.29%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 18.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.25 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that BellRing Brands will post 1.23 EPS for the current year. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BRBR. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in shares of BellRing Brands by 328.4% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 12,967,658 shares of the companys stock worth $299,293,000 after purchasing an additional 9,940,436 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of BellRing Brands by 183.4% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 10,814,461 shares of the companys stock worth $249,598,000 after buying an additional 6,997,877 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of BellRing Brands by 332.1% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,676,863 shares of the companys stock worth $84,862,000 after buying an additional 2,826,014 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of BellRing Brands by 1,640.7% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,725,639 shares of the companys stock worth $62,909,000 after buying an additional 2,569,055 shares during the last quarter. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its stake in shares of BellRing Brands by 11,443.3% in the 1st quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 2,384,380 shares of the companys stock worth $55,031,000 after buying an additional 2,363,724 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.40% of the companys stock. About BellRing Brands (Get Rating) BellRing Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides various nutrition products in the United States and internationally. It offers ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes, other RTD beverages, powders, nutrition bars, and other products primarily under the Premier Protein and Dymatize brands. The company sells its products through club, food, drug, mass, eCommerce, specialty, and convenience channels. See Also Receive News & Ratings for BellRing Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BellRing Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Clean Yield Group acquired a new position in shares of Newmont Co. (NYSE:NEM Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 2,800 shares of the basic materials companys stock, valued at approximately $132,000. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in NEM. Neuberger Berman Group LLC boosted its holdings in Newmont by 66.2% during the third quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 6,532,751 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $274,555,000 after buying an additional 2,602,396 shares in the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec boosted its holdings in Newmont by 103.3% during the first quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 4,489,270 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $356,749,000 after buying an additional 2,281,418 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP boosted its holdings in Newmont by 1,075.2% during the third quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 2,488,836 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $104,604,000 after buying an additional 2,277,063 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors raised its position in Newmont by 70.6% during the first quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 4,305,094 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $342,040,000 after acquiring an additional 1,781,294 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its position in Newmont by 64.9% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 4,180,152 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $175,693,000 after acquiring an additional 1,645,165 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.60% of the companys stock. Get Newmont alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades NEM has been the subject of a number of research reports. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Newmont from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $60.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Fundamental Research set a $51.92 target price on shares of Newmont and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 7th. National Bank Financial lifted their target price on shares of Newmont from C$76.00 to C$86.00 in a research report on Friday, January 13th. Raymond James cut their price objective on shares of Newmont from $61.00 to $56.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Finally, Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of Newmont from $70.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Six investment 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, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $62.06. Newmont Stock Up 2.6 % Shares of NYSE:NEM opened at $51.02 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $40.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -94.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a 50 day moving average of $46.95 and a two-hundred day moving average of $46.70. Newmont Co. has a 52-week low of $37.45 and a 52-week high of $86.37. The company has a quick ratio of 1.89, a current ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Newmont (NYSE:NEM Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 23rd. The basic materials company reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.47 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $3.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.10 billion. Newmont had a negative net margin of 3.60% and a positive return on equity of 6.98%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.78 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Newmont Co. will post 2.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Newmont Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 23rd. Investors of record on Thursday, March 9th were given a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 8th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.14%. Newmonts dividend payout ratio is presently -296.30%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Newmont news, CEO Thomas Ronald Palmer sold 11,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.25, for a total transaction of $486,750.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 322,039 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,250,225.75. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Newmont news, CEO Thomas Ronald Palmer sold 11,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.25, for a total transaction of $486,750.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 322,039 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,250,225.75. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, COO Robert D. Atkinson sold 3,000 shares of Newmont stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.92, for a total transaction of $146,760.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 84,751 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,146,018.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 28,000 shares of company stock worth $1,304,380. 0.07% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Newmont Profile (Get Rating) Newmont Corp. is a gold producer, engages in the exploration and acquisition of gold properties, contains copper, silver, lead, zinc or other metals. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, South America, Nevada, Australia, and Africa. The North America segment consists primarily of carlin, phoenix, twin creeks and long canyon in the state of Nevada and Cripple Creek and Victor in the state of Colorado, in the United States. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NEM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Newmont Co. (NYSE:NEM Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Newmont Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Newmont and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SandRidge Energy (NYSE:SD Get Rating) and Halcon Resources (OTCMKTS:HKRSQ Get Rating) are both small-cap oils/energy companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, valuation, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership and dividends. Valuation & Earnings This table compares SandRidge Energy and Halcon Resources revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get SandRidge Energy alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio SandRidge Energy $254.26 million 2.24 $242.17 million $6.52 2.37 Halcon Resources $224.68 million 0.05 -$1.17 billion N/A N/A SandRidge Energy has higher revenue and earnings than Halcon Resources. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets SandRidge Energy 95.25% 46.38% 35.38% Halcon Resources -324.96% -238.22% -73.12% Analyst Ratings This table compares SandRidge Energy and Halcon Resources net margins, return on equity and return on assets. This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for SandRidge Energy and Halcon Resources, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score SandRidge Energy 0 0 0 0 N/A Halcon Resources 0 0 0 0 N/A Institutional & Insider Ownership 17.4% of SandRidge Energy shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.1% of SandRidge Energy shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 6.1% of Halcon Resources shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Summary SandRidge Energy beats Halcon Resources on 7 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About SandRidge Energy (Get Rating) SandRidge Energy, Inc. is an oil and gas company. It engages in acquisition, development, and production activities. The company was founded by Noah Malone Mitchell in 1984 and is headquartered in Oklahoma, OK. About Halcon Resources (Get Rating) Halcon Resources Corporation, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, production, exploration, and development of onshore oil and natural gas assets in the United States. As of December 31, 2018, the company held interests in 56,900 net acres in the Delaware Basin, located in Pecos, Reeves, Ward, and Winkler Counties, Texas. As of December 31, 2018, it had estimated proved reserves of approximately 85.2 million barrels of oil equivalent comprising 50.7 million barrels of crude oil, 17.1 million barrels of natural gas liquids, and 104.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas. The company was formerly known as RAM Energy Resources, Inc. and changed its name to Halcon Resources Corporation in February 2012. Halcon Resources Corporation was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. On August 7, 2019, Halcon Resources Corporation along with its affiliates filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Southern District of Texas. Receive News & Ratings for SandRidge Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SandRidge Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC cut its stake in Gartner, Inc. (NYSE:IT Get Rating) by 2.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 56,525 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 1,290 shares during the quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.07% of Gartner worth $19,000,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its holdings in Gartner by 145.1% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 2,227,844 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $616,422,000 after purchasing an additional 1,318,892 shares during the last quarter. Findlay Park Partners LLP acquired a new position in shares of Gartner in the third quarter valued at about $145,262,000. Putnam Investments LLC increased its position in Gartner by 254.0% during the third quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 492,201 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $136,187,000 after acquiring an additional 353,146 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in Gartner by 20.3% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,029,738 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $603,766,000 after purchasing an additional 342,228 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Axiom Investors LLC DE boosted its holdings in Gartner by 103.0% in the 3rd quarter. Axiom Investors LLC DE now owns 653,014 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $180,682,000 after purchasing an additional 331,369 shares during the period. 91.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Gartner alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Gartner In other news, EVP Scott Hensel sold 3,007 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $355.00, for a total transaction of $1,067,485.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,885 shares in the company, valued at $4,574,175. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Gartner news, EVP Valentin Sribar sold 348 shares of Gartner stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $322.61, for a total transaction of $112,268.28. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,189 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,932,293.29. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Scott Hensel sold 3,007 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $355.00, for a total value of $1,067,485.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 12,885 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,574,175. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 43,031 shares of company stock worth $15,047,172. 3.70% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets Gartner Stock Up 0.2 % A number of research firms have recently weighed in on IT. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Gartner from $358.00 to $366.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Gartner from $370.00 to $387.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Gartner from $356.00 to $357.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 9th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Gartner in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $359.00. IT stock opened at $320.96 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $327.06 and a 200-day moving average price of $324.74. Gartner, Inc. has a 12 month low of $221.39 and a 12 month high of $358.25. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.13 and a beta of 1.28. Gartner (NYSE:IT Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 7th. The information technology services provider reported $3.70 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.57 by $1.13. The firm had revenue of $1.51 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.45 billion. Gartner had a net margin of 14.75% and a return on equity of 2,645.96%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.99 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Gartner, Inc. will post 9.49 EPS for the current fiscal year. About Gartner (Get Rating) Gartner, Inc is a research and advisory company, which equips business leaders with insights, advice, and tools that help build organizations. It operates through the following segments: Research, Consulting, and Conferences. The Research segment provides executives with objective insights and advice through reports, briefings, proprietary tools, access to the firms research experts, peer networking services, and membership programs. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Gartner Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gartner and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Centerra Gold (NYSE:CGAU Get Rating) and Timberline Resources (OTCMKTS:TLRS Get Rating) are both small-cap basic materials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings, profitability, valuation, risk and institutional ownership. Profitability This table compares Centerra Gold and Timberline Resources net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Centerra Gold alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Centerra Gold -9.08% -0.47% -0.37% Timberline Resources N/A -32.72% -31.30% Institutional and Insider Ownership 51.6% of Centerra Gold shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.2% of Centerra Gold shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 45.4% of Timberline Resources shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Volatility & Risk Analyst Ratings Centerra Gold has a beta of 0.82, meaning that its share price is 18% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Timberline Resources has a beta of 1.84, meaning that its share price is 84% more volatile than the S&P 500. This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Centerra Gold and Timberline Resources, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Centerra Gold 0 1 1 0 2.50 Timberline Resources 0 0 0 0 N/A Centerra Gold presently has a consensus price target of $9.42, suggesting a potential upside of 23.74%. Given Centerra Golds higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Centerra Gold is more favorable than Timberline Resources. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Centerra Gold and Timberline Resources revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Centerra Gold $850.19 million 1.96 -$77.21 million ($0.45) -16.91 Timberline Resources N/A N/A -$5.96 million N/A N/A Timberline Resources has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Centerra Gold. Summary Centerra Gold beats Timberline Resources on 6 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks. About Centerra Gold (Get Rating) Centerra Gold, Inc. engages in the operation, development, exploration and acquisition of gold and copper properties. It operates through the following segments: Kumtor, Mount Milligan, and Oksut. The company was founded on November 7, 2002 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. About Timberline Resources (Get Rating) Timberline Resources Corp. engages in exploration and extraction of mineral properties. Its projects include Paiute, Eureka, and Seven Troughs. The company was founded on August 28, 1968 and is headquartered in Coeur dAlene, ID. Receive News & Ratings for Centerra Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Centerra Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Thunder Mountain Gold (OTCMKTS:THMG Get Rating) is one of 104 publicly-traded companies in the Metal mining industry, but how does it contrast to its competitors? We will compare Thunder Mountain Gold to related businesses based on the strength of its profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation, risk, earnings, institutional ownership and dividends. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Thunder Mountain Gold and its competitors revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Thunder Mountain Gold alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Thunder Mountain Gold $300,000.00 -$1.25 million -4.44 Thunder Mountain Gold Competitors $7.96 billion $2.12 billion -6.12 Thunder Mountain Golds competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Thunder Mountain Gold. Thunder Mountain Gold is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Thunder Mountain Gold 0 0 0 0 N/A Thunder Mountain Gold Competitors 914 2143 2756 92 2.34 This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Thunder Mountain Gold and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.com. As a group, Metal mining companies have a potential upside of 22.95%. Given Thunder Mountain Golds competitors higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Thunder Mountain Gold has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. Profitability This table compares Thunder Mountain Gold and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Thunder Mountain Gold -415.33% -185.48% -59.67% Thunder Mountain Gold Competitors -400.29% -2.66% -3.18% Volatility & Risk Thunder Mountain Gold has a beta of 0.89, meaning that its stock price is 11% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Thunder Mountain Golds competitors have a beta of 1.34, meaning that their average stock price is 34% more volatile than the S&P 500. Institutional & Insider Ownership 0.0% of Thunder Mountain Gold shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 21.7% of shares of all Metal mining companies are held by institutional investors. 29.5% of Thunder Mountain Gold shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 11.0% of shares of all Metal mining companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Summary Thunder Mountain Gold competitors beat Thunder Mountain Gold on 8 of the 9 factors compared. Thunder Mountain Gold Company Profile (Get Rating) Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. operates as a mineral exploration company, which engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of premier precious and base metal properties. Its projects include South Mountain located southwest of Boise, Idaho and Trout Creek located in Nevada. The company was founded on November 9, 1935 and is headquartered in Boise, ID. Receive News & Ratings for Thunder Mountain Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thunder Mountain Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Exchange Capital Management Inc. lessened its stake in iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:LQD Get Rating) by 13.8% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 14,507 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 2,324 shares during the quarter. Exchange Capital Management Inc.s holdings in iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF were worth $1,529,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. bought a new position in iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF during the first quarter worth about $917,000. Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF by 36.8% in the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 199,030 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $24,071,000 after buying an additional 53,585 shares during the last quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF by 19.3% during the 1st quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 35,975 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $4,351,000 after acquiring an additional 5,827 shares during the period. West Michigan Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF during the 1st quarter valued at $222,000. Finally, Easterly Investment Partners LLC boosted its position in iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF by 20.5% during the first quarter. Easterly Investment Partners LLC now owns 78,338 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $9,474,000 after purchasing an additional 13,338 shares during the period. 81.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF alerts: iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF Price Performance Shares of LQD opened at $109.75 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average is $107.86 and its 200-day moving average is $106.59. iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF has a fifty-two week low of $98.41 and a fifty-two week high of $116.70. iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF Company Profile iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the Markit iBoxx USD Liquid Investment Grade Index (the Index), which is a rules-based index consisting of liquid, the United States dollar-denominated, investment-grade corporate bonds for sale in the United States. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LQD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:LQD Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ascent Solar Technologies (OTCMKTS:ASTI Get Rating) and United Microelectronics (NYSE:UMC Get Rating) are both oils/energy companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations, earnings, dividends and profitability. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Ascent Solar Technologies and United Microelectronics, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Get Ascent Solar Technologies alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Ascent Solar Technologies 0 0 0 0 N/A United Microelectronics 0 2 4 0 2.67 Volatility & Risk Earnings and Valuation Ascent Solar Technologies has a beta of 1.77, indicating that its stock price is 77% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, United Microelectronics has a beta of 1.3, indicating that its stock price is 30% more volatile than the S&P 500. This table compares Ascent Solar Technologies and United Microelectronics revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Ascent Solar Technologies $1.22 million 10.88 -$19.75 million ($0.67) -0.54 United Microelectronics $9.08 billion 2.32 $2.92 billion $1.17 7.20 United Microelectronics has higher revenue and earnings than Ascent Solar Technologies. Ascent Solar Technologies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than United Microelectronics, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares Ascent Solar Technologies and United Microelectronics net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Ascent Solar Technologies -1,615.29% -975.92% -162.67% United Microelectronics 31.24% 27.43% 16.67% Insider & Institutional Ownership 12.2% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 5.4% of United Microelectronics shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.7% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 8.0% of United Microelectronics shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Summary United Microelectronics beats Ascent Solar Technologies on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks. About Ascent Solar Technologies (Get Rating) Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. engages in the design, development, and manufacture of solar technology and power solutions for remote locations and extreme environments. It integrates photovoltaic (PV) modules into a variety of applications such as aerospace, defense, transportation, and electronic products. The company was founded by Mohan S. Misra and Joseph H. Armstrong on October 18, 2005 and is headquartered in Thornton, CO. About United Microelectronics (Get Rating) United Microelectronics Corp. is engaged in the semiconductor foundry business, which offers complementary metal-oxide semiconductor logic wafers, mixed signal wafers, radio frequency complementary metal-oxide semiconductor wafers, embedded memory products, high voltage integrated circuits, and complementary metal-oxide semiconductor image sensors. The company was founded on May 22, 1980 and is headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Receive News & Ratings for Ascent Solar Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ascent Solar Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Henry James International Management Inc. decreased its stake in shares of KB Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:KB Get Rating) by 8.8% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 54,698 shares of the banks stock after selling 5,303 shares during the quarter. Henry James International Management Inc.s holdings in KB Financial Group were worth $2,115,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in KB. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in shares of KB Financial Group by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 18,979 shares of the banks stock worth $927,000 after purchasing an additional 378 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in KB Financial Group by 1.7% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,419,748 shares of the banks stock valued at $69,327,000 after acquiring an additional 23,138 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH increased its stake in KB Financial Group by 19.4% in the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 18,669 shares of the banks stock valued at $911,000 after acquiring an additional 3,032 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in KB Financial Group by 57.9% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 8,795 shares of the banks stock valued at $429,000 after acquiring an additional 3,225 shares during the period. Finally, Royal London Asset Management Ltd. increased its stake in KB Financial Group by 17.5% in the first quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 720,294 shares of the banks stock valued at $35,226,000 after acquiring an additional 107,023 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 5.80% of the companys stock. Get KB Financial Group alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of KB Financial Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday. Bank of America lowered their target price on shares of KB Financial Group from $55.38 to $46.15 in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. KB Financial Group Price Performance KB Financial Group Company Profile NYSE:KB traded up $0.56 on Friday, reaching $36.99. The stock had a trading volume of 64,840 shares, compared to its average volume of 230,309. The company has a market capitalization of $15.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 0.95. KB Financial Group Inc. has a 1-year low of $30.14 and a 1-year high of $49.67. The company has a quick ratio of 1.73, a current ratio of 1.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.83. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $38.38 and a 200-day moving average price of $38.30. (Get Rating) KB Financial Group, Inc engages in providing financial services through its subsidiaries. It operates through the following segments: Corporate Banking, Retail Banking, Other Banking Services, Credit Card, Life Insurance, Investment and Securities business. The Corporate Banking business segment provides services such as loans, overdrafts, deposits, credit facilities and other foreign currency activities. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for KB Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:KB Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for KB Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KB Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:SHY Get Rating) shares shot up 0.1% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $82.20 and last traded at $82.14. 6,091,323 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 0% from the average session volume of 6,096,292 shares. The stock had previously closed at $82.05. iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF Trading Down 0.2 % The firms 50-day moving average is $81.57 and its two-hundred day moving average is $81.37. iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF Company Profile (Get Rating) The iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the ICE BofA US Treasury Bond (1-3 Y) index. The fund tracks a market weighted index of debt issued by the US Treasury with 1-3 years remaining to maturity. Treasury STRIPS are excluded. SHY was launched on Jul 22, 2002 and is managed by BlackRock. See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares 1-3 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 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC boosted its position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB Get Rating) by 9.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 31,241 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after buying an additional 2,669 shares during the quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLCs holdings in LyondellBasell Industries were worth $2,594,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in LyondellBasell Industries by 0.8% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 32,347,352 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $2,435,108,000 after buying an additional 271,342 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its stake in LyondellBasell Industries by 2.9% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 12,322,280 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $1,266,977,000 after buying an additional 348,169 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in LyondellBasell Industries by 205.3% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,454,483 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $458,010,000 after buying an additional 2,995,335 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in LyondellBasell Industries by 8.9% during the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,392,024 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $330,629,000 after buying an additional 360,362 shares during the period. Finally, AustralianSuper Pty Ltd boosted its stake in LyondellBasell Industries by 0.5% during the third quarter. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd now owns 4,337,383 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $326,518,000 after buying an additional 19,447 shares during the period. 91.12% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get LyondellBasell Industries alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In LYB has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Credit Suisse Group upgraded LyondellBasell Industries from an underperform rating to an outperform rating and set a $109.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $130.00 target price on shares of LyondellBasell Industries in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. Barclays lifted their target price on LyondellBasell Industries from $90.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded LyondellBasell Industries from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $100.00 price objective for the company in a report on Monday, March 20th. Finally, Atlantic Securities upgraded LyondellBasell Industries from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $110.00 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 31st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, LyondellBasell Industries has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $99.21. Insider Activity at LyondellBasell Industries LyondellBasell Industries Price Performance In related news, EVP Jeffrey A. Kaplan sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.99, for a total value of $989,900.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 47,600 shares in the company, valued at $4,711,924. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link . 0.18% of the stock is owned by insiders. Shares of LYB stock opened at $96.06 on Friday. LyondellBasell Industries has a fifty-two week low of $71.46 and a fifty-two week high of $117.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.14, a PEG ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.75. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $93.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $87.50. LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 3rd. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.09 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $10.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.73 billion. LyondellBasell Industries had a return on equity of 32.96% and a net margin of 7.71%. LyondellBasell Industriess revenue for the quarter was down 20.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.63 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that LyondellBasell Industries will post 9.02 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. LyondellBasell Industries Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 13th. Investors of record on Monday, March 6th were given a $1.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 3rd. This represents a $4.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.96%. LyondellBasell Industriess dividend payout ratio is currently 40.34%. LyondellBasell Industries Company Profile (Get Rating) LyondellBasell Industries NV engages in the refinery and production of plastic resins and other chemicals. It operates through the following segments: Olefins and Polyolefins-Americas; Olefins and Polyolefins-Europe, Asia, International; Intermediates and Derivatives; Advanced Polymer Solutions; Refining; and Technology. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LYB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for LyondellBasell Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for LyondellBasell Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE:PCK Get Rating) shares passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $6.17 and traded as high as $6.30. PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II shares last traded at $6.24, with a volume of 36,542 shares trading hands. PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II Price Performance The company has a 50 day moving average price of $6.16 and a 200 day moving average price of $6.45. Get PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II alerts: PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II Cuts Dividend The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 13th will be paid a $0.0215 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 12th. This represents a $0.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.13%. Institutional Trading of PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II About PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Hollencrest Capital Management acquired a new position in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II during the 4th quarter valued at about $73,000. AlphaCentric Advisors LLC acquired a new position in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II during the 3rd quarter valued at about $90,000. Sowell Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II during the 1st quarter valued at about $201,000. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its stake in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II by 253.0% during the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 31,450 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $201,000 after purchasing an additional 22,540 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new position in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II during the 4th quarter valued at about $262,000. (Get Rating) PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC. It is co-managed by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC. The fund invests in fixed income markets of United States. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sampo Oyj (OTCMKTS:SAXPF Get Rating)s stock price rose 7.5% on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $48.77 and last traded at $48.77. Approximately 888 shares changed hands 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 firms 50 day moving average price is $48.07 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $48.54. Sampo Oyj Company Profile (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. DNB Bank ASA (OTCMKTS:DNBBY Get Rating) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 700 shares, a decline of 93.4% from the March 15th total of 10,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 230,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days. DNB Bank ASA Stock Performance OTCMKTS DNBBY traded up $0.29 on Friday, hitting $19.06. 56,255 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 102,970. The company has a current ratio of 1.70, a quick ratio of 1.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.48. DNB Bank ASA has a 1-year low of $15.58 and a 1-year high of $23.05. The firms 50-day moving average price is $18.64 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $18.38. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.54 billion, a PE ratio of 9.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 1.26. Get DNB Bank ASA alerts: DNB Bank ASA Company Profile (Get Rating) See Also DNB Bank ASA provides financial services for retail and corporate customers in Norway and internationally. The company offers personal banking products and services, including savings and investment products; loans, such as home mortgages, and car and consumer loans; pet, home and property, travel, and personal insurance products, as well as insurance products for vehicles; retirement savings products; foreign exchange and treasury activities; and Internet and mobile banking services, as well as cards. Receive News & Ratings for DNB Bank ASA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DNB Bank ASA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II (NYSEAMERICAN:VKI Get Rating) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 65,800 shares, a growth of 801.4% from the March 15th total of 7,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 88,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.7 days. Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II Trading Down 0.5 % Shares of NYSEAMERICAN VKI traded down $0.04 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $8.78. 40,015 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 87,516. Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II has a 12 month low of $7.81 and a 12 month high of $9.99. Get Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II alerts: Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II Cuts Dividend The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 17th will be given a $0.0321 dividend. This represents a $0.39 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 14th. Institutional Trading of Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II Company Profile Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VKI. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II during the 1st quarter worth approximately $193,000. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II by 72.7% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 19,000 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $199,000 after acquiring an additional 8,000 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new position in Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II in the 1st quarter valued at $264,000. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC lifted its position in shares of Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II by 18.0% during the 1st quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 13,100 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $137,000 after acquiring an additional 2,000 shares during the period. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II by 55.8% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 18,990 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $199,000 after purchasing an additional 6,800 shares in the last quarter. 16.85% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. (Get Rating) Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II is a closed-end investment fund and trust. Its investment objective is to seek to provide a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax, consistent with preservation of capital. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fluent Financial LLC decreased its position in shares of Southern Copper Co. (NYSE:SCCO Get Rating) by 1.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 26,994 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 422 shares during the period. Fluent Financial LLCs holdings in Southern Copper were worth $1,630,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of SCCO. Accurate Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Southern Copper during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH acquired a new stake in Southern Copper in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P acquired a new stake in Southern Copper in the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. American Research & Management Co. raised its position in Southern Copper by 42.3% in the 3rd quarter. American Research & Management Co. now owns 740 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA acquired a new stake in Southern Copper in the 2nd quarter valued at about $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 7.03% of the companys stock. Get Southern Copper alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other Southern Copper news, Director Andreve Vicente Ariztegui sold 1,500 shares of Southern Copper stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.11, for a total value of $114,165.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,400 shares in the company, valued at approximately $334,884. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Southern Copper Trading Up 0.6 % A number of research firms have issued reports on SCCO. Barclays increased their price target on Southern Copper from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, January 30th. Citigroup increased their price target on Southern Copper from $40.00 to $60.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 11th. UBS Group increased their price target on Southern Copper from $48.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on Southern Copper from $45.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 10th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Southern Copper in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $60.14. NYSE:SCCO opened at $81.00 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $74.01 and its 200 day moving average price is $64.25. The company has a market capitalization of $62.62 billion, a PE ratio of 23.54, a P/E/G ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a quick ratio of 3.38, a current ratio of 4.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. Southern Copper Co. has a 52-week low of $42.42 and a 52-week high of $81.00. Southern Copper (NYSE:SCCO Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 3rd. The basic materials company reported $1.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.80 by $0.37. The firm had revenue of $2.82 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.50 billion. Southern Copper had a return on equity of 33.31% and a net margin of 26.26%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Southern Copper Co. will post 3.93 EPS for the current year. Southern Copper Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 14th were paid a dividend of $1.00 per share. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.94%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 13th. This is an increase from Southern Coppers previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. Southern Coppers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 116.96%. About Southern Copper (Get Rating) Southern Copper Corp. engages in the development, production, and exploration of copper, molybdenum, zinc, and silver. It operates through the following segments: Peruvian Operations, Mexican Open-Pit Operations, and Mexican Underground Mining Operations. The Peruvian Operations segment focuses on the Toquepala and Cuajone mine complexes and the smelting and refining plants, industrial railroad, and port facilities that service both mines. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SCCO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Southern Copper Co. (NYSE:SCCO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Southern Copper Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern Copper and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Virgin Money UK PLC (LON:VMUK Get Rating) has been given an average recommendation of Hold by the eight research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 212 ($2.63). VMUK has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Barclays lowered Virgin Money UK to an equal weight rating and set a GBX 230 ($2.85) price objective for the company. in a report on Monday, February 6th. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Virgin Money UK in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Berenberg Bank boosted their target price on 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 restated a buy rating on shares of Virgin Money UK in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on 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. Get Virgin Money UK alerts: Virgin Money UK Trading Down 1.0 % Shares of LON VMUK opened at GBX 151.95 ($1.88) on Friday. Virgin Money UK has a 12 month low of GBX 1.46 ($0.02) and a 12 month high of GBX 200 ($2.48). The firm has a market capitalization of 2.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 414.46, a PEG ratio of -0.56 and a beta of 1.99. The business has a 50-day moving average of GBX 163.93 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 162.78. Virgin Money UK Increases Dividend About Virgin Money UK The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 9th were paid a GBX 7.50 ($0.09) dividend. This represents a yield of 4.62%. This is a boost from Virgin Money UKs previous dividend of $2.50. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 9th. Virgin Money UKs dividend payout ratio is presently 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. Featured Articles 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. Wambolt & Associates LLC increased its position in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Get Rating) by 3.2% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 17,950 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 552 shares during the period. Wambolt & Associates LLCs holdings in Novartis were worth $1,628,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Activest Wealth Management purchased a new stake in Novartis in the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. increased its holdings in Novartis by 2,018.8% in the 4th quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 339 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 323 shares during the last quarter. McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Novartis in the 4th quarter worth about $40,000. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV boosted its stake in Novartis by 42.7% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 441 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 132 shares during the period. Finally, Penserra Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Novartis in the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.12% of the companys stock. Get Novartis alerts: Novartis Stock Performance Shares of NYSE NVS opened at $98.10 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $217.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.98, a P/E/G ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a current ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. Novartis AG has a 1-year low of $74.09 and a 1-year high of $98.27. The stocks 50-day moving average is $87.24 and its 200 day moving average is $86.15. Novartis Increases Dividend Novartis ( NYSE:NVS Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 1st. The company reported $1.51 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.42 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $12.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.85 billion. Novartis had a return on equity of 21.79% and a net margin of 13.75%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Novartis AG will post 6.54 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced an annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 10th were paid a dividend of $3.4694 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. This is a boost from Novartiss previous annual dividend of $1.18. This represents a dividend yield of 2.6%. Novartiss payout ratio is 71.61%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have commented on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Novartis from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, March 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Novartis from an underweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 3rd. Morgan Stanley downgraded Novartis from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 6th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Novartis in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Finally, Citigroup downgraded Novartis from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $82.63. Novartis Company 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 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. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Yamana Gold (NYSE:AUY Get Rating) (TSE:YRI) in a research report report published on Tuesday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the basic materials companys stock. A number of other equities analysts have also commented on AUY. Raymond James lifted their price objective on Yamana Gold from $5.00 to $5.50 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 31st. National Bank Financial boosted their price target on Yamana Gold from C$7.10 to C$8.05 in a research note on Friday, January 13th. Get Yamana Gold alerts: Yamana Gold Price Performance NYSE AUY opened at $5.85 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 1.00. The stocks 50-day moving average is $5.56 and its two-hundred day moving average is $5.37. The firm has a market cap of $5.63 billion, a P/E ratio of -5.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 1.20. Yamana Gold has a fifty-two week low of $3.88 and a fifty-two week high of $6.40. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Yamana Gold Yamana Gold Company Profile A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AUY. Clear Street Markets LLC acquired a new position in shares of Yamana Gold in the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Yamana Gold during the 3rd quarter worth $34,000. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Yamana Gold during the 3rd quarter worth $46,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC bought a new position in Yamana Gold in the 3rd quarter valued at $52,000. Finally, Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. bought a new position in Yamana Gold in the 1st quarter valued at $70,000. 58.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. (Get Rating) Yamana Gold, Inc engages in the production of gold, silver and copper. It operates through the following segments: El Penon, Canadian Malartic, Jacobina, Minera Florida, Cerro Moro, Other Mines, and Corporate and Other. The company was founded by Peter Marrone on March 17, 1994 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Yamana Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Yamana Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 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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 Canada has a longstanding reputation as a leader in upholding and improving international human rights and security. But, as two of Canadas most esteemed human rights defenders warned at Dalhousies annual Shaar Shalom lecture recently, the country risks losing its positive influence if citizens and lawmakers dont step up soon to address emerging global security challenges. The Honourable Bob Rae, ambassador and permanent representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York, and Lieutenant-General (Ret'd) the Honourable Romeo Dallaire, founder of the Dal-based Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, shared this and other views at the sold-out event. Rae explained that historically Canada has often been at the centre of public debate about issues of human rights at the United Nations. Canada is also one of the top seven donors to the U.N. And while Canadians should view this history with a sense of pride, he said its key to continue this role. It's very important for us to live up to that tradition . . . and to be able to reflect it in what we do now and not just what we did. To say, 'Here are the things that we need to do in the future.'" Dallaire observed that many Canadians today feel comfortable with our stable democracy at home but warned that Canada is extremely vulnerable to risks from conflicts beyond our borders that can lead to pandemics, terrorism, and human rights abuses. To prevent rage from spreading, he said we need to pre-emptively influence security and prevent conflicts abroad. We have not punched over our weight, said Dallaire. The only time we came close to it was in World War II when . . . we were one of the three armies to go across those beaches. Since then, we have not. We have so much more yet to provide . . . I fear that we don't seem to want to get our political elites to want to engage in that type of building true security and peace in the future. Rae also encouraged Canada to take risks in engaging globally. At our best, we've been creative and inventive, he said. Lester Pearson was creative and inventive when he said let's try to figure out how we can get a UN force that's able to intervene between two warring parties. Protecting children and youth This years Shaar Shalom lecture covered a lot of territory, which is not surprising given the globe-spanning careers of the guest speakers. Dr. Shelly Whitman, executive director of the Dallaire Institute, moderated the discussion. The need for a global strategy to stop the recruitment and use of children and youths in conflicts around the world emerged as a key theme. If we can give kids another avenue to go forward, we can cut off an important lifeline for gangsters and for military leaders, said Rae. They raise money through selling drugs, theyre killing people . . .This is just pure criminality. Population explosions in several countries have created a large cohort of young people who do not have enough activities, work and education, making them ripe targets for extremism, terrorism, violence and gangs. Figuring out how to engage and provide opportunities for these young people is critical, said Dallaire. Children used in conflicts create generational wars because that's all they know, he said. It's only by getting engaged with those who can in those countries influence the prevention of that recruitment that we will attenuate the use of these children. Grab your sneakers Several audience questions focused on how individuals can make an impact. Noting that 2.9 million aged 18-30-year-old did not cast a ballot in the last federal election, Dallaire advised young people to vote. You have the balance of power in this democracy and you're not using it. Dallaire also suggested that every youth own a pair of sneakers that theyve soiled on the earth of a developing country. You've actually gone and heard, felt, smelt, listened to and tasted what is actually happening to 80 to 90 per cent of humanity. Bring that experience back home, and look at those sneakers every now and again and at what you might want to influence into the future in regards to fellow humans. Rae added that there are many opportunities to become engaged, but people tend to watch the world go by while looking at their phones and emails. I just don't think we live in a world right now where we can afford to be bystanders. Leadership and intestinal fortitude Dallaire recalled joining Canada's Senate as an apprentice politician and how disconcerting it was that his colleagues were so focused on the near term. Rae echoed Dallaires take on the short-sightedness of modern politics. If another person in government says to me, What's the low-hanging fruit here . . . What are the quick wins at the UN and New York? We really have to fight back against these tendencies. Dallaire said that helping conflicted nations move toward freedom requires a long-term, multi-generational commitment. [Now] we're there for six months, or four years and then we're gone, Dallaire said. We don't have the intestinal fortitude . . . to find long-lasting solutions. We're not in the entrails of the frictions and trying to bring multi-disciplined solutions to bring that nation slowly into an atmosphere of security. Hope for the future Despite the struggles theyve witnessed over decades, both speakers remain hopeful and energized. Rae marvelled that technology today makes it possible to connect directly with citizens all over the world. Some of the most compelling meetings I've had in the last while have been with women in Afghanistan, speaking to us from Afghanistan and talking to us very directly. Dallaire said he believes fundamentally that the world will move to lasting peace if we look to our youth. If we let these younger generations maximize their potential and force us to take risksthat will give us those solutions in which we can prevent conflicts and resolve the frictions without slaughtering each other, he said. The youth of the world are so much more impatient and so much more equipped to be able to move the yardsticks towards peace than we ever were and so I put a lot of faith in that. Watch the full 2023 Shaar Shalom lecture on YouTube. The Shaar Shalom Lecture at Dalhousie University is made possible through the generosity of the Shaar Shalom Synagogue of Halifax and is co-sponsored by the Dallaire Institute, Dals Open Dialogue Live series and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. It seeks to explore themes of tolerance, multiculturalism, diversity and difference in contemporary society, and demonstrates our shared interest in bringing in-depth discussion of these themes to wider civil society. Traditional water-sprinkling festival celebrated in Mangshi, SW China's Yunnan People's Daily Online) 10:48, April 14, 2023 Tens of thousands of people of all ethnic groups celebrate the traditional water-sprinkling festival at a square in Mangshi city, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 12, 2023. (Photo/Yan Xiao) Tens of thousands of people of all ethnic groups celebrated the water-sprinkling festival at a square in Mangshi city, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, on April 12, 2023. People sprinkle water on each other to pray for blessings during the traditional water-sprinkling festival, which is the biggest festival of the Dai ethnic group. The festival was listed in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) 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 TS Chief Minister K.Chandrashekar Rao. (Twitter) Hyderabad: The observations made by Union minister of state for steel Faggan Singh Kulaste on Vizag Steel Plant in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday stating that the Centre has no plans to privatise the PSU but would continue with bidding later gave the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) a shot in the arm as the ministers celebrated it as "KCR's victory" and praised Chief Minister K.Chandrashekar Rao's bid for VSP as a masterstroke that made the Centre backtrack on its decision. Ministers K.T. Rama Rao, T. Harish Rao, G. Jagadish Reddy, and several other BRS leaders touted the Union minister's observations as a "victory for BRS" and "victory for KCR", and took the opportunity to state that Chief Minister K.Chandrashekhar Rao's strong opposition and vehement attack on the Centre's decision to privatise VSP compelled the Union government to go back on its decision. The BRS ministers asserted that the Chief Minister's pressure against the Centres plan to privatise the VSP, along with his decision to bid for the PSU and his decision to send a team of Singareni officials to Vizag for the same purpose, compelled the Centre to change its mind about privatising the PSU and announce that it would instead take steps to strengthen it. However, the BRS leaders stated that they will remain vigilant on the VSP privatisation issue and will not believe Kulaste's comments unless the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) makes an official announcement to that effect. Further, they stated that the BRS will not relent in its campaign against VSP until the CCEA, which opted to sell VSP, makes an official announcement that it will not sell it in the future. Rama Rao was participating in the B.R.Ambedkar's birth anniversary celebrations organised by the industries department here on Thursday when the news broke out about the Centre's change of stance on the VSP issue. When Rama Rao received a call from officials, he went off the dais to attend the call. Later, while addressing the meeting, Rama Rao revealed the facts of that phone call, saying, "I received a call from officials who told me that the Centre has decided to strengthen VSP rather than sell it." "That's the power of KCR's master stroke. Our CM opposed privatisation and sent a team of officials to bid for VSP through Singareni to save it from going into the hands of private players. This forced Centre to keep its privatisation plan on hold," he announced amidst thunderous applause from the audience. Speaking in Vikarabad, Harish Rao said, "The BJP government at the Centre decided to sell VSP to private players for a throwaway price. Our CM KCR strongly opposed privatisation and extended complete support to the agitation programmes of VSP employees. He decided to bid for VSP. Due to KCR's masterstroke, the Centre bowed and changed its stand. The ruling party and opposition party in AP remained mum on this issue but BRS fought against privatisation along with AP people and VSP workers. This is KCR's victory, BRS victory, AP people's victory and VSP employees' victory." Energy minister G.Jagadish Reddy stated that the BRS will not rest until the CCEA issues an official announcement that VSP will not be sold. "Since our CM decided to bid for VSP, the Centre backtracked on the bidding process for now. It's definitely the victory of KCR and BRS. But I suspect Centre would continue to conspire to privatise VSP in the future. We will not give up our fight against privatisation until CCEA issues an official statement." Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (PTI) NEW DELHI: The CBI on Friday summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with its ongoing probe into the Delhi liquor scam case on at 11 am April 16. Kejriwal was not named an accused but his suspected role in granting Cabinet nod to the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy is under the scanner. The AAP called it a conspiracy and confirmed that Kejriwal would appear before the agency on Sunday. The party alleged that the CBI has summoned Kejriwal because he spoke about the Adani issue and asserted that such notices will not deter their fight against corruption. The Central probe agency has arrested former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on February 26 in connection with this case. He continues to be in judicial custody since then. There are allegations that money raised from tweaking the liquor policy in favour of certain dealers and the "South Lobby" was diverted to the Goa elections by the AAP and, according to agency sources, is under investigation as part of the money trail. The sources said the process of policy formulation and the influence of the South Lobby, besides changes in the draft stages, were in the knowledge of the chief minister, which made it necessary to put questions to him. Kejriwal may also be asked about an "untraceable" file containing details of the expert committee, public comments when the policy was at a nascent stage of formulation and the referral of the issue to the group of ministers (GoM) headed by Sisodia. Besides, the Delhi CM may also be interrogated over his possible conversations with suspects in the case, they said. Sources have also indicated that the final role of Kejriwal, whether as a witness or an accused, will be decided while filing a chargesheet in the case after considering multiple factors. As of now, the Chief Minister is expected to answer questions as a witness, they said. The CBI is planning for an elaborate security arrangement around its headquarters and hence kept the questioning day on Sunday, when offices in the vicinity remain closed. In the FIR, the CBI has alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy for 202122 to grant licences to liquor traders favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it. "It was further alleged that irregularities were committed, including modifications in the excise policy, extending undue favours to the licensees, waiver and reductions in the licence fee, the extension of the L-1 licence without approval, etc," the CBI had said after the filing of the FIR on August 17, last year. In July last year, Delhi L-G V.K. Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the allegations that the now-scrapped excise policy gave "undue benefits" to private liquor vendors. Later in August, the CBI raided over 20 locations in Delhi-NCR and Punjab. Sisodia's house was among the locations that were raided. Describing the CBI's summons a conspiracy to arrest the Delhi CM, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, "The Delhi chief minister had spoken about the Adani issue in the Delhi Vidhan Sabha. That same day, I told him that you will be next. The Narendra Modi-led Centre is corrupt from head to toe and Mr Kejriwal's fight against corruption won't stop due to such notices." "This notice is a conspiracy to arrest Mr Kejriwal. This notice will neither be able to silence the AAP nor Mr Kejriwal," Mr Singh said. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva responded to the development, stating that the truth had prevailed. "Satyamev Jayate. From the very first day, we have been saying that Mr Kejriwal is the central figure in the excise policy scam and that it was at his instructions that it unfolded in Delhi. We welcome the summons issued to Mr Kejriwal, the mastermind of the scam," he said. Delhi congress unit chief Anil Kumar said that this summon validates our assertion from the beginning that Mr Kejrwal was the mastermind behind the liquor scam, as the PA of Sisodia had disclosed that the controversial liquor policy was formulated at the residence of Kejriwal and it was finalised with his approval. The RJD on Friday taunted the Modi government after the Delhi ChMminister was summoned by the CBI for questioning, saying it should put all the Opposition leaders in a gas chamber. "I would request the Prime Minister and the Union home minister that they should put all the Opposition leaders in a gas chamber and finish them off Nazi-style," RJD MP and spokesperson Manoj Jha said. The sharp reaction of the RJD came against the backdrop of party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family facing heat from the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate in the railway land for jobs "scam". On Thursday, Union minister of state for steel Faggan Singh Kulaste had stated that the Centre had no plans to privatise the VSP, allowing BRS leaders, including Telangana industries minister K.T. Rama Rao, to claim credit, contending that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao's staunch opposition had forced the Centre to reverse its decision to privatise the PSU. (File Photo: PTI) Visakhapatnam: The disinvestment process of the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), has not been frozen, the Union ministry of steel clarified on Friday, a day after Union minister of state for steel Faggan Singh Kulaste had made conflicting statements about it. On Thursday, Kulaste had stated that the Centre had no plans to privatise the VSP, allowing BRS leaders, including Telangana industries minister K.T. Rama Rao, to claim credit, contending that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao's staunch opposition had forced the Centre to reverse its decision to privatise the PSU. Further, Kulaste had stated that the Centre was working to address mining-related problems for the plant and strengthen the plant's autonomy. However, Kulaste later changed his position, claiming that a decision on RINL's strategic disinvestment was not within his purview because it was a Cabinet decision. Clarifying media reports, the Union steel ministry on Friday stated that the process was ongoing and that efforts are being made by the company and supported by the government to improve RINL's performance and keep it as a going concern. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha member G.V.L. Narasmha Rao welcomed the minister's statement in the morning but later in the evening stated that the privatisation will take at least another two years. Serious efforts will be made to develop the steel plant by procuring iron ore, coking coal and capital inputs, he said. On Friday, the MP met with the RINL chairman and managing director Atul Bhatt for an hour regarding the development initiatives. The CMD stated that the new expression of interest (EoI) to procure raw materials or working capital had received a positive response. The statement from the ministry, according to senior steel industry trade union representatives, was anticipated. In their meeting with the minister on Thursday evening, the leaders categorically sought the announcement from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). "In yesterdays meeting with the minister, we told him that the Cabinet has to announce the cancellation of the privatisation move and not him. Until then, we will continue with the agitation, said Mantri Rajasekhar, INTUC general secretary and chairman of Visakha Ukku Privatikarana Porata Committee. On Thursday, BRS ministers claimed that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Raos pressure against the Centres plan to privatise the VSP along with his decision to bid for the PSU compelled the Centre to change its mind about privatising the PSU. However, the BRS leaders stated that they will remain vigilant on the VSP privatisation issue and will not believe Kulastes comments unless the CCEA makes an official announcement to that effect. "After the Chief Minister intervened and decided to bid in the EOI, the Centre backtracked, and Union minister of state for steel Faggan Singh Kulaste announced that privatisation would not be undertaken immediately," Rama Rao said. He stated that, while he did not take Faggan Singh's statement seriously, the Telangana government would persist till the Centre halted the privatisation of steel plants and established a steel facility in Bayyaram. Another Telangana minister asserted that the Centre changed its position on privatisation after the BRS led the public outcry against the privatisation of the Vizag Steel Plant and the EOI bid. Meanwhile, Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan stated that his party has always wanted the steel plant to remain as a PSU since the plan has sentimental value to the Telugu people. ''When the government announced the privatisation plan, I personally met Union ministers in New Delhi to ask them to reconsider the decision. They responded positively," he asserted. Aerial view of the 125-foot statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar which was unveiled in Hyderabad on Friday. (Photo: Twitter) HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, who unveiled the imposing 125-foot statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar here on Friday, declared that the country's tallest bronze statue of the architect of the Indian Constitution was not a "mere statue" but rather a "revolution" that would usher in change in the country. The CM used the opportunity to criticise his political rivals, saying that they "might not digest this, just one spark is enough to ignite the fire and spread it across the nation" as he unveiled the statue in a grand ceremony to mark Dr B.R. Ambedkar's 132nd birthday in the presence of Prakash Ambedkar, his grandson. The CM exuded confidence that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) would form the government at the Centre after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as he unveiled the statue, which was designed to be a naturalistic image of Dr Ambedkar dressed in his trademark attire, clutching a copy of the Constitution in his left hand and pointing to the way forward with the right hand. "This is a revolution, not a statue. This is not a symbolic structure, but a guide to realising the dreams of Telangana people," he said at a public meeting after the event, adding that he would put not only Telangana but the country on the path shown by Dr Ambedkar. "I shall work until the last drop of my blood to lead the nation in the values, ideals, and principles laid down by Ambedkar," he declared. Dr Ambedkar was a political liberal who supported the values of liberty, equality and fraternity, Rao said and stressed the importance of implementing an action plan to fulfil his vision and ideal of creating a society based on these values. "We celebrate Ambedkar jayanti every year. We sing songs and hold cultural programmes. We voice our outrage at societal injustices, inequalities and discrimination. The Indian Constitution written by Ambedkar has been in effect for more than 70 years. However, there is an urgent need to bring an action plan to achieve the ideals and principles of Ambedkar." Rao stated that the BRS was gaining a lot of support in Maharashtra and that the country was looking for an ideal leader and the right party. "Our political rivals might not digest this, just one spark was enough to ignite the fire and spread it across the nation. BRS started activities in Maharashtra. It is receiving overwhelming response from people there. This will soon spread to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and even Bengal. I am sure that it will be our government at the Centre after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," the CM asserted, stating that it requires self-confidence to make such statements. "During Telangana statehood agitation at the time of introduction of the AP bifurcation Bill in Parliament, I announced that I am leaving for Delhi from AP and will step in Telangana. It happened. Now I say after the 2024 elections, our government will be formed at the Centre. We have seen political parties winning or losing elections all these years but I want to bring in politics where people should win," Rao remarked. Once in power at the Centre, Rao stated that his government would expand the Dalit Bandhu scheme, which is currently being implemented in Telangana, across the country by extending it to 25 lakh families each year. The CM announced the institution of the Dr B.R. Ambedkar award, which would be bestowed to eminent personalities in recognition of their services in different fields. The CM declared a `51-crore corpus on behalf of the state government for these awards. He said the corpus would earn an annual interest of `3 crore, which would be utilised for the Dr Ambedkar awards to be presented every year on April 14. The fencing was being taken up as per the High Court guidelines. It was taken up in four places in Dental college premises. (DC File Image) VISHAKHAPATNAM: The revenue department has deployed over a thousand police personnel to fence 4.58 acres of government land in the compound of Gitam University. The police barricaded the road from the highway to Rushikonda as also the beach road at Iskcon temple, causing inconvenience to the commuters, particularly students and office workers. A large number of residents of the Yendada area were also affected by the barricades and pleaded with the police to clear the way. Bheemili RDO, Bhaskar Reddy, leading the team of surveyors identified the land and began fencing it with barbed wire. Police said the situation was under control. Former MLA and TD leader Gandi Babji arrived at the campus and had an argument with the police officials. He said the fencing should have been taken up in one go and not in phases, as this was causing more inconvenience to the people. The fencing was being taken up as per the High Court guidelines. It was taken up in four places in Dental college premises. The buildings therein would not be touched. The RDO said they identified 40 acres of government land in Gitam University premises. Former minister and senior TD leader Bandaru Satyanarayana said the government was "creating a scene for just three acres." He said the large number of students appearing for the examinations were inconvenienced. "After suffering a setback in the 'Kodi Katti' case, the Chief Minister focused on Gitam University to divert the attention of the people," he alleged. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot. (DC Image) NEW DELHI: Stalemate continued in the Rajasthan Congress, with the partys high command roping in former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath to defuse the tussle between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot. The Congress high command has also sought the intervention of former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Rajasthan Congress incharge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who had previously threatened action against Pilot, backed off as the party big wigs were deployed to end the stand-off. Pilot met with Kamal Nath and AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal late on Thursday. Sources said the meeting was inconclusive. The senior leaders are expected to reach Jaipur in the next few days and hold talks. Many insiders feel that Randhawa jumped the gun while terming the dharna by Pilot against the corruption of the previous Vasundhara Raje-led government as anti-party activity. Post the meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Randhawa reiterated that action needed to be taken in the state. But with senior leaders stepping in to take action on the issue, it was evident that action against Pilot is not the priority of the top brass. Insiders claim there has been no action against three Rajasthan MLAs, who staged a coup in September last year and prevented a CLP meeting from taking place. Amit Shah addressing a 'Jan Sampark Samavesh' at Suri in Birbhum. Source: Twitter Kolkata: Kickstarting his Lok Sabha election campaign in West Bengal, Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday set the BJP the task of winning 35-plus seats out of the 42 from the state in 2024. The BJP had won 18 seats in 2019, and Shah has set the party the target of doubling its tally. Shah asserted that if the target was achieved, the Trinamul Congress (TMC) government also fall before 2025; state elections are due in 2026. The Trinamul doubted his target and accused him of threatening to dislodge an elected government. Shah, who embarked on a two-day visit on the eve of the Bengali New Year, told a 'Jan Sampark Samavesh' at Suri in Birbhum, "Give us 35-plus seats in 2024 and make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister again. If you can do it, I can tell you of no need for 2025 because Mamata Didi's government will collapse before that." The Union home minister also compared the Trinamul supremo's rule with that of German dictator Adolf Hitler and accused her of sponsoring the Sri Rama Navami violence in Howrah and Hooghly for her politics of appeasement. Shah accused Mamata Banerjee of planning to make her MP-nephew Abhishek Banerjee the Chief Minister to establish 'parivarwad (dynastic rule), which the BJP had abolished in most parts of the country. In yet another vow, the Union home minister said that the central agencies' crackdown in cases of corruption and scams would continue against the Trinamul leaders over their role in graft. He said that though arrested TMC leader Anubrata Mondal was behind bars in a cattle smuggling scam, he still held the post of the partys Birbhum district chief. Calling Shah's rally a "flop," TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh alleged, "He made some undemocratic and autocratic comments like getting 35 seats. In 2021 Assembly polls also, he had claimed the BJP will get 200 seats here! Let him think about starting from zero first, instead of 35 seats. BJP will have to toil hard even to win a single seat next year." The former Rajya Sabha MP said, "Most importantly, Shah dared to dislodge our government before 2025. This is a direct threat by a Union home minister. What is its relation with Lok Sabha polls? This only shows the BJP's hatred and conspiracy against Bengal. The cat is out of the bag!" Giving the message of unity among different castes and sects, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Friday that earlier we were one, but we created divisions in the form of castes which were widened by foreigners and for this country, we will once again have to become one. Also Read | RSS to hold flag march in Tamil Nadu on April 16 Addressing RSS workers here in the programme Samaj Sakti Sangam (confluence of social power), Bhagwat remembered Dr B R Ambedkar on his 132nd birth anniversary and said Babasaheb had said that an equanimous society will only lead to the development of the country. Ambedkar had said that we were defeated by foreign invaders as we were divided, Bhagwat said. Earlier we were one, but we created divisions of castes and such things like sects and the foreigners widened it. Now for the development of the country, we need to be one again, he said. Former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, who announced his decision to resign from the primary membership of the BJP after being denied ticket to contest in the May 10 Assembly elections, on Friday met senior Congress leaders, including its state unit President D K Shivakumar. Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress general secretary and party in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala were among those present. Ignoring Savadi's request, the BJP had earlier this week given the Athani seat in Belagavi district to sitting MLA Mahesh Kumathalli. Also Read | Laxman Savadi leaves for Bengaluru to decide his political fate Savadi, currently a BJP MLC, is a three-time MLA from Athani but lost in the 2018 elections to Kumathalli (then in the Congress). Kumathalli was among the group of defectors who helped the BJP to bring down the Congress-JD(S) coalition and form its government under the leadership of B S Yediyurappa in 2019. Chinese Defence Minister General Li Shangfu will visit Russia next week for meetings with counterpart Sergei Shoigu and other military officials, China's Defence Ministry said on Friday. Li's visit underscores China's strengthening engagement with Russia, with which it has largely aligned its foreign policy in an attempt to reshape the world order to diminish the influence of the United States and other Western democracies. China has refused to criticise Russia's invasion of Ukraine and blamed the US and NATO for provoking Moscow. During a 2022 visit to Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping issued a joint statement declaring a no limits relationship between the two countries. Also read | China sanctions US Congressman for Taiwan visit Li will also visit Russia's military academy during his April 16-19 trip, Defence Ministry spokesperson Colonel Tan Kefei said. The trip follows an official visit to Moscow last month by Xi that emphasized how China is increasingly becoming the senior partner in the relationship as it provides Russia with political cover and an economic lifeline during its war on Ukraine. Officially, however, China remains neutral in the conflict and has yet to offer a full-throated endorsement of Russia's actions. While Moscow and Beijing have said they would increase contacts between their militaries and stage more joint sea and air patrols and drills, the Chinese foreign minister said on Friday that China would not be helping Russia with weapons, as the US and other Western allies have feared. Sino-Russian military relations have continued to operate at a high level, and new progress has been made, Tan was quoted as saying in a ministry news release announcing Li's visit. The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era has been enriched by strategic communication, joint exercises and practical cooperation at the military level, Tan said. Military power in China is concentrated in the ruling Communist Party's Military Affairs Commission led by Xi and two vice chairs. An aerospace engineer by training, Li is under US sanctions over Chinese purchases of Russian fighter jets and air defence missiles. He was appointed minister in March at the annual meeting of China's ceremonial legislature. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. The Dutch government on Friday gave euthanasia for children under 12 the green light, permitting mercy deaths for young minors suffering "unbearably and without hope". Children over 12 can already ask for euthanasia, with mandatory parental consent until they reach 16. It is also legal for babies under a year old, also with parental permission. The cabinet's new decision comes after years of requests by Dutch doctors asking that the current age limit of 12 and older for euthanasia to be brought down. The rule change requires the government to modify an existing protocol, without the need for parliamentary approval. "The cabinet is working on a life termination scheme for children up to the age of 12 who suffer unbearably and without hope," the Health Ministry said. On annual basis this will be applicable to "a small group of about five to 10 children... whose palliative care options are not sufficient to relieve suffering and who are expected to die within the foreseeable future," it said in a statement. The new changes for children between one and 12 will bring the Netherlands in line with Belgium, which in 2014 became the first country in the world to pass a law allowing euthanasia for young children -- but with the child's consent. The Dutch protocol however says that if the child is unable to give consent, euthanasia could also be carried out with the parents' permission in consultation with a doctor, Health ministry spokesman Axel Dees told AFP. The new ruling comes after years of debate and had faced opposition even from two Christian parties within Prime Minister Mark Rutte's own ruling coalition. "This is a very complex subject that deals with harrowing situations that you would not wish on anyone," Health Minister Ernst Kuipers said. "I am pleased that after intensive consultation with all parties involved, we have come to a solution with which we can help these terminally-ill children, their parents and also their practitioners," Kuipers said. The Netherlands and neighbouring Belgium became the first countries in the world to legalise euthanasia in 2002. More than 8,700 people were euthanised in the Netherlands in 2022 according to government figures. The majority of those were suffering from incurable cancer. Chinese tablet and phone maker Xiaomi said on Friday it strongly opposed Ukraine adding the company to the "international sponsors of war" list. Ukraine's National Corruption Prevention Agency designated Xiaomi on the list, according to an April 13 press release, and reported by local media. Also Read | Russia identifies Ukrainian suspect in war blogger's death due to bombing According to the agency, Xiaomi was designated for continuing to do business in Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, reported the Kyiv Independent, Ukraines English-language media outlet. Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in West Bengal on Friday on a two-day visit to the state. During the visit, he will hold a public meeting and take stock of the organisational strength of the BJP in the state. Shah is visiting the state ahead of the rural polls due next month, and the party seeks to strengthen its organisational machinery. He arrived at the Andal airport in Paschim Bardhaman at around 12:40 pm. He was received by BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari and other senior BJP leaders. Also Read | Amit Shah to address rally in Bengal on Friday, Trinamool seeks answers on issues of concern "Amit Shah Ji is scheduled to hold a public meeting in Birbhum in the afternoon and inaugurate the district party office in Suri. He will come to the city later in the evening. and will visit Dakshineswar temple and offer puja," a senior state BJP leader said. Later in the evening, he will meet with the state party leaders and take stock of the organisational situation at a city hotel. Shah's programme in Bengal is part of BJP's 'Pravas' campaign to strengthen its organisation in 144 Lok Sabha seats in the country that it had lost by slender margins in the 2019 general election. The party won 18 of the total Lok Sabha 42 seats in Bengal in the 2019 elections. The Meghalaya High Court has refused to interfere with a trial court order sentencing former MLA Julius Dorphang to 25 years imprisonment for raping a minor girl. The High Court bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee which heard the matter on Thursday also directed the state government to provide a compensation of Rs 20 lakh investment to the victim within three months. "The term of imprisonment of 25 years as awarded by the trial court by indicating cogent reasons therefore, does not call for any interference," the high court bench said in its judgment while dismissing the appeal filed by the former MLA. "Considering the age of the convict, such a tenure could be 15 years or 20 years or 30 years or any number of years in between. The discretion that is exercised is for the benefit of the convict by not awarding the maximum sentence permissible," the judgement added. Also Read | Real impact of an ornamental national status Dorphang had challenged the order passed by the POCSO Special Judge FS Sangma in Ri-Bhoi district which sentenced him to 25 years imprisonment in August 2021 along with a fine. The HC Bench further ordered that the state should take care of all the medical needs of the survivor free of cost befitting a Grade-II officer for the next 20 years besides that she be provided with some late education programme for women to ensure that she leads a normal and healthy life. Dorphang, founder and chairman of the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council had surrendered before the police in 2007. He later contested the assembly elections from the Mawahati assembly election in Ri-Bhoi district in 2013 and won. In 2017, he was charged with raping a 14-year-old girl while he was sitting MLA. He was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act. He was lodged at the Nongpoh district jail, but the Meghalaya High Court had granted him bail on medical grounds in 2020. He was rearrested after the POCSO court convicted him in August 2021. The department of military affairs under the Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) has denied prosecution sanction against all 30 army personnel, who were accused of killing 13 residents of Oting village in Nagaland's Mon district in December 2021, Nagaland police have disclosed. A statement issued by CID of Nagaland police on Thursday stated that the crime cell police station of Nagaland police and the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is investigating the case, communicated the development to the Mon district Session court, recently, where trial of the case is pending. The SIT on March 24, 2022 had sought sanction for prosecution from the department of military affairs against the accused army personnel. "Prosecution sanction from the Government of India is required for initiating any proceedings against security forces for any actions taken by them while discharging their duties under Section 197 (2) CrPC and Section 6 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). The wives of the accused security personnel, meanwhile, had approached the Supreme Court for a stay on the proceedings in the case. The Supreme Court in an interim order on July 19, 2022 had stayed any further proceedings in the case," said the statement issued by Roopa M, the Inspector General of Police, CID, Nagaland. Also Read | One killed, 3 hurt in shooting outside US funeral home At least six daily wagers returning from a coal mine at Tiru in Mon district were gunned down by a team of army men at around 4.20pm at Oting village on December 5, 2021, during a counter insurgency operation. Hours later, seven more villagers were similarly killed during a scuffle between the security forces and the villagers, who had reportedly rushed to the spot hearing gunshots. One army man was also killed in the scuffle. The incident triggered a strong protest across Nagaland and the rest of the Northeast for strict action against the central security forces involved in the killings and withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1968 from the region. The AFSPA gives special powers to the army during counter-insurgency operations in the milianacy-hit Northeast. Nagaland government set up a SIT to investigate the case even as the army said a "court of inquiry" was constituted to probe into the case. A charge sheet was filed against 30 army personnel for their alleged involvement in the killings. The Army also admitted that it was a case of mistaken identity and promised to take "appropriate action" against those found violating the laws. But wives of the accused security personnel had approached the Supreme Court for a stay on the proceedings in the case. The SIT submitted a chargesheet against 30 army personnel (one Major, two subedars, eight havildars, four Naik, six land naik and 9 paratroopers) for their alleged involvement in the killings. The denial of prosecution sanction is seen as a setback to the families of the victims, who have been waiting for justice since the killings "This means the security forces in India enjoy absolute impunity including for murder and the judiciary cannot proceed any further in the case," said Suhas Chakma, a human rights activist and director of Rights and Risk Analysis Group, New Delhi. Mon killings timeline: December 5, 2021: 13 residents of Oting village killed by the 21 Para special forces of the Army at Tiru in Mon district. Nagaland police set up SIT to probe. December 6, 2021: Army admits it was a case of mistaken identity during an operation against insurgents, set up a "court of inquiry." December 9, 2021: Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio said the killings were a misuse of AFSPA. March 24, 2022: The SIT sought prosecution sanction from the Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence. March 31, 2022: The Union Ministry of Home reduced areas in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur from the purview of the AFSPA. May 30, 2022: The SIT filed chargesheets against 30 accused in the District and Session Court, Mon. June 11, 2022: Nagaland DGP T. John Longkumer said the army did not follow Standard Operating Procedure for such an operation against militants. July 19, 2022: The Supreme Court in an interim order stayed any further proceeding in the case. Exuding confidence that BRS would form the government at the Centre after the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday said that the Dalit Bandhu scheme would be implemented across the country after the party came to power. The Dalit Bandhu scheme, launched in 2021 offers Rs 10 lakh to Scheduled Caste families as a 100 per cent grant to start a business. The funds given under the direct benefit transfer scheme need not be repaid. Addressing a public meeting after unveiling a 125 ft-tall statue of B R Ambedkar here, KCR said the BRS party was getting a tremendous response from Maharashtra and was expecting a similar reaction from West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. I will tell you certain things. In this 2024 Parliament elections, the next government is ours, ours, and ours. Some of our enemies may not be able to digest this. But one spark is enough to light, he said. Also Read: Telangana: Congress leader Maheshwar Reddy joins BJP Unveiling the Ambedkar statue here on a grand scale on Friday, the birth anniversary of the architect of the Constitution, he said even after 70 years after the Constitution came into effect, Dalits were still the poorest in the country, which was shameful. Pitching for change in the country, Rao said political parties may win or lose, but the people of the country should win. Rao said his government had spent over Rs 1.25 lakh crore during the past 10 years (including this years budget) for the development of Dalits, as against the Rs 16,000 crore spent by the earlier government in the same amount of time. The Telangana CM said the welfare scheme for Scheduled Castes would be extended to 1.25 lakh families during the current fiscal year, and added that "Dalit Bandhu will be given to 25 lakh Dalit families every year across the country once our government is formed (at the Centre)." Speaking about Ambedkar, he said Indias first law minister was still relevant in present-day politics and it was everyones responsibility to ensure that his dreams for an equal society were fulfilled. Rao said everyone should attempt to practise what Ambedkar preached. The BRS government would allot a Rs 51 crore corpus for an award in the name of Ambedkar to be given to people in the field of service, the CM announced. Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar was the sole chief guest at the unveiling of the 125-ft statue. He too spoke at the event. Flower petals were showered from a helicopter on the statute in floral tributes to Ambedkar. Costing Rs 146.50 crore, the statue is made out of 360 tonnes of stainless steel and 114 tonnes of bronze. Opposition parties have broadly agreed to keep contentious issues aside and contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections together to take on the BJP, a senior opposition leader and former Union minister said on Friday amid efforts by top leaders of non-NDA parties to forge a united front. Earlier this week, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi held a series of meetings, including with NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav and JD(U) President Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan. Also Read | Can Nitish Kumar unite the Opposition? Yes, but not so easily During these meetings, top opposition leaders broadly agreed that they will go to the people with issues on which there is consensus, the leader said. A proposal to form a committee, comprising leaders like Pawar, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury and Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav was also discussed during these meetings to reach out to political fence-sitters, the leader said. Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party and Bharat Rashtara Samithi have not clearly spelt out their views on contesting the next Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the Congress and other like-minded parties. A suggestion for a common minimum programme of the opposition alliance was also discussed during the meetings chaired by Kharge. Rahul Gandhi's strident criticism of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar had created unease among the opposition camp with Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) saying that hurling such insults at the freedom fighter will not help the Congress. "By insulting Savarkar, the sympathy for Rahul Gandhi will go down. In fact, it will be difficult for the Congress leaders in the state to face the public as Savarkar is present in every nook and corner of the state," read an editorial in Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana' last month. Also Read | All corrupts assembling in Delhi: Bihar BJP chief slams Nitish Kumar Another issue is also the Congress' constant targeting of the Adani Group. Pawar's remarks about the Adani Group being targeted by "little known" financial research groups and the NCP leader favouring a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the group instead of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was seen as a divergent view from that of Congress. However, Pawar later said he had merely stated his views and would defer to the collective opinion of the opposition favouring a JPC probe on the Adani issue after the US-based short seller Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations against the Group. The Adani Group has denied all allegations. Delhi Police has arrested Devender Singh alias Bunty, a notorious thief who was involved in around 500 cases of theft across the country and inspired a Bollywood flick, officials said on Friday. Nicknamed "super thief", 53-year-old Singh was nabbed from Uttar Pradesh in connection with two recently executed thefts in the national capital, they said. Singh started committing thefts since the age of 14 years. He was previously involved in more than 250 cases of theft in Delhi alone, they said. Singh gained fame after he participated in the popular reality show 'Big Boss' in 2010 but was evicted after he misbehave with host Salman Khan. He also inspired Bollywood movie Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, police said. The arrest was made after a case was registered based on the complaint of a GK-II resident regarding theft of three expensive mobile phones, purse, two laptops, branded shoes, wrist watch and Baleno car on the intervening night of April 12-13, police said. Also Read: Delhi youth held for duping women by posing as rich bachelor on matrimonial sites On the same day, a second theft was reported by another resident of GK-II, they added. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chandhan Choudhary said CCTV camera footage of the area and the place of incident revealed that a middle aged suspect wearing a cap was involved in both the incidents. "The team started looked at the CCTV footage of the suspect and followed the route of the stolen car which revealed that it was going towards Noida via Alaknanda in CR Park," the official said. The registration number of the car was also ascertained through the footage, police said. "During the course of investigation, police teams of CR Park followed the footage and tracked the car till Kalindi Kunj. Meanwhile, the team checked the locations of stolen mobile phones and found one of them switched on following which its location was traced near Agra. The team instantly moved towards the location which was about 150 KM away from them," she said. The fastag of the stolen mobile phone was kept on surveillance. Fastag deductions at different toll booths were monitored, police said. The team spotted the stolen car on the highway near Etawah in UP. The team later managed to intercept the car at a toll booth in the UP's Kanpur Dehat but the accused tried to escape. However, the glass window of the car was broken and the accused was apprehended, she added. Stolen items, including three mobile phones, two laptops, five LED TVs with set top boxes, iron, printer and other ID Cards and purse of the complainants were also recovered from the the car, police said. The accused was arrested and the case property was seized, the DCP said. Rahil Hasan, brother of slain shooter Ghulam who was killed alongside jailed gangster Atiq Ahmeds son Asad on Thursday in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police, has said that his family will not accept the body of the shooter. In a quote to ABP News, Hasan said, "Whatever information we had, we had given it to the police. We knew that the police were constantly looking for him. I also came to know about the encounter half an hour ago." Also Read | 'Fake' encounters are staged in Uttar Pradesh, claims Akhilesh after killing of Atiq Ahmed's son Hasan also said that his brother had ended relations with the family. He (Ghulam) had already severed ties with the family. Whenever Atiq used to appear in court, Ghulam used to go to meet him. There was a murder case in 2007 in which Ghulam was in jail, during this period he befriended Atiq," he added. Hasan claimed that his family had no clue of Ghulam working with the gangster. "We had no idea that Ghulam was hand in glove with Atiq's family and had Umesh Pal murdered. We will not take his dead body. Mother and father have also said that we will not take his dead body (for a funeral)," he said. 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 in 2005, was on Thursday gunned down in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh police in Jhansi, around 300 km from Lucknow. Both Asad and Ghulam carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh on their heads. Just a day before the encounter, Atiq Ahmed had told the media that he had been totally reduced to dust and pleaded to the Police to not harass the women and the children of his family. The Bombay High Court has granted bail to a former engineer of BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, arrested in 2018 on charges of spying for Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI, noting he has been in jail for almost five years and the trial in the case may not conclude soon. A single bench of Justice Anil Kilor, while granting bail to him on April 3, also remarked that prima facie there was no material to suggest the alleged act was committed intentionally by the accused, Nishant Aggrawal. The HC's Nagpur bench allowed the petition filed by Aggrawal seeking bail on the ground there was no progress in the trial and that he has been in jail for four years and six months. The bench directed the accused to furnish a personal bond of Rs 25,000 and attend the Nagpur police station three times a week till the end of the trial. Aggrawal, employed in the technical research section of the company's missile centre in Nagpur, was arrested in October 2018 in a joint operation by the Military Intelligence and the Anti-Terrorism Squads (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Read | Preventive detention laws colonial legacy, must be used only in rarest of rare cases: SC The former BrahMos Aerospace engineer was booked under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the stringent Official Secrets Act (OSA). He had worked at the BrahMos facility for four years and was accused of leaking sensitive technical information to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the 'Military Industrial Consortium' (NPO Mashinostroyenia) of Russia. Senior advocate S V Manohar and advocate Deven Chauhan, appearing for Aggrawal, had argued during bail hearing that provisions of the OSA would not stand against their client. The court, in its bail order, said the prosecution's case is that of honey trap and cyber activities by alluring officers in order to trap them in illegal espionage activity. The HC noted that it was not the prosecution's case that if Aggrawal, originally hailing from Roorkee in Uttarakhand, was released on bail, there would be danger to the safety and security of the state. The bench also took note of the fact that in the past nine months only six witnesses were examined in the case, while 11 others were yet to testify. Hence, it is clear the trial would not conclude soon. I am of the opinion that as the applicant (Aggrawal) is in jail for a substantive period and as there is no likelihood that the trial will commence in near future, on this count the applicant is entitled for grant of bail, Justice Kilor observed. Moreover, prima facie, there is no material to suggest that the alleged act was committed by the applicant with intention, the HC said. A 19-year-old student of a government engineering college in Huligudda died after sustaining grievous head injuries while alighting from a moving bus here on Thursday. The deceased has been identified as L Shweta. The victim, who was in the first semester of the Electronics and Communication course in the college, used to shuttle between the hostel and college by bus. On Thursday too, she boarded the government bus and requested the driver and conductor to stop the bus at the college. Despite there being a 'request stop' at the college, the conductor and driver refused to stop the bus at the girl's request. According to eyewitnesses, Shweta then jumped from the bus while it slowed down at a speed breaker near her college. However, she lost her balance and sustained serious injuries. Also Read | Bengaluru: Youth's hand cut in half after attack by two dozen men She was rushed to Huvinahadagali taluk hospital, and doctors there advised her to be shifted to a bigger hospital for advanced treatment. However, she succumbed to her injuries at a hospital in Davangere. A case has been lodged against the bus driver and conductor at Huvinahadagali police station. Outraged students also staged a protest after blocking the road near Government Engineering College and condemning the death of the student. They said memoranda were submitted to the officials, elected representatives, and ministers on many occasions to provide a stop for buses near the college. However, no one had responded positively. The negligent attitude of the officials and elected representatives have claimed the life of a student now, they alleged. More than 540 students travel from the town to the college every day. Buses do not stop near the college, as a result of which they face regular inconveniences. Dupont Capital Management Corp lowered its position in shares of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE Get Rating) by 90.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 706 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 6,901 shares during the quarter. Dupont Capital Management Corps holdings in Sempra Energy were worth $109,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of SRE. ClearBridge Investments Ltd bought a new position in shares of Sempra Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $130,223,000. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Sempra Energy by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 28,199,642 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,228,254,000 after buying an additional 625,052 shares in the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC grew its stake in Sempra Energy by 75.8% in the 3rd quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 1,046,771 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $156,953,000 after buying an additional 451,191 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in Sempra Energy by 22.2% in the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,287,516 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $384,577,000 after buying an additional 416,022 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Neuberger Berman Group LLC grew its stake in Sempra Energy by 16.8% in the 3rd quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 2,540,802 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $381,066,000 after buying an additional 366,259 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.75% of the companys stock. Get Sempra Energy alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades SRE has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Sempra Energy in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Sempra Energy from $180.00 to $174.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Sempra Energy from $158.00 to $150.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 21st. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on shares of Sempra Energy from $169.00 to $166.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, Bank of America lowered their price target on shares of Sempra Energy from $173.00 to $165.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 28th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $167.50. Insiders Place Their Bets Sempra Energy Price Performance In other Sempra Energy news, CAO Karen L. Sedgwick sold 1,621 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.44, for a total value of $258,452.24. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 20,823 shares in the company, valued at $3,320,019.12. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . In other news, CAO Karen L. Sedgwick sold 1,621 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.44, for a total value of $258,452.24. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 20,823 shares in the company, valued at $3,320,019.12. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link . Also, CFO Trevor I. Mihalik sold 2,306 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.50, for a total transaction of $342,441.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 21,362 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,172,257. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 52,504 shares of company stock worth $8,045,547. 0.14% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Shares of NYSE SRE opened at $154.76 on Friday. Sempra Energy has a 1 year low of $136.54 and a 1 year high of $176.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.56. The companys 50-day moving average is $151.32 and its 200 day moving average is $154.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $48.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.38, a P/E/G ratio of 3.20 and a beta of 0.73. Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 28th. The utilities provider reported $2.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.06 by $0.29. Sempra Energy had a net margin of 14.74% and a return on equity of 10.53%. The company had revenue of $3.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.79 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.16 earnings per share. Sempra Energys quarterly revenue was down 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Sempra Energy will post 8.95 earnings per share for the current year. Sempra Energy Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 22nd will be issued a $1.19 dividend. This represents a $4.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.08%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 21st. This is a boost from Sempra Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. Sempra Energys dividend payout ratio is 71.90%. Sempra Energy Profile (Get Rating) Sempra Energy is an energy-service holding company, which engages in the development and operation of energy infrastructure, and provision of electric and gas services. It operates through the following segments: San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E), Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), Sempra Texas Utilities, Sempra Mexico, and Sempra LNG. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SRE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Sempra Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sempra Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. National Bank of Canada FI bought a new position in shares of Ennis, Inc. (NYSE:EBF Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 17,099 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $379,000. National Bank of Canada FI owned about 0.07% of Ennis at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EBF. Swiss National Bank lifted its stake in Ennis by 7.5% in the first quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 61,800 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,141,000 after acquiring an additional 4,300 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in shares of Ennis by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 357,657 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $6,606,000 after purchasing an additional 5,131 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Ennis by 28.2% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 95,472 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,763,000 after purchasing an additional 20,992 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Ennis by 55.0% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 13,965 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $258,000 after purchasing an additional 4,954 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in Ennis by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,131,299 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $39,366,000 after buying an additional 18,520 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.86% of the companys stock. Get Ennis alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Ennis in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Ennis Price Performance Ennis Dividend Announcement NYSE EBF opened at $20.80 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $537.47 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.84 and a beta of 0.48. Ennis, Inc. has a 1 year low of $16.55 and a 1 year high of $23.48. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $21.25 and a 200-day moving average price of $21.68. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 8th. Investors of record on Monday, April 17th will be issued a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 14th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.81%. Enniss payout ratio is 61.73%. Ennis Company Profile (Get Rating) Ennis, Inc engages in the manufacture, design, and sale of business forms and other printed business products. Its products include advertising specialties, business supplies, checks and software compatible forms, commercial printing, custom business forms, ecommerce, envelopes, and financial and security printing. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Ennis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ennis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The OnePlus Nord 3 seems to be rolling out in India and the global market very soon as the smartphone has been noticed on a few leaks and certifications websites. Its rumoured that the OnePlus Nord 3 is being tested for the Indian and global markets. Along with that, some of the specifications, launch timeline and the pricing of the device have been leaked. A known tipster, Yogesh Brar, revealed that the company has started the testing of the OnePlus Nord 3 for the global market and also suggested the specifications, launch timeline and price range. 1. OnePlus Nord 3 display The OnePlus Nord 3 is expected to be equipped with a 6.7-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with the support of up to 120Hz refresh rate. 2. OnePlus Nord 3 performance This mid-range smartphone could be powered by MediaTeks Dimensity 9000 5G chipset paired with up to 16GB RAM and storage of up to 256GB. The phone might be packed with a 5000mAh battery with 80-watt fast charging support. 3. OnePlus Nord 3 camera The phone is said to have a triple camera setup on the back holding a 64-megapixel primary camera along with an 8-megapixel sensor and a 2-megapixel sensor. On the front, it could sport a 16-megapixel selfie shooter. 4. OnePlus Nord 3 launch time The tipster, Yogesh Brar has tipped us about the launch timeline of the OnePlus Nord 3. The smartphone could be rolled out in India between mid-May and mid-June. 5. OnePlus Nord 3 price range Yogesh Brar also suggested the price range of the device. The OnePlus Nord 3 might be launched in India at a price range of 30,000 to 40,000. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. Samsung launched the Galaxy M14 5G in Ukraine in March 2023 and now the company has revealed the smartphone is going to make its appearance in India as well. Samsung has revealed the launch date and some specifications of the Galaxy M14 5G but since the smartphone is already out, we have full specifications. However, the specifications might differ between the Indian model and the Ukrainian model of Samsung Galaxy M14 5G. Samsung Galaxy M14 5G specifications The Samsung Galaxy M14 5G will be equipped with a 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with FHD+ resolution. The display will support up to a 90Hz refresh rate. In terms of performance, it will be powered by Samsungs Exynos 1330 processor which could be coupled with up to 4GB RAM and storage of up to 128GB, the storage can also be expanded up to 1TB. It will run on the Android 13 operating system and come with up to 4 years of security updates, Samsung said. It will come with a triple camera setup on the back carrying a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 2-megapixel macro lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. Sadly there is no ultra-wide lens so you might not be able to take wide-angle shots from this one. On the front, it comes with a 13-megapixel selfie shooter. The Samsung Galaxy M14 5G will boast a 6000mAh battery with 25-watt fast charging support. Samsung Galaxy M14 launch date and price It will launch in India on April 17 at 12PM and the price has not been revealed yet but Samsung has revealed the price range which will be 13,000 to 14,000. It will be available for grabs on Amazon and Samsungs online store. The Samsung Galaxy M14 was launched in Ukraine at a starting price of 8,299 Ukrainian Hryvnia which is approximately 18,000. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. 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. FIDO Taipei Seminar 2023 highlights latest trends to achieve new world of passwordless authentication FIDO Alliance, an international authentication standards organization, hosted its first Member Plenary in Taiwan in February 2023. As part of the event, the FIDO Taipei Seminar was held on February 6 under the theme of "Authentication as the Cornerstone of Security for Smart Countries and Digital Industries." More than 300 guests from Taiwan and abroad attended the event, marking the first wave of international conference attendees after the reopening of Taiwan's borders. FIDO Alliance, an international authentication standards organization, held its first Member Plenary in Taiwan in February 2023. Christina Hulka, Executive Director and COO of FIDO Alliance (front row, third from right), Andrew Shikiar, Executive Director and CMO of FIDO Alliance (front row, first from left), and Karen Chang, Chair of FIDO Taiwan Engagement Forum (front row, fifth from left) attended the conference and invited speakers and guests from Taiwan and abroad to the event. Photo: DIGITIMES Brenda Hu, Executive Secretary of the FinTech Innovation Center of the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), pointed out in her speech at the FIDO Taipei Seminar, "On August 27, 2020, FSC included in its FinTech Development Roadmap 'the research and development of a standardized mobile identity authentication mechanism for financial services (Financial FIDO)' and outlined a plan to adopt the FIDO authentication standards, so that in the future, users of financial services will no longer need to tediously authenticate themselves with physical cards or account passwords." Horn-Jiunn Sheen, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Office of Science and Technology Policy of the National Science and Technology Council, said, "With the increasing importance of information security issues, passwordless authentication has become an important technology for strengthening the security of identity authentication. We hope to maintain a close working relationship with FIDO and utilize the FIDO authentication standards to reinforce the overall security of Taiwan's digital environment." The FIDO Alliance illustrates, "The global outbreak of data breaches is expected to cost the world US$343 billion in online payment fraud over the next five years, primarily due to weak or stolen passwords. In the post-pandemic era, using the Internet for shopping, online payments, social interactions, and access to various business and government services have become a new norm for the majority of people. In recent years, hackers have been using techniques such as social engineering and phishing to steal personal information and trade secrets on a massive scale. This poses an unprecedented challenge to corporate sustainability, government trust, and the peace of mind of the general public. As a result, the zero-trust security model has taken hold in the marketplace, and identity verification is another step toward its further implementation. Various government agencies and enterprises are playing an active role in understanding the purpose of the FIDO Alliance and joining this comprehensive digital industry and government ecosystem that encompass chips, devices, software, services, and more to create a more secure and convenient service experience for users." FIDO Authentication Standards Mechanisms Are Recognized as the Best Solution for Passwordless Authentication Minister of Digital Affairs Audrey Tang said, "As the engine of Taiwan's digital development, the Ministry of Digital Affairs (moda) is committed not only to developing ideas on how to respond to rapidly-changing digital technology but also to keeping up with the times and building a more comprehensive digital trust infrastructure environment. In addition, as a member of the FIDO Alliance, the moda will participate in the development of standards that meet the needs of Taiwan and its like-minded global partners. The moda will be instrumental in introducing them to government agencies, civil society, and various industries to realize the plurality of 'interoperable co-presence.' The moda will accelerate digital transformation across sectors and safeguard national information security to promote the development of digital resilience for all." Andrew Shikiar, Executive Director and CMO at the FIDO Alliance summarized the morning session by saying, "Digital services should not be decoupled from personal information security. As data breaches continue to rise, fundamental changes are needed to prevent these incidents. FIDO authentication uses public-key cryptography, which enables simpler and more powerful authentication methods to develop the relevant standards." Furthermore, as the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices grows worldwide, so does the range of applications for FIDO authentication. In the absence of IoT security standards, devices, and network services are vulnerable to various attacks. Therefore, the FDO Authentication promulgated in April 2021 is expected to be promoted in 2023 to protect the security of IoT devices and services. Influence and Impact of FIDO on Global Policies Ki-Eun Shin, SK Telecom Principal Software Development Engineer Photo: DIGITIMES "Since accounts and passwords can be easily copied and backed up by hackers, leading to various information security incidents." Ki-Eun Shin, Principal Software Development Engineer at SK Telecom, said, "FIDO technology provides passwordless authentication methods that help improve the security of various web application services. The application of passkey certified method recently allows users to access websites at anytime and anywhere by binding a private key to the synchronization mechanism of a device or platform, thereby ushering in a passwordless era." Paul Heim, FIDO Alliance Director of Certification Photo: DIGITIMES Paul Heim, Director of Certification at the FIDO Alliance, pointed out, "The successive adoption of FIDO authentication standards by various industries and government organizations also shows that the market demand for FIDO identity verification is growing rapidly. Manufacturers of equipment or components seek to get FIDO functional certification as soon as possible in the hope of differentiating themselves from their competitors. This allows them to up their competitiveness and take advantage of rare market opportunities. The FIDO Alliance has comprehensive authentication schemes and experts, which can help companies pass certification one step at a time." Jeremy Grant, Advisor of Public Policy at the FIDO Alliance; Teresa Wu, Co-Chair of the FIDO Government Deployment Working Group and Vice President of IDEMIA North America; and Wei-Chung Hwang, Deputy General Director of the Information and Communications Laboratories of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (From left to right) Photo: DIGITIMES Jeremy Grant, Advisor of Public Policy at the FIDO Alliance, admitted, "Identity authentication is critical to the ability of governments in promoting various services and helps protect their digital assets. This will provide higher-value services to the public, and secure critical assets and infrastructure. FIDO identity authentication mechanism offers a newer and better option for governments. However, the prerequisite is that some policies need to be adjusted and revised in response to the characteristics of the technology." Teresa Wu, Co-Chair of the FIDO Government Deployment Working Group and Vice President of IDEMIA North America said, "To accelerate the adoption of FIDO in global enterprises, the FIDO Alliance will work hard to build a modern identity authentication ecosystem. The Government Deployment Working Group (GDWG) will act as a subject matter expert and internal advisor in the FIDO Alliance to help governments, enterprises, and others accelerate the adoption of FIDO solutions." Wei-Chung Hwang, Deputy General Director of the Information and Communications Laboratories of the Industrial Technology Research Institute, said, "With the rapid development of digital technology and increasing awareness of the importance of information security, Asian countries such as Taiwan, Korea, Japan, India, and Thailand have adopted FIDO standards in government, business, and consumer applications to improve service security and user experience. However, from a broader perspective, FIDO standards can be extended to manufacturing, supply chain, healthcare, and other sectors so that more people and industries can reap its benefits." FIDO Authentication Standards and Technology Gains Recognition and Attracts Attention of Governments and Enterprises Han-Chieh Sun, Chunghwa Telecom Laboratories Manager Photo: DIGITIMES In the face of various hacking techniques, governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Taiwan, Korea, Australia, and other countries have adopted FIDO authentication technologies to develop numerous government applications and provide secure services to the public. The Ministry of the Interior (MOI), for example, has been promoting the Citizen Digital Certificate for many years. Despite its benefit of high security, the main drawback is that it must be used with a card reader, which many people find inconvenient. As such, MOI has launched the TW FidO app, with FIDO authentication at its core. The security of TW FidO meets international standards. After downloading the app and completing registration on their mobile devices, users can use biometric authentication methods such as fingerprint or facial recognition for authentication or online signature, and then apply for government services such as filing tax returns without having to use cards or account passwords. This makes the app very practical. Chunghwa Telecom Laboratories Manager, Han-Chieh Sun pointed out, "The latest TW FidO app not only brings the Citizen Digital Certificate to your mobile phone, but also integrates authentication functions of its older versions, eliminates limitations imposed by physical IC cards, card readers, and desktop computers. In addition, the TW FidO app has passed the Mobile Application Basic Security Level 3 of the Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), and the FIDO2 international standard. It also meets the Digital Identity Level of Assurance 3 (LoA3). The app takes into account usability, security, and next-generation mobile authentication and signature mechanisms." Masao Kubo, NTT DOCOMO Product Design Department Manager Photo: DIGITIMES "NTT DOCOMO has been changing the world with FIDO authentication technology, replacing traditional account password mechanisms. On May 27, 2015, we launched the first phase of our project, introducing FIDO UAF to provide members with simpler and more secure usage mechanisms." Masao Kubo, Manager of Product Design Department at NTT DOCOMO, further explained, "In the second phase, iris and fingerprint recognition technologies were introduced to provide members with a more diverse user experience. In the third phase in 2020, NTT DOCOMO d Account members were provided with a passwordless authentication service." Zake Huang, AuthenTrend Vice President Photo: DIGITIMES Zake Huang, Vice President of AuthenTrend, pointed out, "According to a well-known international research report, more than 25% of multi-factor authentication (MFA) will be performed by FIDO authentication mechanisms by 2025, which is a testament to their stability and reliability. FIDO technology can be used not only in web applications but also in the internal environment of enterprises to prevent unfortunate breaches of important data due to password theft by hackers." FIDO in IoT: FIDO Device Onboard David Turner, Director of Standards Development at the FIDO Alliance, pointed out, "Today, the number of IoT devices in use around the world has grown to more than tens of billions. Yet, most devices lack adequate information security protection mechanisms. Applying traditional methods to strengthen the protection capabilities of IoT devices would not only take several years or more, but also gives rise to concerns about the effectiveness of information security protection. Therefore, FIDO Alliance has promulgated the FDO standard, launched the FDO authentication program, and conducted functional and security tests in the hope of improving the security of IoT devices." During panels at the 2023 FIDO Taipei Seminar, such as "The Imperative for a More Secure IoT" or "Global Perspectives on Passwordless Authentication," experts also pointed out that FIDO devices will be an important element in improving the security of the IoT, offering the best solution for implementing passwordless authentication in the post-pandemic era. David Turner, Director of Standards Development at the FIDO Alliance; Simon Trac, CEO and Founder of VinCSS; Giri Mandyam, Chief Security Architect-IoT and Automotive at Qualcomm; and Rolf Lindemann, Vice President Products of Nok Nok Labs (From right to left) Photo: DIGITIMES Christina Hulka, Executive Director and COO of the FIDO Alliance; Koichi Moriyama, Chief Security Architect, Corporate Evangelist, and H Head of Security Innovations Management, Corporate Strategy and Planning Department of NTT DOCOMO; Pamela Dingle, Director of Identity Standards at Microsoft; Nat Sakimura, Chairman of OpenID Foundation; Vittorio Bertocci, Principal Architect at Okta; and Paul Grassi, Principal Security - Identity at Amazon Web Services (From right to left) Photo: DIGITIMES Karen Chang, Chair of FIDO Taiwan Engagement Forum said "Like other advanced countries, Taiwan attaches great importance to authentication security. In addition to corporate members, many government agencies around the world have also joined the FIDO Alliance. The moda, for example, applied for membership in FIDO the same year it was established to create a highly secure application environment using FIDO authentication. Moreover, the TW FidO app, developed many years ago by MOI, has successfully connected to the Ministry of Finance's tax payment query system." Given Taiwan's key global position in the semiconductor, and information and communications industries, the FIDO Taiwan Engagement Forum was established in 2021 under the leadership of Egis Technology to more closely support and interact with the domestic community. In addition to keynote speeches, several FIDO members and partners presented various FIDO certified-based demos, such as Zero-Trust Strategy Solution by ITRI, FIDO Mobile Public-Key Solution by TWCA, Keypasco FIDO Multi-Factor Authentication Solution by Lydsec Digital Technology, FIDO Passwordless Zero-Trust Approach Solution by WebComm, FIDO Security Authentication Platform by GoTrustID, FIDO Product Series by WiSECURE Technologies, and FIDO Biometrics Solution by FIME Asia. The demos showcased the relevant application solutions, attracting much attention and offering first-hand experience to guests. IC Design competition: Taiwan vs China A recent DIGITIMES Research report shows that China has more IC design companies with revenue exceeding $100 million than Taiwan. While the difference in the number of papers presented at ISSCC between the two sides was not significant until 2020, Chinese companies have now surged ahead, indicating China's growing strength. However, Taiwanese companies face challenges in developing more advanced process technology beyond 28nm, compared to China's comprehensive approach in advancing from mature processes to leading-edge nodes. As a result, Taiwanese companies are among the hardest hit by China's full-scale development of the semiconductor industry. Despite facing pressure from the United States and dealing with multiple regulations, Taiwan-based businesses have some breathing room. However, Chinese companies are posing a significant threat to Taiwan by actively developing in mature processes, implementing import substitution policies, benefiting from China's subsidy policies, and booming mobile phone and EMS manufacturing industries. Chinese IC design companies are eyeing SoCs in consumer electronics for smart TVs, Android tablets, true wireless earbuds (TWS), set-top boxes, as well as display driver ICs, power management ICs, and analog signal processing components. As most Taiwanese companies are relatively small, consolidating resources will be a significant challenge for them. If the overall trend remains unchanged, Taiwan's global market share in the IC design industry will drop from 18% to 17% by 2026, while China's market share will increase from 15% to 18%, making it the world's second-largest IC design country. Source: DIGITIMES Reseearch, January 2023 The aforementioned assumptions are established in the current industry landscape, yet China faces as many challenges as Taiwan does. China's IC design industry output value is only $31.5 billion, with over 120,000 employees, suggesting that China's labor efficiency and unit output value are not optimal. Inexperienced players are also vying for industry resources, compounded by government subsidies leading to the issue of excess resources with limited talent pool. The most significant difference is that, amid the US-China trade war, China must depend more on its domestic market, while Taiwan has pursued OEM opportunities in China's local market and from European and American clients. The growth momentum of the "red supply chain" in the coming years will be a determining factor for the development of China's IC design industry. Industry players are now focusing on the opportunities in the automotive and industrial control sectors. For the past 20 years, China's infrastructure construction has presented a golden opportunity for industrial control players, coupled with the demand for the Belt and Road Initiative, creating enormous business opportunities. However, as infrastructure reaches saturation, relying solely on domestic business opportunities to fuel industry development will pose a challenge for Chinese industry players. In addition, the global production of electric vehicles is expected to reach nearly 10 million units in 2022, with Chinese players contributing as much as 59%. If this trend continues, China is poised to become a global leader in electric vehicle production, which will also drive demand for related semiconductors. China's EVs hit bumps on its road due to quality concerns and intense price competition in the domestic market since early 2023, which has thrown a harsh spotlight on the Chinese automotive semiconductor industry. This is a hidden concern for the development of China's IC design industry. To summarize, China no longer has an "ace up its sleeve" in the global market, and it will face real and possibly even reverse balancing in the future. It remains unclear whether Chinese industry players, who have lost their domestic market advantages and lack national protection, can still stand out as leaders in the industry. The DIGITIMES Research special report you are trying to open is sold a-la-carte and is also available withservices. Please sign in if you wish to continue. Global smartphone application processor (AP) shipments are expected to come to 1.114 billion units in 2023, down 11.8% on year, mainly due to declining smartphone shipments and slow AP inventory depletion. Abstract The top-3 smartphone AP suppliers worldwide MediaTek, Qualcomm, and Apple will all experience a shipment decline from a year ago in 2023. MediaTek will remain the largest supplier, followed by Qualcomm. It is also noteworthy that Samsung Electronics' reorganization of its Exynos AP product line will lead to the Korean smartphone brand placing a large volume of AP orders with Qualcomm. Meanwhile, MediaTek is expected to sustain a minor impact from Oppo kicking off the volume production of its in-house developed processors in 2023. Large pile-ups of excess AP inventory are still being stored at smartphone brands, channel operators, and assemblers and will result in brands decelerating their AP orders in first-half 2023. Table of contents Will Germany settle for 28nm? TSMC's presence highlights misalignment between Berlin's semiconductor and defense policies The vast stretch of land lying a kilometer north of the German city of Grossenhain, Saxony has long been a part of the country's military history: at the onset of World War 1, the fighter pilot Manfred von Richthofen, better known as the "Red Baron", received his training at the site. Though the military airport of Grossenhain took on a civilian role ever since the fall of the Iron Curtain, the site still play a role in the country's national security: as a part of Germany's bid to attract advanced semiconductor foundries, the Saxony state government seeks to convert the space into a 145-hectare industrial park, with TSMC in mind. The lack of readily available land in the region, according to sources, drove Intel to select the city of Magdeburg located in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. As Oliver Schenk, the State Minister of Saxony, told German media, investments and settlement decisions in the past have shown how important it is to make space provisions for large-scale projects. According to sources, TSMC is to partner with Bosch as well as two other European players connected to the auto industry to jointly finance the fab, reportedly targeting special process technology at 28nm. Though the legacy node would undoubtedly address the chip supply gap constraining the German auto industry, discussion around TSMC's subsequent technology offerings in Germany would inevitably highlight a potential gap in Berlin's strategic thinking. As evident in the US CHIPS Act totaling US$278 billion, US$2 billion of which is allocated to the CHIPS for America Defense Fund designated to strengthen American defense industry, not to mention that the funding for commercial players like Intel and GlobalFoundries also indirectly support the country's military-industrial base: GlobalFoundries operates fabs that have received "Trusted Foundry" status from the US Department of Defense, while Intel Foundry Services counts the Department of Defense as its No. 1 customer. In comparison, policymakers in Berlin appear slow to align the country's chip policy with national security strategy. Yesterday on April 13, at the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission hearing titled "China's Pursuit of Defense Technologies: Implications for US and Multilateral Export Control and Investment Screening Regimes", Gregory Allen, Director of Wadhwani Center for AI and Advanced Technologies under the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), stressed the significant role of Germany, alongside the Netherlands, in joining the US-led chip export controls against China. Though Germany is not a leader in semiconductor manufacturing equipment, the country is nevertheless a major leader in the supply of manufacturing equipment components, namely the lasers and mirrors found inside ASML's lithography machines and other items, according to Allen. "We have not seen any movement from the German government or the European Union as a whole related to this type of export control," said Allen at the hearing. Soon after Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine in February 2022, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged a EUR 100 billion special fund dedicated to the country's military, the Bundeswehr. Surprisingly, according to a leading German scholar familiar with the country's technology policy, "there's almost no connection on the policy side between German semiconductor policy and German military and national security policy," according to the scholar who requests anonymity. Despite the EU Chips Act, according to the scholar, Germany lacks a clear semiconductor strategy, and its investment/subsidy policy is not at all informed by the needs of its military base. The view is echoed by an official involved with German semiconductor policy who remarked that national security is not all connected to Germany's chip policy at this stage, including the EUR 100 billion budget for the Bundeswehr. TSMC previously noted that its overseas facilities may account for 20% or more of its overall 28nm and more advanced capacity in five years or later, depending on customer needs and government support. Currently, GlobalFoundries' 12nm process in Dresden is the most advanced process node available in Germany. While Berlin might settle for TSMC's reportedly 28nm offering in the short term, whether or not TSMC will introduce more advanced nodes on Germain soils partly hinges on how Berlin evaluates its own security needs: does its chip policy need a military dimension? If so, what kind of semiconductor manufacturing capability will meet Germany's future defense needs? The Grossenhain military airport was also used by East Germany at the height of the Cold War. Credit: Wiki Commons CORK City Council has advertised a vacancy for the new position of special advisor to help drive and support a more sustainable night-time economy. In a press statement, the Council said its new night-time economy advisor would deliver on the Councils objective to strengthen the citys night-time economy and broaden the appeal of the citys night-time offerings to visitors and families. The Night-Time Advisor Pilot initiative was announced in October of last year, alongside proposals to reform Irelands licencing laws. The Council said its night-time economy advisor would play an integral role in working with and supporting key stakeholders across the city such as An Garda Siochana, culture and creativity teams, late night artists and promoters, residents associations, and Purple Flag and others to promote Corks night-time economy to both national and international visitors. John Hayes, City Centre Coordinator for Cork City Council, said the Council was looking forward to engaging a night-time economy advisor. Kevin Herlihy, president of the Cork Business Association, described the position as a really positive development. In Cork, we have a fabulous city with so much to offer during the daytime and into the night and the person that gets this job really has an opportunity to further build the reputation of Cork City as a place to visit and enjoy, Mr Herlihy said. Peter Horgan, Labour local area representative for Cork city, said the person appointed to the role needed to be given the tools to succeed. "I particularly welcome the news that night-time advisor hiring process has begun," said Mr Horgan. We need to ensure that no obstacles are placed in their path to reinvigorate the night time economy. I particularly want to see their remit expand beyond the city centre to suburban towns like Douglas and Carrigaline to ensure there is a consistent and equitable approach, he said. This is a pilot project that has the potential to do so much good. I hope it is funded right through and successful for a new night time economy that embraces all sides of society. John Hayes, City Centre Coordinator for Cork City Council, said the Council was looking forward to engaging a night-time economy advisor. Currently the stakeholders in the night-time economy, including the City Council and An Garda Siochana, work together in partnership to improve the offering, and the addition of a night-time economy advisor will strengthen and further develop these relationships, all to the benefit of Cork cities night-time offering, Mr Hayes said. The role of the night-time economy advisor will be key to growing a more sustainable night-life for all, encouraging diversity, innovation, new partnerships and creativity." Picture: Denis Minihane. Cork City Council said the role would be best suited to individuals with leadership and negotiation skills who have previously worked in roles such as communications, event management, cultural and creative project management, promotion or education, and public engagement. In addition to Cork city, Dublin city, Limerick city, Galway city, Kilkenny, Drogheda, Sligo, Buncrana and Longford town were also been selected by an independent review panel led by the City and County Management Association (CCMA) to take part in the pilot project. The Night-Time Economy Taskforce was established in 2020 by Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, and Councillor Joe Kavanagh, then Lord Mayor of Cork, was a member of the taskforce. Minister Martin said she was happy to see Cork city recruiting for the new role and pleased that her department was supporting the position. The role of the night-time economy advisor will be key to growing a more sustainable night-life for all, encouraging diversity, innovation, new partnerships and creativity, she said. I look forward to seeing the outcome of this pilot and thanks to Cork City Council for their ambition in relation to growing the offering in Cork city. To learn more about the role visit www.localgovernmentjobs.ie RECRUITMENT of teachers is now a problem for all kinds of reasons, said Donal McElligott the TUI (Teachers Union of Ireland) Area Representative Cork. The TUI annual congress was held over three days this week in Cork, at which members voiced fears about the recruitment of teachers, said Mr McElligott. The profession is not as attractive as it used to be. Nobody is there to replace staff who are out sick or on any other kind of leave and they are not there to fill vacant jobs. Schools are beginning to drop subjects as a result, he said. The TUI area representative for Cork said they had visits from two ministers, Higher and Further Education Minister Simon Harris and Education Minister Norma Foley during the congress. In Norma Foleys speech, there really was no major announcement about any current issues. What was disappointing was that there was no further information on the senior cycle reform which she has deferred. We are delighted it has been deferred, but we are hoping Minister Foley will enter discussions with the stakeholders, including the TUI. Our red line area in that is that teachers will not be correcting their own students work. Minister Harris gave a very different kind of speech. The only new information was that there would be new contracts for tutors. We await more information on that. Mr McElligott welcomed Ms Foley saying that posts of responsibility should be looked at and possibly restored. Posts of responsibilities are extra jobs in schools that would help to retain people in the profession and help to develop a career path. They are opportunities for career advancement and provide support for students. The workload at secondary level and in higher education and the bureaucracy that teachers have to follow means we now have endless paperwork. Mr McElligott said reducing the required two years of study teachers must do to graduate with a professional master of education would also help to retain numbers. You do four years in college and then two years in a professional master of education (PME). There is no need for this to be two years. It is an extra cost and imposition. Cork City native John Driscoll, who stepped down from his role as president of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) this week, said salary and cost of living were big issues at its annual conference. I now have an honorary position on the executive. The general feeling is that it was a successful conference. Salary and the cost of living was a big issue. It is the same thing for everybody, he said. The INTO this week supported calls for an additional payment to compensate members for the higher cost of living in urban areas. Mr Driscoll said schools in large areas are finding it hard to recruit. We passed a motion looking for an allowance for people living in rent-pressured areas. It is a reality that schools in large areas are finding it hard to appoint teachers to permanent positions. I know it is a wider question in terms of the costs of housing and rent. What do you do if you are a worker and you are trying to bridge that gap? You have to look for it in your salary. The general cost-of-living crisis is affecting everybody no matter where they are teaching. I would say Minister Foleys speech went down fairly well, he said. She did express her appreciation for the work teachers do on a daily basis. She does recognise the difficulties but we need to see results in action. We need to see the class size coming down. We need to get to the European average of 1:20 in a class. Mr Driscoll said he enjoyed his one-year term as president of the INTO. It was the most fulfilling year of my professional career. I really enjoyed visiting schools and talking to pupils. A MOTION that Cork City Council should not evict its own council tenants was deferred to another special meeting on housing later this month, due to opposition. Corks An Rabharta Glas leader, councillor Lorna Bogue, forwarded three motions concerning housing at this weeks meeting of Cork City Council. Ms Bogue asked that her first motion be decided at the meeting rather than going to a committee meeting later. Ms Bogue called on Cork City Council to maintain a moratorium on the eviction of social housing tenants who are not in their probationary period, notwithstanding the Governments ending of the national eviction ban. The motion was deferred to a meeting of a housing strategic policy committee (SPC) for debate on April 19 next, due to opposition from some members of Coalition parties Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, and the Green Party. Ms Bogue said Cork City Council should extend its own eviction ban for its tenants, because thats something that is in our power to do. The council isnt going out there and throwing people out on the street, she said. Its very difficult to evict someone from social housing anyway. I thought for us as a housing authority, it would be important to use our own position within the market just to say that we dont agree with the eviction ban being lifted, and we are going to put actions behind our words here, and we are not going to evict tenants. I requested a suspension of standing orders, instead of leaving it for a month or two months. A simple decision, a simple message: the Government has lifted the eviction ban, but we as a landlord are not going to do that. Some Fianna Fail councillors supported the motion. Cork City Council has around 8,000 housing units, with thousands more planned in the pipeline. Us, as an institutional actor, messaging something like that would have calmed the market a bit, said Ms Bogue. Separately, Ms Bogue requested that Cork City councillors call on the chief executive to consider as part of their function, the hiring of a disability equality officer and an access and equality officer. Ms Bogue also requested that Cork City Council write to the minister for housing and local government to express frustration at the lack of information relating to the expected effects of the ending of the eviction ban for local authorities as providers of housing and homeless services. The motion stated that the council is concerned at the lack of management information flowing from central Government which is necessary for proper planning for the anticipated increase in homelessness and demand for council services as a direct consequence of the eviction ban being ended. CORKS first anti-racist summit was launched on Wednesday in Cork City Hall, as a number of groups came together to combat racism. The Cork Migrant Centres (CMC) Youth Initiative Against Racism has launched an anti-racism youth-led summit in collaboration with Children and Young People Services Committee (CYPSC) Anti-Racist Subgroup and The Traveller Visibility Group (TVG). Fahmeda Naheed from Doras, Tracy Holt from CYPSI and Ersha Haheed of St Vincent Secondary School at the Launch of the Anti Racism Youth Led Summit in Cork City Hall. Photography By Gerard McCarthy The summit has been predominantly organised by young people involved in the Cork Migrant Centre, Children and Young People Services Committee, and The Traveller Visibility Group, who have invited policy-makers, politicians, and organisations to engage in a dialogue about the impacts of racism, and to be part of the conversation for tackling racism in Cork and Ireland. Lorraine O'Donovan, CEO of CDYS, Nadia Moussed of CDYS and Andrea Williams of CDYS at the Launch of the Anti Racism Youth Led Summit in Cork City Hall. Photography By Gerard McCarthy The aim of the summit is to bring together people from all walks of life, including front-line service providers, service users, policymakers, and politicians, to have a conversation about positive change. The young organisers will not only share their experiences of racism through the creative medium of music, spoken word, and drama but will also facilitate shared discussions on how to collaborate on strategies for creating an anti-racist society. Cecilia Gamez Mexicana viviendo en Cork, Dr Lekha Menon UCC Indian Alumni Community,Lord Mayor of Cork cllr Deirdre Forde and Dr Naomi Masheti, Programme Coordinator of Cork Migrant Centre , The Launch of the Anti Racism Youth Led Summit , Cork City Hall. Photography By Gerard McCarthy Programme Coordinator Dr Naomi Masheti said the summit is a follow-up on from a webinar led by CMCs Youth Initiative Against Racism in collaboration with CYPSC in 2020 in the wake of the Black Lives Matter Movement and the murder of George Floyd. It was created to channel and amplify the voices of young people with lived experiences of racism, sharing their experiences in their own words, and raising awareness amongst policymakers and service providers. John Smyth CEO Nano Nagle Place , The Launch of the Anti Racism Youth Led Summit , Cork City Hall. Photography By Gerard McCarthy Following the webinar, CYPSC set up an Anti-Racist Subgroup with CMC. The TVG then joined, and the groups have continued to collaborate with a number of statutory, community and voluntary agencies working and learning together, to raise awareness of different forms of racism, its impact on children and to consider actions and the need for allyship for tackling racism. It is really important to have action because you can talk but then you need the call to action of what can we actually do, explained Dr Masheti. Raphael Olympio CMC , The Launch of the Anti Racism Youth Led Summit , Cork City Hall. Photography By Gerard McCarthy Its about our heart and also our pain but it is also a message of hope. Its about how we use our hearts to make the future better. We see young people really take action and lead the movements, such as climate justice and Black Lives Matter, she added. Creating that space, particularly now when you see an increase in far-right activism, is important. Dr Masheti explained the summit comes during an increase in far right rhetoric and movements, culminating in protests towards migrants and those living in Direct Provision. Tracy Holt from CYPSI and Fionnuala O'Connell CMC , The Launch of the Anti Racism Youth Led Summit , Cork City Hall. Photography By Gerard McCarthy Its time to say we are here too, she said. We share this space. Its our space too. You can deny us, but its our space so we are claiming it. We want to share the space. There is enough there for us. Its our shared humanity, she added. Ethnic minorities are minorities, and minorities are not going to make a great change so for change to happen we need the majority as well so this call is really a call of allyship. There are approximately 42 groups across Cork involved in the summit, which Dr Masheti said shows that it is not a question of being black, white or brown, but a question of social justice, about right and wrong and, at the end of the day, about the shared space and shared humanity. The summit will be hosted at the City Hall with the Lord Mayor on May 26 from 1pm to 6pm. A voluntary group of rail enthusiasts has organised a special return train trip from Cork to Waterford on Saturday, April 15 in what will represent the first direct train from Cork to Waterford in many years. The Suir Lee Knot special will depart from Kent Station at 10am on Saturday, April 15, and head to Waterford via Limerick Junction. It will take the scenic route through Tipperarys Golden Vale. The trip which has been organised by a voluntary group of rail enthusiasts known as Tailte Tours will include a special stop at Carrick-on-Suir to view the vintage diesel locomotives that are being restored there. A break for approximately 2.5 hours is also planned for lunch in Waterford. Niall Kelly who is the marketing officer for the voluntary group said it will be a great way to kick off the 2023 season. Its been many years since a rail tour excursion started in Cork, decades maybe. "So what better way to kick off our 2023 season than with a trip from Cork to Waterford?" Whether youre a diehard rail enthusiast or just enjoy a leisurely day out with a difference, our Suir Lee Knot special is an ideal way to round off the Easter break. Demand is expected to be high. Tickets for this tour must be booked in advance online at www.tailtetours.com, he added. A one-day-only event, this will be the first direct train from Cork to Waterford in many years. Tailte Tours which is named after one of Irelands largest steam locomotives is a voluntary-led committee that seeks to raise funds and awareness for Irelands smaller railway heritage groups. The group aims to do this through the organisation of rail tours and other railway-themed events throughout Ireland. This will be their first trip out of Cork. A CORK town is set to become a new digital hub for the Gaeltacht region. Work is currently underway to transform the former boarding school, Colaiste Iosagain in Ballyvourney, into a multi-million euro digital hub in the Muscrai Gaeltacht. The project is being developed by Gaeltacht development agency, Udaras na Gaeltachta, who expect the hub to be opened later this year. The transformation of the former secondary school into a new regional Gaeltacht centre will create 75 jobs directly, with a possible 45 jobs to be created in indirect positions. The hub is expected to generate and house up to 45 start-up companies on the premises. Through both the start up companies and the direct employment in the digital hub, the Ballyvourney centre is expected to create up to 320 full time jobs in the coming years. The new centre will cost over 5 million upon completion. Udaras na Gaeltachta secured 2.7m from the Regional Enterprise Fund for the project, in addition to more than 1m from the Irish enterprise agencys own funds. This work also involved agencies such as Failte Ireland, Skillsnet, Cork Education and Training Board, Cork County Council, local co-op Comharchumann Forbartha Mhuscrai, CIT and UCC. Planning for the project was initially sought by the Gaeltacht enterprise agency to convert the former school in 2019. The application was given the green light by Cork County Council. The first phase of the development includes the creation of an exhibition hall. This will be located where the former dining hall used to be. Flexible workspaces are also to developed in the former classrooms, with a training room on the first floor. These offices will house local community groups, Gaeltacht start-up enterprises and Udaras na Gaeltachta itself. Other works include the installation of an elevator and new stairs to ensure accessibility, as well as new gates, boundary walls and car parking spaces. The building, located on the N22 between Cork and Kerry, acted as a boarding school for a half a century, before the De La Salle order announced it would be leaving the school in 1989. Despite plans to convert the premises into a luxury hotel or nursing home, Udaras na Gaeltachta bought the property for 215,000. A 22-year-old man accused of using a glass in an assault on another mans neck in a pub in Carrigaline on Christmas Eve was arrested at a boarding gate in Dublin Airport with a one-way ticket and a 12-month work visa for New Zealand. Colin OLeary appeared at Cork District Court today where gardai objected to continuing bail based on their fear that he was a flight risk. Judge Olann Kelleher refused bail and remanded the accused in custody until April 27. OLeary had a previous address at The Crescent, Curraheen, Bishopstown, Cork, but it has been a term of earlier bail that he would reside at Belfort, Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown. The case arises out of an investigation into an alleged assault at The Stables Bar, Carrigaline. Detective Garda Ian Breen said: It is alleged that the injured party was assaulted with a glass into the neck area, causing a serious injury at around 9.30pm on December 24 2022. The suspect fled the scene before the arrival of gardai. CCTV was obtained from the premises and he is clearly identifiable. He was arrested on February 5, brought to Togher Garda Station and questioned. He declined to comment during interview. Colin OLeary was granted bail at Cork District Court on February 6. One of the conditions of bail was that he would surrender his passport. He said in court that he had lost his passport. Another bail condition required that he would not obtain new travel documents or leave the jurisdiction. Det Garda Breen said: On the evening of March 27, 2023, investigating gardai were informed by the Garda passenger information unit at Dublin Airport that Colin OLeary was trying to board a flight from Dublin Airport to Dubai on an Emirates flight at 2.15pm on March 28, with a further transfer on to Melbourne, Australia, and onwards to Christchurch, New Zealand. He had a one-year New Zealand work visa and he also had his passport. Flight risk The detective said the main concern gardai had in objecting to bail was that the defendant would be a flight risk. Another ground for objection was the seriousness of the alleged incident at the centre of the case. A young man suffered a wound to his neck inflicted with a glass. He was taken to Cork University Hospital on the night and discharged on the morning of December 25. The main objection is the likelihood to abscond if granted bail. He was arrested at a boarding gate in Terminal 1 of Dublin Airport when he was about to fly to Dubai We believe he was about to abscond, the detective said. Solicitor Shane Collins-Daly said the defendant had a passport that was lost but a relative found it in his house and returned it to the defendant. The solicitor said the young mans only reason for travelling to New Zealand was to attend a relatives wedding. Judge Olann Kelleher commented: He knew exactly what he was doing. The judge remanded him in custody until April 27 on the charge of assault causing harm at The Stables Bar on December 24, 2022. QUITE a few years ago, I visited London to spend the weekend with an old friend, his partner, and their newly-arrived son (who is now in college, so quite a few years ago). He and I went for a drink, and he told me that, on obtaining a positive result on a pregnancy test, they pretty much spontaneously moved to the window, opened it and smoked a last cigarette together. Some time later, a more recent acquaintance told me pretty much exactly the same story from her life. As a then smoker myself, I was horrified at the last cigarette idea, and as a psychologist i was intrigued - firstly by the decision (when all knew smoking was highly discouraged during pregnancy) and secondly by the joint nature of the transgression. Neither slunk off to smoke their last alone; it was an experience shared. That latter point fascinated me; they both behaved in this same way, did it together. A recent research paper by Theresa Pauly of the University of Zurich, and colleagues in Switzerland, Canada and Germany, found evidence of a pattern of behaviour within couples that reminded me of those conversations. They were investigating symptom-system fit theory, which proposes that negative behaviours are maintained within social systems because they lead to short-term positives. To revisit the example of smoking, none of us is ignorant of the harm it can cause, but that can seem very much in the hypothetical future while right now they can offer relaxation or an immediate opportunity for a break or a chat. The research team looked at three separate groups of couples - 82 couples who smoked, 117 physically inactive couples, 79 couples with medical advice to avoid unhealthy eating. They gathered information on smoking, being inactive, and eating poorly in the three groups respectively, and also looked at relationship closeness and satisfaction as experienced each day. In the first two cases, they found a medium-to-strong association between the negative behaviour and greater closeness and satisfaction. Perhaps a little surprisingly considering this, they didnt find it for the unhealthy eating. But when they had looked at the extent to which the unhealthy behaviour took place in one anothers company, they found that the smokers and inactive people were more likely to be behaving like this as a couple, while unhealthy eaters were far more likely to be eating separately. So, it wasnt just the behaviour that was important here - it was the behaviour occurring in one anothers company. This obviously raises the question of why. We know we are social animals and we rely on one another in many ways. Plenty of evidence shows that being part of an exercise group or a study group increases the likelihood of us actually doing what were supposed to. Mike Murphy, from the Department of Applied Psychology at UCC The presence of others acts as a prompt, this is what we do together. The same could be true of negative behaviours - theres also plenty of evidence for example that recovering addicts are at increased risk of relapse if they fall in with the same company they kept when using. But the relationship satisfaction and closeness is a different matter. Whats going on there? One explanation comes from what we know of the therapeutic, or doctor-patient or therapist-client relationship. One of the three key features of a successful therapeutic relationship is unconditional positive regard - that we feel we are accepted, respected, esteemed, irrespective of what we say or do. This increases intimacy, brings people closer, creates trust. A related point is that we are more likely to end up in a relationship with someone who is like us - more birds of a feather flock together then opposites attract. if we see that we share characteristics with someone, we are alike, that can bring us closer to one another. A third point comes from Social Identity Theory - we are very inclined to identify with groups, and to the derive our sense of self from that shared identity; a couple may be enough to constitute a group, and more shared features will make the group feels tighter and make us feel closer and more supported. And finally, the fact that the shared behaviour is a transgression perhaps makes it more delicious and satisfying. Pauly and her colleagues discuss all of this in light of the obvious health implications. In general, being partnered is good for your health - people in relationships tend to be happier and to live longer. But if the behavioural patterns established as part of a coupled relationship are unhealthy, then this could be turned on its head. So what to do? Im a great believer in self-reflection. Socrates said the unexamined life is not worth living; yet we do so much in our lives on unthinking autopilot. Its always worth asking is this helping me or is it hurting me? If you see unhealthy patterns, talk about it; try to find solutions. Its hard to just stop a behaviour - try to find something enjoyable but healthy to replace it. And if the unhealthy behaviour has been as a couple, try changing it as a couple. After all, if a life and relationship are positive experiences, they may as well be kept going as long as possible, right? By PA Reporters 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. 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. 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 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. 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. Aine Fox and Grainne Ni Aodha, PA US president Joe Biden has returned to his ancestral roots as he embarked on a visit to the west of the country to round off his four-day trip to Ireland. Mr Biden touched down at the airport in Knock, Co Mayo, on Friday afternoon. The visit which comes after his trip to Co Louth on Wednesday where some of his ancestry has been traced to tracks the other side of Mr Bidens family tree. The US president has repeatedly spoken with passion about his Irish heritage and described addressing the Oireachtas on Thursday as one of the great honours of my career. Air Force One, carrying US president Joe Biden, arrives at Ireland West Airport Knock in Co Mayo. Photo: Niall Carson/PA. Mr Biden was met by various dignitaries including Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and Mayo TD Dara Calleary at Ireland West (Knock) Airport. The final day of Mr Bidens trip which former taoiseach Enda Kenny said was the longest presidential visit to the island of Ireland ever will culminate in a public address. The speech will take place at St Muredachs Cathedral, which has a direct link to the presidents ancestors. Welcome signs are displayed around Ballina town prior to the arrival of US President Joe Biden. Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images 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. Ahead of the public address, Mr Biden is due to tour the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock. He is also set to visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit. It is believed Mr Biden will also 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. Gordon Deegan A residents alliance has claimed that the overbearing nature of a new 208-unit apartment scheme for Dublin 12 will hit the values of adjoining properties. The Kimmage Dublin Residents Alliance made the claim during the course of an appeal to An Bord Pleanala against Dublin City Council's decision to grant permission Lioncor for the social and affordable apartment scheme. Last month, the council granted planning permission for the Large Scale Residential Development (LRD) despite strong local opposition where the planning authority received in excess of 45 third party submissions. The scheme comprises five blocks rising up to six storeys, made up of 104 one-bed and 104 two-bed apartments, on the Carlisle site located to the north and east of the Ben Dunne Gym, at Kimmage Rd West, Terenure. In the appeal, lodged on behalf of the Kimmage Dublin Residents Alliance, planning consultant Anthony Marston contended that the proposed development will have a negative impact on the value of properties adjoining the boundaries of the site given the profound overbearing nature of the proposed development due to the decrease in light and privacy, and significant loss of residential amenities which will occur as a consequence of the proposed development. Mr Marston argues that "there are strong and unambiguous grounds for refusing permission for this LRD application". He contended that the proposal constitutes a serious overdevelopment of the site that fails to adequately respond to its neighbouring buildings in all directions and will have a seriously negative impact on local residential and visual amenity. Mr Marston stated that the excessive massing and scale will be incongruous when viewed from all surrounding properties and will be highly overbearing that will result in a serious loss of residential amenity. The appeal also claimed that the proposed development will result in a serious traffic hazard due to overflow car-parking on surrounding streets to the detriment of surrounding residential amenity. Mr Marston also claimed the scheme is premature and incapable of being served by the existing surface water infrastructure which would increase the potential for flooding in the area. A second appeal has been lodged by Brookfield Green resident, Elizabeth OCallaghan. Ms OCallaghan has told the appeals board that in her opinion, the site represents a fantastic opportunity to create a meaningful housing development with a positive impact on the immediate environment and wider city, especially in this time of housing crises. The Kimmage resident stated that however she believes that there are major/minor flaws with the scheme that will result in inadequate and low quality housing which will unnecessarily negatively affect the lives of the future residents in the development itself and those in the wider neighbourhood. The council's planning report, which recommended planning permission, stated the redevelopment of the vacant site for residential development is welcomed and represents a more efficient use of the lands. The report also stated that the heights and quantum of development are appropriate at this location within an established residential area of Kimmage. Last year, Lioncor secured planning permission for a 106 million apartment scheme which also contained 208 units for the same site under An Bord Pleanalas fast-track process. However, that permission was challenged in the High Court by way of Judicial Review by the Kimmage Dublin Residents Alliance CLG. Manx divers pay respects to sunken Isle of Man Steam Packet Company vessel For the first time in over 80 years, Manx residents have returned to an Isle of Man Steam Packet Company vessel that was lost during Britains darkest hour. A group of local divers from Discover Diving made the emotional visit to the wreck of Monas Queen, completing a five-year project to revisit the former pride of the Manx fleet. Michelle Haywood of Discover Diving said Manx men and women have returned to the Monas Queen nearly 83 years after she was lost. I cant tell you how relieved and elated the team are that we achieved what we set out to do. Dive conditions were best described as challenging, but we adapted our plans to work around the less than ideal weather and successfully placed a plaque close to the wreck. Monas Queen, one of the most modern and prestigious vessels in the Companys service, was requisitioned by the Royal Navy in 1939 and went on to serve during the evacuation until she hit a mine in the early hours of May 29th 1940 and sank with the loss of twenty-four crew. The dive was initially planned to take place in 2020 to commemorate the 80th memorial of the loss off Dunkirk. However, due to travel restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic, the trip was postponed indefinitely. Two other IOMSPC vessels were lost at Dunkirk: The remains of King Orry (which lies in the main channel into Dunkirk harbor) and Fenella (which lies close to the East Mole and the shore) have been largely broken up, but the team visited the sites as close as they could. Monas Queen remains substantially complete and largely undisturbed. Over the course of the operations to evacuate the BEF from France, IOMSPC vessels brought off approximately 25,000 servicemen of various nationalities, and SS Viking assisted in the evacuation of civilians from the Northern ports of France and the Channel Islands in the face of the German invasion. The memorial plaque carried to the wreck was made by the Steam Packet workshop using the original moulding from one of the lifeboat logos. The dive team travelled to Dover to meet their charter boat with the intention of spending 5 days of diving on the wreck. The weather and tidal conditions made for challenging circumstances and high winds in the Channel eventually required the mission to be cut short. The images captured in the dives on the wreck will form part of an exhibition running for two weeks around the anniversary this year, and will also contribute to a book that tells the story of the Monas Queen from her design, build and launch to her passenger service, wartime service and loss. Photos Rise in sexually transmitted diseases on Isle of Man There has been a recent increase of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the Isle of Man. Public Health and the GUM Sexual Health Clinic are urging people to consider testing if they are concerned that they may be at risk of an infection. STIs are infections spread from person to person during sexual or intimate contact. STIs are not always symptomatic and if left untreated, they can lead to serious health problems. However, if an STI is diagnosed early, it is easily treatable. If you are sexually active, its important to take measures to reduce your risk of getting an STI. You can contact the GUM Sexual Health Clinic for advice if you have symptoms of an STI or are concerned. The Clinic offers free testing, support and treatment. All appointments are completely confidential. The clinic is based at Nobles Hospital and you can make an appointment by calling 650 710. Further information on STIs, including common symptoms, can be found on the NHS dedicated STI webpage. Montana is about to become the first state to ban TikTok The state legislature passed a bill that requires app stores to block the service. Montana is poised to become the first state to ban TikTok. The states legislature passed a bill requiring app stores to block the app in the state. The bill, which passed 54 - 43, will now head to Republican Governor Greg Gianforte, who previously banned the app from state-owned devices. The ban is slated to go into effect in 2024, though it will likely face legal challenges well before then. Still, the bill has been closely watched as pressure ramps up on TikTok. CEO Shou Chew testified at a Congressional hearing last month where he tried, largely unsuccessfully, to downplay the companys ties to ByteDance and China. Meanwhile, the United States government is trying to force ByteDance to divest from TikTok entirely. As The New York Times points out, Montanas ban could serve as a kind of template for the rest of the country, even though its unclear whether such bans will hold up to legal challenges. Like federal lawmakers, the Montana bill claims that TikToks ties to ByteDance puts US users personal data at risk because the company could be compelled to turn over information to the Chinese government. TikTok has long denied these claims, and has committed more than a billion dollars to Project Texas, a project meant to address national security concerns. Subscribe to the Engadget Deals Newsletter Great deals on consumer electronics delivered straight to your inbox, curated by Engadgets editorial team. See latest Subscribe Please enter a valid email address Please select a newsletter By subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy. TikTok has previously said that the proposed ban in Montana would hurt small businesses that rely on the app. In a statement following the bill's passage, a TikTok spokesperson called it "egregious government overreach" and said it planned to "fight" the measure. The bill's champions have admitted that they have no feasible plan for operationalizing this attempt to censor American voices and that the bill's constitutionality will be decided by the courts. We will continue to fight for TikTok users and creators in Montana whose livelihoods and First Amendment rights are threatened by this egregious government overreach. All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing. Suspect charged with Pentagon leaks was outed by his Steam profile The trail of evidence included Instagram and a granite countertop. Accused classified document leaker Jack Teixeira may be learning first-hand about the ease of tracking people's digital lives. The federal government has charged Teixeira with illegally taking national defense info and classified items after a quick investigation focused on his digital trail. As The New York Times' Christiaan Triebert explains, his investigative journalism team identified Teixeira by finding an Instagram account mentioned in his Steam profile. That, in turn, showed photos of the granite kitchen countertop and floor tiles visible in the leaks. The suspect hasn't yet entered a plea and will face a hearing on April 19th. The two charges against him carry a maximum combined sentence of up to 15 years in prison. A breakthrough in our investigation came when the team identified a Steam profile in Airman Teixeira's name that led to an Instagram profile with photos of the exact location where leaked docs were photographed a kitchen countertop in his childhood home. https://t.co/XQAZf2kNV7 pic.twitter.com/DWlkN8xmqK Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) April 13, 2023 Teixeira, an Air National Guardsman in Massachusetts, allegedly began sharing the documents on a Minecraft-oriented Discord server in late 2022. He initially transcribed them himself but later posted photos of the raw material. He supposedly didn't intend to act as a whistleblower (he was trying to impress his gaming friends), but the content eventually reached other Discord servers as well as 4chan and Telegram. The documents include large volumes of information about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including Ukraine's strategy as well as Russia's bids to secure weapons from Egypt and Turkey. The files also show how the US spies on allies and otherwise monitors their activity, such as interest in UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Subscribe to the Engadget Deals Newsletter Great deals on consumer electronics delivered straight to your inbox, curated by Engadgets editorial team. See latest Subscribe Please enter a valid email address Please select a newsletter By subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy. The FBI arrested Teixeira the afternoon of April 13th. The case has raised questions about the ease of access to classified material in the US military. Teixeira is an Airman First Class who serves as a Cyber Transport Systems Journeyman effectively, technical support. The Washington Post notes Teixeira could nonetheless use the Pentagon's Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System, granting him access to top secret intelligence like that from the leak. All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing. Protests flared in Paris after Frances Constitutional Council gave a green light to French President Emmanuel Macron's flagship pension reform, which will raise the retirement age to 64 from 62. Suspect in classified US docs leak appears in court A 21-year-old member of the US Air Force National Guard, accused of leaking highly classified military intelligence records online, made his initial appearance before a federal judge in Boston to face charges. The near-term outlook for the Euro to Dollar exchange rate is influenced by a combination of repatriation flows, global energy prices, the Eurozone energy crisis, and short-term technical indicators. While some analysts anticipate that EUR/USD will continue to gain ground, others caution that potential barriers may hinder the advance. The repatriation flows out of the USD and into the EUR are expected to continue, which is attributed to higher European government bond (EGB) yields and contained sovereign credit risks. This mix of drivers is likely to enable the EUR/USD to regain ground in the next 6-12 months. "We think that the mix of drivers behind the currency pair would remain largely positive, allowing it to regain more ground in the next 6-12M," says Valentin Marinov, Head of G10 FX Strategy at Credit Agricole. "We further note that stable global energy prices and the reopening of the Chinese economy could help stem the deterioration of the Eurozone external imbalances," he adds. Eurozone Energy Crisis Impact on Outlook Conversely, the ongoing Eurozone energy crisis is predicted to continue to negatively affect the region's outlook. As a result, gas and oil prices may experience sharp increases in H223, which could compromise the Eurozone's international competitiveness and external imbalances. Marinov adds, "These factors are expected to fuel renewed EUR/USD weakness in 2024." Short-term Technicals Indicate Bullish EUR/USD The short-term technical analysis suggests a bullish trend for the EUR/USD exchange rate. "Spot is on track for its seventh, consecutive weekly gain and a new closing weekly high (above the early 2023 peak). Trend dynamics are bullish, suggesting gains should extend further in the next few weeks at least," says Shaun Osborne, Chief Currency Strategist at Scotiabank. The Euro is expected to rise to 1.12 against the U.S. Dollar relatively easily from its current position. "Short-term support is 1.1010/20. Losses below 1.0970 would suggest the risk of a deeper, short-term setback," he adds. Anticipated Barrier for Euro to Dollar Exchange Rate Advance While the EUR/USD advance has been steady so far, it may encounter a barrier that could slow its progression. "Speaking to our FX options trading team, the sense seems to be that FX options barriers have yet to be triggered the barrier being a key level above which the spot move would accelerate," says Chris Turner, Global Head of Markets and Regional Head of Research for UK & CEE at ING Bank. Turner also mentions that the Euro to Dollar exchange rate (EUR/USD) could move up to the 1.1180/1250 area within the next week. However, he cautions that the path higher might not be linear and recommends monitoring how financial markets trade around US earnings releases. He also highlights that slightly better-than-expected industrial activity in the Eurozone has provided some support for the euro. "The eurozone calendar is very light today, and a speech from European Central Bank arch-hawk Joachim Nagel is only delivered after Europe closes. 1.0980/1.1000 could hold intra-day EUR/USD dips," Turner adds. Martie, an online grocery store selling pantry staples that might otherwise go into landfills, has opened a warehouse in Dallas and rolled out delivery to San Antonio and across Texas. The California-based company buys surplus shelf-stable inventory items such as cereal, coffee, cookies, pasta, shampoo and pet food that may have been tossed because of package updates, canceled orders or seasonality. It goes into a warehouse, gets listed on Marties mobile app and website, and then is shipped directly to customers. Were very excited to have launched in Texas, a strategically important market for us as we continue our expansion from the West Coast towards the East, co-founder Louise Fritjofsson said in a statement. The companys minimum order is $20. Shipping is free for orders over $50 but otherwise is $5.99, and theres a $1.99 handling fee on every order. H-E-B hones in on growth: San Antonio retailer expanding new home decor department to more stores In addition to Texas, Martie ships to California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana and has plans to ship nationwide by year-end. At prices up to 70 percent off retail, shoppers save an average of $54 per order, or $600 annually, Fritjofsson said in an interview. Orders arrive in one to three days. Courtesy of Martie This is No. 1, to make sure that people get access to more affordable foods, and, No. 2, when you shop with Martie youre doing the Earth a favor as far as saving this food and making sure that it gets in the hands of people instead of going to a landfill, she said. The company is a preferred partner of national brands including KIND, Kelloggs, Quaker and Annies Homegrown. Fritjofsson and co-founder Kari Morris were entrepreneurs prior to starting Martie. They co-founded a multibrand food company in 2019 but kept winding up with surplus items, Fritjofsson said, which led us to think about this huge issue we have with food waste. They launched Martie in 2021 with $3 million in seed funding and have offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Fritjofsson declined to share annual sales figures. READ MORE: San Antonio-based Project Pollo to close most locations after acquisition by national group The brands that customers see on Marties website might differ from week to week because its stock changes depending on which of the brands it works with having an overage problem on any given week. Martie currently has about 500 products listed, but that will increase to roughly 1,500 by year-end, Fritjofsson said. The company does not sell expired items. It does sell short-coded" goods, or products with expiration dates that have not been reached but that wont be stocked by grocers because of concerns customers wont buy them before expiration, according to Martie. Asked whether the company is working with San Antonio-based H-E-B, Fritjofsson said, More to come on that. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Risk-taking San Antonio attorney Phil Ross has quietly resigned from practicing law to avoid facing discipline from the State Bar of Texas, including possible disbarment. Ross, known for his contrarian and sometimes combative style, submitted his resignation in late February two days before a court hearing in which a judge was to consider sanctioning him for engaging in acts of professional misconduct. The resignation became effective March 7 by order of the Texas Supreme Court, marking an unceremonious end to a nearly 35-year legal career. Ross, 73, said the decision to give up his law license allows him to retire with a clean record. I decided just not to take any more chances and with a guillotine hanging over my neck, go ahead and retire and not get beheaded, he said. CONTRARIAN BRAND OF LAW: Martyr or scoundrel? Maverick San Antonio lawyer faces fight to keep his license The State Bar of Texas sued Ross three times in about 2 years over allegations of serial misconduct, including in guardianship cases involving an elderly person. He defended himself in the actions but conceded defeat after judges in two of the cases found that he had violated bar rules and engaged in conduct that involved dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation. A sanctions hearing in one of the cases had been scheduled for Feb. 27 but was canceled after Ross agreed to resign. A bar spokeswoman declined to comment. Role in Thrash case That case stemmed from Ross role in a high-profile Bexar County case involving millionaire Charles Thrash, 85, the longtime owner of CT Thrash Differential and Axle Service on West Avenue. In 2018, a Bexar County Probate Court found Thrash to be "totally incapacitated" and appointed guardians to care for him and manage his estate, the bar said in its complaint against Ross. The bar alleged that Ross repeatedly tried to represent him when the lawyer knew Thrash lacked the mental capacity to hire an attorney. Ross said he denied that Thrash lacked legal competence. Ross also allegedly took Thrash out of Bexar County, contrary to court orders, to obtain a license for an "fraudulent marriage" to his partner, Laura Martinez. The marriage was later annulled. In addition, Ross was accused of being involved with Thrashs subsequent improper adoption of two of Martinezs adult children, which was later set aside. Tom Reel/Staff photographer THRASH CASE: San Antonio millionaire marriage annulled after abuse, exploitation and 'abduction' claims Ross countered that court orders on Thrashs guardianship were in error and should be reversed on appeal. However, 4th Court of Appeals in San Antonio affirmed the trial court's orders. The Texas Supreme Court denied petitions for review, Ross said. The evidence of Ross professional misconduct related to Thrashs guardianship is shockingly extensive, compelling and clear, the state bar said in a June motion asking the court to grant partial summary judgment that he had violated its rules. A judge granted the motion in November and set the February hearing on sanctions. Ross argued there were genuine issues of of material fact that should be decided by a jury fact. He also said a jury should decide sanctions. The San Antonio appeals court declined to hear his argument, so he went to the Texas Supreme Court, where the matter was pending when he agreed to resign. I saw all the cards were stacked against me, Ross said. He was convinced that he could have gotten any sanctions against him reversed on appeal but said there was no remedy for recovering damages for being wrongfully disciplined. The sanction could have been as light as a public reprimand or as severe as disbarment, he said. The bars March 2020 suit was sparked by a grievance filed by Tonya Barina, Thrashs great-niece and one of his guardians. Ross had linked the bars complaint to the release of an episode of the Netflix series Dirty Money, which was critical of the guardians in the Thrash case. The episode first aired six days before the lawsuit. Barina filed a defamation case against Ross, Netflix and others over the series. A state District Court judge in San Antonio denied a motion to dismiss the case, a decision upheld by the 4th Court of Appeals. Netflix has appealed to the Texas Supreme Court, where the case is pending. Carl Kolb, Barinas attorney, couldnt immediately be reached for comment. Misconduct allegations The bar first sued Ross in October 2019 in connection with allegations of misconduct in a Comal County guardianship case involving Sybil Sims, an elderly San Antonio woman who died in 2016 at age 92. Two of her adult children filed a bar complaint against Ross. He became involved with Sims in September 2015. A court psychiatrist later concluded that by then, Sims, who had suffered a stroke in late 2014, was mentally incapacitated and thus unable to make important decisions. On Sept. 8, 2015, she signed legal documents hiring Ross as her lawyer and putting virtually all of her assets into an irrevocable trust controlled by him. He said he received a retainer of $25,000. Ross said he tried to prove that she had recovered from her stroke and had the competence to retain his legal services and create a trust to protect herself. An application for guardianship was moved from Bexar County to Comal County, where a court ordered that Ross freeze all assets held by the trust, the bar said in a January 2022 court filing asking the court to find that he engaged in professional misconduct. After the court order, the bar said, Ross withdrew more than $1,100 from a trust bank account. It called the withdrawal dishonest and deceitful, but Ross said the money went to pay taxes on herre The court removed Ross as Sims' counsel, but the bar says he later attempted to avoid the courts orders in continuing to assert his authority by attempting to create a new trust. The bar also alleged in the same action that Ross disobeyed probate court rulings in another case this one involving Eleanor Gough. Despite the existence of a guardianship established for Gough in 2019, a month before her 98th birthday, the bar said Ross presented a trust agreement for her to sign. It also said he unreasonably increased the costs & burdens of the guardianship. Gough died in 2021 at age 99. Ross said there were genuine issues of material fact in the Gough case that precluded the bars request that the court find he committed misconduct. But in separate rulings, a judge found that Ross engaged in acts of professional misconduct in both cases. A hearing on sanctions in the Sims matter had been scheduled for Wednesday but was made moot by his resignation. Land dispute The bar filed its third lawsuit against Ross in February 2022, alleging that he violated a rule that a lawyer shall not assist or counsel a client to engage in conduct that the lawyer knows is criminal or fraudulent. The action also included allegations that Ross and/or his client filed four special warranty deeds on parcels of land in Val Verde County that conveyed a half interest in the property to his client from her mothers estate in August 2021 even though disputed claims of ownership were pending in a court case. Ross responded that the deeds were recorded by mistake and that he promptly took reasonable and satisfactory steps to rescind the deeds. The bar asked the court to find that Ross violated another rule of professional conduct related to the related to the land dispute when he contacted Val Verde officials rather than their lawyer. He denied he violated any bar disciplinary rule. But the entire case was dropped before any ruling on April 13 after Ross' resignation. In its order last month, the Supreme Court directed Ross to immediately surrender his law license. But he said in an affidavit that he cant locate the license. If I locate my Texas law license, I will promptly surrender same to the Supreme Court, he said. Carlos Javier Sanchez | Contributor/pixelreflexmedia.com Still in court While Ross is no longer a practicing attorney, he said hell remain a presence in court. Im still representing myself in various actions that are quite interesting to me and I think have good financial prospects, he said. No longer having clients to represent, Ross said, will give him more time to pursue others interests. Those include art and antique collecting. In addition, he intends to get more involved in various real estate ventures. Those include Victorias Black Swan Inn, a large, century-old complex on Salado Creek where he resides and that hosts weddings and other events, and the Yorktown Memorial Hospital, a DeWitt County property that he described as a venue for paranormal investigations. Hes also considering starting a podcast, blog or something similar to educate people about steps they can take to avoid being exploited when they get older and become vulnerable to predatory guardianships. And with the notoriety that I got from that Netflix documentary about the Thrash guardianship and the defamation case I think the outcome of that case is going to put me in a good position to be an advocate against exploitation of the elderly, he said. I'm a picky shopper. You know the kind. The type who inspects every strawberry in the carton, reaches for the milk in the very back of the case to find a later expiration date, shuffles cracked and uncracked eggs around to get a perfect dozen. I was raised in a frugal Appalachian home by a mother who knew how to squeeze every calorie out of her slim grocery budget, and she raised her boy right. Needless to say, I have a little trouble letting go when grocery shopping. But with home delivery services on the rise, I figured it was time to give it a try. I turned to San Antonio icon H-E-B and the feisty, online-only newcomer Kroger to see if either could impress me. In this battle, I was primarily concerned with three things: accuracy of the order, timeliness of the delivery and quality of the products. To keep things fair, I ordered nearly identical items from each place. On ExpressNews.com: Grocery delivery options in the San Antonio area The selection included fresh strawberries, romaine lettuce leaves, vanilla ice cream, raw chicken breasts, buttery croissants from the bakery, a turkey and cheese sandwich from the deli, an avocado and fresh medium-spice salsa. I scheduled next-day delivery with both stores, staggered by a half-hour to ensure adequate time to evaluate the products thoroughly. Here's how the competitors fared. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer H-E-B I scheduled this drop for between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. and at 9:30 a.m. on the dot my delivery driver, Alicia, pulled into my driveway in a large black pickup. H-E-B uses the on-demand service Favor, which contracts people using their own vehicles to make deliveries. I received a text message earlier that morning confirming my order's delivery and again when she was 4 minutes away. After rummaging in her back seat for a minute or two, Alicia emerged holding a half-dozen bags with both stores I received a ridiculous number of individual bags for an eight-item order and was on her way. My biggest complaint with H-E-B's delivery service is the personal vehicle aspect. Those cars aren't refrigerated, and I have no idea how clean they are. While nothing in my order looked like it had been mingling with floorboard debris, temperature control was an issue. Most crucially, my raw chicken breast arrived at 40.5 degrees as measured on my digital thermometer. While that may sound downright balmy to us San Antonians who living through the current winter freeze, it's technically a half degree into what the U.S. Department of Agriculture calls the "danger zone" of 40 to 140 degrees where bacteria best thrived. The ice cream, H-E-B's exceptional Creamy Creations 1905 Vanilla option, was still frozen at 0.3 degrees. On ExpressNews.com: 5 things to buy and 5 things to avoid at H-E-B H-E-B delivered superior romaine lettuce I chose clamshell containers filled with loose leaves from both stores with no limpness or browning on the dark green leaves. The lettuce on my turkey sandwich was a different story, appearing obviously haggard and worn, tucked between smooshed bread that had started to split, visible through the container. With the strawberries, I would have made an effort in the store to pick out more ripe specimens. Many of these were still quite white at the caps and sour. H-E-B hands-down wins the avocado challenge, offering customers a choice of ripe avocados that will be ready on delivery or firmer fruits that will take a few days to soften. Total order cost: $46.42 after a $5 delivery fee and $5 tip for the driver Nic Antaya/NYT Kroger My order was scheduled for between 10 and 11 a.m. I received a text message at 9:29 a.m. alerting me of its impending arrival and another at 10:22 a.m. after its delivery. My groceries arrived in a Kroger-branded refrigerated truck and were handed off in a similar (and excessive) number of plastic bags. The chicken breast arrived at a very safe 34 degrees, and the ice cream, while inferior in flavor to H-E-B's offering, was ice-cold at minus 12.6 degrees. Kroger's salsa the store distributes a brand called Fresh Cravings couldn't touch H-E-B's house variety, which had more heat and fresher ingredients. The croissants had a day less than H-E-B's on the expiration date but were similarly tender and flaky. The turkey sandwich had nice, crisp lettuce but a less generous portion of turkey and cheese. Kroger's strawberries were exactly the kind of container I'd painstakingly select in the store, with even ripeness and good flavor. The romaine lettuce, however, was mostly small, pale leaves from the heart of the lettuce and not as appetizing as H-E-B's. The avocado Kroger selected was small and hard as granite. Total order cost: $39.74 after $6.95 delivery fee; no option for tipping was available On ExpressNews.com: How to keep strawberries fresh for longer The winner While both these stores came up short in selecting goods the way I would, the ease and convenience have me willing to use both services in the future. As for a victor in this challenge, I'll give the win to H-E-B. While I don't like its outsourced Favor service as much as Kroger's in-house trucks and will likely limit my raw meat orders to Kroger, the quality of H-E-B's products edged out the competition in the categories I was evaluating in this challenge. Iguanas Burritozilla In the land of a million tacos, burritos continue to find a foothold in San Antonio. The California staple's latest home comes with the launch of the San Jose-based Iguanas Burritozilla, which recently debuted its first Texas outpost in a food truck parked along Fredericksburg in the city's Balcones Heights neighborhood. Over the next two months, the Iguanas team plans to build out a brick-and-mortar property at 4205 Fredericksburg Road for a permanent San Antonio home, co-owner Sammy Orozco said. In the meantime, hungry customers can sate their appetite for burritos at the brand's food truck. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The man arrested in the fatal shooting in Houston of San Antonio rapper BTB Savage has been linked to the man killed in the rapper's San Antonio apartment weeks prior, supporting Houston investigators' initial assessment that the second killing was targeted. Montrel Lenard Burley, 40, was arrested on a charge of murder in connection with the March 30 killing of the 26-year-old rapper, whose name is Darrell Gentry. In the days after Gentry was killed in Houston, investigators there were in contact with law enforcement in San Antonio and New Braunfels. Detectives suspect that Burley acted because he was in the same gang as Omar Richardson, 34, who was killed on Feb. 3 in what San Antonio police ruled a justified act of self-defense by Gentry and his girlfriend. San Antonio detectives told Houston police that Burley and Richardson aren't related but were part of a San Antonio gang, called the Stixx, that had branched into the Blood Stone Villains gang, according to court records. MORE ON SHOOTING: Family of slain San Antonio rapper BTB Savage laments social media hype they say led to retaliation Investigators linked one of the men sought in the shooting of Gentry through a rented 2020 Subaru Outback, and they interviewed the man after he was arrested on an unrelated charge in New Braunfels, according to court documents filed in the case. Houston police said Gentry had been driving through a parking garage about 6 p.m. March 30 in the 2100 block of Mid Lane when two men shot him multiple times and fled. Police Chief Troy Finner said the circumstances of the shooting led investigators to believe it was a targeted killing. Witnesses at the scene told police they saw a black SUV stop just before the shooting and a man get out of the vehicle and shoot at a white Mercedes sedan, according to court filings. The black SUV fled after the shooting. Detectives, using cameras around the scene to look for vehicles matching that description, noticed a 2020 black Subaru Outback, according to court documents. Almost two hours after the shooting, a license plate reading system spotted the vehicle in Fayette County heading west on Interstate 10 toward San Antonio. Investigators learned the car was a rental and that Burley had rented it March 26 in San Antonio, according to court documents. Burley had a listed address in New Braunfels. ALSO READ: Police make arrest in fatal shooting of San Antonio rapper BTB Savage Houston police asked New Braunfels detectives to check on Burleys listed address, where they found the SUV in the driveway, according to court documents. On March 31, detectives obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and a SWAT team stopped it about 100 feet from Burleys residence. While investigators were searching the vehicle and preparing it to go back to Houston, they observed a rifle casing fall from the rear door, according to court documents. Detectives with New Braunfels and Houston interviewed Burley and his fiancee after the vehicle was seized, according to court documents. Burley told investigators he hadnt visited Houston for about a week, that hed woken up late the day of the shooting and that someone else had borrowed the rental car. He declined to say who he let use the vehicle. At the time, Burley was only accused of a narcotics-related charge, and bonded out of of jail. His fiancee told police that when she woke up March 30, Burley wasnt at home, according to court records. She said she wasnt sure where he went and that he returned about 8:30 p.m. Police asked her whether there had been any recent deaths in the family, and she said that Burleys cousin died in either January or February, though she didnt know the details, according to court documents. Gentry was popular on social media and had recently spoken during a YouTube interview on Vlad TV about the fatal shooting of Richardson. Gentrys mother, Bernita Ward, said on social media that she had warned her son not to speak publicly about the February incident. Although the San Antonio Police Department determined that Gentry acted in self-defense during a struggle that stemmed from an attempted armed robbery, Ward asked her son to let the dead mans family mourn in peace. In an April 3 interview, Gentrys mother told police hed been staying at an AirBNB near Interstate 610 for about two months prior to his death, according to court records. She told investigators that after the San Antonio shooting, her son had received several threatening messages from Richardsons family and that shed told him to come to her in Las Vegas to get away. Burleys bond was set at $1 million, according to court records. He is next scheduled to appear in court on April 17. San Antonio Express-News writer Taylor Pettaway contributed to this article. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The head of San Antonios police union stood on the steps of City Hall flanked by five council members Friday morning. One by one, they took to the microphone to warn voters against supporting Prop A in the May 6 election. The wide-ranging city charter amendment includes a number of police measures, including a controversial one that would bar officers from making arrests for certain low-level misdemeanors. The unions message was apocalyptic. If this proposition passes, the city of San Antonio will begin to crumble, said San Antonio Police Officers Association President Danny Diaz. Council members John Courage, Manny Pelaez, Melissa Cabello Havrda, Adriana Rocha Garcia and Phyllis Viagran, who represent Districts 9, 8, 6, 4 and 3, respectively, chimed in about the harm the ballot measure would inflict. They believe it would increase crime especially graffiti, a misdemeanor not included in the San Antonio Police Departments cite-and-release policy and hurt businesses. READ MORE: Policy nuances lost in Prop A debate about cite-and-release Prop A stands for Prop Absurd. That is an absurd, unacceptable situation, Pelaez said. Prop A also stands for Prop Assault. For Diaz, who has led SAPOA since 2021, Fridays news conference billed as the unions official campaign launch against Prop A, despite the fact that its radio and TV ads have aired for weeks was a win. He had five city officials beside him, Bexar County Precinct 3 Commissioner Grant Moody and representatives from various business groups. Its a departure from two years earlier when another police-related proposition was on the ballot. Prop B, which failed by less than 3 percentage points, would have stripped the union of its collective bargaining rights. In that election, Mayor Ron Nirenberg declined to weigh in publicly on the measure. Many council candidates, aside from the majority of the incumbents, tiptoed around it. Not this year. Most candidates oppose Prop A, and Nirenberg didnt mince words when he took to prime time earlier this month to urge KSAT 12 viewers to reject it at the ballot box. Nirenberg was noticeably absent Friday. Bruce Davidson, the mayors communications director, said Nirenberg spent his morning in meetings with officials from the Texas Big City Mayors organization and Port San Antonio. READ MORE: Why Mayor Nirenberg opposes Prop A Also missing was another Prop A opponent, District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry, who instead had a court hearing Friday morning, where a judge handed him 12 months of probation in his drunken-driving and hit-and-run cases from November. If Perry completes the terms of his probation, he will avoid having a conviction on his record. Asked about the large council contingent at SAPOAs news conference, Act 4 SA Executive Director Ananda Tomas focused on the unions campaign war chest, which nearly reached $900,000 at the end of March all of which the union spent on advertising. Act 4 SA, a police reform group, is one of the lead organizers behind Prop A. I think we need to pay attention to the fact that literally what SAPOA has spent is 41 percent of all donations made for our city council races, Tomas said. One organization has raised more than multiple candidates combined, meaning that they are a political machine and entity. And I think it shows that our city council members are giving into that instead of standing strong on the types of reforms that theyve stood strong on in the past. Three of the other absent council members Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, Teri Castillo and Rosie Castro, who represent Districts 2, 5 and 7, respectively support Prop A. District 1 Councilman Mario Bravo, on the other hand, is following in the mayors 2021 footsteps and has declined to take a public stance. Diaz chalked up Fridays show of support for the unions anti-Prop A campaign to the fact that he became SAPOA president only a few months before the May 2021 election. I did not have the contacts and these individuals did not know what my goal, my direction was, Diaz said. Were opening it up. Were here to work with everybody, not to fight. Of course we will agree to disagree on whatever issues that we have at that time, but its to work together and the idea is to have the communication and the dialogue. Thats why everybodys here, because now they understand where were coming from, he added. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate District 10 City Councilman Clayton Perry was handed probation Friday as part of a plea deal in his drunken driving and hit-and-run cases, a major step toward ending the drama that derailed his plans to seek re-election in May. Perry was given one year of probation and must pay a $500 fee and court costs. He also must perform 24 hours of community service. I take full responsibility. I have done everything I can to make this right," the three-term Northeast Side councilman said after his sentencing. "Im following the process. Ive taken a lot of advice and done a lot of things for this huge mistake. I thank God nobody was hurt, and Im very thankful about that." During the hearing, Perry, 67, pleaded no contest to both misdemeanor charges. Prosecutors, who called the case "an egregious DWI," had asked County Court-at-Law No. 6 Judge Erica Dominguez to convict Perry and place him on probation. Instead, the judge called that offer "unfair" and granted Perry deferred adjudication, which will allow him to avoid a conviction on his record if he meets the conditions of his probation. His arrests would still be visible to the public. Both charges driving while intoxicated and fleeing the scene of an accident are punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine up to $2,000. About 75 percent of individuals accused of drunken driving a first time were sentenced to probation in 2021, according to an Express-News analysis of data from the Texas Office of Court Administration. Dominguez said during the hearing that she granted deferred adjudication, instead of convicting Perry, because most first-time DWI defendants are offered that deal. She also praised Perry for "taking responsibility" by attending inpatient treatment and completing a DWI education course prior to the case's conclusion. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio police and elected officials who were caught on video not looking their best But Dominguez warned that probation "wouldn't be easy." As a condition of his probation, Perry is prohibited from drinking alcohol and will be required to undergo regular drug and alcohol testing. He also must have an interlock ignition system installed in his car for six months; such devices require a breath sample and won't start the engine if it detects alcohol. "I will hold you to a higher standard," Dominguez told Perry. "One night can really change your whole life, and it has." Dominguez also asked Perry, an Air Force veteran, to use his platform as an elected official to talk about his mistake and connect with other veterans who may have been in similar situations. Dominguez, also an Air Force veteran, runs the Veterans Treatment Court, a specialty court that handles criminal cases against veterans who are dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, addiction or mental illness. In February, Perry's attorneys sought to have his two cases transferred from County Court No. 12, where the cases were initially filed, to Veterans Court. He met the eligibility rules for the program, and his cases were transferred there in early February, a court official said at the time. But David Christian, Perry's attorney, said the councilman was allowed to enter only "Track II" in Veteran's Court, which doesn't allow the case to be dismissed without a criminal conviction. As a result, Christian said, Perry elected to have the case resolved through deferred adjudication outside of Veteran's Court. The conclusion of Perry's two cases comes five months after a bout of heavy drinking at a Northeast Side bar on Nov. 6. According to a police affidavit, Perry consumed 14 alcoholic beverages in four hours at the Evil Olive and then got behind the wheel of his black Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. On ExpressNews.com: District 10 frontrunner Marc Whyte gets long-awaited endorsement from embattled Clayton Perry However, Christian said Perry did not have more than a dozen drinks that night. He said video surveillance showed Perry buying rounds for other patrons at the bar and that he consumed only half the drinks he paid for. Still, Christian acknowledged, seven drinks was too many. After leaving the bar, Perry drove across the street to the Bill Miller Bar-B-Que, where he stayed for 10 minutes, police said. At one point, he attempted to hand the cashier his keys and wallet and slurringly demanded to see the manager, authorities say. The cashier told police that Perry was highly intoxicated, smelled like alcohol and that his eyes were half-closed, according to an arrest affidavit. After leaving the restaurant, Perry crashed head-on into a Honda Civic that was stopped at a traffic light at Jones Maltsberger and Redland, and he then fled the scene in his Jeep, police said. A police officer later found a dazed and disoriented Perry lying in the backyard of his home. In a 13-minute body camera video released by police, Perry had difficulty sitting up, his speech was slurred and he had a bloody gash on his head. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio is holding back some bodycam footage of a dazed Clayton Perry Christian argued that Perrys behavior in the police footage was because he suffered a concussion in the crash. He also noted Perry had been under anesthesia for a medical procedure two days before the crash. After the crash, Perry took an unpaid leave of absence from the City Council and said he would take the appropriate measures as determined by medical professionals to ensure that this will never happen again. He returned to his council duties in January but announced in February that he would not run for a fourth term in the May 6 municipal election. On ExpressNews.com: Clayton Perrys DWI case has been moved to Veterans Treatment Court and thats a win for him While prosecutors had hoped the judge would convict Perry, they still lauded the sentencing as a win. "We believe justice is served," said Tamara Strauch, chief of the Public Integrity and Cyber Crimes Division at the Bexar County District Attorney's Office. "He will be on probation for a year. He is not allowed to drink alcohol the entire time. He will have an alcohol monitor in his vehicle for the next six months, and it is our hope, as the judge asked, he will come and speak to veterans in her court about his journey and his experience. Perry said he would be happy to speak to veterans in Dominguez's court. He also hinted that he may seek public office again. "I've served council for six years. Thats my passion. Thats my love," Perry said. "Im going to step aside while Im going through this process, but you know, who knows what the future will bring. A new San Antonio police substation is coming to the citys South Side, the first new substation in more than 30 years. The substation will be built on a 17.8-acre site at 8801 S. Flores St. as part of of the citys 2022 bond program, the San Antonio Police Department announced Thursday. ALSO READ: The fight against Prop A has drawn even more money than the police reform battle two years ago It will be designed to bring multiple community programs to the area, the SAPD said. Patrol officers; San Antonio Fear Free Environment, or SAFFE, officers; and the crisis response team will use the facility. Police said the substation will facilitate increased collaboration on neighborhood safety initiatives. This new substation is a prime example of community coming together, making their voices heard for more officers, a need for a District 3 substation, and strengthening police and community relations, District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran said in a statement. The presence of the new state-of-the-art facility will create a safer environment serving as a place for residents to engage with local law enforcement. Police Chief William McManus said the new substation is part of the SAPDs commitment to providing safety and increased satisfaction for residents. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer Show More Show Less As our community continues to grow, it is imperative that we stay ahead of the curve and address the needs of our residents, he said in a statement. City Manager Erik Walsh expressed gratitude to voters for approving the bond program that made the construction of this substation possible. He noted that it will be the first substation built since 1989, describing it as essential in meeting the demands of our fast-growing city. The next step in the process will be to hold community input meetings regarding the substation's features and services to be provided, scheduled for this summer. Viagran and the SAPD encourages community members to attend and provide feedback. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Mayor Ron Nirenberg promised additional tax relief for San Antonio residents amid rising property valuations as the City Council began budget talks for next year. The rest of the council appeared to be on board. District 9 Councilman John Courage called for raising the city homestead exemption for seniors ages 65 and older and for residents with disabilities from $85,000 to $100,000. District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry urged a further increase to the residential homestead exemption from 10 percent to 20 percent. On average, the market value of a single-family home in Bexar County rose 14.8 percent from last year, while apartment values increased 24.2 percent, according to the Bexar Appraisal District. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer READ MORE: Dont make this costly mistake when you appeal your Bexar County property tax appraisal The rising market values all but assure a reduction in the tax rate. Thats because city governments cant collect more than 3.5 percent of the previous years property tax revenue without voter approval. But city staff did not offer possible city tax rates at the Thursday workshop. And Troy Elliott, deputy chief financial officer, declined to say whether staff would recommend the no new revenue tax rate, which generates the same amount of money as the current fiscal year. The proposed rates will be included in a trial budget presented May 10, and the council will adopt the 2024 fiscal year budget in September. A large focus of Thursdays discussion was increasing police and Animal Care Services staffing in light of recent events, including the dog mauling death of an 81-year-old man in February. Many on City Council have said they want to beef up ACS budget but havent given an amount. ACS did not present any budget requests to the council, and Director Shannon Sims previously said he was unsure just how much more money is needed. ACS did, however, share with the council the extra funds it will seek in May during mid-fiscal year budget adjustments. The department will ask for $848,000, which includes $341,000 to hire 15 animal care officer apprentices. These apprentices will be ready to join the department as positions become available in October, Sims said, allowing ACS to promote current officers into investigator roles. READ MORE: ACS changes San Antonios dog bite policy, stepping up enforcement after deadly mauling The midyear request also includes funding for spay and neuter services, a new customer service team, laptops and proactive enforcement efforts. I want more ACS staff, which includes another veterinarian and vet techs, said District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran, who was most vocal about her concerns with the department. She also emphasized hiring more bilingual Spanish-speaking field officers. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer The council was somewhat split on upping police staffing. Some, including Perry, voiced support for hiring at least 100 new patrol officers. That number is based on a staffing study the San Antonio Police Department commissioned before the budget process. There currently are about 2,500 officers on the force. District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo called the study incomplete and raised the idea of hiring another consultant. She did, however, express openness to hiring additional officers for SAPDs specialized mental health and community policing units as a way of being intentional in public safety funding decisions. Interim District 7 Councilwoman Rosie Castro wants to see more code enforcement officers brought on to manage the citys new apartment inspection program that launched this month. More than 100 code enforcement officers look into problems across the city, but Mike Shannon, director of development services, is asking for a designated team of six to focus on apartments alone. The city brought on two new officers for the task in the last budget cycle and will need to hire four more to complete the team. A shared priority among multiple council members was expanding the enhanced library card program to all city libraries. The San Antonio Police Department accepts this card as a valid photo ID, as it includes someones address and date of birth, similar to a drivers license. Building new senior centers, park improvements and street repairs were other wants raised Thursday. There is a lot of need in the community for a whole variety of services, so well never have enough resources to do all of that, City Manager Erik Walsh said after the meeting. Its now up to Walsh and his staff to determine what capacity exists to achieve items on the councils long wish list. I know theres a need, but I want to make sure that we can actually deliver what we say we can, Walsh said. Staff writer Megan Rodriguez contributed to this report. Bob Owen, Staff Photographer / Staff photographer A Lubbock man who spat at police officers during his arrest was sentenced to 70 years in prison this week, a result prosecutors hoped would send a message to the suspect and society. Larry Pearson, 36, was arrested last May on domestic violence charges after he allegedly hit a woman multiple times in the face, according to TV station KAMC. Pearson reportedly had prior convictions for aggravated robbery and family violence. San Antonios National Public Radio member station said Thursday that its halting the use of Twitter in light of the social media platforms decision to label NPRs flagship account as government-funded media. Texas Public Radio President and CEO Joyce Slocum announced the station had suspended posting on its four Twitter accounts: @TPRNews, @TPRCommunity, @TPRNoticias and @TPRClassical. Twitter has not erroneously labeled TPRs accounts, Slocum wrote on TPRs website. But we are concerned about the potential erosion in public trust due to Twitters wanton actions, Slocum said. The NPR station posted a thread of information of where users can find TPRs content off Twitter. The move does not include the accounts of the stations reporters. On Wednesday, NPR said it was quitting Twitter on all of its 52 accounts after Twitter had placed a state-affiliated media label on its account. Its the first major news organization to leave the platform since Elon Musk took over Twitter. State-affliated media is a common term used to describe China- and Russian-based propaganda media outlets. READ MORE: Abbott vows to pardon Army sergeant who killed BLM protester Twitter later changed the label to government-funded media, but some viewed the description as still being misleading and a way to discredit the organization. NPR CEO John Lansing said in an NPR interview that Twitter was taking actions that undermine our credibility by falsely implying that we are not editorially independent. I would never have our content go anywhere that would risk our credibility, Lansing said in the interview. At this point, I have lost my faith in the decision-making at Twitter, he said. NPR is an independent, nonprofit media organization that receives the majority of its financial support through sponsorships and fees paid by its hundreds of member stations, such as Texas Public Radio. NPR receives less than 1 percent of its funding from federal sources, Slocum said. As for TPR, which airs on KSTX 89.1 FM in San Antonio, it receives 90 percent of its funding from local sources, she said. Only a small percentage of TPRs funding comes from the federal government, Slocum wrote. About 6% of our annual revenue comes in a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private, independent corporation created by Congress 50 years ago to shield public media from government influence. TPR said it is joining dozens of other NPR member stations in quitting Twitter. PBS, another nonprofit media organization that receives some federal funding, also left Twitter after being labeled as state-affiliated media. Uvalde's interim school superintendent, Gary Patterson, made Uvalde sound like a grim, crime-ridden place when he met with the Express-News editorial board this week. At one point dring the lengthy Q&A, Patterson said: "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. What was Patterson referring to, and what did he mean? Let's take a closer look. What was the context? Patterson was talking about the fraught circumstances surrounding school security in Uvalde. As everyone knows by now, on May 24 a teenage gunman slaughtered 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School. The then-chief of the school district police, Pedro "Pete" Arredondo was widely condemned and ultimately fired for failing to act promptly to storm the classroom where the shooter was holed up with his victims, some of whom were wounded but alive. Arredondo was the incident commander, and nearly 400 officers from local, state and federal agencies were at the scene. Yet more than an hour elapsed before a Border Patrol-led team breached the classroom and killed the gunman. Against that backdrop, the school district dissolved its police force in October. Since then, troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety have provided security at Uvalde schools. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News How many? Patterson said three dozen DPS troopers from across the state rotate in and out of the schools on a short-term basis. How has that gone? On April 5, one of the troopers got into a shoving match with a woman who entered Flores Elementary School to sign her son out of class so he could join a protest over gun control. The woman was Ana Coronado, whose daughter, Maite Rodriguez, died in the Robb Elementary massacre. Parts of the confrontation at Flores Elementary were captured on smartphone video and the trooper's body camera. The footage showed the officer bodily ejecting Coronado from the school, and a furor ensued. Patterson, who became interim superintendent in November, was rigorously evenhanded in his description of the incident. "Im not going to say anything bad about the mom because it appears that we had a parent in distress," he said. He added that the officer was "there to prevent exactly what the parent wanted to do" enter a school without making an appointment or signing in and showing ID. 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. He described the incident as "something that could have been prevented on multiple fronts, but it wasn't." What's that got to do with human trafficking, bailouts and drug smuggling? Patterson said he's been asked many times why DPS troopers need to be in the schools and why the Uvalde Police Department can't assume that responsibility. By bringing up human trafficking, drug trafficking and "bailouts," he was saying, in essence, that the Uvalde PD has its hands full already. Is that true? Because of its location along the U.S. 90 corridor between the Mexican border and San Antonio, Uvalde sees a considerable amount of criminal activity involving smuggling of people and drugs. Traffickers transporting migrants and drugs from the border towns of Del Rio and Eagle Pass use U.S. 90 and U.S. 83, two highways that intersect near Uvalde. On top of that, a Union Pacific rail line runs near the city, and smugglers often hide migrants in shipping containers using that route. To get some insight into what Uvalde's dealing with, let's start with the "bailouts" Patterson mentioned. Sam Owens/Staff photographer What are they? Along the border, it's a common occurrence for the Border Patrol to pursue smugglers' vehicles. Frequently, those pursuits reach high speeds and end in crashes, with injuries and loss of life. Sometimes, those pursuits extend all the way to Uvalde, and when the smugglers realize they're not going to get away, they ditch the vehicle and try to escape on foot. That's called a bailout. This video shows a typical pursuit in Hidalgo County in February that ended in a bailout. Police said the driver was 15 years old. How often do bailouts happen in Uvalde? Often enough that when the first reports came in about shots fired at Robb Elementary on May 24, some in law enforcement thought it was just another bailout. A special Texas House committee that investigated the massacre said the frequency of bailouts in Uvalde "contributed to a diminished sense of vigilance about responding to security alerts" at schools. The school district's director of student services told the committee that "high-speed chases have been a daily event in the Uvalde area, causing schools to be secured or locked down frequently." There were 50 "bailout-related alarms" in Uvalde schools between February and May of 2022, the panel found. The committee also learned that high-speed pursuits "sometimes crossed school parking lots" and led to "incidents involving firearms in the surrounding neighborhoods." "Parents became so concerned about the number of bailouts occurring near the elementary-school campuses that they offered to hire off-duty police to supplement the Uvalde CISD police presence," the committee said in its report. Was the police response to the Robb Elementary shooting slowed by the assumption it was a bailout? That's what the House committee concluded. Uvalde Police Sgt. Daniel Coronado told the panel that when he got to Robb Elementary that morning and saw no injured students during his first pass through the building, "he thought that it was probably a 'bailout situation,'" according to the committee's report. Arredondo, the since-fired school district police chief, told the committee that the same thought crossed his mind, because bailouts "happen so often, and theres been a few that were armed. Among the "factual conclusions" in its report, the committee said the following: "The frequency of less-serious bailout-related alerts in Uvalde diluted the significance of alerts and dampened everyones readiness to act on alerts. In response to the May 24, 2022, lockdown alert at Robb Elementary, the initial reaction of many administrators, teachers, and law enforcement responders was that it likely was a less-dangerous bailout." What about drug trafficking and human trafficking? Patterson mentioned those problems in the same spirit as he brought up bailouts they're part of the hand Uvalde's been dealt by its location along a smuggling corridor. In March, two migrants from Honduras were found dead in an overheated Union Pacific rail car near Uvalde. They were among 17 immigrants who had been packed into shipping containers to bypass immigration authorities. "It's become more common because these human smugglers have no regard for human life," Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin Jr. said at the time. "We're seeing it get worse and worse and worse. More high-speed chases, more bailouts, more wrecks." Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez said, "Every day, undocumented aliens are taken off the train." And off trucks. Last year, police pulled over an 18-wheeler in Uvalde and found 46 migrants inside. They were turned over to the Border Patrol, and the driver was arrested and charged with human trafficking. It happened in March 2022, two months before the mass shooting at Robb Elementary. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate There were no fireworks. Parents argued over the fine points of three proposed replacements to the sex education program at North East Independent School District but refrained Thursday from debating why the districts next curriculum will be more conservative than the one it plans to dump. Only five speakers took to the microphone at a relatively subdued public forum that also featured a markedly changed description of the process used to arrive at the proposals. Unmentioned by the speakers and left out of an official timeline distributed to the small crowd was the criteria that members of an NEISD advisory group have said they employed to narrow down their search for new sex ed programs developed by an anti-LGBTQ organization labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Texas public schools are required to teach students to refrain from sexual activity, and the marketing materials for the three proposed programs Esteem, Choosing the Best and Heritage Keepers emphasize how good they are at doing that. Two of them center the curriculum on marriage. The districts 40-member School Health Advisory Council, or SHAC, plans to pick one of them to recommend to the NEISD board in May. The district in January ordered the SHAC to abandon consideration of the current NEISD sex ed program, called Big Decisions. That program also emphasizes sexual abstinence as the best way to prevent pregnancy and disease but teaches the need for personal responsibility if a student does decide to have sex. Ive worked with teenage parents, some teenage parents in our district, as a birth doula, attending birth with them, said Tina Castellanos, a former SHAC member who was on the council when it recommended Big Decisions. Guess who wasnt there? The boys who got them pregnant. Guess what was often the case? They got pregnant the first time they had sex the first time. Another speaker, Kellie Gretschel, said she wouldnt teach a student where to buy cigarettes if theyre too young to legally purchase them, and would not teach a student too young to consent to sex how to have sex or where to get protection for said sex. Thursdays forum drew about 30 parents, roughly the same size crowd as a similar event March 30. A SHAC subcommittee known by its acronym CHaSE, for Classroom Health and Sex Education, developed the proposals and has a portal for comments on the SHAC website. It presented a slide show that rated the proposals on various pros and cons. finding Heritage Keepers the hardest to customize for NEISD classrooms and noting it had no digital materials. The districts official timeline described why it discarded Big Decisions. Its publisher, Healthy Futures of Texas, a San Antonio-based nonprofit dedicated to reducing teen pregnancy, had merged with another nonprofit that had a temporary working relationship with a Planned Parenthood branch in Corpus Christi. The likely controversy over the link to Planned Parenthood would have impeded the SHACs work, the NEISD health director, Jennifer Aguilar, has said. Even without Aguilars directive to ditch Big Decisions, it was unclear if the CHaSE would have included it in its list of proposals. The panel used an analytical tool created by Family Watch International, an Arizona group, to eliminate any curriculum that contains harmful elements associated with what the organization derides as comprehensive sexuality education. The tool can detect anything that teaches children to consent to sex or that promotes sexual pleasure, homosexual or bisexual behavior, transgender ideology and sexual rights advocacy, according to the Family Watch website. At the March 30 forum, several CHaSE members said they debated for hours over whether to use the Family Watch tool, and defended it. The districts new timeline explaining the process left it out. Ben Elliott, the chairman of the CHaSE, said on March 30 that using Big Decisions would violate a state law that prevents government entities from paying abortion providers or their affiliates. Planned Parenthood has never been an affiliate of the nonprofit in any legal sense of the term, wrote Evelyn Delgado, the CEO of Healthy Futures, in a letter to district officials this week asking them to correct Elliotts claim. Aguilar has said the district has not concluded that using Big Decisions would violate the law. On Thursday, Elliott retreated somewhat. There was some concern as to why Big Decisions was eliminated, and I paraphrased that reason a little too much to where it created too much confusion. Hopefully there was some clarity added tonight. he said. NEISD canceled sex education for the current school year in classrooms, though when the board agreed last summer with district officials that the SHAC needed to review the curriculum, some trustees said students needed to be told where to access the Big Decisions material online. The district has used Big Decisions since 2017 and it has been popular with parents, with a 95 percent opt-in rate. But Aguilar and Superintendent Sean Maika said in August that they were worried it could be challenged if it wasnt updated to reflect new state standards under the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS. That review was delayed while the NEISD board purged and revamped the SHAC last fall at the insistence of socially conservative trustees, two of whom had been elected the previous May. The changes formalized the terms of SHAC members in ways that more closely align them with the trustees who appoint them. Tony Kaman, who chairs the full SHAC, noted a lot of empty seats Thursday and said some parents still dont know about the feedback process. We want all these seats filled, Elliott agreed. An explosion at a dairy farm in the Texas Panhandle that killed more than 18,000 cows and injured a worker may be the deadliest barn fire on record, wiping out almost 3 percent of the state's milk cows. After the blast, fire tore through the holding pens of Southfork Dairy Farm near Dimmitt on Monday night, as the cows were waiting to be milked, authorities told local news outlets. The explosion and fire occurred about 11 miles southeast of Dimmitt, midway between Lubbock and Amarillo, according to the Castro County Sheriffs Office. A worker trapped inside the building was flown in critical condition to a hospital in Lubbock for treatment, officials said. His condition Thursday was not immediately available. A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Insurance department, which oversees the state Fire Marshal's Office, said the explosion is under investigation and referred questions to Castro County Sheriff Salvador Rivera, who did not immediately return phone calls for comment Thursday. Rivera told KCBD-TV that the explosion likely happened when electrical equipment used to suck waste from the holding pens overheated and ignited methane. Investigators have not confirmed the cause of the blast. Photos and videos of the fire posted to social media show a massive plume of thick black smoke rising from the farm. Its mind-boggling, Dimmitt Mayor Roger Malone told USA Today. I dont think its ever happened before around here. Its a real tragedy. Castro County is the second-highest milk producing county in Texas, with 15 dairies producing about 11 percent of the states 16.5 billion pounds of milk a year, according to the Texas Association of Dairymen. Texas ranks fourth nationally in milk production and has an estimated 625,000 dairy cows. The magnitude of the blaze may be unmatched, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Animal Welfare Institute. This would be the most deadly fire involving cattle in the past decade, since we started tracking that in 2013, spokeswoman Marjorie Fishman said Thursday. The institute, which also tracks barn fires that kill other livestock, including poultry, pigs, goats and sheep, said the deadliest it had recorded was a 2013 blaze in which 1 million chickens were killed at an egg production facility in southeast Indiana. A 2022 report by the institute said there have been "several" fires that have killed 100,000 to 400,000 chickens. Chronicle reporter Matt deGrood contributed to reporting by Sarah Bahari of the Dallas Morning News and the Associated Press. Because of the city of Nashvilles commitment to higher education, its nickname is the Athens of the South in homage to that ancient Greek citys reputation as the worlds center of learning. The same correlation can be made of the form of government shared by these two cities separated by centuries. Athens is known as the worlds first democracy. Nashville is where, in the 1960s, democracy was expanded in the United States by the likes of nonviolent activists such as John Lewis and Diane Nash. Nashville is also where, in 2023, democracy is being preserved by nonviolent activists such as Tennessee state Reps. Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson. AKA, the Tennesse Three. On March 30, Johnson and the two Justins had the audacity to join gun reform proponents on the House floor to advocate for change after six people, including three 9-year-old children, were murdered in a Nashviile school three days earlier. The three lawmakers did break House rules by taking to the floor without being recognized and using bullhorns. Their actions were a form of nonviolent direct protest going back at least 250 years in this country with the Boston Tea Party. (Unlike the dumping of British tea in 1773 or the storming of the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, 2021, no property was destroyed in the Tennessee Capitol.) Johnson and, especially the two Justins, are now household names because of the foolish miscalculation, arrogance, and intolerance of Republicans running the Tennessee House. Because the rigid old guards sense of place had been violated, their narrow understanding of decorum breached by two uppity young Black men and a persistent white woman, they retaliated with one of the great and cherished weapons of Southern (and American) political tradition: exclusion by expelling the Black men from the Legislature but narrowly allowing the white woman to remain. Weve seen this before, and it wont turn out well for those clinging to power. After the stunning success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott from 1955 to 1956, the Civil Rights Movement sputtered away from and the nations attention until February 1960 when four teenagers at North Carolina A&T University sat in at Woolworths segregated lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C. The sit-ins spread and desegregated lunch counters throughout the South, including in San Antonio. Nashville, home of several historically Black colleges and universities, became the pulse of that movement. Students such as Lewis, Nash, Bernard Lafayette and James Bevel were leaders in the Nashville Student Movement. Theyd begun learning about nonviolence through workshops taught by Rev. James Lawson, whom Martin Luther King Jr. called, the leading theorist and strategy of nonviolence in the world. Nashvilles sit-in movement was one of the most successful and sustained student-led campaigns of the Civil Rights Movement. Students retained their dignity while suffering physical abuse, arrest and attempts to humiliate. In May of 1961, the Congress of Racial Equality launched Freedom Rides, integrated bus rides that challenged segregated bus terminals. When racists in Alabama fire-bombed and beat passengers on the first two bus rides, the Freedom Rides were going to stop until Nash, Lewis and other students from Nashville risked their lives by continuing the rides through the summer. This led to a new ruling by the Interstate Commerce Commission in September of 1961 ending discrimination in interstate transportation. The Nashville Student Movement breathed new life into the Civil Rights Movement and the democratic ideals of this country. Its leaders, like Nash and Lewis, also became heroes of Freedom Summer 1964, the Birmingham campaign of 1963 and the Selma campaign of 1965, which led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the 1965 Voting Rights Act. A superb book of the Nashville Student Movement was written by David Halberstam and titled, The Children. In Nashville today, Jones and Pearson have returned to their legislative seats. Their brief, undemocratic removal has led to a tectonic shift. An earthquake is coming. The children of this generation, their lives, and votes under siege, are moving us towards a new era of creative, nonviolent action. They dont yet understand the power they possess but they will. Well know also. cary.clack@express-news.net We have Clarence Thomas to thank for the latest illustration of how the Supreme Courts outsize power, isolation and virtual immunity from public pressure has made it a magnet for corruption and influence-peddling. For more than 20 years, according to an investigation by ProPublica, Thomas received lavish and expensive gifts including luxury trips to private resorts from Harlan Crow, a Texas billionaire and real estate developer with a long record of extensive support for Republican politicians, conservative media and the Federalist Society. Under a federal law passed after Watergate, it appears that Thomas was supposed to disclose these gifts and trips to the government. He hasnt. Instead, Thomas has lived a lavish life on the largesse of his rich confidant while posing, in public, as the most humble and unassuming of the justices. In return, Crow has gotten direct access to one of the most influential and powerful men in America. Not a bad trade. If Thomas were an ordinary federal judge, this conduct would be an obvious and flagrant violation of the judiciarys code of ethics. But that code doesnt actually bind the nine members of the Supreme Court. For them, it is mere guidance. For his part, Thomas denies wrongdoing. Early in my tenure at the court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the court, was not reportable, Thomas said in a statement. I have endeavored to follow that counsel throughout my tenure, and have always sought to comply with the disclosure guidelines. And while several Democrats, most notably Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, have called for investigations and even impeachment, theres no real expectation that Thomas will even answer questions about his conduct, much less face consequences for it. He is still as free as hes ever been to treat his seat on the court ostensibly a public trust like a winning lottery ticket, to redeem with the nearest friendly billionaire (who happens to have a collection of Nazi paraphernalia and Hitler-related souvenirs). Last year, in the wake of a different Supreme Court ethics scandal involving a sophisticated and well-funded influence operation aimed at Republican justices like Thomas and Samuel Alito I wrote about the problem of lifetime tenure for judges and justices. The framers of the Constitution embraced service on good behavior because they wanted a truly independent judiciary, free from the corruption and venality of ordinary politics. As Alexander Hamilton explains in Federalist No. 78, That inflexible and uniform adherence to the rights of the Constitution, and of individuals, which we perceive to be indispensable in the courts of justice, can certainly not be expected from judges who hold their offices by a temporary commission. Periodical appointments, however regulated, he writes, or by whomsoever made, would, in some way or other, be fatal to their necessary independence. But, I asked, What if lifetime tenure, rather than raising the barriers to corruption, makes it easier to influence the court by giving interested parties the time and space to operate? My answer was that it does. Nothing that has happened since makes me think any differently. There is a second point to make here, one that harks back to arguments from the anti-Federalist opponents of the Constitution. Turning his eye to the Supreme Court, the writer who called himself Brutus blanched at the power and authority that the Philadelphia convention entrusted in such a small group of men. Every body of men invested with office are tenacious of power, he wrote. The same principle will influence them to extend their power, and increase their rights and, he continued, enlarge the sphere of their own authority. Taking aim at the other source of concentrated power in the proposed new government, the Senate, the Maryland anti-Federalist Samuel Chase complained that its members are too few and that its small size leaves it vulnerable to bribery and corruption. No free people ever reposed power in so small a number, he said. Although I cant say for certain, it sounds as if both Brutus and Chase are channeling Machiavellis observation that the few always behave in the mode of the few. Build an exclusive, oligarchical institution, and youll get an exclusive, oligarchical politics. This has always been true of the Supreme Court a reliable friend of property, capital and class rule throughout its 234-year history, occasional bouts of decency notwithstanding but it has become an acute problem in this era of unchecked judicial supremacy. As the court arrogates more and greater power to itself, and grows both distant from and contemptuous of public opinion, it naturally attracts flatterers and intriguers. The Supreme Court is not going to police itself. The only remedy to the problem of the courts corruption to say nothing of its power is to subject it to the same checks and limits we associate with the other branches. The court may adjudicate disputes within the constitutional order, but it does not exist above or outside its reach. In practice, this means the Democratic Party will have to abandon its squeamishness about challenging and shaping the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary. Whether its through structural change or a simple ethics code, it is up to elected officials to remind the court that it serves the republic, and not the other way around. We have a poor record of elite accountability in American politics. But even by our pitiful standards, we seem to be living in an era of almost total impunity for people of influence. Both the powerful and their apologists treat political authority as a grant of freedom from rules, responsibilities, duties and obligations. You see it in the case of Thomas, whose defenders say he is the victim of a smear campaign. His relationship with Harlan Crow, the Wall Street Journal editorial board writes, is a non-bombshell. This is not how a republic should work. Our leaders who chose to vie for influence should be shackled by the power they wield, not free to abuse it for their own interests and their own pleasures. And if they wont act in the spirit of public service, then we should make them. District 5 City Councilwoman Teri Castillo has shown how an elected official can be committed to her political principles while still working with colleagues in finding common ground and achieving a better understanding. We recommend her for a second term. District 5, west of downtown, includes San Antonios original 36 miles and some of its oldest neighborhoods. It is also the poorest City Council district and includes the 78207 ZIP code. There was a concern, two years ago, when Castillo first ran for this seat, that the progressive community organizer would be too ideologically rigid in a manner which wouldnt benefit her constituents. That concern has proven to be misguided. Castillo is respected by her colleagues, even when they disagree with her, and she has secured significant investment for her district when it comes to infrastructure and supporting small businesses. She has emerged as one of the councils leading advocates for affordable housing and home rehabilitation. Castillo is fluent in her understanding of policy, her ability to explain it, and to view it through a historical lens. During a recent debate on the San Antonio Police Departments newly proposed hot spot strategy, she asked sharp questions about data and offered a succinct history lesson connecting redlining policies from the 1930s and 1940s to todays low-income and high-crime areas. Not surprisingly, she supports Proposition A, the so-called justice charter that seeks to codify a number of police reforms. Her opponent is retired city employee Rudy Lopez, a retired civilian employee with the San Antonio Police Department. Castillo decisively defeated Lopez in a runoff last election. Lopez, like many other candidates, opposes Proposition A, citing concerns about rising crime and impacts on businesses. Castillo has proven herself as a thoughtful and consequential leader who has earned a second term. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is promising to pardon a convicted murderer solely for political gain. That should alarm and distress anyone who cares about democracy or the rule of law. Even worse, as a former attorney general and Texas Supreme Court justice, Abbott must know what he is doing is reckless and irresponsible. Sgt. Daniel Perry was only convicted on April 7. He has not had a sentencing hearing, during which he might make his case for leniency. He has filed no post-verdict motions challenging his conviction, much less submitted a clemency petition making the case for a pardon. In fact, Abbott does not even have a transcript of Perrys trial from which he might identify some miscarriage of justice. But Abbott apparently believes he has something to gain politically by promising a pardon to a convicted murderer. Every Texan should be concerned. If Abbott will promise to pardon a convicted murderer for political advantage, there is no one who needs to fear law enforcement or prosecution so long as their misconduct favors Abbotts power-hungry ambitions. Neel Lane Nothing to be proud of Im trying to understand why Gov. Greg Abbott is so eager to pardon the Army sergeant who was convicted of murder by a jury of his peers. Murder! Isnt the GOP the party of law and order? Also, the protester was legally carrying the gun that so many of our Texas Republicans are so very proud of. Judy Rector Is this really Texas? Now Gov. Greg Abbott is interfering with the criminal justice system by overruling a murder conviction with a special pardon. What have we done to deserve the likes of Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Sen. Ted Cruz and others? Do they really represent the Texas voters? If so, we are in trouble. As a 28-year military veteran, I feel slighted. Hamilton Cook Jr. 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. Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, testifies in favor of Senate Bill 154 in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) A bill that aims to put language into Montana law saying the right to individual privacy under the state constitution does not create a right to abortion is headed to Gov. Greg Gianfortes desk despite questions over its constitutionality. The House on Thursday voted 67-33 with Rep. Casey Knudsen, R-Malta, joining all Democrats against the measure to pass Senate Bill 154, sponsored by Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, on third reading. A legal review note says the bill flies in the face of the Montana Constitutions right to privacy, which the state Supreme Court in the 1999 Armstrong v. State decision found also meant women have the right to abortion unless the state demonstrates a compelling interest against that right. Regier previously argued, and wrote in a rebuttal to the legal note, that it was the states Supreme Court which decided that abortion was covered under the right to privacy, and not the constitution. Rep. Lola Sheldon-Galloway, R-Great Falls, carried the bill in the House for its second reading on Wednesday, and made similar arguments made by Regier and other proponents during the bills committee and Senate floor hearings. She said that abortion is not an individual act because it involves the fetus DNA and that privacy rights should not apply to abortion any more than the right to privacy should apply to child abuse or spousal abuse. Sheldon-Galloway also argued that perhaps the Montana Supreme Court made the wrong decision in Armstrong, saying that courts had also made the wrong decision in Dred Scott, a 1927 eugenics case and Roe vs. Wade. I believe we need to also recognize that we have three branches of government. The legislature represents the people and we make the law. The judiciary is to follow that law, she said in her closing remarks. Rep. Laurie Bishop, D-Livingston, spoke vehemently against the bill, saying the legislature was trying to reinterpret or discard court decisions by passing Regiers bill. The courts have made it very clear the provision of the state constitution does apply to abortion, and there isnt a law we can pass that changes that, she said. I think we all know that when this is done, this bill is going straight to the courts. Bishop said the bills premise was that lawmakers could step in and say that courts got decisions wrong and the legislative majoritys interpretation was actually the correct one. She said she was frustrated that as Republican lawmakers have talked at length about their own irritation with Montana courts blocking their bills from taking effect, as has been the case multiple times during the past two years, SB154 would likely be yet another bill headed to court despite lawmakers being told it had constitutional conformity issues. Planned Parenthood has already sued to challenge a bill targeting abortion that is awaiting the Republican governors signature, and lawmakers have appropriated $2 million in the state budget for the state to defend against bills passed by the Republican supermajority and signed by Gianforte. Bishop said Tuesday that sending the bill to the governor for his signature amounted to lawmakers giving up their own authority to say they understand the separation of powers between the legislative, judicial and executive branches. All youre doing is sending forth an idea, and then youre going to use it to turn around again and say the courts have somehow failed the people, she said. Youre failing when you dont take the vote thats the hard vote here. I hope that youll take it today. The House voted 67-33 on both second and third readings to pass the bill, with Knudsen the lone Republican vote against it each time. Since the bill was not amended in a House committee or on the House floor after passing the Senate 28-21, with six Republicans in opposition, it now heads to Gianfortes desk. The post Bill that says constitutional right to privacy does not cover abortion headed to governor appeared first on Daily Montanan. Geneva Finance Limited announces the appointment of Mr Aaron Underdown as Company Secretary with immediate effect. Mr Underdown joined Geneva Finance Limited in November 2022 and is a Risk & Governance professional with more than 20 years experience. This appointment by the Board helps further strengthen the overall governance processes of Geneva Finance Limited. Mr Underdown will continue in his role as Head of Risk & Assurance and report to the Board Audit Risk Committee of Geneva Finance Limited. ends Investments@genevafinance.co.nz 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: April 26th Morning Report 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 An aerial view of a site near the Yellowstone River in Laurel where NorthWestern Energy is building a methane power plant. (Courtesy of Northern Plains Resource Council) Everyone in the room can see NorthWestern Energy is in trouble, said lawyer Jenny Harbine: This is a utility in some distress. Thursday on behalf of the Montana Environmental Information Center, Harbine gave an opening statement that outlined the rocky last few years the utility has had in trying to manage its assets and serve customers. She also asked the Public Service Commission to fully adjudicate questions in NorthWestern Energys application for higher rates and not just approve a settlement privately negotiated with only a handful of parties. She requested the elected commissioners offer NorthWestern much-needed help in risk mitigation and planning in response to the rate case. Now is the time for the commission to take a proactive role to steer Northwestern, arguably the most economically important company in Montana, onto a course that serves the public interest, Harbine said. The Public Service Commission regulates utility monopolies in Montana. Thursday was the third day of a PSC hearing on a NorthWestern rate increase request and negotiated settlement. At the hearing, witnesses took different positions on whether the proposed rates are reasonable and just, and the CEO of the company took the stand briefly. Partway through the morning, PSC President James Brown admonished lawyers to return to cordiality after some attorneys not included in the negotiation questioned different aspects of the process. I think the point needs to be reiterated we have an emotional case before us, Brown said. The negotiated settlement NorthWestern signed onto would mean another $268.56 a year for a residential customer in electric and gas costs, according to an exhibit that provided estimates this week. Under questioning from Harbine, utility expert Karl Rabago said the PSC shouldnt approve that settlement. In part, he said the inclusion of the Laurel plant in the agreement left many questions unanswered, and he had hoped for a meaningful opportunity to understand how it was the least cost, best solution. Rabago also recommended the PSC reject the settlement because the 28% increase to electric customers from August 2022 would be too high. Thats a pretty hard hit to residential customers, and it seems to me the kind of thing that would be a product of a settlement negation, but not likely consistent with the full adjudication of the issues, Rabago said. Under the settlement, residential electric bills would go up $25.36 a month compared to August 2022, according to the hearing exhibit; natural gas would go down $2.98, a 4% drop. The parties that participated in the negotiation and signed off on it are NorthWestern, Walmart, a Large Customer Group including Exxon, Federal Executive Agencies with Malmstrom Air Force Base, and the Montana Consumer Counsel. In her opening remarks, Harbine traced the path NorthWestern took to the proposed settlement, and she credited lawyer Chuck Magraw with clearly stating the power utility is in trouble. In 2020, the company said it needed preapproval of a planned expansion at Colstrip, claiming it was critical for capacity and then it abandoned the idea before a hearing, Harbine said. In 2021, NorthWestern wanted preapproval of the Yellowstone gas plant, but it abandoned that proceeding too, she said. Instead, Harbine said it started building the plant before the PSC could review it, even after intervenors including the Large Customer Group said they thought the plant was likely not in the public interest. Additionally, she said, in the last decade, the PSC has twice disapproved significant company expenses associated with major outages, finding that NorthWestern mismanaged or wasnt prudent in handling the outages. The commission leveled significant critiques of the companys last resource planning process, which as of today havent been fully addressed, Harbine said. And its the second rate case in a row where NorthWestern asks for a revenue requirement and return on equity well in excess of what they apparently need and have settled for. The companys actions have put Montana ratepayers at risk, Harbine said. A NorthWestern fact sheet counted 379,463 electric customers and 200,272 natural gas customers in Montana in 2020. On the stand, however, NorthWestern and Montana Consumer Counsel representatives argued they had adequately considered all parties, including residential customers, and the settlement was the outcome of much give-and-take. Under questioning from lawyer Shannon Heim, Cyndee Fang with NorthWestern said affordability was top of mind as the company negotiated. NorthWestern was very thoughtful about what weve included in this, Fang said. She said the industry as a whole faces stressors, and last time she checked, more than 100 utilities have filed rate cases with their commissions. Fang said it is challenging to ensure residential customers in particular are cared for, but NorthWestern offers a variety of assistance programs and other support such as energy efficiency programs. We have a lot of programs that are available to customers that need that assistance, Fang said. Although witnesses for NorthWestern and the Consumer Counsel said the rates in the settlement were fair to all parties, Commissioner Randy Pinocci said he wasnt so sure. Pinocci said he had a hard time with the idea a 28% increase wont give a customer rate shock, especially a retired person on a fixed income. This is the largest rate increase Ive ever seen, Pinocci said. Late in the afternoon, NorthWestern CEO Brian Bird took the stand for roughly five minutes. He confirmed his written testimony, and none of the five elected Public Service Commissioners asked him questions. On behalf of 350 Montana, lawyer Monica Tranel asked him to identify the top five investors in the company, and Bird said he couldnt necessarily name them, but BlackRock investment company is the largest shareholder. She also asked him to whom NorthWestern owes a fiduciary duty, and Bird said the company owes it to shareholders, but it also sees itself as having an obligation to serve customers, and he would argue it has a fiduciary duty to them as well. Tranel said that duty to customers was imposed by Montana statute, which the commission is charged with enforcing, and he agreed the obligation was correct. In response to additional questioning from his lawyer, Bird testified the settlement balanced reliability, affordability and sustainability. He also said the company made significant compromise. I expressed concerns about certain things that we gave away, I would argue, but at the end of the day, we felt that the compromise was fair, not only for our shareholders, but also for our customers, Bird said. The hearing will resume 8:30 a.m. Friday. The post Opponents say NorthWestern is a company in trouble, while Pinocci concerned about rate shock appeared first on Daily Montanan. HELENA, Mont. - A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for a firebombing of Lewis and Clark County Sheriffs Office vehicles and property. The incident happened at the City of Helena Law and Justice Center on April 2, at 1:50 am. According to the sheriffs office, an individual threw an ignited incendiary bomb, also known as a Molotov cocktail, at sheriff's vehicles causing thousands of dollars in damage. The City of Helena Law and Justice Center houses the Helena Police Department, Lewis and Clark County Sheriffs Office, and the Helena Municipal Court. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, in conjunction with the Lewis and Clark County Sheriffs Office are offering the award. Anyone with information should contact ATF at (888) ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477) or the Lewis and Clark County Sheriffs Office at (406) 447-8235. Information can also be sent to ATFTips@atf.gov or through ATFs website at www.atf.gov/contact/atftips. Tips can be submitted anonymously using the Reportit app, available from both Google Play and the Apple App store, or by visiting www.reportit.com. It might be easy to embrace recent warnings against a bellicose bipartisan consensus in Washington regarding China. But the real peril is that the true China consensus which includes Democrats and Republicans, the administration and Congress is to do nothing but talk, especially if action comes at a price. Last month gave us a perfect example. February was full of anti-China speeches: Republican-run congressional hearings, Democratic-run hearings, and Biden administration revelations. In the end though, nothing of substance happened, nor is it likely to happen. There is no standing up to the Peoples Republic of China without costs. It has the worlds second largest economy as well as its second most powerful military. It is led by a dictator-for-life who intentionally hearkens back to a man who caused mass starvation. Winning even a peaceful contest would require sacrifices. Deterring Xi Jinping by preparing for conflict requires more. As sacrifice is not appealing to most American politicians, they instead spout rhetoric while hoping for a contest of convenience. The administrations actions include the Department of Commerce calling for tens of billions of dollars to vastly boost domestic semiconductor production, prioritizing it as a vital national interest. Given the PRCs intent to globally dominate low-end chips, Commerce appears correct. But challenging as this goal is, Commerce is diluting its plan by also asking for better day care as part of the package. This, of course, is a counter-incentive for companies willing to build in the U.S. It creates an opposite effect to what was originally intended. The administration has treated supply chains similarly, stirring in political priorities such as promoting green energy output without specific plans to secure green energy supply chains. While it is no surprise that political actors would use China as cover for executing domestic policies, it means far less gets done. Export controls on semiconductors were announced to great fanfare last October, with promises of more to come. Yet five months later, we dont even have the final regulations. Concerning licensing permissions, Commerce has gone from terrible to mediocre under the Biden administration. Last year, it accepted 70% of applications to export controlled items to the PRC. Not exactly tight restrictions, but still a substantial improvement over the Trump Commerce Departments performance, during a supposed trade war, where the number may have been over 90%. Part of the blame is with Congress. Being placed on Commerces Entity List, which imposes license requirements on foreign individuals, entities, or governments, requires just a license application. Yet many members of Congress have pretended for years that this is a blacklist preventing designated foreign firms from receiving American technology. In fact, tens of billions of dollars-worth in licenses have been granted to these firms, most of whom were also eligible for American investment. The Entity List has always been fraudulent, and Congress willingly plays along. Will the new House Select Committee on China mean more effective legislation? Doubtful. Members within the Select Committee are genuinely concerned with the economic and military risks China poses, and they have allies elsewhere in Congress. But the Select Committee has no official jurisdiction it can only talk, not act. This is an ideal outcome for those who want to appear politically strong while having no obligation at all to back up their words. The Financial Services Committee, possibly the most important House committee, held a China hearing in early February. According to its Republican chairman and Republican-called witnesses, the top China threat is the U.S. responding in any serious way to China. Their conclusion: The U.S. should face up to the PRCs military buildup, its domestic and international repression, and its economic predation by continuing to invest freely in the PRC. With this pressure from some Republicans, the Biden administration does not feel compelled to truly compete. An executive order to address the more than $1 trillion the U.S. has invested in the PRC is many months overdue. Even if issued, it may prove an almost entirely empty action. Other consequences to inaction are looming. China continues to steal intellectual property (IP), subsidize production that uses the IP, and drive advanced American companies out of business. It will also spread repression and more intensely target Taiwan. Politicians who take this seriously must propose policies that involve some pain, because that is whats required for the U.S. to win. Politicians who dont take the PRC seriously are easy to spot. Theyll be pushing some domestic agenda unrelated to China, tilting at windmills, and, above all, talking. Derek Scissors is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He is also the chief economist of the China Beige Book. The views expressed are the author's own. ALIQUIPPA, Pennsylvania Brenda Jean Dudek struggles to make ends meet as a home health care specialist. Every day, she stops at the House of Prayer Lutheran Church, in Aliquippa, to pick up pantry staples. I would be lost if I didnt have this, she said, indicating the food on the big shelving unit standing outside of the church doors. Other people would be lost too. Dudek is picking up food for the senior citizens she cares for. I help out as much as I can and I always grab something for myself. The people I work with are homebound, she said. Dudek takes a couple packages of bread and explains that one of the bags of bread is for her and one is for her client. This place is a blessing to this community, she said. Food rescue. The church is part of a bigger food distribution network called 412 Food Rescue, which is based in Pittsburgh. 412 Food Rescue recovers and redistributes healthy food to food insecure people in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas. It relies on an app, which indicates where extra food donations are located and where they can be picked up. With about 400 volunteers available at any given time, the food is quickly rescued; the app is only for nonprofits. Donations can be from a grocery store or a restaurant. There are one-time donations and weekly donations, and according to HOP volunteer, Laura Halleman, you just click on the available donation and claim the rescue. I pick up three times a week, but there is no shortage of volunteers, Halleman said. Last year, 412 Food Rescue distributed over 50,000 tons of food. In need. Aliquippa is in great need of food. The poverty rate for the town of about 9,000 is more than 26%, whereas the U.S. average is 13%. According to the Food Research and Action Center, one in seven people in the U.S. go hungry, while 40% of food goes to waste. Although we put three tons plus of food into the community every month, its still a drop in the bucket, said Denise Drabek, outreach coordinator. The need has increased. Halleman added: We have four (412) food rescues every week and its not enough. The church has always provided a room full of staples for the community. About five years ago, it built and began stocking a Little Food Pantry box and placed it in front of the church. As the pandemic started and exacerbated food access, however, the Little Food Pantry box became insufficient and the church tried to keep up with the need. One food storage room became two rooms. A refrigerator was added and then a freezer. The church offers a free weekly meal and is initiating the use of a small food truck to get to neighborhoods where people dont have transportation. Free to all. The food truck meals will be free as well. Drabek said families dont need to show anything when they pick up food. We usually have a line of cars waiting for the Friday afternoon delivery, Drabek said. Halleman added: Its so rewarding to bring food to people. In fact, if you look on the app it says in the last 30 days, we have picked up 350 pounds of food. With the exchange of large amounts of food, Drabek and Halleman prefer to focus on the children in need. We have a school system where 100% of the children are eligible for subsidized lunch, Drabek said. After school, theyll stop by and sit on the church steps and we distribute special snacks. We try not to make it awkward. If they need it, they get it. Theres no need for an excuse as to why theyre here. The next step for the church is the Little Free Food Truck, which received a grant so it can prepare meals and take them out to the community. Its gearing up for the spring. Its going to be a daily meal service, Drabek said. Dudek said she loves what the church is doing. This place is so important to the community for people who are really, really hungry, she said, There is good in the world. Former Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher has opened up his 120-acre Peak District farm for families whove had a sick child in hospital. The soap star-turned farmer opened the 18th-century farm for an Easter egg treasure hunt to families whove been through the trauma of having a sick child in hospital. Kevin, along with his wife, moved from Oldham, Greater Manchester to a working farm near Macclesfield, Cheshire in 2021. They reached out to Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, a charity providing free home away from home accommodation for families with children in hospital, with their offer. Since then, the Fletchers opened up their farm to the public for the first time this Easter, welcoming families for Fletchers on the Farm Easter Wonderland. The Emmerdale actor said the on-farm event held for Ronald McDonald House families was 'extra special'. "It gave the most deserving people a fun-filled afternoon out, after theyve been through the most difficult times of their lives," Kevin said. The Fletchers opened up their farm to the public for the first time this Easter Seeing the smiles on the childrens faces was priceless. Mum Rachel Morgans, from Sandbach in Cheshire, was at the event with her three children, Imogen, 13, Ralph, four, and Bonnie, 20 months. The family had stayed at Arrowe Park House from September until November 2021 after Bonnie was born at 23 weeks, weighing just 655g. They then stayed at the Manchester House for a few weeks last summer, when Bonnie required a stay on intensive care, after both her lungs collapsed, and she ended up back on ventilation. Ronald McDonald House Charities UK provides free home away from home accommodation for families Shes doing well now, although I try not to get too complacent," Rachel sad, "Shes still on oxygen and has a few little issues but shes doing better than we ever thought she would. When we were invited to Fletchers Farm, we knew it was an opportunity we couldnt pass up. "Unless youve been in a Ronald McDonald House, you dont understand how important it is to have those family moments, when you can make memories and take pictures to cherish forever." Much of England, Wales and lower lying ground in Scotland and Northern Ireland are now at a high risk of nematodirus, animal health experts warn. Nematodirus is a tricky worm to guard young lambs against as the level of risk is strongly linked to weather patterns, according to the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group. So far, spring 2023 has seen variable temperatures, with unseasonably cool spells followed by warmer periods. But SCOPS experts warn that this means farmers need to better understand the risks to their lambs. The group's free Nematodirus Forecast helps farmers to predict the risk to individual flocks via a traffic light system that is updated daily from 140 weather stations. Users can select their nearest or most representative weather station to check the level of risk, and access advice on higher levels of risk for lower lying ground and/or south-facing slopes. There is also a wider risk assessment and information on treatment options and possible management actions. Nematodirus battus, the parasite that causes nematodirosis, is unusual because eggs dropped by lambs in the spring overwinter on ground grazed by sheep but dont hatch until the following spring once temperatures exceed 10C. Young lambs that are starting to graze and have no immunity to these worms are susceptible to disease, particularly if there is a sudden increase in temperatures causing a mass hatch of the nematodirus eggs. Experts at SCOPs warn that this can have devastating consequences for lambs that are six to 12 weeks of age. Dr Fiona Lovatt of Flock Health, whose uses the free service, says: "I like to keep an eye on the stations closest to a farm and track them from week to week as they turn yellow (low risk) and then orange (moderate risk). "The stations almost always have a week at red (high risk) before they turn black (very high risk), so we can be ready to time treatments precisely and not be faced with deaths due to untreated vulnerable lambs in high risk fields. Zoe Wall, an SQP based in Devon, would like to see more farmers use the forecast. Its the first tool I signpost my customers to when discussing nematodirus," she says. "It provides up-to-date and relevant information that can help ensure farmers are worming at the right time, saving themselves time and money, as well as increasing welfare and productivity on the farm. Record pig prices are being driven by tight supply, analysts say, with the latest GB Standard Pig Price (SPP) reaching a new high of 216.7p/kg deadweight. This price, which was reached in the week ended 8 April, was 37% higher than the same week last year and 45% above the five-year average. While the market has historically edged higher in March and April, analysis by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) says that the unusual feature in 2023 has been a steady upwards trend since the start of the year, with the SPP rising by 8.3% in thirteen weeks. Going back to June 2022, while a census was not carried out in Scotland, the census results for England had shown year-on-year declines of 17% in the English sow herd and of 1.4% in prime pigs on farm. Recently published December census results showed that the pace of year-on-year sow herd contraction in England had reached 20%, while the year-on-year fall in prime pigs had accelerated to 7.9%. This lagged impact on the prime slaughter market is reflected in Defra slaughter statistics as GB abattoir throughput fell by less than 1% year-on-year between June and November 2022. However, slaughter numbers then fell by 8.7% on a year earlier in December 2022, followed by declines of 2.6% in January and 18.6% in February. Over the three months to February 2023, prime pig throughput at GB abattoirs fell by 10.1% year-on-year and was down by 8.4% on the five-year average. Meanwhile, data from ScotEID showed an 18.5% year-on-year reduction in pigs leaving Scottish farms for slaughter in the first quarter of 2023. Iain Macdonald, QMS market intelligence manager, explains: Adding to this decline in pig availability has been a rebalancing of carcase weights from the elevated levels seen over the winter of 2021/22. "With abattoirs able to handle the volume of pigs ready for slaughter this year, the average carcase weight of standard pigs at price reporting abattoirs was around 6% behind year earlier levels between December and February. As a result, the year-on-year decline in prime pig throughput of 10% in the December to February period at GB abattoirs turned into a 15% reduction in the volume of pigmeat produced. Over and above this fall in prime pigmeat output, the volume of sow meat produced for export and further processing has fallen even more sharply, with GB abattoir throughput of sows and boars down by 24% year-on-year in the three months to February 2023. While some of this decline reflects the elevated sow slaughter levels of winter 2021/22 due to herd contraction, throughput was still nearly 14% below the five-year average, a stronger decline than for prime pigs. Defra figures highlight the scale of the decline in UK pigmeat production this year, with the UK producing 25,800 fewer tonnes in the first two months of 2023 compared to 2022. This is more than double the 12,500 tonne increase in UK pigmeat production that was seen in the calendar year of 2022. Meanwhile, after adjusting domestic pigmeat production to account for import and export volumes, total UK pigmeat market supply is estimated to have fallen sharply since summer 2022. The estimated decline between July 2022 and February 2023 is enough to more than offset the previous lift in supply from the first half of 2022. Mr Macdonald highlights: As well as reduced trade flows, the price of pigmeat imports and exports will have been having an impact on the domestic pig market. "Indeed, the average value of pork imports to the UK from the EU rose sharply in 2022, reflecting the surge in EU pig prices. "In the first two months of 2023, the average price per tonne imported to the UK from the EU was 26% higher than a year earlier, while exports averaged 78% more expensive than in early 2022. These external pricing pressures are likely to have continued given that EU pig prices have risen at nearly twice the pace of GB prices since the start of 2023.] This has narrowed the difference between GB and EU farmgate pig prices to around 4-5% since the beginning of March compared to a gap of around 12% at the beginning of the year. Mr Macdonald adds: Looking forward, the sharp decline in pig numbers reported in England in December 2022 suggests that domestic supply is set to remain tight for much of this year. "Although the steep fall in sow slaughter in early 2023 could be a sign that some producers are beginning to rebuild herds now that farmgate prices have rebalanced higher and the cost of straight feeds has fallen back sharply, any recovery in prime pig numbers will come at a considerable lag. Meanwhile, external factors look set to support a tight domestic market. In the EU, the pork market continues to look tight. Indeed, EU pigmeat production reduced by 5.6% in 2022 and the EU Commission is forecasting a 5.1% decline in 2023. "While the EU Commission had been expecting pork import volumes from non-EU sources to rise in 2023 to support consumption, tight supply in the UK limited the volume exported from the UK to the EU in January and February. Mr Macdonald concludes: Looking further afield, the Chinese pork market has softened slightly further in recent weeks after an improvement in supply led to a sharp fall in wholesale pork prices between October 2022 and February 2023. However, there are reports of a spike in cases of African Swine Fever in China and futures market pricing in China suggests that traders are expecting supply to tighten in the second half of the year, potentially supporting demand for imports. "Similarly, there have been reports from the Philippines that ASF is leading to a shortage of pork. Sainsbury's has announced it will slash the price of milk, a day after Tesco confirmed it had done the same. Sainsbury's price of milk will reduce to 1.55 for four pints, 1.25 for two pints and 90p for a pint - a fall of 5p a pint. The supermarket chain said the move would not impact the amount its farmer suppliers are paid. It follows Tesco announcing a milk price drop for the first time in three years, with the retailer also saying the move would not affect farmers. The UK's largest retailer announced that it had 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. Announcing Sainsbury's move, a spokesperson said: With costs going up, we are working hard to keep prices low, especially on the everyday essentials people buy the most. "We have reduced the price of our own brand milk to just 1.55 for four pints, 1.25 for two pints and 90p for a pint. "Our focus on value means that all our customers can be confident that they will receive great deals when they shop with us." In other news, First Milk recently announced 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. Page Content 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, 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 welcomed 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 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 an 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. King Charles has reportedly barred television cameras from filming him being anointed with holy oil before he is crowned. King Charles has reportedly barred television cameras from filming him being anointed with holy oil before he is crowned The monarch, 74, is said to have dumped initial plans to show it from behind a see-through canopy and will instead apparently shield himself from public view during the most sacred part of the ceremony, according to the Daily Mirror. A royal source told the newspaper it would be the most sacred moment of the ceremony at Westminster Abbey on 6 May, adding: 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. The late Queen had the oil poured over her head during her 1953 coronation as a gold cloth canopy was held above the monarch. Charles and his wife Queen Consort Camilla, 75, will both be anointed with the Chrism oil, consecrated in March at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. Charles coronation will fall on a Saturday and the following day, Windsor Castle is set to host a concert that will be broadcast around the world, with thousands of street parties in the afternoon across the UK. It will be followed by a Bank Holiday on Monday, May 8, which will give millions of people a day off work. The ceremony will start with Camilla being crowned, before Charles is officially made monarch by the St Edwards Crown being placed on his head by the Archbishop of Canterbury. A procession will lead the newly-anointed king who is to be anointed with vegan holy oil past thousands of people to Buckingham Palace, where he will join members of the royal family on the balcony to wave at fans. The plans follow reports last year Charles was intent on having a slimmed down coronation compared to his late mothers, when 8,251 people squeezed into Westminster Abbey to mark her ascension to the throne. Sarah Ferguson has reportedly been left off King Charles 2,000-strong coronation guest list. Sarah Ferguson has reportedly been left off King Charles 2,000-strong coronation guest list The Duchess of York, 63, is said to be set to watch the event on 6 May on TV at Royal Lodge, the home she still shares with her her ex-husband Prince Andrew, who she divorced in 1996 after 10 years of marriage. But royal sources told The Sun, which reported the claim she is not invited to the ceremony at Londons Westminster Abbey, there is no ill-will towards Fergie. The newspaper added Sarah and Andrews daughters, princesses Eugenie, 33, and Beatrice, 34, are expected to be at the Westminster Abbey event. Royal author Phil Dampier told The Sun: Im sure Fergie will be disappointed but she has had many years of ups and downs in her relationship with the Royal Family, and Im sure she will accept it. The Queen had a soft spot for Fergie and Charles was generous in inviting her to Christmas. But on a formal occasion he probably feels a line has to be drawn. Space is limited and some hard decisions have had to be made. The fact is Fergie and Prince Andrew split up more than 30 years ago so she cannot expect to be at the top of the royal pecking order. Sarah had admitted she didnt expect to get an invite to the coronation and said she had plans to watch the event in a little tea room. She told ITVs Loose Women: I personally will be having a little tea room and coronation chicken sandwich and putting out the bunting. I think hes going to be an amazing King and with the lovely Camilla by his side. Speaking about how Queen Consort Camilla, 75, is set to have the Consort dropped from her title when she is crowned alongside 74-year-old Charles: I think its great that its the Queen, its not the Queen Consort. Sarah was reportedly frozen out of the royal family for a period by the Queens late husband Prince Philip after infamous intimate pictures emerged showing her and financial advisor John Bryan on holiday together in the summer of 1992. His anger was said to be so intense he spent years being unable to bear being in the same room as Sarah. But decades later they came together when they attended the October 2018 wedding of her daughter Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank. Charles is reportedly only inviting 15 senior working royals to greet royal fans from the Buckingham Palace balcony on the day of his coronation, and it is not yet know if Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will attend the ceremony despite it only being a month away. Twiggy has paid tribute to the late queen of Britains Swinging Sixties fashion Dame Mary Quant. Twiggy has paid tribute to the late queen of Britains Swinging Sixties fashion Dame Mary Quant The UKs first supermodel, 73, who modelled for Mary, hailed her as a revolutionary business pioneer after the self-taught designers family revealed she had died aged 93 at her home in Surrey on Thursday (13.04.23) morning. Twiggy real name Lesley Hornby said on Instagram alongside a black and white photo of Dame Mary: Mary Quant was such an influence on young girls in the late 50s (and) 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. Sixties model Pattie Boyd, who also posed for Mary and was famed for being briefly married to The Beatles guitarist George Harrison, said the designer was daringly creative. She said 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 Georges and my wedding coats in 1966; his, Black Mongolian Fur and mine, Red Fox. A true icon. RIP. A statement from Dame Marys family said about her passing: Dame Mary was one of the most internationally recognised fashion designers of the 20th century and an outstanding innovator of the Swinging Sixties. Mary a hero to many who considered her the inventor of the mini-skirt and who was also famous for her skinny rib sweaters and hot pants and her quote that fashion is a tool to compete in life outside the home married Alexander Plunket Greene in 1957, and they had one son before his death in 1990. Born 11 February, 1930 in Blackheath, south east London, Mary was so driven by her wanting to advance feminism through fashion she came up with her so-called Chelsea look defined by then-controversially high hemlines, trousers for women and popularising the bob haircut pioneered by her hair stylist icon friend Vidal Sassoon. Marys partnership with Twiggy also propelled her looks to worldwide fame and her boutiques were filled with loud music and free drinks. Her Ginger Group started in 1963 made fashion affordable for ordinary working women, and she famously said: I didnt have time to wait for womens lib. The Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is currently visiting China with the aim of deepening economic ties between the two countries and exploring new opportunities. Brazil and China are major trade partners, with Brazil being the second-largest cotton supplier to China after US. In 2022, China imported cotton worth $5.233 billion, and Brazil's contribution was valued at $1.534 billion, representing 29.33 per cent of the total cotton import for that year. Conversely, China is a significant source of apparel imports for Brazil. Brazil was the largest supplier of cotton for China after the US, which supplied 58.30 per cent of its total cotton imports, as per Fibre2Fashions market insight tool TexPro. Brazil's President Lula da Silva visits China to enhance economic ties and explore new opportunities. Brazil is the second-largest cotton supplier to China accounting for 29.33 per cent of China's total cotton imports in 2022, while China supplied 51.65 per cent of Brazil's total apparel imports. China is Brazil's largest trading partner. China's cotton imports from Brazil have shown a consistent increase over the past six years. In 2017, the value of imports was only $121.515 million. However, it rose significantly by 199.23 per cent to $363.616 million in 2018, followed by another increase of 156.07 per cent to $931.126 million in 2019. In 2020 and 2021, the imports further rose to $1,040.909 million and $1,211.373 million, respectively. On the other hand, China supplied 51.65 per cent of the apparel imported by Brazil, which was valued at $1.615 billion in 2022. In the same period, Brazil imported apparel worth $834.268 million from China. However, Brazil's apparel import from China has been decreasing in recent years. It was $1,034.531 million in 2018 but decreased by 11.46 per cent to $916.012 million in 2019, followed by a further decline of 34.06 per cent to $604.054 million in 2020, and a 9.28 per cent drop to $547.989 million in 2021, as per TexPro. Brazilian President has said that he will invite Chinese President Xi Jinping to show him projects for which the south American country wants to attract Chinese investment, according to media reports. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) Aaradhya Bachchan: Actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai are Bollywood's power couple. The couple, after dating for some time, got married in 2007 and welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Aaradhya, in 2011. Aishwarya and Abhsihek's daughter is all grown up now and keeps making public appearances with her parents. The young lass is now 11 and is as beautiful as her mother. Meanwhile, Aishwarya and Abhsiehk are very protective of their daughter. Aishwarya is often seen holding Aaradhya's hand while being surrounded by media and people. The star kid recently graced the NMACC gala with her mom wearing a heavily embroidered ethnic outfit, and looked absolutely stunning. AARADHYA BACHCHAN'S PIC WITH NANI AND HER MATERNAL COUSINS Aishwarya and Abhishek are both private people and do not disclose much on social media. As they are popular celebrities, fans eagerly want to know more about them and Aaradhya. The Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam actress from time to time shares pics with her little princess on Instagram; however, it is not enough for fans. Aishwarya Rai TROLLED Yet Again For Aaradhya's Hairdo, Netizens Say, 'Change Her Hairstyle She Is No Longer..' Meanwhile, even though Aaradhya is not on social media, there are fan pages dedicated to the star kid. And on one of the pages, a few pictures of the Bachchan family were dropped from a recent family gathering. The page, named @aaradhyaraibachchanoffical, claims to be the official fan page of Aaradhya Bachchan. The photos shared a few hours ago seem like a reunion of Aishwarya's maternal family. In the first pic, we can see Aaradhya posing with her cousins. She is seen wearing a green sweatshirt and black pants. She also wore a black headband. While in the second photo, we see Aaradhya sitting beside her nani, Brindya Rai, on a couch. Here we also spot Abhishek and Aishwarya standing next to each other, along with other family members. Take a look here. Nimrit Kaur Roped In For Amitabh Bachchan Starrer Section 84; Calls It A Dream Come True Moment FANS REACTED As soon as the pictures were uploaded, fans flooded the comment section and called Aaradhya cute. Many were mesmerised by her innocence. One fan commented, "Bohot pyaari h." One fan called her, "Angle." "Beautiful family," wrote one. ABHISHEK BACHCHAN ON AARADHYA BEING TROLLED Meanwhile, Aaradhya Bachchan has been constantly trolled online. Be it her hairstyle or calm demeanour, Aaradhya had been a target of trolls. In 2021, during the promotion of Bob Biswas, Abhishek was asked how he deals with his daughter getting dragged when trolls target him. The actor told Bollywood Life, "It is completely unacceptable and something I will not tolerate it. I am a fair game." Bas Karo Yaar: Fans Support Aishwarya Rai As Netizens Ask Her To Change Aaradhya Bachchan's Hairstyle "I am a public figure that's fine but my daughter is out of bounds to you. And if you truly mean what you have to say, please come to my face and we'll see how much guts you have," he added. Bigg Boss Season 5 is witnessing unexpected developments. The audience saw Hanan Hamid being part of the show at an unexpected time through the wild card. The events that happened later in the house was dramatic. In the meantime, Hanan has been shifted from the house for health check up since the previous day. It is common for contestants to have health issues in the Bigg Boss house. Hanan had health problem immediately after the weekly task. Hanan did not sleep and had continued to show the problem since last night. Then in the morning, Anjuz Rosh tried to talk to Hanan about what was the problem, but Hanan refused to reply. But speaking to the camera from the restroom area, Hanan said that she likes Rinosh George and she is there to help Rinosh win. Then Hanan came out and behaved very strangely. Sobha Viswanath and Junaiz V P came to console Hanan, But she didn't listen to them. She also skipped the breakfast. Hanan was singing songs, saying that she wanted peace. Angeline Mariya approached Hanan and asked things. Angeline asked Hanan whether she feels alone in the house. But Hanan gave strange answers in a way that confused Angeline. Hanan then sang her a song. Finally, Bigg Boss called Hanan, who was tired, in the confession room. Hanan told that she wanted to go to sleep when she was asked to see the doctor. Later, when Hanan got tired while sleeping, the family members moved her to the medical room. From there, Bigg Boss informed the housemates that Hanan was admitted to the hospital for medical examination. Now according to the latest reports, it is known that Hanan has been temporarily removed from the show. Hanan was shifted to the hospital yesterday. Reports are coming out that Bigg Boss has informed the other contestants that the doctors have prescribed rest for her. Hanan is said to be unable to continue in the competition due to her ill health. Therefore, it is reported that Bigg Boss has informed that Hanan is temporarily removed from the Bigg Boss house. May be she will be back in few days. Reportedly, Bigg Boss told the other contestants to pack Hanan's bags and all the things and keep them in the store room. It is believed that this is a temporary change and not a permanent one. Maneesha is reportedly in pain as a result of Hanan's leaving. It is also being reported that most of the contestants in house were relieved because of Hanan's leaving. Some contestants are also talking about whether she will be back soon or not. 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. Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 5 is getting more exciting every day. It is predicted by many fans of Bigg Boss Malayalam that this time it will be more eventful compared to season 4. It is common for contestants to have health issues in the Bigg Boss house. Hanan hamid, The first wild card entry of Bigg Boss Malayalam season 5, has shown health problem immediately after the weekly task. Hanan did not sleep and had continued to show the problem since last night. Then in the morning, Anjuz Rosh tried to talk to Hanan about what was the problem, but Hanan refused to reply. But speaking to the camera from the restroom area, Hanan said that she likes Rinosh George and she is there to help Rinosh win. Then Hanan came out and behaved very strangely. Sobha Viswanath and Junaiz V P came to console Hanan, But she didn't listen to them. She also skipped the breakfast. Hanan was singing songs, saying that she wanted peace. Angeline Mariya approached Hanan and asked things. Angeline asked Hanan whether she feels alone in the house. But Hanan gave strange answers in a way that confused Angeline. Hanan then sang her a song. Finally, Bigg Boss called Hanan, who was tired, in the confession room. Hanan told that she wanted to go to sleep when she was asked to see the doctor. Later, when Hanan got tired while sleeping, the family members moved her to the medical room. From there, Bigg Boss informed the housemates that Hanan was admitted to the hospital for medical examination. At the same time, Angeline, who was conversing to the family members about Hanan's health condition, expressed that she thinks Hanan is suffering from stress disorder like her. She also express her doubt that Hanan was using it as a trick. Angeline's concern is that if people understand that it is so, they will suspect her too. Angeline says that she truly is on medication for stress disorder. Angeline Doubts that Hanan is copying, what Angeline was done in house from day one. After feeling a doubt, Angeline says that this is my game. Now the Bigg Boss Malayalam 5 audience is also posing the same doubt in social media. Off late, Tamil actor "Robo" Shankar has been making the headlines very often. In his latest photos, it was revealed that the actor has lost oodles of weight. It has taken his fans by a shocker as he is seen in a recent photo, as half of his size. The latest photo of "Robo" Shankar was shared by Thodarvom Karthik, a film director. The photo was shared as the director wished his followers a happy Tamil new year. Apart from Shankar, the photos also featured Shankar's daughter Indhuja. The photo is making the rounds on social media, and fans are expressing their concern about Shankar. Meanwhile, his wife Priyanka Robo Shankar, who is also an internet influencer, revealed in an interview recently that there was nothing wrong with Shankar's health and that he underwent a body transformation for a role in his next movie. She, however, did not reveal the movie's name or any more details, stating that they will be announced officially soon. Let us wait for the makers to announce the same. Robo Shankar shot to huge fame after making small screen performances. With his appearances in reality shows, he won fans' hearts. Though he gained fame after appearing on small screens, he started his acting career by playing a minor role in Rajinikanth's Padayappa. Last month, he made the headlines after the Tamil Nadu Wildlife Crime Control Bureau imposed a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh on him for keeping two Alexandrine parakeets at his residence in Chennai. The parakeets were spotted in videos uploaded by the actor's family on social media. After the videos were uploaded online, a complaint was filed, following which the authorities inspected the actor's residence in Chennai's Valasaravakkam. They also seized the two birds as they are protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Within hours of the film's theatrical release, several illegal websites started circulating pirated links to Raghava Lawrence's Rudhran movie. These pirated links are all over the internet, being shared by social media sites and personal accounts. The links allow one to watch the content in them or to download the entire film for free. The cinematic experience is entirely different from watching the content through these links. However, no amount of measures taken by the cops and Producers Council could contain piracy. If this is the case for an Raghava Lawrence film, think about the situation of other films. Will government able to take strict action against these illegal websites? 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. 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. DISCLAIMER- FILMIBEAT doesn't support or promote piracy as it is a criminal offense under the Copyright Act of 1957. We sincerely request you to not participate in any such practice or encourage piracy in any form. Unlike most Sikh festivals that celebrate the guru's birthdays or martyrdom, Baisakhi celebrates life, newness in harvest and formation of Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh. The festival is therefore celebrated amid much fervour among them. Actor Jasmin Bhasin talks about her plans and shares if there is any way you celebrate this festival differently from the others. "Baisakhi is the Sikh New Year celebration that takes place every year on April 13 or 14 according to the calendar. It is a joyous, vibrant day. Also, it is the spring harvest festival, during which Sikhs celebrate new crops and offer prayers for everlasting happiness. Punjab, India, has the largest celebrations, including feasts, parades, prayers, and a lot of socialising. And I have also seen many Sikh groups worldwide host festivities to celebrate Baisakhi," she says. We all have our ways to connect with the higher power. Speaking about it and creating new memories during the festival, she adds, "It's a new day, and everyone wears new clothes. Baisakhi is celebrated with bright colours, Typically the colours associated with it are red, yellow, and orange. These three have the most significance... like bringing up some orange rugs in the passageway, hanging some yellow curtains, or spreading some bright red cushions on the couch. We all go to the Gurdwara, which is a place of worship where the Sikh holy text is housed, and it literally means 'gateway to the guru'." Sikhs frequently pray for success and prosperity for the coming year during Baisakhi, shares Jasmin. "Visiting Gurdwara gives me plenty of peace and space, it is a meditation centre for everyone. I also love to do the seva in Gurudwara and also enjoy the langar. At my home on the occasion of the celebration, we will be preparing special meals today. We are going to cook traditional Punjabi dishes including chhole bhature, makki ki roti , sarson ka saag, peele chawal, sweet lassi, jaggery halwa and kadhi pakora with rice. And for dessert, I will be making kheer, coconut ladoos and phirni," she says. Dushyanta and Shakuntala Photo Credit: Gallery Introduction: To distract Viswamithra's penance, Lord Indra sends Apsara Menaka (Madhoo) to earth. She successfully accomplishes the task and gets pregnant with Viswamithra's child. Since a child born through human cannot enter the Devalokam, Menaka leaves the new born child on earth and returns to Indralokam. A flock of birds leave the new born baby at the Aashram of Kanva Maharishi (Sachin Khedekar), who accepts it like a responsibility from God. He names the baby Shakuntala and takes care of her. One fine day, Dushyanta (Dev Mohan) arrives at Kanva Maharishi's Aashram and meets Shakuntala. Both fall in love and get married in the Gandharva style. When the time comes for his departure, Dushyanta gives a finger ring as a token of their love and assures to take her back to his Kingdom with due respects rendered to a Queen. Story: Dushyanta and Shakuntala get married, and when he leaves with a promise to take her back home, Shakuntala, who is reeling under the separation ignores Durvasa Maharishi (Mohan Babu). An enraged Durvasa Maharishi curses Shakuntala that the person who she is in love with will forget her forever. Amidst this curse and her growing tension as a full-pregnant, Shakuntala also loses the ring given to her by Dushyanta. What happens next? How did the duo reconcile? Who are Asura mooka Kaalaaneemulu? Why do they try to kill Dushyanta? What is the role of Prince Bharatha? are answered on the big screen when you watch it. Analysis: Shakuntala story is based on the epic written by Kalidasa in his 'Abhignana Shaakuntalam.' The love story of Dushyanta and Shakuntala is one of the greatest sagas, according to what was taught in schools and Mahabharatha. While there were so many films already made depicting the same story, these mythological subjects can be interesting if made in interestingly. Over usage of visual effects, improper conflict, too many characters with notable actors, all of these contribute to nothing a bit worthy. Shaakuntalam movie Photo Credit: Gallery Performances: Samantha tries very hard to impress as the petite Shakuntala. Although the character has so much to bring out emotionally, Samantha doing it seems pretty superficial. The plethora of notable actors cast in other characters appear in respective roles without an impact. Mohan Babu as Durvasa Maharishi, which is like a cake-walk for him, shined on the screen. Samantha and Dev Mohan's characters do not churn out drama and convince the viewers of their deep love. Had someone else played Dushyanta, who is a more familiar face, things would have been a bit better for Shaakuntalam. Allu Arha, who made her acting debut as Prince Bharatha makes an interesting appearance on the screen and steals the show towards the climax. Her screen presence is enthralling. Technical Aspects: Mani Sharma's music is one of the notable works of Shakuntalam. The VFX are not up to the mark, and cinematography was striking. Positives: Samantha's styling and costumes as Shankuntala Songs and music Climax and Interval Negatives: Dead slow narration Lack of Conflict in the story Verdict: If you are fan of Gunasekhar's larger-than-life sets, heavy visual effect shots, and mythological films, you can give a try but do not hope to get 'disnified.' Shaakuntalam is another misfired attempt of Gunasekhar to bring this epic love story to the fore using technical advancements to the millenials. Home Top Listing Top Listing Pathu Thala OTT Release Date: When and Where To Watch STR's Action Thriller Movie After the success of his two block-buster hits movies like Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu and Maanaadu, Silambarasan is getting ready to grab his fans and audience attention with a stellar performances in his new project 'Pathu Thala'. Billed as a complete action thriller drama, it is one of the most-anticipated movies of actor's career life. Directed by Obeli N. Krishna, the film is set to be released on this month end. As per the latest information, the film will start streaming on digital platform after its big release. So, read on to know more about Pathu Thala OTT release and know when and where to watch the movie. STR'S Power-Packed Performance Starring Silambarasan in lead role, the film 'Pathu Thala' is a complete power-packed entertainer to audience.It promises to be a perfect mixture of thrilling and exciting ideas to STR's fans and followers around us. As per the latest reports, the actor who plays a gangster role in the movie.His new get-up and punchlines in the movie which are the major highlights, it will grab the audience attention from all level.A few days ago, the trailer was released and received a positive response from STR's fans and audience across the nation. Sayyesha Makes Her Comeback To The Showbiz Actress Sayyesha, started her acting career in 2015 with the Telugu film 'Akhil'. Later she made her debut in Bollywood in 2016 with 'Shivaay'which was directed by actor Ajay Devgn. The action thriller 'Vanamagan ' is her debut film in Tamil Cinema.The gorgeous actress who left the industry after her marriage with actor Arya on March 9, 2022. After a long await, the actress is now getting ready come back to industry with 'Pathu Thala'. As per the reports the actress who charged Rs 40 lakh for an appearance in 'Rawadi' song. Soundtracks World renowned musician, A.R.Rahman who composed the music for this action thriller drama. The songs Namma Satham and Ninaivirukka have already become chartbusters. Latest track, 'Raawadi' is an item number has an appearance by actress Sayyesha, is now trending on social media paltforms. Story line Written and directed by Obeli N Krishna, the film 'Pathu Thala ' is the official remake of the Kannada film 'Mufti'. Billed as a complete action-thriller drama, which narrates the story of a police officer and how he conquered an underworld boss. Actor Silambarasan plays the role of crime boss AGR and Gautham Karthik will essay the role of police officer in the movie. OTT Release Made up with a big-budget, the film featurs actor Silambarasan TR and Gautham Karthik in lead roles. Apart from this actors Priya Bhavani Shankar, Teejay, Gautham Menon, and Kalaiyarasan in key roles. As per the latest report, the film will start streaming on Amazon Prime Video from April 27, 2023. LOADING...... Ramya Sandalwood Queen Ramya is a popular actress and Former MP, who has huge fan-followers in South Indian Cinema. She made debut to industry though Puneeth Rajkumar's 'Abhi'. After making a successful debut in Kannada film industry, later she went to act on Tamil and Telugu movies. As an actress she acted along with several big stars in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu film industry. She has received many awards and acclodes for her outstanding performances in the Kannada Cinema. Ramya who was winner of Karnataka State Film Award for Best actress for the film 'Sanju Weds Geetha'. Apart from acting, Ramya is also a politician. She was elected as an MP from Mandya constituency in 2013 Lok Sabha elections with the support of the Indian National Congress (INC). In 2023, Ramy making her re-entry to Sandalwood through Daali Dhananjay's Uttarakaanda. Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Expertise Consultancy Libya, a leading provider of business solutions, has been constructing a purpose-built compound strategically located in the capital of Libya to provide clients with easy access to key locations in the region. Expertise Consultancy Following the successful opening of the Benghazi compound in 2022, Expertise Consultancy Libya has commenced the construction of the Tripoli compound, which is scheduled to be finalised in the first quarter of 2024. Expertise Consultancy's Tripoli compound will support clients in achieving their objectives in the developing region. Built with security protocols, client comfort, and requirements in mind, the compound is situated between the new airport and central Tripoli, aligning with future development plans. Spanning 15,000 square metres, the compound features 8 buildings, including 6 mixed-use villas for office space and accommodation, a gym and restaurant, and a security building with access control and monitoring facilities. Conveniently located near key infrastructure, such as airports and corporate headquarters, the compound offers a range of services, such as access control infrastructure, fitness facilities, serviced offices and accommodations, underground parking and storage, conferencing facilities, an on-site cafeteria and restaurant, 24-hour security, and backup utility infrastructure. The compound provides various serviced office layouts, with a capacity of 30 offices, and accommodation options, including 30 ensuite rooms and self-contained apartments. As a 100% Libyan-owned and operational organization, Expertise Consultancy has remained committed to its goal of being a significant player in Libya's development. The new facility marks an important milestone in the company's commitment to rebuilding Libya's economy and fostering international collaboration. It features state-of-the-art facilities, including a secure living area, offices, storage facilities, and workshops, all equipped with the latest technology to ensure maximum efficiency and productivity. "Our new compound represents a significant investment in our clients and our commitment to providing turnkey solutions that enable them to operate successfully in Libya," said Tamim Rashed, the founder of Expertise Consultancy. "We are proud to offer state-of-the-art facilities tailored to the unique needs of our clients, and we look forward to continuing to support their growth and success in the country." Completing the purpose-built compound is a testament to Expertise Consultancy's commitment to providing world-class business solutions in Libya and beyond. The company looks forward to continuing to build on its success and playing a pivotal role in rebuilding Libya's economy. About Expertise Consultancy Expertise Consultancy is a locally-owned and operated organization established with the vision of contributing to developing a new Libya post-revolution and advancing the country's growth in the international community. The company combines global expertise with deep local knowledge to provide exceptional service quality and establish itself as a leading player in the Libyan market. Furthermore, Expertise Consultancy has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to Libya's development by owning all of its assets, including offices within the country. Every client that Expertise Consultancy supports is a crucial step towards achieving its long-term vision. Contact information Name: Tamim Rashed Email: info@expertiseconsultancy.com Phone: +218 91 909 6026 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162351 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Electrovaya Inc. ("Electrovaya" or the "Company") (TSX:EFL)(OTCQB:EFLVF) a leading lithium-ion battery technology and manufacturing company, is pleased to announces it will be hosting its inaugural Battery Technology & Analyst Day on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 starting at 11:00 am EST from the Company's Canadian headquarters, located at 6688 Kitimat Rd., Mississauga, ON, L5N 1P8. Electrovaya's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Raj DasGupta will be joined by other senior management and technology team members to provide a detailed overview and roadmap of our current battery technologies and production plans. The Company will also be providing a technical update on the Company's Solid State Battery (SSB) developments, followed by a Q&A period. The in-person event is by invitation only for Analysts and Media. A replay will be made available and posted on the company website at www.electrovaya.com . Register in advance for this webinar: https://electrovaya.zoom.us/webinar/register/ For more information contact: Jason Roy Director, Corporate Development and Investor Relations Electrovaya Inc. 905-855-4618 jroy@electrovaya.com About Electrovaya Inc. Electrovaya Inc. (TSX:EFL) (OTCQB:EFLVF) is a pioneering leader in the global energy transformation, focused on contributing to the prevention of climate change by supplying safe and long-lasting lithium-ion batteries without compromising energy and power. Electrovaya is a technology-focused company with extensive IP, designs, develops, and manufactures proprietary lithium-ion batteries, battery systems, and battery-related products for energy storage, clean electric transportation, and other specialized applications. The Company has acquired a 52 acre site with a 135,000 sq.feet manufacturing building in NY State for its planned Giga factory, in addition to its two operating locations in Canada.. To learn more about how Electrovaya is powering mobility and energy storage, please explore www.electrovaya.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to announcements regarding solid state battery technology, battery technologies, performance and planned production roadmaps, and the timing therefor, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "likely", "possible", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "objective", "seed", "growing" and "continue" (or the negative thereof) and words and expressions of similar import. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors and assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Statements with respect to solid state batteries, battery technologies and production roadmaps, are based on an assumption that the Company's customers and users will deploy its products in accordance with communicated intentions, and the Company has investment capital to deploy. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include but are not limited to macroeconomic effects on the Company and its business and on the Company's customers, including inflation and tightening credit availability due to systemic bank risk, economic conditions generally and their effect on consumer demand and capital availability, labour shortages, supply chain constraints, the potential effect of health based restrictions in Canada, the US and internationally on the Company's ability to produce and deliver products, and on its customers' and end users' demand for and use of products, which effects are not predictable and may be affected by additional regional outbreaks and variants, and other factors which may cause disruptions in the Company's supply chain and Company's capability to deliver and develop its products. Additional information about material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and about material factors or assumptions applied in making forward-looking statements may be found in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended September 30, 2022 under "Risk Factors", and in the Company's most recent annual Management's Discussion and Analysis under "Qualitative And Quantitative Disclosures about Risk and Uncertainties" as well as in other public disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE: Electrovaya, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/749216/Electrovaya-to-Host-Its-Inaugural-Battery-Technology-Analyst-Day-on-Wednesday-May-17-2023 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Multi-Metal Development Ltd (TSXV: MLY) (OTC Pink: MLYCF) (formerly American Cumo Mining Corporation) announces that as a result of the British Columbia Securities Commission issuing a cease trading order on March 17, 2023, and an amended cease trading order on March 18, 2023, the Company is issuing the following news release. The Cease trade orders alleged the improper disclosure and failures to file Material Change Reports for information contained in a video published by Idaho Copper Corporation. Multi-Metals is a major shareholder of Idaho Copper. The initial Cease trade order states the reason for the order is: "Idaho Copper and Multi-Metal have each failed to file a Material Change Report and news release for their first-time disclosure of mineral reserves, as required to be filed under section 7.1 of National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations (the required records)." The amended Cease trading order states the reason as: "In its corporate video dated January 31, 2023, Idaho Copper disclosed in writing for the first time the results of a pre-feasibility study (the CuMo Disclosures)." Multi-Metal Development Ltd. ("Company") wishes to state that it is not aware of any first-time disclosure of any mineral reserves or the disclosure of any results of a pre-feasibility study. At the time the Company became aware of the information contained in the video, management considered the information was not a material change that required to be reported. At the current time the Cumo project does not contain any mineral reserves as defined by NI43-101 and that the June 2, 2020 Independent technical preliminary economic analysis (PEA) remains the current report. The report clearly states that: "The preliminary economic assessment is preliminary in nature, that it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized." In a news release dated April,10, 2023 Idaho Copper states: "In a video published on its website, Idaho Copper included language which gave estimates of the Net Present Value ('NPV') of the Company's CuMo project from a 2020 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment ('PEA'), without mentioning the discount rate used in the calculation. The video also contained a range of numbers of the potential value of the Company after further drilling. "This video disclosure was not proper in several major aspects: (1) the disclosure failed to mention that the NPV number included was calculated at a specific discount rate in the PEA, which was lower than and not the 'base case in that document;' (2) that the PEA 'base case' was founded on a different and higher discount rate, yielding a significantly different and lower NPV, and (3) the inclusion of a range of potential values upon further exploration represents economic targets that are not allowed under Canadian law and regulations, and are not supported by a current Technical Report. The Company wishes to correct these disclosure problems with the following statements: "The Company's prior disclosure in a video presentation utilized from the PEA Technical Report, but did not specifically mention the discount rate applied to reach the disclosed Net Present Value. The discount rate used, and the NPV stated by the Company, were not reflective of the 'base case' from the Technical Report. Using an 8% discount rate, the base case in the PEA, the CuMo project's Net Present Value is $356 million dollars with a payback period of eight years." The language to be used in the video will now be revised and presented as follows: "'Using an 8% discount rate, the base case in the 2020 Preliminary Economic Assessment, the CuMo project's Net Present Value is $356 million dollars with a payback period of eight years. Management believes that further exploration and drilling could raise this value and reduce the payback period.' "Idaho Copper will file a Material Change Report consistent with and to reflect the change in the video language to include the reference to the 8% discount rate being used for the base case for the value reported, which is supported by the June 2020 Independent Technical Report and PEA. Any additional calculations utilizing a discount rate other than 8% will be reported and based on and supported by a new or updated independent Technical Report. "Further, that the statement in the video that the future value of the Company could be in a specific numerical range constitutes under Canadian law and regulations improperly disclosed economic targets, unsupported by a current independent Technical Report. This language will be stricken from the video. Any additional disclosure of future economic values or ranges of values will be disclosed in a Material Change Report as new results and will be supported by a new or updated compliant independent Technical Report." Multi-metals will file a material change report that re-affirms the result of the Independent PEA from June 2020 as the current technical report and state that the economic targets published by Idaho Copper are not to be relied upon. In addition when Idaho Copper does file any new or updated independent technical report the company will file the appropriate material change report as required. Mr. Shaun M. Dykes, M.Sc. (Eng), P.Geo., President and CEO of the Company, is the designated qualified person for the CuMo Project and has prepared the technical information contained in this news release. About Multi-Metal Development Ltd ("MultiMet") MultiMet is focused on advancing the CuMo Project, owned by Idaho Copper Corporation of which MultiMet is a large shareholder, towards feasibility and working on the Bleiberg project in Austria. Management is continuing to build an even stronger foundation from which to move the Company and its projects forward. For more information, please visit www.multimetdev.com. For further information, please contact: Multi-Metal Development Ltd Shaun Dykes, President and Chief Executive Officer Tel: (604) 689-7902 Email: info@multimetdev.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this new release. Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation including, but not limited to, statements that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, such the Company's ability to move its CuMo Project to feasibility and production, and to become one of the largest and lowest-cost molybdenum producers in the world as well as a significant producer of copper and silver. Forward-looking information is based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including the result of exploration activities, the ability of the Company to raise the financing for a feasibility study and to put the CuMo project into production, that no labour shortages or delays are experienced, that plant and equipment function as specified that the Court will not intervene with the Company's proposed exploration activities at the CuMo Project, and the ability of the Company to obtain all requisite permits and licenses to advance the CuMo Project and eventually bring it into production. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future prediction, projection or forecast expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, the interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of molybdenum, silver and copper; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents, including the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the period ended December 31, 2022. There may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162349 X-Meta Exchange is setting a new standard in the crypto industry with its innovative technology and commitment to excellence. The Mongolia-based exchange has introduced automated fiat-to-cryptocurrency integration, allowing users to convert their fiat currency from their bank account to their wallet on the X-Meta exchange as BUSD. This innovative technology has already been adopted by other international crypto exchanges working with Binance Cloud, and since its introduction, X-Meta has facilitated more than 50 million USD worth of fiat transactions on their platform. The exchange was also able to provide USDT, or BUSD, to users in Mongolia, making it the only and largest stablecoin provider with the lowest trading fee in the country as of today. X-Meta's achievements were acknowledged when selected as the Best Start-Up crypto exchange at the Crypto Expo Asia 2022 in Singapore. This achievement demonstrates the potential of a start-up from Mongolia to be recognized in the global arena. By demonstrating an unwavering commitment to quality and high standards in the crypto industry, X-Meta has set itself apart from competitors. They are the only exchange in Mongolia that has integrated the AML program of Chainalysis and is using Jumio, the world's best KYC (know your customer) provider, to make user recognition fast and reliable. X-Meta has expanded its reach in partnership with Mercuryo, a user-friendly service that allows users to buy cryptocurrency using their bank cards. X-Meta Exchange has also achieved several other accomplishments, as they received their Financial Regulatory Commision license in October 2022, becoming a regulated cryptocurrency exchange. Likewise, the exchange officially received an ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification in August 2022, demonstrating its steadfast dedication to quality and high standards in the crypto industry. In addition to getting domestically and internationally certified, X-Meta has established working relationships with many other crypto exchanges, including Binance, Huobi, Gate.io, Kraken, and KuCoin. Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Dave Lee was invited to speak in international conferences and expos such as the Crypto Expo Asia 2022, Chainalysis Links Conference, Token 2049, Binance Blockchain Week, and W3BX, demonstrating their thought leadership in the space. As part of its CSR program, X-Meta organized a crossfit competition "976 Mongolian Throwdown" in 2022 to promote healthy lifestyle within the community. Providing a seamless user experience, 24-7 customer support, and implementing user-friendly interfaces is X-Meta's primary focus. Mobile applications for both IOS and Android devices were developed, allowing users to conveniently trade on the go. Their dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction has led to a growing user base, with traders from over 30 countries currently utilizing the platform. X-Meta Exchange is committed to developing Mongolia's crypto and blockchain industry, actively participating in industry associations, and advocating for adopting blockchain technology in the country. Overall, X-Meta Exchange's automatic fiat-to-cryptocurrency integration has provided new convenience and accessibility to traders, making it easier than ever to enter the crypto market. Their dedication to innovation, customer satisfaction, and the development of the crypto industry in Mongolia sets them apart as a leader in the space. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230330005335/en/ Contacts: Enkhzaya Ganbat X-Meta LLC info@x-meta.com NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES Gensource Potash Corporation ("Gensource" or the "Company") (AIM/TSXV: GSP), a fertilizer development company focused on sustainable potash production, announces that Mike Mueller has resigned his position as a Director of the Company, effective today. Mike joined the Company as a Director in July 2018 and has provided strong and consistent oversight to the Company during his tenure, most recently serving as Chair of the Audit Committee. Mike's experience and leadership have provided great value to the Company and the Company wishes to thank Mike for his service and wishes him great success in his future endeavours. "It has been an honor to serve on the Gensource Board of Directors. While I am stepping down from this role, I look forward to following the Company's future progress especially as it secures the financing necessary to put into construction the Tugaske Project, the Company's first production module of what could become several on its Vanguard Area," said Mike Mueller. "Gensource's modular technology represents a modern and more sustainable way to produce and sell this critical mineral, and I unreservedly wish the Company full success." This change in the Company's Board of Directors comes as the Company prepares for the next phase of development which includes the drilling of its first production cavern, followed by construction, ramp-up and operation of the first module at the Tugaske Project. Associated with the financing of Tugaske, it is expected that further board changes will occur, as the Company moves steadily towards success in its industry-changing goal with development of the Tugaske Project. The Company is engaged in undertaking additional steps to strengthen its overall team and value proposition in anticipation of numerous potential catalysts. About Gensource: Gensource is a fertilizer development company based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and is on track to become the next fertilizer production company in that province. With a modular and environmentally leading approach to potash production, Gensource believes its technical and business model will be the future of the industry. Gensource operates under a business plan that has two key components: (1) vertical integration with the market to ensure that all production capacity built is directed, and pre-sold, to a specific market, eliminating market-side risk; and (2) technical innovation which will allow for a modular and economic potash production facility, that demonstrates environmental leadership within the industry, producing no salt tailings, therefore eliminating decommissioning. Further information on Gensource Potash Corporation can be found at www.gensourcepotash.ca Follow us on twitter @GensourcePotash 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. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward looking information and Gensource cautions readers that forward- looking information is based on certain assumptions and risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations of Gensource included in this news release. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements", which often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". These statements are based on information currently available to Gensource and Gensource provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward looking statements include estimates and statements with respect to Gensource's future plans, objectives or goals, to the effect that Gensource or management expects a stated condition or result to occur, including any offering of securities by Gensource. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: failure to finance the Tugaske Project or other projects on terms which are economic or at all; failure to settle a definitive joint venture agreement with a party and advance and finance the Tugaske Project; changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; the ability to find and source off-take agreements; changes in demand and prices for potash; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with Gensource's activities; an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of Gensource, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, failure to obtain required regulatory approvals; and other matters discussed in this news release and in filings made with securities regulators. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Gensource's forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on Gensource's forward-looking statements. Gensource does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by Gensource or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005189/en/ Contacts: For further information on Gensource Potash, please contact: Gensource Potash Corporation Mike Ferguson President CEO +1-306-974-6414 Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated Financial Adviser) Ritchie Balmer Rory Murphy Charles Hammond +44 (0) 20 7409 3494 Peel Hunt LLP (Broker) Ross Allister David McKeown Georgia Langoulant +44 (0) 20 7418 8900 Camarco (Financial PR) Gordon Poole Charlotte Hollinshead Lily Pettifar +44 (0) 20 3757 4997 For any press enquiries please contact us on gensource@camarco.co.uk Regulatory News: Teleperformance SE's (Paris:TEP) Combined General Meeting was held on April 13, 2023 in Paris under the chairmanship of Daniel Julien, Chairman and CEO of the Group. Shareholders adopted all the resolutions submitted to their vote. They notably approved: the 2022 parent company and consolidated financial statements; the proposed dividend of 3.85 per share, up +16.7% compared with the previous year: the ex-dividend date is April 21, 2023 and the payment date is April 25, 2023; the renewal of the terms of office of three directors: Ms. Christobel Selecky, Ms. Angela Maria Sierra-Morena and Mr. Jean Guez; the appointment of Mr. Varun Bery and Mr. Bhupender Singh as directors. These appointments will continue to strengthen the Board's diversity in terms of experience, expertise, and nationalities; the information on the remuneration of directors and corporate officers as well as their remuneration policy, described in the corporate governance report included in the 2022 Universal Registration Document. The approval of all the resolutions presented at the General Meeting* reflects the Group's ongoing commitment to meet the expectations of its shareholders and adopt best practices in corporate governance. * Voting results provided in the appendix to this press release and available on Teleperformance's corporate website www.teleperformance.com - Investors General Meetings section). About Teleperformance Group Teleperformance (TEP ISIN: FR0000051807 Reuters: TEPRF.PA Bloomberg: TEP FP), a global leader in outsourced digital integrated business services, serves as a strategic partner to the world's largest companies in many industries. It offers a One Office support services model including end-to-end digital solutions, which guarantee successful customer interaction and optimized business processes, anchored in a unique, comprehensive high touch, high tech approach. More than 410,000 employees, based in 91 countries, support billions of connections every year in over 300 languages and 170 markets, in a shared commitment to excellence as part of the "Simpler, Faster, Safer" process.This mission is supported by the use of reliable, flexible, intelligent technological solutions and compliance with the industry's highest security and quality standards, based on Corporate Social Responsibility excellence. In 2022, Teleperformance reported consolidated revenue of 8,154 million (US$8.6 billion, based on 1 $1.05) and net profit of 645 million. Teleperformance shares are traded on the Euronext Paris market, Compartment A, and are eligible for the deferred settlement service. They are included in the following indices: CAC 40, STOXX 600, S&P Europe 350, MSCI Global Standard and Euronext Tech Leaders. In the area of corporate social responsibility, Teleperformance shares are included in the CAC 40 ESG since September 2022, the Euronext Vigeo Euro 120 index since 2015, the EURO STOXX 50 ESG index since 2020, the MSCI Europe ESG Leaders index since 2019, the FTSE4Good index since 2018 and the S&P Global 1200 ESG index since 2017. For more information: www.teleperformance.com Follow us on Twitter: @teleperformance Appendix: Voting results of the combined Shareholders' meeting of April 13, 2023 Ordinary Extraordinary Number of shares composing the share capital 59,120,842 59,120,842 Number of shares with voting rights: 58,372,199 58,372,199 Number of shareholders represented or voting by post: 5,488 5,484 Number of shares owned by shareholders represented or voting by post 43,053,544 43,053,257 Number of voting rights owned by shareholders represented or voting by post: 44,188,050 44,187,763 Quorum 73.76% 73.76% FOR AGAINST NON EXPRESSED VOTES RESULTS Number Number Number As an Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting 1. Approval of the statutory financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 44,146,793 99.98% 7,369 0.02% 33,888 Adopted 2. Approval of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 44,147,795 99.98% 7,369 0.02% 32,886 Adopted 3. Appropriation of 2022 results Determination of dividend amount and payment date 44,179,060 >99.99% 3,455 <0.01% 5,535 Adopted 4. Special report of the statutory auditors on regulated agreements and commitments Acknowledgement of the absence of new agreements 44,178,546 >99.99% 3,550 <0.01% 5,954 Adopted 5. Approval of the information referred to in paragraph I of Article L. 22-10-9 of the French Commercial Code for all of the Company's corporate officers 39,637,568 90.38% 4,217,362 9.62% 333,120 Adopted 6. Approval of the fixed, variable and exceptional elements comprising the total remuneration and the benefits of all kind paid in the 2022 financial year or granted in respect of the 2022 financial year to Mr. Daniel JULIEN, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 32,317,009 74.63% 10,985,937 25.37% 885,104 Adopted 7. Approval of the fixed, variable and exceptional elements comprising the total remuneration and the benefits of all kind paid in the 2022 financial year or granted in respect of the 2022 financial year to Mr. Olivier RIGAUDY, Deputy Chief Executive Officer 33,265,495 76.82% 10,037,439 23.18% 885,116 Adopted 8. Approval of the remuneration policy for directors 43,720,092 99.69% 136,392 0.31% 331,566 Adopted 9. Approval of the remuneration policy for the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 35,341,992 80.11% 8,774,439 19.89% 71,619 Adopted 10. Approval of the remuneration policy for the Deputy Chief Executive Officer 35,322,298 80.06% 8,795,648 19.94% 70,104 Adopted 11. Renewal of the term of office of Ms. Christobel SELECKY as a director 43,612,152 98.71% 569,180 1.29% 6,718 Adopted 12. Renewal of the term of office of Ms. Angela Maria SIERRA-MORENO as a director 43,613,518 98.71% 569,435 1.29% 5,097 Adopted 13. Renewal of the term of office of Mr. Jean GUEZ as a director 36,077,344 82.22% 7,800,754 17.78% 309,952 Adopted 14. Appointment of Mr. Varun BERY, as a director, to replace Mr. Robert PASZCZAK 44,157,521 99.95% 23,597 0.05% 6,932 Adopted 15. Appointment of Mr. Bhupender SINGH, as a director, to replace Mr. Stephen WINNINGHAM 44,031,971 99.66% 150,201 0.34% 5,878 Adopted 16. Appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit SAS, in replacement of KPMG Audit IS, as statutory auditor 44,163,430 99.96% 18,231 0.04% 6,389 Adopted 17. Renewal of the term of office of Deloitte Associes SA, as statutory auditor 37,417,235 84.69% 6,764,474 15.31% 6,341 Adopted 18. Authorization to be given to the Board of Directors to allow the Company to repurchase its own shares pursuant to the provisions of Article L.22-10-62 of the French Commercial Code, duration of the authorization, purposes, conditions, cap, non-exercise during public offerings 43,494,567 98.49% 667,633 1.51% 25,850 Adopted As an Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting 19. Authorization to be given to the Board of Directors to cancel the shares repurchased by the Company pursuant to the provisions of Article L. 22-10-62 of the French Commercial Code, duration of the authorization, cap 44,175,711 99.99% 5,925 0.01% 6,127 Adopted 20. Delegation of authority to be given to the Board of Directors to increase the share capital by capitalization of reserves, profits and/ or premiums, maximum nominal amount of share capital increases, treatment of fractional shares 44,142,002 99.91% 40,711 0.09% 5,050 Adopted 21. Delegation to be given to the Board of Directors to increase the share capital by issuing ordinary shares and/or securities giving access to the capital, in order to pay for contributions in kind of shares or securities giving access to the capital, duration of the delegation, non-exercise during public offerings 42,591,909 96.40% 1,590,107 3.60% 5,747 Adopted 22. Powers for formalities 44,177,292 >99.99% 3,521 <0.01% 6,950 Adopted View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005887/en/ Contacts: FINANCIAL ANALYSTS AND INVESTORS Investor relations and financial communication department TELEPERFORMANCE Tel: +33 1 53 83 59 15 investor@teleperformance.com PRESS RELATIONS Europe Karine Allouis Laurent Poinsot IMAGE7 Tel: +33 1 53 70 74 70 teleperformance@image7.fr PRESS RELATIONS Americas and Asia-Pacific Nicole Miller TELEPERFORMANCE Tel: +1 629-899-0675 nicole.miller@teleperformance.com Inspur Electronic Information, a leading IT infrastructure solutions provider, will attend Hannover Messe 2023 from April 17-21. With a main theme of "Intelligent IT transformation for Manufacturing," the company will bring its latest and innovative G7 server family, liquid cooling servers, and edge servers that support recent customer cases in manufacturing and drive the digitalization of manufacturing customers throughout Europe. Inspur Electronic Information will join around 4,000 companies from the mechanical engineering, electrical, and digital industries. Industry leaders would gather to share their insights on topics including digital platform, cloud infrastrucuture, and digital energy energy efficiency. Inspur Electronic Information believes that the digitization and optimization of manufacturing is the first step of Industry 4.0, a process where traditional enterprises constantly introduce digital and intelligent technologies and conduct production technology and model innovations based on those technologies in production. This deepens the digital and intelligent integration of supply chain, warehouse, manufacturing, quality control, logistics, delivery, service and other links. Therefore, manufacturing enterprises need a stable, reliable, efficient, green, and dynamically scalable IT infrastructure that can provide trusted business assurance, cost efficiency, and adaptability. G7 server family, liquid cooling and edge hardware for intelligent manufacturing applications Inspur Electronic Information has industry-leading computing platform solutions and expansive deployment experiences. At Hannover Messe 2023, the company will bring G7 servers, liquid cooling servers, and edge servers with the newest improvement in reliability, flexibility and sustainability. These products meet computing requirements in different environments and scenarios, such as data center and edge, and provide manufacturing enterprises with reliable, flexible, and efficient intelligent manufacturing IT architecture solutions. The latest G7 server family will be the highlight at the exhibit, with NF5266G7, NF5280G7, and NF5688G7 making an appearance. The G7 platform delivers an 86% computing performance improvement compared to the previous-generation. G7 server management module, memory module, network module, and other modules are designed based on open standards and compatible with DC-SCM management module. The open design further improves flexible scalability of the systems. The G7 platform offers reliability from firmware to hardware. Core components such as power supply, BIOS, and BMC adopt full redundancy design. Up to 95% fault diagnosis accuracy is achieved through cloud operation and maintenance. The G7 platform can be equipped with liquid cooling to lower the PUE as low as 1.1 and features excellent flexibility, energy-savings, and reliability, better facilitating the key applications for intelligent manufacturing transformation. NF5280G7 is a datacenter full-scene adaptable rack server that has flexible PCle expansion with OCP NIC 3.0 slots and 4 dual-width GPUs. It is especially suitable for ERP, CRM, MES, WMS, and other intelligent manufacturing scenarios, as well as small and medium-sized databases, big data analysis, and other intelligent manufacturing key systems, both on-premise and cloud deployment. is a datacenter full-scene adaptable rack server that has flexible PCle expansion with OCP NIC 3.0 slots and 4 dual-width GPUs. It is especially suitable for ERP, CRM, MES, WMS, and other intelligent manufacturing scenarios, as well as small and medium-sized databases, big data analysis, and other intelligent manufacturing key systems, both on-premise and cloud deployment. NF5688G7 is the next-gen AI training server suitable for the most demanding industry design and intelligent manufacturing tasks, like the trillion-parameter Transformer model training. It supports eight 700w GPUs and flexible PCIe extensions using CX7, OCP3.0, and SmartNICs, delivering industry-leading performance, I/O expansion, and energy efficiency. is the next-gen AI training server suitable for the most demanding industry design and intelligent manufacturing tasks, like the trillion-parameter Transformer model training. It supports eight 700w GPUs and flexible PCIe extensions using CX7, OCP3.0, and SmartNICs, delivering industry-leading performance, I/O expansion, and energy efficiency. The high-density storage server NF5266G7 features a three-tier storage architecture to optimize balance between computing and storage I/O capabilities. It is highly suitable for data analytics, data archive, video storage and processing, cloud storage pool, and other application scenarios in the manufacturing industry. Carbon reduction in manufacturing is also an important requirement in the era of Industry 4.0. Inspur Electronic Information has increased its push for energy consumption reduction in data centers by launching full-stack liquid-cooled server solutions, helping users fulfill their sustainable development goals. Representing the company's liquid cooling lineup will be the high-density multi-node server i24LM6 that will be showcased on-site. This system can adapt to various environments, including high temperatures and high altitudes, and provides exceptional cooling performance for CPUs with high power consumption. With warm-water cooling technology and a CPU+VR+DIMM liquid-cooling plate, it has a PUE below 1.1, which significantly reduces cooling costs. The amount of data being generated and the amount of data requiring processing on edge is increasing exponentially. Inspur Electronic Information has developed a comprehensive edge server portfolio featuring outstanding performance, great environmental adaptability, and flexible scalability, to support the development of Industry 4.0 from cloud, edge, and data centers. EIS200, which will be displayed on site, is a lightweight edge AI computing product, providing edge computing power up to 21TOPS while only consuming 25W. The system is suitable for industrial quality inspection and other scenarios. Deep Technology Integration to Transform the Manufacturing Industry Inspur Electronic Information has long supported the manufacturing industry and has provided computing technologies for automotive design and simulation, automotive manufacturing, operation and maintenance management, and more for top European automotive manufacturers. It recently provided an HPC as a Service (HPCaaS) solution for computer-aided engineering (CAE) to an auto manufacturer in Europe, together with NEC Deutschland. The joint solution offers largely-enhanced HPC performance with low power consumption and TCO, accelerating the manufacturer along the path towards digitalization and industry upgrade. When: 17-21 April, 2023 Where: Hannover Messegelande, GermanyHall 14, Stand J61. About Inspur Electronic Information Founded in 1998, Inspur Electronic Information Industry Co Ltd is the world's leading provider of IT infrastructure products, solutions, and services. Its business focuses on three major fields: servers, storage and networks. It has 8 R&D centers, 10 production bases, and 26 branches covering more than 120 countries and regions. Inspur Electronic Information is committed to the innovation of digital technology along with the application and integration of digital worlds with the physical world. It is helping enterprises embark on a path of sustainable development by driving intelligent digital transformation. To learn more, visit https://www.ieisystem.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230414005115/en/ Contacts: Fiona Liu Inspur Electronic Information liuxuan01@ieisystem.com Constanze Kreil Allison+Partners constanze.kreil@allisonpr.com +49 (0)151 210 289 97 At the Monaco Book Fair, supported by H.S.H. Prince Albert II and organised for the second time at the Grimaldi Forum on April 15th and 16th 2023, the French artist Elsa Caselli will participate as the author of 'La storia di un sogno', a contemporary fairy tale she wrote, illustrated, and published by Edicolors in Italian, French and other languages, including Japanese and Chinese. A special feature of this multimedia volume including the lyrics of a song entitled 'Lo sconosciuto' written and sung by Caselli herself, downloadable on Itunes, with the version narrated by Prof. Livio Sossi are the colorful illustrations that represent an authentic hymn to joy and the laws of Harmony that guide the Universe. As a painter, Elsa also exhibited a couple of canvases as part of a group exhibition held at the same time at the Fair, always at the Grimaldi Forum. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230414005030/en/ In Elsa Caselli's works, everything seems to emanate a primordial sense of ecstatic wonder towards reality and its hidden dimension, as each work is a continuous articulation of images in which expressiveness is an involving participation of the energies and tensions that distinguish it. (Photo: Business Wire) Elsa Caselli: the story Elsa Caselli, born in 1976, has distinguished herself since the beginning of her career for her ability to instinctively grasp the enchantment of the world and return her intuitions in ways that in turn generate paradisiacal universes. Her 'double' presence at the Monegasque event, now in its 12th edition, consecrates Caselli's artistic journey, since it is between France and Italy, between which Elsa Caselli divides her activities, that she has evolved in recent years, bringing to her works a consolidated expressive maturity. Caselli decided to devote herself to painting above all after being thunderstruck by the works of Modigliani. Her academic training was important, which enabled her to learn what was necessary to express her talent. After studying for two years in England at the Chelsea College of Art and Design, for three years at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome and in Genoa and Florence, Elsa obtained diplomas and certificates that enabled her to be recognized in the art world. Elsa Caselli's Exhibitions Since her debut in 1995 at the Italian Consulate in Nice, numerous personal exhibitions have been organized in other locations on the Cote d'Azur Saint Paul de Vences, Beaulieu, Monaco, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat and also in Italy (Genoa, Rome). For Elsa, the landscape is not a physical space, but a dimension in which feelings, perceptions and thoughts are projected. The interest in both colouristic datas and drawing, as well as the prevalence of subjectivity and her emotions, have become over time the starting point for interpreting reality and the choice to narrate the world, with a deliberately imaginative and fable-like valence, distinctive features of her painting. As she herself declares, 'Painting is knowing how to translate what the instant gives us'. Her art is based on the direct observation of the naturalistic datum that is reworked until it expresses her deepest feelings, progressively renouncing the mimetic adherence of representation. In Elsa Caselli's works, everything seems to emanate a primordial sense of ecstatic wonder towards reality and its hidden dimension, as each work is a continuous articulation of images in which expressiveness is an involving participation of the energies and tensions that distinguish it. A complete artist, Caselli is also expected to have a solo exhibition in Spring 2023 at Palazzo Stella (Genoa) and then at a number of Italian trade fairs together with established artists on the international scene. For further information: email: elsacaselliposta@gmail.com www.elsacaselli.art View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230414005030/en/ Contacts: AMP MONACO PRESS AGENT: Maria BOLOGNA, ampmonaco@ampmonaco.com May 24th TTC Event at the Omeara to Support Children with Cancer UK, One of the Leading Childhood Cancer Charities in the United Kingdom Hack/Reduce, a Boston-based non-profit organization focused on creating talent and technology for the global big data-driven economy, today announced details of its first international event by launching Tech Tackles Cancer London (TTC London). The inaugural global event will be held on May 24, 2023, at the popular Omeara nightclub near London Bridge and will see UK and US technology leaders battle it out on stage through live music performances backed by a professional band. Tech Tackles Cancer's mission is to leverage the power of the technology industry to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer research and family/patient services. In its 9th year in existence, TTC has raised approximately $3 million to date for organizations that support pediatric cancer-related programs. Partnering with local charity organizations, TTC will organize events in both London and Boston in 2023. TTC London 2023 will benefit Children with Cancer UK, one of the leading childhood cancer charities in the UK, with a vision of a world where every child survives cancer. All of the money raised through sponsorship and fundraising efforts will go directly to Children with Cancer UK to fund life-saving research and support children and their families through treatment and beyond. Jo Elvin, CEO at Children with Cancer UK said: "We are thrilled to be partnering with Tech Tackles Cancer and appreciate the opportunity to connect directly with the London technology community. This incredible event will raise essential funds for life-saving research and help us to continue supporting families affected by childhood cancer." TTC events feature technology executives who have agreed to raise money in advance of them singing one song, on stage, backed by a live band. Featured performers are actively fundraising while working their setlists. The star-studded lineup will be certain to rival that of the Glastonbury Festival. Hosting the evening's festivities is well-known Virgin Radio broadcaster and host, the UK's very own Rich Williams. 2022 musical performances can be viewed on the TTC YouTube Channel. "Tech Tackles Cancer London is a unique opportunity for tech companies to make a positive difference in the world by supporting an incredible charity while having some fun," said Christopher Lynch, founder of Tech Tackles Cancer and CEO of AtScale. "The tech community is made up of incredible individuals with the resources and capability to change the world. TTC is an opportunity to channel our collective resources and capabilities to do something big." Awards will be given for best vocals, best stage presence and most funds raised. The live audience and spectators watching will be able to vote for their favorite performances. Featured performers confirmed so far for Tech Tackles Cancer London 2023 include: Christopher Lynch, AtScale Henning Feies, CyberArk Gabe Luis, Infoblox Yali Sassoon, Snowplow Nathan Hall, Pure Storage To support a favorite performer, click the hyperlinks above. To become a featured performer and raise money for TTC London, tech executives or their teams should contact nicole@hackreduce.org. Corporate Sponsorship To date, the sponsors of Tech Tackles Cancer London 2023 include: Alphasoc AtScale DLA Piper Immersive Gamebox Infinidat MMC Ventures Pure Storage Snowplow Striim TTC London is actively recruiting new corporate sponsorships and accepting general donations. Media sponsorships are also available. Sponsorship information for TTC London can be found here. A limited number of general admission event tickets for TTC London will go on sale in May. About Tech Tackles Cancer Tech Tackles Cancer is a program run by Hack/Reduce, a non-profit organization focused on creating talent and technology for the global big data-driven economy. TTC brings together tech companies that want to give back and support life-saving pediatric cancer research and outreach programs. For more information, go to techtacklesx.org. About Children with Cancer UK Children with Cancer UK is a leading children's cancer charity dedicated to raising and investing funds into vital specialist research to save the lives of children and young people with cancer. Our mission is to improve survival rates and the quality of survival in young patients and to find ways to prevent cancer in the future. Whilst working towards this, Children with Cancer UK funds support for children and their families as they navigate treatment. What began as a small memorial charity in 1988, has evolved into a major force raising more than 300 million and investing in over 200 pioneering research projects. For more information about Children with Cancer UK, visit www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230414005036/en/ Contacts: Media Elyse Familant Guyer Group for TechTackles Cancer atscale@guyergroup.com Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2023) - Further to the ASX announcement dated 11 April 2023, Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) (TSX: NCM) (PNGX: NCM) provides the following update on the revised conditional and non-binding proposal from Newmont Corporation (Newmont) to acquire 100% of the issued shares in Newcrest, by way of a scheme of arrangement (Revised Proposal). Newcrest and Newmont have now entered into an exclusivity deed, satisfying a condition of Newmont's proposal. Under the deed, Newcrest has granted Newmont exclusivity until 11:59pm on 11 May 2023 to allow Newmont to conduct confirmatory due diligence on an exclusive basis. In summary, during the relevant period Newcrest must: 'No Shop': not directly or indirectly solicit a competing proposal; not directly or indirectly solicit a competing proposal; 'No Talk' and 'No Due Diligence': not participate in negotiations or discussions that would be reasonably expected to lead to a competing proposal or facilitate due diligence investigations in respect of Newcrest (including through the provision of non-public information) in connection with a competing proposal; and and not participate in negotiations or discussions that would be reasonably expected to lead to a competing proposal or facilitate due diligence investigations in respect of Newcrest (including through the provision of non-public information) in connection with a competing proposal; and 'Notification Obligation': notify Newmont within 2 business days of any approach or proposal made by a third party in connection with a competing proposal (without an obligation to disclose the identity of the third party). The 'No Talk' and 'No Due Diligence' restrictions are subject to a fiduciary exception, so that those restrictions do not apply where the Newcrest Board determines, after receiving financial and legal advice, that a competing proposal is, or could reasonably be considered to become, superior to the Revised Proposal and the Newcrest Board's fiduciary duties require them to act on the competing proposal. Any non-public information given to a third party which was not previously given to Newmont must be provided to Newmont (unless it is commercially sensitive to the third party). There is no certainty that the Revised Proposal will result in a binding offer for consideration by shareholders. Newcrest will continue to keep the market informed of any material developments in accordance with its continuous disclosure obligations. Authorised by the Newcrest Disclosure Committee For further information please contact Investor Enquires Tom Dixon +61 3 9522 5570 +61 450 541 389 Tom.Dixon@newcrest.com.au Rebecca Lay +61 3 9522 5298 +61 438 355 511 Rebecca.Lay@newcrest.com.au North American Investor Enquiries Vlada Cvijetinovic +1 604 335 9202 +1 604 240 2998 Vlada.Cvijetinovic@newcrest.com.au Media Enquiries Tim Salathiel +61 3 9522 4263 +61 407 885 272 Tim.Salathiel@newcrest.com.au This information is available on our website at www.newcrest.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162381 Chris Caldwell, CEO of United Renewables, Engages in Conversation with Professor Lynda Gratton, a renowned expert on the future of work. Chris Caldwell, CEO of United Renewables, Engages in Conversation with Professor Lynda Gratton, a renowned expert on the future of work. DOUGLAS, Isle of Man, April 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Christopher Caldwell, CEO, Entrepreneur and host of the Conversations on Climate podcast, delves into the progress of the sustainability revolution disruption curve. As we commemorate three years since the first UK COVID lockdown, Caldwell reflects on the pandemic's impact on work, leadership and the environment. In the final episode of season one of the Conversations on Climate podcast, Professor Lynda Gratton and Caldwell discussed the freeze-unfreeze model, an elegant and powerful concept for tracing organisational change. Caldwell contemplates where we stand on the curve for the sustainability transformation. Are we in the freeze, unfreeze, refreeze, or slush phase? Whilst some argue that we are undergoing a great sustainability unfreezing, others believe that we are in the slush, and the green agenda has already turned markets and companies upside down. However, Caldwell contends that both perspectives are incorrect. When it comes to climate, the business remains frozen, and the economic system is on ice. Most companies have focused on the easy tasks and have yet to tackle genuine change. Where is the progress on genuine circular economies, finite resources and regenerative practices? Who is discussing reducing total energy throughput and identifying their steady state? The business world is mainly paralysed by fear, waiting for a genuinely transformative model that appears safe enough to replicate. The pandemic taught us that even the best-laid plans do not last too long. We will not reach the unfreeze point until we recognise that we are still frozen. We will not benefit from flattering ourselves that we are further along the curve than we genuinely are. Even if done with good intentions, it's just another subtle form of denial. Business leaders must acknowledge that the next significant disruption is climate chaos and the shift to genuinely regenerative businesses and workplaces that it requires. It's time to move beyond mere talk and take real action towards sustainability. About Lynda Gratton: Professor Gratton holds the position of Professor of Management Practice in Organisational Behaviour at London Business School, where she teaches popular courses such as 'Future of Work' and 'Strategy in Transforming Companies'. In addition to her academic work, she serves as a Council chair at the World Economic Forum, founded strategy consultancy HSM Advisory, and has authored several award-winning books, including Redesigning Work and The 100 Year Life. About Chris Caldwell: Chris Caldwell is the CEO of United Renewables, a global constructor and operator of renewable energy infrastructure. With over 20 years of experience in the cleantech industry, Caldwell is a respected leader in the sustainable business community. You can find the link to the conversation piece here. Conversations on Climatebrings world-leading thinkers from business and academia together to share their expertise on the subject of climate change. Previous guests include Sir Andrew Likierman, Julio Dal Poz, Professor Jean-Pierre Beno it , Professor Ioannou, Tara Schmidt, Professor Dan Cable, Professor Zoe Chance, treeapp founders, and Professor Kathleen O'Connor. All previous episodes can be found here. Related articles can be found here. CONTACT Isabella Hawke - Sales and Marketing Consultant COMPANY United Renewables PHONE +447624457139 EMAIL IIhawke@unitedrenewables.co.uk WEB unitedrenewables.co.uk/resources A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9a1c2fd3-5a2b-43c8-bdbd-305c919b12ca PUBLICATION OF THE PREPARATORY DOCUMENTATION Regulatory News: Groupe SEB (Paris:SK) informs its shareholders that the Combined General Meeting (Ordinary and Extraordinary) will be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. at La Maison de la Chimie 28 Bis rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris. The preliminary notice of meeting was published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales et Obligatoires (BALO) n32 of March 15, 2023. It contains the agenda and draft resolutions as approved by the Board of Directors. The notice of meeting containing the modalities of participating and voting at this Meeting will be published in the BALO on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. The convening brochure (including the voting form) will be sent to the registered shareholders from April 19, 2023 and made available on the Group's website. All the documents related to 2023 Annual General Meeting are available in the Shareholder Area of the Group's website: (https://www.groupeseb.com/en/finance/annual-general-meeting) in accordance with laws and regulations in force. We will regularly update this page with the information required. The SEB S.A. 2023 Annual General Meeting will be broadcast live and delayed on the Company's website, www.groupeseb.com, unless technical reasons make it impossible or disrupt the broadcast. Next key dates 2023 May 17 | 2:30 p.m. (Paris time) Annual General Meeting July 26 after market H1 2023 sales and results October 26 after market 9-month 2023 sales and financial data Find us on www.groupeseb.com World reference in small domestic equipment, Groupe SEB operates with a unique portfolio of 33 top brands including Tefal, Seb, Rowenta, Moulinex, Krups, Lagostina, All-Clad, WMF, Emsa, Supor, marketed through multi-format retailing. Selling more than 400 million products a year, it deploys a long-term strategy focused on innovation, international development, competitiveness, and client service. Present in over 150 countries, Groupe SEB generated sales near 8 billion in 2022 and has more than 33,000 employees worldwide. SEB SA SEB SA N RCS 300 349 636 RCS LYON with a share capital of 55,337,770 Intracommunity VAT: FR 12300349636 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230414005170/en/ Contacts: Investor/Analyst Relations Groupe SEB Financial Communication and IR Dept Olivier Gernandt Guillaume Baron comfin@groupeseb.com Tel: +33 (0) 4 72 18 16 04 Media Relations Groupe SEB Corporate Communication Dept Cathy Pianon Anissa Djaadi presse@groupeseb.com Tel. 33 (0) 6 33 13 02 00 Tel. 33 (0) 6 88 20 90 88 Image Sept Caroline Simon Claire Doligez Isabelle Dunoyer de Segonzac caroline.simon@image7.fr cdoligez@image7.fr isegonzac@image7.fr Phone:+33 (0) 1 53 70 74 70 To kick-start its UK operations, OPLOG has opened a 120,000 square foot fulfilment centre in the market town of Leighton Buzzard, situated 50 miles north of London. LEIGHTON BUZZARD, England, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OPLOG ( www.oplog.io ), the Istanbul-based tech-enabled fulfilment company, has today announced that it has opened a fulfilment centre in Leighton Buzzard, to help businesses succeed by localising and expediting their distribution and fulfilment operations, both B2B and B2C, to customers across the UK. By combining its easy-to-use in-house fulfilment software and robotics, OPLOG provides well-known brands and leading companies such as Sony, Tupperware, and Rossmann with a simple and accurate way to oversee their supply chain operations from a single fulfilment platform. Surrounded by many last mile delivery and logistics operators, Leighton Buzzard was selected as the ideal location for OPLOG's inception into the UK. Its arrival in the historic market town coincides with positive signs of economic growth in the area, with reports showing over 2,000 new businesses were registered in the county during 2022. Thanks to its close proximity to the business hub of the UK's capital, Leighton Buzzard is well positioned for OPLOG's fulfilment centre. OPLOG also intends to hire 50 employees, who will be responsible for running the day-to-day operations at the warehouse. "Bringing OPLOG to the UK marks a major step in our company's journey, so I am extremely excited to launch our fulfilment centre in the UK, and I am super confident that this will be a major part of our global fulfilment network. As the fourth largest e-commerce market in the world, opening our first UK warehouse in Leighton Buzzard offers an exciting opportunity for us to add significant value to UK businesses and consumers. We believe that OPLOG will be highly efficient and competitive in the UK's logistics market while offering a seamless post-purchase experience to new generation consumer brands," explains Halit Develioglu, CEO and founder of OPLOG. "Setting up and running an online retail brand is really tough, especially when your customers expect next-day delivery, personalisation and immaculate customer service. Our mission is to give brands a way to tick all these boxes, without needing to compromise. Opening fulfilment centres which incorporate our vision for the use of robotics and connect directly to our intuitive inventory management software is a key part of achieving this goal." Market analysts predict that by 2025, global online retail sales will rise by over 1.5 trillion. To fuel its growth, the global warehouse automation market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 14%, reaching a value of 24 billion by 2026. There has been an increase in robotic integration in recent years, particularly in the e-commerce and fulfilment space in the UK. According to a November 2021 London Economics report for the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, the economic impact of robotics and autonomous systems uptake across all selected sectors in the UK is estimated to be in the region of 6.4 billion by 2035. Yet, the UK is still currently lagging behind when it comes to robotic industrial integration, compared to other G7 countries, which tend to attribute a much higher percentage of their GDP to manufacturing. With its presence in Leighton Buzzard, OPLOG hopes to significantly accelerate innovation in the UK within this sector. In an increasingly competitive industry, digital fulfilment solutions have become an essential component in building a successful e-commerce business. Outsourcing supply chain and fulfilment operations with OPLOG gives emerging businesses the ability to deliver excellent customer experience right from the start. Whether it be restocking inventory, tracking orders, or personalising packaging, every detail can be handled at the click or tap of a device. Already adopted by leading businesses across Turkey and Europe, OPLOG's entry into the UK will further support its ambition to become the premier partner for companies seeking to expand their reach, and thrive in the fast-paced e-commerce landscape. About OPLOG OPLOG was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey. OPLOG is a leading tech enabled fulfilment company and has state-of-the-art warehouses in Leighton Buzzard (UK), Istanbul, Darica, Dilovasi and Ankara. OPLOG enables e-commerce brands to operate in various markets without physical boundaries through its international fulfilment network and the ability to track all the inventory and operational processes in several OPLOG fulfilment centres. To date, the company has raised 11m in funding, and employs over 350 staff including 100 engineers and developers. For further information, please visit www.oplog.io. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2054320/OPLOG_UK_WAREHOUSE.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2054319/OPLOG_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/oplog-turkeys-leading-tech-enabled-fulfilment-company-opens-its-first-uk-warehouse-to-bring-automated-and-localised-distribution-to-retail-and-e-commerce-brands-301797567.html Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Icreon Hires Experienced Leader Mitsy Lopez Baranello to Drive Client Digital Strategy Amidst Rapid Growth NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2023 / Icreon, a leading digital transformation agency, is proud to announce the appointment of Mitsy Lopez Baranello as its Strategy Officer. In her new role, Lopez Baranello will lead the company's consulting and strategy efforts, ensuring that Icreon continues to deliver innovative solutions to its clients across the globe. The move comes as Icreon looks to scale operations and double-down on its strategic capabilities in serving businesses and enterprises. Icreon - Times Square Icreon displayed at New York, Times Square "For over two decades, Icreon has aimed to be a strategic partner for brands as they embark on their digital transformation journey. Because of this, we're extremely excited to have Mitsy join our leadership team. Her experience in driving change in organizations through her deep expertise in digital business strategy will be invaluable to our entire client portfolio," said Himanshu Sareen, Icreon's Founder and CEO. Lopez Baranello brings more than 25 years of experience in digital and experience strategy consulting to her new role at Icreon. Most recently, she was the Global Vice President for Experience Strategy at Huge, an IPG company, leading end-to-end experience strategy and digital transformation for the agency's largest businesses. Prior to Huge, she held strategic leadership roles at Publicis and Digitas, her career has spanned transformative work with the Fortune 500, consistently using strategic insight and technology to drive growth for her clients. "I am thrilled to join Icreon and contribute to its strategy and consulting practice. In today's global market, digital transformation is becoming more critical than ever, as businesses seek to unlock new opportunities through personalized and AI-driven digital experiences. I believe Icreon is uniquely positioned to help businesses achieve these goals, and I am excited to be a part of that journey," said Lopez Baranello. This appointment comes at a time of rapid growth for Icreon as the company continues to expand its footprint across North America. Icreon drives growth and operational improvements for its clients by placing data, technology, and AI at the core, and creating personalized digital experiences at scale across various touchpoints such as mobile, cloud, connected, and other interactive digital experiences. Contact Information Benjamin Powell VP of Marketing ben.powell@icreon.com (706) 714-7006 SOURCE: Icreon View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748796/Icreon-Appoints-Industry-Veteran-as-Its-Chief-Strategy-Officer SambaNova Systems, the company first to market with pre-trained foundation models that underpin generative AI, announces the appointment of Richard Halkett as Chief Revenue Officer and Danner Stodolsky as SVP of Cloud. These strategic leadership additions come during a critical moment for generative AI. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230414005092/en/ Danner Stodolsky joins SambaNova as SVP of Cloud (Photo: Business Wire) Halkett and Stodolsky bring a wealth of experience in innovation, transformation, and secure cloud services and will be instrumental in driving the company's strategic growth. Halkett is tasked with leading the sales, sales operations, revenue operations, customer engineering, and marketing teams while Stodolsky will focus on SambaNova's cloud strategy. "We're thrilled to have Richard and Danner join our team; they will be instrumental in unlocking new markets and enterprise applications for generative AI," said Rodrigo Liang, CEO of SambaNova Systems. "Richard's expertise across sales, business strategy, and policy is unparalleled. His deep understanding of digital innovation will be invaluable as we continue to expand our reach. Danner's engineering expertise from his many years at Google will help advance our cloud strategy globally." Halkett previously spent almost six years at Amazon Web Services (AWS), as the Managing Director and WW Lead for Innovation Transformation Programs. Before joining AWS, he was the Global Director for Digital Capabilities at Cisco, where he built the company's first sales teams dedicated to software, data, and analytics. Halkett brings extensive experience working in the US and internationally in both startup and enterprise technology in the public and private sectors. Previously, he was Executive Director of NESTA's Policy Research Unit, as well as Assistant Director of Studies at The Centre for Strategic and International Studies. "I'm delighted to join one of the fastest-growing AI companies in the enterprise arena," said Halkett. "SambaNova's platform is state-of-the-art and delivers the most accurate generative AI models. I look forward to working with clients to help them unlock the full potential of AI." Stodolsky joins SambaNova after over eleven years at Google, where he served as VP of Engineering for YouTube, Google Cloud Platform, and Ads Privacy. As a founder of the early search engine Lycos, and serving at Akamai Technologies, Quantum, and Verity, Stodolsky's three decades of experience will provide SambaNova with unparalleled experience and insight. "Cloud is the consumption method of choice for leading enterprises," said Stodolsky. "We've entered the next generation of AI and its impact will be tremendous. SambaNova is doing things with AI that no other company has accomplished, and I can't wait to dig in!" For more information please visit www.sambanova.ai About SambaNova Systems Customers turn to SambaNova to quickly deploy state-of-the-art generative AI capabilities within the enterprise. Our purpose-built enterprise-scale AI platform is the technology backbone for the next generation of AI computing. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, SambaNova Systems was founded in 2017 by industry luminaries, and hardware and software design experts from Sun/Oracle and Stanford University. Investors include SoftBank Vision Fund 2, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Intel Capital, GV, Walden International, Temasek, GIC, Redline Capital, Atlantic Bridge Ventures, Celesta, and several others. Visit us at sambanova.ai or contact us at info@sambanova.ai. Follow SambaNova Systems on LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230414005092/en/ Contacts: Virginia Jamieson Head of External Communications virginia.jamieson@sambanova.ai 1-650-279-8619 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2023 / Mako Mining Corp. (TSX-V:MKO)(OTCQX:MAKOF) ("Mako" or the "Company") is pleased to provide financial results for the three months ended December 31st, 2022 ("Q4 2022"), which is the sixth full quarter of financial results since declaring commercial production on July 1, 2021 at its San Albino gold mine ("San Albino") in northern Nicaragua. For detailed Q4 2022 operating results, please see the Company's press release dated January 18, 2023.All dollar amounts referred to herein are expressed in United States dollars unless otherwise stated. Q4 2022 Highlights Financial $16.1 million in Revenue $7.8 million in Adjusted EBITDA (1) $8.8 million in Mine Operating Cash Flow ( "Mine OCF ") (1) (3) ") $0.8 million in Net Loss after $3.2 million of depreciation, depletion (4) and amortization and $3.1 million in exploration expenses and amortization and $3.1 million in exploration expenses $715 Cash Costs ($/oz sold) (1) (2) $733 Total Cash Costs ($/oz sold) (1) (2) $1,062All-In Sustaining Costs (" AISC ") ($/oz sold) (1) (2) ") ($/oz sold) Three monthly repayment installments totaling $1.1 million were made on the Sailfish Loan during Q4 2022 Refers to a Non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of National Instrument 52-112 - Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure ("NI 52-112"). Refer to information under the heading "Non-GAAP Measures" as well as the reconciliations later in this press release. Refers to a Non-GAAP ratio within the meaning of NI-52-112. Refer to information under the heading "Non-GAAP Measures" later in this press release. Refer to "Chart 1 - Q4 2022 - Mine OCF Calculation and Cash Reconciliation (in $ millions)" for a reconciliation of the beginning and ending cash position of the Company, including OCF. Growth $3.1 million in exploration and evaluation expenses ($1.1 million in areas surrounding San Albino and $1.9 million at Las Conchitas) Subsequent to December 31st, 2022 Three monthly repayment installments totaling $1.1 million were made on the Company's loan with Sailfish Royalty Corp. ("Sailfish"). On March 1, 2023, the Company signed a binding letter of intent with Sailfish for an initial 24- month silver stream for $6 million silver stream to repay outstanding principal owing under the Company's loan from lenders controlled by Wexford Capital LP. Akiba Leisman, Chief Executive Officer, states that "Q4 2022 was the sixth full quarter of financial results since declaring commercial production at San Albino. Record gold sales of 9,956 ounces along with AISC approximately $300 lower from Q3 helped drive Mine OCF and Adjusted EBITDA to approximately $8.8 and $7.8 million for the quarter respectively. Year to date, Mako has generated $28.8 million in Mine OCF, which allowed the Company to invest $11.5 million in growth exploration and repay $8.5 million of debt without the need for external financing. Throughput is now consistently above 600tpd (120% of nameplate capacity), which was achieved with no additional capex and minimal recovery losses. In Q1 2023, the incremental mill feed to support a 600tpd operation has been coming from the Central Pit, the new SW Pit, and lower grade stockpiles, as the Company transitioned from Phase 2 to Phase 3 mining at the primary San Albino West Pit. Mining of high-grade material from the Phase 3 West Pit, and permits to begin mining Las Conchitas are expected later this month, at which point the Company expects that new record production numbers should be achieved." Table 1 - Revenue Realized price before deductions from Sailfish gold streaming agreement Table 2 - Operating and Financial Data Refers to a Non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of NI 52-112). Refer to information under the heading "Non-GAAP Measures" as well as the reconciliations later in this press release. Refers to a Non-GAAP ratio within the meaning of NI-52-112. Refer to information under the heading "Non-GAAP Measures" later in this press release Realized price before deductions from Sailfish gold streaming agreement Table 3 - EBITDA Reconciliation Refers to a Non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of NI 52-112. Refer to information under the heading "Non-GAAP Measures" later in this press release. Chart 1 Q4 2022 - Mine OCF Calculation and Cash Reconciliation (in $ millions) Refers to Non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of NI 52-112. Refer to information under the heading "Non-GAAP Measures" later in this press release. Includes all expenses incurred to sustain operations. Excludes Nicaraguan Taxes and Royalties, changes in Non-cash Working Capital, and Exploration expenses Chart 2 Accumulated 12 months ending Dec 31st - Mine OCF Calculation and Cash Reconciliation (in $ millions) 3. Refers to Non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of NI 52-112. Refer to information under the heading "Non-GAAP Measures" later in this press release. 4. Includes all expenses incurred to sustain operations. Excludes Nicaraguan Taxes and Royalties, changes in Non-cash Working Capital, and Exploration expenses For complete details, please refer to the year-end audited consolidated financial statements and the associated management discussion and analysis for the twelve months ended December 31st, 2022, available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or on the Company's website (www.makominingcorp.com). Non-GAAP Measures The Company has included certain non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios in this press release such as EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Mine Operating Cash Flow cash cost per ounce sold, total cash cost per ounce sold, AISC per ounce sold. These non-GAAP measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. In the gold mining industry, these are commonly used performance measures and ratios, but do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's underlying performance of its core operations and its ability to generate cash flow. "EBITDA" represents earnings before interest (including non-cash accretion of financial obligation and lease obligations), income taxes and depreciation, depletion and amortization. "Adjusted EBITDA" represents EBITDA, adjusted to exclude exploration activities, share-based compensation and change in provision for reclamation and rehabilitation. "Cash costs per ounce sold" is calculated by deducting revenues from silver sales and dividing the sum of mining, milling and mine site administration cost. "Total cash costs per ounce sold" is calculated by deducting revenues from silver sales from production cash costs and production taxes and royalties and dividing the sum by the number of gold ounces sold. Production cash costs include mining, milling, mine site security and mine site administration costs. "AISC per ounce sold" includes total cash costs (as defined above) and adds the sum of G&A, sustaining capital and certain exploration and evaluation ("E&E") costs, sustaining lease payments, provision for environmental fees, if applicable, and rehabilitation costs paid, all divided by the number of ounces sold. As this measure seeks to reflect the full cost of gold production from current operations, capital and E&E costs related to expansion or growth projects are not included in the calculation of AISC per ounce. Additionally, certain other cash expenditures, including income and other tax payments, financing costs and debt repayments, are not included in AISC per ounce. "Mine OCF" represents operating cash flow, excluding Nicaraguan taxes and royalties, changes in non-cash working capital and exploration expenses. On behalf of the Board, Akiba Leisman Chief Executive Officer About Mako Mako Mining Corp. is a publicly listed gold mining, development and exploration company. The Company operates the high-grade San Albino gold mine in Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua, which ranks as one of the highest-grade open pit gold mines globally. Mako's primary objective is to operate San Albino profitably and fund exploration of prospective targets on its district-scale land package. For further information: Mako Mining Corp., Akiba Leisman, Chief Executive Officer, Telephone: 203-862-7059, E-mail: aleisman@makominingcorp.com or visit our website at www.makominingcorp.com and SEDAR www.sedar.com. Forward-Looking Information: Some of the statements contained herein may be considered "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information can be identified by words such as, without limitation, "estimate", "project", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" or variations thereon or comparable terminology. The forward-looking information contained herein reflects the Company's current beliefs and expectations, based on management's reasonable assumptions, and includes, without limitation, that mining of high-grade material from the Phase 3 West Pit, and permits to begin mining Las Conchitas are expected later this month, at which point the Company expects that new record production numbers should be achieved; and Mako's primary objective to operate San Albino profitably and fund exploration of prospective targets on its district-scale land package. Such forward-looking information is 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 information, including, without limitation, changes in the Company's exploration and development plans and growth parameters and its ability to fund its growth to reach its expected new record production numbers; unanticipated costs; the October 24 measures having impacts on business operations not current expected, or new sanctions being imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department or other government entity in Nicaragua in the future; and other risks and uncertainties as disclosed in the Company's public disclosure filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof, based on information currently available and is included for the purposes of providing investors with information regarding the Company's Q4 2022 financial results and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Mako does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. 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: Mako Mining Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/749247/Mako-Mining-Provides-Q4-and-2022-Year-End-Financial-Results-Record-Q4-Gold-Sales-of-9956-oz-and-AISC1-of-1062oz Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2023) - Deveron Corp. (TSXV: FARM) ("Deveron" or the "Company"), a leading agriculture service and data company in North America, is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 4,838,710 common shares (each, a "Common Share") in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.31 per Common Share for gross proceeds of $1,500,000 (the "Offering"). $1,000,000 of the proceeds are from insiders of the Company, including the newest board member, Tim Close, the former Chief Executive Officer of Ag Growth International. Gross proceeds of the Offering will be to fund Deveron's M&A strategy, consolidating the fragmented soil lab and crop consultant market in North America. The Company intends to enter into subscription agreements with each subscriber and have the distribution of the Common Shares qualified pursuant to a shelf prospectus supplement (a "Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's short form base shelf prospectus for each of the provinces of Canada, except Quebec, dated November 30, 2021 (the "Base Shelf Prospectus"). Additionally, the Company has conditionally agreed with Toronto-Dominion Bank ("TD") to partially restructure its $28.3 million credit facility. Pursuant to the conditional agreement, TD will issue a new 25-year mortgage for $6.8M on the properties associated with A&L Canada Laboratories East, Inc. ("A&L"). TD has valued the properties at $9.1M. The $6.8M mortgage will be used to reduce the 10-year, $28.3 million credit facility used to acquire A&L (further details are contained in the Company's press release of May 24, 2022), reducing annual interest costs. Completion of the debt restructuring is subject to completion of TD's due diligence review and credit approval. Deveron has built a market leading soil and crop services business within the very fragmented North American market. Through eight acquisitions over the past 24 months, Deveron has created a strategic platform that includes four labs, three crop advisors and a technology ecosystem, establishing Deveron as key leader in the North American soil testing space. "We were thrilled to have Tim join our board of directors last November," said David MacMillan, President, and CEO of Deveron. "Tim brings 20+ years of leadership and substantial M&A experience within the agricultural space. This additional guidance and knowledge will help Deveron continue to refine and further develop our strategies as we position the company for further consolidation and technological enablement. We are pleased to see Tim and other insiders continue to invest in the business as we align with our stakeholders in preparation for Deveron's next leg of growth." "Soil health is the foundation of our food supply chain and Deveron is raising the bar on the quality and timing for the collection and analysis of this critical data layer for growers," said Tim Close. "Deveron already has the leading market share in this highly fragmented market, and we are now positioning the business for further consolidation as we concurrently build our partnerships across the agriculture ecosystem from nutrient providers, retailers, and farmers. 2023 will be a watershed year in terms of growth of Deveron as measured in our financial success with Revenue and EBITDA reflecting our consolidation but also in terms of the outstanding team that is in place and strategic relationships with our customers." There is no agent or underwriter involved in with the issuance of the Common Shares, and no party is receiving a commission or finder's fee in connection with the Offering. The completion of the Offering is expected to close on or about April 20, 2023 and, remains subject to all regulatory and other approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Prior to the completion of the Offering, the Prospectus Supplement will be made available on the Company's profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com, where interested parties can also find copies of the Base Shelf Prospectus. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy 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 as defined under applicable United States securities laws unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. About Deveron: Deveron is an agriculture technology company that uses data and insights to help farmers and large agriculture enterprises increase yields, reduce costs, and improve farm outcomes. The company employs a digital process that leverages data collected on farms across North America to drive unbiased interpretation of production decisions, ultimately recommending how to optimize input use. Our team of agronomists and data scientists build products that recommend ways to better manage fertilizer, seed, fungicide, and other farm inputs. Additionally, we have a national network of data technicians that are deployed to collect various types of farm data, from soil to drone. Our geographic focus is the US and Canada where 1 billion acres are actively farmed annually. For more information, please visit www.deveron.com. Phil Linton VP Corporate Development Deveron Corp. Plinton@deveron.com Tel: 647-622-0076 "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." This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of that phrase under Canadian securities laws. Without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve various degrees of risk. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current views with respect to possible future events and conditions and, by their nature, are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. The following are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of agricultural commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in agriculture, the uncertainty of future profitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. Additional information regarding the material factors and assumptions that were applied in making these forward looking statements as well as the various risks and uncertainties we face are described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of our annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis of our financial results and other continuous disclosure documents and financial statements we file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update this forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. The Company relies on litigation protection for forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162390 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2023) - Stakeholder Gold Corp. (TSXV: SRC) ("Stakeholder" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the acquisition by staking of 592 mineral claims in the heart of the White Gold District of the Yukon Territory, Canada. This increases the Company's contiguous land position to 943 claims covering 18,741 hectares. The Company's 100% owned 18,741 hectare contiguous claim position covers key ground features in the center of the rapidly evolving White Gold mining and exploration camp. Stakeholder claims are located in the relative center of the White Gold District, due north of Newmont's Coffee Gold Project and west, south, and east of White Gold's regional exploration initiatives (see diagram below). The Company's claims now cover the full drainage basin for Ballarat Creek which has been one of the most significant placer gold producers in the White Gold placer mining area. The new claims also extend across the headwaters of Barker Creek, which has also been a prolific placer gold producer. The Company's ground position now also straddles an estimated 17km of the route for the Resource Gateway Road which is being developed to connect Dawson City to the Coffee Gold Project, and to service the White Gold District as it develops into a regional mining camp. The Resource Gateway Road is expected to significantly reduce exploration and development costs within the White Gold District. Ballarat Creek Records for placer mining operations in the Yukon Territory are maintained at the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources of the Yukon Territory. These records confirm that Ballarat Creek produced 19,924 oz. Au1 from placer mining operations between 1978 and 2020. The source of this significant placer gold production is expected to be located within the drainage basin for Ballarat Creek. This drainage basin has now been comprehensively covered within the Company's contiguous claim holding (diagram below). Barker Creek Records at the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources of the Yukon Territory also confirm that between 1978 and 2020 a total of 21,582 oz. Au1 was recovered from placer mining operations on Barker Creek. The source of this significant placer gold production is expected to be located within the drainage basin for Barker Creek. The Company's contiguous claim position now includes 170 claims extending over 3,554 hectares of prospective ground covering the headwaters of Barker Creek. 1 Yukon Placer Creek Production Table 1978 - 2022. Available from Yukon Department of Energy, Mines, and Resources. White Gold District, Yukon Territory 2023 Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3082/162334_db09319aa418f8e8_001full.jpg 2023 Exploration Program "The company has secured an extensive and highly prospective land position covering 943 contiguous claims, 18,741 hectares, in the heart of the White Gold District of the Yukon Territory. This land position extends over drainage areas for both Ballarat Creek and Barker Creek. Both Ballarat Creek and Barker Creek have supported prolific placer gold mining operations in recent history. Our exploration objective is to locate, in the near term and on company ground, the gold deposit source(s) for these placer mining operations." "Construction of the Resource Gateway Road will benefit exploration and development initiatives within the White Gold District. Enhanced access, which will result from the road's construction, is expected to meaningfully reduce exploration and development costs in the area. This, in turn, can contribute significant value to the mineral exploration and development initiatives of the White Gold District. The company anticipates logistical advantages to accrue from the development of the Resource Gateway Road, which is projected to traverse, for an estimated 17km, company claims." "The experienced team at GroundTruth Exploration Ltd. will manage our summer exploration program, which will begin with their tried and tested method of ridge and spur sampling for gold in soil anomalies. This exploration methodology has been developed, with great success, by GroundTruth and has contributed to the key gold discoveries of the White Gold District which have catalyzed regional exploration and development in the early part of this century." "We expect to begin this exploration work in the next few weeks and anticipate being able to provide first exploration results shortly after mid-summer this year. Our exploration objective is to locate the gold deposit source(s), for the gold found in both Ballarat Creek and Barker Creek, on the company's 100% owned claims and in the near term." Stated Christopher Berlet, CEO of Stakeholder. Jodie Gibson, B.Sc., P.Geo. is the Qualified Person for the Company, as defined by NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the contents of this press release. For further information please contact: Stakeholder Gold Corporation 416 525 - 6869 cberlet@stakeholdergold.com Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information. All information, other than information of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" and includes any information that addresses activities, events or developments that the Corporation believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including the Corporation's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance. When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is based on current expectations and applies only as of the date on which they were made. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Corporation to fund the exploration expenditures required under the Agreement. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in the Corporation's annual financial statements, MD&A and other publicly filed documents. The Corporation cautions that 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. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162334 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2023 / Dayton REALTORS has honored Kenya K. Taylor, Corporate Responsibility Officer for KeyBank in Central and Southwest Ohio, with its 2023 Marie Kindrick Fair Housing Award for Community Professional. In her role, Taylor ensures that KeyBank remains true to its purpose of helping the communities it serves thrive. This involves doing business fairly and responsibly, making meaningful investments in the places where we live and work and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, including fair housing principles. Marie Kindrick, for whom the award is named, was a remarkable woman who, for nearly sixty years, was committed to working for the rights of those who are under-represented. Each year Dayton REALTORS, in partnership with the Miami Valley Fair Housing Center, pays tribute to Kindrick and honors her vision to work for fairness and equality for everyone by awarding a Community Professional, a Community Volunteer, and a REALTOR who have "exhibited an outstanding commitment to fair housing principles." Taylor is an advocate for community involvement and investment. For more than eight years, she has served as a board member of the Greater Dayton Realtors Association (GDRA). A division of the National Association of Real Estate, the GDRA focuses on democracy in housing, serving the underserved and increasing black homeownership. Taylor regularly partners with local housing agencies including the HomeOwnership Center of Greater Dayton, Miami Valley Community Action Partnership, Miami Valley Fair Housing and others to increase financial literacy and homeownership. She also participates in homebuying seminars, financial literacy classes, and volunteers with many agencies in Dayton at community events. Since 2017, KeyBank has followed through on community commitments it made with investments totaling more than $187 million in Dayton. This includes more than $38 million in home lending to low-to-moderate income individuals and communities. Learn more about how KeyBank is bolstering the path to affordable homeownership this Fair Housing Month Learn more about KeyBank's commitment to helping clients and communities thrive View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: KeyBank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: KeyBank View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/749254/Dayton-REALTORSR-Honors-KeyBanks-Kenya-K-Taylor-with-2023-Marie-Kindrick-Fair-Housing-Award Increased Workplace Flexibility Helps Businesses Cope With the Great Resignation VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2023 / Valley Business Centre - Bookkeeping & Payroll helps businesses create employee retention strategies through cloud-based payroll technologies. Encouraging increased flexibility in the workplace by offering online payroll processing makes it possible to keep top performers while fostering a supportive and productive environment. The Great Resignation is a term that refers to a trend of increased employee turnover and resignations across various industries and sectors. During the pandemic, many employees had to work remotely. This change allowed people to re-evaluate their work-life balance. Some employees found they could be more productive and happier working from home or pursuing alternative careers. In contrast, others found they no longer wanted to continue working in their current roles due to the stresses encountered in professional environments. Businesses can still offer employees remote or flexible work, which also benefits the employer. With internal support and expertise for workplace flexibility, talented individuals can be recruited from across the country or continent without worrying about their payroll or benefits status. Valley Business Centre - Bookkeeping & Payroll simplifies the processes for teams when employees want access to their paystubs, view tax forms, or stay on top of their payroll data. Employee portals ensure that time and attendance can be tracked anywhere, no matter where someone works. "We offer cloud payroll as a solution that encourages workplace flexibility," said Sorin Silivestru, President of Valley Business Centre - Bookkeeping & Payroll. "This service allows employers to have complete control over their payroll using a remote system of servers easily accessed with an internet connection. This approach offers several cloud-based integrations, including time-tracking solutions, to help everyone cope with work-life balance changes more effectively." When mixed with additional business-specific solutions to manage bookkeeping and payroll support for remote workers and teams, employees and employers can benefit from an emphasis on increased flexibility and other retention strategies. Several effective options are available to keep top talent satisfied. That process starts by offering competitive compensation and benefits while delivering opportunities for growth and development. Once payroll access and flexibility are part of the workplace culture with competitive compensation, it is crucial to focus on feedback, engagement, and relationships. It helps to conduct regular surveys to gather employee feedback about their experiences and satisfaction. Businesses can use this information to improve their processes. Building strong relationships with employees by investing time and resources into their development, providing ongoing online payroll support, and demonstrating a genuine interest in their success ensures a positive and flexible workplace is available. ABOUT THE COMPANY Valley Business Centre - Bookkeeping & Payroll offers over three decades of accounting expertise, proudly offering bookkeeping and payroll services for clients in Vancouver, Whistler, Abbotsford, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, Maple Ridge, Richmond, and Surrey. For further information, call (604) 938-8095 or email contact@valley-business.ca. Contact Information Hannah Timmerman Media Relations contact@valley-business.ca 1 (888) 822-3177 SOURCE: Valley Business Centre - Bookkeeping & Payroll View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748322/Valley-Business-Centre--Bookkeeping-Payroll-Helps-Small-Businesses-Fight-Worker-Resignations-Through-Effective-Bookkeeping-and-Payroll-Support Regulatory News: Valbiotis (FR0013254851 ALVAL, PEA SME eligible) (Paris:ALVAL), a commercially oriented Research and Development company, committed to scientific innovation for preventing and combating metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, announces its Combined Shareholders Meeting will be held on May 2, 2023, and releases the procedures for making available and consulting preparatory documents. The Shareholders' Meeting will be held at: L'Espace ENCAN Quai Louis Prunier -17000 La Rochelle May 2, 2023, at 9.30 am The Shareholders who wish to attend the Shareholders' Meeting must hold an admission card and an identity document. The Valbiotis Board of Directors invites shareholders to vote on resolutions, particularly Resolutions n4 5 relating to the renewal of the independent members of the Supervisory Board, Mr ZETLAOUI and Mr LEVY, and draws their attention to the publication of a complementary report, dated April 6, 2023, that supplements the content of the Board of Directors' management report and the Supervisory Board's report on corporate governance as of March 14, 2023, highlighting namely the independent nature of the members of the Supervisory Board, as defined in the corporate governance code as amended in September 2021 by MiddleNext. The means of taking part in the Shareholders' Meeting and the draft proposed resolutions were published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires (BALO) on March 24, 2023, in Issue No. 36 (https://www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr/pages/balo/). The convening notice, including the agenda and the final resolutions projects, as well as the modalities of participation and vote at the General Meeting, was published on the Company website and in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires (BALO) on April 12, 2023, in Issue No. 44 (https://www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr/pages/balo/). All the documents related to the May 2, 2023 Combined General Meeting, in accordance with Article R.22-10-23 of the French Commercial Code, can be accessed on the Valbiotis website at the following section: www.valbiotis.com/en/general-assemblies/.They will also be available at the Company headquarters or by mail at: contact@valbiotis.com. The documents and information concerning the Shareholders' Meeting will be made available to shareholders as provided by applicable regulations. About Valbiotis Valbiotis is a commercially oriented Research Development company, committed to scientific innovation for preventing and combating metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in response to unmet medical needs. Valbiotis has adopted an innovative approach, aiming to revolutionize healthcare by developing a new class of health nutrition products designed to reduce the risk of major metabolic diseases, relying on a multi-target strategy enabled by the use of plant-based terrestrial and marine resources. Internationally, its products are intended to be the subject of licensing and/or distribution agreements with global or regional health and nutrition players. In France, Valbiotis will be responsible for marketing its own products. Created at the beginning of 2014 in La Rochelle, the Company has forged numerous partnerships with leading academic centers. The Company has established three sites in France Perigny, La Rochelle (17) and Riom (63) and a subsidiary in Quebec City (Canada). Valbiotis is a member of the "BPI Excellence" network and has been recognized as an "Innovative Company" by the BPI label. Valbiotis has received major financial support from the European Union for its research programs via the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Valbiotis is a PEA-SME eligible company. For more information about Valbiotis, please visit: www.valbiotis.com Name: Valbiotis ISIN code: FR0013254851 Ticker symbol: ALVAL EnterNext PEA-PME 150 This press release contains forward-looking statements about Valbiotis' objectives. Valbiotis considers that these projections are based on rational hypotheses and the information available to Valbiotis at the present time. However, in no way does this constitute a guarantee of future performance, and these projections may be affected by changes in economic conditions and financial markets, as well as certain risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Valbiotis Universal Registration Document filed to the French Financial Markets Regulator (AMF) on May 19, 2022 and completed by an amendment on November 8, 2022. This document is available on the Company's website (www.valbiotis.com). This press release and the information it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe, or a solicitation to purchase or subscribe to Valbiotis' shares or financial securities in any country. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230414005168/en/ Contacts: Corporate communication Valbiotis Carole ROCHER Communication and Public Affairs Director + 33 6 77 82 56 88 Marc DELAUNAY Communication Manager media@valbiotis.com Financial communication Seitosei Actifin Stephane RUIZ Associate Director +33 1 56 88 11 14 sruiz@actifin.fr MANCHESTER, England, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Peninsula Group, a leading global provider of business support and consultancy services, is pleased to announce the successful refinancing of its Group revolving credit facility increasing the facility size, extending the maturity, and adding an additional bank into the club. The facility, provided by NatWest, Lloyds Bank and Barclays was increased to 175m and will be used to support the continued growth ambitions of the Group as it looks to increase its presence both in the UK and the international markets in which it operates. Commenting on today's announcement, Peter Done, CEO and Founder of Peninsula Group, said: "I'm incredibly proud of our continued success which the Peninsula Group has achieved over nearly 40 years. We are delighted to have the backing of such prestigious banking partners as we continue expanding across the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The increase in facility offers us yet further operating flexibility as we look to future growth opportunities." Jordan Foster, Peninsula Group CFO, said: "Having NatWest and Lloyds Bank continue their involvement in the facility whilst also bringing Barclays into the club, is a great outcome. The strength of appetite to support us from each of these major banks is testament to the continued performance and resilience of the Peninsula Group business model and the relationships we have built." "Looking ahead, the Peninsula Group is well positioned to continue delivering on its vision, growing within its chosen international markets, whilst maintaining our industry leading position supporting SMEs and building better businesses." Notes to editor Peninsula Group is the leading provider of Employment Law, HR and Health & Safety advice and consultancy services in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. With more than 3,000 employees at 13 operating companies, supporting over 120,000 SMEs, the Peninsula Group provides familiar reassurance, expert knowledge, and practical solutions to keep businesses compliant. For the year ended 31st March 2022 the Group generated revenues of c. 345m with an EBITDA in excess of 97m. www.peninsulagroupglobal.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/peninsula-group-announces-successful-refinancing-of-revolving-credit-facility-301797828.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2023 / Qualcomm As published in Qualcomm's 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report As water sources around the world become increasingly stressed, we are acutely aware of the need to treat water as the precious resource it is. We prioritize assessing our water footprint and conserving water, particularly in California, the location of our headquarters and a state perennially challenged by water scarcity. In our facilities, we make our greatest gains in water conservation by using reclaimed water instead of potable water for irrigation and our cooling plant systems, whenever possible. In fact, we decreased our freshwater dependency at our San Diego headquarters by 51 percent from 2016 to 2022 by expanding our recycled water system. These improvements help reduce our dependency on potable water and increase resiliency in our operations. At our manufacturing facilities, we conduct water audits to assess usage and share best practices between our locations. Additionally, we also have an internal price for water that makes the real cost of water usage and water treatment transparent and evident. This facilitates a strong motivation to develop cost-effective and water-efficient processes. At our Singapore manufacturing facility, we implemented numerous water savings projects in 2022, resulting in more than 200,000 cumulative cubic meters (m3 ) of annual water savings. For example, we conducted a utilization study to determine opportunities for system integration and enhancement, resulting in an improvement of our deionized (DI) water supply systems, which has increased the amount of reclaimed water by approximately 80,000 m3 per year. We also replaced our water plant electrodeionization (EDI) system with a continuous electrodeionization (CEDI) system, allowing for water to be recycled into raw water tanks, saving approximately 30,000 m3 per year. Learn more in Qualcomm's 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Qualcomm on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Qualcomm Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/qualcomm Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Qualcomm View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/749284/How-Qualcomm-Is-Assessing-and-Managing-Its-Water-Footprint MUNICH, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nagarro, a global digital engineering leader, today presented its audited financial numbers for 2022 and its Annual Report for 2022. Revenue was 231.0 million in Q4 2022, up 42.5% YoY from 162.0 million in Q4 2021. FY 2022 revenue was 856.3 million, implying a YoY revenue growth of 56.8%. The constant currency growth in annual revenue was 48.0%, and the constant currency organic growth in annual revenue was 39.3%. Constant currency YoY revenue growth for Q4 2022 was 33.4%, while constant currency YoY organic revenue growth for Q4 2022 was 27.5%. Gross profit grew to 66.8 million in Q4 2022 from 42.3 million in Q4 2021. Gross margin increased to 28.9% in Q4 2022 from 26.1% in Q4 2021. Adjusted EBITDA grew by 10.4 million from 20.5 million (12.6% of revenue) in Q4 2021 to 30.9 million (13.4% of revenue) in Q4 2022. EBITDA grew by 12.3 million from 18.3 million in Q4 2021 to 30.7 million in Q4 2022. EBIT increased by 10.8 million from 10.9 million in Q4 2021 to 21.7 million in Q4 2022. Net profit increased by 7.0 million to 15.4 million in Q4 2022 from 8.3 million in Q4 2021. Operating cash flow in Q4 2022 rose to 36.8 million from 22.9 million in Q4 2021, and from 30.5 million in Q3 2022. Days of sales outstanding, calculated based on the quarterly revenue and including both contract assets and trade receivables, dropped to 69 on December 31, 2022, from 71 on December 31, 2021, and from 79 on September 30, 2022. The company added a net of 163 professionals in Q4 2022, including trainees and lateral hires. Yearly results Nagarro's 2022 revenues grew to 856.3 million, up from 546.0 million in 2021, a growth of 56.8%. In constant currency, the revenue growth was 48.0%. Organic revenue growth for 2022 was 47.3%. Constant currency organic revenue growth for 2022 over 2021 was 39.3%. Gross profit grew to 247.1 million in 2022 from 154.4 million in 2021. Gross margin increased from 28.3% in 2021 to 28.9% in 2022. Adjusted EBITDA grew 86.3% from 79.7 million (14.6% of revenue) in 2021 to 148.5 million (17.3% of revenue) in 2022. EBITDA increased by 75.3 million from 70.3 million in 2021 to 145.6 million in 2022. EBIT increased by 66.7 million from 45.7 million in 2021 to 112.4 million in 2022. Net profit increased by 47.3 million to 77.3 million in 2022 against 30.0 million in 2021. Share buyback The Supervisory Board of Nagarro SE today approved a share repurchase program with authorization to purchase Nagarro shares for up to 30 million. About Nagarro Nagarro, a global digital engineering leader, helps clients become innovative, digital-first companies and thus win in their markets. The company is distinguished by its entrepreneurial, agile, and global character, its CARING mindset, and its approach of thinking breakthroughs. Nagarro employs over 18,000 people in 33 countries. For more information, visit, www.nagarro.com. FRA: NA9 (SDAX/TecDAX, ISIN DE000A3H2200, WKN A3H220) For inquiries, please contact press@nagarro.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/844192/Nagarro_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nagarro-releases-audited-financial-results-for-2022-announces-share-buyback-301797892.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2023 / When Kate Kirwin was 20 years old, she started teaching herself to code. But on her own, her progress quickly stalled. The coding groups that existed were dominated by men and Kate felt like she couldn't be her true self and needed to act differently among them. So she started her own community in Australia called She Codes, to teach women technical skills, create connections to career pathways, and provide a female-centered learning environment. Kate's story is the latest feature in the Logitech MX WomenWhoMaster series. Here, she talks about struggling to find community, her drive to bring fresh ideas to life, and how she hopes to leave the world a better place than she found it. Q: Were you interested in pursuing a career in STEM from a young age? When I was younger, I didn't consider a STEM career because it wasn't something that people talked about with me. There was still a stereotype that being a chatty, bubbly, fun person and being in tech were not compatible - even though I know now that they absolutely are. So early in my career, I wanted to do creative things. The idea of seeing something come from nothing is what partly drew me to event planning. While I was running events at Spacecubed, a co-working space in Perth, Australia, I got really curious about what people in the community were doing. A lot of members were running their own businesses, building apps, building websites. Even though I had no background in technology, I saw that I could use code to create something fresh. "I want a society where everyone can just decide what they want to do without stereotypes and stigma attached to their careers. One of my students was even told she's too fun to be in science. What does being fun have to do with anything?" Q: What inspired your passion to start the program She Codes and advocate for women in STEM? After I started learning more about the tech industry, I tried to teach myself how to code. Very quickly I found that without a community, it was hard to figure out what the next step was and how to ask for help. I tried to find a community where I could learn, but in that journey, I felt like I couldn't be myself. One time I went to a meetup at Spacecubed. This event was in my office, a place where I was very comfortable. The meetup had started by the time I got there. I was wearing a bright green dress and heels. The floor that we have in that space is concrete, so it's quite loud to walk on in heels. Every person in the room was male and almost all of them were wearing black, white, or gray. So when I walked in wearing bright green and loud shoes, the entire room stopped and turned. I felt so uncomfortable. For me to feel that way in a space where I usually felt comfortable, it made me think about how other people feel. So I decided to solve this problem I had and was sure other women had too. Q: What types of programs and workshops does She Codes provide? We run three different kinds of programs. We have a one-day workshop, a one-week program, and a six-month part-time program. The one-day workshop is a free, self-paced online tutorial. In the longer programs, we cover more skills like data science, JavaScript, Python, HTML, CSS, as well as backend and front end coding. Q: What roles do mentors play at She Codes? Our mentors are amazing. They are from all across Australia. One thing they do is answer questions on Slack. Last year some of the girls based in Brisbane really connected with one of our mentors, Ben. They kept saying things like, "Oh, we're obsessed with Ben from Perth because he answers all our questions." They were talking about him like they'd met him and he's 4,000 kilometers away! One important part of how we do things is to have a mix of male and female mentors in our teaching team. The reality is that once students leave our community, most of the people they will work with are going to be men so it's important for students to understand how to work with them. Our male mentors are learning how to work with women too, so it's kind of fixing the industry from the inside as well. Q: What advice do you have for women who are new to coding or tech and might feel discouraged? Just because you haven't enjoyed one thing doesn't mean you won't like everything. Figuring out your niche is about trying a bunch of different types of skills. One of our mentors, Michelle, likes to say, "Just because you don't like a coding language or you're not good at it, doesn't mean that you're not good at coding. It just means you haven't found the right language." She's a great example of this. She started her career in one language and she hated it. Now she only codes in Python and she says, "I love Python. This is me, this is where I can hang out." Q: What are the top STEM skills the next generation should learn? Teaching the right mindset and how to learn is more important than teaching specific skills. Careers and technology are changing so quickly, most of the jobs of the future don't exist yet. "Just focusing on skills is fighting a losing game. Teaching people how to learn, unlearn, and relearn is the future." Q: Imagine for a moment that your great-granddaughter chose the same career as you, she's graduating in the year 2100. What do you want her future to look like? Where I want to get to is for my job to not exist. I want it to be a society where we don't have all of these barriers for women; where we do have diversity. I've also heard women be told that a tech career isn't a safe career pathway for women or they're not nerdy enough. Living in a society where we don't have all of the hangups of needing to be a certain kind of person or be a certain level of intelligence to be in tech is what I hope for most. Connect with Kate on LinkedIn and Instagram or learn more about her work at She Codes . Women Who Master puts a spotlight on women who have made outstanding contributions to STEM fields. The goal of the series is to celebrate those contributions, inspire future leaders, and help close the gender gap in technology. Photo credit: Kate Kirwin View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Logitech on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Logitech Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/logitech Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Logitech View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/749329/When-Kate-Kirwin-Couldnt-Find-a-Coding-Community-Where-She-Belonged-She-Built-One NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2023 / The CNH Industrial Foundation - the company's US-based charitable arm - has provided major funding to help launch a new tool for promoting student awareness of career opportunities in agriculture. It's called AGNITOR. And it's been developed for the Illinois Agri-Food Alliance (ILAFA) - a collaborative network organization building an integrated, innovative, and transformative agri-food system in the US state. AGNITOR digitally connects real-world agriculture professionals to classrooms for virtual chats about the range of job opportunities available in food, agriculture, and natural resources (AFNR). The tool also provides students with resources to help them explore those opportunities and career paths independently. The goal is to help cultivate a more diverse talent pipeline for the industry's future. "At CNH Industrial, we believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential for driving innovation and supporting sustainable growth in the AFNR sector," said Michelle Javaherian, Community Impact Manager, Global Sustainability. "We are excited to share our expertise and insights with the next generation of leaders through AGNITOR and showcase that all paths can lead to a high-quality, high-valued career." "Launching AGNITOR is a major milestone for the Illinois Agri-Food Alliance and its partners," said Tyler Strom, Managing Director of the Alliance. "The agri-food industry is constantly evolving, and it is crucial that we cultivate a diverse and talented workforce to meet the needs of the changing industry. This platform will provide students the opportunity to authentically engage with professionals and explore the many career options available to them." CNH Industrial employees have been volunteering their support for the program. George Alvarez, Onboard Vehicle Security Architect, recently paid a virtual visit to Epic Academy in Chicago to discuss his role at CNH Industrial. There were 18 students present for the conversation and, according to Shanell Rainey from the ILAFA, George was an inspiration. "More than half the class stated that they were interested in learning more about how to become a security architect!" George Alvarez (on screen) speaks about his career at CNH Industrial with students from Epic Academy View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH Industrial on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: CNH Industrial Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh-industrial Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: CNH Industrial View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/749356/CNH-Industrial-Is-Sparking-Interest-in-Agriculture-Careers Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2023) - Mr. Chad Williams announces the acquisition of 3,333,334 Units of Honey Badger Silver Inc. (TSXV: TUF) ("Honey" or the "Company") at a price of $0.15 per Share. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one half of a common share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant entitling the holder to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of $0.18 for a period of 36 months from the date of closing. Immediately prior to the acquisition, the Acquiror held 1,791,667 Common Shares representing approximately 5.75% of the outstanding issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non diluted basis or 10.91% on a partially diluted basis (assuming the exercise of all of 375,940 Warrants and 1,283,158 stock options held by the Acquiror). As a result of the acquisition of 3,333,334 Units, the Acquiror owns, beneficial ownership of, or control and direction over 5,125,001 common shares, representing approximately 13.61% of the Issuer's issued and outstanding common shares on undiluted basis or 20.62% on an undiluted basis on a partially diluted basis (assuming only the exercise of the 2,042,607 Warrants and 1,283,158 stock options held by the Acquiror). Mr. Williams acquired the securities described herein for investment purposes and subject to applicable securities laws provisions, may increase or decrease his beneficial ownership of securities of the Company from time to time depending on market conditions and/or other relevant factors. A copy of the early warning report to be filed by Mr. Williams in connection with the Private Placement described above will be available on SEDAR under the Company's profile. For further information, please contact: Chad Williams 2704, 401 Bay Street, Toronto M5H 2Y4 Ontario Tel: 416 642-1807 msavella@honeybadgersilver.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162501 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2023) - Danavation Technologies Corp. (CSE: DVN) ("Danavation" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement of units (the "Units") through the issuance of 5,000,000 Units at a price of $0.20 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,000,000 (the "Private Placement"). Each Unit consists of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.30 per Common Share for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the closing date of the Private Placement. Gross proceeds of the Private Placement will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. Closing of the Private Placement is subject to receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange. All securities issued in connection with the first tranche of the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and the resale rules of applicable securities legislation. There were no finder fees or commissions paid in connection with the first tranche of the Private Placement. The Company may close additional tranches of the Private Placement subject to all required regulatory approvals. In connection with the closing of the first tranche of the Private Placement, Mr. Terence Sean Harvey entered into an investor rights agreement with the Company, granting Mr. Harvey the right to appoint one nominee to the board of directors of the Company and the right to participate in future financing transactions of the Company to maintain his pro rata interest following completion of the Private Placement. The first tranche of the Private Placement constituted a "related party transaction" as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), as insiders of the Company acquired an aggregate of 5,000,000 Units. The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed on a specified market and the fair market value of the participation by insiders does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the Private Placement, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances in order to complete the Private Placement in an expeditious manner. Early Warning Report Pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bids and Insider Reporting Issues, the company further announces the filing of an early warning report for Mr. Terence Sean Harvey. Mr. Harvey acquired an aggregate of 5,000,000 Units in the context of the Private Placement (the "Acquisition"). Prior to the completion of the Acquisition, Mr. Harvey beneficially owned and controlled, directly or indirectly, an aggregate of 8,314,500 Common Shares, representing approximately 7.28% of the Company's issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted basis and he owned and controlled in addition to the Common Shares, directly or indirectly, 1,500,000 warrants and $2,000,000 of 8% unsecured convertible debentures of the Company (the "Debentures"), representing approximately 11.87% of the Company's issued and outstanding Common Shares on a partially diluted basis. Following the completion of the Acquisition, Mr. Harvey beneficially owns and controls, an aggregate of 13,314,500 Common Shares, 6,500,000 warrants and the Debentures, representing approximately 11.17% of the Company's issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted basis and approximately 18.64% on a partially diluted basis. The Acquisition was completed for investment purposes. Mr. Harvey may, depending on market and other conditions, or as future circumstances may dictate, from time to time, on an individual or joint basis, increase or dispose of some or all of the existing or additional securities he holds or will hold, or may continue to hold. In the future, Mr. Harvey, will evaluate his investment in the Company from time to time and may, based on such evaluation and the market conditions and other circumstances, increase or decrease his security holdings through market transactions, private agreements, or otherwise. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell 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. About Danavation Danavation Technologies Corp. is a North American-founded and headquartered technology company providing Digital Smart Labels and a software Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solution that enables companies across various sectors to automate labelling, price, product, and promotions in real-time. Danavation's Digital Smart Labels enhance data accuracy and improve performance by removing high labour costs and low productivity typically associated with traditional labour-intensive workflows. Our goal is to create a sustainable and profitable business for shareholders while advancing sound environmental, social and governance practices, including by significantly reducing paper usage. Danavation has introduced its solution to retailers across North America, including big box and boutique grocers, while also targeting new markets including healthcare providers, manufacturing, and logistics companies. Learn more about the background of Danavation and our vision for the future on our website. As well, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube for more updates on how we are transforming the retail landscape. For further information, please contact: John Ricci President & Chief Executive Officer hello@danavation.com Cindy Gray 5 Quarters Investor Relations, Inc. Tel: 1-403-705-5076 | investors@danavation.com Investor Relations - United States Trevor Brucato, Managing Director RBMG - RB Milestone Group LLC New York, NY & Stamford, CT danavation@rbmilestone.com / www.rbmilestone.com For media relations / management interview requests: Mr. Nelson Hudes Hudes Communications International Tel: 1-905-660-9155 or nelson@hudescommunications.com Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. More particularly and without limitation, this material change report contains forward-looking statements and information relating to, the closing of the Private Placement and other matters.The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information since no assurance can be given that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162503 Education is continuously evolving, and online learning seems part of the future. Many institutions of higher learning are embracing online learning because it offers some amazing benefits. In addition, the recent pandemic gave the world a glimpse of its potential as the main form of learning when students had to study from home. Thus, exploring some of its benefits and limitations is vital to help you make the best choice when considering an online course. Benefits of Online Learning Online learning is growing, and thats mainly because of the convenience and flexibility it offers. So lets dive into the pros. Flexibility Flexibility is arguably the most convincing perk of online learning. Virtual classes allow people to attend classes from wherever they are, whatever time they want. Employed people greatly benefit from this because they can access classes after working hours, which is often hectic with physical learning. Online learning grants students the opportunity to dictate their schedules. You attend classes and study according to your convenience. Its Cheaper Education is expensive; its the reason many working adults are still struggling to pay off their student loans. Online courses make the burden much easier on individuals. You dont have to be there physically, so you save a lot of money on transport and textbooks since youll be provided with all the virtual materials you need. Furthermore, tuition is cheaper for online courses, and some universities even offer discounts on online programs. Online programs are also eligible for financial aid, making it an all-around cost-cutting experience. Instant Feedback Thanks to technology, online learning offers students instant feedback for exams. With physical learning, you would have to wait weeks for the professor to grade and redistribute all the papers. Online classes let you upload your assignments and receive feedback from the professors much faster. Quicker feedback means students can make faster adjustments to their future learning. Helps Individuals Develop Self-Motivation Online learning allows students to decide when to study and attend their classes. Those who use that freedom wisely develop self-motivation because they set their schedule and have to push themselves to stick to it. Besides, they wont rely on an essay writer to complete their schoolwork. By the time they complete their online degree, theyll have learned self-discipline and gained the ability to motivate themselves. Offers Career Advancement Opportunities Like physical learning, online courses also grant students an opportunity to advance their careers and offer more flexibility to do so. An employed person can take up a course, fit it into their schedule and complete it without taking time off work. The online degree will help improve their resume, thus improving their value in the employment market. Limitations Online learning has some significant drawbacks that are not often discussed. Maybe future developments can help with these limitations. But until then, herere some of the disadvantages. Limited Feedback E-learning feedback is almost immediate, but it is also limited. Teachers give face-to-face feedback during classes or office hours in traditional classroom learning. The feedback is personalized and thus has a more significant effect on students than online feedback, making some students feel dissatisfied. Encourages Isolation Since they can study from home, students are less likely to interact with others and will instead spend a lot of time alone. It can cause social isolation, which also affects online teachers. Loneliness and social isolation can lead to some mental health complications. Requires Discipline and Proper Motivation Any student who wants to succeed in an online program has to be disciplined and self-motivated. Unlike physical learning, there is nothing to push you toward your goal, and youll fend for yourself. A student will require discipline to set deadlines and meet them. Does Not Develop Communication Skills E-learning is effective at helping students gain knowledge but does not help them hone their communication skills. Since they will be mostly isolated and dont need face-to-face communication with peers or professors, they wont hone their communication skills. These will increase the number of graduates who are great scholars but poor at passing on knowledge. Final Thoughts Online learning is still developing, and we can expect some improvements in the future. However, as time and technology advance, the advantages will soon start drowning out the limitations. Before deciding to take an online degree, assessing the pros and cons is essential. The above list should help you with that, but you should also evaluate yourself. Ask yourself questions like; do I have the discipline and the self-motivation needed? Am I comfortable with isolation? If so, online learning might suit you. Mutual life insurance company Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) launched a second MM Catalyst Fund (MMCF) of $100m. The fund will continue investing in Black-led startups as well as overlooked businesses across Massachusetts, building on the first $50m fund the firm launched just over two years ago. Additionally, this second fund will selectively invest alongside fund managers within MassMutuals First Fund Initiative in Black, Latino and Indigenous-led businesses across the US and Canada. Since 2021, the MM Catalyst Fund has invested in 16 businesses across Massachusetts, driving growth in Black-led companies as well as startups in rural areas of the Commonwealth including investments in HourWork, a recruitment and retention platform for hourly workers in the quick-service restaurant industry, and Clean Crop Technologies, a western Massachusetts-based agriculture technology startup thats redefining food and agriculture performance with its fully electric innovations, from field to fridge. Through both the MM Catalyst Fund and the First Fund Initiative, MassMutuals total impact investment commitment has more than doubled to $300m in just over two years. MassMutuals First Fund Initiative invests in Black, Latino, and Indigenous first-time fund managers. With the second MM Catalyst Fund, MassMutual will now consider investment opportunities alongside these fund managers in diverse-led businesses across the US and Canada. FinSMEs 14/04/2023 Cast: Ramya Nambessan, Anarkali Marikar, Zarin Shihab, Krisha Kurup, Ashwathy B, Raina Radhakrishnan, Harish Uthaman, Sajitha Madathil, Rajith Kumar, Remya Suvi, Peesappilly Rajeevan, Sidharth, Sajin Cherukayil, Gibin Gopinath Director: Shruthi Sharanyam Language: Malayalam No other argument should be needed to push for diversity in the arts than that ensuring fair representation of minority and marginalised communities among creators, decision makers and in themes is the right thing to do. However, in a selfish world where moneybags measure the desirability of a move by the personal gain to be derived from it, it helps to point out that the arts as a whole benefit from diversity. The latest proof of this axiom is a new Malayalam film that draws its title from a globally used system of determining bra sizes. Written and directed by Shruthi Sharanyam, B 32 Muthal 44 Vare is produced under the Kerala State Film Development Corporations programme for women filmmakers. This is not to say that a man might never make a film on this subject and with this degree of sensitivity, but that it is unlikely, especially until a woman shows the way. Because more often than not, social privilege translates into a limited gaze that others the less privileged. The oppressed thus see so much that members of oppressor communities barring some exceptional individuals do not. This is why in the cis-het-male dominated world of cinema, breasts have traditionally come into focus as objects of beauty and a medium of titillation for the viewer. Shruthis debut feature is a counter to this reductive gaze albeit with its own share of shortcomings. B 32 Muthal 44 Vare is not about women alone, but about bodies with breasts, which in itself is a significant acknowledgement of a reality thats yet to enter the mainstream public discourse in India. Woven into this multi-strand narrative set in Kochi are Ziya (played by Anarkali Marikar), a transgender person who was assigned female at birth but identifies as male and is now in the very early stages of a medically aided transition; Malini (Ramya Nambessan), a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy and recovering from a mastectomy; Iman (Zarin Shihab), a hotel front-office staffer facing discrimination because she does not have a buxom frame; a teenaged mother called Nidhi (Raina Radhakrishnan); Jaya (Ashwathy B), a domestic worker who unexpectedly gets a modelling offer; and the feisty aspiring actor, Rachel (Krisha Kurup). Each of them is introduced with a text plate indicating their name and bra size. As these characters navigate life, B 32 Muthal 44 Vare views breasts both metaphorically and literally, as sources of nourishment and of pleasure, as markers of identity, self-esteem, pain and/or loss, and variously as instruments of exploitation, control, stereotyping, assertion and agency. That a government organisation has backed such a film is remarkable. KSFDCs decision to produce B 32 Muthal 44 Vare is incredibly progressive, making it all the more exasperating that they have barely promoted it. This is a separate, and long, discussion. Though B 32 Muthal 44 Vare handles multiple ideas, it does not feel crowded, contrived or sermonic. The links between the leads are slipped in smoothly without building suspense around how they are connected, as other similarly constructed films have often done. Although the script does not dig as deep with Ziya, Rachel and Nidhi as it does with Malini, Jaya and Iman, among its stand-out elements is the depiction of Ziya as a self-assured individual, one of the most confident in this ensemble, notwithstanding his discomfort with his body. This is a noteworthy departure from conventional assumptions made by film industries worldwide that stories centred around the marginalised must perforce be weepies and that their protagonists would naturally be tragic even if resilient figures. Ziyas experiences are not unrealistically idealised though. (Minor spoilers coming up in this paragraph) His social interactions instead cover a spectrum ranging from an intrusive stranger who objectifies him, to unruffled, accepting colleagues and friends. His palpable sexual chemistry with another character in the script is an instance of normalisation rarely seen in Indian cinema. (Spoiler alert ends) That said, the casting of a cis woman in the role calls for a discussion. Anarkali is an excellent actor who plays Ziya with such nuance that, sans caricature or mimicry, she makes us aware from the very first second on screen that Ziya is not a cisgender woman with facial fuzz but a trans man with breasts. I was conflicted about the casting though, and did something I would usually not while writing a review: I phoned the director to ask why. Shruthi says she could not find a transgender actor who identifies as male but had not yet made a physical transition. This is tricky because breasts are an essential physical attribute of Ziya, using prosthetics would have been self-defeating, and no doubt it would be challenging to locate a talented actor who is at this precise point in their own journey, but it is equally true that we could not find anyone is the reasoning consistently offered even by well-meaning people in all scenarios where questions of representation are raised ask any feminist who has ever criticised an event manager for assembling a manel. To be fair, we do not know the budgetary and time constraints the director was dealing with in this case, and it would be a mistake to throw the baby out with the bathwater, but this aspect of B 32 Muthal 44 Vare should certainly be a conversation. A majority of transgender characters in Indian cinema have so far been trans women played by cis men. In a country where most high-profile portrayals of transgender persons on screen have been loud, if not stereotypical and crude, the tenderness in the performances by Sanchari Vijay in Naanu AvanallaAvalu (Kannada, 2015), Jayasurya in Njan Marykkutty (Malayalam, 2018) and Vijay Sethupathi in Super Deluxe (Tamil, 2019), stand out in recent years for defying that terrible norm, epitomised by Akshay Kumar in the horrific Laxmii (Hindi, 2020). But years have passed and there has been considerable public conversation on the subject in India since Naanu AvanallaAvalu, Njan Marykkutty and Super Deluxe came out, as a result of which viewers and filmmakers who have been listening are aware that a well-meaning cisgender artiste is no substitute for a transgender actor. Kerala, in fact, showed the way in this regard with Sheethal Shyam in Aabhaasam (2018) and Meera Singhania in the brilliant ad for Bhima Jewellery that became a talking point in 2021. There is not enough space here to write a comprehensive analysis of this thematic element in B 32 Muthal 44 Vare, so suffice it to say that though in many ways this film is important in the arena of LGBT+ representation in Indian cinema, the debate cannot be laid to rest on those grounds. The positivity in B 32 Muthal 44 Vare extends beyond Ziya to all the primary players in the plot. Not everyone has an easy happy ending, and by the end of the film, most of them are unsure of where the road ahead could go, but the recurrent motif of allyship is a refreshing change from the social stereotype of women forever pulling each other down. This does not mean the script pedestalises women thankfully not. It is realistic enough to incorporate a range of characters including female enablers of patriarchy, predatory and opportunistic men, male allies, and both men and women who regress and progress along the way. The dialogue writing is effective where it is naturalistic, which is most of the time. It stumbles though over Malini and with Imans boss Leena. The profusion of English words in Malinis lines are written in a way that suggests she is more relaxed with English than she actually comes across as being when she speaks. The exchange between Iman and Leena, and a dinner party in Malinis house also come across as awkward. B 32 Muthal 44 Vares opening and closing credits roll alongside Sudeep Palanads bouyant song Aaro avalaaro in Remya Vinaya Kumar, Remya Sarvada Das and Sreedevi Thekkedats voices. Apart from the pleasure of hearing a soundtrack dominated by women not common in Indian cinema I enjoyed the instrumentation and Shruthis lyrics for this particular musical number steeped in poetic assertiveness. Despite their tribulations, each of these characters is, like the heroine of the song, one who chooses to step over shadows and not fade away. Nice. A caveat here: when Aaro avalaaro initially plays, Ziya is painting. His completed canvas captures more complexities on the gender spectrum than the song that is about aval (she/her). Shruthi has gathered a top-notch cast to tell a tale of intersecting lives across class, caste and religious divides in B 32 Muthal 44 Vare. Saddled with some stilted lines and lack of clarity in defining foster parenting in a crucial passage, Ramya nevertheless generates compassion for Malini with her speaking face. Anarkali and Ashwathys sterling acting is accompanied by Zarin, Krisha and Rainas solid renditions of their roles and several striking supporting performances including Harish Uthaman as Malinis wavering husband, Rajith Kumar as Nidhis Dad and Sajin Cherukayil as a filmmaker who wears his feminism on his sleeve. Sudeep Elamons camerawork mirrors B 32 Muthal 44 Vares unshowy, slice-of-life tone, as does Rahul Radhakrishnans editing. And while the song Anandam in the closing segment is pleasant to the ear, it is occasionally overpowering and stretches the finale unnecessarily. With all this, B 32 Muthal 44 Vare remains absorbing till the end. The characters in this film are believable, relatable and inspiring in the way they respond to the curve balls thrown at them. Jaya, for instance, is caught in an exploitative situation, but turns it around for herself, and in showing this, the script does not condone the exploitation or make insinuations about her. There is a delicacy and consideration with which Shruthi engages with her six protagonists, painting them not as raging goddesses but as very human blends of strength and vulnerability. The narrative is bookended by ignorant boys making ridiculous remarks about breasts, thus cleverly underlining the urgent necessity for more films like B 32 Muthal 44 Vare. It takes a special mind to envision a film where breasts are a common thread running through interlinked stories, not as a documentary, a lecture or a skin-show pageant, but as moving, entertaining cinema. Shruthi is that special mind and B 32 Muthal 44 Vare a special film. Rating: 3.25 (out of 5 stars) B 32 Muthal 44 Vare is currently in select theatres in Kerala. KSFDC confirms that it will later be released on the organisations OTT platform scheduled to be launched this year. Anna M.M. Vetticad is an award-winning journalist and author of The Adventures of an Intrepid Film Critic. She specialises in the intersection of cinema with feminist and other socio-political concerns. Twitter: @annavetticad, Instagram: @annammvetticad, Facebook: AnnaMMVetticadOfficial Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut, who is known for making bold comments on social media, has done it again. Taking to Twitter, Kangana praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his recent statement mitti me mila dunga (reduce to dust) that he had made in the state assembly. This came after gangster-politician Atiq Ahmeds son Asad and his accomplice, both wanted in a murder case, were killed by police in an encounter. No one like my Bhaiya @myogiadityanath, the Queen actress wrote in the caption. Kangana also shared a video of the CMs remark in her tweet, however, it is no longer available. Have a look at the tweet made by Kangana here: The tweet made by the actress garnered a wide range of reactions of reactions from the users. A person wrote, Ek Bollywood ki Sherni to dusra UP ka sher (One is the lioness of Bollywood while the other is lion of UP). Some people saluted Kangana and Yogi Adityanath with emojis. https://twitter.com/iamabhilashck/status/1646534457531465729 On 25 February, Yogi Adityanath blamed the Samajwadi Party for supporting criminal gangs and pledged to eliminate them. The chief minister said in the assembly, The mafioso whose name is emerging, is it not true that the Samajwadi Party had made him an MP? He was a mafioso nurtured by the SP. Our government is working to break their back. Mitti me mila denge. On the work front, Kangana recently starred in Dhaakad (2022). She played the role of agent Agni, who is given the task of collecting intel and neutralising Rudraveer. Rudraveer is a notorious international trafficker of humans and weapons who has remained elusive for a decade. Kangana will also be seen in the character of former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi in her upcoming film, Emergency. The storyline is based on the countrys emergency period between 1975-1977 that was announced by Indira Gandhi. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Looking forward to something new and interesting to binge-watch this weekend? Well, weve got you covered. Just like every week, OTT giants including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus Hotstar, and many others are gearing up for the release of some amazing movies and web shows this week. The extensive list of fresh OTT releases features a range of content including Kartik Aaryans Shehzada, Radhika Aptes Mrs Undercover, Jeremy Renners Rennervations, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel Season 5, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and so much more. To know about these releases in detail, check out the list given below. OTT releases this week Shehzada (Netflix) After showing a decent performance in theatres, Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon starrer Shehzada is all set to make its OTT debut on Friday, 14 April. An official remake of Allu Arjuns Telugu hit film Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, Shehzada also features prominent actors like Manisha Koirala, Paresh Rawal, and Ronit Roy. Rennervations (Disney Plus Hotstar) The show which marks Hollywood actor Jeremy Renners return to the screen after his snow plow accident, Rennervations has released on Disney Plus Hotstar on Thursday, 13 April. A four-part docuseries shot in different cities around the world, Rennervations shows the actor along with his team working on decommissioned vehicles to rebuild them into productive creations. Mrs Undercover (Zee5) Featuring actress Radhika Apte in the lead role of a housewife who returns to duty after almost a decade as an undercover agent, the show will revolve around how the agent will find it challenging to get back to her old job, especially after marriage. The show is all set to premiere on Zee5 on 14 April 2023. Jubilee Part 2 (Amazon Prime Video) Revolving around the golden era of Indian cinema when the industry was just trying to settle in at the onset of the 1947 partition, the drama show will release on Amazon Prime Video on 14 April 2023. Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, Jubilee Part 2 features actors like Aparshakti Khurana, Aditi Rao Hydari, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Wamiqa Gabbi, Ram Kapoor, and many others in prominent roles. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (SonyLiv) The popular American supernatural comedy film, Ghostbusters Afterlife is finally on SonyLiv. Featuring actors Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, and Mckenna Grace, the film is based in New York City and revolves around the story of a single mother who relocates to her fathers farmhouse, only to find his connection with the Ghostbusters. Projapati (Zee5) Featuring actors Mithun Chakraborty, Dev, Mamata Shankar, among others, the Bengali-language hit film Projapati is all set for its OTT release on Friday, 14 April 2023 on Zee5. The film which shows the tale of a father and son is about a 65-year-old Gour who wishes to get his son married. The Marvelous Mrs Maisel Season 5 (Amazon Prime Video) The fifth and last season of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel will release on Amazon Prime Video on 14 April 2023. The award-winning show has taken the excitement level among fans to the next level. As stated in the seasons synopsis, the story is about, Midge Maisel finding herself closer than ever to the success shes dreamed of, only to discover that closer than ever is still so far away. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Trouble for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) continues in India. In February, tax surveys were conducted at the broadcasters offices in Delhi and Mumbai. Now, BBC India is under the scanner for alleged foreign exchange violations. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is tasked with fighting financial crimes in India, has registered a case against it under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). What is the latest case against BBC India? Two weeks ago, the ED registered a case against BBC India for alleged foreign exchange violations. The investigation is based on findings of the tax departments three-day survey at the BBC India offices in February. The central agency has reportedly questioned six employees, including one of the directors of BBC India. The ED has called for documents and is recording statements of some BBC executives under the provisions of FEMA, according to a report by The Indian Express. The inquiries conducted so far suggest prima facie violation of the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and its rules and regulations namely Foreign Exchange Management (Non-Debt Instruments) Rules, 2019 and other regulations prior to that; which regulate the receipt of Foreign Direct Investment. Where has BBC India faltered? In September 2019, the Indian government capped FDI in digital media at 26 per cent and issued a clarification the next October, which specified which entities were required to comply. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry reinforced this in November 2020 asking entities involved in uploading/streaming of news and current affairs through digital media to comply with the decision. This means that a foreign investor cannot have more than a 26 per cent stake in a digital media entity. 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, according to an ED note accessed by CNN-News18. The company at the centre of the controversy is BBC World Service India Private Limited, the subsidiary of the British broadcaster in the country. The parent company is called BBC World Service. The Indian subsidiary is reportedly 100 per cent owned by the parent firm with no other investor. So when the new rules were introduced, the company was expected to make changes to its structure to comply with the law. However, it failed to act. What did BBC do after the rules changed? The BBC was concerned, shared emails and had wide-ranging discussions about the alleged violation. Firstpost has exclusive access to emails exchanged by BBC officials, which were later deleted by them. However, Indian authorities have retrieved them. Firstpost broke the news about the emails on its show Vantage, hosted by executive editor Palki Sharma on Thursday, 9 pm. Heres what the never-been-seen-before documents revealed. Also read: Government licensed extortion? Secret model that funds the BBC What do the BBC emails reveal? In the emails, BBC executives talked about the risk of violating Indian laws. The first one was sent by Chris Loweth, the director of legal and rights at BBC International News Services, on 22 August 2022. He wrote to his colleagues that the BBC was yet to comply with the new Indian policies, according to the report on Vantage. We are already well past the deadline for complying with the policy. We havent been contacted by any government agency suggesting were not compliant yet, so there is no deadline in that sense, Loweth reportedly wrote. But we need to be able to demonstrate both to EY and potentially to the Indian government if contacted that were serious about evaluating the options and then implementing whatever recommendation results, he added. Firstpost has exclusive access to another email from August 2022, which was labelled confidential and titled BBC World Service India: Ownership and Control. This document, assessing the restructuring of the BBC in India, reads, The Indian Government has introduced new rules on the level of foreign ownership of digital media news entities. BBC World Service India has been advised to evaluate and implement a restructuring of its structure and operations in India, in a manner that would be compliant with the new laws. A range of options have been identified, each of which involves significant changes to the BBCs ownership and control of its news activities in India. The email further said that legal advice provided in December 2020 was that since news and current affairs content at the time was being uploaded to YouTube channels by BBC WS [World Service] India, BBC WS India was likely to be viewed as a digital media entity. The confidential document also pointed to digital news entities like Yahoo News and Huffington Post, who had shut down operations in India after the change in FDI rules, and others who had restructured operations to comply with new foreign investment laws. But despite the exchanges, three years after the law was introduced, the BBC did not make any changes to its holdings. Instead, it adopted a wait and see policy, the emails accessed by Firstpost revealed. Given the uncertainty over whether the policy was intended to apply to publishers such as the BBC, a wait and watch policy was adopted to see whether and how other publishers responded to the new rules, the second document said. So the BBC chose not to make the required changes and reportedly tried to delete the emails when the company came under scrutiny. The email exchanges have now been retrieved by Indian agencies, sources told Firstpost. Also read: BBC and Bias: The Modi documentary, the prejudiced lens on India, and other controversies What has the BBC said? After news broke of the alleged violations on Thursday, the BBC said that it would fully cooperate with the Indian authorities. A spokesperson for the British media corporation told PTI that the BBC would comply with its obligations for operating in India. We will continue to cooperate fully with the Indian authorities to ensure that we comply with all our obligations, a BBC spokesperson said. The ED probe comes following the IT departments survey operations at the BBC offices in India 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 organisations units were not commensurate with the scale of operations in India. The tax surveys came after the BBC had on 17 Janaury released a controversial documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots titled India: The Modi Question. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state when the riots took place. On 20 January, the Centre ordered YouTube and Twitter to take down links sharing the film, which officials said, undermined the sovereignty and integrity of India. The Opposition questioned the timing of the surveys, calling it a tactic of intimidation after the release of the documentary. Back then, the British government had 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. But the troubles of the broadcaster are far from over. It continues to hit headlines in India for all the wrong reasons. The BBC will have to face the enforcement agencies in the country and prove its legal status or else face the prospect of winding down operations. 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. Classified Pentagon documents leaked last week paint a grim picture of the trajectory of the war in Ukraine. While it may well be the most significant national security breach since the Snowden leaks of US National Security Agency material a decade ago, the fact that the leak occurred is almost certainly more significant than what was revealed about Ukraine. The leak reveals how apparently easy it was for a low-level employee on a US military base to obtain and then share highly sensitive US government information. By comparison, the contents of the documents on Ukraine leaked are far less explosive in nature they mostly confirm existing battlefield assessments that cast doubt, in the eyes of US intelligence officials, on any major breakthroughs in a widely expected Ukrainian spring offensive. The key shortfalls on the Ukrainian side artillery pieces and munitions, as well as air defences have been well known for some time. What has also been obvious for some time, and was reconfirmed in some of the leaked documents, is that Ukraine has been mostly relying on Soviet-era artillery equipment and stocks of ammunition have begun to run dry. Also Read: Pentagon Leaks: The questions surrounding access to top-secret documents At the same time, western equipment has been slow to be delivered and training of Ukrainian forces has taken time. And the western capacity to produce shells in excess of current Ukrainian consumption has yet to be built. Add to that delays in training and equipping the troops needed for a counter-offensive and the likelihood of well-entrenched Russian defences. The low expectations of at best modest territorial gains in a Ukrainian spring offensive do not come as a surprise. The equally limited gains that Russia has made over the past several months of its offensive, including around the still contested city of Bakhmut should serve as an indication of what is and is not possible after more than a year of war. Similarly, the protracted battle over Soledar back in January this year already gave a glimpse at how costly even minimal and strategically insignificant gains in this war have become. The flipside of the US assessment that any Ukrainian counter-offensive is unlikely to constitute a turning point in the war is that the fighting is likely to continue beyond this year. In some estimates it could last well beyond that. There are no signs that either side is willing to give up. US estimates of casualties among the leaks from the Pentagon indicate more than 40,000 Russian soldiers killed in action over the past year and an additional 180,000 wounded. On the Ukrainian side, the figures are lower with 17,500 likely dead and 113,500 wounded troops but still significant. Both countries now have tightened conscription rules and procedures in another sign that they are readying themselves for intensifying battles. Also Read: How the FBI tracked down and arrested Jack Teixeira, 21-year-old suspect in US intel leak Equally important from a Ukrainian perspective is continuing support from its western partners. Despite the logistical difficulties of ramping up defence industry outputs and deliveries to Ukraine, there is no indication that supplies will fall critically short and expose Ukraine to the risk of major battlefield defeats. This is partly because Moscow also cannot muster the superior military capabilities that would be needed for inflicting such defeats on Kyiv. Continuing stalemate So, the strategic stalemate on the ground that was established at the end of last year when Ukraines counter-offensive ended is likely to continue. Neither side can expect, at least not for the time being, to gain a decisive advantage. Russia, according to some of the leaked documents, has failed to secure significant foreign military aid. Moscow therefore needs to rely on a resurgent domestic defence industry that will take time to deliver. Military production will continue to be hampered by critical shortages, especially of high-end semi-conductors, that its key ally China has so far been unable and unwilling to supply. Russias own military capabilities, however, will increase over time. The country has vast resources, including manpower. Its economy has been weakened but not mortally wounded. And Putin appears to be no less in control of the country and its security apparatus, which allows him to suppress even the slightest domestic opposition and control the narrative of the war that sustains him in power. These growing Russian capabilities, however, can and will be matched by Ukraine and its western partners. While there may be some uncertainty over the outcome and impact of the 2024 presidential elections in the US, Ukraine continues to enjoy strong bipartisan support in the US Congress and among the American public. Europe may not be fully aligned with the US over China, but there can be little doubt that the west is united in its support for Ukraine. Also Read: Who leaked the US classified documents and what has been revealed? Ultimately, both sides are likely to match each others increases in capability over time and the current stalemate will continue, albeit at a higher level of mutual attrition. And each increase in capability, however slight, will boost the conviction that this war remains winnable. The Pentagon leaks have cast doubt on such assumptions, but also confirmed that neither Washington nor Kyiv are contemplating losing the war on the battlefield or the negotiation table. Time will tell whether this is a sustainable objective and at what cost. 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. Frances Constitutional Council is due to deliver its verdict today 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 Councils green light. But then, the next condition is getting a tenth of registered voters to sign a petition calling for the plebiscite. Also Read: Why France pension reforms are a reminder of Indias NPS vs OPS debate 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. 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: 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 Irans 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 Husseins 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 Syrias 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. Also Read: What Chinas Xi Jinping hopes to achieve with Iran-Saudi Arabia deal In November 2017, Saudi-backed Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri announces his resignation, citing Irans grip on his country through the Shiite militant group Hezbollah. 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 10 March, 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 Arabias King Salman to visit. On 6 April, 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 9 April, 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. 9-12 April: Syria push On 9 and 12 April, Saudi and Iranian delegations visit each others capitals to discuss reopening their respective diplomatic missions. On 12 April, Syrias 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. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Numerous dairy cows were crammed together in the holding pens, waiting to be milked, and were therefore stuck in dangerous conditions as the fire quickly spread across them on Monday evening. Officials were shocked by the number of livestock deaths left behind after putting out the fire at the West Texas dairy farm. More than 18,000 cows died after an explosion and fire, marking the deadliest such barn blaze on record in the United States, according to Reuters. This is approximately 20 per cent of the cattle slaughtered in America on any given day, as per USA Today. As of Tuesday, the dairy farm worker who was pulled from the building was being treated at a hospital and was listed in critical but stable condition. There were no more fatalities among people. Its mind-boggling, Dimmitt Mayor Roger Malone said, according to USA Today. I dont think its ever happened before around here. Its a real tragedy. Also read: An average cow produces 10.8 tonnes of milk a year. Now, comes Chinas cloned super cows which can give 18 tonnes The Texas cattle explosion About 70 miles southwest of Amarillo, in Castro County, the fires location, is a vast grassland country dotted with dairy farms and cattle ranches. According to local news outlet KFDA, Sheriff Sal Rivera said before being milked, the majority of the dead cows a mix of Holstein and Jersey cows were kept in a sizable holding area. A little more than 90 per cent of the farms overall herd was 18,000 cows. Over 18,000 cows were killed in an explosion at this dairy farm in Texas. THIS is the dairy industry This tragedy couldve been avoided if these cows werent being factory farmed in the first place.pic.twitter.com/lw33DUq97N PETA (@peta) April 13, 2023 Bystander photos shared on social media showed the burnt cows that were rescued from the structure as well as the massive plume of black smoke rising from the farm fire. The Texas blaze is the deadliest fire involving cattle we know of, County Judge Mandy Gfeller, the countys top executive claimed, according to USA Today. In the past, there have been fires that killed hundreds of cows at once, but nothing compared to this. Given that a cow is generally worth around $2,000 (~Rs 1.63 lakh), the companys livestock losses could total in the tens of millions of dollars, according to Gfeller. Losses to structures and equipment are not included in that. Also read: Go back to India; Whats with worshipping cows? They have rat temple: Seedy racist Ann Coulter taunts Nikki Haley The cause of the explosion The cause of the fire was under investigation and it was not immediately possible to contact members of the family who own the farm in one of Texas biggest milk production counties, as per Reuters. According to BBC, machinery in the facility may have ignited methane gas and the subsequent explosion. KFDA quoted Rivera as saying that the fire might have started with a machine called a honey badger, which he described as vacuum that sucks the manure and water out. Possibly (it) got overheated and probably the methane and things like that ignited and spread out and exploded, he added. The complex has no further reported fires, USA Today quoted Mayor Malone, as saying. He added that the dairy had been operating in the area for just over three years and had between 50 and 60 employees. Burned Alive in Massive Dairy Farm Explosion that Kills 18,000 Cows In Texas pic.twitter.com/PuQ1IHyw3l Lauren Witzke (@LaurenWitzkeDE) April 13, 2023 The blaze prompted calls from the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), among the oldest US animal protection groups, for federal laws to prevent barn fires which kill hundreds of thousands of farm animals each year. As per an AWI statement, there are no federal regulations protecting animals from fires and only a few states, Texas not among them, have adopted fire protection codes for such buildings. Since tracking barn and farm fires began in 2013 by the Washington-based organisation, it was the largest single-incident death of cattle in the nation. Around 6.5 million farm animals have died in such fires in the last decade, most of them poultry. According to Allie Granger, a policy associate at the organisation, that easily beat the previous high, a 2020 fire at an upstate New York dairy farm that killed roughly 400 cows. Also read: Explained: Is it safe to consume milk from cattle infected by lumpy skin disease? Cleaning up carcasses Officials from the state and the dairy industry are beginning the enormous cleaning up of the 18,000 burned carcasses. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality provided several requirements for the onsite burial of carcasses on its website, including burying the animal at least 50 feet away from the closest well and noting the GPS coordinates of the location. However, mass burials are not mentioned anywhere, as per USA Today. According to officials, the environmental quality commission and the AgriLife Extension Service are working together to help with the cleanup. Mayor Malone claimed to have completed emergency management classes where he learned how to properly dispose of animal carcasses during a crisis, however, nothing compared to the recent tragedy. The report quoted him as saying, How do you dispose of 18,000 carcasses? Thats something you just dont run into very much. Also read: Moo Menace: Why Bill Gates is investing in Australian startup targeting cow burps Texas ranks fourth in milk production According to a trade organisation called the Texas Association of Dairymen, the state is home to 319 Grade A dairies with an estimated 625,000 cows that produce close to 16.5 billion pounds of milk annually, placing the state fourth in the nation for milk production. As per the US Department of Agriculture, Castro County produces 148 million pounds of milk per month from 15 dairies, ranking it as the second-highest producing county in Texas. South Fork Dairy was enormous even by Texas standards. It is 18,000 cattle making it almost ten times bigger than the typical Texas dairy herd. Its not the first time Texas cattle have lost a lot of lives before, but rarely do so many perish in a single fire. According to the Texas Association of Dairymen, a blizzard in December 2015 killed off around 20,000 cattle throughout the Texas Panhandle. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service reported Hurricane Harvey in 2017 had caused $93 million (~Rs 759 crore) in livestock losses around the state and resulted in the drowning of thousands of people in Southeast Texas. 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. A 21-year-old airman who was assigned to the cyber transport systems specialist position may have been responsible for the largest US intelligence leak in a decade. Jack Teixeira is accused of violating the Espionage Act for allegedly disclosing classified military intelligence data in a chat room for online gamers called Thug Shaker Central, according to Associated Press. He allegedly leaked the documents that contained information regarding the Ukrainian conflict and the US spying on allies. Teixeira was identified as a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guards intelligence branch, stationed at the western Cape Cod location of Otis Air National Guard Base. His position at the Pentagon was pretty junior and according to an Air Force job description, employees like him keep our communications systems up and running and play an integral role in our continuing success. According to his service history, he enrolled in the Air National Guard in 2019. US Attorney General Merrick Garland said the suspect had been taken into custody without incident in a brief statement on Thursday. Defence Department spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder described the leak as a deliberate criminal act during a separate press conference earlier in the day. His detention, according to Attorney General Merrick Garland, is related to the unauthorised removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defence information. As the investigation continues, we take a look at the cases of top prominent leakers. Also read: The Pentagon Leaks: Who leaked the US classified documents and what has been revealed? Daniel Ellsberg The Pentagon Papers The military analyst Daniel Ellsberg was reportedly responsible for the 1971 release of the 7,000-page Pentagon Papers, according to National Public Radio (NPR). According to the top-secret documents, high US officials, including three Presidents, were aware that the Vietnam War was a terrible, hopeless disaster. Additionally, they demonstrated how the government had lied about the state of the war to Congress and the general public. The 92-year-old turned himself in and was accused of being a spy. The court discovered during Ellsbergs trial that the Nixon government had launched an effort to harm Ellsberg by illegally wiretapping him and breaking into his psychiatrists office. His alleged crimes were all dismissed. Since that time, he has had an honourable life as an author and lecturer. Taking to Twitter last month, Ellsberg revealed that he has been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer and that he had been given three to six months to live, more or less, even though cancer had not caused him any early symptoms, as is typical with the illness. Also read: Explained: Why US Senator Dianne Feinsteins absence is becoming a major issue for Democrats Edward Snowden NSA leaks According to Washington DC-based newspaper The Hill, the intelligence community insider Edward Snowden was responsible for leaking shocking information in 2013 about the US governments secret surveillance of millions of citizens. Post 9/11 attacks, government officials saw a need to strengthen security programmes and surveillance activities to identify future criminal and terrorist threats. This led to the creation of the surveillance programme. However, Snowdens leaks showed that the government was also gathering data from everyday Americans, not just possible terrorist risks. The revelations from Snowden, a National Security Agency (NSA) contractor who ultimately fled to Russia after being charged by the federal authorities with stealing government property and other crimes, had also exposed American spying operations on other countries. The disclosed information revealed that the US government spied on at least 38 foreign embassies and bugged many European Union offices. Prominent newspapers like The New York Times and The Guardian even used their editorial pages to call for mercy for Snowden, arguing that he deserves better than a life of permanent exile, fear and flight. The highly-classified materials that Snowden, who is viewed by some as either a brave whistleblower or a government traitor, had caused Americans to become concerned about their digital footprint and personal data. This battle is still going on today. Also read: Pentagon leaks on Ukraine war: Russian spy agency FSB accuses defence ministry of lying about number of dead Chelsea Manning Wikileaks Chelsea Manning, formerly known as Bradley, is a former US Army analyst who was found guilty of stealing and leaking over 750,000 pages of confidential documents and videos to the online anti-secrecy organisation WikiLeaks in 2010. A military judge gave Manning a sentence of 35 years, far less than the maximum legal punishment of effective life in prison, after deducting time served of nearly three and a half years. Mannings rank was also degraded by the judge, who even mandated forfeiture of pay and benefits, and issued a dishonourable discharge. After spending seven years in prison, former President Barack Obama reduced Mannings sentence in 2017. However, after refusing to appear before a grand jury in connection with a criminal investigation against WikiLeaks, she was detained once more in March 2019 and imprisoned until March 2020, reported Business Insider. Manning was hailed as a hero by his supporters, which included Ellsberg. Also read: Leaked documents a very serious security risk: Pentagon Julian Assange WikiLeaks According to CNN, Julian Assange is the founder of WikiLeaks, which gained global recognition after thousands of classified State Department cables and other documents that Manning had stolen were published. To escape being extradited to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning regarding claims that he raped one woman and sexually abused another, Assange has been hiding out within the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for more than a year. The lawsuit is still pending. Assange has repeatedly argued that the allegations in Sweden are driven by politics and have something to do with the way his website is run. Ecuadors government gave him shelter, but British police threatened to imprison him if he leaves the structure. Mark Felt Watergate scandal Retired deputy FBI director Mark Felt was the Watergate scandals whistle-blower Deep Throat. He provided anonymous assistance to Washington Post journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward for many of their articles about the Nixon administrations cover-up of the Democratic National Committee headquarters burglary in June 1972, according to The US Sun. The reports prompted a congressional inquiry, which ultimately resulted in Nixons resignation in 1974. For its reporting, Washington Post was awarded a Pulitzer Prize. In 1980, Felt was found guilty of unrelated conspiracy charges and fined. After receiving a pardon from President Ronald Reagan, he disappeared for the following 25 years. At age 95, he passed away in 2008. Also read: He is fond of guns and god, sceptical of US: The man responsible for Pentagon leaks Robert Hanssens espionage career Robert Hanssen, an FBI special agent, spied on the US government for the Soviet Union and Russian intelligence services during his 25 years in the law enforcement agency. Hanssen served as a Soviet Union spy throughout the Cold War, remaining unnoticed for many years before being discovered by authorities in the middle of the 1980s. Given his position within the organisation, Hanssen had access to highly sensitive data, selling thousands of pieces to Soviet and Russian sources, outlining American military plans, strategies for a nuclear war, and weaponry. According to CNN, he earned $1.4 million (~Rs 11.42 crore) from selling the intelligence data in cash and jewels. Russian material that suggested Hanssen was the spy was obtained by law enforcement in 2000. Investigators detained Hanssen as he was about to make a secret information drop for Russian sources in a Virginia park just as he was about to retire. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole in May 2002. Also read: From Mata Hari to Markus Wolf: A look at how honey traps are used in espionage Peter Buxtun Tuskegee syphilis experiment The American Public Health Service began examining untreated syphilis in black men who believed they were receiving free medical care in 1932. The patients werent adequately treated or informed of their condition. The 40-year study came to an end in 1972 when Public Health Service employee Peter Buxtun informed a reporter who arranged for the Washington Star to break the story about the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, according to Whistleblower.org. His evidence during congressional hearings prompted a revision of the Health, Education and Welfare regulations governing the use of human subjects in research. In 1997, President Bill Clinton apologized, saying The United States government did something that was profoundly, morally wrong clearly racist. The government also promised survivors and their families free medical care as part of an out-of-court settlement of a class action lawsuit for $10 million. Participants converse with a study coordinator in this area. Mordechai Vanunu Israels nuclear details According to the Right Livelihood organisation, Mordechai Vanunu is a technician and whistle-blower from Israel. He revealed the extent of Israels nuclear weapons programme to the world. Nuclear weapons analysts came to the conclusion that Israel had a stockpile of nuclear weapons as a result of information provided to a British publication. As per CNN, Israel has not acknowledged nor disputed its development of weapons. After being caught in Italy by Israeli intelligence agents, Vanunu was found guilty in 1986 by an Israeli court. He received an 18-year prison term and has been detained on numerous occasions since his release in 2004 for parole violations. 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 said Friday that it had successfully tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, marking a major breakthrough in Kim Jong Uns banned weapons programs. But what exactly is a solid-fuel missile and why does it matter that Pyongyang now has one? AFP takes a look at what we know: What is a solid-fuel missile? With this type of missile, the propellant the fuel that powers it is made of a solid chemical mixture, which is combusted to create exhaust. This propellant is cast into the missiles airframe when the missile is built: imagine a firecracker rocket, ready to go, Ankit Panda, a nuclear policy expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told AFP. In contrast, liquid-fuelled missiles typically require that fuel and an oxidizer be inserted into the missile before they can be fired a slower and more cumbersome process. Why is it better? Preparing a liquid-fuel missile for launch takes time just like pumping gasoline to your car, said Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Centre for North Korean Studies at the Sejong Institute. A solid-fuel missile can be thought of more like a portable battery which gives the user much greater flexibility, he said. Moreover, once a liquid-fuel missile is prepared, it has to be fired within a short period of time which is not something you have to worry about with solid-fuel missiles, he added. Solid-fuel missiles need to be stored, maintained and handled carefully, and if this isnt done, the quality of the missile can degrade over time which could cause it to fail, Panda said. But they are generally quicker to deploy and launch during a war compared to liquid-fuelled missiles. This makes solid fuel missiles very attractive for a number of military applications, Panda added. So North Koreas definitely got one now? In state media images, it is possible to see the missiles exhaust plume, which is consistent with a dirty, smoky solid propellant at work, said Panda. Everything looks consistent with a successful solid-fuel ICBM test, he added. But even if the North Koreans have pulled off one successful test of the new weapons system, it will still be likely some way from credible deployment in any meaningful numbers, said Joseph Dempsey, a defence researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. With North Koreas main liquid-fuelled ICBMs, which have been tested repeatedly but only on a lofted trajectory, which is not how they would be used in a real-life situation key questions remain over whether they are effectively operational. Also Read: North Korea fires ballistic missile once again. Whats different about this one? But as North Koreas threshold for what is effectively fielded is likely different from others, the new weapon may be considered operational even if other militaries would require more testing. South Koreas defence ministry said they believed the Thursday launch was simply an early test and that developing the Hwasong-18 properly would need additional time and effort. Pyongyang still faces many technical hurdles and resource constraints to actually deploy the missile forces it advertises in state media, Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University, told AFP. Who else has solid-fuel missiles? Most militaries first start off with liquid fuel missile technology but soon strive to acquire solid fuel missiles, which require more advanced technology, said the Sejong Institutes Cheong. However, not all advanced militaries exclusively deploy solid-fuel missiles. The United States does deploy all solid-fuel ICBMs and SLBMs, but Russia and China both still operate large liquid-fuelled missiles, said Panda. South Korea, for its part, has the technical capacity for solid-fuel missiles, and even has some in its arsenal but their range is limited to cover the Korean peninsula, Kim Jong-dae of the Yonsei Institute for North Korean Studies told AFP. Is this a game changer? North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un claims the Hwasong-18 solid fuel ICBM will radically promote the countrys nuclear counter attack capabilities, and experts say it could indeed change the security situation on the peninsula. South Koreas self-defence plan relies in part on a so-called Kill Chain preemptive strike system, which allows Seoul to launch a preemptive attack if there are signs of imminent North Korean attack. The Hwasong-18 solid-fuel ICBM would be far harder to detect, which could upend this preemptive strike formula although Seouls defence ministry on Friday dismissed this fear as excessive worry. But if North Korea were to deploy solid-fuel ICBMs, it would signal a game changer in possible warfare with them, the Yonsei Institutes Kim told AFP. The Souths existing plan in case of war with the North is to preemptively strike and destroy the Norths missile system after confirming signs of launch preparations, he said. But there will be no such signs if the North Koreans prepare solid fuel missiles aiming at the South. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. An intelligence leak dubbed the biggest in a decade, a breach of security that no one thought of, Americas alliances pushed to the brink and on Thursday it all came to a dramatic end in Massachusetts. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents arrested 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts National Guard named Jack Teixeira at his home in North Dighton, a small southeastern Massachusetts town, on Thursday for allegedly leaking highly sensitive documents that entailed information about the Russia-Ukraine war, Americas spying activities on allies such as South Korea and Israel and much, much more. His arrest came hours after President Joe Biden said the US is getting close in the investigation to finding the source of the largest government records leak in a decade. Teixeira has been taken into custody and US officials say he will be charged under the Espionage Act, which makes it a crime to disseminate classified defence information. The 21-year-old is expected to make his first court appearance in Boston on Friday. But, how did this arrest happen? How did the FBI track down the US Air Force official? Who is he and how did he have access to the information? What happens next? We give you all the details about Jack Teixeira and his involvement in the biggest intelligence leak in a decade. Who is Jack Teixeira? Images released of Jack Teixeira post his arrest show a 21-year-old youthful, thin looking fellow someone you wouldnt think of as responsible for an intel leak. Teixeira is an Airman First Class with the 102nd Intelligence Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. His official job title is Cyber Transport Systems journeyman these are specialists that ensure the services vast global communications network works properly. He joined the service in September 2019 and was promoted to airman first class in July. Teixeiras mother, Dawn, speaking outside her residence confirmed to the media that her son was a member of the Air National Guard and said he had recently been working overnight shifts at a base on Cape Cod. In the past few days, he had changed his phone number, she said. How did the FBI track him down? Since the leaks made headlines across the world rattling capitals from Washington to Kyiv to Seoul US officials have been trying to unearth the source behind the leak. Bellingcat, an investigative website, and other media outlets such as the New York Times and Washington Post revealed that even though the leaks made headlines a week ago after surfacing on famous social media platforms such as Twitter and Telegram, the leaks had actually started last year on other platforms such as Discord, famous for gamers, and 4Chan. Just a day ago, the Washington Post had reported that the source of the leaks was a user identified as OG on a Discord server and he had worked on a military base. He was described by users of the server known as Thug Shaker Central to be a young, charismatic gun enthusiast with a love for god. One member of the group also was quoted as saying that OG was a smart, fit person. He knew what he was doing when he posted these documents. These werent accidental leaks of any kind, a member had told the Washington Post. The Washington Post report had also stated that OG, now believed to Teixeira, was sceptical of the US government and he believed that law enforcement and the intelligence community was a sinister force, hiding the truth from the public. Federal authorities investigating the matter quickly sifted through all this data to land on the name of Jack Teixeira. A CNN report quoting a government official said that Teixeira was then put under surveillance prior to his arrest by the FBI on Thursday. In fact, national security officials told TIME that 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. There were also date and time stamps on some of the documents, making it easier to identify when and how they had been printed. Everything you wanted to know about the US intelligence leaks Who is America spying on? Are Western special forces fighting in Ukraine? New revelations from leaked Pentagon documents Pentagon Leaks: How a video game chatroom is at the heart of the massive US intelligence leak He is fond of guns and god, sceptical of US: The man responsible for Pentagon leaks Nation never been so embarrassed: Trumps vicious attack on Biden over massive military intel leak How did the arrest unfold? Following their surveillance, armed FBI officials descended on North Dighton, a town of 8,000 people about an hour to the south of Boston. Footage of his arrest, showed that as the authorities closed in on him, he was reading a book on his patio, seemingly unaware of what was about to happen. Roads in the area were blocked by police officers while the arrest was taking place. A local resident, identified as Dick Treacy, told Reuters, There were about six to eight army guys armed with rifles walking around. Teixeiras arrest was broadcast across the US as news helicopters swooped in and they showed the 21-year-old in red shorts, with his hands behind his back, being placed by heavily-armed agents into an unmarked SUV. The FBI arrested Jack Douglas Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the US Air National Guard, over the leaks online of classified documents https://t.co/DVrF5o8NrN pic.twitter.com/8EtduBQile Reuters (@Reuters) April 14, 2023 The FBI said in a statement that its officers are continuing to conduct authorised law enforcement activity at the residence where he was arrested. US Attorney General Merrick Garland was also quoted as telling the media that Teixeira was arrested without incident and he will have an initial appearance in court. What next? Teixeira will now be presented before the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Some officials believe he will be charged with the Espionage Act. Brandon Van Grack, a former Justice Department national security prosecutor, told the DailyMail that 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. Teixeiras arrest, however, is begging the question how did the 21-year-old have access to such highly classified documents and what was his intention in leaking it. When asked about the access to such sensitive data, Pentagon spokesman, Brigadier General 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. Even as Teixeira awaits his fate, the US is already considering additional measures necessary to safeguard the nations secrets. US Defence 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 Defence) 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 behaviour, he said. Michael Butler, a professor of political science at Clark University who specialises 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 decentralised [and] can be moved very easily and quickly at no cost, Butler told The Hill, and actors are able to exploit vulnerabilities in the system before the Department of Defence or intelligence agencies can close them again. The leak has put a spotlight on the vulnerabilities in US intelligence gathering and storage. While national security officials would be heaving a sigh of relief with the arrest of Teixeira, Washington will have to rebuild trust with alliances and also rethink the way they want to collect and store classified information. 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 leak of over 100 classified documents has left the Pentagon red-faced and scrambling. On Thursday, 21-year-old Jack Teixeira was arrested in connection with the case. While the national guardsman has been taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) the question of how much damage the documents can cause remains. Lets take a closer look: On Russia and Ukraine The Pentagon has said that the documents appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material including analysis and intelligence on Ukraine and Russia. As per USA Today, some leaked material shows US intelligence on the preparedness of Ukraines 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. A source close to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN Ukraine has already changed some of its plans. The leak would prove valuable to Moscow by showing how deeply US intelligence has penetrated parts of the Russian military apparatus. As per CNN, access to these intercepted communications could be severed and human sources could now be under threat. Ex-senior Pentagon official Mick Mulroy told Al Jazeera the news was damaging. I think the United States needs to do a better job of securing classified information, Mulroy, who worked for the CIA, added. He said the biggest concern was the possibility that ways of gathering intelligence including human assets could be put in peril. Mulroy was at pains to emphasise the significance of the ability to protect our assets, protect our way of doing business, so we know information that goes into making policy. Ex-intelligence official Glenn Carle, putting it far more bluntly , said some people may well die Any counter-intelligence service will be hastily and thoroughly now working out who has access to that information in their country and reducing the number of possible individuals, Carle told Al Jazeera. And its quite possible that they could identify the sources and depending on the country, that will damage or destroy their career or get them killed. An official from Five Eyes the intelligence group comprising the US, the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia told CNN some of the information revealed could put Ukraine at a disadvantage. As per The Washington Post, a summary of Russias Donbas campaign predicts a battle of attrition likely headed towards a stalemate. Gains for Ukraine will be hard to accomplish, but it does not help to have the private US assessment pointing to a likely yearlong stalemate revealed publicly, the official told CNN. But some say it will do little to change the ground situation. The leaks are definitely embarrassing and have a political cost, Seth Jones, senior vice president and director of the international security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told USA Today. Based on past wars, however, they are unlikely to have a meaningful impact on the outcome of the war in Ukraine. On Israel, South Korea, UN As per CNN, a report on Israel claiming that the Mossad has been lending support to protests against the new regime the most right-wing in Israels history has sparked howls of protest. The Israeli Prime Ministers Office called the claim mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever, as per CNN. The Mossad and its senior officials did not and do not encourage agency personnel to join the demonstrations against the government, political demonstrations or any political activity, the statement said. The Mossad and its serving senior personnel have not engaged in the issue of the demonstrations at all and are dedicated to the value of service to the state that has guided the Mossad since its founding. The leaked documents show the US is keeping a close eye on its rivals. According to The Guardian, documents show US putting pressure on South Korea to send ammo to Ukraine. As per The Washington Post, Seoul responded by suggesting that the arms be sold to Poland. The BBC reported that the United States thinks that the UN secretary general Antonio Guterres is far too accommodating when it comes to Russia. The leaked documents, which detail conversations between Guterres and his close aides, suggest the US is carefully watching the UN secretary general. Guterres emphasised his efforts to improve Russias ability to export, the document read, even if that involves sanctioned Russian entities or individuals. On China and Iran The documents also say that if Ukraine attacks Russian territory, China could use the opportunity to cast NATO as the aggressor and intensify its assistance to Russia, The Washington Post reported. Meanwhile, Irans attempts at gaining a nuclear weapon are also being carefully monitored. The reports seem to downplay the International Atomic Energy Agency capacity to carry out its nuclear security mission. 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: Why would a 21-year-old National Guard member be in a position with access to top-secret documents to begin with? Thursdays dramatic arrest of Jack Teixeira, an airman in an intelligence unit in the Massachusetts Air National Guard who federal authorities believe is linked to a leak of reams of classified documents, lays bare the sheer volume of people who have clearance to view a swath of national security documents that the government categorises as top secret. From National Guard members on bases in Massachusetts to generals at NATO headquarters in Brussels to US bureaucrats all over the world, the top secret level of clearance gives bearers an extraordinary level of access. With it, they can see secure Pentagon and other intelligence sites, daily intelligence briefings, situation maps and detailed analyses of the state of the world as seen through the eyes of the US intelligence community. US service members with top-secret clearance include nearly all of the more than 600 or so generals in the various services. But that level of clearance also extends to some of their military aides, many colonels who work in the Pentagon, captains of Navy ships, a wide array of junior officers, and even, in the apparent case of Teixeira, enlisted service members working in intelligence units. Pentagon officials say the number of people with such access is in the thousands, if not tens of thousands. And just below them, those with secret clearance include nearly everyone else who works for the Pentagon or other national security agencies. There are military contractors and even analysts at think tanks who have some level of security clearance. The Pentagon will probably be dealing with the fallout from the leaking of scores of pages of sensitive material for months as, in the immediate term, Russian military planners pore over the leaked files for clues to their own compromised agencies. But the case raises broader questions about whether the term top secret is actually even secret, and whether national security agencies have allowed their sensitive material to drift too far afield. Clearly, too many people have access to too much top-secret information that they have no need to know, said Evelyn Farkas, the top Defence Department official for Russia and Ukraine during the Obama administration. On Thursday, the Pentagon was reeling from the possibility that the leaker may have been far from the higher echelons of military intelligence and sensitive national security data. Instead of finding the leaker in the offices of the Joint Staff, where senior generals and officials put together many of the documents that were posted to a small online gaming chat group called Thug Shaker Central, officials found themselves raiding the home of Teixeira. Each of us signs a nondisclosure agreement anybody that has a security clearance, Brigadier General Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon spokesperson, said at a news conference. So, all indications are, again, this is a criminal act. The arrest of Teixeira, Farkas said, serves as a warning for what awaits those who mistreat classified information. Theyre going to throw everything at him, she said, and thats going to make it more important for the government to take action against others who think that theyre immune because of their senior positions. A person convicted in such a leak could face extended prison time, officials said. Teixeira was arrested under the Espionage Act, violations of which carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison per count. Reality Winner, a former Air Force airman and a National Security Agency contractor convicted of leaking a classified document to the news media, received a five-year, three-month sentence. A Navy engineer, Jonathan Toebbe, who tried but failed to sell secrets to a foreign country that were classified at a lower confidential level, received a 19-year prison sentence last year. His wife, Diana Toebbe, received nearly 22 years in prison. This was a major security breach that cannot be allowed to happen again, Senator Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, chair of the Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. Anyone with a security clearance who betrays their country by purposefully mishandling classified documents or disclosing classified materials must be held accountable. Some military officials defended the practice of granting security clearances to service members regardless of their age; if someone is old enough to die for their country, they are old enough to be trusted with its secrets, they argued. 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. We entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age. Also Read: Who is America spying on? Are Western special forces fighting in Ukraine? New revelations from leaked Pentagon documents National security officials Thursday said the episode underscored weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the clearance process despite changes made since the case of Edward Snowden, a former US intelligence contractor who became one of the worlds most high-profile fugitives after he disclosed mass surveillance techniques to news organisations. Those reforms clearly werent effective enough, said Javed Ali, a former senior US counterterrorism official who held intelligence roles at the FBI, the Defence Intelligence Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. For instance, the top-secret briefs are on government computers that reside in secure work areas known as SCIFs Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities where no one is allowed to bring in any electronic devices that could be used to take photographs or make video or audio recordings. Visitors to a slew of offices at the Pentagon must leave their cellphones, laptops and anything else that can be used to record or take photos in lockers in the hallway. To limit intelligence breaches after the Snowden case, senior officials put into place regulations limiting peoples ability to electronically access material in SCIFs. The Snowden problem was preventing people from electronically siphoning out classified materials, Ali said. This person went the other direction, likely because of the post-Snowden measures. In this case, documents appear to have been printed out and removed from classified facilities, officials said, although much about how the materials ended up in the chat group is not yet known. It was unclear Thursday what level of clearance Teixeira had. But he was detailed to the 102nd Intelligence Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, and it is possible that he had top-secret clearance, a Defence official said Thursday. Theres the obvious question of why someone in this relatively low rank and rather obscure corner of the military, namely the Massachusetts Air National Guard, could have access to not only some of the nations most critical secrets, but such an extraordinary array of them, which could have no possible bearing on his job, said Glenn Gerstell, a former general counsel of the National Security Agency. Mick Mulroy, a former CIA officer and top Pentagon official, agreed. This does bring up just how someone this junior would have access to some of our most sensitive intelligence and documents to brief our most senior officials, he said. This should give us pause as to who has access to this level of material and how and why we allow people to print such material. Two major changes in how intelligence was handled in the past helped set the stage for the most recent leaks. Also Read: Pentagon Leaks: How a video game chatroom is at the heart of the massive US intelligence leak After 9/11, intelligence agencies began sharing material much more widely across the government. Then, after the failed intelligence assessment that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, intelligence agencies started sharing more about the sources of their information and their confidence in how reliable the material might be. Gerstell said those changes were made for good reasons, but they have gone too far. Now, access to some classified secrets is just mind-numbingly broad, he said. Weve gone so overboard and made it so convenient and easy for a wide range of people to have access precisely because we never want to be in a position of saying we could have prevented something, if only we had shared this information, he said. We have a principle of making information available only on a need to know basis, but in practice, we dont really follow it. US intelligence agencies have strict guidelines about who can access information, but the military has adopted a looser set of rules that, in effect, allow anyone with a security clearance to get access to documents from an array of spy agencies. Gerstell said a zero trust architecture is needed for securing information. Under such a model, people could see the headline or title of a piece of intelligence but would need to have their credentials checked to view the details. That would allow better monitoring of who accesses information and how often. Instead, under the current system, once youve been cleared, youre entitled to almost everything, he said. On Thursday, a few hours after Teixeira was arrested, Deputy Defence Secretary Kathleen Hicks sent out a memorandum restating rules for handling classified material. 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, she wrote. Helene Cooper, Julian E. Barnes and Eric Schmitt, c.2023 The New York Times Company Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Prison isnt easy and who knows this better than Russias leading opposition politician, Alexei Navalny. Two days ago, the opposition leader through his team said that he was once again placed in solitary confinement at the maximum-security IK-6 penal colony at Melekhovo, about 250 kilometre east of Moscow and that the conditions was hellish. His placement in the lone cell comes after he returned to his cell following an ambulance being rushed on Friday on complaints of acute stomach ache. His team and supporters now believe that he is being slowly poisoned in prison and worry for his life. Navalnys health deteriorates Alexei Navalny is currently lodged at the maximum security prison in Russia and serving combined sentences of 11.5 years for fraud and contempt of court. On Tuesday, his spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said that the 46-year-old is experiencing severe stomach issues. Moreover, he has lost eight kilograms over the past 15 days. Yarmysh says that so acute was Navalnys pain on Friday that the prison officials were forced to call an ambulance to treat him. The ambulance was called by the penal colonys personnel, Yarmysh told the New York Times. We understand that the situation must have been critical. She added that he hasnt been eating 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 later added that they worry that Navalny is being slowly poisoned, as he never suffered such pain or incidents of discomfort in the past. She states that the worry is legitimate as prison officials even refused to inform Navalny of the diagnosis and when pressed said, Its spring, everyone has acute symptoms. Navalnys lawyer Vadim Kobzev said that his team will request for the toxicological and radiological tests. This may sound like nonsense and paranoia to someone else, but not to Navalny after Novichok, Kobzev tweeted on Tuesday. The situation has even prompted the German government to express concern for Navalny. German government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann said that Berlin 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 famous opposition leader has in the past described how bad the situation is in prison. In February, he had said that he was being moved to a cell-type facility and would not be given access to meet his family or loved ones. Not the first poisoning instance Navalnys supporters alleging poisoning isnt too far-fetched or incredulous. In 2020, the Russian had been poisoned using the nerve agent Novichok. It was in August of that year that the Russian opposition figure and anti-corruption activist was hospitalised after he was poisoned. The incident came to light during a flight from Siberias Tomsk to Moscow when he became ill and was rushed to a hospital. Two days later, he was evacuated to a hospital in Berlin. The use of the nerve agent was confirmed later and he was discharged from hospital in September. Investigations had revealed that Russia was behind the poisoning. Navalny, himself, duped one of the operatives allegedly involved in the attempt to kill him to disclose details of the operation and demanded to know what had gone wrong. The operative revealed that the FSB was behind the poisoning. He said his colleagues had applied novichok to the inner seams of the opposition leaders boxer shorts, when Navalny was staying in the Siberian city of Tomsk. A thorn in Putins side Navalny is a former lawyer and became internationally prominent a decade ago when he slammed the Russian elite and alleged corruption on a vast scale. He has said that Russia is ruled by crooks and thieves. When demonstrations against Putin flared in December 2011, after an election tainted by fraud accusations, he was one of the first protest leaders arrested. While his supporters see him as a Russian version of South Africas Nelson Mandela, Russian authorities view him and his supporters as extremists with links to the US Central Intelligence Agency who are intent on trying to destabilise Russia. They have outlawed his movement, forcing many of his followers to flee abroad. In January 2021 after he survived the novichok poisoning, he returned to his homeland only to be arrested and imprisoned. His arrest was for violating the terms of a 2014 suspended sentence for fraud. The BBC reported that the case against him was based on his failure to report regularly to police during 2020. His legal team said that was absurd, as the authorities knew full well he was getting emergency treatment in Berlin for the Novichok nerve agent attack in Siberia. He reminded the court he had been in a coma during part of that time. Navalny had told the Moscow court that between January and August 2020 he had reported to the police twice a month. He had then dismissed the fraud case as an attempt to silence him. Navalny has also been scathing in his criticism of Russian leader Vladimir Putin for the Ukraine war. During a court appearance in May 2022, he accused Putin of starting a stupid war with no purpose or meaning. And in September, he accused Russian elites of having a bloodthirsty obsession with Ukraine in an article for the Washington Post. 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. Hungary is taking fresh aim at same-sex families. Lawmakers have passed a bill allowing citizens to anonymously report same-sex couples that are raising children, according to Bloomberg. The development comes a week after Germany and France joined a European coalition to take on Hungarys anti-LGBTQ measures. Lets take a closer look: What happened? The bill lets citizens report couples that contest the constitutionally recognized role of marriage and the family and those who contest childrens rights to an identity appropriate to their sex at birth, according to Bloomberg. The bill will now be sent to Viktor Orbans office, as per Pink News. Orban, the authoritarian leader of Hungary who presents himself as a defender of traditional family Catholic values, is expected to sign the bill into law. In 2020, Hungary changed its constitution to exclude transgender and other LGBTQ individuals from the definition of families. It defined the basis of the family as marriage and the parent-child relationship and declared that the mother is a woman and the father is a man. While same-sex marriage is outlawed, civil partnerships are recognised. Hungary-EU at odds over LGBTQ Hungary in 2021 banned the dissemination of content in schools deemed to promote homosexuality and gender change. This, despite Europes top rights watchdog warning that the law risks discrimination against LGBTQ people. That same law declares that only married couples may adopt children unless granted special permission by the family affairs minister. This effectively barred same-sex couples or single individuals from doing so. This constitutional amendment should not be used as an opportunity to withdraw existing laws on the protection of individuals who are not heterosexuals, or to amend these laws to their disadvantage, it said in an analysis and opinion on the laws. The commission said that clear criteria should be established to limit the new discretionary power of the minister to provide or refuse consent for adoptions by single people. This, it said, would help stop discrimination, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. It also found that the laws make the legal recognition of gender of trans and intersex people unconstitutional and therefore impossible, and that this is incompatible with international human rights standards. According to Luxembourg Times, Hungary has stopped receiving funds from the European Union after this law passed. The law was criticised by human rights groups and international watchdogs as discriminating against LGBT people and labelled a disgrace by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In 2022, the European Commission referred Hungary to the Court of Justice of the EU in mid-2022 over the law. According to the commission, the measure contradicts EU internal market regulations, fundamental human rights, and EU values. According to the German government, 14 EU member states have now joined the proceedings: Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Spain, Malta, Austria, Sweden, Slovenia, Finland and now France and Germany. According to Pink News, some are arguing that Hungary be expelled from the EU. If four-fifths of Hungarys 26 EU partners agree there is a clear risk of a serious breach of the blocs values, Budapest could lose its voting rights. The EUs treaty says the bloc is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. Others like Czechoslovakia that havent joined the lawsuit have declared their support for it. Czech foreign minister Jan Lipavsky said, Children are not threatened by seeing such characters on TV or in books. They are endangered by the artificial stirring up of hatred or the concealment of information. Hungarian foreign affairs state secretary Tamas Menczer responded tersely: Keep your hands off Hungarian children. What happens in the Czech kindergartens and schools is a matter for the Czechs, none of my business. In Hungary, only the decision of the Hungarian people matters and Hungarians have clearly decided that the children must be protected. Ironically, public opinion polls say otherwise. Pink News in 2021 quoted pollster Ipsos saying that 66 per cent of Hungarians think same-sex marriage should be allowed and 60 per cent thinks same-sex couples should be allowed to be parents. 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. Britains Grand National is slated to take place tomorrow. But one of the most watched races in the world is now under threat on its 175th anniversary. Lets take a closer look: What is Grand National? First staged in 1839, the Grand National ran throughout World War I (at the now-defunct Gatwick Racecourse). It was suspended during WWII from 1941-45, voided in 1993 after the infamous false start fiasco, and cancelled due to Covid in 2020. In 1997 a bomb threat from the Irish Republican Army forced it to be postponed two days until the Monday. Taking place at Liverpools Aintree Racecourse, will be watched by around 500 million viewers around the world in 140 countries. It is estimated that 300 million will be bet on the race by punters. As per CNN, as many as 40 horses will run nearly 7 kilometres and jump 30 small car-sized fences. Whats the issue? The Mail on Sunday reported that around 100 protesters from rights group Animal Rising were planning to disrupt the race by gluing themselves to the tracks at Aintree Racecourse. The newspaper that the group a training session for around a dozen activists and its heads had picked out weak spots that could be penetrated. Safe houses had also been set up for protesters and transport arranged to the racecourse. There are like 100 of you now at the fence. You get the ladders out. Put them up against the fence and youre the first one over. You start climbing that fence and you see security on the other side. You dont care. You know youre doing the right thing, the newspaper quoted one person as saying. [Its] the biggest horse race in the world. We have 600 million people viewing this horse race worldwide, weve got 300m of bets on the horse race and were just going to ruin it, another added. What does Animal Rising say? Animal Rising remains undeterred. One undercover Mail on Sunday reporter is not going to stop teachers, nurses, and more from acting for all life and really beginning the crucial conversation about our broken relationship with other animals, the group told CNN. This conversation is vital if we are to tackle the root causes of our climate and ecological crises. Sunday World quoted group spokesperson Sarah McCaffrey as saying that they were going to interrupt the event. Well be coming to the Grand National because we care about horses, as many of the people do who go to these horse races, she explained. But, unfortunately, were going to be the only ones there that are stopping direct harm coming to these horses. This is part of a much wider campaign where we really look at our relationship to animals and we use them not only for fun but food, McCaffrey said. Weve got some protests planned, she added, though she declined to mention specifics. Weve got people outside the front gates at 9.30am if you want to come along but well also be stopping the races as well. Added Animal Rising spokesman Ben Newman, Yes, so horse racing is wrong and we can do so much better than using animals for food or fun and we just dont need to. Were inviting everyone to come down at 9:30am on the 15th to Aintree racecourse and hope to stop the race. Come on down if youd like to know more. Protest is a fairly common thing in a democracy and theres nothing new about it. Well be using our bodies and thats all there is to it really. Volunteer Orla Coghlan told Good Morning Britain, Were trying to do two main things by disrupting this race. We care very much about animals and were trying to protect those horses by being there on the tracks. Secondly we want to have this public conversation Im sure million families are having these conversations around breakfast so I think it is quite an effective way to protest. We know every other day a horse dies in horse racing in the UK. Also since, I think the year 2000, 50 horses have died at Aintree alone, she added. Against systematic exploitation of non-human species The group isnt opposed to it solely because of the deaths and injuries sustained by horses. As per The Conversation, the group is against the systematic exploitation of non-human species and wants to draw a link between this and climate change. The group, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, has also taken aim at animal farming and fishing. The group previously obstructed meat and dairy aisles in supermarkets and held a sit-in at Londons Smithfield meat market for 18 hours. Most people would say they love animals, so why are we OK with this? Animal Rising told CNN. Whether it is for food or for sport, our relationship with animals is beyond broken. 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: Several countries are in talks with Indias central bank, RBI, to facilitate overseas trade in Indian rupee as it helps cut transaction cost, said Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. The Commerce Minister of India further said, gradually countries have been realising that there is need to change in currency for transaction as settling trade in US dollar and Euro involves a conversion cost, which in turn increase overall amount. So far, 18 countries have opened Special Vostro Rupee Accounts (SVRAs) to settle trade in INR. These countries are Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, United Kingdom, Russia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Tanzania, Uganda, Botswana, Fiji, Germany, Guyana, Israel, and Kenya. Also Read: Rupee closer to replacing dollar as 18 nations agree to trade in INR We can address these issues through rupee trade (arrangement), Goyal said. In July last year, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the countrys Finance Ministry asked the top managements of banks and representatives of trade bodies to push import and export transactions in the Indian rupee. Banks in India were asked to connect with their foreign counterparts for opening SVRAs to facilitate trade in INR rather than dollar. Indian banks, including HDFC, UCO have opened SVRAs to facilitate other countries to settle cross-border trade in the rupee. Must Read: WATCH: Rupee to rescue countries facing foreign currency crunch; over 18 have opened vostro accounts What is Special Rupee Vostro Account? To settle trade in INR, authorised banks in India are required to open and maintain SRVAs of the partner trading countrys banks. These accounts keep the foreign entitys holding in the Indian bank in the rupee. When an Indian importer makes payment to trader of another country in rupees, the amount gets credited to this vostro account. Similarly, when an Indian exporter has to be paid for goods and services in INR, amount from this vostro account will be deducted and credited to the exporters regular account. Dont Miss: Indian rupee could be the new dollar, says Doctor Doom Nouriel Roubini The SRVAs holders are allowed to invest surplus balance in Indian government securities. This facility is being provided by the RBI to help popularise the new arrangement. For opening SRVA, prior approval of RBI is mandatory. SRVA is different from the already existing Rupee Vostro Account provided for under Foreign Exchange Management (Deposit) Regulations, 2016, as it required prior approval of the RBI before opening. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Despite the era of very efficient spy satellites that can focus on objects the size of a generous handkerchief, China has been proactive in setting up its spying and military facilities in the Myanmar owned Cocos Islands, 300 km off the Myanmar coast. This is with the newly minted juntas blessings, after it staged a coup in 2021, and got rid of Myanmars elected government. However, the fact is, the Chinese have been present on the islands since 1994, when they apparently leased one of them from Myanmar. The Cocos Islands are just 55 km from Indias Nicobar Islands. With Indias decision to militarise its presence in a comprehensive manner all along the 638 km of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the present upgrading at one of the leased Chinese Cocos Island assumes special significance. But can it do very much beyond the obsessive spying? Indias plans for its own territory are far more substantial. It is upgrading the airport at INS Kohassa, Shibpur, in the North Andamans, as well as at the Campbell Airport on Nicobar Island into full-fledged fighter bases. The airport at Agatti in Lakshadweep is being transformed for military operations to secure both the Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian Sea up to the Gulf of Aden. Anchorage for Indian Navy ships and those from other friendly countries is being created. Submarine and unmanned underwater vehicle facilities are likewise being strengthened. Drones, UAVs, surveillance and fighter aircraft facilities, accommodation of personnel etc. are all being transformed. India has truly bitten the bullet on this militarisation. The islands will now vastly extend the Indian Navys reach in the region, 1,000 Km from the Indian mainland, and secure all of triangular India. The armed forces are getting ready to move simultaneously at sea if there is any aggression on our land borders or against our blue water assets. Lakshadweep sits on the Nine Degree Channel. It lies on the 9 degree line of latitude north of the equator. The Andamans and Nicobar Islands together are being prepared to dominate the Six Degree and Ten Degree Channels towards South East Asia and North Asia. This is being done on a theatre command basis, using a joint Tri-services model so that it can operate efficiently. Of late, the Chinese have built updated listening posts, installed new radar and beefed up the runways to receive all manner of military aircraft on Cocos Island. They have built hangars, accommodation, and other infrastructure. All this is plain from Indian and American satellites monitoring the islands. China has also been flying spy balloons over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, mapping the ocean floor around the area for its submarines, and spying on ship movements in the Bay of Bengal, and along the East coast of India, including its satellite and missile launch sites there. The Chinese are also seeking to set up a military base on Sri Lankan land near the state-of-the-art Hambantota Port, which China has built and acquired on a 99-year lease. China has been sending its spy ships there as well. China is also expanding its presence and facilities at cash-strapped Cambodias Ream Naval Base. It is assisting the setting up of naval bases at Kyaukphyu, Manaung and Haing Gyi in Myanmar, plus at Mergui and Zadaikyi Katan Islands in Thailand. All this in addition to their other presence in Djibouti, off Karachi in Pakistan, the island of Feydhoo Finolhu in the Maldives leased by it, and via greater access to Iranian ports near the Persian Gulf. After recently declaring that the Indian Ocean is not Indian, just because of its name, China is pursuing its goal of trying to dominate the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). But China is at a disadvantage with their facilities being built in politically unstable regions that could undergo changes in government and consequent reversals in policy. Besides, the South and East China Seas are not just Chinese. India is much better off with its tri-services bases coming up in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. One end overlooks the Malacca Straits, just 80 km away, which links the Indian Ocean with the Pacific and oversees the Bay of Bengal. The other end of the islands secures the Arabian Sea. The islands belong to it, and Indias Quad/AUKUS and other alliances act as a force multiplier with interoperability and regular joint naval exercises in the region. China is desperate to find another viable trade route in addition to the well- used if not congested Malacca Straits, which carries some 20 per cent of global trade as well. Other potential routes are at least 1,200 km longer, and need to be thoroughly surveyed and mapped for weather, currents, draughts. Further, lonely civilian cargo ships and tankers are vulnerable to attack from pirates, in the absence of heavy security accompanying. All this puts up the Chinese costs. Unfortunately for China, it is not possible to definitively secure the Malacca Straits exclusively for itself. It is an international passageway through another country and is used by many nations. China has been trying to interest Thailand in creating a new sea route between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific by ploughing through a narrow water-way, Suez Canal style, at the Kra Canal. The proposal is being talked about, but it hasnt got very far. It has, in any case, been pending for over 70 years. The Kra Canal is meant to slice through the Malay Peninsula about 800 km south of Bangkok, to connect the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea. Do either China, or a politically turbulent Thailand, have the money to get this done in the present straightened circumstances? President Xi Jinping led Red China, which now accounts for half the total global debt, along with the United States, also has precarious finances caused by a drastic shrinkage of its exports. Its domestic construction companies and manufacturing facilities have crashed and domestic consumption is sluggish. Chinese GDP has shrunk from double digits to around 5 per cent per annum or less. The IMF calls this particular cocktail of revenue stress and gargantuan debt, the doom loop. So, will the Chinese economy, second largest in the world at $ 18 trillion, but with very few of the inherent advantages of the $ 25 trillion US economy, spontaneously split wide open? China is obsessed with checking India in the IOR, and indeed as a rival in the Asia-Pacific and on the world stage even though we are presently only at $ 3.5 trillion GDP. The fear is that in five years time, India is likely to be at $ 10 trillion in GDP and it will be too late to check us. But the IOR is much bigger than just India. It is an enormously strategic ocean for the world, through which 70 per cent of global oil, 35 per cent of bulk cargo, and 54 per cent of container cargo passes. China receives 80 per cent of its own oil, and 60 per cent of its other goods via the narrow Malacca Straits. Fortunately therefore, it is not just a matter of China surrounding India with its string of pearls. India has been countering its encirclement with radar bases of its own in the Seychelles, a more substantial set of facilities in a leased island off Mauritius close to Diego Garcia, access to an Omani base at Duqm, and so on. France is present in Reunion, Mayotte and Tromelin Island chains. America has long had a huge base on Diego Garcia with a 12,000 ft. runway for all types of aircraft. It has anchorage facilities for the worlds largest aircraft carriers and associated warships, and at least 250 military aircraft based on the island, including Poseidon surveillance aircraft. The US maintains two Carrier Battle Groups and three Amphibious Task Forces (ATFs) involving some 100 warships and over 40,000 naval personnel in the region. The Chagos Islands have a British presence. The Australians are also on some of the Cocos Islands. The Russians, French, British, Indians, Australians, Singaporeans, Japanese, the Vietnamese, now the South Koreans too, the Americans, of course, regularly patrol the IOR. America also has a base at Singapore for rotational ships and aircraft. China is fearful that the US could do a naval blockade at the Malacca Straits if its friction with Taiwan occasions it or for any other reason, such as Chinese militarisation and partial occupation of the South China Sea, a vital international maritime highway. The CPEC corridor and Chinese built port at Gwadar in Balochistan has not yielded an alternative route as yet, through troubled Pakistan, all the way to Xinjiang. The IOR comprises one fifth of the water area of the world and is connected to the Pacific Ocean that together girdle the earth. The IOR connects to Africa, West Asia, and all the countries of the Asia Pacific. Irrespective of what President Xi Jinping is telling the CCP at Beijing, China will never be allowed to dominate it. The writer is a Delhi-based political commentator. Views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The current crisis in Ukraine brings into focus the salience of geography in geopolitics. In particular, the Mackinder heartland theory needs to be revisited to be able to fully acknowledge the significance of the region that has become the theatre of the current conflict. The centrality and importance of this region has given rise to occupations of its lands, impinging on the fate of its people. In 1904, Halford John Mackinder, a bespectacled and slightly aloof academic, in his lecture titled The Geographical Pivot of History at the Royal Geographical Society propounded the Heartland Theory wherein he argued that whoever controlled the area of Eastern Europe, then a part of the Russian Empire, will essentially control the world. The area in focus in the ongoing conflict happens to be a part of what was once the Russian Empire and later the USSR. The geographer and founder of modern geopolitics Halford Mackinder famously posited in his Heartland Theory that whoever rules East Europe commands the Heartland; who rules the Heartland commands the World-Island; Who rules the World-Island commands the World. In over 100 years since Mackinder first postulated his theory in his 1919 book Democratic Ideals and Reality, Ukraine has gone from heartland to imperial periphery and borderland to frontline state. As railroads were outpacing sea travel, the sea-based British Empire,on which the Sun never set, was no longer in a position to secure its hegemony. Mackinder knew that control on the land, namely Eurasia, would be key to maintaining world hegemony. As the control over Eurasia meant control over Eastern Europe. And, the main force opposing British control of the Heartland was Imperial Russia. The concept of a pivot area/Heartland, a sizable region in Eurasia over which regional political control by a given country will in turn determine that countrys supremacy over world politics. The Heartland Theory is essentially geographical in its outlook, thus citing a critical geostrategic link between land control and geopolitical power. In his famous essay, The Geographical Pivot of History, the British geographer stated that the pivot on which the fate of world geopolitics rests is the Heartland of the Eurasian supercontinent, loosely identified as the region of Ukraine, a vast area generally located between the European and Russian spheres of influence. In his 1919 book, Democratic Ideals and Reality, Mackinder declared that the battle between Germany and Russia, and by extension between Central Europe and Russia, was not decided by World War I. In doing so, Mackinder virtually predicted World War II and the Cold War. In 1943, writing in the Foreign Affairs in his article; The Round World and the Winning of the Peace, he asserted that the broad strip between the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea formed the Western border of the Heartland of Eurasia. We must consider the period between the World Wars of the twentieth century. There is a school of thought that the destruction of Poland and the Baltic States in World War II, (not to mention Ukraines fate in the Russian Civil Wars) demonstrates that the borderlands are a vacuum, and thus some vacuum-abhorring power inevitably will rush in. These events conspired to bring not one, but two, of the worlds most powerful states down upon the borderlands at once. USSR and Nazi Germany with the Stalin-Hitler Pact formally bound one another in a strategy of aggression, so that in 1939 the borderland states faced the crushing weight of both formidably armed dictatorships at the same time. Meanwhile, the Western democracies that might have lent them support remained inert. World War I had featured massive land battles between Germany and Russia. The bloodiest front in World War II was also in the East, again between Germany and Russia. Further, during the Cold War, Western Europe and the United States faced off against Russia in the guise of the Soviet Union. And now also Europe and the United States face off Russia again. Unlike prior wars, the conquest of Ukrainian territory for material political gain is less important than the defence of that territory and the stakes involved for the projection of power and values in the 21st century. As we know Ukraine is a gatekeeper to Europe. Ukraine has long played an important, yet sometimes overlooked, role in the global security order. Today, the country is on the front lines of a renewed great-power rivalry that many analysts say will dominate international relations in the decades ahead. Since Russias invasion on 24 February, Ukraine has proved itself to be a decisively European state fighting for European values and an orientation that is markedly different from that of Moscow. However, by nature of its geography, it will take time for Ukraine to be fully accepted as a modern European state that belongs firmly in the European family of nations. Ukraine was a cornerstone of the Soviet Union. Behind only Russia, it was the second-most-populous and powerful of the fifteen Soviet republics, home to much of the unions agricultural production, defence industries, and military, including the Black Sea Fleet and some of the nuclear arsenal. Ukraine was so vital to the union that its decision for independence was no doubt a blow to the Soviet Union. In its three decades of independence, Ukraine has sought to forge its own path as a sovereign state while looking to align more closely with Western institutions, including the EU and NATO. However, Kyiv struggled to balance its foreign relations and to bridge deep internal divisions. A more nationalist, Ukrainian-speaking population in western parts of the country generally supported greater integration with Europe, while a mostly Russian-speaking community in the East favoured closer ties with Russia. Mackinder held that geography, not economics, is the fundamental determinant of world power and Russia, simply by virtue of its physical location, inherits a primary global role. The tenets of Mackinders theory made inroads into the Russian establishment, mostly because of Alexander Dugin, who in 1997 published The Foundations of Geopolitics. Dugins main argument in his book was: The need to thwart the conspiracy of Atlanticism led by the United States and NATO which aimed at containing Russia within successive geographic rings of newly independent states. The plan was simple: First put the Soviet Union back together and then use clever alliance diplomacy focused on partnerships with Japan, Iran, and Germany to eject the United States and its Atlanticist minions from the continent. He wrote, The dependence of the human being on geography is only apparent, the closer one gets to the summit of power. Geopolitics is a worldview of power, a science of power, for power. Dugins view was that the USSR must be put back together; Georgia must be dismembered and Ukraine should be annexed: Ukraine, as an independent state with certain territorial ambitions, represents an enormous danger for all of Eurasia, he remarked. Despite the centuries of technological progress and human enlightenment, Mackinder believed that geography remained the fundamental constituent of world order, just as it had been during the Peloponnesian War, in which sea power Athens faced off against Greeces greatest land army Sparta. However, one can say the world today hardly resembles the one that Sir Halford Mackinder examined in 1904, when he first wrote about the advantages of central positioning on the Eurasian landmass. Yet, his theories have influenced and shaped policies including the US containment policy in the Cold War. Today, almost a century after his Heartland theory came into being, the region that Mackinder considered the key to world dominance is back in the epicentre. The Heartland of the Eurasian landmass may well play an important role in the upcoming century, and the policies of both China and the US towards that region will have a tremendous influence upon the character of the entire international system. While Mackinder may be considered a relic of the old days, his views on geopolitics have lived on. His works are a matter of intense study at war colleges throughout the Western world. Russia with its physical proximity to both this heartland and Asia has a geographical advantage. Nicholas J Spykman in his book Americas Strategy in World Politics wrote Geography is the most fundamental factor in the foreign policy of states because it is the most permanent. Typical of the political class caught in the act across the world, Americas very own Donald Trump has equated himself with the nation, and said that the criminal charges against him are an insult to our country. Having said that, the question arises, what if the very same American people who had chosen Trump as their President in 2016, vote him again in 2024? American analysts who have written about a felon contesting the presidency around this time in the previous century, have underlined the point, Trump too can do it that way. Yet, none of those analysts have looked at the possibility of his being voted the power, pending those court cases. They havent asked the question if an accused in a criminal trial, or appeal, can be sworn in president, if the American people vote him to power. Possibly, those analysts cannot, in the heart of their hearts, stomach such a possibility. Yet, according to American legal experts, Trump can contest the presidential poll. Needless to say, he can run for the Republican primaries when it opens. Unlike elsewhere in the democratic world and more like in India, the Republican party in the US has rallied around. It may soon put paid to the partys presidential aspirants. That includes two Indian-origin hopefuls in Nikey Halley and Vivek Ramaswamy. According to the US Constitution, there is nothing that can stop Trump, even if convicted, from contesting the presidency. At least on two past occasions, felony convicts had contested the elections from prison but lost. Of them, trade union leader Eugene V Debs even obtained a million votes in 1920 but lost all the same. Likewise, Lyndon LaRouche did so more recently, in 1992, both ran from prison, the latter for fraud. LaRouche was a permanent fixer in presidential polls from 1976 to 2004, dying in 2019, aged 96 years. That way, Trump, if convicted and still decides to run for the presidency, he would only be the third felon to do so after Debts and LaRouche. But the question is if his party would hand over the nomination on a platter, as it seems now after the arraignment in a Manhattan court? It is one thing for him to lose the primaries by popular vote? It is another thing for the party bosses to take the high moral ground and say so in so many words, hurting Trumps ego and chances in the primaries. Unpredictable as he has always been even in the best of circumstances, he may decide to run as an Independent. After all, way back in 1992, Ross Perot, a less controversial billionaire, contested as an Independent, and polled close to 20 per cent of the popular vote, or a fifth of all votes, in the presidential polls. Democrat Bill Clinton defeated incumbent Republican George HW Bush (Sr) to become the nations 52nd President. But the counting-day refrain of both parties and also the so-called neutral political and electoral commentators was this. Referring to Perots performance, they all declared in one voice: We will not allow this to happen again. Rather, they were admitting that the nation was not prepared for a non-conformist for President. Clinton won a second term in 1996, but Perots vote share has gone down to 8.4 per cent. Given the high cost of campaigning in the US, another person in Perots place would not have even imagined a second run. The trial against Trump in the Manhattan court is scheduled to commence only in January next year, when the nation would have warmed up to the primaries of both major political parties. It is too early to predict if Trumps defence would seek an indefinite adjournment until after the elections are over. There may be some substance in their otherwise unsustainable plea that the jury may be influenced by what they read and hear outside the court, from Trumps rivals in the primaries and also from the opposition Democratic Party. Of course, it depends on the trial judge, but the prosecutors can be expected to contest such claims as stoutly as they can. If, despite all these, Trump loses the primaries or the presidential polls, as the case may be, that is one thing. But what if he wins the presidency, despite, whether or not the trial goes on, and the political campaign influences the voters favourably towards Trump, whatever way it could influence the jury? There is a small gap between election in November 2024 and 20 January 2025, when alone the new President in sworn in. Can a president-elect be a felon, or can a pending trial be reopened at this stage/ What if by a quirk of fate, the president-elect is declared a criminal offender and is send to prison? After all, the constitutional immunity from court cases available to all Heads of Government and is available to the US President, too, wont be available to the President-elect. The question is what if pending the trial or even otherwise, as an accused in a criminal case, Trump is elected and is also sworn in President on the appointed day? Naturally, he will be entitled to constitutional protection from criminal prosecution, et al. Yet, the morality of the American system would be questioned, more outside the country than inside, where the voters had anyway given a criminal / accused the nations presidency, which by far is the most powerful elected office in the world. The US Constitution is silent on this crucial aspect, so to say. But the issue is being debated on the social media. According to some, The President-elect can only be blocked from taking office (as of 11/9/2020) by refusing to take office, being found unfit (revealed to be treasonous or something similar), or by the Electors in the Electoral College (formed after the popular vote and based on popular victories in individual States) not voting for him (faithless electors). Already, the American Constitution, for all that it is praised for, is has one too many loopholes, for the comfort of any democracy in the 21st century. To begin with, there is no national-level Election Commission mandated by the Constitution and/or the Congress, since. It has thrown up vagaries from time to time, where State Governors, who are acknowledged party men, have sat in judgment over poll-related controversies. Thus, if courts declare Trump a felon and punish him accordingly, there is nothing that can stop him from contesting elections and America from voting him president. The debatable question for America then would be the form of Inauguration that a felon is entitled to as President-elect. Needless to say from the minute he is named a candidate, and even more so after his election, if it came to that, the US Secret Service, in charge of presidential security would take over. The State would thus be giving the highest security cover available to a president-elect anywhere in the world and this one, to a felon. The debate will then move on to the possibility of impeaching the president, where numbers alone matter numbers in the House of Representative and the Senate. If Trump is going to be elected President under the set of circumstances under consideration, the American voters would not have problem electing more members from his Republican Party to the two Houses of Congress. The rest, as they say, would become history. The writer is a Chennai-based policy analyst and political commentator. 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. Jerusalem: About 250,000 Palestinians held the final Friday of Ramzan prayer at Islams third-holiest site Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem which witnessed clashes last week. The Temple Mount and Al-Aqsa Mosque turned into fortress since Thursday night and extra security forces were put into service for the peaceful Friday prayers of Ramzan. This Friday also coincides with Quds Day, observed by Shiite Muslims in Iran, Syria, Lebanon among other places. There was tight security at checkpoints leading to Jerusalem. Israeli police placed Iron barriers in the streets and alleys of the Old City in Jerusalem, at most of the mosques gates, and Bab al-Amound area. Eight suspects detained Israel police detained eight suspects for questioning after the Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa mosque. According to a report by The Jerusalem Post, the suspects, who had their faces covered with masks, waved flags and banners supporting terror organisations and shouted incitements to violence. The report further mentioned military officials saying that numerous attacks in the West Bank and the Jerusalem area were thwarted at the last minute by the IDF and Shin Bet. Ready to use force if required As per the report, a senior security official said that forces were ready for the tense scenaio formed by the converging threats against Israel. We are ready to use force if required, the report quoted a source as saying. Israel will pay a heavy price on the home front, but [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar and Hezbollah understand very well that they will pay a much heavier price, the source added. Clashes at Al-Aqsa mosque compound On 5 April, clashes broke out at Al-Aqsa mosque compound after Israeli police attacked Palestinians, sparking a military exchange of rockets and air strikes. Two more rockets were fired late Wednesday from the Israel-blockaded Gaza Strip towards Israel leading to fresh altercations at Al-Aqsa mosque during the Jewish Passover and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Armed police in riot gear stormed the prayer hall of Al-Aqsa mosque before dawn last Wednesday, aiming to dislodge law-breaking youths and masked agitators they said had barricaded themselves inside. A barrage of rocks and fireworks met the officers, police video showed, and more than 350 people were arrested. Security forces are also on alert in the West Bank following warnings about possible terror attacks and are continuing the search for a terror cell that killed Lucy Dee and her daughters, Maia and Rina. 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: Uncensored documents from the Guantanamo Military Commission which is handling the cases of defendants accused of carrying out the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York have seemingly revealed that the attackers were CIA agents. According to a Russia Today report, the original version of the papers was made public through a Guantanamo Bay court docket, but it was entirely redacted. Later, uncensored copies were obtained by independent researchers, who revealed that the papers documented account of Don Canestraro, a former DEA agent who was appointed as the principal investigator for the commission. Canestro was primarily asked by defendants attorneys to investigate possible Saudi Arabia governments involvement in the 9/11 attacks. He reportedly found that two of the hijackers were under close CIA surveillance, and its possible that the agency hired them long before they carried out the attacks. Until March 2022, when a large number of FBI records were declassified at the White Houses request, those shocking details were kept from the publics gaze. The two pilots Activities of Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar in the 18 months preceding the day of 9/11 attacks are one of the numerous persistent mysteries that have not yet been fully clarified more than 20 years later. Despite being repeatedly recognised by the CIA and NSA as potential Al Qaeda terrorists prior to their arrival into the US in January 2000, the pair entered the country on multiple-entry visas, documents revealed. They attended an Al Qaeda gathering in Kuala Lumpur just days prior to their arrival, where important decisions regarding the 9/11 attacks are thought to have been made. The CIAs Alec Station, a special unit set up to follow Osama bin Laden, requested that Malaysian authorities discreetly picture and record the meeting. Oddly, no audio was recorded. However, this information should have been enough to deter Hazmi and Midhar from entering the US, or at the very least, to alert the FBI to their presence. As it transpired, the CIA prevented Bureau representatives in Alec Station from informing their superiors about their admission for a six-month period without incident at Los Angeles International airport. The documents reveal that one officer named Mark Rossini, who was then a member of Alec Station tried to warn FBI about the two men and the fact that they had multiple entry visa to the US. Weve got to tell the Bureau about this. These guys clearly are bad. One of them, at least, has a multiple-entry visa to the US. Weve got to tell the FBI, Mark recalled discussing with his colleagues. [But the CIA] said to me, No, its not the FBIs case, not the FBIs jurisdiction. As soon as they arrived, Omar al-Bayoumi, a Saudi national who lives in California, was contacted by Hazmi and Midhar in an airport cafe. He co-signed their lease, paid them $1,500 towards their rent, helped them find an apartment in San Diego over the course of the following two weeks, and introduced them to Anwar al-Awlaki, an imam at a nearby mosque. In 2011, a US drone strike in Yemen resulted in the death of Al-Awlaki. After 9/11, Operation Encore, an FBI investigation into possible Saudi participation in the attacks, naturally turned its attention to Bayoumi. He explained that he met Hazmi and Midhar by accident in a 2003 interview with Riyadh-based investigators. He said he overheard them speaking Arabic, realised they couldnt speak English, and decided to help them out of kindness. The Bureau came to a quite different conclusion: Bayoumi was a Saudi intelligence agent and a component of a larger militant Wahhabist network operating in the US that dealt with a wide range of potential and real terrorists and kept tabs on anti-Riyadh dissidents overseas activities. Additionally, both the Saudi government and Encore believed there was a 50/50 possibility he knew of the 9/11 attacks before they occurred. The recently made public Guantanamo Military Commission document provides additional insight about Bayoumis interactions with Hazmi and Midhar, the CIAs intense interest in them, their activities during their stay in the US, and their failure to inform the FBI of their presence until late August 2001. The content strongly implies that the CIA hindered official investigations to hide its infiltration of Al Qaeda based on an examination of classified information maintained by the FBI and Pentagon, as well as interviews with representatives of both agencies. What do the evidences say? Canestraro, according to the leaked documents, talked to four agents who investigated 9/11 attacks. One Bureau agent, identified in his report as CS-23, who claimed to have extensive knowledge of counterterrorism and counterintelligence matters, made the most explosive accusations. His investigation revealed that FBI was being deceived and played on the matters of Bayoumi on a daily basis during those days. He gave an example to support his claim in which he said, he was aware that the CIA had multiple operational files on Bayoumi notwithstanding Agency officials claims to Operation Encore representatives that they didnt have any information on him. This created a substantial paper trail, according to him. Next, CS-23 was confident that the CIA utilised Riyadh as a middleman to try to recruit Hazmi and Midhar while avoiding rules forbidding the Agency from conducting espionage activities on US soil by maintaining a liaison connection with the Saudi intelligence services. Another FBI agent, CS-3, who supports this version further asserts that CIA helped Bayoumi with opening a bank account for two hijackers in San Diego. They also got them an apartment on lease, the documents revealed. It was said that at that time Alec Station was getting all the information about Bayoumi. The fact that this CIA unit was based in the US and manned by analysts struck CS-3 as peculiar considering that case officers skilled in covert operations based overseas are generally in charge of such tasks. This structure, according to CS-IO, was highly unusual and made it nearly impossible for Alec Station to cultivate informants within Al Qaeda from its base, which was located thousands of kilometres away from the nations where Al Qaeda was thought to be active. CS-23 asserts that senior FBI officials suppressed additional inquiries into the CIAs relationship with Bayoumi and the recruitment of Hazmi and Midhar in spite of these promising leads, and that Bureau witnesses testifying before the joint Senate and Congressional 9/11 inquiry were under orders not to disclose the full extent of Saudi involvement with Al-Qaeda. For their side, CS-3 said that, prior to them and their coworkers being questioned by the joint investigation, CIA officials at Alec Station warned them not to fully comply with investigators and that they were aiming to hang someone for 9/11. Canestraro does not draw any inferences as to why, prior to the attacks, the CIA withheld crucial information from the FBI that may have prevented their execution and why, subsequently, the Bureau cooperated with the Agencys coverup. Specifically, the Agency was trying to influence and lead an Al Qaeda cells operations in order to create terrorism, outside of the usual recruitment routes, as opposed to infiltrating an Al Qaeda cell to prevent terrorism. After discovering such a horrifying conspiracy, the FBI would have been wise to ignore the entire matter. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For long, people have been worried that AI will take away a lot of white-collared jobs, mainly from engineers and people who are employed in creative professions. But then, because of GPT-4s shortcomings, people assumed that even if such a retrenchment were to take place, it would be years before AI could take away a creative job. Well as it turns out the advertising industry in China is seeing people losing their jobs to generative AI like ChatGPT and Stable Diffusion. A Chinese ad agency has laid off a bunch of copywriters and designers, all very creative people from their vital divisions, and replaced them with AI tools. Also read: AI taking jobs: From recruiters to tutors, ChatGPTs GPT-4 version says it will replace these 20 jobs An ad agency replaces creative human employees with AI tools BlueFocus, a major Chinese marketing and advertising firm, said that it will indefinitely discontinue the use of third-party human copywriters and designers in favour of ChatGPT-like artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, adding to concerns over the technologys impact on jobs. According to an internal email verified by an employee, the Beijing-based company claimed it will immediately slash some outsourced expenditures, including creative design, copywriting, and short-term contracts, to fully embrace generative AI. Since acquiring Microsoft as a client this year, the business, which was ranked 11th among worldwide public relations agencies in 2022 and first among its Chinese peers by PRovoke Media, has been betting big on AI. Microsoft has made a significant investment in ChatGPT developer OpenAI. Leveraging OpenAI and Microsoft BlueFocus announced earlier this week that it has access to ChatGPT via Microsofts cloud service and is investigating how New Bing, which integrates with the chatbot, can bring new possibilities for outbound advertisers, based on conversations with traders on the Shenzhen Stock Exchanges Q&A channel. Also read: Worried AI will take away software coding jobs? Heres what Google CEO Sundar Pichai has to say Furthermore, BlueFocus stated that it has collaborated with Chinese ChatGPT alternatives, such as Baidus Ernie Bot, which would be utilised in virtual character creation and other digital marketing activities. According to its posts on the Q&A channel, the firm has also asked for access to Alibaba Group Holdings Tongyi Qianwen AI chatbot, which was revealed on Tuesday. ChatGPT and other AI tech will replace a lot of jobs, soon The unveiling of ChatGPT last November not only surprised the globe with its groundbreaking technology but also raised concerns about job security. According to research published last month by OpenAI, nearly 80 per cent of the US workforce might have at least 10 per cent of their job altered by generative AI. Also read: AI is coming for your jobs: 80% US jobs to be impacted by ChatGPT-like AI in coming years According to Goldman Sachs experts, ChatGPT-like technologies might replace up to one-fourth of present jobs, particularly in office administration and legal services. Given the potential influence on social and ethical concerns, several economies have considered regulating generative AI. The US Commerce Department began accepting public comments on how regulators should treat more complex AI tools on Tuesday, while the European Union is considering the Artificial Intelligence Act, which was initially suggested in 2021 to restrict the use of AI products based on their risk levels. Italy was the first country to prohibit ChatGPT due to privacy concerns earlier this month, but on Wednesday its data protection office released a set of standards for ChatGPT to complete in order to be reinstated. 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: Russias massive Pacific Fleet was put on high alert on Friday for snap drills that will include dummy missile launches in a display of force amid tensions with the West over the Ukraine war. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the goal of the military drill was to test Russias capability and the level of preparedness of its armed forces to mount a response to any aggression. Along with the missile launches, the drills will also involve nuclear-capable strategic bombers and other warplanes besides the naval aviation of the Pacific Fleet, Shoigu said. The Russian military has concentrated the bulk of its forces on the front lines in Ukraine, but also continued conducting regular drills across Russia to train its forces and demonstrate their readiness. The Russian Defence Ministry released videos showing warships and submarines sailing off to take part in the manoeuvres. As part of the drills, marine units deployed to amphibious landing vessels and coastal defence missile systems moved to firing positions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the war games as part of regular training intended to maintain the necessary level of the armed forces readiness. Shoigu noted that the manoeuvres scenario envisages a response to an adversarys attempt to make a landing on Sakhalin Island and the southern Kuril Islands. Japan asserts territorial rights to the Kuril Islands, which it calls the Northern Territories. The Soviet Union took them in the final days of World War II, and the dispute has kept the countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their hostilities. Last year, Russia announced it had suspended peace talks with Japan to protest Tokyos sanctions against Moscow over its action in Ukraine. Russia has built up its military presence on the islands in recent years, deploying advanced fighter jets, anti-ship missiles and air defence systems there. The Pacific Fleet drills started days before a planned trip to Moscow by Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Li Shangfu. The Russian Defence Ministry said Shoigu and Li would discuss prospects of bilateral defence cooperation and acute issues of global and regional security. A three-day visit to Moscow by Chinese President Xi Jinping last month demonstrated the two nations partnership in the face of Western efforts to isolate Russia over Ukraine and gave a political lift to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both Moscow and Beijing have accused Washington of trying to isolate them and to hold back their development as they challenge the U.S. for regional and global leadership. Putin and Xi said they would increase contacts between their militaries and stage more joint sea and air patrols and drills, but there was no hint that China would help Russia with weapons, as the U.S. and other Western allies feared. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. One of the most crucial elements that is used in the batteries of most pieces of tech is cobalt, a metal that is usually mined out of Africa, specifically, the Democratic Republic of Congo. In and of itself, cobalt mining is a nasty business and causes a lot of environmental damage. However, whats worse about cobalt mining is that it disproportionately involves child labour. As a result, all tech companies who source their cobalt from Congo, have been accused of using child labour in some form or the other. This includes Apple. Apple revealed plans on Thursday to build batteries made completely of recycled cobalt by 2025, as part of its quest to become carbon neutral by 2030. About 70 per cent of all the global cobalt consumed in a year is mined out of the DRC. Big Tech like Tesla, Apple and other hardware manufacturers take up a major chunk of this mined cobalt, through various corporations they work with for their batteries. Apples announcement Too little, too late? CEO Tim Cook, announced that Apple will use 100 per cent cobalt in all of its in-house-designed batteries, adding that great technology should be excellent for our consumers and the environment. Apple stated that it has greatly extended the usage of certified recycled cobalt over the past three years, making it viable to incorporate it in all Apple-designed batteries by 2025. This was accomplished with the use of an iPhone disassembly robot that separates batteries from other components, allowing specialised recyclers to recover cobalt and other elements like lithium. Apple claims it has retrieved 24,250 cobalt since 2019 and will have enough to utilise in all devices by 2025, but the process has been sluggish. This is mostly accomplished through Apples trade-in programme, which encourages customers to exchange their old gadgets for new ones. The programs fine language specifies that phones that are in good shape would be given to a new owner. The dirty secret of all major tech manufacturers Amnesty International and African Resources Watch (Afrewatch) accused Apple, Samsung, and Sony of insufficient control of their cobalt supply from mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a 2016 study. According to the report, youngsters as young as 12 years old were digging up metal in the mine. The researchers claimed to have identified 16 global consumer electronics firms that are clients of Asian battery manufacturers who purchase cobalt from the Chinese business. A year later, Apple declared that it would no longer purchase cobalt mined by hand in Congo since the mines continued to face issues with child labour and terrible working conditions. At the same time, it was found that 40,000 minors labour in mines on a regular basis. When Apple was sued Apple was named in a lawsuit accusing several tech titans of using child labour to extract the mineral. More than a dozen African families sued Apple, alleging that their children were killed or badly injured while mining cobalt for the tech titans. The case was filed in Washington, DC, on behalf of five youngsters who died and 11 who were wounded while working in the mines. When the instances happened, they were all between the ages of 13 and 17. Apple, Microsoft, Google, Tesla, and others all insist on holding cobalt suppliers to the highest standards and only doing business with smelters and refiners who follow their codes of conduct. The deplorable conditions of cobalt mining A new set of pictures shot inside mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Siddharth Kara, an adjunct lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School of Government, may challenge Apples assertions that its goods are ethically sourced and marketed. Kara claims that his research demonstrates that big techs guarantees cannot be trusted. There are hundreds of thousands of the worlds poorest people, mining for cobalt. Theyre doing it for $2 a day, and thats the difference between eating or not eating that day for them, so they dont have the choice of saying no. Adult miners dig up to 600 feet below ground using simple tools and no protective clothes or modern machinery. Children, however, are sometimes sent down into the tight temporary mining shafts, which are always at risk of collapsing. Prolonged cobalt exposure may cause lung illness, blindness, birth deformities, and many types of cancer, according to Kara, who has spent years investigating the matter in the Congo. This is a thousand blood diamonds multiplied diamonds arent harmful. And you only purchase a diamond once or twice in your life, but Western culture cannot function for more than 24 hours without technologies that rely on cobalt, he 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. Belgrade, Serbia: After a leaked Pentagon assessment claimed that Belgrade had agreed to give Kyiv guns, according to claims in international media, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stressed Thursday that his nation had not supplied arms to Ukraine and would not do so in the future. Serbia has not nor it will export weapons to Ukraine, Vucic told reporters, according to the Beta news agency. He added that the Balkan nation, a traditional Russian ally, has not nor will it send ammunition to either Ukraine or Russia. There is no paper that would show something like that, he added. On Wednesday, Reuters was the first to report on the classified Pentagon document, which alleged that Serbia has agreed to supply arms to Kyiv or has sent them already. Reuters said it could not independently verify the documents authenticity. Serbian Defence Minister Milos Vucevic quickly rejected the allegations and said his country has not and will not sell weapons to either Ukraine or Russia. Someone obviously aims to drag Serbia into that conflict, but we adhere to our policy consistently, he said in a statement. According to news sources, the leaked Pentagon study includes a compilation of the replies given by European nations to Ukraines demands for military instruction and lethal aid. Serbia is the only country in Europe, except for Belarus, that has not ratified the Western sanctions on Moscow. However, the nation, which seeks membership in the European Union, has supported a number of UN resolutions criticising Russia for its invasion of 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. Washington: American arms manufacturer General Atomics has manufactured 155 mm state-of-the-art artillery shells for the M777 howitzer. This shell has been named Long-Range Maneuvering Projectile (LRMP). The maximum range of this shell is 150 kilometers. The LRMP is completely different from other artillery ammunition. Wings are attached to this artillery shell, which open after reaching a designated height and move rapidly towards the target. India has been using the M777 howitzer for a long time. The Indian Army has deployed these guns the high-altitude areas of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) adjoining China. M777 artillery to use new long-range shell During the Sea Air Space 2023 event, General Atomics revealed that its new 155mm ammunition can be fired from the M777 artillery unit. Apart from this, cannons with 39 caliber barrels can use it. He told that the range of this new shell is 150 km. The LRMP projectile has to be propelled to a great height to hit a target at maximum range. After reaching the specified altitude, the device attached to the shell detaches and unfolds its wing. After this, the shell moves rapidly towards its target. New M777 shells to be available later this year General Dynamics plans to conduct its first LRMP test by the end of this month. After this, it will be extensively tested by the end of 2023. There is a plan to make this shell fireable from a 127 mm cannon. In such a situation, the maximum range of the shells can be reduced to 100 kilometers. Once the trials are complete, it will be offered for purchase to the operator countries of the M777. India uses M777 howitzer The Indian Army uses the M777 Howitzer. It has been deployed along the border with China and Pakistan. Being lighter in weight than the rest of the guns, the M777 has been deployed in high altitude areas adjacent to the LAC. If India buys the new M777 shells, then Chinas problems may increase. Due to the inhospitable terrain of the Himalayas, most of the fighting would be fought with long range weapons. In such a situation, this shell which can hit a distance of 150 kilometers can give an edge to the Indian Army. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Burkina Fasos military junta declared Thursday a general mobilisation to provide the state all necessary means to combat a string of jihadist attacks since the start of this year. The goal is to create a legal framework for all the actions to be taken against the insurgents, AFP quoted a statement from the presidency said. Captain Ibrahim Traore, Burkinas transitional president who staged the most recent coup on 30 September, has set a goal of recapturing 40 percent of the countrys territory, which is controlled by jihadists affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group. Faced with this security situation, the health of the nation depends on a surge of national spirit by all its daughters and sons in order to find a solution, Defence Minister Colonel Major Kassoum Coulibaly said in a statement. Details of the plan were not disclosed, though a security source told AFP it would include a state of emergency for the affected territories. Authorities also issued an advisory that gives the president the right to requisition people, goods and services and the right to restrain certain civil liberties, according to another security source. The government had already announced in February a plan to recruit 5,000 additional soldiers to battle the deadly insurgency that has gripped one of the worlds poorest countries since 2015. Last week, 44 civilians were reported killed by armed terrorist groups in two villages in northeastern Burkina Faso, near the Niger border. It was one of the deadliest attacks against civilians since Traore came to power last September, after 51 soldiers were killed in February in an attack on Deou, in the far north of the country. On Tuesday, the defence minister launched a call for current and retired military personnel to hand in unused uniforms to help outfit army combatants. The violence has left more than 10,000 people dead over the past seven years, according to non-governmental aid groups, and displaced two million people from their homes. 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. Beijing: Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu is all set to visit Russia next week for meetings with his counterpart Sergei Shoigu and other military officials. Chinas Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Tan Kefei said Friday that Li will also visit Russias military academy during his April 16-19 trip. Sino-Russian military relations have continued to operate at a high level, and new progress has been made, Tan was quoted as saying in a ministry news release announcing Lis visit. Since the war erupted between Russia and Ukraine, China distanced itself from criticising Russias invasion of Ukraine and blamed the U.S. and NATO for provoking Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping issued a joint statement declaring a no limits relationship between the two countries during a 2022 visit to Beijing. The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era has been enriched by strategic communication, joint exercises and practical cooperation at the military level, Tan said. Lis visit underscores Chinas strengthening engagement with Russia, with which it has largely aligned its foreign policy in an attempt to reshape the world order to diminish the influence of the United States and other Western democracies. The trip follows an official visit to Moscow last month by Xi that emphasized how China is increasingly becoming the senior partner in the relationship as it provides Russia with political cover and an economic lifeline during its war on Ukraine. Officially, however, China remains neutral in the conflict and has yet to offer a full-throated endorsement of Russias actions. While Moscow and Beijing have said they would increase contacts between their militaries and stage more joint sea and air patrols and drills, the Chinese foreign minister said Friday that China would not be helping Russia with weapons, as the U.S. and other Western allies have feared. Military power in China is concentrated in the ruling Communist Partys Military Affairs Commission led by Xi and two vice-chairs. An aerospace engineer by training, Li is under U.S. sanctions over Chinese purchases of Russian fighter jets and air defence missiles. He was appointed minister in March at the annual meeting of Chinas ceremonial legislature. 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. Armed attackers on Thursday killed three women guards outside a jail in southwestern Ecuador, AFP reported. The massive prison complex in Ecuadors biggest city, Guayaquil, is notorious for massacres committed by rival gangs vying for power. Police said on Twitter that reinforcements have been deployed in order to find those responsible for this criminal act. In a separate incident, armed attackers killed two people. In the village of Posorja at the delta of the river leading to Guayaquil, armed attackers fired on a small boat, killing two people and wounding a third, said Edison Rodriguez, the local police chief. The attacks are the latest mayhem in Ecuador likely linked to gang wars. On Tuesday, around 30 armed men killed nine people in a fishing village in the northwest in an attack Interior Minister Juan Zapata blamed on a territorial fight between gangs. Security forces arrested three men late on Wednesday in connection with the shooting. At the Guayaquil prison complex, six inmates were found hanged on Wednesday. Authorities did not link the six deaths to gangs but local media said the pavilion where they were all found is controlled by a gang known as Las Aguilas (The Eagles), which extorts other prisoners. Surge in violence Guayaquil is one of the hardest hit places by a recent surge in violence related to gang and drug trafficking in Ecuador. The country is located between Colombia and Peru, the worlds two largest producers of cocaine, much of which is sent to the United States and Europe from Ecuadoran ports, principally Guayaquil. Ecuadors murder rate almost doubled from 14 per 100,000 citizens in 2021 to 25 a year later. On 3 March, President Guillermo Lasso declared a state of emergency in Guayaquil and the northwestern Esmeraldas province where Tuesdays attack happened. Since February 2021, there have been eight prison massacres in which more than 400 inmates have been killed, many dismembered or burned. 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. New York: With very little passage of time between the last and the current lot of sanctions against Russia, the European Union is now preparing to impose its 11th package of sanctions on the country, European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Mairead McGuinness said in an interview to CNBC recently. Europe has rolled out 10 packages of sanctions so far. We will announce another package soon, she said. The European commissioner went on to add that the 11th package of sanctions will focus on circumvention of earlier measures. Russian financial institutions have worked their way around some of the sanctions imposed by the Western world last year soon after the war began in February 2022. We have to make sure that they dont find ways around our sanctions, she added. Earlier, the European edition of the Politico newspaper reported that the European Union would begin discussing the 11th package of sanctions after Catholic Easter, celebrated last Sunday across the world. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had said in late March that the 11th package of sanctions will be aimed at countering loopholes and circumvention that Russia has somehow managed. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Ratingen (Germany): Germans in Ratingen town have a new problem to deal with exploding ATM machines. Two cash-dispensing machines got blown up on the same morning recently at branches of Santander and Deutsche Bank. The machines were located across the street from each other close to the Duesseldorf suburbs main square. What is worrying the citizens is that thieves are blowing ATMs up at the rate of more than one a day. The attacks have gone up by more than 40% since 2019, according to the German interior ministry, and investigators say two factors are driving the increase. Germany, which boasts of being Europes largest economy has 53,000 ATM machines, a much high number that reflects Germans preference for cash rather than bank debit or credit cards. The country also boasts of an extensive network of highways, or Autobahns, on much of which no speed limit is enforced. Ratingen is just 70 km from the Dutch border, and it is being suspected that criminal gangs from the Netherlands are responsible for blowing up the machines. Whenever an explosion takes place, building facades crumble, money cartridges crack open and there are flying shards of glass everywhere. Anti-social elements looted nearly 20 million euros ($22.1 million) in 2021, when 392 ATM explosions were recorded, a tally that rose to 496 in 2022. Police in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where Ratingen is located and which has borne the maximum brunt of the attacks, have recorded 47 such incidents so far in 2023, a number higher than last years incidents. Dutch culprits? Significantly, the frequency of ATM attacks is falling in the Netherlands, partly due to security measures in place such as glue that makes blocks of cash inside ATMs unusable, Dutch police say. So Dutch cash machine robbers are crossing the border and according to the German police, have carried out between 70% to 80% of attacks in Germany since 2018. The Dutch police, on the other hand suspect around 500 men are responsible, working in changing groups as new recruits replace those who get nabbed by the police. In Frankfurt this week, prosecutors charged six Dutch citizens suspected of causing explosions, theft and property damage. Ratingen police are also investigating a possible Dutch connection in the twin raids, after they identified a small vehicle that sped from the scene to a nearby Autobahn. In Germany, roughly 60% of everyday purchases are paid in cash, according to a study that found Germans, on average, withdrew more than 6,600 euros annually chiefly from cash machines. Germany is also working with officials in Belgium and France and at Europol to combat the cash machine crime wave. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser this week urged banks to step up safety measures for ATMs. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Brasilia: According to a document obtained by Reuters on Friday, the Brazilian Supreme Court has mandated that former President Jair Bolsonaro appear before federal police regarding the 8 January invasion of government facilities by his supporters. Ruling in favour of a request filed by prosecutors, Justice Alexandre de Moraes said Bolsonaros testimony was an indispensable measure to the complete clarification of the investigated facts. On 8 January, Bolsonaros far-right supporters broke into and vandalised the nations Congress, presidential mansion, and Supreme Court in protest of their candidates loss to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the previous election. After his defeat, Bolsonaro spent three months in the United States. He returned to Brazil in March but is now under investigation by the law for his criticisms of the countrys electoral process and his suspected participation in inciting his followers to assault Brasilia on 8 January. 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: Indias Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during her visit to Washington, said that members of the G20 group of nations have agreed to chalk out an understanding to deal with the challenges posed by crypto assets and look for ways to regulate them. Sitharaman told reporters that the group has willingly responded to the issue. A synthesis paper would be taken up on matters related to crypto assets during Indias G20 presidency. I am glad to say that there is a greater acceptance among all G20 members, that any action on crypto assets will have to be global. the G20, I think, has responded fairly with alacrity (on the crypto challenge), she said. Nirmala Sitharaman and Reserve Bank of India Governor Shantikanta Das co-chaired a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from member countries during the annual spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. The finance minister said, The G20 and its members agree that its not going to be possible to have an independent standalone country dealing with the crypto assets and that it has to have a globally coordinated understanding of how to go about regulating crypto assets. The way in which we are seeing this pan out during our presidency is the IMFs paper is being discussed, FSBs (Financial Stability Board) paper also will be taken up, and a synthesis paper will be prepared from the IMF paper and the FSB paper both put together, she added. The G20 members are expected to hold discussions in September and October to create a roadmap on how and what kind of understanding the members of the G20 have in this, and it can be taken further forward on specific actions of regulation as and when the G20 takes a call on it, Sitharaman said. She further said, So, today, we are in the position to see how countries are now recognising that it is not just a crypto asset regulatory issue, where countries will have to come together, but the IMF dealing with it has also brought in this time mention that they can be issues of macroeconomic stability itself. 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. Sapporo, Japan: As the G7 climate ministers begin their two days of discussions in northern Japan on Saturday, activists caution the worlds top industrialised nations against going back on their pledges to reduce their use of fossil fuels. Since a significant UN climate study predicted that the globe will rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius in approximately ten years, the group is under pressure to demonstrate its cohesion at the summit in Sapporo. A rapid and far-reaching effort was called for in the study to keep temperature increases within reasonably acceptable bounds. As the energy crisis brought on by the Ukraine war strains the union, especially Japan, this years G7 presidency, overseas gas investments and domestic efforts to decarbonize grids are becoming contentious. Climate policy think tank E3G said hard-won progress at last years G7 climate meeting in Germany was at stake on these issues and more, including increased support for poorer nations likely to suffer the brunt of a heating planet. Under the Japanese presidency, these are either stalled or at risk of regressing, E3G warned in a statement. The lacklustre push from some G7 governments to prevent backsliding risks undercutting any claim by G7 countries to providing global leadership on the essential task of confronting the climate emergency. A draft G7 statement seen by AFP calls on nations to take action in this critical decade, urging a peak in global greenhouse emissions by 2025 at the latest. Experts say this language is aimed at China, the worlds largest carbon emitter, which is targeting a peak of its carbon emissions by 2030. The draft also stresses the urgency of slashing global emissions by 60 percent by 2035 from 2019 levels, as recommended last month by the UNs IPCC panel of climate experts. Coal and gas promises Other phrasing will be more contentious. Ministers pledged at the last G7 climate meeting in Germany in May 2022 to largely end fossil fuel use in their electricity sectors by 2035. They also agreed to stop new direct public support the same year for overseas fossil fuel projects that take no steps to offset carbon dioxide emissions. But this was watered down a month later when G7 leaders said the exceptional circumstances of Russias war in Ukraine made gas investments appropriate as a temporary response. The language now sought by Japan would solidify that exception, and trade minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said Friday a one-size-fits-all approach was inappropriate. The energy situation is different in each country, as we proceed on diverse paths towards carbon neutrality, he told reporters. Coal may still prove the largest stumbling block, with Britain seeking a 2030 deadline to complete an accelerated phase-out of domestic unabated coal power generation to keep the 1.5C goal within reach. Japans preferred language would be a more general pledge to prioritise concrete and timely steps towards the phase-out. Such wording may appeal to group members hit hard by the energy crunch, such as Germany and the United States, while others are pushing back. A French government source said the country wants to avoid or put a stop to any form of reversal on fossil fuel commitments. And Canadas environment and climate change minister Steven Guilbeault told AFP that in terms of phasing out fossil fuel from the electricity sector we would be, as Canada, very comfortable with having strong language on that. Other potentially testy points include Japans push for recognition of nuclear power and endorsement of its plan to start releasing treated water from its devastated Fukushima plant into the sea this year. It also wants G7 recognition for its controversial strategy of burning hydrogen and ammonia alongside fossil fuels to reduce carbon emissions, which climate activists say only serves to extend the lifespan of polluting plants. 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: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urged Beijing on Friday to ask Russia to stop the war in Ukraine. China should influence Russia to end the war and participate in a peaceful conflict resolution just like it did to facilitate a peaceful settlement between Iran and Saudi Arabia recently, she said during her first trip to China. Chinese President Xi Jinpings recent visit to Moscow showed that no other country has more influence on Russia than China, Baerbock said. In a joint press conference in Beijing with her Chinese counterpart Qin Gang after their meeting, she said It is good that China has signalled its commitment to a solution but I have to say frankly that I wonder why the Chinese position so far does not include a call on the aggressor Russia to stop the war,. Baerbocks visit comes a week after that of French President Emmanuel Macron and the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who also urged Beijing a close, traditional ally of Moscow to play a greater role in resolving the crisis in Ukraine. China says it is neutral on the issue and has never condemned the Russian invasion. Baerbock also warned of a horror scenario in the case of military escalation in the Taiwan Strait, days after Beijing carried out military drills near the self-ruled island. A military escalation in the Taiwan Strait, which, as already mentioned, closes 50 per cent of world trade every day, would be a horror scenario for the entire world, she said. Baerbock also said she expressed concerns about limits on human rights and the receding space for civil society engagement in China during the meeting with her counterpart. I explained in our bilateral talks that we are concerned that the scope for civil society engagement in China is continuing to shrink and human rights are being curtailed, she told reporters. 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: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is all set to deploy the much touted Rafale fighter aircraft on foreign shores for the first time when they take part in a multi-nation military exercise in France. During the three-week-long military exercise, which is scheduled to be held at the Mont-de-Marsan military base in France, the IAF will send a contingent comprising four Rafale fighter jets, two C-17 transport aircraft and two IL-78 mid-air refuellers. The IAF contingent 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 in a statement. 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, the statement added. Apart from the IAF and the French Air and Space Force (FASF), Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (UK), Spain and the United States (US) will also participate in the war games. 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 statement 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. Paris: After triggering violent protests spanning months, French President Emmanuel Macrons controversial pension reform received the Constitutional Councils approval late on Friday and can now be made into a law. The French government has announced that the new law will come into force from September this year. The legislation, which hikes the age at which one can draw a full pension to 64 from 62, has led to massive nationwide protests in France over the last few months. However, in what will be a huge relief to Macron and his government, the Constitutional Council gave it the nod with just a few minor changes. Labour Minister Olivier Dussopt said the law would enter into force on September 1 as initially planned, brushing off requests by unions not to promulgate it in the face of huge public opposition. Opinion polls showed a vast majority oppose the reform, as well as the fact that the government invoked Article 49.3 of the Constitution allowing it to pass the bill without a final vote in parliament that it might have lost. Protesters gathered outside Paris City Hall, holding banners reading climate of anger and no end to the strikes until the reform is pulled when the Councils verdict was announced. We just hope well see a response like the one that followed the 49.3, that the deep anger of the people, workers and students, resurfaces, and that people get back out on the streets, said unionised train diver Farid Boukhenfer at the Paris rally. The Council said the governments actions were in line with the constitution and approved raising the legal retirement age, with only peripheral measures meant to boost employment for older workers struck down on the grounds that they did not belong in this legislation. Macron and his government hope such an outcome would discourage further trade union-led protests, which have at times turned violent. The country must continue to move forward, work, and face the challenges that await us, Macron said earlier this week. Hardline unions and the opposition have warned they will not back down. The opposition has tabled another bid for a referendum, which should be reviewed by the Council in early May. Political observers say the widespread discontent over the governments reform could have longer-term repercussions, including a possible boost for the far right. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen wrote on Twitter that the political fate of the pension reform is not sealed, urging voters to back those who oppose it in the next election so that they can scrap it. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Sanaa: A Saudi delegation left war-torn Yemen after four days but without a finalised truce that lapsed last year. Led by ambassador Mohammed al-Jaber, the delegation before leaving took a commitment from Iran-backed Huthi rebels to hold a second round of talks. In another major development, as the first plane of the Saudi delegation departed from Sanaa for Aden, a major exchange of prisoners from Yemens brutal civil war was underway, a report by AFP quoted the International Committee of the Red Cross as saying. The three-day operation would see about 900 prisoners being released. There is an initial agreement on a truce that should be announced later on if finalised, AFP quoted a Huthi official saying on condition of anonymity. There is an agreement to hold another round of talks to further discuss points of difference, the official added. In September 2014, the Huthis seized control of Sanaa, ousting the internationally recognised government and triggering a Saudi-led military intervention in March next year. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed and two-thirds of the population of 30 million is dependent on aid, according to United Nations estimates. The agency quoted a source at the Huthis foreign ministry saying that the Saudi delegation would communicate the rebels conditions to the Riyadh leadership. Huthi political leader Mohamed Ali al-Huthi said the talks were conducted in a positive atmosphere, with plans for another round. The report further said that ahead of the Saudi visit, a Yemeni government source said the Saudis and Huthis had agreed in principle on a six-month truce to pave the way for three months of talks on establishing a two-year transition. Key Huthi goals include paying salaries of civil servants in areas under their control and lifting operational restrictions on ports and airports they hold. Britains ambassador to Yemen, Richard Oppenheim, said the talks were a positive development and may be the start of a golden opportunity for peace. Yemen has suffered a lot in the last eight years, which makes grabbing any opportunity for peace a top priority, he said in Arabic in a video posted on Twitter. The talks began about a month after a landmark, Chinese-brokered announcement by Iran and Saudi Arabia on March 10 that they would resume ties, seven years after an acrimonious split. The resource-rich Gulf powerhouses have been long been fierce rivals, vying for influence across the region with Yemen one of their major battlegrounds. The surprise rapprochement has quickly redrawn the diplomatic map, with Qatar and Bahrain mending ties and Arab countries considering ending Syrias long diplomatic isolation over its brutal civil 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 Taipei: After announcing a no-fly zone around Taiwan from April 16 to 18, China is planning to launch a vehicle identified as the Long March 4B. For the purpose of launching the vehicle, Beijing has also extended the no-fly zone period by six hours over concerns about falling debris. The restrictions have been protested by authorities in Taiwan who say that the ban would affect 60 to 70 per cent of flights going between Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, as well as flights between Taiwan and South Korea, Japan and North America. The ban would disrupt Taiwans northern flight information region (FIR) and they were not aware of the reason for the restrictions, four officials outside China told Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. According to Taiwan News, Chinas Fujian Maritime Safety Administration issued a navigation warning on Thursday saying there may be falling rocket wreckage between 9 am to 3 pm on 16 April. On Wednesday, Duan Dang, a Vietnamese military analyst, said that the purpose of setting up the no-fly zone is to set up a launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Although I havent seen the potential NOTAM from Taipei ACC, my conjecture is that the impending no-fly zone north of Taiwan could be linked to a launch from the Jiuquan Space Launch Center on April 16. pic.twitter.com/eCRPnBz4iG Duan Dang (@duandang) April 12, 2023 He was also one of the first to report on the navigation warning by China. The no-fly zone has been imposed after China rounded off several days of military training around self-ruled Taiwan, a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wens recent meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California which infuriated Beijing. According to OPSGROUP, an aviation industry cooperative that advises on flight risks, previous restrictions imposed during Chinese military drills last August resulted in significant disruptions to flights in the region, with some pilots forced to carry extra fuel. Flight trajectory mapped Based on the location of the launch, the type of rocket and the intervals given for no-fly zones in China and north of Taiwan, Duan created a map showing the estimated trajectory of the rockets path. No-fly zone enforced north of Taiwan due to Long March 4B rocket launch carrying Fengyun-3G Weather Satellite on April 16. pic.twitter.com/0YcL7nGgoS Duan Dang (@duandang) April 14, 2023 About Long March 4B Long March 4B is part of Chinas Long March rocket family. According to Space.com, The Long March was first planned as a backup launch vehicle to the Long March 3 series for launches of communications satellites. It added, However, the three-stage, 145-foot-long (44 m) Long March 4B and the 150-foot-long (46 m) 4C were repurposed to launch meteorological and other satellites in SSO, both with a maximum payload of 6,200 pounds (2,800 kg). 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. Former US president Donald Trump on Thursday testified under oath for nearly seven on Thursday in a New York civil case that accuses him and three of his children of business fraud. The behind-closed-doors deposition came a week after Trumps historic arraignment on criminal charges in a Manhattan courtroom in a separate case. Trumps legal troubles 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 years 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 Jamess 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 organizations properties to enrich themselves. James said they provided fraudulent statements of Trumps 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 years 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 criticised almost unanimously by Republican officials, including congressional leaders who have asked Manhattans 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. 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. Rampant kidnappings in northern Nigeria have forced children out of schools. Parents say they would rather have their children drop out of school, than get abducted by bandits. The most vulnerable of this lot, however, are girls. Hausau Salisu, a 14-year-old girl from the northern Nigerian region, has dropped out of school after her parents didnt allow her to attend her classes anymore. Salisu told DW, Before the banditry, we lived normal lives like any other person. But then they first raided the neighbouring villages before ours. We were displaced and since then, there has been no opportunity for us to return to school. Our teachers have also deserted the school for fear of being kidnapped. In her native village of Bakon Zabo, thousands of girls like her fear of getting abducted if they go to school. The constant attacks have killed off my ambition of becoming a medical doctor. Moreover, my friends and schoolmates are all displaced in different towns, cities, and villages. Some were killed while others are kept hostage by the bandits, she added. The case of Chibok school girls In Nigeria, kidnapping is a perennial problem. But the abduction of over 276 Chibok school girls by Boko Haram, an Islamist militant organisation, in 2014 shook the country to its core. Fifty-seven of these school girls managed to escape with the fates of the remaining victims unknown. The first victim was not found until 2016. In 2022, nearly eight years after the tragedy struck, the Nigerian army found two of the Boko Haram victims. According to BBC, the two hostages had given birth in captivity as they were recovered with two children. While other victims are believed to have been forced to convert to Islam and marry their abductors. Abduction- an endemic crime problem The Chibok school girls kidnapping wasnt the end of the problem, it was rather part of a bigger problem in Nigeria. In February 2021 alone, some 200 girls were kidnapped in the Northern state of Zamfara. Over the years, nearly 11,000 schools in seven states in Northern Nigeria had to pull their shutters down due to an ongoing insurgency while about 1,000 schools have been destroyed or severely damaged. According to UNICEF, more than 1,000 students in Nigeria have been taken for ransom by criminal gangs in Nigerias northwest and central states since December 2020. A lucrative industry Apparently, when an abductor takes away a child, he is not only aiming at sowing seeds of fear but making money out of it since it has for long become a lucrative business in the country. Yehusa Getso, a kidnap ransom negotiator, told DW, Kidnapping in Nigeria has become a lucrative business, much more than the oil business. (I)t is expanding scope by the day. They dont care who you are. They dont care what family you come from. They dont care whether you are rich or poor, he added. The government has done little to fight jihadist insurgency and thus protect communities from kidnappings. 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: Beijing would not sell weapons to parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine and would regulate the export of items with dual civilian and military use, Chinas foreign minister Qin Gang said Friday. Responding to concerns from several countries including the U.S., the foreign minister said that China was considering providing military assistance to Russia, which Beijing has backed politically and rhetorically in the conflict while formally saying it remains neutral. Qin reiterated Chinas willingness to help facilitate negotiations to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict and said all parties should remain objective and calm. Addressing the media with his visiting German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, Qin also blamed Taiwans government for heightened regional tensions after Beijing held large-scale military drills in an attempt to intimidate the island it claims as its own territory. On both Ukraine and Taiwan, Qin articulated well-worn defences of Chinese policies that underscore Beijings rejection of criticisms from the West, particularly the U.S. Under ardently nationalist leader Xi Jinping, China has been sharpening its rhetoric, particularly on the issue of Taiwan, which split from mainland China amid a civil war in 1949. Regarding the export of military items, China adopts a prudent and responsible attitude, Qin said. China will not provide weapons to relevant parties of the conflict, and manage and control the exports of dual-use items in accordance with laws and regulations, he added. In her remarks, Baerbock said that as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China bore a special responsibility for helping end the conflict. She also referred to tensions in the Taiwan Strait, through which much of the worlds international trade passes, and said a conflict in the area would be a global disaster. 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. China insists that self-governing Taiwan submit to its rule, either peacefully or by force, and Qin said the pursuit of independence by Taiwans government and its foreign supporters a veiled reference to chief ally the United States were the reason for the tensions. Apparently rejecting Baerbocks concerns, Qin said Taiwan was Chinas internal affair and bore no outside interference. Taiwan independence and peace can not co-exist, he said. Territory is indivisible, and security is equally indivisible, Qin said. Without recognition of the security interests of a particular party, crises and conflicts are inevitable. China is willing to continue to work for peace, and hopes that all parties involved in the crisis will remain objective and calm, and make constructive efforts to resolve the crisis through negotiations, he added. Since the war erupted between Moscow and Kyiv, Germany has strongly backed Ukraines resistance to Russias invasion while Beijing has blamed the U.S. and NATO for provoking the conflict, refused to criticize Moscows actions and criticized economic sanctions against President Vladimir Putins regime. With inputs from agencies. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Seoul, South Korea: North Korea announced on Friday that it has successfully tested a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, which the nations state-run media hailed as a major development for its nuclear defence capabilities. The military of South Korea claimed on Thursday that the North had probably tested a brand-new type of ballistic missile, with the launch temporarily leading to an order for sections of Japan to evacuate. State-run media revealed images of leader Kim Jong Un, who was seen with his young daughter, watching a black-and-white missile go off in a cloud of smoke and beaming with delight after what was apparently a successful launch. A new type of intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasung-18 was test fired on Thursday as the key means of strategic military force, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The purpose of the test launch was to confirm the performance of the high-power solid-fuel multi-stage engines, the stage separation technology and the reliability of the control systems with different functions, and to evaluate the military effectiveness of the new strategic weapons system, it added. Kim said the new weapon will greatly reorganise our strategic deterrence and reinforce effectiveness of our nuclear counterattack, according to KCNA. We will strike with deadly force and respond aggressively until the enemy gives up its idle strategy and foolish behaviour and so that it will suffer in endless fear, he added. Wish list 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 at the top of Kims 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-fuel ICBM. North Korea has repeated again its pattern of provocation with its new weapons, Go Myong-hyun, a researcher at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, told AFP. First, it tested a solid-fuel motor before showcasing the missile at a military parade in February and now they carried out an actual test, he said. The reason North Korea is obsessed about 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 15 April. The date commemorates founding leader Kim Il Sungs birth anniversary 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. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Indianapolis: It was Uvalde the year before. Nashville and Louisville are now in play. The National Rifle Association is conducting its annual meeting days after devastating mass shootings for the second year in a row. The three-day event began on Friday with hundreds of the groups most active members congregating at the convention centre in Indianapolis, including a number of major Republican presidential contenders. This was significant enough to potentially influence the early stages of the GOP primary election for the following year. It exemplifies the harsh fact that such massacres have ingrained themselves into American society to the point where the NRA can no longer plan its events around them. It also has no actual desire to: The gathering coincides with the second anniversary of the nine-person fatal shooting spree at an Indianapolis FedEx plant. In brief remarks, NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre didnt mention the recent mass shootings. Gun-hating politicians should never go to bed unafraid of what this association and all of our millions of members can do to their political careers, LaPierre said. But Randy Conner, a pistol and rifle instructor for the NRA from Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, expressed the sentiment of many attendees when he said in an interview that blaming firearms for mass shootings is misguided: A gun is not dangerous until somebody picks it up, he said. No one wants to see the violence you see in schools and stuff today, Conner said. But I dont think taking the guns away from ordinary citizens is going to change any of that at all. Former President Donald Trump will be speaking at the gathering, his first public appearance since being arrested and arraigned in New York last week on felony charges stemming from a hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign. His Secret Service protection means attendees cant have guns at the convention. Also speaking Friday was Trumps former vice president, Mike Pence, who is considering his own 2024 White House bid the first time they have addressed the same campaign event on the same day since their estrangement following the 6 January 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol. Pence, who was met by scattered boos before his NRA speech, has skipped a number of conservative gatherings in recent years, including the Conservative Political Action Conference as well as the Faith & Freedom Coalitions annual gathering after he was booed and heckled there in 2021. The former vice president noted shootings at a Louisville, Kentucky, bank that killed five people this week and at a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, on 27 March that killed three 9-year-olds and three staff members. But he said, We dont need gun control. We need crime control. We dont need lectures about the liberties of law-abiding citizens, Pence said. We need solutions to protect our kids. Instead of fewer guns, Pence called for more institutions for the mentally ill and federal funding for armed school officers. He also called for a federal death penalty statute with an expedited appeal to punish the perpetrators of mass shootings more quickly. To Joe Biden and the gun control extremists, I say: Give up on your pipe dreams of gun confiscation. Stop endangering our lives with gun bans, Pence said. Two GOP Trump critics former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who announced his 2024 campaign after news of the former presidents indictment broke, and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who may launch his own White House bid are also speaking. Offering video messages are former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who began her 2024 campaign in February; South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who announced a presidential exploratory committee this week, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is seen as a top rival to Trump even though hes yet to jump into the race. Pain over the Louisville and Nashville shooting rampages has crossed party lines. Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear talked about having a friend killed in the Louisville shooting, while Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said he had friends killed during the Nashville school attack. The NRA conventions tone was as defiant as last year when the group held its convention in Houston just three days after the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school across Texas in the town of Uvalde. Further overlapping with the recent tragedy, Pence and some of the other speakers plan to follow up their NRA speeches by travelling to Nashville to meet with top GOP donors gathered there. Every significant national Republican, every Republican thats thrown their hat in the ring to run for president, is showing up this weekend to pledge their undying loyalty to the NRA and the gun lobby, said Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, who championed bipartisan legislation that passed last year and imposed some new federal gun restrictions after the Uvalde shooting. Our kids are being hunted, and the NRAs business model is to give aid to the hunters. Indeed, support for gun rights among Republican voters remains higher than for voters overall. Some 56 per cent of voters in last falls midterm elections said they want to see stricter nationwide gun laws, compared with just 28 per cent of Republicans, according to AP VoteCast, a wide-ranging survey of the electorate. About half of Republicans said gun laws should be left as they are. Also on display, Friday was the resurgence of the NRA and the key role it is poised to play in next years presidential race in a stark departure from 2020. Back then, the organization was trying to regroup and saw its membership and political spending decline following serious legal and financial turmoil including a failed bankruptcy effort, a class action lawsuit and a fraud investigation. Trump, meanwhile, has a contradictory history on guns. The NRA was a key backer of his 2016 campaign, spending some $30 million to support a candidate who sometimes mentioned carrying his own gun and vowed to eliminate gun-free zones in schools and on military bases. Trump also pledged to establish a national right to carry. But, as the country reeled from a series of mass shootings, Trumps administration banned bump stocks, which were used in a 2017 attack on a Las Vegas country music concert that killed 60 people. After the Parkland school shooting in Florida the following year, Trump urged congressional Republicans to expand background checks and proposed seizing guns from mentally ill people. He also suggested raising the minimum age to buy assault rifles from 18 to 21 and suggested he was open to a conversation about reviving assault weapons bans. After later meeting with the NRA, however, Trump abandoned his push, instead focusing on arming teachers and making schools more secure. Donna Alberts, who travelled around 600 miles (965 kilometres) from Greenbriar, Arkansas, for the convention, said nothing could sway her vote for Trump in 2024. Hes a good man, Alberts said, and he does what he says hes going to do, and he loves this country. Gun rights advocates continue to celebrate a Supreme Court decision last June that said Americans have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defence. That opened the door to a wave of challenges to firearm restrictions across the country by changing the test that lower courts had long used for evaluating challenges to firearm restrictions. Amid the upheaval in the wake of the ruling, courts have declared unconstitutional laws including federal measures designed to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and defendants under felony indictment, as well as a ban on possessing guns with the serial number removed. Courts are also considering challenges to state bans on AR-15-style semi-automatic rifles. Attempting to counter gun rights advocates has been an ascendant gun safety movement that has poured tens of millions of dollars into political campaigns. That includes Moms Demand Action, which was among a coalition of groups that derided Fridays speeches as a cattle call of far-right presidential candidates. 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 holy month of Ramzan is currently underway. It is a celebratory time for Muslims from across the world when families observe fast from sun up to sun down and then come together for special meals in the evening, called Iftar. While Iftars are usually marked with great fervour and enthusiasm by people by organising get-togethers to relish traditional delicacies, not all are fortunate enough to have proper Iftars. For such unfortunate people in Gaza, a man named Waleed Al-Hattab has been voluntarily serving free bowls of Jareesh (a traditional Saudi dish) on the occasion of Ramadan for the past 10 years. At a time when kindness has become very rare, the mans humble and kind gesture is winning a lot of hearts on the internet. In a video shared by Al Jazeera, the man can be seen preparing the special dish in large amounts as he aims to serve as many people as possible. This being the 10th consecutive time when the Palestinian man has been doing the same, Al-Hattab has been cooking the dish for the entire month of Ramadan. The soup is prepared with broth and green durum wheat. I wait to do it every year, to serve this Jareesh which is a traditional Palestinian dish. As for the people who come for the soup, some are in need and some are not. But I do not consider whether the person is in need or not. I distribute to whoever comes either way, he said. Al-Hattab, who is known for cooking it voluntarily with the support of his children for the poor people in his neighbourhood works very hard from the afternoon till iftar to prepare the dish in large amount. It is pertinent to note that in Gaza where poverty and unemployment rates remain higher, such charitable acts have been springing up in the past few years. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Tallahassee, Fla.: A ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy was enacted by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature on Thursday. GOP Governor Ron DeSantis supports the measure as he gets ready to run for president. The bill is anticipated to be signed into law by DeSantis. At the moment, Florida forbids abortions after 15 weeks. As he is ready to begin a presidential campaign based on his national reputation as a conservative standard bearer, a six-week prohibition would offer DeSantis a significant political triumph among Republican primary voters. The policy would also have wider implications for abortion access throughout the South in the wake of the US Supreme Courts decision last year overturning Roe v. Wade and leaving decisions about abortion access to states. Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi have banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy, while Georgia forbids the procedure after cardiac activity can be detected, which is around six weeks. 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, said Republican Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, who carried the bill in the House. Democrats and abortion-rights groups have criticized Floridas proposal as extreme. This ban would prevent four million Florida women of reproductive age from accessing abortion care after six weeks before many women even know theyre pregnant, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement issued after Thursdays vote. 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 bill contains some exceptions, including to save the womans life. Abortions for pregnancies involving rape or incest would be allowed until 15 weeks of pregnancy, provided a woman has documentation such as a restraining order or police report. DeSantis has called the rape and incest provisions sensible. Drugs used in medication-induced abortions which make up the majority of those provided nationally could be dispensed only in person or by a physician under the Florida bill. Separately, nationwide access to the abortion pill mifepristone is being challenged in court. Floridas six-week ban would take effect only if the states current 15-week ban is upheld in an ongoing legal challenge that is before the state Supreme Court, which is controlled by conservatives. I cant think of any bill thats going to provide more protections to more people who are more vulnerable than this piece of legislation, said Republican Rep. Mike Beltran, who said the bills exceptions and six-week timeframe represented a compromise. Abortion bans are popular among some religious conservatives who are part of the GOP voting base, but the issue has motivated many others to vote for Democrats. Republicans in recent weeks and months have suffered defeats in elections centered on abortion access in states such as Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin. Have we learned nothing? House Democratic Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell said of recent elections in other states. Do we not listen to our constituents and to the people of Florida and what they are asking for? DeSantis, who often places himself on the front lines of culture war issues, has said he backs the six-week ban but has appeared uncharacteristically tepid on the bill. He has often said, We welcome pro-life legislation, when asked about the policy. DeSantis is expected to announce his presidential candidacy after the session ends in May, with his potential White House run in part buoyed by the conservative policies approved by the Republican supermajority in the Statehouse this year. Democrats, without power at any level of state government, have mostly turned to stall tactics and protests to oppose the bill, which easily passed both chambers on largely party-line votes. The Senate approved it last week, and the House did so Thursday. A Democratic senator and chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party were arrested and charged with trespassing during a protest in Tallahassee against the six-week ban. In a last-ditch move to delay the bills passage in the House on Thursday, Democrats filed dozens of amendments to the proposal, all of which were rejected by Republicans. Womens health and their personal right to choose is being stolen, said Democratic Rep. Felicia Simone Robinson. So I ask: Is Florida truly a free state? Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Blogger who supported Russias invasion but called Putin too soft on Ukraine faces persecution Moscow: A well-known Russian blogger who said that Vladimir Putin is losing the war with Ukraine because he is going too soft on them may be prosecuted for discrediting the army. Igor Girkin, who has hundreds of thousands of online followers, is undoubtedly one of those public personalities in Russia who have been out rightly applauding Ukraine invasion. He was among the first to enter Ukraine in 2014 as a former intelligence officer and rebel commander. Last year, a Dutch court found him guilty of killing over 300 passengers on flight MH17. Local reports in Moscow now reveal that he is being charged with discrediting the Russian armed forces, a crime typically hurled at anti-war protestors that, if done twice, carries a fine or prison term. According to multiple Russian media sites citing anonymous police officials, the authorities reportedly opened a preliminary inquiry into Girkin on Friday following a complaint from a Moscow-based individual. According to a woman named Tatyana who claimed to have viewed Girkins internet show on March 20 and felt his comments to be offensive to the Russian army, police in St. Petersburg were contacted earlier this week by Tatyana. Girkin claimed Putin acted like a doormat, not the president of a country with a millennia-long history during the hour-long presentation that day, and that he missed the opportunity to seize Kharkhiv and Odessa in 2014 practically without a single shot. He is well-known for his extreme views that essentially deny Ukraines very existence and advocate that it should be a part of the Russian state, a stance too radical even for the Kremlin, and he has a sizable internet following among Russias imperialist, Right-wing activists. Girkin, however, has also utilised his online platform to expose the carelessness, corruption, and poor management in the Russian army. Known for calling Sergei Shoigu, Russias defence minister, a cardboard marshal, he has been harsh in his criticism of the countrys military leadership. Tatyana corroborated her allegation when Mash called her, noting that she is a member of the police. Girkin is accused of possibly embezzling money that he has been raising to support Russian soldiers in Ukraine, according to the lawsuit. Girkin denied the allegations and said that he had not received any formal charges. He declared on Friday that he would continue to speak up and carry out his previous actions regardless of what the government did next. They wont frighten me, I 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. Moscow: As tensions rage with the West over Ukraine, the Russian Pacific Fleet had launched surprise combat drills, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday. Calling the exercise a routine, the Shoigu said that the aim was to evaluate the state and increase the readiness of military command, troops, and forces to undertake missions in all strategic directions. The drills come amid heightened tension in the Asia-Pacific region, as the United States and South Korea conduct joint air exercises following an intercontinental ballistic missile test by North Korea. At a meeting with Russias top brass, Shoigu said the Pacific Fleet, headquartered in the port of Vladivostok, was on high alert during snap exercises begun on President Vladimir Putins orders. The drills will also simulate an enemy landing on Russias Sakhalin island and on its southern Kuril Islands, some of which are claimed by Japan in a territorial dispute dating back to the end of World War Two. Shoigu said that the main goal of this exercise is to build up the armed forces ability to solve the tasks of repelling the aggression of a potential enemy from the direction of ocean and sea. The defence minister said the forces would prevent the enemy from deploying in the operationally important region of the Pacific Ocean the southern part of the Sea of Okhotsk and repulse an enemy landing in the southern Kuril Islands and Sakhalin Island. Also Watch: Russia Ukraine War: Dangerous Combat Operations Near Nuke Plant | Vantage with Palki Sharma The southern Kuril Islands, which Tokyo calls the Northern Territories, are at the heart of a long-running dispute between Russia and Japan that has prevented a formal World War II peace treaty from being signed. The head of the Russian navy, Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, is overseeing the drills, Shoigu said The Russian forces will practice searching and destroying submarines during the exercise, repelling large-scale rocket and aviation attacks and launching rockets, torpedoes, and artillery fire against seaborne and ground targets. 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. Pyongyang: North Korea may be a dictatorship, yet it places a premium on education. Parents, who employ their children on farmlands, have received warnings from authorities, demanding them to send their kids to school lest they shall face, at least, public humiliation. In North Korea, most classrooms are empty even 10 days after the new academic year began. A large number of children belonging to the poor section of society are yet to show up for classes as their services are required in farms during the ongoing planting season. Sources told Radio Free Asia that authorities have sent notices to parents, threatening them with interrogation or public humiliation if they do not send their children to schools. 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, the source said. He added, When the class attendance rates are down, the homeroom teacher will be interrogated. It has been noted that children who fail to show up for classes usually hail from families facing economic hardships. The reason why children do not come to school is that 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, the source explained. Farming forced on poor kids Calling them volunteers, young people and children are more often than not forced to do menial jobs in private plots to help shore up North Koreas economy. Authorities, however, claim that these children voluntarily involve themselves in farming or mining activities. A resident of Hoeryong in the northeastern province of North Hamgyong who spoke in the condition of anonymity, said, The truth is that the authorities are forcing them. There is no young person who would willingly volunteer to go to such a place, the source added. According to BBC, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), says that hundreds of children with wisdom and courage in the prime of their youth have chosen to perform manual labour for the state. Human rights groups have always accused North Korea of using forced child labour. A matter of survival Owing to its battered economy, many starving parents in North Korea drop their children at orphanages in the hope that at least their kids are able to eat. According to Radio Free Asia, women leave their kids at orphanages in the middle of the night or early in the morning before they disappear without leaving any trace. The economic situation in North Korea has gone worse due to the COVID pandemic, leading to acute food shortages across the country. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Talks of Syria returning to the Arab League are speculations as the reasons for its expulsion still exist, the Qatar prime minister said on Thursday. Qatar has been an outspoken critic of Bashar Al-Assads Syrian government, which will be at the center of talks between nine Arab countries in Saudi Arabia on Friday. Diplomats say Syrias return to the Arab League and its potential presence at an expected summit in May will be discussed. However, Qatars PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, who will be at the talks, said nothing has been proposed. It is all speculation about Syria [returning] in the Arab League, and the decision is up to the Syrian people, Al-Thani said in an interview. Syrias suspension from Arab League Qatars position is clear that there were reasons to suspend Syrias membership, and these reasons still exist, he added in comments that were welcomed by the Syrian opposition. Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 after Assad ordered a brutal crackdown on a pro-democracy uprising. Qatar supported the Syrian opposition groups. The war has stopped, but the Syrian people are still displaced, Al-Thani said. We do not want to impose solutions on the Syrian people, and there must be a political solution. We do not take any step without a political solution, and each country has its own decision and sovereign right. Ministers and top officials from the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates plus Egypt, Iraq and Jordan will gather at Saudi Arabias request on Friday. Syria has been diplomatically isolated since the start of its civil war in which hundreds of thousands of people have been killed. Reports say some countries support Syrias return, and its Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Jeddah on Wednesday, the first such visit since the war began. The Syrian National Coalition, an opposition group that occupies the Syrian embassy in Doha, praised the noble Qatari stance on Assad and its supply of humanitarian aid. We appreciate the firm Qatari position, which rejects normalisation with the Syrian regime, the coalition said in a statement released by the embassy. It said the Syrian people were still suffering from the bitterness of displacement, bombing and detention to this day. 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. Paris: Following months of violent protests, Frances top constitutional court is set to give out a ruling on the legality of Emmanuel Macrons heavily contested pension reform. The pension overhaul, if passed, will raise the legal retirement age to 64 from 62. French President Macron has been facing domestic backlash over his flagship reforms. Some demonstrations have turned violent since Macrons government forced the bill through parliament last month without a vote, using an executive power that is legal but has sparked accusations of undemocratic behaviour from opponents. The courts approval will act as the final green light Macron needs to change the bill into law and ensure it is implemented by the end of the year. On Thursday, as many as 380,000 people took to the streets to protest against the pension reforms. The interior ministry, however, said that this was far fewer than the nearly 1.3 million demonstrated at the height of the protests in March. The Paris Police has deployed security around the Constitutional Council until Saturday morning and has also banned any form of demonstration in the vicinity. The nine-member council will first decide whether the pensions overhaul is in line with the French Constitution or not. Experts think the most likely scenario is that it will partially approve the bill. A partial approval means that some parts of the bill may be scrapped but it will probably throw its weight behind its core elements, including pushing back the minimum legal age for retirement. The next step would be to go through the two separate requests from the left-wing opposition party to launch a possible referendum on an alternative law to limit the retirement age to 62. It is not yet clear whether it will give its go-ahead, but the path toward any actual referendum would be very long. For any vote, the opposition would need to collect some 4.8 million signatures from members of the electorate backing their proposal within nine months. And a referendum would take place only if both chambers of parliament refused to examine the bill in the next six months something regarded as unlikely. 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: After the detention and subsequent lack of consular access to Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Russia on Friday indicated that it may be time to cut down on the number of US journalists working in Russia in obvious anticipation of retaliatory steps threatened by the United States. The Americans have threatened us with retaliatory measures if we do not release Gershkovich in the near future, Russian ambassador Anatoly Antonov told Russias First Channel state television. We shall see how they will act. Antonov also revealed that he had had a very harsh conversation with US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, who bluntly accused Russia of illegally detaining Gershkovich and had repeatedly interrupted the Russian ambassador in a counterproductive sort of way by not letting him speak. The Russian ambassador said given the current circumstances and the relationship between the two countries, which is at its lowest ebb since the Cold War, that it might be time to reduce the number of American journalists working in Russia. The Americans have a very good word reciprocity which they always insist on, Antonov told the media. Perhaps it is the time for us to show reciprocity and reduce the number of American journalists who work in Moscow and in Russia as a whole to the number [of Russian journalists] who work in Washington and New York, he said. The comments come soon after Germany also announced plans of reducing diplomatic presence in Russia, last week. In recent times, the total number of Russian officials expelled from US and Europe since the Russia-Ukraine war began has crossed the 400-mark. These mass expulsions, are believed to be the largest in history. They are also likely to have lasting impact on Russian President Vladimir Putins intelligence services and their ability to spyand to subvertin Europe. Barely a day earlier, Norway on Thursday announced it was expelling 15 Russian diplomats from the country, saying they were suspected of spying while working at the Russian Embassy in Oslo. Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) said on March 30 it had detained Gershkovich in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg and had charged him with espionage accusing him of collecting what it said were state secrets about a military industrial complex. Gershkovich is the first American journalist detained in Russia on charges of spying since the end of the Cold War, and the WSJ as well as the Biden administration have vehemently denied he was involved in any kind of espionage. The United States has urged Russia to release the journalist and called the Russian claims of espionage ridiculous. U.S. President Joe Biden has called for Gershkovichs immediate release. The Kremlin has said Gershkovich had been carrying out espionage under the cover of journalism. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has told the United States that Gershkovich was caught red-handed while trying to obtain secrets. Many American reporters or those working for US-based media houses have left Russia after President Vladimir Putin ordered troops to invade Ukraine last year and many more have left since the detention of Gershkovich. In strongly-worded advisories, the United States has repeatedly told US citizens to leave Russia due to the war in Ukraine or face the risk of arbitrary arrest or harassment by Russian law enforcement agencies. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Kyiv: The exiled billionaire Vadym Novynskyis assets were reportedly confiscated by Ukraines security agency on Thursday for more than 3.5 billion hryvnia ($96 million), although Novynskyis attorney said he was no longer the owner. Novynskyi has been charged with aiding Russia, which invaded Ukraine last year, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The millionaire disputes the accusation, according to the spokesman on Friday who declined to provide his name. One of the richest persons in the nation, a former politician, and supporter of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Novynskyi has an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion, according to Forbes. He is presently in Switzerland, according to his agent. According to the SBU, it had taken possession of ownership deeds for 30 natural gas wells and 40 Ukrainian businesses. The property of pro-Russian oligarch Vadym Novynskyi, who is involved in aiding the aggressor country, was seized, the SBU said in a statement. Novynskyis representative said Novynskyi was a patriot who supported the Ukrainian government. The seizure comes amid an escalating dispute between the government and the UOC, which Kyiv accuses of retaining long-standing religious ties with Moscow despite formally cutting them in May 2022. Some senior clergy have been accused of treason and collaboration with Moscow. The church denies wrongdoing or that it has relations with Russia. Novynskyi was sanctioned by Ukraine in December along with several of the UOCs bishops, shortly after a wave of searches on church properties. Chief Executive Officer Julia Kiryanova of Smart Holding, one of the entities which have had some of its assets seized, told Reuters on Friday that the company was transferred on 1 December from Novynskyi to a trust owned by citizens of Cyprus, and was no longer connected to him. In its statement, the SBU security agency said Novynskyi had tried to avoid the sanctions by transferring his assets to affiliated commercial structures. Kiryanova dismissed the SBUs assertions as nonsense and said Novynskyi had transferred his assets to the trust before the sanctions were put in place. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys website, sanctions against Novynskyi entered into force on 1 December the same day Kiryanova said he transferred the assets. However, Smart Holdings chief legal counsel told Reuters on Friday that the names of sanctioned individuals were not published until 2 December, and that the sanctions actually entered into force on Dec. 6, when they were published on an official portal for legislation. Kiryanova said Novynskyi had commenced plans to put his assets in trust since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion, and that he had no advance knowledge of the sanctions. Novynskyi previously described the sanctions as persecution on religious grounds. SBU said it had found pro-Kremlin religious literature while conducting property searches during its investigation. Novynskyis representative denied this had anything to do with him. The representative said Novynskyis case was driven by an opportunistic claim from a former business partner, whom he did not name. The details of the accusations against him for aiding Russia have not been spelled out by the SBU. Novynskyi has close ties with the UOC, where he holds the honorary title of protodeacon, and is often vocal in his support for the church. He was regularly pictured with its most senior clerics before the Russian invasion, as well as after it. Last November, the head of the church travelled to Germany to meet the billionaire. ($1 = 36.5600 hryvnias) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. United Nations: According to a UN spokesperson on Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has written to Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey to express his concerns over the execution of a treaty that permits the secure transfer of grain during times of conflict from a number of Ukrainian Black Sea ports. The United Nations has said no ships were inspected on Tuesday under the deal agreed in July last year as the parties needed more time to reach an agreement on operational priorities. Inspections resumed on Wednesday. The Secretary-General has written letters to the parties and we are diligently working in close collaboration with Turkey to maintain the continuation of the vital agreement, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters. The UN and Turkey worked together to arrange the deal in order to address the world food crisis, which according to UN officials had been made worse by the worst conflict in Europe since World War II. With the agreement, Ukraines Black Sea grain shipments, which had been interrupted by Russias invasion on February 24, 2022, may resume. In seas close to Turkey on the route into and out of Ukraine, all ships are examined by representatives of Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations. Numerous ships, according to the United Nations, are awaiting inspection before sailing to Ukraine. There are different views on the vessels to be registered and inspected in the coming days, said Dujarric, adding that there are active discussions on the issue within the Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul, which is made up of Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and UN officials. Dujarric said two inbound and two outbound ships were inspected on Friday. Until recently, new vessels were presented by Ukrainian port authorities and agreed by all parties for registration and follow-up inspection, he said. This was established practice in line with Ukraines role in managing its port activities. We support the implementation of the agreed procedures, and we can facilitate discussions on any proposed changes, Dujarric said. However, any change should be agreed by all parties within the framework of the Joint Coordination Centre. Inbound inspections had become less efficient as Russia began to insist on a random list of vessels to be chosen for inspection each day, a source familiar with the situation said earlier this week. Last month, Russia agreed to renew the grain export deal for at least 60 days, half the intended period, and Moscow has said it would only consider a further extension if several demands in relation to its own exports were met. Russias Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that there is no need to talk about the further extension of the Black Sea initiative after 18 May unless there was progress on solving what it called systemic problems with its own food and fertilizer exports. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A US federal judge on Thursday rejected a request to delay former president Donald Trumps trial this month on civil claims that he raped a woman in the mid-1990s, but he has granted a request by Trumps lawyers to gather more evidence about who is paying the accusers 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 25 April 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. Habbas request is the second time this week that a Trump lawyer has asked to delay the trial on Carrolls 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 Trumps arrest last week on criminal charges in New York state court made a delay necessary. Trumps says accusations are politically-motivated 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 Carrolls 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 Carrolls 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 Trumps defense because he has consistently labeled Carrolls 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, Carrolls lawyer, responded in a letter to the court Thursday, asking the judge to deny Trumps 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. Carrolls lawyers then notified Trumps 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 Carrolls 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. 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. Washington: In a broad fentanyl trafficking investigation, the Justice Department on Friday announced charges against more than two dozen members of Mexicos renowned Sinaloa Cartel, including the sons of infamous drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Jess Alfredo Guzman Salazar, and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, the three Guzman sons indicted, are referred to as the Chapitos, or tiny Chapos, and are renowned for being the most violent and aggressive element of the cartel. Only Guzman Lopez is being held in Mexico. Attorney General Merrick Garland delivered the three district indictments targeting the cartels global network while flanked by the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Anne Milgram, and other top federal prosecutors. The defendants span a broad swath of a complex manufacturing and supply network. They include Chinese and Guatemalan citizens accused of supplying precursor chemicals required to make fentanyl, as well as those suspected of running drug labs in Mexico and others accused of providing security, weapons and illicit financing for the drug trafficking operation. The wide-ranging case comes as the US remains in the grip of a devastating overdose crisis largely by fentanyl poisonings. Nearly 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in the US in 2021, a record-setting number. Fentanyl seizures by US Customs and Border Protection have increased by more than 400% since 2019, officials said, and this fiscal years seizures have already surpassed the total for all of 2022. Most of the fentanyl trafficked in the United States comes from the Sinaloa Cartel, the Drug Enforcement Administration says. Families and communities across our country are being devastated by the fentanyl epidemic, Garland said. We will never forget those who bear responsibility for this tragedy. And we will never stop working to hold them accountable for their crimes in the United States. The Sinaloa Cartels notorious drug lord, known as El Chapo, was convicted in 2019 of running an industrial-scale smuggling operation. At Guzmans trial, prosecutors said evidence gathered since the late 1980s showed he and his murderous cartel made billions of dollars by smuggling tons of cocaine, heroin, meth and marijuana into the US A defiant Guzman accused the federal judge in his case of making a mockery of the US justice system and claimed he was denied a fair trial. In outlining the charges Friday, Garland described the violence of the Sinaloa Cartel and how its members have tortured perceived enemies, including Mexican law enforcement officials. That has included people fed to tigers owned by Guzmans sons, sometimes while the victims were still alive, Garland said. Eight of those charged have been arrested and remain in the custody of law enforcement officials in Colombia, Greece, Guatemala and the US, Milgram said. The US government is offering rewards for several others charged in the case, including up to $10 million for Guzmans other two sons. Fridays indictments were filed in New York, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. Along with the five defendants from China and Guatemala accused of supplying the cartel with precursor chemicals, two Chinese firms were also sanctioned by the US Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control Friday. US government officials are pressing Chinese officials to do more to stem the shipment of those chemicals. With Washington-Beijing relations strained, the Biden administration says it has looked to allies in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere to make clear to China that the issue is a global problem, according to senior Biden administration officials who briefed reporters following the announcement of the indictment. Ovidio Guzman Lopez, one of Guzmans sons, was arrested in January in the Sinaloa capital of Culiacan. Ovidio Guzman, nicknamed the Mouse, had not been one of El Chapos better-known sons until an aborted operation to capture him three years earlier. This time Mexico successfully got Guzman out of Culiacan. In 2019, authorities had him, but they released him after his gunmen began shooting up the city. Some 30 people among authorities and suspected gunmen died in the operation, which unleashed hours of shootouts shutting down the citys airport. The US government is currently awaiting the younger Guzmans extradition. Ovidio Guzman Lopez and another brother, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, allegedly helped move the Sinaloa Cartel hard into methamphetamines, producing prodigious quantities in large labs. They were previously indicted in 2018 in Washington on drug trafficking charges. The other two sons, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar are believed to have been running cartel operations together with Ismael El Mayo Zambada. They were previously also charged in the US in Chicago and San Diego. Zambada had been rumoured to be in poor health and isolated in the mountains leading the sons to try to assert a stronger role to keep the cartel together. The DEA said it investigated the case in 10 countries: Australia, Austria, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Greece, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and the United States. Death and destruction are central to their whole operation, Milgram said of the cartel. Todays indictments strike a blow against the Chapitos and the global network they operate, a network that fuels violence and death on both sides of the border. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Newport News, Va.: According to authorities, the mother of the 6-year-old kid who shot and injured his teacher in Virginia has been formally detained on suspicion of child negligence and failing to secure her pistol. The Newport News Police Department published a booking photo of the woman, 25, as well as a brief statement stating that she surrendered to the local prison. Her lawyer, James Ellenson, said she was freed from detention after posting a $5,000 bail and that a status hearing in Newport News Circuit Court is set for this Friday. 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 misdemeanour 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 womans 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 mothers 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 prosecutors 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 boys mother is punishable by up to five years in prison. The misdemeanour 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 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. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Maputo, Mozambique: The Made in India tag has reached the East African nation of Mozambique. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday took a ride on a Made in India train in the capital city of Maputo. Joining the journey with him was the Chief Managing Director of the infrastructure company Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) Rahul Mithal. Describing his experience on Twitter, Jaishankar said, 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. In what he called a novel experience, the EAM also held a press conference in the moving train along with Mozambiques Transport Minister Mateus Magala. A novel experience: conducting a Press Conference in a moving train. pic.twitter.com/1gYAG0JwaZ Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 13, 2023 During his visit to Mozambique, Jaishankar also visited a temple in Maputo and interacted with the Indian community there. Offered my prayers at the Shree Vishvambhar Mahadev Mandir in Maputo this evening. So glad to interact with the Indian community there, the EAM wrote on Twitter. Offered my prayers at the Shree Vishvambhar Mahadev Mandir in Maputo this evening. So glad to interact with the Indian community there. pic.twitter.com/oRD9OIk3Li Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 13, 2023 The minister highlighted the importance of the time-tested and historic relationship that is expanding between the two nations during a meeting with the Indian diaspora hosted by the High Commissioner in Maputo on Thursday evening. He also recalled the Speaker of the 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. The two nations need to have regular parliamentary exchanges and it is appropriate that I begin my visit by coming to the National Assembly, Jaishankar added. Its 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. When asked if Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, together known as BRICS, are looking at trading in their 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. 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. Sophomore creates SOCI-ABLES as a supportive club for students with disabilities and an educational resource for the campus community Before he arrived at Flagler College, sophomore Peter Mankin said he was worried his adjustment from high school to college would be especially difficult. When I first came, I felt like I was going to do a little bit poor, Mankin said. I didn't have enough confidence in myself. But Mankins doubt quickly faded as he realized he could use his own positive experiences working with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) and acclimating to life at Flagler to help other students with disabilities engage in the campus community. When Peter told me he wanted to start this club, we started to define what that meant, Phil Pownall, director of the DRC said. What did the club mean to him? And what did he want to try to get out of it? Mankin said his decision to attend Flagler came down to the support he received from Pownall and the DRC as a perspective student. So, in founding the club SOCI-ABLES during the fall of 2022, he was inspired to build upon the support and resources available for students with disabilities and provide educational opportunities for peers looking to learn more. Mankin and Pownall at a DRC tabling event Many other schools have disability resource centers, but when I met Phil, he was the only person that I could trust, and we had very good interactions, Mankin said. As a new campus resource, Mankin said his hope with SOCI-ABLES was to create a space for students with disabilities to come together and participate in the community while also helping other students better understand their experiences. What I wanted to do was provide a leadership opportunity for myself to see if we can learn how to help these students build social skills and interact with other people so that they can feel included in a campus that can treat them supportively, Mankin said. As the clubs advisor and point of contact for collaboration with the DRC, Pownall developed a mentorship with Mankin. He said he witnessed Mankins leadership skills develop firsthand. After joining the Presidents Leadership Academy, Mankin decided to utilize his leadership skills to create this new social club on campus. I think that he's doing what we want students to do at Flagler, and that is to take what you learn and apply it, Pownall said. Mankin believes SOCI-ABLES will allow other students to learn from the clubs members in order to understand their perspective and what they go through with their disabilities. I think people who do not have disabilities often misunderstand the concept of a disability and they often create stereotypes, Mankin said. The club has already hosted numerous educational events including, a discussion about How Disability Is Perceived on the Media, trivia night, and Flagler bingo. But Mankin believes SOCI-ABLES' most successful event was the tabling fair they co-hosted for Disability Awareness Month on the West Lawn. They even created immersive activities to model for students what certain experiences with a disability can feel like. Pownall instructing Mankin on how to use a white cane while he walks blindfolded. Thats also part of the club- to both make a welcome space and inclusionary space for students with disabilities, Pownall said. But also, to make an educational space so that students who don't identify as having a disability can get to learn that people with disabilities are still just people. Not only did establishing SOCI-ABLES create an invaluable community and resource for his peers, but it has also helped Mankin to continue to build his confidence and create a network of friends who understand one another. Starting a new club and making new friends on campus made me feel like an enlightened member of the community, Mankin said. It made me feel connected to what students want on the campus. But it also helped me understand how to get to know each other, how to socialize with others and how to better understand the routine. Pownall said Mankin is a persistent advocate for inclusivity and is always willing to rise to the occasion. He is confident that Mankin will continue to grow as a leader while providing a supportive space for all students. There is an idea of Flagler culture, and if all students are considered part of the culture, then those idiosyncrasies that involve disability should be part of that culture too, Pownall said. Soci-Ables group photo For incoming students making the often-daunting transition into college, Pownall hopes that this club will continue to develop as an accessible and approachable network to make their adjustment easier. This can be a gateway for students with disabilities, Pownall said. When they come here, there will be a place that they can feel welcome. And Peter has always been a great advocate for the idea of inclusion. When a perspective student with disabilities is worried about getting involved and meeting other students, Pownall knows the club is there as a resource. He said he can rely on Peter to welcome them warmly and make sure they know SOCI-ABLES is a support system for them. I encourage every student who is afraid of joining a club to join SOCI-ABLES, Pownall said. Because once you meet Peter you wont be scared anymore. ----------- Whether you are looking to sign up for SOCI-ABLES or want to see a list of their upcoming events, make sure to check out the clubs Saints Connect page and Instagram account. Tagged As Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin announces: At the invitation of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith will pay an official visit to China from April 16 to 18. Samsung has confirmed the launch of Galaxy M14 5G, the companys next mid-range 5G smartphone in India on April 17th priced under Rs. 14000, after it was introduced last month. The Samsung Galaxy M14 5G is only shown in white colour in promo images, but it is expected to come in other colours as well. Samsung has confirmed 25W fast charging support, but the phone will not come with a charger in the box. Samsung Galaxy M14 5G specifications 6.6-inch (1080 x 2408 pixels) FHD+ Infinity-V LCD screen with 90Hz refresh rate Octa Core Exynos 1330 5nm processor (Dual 2.4GHz Cortex-A78 + Hexa 2GHz Cortex-A55 CPUs) with Mali-G68 MP2 GPU 4GB / 6GB LPDDR4x RAM with 64GB / 128GB storage, expandable memory up to 1TB with microSD Android 13 with OneUI 5.0 Dual SIM (nano + nano + microSD) 50MP rear camera with f/1.8 aperture, 2MP depth and 2MP macro sensor with f/2.4 aperture, LED flash 13MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture Side-mounted fingerprint sensor 3.5mm audio jack Dimensions: 166.8 x 77.2 x 9.4mm, Weight: 206g 5G SA/ NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS/GLONASS/Beidou, USB Type-C 6000mAh (typical) battery with 25W fast charging The support pages on Samsung India have confirmed 4GB and 6GB models, and the phone will be sold on Amazon.in, in addition to Samsung India online store and offline stores. Vivo plans to infuse Rs 1,100 crore into expanding its manufacturing capabilities in Greater Noida. The company emphasizes that it recognizes the significance of investing in India as part of its unwavering dedication to the country. The objective is to establish a comprehensive ecosystem that caters to various aspects of its operations, said the company. Yesterday, the firm teased vivo X90 series ahead of India launch. Investment Plan for India: Rs. 7,500 Crore Phase-wise Commitment Vivo, a leading smartphone manufacturer, has outlined its phase-wise investment plan of 7,500 crore for India. As part of the phase-I investment plan announced in 2022, 2,400 crore has already been invested, and an additional 1,100 crore is expected to be invested by the end of 2023. This investment will help expand Vivos production capacity and align with the governments vision of making India a global export hub. The phase-I investment will also pave the way for the upcoming factory to be operational by early 2024, subject to necessary clearances from state authorities. The factory, spread over 169 acres, is projected to have a production capacity of 120 million smartphones per year when fully operational. Enhancing Local Sourcing for a Self-reliant India Vivo emphasizes its dedication to supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India) initiative by increasing its local sourcing of materials, a significant percentage of the total cost. As a responsible corporate citizen, Vivo aims to contribute to building a vibrant and empowered India through its manufacturing operations. Commitment to Make in India and Manufacturing Excellence Vivo has been a pioneer in setting up its own manufacturing facility in India, showcasing its commitment to the Prime Ministers Make in India initiative. Vivo was also the second Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to introduce Surface Mounting Technology (SMT) lines, promoting domestic value addition in smartphone production. With a monthly capacity of around 5 million smartphones, Vivos manufacturing plant in India has been consistently consolidating its existing capacity, demonstrating a steadfast focus on quality and manufacturing efficiency. Exporting Made in India Smartphones to the World Vivo recognizes the significant role of exports in driving economic growth and development in India. The company has taken proactive steps to support the governments efforts in promoting electronics manufacturing and smartphone exports. In 2022, Vivo made its first shipments of Made in India smartphones to Thailand and Saudi Arabia, showcasing its commitment to being a responsible and valuable partner to the Government of India. Vivo aims to export over 1 million Made in India smartphones in 2023, contributing to Indias position in the global market. Innovation for Indian Users Vivo is committed to democratizing innovation by developing smartphones designed specifically for Indian users. By actively engaging with users and understanding their needs and preferences, Vivo aims to incorporate design elements from India into its products. Vivos user-focused approach involves participation from senior management, and the feedback received from Indian users helps inform the companys innovations. Vivo sets high standards for smartphone innovation, with a particular focus on photography and smartphone design that reflects the desires of Indian users, fulfilling their expectations in a meaningful manner. As we launch the vivo India Impact Report22, unlock our journey of staying committed to India & multiplying joy amongst its people, communities, and retailers. Read the complete report here: https://t.co/SbYKytKc26 #LiveTheJoy #vivo #TheJoyMultiplier #vivoIIR #vivoForIndia pic.twitter.com/rK5infvldR vivo India (@Vivo_India) April 14, 2023 On the announcement, Yogendra Sriramula, Head, Brand Strategy, vivo India, said: MBABANE - Not only patrons are raving, but a local DJ is also looking forward to see South African (SA)artist Mr JazziQ perform in the kingdom once again. The Amapiano DJ and record producer tour titled Dankie Mr JazziQue hits Eswatini tomorrow; it is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated shows that will be popping this weekend. The event will be held at The XChange Lounge and Shisanyama. The SA artist is set to hit the stage and will be accompanied by well known media houses being MTV Base and YFM. At the time of compiling this report, the line-up included artists namely; SA Busta 929, Zuma, PCEE and more. Local DJs who will be spinning the turntables are; AyaCity, WordSmith Felix, Genes of the Vibes, Matamza and Belinda Chester. Dubbed From being dubbed the new kid on the block and now being listed in the line-up of one of Eswatinis hottest shows with the big boys, Wordsmith Felix, who has surely been doing the work and making a name for himself in the music industry was contacted for a comment and he said: I am honestly blessed and truly grateful to be part of this show as it is one of the biggest that will take place in the kingdom. It will be an honour to share the stage with renowned artists. Wordsmith, who just came from winning a slot at Unleash The Wolf show, which took place at the Albert Millin last Saturday, blessed the stage with fire tunes. Patrons who were already excited to see him as they voted for him to be on Stage through UTWs Put me on challenge on social media, is now headed to perform with the big guns. When probed about what he will be dishing out during the show he shared: I honestly want to push some of the records that I have in my archives, like I usually do on most of my sets. I will play a palette of exclusives and some commercial numbers. MANZINI Taiwan has once again pleaded for its inclusion in the World Health Organisation (WHO). The plea was extended by the Republic of China (Taiwan) Ambassador to Eswatini Jeremy Liang, during the 2023 World Health Day and the WHO 75th Anniversary celebration held at The George Hotel yesterday. The event was attended by the Prime Minister (PM), Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator George Wachira, WHO Representative Dr Geoffrey Bisoborwa, Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi and Minister of Public Service Mabulala Maseko. Ambassador Liang said they embarked on a journey to achieve Health For All and to motivate action to address the health challenges of today and tomorrow, the government of Taiwan was humbled to have been invited to the WHOs 75th anniversary. He said Taiwan was a firm believer in the possibility of achieving universal access to high-quality healthcare. As such, the ambassador said the Taiwanese health care system was characterised by good accessibility, comprehensive population coverage, short waiting times, low cost and national data collection systems for planning and research. Ranking second in the world with the best health care system, Taiwan enjoys access to affordable and world-class medical care through the National Health Insurance System, he said. Liang said Taiwan had always been willing to assist the world in achieving sustainable and effective health care systems and had carried out a number of health care projects to improve emaSwatis health. The ambassador said with this quality of health care systems, knowledge and experience, they had assisted Eswatini through various programmes including their medical mission. Training Additionally, he said they had provided assistance through training more than 88 doctors and aided government by providing free medical services to rural areas through their outreach programme. Ambassador Liang said the Taiwanese governments many other contributions to the international community demonstrated their assertiveness and collaborative spirit. However, Taiwan (is) excluded from the worlds international health system. Therefore, once again we plead with WHO to include us as one of the countries who honour and fulfil the mandate of the organisation. We believe that we have what it takes to contribute to the organisation and the world at large in order to realise the goal Health for All. He further extended appreciation to the Eswatini Government for always supporting their bid to become a member of the international community. The ambassador said they valued the support extended to them. Taiwan can help. Please let Taiwan help, he said. His remarks were met with a round of applause from the many guests present during the occasion. Meanwhile, the UK high commissioner in Eswatini recommitted that Britain would continue to support the WHO. The High Commissioner, Simon Boyden, said many sectors needed to be collaborated to deliver the best healthcare and his country was committed to it. He said the UK was committed to equitable access to vaccines and they committed E1 billion to Global Fund to save millions of lives through fighting HIV/AIDs, malaria and tubercolosis (TB), among many. On the other hand, the US Charge de Affaires Earl Miller said his country was committed to saving lives through many programmes. He said his country was proud of its collaboration through PEPFAR, which was the largest contributor in dealing with healthcare challenges. ... NCABANENI About 6 000 emaSwati are set to benefit from 7 600 job opportunities to be created by Eswatini Rail Link (ESRL) project in the country and in South Africa (SA). This was revealed by Transnet Freight Rail Chief Commercial Officer Bonginkosi Mabaso at Ncabaneni, under Ntondozi Constituency yesterday, when the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, launched the ESRL Resettlement Project. This ESRL project is a multibillion development that was launched over a decade ago by the governments of South Africa and Eswatini, through its railway companies; Transnet Freight Rail and Eswatini Railways, respectively. The project, which was estimated to cost E29 billion in 2016, will include the construction of greenfield and brownfield railway lines. The greenfield railway line will start from Lothair in South Africa to Sidvokodvo in Eswatini, while the brownfield railway lines will be the upgrading of the existing ones between Davel and Ermelo to Lothair (South Africa), then Sidvokodvo to Lavumisa via Phuzumoya and Golela to Nsese (Richards Bay). It will pass through 14 chiefdoms, which are under four constituencies in the Manzini Region. The communities to be affected are Mangcongco, Mhlambanyatsi, LaMgabhi and Ntondozi. The Transnet executive said they were excited to be part of the journey that would see regional integration becoming a reality. He said with this project, they were now actively moving towards achieving regional integration, which would enable countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to trade among themselves. He said, by so doing, they would be competitive globally and develop their economies. Mabaso said in 2011, when this project was started, their predecessors announced their willingness to partner with Eswatini in building this monumental infrastructure project. We (Transnet Freight Rail) are here today (yesterday) to reaffirm our commitment to partnering with the emaSwati in making this project a reality, Mabaso said. He said they had analysed the impact of the project, not only in Eswatini and South Africa, but in the SADC Region, at large. He said their analysis revealed that in terms of creation of employment opportunities, it would create at least 7 600 guaranteed jobs in Eswatini and SA. He said in Eswatini, the project would create at least 6 000 employment opportunities, while in SA, about 1 600 jobs would accrue. Development Again, he said others looked at the impact in terms of volumes, instead of zooming into an individual. For example, he said when he was growing up in his village in SA, the SA government came up with a project to construct the N2 Public Road and to many, the development did not make sense. However, today I am standing here as a proud product of resource, which my family got from that project and today, the N2 Public Road is bringing so much to the South African economy. Likewise, in this very same community (Ncabaneni) there is a young boy, who, in the not so distance future, will proudly announce the success of his life, through this project, Mabaso said. On the same note, ESRL Project Director Sandile SK Dlamini said the development would also create permanent jobs. He added that so far, at least 12 local contractors from three different categories (B1, B2 and B3) had been engaged and the people of the affected communities were given first preference when employment opportunities were availed. Also, Ncabaneni Indvuna Matikweni Nkambule said one of the contractors who won a tender in the ongoing works of the project, was from the community. Thereafter, the project director emphasised that this project would aim at having spin-offs that would change the peoples lives for the better, including those who would be affected by the development. Once more, the minister said as local contractors and people from the communities had been engaged and employed in the project, they would be paid and, in turn, they would have income to better their lives and also pay tax, which meant that the countrys economy would develop as the money would circulate locally. A youth committed to the Oregon Youth Authority ran away from the Jackie Winters Transition Program in Albany at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13. The program, one of four like it in the state, prepares youth to transition from a higher-security facility, in this case Oak Creek Youth Correctional Facility, back into the community. A warrant has been issued, and law enforcement were notified, according to a news release from the Oregon Youth Authority. Albany police are searching for the youth, Elizabeth Marshall, also known as Ezekiel or Zeke, 18, who was committed to OYA from Washington County. Marshall has black hair, brown eyes, and is 5 feet, 6 inches tall. Please help us ensure this youths safety, Jenny Smith, an OYA spokesperson, said in a statement. We want to find Zeke as quickly as possible. If members of the public encounter the youth, please call 911. MBABANE The Disciplinary Tribunal of the Law Society has ordered Lawyer Machawe Dlamini to pay an elderly widow a sum of E380 000. This was after it found him guilty of misconduct. The tribunal did not only direct the lawyer to pay Sara Tsabedze (born Nxumalo) but it further recommended to the Law Society of Swaziland (LSS) to take appropriate steps to remove him from the roll of practising lawyers . The judgment comes after the aggrieved woman approached the law society, which then remitted the matter to the tribunal. The lawyer is said to have failed to remit the money after selling a farm on behalf of Tsabedze. According to Tsabedze, the respondent (lawyer) failed to account to her in the sum of E370 000. The respondent on the other hand contended that the amount outstanding was the sum of E112 234.28. There was an explanation proffered by the respondent for the discrepancy. He contended that he was entitled to the estate agent 15 per cent commission (which he had already deducted) and in addition that he was also entitled to the legal fees for services rendered. Inherited Originally, the property was owned by Tsabedzes husband and she inherited it upon his demise. It transpired that at some point, she entered into an agreement with one Frans Du Pont, which was styled a Caretaker Agreement. Senior Lawyer Zweli Jele, who headed the tribunal, heard that Du Pont occupied the property but for some reason or another, was reportedly not paying any form of rental or compensation to Tsabedze. Dissatisfied with this arrangement, Tsabedze approached Machawe with an instruction that he should evict Du Pont from the property. In its judgment, the tribunal said the respondent (Machawe) did not carry out this instruction but instead gave advice to the elderly illiterate woman that it would be in her best interests if she agreed to sell the property. Tsabedze is said to have reluctantly agreed to the sale of the property on condition that the respondent obtained a valuation of the farm. The respondent is said to have secured a valuation of the farm at E2.4 million. We requested from the respondent a copy of the valuation but it was not forthcoming. The respondent secured a purchaser in the name of MA Ranches, who purchased the property for a sum of E1 500 000 in 2016. No explanation was given as to why a property that was supposedly valued at E2.4m was sold for a paltry E1.5m. Even more disconcerting was the revelation by Tsabedze that she subsequently had an evaluation undertaken and the property was valued at E4.2 million, said the tribunal. During the hearing, Tsabedze revealed that sometime after the sale transaction had been concluded and when she was desperate for money due to exigencies, she approached MA Ranches director and pleaded her case and he gratuitously agreed to pay her an additional E500 000. The tribunal stated that, on the admitted facts and without seeking to determine at this stage the amount owed by the respondent, it was satisfied that a case of misconduct had been made out against him (respondent). Dishonesty The act of failing to account to a trust creditor cannot be countenanced under any circumstance. A failure by an attorney to account for trust funds when they become due constitutes dishonesty and invariably leads to the inevitable conclusion that an attorney who is guilty of such conduct is in fact guilty of theft, reads part of the judgment. The tribunal said lawyers were not permitted to utilise trust monies for any purposes other than the designated one. It was further its observation that the mere fact that the matter required the intervention of the attorney general (AG) before the respondent could remit the El million and that subsequent to that he embarked upon a persistent and belligerent refusal to account to an elderly widow, was itself repugnant to the due and faithful discharge of his mandate as an attorney. In fact, the utilisation of the trust funds to pay another creditor (whatever the circumstances) constitutes theft on the part of the respondent. The fact that he has repaid some of the money does not mean that the misconduct has been corrected or even ameliorated. It is telling that the repayments were made under duress. He has never voluntarily accounted to Tsabedze. We, therefore, find that the respondent is guilty of misconduct, said the tribunal. Assist The tribunal said attorneys were not businesspeople but professionals and as such, had a duty to assist their clients while simultaneously promoting justice. It further highlighted that business principles which were money profit driven had no place in the practice of the law. The generally held view that there is no profession that offers a surer path to affluence and influence should not be a licence for attorneys to act unscrupulously and to the detriment of their clients, said the tribunal. The tribunal said, without seeking to rewrite the contract between the parties, it took the view that the commission of 15 per cent was excessive and in light of the facts set out above, it concluded that the respondent was not entitled to 15 per cent but at the very least, would have been entitled to a commission of five per cent. It was further its finding that a conspectus of the conduct of the respondent demonstrated a grave disregard of his duty as an attorney. It further mentioned that this was not a case of simple failure to account but evinced a theft of trust monies and subsequent refusal to repay the monies. According to the tribunal, the fact that the respondent had to be coerced to make payments did not augur well for him. MBABANE Seemingly, Lawyer Sicelo Mngomezulu had a change of heart and repaid the government study loan. Apparently, the lawyer, who is mostly known for being part of the legal team that represents the two incarcerated Members of Parliament (MPs), Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza of Hosea and Mthandeni Dube of Ngwempisi, repaid the study loan this week. His debt was slightly over E132 000. Mngomezulus debt became public knowledge after the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Themba Masuku, on Wednesday March 22, 2023, during the Deputy Prime Ministers (DPM) Office annual budget and 2023/2024 budget debate, told senators that the person who was behind the disruption of the civic voter education exercise (at KaLiba in Hosea) was the very same person who slaughtered cows for maidens who did not attend the Umhlanga Reed Dance Ceremony last year August. Education The DPM told the senators that the person also owed around E132 000 in study loans. He did not mention any names in Senate. But in an interview with this publication, Masuku confirmed that he was referring to Mngomezulu and he had proof that he had not repaid a single cent of the scholarship loan. Mngomezulu graduated at the University of Swaziland (UNISWA), now known as the University of Eswatini (UNESWA), in 2004 with an LLB Degree, where he was funded by government. The lawyer did not deny that he had not repaid the study loan, during an interview at the time. At first, he pointed out that he tried several times to repay the study loan but he was unsuccessful since no one from government responded to him. He also placed an ultimatum to government regarding his payment, which was that he would not pay the money unless government lifted the ban on him regarding entering the kingdom. On April 2, 2023, the scholarship consortium, through the Project Coordinator, Gugu Simelane, communicated that they contacted Mngomezulu and later sent a statement of his balance and payment platforms that he could utilise. In an interview with this publication at the time, Mngomezulu said unless government lifted the illegal and immoral ban on him, he would not repay the loan. Adding, he said the ban should be first lifted then he should be furnished with an invoice and he would repay the E132 000 within two minutes. Worth noting is that government moved an application at the High Court to have him declared an undesirable and prohibited immigrant. In the matter that is still pending in court, Mngomezulu, who resides in the Republic of South Africa, filed his papers, where he denied to have encouraged anyone to boycott the Umhlanga Reed Dance Ceremony. The move to ban him was made after he was accused of having promised maidens from Hosea Constituency, who would not attend the annual Reed Dance Ceremony last year, a cow. However, yesterday afternoon, Mngomezulu was reported to have repaid the E132 000 he owed in full. Efforts to get Mngomezulu were futile as he had not responded to questions that were sent via WhatsApp and phone calls at the time this report was compiled. The text message was sent at 3:34pm, which was followed by countless phone calls. The last voice call was made at 6:52pm, but he had not responded to it at the time of compiling this report. Change He was asked to share why he had a sudden change of heart regarding the repayment of the study loan after he had stated that he would not do so until the ban on him was lifted. Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi confirmed that Mngomezulu indeed repaid his study loan. Ive just received a phone call from SVNet, informing me that Mngomezulu has repaid his study loan in full, he said. The minister lauded the lawyer for doing the right thing. When he was asked if they had taken extra steps of ensuring that the loan was repaid, the minister said as far as he knew, Mngomezulu was contacted last week and they were awaiting his responses like any other beneficiary. The minister last week had stated that if Mngomezulu continued with giving them a run around, extra steps would be taken against him by SVNet, as per their work procedure.He clarified, however, that those steps had not been taken against him. The minister said Mngomezulus change of heart should be a lesson to many people who still owed the government study loan to repay it, more especially those outside of the countrys borders. Repaying As I had mentioned before that the loan could pay for three students in local institutions, therefore, by him repaying, more students will benefit from the government study loan, he said. Meanwhile, the DPM also lauded Mngoemzulu for finally repaying the loan. He said he noted that looking at the number of years that he stayed without repaying the loan, he should have paid it in full but they were fine with the E132 000. In as much as he delayed some students who could have benefited, we are grateful because still there are deserving students who will receive the scholarship, he said. He said following the noble gesture and sudden change of heart, they were hopeful that Mngomzulu would assist government and mobilise some of the government study loan beneficiaries, who were in diaspora and South Africa, repay their study loans. An American businesswoman flies across the ocean to marry her Nigerian lover with whom they share an unbreakable bond. The woman identified as Blessed Tamma could not express her joy enough as she took to social media to share a clip from their white wedding.American woman flies to Nigeria to marry Nigerian lover (Video) Quote Well you guys i made another trip to go get married in Nigeria and it was great and i am glad to say im married to @dannythamara5, she wrote. Watch the video below Norway declares 15 intelligence officers working at the Russian embassy in Oslo personae non gratae Government of Norway Press release | Date: 13/04/2023 'The 15 intelligence officers have been engaging in activities that are not compatible with their diplomatic status,' said Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt. The Government's decision is in response to the changed security situation in Europe, which has led to an increased intelligence threat from Russia. 'This is an important step in countering, and reducing the level of, Russian intelligence activity in Norway, and thus in safeguarding our national interests,' Ms Huitfeldt said. The Government has now decided to declare as personae non gratae 15 Russian intelligence officers who have been working under diplomatic cover in Norway. The officers concerned must leave Norway shortly. Visas will not be issued to intelligence officers seeking to come to Norway. '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. We will not allow Russian intelligence officers to operate under diplomatic cover in Norway,' Ms Huitfeldt said. The activities of these intelligence officers have been monitored over time. At the same time, there is an increasing Russian intelligence threat to Norway as a result of the deteriorating security situation. It is against this backdrop that we have decided to take this action now. Today's decision builds on the decision taken in April 2022 to expel three Russian intelligence officers from Norway. Norway is not the only country that is taking steps to curtail covert Russian intelligence activity. Many European countries have recently reduced the number of Russian intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover, and have tightened the rules for issuing visas to Russian intelligence officers. 'I would like to emphasise that Norway is seeking to maintain normal diplomatic relations with Russia, and that Russian diplomats are welcome in Norway. The action we have taken today is targeted towards reducing undesirable intelligence activities. We want Russia to continue to have a functioning diplomatic mission in Norway, but we will not accept that diplomatic missions are misused for the purposes of carrying out covert intelligence activities,' Ms Huitfeldt said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Arrests 21-Year-Old National Guardsman In Leaked Documents Case By RFE/RL April 13, 2023 U.S. authorities have arrested a 21-year-old Air National Guardsman in connection with the investigation into the leaking of top-secret defense and intelligence documents that have been circulated online, Attorney General Merrick Garland said on April 13. Garland identified the guardsman as Jack Teixeira, who will be charged with the unauthorized removal of classified national defense information in one of the biggest U.S. security breaches in years. Heavily armed federal agents arrived at Teixeira's home in the U.S. state of Massachusetts during the afternoon of April 13 and took the man -- wearing a T-shirt and shorts -- into custody "without incident," Garland said. The identification of a 21-year-old Guardsman with a relatively low rank has quickly raised questions about how he could have had access to such highly classified documents. The U.S. Air Force National Guard, without confirming his identity, said, "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." U.S. President Joe Biden sought to allay concerns about the leak of the classified documents, which supposedly reveal details about the military capabilities of some U.S. allies and adversaries. The Department of Justice opened a formal criminal probe into the matter after it was referred to the case by the Pentagon, which continues to assess the damage done by the release. The Washington Post reported on April 12 that the person who allegedly posted the documents on a small chat group on the Discord social media platform was a gun enthusiast in his 20s who worked at a military base. The daily based its reporting on interviews with two unnamed members of the group. The documents were posted months ago without attracting attention until The New York Times reported on them. "There's a full-blown investigation going on, as you know, with the intelligence community and the Justice Department," Biden told journalists in Dublin on April 13 before the arrest was announced. "And they're getting close." Biden, who is in the middle of a four-day visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, said that he was "not concerned about the leak" because "there is nothing contemporaneous that I'm aware of." The White House said earlier in the day that Biden did not discuss the matter with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when the two met in Northern Ireland earlier this week. The number of documents leaked, some of which were reportedly marked top secret, is not clear. They purportedly include sensitive disclosures about Ukraine, South Korea, Israel, and others. The Biden administration fears the leak could cause lasting damage to U.S. relations with key allies and strategic partners. They purportedly include sensitive disclosures about Ukraine, South Korea, Israel, and others. The Biden administration fears the leak could cause lasting damage to U.S. relations with key allies and strategic partners. The Discord group allegedly included people from Russia and Ukraine, The Washington Post reported, and was focused on a "mutual love of guns, military gear and God." The social media platform itself is popular with players of online games. The man who posted the documents, who went by the online handle OG, allegedly told group members he sometimes worked in a secure facility at the base that "prohibited cell phones and other electronic devices." Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on Ukrainian television on April 12 that "the risk of leaks is very minimal" because only a "very narrow circle of people" is aware of Ukrainian military planning. With reporting by AP, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/leaked-documents- investigation-arrest-teixeira/32362510.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 Norway Expels 15 Russian Diplomats As Russia Pledges 'Appropriate Response' By RFE/RL April 13, 2023 NATO member Norway has declared 15 officials of the Russian Embassy in Oslo to be "unwanted," saying they were intelligence operatives acting under diplomatic cover. The Norwegian Foreign Ministry said the April 13 expulsions came "in response to the changed security situation in Europe," which has led to an increase in Russian intelligence activity. The Russians would have to leave Norway "shortly," it added. Russia's Foreign Ministry told the state-run TASS news agency that "Russia will make an appropriate response." "The 15 intelligence officers have been engaging in activities that are not compatible with their diplomatic status," Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said, although she insisted that Oslo was seeking "to maintain normal diplomatic relations with Russia." Huitfeld said the expulsions were necessary "to counter and reduce the scope of Russian intelligence activities in Norway," adding that "Russia currently poses the greatest intelligence threat to Norway." "We want Russia to continue to have a functioning diplomatic mission in Norway, but we will not accept that diplomatic missions are misused for the purposes of carrying out covert intelligence activities," Huitfeld added. The 15 officials account for about one-quarter of the Russian diplomats currently accredited in Norway. The heightened tensions between Oslo and Moscow could complicate the work of the Arctic Council, an international forum for Arctic-region countries. Moscow currently holds the rotating chair of the organization, but Norway is scheduled to take the reins on May 11. Amid soaring tensions between Russia and NATO countries over Moscow's unprovoked February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, there have been a spate of diplomatic expulsions across Europe. In the weeks following the invasion, about 20 European countries expelled more than 300 Russian diplomats. On April 5, 2022, Germany expelled 40 Russians, Italy 30, France 35, Denmark 15, and Sweden 3. Norway expelled three Russians at the time. Nordic countries Finland and Sweden applied to join the NATO alliance in May 2022. Finland's membership was formalized on April 4, more than doubling Russia's land border with members of the north Atlantic alliance. Sweden's bid is expected to be completed in the near future. With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, The Barents Observer, and TASS Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/norway-expels-15-russian- diplomats/32362325.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 15th Engineer Battalion, DPW collaboration paves way for future joint projects By Natalie Simmel April 13, 2023 TOWER BARRACKS, Germany -- The 15th Engineer Battalion and the Directorate of Public Works recently joined forces to improve infrastructure at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria. Together they improved the street condition next to the new elementary school at Tower Barracks: a small construction project and a big step towards a new partnership. As the building of the new elementary school came to an end, a new project arose: the construction of a drivable roadbed along the adjoining tank road. Since the road is used by heavy automobiles the asphalt was getting torn up along the sides. To ensure longevity and stability of the road, a proper shoulder was needed. Luckily the 15th Engineer Bn. and the 2nd Cavalry Regiment had just made a request to the garrison. To help the community and establish a partnership with DPW they offered to help with their Soldiers and equipment in the execution of small projects. "We are trying to show the installation and DPW the capabilities that we have because a lot of the construction work on base that DPW does we could help them with," said 1st Lt. William Johnson with the 902nd Engineer Company, 15th Engineer Bn. "We are trying to start with small projects like this and hopefully it leads to more opportunities to work together in the future." Thanks to the help of the 15th Engineer Bn. about 15,000 Euros were saved on the new elementary project. "It's part of our mission set, but we want to do the project to help out the community and DPW here at Grafenwoehr," said Staff Sgt. Robert Bean, 902nd Engineer Co. "We are trying to get our training out of this but we also want to establish a better relationship with DPW." In total six Soldiers worked on this project: equipment operators and ground people working with hand tools. The road construction was finished in time for the opening of the new elementary school March 5. The unit is currently working on demolishing old concrete slabs in Camp Kasserine, and they are helping to prepare the ground for the actual redesign project for the tent sites at Camp Kasserine. Through their help, demolition costs are lower. "We are looking forward to work together with the Engineer Battalion on smaller projects in the future as well," said Andrea Hoesl, head of the project management department within engineering division of DPW. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address April 13, 2023 Transcript Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds a Press Briefing Brigadier General Pat Ryder, Pentagon Press Secretary BRIGADIER GENERAL PAT RYDER: Well, good afternoon, everyone. I have quite a few things to cover at the top here, so I appreciate your patience in advance. And then we'll get right to your questions. So first of all, 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. Because this is an ongoing criminal investigation, I will have to refer you to the DOJ for any questions. This is a law enforcement matter, and it would be inappropriate for me or any other DOD official to comment at this time. And certainly, when we have more to provide from the Department of Defense we will. In the meantime, as Secretary Austin has stated, the department is taking the issue of this unauthorized disclosure very seriously. 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. 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. And while we certainly understand the media's interest in asking questions about the contents of these documents, I will highlight that as a matter of longstanding policy, just because classified information may be posted online or elsewhere does not mean it has been declassified by a classification authority. And those of you who have been covering the Pentagon for a long time know that we're just not going to discuss or confirm classified information due to the potential impact on national security as well as the safety and security of our personnel and those of our allies and our partners. And for that reason, we will continue to encourage those of you who are reporting this story to take these latter factors into account. And to consider the potential consequences of posting potentially sensitive documents or information online or elsewhere. Separately, Secretary Austin hosted Latvia's Minister of Defense Inara Murniece today at the Pentagon. The leaders discussed the strength of the U.S.-Latvia defense relationship and ongoing efforts to support Ukraine. They also discussed shared security interests in Europe, including NATO's deterrence and defense posture ahead of the July NATO Summit in Vilnius. A readout will be available later today. Staying on Europe for a moment, next week Secretary Austin will travel to Sweden to meet with his counterpart to discuss security-related topics shared by our two nations. From there he'll travel to Germany, where he and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Milley, will host an in-person meeting on April 21, at -- of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base. This will be the 11th meeting of the UDCG since this vital form was established by Secretary Austin one year ago. The secretary and General Milley will join ministers of defense and senior military officials from nearly 50 nations around the world to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and to continue our close coordination on providing the Ukrainian people with the means necessary to protect themselves against Russia's unprovoked and illegal aggression. And as we've highlighted before, the contact group has been instrumental in identifying, synchronizing and ensuring delivery of the military capabilities that Ukrainians need to defend their homeland. And on a semi-related note, at the end of this month, the Arkansas Army National Guard's 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will replace the New York Army National Guard's 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and assume command of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine at Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany. The 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team took charge of the JMTGU during a transfer authority ceremony in August of 2022, becoming the first and only unit in the JMTGU's eight-year history to assume the unit mission for a second time. And we look forward to the arrival of the 39th and the continuation of the important work to provide Ukraine what it needs in terms of training to defend itself. And with that, I'll be happy to go to your questions. We'll go ahead and start with A.P., Tara Copp. Q: Thank you, General Ryder. So can you confirm that Airman First Class Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, is a person of interest in this leaked document's case? And then I have several other questions. GEN. RYDER: Sure. So first of all, as I mentioned, there is an ongoing criminal investigation, and so anything related to that, I'm going to need to refer you to the DOJ or the FBI. Q: Can you speak at all to if anyone in the Department of Defense has reached out to this airman? Do you know where he is? There are reports that law enforcement is closing on this airman's location. So has anyone been able to reach out to him? GEN. RYDER: Again, Tara, appreciate the question, but again, given that this is an ongoing investigation, I'm not going to be able to talk about the investigation or any potential DOJ actions, so I'd refer you to them. Q: OK. In the days after the leaks came to light, what steps has DOD taken to reduce the number of people who have access to not only these classified briefings, but the classified material in general? GEN. RYDER: So we continue to review a variety of factors, as it relates to safeguarding classified materials. This includes examining and updating distribution lists, assessing how and where intelligence products are shared and a variety of other steps. I would say, though, that it is -- 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. And so again, I think that's important to understand. Now, we will continue to do everything we can to ensure that people who have a need to know when it comes to this kind information have access to that. We're always going to learn from every situation. But again, this is something that we'll continue to look at. Q: But you are taking steps to tighten that, I guess, population who might have access to this level of information? GEN. RYDER: That's accurate. Again, we continue to review those distribution lists, update them, make sure there's a need to know. But again, let me just emphasize my point that this was a -- you know, we have rules in place. Each of us signs a nondisclosure agreement, anybody that has a security clearance. And so all indications are, again, this was a criminal act, a willful violation of those, and again, another reason why we're continuing to investigate and support DOJ's investigation. Q: And just last Q: Do you have a sense that this is just the act of one individual? And even if so, wouldn't members of his chain of command also be held accountable for this lost information? GEN. RYDER: Again, I don't want to speculate or get ahead of the DOJ's investigation. We need to allow that to run its course, and so I'd refer you to them. Let me go ahead and go to Gordon, and then I'll come back to Jen. Q: Yeah, Pat, just two questions. One, just to clarify, in DOD's efforts to change the way you do business in terms of protecting classified information, apart from the stuff that you do already, is that DOD-led, or is that Joint Staff-led? Who's kind of directing what on that? And then second question is just hypothetically -- I know you like hypotheticals -- if somebody was to be charged, what would determine whether the military would charge and indict and, you know, carry out the legal process against that person or people or DOJ? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so on your latter question, you're right. I don't want to get into hypotheticals. I will say that, you know, as always, every case is judged on its own merits, and we need to allow this investigation to run its course, and then, of course, there'll be more to say on that. On your first question, again, it's important to understand that this is not just about DOD; this is about the U.S. government. This is about how we protect and safeguard classified information, and as I highlighted, we do have strict protocols in place. So anytime there is an incident, anytime there's an opportunity to review that and refine it, and of course, going to take advantage of that. Within the Department of Defense, as you've heard us say, Secretary Austin has been convening daily meetings with his senior leaders, to include the chairman, to talk about reviewing the scope and the impact of this, and also to look at mitigation measures and what we need to do across the Department of Defense to ensure that we're doing our utmost to reinforce existing policies, procedures and rules, and if there are any areas where we need to tighten things up, we certainly will. Q: And you've made some changes already? GEN. RYDER: That's correct, as I mentioned to Tara. Q: By DOD, not Joint Staff? GEN. RYDER: When I say DOD, I mean the Department of Defense, across the entire enterprise. OK? Jen? Q: General Ryder, you say that there are strict protocols in place, and yet, a 21-year-old airman was able to access some of the nation's top secrets. How did this happen? And isn't this a massive security breach? GEN. RYDER: Again, we need to allow the investigation to run its course. We'll, of course, know more when that is completed, so I'd refer you to DOJ on that. Q: What is your message to anyone who might be thinking of leaking these kind of documents in the future? GEN. RYDER: Look, again, we have procedures. We have protocols in place. We receive regular training on the proper handling of classified information. As I mentioned, we sign nondisclosure 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. Q: Can you put into context the damage that has been done by this leak? GEN. RYDER: Again, right now, we're continuing to assess the scope and the impact, and so that's work that will be ongoing. Tony? Q: How large was the distribution network for these documents, say, prior to last Thursday, when the disclosures came out? Are we talking thousands of people had access inside the Pentagon and outside the Pentagon, to include Europe and bases around the United States? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, Tony, so I don't have any numbers to provide you as I'm sure you can appreciate. The Department of Defense and all of our components, it's a global enterprise doing work in all areas of the world. And so certainly, we have people who have access to information that they need to do their jobs, but I don't have any numbers for you. Q: Can you say it was widespread, though, versus, you know, outside the Pentagon, though, and to other military installations? GEN. RYDER: Well, again, the Department of Defense, we conduct global operations, so intelligence products, operational information products are shared with DOD leaders and personnel globally throughout the world, whether it's at a component command, whether it's in the services. But again, the important thing to understand about classified information -- it's not just "I want to have access to it because I have a clearance". It's all based on need to know. Do you have a need to know that information? And that typically will grant you access if you have the appropriate clearances. Q: Thanks. GEN. RYDER: Thank you. Travis? Q: Thanks, Pat. I'm still confused on the access issue. You said that there were changes that were made, but you also said that you're reviewing things. Can you tell us, are there less people who have access to this type of information today than there were a week ago? GEN. RYDER: So Travis, again, I'm not going to get down to numbers. Again, reviewing distribution lists, looking at who has a need to know, making sure those things are updated, doing due diligence in the wake of these unauthorized disclosures. Again though, I want to emphasize that 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 in your house and took something and put it out on the street, that's what we're talking about here. Let me go to Carla. Q: Just a couple questions on this and then I a follow on something separate. Why did it take so long to brief the secretary about the leaks? He said that he was briefed on April 6. And would you classify that delay as a failure of the open-source intelligence teams? GEN. RYDER: Absolutely not. We were notified, you know, the department became aware on the 5th. The secretary was briefed hours later, on the morning of the 6th. I don't consider that a delay. Thanks. Yes. Q: But to follow on that, these documents were available long before April 5 and 6. So, what took so long for DOD and the intelligence communities to locate these documents? GEN. RYDER: Yes, so that's really something that the investigation will tell us. That said, I think it's important to remember that DOD's intelligence activities are primarily focused internationally. So, to the extent that the department collects any information related to U.S. persons, for example, or gaming chatrooms, it would have to be conducted in accordance with the law and policy and in a manner that protects privacy and civil liberties. So again, we'll know more at the culmination of this investigation. Thank you. Let me go - Q: Would you be able to follow up on - GEN. RYDER: No. Let me - Q: Just the Syria, really quickly - GEN. RYDER: All right. Q: -- really quickly, on the Syria attacks from March, do we have a final conclusion on the TBI assessments? How many U.S. troops received TBIs as a result of these attacks? And do you believe that the U.S. strikes that happened on 3/23, the retaliatory strikes, do you believe that they've deterred Iranian-backed groups from targeting U.S. forces? GEN. RYDER: Yes, so on the TBI, my understanding is CENTCOM has collected some additional information. So, we'll get that to you and the press team here. In terms of deterrence, again, we're going to continue to do everything that we need to do at a time and place of our choosing, to ensure that we're deterring and safeguarding our folks. And I'll just leave it at that. Thank you. Let me go to Dave. Q: Can you just tell us what the mission of the 102nd Intelligence Wing for the Massachusetts International Guard was? And are you going to release this airman's service record in response to, I'm sure, the thousands of requests you've already gotten? GEN. RYDER: Yes. So, David, on the service record, again, we'll take that, and we'll provide an update when we're able to. In terms of the 102nd Intelligence Wing, I don't have that in front of me. I am positive they have a website we can quickly find the fact sheet up there. In general, intelligence wings throughout the Air Force support as what you might imagine, Air Force intelligence requirements worldwide to support a variety of types of intelligence missions and requirements. So, which include active guard and reserve components. So, let me go to Brandy and then I'll come to Oren. Q: Thank you so much, General Ryder. What technologies is the Pentagon applying right now to both spot leaked documents online and track potential indicators of leaking-type practices? Do you plan to be investing in more? GEN. RYDER: Again, Brandy, so when it comes to this particular situation we'll know more when the investigation is concluded. As I highlighted, when it comes to intelligence collection with the Department of Defense, that's focused primarily internationally. I'm not going to get into the specifics of where, how and when we conduct our intelligence activities. But we're always looking at potential gaps, potential vulnerabilities and that's something that will be just ongoing work. Q: You are using technologies right now to spot potential leakers of future documents? GEN. RYDER: You're asking me a hypothetical basically. Again, we're always going to be on the lookout for any potential insider threats. Again, we get training on how to spot insider threats. But again, as I mentioned to Travis, you've locked your door, you've lent some keys to your friends. If one of those friends decides to give the keys away, you know, hopefully, you've been able to clue in on those signals. So, we'll continue to monitor it. Q: And I don't think it's lost on anyone in this room that this is all happening at the same time that Deputy Secretary Hicks is conducting a review of the Pentagon's classification practices, and at times, overclassification. So, can you talk about how this incident is informing that ongoing review? GEN. RYDER: Again, I think that there is the investigation that the DOJ is conducting. And then you're talking about something separately which is, again, our review of classification requirements, acknowledging that where we need to be better in terms of classification, and so. Q: But it's having no impact on Hick's review? GEN. RYDER: Thank you. I'm going to go on to Oren now. Q: I want to come back to the question of distribution -- on two different questions. Given the gravity of the situation are you actively paring down the distribution list now? Is this a process that's moving quickly? Or is it going to take time for there to be meaningful, substantive changes to the distribution? And then, is DOD or has DOD taken additional measures to restrict the access to classified information of others in the Massachusetts International Guard? GEN. RYDER: So, Oren, broadly speaking I think I've already answered the question that, yes, we are taking and have taken steps to review distribution lists and to ensure that the folks receiving information have a need-to-know. But again, to belabor the point, we have safeguards in place, we have processes, we have procedures. We'll continue to do due diligence as part of this review to ensure that we're doing everything we can to prevent potential unauthorized disclosures in the future, recognizing that, again, this was a criminal deliberate act. Thank you. Q: And at the Massachusetts Air National Guard... GEN. RYDER: Again, I don't have anything on that. Q: Thank you very much, General. So, please let me ask you a question about China, two questions about China -- GEN. RYDER: Wait? What? (Laughter.) Q: -- briefly. GEN. RYDER: Read the room, Ryo. Come on. Q: Yes. Yes. The China conducted a three-day exercises around Taiwan and still continue the combat training around Taiwan. So, do you assess China has overreacted to the meeting between President Tsai and Speaker McCarthy? GEN. RYDER: Yes. Thanks, Ryo. So, we, obviously, continue to monitor the situation in the Taiwan Strait very closely as well as the PRC's military exercises. You've heard others say that, from a U.S. government perspective, these military exercises undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which is critical to global prosperity. You know, they estimate, you know, upwards of a few trillion dollars of global commerce going through that strait regularly. And so, as we've said, there is no reason for Beijing to turn President Tsai's transit, which was consistent with longstanding U.S. policy into something that it's not or use it as a pretext to overreact. And so, we'll continue to do everything we can to maintain open channels of communication with the PRC. And we will not be deterred, the U.S. will not be deterred from operating safely and responsibly in the seas and the skies in the Western Pacific consistent with international law. Q: Just one quick follow-up. The Chinese military exercises accumulated the brocade of Taiwan. Are you confident that the U.S. military is capable of breaking Chinese brocade around Taiwan? GEN. RYDER: Well again, I'm not going to get into hypotheticals and I'm not going to talk about, you know, or speculate on future scenarios. Again, we're going to work closely with our allies and our partners in the region to focus on our primary goal, which is peace, stability and security in the region. And so, that will continue to be our primary focus. OK, let me go back over to here, Will and then Laura. Q: Thank you. What is the scope of the leak, as identified by DOD so far? Are we talking tens, hundreds, thousands of documents? And then second, the U.S. has been reviewing the authenticity of the documents for several days now. What has been found so far on that? GEN. RYDER: Yes, thanks. So, that work is ongoing, Will. I'm not going to be able to provide you with an overall number of documents. We're just going to continue to look at this. As you highlight, you know, some of the initial indications were that some of those documents had been altered. Again, for obvious reasons, I'm not going to go into which ones were or weren't. But that is work that we continue to do and take a look at. Laura? Q: Thank you. Sort of as a follow on to Carla and Brandy's questions, can you say whether DOD has anyone looking at chatrooms on Discord, for example, or other social media chatrooms right now for leaked information? And if not, should DOD have these people? GEN. RYDER: So, DOJ is, as I understand it, is working with Discord or Discord has come out publicly to say they are cooperating with the DOJ. So, that's really a question for DOJ to tell - Q: So, is that a no, that DOD has - GEN. RYDER: I think I already answered the question, in terms of what our focus is on. It's primarily focused on international. I'm not going to get into the specifics of what intelligence activities we're conducting or not, other than to say when we do conduct those activities they're in compliance with the law and with policy. OK, let me go to Jim and then I'll come back over here. Q: Thanks, General. You know, every time something like this happens there's a huge tendency to clamp down on everything. But that sort of ends up throwing the baby out with the bathwater if you know what I mean. Is there any sort of idea in the department that the intel does need to be shared, it just needs to go to the correct people. Is there a sturdy going on with that? GEN. RYDER: Yes. So, thanks, Jim. So, as I mentioned, there have been daily meetings with the secretary and the senior DOD leadership team. We're taking this very seriously to look, again, that the scope, the impact and, importantly, the mitigation measures. I will tell you that these discussions are very focused, very deliberate and very measured in terms of ensuring that we're doing the right things while not impeding or impacting our ability to do our important missions worldwide. And so, you know, just to put it frankly, we're continuing to conduct our operations and provide people with the information they need without missing a beat. Thanks. All right, let me come over here. I'll go here and then here. Q: Yes, thanks, Pat. Tell me, would a junior servicemember like an airman in the Massachusetts Guard or any other junior servicemember typically have the level of security clearances that would allow them access to such sensitive information like joint staff briefing documents? GEN. RYDER: Yes. So, again, let me just preface what I'm about to tell you with, I'm not going to talk about a particular individual. I'm not going to talk about the investigation. I'm not going to, again, have to refer you to DOJ for that. Let's take a step back for a second. Let's talk about security clearances. When you join the military, depending on your position, you may require a security clearance, and if you are working in the intelligence community and you require a security clearance, you're going to go through the proper vetting. We entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age. Think about a young combat, you know, platoon sergeant and the responsibility and trust that we put into those individuals to lead troops into combat. That's just one example across the board. So you receive training and you will receive an understanding of the rules and requirements that come along with those responsibilities, and you're expected to abide by those rules, regulations and responsibility. It's called military discipline. And in certain cases, especially when it comes to sensitive information, it also is about the law. So I'll just leave it at that. Kasim? Q: Thank you very much. So separate topic: Last week, CENTCOM confirmed that three U.S. servicemembers were with YPG/SDF ringleader Mazloum Abdi when he was apparently targeting an airstrike in -- so northern Iraq, Sulaymaniyah. My question is, what was the mission or engagements that U.S. servicemembers involved alongside Mazloum Abdi in Sulaymaniyah? And also, were this engagements authorized or permitted by the Iraqi central government or not? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so let me tell you what I've got on this, Kasim. So on April 7, convoy, including U.S. personnel, was fired upon while in transit within the Iraqi Kurdistan region in the area near Sulaymaniyah. U.S. forces are in Iraq and Syria, as you know, in support of local partner forces, in support of the Defeat ISIS mission, the enduring defeat of ISIS. And so in this particular incident, we can confirm that there were no casualties; that the strike was not a near-miss. It struck more than 100 meters from the convoy, and CENTCOM is currently investigating the incident, so I'd refer you to CENTCOM. Q: Is there -- what was the mission of the U.S. servicemembers? And was it somehow allowed or authorized? GEN. RYDER: They are conducting in support of the Defeat ISIS mission. Q: Was it authorized by Iraqi government? Because Mazloum is... GEN. RYDER: Well, we're supporting the Iraqi Security Forces as part of the Defeat ISIS mission. As you know, we have forces in Iraq. They're not conducting combat operations. They're there advising and assisting the Iraqis. And then we have forces in Syria that are supporting the SDF. So again, there's an intra-theater mission in terms of the Defeat ISIS mission. Q: So like Mazloum Abdi is in Syria. You are cooperating with him... GEN. RYDER: Well, the OIR headquarters is in Iraq, right? But they conduct operations in support of Defeat ISIS mission in Syria and Iraq. So let me go ahead. Yes, sir? Q: If I may, I'd like to remain on the same subject. Actually, I've got one question about this. I posed the same question to the State Department on Monday, and I was referred to the Department of Defense, so that's why. The question is, when the U.S. servicemen, U.S. military members are riding with the head of the SDF, isn't there concern within the Department of Defense that those U.S. servicemen are also made a legitimate target, not least one of your greatest NATO allies, because of this decades-long relationship with the PKK that I think -- I'm sure is very much known to the U.S. intelligence community? GEN. RYDER: So, no. We've partnered with the SDF since, you know, 2015, 2014, as part of the Defeat ISIS Mission. We have a longstanding relationship with them. They are not the PKK. We are partnered with SDF to defeat ISIS. So, no, we've been conducting partnered operations for a very long time. So, let me go ahead and move on. Yes, sir? Yes, we'll go to you and then to Meghann. Q: Thanks, Pat. Just two quick follow-ups to questions. One was from Ryo, in regards to the Chinese activities around Taiwan. Before they did the military exercises they were conducting and exercise that which the Pentagon described as, well they were in international waters it's simply what we do in international waters. At what point does it move being in international waters to an overreaction? That's my first question, please. And my second one is, regards to what you said earlier in this briefing, even though the investigation's going on and such, but you're confident that -- but you said several times that this a violation of the law. And as we all sign non-disclosure agreements, not me but we, it depending on, so you're confident that those two factors will remain when the investigation concludes? GEN. RYDER: Yes, so on your latter questions, again, I'm not going to discuss the ongoing investigation, by virtue of the fact that photographed documents of sensitive information are posted by default is a violation of, you know, how to properly handle and safeguard sensitive information. So, it is a criminal act. And then in terms of your first question, I would just have to take a little bit of an exception of conducting simulated strikes against Taiwan is not just - Q: (Inaudible). GEN. RYDER: -- that's not just operating peacefully in international waters. And so, again, yes we would call that an overreaction. Yes. OK, let me get a few more here. Let me go back to Kelly and then over here to Joe. Q: Thank you. You mentioned taking steps to review the distribution list and ensure that folks receiving information have a need-to-know. But this isn't the first time you've had that kind of crackdown on this to limit who's on these distribution lists. So, my question is, how did this happen? How wasn't this solved before? And how did, potentially, a 21-year-old have a need-to-know? GEN. RYDER: Again, we need to allow the investigation time to run its course. And so, again, I'd defer you to the Department of Justice when it comes to suspects, you know, on that. And again, look, this is something that we -- that will continue to be important work to ensure that there's, you know, an understanding of the rules and regulations. Again, we have strict safeguards in place and people are expected to abide by those. We'll just leave it at that. Let me go over here. Q: Thanks, General. A quick one on the Syria strike. So, just to clarify, there has been no attribution to was behind that attack with the (inaudible)? GEN. RYDER: Again, my understanding is it's continued -- CENTCOM is investigating, so I'd refer you to them. Q: Then secondly, yesterday Reuters cited several sources, including intel officials, as saying that they've seen Iranian weapons being moved into Syria following the -- following certain sanctions waivers, following the earthquake. Has DOD seen any Iran -- any increase or uptick in Iranian weapons heading for Syria? GEN. RYDER: Yes, thanks. I don't have anything to provide from here other than, again, we, you know, as evidenced by the IRGC-aligned groups in Syria, we know that Iran conducts malign activities within Syria. So, I've got time for two more. Meghann and then go to the back there. And then we'll end on Tara. Q: Several media reports have said that the airman in question was working at Fort Bragg at the time that the documents were put online. Was he on Title 10 orders at the time or has he been on Title 10 orders since? GEN. RYDER: Yes, thanks, Meghann. Again, I don't have anything to provide on that front. I have to refer you to DOJ. When we have more to provide we certainly will. Q: All right, a follow-up. Has the leak prompted any discussion at OSD about either tightening policies or bulking up training for OPSEC or social media? GEN. RYDER: Again, our review is ongoing. I've mentioned some of the steps that we've taken. And we're going to do everything that we need to do, to do due diligence to ensure that we are properly safeguarding classified information. Again, I can't emphasize enough, that this is something that Secretary Austin and the entire department are taking very, very seriously. We understand the impact that an unauthorized disclosure like this can have on national security. And so, again, it's something that we'll continue to work very hard on. Thank you. We'll go here and then over to Tara. Q: Thank you, General. This morning the Prime Minister of Poland gave remarks that were very supportive of Ukraine's ambition -- stated ambition to join both the EU and NATO Alliance. From a strictly military perspective, would you see any benefit to Ukraine joining these two organizations? And especially for the wider defensive posture there in the area? GEN. RYDER: Yes, thanks. Q: In the Baltic states? GEN. RYDER: So that's not really something for me to comment on. Obviously, I'd refer you to Ukraine to talk about its perspectives on joining NATO and the EU. And I'll just leave it at that. Tara? Q: The Associated Press has confirmed that federal agents have taken a Massachusetts International Guardsman into custody. At this point, could you speak a little bit more about this case? GEN. RYDER: I cannot. I'd, again, refer you to DOJ. It's an ongoing DOJ investigation and activity. So, I'd refer you to them. And again, I will say, when we do have more to provide we certainly will. OK, thank you very much, everybody. Appreciate it. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3362413/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address April 13, 2023 Transcript Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Remarks Welcoming Latvian Defense Minister Inara Murniece to the Pentagon Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD J. AUSTIN III: Well, Minister Murniece, good morning. Welcome to the Pentagon. As you know, I had a great trip to Latvia last August, and so it's a real pleasure to be able to host you here at the Pentagon, and really, thank you for coming. I have to say, Madam Minister, you've quickly become a valued partner. We've had productive discussions at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and at the NATO Defense Ministerial in February. And so now, we're meeting at a crucial time for European security. For more than a year, Russia has waged a war of cruel and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. The Kremlin's forces are showing deliberate cruelty, targeting Ukraine civilians and civilian infrastructure. But the Ukrainian people have responded with incredible courage, and the United States and our allies and partners have committed ourselves to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes, and you've heard us say that a number of times. Now, Latvia has shown tremendous leadership in providing security assistance to Ukraine, and you are among the top -- top contributors of military assistance to Ukraine relative to the size of your economy. You've reminded us of that a couple of times, and that's been very highly-motivating. But Latvia has donated more than one percent of its GDP to helping Ukraine fight Russian aggression, and you've reminded us as well that all -- countries of all sizes can make a big difference in standing up for what's right. Now, let me also commend Latvia for your investments in your own capabilities, including finalizing major procure -- procurement of a coastal defense missiles and Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems. These investments are crucial for your security and for NATO's collective defense and deterrence. Madam Minister, thank you for your gracious host nation support for allies -- allied forces. As I've said before, we will maintain a persistent presence of U.S. forces in the Baltics through regular rotations. The United States remains fully committed to Latvia's defense and to Article 5. So Madam Minister, thanks again for your leadership and for making the trip today. We couldn't ask for a better ally and friend than Latvia. I look forward to a great discussion. DEFENSE MINISTER INARA MURNIECE: Thank you, Secretary Austin, for a really kind (inaudible) , and thank you for seeing me today here in -- in the Pentagon. Russia's war in Ukraine has global and far-reaching implications. We have to help Ukraine to win this war (inaudible), and we cannot allow our -- ourselves at war fatigue. Latvia and the United States are biggest friend of Ukraine, and largest assistance provided. (inaudible) pledge that Latvia's military assistance to Ukraine comes up to one percent of GDP, but in total, ours has been combinedly 1.14 percent of our GDP, and I'm looking forward to discussion on how we can continue helping Ukraine to fight for its very existence. Besides investing in military support to Ukraine, Latvia's spending -- already spending 2.3 percent of GDP for its own defense by introducing conscription developing things that lead (to increased ?) structural and intensifying our secure (inaudible), soon defense spending will reach three percent of our GDP. And there is also a lot of -- to discuss on NATO agenda as we are just three months short of NATO Leaders Summit in Vilnius. NATO's hard defense raising its military capacity should be focus of the summit. Secretary Austin, your soldiers in Latvia that are on rotational basis, they're doing great job. Thank you for the United States' leadership and military presence in the Baltic region. As Latvia's acquiring more and more United States-made equipment, we are not only building a more lethal and capable force, but also facilitating greater interoperability among our forces. I'm glad that we are in the final stage of signing a contract on naval strike missiles and advancing procurement process of HIMARS systems. Those are some of the items I'm looking forward to discussing with you today in more detail. Thank you for welcoming us and my delegation here in the Pentagon in this crucial time, I would say. SEC. AUSTIN: Thanks for being -- for being here, Madam Minister. I look forward to a great discussion. Thanks, everybody. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3361768/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Investcorp, a leading global alternative investment firm, has announced a majority investment in Shearer Supply, a leading independent specialty distributor of essential Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment for residential and commercial properties in the US. Founded in 1983, and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Shearer is one of the largest independent distributors of HVAC products in the US, serving over 5,500 clients from 22 branches across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and Louisiana. Shearer distributes a comprehensive set of products including residential and commercial HVAC equipment and parts from over 120 suppliers including American Standard, Ameristar and Samsung. Announcing the key takeover, Investcorp said the previous owners of the company, including Shearers management team, the Shearer family and PNC Riverarch Capital will re-invest meaningfully alongside Investcorp and remain shareholders in the company. "Shearer operates in a large, resilient and highly fragmented market driven by non-discretionary replacement demand, which we expect to continue to benefit from strong secular tailwinds including an aging housing stock, shortening replacement cycles and favorable regulation, in addition to its attractive Southern US geographic footprint where higher average temperatures and a growing population is increasing the demand for HVAC products," remarked Dave Tayeh, the Head of Private Equity North America at Investcorp. "We have experienced robust activity across our North American Private Equity platform this year, underscoring the strength of our strategy in partnering with growing, founder-led businesses as they look to scale their businesses," he noted. Bahrain-based Investcorp has an established history of investing and realizing value from leading value-added specialty distributors across several end markets, with investments including Arrowhead, American Tire Distributors, FleetPirde, Berlin Packaging and Fortune International, with a unique investment experience in the HVAC industry through its recent investment in and realization from the Wrench Group, a leading specialty provider of HVAC maintenance and repair services. "Todays announcement marks an important continuation of our strategy to identify and collaborate with high-potential businesses across a diverse range of sectors and markets globally," said Yusef Al Yusef, the Head of Investcorp Private Wealth. "In a fragmented industry with huge growth potential, Shearer combines robust and resilient fundamentals with strong cash flow, and together we are well placed to take advantage of the opportunities for expansion in the fast-growing HVAC market," he added. Michelle Shearer-Rodriguez, CEO at Shearer Supply, said: "Investcorp has an established history of working with companies like Shearer and have demonstrated a strong track record in HVAC and specialty distribution. We are looking forward to partnering with them on our next phase of growth and leveraging their strong industry insights." Investcorps North America Private Equity group has been investing in North American mid-market businesses for over 40 years and has completed approximately 70 transactions, deploying more than $22 billion in transaction value since inception. "Shearer provides a compelling value proposition for both contractors and original equipment manufacturers, acting as a one-stop-shop local partner with a breadth of products, expertise and value-added services, said Steve Miller, Managing Director, Private Equity North America at Investcorp. "This is an impressive family-owned and run business that has differentiated itself in its ability to scale and grow in excess of the market throughout its history and we are thrilled to be partnering with the Companys highly motivated management team," he added.-TradeArabia News Service April 13, 2023 Release Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With Latvia Minister of Defence Inara Murniece Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III welcomed Latvian Minister of Defence Inara Murniece to the Pentagon today. The leaders discussed the strength of the U.S.-Latvia defense relationship and ongoing efforts to support Ukraine. They discussed shared security interests in Europe, including NATO's deterrence and defense posture, ahead of the July NATO Summit in Vilnius. The two look forward to further cooperation both bilaterally and through NATO. Secretary Austin and Minister Murniece exchanged views on Russia's horrific war against Ukraine. Secretary Austin thanked Minister Murniece for Latvia's significant military assistance to Ukraine, noting that Latvia is one of the largest contributors to Ukraine relative to the size of its economy. The leaders emphasized their steadfast commitment to Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Secretary Austin also lauded Latvia's robust defense spending and welcomed Latvia's investment in new capabilities like long-range fires and defense infrastructure. Secretary Austin and Minister Murniece agreed to continue the close cooperation to deepen our defense and security relationship. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3361646/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address April 13, 2023 Release Readout of Under Secretary of Defense for Policy D In-Depth Coverage Department of Defense Spokesman Lt. Col. David Herndon provided the following readout: Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl met with Defense Minister Zukan Helez of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) at the Pentagon, April 12. The two leaders discussed the nations' strong bilateral relationship, and Under Secretary Kahl conveyed the United States' unwavering commitment to the peace and stability of BiH and the Western Balkans. The United States proudly supports the NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo and the Alliance's partnership with BiH. The United States believes that a strong, modern, multiethnic Armed Force is the cornerstone of security for all citizens of BiH. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3361309/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Quartet neighboring states issue joint statement on formation of inclusive gov't in Afghanistan IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 13, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministers of four neighboring countries of Afghanistan, including Iran, have issued a joint statement in Uzbekistan necessitating the establishment of an inclusive government in Afghanistan with participation of all ethnic groups. The Iran-Pakistan-China-Russia joint statement has called on the Afghan officials to form an inclusive government and stop all measures which limit women's and ethnic minorities' activities. The foreign ministers of four countries have once again stressed the importance of respecting independence, territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Afghanistan to help the neighboring state determine its way to development. Through the joint statement, the foreign ministers expressed deep concern over the security situation of Afghanistan. All terrorist groups, including Daesh (ISIS), are serious threat to the world and the regional security, according to the statement. So, the four countries at the quartet meeting urged the current officials in Afghanistan to take practical measures to confront terrorism and annihilate the terrorist groups. Further, they called on the United States and its allies to be accountable for the critical situation in Afghanistan which has been worsened after the unilateral sanctions against the country. If borders between Afghanistan and the neighboring countries are safe, all will be benefited from it, the joint statement said. The foreign ministers also expressed support for diplomatic efforts to facilitate finding political solution for issues in Afghanistan. On the sidelines of the meeting, the Iranian foreign minister is to hold separate talks with his participating counterparts in the fourth meeting of Afghanistan's neighboring countries in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. 1483**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Quartet meeting reviews situation of Afghanistan: Iran FM IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 13, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has said that the quartet meeting with participation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Pakistan, Russia and China reviewed the concerns about the situation in Afghanistan. Measures to fight against drug smuggling and help prepare a proper space for girls and women to study in Afghanistan were among the important issues at the meeting, Amirabdollahian told reporters on the sidelines of the meeting participated by the four countries' foreign ministers. Amirabdollahian enumerated the spread of terrorism, rise in the number of refugees and crises created by the continuation of the US and the West sanctions as some issues in Afghanistan which have caused concern. Also, necessity of serious control of drug smuggling in the borders, particularly on borders with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and accountability of the caretaker government in Afghanistan for the issue were reviewed, the Iranian foreign minister added. Iran is ready to help Afghan women and children study through holding classes in person and online, Amirabdollahian underlined. Amirabdollahian at the head of an Iranian delegation arrived in the Uzbek city of Samarkand on Thursday to attend the fourth ministerial meeting of Afghanistan's neighboring states with the participation of Islamic Republic and six other countries. Holding the second foreign ministerial meeting of Iran, Russia, China and Pakistan was also among the plans in Uzbekistan. 1483**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Deputy Secretary General: the Black Sea region is important for Euro-Atlantic security NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 13 Apr. 2023 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 NATO's enhanced presence in the region, and the Alliance's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by the Minister of State Ministerial Meeting of the Neighbours of Afghanistan (Samarkand, 13 April 2023) Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs H.E Mr. Bakhtiyar Saidov, Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Foreign Ministers of the Neighbouring Countries of Afghanistan, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my great pleasure to represent Pakistan at the 4th Ministerial meeting of the Neighbours of Afghanistan Format, being convened in this beautiful and historic city of Samarkand, today. Let me also convey our deep gratitude to the Government of Uzbekistan, in particular to Foreign Minister Bakhtiyar Saidov, for the generous hospitality and the immaculate arrangements made for this meeting. The Neighbours format is grounded in the firm conviction that our region is not only bound by a shared past, but also a common future; our destinies are intertwined, our fortunes interlinked. Guided by these deep-rooted historical and cultural ties, it is but natural that we place such high premium on promoting regional approaches to the situation in Afghanistan. From Islamabad to Tehran, and from Tunxi to Samarkand, a common thread that weaves us together, is our collective commitment to work towards a peaceful, stable and interconnected Afghanistan. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, We are meeting at a critical juncture. Afghanistan currently faces multiple and mutually reinforcing challenges: the humanitarian situation in the country remains grim, with a staggering 28 million people - over 2/3rd of the population, requiring urgent humanitarian assistance to survive. The menace of terrorism continues to blight the lives of Afghan people on a daily basis. The threat posed by terrorist organizations to the neighbouring states and the region, has accentuated. Meanwhile, the Afghan economy continues to operate under the shadow of sanctions and billions of dollars of frozen assets. Tens of thousands of Afghans have sought refuge in the neighbouring countries, in particular, Pakistan. There are indications that these numbers may swell in the coming days, creating fresh challenges for the neighbouring countries and the host communities. At a time when the Afghan people need the international community the most, we see the world moving away, closing doors on the common Afghan citizens. Growing voices, especially in the West are advocating a complete break from Afghanistan, to offload its problems to the neighborhood and to walk away. There are clear indications that humanitarian support to Afghanistan will see a significant decline this year. Some are even questioning the utility of engaging the Interim Afghan Government. We believe that these approaches are misplaced and need to be re-assessed: we must not repeat the mistakes - abandoning the people of Afghanistan is always a bad choice. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Regrettably, some of the policies and actions of the Interim Afghan Government, have not helped either. The decision to suspend education for women and girls and to prevent them from working for national and international NGOs, is regrettable, not only that it deprives the enterprising Afghan women and girls their rightful opportunities to progress and advance, and to secure gainful employment, but also restrains the helping hand of many friends and well-wishers of Afghanistan. Pakistan has voiced its disappointment with this decision. We believe the right to education is not a favour to women, to be dispensed at will; it is a fundamental human right, as enshrined in our noble religion, and the teaching of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). We also believe that more needs to be done to eradicate the foothold of terrorist organizations from Afghanistan, without distinction and in a concerted and uniform manner. Greater cooperation and coordination with the Interim Afghan Government remains critical. We look forward to working closely with the neighbouring states and the international community to this end. Progress towards the goal of promoting greater political inclusivity in Afghanistan, remains a critical priority. Ladies and Gentlemen, The international community currently finds itself in a 'standstill' with Afghanistan. The 'cascade' of unmet expectations, has meant that critical support needed by Afghanistan to stave-off a grave humanitarian crisis, prevent an economic meltdown and to combat terrorism, has been withheld. This policy needs an urgent reset; what is required is 'patience' and 'reciprocity' - the international community should continue to engage with the Interim Afghan Government to take next steps; we need to be flexible; this process should be appropriately incentivized. We need a 'balanced' approach based on simultaneous commitments from both sides - a spirit of solidarity and cooperation should underpin international engagement with Afghanistan. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, A peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in everyone's interest. Continued conflict and instability threaten not only Afghanistan and its people but carries adverse implications for the region and beyond. Therefore, we, Afghanistan's neighbours, all have a vested interest and stake in seeing peace and stability return to Afghanistan. Pakistan believes that our collective efforts should be guided by the following elements: One, unity of purpose and a synergy of effort within the region remains imperative. We should not only continue to hold regular consultations but also evolve common strategies and shared perspectives on Afghanistan. Pakistan believes that the three Working Groups, on the political and diplomatic, economic and humanitarian and security and stability dimensions, established during our last meeting, provide a useful framework to follow-up on the decisions taken during our meetings, and should be fully operationalized. Two, connectivity has remained a pipe-dream for far too long. This must change - we must turn this 'constraint' into a conduit for regional peace and prosperity. Every big dream has a humble origin - we must adopt a step-by-step approach, identifying projects, consolidating and implementing them, as critical building blocs for a common vision for regional connectivity. Connectivity projects such as CASA-1000, Trans-Afghan Railways, TAPI and others, are not merely economic undertakings, they are also strategic investments in our shared future - an effective counterpoise to the threat of terrorism, drug trafficking and other challenges confronting Afghanistan. As a first step, a dedicated 'Connectivity Fund' to provide priority financing for these projects should be considered. Three, Pakistan firmly believes that humanitarian support should remain delinked from any political considerations. The common Afghan people should not be made victims of political choices made by others. Continued and sustained humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan must therefore, be ensured. The international community should also remain cognizant of the pressing needs of the neighbouring countries, hosting millions of Afghan refugees. This is a collective responsibility of the international community; it should be borne collectively. Four, beyond the confines of humanitarian assistance, we should focus on generating economic activity within Afghanistan to ensure a sustainable future, avoid economic meltdown and prevent exodus of refugees. Exploring realistic pathways towards unfreezing Afghanistan's financial assets would be a key first step. A roadmap for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan is equally important. Since peace and stability is a strategic imperative for the region, we, as key stakeholders in a stable Afghanistan, should remain at the forefront of this effort. Five, we should devise a roadmap of cooperation with the Afghan authorities based on a 'hierarchy of priorities', especially where the Interim Afghan Government has shown a commitment to act. We particularly welcome the renewed emphasis placed during this meeting on strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation between Afghanistan and the neighboring countries. Training and capacity building programmes in other avenues should also be devised. Six, greater coordination between regional and international efforts on Afghanistan remain equally important. As representative voice of over 1.8 billion Muslims across the world, the OIC enjoys a unique stature and standing within Afghanistan unmatched by other international organizations. The OIC has taken a number of initiatives including establishment of the Humanitarian Trust Fund and the Afghan Food Security programme. Building synergies with the OIC, including the OIC Trust Fund, would amplify our collective efforts to help and assist the Afghan people. Seven, we cannot talk of the Afghan people without talking to them. Constructive engagement with the Interim Afghan Government remains imperative. As friends and neighbours, we don't have the luxury to disengage with Afghanistan. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, The neighboring countries process was initiated by us in Islamabad, with the firm resolve that we would not be held back by what went wrong in the past; we would instead, script a forward-looking vision for peace and prosperity, learning from our mistakes but not becoming a prisoner to them. For us as the neighbors of Afghanistan, this platform is not a 'talk-shop' but instead, a mechanism for concrete and result-oriented action - a harbinger of peace and prosperity in Afghanistan and the region. We look forward to working closely with the neighboring countries to this end. I thank you. * NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Tests New Electronic Warfare System For F-16 Sputnik News 20230413 An electronic warfare (EW) system is an integrated suite of electronic devices designed to detect, deceive, deny, or disrupt the use of an adversary's electronic systems by the use of electromagnetic waves. These systems use various types of equipment, such as radars, jammers, sensors, and signal detectors. The upgraded AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS), which was developed for the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter, was tested in a US Air Force (USAF) emulator. The new system will enable an F-16 to counter threats using the new frequencies, as well as detect and defeat more advanced radars and weapons. The IVEWS system has received new broadband power amplifiers and adaptive countermeasure modules that enable faster response, cover an expanded frequency range and detect targets in all directions. "As advanced radio-frequency threats continue to proliferate, the protection afforded by IVEWS is essential," James Conroy, Northrop's vice-president for navigation, targeting and survivability, said as quoted by the media. "This successful evaluation under very challenging conditions is an important step on the path to fielding the suite." Northrop Grumman was awarded the contract to prepare IVEWS for developmental testing in May 2022. During testing, the emulator simulated air defense (AD) radar signals. Experts tested IVEWS' ability to detect and counter the signals. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine supersonic fighter aircraft that was originally developed by General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) for the United States Air Force. It is a widely used fighter jet in the world, with in excess of 4,600 aircraft built and used by more than 25 countries. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Will Keep Giving Military Aid to Ukraine, White House Says Sputnik News 20230413 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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. "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. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS San Jacinto Participates in Wilmington Navy Week US Navy 13 April 2023 From Lt. j.g. Colton Drake, USS San Jacinto Public Affairs WILMINGTON, North Carolina -- The guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56) entered the Port of Wilmington, North Carolina, April 10, marking the start of Wilmington Navy Week. The ship's crew will host tours on board, participating in community outreach events, and host a reception for the Azalea Festival, which is the Navy Week's anchor event. Wilmington Navy Week brought Sailors from across the fleet to the area to emphasize the importance of the Navy to Wilmington, the state of North Carolina, and the nation. In addition to San Jacinto, Navy assets include Sailors from the USS Constitution, Navy Reserve Center Raleigh, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Carolina, Naval History & Heritage Command, Navy Band Southeast, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, Navy Medicine Camp Lejeune, Office of Small Business Programs, and U.S. Fleet Forces Command. San Jacinto Sailors have been participating in various community outreach events over the last three days, while in Wilmington. Outreach events have included trips to the Brigade Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, Habitat for Humanity projects, and area schools. "Wilmington Navy Week has been a great opportunity for the San Jacinto Team to showcase the nation's Navy to the American public by showing them the capabilities and opportunities that are resident in the Surface Navy Fleet," said Capt. Chris Marvin, the commanding officer of San Jacinto. The crew of San Jacinto is excited to be in the Wilmington area, with many Sailors eagerly volunteering for community outreach events. "It has been great, from having the opportunity to transit the Cape Fear River to being a part of Navy Week in Wilmington," said San Jacinto Command Master Chief LaFrederick Herring. "As a North Carolina native who grew up about 30 miles from Wilmington, this brings back memories of both watching and participating in the Azalea Festival parade. I look forward to our crew continuing to experience the great state of North Carolina and continuing to spread [Navy pride] in the Tarheel State." Navy Weeks are a series of outreach events coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity. Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy's flagship outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, providing the public a firsthand look at why the Navy matters to cities like Wilmington. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CNO Gilday and Connecticut Congressman Visit General Dynamics Electric Boat US Navy - Press Release 13 April 2023 Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday traveled to Groton, Connecticut, April 13, and visited General Dynamics Electric Boat with Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.). GROTON, Conn. - Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday traveled to Groton, Connecticut, April 13, and visited General Dynamics Electric Boat with Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.). During the visit, they met with Electric Boat leadership, received program briefs, and toured shipyard facilities. "We're working side by side with Congress and industry to build the most ready and lethal fleet we can," said Gilday. "Today's visit is an important opportunity to see the progress and improvements being made by our industry partners in New England." Upon arrival, Gilday and Courtney were met by Mr. Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat. Throughout the afternoon, the leaders discussed shipbuilding, talent management and workforce development, capacity, and capabilities. General Dynamics Electric Boat designs, builds, repairs, and modernizes nuclear submarines for the Navy - to include work on the Navy's new Columbia-class. These new ballistic missile submarines will replace the Ohio-class variant as the Navy's contribution to the nuclear triad, which remains the most survivable leg of the U.S. strategic nuclear deterrent force. "Whenever we talk about 'the Arsenal of Democracy,' our defense industrial base needs to be the centerpiece of that discussion," said Gilday. "The work being done here in Connecticut is vitally important to our Navy, and I'm incredibly appreciative of the team's collaborative efforts." Gilday last visited Groton in February 2022. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India, Republic of Congo agree to enhance cooperation in multilateral fora New Delhi, Apr 14 (UNI) India and the Republic of Congo (ROC) held the Second round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi during which they discussed ways to further strengthen the bilateral ties and agreed to enhance their cooperation in the multilateral fora. The talks, held on Thursday, were co-chaired by Sevala Naik Mude, JS (C&WA), and Ambassador Gisele Bouanga-Kalou, Director of Cabinet, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the ROC Government. During the meeting, both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, covering political, trade and commerce, investments, defense & security, development partnership, capacity building, and culture & people to people linkages. Taliban, China, Russia Foreign Ministers Attend Huddle on Afghanistan By Ayaz Gul April 13, 2023 Uzbekistan hosted a conference Thursday of foreign ministers of regional countries, including Russia and China, to review the situation and cooperation with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. The meeting in the Uzbek city of Samarkand came 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 attended Thursday's huddle with counterparts from Russia and six immediate neighbors of Afghanistan, including China, Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. A post-meeting statement said that participants discussed "the implementation of the main demands of the world community by the current authorities of Afghanistan, such as the creation of an inclusive government, the opportunity for Afghan women to work and receive education and ensuring the rights of national minorities." On April 13, 2023, #Samarkand hosted the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan under the chairmanship of Uzbekistan. Heads of the foreign ministries of participated in the event.https://t.co/BPDKIkxg95 pic.twitter.com/pWmvEKZKso Uzbekistan MFA (@uzbekmfa) April 13, 2023 The delegates emphasized the need to develop a "joint action mechanism" to provide humanitarian aid to Afghans and restore the country's economy, said the statement published by the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its website. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, led their respective delegations at the conference. Muttaqi, addressing the gathering, did not discuss restrictions his government has imposed on Afghan women's access to work and education but said the Taliban "are ready to fulfill our obligations as a responsible government." He did not elaborate and reiterated that the Taliban are committed to not allowing any group or individual to use Afghan soil against any regional state or beyond. Muttaqi insisted that since returning to power nearly 20 months ago, they have established peace and a "powerful central government" in Afghanistan and banned narcotics cultivation and trade, setting the stage for a "meaningful" and "mutually beneficial" cooperation with the region. The foreign ministers of China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran held separate talks under what is known as the Quadrilateral Group on Afghanistan and discussed the need to cooperate with the Taliban authorities to maintain political stability and prevent a humanitarian crisis, the Russian Foreign Ministry 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. On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, responding to criticism of the Taliban's restrictions on women and lack of political inclusivity, told reporters that 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. China's policy Analysts say Beijing's growing engagement with Kabul stems from potentially vital economic opportunities and an effort 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. 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 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 Taliban have restricted women from accessing higher education, government jobs and public spaces. Female aid workers have been banned from working for national and international nongovernmental organizations. Girls are also not allowed to attend school beyond sixth grade. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban Foreign Minister Joins Regional Huddle on Afghanistan By Ayaz Gul April 13, 2023 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. Muttaqi's office confirmed his arrival in Samarkand on Twitter, saying Uzbek officials received him "warmly." . . pic.twitter.com/YLYWbYHqaR Hafiz Zia Ahmad (@HafizZiaAhmad1) April 13, 2023 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. China's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 13 April 2023 - Day 414 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that 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. 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. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Russian Federation continues waging the zagarbnickoi war. Ignores International Humanitarian Law, strikes, fires not only at our troops positions but at civilian settlements. During the day, Russian forces fired 11 air strikes, fired about 20 shelling from jet fire systems, there are casualties among civilians. The probability of missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains high. Russia has not yet given up on his plans to occupy our territory, despite significant losses. Continues to focus the main efforts on the offensive in the Limansky, Bakhmutsky, Avdiivsky and Marine directions. The fiercest battles continue for Bakhmut and Maryinka. During the day, thanks to the coordination of the actions of the Ukrainian defense forces units and the resilience of our soldiers, about 20 Russian attacks were repelled. In Volyn, Poliskomu, Siverskomu and Slobozanskomu directions, the operational environment without much changes, no signs of the formation of Russian offensive groups have been detected. Some units of the territorial troops of the armed forces of the Russian Federation continue to be in the territory of the Republic of Belarus. A comprehensive combat readiness of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus is underway. There is a military presence of Russian forces in the border with Ukraine areas of kurskoi and belgorod regions. During the day, the Russian invaders fired at the settlements of Studenok, Iskryskivshchyna, Wolfine Sumy region, as well as Uda, Kozacha Lopan, Ternova, Staritsya, Gatyshche and Budarki in Kharkiv region. Red First, Dvorichna, West, Mas tivka and Tabayivka of Kharkiv region suffered in the direction of Russian shelling. In the limanskomu direction during the day, the Russian opponent led unsuccessful offensive actions in the area of bilogorivki. Artillery shelling suffered novoselivske, stelmahivka, nevske, bilogorivka luhansk region and spirne in donetsk region. In the Bakhmutskomu direction, Russia continues to lead offensive actions. Heavy battles continue for the city of Bakhmut. Russian forces attacked in the area of the settlement of the Predecine, but was unsuccessful. From Russian shelling suffered orihovo-vasilivka, novomarkove, grigorivka, bogdanivka, hromove, bahmut, ivanivske, white mountain, novodmitrivka, kurd mivka, northern and iron donetsk region. In the Avdiiivka direction, Russian forces carried out artillery shelling of the settlements Stepove, Avdiivka, Vodyane, Pervomaiske and karlivka of Donetsk region. In the mari nskomu direction during the day, Ukrainian defenders fought numerous Russian attacks in the area of mari nki donetsk region. At the same time, Nevelske, Krasnogorivka, Maryinka, Pobeda and Novomykhaylivka suffered Russian shelling. In the Shakhtar direction, Russian forces did not conduct offensive actions. He shelling the settlements Shakhtarske, Velika Novosilka, Vuhledar, Prechistivka, Golden Niva of Donetsk region. Russia continues to conduct defensive actions on Zaporizhzhya and Kherson directions. During the day, carried out shelling of settlements that are next to the line of combat. Among them are olgivske, red, gulajpole, charming, small tokmachka, novodanilivka, nuts, novoandrivka, stepnogorsk zaporizhzhia region; stepanivka and antonivka kherson region and the city of kherson. In individual settlements of the Trinity district of Luhansk region, Russian occupants are stepping up the counterintelligence regime over fears of leaking information about the deployment of their units. The number of patrols has increased. Mobile phones are taken away from people during the search of the premises. A ban on leaving settlements has been introduced. The Defense Forces aviation carried out 3 strikes in the areas of the Russian forces' personnel and military equipment in a day, while the missile forces and artillery units struck 2 control points, 2 areas of the Russian forces' live force, arms and military equipment, as well as a radilocation station and a radio-electronic combat station. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the fighters of the Wagner PMC have already entrenched themselves on Sibirtsev Street in Bakhmut, which means that the district state administration building has been completely taken under control. Photos confirming this, taken at house number 33, were published on the Web. At the moment, the enemy is holding on to dense and high-rise residential buildings in the western part of the city. RIA Novosti, citing one of the attack aircraft, reports that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) blew up a number of multi-storey buildings in order to slow down the advance of the attackers. Also, the Armed Forces of Ukraine set fire to the premises in order to complicate their cleaning. The video of the destruction of high-rise buildings appeared in the public domain. In addition, today entrepreneur Yevgeny Prigozhin, called by some sources the founder of Wagner PMC, said that the "musicians" have already liquidated 38,000 fighters fighting on the side of the Kiev regime. At least 32 thousand of this number were destroyed in Soledar, Bakhmut and its environs. The situation on other sectors of the front The confirmed losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine per day on the line of contact amounted to a total of about 470 military personnel, 4 vehicles, 7 armored vehicles, 2 D-20 and 1 Msta-B guns, as well as 3 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers. Artillery and aviation hit 97 artillery positions and 124 areas of accumulation of manpower and equipment. Air defense systems intercepted nine rocket-propelled munitions from HIMARS and six drones. In addition, ammunition depots of the 66th and 102nd brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were liquidated near the settlements of Nevskoye and Gulyaipole. Three Ukrainian saboteurs involved in the preparation of terrorist attacks in the Zaporozhye region were detained in Melitopol today. They damaged the railroad tracks and intended to attack the officials and workers who run the transport. Explosives were found during the search. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Brazil's Lula Visits China With Ukraine Peace Talks On His Agenda By Reid Standish April 13, 2023 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." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-brazils-lula- visit-ukraine-peace-crimea/32362646.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 Xi urges boost to armed forces' modernization People's Daily Online By MO JINGXI (Chinadaily.com.cn) 08:42, April 13, 2023 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Highly Praises Members of National Defence Scientific Research Field Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, highly praised members of the national defence scientific research field for making a distinguished contribution to the epochal strengthening of the strategic force of the DPRK. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un proposed conferring the title of Labor Hero of the DPRK on more than 10 major persons concerned in the field of relevant defence science and technology who have greatly contributed to developing new strategic weapons again, true to the Party's strategic line of steadily developing more advanced and powerful means, which are essential for defending the DPRK and deterring aggression, both in quality and quantity, and to proving the real condition of the DPRK's strategic force and convincing the people of the eternal overwhelming victory and fully demonstrating once again the absolute might of the DPRK's defence science and technology. He also issued an order to promote Colonel Han Kum Bok, vice-director of the relevant institute of the General Missile Bureau, to major general. Upon receiving the high appreciation of Kim Jong Un , all the members of the national defence science research field vowed to remain eternally faithful to the noble sense of mission of making a dynamic development of the nuclear strategic force of the DPRK and more dynamically advance toward the goal of developing weapons by leaping progress. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Another Mighty Entity Showing Continuous Development of Strategic Force Unveiled in DPRK Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The DPRK's nuclear war deterrent for self-defence is rapidly developing at increasing speed in keeping with the immutable strategic line and policy of the Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the DPRK to ceaselessly develop the might of the strategic force of the DPRK to turn it into an entity of super power and absolute strength, a powerful force capable of preventing the nuclear holocaust and deterring all sorts of possible dangerous enemy invasions, and a treasured sword for defending justice and peace. On April 13, 2023, a powerful entity symbolic of the ceaseless development of the strategic force of the DPRK notified the world of its emergence. A new-type ICBM, Hwasongpho-18, which will fulfill its mission of an important war deterrent as the future core pivotal means of the strategic force of the DPRK, was test-fired. Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, guided the first test-fire of the new-type ICBM on the spot. The aim of the test-fire was to confirm the performance of the high-thrust solid-fuel engines for multi-stage missiles and the reliability of the stage-jettisoning technology and various functional control systems and to estimate the military feasibility of the new strategic weapon system. In consideration of the security of the neighboring countries and the safety of the multi-stage-separation of the missile during its flight in the territorial air, the test fire was conducted in the way of applying the standard trajectory flying mode to its first stage and the vertical mode to the second and third stages, and of confirming the technological features of all the components of the weapon system by restricting the maximum speed of the missile through delayed stage separation and motor reactivation. Kim Jong Un learned about the new weapon system on the spot while watching the pre-launch operation. The launching site, which was to witness once again an important event of great significance in the history of the development of the strategic force of the DPRK under the direct guidance of Kim Jong Un , was seething with the burning will of all the defence scientists and workers in the field of munitions industry to inform the whole world of the emergence of another powerful nuclear attack means of the DPRK and demonstrate the reliable nuclear war deterrence of the state. Ready for test-fire! When Kim Jong Un approved the test-fire of the new-type strategic weapon, General Jang Chang Ha ordered the second red flag company under the General Missile Bureau to launch the missile. The moment, a great entity fully representing the irresistible might of the DPRK began to soar into the sky with fierce flames at its tail, making a thunderous roar. The test-fire had no adverse effect on the security of the neighboring countries. Its first stage safely landed in the waters 10 km off the Hodo Peninsula in Kumya County, South Hamgyong Province and the second stage in the waters 335 km east of Orang County, North Hamgyong Province. The test-fire confirmed that all the parameters of the new strategic weapon system fully met the requirements of the design in terms of accuracy, providing guarantee and creditability that the new-type ICBM would serve as a powerful strategic attack means of greater military efficiency. The Hwasongpho-18 weapon system, to be equipped with and operated by the strategic force of the DPRK under the long-term plan for building the state nuclear force, will perform its important mission and duty as the most powerful, pivotal and principal means in defending the DPRK, deterring aggression and defending the security of the state. Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction at the eye-opening successes while guiding the test-fire. He was pleased with the fact that the DPRK has clearly proved once again the tremendous potentiality and reality of its defence technology further developing as the days go by and powerfully demonstrated its unshakable determination and practical ability to attain the goal for bolstering up the armed forces. He noted that it is the consistent stand of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government to steadily and rapidly accelerate the development of more developed and advanced powerful weapon system to cope with the ever-worsening security environment of the Korean peninsula and long-term military threats. He mentioned with pride the significance of the test-fire, saying that the development of the new-type ICBM Hwasongpho-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. Noting that it is an absolute mission and duty to be fulfilled by the DPRK's defence scientists to uphold the WPK and the DPRK government's policy of countering the enemy's nukes and policy of frontal confrontation in kind with practical successes in the development of self-defence capabilities, he set forth the important strategic tasks for further accelerating the bolstering of the nuclear strategic force of the DPRK. He affirmed that the WPK and the DPRK government would make the enemy, who are imperiling the environment on the Korean peninsula and harassing the Korean people's peaceful life and struggle for socialist construction with their inveterate policy of aggression and threatening military moves, 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, thus making them feel regret and despair for their wrong choice by surely exposing them to an irresistible threat. The successful test of the new strategic weapon system serves as an occasion for proving that the nuclear strategic force and the missile scientists and technicians of the DPRK directly responsible for its development always thoroughly and perfectly implement the strategic intention of the WPK, getting fully prepared to carry out their important mission at any time. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Position of China on Ukraine crisis will not affect France-China ties; two countries share common interest in ending war, says French envoy Global Times By Chen Qingqing Published: Apr 14, 2023 02:56 AM On whether China's position on the Ukraine crisis would affect the France-China relations, French Ambassador to China Bertrand Lortholary said on Thursday that there are no preconditions raised by either China or France, and the bilateral ties should not be affected by China's position on the Ukraine crisis. The two countries shared a common interest in helping to end the war. During a group interview at the French Embassy in Beijing, Lortholary first summarized the fruitful results of the recent visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to China. On the Ukraine crisis, the French side believed that China could certainly play an important role in helping find a road to peace. "We are very pleased to see that happen," Lortholary said, noting that China-Russia relations enable frequent exchanges between the two countries. Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, recently said that the Ukraine war will define EU-China relations. Those remarks were also considered as a sign of connecting China's position on the crisis with the development of EU-China ties. The French envoy said that he does not agree that France-China relations would be affected by China's stance on the Ukraine crisis. No one imposes preconditions on China or France. But the two countries share a common interest in ending the war and share some common views of upholding the UN Charter, respecting each country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and preventing the menace of nuclear war, Lortholary said. France and China develop their bilateral relations based on mutual understanding rather than setting conditions, he noted. Macron defended his remarks on the Taiwan question, reiterating that being a US ally did not mean being a "vassal" as the French leader called for Europe to act more independently from the US over the Taiwan question. On the Taiwan question, the French envoy affirmed that France upholds the one-China policy, which has never changed. "Our most important interest is to avoid conflict and war, and our policy aims to maintain stability, so we do not think about different scenarios or hypothesis about war or conflict," he said. After Macron and von der Leyen recently finished their trips to China, more European leaders including Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock are coming to visit the country, which is also seen as a signal of resumption of high-level exchanges between China and Europe. "President Macron hoped a few years ago that the dialogue between the EU as an unity with China could be enforced," Lortholary said, noting that it's also clear that the EU has a strong willingness to make their common voice heard by China. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Macron Backs Down on Taiwan for Beijing's Support on Ukraine, Experts Say By Joyce Huang April 14, 2023 French President Emmanuel Macron has stunned allies by saying that Europe must reduce its dependency on the United States and avoid getting dragged into a confrontation between China and the U.S. over Taiwan, a position experts say is calibrated to persuade China to mediate the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. At a news conference during a state visit in the Netherlands on Wednesday, Macron emphasized that France's position on Taiwan has not changed, and Paris favors the status quo for the island. "It's the One China policy and a Pacific resolution of the situation. That's what I said in my one-to-one meeting with Xi Jinping, that's what was said everywhere, we haven't changed," Macron said. The One China policy of the U.S. differs from the One China principle, which is China's view that it has sovereignty over the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Under the U.S. One China policy, Washington acknowledges but does not endorse Beijing's view that it has sovereignty over Taiwan. It considers Taiwan's status as unsettled. In an April 9 interview with Politico and Les Echos, the French financial newspaper, Macron said that Europe must avoid the risk of "getting caught up in crises that are not ours." "The paradox would be that, overcome with panic, we believe we are just America's followers," he said. "The question Europeans need to answer ... is it in our interest to accelerate [a crisis] on Taiwan? No. The worse thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the U.S. agenda and a Chinese overreaction," Macron said in the interview. Macron made his comments after spending some six hours with Chinese President Xi Jinping while visiting China from April 5 to 7. His statement drew criticism from some politicians and scholars in Europe. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is now seeking the Republican Party nomination for a second term, told Fox News, "Macron, who's a friend of mine, is over with China kissing [Xi's] ass in China, okay. I said France is now going to China?" Trump said. Trump slams Macron for giving China soft greenlight to invade Taiwan: "Macron, who's a friend of mine, is over with China kissing [Xi Jinping's] ass in China." pic.twitter.com/mddP4bYHZ4 a Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 12, 2023 His relationship with Macron evolved to "frenemy" by the time Trump left office, according to France 24. Analysts told VOA Mandarin that Macron might be sacrificing France's position on Taiwan in exchange for China's mediation of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Tung-Chieh Tsai, a professor at the Graduate Institute of international Politics at the National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan, told VOA Mandarin that the Ukraine crisis is having a substantial impact on the daily lives of many Europeans as immigrants stream in and commodity prices rise. This puts European leaders "under great pressure" to help reach a cease-fire. "I think France is looking for Beijing's support to reach a cease-fire in the Ukraine conflict, so it's making a gesture to support China in the Taiwan issue first," Tsai told VOA Mandarin in a Zoom video chat Tuesday, adding that Macron's statement is honest. "If Europe can't even manage the Ukraine crisis, which is happening at its doorstep, does it really have the ability to be involved in any crisis in the Taiwan Strait?" Tsai asked. In the short run, Macron's words might cause some disturbance, Tsai said, but in the long run, it forces the world "to see the reality and look for a more practical solution to the Taiwan crisis." Lun Zhang, a professor of Chinese studies at CY Cergy-Paris UniversitA in France, echoed Tsai. "I think the most important task of Macron's visit was drawing a red line for Beijing, that is, China can't get involved in supporting Russia in the Ukraine crisis," Zhang told VOA Mandarin in a phone interview on Wednesday. "This touches the fundamental interests of the whole European continent." Yet, Zhang said, the timing of Macron's statement was "extremely inappropriate," as Beijing just finished three days of combat drills simulating the sealing off of Taiwan. The action was to protest a meeting between U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on American soil. Zhang said that Macron's statement damaged France's image and caused conflict within Europe. Francesco Sisci, a senior China watcher, said Macron's visit was "a failure," because China did not publicly make any promise on mediating the Ukraine crisis. Sisci said that while it would be helpful if China could play a positive role in solving the Russia-Ukraine war, Beijing has expressed willingness to speak to Ukraine but the conditions for this are unclear, according to Reuters. The Wall Street Journal reported on March 13 that Xi plans to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but that meeting has not happened yet. Zelenskyy suggested to China on March 21 that it join a Ukrainian effort to end the conflict. Sisci added that the world should not over interpret Macron's position on Taiwan, since the pro-business French government will likely continue to authorize arms sales to Taiwan. He also argued that even if France is not going to be a U.S. vassal, it does not mean that France will take China's side. "Not being a U.S. vassal does not mean being a Chinese vassal. In fact, throughout their history, France and the United States always have a very special relationship," Sisci said, "France can say the most ugly things to the United States, but in the end, Paris has always chosen to ally with Washington." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian Group Says More Than 400 Students Sanctioned In Wake Of Protests By RFE/RL's Radio Farda April 13, 2023 An Iranian academic group says more than 400 students have been suspended or expelled in the wake of recent nationwide protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last September while being held for allegedly violating the strict Islamic dress code for women. The Union Council of Iranian Students said on April 13 that 435 students had been hit with disciplinary measures, which were carried out through an illegal and security-driven process. In recent weeks, there have also been several reports of university professors being fired or suspended for accompanying protesting students. The council said that, in response to the suspensions and expulsions, students from different universities launched a Twitter campaign on April 7 calling for the reinstatement of their colleagues. Anger over Amini's death has prompted thousands of Iranians to take to the streets to demand more freedoms and women's rights. Numerous protests have been held at universities, particularly in Tehran, where many students have refused to attend class. At the rallies, protesting students have chanted "Woman, life, freedom" and "Death to the dictator," a reference to the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Some female students have also removed and burned their head scarves at the demonstrations. Universities and students have long been at the forefront of the struggle for greater social and political freedoms in Iran. In 1999, students protested the closure of a reformist daily, prompting a brutal raid on the dorms of Tehran University that left one student dead. Over the years, the authorities have arrested student activists and leaders, sentencing them to prison and banning them from studying. According to the Human Rights News Agency (HRANA), dating back to the start of the protests, 637 students have been detained among the 144 universities across the country that have participated in the unrest. Some sources within Iran have reported the number of detained students to be over 700. Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-400- students-sanctioned/32362661.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 Dhaka, Apr 14 (UNI) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bangladesh said criticism of the US by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy will have no impact on the bilateral relations between the two countries. "I don't think so ... because we held a very good meeting and discussed all issues that we had in our agenda," said MoFA spokesperson Seheli Sabrin at the weekly media briefing on Thursday while responding to a question. She referred to the bilateral meeting between Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on April 10. They want to bring such a government here, scrapping democracy, which would have no democratic existence -- (that means) undemocratic trend, she said, adding that some local (so-called) intellectuals who live on selling their intellects obey them. She said the US has been sheltering Bangabandhus convicted killer Rashed Chowdhury ignoring requests from Bangladesh on many occasions for deporting him. On April 8, Prime Minister's ICT Affairs Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy criticised the expulsion of two African-American lawmakers of Tennessee, sparing another one, over their gun control protests, questioning the fairness of democracy in the United States. The US State legislature voted to expel two minority lawmakers, while keeping a third who was white. This is the state of democracy in the US. The US State Department is nothing but a bunch of hypocrites," Joy said in a Facebook post. UNI MAZ GNK Rights Groups Say Executions in Iran Reach Highest Level Since 2015 By VOA Persian Service April 14, 2023 Two human rights groups said in a report issued Thursday that Iran executed at least 582 prisoners last year, the country's 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." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Sees More Student Poisonings in First 7 School Days of New Year By Michael Lipin April 14, 2023 Iran has seen renewed poisonings of schoolchildren around the country in the first seven school days of the new Persian year after a holiday hiatus, leaving many Iranians angered but no closer to knowing who is behind the poisonings and why. In the latest poisonings that have mostly affected Iranian girls' schools, VOA's Persian service observed credible reports of incidents in 14 cities Tuesday. Those reports, which VOA cannot independently verify because it is barred from reporting in Iran, came from the cities of Amol, Borujerd, Ganaveh, Isfahan, Kamyaran, Karaj, Kermanshah, Mashhad, Oshnavieh, Shahin Shahr, Tabriz, Tehran, Urmia and Zanjan. Tuesday was the seventh consecutive school day in which poisoning incidents were reported in different regions of Iran. The Washington-based American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project team, which has been monitoring reports from Iran of the school poisonings for months, said it recorded one case on April 3, the first school day after educational establishments were closed from March 20 to April 2 for the Persian New Year, or Nowruz, holiday. AEI said it recorded four more cases on April 4, 10 cases on April 5, 22 cases from April 8 through 10 and seven cases on April 11. Schools were closed on April 6 and 7 for the Thursday-Friday weekend. No further school poisoning cases were seen in Iran by either VOA Persian or AEI on April 12. AEI researchers said the April 3 poisoning case was the first they had seen in Iran since March 13, after which they had not observed any cases for a three-week period during which schools were mostly closed for Nowruz. VOA Persian found that of the cities affected by poisonings Tuesday, Shahin Shahr in the central province of Isfahan was one of the worst hit, with reports of students sickened at 10 girls' and boys' schools. One of those schools appeared to be the Al Yasin girls' school, seen in a video vetted by VOA Persian and tweeted by the @1500tasvir activist account on Tuesday. . pic.twitter.com/IY1WzrgBAd + (@1500tasvir) April 11, 2023 The clip shows a commotion at the school gate as agitated relatives of students kick it open to enable them to leave, after administrators allegedly locked the girls inside. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has not spoken publicly about the latest school poisonings. His most recent comment came as the last wave of poisonings that began in December reached a peak in early March, when Khamenei's website quoted him as calling them "a big and unforgivable crime." "If anyone is involved in this, the agents and the masterminds must be severely punished," he said. Iran's Interior Ministry announced on March 11 that authorities had "identified, arrested and investigated" more than 100 people in connection with the poisoning incidents. It accused the suspects of having "hostile motives" and trying to "create fear and horror among people and students, shut down schools, and create pessimism toward [Iran's] Islamic establishment." But the Iranian government has not reported any progress in its investigation since then. In an article published Monday, Iranian state news agency ISNA quoted lawmaker Mohammad Hassan Asefari as saying security agencies had not yet been able to uncover the main clues of the poisonings. Asefari, who is a member of a parliamentary fact-finding committee investigating the causes of the poisonings, also was quoted as saying security agencies should make more efforts to establish the causes of the incidents rather than dismiss them as cases of student mischief. AEI Iran analyst Kitaneh Fitzpatrick discussed her team's research into the poisonings in a Tuesday interview for this week's VOA's Flashpoint Iran podcast. The following transcript of her interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. VOA: How do the latest poisonings compare with those that we saw before the Persian new year? Kitaneh Fitzpatrick, American Enterprise Institute: The reported poisoning symptoms have remained consistent with what we saw in that earlier period in March. There are scattered reports of children saying that there was an attack or some type of chemical smell within the facility. The students reportedly said the school administrators would not let them leave and closed the doors. They said they were not allowed to talk to their parents, and the administrators did not call the emergency facilities. These reports of an anomalous response from the authorities are consistent with what we saw last month. VOA: How do you assess the responses of the students, their families and the authorities to what is going on? Fitzpatrick: Of course, parents remain extremely concerned. There have been a few protests in different areas where these poisonings are occurring due to the regime's response or lack of response. Regime officials' messaging has been conflicting at times. There have been some arguments circulating online from regime officials saying that the poisonings are psychosomatic. However, they do acknowledge that poisonings are ongoing and they still have not done enough to protect the students from these ongoing attacks. VOA: How can we explain the anomalous behavior of Iranian authorities? Fitzpatrick: I think their behavior is extremely anomalous and inconsistent with the severity of what we perceive to be going on. The regime appears to be tolerating this campaign against Iranian schoolchildren, either because authorities are incapable of preventing these attacks or are unwilling to mobilize the resources they have to prevent them. VOA: Why has public outrage at the poisonings not manifested itself on the streets of Iran with the same intensity as the nationwide protests of late last year? Fitzpatrick: I think the outrage that we are seeing from Iranians on the ground is consistent with the outrage at the death of Mahsa Amini. It is outrage at another example of the regime's inability to protect the most vulnerable segments of its population: young children and young adults. We might be seeing a less intense protest activity because Iranians are tired. They have been protesting for months at great expense to their safety. There is a risk of death, imprisonment and torture [by the authorities]. Also, there is the [weak] economic situation that is ongoing. That is not to say that there is no possibility of mass protests reigniting. Those anti-regime sentiments are still there and exacerbated by the poisonings. It is just because the duration of this protest movement is so long that it is difficult to sustain that type of momentum. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan to Supply Nonlethal Military Aid to 'Like-Minded' Nations in Region By Olivia Liao April 13, 2023 Japan is planning to establish a new framework to provide defense aid to "like-minded" countries, a move analysts say highlights Tokyo's intention to play a more active role in regional security amid the growth of Chinese influence. Tokyo's move to establish an Overseas Security Assistance (OSA) program is Japan's 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, Japan's 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 Japan's 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, Japan's 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 Japan's defense policies," Wang told VOA Mandarin via Line video on April 9. Article 9 of Japan's 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 Hitler's 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 Japan's 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 there's 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 VOA's request for comment. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Death toll in Myanmar air strike rises to 165, while threat of attack remains Rescue workers say they are frantically cremating bodies amid the risky security situation. By RFA Burmese 2023.04.13 -- The number of people killed in an air strike seen as one of the worst attacks on civilians by Myanmar's junta since a military coup two years ago has risen to 165, the country's shadow government said Thursday. The attack, in which jets bombed and helicopters strafed the opening ceremony for a public administration building in northern Myanmar's Sagaing region on Tuesday, is the latest example of the military's 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 township's 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 country's 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. "We've had to [cremate] urgently, as the military's planes are still flying around. We have to collect as many bodies as possible and cremate them before we leave." 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 NUG's minister of women, youths and children affairs, said the shadow government is working to hold the junta accountable for Tuesday's 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 bloc's 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. 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 Humanitarian Assistance Program Livorno ships aid to Ukrainian refugees in Latvia By Andrea Culletto, and U.S. Army Garrison Italy volunteer April 13, 2023 PISA, Italy -- On March 28, the Humanitarian Assistance Program-Livorno (HAP-Livorno) sent aid supplies to support Ukrainian refugees in Latvia. The organization was tasked with the effort by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). "The Excess Property provided by HAP-Livorno supports the Country Cooperation Plan's Line of Activity to strengthen Latvia's capacity and capability to provide essential public services," said HAP-Livorno Program Manager Janine Wick. "This is an Integrated Country Strategy goal to deepen trans-Atlantic values. This aid package increases DOD's visibility and demonstrates the United States' continued commitment and support to Latvia." The shipment included 2,400 folding cots, pillows and blankets, worth more than $200,000. It was transported to Riga, Latvia by roadway via six commercial trucks, arriving on March 31, 2023. Upon arrival, the shipment was processed by customs, then transferred by the U.S. Embassy Latvia to Riga State Fire and Rescue Services (SFRS), who will put the supplies to immediate use supporting the area's refugee population. "The items requested were chosen because they are easily transportable, durable, don't require mattresses, and can be quickly set up for emergency shelters or temporary accommodations," said Wick. According to Wick, Latvia currently hosts the fifth-highest number of Ukrainian refugees per capita. "By the end of November 2022, 35,000 Ukrainians were receiving public assistance in Latvia, and more than 210,000 Ukrainians have already entered the country," said Wick. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Federal government approves delivery of five Polish MiG-29s to Ukraine Germany - Federal Ministry of Defence 04/13/2023 The German government today approved the Polish government's re-export application to hand over five MiG-29s from former stocks of the National People's Army. During the visit of the Ukrainian President Zelensky to Warsaw on April 5, 2023, Polish President Duda announced that he would hand over all Polish MiG-29s to Ukraine. Defense Minister Pistorius said: "I am pleased to announce that we can promise our Polish partners the delivery of five MiG-29s from former NVA stocks to Ukraine. We only received the application today. I welcome the fact that we in the Federal Government have reached this decision together. That shows: you can rely on Germany!" Background: With a transfer agreement dated June 24, 2003, Germany and Poland agreed to hand over MiG-29s from the stocks of the former National People's Army. The contract contains an end-use clause that stipulates that the transfer of the MiG 29 to third parties by Poland requires the written consent of the German side. In addition to the MiG-29 taken over by the Bundeswehr, Poland also received from the former USSR s and ex-Czechoslovakia delivered MiG-29 in stock. Unofficial Translation Source: https://www.bmvg.de/de/presse/abgabe-von-fuenf-polnischen-mig-29-ukraine-5612172 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ammunition for Ukraine: Council agrees a1 billion support under the European Peace Facility European Council / Council of the European Union Council of the EU Press release 13 April 2023 The Council today adopted an assistance measure worth a1 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. With today's decision, we operationalise the first part of the historic agreement reached by EU leaders to support the immediate delivery of a1 billion worth of artillery ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces. 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. Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Today's decision implements the first part of the Council agreement of 20 March 2023 on a three-track approach intended to speed up the delivery and joint procurement of artillery ammunition. Together with the previous seven tranches of support, the assistance measure adopted today brings the total EU contribution for Ukraine under the EPF to a4.6 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. Background The EPF was created in 2021 to support partners around the world in the areas of military and defence, with the ultimate aim of preventing conflict, preserving peace and strengthening international security and stability. Previous assistance measures under the EPF for Ukraine were agreed on 28 February, 23 March, 13 April, 23 May, 21 July, 17 October 2022 and 2 February 2023. In the face of Russia's war of aggression, the European Union is unwavering in its support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and its inherent right of self-defence against the Russian aggression. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Update 153 - IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine International Atomic Energy Agency 33/2023 Vienna, Austria 13 Apr 2023 The dependence of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) on a single still functioning power line for the external electricity it needs poses a major risk to nuclear safety and security amid signs of continued military activity in the southern region, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today. Underlining the crucial need for an agreement to protect Europe's largest nuclear power plant (NPP) during the military conflict, IAEA experts present at the site continue to regularly hear shelling in the area, the Director General said. Near the plant itself, two landmine explosions occurred outside its perimeter fence, the first on 8 April, and another four days later, he added. It was not immediately clear what caused the blasts. "We are living on borrowed time when it comes to nuclear safety and security at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. 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," Director General Grossi said. Pressing ahead with his efforts to strengthen nuclear safety and security at the ZNPP, he held talks with senior Russian officials including Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev in Kaliningrad last week. In late March, Director General Grossi met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the city of Zaporizhzhya, ahead of his second visit to the ZNPP since the military conflict began. Crossing the frontline to and from the site on 29 March, the Director General could see for himself new indications of increased military activity compared with the situation during his previous visit on 1 September last year. "At a time of growing speculation about military offensives and counter-offensives 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," he said. For the past six weeks, the ZNPP has relied on a single 750 kilovolt (kV) power line for the required off-site electricity for reactor cooling and other essential nuclear safety and security functions. A back-up power 330 kV power line that was damaged on 1 March on the other side of the Dnipro River from the Russian-controlled ZNPP has still not been repaired, with Ukraine saying military action is preventing its experts from safely accessing the location situated in territory it controls. If the connection to the 750 kV line is also cut when there is no back-up external electricity available, as happened most recently for 11 hours on 9 March, the ZNPP and its six reactors are forced to rely on emergency diesel generators for power - an unacceptable situation for nuclear safety and security, Director General Grossi said. The nearby Zaporizhzhya Thermal Power Plant (ZTPP) operates the 330 kV open switchyard, through which back-up power has been provided to the ZNPP. The ZTPP also operates the pumping stations which feed cooling water from the Kakhovska Reservoir to the NPP. The Russian Federation reported last month that Rosatom was working to restore three 330 kV lines to the grid system in currently Russian-controlled territory. Rosatom has agreed to provide access for the IAEA team, which should take place next week. At the plant itself, the operator is planning to transition in the coming days one of two reactors currently in hot shutdown to a cold shutdown state, due to the warmer weather. The two reactors now in hot shutdown have been used to provide steam and heating to the ZNPP as well as heating to the nearby city of Enerhodar, where many plant personnel live. Reactor unit 5 will remain in hot shutdown to produce hot water and steam for the site. Also because of the spring weather, some of the nine mobile boilers that were installed to provide extra heating during the winter have been switched off, and the remaining will also be turned off soon. In a separate development also related to the weather, the water level in the Kakhovska Reservoir - which provides water for reactor cooling - has gradually been increasing over the past two months due to melting snow. This came after the water level fell earlier in the winter months. The water level currently stands at 14.74 metres, around two metres above the minimum height required to be able to provide water to the ZNPP. The staffing situation at ZNPP remains complex and challenging. Over one-third of the original staff have left the area, some of those remaining have signed work contracts under a newly formed Russian operating organization and some remain employed by Energoatom. A significant number of the latter are now on-call, with the rest - mainly key operating staff - still working at the ZNPP, under the direction of Russian appointed management. In recognition of the staff shortages, operators from Russian NPPs have been receiving simulator and on the job training at the ZNPP. Once trained, they may be asked to come to work at ZNPP in case of staff shortages. Director General Grossi has repeatedly expressed deep concern about the extremely difficult situation for ZNPP staff and their families, which could also affect nuclear safety and security. Elsewhere in Ukraine, IAEA teams present at four other nuclear sites in the country are scheduled to carry out regular rotations this week. While the mission at the ZNPP was established in September, a permanent IAEA presence at the Khmelnitsky, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs, as well as the Chornobyl site, was set up by in January this year. At Chornobyl, the site staff who are required to live on site in two-week shifts as a result of the conflict, are facing difficulties travelling to and from the nearby city of Slavutych, where most of them live. One bridge across the River Uzh has been damaged and a temporary bridge has been submerged due to spring flooding. Despite these difficulties, a planned 8 April rotation of work shifts was carried out successfully. In late March and early April, the IAEA arranged two additional deliveries of equipment to Ukraine, bringing the total to 15 so far during the conflict. With the two latest deliveries, the Ukrainian nuclear regulator SNRIU and its technical support organization, Energoatom's Emergency and Technical Centre, the RADON facility in Kiev and the State Enterprise VostokGOK received vehicles, personal protective equipment and IT equipment that were either donated from Israel or procured by the IAEA using extrabudgetary contributions from Australia and the United States of America. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia, Ukraine trade barbs over occupation of Bakhmut Iran Press TV Thursday, 13 April 2023 7:33 PM Russia and Ukraine have exchanged barbs over which country's forces have seized control of the east Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. For months the front line city which is situated in the Donetsk region of Donbas has been a focal point of Moscow's advances through eastern Ukraine. On Thursday, Russia claimed it had surrounded Bakhmut while Kiev said its forces were still holding on to the city. Russia said its forces had cut off Ukrainian forces inside Bakhmut. The Russian army said its airborne troops were "blocking the transfer of Ukrainian army reserves to the city and the possibility of retreat for enemy units." It added that the Russian Wagner units were advancing in Bakhmut. Commander of the paramilitary units, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said it was still "too early" to announce Russia's victory in Bakhmut. "The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to deploy reserves and transfer them," Prigozhin's press office said on social media. Kiev, however, said its forces supply lines were still open into the city and it was able to send them munitions. "We are able to... deliver food products, ammunition, medicines, all that is necessary, and also to recover our wounded," said Sergiy Cherevaty, spokesman for Kiev's eastern forces. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian general staff acknowledged that the situation in Bakhmut was "difficult". "Every day in Bakhmut area, the enemy makes 40 to 50 offensive and assault attempts, launches more than 500 strikes using the entire range of available weapons. At the same time, the military-political leadership of the Russian Federation does not pay attention to significant personnel losses. Thus, only over the past two weeks in Bakhmut area, the enemy lost almost 4,500 Wagner fighters and service members of the regular armed forces of the Russian Federation killed and wounded," said Brigadier General Oleksiy Hromov, Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, at a news briefing. In the meantime, while both sides have conceded huge casualties in Bakhmut, neither is giving numbers about their own casualties. According to him, Bakhmut remains the most difficult area on the front, where the Russian forces continuously stage attacks, as well as towards Bohdanivka and Ivanivske settlements in order to surround the city from the north and south. The Brigadier General said Russian forces were also shelling Ukrainian troops in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Kiev has said that holding on to Bakhmut is essential in blocking Russian forces advancements along the entire eastern front. Bakhmut has been the scene of the most brutal battle of the war in Ukraine which started in February 2022 after Russia launched its special military operation in the former Soviet republic. Despite the continuous fighting, some residents of nearby areas have decided to stay. "I've got nowhere to go. I can't afford to leave," 71-year-old Vira Petrova told AFP in the village of Kalynivka, several kilometers west of Bakhmut. "If my home is destroyed, I'll live in my basement," she said, not flinching to the sound of the artillery shots fired in the distance. "We've already been shelled. Half the kitchen roof was destroyed. Our neighbor's roof was destroyed. We're used to it." Only a fraction of the people who lived on the street still remains in their homes. In related news, Russia said on Thursday it was opening a preliminary probe into disturbing footage purportedly showing the beheading of a Ukrainian man in uniform by a Russian-speaking masked man in camouflage attire. The Kremlin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that, "the authenticity of this horrible footage needs to be verified." Prigozhin denied accusations that members of his fighting force were responsible for the footage. "This is complete nonsense. It does not correspond to reality." "In order to assess the reliability of these materials and make an appropriate decision, they were sent to the investigating authorities to organize a probe," Russian Prosecutor-General's Office said in a statement. Moscow has dismissed war crime allegations lodged against the Russian forces by Kiev and its Western allies as being baseless fabrications. According to purported US intelligence documents posted online, so far as many as 354,000 Ukrainian and Russian troops, about half from either side, have been killed or injured as a result of the war. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian Leaders Stress Need For NATO Membership, Engagement As Bakhmut Defenders Hold On By RFE/RL April 13, 2023 Ukraine's defense and foreign ministers have stressed the need for NATO engagement -- including membership for Kyiv -- to safeguard security in their country and the entire Black Sea region, as Russian forces continued their assault on the city of Bakhmut and elsewhere in eastern Ukraine. "We need a system of guarantees that would make aggression from Russia impossible," defense chief Oleksiy Reznikov told a security conference in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, on April 13. "There is no alternative to Ukraine's accession to NATO," he said. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, speaking to the conference by video link, urged the Western alliance to become more active in the region and said it was time to turn the Black Sea into "a sea of NATO." Kuleba also urged NATO to accept his country and Georgia, also a Black Sea littoral state, as members. He said the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius should present "a clear plan on when and how Ukraine will enter." Kuleba also restated Kyiv's position that peace is only possible in Ukraine if Russia withdraws from all Ukrainian territory, including the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which Moscow has occupied since 2014. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov at a Moscow briefing rejected Kuleba's comments about the Black Sea. "This is a shared sea," Peskov said. "It must be a sea of cooperation, interaction, and security for all its littoral states." Meanwhile, Moscow and Kyiv exchanged conflicting comments on the situation in Bakhmut, the mostly destroyed eastern Ukrainian city, which has been the focal point of a monthslong Russian attempt to capture a built-up area and hail some kind of battlefield victory. Moscow claimed to have cut off Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut, but the head of the Kremlin-linked Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said it remains "too early" to say the city has been surrounded. Serhiy Cherevaty, a spokesman for Ukraine's Eastern Group of Forces, rejected claims that Ukrainian forces had been cut off in Bakhmut, telling the AFP news agency that army chiefs still had communication with troops there and were able to resupply them with ammunition. "This does not correspond to reality," Cherevaty said in response to Russian claims. "We are able to... deliver food products, ammunition, medicines, all that is necessary, and also to recover our wounded," he said. Off the battlefield, Germany approved Poland's request to export five old MiG-29 fighter jets to bolster Ukraine's air power, the German Defense Ministry said on April 13. Germany inherited 24 MiG-29 jets from East Germany during reunification in 1990, then in 2004 supplied most of them to Poland, which requires Berlin's approval before shipping them to a third country. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who is currently in Washington, posted on Twitter that he had signed an agreement under which the World Bank would provide $200 million to repair Ukraine's electrical grid, which has been badly damaged in recent months by Russian air strikes targeting its civilian infrastructure. In Moscow, Russia's Prosecutor-General's Office opened an investigation into videos that appeared online purporting to show the beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner of war by Russian troops. Prigozhin dismissed allegations that the executioners were Wagner fighters. On April 12, Ukraine launched a probe of the video, while President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the purported execution. "We are not going to forget anything," he said in a video posted on Twitter. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kuleba-black- sea-security-nato/32362362.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's Naftohaz Says Russia Ordered To Pay $5 Billion For Illegal Seizure Of Assets By RFE/RL April 13, 2023 Ukraine's state energy company, Naftohaz, says a Hague-based tribunal has ordered Moscow to pay the company $5 billion for the illegal seizure of its assets in Crimea, which occurred after Russia illegally annexed the peninsula in 2014. Naftohaz CEO Oleksiy Chernyshov said on April 13 his company had "won a victory on the energy front." "In spite of Russia's attempts to obstruct justice, the arbitration tribunal ordered Russia to compensate Naftohaz for losses of $5 billion," Chernyshov said, adding that the ruling "relates to the seizure of our assets in Crimea by Russia in 2014." "Now Russia must follow the ruling in accordance with its obligations under international law," Chernyshov added. Naftohaz filled the lawsuit against Russia in 2016 at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which administers the tribunal, in The Hague. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reacted to the court ruling by saying that Russia will analyze it. "Our specialists, who are defending our rights in the case, will analyze the court's decision and determine our next steps," Peskov said. Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014, sending in troops and staging a referendum denounced as illegitimate by at least 100 countries. Weeks after that, Russia incited separatist sentiments in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions and has supported pro-Russian separatists in the two regions since then. After launching its ongoing unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February last year, Russia declared that the two regions, as well as Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions, were parts of the Russian Federation after staging so-called referendums is areas of the regions controlled by Russian troops. Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union imposed a new series of sanctions in response to the referendums, calling them illegal. Last month, the International Criminal Court, also based in The Hague, issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes. With reporting by Interfax, Reuters, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-naftohaz- russia-5-billion-assets-seizure/32362469.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 Russia Ran 'Torture Center,' Committed War Crimes During Kherson Occupation, HRW Says By RFE/RL April 13, 2023 The Russian forces who occupied Ukraine's 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. 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. 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-kherson-torture- center-human-rights-watch/32361898.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 Press release on the Istanbul package agreements 13 April 2023 09:15 691-13-04-2023 We noted the latest press release from the UN Secretariat on the Black Sea Initiative for the export of Ukrainian food, which once again distorts data and facts. In this regard, we have to clarify the real state of affairs both with the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative and with the Russia-UN Memorandum on promoting domestic agricultural exports. These documents, as is known, are interconnected parts of the package proposed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The UN press release addresses the failure to carry out inspections at the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul for the first time since the initiative launched. It must be noted that neither Kiev's continued blocking of ammonia supplies, also prescribed in the agreements, nor the lack of any progress in the implementation of the Russia-UN Memorandum has ever caused the UN Secretariat to make a public response. About the inspections. Today, 28 ships carrying more than 1 million tonnes of food are awaiting inspection in Turkish territorial waters. However, the UN staff at the JCC, which is responsible for the inspection plan, has refused to draw up such a schedule, trying to support the Ukrainians' demands for the registration of ships engaged in the initiative. In its turn, the situation around the registration of dry cargo is even more complicated. First, the Ukrainians drove ships into Turkish waters strictly for their selfish purposes, regardless of either the procedure of their inclusion in the initiative envisaged in the rules, or the requirements for screening. At the same time, Russia was accused of provoking traffic jams and creating artificial ship congestion. Then the administration of the Ukrainian ports realised that they could also make money off the order of passing ships, and began to take bribes from ship-owners to fast-track registration. This corruption story was widely covered even in the Ukrainian media. In these conditions, as well as due to a significant increase in supplies for rich countries (more than 40 percent went to the EU alone) amid a reduction of the share for countries in need (down to 2.6 percent), which runs counter to the initially declared humanitarian goals of the initiative, the Russian delegation proposed to include the list of ships carrying food for African countries and/or those in line since January in the Ukrainian registration. This, however, drew an antagonistic reaction from the Ukrainians, who did not want to lose a source of additional illegal income and cancelled all applications on April 5 (which was not mentioned in the UN press release). Thus, as a result of the actions of the Ukrainians themselves and the UN members, the registration and inspection of ships stalled. In general, we note that, despite all the grandiloquent statements made about global food security and assistance to countries in need, the Black Sea Initiative has served Kiev's commercial exports exclusively in the interests of Western countries. The UN World Food Programme's share of humanitarian deliveries (543,928 tonnes) looks ludicrous compared with the total volume of food exports (27.7 million tonnes). But Kiev is trying to use even these deliveries for political purposes, such as advertising its Grain from Ukraine pseudo-humanitarian campaign. In addition to this, UN representatives like to cite FAO indicators, saying that world food prices have fallen (not by 20.5 percent but by 18.6 percent since March 2022), though they keep silent about the fact that prices, especially for wheat, remain too high and unaffordable for many consumers. One of the reasons for this is that 70 percent of Ukrainian exports are fodder corn and fodder crops. They also forget to say that normalising the supply of Russian crops (70 percent wheat), as well as fertilisers, which are key to the future harvest, would also help solve this problem. However, even the free delivery of our fertilisers to the poorest countries meets many obstacles and delays: so far, the shipment to Malawi remains the only released consignment (20,000 out of the 262,000 tonnes blocked in the ports of Latvia, Estonia, Belgium and the Netherlands). The removal of obstacles to Russian agricultural exports was supposed to take place as part of the Russia-UN Memorandum, which the UN did not even mention this time. Such silence is not only a clear indicator of the UN Secretariat's attitude to the package Antonio Guterres proposed, but also of the absence of any practical results regarding the Memorandum. In this context, Russia reaffirms its position that there can be no discussion of the Black Sea Initiative after May 18 without any progress regarding the five systematic problems (reconnecting Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT; resuming supplies of agricultural machinery, spare parts and maintenance service; lifting restrictions on insurance and reinsurance, plus unblocking access to ports; restoring the work of the Tolyatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline; and unblocking foreign assets and accounts of Russian companies related to the production and transportation of food and fertilisers). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU Council Approves Over $1Bln for Emergency Ammunition Supplies to Ukraine Sputnik News 20230413 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Council of the European Union said on Thursday that it approved 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) to compensate member countries for ammunition supplies to Ukraine until May 31. "The Council today adopted an assistance measure worth a1 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 a4.6 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. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We are preparing the guys and we are looking forward to the supply of weapons promised by our partners - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 13 April 2023 - 18:59 Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians! A brief report on the day. First. I held a meeting of the Military Cabinet, a special format of work with the leaders of our defense sector, our commanders, intelligence, and the Office. Only what is directly necessary for frontline management and provision of active actions of Ukraine, protection of our state from Russian terror. It was meaningful. And our actions will be powerful. We are preparing the guys. 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. And we're ensuring the spirit of unity to the maximum. Efficiency - to the maximum. Preparation - also to the maximum. Second. Defense industrial complex. Today, in the Mariyinsky Palace, where we always honor those who have done the most for the Ukrainian state, the day of employees of our defense industry was celebrated for the first time. It is quite unfair that until now there was no such special day in Ukraine when it would be possible to honor the work of all those who create Ukrainian weapons, Ukrainian shells, and Ukrainian equipment. Who also create our missiles, which showed themselves so vividly in the waters of the Black Sea on this day a year ago, April 13, when the sea route of the Russian Black Sea flagship stopped. These are the people who create our guns - 155 millimeters, which are currently on the battlefield and about which we hear only positive feedback from our soldiers and... it is clear what the "feedback" of the occupier is. Of course, it is still impossible to tell most of the positive things that have been achieved regarding our weapons and our own Ukrainian shells not only during the full-scale war, but also in the years before it. But our entire state, the entire society, has much to be grateful for to those professionals who protect and develop our defense-industrial complex. Who are capable of producing everything for Ukraine - from shells to missiles, from artillery to drones. The day before, I signed a decree on the establishment of the Day of Defense Industrial Complex Employee in Ukraine. Exactly on this day of "Neptune" when our missiles hit "Moskva". But we are also grateful for the rockets and dozens of other types of weapons, equipment and shells supplied for the defense. I had the honor of awarding representatives of the industry. And I am sure that the Ukrainian defense industry will always develop exactly as it has been developing for several years - in constant growth, in the constant expansion of the range of products and opportunities of the industry. The third thing that is important for today. European integration. I held a meeting with government officials and representatives of the Verkhovna Rada regarding some of our steps on rapprochement with 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, and will acquire full membership. We are fully prepared. And one more thing. I signed decrees on awarding our warriors. Four decrees. 349 servicemen were awarded state awards. Among them are 45 warriors of the Air Forces, 152 warriors of the airborne assault troops, and 152 warriors of the Ground Forces. Today I want to especially celebrate our warriors who are fighting in the Donetsk region as part of General Tarnavskyi's "Tavria" operational and strategic group of troops. In particular, marines of the 35th separate brigade and artillerymen of the 55th separate brigade. As always, you are productive, guys! Thank you! Thank you to the fighters of General Moskalyov's "Odesa" operational and strategic group of troops - the 63rd separate mechanized brigade, which powerfully beats the occupiers for hitting our cities and villages in the southern direction. And I will also note today the warriors of the 126th separate brigade of the territorial defense forces - aerial reconnaissance. Thank you, guys, for the attentiveness that becomes the accuracy of our artillery. The enemy will certainly suffer losses in response to every strike against the Ukrainians. Glory to all who are now fighting for Ukraine! I thank everyone who works for our defense and victory! Thanks to everyone who helps! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We must be aware of our strength, respect our potential and all those who provide it - President at the first celebration of the Day of the Employee of the Defense and Industrial Complex of Ukraine President of Ukraine 13 April 2023 - 17:04 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initiated the Day of the Defense and Industrial Complex Employee in Ukraine, which will be celebrated every year on April 13, and presented state awards to representatives of the domestic defense industry. The Head of State signed a decree establishing April 13 as the professional day of defense and industrial complex employees to mark the importance of the defense-industrial complex for ensuring national security and protecting state sovereignty, the significant contribution of defense-industrial complex employees to strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities. As Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized, it was on this day a year ago that the flagship of the Black Sea fleet of the Russian Federation, the missile cruiser Moskva, was hit and sunk by Ukrainian-made Neptune anti-ship cruise missiles. "Today is a significant day for us, when we remember a historic event for our state, when we honor everyone who provides the very possibility of such historic events for our independence, for our Ukraine, for all our Ukrainian people," the President said. According to the Head of State, the Ukrainian-made missile helped restore order in the Ukrainian waters of the Black Sea. This was the first use of Neptune in combat conditions, and it became historic. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that there are many successful examples of the use of domestic weapons, equipment and shells - everything that is produced in Ukraine or jointly with our state. "We must be aware of our strength, respect our potential and all those who provide it every day," the President emphasized. He noted that it is an honor to congratulate today all those who work in the Ukrainian defense industry, modernize, repair, design and build the Ukrainian strength. "The fact that Ukraine has endured, that it can fight and liberate its land thanks to our Armed Forces and thanks to your great work, is a ray for our victorious future. I strongly believe in this, and we all strongly believe. We all live, fight and work for this. To a large extent, all this is based on our confidence in your skills and talents, intelligence and strategic thinking of everyone who works effectively in the Ukrainian defense industry and is able to develop it. And also - on the true heroism of those who, despite all the threats, repair our equipment every day - repair not only in the rear, repair wherever it is needed, in very dangerous places on the frontline, who protect and develop our production and give Ukraine weapons," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Head of State emphasized that our country should develop and increase the production of domestic weapons, missiles, shells, equipment, engines, etc. According to him, the Ukrainian state has already started producing artillery, guns, shells, and is developing new technologies in the sphere of UAV and naval drone production. "The Ukrainian defense-industrial complex can become and, I am sure, will become one of the key branches of our economy, as it should have been since gaining our independence. We will see a corresponding increase in the volume of state orders," the President said. The Head of State called the achievement of Ukraine's ability to defend itself and, after defeating the enemy, to export weapons an ambitious goal. "For sure, after our victory, we will help others. This is our ambitious goal. But we have already proven during this war that we can achieve any ambitious goal. Ukraine will always cooperate in matters of defense with the most powerful states and companies in the world. And we will do everything to ensure that the world's interest in cooperation with Ukraine in the defense industry is always at an appropriate, high level," he emphasized. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated: the potential of a strong state is based on people capable of building missiles, equipment, ammunition production lines that can make defense technological, analyze the development of military science and global competition of defense-industrial complexes. The attendees honored the memory of all heroes, people who died working for Ukraine and ensuring its defense, with a moment of silence. The President presented high state awards to employees of the defense industry. In particular, the following were awarded: the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky of the III degree, the Orders "For Merit" of the II and III degrees, the Orders of Danylo Halytsky and the Order of Princess Olga of the III degree, medals "For Work and Achievement". In addition, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Volodymyr Zelenskyy with the heads of central executive bodies and enterprises of the defense-industrial complex, at which the strategy for the development of the domestic defense industry was discussed. Oleh Korosteliov, Director General of State Enterprise CB "Luch" thanked the President for the fact that Ukraine's defense industry was raised to a high level. "You did it not during a full-scale war, but much earlier. Thanks to you and your decree, the Neptune complex was put into service. At the same time, you insisted - I remember that meeting - on the financing of this complex and repeatedly emphasized this," he said, addressing the Head of State. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Office of the President of Ukraine hosted a briefing for the heads of diplomatic missions of the EU countries regarding the priorities of the sanctions policy President of Ukraine 13 April 2023 - 09:08 Another briefing on priority issues of sanctions policy towards Russia was held in the Office of the President of Ukraine with the participation of First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko and advisors to the Head of the Office of the President Vladyslav Vlasiuk and Daria Zarivna for the heads of diplomatic missions of the countries of the European Union and the EU Mission to Ukraine. During the event, the main focus was on the need to further increase the sanctions pressure on the aggressor country, in particular in the context of the preparation of the 11th EU sanctions package, as well as on the importance of implementing previously introduced restrictions. In addition, the organizers of the event informed the participants about the results of the work of the Yermak-McFaul International Sanctions Group and the Ukrainian Interagency Working Group on Implementation of State Sanctions Policy. "Ukraine already has practical experience regarding the mechanism of using confiscated Russian assets to restore our economy. We call on the EU states to speed up the finalization of the legal framework and practical tools for the use of confiscated Russian assets abroad, which are necessary for the needs of the reconstruction of Ukraine," said Yulia Svyrydenko. The First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy of Ukraine added that the sanctions regime must be strengthened for as long as the war continues. In his presentation, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President Vladyslav Vlasiuk emphasized the following sanctions priorities: expansion of sanctions pressure on Russian banks and Rosatom, strengthening of sanctions against propagandists and representatives of Russian show business, further restrictions on the Russian military-industrial complex and high-tech industries that have direct relation to the production of weapons. Vladyslav Vlasiuk cited examples of circumvention of sanctions and called for the immediate elimination of existing gaps. "Next week, the Yermak-McFaul International Sanctions Group will present Action Plan 2.0 on strengthening sanctions against Russia. The first document became the basis for the introduction of many sanctions restrictions, so we hope that Plan 2.0 will be a real road map for the introduction of further sanctions," he said. Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President Daria Zarivna separately focused on the priority of imposing sanctions on propagandists. "This war is also an information war. Propagandists are one of the keys to the existence of the Putin's regime. It is they who influence millions of Russians every day through the mass media, stimulating hatred of Ukraine and the desire to continue the war. Pro-Kremlin journalists, artists, radical public associations are important targets for sanctions pressure. Imposing restrictions on their foreign assets and opportunities to travel around the world will certainly increase the effect in the fight against the aggressor. Russian officials who are directly involved in the process of illegal deportation of Ukrainian children deserve special attention in the context of the introduction of personal sanctions. It is in this priority direction that the special group on the protection and safety of children, which is already developing a corresponding action plan, will intensify its work in the near future," Daria Zarivna said. Following the briefing, the Ukrainian side thanked the participants of the event for the support that Ukraine feels from the governments and citizens of the EU countries, and also called on the European partners to maintain further solidarity and determination in joint opposition to the Russian aggressor in order to speed up the victory. At the end of the event, with the assistance of the Central Research Institute of Armaments and Military Equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a demonstration of a special exposition took place, where representatives of the diplomatic missions of the countries of the European Union were able to familiarize themselves with the remains of destroyed Russian military equipment, which contain elements of Western-made electronics and household appliances. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andriy Yermak had a meeting with representatives of state authorities on issues of child protection and safety President of Ukraine 13 April 2023 - 08:37 On the instructions of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak held a working meeting with representatives of state authorities on issues of child protection and safety, discussing the action plan, which will be presented at the meeting of the Coordination Council of Ukraine on issues of child protection and safety next week. As noted by Andriy Yermak, the key goal of the plan is the return of children illegally deported by Russia from the occupied territories of Ukraine. "We are facing an extremely important and difficult task - to return all our children, whom the occupiers stole from their families, to our people. We must protect their rights to a free and happy life. We must also protect all Ukrainian children in the occupied territories and in general throughout the territory of Ukraine. Russia must bear separate responsibility for the crimes committed against Ukrainian children. This is the first priority, which was determined by the President of Ukraine and which must be implemented as efficiently as possible," the Head of the Office of the President emphasized. In the framework of the implementation of the plan, a number of highly effective measures with the involvement of the international community, in particular representatives of the governments of the partner states, specialized experts and institutions, the public sector, as well as well-known figures of culture and sports, are envisaged. The meeting was attended by Deputy Head of the Office of the President Iuliia Sokolovska, Advisor to the President of Ukraine on Children's Rights and Child Rehabilitation Daria Herasymchuk, Human Rights Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Lubinets, Prosecutor General of Ukraine Andriy Kostin, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna, other members of the Cabinet of Ministers, as well as advisors to the Head of the Office of the President. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address All parties in Ukraine crisis should try to create conditions for peace talks: Chinese FM Global Times By Global Times Published: Apr 14, 2023 01:35 AM There is no panacea to resolve the Ukraine crisis and all parties should build mutual trust and create conditions for peace talks, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Thursday in Samarkand. Qin paid a two-day visit to Uzbekistan from Wednesday to Thursday and hosted the fourth Foreign Ministers' Meeting among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan in Samarkand. On the sideline of the meeting, Qin met Lavrov, saying China is ready to work with Russia to implement the consensus reached by the two leaders as the core task and promote bilateral relations to always maintain a high level. Lavrov praised China's proposal regarding the Ukraine crisis, saying that complex problems require systematic solutions. "Russia opposed bloc confrontation and will continue to adhere to the direction of political settlement," said Lavrov. Qin stated that China welcomed Russia's support and participation in China's plans to deal with global challenges. The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation within the framework including the BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as the docking of the Belt and Road Initiative and Eurasian Economic Union. During the fourth Foreign Ministers' Meeting among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan, China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran appealed for support for Afghanistan to effectively deal with terrorist forces. They also urged the West to assume their due responsibilities, opposed chaos creation in Afghanistan and blame shifting, and called on Afghan authority to set up inclusive government to protect women's interest. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hwasong-18 South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that an intermediate- or longer-range missile, dubbed the Hwasong-18, was fired eastward from near Pyongyang at around 7:23 am, 12 April 2023. A South Korean military source said the ballistic missile fired by North Korea on 13 April could be a new type. The ROK JCS said it was launched at a lofted angle and flew roughly 1,000 kilometers before falling into waters east of North Korea. The Hwasong-18 was fired from near Pyongyang. South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the missile's altitude appears to have been less than 3,000 kilometers. Yonhap reported a view by the military that if the launch was the first test of a solid-fuel ICBM, North Korea fired it at a low altitude to confirm its flight stability. Solid fuel enables quicker launches compared to conventional liquid fuel. Missiles were paraded across Kim Il Sung Square during a military parade in Pyongyang, marking the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, April 15, 2017. The procession featured an eight-wheeled Transporter Erector Launcher [TEL] vehicle bigger than anything seen on the parade route before, carrying missile canisters large enough to carry an intercontinental ballistic missiles with a range to hit the continental United States. Observers speculated about whether anything was inside the canisters or whether North Korea was merely demonstrating it could transport missiles of that size. The lack of detail on the cannisters and the TEL suggested they were early mockups. On July 4th, a similar eight-wheel launcher [minus the canister] showed up in a North Korean photo said to show Kim watching the launch of a Hwasong-14 two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile test. That missile reached an altitude of 1,730 miles, which on a different trajectory could have given it the range to hit U.S. military bases in Guam. At a military parade in Pyongyang in February 2023, North Korea displayed a record number of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles, including what analysts said was possibly a new solid-fuel ICBM. In the February 2023 military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea showcased a new, rather more detailed [and hence credible], TEL and missile cannister that could be a new solid-fuel ICBM. The mobile launcher had nine wheels on each side, one more than the eight previously seen. No launch of such a missile had been confirmed as of that date. The missile test came just two days ahead of what North Korea calls the "Day of the Sun" on April 15th, marking the birthday of its founding leader Kim Il-sung. The date, the North's most important political anniversary, has typically been celebrated with significant weapons tests or military parades. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un also directly supervised the launch, and brought his family along -- his powerful sister, Kim Yo-jong, his wife and young daughter, Kim Ju-ae. Experts say this was a calculated move by Kim, intentionally trying to show off how the regime's weapons are keeping their lineage alive and strong, according to professor Yang Moo-jin from the University of North Korean Studies. The missile test also came as the North had remained unresponsive to routine calls with South Korea for around a week. The inter-Korean liaison communication channel and a military hotline are normally used twice a day, but there has been no response via either channel. A solid-fuel ICBM is one of the five military tasks that the regime's leader, Kim Jong-un, announced at the key party meeting in January 2021. On 10 April 2023 at its 6th enlarged meeting of the 8th Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim also stressed the need to expand the regime's war deterrence in a more practical, offensive, and effective way. Seoul, Washington and Tokyo were quick to condemn another missile launch by Pyongyang. In the meantime, South Korea and the U.S. had agreed to speed up efforts to bolster the allies' extended deterrence during their recent military dialogue. Seoul's National Security Council strongly denounced North Korea over the launch. At a meeting presided over by National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong, members, including representatives from the top office, pointed out that the North's latest missile launch is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions and a serious threat that heightens tension on the Korean Peninsula and the region. The council vowed to continue pursuing South Korea-U.S. military exercises and maintain a firm readiness posture. South Korea's military said that the launch by the North was likely a new type of ballistic missile. A statement from the ROK presidential office said the government will also strengthen cooperation between Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo to respond to further provocations from the North, while deepening trilateral intelligence sharing.., including security information with Japan through the GSOMIA pact. The South Korean defense ministry dismissed security concerns over its kill chain preemptive strike system over North Korea's firing of a solid-fueled ICBM the previous day. In Washington, the White House issued a statement and called the launch a "shameless" provocation that needlessly builds insecurity in the region, and called for the regime to immediately return to dialogue. The latest missile launch startled Korea's neighbor Japan, which was quick to issue an evacuation warning to residents nearby its Hokkaido island, in case the missile fell near the area. Tokyo also launched a security meeting of its own, where senior officials strongly condemned the launch, calling it a "violent" and "completely unacceptable" act. Japan's government used an emergency alert system to warn residents of Hokkaido about the launch. At 7:55 a.m. sirens began blaring and messages appeared on mobile phones and TVs saying a missile was likely to land on or around Hokkaido and urging people to evacuate immediately. Twenty minutes later, the government canceled the alert, saying there was no longer a possibility of that happening. The warnings rattled people in Hokkaido, and brought transportation systems to a halt just as many commuters were heading to work. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio spoke to reporters shortly after 9 a.m., saying, "We have confirmed that no missiles have fallen in Japanese territory." Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu said the government had limited information at the time and was prioritizing the safety of the public, so he believes the decision to use the J-ALERT system to warn people in Hokkaido about the missile was correct. North Korea said 14 April 2023 it had successfully tested a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, hailing it as a key breakthrough for the country's nuclear counterattack capabilities. Photographs released by Pyongyang's state media 14 April 2023 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 of intercontinental ballistic missile was test fired on Thursday as the key means of strategic military force, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, describing the test as a miraculous success. The news agency cited Kim as saying the Hwasong-18 would rapidly advance North Koreas nuclear response posture and further support an aggressive military strategy that promises to maintain nuke for nuke and an all-out confrontation for an all-out confrontation against its rivals. The Hwasong-18 weapons system to be run by the countrys strategic forces would play its mission and role to defend (North Korea), deter invasions and preserve the countrys safety as its most powerful method, KCNA said. "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 the North's first successful launch of a solid-fuel long range 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." All of Pyongyang's previously known intercontinental ballistic missiles had been liquid-fuelled, and the test marked a long-desired breakthrough for the country's banned weapons programs. It also fit 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. "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." Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years, with Pyongyang declaring itself an "irreversible" nuclear power in 2022, effectively ending the possibility of denuclearisation talks. In early 2023 Kim also ordered the militaryr to intensify drills to prepare for a "real war". Washington and Seoul 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 as "frantic" drills "simulating an all-out war against" Pyongyang. This launch would mean a major stride in North Korea's weapons development because solid-fueled missiles are faster to launch, easier to use and harder to detect than liquid-powered ones. The South Korean defense ministry on 14 April 2023 said the Hwasong-18 launch was a mid-stage test until the North fully develops a solid-fueled long-distance ballistic missile, and that North Korea is going to need more time and effort until its gets around to perfecting the craft. The official Korean Central News Agency cited leader Kim Jong Un as saying the Hwasong-18 would further support an aggressive military strategy that promises to maintain nuke for nuke and an all-out confrontation for an all-out confrontation against North Koreas rivals. Solid propellants are a mixture of fuel and oxidiser. Metallic powders such as aluminium often serve as the fuel, and ammonium perchlorate, which is the salt of perchloric acid and ammonia, is the most common oxidiser. The fuel and oxidiser are bound together by a hard rubbery material and packed into a metal or fiber casing. When solid propellant burns, oxygen from the ammonium perchlorate combines with aluminium to generate enormous amounts of energy and temperatures of more than 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius), creating thrust and lifting the missile from the launch pad. Solid fuel is dense and burns quite quickly, generating thrust over a short time. Separately, it can remain in storage for an extended period without degrading or breaking down a common issue with liquid fuel. solid-fuel missiles are easier and safer to operate. They also require less logistical support, making them harder to detect and more survivable than liquid-fuel weapons. One of the key advantages is that solid-fuelled missiles can be fuelled from the point of manufacture. They, therefore, allow operators to maintain a high state of readiness and the potential to launch within minutes, depending on basing, Joseph Dempsey, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, wrote in an analysis in early 2023. In contrast, a liquid-fuelled ICBM would need to undergo a fuelling process before launch, said Dempsey. That could take hours, giving an adversary time to identify, react and neutralise it before its launch. In contrast, a liquid-fuelled ICBM would need to undergo a fuelling process before launch, said Dempsey. That could take hours, giving an adversary time to identify, react and neutralise it before its launch. This is a significant breakthrough for the North Koreans, but not an unexpected one, said Ankit Panda, an expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Because these missiles are fuelled 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 the days of North Korea disguising ICBM activity as satellite launches were long-gone and that Kims blatant violations of UN Security Council resolutions showed that his goal was to make North Korea a full-fledged nuclear power and demand concessions from other countries. NEW YORK, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE: CS) between March 10, 2022 and March 20, 2023, both dates inclusive (the Class Period). The Class Period was expanded to include more investors. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 8, 2023. SO WHAT: If you purchased Credit Suisse securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Credit Suisse class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12359 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 8, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) contrary to Defendant Lehmanns representations in December 2022, the sharp increase in customer outflows Credit Suisse began experiencing in October 2022 remained ongoing; (2) accordingly, Credit Suisse had downplayed the impact of the Companys recent series of quarterly losses and risk and compliance failures on liquidity and its ability to retain client funds; (3) as a result, Credit Suisse had overstated the Companys financial position and/or prospects; and (4) as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. To join the Credit Suisse class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12359 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 lrosen@rosenlegal.com pkim@rosenlegal.com cases@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com San Francisco, California, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- California-based firm Clipo Labs has developed Multiverse, a decentralized metaverse-as-a-service platform with photorealistic graphics. Multiverse provides users with a cost-effective way to enter the metaverse they can either create their own metaverse environments, purchase a pre-fabricated virtual environment from Multiverse, or work with the companys creative studio and have one custom built for them. Multiverses environments use its proprietary interactive immersive reality (IIR) technology, which creates a fully interactive, photorealistic environment, accessible through all mobile devices and VR headsets. Each environment is capable of hosting thousands of users, with their customizable avatars able to communicate with each other through social networking features and voice chat. Businesses can sell products and services through the environment, and users have the ability to broadcast audio-visual content. Users can also connect various Web 3.0 technologies such as their crypto wallets to their environment and integrate e-commerce features. In 2020 and 2021, Multiverse hosted the Burning Man music festival, after the in-person editions were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The environment simulated 7 square miles of Black Rock City, the annual events venue, making it one of the largest virtual arts and music events in history. True to the festivals spirit of gifting and communal effort, Multiverse created the virtual environment and published the technical specifications, and the community responded by creating around 80% of the content (i.e. the 3D objects representing the art pieces). According to Faryar Ghazanfari, co-founder and CEO of Clipo Labs and Multiverse, the music festivals attendees had an average session time of 45 minutes, which was previously unheard of in the metaverse events space. He says this finding proves the potential of metaverse as a viable and engaging venue for events and commerce. Multiverse is also the metaverse provider for two of the largest global consulting firms, allowing them to host innovative and immersive corporate events, where speakers can give live talks and attendees can network and socialize. Ghazanfari says that one of Multiverses main strengths is ease of entry. Organizations do not need to spend large amounts of money to get on board the platform, unlike other metaverse platforms in the market. For other platforms, users have to purchase virtual real estate or pay for a speculative investment in cryptocurrency before they can build in the virtual environment. We do not believe in that model, because there's no such thing as scarcity of real estate in the metaverse. Unlike planet Earth, which has a finite amount of land, the metaverse is completely made out of data. We also don't take a cut from anything that users make in their environments, and they only need to pay for the infrastructure usage. According to Ghazanfari, Multiverses decentralized nature means that users own whatever they create on the platform, allowing users to sell or trade their creations as they see fit, without interference from the developer. On centralized virtual platforms, the developer reserves the right to ownership of assets created on the platform, which could lead to conflicts arising between developers and users. Our aim is to accelerate businesses and brands entry into the metaverse and promote widespread adoption. Many businesses want to dip their toes into the metaverse but are hesitant because they need to justify the huge investment to their boards. We allow these businesses to test out the metaverse, without having to spend huge amounts of money until theyre up and running. Media Contact: Name: Faryar Ghazanfari Email: info@clipolabs.com Westford, USA,, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In 2030, the NB-IoT Chipset market will achieve a significant milestone, reaching USD 5727.5 million and experiencing a CAGR of 31.7% throughout 2022-2030. The market growth is being fueled by the increasing adoption of IoT devices, low power consumption, cost-effectiveness coverage, and government initiatives. SkyQuest's recent global research reports show that the number of active IoT devices will reach 24.1 billion by 2030. The healthcare industry is expected to have 646 million IoT devices by 2024, primarily for remote patient monitoring and other healthcare applications. Furthermore, according to the IoT Security Foundation, the majority of businesses (58%) are now employing IoT devices, with the healthcare, manufacturing, and energy industries leading the way. Get sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/narrowband-iot-nb-iot-chipset-market Browse in-depth TOC on "Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) Chipset Market" Pages - 242 Tables - 63 Figures - 65 The growing demand for low-power, wide-area (LPWA) connectivity for IoT devices is driving the importance of the Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) chipset market. NB-IoT chipsets enable devices to connect to cellular networks and can support various applications such as smart cities, healthcare, and industrial IoT. Due to the rising adoption of IoT devices and the need for efficient connectivity solutions, the NB-IoT chipset market is projected to expand in the future. Prominent Players in Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) Chipset Market Qualcomm Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. Intel Corporation Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Ericsson Nokia Corporation Altair Semiconductor Sequans Communications U-Blox Holding AG ZTE Corporation Sierra Wireless Quectel Wireless Solutions Co. Ltd. Gemalto NV Telit Communications PLC Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Commsolid GmbH Neoway Technology Co. Ltd. Nordic Semiconductor ASA Sanechips Technology Co. Ltd. Riot Micro Inc Smart City Segment to Drive Higher Sales Due to the Efficient Connectivity Solutions for Smart City Applications A recent analysis has revealed that the Smart City segment has significantly contributed to the rapid growth of the Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) Chipset market in 2021. This segment's impact is expected to persist from 2022 to 2030 due to NB-IoT's effective connectivity solutions for smart city applications like smart lighting, waste management, and parking management. SkyQuest's study has recently confirmed that 60% of smart city projects worldwide are using LPWAN technologies, including NB-IoT, to enable their solutions. These findings affirm the notion that the sales of the NB-IoT chipset market are being propelled by the smart cities application segment. The Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) Chipset market analysis indicates that North America is set to become a significant player from 2022 to 2030. SkyQuest's projection shows that the region is expected to grow at a CAGR of 39.82% during the forecast period, driven by the rising adoption of IoT devices, the presence of prominent market players, and government initiatives. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/narrowband-iot-nb-iot-chipset-market Hardware Type Segment to Exhibit Strong Growth Due to Increasing Adoption of NB-IoT Chipsets in Hardware Devices The dominant method in the Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) Chipset market in 2021 was the Hardware Type segment, and it is anticipated to continue leading from 2022 to 2030. This trend is fueled by the growing adoption of NB-IoT chipsets in hardware devices such as sensors, trackers, and meters. According to SkyQuest's report, the NB-IoT chipset hardware market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 37.34% during the forecast period. Furthermore, the Asia Pacific region has emerged as a significant force in the Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) Chipset market and is expected to maintain its leading position by 2030. SkyQuest has predicted remarkable growth in the Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) Chipset market for the Asia Pacific region, with a projected CAGR of 42.97% during the forecast period. This expansion can be attributed to the increasing adoption of IoT devices, government initiatives towards smart cities and industrial automation, and the presence of key players in the region. A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) Chipset 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 Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) Chipset Market Sony Semiconductor Israel has launched a new dual-band low-power cellular IoT chipset solution that integrates both LTE-M and NB-IoT modems. The new ALT1350 chipset also supports non-terrestrial satellite (NTN) connectivity, in addition to cellular, satellite-GNSS, and Wi-Fi positioning. It includes an extra transceiver for IEEE 802.15.4-based protocols in sub-GHz and 2.4GHz ISM bands, covering Wi-Sun, U-Bus Air, and wireless M-Bus, making it an ideal choice for point-to-point or mesh-based local-area sensor networking. Sony Semiconductor Israel and Fibocom Wireless Inc. are collaborating to launch the MS18 series 5G LPWA module, which will be officially announced at Embedded World 2023. Fibocom Wireless Inc. is a global provider of IoT wireless solutions and wireless communication modules, while Sony Semiconductor Israel is a leading provider of Cellular IoT chipsets. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/narrowband-iot-nb-iot-chipset-market Key Questions Answered in Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) Chipset 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 Radio Frequency Components Market Global Atomic Layer Deposition Market Global Internet of Things (IoT) Microcontroller market Global Semiconductor and Circuit Manufacturing Market Global Semiconductor Gas Filters 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 Dublin, April 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Sustainable Biopolymers: Global Markets" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report analyzes the global sustainable biopolymer market, based on segmentation of chemistry and application. These segmentations are further analyzed at global and regional levels. The base year considered for analysis is 2021, while market estimates and forecasts are given from 2022 to 2027. The market estimates are only provided in terms of volume, kilotons and revenue in $ millions. Rising concern about the escalating price of fossil fuels and its impact on the environment has made it necessary to search for substitutes for petrochemical-based plastics. Biodegradable polymers comprise only one subcategory of degradable polymers and bio-resins. The ISO and the ASTM broadly define degradable polymers as, ".polymers that are designed to undergo a chemical change under specific conditions, resulting in a loss of some properties." Biodegradable polymers are designed to degrade via action of living organisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae. Bioplastics are polymers derived from bio-based sources. Bioplastic can be biodegradable or non-biodegradable and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. A significant change is occurring in the global polymer industry. The demand for polymers derived from renewable resources and biodegradable polymers are growing. Due to rapid advancements in biotechnology, many bioplastics (such as polylactides and polyhydroxyalkanoates) have been developed. In 2021, about 12% of total annual crude oil consumption in the U.S. was used to produce plastic. With the price volatility of crude, the supply and economic stability of plastic packaging remains uncertain. Plastic packaging products are toxic to both the environment and human health, if not biodegradable. Non-biodegradable plastic packaging results in land and water clogs, degrading the environment health. Demand for bioplastics and biodegradable plastics are on the rise. Bioplastic or green polymer packaging is material produced from biomass, is biodegradable or is both. Bioplastics are also produced from fossil-based raw materials provided that the end products are biodegradable. The market penetration of bioplastic materials has been substantially low in the last decade. Only 2.4 million tons of bioplastic material was produced in 2021, compared to 390 million tons of plastic material produced during the same period. With the growing availability of raw materials and diverging product portfolios of bioplastic and green polymer materials, demand is projected to be on the rise during the forecast period. Major development of biopolymer and green plastic is primarily expected in Europe, due to the growing importance of bio-economics in the European Union. Europe is a major hub for the entire bioplastics industry; it ranks highest in research and development. COVID-19 impacted demand for biopolymers by slowing R&D activities due to economic slowdown and restriction on employee work. The pandemic had a negative impact on the growth of biodegradable polymers, bioplastics and related end-use industries. Report Includes 63 data tables An up-to-date overview and analysis of the global market for sustainable biopolymers (including both the bio-based polymers and biodegradable polymers) Analyses of the global market trends, with historic market revenue data (sales figures) for 2021, estimates for 2022, forecasts for 2023, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2027 Estimation of the actual market size and revenue forecast for both the biodegradable and bio-based polymers markets in value (USD millions) and volumetric (kilotons) terms, and their corresponding market share analysis based on chemistry, application, and region In-depth information (facts and figures) concerning the major factors influencing the progress of this market (benefits, and industry-specific challenges) with respect to specific growth trends, upcoming technologies, future prospects, and contributions to the overall market Highlights of emerging technology trends, opportunities and gaps estimating current and future demand for sustainable biopolymers, pricing and supply chain analysis, and the COVID-19 impact on this marketplace Analysis of the market opportunities with a holistic review of the Porter's Five Forces analysis and PESTLE analysis considering both micro and macro environmental factors prevailing in the entire bioplastics industry Review of key recent patents granted related to biodegradable polymer technologies Identification of the major stakeholders and analysis of the competitive landscape based on recent market developments, segmental revenues, and company value share analysis Descriptive company profiles of the leading global players, including 3M Co., Amcor plc., Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM), BASF SE, Braskem, FKuR, PSM North America, and Toray Industries Inc. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 169 Forecast Period 2022 - 2027 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $4.8 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2027 $14.4 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 24.8% Regions Covered Global Company Profiles 3M Ag Processing Inc. Amcor plc Archer Daniels Midland Co. (Adm) American Packaging Corp. Anchor Packaging Basf Se Berry Global Inc. Biotec Biologische Naturverpackungen GmbH & Co. Kg. Braskem Chimei Cargill Inc. Cosmo Films Ltd. Er Carpenter Co. Ecolab Inc. Fkur Formosa Plastics Group Future Foam Inc. Filmquest Group Inc. Greiner Packaging International Gascogne Flexible Inteplast Group Kaneka Texas Corp. Novomer Inc. Novolex Holdings Inc. Natureworks LLC Plastomer Corp. Pactiv Inc. Primient Covation LLC Printpack Inc. Psm North America Saint-Gobain Sealed Air Corp. Swiss Pac Toray Industries, Inc. Teijin Fibers Ltd. Tekni-Plex Inc. Ube America Inc. Unitika Ltd. Wipak Group Winpak Portion Packaging Zeon Corp. Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Summary and Highlights Chapter 3 Market Overview 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Definition of Different Product Types 3.3 History of Bioplastics 3.3.1 History of Chemical Industry 3.4 Bio-Based Chemical Products 3.4.1 Traditional Chemical Products 3.5 Effects of Environmental/Exposure Conditions on Biodegradation 3.5.1 Background 3.5.2 Early Regulations 3.5.3 Significance of Moisture, Temperature And/Or Oxygen 3.5.4 Role of Microorganisms 3.5.5 Presence of Methane 3.5.6 Increasing Decomposition in Landfills 3.5.7 Function of Compost Operations 3.5.8 Other Factors 3.5.9 Conclusions Chapter 4 Market Dynamics 4.1 Market Dynamics 4.1.1 Drivers 4.1.2 Market Drivers for Flexible Green Packaging 4.1.3 Challenges 4.1.4 Market Restraints for Flexible Green Packaging 4.2 Supply Chain Analysis 4.3 Global Flexible Green Packaging Industry 4.3.1 Product Life Cycle Analysis 4.3.2 Technological Advancements in Packaging 4.3.3 Nanotechnology 4.3.4 Recent Developments in Rigid Food Packaging 4.4 PESTLE Analysis, Global Plastic Bag and Pouch Market 4.4.1 Political 4.4.2 Economic 4.4.3 Social 4.4.4 Technological 4.4.5 Legal 4.4.6 Environmental 4.5 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 4.6 Covid-19 Impact on the Sustainable Biopolymers Market 4.7 Pricing Overview Chapter 5 Market Analysis by Chemistry 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Biodegradable Polymers 5.2.1 Introduction 5.2.2 Terminology 5.2.3 Definition and Standard 5.2.4 Patents Related to Biodegradable Polymers 5.2.5 Chemical Types of Biodegradable Polymers 5.2.6 Sustainability 5.3 Bioplastics 5.3.1 Introduction 5.3.2 Recent Developments 5.3.3 Bioplastics Processing Technologies 5.3.4 Pros and Cons of Bioplastics 5.3.5 Issues Faced by Bioplastic 5.3.6 Global Outlook for Bioplastics 5.4 Alternative Chemical Products and Processing 5.4.1 Introduction 5.4.2 Need for Alternative Chemical Products 5.4.3 Environmental Impact 5.4.4 U.S. Bio-Based Alternative Chemical Products Market Chapter 6 Market Analysis by Application 6.1 Introduction 6.1.1 Biodegradable Polymer Applications 6.1.2 Bio-Based Polymer Applications 6.2 Global Market for Flexible Green Packaging 6.2.1 Introduction 6.2.2 Green Polymers and Bioplastics 6.2.3 Types of Bioplastic Films 6.2.4 Bioplastics Film Applications 6.2.5 the U.S. Market 6.2.6 Asia-Pacific Market 6.3 Polymeric Foams 6.3.1 Bioplastics 6.3.2 Biodegradable Polymers 6.4 Blow-Molded Plastic Packaging 6.4.1 Bioplastics in Blow-Molded Plastic Packaging 6.4.2 Bioplastics Bottles 6.4.3 Bioplastic for Blow-Molding Applications 6.5 Plastics Compounding 6.5.1 Introduction 6.5.2 Biocompounds 6.5.3 Biodegradable Polymer Packaging 6.5.4 Market Overview Chapter 7 Market Analysis by Region 7.1 Global Market 7.2 North America 7.3 Europe 7.4 Asia-Pacific 7.5 Middle East and Africa 7.6 Latin America Chapter 8 Competitive Landscape 8.1 Market Competitiveness 8.2 Market Player Positioning 8.3 New Developments For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/145wwt 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 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Azimuth Thrusters Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Type; By Drive System; By Vessel Type; By End Use; and By Region; Segment Forecast, 2023-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global azimuth thrusters market size is expected to reach USD 592.86 million by 2032, according to a new study. The report gives a detailed insight into current market dynamics and provides analysis on future market growth. Companies Mentioned ABB Brunvoll AS Caterpillar Hydromaster IHI Power Systems Jastram Kawasaki Heavy Industries KONGSBERG SCHOTTEL GROUP Steerprop Thrustmaster Veth Propulsion Voith Turbo Wartsila Corporation Wuxi Ruifeng Marine ZF Friedrichshafen AG Market expansion is expected to fuel by ship owners using azimuth thrusters more frequently to increase speed. Azimuth thrusters deliver the necessary thrust in the intended direction in navy ships, improving maneuverability over rudder systems and fixed propellers. Thrusters are utilized mainly by marine vessels for dynamic positioning. These thrusters keep their locations by combating external impediments like wind and waves. The speed of maritime ships has increased. They are primarily employed in tugs, workboats, cargo vessels, icebreakers, naval vessels, and offshore supply vessels. Ship owners are widely using these cutting-edge thrusters because they offer improved mobility. It promotes market expansion by providing both high operational dependability and simple maintenance. New trends in the market include the introduction of thrusters with cutting-edge technology and the creation of propulsion systems for naval vessels with minimal carbon emissions. Over the forecast period, the market is expected to expand significantly due to increased expenditure on acquiring new warships and increased capitalization on the modernization of naval vessels. Azimuth Thrusters Market Report Highlights The market for the 1500 KW-3500 KW is expected to grow at a significant CAGR over the study period, primarily due to the use of the thrusters in the survey and cargo ships. The electric drive system segment is anticipated to be the largest due to the increasing demand for lightweight vessels. During the forecast period, the naval ships category is expected to maintain its market dominance due to an increase in the demand for submarines, surveillance ships, and tugboats. The OEM segment is expected to grow due to the booming investments in the naval sector, the acquisition of unique vessels, and the rapid expansion of the seaborne freight trade. Asia Pacific dominated the market in 2021 and held the greatest market share owing to the rapid expansion of the shipbuilding sector and the rising production of naval vessels by developing countries like China & India. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 119 Forecast Period 2023 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $529.11 million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $592.86 million Compound Annual Growth Rate 1.3% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Executive Summary 3. Research Methodology 4. Global Azimuth Thrusters Market Insights 4.1. Azimuth Thrusters - Industry Snapshot 4.2. Azimuth Thrusters Market Dynamics 4.2.1. Drivers and Opportunities 4.2.1.1. Increased demand for offshore oil and gas exploration 4.2.1.2. Rising demand for tugboats and support containers across several geographies 4.2.2. Restraints and Challenges 4.2.2.1. High cost of maintaining azimuth thrusters 4.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis 4.4. PESTLE Analysis 4.5. Azimuth Thrusters Industry Trends 4.6. Value Chain Analysis 4.7. COVID-19 Impact Analysis 5. Global Azimuth Thrusters Market, by Drive System 5.1. Key Findings 5.2. Introduction 5.3. Electric Drive System 5.4. Diesel Drive System 5.5. Hydraulic Drive System 6. Global Azimuth Thrusters Market, by Vessel Type 6.1. Key Findings 6.2. Introduction 6.3. Naval Ships 6.4. Offshore Drilling 6.5. Recreational Boats 6.6. Offshore Wind Farms (CTVs, SOVs) and Others 7. Global Azimuth Thrusters Market, by End User 7.1. Key Findings 7.2. Introduction 7.3. OEM 7.4. Aftermarket 8. Global Azimuth Thrusters Market, by Type 8.1. Key Findings 8.2. Introduction 8.3. Less than 1500KW 8.4. 1500KW-3500KW 8.5. More than 3500KW 9. Global Azimuth Thrusters Market, by Geography 10. Competitive Landscape 10.1. Expansion and Acquisition Analysis 10.1.1. Expansion 10.1.2. Acquisitions 10.2. Partnerships/Collaborations/Agreements/Exhibitions 11. Company Profiles For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3x21d6 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 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Brain Monitoring Market, By Product Type, By Application, By End User, and By Geography - Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2022 - 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides in-depth analysis of the global brain monitoring market, and provides market size (US$ Million) and compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) for the forecast period (2022-2028), considering 2021 as the base year. Company Profiles Nonin Medical Inc. Koninklijke Philips NV Cadwell Laboratories Elekta AB Masimo Corporation Nihon Kohden Corporation Compumedics Integra LifeSciences Medtronic PLC Natus Medical Incorporated Advanced Brain Monitoring Inc. Brain monitoring is vital in critical clinical scenarios where the extent or evolution of neurologic injury is unknown. Brain monitoring techniques allow researchers and physicians to study human activities, brain disorders, and brain-computer interfaces. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), Electroencephalography (EEG), and Magnetoencephalography (MEG) are most common and most frequently used brain monitoring devices. Increase in incidence/prevalence of neurological disorders, growing geriatric population, increase in research & development, and increase in demand for non-invasive and minimally invasive brain monitoring devices are major factors expected to boost the growth of the global brain monitoring market during the forecast period. For instance, in November 2021, Brain Scientific received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for next-gen NeuroCap EEG Headset, an advanced Electroencephalogram (EEG) electrode array used to obtain rapid EEGs in both routine clinical and research settings where the recording of STAT EEGs is desired. Moreover, in September 2021, NeuroWave Systems Inc. announced the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) clearance of its NeuroSENSE NS-901 Monitor, a new generation brain function monitor for assessing the adequacy of anesthesia and sedation in clinical settings. Key features of the study: It elucidates potential revenue opportunities across different segments and explains attractive investment proposition matrices for this market. This study also provides key insights about market drivers, restraints, opportunities, new product launches or approval, market trends, regional outlook, and competitive strategies adopted by key players. It profiles key players in the global brain monitoring market based on the following parameters such as company highlights, products portfolio, key highlights, financial performance, and strategies. Key companies covered as a part of this study include Nonin Medical Inc., Koninklijke Philips, Cadwell Laboratories, Elekta, Masimo Corporation, Nihon Kohden Corporation, Compumedics, Integra LifeSciences, Medtronic PLC, Natus Medical Incorporated, and Advanced Brain Monitoring Inc., among others. Insights from this report would allow marketers and the management authorities of the companies to make informed decisions regarding their future product launches, type up-gradation, market expansion, and marketing tactics. The global brain monitoring market report caters to various stakeholders in this industry including investors, suppliers, product manufacturers, distributors, new entrants, and financial analysts. Stakeholders would have ease in decision-making through various strategy matrices used in analyzing the global brain monitoring market. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 168 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $3381.6 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $5092.7 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.0% Regions Covered Global Detailed Segmentation: Global Brain Monitoring Market, By Product Type: Magnetoencephalograph Electroencephalograph Cerebral Oximeters Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Intracranial pressure Monitoring Devices Other Product Types Global Brain Monitoring Market, By Application: Parkinson's Disease Traumatic Brain Injury Epilepsy Dementia Sleep Disorders Other Applications Global Brain Monitoring Market, By End User: Hospitals Diagnostic Centers For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8p371r 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 Las Vegas, NV, April 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zion Market Research has published a new research report titled Distilled Water Market By Application (Chemical & Biological Laboratories, Drinking, Automotive Cooling Systems & Batteries, Medical, Others), By Distribution Channel (Distributor And Direct Sales), By Product (Industrial Grade And Pharmaceutical Grade), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 2030 in its research database. According to the latest research study, the demand of global Distilled Water Market size & share in terms of revenue was valued at USD 354 million in 2022 and it is expected to surpass around USD 660 million mark by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 38.1% during the forecast period 2023 to 2030. What is Distilled Water? How big is the Distilled Water Industry? Water that has been through the distillation process in order to remove pollutants and minerals has been given the name "distilled water." Distilled water is a sort of purified water. During the process, water is brought to a boil, and the steam that is produced is subsequently condensed back into a liquid state. Any pollutants that were present in the source water are not removed. In addition to its application in a variety of manufacturing techniques, laboratory experiments, medical treatments, and the cleaning of equipment all frequently call for the use of distilled water. It is also sometimes used for cooking and drinking, however due to the absence of minerals, it is not normally suggested as a primary source of drinking water. However, it is sometimes utilized for these purposes. It is challenging to produce an accurate estimate of the size of the distilled water industry because the size of the industry varies depending on the region and the industrial category. However, it is anticipated that the global market for distilled water will expand at a rate that is consistent throughout the course of the next few years. This expansion will be driven by an increase in demand from industries such as healthcare, automobile manufacturing, and electronic manufacturing. Report Overview: The global distilled water market size was worth around USD 354 Million in 2022 and is predicted to grow to around USD 660 Million by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 8.1% between 2023 and 2030. A type of purified water, distilled water is produced by using the process of distillation. In this procedure, water is boiled to the point of creating steam which is then collected followed by a condensation process to convert it into water form. During the entire process, minerals and other impurities found in the water are eliminated from the final water content. This leads to the production of water which is free of potential contaminants. Studies have claimed that distilled water can be considered the purest form of water available and hence it has a wide range of applications ranging from medical uses to industrial consumption. In cases where tap water cannot be consumed or the quality of water is questionable, distilled water can also be used for drinking. However, this application is relatively low compared to the rest. Since distilled water does not have any quantity of minerals, it should not be consumed for a longer duration. The industry refers to the production and sale of distilled water across end-user verticals. Get a Free Sample PDF of this Research Report for more Insights with a Table of Content, Research Methodology, and Graphs - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/distilled-water-market (A free sample of this report is available upon request; please contact us for more information.) Our Free Sample Report Consists of the Following: Introduction, Overview, and in-depth industry analysis are all included in the 2023 updated report. The COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak Impact Analysis is included in the package About 218+ Pages Research Report (Including Recent Research) Provide detailed chapter-by-chapter guidance on Request Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share, and Trends for the Year 2023 Includes Tables and figures have been updated The most recent version of the report includes the Top Market Players, their Business Strategies, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis Zion Market Research research methodology (Please note that the sample of this report has been modified to include the COVID-19 impact study prior to delivery.) Global Distilled Water Market: Growth Factors The global distilled water market is projected to grow owing to the increasing demand for drinking water as the world population continues to rise. In 2022, the world's population will cross the 8 billion market. In addition to this, various industrial and business operations have led to severe cases of water contamination leading to a further reduction in the availability of clean drinking water. There are several regions across the globe that are struggling with inadequate amounts of water supply either for personal use or for industrial purposes. Such incidents have led to the regional governments undertaking various steps to ensure water availability. The use of the distillation process can be beneficial under such circumstances. Furthermore, the growing awareness amongst consumer groups about the importance of water quality leads to higher demand for superior-quality water sources. In addition to this, the rising use of distilled water in various industrial applications, such as in cooling systems and for the production of chemicals is also crucial to industry expansion. The distilled water industry is expected to encounter growth restrictions owing to the high energy consumption in the sector. The production of distilled water necessitates the use of significant amounts of energy, which can become a leading contributor to climate change and other environmental issues causing damage to the ecosystem. Such factors are likely to make distilled water less attractive to consumers and companies that are environmentally conscious. Furthermore, the cost of producing distilled water is relatively higher than other forms of water purification, such as reverse osmosis. The growing demand for healthcare applications may provide higher growth opportunities while the limited awareness amongst certain segments of consumers could challenge market growth. Directly Purchase a copy of the report with TOC @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/buynow/su/distilled-water-market Report Scope Report Attribute Details Market Size in 2022 USD 354 million Projected Market Size in 2030 USD 660 million CAGR Growth Rate 38.1% CAGR Base Year 2022 Forecast Years 2023-2030 Key Market Players PepsiCo Inc., Nestle Waters, Gerolsteiner Brunnen GmbH & Co. KG, Aquafine Corporation, Coca-Cola Co., Dow Water & Process Solutions, Crystal Geyser Water Company, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Fiji Water LLC, Culligan International Company, Mountain Valley Spring Company LLC, Graver Technologies LLC, Brita GmbH, ProMinent GmbH, Labconco Corporation, Pall Corporation, ELGA LabWaterVeolia Water Technologies, ELGA LabWater, Pure Water Technology, and Merck KGaA. Key Segment By Application, By Distribution Channel, By Product, And By Region Major Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East &, Africa Purchase Options Request customized purchase options to meet your research needs. Explore purchase options Distilled Water Market: Segmentation Analysis The global distilled water market is segmented based on application, distribution channel, product, and region. Based on application, the global market segments are chemical & biological laboratories, drinking, automotive cooling systems & batteries, medical, and others. In 2022, the highest growth was in the medical sector. It includes the use of distilled water in clinics and hospitals. There are several key applications of distilled water in medical settings. For instance, it is used for medical procedures, equipment sterilization, laboratory testing, and patient hydration. The demand for distilled water in chemical & biological laboratories is typically in lesser quantities and drinking is not a very common application of this type of purified water. A basic countertop water distiller for home use can typically cost anywhere from $100 to $500. Based on the distribution channel, the distilled water industry divisions are distributors and direct sales. In 2022, the distributor segment witnessed the highest growth. Through this channel, it is easier to reach a wide range of consumer groups since distributors generally tend to have large networks and an existing client base. The process involves selling distilled water with the aid of intermediaries, such as wholesalers or retailers, who then distribute the product to end users. In direct sales, there is no need for a middleman, and generally, the transaction includes only buyers and sellers. As per estimates, the average cost of producing one gallon of distilled water using a home water distiller can range from $0.25 to $0.35 per gallon. Based on product, the global market segments are industrial grade and pharmaceutical grade. The global Distilled Water market is segmented as follows: By Application Chemical & Biological Laboratories Drinking Automotive Cooling Systems & Batteries Medical Others By Distribution Channel Distributor Direct Sales By Product Industrial Grade Pharmaceutical Grade Browse the full Distilled Water Market By Application (Chemical & Biological Laboratories, Drinking, Automotive Cooling Systems & Batteries, Medical, Others), By Distribution Channel (Distributor and Direct Sales), By Product (Industrial Grade and Pharmaceutical Grade), and By Region - Global and Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, and Forecasts 2023 2030- Report at https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/distilled-water-market Competitive Landscape Some of the main competitors dominating the global Distilled Water market include - PepsiCo Inc. Nestle Waters Gerolsteiner Brunnen GmbH & Co. KG Aquafine Corporation Coca-Cola Co. Dow Water & Process Solutions Crystal Geyser Water Company Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Fiji Water LLC Culligan International Company Mountain Valley Spring Company LLC Graver Technologies LLC Brita GmbH ProMinent GmbH Labconco Corporation Pall Corporation ELGA LabWaterVeolia Water Technologies ELGA LabWater Pure Water Technology Merck KGaA. Key Insights from Primary Research: As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global distilled water market is estimated to grow annually at a CAGR of around 8.1% over the forecast period (2023-2030) In terms of revenue, the global distilled water market size was valued at around USD 0.354 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 0.66 billion, by 2030. The market is projected to grow at a significant rate due to the convenience offered by distilled water Based on product segmentation, the pharmaceutical grade was predicted to show maximum market share in the year 2022 Based on application segmentation, medical was the leading application in 2022 On the basis of region, North America was the leading revenue generator in 2022 Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/distilled-water-market Key questions answered in this report: What is the market size and growth rate forecast for Distilled Water industry? What are the main driving factors propelling the Distilled Water Market forward? What are the leading companies in the Distilled Water Industry? What segments does the Distilled Water Market cover? How can I receive a free copy of the Distilled Water Market sample report and company profiles? Key Offerings: Market Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20232030 Market Dynamics Leading Trends, Growth Drivers, Restraints, and Investment Opportunities Market Segmentation A detailed analysis By Application, By Distribution Channel, By Product, And By Region Competitive Landscape Top Key Vendors and Other Prominent Vendors Request for Customization on this Report as per your requirements - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/7138 (We tailor your report to meet your specific research requirements. Inquire with our sales team about customising your report.) Regional Analysis: The global distilled water market is expected to witness the highest growth in North America owing to several factors. For instance, it is home to the technologically advanced nations of the US and Canada. Both of these territories have established technological processes in place that allow smooth industrial functions. Furthermore, the region has strict regulations and standards for water quality along with the existence of various regulatory bodies that ensure rules implementation. This drives the demand for distilled water in various applications such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and laboratory testing. In Asia-Pacific, the growth is mainly driven due to the increasing demand for distilled water in the electronics and medical sectors as countries like China, India, and Japan continue to undertake projects that are likely to help them meet the growing demand from industrial and residential segments. Get Infographics: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/content/uploadedimages/global-distilled-water-market.png By Region North America U.S. Canada Rest of North America Europe France UK Spain Germany Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific The Middle East & Africa Saudi Arabia South Africa Rest of the Middle East & Africa Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Recent Developments In February 2022, The California Coastal Commission announced that in the coming month, the committee will review the proposal of a private company to build a seawater desalination plant worth USD 1.4 billion at the Huntington Beach In June 2021, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the municipal corporation of Mumbai signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an Israeli company that specializes in water technology for the building of a water desalination plant with a capacity of 200 million liters To know an additional revised 2023 list of market players, request a brochure of the report: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/requestbrochure/distilled-water-market FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is the distilled water market? Which key factors will influence distilled water market growth over 2023-2030? What will be the value of the distilled water market during 2023-2030? What will be the CAGR value of the distilled water market during 2023-2030? Which region will contribute notably towards the distilled water market value? Which are the major players leveraging the distilled water market growth? 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The reports and services offered by Zion Market Research are used by prestigious academic institutions, start-ups, and companies globally to measure and understand the changing international and regional business backgrounds. Our clients/customers conviction on our solutions and services has pushed us in delivering always the best. Our advanced research solutions have helped them in appropriate decision-making and guidance for strategies to expand their business. Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zion-market-research/ Follow Us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zion_research Follow Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zionmarketresearch Follow Us on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/zionmarketresearch/ Follow Us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y0Yfi7N8zSs Contact Us: Rushikesh Dorge USA: +1 347 690-0211 United Kingdom: +44 2032 894158 Japan: +81 50 5806 9039 India: +91 7768 006 007 Web: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/ Blog: https://zmrblog.com/ Still, Looking for More Information? OR Want Data for Inclusion in Magazine, Case Study, or Media? Email Directly Here with Detail Information: sales@zionmarketresearch.com Water that has been through the distillation process in order to remove pollutants and minerals has been given the name "distilled water." Distilled water is a sort of purified water. During the process, water is brought to a boil, and the steam that is produced is subsequently condensed back into a liquid state. Any pollutants that were present in the source water are not removed. In addition to its application in a variety of manufacturing techniques, laboratory experiments, medical treatments, and the cleaning of equipment all frequently call for the use of distilled water. It is also sometimes used for cooking and drinking, however due to the absence of minerals, it is not normally suggested as a primary source of drinking water. However, it is sometimes utilised for these purposes. It is challenging to produce an accurate estimate of the size of the distilled water industry because the size of the industry varies depending on the region and the industrial category. However, it is anticipated that the global market for distilled water will expand at a rate that is consistent throughout the course of the next few years. This expansion will be driven by an increase in demand from industries such as healthcare, automobile manufacturing, and electronic manufacturing. Conway, South Carolina, April 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Henry Hank Plyler, a 2005 Coastal Carolina University graduate and Myrtle Beach native, has made a donation to support the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration Endowed General Scholarship fund. In recognition of his gift, the University has announced the naming of the Henry Hank Plyler Bridge, which extends over the pond located between Prince Lawn and the Wall Building. The fund assists full-time Wall College students with the costs of attending CCU. Its an honor and a blessing to give back to my alma mater, said Plyler. I love Coastal Carolina. It has such a beautiful campus. My time there was amazing. I worked full time, about 70-80 hours a week at the family business, and went to school part time. My relationships with the professors were great. If it werent for the support and mentoring I received from professors [Gerald] Boyles and [Robert] Burney, I am not sure I would have graduated from Coastal. Dr. Burney is the one who encouraged me to take my talents to NYC, where I have achieved a decent amount of success. There are so many people, from my family, friends, and professors, who believed in me, encouraged me, and helped me accomplish my goals. I hope my financial contributions will play a role in helping our students to reach their goals. Plyler, who earned a bachelors degree in finance, is a member of CCUs Wall College board of visitors. He lives and works in New York City, where he is a financial planner with Barnum Financial Group. Plyler has been in the financial services industry since January of 2007 and has worked with corporate executives, small business owners, foundations, endowments, and institutions. Since Hank graduated from Coastal, he has supported the Wall College extensively with both his time and personal resources, said Eric Rivenbark, senior director of major and planned gifts in CCUs Office for Advancement and Alumni Engagement. This most recent gift, which provides much-needed support to our students, demonstrates his passion for making a difference in the lives of our students. Im pleased that Hanks legacy will be forever recognized on our campus. Prior to joining Barnum, Plyler was a senior portfolio advisor at Merrill Lynch and served as a vice president at JP Morgan and Smith Barney, with a focus on asset management and client acquisition. Before making his transition into financial services, Plyler spent 20 years working in all facets of the Gay Dolphin, his familys retail gift shop business that was founded in the 1940s in downtown Myrtle Beach. My family has been in Myrtle Beach for a long time, said Plyler. Deep down, I am still a humble Horry County boy. In addition to supporting his alma mater, Plyler is deeply involved in fundraising for the New York City chapter of the Alzheimers Association. During his spare time, he is an avid traveler and photographer; he has captured countryside images in Iceland, Guatemala, and Panama. New Delhi, April 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In 2022, the United States roofing market was valued at $26.20 billion and is projected to generate a revenue of $39.64 billion by 2031. The US is witnessing significant growth, driven by factors such as an increase in new construction activity, growth in renovation and remodeling projects, and a rise in demand for energy-efficient roofing materials. A comprehensive research analysis of Astute Analytica reveals the various aspects of the US roofing market, with a focus on key sectors such as industrial building construction, aviation, hospitality, retail, and the green roofing movement. Get Free sample copy of this report @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/united-states-roofing-market In 2022, the US construction industry spent $565.4 billion on private construction, including residential and commercial projects, indicating a strong demand for roofing products and services across various building types. The non-residential construction sector alone accounted for $444.6 billion of this expenditure, encompassing industrial buildings, public infrastructure, and commercial buildings like hotels and retail stores. The aviation sector also offers potential for the roofing market, with approximately 19,622 airports in the US, of which 5,000 are under public-use. These airports require ongoing roofing maintenance and renovation to ensure safe and reliable operations, creating further opportunities for roofing companies to cater to the aviation industry's needs. In the hospitality sector, the average cost of a new roof installation ranges from $15,000 to $200,000, depending on the size and complexity of the building. This emphasizes the need for high-quality roofing systems within the hotel industry, which is a crucial market for roofing companies. The retail industry's renovation and remodeling projects in 2021 amounted to approximately $5.5 billion, with an average cost of $61 per square foot. This highlights the necessity for roofing companies to offer cost-effective and efficient roofing solutions for commercial clients in this sector. The US market for green roofs is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.3% from 2023 to 2031, driven by the increasing demand for sustainable building practices and energy-efficient solutions. This trend is likely to influence the US market, as more clients seek out eco-friendly roofing options. Residential Activities Contribute More than 38% Revenue to the US Roofing Market More than 38% of the US revenue is projected to come from residential activities, with a significant portion attributed to new independent house construction, renovation of residential roofing, and building separate garages and shades. In 2021, a total of approximately 1.07 million new single-family houses were completed in the United States. Assuming an average cost of $5,000 to install a new roof on a single-family house, the revenue generated from new independent house construction in the roofing market would be around $514 million in 2021. On the other hand, the residential sector also invests heavily in renovation and remodeling projects, including roof replacements and repairs. In 2021, homeowners spent an estimated $330 billion on home improvements and repairs. Out of which over $300 million was spent on roofing. Additionally, building separate garages and shades contributes to the demand for residential roofing services. In the United States, it is estimated that 63% of households have a garage or carport. With the average cost of constructing a detached garage ranging between $35,000 and $60,000, a portion of this expenditure goes towards roofing. Around 10% of the garage construction cost is allocated to roofing, and 5% of households with a garage built or renovated one in 2021. Considering that residential activities account for more than 38% of the US market revenue, it is crucial for roofing companies to focus on the unique needs and preferences of homeowners, offering cost-effective and efficient solutions for new construction, renovation, and additional structures like garages and shades. Exploring the Future of the US Roofing Market: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead Opportunity: Green Roofing Segment: The demand for environmentally friendly roofing materials is increasing due to growing awareness of sustainability. Companies can capitalize on this opportunity by offering innovative, eco-friendly roofing solutions. Challenges: Highly Competitive Market: The roofing market in the US is highly competitive, with many players vying for market share. This makes it challenging for companies to stand out and gain a foothold in the market. Price Sensitivity: Many customers in the market are cost-sensitive, making it difficult for companies to compete solely on price while maintaining profitability. Regulatory Changes: Regulations regarding roofing materials and installation practices can change, leading to additional costs for companies that must adjust their product lines and practices. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.astuteanalytica.com/industry-report/united-states-roofing-market Dominance of PVC and SPF in the US Roofing Market to Generate More Than 45% Revenue Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) have emerged as the most popular materials used in roofing across the United States. According to Astute Analytica, these two materials accounted for more than 45% of the market share, with SPF dominating the market with over 24% revenue share, followed by PVC with over 21% market share. SPF has become a preferred choice for many residential, commercial, and industrial roofing projects due to its unique properties and benefits. The dominance of SPF in the roofing market can be attributed to factors such as energy efficiency, seamless and waterproof nature, and durability and longevity. SPF provides exceptional insulation and energy-saving properties, which can help reduce heating and cooling costs in buildings. This energy efficiency appeals to both homeowners and businesses looking to minimize their energy consumption and related expenses. Moreover, SPF forms a seamless, waterproof barrier when applied, reducing the risk of leaks and water damage. This characteristic makes it an ideal choice for roofing in areas prone to heavy rainfall or extreme weather conditions. Furthermore, SPF roofing systems offer a long lifespan, often lasting for over 30 years with proper maintenance, making it a durable and cost-effective roofing solution. PVC roofing has also gained significant market share in the US due to its various advantages. PVC offers excellent resistance to harsh weather conditions, chemicals, and fire, making it a suitable option for commercial and industrial applications. Additionally, PVC roofing is known for its durability and low maintenance requirements, which contribute to its overall appeal. Its reflective properties help reduce the heat absorbed by the building, lowering energy costs associated with cooling. As a result, PVC has become a strong contender in the roofing market, capturing over 21% of the market share. Competitive Landscape: Top 11 Players Hold Less than 55% Revenue Share, 3M Company Dominates the Market The roofing market in the US is highly competitive, with the top 11 players holding less than 55% of the market share. This indicates a fragmented market with many players competing for business. 3M has established itself as a market leader, but still only holds less than 10% of the market share, which leaves significant room for growth. Other players in the market are Atlas Roofing Corporation, BASF SE, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Carlisle Companies Inc., Certain Teed Corporation, DoW Chemical Company, Dupont de Nemours Company, Duro-Last Inc., GAF, and IKO Industries Ltd. In such a competitive market, companies must differentiate themselves through product innovation, quality, pricing, and distribution channels. Companies must also be aware of regulatory changes that could impact their business and be prepared to adjust their product offerings accordingly. Additionally, economic uncertainty can impact the demand for roofing products and affect companies' sales and profitability. To remain competitive in the US roofing market, companies must focus on staying ahead of industry trends, investing in research and development, and expanding their product portfolios to cater to the needs of different customer segments. Building a strong distribution network and brand reputation is also crucial to winning and retaining customers in this market. Some of the Top Market Players Are: 3M Company Atlas Roofing Corporation BASF SE Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Carlisle Companies Inc. Certain Teed Corporation DoW Chemical Company Dupont de Nemours Company Duro-Last Inc. GAF IKO Industries Ltd Directly Purchase a copy of report with TOC @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/inquire-before-purchase/united-states-roofing-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 TORONTO, April 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the first time, Ontarios government is pushing forward with plans to privatize the provinces public hospitals. In response, thousands of Ontarians have taken to the streets of their communities to organize a mass citizen-run referendum. The Ontario Health Coalition and its local chapters across the province are launching the referendum on Tuesday April 18 in media conferences and availabilities across Ontario. On January 16, the Ford government announced it is moving forward with plans to substantially, in their own words, expand for-profit clinics and hospitals to take the surgeries and diagnostics out of our local public hospitals. Surgeries, MRIs and CTs are core public hospital services. In response to media questions, Premier Ford said that it is his governments estimation that 50% of the surgeries done in our public hospitals are the easy sort-- the profitable ones that for-profit clinics and hospitals want to take and the kind that his government wants to privatize. The government has contracted the first three for-profit clinics (day hospitals) in Windsor, Waterloo and Ottawa, and is allowing for-profit corporations to run surgeries out of under-used public hospital operating rooms already. The government introduced enabling legislation on the first day the Ontario Legislature re-opened in February and has used its majority to push through Bill 60 and vote down all amendments proposed by the Opposition parties. Thus, any public hearings as brief and without notice as they were, were pro forma, and had no impact on Fords plans. The legislation is expected to pass this week. The Health Coalition has vowed an unprecedented fightback to match the unprecedented privatization of Ontarios core public health care services. The Ontario public has never had any say about this plan to cut these vital services from our local public hospitals and privatize them. Most of our communities have spent the last hundred years or more fundraising, donating and volunteering to build up their local hospitals and bring services closer to home. Details will be announced in the press conferences to be held across Ontario as follows: All events listed will be on Tuesday, April 18. Ontario-wide & Greater Toronto Health Coalition at 12 pm Queens Park, outside of the Main Legislature Building For more information: Natalie Mehra at 416-230-6402 or ohc@sympatico.ca; Carolyn Egan at 416-806-7985 or greatertorontohc@gmail.com Peel Region Health Coalition at 10 am Outside Brampton Civic Hospital, 2100 Bovaird Drive East, Brampton For more information: Mohammad Ali Aumeer at 416-770-7858 or peelregionhc@gmail.com North Bay Health Coalition at 10 am OPSEU Hall, 150 First Avenue East, North Bay For more information: Henri Giroux at 705-471-7746 or hgiroux1@hotmail.com Algoma Health Coalition at 12 pm Outside MPP Ross Romano's constituency office, 390 Bay St, Sault Ste Marie For more information: Albert Dupuis at 613-808-7710 or aldupuis@rogers.com Simcoe County Health Coalition at 12 pm In front of the Royal Victoria Hospital, 201 Georgian Dr, Barrie For more information: Anisa Carrascal at 647-835-7870 or simcoecountyhc@gmail.com London Health Coalition rally in support of public hospital services at 10 am Southeast corner of Richmond St and Cheapside St, Grosvenor site of St. Joseph's Health Care, London For more information: Peter Bergmanis at 519-860-4403 or pbergmanis@rogers.com Windsor Health Coalition at 10 am Byng Rd, just south of Tecumseh Rd across from the Byzantine Church, Windsor For more information: Tracey Ramsey at 519-995-0239 or Traceyramsey200@gmail.com Chatham-Kent Health Coalition at 10:20 am Chatham VIA Rail Train Station, 360 Queen St, Chatham For more information: Shirley Roebuck at 226-402-2724 or goddess@bell.net Sarnia-Lambton Health Coalition at 12 pm In front of the Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital of Bluewater Health, 450 Blanche St, Petrolia For more information: Shirley Roebuck at 226-402-2724 or goddess@bell.net Peterborough Health Coalition at 11 am Peterborough and District Labour Council office, 246 Romaine St, Peterborough For more information: Marion Burton at 705-868-7352 or marionburton@nexicom.net Kingston Health Coalition at 11:30 am In front of the Hotel Dieu hospital, 166 Brock St, Kingston For more information: Joan Jardin at 613-305-2716 or kingstonhealthcoalition@gmail.com Haliburton Highlands LTC Coalition at 12 pm Near the Information Centre in Head Lake Park, 13 York St, Haliburton For more information: Bonnie Roe at 705-457-6579 or Bonnieroe08@gmail.com Cornwall Health Coalition at 12 pm Beside the Cornwall Community Hospital, 840 McConnell Ave, Cornwall For more information: Louise Lanctot at 613-932-1943 or louiselanctot18@gmail.com ; Elaine MacDonald at 613-330-3117 or elainemacdonald11@gmail.com Niagara Region Health Coalition at 10 am In front of the St. Catharines Hospital, 1200 Fourth Ave, St Catharines For more information: Sue Hotte at 905-402-2724 or suehotte@yahoo.ca Hamilton Health Coalition at 12 pm USW Local 1005 Hall, 350 Kenilworth Avenue North, 2nd floor Boardroom For more information: Janina Lebon at 905-545-5514 or jlebon@sympatico.ca Durham Region Health Coalition Location, date, & time TBA For more information: Pam Parks at 905-447-1124 or bbgoodday01@yahoo.ca Media Availability The following areas will not be holding press conferences but will be available to speak to the media: Curtis White in Laphams Quarterly: This issue of Laphams Quarterly bravely addresses the hotly contested word freedom. It is hotly contested in part because what the word means has never been clear, a fact that has not seemed to lessen its importance for us. It is a word in which we have invested enormous amounts of energy without producing much in the way of illumination. And yet freedom cannot be dismissed simply on semantic groundsjust another word, as Kris Kristofferson sangbecause what is at its heart may very well answer the question What does it mean to be human? In our own moment, progressive activists resist what they see as the opposite of freedom: slavery. Modern slavery takes the forms of work and debt, of legislation limiting a womans authority over her own body, of racist segregation, and of the prison-industrial complex, to name but a few examples. Our world is not so different from the one described by Belinda, a woman enslaved for fifty years in eighteenth-century Massachusetts, where lawless domination sits enthroned, pouring bloody outrage and cruelty on all who dare to be free. The voice of economic privilege uses the idea of freedom in order to claim the right to deploy property to its own rich advantage. Making matters worse, others on the political right have weaponized freedom to advance a long list of grievances about what they believe has been wrongly taken from them. Some of these grievances are legitimate; neoliberalism has indeed denied many people the work that once gave them economic independence and a sense of self-worth. But that legitimate complaint has gotten tangled with terrible things, especially the perception of those on the right talking freedom that they have been replaced by racial minorities, liberated women, and the LGBTQ community. So they set out to own the libs and reclaim their lost freedoms through the public display of their resentments (aka rioting), with guns on their hips if they so choose (and they usually do). This is freedom as understood in George Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four: War is peace. Slavery is freedom. Ignorance is strength. More here. KEY FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FY22 107% growth in Total Transaction Volume (TTV) to $AUD1.425 Billion ($USD964 Million), up $AUD737 Million ($USD497 Million) 56% growth in Revenue to $AUD71.6 Million ($USD48.3 Million), up $AUD25.6 Million ($USD17.3 Million) 24% growth in Gross Profit to $AUD20.8 Million ($USD$14 Million), up $AUD4 Million ($USD2.7 Million) Total comprehensive loss of $AUD16.6 Million ($USD11.5 Million), due to significant investment into expansion plans TORONTO, April 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Banxa Holdings Inc. (TSXV: BNXA) (OTCQX: BNXAF) (FSE: AC00) ("Banxa'' or the "Company"), the leading on-and-off ramp solution for Web3, announces today its full audited financial reports for Australian fiscal year ending June 30th 2022. The full results including Management Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) are available on Sedar. Domenic Carosa, Banxa Chairman, said: We are pleased to announce the completion of our audited annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. Banxa has made significant strides in FY22 towards building a sustainable business for the long run, whilst also upgrading our financial reporting systems to keep up with the company's growth. As a leading publicly traded company in the crypto industry, we remain committed to navigating the ever-expanding regulatory environment for crypto with transparency and compliance. We recognize that delays in the audit process have been challenging for shareholders. Today's announcement is an important milestone on our path to resume trading on the TSX Venture Exchange as soon as possible. Looking ahead, we will continue to execute on our strategy for long-term growth, and we will share the progress we have made in fiscal year 2023 to-date in due course. Updates on FY23 results to date and path to profitability, proposed relisting plans and webinar date will be announced in the coming weeks. FINANCIAL REVIEW $AUD1.425 Billion ($USD964 Million) Total Transaction Value (TTV) for the fiscal year ending 30th June 2022 - up AUD$737 Million ($USD497 Million) or 107% year on year. The end of calendar year 2022 saw one of the largest bull markets in crypto to date, resulting in the explosion of volumes seen in the financial results. Adjusted EBITDA ($AUD) The following table shows a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net loss before tax, the most comparable IFRS financial measure, for the three months and the years ended 30 June 2022 and 2021: Three months ended 30 June 2022 Three months ended 30 June 2021 Year ended 30 June 2022 Year ended 30 June 2021 $ $ $ $ Loss before tax (8,529,885 ) (4,608,120 ) (17,041,897 ) (5,687,662 ) Amortization and depreciation 141,948 13,657 454,970 39,075 Realised loss (gain) on fair value of deposits 16,215 2,744,986 (1,233,920 ) - Unrealized loss (gain) on fair value of deposits - 975,829 - 975,829 (Gain) loss on fair value of derivative liability 48 1,050,793 136,866 1,050,793 Share based compensation expense 512,444 862,510 2,924,538 2,081,011 Finance expense 8,444 (48,055 ) 287,154 532,771 Listing expense - - - 2,690,513 Adjusted EBITDA (7,850,786 ) 991,600 (14,472,289 ) 1,682,330 PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT ($AUD) Consolidated Statements of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive income For the years ended 30 June 2022 and 2021 30 June 2022 30 June 2021 ($) ($) Revenue 71,596,457 45,970,658 Cost of sales (50,758,136 ) (29,119,825 ) Gross profit 20,838,321 16,850,833 Employment expenses (18,047,647 ) (7,266,313 ) Depreciation (454,970 ) (39,075 ) General, administration and other (13,304,500 ) (5,814,207 ) Share based compensation (2,924,538 ) (2,081,011 ) Total operating expenses (34,731,655 ) (15,200,606 ) Operating Income (loss) before other items and income tax (13,893,334 ) 1,650,227 Other items Realised gain on fair value of deposits (treasury coins) 1,233,920 - Unrealised loss on fair value of deposits (treasury coins) - (975,829 ) Realised loss on fair value of derivative liability (136,866 ) - Unrealised loss on fair value of derivative liability - (1,050,793 ) Net foreign exchange losses (4,202,131 ) (2,715,843 ) Other Income 243,668 627,860 Finance costs (287,154 ) (532,771 ) Listing expenses - (2,690,513 ) Total other items (3,148,563 ) (7,337,889 ) Loss before tax (17,041,897 ) (5,687,662 ) Income tax (expense) (228,886 ) (140,454 ) Net loss for the year (17,270,783 ) (5,828,116 ) Other comprehensive income Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations 645,279 456,860 Total comprehensive loss for the year (16,625,504 ) (5,371,256 ) Basic loss per share (0.38 ) (0.15 ) Diluted loss per share (0.38 ) (0.15 ) Highlights Revenue growth of $AUD25.6 Million ($USD17.3 Million) or 56% and Gross Profit growth of $AUD4 Million ($USD2.7 Million) or 24% driven by partner and user acquisition. Investment in building bespoke infrastructure to enter new geographical markets and market segments resulted in operating expenses increasing to $AUD34.7 Million. Total comprehensive loss for the year increased to $AUD16.6 Million due to the increase in operating expenses to expand into new markets. The Company implemented aggressive cost reduction measures in June 2022 to right size the business for the long term. BALANCE SHEET ($AUD) Consolidated Statements of Financial Position As at 30 June 2022 and 2021 30 June 2022 30 June 2021 (Restated) ($) ($) Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 9,364,013 18,615,803 Trade and other receivables 2,766,934 5,502,432 Inventories 883,885 45,311 Prepaids 464,332 292,902 Total current assets 13,479,164 24,456,448 Non-current assets Property, plant & equipment 495,077 35,244 Right-of-use assets 763,399 - Goodwill 151,643 151,643 Other deposits - bank guarantee 505,516 252,758 Total non-current assets 1,915,635 439,645 Total assets 15,394,799 24,896,093 Liabilities Current liabilities Trade and other payables 5,720,071 3,815,872 Borrowings - 444,869 Current tax liabilities 355,310 255,431 Provisions 632,309 289,855 Derivative liability - 1,127,457 Lease liability - current 354,348 - Total current liabilities 7,062,038 5,933,484 Non-current liabilities Provisions and other liabilities 63,710 28,889 Lease liability 821,975 - Total non-current liabilities 885,685 28,889 Total liabilities 7,947,723 5,962,373 Net assets 7,447,076 18,933,720 Equity Issued capital 23,128,075 20,913,753 Contributed surplus 11,619,713 8,695,175 Foreign currency translation reserve 1,156,524 511,245 Accumulated losses (28,457,236 ) (11,186,453 ) Total equity 7,447,076 18,933,720 Highlights Liquid assets of $AUD9.3 Million ($USD6.4 Million) comprising cash, deposits and digital assets. No borrowings resulting in a debt free balance sheet. The reduction in liquid assets of $AUD9.3 Million ($USD6.3 Million) is largely driven by higher operating cash outflows in line with market expansion. CONTACTS Media: Wachsman Ethan Lyle banxa@wachsman.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Per: "DOMENIC CAROSA https://twitter.com/DomCarosa Domenic Carosa = Chairman (1-888-218-6863) dcarosa@banxa.com 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 and Statements This news 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, expects or anticipates, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, would or will potentially or likely occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forwardlooking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding the completion of the audit by the Companys auditor, timing for the filing of the Annual Filings and interim financial statements by the Company; expected revenue; completion of the Companys review of audit procedures needed to validate the accounting treatment of digital assets; and that the Company will satisfy the conditions of the BCSC to have the CTO lifted. These forwardlooking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks related to the completion of the audit by the Companys auditor within the timeframe expected by management, and risks relating to the filing of the Annual Filings and interim financial statements within the timeframe expected by management, risks relating to the BCSCs removal of the CTO, and risks related to changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets, changes in applicable laws, and compliance with extensive government regulation, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Companys disclosure documents filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, assumptions regarding the completion of the audit by its auditor in a timely manner and the filing of the Annual Filings and interim financial statements by the Company in a timely manner; assumptions that the Company will satisfy the conditions of the BCSC to lift the CTO; revenue numbers will be reported as stated herein and that the Company will complete the review of audit procedures needed to validate the accounting treatment of digital assets. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor. Surrey, BC/Territories of the Coast Salish (Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen First Nations), April 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westland Insurance, one of Canada's largest independently owned brokerages, today announced a pledge of $25,000 to Second Harvest, Canada's largest food rescue organization. The formal presentation of the cheque took place on April 11, where Westland representatives presented the donation to Second Harvest's Head of BC Operations, Shelley Lycan. This partnership is part of the Purpose Partnership with Gore Mutual, a joint effort with 10 Insurance Brokers to increase social impact initiatives in the Canadian insurance space. Food insecurity is on the rise in Canada, and it disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable in our society, says Keri Fraser, Chief People Officer at Westland. Access to affordable, nutritious food is a human right. Thats why were so thrilled to join forces with Second Harvest as they aim to make a difference for people across Canada. Eliminating food waste also has a positive impact on the environment, the effects of which can be felt by all Canadians. Giving back to the communities we serve is part of who we are at Westland, and this partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of Canadians." In Canada, over $49 billion worth of good, edible surplus food is wasted annually, while food insecurity is on the rise. Second Harvest's primary mission is to connect excess food with those who need it most while reducing the environmental impacts of food waste on our planet. The $25,000 pledge will enable Second Harvest to rescue and redistribute even more surplus food, providing nourishment to vulnerable communities and reducing food waste in Canada. It's with the support of partners like Westland Insurance that we're able to rescue and redistribute enough nutritious food to support 4.3 million people every year," Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest said. "Food insecurity and climate change are urgent pressures in Canada that we can't address alone. This $25,000 from Westland Insurance will have an immediate impact locally in British Columbia and across the country!" - 30 - Attachment Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses LOS ANGELES, April 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises adidas AG (OTC: ADDYY, ADDDF) investors that the firm has initiated an investigation into possible securities fraud and may file a class action on behalf of investors. adidas investors that lost money on their investment are encouraged to contact Lesley Portnoy, Esq. Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy , by phone 844-767-8529 or email : lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case via www.portnoylaw.com . The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses. Adidas ended its business partnership with Kanye West on October 25, 2022, due to his anti-Semitic rhetoric. A Wall Street Journal article published on November 27, 2022, revealed that Adidas executives discussed ending the partnership as early as 2018 due to concerns about West's behavior. The article reported that West made anti-Semitic comments in front of Adidas staff and discussed naming an album after Adolf Hitler. On February 9, 2023, Adidas announced that the decision to end the partnership would result in significant financial losses, including lower revenues by around 1.2 billion and operating profit by around 500 million in 2023. Adidas also anticipates one-off costs of up to 200 million in 2023. The negative impact on Adidas's finances caused a fall in the price of Adidas securities, harming investors. Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information. The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq. Admitted CA and NY Bar lesley@portnoylaw.com 310-692-8883 www.portnoylaw.com Attorney Advertising Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses LOS ANGELES, April 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Norfolk Southern Corporation (Norfolk Southern or the Company) (NYSE: NSC) investors that a lawsuit filed on behalf of investors that purchased Fate securities (NYSE: NSC) between October 28, 2020 and March 3, 2023 (the Class Period). Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy , by phone 844-767-8529 or email : lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case via www.portnoylaw.com . The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses. Norfolk Southern, a rail transportation company, implemented a strategy called Precision Scheduled Railroading to increase revenues and decrease costs, which included reductions in staff and longer, heavier trains. A class action lawsuit alleged that this strategy led to increased train derailments and risk-taking at the expense of safety. In February 2023, a derailment in Ohio caused fires and hazardous material leaks, leading to a drop in the company's stock price. The governor and EPA held Norfolk Southern responsible for the cleanup costs, and the attorney general considered legal action against them. Norfolk Southern announced a plan to improve operational safety, but the stock price fell further. Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information. The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq. Admitted CA and NY Bar lesley@portnoylaw.com 310-692-8883 www.portnoylaw.com Attorney Advertising VANCOUVER, April 14, 2023 - Kainantu Resources Ltd. (TSXV: KRL) (FSE: 6J0) ("KRL" or the "Company"), the Asia-Pacific focussed gold mining company, is pleased to announce the Company has received approval from the TSX Ventures Exchange ("TSX-V") for our recent transaction as announced on April 3, 2023. As a result, the Company has issued 18,000,000 common shares to the vendors as compensation for the transaction on April 13, 2023. This is a significant milestone for our Company, as it represents a step forward in our strategic growth plans and aligns with our commitment to creating long-term value for our shareholders. As a result of the share issuance, the total number of common shares on issue has increased to 101,427,956. Please refer to the following table for an overview of our updated share capital: Previous Shares on Issue: 83,427,956 Transaction Consideration: 18,000,000 New Common Shares Outstanding: 101,427,956 About Kainantu Resources (KRL) Kainantu Resources ("KRL") is an Asia-Pacific focussed gold mining company with three highly prospective gold and copper projects, KRL South, KRL North and the May River Project. All projects are located in premier mining regions in PNG. Both KRL North and KRL South show potential to host high-grade epithermal and porphyry mineralization, as seen elsewhere in the high-grade Kainantu Gold District. The May River project is in close proximity to the world-renowned Frieda River Copper-Gold Project, with historical drilling indicating the potential for significant copper-gold projects. KRL has a highly experienced board and management team with a proven track record of working together in the region; and an established in-country partner. KRL recently executed an agreement to acquire the Kili Teke project in the western highlands of PNG. Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Information Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Information Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's property. The data disclosed in this release relating to drilling results is historical in nature. Neither the Company nor a qualified person has yet verified this data and therefore investors should not place undue reliance on such data, and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by the Company, its affiliated companies, or any other person as to its fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness. This 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. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things: formulation of plans for drill testing; and the success related to any future exploration or development programs. These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include; success of the Company's projects; prices for gold remaining as estimated; currency exchange rates remaining as estimated; availability of funds for the Company's projects; capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); no labour-related disruptions; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner; and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in gold prices; fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar); operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mineral exploration; inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks and hazards; our ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner; changes in laws, regulations and government practices, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations; legal restrictions relating to mineral exploration; increased competition in the mining industry for equipment and qualified personnel; the availability of additional capital; title matters and the additional risks identified in our filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com). 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. Investors are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. 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. SOURCE Kainantu Resources Ltd. April 14 - Baru Gold Corp. (TSXV:BARU) | (OTC:BARUF) announces it is continuing its non-brokered private placement consisting of up to 65,000,000 units priced at $0.035 per unit for total proceeds of $2.275 million. Each unit will comprise one common share in the capital of the company and one transferable common share purchase warrant. Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional share at an exercise price of $0.05 for the first year and $0.10 cents for the second year during a two year term. The financing is expected to close on or before May 31, 2023. The use of proceeds percentage of the financing will be 13 per cent for land acquisition, 22 per cent for drilling, 7 per cent for security, 4 per cent for investor relations, 18 per cent for payments to non-arm's-length parties and 36 per cent for working capital. The Company intends to spend the funds available to it as stated in this news release. There may be circumstances, however, where, for sound business reasons, a reallocation of funds may be necessary. Note: The company cautions readers that the any production decision made by the company will not be based on a National Instrument 43-101 feasibility study of mineral reserves that demonstrates economic and technical viability, and, as such, there may be involved increased uncertainty and various technological and economic risks such as the interpretation of drill results; the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; commodity and currency price fluctuation; failure to obtain adequate financing; regulatory, recovery rates, refinery costs, and other relevant conversion factors, permitting and licensing risks; general market and mining exploration risks, and production and economic risks related to design and engineering, manufacturing, technological processes and test procedures, and the risk that the project's output will not be saleable at a price that will cover the project's operating and maintenance costs. The private placement is subject to regulatory approval, and all securities to be issued pursuant to the financing are subject to a four-month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws. All funds are denominated in Canadian dollars. In connection with the private placement, the company may pay finders' fees in cash or securities, or a combination of both, as permitted by the policies of the exchange. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. federal and state registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. ABOUT SANGIHE GOLD PROJECT The Sangihe gold project is located on the Indonesian island of Sangihe, off the northern coast of Sulawesi. Sangihe has an existing National Instrument 43-101 inferred mineral resource of 114,700 indicated and105,000 inferred ounces of gold, as reported in the company's "Independent Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimates of the Binebase and Bawone Deposits, Sangihe Project, North Sulawesi, Indonesia," dated May 30, 2017. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The company intends to proceed to production without the benefit of first establishing mineral reserves supported by a feasibility study. The Company's 70-per-cent interest in the Sangihe mineral tenement contract of work (CoW) is held through PT. Tambang Mas Sangihe (TMS). The remaining 30-per-cent interest in TMS is held by three Indonesian corporations. The term of the Sangihe CoW agreement is 30 years upon commencement of the production phase of the project.' Baru has met all the requirements of the Indonesian government and has been granted its environmental permit. The company has received approval for the upgrade of its licence to advance the Sangihe project to construction and production. ABOUT BARU GOLD Baru Gold is a dynamic junior gold developer with National Instrument 43-101 gold resources in Indonesia, one of the top 10 gold-producing countries in the world. Based in Indonesia and North America, Baru's team boasts extensive experience in starting and operating small-scale gold assets. Frank Rocca, BAppSc (geology), MAusIMM, MAIG, CPI-KCMI, chief geologist of Baru Gold, is the qualified person as defined under NI 43-101 who has reviewed and approves the content of this release. Baru Gold Corp. Per: "Terry Filbert" Terry Filbert, Director President & CEO info@barugold.com +1-206-890-8285 For investor contacts more information, please contact: Kevin Shum Investor Relations kevin@jeminicapital.com 647-725-3888 ext 702 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. Certain statements in this News Release, which are not historical in nature, constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of that phrase under applicable Canadian securities law. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements or information concerning future work programs, results and timing of any work programs, the Company's performance or events as of the date hereof. These statements reflect management's current assumptions and expectations and by their nature are subject to certain underlying assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Those risks include the interpretation of drill results; the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with our expectations; commodity and currency price fluctuation; failure to obtain adequate financing; regulatory, recovery rates, refinery costs, and other relevant conversion factors, permitting and licensing risks; general market and mining exploration risks and production and economic risks related to design and engineering, manufacturing, technological processes and test procedures and the risk that the project's output will not be salable at a price that will cover the project's operating and maintenance costs. Forward-looking statements should not be construed as investment advice. Readers should perform a detailed, independent investigation and analysis of the Company and are encouraged to seek independent professional advice before making any investment decision. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect events or changes in circumstances that occur after the date hereof. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Vancouver B.C., April 14, 2023 - Nexus Gold Corp. ("Nexus" or the "Company") (TSXV:NXS), (OTC:NXXGF), (FSE:N6E) is pleased to announce that it plans to consolidate its common share capital on a ten-to-one basis (the "Consolidation"). In connection with the Consolidation, the Company intends to undertake a non-brokered private placement of post-Consolidation units (each, a "Unit") of the Company (the "Offering") under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (as defined below). Nexus intends to complete the Consolidation before closing of the Offering in order to better position the Company for corporate development opportunities. The Company currently has 318,733,255 common shares outstanding, and following completion of the Consolidation, it is expected that the Company will have approximately 31,873,326 common shares outstanding. The Company will provide further details regarding the Consolidation, along with the effective date, as soon as they become available. In connection with the completion of the Consolidation, the Company intends to offer up to 20,000,000 Units by way of non-brokered private placement. The Units will be offered at a post-Consolidation price of $0.05 per Unit. Each Unit will be comprised of one post-consolidation common share and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional post-Consolidation common share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.12 per Warrant Share for a period of eighteen (18) months from closing of the Offering, subject to adjustment in certain events. If, at any time following the date that is four-months-and-one-day following the closing of the Offering, the Company's common shares have a closing price on the TSXV Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") of $0.18 or greater per common share for a period of ten (10) consecutive trading days, the Company shall have the right to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants that is at least 30 days following the date of such notice to holders of Warrants. The Offering is scheduled to close on or about May 15, 2023, or such later date as the Company may determine. In connection with completion of the Offering, the Company may pay finders' fees or commissions to eligible third-parties who have assisted in introducing subscribers to the Offering. Completion of the Offering is subject to a number of conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company having received commitments for no less than 10,000,000 Units, and the Company having completed the Consolidation. Completion of the Consolidation remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and the satisfaction of applicable public distribution requirements. Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the Offering is being made to purchasers resident in Canada, except Quebec, pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI- 45-106 (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). The securities offered under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. There is an offering document related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at: www.nxs.gold. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision. The Company intends to use the aggregate proceeds from the Offering to advance its primary business objective of continuing exploration and development of its projects in West Africa and for general working capital purposes. About NexUS Gold Corp. Nexus Gold is a Canadian-based gold development company with a portfolio of exploration projects in West Africa. The Company's West African-based features three projects located on active gold belts and proven mineralized trends. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF Nexus Gold Corp. "Milad Zareian" Milad Zareian, Chief Executive Officer For further information please contact: Milad Zareian, Chief Executive Officer Tel: 416-846-4599 info@nexusgoldcorp.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the future operating or financial performance of the Company, 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 press release relate to, among other things: statements relating to the successful closing of the Offering and anticipated timing thereof and the intended use of proceeds. Actual future results may differ materially. 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 the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, technical, economic, and competitive 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 timing, completion and delivery of the referenced assessments and analysis. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times. Except as required by law, the Company 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 law. TSX Venture Exchange Disclaimer Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Lawrence Weschler at Wondercabinet: Nowadays the title reads not only as tepid and banal but as distinctly unrepresentative of the ensuing narratives principal themes and contours. In fairness, when the onetime Austro-Hungarian actress and subsequently Hollywood scenarist Salka Viertel first began auditioning the phrase the kindness of strangers for the title of her memoir in progress, back in the mid-1950s, as her recent biographer Donna Rifkind has pointed out, the words were not nearly as hackneyed as they are today. (The sensational play A Streetcar Named Desire, from which they sprang, was only a few years old, having premiered in 1947; the film had only been released in 1951; and the primary chestnut to have emerged from the latter was Stanleys bloodcurdling scream of Stella! Stellllaaaa! and not so much Blanches breathy Southern belle protestations of having always reliii-ed on the kindness of strangers.) Salkas husband, the internationally acclaimed theater director Berthold Viertel, had been translating their friend Tennessee Williamss plays for some years already and staging them all over Europe, and perhaps Salka savored the nod in the young playwrights direction. Such selfless generosity, indeed such kindness on her own part, would have been just like her. more here. Aston Martin boss Mike Krack admits he would be "lying" if he tried to say two key appointments haven't given the team a major performance boost. Much of the credit for Aston Martin's sudden performance surge in 2023 has been attributed to Dan Fallows and Eric Blandin - high-profile aerodynamics signings from Red Bull and Mercedes respectively. "I would be lying if I said we didn't benefit from the expertise of those two," Krack told Auto Motor und Sport. "The approach is different in every team, so it gave us insight into how we do things. Do we need to make adjustments?" And the latest big name linked with a move to Aston Martin is Red Bull's technical guru Adrian Newey, whose current contract is said to be up for renewal. "There's always going to be rumours in this paddock. That's Formula 1," Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told Sky. "We don't talk about contracts or longevity of contracts, but he'll be here for many years to come. "It's great to have him with us for the long-term, but also to be involved in projects like some of the things that we're now getting involved in," Horner added. Another key part of Red Bull's long-term strategy is Max Verstappen, who despite being under contract until 2028 has been vocal lately about the sport's direction. For instance, he is no supporter of F1's latest sprint race format tweaks to qualifying and practice sessions. "We're heading into seasons where you have 24, 25 races, because that's where we're going to head into," the back-to-back world champion said. "And if we start adding even more stuff, it's not worth it for me anyway. I'm not enjoying that." Horner admits Red Bull may be facing the prospect of losing 25-year-old Verstappen from Formula 1 altogether within a few years. "Max is his own man and he's very, very strong in his opinions and on his outlook on what he wants to do in his life," he said. "And I don't see him being a Fernando Alonso and still racing at 41 or 42 years of age, or maybe not in Formula 1." (GMM) Ofori-Atta hopeful China will grant Ghana financial assurances "in weeks" Maxwell Akalaare Adombila Business News Apr - 14 - 2023 , 14:00 The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is optimistic that the country's biggest bilateral lender, China will grant it financial assurances "in weeks" to enable the government to move forward with its bailout request. China, which holds $1.9 billion of Ghana's $5.5 billion bilateral debt, has been seen as a potential source of delay to the granting of financial assurances to the country, which is the only outstanding pre-condition to the final approval of the request by the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). But speaking to journalists at the ongoing IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington D.C., Mr Ofori-Atta said China has been more cooperative, with evidence showing that it will soon endorse the process. He said the Asian giant has been attending all the meetings of the Paris Club and was now close to offering its financial assurance to the club to be forwarded to the IMF. They have joined all of the Paris Club meetings and we really expect them to offer these assurances to the Paris Club so that they will then forward them to the fund, he said. The assurances are a mix of debt cancellation, restructuring and commitment of further strategic lending, mainly to support productive sectors of the economy and investments that can lift the poor and vulnerable from the poverty line. According to the minister, China has been very clear that Ghana was facing short-term problems and was confident in the long-term prospects of the economy. This, he said informed their decision to offer the needed assurance to enable the country get the approval for its request. So I think we have actually enhanced the quality of our relationship and we look forward to working together in the coming days, he added. Daily Graphic Editorials Pension funds should support private sector Daily Graphic Editorials Apr - 13 - 2023 , 16:27 The private sector is identified as the engine of economic growth and job creation in any economy. The sector is recognised as a means to accelerate the rapid industrialisation desired by developing countries. In Ghana, the private sector contributes over 80 per cent of jobs and also significantly to the countrys gross domestic product (GDP). In spite of its role, over the years, the sector has been starved of the much needed resources to enable it to function sustainably. The number one resource needed to unlock the full potential of the private sector is the availability of long term pension funds that will enable businesses to grow, expand and employ more people. All over the world, the pension funds industry, due to its nature, plays a crucial role in this regard by allocating a significant percentage of the funds to the private sector to drive economic growth. The situation is, however, different in Ghana as a huge percentage of the countrys pension funds are invested in government bonds, denying the private sector of the much needed capital to grow and expand. Almost 90 per cent of pension funds in Ghana are invested in government bonds compared to the developed countries where less than 40 per cent of those resources are invested in government securities. This is because the industry has been under the notion that government securities are risk free and hence they continue to pile up their investments in those securities However, the recently concluded domestic debt exchange programme (DDEP) and the collapse of the SVB Bank in the US due to mark-to-market losses from risk-free securities underscore the fact that government securities are not risk free and are subject to market price volatility. The Daily Graphic, therefore, believes the DDEP must be a wake-up call that financial institutions cannot continue to pile up their investments in government securities with the assumption that they are risk free. The paper, therefore, adds its voice to calls for pension fund managers to stop funding the government and channel their resources into the private sector. Pension fund managers must rethink the way they allocate capital as asset holders. An economy is as strong as its businesses and the country must, therefore, critically examine the role of pension funds in efficiently allocating capital. The practice of mobilising capital for the government at the expense of the private sector is inimical to national development and must be stopped. Going forward, the Daily Graphic believes the industry must take the necessary steps to reverse the flow of capital from the government to the private sector as soon as possible. The key resource needed to activate the economic growth needed is capital which the pension fund managers are rather giving to government. However, for the country to be able to fully harness the potential of the pension funds industry, some of the existing guidelines that regulate the industry must change. And this is where the regulators must come in. The Daily Graphic calls on the Securities and Exchange Commission, together with the National Pensions Regulatory Authority, to make further changes to the investment guidelines and increase the investment ceilings on other asset classes as the current ceiling is skewed heavily towards government securities. Hushpuppis accomplice pleads guilty to internet fraud; agrees to pay $8m to victims gazetterngr.com Showbiz News Apr - 13 - 2023 , 18:30 Notorious internet fraudster, Olalekan Jacob Ponle, popularly known as Mr Woodberry, has entered a plea of guilt with the U.S. authorities, agreeing to surrender $8 million in proceeds of wire fraud as well as luxury cars and watches to the foreign government. Mr Woodberry, who loved to flaunt his lavish lifestyle on Instagram, had at first pleaded not guilty to the eight-count fraud charge brought against him for engaging in a scheme known as business email compromise (BEC). However, a plea declaration submitted at the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division on April 6 revealed Mr Woodberry had had a rethink and is now pleading guilty to count one of the indictments. According to his plea agreement, he was required to repay the $8 million he fraudulently received from the seven companies that fell for his scam. 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. Mr Ponle 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. New articles Build trust among yourselves- Fuse ODG tells Ghanaian creatives Throwback: When Kyeiwaa was young and wild at heart! Creatives will make serious politicians Baba Sadiq Last year, he had forfeited 151.8 Bitcoin, roughly $6 million, to the American government, determined to recover all stolen monies from the Nigerian fraudster. Mr Ponle was arrested in Dubai on June 10, 2020, alongside Ramon Hushpuppi Abbas, currently serving an 11-year sentence for a similar fraud charge. Before his arrest in 2020, Mr Woodberry was known for rocking expensive designer wear and showing off his ill-gotten wealth to his massive Instagram followers, the majority of whom had no inkling his luxury lifestyle was funded by cybercrime. Tagoe Sisters to stage live concerts to mark 40 years in gospel music industry Kweku Zurek Showbiz News Apr - 14 - 2023 , 08:11 Ghanaian Gospel music legends, the Tagoe Sisters, have announced that they will be celebrating their 40th anniversary in the industry with a series of live concerts. The concerts will take place between September and October 2023, with the first concert scheduled to take place on September 23, 2023, at the Grand Arena in Accra. The anniversary celebration, dubbed Tagoe Sisters @40, will also include a fundraising and dinner night on September 30, 2023, at the Gold Coast Kempinski Hotel. The same activities will be replicated in the Ashanti Region, with a concert on October 2, 2023, and a fundraising dinner on October 23, 2023. The duo will be inviting notable Ghanaians, including former and current presidents, CEOs of businesses, and other prominent personalities, to grace the occasion. This was announced at a press launch held in Accra on Thursday, April 13, 2023. As per Linmart Media Solutions, the Tagoe Sisters are scheduled to visit distinguished personalities including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former presidents John Dramani Mahama and John Agyekum Kufour, the Chairman of the Council of State, and the Asantehene Otumfuor Osei Tutu II, along with CEOs of businesses and other notable figures, to invite them personally to attend their upcoming events. Moreover, the sisters will also make a visit to orphanages in both regions to contribute by donating items and spreading joy to the less privileged and mothers. At the launch event, Madam Joyce Aryee, the Chairperson, referred to the Tagoe Sisters as a valuable blessing to the world and urged fellow musicians to follow in their footsteps. The launch event was attended by various celebrities and dignitaries, including Rev. Yawson, Cyndy Thompson, Ophelia Nyantakyi, Mary Gyansah, Perez Music, Opiesie Easther, and many others. The duo are twins known in real life as Lydia Dedei Yawson Nee Tagoe and Elizabeth Korkoi Tagoe, have been in the gospel music industry since 1983 and are celebrated for hit songs such as Yedi Nkunim, Fa Bibiara Mano, Menya Yesu, Akamafo Jesus, Orekyikye, and many others. "The decision of the Constitutional Council shows that it is more attentive to the needs of the presidential monarchy than to those of the sovereign people," he said. Ghana Education News Colleges of education teachers excel in licensure exam Study Enmanuel Bonney Education Apr - 14 - 2023 , 04:16 Trained teachers from the colleges of education performed better than those from the universities in the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination (GTLE) so far conducted, a research has revealed. According to the study conducted by a team of six researchers from the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) from 2021 to 2022, the pass rate of those from the colleges was 79 per cent, while that for those from the universities was 71 per cent. The research, which was carried out from August 2021 to February 2022, involved over 3,000 respondents who had written the GTLE from 2018 to 2021. A Senior Lecturer in Curriculum and Pedagogy at the UEW, Dr Richardson Addai-Mununkum, who presented the research report on An Evaluation of the GTLE in Accra Thursday, told the Daily Graphic's Emmanuel Bonney that the results were interesting. He said the purpose of the research was to evaluate the GTLE against its original purpose, identify emerging challenges and make recommendations for improvement. Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination The GTLE was introduced by the government in 2019, backed by the Education Act of 2008, Act 778, with the first-ever teacher licensure examination taking place in September 2018. It is an examination organised to license and certify all professional teachers in Ghana as a key policy aimed at improving the professional standing and status of teachers in the country. Organised and supervised by the National Teaching Council (NTC), the licensure examination is also aimed at building the expertise of teachers in the field of teaching and preparing them for appointments outside the country. It covers new teachers entering the service, as well as teachers already in active service who also require the licence to practise the profession successfully. The examination is conducted in three areas Essential Professional Skills (EPSs), Literacy and Numeracy after which successful candidates qualify for recruitment into the Ghana Education Service (GES) and posting. Interesting findings Dr Addai-Mununkum said the results were interesting because in terms of societal positioning, "we assume that the universities are higher and so we expect their candidates for the GTLE to do better". "So it is interesting that the colleges are actually doing better at the licensure. The reason we found was that the colleges really prepared the learners in relation to the National Teachers Standards (NTS), while in the universities a lot of programmes focused so much on the content areas," he said. He also said 53 per cent of those who took the examination but failed said it was a good exercise. He added that about a quarter of the respondents had reservations about the numeracy aspect of the GTLE, since they needed to pass all three areas EPSs, Literacy and Numeracy before getting the licence. He explained that the average pass rate of the GTLE was about 76 per cent, noting that, for instance, if someone was doing Geography, the person did a lot more courses in the area and fewer courses in Education and so by the time they "go out, they are not as competent in terms of professional knowledge and skills as it is with those who go to the colleges". Concerns Dr Addai-Mununkum indicated that while respondents did not have any issues with the EPSs and the Literacy aspects of the examination, most of them had reservations with writing the Numeracy aspect. Their reason, he said, was that they went to the colleges or the universities to specialise, for instance, in Literature in English, and that was what they were going to teach, asking: Why is it that you want to examine me on numeracy? Also, if somebody read Ga and specialised in that area, when the person goes out, he/she is going to teach Ga, and wonder how they need numeracy to do that. That is where they had a lot of reservations, he said. Recommendations In their recommendations, the researchers said the universities would have to take a re-look at their curricula in relation to the NTS and ensure that their products were able to improve on their performance. The recommendation is that the universities should begin to take a re-look at their curricula in relation to the NTS. When the standards came, the colleges embraced them; they reformed their curricula and they are working with the standards. The universities are yet to reform their curricula in line with the NTS. So that is where the difference is coming from, Dr Addai-Mununkum emphasised. The universities, the report further recommended, would have to reconsider their teacher preparation curriculum and look at whether they were aligning with the NTS and adjust accordingly for their products and graduates. Dr Addai-Mununkum said although the processes and procedures for the conduct of the GTLE were fit for purpose, there were a few challenges associated with registration and test administration, and that the NTC could increase test-takers choice of centres for the writing of the GTLE and improve orientation and training of supervisors and invigilators. Stakeholders perception of the GTLE, he said, was positive. However, given some of the misconceptions expressed, the NTC should undertake sensitisation and publicity campaigns on the GTLE. Such campaigns may include stakeholder fora and a documentary that could be aired on national television for a period, he said. Need for evaluation The Registrar of the NTC, Dr Christian Addai-Poku, said the essence of the research was that after the introduction of the examination, it was necessary to evaluate the entire intervention, as there had been diverse opinions on whether it was right to do it, its timing, as well as whether it was living up to expectation. So there was the need to conduct this research to evaluate it to know our strengths and weaknesses in order to inform policy reforms, he said. He said although there had been seven editions of the examination, the study was conducted on four. Ahafo Region records 1,309 new mental cases in 2022 Biiya Mukusah Ali, Apr - 14 - 2023 , 11:06 The Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions have no psychiatrist to help provide effective and efficient mental health care for the people in those regions. The situation, the Ahafo Regional Minister, George Yaw Boakye, said, was a reflection of the poor access to mental health care in the country, with a treatment gap of about 72 per cent. In a speech read on his behalf at the opening of the World Health Organisation Director-General's Special Initiative for Mental Health (DG-SIMH) inception meeting in Goaso in the Ahafo Region last Wednesday, Mr Boakye expressed worry over the fact that locally and globally, mental health issues had been neglected and allowed to be suppressed by stigma and discrimination for a very long time, although mental disorders were responsible for about 30 per cent of the world disability burden. Supporting his concern with some data, the regional minister said relative to the WHO benchmark of one psychiatrist:100,000 population, Ghana's psychiatrist:population ratio was 0.058 per 100,000 and 0.065 psychologist per 100,000 population. WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health The WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in 2021 set up the DG-SIMH to support the transformation of systems and scale-up of mental health services. The goal of the initiative is to increase treatment coverage for mental health conditions by ensuring access to mental health care for about 100 million people in five years. Mental health cases Giving a situational report on mental healthcare delivery in the region, the Ahafo Regional Mental Health Coordinator, James Gariba, disclosed that the health directorate recorded 1,309 new mental health cases in six different mental health conditions in 2022, compared to 1,538 in 2021. Some of the conditions recorded included epilepsy, which is said to be common among young people between 20 and 29; schizophrenia, mental disorder due to alcohol use, mental disorder due to psychoactive use, depression and mental disorders not specified, such as bedwetting. At the end of 2022, the directorate also recorded 3,175 re-attendance; that is, patients who visited health facilities each day to access treatment, as against 3,980 in 2021. Mr Gariba said while the directorate was committed to helping deliver efficient mental health care, it was saddled with challenges that impeded its efficiency. He mentioned weak structural capacity for district mental health focal persons, insufficient supply of programmed psychotropic drugs, inadequate funding for mental health activities and inadequate capacity building for workers as some of the challenges facing the mental health sector. Crucial The acting Regional Health Director, Dr Bernard Ziem, said even though mental health was crucial in the healthcare system, governments and other institutions worldwide had given less attention to the sector. For her part, the Country Programme Officer of the WHO, Dr Joana Ansong, said mental health continued to be a priority for the WHO, with the vision that all people achieve the highest standard of mental health and well-being. She said the region was one of the focus regions for the initiative, explaining that the meeting was to have stakeholders participate and subsequently develop a regional work plan which was well aligned to the national four-year plan. Chiana-Paga: Home to famous Paga Crocodile Pond - Constituents appeal for roads, bridge Gilbert Mawuli Agbey Apr - 14 - 2023 , 08:03 The Chiana-Paga Constituency in the Upper East Region is home to the famous crocodile ponds which have put the region on the world tourism map. It is estimated that about 1,000 crocodiles live in all the three ponds in the constituency. Tourists, including foreigners, visit the ponds to have a feel of the age-old reptiles, as well as get the opportunity to squat on them to take photographs. Aside from the crocodile ponds, namely: the Chief Crocodile Pond, located off the Navrongo-Paga border road, the Zenga Pond and the Nania Pond, the constituency is endowed with other tourist sites. They include the Pikworo Slave Camp, caves at Chiana, the sacred pythons at Kayoro-Wuru, the remains of some Catholic priests, the Pottery Art Centre at Sirigu and the Kukula Shrine at Koyoro. Unfortunately, the tourist sites are highly under-developed and are an insignificant source of revenue for the assembly. The assembly, in its quest to boost tourism in the constituency, is taking steps to develop tourist sites in the area to create jobs and increase its internally generated funds (IGFs). For instance, the assembly is giving the Zenga Pond a facelift, with support from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and it is currently constructing a car park, places of convenience and other facilities to attract tourists to the pond. Also, at the slave camp, a ticketing place has been constructed, along with other facilities, to make the site more attractive to visitors. Location The constituency is bordered to the north by Burkina Faso, to the south by the Kassena Nankana municipality, to the east by Bolgatanga municipality and to the west by the Sissala East District. It also shares boundaries with the Bongo and the Builsa North municipalities and has 132 communities, with settlements mainly dispersed. Although the constituency is known as Chiana-Paga, the assembly in the area, which was created in 2007, bears a different name: Kassena Nankana West, with Paga as its capital. The mainly rural constituency has 68 assembly members and 11 functioning area councils, but, unfortunately, only Chiana and Mirigu area councils have permanent office accommodation. While the constituency is represented in Parliament by Thomas Dalu on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the district assembly is under the leadership of Gerard Ataogye. Demographics The 2021 Population and Housing Census put the population in the constituency at 90,735, with 18,539 people or 20.4 per cent living in urban areas. The male population is 43,909, representing 48.4 per cent, while the total number of females is 46,826, representing 51.6 per cent. The constituency is a mixture of formal and informal workers, with agriculture as the dominant economic activity. The agricultural sector employs over 83.7 per cent of households, with crops grown being vegetables, cotton, Bambara beans, cowpea, among others. Livestock reared in the district are cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, guinea fowls and donkeys. Trading and commercial activities in the constituency revolve around foodstuffs, including semi-processed ones and crafts industry. Processing of foodstuffs which is a common feature of the local economy include shea butter extraction, pito brewing, dawadawa processing, rice milling, malt processing, among others. Challenges, no tarred roads Interestingly, apart from the Bolgatanga-Paga highway which passes through the district capital and linking Ghana to Burkina Faso, there is no single tarred road in the constituency, which has existed since 1992. Deepening the woes of the thousands of residents who live in the constituency is the deplorable nature of the over 156.9-kilometre feeder road in the area which is a great source of worry to the local people. Many residents who live in the remotest parts of the constituency especially farmers and workers are compelled to endure the bumpy nature of the roads to get to their farms and workplaces on a daily basis. Particularly, farmers during the bumper harvest seasons find it extremely very difficult to transport their farm produce to nearby market centres, particularly the Sirigu, Chiana, Paga, Kandiga and Kayoro markets. As a result, farm produce are sometimes left to rot on the farms due to the inability of the farmers to transport them to market centres. Visit During a visit to the constituency by the Daily Graphic, it was observed that despite enjoying some level of development since the creation of the constituency and the assembly, particularly the last four years, the area is still bedeviled with a number of developmental challenges. Notable among them is the deplorable state of the Chuchuliga-Chiana, Katiu-Kayoro, Paga-Kayoro and Paga-Sirigu, Sirigu-Kandiga, among several other roads which had made free movement within the constituency very difficult. Another issue of concern to the residents in the constituency is the breakdown of the steel bridge across the Gugura River which connects Navio and Tazika Bagtua to Paga as well as the concrete bridge linking Sirigu to Zorkor. Whereas the steel bridge collapsed in 2022, the concrete bridge also broke down four years ago but both have still not been fixed which has affected residents in more than 20 communities who use that stretch of road to attend to their daily activities. Residents of communities who have been cut off as a result of the collapse of these major bridges have been compelled to go through long winding routes to get to Navrongo, Paga and Bolgatanga on a daily basis. Concerns of residents A teacher, Alfred Choro, said since the Gugura bridge collapsed, it took him about an hour to go through a long route to get to school. He, therefore, appealed to the government to fix the bridge. Another resident, Vivian Buturu, a nurse, called on the government to immediately reconstruct the broken bridge and improve the road network to ease transportation. The Chief of Navio, Navio-Pio, Kwarase Asongojem Parejei II, said the collapse of the bridge has negatively impacted the lives and should be fixed immediately. A resident of Tazika, Joseph Akwotaje, appealed for the reshaping of deplorable roads to enhance economic activities in the area. The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Ataogye, in response to it said a team has visited to inspect the bridge and expressed hope that government fix it soon to bring relief to the people. Voting dynamics The constituency since its creation has been a stronghold of the opposition NDC as it has won seven out of the eight parliamentary elections including all the presidential elections since 1992. The NDC won 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2012, 2016 and 2020 elections. However, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) managed to win the seat in 2008 for the first time. Alowe Leo Kabah polled 8,323 for the NPP to beat his closest contender Abuga Pele of the NDC who had 7,380 votes. Clearly, the voters in the constituency have unwavering loyalty to the NDC and that the NPP need to do more to be able to win the hearts of their hearts to their side. Projects done In spite of the myriad of challenges facing the constituency, the area has benefitted from a number of development projects which are dotted across the district. About 48 boreholes some of which are solar powered have been constructed for some communities to improve access to potable water supply. Some of the communities are Kalvio-Guroro, Nakong-Saboro, Asaawirigu, Zenga, Mamprusi line, Biba, Babile, among others. Additionally, the district assembly has installed 3,000 litre capacity poly tanks in four major markets, namely Paga, Chiana, Sirigu and Kandiga. Also, a number of Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds have been constructed with existing ones rehabilitated to improve health care delivery. Furthermore, some classroom blocks have been constructed for communities such as Yidania, Saboro, Kansaa, Mirigu, Paga, Zenga, Nabio, Tazika-Bagtua, Sirigu, Boania, among several others to improve education as well as the construction of a new district assembly complex. Agenda 111 The constituency is a beneficiary of the governments Agenda 111 hospital project which is currently at an advanced stage and expected to be completed in 2024. The project, when completed would ease the pressure on the Paga hospital which serves thousands of residents including nationals of Burkina Faso who live in some of the border communities. Truck Park In March 2022, the Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, inaugurated a new truck park in Paga which was reconstructed due to its deplorable state The GH18million project has facilities such as fire hydrants, light mast base and cable ducts, sanitation facilities and others for the convenient use of transit truck drivers from Burkina Faso and Ghana. Education The constituency has a total of 184 basic schools, made up of 65 pre-schools, 65 primary and 54 Junior High Schools. It has six Senior High Schools. Unfortunately, many of the basic schools are in poor state with other challenges being inadequate accommodation for teachers, furniture and classrooms, among others. One of the poor schools, Atiyorum Primary School in Kandiga was recently provided with a six-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities after the Daily Graphic highlighted the dilapidated nature of the school block in the community which posed danger to the pupils. DCE speaks When contacted, the DCE, Mr Ataogye, told the Daily Graphic that despite the numerous challenges, the government had done a lot in all sectors of the local economy to better the lives of the people in the district. I can confidently say that government has made significant strides in education, water and sanitation, social protection, among others, in the district with the ultimate aim of improving the living conditions of the residents, he noted. He said government is not overwhelmed with the problems in the district and that the needed interventions will be put in place to address some of them to bring relief to residents of the area. The DCE noted that since the district was very wide, there was the need to open up the communities through the construction of many roads, saying unfortunately, the challenge is that all the existing roads become inaccessible during the rainy season since they are not tarred. He explained further that if the major roads in the district were constructed it would not only boost agricultural activities, but it would also link many communities together to enhance trade and other commercial activities. MPs support The Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Dalu, said when he was the DCE for the area before becoming an MP, he realised that women were more vulnerable so he decided to support them to reduce the level of poverty among them in the constituency. He said as a result, I have given GH6,000 each as financial support to six women groups totalling GH36,000 to enable them to engage in income generating activity to transform their lives. He noted that he was in the process of supporting widows with funds received from the Social Investment Fund (SIF) after they had formed groups to set up productive ventures to improve their lives. Finance Minister refutes reports of second Debt Exchange Programme involving pension funds Kweku Zurek Apr - 14 - 2023 , 13:03 The Finance Minister of Ghana, Ken Ofori-Atta, has dismissed reports that the government is planning a second round of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) involving pension funds. Mr Ofori-Atta refuted these claims while speaking to journalists at the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC. He clarified that the reports were based on a misunderstanding and that government pension funds were exempted from the DDEP in a memorandum of understanding signed with Organised Labour on December 22, 2022. The minister, however, stated that the government is in talks with Organised Labour to find ways to maintain the countrys debt sustainability. He reiterated that there is no plan to carry out a second round of DDEP involving pension funds, but discussions are ongoing to reduce debt servicing and ensure debt sustainability in accordance with the MoU. "No, theres nothing like that. I think maybe it was a misunderstanding but if you look at it in line with the 22 December 2022 memorandum of understanding (MoU) that we signed with Organised Labour, government pension funds were exempted and that has not changed. Its, therefore, not correct to state that we are planning a second round of Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) with pension funds," he said. What we are doing is working with them on how they can further help the government to reduce the debt servicing and ensure that we maintain in a sort of debt sustainability which was in the MoU. So those discussions are continuing you know that we still have cocobills to work with, and the domestic dollar bonds that we are still working on but really debunk any sense that there is a second round of Domestic Debt Exchange Programme going to happen, he added. International defense company Babcock International has been awarded a one-year contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to help the British Army understand the applications and constraints of electric propulsion. Partnering with UK electric vehicle (EV) conversion experts, Electrogenic, Babcock will convert four in-service military Land Rovers, two protected vehicles and two general service, from diesel-fueled to EV using a drop-in kit and modified battery system. The vehicles will then be put to the test by the Armoured Trials and Development Unit (ATDU) in a series of experimental battlefield/military scenarios, which will assess performance over steep terrain, wading and towing, and different climate-related conditions. This is a great opportunity to investigate alternative engine technology, which will enable the British Army to extend the life of its Land Rovers as diesel becomes obsolete. Im excited to see how the converted Land Rovers perform in a test environment against diesel and hybrid equivalents. Sustainability is an integral part of our corporate strategy and by partnering with Electrogenic, well be supporting the MOD to be prepared for the shift to electric vehicles from 2030 and the UK in reaching its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Chris Spicer, Babcocks Managing Director of Engineering and Systems Integration Land Babcock International was awarded the contract by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the procurement arm for the UK Armed Forces. The technology group ZF will, from 2025, purchase silicon carbide (SiC) devices from STMicroelectronics. Under the terms of the multi-year contract, ST will supply a volume of double-digit millions of silicon carbide devices to be integrated in ZFs new modular inverter architecture going into series production in 2025. ZF will leverage STs vertically integrated silicon carbide manufacturing in Europe and Asia to secure customer orders in electromobility. With this strategically important step, we are strengthening our supply chain to be able to securely supply our customers. Our order book in electromobility until 2030 now amounts to more than thirty billion euros. For this volume, we need several reliable suppliers for silicon carbide devices. In STMicroelectronics, we now have a supplier whose experience with complex systems meets our requirements and who, above all, can produce the devices in exceptionally high quality and at the required quantities. Stephan von Schuckmann, member of the ZF Board of Management responsible for electromobility as well as materials management With this agreement, ZF has gained a world-class supplier for silicon carbide technology, in addition to ZFs existing partnership agreement on silicon carbide technology with Wolfspeed announced in February. (Earlier post.) ST will manufacture the silicon carbide chips at its production fabs in Italy and Singapore with packaging of the chips into STPAK, an ST-developed advanced package, and testing at its back-end facilities in Morocco and China. STPAK is a multi sintering package well suited for EV applications. The multi sintering solution (which is suitable for both SiC MOSFET and IGBT), offers better thermal performance and higher reliability, along with a low-inductance connection to the bus bar. ST will supply ZF from 2025 with a volume of double-digit millions of third-generation silicon carbide MOSFET devices. ZF can connect a variable number of such devices together to match customers performance requirements without changing the design of the inverter. Among others, ZF will use the technology in inverters for vehicles of a European car manufacturer whose production start is planned for 2025. The inverter manages the flow of energy in electric drivetrains from battery to e-motor and vice versa. Inverters have become more efficient and more complex with every development step. The combination of the inverter design and the semiconductors, such as silicon carbide, is critical to improving electric vehicle performance. Silicon carbide devices significantly reduce power losses in electric car inverters, as well as in wind turbine and photovoltaic inverters. Devices made with silicon carbide have decisive advantages over conventional silicon-based products, such as higher efficiency, power density and reliability. At the same time, they enable smaller and more cost-effective system designs. Beachgoers in Connecticut were in for one more day of sun and summer-like temperatures on Friday. Temperatures soared into the 90s in some places, the National Weather Service said, shattering records across the eastern United States. Towns and cities in Ohio, Maine, New York, Vermont, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut all reported historic heat. For the second day in the row, both Hartford and Bridgeport recorded record-breaking temperatures. A high of 87 degrees was reported in Bridgeport, beating the previous April 14 record of 73 degrees, set in 1949, by 14 degrees. A high of 96 degrees was recorded at Bradley International Airport in Hartford County, also beating the previous April 14 record 82 degrees, set in 1941 by 14 degrees. Record highs for April were also set on Thursday when temperatures were 20 to 30 degrees above normal, the weather service said. It was the hottest April day on record and the warmest day since the fall in many areas. Temperatures on Thursday rose to 79 degrees in Bridgeport, breaking the previous record of 74 set in 1968. In Hartford, temperatures reached 92 degrees, breaking the record of 86 in 1977. A reprieve will arrive Saturday when high temperatures will reach the mid-70s with cloudy skies and a chance of rain. Saturday night will see another chance of rain, and showers could continue on Sunday, when temperatures will range in the 60s. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection warned that in spite of the warm air temperatures, water temperatures remain very cold, potentially creating a hazard for people in or around the water. "It's a beautiful day; it feels like summer, but the water feels like winter," DEEP Deputy Commissioner Mason Trumble said Friday, during a news conference at Silver Sands State Park in Milford to promote lifeguard recruitment at state parks. If you are in the water, near the water or on the water today, please be careful," Trumble said. "We don't have lifeguards yet, lifeguards typically start Memorial Day weekend, so the beaches are unguarded." Along with the heat, a combination of dry air and gusting winds this week have heightened the risk of brush fires, according to state and federal officials. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the weather service issued red flag warnings for all of Connecticut. The warnings indicate the weather conditions could cause fires to spread rapidly. Those conditions continued Friday, though the weather service stopped short of issuing another red flag warning. "Anomalously warm and dry conditions will continue Friday," the agency's Albany office said in a special weather statement. "High temperatures will reach the upper 70s to upper 80s with minimum relative humidities dropping to 20 to 30 percent." "These conditions combined with west wind gusts 10 to 15 mph will result in elevated fire weather potential," the statement continued. DEEP said the risk of forest fires Friday was "very high." The agency issues a daily report on the forest fire danger level. Days categorized as "high" risk or above mean that permits homeowners receive from local authorities to burn brush are no longer valid if the burning is within 100 feet of grassland or woodland. In Newtown, firefighters from several towns responded to a brush fire Tuesday that spread over more than 5 acres. In Hamden, crews battled a 2-acre brush fire on Wednesday. BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) Libertarians lined up with Democrats on Friday against a proposal that would effectively block third party candidates from next years Montana U.S. Senate election, as Republicans try to consolidate opposition to incumbent Jon Tester in a race pivotal for control of the Senate. Republicans who control the state Legislature want to alter the 2024 Senate primary in Montana so that only the top two candidates, no matter their party, advance to the November election. Past races for Testers seat were close enough that many Republicans blamed third party candidates for draining away potential GOP votes and giving the Democrat the victory. Critics blasted the proposal during a Montana House committee meeting as a blatant attempt to rig the election. It will completely block us out, said Montana Libertarian Party Chairman Sid Daoud. It's going to eliminate any third party or independent candidate from moving to the general election. Democrats hold a narrow 51-49 U.S. Senate majority. They will be defending 23 seats next year including in some states Montana, West Virginia and Ohio that have grown increasingly Republican. The GOP will be defending 10 seats and also trying to flip seats in swing states such as Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Republicans are eager to deny Tester a fourth term after GOP candidates dominated recent elections in Montana. Tester is the only Democrat now holding statewide political office. The Republican sponsor of the proposed primary changes, state Sen. Greg Hertz, said during Fridays hearing that he wanted to stop the GOP and Democrats alike from trying to manipulate elections by stealthily promoting third party candidates. Emails included in the legislative file for the bill show that longtime Republican lobbyist Chuck Denowh helped shape the measure. On March 26, Denowh suggested to Hertz, a second lawmaker and legislative staff that an early version of the measure be changed so that it would apply only to the U.S. Senate and would sunset after the 2024 election, the emails show. The bill was changed accordingly. However, lawmakers are now considering an amendment to the bill that would make it apply to future Senate races. Primary races for other seats would be unchanged in 2024, with voters in each qualifying political party continuing to select their own candidates for the general election. The Montana House State Administration Committee planned to vote on the measure, and the amendment, on Monday. The state Senate approved the 2024 primary change by a 27-23 vote last week. Seven Republicans joined all of the chambers Democrats in voting against the measure. Both major parties in Montana have sought to use third parties to their advantage in past elections. During one of last year's U.S. House elections, a Democratic-linked group in Washington, D.C., sent mailers promoting Libertarian candidate John Lamb as the races true conservative in an effort to peel away conservative votes. Liberal-backed groups used similar tactics during Montanas 2012 and 2018 U.S. Senate races. In the 2020 race, the Republican Party bankrolled a $100,000 signature-gathering effort to put the Montana Green Party on the ballot. The state Supreme Court removed the Green Party after hundreds of people sought to withdraw their signatures upon learning the GOP was behind the effort. No one has claimed responsibility for a 2018 signature-gathering effort to get the Green Party on the ballot. That effort was overturned when a judge invalidated enough signatures so the party didn't qualify. Some major parties probably want to continue doing this, including my own, Hertz said Friday. Lets get away from this, what the two major parties are doing in Montana. Tester is considered highly vulnerable in 2024. Montana voted decisively for President Donald Trump in 2020 and Republicans last year claimed the state's newly created U.S. House seat, with a win by former Trump Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Zinke and fellow Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale are considered potential challengers to Tester next year. But the Democrat has proven a formidable campaigner and prodigious fundraiser. His campaign this week reported raising $5 million in the latest quarter. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is arriving on April 18, and the company says it will be a professional camera device, not just a flagship smartphone with mighty cameras. To accentuate its importance and similarity to photography devices, Xiaomi is planning to launch an accessory that is called a 67 mm filter adapter. The image was posted with a mysterious shadow, but when we increased the brightness, it is obvious the gadget will act like a case and will have a green leather feel. Xiaomi 13 Ultra teaser: Original and Ehnanced We expect the case to have an actual E67 Leica 67 UVa II filter for the camera, similar to what Sony did back in the day with the Xperia Pro series. The big question is whether Xiaomi is also working on a special camera app that will be able to bring the cinematic experience to the next level. Camera-wise, the four shooters will all have 50 MP Sony sensors - the main will be 1 IMX 989, the other three Sony IMX 858. Xiaomi is also expected to bring the latest hardware to the 13 Ultra, including a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. Source (in Chinese) | Via A multitude of attorneys supported a pay bump for local public defenders on Thursday, but Attorney General Doug Moylan maintained that prosecutors should be the highest compensated lawyers in the government. Prosecutors got a 15% pay differential in GovGuams most recent budget act, a move meant to shore up a shortage of lawyers at the Office of the Attorney General. But that decision has seen prosecutor pay outpacing the rate received by lawyers on the opposite end of the courtroomand opened up a debate over who has a more important job in the criminal justice system. Sen. Roy Quinata during a Thursday hearing said his Bill 33 would rebalance the scales of justice by giving attorneys with the Public Defender Service Corporation a similar 15% pay bump. AG Moylan argued his prosecutors are the most important lawyers in the government, while Public Defender Director Stephen Hattori and others argued GovGuam has a constitutional obligation to represent defendants who are down and out. Where is the fairness in giving every attorney at this table, the same salary, when we havent looked at what is the importance of that attorneys position? the AG said. The pay bump prosecutors got was not about equity, he said, it was about priorities. I will argue with anyone here that the most important function of a government lawyer in our government is to protect the safety of our citizenry. Additional pay had helped bring prosecution from eight attorneys at the start of his term up to 14 or 15, with a goal of 21. If public defenders were arguing their pay was low, lawmakers should raise their pay by 15%, Moylan said. But prosecutors should also get a pay bumpan extra 15%, if not as much as 30%. As much as prosecutors are indispensable in the efficient administration of justice, said Hattori, the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the US Constitution obligate the government of Guam to provide effective representation to the indigent accused. Pay for attorney on each side of a trial has been equal for as long as Guam has had a criminal justice system, Hattori said, a fact that only changed with the recent pay bump at the Attorney Generals office. Unfortunately, in the last year, weve lost a couple of attorneys to the Office of the Attorney General and we stand to lose more after unless pay parity is attained. Justice required fair play, Hattori said, and fair play requires fair pay. Parity for all Chief Justice Robert Torres called criminal defense a constitutional imperative in a letter supporting Bill 33. But he went further, arguing that all attorneys in local government need pay parity. Attorneys in the government could see their pay outpaced by administrative staff, due to a recent 22% general pay raise in the government. The combined cost of rent, health care, caregiving, and student loans may drive seasoned attorneys away from government service and toward the private sector or mainland. To make good for the backbone of our legal system, government must secure parity for all of its attorneys, Torres wrote. Meanwhile, the Guam BAR Associations Board of Governors has officially thrown in its support for Bill 33, said President Jacqueline Taitano Terlaje, not because we have chosen a side in the debate, but simply because we want to ensure that criminal indigent defense is protected. And that adequate funding is provided to our judiciary. Indigent defense has been consistently underfunded on Guam, she said, and the number of working local attorneys was dwindling. Absent the peoples belief that our justice system is doing right by the indigent who are accused of crimes, we all might as well retire. Everyone at this table should go home, she said. Guam has pledged to reach the goal of transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2045 after signing the Blue Planet Climate Agreement on Thursday. The government of Guam and governors office officially made the nonbinding agreement with the nonprofit Blue Planet Alliance during the 2023 University of Guam Island Sustainability Conference held at the Hyatt Regency Guam. The organization seeks to help jurisdictions, particularly islands in the Pacific, eliminate greenhouse gases and establish renewable energy. My number one mission in life is to end the use of carbon-based fuel, said Henk Rogers, the nonprofits founder and video game entrepreneur who helped bring the world Tetris. After suffering a near-death experience from a heart attack, Rogers committed to helping establish clean energy goals for Hawaii where he was living by creating the nonprofit. Hawaii was the first state to have a mandate of 100% renewable energy. We followed up by changing the business model of the utilities so that they make more money by switching to renewables. Today, we have already hit our 2030 goal of 40%, said Rogers. This model is a template used in other states, countries and jurisdictions. The agreement Thursday brings Guam into a larger alliance in the Pacific region with the kingdom of Tonga and the government of Tuvalu to receive the promised support of Blue Planet Alliance. The nonprofit provides assistance by advising energy policy legislation, speaking with businesses and government agencies about alternative power sources and establishing watchdog groups to monitor progress. Rogers said Blue Planet Alliance has an ambassador program which he hopes high schoolers and young adults in each jurisdiction will participate in to be watchdogs for climate goals. There is also a fellowship program to bring potential leaders to Hawaii to learn how the renewable energy goals can be implemented. They also accept some fellows as interns to work for the alliance in Hawaii. That will give them the understanding of what we did and how we did it, said Rogers. During the conference, UOG President Thomas Krise signed a memorandum of understanding which officially made the university a member of the Blue Planet Alliance. The signing of the Blue Planet Climate Agreement between the University of Guam and Blue Planet Alliance is the start of an important partnership to fortify our island against the devastating impacts of climate change, said Austin Shelton, director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant. Guam lawyer and author Julian Aguon talked about the intersection of human rights and environmental rights during his keynote address at the 2023 University of Guam Island Sustainability Conference on Friday at the Hyatt Regency Guam. Aguon is the founder of Blue Ocean Law, a firm that seeks to uphold indigenous rights and environmental justice. He recently represented the Republic of Vanuatu which is trying to get an advisory opinion from the International Court of Law on climate change. This would determine legal violations and consequences for governments and corporations, green house gas emissions, as well as activities such as undersea mining under international law. For so many people in the world, especially from island communities in Oceania, the climate crisis is not only at our doorstep, but its banging down the door, said Aguon. An example of a new threat to the environment that also violates indigenous peoples rights that Blue Ocean Law is attempting to stop is seabed mining. This deep ocean mining is for profitable metals such as nickel, copper and cobalt. An example is an exploration site that a Canadian mining company received a permit for in Papua New Guinea. The site is at the mouth of a river channel that meets the ocean where the indigenous community of the area believes is the place where souls enter the afterlife. Apart from damage to local communities, this type of mining also hurts marine life and releases more methane gas into the air. His firm is trying to get governments and private corporations to call for a moratorium on the seabed mining industry. Blue Ocean Law is also hoping to start a nonprofit wing of the organization to promote environmental justice, said Aguon. Guam Visitors Bureau officials and senators on Friday agreed that the tourism agency and how it's run need to change for the better, but they differed on whether it should be through a total rewrite of the law that created GVB 53 years ago or just by amending the agencys rules or bylaws. The GVB board of directors, led at the hearing by Chairman George Chiu and Secretary Jeff Jones, recommended changes to the law that created GVB. "In closing, Im just saying we need to start with a clean sheet of paper, write a new enabling legislation, then write bylaws that harmonize with that," Jones said. Chiu said right now, based on counsel's review of the enabling law, GVB board directors aren't even allowed to talk to GVB employees. "There needs to be changes to the enabling legislation. But before we can change anything, we have to ask ourselves, what's the role of GVB?" he said. GVB President Carl Gutierrez, on the other hand, recommends amending the bylaws or the agency rules and regulations for now, to make them congruent with the enabling law since a redo of the enabling GVB legislation would take years. He also said introducing piecemeal legislation would be more problematic. "I think there should be one introduction of the rewrite of the enabling act that GVB should operate under, and then from that, you get the rules, the bylaws, rules and regulations," Gutierrez said. Sen. Telo Taitague has a pending bill seeking to make the GVB membership more fair, and it would requires all board directors to file financial disclosures, among other things. All this, while GVB is trying to aggressively promote Guam in Japan and other markets to help boost arrivals, which are still 60% to 70% lower than pre-pandemic levels. Sen. Amanda Shelton, chair of the tourism committee that hosted the roundtable hearing, said the meeting was meant to resolve and update a reconciliation of both the GVB enabling law and operational bylaws "so they are in sync with current and evolving 21st century best practices." Jones said while he doesn't have a problem with having third amended bylaws, he believes where there are gray areas, GVB counsel tends to side with the management rather than the board. "But in some areas where he didn't speak to it, I felt like the counsel was trying to put more power with the management than with the board, especially when it comes to the budget," Jones said. The proposed third amended bylaws as written, for example, dont allow the GVB board to approve the bureau's own budget. "Its presented to the board, but if we don't like it, it doesnt matter. Management can just take it back to the legislature or the governor. Ultimately the legislature approves it. So I think honestly on that part, the board should have to approve the budget," Jones said. GVB counsel Joe McDonald, who reviewed and reconciled the GVB enabling law with the proposed amended bylaws, believes the main incongruence is in the enabling statute itself because GVB has a "split" and "opposing" mission of being a non-profit on the one hand and trying to grow profits on the other. GVB, he said, may choose to have two agencies under one roof -- one that develops the tourism industry and one that incentivizes growth -- or be split into two entities. Shelton said Guam is thankful for the vision of those who created the visitors bureau and started the tourism industry, but she said everyone's in agreement that "the status quo of the Guam Visitors Bureau isn't working in the interest of Guam, so that's why we're here at the table today." Shelton said nothing stops the GVB board from adopting proposed amended bylaws to keep the bureau moving. "But I don't think we should be afraid of change or afraid of the challenges to address the enabling legislation to help us make the Guam Visitors Bureau or whatever we envision for the future visitors industry," the senator said. Shelton said Friday's roundtable is just the start of many. Also present were committee vice chair Sen. Jesse Lujan, Taitague and Sen. Roy Quinata. "We're not one and done with this roundtable hearing. We will keep coming back until we get it right," the senator said. Shelton gave GVB officials and other tourism industry representatives some homework -- to identify specific changes in the GVB enabling legislation they want to see, and bring them up during the next roundtable. Besides Chiu and Jones, other GVB board directors present were Monte Mesa, Ho Eun, and Mary Rhodes, who is also president of the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association. GVB Vice President Gerry Perez and Guam Travel & Tourism Association's David Tydingco and Bill Nault were also present. Gutierrez in early 2022 started accusing board directors of wrongdoings, including alleged violations of the Open Government Law, ethics and procurement law and the GVB enabling law. The board paused all meetings starting in May 2022 until a review of the GVB enabling law and bylaws are completed. Gutierrez wrote a summary of the findings, alleging conflicts of interest involving former directors while also questioning the ability of current directors to help correct those wrongdoings. Haiti - FLASH : The UN appeals for $720M to respond to the humanitarian emergency in Haiti Wednesday April 13, 2023, with gangs, hunger and cholera plunging nearly half of Haitis population into humanitarian need, the United Nations and its partners are seeking $720 million to deliver lifesaving assistance this year to more than 3 million people. This years funding appeal for Haiti is the largest since the devastating 2010 earthquake and more than double the amount requested in 2022 underscoring the scale, severity and urgency of the countrys humanitarian crisis. Overall, the number of people who need humanitarian assistance in Haiti has doubled over the past five years to 5.2 million. The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan, to be released in full on 19 April, aims to reach 60 per cent, or 3.2 million, of people in need. "This years Humanitarian Response Plan comes at a critical time," said Ulrika Richardson, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti. "With the situation in the country rapidly deteriorating, this years Plan will address the most immediate humanitarian and protection needs while strengthening peoples and institutions resilience to natural shocks. At the same time, what the people of Haiti desperately want is peace and security, and we should all support efforts to that end." A key driver of the crisis is gang violence, which continues to spread across the country. The UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that nearly 80 per cent of the metropolitan area of Haitis capital, Port-au-Prince, is either under the control or the influence of gangs. "There is a constant climate of fear, especially in Port-au-Prince," Ms. Richardson said. "Haitians put their lives at risk simply by trying to go to work, feed their families or take their children to school." Armed violence disproportionately impacts women and girls, but boys are also affected. Rape, including gang rape, and other forms of sexual violence, is being used to terrorize the population, including children as young as 10. Meanwhile, many gangs recruit children and use them for multiple purposes. The UN and its partners in Haiti are working to safeguard humanitarian space and expand access to reach the most vulnerable people, including in gang-controlled areas. Funding for this years Humanitarian Response Plan will be critical in reaching the millions of people in need. Download the essentials of the response plan in Creole (PDF) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Haiti-2023-HRP-At-a-glance-Creole.pdf Download the essentials of the response plan in French (PDF) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Haiti-2023-HRP-At-a-glance-French.pdf Download the essentials of the response plan in English (PDF) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Haiti-2023-HRP-At-a-glance-English.pdf HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... PM launches a $21.6 billion welfare package Thursday, April 13, 2023, Prime Minister a.i. Ariel Henry in his official residence in Musseau, launched a social assistance program for the poor, in the amount of 21 billion 600 million Gourdes over a period of 6 month. This program, mainly funded by the International Global Fund (IMF) to the tune of 15 billion gourdes, will target 7 departments. Serious fire at the Faculty of Agronomy (FAMV) "It is with dismay and with the greatest sadness that we have just learned of the damage caused by a fire on the evening of Thursday April 13, 2023 at the Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine (FAMV) located in Damien," informed Talot Bertrand, Agricultural Engineer. We do not know for the moment the causes of the fire but the damage is expected to be considerable despite the intervention of the firefighters, who seemed limited in their actions due to lack of water on the spot according to witnesses... Terrain conflict : Me Andre Charleus killed In the afternoon of Wednesday April 12, Me Andre Charleus, one of the lawyers for the peasants of Piatre, engaged in a land conflict with the inhabitants of Deluge, a small town in the commune of Montrouis, was killed in an ambush on the RN#1, near Vendome. His corpse was burned by his assassins. Wagner Group : Denial of PM Acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry formally denied rumors that his government had requested the help of Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group to fight armed gangs in Haiti. Artibonite : Sub-police station looted and burned The Petite-Riviere de l'Artibonite sub-police station was looted and then set on fire by bandits from the "Gran grif" gang of Savien. Recall that this sub-police station had been abandoned by the police since the death of 6 of their brothers in arms in Liancourt, on January 25 https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-38701-icihaiti-insecurity-6-police-officers-killed-in-clashes-with-the-gran-grif-gang.html during an attack by heavily armed men. The bandits took away, among other things : "a pickup, a powerful autonomous projector, a generator, beds and cupboards... Incredible : The racketeers demonstrate For the second day in a row, a movement paralyzed activities at the passport application center in Petion-ville. Incredible but true, racketeers considering themselves aggrieved by the establishment of the Delidoc website have sown chaos in the offices. HL/ HaitiLibre By William Schwartz | Published on 2023/04/13 The ongoing MBC program "Joseon Attorney: A Morality" has confirmed the appearance actor Kang Shin-il will be appearing in the ongoing historical drama. He will be playing the role of the village foreman, who possesses important information regarding the death of the parents of the lead character played by Woo Do-hwan. "Joseon Attorney: A Morality" is premised around this man, a Joseon-era attorney, seeking revenge for their deaths. Advertisement Kang Shin-il will make his first appearance in the fifth episode of the drama, which will air on April 14th. Because his character is a person of importance, his encounter with the lead is expected to be a tense one. Kang Shin-il has long been a highly recognizable face in South Korean dramas. His last significant role was in "Bloody Heart" last year, another historical drama. "Joseon Attorney: A Morality" had ratings of 2.7% in its fourth episode which aired on April 8th. Written by William Schwartz 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 ShareBar Comments must be on-topic and civil in tone (with no name calling or personal attacks). Any promotional language or urls will be removed immediately. Your comment may be edited for clarity and length. BOONE, NC The Watauga County Economic Development Commission will hold its next meeting Thursday, April 20, 2023, from 11am-3:00pm at the American Legion Hall, located at 333 Wallingford Rd in Blowing Rock, NC. The meeting is open to the public. This stands as the third meeting for the newly appointed Watauga EDC, and the first designed as a longer work session to help the group continue to talk about current strategies and future opportunities. This meeting agenda will include a facilitated discussion set to focus on status of Watauga Countys current economic development priorities. The group will then have time for deeper discussion about emerging trends and priorities to consider for the balance of the next year. The group will continue discussions on future meeting locations for the remainder of 2023. For additional information, please contact Joe Furman by email at [email protected] or by phone at 828- 264-3082. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket The plant is estimated to cost 2.54.0 billion euros depending on its production capacity, making it the second largest industrial investment in the history of Finland, after the third reactor unit of Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant, according to Helsingin Sanomat . FINNISH MINERALS GROUP on Wednesday revealed it has signed a letter of intent for building a battery cell production plant in Kotka, Southern Finland. Were talking about currently the largest project project in the battery sector in Finland, Matti Hietanen, the CEO of Finnish Minerals Group, statetd to YLE on Wednesday. It is set to primarily produce battery cells for electric vehicles, supporting the rapid proliferation of electric vehicles and consequent growth of the associated battery value chain in Europe, said Vesa Koivisto, the director of battery value chain at Finnish Minerals Group. Our goal is to meet the increasing demand with battery materials and cells produced responsibly in Finland, he summed up in the press release. Finnish Minerals Group has yet to disclose the name of its project partner, but Hietanen described it as a well-known international player in the sector. Our industrial partner hasnt yet made its final country decision, to bring the project to Finland. But were well positioned. We can disclose the partners name when things are a bit further, he said to the public broadcasting service, adding that the only site under consideration in Finland is Kotka. The plant is to be built on a roughly 140-hectare plot, next to a planned cathode active materials plant, on an industrial site known as Keltakallio. Cursor, the business development company for Hamina and Kotka, has estimated that if completed the battery material plant, cell plant and battery plant could provide employment to a few thousand people, in addition to creating jobs elsewhere in the value chain. Depending on the capacity option, were talking about 1,5002,500 jobs directly at the cell plant, Hietanen confirmed to YLE. The realisation of the projects, though, is contingent on environmental impact assessments, which are to be completed by mid-2024. Finnish Minerals Group reported that the assessments will be carried out for two annual capacity options, 27 gigawatt-hours and 40 gigawatt hours enough to produce batteries for 500,000800,000 electric vehicles. We trust our development partners that the natural and environmental values, as well as other factors, are assessed thoroughly, Esa Sirvio, the mayor of Kotka, stated in a press release from Cursor. Pertti Kauranen, a professor of energy storage systems at LUT University in Lappeenranta, told YLE on Wednesday that a cell production plant has been the lone missing piece of the battery value chain in Finland. This sounds good indeed, he stated. The Finnish battery value chain is complete except for the fact that a cell plant has been missing. We mine battery minerals, produce battery chemicals and companies like Valmet Automotive make battery cells into battery modules. The only thing thats been missing is a cell plant, so welcome. The plant is where the parts of the battery cell cathode, anode, electrolyte and separator are assembled. The cells are then combined into modules and packs to create battery systems, which can be used not only in electric vehicles but also in energy storage solutions and electronic devices. Aleksi Teivainen HT In 2022, Olivia and Leo were the most popular first forenames among Finnish-speaking children, Saga and Oliver among Swedish-speaking children, and Sofia and Adam among children of other languages. Since December, it has been possible to report the child's name to the Population Information System digitally, and currently 88 percent of children's names are reported online. This speeds up and streamlines the processing at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. However, expert work is still needed to assess unique names, which results in longer processing times. Little variation in the most popular names among Finnish speakers For children born in Finland in 2022, Olivia was the first forename of 276 girls and Leo of 376 boys. They were the most popular names also in 2021, and Leo has been the most popular first forename for boys since 2019. In 2022, the most popular first forenames for girls were Olivia, Aino, Aada, Lilja and Eevi. Venla and Sofia, two of the top five in 2021, fell to the eighth and ninth place, respectively, and were replaced by Aino and Aada. In other words, Aino is once again growing in popularity: it was the most popular first forename for girls in 2017, 2019 and 2020. The most popular first forenames for boys were Leo, Vaino, Eino, Oliver, and Elias, which have formed the top five since 2019. Vaino has moved up to the second place from fifth in last year, and Eeli, the most popular name of 2018, is now in the eighth place. When the second, third and fourth forenames are also included, the top five for girls' names was Aurora, Maria, Sofia, Olivia, and Emilia. For boys, the most popular choices were Olavi, Juhani, Johannes, Mikael, and Oliver. Only the order of the top five names has changed from the previous year: Aurora has overtaken Maria, and Mikael has passed Oliver. "There has been little variation in the most popular names in recent years, and traditional names continue to be popular. The most popular first forenames are often short, consist of two syllables, and their pronunciation could be described as soft. There are many traditional names that are likely to appear in the family, for example in the names of grandparents," says Noora Riskila, Senior Specialist at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. Saga and Oliver among the most popular names of Swedish-speaking children In the 2022 name statistics, the most popular first forename for Swedish-speaking girls was Saga, which was also the favourite of 2021. Among the boys' names, Oliver became the most popular. In Swedish-speaking families, 29 girls were named Saga and 33 boys were named Oliver. After Saga, the most popular first forenames for girls were Ellen, Alva, Emma, and Stella. William, Liam, Anton, and Emil were in turn the most popular first forenames for boys after Oliver. When all forenames are included, Maria and Alexander were the most popular among Swedish-speaking children. Sofia and Adam are the favourites for children of other languages Sofia was the most popular first forename for girls of other languages, and Adam was the favourite for boys. Sofia is followed by Maria, Olivia, Eva, and Emilia, while Elias, Muhammad, Mark, and Leo round out the top five for boys. Reporting the child's name to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency became easier Since December 2022, it has been possible to report the child's details to the Population Information System digitally. The digital service has been widely used, and currently about 88 per cent of children's details is reported to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency online. The high utilisation rate of the digital service highlights the good digital capabilities of parents and their willingness to primarily use digital services. The digitalisation of the service has been often requested in customer feedback. The mother of a newborn child will automatically receive an information package at home to help them select a name and report the child's details. The new online form shortens the processing time of notifications at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, as forms do not need to be mailed and scanned. If the parent is a member of a parish, the form is usually handed over to the priest in connection with the christening ceremony, and the Population Information System receives the information from the parish. Unique names result in longer processing times Coming up with baby names is creative work. If you wish that your child has a unique name, you should prepare for longer processing times. In general, children's names are processed in about four weeks, but the processing of unique names takes longer. The legality of the names presented to the child is examined when the notification has arrived at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency or when the parish has transferred the verification of the legality of the name matter to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. "If the child is given several forenames, some of which are familiar, they can be registered separately before the unique name is evaluated. This is necessary if you need to obtain a passport for the child to travel abroad, for example," Riskila explains. "In this case, any personal documents need to be renewed after the unique name has been confirmed." Riskila adds. Data on the most popular first forenames of children born in Finland was published by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency on 13 April 2023. The data is based on a total of 46,486 children born last year, and the statistics includes names given by 31 March 2023. The statistics contains the 50 most popular forenames and first forenames for Finnish-speaking children, Swedish-speaking children, and children of other languages. In this context, persons of other languages refer to individuals whose native language is not Finnish or Swedish. The statistics includes both nationwide data and separate data for Finland's 15 largest cities. How to report your child's name A child can be given 14 forenames. The name must correspond to the established name practice. It may not cause offence or harm or be inappropriate as a forename. If you need help in choosing the name, you can use the Name service. The mother of a newborn child will automatically receive an information package at home that helps in reporting the child's details. Submit a notification on the child's names and mother tongue within three months of birth. The details can be submitted digitally on the Digital and Population Data Services Agency's website or on a paper form. Read more here. Most popular first forenames given to children in the largest cities City Girls Boys Espoo Emma Leo Helsinki Olivia Elias Vantaa Sofia Oliver Hameenlinna Lilja, Sofia and Viola Onni Joensuu Eevi, Sofia and Hertta Eino Jyvaskyla Isla, Hilla and Viola Leo Kouvola Aino and Aava Joel Kuopio Hilla Eino Lahti Pihla Elias Lappeenranta Ellen, Eevi, Olivia and Alisa Eino Oulu Isla Vaino and Onni Pori Helmi Oliver Tampere Olivia Leo Turku Olivia Emil and Leo Vaasa Aada, Hilla, Lilja and Frida Eino HT Source: Digital and Population Data Services Agency What are the key societal changes that the next government should achieve, in your opinion? Do you agree with the situation report on Finland's economic situation and the need for public finance adjustment presented by the Ministry of Finance on December 8th, 2022? Are you committed to presenting the scale of balancing public finances during the upcoming parliamentary term as a part of your official duties? What methods are you willing to use to balance public finances? How would you promote the incentivization of taxation? What are your primary goals for developing taxation? Are you willing to commit to setting a goal of 100,000 new hires as a public finance strengthening employment measure for the next government? What are your primary methods of public finance strengthening employment measures? What means are you willing to undertake for labor market reform and to promote freedom of agreement? How would you respond to the broad-based labor shortage in Finland? What means would you use to increase international recruitment to ensure the availability of labor? What are the primary means for clearing up queues for social and health services? What are the most important methods of addressing the shortage of healthcare workers? What methods would you use to solve the crisis in elderly care and ensure humane care for all senior citizens? How would you strengthen the well-being of children, young people, and families? How would you prevent youth exclusion? How would you better recognize retirees as an active force in building society? How would you raise the level of education and skills of Finns? What means would you use to strengthen early childhood education and basic education so that every young person graduating from basic education has adequate reading, writing, and arithmetic skills? How would you strengthen the operating conditions of the cultural sector? How would you support the prevalence of an active lifestyle? Are you committed to the parliamentary R&D (Research and Development) group's goal of increasing R&D expenditure to four percent of gross domestic product by 2030? Will you ensure that Finland has sufficient experts for research and development work? What concrete means would you use to reduce the costs and administrative burden of norms and bureaucracy on people, businesses, and the public sector? What specific means would you use to improve the future of Finnish food production and forestry? You were born during the Lebanese civil war. When did you understand the gravity of it and decide to write stories about it? Graphic novelist Zeina Abirached (Courtesy the author) The Lebanese Civil War started in 1975, and I was born in the middle of it in 1981 in the eastern part of Beirut that was already torn into two by the demarcation line. Since I never knew anything else besides the war, I thought it was normal to grow up and live like that. It is only when the war ended in 1990 that I understood it was absolutely not normal. I then started collecting and chronicling my own memories as well as the souvenirs of people around me in order not to forget the tiny little things of our everyday life. How to get electricity, water, gas, how to navigate the city to avoid checkpoints, the conversations we had during those days, et al. Lebanese history is barely taught in schools; the history books abruptly stop at the very beginning of the civil war. I write and draw to fill this blackout of our history in order to understand and accept it. Available on Amazon What were your experiences of the war that you included in your art and books? I tend to depict war from a childs point of view. My graphic novels are autobiographical and talk about everyday life in a neighbourhood. A building, an apartment, the entry of an apartment, the space tends to be more and more insecure, and it shrinks from one book to another. I have tried to remember the little things that seemed normal during the war like recognizing from the sound if a shell is coming towards us or has been fired from our part of the city; having to do homework in candle light, not being able to go out of the house without passport and spare clothes in case we arent able to return home. But I also write about the solidarity between neighbours, and the laughter. Humour saved us during those terrible times. How do you keep the factual accounts separate from the fictional story? Writing and drawing an autobiographical story is like a ping-pong match between historical archives and personal memories. I need to know the exact historical context of the book I am working on but the drive that leads me through the process of creating a graphic novel is definitely very intimate. What was your early exposure to comics and art? It was absolutely life-changing! Art and literature were a perfect way to find a way out of everyday violence, angst and fear. We were stuck in our houses or in shelters but we still had a possibility to escape through art. Which artist do you look up to for inspiration for your art? I am very lucky to be surrounded with a joyful mix of eastern and western influences. I could cite JS Bach as well as Mohamed Abdel Wahab. But if I had to choose one for this interview, I would choose the South African artist William Kentridge. His poetry and the commitment to work never forgets to be intelligent and playful. Reviewers have compared your art with Marjane Satrapis. What are your thoughts about it? Its a great compliment. To be honest, I didnt know of her books when I started to write and draw. In fact, I first read Persepolis when I arrived in Paris in 2004 in my quest for a publisher. My main influence in comics were French and Belgian authors as David B, Jacques Tardi or the great Herge. What is the literature and comic books scene like in Beirut? Are there many publishers? What kind of themes and topics do they write about? There is no comic book publisher in Lebanon (nor in the Middle East) thats why my graphic novels are translated in several languages including Japanese, Swedish, Turkish and Spanish, but not (yet) in Arabic, which is quite frustrating, as my work tends to transmit a bit of our collective memory. The art scene as well as the literary milieu is very dynamic. Lebanon has many great writers who write in Arabic, in French or in English, the three main languages spoken in the country. And the urge of the duty of memory compelled a lot of writers and artists to express themselves about civil war and what that war had done to us. Having lived in Beirut, Paris and now Oman, which city do you feel home at? For me, Beirut and Paris are the two faces of my dreamed, violently loved, perfect city, I cant imagine having to choose between them. Arunima Mazumdar is an independent writer. She is @sermoninstone on Twitter and @sermonsinstone on Instagram. Discover the inspiring story of Punita Trikha, a handmade jewelry designer who started her career in Bollywood and made a name for herself with her passion and love for creating unique pieces. With the help of famous actors like Jackie Shroff and Feroz Khan, she landed her first big break in the movie Janasheen and never looked back. Punita Trikha is a name that is synonymous with exquisite and beautifully crafted handmade jewelry. This incredibly talented jewelry designer has made a name for herself in the glamorous world of Bollywood, starting with her debut in Feroz Khan's film Janasheen. Since then, she has been unstoppable and has become a force to be reckoned with in the industry. What sets Punita Trikha apart from other jewelry designers is her dedication to making all of her jewelry pieces by hand, with a lot of passion and love. Creating jewelry on her own was no easy feat, but she persevered through the challenges, and the results are nothing short of breathtaking. Her stunning jewelry pieces have graced the silver screen in several blockbuster movies such as Maine Pyar Kyu Kiya, Partner, and even Hollywood's Marigold. Despite facing many personal challenges and responsibilities as a mom, Punita Trikha never let her passion for jewelry designing waver. Her husband was a great support, but after his passing, she continued to manage her business as a single mom, which speaks volumes about her tenacity and strength. Punita's love for her craft led her to travel to Paris, where she learned the ropes of professional jewelry designing from a fellow handcrafted jewelry maker. This experience allowed her to take her passion to the next level and open her very own showroom in 2004. To date, she has created over 10k+ pieces of jewelry that have won her numerous prestigious awards and accolades. Punita's future plans include exporting her jewelry and traveling to cities in Europe to find and export her unique designs. Her creations are a testament to her skill, passion, and dedication to her craft. You can follow her journey and see more of her stunning creations on her Instagram account (@punittatrikha). In conclusion, Punita Trikha is a gifted artist and a remarkable human being who has overcome numerous obstacles to achieve her dreams. Her handmade jewelry designs are not only beautiful but also unique and one-of-a-kind. Punita's work is a testament to the fact that with dedication, passion, and hard work, anything is possible. We wish her all the very best in her future endeavors. 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. PayPal Holdings Inc. cut outgoing Chief Executive Officer Dan Schulmans pay by 32% for last year after failing to meet its financial targets. The company failed to meet targets it set for key metrics, including revenue, adjusted operating margin and net new active users, the board compensation committee said.(REUTERS) Schulman was awarded $22 million in compensation for 2022, including about $20.2 million in stock awards, the San Jose, California-based company said Thursday in a filing. That compares with $32 million a year earlier. The company failed to meet targets it set for key metrics, including revenue, adjusted operating margin and net new active users, the board compensation committee said. Still, it commended Schulman for leading PayPal through a challenging period of macroeconomic uncertainty, geopolitical instability, slowing e-commerce growth and a return to pre-pandemic consumer behaviors. Also Read: Businesses with over Rs. 100 Cr turnover must upload e-invoice on IRP within 7 Days Schulman announced in February plans to retire at year-end and the board said it would enlist a search firm to find a successor. Hes leaving the payments giant as it struggles with a slowdown in growth across platforms and a months-long slump in its stock price. PayPal shares were little changed in late trading after closing up 2.8% to $75.52 on Thursday. That helped bring the stocks gain for the year to 6%, compared with the 5% decline of the 73-company S&P 500 Financials Index. At its annual meeting later next month, when shareholders will vote on the boards proposed pay for Schulman and other top executives, the company will face a series of shareholder proposals related to its practices. Tara Health Foundation urged shareholders to vote in favor of a proposal that would require PayPal to issue a report on its work to fulfill requests from law enforcement officials looking to enforce state laws that criminalize abortions. PayPal urged shareholders to vote against the proposal, noting officials can only obtain customer information pursuant to proper legal service and the validity of each request is thoroughly evaluated prior to the sharing of any information. Another proposal would force the company to explain its decision-making process behind account suspensions and closures, noting the company has been accused of banning legal sex workers access to PayPal services. PayPal consistently employs objective, narrowly tailored policies to address account suspension and closure, and those policies are based on ensuring the safety of our customers and protecting PayPals legitimate business interests, the company said in response, urging shareholders to vote down the proposal. Tesla Inc. wont have a presence at next weeks Shanghai auto show, a run down made available by the events organizer shows, despite a slew of other international carmakers planning on attending and unveiling new models. A Shanghai-based Tesla representative confirmed the company would not attend this years show. (Representational Image)(AP) Chinas major automobile show kicks off on April 18 for media and opens to the general public on April 20. Also Read | Tesla slashes prices of Model 3, Model Y vehicles in Singapore While the event was canceled last year due to Chinas Covid restrictions, Tesla received unwanted publicity at it in 2021, when a Model 3 owner climbed atop a display vehicle and yelled that her father, who was driving at the time, almost died because her Teslas brakes failed. The protest, captured on video, went viral in China and Tesla eventually made a public apology after facing criticism from local authorities and state-run media, without acknowledging any defect to the car. Also Read | Possible risk of crash: Tesla recalls 422 US vehicles over suspension issue A Shanghai-based Tesla representative confirmed the company would not attend this years show but said theres no particular reason for that. Elon Musks electric car pioneer has been cutting prices in China, and around the world, after tweaks throughout the first quarter yielded only an incremental sales gain. In China, thats triggered a price war that could reshape the worlds biggest car market, with hefty discounts threatening to drive some automakers out of business. It comes at a time when Chinas EV market is becoming increasingly cutthroat. Models from new companies like Nio Inc., Xpeng Inc. and Li Auto Inc. have flooded into the arena, adding to existing offerings from more established players like Tesla and Chinas BYD Co., which is now the worlds second-largest maker of electric cars. Tesla had a presence at the Guangzhou auto show in December last year. The Austin, Texas-headquartered carmaker has an EV factory on the outskirts of Shanghai that produced almost 711,000 cars last year, or 52% of its worldwide output. Earlier this month it said it will build a new battery factory in Shanghai to manufacture its Megapack large-scale energy-storage unit. Construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of this year and the plant will commence production in the second quarter of 2024. Incumbent BJP ministers Murugesh Nirani, Dr K Sudhakar, S T Somashekar and V Sunil Kumar were among those who filed their nomination papers for Karnataka Assembly polls on Thursday. Karnataka Minister and BJP leader CC Patil files his nomination papers from the Nargund Assembly constituency for the Karnataka Assembly elections. (ANI Photo)(ANI Pic Service/ Prashant Mishra) The poll process for the May 10 Assembly elections formally began today, with the issuance of gazette notification paving the way for candidates to file their nominations. Nirani is contesting from from Bilagi in Bagalkote, Sudhakar from Chikkaballapur, Sunil Kumar from Karkala in Udupi and Somashekar from Yashwanthapur constituency in Bengaluru. READ | Karnataka elections: 221 candidates file nominations on the first day Similarly, S S Mallikarjun, who is trying his luck from Davangere North on Congress ticket, too filed the papers. According to the Election Commission, 27 Bharatiya Janata Party candidates, 26 Congress, 12 Janata Dal (S), 10 Aam Aadmi Party and one from the Bahujan Samaj Party filed the papers. There were 100 nominations by unrecognised parties and 45 independents. In all, 221 nominations were filed on the day the notification for the Assembly elections was issued, the Election Commission statement said. READ | Its raining retirements & resignations in Karnataka as BJP leaders miffed over poll list According to the EC schedule of events, the last date of filing nominations is April 20. The papers will be scrutinised on April 21 and the last date of withdrawal of candidature is April 24. Meanwhile, as on Thursday, the cumulative seizure since March 29 when the model code of conduct came into force touched 144 crore. The total seizure comprises cash of 57.37 crore, freebies worth 17.93 crore, liquor worth 32 crore, drugs worth 13.2 crore, gold worth 21.27 crore, and silver worth 2.56 crore. Former Karnataka deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi on Friday joined the Congress party barely two days after resigning from the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) after being denied a ticket in the upcoming assembly polls in the southern state. KPCC President D K Shivakumar and AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala meet with BJP senior leader and former Deputy CM Laxman Savadi, in Bengaluru.(PTI) He had earlier held a meeting with senior Congress leaders DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah at the latter's residence. The upcoming assembly poll in the southern state is due to be held on May 10, for which counting will be on May 13. READ | Former deputy CM Laxman Savadi resigns from BJP after being denied ticket KPCC chief D K Shivakumar addressed the media on Friday and confirmed that Savadi has joined the grand old party. The former BJP leader was eyeing the Athani assembly constituency seat, but was passed over for sitting MLA Mahesh Kumathalli. There is no condition. He feels that he has been humiliated. It is our duty to take such great leaders into the Congress Party. There are more than 9-10 sitting MLAs who want to join us but we don't have space to accommodate them, D K Shivakumar said upon the former BJP leader's entry in to the Congress. READ | Karnataka polls: BJP denies ticket to seven sitting MLAs in second list; Protests continue Savadi had resigned from the BJP and as the Legislative Council member of the party on Wednesday, saying that he is a self-respecting politician and that he would not go around with a begging bowl. I have made my decision. I am not the one who goes around with a begging bowl. I am a self-respecting politician. I am not acting under the influence of anyone, he told reporters on Wednesday. This comes amid a brewing discontent among many party workers and leaders after the BJP left out seven sitting MLAs from its second candidates list, to make way for fresh faces. The party fielded 52 new names in the first list, including even those who jumped ship recently from its rivals. Apart from Savadi, six-time MLA S Angara from Sullia constituency, BJP MLC R Shankar, Mudigere BJP MLA M P Kumaraswamy and MLA Goolihatti Shekhar are some of the leaders who have quit the party on being denied tickets. A 27-year-old private security guard, who was not on duty, was killed after an unidentified man stabbed him at least six times with an ice pick while robbing him of his wallet at the busy Old Wazirabad Road near Khajuri Chowk in northeast Delhi on Thursday evening, police said. According to the DCP, the place where Varun was stabbed is a busy stretch during the day. A murder case was registered at the Khajuri Khas police station and teams were formed to identify and nab the suspect. (Repesentative image) The security guard, identified as Varun (single name), had gone to the Khajuri Chowk market to buy fruits and coconut water for his sister who was unwell. He was walking towards her home when the alleged attacker waylaid him and stabbed him multiple times for resisting his robbery attempt. The attacker then fled with Varuns wallet containing some cash while the latter managed to save his phone from him, police said. Despite bleeding profusely, Varun continued walking and waving his hands to seek help from passersby. A 25-year-old Good Samaritan named Karan Chaudhary, who works as a cyber security analyst in a software company in Gurugram, helped Varun. Police said that Chaudhary, who was riding his scooter home in Khajuri Khas, responded to the distress signal, helped Varun sit pillion and rushed him to a nearby private hospital. However, as the hospital was not equipped to handle the seriousness of the wound, Varun was referred to Sushruta Trauma Centre in Civil Lines, where he was taken in an ambulance, nearly an hour after the stabbing. Varun succumbed to his injuries soon after he reached the trauma centre, said Chaudhary. Deputy commissioner of police (northeast) Joy Tirkey said that at 5.20 pm on Thursday, the Khajuri Khas police station received a call that a man had been stabbed near Khajuri Chowk. The station house officer (SHO) along with other personnel reached the spot and learnt that the injured man was taken to a nearby nursing home in Bhajanpura. The police then went to the trauma centre, where they found that he died during treatment, said Tirkey. Varun was a resident of Sonia Vihar and his sister lives in Garhi Mendu. It appears that Varun was stabbed during the robbery. We are also looking into other possible motives, said Tirkey, adding that the three stab wounds that Varun suffered in his chest and abdomen proved fatal for him. Police said there were at least three stab wounds on his wrist and forearm as well. According to the DCP, the place where Varun was stabbed is a busy stretch during the day. A murder case was registered at the Khajuri Khas police station and teams were formed to identify and nab the suspect. The teams also looked for CCTV cameras around the crime spot but could not find any in which the stabbing was captured. We suspect the role of a drug addict. Many people are being rounded up for clues. We are hoping to identify and nab the killer, added Tirkey. Varun is survived by his parents and four married siblings, including three sisters. He worked as a security guard at a private firm near Shivaji Stadium. His sister, Karuna, was sick for the past few days. She had come to their elder sister Sandhyas house in Bhajanpura. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has issued summons to Aam Aadmi Party convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to question him on Sunday in connection with its probe into the Delhi excise policy case, people familiar with the development said. Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal.(PTI) To be sure, Kejriwal has been summoned as a witness in the case. Reacting to the CBI move, AAP leader Sanjay Singh said he had predicted that the agencies would go after Arvind Kejriwal when the chief minister sought to link Prime Minister Narendra Modi with billionaire Gautam Adani, in the Delhi assembly, a reference to Kejriwals accusation that the PM was helping the industrialist stay afloat despite his firms facing serious stock manipulation allegations. And now this CBI summon has come, Sanjay Singh told a hurriedly-convened Press conference. Kejriwal is not named as an accused in the first information report (FIR) filed on August 17 last year but his name has come up during the questioning of some accused and witnesses. CBI wants to seek clarification, an official who asked not to be named said. The Delhi CM has been called for questioning as a witness at 11am on Sunday to seek clarifications on certain claims by witnesses and accused persons regarding the formulation and implementation of the policy, the official said. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged in one of its charge sheets that the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy was the brainchild of Kejriwal. The chief ministers name has also been mentioned on multiple occasions by investigators in court documents including charge sheets and remand papers. For instance, ED said in its charge sheet filed in January this year that Kejriwal, in a video call arranged by AAPs communications in-charge Vijay Nair with Sameer Mahendru, told the latter that Vijay (Nair) is his boy and that he should trust him. Nair had arranged a meeting of the owner of Indo Spirits Sameer Mahendru (who is part of a super-cartel along with the alleged South Group) with Arvind Kejriwal, and when that didnt materialize, he arranged a video call through FaceTime on his phone for Mahendru and Kejriwal, where Kejriwal said to Mahendru that Vijay (Nair) is his boy and that Mahendru should trust him and carry on with him, said the ED charge sheet citing Mahendrus statement recorded on November 15, 2022. Subsequently, citing a December 7, 2022, statement recorded by former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodias then secretary C Arvind, the federal agency has claimed that the decision to fix a 12% profit margin for the wholesale private entities was conveyed to him (C Arvind) at Kejriwals residence in mid-March 2021. Sisodia was arrested by CBI in the excise case on February 26. There was no discussion in the Group of Ministers (GoM) meetings Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and Kailash Gehlot were in the GoM - about giving wholesale business to private entities before mid-March 2021, C Arvind has told the ED. Suddenly, in the mid-March 2021, C Arvind was called by Sisodia to Kejriwals residence (where Satyendar Jain was also present) and Sisodia handed over a document to C Arvind which was a draft GoM report proposing that wholesale should go to private entities and asked him to prepare the draft GoM report based on the said document. He said that it was the first time that he saw this proposal as the same was never discussed in any GoM meetings, the charge sheet filed by ED alleged. Agencies have also alleged that Kejriwal, Sisodia (currently in Tihar jail) and Nair are linked with the South Group (of politicians and businessmen), which got at least nine retail zones in Delhis liquor business in lieu of 100 crore allegedly paid to the AAP leaders. The South Group, according to ED, comprises YSR Congress member of parliament Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy or MSR, his son Raghav Magunta, Sarath Reddy (promoter of Aurobindo Group), and K Kavitha (daughter of Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao) and Delhi businessman Sameer Mahendru. It was represented by Abhishek Boinpally, Arun Pillai and Butchibabu Gorantla in the meetings with Aam Aadmi Partys communications in-charge Vijay Nair and other liquor businessmen. ED also alleged that YSR Congress member of parliament Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy met Arvind Kejriwal to find out more about Delhi excise policy and that Kejriwal has welcomed his entry in Delhi liquor trade; that MSR wanted business base in Delhi liquor and Delhi CM welcomed him. Subsequently, Butchibabu Gorantla, former accountant of K Kavitha (daughter of Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao), is alleged to have told the agencies on February 23 this year that there was a political understanding between K Kavitha and the chief minister of Delhi (Arvind Kejriwal) and (former) deputy CM (Manish Sisodia) of Delhi. In that process, K Kavitha has also met (AAPs communications in-charge) Vijay Nair on 19th-20th March, 2021. On AAPs top leadership, ED alleged that the Delhi Excise policy 2021-22 was created by the top leaders of the AAP to continuously generate and channel illegal funds to themselves. The excise policy, according to documents, promoted cartel formations through backdoor, awarded exorbitant wholesale profit margin @ 12% and huge retail profit margin of 185% and incentivized other illegal activities on account of criminal conspiracy by the top leaders of AAP to extract kickbacks from the businesses. ED has alleged that a part of the 100 crore kickbacks generated in the Delhi excise policy was used in the AAP campaign in the 2022 Goa assembly election. The agency has also pegged the loss in the excise policy irregularities at 2,873 crore. The Delhi governments 2021-22 excise policy aimed to revitalize the citys flagging liquor business. It aimed to replace a sales-volume based regime with a license fee one for traders, and promised swankier stores, free of the infamous metal grilles, ultimately giving customers a better buying experience. The policy also introduced discounts and offers on the purchase of liquor, a first for Delhi. The plan, however, came to an abrupt end, with Delhis lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena recommending a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the regime. This ultimately resulted in the policy being scrapped prematurely and being replaced by the 2020-21 regime, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleging that Saxenas predecessor sabotaged the move with a few last-minute changes that resulted in lower-than-expected revenues. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has written to Delhis forest and wildlife department, seeking clarity on what constitutes a tree based on the definition provided in the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA), 1994. The Act defines a tree as a woody plant that has branches supported by a trunk or a body of at least 5cm diameter and is at least one metre high from the ground. CPWD said that going by the definition of the DPTA, herbaceous trees like plantain would not be considered trees given that their main trunk or branches are not wood. (Shutterstock) However, CPWD said that going by this definition, herbaceous trees like palm, plantain, and papaya would not be considered trees given that their main trunk or branches are not wood. ALSO READ: Bishnois raise concern over felling of Khejri trees PK Tripathi, deputy director general (horticulture) at CPWD sent the letter on April 11, referring to a workshop organised by the forest department on April 10 in which the provisions of the DPTA were explained. However, the CPWD spokesperson, when contacted, did not comment on why the clarity was sought, nor did Tripathi respond to HTs queries. In the letter, CPWD said certain monocots like the Joshua tree or bamboo do not have secondary growth of wood and never produce true wood but they still produce what might be considered pseudo wood, stating the definition of trees may change based on the species and their characteristics. A commonly applied narrower definition is that a tree has a woody trunk formed by secondary growth, meaning that the trunk thickens each year by growing outwards, in addition to the primary upwards growth from the tip. Under such a definition, herbaceous plants such as palms, bananas, and papayas are not considered trees, regardless of their height, growth form, or stem girth, Tripathi said in the letter. The letter also referred to certain monocotyledons (grass and grass-like flowering plants) and said they may also be considered trees under a slightly loose definition. While the Joshua tree, bamboo, or palm do not have secondary growth and not produce true wood, they may produce pseudo wood by lignifying cells formed by primary growth. Aside from structural definitions, trees are also commonly defined by use, for instance, as plants that yield timber. Keeping in view the reasons and circumstances explained above, this office requests clarifications from the competent authority, it added. The forest department has been conducting weekly workshops since February 5 with Delhis greening and construction agencies, comprising several state and central government departments too. The workshop on April 10 was held online. The workshops were started following several Delhi high court orders in which government departments, including the Public Works Department (PWD), were fined for violating provisions of the DPTA. The workshop module works to educate agencies on how to carry out civil construction work without damaging trees or plants. A senior forest department official said the workshops aim to clarify doubts and queries about the Act. If any agency has a query, they can contact us directly and we will provide the information. The definition of a tree in Delhi is quite clear and covers broad aspects of each species. While palms are defined as trees, based on the Forest Conservation Act, papayas and bananas, for instance, are not, as they do not meet the criteria of this definition, the official said. A tree, as defined by the DPTA, enjoys protection under the Act and cannot be felled without permission from the forest and wildlife department. Based on this, one needs permission to fell a palm tree, while no permission is required to fell a papaya or plantain tree. Bhavreen Kandhari, an environmental activist, said the DPTA was the only legislation in the country, which defines tree clearly. Even then, the definition is not being implemented on the ground. DPTA is the only safeguard in protecting urban trees, but its implementation has been severally impacted. A large city like Delhi needs more tree officers to take action against violators of the Act, she said, stating there was no need to amend the existing definition either. The BJP on Thursday launched a free pilgrimage programme for the elderly and women with Virendra Sachdeva, the party's Delhi unit chief, flagging off four buses ferrying devotees to Mathura-Vrindavan. The BJP's free pilgrimage programme is modelled on the AAP government's Mukhya Mantri Teerth Yatra Yojna.(HT Photo) The BJP's free pilgrimage programme is modelled on the AAP government's Mukhya Mantri Teerth Yatra Yojna, under which elderly citizens are sent on pilgrimages for free across the country. The four buses, flagged off on Thursday from Kondli here, ferried around 200 elderly citizens and women to Mathura, Vrindavan and Govardhan. The soul of India resides in places of pilgrimage and we are alive as long as our religion and culture are alive, Sachdeva said. Vishnu Mittal, the BJP's Delhi unit treasurer, said two buses would set off for different pilgrimage sites with senior citizens and women from the city every week. There are many devotees who are going on a pilgrimage for the first time and rickshaws have been arranged for those pilgrims who face difficulties while walking. They are also being provided with food, Sachdeva said. "In the coming days, we will send buses to Varanasi and Ayodhya. India's culture is the oldest and best and it is our duty to protect it," he said. The BJP has undertaken the programme in association with the non-profit group Aao Saath Chalen, Mittal said. The pilgrimage programme will be completely free. All arrangements for food and accommodation will be ensured through Aao Saath Chalen, he added. Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena cleared the extension of power subsidy, which ends April 15, by a year late on Thursday and sent the file to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday, officials in the LGs office said. Earlier, power minister Atishi said that the discoms had written to her saying they had not received any information about the extension of subsidy for the 2023-24. (HT Photo) They added that this was done before Fridays press conference by power minister Atishi who claimed there would be no extension of the subsidy because the LG had not cleared the file. The AAP government subsequently claimed that the subsidy was cleared by the LG after the press conference. The LGs office also said it had received the file only on April 11. HT has seen a file noting that mentions that the file under consideration had been approved. While approving the subsidy, Saxena also criticised the AAP government for not auding the subsidy amount of 13,549 crore spread across six years till 2022. He added that while he was committed to power subsidy for the poor, he did not want them to go to the wrong people. In March too, the AAP government accused Saxena of trying to end the subsidy a claim denied by the latters office. Earlier this month, the cabinet approved the extension of the power subsidy scheme, which entails free electricity up to 200 units to all domestic consumers, while those who use 201-400 units receive a 50% subsidy. On Friday, Atishi said that although the Delhi cabinet approved the extension of power subsidy for the year 2023-24 , the file was still pending with the LG, . She added that she had sought a meeting with Saxena over the issue but had not received any response. The subsidy we give to 46 lakh people will stop from today. From Monday, consumers will get inflated bills without subsidy, she claimed. The cabinet meeting was on April 4. Atishi said that the discoms too had written to her saying that they had not received any information about the extension of subsidy for the 2023-24 year and would initiate normal billing without subsidy from Friday. Rejecting the allegations as false and baseless, officials in the LGs office advised the minister to refrain from unnecessary politicking. Why was a decision in this regard kept pending till April 4 when the deadline was April 15? Why was the file sent to LG office on April 11? Whats the need for a drama on April 13 by writing a letter and the press conference today? a note from the LGs office read. The power distribution companies Tata Power and BSES did not comment on the claims made by the power minister. A discom official on condition of anonymity said that no bills are currently being generated for consumers less than 200 units. In any case, if there are any delays on approvals of such kind, the subsidy amount is credited in consumers account and settled in the next billing cycle so there is no impact on the users, the official added. Later on Friday, the power department issued an order extending the power subsidy till March 31, 2024. In a suspect gang war inside Tihar Jail complex in west Delhi, 30-year-old jailed gangster, Prince Tewatia, was killed and at least three other inmates were injured after two groups clashed and attacked each other with sharp objects at jail number 3 on Friday evening, jail officials said, and added that the injured inmates were admitted to a government hospital. Prince Tewatia used to associate himself with Lawrence Bishnoi, the gangster who is the main suspect in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case. (HT Photo) One of the groups was led by Attaur Rehman alias Atwa,26, who is suspected to have attacked Tewatia, with a sharp weapon, which he may have prepared using a metallic object inside the jail, said police officers, aware of the violence inside one of the largest prison complexes in the world (according to Tihar Prisons website). Though there is no official record, Tewatia used to claim association with Lawrence Bishnoi -- the gangster who is the prime suspect in the murder of Punjab Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala. The exact sequence of events leading to the clash could not be ascertained till late Friday. Originally from Loni in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, Tewatia was involved in at least 16 serious crimes, including two murders and extortion. He was last arrested in November 2022 from near Chhawla-Najafgarh drain by the crime branch of Delhi Police. Police officers said Rehman and Tewatia were friends and had emerged from the same gang that was once led Shakti Naidu. The officers said they were investigating the reasons behind and the clash. They added that Rehman could possibly be acting at the behest of Tewatias friend-turned-foe, Rohit Chaudhary, a gangster from south Delhi who is also lodged in Tihar jail. We have learnt that Tewatia had been planning to kill Chaudhary, and had sought help from Lawrence Bishnoi. When Chaudhary learnt about it, he got a close aid of Tewatia killed. Tewatia suspected Rehman of betraying him. There are rumours that Rehman was win over by Chaudhary when the former came out of jail on parole recently. All angles will now be probed, said a Delhi Police Special Cell officer, who asked not to be named. A Tihar Prisons spokesperson said that the scuffle took place around 5.30pm in ward number 6, where nearly 380 inmates are lodged. During the scuffle, Tewatia was injured (with improvised sharp edged objects) along with three other inmates named Bobby, Attaur Rehman and Vinay. The jail staff immediately intervened and the injured inmates were separated and rushed to jail hospital from where they were referred to Deen Dayal Upadhyay hospital, where Tewatia was declared brought dead. The other three are recuperating and their condition is stable. A judicial magistrate is conducting an inquiry, the spokesperson said. Additional deputy commissioner of police (west) Akshat Kaushal said, We received information from the hospital regarding the death of one Prince,30, who was brought from Tihar Jail. Necessary legal action is being taken. As per police records, Tewatias first recorded crime was in 2010 when he killed a retired Delhi Development Authority (DDA) official. . During the trial, he had produced a fake birth certificate in court, to declare himself a juvenile. However, the fraud was detected, and he was booked in a forgery case as well, the police said. In 2013, Tewatia came in contact with gangster Rohit Chaudhary in Tihar jail and started working with him. In 2014, he was released on bail, after which he ran an extortion racket. In April 2015, he shot at a woman with whom he was in a relationship, said another Special Cell officer. There was a near fatal attack on Tewatia in jail in 2019 as well. His gang had blamed that the attack was done by a person on directions of Chaudhary, said the officer. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was killed in an attack by rival gang members inside Tihar Jail on Friday evening, according to officials. Prince Tewatia (30) was lodged in central jail number 3. Prince Tewatia (30) was lodged in central jail number 3, they said. "At around 5.30 pm today, an inmate, Prince Tewatia, had a dispute with another inmate, Attatur Rehman, who is from a rival gang," a jail official said. "Tewatia attacked the other inmate with an improvised weapon and members of both the gangs joined the fight that left four people injured. Three of them are stated to be stable while Tewatia was taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital where he was declared dead," the official said. A case was registered and an inquiry by the chief judicial magistrate has been initiated, the official said. According to officials, Tewatia was previously involved in 16 criminal cases, including murder and attempt to murder. In December 2022, Tewatia was arrested by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police for his involvement in a case of carjacking in the national capital. He was arrested for the first time in 2010 in a murder case, they said. Hours after Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was summoned by the CBI for questioning in the Delhi excise policy case, AAP MP Sanjay Singh has levelled scathing allegations at the PM. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh.(Twitter/@AamAadmiParty) Speaking to the mediapersons Sanjay Singh said, I'd like to tell the PM - you and your Govt are covered in corruption from head to toe and Arvind Kejriwal's fight will not stop with this CBI summon. The conspiracy hatched by you to arrest, jail and take action against Arvind Kejriwal on 16th April will not stifle his voice. Earlier in the day, Sanjay Singh had also termed the summons as atrocity. Atrocities will end, Singh had tweeted taking a dig at the ruling party. Kejriwal's summons comes as AAP leader and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia is in prison for charges related to the same case. This is the first time that the CBI has summoned Kejriwal in the case, though the BJP has been alleging that he was the mastermind behind the liquor scam. Hitting out at the centre, the Delhi CM had earlier said that the leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party should be prepared to go to jail as charges will be levelled against them and arrests will be made the agencies that act on the directions of the government at the centre. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON With a year to go for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, union home minister Amit Shah began the (Bharatiya Janata Party) BJPs campaign for the crucial battleground state of West Bengal, and told a rally in Birbhums Siuri town that if voters could ensure they won 35 of the 42 seats on offer, it would lead to a collapse of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC in the state. In the 2019 elections, the BJP had won 18 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, its highest ever tally. (Amit Shah | Facebook) In the 2019 elections, the BJP had won 18 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, its highest ever tally, up from the single seat that it had won in 2014. Referring to the BJPs performance in the 2021 assembly elections where it became the principal opposition in West Bengal, winning 77 seats, Shah said, Complete that beginning in 2024. Give BJP more than 35 seats and make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister once again. The only way to end the rule of lawlessness by Mamata Banerjee and her nephew is to usher in a BJP government. Also Read: Amit Shah reviews functioning of security grid in J&K ahead of G20 meet next month In an 18-minute speech, Shah said that chief minister Banerjee ran a Hitler-like regime and pointed to the political violence during Ram Navami celebrations earlier this month. Dont people of Bengal have the right to celebrate Ram Navami peacefully? We saw the rallies being attacked in Howrah and Hooghly. TMCs politics of appeasement is responsible for this People all over asked why should a temple for Lord Ram be built at Ayodhya. The Congress, Mamata Didi and their associates stalled it for years. But Modi Ji went to Ayodhya one day and laid the foundation stone. The critics were silenced, said Shah. The home minister, who also garlanded a statue of B R Ambedkar and inaugurated a new party office in Siuri, targeted the TMC on a host of issues from alleged cattle smuggling to infiltration to a reported bribe-for-job case that are under investigation by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Only BJP can stop illegal infiltration from across the border. Bengal was once the nerve centre of Indias freedom movement but now it is the centre of terror. The NIA (National Investigation Agency) has seized 87,000 kilos of ammonium nitrate from Bengal. The state has turned into a bomb factory, said Shah. He added that a man sent to jail in the cattle smuggling case is still the TMC president in Birbhum- a reference to Anubrata Mondal, currently lodged in Delhis Tihar jail. BJP will not let this Hitler-like regime continue. You (voters) can end it. I promise the next chief minister of West Bengal will be someone from the BJP. Can Mamata Didi give a befitting reply to Pakistan? Can she end terrorism in Kashmir? Only Modi Ji can do that, Shah said. While he did not name TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, Shah called the TMC dynastic. When Modi Ji has ended dynastic rule in India, Mamata Banerjees only aim is to make her nephew the next chief minister, he said. At the rally, Shah offered homage to the victims of the March 2022 massacre at Bogtui village in Birbhum and also met Mihilal Sheikh, whose entire family was killed. A state BJP leader said on condition of anonymity that Shah held a meeting with local leaders and said that of the two Lok Sabha seats in Birbhum district - Bolpur and Birbhum - the party must try to win the latter. Shah cited data from recent elections and said it is not impossible to wrest the Birbhum seat from the TMC, the leader said. After returning to Kolkata Shah offered prayers at the famous Dakshineswar temple and met state leaders at a hotel on the eastern outskirts of the state capital. The TMC reacted sharply to Shahs comments with TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh saying, Only Amit Shah can make such an anti-democratic statement. What is the nations home minister trying to indicate by saying that winning 35 seats in Bengal will lead to the collapse of an elected government? BJP targeted 200 assembly seats in 2021 but failed to achieve it. Ghosh said that the Birbhum rally was a flop and said that people from Bihar had been ferried to the rally ground. He talks of Ram Navami violence. The man who was brandishing a gun at a Ram Navami rally was arrested from Bihar by the state police, said Ghosh. Union minister of home affairs Amit Shah will arrive in West Bengal on Friday afternoon to launch the campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha election in the state and address a rally in Birbhum, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders said. Union home minister Amit Shah will visit Bengal on Friday (Twitter Photo) According to the party leaders, Shah will reach the Andal airport at 12.30pm and from there, he will visit Birbhums Siuri town where he is slated to address a public rally. Shah will also garland a statue of B R Ambedkar and inaugurate a new party office in Siuri before leaving for Kolkata around 4pm, people familiar with the matter said. Also Read: Amit Shah reviews functioning of security grid in J&K ahead of G20 meet next month The home minister will also visit the Dakshineswar temple near Kolkata at 6.20pm, said the BJP. Later in the evening, Shah will hold a closed-door meeting with state BJP leaders at a hotel on the eastern outskirts of Kolkata. The home minister is scheduled to leave the Bengal capital on Saturday morning, people said. Although panchayat elections in Bengal are likely to be announced any day, the BJP has kept its focus on the Lok Sabha seats. In 2019, the party won 18 of 42 seats in West Bengal. Amit Shah is definitely the most successful election strategist in India right now. His visit is significant, Bengal BJPs chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said. Meanwhile, in an apparent bid to counter the BJP, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has planned a rally at the same venue in Siuri on Sunday. Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim, who will address the TMC rally, said, Our programme was planned in advance. The partys district committee took the decision. Also Read: Supreme Court sets aside HC order for CBI probe in MoS convoy attack in Bengal Birbhum district has grabbed headlines in recent years due to electoral violence, coal and cattle smuggling scams, and school recruitment scams, in which multiple leaders, including a few top leaders of the ruling party, are facing charges from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate. Choosing Birbhum as a venue for Shahs rally is a coincidence. But one can expect that he will unleash a scathing attack on the ruling party, a state BJP leader said. Further, the BJP has also planned a massive campaign in which Prime Minster Narendra Modi, Union home minister Shah and the partys national President J P Nadda will take the lead by addressing around 40 rallies in 2023, Bengal leaders said. In a sign of an increasing rift between the West Bengal government and Governor C V Ananda Bose, Education Minister Bratya Basu on Friday equated his recent visit to state universities with a white elephant moving around on his own. West Bengal governor C V Ananda Bose.(PTI) The education minister also said that the two sides had earlier decided to work together, but he could not comprehend why Bose, also the titular chancellor of state-run universities, is making such visits without keeping the state government in the loop. Basu said in view of the new situation, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should take over as chancellor of state universities. The state had earlier mooted this proposal after repeated run-ins with former Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar over the management of state-run universities. "If the governor functions on his whims, without intimating the chief minister, the department, the minister or the institution concerned, I am forced to say that this is not done. He cannot function in such a manner, Basu told reporters after garlanding the statue of B R Ambedkar on his birth anniversary. He was replying to queries on the Governor's unscheduled visits to the three state university campuses since April 10. When asked by newspersons, the Governor refused to react to the minister's comments. Bose's recent visits to the universities without informing anyone are similar to "moving around of a white elephant disregarding norms", Basu said. The Minister said "in principle" he felt "the chief minister should be the chancellor" of state-run universities. A bill passed in the state assembly to make the chief minister the chancellor has been pending with Raj Bhavan since the tenure of Boses predecessor Jagdeep Dhankhar. The education minister called upon Bose to either sign the bill or send it back to the assembly secretariat "so that we can pass it for the second time" evaluating the draft again if required. The statement assumed significance as after the cordial meeting between the two sides in late February, the minister had hinted the government would not stick to its demand to make the CM the chancellor if the governor and the state government were on the same page on various academic management issues. "I am forced to say that we won't allow Raj Bhavan to gain control of the education sector. On the issue of autonomy of the states higher educational institutions, no unilateral action by Raj Bhavan will be allowed by this government," Basu asserted. The ties between the two sides started souring after Bose's letter to vice-chancellors seeking weekly reports on the academic functioning of universities, and decisions on financial matters. Bose then made unannounced visits to Calcutta University, West Bengal State University in Barasat and Presidency University in Kolkata within a week. He met principals of affiliated colleges at CU, the VC and students. He also talked to students and faculty at two other higher educational institutes. LUCKNOW The Federal Executive of All-India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) on Friday passed a resolution, demanding that all vindictive actions taken against power employees and their leaders by the Uttar Pradesh government and the UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) be withdrawn immediately. After the withdrawal of the strike, the UP Power Corporation started taking actions against the striking staff that included termination of services of low paid casual workers, suspension of employees, lodging FIRs etc, according to the resolution. (Pic for representation) These actions are in gross violation of the assurances given by energy minister on March 19, when, on his assurance power employees ended the 72-hour strike before time, stated the resolution passed in Delhi, according to UP Rajya Vidyut Abhiyanta Sangh spokesman, Alok Kumar. One lakh power engineers across the country will not remain silent spectators and will be forced to resort to remedial actions. AIPEF calls upon engineers and employees across the country to be ready to struggle and make any sacrifice that may be required in support of U.P. engineers and employees, the resolution warned. The resolution said that due to the failure of the U.P. govt/UPPCL to honour a written bilateral agreement between the energy minister of UP government and the Sangharsh Samiti, and after several peaceful protests and measures such as work to rule, the employees were compelled to undertake a 72-hour strike from 10pm of March 16, 2023. However, after the intervention of the minister for energy (govt. of U.P.), the samiti gracefully withdrew the strike after 64 hours on March 19 at 2pm, it said. It needs to be placed on record that the government of U.P did not take any step to avert the strike either by holding talks or agreement, as was done on December, 3, 2022 when the minister held discussions that led to the termination of the strike, it said. After the withdrawal of the strike, the UP Power Corporation started taking action against the striking staff that included termination of services of low paid casual workers, suspension of employees, lodging FIRs etc, according to the resolution. Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government was carrying out encounters with an eye on polls. His statement came a day after gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmads son Asad and an aide, both accused in the February 24 Umesh Pal murder case in Prayagraj, were killed by an STF team in Jhansi. Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav paying floral tribute to Dr Ambedkar in Mhow on April 14. (Sourced) Addressing a press conference at the Indore Press Club after paying tribute to Dr Ambedkar at his birthplace Mhow on his birth anniversary, he said the Constitution, of which the former was the chief architect, was under threat. Earlier, Samajwadi Partys long-standing ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary and another ally Azad Samaj Party (ASP) chief Chandrashekhar Azad accompanied Akhilesh when he went to pay tribute to Dr Ambedkar at the Ambedkar memorial in Mhow. The SP chief addressed the press conference alone though. Institutions are being finished one after the other and (Bharatiya Janata Party) governments (at the Centre and in UP) are working to destroy the Constitution Babasaheb gave us, Akhilesh said. When asked about Thursdays encounter, the SP chief said, From the very first day, (the Uttar Pradesh) BJP government is indulging in fake encounters with an eye on polls. However, on being asked about allegations that Atiq Ahmed had connections to Pakistani elements, he said What can I say about the connections he has and with whom?. He slammed the UP government for action against a mother-daughter duo in Kanpur, during which their houses were bulldozed and burnt down, leading to both losing their lives. He also alleged a promising student leader was killed in Ballia by those belonging to the caste of the (UP) chief minister. Is it an India where you can kill a weaker person? Is it an India where we wont get our Constitutional rights? the SP chief asked. He asked why Uttar Pradesh received the maximum number of notices from the National Human Rights Commission (for police action like encounters), adding that the UP also led in the number of custodial deaths. Officers are working under pressure of the government, he alleged. Talking about the threeAkhilesh Yadav, Jayant Chaudhary and Chandrashekartogether at the event, Akhilesh said: We are all enthused with fresh energy induced from Babasahebs birthplace. We have pledged to follow the path shown by Dr Ambedkar...Today the Constitution made by him is under threat. We have pledged to protect the Constitution and poor and deprived people. After the visit, Chandrashekar Azad tweeted with pictures: ...We have pledged to safeguard the Constitution and get it implemented fully in the country. Jayant also tweeted the pictures of him along with those of Akhilesh and Chandrashekar at the Ambedkar Memorial in Mhow and wrote: Baba Saheb amar rahen. (With PTI inputs) Lucknow: The Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh Police tried to capture gangster-politician Atiq Ahmads son Asad Ahmad and his accomplice Ghulam alive, but they were killed in retaliatory firing in the states Jhansi district on Thursday, the First Information Report (FIR) filed by STF deputy superintendent of police, Navendu Kumar, said on Friday. 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) The details of the FIR come against the backdrop of a political controversy over the encounter, which happened at the same time Atiq and his brother Khalid Azeem, alias Ashraf, were being produced in a Prayagraj court. Also Read | 'UP govt eyeing polls' : Akhilesh Police said the encounter occurred at 12.45pm on Thursday when two teams intercepted Asad (19) and Hasan (40) 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. The encounter on Thursday was carried out by a 12-member STF team led by DSPs Navendu Kumar and Vimal Kumar Singh. The FIR, filed at Badagaon police station of Jhansi, said that the team received a specific input on Wednesday that Asad and Ghulam were hiding near Jhansi. The duo were sighted on a motorcycle 100 metres away from the Parichha dam bend around 11.30 am, and the police asked them to stop their motorcycle and surrender, the police added. However, they sped up their vehicle and entered a rough, narrow lane. When Vimal Kumars team cornered them, Asad and Ghulam fell on the ground and began firing with foreign-make weapons and the STF retaliated, the FIR said, adding that intermittent firing from both sides lasted 30 minutes and that 49 rounds were fired. The members of both the (STF) teams, who surrounded them, tried to reach within their firing range without caring for their lives and tried to catch them alive, but had to return fire in self-defence in view of the indiscriminate firing from the miscreants. Also Read | '3 bullet wounds bleeding from back': Doctor on Asad Ahmad, Ghulam post-mortem According to the FIR, Navendu fired two shots and Vimal shot one. Around 12.52pm, after confirming the two accused were alive, the police team called the hospital and ambulance services and shifted them to a nearby hospital. When the team reached the hospital, they came to know that both of them have died, it added. Dr Narendra Sengar, one of the three doctors who conducted the post-mortem examination, said that the two were dead for nearly 90 minutes when they were brought to the hospital. PRAYAGRAJ Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad on Friday moved an application before the vacation court of the district court in Prayagraj to permit him as father to attend the last rites of his son, Asad Ahmad, who was wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case and killed in an encounter with the UP STF in Jhansi on Thursday afternoon. Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed being produced before the CJM court in the Umesh Pal murder case, in Prayagraj on Thursday. (ANI Photo) As it was a holiday in the district court on Friday due to Ambedkar Jayanti, the application was moved before the vacation court. As the vacation court had no jurisdiction to deal with such matters, the application would be placed before the appropriate court on Saturday (April 15), when the court reopens. Atiq Ahmeds kin have already gone to Jhansi Medical College to take Asads body. The mortal remains are likely to be brought to Prayagraj in the wee hours of Saturday. Sources said when Atiqs father Haji Feroz Ahmad - had died, Atiq was in jail at that point of time. He too was granted permission to attend the last rites of his father. Now, he has sought permission from the court to attend the last rites of his son. Umesh Pal and his two police security guards Sandeep Nishad and Raghvendra Singh were shot dead on February 24, 2023, outside his home in the Dhoomanganj police station area of Prayagraj. On a complaint lodged by Umesh Pals wife Jaya Pal, a criminal case was registered at Dhoomanganj police station against Atiq, his wife Shaista Parveen, his brother Ashraf, two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam and nine others. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Friday alleged that casteist, capitalist and communal forces adopted various tricks to weaken the BSP but the party supporters continued to stand solidly all through. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati. (HT file) Paying tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar (1891-1956) on his birth anniversary in a programme organised at the BSP state unit office here, she said, Under the present political scenario in the country, everyone is concerned about their self-respect and dignity. Dr Ambedkar told people that they should rise above caste, religion, language and state to become Indian. The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments at the Centre failed to work for the welfare and in protecting the rights of the deprived communities. In 1984, the followers of Dr Ambedkar launched the BSP on his birth anniversary to work for the uplift of the poor masses, she said. The four governments of the BSP in Uttar Pradesh worked for the social transformation and economic emancipation of the weaker sections of the society. These days, people are suffering due to price rise, unemployment and poverty due to the wrong policies of the government. The people of the state have long suffered under the Congress, SP and now the BJP governments, Mayawati added. She alleged that there was growing restlessness among them for getting rid of the mirage of development created by them and dearth of peace and amity. The BSP chief highlighted various development projects and welfare schemes launched by the BSP government in name of Dr BR Ambedkar. The Uttar Pradesh government should ensure proper maintenance of the grand memorials, parks and places constructed under the BSP government in name of Dr Ambedkar and security of his statues installed in the villages across the state, she said. The state government should also ensure that followers of Dr Ambedkar are not deprived of their constitutional rights, she demanded. Shaheen Bano partys mayoral candidate from Lucknow Playing the Muslim card in the upcoming local body polls, the BSP fielded Shaheen Bano as its candidate from Lucknow mayoral seat. Earlier, the party had declared Khadija Masood as its candidate for Saharanpur mayoral seat. The party also released the names of its candidates for 30 wards of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation. In a meeting organised at the BSP divisional office located near Bijli Pasi Qila here, party MLC Bhim Rao Ambedkar released the list of the candidates for the urban local body election from Lucknow Municipal Corporation. A BSP leader said, Party mayoral candidate Shaheen Bano is the wife of BSP leader Mohammed Sarwar Malik who contested the 2022 assembly election on the BSP ticket from Lucknow North assembly seat. A social worker, Bano runs a voluntary organisation Malik Foundation to assist women and girls from the weaker sections of the society. Sikkim governor Lakshman Acharya on Friday said if Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar were alive today, he would have been extremely happy that a woman belonging to the Scheduled Tribe community was the President of Indiathe most respected post of the worlds largest democracy. Sikkim governor Lakshman Acharya speaking at an event marking Dr Ambedkars birth anniversary at BBAU in Lucknow on Friday. (Sourced) He said this while speaking as a chief guest at Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) here. Dr Ambedkar dedicated his life to those values which he knew and believed in and that are relevant even today, he added. No matter how good the Constitution of the country is, if it is not run properly, it moves on the wrong path, Acharya said. Vice chancellor, BBAU, Acharya Sanjay Singh said, Our university is like a mini-India where students from Kashmir to Andaman and North East are studying. Our university is completely eco-friendly. The buildings of our university are also green ISO:14001 certified, he added. Vijay Sampla, chairman, National Commission for Scheduled Castes said to consider Babasaheb only as a hero of Dalits is to underestimate his contribution. We should know him as the architect of modern India because he did not work for any one class or caste but was concerned for the uplift of every section of the society. The entire Indian society should be grateful to him, he said. University Chancellor Prakash Chandra Bartunia called upon the students to take inspiration from Dr Ambedkar. He said a strong and united nation can be established only by following Babasahebs harmony and equality. April 14 and 15 mark new year celebrations in different parts of the country albeit by diverse names. The common thread is that the spring harvest season which is celebrated with some cultural differences in many parts of the country: Bihu in Assam, Baisakhi in Punjab, Vishu in Kerala, and Puthandu in Tamil Nadu. For representation only (HT File Photo) On Friday, Baisakhi was celebrated with fervour by Punjabis. It marked the beginning of the Sikh New Year and the formation of the Khalsa Panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. Kadha prasad with sugar, wheat flour and ghee as the traditional offering was distributed among people. They also visited Gurudwaras to attend Langar, pray and celebrate with Gidda performances and sing folk songs. Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu is one of the biggest festivals of Assam and marked as the Assamese New Year. This year Bohag Bihu is being observed from April 14 to 20. The festival is celebrated over seven days with a different tradition. Dance and song are the main features of the celebrations. Puthandu, also known as Puthuvarudam, marks the Tamil New Year. It is the first day of the Tamil calendar, falling on April 14, this year. The celebrations for the day start by making kolam designs made of coloured rice flour at the house entrance. Puthandu-special dishes, including Pongal and Mango Pachadi, are prepared by families. Members of the Bengali community will celebrate April 15 as the beginning of their new year. The Bengali Club will celebrate Bengali New Year Day (Poila Boishak) by organising a musical programme on Saturday at 8 pm on their premises. Snigdhajit Bhowmik from Kolkata and his band will perform live during h celebrations. Famous Bengali sweet darbesh will be distributed after the programme to visitors. This is the 1430 year of Bengali New Year, said Arun Kumar Banerjee, president of the club. In the past when almost all Bengalis used to live in Sunderbagh, Model Houses, Hewett Road, Nazar Bagh and other nearby areas, then there used to be Prabhat Pheri accompanied by famous songs of Atul Prasad Sen like Nutan Barash Nutan Barash Anchale O Ki Dhaka, Banerjee recounted. Vishu marks the new year in Kerala and falls on April 15. Celebrations begin at sunrise as people awaken at dawn and start their day by looking at Vishu Kani. The traditional metal lamp called Nilavilakku is also lit and placed beside the Uruli. Uttar Pradesh government achieved a new milestone by providing tap water connections to over one crore rural families in the state on Friday. Uttar Pradesh is the first state in the country to provide 40,000 tap connections daily. (For representation) Terming the record tap connection to the poor people a special tribute to Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar on his 132nd birth anniversary, Jal Shakti minister, Swatantra Dev Singh said the target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath has been achieved. Under the ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission, the state government has accomplished the major task of providing tap water connection to 1,00,37,256 rural families through the Har Ghar Jal Yojana. By 2024, the state government has set the target of providing tap water to more than 2.65 crore rural families. Jal Shakti minister Swatantra Dev Singh visited the Daudnagar project in Mohanlalganj on Friday. He congratulated the officers, engineers, and workers of the department for supplying water to one crore rural families. Under the tap water campaign, pure water is being supplied to the homes of farmers, labourers, and villagers throughout the state, he said. Uttar Pradesh is the first state in the country to provide 40,000 tap connections daily. The state ranks third in the country in providing tap water connections to rural households. In 2019 only 5.16 lakh rural families had access to tap water, but the Har Ghar Jal Yojana has set a record for rapidly supplying clean drinking water to one crore rural families in U.P, he said. The cybercrime department of Uttar Pradesh police will soon get its own administrative building where cybercrime cases and their proceedings will be monitored, officials said. For representation only (HT File Photo) Facilities for vehicle parking, state-of-the-art equipment related to cybercrime among others will be a part of the new building, a press release by the media cell of the government read. The provision of advanced cyber forensic lab at headquarters level, basic cyber forensic lab at regional crime stations, along with the establishment of cybercrime stations in each district will be a part of the plan, the statement read. The decision was made by CM Yogi Adityanath during the recent review meeting of the cyber wing, the home department and the UP Police, where he also directed the department to prepare a blueprint to fill the vacant posts of the wing. The CM was informed by the officials that in 2020, 11,770 cases of cybercrime were registered, while in the year 2022, about 7,000 cases were registered. In the year 2023, till March only 1,500 cases had been registered. Taking cognizance under the zero-tolerance policy, he directed the department to prepare a blueprint of the resources needed to curb cyber-crime up to 100 percent, so that the action can be expedited, the press note read. Three posts of additional superintendent of police, seven posts of deputy superintendent of police, 75 posts of inspector, 75 posts of sub-inspector, 23 posts of head constable, 128 posts of constable, 23 posts of constable driver, seven posts of followers and 32 posts of computer operators are vacant in the department, the press note read. MUMBAI: A 47-year-old resident of Ahmednagar has been arrested for allegedly calling the Mumbai police control room last week and giving false information that three Pakistani terrorists had landed in the city via Dubai, according to Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). The man made the hoax call to fix one of his cousins with whom he had a property dispute, said the police. HT Image The accused had shared the name and the phone numbers of a suspect during the hoax call. It was later found out that the suspect was his cousin, with whom he had a property dispute. The accused, Yasin Sayed, had called the main police control room on April 7, around 12:05 pm, identifying himself as Raja Thonge and claimed that three persons with links to Pakistan had reached Mumbai from Dubai and intended to carry out a terror strike, ATS said in a press note issued on Friday. Sayed also shared a suspects name and his three mobile numbers and claimed that the person named by him was involved in various illegal businesses, added the release. After the call, Mumbai police registered a case at Azad Maidan police station and started investigation. Based on the call data records of the number from which the call was made and other credible information, the Nashik Unit of the ATS arrested Sayed from Bhavani Nagar in Ahmednagar. He was brought to Mumbai after he accepted that he had given false information to the control room and he was then handed over to Azad Maidan police station, added the release. During interrogation, ATS officials learnt that Sayed wanted to take revenge on his cousin with whom he had a dispute over a small plot of land in their native place. Thats why Sayed gave his cousins phone numbers and described him as a suspect, said a police officer. Investigation revealed that the accused had purchased the SIM card, used to make the hoax call in 2013 and kept on recharging it to avoid its deactivation, added the officer. Chhattisgarh police are yet to arrest the murder accused of the father-son duo identified as Rahim Mohammad (55) and his son Idul Mohammad (35), residents of Biranpur, who were allegedly hacked to death following the communal clash in Bemetaras Biranpur village in which one Bhuneshwar Sahu (22) was killed, officials said Thursday. Violence in Biranpur village erupted after a man belonging to a particular community was allegedly killed in clash in which three policemen also suffered injuries on April 8 (Twitter Photo) Days after Sahu was allegedly killed during a communal clash in Biranpur village, police earlier on Tuesday recovered the bodies of two men with head injuries in the vicinity. Investigating officers have said that they have registered a case against unknown persons and have a few leads on the accused. Also Read: 2 persons found dead outside Chhattisgarhs Biranpur village: Police Violence in Biranpur village erupted after Sahu was allegedly killed in the clash in which three policemen also suffered injuries on April 8. Police on the same day arrested 11 people in the case. According to the police, the violence was triggered after a fight broke out between children belonging to two communities in the village. We are yet to arrest the accused who killed Rahim and Idul. We are going through the videos made by the police, but since the case is sensitive, we are taking precautions. Police also have some leads and an investigation is going on, said Indira Kalyan Elesela, superintendent of police (SP), Bemetra. A senior police officer camping in the village said on Monday that people from around four-five villages gathered in Biranpur village to protest against the death of Sahu and when they were chased away by the police, a group of people killed the father-son duo (Idul and Rahim). Thousands of villagers from nearby areas tried to proceed towards the village (BIranpur) on Monday afternoon. Police managed to drive away the protesters but a group saw the father-son duo grazing goats and hacked them to death, said a senior police official. Moreover, two houses, including one belonging to Rahims son-in-law, were burnt by some villagers on the outskirts of Biranpur on the day of the statewide bandh called by right-wing organisations on April 10 in protest against the communal violence. Meanwhile, six first information reports (FIR) were lodged at Saja police station in connection with the incidents in Biranpur in connection with the violence, and the murder of two Muslim men. Also Read: How UP Police planned Operation Jhansi to corner Atiq Ahmeds son Asad Police said, so far 11 people have been arrested and booked under sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (whoever is guilty of rioting, being armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 307 (attempt to murder), 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code in the case of Sahus death. Following the incidents of violence, additional police personnel were sent to the spot to take control of the situation and section 144 of CrPC was also imposed in the village. Around 1,000 police personnel, along with senior officials are camping in the village to avoid any untoward incidents. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON AIZAWL: There has not been any fresh influx of Myanmar nationals into Mizoram following an air strike in the Sagaing area of the neighbouring country, a senior state government official said on Friday. This photo provided by the Kyunhla Activists Group shows aftermath of an airstrike in Pazigyi village in Sagaing Region on April 11. Independent media reports said dozens of villagers in central Myanmar have been killed in an air attack carried out Tuesday by the military government. (AP FILE PHOTO) There has been no movement of Myanmar nationals into Mizoram over the past few days on account of the air strike, the official, who asked not to be identified, said, referring to the April 11 air strike carried out by Myanmars military junta in the 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 official death toll in the air strike near a remote Kanbalu township on Tuesday remains unclear, though the shadow National Unity Government (NUG) has said 165 people, including women and children, were killed. India, which mostly refrains from criticising the actions of Myanmars military junta since it seized power in a coup in February 2021, on Thursday described the violence as disturbing and reiterated New Delhis appeal for a peaceful resolution of all issues. Over 35,000 Myanmar refugees came to Mizoram to escape the violence after the coup and are put up in camps at various locations across the state. The Mizoram government has also issued identity cards to them and helps them with medical assistance and rations. All districts that have designated camps for Myanmar nationals also have a District Level Committee that meets from time to time to review the situation. Gujarats Rajkot police on Thursday said they have arrested three persons, including a woman, for allegedly making and planting a time bomb at a mobile accessories shop in the city that exploded on April 6, causing heavy damage to the shop. (Representative Photo) According to the police, the reason behind the attack is said to be a business rivalry between two mobile shop owners. It first seemed a case of a short circuit that led to a fire which destroyed the shop, however, an investigation by Rajkot police and CCTV footage has pointed out that the explosion was caused by a timer bomb hidden inside a toy car, said officials familiar with the investigation. Also Read: Chhattisgarh violence: Police yet to identify accused in murder of father-son duo We have arrested three persons, including a woman for damaging the shop by planting a bomb based on the prima facie evidence we have, said Bharat Basiya, assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Rajkot crime branch. The accused were arrested under sections 436, 286, and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 3, 5 and 6 of the Explosive Substance Act 1908, said the ACP. Those arrested have been identified as Kalaram alias Kalpesh Chaudhary, who runs a mobile accessories shop in Rajkot, his brother-in-law Shravan Chaudhary, and Doli, the woman who planted the bomb, police said. Kalpesh and Shravan made a timer bomb using a mobile battery, electric wire, a watch and ammunition from a firecracker, police said, adding, the duo watched online videos for making the time bomb. According to Bhavaram Chaudhary, the manager of Gujarat Mobiles, who filed a complaint at Bhaktinagar police station on April 7, a woman came to his shop on April 6 for purchasing a mobile phone accessory and left behind a package that appeared like a toybox. She did not return to claim it back, he said in his complaint. Also Read: Kamothe murder: Wife killer arrested from Solapur temple The woman was identified and traced by the police based on CCTV footage. There seemed to be a business rivalry between Kalpesh and the complainant, both of whom hailed from Rajasthan and ran mobile accessories business in rented shops owned by the same person, said an official, adding that Bhavaram allegedly tried to take over the shop rented by Kalpesh and this seems to have triggered the incident. PATNA: A 15-year-old girl missing from a village in Sitamarhi district was found hanging from a tree about a kilometre away in a Nepal village on Wednesday, provoking her relatives and other villagers to block a road to demand justice for the teenager. Her body was handed over to the family after the autopsy. On Friday, angry locals blocked a main road with her body to demand the arrest of the accused. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Kanhauli station house officer Ramniwas Kumar said the girls family suspects that she has been murdered and filed a complaint in this connection. We forwarded the complaint to our counterparts (in Nepal) who will carry out a detailed investigation taking all aspects into account, Kumar said, adding that investigators have not yet concluded if the girl was killed or she died by suicide. The girl had gone missing on Wednesday and was found a few hours later, hanging from a tree about a kilometre away between Bhadsar and Simra villages in the Sarlahi district of Nepal. Her family members alleged that she was murdered and her body hung from a tree. Her body was handed over to the family after the autopsy. On Friday, angry locals blocked a main road with her body to demand the arrest of the accused. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PATNA: Even as several teachers unions have called for a boycott of the second leg of the caste survey, which is all set to begin on April 15, in protest against the new recruitment rules rolled out by the state government, officials in the general administration department (GAD) said that they have not received any such report from any districts. An enumerator marks a house in Patna during the first leg of the caste survey in January. In the second leg of the survey an estimated 2.92 crore families to be covered across the state whose caste and socio-economic profile would be collated by enumerators through door-to-door visits till May 15. (HT Photo) We have not got any adverse report from districts about teachers who have been assigned work boycotting the survey. The second leg of the survey work will start tomorrow as per schedule, said a senior officer in the GAD, in know of the matter. In the second leg of the survey an estimated 2.92 crore families to be covered across the state whose caste and socio-economic profile would be collated by enumerators through door-to-door visits till May 15. Sources in the GAD, the nodal department of the caste survey, said that all documents related to the survey work have been distributed to the selected survey officials comprising teachers, Anganwaadi sevikas, Asha workers, panchayat, and ICDS staff. Several schoolteachers unions have given a call for boycotting the caste survey work in protest against the new rules rolled out by the state government for teacher recruitment a few days back. Several teachers unions are unhappy with the new policy and demanded that the government bring in necessary changes in the policy. Patna District Magistrate (DM) Dr. Chandra Shekhar Singh too said that there was no such report of any boycott by any teachers group or any other group. Around 15,000 officials, including enumerators and observers, have been assigned different responsibilities for the survey, the DM said. An estimated 3.50 lakh officials have been roped in for the caste and socio-economic survey, which completed its first leg in January this year. This is the first time; the state government is conducting a caste and socio-economic survey to gather information about the economic social status of the states population in an apparent bid to implement social welfare schemes, especially for the poor and deprived sections in a more holistic manner. Once the second leg is completed, we will get an authentic data of the total households in the state and also have district-wise data, said another officer, handling the work. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON RANCHI: The directorate of enforcement (ED) on Friday arrested seven persons on charges of money laundering in connection with fraudulent sale of at least two land parcels at premium locations in the state capital, a day after it raided 21 locations across three states including the official and personal residence of IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan in Ranchi and Jamshedpur on Thursday. The residence of IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan in Ranchi. (ANI) Those arrested, include Afshar Ali, Imtiaz Ahmed, Pradeep Bagchi, Md Saddam Hussain, Talha Khan, Bhanu Pratap Prasad and Faiyaz Khan, an ED official said. Being a public holiday, the accused were produced before the special PMLA judge at his residence who forwarded them into judicial custody. We have prayed for initial remand of five days. The matter would be heard on Saturday, an ED official said. The ED crack down is related to money laundering probe in connection with fraudulent sale of around 4.5 acres land, in possession of the Indian army since independence, besides one acre land in Cheshire Home road in upscale Bariatu area of the state capital. Chhavi Ranjan is also under the ED scanner in the case as the 2011 batch IAS officer, currently director in social welfare department, was deputy commissioner of Ranchi when these land deals were allegedly processed, sources said. Ranjan was Ranchi DC from July 15, 2020 to July 11, 2022. Sources said after conducting raids at his premises on Thursday, the federal agency could soon summon Ranjan for further questioning in the case. Of the seven persons arrested, Afshar Ali and Bhanu Partap Prasad, are government employees. While Afshar is a grade three employee at a government hospital, Bhanu Partap Prasad is currently posted as revenue sub-inspector with the Bargain circle office in Ranchi. The rest are land brokers who were part of the syndicate involved in forging documents and tampering records kept with the authorities for fraudulent sale of the land. An official said that during the course of investigation it has been established that the land in armys possession originally belonged to one late BM Laxman Rao who had given it to the Defence. However, by way of forging documents the syndicate had created a fake owner of the land, Pradeep Bagchi, one of the seven arrested, further sold it to a Bengal-based company Jagatbandhu Tea Estate Pvt. Ltd. Investigation, officials said, revealed that the declared government value of the said property was 20,75,84,200 whereas the said property has shown to be sold for an amount of 7,00,00,000 which was highly undervalued, even compared to the declared government rate. Out of this amount of 7 crores, payment amounting to 25,00,000 only was made into the account of the said Pradip Bagchi and rest of the money was falsely shown to be paid through cheques in the deed no. 6888 of 2021 of M/s Jagatbandhu Tea Estate Pvt. Ltd. Thus, the rest of the payments have been mentioned fraudulently in order to show that the transaction and payments relating to the sale purchase of the property are genuine, an official said. In case of the one acre land on Cheshire Home Road, the property was sold to one Bishnu Agrawal by way of creating forged and counterfeit documents. In this case, it was learnt that for acquiring the above properties, documents and records available at the Circle Office, Bargain, Ranchi along with the office of Registrar of Assurances, Kolkata, West Bengal have been altered and records have been modified, an official said. The agency, in February this year, had conducted surveys at the Bargain Circle office and office of Registrar of Assurances in Kolkata during which the forging of the documents was established. The officials said during the Thursday raids they have seized voluminous property documents from the premises, possession of the above accused persons as well as from other associates which are highly incriminating. In addition to this, forged seals, stamps bearing impression of several offices, officials including Registrar of Assurances (Records) and very old stamps, used to manufacture the forged deeds have also been recovered, officials said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On Thursday, Ajay Devgn and Kajol's daughter Nysa Devgan stepped out for dinner with actors Mouni Roy, Tushar Kalia, and their friends, including Orhan Awatramani. As Nysa left the restaurant with Orhan, also known as Orry, to get inside their waiting car, she briefly interacted with paparazzi. As photographers kept calling her Naaysa, and asked her to pose for photos, Nysa got inside the car, and told them, "Mera naam Nysa hai (my name is Nysa, which sounded more like Nissa)." Also read: Internet reacts to Nysa Devgan's speech in Hindi Nysa Devgan spoke in Hindi as she interacted with paparazzi. After Nysa Devgan asked them to pronounce her name properly and taught them the correct pronunciation, she closed her car's door. Photographers then kept shouting 'Nisha-Nisha' as they failed to call Nysa by her correct name, again. Reacting to which, Nysa and her friends were seen sharing a laugh as they left in the car. An Instagram user commented on the video posted by a paparazzo, "Naaysa sounds better than Nisa tbh (to be honest)." Another one copies the paparazzi, and joked, Nasha, it is then. Nysa Devgan is the daughter of actors Kajol and Ajay Devgn, who married in February 1999. They welcomed Nysa in April 2003 and son Yug Devgan in September 2010. Nysa is often seen in paparazzi and fan page photos and videos with her friends as they party and holiday together, in India as well as abroad. She was recently in Jaisalmer with her friends for a vacation. Before that, she had joined mom-actor Kajol in Mumbai for Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre's launch. In an interview last year, Kajol had said that her daughter is known all over the world. Recalling an incident, she said Nysa was once stopped on a bus and asked to sign an autograph. Nysa was studying in Singapore at the time. Speaking with Mashable India in December 2022, Kajol had said, At that time, there was no social media so I think life was much easier for us as children. Yes, people knew I am Tanujas daughter and there was a certain pre-conceived notion but not as much as it is today. Nysa was studying in Singapore. A few times people have stopped her on the bus and took her autograph. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Pooja Hegde finally addressed reports about dating Salman Khan. The two are paired in their upcoming film Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. Ahead of the release, Pooja asserted that she is single and said her career is her priority for now. Salman Khan and Pooja Hegde will be seen in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. Salman and Pooja Hedges dating rumours started quite a few months ago. As neither of them denied or accepted the claims, the rumours grew even stronger when Salman attended Pooja Hegde's brother Rishabh Hegde's wedding in Mangalore. Several pictures of them had surfaced online. Also read: Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan trailer: Salman Khan's film is heavy on action scenes as he steps up to protect his loved ones When asked about rumours of dating her co-star Salman Khan, Pooja Hegde denied claims of being in a relationship. She told ETimes during an interview, What do I say to that? I keep reading things about me. I am single. I love being single. I am genuinely concentrating on my career right now. I am hoping from one city to the other city, thats my goal right now. I cant even sit and address these rumours anymore because what do I do now? In Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, Pooja plays Salmans love interest. In the trailer, he is seen in his fierce avatar as he fights baddies to protect Pooja and her family which keeps getting death threats from some people. Directed by Farhad Samji, the film stars also Venkatesh Daggubati, Jagapathi Babu, Shehnaaz Gill, Palak Tiwari, Vijender Singh, Raghav Juyal, Jassie Gill, Bhumika Chawla, and Siddharth Nigam. Talking about the film, Pooja recently told news agency ANI, "The film came to me before the lockdown. The tile was different. Earlier, Sajid Nadiadwala was also part of this project and we did Houseful together. After watching my film Mohenjo Daro, Salman Sir said we will definitely do something together, we will work together. So it fits very well in the film because my character in the film is a Telugu girl's role. So it was great because I have done a lot of work in Telugu. So it fits beautifully and this film has happened now. And it's a good thing that I got such an important role in Salman Khan's film." Sharing her experience of working with Salman, the actor said, "I had a great experience working with him. He is real just like you see him in interviews, he is the same on the sets too. Many people think about you but do not speak about what they feel. I like the way Salman sir is so upfront, he says what he feels." SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt married last year. In a recent interview, Ranbir spoke about his personal life, and how he rates himself as a husband. The actor said that although he was not a great husband, he had the desire to be better, adding he was on the 'right track'. Also read: Ranbir Kapoor wishes daughter Raha doesn't have Alia Bhatt's personality Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt tied the knot an year ago. Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor kept their relationship private for the initial years, but were regularly spotted together on family outings and at public events before they married. The actors had an intimate wedding at their Mumbai home Vastu on April 14, 2022. In attendance were their close friends such as filmmaker Karan Johar and family, including Ranbir's cousins Karisma and Kareena Kapoor, his mother Neetu Kapoor and his sister Riddhima Kapoor Sahni. Ranbir recently spoke about his marriage with Alia, and what kind of a husband he thinks he is. "You feel overall you are doing better. But life is such that it is never going to be perfect. I dont think I am a great son, a great husband, or a brother. But I think I have the desire to be better and thats important as long as you are aware of it, you will be on the right track," Ranbir told Free Press Journal. Months after their wedding, Alia had announced the news of her daughter's arrival on November 6 via an Instagram post. She and Ranbir wrote in their baby announcement, "And in the best news of our lives:- Our baby is here...and what a magical girl she is. We are officially bursting with love - blessed and obsessed Parents! Love, love, love Alia and Ranbir." Ranbir was last seen in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (2023) with Shraddha Kapoor. The movie also featured Anubhav Singh Bassi, Dimple Kapadia and Boney Kapoor in supporting roles. His upcoming projects include Animal with Rashmika Mandanna. Alia Bhatt will be soon seen in Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani with Ranveer Singh. She also has Heart of Stone with Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan in the pipeline. The Netflix spy film will mark her Hollywood debut. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Family and friends of late actor Satish Kaushik celebrated his birth anniversary in Mumbai on Thursday. The emotional evening was hosted by his close friend Anupam Kher and his wife Shashi, 10-year-old daughter Vanshika and their other close friend Anil Kapoor in attendance. As they all shared happy memories with Satish, Vanshika read out a letter she had written for her father at the time of his cremation. She had asked him to not take a re-birth. Also read: Vanshika keeps saying Papas birthday has come but he is not here: Satish Kaushiks nephew Nishant on late actors birth anniversary Satish Kaushik's daughter Vanshika read out her letter on his birthday. Satish celebrated Holi last month and suffered a cardiac arrest hours later. He is survived by his wife and daughter Vanshika who had given her letter to Satish at the time of cremation. On his birthday on Thursday, she read it out from a photo of the letter on her phone. Vanshika read: "Hello Papa, I know that now you are no more but I want you to know that I will always be there for you. Your friends taught me to be strong but I cant live without you. I miss you so much. If I knew this was going to happen, I would miss school just to spend time with you. I wish I could have hugged you once. You are still in my heart. Like we see in the movies, I wish there is a miracle and you are alive. "I dont know who will save me from mumma when I will not do my homework. I do not feel like going to school anymore. I dont know what my friends will say. What if they make fun of me? Please come in my dreams every single day. I have done pooja for you and I want you to be in heaven and live a happy life in a big mansion with a Rolls-Royce, Ferrari and a Lamborghini. You will eat great food. We will meet in 90 years again. Please don't take re-birth, I will meet you in 90 years. Please remember me, I will remember you forever. I had the world's best dad ever." Anupam also opened up about why he decided to celebrate the birthday of his friend of 48 years. He told ANI, 4-5 days ago, Satish came in my dreams and he said 'Yaar tu mere liye kuch nahi kar raha hai kya (are you not doing anythig for my birthday)?', so then I decided to celebrate Satish's life today. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Neena Gupta was spotted at the late Satish Kaushik's birth anniversary celebration in Mumbai with Anupam Kher, Anil Kapoor, and many other celebs. Hours later, the actor joined veteran actor Zeenat Aman as well as her close friend, actor Soni Razdan, for a house party. Their friend Anu Ranjan was also at the get together. Also read: Karan Johar says Zeenat Aman is everything Instagram is not Anu Ranjan, Neena Gupta, Zeenat Aman and Soni Razdan met in Mumbai. On Friday, Soni Razdan took to Instagram to share photos from their very special meeting. She wrote in her caption, "Thank you @nkhan_amrohi for this very special evening and the opportunity for a much needed catch up." While Soni, Zeenat and Anu were in green and brown ethnic outfits, Neena wore a white saree. Anu also share a group photo from the get together on Instagram, and penned a note about her long friendship with Zeenat, Neena and Soni. Speaking about Zeenat, her husband and producer Shashi Ranjan's 'first friend' she met, Anu recalled how the veteran actor had danced at their wedding with her late husband Mazhar Khan. Anu said Neena Gupta and her have been friends since their daughters, actor Anushka Ranjan and actor-designer Masaba Gupta, respectively, were in pre-school together. Anu also said her friendship with Soni dates back to when the two were pregnant at the same time with their younger daughters, actors Akansha Ranjan and Alia Bhatt, respectively. Sharing their photo, Anu wrote in her caption, "A memorable valuable eve with my friends of over three decades. Zeenat, the first friend of Shashis I met when we were engaged and danced at our wedding with our sweet Mazhar. Neelu, his sister, who has always been there for me and my wild travelling partner. Neena, since our kids were in Jamnabai (Jamnabai Narsee School) in pre-school and always a call away. Soni, who has been there ever since she and I were pregnant with our lil (little) ones, my go-to friend. Old friends, new memories. Here's to another chapter of our friendship (heart emoji)." Anushka Ranjan commented on her mom's post, "How cute..." While Neena and Soni continue to work in films, Zeenat is soon going to make her much-awaited comeback with the OTT series called Showsttopper. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Meghan Markle wont be attending King Charles III's coronation with Prince Harry next month. As per a new report, the former actor will skip the ceremony as she wants to stay with her children. Meghan has two children son Archie, 3, and daughter Lilibet, 22 months with Harry. May 6, the date of the coronation coincides with Archies fourth birthday, and as per the report Meghan does not want to spend it away from her son. Also read: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle's kids will use royal titles, spokesperson confirms Prince Harry and Meghan markle with son Archie and daughter Lilibet. Last month, after months of speculation on whether or not Meghan and Prince Harry would receive an invitation to the crowing of the next UK monarch, following a period of tension between them and the rest of the royal family, it was confirmed that they had been sent an invitation. But whether they would attend or not was widely discussed in media following recent statements issued by Prince Harry against the royal family in his new book Spare, as well as in interviews. Harry had earlier hinted that he was still on the fence about going. However, it has now been confirmed that he will be attending King Charles III's coronation without Meghan by his side. As much as Meghan appreciates the invite to the coronation, she wouldnt miss her sons birthday for the world. Despite being the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan is a mom first," Us Weekly quoted a source as saying in a new report. The source further said, She feels very grateful to be included in such a special occasion by the royal family and is glad that Harry can go and show support on behalf of their family. But being the same day as Archies birthday, unfortunately, shes just going to have to miss out on this one. On Thursday, it was reported that Prince Harry will be heading to London without Meghan Markle after the spokesperson for Harry and Meghan issued a statement. Vogue reported that the spokesperson said, "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 last time Harry and Meghan were seen in public with other members of the royal family was at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022. They were seen with Kate Middleton and William. Meghan and Harry had announced in January 2020 that they would step down as senior working royals, following which they moved to the US, where they now live with their two children. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It was recently reported that Meghan Markle will not be attending King Charles' upcoming coronation with her husband Prince Harry. According to the reports, since the date of the coronation coincides with Archies fourth birthday, Meghan decided she didn't want to spend the day away from her son. Now, an ex-pal of Meghan Markle has slammed her decision of not attending the coronation and called her 'selfish.' (Also read: Meghan Markle isnt attending King Charles IIIs coronation with Prince Harry because of her children) Meghan Markle at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Speculations about the couple's attendance for the coronation grabbed media headlines because of the period of tension between them and the rest of the royal family, following the controversial comments made by Prince Harry in his memoir Spare, and also in his recent interviews. On Thursday, it was finally reported that Prince Harry will be heading to London without Meghan Markle after the spokesperson for Harry and Meghan issued an official statement. Now, in a recent interview with the Daily Mirror, Meghan's ex-pal Lizzie Cundy, who is also a British television presenter, slammed Meghan's decision to skip the coronation ceremony and termed her 'selfish.' She said, I think Meghan is not coming to the coronation because she knows shes going to get booed but shes putting her own feelings and worries about being booed before her children... I think its a travesty that Lilibet and Archie are not going to be at their grandfathers coronation. Talking about Meghan's decision, Lizzie further questioned what will Meghan say to her kids when they grow up and added, "What will Harry and Meghan say to them when theyre older? When they say Why werent we there at the most historical moment in British history? Why werent we on that balcony? What will Meghan answer? I knew I was going to get booed so I didnt want to go.' Shes putting herself before anyone and in fact, Harry by boasting about the Taliban has put his own family and the security threat at its highest form. Not only the royal family but the whole nation. Harry and Meghan were last seen with rest of the members of the royal family during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022. Since Meghan and Harry announced in January 2020 that they would step down as senior working royals, they have been open about their life in the royal family, and moved to the US, where they now live with their two children. They were seen in the Netflix docuseries, Harry and Meghan, which was released last year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A chartered Air India International flight crashed in the sea north of Sarawak in the South China Sea on April 11, 1955, claiming the lives of 11 passengers bound for the Asian-African Conference at Bandung in Jakarta. Four members of the crew also died. Three members of the crew survived the accident, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai at the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung. (Getty Images) The Lockheed Constellation aircraft, called Kashmir Princess, was expected to carry Chinese premier Zhou Enlai to the conference, and subsequent investigations, including by Indias Intelligence Bureau (R N Kao, then with IB, headed it) revealed that it was a botched assassination attempt by the Kuomintang. It has never been clear why Zhou missed the flight, although subsequent reports have suggested that he did so after being informed of the plot. Soon after the crash, Jakarta Radio said the Constellation was not carrying Zhou but an advance guard of eight minor Chinese officials, two Polish journalists and a north Vietnamese. Kashmir Princess was also reported to be carrying a crew of seven apart from the 11 passengers. The aircraft left Bombay on Sunday evening on its scheduled passenger service to Hong Kong. It was then chartered to fly to Jakarta by the Chinese government. The aircraft left Hong Kong on the afternoon of Monday, April 11. It sent out three SOS signals a while later, giving its position as 108 miles north of Kuchine, Sarwak, according to reports. Eight minutes before the first SOS, the plane signalled its position and gave no indication that it was in trouble. Its last position was in the vicinity of the Great Natuna Islands in the South China Sea. Search and rescue operations were launched from India, Hong Kong and Indonesia. An RAF Sunderland flying boat took off from Singapore and was making a radar search for survivors near the Great Natuna Islands, in Indonesia. All ships in the area were told by radio to keep a look out. They subsequently rescued three of the crew. According to diplomatic records declassified by Beijing in April 2004, a time bomb was planted in the wheel bay of the Kashmir Princess. Investigations revealed that the bomb had been planted in the aircraft by a janitor at Hong Kong airport who was an agent of Kuomintang and who, media reports claimed, escaped to Taiwan. When it went off, it set off a fire, the engines and equipment failed, and the pilot had no option but to try and crash the aircraft into the sea. Air Indias manager was probably told of a plan to sabotage in general terms, Steve Tsang of SOAS, University of London, wrote for the China Quarterly in 1994. About the crash, Tsang, a political scientist specializing in Chinese politics, wrote, After an uneventful five hours, the time bomb exploded. It started a fire which spread quickly and put the hydraulic system to the flaps and undercarriage out of action. The crew carried out emergency sea landing procedures and the plane crashed into the sea 108 miles north of Kuching, Sarawak. An Air India statement said the aircraft was piloted by Captain D K Jatar. Both he and the stewardess Gloria Eva Berry, were posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra Award , Indias highest peacetime military award. The three survivors, first officer M.C Dixit, ground maintenance engineer Anant Karnik, and navigator J.C. Pathak were also given the award. Interestingly, this was the first instance where the award was given to civilians. Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Friday announced that Amarnath Yatra will commence on July 1, saying a hassle-free pilgrimage is the top priority of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. Sinha assured that the pilgrims and service providers will be given best-in-class healthcare and other essential facilities during the Yatra. He also said that the telecom services will be made operational prior to the commencement of the pilgrimage. The 43-day pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath in the Himalayas began on June 30 (HT file picture) Announcing the dates for holy pilgrimage and registration, Sinha said, Hassle-free pilgrimage is the top priority of Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and Honble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji. The administration will provide best-in-class healthcare and other essential facilities to all the visiting devotees and service providers. Telecom services will be made operational prior to the commencement of the pilgrimage." "All the stakeholder departments are working in coordination to ensure facilities for lodging, power, water, security and other arrangements for the smooth conduct of Yatra, he added. The 62-day-long Amarnath Yatra will commence on July 1 and will culminate on August 31, 2023. Registration through both modes online and offline will start on April 17. The Yatra will commence simultaneously from both routes the Pahalgam track in the Anantnag district and Baltal in the Ganderbal district. Sinha has directed the officials to ensure high levels of cleanliness and to take necessary interventions for sanitation and waste management, according to the L-G office. Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) will enable a live telecast of the morning and evening Aarti (Prayers) for devotees across the globe. Shri Amarnathji Yatras App has been made available on the Google Play store to get real-time information about the Yatra, weather and for availing of several services online. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON President Droupadi Murmu on Friday paid tribute to Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on his 132nd birth anniversary. She recalled Ambedkar's extensive work for the welfare of the nation. In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked Ambedkar's achievements who dedicated his life in social reforms, empowering the deprived in the society. Knows as the father of Indian Constitution, Ambedkar had made strides as economist, jurist and a prolific writer. BR Ambedkar statue at parliament house complex, in New Delhi,(PTI) Also read: Ambedkar Jayanti 2023: Inspiring quotes by Father of Indian Constitution, Dr Babasaheb BR Ambedkar "A symbol of knowledge and prodigy, Dr. Ambedkar worked untiringly, even in adverse circumstances, as an educationist, legal expert, economist, politician and social reformer and spread knowledge for the welfare of the nation. His basic mantra- Educate, Organize & struggle to bring the deprived community into the mainstream of society, will always remain relevant," President Murmu said. Former President Ram Nath Kovind also paid homage to Ambedkar recalling his contributions for a modern India. Homage to Babasahab Ambedkar Ji on his birth anniversary. An Icon and Chief Architect of our Constitution, Dr Ambedkar waged a life-long struggle for a modern India, free of caste and other prejudices, ensuring equal rights for women and disadvantaged, Kovind said in a tweet. Also read: Ambedkar Jayanti: Remembering the social reformer beyond Constitution Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge laid down Ambedkar's contribution in framing the foundation of India's constitutional democracy. We bow in reverence to the tremendous contribution of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on his Jayanti. Babasaheb was a champion of the democratic principles of liberty, equality, fraternity and justice. We all greatly respect him as the Architect of Indias Constitution, he tweeted. Senior political leaders including former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar among others have attended the Ambedkar Jayanti celebration at Parliament House Lawn. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is a renowned social reformer, jurist and the father of Indian constitution. He was born on April 14, 1891. He was the first law and justice minister of independent India. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Popularly known as the father of the Indian Constitution, Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was a multifaceted personality whose contributions had impacts beyond the walls of the constituent assembly. A champion of reforms, he played significant parts in economics, law and politics and as a prolific writer, he wrote extensively on history, economics, political science and sociology. Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar(File) Ambedkar was a social reformer who worked tirelessly for the upliftment of the oppressed classes in India. He was also a strong advocate of women's rights and gender equality. Also read: Ambedkar Jayanti 2023: Inspiring quotes by Father of Indian Constitution, Dr Babasaheb BR Ambedkar Life struggles of Ambedkar Born on April 14, 1891, in Madhya Pradesh's Mhow, Ambedkar faced discriminations since childhood as he was born into a Mahar family which was considered as one of the lowest or in other words untouchable castes in the country at that time. He is the only member from his caste to be enrolled into the prestigious Elphinstone High School in Bombay. During his school days, he faced oppression from the upper caste teachers and staff. He and his Dalit friends were not allowed to sit inside the classroom with other students. They were not allowed to drink water from the earthen pot placed in the school and only the peon (who belonged to the upper caste) used to pour water from a height for them to drink instead. And there were days when they had to spend without drinking water in absence of the peon. However, he overcame those hurdles and went to Columbia University to complete his postgraduate studies. He later went to the London School of Economics to complete his doctoral thesis and finished two doctorates from there. Knowing Ambedkar beyond Constitution Ambedkar was the first law and justice minister of independent India and also chaired the drafting committee of the constituent assembly. However, apart from his contribution in framing the Constitution, he had inspired Dalit and Buddhist movements in the country and campaigned against social discrimination. Advocate of labour rights: Ambedkar believed that workers should have the right to form unions and bargain collectively with their employers. He also believed that as labour is a crucial part of the economy, they should be treated with dignity and respect. He supported minimum wages laws which he thought they would prevent labours from being exploited. Stood up for women's rights: He was also a strong advocate of women's rights and gender equality and believed that women should be given equal rights and opportunities as men and that they should be treated with respect and dignity. Also read: Indias tallest Ambedkar statue set for inauguration today He was also a supporter of birth control and family planning, and believed that it is necessary to control population growth and improve health and well-being of women. Role in RBI's establishment: Although not directly involved with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), he did play an important role in its establishment. He was instrumental in drafting the Banking Companies Act, 1949, that eventually gave more power to RBI in regulating commercial and public banks. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Uttar Pradesh police which gunned down Asad Ahmad and his aide Ghulam in an encounter in Jhansi on Thursday said the intention was to catch them alive but as gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad and Ghulam opened indiscriminate fire, the officials of the special task force started retaliation in which the duo were killed, according to the FIR filed in the case. Read | Atiq Ahmads son Asad was to marry cousin. Now she is also on the run The FIR said cops wanted to catch both Asad and Ghulam alive. Asad and Ghulam were spotted on a motorcycle without a registered number on Thursday. When police teams asked them to stop, they didn't and instead sped away on an unpaved road and slipped into a roadside bush when the cops surrounded them, the FIR said. Read | 'Even Ghulam's mother': BJP says Owaisi and Akhilesh equate Muslims with They abused the policemen loudly on being confronted and opened fire 'with an intent to kill'. The cops tried to catch them alive risking their lives amid the indiscriminate firing but had to retaliate in "self-defence". "The members of both the (STF) teams, who had surrounded them, tried to reach within their firing range without caring for their lives and tried to catch them alive, but had to return fire in self-defence in view of the indiscriminate firing from the miscreants," the FIR said. The cops approached them when the firing stopped and found them alive. They were immediately rushed to the hospital where they both succumbed to their injuries. A gun, empty shells, live cartridges, a motorcycle and other evidence were collected from the spot. The duo were brought to Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College. Doctors who attended to them said Asad received two bullet injuries and Ghulam one. There was no sign of rigor mortis, Dr Narendra Sengar, principal of the medical college said. "I think they died 1.30-2 hours before they were brought here," he said. Police said Asad and Ghulam, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, hatched a plan to free Atiq Ahmad by attacking the police convoy which was bringing Atiq Ahmad to Uttar Pradesh for the hearing. (With PTI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PRAYAGRAJ: Asad Ahmad, the 19-year-old son of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad who was killed in an encounter with the police in Jhansi, was to be engaged to a cousin but the plan was upended after Asad allegedly led a group of hitmen to kill lawyer Umesh Pal and his two police guards on February 24, Asads relatives said. A family member of Atiq said the family had decided to Asads marriage with Ayeshas elder daughter as they liked each other (File Photo) The cousin, daughter of Atiq Ahmads sister Ayesha Noori, is also on the run along with her mother after the police added their names to the list of accused on April 9 on charges of providing shelter and financial help to the men involved in Umesh Pals murder. A family member of Atiq said the family had decided to Asads marriage with Ayeshas elder daughter as they liked each other. Their engagement was proposed to be held soon. Atiqs wife Shaista Parveen was particularly keen that Asads marriage should be solemnised soon; Asads elder brothers, Ali and Umar, are in jail in different cases. Ayesha is one of the four sisters of Atiq Ahmad and is said to be closest to him. Her husband Dr Ekhlaq Ahmad, a government doctor, was arrested from Meerut on April 2. Also Read: How UP Police planned Operation Jhansi to corner Atiq Ahmeds son Asad She and her family rushed to Prayagraj to be with Atiqs family on February 25 after Umesh Pals wife accused Asad of killing her the lawyer. Ayesha Noori also fronted the familys media campaign in defence of Atiq Ahmad. She, along with other women, convened a Press conference in March to claim that Atiq Ahmads family was being framed in the murder, that Atiqs wife Shaista Parveen was implicated in the case to stop her from contesting for the post of mayor in the municipal election and that Atiq Ahmad could be killed in an encounter by STF. Asad cleared his class 12 examination last year and planned to enrol for a law course after an attempt to study abroad had to be aborted because his request for a passport was rejected twice, his relatives said. Asad, unlike his father or brothers, did not have any criminal cases against him before February 24 when he, according to footage from CCTV cameras, allegedly led a group of assassins to kill Umesh Pal, the lawyer who had been troubling his father. In the video, Asad was allegedly seen coming out of a white SUV and firing indiscriminately at Umesh Pal and his police guards, said police. 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. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, joined by other political leaders Friday, extended greetings on the occasion of Baisakhi, which is one of the biggest festivals celebrated by the Sikh community. The festival is celebrated with much pomp and grandeur, signifying the onset of the harvest season and the hope of prosperity, happiness, and wealth in the future. On Baisakhi 2023, Students perform the Punjabi folk dance 'Bhangra' during celebrations, at a wheat field on the outskirts of Amritsar, Thursday.(PTI) Best wishes on Baisakhi. May this occasion deepen the bonds of togetherness in society, PM Modi said in a tweet, sharing his message on the occasion. A very special occasion which emphasises on hope, positivity and harmonymay peoples aspirations be fulfilled, the PMs message on the festival, especially observed in Punjab, Haryana, read. In addition, Modi also tweeted separately to wish the people on other coinciding festivals including Puthandu, Maha Bishuba Pana Sankranti and Odia New Year, and Bohag Bihu celebrated across various states of India. Also Read| Happy Baisakhi 2023: Best wishes, images, messages, greetings, Facebook and WhatsApp status to share with loved ones Rahul Gandhi, expressing hope for love and harmony, tweeted wishing on all the festivals, Best wishes to everyone on the auspicious occasion of Puthandu, Maha Bishuba Pana Sankranti, Bohag Bihu and Baisakhi. They were joined by leaders including Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, Arvind Kejriwal among others in extending greetings. The Haryana CM prayed for everyones happiness and said, Hearty congratulations and best wishes to all the countrymen on the auspicious festival of 'Baisakhi', a symbol of India's rich farming tradition and multidimensional culture. Meanwhile, Punjab CM Manns message on Baisakhi echoed the values of Khalsa tradition as he remarked in a tweet in Punjabi, The creation of the Khalsa without caste and colour discrimination was done by Guru Gobind Singh Ji on the holy land of Anandpur Sahib. Many congratulations to all the Sikh Sangats bowing down at Guru's feet on the occasion of Khalsa Sajna Diwas and Baisakhi Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, former Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb, Madhya Pradesh minister Narottam Mishra and other leaders also prayed for everyones health, sending Baisakhi greetings. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Marking the 132nd birth anniversary, banks across India will remain closed on April 14. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said apart from Shillong, banks will not stay open as some states will observe Baisakhi, Vaisakhi, Cheiraoba, Biju and Bohag Bihu and Tamil New Year's Day. Banks remain closed on Sundays and second, fourth Saturdays of the month, according to RBI. Cities where banks will remain closed Banks remain closed on Sundays and second, fourth Saturdays of the month, according to RBI. Banks will be closed in Belapur, Bengaluru, Dehradun, Gangtok, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, Chennai, Dehradun, Gangtok, Andhra Pradesh, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Panaji, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Ranchi, Srinagar, Mumbai, Kanpur, Jammu and Jaipur. NSE BSE closed today Business in stock markets closed today to mark BR Ambedkar's birth anniversary. This is the third holiday in last two weeks for the Indian equity indices. Earlier, it was shut to mark Mahavir Jayanti and Good Friday. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is a renowned social reformer and the father of Indian constitution. He was born on April 14, 1891. He was the first law and justice minister of independent India. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Twitter suggested popular Nagaland minister Temjen Imna Along that he may follow the official handle of the Congress on Twitter. To this, the BJP minister, in his quirky way, said that he does not want to follow the Congress. Those who followed are suffering now, he wrote adding, "Mai Guru Ji ke sath khush hoon." The barb comes as the Congress witnessed some big-ticket exits in the past few weeks. BJP's Temjen Imna Along has a witty reply for every occasion. Twitter throws up some follow suggestions to every user but little did its algorithm know that the official Twitter handle of the Congress with the photo of Rhul Gandhi with 'daro mat' written on it showed on the follow suggestion of the BJP minister. The Nagaland minister enjoys a huge following on Twitter as he is very active on the social media platform and shares funny one-liners. However, he did not miss the chance to take a jibe at the Congress as he said those who followed the Congress (albeit, not on Twitter) are suffering now. Former Andhra Pradesh (undivided) chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, AK Antony's son Anil Antony, CR Kesavan recently resigned from the Congress. The minister may not follow the Congress handle on Twitter but had commented on the 'style' of Rahul Gandhi after the Congress posted a photo from Rahul Gandhi's UK visit. "Manna padega, photo to achhi ayi. Confidence aur pose bhi next level hai," the minister commented and later said that his comment was misinterpreted by news headlines as his comment was in sarcasm and he will never praise Rahul Gandhi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Delhi Police has arrested Davinder Singh alias Bunty, a highly skilled modern-day thief who inspired Bollywood film Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, from Uttar Pradesh Kanpur. The police are scheduled to give a briefing about his detainment later on Friday. Davinder Singh alias Bunty has been involved in more than 500 theft cases and managed to give police the slip on several occasions. (Facebook/ Bunty Chor) Reports claimed 'Bunty Chor' had recently executed thefts in a posh locality of the national capital, resulting in goods worth lakhs being stolen from two homes in the Greater Kailash neighbourhood of South Delhi. Having earned a reputation as a 'super thief,' Singh was responsible for as many as 500 burglaries by 2012. Also Read: Bunty Chor found guilty of burgling NRI businessmans house by Kerala court "Delhi Police have arrested Davinder Singh alias "Bunty Chor" from Kanpur, UP. He was on the run after committing theft in two houses in Greater Kailash 2 area. Further investigation underway," the DCP South told news agency ANI. Singh has a history of breaking free from police custody multiple times, having escaped in Delhi, Chennai, and Chandigarh after being caught. Singh dropped out of school after Class 9 and commenced his thieving activities in 1993. Following his first detention in New Delhi, he managed to flee from police custody. Despite never owning a property, he favoured five-star hotels for his accommodations. However, he did have a weakness for luxury watches and fancy cars. After a Bollywood movie titled Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, starring Abhay Deol, was released in 2008, based on his life, he gained popularity. A few years later, he made a cameo appearance as a contestant in the popular reality show "Bigg Boss Season 4" in 2010, further enhancing his reputation. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal for questioning on Sunday in the agencys probe into alleged irregularities in the Capitals now-scrapped 2021-22 excise policy, said people familiar with the development. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI) The summons drew a sharp retort from the AAP, which said the chief minister was being targeted for raising questions against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Also Read | Your Conspiracy : AAP leader hits out over CM Kejriwal's summons Sundays exercise will mark Kejriwals first involvement in the excise policy probe, which has already seen his deputy Manish Sisodia arrested by two central agencies CBI, which took him in on February 26 and the Enforcement Directorate, on March 9. To be sure, Kejriwal has been summoned as a witness in the case, said the people cited above. The Delhi CM has not been named as an accused in the first information report (FIR) in the case, filed on August 17 last year. However, according to people aware of the investigations, his name cropped up when other accused and witnesses were questioned, prompting the agency to seek clarifications. He has been called for questioning as a witness at 11am on Sunday to seek clarifications on certain claims by witnesses and accused persons regarding the formulation and implementation of the policy, said one of the officials cited above. ED has claimed in one of its charge sheets, filed on January 6, that the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy was the brainchild of Kejriwal. Kejriwals name, said CBI officials, has also been mentioned in court documents, including charge sheets and remand papers, in reference to alleged meetings, fixing commissions for private players, and the entry of political players and businesspeople from the south into Delhis liquor business. For instance, ED in its charge sheet filed this January, claimed that Kejriwal told businessman Sameer Mahendru during a video call arranged by AAP member Vijay Nair that Vijay (Nair) is his boy and that he should trust him. Nair arranged a meeting of the owner of Indo Spirits Sameer Mahendru with Arvind Kejriwal, and when that didnt materialise, he arranged a video call through FaceTime on his phone for Mahendru and Kejriwal, where Kejriwal said to Mahendru that Vijay (Nair) is his boy and that Mahendru should trust him and carry on with him, says the ED charge sheet, citing Mahendrus statement, recorded on November 15 last year. Also Read | RJDs Manoj Jha on CBI summons to Kejriwal, 'Your end is near, fear that your Subsequently, citing a December 7, 2022 statement recorded by former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodias then secretary C Arvind, the federal agency claimed that he was informed of the decision to carve a 12% profit margin for wholesale private entities at Kejriwals residence in March, 2021. There were no discussions about handing the wholesale liquor business to private players in meetings held by the group of ministers (GoM) which comprised Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and Kailash Gahlot before mid-March 2021, C Arvind has told ED. However, said the ED charge sheet, In mid-March, 2021, C Arvind was called by Sisodia to Kejriwals residence (where Satyendar Jain was also present) and Sisodia handed over a document to C Arvind, which was a draft GoM report proposing that the wholesale (business) should go to private entities and asked him to prepare the draft GoM report based on the said document. He said that it was the first time that he saw this proposal as the same was never discussed in any GoM meetings. The Delhi governments 2021-22 excise policy aimed to revitalise the citys flagging liquor business. It aimed to replace a sales-volume based regime with a license fee one for traders, and promised swankier stores, free of the infamous metal grilles, ultimately giving customers a better buying experience. The policy also introduced discounts and offers on the purchase of liquor, a first for Delhi. The plan, however, came to an abrupt end, with Delhis lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena recommending a probe into alleged irregularities in the regime. This ultimately resulted in the policy being scrapped prematurely and being replaced by the 2020-21 regime, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleging that Saxenas predecessor sabotaged the move with a few last-minute changes that resulted in lower-than-expected revenues. The AAP and the Delhi government have rejected the charges, alleging it to be a ploy by the BJP-controlled Union government to target rivals. On Friday evening, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh called the summons a conspiracy. Kejriwal is being targeted and has been questioned after he raised questions on the PM. This notice is a conspiracy to scare and arrest the CM, but he cannot be silenced easily, he said. Earlier on Friday, hours before he was issued the summons, the CM accused ED of fabricating statements and misleading the court in the case against Sisodia. In an interaction with the media, Kejriwal said ED alleged that Sisodia destroyed his cellphones. However, Kejriwal said, many of those phones are in EDs custody, indicating that the whole matter is fabricated. ED is fabricating statements by torturing and pressuring people. This is not a good practice. The whole matter is made up with no reality in it, said Kejriwal. Agencies investigating the policy have alleged that Kejriwal, Sisodia and Nair are linked with a conglomerate known as the South Group, allegedly comprising politicians and businesspeople, which got at least nine retail zones in Delhis liquor business, after allegedly bribing AAP leaders 100 crore. The South Group, according to ED, comprises YSR Congress parliamentarian Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy (or MSR), his son Raghav Magunta, Sarath Reddy (promoter of Aurobindo Group), and K Kavitha (daughter of Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao) and Mahendru. ED has also alleged that MSR met Kejriwal to understand details of the excise policy and that Kejriwal welcomed his entry into Delhis liquor trade. ED has alleged that the AAP used a part of the 100-crore kickbacks generated by the Delhi excise policy during its campaigns for the 2022 Goa assembly elections. The agency has also pegged the loss in the excise policy irregularities at 2,873 crore. Those who vote for BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha polls will: Nitish Kumar's warning Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. (PTI) Days after holding two high-profile political meetings in Delhi, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday revealed his next step in building opposition unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Read more Watch: On-duty traffic cop hit by car, then dragged for 1km on top of bonnet A traffic policeman was dragged on the bonnet of a car for about a kilometre in Punjab's Ludhiana after the driver reportedly ignored the cop's signal to stop. Watch here 'There are faults in system': Kaif blasts Laxman-led NCA over no clarity on Bumrah injury The injury list for Team India has left many veteran concerned. One of the biggest blow for India has been and will be for another period of almost three more months pertains to Jasprit Bumrah. Read more Alia Bhatt hugs Ranbir Kapoor as they get spotted overseeing new home in Mumbai on wedding anniversary Actor couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt were out and about in Mumbai on their first wedding anniversary. Read more Health expert on how heart disease patients should take care while travelling Worry not as we got an expert on board to sort your health and travelling woes with a few vital tips that heart patients need to follow to stay heart healthy! Summer vacations mean relaxation and travelling to get rid of stress but heart patients who are planning to travel should be extra cautious. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Sameer Pagad, Senior Consultant- Cardiologist at Global Hospitals in Parel, suggested some of the measures recommended for the heart patients. Read more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NOIDA: Nine people were injured after an elevator at a hotel in Noida plummeted from the third floor to the basement of the building on Friday afternoon. Three of them have sustained fractures, people familiar with the matter said. The Noida Police said no formal complaint has been filed by the injured persons against Regenta Central, Noida (HT Photo/SUNIL GHOSH) Noida additional deputy commissioner of police Shakti Avasthy said the incident took place at about 4pm at Regenta Central in Sector 49, Noida where a corporate event of a firm was being held. Around 4pm, nine employees of the company took the lift from the third floor to go to the seventh floor where food was being served. However, the lift malfunctioned and fell to the basement of the building, Avasthy said. Upon inquiry, it was found that the lift had a capacity of four to five people but nine people had boarded it, after which it malfunctioned and had a freefall, falling into the basement, he added. The senior police officer said the victims have not filed a formal complaint against the hotel and that the local police are looking into any possible negligence. Chandra Shekhar, deputy general manager of the firm, Advance Valves Pvt Ltd which was hold a company event at the hotel, said the nine people were stuck in the elevator for about 15 minutes after it crashed. Nine people sustained injuries when an elevator crashed in a hotel in Noida on Friday (HT Photo/SUNIL GHOSH) As soon as we heard screams from the basement, we reached there and were unable to open the lift door. After about 15 minutes, the hotel staff succeeded in opening the doors with the help of an iron rod. The employees were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital and the police was informed about the incident, said Shekhar. The nine people in the elevator were employees of the company and aged between 30 to 40 years. Jitendra Bansal, assistant front officer manager at the hotel said: It was an unfortunate accident and the hotel authorities are cooperating with the police in their investigation. Chandra Shekhar said Ramjeevan Kamath, Ankit Thare and Suraj were discharged from the hospital after first aid. The others are being treated for their injuries at the hospital. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Citing Ghulam's mother's approval of the encounter of her son along with Asad Ahmad, the son of gangster-turned-political Atiq Ahmad, the BJP on Friday said only leaders like Asauddin Owaisi and Akhilesh Yadav have problems with the encounter. "It is unfortunate that they associate Muslims with crime and terror," BJP's Amit Malviya said. Ghulam's mother on Friday refused to accept his body and said the action of the UP Police's special task force in gunning down both Ghulam and Ahmad was absolutely correct. Read | Gangster Atiq Ahmad is 'Ji' for Congress like Osama: BJP's barb Ghulam Mohammad, the shooter of Atiq Ahmad, was killed in an encounter in Thursday in Jhansi. "All gangsters and criminals will take a lesson from this. I had no idea that my son used to work for gangster Atiq Ahmad. I will not receive his body, maybe his wife will receive it," Ghulam's mother said. "Ghulam's mother is saying that whatever happened to her son is right and it will send a message to the criminals," Malviya said. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the encounter was in the name of religion, while Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav called it a fake encounter triggering an intense political row over it. "The law and order is a state subject for sure, but tell us that Junaid and Nasir were not killed under the BJP government in Haryana? Whose government is there? Are houses not demolished using bulldozers? Will the BJP also shoot those who killed Junaid and Nasir? No, because you (BJP) do encounters in the name of religion. You want to encounter the Constitution. If you want to weaken the rule of law, what are the courts for? What are CRPC, IPC, and Judges for? If you decide that you will give justice with a bullet then shut the courts. What work will the judges do?" Owaisi said. Akhilesh said the fake encounter perpetrated by the BJP government was to divert attention from real issues. Asad and Ghulam were killed in an encounter in Jhansi on Thursday after the police received intelligence inputs that they had a plan to free Atiq Ahmad by attacking the police convoy as Atiq was being brought for the hearing. Both Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj. Each of them carried a reward of 5 lakh. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former Karnataka deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi on Friday joined the Congress, days after being denied a ticket for the upcoming assembly elections by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar and state incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala felicitates ex-Karnataka deputy CM Laxman Savadi in Bengaluru on Friday. (PTI) Savadi, a member of the states upper house and a senior BJP figure but who lost the 2018 assembly elections, is the first disgruntled BJP leader to switch over to a rival party since the current turmoil in the state BJP began. At least four other sitting lawmakers have resigned from the party after it denied tickets to 17 sitting legislators in its two lists of 212 candidates earlier this week. Savadi announced his decision after meeting Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar, leader of opposition Siddaramaiah, and Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala. Our meeting with Savadi took place in a cordial manner. We are aware of his dignity and position. He has agreed to become a member of our (Congress) family of his own volition. He is coming with us after accepting the partys ideology and leadership, Shivakumar said. There is no condition (for Savadi joining the party). He feels that he has been humiliated. It is our duty to take such great leaders into the Congress. There are more than 9-10 sitting MLAs who want to join us but we dont have space to accommodate them, he added. On Friday morning, the former BJP member of legislative council (MLC) left for Bengaluru from Belagavi on a special flight booked by Shivakumar. He is expected to resign from the legislative council and primary membership of the BJP soon. Despite having political differences, when I approached the Congress leaders for talks of joining the party, they welcomed me with open arms and I am grateful for the same, Savadi said. I had asked the senior BJP leaders to give me a chance to contest these upcoming elections. I am very happy to join the Congress party today, having left the BJP, he added. A tall figure in the Karnataka BJP, Savadi served as the eighth deputy chief minister of the state and minister of transport from 2019 to 2021, under then chief minister BS Yediyurappa. Savadi was an aspirant for the Athani seat, but the BJP nominated sitting MLA Mahesh Kumathalli, who defeated Savadi in 2018 but then left the Congress along with 15 other lawmakers in 2019 to bring down the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government. Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said Savadis decision was sad news. Savadi has seen a future in Congress which is why he has decided to join the party. Congress does not have candidates to contest from 60 constituencies and that is why they are taking candidates from other parties, Bommai said. The ruling party having a greater number of ticket aspirants is expected. The BJP will win for sure and we will release the 3rd candidate list soon, Bommai further said. Savadi joining he Congress is a mistake. He should not have joined Congress after spending many years in BJP. He has now joined a party which has internal fights. Savadi had lost the elections, we made him MLC and gave him the deputy chief ministers post, said Karnataka BJP in-charge Arun Singh. The BJP has been roiled by protests and exits since it decided to drop a number of sitting lawmakers in its candidates list in an attempt ot effect generational change in the state. The state goes to the polls on May 10 and the BJP is hoping to retain its only government in southern India by staving off challenges from the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular). Shivakumar said that 25 leaders from the BJP and JD(S) will join the party ahead of the assembly elections. Speaking in Nelamangala on Ambedkar Jayanti, he said, Laxman Savadi, Puttana and others have joined us. In this election, the BJP wont win more than 60 seats. We will win over 141 seats, he said. Twenty-five leaders from BJP and JD(S) will join us. They are not local leaders but seasoned politicians, Shivakumar added. The Congress has annoucned 166 candidates and the JD(S) 93 for the 224-member assembly, Since the candidates were announced, Haveri lawmaker Nehru Olekar, Mudigere lawmaker MP Kumaraswamy, Hosadurga legislator Goolihatti Shekhar and Ramdurg legislator Mahadevappa Yadawad have resigned from the BJP. In Varuna, former BJP candidate Thotadappa Basavaraj quit the party after the party nominated minister V Sommana to contest against Siddaramaiah. Former chief minister Jagdish Shettar is also lobbying to reverse the partys decision to not nominate him for the upcoming polls. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The G20 finance track has made progress on issues of debt distress, with China positively engaged in the process; the reform of multilateral development banks (MDBs) with broad-based unanimity on proportionate spending on poverty, prosperity and climate goals; and the need to have a global understanding on crypto regulation based on the recognition that their flows can affect macro-economic stability, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Washington DC on Friday. (ANI) The group has also taken forward discussions on the flow and quantum of climate finance, the urgency of creating a fair, sustainable and modern international taxation system, and role of digital public infrastructure in deepening financial inclusion, the minister added. Addressing a press conference on the outcomes of the second G20 finance ministers and central bank governors (FMCBG) meeting under the Indian presidency, held in Washington DC on Wednesday and Thursday, Sitharaman said: The discussions were very intense in the sense that there were a lot of substantive inputs coming from members. We were very happy to see that many, in fact most, of Indias proposals are well-supported and there is active engagement. The meeting had 350 delegates from member countries, 13 invitee countries and international and regional organisations. The minister clarified that this was an ongoing process, and the issues under discussion with renewed momentum were possible takeaways. She also played down the absence of a consensus-based joint communique or a chair summary. In this meeting, we were very clear we are not talking about a communique or chair summary, she said and referred to the chair summary that India released after the first FMCBG meeting in Bengaluru. The first meeting failed to produce a communique due to differences between West and Japan on one hand, and Russia and China on the other, on the war in Ukraine. A person familiar with the thinking behind the decision not to push for a communique said that while the war in Ukraine and its impact on global economy was discussed, the aim in the current meeting was to track the progress that has been made in the past few months on issues that are already a part of the agenda. This was done with the objective of creating enough ground for consensus for the third FMCBG meeting in July in Gandhinagar and subsequently the leaders-level summit in September. The G20 meet held three separate sessions on the global economy and international finance architecture; sustainable finance, financial sector and financial inclusion; and international taxation. Separately, India also co-chaired, along with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, the global sovereign debt roundtable on Wednesday. MDB reform Sitharaman said that Indias presidency had brought forth the agenda of reforming MDBs and this had been very well appreciated. The ministers and governors accepted the constitution of an expert group on the issue, co-chaired by former American treasury secretary Lawrence Summers and veteran Indian policymaker NK Singh, which began its work this week in Washington. Responding to a question from HT on the possible trade-offs involved between climate finance and development finance, the minister said that the Indian presidency has been very clear that this was not about trade-offs but an issue of how best to balance. Sitharaman said that funding for developmental activities are required not just for low-income countries, but also for underdeveloped areas in middle-income countries. Particularly post the pandemic, development funding is becoming more focused on areas and communities badly affected by the pandemic itself. The balancing requires looking at the core two issues of the Bank eradicating extreme poverty and bringing prosperity, not sequentially but together. But, in addition, Sitharaman said, The sustainable and other goals related to climate, climate finance and energy transition, will have to be the third pillar. The India presidency has highlighted that while staying consistent with the goals of the World Bank, and not just balancing them, we need to bring in this element which is now in three or four different headings climate action, then looking at sustainable goals and so on. We are saying it should now become equally important part of the core activities. This focus has to be proportionately for all three and will require out of the box thinking on funding, including leveraging existing balance sheets and look at more resource mobilisation. At a time when there is speculation about a divide between advanced western economies and low income countries on the priority to be placed on development and climate finance, Sitharaman said there is broad based unanimity on this issue and no contradictory voice on the issue. Sitharaman said that the issue of climate finance was also moving in a positive direction and this included not just the current flow, but the quantum that is required to meet climate challenges and transitional costs for technology. Debt The G20 ministers and governors recognised the urgency to address debt vulnerabilities, including strengthening multilateral coordination on the growing debt distress among low-income countries and middle-income countries. She referred to the global sovereign debt roundtable as having created an avenue for all sides to discuss the issue. A joint statement by IMF, World Bank and the Indian presidency on the debt roundtable said that stakeholders had agreed to improve information-sharing; discussed the role of MDBs in providing net positive flows of concessional finances; and decided to hold a workshop on how to assess and enforce comparability of treatment which aims to ensure the balanced treatment of the debtor countrys debt by all external creditors. Responding to HTs question on debt restructuring process and Chinas role in particular given Beijings role as the biggest bilateral creditor and the widely-held perception that it is impeding restructuring efforts at the sovereign debt roundtable, Sitharaman said, There has been absolutely positive discussion All stakeholders in debt distress related matters were there. You mentioned China but I thought in the meeting all were positively engaged. When the minister was asked once again about the positive language she saw China use in the deliberations, Sitharaman said that Sri Lanka, Zambia, Ethiopia and Ghana were around the table and there was a discussion around how there should be a resolution for these countries on time. Zambia mentioned that they had applied almost a year or year and a half ago and they were waiting a resolution even now. It is a very time consuming processwe found that almost all of them said it has to be addressed earliest. Even China agreed that it should be speedily dispensed with. That is a great step forward. A person familiar with the deliberations said that China wanted to be in the room as the discussions on debt restructuring proceeded. Our sense was that they dont want to be the only one seen as obstructionist. But let us see whether this translates into substantive movement. Later in the day, India, Japan and France came together at a high level event to launch the debt restructuring negotiation process for Sri Lanka, with Sitharaman expressing support to Colombo. Crypto The FM also spoke about how, on Indias request, both the Fund and Financial Stability Board (FSB) had come up with their papers on crypto assets and the next step was synthesising the papers. There is a greater acceptance among G20 members that any action on crypto assets will have to be global. It is one of the biggest advantage that the G20 and its members agree that it is not going to be possible for an independent stand-alone country dealing with crypto assets and it has to have a globally coordinated understanding on how to go about regulating crypto-assets. She said that at the end of the process, a road map will be prepared and this can then be taken forward on specific actions on regulation. Sitharaman said there is a consciousness that crypto assets, especially those not backed by central banks and not backed by the sovereign, can cause macroeconomic instability. Countries are now recognising that this is not just a crypto asset regulatory issue but IMF dealing with it has also brought in this dimension that there can be issues of macroeconomic stability itself. The FM also referred to how crypto assets brings up issues of money trail and possible linkages to terror and drug related financing, and that discussions also highlighted the fact that implications of crypto assets can affect both developed and emerging economies markets. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ReadAs Congress's PL Punia questioned the legality of the encounter of Atiq Ahmad's son on Thursday, the BJP pointed out that in his statement the Congress leader addressed Atiq Ahmad as 'ji'. "After Osama ji and Hafiz Saeed ji comments made by Congress leaders in the past, now they have added this honorific to a gangster, mafia and criminal. Samajwadi Party says the encounter will end bhaichara and now the Congress adds ji. This is vote bank politics," BJP's national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said on Friday amid intense politics over Asad's encounter. Read | '3 bullet wounds bleeding from back': Doctor on Asad Ahmad, Ghulam post-mortem As Congress raised questions over the encounter of Asad Ahmad, BJP said the Congress leader is adding 'Ji' to the name of Atiq Ahmad. (PTI) "They (the opposition) are raising question marks to the police force. They are doubting the bravery of our forces. Before the inquiry etc is over, they are coming to conclusions and giving clean chits to gangsters and mafias," Poonawalla said. Read | Will not receive body' : Mother of Asad Ahmed's aide after he was shot Congress leader Digvijaya Singh was accused of calling Osama bin Laden 'Osama ji' though he later said he was only being sarcastic. Samajwadi Party has criticised the Jhansi encounter and said Uttar Pradesh received the maximum NHRC notices on such actions as 'fake encounters'. "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," Akhilesh Yadav said. Asad and his aide Ghulam were killed by the Special Task Force in Jhansi after intelligence input was received that Asad was hatching a plan to free his father Atiq Ahmad by attacking the police convoy when Atiq Ahmad was being brought to the 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, Special Director General (Law and order). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON All India Majili-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday questioned the legality of the killing of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad in an alleged encounter with UP Police. Owaisi said an inquiry into the killing will be carried out as per the Supreme Court guidelines but the so-called encounter should not take place. (Also Read | '3 bullet wounds bleeding from back': Doctor on Asad Ahmad, Ghulam post-mortem) AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi.(ANI) Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday said they shot dead Asad Ahmad and an accomplice Ghulam Mohammad, both wanted in a high-profile murder case, during a gun battle in the states Jhansi district, sparking a political storm over the controversial encounter. "Questions are arising. The inquiry will take place as per Supreme Court guidelines. But I believe that the so-called encounter should not take place. Umesh Pal and Raju Pal were murdered, our sympathies. How can we support their murderers? But there is a process, law, and Constitution. Punish them accordingly. Who is stopping you?" Owaisi said. This is the third controversial encounter connected to the Umesh Pal murder case. Asad and Ghulam were accused in the murder of advocate Umesh Pal and two policemen providing him security. Umesh Pal was a key witness in the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) lawmaker Raju Pal in Prayagraj on January 25, 2005, a case in which Atiq Ahmad and his brother Khalid Azeem, alias Ashraf, were the prime accused. (Also Read | Will not receive body' : Mother of Asad Ahmad's aide after he was shot) Mohammed Arbaaz, 26, who allegedly drove Umesh Pal's assailants, was gunned down in Prayagraj three days after the murder. On March 6, Vijay Chowdhury, who allegedly fired the first shot at Umesh Pal, was killed in another encounter. Both Arbaaz and Chowdhury were identified from multiple surveillance camera grabs after Umesh Pals murder, according to police. Asad's killing in an alleged encounter has triggered a political row, with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) demanding a thorough investigation. While SP chief Akhilesh Yadav called the encounter fake and said the state government was trying to divert attention from real issues, BSP chief Mayawati said the killing could be a repeat of the Vikas Dubey incident. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Assam wherein he will be participating in the mega Bihu celebrations there. Flanked by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Modi will also be witnessing a Bihu dance by 10,000 dancers in Guwahati. The prime minister's visit to the northeastern state is another example of his participation in celebrating India's rich cultural diversity. Ever since coming to power, Modi has been vocal in his motto of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. He has been traversing extensively to several states including in the north east and south, establishing his connect with the country's strong cultural roots by participating in such events. The visit to Assam comes a day after the PM participated in Tamil New Year celebrations at the residence of Union minister L Murugan. Tamil culture and people are eternal as well as global. From Chennai to California, from Madurai to Melbourne, from Coimbatore to Cape Town, from Salem to Singapore, you will find Tamil people who have carried with them their culture and traditions, he had said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Tamil New Year celebrations, in New Delhi on Thursday.(PTI) Last week, PM Modi had visited the Sacred Heart Cathedral Church in the national capital on the occasion of Easter. He joined the priests and worshippers in their official prayers. Today, on the very special occasion of Easter, I had the opportunity to visit the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi. I also met spiritual leaders from the Christian community, he later tweeted. Last month, Prime Minister Modi attended Ugadi celebrations hosted by former vice president M Venkaiah Naidu. In February this year, he inaugurated the Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava cultural festival at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. Last year, Modi had participated in the birth anniversary celebrations of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji at the residence of National Commission for Minorities chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura, in Delhi. In the same month, PM Modi also addressed the Manipur Sangai Festival via video message. A month earlier, the PM participated in the Kullu Dussehra celebrations at the Dhalpur Ground of Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. In September 2022, PM participated in Navratri Festival celebrations in Ahmedabad, this a month after he attended the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at Union Minister Piyush Goyal's residence in August 2022. In May 2022, PM offered prayers at the Mahaprinirvana Stupa at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. He also made an official visit to Lumbini, Nepal (birthplace of Buddha), coinciding with the auspicious occasion. In April 2022, PM attended Bihu celebrations organised by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at his residence in Delhi. The prime minister visited Sri Guru Ravidas Vishram Dham Temple in Delhi on Ravidas Jayanti in February 2022. Earlier, PM had participated in Dev Deepawali Mahotsav in Varanasi. PM had also attended "Chuda Dahi Bhoj" at Former Union Minister Late Ram Vilas Paswan's residence, on Makar Sankranti. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Since Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's "iss mafia ko mitti me mila denge" (will reduce this mafia to dust) statement in the assembly on February 25, state police has gunned down four people linked to Umesh Pal's murder case, with Atiq Ahmed's son Asad Ahmed and his aide Ghulam Hasan being the latest. Police personnel at the site of the encounter in which jailed mafia Atiq Ahmed's son Asad was killed by the UP STF in Jhansi on Thursday, (PTI) But the Thursday operation in Jhansi was reportedly the result of meticulous planning. Top points on how operation Jhansi was carried out: 1. The Uttar Pradesh Police said it had received tip-off that Asad and his aide Ghulam were planning to attack the police convoy carrying Atiq Ahmed to help to escape the gangster-turned-politician was being brought to UP for a court hearing in the Umesh Pal murder case. The plan was foiled by the UP Special Task Force. Watch: Atiq Ahmad's Son Asad, Killed In Encounter & Other Headlines 2. UP'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 the plan by Asad to free his father. Also Read: Opposition leaders in UP demand high-level probe into Jhansi encounter 3. Based on the information, two teams were deployed and Asad was intercepted, while he was on a bike along with his aide Ghulam, Kumar said. 4. Action was taken based on the information and around 12:30pm and 1pm the duo were killed in a retaliatory firing, Kumar said, adding that the STF conducted the entire operation. 5. The Times of India reported that the STF was already tracking the developments in Jhansi as it came to know that a hideout of Guddu Muslim, an aide of Atiq Ahmed and one of the accused in the Umesh Pal murder case, was near the forest area leading to Parichha power plant, a kilometre from where the encounter took place. 6. A senior police official told the newspaper that as a ploy to divert their attention, heavy force was deployed near Jhansi border from April 11 when Atiq Ahmed was being brought to Prayagraj while a special police team in civilian clothes was surveying the area near Guddu's hideout. 7. A small team was deployed secretly near the area of Parichha power plant with surveillance and technical assistance from headquarters. The team was headed by a DIG-rank officer. 8. "On April 12, night activity at the hideout of Guddu Muslim was witnessed which alerted us and teams were stationed near the four routes," ToI quoted the officer as saying. Afterwards, a team equipped with bulletproof jackets was designated to confront any potential threats head-on, while another team was tasked with scouting potential escape routes to neighbouring districts and conducting inspections. 9. On Thursday, the police said, the encounter occurred at 12.45pm when two teams intercepted Asad, 19, and Ghulam, 40, on the Kanpur-Jhansi highway. 10. The police said one British Bulldog Revolver .455 bore and Walther P88 7.63 bore pistol were recovered from Asad and Ghulam. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Janata Dal (Secular) on Friday released its second list of 49 candidates for the May 10 Karnataka assembly elections, and fielded H P Swaroop, instead of party patriarch H D Deve Gowdas daughter-in-law Bhavani Revanna, from Hassan seat. JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy and Karnataka party unit chief CM Ibrahim with leaders who joined the party, in Bengaluru on Friday. (PTI) Bhavani, wife of JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamys elder brother and former minister H D Revanna, had publicly declared that she would be the candidate from Hassan, leading to conflict within the party. Addressing a press briefing, Kumaraswamy said the decision to field Swaroop was a joint decision of the family and that even Bhavani had agreed with it. He had backed Swaroops candidature from the seat. There is no possibility of dissension within the family. This decision has been taken with Bhavani and Revannas blessing, he said. Revanna, who also addressed the media, said he is not upset with the decision. Im not upset with the Hassan ticket announcement. We will follow the orders of HD Deve Gowda. His health is important to us. If Deve Gowda asks us to campaign in Hassan, I will do it, he said. Party state president CM Ibrahim was present at the press conference held at the JD(S) office in Bengaluru. Swaroops father HS Prakash, a three-term MLA, had lost to Preetham in 2018. Prakash passed away later in the year. Among others who featured on the second list was former minister A Manju, who switched from the BJP last month, from Arkalgud and farm leader Kadabur Manjunath from Gundlupet. In Bengaluru, M Munegowda will contest from Yelahanka, Mohammad Mustaf from Sarvagnanagar and Javare Gowda from Yeshwantpur. The list also named YSV Datta who had joined the Congress in January this year but later returned to JD(S) after the Congress named Anand KS from Kaddur seat. JD(S) has fielded Datta from Kaddur, where he was the MLA from 2013 to 2018. Datta had announced that he would run as an independent candidate but ended up returning to the JD(S) fold, with HD Revanna and Prajwal Revanna announcing their support for him at a public event on April 13. The party had released its first list of 93 candidates in December last year. In the first list, the party had announced that former chief minister and JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy will contest from Channapatna constituency. The party fielded Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of HD Kumaraswamy and the third-generation JD(S) leader, from Ramanagara constituency Meanwhile, MP Kumaraswamy, the MLA from Mudigere constituency who quit BJP, joined the JD(S). . To avoid a Punjab-like situation within in Rajasthan, the Congress has roped in former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and senior party leader Kamal Nath as a mediator to pacify the tussle between chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, Live Hindustan citing sources reported. Congress leader Sachin Pilot sits on a hunger strike against the alleged corruption during previous BJP government in Rajasthan, at Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur, on Tuesday, (PTI) Sources indicate that Kamal Nath met with Pilot and party general secretary KC Venugopal in Delhi on Thursday to discuss potential solutions to bridge the differences between the two warring leaders. Prior to the upcoming Rajasthan assembly election, Pilot has come as a bigger headache for Gehlot than the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in the state. Pilot reportedly desires a bigger role in the upcoming election and has been voicing allegations of corruption against the previous Vasundhara Raje government in Rajasthan. This has placed the Congress in a difficult position, with the party leadership supporting Gehlot and describing Pilot's actions as "anti-party". Efforts are now underway to reconcile the two leaders, with Pilot expressing his grievances to Kamal Nath and Venugopal, and seeking intervention from the party. Congress insiders told Live Hindustan that Pilot believes his actions were not anti-party and defended his recently day-long fast demanding action in the corruption allegations against the previous Vasundhara Raje government, citing that he was addressing public interest issues. Newly appointed Rajasthan Congress in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and senior leader Jairam Ramesh have been unhappy with Pilot's stance. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is also attempting to find a middle ground to reconcile Pilot and Gehlot and mitigate the impact on the upcoming Karnataka assembly election. Meanwhile, Kamal Nath is engaging in efforts to pacify the two leaders and find a solution that avoids further discord. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Kerala government has decided to approach the Supreme Court seeking a permanent solution on wild elephant nicknamed Arikomban after several villages in Palakkad and Thrissur districts opposed the high courts directive to relocate the jumbo in Parambikulam tiger reserve, said state forest minister AK Saseendran on Friday. Many villages around Parambikulam opposed the move to relocate the animal. (Representative file image) The minister said the government cannot take the jumbo to Parambikulam forcibly ignoring mounting protests of local people. We will seek the directive of the Supreme Court. Trans-locating the animal is posing a big problem. We will seek a decision based on Section 11 of the Wildlife Protection Act, said the minister. Also Read: Protest in Idukki after operation to capture rogue elephant stayed by Kerala HC Section 11 gives powers to the chief wildlife warden to exercise his discretion if the animal in question has become dangerous to human lives and properties. Several farmer outfits and local leaders have insisted the government to move the apex court for a long term solution. Many villages around Parambikulam opposed the move to relocate the animal. Some areas also observed shutdown last week and threatened to block the transfer of the animal physically. Two weeks back, the high court had ordered Arikomban to be darted, radio-collared and trans-located in Parambikulam tiger reserve. Earlier, the court had quashed the forest departments plan to make it a kumki (trainer) elephant after the intervention of animal lovers. Later, the HC-appointed expert committee had suggested that the elephant can be released Mutuvarachal area of the Parambikulam tiger reserve after tranquillising it in Idukki. But locals opposed the move fiercely saying it will stray into human habitat again and the government also felt that their concern was genuine. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court pulled up two Mumbai police officials who had kept a woman in illegal custody for 24 hours despite knowing that she had got two weeks protection from the top court to surrender in a case of cheating. They were directed to compensate the woman by paying her 15,000 out of their own pockets within two weeks. (PTI file image) A bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Ahsanuddin Amanullah said, We dont expect the police officers to behave in this manner and that too in the teeth of the order of this Court. They were directed to compensate the woman by paying her 15,000 out of their own pockets within two weeks. Also Read: Centre rejects charge of targeted attacks against Christians The incident occurred in 2021 when the women, a nurse by profession, approached the top court on November 17, same year seeking anticipatory bail in a case of cheating. The Court allowed her to withdraw the petition while granting two weeks to surrender and seek regular bail before the concerned court at Bandra. Two days later, police arrested and kept her in detention for 24 hours till she obtained bail from the trial court. The police took her into custody despite being told about the top courts decision. Last year, the woman filed a contempt petition before the top court against the two police officials, both posted as assistant sub-inspector (ASI) with Khar police station, who had taken her into custody. The police officers filed their response before the Court offering their unconditional apology and their willingness to compensate the victim. Passing the order on Monday, the bench said, The respondents (alleged contemnors) in the contempt proceedings are cautioned to be careful in future. Further proceedings in the case got closed as the Court further added, The petitioner will be compensated with the amount of 15,000 for the illegal detention for one day which will be shared by both the respondents and the payment to be made within a period of two weeks. The woman stated in her petition that she was arrested by the police from the hospital where she was employed causing her immense trauma and humiliation. The case where she was accused related to a complaint of cheating and forgery by a person who was related to her. Later, the case was settled between the parties. After her arrest, when the police produced her before the court of chief metropolitan magistrate (CMM), Bandra on November 20, 2021, the CMM refused to grant remand. On being shown the top courts three-day old direction, the magistrate recorded in the order that the arrest of the accused was not justified. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has called for a meeting of its party leaders on Saturday to finalise the plans for the Karnataka assembly elections, even as some of the partys leaders said they are likely to contest in 40 to 45 seats. NCP chief Sharad Pawar. (ANI) There are 224 seats in the Karnataka assembly. We are meeting in Mumbai on Saturday to finalise our plans for the Karnataka elections, Pawar, who was in Delhi, told reporters on Friday. The NCP presidents announcement of plans for Karnataka came a day after he met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi, in the national capital, and discussed the need to forge opposition unity to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Lok Sabha elections next year. According to an NCP functionary, who did not wish to be named, Leaders from the partys Karnataka unit have also been invited for Saturdays meeting. A second functionary said the party is likely to contest in 40 to 45 seats in Karnataka. The partys meeting on Saturday to decide on contesting the Karnataka polls also comes against the backdrop of it losing its national party status. Following the removal of the tag by the Election Commission earlier this week, the NCP said it will contest all the elections to get it restored. As we have decided to fight all the upcoming elections, we also seek to contest as many seats as we can to get the desired number of seats and voting percentage in other states and restore our national status, a second functionary said, also seeking anonymity. Elections in the state are scheduled to be held on May 10. The results will be declared on May 13. PATNA: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Bihar chief secretary, Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) and the Patna municipal corporation commissioner over media reports on the death of two sanitation workers during cleaning an underground drain in the Transport Nagar area on Tuesday. The National Human Rights Commission has told Bihar to report on the death of two persons (PTI) In the notice, which was issued on Thursday, the commission directed officials to file a detailed report on the incident within six weeks and referred to reports that the employer of the workers did not provide safety gear to the labourers who ventured into the drain. Two sanitation workers, Ranjan Ravidas (24) and Munna Razak (23) died, allegedly after inhaling toxic gases inside a sewer under the Namami Gange project on Tuesday. The labourers were cleaning a sewer at Ward No. 56, near Zakariyapur, under the Ramkrisha Police Station area, said a police officer. A senior NHRC official said that the commission supports a complete ban on cleaning hazardous drains and sewer pipes without proper safety gear. An advisory to this effect has been issued to the Centre, states, and local authorities in this regard on September 24, 2021, he added. Two workers died in May 2021 while cleaning a sewage drain in Beur area of the state capital. They were identified as Mohammad Idarish and Muhammad Iqbal, the natives of West Bengals Murshidabad districts. Bihar urban infrastructure development corporation (Buidco) managing director Dharmendra Singh, under whose supervision Namami Gange project is being implemented in Bihar, could not be contacted for his comments. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Punjab Police on Friday said they don't have exact information of Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh's arrival in Amritsar at a time when Punjab marks the beginning of the harvesting season today. Commissioner of police, Amritsar, Naunihal Singh, directed anyone who is associated with the fugitive and has been declared 'wanted' in the case to surrender immediately. 'Waris Punjab De' Chief Amritpal Singh's poster put up by Punjab Police at the Amritsar Railway Station, stating that a suitable reward would be given to anyone who tells about his whereabouts and his name would be kept confidential, in Amritsar on Thursday. (ANI) There is no exact information about Amritpal Singh's arrival here. We would like to reiterate that any person who wants to surrender should do it immediately and actions will only be taken against him as per law, Singh told reporters, adding that proper security arrangements have been made for pilgrims to visit the city during Baisakhi. Also read: Separatist Amritpal Singh, still at large, likely hiding in Rajasthan: Report There were reports that Amritpal may visit Amritsar or Talwandi Sabo due to which Punjab Police stepped up its vigil in the city. Police officials along with paramilitary forces were positioned at various naka points in Amritsar on Thursday. The Government Railway Police (GRP) had also put up wanted posters of the fugitive at railway station in the city. The poster had Amritpal's picture which reads that the radical preacher is wanted by the police in various case. GRP's top official at Amritsar station said such posters have also be put up at 22 police posts that fall under its jurisdiction. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Congress leader Pawan Khera on Friday took a veiled dig at former Rajya Sabha member Ghulam Nabi Azad after trucks started arriving at the Delhi residence of senior party leader Rahul Gandhi who is set to vacate the official bungalow following his disqualification as Lok Sabha member. Trucks arrived at Rahul Gandhi's Tughlaq Lane residence on Friday afternoon. Gandhi lost his Lok Sabha membership after he was found guilty in a criminal defamation case and sentenced to two years in prison. He was then asked to vacate his official bungalow at 12, Tughlaq Lane by April 22. A disqualified parliamentarian is not entitled to a government accommodation, and is given a 30-day period to vacate the official bungalow. While a Surat sessions court is set to pass an interim order on Gandhi's plea for a stay on his conviction, the Congress leader, according to his aides, has begun the process of moving out of his official bungalow and will vacate it in the next few days. On Friday, two trucks were seen parked outside his residence and the belongings were later shifted to his mother's 10, Janpath residence. In a video shared by news agency ANI, a truck can be seen arriving at 12, Tughlaq Lane. Quote-tweeting the video, Pawan Khera, Congress's media and publicity department head, mentioned Ghulam Nabi Azad in a veiled dig at the former Congress leader who is yet to vacate his official bungalow despite losing the membership of the upper house in February last year. Congress leaders have repeatedly targeted Azad over his Delhi house and, earlier this week questioned the government's decision to allow him to stay in the official bungalow. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Khera claimed that Satya Pal Malik, who has been a vocal critic of the BJP leadership for the past few months, has sought Z-plus security as a former governor but he has only been provided a PSO and is living in his own house, whereas Azad has been given a government bungalow and Z-plus security. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Guwahati and announced three other medical colleges in Assam during his one-day visit to the state on the occasion of Rongali Bihu. The AIIMS campus, built at a cost of Rs. 1,123 crore, is a one-of-a-kind healthcare facility in the entire northeastern region (Twitter Photo) He also laid the foundation stone of the Assam Advanced Health Care Innovation Institute (AAHII) at IIT-Guwahati, and launched a healthcare scheme to provide free medical treatment worth Rs. 5 lakh each year to 11 million beneficiaries. The three medical colleges at Nalbari, Nagaon and Kokrajhar have been built at a cost of around Rs. 615 crore, Rs. 600 crore and Rs. 535 crore, respectively. The AIIMS campus, built at a cost of Rs. 1,123 crore, is a one-of-a-kind healthcare facility in the entire northeastern region. It will have an annual intake capacity of 100 medical students every year. The foundation stone for the institute was laid by PM Modi in 2017. Also Read: How is PM Modi celebrating Indias rich cultural diversity The prime minister distributed Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) cards to three representative beneficiaries, followed by the distribution of about 11 million AB-PMJAY cards in all districts. The PM listed the initiatives taken by the Centre in the healthcare sector over the past nine years, and blamed the previous governments for failing to open units of AIIMS across the country. In the past nine years, there has been a lot of discussion on the improvement of communication infrastructure in the northeast. Along with that, there has been an amazing improvement in social infrastructure as well, both in the education and health sectors, he said. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who was also present at the event along with other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders praised the prime minister for development projects in the state. We are trying to fulfil the PMs goal of having a medical college in each district. Today, the state got three new ones taking that tally to 12. In the next 3-4 years, we will take that figure to 23 medical colleges in Assam, Sarma said at the event. Addressing the public event, Modi later took a swipe at opposition parties and accused them of feeling uneasy whenever he talks about development that has taken place across the nation since the BJP-led government came to power at the Centre in 2014. These days, we are noticing a new disease. Whenever I discuss the development that has taken place in the past nine years, some people feel very uneasy. They complain that they have also ruled the country for decades, but they dont get credit, Modi said at the event held at Changsari on the outskirts of Guwahati. Hunger for credit and the mentality of ruling the masses has negatively impacted the country a lot. Those who ruled earlier thought of the Northeast as a faraway place and created a sense of alienation. We work with a sense of selfless service and dedication for the masses, he added. Also Read: Bihu dance sets world record, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma shares another video of the performance Later in the day, the PM will take part in the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Gauhati high court. In the evening, he will attend a Bihu dance performance by over 10,000 participants. Sarma had said that its his governments aim to organise the largest Bihu dance performance at a single venue and make it to the Guinness Book of World Records in the folk-dance category. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Assam on Friday to lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation projects worth around 14,300 crore. PM Modi also praised the Madhya Pradesh government for their recruitment drive. (Facebook | Narendra Modi) At around 12 noon, Prime Minister will reach AIIMS Guwahati and inspect its newly built campus. At a public function subsequently, he will dedicate AIIMS Guwahati and three other Medical colleges to the nation. Also read: Modi speaks to Sunak, raises embassy attack He will also lay the foundation stone of Assam Advanced Health Care Innovation Institute (AAHII) and launch 'Aapke Dwar Ayushman' campaign by distributing Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) cards to eligible beneficiaries. At around 2:15 pm, Prime Minister will attend the programme marking the platinum Jubilee Celebrations of Guwahati High Court at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra, Guwahati. At 5 pm, Prime Minister will reach Sarusajai Stadium, Guwahati to preside over a public function, where he will witness a colourful Bihu programme performed by more than 10,000 Bihu dancers. During the programme, Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the Nation various development projects including commissioning of a 500 TPD Menthol Plant in Namrup; laying of foundation stone of bridge on Brahmaputra River connecting Palashbari and Sualkuchi; foundation stone laying for beautification of Rang Ghar, Sivasagar; and dedication to five railway projects to the nation. Rongali Bihu will be celebrated in Assam on Friday. Observed in the first week of the month Bohag (mid-April) every year, Rongali or Bohag Bihu heralds the Assamese New Year and is widely celebrated among the community. The Assamese celebrate Bihu thrice a year, which signifies the distinct cycles of farming - Bhogali or Magh Bihu in January, Bohag or Rongali Bihu in April, and Kongali Bihu in October. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that a strong and sensitive judiciary is important in fulfilling the dreams and aspirations of Indians in the 21st century. He was speaking at the concluding ceremony of Gauhati high courts platinum jubilee celebrations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Twitter/@BJP4India) In the 21st century, the dreams and aspirations of all Indians are unlimited. In fulfilling those dreams, as a pillar of democracy, the role of a strong and sensitive judiciary is important, Modi said. He added, We need to have a vibrant, strong and modern legal system. It is the responsibility of the legislature, executive and judiciary in fulfilling the needs of aspirational India. Also Read: PM Modi inaugurates AIIMS Guwahati, three other medical colleges in Assam The prime minister said that the Centre has scrapped nearly 2,000 laws and over 40,000 compliances continuing since the British era, which were no longer in use. Speaking about the unlimited scope of the use of technology in the justice delivery system, he said, technology has become a powerful tool in promoting ease of living in todays world. We are trying to make use of the full potential of technology in all possible fields like DBT (direct benefit transfer), Aadhar and Digital India Mission. These missions are playing the role of an important medium in delivering rights to the poor, he said. Modi stated that for a remote and hilly area like the Northeast, the use of technology in the justice delivery system is even more important. To improve efficiency and to make justice accessible, legal systems across the world have started making use of artificial intelligence (AI), the PM said, adding, Even we should use AI to make court procedures simpler for the common public and promote ease of justice. He added that the government is making efforts to write laws using a language which is easier for the people to understand, and a similar approach will also prove very beneficial in the Indian courts. Earlier this month, Union minister of law and justice Kiren Rijiju expressed the central governments commitment to focus on e-courts to deal with the high pendency of cases. This year, we have approved 7,000 crore in the budget for the e-courts project. I can firmly believe and say that this will transform the Indian judiciary in a true sense, Rijiju had said. The Gauhati high court was established in 1948, and it served as the common court for the seven north-eastern states until March 2013, when separate high courts for the state of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura were created. At present, the Gauhati high court has its principal seat at Guwahati and three permanent benches in Kohima (Nagaland), Aizawl (Mizoram) and Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh). Prime Minister Modi is on a day-long trip to Assam. Earlier in the day, he inaugurated the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Guwahati and announced three other medical colleges in Assam during his one-day visit to the state on the occasion of Rongali Bihu. He also laid the foundation stone of the Assam Advanced Health Care Innovation Institute (AAHII) at IIT-Guwahati, and launched a healthcare scheme to provide free medical treatment worth Rs. 5 lakh each year to 11 million beneficiaries. In the evening, he will attend a Bihu dance performance by over 10,000 participants. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha on Friday taunted the Narendra Modi government over CBI summons to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi excise police scam probe, saying it should put all Opposition leaders in a gas chamber and finish them off "Nazi-style". The Central Bureau of Investigation has issued summons to the Aam Aadmi Party convenor for questioning on Sunday in the Delhi excise police scam probe. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha.(File photo) Reacting strongly to the development, RJD MP and spokesperson Manoj Jha said, I would request the prime minister (Narendra Modi), the home minister (Amit Shah), that they should put all opposition leaders in a gas chamber and finish them off Nazi-style. "You work in a dictatorial manner. You are seeing that power is slipping out of your hands so you have pushed the probe agencies in a state that they can only see the houses of Opposition leaders who speak against you. Continue doing this but your end is near," Jha said in a video statement, slamming the government. "In order to save yourself from the Adani issue, you have targeted the Congress, NCP, AAP, BRS, has anyone been spared? What is left now is your fear that your friend will get exposed," the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader said. To be sure, Kejriwal, not named as an accused in the first information report (FIR), filed on August 17 last year, has been summoned as a witness in the case. The AAP leader's name came up during the questioning of some accused and witnesses and the CBI wants to seek clarifications, according to people familiar with the matter. The Delhi chief minister has been asked to be present at the agency headquarters at 11am on April 16 to answer queries of the investigating team. The central probe agency has already arrested former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the case. (With PTI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Lessons on plastic and cataract surgeries described in ancient Indian text Sushruta Samhita; significance of agriculture and irrigation as emphasized in the Ramayana and Mahabharata; vedic concepts of astronomy; and references of Mathematics in Vedas. These are among the topics suggested by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to higher education institutions to start courses on Indian Knowledge System (IKS). The suggestions are made in the draft guidelines issued by the UGC on Thursday for incorporating Indian Knowledge in Higher Education Curricula. (File Photo) The suggestions are made in the draft guidelines issued by the UGC on Thursday for incorporating Indian Knowledge in Higher Education Curricula. The draft guidelines are issued in accordance with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 that recommends induction of IKS at all levels of education. The UGC has issued the draft in the public domain seeking suggestions from stakeholders. The draft norms aim to help higher education institutions to develop courses that will introduce the students to all aspects of IKS which are related to their fields of study and to promote interest in knowing and exploring more. Therefore, it suggested that every student enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate programme should be encouraged to take credit courses in IKS amounting in all to at least 5% of the total mandated credits. At least 50% of the credits apportioned to the IKS should be related to the major discipline and should be accounted for the credits assigned to the major discipline, the draft stated. In other words, students will opt for IKS courses related to their major discipline. For instance, students who are enrolled in undergraduate programmes in medicine may take credit courses in Indian Systems of Medicine, including understanding of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy, the draft guidelines explained. Similarly, those pursuing undergraduate programme in Mathematics, can take up IKS courses in their respective discipline. The draft guidelines come days after the UGC released the final norms National Credit Framework (NCeF) under which students will now be allowed to earn credits from their expertise in various aspects of IKS. Among the other topics suggested in the draft norms are Vedic references to metals and metals working; significance of architecture and materials in Ramayana and Mahabharata; Foundational Texts of Indian Religious Sampradayas, from the Vedic period to the Bhakti traditions of different regions; place of Mathematics in Jaina literature; and Natyasastra on the nature and purpose of fine arts, among others. Meanwhile, the draft guidelines also suggested that students may be allowed to opt for internship/apprenticeship in any of the disciplines/topics that are part of IKS. Wherever possible, the students may be encouraged to choose a suitable topic related to IKS for their project work in the 7/8th semesters of the UG programme, it added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Taliban leader of whom not much is known, Nazar Mohammed, former Punjab gangster Navpreet alias Nav (currently based in Turkey), and Lakhbir Singh Rode (chief of the separatist Khalistan Liberation Force), along with five others have been identified as the main players in a syndicate pushing drugs and weapons into India using drones according to a charge sheet filed earlier this month by Delhi Police in the case of a heroin seizure of 350 kg. BSF personnel after shooting down a Pakistani drone entering India from along the International Border in Punjab on Feb 3. (PTI) The police said the names came from the interrogation of the two Afghan nationals arrested in the case, and an in-house analysis of the narco-terrorism syndicate, which, they claimed, is helped by Pakistans spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Police also questioned a man who was arrested in a 2021 case for helping Pakistani smugglers bring in drugs through the sea route . The others identified as the key players in the syndicate are Punjabi gangster who fled to Pakistan, Harvinder Singh alias Rinda , Afghan national Ahmed Shah alias Nawab Shah, a Peshawar resident Haji Musa, Mohib Masood (who is suspected to be in Pakistan) and Haji Nepali , whose location is not known. Police told the court that Sikh extremist Nav, originally a resident of Punjabs Tarn Taran, is based in Turkey, and the other people of this syndicate work from areas near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In their charge sheet, police said drones are being used to smuggle drugs into Punjab by the Turkey-controlled syndicate headed by Sikh extremists along with Af-Pak based syndicate and with the involvement of the Taliban and ISI. Quoting the statement of an arrested man, named Manjeet Singh, proprietor of an import company involved in a drug seizure case of 2021 from the JNPT port in Navi Mumbai, police mentioned that a secret meeting was held by Harvinder Rinda ( he is believed to have died in a Pakistan hospital last November), Lakhbir Singh Rode and others in 2021 to spread terror activities in India and to expand illegal trade of narcotics drugs to finance terror activities. Singh was questioned at the special cell headquarters in January this year. After Rindas meeting in Pakistan the Indo-Pak western frontier has reported a high number of drones from Pakistan entering Indias territory to drop weapons and drugs. The first case of smugglers using drones to smuggle drugs into India was detected sometime in 2019. At least 22 drones carrying drugs and weapons were shot down in 2022. In 2021, there was only 1 such case. This year, the Indo-Punjab border in Punjab has already reported nearly 24 such cases. Records show that not just drugs but even weapons such as AK series rifles and Chinese pistols are being dropped. Last month, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Maan in a meeting with union minister Amit Shah alerted him about the increasing number of such incidents. Most drop zones of weapons and drugs have been reported in the Amritsar and Ferozpur districts. The problem is not restricted to Punjab alone. Cases have started increasing at the border in Jammu too. On Wednesday (April 12), security forces in Jammus Rajouri district shot down a drone from Pakistan and recovered 131 rounds of Ak47, 5 magazine and two lakh rupees in cash. Between March 22 and April 1 , there were two such incidents in Jammu. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Citing the legislative architecture of the country, the Union government on Monday submitted in the Supreme Court that it would not be prudent or legally feasible to debar those against whom serious penal charges have been framed by trial courts from contesting elections. PREMIUM Supreme Court. (PTI) Even as the Centre sought more time to bring on record its official stand through an affidavit, the government flagged that defining serious offences was a challenge. A law officer representing the Centre further pointed out that every order framing criminal charges could be challenged before an appellate court and potentially set aside, but the damage caused due to debarment from contesting an election would be irreparable. The Centres objections against keeping criminally tainted candidates out of the electoral fray have come more than four years after the Supreme Court said that a time has come that the Parliament must make law to ensure that persons facing serious criminal cases do not enter into the political stream. Two years ago, the Supreme Court again made an appeal to the conscience of the lawmakers hoping that they will wake up soon and carry out a major surgery for weeding out the malignancy of criminalisation in politics, which, it added, was growing day by day. The top court is currently seized of a PIL by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, who has relied on a host of reports of the Law Commission and Election Commission of India on the aspect of decriminalising politics. In the 244th report submitted in 2014, the Law Commission recommended disqualification of people against whom charges have been framed at least one year before the date of scrutiny of nominations for an offence punishable with a sentence of five years or more. Upadhyay, in his petition, claimed that there has been an increase of 44% in the number of MPs with declared criminal cases since 2009. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, 159 MPs declared serious criminal cases against them, including those of rape, murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, crimes against women. This was 29% of the 542 winners. In 2014, only 21% of MPs faced heinous crimes, he added. The Union government has four weeks to convey its stand on an affidavit, but the larger concern, it turns out, has occupied the Supreme Court for a few decades. Criminalisation of politics and early days Elections are the nerve centre of democratic politics. Thus, the antecedents of candidates entering electoral politics have always remained a key consideration for the framers of the Constitution and the institutions bestowed with the duty to implement it. Dr Rajendra Prasad, before putting the motion for passing of the Constitution on the floor of the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, had said: It requires men of strong character, men of vision, men who will not sacrifice the interests of the country at large for the sake of smaller groups and areas...We can only hope that the country will throw up such men in abundance. Underlining the importance of free and fair election, the Supreme Court in Mohinder Singh Gill Vs Chief Election Commissioner (1978) held that democracy is government by the people wherein the little man, in his multitude, marking his vote at the poll does a social audit of his Parliament plus political choice of this proxy. The Dinesh Goswami Committee on Electoral Reforms in 1990 acknowledged the need for a crackdown on money and muscle power in polls. The Committee said: The role of money and muscle powers at elections deflecting seriously the well accepted democratic values and ethos and corrupting the process; rapid criminalisation of politics greatly encouraging evils of booth capturing, rigging, violence etc.; misuse of official machinery, i.e. official media and ministerial; increasing menace of participation of non-serious candidates; form the core of our electoral problems." Similarly, the Vohra Committee that was formed in the wake of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts expressed deep concerns that over the past few years, several criminals had been elected to local bodies, state assemblies and Parliament. The nexus between the criminal gangs, police, bureaucracy and politicians has come out clearly in various parts of the country, stated the Committees report submitted to the Central government in October 1993. The Vohra Committee report was extensively cited by the Supreme Court in its 1997 judgement in Dinesh Trivedi (MP) and others Vs Union of India and others, lamenting that the nexus between politicians, bureaucrats and criminal elements in society has been on the rise, the adverse effects of which, it said, are increasingly being felt on various aspects of social life in India. In Anukul Chandra Pradhan, Advocate Supreme Court Vs Union of India and others (1997), the top court approved of the election laws that sought to exclude persons with criminal background from the election scene as candidates and voters, noting the object is to prevent criminalisation of politics and maintain propriety in elections. Days after holding two high-profile political meetings in Delhi, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday revealed his next step in building opposition unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Addressing party workers at JD(U) office in Patna on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti, Nitish Kumar said he will not hold talks with non-BJP parties and will go on a visit across the country. BIhar chief minister Nitish Kumar. (PTI)(HT_PRINT) The JD(U) supremo also launched a veiled attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying those who vote for them in the next year's Lok Sabha elections will bring "destruction" onto themselves. Kumar, who dumped the BJP in August last year and formed the Mahagathbandhan government, said, I am working towards forging opposition unity...but I am not a claimant for the prime minister's post. All opposition parties are united over forming an alliance against the BJP-led government at the Centre before the 2024 general elections." "I must tell one thing that those who will vote for them (BJP) in the coming general elections will bring destruction on themselves and the country and those who will vote for us will ensure the well-being of themselves, the country and the state," Kumar said. The chief minister claimed that his only goal was to work for "unifying the opposition to unseat the BJP from power". I met several opposition leaders, including the Congress and the Left parties, in Delhi. We had very positive and constructive meetings...Now I will talk to other non-BJP parties and will go on a visit across the country," the CM said. Earlier this week, Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav met Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi at Kharges residence in Delhi. We held a historic meeting here. A lot of issues were discussed and we decided to unite all parties and fight all the upcoming polls in a united manner. We have made this decision and all of us will work on this path, Kharge told reporters. (With PTI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Trucks arrived at the government-allotted bungalow of former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi in the national capital as the Lok Sabha secretariat had asked him to vacate his official residence by April 22, after he was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha due to his conviction in a criminal defamation case in Gujarat last month. Trucks spotted near Rahul Gandhi's residence.(ANI) The 12 Tughlak Lane bungalow was allotted to Gandhi in 2005 after he won his first Lok Sabha election from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress leader got disqualified from the Lok Sabha on March 23, and according to the rule, a disqualified parliamentarian isn't entitled to a government accommodation, and is given a 30-day period to vacate the official bungalow. A truck carrying personal belongings of Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi leaves his official residence.(Sanchit Khanna/ HT) Also read | Rahul Gandhi back in Lok Sabha 'very quickly'? Congress leader says... The disqualification was prompted following a judgment in a criminal defamation case, where a local court in Surat convicted the Congress leader for two-year term over a speech he made ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha election where he asked about how all thieves have Modi surnames. At the Congress plenary in Raipur earlier this year, Gandhi spoke about his unusual relationship with his residence and said that he never had a home as he always stayed in government accommodation. He had also said he didnt have a strong attachment to his house. Read | 'Can live with his mother or come to me...": Cong chief on Rahul Gandhi bungalow row After Gandhi received an eviction notice, the grand old party started a campaign Mera Ghar, Aapka Ghar to symbolically dedicated their home to former party chief. Delhi women Congress Sevadal president, Rajkumari Gupta, had transferred her house in Mangolpuri area, which she reportedly received at the time of late prime minister Indira Gandhi. Other congress supporters also posted on social media welcoming former Congress chief to their homes. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Asad Ahmad - the son of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad - had two bullet wounds and his aide Ghulam had only one, a doctor at Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi Medical College, told news agency ANI Friday. Asad and Ghulam were shot and killed in an encounter with UP Police near Jhansi Thursday and their post-mortem was held today. The Jhansi Medical College's Dr Narendra Sengar said the two had been dead for up to two hours before their bodies were brought. Police personnel at the site of the encounter in which jailed mafia Atiq Ahmads son Asad was killed by the UP STF, (PTI Photo) "Under legal process postmortem was conducted. Whole body X-ray was done (and) post-mortem was carried out by a team of doctors," he said. "Asad had two bullet injuries whereas Ghulam had only one. There were no signs of 'rigor mortis'. I think they died 90 minutes to two hours before they were brought to the hospital" Dr Sengar said. "Bullet pierced vital organ of Ghulam was bleeding profusely from his back" The bodies are under guard and 'family member have left Prayagraj and will reach (Jhansi) in six hours', Jhansi Police Superintendent Gyanendra Singh said. Ghulam's mother told ANI she would not receive her son's body. "I had no idea that he (her son) used to work for gangster Atiq Ahmad. I will not receive his body maybe his wife will receive it." Umesh Pal's mother thanked UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath and called the killings a 'tribute' to her son's death. Asad Ahmad and his father are wanted in connection with the murder of lawyer Umesh Pal, who was an eyewitness to the killing of Raju Pal, a Bahujan Samaj Party lawmaker. Umesh Pal was killed in February and Raju Pal in 2005. Asad and Ghulam were tracked down by UP Police's Special Task Force in 'Operation Jhansi' after a tip that they were on the move. READ | How UP cops planned 'Op Jhansi' to catch Atiq Ahmed's son Asad They were intercepted as Asad was riding a motorcycle and, according to the police, both were killed in the exchange of gunfire that followed. The police said they recovered two foreign-made weapons - a British Bulldog revolver and a German Walther P88 semi-automatic pistol - from the bodies. Asad and Ghulam's deaths have been praised by Yogi Adityanath and his deputy, Keshav Prasad Maurya. Yogi hailed it as a 'historic' and Maurya declared it a 'message to criminals'. The encounter killings have also been praised by other BJP leaders, including union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar. READ | Asad Ahmad killing a 'message to...': UP dy CM. Yogi praises cops The opposition, though, has been fiercely critical. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi ripped into the BJP, demanding to know if the killers of Junaid and Nasir (victims of alleged cow vigilantes in Haryana's Bhiwani in February) would receive similar treatment. "No because you do encounters in the name of religion," a furious Owaisi said. READ | 'Will BJP also shoot...': Furious Owaisi slams Asad Ahmad encounter Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the ruling BJP of 'fake encounters to divert people's attention from real issues' - a reference to state-wide civic body elections due next month. With input from ANI SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi The University Grants Commission (UGC) has made it mandatory to include one member from a marginalised caste or tribe, and one woman, in student grievance redressal committees (SGRC) that are supposed to be constituted by every higher educational institution to deal with student complaints. The UGC on Thursday asked all higher education institutions to comply with the new norms that seek to address problems faced by students already enrolled in any institution, as well as those seeking admission to such places The national regulator also reiterated that it is compulsory to include one ombudsman in the committees, which were last notified in 2019 but not uniformly implemented across the country. The UGC (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2023, which will replace the 2019 guidelines, were notified by the council on April 11. The commission on Thursday asked all higher education institutions (HEIs) to comply with the new norms that seek to address problems faced by students already enrolled in any institution, as well as those seeking admission to such places. The revised guideline laid down the norms for composition of SGRCs. At least one member (of the SGRC) or the chairperson shall be a woman and at least one member (of the SGRC) or the chairperson shall be from SC/ST/OBC category, it said. The 2019 guidelines had no such stipulation for the five to six-member committees. It had senior professors, dean student welfare, and representatives from students, who were nominated based on academic merit/excellence in sports/performance in co-curricular activities. The guidelines were notified at a time when a string of student suicides at premier educational institutions, especially at IITs, has triggered a debate on the pressure and problems faced by pupils in these campuses. In particular, the death of a 18-year-old Dalit student at IIT-Bombay in February sparked allegations of caste discrimination, which the institution has refuted. Police later recovered a suicide note from his room and arrested a classmate named in the note. UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar said that the provision was added to make the SGRCs inclusive. The changes have been made for a better representation from all categories of students and faculty members, and made the grievance redressal committees more inclusive, he said. Kumar said the revised guidelines created accountability for educational institutions in resolving the issues of students in a time-bound manner. The regulation makes it clear that any violation of the provisions of the regulation in failing to address the grievances of the students will lead to appropriate action by UGC, he added. Some experts welcomed the inclusion of representatives from reserved categories but pointed out that other mechanisms such as the SC/ST Cell, which is also mandatory across campuses have proven to be half measures in the absence of strong institutional will and several vacancies. Hansraj Suman, the chairperson of the Delhi University scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and other backward classes teachers association, said, It will give more confidence to the students facing any kind of caste-based discrimination to reach out to these committees. However, the other mechanisms to address these issues, including SC/ST cells, should also remain in place. Kumar agreed. These regulations do not replace other regulations/guidelines made/issued by the UGC from time to time to ensure that no student is discriminated against on the basis of caste, creed, religion, language, ethnicity, gender or disabilities, he said. The new guidelines also retained the provision of appointment of an ombudsman for redressal of grievances of students. The ombudsman shall be a retired vice-chancellor or retired professor with 10 years experience, or a former district judge. The new guidelines also allow students aggrieved by the decision of SGRC to appeal to the ombudsman within a period of 15 days from the date of receipt of such a decision. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Union government is considering restricting the sale of medicines through online pharmacies but it could allow the use of digital prescriptions under the e-pharmacy regulations that are currently being drafted, according to people familiar with the matter. The Union government is considering restricting the sale of medicines through online pharmacies (Shutterstock/Representative use) The decision, yet to be final, comes at a time of concern over the quality and the due diligence checks online pharmacies will carry out. E-pharmacies are mushrooming across the country and it can be difficult to keep track of items that are sold online under the name of drugs and the volume of certain drugs that is being sold to one consumer, especially in tier-2, tier-3 cities. Apart from that, data privacy is also an issue, said a senior government functionary, asking not to be named. While online sale of drugs can be an issue, the government is not against use of legitimate e-prescriptions for the convenience of patients, added the official. Currently, there are no e-pharmacy specific laws in the country and the government is working on drafting regulations for sale, distribution, and stocking at online pharmacies. In February, the Centre issued show cause notices to some 20 odd platforms selling drugs online for reported violations. This office has received various representations from time to time raising concerns regarding sale of drugs through online, internet, or other electronic platforms including various mobile applications, in contravention to the provisions, of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 & Rules there under. Such sale includes drugs specified in schedule H, H1 and X which are only allowed to be sold by retail under a valid prescription of a registered medical practitioner and supplied under the supervision of a registered pharmacist, wrote the then drugs controller general of India, VG Somani, in his notice. you are hereby asked to show cause why action shall not be taken against you for sale, or stock or exhibit or offer for sale or distribution of drugs in contravention of the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act it read further. The centre began the work to regulate online drugs stores back in 2015, when e-commerce was growing in India and online pharmacies too were becoming popular. There was no provision then in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act for e-pharmacies. There were no checks and balances in place, and it could promote self-medication and sale of fake drugs, which is why it was thought to start the process to regulate these, said a former official working with the central drugs standard control organisation, requesting anonymity. A consultative committee on e-pharmacies was formed that submitted its report to the national drugs regulator. The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), an association of medicine traders, has also been highlighting the dangers of online sales. A senior executive belonging to one of the online pharmacies currently functional, said, There is nothing illegal happening here. This notice was unfair as not all online stores are violating norms. There may be some but you cannot punish all for misdoings of a handful. Online drugs stores, like other stores selling items online, are meant for the convenience of people who may not be able to step out to buy medicines, those living in remote areas etc. What the government should focus on is regulating online pharmacies like physical retail stores and not banning them. The representatives of online pharmacies have sought a meeting with the Union health minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, in this regard. According to people familiar with the matter, the health minister is likely to meet them soon to discuss the matter that could decide the future of online drugs stores. This issue needs to be sorted, and the minister has given time to listen to them, confirmed another official, requesting anonymity. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Bharatiya Janata Party government in Uttar Pradesh was carrying out encounters with an eye on polls, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Friday a day after gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad and an associate were killed by an STF team in Jhansi there. Ahmad, his son and several others are accused in the Umesh Pal murder case in UP, the fallout of which made Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath swear in the Assembly that he would wipe out the mafia there. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.(HT Photo) Speaking to reporters after paying tribute to eminent jurist and social reformer Babasaheb Ambedkar at his birthplace Mhow on his birth anniversary, Yadav said the Constitution, of which the former was the chief architect, was under threat. "Institutions are being finished one after the other and (Bharatiya Janata Party) governments (at the Centre and UP) are working to destroy the Constitution Babasaheb gave us," Yadav said. Queried about Thursday's encounter, Yadav said, "From the very first day, (the Uttar Pradesh) BJP government is indulging in fake encounters with an eye on polls." However, on being asked about allegations that Atiq Ahmad had connections to Pakistani elements, Yadav just said "what can I say about the connections he has and with whom". He slammed the BJP government in UP for action against a mother-daughter duo in Kanpur, during which their houses were bulldozed and burnt down, leading to both losing their lives. Yadav also alleged a promising student leader was killed in Ballia by those belonging to the "caste of the (UP) chief minister". "Is it an India where you can kill a weaker person? Is it an India where we won't get our Constitutional rights," the SP chief questioned. He asked why UP has received the maximum number of notices from the National Human Rights Commission (for police action like encounters), adding that the northern state also leads in the number of custodial deaths. 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. Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25 against Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, son Asad, Ghulam and others. As per UP police, Asad and Ghulam were shot dead after they opened fire at a Special Task Force team that had encircled them in Jhansi on Thursday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took a ride in a Made in India train during his visit to the capital of Mozambique Maputo. He was accompanied by Mozambican transport minister. The two talked about India's partnership in helping expand the train networks electric mobility and waterways connectivity, S Jaishankar informed. S Jaishankar In Mozambique: This marks 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," the minister 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," he shared in another tweet. S Jaishankar is on a three-day visit to Mozambique where he met the president of the country's Parliament to strengthen bilateral cooperation. He began the visit on April 13, marking the first-ever visit by an external affairs minister of India to the country. During the visit, S Jaishankar also interacted with the Indian community in the country 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. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Days after Kailash Vijayvargiya stoked controversy for his comments in which he compared the girls wearing dirty clothes with Shuparnakha (a mythical figure from the Ramayana), Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Friday slammed the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader saying our clothes arent gandey' (dirty), your 'soch' (mentality) is. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra addresses a press conference in Kolkata.(PTI) In a video, Vijayvargiya, earlier this month, can be heard saying, Even today when I go out, I see educated youths and children roaming in intoxicated state. I really feel like giving them five to seven (slaps) so that their intoxication goes away. I am telling the truth, swear to God. I will not lie on Hanuman Jayanti. We call the women and girls goddesses but girls come out wearing such dirty clothes that the form of the Goddess is not visible in them. They look like Shurpanakha. God has given them good beautiful bodies so they should put some nice clothes. You (parents) should inculcate sanskar (culture) among children because I am very worried about it, added Vijayvargiya. His comments drew sharp criticism from the opposition and social media users, who accused him of misogyny and moral policing. In the latest attack, Moitra, who shared a video clip of her press briefing held on Thursday, tweeted, A Friday morning message for BJP leaders & bhakts. Were Bengali women, we wear what we want. We eat what we want. We worship who we want. Our clothes arent gandey. Your soch is gandi. Earlier, the Congress demanded action against the BJP leader for insulting women. Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee women wing president Vibha Patel said, On one side, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is holding a programme for Ladli Behna, and on the other, BJP senior leader Kailash Vijavargiya is insulting women in a public programme. BJP leaders didnt condemn or say a word against this insult to women. It showed the real attitude of BJP towards women. (With inputs from Shruti Tomar from Bhopal) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The mother of Ghulam - who was gunned down by Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force on Thursday with Asad Ahmad, the son of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad - has declared the state government's action to be 'absolutely correct'. Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad, wanted in the killing of Umesh Pal, was killed in an encounter by the UP STF in Jhansi.(PTI) "All gangsters and criminals will take a lesson from this. I had no idea that he (her son) used to work for gangster Atiq Ahmad. I will not receive his body maybe his wife will receive it," she was quoted by news agency ANI. Ghulam Hasan - a resident of Prayagraj's Mehndauri area - was the brother of ex-BJP minority cell district president Rahil Hasan. He was with gangster Asad Ahmad - both had a 5 lakh reward on their heads - when the two were shot dead in an encounter in UP's Jhansi. Their killing sparked praise for UP cops from chief minister Yogi Adityanath, his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya and other BJP leaders, and criticism from opposition leaders like AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and the Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, who feared the extra-legal nature of the shooting. Asad Ahmad and Ghulam's killing was also praised by the mother of Umesh Pal - the lawyer who was an eyewitness to the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party lawmaker Raju Pal and whose murder in Prayagraj has been credited to Atiq and Asad Ahmad, among others. Pal's mother thanked Yogi Adityanath and called the killings a 'tribute' to her son's death. Asad Ahmad and Ghulam were hunted down by UP cops in a special operation codenamed 'Jhansi' that was launched after a tip that the two were on the move. According to the police, the two opened fire after being cornered and were shot dead in the subsequent exchange of bullets. "They (Asad and Ghulam) were travelling across several states after the Umesh Pal murder. 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," Anant Dev Tiwari, the task force's DIG, said. (With inputs from agencies) Last fortnight I went to a tempura-only restaurant in Tokyo, where elderly chefs, tempura masters who have spent their lives perfecting the art, served pieces of tempura, fresh from the fryer to guests who sat patiently at a counter waiting for the chefs to decide when each piece of tempura had been perfectly fried and was ready to leave the hot oil. Japanese food is about searching for outstanding ingredients and making them taste like the best versions of themselves, even in a hotpot. (Shutterstock) My favourite of the tempura was onion. When we eat tempura in India it is usually a golden, breadcrumby, pakora-like dish where, when you bite into each piece, the filling and the casing quickly separate. In Japan, high quality tempura is not like that. Tempura masters scour the markets, looking for the best vegetables (any good tempura menu is usually at least 70% vegetarian) and fish to drop into their batter. As with nearly everywhere else in Japan, the ingredients are the point. At a high-quality place, the batter will be thin and will cling to the vegetable or the fish. Make it the way we do in India (and in many countries other than Japan) like the fried fish from an order of fish and chips, and the chef will be sacked. The batter should be just thin enough to preserve the flavour of the vegetable/fish; nothing more. At a high-quality tempura place, the batter will be thin and will cling to the vegetable or the fish. The batter should be just thin enough to preserve the flavour of the vegetable/fish; nothing more (Shutterstock) My slice of onion, covered by a film of batter, was perfect. All too often low-quality onion tempura will unravel in your mouth, the onions layers separating into thick chewy strands. But here, the onion kept its shape, it remained sweet and deliciously firm. You will get all kinds of tempura in Japan. You will get fairly basic tempura on the streets and at less elevated restaurants. At some places they will take a piece of shrimp tempura and serve it in a bowl of broth, a move that always puzzles foreigners who cant understand why anyone would want to destroy the crispness of the tempuras batter. But at top tempura-only places, you will get this sort of delicate tempura: the best vegetables gently battered and then fried so that their flavours are sealed in. Later, when I thought about it, the onion tempura seemed to me to be the perfect metaphor for Japanese cuisine. It really is like an onion. You think you understand it but you have only got to the outer layer on the onion. You eat more widely and decide that now, Japanese cuisine has finally revealed its secrets to you. But no, you will have only got to the second or third layer of the onion. A local restaurant in Osaka (above) where youre bound to find delicate tempura using the best vegetables, gently battered and then fried so that their flavours are sealed in. (Shutterstock) I have been to Japan four times (one of which was a food discovery trip) and have eaten at Japanese restaurants all over the world. But I still dont understand Japanese cuisine. The more I learn, the less I know. There are just too many layers to the cuisine (like everything else in the complex and opaque society that is Japan). Some things need to be said straight out. Yes, it is true that Japanese is one of the worlds greatest cuisines. It is also true that their cuisine philosophy is the opposite of ours. When we see a gobhi (cauliflower) we think: should I make a sabzi out of it? What masalas should I use? Should I put it in a paratha? And so on. When a Japanese chef sees a gobhi, he first tastes it to make sure that it is an exceptional gobhi. Then, he tries to find ways of preserving the taste of the original gobhi. (Tempura is one way.) As the Japanese like to say, the rest of the world sees an ingredient and thinks: what can we add to this? The guiding principle in Japanese cuisine at the top level is subtraction rather than addition. We can argue that this is because, unlike us, they dont understand the magic of spices and dont know how to marry a gobhi with the perfect masalas or how to turn a piece of fish into an Alleppey curry. I dont take sides in this argument. But it is important to recognise that Japanese approach food in a very different way from the rest of us. Most sushi in Japan is nigiri (above), not the rolls were familiar with. (Shutterstock) I used to say that it was impossible to eat badly in Japan. I dont say that any longer. There are 3 lakh restaurants in Tokyo alone. (Yes, three LAKH!) It is not possible for every one of these restaurants to be wonderful. All Japanese chefs are not very good. The percentage of bad restaurants out of the total is roughly the same as say, in Bangkok. On the other hand, there is a lower proportion of bad restaurants in Tokyo than there is in say, Paris or Delhi. And just as not all Indians can tell good food from bad, neither can all Japanese. They are not a nation of super-gourmets. (There is a McDonalds on every corner.) But there are things that the Japanese do very well at every level. Sushi is one example. Most Indian sushi chefs would find it hard to get a job in Japan. Sushi is 80% about the rice, about the quality, about how long it is cooked for, about what temperature it is served at, how loose the rice pellet is etc. Its only 20% about the fish. But even when it comes to fish, the Japanese are not like us. Fresh is not the best. Many fish (say tuna) benefit from ageing. The cutting is crucial. The fish must be served at exactly the right temperature. Sometimes the chef will warm the sushi in his palm to release the fishs natural oils before serving it. In contrast most sushi in India tastes like it was made on the North Pole. The pellet is iced, tightly pressed on poor- quality rice and the fish is nearly always too cold; even expensive toro or tuna belly is served so cold that the fat has not had time to express itself and you wonder what you are paying for. Around 95% of all sushi in Japan is nigiri. No Japanese foodie would think much of (or even recognise) the sushi rolls served in India. If you were to dip the rice part of your nigiri sushi into soya (as most of us do) the chef would look at you with the sort of polite contempt that the Japanese have mastered. But top quality sushi is one of lifes great pleasures; sadly it is nearly always very expensive and it is almost impossible for non Japanese to get into the best sushi places. Authentic Japanese cuisine usually consists of a variety of side dishes. (Shutterstock) On the other hand, an inexpensive convenience store packaged egg sandwich is not hard to find. As the food writer Matt Goulding has written: The math doesnt work out squishy bread,industrial fillings but what comes out of those plastic wrappers is glorious. Egg sandwiches from 7-Eleven and Lawson are little miracles of creamy golden yolk and umami-rich Kewpie mayonnaise. He is right and it is counter intuitive. Why should we enjoy a sandwich that was made on an industrial-style assembly line miles away many hours ago? Isnt the point of Japanese cuisine that you eat food cooked by chefs who use the best ingredients? Yup. It is. But what can I say? These sandwiches are delicious. I could live on them. And, to a lesser extent on the katsu sando (a sandwich made with a pork or beef cutlet). As I said, the more I learn about Japanese food, the more confused I get. So I now follow simple rules. Accept that you will always be ignorant. Eat at cheap places or on the street. Always be ready to raid the convenience store. Dont be disappointed if the food at a mid-level place is not good. (That happens a lot.) And save up for the great restaurants; they are always worth it. It doesnt mean I understand anything. I still dont. But somehow, I manage to eat well. From HT Brunch, April 15, 2023 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Japans government on Friday approved a controversial plan to open the country's first casino in the city of Osaka as it seeks to lure more foreign tourists. The spinning wheel on a roulette table is seen at Japan Casino School in Tokyo. Japan approves controversial plan to open first casino in Osaka to lure tourists (REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo) The casino resort is to include conference facilities, an exhibition hall, a hotel and a theater and is expected to open as early as autumn 2029, four years after Osaka hosts a World Expo. It is expected to contribute to the local economy and the economic growth of all of Japan after the Osaka-Kansai Expo and become a tourism hub for transmitting the charms of Japan, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a meeting of the government's IR, or integrated resort, promotion panel. The panel said the plan meets the government's requirements, including financial stability, contribution to the local economy and consideration of anti-addiction measures. It was formally approved by Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito. The planned 1.8 trillion ($13.6 billion) project, submitted last year, will be located on an artificial island and is projected to have 20 million visitors and 520 billion yen ($3.9 billion) in revenue annually. Most of the revenue is expected to come from the casino. The resort will be operated by Osaka IR KK, established by the Japanese subsidiary of U.S. casino operator MGM Resorts International, Japan's Orix Corp. financial services group, and a number of regional investors. Osaka is close to other attractions such as Universal Studios Japan and the tourist destination of Kyoto. But experts say its business could shrink in the future in a country with a rapidly aging and declining population. Past attempts to build casinos have failed, often because of strong public opposition to gambling, even though state-run wagering on horse and boat racing is extremely popular. The Nikkei business newspaper said it recently surveyed Osaka residents and found that their opinions were divided, with 45% in favor of the casino plan and 38% against it. In October 1947, speaking from the steps of the Jama Masjid in Delhi, Maulana Azad, Indias first education minister, addressed a congregation of Muslims, some of whom had chosen to move to newly created Pakistan, about why the Partition of India was a fundamental mistake and the two-nation theory a death-knell to a meaningful, dignified life... The manner in which religious differences were incited, inevitably, led to the devastation that we have seen with our own eyes. Unfortunately, we were still seeing it in some places. PREMIUM A parliamentary debate where citizens have a right to see who stands where on how history should be taught, could have preceded these edits in the NCERT textbooks (Hindustan Times) A reference to this champion of Indian nationalism, a freedom fighter whom former Prime Minister (PM) Jawaharlal Nehru called Mir-e-Karavan (leader of our caravan) when he announced his death, is the latest excision in school textbooks. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has called these deletions a step towards syllabi rationalisation, but every day brings new details of what is being edited out. So far, we knew that NCERT removed some portions about the 2002 Gujarat riots, the Emergency, the Cold War, the Naxalite movement, and Mughal courts from its Class 12 textbooks. Earlier this week, reports said that a line referencing Maulana Azads presence at the Constituent Assembly meetings was removed from the new political science textbook for Class XI students. Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, and BR Ambedkars names were retained, but Azads name was edited. This is both unacceptable and inexplicable. NCERT, which refuted media reports that Mughal history would no longer be taught in schools (arguing that only overlapping and irrelevant chapters were compressed or removed), offered no explanation or a counter to multiple media reports on the Azad issue. The opacity around these changes, which were finalised last year, is most disconcerting. Surely, what our children study or do not in school is an issue in which every parent is a stakeholder. Read together with the fact that the Centre stopped the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) for minority communities in 2022, arguing that there were several other overlapping schemes, the removal of the Azad reference can hardly be seen as random or innocuous. We should not be surprised that history is a modern battlefield or a gladiatorial arena where political narratives of the present are seeded in the soil of the contested past. In the United States, confederate statues are a flashpoint for heated arguments over racism and slavery. In the United Kingdom, the crimes of the British empire have been entirely taken out of the classroom; there is no colonial history taught. In India, textbook politics have long been the staple of political disputes between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress. Yes, interpretations of history are often more normative than empirical. Whose lens you see history through that of the conqueror, of the victor, of the vanquished, of women, of Dalits, of the subalterns changes the picture you see. And how we look back at the past is also informed by how we understand our present. Hence, the contemporary edits in books by much-loved authors, such as Enid Blyton, whom an entire generation did not find racist till Golliwog references started being considered unpardonable. But changes made in the textbooks without a public discussion are worrying. A parliamentary debate, for instance, where citizens have a right to see who stands where on how history should be taught, could have preceded these edits. Again, political competitiveness at the core of textbook changes bothers me less than the growing impression of religious prejudice. Lieutenant-General (retired) Zameer Uddin Shah, a respected military veteran and former vice-chancellor (V-C) of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), told me that this is not rationalisation, it is entirely irrational. The present attempt to alter history is being assumed by Muslims to be an attack on them. Shah can hardly be called doctrinaire or conservative. He met Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat last year. As V-C of AMU, he engaged with PM Narendra Modi. His sense of pluralism comes from the Indian Army. We are five fingers, Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians and Parsis; Injuring one means we can no longer clench our fists, he said. Lets go back to the words of Azad, who incidentally told late journalist Kuldip Nayyar that he made a mistake in supporting Nehru over Sardar Patel for PM: Come, today let us pledge that this country is ours, we belong to it and any fundamental decisions about its destiny will remain incomplete without our consent. He was addressing a Muslim gathering, but we should all care about whats being taught in Indias classrooms. Barkha Dutt is an award-winning journalist and author The views expressed are personal Twitter on Friday announced that it will now support tweets up to 10,000 characters in length with bold and italic text formatting. The users need to sign up for Twitter Blue to access these features. According to research firm Pathmatics, in January fourteen of the top 30 advertisers on Twitter stopped advertising on the platform since Musk took charge. (Reuters) On March 6, Elon Musk had said that the social media platform is working on expanding the tweet limit to 10,000. We are extending longform tweets to 10k soon, he had said. The billionaire had not specified whether the feature will be available only to Twiitter Blue users. The Twitter Blue subscription is already available in India. The users can subscribe it for 650 and 900 a month on website and mobile respectively. The annual subscribers will get a discount of 1,000 and will need to pay 6,800 instead of 7,800. The benefits of this feature include editing tweets, posting longer videos, viewing 50 per cent lesser advertisements and early access to new features. The tweets can be edited up to five times within 30 minutes of posting. Earlier in the day, Musk announced that Twitter users will be able to offer their followers subscriptions to content which include long-form text and hours-long video. According to this plan, the users offering the subscription will get all the money subscribers pay apart from the charges platforms like Android and iOS levy. The social media platform will not take a cut for the first 12 months. Musk has introduced sweeping reforms within the company in a bid to boost revenue since taking over last Octonber. The social media platform witnessed a drop in advertisement revenue in the run up to his $44 billion takeover. 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. (With Reuters inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Elon Musk is the owner of Twitter, and leaves no stone unturned to flaunt that he owns it. Ever since he bought the social media platform for a whopping $44 billion last October, the billionaire has made sweeping changes within the company. He has initiated several measures including paid subscription service called Twitter Blue to boost revenue of the company. Musk has also increased the tweet limit to 10,000 with bold and italicised text, fulfilling what he had promised earlier. Several events have unfolded in Twitter since Musk gave the offer to buy Twitter exactly a year ago. Here's a brief timeline. March 14, 2022: Musk begins investing in Twitter in late January. By March 14, he owns 9.2 per cent stake in the social media platform. April 14, 2022: The billionaire offers to buy Twitter at $54.20, as the valuation reaches $43 billion as per the Securities and Exchange Commission. April 21, 2022: In SEC filing, Musk says he has received $46.5 billion in financing to complete the acquisition. April 25, 2022: The social media platform accepts Musk's offer and announces the deal valuation at $44 billion. May 13, 2022: Musk says that the Twitter deal is temporarily on hold. He cites the prevalence of bots and spam accounts on the microblogging platform. Elon Musk's photo is seen through a Twitter logo in this illustration.(REUTERS) May 26, 2022: Twitter shareholders bring class-action lawsuit against Musk over alleged stock manipulation tied to the acquisition process. June 6, 2022: Musk threatens to withdraw from the deal if the social media giant does not disclose information about bots and spams on the platform. July 8, 2022: Musk moves to terminate his deal on issue of fake accounts. July 12, 2022: Twitter sues Musk in Delaware court to force him to complete the deal. July 19, 2022: Delaware court says that trial in lawsuit by Twitter against Musk should take place in October. August 23, 2022: Former Twitter head of security Peiter Zatko alleges that the platform has glaring information security system lapses. October 4, 2022: Musk proposes to complete the Twitter buyout deal at his original offer of $54.20 per share. October 28, 2022: Musk closes the deal to acquire the social media platform on the final day before the Delaware court would move forward. November 4, 2022: Twitter initiates mass layoffs to trim roughly half of its 7,500-person workforce. November 9, 2022: Twitter launches Blue subscription service, asking users to pay $8 if they want the verified badge. November 16, 2022: Musk in an email to employees asks them to accept long hours of work or leave. March 24, 2023: Twitter says legacy verified badges will end on April 1. April 12: Musk says final date for removal of legacy verified badges is April 20. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As the issue of caste-based discrimination gets highlighted in Canada, the province of British Columbia or BC has proclaimed April 14 as Dr B R Ambedkar Equality Day. (Indian High Commission, Ottawa) While April is also observed as Dalit History Month in BC. A proclamation from the provincial Government said the Day is an opportunity to remember and honour his legacy of dedication to equality and social justice, which continues to inspire people in British Columbia and across the world. Dr Ambedkar was born on that day in 1891 and was an Indian politician, economist and social reformer known as the Father of the Indian Constitution who advocated for the rights of Dalit communities and led the movement against systemic discrimination based on caste. Indias High Commission in Ottawa will also observe Ambedkar Jayanti with the presentation of a documentary on his life and achievements. The documentary is titled: Mooknayak Leader of the Silent. The High Commission is also hosting a photo exhibition on his life. Just last month, the Toronto District School Board or TDSB, the largest in the country, passed a motion recognising caste-based oppression. The motion stipulated that the Director of TDSB will file an application with the Ontario Human Rights Commission to request that they assess and provide a framework for addressing caste oppression in a public education context. However, the final motion that was passed was diluted version of the original, passed on February 8 by the TDSBs Governance and Policy Committee, which had sought that a two-phased plan to address caste oppression be implemented within the system itself. Also last month, the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal awarded a complainant, Manoj Bhangu, CA$ 9755 after finding he had been subjected to a caste-based slur by Inderjit and Avninder Dhillon, during the course of an altercation at a taxi companys Christmas Party in 2018. Bhangu, a Hindu, had been abused by the former co-workers. The community organisation, Canadian Organization for Hindu Heritage Education, which opposes caste-based discrimination, described it as first, precedent setting, case and added that ruling proved that if a caste oppression complaint was to be made, it would be covered under the existing HR (human right) code the category of ethnicity and place of origin. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang on Friday said Beijing wont sell weapons to either side in the Ukraine war , the highest Chinese politician to say so while addressing Western concerns that China could be ready to provide military assistance to ally, Russia. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends a joint press conference with Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. (AFP) Regarding the export of military items, China adopts a prudent and responsible attitude, Qin said at a news conference alongside visiting German foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock. China will not provide weapons to relevant parties of the conflict, and manage and control the exports of dual-use items in accordance with laws and regulations, Qin said, according to a report by the Associated Press from Beijing. Beijing, while claiming neutrality in the war, has so far refused to describe Moscows unprovoked attack on Ukraine as an invasion and instead blamed the US and NATO for provoking Moscow. China has also helped Russia economically, expanding trade ties with the country. Qin reiterated Chinas willingness to help find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. In February, China called for a gradual de-escalation of the Russia-Ukraine crisis and an eventual comprehensive ceasefire in a 12-point position paper to end the war as Moscows invasion of the eastern European country dragged into the second year. On her part, German foreign minister Baerbock urged Beijing to ask the Russian aggressor to stop the war in Ukraine, saying no other country has more influence on Russia than China. It is good that China has signalled its commitment to a solution but I have to say frankly that I wonder why the Chinese position so far does not include a call on the aggressor Russia to stop the war, she said, according to agency reports. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former President Donald Trump defended his real estate business during a seven-hour deposition with New York Attorney General Letitia James, defying expectations that he would plead his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination as he did the first time he was questioned. Former President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower in New York.(AP) He answered every question and as we have said from day one there is absolutely no case, his lawyer Alina Habba said Thursday in a text message hours after the deposition in Lower Manhattan wrapped up. Delaney Kempner, a spokesman for James, declined to comment. James, who was in the room, read a prepared statement at the start of the session, according to a person familiar with the matter. Trump signaled early in the morning that he was potentially going to answer questions, saying in a social media post that he was eager to explain his successful real estate business. Read more: North Korea tests new solid-fuel ICBM with a warning: Uneasiness and horror' James previously deposed Trump in August, as she was wrapping up her three-year investigation into the former presidents business dealings. At the time, he pleaded his Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination for every question, except when asked to confirm his name. The New York attorney general sued Trump, three of his children and his company in September for $250 million, alleging they inflated the value of his assets for years to dupe banks and insurers into giving them better terms. James, a Democrat who campaigned on promises to go after Trump, is seeking penalties including a permanent ban on the four Trumps running companies in New York. Thursdays deposition was Trumps second excursion to New York in less than two weeks. He appeared in court less than a mile away on April 4 to plead not guilty in a criminal case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Trump is accused in that case of falsifying business records to hide a hush-money payment to a porn star. While the private sector employees reel under the scare of layoffs in the aftermath of job cuts by tech giant Google, an Indian-American computer scientist Pradeep Kumar Khosla has a contrasting story to tell. Khosla who is the eighth chancellor of University of California, San Diego has received a pay raise by a whopping $500,000. Pradeep Kumar Khosla is the eighth chancellor of University of California, San Diego.(UC San Diego Website) After the hike in his salary, Khosla will be earning $1.14 million a year in base pay beginning Monday, May 1. It will make him the highest-paid chancellor among nine others who lead University of California campuses. ALSO READ| Air Canada announces non-stop direct flights between Vancouver and Dubai As per reports, the University of California Board of Regents made the decision of Khosla's pay hike, to prevent him from accepting the presidency of an unnamed, private, out-of-state college. Khosla took up the role of Chancellor in the University in 2012 and under his aegis and leadership, the enrollment at San Diego increased from about 28,000 to more than 43,000 students. He also played pivotal role in ensuring that the growing student housing needs were met through campus expansion. There was a very, very strong commitment from the community to get this done because of what Pradeep has meant to San Diego, including helping to bring the Blue Line trolley to campus and building lots of housing, said University of California Board of Regents chair Rich Lieb. The raise in Khosla's salary will be paid for with private fund donations to the University. Lieb informed media that private donors in the San Diego area collectively contributed about $13 million to endow a chair whose interest income will cover the added expenses. As US President Joe Biden arrived in Northern Ireland for a brief visit to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace accord, he was greeted by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Belfast international airport. US President Joe Biden meets with Joe Kennedy, next to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.(Reuters) Watch: Im not going home', Joe Biden jokes on visit to this country A video widely shared on social media seemingly showed Joe Biden not recognising the UK prime minister. The US President seemed to brush Rishi Sunak aside, who was waiting on the tarmac along with others, to greet Kings personal representative for County Antrim, Lord-Lieutenant David McCorkell. While some pointed out the error made by Joe Biden, others said that the US President greeted Rishi Sunak, shaking his hand and giving a quick pat on his arm. News agency AFP fact-checked the video saying, Social media users are claiming a video of US President Joe Biden's arrival in Belfast on April 11, 2023 shows him failing to recognize and shoving aside British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. This is false; the claims are based on an edited clip, which cut out seconds of footage that shows the two leaders shaking hands and exchanging words. Joe Biden was on a brief visit to Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace accord. He later met Rishi Sunak and held bilateral talks dubbed as bi-latte as the brief discussion took place in a hotel cafe. Read more: Russia's exaggerated claim on Ukraine forces cut off in Bakhmut: Top updates Joe Biden, a descendant of Irish immigrants to the United States, said, Well, I just want you to know, I may be Irish but I'm not stupid. I married Dominic Giacoppo's daughter. Joe Biden also said that a bright future for Northern Ireland is just beginning, pledging American support. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON US President Joe Biden declared in Ireland, "I'm not going home" as he made an historic address to the Irish parliament. As the US President returned to his ancestral home, his only wish was that he could stay longer. In his speech, Joe Biden spoke of his pride in his Irish roots and support for the peace process in Northern Ireland saying that the UK "should be working closer" with Ireland. Joe Biden in Ireland: President Joe Biden looks up and applauds as he is seated before addressing members of the Irish parliament at Leinster House in Dublin.(AP) Read more: North Korea tests new solid-fuel ICBM with a warning: Uneasiness and horror' Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar welcoming Joe Biden saying that both the US and Ireland have a similar past and philosophy 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," Leo Varadkar said. Speaking on the special relationship between Ireland and the US, Joe Biden recounted one of his grandfather's favourite sayings. "If you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough," he said. Read more: Has royal family talked to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle? Shocking claim Thanking the people of Ireland for a warm welcome, Joe Biden said, No barrier is too thick or too strong for Ireland and the United States of America, adding, "There is nothing the two nations cannot do when they do it together". "People of Ireland, it's so good to be back in Ireland," he said making a remark in Irish: "I am home." In an earlier address in Leinster House, Joe Biden had also praised the "huge strides" that have been taken since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 which was focussed on ending conflict in Northern Ireland. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kenya is "disturbed" by comments about President William Ruto reportedly attributed to the United Nations deputy secretary-general in a leaked U.S. classified document, a senior Kenyan official said on Friday. FILE PHOTO: Kenyan President William Ruto speaks next to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a news conference in the Federal Chancellery in Berlin, Germany March 28, 2023. REUTERS/Michele Tantussi/File Photo(REUTERS) The BBC, citing a leaked document, reported this week that Amina Mohammed told U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in February that Ruto was "ruthless" and that she "doesn't trust him." Nairobi is a key hub for U.N. operations. Reuters has not independently verified the documents' authenticity. When asked about Mohammed's reported remarks, senior Kenyan foreign affairs official Korir Sing'oei described it on Friday as "disturbing," while also noting that "Kenya abhors the surveillance of the leadership of the United Nations." Ruto will continue with his international efforts to tackle climate change, reform global financial institutions and offer leadership on regional peace and security issues, Sing'oei said. "The president will therefore not be distracted by the information contained in tainted leaked memorandums," he said. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Friday there had been a "horrendous distortion" of Mohammed's comments, which has been "taken out of context." "She has the highest regard for President Ruto and his leadership," said Dujarric, adding that Mohammed will visit Nairobi later this month on a pre-planned trip, in which she will meet the president. Kenya's U.N. Ambassador Martin Kimani told Reuters on Friday he had spoken to Guterres and Mohammed "to seek clarity on the import of their concerning reported sentiments" and to express Kenya's opposition to the surveillance of the secretary-general. Kimani said the surveillance was contrary to the founding U.N. Charter, other international laws and acceptable practices. "I was reassured by their strong expressions of support, fellow feeling and strong partnership with Kenya and, especially, their respect and regard for President William Ruto," Kimani said. (Reporting by Duncan Miriri in Nairobi and Michelle Nichols in New York; Editing by Richard Chang) King Charles is reportedly very disappointed that Meghan Markle and his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will not be attending his coronation next month. This comes after Buckingham Palace announced, after much speculation, that Prince Harry will attend the coronation, but Meghan Markle will stay at home in California with the couple's two children. Prince Harry-Meghan Markle: Britain's King Charles III is seen. (Reuters) Read more: Prince William has temper issues? Heated argument with King Charles over 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," the palace informed in a statement. Meghan Markle is said to be missing the ceremony in order to stay at home and celebrate Archies fourth birthday which is on the same day as the coronation- May 6. The Sun reported, quoting a source, that King Charles is happy that Prince Harry will travel to the UK to be at the coronation. Read more: Petulant Prince Harry 'driving force' behind drama, not Meghan: Royal expert 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," the report claimed. In early March, the Sussexes had confirmed receiving official correspondence about the coronation via email. It was then reported that Prince Harry was seeking an apology from the royal family. He had then said in an interview that the door is always open for reconciliation with the royal family. On Meghan's absence royal author Omid Scobie said that Archies fourth birthday was a factor in the couples decision. Expect it to be a fairly quick trip to the UK for Prince Harry, who will only be attending the coronation at Westminster Abbey," the royal author claimed. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Meghan Markle was 'upset' at her children missing out on King Charles' coronation, a report claimed after it was revealed that Prince Harry will be attending the ceremony in the UK alone while his wife will remain in in California with their two children, Lilibet and Archie. Meghan Markle: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex watches as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is placed into the hearse.(AP) Read more: Petulant Prince Harry 'driving force' behind drama, not Meghan: Royal expert The Mirror reported, quoting sources, that Meghan Markle was never likely to come to coronation after being put in an impossible position as Prince Harry had voiced concerns over his security situation and reception from the royal family ahead of the acceptance. The signs were there for Meghan to skip the historic ceremony after she was entirely absent from her husbands book tour and was believed to be upset about their childrens exclusion from the Coronation procession, the report claimed. Read more: King Charles' first reaction to Meghan Markle not attending coronation Royal author Omid Scobie said that Archie's birthday- which is on the same day as the coronation- played a factor in the decision. It is expected that it would be a fairly quick trip to the UK for Prince Harry, the author added. 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," The Mirror reported. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON North Korea revealed that it has tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-18 aimed at radically pushing the country's nuclear counterattack capability, news agency Reuters reported quoting state media. North Korea Missile: A TV screen is seen reporting North Korea's missile launch with a file image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in South Korea. (AP) "The development of the new-type ICBM Hwasongpho-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. Read more: Russia's exaggerated claim on Ukraine forces cut off in Bakhmut: Top updates North Korea had fired the missile on Thursday, South Korea informed, triggering fears in North Japan where residents of Hokkaido were issued a brief warning to seek shelter. The missile which was fired from near Pyongyang flew about 1,000 km before landing in waters east of North Korea, officials informed. Allaying fears, North Korea said the test will not be a threat to its neighbouring countries. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guided the test warning enemies of extreme uneasiness and horror as the new missile will make them "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". This also marks North Korea's first use of solid propellants in an intermediate-range or intercontinental ballistic missile, experts told Reuters. Most of the North Korea's largest ballistic missiles use liquid fuel which is considered a time-consuming process. The missile launch comes with the backdrop of increasing tensions between North Korea and South Korea as Pyongyang recently slammed US- South Korean joint military exercises. Kim Jong Un had then called for strengthening war deterrence in a "more practical and offensive" manner to counter the United States. North Korea had earlier displayed what could be a new solid-fuel ICBM during a military parade in February. It had also tested a high-thrust solid-fuel engine in December last year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prince Harry is the "driving force" behind the rift in the royal family, despite his wife Meghan Markle being seen as the wicked witch, royal author Robert Johnson claimed as the couple finally announced their decision with respect to King Charles' coronation. Prince Harry will be attending the ceremony while Meghan Markle will remain with their children in California. Prince Harry-Meghan Markle: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex are seen.(AP) Read more: 5 of the biggest claims about royal family in new King Charles biography Royal author Robert Jobson said that Prince Harry's "petulance" is to blame for his feud with his family, despite Meghan Markle being the one who is often criticised. "I think a lot of this is down to Harry and his petulance. At the end of the day, she's probably a little scared to come here and get booed and picked on and it would become a tabloid issue, a major big issue that really would detract from the Coronation," Robert Jobson said. Prince Harry is often spared from criticism due to him being Princess Diana's son, the author claimed, continuing, But I think he probably is more of a driving force. He's somebody who's quite determined. He's got his mother's determination there and he's got his father's determination, too. Look, I'm not saying that Meghan's faultless, but she's certainly not the wicked witch." Read more: Prince William has temper issues? Heated argument with King Charles over "I think a lot of the problem with Meghan came from her 'untruth bombs', as I called them, on Oprah Winfrey which was littered with - dare I say it - lies. Things that weren't true," the royal author said. Maybe a lot of it was down to [being] lost in translation, I don't know I'm not American, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON No royal family members have talked to Prince Harry or Meghan Markle or even sat down with the couple since the release of Duke of Sussex' memoir Spare in which he had criticised members of the royal family, a report claimed. Prince Harry-Meghan Markle: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex are seen.(AP) Read more: King Charles' first reaction to Meghan Markle not attending coronation Prince Harry had earlier said in an interview that he would like to get in touch with his family before King Charles' coronation. Asked if he would attend the ceremony, he had then replied: "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 are willing to sit down and talk about it, because there's a lot that's happened in six years. Read more: Is this why Meghan Markle skipped coronation? Was 'upset' over The Daily Mail reported that no royal family member has taken up Prince Harry's offer and no such meeting between them has taken place. This comes as Buckingham Palace confirmed that Prince Harry will attend King Charles' coronation, while his wife Meghan Markle has opted to remain at home with their children. The Palace said in a statement, "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." SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON King Charles has been named as one of TIME magazines 100 most influential people for the year 2023 as he appeared under the Icons category, alongside author Salman Rushdie, actor Jennifer Coolidge, journalist Imara Jones, among others. Penning a tribute to King Charles, British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful wrote, about the monarch's charity. King Charles accompanied by his wife, Camilla, the Queen Consort. Growing up on a council estate in West London, the world of royalty was one I didnt pay much mind to. What would that have to do with young Black boys in Ladbroke Grove? Much more than I realised, it turned out," he said, crediting the organisation for putting people around him into steady employment. Read more: Has royal family talked to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle? Shocking claim I didnt realise then just how close our now-King was to all of this. 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," Edward Enninful said describing the monarch 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 wrote, adding, "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. In 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also appeared on the TIME 100 list. This year's list notably featured Bella Hadid, TV host Drew Barrymore, author Neil Gaiman and Iranian journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi. King Charles' coronation along with his wife Camilla is set to take place on May 6. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Russia continued its unrelenting attacks on the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and also shelled Kherson, officials in Kyiv said, as per news agency Reuters. For Russia, Bakhmut remains a pivotal capture in its advance in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar said that heavy fighting gripped all parts of the eastern town. "Most of the enemy's offensive efforts are occurring in the Bakhmut sector," she informed. Russia-Ukraine War: Ukrainian servicemen ride on an armoured personnel carrier on a road near the town of Bakhmut.(AFP) The enemy is using its most professional units there and resorting to a significant amount of artillery and aviation. Every day, the enemy carries out in Bakhmut from 40 to 50 storming operations and 500 shelling episodes, she added. Here are top points on Russia's attacks in Bakhmut: Wagner mercenary group head said earlier this week that his forces held 80% of Bakhmut while Ukraine said that the claim was misinformed. Ukrainian officials said that two people had died in Russian shelling of the Kherson. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continued to press allies for more weapons as Kyiv hopes to launch a major counter-offensive later this year. "We are readying our boys. We look forward to the delivery of weapons promised by our partners. We are bringing victory closer as much as possible," he said. Ukrainian officials also repeated the demand for membership in NATO with the country's defence minister Oleksii Reznikov saying, There is no alternative to Ukraine's accession to NATO. All Ukrainian cities and Crimea must be part of Ukraine again as a real peace deal with Russia will come by restoring the country's borders, Ukraine foreign minister Dmitro Kuleba said. "There is no difference between...any Ukrainian city, they all must and will be Ukraine again," he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON More than 18,000 cows died in an explosion which was followed by a fire at a family dairy farm in Texas, news agency Reuters reported. The cause of the fire was not known, officials said as firefighters rescued one employee from the farm. The incident took place South Fork Dairy near Dimmitt, according to the Castro County Sheriff's Office. Texas Farm Fire: Smoke rises at the Southfork Dairy Farms, after an explosion and a fire killed around 18,000 cows, near Dimmitt, Texas.(Reuters) The farm is based in one of the state's biggest milk production counties, Reuters reported. Following the blaze, Animal Welfare Institute which is one of the oldest US animal protection groups called for federal laws and intervention to prevent barn fires. Read more: Biggest cyclone in decade hits Australia with record wind speeds: Top updates "This would be the most deadly fire involving cattle in the past decade, since we started tracking that in 2013," spokesperson Marjorie Fishman said. Currently, there are no federal regulations protecting animals from the fires, A few US states have adopted individual protection code. Texas is not among them. Around 6.5 million farm animals have died in such fires in the past ten years, Reuters reported. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Pakistan has said that the United Arab Emirates has assured to provide a $1 billion loan, moving the nation closer to seal a loan deal with the International Monetary Fund to avoid a default. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. (REUTERS) Also Read| Imran Khan says Pakistan will struggle to escape its 'slowly shrinking economy The Gulf nation has confirmed to the IMF about their bilateral support to Pakistan, finance minister Ishaq Dar said in a twitter post. Pakistan said last week that Saudi Arabia assured that it will provide a $2 billion loan after the lender asked the nation to get financing assurances a loan can be disbursed. The South Asian nation is going through one of its biggest economic crisis in history amid a delay in its loan program that has led to multiple downgrades by rating agencies. The last known point of discussion is the nations proposed fuel discount that it plans for lower income groups by raising fuel prices for wealthy motorists. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and other to officials of the country have embezzled at least 400 million dollars which was given to the country for the purchase of diesel fuel, Russian news agency TASS reported citing US Journalist Seymour Hersh's website. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.(AFP) Read more: North Korea tests new solid-fuel ICBM with a warning: Uneasiness and horror' Seymour Hersh, citing sources, claimed, "The Ukrainian president and many in his entourage have been skimming untold millions from the American dollars earmarked for diesel fuel payments. One estimate by analysts from the Central Intelligence Agency put the embezzled funds at USD 400 million last year, at least." Corruption in Kyiv is "approaching that of the Afghan war, although there will be no professional audit reports emerging from Ukraine," the website claimed, blaming US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan for the situation. US has been providing aid to Ukraine amid Russia's invasion that began in February last year. Last month, the US promised 350 million dollars in weapons and equipment to Ukraine. Read more: Russia's exaggerated claim on Ukraine forces cut off in Bakhmut: Top updates "Today, pursuant to a delegation of authority from President Biden, I am authorising our 34th drawdown of U.S. arms and equipment for Ukraine valued at USD 350 million," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said. "This military assistance package includes more ammunition for US-provided HIMARS and howitzers that Ukraine is using to defend itself, as well as ammunition for Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, HARM missiles, anti-tank weapons, riverine boats, and other equipment," the statement added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The world is leapfrogging in women's empowerment, World Bank President David Malpass has said and praised India's efforts, especially that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he is deeply interested and concerned." Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accompanied by World Bank President David Malpass, left, speaks at the forum Empowering Women as Entrepreneurs and Leaders during the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, Thursday. (AP) Also Read| In US, Sitharaman focuses on debt reform; consensus eludes G20 FMs Participating in a panel discussion on Empowering Women as Entrepreneurs and Leaders organised by the World Bank on the sidelines of its spring meetings here on Thursday, Malpass and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with other panelists, discussed the development and empowerment of women in India and the world. We should continue all that we are doing now for women, Sitharaman said in response to a question as she explained in detail the steps the Modi Government has undertaken for the economic empowerment of women in India. Malpass commended the efforts of Prime Minister Modi in India, where the World Bank has a massive programme. The prime minister, he said, is deeply interested and concerned and pushing on this issue. The world is leapfrogging in empowerment, the World Bank president said. For women to be able to communicate, to have digital transactions without having to go to the bank where there might be a male clerk, that doesn't really receive them well, is hugely empowering, he said. "And also just the source of information that women can get on how other women are operating in other parts of the world, that's huge. And so, I think we should push that along as fast as we can, Malpass said. I'll give you the example of skilling programmes, which are happening in India wherein, I dont know what I can make out of this. If a hundred people are trained and they're trained in such skills which are useful for employment, immediate recruitment potential, 68 per cent of all those who have been recruited are women. "It just says a lot more about how women are ready once they have the skills in their hands to get going, Sitharaman said. So, we have to invest in skilling women and legislative support is something which is very important for countries like India. For instance, we had given 12 weeks of paid maternity leave for women, but now we have enhanced it to 26 weeks so that till 26 weeks, you are completely paid, you can take care of maternity duties, and then of course you can, we also have this thing now paternity leave also being provided, she said. Sitharaman said many of the companies which are now in the private sector, want to benefit from this skilled set of women who are willing to come out there and do it. Particularly in STEM (Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics) now, I find a lot of women coming in and qualifying, but they, the employability is not so good a news for me, because if there are an equal number of boys and girls in universities doing sciences or technology engineering and medicine, nearly 60 per cent of the women do not apply for jobs after that." "So I wonder what happens after that. It is important to have them come back to jobs, she said. The recruitment patterns are now saying that with the right legislative support, having got skills, women going into jobs are far more productive, are far more part of the team, and therefore companies stand to benefit. So, we should do this even more, Sitharaman said. The minister said a lot of things are happening in different parts of the world and positively for women. So all of us should go back to say, let me be part of this huge change, huge activity, which is going on to empower women. Each of us should be a part of it, Sitharaman said. Hailing from Jordan, Hasan D Al Masri is no stranger to Langkawi, as he previously served as Assistant Director of F&B at the St. Regis Langkawi from 2018 to 2020, and also worked with the pre-opening team for Aloft Langkawi Pantai Tengah. His knowledge of Langkawi and the local market is an asset to The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, with Hasan aiming to increase awareness of the hotel's culinary offerings. Armed with a diploma in hotel management, Hasan's career began as restaurant captain at the Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa, before stints at the Kempinski Ishtar and the Holiday Inn Resort, Dead Sea. Returning to Marriott International in 2009 at the Salalah Marriott Resort in Oman, his first role in The Ritz-Carlton brand was as a member of the pre-opening team for The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, where he stayed on as restaurant manager for their Lebanese restaurant, Mijana. From there he progressed to Assistant Director of Banquets for a year, before being elevated to Director of Restaurants, at The Ritz-Carlton Jeddah and King Abdullah Convention Center, where he stayed until 2018, when he moved to Langkawi. Hasan's last role as Assistant Director of F&B (and acting Director) at the Assila, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Jedah, saw him oversee the hotel's four F&B venues, banquet operations, and the conference catering sales. During this time, he planned and executed the catering for the F1 Royal Event and introduced a pop up concept in the lobby lounge. Hilton Molino Stucky Venice, the five-star hotel on Giudecca Island welcomes Ivan Fargnoli as new Executive Chef. The appointment comes at a felicitous time as the hotel is delighted to announce the reopening on 30th March 2023 of the much-loved Aromi Restaurant and the unveiling of its new signature menu designed by the new Chef. With over 20 years of culinary experience including posts in Dubai, Milan Italy and most recently China, Ivan joins Hilton Molino Stucky Venice from his position as Executive Chef at Grand Hyatt Shenyaang China. Bringing a wealth of international influences and impeccable standard to his role, Ivan oversees a brigade of 32 and is responsible for the development and execution of the hotel's menus for its restaurants, Bacaromi, Rialto and Aromi, events held at the hotel, as well as managing the kitchen on a day-to-day basis. Chef Ivan Fargnoli joins in an exciting phase for the hotel's gastronomic journey as he initiates new developments in the hotel's restaurants. Having spent 17 years in China, his menus see much loved Mediterranean flavours and ingredients re-imagined with an oriental influence. Dishes will also champion seasonality and fresh local produce, all served alongside a carefully curated selection of finest wines. Hailing from Italian and Swiss heritage, Ivan's passion for cooking started at just 12 years old when helping his father and aunt in the family kitchen. Inspired and eager to learn, Ivan was taught the importance of food provenance and using high-quality ingredients from a young age. Previous posts include Hilton Suzhou, China, Ritz-Carlton Beijing, China, Conrad Beijing, China, Renaissance Beijing Capital hotel, China, Hilton Shanghai, China and Grand Hyatt Dubai, UAE. In this context, UNWTO has joined the World Investment for Development Alliance (WIDA). As part of the Alliance, UNWTO will work to enhance both the level and effectiveness of investment in the sector with the aim of supporting and accelerating the implementation of the Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals. Investment is all too often the missing ingredient for turning our shared plans for a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient tourism sector into reality. UNWTO is proud to join the World Investment for Development Alliance and we look forward to working together to re-think and transform investments into tourism. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili WIDA fully recognizes that UNWTO has been playing a leading role in promoting investment in tourism for sustainable development and inclusive growth. It believes that UNWTO shares the same values as WIDA and can make a significant contribution to our common causes. WIDA Chair James Zhan Boosting post-pandemic investments UNWTO data shows that, as a result of the pandemic, levels of investment into tourism dropped dramatically. The United Nations Specialized Agency will hold this years World Tourism Day (27 September) around the theme of Green Investments and, according to Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, enhanced cooperation with private sector stakeholders will be vital for both boosting investment levels and for directing funding to projects centred around sustainability. For this reason, I am happy UNWTO has confirmed our new agreement with the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM), Mr Pololikashvili says. We consider this collaboration as mutually beneficial, as we recognize the significant contributions that can be made by the private sector to our organizations strategic objectives. In line with the two Organizations commitment to cooperate in the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding, UNWTO will spearhead the Tourism Investment Segment, an official side event of the upcoming Annual Investment Meeting, to be held on 8-10 May in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It has been AIMs mission to provide an interactive platform where investment opportunities can be formed, thereby not only strengthening economic relations among nations but also addressing issues that have profound effects on a global scale. We also want to provide a platform where the brightest minds, from all sectors, can converge to find solutions and scale up development ideas. We welcome this great chance to cooperate with the UNWTO and we are certain that this collaboration will be fruitful. AIM President Dawood Al Shezawi About WIDA The World Investment for Development Alliance (WIDA) is a global platform dedicated to promoting investment for sustainable development. Promote sustainable and inclusive investment through an open and structured network of multiple organizations drawn from the investment-for-development community. WIDA pursues this overarching objective by creating synergies and maximizing impact through joint advocacy, joint organization and joint actions among participating organizations. About AIM The Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) is an initiative of the AIM Foundation, an independent international organization fully committed to empower the worlds economy by boosting effective promotion strategies and facilitating opportunities for economic productivity and expansion. The Foundation also undertakes the operation and management of the AIM Global Investment Network and its 15 affiliated Business Groups, including the supervision of the Annual Investment Meeting Global and Regional Chapters. RELATED LINKS: About The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations specialized agency fostering tourism as a vehicle for equal, inclusive and sustainable development. Working with its Member States, international organizations and the private sector, UNWTO promotes safe and seamless travel for all. UNWTO also works to make tourism the foundation of trust and international cooperation and a central pillar of recovery. As part of the wider UN system, UNWTO is at the forefront of global efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including through its ability to create decent jobs, promote equality and preserve natural and cultural heritage. Follow UNWTO on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin. UNWTO Communications Department +34 91 567 8100 UNWTO A total of 179 deals* were announced in the global travel and tourism sector during the first quarter (Q1) of 2023, which is a 40.7% decline compared to the announcement of 302 deals during the same period in 2022, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. All the deal types under coverage witnessed a considerable year-on-year (YoY) decline in deal volume in Q1 2023. The numbers of mergers & acquisitions (M&A), venture financing, and private equity deals fell by 42.9%, 29.4%, and 50% during Q1 2023 compared to Q1 2022, respectively. Deal activity in the travel and tourism sector witnessed a significant drop across all the regions in the first quarter of 2023 as economic uncertainties and geo-political tensions caused a rise in fuel costs and prices for several utilities. Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData Deals volume fell sharply by 43.3% for the travel and tourism sector in the North American region, while Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America experienced a decline in deals volume by 45.6%, 34.7%, 10%, and 60% in Q1 2023 compared to Q1 2022, respectively. Bose adds: The decline could be attributed to deal activity suffering setbacks in most of the key markets across all regions. Deal activity in major countries such as the US, the UK, Japan, India, Spain, and Australia decreased by 45%, 41.9%, 50%, 56.3%, 50%, and 66.7%, respectively during Q1 2023 compared to Q1 2022. Meanwhile, China and France managed to showcase some improvement, but it was not enough to offset the impact of the decline experienced in other countries. *Comprising mergers & acquisitions, private equity, and venture financing deals About GlobalData 4,000 of the world's largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData's unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData's mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors. GlobalData | LinkedIn | Twitter GlobalData Press Office +44 207 832 4399 GlobalData Plc Are you a train-bragger? If you travel regularly for business, you may already be one and if you are a corporate travel manager, you will certainly want more of your colleagues to be one, according to Liz Emmott, Global Distribution Director at Trainline Partner Solutions. Train-bragging is a concept we have been promoting at Trainline recently, as part of our ongoing sustainability campaign, I Came by Train. A more positive notion than simply forcing behavioural change through flight-shaming, the idea behind train-bragging is that rail should be seen as something that is worn as a badge of honour, and that travellers should take pride in using the train. Were looking to support a real and growing appetite for sustainable travel. Earlier this year, a Trainline survey of British business travellers found two-thirds were concerned about their own personal carbon footprint of business-related travel in 2022, 72% wanted to make more of their trips using lower-carbon modes of travel this year and 78% said sustainability would be an important consideration for them when deciding on their business travel needs this year. There are also a range of policy levers that UK and European governments are pulling to encourage more sustainable travel, from Frances much-discussed ban on domestic flights when a rail alternative exists, to the increased obligations on businesses in many countries to monitor and report on the carbon footprint of their operations. Rail travel is also changing, with the growing liberalisation of Europes rail industry seeing new operators entering the market to compete with incumbent carriers on both price and quality. Seven of the ten busiest routes in Europe now have competition between carriers. The longest-standing competition has existed on the Rome-Milan route, which over a decade saw the average price for rail travellers reduce by 40%, rail double its modal share on the route to 75%, and conversely aviations modal share fall from 50% to less than 20%. Now other routes are poised to see similar benefits Barcelona-Madrid for example has been transformed in the past 18 months and now has four different carriers competing, each developing a competitive offer geared towards their own target market. Plus rail travel offers business travellers wider benefits beyond reducing their carbon footprint. Research we undertook last autumn found more than eight out of ten UK business travellers said maintaining productivity during their journey is important to them. Here rail has a natural advantage over both driving and flying, even if the door-to-door journey isnt always quicker. Most work is impossible to combine with safe driving, while the stop-start nature of air travel doesnt lend itself to dedicated working time. More reliable access to WiFi, a more comfortable physical environment for work, and less waiting around were among the top reasons cited by survey respondents for travelling by rail instead of by road or air. All this explains why we are keen to make it simple for business travellers to compare their rail options and buy tickets, whatever journey they are making across Europe. Weve partnered with CWT, and other players in the business travel market, to streamline and integrate business travel by rail and remove another barrier preventing business travellers from choosing the train. Because the train-braggers are arriving soon, at a platform near you, and we want to support them. About CWT CWT is a Business-to-Business-for-Employees (B2B4E) travel management platform. Companies and governments rely on us to keep their people connected anywhere, anytime, anyhow and, across six continents, we provide their employees with innovative technology and an efficient, safe, and secure travel experience. Engage with us via LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and our Podcast. Media Contact CWT SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The $25 an hour minimum wage proposed today by Los Angeles City Council Member Curren Price is a short-sighted, industry-specific mandate for political gain, that ignores accepted living wage policies and far less pay for teachers and city workers. Why is it that city leaders push onerous financial burdens on our still fragile hospitality community, without demanding similar pay for Los Angeles teachers and city staff? It is proposals like these that have led to the citys reputation as a difficult place to do business and to work. Enough is enough. LA leaders have to do better. Lynn S. Mohrfeld, President and CEO of the California Hotel & Lodging Association (CHLA) As the largest hotel owners association in the world, AAHOA is committed to looking out for the best interests of small, family-owned LA hotels. Increasing the minimum wage would be a significant hardship for our family-owned businesses who care deeply about their employees. This $25 minimum wage proposal is a lose-lose situation for all involved. Laura Lee Blake, President and CEO of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association We know LA needs a lot of support and our 500 Los Angeles hotels have always been there for the community. We ask that the City Council set aside this political expediency and help the entire tourism industry recover from the pandemic so that Los Angeles regain its role as a global destination. Heather Rozman, President and CEO of the Hotel Association of Los Angeles (HALA) In recent years, Los Angeles hotels have endured numerous costly burdens imposed by city leaders, including: Failure to protect participants and hotel properties during Project Roomkey, in which LA hotels offered more than 40,000 rooms, but the city failed to provide protective and much-needed mental health services for unsheltered individuals. Instituted the costly Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance last year, which was sponsored by special union interests to mandate square-footage restrictions that arent based on safety or health-related facts. Did little to ease the burden of LA hotels who were closed for 18 months during the pandemic yet paid taxes, maintained facilities, paid utilities, and kept paying our employees as long as we could without having any income. Allowed an absurd measure to go on next years ballot that will mandate hotels house unsheltered individuals next to paying guests with a voucher program. And now, Prices $30 per hour minimum way thats what it will become by 2028 will be a hardship for LAs hotels, a majority of which are family-owned small businesses. To stay in business, they will be forced to reduce costs, offer fewer services, and no longer fund community activities. The hypocrisy of this minimum wage proposal is obvious. Prices proposal is for hotel workers only. Yet, it doesnt cover far less pay for union members, teachers, and city workers. Last month, after a three-day strike the Los Angeles Unified School District union agreed to a minimum wage of $22.52 an hour, outpacing the City of Los Angeles and the State of California. UniteHere, the union supporting Prices proposal, offers $19.71 an hour for a grievance negotiator. Many City workers and Council staff members make less than $25 an hour. City leaders and union supporters have sought to place blame on hotels for the high costs and lack of housing in Los Angeles. LA hotels do not set planning, design or construction policy. Hotels do not set policies for unsheltered individuals. That role lies with elected leaders. About the California Hotel & Lodging Association The California Hotel and Lodging Association is the leading resource and advocate for California's more than 6,000 hotels, motels and boutique inns that employ more than 235,000 workers. CHLA, established in 1893, is the largest state lodging industry association in the nation and is a partner with the American Hotel & Lodging Association. For more information, go to www.calodging.com. Meet the Money, the national hotel finance and investment conference, returns for its 30th year on May 1-3, at the Hyatt Regency LAX. Attendees can look forward to three days of deal-making, networking, and high-level presentations from some of the best-known names in the hospitality industry. Meet the Money brings speakers, sponsors, and attendees together in an environment big enough to attract industry leaders, but small enough for meaningful and productive in-person meetings, where the focus is business and investment. After a few years of upheaval, we see a real chance for companies and executives in all corners of the hospitality industry to reset and look at new players, new capital, and new deals with fresh eyes. There are plenty of opportunities out there for those who seek them and Meet the Money is a great place to start looking. Jim Butler, conference chairman and Chairman of the JMBM Global Hospitality Group Program Highlights This years program will open with a pair of two-hour Investment Boot Camp sessions: one focused on finding opportunities and creating value in distressed properties, and a second session for anyone who wants to understand, evaluate and tap into EB-5 financing. Each day of the conference includes spotlights presentations by industry experts on the state of the hotel industry, both nationally and in California, as well as an important new landmark study on the CapEx needs of hotels. Presenters will include representatives from HVS, LWHA, CoStar, LARC, Gallagher, and Atlas Hospitality. The leadership panel, one of the conferences most anticipated, includes Greg Friedman of Peachtree Hotel Group, Greg Kennealey of Mission Hill Hospitality, Francis Lively of The LCP Group, Matt Marquis of Pacifica Hotels and Mehul Patel of NewcrestImage. Finance is a key focus of Meet the Money, and attendees can hear what lenders, investors, and other capital providers are seeing in the industry, and the specific deals they are looking for. Many of the most active capital sources in the business are speaking this year, including Bank OZK, BHP, Commercial Bank of California, CIM, East West Bank, Hall Structured Finance, ICBC, MetLife, Stonehill Strategic Capital, TMC Financing, and Wells Fargo. Finance and investment panels will cover everything from traditional debt, equity, construction financing, and repositioning capital, to C-PACE financing, EB-5 funding, and other creative options. A number of hotel brands are participating as speakers and sponsors, including Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, Sensei, and Valencia. Hotel business panels will address brand management opportunities, how to buy properties for turnaround and repositioning potential, the profit opportunities in various sectors, and how unique concepts and F&B innovation can help position a property for success. How to Register: For more information, including speakers and panel discussion topics, sponsor participation, and registration details, visit www.MeetTheMoney.com. Registration is open online until April 28, with walk-in registration available as space allows. About Meet the Money For 30 years, Meet the Money has created an energetic environment to forge relationships, negotiate deals, and gain an in-depth understanding of hotel investment and finance. Our national hotel conference attracts heavy hitters and offers an opportunity for productive, one-on-one networking with them. For updates and more information, visit www.MeetTheMoney.com. About the JMBM Global Hospitality Group The hospitality attorneys in the Global Hospitality Group of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP comprise the premier hospitality practice in a full-service law firm, and the most experienced legal and advisory team in the industry. Our team of seasoned hotel lawyers has helped clients with more than 4,600 hospitality properties located around the globe valued at more than $123 billion, and have worked on more than 2,700 management and franchise agreements. Our experience provides one of the most extensive virtual data bases of market terms for deals and financings. The hospitality lawyers of our team are not just great hotel lawyerswe are also hospitality consultants and business advisors, dealmakers and facilitators of the flow of capital. We help our clients find the right operator, joint venture partner or capital provider. We know who to call and how to reach them. Jim Butler +1 310 201 3526 JMBM View source At BirchStreet Systems, were always striving for excellence in product deliveryand that starts with excelling as a team. The inner workings of any organization depend on the fiber between members of leadership. BirchStreet Systems not only recognizes the value that lies in the unique talents of each individual, but also the teams ability to harness and amplify those abilities in the interest of common purposes like driving results, managing complexities, and operating with resilience. Over the past 20 years, weve worked with thousands of clients ranging from small, high-growth companies to large multinational corporations to provide solutions according to the unique and complex business needs of our customers, including hotels, casinos, restaurants, and food manufacturing. While many of these solutions are born from a vast technical knowledge of the industry, many of them stem from deep connections and collaboration between our team members. To ensure new clients and customers are well-versed with our team, lets introduce our leaders starting from the top down. Meet Our Leaders BirchStreet Systems Executive Chairman Brendan Reidy holds Board and executive positions at Top Image Systems, XRS Corporation, Trident Capital, Clarus Systems, and Qwest Communications. With a career focused on providing top-notch customer-focused capabilities and technologies, Reidys customer-centric mindset and deep product development expertise have helped propel BirchStreets leadership team. As a recent addition to the team, Chief Executive Officer John Fay works to guide BirchStreet as the leading P2P platform for the hospitality industry, bringing more than 30 years of expertise in transforming and growing global technology and information services. Using his 30 years of experience as a key executive in the software sector, John McCaffrey serves as BirchStreets Chief Customer Officer. Thanks to his dedication to the tech sector as a finance executive for more than 20 years, Bill Smith diligently works as the companys Chief Financial Officer. Also, with more than two decades worth of experience in his field, Raghu Rajah uses his expertise as a top tech executive with various global companies to function as BirchStreet's Chief Technology Officer. Kris Herrin operates as the teams General Manager of Payments, drawing on more than 25 years of strong technical experience, innovative problem-solving, and value-building at high-growth technology companies. As Senior Vice President, Kim Huff presides over pre-sales solutions consulting for the company, pairing clients with the right capabilities and implementation practices. Jon Castillo, BirchStreets Vice President of Technical Services oversees the Technical Services team that manages the configurations, interfaces, supplier services, project management, and technical support for the company. Levering her hospitality and procurement experience, Karla Kannan operates as Senior Vice President of Customer Success to prioritize customers' needs and goals across portfolios and verticals. As Vice President of Sales and Marketing Enablement, Gareth Fraser brings his 30-years of experience in international sales and marketing to drive BirchStreets success through the implementation of secure data-driven growth strategies. Managing Director of Birch Street Zhang Han oversees all aspects of operations in Asia Pacific, including project management, training, technical services, support, and sales. With over 20 years of hospitality and gaming technology management experience, Joe DeVore functions as BirchStreets strategic Vice President of Casinos and Gaming. Another recent addition to BirchStreets leadership team, Rosa Block serves as Senior Vice President of Global Implementations, utilizing her experience in product management, operations, business strategy, and transformation. Vice President of Product David Barbers 25 years of experience in product management, client solutions, and training contributes to BirchStreets product enhancement and stability. Timothy McCulloh was most recently appointed to Vice President of Strategic Account Management, functioning as a strong executive leader with a focus on customer success and driving positive outcomes for BirchStreet Systems. The leadership team is committed to supporting all employees, customers and prospects to ensure an environment of exciting innovation, growth and excellence in hospitality P2P. To learn more about the our dedicated team of experts, visit BirchStreets leadership page. About BirchStreet Systems BirchStreet Systems powers hospitality and food and beverage enterprises with a comprehensive procure-to-pay business solution. As the global leading provider of spend management solutions in the hospitality industry, 15,500 enterprises in over 130 countries subscribe to BirchStreet to connect with a network of more than 450,000 suppliers. Established in 2002, BirchStreet is privately held and is headquartered in Las Vegas, NV with offices in California, China, Singapore, India, and the UK. For more information, please visit www.birchstreetsystems.com. Request Demonstration BirchStreet Sales BirchStreet Systems View source This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON Almost two decades ago eight states sued the countrys largest power companies, claiming greenhouse gas emissions represent a public nuisance and setting off a wave of lawsuits by state and local governments seeking to hold oil and power companies accountable for their contribution to climate change. That legal campaign is now at a critical juncture, as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide later this month whether it will hear oil companies arguments that those lawsuits should not be heard in the state courts they have persistently been trying to avoid for years. The decision will not decide whether the oil companies have to pay that decision could be a decade away but it will determine whether states and cities can avoid federal courts that have persistently held fossil fuel companies cannot be held liable for the environmental damage caused by emissions, said David Bookbinder, a Maryland attorney representing two Colorado counties and the city of Boulder, Colo., suing oil companies Exxon Mobil and Suncor. If (the justices) dont take the case, then were in state court and the party really starts, he said. Its going to be a state-by-state determination to prove these damages were caused by these defendants. At least 20 lawsuits brought by state and local governments claiming violation of state nuisance laws are pending against oil companies, and many more are likely coming, leaving companies with the prospect of defending themselves in multiple jurisdictions against claims that could add up to tens of billions of dollars. The companies have argued that because no federal law prohibits the emissions of greenhouse gases they should not be head liable. Rather, they claim, climate policy should be enforced through legislation like a carbon tax something Congress has so far shown little inclination to take on. But the industry's legal defense suffered a blow last year when the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the Colorado case should be heard in state court there, prompting Exxon and Suncor to ask the Supreme Court to intervene. We believe that these cases raise national issues that should not be litigated in myriad state courts, Ryan Meyers, general counsel at the American Petroleum Institute, said in an email. Were hopeful that the Supreme Court will take this case and provide that clarity. But ultimately, climate policy is an issue for Congress to debate, not the court system. Evolving strategy The public nuisance lawsuits represent the latest in a series of legal strategies to try and get U.S. courts to force action on climate change. Individual plaintiffs have tried suing the federal government claiming it needs to restrict greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act, and states have sued companies directly under federal nuisance laws, but those earlier efforts were rejected by federal courts. In 2011, the Supreme Court ruled almost unanimously in oil companies' favor, with the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg writing the opinion there was nothing in federal common law that allowed them to be held liable for the damage caused by emissions. This is really the last viable route to use the courts to force big emitters of greenhouse gases to reduce their emissions, said Thomas McGarity, a law professor at the University of Texas. Other than that, its going to have to be by legislation or statute. Plaintiffs efforts got a boost last month, when the Biden administration rejected oil companies argument the state and local cases should be heard in federal court. Acting on a request for input from the Supreme Court, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote, the United States has reexamined its position and has concluded that state-law claims like those pleaded here should not be recharacterized as claims arising under federal common law. While they don't hold any precedent for court here, climate activists have seen similar momentum in lawsuits overseas. A Dutch court ruled in 2021 that Royal Dutch Shell must reduce its emissions 45 percent by 2030 a decision Shell has appealed. And a German court continues to hear arguments in a 2015 lawsuit case by a Peruvian farmer claiming German power giant RWE was in part responsible for flooding on his land. Litigation is slow but its only going to grow, said Carroll Muffett, president of the nonprofit Center for International Environmental Law. The accountability is going to come. james.osborne@houstonchronicle.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate At the annual conference for Texas water professionals recently, the Houston east-side plant took top honors in a blind tasting of 18 different drinking water samples from all over the state. Eric Garza, Venus Price, Jin Le and Roberto Amezquita accepted the first-place trophy that earned them a trip to Ottawa, Canada, in June for the Water Canada Summit, where theyll compete on an international level. I was one of five judges for the best drinking water taste-off at George R. Brown Convention Center. The others were Houston City Council member Sallie Alcorn; journalist Miya Shay of Channel 13; Saint Arnold Brewing Co. founder Brock Wagner; and Joe Jacangelo, president of the American Water Works Association, who was in from Washington, D.C. The Texas branch of Jacangelos organization, Texas AWWA, staged this years convention in partnership with the Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT). An audience looked on as the judges sniffed and sampled from what seemed to be an unending phalanx of clear plastic cups. We had sleeves of saltines to refresh our palates. I needed them. About halfway through, I could feel myself losing my tasting edge. We were judging on clarity, smell, taste and color and there was considerable variety in the flavor and aroma departments. A couple of entries had a distinct whiff of chemicals. Most were neutral, and a couple reminded me strongly of summers swimming in Vermonts Lake Champlain: all smooth stone and a pleasant whisper of earth. To my relief, I discovered that I could apply wine-tasting principles to water. Wagner, the Houston beer guru, later told the crowd that Saint Arnold actually uses different water recipes for each brew some soft, others hard, with more mineral component. As I tasted, I marveled at how some samples left my tongue feeling chalky, or even furry, while others slipped down smooth as silk. The latter felt the most thirst-quenching, while the edgier samples had stronger personalities, either for good or for not-so-good. My one sorrow was that I wasnt able to match my score sheet with the eventual winners, including two different water plants from Denton that swept the second and third spots. While we waited for the results to be tabulated, I conferred with AWWA president Jacangelo and found we agreed that the entries were evenly matched in color and clarity, but that there were one or two real standouts for flavor. Im a tap water stalwart wholl always go for a restaurants house-filtered or plain version rather than spring for bottled water. And Im always eager to taste the tap water in hotels and restaurants when I travel, so in a way, this contest was made for me. As an East Ender, I was thrilled that our east-side plant on Federal Road had taken top honors, and I hoped mightily that their sample was one of the two standouts on my score sheet. Ive always been happy with the quality of Houstons drinking water, so I left feeling a little smug. Sorry, not sorry. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate For fashion designer Christy Lynn Lee, one fortuitous dinner party in January beget another. Lee was seated next to Luisa Rangel de Alba, brand manager of Moreau Paris and Assouline Books. They got to talking about Bari Ristorante Italiano, a new concept occupying the former Tom Ford boutique in River Oaks District. Houston foodies and party people have anticipated its opening for months. During dinner, Rangel de Alba invited Lee to be one of the first through the doors. She played the liaison between Lee and the restaurants owners Pedro Teyuca and Tommy Nally. On Thursday, Lees eponymous fashion label, Christy Lee, hosted a seated dinner for 60 inside the Venetian-inspired space. Bari opens to the public on May 2. Lees team dressed a mix of media personalities, influencers, friends and family members for the occasion. YouTube star Dominique Sachse wore a look from the Christy Lynn pre-fall 2023 collection, as did Ashley Seippel (@ashleynstyle). Lily Jang, Gigi Huang, Courtney Zavala and Valerie Dittner were also in attendance, decked out in Christy Lynn. The Korean-American fashion designer has come a long way since her inaugural show at Hotel ZaZa Memorial City in August 2022. Then, Lee had 10 collections under her belt. Today, she jetsets to Paris, Palm Beach and Long Island to outfit clients. HOUSTONCHRONICLE: Korean florals, architecture inspired fashion designer Christy Lynns fall runway show at Hotel ZaZa The Christy Lynn look is unapologetically feminine. Head-to-toe floral dresses and silk pants filled Baris dining room. Aesthetically it worked. Carlos Castroparedes tapped Grupo Porcelanosa, among other vendors, to wash the room in a warm, amber-hued glow. Blocks of pink Himalayan sea salt lined a few walls. Baris interior style leans Spanish and Italian, though Lee is a bona fide Francophile. A runway show preceded dinner. The Parisian-esque pre-fall looks were a little daring and seductive in comparison to collections past. A few demure black tops were unbuttoned until they became cropped. Lees signature floral prints, designed by her sister in New York, were shown sheer. Hemlines were short; off-the-shoulder blouses, flirtatious. The audience loved it. Soon, theyll be able to shop the new collection in a new location. Lee plans to move into a new 1,400-square-foot store in Memorial Village by the end of May. She currently works out of a by-appointment-only atelier in Montrose. A 3,700-square-foot atelier near the new store is almost complete, too. Interior designer Ashton Taylor Oberhauser will give Lees Memorial spaces the Parisian treatment. The pair met at La Petite Maison, an auction event for one-of-a-kind dollhouses benefiting A Shelter for Cancer Families. Lee liked how Oberhauser decorated her dollhouse, and the rest is history. Oberhauser and Rangel de Alba dined near each other on Thursday, both in new-season Christy Lynn. When in Rome er, Bari. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Virginia Kelsey was tied to her Tanglewood townhome when her parents were still living nearby, wanting to be close to assist in their care. After both had passed, though, she began contemplating options. Many Houston neighborhoods had simply gotten too expensive, so she thought about building a casita near a niece who lives in the Hill Country or finding a place in a small town outside of Houston. Then she stumbled onto a sweet bungalow in Norhill, a neighborhood still largely as it was when it began 100 years ago, though many of the small homes have one-story additions of a room or so on the back, and youll find a newer garage or porte cochere here and there. MORE FROM DIANE COWEN: Millennials are (finally) buying and remodeling their own homes, with spending on the rise I knew instantly what I wanted to do with it. The house had a great spirit and felt great, Kelsey said of the home built in 1924 in a neighborhood that felt more like a small town than a part of a metropolitan city. The 1,512-square-foot home had been well taken care of, but Kelsey is a residential architect and a minimalist who wanted less, not more. Colorful tile needed to come out, and some short, built-in bookcases, which likely were intended to establish the line between the living room and kitchen, would be removed, too. Now she has an open space that makes the most of the square footage that she has. The home isnt without color, but its used wisely in blue-green paint and wallpaper in bedrooms, bathrooms and her home office. Kelsey was exposed to both left- and right-brain pursuits by extended family, who worked in science professions but appreciated art, architecture and antiques. Her parents were Dr. John and Mickey Kelsey her dad was a well-known gastroenterologist and brother of Mavis Kelsey, who founded the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic. John Kelsey also worked at the clinic most of his career and died at age 88 in 2010. Mickey Kelsey died at age 95 in 2018. My dad taught me a lot about hard work, how to persevere and to be the person that I am, Kelsey said. My mom did, too. I had very good parents. When she was young, she used her toys to build cities and farms, asking her parents to buy small plastic figures at the toy store so she could populate the communities she built. Often, her brothers' train sets became part of the landscape. She fell in love with European architecture during a semester in Switzerland and graduated second in her class at the University of Texas School of Architecture in 1983, when women were just starting to become architects. Right out of college, she got a job with the renowned I.M. Pei firm in New York, working crazy hours, learning much about her craft and about herself, too. She returned to her roots in Texas and worked for a local firm before venturing out on her own. She does residential work at her Virginia W. Kelsey architecture firm, still hand-drawing plans for projects shes working on. Kelsey bought her Norhill home in December 2021 and work was finished the following May. Older homes sometimes need work to correct additions or projects done throughout the years, but this homes additions were the work of a prior owner who was an architect who thoughtfully added a new back room and the porte cochere. To make the main living area feel more open, she painted it all Benjamin Moores Atrium White, a soft white that looks good in the natural light that comes in through the homes many windows. Most of the home had longleaf pine flooring, wood that was popular well into the 1920s but nearly impossible to find today unless youre looking for reclaimed flooring. The primary bedroom added to the back of the home had different wood flooring. Because the floors were a little squeaky and had some bounce, Kelsey found enough reclaimed longleaf pine to place on top of all of the existing wood floors, then had it stained to look more like a softer white oak instead of the woods natural reddish-orange tone. Keeping the longleaf pine served two purposes: staying true to the homes roots and paying tribute to Kelseys roots, since her grandfather and great-uncle owned a sawmill in East Texas. The bookcase at the end of a short island and a tower cabinet at the end of perimeter cabinets were removed to make space for a larger island and simpler floor plan. For counters, Kelsey chose Danby marble quarried in Vermont and used it in the kitchen and bathrooms. It looks a lot like Italian Calacatta Gold, with gray and tan veins running through its white background, but is mined in the U.S. The living room has a fireplace and plenty of room for a sofa, a black leather Eames lounge chair and an antique armchair that shifts into the dining room when needed. In the sunny dining room, Kelsey added built-in bookshelves to store her book collection and to make the room more functional. Its filled with antiques, but a modern pendant hangs over the dining table, an old-new mix that Kelsey uses in other rooms, too. A simple guest bathroom got a pretty makeover with the installation of a deeper bathtub to replace an old clawfoot tub and a porcelain sink that sits on a chrome base. Clean, white subway tile lines much of the walls and marble in a mosaic pattern covers the floor. The primary bathroom was small, so Kelsey sacrificed a little closet space to make it bigger, ripped out red and black tile and black marble counters, then installed the same creamy white marble used in the kitchen. In the primary suite, Kelsey and her interior designer, Lucia Benton of Lucia Benton Interiors, chose Benjamin Moores Castle Walls, a gray-green tone thats both pleasing and calming. Benton also helped Kelsey with fabric choices for draperies and reupholstering chairs. Calm has become a big part of Kelseys life during the pandemic, when she took up yoga and found a great stress reliever. Just outside the primary bedroom suite at the back of the home is a small pool and a grassy lawn, which Kelsey changed by removing some stone and adding more grass to create a place where she can practice yoga at home. Yoga really changed my life. It made me much calmer, and I think everyone who works with me wants to pay for my yoga memberships now, she quipped. It was really healthy for me, and I got to meet some good people. A side entrance from the porte cochere that was added onto the house at some point in time also got a little makeover. Before, it was more of a utility room and included the washer and dryer. That has shifted to a small closet in the guest bathroom. Now, though, its as pretty as anyones front entrance, with Cowtan & Tout Mecox wallpaper in aqua, a textured pattern that feels a bit like fabric. She placed an antique dresser inside the doorway, with a Chinese import lamp and an old painting of Pope Innocent X, who headed the Catholic Church in the 1600s. What had been two small bedrooms was combined to create one larger room that Kelsey uses as her home office. One end is more office-like, with a big desk and computer, while the other end is for meeting with clients, with a small antique table and chairs and a modern black leather chair. A bookcase Kelsey already had was added to this room and installed into the walls. This room continues the soft gray-green palette with William Morris wallpaper, Pure Willow Bough, a simple leafy pattern in its eggshell/chalk colorway. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate One of two motorcyclists who were shot along Interstate 45 in Spring on Friday has died, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office reports. That shooting may be related to three other shootings near Huntsville, authorities said. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office received a call around 11 a.m. about the shooting at the 25000 block of Interstate 45 northbound at Rayford Road, said Steve Squier, specialist for the Sheriff's Office. Soon after that shooting, two other motorcyclists were killed and another was injured in a highway shooting in Huntsville, according to the Huntsville Police Department. On YourCourierNews.com: Willis ISD ends security contract with Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constable's Office after mistreatment complaints A 32-year-old man who was shot is believed to be a member of an outlaw biker gang, Squier said in a KHOU broadcast. He was taken to a nearby hospital, Squier said. The man was originally expected to survive, but died around 3:30 p.m. "despite extensive medical efforts," according to a press release from the sheriff's office. His identity was not provided. Another man was shot in Montgomery County and suffered non-lethal injuries. He fled the scene before being taken to a nearby hospital, said Lt. Scott Spencer of the sheriff's office. The Huntsville shooting happened around 12 p.m. on Interstate 45 on the northbound side near the 114-mile marker, Huntsville Police Lt. Wade Roberts said. Police were called to a report of a shooting and when they arrived they found three men shot, Roberts said. Two of the men were dead at the scene, and one was flown to a Houston hospital, he said. The third man's condition wasn't known Friday night. The men were all wearing clothes that appeared to belong to an "outlaw" motorcycle group, Roberts said. He declined to name the group. Multiple agencies are investigating whether the shootings in Montgomery County and Walker County are related, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release. "We think they may be related," Squier said in the KHOU broadcast. "We can't confirm that at this point. It's just too early in the investigation." No arrests have been announced. All lanes of I-45 northbound were closed in the Huntsville area at Veterans Memorial Parkway during the investigation. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Citing school resource officers' complaints of mistreatment by leadership, Willis ISD has ended a 20-year contract with the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constable's Office to manage the district's security. Nine officers will report to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office starting Friday. The district will fund the almost $750,000 contract to cover the officers' salaries, benefits, vehicles and cars. On YourConroeNews.com: Former Magnolia ISD teacher faces multiple felonies over alleged improper relationship with student The Montgomery County Commissioners Court unanimously approved the contract Tuesday. The Willis ISD board agreed in an unanimous vote to move the contract during a March 31 special meeting. During a March 8 meeting, Precinct 1 Constable Phillip Cash accused Willis ISD Superintendent Tim Harkrider of making his decision based on his dislike of former Texas Ranger Wesley Doolittle, who has led the school resource officer division since he was hired by Cash in October. Doolittle recently announced his bid for sheriff and will challenge Sheriff Rand Henderson for the county's Republican nomination in the November 2024 election. I only found out about this when deputies came to my office and told me they were going to work for another agency, Cash said during public comment. (Harkrider) gave no clear reason other than saying mistreatment of his deputies and limited information on an investigation. Politics should never supersede the safety of our children. Harkrider said his decision to seek a contract with the sheriffs office was based solely on complaints from school officers. The Precinct 1 Constables Office was very much aware of the unhappiness of our officers based on feedback they received and chose to ignore it, Harkrider said Thursday. Precinct 1 Constables Office chose to play this out publicly, not Willis ISD. Harkrider declined to give specifics on the complaints. Doolittle also spoke to the board during public comment during a March 8 meeting and denied mistreating officers. A coup is never acceptable, Doolittle said. When someone goes behind your back without letting you know there is a problem, thats an underhanded move. Its shady. Trustee Scott Carson said during the board meeting he believes Harkrider's recommendation was made through the lens of objectivity." When our superintendent makes the kind of recommendation regarding the safety and security of our students and has the full support of our officers that work in our district, Im going to support him and his recommendation, Carson said. The safety and security of our students, teachers and staff is the number one priority of our board and Willis ISD. Harkrider said several constable officials contacted school board members regarding the issue. Calling board members that you do not know to try and influence a vote on the amendment is the definition of politics, Harkrider said. The March 31 vote to approve the new contract was 5-0. Trustee Paulett Traylor was absent from the meeting and Trustee Nikita Lagway recused herself, saying she didnt have enough information to vote on the issue. Reporter Michael Garcia contributed to this story. 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. 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. Courtesy of FBI FBI Director Christopher Wray visited the bureaus Houston field office this week to voice his support for the local efforts against violent crime, as well as to announce that a Houston-area fugitive had been added to the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Federal authorities are offering a $5 million reward for anyone who offers information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Wilver Villegas-Palomino, FBI officials said. A warrant has been issued against the man since February 2020 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston. He is accused of trafficking cocaine, committing terrorist attacks and kidnapping people as a ranking member of a Colombian-based transnational criminal organization. Meridith Kohut/Contributor Remote work became a new normal for many after the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving leasable office spaces empty and available, especially in the Houston area. Houston's share of rental space available is among the highest in the country at 22.2 percent, according to data from CoStar, a commercial real estate information company. Only San Francisco has more available space at 22.9 percent. Dallas is third with 22.2 percent of available space, while Chicago rounds out the top four at 19. 6 percent. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A judge has denied a request to move a Pasadena mans capital murder trial elsewhere in Texas, months after his lawyer accused District Attorney Kim Oggs office of influencing pre-trial publicity in his case. The decision Friday keeps the trial for defendant Alex Guajardo in Harris County and scheduled for August. GUAJARDO CASE: Pasadena Police Chief 'outraged' after man stabs pregnant wife to death while out on bond Authorities accused Guajardo in 2019 of killing his pregnant wife, Caitlynne Guajardo, after his release from jail on cashless bonds. He was earlier arrested after allegations that he punched his wife and killed their cat. Godofredo A. Vasquez/Staff photographer Her death prompted extensive news coverage in the initial months as opponents of misdemeanor bail practices highlighted Guajardos case as an example of a defendant going on to garner another arrest while out on bond. Guajardos lawyer, Justin Keiter, then accused the District Attorneys Office of fanning the outrage and filed a change of venue motion. A two-day hearing aimed at moving Guajardos trial to another county brought Ogg and members of her office to the witness stand last September to testify about their communications strategy. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer The former judge in the 263rd District Court, Amy Martin, opted not to rule and to let her successor consider the issue instead. Judge Melissa Morris took over in January and ultimately decided that the change of venue was not necessary in Guajardo's case, effectively capping several recent attempts in Harris County to move high-profile trials elsewhere and making it unlikely many cases could ever meet the threshold. Prosecutors have argued that Harris County is large and diverse enough to produce an impartial jury. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SPIKE: As domestic violence deaths rise, families of victims beg for answers: 'Why is this happening?' Similar motions were considered in the Antonio Armstrong Jr. capital murder case and for Gerald Goines, the former Houston police officer charged with murder in connection to the Harding Street raid. A judge remains undecided in moving the Goines trial but has OK'd the lengthy process of interviewing dozens of prospective jurors individually, rather than in large group, a procedure typically reserved for death penalty trials. The Armstrong Jr. trial will go through the same process. Guajardos lawyer, citing similar reasons as outlined in the change of venue attempt, recently filed a motion to disqualify Oggs office from the case and to have them replaced with an attorney from another county instead. Morris has not ruled on the motion. An appellate court has dashed a Houston mans quest to have his 1991 conviction set aside after claiming arresting officer Gerald Goines, the former Houston police officer implicated in the deadly Harding Street raids, threatened him after a judge granted him a new trial. The ruling by the Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday continues to limit the years of known misconduct by Goines, who left the Houston Police Department following the no-knock raid, to a 10-year stretch starting in 2008. Keith Carter tried to overturn his conviction, contending in court filings that Goines threatened him at a Houston park after giving untruthful testimony during his first trial. The purported threat prompted Carter to accept a plea agreement to drug charges against the wishes of his defense attorney believing that Goines, the sole witness to him possessing drugs, would harm him if he went forward with the trial. MORE ON GOINES: Ex-Houston cop Gerald Goines routinely lied during drug buys for a decade, court rules A judge, in turn, granted him deferred adjudication, setting into motion Carters 7-year prison sentence after a violation of that agreement. The conviction was then used as an enhancement for later crimes. Carter is no longer in prison. Goines remained with HPD and has since been implicated in the botched narcotics raid that left two civilians dead and several police officers wounded. As courts and prosecutors scrutinized his lengthy career for patterns of misconduct, including fabricating evidence, civil lawsuits aimed at Goines and others, as well as criminal charges have followed. Judge Lori Chambers Gray in the 262nd District Court earlier ruled Carters conviction should be set aside kicking the ruling to the states highest court to consider. That court rejected her findings. The Harris County District Attorneys Office never voiced an objection to Grays decision. Ruling limits window of scrutiny Had the appellate court decided in Carters favor, Goines window of bad conduct would have expanded by 17 years allowing more defendants to dispute their convictions from his early-career arrests. The decision would have prompted Harris County prosecutors to review hundreds of additional cases for possible misconduct. The court, in its order, explains that Carter failed to elaborate his criminal history or explain how the conviction caused him to suffer collateral consequences. Prior felony convictions, which date back to 1986, also contributed to the decision, filings show. Carters lawyers, Romy Kaplan and Stanley Schneider, expressed dismay about the courts decision during a break from an unrelated murder trial. Schneider represented Carter on the 1991 case in question. HARDING STREET RAID: What to know about Houston PD's infamous no-knock raid that led to the deaths of 2 innocent people Kaplan found it noteworthy that none of Carters assertions were disputed The CCA didn't challenge any of the facts, the state of Texas never challenged the facts, they never submitted a brief challenging it they didn't object, Kaplan said. Carter can refile with more focus on the consequences of the conviction, Schneider said. The ruling follows the same courts finding that Goines routinely lied during alleged drug buys, effectively making it easier for defendants to fight convictions stemming from his word alone. He commonly went undercover to arrest Third Ward residents after claiming he bought small amounts of drugs from them. In other situations, he provided false information in the affidavit for search warrants. Prosecutors reviewed about 1,400 cases involving Goines and notified the defendants in 2019 that Goines had been relieved of duty and was the subject of a criminal investigation. Of those contacted, seven have been granted new trials and three declared not guilty. Houston Police Department A 18-year-old on Wednesday was booked into Harris County Jail and charged with murder in connection to a March 2022 shooting that left a 16-year-old dead in northwest Houston, according to Houston Police Department. Marcus Haynes of Houston was charged with murder over the death of Joshua Pedraza, killed on the night of March 16, 2022, in the 2500 block of West Little York Road, police said. Another 15-year-old teenager was shot and injured in what police said was an attempted robbery. On Scene Media Four people were injured late Thursday when a customer pulled a gun and fired at men trying to rob a convenience store in southeast Houston, officials said. Three attempted robbers and another customer were injured by gunfire, Houston Police Department Assistant Chief Ernest Garcia said. It wasnt immediately clear if the customer was shot by the other customer or by one of the alleged robbers. Kim Christensen, Freelance / Special to the Chronicle A 19-year-old was arrested and charged with murder Thursday over the March shooting death of a Galveston teenager, according to police. Darius Geters, 19, of Texas City was accused of killing Denim Cooper, 15, in an early-morning shooting March 26 on Avenue M 1/2 in Galveston, police said. The Texas Education Agency released the first 200-plus names of people who applied for a seat on the nine-member board of managers to govern the Houston Independent School District. The Chronicle on Friday obtained through a public records request a list of people who applied to the position through the end of March. In total, 374 people applied through the deadline last Thursday, although the agency extended the application window for an additional two weeks. The second round has already netted several dozen more applicants, said TEA deputy commissioner Steve Lecholop. TAKEOVER FALLOUT: As hundreds apply for HISD board of managers, opponents call process 'illegitimate' "We want to make sure all Houstonians have a second chance or more time to deliberate on whether they would be good fits to serve on the board," Lecholop said. "We wanted to make sure we captured as many Houstonians as were interested and create as deep of a pool as possible." HISD board of managers applicants: So far, the applicant pool is vastly underrepresented by Hispanic community members, raising concerns and questions among some residents. The Hispanic population makes up 10% of the applicants but nearly 62% of the HISD student body, according to the TEA. Meanwhile, 40% of the applicants are Black, 33% white, 12% other and 5% Asian, according to the state agency. The group includes many teachers or educators, parents and district alumni, according to the TEA, in addition to some community activists and one current trustee, Bridget Wade. HISD trustee Judith Cruz, one of three Hispanic board members, said she was concerned by the lack of Hispanic representation in the applicant pool, comparing it to a broader issue in the city. Houston City Council has one Hispanic member. The Harris County Commissioner's Court, meanwhile, has its first Latino majority. "It should be a wake up call for our city this is a void and we cannot just let it keep happening," Cruz said in an interview with the Chronicle. Cruz said she thinks some Latino residents did not apply because they feared backlash from the community, did not have support from an employer or lack the extra time to commit to the unpaid position. There were few voices encouraging people to apply and negativity surrounding the process, she said, plus many people did not have enough information from the Texas Education Agency. "They just have not been forthcoming with information. It's kind of too little, too late," she said. "So that has not helped with folks having a true understanding of what it could mean for them to step up and apply." Isidro Garza, an engineer and national education chair for the League of United Latin American Citizens, said he did not apply for the board of managers because he believes the takeover is illegal. Still, he described the situation as a "double-edged sword." HISD PROTEST: Houston ISD students protest TEA takeover with walkouts across district My concern is if you apply for the board of managers, youre acquiescing to the takeover, he said. "The other side of it is, if the takeover continues, it would make sense youd want to be at the table." He worries too, however, that the state-appointed board of managers and new superintendent would be influenced by the Republican-led states conservative ideals and tasked with carrying out an anti-diversity, pro-voucher rhetoric. What good is it to have a seat at the table if its not effective? Garza said. Garza said he believes Moraths heart is in the right place but that the majority of the community is not in agreement with the takeover. His organization and other Latino leaders have been involved in efforts to file federal complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Education. Meanwhile, somoe trustees at a Thursday night board meeting expressed concerns that the applicant pool included people who had previously lost in school board elections, vendors in the district and people who say they have already been chosen for the position despite an ongoing selection process. "If youve already selected three to four people, and those people are stating theyre selected, then that would be disingenuous to the community," said trustee Myrna Guidry. "Those names are out there." Lecholop, the TEA representative who presented and answered questions at the board meeting, said the agency has selected no one for the board of managers or the superintendent positions. "Not a soul in Houston or elsewhere has been notified that they will be a member of the board of managers," he said. Among the applicants in the first round is Lawrence Allen Jr., a third-generation educator and former member of the State Board of Education. His sister, Dr. Patricia Allen, now sits on the HISD board of trustees. Both siblings and their parents served as principals in the district, Allen said, adding that he is uniquely equipped to serve in the position due to his experience with the district and on the state level. BUDGET: HISD board members balk at budget cuts as TEA takeover approaches "The district as a whole is dear to my heart because it's been a main stay for our family for many, many years," he said. "I know the potential for success and I think it's a great time to make some paradigm shifts and do some out-of-the-box thinking on what's best for children." Applicants will be attending a required governance training this weekend and next. Several interviews will follow this month. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Texas Education Agency released names Friday of the first round of applicants for the new Houston ISD board of managers, but it extended the deadline to apply amid concerns the candidate pool lacked adequate Hispanic representation. So far, the Hispanic population makes up 10% of the 374-person applicant pool but nearly 62% of the HISD student body. Meanwhile, 40% of the applicants are Black, 33% white, 12% other and 5% Asian, according to the state agency. The group includes many teachers or educators, parents and district alumni, according to the TEA, in addition to some community activists and one current trustee, Bridget Wade. HISD trustee Judith Cruz, one of three Hispanic board members, said she was concerned by the lack of Hispanic representation in the applicant pool, comparing it to a broader issue in the city. Houston City Council has one Hispanic member. The Harris County Commissioner's Court, meanwhile, has its first Latino majority. "It should be a wake up call for our city this is a void and we cannot just let it keep happening," Cruz said in an interview with the Chronicle. Meanwhile, at a Thursday night board meeting, trustees peppered a TEA representative with questions about the transition from elected control to governance by a state-appointed board of managers. Some community members voiced opposition to the takeover during the meeting. Following a lengthy and unexplained closed session, Steve Lecholop, the TEA's deputy commissioner of governance, presented a slideshow about the board of managers applications and transition process while standing before elected trustees in the Hattie Mae White Educational Center auditorium. MORE: As hundreds apply for HISD board of managers, opponents call process 'illegitimate' Preliminary screening of applicants is underway and applicants have been invited to attend one of two required Lone Star Governance training sessions, he said. The application window is extended through next Thursday. The presentation reviewed the timeline of the takeover, the process and exit criteria for transitioning back to elected control, and the role of the elected trustees after their powers are suspended. Elected officials will be encouraged to remain in place as advisers to the board of managers, Lecholop said. "It is really important that you guys stay involved," he told trustees. Several trustees raised questions about transparency and validity in the application and selection process for the board of managers. They questioned the reasons behind the takeover and the specifics of the conditions for ending state governance. Some board members said they would have preferred to hear from TEA Commissioner Mike Morath to address their questions about the takeover. "Wed like to see Commissioner Morath to discuss all of the questions," said trustee Kathy Blueford-Daniels. Lecholop said the TEA has made no selections for any governance positions. He also said the future board of managers will be bound by the same laws as the elected school board, meaning meetings must be open to the public. BUDGET: HISD board members balk at budget cuts as TEA takeover approaches Trustee Elizabeth Santos grilled Lecholop about whether the state-appointed board of managers will convert schools into charters or push the voucher program touted by Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican. Lecholop said all decisions about programs and procedures will be made by the superintendent and board of managers after they are appointed by Morath, adding that it is not the agency's intention to charterize the district. Later, trustee Patricia Allen asked the state representative about a scenario in which the new leadership fails to achieve the exit criteria and instead contributes to declining student outcomes. "What happens when they do a terrible job and we can't get back in because they keep doing a terrible job?" she said. Lecholop did not provide an answer, instead pointing to a successful track record in other Texas districts that have been governed by a board of managers. "We have every expectation that the board will be successful," he said. Additionally, an item on the HISD agenda included proposal that TEA select Alton Frailey, a former Katy ISD superintendent, or AJ Crabill, an education reform advocate and former TEA deputy commissioner of governance, to "lead the transition from local governance to Texas Education Agency governance." Board president Dani Hernandez pulled the item from the agenda and the trustees did not discuss or vote on it. Also at the late-night meeting, Superintendent Millard House II said the district will not move forward with campus budget cuts for the next school year as planned despite declining enrollment and a looming fiscal cliff. House said the district will "press pause" on three cost-cutting measures: reducing the small school subsidy to $1,500, cutting the high school allotment in half and funding schools based on average daily attendance. "I've heard loud and clear the will of the board is not to move forward with any campus level budget reductions," the superintendent said. "This is already a time of significant uncertainty for our schools and I hope that agreeing to this budget recommendation as soon as possible will reduce a layer of uncertainty for our campus leaders, teachers and community." More than a dozen teachers, parents and other community members spoke out at the meeting against state intervention in the district. Many expressed concerns about accountability, transparency and ulterior motives by the state agency. One teacher said she worries that state intervention could lead to more high-stakes testing and less joyful classroom learning. "It's clear that the takeover is motivated by the almighty dollar," said Carmen Nuncio, a parent, grandparent and longtime volunteer in the district. "Our schools are not commodities to be bought and sold. Our students deserve better than to be pawns in a political game." Additionally, many speakers said they were concerned that the agenda packet for the meeting did not include any materials for the TEA presentation. Other items, meanwhile, included detailed presentations. Officials said the TEA presentation will be posted online after the meeting. "That's just indicative of how TEA will run our district if given the chance," said parent Karina Quesada during public comment. PROTEST: Houston ISD students protest TEA takeover with walkouts across district While some thanked trustees for their service, others expressed disappointment that board members ended the district's legal fight against the state. "This is no good for our schools, especially the Black and brown schools," said Travis McGee, a parent and public education advocate. "I just wish y'all would have fought for us." Allison Newport, another speaker, said she worries that a transition back to local control hinges on Morath's discretion. "This could last forever there is no term limit for the board of managers," she said. Multiple Texas colleges and universities, including Texas A&M in College Station, received hoax shooting calls on Thursday. It is unclear whether the false reports were connected, although the calls all arrived in the morning. CATTLE DEATHS: Farm fire kills one person, 18,000 head of cattle in Panhandle The 9:45 a.m. call about an active shooter at north Texas Collin College sent the school into lockdown, according to administrators and the Plano Police Department. The report was determined to be false, and classes resumed in the afternoon. Waco police confirmed similar false active shooter threats at Baylor University, which also came in around 9:45 a.m., according to TV news station KWTX. More by Samantha Ketterer: UH, Rice among colleges creating partnerships with India A&M police said their call referenced a shooting at the Health Science Center, and authorities found no threat to campus. San Antonio police also dealt with a hoax call at an address housing the Galen College of Nursing, department officials wrote on Twitter. Hoax calls, also referred to as swatting, have seemingly been on the rise over the past year, according to the Associated Press. FBI officials in November said they believed some of the calls came from outside of the U.S., and they had identified calls to about 250 colleges and 100 high schools since June 2022. A tiny Mars helicopter named Ingenuity, initially given just one month to live, rose above the red Martian dust for its 50th flight Thursday. It has flown for nearly two years, far surpassing early expectations when it hitchhiked to Mars with NASAs Perseverance rover in 2021. When we first flew, we thought we would be incredibly lucky to eke out five flights, Teddy Tzanetos, Ingenuity team lead at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in a news release. RELATED: Tiny Mars helicopter to pay homage to Wright brothers Ingenuity was designed as a technology demonstration. Weighing 4 pounds on Earth (1.5 pounds on Mars), the helicopter was given one month to prove it could fly in the thin Martian atmosphere. Then it was supposed to join the Mars graveyard of exploration bygone. But its flights the first powered, controlled flights on another planet captivated humanity. It even had a piece of fabric from the Wright brothers aircraft that took the first powered, controlled flight on Earth in 1903. Scientists who thought Ingenuity would distract from the rovers main mission began to recognize its potential as an aerial scout. And although NASA had planned for the helicopter to fly no more than five times it was going to push the helicopter to its limit; Ingenuity was not expected to survive the agency decided to extend its mission to help Perseverance conduct science. I was interested to see how they would try to kill it, Bob Balaram, the helicopters chief engineer emeritus, told the Houston Chronicle in 2021. Ingenuity solved the problem by itself. Ingenuitys dexterity and color images provided a new mission. The helicopter began flying ahead of Perseverance to select rover routes and to take pictures of rocks it might want to sample. (Perseverance is searching Mars for signs of past microbial life, and its collecting rock and soil samples that future missions could return to Earth.) It also explored areas that Perseverance could not access. Thursdays flight traveled 1,057 feet and reached a peak altitude of 59 feet. Thats the highest Ingenuity has ever flown. Ingenuity has traveled more than 7 miles over 89 minutes since taking its first flight on April 19, 2021. Just as the Wright brothers continued their experiments well after that momentous day at Kitty Hawk in 1903, the Ingenuity team continues to pursue and learn from the flight operations of the first aircraft on another world, Lori Glaze, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA, said in the news release. To get here, Ingenuitys engineers had to overcome some major challenges. One particularly big challenge was Mars' thin atmosphere. A helicopter must generate lift to fly. It does this on Earth by pushing air with its blades. On Mars, the atmosphere is 1 percent the density of Earths atmosphere and there are fewer molecules for the blades to push. So the engineers made Ingenuity super light and gave it blades that are much larger and faster than whats required for helicopters on Earth. Ingenuitys first flight was a modest 39.1 seconds. It climbed 10 feet above the planets surface, hovered and returned for a gentle landing. Subsequent flights were more ambitious. The longest Ingenuity remained airborne during one flight was 169.5 seconds. The farthest Ingenuity traveled on one flight was roughly 2,310 feet. The helicopter had to adapt to these bolder mission. Its navigation system, initially designed to fly over flat areas for the technology demonstration, was adjusted to fly over bumpy terrain and can now autonomously identify the safest visible landing site. Ingenuitys blades began spinning faster when a change in Mars seasons created an even lower air density. We are not in Martian Kansas anymore, Josh Anderson, Ingenuity operations lead at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in the release. Were flying over the dried-up remnants of an ancient river that is filled with sand dunes, boulders and rocks and surrounded by hills that could have us for lunch. And while we recently upgraded the navigation software onboard to help determine safe airfields, every flight is still a white-knuckler. One of the helicopters navigation sensors has stopped functioning. And the helicopter is now running out of power while trying to keep itself warm during cold Martian nights. The sun then revives the helicopter in the morning activating heaters, thawing out the frozen battery and charging it sufficiently. NASA recognizes this mission will eventually come to an end. But for now, the tiny helicopter just keeps flying. We have come so far, and we want to go farther, Tzanetos said. But we have known since the very beginning our time at Mars was limited, and every operational day is a blessing. Whether Ingenuitys mission ends tomorrow, next week or months from now is something no one can predict at present. What I can predict is that when it does, well have one heck of a party. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SpaceX is preparing to launch the worlds most powerful rocket Monday from South Texas after receiving clearance from federal regulators. Billionaire Elon Musk previously announced that his company would be ready to launch in the third week of April. Then SpaceX listed Monday as the target flight date on its website. But both announcements had a giant asterisk the company needed federal approval before igniting the rockets 33 engines for liftoff. ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL: SpaceX launches wont cause significant environmental consequences but changes are needed The Federal Aviation Administration gave that approval late Friday after more than 500 days reviewing the launch application. This process was lengthy because the SpaceX program is dynamic, according to an FAA official who emphasized the organizations focus on public safety, and multiple changes were made to the companys application as SpaceX tinkered with its design. SpaceX develops rockets with a fast-paced cadence of test, fail, fix and test again. Explosions are part of its learning process, which residents of South Texas have witnessed firsthand. SpaceX is developing its Super Heavy rocket and Starship spacecraft in Boca Chica, an unincorporated area outside Brownsville. Starship has taken high-altitude test flights, but Monday will be the first time the companys Super Heavy rocket and Starship spacecraft launch together. IN-DEPTH: As Elon Musk reshapes rural Texas, is Bastrops Snailbrook the start of his next company town? These vehicles are being developed to help NASA astronauts return to the moon NASAs Orion capsule cannot land on the moon, so astronauts will transfer to Starship to reach the lunar surface and to carry humanity on to Mars. For the commercial sector, Starship could dramatically reduce the cost of accessing space. The Starship represents a significantly different launch system than weve ever seen before, said Phil Smith, a space industry analyst at BryceTech. If successful, it can usher in a new era in space transportation. But first, it must rise above the coast of Texas. SpaceX said its 150-minute launch window opens at 7 a.m. Monday. The Super Heavy rocket will push Starship upward for 2 minutes and 49 seconds. Super Heavy then will separate from the spacecraft and land in the Gulf of Mexico. Starship is to continue around the planet and, about an hour and a half after liftoff, splash down off the coast of Hawaii. Itll land before taking a full lap of the Earth. Reaching Hawaii would be historic, Smith said, but hes tempering his expectations. Mishaps occur in about 11 percent of all FAA-licensed launches, according to the agency official. We have to be realistic, Smith said. This is an enormous system. Its a new system. So you kind of have to manage your expectations. Party on the Plaza is coming back to Houston with a lineup of concerts every Friday night, starting tonight with some homegrown tunes. The live music series kicks off at 7 p.m. at Avenida Houston in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center at 1001 Avenida De Las Americas. The series takes place every Friday night from 7 to 9:30 p.m. and goes until May 19. Here are the performances lined up for the series. MORE ON LOCAL: Daisetta sinkhole: what to know about the rare geological event April 14 The C.I.T.Y.: a Houston-based group who sing funk, soul, rhythm and and blues covers as well as original music. April 21 Stuart Adams Collective: a musical collective inspired by the likes of Erykah Badu, Miles Davis and Robert Glasper. April 28 The Number One Party Band: a band of Nashville touring musicians performing a variety of cross-genre dance hits. May 5 Bulbo: live music that blends both English and Spanish. May 12 Tom Sandoval and The Most Extras: a cover band singing classic dance hits. Opener: Zmaji Glamouratti and Lone Star Discoteq May 19 Mustache the Band: a country cover band performing hit country songs from the 1990s. MORE ON LIFESTYLE: Celebrate Selena Day in Houston with movies, music, markets and more Parking and transportation Attendees can find parking in the Avenida North and Avenida South parking garages at each end of the George R. Brown Convention Center. Visitors can also use the METRO Rail and METRO Bus to get to Avenida Houston. There is also free 2-hour parking available with validation from three specific restaurants on Avenida de las Americas: Kulture, Grotto Downtown and Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen. 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. BEIRUT (AP) The leader of Lebanons militant Hezbollah group on Friday claimed that Israel did not hit Hamas or Hezbollah targets in last weeks strikes on southern Lebanon. The strikes last Friday in south Lebanon came a day after militants fired nearly three dozen rockets from there at Israel, wounding two people and causing some property damage. The Israeli military said it had targeted installations of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, in southern Lebanon. Ive never been great at praying. Though I make my living off of words, I rarely feel like I find the right ones in my conversations with God. I suppose its daunting, isnt it? To bother someone like Him, our omnipotent Creator, with earthly troubles. Sometimes I find it easier to chat with his mom and my namesake, the Virgin Mary (my full name is Maria Regina). My own mom and older brother seem to just know when to sprinkle in a Senor Jesucristo or a que sea para tu gloria. Hearing my stumbling words about as sophisticated as those of Judy Blumes Margaret makes me feel like a phony Catholic, even when my faith is strong. But, my spiritual director once explained, God doesnt care what words you use. Prayer is about presence. Its about listening as much as it is about speaking. Holy Week That much was clear last week, the holiest for Catholics (and Jews and Muslims, whose major holidays all coincided this year). Around this time every year, Regnum Christi Young Adults, a Catholic group for college students and young professionals that Im a part of, hosts missions. Thats four days of worship and evangelization through acts of service and a crosswalk literally, walking through Houston carrying a life-sized cross upon which we nail pieces of paper with prayer intentions. I spent Thursday packing plastic bags with homemade sandwiches, chips, a pair of socks, a rosary and a prayer card. On Good Friday, small groups of five or ten of us walked from the parking lot near Minute Maid, past a sobriety center and to a spot not too far from the marker that commemorates where the Barrio del Alacran'' used to be. The historic neighborhood, known as Frost Town when Germans settled there in Houstons earliest days, was later nicknamed by the many Mexican immigrants who settled there in the 1930s. It was a place that offered accessible, if neglected, housing. But, as the refrain goes in Houston, it was no match for the interstate highway that wiped it from the map. Today, in the shadow of I-69, a new neighborhood has sprung up. More than two dozen tents make up what some residents call The Grove, an offshoot of what once was Tent City, the sprawling homeless encampment cleared out by the city about two months ago. Regina Lankenau When we arrived, the place seemed almost deserted, with little movement from the tents. The three imposing lanes above us offered only partial respite from the cold, steady drizzle. A pair of Converse left outside were already soaked, sitting in a muddy puddle. Slowly, men and women began approaching us, the numbers growing as word spread. Often, after accepting a sandwich or the bags we prepared, people stuck around to chat. Small talk, at first, until we asked if there was anything on their mind, anything theyd like us to pray for. Aaron, a limber man with an uncertain smile, said yes, yes there was. Pray that I get my finances in order, that this time I do it right. He didnt share any more than that. And he didnt have to. Together we prayed an Our Father, which he quietly mouthed the words to, his eyes clenched shut in concentration. Others asked that we pray for their families, wherever they may be. Some led the prayer themselves with a spiritual eloquence that left me with chills. One laughed wryly and told us to ask God for the rain to stop. I couldnt tell you what religion they were, or if they had one at all. The stories hidden behind the words they uttered or didnt utter during prayer moved me deeply. And the most powerful thing I could do was to listen. Thoughts and prayers That is prayer at its best. Then we moved on to the crosswalk, which we began on Heights Boulevard and ended outside of Postino and Common Bond. The rain was pouring down in sheets now, so a small group stayed beneath an awning, watching the cross, while the rest of us split to try and chat with people walking nearby. Last year, wed done the crosswalk downtown, near Discovery Green, and had filled the cross with layers of prayer intentions. Some people had honked, waving in support; others, seeing us from afar, ran across the street to nail a petition. It had been my first crosswalk, and I remember feeling pleasantly surprised at the positive reaction. This time, the people we approached outside of establishments often looked at us with a mixture of wariness, fear, or worse, pity. Wrong place, guys, one person said. This is a bar. Maybe it was the place, or the weather, affecting peoples reaction. But after the third or fourth rejection, I couldnt help but think, praying with others has really got a bad rep. Its easy to understand why. Theres the general aversion to evangelization, or anything resembling it, with many thinking its the same as proselytization. Theres the cynicism borne out of seeing the hypocrisy of prosperity gospel preachers and religious leaders lavish, tax-free parsonages. Theres the prayer breakfasts that are less about prayer and more about shady political dealmaking. And of course, theres the phrase politicians dole out after each mass shooting, so well-worn its become, for some, profane. Prayers and thoughts are no longer useful for the families who are losing loved ones, John Glenn, a Fresno reader wrote recently in a letter to the editor. In the wake of this latest shooting in Louisville, many, including a lot of you letter writers, understandably feel as hopeless as ever, certain nothing will ever change. Its true that thoughts and prayers have been weaponized, used by people in power not as a prerequisite to action, but as a way to avoid taking any. And I dont excuse that. But maybe, for us normal folks, thoughts and prayers can be a powerful way to do something anything. Some take action by speaking to God on someones behalf. Others by just being there for someone, hearing them out. At the encampment under I-69, I met a man, weathered and with a scruffy beard, who chatted with me for a long time. Kenneth, or Kenny, had been part of the Tent City group that was moved to a navigation center back in February. Last month, he had finally been approved to move into his new apartment, he told me with a smile. He returned to the encampment almost daily, traveling by light rail and by foot to visit his girlfriend who didnt make the original cut to leave. That day he was taking her to his apartment, to get her out of the unrelenting rain. Things seemed to be looking up for him. But when I finally asked if he had something on his mind that we could pray for, Kenny told me he hadnt spoken to his son in a long time. A difference of opinions, he said, not making eye contact with me. I didnt quite know what to say. So we prayed with him. Quietly, he took off his red beanie and trained his milky blue eyes on the ground. He didnt join in, but he listened. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Gov. Greg Abbotts decision to call for a pardon for a man convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester in Austin is just the most recent example of the influence Fox News host Tucker Carlson has had on Republican politics in Texas. THE LATEST: Tucker Carlson, Fox News' most popular host, out at network Two weeks ago, Carlson was on air calling out Abbott for not agreeing to appear on his show to address the murder conviction earlier that day of Daniel Perry. Carlson said Abbotts office suggested they talk to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton instead. So that is Greg Abbotts position theres no right to self-defense in Texas, Carlson told his estimated audience of over 4 million viewers. Less than 24 hours later, Abbott took to social media to make his first public comments on Perrys case and to declare Texas has one of the strongest self-defense laws in the nation. I am working as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry, Abbott said, making no mention of the Carlson jab the night before. With Carlson now parting ways with Fox, here are other examples of pressure he has applied on Texas lawmakers. Troops on the Texas border In September 2021, Carlson was ripping Abbott on air for not doing more about securing the Texas border, even though the governor already had committed more than 2,000 National Guard troops and 1,000 DPS officers to protect the border. But that didnt matter to Carlson. Weve asked Texas Gov. Greg Abbott many times to come on this show to explain why he hasnt called the National Guard to seal the Texas border and protect the rest of us from this invasion. Greg Abbott has refused to come on, repeatedly, he said then. Two months later, Abbott ramped up his border program, sending more than 10,000 National Guard members to the border. Abbott eventually went on the show, only to have Carlson quiz him on why he hadnt sent 19,000 guard members to the border. Support for Ukraine Carlson has vocally opposed U.S. sending aid to Ukraine, even as most Republicans and Democrats backed the idea. Carlson in May 2022 specifically went after U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, for supporting a $40 billion aid package to Ukraine in Congress. While Crenshaw has remained firm in his support of Ukraine, Carlsons constant political pressure appears to have had an impact on other Republicans. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who had taken a hard line against Russia in some other interviews, told Carlson that the war was a territorial dispute that is not a top national security interest of the United States. When the war started in Ukraine, Abbott was an outspoken supporter of the nation, lighting the Governors Mansion in the colors of the blue and yellow flag of that nation and declaring: The U.S. must do more to end this war. Sanctions are not enough. Ukraine needs weapons. But in a written statement to Carlson in March, Abbott said President Joe Biden must do more to secure the Texas border before sending more aid to Ukraine. Before he sends any more money or assets to Ukraines border, he must enforce our immigration laws and secure our southern border, Abbott said. Border militia bill Carlson doesnt just influence Abbott and other governors, as evidenced by his call for Texas to recruit regular citizens to go to the border to help repel migrants trying to cross. In an interview with Abbott, he pressured the governor and the Legislature to send volunteers to the border. Why dont you say, any person with military or law enforcement experience can join up? We are starting our own force, its volunteer Carlson said. While Abbott didnt fully support that idea, the Texas House has been debating House Bill 20, which would create a new state border guard unit that would recruit former military and law enforcement, just as Carlson had suggested. Why Carlson? There are dozens of cable television hosts who go after Republicans and Democrats almost daily. But Carlsons show was a heavyweight. According to Ad Week, Carlson had more than 3.6 million viewers the week he pushed Abbott to pardon Perry by far the most views of any cable TV news show. Thats almost 1 million more viewers than other hosts such as Sean Hannity or Jesse Watters. Its nearly double any program on MSNBC or CNN. Carlson had various roles at Fox News starting in 2009 and had hosted his own prime-time show since 2016. Before his tenure there, he had programs on CNN and MSNBC. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Daniel Perry, who was recently convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester and is making national headlines in the wake of Gov. Greg Abbott saying he wants to pardon him, sent private messages for years containing racist memes and defending the killing of protesters and Muslims, a newly unsealed set of court documents shows. The 76 pages filed by Travis County prosecutors also reveal messages dating back years in which Perry, an Army sergeant, talked about killing people several times referencing a desire to kill Muslims. In a 2019 message, for example, Perry wrote it was to [sic] bad we cant get paid for hunting Muslims in Europe. The documents released Thursday were filed on March 27, when prosecutors announced their intent to introduce messages and posts theyd gathered from Perrys cellphone. Some of Perrys messages were presented during his trial, including a May 31, 2020, social media post where he said he might have to kill people. But the newly unsealed filing contains dozens of other posts and messages that werent presented publicly. RELATED: Why Abbotts push to pardon Daniel Perry is so extraordinary Each piece of evidence is listed separately in the 76 pages. They include internet searches for news about George Floyd-related protests, posts of memes that appear to encourage or rationalize shooting protesters, and Perrys own messages in which he talks about being angry and scared over the protests or writes about committing violence. Perry on April 7 was convicted in Austin in the killing of 28-year-old Garrett Foster in downtown Austin during a Black Lives Matter protest on July 25, 2020. In a near-unprecedented move Saturday, Abbott said he would recommend that Perry be pardoned even though Perry has yet to be sentenced. Abbott tweeted Perry should have been protected by Texas' stand-your-ground laws because he was acting in self-defense. The governor blamed Perrys prosecution on a progressive district attorney. The Chronicle has reached out to Abbotts office for comment. Perrys attorney Doug OConnell did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Weeks before Fosters death, Perry in a May 2020 Facebook message exchange told a friend he might have to kill a few people who were rioting outside his apartment complex. The friend wrote to Perry: Can you catch me a negro daddy. That is what I am hoping, Perry responded. Other messages talked of going to Dallas to shoot looters and included white power memes. PAST COVERAGE: Kyle Rittenhouse rallies the faithful at Conroe 'Rally Against Censorship' BLM compared to monkeys Some of Perrys social media posts have been public knowledge for years. Soon after he was identified as the person who shot Foster, activists flagged tweets in which Perry said that protesters from New York or Minneapolis should be sent to Texas. Send them to Texas we will show them why we say dont mess with Texas, Perry said. He was responding to a tweet by former President Donald Trump, in which Trump wrote that protesters, anarchists, agitators, looters or lowlifes in Democrat-led cities would face a much different scene if they were in Oklahoma. On May 30, 2020, he referred to protests and riots as monkey s--- after writing that his favorite barbershop had been burned down. Days later, he compared the Black Lives Matter movement to a zoo full of monkeys and said people were acting like animals at the zoo. Perry wrote that he initially supported the protest movement, but changed his stance when rioting and looting began. Other items that filing says messages were found on Perrys phone include a undated meme that uses the n-word and complains about Black people being racist; a meme that advises people pick up your brass if they encounter rioters; and a May 29 text to another person that shows a photo of a building with a sign on it that says WHITE POWER, White county power & light co. New trial sought In July 2020, Perry was driving for Uber when he made a right turn into an intersection full of protesters in downtown Austin. Foster, who was a protester, approached the drivers side of Perrys car while carrying an AK-47 rifle. Perry rolled down the window and, seconds later, used a revolver next to him to shoot and kill Foster. Both Perry and Foster were legally armed, and Perry claimed that the shooting was in self-defense. More than a year after the shooting, he was indicted and charged with murder and aggravated assault. During a 10-day trial, Perrys defense team attempted to portray the protesters as an angry mob and said Foster was carrying his rifle in a threatening manner, which meant Perry had the right to shoot him under Texas self-defense laws. Prosecutors contended that Perry deliberately drove into a group of peaceful protesters and lost his right to self-defense by provoking the confrontation with Foster. Perry was found guilty by the jury last week. Perrys attorneys have filed a motion for a new trial, arguing they should have been allowed to present evidence they said proved Foster was the aggressor in the confrontation between the two men. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The claim: Gun violence is the No. 1 killer of children and teens it has overtaken cars. Ashbey Beasley Beasley, a survivor of the 2022 mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, made the statement during a passionate plea for gun safety legislation in front of TV cameras after the March 17 mass school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee. RELATED: To combat illegal gun use, Texas Senate turns to a tough-on-crime sentencing tool PolitiFact rating: Mostly True. CDC data for 2021 shows that for people ages 1 to 19, firearm-related deaths ranked No. 1, followed by deaths from car accidents. Thats for the age range as a whole; it is not the leading cause of death for each age in that group. Firearm-related deaths are far more common among older teenagers than among young children. Discussion After a police official finished a briefing on the deadly school shooting that left three 9-year-olds and three adults dead, Beasley stepped in front of the microphones. How is this still happening? How are our children still dying and why are we failing them? Gun violence is the number one killer of children and teens it has overtaken cars, Beasley said . Beasley became a gun safety activist after she and her son, then 6 years old, survived the Highland Park mass shooting during a July 4 parade. After previous mass shootings, including at a school in Uvalde, Texas, PolitiFact fact-checked U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who said that "the leading cause of death among children is a firearm." ABOUT POLITIFACT PolitiFact is a fact-checking project to help you sort out fact from fiction in politics. Truth-O-Meter ratings are determined by a panel of three editors. The burden of proof is on the speaker, and PolitiFact rates statements based on the information known at the time the statement is made. See More Collapse PolitiFact rated his statement Mostly True based on analyses of 2020 federal data. The same finding holds true for 2021 data on children and teenagers ages 1 to 19. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes data on the leading causes of death among different demographic groups. CDC data for 2021 shows that 23,198 people ages 1 to 19 died in 2021. Firearm deaths, 4,733, were the No. 1 cause. Motor vehicle traffic deaths ranked second at 4,048. This data is similar to what researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions found when they analyzed CDC data for 2020 deaths. The lead researcher for that report confirmed that the same point held true for 2021. Beasley told us she is careful to say children and teens" because she has heard people dispute the statement when someone refers only to children." Generally, researchers say they dont include infants in their analyses because of certain conditions unique to babies. It is technically correct to say that firearms are the leading cause of death for people aged 1 to 19 when they are combined into a single group, said Veronica Pear, an assistant professor in the Violence Prevention Research Program at University of California, Davis. This is an eye-catching and powerful statistic, so I get why people use it, Pear said. But Pear warned that someone could wrongly interpret the statement to mean that firearms are the leading cause of death for each individual age within the 1 to 19 range. Firearm-related deaths are exceedingly rare among babies and young children, while teenagers, especially older teenagers, have very high rates of dying from firearm-related injuries, Pear said. When all these ages are pooled together, the very high rates among teens are swamping the very low rate among young kids, such that firearms are the leading cause of death for the group as a whole, Pear said. The Nashville shooting occurred at The Covenant School, a small private Christian school serving preschool through sixth grade. If we look at death data for ages 3 to 12, it shows firearms as the sixth leading cause. Hong Kong: Youth leaders forum advisers named Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung today presented appointment certificates to the Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum Advisory Board. The advisers are Founding Chairman Yeung Fun-bun, Chairman Cheng Cheung-ling, Permanent President Chan Hak-kan, President Cheung Wah-fung and President Kwan Chi-ping. Noting that the advisory board members are distinguished leaders from various sectors, Mr Tang thanked them for their staunch support by leveraging their experience, network and enthusiasm for serving society to enrich the forums training and the youth members experience, and to provide valuable advice to the development of the forum, striving to nurture more outstanding leaders for society. Established by the Security Bureau last October as a way to deepen the participation of government departments and civil service grades in youth work, the forum organises training activities for its members. The bureau pointed out that there are 50 youth members in this forum, selected from distinguished members of various disciplined and auxiliary services youth uniformed groups. In the past few months, the bureau organised diverse activities for the members, which included a two-day induction course at the Fire & Ambulance Services Academy in Tseung Kwan O, a two-day event at the Civil Aid Service Yuen Tun Camp, seminars on national security and one country, two systems, and visits to the Government Flying Service and a public transport operator. More activities such as field trips to the Greater Bay Area and internships in the Security Bureau will be arranged in the future, the bureau added. This story has been published on: 2023-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. 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. Click here for a Print Subscription with Online Digital included. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Below you will see test that reads Print Subscribe Access. Click this to then Get Started attaching your account number and zip code to you online user account. Click on the banner above if you would like to become a print subscriber with digital access. If you simply want online access without print click get started below. Subscribers to Register-Star or The Daily Mail are eligible to receive full access to HudsonValley360. If you have an existing print subscription, please make sure your email address on file matches your HudsonValley360 account email. Veteran Spotlight: Navy Veteran Rick O'Neill PITTSFIELD, Mass. Rick O'Neill served his country in the Navy as an aviation mechanic, third class from 19671971. The Pittsfield native enlisted at the age of 19. "I worked on stock cars, helping a guy named Walter Pollart. Turns out he was a Navy recruiter," he said with a laugh. He did his basic training at Great Lakes, Ill., and offered this: "It was pretty good ... they break you down to build you up. Lots of hurry up and wait ... pretty good experience." After basic, O'Neill was assigned to Squadron VAW 121 in Norfolk, Va., as an aircraft mechanic/plane captain. "Made sure planes were ready to fly for the pilots 24/7," he said. He left for Vietnam in March 1968 on the USS Intrepid and would return in February 1969. "There was some anticipation, some excitement, working on the flight deck of a carrier is highly dangerous," he remembered. "I got blown down the flight deck a few times. First instinct is to get up but you really need to lay flat until the jet or prop blast is turned in a different direction." I asked what the holidays were like. He said it depended on the flying schedule of flying. "We flew 18 hours a day and every third day you had a watch or duty responsibility. We worked two 12-hour shifts," he said. "I preferred night flying as there weren't many officers around, but it was still extremely dangerous. I spent my 21st birthday (Christmas) on watch in Vietnam." I asked O'Neill if he was ever afraid and he responded with this. "At some point, yes, fighter jets would come in and hit with such force that machine guns would go off. One time a plane landed hard and his bomb fell off. A Marine rolled it off the side of a carrier," he said. "Being launched off the flight deck on a prop plane was quite scary. It doesn't go fast down the flight deck then drops 15-20 feet off the carrier. "We had a very, very good relationships with our pilots they had to trust us even the officers would come in and hang with us in our compartments." He shared a somewhat humorous story. "I was in charge of X Division, in charge of the hangar, barracks and plane maintenance. Lots of guys that worked for me were higher ranks. I was working and a senior officer comes by and gets upset that I didn't salute him. I apologized profusely because we had different guys come and go every week," he remembered. "Now my CO comes by and says he needs me to fly with him to Ohio to see his sick father, asks me what's the problem with the senior officer and I said he's upset because I forgot to salute him. He turns to the officer and says, 'don't worry about it.O'Neill's got more time in the shitter than you!'" His greatest accomplishment? "Doing my job to the best of my ability and making the friendships I did. About five of us still keep in touch on a regular basis, still really feel for those guy's that fought in-country," O'Neill said. "Even though it was dangerous with bombs and fuel, we never had people shooting at us. We got to sleep in a warm rack and got three squares a day. I admire those guys that were boots on the ground." He and his wife of 27 years, Jackie, have five children. Aviation Mechanic 3rd Class Rick O'Neill, thank you for your service to our great country and welcome home. Golden Eagle Awarded State Grant to Improve Drinking Water CLARKSBURG, Mass. The Golden Eagle restaurant was awarded $50,000 by MassDEP that will be utilized for testing and installation of a new drinking water well on the property. The Healey-Driscoll Administration awarded more than $1 million in grants to 21 small public water suppliers to support their efforts to address elevated levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. The grant program, managed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), is intended to pay for or reimburse long-term actions to address PFAS, such as construction of treatment systems or connection to an uncontaminated water supply. MassDEP is awarding funding to small public water suppliers who provide drinking water to fewer than 3,300 users. The grant recipients include condominium associations, schools, churches, businesses, and public buildings. "PFAS poses a significant threat to public health and the environment, and our communities have been working extremely hard to keep our drinking water safe from these toxic chemicals," said Governor Maura Healey. "This grant funding will help our small public water suppliers by providing the financial support needed to put the right treatment systems in place so all residents can access clean water." PFAS chemicals are a family of chemicals widely used since the 1950s to manufacture common consumer products and used in some legacy fire-fighting foams. Drinking water may become contaminated if PFAS deposited onto the soil seeps into groundwater or surface water. PFAS have been linked to a variety of health risks, particularly in women who are pregnant or nursing, and in infants. In October of 2020, MassDEP finalized a protective standard of 20 parts-per-trillion (ppt) for PFAS in drinking water, as well as cleanup standards for soil and groundwater. "Removing PFAS from our drinking water is one of the great environmental challenges of our time," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "Providing this funding helps to build on the aggressive action we are taking in Massachusetts to protect the public and the environment from the harmful impacts of PFAS. Working closely with communities dealing with PFAS is essential to eliminating these contaminants, and these grants will help the impacted entities respond immediately to PFAS contamination by providing safe drinking water." All community public water systems are required to test for "PFAS6" (the sum of six PFAS substances). If found above the state standard, water systems are required to eliminate or minimize the threat to public health by turning off a contaminated water source, connecting to a neighboring water supply, or taking other steps to ensure that clean drinking water is available to all system users. To help ensure the safety of drinking water around the Commonwealth, $28.4 million was secured in two recent supplemental budgets for water infrastructure and PFAS testing. Through the supplemental budget, $20 million was appropriated to the Commonwealth's Clean Water Trust, providing financing that can be used by communities to address contamination issues. $8.4 million of the funding supported a statewide sampling program for public water supplies and private wells. Conducting statewide testing of drinking water for PFAS provided the data to support MassDEP's strategy for treatment and mitigation of this emerging contaminant. This additional $1.05 million in state funds will further address the needs of small public water systems with PFAS6 concentrations exceeding MassDEP's drinking water Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). These systems are required to eliminate or minimize the threat to public health by providing treatment, connecting to a neighboring water supply, or taking other steps to ensure that clean drinking water is available to all system users. YMCA Executive Director Jess Rumlow speaks with dozens of YMCA patrons about the condition of the pool roof on Wednesday. The pool was closed a month ago after it failed a roof inspection. Northern Berkshire YMCA Waiting On Pool Engineering Report The pool is empty and the doors locked at the YMCA. The rest of the building is open and operating. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The pool at the Berkshire Family YMCA isn't expected to reopen anytime soon. That section of the YMCA closed nearly five weeks ago after the roof failed a required structural inspection. Jess Rumlow, the CEO and executive director, told the dozens that attended a community meeting on Wednesday that an inspection is required every two years. Last time it passed; this time it failed. Wthout an engineering report in hand, she did not have specific answers but wanted to begin a conversation with the community about the immediate and long-term future of the facility. "We need to have a lot of conversations, we need to make sure that whatever we do is what the community needs and so that's what I'm hoping this conversation is about today," she said. "I'm not going to be able to answer your questions because I don't have those answers but what we can do is we can hear from you about what questions you have." Rumlow said the specific issue is that the ceiling beams aove the pool had begun to compress, and there were concerns over what a heavy snowfall could do. "Then we got 24 inches of snow," she said, referring to the March 14 storm that dumped upwards of 40 inches across the regiona. Building Inspector William Meranti measured the beams prior to the storm and then after some of the beams had dropped an inch. This triggered a full investigation of the pool facility and a structural engineer was hired to do a complete survey of the roof and ceiling. Rumlow said this was done about two weeks ago and that the report should be complete any day now. "So we're still waiting on the report. We are actively engaged in conversations. We're actively working together as a partnership," she said. "But until we know the full scope of what we're dealing with it's really hard to come up with a plan." The only news she did have was that Hotel Down Street on Main Street has allowed YMCA users limited access to its pool in the interim. She said the hotel pool is smaller and instead of being able to facilitate 50 swimmers, it can hold about 10 at a time. She said the experience will be different, and users may be limited to in-place activities instead of swimming laps. There currently are morning slots Monday, Wednesday and Friday and swimmers can call the Northern Berkshire YMCA to claim spots. She said it will work similarly to how pool time was organized under COVID-19 restrictions. She said the YMCA is providing a lifeguard, instructors, and equipment. Unfortunately, this partnership will only last until Memorial Day and Rumlow said the YMCA is actively seeking new partnerships. "My goal is that once we get something going we're not going to you and saying we have no plan again," she said. "But these things take time." She said they have yet to really open up conversations with pool facilities in Williamstown as well as explore different outdoor swimming opportunities this summer. She said although there are liability and lifeguard staffing issues to consider, these options are still on the table. Rumlow did say all users have the ability to use the YMCA pools in Bennington and Pittsfield, and if there is a need and want, specific Northern Berkshire time slots and programming can be scheduled. She did acknowledge that this is not a solution for everyone, especially those with difficulties traveling. YMCA leadership and city staff fielded questions that were more an exercise in speculation. Meranti was able to provide some details on the cause of the damage noting that although the roof lasted a long time, it was poorly designed. He said both exterior and interior moisture from the pool contributed to the damage. He did not have a timeframe without the engineering report but did note the best-case scenario may be a quick and inexpensive but temporary fix. The worst-case scenario would be a full roof replacement that would certainly keep the pool dry for some time. Meranti clarified that it is a city building and that the city is expediting the process. "Believe it or not, this is the expedited procedure. We're treating it as an emergency and we're pushing as fast as we can to try to avoid as much of the red tape as we can," he said. "We have multiple engineers working on this, and we are waiting for reports. But that all takes time." He added that the administration has also begun looking at different funding sources to address actual construction if needed. Mayor Jennifer Macksey said at Tuesday's City Council meeting that officials were "hoping to have an action plan on that building very soon. But we are at the mercy of the engineering report." The panel heard testimonials from pool users, many now elderly who said they learned how to swim at the YMCA. Others said the pool was critical to their mental and physical health, and some that their health has deteriorated since its closure. There were also parents who spoke about the importance of youth programming. Hearing so many different voices, Rumlow reaffirmed that the YMCA is more than a North Adams facility. "I think some of the key things that I've heard is that this is a Northern Berkshire community facility. It is not just in the North Adams facility. And so that's where this conversation can be larger," she said. "Some of the biggest concerns that I've heard is this going to be why the Y leaves this community We're here today because we don't want to leave this community, and we do believe in this community, the impact that the YMCA has, and all of your stories." Some YMCA members spoke more generally about the 30-year-old building and felt the entire facility has fallen into disrepair. Many advocated for looking at a more substantial renovation s imilar to $12.4 million invested in Pittsfield. Rumlow noted that the Pittsfield renovation took years to complete. She said this is not off the table in North Adams but a lot of work would needs to be done. "The pool is a big issue at hand right now, but we have heard you guys that you want more. You want a facility you can be proud of, you want different opportunities," she said. "That starts with research, that starts with a community needs assessment, and fundraising market analysis." Others pointed to the structure of the Northern Berkshire YMCA. One user said it is "hopelessly complex" as the YMCA, the city, and North Adams Public Schools all have some jurisdiction over the property (which is attached to Brayton School). One user said she was not sure who to send a check to to support a project. Rumlow said there have been internal conversations about the current complex partnerships and lease agreements at the Northern Berkshire YMCA, which merged with the Pittsfield Family YMCA in 2015. "We all came into this and this was the arrangement that was pre-existing all of the leaders sitting here today," she said. "So we are trying our best to figure out what this should look like and start that conversation. But once again, I have no clear answer for you other than to say, I agree." Some users felt the YMCA needed to be more proactive and start a capital campaign immediately to address the roof. There was a feeling that waiting too long would kill momentum with possible donors waiting in the wings. Rumlow thanked the users for their input and noted that the meeting was only the first part of a longer conversation about the YMCA. "At this point, we have to trust the process because we have to. It's our only option right now. I know that it's hard, I know some of you feel like this is been a long conversation, and a long time coming," she said. "So we need to have answers and unfortunately, I think time ran out a little bit in order for us to be proactive in our response and now we're responding But just trust us that we are committed to figuring out our next steps." Dalton EV Charging Stations Underway DALTON, Mass. The Dalton Green Committee voted to use ChargePoint for the electric vehicle (EV) charging stations during its meeting last week. The town allocated $42,000 to fund the Green Committee's request for two electric vehicle charging stations. There are two EV ports per station. The vendor who installs the stations and the Central Berkshire Regional Planning Commission did not recommend that the town use Flo, a Canadian company, committee member Tony Pagliarulo said. Pagliarulo also said he reached out to Flo on two occasions and did not hear back. Although Flo is popular in Canada he would rather go with ChargePoint because they are also popular and have a good track record. Pagliarulo said he has not had an issue using ChargePoint with his vehicle. The company has 24/7 service to assist customers and has been more than willing to communicate. Green Committee member Thomas Irwin was concerned because there is not a lot of "practical information" available to the town regarding which company to use. Although there is a lot of academic information there is not a lot of information on personal experiences with EV providers for the Berkshires, he said. Concord has a lot more money than Dalton and officials there were concerned about ChargePoint, Irwin said. What happens if the town installs ChargePoint and discovers there is a better option? If the town discovers a better option then the committee can vote on utilizing those providers for future stations, was the response. The town plans to install the station at the Community Recreation Association. If that option does not pan out then the next spot up for consideration will be Kelly's Package Store. These options were considered due to their high volume of traffic and because there isn't an added cost for paving. The committee voted to submit a scope of work to bidders for the EV charging stations as soon as possible. The cost of the material such as the signs, paint, and bollards are already budgeted in the $42,000 but the committee is going to reach out to Highway Superintendent Edward "Bud" Hall to see if he can provide the labor. iciHaiti - USA : Abinader reiterates that his country is not part of the solution to the Haitian crisis On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, following a 45-minute closed-door meeting between President Luis Abinader and United States Department of State Undersecretary Wendy Sherman, Presidential Spokesperson Homer Figueroa in a press conference gave some details. "President Abinader shared with Undersecretary Sherman the great weight of Haiti on our budget, particularly in the health sector (https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35249-haiti-health-40-of-total-deliveries-in-dominican-public-hospitals-are-haitian.html and https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21694-haiti-dr-nearly-8-billion-pesos-in-hospital-care-and-services-for-haitians.html ), and the solidarity practiced daily by the Dominican Republic. The President repeated that we can neither demand nor ask more of his country [...]" reiterating that there is no Dominican solution to the socio-political crisis in Haiti, and that international intervention is essential for the improvement of the situation of the neighboring country. Figueroa said that Sherman's reaction to Abinader's questioning of the Dominican Republic's participation in the Haitian solution was "positive" and she took the opportunity to reiterate the position of the United States, which is to help "build this international consensus to help Haiti." SL/ HaitiLibre Freelance journalist and political activist Nguyen Lan Thang has been sentenced to six years in prison on April 12 in a closed-door court hearing, for spreading anti-state propaganda in a series of interviews posted to social media. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls for Nguyens immediate and unconditional release and an end to the ongoing persecution of journalists in Vietnam. Nguyen was arrested on July 5, 2022, charged under Article 117 of Vietnams Criminal Code (2015) for making, storing, distributing or propagandising information, materials, documents to oppose the state of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, concerning 12 videos posted on Nguyens YouTube and Facebook pages said to be anti-state propaganda. A Hanoi court handed down the six-year sentence on April 12, including a two-year period of house arrest after the initial jail term is served. From April to July 2022 until the day before his arrest, Nguyen was a contributor to the United States government-funded news service Radio Free Asia Vietnamese Service, publishing more than 130 blog posts to the site. The journalist has also been working as a supporter of peaceful activism since the early 2000s, participating in anti-China protests and socio-political discourse in Vietnam. Nguyen has previously been detained by Vietnamese authorities and has been subject to various travel bans and incidents of harassment. Following his arrest, Nguyen was held incommunicado, unable to speak with his lawyer until February 16, 2023, after seven months of being detained. His family was not permitted to visit him before his trial. Anti-state charges laid under controversial articles of the 2015 Criminal Code have been used to silence several independent and critical journalists in Vietnam. In March 2022, freelance reporter Le Van Dung was sentenced to five years in prison for discussing socio-political issues in his work between March 2017 and September 2018 and was one of more than 60 Vietnamese journalists persecuted and imprisoned at the time for their critical reporting on Vietnams ruling party, according to Human Rights Watch. The IFJ said: The IFJ condemns the sentencing of Nguyen Lan Thang and calls on the Vietnamese authorities to drop all charges against him and ensure his immediate release. The continued use of arbitrary anti-state charges under Vietnam's Criminal Code to silence independent and critical journalism is unacceptable and places grave restrictions on press freedom and freedom of expression. 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 }} Jack Nicholsons fans are defending him on social media after the first sighting of the actor in 18 months. In January, there had been reports that Nicholsons friends were concerned for the actors wellbeing after he wasnt seen in public for more than a year. On Thursday (13 April), unflattering pictures of Nicholson, 85, were published in a British tabloid, showing him wearing an orange T-shirt and looking sleepy on the balcony of his Beverly Hills home. When youre Jack Nicholson, 85, you can look however the f*** you want to look, one fan tweeted. Hes 85. Why not leave Jack Nicholson alone? added another. A third posted: Leave Jack Nicholson alone. Hes 85. I looked like this when I woke up this morning Im 37, wrote a fourth, while a fifth added: Jack Nicholson is still alive. Hes 85. I identify with this look. This look is my spirit animal. Another tweeted: Jack Nicholson is still COOLER than most of us. Nicholson is widely considered one of the greatest actors of his generation. He often played scene-stealing eccentrics and starred in countless classics, including The Shining (1980) and The Departed (2006). Jack Nicholson (Getty Images) His axe murderers line Heres Johnny in the former led to one of the most famous and frightening movie moments of all time. He is the most nominated male actor at the Academy Awards. He took home Oscars for his performances as a rebellious mental patient in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest (1975), a retired astronaut and abrasive neighbour in Terms of Endearment (1983), and a misanthropic novelist in As Good as it Gets (1997). Nicholsons most recent film appearance was in the 2010 romcom How Do You Know, which also starred Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson and Paul Rudd. 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 }} Nicolas Cage has explained why he prefers the term thespian to actor. The Pig star made an appearance during Wednesday nights episode (14 April) of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to promote his forthcoming horror-comedy Renfield. Cage has previously said that he identifies as as thespian as opposed to an actor. Host Stephen Colbert quoted Cage to himself, and asked the Mandy star to explain the reason behind his preference. Im curious why being pretentious is appealing to you, joked Colbert. Cage clarified that he never told people not to refer to him as an actor. OK, thats a great thing you brought that up. What I was saying was, of course you can call me an actor. By the way, I never said, Dont call me an actor. Call me a thespian, he said. Thats what clickbait universe was putting out there and somehow got picked up by CNN. Im not sure how it got picked up by CNN Im sure they have more important things to report on. (Getty Images) Going on to explain his reasoning for his preference, Cage said: I see acting as storytelling and what it is is trying to get to the truth of a character and the first actor in Europe was someone called Thespus and what happened there in Greece was that he broke free from the chorus and started narrating and started telling a story truthfully. So to me, acting is trying to find the truth of a story. He continued: Now whats interesting, literally the word actor in Greek means hypocrite. Well, I dont want to be thought of as a hypocrite. Im sorry if that sounds pretentious. Elsewhere during the interview, Cage named his top five Nicolas Cage films, leaving out some big fan-favourites. 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 }} Chinas President Xi Jinping has urged his military to strengthen its readiness for real combat following the countrys recent display of force around Taiwan. Inspecting his countrys Southern Theatre Command navy he stressed the need to deepen military training and preparation, state media reported. During his visit, Xi said it was necessary to speed up the transformation and construction of the armed forces and comprehensively raise their level of modernization, CCTV news reported. China has recently participated in another display of military force around Taiwan (Xinhua) You must strengthen real-combat military training, Xi said, according to the official news service of Xinhua, adding that China must be innovative in its concepts and methods of combat. Xi also said there was a need to improve the ability to respond to complex situations in a timely and appropriate manner, state media added. The remarks come as the Chinese navy went ahead with actual combat training around Taiwan on Tuesday, state media reported a day after Beijing announced the end of drills amid heightened tensions between the country and the island. China blamed the show of military force as a result of a meeting between President Tsai of Taiwa, and Kevin McCarthy, speaker of the US House of Representatives. Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen (Via REUTERS) Tsai Ing-wen brought danger to Taiwan. [She] almost completely sided [with] the United States, pushing Taiwan into stormy seas, Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office, said. She added the drills around Taiwan are a serious warning against the collusion and provocation of Taiwan independence separatist forces and external forces. Meanwhile, Xi said that China will resolutely defend its territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests, and strive to maintain stability in neighboring areas, state media said. Chinas Xi has urged his military to be ready for real combat (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) In August, after then US 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. Recently, China quarrelled with the United States, claiming several times that a U.S. destroyer has operated in its territorial waters around the South China Sea. The United States and Philippines are also currently holding their largest joint military drills over shared concerns about Chinas assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region. North Korea boasted of the miraculous success of its most powerful missile ever as it confirmed the launch of a new solid-fuel Hwasong-18. Pyongyang had carried out the missile test on Thursday, prompting Japan to order the evacuation of citizens on Hokkaido island a warning that was later retracted and sending South Korea scrambling to analyse the type of weapon. It was Pyongyangs first test of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) a more advanced type than the liquid-fuelled ICBMs it currently operates. A solid-fuel ICBM can be fired more quickly and are harder to detect when having intercontinental targets, such as the US. 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 }} Taiwans president Tsai Ing-wen met frontline fighter pilots to express her gratitude for showing determination against the Chinese armys war games that have finally ended. Ms Tsai arrived at the army base in the central Taiwanese city of Taichung on Friday to meet fighter pilots who were stationed at the frontline air base of Magong in the Taiwan Strait. She thanked the pilots for their hard work and for sticking to their posts round the clock. I want to tell everyone: as long as we are united, we can reassure the countrys people and let the world see our determination to protect the nation, she said in a video clip shared by the presidential office. Ms Tsai reiterated that Taipei would neither escalate conflict nor provoke disputes but would protect its sovereignty, democracy, and freedom. She said the Taiwanese military will continue to strengthen and upgrade its combat preparedness. Her meeting with the pilots comes a week after her return to the island. Ms Tsai was on a 10-day-long contentious trip during which she met US House of Representatives speaker Kevin McCarthy, ignoring warnings of retaliation from mainland China China began three-days of military drills around Taiwan on Saturday, sealing off the island and simulating a blockade and bombardment. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen visits the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing of Taiwan Air Force in Taichung, (via REUTERS) The war games, which formally ended on Monday, continued in the waters around Taiwan on a reduced scale. On Friday morning, Taiwans defence ministry said it had not spotted any Chinese military aircraft crossing the sensitive Taiwan Strait median line the unofficial boundary between the two countries that Beijing does not recognise in the past 24 hours. Taiwans defence ministry said it intercepted four Chinese military aircraft and eight warships around Taiwan. But the accompanying map in the morning report by the minister did not show any Chinese warplanes crossing the median line. Ms Tsai noted that they had been constantly upgrading Taiwan-made Ching-kuo Indigenous Defence Fighter (IDF) jets to more advanced versions since they entered service in 1997. In the future, we will continue to upgrade software and hardware facilities and strengthen personnel training, she said. On Thursday, Mr Xi urged his military to strengthen its readiness for real combat following the countrys recent display of force around Taiwan. Inspecting his countrys Southern Theatre Command navy, he stressed the need to deepen military training and preparation, state media reported. You must strengthen real-combat military training, Mr Xi said, according to the official news service of Xinhua, adding that China must be innovative in its concepts and methods of combat. 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 new Covid variant dubbed Arcturus which is driving a surge of fresh cases in India seems to have some unique symptoms in children, experts have pointed out. The XBB.1.16 strain, a sub-variant of Omicron, has been found in 22 countries, including Singapore, Australia, the UK and the US. It is believed to be responsible for an uptick in infections in India, leading to the government adopting new measures to stop its spread, including bringing back some mask laws and running hospital drills. India recorded 11,109 new cases on Friday, the countrys health ministry said, a sharp jump from 7,830 new Covid cases reported in the last 24 hours. The numbers reported are the highest in eight months with the active caseload surging to 49,622. The spread of the strain, first detected in late January, is worrying experts, as it seems to exhibit unique symptoms in children, one of which is conjunctivitis. Vipin Vashishtha, a paediatrician and former head of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Immunisation tweeted that an infantile phenotype of the variant seems to be emerging. The symptoms of the variant include high fever, cough, and itchy conjunctivitis or pinkeye, Dr Vashishtha told the Hindustan Times newspaper. Conjunctivitis an eye infection causing redness, itchiness and swelling in the eyes has previously been reported as a symptom of Covid, but not often, Richard Reithinger, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the nonprofit research institute RTI International, was quoted as saying to Fortune. Researchers at Nebraska Medicines Truhlsen Eye Institute identified the virus in the eyes tear film, which could lead to conjunctivitis. Dr Vashishtha, however, said in his tweet that he treated infants with high fever, cold and cough, and non-purulent, itchy conjunctivitis w/ sticky eyes, not seen in earlier waves. Other doctors have been seeing rising cases of Covid in children as well. Usually, these children come with simple respiratory infections of cough, cold and fever, and when tested they turn out to be positive, paediatrician Dr Rahul Nagpal told India Today. Dr Nagpal said the main symptoms of XBB.1.16 in adults resembled the flu, including a nasal discharge, sore throat and cough. The Arcturus XBB.1.16 variant is a recombinant of two sub-variants of BA.2, and a preprint study from scientists at the University of Tokyo suggested that it spreads about 1.17 to 1.27 times more efficiently than its relatives XBB.1 and XBB.1.5. Furthermore, it appears to be resistant to antibodies from other Covid variants, which has raised concerns about its potential to evade immunity gained from previous infections or vaccinations. The XBB.1.16 strain, a sub-variant of Omicron, has been classified as a variant of interest by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHOs Covid technical lead, previously said: Its (XBB.1.16) 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, she said. It has one additional mutation in the spike protein which in lab studies shows increased infectivity as well as potential increased pathogenicity. Meanwhile, the worlds biggest vaccine maker is ramping up production to meet the rising demand as cases surge in India. Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India, told The Independent in a statement that the company has resumed the production of the Covid-19 vaccine, Covishield, in response to the increasing number of SARS-CoV-2 virus infections. The company also has six million doses of the Covovax vaccine, which are readily available to private hospitals depending on the demand and can also be used as heterologous booster doses, he added. The company has taken this precautionary measure to ensure that people have the option of Covishield if they choose. 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 Dalai Lama has been defended by his supporters online after a video showed him kissing a boy on the lips and asking him to suck his tongue, with some arguing that the exchange can be partly explained by Tibetan culture. The leader of Tibetan Buddhism did not make any reference to Tibetan traditions in his own statement after the incident, where he publicly apologised to the boy and his family and said he regrets the incident. The Dalai Lama often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, the statement said. His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused. Many have criticised the Dalai Lama over the incident, which was called out in reactions online as being inappropriate and disgusting. Some commentators and victims groups have compared the spiritual leaders conduct to child abuse. Some Tibetan activists, however, have argued that the incident is one of a joke being overblown, while others suggested the Dalai Lama was being attacked over [a] Tibetan way of expression. At [the] Dalai Lamas temple, a child asked him if he could hug Dalai Lama & he said yes, then he asked for a kiss & Dalai Lama did a kiss, then jokingly Dalai Lama said you can suck my tongue. So that was a part of a joke or just a play with the kid, so we should not go more than that, said Dawa Tsering, a member of the Tibetan Parliament In Exile which, like the Dalai Lama himself, is based in Dharamshala, India. Expression of emotions and manners today has been melted together and become vividly westernised, Namdol Lhagyari, a Tibetan activist in exile, wrote on Twitter. Bringing in narrative of other cultures, customs and social influence on gender and sexuality to interpret Tibetan way of expression is heinous. What is the Tibetan culture of tongue greetings? Sticking out your tongue is traditionally a sign of respect or agreement and has also been used as a greeting in Tibetan culture, according to the Institute of East Asian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Perhaps the most famous Western cultural reference to this tradition comes in the film Seven Years in Tibet starring Brad Pitt, where Pitts character encounters a group of children who stick out their tongues at him. The film offers no further explanation of their actions. According to Tibetan folklore, people in the Buddhist culture began sticking out their tongue to disassociate themselves from the 9th century Tibetan king Lang Darma, who was infamous for his cruelty and was said to have had a black tongue. As Buddhists believe in reincarnation after death, the tradition is said to have emerged as a way for people to show they were not the king reincarnated and therefore not to be associated with his evil deeds. However, there is no mention in either this folklore or the broader traditional greeting of sucking the tongue. What does the video show? The video that has been widely circulated on social media shows the Dalai Lama kissing a young Indian boy on his lips after he came forward to pay his respects. The Dalai Lamas statement claims the boy voluntarily stepped forward during a public question and answer session where he had asked if he could hug the spiritual leader. After holding the boys chin and kissing him, the Dalai Lama touches foreheads with the boy and then can be heard saying, in English, can you suck my tongue. He then sticks out his tongue as the boy leans forward briefly. Child rights activist Shola Mos-Shogbamimu said we should not normalise child molestation under the garb of playful behaviour with children. This is NOT playful banter & so inappropriate to use affectionately plants kiss alongside suck my tongue. Hugs are fine not this. Dont normalise molestation of kids - dont care how revered the Dalai Lama is Im not OK with a child sucking a grown man/woman/anyones tongue, she said. Nilanjana Bhowmick, an Indian journalist and commentator, said there is a difference between sticking out your tongue and asking a minor to suck it! 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 }} Indias government has refused to grant permission for police to prosecute 30 soldiers after a botched anti-insurgency operation in the northeastern state of Nagaland led to the deaths of 13 civilians. On 4 December 2021, Indian army troops opened fire at a pickup truck carrying eight local miners near Oting village in Nagalands Mon district. What was believed to be a counter-insurgency operation based on a tip turned out to be a case of mistaken identity, the military later admited. Six miners died on the spot, while two survived. Another seven civilians died, as well as a member of the security forces, in a wave of clashes that followed. The incident sparked the deadliest violence in years in a state that has been racked by insurgency. In a statement on Wednesday, Nagalands police said Indias defence ministry had refused sanction to prosecute the accused army personnel. The competent authority (Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Government of India) has conveyed its denial to accord Sanction for Prosecution against all the 30 accused, said the police statement, according to the Hindustan Times newspaper. Sanction for prosecution from the federal government is required to initiate any proceedings against security forces for their actions if they are discharging their duties under the countrys controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The colonial-era law gives the armed forces sweeping powers, including the right to shoot on sight and protection from prosecution for soldiers who mistakenly kill civilians. AFSPA has been in force in Nagaland since it was granted statehood in 1963, as it grappled with insurgency and separatist activities led by several tribal Naga groups that accuse Delhi of plundering their resources. The groups also have a longstanding demand for a separate homeland for Nagas. Enforcement of the controversial act was recently extended for six months in some of the states districts that were deemed disturbed areas. The denial of the sanction was communicated to the relevant authorities, including to the Mon district and session judge and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that was formed by the state government following the incident, said the Nagaland police statement. A separate Court of Inquiry had also been set up by the army, apart from the state governments SIT, to investigate the incident. The SIT had filed its chargesheet in a court in Mon on 30 May 2022 and the police had charged the army personnel last June based on its findings. The investigators found 21 Para Special Forces had resorted to disproportionate firing and failed to follow standard operating procedures while carrying out the operation. The 30 accused army personnel were charged under various sections of Indias criminal code, including murder, criminal conspiracy and disappearance of evidence. The sanction for prosecution is still awaited, Nagalands police chief TJ Longkumer had said last June. Two days after the incident, federal home minister Amit Shah had reiterated the armys line of mistaken identity in a statement to the countrys parliament. In May last year, the armys eastern commander, Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita, said the probe by the militarys Court of Inquiry was completed and was being examined. He had pledged that action will be taken irrespective of rank if there was any lapse or fault by anyone. In July 2022, Indias Supreme Court stayed proceedings against the army major who led the operation and 29 members of his team, invoking immunity granted to army personnel under AFSPA. Nagaland police had named the major in their first information report (FIR), an initial chargesheet filed as the first step in any police investigation in India. The petitioner, the wife of the army major, had asked for a stay on the chargesheet, citing a lack of sanction of prosecution by the federal government. 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 }} British prime minister Rishi Sunak and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi discussed the close friendship between the two countries in a call on Thursday, even as authorities in New Delhi widened the scope of investigation into the BBC. A readout from the British prime ministers office said that the two reflected on the close friendship between the two countries, and agreed great progress was being made on the 2030 UK-India Roadmap. Thursdays talks came on the same day as authorities in India registered a case of alleged foreign exchange violations by the BBC. Officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), a branch of the finance ministry tasked with investigating serious financial crimes, called for documents and recorded the statements of executives in keeping with the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and said the probe was looking into purported violations by related to foreign direct investment (FDI) a category of cross-border investment. A BBC spokesperson told The Independent that the broadcaster is cooperating with the probe. We will continue to co-operate fully with the Indian authorities to ensure that we comply with all our obligations, the spokesperson said. The action came months after Indias tax authorities raided the BBCs offices in New Delhi and Mumbai in February, following a critical BBC documentary on Mr Modis alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots. According to the Downing Street, the two leaders also discussed the ongoing negotiations on the UK-India Free Trade Agreement and reflected on the huge opportunities a deal would offer to Indian and British businesses and consumers. The deal, which was first committed under Boris Johnson and then under Liz Truss, was expected to be reached by Diwali 2022. But negotiations were derailed by comments made by Suella Braverman about Indians overstaying their UK visas. A further setback came after the BBC documentary and subsequent raids described as surveys by Indias income tax authorities. Indian officials told news agency Press Trust of India that during the telephonic conversation Mr Modi raised the issue of security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK and called for strong action against anti-India elements. Mr Sunak reiterated his condemnation of the unacceptable violence outside the Indian High Commission in London earlier this month, the statement said, adding that extremism had no place in the UK. He also updated Mr Modi on the steps being taken to ensure the security of Indian High Commission staff. Earlier this week The Times reported that India reportedly halted trade negotiations with Britain in response to a perceived lack of action from the Sunak government following the protests in March when Khalistan supporters pulled down the Indian flag at the embassy and smashed windows. The Khalistan movement calls for the creation of a separate homeland for the Sikh community carved out of Indias Punjab state. Similar protests were also seen outside Indias embassies in the US and Canada in recent weeks. The protests came amid a nationwide manhunt launched by Indian authorities to arrest the separatist leader Amritpal Singh in Punjab. India however, denied stalling the talks and called The Times report baseless. The prime ministers office said that the two leaders looked forward to meeting each other at the G7 in Japan next month, as well as at the G20 in India later this year. UK government statistics show that the UK-India bilateral trading relationship was worth 34bn in 2022 growing by 10bn year-on-year. 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 }} A US animal welfare group is calling for new fire codes to protect farm animals after 18,000 cows died in a barn explosion this week. The massive blast and subsequent fire took place at the South Fork Dairy Farm in Dimmitt, Texas on Monday, resulting in the largest known single-incident of cattle deaths in US history. The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), one of the countrys oldest animal protection groups, called for federal laws to prevent barn fires. This [Texas explosion] would be the most deadly fire involving cattle in the past decade, since we started tracking that in 2013, spokesperson Marjorie Fishman said. There are no federal regulations protecting animals from fires and only a few states have adopted fire codes for barns, according to the AWI statement. Texas is not among them. Around 6.5 million farm animals have died in fires in the last decade, most of them poultry. Mondays incident led to the deaths of nearly three times as many cows as are slaughtered daily in the US. Videos posted on social media from Mondays incident showed immense black smoke clouds rising up from the South Fork Dairy Farm as screams of dying cows could be heard. While there were no human casualties, one dairy farm worker was rescued and taken to the hospital as officials worked to contain the fire. The cause of the explosion remains unclear but Texas fire officials are investigating. County Judge Mandy Gfeller speculated that the blaze could have been caused by malfunctioning equipment, according to USA Today. The cows were huddled together in a holding pen and waiting to be milked when the explosion occurred. Most of the cows that died in the fire were a mix of Holsteins and Jerseys, representing approximately 90 per cent of the farms total herd. The AWI has tracked barn fires since 2013 and established guidelines to prevent such incidents. These include performing annual inspections, having access to fire extinguishers, creating emergency action plans, completing annual fire safety training and having emergency lanes in structures, among others. The AWIs call for federal regulations to prevent barn fires is echoed by local residents and officials. 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. Renzo Sullivan, a Dimmitt resident, told local TV station KFDA: It is kind of painful because... 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. The South Fork Dairy Farm in Castro County is one of the largest dairy-producing counties in Texas with over 30,000 cattle, according to Texass 2021 Annual Dairy Review. Ministers are pushing police to deal with fewer non-crime hate incidents by changing processes set up after the racist murder of Black teenager Stephen Lawrence. The Home Office said new statutory guidance for officers across England and Wales was spearheaded by the home secretarys common-sense policing campaign. Posting messages that may offend someone but where no victim has actually been identified should no longer be considered a crime, a spokesperson said. The worlds first rewilding centre has been opened near one of Scotlands most famous lochs with the charity behind the project hoping it can show how nature recovery can inspire people as well as benefit rural communities and create jobs. The Dundreggan Rewilding Centre in Glenmoriston, near Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands, will host a series of events on Saturday to celebrate its opening. The centre, eight miles from the loch on the A887, is designed to offer a gateway for visitors to explore the 10,000-acre Dundreggan estate, where charity Trees for Life is restoring the Caledonian forest and its wildlife. Welcome home cousin Joe! was the sign held up by a young girl, who, along with many other locals, had braved the relentless wind and rain to try to catch a glimpse of the President of the United States. As Mr Biden and his huge entourage arrived in Carlingford, nestled on the very edge of a lough and by the mountain Slieve Foye, cheers went up. As he arrived at Carlingford Castle, along with his sister Valerie and son Hunter, he was greeted by Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin, and former rugby player Rob Kearney, a distant relative of Mr Bidens. 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. 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). 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 }} The 2023 Met Gala is only weeks away, with the theme of the event dedicated to late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. The fashion soiree is set to return to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on 1 May 2023, in celebration of the Costume Institutes upcoming exhibition Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. According to Vogue, which first revealed the controversial theme last year, the annual fashion event will also pay homage to the designer through the dress code: In honour of Karl. Along with the publications editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, there will be four co-chairs of the event: Dua Lipa, Michaela Coel, Penelope Cruz, and Roger Federer. Held at the museums Costume Institute, each guest invited to attend the event is carefully chosen by Wintour. Whenever the Met Gala is held, there are certain guidelines that guests will be expected to follow should they want to stay in Wintour's good books. From an age restriction to a ban on selfies, here are five of the unexpected rules put in place at the Met Gala. No selfies One would think that all who attend an event as glitzy as the Met Gala would be forgiven for taking the odd photograph to capture special moments of the occasion. Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Show all 50 1 / 50 Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Rihanna went all in on the Catholicism theme wearing custom Maison Margiela AFP/Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Madonna poses alongside Jean Paul Gaultier, the designer of her gothic Met Gala gown AFP/Getty Images Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Supermodel Bella Hadid wears a glossy latex corset by Chrome Hearts Official x Gareth Pugh, topped with a sculptural cape Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Katy Perry incorporated the theme with oversized wings, a Versace chainmail dress and thigh high boots Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Black Panther's Chadwick Bosemanan wears an all-white Versace outfit with religiously inspired embellishments, gold shoes, and a cape Getty Images Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Priyanka Chopra wears Ralph Lauren Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Solange Knowles opted for a structural black Iris van Herpen dress and a halo headpiece with a black du-rag Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Lily Collins wears a black Givenchy gown and coordinating gothic makeup Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Kate Bosworth wears an ethereal Oscar de la Renta gown topped with a mantilla veil Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Vogue editor Anna Wintour wears a custom Chanel gown featuring a halter neck and intricate beading Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Frances McDormand wearing a Versace gown and Philip Treacy headpiece, Pierpaolo Piccioli, and Anne Hathaway sporting a Valentino Couture red ballgown AFP/Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Ariana Grande poses alongside Vera Wang, the designer of the singer's debut Met Gala gown Rex Features Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Nicki Minaj wears a red Oscar de la Renta gown and bejeweled headpiece PA Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Blake Lively wears Versace to the Met Gala PA Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Sarah Jessica Parker and Andy Cohen wear Dolce & Gabbana Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Kim Kardashian stunned in a liquid gold Versace dress with cross embroidery Reuters Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Jennifer Lopez wears a bejewelled Balmain gown with cross detailing while Alex Rodriguez opted for a polished black suit PA Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Tracee Ellis Ross wears a bright pink gown with a matching jacket by Michael Kors Rex Features Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Amal Clooney wears a Richard Quinn corset dress and navy trousers while husband George Clooney opted for a traditional black tuxedo REUTERS Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Lana Del Rey wears an elaborate Gucci gown and bird halo headpiece REUTERS Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Sean 'Diddy' Combs wears a Musika Frere suit while Cassie opted for Thom Browne with Chopard earrings Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Miley Cyrus wears plunging black dress by Stella McCartney and Sydney Evan custom hoops with a large cross Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Cynthia Erivo opted for a Valentino gown, Sophia Webster shoes and bejewelled brows Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Power couple Helen Lasichanh and Pharrell Williams both dressed in Chanel for the annual gala PA Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Winnie Harlow wears an all-white Tommy Hilfiger dress with a dramatic train PA Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Donatella Versace, who was co-host for the event, opted for an ornate navy and gold dress of her own design AFP/Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Elon Musk wears a white tuxedo and Tesla pin, while Grimes opted for a black dress and Tesla choker AFP/Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Lily Aldridge and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley walked the red carpet together, both wearing Ralph Lauren Collection gowns AFP/Getty Images Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Atlanta-based trio, Migos, wear sequinned Versace suits EPA Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Contributing Editor of Vogue Thailand, Nichapat Suphap, wears custom Peter Dundas AFP/Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Anya Taylor-Joy wears a gold tapestry Dolce & Gabbana dress PA Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Janelle Monae wears a monochrome Marc Jacobs gown with a crystallised head wrap and Stephen Jones hat PA Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Rapper Cardi B opted for a custom Moschino gown alongside designer Jeremy Scott REUTERS Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Eiza Gonzalez wears a black Prabal Gurung gown with a white cape AFP/Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Cara Delevingne wears a dramatic all-black Dior Haute Couture dress and beaded veil REUTERS Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Lewis Hamilton wears an all-white ensemble designed by Tommy Hilfiger AFP/Getty Images Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Rita Ora wears an all-black embellished ensemble by Prada EPA Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Amanda Seyfried wears a romantic Renaissance-style gown by Prada AFP/Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Amber Heard paired a Carolina Herrera scarlet gown with a gold halo headpiece REUTERS Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Lena Waithe made a powerful pride statement with a sparkly rainbow cape worn over a sleek black suit PA Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Kylie Jenner wears a black Alexander Wang gown with semi-sheer heels and micro sunglasses PA Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies 2 Chainz (kneeling) proposed to Kesha Ward on the red carpet, both wearing custom Versace AP Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Doutzen Kroes wears a colourful Sies Marjan dress AFP/Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Supermodel Gigi Hadid wears a Versace gown with stain glass window-inspired detail PA Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies SZA wears a frothy Atelier Versace gown and a headpiece by Chrishabana AFP/Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Diane Kruger accessorised her Prabal Gurung gown with a custom Philip Treacy head piece REUTERS Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Andrew Garfield wears a velvety pink tuxedo jacket by Tom Ford PA Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Paris Jackson and Miley Cyrus both opted for gowns by designer Stella McCartney PA Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Vanity Fairs contributing editor, Amy Fine Collins, wears a custom design by Alice + Olivias Stacey Bendet Eisner AFP/Getty Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies Emilia Clarke wearing a Dolce & Gabbana gown Getty However, in 2015, it was reported that use of social media had been banned from the event, in order to clamp down on celebrities spending the majority of the evening on their phones. The use of phones for photography and social media will not be permitted inside the gala, a notice sent to all guests stated. The apparent ban at the Met Gala has been flouted by numerous guests in the past, with beauty mogul and reality TV star star Kylie Jenner taking a large bathroom selfie at the event in 2017. No under 18s allowed In 2018, it was revealed that the Met Gala had decreed a new age restriction. This meant that high-profile individuals under the age of 18 were no longer allowed to attend the event. I can't go, because I'm not old enough, then 16-year-old model and dancer Maddie Ziegler told The Hollywood Reporterin 2018 when asked whether she would be present on the coveted Met Gala red carpet. While it was initially suspected that the new age restriction had been introduced due to the 2018 Met Gala theme Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, a spokesperson for the event confirmed that the decision had been made because it's not an appropriate event for people under 18. No smoking inside the museum In 2017, celebrities including Bella Hadid, Dakota Johnson and Marc Jacobs were pictured smoking cigarettes in the bathroom at the Met Gala. That same year, it was reported that board members and donors had expressed their dismay over guests smoking at the event, with one saying it was disrespectful to the art collection. According to Page Six, following the complaints, guests at the 2018 Met Gala were informed that it was illegal to smoke in the museum. It was allegedly mentioned on the event's invitations that smoking at the event was strictly banned. In 2003, a ban on smoking indoors in New York City in locations including office buildings, bars and theatres was enforced by then-mayor Michael Bloomberg. No onion breath Following the Met Gala red carpet, guests at the event are treated to a cocktail hour and a formal dinner. According to The New York Post, certain food items are purposely omitted from the menu at the request of Wintour herself. A former Vogue employee told the publication that parsley is banned to avoid the risk of the herb getting stuck in people's teeth. Neither onion or garlic is served at the event, so as to avoid any bouts of bad breath, whilst bruschetta isn't offered to guests in case of any food spillages on extravagant ensembles. In 2016, model Karlie Kloss had her floor-length Met Gala gown cut into a mini dress for the after-party following a red wine spill on the white fabric. Strict seating arrangements Wintour is very particular about where her Met Gala guests sit on the night of the event. In the 2016 documentary The First Monday in May, which details the degree of planning that goes into the occasion, the director of special projects at Vogue, Sylvana Ward Durrett, explained that a lot of power-brokering goes into the seating plan. A lot of thought goes into who sits next to who, if they sat together last year, if they've sat next to each other at other events, so much goes into it, it's shocking, Ward Durrett said. According to Ward Durrett, spouses are never seated next to each other. The whole point of these things is to meet new people, and to be interested in what others are doing. What's the point if you come here to hang out with your husband? she added. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} If a restaurant says it serves the best anything, I try not to let my expectations get too high. Its a nightmarishly bold claim. Nearly every restaurant in London claims to have the best this or best that, but few meet the bar they set for themselves. So when the waiter at Vori Greek Kitchen in Holland Park declared theyve got the best cheesecake in London, my guard went up immediately. Not just because of the superlative but also because I adore cheesecake. Its up there on my long list of favourite desserts, second only to sticky toffee pudding. Im suspicious, to say the least. Before I deliver my verdict on the cheesecake, I should introduce you to Vori, a Greek restaurant. The cosy venue, with its white walls and blue, red and gold accents, seeks to emulate a quintessentially Greek space. Its a lovely little spot for a good natter, although beware your neighbouring table can definitely hear what youre saying. Vori was opened in late 2022 by Markos Tsimikali, who previously ran Hungry Donkey in Spitalfields. After closing the latter last year, he decided to bring a slice of Greece to west London, serving up dishes from a charcoal oven paired with Greek wines and Mediterranean-inspired cocktails. Its lovely to see some lesser-known Greek plates on the menu aside from the done-to-death dishes Londoners always return to (souvlaki, Im looking at you). Its clear the restaurant wants to shine a light on different parts of Greece by choosing a variety of dishes from different islands, which I think is a lovely way to learn about where Id like to visit next. We start our meal with pan-fried Metsovone cheese, a semi-hard smoked cheese thats crispy and gooey, with a pat of fig jam to balance out the saltiness; gigantes, big luscious butter beans the size of a thumb swimming in tomato and caramelised onions; and melitzana, a grilled aubergine salad from Mount Athos. Each dish is an exercise in balancing savoury and sweet, though all feature that crucial garlicky hit that is essential in Mediterranean dishes. My dining partner orders the kakavia, described as a traditional Greek fish soup with poached white fish and rock samphire. Hailing from Crete, kakavia is usually served as a stew of various vegetables, fish and herbs, but Voris is blended into a thick soup with the fish placed on top. The result is somewhat unappealing, and it needed more seasoning I would have liked for the colourful vegetables to have taken centre-plate instead. The slow-cooked beef shin is an intensely comforting fish, but massive sharing is a good shout here (Kate Ng) However, I was delighted with my slow-cooked beef shin with a Naxos Graviera aubergine mash. The beef shin was tender and flavoured beautifully with warming spices, melting on the tongue. Its an intensely comforting dish, but the portion is rather bigger than you expect. Sharing is a good shout here, especially if you want to sample the sides of lemon, honey and rosemary roast potatoes and roast vegetables with balsamic honey dressing. But, to answer the question Im sure youve been dying to hear, was it really the best cheesecake in London? He also mentioned it was sugar-free. Hmm. We shared a slice of the Cretan cheesecake, which uses Galomizithra cheese, candied walnuts and wild thyme honey. The soft cheese, originally from the island of Crete, is made with sheeps milk and goats milk. Its creamy and smooth, with that distinct earthy goatiness that people either really love or really hate. This cheesecake is truly delicious. I wouldnt go so far as to say its the very best in London, but its certainly up there with the greats. The cake itself has no sugar, which allows the tanginess of the Galomizithra cheese to shine, and is so creamy it coats my tongue and the roof of my mouth. But the gently flavoured thyme honey and crunchy candied walnuts cut through the dense cake. It makes for a perfect pairing. I may not return to Vori strictly for the savoury dishes, but I would certainly come back for the cheesecake. While Im there, I may as well try all the other dishes I didnt get to this time around. If my next visit coincides with a beautiful, warm spring or summers day, I might just be transported to the Greek isles for a couple of hours. 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 }} When I think of the perfect Ramadan feast, food barely comes into it. My dinner table during Islams sacred month is nothing without my family sitting around me as we wait for the maghrib adhan (call to prayer at sunset). Fasting is prescribed to Muslims to attain God-consciousness. While we keep our stomachs empty of food and drink between dawn and sunset, we are encouraged to fill our hearts with the divine. It is also a time of togetherness. The allotted times for suhoor (the pre-dawn meal) and iftar (a meal after sunset) can help even the most unsynced household routine to harmonise. But for revert Muslims or people who are living alone, Ramadan can be incredibly lonely as they yearn for the company of their loved ones at iftar time. Thankfully, there are several initiatives such as OpenIftar and the Ramadan Tent Project, which encourage people from all backgrounds, fasting or not, to have iftar together during the holy month. I was drawn to a women-only event in east London at Ramadan at Regency, offering a safe space for women in the capital who are spending the month alone. As I stepped into the grand yet cosy hall, I was welcomed by volunteers like I was a long-lost family member. Warm hugs enveloped me, while the faces of strangers lit up as they welcomed me with salaam (greeting of peace). I took a seat as a volunteer read out supplications from a list of prayers thoughtfully laid out for the guests. The moment before you open your fast is a special time, as we believe supplications are accepted from God. A plate with dates and fruit was given to each guest (Aaliah Tailor) When I open my fast at home with my family, everyone takes their place at the table in good time to have their own silent conversation with God. It is a time to ask for all your hearts desires and to reflect on what we have been blessed with. It is only the call to the sunset prayer which can pierce this elevated silence. We then dutifully took a bite into the dates that had been placed before us, completing another day of fasting. Guests supplicating before they open their fast (Aaliah Tailor) The weekly iftar initiative began in 2022 after founder Mish Taznin experienced a low period in her life. Hoping the initiative would be an anecdote to her sadness, she says: I wanted to do something to be in service to others to try to bring happiness to myself. Deciding to reach out to Muslim reverts and women spending the month alone, she was driven by the thought: Nobody deserves to be alone in Ramadan. Mish searched the hashtag #aloneinthecity and found the audience she had been seeking. From the beginning, this has always been about companionship, she explains. Here, you build bonds by coming back to the same place with the same core people every week. Mish Taznin, founder of Ramadan at Regency, reached out to Muslim women alone in the city during the holy month (Aaliah Tailor) The longing for a community was evident in the effort the women made to attend. Diara Cisse, a business student from Senegal, travelled an hour to come to the East London hall. Its very difficult. I do iftar alone most of the time, the 21-year-old says. But being here makes me feel like I am at home. The student from London South Bank University says having a community helps to remind her of her faith and who she is. Seeing Muslim women around me wearing the hijab gives me strength. Its such a wonderful feeling. A guest reads from a list of prayers at iftar time (Aaliah Tailor) Aizat Nordin, from Malaysia, says also found a home away from home at the weekly iftar. The 37-year-old says: Most of the time, I have iftar on the way home from work on a train. Coming to this event is nice because you get to build your own community. Aizat Nordin, 37, is from Penang, Malaysia but lives in London (Maryam Zakir-Hussain) One woman, who did not wish to be named, says finding her own community at the iftar helped her break out of a dark spiral after having her second child. Over the last couple of months Ive felt so alone, I felt like I am losing who I am, she says. I had no social life or adult conversation. There would be times where I wouldnt even brush my hair and just stay in pyjamas all day. I was so disconnected from the outside world. Coming to Ramadan at the Regency was my first step to getting out of this bubble and being part of something other than a mum juggling 100 things all at once. It is nice to meet new people and be part of a new family here. The free iftar is hosted by The Royal Regency in Newham every Tuesday of Ramadan. If you wish to attend, message @ramadanatregency on Instagram to register your space. 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 }} Prince Harrys reply to his and Meghans coronation invite was reportedly delayed because they were preoccupied with where they would be seated, a new report claims. The report claims that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were especially concerned with who would sit in front and behind them in the seating plan at Westminster Abbey on 6 May. A source reportedly told The Daily Mail: Harrys side was keen to find out, presumably because they wanted to rubber-stamp it, what the seating plan at the Abbey is. It continued: Theres been extensive back and forth about who they [Harry and Meghan] would be sitting behind if they came. And who would be behind them. The Independent has contacted representatives of Buckingham Palace and the Sussexes for comment. It comes as Prince Harry will attend the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla but his wife Meghan Markle will stay at home in California with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. It follows months of speculation over whether the couple would attend the ceremony. The Duke of Sussex has been seeking an apology from his family, according to his round of television interviews in January. Harry will attend the coronation without his wife Meghan (Getty Images) But despite insisting he wanted to reconcile with his father and brother, there has been no meaningful reunion with Charles and William since the many personal family revelations made in his memoir, Spare. Meanwhile, 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. Yesterday (13 April), The Independent reported that King Charles has decided that Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, will not be invited to the coronation. 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 using the coronation to heal family divisions, including reconciling with Prince Andrew, sources claim. On Wednesday (12 April), Buckingham Palace announced that the Duke of Sussex would attend the Kings coronation on 6 May, while the Duchess, Meghan, will remain in California with their two children, Archie and Lilbet. Sources have told The Telegraph that the King is using the coronation to mend family divisions, including bringing Andrew, the Duke of York in from the cold. The Independent has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment. It comes as reports claim that Charles is tired and infuriated with his brother Andrew after he refuses to leave Royal Lodge, where he resides with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. Harrys attendance is being viewed, by some commentators, as an olive branch following months of hostility following the release of Prince Harrys memoir, Spare. While the King is reportedly disappointed that Meghan and his grandchildren wont be in attendance at the event, he is said to be pleased that Harry will be there for the historic day. As a non-working royal, Harry is not expected to take part in the procession or appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with senior members of the family. But his attendance will be viewed by many as an acknowledgement of the importance of the day to his father. The news comes after months of speculation over whether the couple would attend the Saturday 6 May ceremony. King Charles will be crowned King alongside his wife Camilla on 6 May (PA Wire) The Duke of Sussex has been seeking an apology from his family, according to his round of television interviews in January. But despite insisting he wanted to reconcile with his father and brother, there has been no 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. Royal author Omid Scobie, tweeted of Harrys attendance at the coronation: 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. Yesterday (13 April), The Independent reported that King Charles has decided that Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, will not be invited to the coronation. Charles and Camillas coronation is being held at Westminster Abbey in London, with 2,000 guests expected to be in attendance. This comes in stark contrast to the 8,000 guests present at the Queens coronation in 1953. Follow royal news updates here. 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 arrived at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to celebrate the 200th Sovereign's Parade. Wearing his full military attire, the parade marks his first since becoming monarch, and it's expected that tributes will be paid to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The parade is a celebration of military cadets who have undergone over 44 gruelling weeks of training, with 171 becoming official army officers. Charles will present a new Sovereign's Banner to the receiving Ensigns, while that of the late Queen will be shown off. Its expected he could give a speech congratulating those involved, as well as present awards of honour. Sign up for our newsletters. 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 spoken of his pride in his two sons as he observed military cadets completing their training, days after it was confirmed that the Duke of Sussex will attend the coronation. On Thursday (13 April), the King attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for the 200th Sovereigns Parade to see the 171 cadets who have completed their training as army officers and will receive their commission at midnight. The visit came after Buckingham Palace confirmed earlier this week that Prince Harry will attend the coronation on 6 May, but the Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with the couples children. It was Charles first visit to the parade as King and saw his new colours blessed and presented. The old colours, belonging to the Queen, were then marched on to the parade ground with cadets saluting a statue of her. Addressing the crowd of friends and families watching the parade, Charles said he spoke as a father of two alumni of this academy and he knew the immense pride they would be feeling. He then recalled his own training 50 years ago, and said: Having attended, and survived, two of the other military academies 50 years ago, I think I have some idea of the challenges which are inherent in military training. I have experienced the nerves, the exhaustion, even the self-doubt, but despite such recollections, it is the lifelong friendships which are forged through shared hardship, and the humour you find in the darkest hours of the coldest, wettest nights, which remain with you. King Charles attends the Sovereigns Parade at the Royal Military Academy, in Sandhurst (via REUTERS) He spoke of the war in Ukraine and praised the support given by the British Army as well as the courageously indomitable Ukrainian people. He said: As we have now passed the first anniversary of the conflict in Ukraine, it is worth saying that I have been particularly impressed and proud of the role the British Army, alongside wider defence, has played in supporting Ukraine. The UK has been a leading nation in delivering training expertise, equipment and advice alongside our allies and partners. The King also praised the Army for its evacuation from Kabul and its support for the Governments response to the pandemic. King Charles presented new colours at at the Royal Military Academy, in Sandhurst (via REUTERS) On a more sombre note he added: Just as pressure in the East remains, so the peaceful world order which we so took for granted, particularly here in the West, is no guarantee. We face challenges at home and abroad, all of which, I know, draw on our Army to assist in keeping the country safe and functioning. Finally he wished the new officers success and good fortune for the future. He said: I can only wish each of you every possible success and good fortune as you embark on your future service to this nation, and a most fulfilling career. We are fortunate to have you, as well as those here today who so loyally support you. Close Prince Harry's lawyer arrives at High Court ahead of privacy claim against The Sun's publisher 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 }} The Duke of Sussex has said he felt like the tabloid press was a third party in all of his relationships. In court documents revealed at the High Court in London on Tuesday, Harry said he always tried to be the best partner he could be, but every woman has her limit. He said that the tabloid press always became involved in his relationships, and tried to ruin them. Whenever I have been in a relationship, I have always tried to be the best partner that I possibly could, but every woman has her limit, he said in a witness statement. Unfortunately, they are not just in a relationship with me but with the entire tabloid press as a third party. At no point did I have a girlfriend or a relationship with anyone without the tabloids getting involved and ultimately ruining it, or trying to ruin it, using whatever unlawful means at their disposal. Meanwhile, the court also heard that the Prince of Wales allegedly reached a settlement, that the late queen was aware of, with publisher News Group Newspapers over claims of hacking. 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 anti-Islam activist who tore pages out of the Quran and called it a fascist book in front of the Dutch parliament building in January is being investigated on suspicion of insulting Muslims, prosecutors said Friday. The action by Edwin Wagensveld, leader of the Dutch branch of the far-right Pegida movement, and a Danish far-right activist's burning of the Quran outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm the same month sparked protests in several predominantly Muslim countries around the world. While desecrating Islam's holy book is not a crime in the Netherlands, prosecutors said comments that Wagensveld made while damaging the Quran amounted to an unlawful insult to the Muslim community. In a written statement, the Public Prosecution Service of The Hague said his comments are suspected of breaching an article of the Dutch penal code which states that deliberately insulting a group of people because of their religion or belief is a crime. The statement did not refer to Wagensveld by name, in line with Dutch privacy rules, but referred to a 54-year-old Dutch national who lives in Germany. The suspect will be questioned on this matter by the Dutch police, prosecutors said. On Twitter, Wagensveld retweeted a post by a supporter calling the action an abuse of power. 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 U.N. groups said Thursday that the number of migrants crossing the dangerous Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama could soar to as many as 400,000 this year. That would represent a huge increase from the 250,000 migrants estimated to have crossed the roadless, jungle-clad route in 2022. The U.N. agencies for refugees and migration said in a report that nearly 100,000 people may have already made the crossing so far this year, six times more than in the similar period of last year. If that trend keeps up, it could mean many more migrants seeking to reach the United States through Central America and Mexico. The groups called it an unprecedented movement (of people) through the Americas. The United States pledged its forces will assist their Colombian and Panamanian counterparts with intelligence gathering to dismantle smuggling rings operating in the Darien Gap, which is a key route for migrants heading to the U.S. from South America, a senior Biden administration official said Wednesday. The area 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 campaign to shut down the Darien Gap route. 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 May 11. 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. 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 }} Englands North East currently has the highest Covid infection rate of any UK region, according to new figures from the Zoe Health Study app. Nearly 1.25 million people are currently thought to have symptomatic coronavirus in the UK, according to the Zoe Covid study, whose estimates are based on users self-reporting symptoms and test results. This is down from a recent peak of nearly 1.5 million suspected symptomatic infections a fortnight ago, which itself was below previous highs of more than 1.6 million over New Year and in mid-October. The Zoe Covid apps estimates of symptomatic case levels since November 2021 (screengrab) The ongoing study, run by Kings College London, found that rates of daily new symptomatic infections are highest in Englands North East, where there are potentially as many as 2,188 new daily cases per million people, based on data from Wednesday. There are estimated to be up to 1,716 new cases per million in the West Midlands, which is followed closely by Scotland and the North West. These infection rates contrast with an upper estimate of 1,301 new daily cases per million people in the South East. Overall, there were estimated to be more than 81,000 new symptomatic cases of Covid in the UK on Wednesday, according to Zoe app data. The study is among the most reliable trackers of infection levels in the UK, not least since the end of the Office for National Statistics figures stopped last month, leaving Britain completely in the dark. The map below shows estimated rate of new daily symptomatic Covid cases per million people in each region, detailing the upper and lower range of the estimates, based on data from Wednesday: View more It comes as virologists warn that a new coronavirus variant named Arcturus shows the UK is not yet out of the woods when it comes to Covid. Indias health ministry has launched mock drills to test whether hospitals are ready for a possible influx of patients after infections soared 13-fold in the last month, surpassing 10,000 cases each day. The rise has been blamed on the new Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16, which the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said in Marchs variant report has made its way to Britain. So far in the UK, Arcturus accounts for just 0.4 per cent of cases, according to the Washington-based GISAID virus sequencing database. But that share is expected to change, with virologists telling The Independent on Thursday that the new variant rapidly outcompeting others in India. Dr Vipin M Vashishtha, a paediatrician tracking Arcturuss rise in India, said cases there were increasing exponentially, adding: 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. Meanwhile, virologist Dr Stephen Griffin from the University of Leeds said the new strain could become dominant in the UK. 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. 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 }} A British woman has been infected with dengue fever while on holiday in France, as experts warn the tropical disease is becoming more prevalent in parts of Europe because of climate change. The 44-year-old woman became infected while on holiday in Nice in September 2022. She had not visited any other countries. Dengue fever is spread by the bite of mosquitoes infected with the dengue virus, typically in tropical regions in Asia, South America, and Asia. Its not typically a serious illness and often clears up on its own. Some people can contract severe dengue or dengue haemorrhagic fever, but this is relatively rare, impacting between 1 and 5 per cent of patients. After her return to the UK, the patient required emergency health treatment. The UKs Rare Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) was able to give her a diagnosis after doctors sent an urgent sample for analysis. Her symptoms included fever, headaches, muscle pains and a rash, all of which began the day after she returned from France. These lasted for three days, but she did not require further medical treatment. The family members she stayed with also experienced similar symptoms, with researchers confirming that the infected patient was part of an outbreak of over 30 locally transmitted cases in southern France in 2022. Between June and September 2022, the Agence Regionale de Sante (ARS) reported three separate outbreaks of dengue virus transmission. These cases were identified in France in patients who had not travelled abroad. However, one specialist from the world-famous Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London has warned that climate change could be responsible for increasing outbreaks in parts of Europe. This individual was part of an outbreak of over 30 locally transmitted cases in the south of France in 2022, which highlights the rapidly changing epidemiology of dengue, said Dr Owain Donnelly. With climate change, particularly hotter temperatures and more rainfall, and increasing global trade and tourism, we may see more parts of Europe with the right combination of factors for dengue outbreaks. Surveillance and reporting mechanisms are important in ensuring we have an accurate understanding of dengue spread. Dengue is often found in tropical areas, including parts of Africa and Asia, Central and South America, the Caribbean, the Pacific Islands and some southern areas in North America. However, the risk of contracting it increases in parts of southern Europe between spring and November and has previously been detected in Croatia, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Madeira. The Asian tiger mosquito has also become more common across the region due to the impact of climate change, in particular warmer temperatures and higher levels of rainfall. Importantly, dengue cannot be transmitted from one person to another, and the infection is not found in the UK. 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 student who threw eggs at King Charles before shouting friends with Jimmy Savile has been found guilty of threatening behaviour. Patrick Thelwell also shouted the King is a paedophile after throwing at least five eggs towards the monarch during a walkabout in York on 9 November last year. The King and Queen Consort were in the northern city to unveil a statue of the late Queen at York Minster, and were being welcomed by local dignitaries at Micklegate Bar when Thelwell came very close to hitting King Charles with eggs, York Magistrates Court heard. King reacts after Thelwells egg throw on 9 November in York (Reuters) The 23-year-old pleaded not guilty to a Section 4 public order offence, arguing his use of low level violence was lawful as it was self defence against the violence carried out by the British state. On Friday Chief Magistrate Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring found the defendant guilty of the charge, saying Thelwell intended to cause King Charles to believe immediate unlawful violence would be used against him. Thelwell was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and must pay 600 in prosecution costs. The student, who defended himself at the trial, posed outside court with a painted egg sign held by one of around 10 supporters. Other signs said: Did you vote for him? and Justice for Patrick. Justice for All. In court, he was stopped by the judge from asking a police witness whether he was aware the King was photographed numerous times with Jimmy Savile, the disgraced TV presenter. Patrick Thelwell arrives at York Magistrates' Court (PA) Judge Goldspring told him: Whether or not the King was photographed with Jimmy Savile has no relevance to this trial at all. Im afraid I wont allow you to ask questions about your perception of the Kings past. The defendant also asked Detective Constable Peter Wilson if he thought throwing eggs is more or less serious than the violence carried out by the British state. The court was shown body camera footage of Thelwells arrest, in which he could be heard shouting: I threw eggs because thats what he deserves. Its the only justice the victims of colonialism will ever get. Police detain Thelwell in York on 9 November (PA) PC Adam Steventon, who arrested Thelwell, told the court he was standing about 10 yards away when the eggs were thrown. He said he moved to detain Thelwell, who was being restrained by plain-clothed police officers and members of the public. I recall him shouting several times F*** the King,PC Steventon told the court. I believe he shouted the King is a paedophile or words very close to that. The officer said people in the crowd were angry at Thelwell, and described one man shouting something like youve ruined this for everybody. Thelwell as he arrived at York Magistrates Court before the hearing (PA) The court heard another egg fell out of Thelwells pocket as he was being arrested. People in the crowd started chanting God save the King and shame on you after the eggs were thrown. The King appeared unfazed and continued to greet the crowds. In January, 21-year-old Harry May was fined 100 for throwing eggs at the King during a walkabout in Luton on 6 December. The King has not commented on the incidents. He was not hit by an egg on either occasion. 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 }} Dengue fever is becoming more prevalent in parts of Europe due to climate change, researchers have warned after a woman from the UK was infected while on holiday in the south of France. A 44-year-old woman, who has not been identified, was infected with the tropical disease during a trip to Nice, southern France, in September 2022. She had experienced fever, headache, muscle pain and a rash for three days but did not require further medical treatment. Her diagnosis was made by the UKs Rare Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) after the woman visited an emergency department after returning home to UK and doctors sent an urgent sample for analysis. Surveillance and reporting mechanisms are important in ensuring we have an accurate understanding of dengue spread Dr Owain Donnelly Dr Owain Donnelly from the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London said: This individual was part of an outbreak of over 30 locally transmitted cases in the south of France in 2022, which highlights the rapidly changing epidemiology of dengue. With climate change, particularly hotter temperatures and more rainfall, and increasing global trade and tourism, we may see more parts of Europe with the right combination of factors for dengue outbreaks. Surveillance and reporting mechanisms are important in ensuring we have an accurate understanding of dengue spread. The woman had returned from the south of France the day before symptoms started and had not travelled to any other countries. Family she stayed with in France also experienced similar symptoms. Dengue fever is spread by the bite of mosquitoes infected with the dengue virus, typically in tropical regions in Asia, South America, and Asia. However climate change has led to the increased presence of the Asian tiger mosquito, a carrier of the disease, throughout southern Europe. Most UK infections of the virus are diagnosed in travellers who have recently visited these regions. It has flu-like symptoms but an estimated 75% of cases are asymptomatic and can go undetected. In severe cases, 1 to 5% of patients develop potentially fatal severe dengue or dengue hemorrhagic fever. The case was presented by Dr Donnelly to the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases in Copenhagen. Between June and September 2022, the Agence Regionale de Sante (ARS) in France reported three separate outbreaks of dengue virus transmission contracted on national territory without patients having travelled abroad. 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 company has been fined 800,000 for safety failures which led to the death of a 10-year-old boy. Shea Ryan died after falling down a manhole on a construction site in Drumchapel, Glasgow. The Crown Office said Glasgow Sheriff Court was told that Shea, along with other children, got into the site through an insecure fence on July 16, 2020. He was able to access a manhole and begin to climb down. He slipped and fell more than six metres to the bottom of the manhole, sustaining fatal injuries. RJ McLeod (Contractors) Limited was fined at the court on Friday, having previously pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety laws. The company was also ordered to pay a 60,000 victim surcharge. An investigation by Police Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found insufficient measures had been taken to prevent children gaining access to the construction site. Several measures to increase safety have since been put in place. In a statement released through legal firm Digby Brown, Sheas mother Joanne Ferguson said: I am glad RJ McLeod finally admitted guilt. My son is not here and that destroys me every day. That totally avoidable accident has ruined my life and my kids lives. I dont even feel human anymore at times because of the grief. I just hope this makes them consider site safety everywhere not just for RJ McLeod but for companies everywhere because the safety of these places is so important. She thanked the prosecution and emergency services as well as her friends and family, and added Shea is missed every second of every day. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said a fatal accident inquiry will be held into Sheas death. Speaking after the sentencing, Debbie Carroll, who leads on health and safety investigations at COPFS, said: The untimely death of child is particularly tragic, and our thoughts are with Sheas family as they continue to deal with the pain they have suffered following his death. His death could have been prevented had RJ McLeod (Contractors) Limited put in place suitable and sufficient measures to manage the risk of children accessing the site. This prosecution should remind duty holders that a failure to manage and implement effective measures can have fatal consequences and they will be held accountable for this failure. It is important that any learning, to help prevent deaths in a similar situation, is put in the public domain and there will be a fatal accident inquiry into the full circumstances of Sheas death in due course. HSE principal inspector Graeme McMinn said: Shea should never have been able to get on to and play on that site. The security measures should have taken account of the adjacent childrens playpark and the likelihood of children trying to gain access. He said the construction industry must do everything it can to keep children out of construction sites and away from danger to prevent a tragedy such as this happening again. A spokesperson for RJ McLeod (Contractors) Limited said the firm fully accepts the outcome and ruling of the court. They added: We extend our condolences to the family of Shea Ryan. We have carried out a comprehensive review of the event and have taken action to protect against the risk of a re-occurrence. We fully co-operated and engaged with the investigating authorities and note that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service explained in court the actions we took immediately following the incident. Safety is always our top priority and site safety updates are implemented across the business on an ongoing basis. Close Joe Biden says he spent more time with Xi Jinping than any other world leader 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 }} US president Joe Biden broke down in tears on the final day of his Ireland tour after an emotional unplanned meeting with a priest who gave the last rites to his son. The Parish priest of Knock, Fr Richard Gibbons, said the chaplain who performed the last rites sacrament on Mr Bidens son, Beau, now works at the Knock shrine in Co Mayo where the president paid a visit on Friday. Fr Frank OGrady performed the ceremony for Beau Biden before he died of brain cancer in 2015. He received a call requesting that he meet the president, and later told RTE that the encounter was like a reunion. We had a nice chat for about 10 minutes. He was delighted to see me and I was delighted to see him, he said. He gave me a big hug, it was like a reunion. He told me he appreciated everything that was done. In the evening, Mr Biden received a rock star welcome from crowds in Ballina, County Mayo for his last public engagement of the trip. 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 }} Two serving Metropolitan Police officers have been dismissed over discriminatory messages they sent to colleagues in a WhatsApp group, including some about Katie Prices disabled son. Eight serving and former Met officers were found guilty on Thursday of gross misconduct over a discriminatory and offensive WhatsApp group. 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. Harvey Price and Katie Price (Ian West/PA) (PA Archive) Pc Glynn Rees and Officer B, who was granted anonymity, have been dismissed by a disciplinary panel in Southwark, central London, following a six-day hearing. The pair, along with former sergeant Luke Thomas, former acting sergeant Luke Allen and former constables Kelsey Buchan, Lee South, Darren Jenner, and Carlo Francisco, were also barred for life from the police service. Thomas, Allen, Buchan, South and Jenner resigned from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) after the messages were unearthed, while Francisco was dismissed in July for an unrelated matter involving discreditable conduct, according to the force. In addition to posting messages about Prices son Harvey, who is autistic and lives with Prader-Willi syndrome, 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. 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. Their texts included derogatory comments about 20-year-old Mr Price and about a junior female officer, known in the hearings as Officer A. This is another painful day for us. We know there are more uncomfortable days to come Commander Jon Savell 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. Commander Jon Savell, head of professionalism standards and recognition at the Met, said: I was repulsed and ashamed to read the deeply offensive messages sent by these officers and I utterly condemn their behaviour. I am deeply sorry to those who have been the subject of such awful disgusting messages. The Commissioner has been very clear about our commitment to finding and getting rid of anyone in the Met who has these highly offensive attitudes and todays result is an example of that. I have over 600 colleagues in our professional standards directorate a team we have significantly grown whose absolute focus is on this critically important piece of work. We are under no illusion that public trust and confidence in us depends on us re-establishing our integrity and professionalism. This is another painful day for us. We know there are more uncomfortable days to come as we turn over the stones and uncover others who corrupt our integrity. Mr McKay said: Racist, sexist, homophobic and transphobic attitudes revealed in the posts and comments have undermined the reputation of the Metropolitan Police Service as a fair and impartial body. Harm has been caused to Harvey Price and his mother, who have learned of the posts recently, and has resulted in a loss of confidence in the MPS by Katie Price. Officer A is now aware of the insulting way in which she was referred to by members of the group. She must have been upset. The panel found that Thomas, the most senior-ranking officer, was one of the most active participants in the WhatsApp group. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: Im as disgusted as other Londoners are by the fact that certain police officers, any member of society, in fact, should behave in this way further evidence of institutional racism, institutional social institutional homophobia. Theres no place in our police service for anybody who is racist, sexist, homophobic, misogynistic. New Met Commissioner Mark Rowley has been battling to restore trust in the force, pledging to clean it up, root out corruption and sack unscrupulous officers. 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 }} Police have returned to the River Wyre six weeks after the body of missing mother-of-two Nicola Bulley was found there. The 45-year-old mortgage adviser went missing on 27 January while walking her dog along the river at St Michaels on Wyre, after dropping her two daughters aged six and nine at school nearby. Her mobile phone was found a bench near the riverbank, still connected to a Microsoft Teams work call, with her dog Willow left running loose. There was a high profile missing persons search for Nicola Bulley (PA) A huge police operation ensued as the search for Ms Bulley drew intense national attention, before Lancashire Police eventually announced that a body had been discovered among reeds and undergrowth in the River Wyre on 19 February. Some six weeks later officers have returned to the river to carry out investigations on behalf of HM Coroner, ahead of an inquest set for 26 June in Preston. Here is a timeline of events after her disappearance: 27 January At 8.26am Ms Bulley left her home with her two daughters, dropping them off at school and engaging in a brief conversation with another parent around 15 minutes later, before taking her spaniel for a walk along the River Wyre at 8:43am, Lancashire Police has said. She was seen by a dog walker who knew her at around 8.50am, and their pets interacted briefly before they parted ways, according to the force. At 8.53am, Ms Bulley sent an email to her boss, followed by a message to her friends six minutes later, before logging on to a Microsoft Teams call at 9.01am. She was seen by a second witness at 9.10am, the last known sighting. Her phone was back in the area of the bench at 9.20am before the Teams call ended 10 minutes later, with her mobile remaining logged on after the call. At 9.33am, another dog walker found her phone on a bench beside the river, with Willow darting between the two. At 10.50am, Ms Bulleys family and the school attended by her children were told about her disappearance. Lancashire Constabulary launched an investigation into Ms Bulleys whereabouts on the same day and appealed for witnesses to contact them. (The Independent/ Datawrapper) 28 January Lancashire Constabulary deployed drones, helicopters and police search dogs as part of the major missing person operation. They were assisted by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, as well as Bowland Pennine mountain rescue team and the North West underwater search team. 29 January Local residents held a meeting at the village hall to organise a search for Ms Bulley at 10.30am on Sunday, according to reports from The Mirror, and around 100 people joined in. Police urged volunteers to exercise caution, describing the river and its banks as extremely dangerous and saying that activity in these areas presented a genuine risk to the public. 30 January Superintendent Sally Riley from Lancashire Constabulary said police were keeping a really open mind about what could have happened, and that they were not treating Ms Bulleys disappearance as suspicious. 31 January Lancashire Constabulary spoke with a potential witness, a man who had been walking a small white fluffy dog near the River Wyre at the time of Ms Bulleys disappearance. Ms Bulleys phone was found on a bench by the banks of the River Wyre (Danny Lawson/PA) Her family released a statement saying they had been overwhelmed by the support in their community, and that her daughters were desperate to have their mummy back home safe. 1 February Ms Bulleys parents, Ernest and Dot Bulley, spoke to The Mirror about the horror they faced over the possibility of never seeing her again. Her father told the newspaper: We just dread to think we will never see her again, if the worst came to the worst and she was never found, how will we deal with that for the rest of our lives? 2 February Lancashire Constabulary spoke with a second witness who they had identified with the help of the public using CCTV but they told police they did not have any further information to aid their inquiry. Officers from the North West Police Underwater and Marine support unit searched the area close to where Ms Bulleys mobile phone was found, while police divers scoured the River Wyre. Meanwhile, Ms Bulleys family appealed to the public for help tracing her, with her sister Louise Cunningham telling Sky News: There has got to be somebody who knows something and all we are asking is, no matter how small or big, if there is anything you remember that doesnt seem right, then please reach out to the police. Police divers back at the scene, weeks after her body was found (YouTube) 3 February Lancashire Police said it was working on the hypothesis that Ms Bulley may have fallen into the River Wyre. Superintendent Riley urged against speculation, but said it was possible that an issue with Ms Bulleys dog may have led her to the waters edge. She urged the public to look out for items of clothing Ms Bulley was last seen wearing, and gave an extensive list. Ms Bulleys friends also shared heartfelt appeals via television interviews, including Emma White, who told the BBC that Ms Bulleys daughters were continually asking where she was. 4 February Ms White cast doubt on the police theory that she fell into a river, telling Sky News it was based on limited information. She said: When we are talking about a life we cant base it on a hypothesis, surely we need this factual evidence. Thats what the family and all of us are holding on to, that we are sadly no further on than last Friday. A huge search effort took place in the weeks after her disappearance (PA Wire) In a Facebook post, Ms Cunningham urged people to keep an open mind as there is no evidence whatsoever that the dog walker fell in the river. Lancashire Police also announced it wanted to trace a key witness who was seen pushing a pram in the area on the morning of the disappearance. 5 February The woman described as a key witness by police came forward. The force insisted she was very much being treated as a witness as it warned against totally unacceptable speculation and abuse on social media. Peter Faulding, leader of underwater search experts Specialist Group International (SGI), began searching the river after being called in by Ms Bulleys family. 6 February Ms Bulleys friends expressed hope that the help of the specialist underwater rescue team would give the family answers. Ms White told BBC Breakfast: Following the hypothesis of the police that Nicola was in the river, we need some evidence to back that up either way and I feel Peter and his amazing bit of kit is going to come and sweep the river bed and give us answers. Meanwhile, Ms Bulleys partner Mr Ansell, in a statement released through Lancashire Police, said: Its been 10 days now since Nicola went missing and I have two little girls who miss their mummy desperately and who need her back. Ms Bulleys partner Paul Ansell said his two daughters miss their mummy desperately (Nicola Bulley/Facebook) 10 February Police urged people to refrain from indulging in commentary and conspiracy theories about Ms Bulleys disappearance as speculation increased online. 15 February Police told a press conference that the mother-of-two was classed as a high-risk missing person immediately after she was reported missing due to vulnerabilities. Hours later, they disclosed Ms Bulleys struggles with alcohol and perimenopause. 16 February Ms Bulleys family said the focus had become distracted from finding Nikki, and more about speculation and rumours into her private life and called for it to end. Lancashire Police referred itself to the police watchdog over contact the force had with Ms Bulley prior to her disappearance. Home secretary Suella Braverman demanded an explanation for the disclosure of Ms Bulleys private information by the force. Ms Bulley walked her dog by the river most days (Family handout) 17 February Lancashire Police announced it was conducting an internal review into the handling of Ms Bulleys disappearance and the Information Commissioner said he would ask the force questions about the disclosure. 18 February Ms Braverman met with police leaders to discuss the handling of the investigation after the prime minister Rishi Sunak also expressed concerns about the revelation. 19 February Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt described the polices disclosure as shocking, while shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, who also wrote to the force over its handling of the case, repeated her concerns about the unusual level of private information made public about Ms Bulley. That afternoon, Lancashire Police announced that a body had been found in the River Wyre, around a mile downstream from where her belongings were discovered. Ms Bulleys body was discovered in reeds at the edge of the River Wyre (Jason Roberts/PA) 20 February The force confirmed that the body had been identified as Ms Bulley. In a statement, her family said she was the centre of our world, adding they would never be able to comprehend what Nikki had gone through in her last moments and that will never leave us. 21 February Broadcasting regulator Ofcom announced it had written to Sky and ITV to ask them to explain their actions after Ms Bulleys family accused them of intruding on their privacy after her body was discovered. Meanwhile, a campaign set up to raise money for Ms Bulleys family received 10,000 in a single day, and has since gone on to raise nearly four times that amount. 22 February Social media app TikTok said it would take action against users who violated its community guidelines by posting misinformation about Ms Bulley, after the company was criticised for allowing conspiracy theories to spread on its app. 23 February A candlelit vigil was held for Ms Bulley in her former hometown of South Woodham Ferrers in Essex, with one organiser saying that the family still hold a massive piece of all of our hearts despite having previously moved up north. A large mural of Ms Bulley by local artist Danny Bench was also unveiled. Flowers were left on a footbridge over the River Wyre in tribute (Getty Images) 25 February Mr Fauldings team of divers, Specialist Group International, was suspended from the National Crime Agencys Expert Adviser Database while a review was carried out, law enforcement sources told The Times. 8 March Lancashire Police arrested a man over footage shot inside a police cordon on the day Ms Bulleys body was found. The 34-year-old from Kidderminster was arrested on suspicion of malicious communications offences and perverting the course of justice. 4 April Police divers were spotted in the River Wyre and a brief clip was uploaded to YouTube. Lancashire Police later confirmed that its officers were carrying out some work on the direction of HM coroner, ahead of the inquest set for 26 June at County Hall in Preston. The Rwanda deal is failing to deter asylum seekers from crossing the English Channel a year after it was signed, figures show. Almost 5,000 people have made the journey so far in 2023, almost exactly the same figure seen by the same point in 2022. No crossings have been made in the past two days because of rough seas and gales in the Channel, but arrivals are expected to rocket when the weather calms. Consideration of Irelands international security policy should not by a binary choice on whether it joins a military alliance, the countrys deputy premier has said. Micheal Martins comments came after US President Joe Biden referenced Irelands long-standing policy of neutrality in a speech to the parliament in Dublin. The Irish Government has established a forum to examine issues related to Irelands independent foreign policy position. 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 toured a Catholic pilgrimage site as part of his final day of engagements in Ireland. Mr Biden was met by cheering crowds waving Ireland, US and Mayo flags, at Knock shrine in Co Mayo one sign in the crowd read Welcome Home Joe. Knock shrine is a Catholic pilgrimage site, where locals claimed to have seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1879. Mr Biden was given a tour of the basilica by the Knock parish priest, Father Richard Gibbons. The two could be seen laughing together by the altar as Fr Gibbons told the president about the history of the site, pointing out details including the Stations of the Cross. Fr Gibbons held an umbrella over the president as they walked towards the Apparition Chapel. Mr Biden touched the original apparition wall before heading inside the chapel. The pilgrimage location has been visited by several popes, most recently by Pope Francis in 2018. Mr Biden is the second Catholic president and has been known to attend Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washingtons Georgetown neighbourhood, a few miles from the White House. It is where the nations first Catholic president, John F Kennedy, also attended mass in his time in office. Upon arrival at Knock airport, Mr Biden was met by various dignitaries including transport minister Eamon Ryan and Mayo TD Dara Calleary. Knock airport was opened in 1985 to attract visitors to the pilgrimage site. It is the fourth busiest airport in Ireland, serving 722,000 passengers in 2022. 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 }} 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. No barrier is too thick or too strong for Ireland Joe Biden 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. 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 said everything between Ireland and America runs deep as he concluded his historic tour of the island. Mr Biden made a public speech in the town of Ballina in Co Mayo on Friday where he spoke throughout of his fondness for the relationship between the US and Ireland describing it as united by history, heritage and hope. He thanked the thousands in the crowd for their incredible generosity for opening up their homes to Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russias brutal violence. Once again speaking of his Irish ancestry, Mr Biden said millions of Americans claim to have Irish heritage adding: More would if they could. Opening his speech, Mr Biden said: It feels like coming home. The president referenced a visit he made earlier in the day to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice, where there is a plaque in memory of his son Beau. He said: I can tell you how special it is that a piece of his legacy lives here among his ancestors. Thinking about it I could hear my dads voice again. Hed always say Joe remember family is the beginning, the middle and the end. The beginning, middle and end, thats the Irish of it. He added: Everything between Ireland and America runs deep; our history, our heritage, our sorrows, our future, our friendship. But more than anything, hope is what beats in the hearts of all our people. For centuries during times of darkness and despair, hope has kept us marching forward toward a better future, one of greater liberty, greater dignity and greater possibilities. The presidents son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owens sat in the front row of the VIP section to the side of the stage for the speech. During his 20-minute speech, Mr Biden spoke of his ancestor Edward Blewitt, whom he said worked in the old Ballina brickyard. The president said during one of his engagements in Co Mayo, he saw a record from 1828 that said Mr Blewitt was paid 21 pounds and 12 shillings to help supply 27,000 bricks for St Muredachs Cathedral, which was nearby as he addressed the crowd. As he laboured, Im sure he would imagine that one day his family would worship here, that his children would be baptised here like his son Patrick was, and that future generations of his family would mark the milestones of their lives here in the sturdy walls, he said. But I doubt he ever imagined his great-great-great grandson would return 200 years later as president of the United States of America. He also thanked Ballina for celebrating his election as president in 2020. You decked out the town Im told in red, white and blue with cars and crowds gathered in the market square singing the green and the red of Mayo, he said. It means the world to me, it meant the world to me and my entire family to be embraced as Mayo Joe, son of Ballina. My mother, my grandmother whose maiden name was Blewitt would be smiling down on me right now. The president also spoke of the Good Friday Agreement, calling it 25 years of peace and progress. It is a reminder the importance of peace and what you can accomplish when we work together in common cause, Mr Biden said. Telling the crowd visiting Ballina felt like going home, he continued: Over the years, stories of this place have become part of my soul, part of my family lore. Mr Biden said he and his siblings were raised with a fierce pride in our Irish ancestry. A pride that spoke to both the history that binds us but more importantly the values that unite us, he said. To this day I can still remember hearing my dad say at the dinner table, Joey, everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect, I can still hear my mom tell me, Joey, nobody is better than you but everybody is your equal. 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 }} President Joe Bidens remarks that the UK should work more closely with Ireland to support the people of Northern Ireland was an exhortation for everyone to co-operate, Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said. Mr Martin also said that be believed a speech by the president in Belfast earlier in the week could potentially help the political atmosphere in Northern Ireland, where powersharing institutions are currently suspended. In his remarks to the Irish parliament on Thursday, Mr Biden said he believed that the UK should be working more closely with the administration in Dublin to support Northern Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement really depends of the very close relationship between the British Government and the Irish Government Micheal Martin Asked about the comments on the RTE Morning Ireland programme, Mr Martin said: I take that as a general exhortation to all of us to work together. I am pleased with Prime Minister (Rishi) Sunak, (Northern Ireland Secretary) Chris Heaton-Harris, there is a closer engagement already over the last while, that could get closer. I think the context was clear from the president, he was speaking in the context of all of us. He mentions the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Tanaiste added: The Good Friday Agreement really depends on the very close relationship between the British Government and the Irish Government. That is the anchor to the peace, the anchor to future relationships. A number of events have been taking place in Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. However, the Stormont powersharing Assembly, the cornerstone of the peace deal, remains suspended due to DUP concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements. During an address in Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Biden said he hoped the institutions would soon return. Mr Martin said: I think his remarks will be helpful in terms of the atmosphere, in terms of the next number of weeks and months. I think it will have served a purpose, in respect of that I have no doubt. He added: I think the president did get the balance right in terms of that speech, but also in terms of, we are giving time and space to the DUP in terms of their analysis of the Windsor Agreement; but there is no immediate sign yet (of a return to powersharing at Stormont). But everybody, including the DUP, would acknowledge that the Windsor Agreement represents very significant progress. I think the people of Northern Ireland want the institutions back, of that I am clear, but I think the lessons we have all learnt from experience that it is better, as the President himself said, that people in the north come to the right conclusion, come to it themselves and make their mind up. All of the parties are very anxious to get the institutions restored. Mr Martin also addressed comments earlier this week from former DUP leader Dame Arlene Foster that Joe Biden hates the United Kingdom. Mr Martin said: I was very surprised by that comment. The one word that you do not associate with Joe Biden is the word hate. 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 broke down in tears on the final day of his Ireland tour after an emotional unplanned meeting with a priest who gave the last rites to his son. The chaplain who performed the last rites sacrament on Mr Bidens son, Beau, now works at the Knock shrine in Co Mayo where the president paid a visit on Friday. Fr Frank OGrady performed the ceremony for Beau Biden before he died of brain cancer in 2015. He received a call requesting that he meet the president, and later told RTE that the encounter was like a reunion. We had a nice chat for about 10 minutes. He was delighted to see me and I was delighted to see him, he said. He gave me a big hug, it was like a reunion. He told me he appreciated everything that was done. He added: I hadnt seen him really in eight years since Beau died. His son Hunter was there too, so we had a real reunion. He certainly misses his son. He has been grieving a lot but I think the grief is kind of going down a bit. We talked a little bit about how grief can take several years. Mr Biden was given a tour of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock a Catholic pilgrimage site by the Parish priest of Knock, Fr Richard Gibbons. Recounting the emotional reunion between the US President and Fr OGrady, he said: It was an extraordinary afternoon. I wont forget it, I can tell you that it was quite something else. After leaving Knock, Mr Biden travelled to Castlebar where he made a private visit to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice. The president had a longstanding pledge to revisit the facility, having turned the sod on the development in 2017. A plaque at the entrance to the hospice is dedicated to Beau Bidens memory. At the site Mr Biden, along with his son Hunter and sister Valerie, met with distant cousin Laurita Blewitt. Meanwhile as crowds gathered in Ballina for Mr Bidens final public address, the atmosphere was compared to an All-Ireland final. There is a great sense of occasion here, there is great anticipation building for President Biden, Sinn Fein TD Rose Conway-Walsh said. The eyes of the world are on Mayo and on Ballina tonight and I think the river, the cathedral, lends itself to something really special. Asked whether Mr Bidens visit could bring some good luck to the Mayo GAA team, she said: We are hoping. She said the event reminded her of an All-Ireland GAA final. It is that sense of anticipation when youre going into Croke Park, that youre expecting something good. Mr Bidens visit to Co Mayo is set to end his four-day tour of the island after he touched down at the airport in Knock on Friday afternoon. The trip is another return to ancestral roots for the president after his trip to Co Louth on Wednesday. The president has repeatedly spoken with passion about his Irish heritage and described addressing the countrys parliament on Thursday as one of the great honours of my career. He said its good to be back as he was greeted by various dignitaries including transport minister Eamon Ryan and Mayo TD Dara Calleary after disembarking Air Force One at Ireland West airport. Hes genuinely thrilled to be back in Ireland, Mr Ryan told reporters after speaking with him. The final day of Mr Bidens trip which former taoiseach Enda Kenny said was the longest presidential visit to Ireland ever will culminate in a public address. The speech will take place at St Muredachs Cathedral, which has a direct link to the presidents ancestors. A concert began before the presidential address as crowds gathered in the surrounding streets. 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. After his arrival at the airport, the president first travelled to the Knock shrine where he was greeted by cheering crowds who lined the streets outside. The president touched the apparition wall as part of his tour before Fr Gibbons accompanied him into the Apparition Chapel for some moments of quiet reflection. The president is also visiting the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit. 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 }} Keir Starmer billed taxpayers for nearly a quarter of a million pounds in travel costs while he was director of public prosecutions, it has been revealed. The future Labour leader put nearly three times as much on expenses as his CPS successor Alison Saunders, including first class flights abroad and a chauffeur driven car. Sir Keir charged taxpayers 161,273 for the vehicle and driver despite living just four miles and a direct Tube ride from the Crown Prosecution Service offices. The car cost taxpayers an average of 1,920 a week for nearly two years until he stopped using it following embarrassing media reports. The expenses have been in the public domain for over a decade but were re-reported by newspapers days after Sir Keir doubled down on a controversial attack ad aimed at Rishi Sunak. Their reemergence could signal a ramping up of attacks against Sir Keir himself following the lurid claims about Mr Sunak's attitudes to the sexual assault of children. The figures were obtained under FOI request by the Declassified UK website. Labour has in recent months criticised the governemnt for what it says is luxurious or unnecessary spending. In February the party released a dossier of spending on government procurement cards and accused ministers of living the high life and treating taxpayers like a cash machine. Other expenses in the pot in Sir Keirs vast pot included a 4,914 flight to Hong Kong, a 6,808 flight to Washington DC and business and first class flights to Jamaica, Thailand, and South Africa. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 / 50 UK news in pictures 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 UK news in pictures 23 February 2023 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer delivers a speech at the head office of the Co-Operative Group in Manchester, unveiling plans for a mission-led Labour government, with five national missions setting out his objectives for a Labour government if the party gains power at the next general election PA Sir Keir served as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for five years from 2008-13. His successor Alison Saunders, who was also DPP for five years, spent 67,340, less than a third of Sir Keirs total. Asked about Sir Keir expenses at the CPS, a Labour spokesman said: As the countrys most senior prosecutor, Keir Starmers work getting criminals off the streets, locking up terrorists and securing justice for victims involved vital collaboration overseas to break up international gangs and plots against this country. 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 photographers runner who watched the late Queens coronation while perched high up on scaffolding inside Westminster Abbey has said he hopes the Kings coronation will make people appreciate the power of printed images. Alex Falk was just 17 and working for the Press Association on Coronation Day 70 years ago. It was his job on June 2 1953 to assist photographers during the ceremony and afterwards make his way quickly back to Fleet Street from the abbey, carrying a satchel full of precious 54 inch double dark slides to be processed. He told the PA news agency: What we try to do is show people youve got an image if you dont print it, you dont see it for the next generation. People are watching us, let us not let the country down and I feel sure that the new King and Queen wont let us down Peter Falk When you travel the world you see peoples real images, from your parents, your grandparents, your great-grandparents. He said digital images travel the world but get lost whereas printed images go on display in peoples homes and hopefully this coronation will bring it back to people so they can enjoy it. Mr Falk, 86, said he cannot visit London on the big day because he has to care for his wife but they will enjoy watching the ceremony on television with a toast of wine. He described working at the late Queens coronation as wonderful. He told PA: I was a junior runner on that particular occasion, a very long day working with photographers taking their images from wherever they were taking them back to Fleet Street to get them processed and printed to publish in magazines and papers. It was wonderful because of course everything was totally new. We were in the abbey and up at the scaffolding right at the top, facing them as they walked down the aisle. They were taking pictures, we then took those images on five by four sheet film back by motorbike to Fleet Street. He said he is sure the King will not let us down next month and hopes it will be an opportunity to showcase the UK to the world. He said: We are not an island unto ourselves. We need people to come, we need to travel abroad, take the good news. The Queen was yesterday, the King is today. We as a country should gain from it because we are the centre of attraction. People are watching us, let us not let the country down and I feel sure that the new King and Queen wont let us down. 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 King spoke of his family links with Sandhurst as he attended the 200th Sovereigns Parade in the presence of massed ranks of officer cadets. Charles, due to be crowned next month after succeeding his mother, spoke of his own military training experiences but had a word about his sons William and Harry, pointing out they were both alumni of the famous academy. New colours were raised and blessed, although the late Queen was remembered with a salute in the presence of her colours. Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Harry will travel to the UK for the coronation although the Duchess of Sussex and their children will remain in California. The King said: Having attended, and survived, two of the other military academies 50 years ago, I think I have some idea of the challenges which are inherent in military training. Charles pointed out the dangers currently facing the world as he said: Just as pressure in the East remains, so the peaceful world order which we so took for granted, particularly here in the West, is no guarantee. He wished the cadets good luck in their careers, saying: We are fortunate to have you, as well as those here today who so loyally support you. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} First Minister Humza Yousaf will set out his positive, ambitious and radical vision as he campaigns in an area where the SNP could face a by-election. The SNP leader will be in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency on Saturday, where there is the potential for a recall petition to be used against sitting MP Margaret Ferrier. Mr Yousaf, who has already said it will take hard work for the SNP to win a by-election in the seat, is heading to the area for his partys first national day of action for 2023. It comes after he promised he would be first activist in the contest to replace Nicola Sturgeon as both SNP leader and Scottish First Minister. A by-election would come at a difficult time for the SNP, which has just gone through a divisive leadership contest. It was only after Mr Yousaf won that he discovered the partys auditors had quit months ago, and have yet to be replaced. Meanwhile a Police Scotland investigation into the partys finances saw the home Ms Sturgeon shares with former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell searched, with Mr Murrell being arrested and questioned by police before being released without charge. However Mr Yousaf stressed the progressive record of the SNP had helped the party gain the trust of voters at election after election. Speaking ahead of his visit, the First Minister added: Only the SNP will ensure Scotlands priorities are put first and offer a positive, ambitious and radical vision for their future as an independent country. Thats the message Ill be sharing with voters in Rutherglen and Hamilton West today. During the leadership campaign, I vowed, as the grassroots candidate, to step-up campaigning and push forward our levels of activism to the highs of 2014. While the Brexit-loving Labour and Tories fight for the keys to Number 10, Scots are being left behind by the broken Westminster system Humza Yousaf With Scotlands Parliament under attack from a Westminster powergrab, and a Tory cost-of-living crisis thats hammering families across Scotland, the SNP will be taking its progressive vision for a fairer Scotland to doorsteps across the country today. The SNP leader insisted Scotland deserves better than a choice between Tory Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labours Sir Keir Starmer. He added: While the Brexit-loving Labour and Tories fight for the keys to Number 10, Scots are being left behind by the broken Westminster system. People across Scotland deserve more than theyre getting from the Westminster establishment, which is refusing to take any real action to tackle the devastating impacts of Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis harming household incomes in every community. Ms Ferrier won the Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat for the SNP in 2019 but was later found to have damaged the reputation of the Commons and placed people at risk by taking part in a debate and travelling by train while suffering from Covid-19. If she is barred from the Commons for 10 days or more, that could trigger a recall petition, which would result in a by-election in the constituency although 10% of voters there would need to support this for it to go ahead. Parliament is still to determine her punishment, but the Commons Standards Committee has already recommended the MP who now sits as an independent should be suspended for 30 days. The SNP is chaotic and divided - the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West deserve better Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: Voters wont forget Margaret Ferriers reckless rule-breaking, no matter how many SNP campervans are dispatched to Rutherglen. As Humza Yousaf desperately scrambles to hold his crumbling party together, Scottish Labour is offering real change. The SNP is chaotic and divided the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West deserve better. Rishi Sunak and Volodymyr Zelensky discussed ramping up military support to Ukraine in a phone call on Friday, Downing Street said. The Prime Minister told the Ukrainian president that Britain and its allies needed to continue to ensure Ukraine was in the strongest possible position to build on its recent battlefield successes. The two leaders discussed the latest developments in Russias invasion, with Mr Sunak paying tribute to the efforts of Ukrainian troops in the highly-contested town of Bakhmut. 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 }} A New York nurse has been arrested after she was allegedly filmed slamming a newborn face-down into his crib earlier this year. Amanda Burke, 29, has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office said in a statement. It comes more than two months after Fidel Sinclair allegedly recorded the nurse violently slamming his son Nikko face-down into a bassinet following the babys birth at Good Samaritan Hospital in Long Island, NBC reported. The video was captured through the nursery window. (NBC New York) Nikkos parents then contacted the nurse and hospital staff. Ms Burke was fired within hours of the incident. The allegations against this defendant, who is someone entrusted with the care of our most vulnerable citizens, are truly disturbing, District Attorney Raymond Tierney said after announcing the charges. I want to commend the members of the Suffolk County Police Departments 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. Ms Burke surrendered to the Suffolk County Police Department on Wednesday morning. Her attorney, Robert Gottlieb, told CBS News that the charges are unjustified. Amanda is an outstanding, exemplary, compassionate nurse who did not and would never do anything to endanger any infant or patient under her care, Mr Gottlieb said in a statement to the outlet. The baby involved was not injured or ever placed in any danger of injury. The District Attorneys statements are off base and not justified by all the facts that will come out in court. Consuelo Saravia and Fidel Sinclair (NBC New York) The parents of the baby told NBC at the time of the incident that the video was heartbreaking. I told her I dont want you to touch my child. You just slammed him, Consuelo Saravia said. She said Oh no, if you think I mishandled him or anything, Im sorry. The New York States Department of Educations Office of Professional Discipline has been informed of the investigation into Ms Burkes actions, but her license to practice as a registered nurse has not been suspended. Ms Burke is scheduled to appear in court on 2 May for an arraignment hearing. 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 }} A 25-year-old employee opened fire at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday morning, killing five people and injuring eight others while live streaming the attack. The shooter, identified as bank employee Connor Sturgeon, entered the Old National Bank in the downtown area of the city at around 8.30am armed with an AR-15-style rifle. He shot and killed four bank executives inside the first-floor conference room before exchanging gunfire with responding police officers. Louisville deputy police chief Paul Humphrey said that he was shot dead by officer fire. A fifth victim later succumbed to her injuries in hospital. All five were executives at the bank. The victims have now been identified as Joshua Barrick, Thomas Elliott, Juliana Farmer, James Tutt, and Deana Eckert. Eight others, including two police officers, were hospitalised with their injuries. One of the officers, 26-year-old Nickolas Wilt, who only graduated from the police academy in March, remains in critical condition after being shot in the head. Mr Wilt ran towards the gunfire today to save lives", the police department said on Twitter. Here is what we know so far about the victims: Tommy Elliott Thomas "Tommy" Elliott, 63, was a senior vice president of commercial real estate at Old National Bank. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said Elliott was one of his closest friends. "Tommy Elliot helped me to become governor," Mr Beshear said at Mondays news conference. "He gave me advice on being a good dad he was an incredible friend," the governor said, his voice shaking with emotion. "The soul is eternal. I know that I will see Tommy again". Tommy Elliott was a close friend of the governor (Provided) Elliott, the former chair of the Kentucky Retirement Systems board, was reportedly threatened with arrest in 2016 when he refused to resign at the direction of then-Governor Matt Bevin. Elliott was appointed to the board by former Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear. Former Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said he had also known Elliott for 40 years. They became close friends, and when Mr Fischer launched his first bid to be mayor, Elliott signed on to be his campaign finance manager and remained with him for the rest of his political career. Mr Fischer said Elliott was a devoted family man. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and two stepdaughters. Joshua Barrick Joshua Barrick, 40, was a senior vice president of commercial real estate banking at Old National. Barrick had worked for about two decades in banking and previously worked at WesBanco, according to The Courier-Journal. Louisville Business First named him one of its 20 People to Know in Banking in 2020. He is survived by his wife and two children. A memorial for Joshua Barrick is on display at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Louisville (AP) The Holy Trinity Parish Louisville held a vigil on Monday evening to honour Barrick's life. Theyre in shock, pastor Shayne Duval said of Barrick's family. "Ive been with his wife. Ive been with his children. Ive been with his brother and members of this community, he was quoted by Fox19 as saying. Everyone is just kind of walking around in a fog like, Did this just really happen? Josh made himself known in our community in all the good ways. He was a very charismatic and charming man," the pastor added. Juliana Farmer Juliana Farmer, 45, was a loan analyst with the Old National Bank, according to her LinkedIn page. In her last post on Facebook on Sunday one day before she was killed she celebrated the fact she was expecting another grandchild. "My (heart) is so happy!!!" she wrote. "Grand #5 on the way." Juliana Farmer, 45, was a loan analyst with the bank (Facebook) Farmers family revealed that she had only recently moved to Louisville. Michael Williams, who said he was Farmers uncle, wrote on Facebook: She told me she was moving to Louisville, she had a great job opportunity. Now were mourning you losing your life at the job. Im just hurt. Deana Eckert Deana Eckert was rushed to hospital after Mondays shooting and underwent multiple surgeries. She succumbed to her injuries later that night, Louisville Metro Police said. The 57-year-old was an executive administrative officer at the Old National Bank, where she worked for almost seven years. Deana Eckert died from her injuries in hospital (LinkedIn) Eckert graduated from the Western Kentucky University. James Tutt James Tutt, 64, was a real estate market executive at the Old National Bank, where he spent almost a decade. Oldham County judge executive David Voegele knew Tutt for 11 years from his time on the board of the Oldham-La Grange Development Authority. Jim Tutt leaves behind his wife, children, and grandchildren (LinkedIn) He added a tremendous amount of insights as we went about developing our office park in LaGrange, Mr Voegele told The Courier-Journal. Hes a very high quality, well-thought-of individual Its just sickening to hear whats happened. Tutt was a Frankfort native who graduated from the University of Kentucky and worked in banking for over 38 years. He leaves behind his wife, children, and grandchildren. 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 Texas judge has unsealed a trove of racist text messages and social media posts by an Army sergeant convicted of killing a BLM protester. Daniel Perry was found guilty last week of murdering 28-year-old demonstrator Garrett Foster during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in downtown Austin. Perry is facing up to life in prison for fatally shooting Foster, who was legally carrying an AK-47 while marching over police accountability and racial injustice. On Thursday, a Travis County judge unsealed a 76-page document with remarks made by Perry over the years, in which he discussed shooting looters, hunting Muslims, and white power memes. The disturbing messages and posts, first obtained by the Houston Chronicle, were filed in March but were not reviewed by the jury that convicted Perry. It is official, I am a racist because I do not agree with people acting like animals at the zoo. I was on the side of the [protesters] until they started with the looting and the violence, Perry wrote in a post less than two months before Fosters killing on 25 July 2020. It comes just days after Texas Governor Greg Abbott vowed to approve a pardon as soon as the recommendation hits [his] desk. Mr Abbott has already asked Texas parole board to expedite a review of Perrys conviction. In other messages sent by Perry in May 2020, he said he might go to Dallas to shoot looters and that he might have to kill a few people. [Too] bad we cant get paid for hunting Muslims in Europe, he wrote in a 2019 message. His internet search history also revealed that Perry googled protestors in Seattle get shot, unarmed black men killed by police and degrees of murder charges. It is not clear when the searches took place. This is Texas I wonder why no looters have been shot yet? another message by Perry sent in May 2020 read. Perry also compared the Black Lives Matter movement to a zoo full of monkeys that are freaking out flinging their s*** and said the NAACP, America Association for Affirmative Action and Democratic party logos represented racism in America. The disgraced Army veteran was working for a ride-sharing company in July 2020 when he turned onto a street and into one of the demonstrations that swept the country after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd. In a video that was streamed live on Facebook, a car can be heard honking amid the crowd in downtown Austin. Then, several shots ring out, and protesters begin screaming and scattering. Perry drove off and later called police to report that he had shot a protester. What led up to the gunfire was a core question in the trial that resulted in Perrys conviction. Witnesses testified that Foster never raised his rifle at Perry, and prosecutors said the sergeant could have driven off rather than opening fire with a handgun. Perry didnt testify but his defence attorneys have said Foster pointed his gun at the driver and that the shooting was self-defence. Less than 24 hours after the verdict, Mr Abbott tweeted that he had directed the state parole board to investigate the case. He suggested the jury nullified Texas so-called Stand Your Ground law, which removes the duty to retreat before using deadly force in the face of danger. Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, whose office prosecuted the case, called Mr Abbotts remarks deeply troubling. He said the jurors deliberated for more than 15 hours to find Perry guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt, and the case can be reviewed through the normal appeals process. Perry was stationed at Texas Fort Hood at the time of the shooting and most recently assigned to Fort Wainwright in Alaska. His defence said the conviction will end his Army service. On Tuesday, Perry filed an appeal motion for a new trial. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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 }} Cult mom Lori Vallow is currently on trial in a case that has shocked the nation with its bizarre doomsday cult ties and the tragic deaths of almost everyone close to the mother-of-three and her new husband Chad Daybell. The 49-year-old is charged with the murders of her children Joshua JJ Vallow, seven, and Tylee Ryan, 16, and conspiracy to murder Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell. JJ and Tylee vanished without a trace back in September 2019, with their mother refusing to reveal their whereabouts to authorities for many months. One month after they were last seen alive, Tammy an otherwise healthy 49-year-old died suddenly and Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell soon jetted off to Hawaii to get married on the beach. In June 2020, the remains of JJ and Tylee were found buried on the grounds of Mr Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho, and the doomsday cult couple were eventually charged with murder. Prosecutors allege that Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell conspired with Ms Vallows brother Alex Cox to murder Tammy, JJ and Tylee as part of their bizarre cult beliefs but also for financial purposes so that they could collect Tammys life insurance money and the childrens social security and survivor benefits. After lengthy delays due to the pandemic and Ms Vallows admission into a mental health facility her trial is finally under way in a courtroom in Boise, Idaho. Here are the key revelations from the trial so far: Money, power and sex During opening statements, prosecutors said that Ms Vallow was driven by money, power and sex to murder her two children and her new husbands then-wife. Money, power, and sex thats what this case is about, said Fremont County prosecutor Lindsey Blake. Tylee had money. Lori wanted it. Tylees gone. JJ took time and he also lost his father. When he lost his father, he became much more difficult to care for. He was entitled to social security benefits. The defendant didnt want to have to take care of JJ anymore. He had money. JJs gone. Ms Blake told jurors that the saga first began back in October 2018 when Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell met in person for the first time at a religious conference. Despite both being married, their romance grew with Ms Blake saying: The defendant will remove any obstacle in her way to get what she wants and she wanted Chad Daybell. Lori Vallow is seen in a courtroom sketch (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Doomsday couple used cult beliefs to justify murder The doomsday couple allegedly used their cult beliefs to justify their actions, the prosecutor said in opening statements. She was here on a religious mission to gather the 144,000, so she needed to spend her time and energy there, said Ms Blake. What she did on earth no longer counted for her. As part of their cult beliefs, they believed in a rating system of light and dark for how they ranked the spirits of the people around them. Over time, this evolved into the belief that some people including the children were zombies and the only way to get rid of the zombies was for the human body to be destroyed. Tammy Daybells cause of death revealed The cause of death of Mr Daybells first wife Tammy was revealed for the first time during opening statements. Ms Blake told jurors that Tammy, 49, died at the hands of another and died of asphyxiation, citing the Utah medical examiner. Tammy died suddenly on 19 October 2019. Mr Daybell declined an autopsy despite her young age and lack of health concerns and her death was ruled natural causes. Tammy and Chad Daybell were married in 1990. He is now accused of conspiring with Lori Vallow to kill her (Facebook) The prosecutor said that, 10 days before her death, Tammy had called 911 to report that someone had taken a shot at her in the driveway of her home. When Tammy then died, Cox raised concerns about being made the fall guy for her death by the doomsday couple. One day after he made that comment on 11 December 2019 Cox also died suddenly at the age of 51. His death was also ruled natural causes, however the overdose drug Narcan was also found in his system. After the investigation into the missing children ramped up, Tammys body was exhumed and an autopsy carried out. Sobbing Brandon Boudreaux testifies about children and shooting Ms Vallows former nephew-in-law Brandon Boudreaux broke down in tears as he testified about the moment he learned about JJ and Tylees deaths and then had to identify JJs remains. He was married to Ms Vallows niece Melani Pawlowski for ten years and was close to JJ and Tylee. However, in 2018 he said things changed and got more bizarre when Ms Pawlowski became more involved in the doosmday cult with Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell. The couple divorced and he was living in a new home when, on 2 October 2019, he was the victim of a failed shooting attempt. After that, he said he began looking into his estranged wifes doomsday cult and learned that Mr Daybells wife Tammy had also died recently. Alarming items found in Vallows garage Rexburg Police Detective Ray Hermosillo testified how his officers found several alarming items during a search of Ms Vallows home. Arizona officials had raised the alarm about JJ and Tylees disappearance but, by that time, Ms Vallow had moved the children from Arizona to Rexburg. After being railroaded by Ms Vallow, Mr Daybell and Cox as to the childrens whereabouts, police executed a search warrant on her home in November 2019. In the garage, investigators found several guns, ammunition, empty magazines, silencers and Army-grade knives. There was also Hazmat-style suits and preparedness bags with emergency kits and a camouflage suit. Black trash bags full of clothes and papers and JJs toys and prescription medication was also found in the search. He testified that Ms Vallow appeared to have fled, with no clothes left behind in her closets. The last photo and known sighting of Tylee Ryan (pictured with JJ and Alex Cox at Yellowstone National Park) (FBI) Graphic photos show JJ was buried in pyjamas Graphic photos revealed that JJ was still wearing his red pyjamas and a pull-up nighttime diaper when his remains were found buried in a shallow grave on Mr Daybells property on 9 June 2020. The last proof of life of JJ is a photo taken on 22 September 2019 showing the little boy sitting on a sofa dressed in a matching set of red pyjamas. Shocked jurors were shown images of JJs body found in the shallow grave still dressed in the red pyjamas. His arms were wrapped in duct tape and his head was wrapped in a white plastic bag with thick layers of duct tape around it. He had been partly covered in a blue childrens blanket before wood panelling and three white stones were placed on top of him in the shallow grave. Det Hermosillo told the court that search teams digging on the property were first struck by the strong odour of a decomposing body. The team then uncovered what appeared to be the crown of a head later found to belong to JJ protruding through the earth. Tylees remains were then found not far from her younger brothers, close to a fire pit in the pet cemetery on the property. Investigators are seen digging in Chad Daybells yard on the day the children were found (AP) State of Tylees remains meant autopsy was impossible Tylees body was so badly burned that an autopsy to determine her cause of death was impossible, jurors heard. The 16-year-old had been dismembered, burned and her body parts were dispersed around the grounds. Eventually we uncovered bits and pieces of Tylee, whom we assumed was Tylee, that had been burned. There were pieces of bone, charred flesh, just globs of flesh that were falling apart, he said. Jurors gasped and JJs grandparents sobbed as harrowing images were shown in the courtroom of both the burial site and images taken JJs autopsy. At one point, Ms Vallows attorneys asked the judge to allow her to be excused from the court while the graphic testimony and photos were shown. The judge swiftly denied the request. Jailhouse call reveals Daybell warning Vallow as police close in Jurors heard a jailhouse phone call where Mr Daybell warned Ms Vallow that police were closing in on the day that her childrens remains were discovered buried on his property. In the call, made at 11.03am on 9 June 2020, Mr Daybell is heard telling his new wife that law enforcement were on the scene searching his property in Rexburg, Idaho. At the time, Ms Vallow was behind bars in Madison County Jail after she failed to meet a court order to present the children. They are searching the property, a forlorn-sounding Mr Daybell says. He later adds: So, well see what transpires. Just around one hour later, the remains of JJ and Tylee were discovered buried on Mr Daybells property. 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. 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 Air Force National Guardsman charged with leaking classified Pentagon documents began posting them online last December, according to investigators. Jack Teixeira, 21, was detained at his mothers home in Dighton, Massachusetts, by armed FBI officers on Thursday and has now been jailed without bond. On Friday, he was charged with unauthorized detention and transmission of national defence information and unauthorized removal of classified information and defence materials. The airman didnt enter a formal plea. (Social media/WCVB-TV via ABC/Reuters) The judge in his case said that the airman could face as much as 15 years in prison, 10 years for the first charge, and five for the second, if convicted. An affidavit submitted by investigators states that the airman started posting classified documents online around December 2022. The court documents state that the suspect has had Top Secret clearance since 2021 because of his job in IT with the Air National Guard. The affidavit states that he gained access to at least one of the documents he allegedly shared online because of his job with the Guard. And it says that in his job the suspect maintained sensitive compartmented access (SCI) to other highly classified programs. The airman had trained as a cyber transport systems specialist, with part of his job being the running of his units communication networks, according to The New York Times. The affidavit in support of a criminal complaint and arrest warrant against Jack Teixeira (AP) The arrest affidavit unsealed on Friday revealed that Airman Teixeira had a top-secret clearance and that he had had access to sensitive compartmentalized information, which was needed for him to do his job as a cyber defence operations journeyman. The filing stated that some of the images shared online appear to depict Government Information that was used to inform senior military and civilian government officials during briefings at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The criminal complaint against Teixeira (AP) The FBI interviewed a user of a social media platform where the classified files were shared who said another user began posting what appeared to be classified information on Social Media Platform 1 in or about December 2022 on a specific server within the platform. Airman Teixeira is reported to have been the administrator of the Discord server where the documents were initially shared. 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 National Guard airman arrested over the Pentagon documents leaks has appeared in Massachusetts federal court in Boston for his arraignment after he was arrested for allegedly sharing hundreds of classified documents over the course of months. Jack Teixeira, 21, was detained at his mothers home in North Dighton, Massachusetts on Thursday. Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Thursday that Airman Teixeira was arrested in connection to the unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defence information, which is a reference to the law used to prosecute the mishandling of classified information known as the Espionage Act. On Friday, he was charged with unauthorized detention and transmission of national defense information and unauthorized removal of classified information and defense materials. The airman didnt enter a formal plea. At 10.19am, the Massachusetts US Attorney tweeted: Jack Teixeira detained pending detention hearing set for Wednesday, April 19. Airman Teixeira was taken into the courtroom in handcuffs, according to CNN. Magistrate Judge David Hennessy is overseeing the case. There were no cameras in the courtroom, according to the BBC. Teixeira spoke silently during the hearing, answering in whispers as the judge informed him of his rights. The judge said that the airman could face as much as 15 years in prison, 10 years for the first charge, and five for the second, the BBC noted. He entered the courtroom wearing detention centre clothing, a tan shirt and pants, in addition to a pair of hiking boots. He was shackled but his handcuffs were taken off before he took his seat. The prosecution was represented by Nadine Pellegrini, the National Security chief at the US Attorneys Office of Massachusetts. The courtroom was full, with three people present at the bench reserved for family members. As he entered the room, the airman didnt look at those sitting there, CNN noted. When the hearing was over, a man could be heard shouting Love you, Jack. While the airman didnt look back, he replied You too, dad. Jack Teixerias parents leave the Boston courthouse on Friday (Screenshot / BBC) He had trained as a cyber transport systems specialist, with part of his job being the running of his units communication networks, according to The New York Times. The arrest affidavit unsealed on Friday revealed that Airman Teixeira had a top-secret clearance and that he had had access to sensitive compartmentalized information since 2021, which was needed for him to do his job as a cyber defence operations journeyman. The filing stated that some of the images shared online appear to depict Government Information that was used to inform senior military and civilian government officials during briefings at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The FBI interviewed a user of a social media platform where the classified files were shared who said another user began posting what appeared to be classified information on Social Media Platform 1 in or about December 2022 on a specific server within the platform. Airman Teixeira is reported to have been the administrator of the Discord server where the documents were initially shared. The information was initially posted as paragraphs of text but in or around January 2023 ... photographs of documents ... that contained what appeared to be classification markings on official U.S. Government documents, began to appear, the affidavit states. The information included troop movements in the war between Russia and Ukraine and the affidavit notes that the unauthorized disclosure of TOP SECRET information reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security of the United States. The filing states that a social media user told the FBI that the airman had spoken about using the username behind the posts of the classified documents and that he had become concerned that he may be discovered making the transcriptions of text in the workplace, so he began taking the documents to his residence and photographing them. The FBI used Discord billing information to identify him as the suspect in the case, the affidavit shows. The legal filing states that the suspect served as an E-3/Airman First Class since May last year at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts after enlisting in September 2019. He received the title of Cyber Defense Operations Journeyman in February of this year. FBI Special Agent Patrick Lueckenhoff wrote in the affidavit that as required for this position, TEIXEIRA holds a Top Secret security clearance, which was granted in 2021. Based on my training and experience, I know that to acquire his security clearance, TEIXEIRA would have signed a lifetime binding non-disclosure agreement in which he would have had to acknowledge that the unauthorized disclosure of protected information could result in criminal charges, he added. In addition to TEIXEIRAs Top Secret clearance, he maintained sensitive compartmented access (SCI) to other highly classified programs. He has also had this access since 2021. The legal filing states that access logs show that the airman accessed a document in February of this year one day before the information was reposted online. According to a second U.S. Government Agency, which can monitor certain searches conducted on its classified networks, on April 6, 2023, TEIXEIRA used his government computer to search classified intelligence reporting for the word leak, the special agent wrote. The first public reporting regarding the Government Information appeared on or around April 6, 2023, he added. Accordingly, there is reason to believe that TEIXEIRA was searching for classified reporting regarding the U.S. Intelligence Communitys assessment of the identity of the individual who transmitted classified national defense information, to include the Government Document. The airman sent a final message to his online friends before his arrest saying that his fate was now in the hands of god. He sounded as if he was in a moving car when he joined a call with other members of his small gaming community with whom he had shared classified information on the platform Discord. One member of that group, going by the screen name Vahki, told The New York Times that the airman told the group, Guys, its been good, I love you all. I never wanted it to get like this. I prayed to God that this would never happen. And I prayed and prayed and prayed. Only God can decide what happens from now on, he added. Airman Teixeira was arrested on Thursday, shortly after he had been identified as being the administrator of the online group known as Thug Shaker Central, where the secret files were initially shared. The Massachusetts National Guard member got hold of the documents and posted them in the group, according to friends speaking to The Times. It was from that group that the documents were later shared more widely, affecting the war in Ukraine, US intelligence operations, and its relations with some allies. Members of the group told The Times that Thug Shaker Central had begun as a space for boys and young men to hang out during the pandemic and discuss guns, share memes, some of which were racist, and play video games focused on war. The airman, a member of the National Guards intelligence unit, was the de facto leader of the group, with members telling the paper that he wanted to teach the younger men and boys about what real war was like. (Social media/WCVB-TV via ABC/Reuters) The files were shared as far back as at least October when Airman Teixeria started posting descriptions of classified documents, according to members of the group and law enforcement officials. Hundreds of pages were later uploaded to the group, including maps of the Ukrainian battlefield and evaluations of the Russian war effort. Members of the group said the airman, who used the name OG in the server, was aiming to impress and inform by sharing the information. Everyone respected OG, Vahki told The Times. He was the man, the myth. And he was the legend. Everyone respected this guy. He added that the airman wasnt a whistleblower with an agenda and that the documents were never intended to be shared more widely than their group. This guy was a Christian, antiwar, just wanted to inform some of his friends about whats going on, the 17-year-old Vahki told the paper. We have some people in our group who are in Ukraine. We like fighting games, we like war games. The teenager admitted that he had retweeted racist memes. Theres no point hiding it, he told the paper. Im not a good person. The investigative group Bellingcat was the first to report on the group being the source of the leak, and The Washington Post also reported on the group. Between October and March, about 350 documents were shared in the group, Vahki said. A member known as Lucca, 17, later published some of the files in a public Discord group on 2 March. When the news started to spread of the leak, the airman started to close down his accounts. He was very freaked out, Vahki told The Times. This isnt something like an oopsie-daisy, Im going to be reprimanded. This is life-in-prison type stuff. 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 National Guard airman arrested over the Pentagon documents leaks sent a final message to his online friends saying that his fate was now in the hands of god. Jack Teixeira, 21, sounded as if he was in a moving car when he joined a call with other members of his small gaming community with whom he had shared classified information on the platform Discord. One member of that group, going by the screen name Vahki, told The New York Times that the airman told the group, Guys, its been good, I love you all. I never wanted it to get like this. I prayed to God that this would never happen. And I prayed and prayed and prayed. Only God can decide what happens from now on, he added. Airman Teixeira was arrested on Thursday, shortly after he had been identified as being the administrator of the online group known as Thug Shaker Central, where the secret files were initially shared. The Massachusetts National Guard member got hold of the documents and posted them in the group, according to friends speaking to The Times. It was from that group that the documents were later shared more widely, affecting the war in Ukraine, US intelligence operations, and its relations with some allies. Members of the group told The Times that Thug Shaker Central had begun as a space for boys and young men to hang out during the pandemic and discuss guns, share memes, some of which were racist, and play video games focused on war. The airman, a member of the National Guards intelligence department, was the de facto leader of the group, with members telling the paper that he wanted to teach the younger men and boys about what real war was like. The files were shared as far back as at least October when Airman Teixeria started posting descriptions of classified documents, according to members of the group and law enforcement officials. Hundreds of pages were later uploaded to the group, including maps of the Ukrainian battlefield and evaluations of the Russian war effort. Members of the group said the airman, who used the name OG in the group, was aiming to impress and inform by sharing the information. Everyone respected OG, Vahki told The Times. He was the man, the myth. And he was the legend. Everyone respected this guy. He added that the airman wasnt a whistleblower with an agenda and that the documents were never intended to be shared more widely than their group. This guy was a Christian, antiwar, just wanted to inform some of his friends about whats going on, the 17-year-old Vahki told the paper. We have some people in our group who are in Ukraine. We like fighting games, we like war games. The teenager admitted that he had retweeted racist memes. Theres no point hiding it, he told the paper. Im not a good person. The investigative group Bellingcat was the first to report on the group being the source of the leak, and The Washington Post also reported on the group. Between October and March, about 350 documents were shared in the group, Vahki said. A member known as Lucca, 17, later published some of the files in a public Discord group on 2 March. When the news started to spread of the leak, the airman started to close down his accounts. He was very freaked out, Vahki told The Times. This isnt something like an oopsie-daisy, Im going to be reprimanded. This is life-in-prison type stuff. 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 Air Force National Guardsman charged with allegedly leaking classified Pentagon documents wore an AR-15 t-shirt to school the day after the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting. Former classmates of 21-year-old Jack Teixeira have described him as having an obsession with guns and the military and said he made some nervous. Mr Teixeira would sometimes wear camouflage to school and carried a dictionary-sized book on guns former students who went to school with him told CNN. (Social media/WCVB-TV via ABC/Reuters) Public records state that he grew up in suburban Providence, Rhode Island, and graduated from Dighton-Rehoboth High School. A lot of people were wary of him, said Brooke Cleathero. He was more of a loner, and having a fascination with war and guns made him off-putting to a lot of people. John Powell, who attended middle school and high school with Mr Teixeira, told the network that the suspect didnt have many friends and was fascinated by anything military related. He was dead set on joining some branch of the military, even as a kid, he told the network. One student told CNN that the suspect wore the AR-15 t-shirt the day after 58 people were murdered at a Las Vegas music concert by a gunman who used the exact same weapon. Another former student said that while his behaviour did not reach the level that made people feel the need to report him he made me nervous. The suspect was detained at his mothers home in Dighton, Massachusetts by armed FBI officers on Thursday. On Friday, he was charged with unauthorized detention and transmission of national defence information and unauthorized removal of classified information and defence materials. The airman didnt enter a formal plea. Jack Teixeira, in t-shirt and shorts, being taken into custody by armed tactical agents on Thursday, in Dighton, Massachusetts (AP) The judge said that he could face as much as 15 years in prison, 10 years for the first charge, and five for the second, if convicted. He had trained as a cyber transport systems specialist, with part of his job being the running of his units communication networks, according to The New York Times. The arrest affidavit unsealed on Friday revealed that Mr Teixeira had a top-secret clearance and that he had had access to sensitive compartmentalized information since 2021, which was needed for him to do his job as a cyber defence operations journeyman. Teixeiras family members leave the Moakley Federal Courthouse after his court appearance in Boston. (AP) The filing stated that some of the images shared online appear to depict Government Information that was used to inform senior military and civilian government officials during briefings at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The FBI interviewed a user of a social media platform where the classified files were shared who said another user began posting what appeared to be classified information on Social Media Platform 1 in or about December 2022 on a specific server within the platform. Mr Teixeira is reported to have been the administrator of the Discord server where the documents were initially shared. 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 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 }} Handcuffed and with his legs in shackles, Jack Douglas Teixeira glanced nervously around a crowded Boston courtroom on Friday morning. The 21-year-old Massachusetts National Guard airman whispered yes when informed of his rights as a criminal defendant, according to CNN, showing no hint of the swagger of his online persona OG. As the hearing concluded, a man in the public gallery shouted: Love you, Jack. Without looking back, Mr Teixeira replied: You too, Dad. Federal prosecutors allege that the low-level IT worker, while caught up in the braggadocio culture of online gaming, shared hundreds of classified documents on a Discord chat server in the biggest leak of US intelligence data in a decade. Despite his low-level rank as a cyber systems journeyman with the National Guard, he has held top secret security clearance since 2021, according to charging documents unsealed on Friday. The clearance afforded him access to top-secret reports about the whereabouts and movements of high-ranking political leaders and tactical updates on the military forces of friends and foes alike. Federal investigators allege Mr Teixeira began copying and sharing classified reports in December on a private Discord chat group with a cabal of 20 to 30 young men and teenagers, who had come together during the pandemic through a shared interest in guns, God, and gaming. By January, he was allegedly taking photographs of military maps and charts, and briefing documents. Some showed weaknesses in Ukraines air defence systems and supply lines, others contained politically-sensitive intelligence on allies such as Israel and Egypt. A TV screen shows a news program reporting on the leaked Pentagon documents at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea. (Associated Press) Around 30 classified documents were then posted on a public Discord chat group in early March, according to Bellingcat, before finding their way onto Russian Telegram channels. US military officials were blindsided by the spread of top secret information and did not become aware until last week that secrets had for months been spreading online, leaving the Pentagon scrambling to try to work out the source of the leak, according to reports. The information risked exposing US sources and methods of intelligence gathering, in particular with the war in Ukraine, military analysts say. It revealed that the Pentagon knew a lot about what the Russians were going to do before they did it, and had seemingly penetrated the top ranks of their military intelligence unit, the GRU. One leaked document from February was titled Russia-Ukraine: Battle for the Donbas Region Likely Heading for a Stalemate Throughout 2023. It notes the challenges with assessing the endurance of Ukraines operations. Military experts say the leak has exposed an inherent weakness at the heart of US intelligence gathering. With an estimated 1.25 million US citizens holding top secret clearance, the sheer number of people with access to the nations secrets makes it almost impossible to properly vet and monitor every individual. National Guard airman Jack Teixeira has been charged with leaking a trove of national security documents. (Instagram) This appears to have been exposed in spectacular fashion through one individuals narcissism, experts say. The desire for fame by the leader who is among a group of young gamers is unfathomable, retired US Lieutenant General and military analyst Mark Hertling wrote on Twitter. God help our country. Its also forced the US government to hold a reckoning on who should receive top secret clearance, and how they are vetted. The Department has taken steps to further restrict access to relevant documents, Pentagon spokesperson Sue Gough told The Independent in a statement. We periodically review our distribution lists for personnel who receive such information to ensure that these recipients still have a valid need to know the information, as the distribution lists often grow over time. We are taking this opportunity to review many of our distribution lists now. Jack Texeiras arrest by armed FBI agents in North Dighton, Massachusetts was broadcast live on cable news channels. (CNN ) Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, effectively admitted during a press conference on Thursday that officials still dont know how many classified documents were out there. He described the leak as a deliberate, criminal act. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasised in a statement on Thursday that access to top secret materials would likely be tightened as a result of the leak. Mr Austin added that 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 behaviour, he said. The leaked documents present a very serious risk to national security, a Pentagon spokesman said during a briefing on Monday. President Joe Biden has publicly played down the significance of the risk to American assets around the world, saying on Thursday during a state visit to Ireland that he wasn't concerned because the leaked information was not contemporaneous. US intelligence agencies receive $90bn in annual funding, and have sweeping powers to tap electronic communications, run spies and monitor the precise movements of its enemies and allies via satellites. The results are seldom seen in public view. The nations diplomats have reportedly been in damage control to calm relations with some of their most important allies. The leak has also left the USs partners in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing community, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, scrambling for answers. We expect the US to share a damage assessment with us in the coming days, but we cannot wait for their assessment. Right now we are doing our own, one official from a Five Eyes member country told CNN. How the Pentagon leaks unfolded Among his group of friends on Discord, Jack Teixeira had a reputation as someone with an uncanny knack for knowing about major events before they appeared in the news. The Thug Shaker Central chat group was formed by a group of isolated gamers during Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020, with the young men drawn together by a shared interest in Christianity and guns, one member told the Washington Post. Among the group of about two dozen teenagers and young men, Mr Teixeira was known by his handle OG and was the informal leader. Elsewhere, he posted under the names jackthedripper and excalibureffect, and would occasionally share racist memes, members of the group chat say. Amid the bombastic culture common among online gamers, Mr Teixeiras secret insights into the upper echelons of US government impressed his young circle. He told the group that he worked on a military base, and would spend hours taking handwritten notes of the classified information. FBI officials guard the driveway where Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guard member, was taken into custody. (AP) He lectured them about world affairs and secretive government operations as they watched movies and prayed together, one told the Washington Post. He had wanted to keep us in the loop, and thought that the secrets would be shielded from the outside world inside the private chat group that he controlled, the member said. But he appeared unsatisfied with the level of interest others showed toward his knowledge of intelligence acronyms such as NOFORN, meaning not to be shown to foreigners. So Mr Teixeira allegedly began taking greater risks. According to accounts of those in the chat group, he began posting photographs of crumpled copies of top secret briefing documents. The greater degree of risk taking seemed to excite the young military man, members of the group have said. After the leaked documents, some of which had been doctored, began appearing on Russian Telegram channels, the Pentagon finally leapt into action. Investigators soon narrowed down the search for the source of the leak to members of Mr Texeiras chat group, and traced him using Discord payments, Fridays charging documents state. Mr Teixeria was then publicly identified by The New York Times in a report on Thursday. He sent a final message to members of the group. Only God can decide what happens from now on, he said, a friend told the Times. Guys, its been good. I love you all. On Thursday, Mr Teixeira was seen in aerial footage reading a book on his porch as an armoured vehicle made its way up the driveway of the home he shared with his mother Dawn, a florist, in North Dighton, Massachusetts. Heavily-armed FBI agents in tactical gear then moved in to arrest Mr Teixeira. He had reportedly been under FBI surveillance for several days, but his unmasking by news sites prior to his arrest was a further embarrassment to law enforcement officials. At a brief press conference on Thursday announcing the arrest, Attorney General Merrick Garland suggested the suspect was motivated by a sense of bravado rather than ideology. Who should have access to the nations top secrets? The most recent figures on the number of people with top secret clearance are from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in 2019. Of the more than 1.25 million with clearance, around 605,000 are Government employees, 472,000 are contractors, and 173,000 are placed under a category of other. Receiving a top security clearance is far from a fait accompli. In 2019, it was revealed that Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner had been rejected for top-secret clearance by two senior officials. The then-senior White House adviser eventually received his clearance after an intervention by the former president . Experts believe that warning signs about the Mr Teixeiras temperament may have been missed during his clearance process. Paul Lushenko, the Deputy Director of Cornells Tech Policy Institute, told CBS News that anyone receiving top secret clearance would have to go through a fairly rigorous background check. This person obviously did well in that interview. But between that and this episode or episodes of breaching something went awry, he said. Military records show he enlisted in 2019 as a cyber transport systems specialist. Mr Teixeira had an E-3 ranking, a junior position reflecting his short stint in the military. Last year, he graduated to an Airman 1st Class in the Guards 102nd Intelligence Wing, in the same unit his stepfather Thomas Dufault had served in for 34 years, according to The Post. Friends told CNN that Mr Teixeira described him as a loner who held a longstanding fascination with the military. Jack Teixeiras family members leave the Moakley Federal Courthouse after his arraignment. (AP) John Powell, a classmate from high school, said Mr Teixeira used to carry around textbooks about military vehicles including tanks, planes and submarines. Mr Powell told the network that his friend was interested in anything military-related from a tender age. He was dead set on joining some branch of the military, even as a kid, he said. Members of his Discord group rejected claims that Mr Teixeira saw himself as a whistle-blower akin to Edward Snowden. This guy was a Christian, antiwar, just wanted to inform some of his friends about whats going on, a 17-year-old member known as Vahki told the New York Times in an interview. He was the man, the myth. And he was the legend. Everyone respected this guy. From Putins chemo treament to Ukraines battlefield capabilities The leak has exposed hundreds of sensitive intelligence gathering operations. These included a plan by Egypt, which receives $1.3bn in American military aid each year, to sell rockets and munition to Moscow. The Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reportedly instructed officials to keep production and shipment secret to avoid problems with the West, according to the Associated Press. They also pointed to Ukrainian casualty figures being far higher than publicly stated by Kyiv, and that Ukrainian air defences were running out of munitions. There were additional claims that UK special forces may be operating in Ukraine. The leaked documents also suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be undergoing chemotherapy. 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 }} Highly classified military documents shedding light on American intelligence gathered about other countries were released online this week, sending the Pentagon into full-speed damage control to assure allies and assess the scope of the leak. On Thursday, armed FBI officers arrested a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. Authorities raided the home of 21-year-old Jack Teixeira who worked in cyber security for the Guard and took him into custody. The information has apparently highlighted potential vulnerabilities in Ukraine's air defence 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 US or affect Ukraine's strategic combat plans. Suspect in leak of Pentagon secrets, Jack Texeira, is arrested by armed FBI agents in North Dighton, Massachusetts (CNN ) Funded at $90bn annually, US 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. Overall, the leaked documents present a "very serious risk to national security," a top Pentagon spokesman told reporters on Monday. The Ministry of Defence has tried to play down the impact, referring to serious inaccuracies. Here are five of the key takeaways from the leaked Pentagon documents: UK special forces might have operated in Ukraine Claims that UK special forces have operated in Ukraine have been widely reported. 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. The Ministry of Defence warned against taking allegations contained in the reported leak of US classified information at "face value". An MoD spokesperson said in a message posted 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." The Pentagon was sent into full-speed damage control to assure allies and assess the scope of the leak (AP) Ukrainian casualties higher and air munitions lower The leaked documents point to Ukrainian casualty figures being higher than publicly stated by Kyiv, which was broadly known by those familiar with the conflict. Also, it suggests that Ukrainian air defences were running out of munitions. This again was known, but not to the extent suggested that they will start running out by the end of May. Much of the material is about Western efforts to keep Ukraine supplied with weapons. There were claims that Serbia, the only European state to refuse to impose sanctions on Russia following the invasion, with Alexander Vucics government repeatedly professing neutrality, had agreed to send arms to Ukraine, and may have done so already. The countrys defence minister, Milos Vucevic, denied the report; there is no comment, yet, from President Vucics office. US seems to spy on its allies The leaks have highlighted how closely the US 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 US 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. Other leaks have concerned allegations that South Korean leaders were hesitant to ship artillery shells to Ukraine and that Israels Mossad spy service opposed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus proposed overhaul of the judiciary. The leak has been described as a nightmare for the Five Eyes the intelligence-sharing nations of US, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada by a senior intelligence official speaking to The New York Times. Pentagon spokesman U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder speaks during a media briefing at the Pentagon (The Associated Press) Egypt planned to supply rockets to Russia According to the leak, Egypt, which receives $1.3bn (1bn) in American military aid each year, was planning to sell rockets and munition to Moscow, with Egypts president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi instructing officials to keep production and shipment secret to avoid problems with the West. Russian officials, according to the documents, were boasting that the UAE has agreed to cooperate against US and UK intelligence. This was immediately denied by the UAE. But the allegation comes during a time of waning American influence in the region with China brokering a diplomatic rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman refusing US requests to raise oil production after the shortages caused by the embargo on Russia and announcing this week that it will cut production. Rumour Putin is undergoing chemotherapy The recently leaked documents address the rumour that Russian President Vladimir Putin is undergoing chemotherapy. The recently leaked documents address the rumour that Russian President Vladimir Putin is undergoing chemotherapy (via REUTERS) The papers, labelled as Top Secret, also indicate that Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov and Russian National Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev devised a plan to sabotage Mr Putin while he undergoes medical treatment. Russia planned to divert resources from Taganrog, Russia to Mariupol, Ukraine and focus its attention on the southern front, the document says. According to [redacted] source, the plan for the offensive (no further information) was suspected to be a strategy devised by [Mr Gerasimov and Mr Patrushev] to sabotage Putin. The papers do not specify what alleged medical condition Mr Putin has that requires chemotherapy but there have been longstanding rumours that the Russian president has cancer. 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 }} China sanctioned a United States lawmaker Thursday for his visit to Taiwan, saying he violated the One China principle that says Beijing has sovereignty over the island. The mainlands ruling Communist Party says Taiwan, which split from the mainland in 1949 amid a civil war, must be reunited with China by force if necessary. Beijing says Taipei has no right to conduct foreign relations and views visits by U.S. lawmakers to the island as violating its claims of sovereignty. The sanctions against Rep. Michael McCaul include freezing his assets and properties in China, prohibiting any organization or individual in China from conducting transactions or working with him, and denying him a visa to enter the country, according to a statement Thursday from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It's one of several rounds of sanctions China announced as tensions build between Beijing and Washington. China retaliated for U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthys meeting on April 5 with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen by sanctioning the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and other organizations, adding to strains over the self-governed island democracy Beijing claims as part of its territory. It then launched a large-scale three-day military exercise surrounding the island, sending more than 200 warplanes toward Taiwan. McCaul, R-Texas, visited Taiwan from April 6 to 8 to discuss weapons deals between the U.S. and Taiwan, shortly after the sensitive meeting that drew China's ire. 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, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been advocating for a hard-line stance against China and closer ties with Taiwan. Relations between the U.S. and China have sunk to historic lows. The U.S. has been increasingly critical of Chinas human rights record, its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its actions in Hong Kong in clamping down on protests. China, on the other hand, has been accusing the U.S. of meddling in its internal affairs, and pursuing a containment strategy against China to prevent the country's rise. 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 }} President Joe Biden was moved to tears on Friday during a stop at a Catholic shrine when he discovered that a chaplain working there had performed last rites on his late son Beau Biden. Knock Shrine is a pilgrimage site where, according to Catholic lore, the saints Mary, Joseph and John the Evangelist appeared near a stone wall in 1879. Biden touched the remaining old wall, and toured the site with priest Father Richard Gibbons. Gibbons said he discovered earlier in the day that the Father Frank OGrady working at the site was the same one who'd performed last rites, a ceremony in the Catholic faith that spiritually prepares people for death, for Beau. It's common in the Catholic faith for priests to move around to different posts during their lives in the church. O'Grady is a former U.S. Army chaplain and was formerly assigned to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where Beau died in 2015 from brain cancer at the age of 46. But Gibbons said he did not know about the Biden link until Friday. I told the president that," Gibbons told BBC Ulster. "He wanted to meet him straightaway, so he dispatched a Secret Service agent to go and find him. He said it was a wonderful, spontaneous thing that happened. He was crying and it really affected him, he said of Biden. Then we said a prayer, we said a decade of the rosary for his family, we lit a candle. Then he took a moment or two for private prayer. OGrady told Irish national broadcaster RTE that he was summoned after learning of the Beau Biden connection. He gave me a big hug, it was like a reunion. He told me he appreciated everything that was done, he said. I hadnt seen him really in eight years since Beau died. His son Hunter was there too, so we had a real reunion. OGrady said that Biden misses his son. He has been grieving a lot but I think the grief is kind of going down a bit. We talked a little bit about how grief can take several years. The death of his oldest son rocked the elder Biden, who was vice president at the time. He said he chose not to run for president in 2016 in part because of Beau's death. He talks of Beau often, including during a speech to the Irish parliament this week when he said it was his son who should have been standing there as president. After the visit to the shrine on Friday, Biden toured a hospice center that displays a plaque commemorating his son. Biden has been in Ireland this week with his sister Valerie and son Hunter, touring his ancestral home and meeting with the nation's leaders. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trumps motorcade was met with chants of New York hates you after he returned for a deposition in a $250m civil lawsuit alleging fraud by his company and him. A lawsuit against the former president was brought last year by New York attorney general Letitia James, a Democrat, who claims the Trump family and Trump Organization misled banks and business associates by giving false financial statements overvaluing assets over a decade of deals. A video showed a crowd waiting near Ms Jamess office building and bursting into chants of New York hates you as Mr Trumps motorcade rolled into 28 Liberty Street just before 10am on Thursday. The chants grew louder as the former presidents car passed through the crowd which held banners of No one is above the law and Trump or death in 2024. A second video of Mr Trump showed him holding his first up in a show of defiance as he left Trump Tower before making his way to downtown Manhattan for the New York attorney generals office. This was Mr Trumps first time back in New York since he was arrested and pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to hush money payments made in the run up to the 2016 presidential election. At the New York attorney generals office, Mr Trump answered questions for seven hours and boasted about his extraordinary business success. President Trump spent nearly seven hours today describing in detail his extraordinary business success, said Mr Trumps lawyer Christopher Kise in a statement following the deposition. The transactions at the center of this case were wildly profitable for the banks and for the Trump entities, he said. When the facts of this success, and not politically engineered soundbites, are out in the open, everyone will scoff at the notion any fraud took place. The lawsuit is separate from the felony criminal charges introduced by Manhattans district attorney Alvin Bragg, for which Mr Trump was arraigned, becoming the first former president to be indicted. Before leaving for his deposition in the morning, Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform at 8am apparently referring to Ms James: I will be heading downtown to meet with a Racist who leaked that I would be there at 9:30 A.M. The leak makes it much more difficult for the Police and Secret Service to do their job. This civil case is ridiculous, just like all of the other Election Interference cases being brought against me. If I had a fair judge, this case would have never happened. MAGA! Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} In Ireland this week, well wishers have lined the streets to catch a mere glimpse of President Joe Biden. Photos of his smiling face are plastered on shop windows and one admirer held a sign that read: 2024 - Make Joe President Again. No wonder Biden keeps joking about sticking around. Back home, Biden's approval rating is near the lowest point of his presidency. And even some Democrats have suggested he shouldn't run for reelection. On trips within the U.S. to discuss his economic and social policies, Biden often gets a smattering of admirers waving as he drives by, and friendly crowds applaud his speeches. But the reception doesn't compare with the overwhelming adoration he's getting here in the old sod. Expect more of the same on Friday when Biden wraps up his visit to Ireland by spending a day in County Mayo in western Ireland, where his great-great grandfather, Patrick Blewitt, lived until he left for the United States in 1850. The locals have been abuzz for weeks with preparation for Biden's visit, giving buildings a new coat of paint and hanging American flags from shopfronts. Its a dynamic that most of Bidens predecessors also have faced: The world abroad tends to love American presidents. Back home, not always. Not so much. With the greatest of respect, Mr. President, I must say, you sure can draw a crowd, Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail, speaker of the lower chamber of Ireland's parliament, said as he introduced Biden's joint address to lawmakers on Thursday. Perhaps afterwards you might give me some hints on how we could ensure good attendance around here. A U.S. president's overseas trips often offer a backdrop and substance that are difficult to replicate on home turf. Biden's Ireland trip has been heady with nostalgia and fellowship grand sweeping hills and cozy towns fitting for just such a mood. Presidential visits come with the pageantry of Air Force One landings, long motorcades and the beast, Bidens limo that other world leaders, like Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, delight in riding. He can feel the love in a way thats hard to do at home, said presidential historian Douglas Brinkley. Theres something about an American president being in your country that makes a nations press and public go gaga. With the exception of the pope, the American president is usually the most coveted global figure, Brinkley said. During Biden's visit to Warsaw in February, thousands gathered at the foot of the Royal Castle to hear the president deliver a speech on the eve of the one-year anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine. With the castle lit in the colors of the Ukrainian flag behind him, Biden vowed that Democracies of the world will stand guard over freedom today, tomorrow and forever to a rapt audience. As Biden exited the stage, Biden paused one more time to take in the scene and a man in the audience bellowed out: Youre our hero! When Biden spoke to the Canadian parliament in March, the chamber broke into applause 34 times. In a country in which English and French are spoken, Biden produced a thunderous round of clapping by simply opening his speech with Bonjour, Canada. Even in Ireland, though, the acclaim was not universal. The small left-wing party People Before Profit vowed to boycott Bidens speech to parliament because of opposition to U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and elsewhere. People Before Profit lawmaker Paul Murphy said the presidents trip was being 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. But Biden's critics overseas tend to be far less personal with their jibes than what he gets in the U.S. One demonstrator Thursday held up a paper sign that said Arrest War Criminal Biden as the presidents motorcade headed for the Irish presidents house. During his Warsaw trip, a group stood in a square across the street from Bidens hotel and chanted for hours, asking Biden to supply fighter jets to Ukraine. In 2021, when Biden met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Switzerland, protesters urged the U.S. president to press the case of jailed Russian leader Alexy Navalny. In the U.S., a few demonstrators routinely line up along the presidential motorcade route with flags emblazoned with Lets Go Brandon a coded insult for something far more vulgar that's been embraced by some on the right. He's also often confronted with signs claiming "Trump won a reference to former Donald Trump's repeated lie that the 2020 election was stolen. Biden is far from the only U.S. president to find appreciation abroad that seems more elusive at home. Former President Bill Clinton found refuge overseas from the investigations pressing in on him at home. In his last year in office, President George W. Bush was about as well liked at home as Richard Nixon right before he resigned in scandal, according to the Pew Research Center. His reputation also plunged around the world as the Iraq War devolved into a quagmire. But Bush remained more popular in Africa, where he boosted foreign aid and battled the AIDS epidemic. He visited five countries on a single trip to the continent in 2008, touting his accomplishments at a time of domestic backlash. His successor, former President Barack Obama, saw his fortunes diverge in his first term. The grinding fallout from the Great Recession dragged down his approval ratings in the U.S., but views elsewhere in the world remained untarnished. The Irish response to Biden has been overwhelming positive for Cousin Joe, as many have called him. In the town of Dundalk in County Louth, thousands waited nearly eight hours to see him. As he made his way through streets filled with admirers, some strained to get even a touch from him. Biden took selfies. He smiled at children. And he took a whirlwind tour of ancestral sites, pausing at Carlingford Castle, which could well have been the last Irish landmark that Owen Finnegan, his maternal great-great-grandfather, saw before sailing for New York in 1849. As he gazed at the sea, thousands cheered to him from the streets below, mixing with the sound of bagpipes that wafted from the green hills. I dont know why the hell my ancestors left here," Biden said. "Its beautiful. ___ Megerian reported from Washington. Associated Press Writers Aamer Madhani, Josh Boak and Zeke Miller in Washington, Jill Lawless in London and David Keyton in Dublin contributed to this report. 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 }} Michael Cohen has suggested he will file a countersuit against Donald Trump, who he said should have listened to lawyers who told him that doing so would be a mistake. The former president had slapped a $500m lawsuit on Wednesday against his former lawyer Mr Cohen alleging a breach of his attorney-client relationship and unjust enrichment, among other claims. On Thursdays Political Breakdown podcast, Mr Cohen weighed in on the lawsuit against him. Its possibly one of the most important cases for our democracy. I cant believe how stupid he was to have actually filed it, Mr Cohen said. He should have listened to the lawyers that told him its a mistake. Hes now opened himself up to everything that he refuses. If Mr Trump ends up being asked for giving a deposition in the case, Mr Cohen argues, he cannot take the fifth. This will be a civil suit thats brought by him, with a countersuit. So, could you imagine, in a case that youre the plaintiff on, despite the fact that youll be technically a defendant in the countersuit, that youre now not going to answer questions? Thats fantastic, Mr Cohen said sarcastically. Mr Cohen also dubbed the former presidents lawyers the clown show, crackerjack lawyers and dubbed the new case as a David and Goliath story. Trump calls Michael Cohen a liar following televised testimony The lawyer referred to himself as David and the big, 3,000 pound gorilla over there as Goliath. At the end of the day, Im gonna hit him again with another rock right in the forehead, because the documents are stupid. They dont make any sense, Mr Cohen said. Hes gonna get countersued, theres no doubt about that one, for what hes doing. Mr Trumps lawsuit in Miamis federal court, accusing Mr Cohen of failing to keep confidential attorney-client privileges quiet, was filed after Mr Cohen appeared on podcasts and talked about the one-time presidents stint at the White House. Lanny Davis, a lawyer for Mr Cohen, told Reuters that the lawsuit is frivolous. Mr Trump is once again using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen, Mr Davis said. Mr Cohen had pleaded guilty in 2018 to tax evasion, lying to Congress and campaign finance violations regarding hush money payments to adult film actor Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. Mr Cohen had said he did so under the guidance of an unnamed candidate in the 2016 presidential election. The Manhattan grand civil jury has since indicted Mr Trump over the hush money payments, making him the first president to face criminal charges. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Marjorie Taylor Greene should lose her security clearance after defending the alleged Pentagon leaker, says Liz Cheney. The far-right Republican lawmaker from Georgia has been widely criticised for coming to the defence of Airman Jack Teixeira following his arrest by the FBI in Massachusetts. On Friday, the 21-year-old was charged with unauthorised detention and transmission of national defence information and unauthorised removal of classified information and defence materials. The airman didnt enter a formal plea. The judge said that the airman could face as much as 15 years in prison, 10 years for the first charge, and five for the second. That did not stop Ms Greene from taking to Twitter to show her support for Jack Teixeira, whom she lauded for being white, male, christian and antiwar although she wrongly called him Jake Teixeira. This image made from video provided by WCVB-TV, shows Jack Teixeira, in T-shirt and shorts, being taken into custody by armed tactical agents on Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Dighton, Mass. (AP) 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? Marjorie Taylor Greene makes clear yet again that she cannot be trusted with Americas national security information and should not have a security clearance of any kind. https://t.co/8RtX3XxMmY Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) April 13, 2023 In a follow-up tweet, Ms Greene claimed the suspect had been blowing the whistle in breaking the law. Her tweets caught the attention of Ms Cheney, the former congresswoman from Wyoming, who tweeted that Ms Greene cannot be trusted to have any kind of security clearance. Marjorie Taylor Greene makes clear yet again that she cannot be trusted with Americas national security information and should not have a security clearance of any kind, tweeted Ms Cheney. The arrest affidavit unsealed on Friday revealed that Airman Teixeira had a top-secret clearance and that he had access to sensitive compartmentalised information, which was needed for him to do his job as a cyber defence operations journeyman. The filing stated that some of the images shared online appear to depict Government Information that was used to inform senior military and civilian government officials during briefings at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. 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 Pro-Donald Trump advertisement is using rumours that Ron DeSantis eats pudding with his fingers to attack the Florida Governor. The ad, paid for by the Make America Great Again Inc PAC, launches a direct attack on Mr DeSantis by saying he has dirty fingers while featuring a man eating chocolate pudding with his fingers. Ron DeSantis loves sticking his fingers where they dont belong, the advertisement says. Throughout the video, headlines from publications criticising Mr DeSantis appear over the man eating pudding. The advertisement accuses Mr DeSantis of cutting Medicare, Social Security, and raising the retirement age. Tell Ron DeSantis to keep his pudding fingers off his money, the advertisement says. And oh, somebody get this man a spoon. The pudding fingers imagery and analogy is a reference to a rumour that started from a report from The Daily Beast that claimed Mr DeSantis struggles with social skills. A former staffer for Mr DeSantis told The Daily Beast at the time that Mr DeSantis would, allegedly, often eat in front of people, even in meetings. According to the staffer, Mr DeSantis enjoyed a chocolate pudding dessert by eating it with three of his fingers while on a private flight from Tallahassee to Washington DC. Ron DeSantis has been on the receiving end of several insulting nicknames from the former president (AP) After the report was published, people mocked Mr DeSantis for the supposed rumour. Mr DeSantis denied any knowledge of pudding-gate while speaking with Piers Morgan in an interview on Fox Nation last month. He said, I dont remember ever doing that but added that he may have done that as a child. Through Mr Trump did not directly authorise the advertisement, it was created by a Political Action Committee (PAC) aligned with Mr Trumps politics according to Open Secrets. MAGA Inc is a super PAC that began in September of last year, shortly before Mr Trump launched his campaign for president. As a super PAC, it can spend unlimited money on politics so long as its independent of individual campaigns. So far, MAGA Inc has spent over $1m on independent expenditures supporting Republican candidates like JD Vance, Mehmet Oz, Blake Masters, and more. Meanwhile, it has spent over $11m on independent expenditures opposing Democratic candidates like Raphael Warnock, John Fetterman, Mark Kelly, and more. According to a report from NBC News , Mr Trumps PAC called Save America transferred a vast majority of its funds to MAGA Inc before announcing his run for president. The advertisement falls in line with Mr Trumps recent attacks on Mr DeSantis who is expected to announce his campaign for 2024 president. Close Donald Trump reacts to Joe Bidens 2024 re-election campaign announcement Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump allegedly raped advice columnist E Jean Carroll after a chance encounter at an upmarket New York department store and then destroyed her career when he repeatedly lied about the claims, a civil jury in New York heard on Tuesday. Opening arguments in Mr Trumps civil rape trial began in a courtroom in New York on Tuesday. Former Elle magazine columnist E Jean Carroll has claimed that the former president raped her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan in the mid-1990s. She first spoke out about the allegations in 2019, when Mr Trump was president. He denied the incident took place and infamously retorted, Shes not my type. Now, Ms Carroll is getting her day in court after filing a new lawsuit her second in November, suing him for both the alleged sexual assault and for then defaming her by denying it took place. The trial comes after New York passed its Adult Survivors Act, giving sexual abuse victims a one-year window to sue attackers for historic assaults. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trumps request to delay his civil rape trial brought by E Jean Carroll has been denied by Judge Lewis Kaplan, but he is being permitted to question Ms Carroll under oath about the funder behind the lawsuit. On Thursday Judge Kaplan said Mr Trump and his team could question Ms Carroll after it was revealed that the co-founder of LinkedIn, and harsh critic of Mr Trump, Reid Hoffman, was helping pay for the lawsuit Ms Carroll filed against Mr Trump. Mr Hoffmans financial support of Ms Carrolls lawsuit was disclosed in a letter to Judge Kaplan on 13 April. Mr Trumps lawyers said Mr Hoffman is the primary backer of a nonprofit group called American Future Republic, which provides third-party funding to legal efforts. Mr Trumps lawyers asked for the delay so they could investigate Mr Hoffmans involvement. They accused Ms Carrolls attorneys of failing to disclose Mr Hoffmans funding, which raised significant questions about her credibility, The New York Times reported. This is the second time Mr Trumps team requested a delay. Earlier this week, Mr Trumps team asked Judge Kaplan to postpone the trial due to the media frenzy surrounding his recent indictment by the Manhattan DA. Mr Trumps lawyers claimed the high-profile indictment would make the trial unfair. However, Judge Kaplan declined to delay the trial. Instead, the judge ruled that Ms Carroll could face a brief and carefully circumscribed examination of that narrow question from Mr Trumps lawyers about Mr Hoffmans involvement. Mr Hoffman is a billionaire entrepreneur known for supporting Democratic candidates according to his list of contributions on Open Secrets . Mr Hoffman has openly opposed Mr Trump on Twitter as well. Ms Carrolls lawyers argue that Mr Hoffmans financial support was irrelevant to Ms Carrolls legal claims, according to The New York Times. Her lawyers claim the funding for the lawsuit came nearly a year after Ms Carroll filed the first of the two lawsuits against Mr Trump. Ms Carroll first filed a defamation suit against Mr Trump in 2019, several months after coming forward with allegations that Mr Trump sexually assaulted her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s. Mr Trump denied the allegation and claimed Ms Carroll was lying and not his type. Then, after New York enacted a law that allows sexual assault survivors to file a civil suit even after the statute of limitations has expired, Ms Carroll sued Mr Trump again for battery. Judge Kaplan said he will determine later on whether the issue of Mr Hoffmans financial backing could be raised at the trial, according to CNBC. The trial is scheduled to begin on 25 April in the US District Court in Manhattan. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump spent seven hours being deposed in a civil case on Thursday and used his time in the New York attorney generals office to boast about his extraordinary business success, his lawyer says. The lawsuit was brought last year by New York attorney general Letitia James, a Democrat, who claims the Trump family and Trump Organization gave lenders false financial statements overvaluing assets over a decade of deals. President Trump spent nearly seven hours today describing in detail his extraordinary business success, said Mr Trumps lawyer Chris Kise in a statement. (AP) The transactions at the center of this case were wildly profitable for the banks and for the Trump entities. When the facts of this success, and not politically engineered soundbites, are out in the open, everyone will scoff at the notion any fraud took place. This is an American success story. Last I checked, capitalism is still legal in America. The state is seeking $250m and a ban on the family running a business in the state. The Trumps have denied any wrongdoing and the case is set to go to trial in November. Ms James was present during parts of the deposition, a source told CNN. [Mr Trump] 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, his attorney Alina Habba said in a statement. It was Mr Trumps first time back in New York since he was arrested and pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to hush money payments made in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump told the National Rifle Association conference that he would end Joe Bidens war on guns and vowed to protect ownership rights forever despite a recent spate of mass shootings. The one-term president made the promise during a keynote address in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he told NRA members that he would be the maligned groups loyal friend and fearless champion if he returns to the White House after the 2024 presidential election. Were going to have a big, big, successful election coming up; were going to take back that beautiful, gorgeous White House, Mr Trump told the conference on Friday afternoon. Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., April 14, 2023 (REUTERS) On day one of my new term I will stop Joe Bidens war on lawful gun owners. Its a war. What theyre doing is crazy. So many things. The speech came just four days after a gunman used an AR-15 rifle to murder five people and wound eight in a mass shooting at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, but that did not appear to shake Mr Trumps support for the NRA. And it took place just weeks after a gunman murdered three nine-year-old students at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville, as well as three adults. But despite the killings, Mr Trump still took the chance to brag to the crowd that he was the most pro-Second Amendment president in US history. As a candidate in 2016, I promised you that I would save your Second Amendment from absolute obliteration thats where it was going and as your president thats exactly what I did, he claimed. We saved our Second Amendment and were going to save it for a long time to come. Its under siege, but were gonna save it for a long time to come forever as far as Im concerned, forever. So I was proud to be the most pro-gun pro-Second Amendment president youve ever had in the White House. I think thats been acknowledged. And, with your support in 2024, I will be your loyal friend and fearless champion once again as the 47th president of the United States. And he added: No one will lay a finger on your firearms just as took place for four years when I was your president. I will uphold those glorious words: Shall not be infringed. You know those words. Mr Trumps attack on Mr Biden comes after the president in March announced a sweeping executive order to accelerate the White Houses efforts on gun reform. The president has called for a ban on the sale of assault rifles, which have become the weapon of choice in mass shootings in the US. Last year, the president signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant gun safety law in almost 30 years, according to Mr Biden. And his March order directed US Attorney General Merrick Garland to address a background check loophole by clarifying the definition of engaged in the business of selling firearms. It also directed members of the Biden cabinet and federal agencies to raise awareness of so-called red flag laws and measures that mandate safe storage. 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 was moved to tears after an emotional meeting with the priest who performed the last rites sacrament for his son. Father Frank OGrady performed the sacrament for Beau Biden who died of brain cancer in 2015. Mr Biden toured Knock shrine in Co Mayo as part of his final day of engagements in Ireland. Knock shrine is a Catholic pilgrimage site, where locals claimed to have seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1879. President Joe Biden stands with his son Hunter Biden, left, and sister Valerie Biden Owens, second from right, as he looks at a plaque dedicated to his late son Beau Biden while visiting Mayo Roscommon Hospice in County Mayo (AP) The parish priest of Knock, Father Richard Gibbons, said the president was brought to tears when he met the man who performed the final sacrament for his son. He laughed, he cried, it just kind of hit the man, you could just see how deeply it all felt and meant to him, Fr Gibbons said. It was an extraordinary afternoon. I wont forget it, I can tell you that it was quite something else. Fr Gibbons said that he was unaware one of the priests in the parish had a personal connection to the president, and so the meeting of President Biden and Fr OGrady was a last-minute and chance encounter. He spoke about his family and his connection with his faith, and also about his son Beau who died, Fr Gibbons said. And it just so happened, and this was kind of spontaneous, it just so happened that we have, working at the shrine here, the chaplain who gives the last rites, the last anointing to his son in the United States. Mr Biden touches part of the original stonework from the apparition gable at the Knock Shrine as he talks with Father Richard Gibbons (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Just extraordinary, and I didnt even know that, I didnt know that until the president arrived. Fr Gibbons said on learning of the connection, Mr Biden wanted to meet Fr OGrady immediately. So he dispatched a Secret Service agent to go and find him, I had his number so I contacted him immediately, he said. And he got the shock of his life to come over you know, so that was a wonderful, spontaneous thing that happened. Biden was warmly received in County Mayo on Friday (REUTERS) Fr Gibbons said he would have arranged to have Fr OGrady in the line-up to meet the US President if he had known. I asked, I said to Fr Frank OGrady, Why didnt you tell me this when he came? And he said, Well, I didnt want to say too much about it, he said. Fr OGrady said meeting Mr Biden for the first time was like a reunion. We had a nice chat for about 10 minutes, He told RTE. He was delighted to see me and I was delighted to see him. He gave me a big hug, it was like a reunion. He told me he appreciated everything that was done. A rainbow is seen over St Muredach's Cathedral prior to the arrival of the president Joe Biden to a celebration event in Ballina (Getty Images) Fr OGrady said he had not seen Joe Biden since the death of his son Beau eight years ago. I was very surprised when I got a phone call to say the president wanted to see me, he said. It was a delightful 10 minutes with him. I hadnt seen him really in eight years since Beau died. His son Hunter was there too, so we had a real reunion. He certainly misses his son. He has been grieving a lot, but I think the grief is kind of going down a bit. We talked a little bit about how grief can take several years. Mr Biden was presented with a brick from the former Blewitt family home that Caffrey recovered under his family store that is located on the site of the original home (AFP via Getty Images) Fr OGrady added: He certainly was very impressed with Knock. As a man of great faith, it really hit home very hard to him about his sons passing when he comes to Knock, because we talk about mysteries of life and death in a place like Knock, all the time here. He is a man of great faith, and it is just a coincidence that I happened to meet him. Fr Gibbons said Mr Biden had a private moment of prayer before receiving a rare gift from the holy site a piece of stone from the wall where the apparition of the Virgin Mary reportedly occurred. We said a prayer, we said a decade of the Rosary for his family and we lit a candle and then he took a moment or two of private prayer and then we presented him with a gift of some of the original stone of the gable wall where the apparition took place, he said. The US president attracted fans young and old in Ireland (AFP via Getty Images) Mr Biden was pictured touching the original apparition wall before heading inside the chapel. On his arrival at the shrine, the president was met by cheering crowds waving Ireland, US and Mayo flags, one sign in the crowd read Welcome Home Joe. The pilgrimage location has been visited by several popes, most recently by Pope Francis in 2018. Mr Biden is the second Catholic president and has been known to attend Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washingtons Georgetown neighbourhood, a few miles from the White House. It is where the nations first Catholic president, John F Kennedy, also attended mass in his time in office. Upon arrival at Knock airport, Mr Biden was met by various dignitaries including transport minister Eamon Ryan and Mayo TD Dara Calleary. Knock airport was opened in 1985 to attract visitors to the pilgrimage site. It is the fourth busiest airport in Ireland, serving 722,000 passengers in 2022. Angry protesters stormed the headquarters of a luxury brands group in Paris as unrest over Emmanuel Macrons pension reforms showed little sign of abating ahead of a court ruling on the changes. The French president has forced through an increase in the national retirement age from 62 to 64 - a move that has proved deeply unpopular with workers and has sparked multiple protests across the country, some of which have turned violent. On Thursday, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Paris again to show their opposition to the reforms, which Mr Macrons government pushed through parliament without a vote. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Russian crude oil exports are back above levels seen before Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, despite the ratcheting up of Western sanctions, new data shows. India and China now account for 90 per cent of Russias seaborne crude oil exports, according to figures shared with The Independent by commodities tracking firm Kpler. The Asian giants are each buying an average of 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd), absorbing the shortfall in exports to European nations that previously accounted for two-thirds of Russian crude. Despite Western sanctions designed to stop funds reaching Vladimir Putins war chest following his Ukraine invasion, Russias crude oil exports have actually risen from 3.35 million bpd in 2022 to 3.5 million in the first quarter of 2023, Kpler said. After India and China, the two largest buyers of Russian crude are now Turkey and Bulgaria. From importing a mere 1 per cent of its total oil requirements from Russia in 2021, India the worlds third-largest oil importer has dramatically ramped up its business with Moscow, buying 25 per cent of its oil from Russia in 2022 and 51 per cent in the first quarter of 2023. Kpler said India is on track to be purchasing Russian oil at a record rate of 1.9 million bpd for the month of March. China was already the top destination for Russian crude prior to the invasion of Ukraine, but has increased its reliance on Moscow further, and now imports 36 per cent of its crude oil from Russia, up from 25 per cent in 2021. Both countries are now accounting for 90 per cent of Russias seaborne crude oil. This is an indisputable number as this percentage increases even more when you take into account pipeline flows to China, lead oil analyst of Kpler Matt Smith tells The Independent. View more While volumes of Russian oil exports have risen, the heavily discounted rates Moscow is offering to India and China mean revenues are significantly down year-on-year. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Friday that although Russian oil exports hit their highest level in almost three years in March, revenues of $12.7bn are still 43 per cent down on the same period in 2022. Europe is taking a hit because oil prices are higher than if there was never the Russia-Ukraine conflict and subsequent sanctions, but this pales in comparison to the discount that Russia is having to offer its crude at meaning much lower revenues, Mr Smith said. China has remained one of Russias closest allies throughout the conflict in Ukraine, while India has walked a delicate tightrope of neither embracing Moscow nor outright criticising Mr Putins invasion. New Delhi also strongly resisted pressure to join the West in imposing economic sanctions, arguing it had to put its domestic development needs and the interests of its own people first. Bruno Macaes, an author on international affairs and former Portuguese secretary of state for European affairs, told The Independent it is hard to be too critical of India for importing cheap Russian oil, but the real problem is the lack of any criticism from a humanitarian or geopolitical perspective. View more I have not found any single critical sentence from any Indian official criticising the invasion, he said. Whereas it is very easy to find such critical quotes from Chinese officials, which is extraordinary. The tone of even Chinas military officials is really more critical than the tone of Indian officials. Sanjay Kumar Kar, a professor at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT), told The Independent that Russian oil important were good for the [Indian] economy. Russia, meanwhile, is benefitting from the oil-intensive requirements of India and China as huge developing nations, while it aims to return to pre-war oil sales volumes. In other words, its a win-win situation for the two sides. Last year in December, the Group of Seven (G7) nations and the EU agreed on a $60 per barrel price cap on Russian seaborne crude oil. The cap bans the shipping, financing or insuring of Russias seaborne crude if it is sold above the cap. Another round of EU sanctions on Russian refined products took effect in February, expanding the measures beyond simply crude oil. Lauri Myllyvirta, co-founder and lead analyst at Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), told The Independent that volumes are expected to stay at or above the levels preceding the Ukraine invasion unless there is an outright ban on tankers owned or insured in the EU and G7 carrying Russian oil. If this approach is properly implemented, the large volume of imports of Russian oil to China and India would not be a problem, he said. However, the price cap coalition has failed to plug a major enforcement gap in the Pacific trade from Russias Far Eastern ports to China, where price benchmarks for Russian crude oil have stayed above the level of the cap for most of the time since the policy was introduced, he said. India, the current G20 host, has so far struggled to bridge the deep divisions between major economies over the Ukraine conflict. A meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Delhi last month failed to agree a joint communique for this reason. In September, Delhi will host the main leaders summit of the G20 calendar, an event that could put Mr Putin and Chinas Xi Jinping in the same room as the USs Joe Biden and other Western leaders. The G20 is really an important soft power moment for India, Mr Macaes says. The G20 is placing a little bit of pressure [on Indias Ukraine position] because its threatening to destroy a really important initiative for India. Maybe India is realising that it needs to take a stronger position. Indonesia got away with having a successful G20 in part because it had a principled position on Ukraine. 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. An eerie alert could be heard blaring close to Japan after it's thought North Korea fired a new type of ballistic missile, prompting fear among residents. Those on the island of Hokkaido were given the 'J-Alert' (emergency broadcast), telling them to take immediate cover, at around 8am local time. While some sheltered in their homes, others were left in panic on the streets. However, it was later retracted, after it was confirmed that the suspected missile had fallen into the sea. 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 }} Donald Trump is currently in the eye of a storm. After the sound and the fury surrounding his recent appearance in a Manhattan courtroom including his speech when back in Florida suggesting that America is "going to hell" there should be a short period of quiet. At least relatively speaking the former president is hardly known for being the quiet type. His 2024 presidential campaign will certainly be rolling on in the background. When Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records over hush money payments in New York, his campaign sent out a fundraising email selling T-shirts with a mocked-up mugshot of Trump and the legend: Not guilty. His campaign will also be watching the polls with interest. The news around Trumps indictment had been rolling for weeks, thanks at least in part to the 45th president tweeting a date for his own arrest (one that proved to be wrong), so Republican voters had plenty of time to get used to the idea. The polls of who Republicans would support as their next presidential nominee released around his court appearance (so the fieldwork was done before that date at the end of March) showed that Trump had actually expanded his lead over the current closest challenger, Florida governor Ron DeSantis. In Quinnipiacs 2024 primary poll support for the former president sat at 47 per cent; an increase from 42 per cent the month before. He was 14 percentage points ahead of DeSantis, whereas the previous month that lead sat at six percentage points. In a Fox News poll, Trump sat at 54 per cent to DeSantis 24 per cent (the previous month, the same poll had him at 43 per cent and DeSantis at 28 per cent). So what about now? In the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, where the questions were asked on the 5 and 6 April, Trumps numbers had actually increased again. Trump sits at 58 per cent support, to DeSantis 21 per cent. In mid-March, those numbers stood at 44 per cent and 30 per cent. There are caveats. That is just one poll, and Trumps name recognition, for better or worse, puts him on a different level to most other political candidates. But the team around Trump will be happy with those numbers. There also seem to have been some lessons learned from Trumps past. One long-time operative who has been around Trumps circle told NBC News: Ive never seen a more professional operation around Trump. Ive also never seen a Trump-world operation with so little infighting ... All of the key people are genuine pros. After what was a significant moment in US history for all the wrong reasons last week, those "genuine pros" will not be displeased with the reaction of the supporter base they are seeking to court. Whether that can be replicated with the wider poll of independent voters is still unknown. There are still other, distinct, separate investigations continuing including in Fulton County, Georgia, as well as the district attorney and the Department of Justice. The Georgia case is investigating what Trump or his allies may have done in efforts to overturn Joe Bidens 2020 presidential victory in the state. As for the Justice Department, the special counsel Jack Smith is looking into documents containing national defence information found at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort and into parts of the 6 January 2021 assault on the US Capitol. So there is the potential for Trumps legal issues to increase. But the next part of the business records case is not due until later in the year. Trumps team will want to make as much political hay as they can now, with the aim of trying to build up a momentum that would be difficult to stop once the voting for the Republican presidential nominees begins. It is a tough ask, but Trumps camp will probably be happy with where they are. 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 }} In the past, a massive tranche of documents being published would lead to Republicans wanting to throw the book at the person who published them. If it happened under a Democratic president, as happened when WikiLeaksreleased documents related to the War in Afghanistan in 2010 during Barack Obamas presidency, Republicans would say it projects weakness on behalf of said Democratic administration. Instead, weve seen conservatives and Republican elected officials come to the defence of Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guard servicemember accused of being behind the latest leaks. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, the right-wing congresswoman from Georgia who has become a voice for white Christian grievance in the GOP, said he was a martyr when she said the fact he is white, male, christian, and antiwar made him an enemy to the Biden regime. Meanwhile, Tucker Carlson has labeled him a kid and said he revealed the crimes, therefore he is the criminal. He added that whats happening to this leaker now is what happens to anyone who contradicts the National Security State and their obedient servants in the media. You go to prison so that the media can continue to tell you its lies, ignoring the fact that Carlson is the most-watched member of the media on cable news. The words and actions are a far cry from when Richard Nixon ordered his plumbers to burglarize the office of Daniel Ellsbergs psychiatrist after Mr Ellsberg facilitated the publication of the Pentagon Papers detailing the extent of Americas involvement in the Vietnam War. In 2007, Dick Cheneys chief of staff I Lewis Scooter Libby was convicted in connection with the outing of a CIA agent after her husband threw cold water on the Bush administrations claims that Iraq was trying to obtain material for nuclear weapons. Most Republicans similarly wanted to lock up Edward Snowden for his leaking of classified materials related to the United Statess domestic surveillance programmes. Even Donald Trumpsaid in 2013 that Snowden is a spy who should be executed but if he could reveal Obamas records, I might become a major fan. Of course, much has changed since then when it comes to Republicans and leaks: for one, they now see that leaking, even if it compromises the security of the nation, can facilitate victory for them. (Social media/WCVB-TV via ABC/Reuters) Throughout the 2016 presidential election, WikiLeaks published internal communications from top officials in the Democratic National Committee, which helped sow internal division and strife, which may have contributed to Mr Trumps victory that year. Mr Trump, one may recall, actually wanted Russia to go further with leaks, famously saying Russia: If youre listening, I hope youre able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing. In addition, after decades of believing that the United States should robustly defend international interests, many Republicans have taken a decidedly more isolationist approach. Mr Trump partially facilitated this with his promotion of America First policies, but a younger generation of Republicans generally dont see a need for the United States to intervene on behalf of its allies. And nowhere is Republican hostility toward internationalism more apparent than in conservatives opposition to aiding Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Ms Greene notably got the Conservative Political Action Conference attendees to boo Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during her speech at the convention last month. Add in the fact that the Biden administration has steadfastly gotten behind Ukraine as it faces the assault, and Republicans will naturally be opposed to it. As a result, Mr Teixeira serves as a perfect avatar for Ms Greene and other Republicans grievances towards intervening and defending allies. Similarly, the fact that he resembles many of them makes him seem like someone who stands up for their America First values. But by getting so vocally behind the leaks, Ms Greene and others risk encouraging future would-be leakers to follow suit. 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 }} As the focus around the rather grandiosely-titled Pentagon Papers switches to the identity of the leaker, the question of what the intelligence files reveal goes on apace. The astonishing arrest of a rookie guardsman, Jack Teixeira, is already sparking congressional inquiries into how the 21-year-old was allegedly able to leak up to 300 documents to his friends on the gaming platform, Discord. Americas embarrassment is plain for all to see and her allies will be thinking twice about sharing their own intelligence with the US for fear it too could end up being pored over in some teenagers chatroom. So what do these Pentagon Papers tell us and how much damage has Teixeira or whoever was responsible done? I dont think Id be giving any state secrets away when I say theyre not on the same scale as the Pentagon Papers from 1971 which revealed how President Johnson had lied to Congress and the American public about the Vietnam War. There is not going to be Hollywood movie starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks about this years leak. The leaker, maybe. But in the world of geopolitics the revelations are still pretty jaw-dropping, a throwback to the days of Chelsea Manning who handed 750,000 documents to Wikileaks and Edward Snowdens revelations about Americas global surveillance programmes. The headline grabbing documents have centred on Ukraine, particularly around when the beleaguered countrys air defences will be so badly depleted that Putin could start a new bombing run, as well as tensions between Washington and its allies over the arming of Kyiv. So the biggest beneficiary of the leak will be Vladimir Putin. Conversely, there is also information on disagreements within Russia over the number of casualties which Putin has suffered. While Moscow estimates 110,000 losses so far, US documents put the real figures as high as more than double that, at 223,000. And theres a bunch of spying stories which show America snoops on allies such as Israel, South Korea and, yes, Ukraine, as well as the UN. But given that leaked documents from Snowden 10 years ago showed the US had been conducting extensive surveillance of European leaders, such as the then German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is that really a surprise? Just as eye-catching are the revelations about which countries that we consider to be allies have actually behind our backs been cosying up to Russia, not just economically but also militarily. The documents show how Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have been working both sides in the war despite long-standing security relationships with Washington and London. American spies caught their Russian counterparts boasting about how they had convinced the UAE to work together against the US and UK intelligence agencies. There have already been indications that the Emiraties were secretly helping the Kremlin. In March a US Treasury official, Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Rosenberg, singled out the UAE as a country of focus where businesses were helping Russia evade international sanctions to obtain more than 4m in US semi-conductors and other export-controlled parts, including those with battlefield uses. In 2020 the US Intelligence Agency also said the UAE may be providing funding for the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary group now active in Ukraine. The other country which, according to the leaked files, has been helping Russia is Egypt, which stands accused of supplying Putin with 40,000 rockets. It was said that President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had ordered production of the weapons but told officials to keep it a secret to avoid problems with the West. Workers in munitions factories were informed that the weapons were meant for the Egyptian army when really the shipment was repayment to Russia for unspecified help earlier, it is claimed. According to leaked files, the Wagner mercenary group has also met with Turkish contacts to purchase weapons and equipment from Turkey. This despite Turkey having been a member of Nato since 1952. So lets not be wide eyed about this. Three countries who we and the US considered to be close allies in the War on Terror during the 20 years that followed the 9/11 attacks are now giving assistance to the enemy in a new war in Europe. The UAE has form for double-dealing. In the immediate aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine the Russian oligarchs flocked there as a financial haven to hide their wealth, and were welcomed with open arms. Reports have shown how dirty money underpins Dubais prosperity and the Emirati government refused to condemn the invasion during a UN Security Council vote at the time. The hard new reality is that these shifting allegiances and alliances reflect the willingness of countries in the Middle East to align more closely with China and Russia, to the detriment of the West. Its why President Biden has fallen out with Saudi Arabia over its decision to cut oil production to push up petrol prices and boost Putins energy coffers, while hitting Biden at home with price hikes at the pump. The one upside for the West, as proven in the past week, is that despite Americas declining influence in the region and the wider world, it still enjoys huge success in the field of espionage. It will have to repair damage with some allies, and take a firmer hand with others, but the extent to which its field operations have been disrupted, with agents compromised, remains to be seen. Like often in these cases, we may never know. Versatile 104ac holding in Tipperary makes 1.605m as auction season hots up When you consider that 14ac was bogland, it means the good ground made around 17,000/ac Facilities: The 104ac farm at Ballyrourke, Borrisokane comes with a well-equipped farmyard. Jim O'Brien Fri 14 Apr 2023 at 08:33 Eddie OConnors power transmission technology firm, SuperNode, has raised an additional 16m in funding from the entrepreneur and its Norwegian co-owner. Mr OConnor, who founded SuperNode, sold a majority stake in his Mainstream Renewable Power group in 2021 to Norways Aker Horizons. That valued Mainstream at 1bn and Mr OConnors then 55pc stake at 550m. He founded SuperNode in 2018 in conjunction with Mainstream and owns 50pc of the business. Aker also now owns 50pc of SuperNode following its acquisition of Mainstream. SuperNode designs superconducting transmission systems to integrate renewable energy and connect electricity markets. It bills the superconducting technology as requiring less materials, being more efficient and lower in cost than any other viable alternatives. With this funding, we will advance the development of our technology at our specialised European Cryogenic Centre for Superconductors, according to SuperNode chief executive John Fitzgerald. He added: We are confident in our capacity to deliver ground-breaking and transformative superconducting cable systems that can revolutionise the energy and transmission sectors and facilitate the acceleration of electrification powered by renewables, needed to decarbonise the worlds economies. Mr OConnor, a former Bord na Mona chief executive who founded Airtricity in 1997, has previously said that SuperNode is the key to unlocking the complete decarbonisation of Europe. He said in 2021 that he expects SuperNode to be in a position to bring some projects to a financial close around 2025. The company notes on its website that a European supergrid would allow for the free transfer of power across huge swathes of land. This would solve the intermittency problem of renewable energy by opening up routes to a much wider range of demand centres, while also ending the wasteful curtailment of energy, it adds. Last month, SuperNode said that an interconnected pan-European energy system can reduce costs by up to 39pc when compared with a business-as-usual approach. The Tullamore-based blogger started her online promotional work after she won the best-dressed lady competition at the Galway Races in 2016 Lisa McGowan has over 380,000 followers on social media Fashion entrepreneur and social media influencer Lisa McGowan paid herself almost 940,000 in 2022. New accounts filed by Ms McGowans Lisas Lust List Ltd show that last year, Ms McGowan received 939,024 in pay. The pay to Ms McGowan for 2022 works out at average weekly pay of just over 18,000 before tax. At the end of last December, the company was sitting on accumulated profits of 1.22m. Ms McGowan is the firms only director and the bumper payout follows Ms McGowan receiving zero directors pay in 2021. The fashion blogger's pay contributed to the company recording a modest loss of 22,246 for 2022 and this followed the firm recording post-tax profits of 603,912 in 2021 and 397,966 in 2020. These followed profits of 127,692 in 2019 and 115,668 in 2018. Ms McGowan, from Tullamore, Co Offaly, started her online promotional work after she won the best-dressed lady competition at the Galway Races in 2016. An insurance broker by profession in the family firm, the 50-year-old incorporated Lisas Lust List Ltd in November 2017. Ms McGowans commercial success has been recognised after she made the Image PwC Entrepreneur of The Year Shortlist 2023. The directors pay also contributed to a reduction in the companys cash funds by 147,797 to 1.191m. The firm employed two people last year including Ms McGowan and the total paid out in salaries amounted to 986,067. Ms McGowans Lisas Lust List site specialises in promoting products including fashion items, beauty, health, travel and homeware, mainly produced by Irish-based small to medium-sized enterprises. The fashion bloggers Lisas Lust List Facebook page has 218,000 followers while she there are 166,000 followers on Instagram. The stellar performance by the firm in 2021/22 followed Ms McGowan securing High Court orders in August 2020 requiring Facebook to provide her with information to identify anonymous people she claimed were trolling, defaming and stalking her online. Ms McGowan stated that in the weeks preceding the High Court action she and members of her family were subjected to online bullying, trolling and harassment. The publication of the comments, she claimed, was designed solely to inflict reputation and financial damage on her and her firm. Just 6pc of Irish businesses can be defined as leaders in innovation, despite the majority believing that their company already has a vibrant culture of innovation. This is according to new research from Dell Technologies following a survey of 6,600 businesses in 45 countries, including 100 in Ireland. The Innovation Index revealed that 78pc of Irish businesses are confident they are focused on innovation, while only 6pc of companies in Ireland can actually be defined as innovation leaders or adopters. This perception gap was evident globally, according to the report. Around 84pc of companies surveyed felt they supported innovation in the workplace, with just 18pc of organisations actually creating a culture that fostered change. Dell reported that leaders in this space are more than twice as likely to accelerate their innovation during a time of economic downturn compared with innovation laggards, who commonly reduce innovation activity in times of recession. While 68pc of Irish companies believed that an innovative culture drew employees to the business, this is not a guarantee that they will stay. Almost 70pc of Irish respondents said people had departed the company because they had not been able to innovate as much as they had hoped to. These challenges can often be attributed to elements of the companys existing culture, with 68pc of respondents highlighting this as an issue. Over half of business leaders focus on the day-to-day running of the business rather than prioritising innovation, according to the report. Over 60pc of Irish companies fear that their existing technology is causing them to fall behind their competitors. Technology issues encountered by companies include growing cloud costs, time needed to migrate apps to new cloud environments and cyber security threats. In response to these barriers, the majority of companies surveyed are focused on finding new technologies to assist them to reach innovation targets. Resilient organisations with a culture of innovation are best placed to drive growth and compete internationally, says Jason Ward, Vice President and Managing Director, Dell Technologies Ireland. By embracing breakthrough technologies, building a culture where learning through failure is encouraged and embedding data-driven processes at every level, Irish businesses can become global innovation leaders. Andrew Fahy has been appointed as chief executive officer of Quilter Cheviot Europe (QCE) as the business plots its expansion into the Irish wealth management market. Mr Fahy first joined the Irish subsidiary of discretionary investment firm Quilter Cheviot early last year, taking on the role of head of financial planning. The appointment of Mr Fahy comes as Dublin-based QCE expands its offering to meet growing demand from clients for a more integrated wealth management offering. The firm has been building its capabilities in a bid to challenge long-established incumbents like Davy and Goodbody and take a share of the burgeoning local market for wealth management. Mr Fahy previously worked at Brewin Dolphin Ireland as the wealth managers head of tax and financial planning for over two years. Prior to this, he held a similar role at Investec Europe in Dublin for almost seven years. Mr Fahy will take over the position from Brian Weber who left the business at the end of 2022 following over three years in the role. Over the past year, I have helped to broaden the companys wealth management capabilities, and in my new role I look forward to pursuing this further and helping to grow the business, Mr Fahy commented. We see being able to offer an integrated wealth management offering, comprising of both investment management and financial planning, to our European clients as a key enabler to QCEs growth strategy in the years to come, Quilter Cheviot chief executive Andrew McGlone said. Given Andrews prior experience, we believe he is the right person to drive this forward, he added. Last April, QCE also unveiled the appointments of an investment manager and two financial planners here as part of its growth strategy to evolve its proposition for European clients. Quilter Cheviot is based in 12 locations across the UK, Jersey and Ireland, with total funds under management of 24.9bn (28.2bn). Permanent TSB has admitted it is having to deal with a high volume of customer complaints. The bank is trying to integrate large chunks of Ulster Banks business that it bought into its operations. The admission comes days after Bank of Ireland owned up to a blunder in the administration of 35,000 of the 70,000 mortgages it took over from KBC Bank. Permanent TSB has said it has taken on extra staff to deal with the increasing number of complaints. In a letter to a customer, a senior executive of the bank said: We are currently experiencing an unprecedented high volume of complaints, and while we are doing out utmost to ensure all our customers receive a timely resolution to the issues they have raised, in some instances it is taking longer than anticipated to investigate these complaints. We have taken on extra staff to tackle the high volume of complaints, and I hope that my response clarifies your complaint. Asked about the letter, the bank said its customer resolution centre has to deal with higher numbers of complaints from time to time. When this happens, it increases staffing in the complaints department. The bank has now significantly increased the size of the team managing complaints to improve the customer experience, a spokesperson said. In all instances, customers regulatory protections remain in place and the bank will regularly correspond with customers over the course of an active complaint investigation to keep them updated on the progress of same. Last month, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman said Permanent TSB had the second-greatest number of complaints against it upheld, substantially upheld or partially upheld, after Bank of Ireland. Permanent TSB was at the centre of nine cases. To date, more than 250 Ulster Bank employees have transferred to Permanent TSB as part of the transaction The bank has opened thousands of new accounts as consumers seek alternatives to the departing Ulster and KBC. Permanent TSB has taken over loans, branches and staff from Ulster Bank. It recently completed the acquisition of Ulster Banks 165m performing micro-SME loan book following the successful transfer of around 3,200 loan accounts. It also bought 5.2bn of performing non-tracker residential mortgages in November from Ulster Bank and took control of 25 former Ulster Bank branches in January. It is also taking on 900m of non-tracker residential mortgages, along with the entire Lombard asset finance business, from Ulster Bank. To date, more than 250 Ulster Bank employees have transferred to Permanent TSB as part of the transaction. In the past few days, Bank of Ireland admitted it made a blunder on thousands of mortgage accounts it took over from KBC Bank. The error is likely to mean some former KBC customers will be turned down for loans while the issue is being resolved. Around 35,000 mortgage holders are affected, which is around half of the number bought from KBC. Bank of Ireland has written to mortgage holders who transferred to it from KBC, telling them the error it made was at the point your mortgage loan transferred from KBC to BoI, which resulted in your mortgage start date being incorrectly input. The Blessington Ulster Bank branch will close permanently on April 21 as part of owner NatWest's withdrawal from the Irish market. A LARGE number of people have yet to close their bank accounts in KBC and Ulster Bank despite the planned pull-out of this country of the two institutions. And the pace of customers closing current and deposit accounts at the two departing banks has slowed down, according to Central Bank figures. The new data comes a week ahead of Ulster Bank permanently closing its remaining 63 branches across the country. Some 167,988 current accounts remained open in Ulster Bank and KBC Bank at the end of March, the regulator said. More than 60,000 of these were deemed by the banks as the primary accounts of the customers. This means the accounts were being used to receive salary payments or pensions and pay out bills such as mortgages or rent. Just 85pc of current accounts that were open at the beginning of 2022 were either closed or inactive as at the end of March. This is despite repeatedly warnings from the two banks that those who do not close their accounts who find themselves locked out of them. Since the start of this month Ulster Bank stopped customers being able to carry out in-branch transactions, other than those related to account closures. The move is the latest milestone as the bank winds down its operations in Ireland. The banks services through An Post outlets have also ended on the last day of March. Next Friday Ulster Bank will close permanently all its 63 remaining Ulster Bank branches in the Republic of Ireland in three weeks time. It has already sold 25 branches to Permanent TSB. For the next week Ulster Banks last 63 branches are open but customers are no longer able to make cash or cheque lodgements, either at the counter or through internal automation devices such as cash deposit machines, bulk coin machines and automated deposit units. At the end of March Ulster Bank began to deactivate its remaining customer credit cards. Last November the bank began freezing and closing accounts of customers whose notice had expired. A total of 86,298 current and deposit accounts were closed in Ulster Bank and KBC Bank in four weeks to the end of March. This is a much slower rate of closures when compared with the four weeks leading up to the end of February. The total number of accounts closed since the beginning of 2022 at the two banks is now close to one million. Of these, 513,785 were current accounts, while the remaining 472,238 were deposit accounts. Nearly 50,000 accounts were opened in the four weeks to the end of March. New account openings are down 53pc when compared with the corresponding period to the end of February. The Central Bank said: We expect the account opening figures are less related to migrating accounts, and are proportionally more impacted by organic business as usual growth. In total, 1,156,638 current and deposit accounts were opened across the three remaining retail banks since the beginning 2022. At the end of March the shutters came down on most KBC branches as the bank winds down its Irish operations ahead of its exit from this market. There are 11 hubs, or branches, in Galway, Limerick, Cork, Waterford, Kildare and Dublin, that will close at 5pm on Friday, six months after notice was given that were to shut. Just one, at Grand Canal in Dublin, will remain open until August 31. The closures will result in 75 people losing their jobs. Boeing Co. is pausing deliveries of some 737 Max jets after learning of a manufacturing issue Photo: Chona Kasinger/Bloomberg Boeing Co. is pausing deliveries of some 737 Max jets after learning of a manufacturing issue that doesn't affect the safety of planes in the air, the company said Thursday. The planemaker said it was formally notified of the issue a day earlier by Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc., which assembles most of the 737's aluminum frame. The problem involves two of the eight fittings that attach the jet's vertical tail to the rear end of its fuselage and affects a portion of the 737 jets built since 2019. The problem will likely impact a significant number of undelivered aircraft as well as those stored at Boeing, according to the company. Boeing said it expects deliveries to decline in the near-term as it inspects affected aircraft. Boeing stock tumbled as much as 4.7pc in late trading, after rising 0.6pc to $213.59 at the close in New York. Spirit AeroSystems dropped more than 8pc. The disruption is a setback for Boeing just as it was regaining its footing following years of turmoil caused by the pandemic and a global grounding of the Max. The planemaker had been briefing customers on plans to increase production rates of the Max, Bloomberg reported last week. Days later, Boeing reported a surge in quarterly deliveries that outpaced rival Airbus SE for the first time in about five years. It's too soon to tell if the quality flaw will affect Boeing's plans to speed up 737 production. The planemaker is working to learn the extent of the problem and what's required to address it, according to the company. The issue involves Boeing's best-selling 737 Max 8, Max 7, a high-density version, along with a militarised 737 known as the P-8. Not every jet is affected. Spirit AeroSystems and Boeing said they have identified the production numbers of the planes with the problematic fittings. "We have processes in place to address these of types of production issues upon identification, which we are following," Spirit said in a statement. "Spirit is working to develop an inspection and repair for the affected fuselages." The inspections will take place in an accessible area of the structure. That means any rework is likely to be far less disruptive than Boeing's repairs to address structural imperfections with the 787 Dreamliner, the company said. Deliveries of those planes were halted for more than a year, starting in mid-2021, over tiny manufacturing flaws in the jet's carbon-composite frame. In some instances they could only be reached by ripping out aircraft cabins. Boeing temporarily paused Dreamliner deliveries again earlier this year after learning of a documentation issue with a fuselage component. Analysts expect Boeing officials to provide updates on the company's efforts to stabilize 737 and 787 production at its April 18 annual meeting and first-quarter earnings report on April 26. The founder of Dallas-based Hayman Capital Management says office buildings in cities need to be demolished because demand isn't returning and it's impractical to turn most towers into apartments. "It's one asset class that just has to get redone, and redone meaning demolished," said Mr Bass. The Dallas-based investor shot to fame more than a decade ago betting against subprime mortgages before the US housing collapse. He has since pushed a series of contrarian investments that have occasionally burned investors such as predicting the collapse of Japanese government debt and Hong Kong's dollar. His expectation of more pain in the office market reflects a more widespread view that the pandemic has driven a semi-permanent shift toward remote and hybrid work that imperils lower quality buildings that are older and lack amenities. The office vacancy rate in the US climbed to 20.2pc in the first quarter, up from 19.6pc in the last three months of 2022, according to Jones Lang LaSalle, and recent weakness in tech has forced companies including Meta Platforms and Amazon.com, to scale back their footprint. "We are now approaching the eye of the economic storm, and I expect it will get even worse," Steven Roth, the chairman of Vornado Realty Trust, said in a recent shareholder letter. Mr Bass, who has most recently been investing in Texas land, said there is an imbalance in real estate with a severe lack of multi-family units, especially in fast-growing cities such as Dallas, but it is impractical to convert the vast majority of offices into housing. "You have to jackhammer, rebar and concrete. You have to re-plumb everything," Mr Bass said. "And when you finish it, it just doesn't feel right. You wouldn't want to live there," he said, citing for instance the lack of light. Despite high demand for housing, developers of multi-family properties simply can't get the financing right now to proceed with projects, Mr Bass said. Banks are constrained by the rise in borrowing costs brought on by the Federal Reserve's rate hikes, and the rapid movement of money out of deposits amid turmoil in the sector. Germanys imports from Russia fell by more than 90pc 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. The Federal Statistical Office said Germany imported goods worth 300m in February, down from 3.7bn a year earlier. That was a 91pc fall, and dropped Russia from the 11th-biggest source of imports to 46th place. Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 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 99.8pc in the year to February, falling to 4.2m from 2.2bn. Germanys overall imports of oil and gas this February totalled 6bn. Coal imports dropped 92.5pc, to 26m from $ 347m. Meanwhile, Germany exported goods to the tune of 800m to Russia in February, down from 2.1bn a year earlier. Keoghan and Elordi are not only workout partners but are also set to co-star in the upcoming film Saltburn Barry Keoghan showed off his toned physique after a training session with Jacob Elordi on social media this week. The Bafta-winning Banshees of Inisherin actor met with the Euphoria star for a gym session with their personal trainer, Kirk Meyers, at Dog Pound a gym with locations in Los Angeles and New York that offers personal training appointments as well as group fitness classes. Meyers shared a photo of the trio looking ever-so-serious on his Instagram account, which Keoghan reposted to his own stories. The Dubliner opted to go shirtless for the snap and wore a pair of black Nike drawstring track pants on his lower half paired with some grey and white Nike Air Max. He posed for the photo by balling his hands into fists as he flexed his arm muscles for the camera. Meanwhile, Elordi knelt down on one knee while wearing black shorts, a khaki tank top, and a silver necklace. He chose to go barefoot for the picture, and also threw on a printed cap which read Tickle my pickle. Instead of copying Keoghans pose, the Australian actor instead pointed towards Meyers, who returned the gesture. Keoghan and Elordi are not only workout partners but are also set to co-star in the upcoming film Saltburn. According to Variety, the premise is simply a story of obsession and additionally stars Rosamund Pike, Carey Mulligan, Richard E. Grant, and Cork newcomer Alison Oliver. Promising Young Woman director Emerald Fennel will direct, write, and produce the thriller. The project is expected to have both a cinema release as well as being available to stream on Prim and also be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. While a release date has yet to be announced, production on the project officially kicked off last summer. It comes after Keoghan was honoured by his native city in a Lord Mayors Award ceremony at the Mansion House in Dublin earlier this month. Although he was unable to attend the event in person due to filming commitments, the star was presented with the award alongside others who have helped make Dublin a better place. Keoghan, who famously dedicated his Bafta award to the children of the north inner city, was honoured by the Lord Mayor, Caroline Conroy, for his efforts in promoting the city alongside the Irish Wildlife Trust; Sandra Dillon, the founder of The Meeting Place Club; Sail Training Ireland; athlete Gerard Prendergast and An Taisce. A selection of engaging, insightful, and neuro-affirmative books about autism for young readers Every April, autistic people and members of the autism community campaign to raise awareness, improve understanding and cultivate acceptance of autistic people in society. The initiative is known as Autism Acceptance Month and was founded by autistic disability rights activist Paula C Durbin-Westby in 2011. In honour of Autism Acceptance Month, here is a selection of ten engaging, insightful, and neuro-affirmative books about autism for young readers. Affirmative portrayals of autism in literature are essential for enhancing our collective understanding of the autistic experience. This belief is what inspired me to write my own novel, Freya Harte is Not a Puzzle (for age 13+), which was published by the OBrien Press last month. Written from my own autistic perspective, it tells the story of a teenage girl learning to embrace her autistic self. Like the other books listed here, I hope it is an enjoyable and insightful read. Happy Autism Acceptance Month! Andrew Brenner's Pablo is now a children's TV series Pablo and the Noisy Party by Andrew Brenner and Sumita Majumdar Many people are familiar with the Belfast-made cartoon Pablo, about a young autistic boy and his imaginary animal friends, and now the stories are available as picture books. Andrew Brenner, the shows head writer, conducted extensive research to ensure a respectful and accurate portrayal of autism. Sumita Majumdar, who voices Wren on the show, is autistic herself. Like the show, the books gently explore overwhelming situations for Pablo, such as his cousins birthday party, and ways a young autistic person might cope. Age 3+ A Day with No Words by Tiffany Hammond This is one to pre-order. Hammond has built up a significant following over the years on social media, where she shares her experiences as a black autistic woman and mother of autistic sons (find her under the handle @fidgets.and.fries). Her debut picture book, forthcoming from Simon & Schuster this May, tells the story of an autistic mother and son who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices to communicate. Beautiful illustrations by Kate Cosgrove evocatively capture the sensory experiences of the non-speaking young boy and convey the power of AAC. Age 4+ Benji, the Bad Day and Me by Sally J Pla Sammys day has gone from bad to worse, but he cant vent about it when he gets home from school for fear of upsetting Benji, his autistic younger brother. Sammy is frustrated at having to tiptoe around Benji and wishes Mama would wrap him up in a comfort blanket, like she does when Benji is sad. Sammy is certain his family doesnt notice his bad mood until Benji appears and wraps Sammy in his blanket. This picture book about brotherly love is a kind and sensitive portrayal of a neurodiverse family. Age 5+ Dara McAnultys writing illustrates the joy heightened senses can also bring. Photo by David Conachy Wild Child: A Journey Through Nature by Dara McAnulty, illustrated by Barry Falls Some of the best-known naturalists, environmentalists and climate activists today are autistic, including Chris Packham, Greta Thunberg, Temple Grandin and Irish writer Dara McAnulty. Autistic people are often deeply sensitive to the sights, sounds and smells of the world, which can be overwhelming, but Daras writing illustrates the joy heightened senses can also bring. Readers are encouraged to look at and listen to the natural world more closely in this fascinating book, which is beautifully illustrated by Barry Falls. Older teen readers will enjoy Daras first book, Diary of a Young Naturalist. Age 7+ Perfectly Weird, Perfectly You: A Scientific Guide to Growing Up by Dr Camilla Pang Growing up, autistic scientist Pang often felt she experienced the world from the outside looking in. While this could be a lonely experience, it also made her a shrewd observer of human behaviour and social norms. In her debut childrens book, which takes a similar approach to her award-winning adult book Explaining Humans, she applies scientific principles to understand and explain human nature and everyday interactions. Ideal for science enthusiasts and fans of Luke ONeills What Makes Us Human. Age 8+ Aoife Dooley, author of Finding My Voice and Frankie's World. Photo by Frank McGrath Finding My Voice by Aoife Dooley Irish illustrator Dooley is known for her bright and punchy style, which translates perfectly to the graphic novel form. Finding My Voice is the sequel to her debut, Frankies World, and follows loveable, talkative Frankie in her first year of secondary school. Frankie loves rock music, Pokemon and her friends. Since learning that shes autistic, she also finally understands that shes not an alien; her brain is simply wired differently. A heartfelt and entertaining read by an autistic writer. Age 9+ A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll When McNicoll first addressed publishers about the need for better autism representation in childrens fiction, she was told that nobody would be interested in reading books about or by autistic people. Thankfully, that didnt stop the autistic writer from penning the multi-award-winning A Kind of Spark, a novel about 11-year-old Addie, who campaigns for a memorial in honour of women who were tried as witches in her Scottish hometown. The book was recently adapted for television by the BBC and McNicoll continues to write neuro-affirmative childrens fiction. Age 10+ Geek Girl by Holly Smale When Smales debut novel was first published in 2013, many readers wondered if the protagonist, Harriet Manners, was autistic. Manners, who is a teen model (Smale was also one), is intelligent, particular and struggles in social situations. Smale denied that Harriet was autistic at first, but changed her mind after learning that she herself is autistic. Although it is not mentioned in this six-book series, Smale now warmly identifies her popular protagonist as being autistic. More good news: Geek Girl is being adapted by Netflix. Age 11+ All the Pieces of Me by Rebecca Westcott and Libby Scott The third novel by this bestselling duo follows autistic teen Tally as she navigates school and family life. What makes this series unique is the authentic diary entries of Libby Scott, who was a teenager when the series began, which are interwoven throughout and offer a unique insight into the mind of a real autistic young person. Readers will relate to and empathise with Tally as she tries to make new friends and find her place in the world. Age 11+ Speechless by Fiacre Ryan As a non-speaking autistic person, 21-year-old Fiacre spent much of his early life being underestimated by professionals, despite having a bright and curious mind. At 13, he learned to use the rapid prompting method, which enabled him to communicate his thoughts at last. Since then, he has achieved many of his personal goals, including sitting the Leaving Certificate and publishing his first book. Speechless is a stunning collection of poetry and personal reflections by a sharp and sensitive voice. Not a childrens book per se, but suitable for teens. Age 15+ Meabh Collins is a writer from Dublin. She holds an M Phil in Children's Literature from Trinity College Dublin, where she is pursuing a PhD. In recent years, she has worked as a primary school teacher and in children's and Irish language publishing. Freya Harte is Not a Puzzle is her first novel Metropolitan Police Commander Jon Savell apologised on behalf of the force. The Metropolitan Police force has apologised to former glamour model Katie Price and her son, Harvey, after two officers were sacked over discriminatory messages they sent about him. Pc Glynn Rees and Pc Dave Selway were dismissed by a disciplinary panel on Friday at Palestra House in Southwark, central London, after they and six former officers were found guilty of gross misconduct. The pair along with former sergeant Luke Thomas, former acting sergeant Luke Allen and former constables Kelsey Buchan, Lee South, Darren Jenner, and Carlo Francisco were also barred for life from the police service. The group was found to have sent racist, homophobic, disablist, transphobic and sexist messages between May 2016 and June 2018 in a WhatsApp group called Secret Squirrel Shit. During an interview with the PA news agency after the hearing, Commander Jon Savell apologised to Katie and Harvey Price on behalf of the force. He said: I am truly sorry about the awful messages that were shared that targeted Katie Price and her family. They are horrendous, and I am truly very sorry. They should not have happened, and weve dealt with and those officers have been dismissed. When asked how much damage the case had caused to the Mets reputation, he said: An enormous amount of damage. We want the public to trust us, to understand that we will deal with them fairly and impartially, and if officers have got these attitudes and behaviours, thats completely wrong and I suspect that the public are reeling again about more officers that have committed horrible acts. We are lifting every stone to do our very best to find these people. There will be more coming out as we discover these people as we get rid of them out of the Met. Metropolitan Police Commander Jon Savell apologised to Katie and Harvey Price on behalf of the force (James Manning/PA) Mr Savell said it is very difficult to root out officers who should be sacked from the force, especially when someone is a very good officer as many of the officers involved had glowing character references. He added that dark humour has no place in policing. During the hearing, Price posted a photograph of her son on her Instagram story, saying she was proud of him though she did not mention the case. The 44-year-old TV personality previously said she had been shocked and upset by the comments officers made about her 20-year-old son, who suffers from PraderWilli syndrome and autism. Legal chair Christopher McKay said the messages had been derogatory towards Mr Price, and towards a junior female officer known in the hearings as Officer A. The panel found the most senior-ranking officer in the group, Mr Thomas, was one of the most active participants in the WhatsApp group, and the most blameworthy of all the officers. The officers were part of a WhatsApp group called Secret Squirrel Shit (Nick Ansell/PA) He 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 that Mr Thomas should have set the tone for the group, but instead became one of the worst offenders. Mr Jenner, who Mr McKay said is believed to be living abroad and has not participated in any way in these proceedings, contributed to the conversation about naming a dog after concentration camps. Meanwhile, Mr 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. An edited photograph of Mr Price was sent by Mr Selway, 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***. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was disgusted by the messages (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Mr Allen, who said he felt ashamed by his comments, had posted a photograph of himself in the chat attempting to imitate Mr Price, with the caption: Hello you c***. A colleague was referred to as a f****** rude little c*** with a mongy fanclub in a message sent by Ms Buchan, who also insulted Officer As appearance, as did Mr Francisco. Mr South, who was one of the more active members of the chat, made a reference to cotton picking when talking about a black inspector, and said: If any of this group got out my job would be f***** long ago. Mr McKay said that many of the officers had been considered good at their jobs, including Mr Thomas who had 14 commendations he had received throughout his career. However, he added that their personal mitigations and the fact that the messages were shared in a private group provides no defence. Mr Thomas, Mr Allen, Ms Buchan, Mr South and Mr Jenner resigned from the Met after the messages were unearthed, while Mr Francisco was dismissed in July 2022 for an unrelated matter involving discreditable conduct, according to the force. Met Commander Jon Savell said the case has caused enormous damage to the reputation of the force (Nick Ansell/PA) Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was disgusted by the messages in an interview with PA before the hearing, and afterwards he said he welcomed the dismissals. He said: The messages shared by the two serving police officers and six former officers in this WhatsApp group were vile and fell far below normal standards of common decency, let alone the high standards the public rightly expects from those who serve Londons diverse communities. I welcome the ruling today, which sends a signal that there is absolutely no place for racism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, bullying, harassment or any form of discrimination in the Met Police. Oscar nominee Ruth Negga is also reported to star in the adaptation of the bestseller. Michael Fassbender and Domhnall Gleeson are set to star as a pair of gangsters in a new film alongside Ruth Negga, according to reports. The star-studded Irish casting was revealed by Deadline yesterday. Adapted from Kevin Barrys 2019 bestseller, Night Boat to Tangier follows two career criminals on a trip to Spain where the drug smugglers take a trip down memory lane. The author penned the script, described as the best that The Crown producer Andrew Eaton has had. Ruth Negga Night Boat to Tangier is perfect for todays market. A whipsmart and pacy gangster movie with fantastic, memorable characters played by some of the best actors around & directed by one of the finest directors. We look forward to working with this wonderful team, Carl Clifton of Hyde Park studio told Deadline. The pair of award-winning actors will reportedly play Maurice and Charlie, while Oscar nominee Negga takes on the role of Cynthia, the brains behind their schemes. Domhnall Gleeson The New York Times bestseller is described as an extraordinary journey back in time to excavate their shared history of violence, romance, mutual betrayals, and serial exiles. In the dark waiting room of the ferry terminal in the sketchy Spanish port of Algeciras, two aging IrishmenMaurice Hearne and Charlie Redmond, long-time partners in the lucrative and dangerous enterprise of smuggling drugssit at night, none too patiently, the summary reads. "The pair are trying to locate Maurices estranged daughter, Dilly, whom theyve heard is either arriving on a boat coming from Tangier or departing on one heading there. Gleeson has recently been named as the star of a new thriller opposite Julianne Moore. Apple Studios Echo Valley is described as a heart-pounding thriller about how far a mother will go to protect her child. Hollywood icon Julianne Moore was already confirmed in her leading role, alongside rising star Sydney Sweeney who delivered her break-out performance in teen drama series Euphoria. It is produced by Gladiator and Blade Runner director Ridley Scott, aswell as Michale Pruss, Brad Ingelsby and Kevin Walsh. His HBO miniseries White House Plumbers, following the behind-the-scenes of the Watergate scandal, is set to premiere next month. Meanwhile, Kerry actor Fassbender has been spotted on the set of his new Irish film about Belfast rap trio Kneecap and has been named as a cast member in a series of other upcoming releases. Fassbenders last feature film release was X-Men: Dark Phoenix in 2019. Also reviewed this week: Barber and One Fine Morning Bram Stokers estate had some nerve suing the makers of Nosferatu, the 1922 German horror film, considering that the Dublin writer had stolen the storys core idea from Transylvanian folklore in the first place. Renfield (16, 93mins) Nosferatu was the original vampire movie, the first of hundreds, and since then weve had Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, Klaus Kinski, Gary Oldman and countless other interpretations of the suave count with impeccable manners and unseemly appetites. Now, in Renfield, the B-movie Brando has a pop at old Dracula, and with Nicolas Cage, you never know quite what youre going to get. Certainly not subtlety. Dracula, though, is not the protagonist of Chris McKays spoof horror, which instead focuses on the thankless life of Robert Montague Renfield (Nicholas Hoult), a greedy Edwardian toff who hitched his wagon to the vampires star after The Great War and is now stuck with him. Immortal, but troubled by the role he plays in procuring victims for his master, Renfield now dwells in the shadows of present day New Orleans, where a chance exposure to a 12-step recovery meeting shows him the error of his ways. When he blurts out his woes to the group, its leader Mark (Brandon Scott Jones, easily the funniest person in this film) explains to Renfield that hes trapped in a relationship with a narcissist. Thats putting it mildly, and Dracula, whos recovering from a Van Helsing-style attack that left him severely depleted, insists that Renfield find him more and more victims. Not any old victims either, for the blood of criminals and other low types doesnt help the Count regenerate he needs innocents, nuns preferably, or a bus full of cheerleaders. To add to Renfields problems, he becomes the enemy of a local drug gang after coming to the assistance of a stubborn policewoman, Rebecca (Awkwafina). When Renfield eats insects, his eyes turn gold and he acquires superpowers: after he strangles, stabs and disembowels a dozen hoodlums in a bar fight, Rebecca calls him a hero. Renfields head is turned: he falls in love with her and vows to become a better person. That will involve ditching Dracula, who isnt about to let his lackey go without a fight. Renfield is a busy film, with lots of balls in the air at once. Not content with transporting Dracula and his sidekick to New Orleans, Chris McKay and his writers Ryan Ridley and Robert Kirkman have thrown in a crime story, with Shohreh Aghdashloo playing a stylish mob boss, and Ben Schwartz as her idiot son. They exist solely to justify the presence of incorruptible cop Rebecca, who in turn only exists so Renfield will fall in love with her. All these subsidiary characters are badly written, lazily drawn, and Awkwafinas comic acting skills are criminally underused. The films best scenes, those with most comic potential, are Renfields interactions with the 12-step group. Had the film been confined to him, Dracula and the worthy sub-language of self-help, we might have had an amusing comedy on our hands. Instead we have gore, and lots of it: when Renfield fights, heads pop, innards spill, blood pumps, bodies sunder. This carnage plays out with cartoonish flourishes, and were clearly meant to find it funny. It isnt though, its merely unpleasant, adding nothing to story or spectacle. Which is a pity because Cages Dracula is louche, camp, bad to the bone and highly entertaining. Appearing at first in various stages of decay, he quickly transforms into the strutting, overdressed Count, his coy smile revealing a ghastly set of individually pointed teeth. The eyes roll, his soliloquies rise and fall from a whisper to a shout, his accent aspires towards the British. All of which reminded me of late period Margaret Thatcher, and who knows, this may have been the great mans intention. Cages performance is almost worth the price of entry, but theres not much else to be said for this nasty, trashy film. Rating: Two stars Aidan Gillen and Camille OSullivan in Barber Barber (15A, 90mins) A neo noir, an erotic fable, and a bit of a dogs dinner, Fintan Connollys languid thriller stars Aidan Gillen as Val Barber, a Dublin private detective with a hangdog look and a troubled past. A former cop whos not well liked by his associates, he spends most of his time spying on unfaithful spouses, so is intrigued when a wealthy widow (Deirdre Connolly) asks for his help in locating her missing granddaughter, Sara (Isabelle Connolly). His enquiries are hampered by Tony Quinn (Liam Carney), a cop and former colleague who wishes Barber ill, and by his own messy personal circumstances. Hes close to his troubled teenage daughter, not so close to his ex-wife. Barbers gay, though not exclusively, as we discover when he bumps into Lexie (Camille OSullivan), a femme fatale with underworld connections. Barber is nicely shot across Dublin, and Nick Dunning, Gary Lydon and Aisling Kearns flesh out a decent cast. But the whole thing is stiff as a board, muddled and unconvincing, and stilted performances bounce off each other with dull and hollow thuds. Rating: Two stars Lea Seydoux and Pascal Greggory have great chemistry One Fine Morning (15A, 112mins) Mia Hansen-Lves One Fine Morning stars Lea Seydoux as a Parisienne with a lot on her plate. A single mother who works as a translator, Sandra spends most of her free time looking after her father, Georg (Pascal Greggory), a professor of literature whose brilliant mind is being rapidly consumed by a neurodegenerative disease. Unsure of his surroundings, baffled by everyday objects, Georg is no longer able to live on his own, so Sandra, her sister and mother must find a care home fast. Most are depressing, none seem suitable, and meanwhile, Sandra has bumped into an old friend, Clement (Melvil Poupaud), a charming scientist: hes married, but they fall in love. Life gives, life takes away, sometimes in the same moment, and Sandra is torn between the happiness Clement brings and the sight of her disintegrating father, whose heaving bookshelves are now the only extant representation of his mind. Greggory is excellent as Georg, and theres a wonderful, unaffected chemistry between Poupaud and Seydoux. A wise, wistful and strangely uplifting film. Rating: Five stars A crowd of an estimated 27,000 people lined along the river to hear the President US President Joe Biden on stage after delivering a speech at St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina Photo Brian Lawless PA The crowd in Ballina were pretty happy to see the US president. Picture: Julien Behal US President Joe Biden touches the original gable wall of the church at the Knock Shrine, with father Richard Gibbons. Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque US President Joe Biden tours the basilica at the Knock Shrine in County Mayo, Ireland, April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque US President Joe Biden is welcomed as he arrives at Ireland West Airport Knock, in County Mayo, on the last day of his visit to the island of Ireland. Photo: PA Media. Huge crowds turned out in Ballina tonight to see the US President By the time Joe Biden came on stage shortly before 10pm, some of the crowd in Ballina had been waiting in the cold for over nine hours. But it was worth it because he said what they came to hear: Mayo for Sam. The roars erupted, echoing down the River Moy. This was the pinnacle of President Bidens visit to Ireland - and it was a deeply moving and heartfelt moment that came at the end of an emotion-packed day. He had taken as a sign the chance meeting earlier at Knock Shrine with Fr Frank OGrady - the chaplain who had given the Last Rites to his beloved son Beau, who died in Maryland of brain cancer in 2015. In a direct message to his extended Blewitt family he said: "you make me proud." He quoted from the blind Mayo poet, Anthony Raftery's poem Anois Teach an Earraigh as he said "Now the spring is coming. I shall raise my sail and I won't stay still until I shall stand in the centre of county Mayo." Mary Robinson came on stage at 8.30pm under the shelter of an umbrella where she was in ebullient form, looking familiarly Presidential herself. 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 world is looking at Ballina. And of course we have the kind of weather were used to but wait for itthe sun will come out again. You have two Presidents who love Ballina what else can you ask for? she said to cheers. At a dinner last night, she said she was going to bring the light that shone in the Aras for seven years back to Ballina. The light now shines in the as-yet unopened Mary Robinson Centre across from the cathedral in what was formerly her bedroom as a little girl, she told the crowd. The crowd in Ballina were pretty happy to see the US president. Picture: Julien Behal It would shine for the values of human rights, gender equality, womens leadership, inclusiveness and dignity, she said. The former President finished by reading a poem, The Emigrant Irish, written by her close friend, the late Eavan Boland. It concluded: They would have thrived on our necessities. What they survived we could not even live. By their lights now it is time to imagine how they stood there, what they stood with, that their possessions may become our power. Cardboard. Iron. Their hardships parceled in them. Patience. Fortitude. Long-suffering in the bruise-colored dusk of the New World. And all the old songs. And nothing to lose. Homecoming Meanwhile, for the US President, it was a homecoming to remember tonight in his final speech in Ireland in Ballina. He saluted the tens of thousands who had gathered from early evening to see him in the town as he took to the stage shortly before 10pm, after they had enjoyed music from The Coronas, The Academic and the Chieftans. In an emotional speech, Mr Biden touched on the places in the county he had visited throughout today and said: I want to say thank you. I heard you all had an impromptu celebration the night I was declared winner in the 2020 election. You decked out the town Im told in red, white and blue. Joe Biden's speech in Ballina. Picture: Julien Behal. He added: "Well I tell you what, it meant the world to me and my entire family to be embraced as Mayo Joe, son of Ballina. "My grandmother, whose maiden name is Blewitt is smiling down on me right now. When he took to the stage, he said: "Mr Mayor, thank you for welcoming me back to town, and I also want to thank the Taoiseach for his remarkable hospitality, his generous remarks, and maybe most importantly for his friendship. He asked the audience to give a big hand to the Chieftains. Your music is incredible and I have been a long time fan. Mr BIden told the crowd that former Taoiseach Enda Kenny a Mayo man is here, and his wife Fionnuala. I love you both, he said. He also said he wanted to acknowledge his family. All the Blewitts you make me proud. My son Hunter, my sister Valerie and I made several stops across Mayo today, he said. Mr Biden referred to Knock Shrine where he met Fr Richard Gibbons. U.S. President Joe Biden arrives onstage to speak at St. Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland, April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Mr Biden said they had also met, out of the blue, a former military chaplain, Fr OGrady who gave my son last rites. He said that it was incredible to see him, it seemed like a sign. In his introductory remarks, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: Mr President, welcome back to Mayo, failte ar ais chuig Contae Maigh Eo, Contae iontach, Contae spescialta, a county very close to my heart as well as to your own and thank you for choosing to make this such a big part of your visit. The story of Ireland can be told through our poetry and music, but it is most eloquently expressed through our people. It is a story of longing for a better life, a better society, and a better world. A story of unimaginable courage in the face of loss. And, above all, it is a story of love for country, for family, and for community. It is your story, Mr President, as well as our own. He said: Here outside St. Muredachs Cathedral we must rededicate ourselves to playing our part in the fight between darkness and light, despair and hope, injustice and dignity. We pray for the wisdom to guide us, the words to speak up for those without a voice, the shield to protect our planet, and the strength to do what is right. US President Joe Biden on stage after delivering a speech at St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina Photo Brian Lawless PA Mr President, your life story reminds us that although tragedy may shape us, it never solely defines us. Love of country, of family, and of each other moves us forward, providing new hope and inspiring others along the way. President Biden, you are the most Irish of all American presidents, not because of what is written on your family tree, but because of what is enshrined in your soul. We did not need to gather here today in our thousands to say: Welcome back to Ireland. In your heart, you never left. KNOCK It had been expected to be an emotional homecoming to County Mayo. But this went beyond all expectations - even those of President Joe Biden himself. On arrival at Knock Shrine, the US President was immediately told of a deeply moving link that had, until now, escaped the knowledge of those organising this trip. The Irish priest who had given the last rites to his beloved son, Beau Biden in May 2015, had retired after 30 years in the United States and is now the chaplain here in Knock. On being informed by Knock Parish priest, Fr Richard Gibbons, President Bidens immediate reaction was: I gotta meet him, I gotta meet him. The priest, Fr Frank OGrady did not have official security clearance but that was swiftly arranged so that he could meet the President in private at the gable wall where the apparition in Knock is said to have taken place in 1879. Fr OGrady had been chaplain at the Walter Reid Military Hospital in Maryland where Beau Biden received treatment for brain cancer but passed away in March 2015. By chance, the link was uncovered by graphic designer and photographer at Knock Shrine, Sinead Mallee a neighbour of Fr OGrady. He told me that he met Beau Biden in hospital and when I asked how, he said: I gave him the last rites, explained Sinead. Fr Gibbons said it was an emotional moment for Joe Biden. He said: He laughed, he cried, it just kind of hit the man, you could just (see) how deeply it all felt and meant to him. Fr Gibbons added: It was an extraordinary afternoon. I wont forget it, I can tell you that it was quite something else. It subsequently emerged that Fr OGrady had received a special award for the role he played in the aftermath of the 9/11 atrocity as army chaplain at the Pentagon. He was awarded the Armys Commendation Medal for his leadership and calm professional demeanour. Speaking to RTE, Fr OGrady said he had been in two minds to go to Knock to see the President but had decided to go at the last minute. He said they had a nice chat with the President, his son Hunter and Mr Bidens sister, Valerie. It was like a reunion, he said. He spoke with Mr Biden about Beaus death, saying: Death is something that people dont forget. We talked a little bit about grief, I think hes handling it ok. Mr Biden had told him his faith had sustained him at that difficult time and still does. He said he has challenges coming up and he invited him to the Oval Office. Afterwards, the President gave Mr OGrady two special commemorative coins his President coin and a special visit to Ireland coin. It was very nice, he said, adding: Hes a strong man, a strong personality and for a man his age, great energy. Officials had been estimating a 1.40pm landing for President Biden at Knock - but delays were inevitable and the official aircraft did not touch down until around 2.10pm. He was officially greeted by Environment Minister Eamon Ryan, Minister of State for Trade Dara Calleary, deputy Michael Ring, Seamus Weir, Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, together with Joe Gilmore CEO of Ireland West airport, with a series of animated chats on the tarmac further delaying his arrival at Knock Shrine. Families lined the road long the way, despite unforgiving weather, for a sight of this world leader. At Knock Shrine, the President was welcomed by Fr Richard Gibbons the parish priest rector, together with John Conroy, the manager of Knock Shrine. In the basilica, he was shown the magnificently detailed mosaic of the 1879 apparition one of the biggest mosaics of its kind in Europe and designed by Irish artist and illustrator PJ Lynch - that was unveiled in 2016 and contains 1.8 million individual pieces. He was then ushered over to the gable wall where the visitation is said to have transpired. Early morning rain that had cleared resumed once again, bucketing down just in time for the Presidents walk across the church yard, sheltering under a shared umbrella with Fr Gibbons.. It was thought to be his first time to Knock, despite having been to Mayo at least six times down the years. Courts Man threw bleach in womans eyes, tried to strangle her with phone charger and falsely imprisoned her in flat Marius Tankelevicius was sorry for his behaviour, the court heard A man drunkenly kicked at a kitchen door and spat at his former partner in two separate incidents after he found out she was having an affair, a court heard. A High Court judge has found that the detention of Simeon Burke is lawful, a decision which paves the way for his trial for a public order offence to take place next week. 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. White Strand Beach in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, where Baby John was found dead on April 14, 1984. Photo: Mark Condren The death of man linked to the couple arrested on suspicion of the murder of Baby John in Kerry may prove crucial in determining what action is taken over the killing. Gardai are satisfied the couple were the parents of the murdered newborn after obtaining DNA samples during their detention. However, it has emerged that the death of a man within the past five years who had a family link to the couple could prove crucial in the decades-old garda investigation. The man was understood to have been in the Kerry area around the dates of April 10 to April 14, 1984 when Baby John suffered fatal injuries. Today marks the 39th anniversary of the discovery of the infant on a Kerry beach. He had suffered 28 stab wounds as well as severe damage to his spine, One theory being examined is that the man might have felt shame or embarrassment over the precise circumstances of the babys birth. It is understood he had a subsequent history of serious addiction issues. The case of Baby John took a significant turn last month with the arrest of the married couple. The man, in his early 60s, and the woman, in her late 50s, were detained on suspicion of murder before being released later without charge. Detectives obtained DNA samples during the arrest after voluntary swabs were given by the couple. However, a full and exhaustive DNA profile is still awaited. Both were detained after a relative previously submitted a DNA sample to gardai on foot of random testing in Kerry. A DNA profile was obtained following the exhumation of Baby John on September 14, 2021 from Holy Cross Cemetery in Cahersiveen. That sample indicated a potential family link to the child. The attention of gardai then focused on the couple. A search of their home was conducted, but it is understood nothing of significance was found. The couple have adult children who travelled home to support their parents after they were informed of the arrests. However, a source close to the investigation said no one should presume that further action is imminent. In terms of what those two people were arrested for [suspicion of murder], there is absolutely nothing clear at this point, the source said. The couple have no previous convictions and had never come to garda attention. Neighbours described them as quiet, hard-working and devoted to their family. Descriptions of the couple are at odds with a series of attacks on the grave of Baby John over the years, including one incident when the headstone was smashed with a lump hammer. Cahersiveen funeral director Tom Cournane arranged for the babys burial after being deeply moved by the circumstances of his death. There was initially a simple wooden cross over the grave, but a headstone was later erected. The inscription read: I am the Kerry Baby baptised on April 14 1984, named John. I Forgive. The headstone was smashed in one of the attacks, with most of the blows focused on the words I Forgive. It was replaced, but it no longer includes those words. Gardai have always been baffled by the cemetery attacks and whether they were linked to the individual responsible for Baby Johns death. After they were separately released from custody last month, the couple left their home to avoid the intense media spotlight, both national and international, which the case has attracted. They have not returned. Solicitor Padraig OConnell, who represents the couple, criticised the intense media interest in the case and the manner in which the arrests have been depicted. I want to see a file sent to the DPP and for the DPP to make a decision as immediately as possible. This is so they can be exonerated, and I expect they will be, Mr OConnell said. The solicitor said that, given the attention the case has attracted, he wants every priority given to the garda investigation. Proving they are the parents is one thing. Providing DNA that is a match, so be it, but that doesnt prove anything, he said. Since when did having matching DNA allow someone to be an alleged murderer? This case needs to be expedited. It should be a priority. The infant was named Baby John by locals shortly after he was found by Jack Griffin while he was out jogging on Cahersiveens White Strand on April 14, 1984. He initially thought he was looking at a doll, but was horrified to realise it was a newborn baby. The tragedy attracted national attention when Jo- anne Hayes, from Abbeydorney, Co Kerry, was accused of being involved. Ms Hayes, who was then 25, was arrested despite insisting to gardai she had given birth to a stillborn baby boy, who she had named Shane, and who was buried on her family farm. She begged gardai to search her farm for the infant. On the day she was charged with murder, her babys body was found by officers who had finally decided to search the farm. Blood tests proved she was Shanes mother. A Kerry district court judge threw out the murder charge. Tests later proved conclusively that Ms Hayes was not the mother of Baby John and had no link to his death. However, she was still subjected to the controversial findings of the Kerry Babies Tribunal. Years later, both the government and the garda commissioner formally apologised to Ms Hayes and her family for what had happened. They also received declarations that all findings of wrongdoing levelled against them by the Kerry Babies Tribunal were unfounded and incorrect. Since 1984, the Kerry Babies case has come to symbolise the treatment of women in Ireland as well as raising questions over garda attitudes and behaviour. In the wake of the controversy, gardai abolished the so-called murder squad. Despite years of pleas for DNA to be used to try to solve the mystery of Baby John, a cold-case review was only launched in 2018, with the infants remains being exhumed in 2021. The new president of the Irish Medical Organisation, Dr John Cannon At least one in 10 of the population are without a full-time GP because so many family doctors have closed their patient lists, it was claimed yesterday. The new president of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), Dr John Cannon, told its annual meeting that 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. The Governments long-awaited promise to extend free GP care to children aged six and seven has still not materialised. GPs have also criticised plans due to come into effect this month to extend free GP visit cards to about 400,000 more people under a relaxed means test. Read more New bivalent booster vaccines highly effective in reducing Covid deaths and hospitalisations, study finds Meanwhile, the chief executive of the Medical Council, Leo Kearns, told the conference that about a quarter of the countrys GPs are still working single-handedly. He told the conference there is a need for a workforce strategy to address recruitment, retention, distribution and supply challenges. He said there were 21,680 doctors on the register in Ireland in 2021 and 84.9pc of these are clinically active. Around 53pc of them are men. Ireland still has a disproportionate reliance on international medical graduates. Ireland has about three times the number of junior doctors who are not in training when compared to the UK and several other countries. He said the imbalance raises patient safety concerns. The number of consultants in Ireland is 69 per 100,000 people compared to the OECD average of 94.5 per 100,000. The ratio of junior doctors to consultants is significantly higher in Ireland than other countries between 1.5 to three times higher, he added. Without addressing these issues our health service is in continued jeopardy, he said. Mr Kearns also pointed to a survey carried out in 2019 that showed that of those hospital interns and trainee doctors working more than 59 hours a week, nearly half had been involved in an adverse event. Of those who worked 39 hours or fewer a week only about 9.5pc has been involved in an adverse event. Meanwhile, a new task force report on doctors in training has said there should be an agreed ratio of one consultant to 1.3 trainees by 2030. It calls for junior doctors on extended or overnight shifts to have access to a private space for rest. For those on overnight shifts of more than 12 hours, rest space must include the provision of a bedroom. Bedrooms should include a comfortable bed with blackout blinds on windows. Junior doctors must also have access to a rest space at the end of their shift if they are worried that fatigue may impair their ability to travel home safely. They should have access to a space for prayer and reflection. They should have access to showering facilities and these should provide clean towels and toiletries. All hospitals must provide free drinkable water to junior doctors. Commenting on the report, Dr Cannon said there are still major issues including doctors having to work 80-90 hours a week. The doctors, who last year balloted for strike action but put action on hold following talks with health chiefs, said they want a new contract which will address major grievances such as having to move post every six months. The report showed that in December 2022 there were 4,152 approved hospital consultant posts a 54pc increase since 2014. Of the 4,152 approved, 3,230 are filled by permanent consultants and 478 are filled by non-permanent staff such as locum or temporary consultants. Of the 444 vacancies remaining unfilled, 76pc have been vacant for less than one year. The task force said it welcomed the expansion of the approved consultant posts and the significant increase in approvals since 2020. Study's findings highlight the importance of vaccines containing different variants of the virus which are likely to provide enhanced protection against severe outcomes. Stock image: PA One of first studies to assess the new bivalent Covid-19 booster vaccine shows it is highly effective in reducing deaths and hospitalisations. The updated vaccine was introduced in Ireland and other countries last autumn and is the one currently on offer. It is designed to offer protection from the original Wuhan strain as well as some Omicron sub-variants. It was designed to help improve vaccine-induced immunity against the Omicron variant and subsequent subvariants. A new study, published today in The Lancet Infectious Diseases and presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, is one of the first to assess the effectiveness of this new type of Covid-19 vaccine in vulnerable people aged 65 and over. The Israeli study assessed the Pfizer bivalent vaccine, since Pfizer is the main supplier of Covid vaccines to that country. The study shows lower risk of Covid-19-related hospitalisation and a 68pc lower risk of Covid-related death. Randomised controlled trials evaluating the clinical efficacy of a bivalent mRNA booster vaccine are unavailable. The bivalent mRNA booster vaccines are currently prioritised in Israel for people at high risk of severe Covid-19, primarily those aged 65 or older. This made it possible for the authors to do a retro- spective cohort study to evaluate the effectiveness of a bivalent mRNA vaccine booster dose to prevent hospitalisations and deaths due to Covid-19. Bivalent mRNA booster vaccination in adults aged 65 years or older is an effective and essential tool to reduce their risk of hospitalisation and death due to Covid-19, said study co-author Dr Ronen Arbel of the Community Medical Services Division of Clalit Health Services in Tel Aviv. Vaccination remains the primary tool for avoiding severe disease. Our findings highlight the importance of new types of vaccines containing different variants of the virus which are likely to induce broader immune responses and provide enhanced protection against severe outcomes. Between September 2022 and last January, 569,519 eligible participants were identified. Of those, 134,215 (24pc) received a bivalent mRNA booster vaccination during the study period. Hospitalisation due to Covid-19 occurred in 32 participants who received a bivalent mRNA booster vaccination and in 541 who did not. Analysis shows this to mean a 72pc reduction in the risk of hospitalisation. With 20,000 people due to greet Biden, Mayo town is set to dazzle Ernie Caffrey with a brick from the Blewitt family homestead which will be presented to Joe Biden. Photo: Gerry Mooney Eamonn Walsh pictured ahead of the visit of Joe Biden to Ballina, Co Mayo. Picture: Gerry Mooney It's only when you watch a town frantically preparing for the arrival of a VIP guest that you realise the extent of the sprucing-up that is possible when the authorities decide to blow the budget. Anything that could be painted in Ballina had been painted with a last-minute mural of Croagh Patrick the final flourish. Anything that could be cleaned had been cleaned down to the street paving brought back to mint condition. Alarming clouds of steam and jets of water had puffed through the door of the cosy American diner-style Junction cafe in the morning, startling those who were breakfasting and sending staff running to lay down towels. By late afternoon, they were ready: Ballina was officially dazzling. The next Tidy Towns title is in the bag, and sound checks were ringing out across the fast-flowing Moy, where the stage has been set up outside St Muredachs Cathedral for the big event this evening. However, what looked like an ingenious and very thoughtful row of seats being put in place along the bridge turned out not to be so. No seats, no a barrier, said a council worker. Were hoping to meet him before the speech. There are one or two things planned, but were waiting for clarification About 20,000 people have registered for tonights proceedings, which have been modestly advertised as Remarks by President Joe Biden, but which locals hope will outstrip all that has been seen so far during this visit. With the president having met the Louth branch of the family for a drink at the Windsor pub on Wednesday, the Mayo branch is anticipating a similar get-together. But the details are being kept carefully under wraps. Were hoping to meet him before the speech, said Joe Blewitt, a distant cousin of the US president. There are one or two things planned, but were waiting for clarification. Eoin Duffy, of Jimmys cafe, Ballina. Photo: Gerry Mooney These things are never confirmed until the last minute because of security. If it works out as planned, Mr Biden, his son Hunter and his sister Valerie Biden Owens will meet up with a Blewitt family gathering of around 14 to 20 people, including Joe Blewitts sister Laurita, his wife Deirdre and their children, as well as his father Brendan and his sister Catriona at some stage this afternoon. Its a serious deal and we are all really looking forward to it, said Joe. And the place is looking absolutely fabulous. While Louth might have been the scene of President Bidens Black and Tans gaffe, Ballina is confident they have the upper hand, with the gaff an ancient-looking brick fireplace that is said to be the last remaining vestige of the homestead Bidens Blewitt ancestors lived in before leaving for America in the 19th century. The presidents great-great-great-grandfather Edward Blewitt and his wife Mary Reddington moved to the US in the autumn of 1850, and he established himself as a land surveyor in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The fireplace, which is thought to be built from bricks made by Edward Blewitt himself, now forms part of the wall of a house owned by local woman Catherine OReilly Barrett. Only two weeks ago, her husband Paul took down the hedge that had obscured the fireplace and Catherine planted flowers in the colours of the American and Irish flags on the off-chance Mr Biden might stop by. We dont think he will because we havent had anyone from security on to us, but it would be great if he did, Catherine said. In any case, President Biden will today be presented with one of the bricks from the fireplace, carefully encased in Perspex, by Ernie Caffrey, whose framing business is on the other side of the wall. Strip back the cynicism and the sentiment and what you have is a remarkable tale of resilience Local brothers Thomas and Eoin Duffy had pulled out all the stops to open their new drive-through coffee shop, Jimmys at The Biden Corner, in time for the presidential visit. Its two hours old we havent slept in days, said Eoin. When we heard news that he was coming, we fast-tracked the opening just before he came. It was tight deadlines, running on about three hours sleep, but we got it done. They had ordered 10,000 special commemorative paper cups emblazoned with President Bidens image and the slogan Keep the faith, Joey in a nod to Bidens strong Catholic roots. Ernie Caffrey with a brick from the Blewitt family homestead which will be presented to Joe Biden. Photo: Gerry Mooney Every corner of Ballina was alive. Two little girls were running up Pearse Street with gigantic American flags whipping in the wind. Turn the corner and there was a small trad group vigorously playing as a Japanese TV crew looked on. A council van passed by with four workers inside, beaming with good spirits. Every pub and cafe in Ballina was heaving with locals soaking up the excitement. We were in full-on Joe Biden mania territory, so why try to fight it when we might as well enjoy it? Its a serious deal and we are all looking forward to it. And the place is looking fabulous Some people get very upset about this sort of thing. They wince at what they see as the paddywhackery and the misty-eyed nostalgia for the auld sod of the Irish-American contingent. But strip back the cynicism and the sentiment and what you have is a remarkable tale of resilience a brickmaker, his wife and his family of eight children who left the desolation and desperation of Famine-stricken Mayo and whose descendant now returns as the highest-ranking citizen of the United States. Without a shadow of a doubt, it is as big a deal as it is being hyped up to be as this long-lost son comes home to the west. Mr Varadkar added that the US president wants whats best for the people of Northern Ireland Taoiseach Leo Varadkar greets US president Joe Biden as he visits Farmleigh in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, yesterday. Photo: Steve Humphreys 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 UK prime minister Rishi Sunaks interaction with the US president in Belfast involved extensive discussions. The White House characterised their talks as broad and general. Mr Varadkar, speaking to reporters in Dublin following a meeting with the US president, rejected any suggestion that Mr Biden is 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 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 too deeply on the specifics of the current impasse at Stormont, other than to state he wants to see it resolved. 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. Mr Varadkar 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 yesterday, Chris Philp, the UK minister of state for crime, policing and fire, defended Mr Sunaks movements on Wednesday. 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. Mr Philp was asked why Mr Sunak had missed the US 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 before President Bidens speech. Not only the Brits breathing a little easier following agents demise Exposure of spys secrets would have been just as embarrassing for Sinn Fein and Provos Gerry Adams Suzanne Breen Fri 14 Apr 2023 at 08:57 I am 45,000 in debt Trinity College PhD students shocked as budget funding will not apply to them Speaking in the Dail greatest honour of my career, says US president President Joe Biden looks up to heaven as he mentions his mother while addressing the Dail in Dublin yesterday. Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Joe Biden with Senator Rebecca Moynihan and her daughter Margo in Leinster House on day three of the presidents visit to the island of Ireland. Photo: Tony Maxwell/PA Joe Biden praised the enduring partnership between America and Ireland as he became the fourth US president to address the Dail. On the third day of his visit to the island, he said speaking in the Dail was the greatest honour of my career and added that his only regret was his mother and grandfather were not alive to be there. In a wide-ranging speech lasting 30 minutes, Mr Biden detailed his ancestral roots in Ireland and drew comparisons with America by insisting both countries believe anything is possible and there is nothing beyond our capacity. He said the relationship between the countries was a partnership for the ages. The United States will be your closest partner, your most dependable partner and your most enthusiastic partner, he said before adding that he will continue to grow our enormous economic relationship. The president entered the Dail chamber to a standing ovation and rapturous applause from TDs, senators and others. After an address from Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail, Mr Biden stood and raised his hands towards heaven and said: Well, Mom, you said it would happen. He then asked for forgiveness for his attempt at speaking Irish as he said: Ta me sa bhaile Im home. The president also apologised to Labour Senator Rebecca Moynihans newly- born daughter Margo for forcing her to listen to a policy speech as she sat in the chamber with her mother. Mr Biden went on to note he has a rugby ball in the Oval Office signed by the Irish team after they beat the All Blacks in 2016 correcting a gaffe he made in Louth when he referred to the Black and Tans. He said his great-grandfather and Barack Obamas left Ireland around the same time and went on to become shoemakers in the US. Mr Biden said it is a bit of Irish malarkey that both of their great-grandchildren went on to become US presidents. He said he wanted to reflect on the strength of the relationship between Ireland and the US and said most Irish emigrants arrived in America with hope in their hearts and strength in their memories. Irish hearts helped kindle the torch of liberty in the US, he said, and added that blood from across this island was willingly given to fight for US independence. He noted that when President John F Kennedy spoke in the Dail in 1963, he honoured the 150,000 Irish who fought for the North in the American Civil War. He said he never met an American Irishman who does not hope to see Ireland at some time in their life. He said the journey of our ancestors expanded our imagination. Mr Biden told a story about campaigning in Colorado and visiting an old railway station that had plaques reading No Irish allowed on the walls. He said his mother used to tell him courage is the greatest virtue of all because without courage you cant love with abandon. The president said that as nations, Ireland and the US have known hardship and division but also have had solace and sympathy Mr Biden said Ireland and America have stood together against Russias aggressions in Ukraine. He said Ireland has already been a voice for liberty because the country remembers the terrible cost of war. The president also noted Ireland committed 170m in non-lethal aid to the Ukraine and had taken in 80,000 refugees from the war-ravaged country. He said Ireland is working with the US and other states to hold Russia to account through significant sanctions. Mr Biden also praised Irelands role on the UN Security Council. He said Russian president Vladimir Putin thought he could break Nato and the EU. However, Putin was wrong and the two institutions are stronger than ever. On Northern Ireland, he said there are hundreds of US corporations ready to invest in the region, but are cautious because the political institutions are not in place. Mr Biden said peace is precious and still needs champions in the North because political violence can never again be allowed to take hold in this island. He said the United Kingdom should be working closer with Ireland to ensure the Stormont institutions return and function properly. Ireland draws a disproportionate amount of foreign direct investment from the US, said, and added that Irelands investment in America was the most significant of any country in the world. Together, Ireland and the United States are building together a future of economic dignity, he said. One where rights of workers are respected and corporations pay their fair share. Cystic Fibrosis Ireland ambassador Rosanna Davison with twins Ben and Sarah Healy (5), from Portmarnock, during the launch of the charity's 65 Roses Day at Herbert Park, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney Rosanna Davison has spoken about the demands of juggling three children under four and how she grappled with rediscovering her identity. Ms Davison had her daughter Sophia (3) via a gestational surrogate in November 2019 and then naturally conceived her twin boys, who were born just one year later. She said shes been in a total bubble, having had them so close together, and parenting three babies during lockdown made it extra intense. I absolutely love it, I really do. But I was only saying to someone this morning how I was determined that I wouldnt change my life or my identity when my daughter came along, that shed just slot into our lives. And to a certain extent, that can happen but when theres more than one baby, you do completely change, she said. Ive forgotten who I used to be and what I used to do at the weekends and what we did with our time before. And you just become a totally new version of yourself. But I really like the new me and the person Ive become. But its an odd feeling, a loss of sense of self-identity. But I absolutely love being a mum. And as she approaches the one-year anniversary of her Ukrainian surrogate, Anastasiia Berezans, arrival here, Ms Davison said she is so proud of how well she has settled into Irish life. Anastasiia managed to flee the occupied city of Kherson with her daughter Mailana and partner last year. She spent two months travelling from Ukraine through Poland and Germany before arriving in Ireland on April 24 last year where she was welcomed by Ms Davison and her family. She had kept in close contact with the mum-of-one after the invasion as she prayed for her safety. She said Anastasiia and her family are really enjoying life here and have regular playdates with Sofia and her twin boys with husband Wes Quirke, Oscar and Hugo (2). Theyre here almost a year now. I only saw her last weekend. They came over to ours to do a lovely Easter treasure hunt with their little girl. They just seem to be really enjoying Ireland and their work, she told the Irish Independent. Their little girl is loving school so Im delighted. Im really proud of how well they have settled in. They have just got on with it. They have really built up their independence now. They have a car and full-time jobs and theyre learning English so its great. Since becoming a parent, Rosanna has also been keen to highlight causes like Cystic Fibrosis Irelands 65 Roses Day. Taking place today, 65 Roses Day aims to raise funds for CFI which needs 350,000 annually from public donations. As an ambassador for CFI, Rosanna said she was hugely honoured to support its work. I was really struck by the statistic that Ireland has the highest rate of CF per capita in the world, she said. I felt that I was in a position to bring more attention to 65 Roses Day. It makes me feel so grateful to have three healthy children as well. People can donate online at www.65Roses.ie or by buying a purple rose today from Dunnes Stores and other outlets. As RTE director-general Dee Forbes prepares to leave her role after seven years, it seems an unexpected furore over who will be named as her replacement has erupted behind-the-scenes. My Favourite Room: The sleep expert who knows how to make your home a haven when it comes to rest US President Joe Biden with Tanaiste Micheal Martin at Carlingford Castle, Co Louth, on Wednesday. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Tanaiste Micheal Martin has described Arlene Fosters comment that US President Joe Biden hates the UK as wrong. Mr Bidens visit marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and the US President met with UK prime minister Rishi Sunak when he landed in Belfast on Tuesday and also held a meeting with him on Wednesday in Northern Ireland. Speaking to GB News, Ms Foster, the former first minister of Northern Ireland said: I dont think theres any doubt about that [hating the UK]. I just think the fact hes coming here wont put any pressure on the DUP, quite the reverse actually because hes seen by so many people as just simply pro-republican and pro-nationalist, she said. Ms Foster said Biden has no standing with the DUP, however, leader Jeffrey Donaldson told the media the Presidents words were measured and welcomed Mr Bidens visit to Northern Ireland. 5He The Tanaiste said Ms Fosters comment was misplaced and that he would refute it. I was very surprised by that comment, the one word that you do not associate with Joe Biden is the word hate, he told RTEs Morning Ireland. He is the opposite of that, he always speaks about the dignity of every human. He is more love than hate - by a country mile. I think that was a wrong comment by Arlene and in fact he often references his British heritage as well in terms of his grand uncle being involved in the British navy and I think he gave a personal anecdote about that. I think that was misplaced, hes not that type of person. People make comments, and I would just have to say that I would refute it. Mr Martin said Biden has worked collaboratively with the UK government on a number of issues. I dont have any sense having met with Joe Biden on quite a number of occasions now that he hates anybody, he said. And in fact, if you look at his diplomacy over the last while particularly in the context of Ukraine. I mean hes worked strongly with the UK government on global issues particularly in respect of climate change. And likewise in terms of the geopolitical challenges that were facing in terms of the war in Ukraine and then on Northern Ireland it's positivity all the way. Mr Martin added that President Bidens historic visit to Ireland makes for a very special week. It captures that very special relationship with this president and indeed with the American people in terms of a shared past and in many ways its a tribute to the legacy of that past, he said. Its also a tribute to the rich possibility of the future, which I think he did focus on very significantly. He did focus a lot over the last number days on values and then issue of peace. 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement he was very clear on that in terms of his own personal investment in that as a politician. Speaking this morning, former Taoiseach and Mayo man Enda Kenny said Mr Biden always gave real time to Ireland. Mr Kenny said Bidens visit is a historic visit and one of endless opportunity. He is a man deeply proud of his faith and deeply proud of his heritage and has paid tribute to that during his visit here, he told RTE. I hope that, as a Mayo man myself, that by the time he gets to the Moy River and St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina this evening that they will give him one almighty welcome. This is the longest presidential visit to the island of Ireland ever. Preparations of St. Muredach's Cathedral ahead of the visit of Joe Biden in Ballina. Picture: Gerry Mooney US President Joe Bidens historic trip to Ireland will conclude today as he makes his way to his ancestral home in Co Mayo. Mr Biden will land at Ireland West Airport Knock via Air Force One around lunchtime to kick start a series of engagements throughout the day. From there, the US President and his entourage will travel to Knock Shrine, where Mr Biden will visit the pilgrimage centre and take some time for private prayer. He will be welcomed by Fr Richard Gibbons, PP and Rector of Knock Shrine and Mr John Conroy, manager of Knock Shrine. During this private visit, he will have the opportunity to learn more about the unique story of Knock while also taking some time for private prayer. The next scheduled stop is at the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centre, where he will explore further the story of his Blewitt ancestors. Mr Bidens great-great-great Grandfather Edward Blewitt left Ballina for Scranton, Pennsylvania, in the 1850s. He is then scheduled to meet with his local cousins, before he delivers a speech in front of an estimated 20,000 people in Ballina this evening. His address, in front of St Muredachs Cathedral, has an added layer of significance as Edward Blewitt is recorded as supplying over 25,000 bricks for the construction of the church in the 1820s. Gates for the event open at 5.30pm, with the official programme commencing at 7pm. The outdoor event is free and open to the public and anyone wishing to attend must register online. It will follow an evening of live music on the banks of the River Moy, with performances from The Chieftans, The Coronas and The Academic ahead of Biden's speech. Mr Bidens address is expected at around 9pm. Afterwards, he is expected to take some time to visit the interior of the Cathedral. He will then make his way back to Ireland West Airport Knock tonight where the visit will officially conclude with a departure ceremony attended by members of the Government. Mr Biden will then fly back to Dublin where he is expected to depart Irish soil around midnight tonight. Foreign Dispatch Theres no doubt that Sarah Ferguson did some astonishingly unwise things but a place at King Charless coronation next month would set an example of reconciliation to estranged families everywhere. Photo: Getty Images Sarah, Duchess of York, still known as Fergie, hasnt been invited to King Charless coronation. Rather like Meghan, who also will not be there accounts vary as to why next months coronation ought to be an inclusive occasion, and one where reconciliation is a strong theme. That applies at an international level, where nations once cruelly exploited by the British can attend as free and equal members of the Commonwealth. Granard, Co Longford, where a mural of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, by the artist Phil Atkinson, was painted last year. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire Everyone loves the countryside, from a walk in a glistening quiet forest to a pint in a much-loved parish pub. Its where Ive come to root myself over the last seven years since returning to Ireland. Which kind of politician a bridge-burner or builder deserves your political support? Thats a question for people in Northern Ireland to mull over in the coming weeks, with elections due next month. Perhaps US president Joe Bidens visit will concentrate some minds on the question. Joe Bidens recurring theme as he addressed the joint sitting of the Oireachtas yesterday was the Irish-US economic, social and personal links, in the past and present, and especially into the future. In an age when public discourse is so dominated by cynicism there was something touching in the sincere pride and respect US president Joe Biden displayed for his Irish heritage. Ta me sa abhaile, he said. The sentiment was unabashed but genuine. Having earlier rung the peace bell on a visit to the Aras, Mr Biden momentarily seemed somewhat awestruck. He later explained how hed been marvelling at the fact that both his ancestors and those of former US president Barack Obama had left from the same Irish port only five weeks apart. The idea they both would seek a new life and think their great-great-grandsons would end up becoming president of the United States is just remarkable. Thats the Irish of it, he mused. He later shared the story with the joint houses of the Oireachtas, where he was introduced to thunderous applause by Ceann Comhairle, Sean O Fearghail. Given Mr Biden has been promoting Ireland and its interests since 1977, the recognition was as deserved as it was overdue, In an emotional speech he told how from the coffin ship to the Computer Age, the Irish had shaped America. This was not hyperbole, for Irish hearts had lit the torch of liberty, and their hands had built from the bottom up. The privations and struggles of those who had to leave their loved ones to build new lives on strange shores were too easily forgotten. Hard-won achievements came on the back of sacrifices, and the pangs of separation. So President Biden was unapologetic about reminding the world of their legacies. Some diplomatic feathers were ruffled on the other side of the Irish Sea, by the fact Mr Biden had bypassed London. One columnist went so far as to say: President Bidens insulting decision to prioritise Ireland over the UK on his visit to mark the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement was no surprise. But as President Biden wrote in the visitors book at the Aras: Your feet will bring you where your heart is. Its an honour to return. So this was always going to be a home-from-home coming. There is nothing anti-British about Mr Biden. He said in his address he felt the UK should be working closer with Ireland on the North. But this is the advice of a friend not a foe. For he was also at pains on his trip to express how grateful the US is to Britain for its support in Ukraine. And he acknowledged the debt America owed Northern Irish Protestants who also helped build his country. His record is one of a plain speaker, some times too much so. If language is the dress of thought as Samuel Johnson liked to claim there are times when it may seem as if the US president might have gotten dressed in the dark. But peace still needs its champions, as Mr Biden said. And fortunately for Ireland: in his passionate protection of the Good Friday Agreement; President Biden has proven himself to be amongst them. The Gangland Trial of the Century is a new three-part special series from the Indo Daily that explores the people and events that led to Gerry The Monk Hutch facing a murder charge for the death of David Byrne at the infamous Regency Hotel Shooting in 2016. But what do we know of the illusive man who goes by the name of The Monk? Fionnan Sheahan is joined by the author of the book The Monk: The Life and Crimes of Ireland's Most Enigmatic Gang Boss', Irish Independent special correspondent Paul Williams, to trace the rise of Gerry Hutch from inner city poverty to wealthy property developer and ask how he masterminded some of the most notorious heists in Irish history until being embroiled in the deadly Kinahan-Hutch feud that has seen 18 people murdered. Empty canisters of nitrous oxide litter the capitals streets, evidence of a drug craze among youngsters that many now fear is out of control Discarded canisters of nitrous oxide in Clondalkin during the Covid pandemic in 2020, when use of the drug soared. Photo: Niall Carson Because the drug nicknamed laughing gas is becoming increasingly popular and its potential dangers are anything but funny. So why has a Dublin TD warned that many young people in his constituency and elsewhere are playing Russian roulette? Last week Sinn Fein TD for Dublin Mid-West Mark Ward claimed youngsters use of nitrous oxide rocketed during the Covid pandemic, causing more litter, anti-social behaviour and health problems. He is now calling for new legislation that would tighten the supply of this legal but sometimes deadly substance. Unscrupulous dealers are making vast profits from the sale of nitrous oxide, Ward told Newstalk radio. You only have to walk around any housing estate across Dublin and youll see the canisters. Something needs to happen. What exactly is this stuff? Basically, nitrous oxide is a colourless, non-flammable gas that smells and tastes slightly sweet. Laughing gas is its most popular street name, but it is also sometimes called whippets, silver bullets and hippie crack. First discovered in 1772 by English scientist Joseph Priestley, who called it a remarkable species of air, nitrous oxide can serve many purposes. Doctors and dentists use it as a mild anaesthetic, relaxing patients without actually putting them to sleep. In the catering industry, its a handy propellant for making whipped cream. For more than 250 years, however, the big problem with nitrous oxide has been that some people inhale it to get high. Dispensing it into a balloon first is the standard method, although a few users suck it straight from the canister. It can provide a euphoric buzz for around 30 seconds or so, much like feeling dizzy or lightweight. Is there really much harm in that? Far more than most people realise. Nitrous oxide is a psychoactive substance that deactivates vitamin B12, causing damage to your brain and nervous system. Symptoms may include headaches, hallucinations, nausea, paranoia and blurred vision. Most frighteningly of all, nitrous oxide sometimes displaces the air in your lungs and prevents oxygen from entering the bloodstream. In extreme cases, it can create a spasm of the throat muscle and force users to stop breathing. Alex Ryan was a 15-year-old from Tallaght who died after inhaling nitrous oxide in 2020. I want to highlight these canisters that children in the area are taking, his father, Mick Morrissey, said afterwards in an emotional online video. Holding one up for the camera, he said: Children are able to buy these things on the street for 1 or 2 a go. Unfortunately, my son was one of the ones that didnt survive. Is nitrous oxide really that accessible? As easy to buy as a loaf of bread, according to British consultant neurologist Dr David Nicholl. Although it is illegal to sell nitrous oxide for human consumption, this is extremely difficult to prove. Since the substance has legitimate uses, it can be found on sale in some small retail outlets and is easily available online. Small cylinders of nitrous oxide cost no more than a bar of chocolate (as Alex Ryans bereaved parent pointed out). Larger ones go for anything between 30 and 70. I go to the chemist and I cant buy 200 paracetamol tablets, Dr Nicholl told Sky News last month. So why are we having corner shops selling 600g cylinders of nitrous oxide? And how widely is it being used? That depends on your age. Nitrous oxide is 10th on the Global Drug Surveys list of most abused illicit substances. Among British 16 to 24-year-olds, however, its now more popular than any other drug bar cannabis. The evidence strongly suggests that Ireland is no different. According to a 2019 survey by the HSE and Trinity College Dublin, 25pc of drug users who attended festivals that year consumed it. More recently, a 2022 study from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction found one in four Irish people has tried nitrous oxide at some point. Of these, almost 39pc took it for the first time within the last 12 months. To quote some more disturbing statistics, 22pc of young people seen by the HSEs Adolescent Addiction Service last year used nitrous oxide a whopping increase of 175pc compared with 2021. Last November, Mater Hospital neurology specialist Dr Esther Macken reported that she had treated six patients for damage caused by nitrous oxide over the previous 12 weeks. Based on the evidence shes seeing, Dr Macken told RTE radio, that number is going to continue to grow. So should we just ban it outside kitchens and medical surgeries? As with most rows about narcotics, theres no consensus. Nitrous oxide has been largely outlawed in some countries, including the normally drug-friendly Netherlands earlier this year, where it was linked to a spate of fatal road accidents. In Britain, however, Rishi Sunaks government is at odds with its own scientific experts over this question. British home secretary Suella Braverman has called nitrous oxide a scourge on our streets and said she wants to make possession of it for recreational use a criminal offence, but the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs claims this would only drive it underground and do more harm than good. So what action might Ireland take? Mark Ward has submitted legislation to the Oireachtas Bills Office that follows the Dutch example. If this is passed, only a licensed supplier could sell nitrous oxide to certain industries. Gardai would have the power to confiscate canisters, but not prosecute people who only have them for personal use. There are signs that Sinn Fein may get cross-party support for this approach. Its far too straightforward for anyone to pop online and order nitrous oxide to their home in a couple of clicks, Wards Fine Gael constituency colleague Emer Higgins said last December. We need to get ahead of this before it becomes an even bigger problem. Finally, doesnt nitrous oxide show what a difficult job the upcoming Citizens Assembly on Drugs Use will have? Exactly. When the assembly holds its first meeting this weekend, delegates will be facing one fundamental question. Should Ireland try to crack down further on supply or admit the war on drugs is lost by decriminalising certain substances? For nitrous oxide at least, there are no easy answers. Its cheap, trendy, dangerous, plentiful and above all in huge demand. People just swarm at you everyones gagging for it, one British dealer told The Guardian in 2021. If laughing gas really is that contagious, its hard to know who or what can burst its balloon. Ballydesmond author John Cotter launches the second instalment of an epic fantasy series in his native town Author John Cotter pictured on the occasion of his second book launch with his wife Noreen and family from left: Tara, Jack, Adam and Jack's girlfriend, Kasia. The launch took place at Bob's Bar and Restaurant in Ballydesmond on Good Friday night. Photo by Noel Nash. Dragons and demons steered clear of the group gathered in Bobs Bar and Restaurant in Ballydesmond on Friday night for the launch of John Cotters second and continuing fantasy tale, King William Brown. By Janet Murphy The first instalment of the book, published in 2014, follows the adventures of Prince Adam and Princess Tara into King William Browns magical kingdoms where travel is by dragon only. Entry is by dream, and Zorro the Wolf stands guard over dreams at the ancient grave of Dermot Duin. Johns latest episode finds Adam and Tara and their school friends and teacher stranded in this faraway land. They must escape Lucifer, who hungers for their souls, and find their way back home to their families. Magic powder and magic globes can help but the magic ring is lost! The launch of Johns book was hosted by John Roche, Chairman of Castleisland District Heritage, who as a fellow author from a farming background appreciated the task undertaken by John Cotter. Mr. Roche spoke about John Cotters remarkable achievement given the strange circumstances that lead to the books composition. John Cotter suffered a motorbike accident in 1985 which left him in a coma for six weeks. His return to consciousness was accompanied by a mind full of strange and pagan stories hitherto unknown to him. John Roche mentioned how his own belief system had changed with the years and how experiences such as John Cotters calls all into question. It might be asked, he said, what is a coma? He thanked John Cotter for re-introducing the ancient grave of Dermot Duin which he had never seen and was seldom spoken of in his lifetime. John Galvin, committee member of Castleisland District Heritage, enlarged on the legend of Dermot Duin as he heard it from the old people of the district. Dermot Duin fled certain death in battle in Mayo for the hills and recesses of Kerry. The chieftain died from a broken heart and was buried on Knockdown with his sword and his shield. Ballydesmond man Michael John Kearney, Chair of Castleisland Chamber Alliance, spoke of his delight that the Cork village, known in earlier times as Kingwilliamstown, had inspired John Cotter in the title of his book. King William Brown was formally launched by John Reidy of The Maine Valley Post. John recalled his first meeting with John Cotter in 2014 when they discussed his uphill struggle after his accident. He compared that struggle to John Cotter clawing a path to the summit of Knockdown towards the grave that inspired him to write. John Cotter spoke about the illustrations in his books, those in the first part drawn by Judyta Obrebska who he met during training at the National Learning Network in Tralee. He told Judyta about his story and soon after, she produced a number of exquisite drawings in pen and ink. Noel Nash, who works as illustrator for Castleisland District Heritage, has provided the artwork for Johns latest production. John Cotter signed books and thanked all who journeyed to Ballydesmond for the launch including his colleagues at The Country Market Restaurant, Castleisland where he works, and Bobs Bar and Restaurant which provided venue and refreshments. He thanked his wife Noreen and children Jack, Adam and Tara, for their help and encouragement in his writing and publishing journey which, he assured his guests, was not over yet. King William Brown is available in: Kearneys Centra, Ballydesmond; Whytes Centra, Castleisland; Jackie Reidy Newsagent and Menswear Castleisland; Hickeys Hardware, Castleisland and The Forge Market Store, Castleisland. Castleisland Tidy Towns PRO and Biodiversity Officer Shane McAuliffe with some of the 4,000 native trees which were planted along the upper reaches of the River Maine and its tributaries during National Tree Week. WorldWaterDay was celebrated on March 22 with the theme of accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis. That day and the week around it, National Tree Week, were celebrated by Castleisland Tidy Towns PRO and Biodiversity Officer Shane McAuliffe through the planting of 4,000 trees along the upper River Maine and Fahaduff River catchment areas. The global campaign BeTheChange encourages people to take action in their lives to change how they use, consume and manage water, said Shane. These promises from individuals and communities will contribute to the Water Action Agenda alongside larger commitments from governments, companies, organisations, institutions, and coalitions. National Tree Week 2023 was marked between 19th March 19th to 26th this year with the theme Biodiversity begins with Trees. Castleisland Tidy Towns has worked with farmers and local landowners in conjunction with Kerry Agribusiness to plant 4,000 native trees, including oak, alder, birch and willow along tributaries of the River Maine to boost biodiversity and improve water quality. Mr. McAuliffe explains the idea behind the project: In November 2021, I attended a Farming for Water Quality event in Castleisland hosted by Teagasc and Kerry Agribusiness which gave an overview about improving water quality locally as the Fahaduff and Upper Maine catchment is a Priority Area for Action under the Local Authorities Water Programme. I then thought about how Castleisland Tidy Towns could get involved in helping to improve the water quality. Being an avid tree planter on my own farms I came up with the idea of giving trees to local farmers and landowners to plant on their river banks. I then applied to Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) for funding under the Community Water Development Fund 2022 and we were awarded 4,000 for the project. Trees were delivered by hedging.ie in January and they kindly added more trees to the original order so we had 4,000 trees to distribute. Terry OMahony, Sustainability Advisor with Kerry Agribusiness worked to identify farmers and we had almost 30 farmers take the 4000 native trees to plant on their land. Not only will these trees help to boost local biodiversity and sequester carbon but they can have a big impact on improving water quality. The roots of the trees will help to bind and stabilise the river bank, preventing erosion. They will also help to intercept nutrients, sediments and pesticides which may flow off the land and prevent them from entering the water, Shane explained, adding: These riparian buffer zones will also help reduce surface water runoff and in turn help to alleviate flooding. Castleisland Tidy Towns members are very grateful to all the landowners and farmers who took part in this project and they would like to thank Terry OMahony for his assistance. Thank you to hedging.ie who once again provided a great deal to us when we ordered the native bare root trees. As we had more trees then we originally planned we were also able to give these out in the community, to the likes of Castleisland Community College and Scartaglen National School, Shane added. For more information on this project Shane McAuliffe, Castleisland Tidy Towns PRO and Biodiversity Officer is contactable on: 087 148 0208. Almost nine months after setting out from Dingle to take part in the Golden Globe round the world yacht race, West Kerry sailor Pat Lawless tied up his boat at Dingle marina on Friday, out of the race but now established as one of the most respected solo sailors on the planet. Pat sailed Green Rebel out of Dingle last July 27 and was one of 15 competitors who started the Golden Globe race from Les Sables dOlonne in France on September 4. He led the early stage of the race and was still among the leading boats as the fleet approached Cape Town when disaster struck two months and almost 8,000 miles into the race. His self-steering gear, which is a critical piece of kit for solo sailors, broke in heavy weather and he limped into Cape Town on November 11 where he had the option of getting assistance to make repairs. However, under Golden Globe race rules, sailors who get any outside help are disqualified from the race, even though they can continue in the non-competitive Chichester class. Pat felt there was no point being in the race if he wasnt in with a chance of winning it so, broken hearted at the decision, he pulled out of the contest and his hopes of Golden Globe glory ended at the Cape of Good Hope. Even so, his achievement in the race up to that point won him the respect of the sailing community worldwide. After stepping out of Green Rebel at Dingle marina where he was met by family and friends on Friday, Pat told The Kerryman he had nobody but himself to blame for the failure of his self-steering equipment. Its my own fault, I should have checked it before I left, he said ruefully. Just over a week after Pat retired from the race another of the leading skippers had to be rescued after his boat sank in dramatic circumstances in the Indian Ocean, and this Tuesday a rescue operation was underway after another boat suffered catastrophic damage in a storm in the south Atlantic. Only three yachts remain in the race and, like Pat, most of the yachts that were forced to retire suffered self-steering gear failure. The leaders are currently about 1,000 miles west of the Canaries and are expected to cross the race finish line in France at the end of the month. Word is judge Simon Cowell was bowled over by the talents of Cillian OConnor (13). A teenager from Donacarney near Mornington, Co Meath is set to wow the judges on Britains Got Talent on Saturday night, with his conjuring act and sleight of hand. 13-year-old Cillian OConnor, who has featured many times on the pages of the Drogheda Independent, is said to have bowled over judge Simon Cowell with his magical talents. His proud parents Elaine and Richie will be watching their son perform on Virgin Media on Saturday night, as will his excited classmates from Drogheda Grammar School. Being autistic, when Cillian was first introduced to a magic trick at a young age, he became fascinated. Someone showed him a simple trick with his thumb and it just blew his mind! his dad told the Drogheda Independent in 2018, when Cillian was just eight years old. Straight away he wanted to learn more tricks, and it is brilliant for his motor skills - you should see him now shuffling cards, hes like someone in Las Vegas. A total pro. Cillian was a big hit at the Fleadh in Drogheda, and honed his public performance skills in front of the thousands of people who visited the town in 2018 and 2019. I dont know where he got the love of magic and performing, certainly not from me, said Richie at the time. My wife Elaine was a Billy Barry dancer when she was young, so I can only put it down to her, but we love to see both of them loving being on stage. Cillian made history as the youngest member of the Irish Society of Magicians, which had its benefits too. They usually only take members at 11 or 12, but they were very impressed with Cillian, and have made an exception, explained Richard in 2018. We were able to travel to the annual Blackpool Magicians Convention and also the one in Dublin. "He loves it and even has his own little costume now, so we think hell keep going until he sells out shows! The ITV talent show will return to screens for its 16th series on Saturday evening, with Bruno Tonioli stepping in as a new judge to join Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Simon Cowell. You can see how Cillian fares on Britains Got Talent on Virgin Media or UTV on Saturday night, April 15th at 8pm. Darren Meehan and Bronagh Coleman from Newtownbalreagan with children Shane, Ronan and Meabh Meehan David and Justina Patton with their children Ben and Hannah who got to shake hands with President Biden Brothers Peter and David Rice from Bellurgan Point with the book signed by President Joe Biden Louth brothers David and Peter Rice were among the thousands who braved the cold and rain to get a glimpse of President Joe Biden on his visit to Dundalk. Before leaving their home at Bellurgan Point on the Cooley peninsula they grabbed a copy of the New York Times bestseller Joe Biden: American Dreamer by Evan Osnos. Briodi Quigley had a good view as President Joe Biden passed through Clanbrassil Street Biddy McKevitt and Rosie Rogers We got this book a couple of years ago when he was running for President and thought it would be nice to take it with us, said David, who is studying law at DCU. We just saw it on the bookshelf when coming out, added Peter. David and Justina Patton with their children Ben and Hannah who got to shake hands with President Biden They took up position across from the Food House on Clanbrassil Street, having heard that President Biden was going to visit the popular cafe and deli. "We were standing here since 4.30pm so it was a three hour wait. Read more Historic night for McGeough family as Joe Biden makes first Irish speech as US President in Dundalk bar It proved a worthwhile wait as David, who was at the front of the crowd at the barrier, managed to get the Presidents autograph. "I gave him the book to sign and he said Im not supposed to do this but signed it anyway. Kyle and Niamh Murphy with dog Louis The two brothers were thrilled to get the signature of the 46th President of the United States, especially one with such close ties to the area where they live. "We did it! It was a long shot we never thought hed do it! Mark Dearey with his family Eibhlinn, Theo and Stella Dundalk couple David and Justina Patton forego the opportunity to shake the Presidents hand, letting their young children Ben and Hannah do it instead. Both the kids got to shake his hands and will be on TV, said Justine. They had been standing at Clanbrassil Street for two hours but said it was worth it. "It was good, there was a great buzz and the kids were so excited, she said. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Biddy McKevitt of Trimmings haberdashery in Clanbrassil Street was busy selling the Stars and Stripes in the run up to the Presidents visit. "Its a brilliant day for the town, she said The buzz is great. Theres so many people here, its wonderful. Tracey Quigley from Tom Bellew Avenue, her daughter Lyndsey and five-year old grandson Brodi had queued up at 5pm to get access to the town centre. "It was brilliant, said Tracey, who had also been in crowd for President Clintons address in December 2000. Darren Meehan and Bronagh Coleman from Newtownbalreagan with children Shane, Ronan and Meabh Meehan Its great for the town, President Biden has never been here before. It gives the town a lift, puts it on the map, she said, adding that it was good to recognise the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement. Tetiana Vomina, Alla Mikhnove and Irene Hazphr Former Green Party politician and owner of the Spirit Store, Mark Dearey had watched the Presidential motorcade pass through town with his children, Stella, Theo and Eibhlinn, while his wife Laura was minding the dogs belonging to Bobby Wain and Jerome McAteer who had welcomed President Biden to the Food House. "We live right beside Bobby and Wain and Stella is usually their dog minder. She has seen the Pope, Taylor Swift and now Joe Biden! Mark had been among the 60,000 strong crowd that had turned out when Dundalk welcomed its first American President, Bill Clinton and his wife Hilary. "It was a great night and I bumped into Hilary afterwards, he recalled. "My brother Mark was the MC for the night as he was working in the Arts Office at the time. Kyle and Niamh Murphy travelled from Newry with their dog Louis for the historic occasion. "How often does the President of the United States come to Dundalk, said Niamh, who works in the town. To think he has relatives in Louth, in Carlingford makes it a really important visit, said Kyle, adding that half of my family are from Dundalk. Alla Mikhnove, Tetiana Vomina, and Irene Hazophr, Ukrainian refugees living in Dundalk, were cold but happy, having seen President Biden pass by in The Beast. "How often does he come to come to Ireland?! asked Alla. Staff in the Windsor get to pose with President Joe Biden. Staff in the Windsor get to pose with President Joe Biden. President Joe Biden with members of the McGeough family in the Windsor. This was President Bidens first speech in Ireland as President of the United States and he did it in The Windsor Bar in Dublin Street, Dundalk said publican Donal McGeough with a justified sense of pride. It was a historic occasion and we're delighted he did it here. Donal said he only learned that the 46th President of the United States was going to visit the family-run pub on Monday, three days before the visit. "Normally considering the magnitude of the occasion, there would be two or three weeks notice to allow for security checks and vetting, but it this case, we were only told on Monday that it might or might not happen, and then on Tuesday the security gangs started coming in. The good thing about that was I only had one night of no sleep on Tuesday! All I had to do was to open my door and let the secret service, the White House Staff, the CIA and Guards in. The visit to The Windsor was not just an opportunity for President Biden to make a speech, which included one of his famous gaffes, but also a chance for him to meet with his Louth cousins. Local politicians, councillors, officials, members of Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, Comhairle na nOg, and Transition Year students from St Vincents were also in attendance. Maureen McGeough welcomes President Joe Biden to the Windsor. With a strict limit on the numbers allowed, Donal, as one of a family of ten, found himself having to plead to get as many of his family in for the historic occasion. Naturally enough, his mother Maureen had to be included, and he managed to get clearance for siblings Seamus, Maria, Patricia, Thomas, Andrew, Freda, Donal, Adrienne and their spouses as well as his eldest son Sebastian. My wife and other kids were out of the country and were so jealous. "It was a great occasion for my mother, adding that their late father Jimmy would have totally enjoyed the occasion. Maureen McGeough with Tanaiste Micheal Martin in the Windsor. His sister Patricia OKane said that it was "a fantastic night and very emotional for Mam. Dad would have loved it but Donal and Mam did him proud. "President Biden really made a connection with Mam and spent time talking with her. Before the Presidents arrival, the staff had been warned to stick with protocol and not approach the President unless he approached them. Staff in the Windsor get to pose with President Joe Biden. However, Donal said that their Ukrainian chef Max was so excited that he leaped across the counter. "After that President Biden went behind the bar with all the staff and it was just a brilliant moment. He posed for photos and sang Happy Birthday to one of the Finnegans. You really felt that he wanted to be here. It was a wonderful night for the family and the county, and from a personal point of view it was great that it went as smoothly as it did. While The Windsor is famous for its food, Donal said that they weren't asked to serve food to the guests. Staff in the Windsor get to pose with President Joe Biden. "I brought our chef in to cook up a bit of dinner for our own staff and the security staff, and people just a pint or glass of wine before the President arrive and again after he left. The famously teetotal President didnt elect to pose with a pint of Guinness, denying the media a photo opportunity, but happily stood in for selfies with those gathered for the historic occasion. 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. Of 14 proposed sites, seven were deemed not suitable with no reasons given, while traffic was cited a number of times among the remaining seven. Sinn Fein TD for Louth/East Meath Imelda Munster has reacted to seeing the long list of rejected potential replacement Driving Test Centres for Drogheda, by saying the RSA seems to see Drogheda as deemed not suitable for a Driving Test Centre. Of the 14 sites listed, seven were deemed not suitable with no reasons given for this assertion. While reading their reasons for rejecting the seven other sites, I switched between bemusement and disbelief as having traffic in the area was cited more than once. Every Irish town and city where there are existing driving test centres has a build up of traffic at some point during the day. She says she was angry to read the reason they rejected the site at the Drogheda Town FC Training ground was that they wanted Drogheda Town, an amateur club run by volunteers, to fit the site out for them. The RSA report said This site was found to be suitable for the purpose of a Driving Test Centre. However major renovations would be needed on site and a Modular Unit would need to be placed on site with all amenities needed to be installed on the site. Drogheda Town management were asked about the fitting out of the site, but as they are an amateur club, their finances could not cover this cost. I find this unbelievable that a government organisation would ask an amateur club to pay for them to move in, she said angrily. RSA seems to see Drogheda as deemed not suitable for a Driving Test Centre, but because they had years to find a suitable site and have not done so I would say the RSA are deemed not suitable for the job theyre supposed to be doing. 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. 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. The Model will present a new solo exhibition by artist Siobhan McDonald, which opens on Saturday 29 April. The Boglands are Breathing presents a new body of work that critically explores the role of boglands as both repositories of our past and guardians of our future. Boglands are mythical places where the most important changes of contemporary times are taking place. The artist, Joseph Beuys described them as the liveliest elements in the European landscape, not just [for] flora, birds and animals, but as storing places of life, mystery and chemical change, preservers of ancient history. The Boglands are Breathing responds directly to this thinking to encourage awareness of the cultural, historical, biological and climatic significance of bogs. In a multifaceted body of work, Siobhan McDonald blends scientific and creative processes to make sculpture, video, works on paper, paintings and sound pieces. Our shared boglands are positioned as the protagonists of an unseen drama, and this work makes visible the collective memory that is held in the rich repository that exists within the thin layer between the soil and the rocks. The exhibition gathers numerous collaborators, bringing together scientists, conservators, musicians, philosophers, perfumers and celestial phenomena, all of whom collectively take part in the evolution of the work. Amongst the new work that anchors this exhibition is The Boglands are Breathing, is a living breathing sculpture driven by tales of plants and alchemy in Irish folklore, and is inspired by a 4,000-year-old canoe found in a bog that had once been a shallow lake. Methane Lake, 2022, is a video installation that explores the slow workings of geological processes found deep in permafrost, meditating on the sentience of ice. Other works include Filtered Time, 2023, a glass house inspired by the mystery of the Faddan More Psalter in which animal gut skin is sutured together with paintings of bog plants in a delicate shroud suspended in a state of transformation lingering between life and death; and A Library of Lost Smells, 2023, a rich olfactory experience, created from plants and mineral rich bog waters, that enables audiences to explore links between smell & memory and to connect to areas that no longer exist. The exhibition continues until Saturday, July 8. Commissioned by The Model with funding from an Arts Council Project Award and supported by NatPro: Trinity College Dublin and Creative Ireland. They say that everyone has a book in them and at a recent workshop with former Hot Press writer Jackie Hayden, members of Gorey Writers Group learned how to share their own story. The event, which took place in the Loch Garman Arms Hotel, gave the writers a crash course in the art of writing memoir. As one of Irelands most respected music writers and the author of My Boy his book about Philip Lynott, Love and Theft? Bob Dylans Celtic Odyssey and his biography of Don Baker, The Winner In Me, Jackie is well-versed in the style. Jackie also spent 29 years with Hot Press where he interviewed and told the stories of artists including Mick Taylor of The Rolling Stones, Christy Moore, Sinead OConnor, Glen Campbell and Bob Geldof. According to Carmel of Gorey Writers Group, the workshop was an extremely informative and interesting event, one that gave each writer the opportunity to ask questions and put pen to paper. Jackie offered them a myriad of tips on memoir writing, including those regarding editing and publishing and the importance of stringent fact-checking. Several of the group members are interested in penning their own memoirs, said Carmel, and this workshop offered them all of the tools to get going on the first chapter. This was certainly not the first time that the group members had worked with Jackie. In 2019, the writer launched their anthology Taking Flight, which had a diverse range of contributions from the members. This was the second such anthology, with the first Fledglings launched in 2016 by the late John Wyse Jackson who owned Zozimus bookshop. Gorey Writers Group will glean knowledge from another successful author later this month when they take part in a workshop with local author Sheila Forsey. Sheila is the author of four novels and her work has reached the Irish Times Best Sellers list. Her latest book The Lake House at Lenashee, which is primarily set in Clare in the 1960s, has been described by The Sunday Independent as a Gothic-style tale with an Irish twistescapism at its best. Sheilas writing has received numerous acclaimed reviews for giving a visual and textured insight into Ireland's past in the last century. She is also a playwright and a tutor in creative writing. The Gorey Writers Group was founded by Bernie Walsh in 2006 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. Is this the best America can do: 80-year-old Biden in the blue corner and 76-year-old Trump in the red corner? It wasnt me or Courreges who invented the mini-skirt it was the girls in the street, said Mary Quant of the revolutionary hemline she is widely credited with creating. The mini-skirt 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, she said. 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 mini-skirt indecent. When Sophia Loren publicly claimed it had destroyed the feminine mystique, Quant replied: Well, shes built the other way up. Quant was born in Blackheath in 1934 to Welsh schoolteachers. Evacuated to a village in Kent with her brother Tony during the war, she recalled her earliest fashion memory as being in bed with measles at six years old and cutting the bedspread with nail scissors 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 she 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 silly. 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 condition she took an art teachers diploma. It was here that she met her future husband, the debonair Alexander Plunket Greene, in 1953 at a ball 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 six-foot-two prototype for Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney rolled into one. 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. On graduating, 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 a 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. 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. 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 (9,000) for the freehold on Markham House, a three-storey property at 138a Kings Road. When Bazaar opened its doors in 1955, there was a long queue waiting 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. 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 black dress. 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 Patti Boyd married George Harrison at the Epsom register office in January 1963, she wore a Mary Quant ensemble. Quant was given the Sunday Times Award for jolting England out of its conventional attitude towards clothes. 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. She watched Jean Shrimpton and Twiggy at close quarters, noting that they used their face as a canvas Within seven years of opening, the business had made over 1m ( 1.13m) 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. She watched Jean Shrimpton and Twiggy at close quarters, noting that they used their face as a canvas. With a 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 retrospective titled Mary Quants London. Long before it became de rigueur for designers to venture into lifestyle products, Quant launched her Mary Quant at Home line. By 1985, she had 72 shops in Japan. In 2009, her favourite dress called the Banana Split was featured on a set of Royal Mail stamps. 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? Launch came days after Kim Jong Un called for stronger deterrence to counter US aggression North Korea fired a new model of long-range ballistic missile yesterday, 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 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. The missile flew about 1,000km, South Koreas military said, calling it a grave provocation. So far we assess that they fired a new type of ballistic missile with an intermediate or intercontinental range, the official said. Were 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 co-ordinating with its main ally, the US, which strongly condemned what the White House said was a long-range ballistic missile test. Following the missile launch, the Japanese and US air forces conducted drills over the Sea of Japan as the security environment surrounding Japan is becoming more and more severe, the Japanese 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 US-based RAND Corporation. The missile could have been launched from an international airport close to North Koreas capital Pyongyang, a major site for test-firing large missiles since 2017. The nuclear envoys of allies South Korea, the US 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 and it did not fall in Japanese territory. 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. 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 broadcaster 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, US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement. North Korea has criticised recent joint military exercises between US and South Korean forces as escalating tensions. Meghan Markle will also miss the ceremony, with Prince Harry set to attend it by himself Sarah Ferguson will have to watch the May 6 coronation of her former brother-in-law on television. Photo: Getty Images Britains King Charles is not inviting his former sister-in-law Sarah Ferguson to his coronation . Ms Ferguson, widely known as Fergie, still lives with Prince Andrew and is close to him even though they divorced in 1996. She will have to watch the May 6 celebrations on TV. The news follows Meghan Markles decision to miss the coronation by staying at home in California with her two children while Prince Harry attends alone. The king and queen consorts decision means that Ms Ferguson 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 Andrew was recently invited to Windsor by the king over Easter. The refusal to invite Ms Ferguson will cause a debate among royal watchers. Some see her as a national treasure who has courageously overcome financial and personal problems, while others see her as an error-prone embarrassment. 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. Ms Ferguson and the prince 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, Queen Elizabeth II publicly stood by her. 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 London Independent that the decision to not invite Ms Ferguson 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. In recent weeks Ms Ferguson has been on a series of publicity launches for her new book, A Most Intriguing Lady. Ealier 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. The opponent of Vladimir Putin said on Twitter that he is suffering extremely hellish conditions Alexei Navalny's health is said to be deteriorating in a maximum security Russian prison. Photo: Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters Alexei Navalny, Russias most prominent opposition politician, is grappling with severe stomach pain in jail that could be some sort of slow-acting poison, his spokeswoman has said. Last weekend, an ambulance was called for Mr Navalny to the IK-6 penal colony at Melekhovo, about 250km east of Moscow. His spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, told Reuters that he was suffering from severe stomach pain. She said Mr Navalny could not eat the prison food provided to him because it was making his pain worse. Since Monday, he 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, said Ms Yarmysh. The food that is provided by the prison worsens his stomach pain. His health is not in a good condition. We cant rule out the idea that he is being poisoned, not in a huge dosage as before, but in small ones so that he doesnt die immediately but for him to suffer and to ruin his health. Mr Navalny said via Twitter on Tuesday that he had been moved back into solitary confinement and forced to endure extremely hellish conditions. The German government said it is very worried about Mr Navalnys condition. A Ukrainian serviceman stands next to a 2S3 Akatsiia self-propelled howitzer near the frontline town of Bakhmut. Photo: Reuters/Oleksandr Klymenko Poland is seeking approval from Germany to export five old German MiG-29 fighter jets to bolster Ukraines air power against the Russian invasion, officials in Berlin said yesterday. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the government would respond after consultations between his ministry, the chancellery and other stakeholders. 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. Poland needs Berlins consent to send its remaining jets to a third country. The promise is that a reply to our Polish partners will be forthcoming within the day, Pistorius told reporters on a visit to Mali. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a visit to Warsaw last week that Poland would help form a coalition of Western powers to supply warplanes to Kyiv. Ukraine, which hopes to launch a counteroffensive in the coming weeks or months, wants fighter jets to defend against air strikes. Western countries have so far been reluctant to send advanced fighter jets such as F-16s to Kyiv, but some countries have stepped in to send old MiG-29 jets that Ukraine already uses. Meanwhile, Russian artillery and aerial attacks killed two civilians and wounded two more in Ukraines southern region of Kherson yesterday, the local governor said. The army of the Russian Federation hit Zmiivka in Kherson region with guided aerial bombs, they hit a school and ... one person was killed and another was wounded, Oleksandr Prokudin, the governor, said. The area is now under almost constant bombardment from Russian forces that are entrenched on the opposite side of the Dnipro River Another man was killed in the shelling of a park inside the city of Kherson early in the morning and another person was wounded in a village elsewhere in the region, he said. Ukrainian troops recaptured Kherson last November after nearly eight months of occupation by Russian forces who seized it soon after the start of the invasion. The area is now under almost constant bombardment from Russian forces that are entrenched on the opposite side of the Dnipro River. Ukraines foreign minister said yesterday 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 UN 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. 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 fertilisers. 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 UN and Turkey brokered last July, is delicate, however, and Moscow has repeatedly threatened to end it. In the latest dispute, Russias Foreign Ministry said yesterday 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. Ukrainian service members from 28th mechanised brigade remain in their trenches after incoming fire at the front line. Photo: Kai Pfaffenbach Russia's military on Thursday pressed on with unrelenting attacks on the smashed eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and also shelled the southern city of Kherson, officials in Kyiv said. The Kremlin sees Bakhmut as pivotal in its slow-moving advance through eastern Ukraine more than a year after it invaded its neighbour. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar, writing on Telegram, said heavy fighting gripped all parts of the eastern front. She said pro-Kyiv forces repelled attacks in most areas. "Most of the enemy's offensive efforts are occurring in the Bakhmut sector," she wrote, adding that Russian commanders had redirected troops there from other areas. "The enemy is using its most professional units there and resorting to a significant amount of artillery and aviation. Every day, the enemy carries out in Bakhmut from 40 to 50 storming operations and 500 shelling episodes." The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group said this week that his forces held 80pc of Bakhmut, but the Ukrainian military said that figure was exaggerated. President Volodymyr Zelensky and other senior officials are pressing allies for more weapons that Kyiv hopes will enable it to launch a major counter-offensive later this year. "We are readying our boys," Zelensky said in a video address late on Thursday. "We look forward to the delivery of weapons promised by our partners. We are bringing victory closer as much as possible." Officials said two people had died in Russian shelling of the southern city of Kherson. Away from the battlefield, Ukrainian officials are focusing on the massive rebuilding effort that will be needed as well as pressure from allies to show progress in tackling corruption. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, holding talks in Washington, promised to account for every dollar of US aid and said reconstruction work should start this year. He welcomed what he called the "continuous, ironclad and unprecedented support" of the United States. Shmyhal, speaking alongside U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, said Kyiv had identified a priority funding gap of $14 billion needed this year. He said Ukraine had implemented measures to account for all assistance received and undertaken more anti-corruption reforms in the past year than during many previous years combined. Ukrainian officials are also pressing for membership in NATO - a move that Moscow has made clear it will not accept. "There is no alternative to Ukraine's accession to NATO," Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov told a Black Sea security conference. Frances Constitutional Council rejected some measures in the pension Bill but approved raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. Frances Constitutional Council has approved an unpopular plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 in a victory for President Emmanuel Macron after months of mass protests. Hundreds of union activists and others gathered peacefully in Paris on Friday evening following the ruling, before some groups broke off in marches toward the Bastille plaza and beyond, setting fire to rubbish bins and scooters as police fired tear gas or pushed them back. Unions and Mr Macrons political opponents vowed to maintain pressure on the government to withdraw the Bill, and activists threatened scattered new protests on Saturday. Mr Macrons office said he would enact the law in the coming days, and he has said he wants it implemented by the end of the year. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said Fridays decision marks the end of the institutional and democratic path of this reform, adding that there was no victor in what has turned into a nationwide stand-off and Frances worst social unrest in years. The council rejected some measures in the pension Bill but the higher age was central to Mr Macrons plan and the target of protesters anger. The government argued that the reform is needed to keep the pension system afloat as the population ages. Opponents proposed raising taxes on the wealthy or employers instead, and said the changes threaten a hard-won social safety net. In a separate but related decision, the council rejected a request by left-wing lawmakers to allow for a possible referendum on enshrining 62 as the maximum official retirement age. The council will rule on a second, similar request, next month. Carl Pfeiffer, a 62-year-old retiree protesting outside City Hall, warned that the Constitutional Councils decision will not spell the end of tensions. Emmanuel Macron said he was willing to meet union leaders (Lewis Joly/AP) The council decision caps months of tumultuous debates in parliament and unrest in the streets. The council members are irresponsible, because the anger that will come right after in the country, its their fault, he said. Bartender Lena Cayo, 22, said she was disappointed but not surprised by the decision. We are protesting for so many weeks and the government didnt hear us, she said. Workers who have gone on strike or protested the legislation since January are fighting for their rights, but nothing changes. As tensions mounted hours before the decision, Mr Macron invited unions to meet with him on Tuesday no matter what the Constitutional Council decision was, his office said. The unions rejected Mr Macrons invitation, noting that he had refused their previous offers of a meeting, and called for mass new protests on May 1, which is international workers rights day. Unions have been the organisers of 12 nationwide protests since January and have played a critical role in trying to tamp down excessive reactions by protesters. Violence by pockets of ultra-left radicals have followed otherwise peaceful nationwide marches. The plan to increase the retirement age was meant to be Mr Macrons showcase measure in his second term. The council decision caps months of tumultuous debates in parliament and fervour in the streets. Spontaneous demonstrations were held around France ahead of the nine-member councils ruling. Opponents of the pension reform blockaded entry points into some cities, including Rouen in the west and Marseille in the south, slowing or stopping traffic. Investigators believe Jack Teixeira was the leader of an online private chat group where the documents were shared. A Massachusetts Air National Guardsman arrested over the leak of highly classified military documents is expected in federal court on Friday as the US justice department prepares to outline the criminal case against him. Jack Teixeira, 21, was arrested by heavily armed tactical agents on Thursday following a week-long criminal investigation into the disclosure of highly sensitive government records. It was an alarming breach that exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments of the war in Ukraine, the capabilities and geopolitical interests of other nations and other top national security issues. 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 Justice department prosecutors are expected to disclose new details about the allegations while unsealing a criminal complaint in Boston charging Teixeira under an espionage act provision that makes it a crime to remove, retain or transmit national defence information. Investigators believe Teixeira was the leader of an online private chat group where the documents were shared. Though prosecutors have not given a possible motive, accounts of those in the chat group have depicted Teixeira as motivated more by bravado than ideology. 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. The classified documents, which have not been individually authenticated by US 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. 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 favourite memes and, according to some chatting with him, closely guarded US secrets. Discord has said it was co-operating with the investigation. It was not clear how Teixeira would have had access to the records, but a defence department official told The Associated Press that as an IT specialist responsible for military communications networks, the young Guardsman would have had a higher level of security clearance Defence secretary Lloyd Austin, in a statement 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. The leak may have started on a social media platform popular with online gamers FBI agents arrest Jack Teixeira, an employee of the US Air Force National Guard, in connection with an investigation into the leaks of classified US documents. Photo: ABC via Reuters A Massachusetts Air National Guard member who has emerged as a main person of interest in the disclosure of classified military documents on the Ukraine war was taken into custody yesterday by federal agents, attorney general Merrick Garland announced. Investigators believe that the guardsman, who specialises in intelligence, led the online chat group where the documents were posted. Mr Garland identified the guardsman as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, and said he would be charged with the unauthorised removal of classified national defence information. FBI agents converged at Mr Teixeiras Massachusetts home yesterday. Heavily armed tactical agents took Mr Teixeira, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, into custody. He was charged with unauthorised removal of classified national defence information, Mr Garland said. The emergence of Mr 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 publicised potential vulnerabilities in Ukraines air defence capabilities and exposed private assessments by allies on an array of intelligence matters. The National Guard said in a statement: We are aware of the investigation into the alleged role a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman may have played in the leak of highly-classified documents. Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman, said: We have rules in place. Each of us signs a nondisclosure agreement. This is a criminal act, a wi lful 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. It is possible the leak may have started on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. Discord has said it is co-operating with law enforcement. 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." 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. 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." 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, 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 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. US 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. Rules previously required the in-person delivery of notices to conscripts and reservists who are called up for duty. Russian president Vladimir Putin has signed a Bill allowing authorities to issue electronic notices to draftees and reservists amid the fighting in Ukraine. The Bill signed into law by Mr Putin was published on Friday on the official register of government documents. Russias military service rules previously required the in-person delivery of notices to conscripts and reservists who are called up for duty. Under the new law, the notices issued by local military conscription offices will continue to be sent by mail but they would be considered valid from the moment they are put on a state portal for electronic services. In the past, many Russians avoided the draft by staying away from their address of record. The new law closes that loophole in an apparent effort to create a tool for quickly beefing up the military ahead of a widely anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive in the coming weeks. Recipients who fail to show up for service would be prohibited from leaving Russia, would have their drivers licences suspended and would be barred from selling their apartments and other assets. Kremlin critics and human rights activists denounced the new legislation as a step towards a digital prison camp that gives unprecedented powers to the military conscription offices. Lyudmila Narusova, the widow of former St Petersburg mayor Anatoly Sobchak, was the only house member who spoke against the measure when the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, considered the Bill on Wednesday. Ms Narusova, whose late husband was Mr Putins mentor, said that the Bill contradicts the countrys constitution and various laws, and strongly objected to its hasty approval. The swift enactment of the law fuelled fears of the government initiating another wave of mobilisation following the one that Mr Putin ordered in the autumn. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this week that the measure was needed to streamline the outdated call-up system in view of the flaws that were revealed by last autumns partial mobilisation. There was a lot of mess in military conscription offices, he said. The purpose of the Bill is to clean up this mess and make the system modern, effective and convenient for citizens. Mr Putin announced a call-up of 300,000 reservists in September after a Ukrainian counter-offensive that pushed Russian forces out of broad areas in the east. The mobilisation order prompted an exodus of Russian men that was estimated to number in the hundreds of thousands. Defence minister Sergei Shoigu said the goal of the war games was to test the capability of Russias armed forces to mount a response to aggression. The entire Russian Pacific fleet was put on high alert on Friday for snap drills that will involve practice missile launches in a massive show of force amid the tensions with the west over the fighting in Ukraine. Defence minister Sergei Shoigu said the goal of the war games was to test the capability of Russias armed forces to mount a response to aggression. Along with the missile launches, the drills will also involve nuclear-capable strategic bombers and other warplanes besides those from the Pacific fleets air arm, Mr Shoigu said. The Russian military has concentrated the bulk of its forces on the front lines in Ukraine, but also continued conducting regular drills across Russia to train its forces and demonstrate their readiness. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the war games as part of regular training intended to maintain the necessary level of the armed forces readiness. Mr Shoigu said the scenario for Fridays manoeuvres envisages a response to an adversarys attempt to make a landing on Sakhalin Island and the southern Kuril Islands. Japan asserts territorial rights to the Kuril Islands, which it calls the Northern Territories. The Soviet Union took them in the final days of the Second World War and the dispute has kept the countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their hostilities. Last year Russia announced it had suspended peace talks with Japan in protest at Tokyos sanctions against Moscow over its action in Ukraine. P06HRH Aerial view to Tikhaya Bukhta bay at Sakhalin island in Russia Russia has built up its military presence on the islands in recent years, deploying advanced fighter jets, anti-ship missiles and air defence systems there. The Pacific fleet drills started days before a planned trip to Moscow by Chinese defence minister general Li Shangfu. A three-day visit to Moscow by Chinese President Xi Jinping last month demonstrated the two nations partnership in the face of western efforts to isolate Russia over Ukraine. Both Moscow and Beijing have accused Washington of trying to isolate them and to hold back their development as they challenge the US for regional and global leadership. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mr Xi said they would increase contacts between their militaries and stage more joint sea and air patrols and drills, but there was no hint that China would help Russia with weapons, as the US and other Western allies feared. A judge ordered that Jack Teixeira must remain in jail at least until a detention hearing set for next Wednesday. A Massachusetts Air National Guardsman arrested over the leak of highly classified military documents has appeared in court in Boston. Jack Teixeira, 21, was arrested by heavily armed FBI agents on Thursday following a week-long criminal investigation into the disclosure of highly sensitive government records. It was an alarming breach that exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments of the war in Ukraine, the capabilities and geopolitical interests of other nations and other top national security issues. A federal magistrate judge ordered that Teixeira must remain in jail at least until a detention hearing set for next Wednesday. Court records unsealed on Friday showed billing records of a social media platform and interviews with another user helped the FBI identify Teixeira, who faces charges under the Espionage Act of unauthorised removal and retention of classified and national defence information. He appeared in court in brown jail clothes for a brief hearing before US Magistrate Judge David Hennesy. Investigators believe Teixeira was the leader of a private chat group on Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. Billing records the FBI obtained from Discord, which said it was cooperating with the bureau, helped lead investigators to Teixeira, according to an FBI affidavit. According to the document, the FBI interviewed someone familiar with Teixeiras online posts on Monday. That person, who is not identified in the affidavit, told the FBI that a user name linked to Teixeira began posting what appeared to be classified information roughly in December. The affidavit suggests Teixeira switched from typing out documents in his possession to taking them home and photographing them because he had become concerned that he may be discovered making the transcriptions of text in the workplace. That is different from what posters have told the Associated Press and other media outlets, saying the user they would call the OG started posting images of documents because he was annoyed other users were not taking him seriously. The affidavit also alleges Teixeira was detected on April 6 the day The New York Times first published a story about the release of documents searching for the word leak in a classified system. The FBI says that was reason to believe Teixeira was trying to find information about the investigation into who was responsible for the leaks. The Biden administration has scrambled to contain the potential diplomatic and military fallout from the leaks since they were first reported, moving to reassure allies and assess the scope of damage. The classified documents which have not been individually authenticated in public by US 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. In previous Associated Press stories, the leaker was identified as the OG by a member of the online chat group. Known as Thug Shaker Central, the group drew roughly two dozen enthusiasts who talked about their favourite types of guns and also shared memes and jokes. The group also held a running discussion on wars that included talk of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Defence 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. The retailer is likely to reveal growth in revenues over the six months to February when it updates the market on Thursday April 20. WH Smith is set to reveal its latest trading figures on Thursday (WH Smith/PA) WH Smith shareholders will be hoping the stationery-to-snacks retailer posts higher sales when it reveals its performance for the past half-year next week. The group, which has shifted focus further from the high street to travel sites in recent years, is expected to be boosted by the continued recovery in traveller numbers at airports and train stations. It is likely to reveal growth in revenues over the six months to February when it updates the market on Thursday April 20. Analysts at Numis have forecast that travel revenues will have increased by around 70% year-on-year, amid comparisons with sales which were weighed down by the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus in the previous period. Rail strikes will have continued to impact the UK business, with 10 days impacting the December-February period Tim Barrett and Richard Stuber, Numis The groups travel business, which includes 120 InMotion technology stores, now represents around two-thirds of its revenues. The growth of its travel operation has also given the firm increased geographic breadth, making it less exposed to the UK market, although shareholders will still be keen find out how the business has been affected by recent industrial action. Numis analysts Tim Barrett and Richard Stuber said: Rail strikes will have continued to impact the UK business, with 10 days impacting the December-February period. But they added: As the business pivots towards travel it has become increasingly H2 weighted (March-August) given the importance of the summer holiday period to airports. Shares in WH Smith are 30% higher for the past six months as sentiment around the economy and the outlook for consumer travel demand has continued to improve. Nevertheless, the companys investors will also be keen to hear how its high street operation has performed given pressure on customer finances. Uncertainty on the high street was exemplified by the administration of stationery rival Paperchase in January, although the closure of its store portfolio which was not saved as Tesco bought its brand could help bolster WH Smiths market position. Another area of interest for shareholders will be IT and security. Last month, WH Smith confirmed it was hit by its second cyber attack in less than a year after hackers accessed company data, including personal information for current and former employees. The company, which previously saw its Funky Pigeon card and gift business hit by a cyber attack, is likely to want to reassure investors that these incidents have not impacted financial progress. The magazine provides a general overview of the options available to foreign firms to sell to the online India... New Delhi: India and Spain are looking forward to considerable progress in the ongoing India-EU FTA negotiations during the upcoming Spanish Presidency of the EU from July to December 2023. On Tuesday, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal and Spains Secretary of State for Trade Xiana Mendez co-chaired the 12th Session of the India-Spain Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) in New Delhi. This was the golden jubilee edition of the India-Spain Joint Commission mechanism which was established in 1972. Over the past 50 years, a remarkable enhancement of bilateral trade and investment has taken place, both countries observed during the session. During the session, Spains Secretary of State for Trade Xiana Mendez emphasised the importance of the India-Spain relationship and the Spanish partnership in Indias development stories. With an investment of USD 3.7 Bn, 250 Spanish Companies are active in India and 40 Indian Companies are present in Spain working in different sectors such as IT, Pharma, Renewable Energy, Automobiles, Infrastructure, etc, the statement said. The Spanish side reaffirmed the further cooperation in the various sectors including in the field of Civil Aviation such as Automation, Surveillance and NavAids, High-Speed Railways, Railway networking, Signalling, Traffic management etc., the statement added. India and Spain also agreed to further cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy, Shipping, Ports, Tourism, Infrastructure, Food Processing, Pharmaceuticals, Technology, Innovation, and Defence sector. The status of various MOUs was also reviewed including those of important interest for bilateral relations such as MOUs on Migration and Mobility, Agreement on Social Security, Cyber Security, etc. Both sides also discussed various Market Access Issues faced by their exporters and agreed to resolve the same through bilateral discussions. The Spanish side congratulated India on the excellent progress of the Indian presidency of the G20 so far and offered its support and cooperation for the success of G-20 TIWG. (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. Image Credit: PIB Washington/IBNS: India, Japan, and France today announced the launch of the debt restructuring negotiation process for Sri Lanka. The announcement was made during a high-level meeting on Sri Lankan debt issues on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)- World Bank (WB) Spring Meetings in Washington, USA. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman participated in the discussions along with Japans Finance Minister Suzuki Shunichi and Frances Director General of the Treasury Emmanuel Moulin and Sri Lankas State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe. President and Minister of Finance of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe attended the crucial meeting virtually. During the discussions, Sitharaman expressed Indias commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in dealing with its current economic crisis. She emphasised that collaboration among creditors is important to ensure transparency and equality in the treatment of all creditors in the debt restructuring discussions. The objective of the meeting was to demonstrate the multilateral cooperation regarding the debt restructuring process among Sri Lankas creditors. Image: Pixabay New York: Early screening can make Chagas a disease of the past, said UNITAID, a global agency hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), on the occasion of World Chagas Disease Day, observed on Friday. UNITAID calls upon the global health community and governments to make Chagas disease a priority and support ongoing efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission and improve access to tests and treatments, said Herve Verhoosel, UNITAIDs head of communication. Together, by integrating it into primary health care and systematically screening mothers and babies, we can make Chagas a disease of the past, he said, adding that the global day aims at raising awareness. First commemorated in 2020, this years theme, Time to integrate Chagas disease into primary health care, reflects a call to action to fight the spread of the disease, which affects up to 7 million people worldwide. Transmitted by kissing bugs If not detected early, Chagas can cause serious problems in the heart and digestive systems and can even be fatal, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, adding that most of those affected are from low-income communities with limited access to health care. However, the infected majority have no symptoms or mild symptoms that can go undetected for as long as decades, UNITAID said. Chagas can cause cardiac, neurological, and digestive problems if left untreated, Mr. Verhoosel said. As such, it is often called the silent or silenced disease, making it essential to raise awareness to improve the rates of early treatment and cure, he said. Almost every continent affected Originally observed in rural areas, the disease has now moved to urban settings in 44 countries spanning every continent, apart from Antarctica. Up to 75 million people live in areas of exposure, putting them at risk of infection, UNITAID said. Detection rates are often very low in many countries; only up to 10 per cent of people living with the disease receive a diagnosis and 1 per cent receive effective treatment. In Latin America, where it is endemic to 21 countries, Chagas disease is the leading cause of death from a parasite, ahead of malaria, Mr. Verhoosel said. To address Chagas disease, it is essential that it be integrated into primary health care and that such services reach people who need them, UNITAID said. Cross-sectoral approaches are also needed, including universal health coverage, vector control, and access to testing and treatment. Prevention efforts In collaboration with regional and global health partners, UNITAID is working to prevent mother-to-child transmission and to improve access to affordable tests and treatments, UNITAID said. Through projects like CUIDA Chagas and its partnership with the Pan American Health Organization, UNITAID seeks to identify better, shorter ways to test and treat Chagas disease, and advance the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of this neglected disease, the agency said. The CUIDA Chagas project is an innovative international initiative focusing on testing, treating, and caring for people affected by Chagas disease in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Paraguay. Through an approach that combines implementation and innovation, community engagement and market interventions, CUIDA Chagas seeks to contribute to the elimination of vertical transmission of the disease. Image Credit: UNI New Delhi/UNI: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders on Friday paid floral tributes to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedakar a social reformer, and the architect of India's Constitution, on his birth anniversary at Parliament House lawn in New Delhi. Greeting the fellow citizens on the occasion of his 132nd birth anniversary, President Murmu said "BR Ambedkar's basic mantra - Educate, Organize and Struggle to bring the deprived communities to the mainstream of society - will always remain relevant". "Baba Saheb's faith in the rule of law and commitment to social and economic equality as the backbone of the country's democracy,"she said in her message. She urged citizens to pledge to adopt Dr. Ambedkar's ideals and continue to work towards creating an egalitarian and prosperous nation and society. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he dedicated his life to the empowerment of the deprived and the exploited sections of society. The Prime Minister posted an audio clip of his earlier remarks on Ambedkar's life on his Twitter handle. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Former President Ram Nath Kovind, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Speaker OM Birla , NCP chief Sharad Pawar and other leaders have also paid floral tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar at Parliament House. Born on April 14, 1891, in Mhow in Madhya Pradesh Dr Ambedkar was a social reformer who worked tirelessly for the upliftment of the oppressed classes in India. He was also a strong advocate of women's rights and gender equality. Ambedkar was the first law and justice minister of independent India and also chaired the drafting committee of the constituent assembly. However, apart from his contribution in framing the Constitution, he had inspired Dalit and Buddhist movements in the country and campaigned against social discrimination. Image Credit: UNI New Delhi/Maputo/UNI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a visit to Mozambique, said the time-tested and historic relationship with Mozambique is expanding and both sides are ready to take it to the next level. He also virtually inaugurated the India-made Buzi Bridge and said it is a practical example of bilateral solidarity and friendship. On his meeting with the Indian diaspora at the reception hosted by Indian High Commissioner in Maputo Ankan Banerjee on Thursday evening, he said in tweets: "Pleased to meet community representatives and friends of India at the reception hosted by the High Commissioner in Maputo this evening. Underlined the significance of our time-tested and historic relationship that is expanding. And we are ready to take it to the next level. "Highlighted that India today does not speak only for itself, but for the Global South. Transformational changes are happening in an Atmanirbhar Bharat that is putting us on a different trajectory. "We will keep following PM @narendramodis Kampala principles and will be guided by the priorities and interests of our partners in their quest for growth and development. Thanked the Indian community for shaping the image of our nation abroad," he said. On the inauguration of the bridge, the Indian High Commission said in a tweet, "Thank EAM @drsjaishankar for virtually inaugurating the Buzi Bridge constructed as part of 132 km Tica-Buzi-Nova-Sofala Road project. Another step in strengthening India-Mozambique ties." EAM retweeting the tweet, posted: A practical example of our solidarity and friendship. Will make a difference to so many in Mozambique. The 670 metre long bridge over the Buzi river is part of the 132 km Tica-Buzi-Nova-Sofala Road project. Work on the project has been underway since 2018 at a cost of US$118 million and financed by the Exim-Bank of India. It is being executed by Indian contractor AFLONS under the supervision of WAPCOS. The project has got delayed following the tropical cyclones Idai, Chalane and Eloise. These phenomena forced the elevation of the platform quota and an increase in components unforeseen in the initial sketch. Covid-19 also caused a setback in the works, especially in the import of materials from India The project, including the bridge, will provide the coastal district of Buzi greater socio-economic development, boost trade and the free movement of people and goods. Buzi has potential in agriculture, livestock, fishing, guano in the Estaquinha caves, oilseed, and tourism in the Mwenhe-Mukuro Sanctuary, in the administrative post of Nova-Sofala, a report said. EAM Jaishankar is visiting Mozambique, on the southeast coast of Africa, from April 13-15. This is the first-ever visit by an External Affairs Minister of India to the Republic of Mozambique. EAM is to call on the top leadership and also co-chair the 5th Session of the Joint Commission Meeting with Mozambican Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo. Image Credit: UNI Bengaluru, Apr 14 (UNI) Disgruntled BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi is all set to join Congress party after the saffron party denied him ticket to contest from Athani in May 10 assembly election in Karnataka. "He is resigning (from primary membership of the BJP) at 4 pm, and joining the party (Congress) at 4.30 pm. He is now our family member," Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar told reporters here. Before making this announcement, Savadi met top Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala, Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah at latter's residence, and held discussions on the matter. Soon after the meeting, Savadi said he is joining the Congress without laying any conditions. "I held a long discussion with (Randeep Singh) Surjewala, DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah. I haven't put any conditions. I will contest from Athani constituency," he said. "Secondly, after the party comes to power I want those developmental works to be taken up that have come to a halt. I have asked this much. They have agreed. Apart from this I haven't put any conditions. I haven't asked for a ticket for my son; my wife; and my brother," he said. Savadi has been nursing a grudge over BJP's choice of Mahesh Kumatahalli as the official candidate from Athani seat. The BJP candidate had defeated Savadi in 2018 from Athani on a Congress ticket. After a year, Kumatahalli, along with other MLAs including Ramesh Jarkiholi, defected from the Congress and brought down the JDS-Congress coalition government led by HD Kumaraswamy. For this role, the BJP rewarded Kumatahalli a ticket, overlooking Savadi for the May 10 assembly election. Savadi was one blue-eyed boy of BS Yediyurappa, and one of the most senior Lingayat leaders in the state. Meanwhile, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said the party has advised Savadi not to join Congress because it is a "use and throw" party. Image Credit: Facebook/Nitish Kumar Patna/IBNS: In his maiden public speech after meeting top opposition leaders in New Delhi to evolve a broader unity for countering the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said that the present regime at the Centre was doing nothing and those voting for the saffron party in next parliamentary elections, would be doing themselves harm. Kumar while addressing a function organised by his party JD(U) to mark the birth anniversary of Bheem Rao Ambedkar, said that the present regime at the Centre was doing nothing and only engaged in propaganda. "It was all the more disturbing that the party which had nothing to do with the freedom struggle was now trying to change the country's history," he remarked while referring to the BJP government at the Centre changing the syllabus of several subjects including History in the school curriculum. "During my recent visit to New Delhi, I met top opposition leaders and there were good talks to evolve a broader unity at the national level to counter BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," the Chief Minister said adding that leaders whom he met in New Delhi, also made statements favouring opposition unity. It was also being discussed how many seats would be contested by which party in the next Lok Sabha elections, he further said adding that once a final decision was taken on modalities of opposition unity, he would begin canvassing in all parts across the country. Kumar said that central agencies had lodged cases against RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his family members five years back when he joined hands with RJD. Now after five years, central agencies reopened the cases against Lalu and his family members after he deserted the NDA and joined hands with RJD again in August last year, he pointed out. The Chief Minister said the BJP government at the Centre was misusing central agencies to harass opposition leaders in all states across the country. The BJP government at the Centre was doing nothing and only engaged in propaganda and creating trouble for opposition leaders, he added. Kumar called upon the people to oust from power, the BJP government at the Centre in next year's general elections. The Chief Minister said that despite repeated requests by him, the BJP government at the Centre did not give special status to Bihar. Those voting against BJP, would not only help in their own development but also the state and the nation, he maintained. Kumar said that two lakh school teachers would be appointed this year. All of them who would be appointed now would be pure government teachers, he further said adding that teachers earlier appointed on a contract basis would be allowed to continue and their salaries would also be increased from time to time. [With UNI inputs] Image Credit: Twitter/S Jaishankar New Delhi/Maputo/IBNS: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar , who is visiting Mozambique, on Friday, met President Filipe Nyusi during which he conveyed that India is committed to working for enhancing bilateral trade, defence and development cooperation, and people-to-people ties. In tweets, he said: Honoured to call on President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. Heart warming to hear his fond memories of time in Ahmedabad. Appreciate his deep interest in deepening our cooperation. Valued his guidance on further developing our relationship. In line with PM Modis vision, India will respond to Mozambican priorities." Committed to work for advancements in trade and investments, defense, development cooperation, health and people-to-people ties. Honoured to call on President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi . Heart warming to hear his fond memories of time in Ahmedabad. Appreciate his deep interest in deepening our cooperation. pic.twitter.com/cX8tRRjteT Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 14, 2023 Jaishankar co-chaired the 5th India-Mozambique Joint Commission meeting with his Mozambican counterpart Veronica Macamo, during which they took stock of the bilateral cooperation and explored new avenues to intensify it further. In his statement, Jaishankar said: "India and Mozambique share a long-standing and friendly relationship that is deeply rooted in a historical, cultural, and economic ties. This relationship, for many decades, has been nurtured by the keenest interest shown by our leaders." "As two developing countries, India and Mozambique have a lot in common, including a shared vision for progress and prosperity. Our bilateral cooperation spans across a wide spectrum of areas, including trade and investment, agriculture, health, education, and defense. Co-chaired the 5th India-Mozambique Joint Commission Meeting with FM Veronica Macamo. Took stock of progress made in wide spectrum of areas of our cooperation, including trade & investment, agriculture, energy, railways, health, education, development cooperation and defense. pic.twitter.com/lPFR52911d Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 14, 2023 "A review of our bilateral relations was conducted in the Foreign Office Consultations that were held between us in July last 2022. This Joint Commission is therefore, an excellent platform to take stock of the progress made in our ties and to explore new avenues of cooperation. Such institutional mechanisms of interaction form the structure of any bilateral relationship and indeed its regular meeting is central to the growth and steady advancement of our ties," he said. Jaishankar said a large number of Indian nationals call Mozambique home. "There is a community here, for a very long time and certainly their role in bridging the economic partnership between our countries is very, very significant. We also have a large Indian investment in this country, today estimated at about $11 billion, largely in the domain of energy and mining. "And our development partnership which extends to 14 Lines of Credit, to the value of more than $770 million, is another example, a very practical example of South-South cooperation," he said. UNI Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guided the first test-fire of the new-type Hwasongpho-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile. According to the report, the launch aimed to confirm the performance of the high-thrust solid-fuel engines for multi-stage missiles and the reliability of other systems. The North Korean leader noted that the latest launch will allow Pyongyang "to steadily and rapidly accelerate the development of more developed and advanced powerful weapon system to cope with the ever-worsening security environment of the Korean peninsula and long-term military threats," and the development of the missile "will extensively reform the strategic deterrence components" of North Korea, as well as "radically promote the effectiveness of its nuclear counterattack posture and bring about a change in the practicality of its offensive military strategy." Kim highly praised members of the national defense scientific research field, involved in the development of the new missile, proposed conferring the title of Labor Hero of North Korea to over 10 military officials, and promoted Colonel Han Kum Bok, the vice-director of the General Missile Bureau, to the rank of major general, the report said. North Korea launched an unspecified ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan that flew about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) and landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone on Thursday. The launch prompted the Japanese authorities to issue an evacuation order for the residents of Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido, which reportedly led to the temporary suspension of high-speed trains and road transport in the north of the country. Japan has filed a protest against North Korea through its embassy in Beijing, noting that such actions are a threat to global peace and security, according to Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno. The launch came amid a halt in cross-border communication between the two Koreas. Since April 7, the North has stopped responding to regular calls from the South through inter-Korean communication channels, including the military and the unification ministry lines. Thursday's North Korean missile firing marked the ninth launch this year. Last year, Pyongyang launched 37 ballistic missiles. (With UNI inputs) Image: MINUSMA/Gema Cortes The security situation in Mali remains quite volatile, marked by pockets of terrorist violence, with devastating consequences for civilians, the top UN official there said on Wednesday. El-Ghassim Wane, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Mission in Mali, MINUSMA, briefed the Security Council on major developments in the West African country over the past three months. Tweet URL MINUSMA was established a decade ago following insecurity in the north and a failed military coup, which led to the signing of a peace deal between the authorities and two armed group coalitions in 2015. Resurgence in fighting Mr. Wane updated ambassadors on the peace process, and advances in the transition to civilian rule following the coup of three years ago, but began by focusing on insecurity, amid rising humanitarian needs. He said the security crisis in the northeast region of Menaka has worsened, recalling that he had first sounded the alarm last year. Since January, there has been a resurgence in fighting between the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) and the militant jihadist group JNIM. The extremists are competing to extend their spheres of influence and control supply lines, he said, while engaging in constant attacks against civilians. Humanitarian response strained Despite operations by the Malian forces, and Niger, the security and humanitarian situation remains disastrous. More than 30,000 displaced people have converged near the main city, also called Menaka, and roughly 2,400 have sheltered near a MINUSMA camp. Mr. Wane last visited the region three weeks ago. The flow of internally displaced persons has increased the strain on the humanitarian response, with populations having urgent needs for drinking water, food and medicine and shelter, he said. Listening to those displaced persons who are begging us, literally, for drinking water was a shocking experience, he added. MINUSMA peacekeepers continue their efforts to protect civilians, including through day and night patrols in coordination with the Malian forces. The Mission also promotes reconciliation efforts aimed at defusing intra-communal tensions. Extremists step up attacks Meanwhile, Gao and the central region of Mali have also seen confrontations between ISGS and JNIM. Some armed groups that signed the peace deal have also been involved in fighting against the ISIL offshoot. Mr. Wane said the operations of the Malian forces have generally disrupted extremist activities in the centre, forcing them to disperse toward the neighboring regions of Timbuktu and Gao. Under this pressure, extremist groups have increasingly begun to use IEDs (improvised explosive devises) to hamper the ground movements of the Malian Defense and Security Forces, in addition to surprise attacks on various police stations along the main supply lines, he said. Given the situation, the adoption and recent launch of the Governments three-year stabilization strategy for the centre, was an important step, he said. MINUSMA supported the development of the strategy and will assist with its implementation. More coordination needed In light of the security challenges, Mr. Wane underscored the need for closer coordination between the Malian forces and the UN Mission. He welcomed recent steps taken at the regional level, which he said must be enhanced, adding that freedom of movement is equally important. We continue to encounter challenges in this respect, particularly concerning the use of our intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, and some of our ground movements, he said. Improvements in this respect are critical to the ability of the Mission to meet the legitimate expectations of the Malian people and authorities for enhanced effectiveness. 2015 Peace Agreement Turning to political developments, Mr. Wane reported that engagement around the 2015 Peace and Security Agreement continues, specifically towards ensuring the resumption of various monitoring mechanisms. International mediators, led by Algeria, have submitted proposals in this regard, and to accelerate implementation of outstanding provisions of the accord, which he hoped the parties will consider. Transition to civilian rule On the transition process, Mr. Wane reported that the constitutional referendum, scheduled for last month, has been postponed to ensure that the newly established independent election management body (AIGE) is fully operational. Although a new date has yet to be announced, the Malian authorities have stated that the delay will not compromise the restoration of constitutional order by the March 2024 deadline. The authorities have also taken steps to facilitate the completion of the transition process, including the finalization of the draft constitution and the adoption of critical pieces of legislation related to the electoral law and territorial reorganization. Also worth noting are the ongoing establishment of AIGE local structures and the printing and distribution of biometric identity cards which will serve as voter cards, he added. Leverage unique position Mr. Wane concluded his briefing by stating that while the challenges in Mali are many, advances made in many areas should not be overlooked even if what has been achieved after a decade of intense international engagement is below expectations, not least those of the Malian people. These advances show that with sustained engagement by the international community and commitment from the Malian stakeholders, the situation can be turned around. He was convinced that the UN offers the best framework to support the lasting stabilization of Mali and the larger Sahel region, in partnership with the African Union and regional bloc ECOWAS. We have all the tools required, ranging from peacekeeping to peacebuilding and development, and our action is predicated on principles that bind the entire membership of the Organization, of which Mali is one, he said. This is a unique position that should continue to be leveraged, given the importance of Malis stability for the region and beyond. tyleroharrow/Pixabay Gishkore: At least three terrorists have been killed during an intelligence-based operation in Gishkore area of Pakistan, media reports said. According to a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), an IBO was conducted to clear a terrorist hideout linked with firing incidents on security forces and civilians, as well as planting of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on Turbat-Hoshab road in general area Gishkore, reports Dawn News. As a result of continuous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance of the area, a location of terrorists was identified and security forces were heli-inserted, the ISPR was quoted as saying by Dawn News. While the establishment of blocking positions to cut escape routes was under way, terrorists opened fire [on] security forces, the statement said, adding that three terrorists were killed in the heavy exchange of fire that ensued. The ISPR said a cache of arms and ammunition, including IEDs, had been recovered during the operation. Security forces, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart such attempts aimed at sabotaging the peace, stability and progress of Balochistan, the statement said. Social media doesn't forgive or forget. This phrase is accurate for celebrities, who are always scrutinized for their statements. Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor married a year ago at their Mumbai home, Vastu, with only close friends and family in attendance. Alia gave birth to their daughter Raha Kapoor in November 2022. Despite their wedding being a 'low-key' and intimate event, there was a lot of social media chatter and discussion. Instagram Recently, online videos of separate interviews of Alia and Ranbir's mother, actor Neetu Kapoor, discussing the wedding plans have surfaced. Alia Bhatt/Instagram In a May 2022 interview with Film Companion, Neetu Kapoor she stated about Alia and Ranbir's willingness to host a destination wedding. Instagram Neetu said, "Ranbir and Alia had planned so much that Well go to South Africa, well do a recce, and eventually, where did they do it (marry)? At their home. For two years we were planning well go here, and we were seeing pictures. We were completely going nuts. But this was the best, and she looked so beautiful." web screen grab Talking to Mid-Day last during the promotions of Darlings, Alia said, "I dont tolike show; itsits actually very stressful for me. The idea of taking people and travelling to another location and setting up that place. Thats just too stressful for me. We are not like big kind of celebratory people." Well, Reddit users dug out the old videos and started calling out Alia for fabricating a false narrative about being 'low key' and simple. Calling out Alia about always lying about her life, a user wrote: "The problem with Alia is that she lies a lot, even when we have videos and interviews to dispute her lies. Remember when she made a big deal of a media report saying Ranbir was going to pick her up to then actually have that happen? Like she lies, knowing well that it is easy to get the truth." Another comment read: "She could have simply said that initially, she did want a destination wedding but it didnt work out. I dont know, but the way Alia speaks in interviews comes across as really crass!" Another person wrote: "She was pregnant, hence the quick home wedding. Otherwise would have been a destination wedding." Alia's most recent appearance was in Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva (2022). She will soon make her Hollywood debut in "Heart of Stone", set to release on Netflix in August. Prior to that, her Hindi film "Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani" will release, followed by "Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani", a Karan Johar directorial featuring Alia with her "Gully Boy" co-star Ranveer Singh, which is set to be released in July. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. In recent years, India has seen an increase in the hideous crime of online sexual exploitation and abuse of children (OSEAC). The growing use of technology and the internet has made it simpler for offenders to target and exploit vulnerable children. Children are spending more time online and away from the safety net of their homes, schools, and parents, which has made this problem worse since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last few years, there has been a steady increase in cases of OSEAC in India, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). In 2020 alone, 21,509 cases of online sexual exploitation and abuse of children were reported under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. This, however, is only the tip of the iceberg; many cases go unreported due to the lack of education and shame associated with such crimes. Unsplash/Representational Image Rise in OSEAC OSEAC is a global issue that affects children of all backgrounds and social classes, no matter where they reside. However, the prevalence and nature of OSEAC differ significantly between rural and urban areas. Rural areas typically have less internet connectivity and access to technology than cities. As a result of increased awareness and access to reporting mechanisms, there is a greater likelihood of OSEAC cases being reported in urban areas. Rural areas, on the other hand, lack of digital literacy and awareness among parents and children in rural areas making it more difficult to detect OSEAC cases. Additionally, children do not understand the consequences of sharing personal information or engaging in risky online behaviours. Cultural factors influence the prevalence of OSEAC in both rural and urban areas. Traditional gender roles and expectations may prevent girls from receiving an education or participating in activities outside the home in some rural areas, increasing their vulnerability to OSEAC. What is sexual grooming? Sexual grooming, sexting, and child pornography are all examples of OSEAC. Sexual grooming is the process of establishing an emotional connection with a child in order to sexually abuse them. This can include flattering the child, earning their trust, and lavishing them with gifts or attention. The exchange of sexually explicit messages, photos, or videos between two people, one of whom is a child, is known as sexting. This can result in the child being coerced into sexual activity or the images and videos being shared online with others. Child pornography is defined as the creation, possession, or distribution of images or videos depicting children engaging in sexual activity. This is a serious crime with legal ramifications. BCCL/Representational Image The rise of OSEAC in India is a complex issue that is being fuelled by a number of factors. These include the ease with which smartphones and the internet are available, the lack of online safety awareness among parents and children, and the slow pace of legal reform. What can be done to prevent sexual grooming To address this issue, a multifaceted approach that includes education, public awareness, and legal reform is required. Parents must be educated about the dangers of online grooming, and children must be taught how to recognise and report suspicious online behaviour. Schools can also help raise awareness and educate children about online safety. Additionally, we need to explain the meaning of good touch and bad touch. The government should also provide resources and training to law enforcement agencies in order for them to better detect and investigate cases of OSEAC. Online platforms must also take greater responsibility for child safety. This includes putting in place strong safety measures like age verification, reporting mechanisms, and content moderation. The Indian government took steps to address the problem of OSEAC in 2012, when it passed the POCSO Act, which criminalises all forms of sexual abuse against children. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has also launched the 'POCSO e-Box' portal, through which children can anonymously report cases of abuse. The government has also established a number of specialised agencies to combat online child sexual abuse. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and the Cyber Crime Investigation Cell (CCIC) are two such agencies that collaborate with law enforcement to identify and track online predators. Aside from these organisations, the government has launched a number of public awareness campaigns to educate children, parents, and carers about the dangers of online abuse. The government has also established a dedicated portal, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, where citizens can report online crimes such as child abuse and exploitation. Unsplash/Representational Image Importance of creating awareness Despite the government's efforts, much more needs to be done in India to protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse of children. It is critical to raise awareness about the issue and ensure that parents, teachers, and other stakeholders have the knowledge they need to protect children from online predators. Furthermore, it is critical to ensure that the legal framework is strong enough to deal with cases of OSEAC. Finally, greater collaboration among government, civil societies, and technology companies are required to develop effective solutions to protect children from online predators. ChildFund has launched WEB Safe & Wise: Creating A Better Digital World with Children on 7th February 2023, Safer Internet Day, a global day of recognition of the importance of online safety. The WEB Safe & Wise campaign is an important and timely initiative aimed at promoting digital safety and well-being among children and young people in the digital age. Through awareness and education, the campaign promotes digital safety, cyberbullying, online privacy, and responsible online behaviour. It also aims to provide knowledge and tools to parents, carers, and educators in order to support children and young people in their digital lives. About the author: Ashique Ali, Senior Education Specialist with ChildFund. All views/ opinions expressed in the article are of the author. Can we imagine our lives without Google? Well, a simple search can save us time and make our lives easier in multiple ways. For food lovers, looking for a specific restaurant that is located nearby is a click away. It's easy; type "xyz near me" into a search engine like Google. This is a common way to find anything in close proximity. Thai Food A Thai restaurant utilized this trend to its advantage by naming its establishment "Thai Food near me!" A recent viral tweet by a Twitter user named "gaut" has generated a lot of social media buzz. SEO game too strong pic.twitter.com/DkscS3R0hL gaut (@0xgaut) March 31, 2023 The tweet featured a photograph of a Thai restaurant's front facade, which had a board above the front door marked with the name "Thai Food near me" in bold golden blocks. The restaurant's name immediately caught the user's attention and many others who saw the tweet. Notably, the photograph shows the restaurant's window panes still taped and covered, indicating that the restaurant may not have been operational when the picture was taken. screenshot Nonetheless, the restaurant's marketing strategy has clearly grabbed people's attention, and the tweet has sparked widespread admiration for the restaurant's clever branding approach. The photo has also sparked a conversation about the power of marketing and the role that creative branding can play in capturing consumers' attention and driving business success. This bold branding has generated widespread attention and admiration for its simplicity and effectiveness. By incorporating the exact search phrase that potential customers are likely to use when looking for Thai food in their area, the restaurant has made it easy for people to find them online. The tweet's caption read, "SEO game too strong," It quickly gained traction on Twitter, going viral with over 2.8 million views and counting. Users applaud the restaurant's brilliant marketing idea and compare SEO and display marketing. The innovative concept has been dubbed "genius" and "brilliant" by Twitter users, who are hailing it as a stroke of marketing genius. The Twitter user who posted the viral tweet also shared additional SEO-backed marketing ideas for the restaurant business, including phrases like "Best Chinese Food New York," "Brunch This Weekend," "Cheap Restaurant Near Me," and "Best-Rated Italian Restaurant." some alternative business ideas: - best chinese food new york - brunch this weekend - cheap restaurant near me - best-rated italian restaurant follow me for more business advice gaut (@0xgaut) March 31, 2023 These suggestions demonstrate the power of using specific and targeted keywords to attract potential customers to a business. By incorporating these keywords into their marketing strategies, restaurants can increase their visibility and attract more customers. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram Nigerias Senate president, Ahmad Lawan, has said the 10th National Assembly would have a handful of inexperienced lawmakers. While receiving year 2020, 2021, and 2022 annual reports of the activities of the National Assembly Service Commission at his office in the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, Lawan disclosed this on Thursday. According to him, 30 percent of the lawmakers in the 9th National Assembly would return to the parliament. As a result he called for capacity building for the new lawmakers in order to update their knowledge of the lawmaking process. Lawan said, What is critical to us is what happens when we leave. Everybody knows the turnover rate has been very costly and this is without prejudice to anybody elected. This is costly in the sense that when you have only about 30 percent of members of the Ninth National Assembly going to the 10th Assembly, you know that you have lost capacity. And I use the word costly deliberately because what this means is that, the 10th Assembly, we must make provisions immediately for capacity building for new members of the National Assembly if we want to achieve our goals and set targets. READ ALSO: Appoint Faleke As Chief Of Staff, Niger Delta Group Urges Tinubu Everybody is enthusiastic. Everybody is ready. We want to come in and continue to contribute to making Nigeria better. But the parliament is not like the Executive. You have lost experience. You have lost skills, enterprise, and so on and so forth. These are traits that you need to hit the ground running immediately. Therefore, I am using this channel to sound that advisory that the National Assembly will need money, will need more resources for capacity building for members of the National Assembly that are coming new, as well as those staff that we will be working with. I also want to urge here that the National Assembly Service Commission, the management of the National Assembly, as well as the management of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, will have their hands full because the tenth National Assembly, and I am not speaking for the 10th National Assembly, is yet to be inaugurated, but I know having met many of our Senators-elect, they are all ready to start work immediately we are inaugurated and sworn in. So we want your support. You are there. It is the National Assembly membership that is always changing. You will give us the kind of support that will make us do so well. Whatever we have achieved, wouldnt have been achieved without the National Assembly Service Commission and the staff of the National Assembly. A 34-year-old woman identified as Nosimot Alalade, was arraigned before an Abeokuta Chief Magistrates Court in Isabo for assaulting a staffer of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) on Friday. The defendant, who resides at 5, Amadiya Street, Olomore area of Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, is facing a three-count charge of assault, conducting herself in manner likely to cause breach of public peace and acting in a manner to endanger the life of the complainant. READ ALSO: Couple Dragged To Court For Attacking Police, IBEDC Workers With Dog The prosecutor, Inspector Olaide Rawlings, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on April 12 at about 1p.m. at Olomore area of Abeokuta. Rawlings said the defendant assaulted one Silas Olaleye by pushing him from a ladder while performing his law duty, which caused him permanent injury on his right leg. She said that the complainant, who is an IBEDC staffer, and his team, were assigned to Olomore area for routine check of IBEDC bill and meters. The prosecutor further stated that when the complainant and his team got to the defendants house, they asked for her bill and she could not produce it. In the process, the complainant was instructed by his team leader to disconnect the defendants light from the pole. When the complainant climbed the pole to disconnect the cable that carried light to the defendants house, she (defendant), out of anger, pushed the ladder which the complainant was mounting, she said. Rawlings said that the complainant fell down from the ladder and sustained an open injury on his right leg. She said the defendant also acted in manner which endangered the life of the complainant and also conducted herself in a manner likely to cause breach of public peace by pushing Olaleye while on lawful duty. According to her, the offences contravene Sections 338, 343, 355 and 249 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun State, 2006. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Osinbajo, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000, with one surety in like sum. She, thereafter, adjourned the case till April 28 for trial. The Lagos State Government has suspended all development plans on Banana Island after the collapse of a seven-storey construction on First Avenue. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, disclosed in a statement on Thursday that this halt was subject to a comprehensive audit by the officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) He also revealed that the audit will help the state government determine the number of buildings being constructed without proper approval as well as verify if approved buildings are being built in line with the approval limits provided. This exercise will be extended to other estates and gated communities, the document also read in part. Nobody died in the incident, which occurred on Wednesday as of the time of this report. Twenty-five people were rescued from the site, which Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) scanned with a high-precision 3-D Laser Imagery System for life, and found no evidence of anyone trapped in the rubble. According to Mr Omotoso, excavation of the site by LASEMA was ongoing, using the architectural designs. The site has been divided into quadrants for a painstaking search and rescue operation. The LASG spokesman also noted that the Commissioner for Health Prof. Akin Abayomi has visited the site and hospitals where victims of the incident were admitted. READ MORE: Banana Island Management Refuses Media Access To Collapsed Building Of the 25 persons rescued, 16 with moderate injuries were admitted to General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, and Police Hospital Falomo for treatment and care. Nine others with minor injuries, such as bruises, were treated and discharged at the site by Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS). Of the 16 persons on admission, 11 were taken to Police Hospital Falomo. Eight of the 11 persons have been treated and discharged. Some are required to come for daily follow-up and management. Three with various injuries, including blunt traumatic chest injury, knee injuries, deep lacerations, and others, are on admission. The Chief Spokesperson to Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, has asked the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi to call his supporters to order. Onanuga made this known in a statement via his verified Twitter handle on Friday. The Tinubu/Shettima spokesperson described Obis supporters as a verminous mob. Onanugas statement comes on the heels of a tweet by one JJ. Omojuwa @Omojuwa, who alleged that the TIME staff that wrote the Bola Tinubu: Most Influential People of 2023 story was under attack by the renowned headless mob. READ MORE: If Obidients Are Removed From Political Space, Therell Be Peace In Nigeria Shehu Sani The tweet further claimed that she had locked her Twitter account. But, Onanuga has asked Obi to call his supporters to order before they commit murder in his name. His tweet reads, Peter Obis verminous mob continues to embarrass our country because it cant stomach the reality that he woefully lost the presidential election. Obi should please call these noxious characters to order before they commit murder in his name. A coalition under the aegis Joint Task 10th Assembly has warned that rebelling against president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu would serve as hindrance in delivering his mandate to Nigerians. Information Nigeria reports that the group which has about 283 members-elect from all major political parties is made up of returning and new members-elect from all political parties. Speaking via a statement by its chairman and co-chairman, Usman Bello Kumo and Kingsley China, the coalition also maintained that its members are in agreement with the decision of All Progressives Congress (APC) on zoning and vowed to respect the decision of the majority Party in the House of Representatives. Those who may want to defy the APC and have a repeat of the 2015 rebellion should remember the consequences of such action on governance as the sour relationship between the leadership of the 8th National Assembly and the executive left Nigeria and Nigerians at the receiving end. We are aware of the theatrics in the 8th National Assembly. But Nigerians want to see good governance and not grandstanding. READ ALSO: Election Petition: Youre A Consistent Loser Tinubu Fires Atiku 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, the statement read in part. We are glad that the leadership of the ruling party recognises 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. Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kano State governor-elect, has alleged that governor Abdullahi Ganduje has released millions of naira to some political thugs ahead of Saturdays supplementary elections in the State. In a statement on Friday, Yusuf made the allegation through his Chief Press Secretary, Sunusi Dawakin Tofa. According to him, the funds were released for sponsoring political thugs to unleash violence on innocent citizens and residents during the supplementary elections. Yusuf furthered that Ganduje directed the release of N61 million to Doguwa, over N60 million to Nasarawa, over N60 million to Wudil while other local government councils are also listed to receive hundreds of millions of Naira to fund the elections. He however called on security agents to rise up to the occasion as there is a plot to intimidate opponents during the polls. The statement read We wish to issue another public Advisory on the purported use of public funds to finance the supplementary elections on Saturday 15th April 2023. READ ALSO: APC Fires Adeleke Over Sack Of Principal Officers At Ilesa Varsity We are in possession of credible information that the Kano State Government under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has directed the release of N61 million to Doguwa, over N60 million to Nasarawa, over N60 million to Wudil. Other local government councils are also listed to receive hundreds of millions of Naira to fund elections. The money was released solely for sponsoring political thugs to unleash violence on the innocent citizens and residents of Kano State during the supplementary elections. We wish to again caution all the local government chairmen and their management staff including Directors of Personnel Management (DPMs), Treasurers, and other employees at the state and local government levels who may be directly or indirectly involved in this heinous act to as a matter of responsibility distance themselves and ensure that all public funds already released are not used for such purposes and returned to the appropriate coffers. While appreciating the good samaritan who came forward to confide in us some of the evil plans to be meted against the good people of Kano ahead of the forthcoming supplementary elections, it is very pertinent to bring to the attention of all employees in the state that anybody found wanting on this scandal will face the necessary action at the most appropriate time. We are aware, that the state government has brought in thousands of thugs from within and outside Kano State to destabilize the relative peace. It is, therefore, necessary to call on the security agencies to take swift action against the potential repeat of violent thuggery attacks on innocent citizens of Kano state. Following the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as one of the 100 most influential people in the world according to Time Magazine, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has mocked opposition. Information Nigeria had reported that Tinubu emerged on the list under the leaders category in the list released on Thursday alongside the American President, Joe Biden, and other prominent leaders. The magazine disclosed winning an election in Nigeria is no simple task and Tinubu spent about 20 years preparing to be Nigerias president. Winning an election in Africas most populous country is no easy feat. But Nigerias newly elected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has had nearly two decades to prepare. Called Jagaban, or leader of the warriors, by his supporters, the now 71-year-old ran in a presidential election for the first time this March. His campaign slogan, Its my turn, was a nod to his role as a longtime political power broker. Tinubu helped restore the countrys democracy in 1999 after fighting military rule and then served two consecutive terms as governor of Lagos, the magazine stated. READ ALSO: Tinubu, Dr Dimie, Biden Listed Among 100 Worlds Most Influential People Reacting to the development, Keyamo, who is also the chief spokesperson for Tinubus campaign, on Thursday, took to his Twitter page to celebrate the former Lagos State governor. While mocking Tinubus political opponents, he opined that the nomination is worthy of respect. He tweeted: Our own ASIWAJU @officialABAT is one of the 100 most influential People in the world by Time magazine. He made it under the category of LEADERS. Enormous respect. Let the wailing of losers begin. The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has warned the Federal Government to avoid the removal of the subsidy on petrol without local refining capacity, in view of its socio-economic implications on businesses and ordinary Nigerians. This is contianed in a communique by NUPENG leaders at the end of the Unions National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Lagos, which deliberated on the state of the nation, especially after the conduct of the 2023 general elections and the increasing statements from Nigerians on the intention of the Federal Government to end the Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS, subsidy regime, among others. The communique by President and General Secretary of NUPENP, Prince Williams Akporeha, and Afolabi Olawale, said: NEC-in-Council also examined the recurrent discussions for the removal of subsidy from the PMS, and expresses deep concerns over the failure of the Federal Government to do the needful as severally advised by organised labour that deregulation of the PMS should not be predicated on importation of the product because of all the obvious negative impacts on the socio-economic life of the people and nation in general. READ MORE: Pipeline Workers Shut Down Oil Facilities In Delta Over Unpaid Salary The Council-in-session expressed disappointment over the failure of government to deliver on its promises of making the three national refineries work before contemplating the removal of the subsidy on this very important economic item in view of the enormous implication and the impact on the economic activities and considering the socio-economic importance of PMS to ordinary Nigerians. The NEC-in-session reaffirms that in as much as our Union is not averse to the removal of PMS subsidy, the Federal Government must ensure that our local refineries are put into full operation before such a major policy decision is taken in the interest of the generality of Nigerians. On the just concluded general elections, NUPENG vowed to resist any attempt to foist interim or undemocratic government on Nigeria after May 29, as being speculated, expressing concerns over the increasing and unending spread of hate, ethnic and religious bigotry by politicians, religious leaders, elites and the youths in the periods leading to and after the conducts of the 2023 general elections at the detriment of the peace, unity, and coexistence of the people of Nigeria. The union said: The NEC-in session affirms that the 2023 general elections marked another watershed in the democratic journey of our nation wherein the youths adequately mobilised and participated in the electoral processes, and wherein the political parties of 20 sitting governors lost to opposition parties and quite unlike before wherein seven sitting governors lost their bids to become Senators, after their tenure expired as governors of their respective states. The council-in-session admits that without any doubt, there are still some irregularities in the conducts of the election but opines that rather than fan embers of division and disillusionment among Nigerians, patriotic Nigerians should rise in unison to galvanise the citizenry to mend broken relationships and heal whatever wounds might have been inflicted on one another and collectively strive towards improving our electoral processes as we move forward. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has clarified speculations on the health status of president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as concerns deepens on when he will return to the country. Felix Morka, the APC national publicity secretary, who disclosed on Thursday that the president-elect is very fine and would return home, claimed he was on a work rest in Europe because that would not have been possible in Nigeria. Explaining on Channels Televisions Politics Today programme, Morka said, He (Tinubu) is fine. After the elections and all of the energy expended, he just decided to take a moment of rest. According to him, only the Partys important personalities are allowed to have digital and physical access to the president-elect, who is working for the job ahead. Morka alleged that if Tinubu remained in Nigeria after the elections, he would not have been able to take well-deserved rest as he would be surrounded by many lobbyists who wanted one thing or the other. READ ALSO: Drug Money: Tinubu Cant Outrun His Past, Deceive Nigerians Atiku Fires Tinubu, Keyamo His words, He (Tinubu) is fine. After the elections and all of the energy expended, he just decided to take a moment of rest. Once he returns and he is inaugurated on May 29, there will be no dulling, he will be saddled with the responsibility of running a country as massive and complex as Nigeria. I know he will be back in the country very shortly. It is working rest because even in his rest, he is also taking the time to reach out to heads of government and other levels of leadership of other countries that are vital to the agenda that he is bringing in his new government. So, he is not sleeping in his bed; he is also in meetings regularly with all kinds of people who are travelling from other countries to see him preparatory to his inauguration. So, it is a working visit. Recall that in March, Tinubus spokesman, Tunde Rahman revealed his principal traveled to Paris in France to rest and observe the lesser hajj. The police in Kano state have arrested two men and a housewife for allegedly forcing a 13-year-old Almajiri to eat human faeces that were dumped by an unknown person in Jaen Makera quarters in Sharada area of Kano metropolis on Thursday, April 13. The father of the victim, Mallam Kabiru, who reported the matter to the police in Sharada, said his son cannot even sit by himself, as his abusers, after forcing him to eat the human waste, also bathed him in it. According to Daily Trust, although the Almajiri boy was taken to the hospital, he didnt even know where he was. READ ALSO: Police Dismiss Three Officers Caught On Tape Firing Shots In Air To Hype Musician In Kano The DPO of the division, CSO Abdurrahman, organised a team of personnel to investigate the matter, and the three people were arrested. One of the teachers in the almajiri school said the boy was accused of open defecation within their street while he was not the actual person that committed the offense. They just saw faeces on their street around 9:30pm and they were searching for the person that did it. When the boy was passing by, a woman saw him and just said he was the one who did it. She held the boy and called the people. Immediately they came, they began to spray the faeces on his face and even forced him to eat it, he said. Confirming the arrest, the spokesperson of the Kano State Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said the three suspects were in police custody and that the victim is still receiving treatment in a hospital. He added that an investigation had commenced into the matter. Tomi Arayomi, founder of Restoring Isaachers Generation (RIG), has disclosed that he was detained by immigration officials upon arrival in Houston, United States (US). Recall the cleric was recently released by the operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) after he was arrested for politics-related prophecies. However in a Twitter post on Friday, he disclosed that a US immigration official seized his passport and detained him briefly when he arrived the country. According to him, another official facilitated his release. READ ALSO: Court Sentences Kwara Journalists To Prison For Defamation I wasnt going to share this story but I was detained in Houston on arrival for the first time ever! I dont know the particulars of why I was detained or if there was any correlation with my Nigerian arrest, all I know is that within minutes of me landing my passport was confiscated and I was being led to a detention room by an officer. Just as the door was opening another immigration officer looked at me and said Prophet, what are you doing in here! I said I dont know! Within seconds she took my passport from the officer and whispered in his ear. She then walked right past me in the detention centre as if she didnt even know me anymore. I tried to catch her eye to say thank you but she walked right past me. Within 60 seconds I was out! I dont know if that woman was human or Angel all I know is God is good! And the same God who goes before Me. Will go before you, satan cannot cage your assignment! In Jesus Name! I declare, you are unstoppable!!! To that woman, human or Angel, I thank God for you!, he tweeted. Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged the electorate in Adamawa and Kebbi States to vote for the PDP during the April 15 supplementary election. Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission fixed April 15 for supplementary governorship elections in the two states, in five senatorial districts, 31 federal constituencies and 58 state assembly constituencies. The former vice presidents call was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesman, Paul Ibe in Abuja. READ ALSO: Court Cancels APCs Delegates List, Orders Fresh Congress Ahead Kogi Guber Atiku further called on voters in Adamawa and Kebbi to ensure that they conduct themselves peacefully during and after the elections. In both Adamawa and Kebbi where the elections would be held, I make a special appeal to voters to ensure that PDP enjoys overwhelming support, Abubakar pleaded. A David's Bridal store in Orlando. The Conshohocken-based retail chain is parting with over 9,000 workers. Read more Davids Bridal is laying off more than 9,000 workers, including many in the Philadelphia region, and the company may be sold. The Conshohocken-based wedding gown chain said in a notice to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry that it would be laying off 9,236 people across the United States. A specific number for Pennsylvania was not available as of Friday. We are evaluating our strategic options and a sale process is underway. At this time, there are no updates to share, spokesperson Laura McKeever said. Across the state, 15 locations will be affected, including six stores in the Philadelphia suburbs, the notice said. A company spokesperson did not respond to questions on Friday about whether those stores would remain open. The first round of layoffs occurred on Thursday, and two more phases will take place in May and June. While exact employee count companywide is unclear, it appeared to be around 11,000 in recent years. Advertisement On Wednesday afternoon, corporate employees received an invitation to a companywide virtual meeting on Thursday morning, and they were instructed to work remotely for the day. They were told during that meeting that Davids Bridal is trying to get a buyer, but if it doesnt find one the other option would be to liquidate, according to two people who were present but did not wish to be named because they feared compromising their career prospects. The New York Times reported last week that the company was considering filing for bankruptcy protection for the second time in five years, suggesting that wedding-related merchandise sales havent recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, even as people return to throwing big events. At the time, McKeever said the company would not comment on speculation. Davids Bridal just emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in early 2019. The company celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2020. It has over 300 stores, mostly in the U.S. with a few in Mexico and Canada. As ever, providing excellent service remains our focus and we are committed to serving and delivering for our brides and customers and being part of magical moments, McKeever added. Is Davids Bridal going out of business? No signs point toward Davids Bridal going out of business and its too early to tell whether a company sale will result in store closures. When Davids Bridal filed for bankruptcy in 2018 the company said it would keep stores open and continue to serve customers. Leadership reported that it had done so when the company emerged from bankruptcy in 2019. Etiquette-wise, there is actually no hard and fast rule about gift-giving for a wedding. Contrary to popular belief, the most important factor to consider is your budget. Read more As another wedding season approaches, you may be looking at your calendar with a mix of excitement and anxiety. For guests, much of the pre-wedding consternation is over how much theyll have to shell out to celebrate their loved ones. There are advanced costs such as buying a new dress or dry-cleaning your suit. You may have to book a flight or pay for a hotel. If youre a close friend, all of this might come after you already paid $1,000 or more to go to a destination bachelor or bachelorette party. And then, on top of all that, you need to give a wedding gift. As the costs of weddings have risen, we talked to Muneerah Harris, Philadelphia-based etiquette consultant for the Swann School of Protocol; Gail Madison, director of the Madison School of Etiquette in Huntingdon Valley; and Lizzie Post, co-president of the Emily Post Institute and great-great granddaughter of the famous etiquette expert and author. Advertisement Here are their answers to some money questions you might have as we head into wedding season: How much money should I give for a wedding gift? Etiquette-wise, there is actually no hard and fast rule. Youve got to realize invitations are not invoices, Harris said. Dont feel overwhelmed that you have to give this or that. Contrary to popular belief, the most important factor to consider is your budget. Your budget dictates what you should give to other people, said Post, coauthor of Emily Post Etiquette: The Centennial Edition. There is no expectation from an etiquette perspective that you pay for your plate. Madison said she recommends spending a minimum of $50 per guest. However, she thinks $75 to $100 is an ideal gift, if you have more flexibility in your budget. There are other factors to consider, too. If you are at a backyard wedding with picnic tables, I dont think you have to be as generous as if youre at a wedding at a big hotel or at a big fancy venue, Madison said. It depends on how well you know the people. What is the connection? Is it an acquaintance? A family member? Should I spend more on a wedding gift for a close relative or friend? If you have the means and the desire to splurge on someone special, sure. But dont feel obligated to do so. You might choose to do something more expensive for your sister and do smaller gifts for your coworker or the person from your yoga class who invited you to their wedding, Post said. If Im a bridesmaid or groomsman, do I need to give a gift? If I do, how much should I spend? It depends on the couple and your personal situation. Post recommends first talking to others in the bridal party. There is a tradition of the bridal party getting a gift, often together, for the couple, she said. You just have to kind of feel out where people are and what theyre willing to spend. I think its a discussion to be had rather than a must-do, she added. Some couples make sure that their bridal party knows that their presence and participation is a present. Do I give cash or check for a wedding gift? Its ultimately up to you. But do keep the couple in mind. If it seems like theyd most appreciate a contribution to their honeymoon fund, do that. If they have a ton of items for their new home on a registry, maybe opt for one of those gifts. If youre tight on money, the registry may also allow you to spend less while still giving something you know the couple will enjoy. And if youre going to buy a gift off-registry, Post recommends using the online wish list as a guide to their personal taste. I was invited to a wedding but cant go. Do I still need to send a gift? It would be good manners. If you have the means to send something, do, Post said. If you dont have the means, I would send them a card or a letter on your own stationery. The invitation at the bare minimum is worth the congratulations, whether you attend or not. How much should I tip the bartender at an open-bar wedding? You dont actually need to tip, given that the hosts are already paying the bartenders a gratuity, the experts said. But if you have cash on you and want to tip for excellent service, feel free. Dont let tip jars intimidate you into giving more than youre comfortable. In fact, both Madison and Post were opposed to their presence at weddings. A tip jar at a wedding is tacky, Madison said. If Im going to give someone a tip, Im going to hand it to them. Madison usually tips $1 to $2 per drink. Harris recommends $5 to $10 per guest over the course of the night. But if you get to the wedding and realize you forgot cash, dont feel bad, Post said, as those bartenders are being compensated. Amy Wax made her argument via Zoom Wednesday afternoon during a Q&A hosted by the Philadelphia-based Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a group that advocates for free speech, and one of several taking interest in her case. Read more Amy Wax, the controversial University of Pennsylvania law professor, addressed more than 150 college professors from around the country, aiming to gain their support as Penn decides whether she should be sanctioned for racist remarks. She denied telling a Black student her success at Ivy League schools was due to affirmative action. She also denied being homophobic or bigoted at a panel, saying she didnt necessarily agree with all the arguments she made and they werent directed at an openly gay colleague who was in attendance. And she denied saying finally, an American, during an event, after several foreign students had introduced themselves. Still, Wax contended, if she had said these things, they wouldnt amount to harassment and she shouldnt be punished. She awaits a Penn Faculty Senate hearing that could result in her suspension or firing. Penn would not say if a date for the hearing is set. The goal and effect of these charges is to demolish, to totally gut the protections for extramural free speech and free faculty expression and to drive dissenters like me out of the academy, she said Wednesday during a Q&A hosted by the Philadelphia-based Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a group that advocates for free speech and has taken interest in her case. Advertisement The event was an opportunity for Wax to address allegations made against her and seek support from academic peers. FIRE director of faculty outreach Komi Frey framed the event as a way for Wax to present her case and try to win the faculty support needed to convince Penn to drop its disciplinary proceedings. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions and push back against Waxs arguments. Its not clear if a groundswell of faculty support for Wax would sway Penn to drop the process the law school declined to comment or just how effective the Q&A was at winning people over. Of the people who submitted questions and comments, most expressed support for Wax and concern over what disciplinary action could mean for other professors and their free speech outside of campus. Wax speculated she was being targeted because she is blunt, forthright, and addresses race. The demand for equal outcomes for all groups that the representation of every group and every position mirror the underlying population that demand is relentless, she said. I think it is a demand that doesnt comport with the facts and I say so. So I think that when I talk about the differences among groups, thats when that really raises peoples hackles. She noted former Northwestern University law school dean Daniel Rodriguez, whom Penn asked to investigate allegations against Wax in 2021, found no evidence she graded minority students differently. He also couldnt find evidence Wax denied them access to professional opportunities over which she had some modicum of control, or singled them out for special ridicule or disparagement. Throughout the years, Waxs published work and opinions have drawn scrutiny and backlash. Yet Penn walked a fine line, condemning some remarks while citing academic freedom when declining to fire her. After Wax made comments about Black law students performance at the school in 2017, Penn removed her from teaching mandatory courses. She again made headlines in 2019 for comments she made in a conference about immigration. In 2021, she invited white nationalist Jared Taylor to her class and to lunch with students. READ MORE: Penn Law professor Amy Wax under fire for remarks about race and immigration But it was the summer of 2022 that proved to be a tipping point. Wax went on a podcast and said the country would be better off with fewer Asians and less Asian immigration. Law school dean Ted Ruger called for a hearing to sanction Wax over the several years and multiple instances shed shown callous and flagrant disregard for the university community. Her statements are antithetical to the Universitys mission to foster a diverse and inclusive community and have led students and faculty to reasonably believe they will be subjected to discriminatory animus if they come into contact with her, he wrote in a 12-page letter that included a list of discriminatory conduct on campus and derogatory public commentary. Last fall, Wax asked for a delay in disciplinary hearings, citing her cancer treatment. Wax said those in academia should have a high tolerance for the rough and tumble and conflict that different opinions might bring. I would like to personally display that high tolerance myself because I advocate it for other people, for students, for my fellow faculty, she said. I think the threshold for claiming harassment should be very, very high as a general matter. Mifepristone and Misoprostol are the two drugs used in a medication abortion. Read more EDITORS NOTE: A Supreme Court order late Friday afternoon has extended a hold on a Texas federal court ruling that would have restricted access to the abortion medication mifepristone. The stay remains in place until 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday to give the justices more time to consider an emergency appeal of the Texas order by the Biden administration and the drugs manufacturer. Philadelphia-area abortion providers are stocking up on the abortion medication mifepristone and preparing for alternatives as a legal battle over the medication advances. Two conflicting federal court rulings on mifepristone, the first of a two-drug regimen used to terminate pregnancy, have caused confusion about where the abortion pill is available and for how long: A federal judge in Texas ruled that the Food and Drug Administration should never have approved the pill, which has been on the market for more than 20 years and is used in more than half of abortions. The case seeks to ban access to mifepristone nationwide. In a separate case, a federal judge in Washington state ruled that federal authorities should not make any changes to restrict access to the medication in 17 Democratic-led states including Pennsylvania and Delaware that are suing to expand access to the drug. Advertisement A federal appeals court said mifepristone should remain available while the Texas case plays out, with two important limitations: It cannot be used after the seventh week of pregnancy, even though it is approved by the FDA for use through the 10th week of pregnancy. It cannot be mailed to patients. Under current FDA rules, mifepristone is only available directly from a prescribing doctor it cant be bought at a pharmacy. Mail-order access is important for people who do not live close enough to an abortion provider to pick up pills in person. This really impacts already marginalized communities the most, including people who lack transportation, live in rural areas, or cant take time off work, said Melissa Reed, CEO of Planned Parenthood Keystone, which operates clinics in central and Southeastern Pennsylvania. The federal government is appealing the Texas decision and has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to restore full access to mifepristone. Heres what the dueling lawsuits mean for access in the Philadelphia area: What is mifepristone? Mifepristone is a prescription medication used to end a pregnancy. It is typically used in combination with another medication, misoprostol. The FDA approved mifepristone in 2000 to terminate a pregnancy up to seven weeks gestation and in 2016 expanded use to 10 weeks. Mifepristone is highly regulated and only available from a doctor who is specially licensed to dispense it, meaning it cant be prescribed for pickup at a local pharmacy. Is mifepristone still available in Pennsylvania? Yes. Philadelphia-area clinic operators believe that their ability to dispense abortion pills through the mail is protected because Pennsylvania is part of the Washington lawsuit, in which a judge has ordered that access remain intact, said Lisa Perriera, the medical director of the Womens Center in Philadelphia. Some providers may opt to dispense only in office, rather than through the mail, to be safe, she said. Patients seeking an abortion may be prescribed mifepristone and misoprostol after an in-person or virtual consultation with an abortion provider. They can pick up the medication from an abortion clinic or have it mailed to them, so long as their address is in Pennsylvania. Is mifepristone still available in New Jersey? Yes, but the mail-order restriction may make it harder for some to access, since it currently must be picked up in person. New Jersey is not part of the Washington case. What happens if mifepristone is taken off the market? There are other options for medication abortion. Misoprostol, the drug that is typically used in combination with mifepristone can be used alone, at a higher dose. Misoprostol is safe and effective for abortion, but has more side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea when used alone. Some people may instead opt for surgical abortion. What are Philadelphia-area providers doing to prepare? Planned Parenthood Keystone is training staff how to counsel patients about misoprostol-only abortion and refreshing doctors medical training to provide medication abortion without mifepristone, Reed said. Because of the political climate and the ongoing attacks on reproductive health care, we are having to be very nimble, she said. We have prepared. Clinics are also stocking up on mifepristone and preparing for the possibility of an increase in demand for surgical abortions, Perriera said. An increase in surgical abortions would strain clinics that are already seeing more patients since the U.S. Supreme Court decision last summer that there is no constitutional right to abortion, said Dayle Steinberg, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Removing mifepristone from the market would add unnecessary delays to care for patients, if it takes longer for them to be seen by a doctor in person, she said. The emergency room team at The Pavilion Emergency Department at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania wearing masks while working at an office in October 2021. The Philadelphia Board of Health is considering relaxing mask requirement to no longer require face cover while not engaging in patient care. Read more Philadelphias Board of Health is considering relaxing mask requirements in health facilities, as health systems across the region are rethinking their own policies. The Inquirer surveyed health systems with hospitals in Philadelphia, the citys Pennsylvania suburbs, and South Jersey. One, St. Lukes University Health Network, which operates hospitals in the Lehigh Valley and Bucks County, relaxed masking requirements for their Pennsylvania hospitals in March 2022. Others have relaxed their policies more recently. Advertisement Virtua Health changed its policy in March of this year and no longer requires employees or visitors to wear a mask in common spaces in its five New Jersey hospitals. Employees are required to wear masks when interacting with patients. Cooper University Health Care, also in New Jersey, and Crozer Health in Delaware County are transitioning to a similar policy this week. READ MORE: Biden ends COVID national emergency after Congress acts Most health systems in the area Jefferson, Main Line, Penn, Prime, Redeemer, Temple, Tower, and Trinity as well as the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and St. Christophers Hospital for Children, continue to require masking in all areas accessible to patients. But some systems are considering changes. Are masks still required in Philadelphia hospitals? Philadelphia hospitals dont have much choice right now. City regulations mandate that all people who enter hospitals and any other health-care setting, including outpatient clinics and nursing homes wear a mask. The city is considering updating those rules in the coming weeks. A proposed change would require masks only for health-care workers when directly interacting with patients, Cheryl Bettigole, Philadelphia health commissioner, said via email. On Thursday, the Board of Health will hear public comment on the proposal to relax the requirement. The department may change its proposed regulation based on public feedback, Bettigole said. John Zurlo, director of the infectious disease division at Jefferson Health, thinks the change is reasonable. Jefferson currently requires universal masking across the health-care system. There are some in the health-care community who say masks should be a new universal precaution, he said. I think thats a bit extreme. Jefferson administrators are still figuring out what their mask policy will look like in the future, Zurlo said. He would like Jeffersons mask policy to be flexible to meet the needs and risk-level of individual patients. For instance, Zurlo suggests eventually allowing physicians to order masking when treating specific patients. He also worries that masking compromises elements of the provider-patient interaction. READ MORE: Unless most people get an annual COVID vaccine, tens of thousands will die in the U.S. each year, a Penn State team finds Last fall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped recommending universal masking in health-care settings where community transmission is not high. At Main Line Health, which operates hospitals in Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties, chief medical officer Jonathan Stallkamp continues to monitor transmission rates for COVID across the region to inform the systems mask policy. The health system requires masks in all areas of the hospital that patients have access to out of a recognition that many who enter their doors have weakened immune systems. But like Zurlo at Jefferson, Stallkamp foresees changes to mask policies in the near future. COVID is going to be here forever. Its never going to go away, he said. But do we always mask at every single level? The answer is no, he said. READ MORE: What does the end of the pandemic public health emergency mean for you A new phase in pandemic response Mask policy updates are among the many ways health systems are beginning to roll back COVID-19 policies. About a month ago, Main Line Health stopped testing every admitted patient for COVID-19 if they are asymptomatic or have no known exposure, Stallkamp said. At Jefferson, Zurlo envisions the health system not requiring COVID-19 vaccination for administrative employees who do not interact with patients at all. While many people have long abandoned their masks, others are concerned about the changes. Since the onset of the pandemic, we feel that people with disabilities are an afterthought, said German Parodi, co-executive director of the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, a Philly-based disability-led disaster response nonprofit. Parodi believes that the city and country will regret relaxing masking requirements in health-care settings, pointing to the threats of long COVID and emerging variants. He is also worried that without masking in waiting rooms and clinic hallways, more people with disabilities will be afraid to seek the care they need. READ MORE: With help from Philly, disabled Ukrainians seek escape from war The disability advocate was hospitalized twice in Jefferson hospitals during the pandemic for issues unrelated to COVID. He received great care and felt safe, he said. I had a mask on at all times, and so did the health-care workers, Parodi said. I didnt feel the lack of treatment, of understanding, at all. U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., shown in a Senate corridor on Feb. 14, was diagnosed with shingles in early March and has delayed her return to the Senate due to lingering complications. Read more Dianne Feinsteins return to the U.S. Senate has been delayed by complications from shingles. The risk of contracting that debilitating disease can be sharply reduced with the Shingrix vaccine, made by GSK, which has its U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia. But Feinsteins office has declined to say whether she got the vaccine, citing privacy concerns. The longtime senator, a Democrat from California, was hospitalized with shingles early in March. In an April 12 statement from her office, she said lingering symptoms had kept her from returning to the Senate. Feinstein, 89, said she had asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to name a temporary replacement for her on the Judiciary Committee while she continues to work from home in San Francisco. She has said she does not plan to seek reelection in 2024, amid concerns that she was experiencing cognitive decline before her current illness. Several Democrats have called on her to resign before the election. Advertisement Here are the basics on shingles and Shingrix, from the CDC. What is shingles? Shingles is caused by a virus called varicella zoster the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus can stay dormant in the body for years, reactivating decades later to cause shingles. Symptoms can include a painful rash, fever, and impaired eyesight. Long-term complications can include a type of nerve pain called postherpetic neuralgia. One in three people in the U.S. is likely to get shingles at some point, the CDC says but the risk goes down sharply in those who get the vaccine. Who can get the shingles vaccine? Adults 50 years and older can get the Shingrix vaccine, which is administered in two doses, spaced two to six months apart. Younger adults with weakened immune systems also are eligible for the vaccine. The vaccine is recommended even for those who have had shingles or chickenpox in the past. It also is recommended for those who got Zostavax, a less-effective shingles vaccine that is no longer on the market, the CDC says. The vaccine is not recommended in three cases: for people whove had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine, those who currently have shingles, and those who are pregnant. How well does the shingles vaccine work? In adults 50 to 69 years old with healthy immune systems, Shingrix was 97% effective in preventing shingles, according to studies cited by the CDC. For those 70 and older, Shingrix was 91% effective at preventing the disease, the agency said. In adults over 70 with healthy immune systems, the protection conferred by the vaccine lasts at least seven years. In adults with weakened immune systems, Shingrix is between 68% and 91% effective in preventing shingles, depending on their underlying condition. For those who become ill despite getting Shingrix, the vaccine reduces the risk of complications. Broken windows at the historic Pennhurst State School make for a scary entrance to the Pennhurst Asylum haunted house attraction in Spring City, Pa. on Friday, October 21, 2022. Read more The Pennhurst State School and Hospital was a scary place well before it was turned into a Halloween haunted house. READ MORE: Pennhurst Asylum haunted house draws criticism every Halloween. A group of disabled actors running the show say there is more to the story. Here is a look at the institutions history by the numbers. 1908: Pennhurst opened its doors as a facility to house people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who were deemed unfit for society. It was intended to house no more than 500 residents, but it was overcrowded from the start. By 1957, the institution had more than 3,500 residents with just 600 staff, from groundskeepers to aides. Throughout its 79 years of operation, about 10,600 people lived there. About half died in the institution, many due to the poor living conditions, according to James Conroy, a medical sociologist who studied Pennhurst. Advertisement 1968: WCAU (Channel 10) aired a five-part documentary called Suffer the Little Children that exposed the conditions at Pennhurst to the public. Reporter Bill Baldini found that the largest zoos in the United States spent more per day to feed their animals than Pennsylvania spent on the people at Pennhurst. 1972: Pottstowns The Mercury newspaper called Pennhurst the shame of Pennsylvania, describing 1,700 human beings stored away in crumbling warehouses, the urine stench of decades soaked so deeply into the walls and floors that it can never be washed out. 1970s: Three major lawsuits filed throughout the 1970s led to Pennhursts eventual closure. 1977: A federal district judge ordered Pennhurst to make arrangements for all residents to move to care in the community. 1982: The Department of Justice indicted nine present and former aides for assaulting and abusing patients. At the time, Pennhurst had 640 patients who on average had been there for more than 35 years. 1985: The Pennhurst Longitudinal Study, ordered as part of the lawsuit to close Pennhurst, was released. The researchers followed 1,154 people who lived at Pennhurst and found that none became homeless or incarcerated. They tended to live at least six years longer, and 14% became more independent. Almost all said that they were better off outside of Pennhurst. Despite a reported 19% increase in services, the cost to taxpayers went down by 15% compared to funding Pennhurst. 1987: The last patient left Pennhurst. Police investigate the scene of a robbery of a tractor trailer that was broken into in a Walmart parking lot on Byberry Road on Thursday. Read more Thieves broke into a tractor trailer in a Walmart parking lot in Northeast Philadelphia on Thursday and stole about $200,000 in dimes, leaving behind more than half a million dollars worth of other coins scattered across the lot, on the road, and still in the trailer, police said. At 6:06 a.m. Thursday, police responded to a report of a theft in progress involving a group of 10 or more men on the 4300 block of Byberry Road. Officers found a trailer with the back doors unlocked and dimes scattered in the parking lot and as far as Woodhaven Road, but the culprits were long gone. Police later found the driver of the tractor trailer and interviewed him. It was unclear what information the driver provided about the theft. The trailer contained about $750,000 worth of dimes, police said. No arrests were made and the investigation is ongoing. Police are searching for the suspects, who were wearing black clothing and gray hooded sweatshirts, and authorities are looking for two cars, a white Chrysler 300 with tinted windows, and a dark pickup truck. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Coastal and Land Use Enforcement has issued a notice of violation to the DEP's Fish and Wildlife's Bureau of Land Management for unauthorized regulated activity at the Glassboro Wildlife Management Area in Gloucester County. The project was suspended on March 10. Read more Environmental groups were outraged when a division of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection began clear-cutting acres of mature forest and wetlands, as well as removing all trees and stumps at the Glassboro Wildlife Management Area in February to create habitat for the American woodcock. Apparently, DEP officials agreed: This week the departments Bureau of Coastal and Land Use Compliance and Enforcement issued a notice of violation to the Division of Fish and Wildlife for illegally clearing 15 acres, which included protected wetlands and the areas that border them. The DEP acted to issue the violation to itself after widespread complaints from the NJ Conservation Foundation, Pinelands Preservation Alliance, South Jersey Land and Water Trust, and Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River. The groups sent a letter alleging a violation of the Freshwater Wetlands Act, saying there had been no public hearing on the plan and called for a halt to the project. The DEP suspended the project on March 10. Advertisement Tom Gilbert, co-executive director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, said the DEPs attempt to save one bird damaged three acres of habitat for the states threatened barred owl and endangered red-shouldered hawk. Gilbert said nearly 12 more acres described as having exceptional resource value were cleared of vegetation and soils by Fish and Wildlifes habitat project. This should never have happened, so they must also take steps to improve their clearly inadequate internal review process and meaningfully engage the public, Gilbert said. No significant projects should move forward without being subject to comprehensive review with public input. Our public lands deserve better. Under conditions of the violations, Fish and Wildlife must submit a plan to restore the site within 30 days and opened the process to the public. NJDEPs decision to clear-cut 21 acres of mature forest in the Glassboro Wildlife Management Area and impact critical wetlands is reprehensible, said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, New Jersey director of the Sierra Club. They have caused irreparable harm to an area with trees over 100 years old, destroyed rare and endangered animal and plant species habitat, and damaged critical wetlands. The department failed to have adequate public input and unfortunately since the state has minimal regulations on how to manage its public forests, there is no accountability. This is a failure of governance. The Bureau of Coastal and Land Use Compliance and Enforcement determined that about three acres of freshwater wetlands that were damaged in the clear-cutting had previously provided habitat for the barred owl and red-shouldered hawk. In addition, 12 acres within a freshwater wetland transition area were cleared of vegetation and soil. Pinelands Preservation Alliance thanks NJDEP for being accountable for their actions, but we also need the public to trust that current projects are being evaluated with appropriate rigor, said Jaclyn Rhoads, assistant executive director of the alliance. Rhoads said the DEP should provide a list of projects it is working on for public view. This demonstrates a real lack of overall planning for our public natural resources. We can do so much better, Bob Williams, a certified forester with Pine Creek Forestry, said in an email. The department wrote on its website Feb. 1 that the work sought to create 21 acres of habitat for the American woodcock, a member of the sandpiper family that uses its long, narrow beak to forage for earthworms in damp soil. The project was designed to create a meadow habitat. The violation notice includes the threat of penalties, but it was unclear how that might work if the DEP fines itself. Larry Hajna, a DEP spokesperson, said the DEP issued the letter of violation on April 6, for unauthorized regulated activity. He said that by the end of April, the DEP will issue a penalty assessment. As a condition of settling the violations, Fish and Wildlife must propose additional environmentally beneficial measures. Customers at counter buying recreational cannabis from Curaleaf dispensary agents. Opening day for recreational cannabis sales in NJ. Photograph taken at Curaleaf in Bellmawr, NJ on Thursday, April 21, 2022. Read more The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission voted not to renew a recreational marijuana license for Curaleaf, stripping one of the states largest cannabis producers and retailers of the ability to serve recreational customers. As a result of Thursdays vote, Curaleaf will likely have to stop adult-use sales at at least two of its dispensary locations in Edgewater Park and Bellmawr by April 21 the one-year anniversary of the launch of legal weed in New Jersey. Curaleafs medical marijuana licenses are not impacted by the decision, a company spokesperson said. In a motion for renewal of Curaleafs licenses, the CRC board issued one yes vote, two no votes, and had two abstentions. Curaleaf called the CRCs decision as arbitrary as it is lacking in merit and legal basis, and an outrageous act of political retaliation, in a statement following the vote. The company vowed to ensure renewal of our adult-use licenses, including by any legal means necessary. Curaleafs renewal application involved its dispensaries in Bellmawr and Edgewater Park, as well as its cultivation facilities in Bellmawr and Winslow. Its not clear if a third Curaleaf dispensary in Bordentown is impacted; that dispensary began recreational sales in November, while the other two started sales the day legalization went into effect last year. New Jersey marijuana laws require recreational license holders to submit renewal applications at lease 90 days before their licenses expire. Curaleafs application went before the board after the company announced it would close its Bellmawr growing facility last month, which resulted in layoffs for 40 employees. Curaleaf plans to consolidate its cultivation efforts at its grow site in Winslow. Advertisement CRC commissioners pointed to the Bellmawr cultivation facilitys closure, and subsequent layoffs, as a reason for the denial. Commission chair Dianna Houenou said the company failed to provide the CRC with enough information to make an informed decision. Theres still a lot of information, missing information, that can be provided, that should be provided, said Houenou, who abstained from voting. Curaleafs chief compliance officer, James Shorris, told the commission that five of the employees from the Bellmawr grow site were no longer working with Curaleaf due to job performance and other issues, and that the others were offered other positions in the company. Shorris added that he wasnt sure of the timing between when the company began considering changes to its operations, and when it filed its application for renewal. Houenou said she was concerned about the layoffs, and that Curaleaf did not warn the CRC that they were coming. Its important for the board and staff to have proper insight and timely notice, Houenou said. In a statement, Curaleaf chairman Boris Jordan said that the company has never been cited for such a violation, and that there is no regulation requiring permission for the staff reduction we announced. Curaleaf is in good standing with the CRC and has fulfilled the requirements necessary for the renewal of our licenses, Jordan said. In a separate statement, the company warned that the decision will impact nearly 500 employees in the state, and harm the broader New Jersey cannabis market. Just one commission member, vice chairman Sam Delgado, voted to renew Curaleafs license. Commissioners Krista G. Nash and Charles Barker voted to deny the renewal, while commissioner Maria Del Cid-Kosso also abstained from voting. In a memorandum, CRC executive director Jeff Brown recommended Curaleafs recreational license be renewed. Curaleaf was the only operator to have its motion for renewal denied at Thursdays meeting. A number of other operators, including Rise, TerrAscend, and Acreage, received renewals. Currently, all of Curaleafs retail locations in New Jersey remain open for business, the company said. A 16-year-old boy was fatally wounded in a shooting Thursday night in North Philadelphia, police said. Shortly before 9 p.m., the teen was outside on the 2300 block of West Montgomery Avenue when he was shot multiple times in the upper body. Responding officers found him lying in the street next to the curb, bleeding heavily and unresponsive, said Chief Inspector Scott Small. The teen, who lived a half block from the shooting scene, was transported by police to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:13. Police found 30 spent shell casings on the 2300 block of Montgomery and in the intersection of Montgomery and 23rd Street, Small said. A small SUV seen fleeing the scene was located nearby on the 2400 block of Glenwood Avenue. The vehicle was unoccupied and a small handgun was found inside, Small said. As of Wednesday, there have been 44 shooting victims this year under age 18, according to data from the City Controllers Office. There have been 118 homicides total in Philadelphia, of which 95 were from shootings. A 16-year-old was fatally shot Thursday night in North Philadelphia as the citys ongoing gun violence crisis continues to claim the lives of young people. Nafis Betrand-Hill was just a half a block away from home, standing outside with a small group of people around 9 p.m. near 23rd Street and West Montgomery Avenue, when a gray Nissan pulled up and two young men jumped out and started shooting, said Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore. Betrand-Hill was struck multiple times, Vanore said. Police rushed him to Temple University Hospital, where he died a short time later. READ MORE: Simon Gratz students grapple with losing a friend a pain too many Philly teens have endured Advertisement The shooters fled in the Nissan, which was recovered by police Thursday night near 24th Street and Glenwood Avenue, Vanore said. Inside the car, police recovered a handgun, he said. He declined to share any details on the owner of the car, but said detectives have recovered video of the shooting and are reviewing that and other evidence. The motive behind this is completely unknown, Vanore said. The teens family declined to speak Friday as they grappled with their loss. By Friday morning, the scene of the shooting outside Acelero Learning St. Elizabeths School was cleared, except for remnants of yellow crime-scene tape. Seven children under 18, including Betrand-Hill, have died by gun violence in the city so far this year. More than 40 juveniles have been shot, according to data from the City Controllers Office. The other victims have included: Semaj Richardson, 16; Shaheed Saoud, 16; Isaiah Odom, 17; Neko Rivera, 15; Anthony Pinckney, 14; and Devin Weedon, 15. READ MORE: Devin Weedon, 15, was laid to rest amid a plea for justice and an end to the citys gun violence Shootings of children in Philadelphia have steadily risen in recent years. Last year, 217 children were shot, 30 fatally, the most of any year in recent memory, and a 44% increase over 2019, when 120 children were struck by gunfire. The Philadelphia School District said this week that more than 100 students of public and charter schools have been injured in shootings this academic year. Within just four blocks of where Betrand-Hill was killed, three juveniles were shot in separate incidents earlier this year. A 17-year-old was wounded in a shooting in early January, and a 17- and 13-year-old were shot while walking home from school in February both incidents were at 19th Street and West Montgomery Avenue. Overall, 120 people have died in homicides in Philadelphia this year a 9% decrease compared to the same time last year, but nearly double the number recorded in 2015. The Wilma Theater announced its upcoming season and a change in leadership on Friday. Fat Ham, James Ijames Pulitzer-winning comedy now on Broadway, will kick off the Wilmas four-play season in November, while the new leadership model begins in August. In 2020, the Wilma transitioned from having one cofounding artistic director, Blanka Zizka, to three co-artistic directors in an experimental shared leadership model. Ijames, Morgan Green, and Yury Urnov stepped into those roles and took turns serving as the lead artistic director over the last three seasons. Now, the Wilma is taking the collective model a little further and doing away with the rotating lead artistic director.Three artistic directors will now work together to develop new productions and spearhead the theaters vision. Urnov and Green will stay on, while Ijames is stepping down. Actor Lindsay Smiling, currently performing in his 19th production for the Wilma, Eternal Life Part 1, will become the new co-artistic director Aug. 1. The trio will lead the theater with managing director Leigh Goldenberg. Smiling is a member of the theaters HotHouse Company and a founding member of the Black Theatre Alliance of Philadelphia. Those who watched Wilmas filmed world premiere of Fat Ham, which Green directed, will remember Smiling playing both the father Pap and the brother Rev. Advertisement I have such a long history with the Wilma, it was kind of my first professional job out of grad school [at Temple], said Smiling. Actors dont really get a chance to grow with a theater company To carry that history into this position in the artistic director role [will] give us as a theater an opportunity to really utilize the company of actors in its fullest sense. Urnov said that the artistic directors had already been working more collectively since the pandemic, when they had to operate with all hands on deck. Now the shared responsibility is more formalized. I would recommend it. Its a different kind of thinking, to rethink the structure, the idea of hierarchy, he said. By having three artistic directors, you are flattening out the power at the top of the structure, which is one step for disrupting some of the more embedded institutionalized racism that American theaters suffer from, Green said. The new structure, she said, gives them more flexibility to develop productions over time, not just in a one-year period. Fat Ham will be directed by Amina Robinson and run Nov. 24 through Dec. 17. The reimagined Hamlet will likely be a hot ticket; it will be the first time it will be staged with a live audience in Philadelphia. Following Fat Ham will be the world premiere of My Mama and the Full-Scale Invasion, a coproduction with D.C.s Woolly Mammoth Theatre, directed by Urnov; it will run Jan. 30 to Feb. 18. The new play, by Ukrainian playwright Sasha Denisova and translated by Misha Kachman, examines Russias invasion of Ukraine and is inspired by Denisovas conversations with her mother. To cope with her fear, the main character, Sasha, creates fantasies of her 82-year-old mother in Kyiv working with President Zelensky to combat the invaders. The Good Person of Setzuan, adapted by Tony Kushner and directed by HotHouse Companys Justin Jain, is a reimagination of the 1943 Brechtian classic. Jain will lead a pan-Asian cast and incorporate live percussion in this new version that runs April 2-April 21, 2024. Lastly, Green will direct the world premiere of the contemporary opera Hilma, running June 4-23, 2024. Centering on Swedens Hilma af Klint, an early 20th-century queer painter and mystic, the opera features rock, musical theater, and pop music led by Robert M. Johanson. The front page of the New York Post from April 15, 1983, featuring the iconic headline: "Headless Body in Topless Bar." Read more This month marks the 40th anniversary of a watershed moment in journalism: the publication of the Headless Body in Topless Bar headline on the front page of the New York Post. Headlines sell newspapers at least, they sell the print newspapers offered via those relics known as newsstands. In 1983, almost all of the 965,000 daily newspapers that rolled out of the Posts building in Lower Manhattan were sold on newsstands. On April 15, 1983, the newsroom had to sell Mayor Ed Kochs plan to hire 1,000 more police officers and the arrival of tax day. Yawn. But then, a sensational murder. Tabloid gold. Advertisement Vincent A. Musetto, one of the Posts managing editors, gets the credit for Headless Body in Topless Bar. In a madcap newsroom run largely by owner Rupert Murdochs Fleet Street-hardened crew of Brits, Aussies, and Kiwis, Musetto was a real-deal, prototypical New Yorker: brash, zany, unafraid to drop-kick a trash can during a debate. From that day, I wanted to work for Vinnie. Two years later, as a pun-loving 25-year-old copy editor at a South Jersey paper, I tried out as a Post sub-editor, designing pages and writing headlines. On the first day of my tryout, the editors sent me a goofy filler story about male dogs being electrocuted by a poorly grounded lamppost. The headline I submitted: Piss of death. It ran in exactly one edition before someone pointed out that such a four-letter word in 18-point type might be too much, even for the New York Post, which five years before had paid a morgue worker to unzip John Lennons body bag and take a photo of the slain Beatle in repose. Musetto slapped my back, shot me a grin, and offered me a job. How Headless Body came down No one on the Posts news desk debated the news value of the story: A Brooklyn man named Charles Dingle shot Queens bar owner Herbert Cummings to death and held patrons hostage. When Dingle learned that one was a mortician, he ordered her to behead the victim. Dingle, a box containing the head next to him, was arrested in an unlicensed cab in Manhattan. (Dingle died in prison in 2012, according to New York state records.) The New York Times also covered the story, stuffing it on Page 2 of the Metropolitan section under the headline, Owner of a Bar Shot to Death; Suspect Is Held. There would have been no Post headline without the gory story. Reporter Jim Norman wrote in a 2012 recollection that the police teletype in the newsroom had two items one about the discovery in Manhattan of a cardboard box containing a head and the other about the discovery in a Queens bar of a mutilated torso. Norman said he helped to connect the dots as the headless body angle riveted the newsroom. Someone had heard that Herbies Bar hosted topless dancing, but that claim was harder to nail down. The bar, a crime scene, was closed, and no one answered the phone. Norman said he used a cross-directory to cold-call a neighbor, who confirmed. Meanwhile, another Post reporter was dispatched to Jamaica Avenue to peer inside the darkened bars window, where she saw a sign reading topless dancing. Either way, the headline could fit the crime. Musetto said he celebrated atop his desk, something he did often. Others have said fellow editors were responsible for the headline, citing the collaboration of the Posts news desk. The impact The headline went viral, by 20th-century standards. Musetto was on David Lettermans show. It also was the title of a black comedy in the mid-1990s. In this digital age, when search engine optimization rewards literal headlines and punishes wordplay, Headless Body in Topless Bar could perform well online. Was it too over the top? When veteran editor Steve Dunleavy heard criticism at the time, he supposedly replied, What should we have said? Decapitated cerebellum in tavern of ill repute? Musetto always said his favorite headline was Granny Executed in Her Pink Pajamas over the 1984 story about the execution of Margie Velma Barfield, who killed her husband in North Carolina. (Musetto seemed to get all the good stories. My own favorite from my year at the Post was Art thieves take the Monet and run.) After leaving the news desk, Musetto was a longtime film critic. He died of cancer in 2015 at age 74. The first paragraph of Musettos obituary in the New York Times referred to Headless Body in Topless Bar as the most anatomically evocative headline in the history of American journalism. Philadelphia has a problem with routine childhood vaccines: Nearly one in five public school students is not fully vaccinated, with immunization rates falling for two straight years. While Philadelphias kindergarten vaccination rates remain slightly above the national average and above cities such as Washington, D.C., and Houston, the city should not be complacent. If we cant turn around this trend and boost childhood vaccination rates, the city risks those rates slipping even further, which can open the door for deadly outbreaks. Young children are already facing high rates of transmissible illnesses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the flu as many return to socializing after being relatively sheltered during the pandemic; adding another virus to the mix could be disastrous. READ MORE: The 'tridemic' of COVID, RSV, and the flu is slamming hospitals around the country Whats more, Philadelphia has an opportunity to make itself a national exemplar in this area. Wouldnt it be great to be known for having the nations most effective, citywide public vaccination effort that protects our children and reflects well on our health systems, School District, and city government? Advertisement But were not there. Last year, only 82.2% of kindergarteners in Philly public schools had all five mandatory childhood vaccinations: polio, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTaP), hepatitis B, and chicken pox. This is down significantly from 89.9% during the 2019-20 school year. Over this period, the kindergarten MMR rate dropped below measles herd immunity threshold (95%), increasing the possibility of measles outbreaks in schools. Whats more, one in five babies born in Philadelphia likely has no immunity against measles because their mothers lack protective antibodies that can be passed in the womb, leaving them vulnerable until getting their first vaccine dose at 12 months. Even more worrisome are the enormous neighborhood disparities in vaccinations. For instance, citywide, 90% of children under 5 have received all required doses of the polio vaccine, but in some neighborhoods of South Philadelphia, the number is less than 60%. This is well below polios herd immunity threshold (80%). The citys drop in routine immunizations is neither inevitable nor irreversible. Parents are not citing religion or personal preference for not getting their children vaccinated; only 1.3% of students received these types of exemptions last year. Instead, Philadelphia struggles to enforce its policies and ensure easy access to vaccinations. This, too, has been exacerbated by the strain COVID-19 placed on schools and public health operations. When Philadelphia kindergarteners are unable to obtain all their required vaccinations before the school year starts, they are given a provisional enrollment status. In 2017, Pennsylvania reduced the time allowed for students to comply with school-entry vaccination requirements from eight months to five days. The result: Provisional enrollment dropped dramatically across the state, from 11.1% in 2016-17 to 2.5% in 2017-18. But not in Philadelphia, where officials didnt enforce the new policy. As a result, provisional enrollment has remained above 10% over that same time period. This does not need to be the status quo. This does not need to be the status quo. Here are four steps city officials can take to fix this issue in time for the 2023-24 academic year. 1. Provide better support for school nurses Supporting school nurses who track compliance with school vaccination requirements and reach out to families of those behind schedule means addressing the ongoing school nurse shortage. Last year, more than a dozen Philadelphia public schools lacked a full-time nurse. The city should ensure each public school has a nurse available on a full-time basis, as well as additional staffing in place to support various COVID-related duties, freeing up school nurses to focus on helping kids comply with other routine vaccinations. School nurses must also be given the proper authority to enforce vaccination policies. In 2019, the Philadelphia School District started to prohibit school nurses from sending unvaccinated kids home, likely given the large numbers of such students. While exclusion from school is not an ideal outcome, school nurses should have this recourse if repeated outreach fails, particularly when their school community includes immunocompromised students or pregnant teachers. 2. Improve access to regular pediatric primary care There is significant variation in the supply of primary care providers across the city, and there exist primary care shortage zones, such as some neighborhoods of Northeast and Southwest Philadelphia. Most of the citys public school kids are on Medicaid, and wait times for primary care appointments in Philadelphia are much longer for people with Medicaid vs. those with private insurance (16 days vs. nine days). To ease access to primary care in the short term, Philadelphia can catalyze partnerships between community faith-based organizations and the citys largest health systems Penn, Jefferson, Temple, and Virtua to establish pop-up vaccine clinics. COVID-19 vaccine distribution provided a blueprint for what these partnership models might look like and their effectiveness in combating vaccine disparities. In this case, pop-up vaccine clinics should be targeted to neighborhoods with the lowest per capita pediatric primary care access or routine immunization rates. The city should agree to pay for any childhood immunizations not fully covered by insurance. This will help ensure that the possibility of cost is not a dissuading factor for any parent hoping to immunize their child. 3. Support the School Districts existing partnerships Many community-led groups, such as the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, played a central role in COVID vaccine distribution and have since expanded to other aspects of primary care. These groups are well-positioned to assist with routine vaccinations and might build on COVID outreach efforts by exploring new collaborations with the citys youth-focused organizations and after-school programs. 4. Assign a point person to serve as the public lead on vaccinations The citys Public Health Department does not have a director-level position focused primarily on routine immunizations, a reflection that more can be done to politically prioritize this issue. This person an expert in local partnership building and education to combat vaccine misinformation should be based in the Mayors Office, and coordinate efforts among the Department of Public Health, the Philadelphia School District, large health systems, and community groups. On the heels of the COVID pandemic and in the lead-up to the election of a new mayor and city government, the city has a rare opportunity to strengthen its school- and community-based public health infrastructure and routine immunization rates for years to come. Ezekiel J. Emanuel is the vice provost for global initiatives and a professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania. zemanuel@upenn.edu Matthew Guido is a project manager within Penns Healthcare Transformation Institute. matt.guido@pennmedicine.upenn.edu Sam Oropeza (left) and Drew Murray (right) campaign Tuesday at a candidate forum hosted by WHYY. Both are Republicans running for Philadelphia City Council at-large seats. Read more Republicans in Philadelphia face an existential threat: potentially having no members elected this year to serve on City Council. So the very last thing the Republican City Committee needs is a nasty intraparty donnybrook. But thats exactly whats playing out five weeks before the May 16 primary. On one side is Sam Oropeza, the unsuccessful Republican nominee in a 2022 special election for a state Senate seat in Northeast Philly, who derided the local party leadership last month as a drunken good old boys club that didnt do enough to help him last year. Theres a reason we continue to lose election after election after election, Oropeza, a former mixed martial arts fighter who works in real estate, told Clout this week while campaigning for a Council at-large seat. Advertisement On the other side is local GOP chair Vince Fenerty and ward leaders who developed the plan that Oropeza hopes to upend. Fenerty cites as disqualifying an hourlong tirade Oropeza launched at party leaders on the night of his 13-point election loss last year. He doesnt have the temperament to represent the Republican Party or any voters in Philadelphia, Fenerty said. This tussle comes as the Republicans try to hold one at-large Council seat and retake another in Novembers general election. The party made early at-large endorsements last September for Drew Murray and Jim Hasher, followed by endorsements in February for three more candidates: Frank Cristinzio, Gary Grisafi, and Mary Jane Kelly. Oropeza didnt ask for and would not have received an endorsement. The Republicans hope their five endorsed candidates win the primary so the party can then focus only on Murray and Hasher in November. All seven at-large seats are on the ballot, with two reserved in the citys Home Rule Charter for members not in the majority party. Democrats outnumber Republicans 7-1. For seven decades, Democrats held five at-large seats and Republicans had two. That changed in 2019 when Kendra Brooks won one of the set-aside seats in the general election for the Working Families Party. That progressive party is now trying to win the second seat this year. Adding to the agita: Former Councilmember David Oh, a Republican who vacated an at-large seat to run for mayor, gave Oropeza $1,000 last month. Clout hears that GOP ward leaders, in a meeting Monday, expressed disappointment in Ohs funding Oropeza. But they still intend to back Oh, the only Republican running for mayor this year. Murray, the former president of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association and 15th ward leader, calls Oropezas claim about excessive drinking at the partys headquarters absolutely disgusting. The Philly GOP worked our butts off for Sam Oropeza when he ran for the Senate, Murray told Clout. He didnt call us drunks then. He calls us drunks now that were not supporting him. Hasher, a real estate agent who owns a bar in Mayfair, said the Republican leadership is stocked with longtime volunteers. Theyre not drunken old men, he said. Theyre just people who truly believe in the cause. The other Republican seat on Council Brian ONeill, a Republican who has represented City Councils 10th District since 1980, is seeking a 12th four-year term but faces a credible challenge in November from Democrat Gary Masino, business manager for Sheet Metal Workers Local 19. Masinos candidacy survived a pair of legal challenges last month but one of them bounced back this week on appeal from the state Commonwealth Court. A ruling took issue with how a Philly judge nixed challenges to some signatures on Masinos nomination petitions and a pair of subpoenas requested in that case. Masinos challengers get a do-over Friday morning in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. Bumping him from the ballot would likely ensure ONeills victory in November, keeping at least one Council seat in Republican hands. Masinos lawyer, Adam Bonin, cut short a European vacation and was winging home for the hearing. Bonin told Clout from Paris that his client is weighing options, including an appeal to the state Supreme Court. Amen Browns snapshot payback for Helen Gym A photo that circulated this week showed a top candidate for mayor, former Councilmember Helen Gym, outside an office building on Market Street last week. State Rep. Amen Brown, another Democratic contender, snapped that picture and now says it was taken as Gym left a meeting with David Adelman, the 76ers co-owner who is leading the development team for a Center City arena. Brown confronted Gym about that meeting during a televised debate Tuesday. The exchange briefly knocked Gym off her game as she first said she and Adelman didnt discuss anything and then expressed skepticism about the arena plan. If this sounds familiar, recall that Gym snapped photographs last July of Brown meeting with Mehmet Oz, then the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate. Brown told Clout the photo was payback for Gyms Oz snapshots. He also said Gym saw him take the picture. She rode right past me and smiled at me, He said. Brendan McPhillips, Gyms campaign manager, had questions. Why did Amen Brown spend his day waiting outside a Center City office to snap a picture of Helen like the paparazzi? he asked. How did he know that Helen was taking a general meeting with Adelman that day? Why in the world is Amen Brown running for mayor? Clout provides often irreverent news and analysis about people, power, and politics. Now the waiting game for legal marijuana in Delaware really starts. Gov. John Carney has received both bills that were passed last month by the Delaware General Assembly. House Bill 1, which legalizes possession of up to one ounce of marijuana for adults 21 and older, arrived at his desk Tuesday. House Bill 2, which creates a regulatory framework for a recreational marijuana industry in the state, arrived Friday. Per the Delaware state constitution, Carney has 10 days not including Sundays to sign or veto the bills. If he takes no action, they automatically become law after that period. On that timeline, House Bill 1 would become law by default on April 22, and House Bill 2 on April 26. It is not clear what Carney, a Democrat, intends to do. His office confirmed it has received the bills, but had no further comment. Carney vetoed a similar marijuana legalization effort last year. And following the passage of Delawares legalization legislation last month, his office issued a statement saying that Carney continues to have strong concerns about the unintended consequences of legalizing marijuana for recreational use in our state. Advertisement Legislation taking time to get to the governor is not unusual. Rep. Ed Osienski (D., Newark), the bills primary sponsor, said that the delayed delivery was intentional. In this case, we knew the governor wasnt excited about this, so he was in no hurry and we were in a hurry, Osienski said. We wanted to allot him time where his attorneys could review them. Osienski decided to stagger the delivery of the bills strategically. The Delaware House and Senate are in recess until April 25, and having the 10-day timeline for both bills run out around then will allow lawmakers to take action once they are back in session. By delivering the bills separately, lawmakers can let [Carney] take a crack at HB 1 first. If we have the votes to override a veto [on HB 1], I would think he would say, Lets let HB 2 become law, Osienski said. My hope is we wouldnt have to do an override twice. But if lawmakers do need to override a veto, Osienski said he remains optimistic that he and his colleagues will be able to do so, unlike in 2022 when lawmakers fell short of a three-fifths majority in both chambers. I think everyone is staying together on this. Everyone realizes we need to get this done, Osienski said. I am thankful to my colleagues that they supported these initiatives. We are close to the finish line. Osienski stressed that even if legal marijuana passes in Delaware, there would be restrictions, and that setting up a legal marketplace will take time. Public use of marijuana, for example, is still not permitted under Delawares legalization scheme, and retail licenses for recreational marijuana shops will take about 19 months to be issued after the bill goes into effect. Osienski urged Delawareans to have patience. We want to make sure we get this right, Osienski said. People have been waiting 50-some years. They can wait a little longer to get this set up correctly. A sheriff's deputy stands outside the Center for Criminal Justice in Philadelphia. Read more The Philadelphia Sheriffs Office, a source of corruption and controversy for decades, is facing a new series of scandals. That has revived talk of abolishing the office, which transports people in custody who are accused or convicted of crimes, provides security in courtrooms, serves warrants, and auctions properties seized to satisfy tax or mortgage debts. Some argue those functions and duties could be folded into other existing city agencies. And the debate is playing out in the middle of a competitive race for mayor. How would Philadelphia eliminate the Sheriffs Office? Eliminating the office wouldnt be simple, and would require approval from the next mayor, City Council, and the citys voters. City Council would start the process by proposing and passing legislation for a ballot referendum to change the citys Home Rule Charter. The mayor would need to sign that into law. And then the voters would have their say through a question on the ballot. What do the candidates say? Three Democratic contenders for mayor former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart and former City Councilmembers Allan Domb and Helen Gym told The Inquirer in recent statements or in comments during a mayoral forum that they support eliminating the Sheriffs Office. Three other Democrats former Councilmember Cherelle Parker, retired Municipal Court Judge James DeLeon, and ShopRite store operator Jeff Brown want to keep the Sheriffs Office. Advertisement The lone Republican in the race, former Councilmember David Oh, also opposes eliminating the office. State Rep. Amen Brown, a Democrat running for mayor, did not respond to the question. How did they come to those conclusions? Rhynhart said an audit she did as controller illustrated the numerous shortcomings that have historically led to mismanagement in the Sheriffs Office. She also said she would encourage reforms in the office but would not stand in the way if voters chose to eliminate it. Domb said he is proud to have been the first candidate for mayor to call for Philadelphia to eliminate the Sheriffs Office. He said the office is in disarray, citing several recent controversies at a time when the city is facing a public safety crisis. Gym said she would work with City Council to transition its duties to another city department. I have raised concerns about ethical practices and decisions made by the Sheriffs Office before, Gym said. Parker: Accountability is extremely important and I have a track record of making sure that when decisions that have been made in the past by the Sheriffs Office that I didnt believe were in the best interest of the city I allowed my voice to be heard. But I could not use that difference of opinion as a foundation to say, lets eliminate the office of the sheriff. DeLeon said he has been troubled by recent stories about the Sheriffs Office but believes it can be reformed through an oversight board. There has been corruption, mismanagement, and controversy in the Philadelphia City Council, but there have been no calls to abolish that legislative body, DeLeon said. Brown said the sheriff is elected by voters. Why would we want to give a public official the right to eliminate another public official? That seems undemocratic. And if you dont like a particular sheriff you can vote him out. Oh said the Sheriffs Office carries out orders issued by judges. Its not the Police Department, he said. Its the Sheriffs Office. The people have an ability to hold the sheriff accountable through the election. What does the sheriff say? Sheriff Rochelle Bilal, a Democrat, ran in 2019 promising the reform of an office beset with controversies. She defeated another Democrat, former Sheriff Jewell Williams, who had been the subject of sexual harassment lawsuits. Bilal, now seeking a second term, has faced her own controversies during her time in office and has two primary challengers. She frequently deflects responsibility and accuses The Inquirer of targeting her because she eliminated advertising in the newspaper for homes auctioned in sheriffs sales. She suggested during an appearance Wednesday on WURD 96.1 FM/900 AM that she would seek a protection-from-abuse order from a judge against The Inquirer because the harassment and targeting of our office is constant. What are the controversies? The Inquirer reported this week that hundreds of thousands of dollars earmarked for new hires including deputies had instead been used to cover $500,000 in raises for top aides to Bilal. The initial plan included a suggestion to double her pay. Bilal later said miscommunication between her office and the mayors office contributed to misunderstandings about that spending. She also said she did not know at first that her staff tried to double her pay and put a stop to that. One of the staffers who received a pay increase, Undersheriff Tariq El-Shabazz, was fined $16,000 by the Philadelphia Board of Ethics in February after The Inquirer reported that he had been running a private legal practice representing criminal defendants on the side. Bilal also drew attention in February when The Inquirer reported that she had spent nearly $7,000 for a party at Chickies & Petes in South Philadelphia for some of her employees in December. She later told WURD the party was for employees who worked through the COVID-19 pandemic. Is trouble in the Sheriffs Office new? No. Bilal is the seventh sheriff, all Democrats, to hold the office since the Home Rule Charter was enacted in 1951. She and Williams were not the only sheriffs to draw controversy. Former Sheriff John Green, who served from 1987 to 2011, was sentenced in 2019 to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to taking bribes, kickbacks, and other benefits in exchange for giving no-bid work to a businessman. There had already been calls to eliminate the office when Green, the citys longest-serving sheriff, announced in 2010 that he would step down. The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, which reviews the citys finances, issued a report the previous year citing potential savings by folding the office into other agencies. And the Committee of Seventy, a good-government watchdog group, in a 2009 report noted that the city has had a sheriff since 1838 but asked if the city should consider whether this age-old tradition is worth retaining just for traditions sake. I am excited to be a part of Meridians dedicated national insurance team, and for the opportunity to grow my practice, said Dragomirovic. Meridians team members have an unparalleled depth of expertise in insurance and health law and I look forward to working alongside the team to enhance the services I can provide to my clients. While potential earthquake hazards depend on your location, everywhere in British Columbia is considered high risk in relation to the rest of Canada, said Naomi Yamamoto, president of the BC Earthquake Alliance, which hosts the province-wide earthquake drill ShakeOut BC. That is why it is never too late to update our emergency preparedness plans and practice drop, cover, and hold on. ShakeOut BC encourages everyone to spread the word and join us during the eighth annual High Ground Hike in Tofino. According to Jim Mandeville, senior vice president, large loss at First Onsite Property Restoration, insurance policies are evolving with changing climate concerns, which is something brokers should emphasize to clients who may be vulnerable. Mandeville has years of experience working in the disaster relief sector, being on the front lines of restoration and mitigation projects across North America including Hurricane Sandy, the Slave Lake wildfires of 2011 and the Fort McMurray flooding of 2013, to name a few. Swiss insurance group Helvetia is the latest insurer to announce it is testing ChatGPT for its new customer service. Fellow Swiss insurer Zurich said last month that it was experimenting with ChatGPT to find out how AI can help with tasks such as modelling, claims, and data mining. Battleface CEO Sasha Gainullin feels confident that as space tourism evolves, more data will exist to make insurers more comfortable entering this emerging market. In fact, his company already has a headstart. Battleface is a company launched in January of 2018 that uses modular underwriting and bespoke technology to build travel insurance products for customers globally. Underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyds, the company has launched a custom space tourism policy that offers benefits including accidental death and permanent disablement. I think because the market is going to continue to grow within the space tourism industry, well see quite a bit of development in the next two to four years, I would say, where a lot of insurance companies are going to be getting into this space, he said on this episode of The Insuring Cyber Podcast. Gainullin said as a company, Battleface has sought to change the travel insurance landscape by not only customizing policies for insureds needs but setting a bar by evolving with the everchanging travel landscape. What we wanted to do first is concentrate on a mission of how can we create relevant products and services to todays travelers? he said. And then, how do we provide these policies in real time, and how do these policies actually speak to you as a consumer or as a traveler? He said space travel is a natural extension of this mission. We believe that space travel is an emerging area of travel, and its just another experience. Similarly, if you were to go bungee jumping in New Zealand, space travel is just another version of your experience, he said. And how can we apply the same concept and the same philosophy for creative products that would provide the protection for that experience, and then how do we actually build the foundation to continue to improve on the products that were selling specifically designed for space travel or space tourism? He said that while many insurers have been hesitant to enter the space tourism market, he does believe this will change in the future, and he hopes Battlefaces product will set a precedent for the industry. For the right reasons, a lot of insurers just love to base their decisions on data, and right now with space travel, theres not enough data behind it for a lot of insurance companies to get into it, he said. It will probably stay within Lloyds for a while until more and more data is available for general travel insurance or general insurance companies to start getting into it. For Battleface in particular, Gainullin hopes to continue to diversify and deliver relevant products for todays travelers, he said. From my perspective, I live and breathe travel insurance, he said. So for me, what Im excited about is the actual possibility of all kinds of different travel. Check out the rest of the episode to find out what else Gainullin had to say, and be sure to check back for new episodes of The Insuring Cyber Podcast publishing every other Wednesday along with the Insuring Cyber newsletter. Thanks for listening. New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Gov. Wes Moore signed legislation on Tuesday to end Marylands statute of limitations for when civil lawsuits for child sexual abuse can be filed against institutions. The bill signing comes less than a week after the states attorney general released a report that documented the scope of abuse spanning 80 years and accused church leaders of decades of coverups. Under current law, people in Maryland who say they were sexually abused as children cant sue after they reach the age of 38. There is no statute of limitations on the hurt that endures for decades after someone is assaulted, Moore, a Democrat, said. There is no statute of limitations on the trauma that harms so many still to this day, and this law reflects that exact truth. The Maryland General Assembly passed the bill last week, hours after Attorney General Anthony Brown released a long-awaited report of nearly 500 pages with details about more than 150 Catholic priests and others associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore abusing over 600 children. State investigators began their work in 2019. They reviewed over 100,000 pages of documents dating back to the 1940s and interviewed hundreds of victims and witnesses. The measure to end the statute of limitations has been sponsored for several years in Maryland by Del. C.T. Wilson, a Democrat who has testified about being abused in his youth. I thank all the survivors that came up year after year and told their stories, Wilson said. David Lorenz, the Maryland leader of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests who attended the ceremony, said he was thrilled for my fellow survivors. Maryland has stopped saying: Church, tell us what to do, and said: People, what do we do? Were not beholden to the church anymore, and we should never have been, Lorenz said. Twenty-four states have approved revival periods known as lookback windows, which are limited time frames during which accusers can sue, regardless of how long ago the alleged abuse occurred. Marylands law creates a permanent window with no time limit. Marci Hamilton, the founder and CEO of Child USA, a think tank that advocates for better laws to protect children, said she testified to change the law in Maryland 20 years ago. This has been an extremely long haul, Hamilton said, crediting Wilson and victims for persevering. It was a heavy lift, but they did it. The Maryland law, which takes effect Oct. 1, is the only one in the nation that includes some caps for damages, Hamilton said. For private entities, under the bill, damages are capped at $1.5 million for non- economic damages like pain and suffering, but there isnt a cap for damages relating to costs for services like therapy. For public entities like school boards and local governments, damages are capped at $890,000. This is the first window ever to have caps, Hamilton said. Weve resisted them, but these caps are fair enough. The Maryland Catholic Conference, which represents the three dioceses serving Maryland, contended in testimony that the bill is unconstitutional, because of the disparity in monetary judgements. The concerns we raised during the legislative session remain, including questions about constitutionality and the disparate treatment between public and private organizations in Maryland, the conference said in a statement Tuesday. The Baltimore archdiocese says it has paid more than $13.2 million for care and compensation for 301 abuse victims since the 1980s, including $6.8 million toward 105 voluntary settlements. In anticipation that the law will be challenged in court, the measure includes a provision that would put lawsuits on hold until the Supreme Court of Maryland can decide on the laws constitutionality. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Maryland New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! New Jersey authorities on Wednesday arrested a small-town police chief, charging him with sexually assaulting subordinates over more than a decade, while also announcing misconduct charges against another police chief who recently retired. Attorney General Matthew Platkin said that Manville police Chief Thomas Herbst, 55, of Bridgewater, New Jersey, was arrested earlier Wednesday and faces multiple counts of sexual assault, official misconduct and other similar charges. Herbsts lawyer, Jim Wronko, said in a phone interview that his client categorically denies engaging in nonconsensual sex with any woman. He said Herbst was released from jail after an initial court appearance. Platkin also said official misconduct, tampering with records and witnesses and other charges were filed in state court against former Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick, 49, of Farmingdale. Robert Honecker Jr., Kudricks attorney, said in a phone call that his client denies the allegations and that Kudrick had fallen into political disfavor. He intends to vigorously defend against these charges, he said. The charges were announced together, though the cases are unrelated, to show police couldnt get away with abusing the power their positions give them, the attorney general said. I have a clear message: The badge doesnt make you untouchable and your office does not give you a right to act with impunity because at the end of the day we all stand equal before the law, Platkin said. The case against Herbst made headlines last year when one of the women who said he sexually assaulted her filed a lawsuit against him. Hes been on paid leave since then. Wronko, his attorney, said he expects the leave to become unpaid as of Wednesday. According to Platkins office, Herbst was sexually inappropriate toward at least three women. And from 2008 to 2021, he regularly groped, exposed himself to and sexually harassed and assaulted a department employee who reported directly to him, according to the attorney general. The attacks happened while on duty and around police headquarters, Platkin said. The case against Kudrick stemmed from a special labor counsel investigation in Howell Township that was launched because news about a suspected romantic relationship between Kudrick and a subordinate had come into the open, according to the attorney general. Shortly before a police captain who knew about the relationship was set to speak to the special labor counsel, Kudrick threatened to launch an illegitimate internal affairs investigation into the officer, Platkin said. It was an effort to intimidate the captain from being truthful with the labor counsel, he added. Kudrick also falsely denied having an intimate relationship with the subordinate in violation of the townships policy against engaging in romantic relationships with subordinates, Platkin said.. Manville is a borough of nearly 11,000 people in Somerset County. Howell Township, Monmouth County, has a population of more than 53,000. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Law Enforcement Numbers New Jersey New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! New York City officials unveiled three new high-tech policing devices Tuesday, including a robotic dog that critics called creepy when it first joined the police pack 2 1/2 years ago. The new devices, which also include a GPS tracker for stolen cars and a cone- shaped security robot, will be rolled out in a manner that is transparent, consistent and always done in close collaboration with the people we serve, said police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, who joined Mayor Eric Adams and other officials at a Times Square press conference where the security robot and the mechanical canine nicknamed Digidog were displayed. Digidog is out of the pound, said Adams, a Democrat and former police officer. Digidog is now part of the toolkit that we are using. The citys first robot police dog was leased in 2020 by Adams predecessor, former Mayor Bill de Blasio, but the citys contract for the device was cut short after critics derided it as creepy and dystopian. Adams said he wont bow to anti-robot dog pressure. A few loud people were opposed to it and we took a step back, the mayor said. That is not how I operate. I operate on looking at whats best for the city. Adams said the remote-controlled, 70-pound (32-kilogram) Digidog will be deployed in risky situations like hostage standoffs starting this summer. If you have a barricaded suspect, if you have someone thats inside a building that is armed, instead of sending police in there, you send Digidog in there, he said. So these are smart ways of using good technologies. The tracking system called StarChase will allow police to launch a GPS tag that will attach itself to a stolen car so that officers can track the vehicles location. The New York Police Departments pilot program for using the system will last 90 days, officials said. The Autonomous Security Robot, which Adams compared to a Roomba, will be deployed inside the Times Square subway station in a seven-month pilot program starting this summer, police officials said. The device, used in shopping centers and other locations for several years, will at first be joined by a human partner, police said. Civil libertarians and police reform advocates questioned the need for the high- tech devices. This latest announcement is just the most recent example of how Mayor Adams allows unmitigated overspending of the NYPDs massively bloated budget, said Ileana Mendez-Penate, program director of Communities United for Police Reform. The NYPD is buying robot dogs and other fancy tech while New Yorkers cant access food stamps because city agencies are short-staffed, and New Yorkers are getting evicted because they cant access their right to counsel. Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, said: The NYPD is turning bad science fiction into terrible policing. New York deserves real safety, not a knockoff RoboCop. Photo: This image taken from video provided by New York City Office of The Mayor, Digidog mobile robot walks during news conference in Times Square on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 in New York. New York City officials unveiled three new high-tech policing devices Tuesday, including Digidog, that critics called creepy when it first joined the police pack 2 1/2 years ago. (New York City Office of The Mayor via AP) Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Auto Fraud New York InsurTech Tech Law Enforcement New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday he had launched an effort to establish rules on artificial intelligence to address national security and education concerns, as use of programs like ChatGPT becomes widespread. Schumer, a Democrat, said in a statement he had drafted and circulated 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. ChatGPT, an AI program that recently grabbed the publics attention for its ability to write answers quickly to a wide range of queries, in particular has attracted U.S. lawmakers attention. It has become the fastest-growing consumer application in history with more than 100 million monthly active users. Schumers plan will need the approval of Congress and the White House and could still take months or more. However, it is the most concrete step yet that the U.S. government may adopt new regulations to address rising concerns about generative AI. Time is of the essence to get ahead of this powerful new technology to prevent potentially wide-ranging damage to society and national security and instead put it to positive use by advancing strong, bipartisan legislation, Schumer said. Schumers proposal would require companies to allow independent experts to review and test AI technologies ahead of public release or update, and give users access to findings. He has not yet drafted legislation. Schumer cited Chinas release this week of its own approach to regulating AI, calling it a wake-up call to the nation. He said it is is imperative for the United States to lead and shape the rules governing such a transformative technology and not permit China to lead on innovation or write the rules of the road. Schumers office said he has for months been discussing and circulating a high-level framework that outlines a new regulatory regime for artificial intelligence, engaging leading artificial intelligence experts to help inform the proposal. President Joe Biden last week said it remained to be seen whether AI is dangerous. Tech companies have a responsibility, in my view, to make sure their products are safe before making them public, he said. The Commerce Department on Tuesday said it was seeking public comments on potential accountability measures for AI. Chinas cyberspace regulator unveiled draft measures Tuesday for managing generative AI services, saying it wants firms to submit security assessments to authorities before launching offerings to the public. Microsoft Corp is a big investor in OpenAI, which created ChatGPT. The software company and Alphabet Incs Google has been pouring billions of dollars into AI to gain an edge amid heightened competition in Silicon Valley. The three companies did not immediately comment Thursday on Schumers effort. Topics InsurTech Leadership Data Driven Artifical Intelligence Politics New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A former Los Angeles auctioneer has agreed to plead guilty in a cross-country art fraud scheme where he created fake artwork and falsely attributed the paintings to artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. The paintings ultimately wound up at the Orlando Museum of Art in Florida before they were seized by federal agents last year in a scandal that roiled the museum and led to its CEOs departure after he threatened an art expert and told her to shut up. Basquiat, a Neo-expressionist painter whose success came during the 1980s, lived and worked in New York before he died in 1988 at age 27 from a drug overdose. The Orlando Museum of Art scandal came in 2022 when a federal raid ended in the seizure of 25 paintings whose authenticity had been in question for a decade. The museum had been the first to display the artwork, and its former director had previously insisted the artwork was legitimate. Defendant Michael Barzman, 45, was charged Tuesday in federal court in Los Angeles with making false statements to the FBI during an interview last year, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a news release. He has agreed to plead guilty and faces up to five years in prison. Barzmans court date has not been scheduled. Barzman admitted that he and another man, identified only as J.F. in court papers, had created the bogus paintings and agreed to split the sales proceeds. Mr. Barzman was drowning in medical debt after battling cancer for decades, his attorney Joel Koury said in a statement Tuesday. In desperation, he participated in this scheme because he was afraid of losing his health insurance. Since then, he has cooperated and done everything asked of him to compensate for his poor judgement. Mark Elliott, the chairman of the Orlando museums board of trustees, said in a statement that the museum has recommitted itself to its mission to provide excellence in the visual arts with its exhibitions, collections, and educational programming in the wake of the scandal. Barzman admitted to the FBI after repeated denials in interviews with federal agents, leading to Tuesdays felony charge that he made a false provenance for the paintings by claiming in a notarized document that they had been found in television writer Thad Mumfords storage locker. Barzman previously ran an auction business where he bought and resold the contents of unpaid storage units. He bought Mumfords locker in 2012. Mumford, who died in 2018, told investigators he had never owned any Basquiat art, and the paintings were not in the unit the last time he had opened it. Experts pointed out that the cardboard used in at least one of the pieces included FedEx typeface that wasnt used until 1994, about six years after Basquiat died, according to a federal search warrant. The artwork had been marketed as painted in 1982. Barzman and J.F. would make the paintings on cardboard with various materials and then age them outdoors so the artwork would look like it was painted in the 1980s, according to Barzmans plea agreement. But on the back of one of the paintings seized from the Orlando museum, a crucial clue remained: A mailing label bearing Barzmans name, painted over. Photo: A banner advertising an exhibit by artist Jean-Michel Basquiat hangs from the exterior of the Orlando Museum of Art. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File) Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Fraud New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Less than a year after it announced it would stop writing new business in Florida, commercial carrier Capacity Insurance has been placed under administrative supervision and is now in an orderly runoff. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation said in a consent order that Sunrise, Florida-based Capacity, part of the Peak6 Insurtech group of companies, said in January that it was unable to maintain required surplus levels. The Office has determined that grounds exist for Capacity to be placed in administrative supervision for the purpose of effectuating an orderly wind-down of its remaining liabilities, safeguarding its assets and protecting the interests of policyholders, claimants and the public, the March 3 consent order reads. Capacity Insurance was established in Florida in 1989 as a strictly commercial lines property insurer, specializing in mercantile, offices, gas stations, churches, contractors, funeral homes and other businesses. It had just about 2,700 policies in force as of last year. In 2009, Capacity was acquired by Team Focus Insurance Group, part of the decades-old managing general agency, the MacNeil Group, based in Sunrise, Florida. In 2021, Team Focus was acquired by Peak6 InsurTech and investment firm, according to news reports. By June 2022, Capacity announced that its financial outlook in Florida had darkened and it would stop writing new business in the state. The AM Best rating firm withdrew its financial strength rating after the insurer said it no longer wished to participate. Since then, things have not improved. The company was required to file a runoff plan last month, according to the consent order signed by Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky. The administrative supervision is for 120 days, until early July, but may be extended for 60-day increments. A spokesman for Peak6 said last summer that Capacity had undergone significant changes in the preceding 18 months. Over the past year, the Florida market has been extremely difficult, especially in the reinsurance arena, further decreasing the profitability of Capacity Insurance, a statement from the company said at the time. The news may be seen as another indicator that Floridas property insurance market continues to be under stress, despite at least a half-dozen measures adopted by Florida lawmakers in the last three years that were designed to limit litigation, roof claims and loss adjustment expenses for carriers. Some 10 Florida insurers have been deemed insolvent since late 2021. The latest carrier to place itself in an orderly runoff was United Property & Casualty Insurance Co., in August 2022. But by February of this year, UPC had become insolvent and is now being liquidated. The Capacity consent order did not indicate which carriers may assume the remaining Capacity policies. While under supervision, Capacity may not terminate any policies, except for nonpayment of premiums; dispose of any assets; withdraw any of its bank accounts; transfer any of its property; nor waste assets or expend funds of more than $10,000 without approval from OIR, except in the normal course of business. Topics Carriers Florida Commercial Lines Business Insurance New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Nearly a foot of rain fell in a matter of hours in Fort Lauderdale causing widespread flooding, the closure of the citys airport, schools and the suspension of high-speed commuter rail service for the Broward County region. Police and Fire Rescue continue to answer calls for service, the city of Fort Lauderdale said in a statement. 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. Top photo: A man stops to take pictures of his flooded neighborhood along SW 3rd Street and SW 4th Ave in Dania Beach, Florida, on Wednesday. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida Flood Aviation K-12 New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! 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 southeast of Memphis. Goodyear officials have not revealed a timetable for when the plants 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. Photo: The Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. plant in Tupelo, owned by Goodyear. (Thomas Wells/The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP, File) Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Windstorm Mississippi New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A Mexican citizen was sentenced Monday to life in a U.S. prison for killing a man who reported him and his brother to authorities for cheating migrant workers out of millions of dollars. A U.S. District Court judge in Brunswick, Georgia, sentenced 46-year-old Juan Rangel-Rubio nearly six months after a jury convicted him of conspiring to kill a witness and other criminal counts. According to federal prosecutors, Rangel-Rubio and his brother recruited migrant workers living illegally in the U.S. to work for a tree-trimming business in southeast Georgia, then routed more than $3.5 million of the workers earnings to their own accounts. Employee Eliud Montoya filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and was fatally shot in August 2017 outside his home near Savannah. Prosecutors said Rangel-Rubio pulled the trigger after plotting the killing with his brother, Pablo Rangel-Rubio, and a getaway driver, Higinio Perez-Bravo. Both co-defendants had previously received prison sentences for conspiring to kill Montoya, a U.S. citizen. Prosecutors said the Rangel-Rubio brothers and Perez-Bravo were all Mexican citizens living in the U.S. illegally when the killing occurred. Eliud Montoya was murdered for doing the right thing and revealing Juan Rangel-Rubios scheme to profit off his use of undocumented workers, Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, said in a news release. As a result of the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners, Juan Rangel- Rubio will be held accountable for his despicable crimes. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Georgia CHARLOTTE, N.C. April 11, 2023 Amwins, a global distributor of specialty insurance products and services, today announced it has hired Tisha L. Baptist to join Trinity Underwriting Managers (TUMI), part of Amwins Underwriting. TUMI specializes in designing, marketing and underwriting niche transportation programs on a nationwide basis through a network of appointed retail agents. As a program administrator and wholesale broker dedicated exclusively to niche and hard-to-place transportation risks, TUMI has built trusted relationships with more than 20 A rated carriers. In her new role, Tisha will focus on renewal underwriting for TUMIs towing, sand and gravel programs, helping build relationships in the Midwest and beyond. We are delighted to bring Tisha on board, said Stephen Standing, executive vice president at TUMI. Tisha has a tremendous level of experience and expertise in the transportation sector and having her on our team will enhance our ability to provide best-in-class support to our clients, carriers and retail partners. Tisha joins TUMI from AIG where she worked as a senior underwriter responsible for a large fleet book of business valued at over $11 million. She brings 13 years of insurance experience holding various underwriting roles within AIG. TUMI is backed by Amwins and is an integral part of Amwins Underwriting division which specializes in offering retail agents an array of P&C programs for specific product lines, industry segments and business types. About Amwins Amwins is the largest independent wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products in the U.S. dedicated to serving retail insurance agents by providing property and casualty products, specialty group benefit products, and administrative services. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the company operates through more than 155 offices globally and handles premium placements in excess of $29 billion annually. For more information, visit amwins.com. Topics Underwriting Source: Streetwise Reports April 14, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. and its subsidiary Algernon NeuroScience have reached a new milestone in a clinical trial investigating the psychedelic drug DMT for the treatment of brain injuries. Click here to learn more about new applications for psychedelics. Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AGN:CSE; AGNPF:OTCQB; AGN0:XFRA) has dosed the second cohort in its Phase 1 clinical trial for the investigation of DMT for brain injuries. Algernon's subsidiary, Algernon NeuroScience, has qualified its Form 1-A offering statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") to raise up to US$10M under a Tier II Regulation A+ offering (Reg A+). Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a Canadian-based drug company that focuses on investigating re-purposed drug compounds for unmet medical needs. The CEO is Christopher J. Moreau, who has over 15 years of C-Suite experience, and Dr. Christopher Bryan, Ph.D., is the Vice President of Research and Operations. Dr. Ahmad Khalil, MD, Ph.D., is the Medical Director. New Step in Clinical Trials and Shares on Offer Algernon NeuroScience (AGN Neuro), a subsidiary of Algernon Pharmaceuticals, has reached "another important step in our DMT clinical research program," according to Christopher J. Moreau, "the sooner we can finalize the correct dose and the optimum exposure period, the faster we can move into Phase 2 studies where we can test DMT on patients that have suffered a serious brain injury." Algernon has completed dosing the second cohort in the escalating-dose Phase 1 clinical study of an intravenous formulation of AP-188. N, N-Dimethyltryptamine, also known as DMT, is a hallucinogenic tryptamine drug that occurs naturally in some plants and animals, and it can also be synthesized in a laboratory. It is used in the religious practices of indigenous people in the Amazon basin. Algernon has filed patents for two new salt forms of DMT (pamoate and nicotinate) for use with patients who have suffered a brain injury. The company also filed patents for other combinations of DMT and conventional post-stroke treatments. Christopher J. Moreau, CEO of Algernon, stated, "We believe DMT holds tremendous promise as a drug that could have a significant positive impact on the healing and recovery of brain injury victims on a global scale." The first part of the study is focused on investigating several concentrations of DMT administered initially with a bolus injection followed by a slow intravenous infusion over six hours. The second part will use the optimum concentration for a 6-hour duration every two days over a 2-week period. According to Algernon, a DMT study based on these doses and durations have never been conducted before. Algernon has qualified its Form 1-A offering statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") to raise up to US$10M under a Tier II Regulation A+ offering (Reg A+). Algernon Neuro will be offering up to 37.5% of its common shares. The majority of the company's shares will still be owned by Algernon Pharmaceuticals. The company hopes to raise funds for research and development for its DMT clinical studies of patients who have had either a stroke or a traumatic brain injury. Class A common shares will be offered at US$1 per share and require a minimum investment of US$1000. The company is also offering bonus shares at the following prices: US$15,000 for 5% bonus shares, US$25,000 for 10% bonus shares, US$100,000 for 15% bonus shares, or US$250,000 for 20% bonus shares. The marketing for the offering will be focused on using primarily on-line and digital communications. New Legislation on Psychedelics Psychedelic substances have seen recent acceptance from state legislative bodies. As of January 1, 2023, Oregon has become the first state to legalize psychedelics and plans to set up clinics across the state. Other states, such as Massachusetts, Illinois, and Utah, are also considering bills that would legalize psychedelics, and Virginia is considering legislation that would move psychedelics to a lower schedule, and Arizona has put forth funding for research. Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved psychedelic substances to be used in medications. Specifically, Australia has approved psilocybin and MDMA for prescription by psychiatrists who are approved by a human research ethics committee under the Authorized Prescriber Scheme. The shift in legislation has come as conventional treatments have been unable to keep pace with the rising rate of mental illness following the pandemic. Algernon on the Move According to Clive Maund, Algernon Pharma is a company that bears watching: "Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. has two things going for it. One is that it could come out with positive news at any time that could get the stock moving... it is likely to result in big percentage gains." Algernon has a number of short-term catalysts to report. The company is engaged in a Phase 1 DMT study for brain injuries. Algernon NeuroScience also represents a catalyst that bears watching as they continue their research into DMT. As stated above, the company recently filed a Form 1-A offering statement. The offering of 37.5% of the company's common shares will fund research, development, and management. [OWNERSHIP_CHART-9895] The company is expecting final data from its Phase 1 Study for DMT in Q3, 2023 and is planning a Phase 2a stroke and a Phase 2a traumatic brain injury study to start in Q2 2024. The company is also planning to file a US FDA IND filing for a Phase 2b chronic cough study. Ownership and Share Structure Management and directors own approximately 5% of the company. Reuters notes that 14.39% of the stock is with institutions. The largest shareholder is Canada's Alpha North Asset Management, with a 13.15% stake or 1.27 million shares. 3.87% is with strategic investors, and the rest is in retail. The company reports that it has CA$689K in the bank as of the quarter ending November 30, 2022, and that its burn rate is approximately CA$80k net of clinical trials and research costs. According to Market Watch, the company has 9.7 million shares outstanding and trades in the 52-week range between .24 and 1.46. Disclosure: 1) Amanda Duvall wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an employee. 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. His/her company has a financial relationship with the following companies referred to in this article: None. 2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Algernon Pharmaceuticals. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. As of the date of this article, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports has a consulting relationship with Algernon Pharmaceuticals. Please click here for more information. 3) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 4) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc., a company mentioned in this article. 5) This article does not constitute medical advice. Officers, employees and contributors to Streetwise Reports are not licensed medical professionals. Readers should always contact their healthcare professionals for medical advice. 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 Source: Streetwise Reports April 14, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Defense Metals Corp. joins the Discovery Group, formed by mining entrepreneurs John Robins and Jim Paterson to advance mineral exploration and mining projects. Rare earth element (REE) explorer Defense Metals Corp. (DEFN:TSX.V; DFMTF:OTCQB; 35D:FSE) has announced the successful completion of its Phase 1 hydrometallurgical pilot plant at SGS Lakefield. The main purpose of this phase was to test the flowsheet for operability and identify any changes that might be required before a longer test campaign. According to the company, "During the five days of continuous operation, the parameters for the various unit operations were varied slightly to allow optimization of the circuit ahead of the Phase II pilot plant run scheduled for late April 2023." The company reports that the extraction of Pr (praseodymium) and Nd (neodymium) from the acid bake calcine was in excess of 90%, the impurity removal circuits were very efficient, and reagent regeneration and water recirculation were effective. Recently, Defense Metals has also announced it had joined the Vancouver-based Discovery Group, formed by mining entrepreneurs John Robins and Jim Paterson, to advance mineral exploration and mining projects. Discovery Group said it had generated over CA$500 million in direct and indirect expenditures, including more than CA$2.6 billion in M&A activity. Its most recent success was the sale of Great Bear Resources Ltd. to Kinross Gold Corp. (K:TSX; KGC:NYSE) for CA$1.8 billion last year. "We continue to educate and inform shareholders about market opportunities that exist with high-quality junior mining explorers," Discovery cofounder Robins said. "The foundation of our success has been built upon people, projects, and integrity," Robins explained on the company's website. "We strive to identify world-class opportunities and attract the best technical and management talent to develop them." On its website, Kinross called Great Bear a "world-class project" that is a "centerpiece" of its portfolio that could support a large, long-life mine complex. Last month, Defense Metals updated the 3D geological model of its Wicheeda REE project in British Columbia with 10,000 meters of new drilling from 47 holes completed in 2021 and 2022, which the company called a "significant milestone." It next plans to update its resource estimate and complete a preliminary feasibility study (PFS) for the site. The new drilling "yielded some of the longest and highest-grade drill intercepts to date and led to the discovery of a new zone of high-grade mineralization at depth that has the potential to positively impact an updated mineral resource estimate," Noble Capital Markets analyst Mark Reichman wrote in an updated research note on March 24. Reichman continued to rate the stock Outperform with a CA$0.90 target. "Defense Metals is advancing toward what we believe will be a compelling preliminary feasibility study," Reichman wrote. "In addition to [the] significant potential to expand the resource and extend the mine life beyond 19 years, we expect grade enhancement and the meaningful conversion of inferred to indicated and potentially measured resources." The Catalyst: Catching Up With China The company wants to produce as much as 10% of the world's light REEs to reduce reliance on China, which has about 85% of the world's processing capacity of the elements. REEs are in high demand in the new green economy for purifying water, MRIs, fertilizers, weapons, research, wind turbines, computers, and permanent magnet motors for electric vehicles (EVs). According to a report by Fortune Business Insights, the global REE market is expected to grow from US$2.6 billion in 2020 to US$5.5 billion in 2028. "The rising demand for consumer durables such as tablets, laptops, and smartphones is one of the factors driving the consumption of rare earth elements," the report said. "The demand for these elements in developing economies is estimated to expand rapidly owing to an increase in industrialization, building and construction activities, and various digitization activities by governments in the respective countries." Demand for EVs in Western countries is also estimated to create a surge in the consumption of REEs, the report said. "However, the high cost of these minerals and the monopoly of China-based manufacturers is expected to hinder the market growth," the authors wrote. High-Grade Intercepts The holes from 2021 and 2022 returned some of the longest and highest-grade intercepts from Wicheeda, the company said. Hole WI21-58 returned 3.09% total rare earth oxide (TREO) over 251 meters, and WI22-68 returned 6.7% TREO over 18 meters. High-grade REE dolomite-carbonatite was discovered in the north area of the deposit, returning 3.17% TREO over 196 meters, including 4.29% TREO over 55 meters to a depth of 201 meters extending 30 meters below the resource pit shell. Defense Metals is also building a hydrometallurgical pilot plant at SG Lakefield in Ontario. Construction has started, and commissioning should start later this month, with pilot operations completed by the end of April. Defense Metals also announced that Dale Wallster had been appointed to its Board of Directors. Wallster is a prospector and a geologist with more than 40 years of experience exploring mineral deposits in North America. He was president and founder of Roughrider Uranium Corp. and is credited with the discovery of Hathor Exploration Ltd.'s Roughrider deposit. "In the recent explosion of strategic, geopolitical, and investment interest in North American critical minerals, rare earth element companies represent the 'Rodney Dangerfield' of the class; they are getting no respect," Wallster said. "Given their importance in the electrification of the world, I expect this to change soon, and Defense Metals, with its Wicheeda project pre-feasibility study expected in 2024, is leading the pack." Analyst Michael Gray of Agentis Capital wrote in a research note that Wicheeda was well-located with access to key infrastructure and "could become a globally significant producer" of REEs. He set a 12-month valuation of CA$3.50 for the stock. [OWNERSHIP_CHART-9678] "DEFN is a best-of-breed North American REE developer that is well-positioned to its leverage-growing global REE demand and government support to become part of a North American REE critical metals supply chain," Gray wrote. Ownership and Share Structure About 5% of the company's stock is owned by insiders, including Director Andrew S. Burgess with 2.01% or 4.18 million shares, and CEO Taylor with 1.2% or 2.5 million shares, according to Reuters. About 5% of the company is owned by institutional entities, including U.S. Global Investors Inc. with 0.96% or 2 million shares, Reuters said. The rest, 90%, is retail. Defense Metals has a market cap of CA$68.54 million with 207.7 million shares outstanding, about 165 million of them free floating. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.39 and CA$0.165. Disclosures: 1) Steve Sobek wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC. He or members of his household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. He and members of his household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. 2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Defense Metals Corp. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. As of the date of this article, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports has a consulting relationship with: None. Please click here for more information. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. 3) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 4) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees, or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Defense Metals Corp., a company mentioned in this article. 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 Source: Streetwise Reports April 14, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Arizona Silver Exploration Inc. has samples that reveal visible gold. Read here to see how the company is preparing to develop its flagship property. Earlier this month, Arizona Silver Exploration Inc. (AZS:TSX; AZASF:OTC) released news regarding the drilling of the Perry Zone and the Rising Fawn Zone on its Philadelphia project. While the company is still waiting on assay results, drilling has revealed visible gold on some drill holes. Arizona Silver stated regarding the news, "We are in the process of drilling out one of the most exciting new gold discoveries in Arizona and anticipate having a large gold-silver resource defined in 2023-2024." The company is a junior mining exploration company. Arizona Silver has four properties: Silverton, Ramsey, Sycamore Canyon, and Philadelphia, its flagship property. Mike Stark is the President, CEO, and Director, while Greg Hahn is the Vice President of Exploration and Director, as well as a certified professional geologist and geological engineer. Visible Gold Found During Drilling Arizona Silver released the geological sections from the drilling program at the Philadelphia gold-silver project in March 2023. The company is still awaiting assay results, but the program covered 1256m and included 12 drill holes in six sections. Half of these sections are located in the Perry Zone and the other half in the Rising Fawn Zone. The company defined visibly mineralized intervals by the presence of stockwork quartz or without a hanging wall vein. Some of these visible mineralized intervals may contain visible gold, or gold may be adjacent to visibly mineralized intervals. According to Greg Hahn, the Vice President of Exploration, "These geologic sections demonstrate excellent continuity of the host geology and stockwork mineralization from two areas separated by +300m of strike. They form part of a continuously mineralized system with a total strike length drilled over at least 1.7 kilometers. The continuity of mineralization down dip is impressive to date, with a dip length of at least 200m demonstrated. Mineralization continues to remain open down-dip and along strike." Gold Reaching New Heights After much anticipation, gold finally broke the US$2,000/oz. According to Stockhead, gold has only ever traded at this price for two days in history. OANDA analyst Edward Moya said, "a weakening economy continues to drive safe-haven flows towards gold. Gold investors now need to see further evidence that the service sector part of the economy is slowing, and that could help the big rally continue." Moya predicts that if current economic instability continues, gold could reach US$2,100. While values in the tech industry have plummeted, gold seems to be on the rise, reports Nadine McGrath. Gold stocks have been driven up by preparations for drilling and sampling as well as the uncertain market. According to Anna Golubova of Kitco News, some of the increase in gold value was driven by central banks' buying habits. At the beginning of the year, these institutions purchased 74 tons, and to date have purchased 125 tons of gold. The leading buyers seem to be China, Russia, and Turkey. Catalysts Arizona Silver reports that it has a tight share structure, with large stakes owned by management. It has a low burn rate and spends the majority of its money on developing drill sites, particularly in Philadelphia. According to Greg Hahn, VP of Exploration, "The Philadelphia property is one of the few gold systems remaining in the Western U.S.A. that has never been evaluated using modern exploration concepts ... All this project needs is drilling to demonstrate its real potential." The company is expecting to release drill results any day now. It reports that it has had 100% drill hole hits on all patented ground drilling since 2021. [OWNERSHIP_CHART-10692] On March 23, 2023, technical analyst Clive Maund said regarding Arizona Silver, "We are still at a very good entry point for the stock, which has big upside from here." In the same month, Chris Temple of The National Investor shared his excitement with Arizona Silver's march drill results, saying, "Ahead of this news, AZS shares had already been better-than-average performers among the universe of exploration juniors . . . I think, in this case, it owes to AZS shares being in some stronger-than-average hands: people who see progress being made toward a possibly BIG breakout story and don't want to leave." Ownership and Share Structure Management and advisors hold more than 28% of the company, while institutions hold 9.9%. Arizona Silver reports having a large following of family and friends who own 42% of the company. Arizona Silver reports a monthly drilling cost of US$125 per foot in core, or US$50 per foot in RC all-in costs Market Watch reports that Arizona Silver has a market cap of CA$35.33 million and 69.28 million shares outstanding. It trades in the 52-week range between CA$0.17 and CA$0.55 Disclosure: 1) Amanda Duvall wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an employee. 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. Her company has a financial relationship with the following companies referred to 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. As of the date of this article, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports has a consulting relationship with: Arizona Silver Exploration Inc. Please click here for more information. An affiliate of Streetwise Reports is conducting a digital media marketing campaign for this article on behalf of none. Please click here for more information. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. 3) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 4) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Arizona Silver Exploration Inc., a company mentioned in this article. 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 Source: Ryan Walker April 14, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Metallurgical test results indicate material from this exploration project in Spain is amenable to conventional flotation processing, noted an Echelon Capital Markets report. Pan Global Resources Inc. (PGZ:TSXV;PGZFF:OTCMKTS) had metallurgical testing of material from its Escacena project in Spain's Iberian pyrite belt, and preliminary results are positive, reported Echelon Capital Markets analyst Ryan Walker in an April 11 research note. "We contend that today's metallurgical test results further demonstrate the potential 'off-the-shelf' development characteristics of the Escacena project," Walker wrote. Compelling Return on Investment Also of note, the metals exploration offers investors significant potential return. The gap between the current price of the stock, about CA$0.345 per share, and Echelon's target price on it, CA$1.30 per share, implies a 277% potential gain. Pan Global, headquartered in British Columbia, is a Speculative Buy. "We view the significant ongoing exploration and drill program at Escacena as a potentially transformational milestone for Pan Global as it carries the potential for the discovery of multiple La Romana-like targets on numerous large gravity anomalies on the large land package," Walker commented. New Metallurgical Data The copper material tested was from the main La Romana zone at Escacena and graded 0.39%, Walker relayed and summarized the metallurgical results. Two locked cycle flotation bench-scale tests yielded high copper recoveries and high-grade concentrates. On one, 86.4% of copper was recovered, and the grade of concentrate produced was 28.5%. On the second test, copper recovery was 89.5%, and the concentrate grade was 23.8%. "The results suggest amenability to a vanilla processing flowsheet," noted Walker. "Importantly, the tests also suggest the potential for a relatively coarse primary grind size, meaning lower energy requirements for crushing and grinding and better flotation characteristics (recovery and concentrate grade)." Test data also indicated that potential exists for credits from silver as a byproduct. Metallurgical testing of tin material from Escacena is underway. Plans also call for variability testing on material from different locations and with a range of copper and tin grades. Catalysts on Horizon Walker noted four upcoming events that could boost Pan Global's stock price. Drill results are expected, at different times, from three programs: La Romana (10 holes), Romana Deep (three holes) and Zarcita (22 holes). Also anticipated is announcement of the outcome from various discussions with local landowners about accessing "potential near-surface (and undrilled) extensions of the La Romana mineralization along strike to the west and east," wrote Walker. 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. 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. Disclosures to Echelon Capital Markets, Pan Global Resources Inc., April 11, 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: Pan Global Resources Inc. |PGZ:TSXV I, Ryan Walker, hereby certify that the views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject securities or issuers. 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. 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 Pig farmers are "slowly but surely coming out the other side" of the "horrendous situation" they have faced for the past 18 months or so as prices are beginning to creep upwards. Farmers are gearing up to attend the Irish Pig Health Society (IPHS) Symposium 2023 next week, with secretary Shane McAuliffe saying that a big talking point for those attending the gathering will be the difficult conditions that pig farmers have been operating in. He said that it will "take a long time for the substantial losses on farms to be recouped" following this very challenging period. "Our breeding herd is at its lowest number in 35 years so the scarcity of pigs needs to be reflected in the price we are receiving, Mr McAuliffe told the Irish Examiner. The IPHS Symposium, which is the countrys largest pig event and attracts a diverse group due to the array of keynote speakers and the presence of industry and pig farmers alike, takes place at the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise on Tuesday, April 18. The theme of this year's event is 'Quality over quantity by maximising health and efficiency'. Speakers In the last week, the TAMS 3 Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme opened up to help farmers invest in animal welfare and energy efficient measures, and Mr McAuliffe said that this has been reflected in some of the new exhibitors that will be at this year's symposium, "as we welcome companies working in the renewable energy sector". "There is a lot of talk about solar energy at the moment, and indeed we have renewable energy expert Barry Caslin from Teagasc as one of our keynote speakers," Mr McAuliffe said. "Well-known pig consultant Stephen Hall is coming over from the UK to speak about sow longevity, and Canadian sow lactation biology researcher Chantal Farmer will be discussing her expert area." A farmer discussion panel will also take place, "and I have no doubt there will be many topical issues up for discussion," Mr McAuliffe added. Thomas Gallagher, who works for MSD Animal Health in the integrated livestock business unit, will take over the proceedings of the event in his first year as IPHS president. Pig prices According to Teagasc, pig prices rose gradually over the course of 2022 to reduce monthly losses, however, despite this increase and significant state support to the sector in 2022, the average pig farm will have incurred losses of over 400,000 last year. Pig prices are forecast to continue to improve in 2023. A 22% increase in pig prices is predicted, and according to Teagasc economists, this would restore profitability in the sector to a more normal level. Pig production is expected to fall slightly this year, a result of the contraction of the sow herd that occurred in 2022. The Irish Farmers' Association's latest pig market update from April 12 said that there was no change to Irish pig prices last Friday, with farmers reporting quotes of 2.28 as an average Irish price. Some farmers are reporting top prices of circa 2.36 2.38 with some processors. Irish pig prices generally averaged higher than the average EU price. The average European pig price for week 13 was 2.36 per kg according to the European Commission for a grade E carcass pig, which is 26% higher than the price for the same week last year. A significant tightening of pig supplies across the EU has been reflected in prices being driven on further since week 13 in some member states. The weekly throughput for the week ending April 9 was 64,252, of which 1,346 were sows. The Republic of Ireland weekly pig kill is running 11% below this time last year. Exports According to Bord Bia, Irish pigmeat exports contributed 540m to the Irish exchequer in 2022 (up 2% on 2021) representing 13% of the total value of food, drink, and horticulture exports. The volume of pigmeat exported last year totalled 228,000 tonnes, down 20,000 tonnes on 2021. Speaking on Friday's Teagasc Signpost webinar, Ger McCutcheon, specialist pig development officer said that Ireland produces about 2% of the European pigmeat supply. Mr McCutcheon said that the exceptional increases in feed and energy prices last year greatly added to the cost of production for farmers, leading to "such a fallout of sows from the system, and a number of pig producers have got out of production as a result of the margins that are there". "The pig sector is a capital-intensive operation - a lot of money is invested in buildings, in stock, and obviously in feed, on an ongoing basis," he said. "You need to be able to make sure that your production costs are not going to exceed the price that you get for your pigs." The Irish Farmers' Association has again pushed for Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to introduce supports for the sheep sector as farmers face a "worsening crisis". A collection of the latest news, views and analysis from the farming desk on the topic of Beef and Sheep. IFA sheep chairman Kevin Comiskey said that the latest CSO agriculture output index for February highlights the extent of the crisis in the sheep sector while sheep farmers wait on the Governments response. The CSO index shows sheep farmers to be the only sector losing ground in output value, dropping 8.9% to the end of February, when all other sectors recorded average growth of 33% compared to last year. At the same time, sheep farmers endured the same level of exposure to the input price increase of 16.4%. IFA has highlighted in recent weeks the loss of 9m from sheep farmers incomes for the first three months of the year due to the price differential with last year, which equates to 14 per lamb or 21 per ewe. 'Relentless loss of income' "Sheep farmers do not have the capacity to endure this relentless loss of income," Mr Comiskey said. "Teagasc figures showed a cut of income on farms last year of over 80%, to just 7 per ewe, which includes the Sheep Welfare Scheme payment. "The losses to date this year have compounded the income situation on sheep farms and have created a critical loss-making situation that can only be addressed with immediate direct supports." Kevin Comiskey met with Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue this week, and "put forward the facts as presented by Bord Bia, Teagasc, all of which clearly, concisely and consistently show the extent of the crisis in the sector". He also outlined the costs associated with shearing on farms due to the collapsed wool market which will not be addressed by the recently-formed wool council "in any meaningful way for farmers". Trade deals Mr Comiskey also highlighted that sheep farmers are feeling the brunt of the Brexit impact in trade deals done by the UK with New Zealand and Australia in particular. Both are large sheep-producing countries "with the capacity to severely undermine our key markets", Mr Comiskey said. "These trade deals are in addition to deals already done and in the pipeline with the EU providing additional sheepmeat access to our key markets," he added. Mr Comiskey called on the Government to come forward as a "matter of urgency" with immediate targeted supports for sheep farmers to provide 30 per ewe and supports for farmers finishing store lambs. He added that TDs throughout the country are "acutely aware" of the situation sheep farmers in their constituencies find themselves, and that they have a "key role to play" in ensuring funding is provided for direct supports to sheep farmers. In my early 20s I visited France for the first time as an adult and stayed with family friends of my girlfriend (now wife - you may know her soubriquet The Engineer from my restaurant reviews). Over that weekend in Brittany I realised that my obsessional interest in food and wine seemed perfectly normal to the French - I had found a sort of spiritual home. Helping Zaig (an old Breton name) make fresh mayonnaise with just a wooden spoon and judicious drops of olive oil is a special memory. We talked in detail about the wonders of Kouign-Amann (Breton Butter Cake) which I had tasted for the first time that morning at the market. She explained how I really needed to go to Finistere in Northern Brittany to taste the best ones and its likely true as this extraordinary buttery wonder cake originates in the coastal town of Douarnenez. Ive talked a lot about terroir recently and it really is the essential concept for understanding the subtleties of wine. Yes, knowing the grape varieties and the fermentation details will help but it is no coincidence that French wine labels rarely mention grapes, to them the place a wine comes from is so much more important. The first Appellation Controlee wine was Chateauneuf-du-Pape back in the 1930s and they couldnt put the grape varieties on the front label as they would need to make room for up to 18 different varieties (in 2009 it was increased from 13 to 18). Yes, most producers use mostly Grenache plus Syrah and Mourvedre but there really are 15 other grapes you can use. Having some velvety Merlot to temper your tannic Cabernet in Bordeaux, or Syrah to beef up your Grenache in the Rhone is a very useful thing for a winemaker. So this weeks selections are all blends, including some you might not expect such as Altitudes Ixsir from Lebanon which proved a perfect match for the Palestinian/Lebanese Maqloubet lamb and rice dish the Engineer cooked for Easter Sunday dinner. The spice flavours in the wine and food melded perfectly and proved once again how the best wine to serve with food is the one from the local area. Wines Under 15 Porta 6, Lisboa, Portugal Porta 6, Lisboa, Portugal - 10.00 Stockist: OBriens In summertime, OBriens sometimes have this as a boxed wine and it works well lightly chilled. Like most Portuguese reds this is a blend - Aragones (Tempranillo), Castelao and Touriga Nacional, all grapes with a fine reputation on their own. This is juicy and almost luscious on the palate with a touch of clove and spice on the finish. Serve cool. Chateau Lacroix 2020, Organic Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux AOP, Bordeaux Chateau Lacroix 2020, Organic Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux AOP, Bordeaux - 9.20 Stockist: Dunnes Stores This is on offer (reduced from 11.50) but only until Monday. Bordeaux is almost always a blend (Pomerol is sometimes the exception) where soft Merlot can compensate for tannic Cabernet while Petit Verdot adds heft and Cab Franc fragrance. Blackcurrant and dark fruit aromas with a hint of chocolate, lively and fruit driven with a crunchy mid-palate. Aldi Specially Selected Lebanese Red, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon - 10.99 Aldi Specially Selected Lebanese Red, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon - 10.99 Stockist: Aldi As with most wines from Lebanon, this is a blend of Bordeaux and Rhone grapes, this is rare in France with the notable exception of Cabardes in the Languedoc. This is elegant and balanced with red and darker fruit aromas and a noticeable spice character - savoury, lithe mature fruits on the mid-palate and finish. Wines Over 15 Ixsir Altitudes 2017, Batroun Mountains, Lebanon Ixsir Altitudes 2017, Batroun Mountains, Lebanon - 25.00 Stockist: Whelehans Wines www.whelehanswines.ie Ixsir makes organic wines in the mountains around the old Mediterranean city of Batroun. A blend of Cabernet, Caladoc, Syrah, and Tempranillo this pours a dark purple-red with ripe red and black fruit aromas - juicy and supple, with meaty layered dark fruit and a touch of liquorice and spice. Goes particularly well with middle eastern lamb dishes. E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone 2019, France E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone 2019, France - 19.00 Stockists: JJ ODriscolls; Sweeneys; Independents; Tesco; Whelehans; Independents. Im not sure Ive mentioned this old stalwart before, surely one of the best-known wine brands in Ireland. A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre this is richer and fuller tasting than I remember with sweet berry fruits hitting the palate first and more textured darker fruits on the mid-palate, as reliable as ever. Lions de Batailley 2016, Pauillac, France Lions de Batailley 2016, Pauillac, France - 31.20 Stockists: Dunnes Stores; Independents. This is the second wine of Chateau Batailley, a 5eme Grand Cru Classe in the 1855 Classification and made in a fruit-forward style. This is on offer in Dunnes at the moment, you will pay more elsewhere. Packed with dark chocolate-tinged black fruits, supple and textured with mint, cassis and cedar notes. Treat yourself. Spirit of the Week Renegade Etudes New Bacolet Rum, 55% ABV, 70cl Renegade Etudes New Bacolet Rum, 55% ABV, 70cl - 65.00 Stockists: World Wide Wines; Celtic Whiskey Shop; Independents; Renegaderum.com/ Renegade is a sister company to Waterford Whisky based in Grenada - the latest terroir-focused spirit from Mark Reynier. As with Waterford, Renegade Rums will focus on specific varieties of sugar cane and specific terroirs. This is aged 2 years but you can also find unaged new-make white versions. This is a Rhum Agricole made from fresh cane juice (rather than molasses) and has aromas of banoffi and baked bananas mixed with honey and floral notes, creamy and lightly spiced on the palate with a touch of pepper on the finish. This works well sipped neat or over ice but also with a splash of ginger ale or in classic rum cocktails. The final day of US president Joe Bidens visit will see him travel from Dublin to Mayo for a once-in-a-generation event. The tail end of his historic trip will see him address the public following two days of primarily official engagements. Crowds of more than 20,000 from across the country are expected to attend Mr Bidens public address in the town of Ballina this evening. After arriving in Mayo this afternoon from Dublin Airport, Mr Biden will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock as well as the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres Family History Research Unit. He is also expected to honour the memory of his son, Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015 by visiting the Mayo Roscommon Hospice in Castlebar. In 2017, he travelled to the Mayo town to turn the sod on the site for the new hospice describing the ceremony as a deeply moving experience. It is expected that the culmination of his trip, his public address in Ballina, will draw enormous crowds. The event will be held in front of St Muredachs Cathedral, which also has significant ties to the president. Joe Biden was presented with a Mayo jersey by Laurita Blewitt and Martina Jenning, both from Mayo Roscommon Hospice, when he turned the sod on the facility in 2017. Picture: Conor McKeown Mr Biden can trace his roots back as far as the 1700s to his great-great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt. Before his familys emigration in 1851, Mr Blewitt, sold 27,000 bricks to St Muredachs Cathedral in 1827. US Ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin said the excitement and anticipation is palpable in Ballina. This will be a once in a generation event, and I hope families and friends across the country will come to see the President of the United States speak in one of the places where his Irish familys American journey began, she said. Ahead of the address, The Coronas and The Academic will perform before one last reunion of the Chieftains. Noting that the Chieftains played for Mr Biden during his previous visit in 2016, Ms Cronin said the reunion will be an emotional one after the loss of the legendary Paddy Moloney in 2021. Significant preparations have been underway in Ballina ahead of the event, with a stage being constructed for the performances and Mr Bidens speech. The first performance by The Academic will begin at approximately 6pm with those attending being urged to travel by shuttle bus from one of four locations and to allow additional time for security screening. Several items are prohibited including any beverages or containers as well as backpacks, large bags, flags and signs. In general, Mayo is to see significant disruptions throughout the day with access to Ballina being restricted from 10am to local residents and workers only. Between 12pm and 5pm, traffic restrictions will be in place at certain times in Castlebar, and on roads near Charlestown and Claremorris. US president Joe Bidens remarks that the UK should work more closely with Ireland to support the people of Northern Ireland was an exhortation for everyone to co-operate, Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said. Mr Martin also said that be believed a speech by the president in Belfast earlier in the week could potentially help the political atmosphere in Northern Ireland, where powersharing institutions are currently suspended. In his remarks to the Dail on Thursday, Mr Biden said he believed that the UK should be working more closely with the administration in Dublin to support Northern Ireland. Asked about the comments on the RTE Morning Ireland programme, Mr Martin said: I take that as a general exhortation to all of us to work together. I am pleased with British Prime Minister (Rishi) Sunak, (Northern Ireland Secretary) Chris Heaton-Harris, there is a closer engagement already over the last while, that could get closer. I think the context was clear from the president, he was speaking in the context of all of us. He mentions the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Tanaiste added: The Good Friday Agreement really depends on the very close relationship between the British Government and the Irish Government. That is the anchor to the peace, the anchor to future relationships. A number of events have been taking place in Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. US President Joe Biden (left) with Tanaiste Micheal Martin (Brian Lawless/PA) However, the Stormont powersharing Assembly, the cornerstone of the peace deal, remains suspended due to DUP concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements. During an address in Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Biden said he hoped the institutions would soon return. Mr Martin said: "I think his remarks will be helpful in terms of the atmosphere, in terms of the next number of weeks and months. I think it will have served a purpose, in respect of that I have no doubt. He added: I think the president did get the balance right in terms of that speech, but also in terms of, we are giving time and space to the DUP in terms of their analysis of the Windsor Agreement; but there is no immediate sign yet (of a return to powersharing at Stormont). But everybody, including the DUP, would acknowledge that the Windsor Agreement represents very significant progress. I think the people of Northern Ireland want the institutions back, of that I am clear, but I think the lessons we have all learnt from experience that it is better, as the President himself said, that people in the north come to the right conclusion, come to it themselves and make their mind up. All of the parties are very anxious to get the institutions restored. US president Joe Biden has received a physical piece of his familys past at a heritage centre in Co Mayo. He was presented with a brick recovered from the site of his familys ancestral home in Ballina. On his final day of engagements in Ireland, he visited the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centre to learn more about his Irish roots. Ten of the presidents 16 great-great-grandparents are believed to hail from Ireland, and while he has links in Co Louth, those with Co Mayo are believed to be the strongest through the Blewitt family. Patrick Blewitt, from Ballina, left the country during the Irish famine in 1850 to sail to America, like many others, for a new life. Musicians, including a harpist and fiddle player, struck up as Mr Biden entered a garden at the centre with his son Hunter and sister Valerie Biden Owens. The Coronas performing on stage before Joe Biden delivers a speech at St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire The president was presented with a brick from the former Blewitt family home in Ballina enclosed in a case by Ernie Caffrey who owns a store near the site. Mr Biden said its a 200-year-old brick as he read an inscription on the case, adding: Thats incredible. He walked through an archway in a stone wall and along a path lined with trees to a driveway where a group of people were assembled by a sign with a painting of the president at a lectern in front of a cathedral. President Ballina, Co Mayo, Ireland, it read. Greeting those assembled, he commented Oh I was in your bar to one man. Mr Biden met his cousins from the area ahead of his address in Ballina on Friday evening. Moment to honour late son, Beau US president Joe Biden has visited a plaque in memory of his late son and met a distant cousin on the final day of his tour of Ireland. Mr Biden travelled by motorcade to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice and Palliative Care Centre on Friday afternoon, with people lining the streets and waving at the president as he made his way. Alongside his son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owens, he was greeted by several people outside the centre, including distant cousin Laurita Blewitt. Mr Biden keeps in close contact with the Blewitt family, who attended the White House St Patricks Day receptions in 2022 and 2023. President Joe Biden stands with his son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owens, second from right, as he looks at a plaque dedicated to his late son Beau Biden while visiting Mayo Roscommon Hospice in County Mayo. Picture: AP Photo/Patrick Semansky The president and Ms Blewitt, who works with the hospice, spoke for several minutes. During his visit to the hospice, the president looked at a plaque installed at the entrance to the centre, commemorating his son Beau Biden who died of brain cancer in 2015. In 2017, the president attended the sites ground-breaking and sent a video greeting when it opened in November 2021. The president also met briefly with the hospices chief executive Martina Jennings, Blewitt relatives and hospice board members and employees before departing. 'Its good to be back' Mr Biden returned to his ancestral roots as he embarked on a visit to the west of Ireland to round off his four-day trip. He arrived at Knock Shrine shortly before 3pm and was met by cheering crowds waving Ireland, US and Mayo flags. Mr Biden toured the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock a Catholic pilgrimage site that has been visited by popes, most recently by Pope Francis in 2018. Inside the basilica, Mr Biden shared a joke with parish priest Father Richard Gibbons, before gazing upon some of the artwork. US President Joe Biden visiting Knock Shrine and Basilica in Mayo with Fr. Richard Gibbons, on the last day of his visit. At one point, the US president broke down in tears after an emotional unplanned meeting with a priest who gave the last rites to his son. Fr Gibbons, told the BBC the chaplain who performed the last rites sacrament on Mr Bidens son, Beau, now works at the Knock shrine in Co Mayo where the president paid a visit on Friday. Fr Frank OGrady performed the ceremony for Beau Biden before he died of brain cancer in 2015. Fr Gibbons told the BBC: He laughed, he cried, it just kind of hit the man, you could just see how deeply it all felt and meant to him. It was an extraordinary afternoon. I wont forget it, I can tell you that it was quite something else. The motorcade carrying US President Joe Biden departs from Ireland West Airport Knock. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire The visit which comes after his trip to Co Louth on Wednesday where some of his ancestry has been traced to tracks the other side of Mr Bidens family tree. The president has repeatedly spoken with passion about his Irish heritage and described addressing the Dail on Thursday as one of the great honours of my career. Mr Biden was met by various dignitaries including transport minister Eamon Ryan and Mayo TD Dara Calleary at Ireland West Airport, more commonly known as Knock airport. US President Joe Biden is welcomed as he arrives at Ireland West Airport Knock, in County Mayo, on the last day of his visit to Ireland. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire The president spent a few minutes on the tarmac as he and his sister Valerie Biden Owens were greeted by the dignitaries. Its good to be back, he said as he began to shake hands with those there to greet him. The final day of Mr Bidens trip which former taoiseach Enda Kenny said was the longest presidential visit to the island of Ireland ever will culminate in a public address. The speech will take place at St Muredachs Cathedral, which has a direct link to the presidents ancestors. 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. After his visit to Knock, he will visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit, and later give a public address at a cathedral in Ballina the town where some of his ancestors came from. 'Almighty welcome' 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. Joe Biden fever on Tone Street with Michael Marren from Claremorris and Turlough Considine from Dublin. Picture: John O'Grady 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. Amelia O'Brien, Mary Lowry and Aibigeal O'Brien are pictured on Tone Street in Ballina ahead of the visit of US president Joe Biden. Picture: John O'Grady 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 Dail 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. US president Joe Biden broke down in tears on the final day of his Ireland tour after an emotional unplanned meeting with a priest who gave the last rites to his son. The Parish priest of Knock, Fr Richard Gibbons, told the BBC the chaplain who performed the last rites sacrament on Mr Bidens son, Beau, now works at the Knock shrine in Co Mayo where the president paid a visit on Friday. Fr Frank OGrady performed the ceremony for Beau Biden before he died of brain cancer in 2015. After Mr Bidens tour of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock a Catholic pilgrimage site Fr Gibbons told the broadcaster: He spoke about his family and his connection with his faith, and also about his son Beau who died. And it just so happened, and this was kind of spontaneous, it just so happened that we have, working at the shrine here, the chaplain who gives the last rites of the last anointing to his son in the United States. Just extraordinary, and I didnt even know that, I didnt know that until the president arrived." Fr Gibbons said Mr Biden wanted to meet Fr OGrady straight away describing it as an emotional moment for the president. He told the BBC: He laughed, he cried, it just kind of hit the man, you could just see how deeply it all felt and meant to him. It was an extraordinary afternoon. I wont forget it, I can tell you that it was quite something else. Speaking about his unscheduled meeting with Mr Biden, Fr OGrady told RTE: We had a nice chat for about 10 minutes. He was delighted to see me and I was delighted to see him. He gave me a big hug, it was like a reunion. He told me he appreciated everything that was done. Fr OGrady said he had not seen Mr Biden since the death of his son Beau eight years ago. He told RTE: I was very surprised when I got a phone call to say the president wanted to see me. It was a delightful 10 minutes with him. I hadnt seen him really in eight years since Beau died. His son Hunter was there too, so we had a real reunion. He certainly misses his son. He has been grieving a lot, but I think the grief is kind of going down a bit. We talked a little bit about how grief can take several years. Fr OGrady added: He certainly was very impressed with Knock. As a man of great faith, it really hit home very hard to him about his sons passing when he comes to Knock, because we talk about mysteries of life and death in a place like Knock, all the time here. He is a man of great faith, and it is just a coincidence that I happened to meet him. After leaving Knock, Mr Biden travelled to Castlebar where he made a private visit to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice. The president had a longstanding pledge to revisit the facility, having turned the sod on the development in 2017. At the time he described the ceremony as a deeply moving experience. A plaque at the entrance to the hospice is dedicated to Beau Bidens memory. At the site, Mr Biden, along with his son Hunter and sister Valerie, met with distant cousin Laurita Blewitt. And in a video message to the hospice on its official opening of the 6.3m palliative centre two years ago, Mr Biden congratulated its founders. Beau Biden, who followed his father into politics died of brain cancer less than two years after he was diagnosed. I know this special place will bring comfort to the proud people of Co Mayo and Roscommon, and for me, itll always have a special place in my heart, he said. He thanked the hospice promoters for honouring his son. The fact that you have etched Beaus name in memory into the tapestry of this hospice is something my family and I, and his children in particular, will never, ever forget. Beau Biden, who followed his father into politics died of brain cancer less than two years after he was diagnosed. He served two terms as Delaware attorney general before declaring a run for governor, and many saw in him the same aspirations that brought his father to the vice presidency after several unsuccessful presidential bids. Beau served a year-long deployment in Iraq and was awarded a Bronze Star. But in 2010, at age 41, he suffered a stroke, then was diagnosed with brain cancer three years later. US president Joe Biden took to the stage in Ballina following a short walk to the sound of the Dropkick Murphys Im Shipping Up From Boston. The crowd directly in front of the podium erupted into cheers and applause as Mr Biden finally took to the stage almost 45 minutes behind schedule. He waved and smiled in response to the rapturous welcome, telling the huge crowd Hello Mayo, its great to be hearing you all, its great to be back here in Ballina. "It feels like coming home he said, adding: Everything between Ireland and America runs deep. Mr Biden said the town is home to Irelands first female president (Mary Robinson), one of your youngest mayors, and maybe to Irelands first female astronaut Norah Patten. He thanked all the performers, particularly The Chieftains telling them he saw them in 2016, adding: Im grateful you came back for one more time to perform tonight, describing himself as a long-term fan. Most of all I want acknowledge my family, all the Blewitts, you make me proud, he said to cheers. US President Joe Biden on stage to deliver a speech at St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina. Pictured: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Mr Biden referenced a visit he made earlier in the day to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice, where there is a plaque in memory of his son Beau. He said: I can tell you how special it is that a piece of his legacy lives here among his ancestors. Thinking about it I could hear my dads voice again. Hed always say Joe remember family is the beginning, the middle and the end. The beginning, middle and end, thats the Irish of it. He added: Everything between Ireland and America runs deep; our history, our heritage, our sorrows, our future, our friendship. But more than anything, hope is what beats in the hearts of all our people. For centuries during times of darkness and despair, hope has kept us marching forward toward a better future, one of greater liberty, greater dignity and greater possibilities. Mayo for Sam, Joe Biden shouted as he ended his speech in Ballina. People wait for the arrival of US President Joe Biden to deliver a speech at St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire '51st State' Ballina is basking in the glow of a history-making Irish visit, as locals count on a Biden bounce in the wake of the presidents homecoming speech. The Co Mayo town is proud of its history, with streets named in honour of rebel leaders from Irish history including The ORahilly and Wolfe Tone. It was proud too on Friday as Joe Biden made the town his final stop on his leisurely, four-day trip to the island. Locals know the benefit of American business to the area there is a Coca Cola factory just outside the town close to the banks of the Moy river while the scenic surrounds have always attracted a steady stream of tourists. The Coronas performing on stage before US President Joe Biden delivers a speech at St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire One sign on the towns Main Street declared Ballina the 51st state. And while Mr Bidens presidential powers do not stretch as far as this particular corner of the western Irish coast, residents hope that long after the blue and red bunting has been put away the presidents ancestral ties to the county will deliver benefits. Michael Mullowney, who started queuing for Mr Bidens speech with his three children from 4.30pm, said: It means a lot, because I suppose hes the most powerful man on Earth. Well never get the opportunity again. He always thought Mr Biden would visit. The biggest American company is here beside us, Coca Cola. Rory Quinn, who runs a jewellers in the town, agreed that the speech would bring a huge benefit to the town. He said: Americans will come back in their droves to Ballina to see where Joe Biden has spoken the last time when he was home. So I think that is a plus, plus for everybody and there is a great Irish-American relationship, so that all helps. Mr Biden visited Mayo as vice-president in 2016 and some locals did not believe he would come back again so soon. Men erect flags on top of a building in Ballina (Brian Lawless/PA) Joan Gleeson, a Ballina local who queued to see the president on Friday, said: Words cant explain what it means tourism-wise, even for jobs. "We have two American companies here you never know what it would bring to us. Even tourists alone, thats our big thing, that would be great for us here. She said that the whole town got behind the visit. Actually, we didnt really believe he would come here again. We thought he wont have enough time on the itinerary. When we heard it, we were over the moon. Because when he came once, I thought Oh he wont come again. But everybody said, this is different, he is a president. Her friend Maura OReilly said: For the country in general, I think it is an excellent boost for the country economically and tourist-wise. It shows it off and its free. President Joe Biden stands with his son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owens, second from right, as he looks at a plaque dedicated to his late son Beau Biden while visiting Mayo Roscommon Hospice in County Mayo. Picture: AP Photo/Patrick Semansky In the GAA-mad county, there was less optimism that some of the Biden magic could rub off on the Mayo team whose decades-long search for an All-Ireland title is a perennial source of heartbreak for the county. Sean Keane, a retiree who came back to Ballina from his home in the London suburb of Wembley for the speech, thought that might be too much to hope for. I dont think so, he said. But in a town where a clutch of famous Irish names adorn the streets, could there soon be a thoroughfare named after the Irish-American president? Oh you can be sure there will be, Ms OReilly said. Saving the best until last, Ballina came alive in a way never seen before on Friday night to give US president Joe Biden both the biggest homecoming and the biggest send-off of his four-day visit to the island of Ireland. The atmosphere was truly electrifying in the build-up to Mr Bidens appearance after short speeches from Cathaoirleach of Ballina Municipal District Mark Duffy and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Mr Biden was left in no doubt as to the adoration when his chinook helicopter hovered low over the town late last night to the delight of thousands of onlookers. They cheered a thunderous roar for the long-lost son of Ballina. White House sources estimated that 27,000 people lined the streets tonight to witness history. The atmosphere was truly electrifying in the build-up to Mr Bidens appearance. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Go on Joe, roared a man from the crowd just seconds before Mr Biden appeared on stage just before 10pm. Mr Biden gave the most personal and heartfelt speech of his visit to the people of Ballina, touching on his ancestors emigrant journey, his son Beaus premature death and his genuine hope for the future. He thanked the thousands in the crowd for their incredible generosity for opening up their homes to Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russias brutal violence. Once again speaking of his Irish ancestry, Mr Biden said millions of Americans claim to have Irish heritage adding: More would if they could. Opening his speech, Mr Biden said: It feels like coming home. White House sources estimated that 27,000 people lined the streets tonight to witness history. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire He shared the most emotional moment of his trip with the crowd, describing for his audience the moment he met Fr Frank OGrady in the apparition chapel in Knock Shrine. We didnt know there was a former military chaplain, Fr OGrady who gave my son the last rites in Walter Reed Medical Hospital Washington. It was incredible to see him. It seems like a sign he said, raising his arms to the heavens. The president also referenced a visit he made earlier in the day to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice, where there is a plaque in memory of his son Beau. He said: I can tell you how special it is that a piece of his legacy lives here among his ancestors. President Joe Biden stands with his son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owens, second from right, as he looks at a plaque dedicated to his late son Beau Biden while visiting Mayo Roscommon Hospice. Picture: AP Photo/Patrick Semansky Thinking about it I could hear my dads voice again. Hed always say Joe remember family is the beginning, the middle and the end. The beginning, middle and end, thats the Irish of it. Mr Biden said the Irish were the only people nostalgic about the future, no matter what, we always carry hope in our hearts. He added: Everything between Ireland and America runs deep; our history, our heritage, our sorrows, our future, our friendship. But more than anything, hope is what beats in the hearts of all our people. For centuries during times of darkness and despair, hope has kept us marching forward toward a better future, one of greater liberty, greater dignity and greater possibilities. The presidents son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owens sat in the front row of the VIP section to the side of the stage for the speech. People watch as Joe Biden delivers his speech at St Muredach's Cathedral. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA Wire During his 20-minute speech, Mr Biden spoke of his ancestor Edward Blewitt, whom he said worked in the old Ballina brickyard. The president said during one of his engagements in Co Mayo, he saw a record from 1828 that said Mr Blewitt was paid 21 pounds and 12 shillings to help supply 27,000 bricks for St Muredachs Cathedral, which was nearby as he addressed the crowd. As he laboured, Im sure he would imagine that one day his family would worship here, that his children would be baptised here like his son Patrick was, and that future generations of his family would mark the milestones of their lives here in the sturdy walls, he said. But I doubt he ever imagined his great-great-great grandson would return 200 years later as president of the United States of America. He also thanked Ballina for celebrating his election as president in 2020. You decked out the town Im told in red, white and blue with cars and crowds gathered in the market square singing the green and the red of Mayo, he said. It means the world to me, it meant the world to me and my entire family to be embraced as Mayo Joe, son of Ballina. My mother, my grandmother whose maiden name was Blewitt would be smiling down on me right now. The president also spoke of the Good Friday Agreement, calling it 25 years of peace and progress. It is a reminder the importance of peace and what you can accomplish when we work together in common cause, Mr Biden said. Telling the crowd visiting Ballina felt like going home, he continued: Over the years, stories of this place have become part of my soul, part of my family lore. He also thanked Ballina for celebrating his election as president in 2020. Mr Biden said he and his siblings were raised with a fierce pride in our Irish ancestry. A pride that spoke to both the history that binds us but more importantly the values that unite us, he said. To this day I can still remember hearing my dad say at the dinner table, Joey, everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect, I can still hear my mom tell me, Joey, nobody is better than you but everybody is your equal. Mr Biden closed his speech as he began, with the bricks of St Muredachs and his own story which was a testament to our shared past. He urged us to build a new future of hope, brick by brick. Telling the crowd visiting Ballina felt like going home, he continued: Over the years, stories of this place have become part of my soul, part of my family lore. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA Wire He left the people of Ballina with a familiar chant: Mayo for Sam! The comments at the end of his speech were met with raucous applause by the long-suffering fans of the Mayo team. The locals had queued ten deep down the streets since lunchtime for a chance to see the most powerful man in America speak in front of St Muredachs Cathedral on the banks of the river Moy at twilight. All day long a festival atmosphere pervaded the streets, with buskers and candy floss vans entertaining and feeding families looking to be a part of history. The thousands of flag-wavers were almost matched by as many Gardai who were bused in from all over the country for the day. US President Joe Biden at St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina, There were hundreds of Secret Service agents, snipers hidden among the rooftops and airport-style security screening for public and media alike forming a ring of steel around the centre of Ballina. Ahead of Mr Biden's hotly anticipated speech, the crowds were entertained by rock groups The Academic and The Coronas, the men and womens Mayo GAA teams and The Chieftains. Former President Mary Robinson appeared on stage at 8.30pm to read The Emigrant Irish poem by Eavan Boland. The world is looking at Ballina... Im so pleased that President Biden has the same love for Ballina as I do. You have two presidents who love Ballina, what else can you ask for? she said under a shower of rain. A 22-year-old man accused of using a glass in an assault in a pub in Carrigaline on Christmas Eve was arrested at a boarding gate in Dublin Airport with a one-way ticket for Christchurch and a 12-month work visa for New Zealand. Colin OLeary has now appeared at Cork District Court where gardai objected to continuing bail based on their fear that he was a flight risk. Judge Olann Kelleher refused bail and remanded the accused in custody until April 27. Colin OLeary had a previous address at The Crescent, Curraheen, Bishopstown, Cork, but it has been a term of earlier bail that he would reside at Belfort, Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown. The case arises out of an investigation into an alleged assault at The Stables Bar, Carrigaline. Detective Garda Ian Breen said: It is alleged that the injured party was assaulted with a glass into the neck area, causing a serious injury at around 9.30pm on December 24, 2022. The suspect fled the scene before the arrival of gardai. CCTV was obtained from the premises and he is clearly identifiable. He was arrested on February 5, brought to Togher garda station and questioned. He declined to comment during interview. Colin OLeary was granted bail at Cork District Court on February 6. One of the conditions of bail was that he would surrender his passport. He said in court that he had lost his passport. Another bail condition required that he would not obtain new travel documents or leave the jurisdiction. Det Garda Breen said: On the evening of March 27, 2023, investigating gardai were informed by the Garda passenger information unit at Dublin Airport that Colin OLeary was trying to board a flight from Dublin Airport to Dubai on an Emirates flight at 2.15pm on March 28, with a further transfer on to Melbourne, Australia, and onwards to Christchurch, New Zealand. He had a one-year New Zealand work visa and he also had his passport. Flight risk The detective said the main concern gardai had in objecting to bail was that the defendant would be a flight risk. Another ground for objection was the seriousness of the alleged incident at the centre of the case. A young man suffered a wound to his neck inflicted with a glass. He was taken to Cork University Hospital on the night and discharged on the morning of December 25. The main objection is the likelihood to abscond if granted bail. He was arrested at a boarding gate in Terminal 1 of Dublin Airport when he was about to fly to Dubai. We believe he was about to abscond, the detective said. Solicitor Shane Collins-Daly said the defendant had a passport that was lost but a relative found it in his house and returned it to the defendant. As for the evidence of a New Zealand work visa, Mr Collins-Daly said: The first I heard of that was here in court. Det Garda Breen said: I believe he had no intention of returning. Mr Collins-Daly said: He did intend to come back but he did not go about it the right way. The solicitor said the young mans only reason for travelling to New Zealand was to attend a relatives wedding. Judge Olann Kelleher commented: He knew exactly what he was doing. The judge remanded him in custody until April 27 on the charge of assault causing harm. Covid-19, war, climate disasters, a cost-of-living crisis, lack of housing, and inadequate access to healthcare. If there was a single word to sum up 2022, it would probably be 'permacrisis'. Some countries suffered more than others and those with solid infrastructure, trustworthy institutions, and strong social support networks fared better. US President Joe Biden has expressed hope for a return to powersharing at Stormont and with it, a stable government could deliver an economic windfall for Northern Ireland. But is it time to stop and reconsider the flaws of free market fundamentalism, the reality of which, post-pandemic, particularly in the US and Britain, is becoming all too apparent? For the sixth consecutive year, Finland was named the happiest country in the world by the UN while its Nordic cousins, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, all featured in the top 10. Ireland came 14th. The only countries outside of Europe to make it to the top were Israel (fourth) and New Zealand (10th). The US came 15th and Britain 19th. A wildfire rages between Navalacruz and Riofrio near Avila, central Spain, in 2021. The neoliberal market economy ignores planetary health. Picture: Cesar Manso/AFP/via Getty Images While the results are based entirely on self-reported perceptions of satisfaction, contributing factors to high scores include a high GDP per capita, a strong social support system, higher life expectancy, greater freedom, absence of government and corporate corruption, and charitable giving. "The findings are clear," the researchers conclude. "The ethos of a country matters are people trustworthy, generous, and mutually supportive? The institutions also matter are people free to make important life decisions? And the material conditions of life matter both income and health. "The development of virtuous behaviours needs a supportive social and institutional environment if it is to result in widespread happiness. "The ultimate goal of politics and ethics should be human well-being," said American economist and public policy analyst Professor Jeffrey Sachs, president of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, at the publication of the World Happiness Report. "The happiness movement shows that wellbeing is not a soft or vague idea but rather focuses on areas of life of critical importance: material conditions, mental and physical wealth, personal virtues, and good citizenship. "We need to turn this wisdom into practical results to achieve more peace, prosperity, trust, civility, and yes happiness in our societies." Does this explain why Finland consistently comes out on top of the happiness scale? Free education, generous parental leave, and a healthy work-life balance are key to life satisfaction. Over 80% of Finnish people trust the countrys police, education, and healthcare systems, according to Agence France-Presse, published in the Economist. "Because of progressive taxation and wealth redistribution, the lifestyles of the rich and poor are not dramatically divergent. Neither are those of men and women. Finland is widely considered to be one of the best places in the world to be a mother, and to be a working woman." There are some surprises in the rankings. The richest countries are not the happiest. America has doubled its income per person in the last four decades, this has not translated into improved subjective well-being. It comes in at 15th, one step below Ireland and four steps ahead of the UK. The researchers previously cited obesity, depression, and opioid addiction as some of the factors dragging down rich countries. Pulitzer prize winner Mathew Desmond, writing in his just-published book Poverty by America, describes how the US annually produces $5.3trn more in goods and services than China. The GDP is larger than the combined economies of Japan, Germany, the UK, India, France, and Italy which are the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth richest countries in the world. Yet America has more poverty than any other advanced democracy. There are more than 38m people living in the US who cannot afford basic necessities and more than 108m getting by on $55,000 a year or less, many stuck in the space between poverty and security. Few of us have escaped the cost-of-living crisis. More than a million children are homeless, living in motels, cars, shelters, and abandoned buildings. After arriving in prison, many incarcerated Americans suddenly found their health improved because the conditions they faced as free citizens were worse. "Americas poverty is not for lack of resources," Desmond says. "We lack something else." Desmond argues that poverty does not result from a lack of resources or good policy ideas. "We already know how to eliminate it. The hard part is getting more of us to care. "As things stand, liberals explain poverty through insurmountable structural issues, whereas conservatives highlight personal failings and poor life choices. Both analyses abdicate responsibility, and ignore the reality that the advantages of the rich only come at the expense of the poor." Desmond asks "is it time better-paid citizens put themselves back in the narrative, recognising that the depth and expanse of poverty in any nation reflects our failure to look out for one another?" Poverty must ultimately be met by community: all this suffering and want is our doing, and we can undo it." The Finns seem to understand this and so do their Nordic neighbours. In 2000, then tanaiste Mary Harney, in a much-cited speech to the American Bar Association, suggested that while geographically we are closer to Berlin than Boston "spiritually we are a lot closer to Boston than Berlin". "Political and economic commentators sometimes pose a choice between what they see as the American way and the European way... I think it is fair to say that we have sailed closer to the American shore than the European one." Joe Biden, with Tanaiste Micheal Martin during his visit to Ireland, is hopeful of a return to powersharing in the North. Picture: Julien Behal Photography Two decades later, the fruits of the American way are becoming apparent. The model of free market fundamentalism that believes in the ability of the market to resolve almost all social, economic, and political problems with low taxation and minimal state regulation is in fact at the core of widening socioeconomic determinants of health and wellbeing. The pandemic and the planetary health crisis that is hurtling toward us have shown up the neoliberal market economy as fundamentally flawed in that it ignores the impact of economic growth on social inequalities, planetary health, and physical and mental health. In real terms, that means housing, health, education, childcare, and a living wage are prioritised as essential to the health and wellbeing of every citizen. Add to that a model of nature-friendly farming and a policy for a third of land to be entirely to nature woodland, wetlands, and grasslands; there would be no better place to live. Dr Catherine Conlon is a public health doctor in Cork and SafeFoods former director of human health and nutrition As Peter Finn drew up plans for his own home, he had a dream. Especially for one particular spot. When I built my house, I had this idea for a games room. I had visions of me and the lads playing pool there, he says. Peter Finn and his co-presenter on Home Rescue: The Big Fix, interior designer Dee Coleman. Then, he met Sharon, now his wife, and along came their three daughters, Miescha, nine, Emma, seven, and Holly six with Barbie dolls in tow. The reality is, our girls have taken over the room completely. Its now a playroom. Does he mourn the chillout boys zone that might have been? To be honest, seeing the girls playing in there is really cute, says the Home Rescue: The Big Fix presenter. I got a couple of games of pool in but its much more use as the kids playroom, really, he says. We do a bit of reading in that room, also. Im really enjoying it. Is it the familys red dot favourite space, to take a cue from RTE sibling show Home of the Year? Yeah, it would be. It would be the space we come together. Theres no television there, we do art with the kids there, and we get to have a bit of fun with them as well, he says. Peter built the forever home himself, on family land, outside Saggart village, Dublin, where he is from. I was very lucky I inherited the land from my mam and dad; they live just below on the same field. Ive cousins, uncles, and aunts all living in the same area. My family, my mothers family, is rooted there for over 700 years, so they say, in the history books. I got planning permission for my house and I had just finished building it when I met Sharon. That was 15 years ago and the couple has been married for a decade. The house became a home when the kids arrived, says Peter. Creating a space thats perfect for a family and making it more functional gave him particular satisfaction on the current series of Home Rescue. The RTE makeover show returned to our screens this Thursday, April 13. There was one family we worked with in Clondalkin; nine children and parents living in the one house, he says. A great family, but the house had no sense of function and I feel we did a really good job there. Home Rescue: The Big Fix is a series that blends human interest and fast-paced home makeover so, its a whirlwind of decluttering and teamwork. This series, Peter joins forces with interior designer Dee Coleman. Formerly based in London, Dublin native Dee succeeds designer and architect Roisin Murphy on the show, as the duo aim to change lives by redesigning rooms, replacing chaos with order. Were doing our usual spread of jobs around the country, visiting homes in Dublin, Meath, Offaly and Kildare some really diverse jobs as always, says Peter. Every job is different. I think we probably achieved some of our best-ever finishes we did some really high-end joinery on a couple of the projects. To turn around such high-end stuff in a short period of time is a challenge and one job, in particular, was one of our toughest to date. A carpenter by trade, Peter holds numerous other construction accreditations. Peter Finn and Dee Coleman. Having learned his trade with a small-house builder, he moved on to a construction management position in Trinity College Dublin. The call of site and construction adventure encouraged Peter to open his own construction company (he also became a well-known face to TV viewers, thanks to his appearances on Home Rescue, Room To Improve, and Ultimate Hell Week on RTE). While costs of materials arent spiralling and supplies are not as difficult to come by as they were in the previous series (Id say theyve settled, he says), they have not returned to where we would have hoped. Prices arent fluctuating and most products are more readily available than they were 12 or 18 months ago, says Peter. WHO doesnt aspire to a life filled with sun, sea and sand? Coastal homes are one way of delivering the dream, or at least the sea and sand part, if youre buying in Ireland. Still, two out of three aint bad, and when we do get sunshine, most will agree that Ireland is hard to beat. Hard to beat too are the views of the magnificent Atlantic and the home featured here, high above Fennels Bay, in Myrtleville, has an enviable vantage point. A two-bed bungalow that sits snugly below the road that slopes up behind it, Dwelling Up, as it is called, is the kind of no-fuss seaside home that should appeal to those looking for a bolthole not too far from Cork City. It may also appeal to those looking for a more permanent home by the coast, with an easy 30 minute commute back to the city and less again to Cork Airport, while thriving Crosshaven village is just eight minutes away. Embedded in its coastal landscape, Dwelling Up makes optimal use of the Atlantic views, via a south-facing patio out front and a living room with a large, glazed sliding door that faces seaward. A double height vaulted ceiling intensifies the sense of light and space. Both bedrooms are front facing too, to enjoy the views, while the kitchen/breakfast room and utility are to the rear. Outside, the land around the house has been scooped out, with steps down from the road for pedestrian access. If new owners wanted to extend, theres scope to build out over the patio, subject to planning permission. Theres a separate 205 sq ft block built garage, which selling agent Karl OReilly of Savills says is ideally suited for private parking, as a workshop or for storage. Mr OReilly, who is guiding at 395,000, says Dwelling up is superbly located within walking distance of sandy beaches, pubs and restaurants, such as Pine Lodge, a very popular F&B destination. He adds that opportunities to buy a home in the area are rare as they do not often come on the open market. Hes expecting a range of interest, from first time buyers, traders down, maybe investors and the holiday home market. VERDICT: You may want to tweak the house, but you'll have no need to tweak the views. Tova Gutstein was born in Warsaw the year Adolf Hitler took power in Germany and was 10 when the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto launched the first act of collective defiance against the Nazis in Europe. Now 90, she is among the few remaining witnesses of the ghetto uprising, and a vanishing generation of Holocaust survivors, as Israel marks the 80th anniversary of a revolt that has shaped its national consciousness. On Monday Ms Gutstein will be one of six Holocaust survivors honoured by Israel as torchlighters in its annual ceremony at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. She said the horrors are still seared in her mind. Over 80 years have passed, and I cant forget it, she told The Associated Press at her home in central Israel. Israels Holocaust Memorial Day, marked with solemn ceremonies in schools and workplaces nationwide, begins at sundown on Monday. Theatres, concerts, cafes and restaurants close and television and radio broadcast Holocaust commemorations. During the State Opening Ceremony of #YomHashoah, six torches will be lit, and stories of six #Holocaust survivors will be presented via short videos Discover the stories of the six Holocaust survivors chosen as torchlighters: https://t.co/Oq3RPpkXhO pic.twitter.com/L9pGQbm5Ro Yad Vashem (@yadvashem) April 13, 2023 A two-minute siren brings the country to a standstill, traffic freezes as people leave their cars and stand silently in the streets to commemorate the six million Jews killed by Nazi Germany and its allies. A year after occupying Poland in 1939, Nazi Germany confined hundreds of thousands of Jews, 30% of Warsaws population, into just 2.4% of the citys area in what became known as the Warsaw Ghetto. David Silberklang, a senior historian at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre, said that at the height of the ghettos horrors in 1941, one Jew died on average, every nine minutes from infectious diseases, starvation or Nazi violence. Ms Gutstein grew up in the ghetto. Her father was forced into a labour camp by the Nazis and never seen again. Fenced in by electrified barbed wire, she and other Jewish children would crawl through the sewers to scavenge for food. Some children fell into the sewage and were swept away to their deaths, she recalled. We only thought about bread, food, how to obtain food, she said. We had no other thoughts. About two-thirds of the Warsaw Ghetto, some 265,000 people, were deported to the Majdanek and Treblinka death camps in the summer of 1942. The following spring, the Nazis began preparing to deport the ghettos remaining 60,000 Jews to their deaths. Tova Gutstein lived in the Warsaw Ghetto as a child (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) The Nazis stationed an army around the ghetto on April 18, 1943. The following day, on the eve of the Jewish Passover holiday, their forces moved in. Jewish resistance groups fought back. Ms Gutstein was outside the ghetto when the uprising began. German planes and tanks were bombing the ghetto. I was terribly afraid, she said. The skies were red with fire. I saw buildings suddenly collapsing. Returning to the ghetto through the sewers, she discovered that her house, along with many others, was destroyed. I wandered about and looked for my mother and my siblings but couldnt find anyone, Ms Gutstein said. The Warsaw Ghetto fighters fought for their lives in bunkers they made inside the ghettos buildings. Many were killed in the streets or deported to the death camps. After a month of fighting, the Great Synagogue was destroyed. The goal of the uprising was not rescue, said Mr Silberklang. He said it was last-ditch resistance against inevitable death. The aim was to go down fighting and influence when and how they die and hopefully somebody will survive. I go to sleep with this image, and I wake up with it. Its very hard for me to forget it Ms Gutstein fled the ghetto and, against all odds, reached a forest far outside Warsaw where she met a group of partisans. She hid with them until the end of the war, two years later. She reunited with her mother and siblings in 1946, before moving to the nascent state of Israel in 1948. Now a mother of three, grandmother of eight and great-grandmother of 13, she remains haunted by the memory of a man shot in the head outside her house in the ghetto, she said. I go to sleep with this image, and I wake up with it. Its very hard for me to forget it, she said. The ghetto uprising remains a potent national symbol for Israel. In addition to remembering the victims of the Holocaust, memorial day also is meant to remember acts of courage and heroism. At last years Holocaust remembrance ceremony, then prime minister Naftali Bennett described the uprising as the pinnacle of Jewish heroism. Yet with each passing year, the number of those who saw it first-hand continues to dwindle, and with it the living link to the trauma. Israel is today home to about 150,600 survivors, according to government figures, a drop of more than 15,000 from last year. Many of those still alive now were just young children during the war. Many survivors continue to struggle. Between a quarter and a third live in poverty, survivor advocacy groups report. Mr Silberklang said Yad Vashem and similar institutions are already planning for a time when there are no Holocaust survivors left, documenting and promoting awareness of their stories. By the year 2035, there will no longer be any Holocaust survivors to tell their stories, the organisation says on its website. We are their voice. Ms Gutstein said she has dedicated the past decade to telling her story, so that others may bear witness. That way, she said, it will remain, even when she is gone. The entire Russian Pacific fleet was put on high alert on Friday for snap drills that will involve practice missile launches in a massive show of force amid the tensions with the west over the fighting in Ukraine. Defence minister Sergei Shoigu said the goal of the war games was to test the capability of Russias armed forces to mount a response to aggression. Along with the missile launches, the drills will also involve nuclear-capable strategic bombers and other warplanes besides those from the Pacific fleets air arm, Mr Shoigu said. The Russian military has concentrated the bulk of its forces on the front lines in Ukraine, but also continued conducting regular drills across Russia to train its forces and demonstrate their readiness. Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu (Dmitry Astakhov, Sputnik, Government Pool/AP) Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the war games as part of regular training intended to maintain the necessary level of the armed forces readiness. Mr Shoigu said the scenario for Fridays manoeuvres envisages a response to an adversarys attempt to make a landing on Sakhalin Island and the southern Kuril Islands. Japan asserts territorial rights to the Kuril Islands, which it calls the Northern Territories. The Soviet Union took them in the final days of the Second World War and the dispute has kept the countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their hostilities. Last year Russia announced it had suspended peace talks with Japan in protest at Tokyos sanctions against Moscow over its action in Ukraine. Sakhalin Island (Alamy/PA) Russia has built up its military presence on the islands in recent years, deploying advanced fighter jets, anti-ship missiles and air defence systems there. The Pacific fleet drills started days before a planned trip to Moscow by Chinese defence minister general Li Shangfu. A three-day visit to Moscow by Chinese President Xi Jinping last month demonstrated the two nations partnership in the face of western efforts to isolate Russia over Ukraine. Both Moscow and Beijing have accused Washington of trying to isolate them and to hold back their development as they challenge the US for regional and global leadership. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mr Xi said they would increase contacts between their militaries and stage more joint sea and air patrols and drills, but there was no hint that China would help Russia with weapons, as the US and other Western allies feared. More than 18,000 cows have died after an explosion and fire at a dairy farm in Texas. Emergency services managed to rescue one employee from the Southfork Dairy near Dimmitt on Monday, the Castro County Sheriff's Office told local media at a conference. A European spacecraft is on its way 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), blasted off on an Ariane 5 rocket on Friday at 1.14pm UK time from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Juice was due to take off on Thursday but weather conditions showed there was a risk of lightning. The spacecraft is now making a 4.1 billion-mile journey which will take more than eight years. Onboard are 10 scientific instruments, which will investigate whether the gas giants three moons Callisto, Europa and Ganymede can support life in its oceans. (PA Graphics) Professor Leigh N Fletcher, from the University of Leicesters school of physics and astronomy, who has been involved in the Juice mission since 2008, described the launch as a heart-stopping moment. Prof Fletcher, who watched the launch from the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, said: What an amazing, heart-stopping moment to watch the launch from here in ESOC, alongside colleagues who were dreaming of a mission to Jupiter for the last 15 years. My heart is still pounding, huge smiles around this room, and such an outburst of emotion after the disappointment of yesterdays delay. Three researchers from the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies contributed to the mission. Professor Caitriona Jackman, Dr Mika Holmberg and Dr Corentin Louis were in Germany to witness the launch. "The launch is a culmination of years and decades of work from scientists and engineers across Europe and across the whole world," Prof Jackman ahead of today's launch. "We are really, really excited for a successful launch and a successful mission." Professor Andrew Coates, of the Mullard Space Science Laboratory at University College London, is a co-investigator on two of Juices 10 scientific instruments: PEP, which will gather data on the atoms surrounding Jupiter and its moons, and Janus, the spacecrafts optical camera system. He said: Its so exciting to see Juice safely on its way to Jupiter, so far so good, a great launch on Ariane 5, and all nominal so far with separation confirmed! We cant wait to start exploring Jupiters magnetosphere in 2031, look at Europa, Ganymede and Callisto during flybys, and orbit Ganymede in 2034. We are privileged to have helped define the mission and to be part of the PEP and Janus teams. Meanwhile, Dr Chiaki Crews, research fellow at The Open University, who has also been involved in testing the Janus, said: Were delighted and relieved to see that Juice has launched successfully, and its exciting to think that the Janus cameras sensor that once sat in a clean room at the Open University is on board the spacecraft! 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. Juice will perform a manoeuvre known as gravitational assist, where it will use the gravity of Earth and Venus to slingshot toward Jupiter. At its destination, the spacecraft will spend at least three years making detailed studies of Jupiter, Ganymede, Europa and Callisto. Juice is not equipped to search for signs of life but its aim is to explore the conditions that could support life. 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. Juice,blasting off on an Ariane 5 rocket from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana (ESA) Data gathered from the J-MAG instrument will help characterise the depth and salt content of Ganymedes ocean. 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. 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 (15.9bn) mission. Additional reporting by Michelle McGlynn Healthcare systems across the world should prepare for future pandemics with an always on approach to response-readiness, an expert has said. John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at the University of Oxford, told the inaugural Rhodes Policy Summit that starting from scratch would be very difficult and that having a continuous system in place was necessary. He explained that having not experienced a pandemic in recent history, when covid-19 hit, there was a lack of existing expertise as to how to get through it. Mr Bell, leading immunologist and member of the UK governments Vaccine Taskforce, and chairman of the Rhodes trustees, told the summit: We needed to build up testing, genomics, vaccines, drugs and everything from scratch. I think, gave us really good evidence that starting and stopping these things is not a great way to do this. You really want to have stuff which is operating continuously in a healthcare system without a pandemic, so that when a pandemic comes, it could pivot into those capabilities. And that includes the identification of pathogens, capacity for manufacturing which is always on, deployment capabilities as we saw globally for vaccines, and a clinical research capability. He added: I think, always on is just one concept in the whole pandemic preparedness agenda. But its a terribly important one because I think if we dont have a system, a health system in all countries both global north and global south thats resilient enough, that youre running it all the time, and you can then move and pivot quickly into a pandemic scenario, were going to see the same problems as we did with the covid pandemic. The Rhodes Trust is an educational charity based at the University of Oxford. Also speaking at the Creating a Positive Legacy from the Pandemic event was former British prime minister Tony Blair. He said: The world survived covid-19 but at a vast cost. Predictions of future pandemics range from the possible to the probable, but no one assesses the risk as negligible. Because of the possibility that any such future pandemic could involve a virus more deadly than covid-19, it is recognised that we should ensure the capability, globally, to act much faster and more effectively than we did for covid. But he added that with concerns like the cost-of-living crisis, the war in Ukraine, energy prices and climate change, while the case for action is strong, political leaders in democratic systems are dealing with public demand on other issues. Mr Blair said: A year ago, talking to them about pandemic preparedness was a relevant conversation, which stimulated a fair amount of interest. Today, very frankly, not so much. And that is a big problem. However, he added that the covid pandemic heralded significant, possibly game-changing advances in medical science, and this must be built on. Mr Blair, executive chairman, Institute for Global Change, said: We are standing at the frontier of a new rich and diverse field of medical science, which potentially revolutionises global health care saving lives, and trillions of dollars in lost output, quite apart from the impact on stretched government budgets. To access this potential needs a concerted international effort, to switch our healthcare systems from preparing for the next crisis, whose advent is uncertain and whose effects are unknown, to an always on network of enhanced capability globally that can both spring into action immediately should we be gripped by a fresh pandemic, but which in any event can mobilise these changes in medical science to treat and prevent disease here and now. Frances Constitutional Council has approved an unpopular plan to raise the retirement age to 64 in a victory for President Emmanuel Macron after three months of mass protests over the legislation. The move is likely to enrage unions and other opponents of the pension plan, including protesters gathered in towns and cities around France on Friday evening as the decision was announced. The council rejected some other measures in the pension Bill but the higher age was central to Mr Macrons plan and the target of protesters anger. Mr Macron can enact the Bill within 15 days. In a separate but related decision, the council rejected a request by left-wing lawmakers to allow for a possible referendum on enshrining 62 as the maximum official retirement age. The council will rule on a similar request next month. Security forces stood behind a metal fence erected in front of the heavily guarded Constitutional Council. Students demonstrate in Paris against the pension changes (Lewis Joly/AP) As tensions mounted hours before the decision, Mr Macron invited unions to meet him on Tuesday whatever the decision by the Constitutional Council, his office said. The president did not grant a request last month by unions for a meeting. Unions have been the organisers of 12 nationwide protests since January and have a critical role in trying to tamp down excessive reactions by protesters. The doors of the Elysee (presidential palace) will remain open, without condition, for this dialogue, Mr Macrons office said. The plan to increase the retirement age was meant to be Mr Macrons showcase measure in his second term. The council decision caps months of tumultuous debates in parliament and unrest in the streets. Spontaneous demonstrations were held around France ahead of the nine-member councils ruling. Opponents of the pension reform blocked entry points into some cities, including Rouen in the west and Marseille in the south, slowing or stopping traffic. French prime minister Elisabeth Borne was interrupted while visiting a supermarket outside Paris by a group of people chanting we dont want it, referring to the way she skirted the vote by lawmakers to advance the pension reform. Read More Ukrainian forces resist re-energised Russian assault on Bakhmut The governments decision to get around a parliamentary vote in March by using special constitutional powers heightened the fury of the measures opponents, as well as their determination. Another group awaited Ms Borne in the car park. Were in a democracy, so everyone can express themselves, the prime minister told news station BFM TV. My priority is to bring calm and to address concrete concerns, she said. She went into the store to discuss anti-inflation measures. The presidents drive to increase the retirement age has provoked months of strikes and protests. Violence by pockets of ultra-left radicals came in contrast to the 12 otherwise peaceful nationwide marches that unions organised since January. Union leaders have said the bodys decisions would be respected. However, eight unions sent a common declaration to the Constitutional Council spelling out their position. Unions have vowed to continue protest action in an attempt to get Mr Macron to withdraw the measure. As long as this reform isnt withdrawn, the mobilisation will continue in one form or another, Sophie Binet, the CGT union chief said on Thursday. The leader of the moderate CFDT, Laurent Berger, warned that there will be repercussions if the Constitutional Council gives the French government a green light. Polls have consistently shown that the majority of French citizens are opposed to working two more years before being able to reap pension benefits. Friday, Apr 14th, 2023 (12:01 am) - Score 4,224 CityFibre has spent the past few years building their gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network to 2.6 million premises (2.3m Ready for Service) and slowly solidifying their position as the UKs third-largest infrastructure player after Openreach (BT) and Virgin Media. Suffice to say, its time for a summary of ISP choices on their network. At present the operator, which is being funded by around 2.4bn in equity and c.4.9bn debt, aims to cover up to 8 million premises (mostly in urban areas) across over 285 cities, towns and villages (c.30% of the UK) by the end of 2025 (here). But they may well continue to grow even after this, possibly reaching 9-10 million premises, although a solid rollout plan for that has yet to be confirmed. NOTE: In January 2023 In January 2023 CityFibre reported that they were building at a rate of 22,000 premises passed per week across 75 metropolitan areas and their network footprint increased by 83% in 2022 ( here ). All of this means that theyre fast becoming a serious player in the UK market, although trying to gauge the consumer ISP options on their network can be tricky. This is due to the fact that supporting Internet Service Providers (ISP) arent all live or available across every location they serve, yet. Some of this issue has to do with historic exclusivity agreements between specific providers (e.g. Vodafone) and CityFibre for certain areas, but in other cases an ISP may have only invested enough to serve a limited number of locations. Whatever the reason, this can result in a patchwork of availability between supporting ISPs, which may in turn cause consumer confusion. On top of all that, a growing number of ISPs are now supporting multiple alternative network platforms, which makes it difficult for even us to know whether the package being presented for a specific location is based off CityFibres network or that of another operator. Often we can tell the difference, but not always, particularly with providers that are poor at communicating such details (many of them). This is important because package details and prices do differ between networks. Summary of CityFibre ISPs Despite the challenges, weve endeavoured to create a brief summary of CityFibres ISPs below, which focuses on how much each of them charge for their top gigabit class (1Gbps) package often advertised via an average download of 900Mbps+. By default, well focus on data-only packages (no phone) and will pick the cheapest option (i.e. usually the one with the longest contract term). The list is ordered by price, but we exclude temporary short-term offers / discounts, such as x months of free service (too tedious to track). Take note that the operators wholesale products typically promise symmetric speeds, thus uploads should match the download rate. But due to the requirements of Ofcoms speed code and the desire to have a single package for different networks, some ISPs may advertise a slower upload (i.e. underneath this it will still be a symmetric product on CityFibres network). The good news is that several of CityFibres ISPs have confirmed their delivery of, or ambition to deliver, national scale availability across the operators network. As a result, weve opted to list those providers separately at the top, although other ISPs may have similar plans and perhaps havent informed us or confirmed them yet (e.g. we think AAISP is heading in this direction). NOTE: We tested each provider against known CityFibre postcodes in Milton Keynes (their oldest build), Worthing, Portsmouth and Glasgow to get the package details as well as some other locations for those with niche coverage. Data collected during early February 2023. CityFibre ISPs with National UK Availability (1Gbps Plan) ISP Monthly Price Contract Setup TalkTalk 36 18 Months 0 Zen Internet 40 24 Months 0 Giganet 40 12 Months 0 Vodafone 44 24 Months 0 In total, CityFibre currently claims to have attracted support from 36 ISPs, although at present our own UK ISP Listings database only covers around 26. This is because some of those that remain may be more business centric (not covered), or might not have informed us that they exist (Submit ISP), while others could have made it too difficult to identify their CF availability or packages (e.g. Factco, YouFibre, WestFibre etc). As a side note, it is possible to migrate between CityFibre based ISPs, but this is currently a Losing Provider Led (LPL) process, where youd need to start the switch by contacting your existing ISP first. Ofcoms new Gaining Provider Led (GPL) One Touch Switch (OTS) migration process was supposed to change that from 3rd April 2023, but that is now facing significant delays due to implementation problems. Take note that special offers change all the time, thus what is considered to be the cheapest provider now may vary from week to week. We also wont be returning to keep the prices in this article up-to-date, as well use this report to help track historic changes and simply write a new article if we feel an update is needed. CityFibre ISPs with Patchy UK Availability (1Gbps Plan) As we mentioned earlier, there are some significant differences in terms of package features, prices and availability on CityFibres network, some of which weve highlighted below. But there are also big gaps in our knowledge due, in no small part, to the lack of easily accessible information from some ISPs. But most providers tended to roughly hover around the c.40 per month mark. Finally, its important to note that were not recommending any specific ISPs above. This is thus purely a high level summary and also a way of highlighting the challenges we faced in simply putting such a list together. Over time, CityFibres exclusivity agreements should wane and ISP-level availability will improve, which will hopefully help to iron out some of the issues we experienced. NOTES: AAISP Packages come attached to a 1 TeraByte usage cap (67 if you want 10TB). Doesnt bundle a free router, like the rest, but does support IPv6. BrillBand Serves CityFibres locations in Scotland. FibreHop Only available to Cheltenham, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Bath (soon) and Swindon. Gigabit Networks Focused on the Midlands. Experienced an odd problem when trying to conduct a test order, as under Firefox and Edge we couldnt get past the availability checkers address selection page. RunFibre Only in Wolverhampton and Gloucester. Toob Cityfibre coverage in Portsmouth. Vodafone Existing mobile customers can save an extra 3 per month on the price we display above. WiFi 6 capable router. Giganet Currently offering 3 months of free service. Adding a Static IP is just 1 extra. WiFi 6 capable router. YouFibre Currently only sells via CityFibre outside Middlesbrough (North Yorkshire), but we struggled to find a working postcode for checking. Elsewhere, they harness parent operator Netomnias network. BrawBand website points to availability in Glasgow, Inverness, Renfrewshire and Edinburgh (Scotland). Packages also included 1 year of Amazon Prime Video and a Static IP address. Toob Prices their own-build FTTP the same as their CityFibre based package. iDNET Includes Static IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, but doesnt bundle an included router. Just a final reminder that the data above was all gathered in early February, thus some of the price, package and availability details may have since changed. Its not easy keeping track of a market this complex. UPDATE: Take note that TalkTalks CityFibre price changed from 36 to 49 at the start of March, just after we finished writing this. The prices in this article need to be maintained for historical accuracy, thus were mentioning it here as it occurred just outside our editing period. April 13, 2023 Idaho State University is excited to announce that Bengal Nation has raised $631,953 for students and university support. ISU alumni, friends, employees, parents and students from all corners of the globe helped contribute to making ISUs second annual Bengal Giving Day a success. During the 1,901-minute campaign, which paid tribute to Idaho States founding in 1901, the Bengal community stepped up to give directly to dozens of areas supporting students. From scholarships to student clubs, the gifts poured in, ultimately resulting in 1,710 gifts, an increase from the 1,386 from last year. President Kevin Satterlee expressed his pride in the Bengal community, saying, I am so proud of the incredible support we have received over these past 1,901 minutes. With your help, our students are transforming their lives. More than 315 of those who gave were first-time donors and over 245 donors from the faculty and staff provided financial support. The level of internal support for this second ever Bengal Giving Day showcased the pride, passion and support for students that is evidenced every day by those who work on our campuses! said Vice President of University Advancement, Catherine Wooton. The online fundraising campaign, hosted through a giving website and social media channel, was a great success. To celebrate the achievement, a gathering at the Bengal Theatre Lobby in the Pond Student Union on the Pocatello campus marked the end of Bengal Giving Day 2023. Seeing Bengal Nation unite to support our students and our alma mater was electrifying! said Associate Vice President of Alumni Relations Ryan Sargent. Our success is a testament to the caliber of our alumni and supporters who boldly stepped up to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students. Get unlimited access to all content and features at ivpressonline.com with our Full Online Access Subscription. Read our E-Edition, the digital replica of the print newspaper online, access content in exclusive sections including Family, Teen, Business, Databases, Farm and more. This option does not include daily home delivery of the Imperial Valley Press newspaper. For home delivery service, please select Premium or Premium Plus. 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. 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. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. FILE - Rodrigo Londono, also known as Timochenko, the former commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, speaks during an event at the Truth Commission to commemorate victims of the country's decades-long armed conflict, in Bogota, Colombia, June 23, 2021. In his first official speech before the U.N. Security Council, the last commander of the extinct FARC reaffirmed his rejection of the use of arms that they had used for five decades. Today A few sprinkles possible early. A few passing clouds. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable. Tonight A few sprinkles possible early. A few passing clouds. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable. Tomorrow Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 68F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. The head of the military junta has declared a general mobilisation to combat the ongoing string of jihadist attacks in Burkina Faso. The goal is to establish a legal framework for all the actions to be taken against the insurgents, according to a statement from the presidency. Captain Ibrahim Traore, the transitional president who staged the recent coup, aims to recapture 40% of the countrys territory currently held by Al-Qaeda and ISIS-affiliated groups. The defence minister called for a surge of national spirit to find a solution and a detailed plan is expected to include a state of emergency for affected areas. The violence has displaced two million people and caused over 10,000 deaths over the past seven years. Court of Appeals in Morocco increases prison sentences in child rape case following public outcry. A Moroccan court has increased the prison sentences of three men convicted of indecent assault for repeatedly raping an 11-year-old girl, a case that caused public outrage. The appeals court in Rabat, Moroccos capital, sentenced one man to 20 years in prison while the other two received 10 years each. The girls lawyers had appealed after a lower court sentenced one of the three attackers to two years and the others to 18 months. The court ordered the three attackers to pay damages of 140,000 dirhams (nearly $14,000) instead of the initially ordered 50,000 dirhams. Lawyer Abdelfattah Zahrach said the decision delivered justice to the victim but did not understand why two attackers were only sentenced to 10 years, adding that he might consider a further appeal to the Court of Cassation after consulting the childs family. The court heard testimonies from the victim and a witness, who is also a minor, in private after the prosecution raised child protection concerns. The public gallery was packed for the hearing, which lasted until the early hours of Friday. The accused faced charges of misappropriation of a minor and indecent assault on a minor with violence. The prosecution requested to add the charge of rape, which the judge rejected. The case caused an uproar in the North African country, and a petition condemning the initial sentences gained tens of thousands of signatures. The Jossour Forum of Moroccan Women said in a statement last month that the girl, from a village near Rabat, was repeatedly raped over several months. Amina Khalid, head of womens rights group INSAF, said the girl is starting to smile a little but she is still in shock and has helped the girl go to school for the first time. (AFP) National Guardsman in the US faces charges for illegally transmitting classified documents. A 21-year-old US National Guardsman has been accused of leaking classified United States government documents. Jack Teixeira was charged with the unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense information at a hearing in Boston. He was arrested following a week-long investigation in connection with one of the most damaging leaks of secrets since Edward Snowdens dump of National Security Agency documents in 2013. The leak has raised questions about why someone in such a junior position had access to such potentially damaging secrets. Teixeira appeared before a judge and was detained pending a detention hearing set for next Wednesday. The leak revealed American concerns about weaknesses in Ukraines military and US spying on allies such as Israel and South Korea. Teixeira is suspected of posting documents, some dated as recently as early March, to a private chat group on the social media platform Discord under the nickname OG. He was not required to enter a plea. The New York Times reported that he was the leader of the group called Thug Shaker Central, and initially wrote down the contents of classified documents to share with the group, but later began taking photos, telling other members not to share them, according to the Washington Post. Some of the documents later appeared on other sites, including Twitter, 4Chan, and Telegram. Teixeira enlisted with the US Air Force National Guard in September 2019 and was an IT and communications specialist who reached the rank of airman first class. Friends of Teixeira described him to the Washington Post as a devout Catholic and libertarian who is interested in guns. The leak has not suggested Teixeiras motive yet. Teixeiras father spent 34 years in the same military unit as his son, while his mother worked for non-profit organizations supporting veterans. Teixeiras arrest was shown live on US TV networks. US Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters that Teixeira had been arrested in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a review of intelligence access, accountability, and control procedures within the Defense Department to prevent such incidents from happening again. (Jowhar with AFP) The leader of the military junta has announced a plan to regain 40% of Burkina Fasos territory, which is currently controlled by jihadist groups associated with Al Qaeda and ISIS. Despite a horrific wave of jihadist attacks in 2021, the junta declared a general mobilization to provide the state with all necessary means to counter the insurgency. The goal is to establish a legal framework for all the actions to be taken against the insurgents, according to a statement from the presidency. Captain Ibrahim Traore, the transitional president who led the most recent coup on September 30, has announced his intention to recapture 40% of the countrys territory. Defence Minister Colonel Major Kassoum Coulibaly urged all Burkinabe citizens to unite and contribute to solving the crisis in a statement, but specifics about the plan were not revealed. A security source informs AFP that the plan includes a state of emergency for the affected areas. Additionally, an advisory was issued that provides the president with the authority to call people, goods, and services, and to limit certain civil liberties. In response to one of the deadliest assaults against civilians since Traore assumed power, Burkina Fasos government announced a plan to recruit 5,000 additional soldiers to combat the insurgency, which has plagued one of the worlds poorest countries for the past six years. In the past seven years, more than 10,000 people have died as a result of the violence, and two million people have been displaced from their homes, according to non-governmental aid groups. (AFP) Reddit Email 222 Shares Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) On the Saturday before Orthodox Easter, which falls a week later than in the Western churches, typically 10,000 worshipers gather at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, waiting for the holy fire [to phos) to emerge. It is said to derive from the tomb in which Jesus was initially buried before his resurrection and ascension. Priests descend and bring the fire up, and candles are lit from it. The fire is flown to Greece and other Eastern Orthodox countries, where it is taken around to various churches Israeli authorities have announced that they will allow only 1,800 worshipers inside the church this year, though it is permitting some 1,200 to assemble outside. Most Palestinian Christians are Eastern Orthodox, belonging to the same church as Greece, Russia and Ukraine. Archbishop Atallah Hanna of Sebastia near Nablus has denounced the measures taken by the Israeli government, saying that they target Christians and Muslims in Occupied Jerusalem and are racist, intended to undermine the Palestinian, Muslim and Christian presence in the holy city. Article continues after bonus IC video Church leaders slam Israels restrictions on Orthodox Easter | Al Jazeera Newsfeed He added in a statement to the al-Mamlakah newspaper in Jordan on Thursday that the Palestinian people are being targeted with regard to those things they hold holy, and with regard to their endowments, their commitments and even their holy days. The Palestinian minister of foreign affairs and expatriates warned in a communique on Thursday that Israel is imposing limits preventing Christians from reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, and attempting to cut down on the number of people celebrating in honor of the Saturday Festival of Light. Archbishop Hanna observed that Christians are fasting in preparation for ushering in Orthodox Easter this coming Sunday. Hanna said he rejected the Israeli measures root and branch. He continued, It is incumbent on Occupied Christians on Easter to enjoy their ability freely to go to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which is considered one of the most important Christian religious edifices, adding we call on Christians, whether they are local Palestinians residing in Jerusalem and its environs, or in the areas of the 1948 Palestinians and the occupied West Bank, to travel to the city of Jerusalem on these holy days, whether Good Friday, Light Saturday, or the Glorious Feast of Resurrection [Easter], in order to say To the whole world, and our message is that we belong to Jerusalem and the Church of the Resurrection belongs to us. Meanwhile, channel 24 in the United Arab Emirates says that the Christians of Jerusalem feel under a big threat, given their continued humiliation at the hands of Israeli squatters on Palestinian land. They report many attacks on their churches and cemeteries by the Israeli squatters, while regular police did almost nothing to intervene. Florida Phoenix is a nonprofit news site thats free of advertising and free to readers. We cover state government and politics with a staff of five journalists located at the Florida Press Center in downtown Tallahassee. We have a mix of in-depth stories, briefs, and social media updates on the latest events, editorial cartoons, and progressive commentary. Reddit Email 46 Shares ( Tomdispatch.com ) 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 commands task the hardest since the all-volunteer military was launched in 1973. The Armys 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 arent 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 isnt 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 its 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 theres 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 theyre hardly top-notch recruitment material. Summing up the mood of the militarys present target generation, Major General Alex Fink, chief of Army enterprise marketing, observed, They see us as revered, but not relevant in their lives. Whats 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, its 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 isnt a large Filipino population in this neighborhood either.) Finally, as someone whos worked for years with antiwar GIs and wrote the book War Is Not a Game: The New Antiwar Soldiers and the Movement They Built, I decided to drop in for a chat, only to hesitate, anticipating suspicion, if not outright hostility. Boy, was I wrong! The four noncommissioned officers stationed there, only one of whom had spent extended time in a war zone, couldnt have been more eager to talk about the benefits of Army life. Their spiel was good, too: career training, college tuition, some control over the first duty station youre likely to get, housing, health care, family benefits, competitive pay, even bonuses, not to speak of 30 days off each year and substantial responsibility at a young age. Admittedly, the tuition reimbursement offered wouldnt faintly cover any of the universities near where I live and it takes a while for your salary to amount to much still, it was an impressive pitch. And they dont take just anyone, either. Enlistment requirements are similar across the six branches of the military, except when it comes to age limits. (For the Army, you have to be between 17 and 35.) You must be a high school graduate or the equivalent, a citizen or Green Card holder, medically and physically fit, in good moral standing, and score high enough on the ASVAB entrance exam, which only about one-third of test-takers now pass. (Full disclosure: I couldnt do the sample math questions.) So, hows recruiting going? The Army has about 9,000 recruiters at 1,508 locations nationwide whose pay and benefits are tied to their success. Each recruiter is responsible for signing up a minimum of one recruit for each of the 11 months theyre at work. If this had actually happened, the Army would have coasted to last years goal. (I can do that math.) My neighborhood recruiters, however, seem to be typical in coming in well under that quota. A Necessary Revamp Somewhere in our friendly chat, I pointed out that armies exist to go to war. They countered that, for every infantryman in the U.S. military, there are about 100 support personnel and pointed to wall posters advertising 130 Army career options. No one seemed inclined to delve any deeper into the subject of future battlefields. Surely, anyone qualified to enlist in the Army should know that such forces exist for only one significant purpose: to fight wars. And the U.S. military with its 750 bases around the world and its unending war on terror, while the pressures between China and this country only continue to escalate might well find itself at war again any time. The Armys website is clear enough on its mission : To deploy, fight, and win our nations wars by providing ready, prompt, and sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force. But curiously enough, on its recruiting website, the topic of fighting a war doesnt show up under reasons to join . The system is clearly focused instead on all the remarkably peaceful opportunities the Army offers its soldiers. That emphasis shines forth in the resurrection this spring of the oldie (but apparently goodie ) ad campaign Be All You Can Be, which last appeared in 2001. It has now replaced the Whats Your Warrior ads, with their video-game visuals and bass-heavy soundtrack. The new campaign includes short YouTube videos, where likeably plain-spoken soldiers explain just what they appreciate about the Army. One features an Army rapper ; in another, a woman talks about finding balance in her Army life, as images of soldiers with weapons and soldiers with families flash by. Admittedly, there have been a few hiccups along the way to this gentler, hipper vision of that service. Take the two high-profile ads in the new recruitment campaign that featured actor Jonathan Majors (Antman, Creed III) and were pulled shortly after their debut when he was arrested on charges of assault, harassment, and strangulation. Get Em Early, Get Em Young Army recruits tend to come from military families (83% of enlistees by one reckoning ) and hometowns near military bases, where kids grow up around people in uniform and time in the military becomes part of their worldview. Elsewhere, the military works remarkably hard to introduce that worldview. High schools receiving certain kinds of federal funding, for instance, are required to give recruiters the same access as they do colleges or employers and provide the military with contact information for all students (unless their parents opt out). While Covid-19 limited recruiters access to schools, there were always ways around that. Take Army J.R.O.T.C. , which currently has programs in more than 1,700 high schools, a sizeable portion of them in low-income communities with large minority populations. (J.R.O.T.C. boasts about this, although a New York Times expose on the subject revealed it to be more predatory than laudatory.) The literature emphasizes that its a citizenship and leadership program, not a recruitment one, and its true that only about 21% of Army enlistees attended a school with such a program. Still, its clearly another way that the service recruits the young. After all, its cadets wear their uniforms in school and are taught military history and marksmanship, among other things. Co-curricular activities include military drills and competitions. And there have been problems there, too: among them, a report citing 58 documented instances of sexual abuse or harassment of students by instructors in all branches of J.R.O.T.C. between 2018 and 2022. (As with all statistics on sexual abuse, this is undoubtedly an undercount.) J.R.O.T.C. is hardly the only program exposing young students to the military. Young Marines is a nonprofit education, service, and leadership program dating back to 1959, which promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle for kids eight years old through high school. Its website emphasizes that it isnt a military recruitment tool and doesnt teach combat skills. Nonetheless, events that Young Marines may participate in may involve close connection with public relations aspects of the armed forces. Then theres Starbase , a Defense Department educational program where students learn STEM subjects like science and math by interacting with military personnel. Its primary focus is socio-economically disadvantaged fifth graders. And yes, that would be 10- and 11-year-olds! Its good when extra resources are available to students and schools. In the end, though, programs like these conflate good citizenship with militarism. Too Little Or Too Much? A recent student of mine, who joined Navy R.O.T.C. to help pay for the college education she wanted, told me her age group, Gen Z, a key military target, doesnt view such future service as beneficial. Her classmates, typically enough, felt less than positive about her wearing a uniform. Only older people congratulated her for it. Three senior Army leaders reached a similar conclusion when they visited high schools nationwide recently to learn why enlistment was so dismal. They came away repeating the usual litany of problems: tight job market, pandemic barriers, unfitness of Americas youth, resistance from schools, and especially a lack of public information about the benefits of an Army career. But what if the problem isnt too little information, but too much? Despite ever-decreasing reportage on military and veterans issues, young civilians seem all too aware of the downsides of enlisting. Gen Zers, who until recently never lived in a country not openly at war, have gobs of information at their fingertips: videos, memoirs, movies, novels, along with alarming statistics on sexual assault and racism in the military and the ongoing health problems of soldiers, including exposure to toxic waste, rising cancer rates , and post-traumatic stress disorder. And thats not even to mention the disproportionate rates of suicide and homelessness among veterans, not to speak of the direct contact many young people have had with those who returned home ready to attest to the grim consequences of more than 20 years of remarkably pointless warfare in Afghanistan, Iraq, and across all too much of the rest of the planet. All of this probably helps explain what the Army found in surveys of 16- to 28-year-olds it conducted last spring and summer. That service described (but didnt release) its report on those surveys. According to the Associated Press , the top three reasons cited for refusing to enlist were fear of death, worries about post-traumatic stress disorder, and leaving friends and family. Young Americans also made it clear that they didnt want to put their lives on hold in the military, while 13% anticipated discrimination against women and minorities, 10% didnt trust the military leadership, 57% anticipated emotional or psychological problems, and nearly half expected physical problems from a stint in the Army. Despite recent accusations from conservative members of Congress, only 5% listed the Army being too woke as a deterrent, which should put that issue to bed, but undoubtedly wont. Let me offer a little confession here: I find all of this heartening not just that potential recruits dont want to be killed in war, but that theyre aware of how dangerous joining the military can be to body and mind. And apparently the survey didnt even explore feelings about the possibility that you could be called on to kill, too. In an op-doc for the New York Times that followed a group of American soldiers from their swaggering entry into the Iraqi capital of Baghdad in 2003 to their present-day lives, an off-screen voice asks, So what does it do to a generation of young people during these deployments? The answer: They become old. They are old young men. If theres one thing the Gen Zers I know dont want, its to get old before their time. (Probably not at their time either, but thats another story.) So, add that to the reasons not to enlist. Early in the U.S. occupation of Iraq, I met Elaine Johnson, a Gold Star Mother from South Carolina, so outspoken in her opposition to the Iraq War after her son, Darius Jennings, was killed in Fallujah in 2003 that she reportedly came to be known in the George W. Bush White House as the Elaine Johnson problem. Antiwar as she was, she also proudly told me, My baby was a mamas boy, but the military turned him into a productive young man. So, yes, the Army can be a place to mature, master a trade, take on responsibility, and learn lasting lessons about yourself, while often forging lifelong friendships. All good. But that, of course, can also happen in other types of organizations that dont feature weapons and killing, that dont take you to hell and back. Just imagine, for a moment, that our government left the business of losing the wars from hell to history and instead spent, say, half of the $842 billion being requested for next years military budget on [fill in the blank here with your preferred institutions]. Count on one thing: we would be in a different world. Maybe this generation of potential soldiers has already figured that out and will someday make it happen. Copyright 2023 Nan Levinson Via Tomdispatch.com Reddit Email 18 Shares By Derek Lief, University of Michigan | (The Conversation) Israeli protesters have been demonstrating against the Netanyahu governments controversial efforts to radically overhaul the judicial system for nearly three months. And while the protests regularly bring out more than 100,000 people to the streets across Israel, few Arab faces have appeared among the demonstrators. The protests cause some minor annoyances, like traffic delays, to Palestinians living in East Jerusalem. But the greater threat to these East Jerusalem Palestinians are the proposed changes to Israels judiciary system. The changes, referred to as reforms, would limit the Supreme Courts powers to rule against the legislative and executive branches, effectively giving the Knesset the power to override Supreme Court decisions with a simple majority. I believe that such changes would be dangerous to East Jerusalem Palestinians, especially when right-wing governments like the current one led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are in power and oppose giving Palestinians more rights. As a political science scholar with a regional focus on the Middle East, I have spent a significant time with East Jerusalem Palestinians asking what they think about judicial reform plans and the protests against it. Our discussions show that East Jerusalem Palestinians feel an an overarching sense of indifference and resignation to whatever will happen. Photo by Raimond Klavins on Unsplash That is the Israelis fight, not mine, or What does it matter what happens? Nothing will help with anything anyway, were the most common reactions that East Jerusalem Palestinians had to the protests when I spoke with them in March 2023. A brief background While Israel claims that East Jerusalem is simply a part of its capital city, the United Nations and Palestinians say it is occupied territory by the Israeli government. Further, East Jerusalem covers approximately 27 square miles and is home to about about 362,000 Arab residents who are considered permanent residents of Israel. These Palestinians have no passports and cannot vote in Israeli elections. Just 18,982 Palestinians in East Jerusalem have obtained Israeli citizenship since 1967. This followed the 1967 Six-Day War, when Israel defeated Egypt, Syria and Jordan over a territorial dispute and occupied parts of Jerusalem that were under Jordanian control. This small number of Palestinians in East Jerusalem who have received Israeli citizenship stems from two main factors. First, many Palestinians feel resistant toward taking Israeli citizenship because of cultural divisions and a desire for their own nationhood. Second, the Israeli government makes it difficult for these Palestinians to get Israeli citizenship. Photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash Today, East Jerusalem Palestinians truly live between two worlds. They are politically and economically connected to West Jerusalem, home to Israeli Jews and the Israeli government. Most East Jerusalem Palestinians are able to cross in and out of West Jerusalem easily, though walls exist around sections of East Jerusalem, dividing Arab neighborhoods from Jewish ones. Palestinians in East Jerusalem also pay Jerusalem city taxes and receive general city services, like water. About 79% of the Palestinian families in East Jerusalem live in poverty. Culturally, East Jerusalem Palestinians are more connected to the West Bank, a landlocked Arab area of Israel that is governed by a separate government, the Palestinian Authority. Many East Jerusalem Palestinians have extended families and friends living in the West Bank. Speaking with East Jerusalem Palestinians With this guiding question what do East Jerusalem Palestinians think about the proposed judicial reforms and the protests against them I conducted a survey and series of interviews with 24 Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem over the course of three days in March 2023. Another Palestinian I spoke with lived in the nearby city of Ramallah, but worked in East Jerusalem. I spoke with 10 women and 15 men, and the average age of the respondents was about 26. Thirteen of these people had full-time jobs, while seven were employed part time. The rest were either students or temporarily unemployed. A slight majority of the respondents approximately 52% said that they were following news about the judicial reforms and ongoing protests. Respondents demonstrated empathy toward the protesters goals of suspending the judicial reform plans and, in some cases, pushing Netanyahu out of power, with one respondent openly claiming that If I were an Israeli, I would protest too! But just two respondents said that they would want to participate in the protests themselves. I know how the Israeli police behave, one person explained, saying that they were afraid of being arrested or that legal action would be taken against them. More significantly, they said that they did not want to protest to help preserve a legal system that has not helped them. The respondents were also very concerned about the potential for increased violence against them if they joined the protests. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, for example, grabbed headlines in early November 2022 for encouraging Israeli police to open fire on Palestinian stone throwers. A disconnect As Israelis demonstrate in the name of saving their democracy, these Palestinians overarching sentiment is that they have no leader or partner to help them achieve their own civic rights or national aims. Who represents Jerusalem for us? Who speaks for Jerusalem? What brings us together? were rhetorical questions posed during my discussions and interviews with East Jerusalem Palestinians. These people feel they are cut off from the Palestinian Authority but that the Israeli government is also out to get them, as one respondent said. Fundamentally, these East Jerusalem Palestinians want their most basic needs met. In particular, they say that the city neglects their neighborhoods for example, resulting in a buildup of trash. And that their schools are severely underfunded, relative to the Jewish ones in West Jerusalem. Palestinian civil society leaders have argued that this sense of isolation and lack of direction has produced a generation of young people in East Jerusalem willing to sacrifice everything and possibly push back violently against the Israeli government and citizens. Its clear that East Jerusalem Palestinians indeed are listening and watching the major events underway in Israel. They want a voice in politics. But until they feel like an equal partner with democratic rights equal to Jewish Israelis, they will sit on the sidelines and sometimes, even respond angrily with violence. Derek Lief, PhD Student/Researcher, University of Michigan This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Dec. 8, 2015) - Euromax Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:EOX)(OTC PINK:EOXFF): ("Euromax" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has entered into a term sheet for the offtake of its copper-gold concentrate production from its Ilovica mine in... Read More On Tuesday April 11, 2023, Ben Youssouf Keita, a 69-year-old surgeon and politician, was called to the stand. He is now the president of the Alliance for Change and Progress party. At the time of the events, he was a member of the political bureau of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG). He was even the right-hand man of the party leader, Cellou Dalein Diallo, according to journalist Mouctar Bah, an informed observer of Guinea in the late 2000s. Keita is the third political opponent to be heard at the trial. He has just become a civil party in the case. "Some people are certainly wondering why, 13 years later, I am presenting myself today, and in a spontaneous manner, he said. Well, for two reasons. First, if my fate was more enviable than those who lost their lives, my wife suffered martyrdom at the stadium [she was beaten by soldiers and had her throat cut]." Second, as a political leader Keita feels it is his duty to come and testify: "We have a moral responsibility towards those who died, because they are our activists. We are the ones who called them to follow us. No to Dadis as presidential candidate On September 28, 2009, the main opposition parties -- united in a coalition called Forces Vives -- organized a meeting to say no to the possible presidential candidacy of Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, leader of the military transition. Security forces burst in on the rally, firing live ammunition into the crowd and sexually assaulting female activists. In the days that followed, killings and rapes continued. According to the report of the international commission of inquiry appointed by the United Nations, at least 156 people were killed and 109 women raped. Keita tells the story of his day. It was 5.45 on the morning of September 28, 2009, when his phone rang. "It was my older brother retired from the Guinean army calling me, he told the court. This brother, I consider him a father, he followed me to the UFDG. He was one of the people in charge of the executive office, in the security commission. He told me 'Youssouf, don't go out today, it's forbidden, you have to stay at home. At that time, we still remembered the events of January-February 2007, during which at least 129 young Guineans were killed in cold blood during demonstrations. As my brother was insisting and it was unusual, I panicked." Then, according to his testimony in court, Ben Youssouf Keita said to himself: "If I don't leave, I will be considered a traitor, a coward. What must happen will happen. Warnings dont stop the opposition At 6:00 a.m. he said goodbye to wife and rushed into a pick-up truck, taking his 25-year-old son with him. He crossed Conakry at full speed, he said, to reach the residence of Cellou Dalein Diallo, not far from the stadium. "It was a first signal. Usually it took 30 to 40 minutes, not ten. Everything was empty. Arriving at the UFDG leader's house, Keita told him about the warning he had received earlier. "Cellou had also received some information during the night. The warnings were not wrong, he continued. But according to him, we had to go, and we were going to go. I was very comforted by his position, his determination to fight to the end. The two men set off towards the home of Jean-Marie Dore, another opponent and head of the Union for the Progress of Guinea (UPG). The political leaders had made an appointment to meet there. Once there, his householders were hesitant. "Jean-Marie Dore tells Cellou, Sidya (Sidya Toure, president of the Union of Republican Forces) and the others that he cannot go, they said, according to Keita. He has just spoken to the Head of State by telephone. The latter asked him to wait for the arrival of a delegation to meet with the leaders at his home. Toure received the same call late at night, he said, but felt it was impossible to postpone the rally. Diallo spoke up, according to Keita, saying: "We have to leave, because the population has already turned out, we have no way to delay the rally." All the opposition leaders - with the exception of Dore - then set off to join "the bulk of the troops at the stadium". "There was so much noise, you couldn't hear the gunfire" A "human tide" awaited them there, according to Ben Youssouf Keita, an estimated several thousand people. While the politicians had planned to make their speech on the esplanade in front of the stadium, they were dragged inside by a frenzied crowd. "It was euphoria, celebration, he recalled. Keita climbed into the stands with the other leaders. There was an atmosphere of joyful chaos. "There was so much noise, you couldn't hear the gunfire," he told the court. Suddenly, he saw people starting to fall under fire. The danger was getting closer, and everyone was fleeing. It was "every man for himself". Keita stayed next to his leader. A hooded soldier advanced towards them. He called out to Diallo and ordered him to come down from the stands. The UFDG leader did not comply. The soldier charged at him, made him fall to the ground and hit him brutally. Keita escaped and miraculously managed to get out of the stadium. But in front of the entrance, just as he thought he was out of trouble, he came across a soldier armed with a piece of wood who tried to smash his skull. Keita protected himself and escaped with a broken hand and a wound on his back. Diallo suffered four broken ribs. Several opposition leaders were injured that day, but none fatally. Opposition responsibility? Ben Youssouf Keita was admitted to the emergency room of Donka Hospital, he said, around 2-2.30 in the afternoon. While waiting to be taken care of, he saw "young people, women, lying around moaning. The Minister of Health, Colonel Abdoulaye Cherif Diaby who is now in the dock, "passed within a metre of him, according to the witness, reprimanding the wounded. He was "furious", according to Keita. "I am here today to understand, he told the court. I have absolutely no hatred against anyone, I do not cry vengeance and I do not want any compensation, neither material nor financial, but I want to understand. When you understand something you can tolerate it, bear it. Why didn't this Minister of Health, who took the Hippocratic Oath, act like a doctor? He didn't have the pity he should have when faced with those who suffer." At the trial, the surgeon's testimony unleashed passions. The defence lawyers, more divided than ever, clashed. One of them questioned Keita: "Doctor, you have maintained here that if you had complied with the request to postpone the demonstration on September 28, what happened at the stadium would not have happened. Do you stand by this statement? Keita nodded. Lancine Sylla, counsel for Moussa Dadis Camaras former aide-de-camp Aboubacar Diakite ("Toumba") retorted: "Do you agree with me that in this trial you, the political leaders, are victims and not defendants?" "There is no doubt." As such, can we seek any responsibility against you in this trial? Absolutely not. "We didn't think they would send men to the stadium with helmets and lethal weapons against the unarmed population," Keita said in defence. The scenario he painted through his words is that of a punitive, premeditated and inevitable attack against an opposition that was defying the authority of the head of state to defend democratic principles. "Mr. Bah Oury said it here, and so did Mr. Francois Louceny Fall [the two politicians previously heard by the court]. Was it on the day of the demonstration itself that a postponement could be called?" asked Toumba's lawyer. "From the moment the people were called out, it would take at least 48 or 72 hours to inform them that the demonstration was postponed," Ben Youssouf Keita replied without hesitation. Cha Eun Woo and Han So Hee dazzled as they flaunted their beauty at the recent Dior event in Los Angeles, California, marking their first ever reunion! The two actors first met on the set of "The Villainess Is A Marionette" in 2022, a webtoon-based drama along with Lee Soo Hyuk. Read on to know more. Cha Eun Woo & Han So Hee Caused Visual Explosion In California Fans were in for a treat after dazzling stars Cha Eun Woo and Han So Hee made an appearance at a Dior party! The two South Korean actors caused a visual explosion online, much to fans' delight. Cha Eun Woo and Han So Hee first met on the set of the webtoon-based K-Drama "The Villainess Is A Marionette" in 2022. With this, Cha Eun Woo and Han So Hee had the perfect chemistry when they reunited at the "Dare in Gris Dior: The Grey Zone" event at Los Angeles, California on April 11. The prestigious event was attended by global stars including "Wednesday" star Jenna Ortega, "How To Get Away With Murder" actress Karla Souza, Alexandra Daddario, Thomas Doherty, Kathryn Newton and more. Cha Eun Woo and Han So Hee were both dressed in white, creating a heart-thumping atmosphere. The actor donned a cream suit that resembles a traditional Korean dress. He paired the suit with a body bag and a pair of chunky shoes. On the other hand, Han So Hee became a goddess in her modest white layered dress. Queen Sohee arriving at the Dior event in LA she was so cute pic.twitter.com/we0tjWmQ4g Mar (@chunghasbff) April 12, 2023 Fans swooned over the actors' photos, expressing their love for the pair. Many viewers also expressed their wishes for an acting reunion. One fan stated, "Cha Eun Woo and Han So Hee's visuals are out of this world. They're so cute together!" Undoubtedly, the couple is among the most sought after actors in their generation today. Hopefully, doors would open for Cha Eun Woo and Han So Hee's collaboration in the future. Cha Eun Woo & Han So Hee's 'Gyeongsong Creature,' More Upcoming Works This 2023, Cha Eun Woo and Han So Hee offer a slew of promising works fans should not miss! Following the success of his film "Decibel," Cha Eun Woo jumps onto an equally high scale project called "A Good Day To Be A Dog" (literal title) with Park Gyu Young and Lee Hyun Woo. It depicts the romance between a woman who becomes a dog after kissing a man and a man who's deeply scared of dogs. Filming began in the later part of 2022 with the intention to air it within 2023. In addition to that, Cha Eun Woo also reprised his role in the second part of his comedy action series "Island" which is available on TVING and Amazon Prime Video. Han So Hee, on the other hand, wrapped up her fantasy Netflix series "Gyeongseong Creature" with Park Seo Joon which focuses on people's will to survive a monster-filled world. The work hasn't confirmed its exact release date yet but it's slated to greet the viewers in the second half of the year. Lastly, Han So Hee will headline the brand new thriller series "The Price of Confession" with Song Hye Kyo. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. The penultimate episode of "Call It Love" takes the viewers on a romantic ride as Kim Young Kwang finally shows his honest feelings for Lee Sung Kyung. Amidst the chaos that happens in between their families, will there be a happy ending for the both of them? Read on to know more about what happened in "Call It Love" episode 15. Han Dong Jin Severs Relationship With Own Mother In episode 15, Han Dong Jin (Kim Young Kwang) brings the Shim Woo Joo's (Lee Sung Kyung) late father's will to its rightful owners. She sees Shim Woo Joo telling her own mother not to retrieve the house back so Han Dong Jin's mother wouldn't hurt him anymore. This surprises the latter, bringing him to tears. Meanwhile, Han Dong Jin's mother makes it up to him by cleaning his home before leaving the place. His house is empty and he wishes that his mother stayed. At home, Shim Woo Joo feels the burden on her shoulders disappear, crying her heart out for her late father. Shim Woo Joo Confesses To Han Dong Jin Han Dong Jin runs for Choi Sun Woo (Jeon Seok Ho) and talks about his relationship with Shim Woo Joo. He also reveals that he plans to resign from the company, and that his severance pay and shares will be used to pay his mother's debts. Shim Woo Joo bumps into Han Dong Jin later that night. She apologizes for not telling her real intentions with him: to avenge her painful past and destroyed life. YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS: 'Oasis' Episode 12: Jang Dong Yoon Reunites With Seol In Ah The latter then cajoles her, saying that things wouldn't happen if it weren't for her revenge plan. Han Dong Jin also thanks her for doing so because it led them to this moment where they both fall in love. The End of the War Han Dong Jin apologizes for what his mother did to Shim Woo Joo's mother. Instead of being angry, Kim Hyun Ju (Kim Hee Jung) forgives the young man and comforts him after. Kim Hyun Ju then declares that he won't draw a lawsuit against Han Dong Jin's mother, leaving things as is. On the other hand, Ma Hee Ja (Nam Gi Ae) returns to Han Dong Jin's apartment. She cries her heart out while asking for his forgiveness. Thankfully, her son assures her that it's not too late to make it up to him yet. At the end of the episode, Han Dong Jin gets invited to the Shim's humble home. He buys Shim Woo Joo's brother a guitar; the one he promised before. He also carries a bouquet of flowers as a sign of his love for Shim Woo Joo. YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN THIS: Kim Young Kwang Wants To Do Rom-Com With Lee Sung Kyung? Here's What The Actor Said KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. The reporter turned YouTuber Lee Jin Ho speculates a surprising reason behind Lee Seung Gi's Instagram post that gained mixed reactions from the public. Following his wedding with Lee Da In, the "Vagabond" star took to social media as he expressed his thoughts about rumors involving his wife. In a two-part Instagram post, the actor defended Lee Da In and her family against malicious rumors about them. However, YouTuber Lee Jin Ho claimed that there is a bigger cause behind the actor's decision to post it on his social media with million of following. Former Reporter Believes Lee Seung Gi Plans Not to Publish the Instagram Post After Honeymoon Trip in Singapore As obtained by a media outlet, Lee Jin Ho mentioned on his YouTube channel that he knew "Lee Seung Gi would post something like this through previous articles." He then explained that the actor has plans to release such a post but "didn't have the intention to publish it after leaving for Singapore with Lee Da In." The YouTuber then added that "something happened that caused Lee Seung Gi to change his mind." To recall, Lee Seung Gi and Lee Da In were spotted in Singapore just days after the wedding. However, his agency, Human Made, previously mentioned that the couple has no plans to go on a honeymoon adding that "Lee Seung Gi is currently overseas for business matters." Despite the label's claim, photos of the newlyweds at Orchard Road circulated on social media. Lee Seung Gi Might be 'Under Tremendous Psychological Pressure,' Says YouTuber On the other hand, Lee Jin Ho said that based on his investigation, it appears like an article written about the couple caused Lee Seung Gi to change his mind; hence, the actor mentioned the reporter's name in his Instagram post. In addition, the award-winning star might have been "under tremendous psychological pressure in the process of preparing for his marriage." That is because Lee Seung Gi and Lee Da In's relationship has been criticized since they confirmed their romance. Moreover, the public has a negative opinion of Lee Da In's family. "At the moment when the actor was feeling extremely depressed, the article written by that report came out and became a trigger that ultimately led Lee Seung Gi to post his article right in Singapore," YouTuber Lee Jin Ho explained. However, he also thought that it was a "big mistake" for the actor to express such emotions on Instagram. Moreover, Lee Jin Ho said that Lee Seung Gi "created too many opportunities for people to criticize him," and would probably stop the actor from doing such if they were close acquaintances. Unfortunately, the public has mixed reactions to Lee Seung Gi's Instagram post and says that he even made the situation worse than it is. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Mark Jensen, the Pleasant Prairie man found guilty for the second time of poisoning and suffocating his wife to death in 1998, will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. Jensen, 63, who has been incarcerated since July 2007, was sentenced by Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Anthony Milisauskas Friday morning. It came during emotional proceedings where Jensen read a statement about his need for parole and family members of the the victim addressed the court calling for the maximum possible sentence. Jensen could have been sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 20 years or life in prison without the possibility of parole. Fridays sentence ensures he will never see the outside of a prison. A jury of six men and six women found Jensen guilty of first-degree intentional homicide on Feb. 1 in the high-profile retrial of the former stock broker. After nearly four weeks the jury found him guilty of poisoning his then-wife Julie Jensen with odorless ethylene glycol, more commonly known as antifreeze. Prosecutors said he then suffocated her to death by turning her face down in their bed and then sat on top of her. She died in early December 1998 inside the couples Carol Beach home. The prosecution successfully argued Mark Jensen killed the mother of his two young sons in order to make it easier for him to be with a woman he was having an affair with and later married. They also argued he killed Julie Jensen out of deep anger and an intense obsession over a previous sexual affair she had with a co-worker in their home years before, along with other marital issues. Mark Jensen was first convicted in 2008 of the killing and Kenosha County Judge Bruce Schroeder sentenced him to life in prison without parole. However, a Kenosha County judge vacated Jensens conviction in April 2021 after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled he deserved a new trial. The court found voicemails and a letter Julie Jensen wrote incriminating her husband in the event something should happen to her could not be used by the prosecution as it was in the first trial. In early 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court helped pave the way for the new trial when it declined to hear an appeal of the Wisconsin Supreme Courts ruling. The so-called letter from the grave in which Julie Jensen, 40, wrote that if anything happens to me that her husband would be my first suspect, was not allowed into evidence during the lengthy second trial. The high-profile case sparked headlines across the nation. Mark Jensen speaks Mark Jensen, who wore a navy prison jumpsuit and was handcuffed, spoke during his sentencing hearing while wearing headphones to hear the proceedings. His parents were seated behind him in the gallery. Mark Jensen read a letter he wrote to the court asking for parole. He became emotional while reading his letter and teared up. I have always sought to be a productive member of the community, Mark Jensen said. I have always tried to make a difference and do everything I could the right way. Throughout this case I have worked to maintain good relationships with the family of my boys and they have supported me throughout. If released on parole I have the support of the family with any need (I might have) including a place to live and transportation to help me get back on my feet. My parents are 87 and 85 and they need my help. I want to be there to help them. Mark Jensen said sons David and Douglas Jensen lost both parents and have been through an incredible over the past 25 years. Please grant parole eligibility, Mark Jensen said. The defense team included public defenders Bridget Krause, Jeremy Perri and Mackenzie Renner. Krause asked the court to allow Mark Jensen to be eligible for parole at 20 years meaning he would have been 68 when released. He loves his boys and he wants to be there for them, Krause said. Mark Jensen is a father of three men including two sons he had with Julie Jensen. Krause also said Mark Jensen is no threat to the public. The time he has served has been significant, Krause said. The defense declined to comment after the sentencing. Prosecution sickened Special prosecutor Robert Jambois returned to help prosecute the case against Mark Jensen during the trial but was absent Friday prosecuting a case where he now works in Portage County. Deputy district attorney Carli McNeill served as co-counsel. McNeil asked for life in prison without parole in part because Mark Jensen tormented his wife for years. Julie Jensen was one of the people in the world that he was supposed to care for the most, McNeil said. Not only did he poison her, he watched her die. McNeil said she was sickened that Mark Jensen asked for parole because he has shown no remorse for his actions in the 25 years since his wifes untimely death. He should not breathe the free air outside of a prison cell, McNeil said. Mark and Julie Jensens son Douglas Jensen wrote a letter to the court on behalf of the prosecution and said his mother was erased from his life. Three of Julie Jensens brothers were in court Friday. Their parents are deceased. Her oldest brother Lawrence Griffin addressed the court first asking Milisauskus to sentence Mark Jensen to life in prison without parole for his cruel and inhuman actions. Lawrence Griffin called his sisters Dec. 3, 1998 murder calculated. It put a shocking end to the kind and gentle person that Julie embodied, Lawrence Griffin said, adding that she had devoted her life to her sons. The impact that Julies loss has had upon her friends, her neighbors and community has been that of a permanent void, Lawrence Griffin said. Julie no longer lives to celebrate family events and lifetime occasions. Julie Jensens brother Paul Griffin asked for no mercy for Mark Jensen because he showed no mercy to his sister. He treated her poorly by taking advantage of her kind, giving nature, Paul Griffin said. Mark Jensen is a coward. Judge imposes sentence Milisauskas said there is no higher felony in the state of Wisconsin than first-degree intentional homicide. I watched the trial and I think the evidence was overwhelming that Mr. Jensen is guilty, and the jury came back with a pretty fast verdict, Milisauskas said. All the evidence was there (of) Mr. Jensen plotting this murder. Milisauskas said Mark Jensen put his wife through torture instead of walking away from the troubled marriage. He was jealous, he was vengeful, he manipulated people, he was a control person over Julie, committed a cruel act and it happened for a long period of time, Milisauskas said. Milisauskas said Julie Jensen suffered for a long time and the evidence showed that through the trial. She did not have a good life for a period of time that she was married to Mr. Jensen, Milisauskas said. The harassment, the antifreeze poisoning, the lack of calling a doctor when she was dying, it was a painful death and it was all caused by Mr. Jensen. Milisauskas closed with hes not getting any parole eligibility. Its too serious of a crime, Milisauskas said. No parole. Life imprisonment. Prosecution expects appeal McNeill and public service special prosecutor Beverly Jambois addressed the media in the courts basement after the sentencing hearing. Both said they are happy the lengthy and expensive trial is finally over. It gives the family a degree of closure to know that hes not getting out, McNeill said. For them having to do this all again could not be more painful but to have the outcome where they hopefully have certainty that he wont be released is a great relief. The trial cost Kenosha County tens of thousands of dollars. When questioned about whether Mark Jensen would appeal McNeill said he may. The thing about a criminal trial is there always is going to be an opportunity to appeal, McNeill said. There is no rule or law against appealing and I fully expect him to appeal. President Tsai Ing-wen has just made an important visit to the United States. In reaction, the communist government of China has broadcast predictable belligerency, threatened retaliation and sanctioned selected organizations. This is nothing new. She met at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in near Los Angeles with Speaker Kevin McCarthy of the House of Representatives, who represents Californias 20th Congressional District. The district is in the rich agricultural Central Valley, including part of Sequoia National Park and the Sequoia National Monument. Meeting with Speaker McCarthy on the West Coast was a shrewd move. President Tsai was greeted by a senior official of the United States government, but one separate from the White House and the Executive Branch, where any implication of formal recognition of Taiwan would spark truly serious confrontation with China. She also made a brief stop in New York. Agriculture represents positive trade for both nations. China is a major customer for U.S. farm products, including a range of feedstuffs. This dimension is well removed from high tech sectors, where competition and conflict are intense. An important aspect of this particular overseas trip is that President Tsai is not the only leader from Taiwan currently to undertake significant travel. While she has been in the United States, Ma Ying-jeou, her predecessor as Taiwans chief executive, has visited mainland China, with less international publicity. Former President Ma, with a group of thirty Taiwan students, toured the mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen, the founder of the Republic of China, which successfully replaced the imperial kingdom, and the final emperor of China, in 1911. The twelve-day trip in total included visits to the cities of Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, Changsha and Chongqing. A particularly important meeting was with Song Tao, the head of Chinas Taiwan Affairs Council. Song Tao accompanied the Taiwan group from Changsha to Wuhan and hosted a farewell banquet for the delegation in Shanghai, a principal commercial and trade hub in China. This is important. Informal reciprocal representative offices of both Beijing and Taipei have survived the deterioration of relations of recent years. Pragmatism characterizes Taiwans approach to mainland China. Following formal U.S. diplomatic recognition of Beijing in 1978, a consequence of President Richard Nixons historic 1972 visit, Taipei launched a comprehensive essentially non-confrontational response. In November 2008, agreement was achieved on direct shipping, expansion of weekly passenger flights from 36 to 108, and adding up to 60 cargo flights per month. In 2010, the bilateral Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) was concluded. This central accord remains a major triumph of then-President Ma. His election in 2008 and 2012 greatly furthered cooperation with Beijing. Beijing-Taipei relations reflect the party in power. The center-left Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of President Tsai is formally committed to independence for Taiwan. Her election as chief executive in 2016 marks deterioration of relations with the mainland. Beijing has been consistent and unequivocal that any public formal declaration of independence by Taiwan will mean war. The DPP government so far has finessed that matter. The conservative Kuomintang Party (KMT) of former President Ma (and President Sun Yat-sen) has always declared there is only one China, facilitating relations with Beijing. The KMT government of Nationalist China retreated to Taiwan when communist forces conquered the mainland in 1949. President Tsai has strongly criticized her predecessors China visit. However, collaboration between their parties may ultimately be the key to coexistence with Beijing. Above all, astute diplomacy by Taipei is essential. The complete implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement will help bolster trade and investment between China and other participating countries, and will advance long-term prosperity and growth for the global economy, according to trade experts and business executives. Their comments on Wednesday came after the Philippines deposited its instrument of ratification of the RCEP agreement with the secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on April 3, marking the final step toward the agreement's full implementation. The trade pact took effect for the first 10 ratifying countries on Jan 1 last year. Under RCEP rules, the trade deal will take effect for the Philippines 60 days after the deposit of ratification, or June 2. At that time, the world's largest free trade agreement will come into full effect for all 15 signatory countries, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Wednesday. The ministry said the full implementation of the RCEP pact will meet the needs of China's consumption expansion and upgrade, and consolidate regional industrial and supply chains. Liu Qing, vice-president of the Beijing-based China Institute of International Studies, said the agreement's full implementation will also expedite the integration of capital, resources, technologies and services, forming a comprehensive cycle of regional economic cooperation. As a result, RCEP members will be able to accelerate the optimization of resources and promote institutional opening-up, therefore expanding their global presence and strengthening their competitive edge, said Liu. The integration will also help stabilize regional industrial chains and provide a stronger buffer against external risks, he added. China's foreign trade with other RCEP economies grew by 7.5 percent year-on-year to 12.95 trillion yuan ($1.88 trillion) in 2022, accounting for 30.8 percent of the country's total exports and imports last year, statistics from the General Administration of Customs show. China's nonfinancial direct investment in other RCEP countries surged 18.9 percent year-on-year to $17.96 billion last year, while the nation attracted $23.53 billion of investment from other RCEP members, up 23.1 percent year-on-year. Zhao Ping, vice-dean of the Beijing-based Academy of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said the RCEP has boosted the confidence of its member countries in free trade, green development and regional economic integration, particularly amid global geopolitical complexities. She said the mega pact will facilitate cooperation among countries at different stages of development, providing them with opportunities to work together and benefit from mutual cooperation. The RCEP will also continue to inject vitality into the global economy, making industrial and supply chains more resilient. According to an estimate by the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, the RCEP is expected to see a net annual increase of $519 billion in exports and $186 billion in national income of its members by 2030. As the RCEP has created favorable conditions for boosting two-way investment and foreign trade volume, companies from participating countries will show a stronger inclination to participate in various trade shows in the Asia-Pacific region in the years ahead, said Wolfgang Marzin, president and CEO of Germany's Messe Frankfurt, one of the world's largest trade fair and event organizers by sales revenue. The Ministry of Commerce said that under RCEP rules, Chinese products, including automobiles and parts, certain types of plastic products, textile and clothing products, air conditioners and washing machines, will enjoy favorable tariff treatment from the Philippines. After a transitional period, tariffs on these products will gradually be reduced to zero from their current range of 3 to 30 percent of the tariff rate. Fresh durians from the Philippines were shipped to China last week, after China and the Southeast Asian country signed an export protocol in Beijing in January. From pineapples to avocados, and now durians, the vast Chinese market is constantly generating fresh business opportunities for the Philippines, said Ding Lixin, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing. The African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) has applauded the leadership of police for the way it has responded to the recent attack on journalists by one of their officers. On Tuesday this week, during the dispersal of pre-intern doctors who were holding a peaceful demonstration around Mulago Guest House in Wandegeya, Corporal Ogwal Yeeko pepper-sprayed two journalists from Next Media services; Francis Isano and Thomas Kitimbo. Police have since condemned the action of their officer whom they have suspended and handed over to the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) for investigations. Three other police officers have also been summoned by the Professional Standards Unit with the two journalists asked to record statements. In a press statement, ACME Executive Director Dr. George Lugalambi says the action by police leadership marks the beginning of a meaningful cordial, and respectful working relationship between the media in Uganda, the police, and other security agencies. He however demands that the actions they have initiated are followed up to their logical conclusion. Government has continued to warn private schools that have not yet implemented the new lower secondary school curriculum. The senior education officer of Luwero district, Enoc Kiyemba says the new curriculum has come to exist forever, and therefore the schools which are ignoring it are wasting their time and putting the future of the students at risk. He says the schools should focus on addressing the challenges in the curriculum instead of ignoring them. In many schools, the new curriculum is still hard to implement. I want to encourage you where it has been challenging to find ways and means but ensure that this new curriculum is adhered to, Kiyemba said. He made the remarks while officiating at the commissioning of a classroom block donated by MTN Foundation to Horizon high school in Luwero district. High Court Judge Musa Ssekaana has criticized human rights lawyers for killing genuine and noble causes in the country because of their ignorance about the subject matter. Speaking at the launch of a human rights book written by Dr. Livingstone Ssewanyana, the founder and executive director of Foundation for Human Rights Initiative on Wednesday, Justice Ssekaana revealed that many good cases that would have set a precedent in this country have been killed by lawyers who are not well versed with the human rights concept. Every lawyer who has a degree thinks he is a human rights lawyer just because they know chapter four of the constitution, they go to court and mess up cases because they do not know what they are talking about, said Justice Ssekaana. Titled, Human Rights In Uganda, The illusive promise, the book addresses key subjects to ensure full enjoyment of human rights and the building of a democratic state in Uganda. According to Justice Ssekaana, there are many masquerader lawyers in the field who are outshining knowledgeable activists as they selfishly seek funding. Its important that those who are at the forefront of pursuing human rights causes take the lead and take away the masqueraders who are only looking for funding from donors, he added. He expressed optimism that the Human Rights book will improve the quality of judgments given the limited local literature on human rights. On his part, Dr. Ssewanyana said his inspiration to write the book that has taken him over 10 years to complete is based on leaders who have betrayed Ugandans. We are increasingly witnessing so many practices that are anti-human rights, thats why corruption has grown and leaders do not care about the ordinary people. They give so many promises but deliver so little. Its a promise everyone has given, even Amin made a promise and successive regimes made promises to the people but it is all a deception, it remains pure deceit, said Dr. Ssewanyana. Ssewanyana said human rights in Uganda need more engineering in order to address the current democratic and human rights deficits. There is very little in mobilizing the population to stand up against injustices, there is little that is being done, he said. He further questions in his book whether the human rights NGOs in Uganda are pretenders or defenders. Minister for Karamoja Affairs Mary Gorreti Kitutu Kimono is expected to re-appear in court this morning for hearing of her second bail application. On Wednesday this week, Kitutu was denied bail by the Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro on grounds that her 3 out of 4 sureties including her husband Michael George Kitutu were not substantial and advised her to get other sureties. Kitutu is accused of mismanaging Karamoja relief items. She is jointly charged with her brother Michael Kitutu Naboya and her senior assistant secretary Joshua Abaho who is yet to take plea. The 3 are charged with loss of public property, corruption, receiving stolen property, and conspiracy to defraud. Prosecution states that the group between June 2022 and January 2023 at the Office of the Prime Ministers stores in Namanve caused loss of public property in form of 14,500 iron sheets by diverting them from the intended purpose of benefiting the Karamoja Community Empowerment Programme to their own benefit, knowing that such acts would result into loss of public property. Prosecution also states that Naboya Kitutu between similar months at Situmi village, Namisindwa district received 100 iron sheets marked OPM Uganda knowing that the same had been feloniously obtained. Embattled Minister for Karamoja Affairs Mary Gorreti Kitutu Kimono has been granted bail by the Anti-Corruption Court sitting in Kololo, Kampala. This is after the minister who also doubles as the Woman Member of Parliament for Manafwa district presented five sureties to court. They include; Gidudu Mafabi Dominic, the minister of state for elderly people, Hon. Wakholi Godfrey, MP Bukiru County in Manafwa district, and Hon. Christopher Werike, MP for Bubulo County West in Manafwa district. Others are; Gregory Mafabi a businessman in Mbale City and Bungokho North constituency MP Magolo John Faith as well as Seth Wambede, MP for Mbale City North Division. She has been released on a cash bail of Shs10 million and her sureties were ordered to execute a non-cash bond of Shs200 million each. Kitutu was also ordered to deposit her two land titles on Block 241 plots 1265 and 1264 situated in Wakiso district before court as security to ensure her return whenever required. Meanwhile, her brother Michael Kitutu Naboya was released on a cash bail of Shs3 million and his sureties were bonded at Shs100 each (not cash). The duo has been directed to return to court on April 27, 2023, for mention of the case. Minister Kitutu is accused of mismanaging Karamoja relief items. She is jointly charged with her brother Michael Kitutu Naboya and her senior assistant secretary Joshua Abaho. The 3 are charged with the loss of public property, corruption, receiving stolen property, and conspiracy to defraud.Prosecution states that the group between June 2022 and January 2023 at the Office of the Prime Ministers stores in Namanve caused loss of public property in form of 14,500 iron sheets by diverting them from the intended purpose of benefiting the Karamoja Community Empowerment Programme to their own benefit, knowing that such acts would result into loss of public property. Prosecution also states that Naboya Kitutu between similar months at Situmi village, Namisindwa district received 100 iron sheets marked OPM Uganda knowing that the same had been feloniously obtained. Tributes have started pouring in for the late Keith Muhakanizi, one of the longest-serving technocrats in President Musevenis government who died last evening at the age of 64. The Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and former secretary to the treasury succumbed to cancer in Milan, Italy. Many people have eulogised him as a great icon behind Ugandas economic transformation. Former Minister of State for Labour, Mwesigwa Rukutana who worked with Muhakanizi at a time he was a Budget Director at the Ministry of Finance says Muhakanizi together with the late Chris Kassami and late Bank of Uganda Governor, Tumusiime Mutebile worked tirelessly on reforms under the supervision of President Museveni to support Uganda which at the time was labeled a highly indebted poor country These three departed comrades, under the supervision of President Museveni, worked very hard on the reforms that have shaped and transformed this economy. I remember the sleeplessness and endless meetings at the State House, in the Ministry Boardroom, in Washington and other capitals, putting our heads together to defend our countrys actions so that we could convince the donors not to cut aid or to grant us further advances. I remember the debates while formulating and presenting to Parliament the various laws that encompass the legal regime that facilitated and supported the transformation of the economy. Kassami, Keith, Mutebile were always at the forefront, Rukutana said. The president of the African Development Bank Group Akinwumi Adesina has described Muhakanizi as a smart public administrator who was a major force in Ugandas development. An incredibly astute public administrator and friend. He was a major force in Ugandas development for decades. A huge loss, Adesina said. Minister for Luwero-Rwenzori triangle, Alice Kaboyo says the deceased was a diligent public servant who offered technical leadership, wealth, and wisdom. Muhakanizi Keith was a diligent Public Servant who served the nation in different capacities. At the Office of the Prime Minister, we shall miss his wealth of wisdom, guidance, and technical leadership. May his Soul Rest in Peace. Kaboyo noted. Julius Mucunguzi, a former staff at OPM says the deceased was result-oriented and instilled discipline among workers. When Keith Muhakanizi arrived at OPM he called a general meeting of all technical staff, from the lowest cadre to the commissioners and undersecretaries, and pledged the following: to restore confidence of staff, promote adherence to the law, ensure discipline & push for results, Mucunguzi revealed. As a macro-economist, and a public sector management specialist, Muhakanizi helped in the formulation of National Development Plans, the Public Finance and Management Act, and The Bank of Uganda Act among others. President Yoweri Museveni has spoken out about the death of former secretary to the treasure and permanent secretary to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Keith Muhakanizi. Muhakanizi, one of the longest-serving technocrats in President Musevenis government succumbed to cancer last night in Milan, Italy. Government is yet to issue a burial programme for the deceased. In a tweet shared on Friday, Museveni revealed that despite being aware of Muhakanizis ill health, he was shocked to learn about his death. I am shocked to hear of the death of PS. Keith Muhakanizi. I was aware of his illness but it was being managed, he came to see me before this round of treatment, it is sad that he didnt make it. I spoke to his wife in Milan and she told me what happened. Condolences to her, the family and the people of Uganda. May his soul rest in eternal peace, Museveni said in a tweet. Muhakanizi is remembered as one of three great icons who worked tirelessly to ensure the economic transformation of Uganda alongside the late Bank of Uganda Governor, Tumusiime Mutebile and Chris Kassami. As a macro-economist and a public sector management specialist, Muhakanizi helped in the formulation of National Development Plans, the Public Finance and Management Act, and the Bank of Uganda Act among others. Sarah McGree from Lisdowney has enjoyed a colourful career in the catering and events space. Prior to her food business The Wild Grazer most of her professional experience was in North America, where she lived for most of her twenties. She developed her creative flair and love of bringing people together through food experiences while working for the elite caterers of the Midwest, Jewell Events Catering in Chicago. While at Jewell, Sarah catered events for clients like Hilary Clinton, Warren Buffet and J. B. Pritzker. She then moved to Toronto where she held the position of Senior Wedding and Events Consultant at The Gladstone, one of Torontos most celebrated boutique hotels. There she specialised in weddings, selling, planning and executing over a hundred weddings. Sarah was drawn back to Kilkenny during Covid, she coupled her international experience with best of local produce to start The Wild Grazer. Born out of a desire to create special moments at home during lockdown, The Wild Grazer began offering home grazing platters and then expanded its offering to include wedding and event catering as the industry opened up. Sarah has searched extensively to find the best local suppliers and partners including bakery partner, Kilkenny-Polish bakery, Aran and wine partner, The Wine Centre Kilkenny. She was voted recently as Irelands leading cheese wheel wedding cake specialist after winning cake designer of the year at the highly coveted weddingsonline awards 2023. Sarah McGree, won Cake Designer of the Year at weddingsonline.ie recent awards Here is a glimpse into Sarahs world Congratulations on your recent accolade as Ireland's leading cake designer. What does it take to become the country's leading cake designer, especially when your creations don't involve an actual cake? Thank you so much, I still cant really believe it myself, I only started making wedding cakes less than a year ago, Im blown away by peoples reaction to them. I was lucky enough to be nominated by weddingsonline for Cake Designer of the Year, then there was an initial round of public votes to be shortlisted, then another round of votes to make it to the finals. I was so shocked to even make it to the finals. All the finalists had to complete a lengthy questionnaire that was reviewed by a panel of judges who ultimately picked the winner. Why come home to Ireland and open a brand-new business in Kilkenny in the middle of a pandemic? When I moved home, I thought the pandemic was over, or at least very close to it! I moved back in August 2020, and Ireland was out of lockdown, weddings and events were even back up and going. Little did I or anyone else know what was about to come. Just two months later another lockdown was announced. I decided that I needed something to keep me sane and to give my day's purpose. The night that the restrictions were announced I called a close friend to chat about what I could possibly do, by the end of the call the concept of The Wild Grazer was solidified and just one week later I launched! The Wild Grazer grazing table in all it's glory, created by founder Sarah McGree You have catered for Hilary Clinton and Warren Buffet. What did they eat? The most expensive food that you can imagine! These events happened in the most affluent homes in Chicago, there were oysters and hors d'oeuvres on arrival followed by a caviar bar, yes, I did say a bar of caviar! Just picture a five-foot luxurious silver tray of ice filled with jars of caviar. To start there was foie gras and tartare, the mains included wagyu beef, lobster and scallops, they finished with a dessert that was topped with sheets of 24ct gold. Eating gold was the level of fine dining at these events. I had the honour of garnishing all the desserts with the gold, I even got to try some myself, much to my disappointment it was completely tasteless! You are a one woman show that now delivers nationwide. How do you do it all? Its funny, I think a lot of small business owners will probably relate to this but one of the huge driving factors of starting your own business is to have control over your own time, but as you get deeper into it, your time becomes consumed by building something that you're proud of and passionate about. Some days are long, and I usually work six days a week, but I have great flexibility with my days. I can plan my days around what works best for me which is really what Ive always wanted. I also think its a huge adjustment going from working in a specialised role within an organisation to all of a sudden being the sales, marketing and accounts department all by yourself. So much of the last year has been spent educating myself in areas I was less comfortable in like digital marketing and accounts. A lot of what Im doing at the minute is building a strong foundation to make life easier for my future self! CHEESE WHEEL WEDDING CAKES You deliver nationwide now, so does that mean you travel the length and breadth of the country to give wedding couples your own personal? Yes, absolutely! I offer my catering services nationwide; I think the one thing that makes my business stand out is how personal it is. I chat with every couple about what they are looking for, I connect with their florist to discuss floral to add to the cake or grazing display and on the day I create the decorate cake on site and style the cake table display or the grazing table based on the couple's vision and tie it into their overall theme of the day. I just love that more and more couples are thinking outside the box for their weddings, and I get so much enjoyment being that unique element of their day. You have now partnered with Kilkenny's award-winning artisan bakery Aran. What other Irish supplies do you use? I use lots of Irish suppliers, I source all that I can from Ireland. My main suppliers for cheese and meats are Cooleeney and Gubbeen, I also use Old Irish Creamery, Cashel Blue, Coolea and Milleens quite a bit. Gs Gourmet Jams provide me with a range of beautiful chutneys and honey. Im really excited coming into the summer to have some of the beautiful seasonal fruit back, I use our very own Piltown strawberries from Fitzpatricks Vegetables, they are the best strawberries around! Then I grow my own pansies and violas that are used to add the final touch to my creations. Out of all the culinary experiences you have worked in, why Irish cheese as a business? Its something that Ive loved deeply since I was a child. Cheese has always been my biggest food love. Even in college, I would bring cheese when going to a friends house and similarly I would make cheese boards when friends visited me. Its something that I genuinely feel like I have bonded with people over. To me, cheese is celebratory, the love for it brings people together. Youll very rarely find someone who is indifferent about cheese, you either absolutely love it or you hate it. Thankfully for me there are far more lovers than haters! Why is the glazing platter craze only taking off in Ireland in the past couple of years? The grazing platter, also known as a charcuterie board or a cheese board, has been popular in Australia and New Zealand for years. I think there are two factors that have led to the Graze Craze here in Ireland. Firstly, social media, its a new enough concept to have an intimate look into the lives and businesses of people all over the world. I think that this was a big factor in increasing awareness about these beautiful pieces of edible art. Secondly, Ireland is a country of migrants, every year between 25,000 - 30,000 people leave Ireland but at the same time, a very similar number of people return home every year. These 25,000-30,000 people that come home are bringing back ideas and businesses that may not have been seen in Ireland yet. I know thats how this all started for me anyway! You have a zero-waste policy with your products - how does that work? I only take pre-orders, this allows me to order exactly what I need on a weekly basis so there is little to no food waste in my kitchen, any food waste that is produced is composted. I order a lot of my produce from suppliers that are only 20-30 mins away so that I can go pick up the produce myself which means minimal packaging as it doesnt need to be boxed for delivery. I use vegware packaging that is BPI Certified compostable, and I also use bamboo serving utensils and bowls for events. Also I encourage my customers to think about reducing waste. A lot of my cake customers choose to only serve half of the cheese from the cake on the day of the wedding and then use the rest on their day two, this really helps eliminate any waste on the day and means they can reduce their food costs for day two! You have some exciting announcement about a new addition to your business. Please share with us. Yes! I will be offering Build a Board Workshops, which is a unique group activity perfect for hen parties, birthdays, and corporate team building. You will learn all the tricks of the trade on how to build the most beautiful cheese and charcuterie board while you sip on a few glasses of wine and try some of our incredible local cheeses. They really are so much fun to host and be part of so Im super excited to launch these! For more informaton on The Wild Grazer visit www.thewildgrazer.ie An official sod-turning ceremony to mark the construction of a the Abbott Manufacturing Facility in Kilkenny has taken place today (Friday). With more than 800 jobs to be created at the facility when complete, this morning's event was attended by Minister Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, along with a number of local dignitaries. With a footprint in all four provinces, Abbott has played a leading role over the past 77 years in establishing Ireland as a location for the global medtech sector. This new investment in Kilkenny will add to the high value STEM jobs already created in the South-East region by Abbott at its vascular manufacturing facility in Clonmel. This is an important investment for Ireland, and I am delighted to congratulate Abbott on this new diabetes care manufacturing facility in Kilkenny," Minister Harris said in Kilkenny today. Mr Jared Watkin, senior vice president of Abbotts Diabetes Care business, hosted the event. Abbotts FreeStyle Libre is the number one sensor-based glucose monitoring system in the world2, having changed the lives of 4.5 million people across more than 60 countries3 by providing breakthrough technology that is accessible and affordable.2 This new facility, together with our diabetes care facility in Donegal, will help us meet the growing demand and bring new highly skilled jobs to the community. Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick was delighted to attend a ceremony in the Lyrath Hotel earlier today hosted by Mr Watkin. The 30,000 sqm manufacturing facility in Kilkenny City, will employ more than 800 people when it commences production next year. This is another great day for Kilkenny. I am delighted that construction has commenced on Abbotts manufacturing facility, which will produce Abbotts FreeStyle Libre 3 glucose monitoring system for people with diabetes. I know that Abbott are actively recruiting to fill the many hundreds of new jobs that will be created when the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility opens next year. "Abbotts decision to locate their facility in the city has been a huge vote of confidence in Kilkenny, our work force and the quality of life that we offer. There has been a very positive buzz around not just County Kilkenny but the wider region since last August when the announcement was made. I wish Abbott well in the construction of the new facility and I look forward to them getting into production their FreeStyle Libre 3 system, which will have an extremely positive impact on the lives of so many people with diabetes. Recruitment for permanent positions is underway and almost 50 employees have already started working in Kilkenny. The new roles will be in engineering, quality control, medical device manufacturing and other science-based areas. The company is actively recruiting and anyone wishing to learn more about the opportunities available or register their interest in working with Abbott, can visit https://www.abbott.com/careers.html Abbott announced in August last year that it is investing 440 million in significantly expanding manufacturing operations for its Diabetes Care business in Ireland. In addition to the new manufacturing facility in Kilkenny, the company announced the expansion of operations at its existing facility in Donegal. The building of Abbotts new facility in Kilkenny is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland. Mary Buckley, Interim CEO said: I am delighted to join Abbott in Kilkenny today at the sod-turning ceremony for its new diabetes care manufacturing plant, which will create c.800 high value jobs many of which are in STEM. This investment, announced last year, is a further testament to the deep roots the company has in Ireland. IDA Irelands strategy to win investments and jobs in regional locations includes encouraging and supporting established companies to develop additional regional sites and this is a prime example. This new manufacturing facility will deliver a substantial boost to the economy of the South East. The European Space Agencys mission to Jupiter will take place on Friday, April 14 at 1.14pm Irish time, all going to plan. The six-tonne probe, named Juice (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer), was due to head towards the solar systems biggest planet to see if its ocean-bearing moons support life. A lightning risk temporarily halted what would have been the agencys first attempt to send spacecraft to orbit another planets moon yesterday. After lift-off, Juice is expected to separate from the rocket about half an hour later, and embark on a 4.1 billion-mile journey that will take more than eight years. Juice has 10 instruments on board, which will investigate whether the gas giants three moons Callisto, Europa and Ganymede, can support life in its oceans. 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. Engineers and mission controllers have very short launch windows 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 the planets to slingshot towards Jupiter. Dr Ben Dryer, research fellow at the Open University, who was involved in the early stages of the Juice mission, said: It is always a disappointment to see a launch delay, but really this is business as usual. Launch is always risky, so with such a precious payload, it makes sense to wait for perfect conditions. Due to the complex orbital manoeuvres required by Juice to launch it towards Jupiter while conserving as much fuel as possible, there is only a one-second launch window. If that launch window looks hazardous, it makes sense to postpone. There are one-second launch windows each day for the rest of April. US president Joe Biden broke down in tears on the final day of his Ireland tour after an emotional unplanned meeting with a priest who gave the last rites to his son. The chaplain who performed the last rites sacrament on Mr Bidens son, Beau, now works at the Knock shrine in Co Mayo where the president paid a visit on Friday. Fr Frank OGrady performed the ceremony for Beau Biden before he died of brain cancer in 2015. He received a call requesting that he meet the president, and later told RTE that the encounter was like a reunion. We had a nice chat for about 10 minutes. He was delighted to see me and I was delighted to see him, he said. He gave me a big hug, it was like a reunion. He told me he appreciated everything that was done. He added: I hadnt seen him really in eight years since Beau died. His son Hunter was there too, so we had a real reunion. He certainly misses his son. He has been grieving a lot but I think the grief is kind of going down a bit. We talked a little bit about how grief can take several years. Mr Biden was given a tour of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock a Catholic pilgrimage site by the Parish priest of Knock, Fr Richard Gibbons. Recounting the emotional reunion between the US President and Fr OGrady, he said: It was an extraordinary afternoon. I wont forget it, I can tell you that it was quite something else. After leaving Knock, Mr Biden travelled to Castlebar where he made a private visit to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice. The president had a longstanding pledge to revisit the facility, having turned the sod on the development in 2017. A plaque at the entrance to the hospice is dedicated to Beau Bidens memory. At the site Mr Biden, along with his son Hunter and sister Valerie, met with distant cousin Laurita Blewitt. Meanwhile as crowds gathered in Ballina for Mr Bidens final public address, the atmosphere was compared to an All-Ireland final. There is a great sense of occasion here, there is great anticipation building for President Biden, Sinn Fein TD Rose Conway-Walsh said. The eyes of the world are on Mayo and on Ballina tonight and I think the river, the cathedral, lends itself to something really special. Asked whether Mr Bidens visit could bring some good luck to the Mayo GAA team, she said: We are hoping. She said the event reminded her of an All-Ireland GAA final. It is that sense of anticipation when youre going into Croke Park, that youre expecting something good. Mr Bidens visit to Co Mayo is set to end his four-day tour of the island after he touched down at the airport in Knock on Friday afternoon. The trip is another return to ancestral roots for the president after his trip to Co Louth on Wednesday. The president has repeatedly spoken with passion about his Irish heritage and described addressing the countrys parliament on Thursday as one of the great honours of my career. He said its good to be back as he was greeted by various dignitaries including transport minister Eamon Ryan and Mayo TD Dara Calleary after disembarking Air Force One at Ireland West airport. Hes genuinely thrilled to be back in Ireland, Mr Ryan told reporters after speaking with him. The final day of Mr Bidens trip which former taoiseach Enda Kenny said was the longest presidential visit to Ireland ever will culminate in a public address. The speech will take place at St Muredachs Cathedral, which has a direct link to the presidents ancestors. A concert began before the presidential address as crowds gathered in the surrounding streets. 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. After his arrival at the airport, the president first travelled to the Knock shrine where he was greeted by cheering crowds who lined the streets outside. The president touched the apparition wall as part of his tour before Fr Gibbons accompanied him into the Apparition Chapel for some moments of quiet reflection. The president is also visiting the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit. Cllr Pat Dunphy has expressed renewed frustration at the news that Irish Water have not yet responded to concerns raised in relation to the water scheme in the Mooncoin area. At last month's meeting of Piltown Municipal District Council, Cllr Dunphy referred to the numerous water leaks occurring in the Mooncoin area, leaving residents without water for extended periods on a very regular basis. He stated that this was not acceptable, the only solution being to put a programme in place to replace pipes in the area in order to solve this ongoing problem. All the members were in support of Cllr Dunphy, noting similar issues in the past in the Slieverue and Dournane areas, which have been resolved following upgrades to infrastructure in these areas. Cllr Dunphy proposed at that meeting that a representative from Irish Water be requested to attend a meeting of the Piltown MD to discuss and try to resolve this issue as a matter of urgency. This was agreed. Councillors were then told at this month's meeting that Irish Water have yet to respond on the matter. It was subsequently agreed by council officials to follow-up with Irish Water on the matter. 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) - A bad experience buying carbon offsets inspired Peter Reinhardt to found Charm Industrial. Last week Reinhardt spoke to Kitco about his carbon removal company. The carbon market is potentially a big opportunity. According to The World Bank, the estimated value of the voluntary carbon market in 2021 was $1 billion. The market is set to grow. According to a study by BloombergNEF, the trade in carbon credits could reach $1 trillion by 2030. Before starting Charm Reinhardt and some associates founded Segment, a data analytics company. Segment found market fit and was eventually bought by Twilio in 2020 for $3.2 billion. Reinhardt started his new company due to his past poor experience buying carbon offsets at Segment. He was told that the offsets he bought were going to Amazon and Indonesian rainforest protection. "When we went and purchased these offsets, the deeper we dug into it, the more disappointed we became. It was super opaque as to what actually happened when we spent that money," noted Reinhardt. "How do you guarantee contractually that something isn't going to get cut down for a thousand years. I don't think anyone has any way to do that," said Renhardt. Charm's technology uses plant waste, such as corn stalks, to capture CO2 from the atmosphere. Plants are converted into a biomass, what the company describes as a stable, carbon-rich liquid. The biomass is then pumped into the ground. Reinhardt emphasizes that the technique is carbon removal. Carbon is bond into a mass before it is put underground. Charm Industries has pricing plans on its site. Businesses start at $150 a month with carbon removal set at 1 million years permanence. Reinhardt likes the opportunity. "The climate problem is going to demand that we go rebuild many, many trillions of dollars' worth of infrastructure, and so there's just a huge opportunity," said Reinhardt. A lot of companies have entered the carbon market due to the opportunity. In March the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market released a report on the offset market, which is seeking to tighten what counts as a proper credit against carbon emissions. "Most of the market is garbage, so that requires something more than an incremental improvement," said Reinhardt. LONDON, April 14 (Reuters) - The Bank of England said on Friday it would rely on a key U.S. regulator's assessment of U.S.-based central counterparties (CCPs) which clear financial trades in Britain, in order to reduce duplication of work by supervisors. The BoE signed an agreement with the U.S. Commodities and Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in 2020 to share information, and Friday's announcement will partially outsource the regulation of U.S. clearing houses which operate in Britain. The central bank said it had deemed CFTC regulation to be of an equivalent standard to its own. "The outcome of this assessment enables the Bank to place reliance on the CFTC's supervision and oversight of incoming CCPs based in the US," it said. "The Bank and the CFTC have a longstanding relationship of cooperation and mutual understanding with respect to the supervision and oversight of cross-border CCPs, and recognise the importance of deference in regulation and supervision where appropriate," the BoE added. Clearing houses, also known as central counterparties, ensure a transaction is completed even if one side of a stock, bond or derivatives trade goes bust. They form a critical part of a market's plumbing and include companies such as ICE (ICE.N) and London Stock Exchange Group's (LSEG.L) LCH, which operate globally. The BoE has had a thornier relationship with euro zone financial regulators, which have long resented London's dominance of euro derivatives clearing activity, and ties have become more strained since Britain left the European Union. Last year the EU widened access for U.S. exchanges and clearing houses to investors in the bloc, a move that contrasts with Brussels' intention to shut off clearing houses in London in 2025. Since Brexit, the EU has largely refused to class British financial regulation as being of an equivalent standard to that in the EU - in contrast to its assessment of similar rules in the United States, China, Japan and Canada. 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) - Cryptocurrency-related developments in Hong Kong continue to roll out as HashKey Group, a leading virtual asset financial services provider in Asia, has announced the launch of a new wealth management business line and an upgrade to its over-the-counter (OTC) trading business. According to a press release from the company, these developments are part of HashKey Groups goal of offering a one-stop virtual asset management solution that covers a variety of areas including fund investment, secondary market trading, compliant liquidity products, and a comprehensive wealth management platform to meet the asset allocation needs for its clients. The Group recently obtained regulatory licenses in multiple jurisdictions to enable the launch of its new HashKey Wealth service, which will provide international virtual asset investment opportunities for professional investors, family offices, and financial institutions globally. A 2022 Boston Consulting Group study showed that less than 1% of individual wealth is invested in crypto assets as compared to 25% invested in equity, which signals potential robust demand for virtual assets in the future, HashKey said. HashKey Wealth will offer clients access to a range of user-friendly and professional solutions that both crypto newcomers and Web3 native users can utilize to purchase and manage virtual assets. The expansion of its OTC offering, which includes plans to expand the number of tokens it offers in the spot market, comes in response to the need for deep and reliable liquidity highlighted by the recent challenges in the crypto market, including the bankruptcy of several high-profile firms such as FTX and Genesis. We are excited to upgrade our OTC trading business and launch HashKey Wealth, introducing as well as bridging professional investors, family offices, and institutions to the emerging world of virtual assets, said Deng Chao, Head of HashKey Singapore and CEO of HashKey Capital. Our aim is to provide deep and reliable liquidity to the market and offer easy-to-use, secure, and professional solutions for qualified investors to capture the growing opportunities of virtual assets. To help further expand its suite of services, HashKey Group has also announced plans to launch HashKey PRO, a regulated exchange that is set to launch in Q2. HashKey PRO has already received regulatory approval from Hong Kongs Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) to operate as a virtual asset trading platform under a Type 1 license, which means that it can deal in securities, and a Type 7 license, which means that it can provide automated trading services. Following the concerns raised by the FTX bankruptcy, HashKey PRO has pledged to keep all client funds in segregated accounts that are completely separate from HashKey PROs operations, meaning they will be unable to be used for other purposes and will be readily available for withdrawal. Users of the exchange will be able to access fiat on- and off-ramps to directly transfer USD from their bank accounts to the HashKey PRO fiat wallet through the SWIFT payment system. The exchange will be working with ZA Bank and Bank of Communications (Hong Kong) as settlement banks to facilitate the depositing and withdrawal of fiat currencies. At launch, users will be able to access BTC/USD, ETH/USD, USDT/USD fiat trading pairs, and the exchange plans to add support for additional tokens in the future once token admission requirements have been established by the SFC. Early access to the exchange has already begun, with users able to trade from 9 am to 5 pm on Hong Kong business days. Once fully launched, HashKey PRO will operate 24/7. HashKey has been one of the more active organizations in helping to build up the digital assets landscape in Hong Kong as the region looks to become a crypto hub. In December, HashKey Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Switzerland-based SEBA Bank to become SEBA Banks preferred digital asset trading and market development partner in Hong Kong, while SEBA Bank will be the banking partner of choice for HashKey in Switzerland. In January, HashKey closed a $500 million investment round for its HashKey FinTech Investment Fund III, which is intended to help promote the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. High near 65F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. Low 42F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. The manufacturer of medication abortion drug Mifepristone asked the Supreme Court on April 14 to intervene in an emergency dispute over a Texas judge's medication abortion drug ruling. 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 Birchcliff Energy (TSE:BIR Get Rating) had its price target decreased by stock analysts at CIBC from C$9.00 to C$8.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. CIBCs price objective would suggest a potential downside of 1.23% from the stocks previous close. A number of other brokerages have also recently weighed in on BIR. Stifel Firstegy cut shares of Birchcliff Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. Eight Capital cut their price objective on shares of Birchcliff Energy from C$15.00 to C$12.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their price objective on shares of Birchcliff Energy from C$12.00 to C$10.50 in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Stifel Nicolaus downgraded shares of Birchcliff Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their price objective for the stock from C$9.00 to C$8.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Birchcliff Energy from C$10.00 to C$9.00 in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$11.15. Get Birchcliff Energy alerts: Birchcliff Energy Stock Performance TSE:BIR traded down C$0.07 during trading hours on Friday, reaching C$8.10. 767,139 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,270,140. The firm has a market capitalization of C$2.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.41, a P/E/G ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 2.25. The company has a 50-day moving average of C$8.22 and a 200 day moving average of C$9.27. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.03. Birchcliff Energy has a 1-year low of C$7.49 and a 1-year high of C$12.48. About Birchcliff Energy Birchcliff Energy Ltd., an intermediate oil and natural gas company, acquires, explores for, develops, and produces natural gas, light oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids in Western Canada. The company holds interests in the Montney/Doig resource play located approximately 95 km northwest of Grande Prairie, Alberta. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Birchcliff Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Birchcliff Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CAE Inc. (TSE:CAE Get Rating) (NYSE:CAE) has received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the nine ratings firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$36.78. CAE has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. CIBC boosted their price target on CAE from C$33.00 to C$37.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on CAE from C$35.00 to C$37.00 in a report on Tuesday. Scotiabank boosted their price target on CAE from C$37.00 to C$38.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 4th. National Bankshares boosted their price target on CAE from C$34.00 to C$37.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on CAE from C$33.00 to C$37.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Get CAE alerts: CAE Stock Down 0.3 % CAE stock opened at C$32.14 on Friday. CAE has a twelve month low of C$20.90 and a twelve month high of C$35.18. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 73.28. The stock has a market cap of C$10.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 57.39, a PEG ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 2.01. The businesss 50-day moving average price is C$30.40 and its 200-day moving average price is C$27.83. About CAE CAE ( TSE:CAE Get Rating ) (NYSE:CAE) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 14th. The company reported C$0.28 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$0.25 by C$0.03. CAE had a return on equity of 4.42% and a net margin of 4.60%. The firm had revenue of C$1.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$1.04 billion. On average, equities research analysts forecast that CAE will post 1.2404477 EPS for the current year. (Get Rating) CAE Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides simulation training and critical operations support solutions worldwide. It operates through three segments: Civil Aviation, Defense and Security, and Healthcare. The Civil Aviation segment provides training solutions for flight, cabin, maintenance, and ground personnel in commercial, business, and helicopter aviation; flight simulation training devices; and ab initio pilot training and crew sourcing services, as well as end to end digitally enabled crew management, training operations solutions, and optimization software. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for CAE Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CAE and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cummins (NYSE:CMI Get Rating) had its target price decreased by research analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $231.00 to $227.00 in a research report issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports. The firm presently has a hold rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts price objective suggests a potential downside of 1.77% from the companys current price. Other analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Cummins from $264.00 to $262.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 20th. Credit Suisse Group upped their price objective on shares of Cummins from $287.00 to $291.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Cummins from $247.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Cummins in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Cummins has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $254.25. Get Cummins alerts: Cummins Stock Down 0.7 % Shares of Cummins stock opened at $231.08 on Wednesday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $240.80 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $239.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 0.77. The company has a market capitalization of $32.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.29, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.00. Cummins has a 1-year low of $184.27 and a 1-year high of $261.91. Insider Activity Cummins ( NYSE:CMI Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Monday, February 6th. The company reported $4.52 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $4.52. Cummins had a return on equity of 24.58% and a net margin of 7.66%. The firm had revenue of $7.77 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.21 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.85 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 32.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Cummins will post 18.95 EPS for the current year. In other news, VP Walter J. Fier sold 3,307 shares of Cummins stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.99, for a total value of $836,637.93. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 8,090 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,046,689.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, VP Walter J. Fier sold 3,307 shares of Cummins stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.99, for a total value of $836,637.93. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 8,090 shares in the company, valued at $2,046,689.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Sharon R. Barner sold 5,929 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $257.13, for a total value of $1,524,523.77. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 16,144 shares in the company, valued at $4,151,106.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 16,709 shares of company stock valued at $4,245,545 over the last 90 days. 1.05% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Cummins A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of CMI. Synovus Financial Corp grew its position in Cummins by 254.4% in the first quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 6,099 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,242,000 after acquiring an additional 4,378 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. grew its stake in Cummins by 65.4% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 18,194 shares of the companys stock worth $3,732,000 after buying an additional 7,191 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. grew its stake in Cummins by 16.1% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 94,391 shares of the companys stock worth $19,282,000 after buying an additional 13,058 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC bought a new stake in Cummins during the first quarter worth about $711,000. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in Cummins by 43.0% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 6,403 shares of the companys stock worth $1,313,000 after buying an additional 1,925 shares during the last quarter. 80.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. 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. Read More 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. Community Healthcare Trust (NYSE:CHCT Get Rating) and Aedifica (OTCMKTS:AEDFF Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, profitability, valuation, institutional ownership, risk, earnings and analyst recommendations. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Community Healthcare Trust and Aedificas top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Community Healthcare Trust alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Community Healthcare Trust $97.68 million 9.83 $22.02 million $0.82 44.88 Aedifica N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Community Healthcare Trust has higher revenue and earnings than Aedifica. Insider and Institutional Ownership Analyst Recommendations 87.7% of Community Healthcare Trust shares are owned by institutional investors. 7.2% of Community Healthcare Trust shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Community Healthcare Trust and Aedifica, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Community Healthcare Trust 0 1 5 0 2.83 Aedifica 0 1 1 0 2.50 Community Healthcare Trust currently has a consensus target price of $43.43, suggesting a potential upside of 18.01%. Aedifica has a consensus target price of $103.25, suggesting a potential upside of 28.32%. Given Aedificas higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Aedifica is more favorable than Community Healthcare Trust. Profitability This table compares Community Healthcare Trust and Aedificas net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Community Healthcare Trust 22.54% 4.59% 2.72% Aedifica N/A N/A N/A Summary Community Healthcare Trust beats Aedifica on 8 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About Community Healthcare Trust (Get Rating) Community Healthcare Trust, Inc. engages in the acquisition of real estate properties that are leased to hospitals, doctors, healthcare systems, and other healthcare services providers. It invests in healthcare properties including outpatient treatment and diagnostic facilities, urgent care centers, acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, assisted living and long-term care facilities, medical office buildings, clinics, specialty hospitals and treatment centers. The company was founded by Timothy G. Wallace on March 28, 2014 and is headquartered in Franklin, TN. About Aedifica (Get Rating) Aedifica is a Belgian listed company that offers sustainable real estate solutions to professional operators that provide care to people with care needs throughout Europe. To realise that mission, Aedifica has specialised in investments in quality European healthcare real estate, with a particular focus on the care needs of the elderly. Aedifica has established itself in recent years as a leader in the European listed real estate sector and has the ambition to further expand this position in the coming years. By investing in quality buildings that generate recurring and indexed rental income and offer potential for capital gains, Aedifica aims to offer its shareholders a reliable and sustainable real estate investment with an attractive yield. Aedifica is listed on Euronext Brussels (2006) and Euronext Amsterdam (2019). Since March 2020, Aedifica is part of the BEL 20, the leading share index of Euronext Brussels. Receive News & Ratings for Community Healthcare Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Community Healthcare Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Credit Suisse Group upgraded shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Get Rating) from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report released on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. A number of other research firms have also recently weighed in on NVO. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Novo Nordisk A/S from 925.00 to 1,100.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 3rd. StockNews.com started coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $697.78. Get Novo Nordisk A/S alerts: Novo Nordisk A/S Stock Performance Shares of NVO stock opened at $167.64 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $379.36 billion, a PE ratio of 48.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.48. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $146.30 and a 200-day simple moving average of $130.15. The company has a quick ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Novo Nordisk A/S has a 52-week low of $95.02 and a 52-week high of $167.65. Novo Nordisk A/S Increases Dividend Novo Nordisk A/S ( NYSE:NVO Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 1st. The company reported $0.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.81 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $6.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.74 billion. Novo Nordisk A/S had a return on equity of 73.39% and a net margin of 31.44%. On average, equities analysts expect that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 4.51 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 4th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 27th were paid a dividend of $1.1887 per share. This represents a yield of 0.8%. This is a boost from Novo Nordisk A/Ss previous semi-annual dividend of $0.58. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 24th. Novo Nordisk A/Ss dividend payout ratio is 48.70%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NVO. Roundview Capital LLC lifted its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 0.6% during the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 18,803 shares of the companys stock worth $2,088,000 after purchasing an additional 106 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 45.4% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,035,879 shares of the companys stock valued at $559,235,000 after acquiring an additional 1,571,747 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 0.9% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 739,585 shares of the companys stock valued at $82,131,000 after acquiring an additional 6,903 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL raised its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 12.7% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 19,466 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,136,000 after acquiring an additional 2,194 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. raised its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 17.5% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 107,175 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,913,000 after acquiring an additional 15,996 shares in the last quarter. 6.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Novo Nordisk A/S Company Profile (Get Rating) Novo Nordisk A/S is a global healthcare company, which engages in the the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products. It operates through the Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Biopharm segments. The Diabetes and Obesity Care segment includes insulin, GLP-1 and related delivery systems, oral antidiabetic products (OAD), obesity, and other serious chronic diseases. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Scattered frost possible. Low 31F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Scattered frost possible. Low 31F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. slide 2 of 6 Park Ji Hoon presents a new song at the release showcase for his seventh mini-album "Blank or Black," held at Ilchi Art Hall in Seoul on the 12th. BTS will be singing a soundtrack for upcoming animated film "Bastions," and will be a full-member release. Here are the details. BTS to Drop New Track As OT7 for Animated Film 'Bastions' ARMYs will be given another bop from BTS! On April 14, Thymos Media officially announced that BTS would be dropping a new song for "Bastions," an upcoming 3D animated superhero film. In this opening theme, BTS will offer their majestic voices in full group, and was recorded before member Jin enlisted in the military. Fans were given a glimpse of the opening track of "Bastions" on April 14. In the video, it showed the three main cast wandering in a futuristic, neon city. Its blaring soundtrack matches with the video's neo noir feel, while showcasing its characters dancing to the beat. According to sources, BTS will also be joined by popular K-pop artists including Brave Girls, AleXa, Heize, LE SSERAFIM, and many more. "Bastions" is an animated film about superheroes who protects the environment and fight pollution. The film is scheduled on May 14 at 7:30 a.m. KST, and will be premiered on SBS. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 'BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE' Earns 4th Biggest Revenue in 1st Half of 2022 ARMYs expressed their excitement with the song, unable to contain their happiness with BTS's new release. Fans stated they would also anticipate the animated film, while others were just happy to receive another OT7 song again after a long time. Fans commented: "Unexpected. Thank you so much for being a full BTS song!!! I'll be sure to watch the anime when it airs! I'm rooting for you, Bastions." "I needed an OT7 song again, how I love them." "After so many months, we're going to have the seven together. I am emotionally crying." "They realize that after nine months we are going to have ot7 song again, I'm crying. Let's support this a lot, ARMY." "Let's support this new OST the boys prepared for us." Watch the full sneak peek of BTS's OST here: BTS V Achieves Historic Record on Billboard's Global Excl US Chart In other news, V of BTS has scored a new milestone in his career. On January 25, Billboard unveiled the chart for Global Excl. US, which records the most popular songs worldwide, except for the United States. The music chart covered the week ending on January 29, 2022. On the list, BTS V's "Christmas Tree" ranked at the No. 97 spot, placing into the Top 100. After its debut on Billboard Global Excl. US on January 8, 2022, "Christmas Tree" stayed on the tally for three consecutive weeks, making V the first Korean male solo artist to do so. The song also made a historic record on Global Excl. US by entering No, 43, which is considered the highest rank for any Korean OST and a song from a Korean male solo artist. It also made its re-entry on Global 200, charting at No. 174. Are you excited for BTS's theme song? Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: BTS 'Butter' Jacket Shooting Location Welcomes Thousands of Visitors per Day after Local City Reproduces the 'Butter' Props KpopStarz owns this article Written by Israel Monte With a long and brilliant history, Anhui is home to a rich and distinctive culture and a great many historical figures who have contributed to the development of ancient Chinese culture, ideologies, and technologies. Are the following historical figures familiar to you? Check these posters and learn more about them! Gao Yao "Emperor Shun ruled the country and chose from among the masses. He appointed Gao Yao, and those who lacked virtue were far away." Gao Yao was the Minister for the Law of Emperor Shun in prehistorical China. He was not only the earliest judge but also the earliest legislator in China. Lao Zi "The Tao that is utterable is not the eternal Tao." Lao Zi is generally considered the founder of philosophical and religious Taoism and the author of the book Daodejing (also known as "Tao Te Ching"). His work had a profound influence on subsequent Chinese philosophers, who annotated, commended, and criticized his work extensively. Zhuang Zi "The span of human life is short as the time taken by a white pony flashing across a rock crevice." Zhuang Zi was the most influential Chinese philosopher of Taoism after Lao Zi. His teachings also exerted a great influence on the development of Chinese Buddhism and had a considerable effect on Chinese landscape painting and poetry. Guan Zhong "People observe etiquette and know honor and shame only after they are well-fed and clothed." Guan Zhong was a representative figure of Legalism during the Spring and Autumn Period and a prominent economist, philosopher, politician, and military strategist in ancient China. Hua Tuo "Those who understand people are skilled in heaven's ways, and those who understand heaven must be skilled in dealing with people." Hua Tuo was a widely respected Chinese physician and surgeon who is best known for his surgical operations and the use of Mafeisan, an herbal anesthetic formulation made from hemp. He was also the developer of the famous Wuqinxi (literally "Exercise of the Five Animals"). Cao Cao "An old war-horse may be stabled, yet still it longs to gallop a thousand miles. A noble-hearted man, though advanced in years, never abandons his proud aspirations." Cao Cao was a great Chinese statesman, warlord, literary scholar, calligrapher and poet. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Cao laid the foundations for what became the state of Cao Wei. Bi Sheng "During the Qingli era (1041-1048), there was Bi Sheng, a commoner who invented movable type printing." Bi Sheng was an inventor of the Northern Song dynasty(960 - 1279) who created movable type printing using clay and wooden blocks. This was a fundamental reform in the development of Chinese printing technology and a great contribution to the cultural exchange between China and other countries around the world. Zhu Xi "Only by being able to not act, can one have the ability to act. Those who act indiscriminately, how can they have any ability to act?" Zhu Xi was a philosopher, thinker, educator, and poet of the Southern Song dynasty of China. He contributed greatly to Chinese philosophy and was influential in the development of the Neo-Confucianism thought that long dominated Chinese intellectual life. Written by Feng Fanxi Poster designed by Jiang Xinyu New Delhi [India], April 14 (ANI/SRV): IFIHomes, a leading brand in home security solutions, is proud to introduce its latest product - the IFITech 4MP Bulb Camera. This innovative camera is designed to fit on to typical Indian bulb holders, making it easy to install in any room of your house. With its ability to connect to your home WiFi and provide mobile access through a mobile app, this camera is the perfect all-in-one solution for your home security needs. The IFITech 4MP Bulb Camera is not just a camera - it also has 4 LED lights to provide motion-activated lighting during the dark. This dual-purpose feature makes it an ideal addition to any room in your home. With its high-resolution 4MP camera, you can easily monitor your home from your mobile device, ensuring that your loved ones and belongings are always safe. Also Read | Asad Ahmed Encounter: Bodies of Atiq Ahmad's Son, Shooter Ghulam To Be Laid to Rest in Prayagraj. Made in India with the highest quality materials, the IFITech 4MP Bulb Camera comes with a 1-year warranty, giving you peace of mind knowing that you are investing in a durable and reliable product. After a successful soft launch on ifihomes.com, flipkart.com, and Amazon.in, IFIHomes is excited to announce that the product will now be available in various online and offline stores across the country. IFIHomes has also recently been conferred with the prestigious recognition of the Most Innovative Start-up of the Year 2022-23 by the well-known platform, Global India Business Forum. This sought-after recognition is part of the slew of accolades that the lifestyle e-commerce brand has received since its inception in 2014. Also Read | Bandra: Lifeguard Accused of Killing MBBS Student After She Refused to Have Sex With Him. Rohit Khosla, Founder & Managing Director of IFIHomes has been the mind behind several successful initiatives, such as Verismo Networks, which he co-founded. Validating the range of his enterprising ability is the fact that the entrepreneur was responsible for the Intel Capital-funded venture's general management, sourcing, manufacturing, and pricing until it was acquired by Jadoo TV, while for IFIHomes he has single-handedly for the last 6+ years driven the decisions around innovations. His leadership behind the cutting-edge technology at IFIHomes is based on the strategic decision of riding the growing Smart Home market in India. Informed by the founder's strategy, IFIHomes has set the target to double its sales and launch more and more Made-in-India products in a few international markets in the coming financial years. Moreover, the brand and its robust team of 20 continue to eye an expansion of the company's inventory and consumer base, with the aim of catering to a wider class of customers. If you are looking for a simple and effective way to keep your home safe, the IFITech 4MP Bulb Camera is the perfect choice. With its easy installation process, mobile access, and motion-activated lighting, this camera is a must-have for any home. Order yours today on www.ifihomes.com and experience the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your home is always secure. Dealer Enquires for IFITech Security devices and Home Automation are welcome. Reach out to us on partner3@ifihomes.com * IFITech and SeTracker are the brands of IFIHomes.com This story has been provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jamshedpur, Apr 14 (PTI) Police arrested three persons here for creating a WhatsApp group to hurt the religious sentiment of a particular community on social media, an officer said. Shastrinagar area of Jamshedpur witnessed a clash between two groups on Sunday over the reported desecration of a religious flag. Also Read | Ambedkar Jayanti 2023: Sonia Gandhi Slams Modi Government in Her Newspaper Article, Says Real Anti-Nationals Are Those Misusing Power to Divide Indians Against Each Other. The police with the help of its technical cell detected that some people have created a WhatsApp group and conspiring to hurt the religious sentiment of a particular religion on Wednesday night, said Officer-in-Charge of Bistupur police station Anjani Kumar on Thursday. The police technical cell examined the WhatsApp group and arrested the group admin and two members of the group, all residents of Dhatkidih Harijan Bhati area of the city, the police officer said. Also Read | Mumbai Weather Forecast and Update: IMD Says More Unseasonal Rainfall Likely Today and Tomorrow, Slight Dip in Temperature Expected. The arrested persons have confessed to their involvement to hurt the religious sentiment of a particular community, the officer said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], April 14 (ANI): Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Virendra Kumar on Friday flagged off the Bharat Gaurav Tourist train tour on Ambedkar Circuit. "G Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER, and Virendra Kumar, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment flagged off the special tourist train from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Asks Supporters To Desist From Taking His Name As Next PM. On the occasion, Reddy said that the Bharat Gaurav Tourist train aims to give glimpses of the life of Bharat Ratna Baba Saheb Ambedkar to all the passengers. The Minister said that the train also aims to promote domestic tourism and the spirit of Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat. He also informed that the government under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi has developed sites related to Babasaheb Ambedkar not only in India but also in London. Also Read | Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's Close Associate Prince Tewatia Killed in Tihar Jail by Rival Gang Inmates. He also said that the government has taken many steps to promote the ideals of Babasaheb Ambedkar in today's world. On the occasion, Dr Virendra Kumar, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment said that the Bharat Gaurav train is an effective step to promote Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat under 'Dekho Apna Desh'. He also said that Babasaheb faced very challenging situations in his life and his life journey to empower the last man in the hierarchy and remove the discrimination based on caste is very inspiring. Babasaheb worked all his life for equality and fraternity and today the train is representative of that equality and the passengers travelling will come back with many memories and knowledge about the principles of Babasaheb Ambedkar. IRCTC in association with the Ministry of Tourism is operating its first tour on the Ambedkar circuit on an eight-day special tour from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station starting April 14, 2023. The Yatra will include a Visit to prominent places associated with the life of Baba Saheb Ambedkar like New Delhi, Mhow, Nagpur and sacred Buddhist sites like Sanchi, Sarnath, Gaya and Rajgir and Nalanda in the tour itinerary. Visit to Baba Saheb Ambedkar Memorial in New Delhi will be a key attraction covered in the tour. The tourist train is fitted with a well-equipped pantry car for rustling up freshly made vegetarian meals for the tourists. The infotainment system, CCTV cameras, and security guard services shall also be available on board. Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train launch is in line with the Government of India initiative "Dekho Apna Desh" to promote special interest circuits in domestic tourism. A Familiarization trip has been organized by the Ministry of Tourism to promote and popularize this special initiative. A group of stakeholders including Tour Operators, Tour Guides, Journalists, Buddhist Associations, Gautam Buddha University and Members of the Yuva Tourism Club would be part of this FAM Trip commencing on April 14, 2023. (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 14 (PTI) A Kisan Morcha leader of the Delhi BJP was shot dead in Dwarka's Bindapur area on Friday evening, police said. An incident of firing was reported from Bindapur in which Surendra Matiala (60) died, they said. Also Read | Italy: Trentinos Bear Spared Culling Order, for Now. He was sitting in his office at the time of incident, said M Harsha Vardhan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka). He had contested councilor election, Vardhan said. Also Read | Amit Shah Mumbai Visit: Police Issue Prohibitory Orders, Ban Various Types of Flying Activities in View of Home Ministers Two-Day Visit; Check Details. "Multiple teams have been formed to nab the accused," he said. The DCP said the motive of the murder is not clear at this stage. "We are investigating from all angles". (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 14 (PTI) A 26-year-old man was arrested for allegedly defrauding women on a matrimonial website by posing as a rich bachelor, police said on Friday. Vishal, a resident of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, pretended to be a rich bachelor looking for a suitable bride. He used expensive cars to impress the victims, they said. Also Read | Mumbai Weather Forecast and Update: IMD Says More Unseasonal Rainfall Likely Today and Tomorrow, Slight Dip in Temperature Expected. The police said he allegedly convinced the victims to transfer money on the pretext of acquiring iPhones at cheaper rates for them. Vishal is an educated professional and worked at a multinational corporation (MNC). After suffering losses in his business venture, he decided to dupe women and earn easy money, the police said. Also Read | Rongali Bihu 2023: PM Narendra Modi to Dedicate Projects Worth Rs 14,300 Crore in Assam Today. The matter came to light after a victim, who was duped of Rs 3.05 lakh, lodged a complaint at Keshavpuram police station in northwest Delhi. The woman, who worked at an MNC in Gurugram, and her parents had created a profile on a matrimonial website. While looking for suitable matches, she came across the profile of a man who claimed to be an HR professional with an income of Rs 50-70 lakh per annum. Her family liked his profile and sent him a request. After exchanging phone numbers, the woman started chatting with him on WhatsApp and Instagram. "In March 2023, he sent her pictures of expensive cars and asked her (for her) choice. He showed (pictures of) some villas and farmhouses as his properties in Gurugram in order to impress her. He also projected his well-off business of food chain in Gurugram," the woman alleged in her complaint. In the process, he won over the trust of the woman's family and they decided to meet him. He also offered to buy the woman an iPhone 14 Pro Max at a cheaper rate and convinced her to buy it in order to earn a profit. He also convinced her to buy the phones for her relatives and friends, she alleged. Influenced by him, the woman transferred Rs 3.05 lakh to him through UPI in eight transactions. However, after getting the money, the man blocked her on social media and informed her that he had been involved in an accident and was admitted in a Jaipur hospital. He stopped attending her calls and, after some days, the victim realised that she had been duped, the police said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Jitendra Kumar Meena said a few days after receiving the complaint, a police decoy sent the man a request on the same site. He accepted the request and started to influence the decoy in a similar manner. However, after the decoy asked him to meet, the police nabbed the man. "During interrogation, he confessed to his involvement in the cheating. He disclosed that after completing his BCA and MBA from Delhi, he worked as an HR professional at an MNC in Gurugram in 2018. He left the job in 2021 and opened a restaurant in Gurugram but that venture was not successful," Meena said. Vishal allegedly created a profile on the matrimonial site and posed as a rich bachelor. He also hired a luxury car for 15 days through an app for Rs 2,500 a day to keep up the pretence, the official added. The police are making efforts to trace Vishal's possible involvement in other similar complaints. They are also scrutinising his bank account details. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Guwahati (Assam) [India], April 14 (ANI): The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), an institution under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, with support from the North Eastern Council, will set up Entrepreneurship Development Centres as well as Incubation Centres in higher educational institutions of North Eastern Region (NER) to boost and create an entrepreneurial ecosystem among college students of NER. IIE Director Dr Lalit Sharma, who is initiating the project said, "Youth has played a significant role in developing startup ecosystems in mature ecosystems like Karnataka and Gujarat. IIE plans to develop an ecosystem of NER through college youth. IIE shall reach out to young college students by developing Entrepreneurship Development Centers and Incubation Centers within the higher educational institutions of NER." The objective of setting up Entrepreneurship Development Centres (EDC) is to boost and promote the culture of entrepreneurship in higher educational institutions and build the capacity of institutions to develop student entrepreneurship, he added. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Cow Shed Catches Fire in Bhusi Amva Village, Mother and Son Die While Trying To Save Cattle. "In comparison to other states, the numbers of student startups coming from NER are considerably low and in order to boost student startups, we need to build the capabilities of higher educational institutions to develop student entrepreneurship. Through EDCs, IIE shall work on enhancing the entrepreneurial intent of students and provide them with all necessary support including expanding upon their ideas, developing prototypes, conducting market research, developing their business plans, pitching for their startups and providing mentoring support to students," IIE director said. The proposed Entrepreneurship Development Centers in Colleges shall perform all these tasks and Incubation Centers shall further support them by providing the necessary technological support, market linkages, financial linkages, handholding support, grant support and professional networking support for the development of commercially viable and sustainable student startups, he added. In the first phase IIE, with the support of the North Eastern Council, will set up 30 Entrepreneurship Development Centres and four Incubation Centres in higher educational institutes across the North Eastern Region. Also Read | Australia: Tropical Cyclone Ilsa Hits Northwest Coast. "IIE further plans to increase the number of EDCs as well as Incubation Centres and cover colleges in the remotest areas of NER so that the students from remote areas may also be a part of the startup revolution in the country and contribute towards economic development of NER," he added. As per the plan, the IIE will work closely with higher education institutions to establish these centers that will provide students with the necessary resources, guidance, and mentorship to launch their own startups. Under this project, 50 selected student startups will be supported financially through one-time grant funding of Rs 5 lakh each to start their business. Sharma said, "IIE is excited to take on this new responsibility and is confident that the initiative would help foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation among college students in the North East Region." As per the data of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, as on March 2023, there were a total of 1,143 registered startups throughout the eight states of the Northeast. Whereas during the same time period, there were 10,808 startups in Karnataka and 6,988 startups in Gujarat. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) North Goa (Goa) [India], April 14 (ANI): Goa Police on Thursday issued a summon to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for questioning on April 27 regarding the alleged defacement of public property. Pernem Police Station Investigating Officer Dilipkumar Halarnkar in the written summon notice mentioned the subsequent grounds in which a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered. 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. "In exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) of section 41 A of CrPC, I hereby inform you that during the investigation of FIR 172/2022, U/s 188 IPC and section 3 of GPDP act 1988 registered at Pernem police station it is revealed that there are reasonable grounds to question you," summon notice mentioned. The summon issued by the Pernem Police directs Arvind Kejriwal to appear in person at the police station on April 27 at 11 AM. Also Read | Bihu Dance World Record 2023: Assam Scripts History, Enters Guinness Book of World Records for Largest Bihu Performance at Single Venue. It has been alleged that AAP has defaced public property using posters of Arvind Kejriwal. As per the visuals, Aam Admi party posters with the message "Ek Chance Kejriwal" are displayed at the flyovers and highways around the city. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thiruvananthapuram, April 14: Kerala Hindus are all set to celebrate Vishu, the Malayalam New Year, on April 15. Vishu is celebrated with traditional rituals, a sumptuous feast, new clothes, and the bursting of firecrackers. As Vishu falls during holiday, children don't have much homework to do. They celebrate Vishu with joy. As in many other traditional festivals, Vishu is associated with many noble values like togetherness, caring for one another, respect for farming etc. Vishu is a spring festival and it marks the beginning of a new agricultural cycle in Kerala. Traditionally farmers pray on Vishu day for abundance in their harvest. Special pujas take place on Vishu day in many temples including in Famous Guruvayur and Sabarimala. On Vishu day, many Keralites wake up at dawn and take darshan at 'Vishu Kani', which is a collection of auspicious items(flowers, fruits, vegetables, rice and a small statue of lord Krishna) along with a Nilavilaku, a lamb. For the Vishu Kani children with their eyes covered with hands are led from their beds towards it by elders. Eyes are opened when they reach the Vishu Kani and have a darshan it. Another traditional practice on Vishu day is Vishu Kaineettam which is elders giving money to children and others. Vishu Sadhya, sumptuous lunch with traditional Kerala dishes, are also one of the essentials. As Vishu is the start of a new year, it also emphasises the importance of reflection and renewal, where one assesses their life and makes an amendment if necessary for betterment. According to one legend, Vishu marks the day when Sun starts again rising in the east after the demon Ravana was killed by Lord Rama. Surya Bhagavan had been, according to the legend, prevented by Ravana from rising in the east. According to another legend, Vishu falls on the day when Lord Krishna killed the demon Narakasura. Vishu 2023 Sweet Dishes: From Unniyappam to Ela Ada, Delicious Recipes To Relish on Kerala New Year (Watch Videos). On Friday, people in Kerala are seen shopping for the celebration of Vishu. In Kottayam, many people are seen collecting Lord Krishna's statue, and flowers from the Konna tree for Vishu Kani. In the district most of the shops are filled with Lord Krishna statues, there is so wide variety of Krishna statues in shops like small Krishna, Blue Krishna, Krishna and Radha. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], April 14 (ANI): All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday raised questions over the encounter of gangster Atiq Ahmad's son Asad and his aide Ghulam in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi and said that the "so-called encounters should not take place". "There would be an inquiry as per the Supreme Court guidelines, but that "so-called encounters should not take place"," Owaisi said during a press briefing here. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Youth Stabbed to Death With Knife in Ambedkar Nagar Area; Five Arrested. "Indeed, whether it is Umesh Pal or Raju Pal, we have sympathy for them. Because, those people were murdered. How can we support those who committed the murder? But, there is a process, law, Constitution. You get them punishment. Who is stopping you? You get them life (imprisonment). When you have video evidence why don't you use it," he said. However, amid attacks from the opposition over the encounter, the UP's Special Task Force (STF) personnel on Friday condemned the killing of Umesh Pal, calling it an assault on the state's criminal justice system. Also Read | Asad Ahmed Encounter: Atiq Ahmad Seeks Permission From Magistrate To Attend Funeral of His Son. Asad and his aide Ghulam, who were involved in the killing of Umesh Pal, a key witness to the murder of BSP leader Raju Pal, were gunned down by the STF on Thursday. Speaking to ANI on Friday, Additional Director General, UP STF, Amitabh Yash said, "Yesterday, Asad and Ghulam were killed in an encounter. Both had killed two police personnel and Umesh Pal. Their crime was recorded on the CCTV camera. Yesterday, STF DSP Navendu Kumar lodged an FIR against them." "The post-mortem has been completed. Now their family members can take custody of their bodies and perform the last rites," he added. The ADG said, "This was a huge operation in which the STF had deployed all its teams. It was a very important case." "It (murder of Umesh Pal) was a direct attack on our criminal justice system. If key witnesses continued to be killed in this manner, no one will ever have the courage to depose in court. The entire criminal justice system will collapse," he added. Asad received two bullet injuries, confirmed doctors at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, Jhansi where his body was brought for post-mortem examination. Asad's aide Ghulam, who was also shot dead in the firing, suffered one bullet injury, they said. Both Asad and Ghulam were wanted for Umesh Pal's murder in Prayagraj. Both carried a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on their heads. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], April 14 (ANI): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday extended greetings and best wishes on the occasion of Baisakhi. In his greetings, Punjab CM said, "The creation of the Khalsa without caste and colour discrimination was done by Guru Gobind Singh Ji on the holy land of Anandpur Sahib." Also Read | Australia: Tropical Cyclone Ilsa Hits Northwest Coast. "Many congratulations to all the Sikh Sangats bowing down at Guru's feet on the occasion of Khalsa Sajna Diwas and Baisakhi," he tweeted. The festival of Baisakhi marks the Sikh New Year and is a spring harvest festival celebrated in Punjab and other parts of north India. Also Read | BJP Worker Chinta Hema Kumar Arrested in Hyderabad for Waving Nathuram Godse's Portrait at Ram Navami Rally. To celebrate the festival, people visit Gurudwaras, seek blessings, and participate in nagar kirtan. 'Kada prasad' is distributed among the devotees. The day marks the anniversary of the founding of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh in the year 1699. On this day, Guru Gobind Singh abolished the distinction between higher and lower caste communities. (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 (Maharashtra) [India], April 14 (ANI): Reacting to the gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed's son Asad's encounter, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Bal Thackeray) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said that a maximum number of encounters have happened in Mumbai and several 'encounter specialists' were sent to jail. "The maximum number of encounters have happened in Mumbai. They were given the title of encounter specialists, but almost all of them went to jail. Some people in Mumbai went to court with evidence against such encounters. Then after an investigation, many encounter specialists were jailed," Rajya Sabha MP said on the encounter. Also Read | Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's Close Associate Prince Tewatia Killed in Tihar Jail by Rival Gang Inmates. "If they are terrorists, then an encounter should happen. If it is a mafia, then such encounters keep happening," added Raut. Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahemd's son Asad, and another accused, Ghulam, were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case and were killed in an encounter by Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) in Jhansi on Thursday. Refusing to speak on the encounter by Uttar Pradesh STF, Raut said, "Why should I speak for some other state? They have their own chief ministers and other ministers. They will look into law and order of their state. I can only talk about Mumbai and Maharashtra." Also Read | Delhi: BJP's Kisan Morcha Leader Shot Dead Inside Office by Bike-Borne Assailants in Dwarka, Probe Underway. However, Raut suggested that if the opposition in the state raises questions about encounters, they should provide evidence to support their claims. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Suri/Kolkata, Apr 14 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday set a target for the BJP to win 35 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in next year's election and claimed that the Mamata Banerjee government in the state won't survive beyond 2025 if the goal is achieved. Asserting that Narendra Modi would again be the country's prime minister in 2024, Shah said that leaders like Mamata Banerjee can never give a befitting reply to Pakistan or fight militancy in Kashmir. Also Read | Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's Close Associate Prince Tewatia Killed in Tihar Jail by Rival Gang Inmates. Shah's comments drew sharp reactions from the TMC, which asked how a union minister could "openly threaten to topple an elected government". While the party's virtual number two Abhishek Banerjee, whom Shah had targeted in his speech, chipped in to say in a tweet that he would quit politics if the home minister released the Rs 1.15 lakh crore rightfully due to my state. Also Read | Delhi: BJP's Kisan Morcha Leader Shot Dead Inside Office by Bike-Borne Assailants in Dwarka, Probe Underway. "Let me make it very clear that in 2024, Narendra Modi will again be the country's Prime Minister. The people of Bengal have given us great responsibility by giving us 77 seats in the last assembly polls. "Give us more than 35 Lok Sabha seats from West Bengal, and I can assure you that the corrupt TMC government won't survive beyond 2025," Amit Shah claimed while addressing a rally in the Suri area of Birbhum district, under a smouldering sun. The Mamata Banerjee government is scheduled to complete its third term in 2026 and her party's leaders saw the 2025 ouster claim made in a speech ahead of Bengal's panchayat polls as an unconstitutional threat. However, Banerjee personally refrained from making any comments unlike in earlier years. The BJP won 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in the 2019 elections and observers said doubling this number would require an immense organisational challenge. Later in the evening, while visiting Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Kolkata, Shah again exuded confidence about winning 35 Lok Sabha seats from the state and said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi would return to power by bagging more than 300 seats across the country in 2024 parliament polls.". Leaders like Mamata Banerjee can "never give a befitting reply to Pakistan, fight militancy in Kashmir," the BJP leader said, adding that only Prime Minister Modi can handle such national issues. Shah criticised the TMC over the arrest of its ministers and leaders in graft cases by ED and CBI and said the party should be ashamed of itself. Referring to the criticism that central agencies have targeted the TMC for political reasons, Shah said those who engage in corruption and loot will eventually end up in prison. Hitting out at the TMC over dynasty politics, the former BJP president repeatedly used the phrase "Didi aur Bhatija (Elder sister as Mamata Banerjee is called by her supporters and her nephew)" during his speech. He claimed Banerjee does not care about the youth of Bengal who were being duped in the school jobs scam, as her only target is to make "her nephew the next chief minister of this state". "But let me clarify, the next West Bengal chief minister will be from the BJP. Only the BJP can fight and defeat the corrupt TMC. Under Mamata Banerjee's rule, West Bengal has become a hub of bomb-making factories," the union home minister claimed. Banerjee's nephew Abhishek is TMC's national general secretary and a two-time MP. Abhishek Banerjee in a tweeted reply tagging Shah, said, If my existence pains you to this extent, release the Rs 1.15 lakh crore rightfully due to my state and I'll withdraw myself from the political arena. Citing the example of Assam, where infiltration and cow smuggling stopped after the BJP came to power in 2016, Shah said the same would be replicated in Bengal if the saffron camp comes to power. "TMC's affinity towards corruption can be gauged from the fact that the party is yet to remove the person (Anubrata Mondal) as its district president even after he was arrested in the cattle smuggling case," he said. He also referred to the ongoing investigation in the seizure of a huge cache of explosives from Birbhum recently. On recent clashes during Ram Navami rallies in West Bengal, Shah blamed it on "appeasement politics" of the TMC government and said once the BJP wins more than 35 seats, "no one would dare attack Ram Navami rallies in the state." Prohibitory orders were imposed in West Bengal's Hooghly and Howrah districts, where clashes broke out between two groups during the Ram Navami procession. A youth from Bihar's Munger was also arrested for carrying arms during a Ram Navami procession, whom the TMC has claimed was a BJP supporter. Later after offering puja at Dakshineswar Temple, Shah said he prayed before Goddess that the "law and order situation improves in the state." Shah's comments drew sharp reactions from the TMC. "He can dream of winning 35 seats, just like bagging 200 plus seats in the 2021 assembly polls. How can a union minister openly threaten to topple an elected government before it completes its full term? It is now proven that a conspiracy is on to topple the state government," TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said. Referring to Shah's attack on TMC on the issue of dynasty politics, Ghosh said, "It seems Shah has forgotten that its leader in Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari himself, is a product of dynasty politics." Suvendu is the son of Sisir Adhikari, a TMC MP, who has joined the BJP. Several of his family members are also political leaders in Bengal. After speaking at the rally in Suri, Shah inaugurated the district party office in Suri. He also met family members of the Bogtui massacre in Birbhum district, where nine persons were charred to death in March last year in the rivalry between two groups. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh, Apr 14 (PTI) Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his immediate intervention for the repeal of "anti-democratic and repressive" laws such as the National Security Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Badal alleged the AAP government in Punjab has turned these "black laws into weapons of mass witch hunt" against members of the Khalsa panth, especially innocent Sikh youths. Also Read | Italy: Trentinos Bear Spared Culling Order, for Now. He claimed in a party statement on Friday that the Punjab government was picking up Sikh youths on suspicion and booking them under laws like the NSA and sending them to far-off places such as Assam. "They have brought back the bitter memories of Kala Pani for the Punjabis under the British," he claimed. Also Read | Amit Shah Mumbai Visit: Police Issue Prohibitory Orders, Ban Various Types of Flying Activities in View of Home Ministers Two-Day Visit; Check Details. "Even innocent members of Sikh families, including the elderly, the women and children are being subjected to repression," the Shiromani Akali Dal chief said. He sought Prime Minister Modi's immediate intervention for the repeal of "anti-democratic and repressive" laws like the NSA and the UAPA because of their adverse impact on India's image as the world's largest democracy. On Monday, the lawyers of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee met eight people detained in Assam's Dibrugarh jail under the NSA after they were nabbed during a crackdown by Punjab Police on radical preacher Amritpal Singh and his aides. The Jathedar of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, recently asked the state government to revoke the detention of some persons under the NSA and demanded that those who have been sent to Dibrugarh jail should be brought back to Punjab so that law can take its course. Badal said in the past even respected Akali Dal leaders like Master Tara Singh, Harchand Singh Longowal, Parkash Singh Badal and Gurcharan Singh Tohra were targeted under these laws. "Today, however, the same black laws have returned under a different garb. The abuse is so rampant that even fundamental rights and legitimate democratic freedom guaranteed under the Constitution have come under a serious threat," Badal claimed in his letter. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], April 14 (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. 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. 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. Also Read | Bihu Dance World Record 2023: Assam Scripts History, Enters Guinness Book of World Records for Largest Bihu Performance at Single Venue. 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) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) By Payal Mehta New Delhi [India], April 14 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it a point to celebrate the country's cultural diversity and festivals by participating in them and Friday is no exception, as he will be in Guwahati to witness the historic Bihu celebrations. Also Read | Avoid Mujrim, Inteqam, Ilzaam: Delhi Police Circular Asks Personnel To Shun Use of Complex Urdu, Persian Words in FIRs. Assam will witness a historic moment on April 14 as more than 11,000 boys and girls will participate in the Bihu celebrations. Known for his oraotirial skills and a deep understanding of the cultural heritage of India, PM Modi, has over the years, established his connect with the country's diverse cultural roots through his participation in events. Also Read | Ambedkar Jayanti 2023: Sonia Gandhi Slams Modi Government in Her Newspaper Article, Says Real Anti-Nationals Are Those Misusing Power to Divide Indians Against Each Other. On April 13, Prime Minister Modi participated in the Tamil New Year celebration at the residence of his cabinet colleague L Murugan, where not only did he talk about the rich cultural and traditional heritage of the southern state but also wore the traditional attire -- veshti at the function. He also expressed what Tamil and Tamilians meant to him. PM Modi said a large population of his assembly constituency, Maninagar in Gujarat, were Dravidians, who voted him to power as CM. Earlier, on April 9, PM Modi visited the Sacred Heart Church in Delhi's Connaught Place on the occasion of Easter. Also, PM Modi used to be invited by former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu to his residence for the celebration of Ugadi, at the former attended every time with great enthusiasm. In February 2023, PM Modi inaugurated the 'Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava' cultural festival at Talkatora Stadium in the national capital. He also took a walkthrough at the exhibition. The festival, held under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, celebrated Karnataka's culture, traditions and history. In November 2022, PM Modi participated in the celebrations of the birth anniversary of Sikh guru Shri Guru Nanak Dev at the residence of the National Commission for Minorities chairperson Iqbal Singh Lalpura. PM Modi also addressed the Manipur Sangai Festival in November last year. With signature enthusiasm and festive fervour, PM Modi, in October 2022, participated in the Kullu Dussehra celebrations at the Dhalpur Ground of Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. It is believed that PM Modi is a devotee of Lord Durga because he also observes a fast for nine days during Navratri. In September 2022, he participated in the Navratri celebrations in Ahmedabad. Earlier, PM Modi was also seen attending Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at Union Minister Piyush Goyal's residence in August 2022. In May 2022, he offered prayers at the Mahaprinirvana Stupa at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. He also made an official visit to Lumbini, Nepal (birthplace of Buddha), which coincided with the auspicious occasion. In April 2022, PM Modi attended Bihu celebrations organised by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at his Delhi residence. PM Modi also visited Sri Guru Ravidas Vishram Dham Temple in Delhi on Ravidas Jayanti in February 2022. Earlier, on the occasion of Dev Deepawali, PM Modi participated in the Mahotsav in Varanasi, which is a revered place for Shiv Bhakts and also his Lok Sabha constituency. Taking note of the religious significance of the place, the Central government under the leadership of PM Modi also established the Kashi Vishwanath corridor. He also paid a visit and offered prayers at the Mahakal temple, in Bhopal, while unveiling the Mahakal corridor last year. He also attended 'Chuda Dahi Bhoj' at former Union Minister Late Ram Vilas Paswan's residence, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. (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 14 (PTI) The finance ministry is planning an additional capital infusion of Rs 3,000 crore this fiscal in the three loss-making public sector general insurance companies to improve their health, according to sources. The government in FY22 provided Rs 5,000 crore capital to three insurers --National Insurance Company Limited, Oriental Insurance Company Limited and United India Insurance Company. Also Read | Punjab State Dear Baisakhi Bumper Lottery Result of April 15, 2023 at punjabstatelotteries.gov.in; Know Prize Money, Draw Date, And Live Streaming Details. Kolkata-based National Insurance Company Limited was given the highest Rs 3,700 crore, followed by Delhi-based Oriental Insurance Company Limited Rs 1,200 crore and Chennai-based United India Insurance Company Rs 100 crore. According to the sources these companies have been asked to improve their solvency ratio and meet the regulatory requirement of 150 per cent. Also Read | 'Christians Are in Danger, a False Picture', Centre to Supreme Court on Plea Alleging Attacks on Minority. The solvency ratio is a measure of capital adequacy. A higher ratio reflects better financial health and the ability of the company to pay claims and meet future contingencies and business growth plans. Barring the solvency ratio of New India Assurance, this key indicator of the three Public sector general insurance companies stood below the regulatory requirement of 150 per cent in 2021-22. For example, the solvency ratio of National Insurance Company Limited was 63 per cent, Oriental Insurance Company Limited 15 per cent and United India Insurance Company 51 per cent. The solvency margin is the extra capital the companies must hold over and above the claim amounts they are likely to incur. It acts as a financial backup in extreme situations, enabling the company to settle all claims. Each of these companies has been asked to pursue a profitable growth path, the sources said, adding further capital infusion would depend on their performance indicators being met. During 2019-20, the government infused Rs 2,500 crore in these three companies. It increased substantially to Rs 9,950 crore in the following year and Rs 5,000 crore in 2021-22. Public sector general insurance companies are undergoing various reforms, including organisational restructuring, product rationalisation, cost rationalisation and digitalisation. For efficient use of capital and to push profitable growth, the sources said, a set of key performance indicators linked reforms have been initiated by all public sector general insurance companies effective 2020-21 when the maximum capital infusion was made. Of the four state-run general insurance companies only New India Assurance Company is listed on the stock exchanges, the remaining three are wholly owned by the government. The government has already announced its intention to privatise one general insurance company. To facilitate privatisation, Parliament has already approved amendments to the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Act (GIBNA). Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Budget 2021-22 announced a big-ticket privatisation agenda, which included two public sector banks and one general insurance company. "We propose to take up privatisation of two Public Sector Banks and one General Insurance company in the year 2021-22. This would require legislative amendments," she had said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) By Reena Bhardwaj Washington [US], April 14 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said that there was a greater acceptance among Group of 20 (G20) member countries that any new regulations on the crypto assets need to be globally coordinated. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Court Fines Wikipedia 2 Million Rubles for Article About Russias Invasion of Ukraine. "I am glad to say that there is a greater acceptance among all G20 members, that any action on crypto assets will have to be global. "the G20, I think, has responded fairly with alacrity (on the crypto challenge)," Sitharaman told reporters at a news conference after a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors. "The G20 and its members agree that it's not going to be possible to have an independent, standalone country dealing with the crypto assets," the minister added. Also Read | G20 Consensus That Regulations on Crypto Assets Has to Be Global, Says FM Nirmala Sitharaman. Sitharaman told reporters that the group has willingly responded to the issue. A "synthesis paper" would be taken up on matters related to crypto assets during India's G20 presidency. India has maintained it wants a collective global effort to deal with problems posed by cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, and the finance ministry back in February said it had held a seminar for G20 member states to discuss how to come up with a common framework. Earlier in February, Sitharaman had said, "We are going through the study process so that there can be informed discussion. International Monetary Fund (IMF) and also the Financial Stability Board (FSB) have been doing their own little work on the crypto matter and progressing on their own. We've now asked them to do the papers and give it to us and the rapidity with which these papers have been already from IMF given and from FSB which will be given in time for the July meeting. I feel that we are progressing in this direction. So something should develop." She made the remarks while responding to a question regarding a consensus among the G20 nations on crypto assets during India's Presidency. "Recognising the risks attached to the private virtual assets, G20 nations moved a step closer to developing a coordinated and comprehensive policy approach to deal with the crypto assets by considering macroeconomic and regulatory perspectives," she said. The Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has for several years debated drafting a law to regulate or even ban cryptocurrencies but has not made a final decision. The Reserve Bank of India has said that cryptocurrencies should be banned as they are akin to a Ponzi scheme. (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 14 (AP) Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday as part of a push to boost ties between two of the world's largest developing nations. The meeting came on the second day of Lula's visit to China, his country's most important trading partner and key ally in his bid to challenge Western-dominated economic institutions. Also Read | Myanmar: Drone Attack Kills Eight Children, Injures 31 in Sagaing Region. Lula was greeted with full military honours, including a 21-gun salute, at the Great Hall of the People adjacent to Tiananmen Square in the heart of the Chinese capital. Their talks focused largely on trade ties and other forms of cooperation, but also touched on the conflict in Ukraine, with the leaders agreeing on the need for a negotiated settlement, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Also Read | Uber Charges More Cab Fares From Users If Their Phone Battery is Low, Claims Report; Company Denies Charge. As comprehensive strategic partners, China and Brazil share extensive common interests," Xi said, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. China ... sees the relationship as a high priority on its diplomatic agenda, he said. The leaders then oversaw the signing of agreements in areas ranging from agriculture to aeronautics. That underscored the improvement in relations since Lula took over in January from right-wing populist Jair Bolsonaro, who showed little interest in foreign travel and under whom relations with China were often tense. Lula's visit included the swearing in on Thursday of former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff as head of the Chinese-backed New Development Bank, which is funding infrastructure projects in Brazil and elsewhere in the developing world. The bank portrays itself as an alternative to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, which often impose loan conditions that developing nations criticise as punitive. It was established as part of a larger framework of cooperation between countries known as BRICS Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and has approved 99 loan projects totaling more than $34 billion, mainly for infrastructure projects, according to China's Foreign Ministry. Rousseff is Lula's former chief of staff and succeeded him as Brazil's first female president. In remarks at the swearing-in ceremony at the bank's Shanghai headquarters, Lula took swipes at both the IMF and the dominance of the U.S. dollar in international trade, hailing an agreement between Brazil and China to use the Chinese yuan in their bilateral commerce. The New Development Bank is the product of a partnership among BRICS countries with a view to creating a world with less poverty, less inequality and more sustainability," Lula said, according to an NDB statement. China is Brazil's biggest export market, each year buying tens of billions of dollars 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. Lula's China visit follows trips to Argentina and Uruguay in January and to the U.S. in February, signaling the importance he places on international affairs in contrast to Bolsonaro. A key piece of Lula's outreach abroad is his proposal that Brazil and other developing countries, including China, mediate peace in 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. Also Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said China would not sell weapons to either side in the Ukraine conflict, while the Defense Ministry said Minister Li Shangfu would visit Moscow next week for talks with his Russian counterpart. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Naypyidaw [Myanmar], April 14 (ANI): India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Indonesia should seriously consider declaring the Bay of Bengal as a Zone of Peace. The countries in the region should pledge to refrain from granting military bases to non-littoral countries and should not allow a prolonged presence of military/dual-use vessels from non-littoral countries, Politeia Research Foundation reported. The recent report on Myanmar's Coco Islands has gathered attention in South Asia and beyond.The authors in the report mentioned that Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) is carrying out new construction activity on Greater Coco, which includes 'two new hangars, a new causeway and freshly lengthened 2,300-metre runway. Also Read | Earthquake in Philippines: Quake of Magnitude 5.1 on Richter Scale Hits Bangonay, No Casualty Reported. The authors further stressed that new facilities can 'support aircraft..to conduct maritime surveillance operations.' The authors state that although China has denied carrying out construction activitiesm nonetheless, they allude to the possible use of such facilities by the China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the near future, given the growing presence of Beijing in Myanmar. The Bay of Bengal has witnessed numerous non-traditional security threats, such as forced migration, human trafficking, illegal narcotics trade, humanitarian crisis, tsunamis and cyclones. However, thus far, the Bay of Bengal was never a geopolitical hotspots. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Speaks With Rishi Sunak, Raises Security Issue of Indian Diplomatic Establishments in UK. The Bay of Bengal has become a theatre of strategic competitio as numerous reports have speculated possible Chinese military activities in the Coco Islands. In 2001, the Irrawaddy reported that Tatmadaw "with the help of China...[had]..set up signals intelligence (SIGNIT) equipment on Hainggyi Island, Coco Island and Zadetkyi Island." In 2007, various experts argued that there never was a SIGNIT base on Coco Island. However, reports about Chinese involvement in Myanmar's naval bases persisted. In 2014, Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis referred to the presence of "Chinese technicians and instructors...on radar installations in naval bases" and that the Indian navy "intercepted fishing trawlers flying Myanmar flags off the Andaman Islands. On inspection, all the crew turned out to be Chinese nationals." Three years later, photographic evidence surfaced that bolstered claims that Coco Island is witnessing increased military-related activities which include "reclamation of land, expansion of the airstrip, construction of a new naval pier, and the installation of a new radar station with three SHORAD guns." In March 2023, after the Chatham House publication's report, suspicion increased that Beijing is indeed involved in intelligence gathering through a set-up in the Coco Islands. China's foreign ministry and Myanmar's State Administrative Council (SAC) have reportedly referred to Beijing's involvement in construction activity in Coco Islands as "sheer nonsense" and "absurd" respectively, Politeia Research Foundation reported. Despite repeated denials, the speculation that the Chinese military will eventually make its presence felt in Coco Islands shows no signs of abatement. Partly this may have to do with China's strategic behaviour. In 2015, the Chinese leadership emphatically stated that they do "not intend to pursue militarisation" of the artificial islands in the South China Sea. However, within a few years, at least three islands in the South China Sea witnessed significant militarisation, Politeia Research Foundation reported. Therefore, given Beijing's many leverages on Myanmar, many expect China to adopt a similar strategy - deny and then demonstrate military presence - in Coco Islands as well. In addition to Myanmar, there is a substantive increase in Chinese presence in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The Coco Islands are strategically located at the northern tip of India's Andaman-Nicobar island chain. Chinese military presence on these islands will have a negative impact on India's power projection capabilities in the region and will fundamentally alter the geopolitical dynamic of the Bay of Bengal, Politeia Research Foundation reported. India, with its peninsular landmass jutting into the Indian Ocean, island chains in the Bay of Bengal/the Arabian Sea, formidable defence forces and vibrant economy enjoys significant advantages in the region. Delhi has proactively responded to many non-traditional security challenges in the Indian Ocean region with alacrity. As a liberal democracy, India has sought to uphold the rule of law in the maritime domain and has not violated the territorial integrity of its neighbours. Neither did India make unreasonable maritime claims nor did it create artificial islands for military purposes. In fact, India has abided by the verdict of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on a maritime boundary dispute with Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal. The report stated that if neighbouring countries tend to discard Indian concerns and allow extra-regional powers to establish military bases, there may be demands within India to re-examine its accommodative foreign policy. Moreover, such military bases will result in trust deficit and acrimony among the Bay of Bengal littoral states, which will scare away foreign direct investments and dent economic growth. A peek into contemporary history may provide some pathways to ensure greater stability in the Bay of Bengal region. In the 1980s' there was considerable discussion on the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace. However, the time has come to take a more disaggregated approach and think of multiple zones of peace, Politeia Research Foundation reported. The Zone of Peace framework will also empower relatively smaller states in the region to fend off pressures from other powers demanding greater military presence. Regional frameworks such as the BBIN and the BIMSTEC can also be platforms to discuss and build the Zone of Peace framework. In addition to diplomatic initiatives, India will have to further strengthen its defence forces' presence in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and take necessary technological countermeasures to the SIGINT facilities in the neighbouring region. For continued peace and prosperity in the region, countries bordering the Bay of Bengal must work diligently to contain the emergence of geopolitical competition involving non-littoral powers. Such a prudent approach will go a long way in assuaging geopolitical anxieties which have the potential to undermine the regional stability in the Bay of Bengal region, Politeia Research Foundation reported. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], April 14 (ANI): India and Congo on Thursday held the second round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) and agreed to enhance their cooperation in the multilateral fora. "The Second round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and the Republic of Congo (ROC) was held on April 13th, 2023 in New Delhi. It was co-chaired by Sevala Naik Mude, JS (C&WA), and Ambassador Gisele Bouanga-Kalou, Director of Cabinet, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the ROC Government," read the Ministry of External Affairs press release. Also Read | Baisakhi 2023 Wishes: Australian PM Anthony Albanese Extends Greetings to Sikh Community on Vaisakhi. During the meeting, both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, covering political, trade and commerce, investments, defense & security, development partnership, capacity building, and culture & people to people linkages. They also discussed ways to further strengthen the ties between India and ROC. Both sides exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and agreed to enhance their cooperation in the multilateral fora, added the release. Also Read | Myanmar: Drone Attack Kills Eight Children, Injures 31 in Sagaing Region. Both sides agreed to hold the next round of consultations at Brazzaville, at a mutually convenient date India and the ROC enjoy warm and friendly relations dating back to the pre-Independence era of the ROC. With the opening of our resident Mission in Brazzaville in 2019, our bilateral relations have further strengthened. Bilateral trade has been growing steadily and has reached USD 1.47 billion during FY 2021-22 from USD 527 million in 2018-19, read the release. India had extended three Lines of Credit (LoCs) worth USD 214.90 million to the ROC for rural electrification, the development of transportation systems, and the construction of cement plants. India has also been supporting ROC in capacity building by providing training to Congolese officials in various areas under ITEC, as well as scholarships/fellowships under ICCR. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Maputo [Mozambique], April 14 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday met President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique and affirmed commitment to work for advancements in trade and investments, defense, development cooperation, health and people-to-people ties. "Honoured to call on President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique. Conveyed the personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Heartwarming to hear his fond memories of his time in Ahmedabad. Appreciate his deep interest in deepening our cooperation. Valued his guidance on further developing our relationship. In line with PM Modi's vision, India will respond to Mozambican priorities," wrote Jaishankar in his Facebook post. Also Read | Baisakhi 2023 Wishes: Australian PM Anthony Albanese Extends Greetings to Sikh Community on Vaisakhi. He also co-chaired the 5th India-Mozambique Joint Commission Meeting with Mozambique's Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo. Jaishankar took stock of the progress made in wide spectrum of areas of cooperation, including trade and investment, agriculture, energy, railways, health, education, development cooperation and defense. The EAM also explored new avenues to intensify the relationship further. Also Read | Myanmar: Drone Attack Kills Eight Children, Injures 31 in Sagaing Region. "Exchanged perspectives on our solid cooperation in the multilateral fora. Congratulated Mozambique on its successful UNSC Presidency month. Agreed to work together to voice the concerns of Global South, especially on issues like terrorism and climate change," read his Facebook post. He also interacted with the Indian Community in Mozambique. Addressing them he said that the relationship between the two countries is a "time-tested, historic relationship." "Over many decades our leaders, people, societies. We have shared a lot, bonded deeply and even today when we pursue our developmental path - there is a lot we can do for it," he said. Describing the relationship with Mozambique, Jaishankar said, "To me, as someone from the world of politics and diplomacy, it is the strong sense of solidarity between us, that is really for me the defining characteristic. In economic terms, this is a relationship where we do an annual trade turnover of USD 4 billion, where Indian companies have invested USD 11 billion. Moreover, Indian communities have lived here for many many years and had made this their home and have prospered here, contributing significantly to the growth of Mozambique." The EAM also said that it was his second visit to the African nation. "I have come here to Mozambique for the second time, after a gap of 7 years. The last time I was here I accompanied Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his very memorable visit in 2016. In the 7 years that have passed, our relationship has changed very profoundly. You all saw the one example of it - the inauguration of the bridge over River Buzi," he said. Jaishankar virtually inaugurated the Buzi Bridge, constructed as part of the 132 km Tica-Buzi-Nova-Sofala Road project. The bridge has been built by India. "Our relations are historical, it started when Mozambique was struggling for its independence. All the Presidents of Mozambique visited India and our Prime Minister Narendra Modi too visited Mozambique. This is not a normal relationship if you see it under the canvass of politics, economy, and trade - this is a significant and priceless relationship. This is why I am very happy to be here," he said. Jaishankar further elaborated on building this relationship in changing world. "Our task today is how to deepen this relationship in changing world - how to support each other in our aspirations and ambitions. There are many things which are happening here and my objective to visit Mozambique is to advance the progress we have seen," he added. He also visited Nacional Fabrica Nacional de Medicamentos in Maputo. He also thanked Minister of Health Dr. Armindo Tiago for joining. "Impressed by the cutting edge technology & state of the art facilities.India's transfer of technology & skilled manpower is making a difference in Mozambique," Jaishankar tweeted. Earlier in the day, he paid homage to the leaders of Mozambique's freedom struggle at the Heroes Square this morning and took a ride in a 'Made in India' train in the country's capital Maputo. EAM Jaishankar is on a visit to Mozambique from April 13-15 to further strengthen India's "strong bilateral relations" with the African nation. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kathmandu [Nepal], April 14 (ANI): The Investment Board of Nepal has approved the investment proposal from India's Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) to build a 669 Mega Watt Lower Arun Hydro project in Nepal. The investment proposal from SJVN worth 92.68 billion Nepali Rupees was given approval in the 53rd meeting of the Investment Board chaired by Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday. Also Read | Kim Jong Un Supervises Test Launch of North Koreas New Solid-Fuel Long-Range Ballistic Missile for First Time. As per the statement from the Investment Board of Nepal, the board of directors have decided to form a "project development agreement negotiation committee' led by the board's chief executive officer, directing it to submit the document of consensus to the board. This is the third project undertaken, all through negotiation windows, on the Arun River after the 900 MW Arun-III and 695 MW Arun-IV hydroelectricity projects. The three projects will generate nearly 2,300 MW of electricity from the river in the Sankhuwasabha district. Also Read | Bob Lee Murder Case: Tech Consultant Nima Momeni Charged in Killing of Cash App Founder. Earlier, the Investment Board of Nepal and India's SJVN signed an agreement for the development of the Arun-III hydropower project in November 2014 according to which Nepal will receive Rs 348 billion over 25 years. In addition, the project developer will also provide 21.9 per cent of energy generated free of cost, which is worth 155 billion Nepali Rupees and another 107 billion Nepali Rupees in royalties. In May last year, the Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority- Kulman Ghising and Nandalal Sharma, chairman of the SJVN, signed the agreement in Lumbini for the development of Arun-IV on behalf of their respective governments. Nepal will receive 21.9 per cent or 152 megawatts of electricity for free as per the agreement from Arun-IV. In July last year, Nepal signed a deal with the SJVN to develop the 679 MW LowerArun. An investment of 92.68 billion Nepali Rupees was approved for the project on Thursday. The Lower Arun project will not have any reservoir or dam and will be a tailrace development of Arun-III, which will mean water re-enters the river for the Lower Arun project. Meanwhile, the investment board said it approved an investment worth 167.57 billion Nepali Rupees for five hydroelectric projects on Thursday. Of total approved investments, 146.2 billion Nepali Rupees is being received through foreign direct investment and 21.37 billion Nepali Rupees is from domestic investors. Apart from the 669 MW Lower Arun Hydroelectric Project, other projects are the 102 MW Upper Marsyangdi-1 (33.19 billion Nepali Rupees), the 70 MW Dudhkoshi-2 Jaleshwar (20.35 billion Nepali Rupees), the 70.3 MW Simbuwa Khola (13.44 billion Nepali Rupees) and the 43 MW Upper Madi (7.93 billion Nepali Rupees). Among them, 146.2 billion Nepali Rupees in foreign investment has been approved for three hydroelectric projects, including Lower Arun, Dudhkoshi-2 (Jaleshwar) and Upper Marsyandi hydropower projects. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) By Reena Bhardwaj Washington [US], April 14 (ANI): Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday (local time) participated in a panel discussion on 'Empowering Women as Entrepreneurs and Leaders' in Washington DC. The panel included David Malpass, president of World Bank Group and David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs. Also Read | G20 Consensus That Regulations on Crypto Assets Has to Be Global, Says FM Nirmala Sitharaman. Sitharaman, who is on a week-long visit to the US, outlined initiatives to bolster the economic status of women during the IMF/World Bank Spring meetings. She appeared to highlight how the Modi Govt has been working with the idea of women-led development and not just women-centric development. "Since 2014, PM Modi has emphasised that we need to have 'women-led' development for India instead of just having 'women-centric' development. He ensured that zero-balance accounts (Jan-Dhan accounts) were opened for every Indian," Sitaraman informed an audience of hundreds. Also Read | Donald Trump Returns to New York, Gets Questioned Under Oath in Fraud Lawsuit by Attorney General Letitia James. Sitaraman also pointed out various initiatives taken by the Govt of India for women's empowerment, enhancing their economic independence and their outcomes. World Bank President David Malpass pledged to focus more intensely on women's empowerment, citing the huge potential for economic gains for all countries. "Starting a business is a powerful tool for women to build a better future. Enabling access to finance, skills and digital technology is key," Malpass told a packed audience. All three speakers stressed the importance of expanding access to finance for women-led businesses as well as recognizing the role women play in addressing global challenges--from climate change to fragility. They spoke about broadening the definition of women leadership to include not only CEOs of major global companies but also leaders of local initiatives. They discussed the need for upskilling women, so they are not left behind amid rapid change in technology. 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 in Washington on Thursday (local time) under the ambit of Spring Meetings 2023 of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB). During the G20 meeting, Sitharaman 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 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. 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 G20 India Presidency. On Wednesday, the finance minister, who arrived in the US on April 9, participated in the roundtable on 'Multilateral Development Bank Evolution: Building Shareholder Consensus' hosted by the US Department of Treasury Secretary at World Bank headquarters. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New York, Apr 14 (AP) New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection has charged itself with damaging habitat for threatened and endangered birds that it was supposed to protect. The work was designed to create habitat for one species of bird, but actually wound up destroying habitat for two others. Also Read | Baisakhi 2023 Wishes: Australian PM Anthony Albanese Extends Greetings to Sikh Community on Vaisakhi. The department acknowledged it sent a violation notice and threatened penalties against its own Division of Fish and Wildlife regarding unauthorized work in February and March at the Glassboro Wildlife Management Area in Clayton, Gloucester County. The violation notice includes the threat of penalties, but it was unclear how that might work when the DEP is both the accuser and the accused. Nor was it immediately clear whether any money might actually change hands. The department did not respond to questions about potential fines. Also Read | Myanmar: Drone Attack Kills Eight Children, Injures 31 in Sagaing Region. The work involved the clearing of vegetation and disturbance of soils on nearly 3 acres of what the state calls exceptional resource value freshwater wetlands. Before the work was done, this land was considered suitable habitat for the barred owl, which is listed as a threatened species, and the red-shouldered hawk, an endangered species. The project also cleared and disturbed an additional 12 acres of land near wetlands known as transition areas, which also are protected. The DEP refused Friday to discuss how the work happened without authorization. On its website, the department wrote on Feb. 1 that the work sought to create 21 acres of habitat for the American woodcock, a member of the sandpiper family that uses its long, narrow beak to forage for earthworms in damp soil. The project was designed to create meadow habitat. But in doing so, the state destroyed mature oak and pine forests in and near wetlands, and filled in some wetlands, four conservation groups said in a letter to the department in early March complaining about the work. The agency issued the violation notice on April 6. "The wetland soil and flora that were previously undisturbed have been destroyed, and the mature forest that was already habitat for numerous rare species of plants and birds was clear-cut logged," the groups wrote. All trees have been cut, and all stumps bulldozed. Tom Gilbert, a leader of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, said, This never should have happened. They must also take steps to improve their clearly inadequate internal review process and meaningfully engage the public. Jaclyn Rhoads, assistant executive director of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, commended the state for owning up to its mistake, but said the DEP should provide a list of current projects on its website for public review. "It is because of the public that we were able to stop further destruction of this landscape, she said. Agency spokesman Larry Hajna said the Fish and Wildlife Division's Bureau of Land Management must implement appropriate soil conservation measures within 10 days and submit a plan within 30 days to restore the site. That must include removal of wood chips placed there. By the end of April, the DEP intends to issue a notice of penalty assessment. Fish and Wildlife will propose additional environmentally beneficial measures, which will be subject to a public comment period, Hajna said. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Doha, April 14: Advisor to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and official spokesperson for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majed bin Mohammad Al Ansari said that serious and repeated violations of "Israeli entity" in Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing escalation in the Palestinian territories showcase a dangerous development impacting the whole region, Qatar News Agency reported. Addressing a Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs weekly media briefing on Tuesday, Majed bin Mohammad Al Ansari said that Al-Aqsa is a Mosque and attempts to change it cannot be accepted and are a violation of all relevant international laws and decisions, as per the news report. Israel-Palestine Conflict: Israeli Forces Break Up Worshippers Near Al-Aqsa Mosque, Tensions Escalate. He urged the international community to assume its responsibility towards protecting the rights of the Palestinians. Speaking at the media briefing, he said that Qatar's stance on the majority of issues has been to reduce escalation by communicating with various authorities and parties to ensure the protection of the lives of people, as per the Qatar News Agency report. Majed bin Mohammad Al Ansari said that Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued a strongly worded statement after the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday condemning in the strongest terms these violations that provoked more than two billion Muslims during Ramzan. He further said the Ministry again issued a statement on Friday holding Israel solely responsible for the violence in the region and its blatant violations in Gaza and southern Lebanon, Qatar News Agency reported. Earlier this month, Israeli forces stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque, as they fired grenades and tear gas at Palestinian worshippers in a raid. Dozens of worshippers who were spending the night praying were injured in the police raid at dawn, Al Jazeera reported citing Palestinian news agency Wafa. In the media briefing, Al Ansari said that Qatar's Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi's visit to Lebanon is aimed to explore and support reaching an agreement in Lebanon, reconciling the political parties and reaching a consensus to get the country out of its current crisis. Israel-Palestine Conflict: Israeli Military Hits Gaza With Airstrikes As PM Benjamin Netanyahu Vows To Extract Heavy Price From Enemies. As per the Qatar News Agency report, he further said that Qatar backs the Lebanese-Lebanese consensus to select a presidential candidate and seeks to contribute to addressing the crisis by achieving intra-Lebanese consensus while standing at the same distance from everyone. (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 14 (ANI): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his entourage have embezzled at least USD 400 million, which was sent to the country for the purchase of diesel fuel, reported Russian news agency TASS citing US Journalist Seymour Hersh's website. On his website, Hersh, citing sources, claimed, "The Ukrainian president and many in his entourage have been skimming untold millions from the American dollars earmarked for diesel fuel payments. One estimate by analysts from the Central Intelligence Agency put the embezzled funds at USD 400 million last year, at least." Also Read | G20 Consensus That Regulations on Crypto Assets Has to Be Global, Says FM Nirmala Sitharaman. The level of corruption in Kyiv is "approaching that of the Afghan war, although there will be no professional audit reports emerging from Ukraine," according to Hersh's sources Hersh's sources blamed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan for the ongoing crisis in the US government, which allegedly suffers from discord between the White House and the intelligence community. Also Read | Donald Trump Returns to New York, Gets Questioned Under Oath in Fraud Lawsuit by Attorney General Letitia James. The two top foreign policy officials have shown "strident ideology and lack of political skill" over the Ukraine conflict, according to RT, Russian Television, citing Hersh's sources. The US has been helping Ukraine since Russia started its special military operation on February 24, 2022. Last month, the US said they will send Ukraine USD 350 million in weapons and equipment as the battle with Russian forces continues for control of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. "Today, pursuant to a delegation of authority from President Biden, I am authorising our 34th drawdown of U.S. arms and equipment for Ukraine valued at USD 350 million," said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement issued by the US State Department on Monday. "This military assistance package includes more ammunition for US-provided HIMARS and howitzers that Ukraine is using to defend itself, as well as ammunition for Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, HARM missiles, anti-tank weapons, riverine boats, and other equipment," the statement read. The US applauds the more than 50 countries that have come together to provide support for Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity, the statement read. "This week, as Russia's unconscionable war of aggression against Ukraine continues at a great human cost, we are again reminded of the boundless courage and steadfast resolve of the Ukrainian people, and the strong support for Ukraine across the international community," Blinken said. He added: "Russia alone could end its war today. Until Russia does, we will stand united with Ukraine for as long as it takes." Meanwhile, in February, the US announced a new security package plan, including authorisation of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance valued at upto USD 425 million, as well as USD 1.75 billion in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds, according to the statement released by US Defence Department. The package pulled USD 425 million from existing Defence Department stocks, and USD 1.75 billion in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds. The new package marks USD 29.3 billion provided to Ukraine since Russia's started its military operation last February. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Rome [Italy], April 14 (ANI): On the record USD 770 billion of India's exports in 2022-23, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said the "zeal is high" and all exporters have assured to move ahead together. "On 6th Aug 2021, PM Modi gave an inspiring address and interacted with 180 Ambassadors and Missions of India across the world, Export Promotion Councils and others. He gave a message that India is on the track and together we have to take India to new heights," Goyal told ANI on the record exports. Also Read | Earthquake in Philippines: Quake of Magnitude 5.1 on Richter Scale Hits Bangonay, No Casualty Reported. "The zeal is high and all exporters have assured me that we will go further ahead," he added. Speaking on the matter earlier in the day at the India-Italy Business Summit, 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. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Speaks With Rishi Sunak, Raises Security Issue of Indian Diplomatic Establishments in UK. "It is an all-time high record, growing from USD 500 billion in 2020-21 to USD 676 billion in 2021-22. 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) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Karnal, April 14: In a shocking incident, a 30-year-old man was attacked by a Pitbull dog in Haryana's Karnal district. The man somehow saved his life after tamping a cloth into the dog's mouth. The man was in his field on Thursday morning when the dog bit the victim's private part due to which the man was critically injured and admitted to the civil hospital at Gharaunda by the locals. Due to his serious condition, he was later referred to the Government Hospital in Karnal. Pitbull Dog Bites Man on Private Parts, Beaten To Death by Locals in Haryana's Karnal; Victim Critical. The irked villagers, who rescued the victim, beat the dog to death with sticks, to avoid any further attacks. After the matter was reported to the police, they recorded the statements of the injured youth and his family members. "The victim was in his fields while the Pitbull dog was sitting under a machine used in the fields for farming. The moment Karan approached the machine to use it, the dog attacked Karan's private part," said a police officer. It is being said that somehow the victim managed to use a piece of cloth lying on the ground to clot the Pitbull's mouth to save his life but by then he was critically injured. Dog Attack in Nagpur: Stray Dogs Maul Toddler in Broad Daylight, Child Suffers Deep Bite Marks and Gashes on Body (Watch Video). The villagers nearby heard Karan's screaming and reached the spot and saw that he was lying on the ground with blood profusely oozing out from his private part. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. "Based on a complaint, we are trying to find the owner of the dog and will ensure appropriate action against him," police said. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 14, 2023 04:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Baisakhi (also spelt as Vaisakhi and also known as Sikh New Year or Punjabi New Year) is one of the most significant festivals in the Sikh community that marks the beginning of the harvest season, primarily in Northern India. It marks the first day of the month of Vaisakh and is traditionally celebrated annually celebrated in April. The day is also called Khalsa Sajna Diwas as Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru, had established Khalsa on Vaisakhi day. As we celebrate Baisakhi 2023, we have compiled a list of Baisakhi wishes, Baisakhi 2023 messages, Sikh New Year greetings, Baisakhi images, and HD wallpapers, Sikh New Year SMS, and sayings that you can share with your family and friends. Baisakhi is celebrated by the Sikh community with great pomp and fanfare, especially in Punjab. As per the Hindu calendar, this day is observed on the first day of the Vaisakh month (April-May) every year. Baisakhi 2023 will be celebrated on April 14, 2023. As per Drikpanchang, the Baisakhi Sankranti moment is 3:12 PM on April 14. The festival is also known as Vaisakhi and Basoa, among the Dogras. You can download Happy Baisakhi 2023 wishes and send them to your loved ones as Baisakhi pics, Baisakhi photos, and Vaisakhi wallpapers. Baisakhi Greetings (File Image) WhatsApp Message Reads: May Waheguru Bless You With Growth, Health and Peace on This Festival of Harvest. Happy Baisakhi! Vaisakhi Greetings (File Image) WhatsApp Message Reads: Have a Great Festival of Harvest. May God Bless You With the Best. Baisakhi Wishes in Punjabi (File Image) WhatsApp Message Reads: On This Auspicious Day, I Wish You Happiness, Togetherness and Prosperity. May You Have a Great Year Ahead. Happy Baisakhi 2023 (File Image) WhatsApp Message Reads: Celebrate Today and Continue To Celebrate in Spirit Every Day the Creation of the Khalsa. Happy Vaisakhi. Happy Baisakhi 2023 (File Image) WhatsApp Message Reads: On This Joyous Occasion, May Waheguru Accept Your Hard Word & Reward You a Life Full of Success in Your Life. Happy Baisakhi! Baisakhi 2023 Greetings, Images, WhatsApp Messages, Wallpapers and Quotes To Celebrate Sikh New Year As India is an agrarian country and the countrys economy largely depends on agriculture, this festival is dedicated to all the farmers who toil to provide food to all the citizens of India. The most spectacular gathering of the Vaisakhi fair is at Thakurdwara of Bhagwan Narainji at Pandori Mahatan village in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab, where the fair lasts for three days from 1st Vaisakha to 3rd Vaisakha. Happy Baisakhi 2023 to all! (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 14, 2023 06:37 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Bhim Jayanti, also known as Equality Day, celebrates the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar. He was an influential politician, social reformer, activist and lawyer who played a dominant role in shaping the constitution of India. Bhim Rao Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1892 in a poor Mahar family. He belonged to a low-caste community and always fought against discrimination against the oppressed. He adopted Buddhism and inspired many people to do the same. As you observe Bhim Jayanti 2023, we at LatestLY have bought a collection of HD Images and wallpapers you can download and send to all your near and dear ones as greetings for the day. Send Happy Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti Banners, Quotes and Greetings on April 14 Dr. BR Ambedkar was Indias first independent law minister. Bhim Jayanti pays respect to the life of renowned polymath, jurist, economist and civil rights activist Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar. On this day, people share messages, images and quotes related to the life of Ambedkar with their near and dear ones to remember him on his birth anniversary. Here is a collection of HD Images and wallpapers you can download and send to all your friends and family as greetings for Equality Day 2023. Ambedkar Jayanti 2023 Greetings in Hindi, SMS and WhatsApp Messages and Images Honouring the Father of the Indian Constitution. Bhim Jayanti 2023 Images in Marathi Bhim Jayanti Wishes in Marathi (File Image) Bhim Jayanti 2023 Images in Marathi Bhim Jayanti Wishes in Marathi (File Image) Bhim Jayanti 2023 Images in Marathi Bhim Jayanti Wishes in Marathi (File Image) Bhim Jayanti 2023 Images in Marathi Bhim Jayanti Wishes in Marathi (File Image) Bhim Jayanti 2023 Images in Marathi Bhim Jayanti Wishes in Marathi (File Image) Ambedkars birthday was celebrated publically as Ambedkar Jayanti in 1928 by activist Janardan Sadashiv Ranapisay. Since then, every year, this day has been observed with great enthusiasm all over the country. Wishing everyone a Happy Bhim Jayanti 2023! (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 14, 2023 07:29 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, April 14: Apple has made a commitment of using 100 per cent recycled cobalt for its batteries in its devices by 2025. This decision comes as a part of the tech giants ambitious plan to accomplish carbon neutrality for its products in the next few years time. The Cupertino-based tech titan has also revealed that it will be incorporating recycled rare earth elements for manufacturing magnets for its devices, while its in-house printed circuit boards will be using recycled tin soldering as well as gold plating. The decision behind the usage a variety of recycled minerals and metals towards manufacturing its devices, comes as part of the companys efforts in reducing environmental exploitation and promote sustainability. iPhone 15 Pro Design Update: Apples Next Iteration of Iconic Smartphone May Feature Physical Instead of Speculated Solid-State Buttons. Apple has a big goal of achieving carbon neutrality across its entire supply chain and products by 2030, and it is amplifying its sustainability efforts. Apple has also recently announced about its doubling the fund to invest in projects for removing its carbon footprint from the environment. The new announcement further supports its target of reducing its carbon footprint to make it environmentally responsible. OnePlus Nord 3 Coming Soon, Prices and Specifications Leaked Ahead of Launch; Checkout All Key Details. The 100% recycled cobalt usage decision from Apple is also a part of its rectifying its previous blunders, for which it was sued. Apple and other tech giants came under the radar, as they were sued for being responsible for being indirectly involved in promoting child labour for high-risk mining. Apple was blamed for being one of the tech titans, who use cobalt mined by forced employment of underprivileged children. These allegations came into light after the tragic deaths of many children in a cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As cobalt is crucial component to manufacture batteries in several electronic devices, its rising demand led to child labour and exploitation of the underprivileged, who are forced to mine cobalt without any protective gears or precautionary measures. In order to prevent these unethical practices in its cobalt supply chain, Apple has taken the pledge of strictly monitoring its supply chain and use as much of recycled resources as possible. In 2022, 25% of all cobalt used in batteries of Apple devices came from recycled sources. Now, the tech titan is aiming much bigger in its endeavour for multiple recycled materials. The company also sources more than two-thirds of all aluminum, almost three-quarters of all rare earth elements, and over 95% of tungsten in its devices from recycled sources. This commitment to sustainability and reduction of carbon footprint, makes Apple an environment conscious and responsible company. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 14, 2023 06:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Delhi, April 14: Uber may be charging users more if their phone's battery is critically low, a new report has claimed. While earlier reports had indicated about difference in fares while booking using iOS and Android phones, this claim is shocking. Uber has however, disputed the claims saying that the app is unable to measure a user's battery. According to a report in Belgian newspaper Derniere Heure, the ride-hailing application changed its pricing for customers in Brussels based on their battery percentage. Infosys Cut Hiring by 46% in Fiscal Year 2023, Reduces Headcount by 3,611 Employees While Resisting Layoffs. The newspaper researched by hailing a taxi from their Brussels office to Tour & Taxis in the city core with two iPhones, one with an 84% battery and the other with a 12% battery. The outcome revealed a notable price discrepancy, with the smartphone with 12 per cent battery being charged 17.56 euros (Rs 1,585) and the phone with 84 per cent battery being charged 16.6 euros (Rs 1498) for the same trip. Discord Cyber-Security Threat: Researchers Warn New Malware in Popular Chatting Platform Can Steal Users' Data. Uber however has rejected the claims. The company said that the app cannot determine the battery level of a user's phone. "Uber does not take into account the phone's battery level to calculate the price of a trip," the newspaper quoted Uber as saying. The San Francisco-headquartered company added that dynamic pricing is applied based on the current demand for rides and the availability of drivers who can accept the ride request. This is not the first time the ride app has been accused of taking advantage of its users battery life. In a 2016 interview with NPR, Uber's former Head of Economic Research, Keith Chen, stated that the business had discovered that users with lower battery levels were more open to surge pricing. However, he denied that the company was using battery levels to increase prices. Several experts have however raised concerns as to why the company was monitoring battery life at all. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 14, 2023 04:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Times Staff Writers Three Bay Area men were charged Friday with murdering a 17-year-old boy who dressed and lived as a girl after one of the accused led authorities to the victims body, buried in a remote area of the Sierra foothills. The Alameda County coroners office identified the dead teenager as Newark resident Eddie Araujo and said an examination showed he had been severely beaten. Araujos body, dressed in womens clothing, was unearthed Wednesday near an El Dorado National Forest campground 30 miles east of Placerville. Araujo, a former student at Crossroads High School in Newark, was last seen at a party on Oct. 3, police said, where he was attacked after the suspects discovered he was male. Advertisement Police reports detail interviews with several people who said they had heard the defendants had sex with Araujo and then discovered he was not a girl. Araujos mother reported him missing on Oct. 3, telling police she was worried he might have been harmed because he was dressed in womens clothes, police reports said. She told police that Araujo left for the party dressed in a jeans miniskirt and black shirt. Newark police said Araujo, who used the first names Gwen and Lida, had been dressing as a woman for some time. In an interview Friday night, Araujos mother, Sylvia Guerrero said, If I can bury him, Ill bury him in a dress with makeup and his nails done, and the tombstone will say, Gwen. He deserves it. Prosecutors filed murder charges Friday against Michael Magidson, 22, of Fremont and Jaron Chase Nabors, 19, and Jose Merel, 24, both of Newark. Police said Nabors led them to the grave near the Silver Fork campground in El Dorado County. The suspects entered no pleas and were held without bail. Merels brother, Paul Merel Jr., 25, was released. A police affidavit said Paul Merels girlfriend, Nicole Brown, discovered Araujo was male when she took him to a bathroom to determine his gender. After she told the others, the defendants allegedly beat him into semiconsciousness and dragged him into a garage, where they tightened a rope around his neck until he appeared dead, the affidavit said. The defendants drove Araujo to the campsite in the rugged back country of the High Sierra, where they buried him, according to the affidavit. Araujos aunt, Imelda Guerrero, 30, called police on Oct. 9 after hearing a rumor of the slaying of a male dressed as a woman at a local party, police reports said. Police then began interviewing people who had heard about the confrontation at the party, which was held at the Merels house. One person who attended the party took police to the house. Nabors attorney, Robert J. Beles, said his client was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but did not participate in any homicide activity at all. There are no indications of any bias or attitudes of any homophobic nature at all in Jaron, he said. When all the evidence is in, it will show he is not guilty of this. He told me he did not participate in any aggressive activity toward the victim, or in beating the victim. Beles denied police allegations that Nabors had confessed Wednesday to the crime. He would not comment, however, on whether Nabors led authorities to the body. Nichole Giacoletto, 19, an acquaintance of Nabors in junior high school, said: I just cant believe whats happened. Its very sad. Very sick. Jaron was popular -- all the girls liked him, she said. He hung around with the cool kids. I never saw him in a fight. So Im shocked. Bay Area community groups Friday compared the killing to the 1998 slaying of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard. A local high school production of a play based on Shepards killing, The Laramie Project, is set for production next month. This case shows that there is still so much work to do about peoples fear and hatred, said Tina DElia, hate-crimes specialist with the San Francisco-based Community United Against Violence. It shows that for anyone who chooses to go outside the mainstream binary culture, the fear of death is so real. Araujo had apparently dropped out of school over the summer. He had been in Newarks public school system since kindergarten and had shifted to alternative study programs when he was in middle school, first attending the Bridgepoint School and switching to Crossroads for his first three years of high school, said Newark Unified School District Supt. Ken Sherer. Araujos classes required students to meet with a teacher once a week. But he attended only about half his weekly meetings over the years, Sherer said, and hadnt shown up since the school year began in late August. Truancy officers do not usually try to find students who are 17 or 18 because they are old enough to quit school. His last teacher retired this summer and has moved out of state. Friends of Araujo at Newark Memorial High School collected $207 Friday to assist with burial expenses. We are going to keep collecting and get more people involved, said Jessica Bernal, 16. We are going to make one big check and give it to his mother. As friends of Eddie, we just want to help. We spend a lot of time teaching students they should respect another persons lifestyle, Sherer said. Its ironic that this happened to occur at the same time were putting on this [Laramie Project] play. It does kind of speak to the point that no matter how hard we try within society to eliminate prejudices, we still have a lot of it. Newark Memorial drama teacher Barbara Williams said the school still plans to stage The Laramie Project next month. Williams, who has taught in the district for 38 years and is directing the schools production, said she picked the production because she thought the community needed a lesson in tolerance. Ive watched over the years so many of our students, especially those who are gay, being ridiculed and abused, and being afraid, Williams said. Williams said the small East Bay community, consisting of working-class and immigrant neighborhoods between San Jose and Oakland, embraced the idea for the show, which is sold out for its Nov. 8 opening night. Now, because of the Araujo killing, Williams said, were living the horrible reality of our play. The play, she said, will be dedicated to Araujo and all other victims of hate crimes. Araujos friend Daisy Bernal said Araujo would get upset if she called him Eddie. She would be like, Shut up. Dont call me that, Bernal said. After I called her that, she just said, Im a girl, Im just a girl trapped in a guys body. God made me like that. * Times staff writer Rone Tempest and Associated Press contributed to this report. On 13 April, Mexicos foreign minister,and public security minister,led a delegation that met with US officials in Washington for security talks. End of preview - This article contains approximately 399 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 13 April Haitis police (PNdH) announced another arrest in relation to the July 2021 assassination of former president(2017-2021) that of, the driver of former senator, who is facing charges in the US related to the murder. End of preview - This article contains approximately 394 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 13 April, Brazils top electoral court (TSE) denied a request from the former right-wing president(2019-2023) to release confidential information pertaining to the ongoing investigation into Bolsonaros attempts to discredit the electoral process. End of preview - This article contains approximately 362 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Turks and Caicos is not just an island chain off the Bahamas filled with beautiful beaches, but it also has a rich culture with an intricate legacy. Turks and Caicos, which has a total of around 40 islands, is so beautiful that it has attracted Colombian music icon Shakira, who recently enjoyed its beaches with her sons, Sasha and Milan. The island chain has been visited by Spanish and French explorers, as well as African slave traders, in the past. Currently, it is a territory of the United Kingdom, which means it has plenty of European and African influences. The islands had similar art and cultural variables with neighboring Caribbean countries, including Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. According to TCI Villas, these countries feature the same bright and colorful art incorporating symbolisms that allude to island folklore. The celebrations in the country also include Carnivals, which have become a huge part of the islands. However, the biggest cultural influence of the country's people may be the native Taino people. In fact, the word "Caicos" comes from the Taino language meaning "chain of islands." READ NEXT: Mexico: Cancun Shooting, Violence Spark Fears Among Tourists Turks and Caicos Almost Became Part of Canada While Turks and Caicos is a British territory, its close proximity to the Americas makes its culture lean more there than in the U.K. They even use the U.S. dollar instead of the British Pound as its official currency. Before the Spaniards arrived, led by Christopher Columbus in 1492, the Taino people were the first settlers. It was then colonized by several European powers, changing hands often. However, by 1765, it was retaken by the French before the first settlement of the Caicos islands happened when British loyalists from America escaped persecution after the American War of Independence in 1783. The British Empire then conquered it, which happened without any opposition, according to iExplore. Initially part of the Bahamas, it was declared a separate colony but still under the dependency of Jamaica until 1959. Canada made a move to incorporate the islands in 1917, but the British government rejected this. Canada still maintained its political link with the islands, though, and made another attempt to incorporate Turks and Caicos in 1982. But they once again failed to incorporate the islands. Turks and Caicos Has a Bright Future Ahead Much like other island chains in the Caribbean, Turks and Caicos mainly relied on fishing since the time of the native Taino people and the ancient Lucayans. And it is quickly becoming a tourist destination as well. With beautiful beaches and turquoise waters, the islands are fast becoming recognized as one of the world's premier beach destinations., according to the islands' official tourism site. It is also welcoming to investors, as Turks and Caicos is a "zero tax" jurisdiction and therefore has no taxes on income, capital gains, corporate profits, inheritance, or estates. Its economy is also growing fast, with businesses starting to boom. READ MORE: Barbados: 5 Incredible Places in Rihanna's Home Country This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Turks & Caicos: The Don'ts of Visiting TCI - From Wolters World The Cash App founder murder case has made new revelations with details emerging regarding Bob Lee's death. Lee was stabbed to death in San Francisco last Tuesday, with authorities noting that he died after he was taken to the hospital. Engadget reported that the Bob Lee murder suspect has been confirmed to be in custody, with sources claiming that the murder case is not a random case of mugging or random murder. Sources claim that the alleged suspect is Nima Momeni. Momeni is known to be an Emeryville-based owner of the outsourcing firm Expand IT. The Cash App founder reportedly knew Momeni and was a passenger in a car belonging to the suspect. Lee stepped out of the vehicle after a confrontation allegedly started in the car and continued even after he was outside. READ NEXT: California Files Lawsuit Against Walmart for Illegally Dumping Hazardous Waste in Landfills Bob Lee Murder Suspect: Nima Momeni The Cash App founder murder suspect was confirmed to be Nima Momeni by authorities. San Francisco police Chief William Scott noted that Momeni previously knew Bob Lee, as reported by ABC News Go. Scott noted at a briefing on Thursday that Momeni was taken into custody without incident and was transported to San Francisco County jail, wherein the suspect was booked on a charge of murder. The police chief added that investigators have been "working tirelessly" to put a suspect into their custody. Meanwhile, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins lauded the arrest efforts made by the San Francisco police. Jenkins said that Lee's killer has now been identified, arrested, and will now be brought to justice. The mayor of San Francisco, London Breed, earlier said in a statement that the murder was a "horrible tragedy." It was not immediately known how Lee and Momeni knew each other. Prosecutors are looking to hold Momeni without bail while an arraignment hearing has been set for Friday. Cash App Founder Murder Bob Lee was known to his friends as "Crazy Bob" and was the chief product officer at MobileCoin, a cryptocurrency company. Aside from friends and family, many people working in tech also spoke about the murder of the Cash App founder. Friends described Lee in interviews with The Washington Post as a "warmhearted and tenacious" entrepreneur aiming to better the world through his financial technology endeavors. Lee also worked on Android and Google before he helped small businesses with Square and launched Cash App, which has been dubbed as one of the most popular mobile payment apps. Elon Musk also spoke about Lee's murder and made it an incident of how violence in the city is skyrocketing. Jenkins slammed Musk's statement and described it as "reckless and irresponsible." Scott also noted during a press conference that the murder "has nothing to do with San Francisco," but more with "human nature." The suspect was reported to have been a tech entrepreneur, having previously worked as a tech consultant and attended the University of California, Berkeley. READ MORE: California Earthquake: Bay Area, Central Coast Hit by Magnitude 4.5 Jolt This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Bob Lee stabbing: Suspect arrested for Cash App founder's death - from KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco Governor Ron DeSantis, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, has indicated his support for the Florida abortion ban bill passed by the Florida House on Thursday that would outlaw most abortions after six weeks, CNN reported. The law follows actions by other Republican-led states to swiftly curb the practice since the US Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade last summer and would make Florida one of the most restricted states in the country to obtain an abortion. The state Senate approved the bill on April 3, which will soon be on Ron DeSantis' desk for his signing. If passed, the bill would ban abortions after the sixth week in Florida. However, critics of the bill say that many women do not even realize they are pregnant until far later than that. "Let's be clear about the silent part: You just don't want women to have a choice," House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, a Tampa Democrat, said Thursday during a debate on the bill. By providing a restraining order, police report, medical record, or other documentation, the law allows a victim of rape, incest, or human trafficking to seek an abortion up to 15 weeks into the pregnancy. Moreover, abortion pills can only be given out by doctors, not sent in the mail, and telemedicine abortion prescriptions are outlawed under the new legislation. READ NEXT: Florida: 6-Week Abortion Ban Bill Approved Four Conditions to Have the Procedure Under Florida Abortion Ban Under the law, physicians can only perform abortions under four specific circumstances, per ABC News. Under the law's exceptions, abortion care may be provided if two doctors agree in writing that the termination of the pregnancy is necessary to prevent the woman's death or the substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a significant bodily function, excluding psychological conditions. One doctor must sign a statement saying that another doctor is unavailable for consultation and that the procedure is medically necessary to save the pregnant woman's life or prevent the irreversible physical impairment of a significant bodily function, as required by law. If a pregnancy has not entered the third trimester and two doctors agree in writing that the fetus has a fatal fetal defect, then abortion will be legal. Fourth, if the pregnancy is the product of rape or incest and the doctor determines that the fetus is less than 15 weeks in its development, the doctor may perform an abortion. A copy of a restraining order, police report, medical record, or other court order or evidence showing that she is a victim of rape or incest must be provided at the time the woman arranges or arrives for her abortion appointment. According to the law, physicians must call the central abuse hotline to report any cases of rape or incest involving kids. Abortion services will be provided only by physicians with licenses. It is a third-degree felony for anyone to perform or actively engage in an abortion outside of these guidelines, and abortion that ends in the woman's death is a felony of the second degree. Women Seeking for Abortion in Florida Almost Doubled from 2020-2022 From 2020 to 2022, the number of out-of-state women seeking abortions in Florida rose from 3,988 to 6,708, according to data compiled by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. Over the same time, the total number of abortions in the state rose from 74,868 to 82,192, NBC News noted. The Florida abortion ban will be put on hold after it becomes law, pending a judgment from the Florida Supreme Court on the constitutionality of a 15-week abortion restriction Ron DeSantis signed into law after the state's 2022 legislative session. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union, and a group of abortion providers argued that privacy guarantees in the state constitution safeguard the right to an abortion. READ MORE: Massive Brawl Involving 150 Teens at Kansas City Theme Park Injures a Deputy This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: BREAKING: Florida legislature passes ban on abortion after six weeks - From MSNBC A former minister in Peru, Daniel Urresti, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the 1988 murder of Hugo Bustios. He was a journalist who was investigating human rights abuses at the time. Urresti, a former interior minister, was a military intelligence officer in the army when the 1988 murder occurred. The court ruled that he took part in the ambush and murder of Bustios, according to BBC News. The court ruled that a total of six members of the military had been involved in the journalist's killing, with Urresti participating in the plot. Lawyers for Urresti said that they would appeal the verdict against their client. He served as Peru's interior minister from 2014 to 2015. He also dropped out of two presidential races before the final stages and was close to being elected mayor of Lima. The slain journalist's daughter, Sharmeli, welcomed the ruling. She said that 34 years has passed since the murder of her father, adding that they finally got the justice that had been denied to them. READ NEXT: Peru Protests: Foreign Minister Admits Demonstrations Not Backed by Criminal Groups as Dina Boluarte Claims Daniel Urresti's Sentencing Peru's Judge Juan Santillan issued the sentence in Lima, with prosecutors requesting 25 years of imprisonment. The judge only sentenced the former interior minister to 12 years. The prosecution was satisfied with the decision despite the sentence being lower than what they asked for. Associated Press News reported that the National Association of Journalists said in statements on social media that the verdict was compensation for the family of the murdered journalist and for journalism. The group said that it was an "important step towards justice and the defense of press freedom in Peru." Urresti served under the administration of President Ollanta Humala. He earned a reputation for being outspoken and taking a hard opposition against crime. In the years 2020 to 2021, he served in Peru's Congress. His sentencing came after a second trial after he was cleared of any involvement in the murder in 2018. However, the Supreme Court of Peru overturned the ruling and ordered a new trial on the grounds of the process being full of errors. Journalist Hugo Bustios Murder Witnesses noted that Bustios was on a motorcycle with his colleague Eduardo Rojas Arce when they were attacked by the military. Bustios identified himself as a journalist and asked not to be shot. However, they put a grenade or dynamite on the journalist, as reported by El Comercio. Other military members involved in the murder of Bustios were former soldiers Victor Fernando La Vera Hernandez and Amador Armando Vidal Sanbento, who was serving at the base. The two were convicted as perpetrators of the killing. Judges also ruled that Bustios' murder had been premeditated. On the other hand, Rojas, who was with Bustios at the time, was hit but managed to escape. Witnesses noted that the military members were in plain clothes when they placed explosives on Bustios and then detonated them, which killed the journalist instantly. Bustios was reporting for a weekly magazine Caretas and was killed during the peak of the conflict between Peruvian security forces and rebels of the Maoist Shining Path group. READ MORE: Peru Closes Down Andahuaylas Airport Amid Deadly Protests; New President Dina Boluarte Names Her Cabinet This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Daniel Urresti fue condenado a 12 anos de prision por el asesinato del periodista Hugo Bustios (2/2) - from 24 Oras People suffering from student loans might get a reprieve as a massive $6 billion student loan forgiveness plan will be moving forward, thanks to a Supreme Court ruling on Thursday. The massive settlement that forgave $6 billion in federal loans for around 200,000 students at for-profit schools or vocational programs was one of the president's most popular policies. However, several schools asked the Supreme Court to block it. According to the New York Times, the issue at hand was a class-action lawsuit filed in 2019 that sought to require the government to reduce the backlog. The Trump administration tried to block this, but a federal judge denied this attempt and said that the Trump administration's actions were "disturbingly Kafkaesque." The class-action lawsuit to cancel student debt was initially filed during the Trump administration. However, as Joe Biden became president, he and his Department of Justice agreed to a settlement last summer, and a federal judge approved it last November. However, the move to hand out student loan forgiveness soon stalled. Three Schools Tried to Block the Student Debt Forgiveness Settlement Three schools soon challenged the historic settlement after a judge ruled in favor of it: Everglades College, Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, and the American National University. These schools claimed the settlement was a "product of collusion between the Biden administration and lawyers for the borrowers." "Through a collusive, nationwide class settlement of a lawsuit that sought to compel the department merely to restart adjudication of applications for loan cancellation," argued the schools' lawyers to the justices. They added that the Department of Education "ignored its regulations, foregone adjudication altogether, and plans to cancel and refund billions in loans for hundreds of thousands of borrowers." READ NEXT: Donald Trump Tried Undermining FDA by Pushing Discredited COVID-19 Treatment, The schools stated that the settlement harmed them as it "hurt their reputations and subjected them to the possibility that the government would seek to recoup the forgiven loans from them." However, the Supreme Court agreed with a previous ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, handing a massive legal and financial victory to thousands of student loan borrowers across the country. According to Yahoo! News, the decision is still separate from Joe Biden's broader plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for federal borrowers. Like this one, the Biden plan was also stalled by conservative-backed lawsuits seeking to block the relief permanently. Oral arguments have already been heard by the Supreme Court last February, and a decision is expected by June. Student Loan Pause Benefitted Richer Borrowers Student loan payments were temporarily paused during the pandemic. However, as the pandemic is now officially over, people would now have to start paying them once again. Brookings pointed out that this pause would be easier for some than others. Those who have higher incomes and never suffered wage losses due to the pandemic would have already recovered from any short-term financial effects of the pandemic, which means that they can have an easier time paying those student loan debts. However, those struggling with student loan payments before the pandemic will have a harder time paying as payments restart. This is all the harder as conservatives have stalled the student loan cancellation plan proposed by the Biden administration, which many have seen to be a massive relief for them financially. READ MORE: Tennessee Three Member Justin Pearson Also Reinstated Unanimously This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Supreme Court won't block $6B student debt relief settlement - WGN News Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has found himself in a bribery scandal after accepting lavish gifts from billionaire Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. Now, new details about their dealings have emerged. ProPublica, which first broke the news of the conservative Supreme Court Justice's acceptance of gifts, reported that Thomas has sold the property to Crowe, but did not disclose their deal. The deal in question was when the billionaire land developer purchased a string of properties on a quiet residential street in Savannah, Georgia back in 2014. While this was nothing special for the real estate magnate, among the properties he bought was an old single-story home and two vacant lots down the road. However, Justice Thomas and his relatives were reportedly part of this deal. This is noted as the first instance that money flowed from the wealthy Texan to the embattled Supreme Court Justice. The Republican megadonor paid $133,363 from three co-owners, which included Justice Thomas, his mother, and his late brother's family. This means that Crow essentially owned the building where the Supreme Court justice's mother was living in, as well as renovating the property which used to belong to the justice. Officials, including Supreme Court justices, are required to disclose the details of real estate sales over $1,000, per federal disclosure law passed after Watergate. However, Thomas did not disclose the fact that he sold his Savannah properties. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Republican Megadonor Harlan Crow Downplayed Gifts Crow's gifts to the Supreme Court justice, who already raised eyebrows because of his wife, Ginni Thomas's connections to the January 6 Capitol Insurrection, included lavish vacations across the world. These vacations are reportedly worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, with Crow paying for all of them. This relationship between Crow and Thomas had been going off for almost two decades now, and these vacations have been happening almost every year. However, Justice Thomas downplayed the discovery. READ NEXT: January 6 Hearing: Donald Trump Pressured Justice Department to Call 2020 Election 'Corrupt' Thomas maintained that he was not required to disclose his trips with Crow and that they should not count as he and the wealthy Republican backer have been friends for around 20 years. However, many have been pointing out that Thomas has been a Supreme Court justice for far longer than that. As for Harlan Crow, he stated that he wanted "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." According to the Associated Press, Crow stated that "Justice Thomas's story represents the best of America." The Debate Around Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas's Relationship With Harlan Crow Yahoo! News has pointed out that this discovery has sparked a debate on what Supreme Court justices should be doing. While conservatives rallied to defend Thomas, liberals have called out these gifts and transactions as outright bribery. Conservatives argued that Supreme Court Justice Thomas followed ethics rules as they are written and insisted that Thomas's relationship with Crow could not alter his decisions on various cases. However, liberals argued that the gifts from Crow, who has given millions to fund Republicans, are inconsistent with ethical standards expected of any public servant, including a justice of the Supreme Court. Several, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, have called for Thomas's impeachment. READ MORE: January 6 Hearings: Mike Pence Chose Constitution Over Trump This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: The case for impeaching Justice Clarence Thomas - MSNBC Authorities have arrested the mother of the 6-year-old boy who had shot and wounded a Virginia teacher, AP reports. A booking photo of the 25-year-old lady and a brief statement about her surrender to the local jail was provided by the Newport News Police Department, according to their Thursday announcement. She posted a $5,000 bond and is free pending a status hearing in Newport News Circuit Court on Friday, her lawyer James Ellenson said. The mother was charged with felony child neglect as well as a misdemeanor count of endangering a child by negligently storing a firearm, according to Monday's announcement from the authorities. "She is nervous and scared because she has never been charged before, but holding up well," Ellenson wrote in an email Thursday. Abby Zwerner, a first-grade Virginia teacher, was shot and injured while seated at a table in her classroom, according to authorities, more than three months before the woman's arrest. The gun the boy used belonged to his mother and was legally acquired. Zwerner sued the school district for $40 million last week, claiming that school administrators were negligent in their duty to protect students and ignored several warnings that the boy had brought a gun to school. READ NEXT: 6-Year-Old Virginia Kid Shoots Elementary School Teacher 'Intentionally' Prosecutors Investigate Possible Security Risk Following Virginia Teacher Shooting Incident The Commonwealth's Attorney stated that his office had requested a special grand jury investigation into any security flaws that may have contributed to the incident from the Circuit Court, according to CNN. During the school day, the 6-year-old was allegedly required to have a parent present "because of his violent tendencies," according to the lawsuit filed by Zwerner's attorney. The complaint states that school officials "allowed him to remain unaccompanied on that particular day without a one-on-one companion during the school day." Several instructors and staff members raised concerns and warning indications, including the possibility that the 6-year-old had a gun in his hands in the hours leading up to the shooting on January 6. The suit claims the school's then-assistant principal ignored these concerns and warning indicators. According to the lawsuit, the elementary school guidance counselor and administrator said assistant principal Ebony Parker forbid instructors from inspecting the 6-year-old for a firearm since his mother would be there soon to pick him up. The family stated that the boy has an "acute disability" and was under a care plan requiring a parent to go to school with him, yet he was alone that day. Parents were outraged by the incident, and the school board ultimately fired Superintendent George Parker III. Two weeks after the incident, the school's associate principal, Ebony Parker, resigned, and the school's principal, Briana Foster Newton, was relocated to another school, the location of which was not disclosed by the district. Lawmakers Commend Virginia Teacher Shot and Injured by Her Pupil The Virginia teacher was honored by a resolution voted by the Virginia General Assembly on Wednesday, per ABC News. The resolution says that Zwerner has won the state's "admiration for her courage and dedication to the safety of her students." Zwerner and his family showed up to the honor ceremony together. "Thank you for all that you do for our children and the lives that you no doubt saved," Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears told Zwerner. Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew previously called Abby Zwerner, the Virginia teacher, a "hero who saved lives." READ MORE: Kim Kardashian to Attend Met Gala 2023 This is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Mom of 6-year-old Who Shot Teacher Charged With Neglect - From Law&Crime Network A California man, who went on a shooting spree in Roseville and Citrus Heights before threatening to shoot the State Capitol, was arrested Thursday afternoon in Granite Bay. The man behind the shooting from a moving vehicle and lodging bullets in the wall of a hospital and commercial establishments in the suburbs of Sacramento County was identified as Jackson Pinney. The Roseville Police Department said the 30-year-old suspect was also linked to the "credible threat" that caused the California Highway Patrol to call for an evacuation of the State Capitol building on Thursday morning. During his shooting spree on Wednesday night, Pinney lodged bullets in two buildings in Citrus Heights and the Kaiser Permanente Medical building in Roseville. Police said no one was hurt in the shootings. California's State Assembly was forced to cancel its Thursday session while senators were evacuated to work in a new location, the Associated Press reported. Pinney has already been booked into the Placer County Jail on charges: of attempted homicide, assault with a firearm, shooting from a moving vehicle, and shooting at an uninhabited dwelling. Details on California Man's Attack in Sacramento Suburbs Revealed According to the Sacramento Bee, the California man's attacks began in Citrus Heights. The city's police received a call about a shooting at around 8:45 p.m. It turned out that the caller was the shooter, and witnesses told police that he drove away in a gold-colored truck and fired several rounds. A few minutes later, another shooting was reported to Citrus Heights Police, this time from a truck near Auburn Boulevard and Twin Oaks Avenue. The shooter continued traveling north, arriving in another Sacramento suburb of Roseville. There, the shooter fired more shots on Eureka Road and Douglas Boulevard. He reportedly hit the walls of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, though, like the first attacks, nobody was injured. California Highway Patrol officials then said that the same suspect also made threats against the California Capitol that forced the government building to close temporarily and evacuate politicians. Evacuation of the California Capitol State lawmakers were supposed to begin a session on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. but were forced to delay it as they were told to check in for a session in a separate building down the street. Because police deemed Jackson Pinney's threat credible, security then turned people away at the door of the Capitol. However, KCRA-3 reported that the situation appeared calm, and streets in the area were not blocked off, with a demonstration around the western side of the California Capitol building continuing. As for staff, those who were not yet at the Capitol were told to stay home and work remotely while the building was being evacuated. "I'm OK, the members are OK. Members are safe," Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon said while returning to the Capitol. However, the Capitol closed again by 3 p.m. READ MORE: Gavin Newson Net Worth 2022: How Did the 40th California Governor Become a Multimillionaire? This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Kaiser Roseville Struck by Gunfire; Police Piecing Together Multiple Scenes - From CBS Sacramento Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Thursday the arrest of Jack Teixeira in relation to dozens of leaked documents that disclosed sensitive U.S. defense and intelligence information. According to CBS News, Garland said Teixeira, a 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsman, was arrested by FBI agents at his home in Dighton on Thursday afternoon "in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information." In brief remarks at the Department of Justice headquarters, Garland noted that Teixeira was taken into custody "without incident." The New York Times was the first to reveal Teixeira's name and being a member of the National Guard's 102nd Intelligence Wing on Thursday. Before Garland announced his arrest, Teixeira was seen in an aerial news video outside his house in North Dighton walking backward with his hands on his head as officers carrying rifles watched him. Teixeira was promptly arrested and placed in the back of an armored vehicle. READ NEXT: Joe Biden Classified Documents Scandal: Foul Play Possible? Jack Teixeira Might Face Criminal Charges Due to Leaked Documents Without saying what the exact charges Jack Teixeira would face, the Justice Department said indictments may include criminal charges of willfully retaining and transmitting national defense information, Reuters reported. Even if Teixeira did not mean to harm anyone, the accusations he faces might send him to prison for up to 10 years, according to Brandon Van Grack, a former national security prosecutor for the Justice Department who is now with the law firm Morrison Foerster. "This is someone facing the higher end of exposure for years in prison... because the leaks were so damaging," Van Grack said. Pentagon officials have been "working around the clock to analyze and mitigate any damage," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. According to a representative for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston, Teixeira was scheduled to appear in court on Friday. Jack Teixeira Joined Air National Guard in 2019 According to CNN, the Air Force declassified Jack Teixeira's military record as an Airman 1st Class. The Air Force disclosed facts from Teixeira's military record on Thursday, which showed that he is an enlisted airman with the Massachusetts Air National Guard. His official military title is "Cyber Transport Systems journeyman." He was enlisted in September 2019. Cyber Transport Systems experts are responsible for maintaining the Air Force's "vast, global communications network," the military stated. According to many of his former high school friends who spoke with CNN on Thursday, Teixeira was fascinated by the military, weapons, and war. Occasionally, he wore camouflage to class, carried a "dictionary-sized book on guns," and behaved in a way that made some of his classmates uneasy. "Many people were wary of him," said Brooke Cleathero, who attended middle and high school with Teixeira. "He was more of a loner and having a fascination with war and guns made him off-putting to many people." CNN obtained some of the leaked documents posted to social media. The outlet reported that the highly classified documents include details about the war in Ukraine, the challenges Kyiv and Moscow face, anticipated Russia's airstrikes on specific targets, and other war plans of Russia. After the leaked documents incident, the Pentagon began restricting access to its highly classified daily intelligence briefs to a smaller group of government officials. As the Pentagon's Joint Staff continues to trim its distribution lists, several U.S. officials who used to receive the daily briefing materials have ceased receiving them recently, sources familiar with the situation told CNN. READ MORE: Florida Abortion Ban Bill Now on Ron DeSantis' Desk This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: FBI Arrests Pentagon Leaks Suspect Jack Teixeira - From The Telegraph Former President Donald Trump arrived in New York City on Thursday to participate in a deposition for a civil lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James alleging him of business fraud. According to Raw Story, Trump's motorcade was greeted by crowds chanting "New York hates you" upon arrival at the Attorney General's office in Manhattan just before 10 a.m. A tweeted video of the protesters by Washington Post reporter Shayna Jacobs showed them chanting, "New York hates you." Trump motorcade arriving at AGs office to chants of New York hates you. pic.twitter.com/CjKtJZlrY0 Shayna Jacobs (@shaynajacobs) April 13, 2023 There were also Trump supporters in the area, with one MAGA supporter carrying a banner that read, "Trump or Death," with the image of the former president and the year 2024. The man clarified that it was "not my death." A handful of MAGA devotees also here. Camouflage t-shirt man clarifies its not my death. pic.twitter.com/qQyYN1SXxI Shayna Jacobs (@shaynajacobs) April 13, 2023 The Independent reported that another video showed Trump holding his fist up in a show of defiance as he left Trump Tower before heading to downtown Manhattan. It was the first time Trump returned to New York since he was arrested and pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection to the hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. READ NEXT: Donald Trump Arrest: Judge Presiding the Case, Family Get Threats After Arraignment Donald Trump Civil Lawsuit Donald Trump's second deposition on Thursday is part of the civil lawsuit case filed against him, some of his children, and his company. The lawsuit is seeking $250 million while also banning the former president's ability to operate a business in the state of New York. The Trumps have denied having any wrongdoing, CNN reported. Trump's attorney Alina Habba said in a statement that the former president "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." Trump's three children named in the case were Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump, who were also called by the attorney general's office last year. Ivanka and Donald Jr. provided answers to prosecutors, while Eric invoked his Fifth Amendment right in 2020 in his response to over 500 questions. Donald Trump New York Arraignment Donald Trump turned himself in last Tuesday to authorities in New York, where he was arraigned on 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors claimed that Trump had illegally altered company documents to hide $130,000 in reimbursements to his ex-lawyer 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. Former Playboy model Karen McDougal was also reportedly given $150,000 after admitting her relationship with Trump. During his Mar-a-Lago speech just hours after his arraignment, the former president told supporters that the only crime he committed was to "fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it." CNBC reported that Trump was not due back in court until December. 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: Lawrence: Manhattan Welcomes Trump Back with 'New York Hates You!' Chants - From MSNBC Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez, alias "El Menchito," the son of Jalisco cartel boss Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, was due to plead guilty in a Washington, D.C. court this week. However, his plan seemed to change after a new lawyer hired by his family showed up. El Menchito was supposed to plead guilty on Wednesday, April 12, to an international conspiracy to traffic drugs and possession of firearms before Judge Beryl Alaine Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C. But according to VICE, the plea deal has been put on hold as the 33-year-old son of El Mencho is reconsidering taking his case to trial, which is set to begin on May 3, with the jury selection. El Menchito was foreseen to be the first high-profile Jalisco cartel figure to take his case to trial. El Menchito is known to inherit the cartel throne from his father in Mexico, as he was considered by the U.S. the second in command of the notorious organization. El Mencho's son reportedly notified prosecutors late last month that he would like to change his plea to guilty. However, a day before he was scheduled to change his plea, federal prosecutors filed a motion asking the judge to hold a "conflict inquiry" over a new lawyer seeking to represent El Menchito in his case. Prosecutors said lawyer Arturo Hernandez was "purportedly retained by the defendant's family on his behalf." READ NEXT: Mexico: 2 Bodies Found Hanging From Bridge, 3 Police Officers Killed as Mexican Drug Cartels Battle for Territory Jalisco Cartel Boss El Mencho's Son, El Menchito, on Changing His Plea Prosecutors noted that several close relatives of El Mencho's son also face charges in related cases that may result in potential conflicts of interest with the new lawyer. According to the VICE report, the prosecutors told the judge, "The government has concerns about a potential conflict of interest if Mr. Hernandez is retained and/or receiving attorney's fees from the defendant's family members who are charged in related cases or individuals acting on behalf of those family members." During the court hearing on Wednesday, Arturo Hernandez showed up as he attempted to appear on behalf of El Menchito. However, Beryl Alaine Howell questioned the lawyer's "last minute" appearance in the court handling El Menchito's case, which she said has "been pending on my docket for years." "This is not the way I do business," the judge said. Hernandez then noted that he had been retained by El Menchito "the day prior," as he had a conflict with his other defense lawyers. The lawyer then told the judge that he would seek to delay the trial since it would be hard for his client to proceed when he "has a conflict with his attorneys," but Howell said, "No, no, no." The judge then told El Mencho's son that just because he wanted a new lawyer does not mean "you automatically get it." El Menchito replied that he only wanted "a second opinion" as he was "not happy" with the plea. He then appealed for more time and to postpone the trial. Howell eventually agreed to postpone the hearing to give El Mencho's son time to get his "second opinion." The judge reportedly scheduled another hearing on April 21 to determine what happens next. Arrest of Jalisco Cartel Boss El Mencho's Son, El Menchito El Menchito was first arrested in Zapopan in Mexico's Jalisco state on January 2014, but a federal court acquitted him in December of the same year for lack of evidence. He was apprehended again on June 2015. Since then, he has remained in prison. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia charged El Mencho's son with international drug trafficking in 2017. The U.S. government submitted its extradition request for El Menchito the same year, which Mexico's Secretariat of Foreign Affairs granted in October 2018. He was extradited to the U.S. in February 2020 after several appeals. After a few days, El Menchito pleaded not guilty to drug conspiracy and possession of firearms charges before a U.S. judge, Courthouse News Service reported. During the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Reynolds urged the judge to keep El Mencho's son in custody, reminding him that his father is one of Mexico's most powerful drug kingpins. Reynolds also argued at the time that the defendant was a "high flight risk" and "would have the means to escape if given the opportunity." El Menchito is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted. The U.S. government has already offered a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of El Menchito's father, El Mencho. The Jalisco cartel boss remains one of the world's most elusive criminals. READ MORE: El Chapo's Sinaloa Cartel Continues to Thrive Despite the Drug Lord's Absence: Report This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: The First Militaristic Drug Cartel | Narco Wars - From National Geographic The U.S. and Mexico agreed Thursday to intensify their fight against fentanyl trafficking, the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels, and their supply chains to reduce the amount of the powerful opioid crossing through the border. According to Reuters, the agreement, which also aims to reduce consumption of the deadly opioid, came after a meeting of officials from both countries in Washington, D.C. In recent weeks, both countries have asked China for help to reduce shipments of precursor chemicals coming from the Asian country, which is used in manufacturing the synthetic drug that is being blamed for the thousands of deaths in the U.S. "That's our goal," said Foreign Minister of Mexico Marcelo Ebrard in a video released by his office, without mentioning the origin of these chemicals. The White House said it would increase its efforts to restrict the illegal financial activities of drug traffickers involved in fentanyl trafficking by using more sanctions to block their access to the U.S. financial system. Two sources familiar with the agreement previously told NBC News that military and police in Mexico, with the help of U.S. law enforcement, will focus on tracking raw materials for fentanyl being shipped to Mexico, finding and closing down laboratories that make the synthetic opioid, and will go after key figures in the illegal fentanyl trade. In return, the insiders said the U.S. has agreed to strictly control and track firearms crossing from the U.S. into Mexico. READ NEXT: China Says No Illegal Fentanyl Trafficking With Mexico, Blames U.S. Instead U.S. to Establish Special Group to Help Mexico in Fighting Arms Trafficking To drastically reduce the number of weapons entering Mexico, the U.S. has agreed to create a special group that will monitor firearms crossing from the U.S. into the Mexican country. According to Marcelo Ebrard, it was the Mexican delegation who asked the Biden administration for a task force to monitor and "substantially" lessen the flow of firearms from the U.S. to Mexico. Mexico is appealing in a $10 billion civil case seeking to hold U.S. gun manufacturers liable for facilitating the trafficking of weapons across the border to Mexican drug cartels. The appeal argued that finding solutions to this matter is a shared responsibility, which everyone has some role to play. Marcelo Ebrard told reporters that the bilateral meeting between senior security officials from Mexico and U.S. had "good results" as they were able to come up with agreements that tackle the illicit trade of fentanyl, its chemical precursors, and firearms, Infobae reported. Fentanyl Production in Mexico Mexican drug cartels manufacture most illegal fentanyl, cut into other illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine, or sell as fake pills that appear like Xanax, oxycodone, or Percocet. About 70,000 overdose fatalities a year in the U.S. have been linked to fentanyl use, and they were not even aware that they were consuming the drugs, according to The Guardian. Mexican drug cartels reportedly do not sell fentanyl in Mexico because they make so much money in the U.S., according to experts. Lindsey Graham, a U.S. Republican senator, has been at the forefront of putting pressure on Mexico. He previously said he would introduce fentanyl legislation that would label Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Marcelo Ebrard responded to Graham's criticism, saying that Americans make up most of those arrested in the U.S. for fentanyl trafficking. Unlike other countries, Mexico is "doing as much" to combat fentanyl trade to the United States, Ebrard noted. READ MORE: Mom of Young Boy Who Shot Teacher at School Arrested This is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: U.S. and Mexico Weigh Agreement on Fentanyl and Guns - From NBC News Brush fires and wildfires have kept crews busy this week in eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, but crews in Schuylkill County made a dangerous discovery during one recent blaze. Tamaqua police and the fire department were dispatched late Wednesday night to a brush fire at the top of the Dutch Hill section of the borough, near Clark Street and Biddle Street. Almost a half-hour after being called, the chief from South Ward Fire Co. # 1 Station 4 was clearing the brush fire when he found what appeared to be a homemade explosive device, police said. The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources fire forester called for the Pennsylvania State Police bomb squad; an agent from the FBIs bomb squad and a corporal with state police bomb squad arrived. By midnight Thursday, authorities completed a controlled detonation of the device, police said. No one was injured. The dangers of these devices are real, Tamaqua police said in a news release. Tamaqua police, the DCNR, the FBI and state police are investigating. Anyone with information about the device should call Tamaqua police at 570-668-6100. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. The old industrial complex presented a great opportunity for West Easton. The once-vacant buildings at 1550 Lehigh Drive were partitioned for a handful of small businesses, including a plastics recycler and an insulation recycler. They brought jobs and tax revenue to the small borough. There was just one problem. The century-old former factory buildings were never modernized for fire safety. And the borough failed to enforce fire codes at the site. Its unclear the last time a code officer visited the site. The 280,000-square-foot complex caught fire and burned for a day and a half, sending soot for miles and the smell of burning plastic into the air. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection monitored the air and water quality as unknown hazardous materials burned. Borough Manager Joan Heebner admits the site probably should have been inspected at some point but the borough has no policy or practice in place to make sure large industrial facilities undergo a code inspection when they change hands. The borough has no in-house code officials. It contracts with Barry Isett and Associates of Upper Macungie Township to enforce building codes. Heebner said shes familiar with occupancy permits and code inspections for homes and new construction, but she wasnt sure how far she should go or what she should do to enforce codes at the aging Ingersoll Rand factory. Shes one of the boroughs few employees and was plowing through a pile of paperwork Wednesday while answering questions about the fire for lehighvalleylive.com. Getting more information about the old factory complex nagged at her for months. Should she have followed through on those worries? Should the site have been inspected? In hindsight, absolutely, she said. Heebner said she called Barry Isett and Associates for guidance on how to proceed with the fire aftermath and how to proceed with inspecting other old industrial buildings in the borough. Shes unclear what authority borough officials have to inspect private property without permission of the owner. Shes waiting to hear back. A voicemail left by lehighvalleylive.com with Barry Isett wasnt returned. Aerial view on April 7, 2023, of the aftermath of the fire at 1550 Lehigh Drive in West EastonMike Nester | lehighvalleylive.com contributor Next steps West Easton Mayor Dan DePaul said he plans to discuss boroughwide fire safety at the West Easton Borough Council meeting coming up April 24. He acknowledged the debt the borough owes to the 20-plus fire companies, the hazardous materials responders, state and federal agencies and other emergency responders that battled the four-alarm blaze on April 4. It was a wake-up call on fire prevention, he said. Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Colleen Connolly said her agency is still reviewing what hazardous materials were stored on the site and what environmental risks they might pose. One of the warehouse tenants, Triumvirate Environmental, hired a consultant to compile a list of all on-site hazardous materials, Connolly said. The list was sent to the DEP and is under review. Triumvirates website says the Massachusetts-based company manages waste and disposal for life sciences, healthcare, education and industrial firms. It also handles COVID-19 decontamination and environmental health science services. Its not clear what waste or other materials Triumvirate had at the West Easton site. Connolly said air monitoring has stopped at the fire site, although visual inspections for contaminated water runoff continue. The agencys Water Quality Network Sites along the Lehigh River will detect any hazards in the water, she said. So far, the air and water in the vicinity of the fire remain safe, she said. West Easton Fire Chief William Bogari Jr. had to rely on tankers from across the region to pump water out of the Lehigh River and drive it to the fire site. Two hydrants in the complex were inadequate to handle the scope of the blaze, he said. The building had no fire suppression system, he said. He and DePaul said the factory complex was built by Ingersoll Rand in the 1800s. DePaul said a metal fabricator took over the site after that, and then it sat idle until the early 2000s when it became the Johnson Motor Lines site. Northampton County property records say Emek Brucha LLC of Brooklyn, New York, purchased the site for $9 million in December 2021. Chaim Greenbaum of Brooklyn, New York, said he owns the building. He said was satisfied when he bought it that the building was safe. Heebner said shes been asking Greenbaum for a list of tenants but keeps getting excuses and no list. Greenbaum said hes done everything the borough has asked of him. The site of Xtreme Custom Coatings on Thursday, April 6, 2023 in West Easton. The four-alarm blaze began at the industrial site, 1550 Lehigh Dr., around 5 a.m. Tuesday, April 4, 2023. A model for change The change of ownership may have provided an opportunity for West Easton to inspect the building for fire safety. The City of Easton routinely inspects properties when they change owners or when new tenants plan to move in, according to Easton Director of Planning and Codes Stephen Nowroski. He said the city implements the 2018 International Codes and the 2017 National Electric Codes, which are the standards in Pennsylvania. Fire safety inspections are part of this process, he said. West Easton didnt inspect the building Greenbaum purchased it. Nor did the borough inspect the space when Gladiator Fibers, the recyclable insulation business, moved in two years ago. Nor did it inspect for fire safety when Triumvirate Environmental opened in 2016. The plastics recycler Lehigh Polymers hasnt returned a message, so its unclear when that company moved in. The sandblasting and powder coating business Xtreme Custom Coatings moved into the complex 11 years ago, the company owner said. The City of Easton would have inspected the building before each of the tenants moved in. But the city has a crew of in-house inspectors. Heeber said she didnt even know Gladiator Fibers moved in until news articles announced it had won a grant from the state for its move to West Easton. She said she went out of her way to make sure Gladiator has the proper permits when it moved in. She said she often tracks down new tenants or residents moving into the borough, even Realtors who fail to get occupancy permits for homes they sell. She said shes doing her best with the resources she has. The borough didnt have a manager for six years until Heebner was hired in 2016. Shes gotten credit for finding six-figure grants to help build a public works garage and install a storm drain. But she wishes she had been more persistent with how to handle the old Ingersoll plant. When you see that massive damage over that area, its mind boggling, she said. Looking ahead DePaul said excavators continue to tear down unstable walls at the factory site to make sure they dont fall down and hurt someone. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the borough police department and Pennsylvania State Police. Its unclear what action, if any, borough council will take. Council President Paul James didnt return an emailed message. Councilman Matt Dees directed questions about the fire to Heebner. Easton Fire Chief Henry Hennings recommends West Easton take steps to make sure the borough doesnt have another fire on the scope of the one at the old Ingersoll plant. Everybody should take the fire code seriously, he said. He couldnt speak to how vigorously West Easton has enforced the fire code, but said this would be an opportune time for them moving forward to do so. Aerial view on April 7, 2023, of the aftermath of the fire at 1550 Lehigh Drive in West EastonMike Nester | lehighvalleylive.com contributor Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. UPDATE: Northeast Pa. wildfire contained after burning 4,376 acres, state says Crews were continuing to battle a large wildfire in northeastern Pennsylvania, which forced the temporary closure Thursday night of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in that area. In an update Friday, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said 2,513 acres had burned in the Crystal Lake Fire about a half-mile southeast of Mountain Top in Luzerne County. Containment was estimated at around 10% as of early Friday afternoon, with 150 homes threatened but no known structures lost, according to the update. The DCNR reported 102 personnel assigned to fight the fire, with two fixed-wing air tankers and one helicopter available as needed. It started Wednesday afternoon, following a warning April 6 from Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn that dry conditions were contributing to elevated risks for fires to spread this spring. The Lehigh Valley region was included in a red flag warning Wednesday from the National Weather Service, stating that warm, dry weather and potential gusty winds were providing the perfect ingredients for wildfires. The start of the Crystal Lake Fire remained under investigation. It has burned acres of private land, State Forest Land and Pennsylvania State Game Lands 119, according to the DCNRs update: On April 13, firefighters were successful in building containment lines around the fire. Winds picked up and enabled the fire to spot past the constructed fire breaks. As the fire spread in the direction of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension (Interstate 476), fire managers coordinated with the turnpike commission to close a 20-mile stretch of the highway in both directions between the Pocono (Exit 95) and Wyoming Valley (Exit 115) interchanges, from 8 p.m. Thursday to 4 a.m. Friday. During the road closure time period, fire managers conducted burnout operations along Route 476 westward, the DCNR update states. The objective of the burnout operations was to remove the fuel load ahead of the fire and to create a fire break containment line. At risk as of Friday were homes on the western boundary of the fire in the Glen Summit area, in addition to private and state land, and I-476 motorists could continue to experience visibility issues, the update says. Owners of property in wooded areas near the fire were advised to review fire mitigation measures, such as not having firewood and other flammable material within 20 feet of homes, according to the department. The DCNR Bureau of Forestry, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Luzerne County Emergency Management Services and local volunteer fire departments were tackling the blaze as weather conditions Friday remained conducive for fire to burn well, the update says. There remains a large amount of unburned fuel within the containment lines and this will continue to be consumed by the fire, the DCNR stated. As it is consumed, it will continue to produce much smoke, especially during the peak burning hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Bill Nye said it best: Science rules! But sometimes it takes getting your hands dirty to figure that out. Thats what the Curiosity Cube, a traveling science lab dedicated to giving kids hands-on experience learning and leading their own scientific experiments, is trying to do. The retrofitted, 220-square-foot shipping container is scheduled to make three stops in the Lehigh Valley this week, including a day of public presentations between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday at Grange Park in Allentown. The Curiosity Cube will hold 124 events across the country as part of its North American 2023 tour. Each year the lab is redesigned to teach students about specific topics impacting their everyday life. This years theme is contamination; activities and lessons are structured around teaching young scientists about food, surface and environmental contamination using microscopes, virtual reality gaming and group discussions. In light of recent events, including the COVID pandemic and the Ohio train derailment and chemical spill, lessons like those described above help give kids context to understand the world around them, organizers say. Theres a lot of science happening in the backgrounds of our everyday lives, said Natalie Randolph, program manager for the Curiosity Cube. Its important for them to understand these sorts of things, so they can be better prepared for the future. Randolph said shes heard kids walk away from the presentations and express a new appreciation for science and their desire to continue learning in their classrooms. Sixth graders at Lehigh Valley Academy who got a first look at the Curiosity Cube on Thursday were able to experience what transitioning to middle school and taking science classes could be like for them, Assistant Principal Rhada Ericson said. Theyre very engaged, Ericson said. All of the students are excited for each rotation and theyre getting curious. One of the student event took a microscope and placed it on his arm to draw comparisons between what he was seeing. Unfortunately for some students, other schools may not always be equipped with the materials needed to support students new interests, Randolph said. For some students, inside the tiny-home-sized Curiosity Cube may be the first time they encounter using a microscope or interacting with real scientists, she said. It just takes one spark and one experience to get them excited about science and think hey, this isnt hard at all, I could maybe become a scientist one day, Randolph said. About 240 kids can be taught using the hands-on program on any given day, she said. Were letting kids know theres more to science than textbooks, Randolph said. The Curiosity Cube focuses the majority of its programming on serving students from Title I schools, according to the Germany-based programs website. Title I schools are schools where a majority of students are on free or reduced lunch programs and receive other federal support because the student population comes primarily from low-income backgrounds. In 2022, 89% of the schools attended by Curiosity Cube were classified as Title I, according to the company. The program is also entirely composed of volunteers, featuring mostly MilliporeSigma employees: practicing scientists, engineers and administrators working in local laboratories. The Lehigh Valleys volunteers mostly work at the companys branch, Sigma-Aldrich, in Allentown. Sigma-Aldrich is an American chemical, life science, and biotechnology company owned by the multinational chemical conglomerate Merck Group. The company was founded in 1975. With STEM occupations projected to grow two times faster than non-STEM occupations in the U.S. by 2031, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is an ever-increasing, urgent need to train the next generation of scientists. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on Twitter. Were the only country in North and South America that still has capital punishment. Europe and most of the free world has banned it. Heres a recent Amnesty International list of the top 10 countries that execute people in statistical order: China, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, United States and South Sudan. We should never be on a comparable list, on any subject, with these despotic countries. Capital punishment is appropriate in first-degree murder because our society has decided that people who plan a murder and then execute it on any scale are legally sane. Really? It seems the mere deed itself is symptomatic of a severe mental disorder because truly sane people dont plan and execute murder. Throughout history, in an endless search for ways for society to execute people, weve used the gas chamber, electrocution, hanging, guillotine, crucifixion, stoning, lethal injection, etc. It seems we have basically ruled out the firing squad as barbaric, even while acknowledging a Second Amendment Right for any law abiding citizen to purchase semi-automatic weapons, get angry for whatever reason and kill people on a massive scale. Then, if they dont kill themselves, or die by intentionally threatening responding police (death by cop), we convict them in of first-degree murder in a court of law and then execute them, because weve decided that the horrific act of mass murder is what sane people routinely do in this country. Welcome to the asylum. Ron Pizarie East Allen Township President Joe Bidens remarks that the UK should work more closely with Ireland to support the people of Northern Ireland was an exhortation for everyone to co-operate, Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said. Mr Martin also said that be believed a speech by the president in Belfast earlier in the week could potentially help the political atmosphere in Northern Ireland, where powersharing institutions are currently suspended. In his remarks to the Irish parliament on Thursday, Mr Biden said he believed that the UK should be working more closely with the administration in Dublin to support Northern Ireland. Asked about the comments on the RTE Morning Ireland programme, Mr Martin said: I take that as a general exhortation to all of us to work together. I am pleased with Prime Minister (Rishi) Sunak, (Northern Ireland Secretary) Chris Heaton-Harris, there is a closer engagement already over the last while, that could get closer. I think the context was clear from the president, he was speaking in the context of all of us. He mentions the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Tanaiste added: The Good Friday Agreement really depends on the very close relationship between the British Government and the Irish Government. That is the anchor to the peace, the anchor to future relationships. A number of events have been taking place in Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. However, the Stormont powersharing Assembly, the cornerstone of the peace deal, remains suspended due to DUP concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements. During an address in Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Biden said he hoped the institutions would soon return. Mr Martin said: I think his remarks will be helpful in terms of the atmosphere, in terms of the next number of weeks and months. I think it will have served a purpose, in respect of that I have no doubt. He added: I think the president did get the balance right in terms of that speech, but also in terms of, we are giving time and space to the DUP in terms of their analysis of the Windsor Agreement; but there is no immediate sign yet (of a return to powersharing at Stormont). But everybody, including the DUP, would acknowledge that the Windsor Agreement represents very significant progress. I think the people of Northern Ireland want the institutions back, of that I am clear, but I think the lessons we have all learnt from experience that it is better, as the President himself said, that people in the north come to the right conclusion, come to it themselves and make their mind up. All of the parties are very anxious to get the institutions restored. Mr Martin also addressed comments earlier this week from former DUP leader Dame Arlene Foster that Joe Biden hates the United Kingdom. Mr Martin said: I was very surprised by that comment. The one word that you do not associate with Joe Biden is the word hate. US President Joe Biden has returned to his ancestral roots as he embarked on a visit to the west of Ireland to round off his four-day trip to the island. The American leader touched down at the airport in Knock, Co Mayo, on Friday afternoon. The visit which comes after his trip to Co Louth on Wednesday where some of his ancestry has been traced to tracks the other side of Mr Bidens family tree. The president has repeatedly spoken with passion about his Irish heritage and described addressing the countrys parliament on Thursday as one of the great honours of my career. Mr Biden was met by various dignitaries including transport minister Eamon Ryan and Mayo TD Dara Calleary at Ireland West Airport, more commonly known as Knock airport. The president spent a few minutes on the tarmac as he and his sister Valerie Biden Owens were greeted by the dignitaries. Its good to be back, he said as he began to shake hands with those there to greet him. The final day of Mr Bidens trip which former taoiseach Enda Kenny said was the longest presidential visit to the island of Ireland ever will culminate in a public address. The speech will take place at St Muredachs Cathedral, which has a direct link to the presidents ancestors. 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. Ahead of the public address, Mr Biden toured the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock a Catholic pilgrimage site that has been visited by popes, most recently by Pope Francis in 2018. The president was greeted by cheering crowds who lined the streets outside the Knock shrine, with some waving Ireland, US and Mayo flags. Inside the basilica, Mr Biden shared a joke with parish priest Father Richard Gibbons, before gazing upon some of the artwork. My trip home to Ireland embodied cead mile failte a hundred thousand welcomes. Its been great to see so many old friends and family and make some new ones. Like my Grandfather used to say: If you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough. pic.twitter.com/cgXDMQkPRn President Biden (@POTUS) April 14, 2023 The president touched the apparition wall as part of his tour before Fr Gibbons accompanied him into the Apparition Chapel for some moments of quiet reflection. The president is also set to visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit. It is believed Mr Biden will also 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. 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. Led by Kildare County Council, with partners Tipperary County Council, Donegal County Council and Fidget Feet have announced an award of 72,500 from the Arts Council Invitation to Collaboration scheme, with additional support from the local authorities, to deliver a local residency programme alongside the House! show in each of the three counties. The Arts Council's Invitation to Collaboration scheme promotes unique collaborations through working better together and promoting high-quality access to and engagement with the arts. It places an emphasis on supporting partnerships for regional and national initiatives in the field of local-authority-led arts development, focusing on developing projects, resources or services that are ambitious and are testing new ground. Reacting to the announcement, Arts Officer for Kildare County Council Lucina Russell said It is always exciting for a local authority to break new ground and the Arts Council Invitation to Collaboration scheme has enabled us to do that with Circus? Bingo! We look forward to bringing this amazing show to Kildare in August, and seeing how the local residency informs that. It is a great opportunity for local creatives to get involved. Our project partners are long-term collaborators and we hope to learn from their experiences also. It goes without saying that we expect lots of fun along the way. Sinead OReilly, Head of Local, Place and Public Art commented The Arts Council is delighted to be supporting this regional collaborative project between Fidget Feet, Kildare, Tipperary and Donegal County Councils to further expand spectacle performances and participation in communities who have yet to experience the inspirational joy of aerial dance. Chantal Mc Cormick, Creative Director of Fidget Feet is enthused by this collaboration. I am thrilled for Fidget Feet to be supported for a third year to continue this wonderful crazy project that brings bingo and circus together sharing the experience with professionals and community people and of course our audiences. I am more than excited that this tour in 2023 is part of Fidget Feets 25-year celebrations, especially returning to Ballyshannon in Donegal where it all started, Fidget Feets first ever crane flight back in 2004!. The House! performances will take place on Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th August 2023, Aras Chill Dara, Naas. To support the House! show, the Circus? Bingo! Residency Programme is an intergenerational community project, bringing together young people and older people in a programme of public engagement focusing on the arts and bingo. How to get involved Do you want a new experience in the performing arts? Have you skills in ballroom dance, jive, swing, cheerleading, majorette, Irish set dancing, street dancing, circus skills, contemporary dance or part of a marching band or something else you would like to perform at our show? Are you a novice and wish to learn? If you would like to perform as part of House! for your local community, by your community, celebrating community then heres how. There are 4 ways to participate in the Circus? Bingo! Residency Programme. 1. Circus? Bingo! Workshop days This is a one-off free day out where you can play bingo and try out circus! It is fun for all the family. Open day dates in Kildare Sat 13th May in Kildare Sat 20th May in Kildare Sat 27th May in Kildare 2. Fidget Feet one-off community workshops A fun community day out to try something different. Enjoy 2 hours with Fidget Feet for free. Learn some easy dance moves and some ground-based skills with one of our Fidget Feet tutors. 3. Fidget Feet weekly community workshops Fidget Feet can come to your group and offer a House! bingo themed 2-to-3 hour workshop for free every week over 3 weeks. Dates for options 2 and 3 - Monday 8th - Sunday 28th May 4. Perform with us Get immersed in the full House! live performance. We will offer your community group local rehearsals with choreography training to be ready for the show. This is your chance to explore something new and exciting with your community, for your community. The Soar Up programme The Soar Up programme created by Fidget Feet aims to bridge the gap between dance education and professional aerial dance practice in Ireland. This is the second year of the programme. Fidget Feet is committed to running this as an annual intensive programme of aerial training, upskilling, rehearsals, performances, networking and development for dancers who have completed some form of professional dance training. It is also open to any dancers that have some aerial skills although its not compulsory to have aerial skills. Reflect and response evaluation event A Reflect and response on the project is a chance to share as part of our evaluation on 8th Nov in Naas, Co. Kildare. 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. On December 8, 1942, with the approval of the Bishop of Elphin, Dr. Doorley and the Rev. M. Casey, C.C. Drumlion, Rosary High School was founded by its principal Mrs M.K. Lynch. At that time, it was felt that there was a need for the establishment in Carrick-on-Shannon of a secondary school to cater for the boys of the neighbouring districts of north Roscommon and south Leitrim. With determination, courage and fixed principles, Mrs Lynch set about the business of bringing together, in her own house and at considerable expense, those boys who have since brought great credit to their Alma Mater. Scholars have emerged from the school and have taken their place in Ireland and throughout the world in all walks of life, be it as professionals, teachers, religious, in commerce, as civil servants and agriculturists. The school is run on the basis of a large family where every student confides in sympathetic qualified teachers who are devoted to their pupils and who take an interest in each student until he is placed in a suitable position. Subjects taught in the School: Irish, English, Latin, French, Mathematics, History, Geography, Commerce and the Arts. (Leitrim Observer January 1963) The Motto of the School is: Rosario Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful to the Rosary As part of its fundraising, the school held the third annual variety concert on March 22, 1950 in the Gaiety Cinema. Programmes at 4pm and 8.30pm. Heading the list of distinguished artists was the famous Irish tenor Mr. Joseph McNally, well known to listeners of Radio Eireann and the B.B.C. Described as having a tenor voice of beautiful quality and range, he provided a programme of Irish ballads, well known opera pieces and modern songs. Also included in the programme was the accordionist, Albert Healy who delighted his audience with many pieces of music as well as accompanying the school choir on the piano. James Eardley, traditional Irish musician from Leitrim Village played a range of Irish Airs and Irish dance music on the violin. Local girl Miss Mary Nolan gave an exhibition of Irish Step Dancing. Miss Joan Barrett sang a selection of Irish songs. The school dramatic society presented a Romantic Comedy The Romantic Lover written by J. Bernard McCarthy and produced by Joseph F. Maguire, B.A. H.D.E. featuring Frank Carroll, Bridie McCabe, Jim Boles, Nuala Garvey and Ann Costello. The students staged another sketch The Hill Billies Round the Camp Fire. The cast included F. Moran, J. Nolan, N. Whitney, J. Reynolds, M. Mitchell, E. Hayden, B. Whitney, N. Shanley, J. Flynn, G. McDermott, M. Connellan, A. Hayden, E. Flynn, M. Dowd, B. Dolan and P. Lynch. The stage manager on the night was Mr. Stephen Chawke, B.A., H.D.E. Costumes were by Gings of Dublin. Amplifying Effects, Alan J. Dunne. Scenery, Fred Moran. The Programme ended with the playing of the National Anthem. Acknowledgements: Leitrim Observer Archives, Leitrim County. Library, Michael Lynch, Jeanette and Mary, daughters of the late Atty and Alan Dunne. Article by Dermot McNabb, Carrick-on-Shannon and District Historical Society. St. Georges Heritage Centre. Delivery of grain from Ukraine in the port of Rostock (Germany), August 23, 2022. JENS BUTTNER / DPA / PICTURE ALLIANCE VIA GETTY IMAGES On a snowy road in western Ukraine, Valeriy Krupko sat at the wheel of his German sedan heading straight for Poland. He was enjoying his new life but sometimes missed Kherson, the port city in the south of the country that he left a few months ago. He remembered "containers hanging from cranes swinging in the sky" and "ships coming from all over the world." He managed a port terminal there until it was closed in February 2022, at the beginning of the war. A symbol of the transformation of Ukraine's economy, he is now at the head of another terminal, far from the sea and container ships, planted in the middle of a landscape of snow and dead trees in Mostyska, near the Polish border. In the war-torn country, new Ukrainian trade routes are land-based and lead to the European Union (EU). After multiple port closures on the Black Sea as well as at the borders with Russia and Belarus, Ukraine has found itself tied to Europe's economy. 53.6% of its exports headed to Europe in 2022, compared to only 39.1% in 2021. After falling at the beginning of the conflict, exports to the EU have recovered dramatically to their pre-war level at around 2.5 billion, even though there has been an overall decrease of 35% that same year. Unprecedented influx This changeover was facilitated by Brussels, which, in June 2022, suspended its import duties from Ukraine and all anti-dumping measures on steel from the country for a renewable year. This unprecedented influx of agricultural commodities has not gone unnoticed. In March, five eastern European countries, including Poland, Romania and Hungary, asked Brussels for help to support their farmers. They said they were suffering from "an unprecedented increase" in imports from Ukraine, particularly of grain, oilseeds, eggs and poultry. In early April, Kyiv also announced that it would temporarily suspend the sale of grain and oilseeds to Poland. With a face reddened by the cold, Krupko climbed the stairs of his silo in long strides to show his new land of conquest, Europe, on the horizon. "There will be containers here, and silos that can hold grains and liquids like oil, and over there will be warehouses for seeds or fertilizers. In short, all goods can be stored here." At the foot of the brand-new silos that glisten in the sun, workers, crouching in the snow, tightened the last bolts on rails built with both Ukrainian and European gauges, to accommodate trains from both sides of the border. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Zelensky champions 'eternal friendship' between Ukraine and Poland 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 ? It all started in 2021 when the owners of the Ukrainian company Agrosem had the good idea to buy this piece of land and turn it into the MOST Logistic Terminal. They were selling tractors, spare parts, fertilizers and seeds to farmers and needed a warehouse not far from the border with the European Union, connected to the railroads, to import their goods and avoid the red tape that heavy trucks are subject to. But a few months later, the war turned their plans upside down. You have 66.76% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. A ship carrying some 700 migrants enters the Sicilian port of Catania, April 12, 2023 SALVATORE CAVALLI / AP Since the beginning of the year, an increasing number of migrants have landed on Italy's shores. To respond to the influx, unseen in its magnitude since 2016, the Italian Council of Ministers announced on Tuesday, April 11, it would declare a nationwide state of migratory emergency for six months. Since January, over 31,000 have crossed the central Mediterranean and reached Italy, mostly from Tunisia, but also from Libya and Turkey. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which considers its own estimate very conservative, at least 492 died before reaching the country. Flows are up 300% from the same period in 2022 and could exceed the record numbers of 2016 when 180,000 had reached Italian ports. The state of emergency considered by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's far-right government falls under the civil protection code and has already been implemented for migration issues, notably in 2011 after the Tunisian revolution. It allows for the release of funds and the acceleration of reception procedures by designating, without tenders, accommodation facilities under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior. It should also allow ferries or planes to be chartered more quickly to transfer people disembarked on the small island of Lampedusa where more than two-thirds of arrivals converge to the rest of Italy. "The number of arrivals remains low for a country of 60 million inhabitants or compared to the 120,000 Ukrainians who fled to Italy in the space of three months at the beginning of 2022," said Flavio Di Giacomo, IOM spokesperson for the Mediterranean. Still, the reception system for migrants currently houses more than 110,000 people and is destined to be quickly saturated, with arrivals by sea expected to increase in the coming weeks due to improving weather. "In 2018, Italy set out to dismantle its reception system and now finds itself setting up tents in Catania [Sicily] or Roccella Ionica [Calabria]," said Marco Bertotto, director of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Italy, "we continue to apply a crisis management response to flows that we know are structural." Attracting the attention of Brussels The political dimension of the new decree, which should be published in the next few days, goes beyond its legal implications. "Giorgia Meloni's government must answer for its difficulties in dealing with the migration issue before an electorate to which it presented the issue as a priority," said Vitalba Azzollini, a lawyer specializing in migration policies. The introduction of a state of emergency is also a way for the Meloni government to attract the attention of Brussels, which it expects to implement new solidarity mechanisms to distribute migrants among various EU countries as well as a new policy of cooperation and economic development with the countries of origin. You have 48.23% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. National Coalition Chairman Petteri Orpo at the party's parliament election wake in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, April 2, 2023. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva via AP) ANTTI AIMO-KOIVISTO / AP Nearly two weeks after his party narrowly won Finland's general elections, conservative leader Petteri Orpo pushed ahead on Friday, April 14, with the task of cobbling together a coalition after getting the green light from Parliament. Orpo said he hoped to indicate by May 1, as to which parties would join the lineup after the legislature entrusted him with forming the next government. On April 2, his party ousted a left-of-center coalition led by Sanna Marin's Social Democrats (SDP). The SDP fell to third place with 43 seats in the 200-member Parliament, behind Orpo's National Coalition with 48 seats and the far-right Finns Party with 46. Finnish politics have a long history of coalition governments, although, by tradition, the largest party takes the prime minister's job. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Finnish elections: Conservatives clinch win after economy-dominated campaign 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 ? Orpo, 53, gave no indication as to which side of the political divide he wanted to ally himself with. His main options are a coalition across the political divide with the SDP, or a rightwing government with the Finns Party. "The key question is how we secure the Finnish welfare society, its equal, good, high-quality services. In my thinking, this is based on a healthy public economy and a growing economy," he told journalists. Orpo said he had sent all parliamentary groups a list of 24 questions to "map out" their views on a range of issues. Responses are expected by Tuesday but Orpo said he had not set a deadline for forming a government base. "It is more important to find certainty about the basis we'll go forward with rather than having a specific date, but it should probably be ready around May Day." Orpo said that after the elections he had been in contact with the other parties "pretty equally." While the Finns Party is closer to the center-right when it comes to economics, the most important election issue for Orpo, allying with the far right would make it harder for him to find other parties to build a majority. Marin, 37, a popular but polarising figure, said last week she planned to step away from the political limelight, quitting as party leader in September but remaining a member of Parliament. Le Monde French President Emmanuel Macron, right and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, center, at an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders to discuss Ukraine, energy and food security in Brussels, Monday, May 30, 2022. OLIVIER MATTHYS / AP Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday, April 14, backed French President Emmanuel Macron over his controversial warning against Europe potentially becoming a "vassal" of the United States. Macron raised hackles on both sides of the Atlantic at the weekend in an interview, in which he said Europe should not be a "follower" of either Washington or Beijing or get caught up in any escalation over Taiwan. The French president, who just returned from China, stood by his comments on Wednesday, saying that being a US ally did not mean being a "vassal." "The French president is looking for potential partners and not enemies, which is similar to the Hungarian position: We must start from our own interests, not take into account the interests of others," Orban said in his weekly radio address. "It is necessary to think through whether the American foreign policy interests coincide with the European ones." Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Europe divided over Macron's remarks on Taiwan 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 ? The pair met last month in Paris where the French president underscored the need for European "unity" on the Ukraine war. "President Macron is honorable, but he does not imagine the future of Europe in the same way as Hungary," Orban said, highlighting his belief in a "Christian renaissance". In a separate development, Washington this week levied sanctions against a Russian-led bank in Budapest and three of its officials two Russians and a Hungarian. Hungary's government said onThursday it was quitting the International Investment Bank (IIB). Orban said on Friday that the sanctions made the bank's operation impossible, rendering "Hungary's further participation... pointless." He also described the US government as "the biggest supporter of the war" in Ukraine, while reiterating that Hungary "supports peace" and peace talks. "The Hungarian-American friendship must endure this difference of opinion...We have good relations with the Americans, the US is our friend and important ally," said Orban, who openly supports former president Donald Trump. David Pressman, US ambassador in Budapest, on Wednesday expressed "concerns about the continued eagerness of Hungarian leaders to expand and deepen ties" with Russia despite the war. Orban, who fostered close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin before the war, has drawn fierce criticism from both EU and NATO allies for his neutral stance on the invasion. Le Monde with AFP This photo illustration created on April 13, 2023, shows the suspect, national guardsman Jack Teixeira, reflected in an image of the Pentagon in Washington, DC. STEFANI REYNOLDS / AFP Faced with a serious leak of classified documents on several messaging systems and online platforms, the US authorities have been playing catch up from the beginning and are struggling to control the scandal. Their communication has been minimalist and the federal investigation has lagged behind the media revelations. It took a week to identify the main suspect. On Thursday, April 13, shortly before 2 pm, FBI officers arrived in North Dighton, Massachusetts, at the home of Jack Teixeira. The 21-year-old, wearing red gym shorts and a khaki shirt, was taken into custody with his hands cuffed. He was scheduled to appear before a Boston judge on Friday to face charges under the Espionage Act. His name had already been published in the morning by the New York Times. Since September 2019, Teixeira had been working in cybersecurity at Fort Bragg Air Force Base in the National Guard Intelligence Department. His role as moderator of an online chat group, which he had shared the classified documents with for months, had been revealed by the Washington Post as early as Thursday evening. This shows that the two newspapers had overtaken the official investigators, further adding embarrassment to the security crisis caused by this "deliberate criminal act," as the Pentagon put it. The Washington Post had not published the precise identity of the suspect on Thursday. But the newspaper had obtained testimony from two members of the group that "OG" Teixeira's username on the site hosted on Discord, a regular meeting place for young video game enthusiasts. This closed group of about 20 people was "united by their mutual love of guns, military gear and God," the Washington Post said. This "tiny tribe" was mostly made up of teenagers. For them, OG was a kind of guru or initiator. While the others overcame their Covid-19 isolation by exchanging gritty or racist exchanges and locker room jokes, OG told them about the world and its secrets. According to an underage member of the group, interviewed by the Post with his mother's consent, OG began by sending them messages reproducing classified notes verbatim, which required hours of work, annotating them to explain acronyms or technical points. Then, tired of this constraining method, he chose a riskier way to send them copies of the documents, several each week, starting at the end of 2022. As a sign of the young man's amateurism, details of his home appeared carelessly in these photographs part of his kitchen, Gorilla Glue and nail clippers. The Washington Post says it reviewed "nearly 300 photos of classified documents." The entire chain of responsibility beyond Teixeira has yet to be established. For example, it is not known at this time how the documents got from a closed chat room on Discord, with about 20 people, to Russian threads on the Telegram messaging app. You have 63.44% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. A cemetery for the war dead in Sana'a, Yemen, on March 16, 2023. YAHYA ARHAB / EPA The image that appeared on the front page of the Yemeni media on April 10 was unprecedented. It featured the meeting, under the stone vaults of the presidential palace in Sanaa, between the political leader of the Houthi rebels, Mehdi al-Machat, and the Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber. This visit, made possible by mediation from Oman, marks the end of nearly two years of informal talks between two of the main players in the war ravaging Yemen. It also marks the culmination of Mohammed bin Salman's failure. In 2015 the Saudi crown prince, known as MBS, entered the war to dislodge the pro-Iranian group from the capital. Houthi leader Mehdi al-Mashat greets Saudi Ambassador Mohammed Al Jaber and his delegation in Sanaa, Yemen, on April 3, 2023. AFP PHOTO / HO / SABA It is a direct consequence of the restoration of diplomatic relations announced on March 10 between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the sponsor of the Houthi rebellion. The recent rapprochement between the two major regional rivals, Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia, has fueled hopes for peace in the Middle East, particularly in Yemen, the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula and suffering from one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. "I visit Sanaa along with a delegation from the brotherly Sultanate of Oman to stabilize the truce and ceasefire," Al Jaber tweeted, the first comment from Saudi authorities on the visit. The Saudi diplomat also said he sought to "support the prisoner exchange process and explore venues of dialogue between Yemeni components to reach a sustainable, comprehensive political solution in Yemen." A public announcement of the results of his peace talks could come in the next few days. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes In Aden, a naturalist faces a never-ending war alone 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 ? Truce, lifting of blockade and discussions The truce between rebels and forces of the internationally recognized government, which came into effect in April 2022 for six months but was not renewed in October, is now expected to be extended. Saudi Arabia is expected to lift the blockade imposed on the ports (including Al Hudaydah, the main port on the Red Sea) and the airport in Sanaa, the capital, which is under Houthi control, in exchange for a lifting of the siege imposed by the Houthi on the city of Taiz, the third largest in the country, located in the mountains of western Yemen. The talks also focus on another of the rebels' main demands, which Mohammed Abdel-Salam, the head of the Houthi negotiators, has stressed: "payment of the salaries of all civil servants [by the government, including in the Houthi areas] via the revenues from oil and gas," the production fields of which are beyond their control. These demands appear realistic, as Saudi Arabia is in a hurry to turn the page. You have 68.68% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. HUNDREDS of Limerick children will be donating their shoes to those less fortunate as part of a national campaign. Tens of thousands of shoes will be sent to Southern African townships, with eight Limerick schools having already signed up to the cause. Although secondhand, it is encouraged that shoes must be gently worn before donating. Parents nationwide are being sent up into attics and under the stairs, to dig out pairs of shoes which are still in good condition, but which have been outgrown by their owners. The campaign is being ran by In My Shoes, a charity which was set up in 2019 by three friends after a visit to Cape Town, home to 2.4m people. Irishman Ciaran McHugh and two of his friends founded the organisation, which is now supported by shipping partners UPS. Ciaran said: "I have never been involved in a project before where so many wanted to do so much for so little. In My Shoes seems to be a cause of its time - a simple idea, but one with the potential to impact thousands of lives, in however small a way, by connecting individual acts of kindness. From April 17 - 28, pupils from across Limerick will send their shoes off to new homes, which will first land in a pop-up sorting department in Sligo before getting exported to other school children in South Africa and Lesotho. The message is that shoes are more than just foot protection in an African township, as they help to promote regular school attendance, where a walk to school can often be miles. Shoes give children safety, improve self-esteem and encourage after school sporting activities. Ciaran reiterated this by saying: With shoes comes school, education and a hopeful future. Some of the Limerick schools signed up so far are: Gaelscoil O'Doghair, Newcastle West, St Fergus Primary School, Glin, Knockea Catholic National School, Ballyneety, Kilmeedy National School, Kilmeedy, and Bulgaden National School, Kilmallock. ONLY ONE in two people survive one of the steep, rocky routes on the worlds highest free-standing mountain: Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. The summit can be conquered via seven different routes - the three-day route chosen by Limerick man, John Mulready, is the one in which only one in two people survive. He lives to tell the tale. Johns story comes with extraordinary emotion - so much so, it drove him to climb the 19,341 foot of the dormant volcano, for a loved one who tragically passed away at a young age. Starting off in the small Limerick village of Cappamore, John is a retired fire station officer. However, he dedicates his life to working and continues to work as training director of Hayes Fire and Medical. He is a keen mountaineer, having previously conquered Everest and raising money for Autism Ireland. He climbs Munster's Galtee mountains nearly everyday - Ireland's highest inland range. The Red Cross Limerick volunteer shared his heartfelt and breathtaking story of the expedition which he describes as being a really tough climb. He also gives his free time to Bunratty Marine Rescue and the Civil Defence, as well as charities. John said: The brain crushing headaches were the hardest thing about the climb - its definitely not for the faint-hearted. I chose the route at the southeast side of the mountain called the Marangu, which takes three days up and only a day and a half down. This means you have no time to acclimatise or adjust to the altitudes - there is a 50% fail rate on that route. I was on the 30-hour plane over on Monday afternoon and as soon as I got off that mountain, I was back in the hotel, after completing it, by Friday afternoon. Thats why we were so exhausted! The determined expedition was inspired by a nephew of Johns, who he had originally agreed to join with in conquering the rocky terrain of Kilimanjaro in 2012. The spark was ignited to take on one of the worlds largest, dormant volcanoes when Johns nephew Kenneth Ryan was visited in school by a famous Irish mountaineer, Ian McKeever. Ian, who shared his breathtaking explorations of the various summits and expeditions he took head on throughout his life, truly inspired Kenneth and gifted him with all of the convincing he needed, as his classmates cheered on encouragingly. As Kenneth was under 18 at the time, he decided to ask his uncle John to join him in his voyage to Mount Kilimanjaro - an enthusiastic climber with a decorated list of mountains throughout Europe on his record. The suddenness of what comes next will both stun and shatter you, simultaneously, as Ian was struck down by lightning and killed outright, aged 42, on the deadly free stander that is Mount Kilimanjaro in 2013 - a mere six months after visiting Kenneth's school to give a talk. In another twist of fate, Johns nephew Kenneth was also suddenly killed in a road accident in 2015 and never made it to Tanzania as planned, which left heartbreak and tragedy in its wake - just as the 1200 degree magma did when it oozed out of Mount Kilimanjaro, 200 years ago. For years, I didnt want to see, hear or think about Kilimanjaro but, for me, it was always something that I had to conquer in the end - I was going for my nephew more than myself. It took John over eight years to finally come to terms with these two ironically linked, vicissitude circumstances. He wanted to defeat the desolate territory of Kilimanjaro to dedicate his excursion to these two individuals - and so he did. With five different climate changes to overcome, John says preparation is key for an exploration of this grandeur: You have to push through the pain barrier and altitude sickness to do it. Theres no easy way up Kilimanjaro - headaches, low breathing rates and vomiting happen often. If you go there and dont put in the physical preparation before you go, the chances are that you might not summit. An exploration of this grandeur is not something that you can just do, according to John: If I was giving advice to people going there, energy levels would be a major concern of mine. For John, however, getting to the highest summit in Africa was worth it, as he placed a picture of his nephew who passed away, with a candle, as a symbol of an opportunity which life robbed him of. We did our final ascent of the mountain at midnight and got to the final peak at 8am, so it took a good eight hours to get there. He [Kenneth] climbed it with me - he was with me the whole way up. Ian McKeever was an Irish mountaineer, broadcaster, and motivational speaker. He once held the world record for the fastest completion of the Seven Summits challenge in a record 156 days. John and his team travelled to Tanzania with G Adventures, a travel expert business designed for small groups. He trained for five or six days every week in JS fitness gym in Doon. Wynorrific, which is a word to describe something which is both beautiful and terrifying at the same time, would sum up the views at the tip of the 5,895m trek. The ruggedly handsome views were ironically described by John as indescribable. TWO NEW directors have been appointed to the Board of The Shannon Airport Group and are very welcome additions according to the groups chairperson. Aisling Curtis, Strategy and Sustainability Director at Microsoft, and John Moran, CEO and Founder at RHH International, have been appointed by Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan to serve on the Board for a three-year term. Welcoming the appointments, Conal Henry, Chair of the Shannon Airport Group said: [Aisling and Johns] experience and expertise will add immense value to our board as we pursue our mission to build sustainable livelihoods and a vibrant economy for our people and the region by shaping opportunities in aviation and property. I look forward to working with them at this exciting time for the Group. The Shannon Airport Group's CEO, Mary Considine also commented: The Shannon Airport Group directly contributes to Irelands economic prosperity. Our new directors will be a great asset in assisting us as we continue to deliver on our strategic vision, which we hope can further grow our impact and benefit even more people in the region and beyond. Ms Curtis is an organisational leader with over 20 years of experience in telecommunications and technology sectors including Global, Regional, and Irish market roles. She was previously commercial director, and global partner solutions director and her current role is director of strategy and sustainability with Microsoft. Ms Curtis has held non-executive roles in the UK, Netherlands, South Africa and more recently sat on the National Maternity Hospital Board and held an advisory role on the IMI Council. She recently completed the Insead Data and AI School and Cambridge University Sustainability Leadership in 2021-2022 along with both the Microsoft and Vodafone Leadership Development programmes. She is an active member of the 30% Club Technology Steering group. She has been an IMI Mentor and a Business Mentor (Start-up/scale-up) programme with Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise 2018/19. Mr Moran is CEO and founder of RHH International a thought leadership and social entrepreneurship venture based in Limerick. He previously held the role of Secretary General at the Department of Finance helping in the post-crisis recovery and he is well recognised as a champion of SMEs and advocating for more balanced regional and sustainable development in Ireland. In his consulting work, he has a number of roles in both private sector and not-for-profit organisations such as Chair of Grid Finance, Luna Connect, Takumi Precision Engineering, The Urban Resilient Fund (TURF), Mannok, the Limerick Tunnel PPP, Liveable Limerick and the Limerick Economic Forum. He was until recently Chair of the Land Development Agency and has also worked in various roles such as Board Member of the European Investment Bank, Commission member of the Central Bank, an aviation lawyer at GPA Group plc and McCann FitzGerald and CEO of Zurich Bank and Zurich Capital Markets. He also served for eight years as Chair of the Hunt Museum in Limerick. "A LAND of a thousand welcomes - was she welcomed? Was she given what she needs?" These were the words of ROSA member Saibh Millane who spoke at a protest in Limerick city this Thursday afternoon after what Cllr Elisa O'Donovan called the "abhorrent" killing of Geila Ibram. Members of ROSA, who describe themselves as a "socialist feminist movement in Limerick", gathered on Bedford Row to stand in solidarity with the late Ms Ibram and victims of femicide (intentional killing with a gender-related motivation). Their slogan was: 'Not One More.' Ms Ibram, 27, from Romania was found dead at a residence on the Dock Road on Tuesday afternoon, April 4. Flowers and candles were placed beside pictures of the mother-of-four at the protest spot on Bedford Row. Across the city, on the Dock Road, more bouquets of flowers - withering now from the rain and gales - remained at the doorway to the apartment block where Ms Ibram's life was violently taken. Her death prompted ROSA's call to action leading to approximately 80 people gathering in the city centre this Thursday afternoon. "It is just so shocking," commented one Rosbrien resident. "It was so hard for her to be away from her family, and have to make that decision to leave, and come here and have this happen, it's just horrific." Aside from femicide, other reasons for ROSA's protest included their call to decriminalise sex work, and their fight against misogyny, racism, anti-migrant beliefs and capitalism. "Like every other person [Geila] deserved a happy, fulfilling life, but that is taken from migrants every day," said Saibh. This Thursday's protest came just over a year after protests and vigils were held nationwide following the violent killing of Mary Immaculate College graduate Ashling Murphy in Tullamore. As people went about their business in the city centre this Thursday, the streets once again played host to chants of: "Women's safety is a right, stand up and join the fight." ROSA member, Stefanie Dicroce, took to the microphone to share her anger at the deaths of both young women. "I am furious that we are standing here, yet again, honouring and mourning a young woman's life cut short," she asserted. Referring to the social change they hope to engender as a group, she added: "We mourn for the dead, be we fight like hell for the living". "Geila Ibram was only here for four weeks, but the fact she had to come here and leave her home, her four children, to hopefully find a better way to support them speaks to the deepest levels of immiseration, violence and misogyny of this capitalist system - this system that at all levels failed her." Aislinn O'Keefe, another spokesperson for ROSA, read a statement on behalf of a Romanian socialist feminist group. "Thank you for the solidarity," she began. "It is international solidarity we need," she continued, "this is not a problem that is just an Irish problem, this is a problem that unfortunately knows no borders." A similar protest was held by ROSA at the Spire in Dublin's city centre this Thursday afternoon. The Limerick protest came just two days after a vigil, organised by Cllr O'Donovan, was held in memory of Ms Ibram on Steamboat Quay in the city on Tuesday. A LIMERICK man's pub, Skehans Free House, has been named the Best Pub in London. The traditional bar is run by Bryan Fitzsimons from Foynes whose Dad ran The Shannon House before moving to the UK in 1994 to open The Faltering Fullback in Finsbury Park. Speaking to the Limerick Leader about his bar, Bryan said that we try keep it as a pub but we wouldn't be heavy into the Irish thing. We do Irish hospitality and we show all the Irish games but there's something for everyone. The Limerick man lives above the premises with his wife Kate and daughter Yagoda and revealed what makes his pub so special: we just treat it like our home adding that the commute is easy down the stairs. The family run pub serves the typical Sunday roasts, a firm favourite with people living in the UK, as well as music five nights a week. When Bryan first moved over, he lived in Battersea in the South of the City before moving North, where the Fullback is located, and seven years ago he returned to the South to run Skehans. While the nod from Time Out magazine is impressive, there is another accolade that is hugely regarded in London and that is a Guinness rating from the infamous social media account Shit London Guinness. Corkman Ian Ryan is the founder of the Instagram page (240k followers) and he paid a visit to the South East bar to test the stout for himself. He said we were one of the best. He said the Fullback was the best in London, which would be my brother's pub but he said we were close to a second, Bryan explained to the Limerick Leader while on holiday in Portugal. While he is busy running the Best Pub in London, the father of one tries to come home as much as possible adding when he is away from Foynes what he misses most is the pubs and the food. I think the food is way better at home, just fresh food, like nice steaks and things like that, he added. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. US president Joe Biden was brought to tears after an emotional meeting with the priest who performed the last rites sacrament for his son. Father Frank OGrady performed the sacrament for Beau Biden who died of brain cancer in 2015. Mr Biden toured Knock shrine in Co Mayo as part of his final day of engagements in Ireland. Knock shrine is a Catholic pilgrimage site, where locals claimed to have seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1879. The parish priest of Knock, Father Richard Gibbons, said the president was brought to tears when he met the man who performed the final sacrament for his son. He laughed, he cried, it just kind of hit the man, you could just see how deeply it all felt and meant to him, Fr Gibbons told the BBC. He added: It was an extraordinary afternoon. I wont forget it, I can tell you that it was quite something else. Fr Gibbons said that he was unaware one of the priests in the parish had a personal connection to the president, and so the meeting of President Biden and Fr OGrady was a last minute and chance encounter. He spoke about his family and his connection with his faith, and also about his son Beau who died, Fr Gibbons said. And it just so happened, and this was kind of spontaneous, it just so happened that we have, working at the shrine here, the chaplain who gives the last rites, the last anointing to his son in the United States. Just extraordinary, and I didnt even know that, I didnt know that until the president arrived. Fr Gibbons said on learning of the connection, Mr Biden wanted to meet Fr OGrady immediately. So he dispatched a Secret Service agent to go and find him, I had his number so I contacted him immediately, he said. And he got the shock of his life to come over you know, so that was a wonderful, spontaneous thing that happened. Fr Gibbons said he would have arranged to have Fr OGrady in the line-up to meet the US President if he had known. I asked, I said to Fr Frank OGrady, Why didnt you tell me this when he came? And he said, Well, I didnt want to say too much about it, he said. Fr OGrady said meeting Mr Biden for the first time was like a reunion. He told RTE: We had a nice chat for about 10 minutes. He was delighted to see me and I was delighted to see him. He gave me a big hug, it was like a reunion. He told me he appreciated everything that was done. Fr OGrady said he had not seen Joe Biden since the death of his son Beau eight years ago. I was very surprised when I got a phone call to say the president wanted to see me, he said. It was a delightful 10 minutes with him. I hadnt seen him really in eight years since Beau died. His son Hunter was there too, so we had a real reunion. He certainly misses his son. He has been grieving a lot, but I think the grief is kind of going down a bit. We talked a little bit about how grief can take several years. Fr OGrady added: He certainly was very impressed with Knock. As a man of great faith, it really hit home very hard to him about his sons passing when he comes to Knock, because we talk about mysteries of life and death in a place like Knock, all the time here. He is a man of great faith, and it is just a coincidence that I happened to meet him. Fr Gibbons said Mr Biden had a private moment of prayer before receiving a rare gift from the holy site a piece of stone from the wall where the apparition of the Virgin Mary reportedly occurred. We said a prayer, we said a decade of the Rosary for his family and we lit a candle and then he took a moment or two of private prayer and then we presented him with a gift of some of the original stone of the gable wall where the apparition took place, he said. Mr Biden was pictured touching the original apparition wall before heading inside the chapel. On his arrival at the shrine, the president was met by cheering crowds waving Ireland, US and Mayo flags, one sign in the crowd read Welcome Home Joe. The pilgrimage location has been visited by several popes, most recently by Pope Francis in 2018. Mr Biden is the second Catholic president and has been known to attend Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washingtons Georgetown neighbourhood, a few miles from the White House. It is where the nations first Catholic president, John F Kennedy, also attended mass in his time in office. Upon arrival at Knock airport, Mr Biden was met by various dignitaries including transport minister Eamon Ryan and Mayo TD Dara Calleary. Knock airport was opened in 1985 to attract visitors to the pilgrimage site. It is the fourth busiest airport in Ireland, serving 722,000 passengers in 2022. The government plans to mandate Aadhaar biometric verification for designated directors, and professionals such as company secretaries involved in filing statutory documents to bolster the security of statutory filings and ensure accountability. This requirement will apply to those registered as business users on the MCA21 website and are authorized to file documents and forms on behalf of companies, a person familiar with the plan said, requesting anonymity. The change is likely to be implemented following the completion of the websites ongoing upgrade later this year. The current upgrade of the ministrys statutory filing system involves significantly enhancing authentication requirements for filers. This is achieved through two methods: first, by re-engineering the IT system from scratch while retaining the old filing system, and second, by gradually introducing new web-based statutory filing forms that enable real-time verification of information already available with the ministry when an authorized filera business userinputs data on a new form before submission. Know your customer (KYC) verification is mandatory for business users based on a unique digital signature, Permanent Account Number (PAN) issued by the income tax department, or Director Identification Numbers (DINs) issued by the ministry or identification numbers from professional institutes such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, as well as phone numbers and emails. This heightened security requirement now applies to most of the over 60 web-based forms rolled out in the third version of the filing portal. In addition, the ministry intends to introduce approximately 50 additional forms in the coming months, completing the transition to the new corporate statutory filing system. Upon achieving a seamless transition, the ministry plans to add Aadhaar-based biometric verification to the list of identification requirements, said the person cited above. This addition to the existing KYC requirements is expected to bolster authorities efforts to combat financial irregularities and money laundering associated with shell companies. When the ministry introduced 56 new web-based forms for various company filings on 23 January, only about 30,000 company directors registered as business users with unique identities. Now, this figure, which also includes key managerial personnel of companies, has crossed 600,000, according to a second person who also spoke on the condition of anonymity. Since only those with unique identities in the system can file forms, it becomes easier for authorities to ensure accountability in corporate disclosures. However, there is no requirement to become a business user of the portal when reserving names for a new company, which occurs prior to the entitys incorporation. The number of form filings has also increased significantly, suggesting that the new filing system has stabilized. The MCA21 system upgrade is a mission-mode e-governance project of the government. The ministry of corporate affairs did not respond to an email sent on Thursday seeking comments for the story by the time of publication. MUMBAI : Invesco Developing Markets Fund, an investor in Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL), is poised to sell its entire 5.65% stake in the company for as much as 1,130 crore. In October, Invesco sold 5.51% of ZEEL for around 1,395.9 crore, paring its shareholding in the Indian broadcaster to 5.65%. Two people with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed that Invesco is set to exit the company on Monday, 17 April, via bulk deals and has hired Kotak Securities as the broker for the secondary share sale. The shares are expected to be sold in the price range of 199.80 to 208.15 per equity share. The top end is at a 0.4% discount on the closing price of 208.95 per share on BSE on Thursday. OFI Global China Fund, LLC, and other funds managed by Invescos Developing Markets Equity investment team will sell the shares. Invesco has been reducing its holding in ZEE since it withdrew its demand seeking the removal of managing director Punit Goenka from ZEELs board last year while supporting the companys proposed merger with Sony Pictures Networks India. This was after months of a legal tussle between the offshore investor and the media company. In March last year, Invesco sold 74.3 million shares of ZEEL, amounting to 7.74% stake in the company at an average price of 281.46 per share for 2,092 crore in bulk deals. New Delhi: Debt resolution of poor and middle income countries and the impact of climate change related policies of nations on capital flows dominated the second G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Washington. This comes in the backdrop of climate change related policies becoming important parts of national policies which impact investment decisions of companies. The European Union (EU) is now implementing a carbon border tax as part of its efforts to combat climate change. During the meeting, which concluded on Thursday in Washington, members discussed the key challenges to the global economic outlook, including the war in Ukraine, food and energy insecurity, climate change, and recent risks to financial stability. The meeting was held under the Indian G20 presidency on 12-13 April on the sidelines of the 2023 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. The goal of this FMCBG meeting was to deliberate on the progress made by the various work streams of the G20 Finance Track on the deliverables that were tasked to them by the ministers and governors in the February G20 FMCBG Chairs Summary and Outcome Document, and to seek guidance on the way forward. On the debt agenda, discussions focused on strengthening multilateral coordination towards addressing the increasing debt distress in low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries. Ministers and governors reiterated the need to swiftly complete the ongoing debt treatments under the Common Framework and beyond. Discussions also covered the impact of climate change-related policies on capital flows, among others. During the session on sustainable finance, financial sector, and financial inclusion, discussions focussed on the mobilisation of resources for climate change, the role of the multilateral financial institutions in catalysing private finance flows for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the role of the G20 in scaling up and encouraging wider adoption of social impact investment instruments. Members discussed the key challenges to the global economic outlook, including the war in Ukraine, food and energy insecurity, climate change, and recent risks to financial stability," the finance ministry said in a press statement. G20 members agreed that the group could contribute to a common understanding on building a conducive environment for global economic recovery, and ensuring that the most vulnerable countries and sections of the population are adequately protected. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the press that funding of developmental activities is required for low and middle-income countries. There are pockets of underdeveloped areas in middle-income countries, especially in the post-pandemic era, which desperately need funding for development," Sitharamans office said in a tweet. Were looking at the World Bank for two core things - extreme poverty alleviation and bringing prosperity post-poverty alleviation. Sustainability and goals related to climate, climate finance and energy transition will now have to be the third pillar," it added. Sitharaman also attended a high-level meeting on Sri Lankan debt issues and expressed Indias commitment to support Colombo in dealing with its current economic crisis. She emphasised that collaboration among creditors is important to ensure transparency and equality in treatment of all creditors in the debt restructuring discussions. Japans finance minister Suzuki Shunichi, Sri Lanka state finance minister Shehan Semasinghe and Emmanuel Moulin, director general of the treasury, France, were present in the meeting. Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe participated virtually, an official statement said. The purpose of the event was to demonstrate the multilateral cooperation regarding the debt restructuring process among the creditors, together with Sri Lanka, it said. In the event, the ministers announced the launch of the debt restructuring negotiation process on Sri Lanka under the three co-chairs: India, Japan, and France, to lead coordinated debt restructuring of Sri Lanka, it said. Chinas latest military exercises around Taiwan have come to an end. But at some point, Taiwan could face a real Chinese blockade, not just a simulated one. Whether such a blockade ultimately succeeds would depend on many things, but in no small part on something crucial to all modern economies: energy. With higher interest income offset weakness in dealmaking, JPMorgan Chase & Co's on 14 April said tha first-quarter profit has beaten Wall Street estimates. It added that the biggest US lender remained resilient through the banking crisis in March. The lender's shares jumped 6% as its performance underscored how big banks withstood the crisis better than regional banks. The US consumer and the economy remain robust but the banking crisis could turn lenders more conservative and impact consumer spending, said Chief Executive Jamie Dimon. ALSO READ: T. Rowe to test avalanche blockchain in renewed push on Wall Street "The US economy continues to be on generally healthy footings consumers are still spending and have strong balance sheets, and businesses are in good shape," Dimon said. "However, the storm clouds that we have been monitoring for the past year remain on the horizon, and the banking industry turmoil adds to these risks," he added. Earlier in March, Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank failed post depositors yanked their funds, marking the second and third largest collapses in US history. In the three months ended 31 March, JPMorgan set aside loan loss provisions of $2.3 billion, up 56% from last year. It reported a 52% increase in profit to $12.62 billion, or $4.10 per share. According to Refinitiv IBES data, excluding one-time costs, the bank earned $4.32 per share, ahead of analysts' average expectation of $3.41 per share. "JPM is one of those household names in a sector that we were the most concerned about reporting better than expected earnings and that is certainly putting a bid in the stock and a bid in the market," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B Riley Wealth in Boston. With agency inputs. India's second-biggest software services firm Infosys Ltd has recommended a final dividend of 17.50 per equity share for the financial year ending 31 March, 2023. The record date for the above dividend payment is 2 June. "The record date for the purposes of the annual general meeting (AGM) and payment of final dividend is June 2, 2023. The dividend will be paid on July 3," the company said in a filing. The interim dividend will be paid to the shareholders of the firm whose names appear on the register of members of the company or in the records of the depositories as beneficial owners of the shares as on record date. To recall, the Bengaluru-based company has announced a dividend of 16.50 per share worth 6,940 crore in FY23 so far. Infosys has announced 6,309 crore in total dividends in FY22 and 5,112 crore dividends in FY21. This is against 11,391 crore dividends paid by HCL Technologies and 7,686 crore dividend declared by TCS in FY22. TCS announced 8,510 crore in dividends in FY21 and HCL Tech 2,714 crore. Infosys commands a dividend yield of 2.45 per cent against TCS' 3.6 per cent, as of latest closing. Infosys has declared 47 dividends since 25 October, 2000, according to data from Trendlyne. In the past 12 months, Infosys has declared an equity dividend amounting to 32.50 per share. At the current share price of 1389.20, this results in a dividend yield of 2.34 per cent. How much dividend the tech giant has paid in last 5 years - Oct 27, 2022 16.50 INTERIM May 31, 2022 16.00 FINAL Oct 26, 2021 15.00 INTERIM May 31, 2021 15.00 FINAL Oct 23, 2020 12.00 INTERIM May 29, 2020 9.50 FINAL Oct 23, 2019 8.00 INTERIM Jun 13, 2019 10.50 FINAL Jan 24, 2019 4.00 SPECIAL Oct 25, 2018 7.00 Jun 14, 2018 20.50 FINAL Jun 14, 2018 10.00 SPECIAL ABOUT THE AUTHOR Meghna Sen Business journalist tracking markets, companies, economy and crypto for Livemint. She has 6 years of experience with online and print publications. Email: meghnasen08@gmail.com Read more from this author Tech bellwether Infosys's revenue increased a smaller-than-expected 16 per cent to 37,441 crore in the fourth quarter of FY23, while its profit of 6,130 crore missed analysts' expectations. The revenue growth in constant currency for FY23 came in at 15.4 per cent, ultimately fell short of that forecast of 16 per cent-16.5 per cent. The country's second-biggest software services firm expects to post revenue growth of between 4 per cent and 7 per cent, on a constant currency basis, in the year ending March 2024. That compares with an average analyst estimate of 10.6 per cent. "Unplanned ramp down of projects, delay in decision-making and some one-off revenue impacts, including a few client-specific project cancellations, hit revenue growth in Q4, leading to the revenue-guidance miss," highlighed analysts at Emkay Global Financial Services in a research note. Infosys's also posted disappointing operating performance in the March quarter, highlighted analysts from Emkay Global Financial Services. The Bengaluru-based company's operating margin fell to 21.1 per cent in the quarter, and is expected to stay between 20 per cent and 22 per cent this fiscal year. Meanwhile, Infosys's bigger rival Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) delivered a soft quarter, impacted by weakness in North American geography (>1 per cent impact on overall revenue estimated) on higher exposure in the BFSI vertical and the ensuing headwinds. Quarterly net profit rose 14.8 per cent to 11,392 crore. Its January-March order book stood at $10 billion, down 11.5 per cent from a year ago, but with an "all-time high number of large deals." What should investors do Infosys stock Emkay maintains a 'Buy' on the stock, with a revised target price of 1,620 per share from 1,700 earlier factoring-in the disappointing Q4. What the brokerage liked: Strong FY24 revenue growth guidance, moderation in attrition (LTM attrition down 340bps QoQ to 20.9%/quarterly annualised attrition down by >400bps QoQ), steady deal intake, healthy cash generation (73.5% OCF/EBITDA in Q4). What the brokerage didn't like: Operating performance miss in Q4, lower-than-expected margin guidance. Brokerage Religare believes that Infosys' growth may temporarily be muted as it generates 61 per cent and 30 per cent from the American region and Financials service segment. The brokerage has maintained a Buy rating on Infosys but has revised its target price downwards to 1,855, assigning a PE multiple of 23 times on FY25 EPS. TCS stock Centrum broking said that TCS's management has attributed the lower than expected revenues/margins to a slowdown in discretionary spends which impacted revenues while costs remained sticky. The brokerage expects TCS's revenue/EBIT/PAT to grow at 9 per cent/13 per cent/13 per cent between FY2325E and maintains 'Add' rating for the stock with a revised target price of 3,541. Domestic brokerage HDFC Securities has also maintained a 'Add' call on the stock with a target price of 3,610. Brokerage Emkay has retained a 'Hold' call on the stock with a target price of 3,300 per share. IT stocks play spoiler Weak trends in IT counters and fall in the overnight US equity markets triggered by fresh concerns over recession put a check on market's uptrend. Infosys Ltd, Tech Mahindra Ltd, and HCL Tech Ltd fell over 2 per cent each, and were the top losers in the Nifty 50 index in Thursday's trade. "While weak commentary from TCS put pressure on the IT sector, which was down 2.2 per cent. Nifty closed in positive territory for the ninth consecutive day and has now touched its 7-week high. Consistent weak numbers from TCS and Infosys would keep the technology sector under pressure," said Siddhartha Khemka, Head - Retail Research, Motilal Oswal. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Meghna Sen Business journalist tracking markets, companies, economy and crypto for Livemint. She has 6 years of experience with online and print publications. Email: meghnasen08@gmail.com Read more from this author Pharmaceutical drug manufacturer, supplier, and exporter, Medico Remedies Ltd, has has shown consistent growth in its overall sales and been profitable since 2014. The shares of Medico Remedies has turned multibagger in the last one year. The scrip had settled at 86.67 on Thursday, the previous trading session. Medico Remedies had recently announced stock splits in 1:5 ratio i.e., share with a face value of 10, each, was divided into five shares with a face value of 2, each. The company had issued bonus shares in November 2021 in a 3:1 ratio. The stock was consolidated between Rs70 to 80 after the split and has confirmed a breakout by making a new 52-week high recently. Shares of Medico Remedies hit a 52-week high of 89 on 11 April, 2023. In the last one year, the company has given returns in the tune of 397.16 per cent, while it has rallied 198.74 per cent in the last six-month period. It has gained 35.11 per cent in the year 2023 so far. The pharma is commanding a market capitalization of 730 crore currently. The company's stock price has shown an impressive 400 per cent 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. The stock of Medico Remedies Ltd., has been recommended by analyst Nikhil Bhatt for a short-term buy. 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. From today, the power subsidies to nearly 46 lakh people in Delhi will be stopped, minister Atishi announced on Friday. This means that from Saturday, 15 April, the Delhi residents, who had so far been enjoying subsidised electricity, will now be getting their inflated electricity bills. Why? Atishi explains. Clarifying her statement about subsidised power to Delhi residents, minister Atishi said the electricity subsidy to nearly 46 lakh people in the city will cease as Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena is yet to clear the file to extend the scheme. If L-G VK Saxena doesnt clear the file, the Delhi government cannot release the subsidised bill a matter which could become the latest flashpoint between the Delhi government and the Lt Governor's office. In a virtual presser, the Delhi power minister said that the money cannot be released until the L-G returns the file. From today, the subsidised electricity given to the people of Delhi will be stopped. This means from tomorrow, the subsidized bills will not be given. This subsidy is stopped because the AAP govt has taken the decision to continue subsidy for the coming year, but that file is with Delhi LG and till the file doesn't come back, the AAP govt cannot release the subsidised bill," Atishi said. #WATCH | From today, the subsidized electricity given to the people of Delhi will be stopped. This means from tomorrow, the subsidized bills will not be given. This subsidy is stopped because AAP govt has taken the decision to continue subsidy for the coming year, but that file pic.twitter.com/lYZ3lJ0Od7 ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2023 Atishi also alleged that she had sought an appointment with L-G VK Saxena but a response is still awaited. [I] had sought appointment with Delhi LG V K Saxena to discuss power subsidy issue for five minutes; no response from him," she said. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DENIES Following the allegation of Atishi on Delhi Lt Governor, VK Saxena accused the power minister of making misleading and false" statements. In response to Atishi's letter, LG V.K. Saxena said "Again misleading and false statements are being made by/ on behalf of the Power Minister. A request has been received today from her office at 12:26 PM and is under active consideration." "LG has not refused to meet her," added LG. The AAP government in Delhi provides free electricity to consumers with 200 units of monthly consumption. Those having 201 to 400 units of consumption per month get a 50 per cent subsidy capped at 850. Atiq Ahmad's son Asad Ahmad was killed in a police firing late on Thursday night. A doctor from Jhansi Medical College where the post mortem was conducted on Asad and his aide Ghulam said that the former had two bullet wounds and the latter had just one. Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad's son was killed in a police encounter in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi late on Thursday. Asad Ahmad, the son of Atiq Ahmad had likely intended to kill or harm his father when the latter would be taken in a convoy. The doctor spoke to news agency ANI and said that Asad Ahmad and his pillion rider and aide Ghulam had been dead for 90 minutes to two hours before their bodies were brought to the hospital. Meanwhile, Jhansi Police Superintendent Gyanendra Singh confirmed that the bodies of Asad and Ghulam has been placed under tight security. The family and friends of Asad and Ghulam have left Paryagraj and will arrive in Jhansi within 6 hours. Ghulam's mother told ANI she would not receive her son's body. "I had no idea that he (her son) used to work for gangster Atiq Ahmad. I will not receive his body maybe his wife will receive it." Umesh Pal's mother thanked UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath and called the killings a 'tribute' to her son's death. Asad Ahmad and his father are wanted in connection with the murder of lawyer Umesh Pal, who was an eyewitness to the killing of Raju Pal, a Bahujan Samaj Party lawmaker. Umesh Pal was killed in Prayagraj in February, while Raju Pal was murdered in 2005. Asad and Ghulam were tracked down by UP Police's Special Task Force in 'Operation Jhansi' after a tip that they were on the move. They were intercepted as Asad was riding a motorcycle and, according to the police, both were killed in the exchange of gunfire that followed. The police said they recovered two foreign-made weapons - a British Bulldog revolver and a German Walther P88 semi-automatic pistol - from the bodies of the two gangsters. Asad and Ghulam's deaths have been praised by Yogi Adityanath and his deputy, Keshav Prasad Maurya. Yogi hailed it as a 'historic' and Maurya declared it a 'message to criminals'. India is a land of diverse cultures, cuisines and festivals with hundreds of festivals celebrated across the country each year. However, spring harvest is an important time in the country with people in various parts of the country praying to the gods for a better harvest in the coming year. The spring harvesting festival also coincides with the New Year in certain states and religions. Also Read: Dr BR Ambedkar Jayanti: Wishes, quotes, interesting facts Here are some of the most popular spring harvesting festivals in India: Baisakhi The festival of Baisakhi, which is mainly celebrated in the north Indian states of Punjab and Haryana, marks the beginning of the Sikh New Year. It is also a commemoration of the formation of the Khalsa Panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. During Baisakhi, people in these states celebrate with great joy and enthusiasm, by singing and dancing to folk songs and performing the energetic Bhangra dance. Bohag Bihu Bohag Bihu, also known as Rongali Bihu, is one of the most popular festivals in Assam and is celebrated to mark the beginning of the Assamese New Year. This year, the festival will be observed from April 14 to April 20. According to ancient mythology, the festival dates back to around 3500 BC, when an indigenous tribe in the northeastern part of the world offered sacrifices for a good harvest. Today, the festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm throughout Assam, with people preparing delicious traditional dishes, singing and dancing with their friends and family Poila Baisakh Coinciding with the Bengali New Year, Poila Baisakh is celebrated with much enthusiasm by the Bengali community across the globe. The festival is celebrated on April 15 every year. People celebrate Poila Baisakh by wearing new clothes, visiting temples and exchanging sweets with their loved ones. Vishu Vishu marks the beginning of the Malayalam New Year and falls on the first day of the Malayalam month of Medam. The festival is celebrated with much fervor across Karnataka and Kerala on April 14. As per mythology, Lord Krishna killed the demon Narkasura on Vishu while the festivals has also been associated with the return of Sun God. Puthandu Puthandu is an important festival celebrated by the Tamil community across the world. It marks the start of the Tamil New Year and falls on the first day of the Tamil month of Chithirai. Usually falling on the second week of April, the festival will be celebrated on April 14 this year. Karnataka's capital city Bengaluru attracts thousands of employees every year in search jobs in the silicon valley of India. Along with the emergence of a huge job market, also comes head-hunters and companies that help you look for jobs. However, one such Chief Executive Officer of a job hunting company was arrested in Bengaluru for allegedly cheating job aspirants out of their money. CS Sudheer, the founder and CEO of IndianMoney Ffreedom app was sent o judicial custody after 22 victims filed complaints against him and employees of the company. The manager, the HR are among the employees of the company who have been named in the complaint. CS Sudheer will face interrogation in the case. Several victims have complained that the app IndianMoney Ffreedom would ask aspirants to subscribe for 2,999. In turn the company assured the aspirants part-time job paying 15,000 per month. The victims went ahead an lodged a complaint with Bengaluru when IndianMoney Ffreedom did not keep up with their words. The job seeking app asked the candidates to ask others to subscribe to the app by paying 2,999. Between November and April, the job aspirants approached friends and relatives to subscribe to the app. Those who failed to meet the targets were asked to pay the shortfall. One of the victims told Deccan Herald, that people who achieved the target were promised jobs in corporate offices with a monthly salary and incentives totaling around 60,000. The jobs were never offered after all. According to the victims statements to Deccan Herald, the company raised the target to 1 lakh and offered aspirants a telemarketing job, after their repeated barrage of questions. They were asked to work for nine to 12 hours in an office to generate more subscriptions. The aspirants opposed this move and resigned. The first case was registered against the CEO on 4 April by one person and 21 other complainants were named as witnesses in the matter. The second case was filed on 11 April by another victim along with 20 others. Sudheer got bail in one of the cases but was kept in custody after another case was registered against him. Police are yet to recover the money of the defrauded victims. IndianMoneys Ffreedom app describes itself as an investment advisory boutique firm offering customized investment services for insurance, loans, property, tax and so on. New Delhi: Trade minister Piyush Goyal met Adolfo Urso, minister for enterprises and Made in Italy, in Rome, to discuss mutual interests, according to a statement from Indias ministry of commerce and industry. Both the ministers were accompanied by senior officials, with Goyal joined by a Confederation of Indian Industry-led delegation. The ministers noted the elevation of bilateral relations during prime minister Giorgia Melonis recent visit to India. Goyal showcased Indias growth story, highlighting youth power, digitization, and financial inclusion. He also emphasized Indias clean energy achievements and ambitious goals for renewable capacity expansion. Goyal briefed Urso on Indias $1.4 trillion national infrastructure pipeline and the Make in India initiative, aiming to make India a manufacturing hub. He expressed Indias aspiration to grow from a $3.5 trillion economy to a developed country by 2047. Both ministers acknowledged the complementarities and synergies between Make in India and Made in Italy initiatives and encouraged business communities of India and Italy to invest in each others market and exchange on technology and innovation," according to the statement. Minister Urso suggested partnership opportunities in space, defence, IT, energy, and agriculture, and called for a fair and free trade agreement between India and the EU. Goyal invited Urso to visit India. India witnessed a jump in covid cases on Friday as it reported over 11,000 cases on Friday, 9% more than yesterday. With,11,109 new cases in last 24 hours, the active caseload stands at 49,622. On Thursday too, the country saw a significant jump in Covid cases with 10,158 fresh Covid cases recorded. Amid the daily spike in COVID-19 cases in the country, a health expert has advised people to wear masks and follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. Dr Sandeep Nayar, Pulmonologist, HOD, BLK Hospital said that masks should be made mandatory in crowded places. "Amid a rise in COVID-19 cases, it is most important that people start wearing masks. One should wear a mask while going to any crowded place. Use double-layer masks in places like hospitals etc., as it is very effective in preventing infection," Dr Nayar said, ANI reported. 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. 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. The national capital reported fresh 1527 COVID-19 cases and two deaths in the last 24 hours, according to a daily bulletin issued by the Delhi Health Department on Thursday. India will deploy four Rafale jets, two C-17 aircraft, and two IL-78 mid-air refuellers for around three-week multinational air exercise at France's Mont-de-Marsan military base, according to the news agency PTI. Notably, 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. In an official statement, the IAF said, An Indian Air Force contingent will be departing tomorrow for France to participate in Exercise Orion at Mont-de-Marsan. 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 statement added. IAF also conducted a massive exercise covering the Northeastern region early February to assess its combat readiness as tensions between India and China along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh have risen. The exercise was conducted by Eastern Air Command, which is based in Shillong. After Indian and Chinese forces clashed at Yangtse on December 9 in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh's Line of Actual Control (LAC), tensions between the two countries have accentuated. The Indian Army forced the Chinese troops to retreat with its firm and resolute response, according to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who made the statement in Parliament on 13 December after the Chinese troops attempted to "unilaterally" change the status quo in the Yangtse area. (With PTI inputs) Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad Ahmad and his aide Ghulam were killed in a ploce encounter on Thursday. On Friday, Gulam's mother has said that she will not receive her deceased son's body. Ghulam' s mother said that she is in complete agreement with Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force's deed in gunning down her son. She declared the state government's action to be 'absolutely correct'. "All gangsters and criminals will take a lesson from this. I had no idea that he (her son) used to work for gangster Atiq Ahmad. I will not receive his body maybe his wife will receive it," she was quoted by news agency ANI. #WATCH | Prayagraj, UP: "The action taken by the government is absolutely correct. All gangsters and criminals will take a lesson from this. I had no idea that he (my son) used to work for gangster Atiq Ahmed. I will not receive his body, maybe his wife will receive it," says pic.twitter.com/9oqwnwYd2i ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 14, 2023 Atiq Ahmad's son Asad Ahmad's son's aide Ghulam Hasan is a resident of Prayagraj's Mehndauri area. He is also the brother of ex-BJP minority cell district president Rahil Hasan. He was with gangster Asad Ahmad - both had a 5 lakh reward on their heads - when the two were shot dead in an encounter in UP's Jhansi. Their killing sparked praise for UP police from chief minister Yogi Adityanath, his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya and other BJP leaders, and criticism from opposition leaders like AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and the Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, who feared the extra-legal nature of the shooting. Asad Ahmad and Ghulam's killing was also praised by the mother of Umesh Pal - the lawyer who was an eyewitness to the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party lawmaker Raju Pal and whose murder in Prayagraj has been credited to Atiq and Asad Ahmad, among others. Pal's mother thanked Yogi Adityanath and called the killings a 'tribute' to her son's death. Asad Ahmad and Ghulam were hunted down by UP cops in a special operation codenamed 'Jhansi' that was launched after a tip that the two were on the move. According to the police, the two opened fire after being cornered and were shot dead in the subsequent exchange of bullets. "They (Asad and Ghulam) were travelling across several states after the Umesh Pal murder. 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," Anant Dev Tiwari, the task force's DIG, said. If we leave author Salman Rushdie, Indian-born British-American, and his former wife Padma Lakshmi, Indian-born American; there are only two Indians who have been named in TIME100: The Most Influential People of 2023. The first one is SS Rajamouli, who has been named among the top Pioneers" of 2023. According to Alia Bhatt, working with SS Rajamouli in RRR felt like reliving her school days. Rajamouli has a deep understanding of his audience and knows how to hit the right beats and turns in his stories, wrote Alia for TIME. Bhatt admiringly calls him the master storyteller because of his love for stories and the way he brings people together. Despite India's vast diversity in demographics, tastes, and culture, Rajamouli manages to unite the country through his movies. Also Read: SS Rajamoulis Telugu film Chhatrapati to see Hindi remake The second Indian in the list has just delivered the biggest Hindi movie in history. Its none other than Shah Rukh Khan. Khan has been named among the top Icons" of 2023. He is in august company as other Icons" in the list include Pedro Pascal, King Charles, Salman Rushdie and Ke Huy Quan. Deepika Padukone, for TIME, recalls her first meeting with Shah Rukh Khan, when she had just arrived in Mumbai with one suitcase and a dream. She was being considered for a role in a film opposite him and the next thing she knew, she was sitting in his house. Sixteen years have passed since then, and their relationship is built on love, trust, and respect for each other. Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan tops TIME 100 Reader Poll, defeats Lionel Messi, Prince Harry Shah Rukh Khan is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time, and his mind, chivalry, and generosity set him apart, writes Padukone. For someone who knows him intimately and cares for him deeply, 150 words are not enough to do justice to the phenomenon that is Shah Rukh Khan, she adds. Last year, billionaire Gautam Adani, Supreme Court lawyer Karuna Nundy and Kashmiri activist Khurram Parvez were among the TIME100: The Most Influential People of 2022. Trucks rolled onto the premises of Rahul Gandhi's home on Friday as the Congress leader vacated his official residence. The ousted MP had been asked to vacate his government bungalow by April 22 following his disqualification from the Lok Sabha. The former lawmaker is currently on bail after appealing his conviction in a criminal defamation case. The Congress leader had been living in the 12, Tughlaq Lane bungalow since 2005. The decision was taken by the Housing Committee of the Lok Sabha, following which the secretariat of the House served him a notice. Officials had indicated at the time that Gandhi could seek an extension by writing to the Housing Committee. In this case, the panel would have taken a decision on the validity of the reasons cited. The committee has 11 members drawn from different parties and is headed BJP MP C R Patil. #WATCH | Trucks at the premises of Delhi residence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He is vacating his residence after being disqualified as Lok Sabha MP. pic.twitter.com/BZBpesy339 ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2023 Gandhi's disqualification was triggered after a Surat court handed him a two year jail term in a criminal defamation case. The March 23 verdict was followed a day later by his ouster from the Lower House of Parliament and consequent loss of his government home. The Congress leader has since been granted bail to allow him to appeal to a higher court in a month. The Surat Court will pass order on the interim application filed by Gandhi on April 20. ALSO READ: Meanwhile Opposition parties have been vocal in their criticism of the situation. Congress leader Manickam Tagore (who is a member of the committee), had earlier linked the decision to Gandhi's vocal criticism of the BJP-led government and its policies. When RG spoke on March 25 the about Mo-Adani... 27th March they want to take the house also. Wah Narender baba. What else can you take from him now?" he had tweeted. The politician also alleged that Gandhi's security was given to the CRPF from the SPG when the latter spoke against a few corporate groups getting all benefits under this government. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi: A high-level US delegation is in India to forge stronger bilateral cooperation in vital areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, cybersecurity, semiconductors, clean energy, and biotechnology. The delegation, spearheaded by Senator Todd Young, met Minister of State for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh, to discuss expanding collaboration and exploring new partnership opportunities in cutting-edge technologies. Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for fostering scientific innovation and implementing social initiatives through science-based solutions, particularly in space, biotech, geospatial, and sustainable startups. In the meeting, both sides reviewed 35 joint projects to be carried out by Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) and US research institutions. Six TIHs have been selected for joint research and development initiatives with National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported institutions. Senator Young expressed enthusiasm for the synergy between the TIHs and the NSF. The Indo-US joint clean energy R&D program, a collaboration between the Ministry of Science and Technology and the US Department of Energy, was also highlighted. Additionally, the two countries are exploring the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration between the Geological Survey of India and the United States Geological Survey. Another significant cooperative venture is the LIGO-India project, which recently received approval from the Union Cabinet. The advanced gravitational-wave detector, to be constructed in Maharashtra at an estimated cost of 2,600 crore, will be completed by 2030 and work in tandem with its twin facilities in Louisiana and Washington in the US. Former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi on Friday joined the Congress, just two days after resigning from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after being denied a ticket in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly election due in May 2023. Earlier in the day, Laxman Savadi had a meeting with senior Congress leaders DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah at the latter's residence before making the switch. The Karnataka Assembly election 2023 is scheduled for May 10, with counting on May 13. The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief D K Shivakumar confirmed Laxman Savadi's entry into the party. Savadi was aspiring to contest from the Athani Assembly constituency, but the BJP chose to field sitting MLA Mahesh Kumathalli instead. The development is expected to have an impact on the dynamics of the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka. Speaking of the humiliation" Laxman Savadi has faced at the BJP, Shivakumar said, There is no condition. He feels that he has been humiliated. It is our duty to take such great leaders into the Congress Party. There are more than 9-10 sitting MLAs who want to join us but we don't have space to accommodate them." Laxman Savadi is a three-time MLA from Athani but lost in the 2018 elections to Kumathalli (then in the Congress). Kumathalli was among the group of defectors who helped the BJP to bring down the Congress-JD(S) coalition and form its government under the leadership of B S Yediyurappa in 2019. Paul Burrell, Princess Diana's former butler, has claimed that Prince Harry would be "gathering anecdotes for his next assault on his family" while he is in the UK for King Charles's coronation. He also asserted that Harry will find it difficult to "kiss the hand of Queen Camilla" following the fallout from his tell-all memoir Spare, in which he called his stepmother a "villain" and warned that she was "dangerous". He also said he had "complex feelings about gaining a step-parent who I thought had recently sacrificeed me on her personal PR altar". Burrell believes that Harry is preserving his "unique selling point" by maintaining his royal status. However, he also acknowledged that Harry will have to face his family, including those he has criticized in his book. "Harry is keeping the door open and preserving his unique selling point by being Royal. That's what the Americans love, the fact they're Royal. "Harry will have to face his family, the ones he has criticised. He will even have to bow and kiss the hand of Queen Camilla, and that's going to be a very tough pill to swallow," Paul said in a new interview. Speaking to GB News, he added: He will also be gathering anecdotes for his next assault on his family." Why Meghan is not attending? The Coronation falls on the same day as their son Archie's birthday, but a close friend of Meghan's suggested that this wasn't the reason for her absence. Burrell agreed, stating that even if it wasn't Archie's birthday, Meghan still wouldn't have attended the event because of the potential security risk. "The decision is exactly what I thought would happen," he said. "I personally did not want to watch the Harry and Meghan show at the King's Coronation, I want to watch the King's Coronation. "It's right that shes not here because I think her security would be in danger. She would be at risk of being booed or even worse. Burrell also dismissed the excuse that Meghan was staying in California because of Archie's birthday. This excuse of her not coming because it's Archie's birthday is pathetic because Lilibet spent her first birthday here at Frogmore Cottages, so why couldn't Archie?" China's President Xi Jinping has called for military training to be geared towards actual combat", following three days of drills aimed at intimidating Taiwan. State media reported that Jinping has urged the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command Navy to resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests and ensure peripheral stability, according to Daily Mail. China sees Taiwan as an extension of its mainland and does not recognise the administration set up by the fleeing KMT government after the Chinese Civil War in 1949. Additionally, China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea. The United States and the Philippines are currently holding their largest-ever joint military drills this week, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledging to stand with the Philippines against any intimidation or coercion, including in the South China Sea. Also Read: Aim for a best-case scenario on catching up with China After the simulated precision strikes, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told CNN that China seems to be preparing for war against Taiwan. In response, Wu emphasised that Taiwan is also taking measures to build up its island defences, adding that "Chinese leaders will think twice before they decide to use force against Taiwan". The US and Japan have both responded to the recent military drills around Taiwan, with the US sending a guided-missile destroyer through contested parts of the South China Sea and Japan scrambling jets. Meanwhile, the German foreign ministry has accused China of inflaming tensions, calling for de-escalation in the region. Also Read: The likely scenarios for China-Taiwan tensions Germany's foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, is set to visit China and meet representatives of German companies as well as Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang during her trip. Baerbock has previously called for caution in trade with China. In March, China committed to fighting back if Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen, met with the US House Speaker during a visit to the United States. Despite this warning, Tsai Ing-wen met with Kevin McCarthy on April 5th. In March, the US, UK and Australia entered into a tripartite agreement to develop new nuclear-powered submarines, which will be supplied to Australia for the first time. This move is seen as a joint effort to expand influence and security in the Indo-Pacific region. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sounak Mukhopadhyay Sounak Mukhopadhyay, who also goes by the name Sounak Mukherjee, has been producing digital news since 2012. He's worked for the International Business Times, The Inquisitr, and Moneycontrol in the past. He's also contributed to Free Press Journal and TheRichest with feature articles. He covers news for a wide range of subjects including business, finance, economy, politics and social media. Before working with digital news publications, he worked as a freelance content writer. Read more from this author US government agencies have been left red-faced after a national guardsman was arrested for leaking Pentagon documents. The 21-year-old was arrested by a team of heavily-armed FBI agents on Friday before being produced in court. While his motives remain unclear, new details have emerged about how the biggest data breach in 10 years. US officials are still assessing the damage done by the leaks, which included records showing purported details of Ukrainian military vulnerabilities and embarrassed Washington by revealing its spying on allies. Who is Jack Teixeira? Teixeira served with the Air National Guard in Massachusetts and was part of the team that reports to the governor of their respective state or territory. He had worked as a "Cyber Transport Systems Journeyman" - an IT specialist - and was an Airman 1st class based out of Otis Air National Guard Base. An affidavit released on Friday, Teixeira not only had a "top secret" security clearance but also he maintained "sensitive compartmented access (SCI)" since 2021, giving him broad access to highly classified information. How was he discovered by the FBI? Discord billing records obtained by the FBI had reportedly helped lead investigators to Teixeira. He has been charged with unlawfully copying and transmitting classified defense records. President Joe Biden said the government was working to determine the validity" of the leaked documents. The FBI's hunt for Teixeira was also aided by his search for the word leak" in a classified system on April 6 the day The New York Times first published a story about the breach of documents. What happened on the discord server? Its still not known how he allegedly obtained the documents, or what safeguards had been in place. As per the affidavit, Teixeira had started posting classified information on social media around December 2022. He shared the documents with a group of youths, conversing on a guns-and-ammo-focused server on Discord. At one point the private server was at one point known as "Thug Shaker Central." According to a Washington Post report citing two members of the server, the chatroom had been a venue for dark humor and outrageous comments. The group also held a running discussion on wars that included talk of Russias invasion of Ukraine. An individual who spoke to AP also said that Teixeira was an observant Christian who often spoke of God and prayed with members of the chat group. 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. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi: India and Spain expect the India-EU trade talks to witness considerable progress" when Spain takes up the presidency of the European Union during the second half of 2023. Both the nations have also agreed to further extend cooperation in sectors like civil aviation, automation, surveillance, high speed railways and related segments. These aspects came under discussion during the 12th session of the India-Spain joint commission for economic cooperation (JCEC), which was held on April 13 in New Delhi. Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal and Xiana Mendez, Spanish Secretary of State for Trade, co-chaired the session, as both the sides celebrated the Golden Jubilee edition of the India-Spain Joint Commission mechanism which was established in 1972. During the past 50 years, a remarkable enhancement of bilateral trade and investment has taken place. With an investment of $3.7 billion, 250 Spanish companies are active in India and 40 Indian companies are present in Spain, working in different sectors such as IT, pharma, renewable energy, automobiles and infrastructure, among others," the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said. Xiana emphasised the importance of India-Spain relationship and the Spanish partnership in Indias development stories. Spanish side has reaffirmed the further cooperation in the various sectors including in the field of Civil Aviation such as automation, surveillance and navAids, high speed railways, railways networking, signalling, traffic management etc. Both sides also agreed for further cooperation in the field of renewable energy, shipping, ports, tourism, infrastructure, food processing, pharmaceuticals, technology, innovation, and defence sector. The status of various MOUs were also reviewed including those of important interest for bilateral relations such as MOUs on migration and mobility, agreement on social security, cyber security etc. Both sides also discussed various market access issues faced by their exporters and agreed to resolve the same through bilateral discussions. Prince Harry will attend the Coronation of King Charles alone as his wife Meghan Markle has refused to accompany him to the event, according to a Royal expert. The Associate Editor of the Telegraph, Camilla Tominey, has stated that Meghan's decision to decline the invitation was not unexpected. However, it will leave Prince Harry excluded from key parts of the ceremony, including the finale on the Buckingham Palace balcony. Tominey has warned that this could result in Harry having to "suck up the ignominy" of being secluded during the ceremony. She further added that Meghan's absence was not surprising, given her limited presence during her husband's recent book tour and rumours of discontent regarding the exclusion of their children from the Coronation procession. According to the Royal commentator, Harry-Meghans unwillingness to play second fiddle to Queen Elizabeth during her reign has carried over to King Charles's ascension. Sources close to Meghan claim that she sees her future in the United States, and this event marks the end of her involvement with the Royal Family, the Daily Express reported. Also Read: Does this confirm that Prince Harry-Meghan Markle will skip King Charles Coronation? As a result, Prince Harry will have to face the event alone and without the support of his wife. He will be excluded from both the King's procession and Coronation procession, as well as the Buckingham Palace balcony appearance. Tominey emphasises that "blood is thicker than water", implying that Harry must fulfil his duty as a member of the Royal Family, despite his personal circumstances. The news of Meghan's absence from the Coronation has sparked widespread speculation and discussion about the future of the Sussexes' relationship with the Royal Family. Many have expressed concern about the couple's decision to prioritise their personal lives over their Royal duties. Also Read: King Charles, Kate relieved as Meghan Markle skips coronation While Prince Harry has previously spoken out about the pressures and scrutiny faced by members of the Royal Family, this latest development has left many questioning the future of the monarchy and its role in contemporary society. The Coronation of King Charles is set to take place on May 6, and all eyes will be on Prince Harry as he represents his family and the Royal institution during this historic event. North Korea said it tested a new type of solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile that could deliver multiple nuclear warheads to the US mainland, which would increase its ability to deliver an atomic strike. 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. Kim Jong Uns regime fired off a suspected ICBM on Thursday that landed off of Japans main island of Hokkaido. The latest test served a reminder of a bevy of weapons Kims 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. 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. Kim, who oversaw the latest test, emphasized the importance of military capabilities, to confront any threats," KCNA said. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. 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. 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 seeks bigger India role to resolve war with Russia 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. 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. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. News that SoftBank Group Corp. plans to keep selling its stake in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. should come as no surprise. Continued restrictions imposed by Beijing on Chinese industry, particularly the internet sector, may exacerbate the need to reduce exposure to the country. Yet plenty of factors closer to home make cashing out an important strategy. Lets take the biggest global stock market selloff in more than a decade as one example. Six years ago, founder and Chairman Masayoshi Son reoriented the software retailer-cum-telecom operator toward being a publicly listed venture capital fund. Whereas phone companies were once considered a great bet in a downturn, relying on a steady flow of share listings has been the core strategy of his SoftBank Vision Fund. Beyond public equities markets, the fund had also been able to reap fat earnings from revaluations at portfolio companies as they raised fresh rounds of cash. That gravy train got derailed three years ago, with the Vision Funds there are now two of them dragging SoftBank Group earnings down quarter after quarter. The primary culprit has been a continued decline in the net worth of the funds holdings in both public companies and private unicorns. That value dropped a combined $5 billion in the December period alone, and theyre net losers since inception. But the rise and fall are only paper profits (and losses). A more pressing issue is the ongoing IPO drought that means fresh money isnt being brought back into the funds, or SoftBank itself. Cash is crucial to Sons empire for multiple reasons. First, he put the Vision Fund on the hook for 7% in annual payments on $40 billion of preferred equity right from the start, regardless of the portfolios earnings. While more than half of that prioritized capital has since been returned to investors, the fund still bears the burden of making cash disbursements no matter what happens. The upshot is that any money that does flow in must first go to this special group of shareholders before any can be passed on to SoftBank Group. Then theres the rest of SoftBanks debt. At the end of December, it stood at 31.7 trillion yen; thats $235 billion at todays exchange rate. Less than one-eighth of that is interest-bearing liabilities due within a year, but whats particularly telling is that while SoftBank managed to pay off 5 trillion yen during the nine months to Dec. 31, it also went back out to the market to raise 6.5 trillion yen. The lions share of this came from using stakes in both Alibaba and ARM Holdings Ltd. as collateral. Sons early bet on Alibaba was a career-defining move, and hes dined out on it ever since. But that investment has run its course. Reports this week that SoftBank will sell more of its stake in the Chinese e-commerce giant should come as no revelation to anyone paying attention. This process started in earnest 18 months ago, amid Beijings crackdown on internet companies and at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, which stymied global trade and hit the Chinese economy hard. At the end of 2019, SoftBank owned a little over 690 million American Depositary Shares worth $147 billion. Over the next year, the Japanese company used those holdings to raise funds, usually as margin loans, with Alibaba as collateral or as prepaid forward contracts. That latter strategy consists of taking cash from a counterparty and pledging to deliver shares at a pre-determined price and usually on a certain date. One quirk of these forwards is that SoftBank would actually post a loss on the transaction if Alibaba stock rose during the quarter, but it was offset by an increase in holding value. For most of the following two years, SoftBanks stake in the company hovered around the same level. Quarterly changes to the value of these shares, and the proportion of the companys balance sheet attributed to Alibaba, rose and fell according to its price on the New York Stock Exchange. Then things started to change. The ratio of SoftBanks Alibaba shares put up for collateral or entered into forward contracts started climbing, from 12% at the end of June 2020 to a peak of 55% two years later, according to Bloomberg Opinion calculations based on company statements. Soon after, its actual holdings started to drop. First gradually by 5 million ADS one quarter, 17 million units the next. And then precipitously. The value of SoftBanks unencumbered stake in Alibaba meaning not pledged for loans or forward contracts went from just over $50 billion at the end of 2021 to around $16 billion at the end of December 2022. While a big chunk of that deterioration was due to a 25% drop in share price last year, the simple fact is that SoftBank is getting out of Alibaba. Its stake, free and clear, is now likely in the single digits, according to Bloomberg Opinion estimates. While this may be a shock to investors in both companies, it makes sense. Son knows that Alibabas best days are behind it, and thats not just because of Beijings heavy hand or increased tensions with much of the world, but because the pace of Chinas consumer economy isnt what it used to be. True, much of Alibabas share slide can be connected to antitrust investigations and founder Jack Mas harsh criticism toward regulators that preceded him largely disappearing from public life, but the bigger challenge is a malaise in local spending. This culminated in an announcement last month that Alibaba Group will split into six Baby Babas in a bid to unlock value. But instead of hanging on in the hope of a rebound, SoftBank is cashing out and turning its attention to a more important investment: itself. Beyond servicing debt and looking for new deals, SoftBank is using as much spare cash as it can find to conduct share buybacks to prop up its stock. That appears to be working. A $4 billion spate of repurchasing in the December quarter helped the shares climb 15% in the period, the best return in two years. But the real struggle will come when the Alibaba stake is all gone. Investors can take heart in the fact that SoftBank is about to relist semiconductor company ARM overseas, and we can be sure Son will tap that well as often as needed. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Two men have been arrested for using the west access road of Interstate 35 to bypass the checkpoint with nine migrants, according to an arrest affidavit. Jose Luis Soto and Jorge Leonidas Pineda were arrested on the charges of transport, attempt to transport and conspire to transport the migrants. The case unfolded on April 10, when agents assigned to the Laredo Sector Intelligence Unit observed a gray Honda Civic, a blue Nissan Rogue and a brown Toyota Tundra traveling in tandem. At about 4:30 p.m., an agent encountered the Honda traveling northbound. The agent followed the Honda as it utilized the west access road to bypass the checkpoint on I-35, states the affidavit. The Honda stopped near mile marker 31. Agents approached the vehicle and identified the driver as Soto. Agents also observed two individuals lying on the floor of the vehicle and an additional one inside the trunk. All were determined to be migrants, authorities said. At approximately 5 p.m., agents encountered the blue Nissan Rogue traveling north on the west access road of I-35. An agent followed the Nissan as it used the west access road to travel north of the checkpoint on I-35, the affidavit states. Near mile marker 33, the Nissan used an emergency vehicle access road to illegally enter I-35 southbound lanes where it then accelerated beyond the posted speed limit. A pursuit ensued, according to court documents. During the pursuit, the Nissan had a tire blowout but continued for several miles on three wheels. Moments later, the Nissan struck a guardrail due to excessive speed, the affidavit states. The Nissan made it to the Rio Grande River, where the driver fled on foot and swam into the river. An inspection of the abandoned Nissan yielded six migrants. Two migrants from the Nissan were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. A scope-truck camera operator near the Rio Grande observed an individual crouched behind a car in a commercial yard along the river, approximately 350 meters south of where the Nissan was abandoned, according to court documents. Agents detained the individual, who was later identified as Pineda. Homeland Security Investigations special agents responded to take over the investigation. In a post-arrest interview, Soto stated he was offered $1,500 per person to transport individuals from Laredo to Houston. Soto identified Pineda as the driver of the Nissan. Pineda first stated that he was homeless and was living in Laredo. Pineda said he was in the junkyard looking for more clothes to wear. Pineda told special agents he was willing to continue speaking to them but wanted to consult with an attorney first, according to court documents. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) Former President Donald Trump answered questions for nearly seven hours Thursday during his second deposition in a legal battle with New York's attorney general over his company's business practices, reversing an earlier decision to invoke his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination and remain silent. The Republican met all day with lawyers for Attorney General Letitia James, who sued Trump last year. Her lawsuit claims 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. Shortly after Trump entered the Manhattan skyscraper that houses James' offices, his attorney, Alina Habba, said he was not only willing but also eager to testify. After the deposition was finished, a lawyer for Trump's businesses, Christopher Kise, said the former president had spent nearly seven hours describing in detail his extraordinary business success. The transactions at the center of this case were wildly profitable for the banks and for the Trump entities, Kise said. When the facts of this success, and not politically engineered soundbites, are out in the open, everyone will scoff at the notion any fraud took place. The lawsuit is unrelated to the felony criminal charges filed against Trump by the Manhattan district attorney, which led last week to his historic arraignment, the first for a former president. James declined to answer a question about the deposition at a news conference on an unrelated matter Wednesday. Trump previously met with James' lawyers Aug. 10, but refused to answer all but a few procedural questions, invoking his Fifth Amendment rights more than 400 times. At the time, James had not yet brought her lawsuit and it was unclear whether questions about the way Trump valued his company would become the basis of a criminal case. Anyone in my position not taking the Fifth Amendment would be a fool, an absolute fool, he said in that deposition, which was recorded on video and later released publicly. 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. Circumstances since then have changed. The criminal charges brought by the Manhattan district attorney focused on how the company accounted internally for payments to a lawyer, Michael Cohen, for his work paying off people not to go public with stories about extramarital sexual encounters Trump said never happened. James' lawsuit focused on allegations that Trump lied repeatedly about his own wealth and exaggerated the value of his assets on financial statements. In a social media post Thursday morning, Trump called the suit ridiculous, just like all of the other Election Interference cases being brought against me. He raised a fist as he left his apartment at Trump Tower in the morning, arriving by motorcade at the attorney generals office around 9:40. The two sides took a break for lunch. Trump departed in the motorcade just before 6:15 p.m. and did not stop to speak to reporters. The lawsuit James brought is scheduled to go to trial in October. Video recordings of Trump's depositions could potentially be played at the trial, if the lawsuit is not settled. Thursday's deposition was conducted in private. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. Suffolk Police Seeking Suspect Who Stole Over $300 in Lego from Medford Store Crime By Chris Boyle Published: April 14 2023 A man stole multiple Lego sets from Target, located at 2975 Horseblock Road, on March 26. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the publics help to identify and locate the man who stole merchandise from a Medford business last month. A man stole multiple Lego sets from Target, located at 2975 Horseblock Road, on March 26. The merchandise is valued at approximately $330. Crime By Ls Cohen Published: April 14 2023 Defendants charged with a litany of crimes ranging from fraud to murder. The scene in Mount Sinai on the morning of Thursday, April 13, 2023 as two suspects were arrested by FBI agents. Photo: Anonymous. Six members of a violent gang were arrested on Long Island on Thursday in an operation that spanned from Hempstead to Mount Sinai. The members and associates of the so-called Insane Crip Gang, a violent subset of the Crips street gang also known as ICG, had committed over a dozen shootings and three murders between 2016 and 2022, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York. A 59-count indictment was unsealed in federal court in Central Islip Thursday charging the men with various offenses including racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and firearms offenses, as well as fraud schemes. The defendants allegedly engaged in multiple acts of gang violence, bringing undue fear and harm to the streets of our neighborhoods, said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael Driscoll. In Mount Sinai, residents watched as the FBI performed an early morning raid at a residence at Sutton Landing taking Lesly Pardo, 26, and Rob Pardo, 25, into custody. Akeem Chambers, 21, was arrested in Uniondale. Jahziah Dindyal, 19, Jalen Rogers, 20, and Jonathan Vazquez, 21, were arrested in Hempstead. Law enforcement recovered a 9mm, fully-loaded semi automatic pistol and a .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine and additional ammunition during their searches. In an earlier story LongIsland.com reported about the arrests in Mount Sinai. You can read that story here. In addition, a seventh man was arrested in North Carolina. One other defendant remains at large. It is unknown if that suspect is on Long Island. Gang violence menacing communities is something no one should have to endure; people have the right to feel safe where they live, Driscoll said. Todays indictment serves as a reminder that the FBIs Long Island Gang Task Force is persistent in its efforts to keep the neighborhoods of Long Island safe and free of violent crime. (Alliance News) - National Grid PLC on Friday said its performance for the year ended on March 31 was in line with its expectations but expects growth to be at the lower end of guidance going forward. The electricity infrastructure company said it continues to expect underlying earnings per share growth in the middle of its 6% to 8% compound annual growth rate. However, it warned that from financial 2024 to 2026, the UK government's introduction of 'full expensing' tax relief for capital expenditure will impact underlying EPS. It is "economically neutral" to the firm, however. "Expected lower cash tax payable will result in reduced revenues in UK Electricity Transmission and UK Electricity Distribution, resulting in a broadly neutral cash position. However, these impacts, alongside a corresponding increase in IFRS deferred tax liabilities, will result in a net adverse impact to statutory and underlying earnings," it explained. Looking ahead, National Grid expects underlying EPS growth between financial 2022 to 2026 to be at the "lower end" of its 6-8% CAGR range. Back in November, the company said pretax profit for the six months to September 30 rose by 45% to GBP1.57 billion from GBP1.08 billion a year ago. Revenue grew 36% to GBP9.44 billion from GBP6.94 billion. Shares were down 0.9% at 1,134.00 pence each on Friday morning in London. By Xindi Wei, Alliance News reporter Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Its like you are on camera all the time and the drones are another added element, she says. Wars are being fought with drones, and they have got this ability to be more than just a toy... and once you start, you can't stop. With the global banking industry back in the news again, this is a good time to look at what bank guarantees are in place in the event of institutional failure. Youve worked hard to build up your savings, so should establish what level of protection you have in the event the financial institution is unable to repay your money. Under an EU directive, each EU country provides a bank deposit guarantee of 100,000. Should a bank fail, your national scheme will refund your savings, up to this limit. UK bank accounts are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) and the limit is currently 85,000. Savings above these limits could be lost. You may receive additional funds following any distribution of assets as part of the insolvency process, depending on the banks situation. Compensation is per depositor, so couples with joint accounts have 200,000 protected. The guarantee is per banking group, not per bank account or per bank beware that some banks with different names form part of the same group. Under certain circumstances, you may be eligible for higher protection for temporary high balances. Banks in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man are not covered by the UK and their local guarantee schemes offer lower levels of protection 50,000 per individual. Compensation payments are capped at 200,000 for a 10-year period in Isle of Man and 100 million in a five-year period in Jersey and Guernsey. Many savers with larger cash deposits have spread them out over different banks. Others have opted to move capital into arrangements providing a higher level of investor protection than banks can offer. For example, with investment bonds issued by Luxembourg regulated insurance companies, your investment assets are protected should the company fail. Luxembourg provides robust investor protection for life assurance policy holders. Under its regime, all clients assets must be held by an independent custodian bank, which must ring-fence clients securities (investment funds, shares, bonds etc) so they are off its balance sheet. If the bank fails, these securities remain in segregated client accounts; 100% of the policyholders securities are protected (not including cash deposits). Also ensure you have adequate diversification across different investment assets. This reduces risk and increases the potential for improved returns. Your investment decisions should be based around your personal objectives, circumstances and risk profile. Take personalised advice on asset protection and a suitable tax-efficient investment approach for Spain. This information is based on our understanding of legislation and practice at the time of writing which may change in the future. Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at www.blevinsfranks.com The Department of Tourism on Thursday hosted welcome rites for a delegation of 1,400 incentive travelers from Korea upon their arrival at Mactan Cebu International Airport in Cebu. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco led the initiative to meet the first batch of 300 travelers from the delegation. The travelers, who arrived at the MCIA via chartered flight KE 9615, are members of the Korea branch of UNICITYa direct selling company on health functional foods, cosmetics and household items and with over 60 markets globally. As a reward to their top agents, sellers, and distributors, UNICITY-Korea sends a big volume of incentive groups to Southeast Asian countries annually. This year, the company is sending 1,400 people in four batches from the second to the third week of April 2023. Frasco said Korea reclaimed its dominant position as the biggest source of tourism arrivals in the Philippines. ADVERTISEMENT Data from the DOT showed a significant uptick in Korean arrivals since last year. The good news is that as of today, we have over 1.5 million tourist arrivals to the Philippines and our number one top source market are the Koreans. So were very grateful to our friends from Korea for continuing to show their love for the Philippines as they have come back in droves, and the UNICITY group in particular, has come with a delegation of no less than 1,400 individuals, Frasco said. Prior to the pandemic, Korea ranked first in terms of visitor arrivals to the Philippines, closing 2019 with 1.98 million Korean tourists visiting the Philippines or 24.08 percent of the countrys total number of arrivals. During the pandemic when travel was banned, arrivals from Korea and from other countries declined drastically to 338,877 in 2020 and 6,456 in 2021. Koreans are coming on a daily basis, and the numbers are increasing by the day. Last year, they were at number 2, since the US was our top source market. But this year, the Koreans have reclaimed the number one spot, and we send out the message to all our friends in Korea that you are more than welcome to keep coming back again and again, she said. The DOT earlier identified the diversification of the countrys tourism portfolio through multidimensional tourism as among the seven main objectives of the department. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. WASHINGTONFBI agents on Thursday arrested a 21-year-old national guardsman suspected of being behind a major leak of sensitive US government secretsincluding about the Ukraine war. Broadcast live on TV networks, the dramatic arrest was the culmination of a weeklong investigationfueled by intense media coverageinto one of the most damaging leaks of classified information since the 2013 dump of National Security Agency documents by Edward Snowden. Addressing a news briefing, US Attorney General Merrick Garland named the suspect as Jack Teixeira, an employee of the US Air Force National Guard and the reported leader of the online chat group where the document trove first emerged. Arrested in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information, Teixeira was taken into custody without incident by FBI agents, Garland said. 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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 enlisted in September 2019 and is an IT and communications specialist who reached the rank of airman first class the third-lowest for enlisted air force personnel. He was expected to make an initial appearance in a Massachusetts federal court as early as Friday. 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 is 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. Teixeiras 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. 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 which included top secret documents has revealed US unease over the viability of a coming counteroffensive by Kyivs 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 but that federal authorities were getting close to identifying the source. Biden was later briefed on the arrest, the White House said. 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 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 groups 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. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Despite the detection several cases of the XBB.1.9.1 COVID-19 variant in the Philippines, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday it does not expect outbreaks of massive proportions to happen. Dr. Babatunde Olowokure, WHO Western Pacific Regional Office Emergency Director, said the detection of the sub-variant in the country should be looked at positively as it only shows that systems are working to monitor variants. This developed as the WHO emergency committee is set to meet again inMay to determine whether COVID-19 still constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. Data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed that from April 3 to 11, the country has detected 39 cases of the XBB.1.9.1 variant that was recently added to the list of variants under monitoring by the WHO. The total number has reached 54 since March. The transmissibility, yes, we recognize, this may be a challenge. But I think, as we have seen, theres a slight increase in cases, so we are not looking at an outbreak of massive proportions, but I think, at the moment, were looking at something which appears to be controllable, Olowokure said. ADVERTISEMENT The regional office noted an observed increase of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines but reminded the public to interpret the numbers with caution, given the decline testing and surveillance. Despite the slight increase, which may be attributable to the recent Holy Week break, Olowokure said indicators being closely monitored do not point to a rise in risk. Does it reflect an increase in hospitalizations and increase in severity in terms of people being hospitalized in ICU units or an increase in the number of deaths. So, we have not seen that at this time. It is not a concern but we continue to monitor, we continue to look at the severity and if we do see an increase, of course, we will be in touch with the DOH and to see how we can support, he added. Because of the manageable situation in the Philippines, as well as some governments already declaring the end of the emergency at their level, questions are being raised whether the country would be doing the same. In its latest surveillance report, the DOH said the subvariant wasadded to the list of variants under monitoring by the World Health Organization on March 30. The variant was initially flagged due to its increasing global prevalence and higher growth advantage. The variant has been detected in 63 countries or jurisdictions across six continents, according to sequence submissions in GISAID [Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data], the DOH said. Olowokure said Friday that while countries may say the emergency has ended based on their own context, the public health emergency of international concern declared by the WHO since 2020 remains in place. He also said that they are in constant communication with the Department of Health and are willing to provide advice on the matter should the agency seek it. So far, the WHO said COVID-19 cases have decreased overall in the Philippines and are only seeing a slight rise in cases. What they are looking at more closely, like the DOH, is disease severity and the number of hospitalized patients. These indicators remain low, which is why Olowokure said the Philippines is on the right track. In a related development, the person-to-person transmission of H3N8 bird flu or human avian influenza is extremely rare, Olowokure said Friday amid a recorded death in China. What we need to understand is that with these human cases of avian influenza, transmission from person to person is extremely rare. So therefore, the situation for humans in this regard is that we do remain vigilant, he said in a press conference. We need to provide information regarding risks and most of that risk relates to sick, dying, or dead poultry and also their attendance at wet markets, Olowokure added. The WHO official said most human cases result from individual cases having contact with dead or dying poultry [and] it does not come from the poultry industry. Olowokure said the WHO is working together with different global organizations to ensure proper monitoring and response should there be more cases of human avian influenza. Following the Health Departments detection of several cases of COVID XBB.1.9.1, the doctor said this must be looked at positively as it only shows that the systems put in place to detect and monitor variants are working. The health body recognizes that, in terms of transmissibility, the new variant may be a challenge. But with only a slight increase in cases for the Philippines, they are not looking at outbreaks of massive proportions. The WHO Western Pacific Region has yet to relay the specific date in May for the emergency committee meeting. The last time it gave recommendations to the WHO Director General was in January where it said that COVID-19 still constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. About 199 samples were sequenced by the University of the Philippines Philippine Genome Center Main and Mindanao branches last April 3 to 11. Out of these, 114 or 57.29 percent were classified as XBB including 30 XBB.1.5 cases and the 39 XBB.1.9.1 cases. Thirty-five of the 39 XBB.1.9.1 cases were tagged local 22 from Davao Region; seven from Ilocos Region; four from the National Capital Region; and one each from Central Visayas and Soccsksargen. The remaining four case were returning overseas Filipinos (ROF). Previously, the country has logged 15 cases of the subvariant. Currently available evidence for XBB.1.9.1 does not suggest any differences in disease severity and/or clinical manifestations compared to the original Omicron variant, the DOH said. Limited information is available for the variant and researchers are currently characterizing the variant in terms of transmissibility, immune evasion, and ability to cause more severe disease. The remaining samples sequenced during that period were classified as BA.2.3.20 with 70 cases; XBC, two cases; CH.1.1, one case; BQ.1, one case; and BA.2, one case. Among the BA.2.3.20 cases detected, one was classified as a ROF and the remaining cases were local cases from Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Central Visayas, and the Davao Region, the DOH said. The reported BQ.1 and XBC cases were from the Davao Region while the CH.1.1 case was from Region 4-B (Mimaropa). As of March 22, the WHO has labeled BA.2.75, BQ.1, CH.1.1, and XBF as variants under monitoring and XBB.1.5 as variant of interest. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has labeled BA.2.75, BQ.1, XBB, and XBB.1.5 as variant of interest; and CH.1.1, BN.1, and XBC as variants under monitoring as of March 23. Earlier this week, the WHO reported that a woman died from H3N8 bird flu in China. It is the first known human fatality from the avian influenza strain, according to an Agence France-Presse report. H3N8 is known to have been circulating since 2002 after first emerging in North American waterfowl. It is known to infect horses, dogs, and seals. It had not been detected in humans before two prior non-fatal cases emerged both also in China in April and May last year. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. China cranked up its anti-American rhetoric Friday, as its ambassador urged the Philippines to deny US troops access to its military bases if it cares genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in Taiwan. Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian accused the United States of taking advantage of the situation in the Taiwan Strait to expand its military presence in the region. Huang said the safety of the OFWs in Taiwan was not a valid excuse for allowing more US troops access to Philippine military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) because China is the last country that wishes to see conflict over the Strait because people on both sides are Chinese. Obviously, the US intends to take advantage of the new EDCA sites tointerfere in the situation across the Taiwan Strait to serve its geopolitical goals and advance its anti-China agenda at the expense of peace and development of the Philippines and the region at large, Huang said in his message at the 8th Manila Forum that tackled handling differences between the Philippines and China on Friday. The Chinese ambassador urged Filipinos to do some soul searching. ADVERTISEMENT To know if increased US military deployment in another country truly helps to protect the host countrys sovereignty and security, one just need to take a look at the long list of mess left behind by the scourge of American military around the world, the turmoils, divisions and devastation. Answers will not be difficult to find, he said. At the forum, Huang said the Philippines and China must handle their differences over the South China Sea directly, without the interference of others. While indeed, there are differences between China and the Philippines on the South China Sea issue, Huang noted that the two countries have maintained peaceful coexistence for over a thousand years and will continue to be so in the future. To settle their territorial differences, the Philippines filed a case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which ruled in Manilas favor in 2016. But China, which refused to participate in the proceedings, rejected the ruling and claims almost all the South China Seaeven portions that are clearly in the Philippine exclusive economic zone. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez on Friday expressed hopes that China would realize that Manila and Washington only want peaceful resolution of issues, including the disputes over the South China Sea. Romualdez stressed that the joint statement issued by the Filipino and Americans official in the 2+2 meeting merely urged China to stick to the rule of law when it comes to maritime issues. Romualdez added that the joint statement was not directed towards China but to all incursions that happened in the past. The Philippines and US were not looking for conflict with othernations, he added. We are hoping that our friends in China will see that as an opportunity for us to be more serious about really resolving these issues peacefully, the ambassador told a TV interview, citing the harassment being experienced by Filipino fishermen in the countrys territorial waters at the hands of Chinese vessels. Our fishermen, up to this day, every single day get harassed by ships that are obviously of Chinese registry in our territorial waters. Theyhave been doing this for so many years, hundreds of years and yet we get reports almost every day of that nature, Romualdez said. Clearly, our territorial waters are ours, weve had it all this time and now we have somebody claiming that its theirs, he added. The Philippines and the US have expressed strong objections to the unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea. Romualdez also said the Philippines defense ties with the US weremerely aimed at defending the countrys sovereignty and protecting its citizens. In a separate interview with CNN, Romualdez said the Philippines is nolonger interested in accepting military equipment donations from the United States, which are usually only functional for a few years. Weve already made a decision and that was started by President (Rodrigo) Duterte that we will no longer be interested in getting what we call excess defense articles, he said. In 2017, the government said it will no longer accept second-hand equipment from the United States and will only purchase new ones. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, meanwhile, said the Philippines and the United States are refocusing their attention on emergent concerns that will likely be on their common agenda for the future. Manalo said among the issues tackled during the recently concluded 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between the defense and foreign ministry officials of both sides were: climate-smart technologies and policies, climate finance, green metals, clean energy transition and de-carbonization strategies, critical infrastructure and new technologies for ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation. This refocusing takes into account the stakes of communities in the relationship, as well as our responsibilities with respect to climate change and environment, the countrys top diplomat said. Manila and Washington agreed to reinforce the bilateral relations with a new focus on a strong long-term economic partnership that has dividends for the Philippines upward economic trajectory as a middle-income economy, he added. On Thursday night, the Naval Forces West (NFW) announced that Philippine and American ships participating in this years Balikatan joint military exercises have entered the joint operational area of the Puerto Princesa, Palawan-based Western Command (Wescom). These ships were identified as the Philippine Navys (PN) missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and landing dock BRP Tarlac (LD-601), and the US Navys USS Makin Island (LHD-8). The ships will meet near Dumaran Island and perform communication exercises while en route for the amphibious raid over the beach of Barangay Samarinana, Brookes Point all in the province of Palawan on April 14, NFW commander Commodore Alan Javier said. He said the ships left Subic Bay, Zambales on Wednesday. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. BAR HIGH. Different emotions are on full display among those who passed the 2022 Bar Examinations with results released by the Supreme Court on Friday. Many of the 3,992 examinees who earned their law degrees waited to see the results announced live at the SC Padre Faura complex in Manila. The top five placers all came from the University of the Philippines topnotcher Czar Matthew Gerard Torres Dayday (top right photo) and schoolmates Erickson Cayabyab Marinas, Christine Claire Cregencia, Andrea Jasmine Ong Yu, and Kim Gia Grande Gatapia (lower right photo). Norman Cruz University of the Philippines produced a Fab Five of new lawyers on Friday when a quintet of its students topped the 2022 Bar Examinations as announced by the Supreme Court. In an interview with CNN Philippines last night, topnotcher Czar Matthew Dayday said he was crying, screaming, and shouting incoherently with his family after the results came out. Asked why he wanted to be a lawyer, Dayday said: I wanted to help people and I thought like I was good at solving problems, so I thought being a lawyer is a way to go. In another interview for a local news website, Dayday credited his study partners who became his fast friends as they reviewed for the Bar together. Mostly, what I think really worked for me is studying with my friends. I have these group of three friends that I really study with every night, he added. ADVERTISEMENT What we would do is maybe around 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. we would go on Zoom together and we would just study as a group so that at least it feels like we have a group of people who would keep us accountable. In a separate interview with ANC, the topnotcher said that he was in denial at first when he heard the news. Even joking that there must be another Dayday who took the test. As far as Dayday is concerned, he just wanted to pass since future employers and clients will never ask about their rankings. Once you pass the Bar, youre all equal as lawyers, he added. I just wanted to pass, honestly. Top 2 Erickson Marinas, meanwhile, felt disbelief and a big sigh of relief after he saw his name in the Bar exam results. I was led to believe that it suits my personality and skills, Marinas said of his decision to pursue law. Third-ranked Christianne Cregencia, upon hearing the result, said: I locked myself in my room and when I heard my name, of course I was very surprised then my mom suddenly barged in my room already crying. Like most who aspire to be lawyers, Cregencia said she also wanted to help other people. Top 4 Andrea Yu also waited for the results with her family. When Justice Caguioa mentioned my surname, my family just started shouting to the point that I didnt even hear the rest of my name. At that moment I just cried out of relief, gratitude, and joy. It was just so overwhelming, she told CNN Philippines. Yu said she wanted to be a lawyer because of her passion and purpose. Fifth-placer Kim Gatapia, meanwhile, said she started whining after she knew that she passed the Bar. I really felt a complete disbelief, hindi talaga ako makapaniwala hanggang ngayon, said Gatapia, who admitted taking the Bar mainly because of career advancement. Im a working student in law school, and I thought being a lawyer is a way for me to advance in my career. Like others, Dayday dreamt about being a lawyer in high school, admitting that lawyers were often portrayed as cool problem-solvers in movies and television. But as the years went by, he learned that things were not exactly how they were portrayed in the media. Asked about what advice he could give to aspiring lawyers, Dayday said that they should continue working hard, be open to experiences, have curiousity and eagerness to know and always ask questions. I think for me the primary point of advice that I would like to give to aspiring lawyers who will be taking the Bar exam is really to trust the process. Because really, to me, I am really a firm believer that we are essentially what we repeatedly do, he said. All of the small things that you do every day gradually accumulate. And the results are simply what happens because of the things that we do every day. I think the best advice I could give is to always be open to learning and growing as a person. Because thats really how you become the best person that there is, he added. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. appointed two undersecretaries for the finance and social welfare departments and also named the governments new special envoy to Japan, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said. The PCO also said Mr. Marcos picked Maria Luwalhati Dorotan-Tiuseco and Edward Justine Orden as undersecretaries under the Department of Finance and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, respectively, ABS-CBN News reported. In a social media post, the PCO further said Mr. Marcos also appointed Amable D.R. Aguiluz V as his special envoy to Japan for Trade and Investments Designation. He will have a term of 6 months. Before holding his new post, Aguiliz was former President Rodrigo Dutertes special envoy to the Gulf Cooperation Council. The official is the owner and chairman of AMA Group of Companies. The President designated Ma. Lynette V. Ortiz as the acting president and chief executive officer of the state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines. Prior to her new role, Ortiz was the CEO of the international bank Standard Chartered in the Philippines. ADVERTISEMENT The PCO further said Mr. Marcos appointed a new director for the Department of Finance, and new service officers for the Department of Foreign Affairs. New directors for the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Justice, Bureau of Immigration, Department of Labor and Employment, and DSWD were also named. The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System meanwhile has new board of trustees members. The PCO said the new appointments were dated on April 12. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. The Philippines largest automotive company Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) and the countrys largest fully integrated telco PLDT recently announced a partnership that will further drive the benefits of smart connected cars and intelligent platforms technology for major fleet business operators and Toyota car owners. PLDT, through its B2B solutions arm PLDT Enterprise, is firing up TMPs newest suite of connected services, the myTOYOTA Connect, with smart IoT (Internet of Things) eSIM solutions powered by PLDT wireless unit Smart the first of its kind solution to be rolled out in the Philippines. Leading the signing in photo from left: PLDT FVP and Enterprise Revenue Group Head Vic Tria, FVP and Enterprise Business Group Head Mitch Locsin, PLDT and Smart President and CEO Alfredo Panlilio, Toyota Motor Philippines Chairman Alfred Ty, Toyota Motor Philippines President Atsuhiro Okamoto, and Toyota Motor Philippines Vice Chairman David Go. We at PLDT are proud to partner with Toyota Motor Philippines in advancing the value of technology for the benefit of Toyota customers. Through this milestone, we are powering the changing landscape of the automobile industry to be more intelligent, with newer and smarter solutions, said PLDT and Smart President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio. This reinforces how PLDT Group aims to enable digital adoption for Filipinos, which is key to inclusive nation-building. Through broader connectivity and technologies such as IoT offered by PLDT Enterprise, digital adoption can create opportunities across priority sectors of the economy, such as the transportation industry, Panlilio added. With reliable connectivity from PLDTs Smart IoT Platform, TMP is able to maximize the potential of a unified connectivity management platform. This platform then allows users to manage connectivity and monitor the usage of a multitude of connected IoT devices backed by the countrys Fastest and Best Mobile Network according to Ookla. ADVERTISEMENT TMPs revolutionary myTOYOTA Connect provides Toyota car owners and fleet business operators the ability to have more control over their vehicle for their safety. It promotes efficient use of Toyota vehicles by monitoring their location, car condition, and driver speed, among other features, through their myTOYOTA App. With our unified vision and combined efforts, we were able to launch a service that is the first of its kind in the country. It has been some time since Toyota boldly announced its global direction to transform from being an automotive company to a mobility company. Our partnership with you brings us a step closer to this goal by making CASE or Connected, Automated, Shared, and Electrified mobility a reality to more and more Filipinos, said TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto. TMPs myTOYOTA Connect service is now available and ready for activation in the expanding lineup of select variants of Hilux, RAV4, Hiace, and Fortuner models. Activation can be done through TMPs all-in-one customer mobile platform, the myTOYOTA app. PLDT Enterprises suite of IoT solutions brings in an array of smart solutions in a unified platform that empowers consumers, enterprises, and industries under its Internet of Possibilities offering, including the Smart IoT eSIM. As newer and more sophisticated technology becomes central to how businesses operate now, companies who are already tapping into the benefits of IoT have seen their revenues increasing and lowering their spend as they become more efficient and productive because of data-backed decisions and factual insights from real-time, downloadable reports, said First Vice President and Head of Enterprise and International Business Groups of PLDT and Smart Mitch Locsin. As the preferred digital enabler and service provider, PLDT continues to contribute to the countrys economic recovery serving as the trusted partner for enterprises and small-to-medium businesses in their digital transformation journeys. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Firefighters are battling a 25-acre fire in the area of Wachusett Reservoir on Friday evening amid dangerous fire weather conditions throughout Massachusetts. The Sterling Fire Department is working alongside multiple mutual aid firefighters in the area of Chance Hill and Metropolitan roads for a large brush fire. The fire is spread across a roughly 25-acre portion of land and the cause of the fire remains unknown, according to a dispatcher at the Sterling Fire Department. The fire is burning through a section of woods northwest of the Wachusett Reservoir, according to a Twitter post by the Sterling Fire Department. Authorities are urging the public to avoid the area. Massachusetts officials have warned about dangerous fire conditions this week. Brush fires were also reported Friday in Northborough, Hopkinton and Clinton. A brush fire off Interstate 90 eastbound in Hopkinton has significantly delayed afternoon commuters as first responders contain flames. Drivers are urged to avoid the area and find alternative routes. Read more: Mother killed in Berlin home explosion identified by authorities Massachusetts Chief Fire Warden Dave Celino compared current fire conditions in Massachusetts to those typically experienced out west in comments to WCVB. Were actually in wildfire conditions today that are not dissimilar to what California experiences, right? The only thing were not seeing is single-digit humidities and 90 degrees. But were seeing that real potential for ignition, said Celino. HOLYOKE At the ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday of BlazeXpress, Western Massachusetts first cannabis home delivery service, co-owner Duane Harden expressed his excitement about the new venture and the future of the cannabis industry. Harden, a native of Savannah, Georgia, envisions BlazeXpress as the Amazon of weed. You place an order and its super-fast, Harden said. He added that cannabis still holds a stigma nationally, and a home delivery service addresses customers concerns. The Greater Holyoke Chamber, Mayor Joshua A. Garcia and city officials welcomed BlazeXpress to the city. The company opened a delivery facility earlier in the month at 85 Sargeant St. BlazeXpress offers a variety of cannabis products, including flowers, edibles, vapes and drinks, all available for delivery to customers homes. In addition, customers can select a Munchies Party Park, which includes a bag of weed, party pack essentials, soda, and a cheese or pepperoni pizza. The company said its website boasts a user-friendly interface and fast, discreet delivery options. We wanted to make it as easy as possible for our customers to access high-quality cannabis products, said co-owner Mike Johnson. With BlazeXpress, you can order from the comfort of your home and have your products delivered right to your doorstep. Harden began researching the efficacy of cannabis after three friends were diagnosed with cancer. The power of the plant has gotten a bad rap. This should be accessible to everyone, he said. Were praying for the day that the federal government legalizes it for the whole country. BlazeXpress has hired 12 employees locally from 166 applicants. Delivery drivers have body cameras to record transactions and notify customers upon arrival. State regulations do not allow non-employees to enter the BlazeXpress complex. Garcia highlighted the importance of the cannabis industry in bringing new revenue and jobs to Holyoke. The city of Holyoke is going to take advantage of any opportunity to support this, expand our tax base, bring in new revenue and create more jobs, he said. The mayor acknowledged some concerns about the cannabis industrys future and emphasized the need for diversifying and attracting new businesses. However, he highlighted the cannabis sectors positive impact on the citys budget. It certainly is bringing a level of breathing room that we havent seen within the city budget in a while, Garcia added. BlazeXpress operates seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Customers must be 21 or older to order and produce a valid ID. Cannabis products are subject to state regulations and guidelines. The company is a certified minority-owned and LGBTQ+ business. Having such a service in Holyoke is transformative. Its no secret that transportation remains a social issue in our community, and many people rely on the power of the plant to ease many health concerns, said Jordan Hart, executive director of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce. Hart added, Duane (Harden) and BlazeXpress have found a way to bridge the gap. As a chamber ambassador, I have seen Duanes involvement with the business community firsthand, and its always through a compassionate lens. A brush fire off Interstate 90 eastbound in Hopkinton has significantly delayed afternoon commuters as first responders contain flames. Drivers are urged to avoid the area and find alternative routes. At around 3:30 p.m. Friday, crews responded to a brush fire on I-90 in Hopkinton, according to Massachusetts State Police. Authorities have shut down the middle and right lanes of the road so crews can douse the flames and contain the brush fire. Traffic in the area is expected to be significantly delayed, drivers on the Waze GPS app are reporting bumper-to-bumper traffic from the mile 102 marker. Police urge drivers to avoid the area during their afternoon commute. Interstate 90 in Hopkinton is under severe traffic due to a brush fire. Hot early spring weather conditions have caused hundreds of fires across Massachusetts over the past week. The state has seen 151 wildfires since April 5, part of 319 wildfires across the state since the start of the year, according to Dave Celino, the chief fire warden for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. A Boston man accused of stabbing a 79-year-old Malden man 30 times to death was found and arrested in Atlanta, the Middlesex District Attorneys Office Thursday. Authorities arrested Dion Smith, 33, of Boston, on a murder charge in the death of Ronald Gilbert, 79, of Malden. Officials released a search warrant for Smith earlier in February when police found Gilberts decayed body about a month after authorities believe he was murdered. Smith was found and arrested in Atlanta, Georgia early Thursday morning. Hes expected to be extradited to Massachusetts at a later date. On Feb. 22, Malden police were called to Gilberts apartment on Kennedy Drive because of an odor coming from the home. Inside, Gilbert was found dead with obvious signs of decomposition. The case was sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which found what appeared to be more than 30 stab wounds to his body, officials stated. Based on a timeline constructed by investigators, authorities believe Gilbert was killed in late December 2022. The investigation has also revealed that Smith was not a resident of the building and the two did not appear to know each other. SPRINGFIELD Its not final, but the developer replacing Eastfield Mall with a new shopping center said there is high probability hell bring in a Chick-fil-a and potentially an Old Navy, a Burlington clothing store and a PetSmart. Other than that, we have had dialogue, said Anton Melchionda, founder of Onyx Partners Limited, in an interview Friday. He acknowledged that the list he gave of probables doesnt account for all the space and there will be more. We are working with tenants. We have been talking to all of the national tenants that we have relationships with, a list of more than 300 potential businesses, he said. Melchionda estimated Friday that the total cost of redevelopment will fall between $65 million and $85 million. Construction will take about two years. Last week, Onyx announced that the 56-year-old Eastfield Mall will close in July and Onyx, the city and the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts are trying to aid the malls 43 small businesses and 10 national retailers find new homes. Melchionda said the leasing team is also working with current tenants about returning to the site once construction is completed. Plans Onyx submitted to the city for the new shopping center dont list business names but there is a drawing of a potential layout with new retail spaces numbered as buildings 1 through 17. Three are smaller stores restaurants most likely to the front of the 45-acre property nearest Boston Road. There are two strips of stores running down the sides of the property and in the back a drawing of a large, unnamed anchor big-box store with a smaller big-box to its left. Some of the buildings appear to be subdivided into smaller retailers. Onyx will present its plans to the Springfield Planning Board 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, in City Hall. A hearing in front of the City Council is set for 7 p.m. on April 24, also in City Hall. Undated Republican file photo showing entrance of the former Steiger's store at the Eastfield Mall in Springfield. Staff-ShotStaff-Shot Onyx which hopes to finalize its purchase of the property from New Jersey-based Mountain Development the week of April 17 has asked the Planning Board to remove the property from the Regional Shopping Center overlay District, said Philip Dromey, the citys deputy director of planning. Onyx is asking the City Council for a special permit due to the size of the project. It allows them to demolish the existing mall and then redevelop it, Dromey said. The overlay district dates back only to 2010 and its purpose was to allow the city an extra layer of review for projects at the site at a time when anchor tenants like JC Penney were on their way out. But with this proposed redevelopment, the overlay district has no more purpose, he said. Dromey said Boston Road is designed with the assumption of an operating mall, so he doesnt foresee traffic problems after consulting with the city Department of Public Works. The plans do not include the former Sears store and former Sears Auto Center to the east, which are under separate ownership and in very poor condition. Onyx Melchionda said Friday he doesnt know whats going on with Sears. Melchionda also said he doesnt anticipate office development or, at least in this phase, any residential development at the site. Both were part of earlier proposals. And separately, in In May 2022, Mountain Development sold about 16 acres from the site for housing. It is undeveloped property at the intersection of Kent and Fernbank roads sold to a Wilbraham developer, Tom Bretta of Bretta Construction, for $1 million. As far as the stores, Burlington has a store in Springfield at the Five Town Plaza. Old Navy is in the doomed mall now. The nearest Chick-fil-A and PetSmart locations are both in Chicopee. The Eastfield Mall opened in 1967 and was Greater Springfields first enclosed mall. It had local favorites Forbes & Wallace and Steigers along with Sears as anchors. A Springfield man who was added to the Massachusetts Most Wanted List for a December 2022 fatal shooting surrendered himself to police Thursday morning. Evdyele Oniel Pabon Flores, 21, of Springfield, turned himself into Holyoke District Court on Thursday at about 10:30 a.m., according to Massachusetts State Police Spokesperson Dave Procopio. Pabon Flores was wanted on a murder charge in the December 2022 shooting death of 49-year-old Chicopee man Luis Ramos. Holyoke Police detained Pabon Flores at the courthouse and took him to the citys police station for booking. He has since been arraigned on the murder charge and was ordered to be held without bail. Pabon Flores was added to the Massachusetts State Polices most wanted fugitives list Thursday, April 6, weeks after a statewide alert was issued for the man. On Dec. 7, 2022, at about 8:20 p.m., Holyoke Police responded to gunshots fired at the intersection of Pine and Sargeant streets. After arriving at the intersection, officers found two empty vehicles that appeared to have crashed into one another. On the ground next to the damaged vehicles, police saw a pile of spent shell casings, according to officials. Police searched the area and found a man lying down in the backyard of a nearby home with a gunshot wound in his stomach. First responders rushed the man, later identified as Ramos, to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. A Hampden County State Police Detectives and Holyoke Police investigation led authorities to identify Pabon Flores as the suspected gunman in the fatal shooting. The investigation accuses Pabon Flores, who was a passenger in one of the cars found in the crash, of firing more than 10 shots into Ramos, who was the driver of the other car. Detectives charged Pabon Flores with murder in connection with the fatal shooting. Pabon Flores is expected to appear in Holyoke District Court at a later date. MSPCA Law Enforcement and Granby Police are asking for the publics help in finding the owner of a dog left injured, underweight and abandoned in the Western Massachusetts community in early April. The female dog is described as mixed breed and having a medium-sized build. She was found tied to a pole on Porter Street the night of April 4, according to the MSPCA-Angell in a news release Friday. She is believed to be about 2 years old. Officials from Granby Animal Control found the dog in her underweight, injured and abandoned state, the MSPCA-Angell said. She was transferred to the MSPCAs Boston Adoption Center on April 10 where she is currently recovering, the MSPCA-Angell added. It was clear when the dog came to us that she needed help, said Mike Keiley, the MSPCA-Angell director of Adoption Centers and Programs, said in a statement. She was underweight and hurt, but while in our care she is improving daily. The MSPCA is asking anyone with information about the dogs owner to call its Law Enforcement divisions hotline at 800-628-5808. William Tisdol died of a single bullet wound to the chest after firing five shots at local and state police on Feb. 25 outside MGM Springfield, according to an investigation by the Hampden District Attorneys office. It all began with an argument at a blackjack table in the middle of the night, video from the downtown casino showed. Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni on Friday presented the fruits of a weeks-long investigation into Tisdols death, including jarring footage from body-worn police cameras. Gulluni concluded the shooting was justified and criminal charges against the troopers who shot at Tisdol are not warranted. I have an obligation that, in this instance, requires me and my team, to investigate and evaluate the circumstances of a death, Gulluni said. I must do so in an objective, transparent and clinical fashion. This duty is highly significant to many people, including a family that lost a loved one, the law enforcement officers involved, and the community at large. Still image from State Trooper body worn video camera shown by Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni during a press conference to present findings in an officer involved shooting death at the MGM Casino in Springfield on February 25. The image shows officers standing over William Tisdol who had been shot by officers after he fired on them. He later died of a single gunshot to the chest. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 4/14/2023 Tisdol, of Hartford, Connecticut, got into an argument with another MGM patron around 2 a.m., surveillance video showed. The other man asked Tisdol to sit out on a hand, angering Tisdol. He left the table and returned minutes later, fueling the argument and telling the other man he had a gun and intended to shoot him. Meet me in the garage, Tisdol told the man, who informed casino security and state troopers about the threat, prompting troopers and a Springfield police officer to follow Tisdol outside. Tisdol had one hand stuffed in his pocket and walked, then ran from police who were ordering him to stop. Watch the video: Bodycam video shows shootout between police, William Tisdol outside MGM casino Springfield Police Officer Matthew Truex tackled Tisdol but then tripped over a curb. Tisdol righted himself and continued to run. Youre going to get tased! Trooper Thomas Cusack shouted. Tisdol cast a look over his shoulder in response. Mr. Tisdol then turned around with a firearm in his right hand and fired several shots directly at Trooper Cusack, Gulluni said. Trooper Gregory Santos returned fire. Tisdol continued to fire back, the video shows. The footage also shows a muzzle flash from Tisdols gun. Santos fired 17 shots, Gulluni said, including the one that killed Tisdol. Careful review of the city of Springfield cameras and body worn camera conclusively show that Mr. Tisdol quickly turns to Trooper Cusack and fires at him as he pointed his taser at him and prior to Trooper Santos firing his weapon, Gulluni said. Tisdol ducked around a corner and briefly disappeared from view. Police followed him and found him lying in some shrubbery on Main Street. They bellowed at him to show his hands and drop the gun. Im dead. Yall got me. Tisdol said, adding that he doesnt have the gun anymore. Im dying, he said moments later. Still image from State Trooper body worn video camera shown by Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni during a press conference to present findings in an officer involved shooting death at the MGM Casino in Springfield on February 25. The image shows officers confronting William Tisdol (center of image) seconds before he ran, turned to fire at officers and was then shot. He later died of a single gunshot to the chest. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 4/14/2023 Cusack called for a medical bag, while other officers recovered a 9 mm Taurus PT111 semi-automatic pistol on the sidewalk, with eight rounds left in the gun. Five, 9 mm shell casings were found on the sidewalk of Main Street. Massachusetts State Police ballisticians determined that they were fired from Mr. Tisdols Taurus firearm, Gulluni said. Tisdol was taken by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center, where he died just after 3 a.m., Gulluni said. Both troopers were taken off the streets while the investigation was pending but will return to duty, he said. A spokesman for the Massachusetts State Police issued a statement following Gullunis announcement. No troopers go to work each day wanting to have to use lethal force, but nonetheless carry with them the knowledge that they may be required to do so in defense of their own lives, and the lives of the citizens they serve, the statement read, in part. We appreciate the deliberate, thorough, and thoughtful investigation and review by District Attorney Gullunis Office, State Police Colonel John Mawn Jr. added. We commend the professionalism and heroism of our troopers and recognize the profound personal impact associated with the discharge of an officers firearm in the line of duty. We are grateful for their courage and comforted that their quick response prevented further loss of life. HOLYOKE Last fall, the ARTery popped up on High Street, amid hopes a store selling art works and crafts could bring new energy downtown. Public funding helped launch it. The city is poised to kick in $28,500 to keep the ARTery going, but an official says the store may be ready to stand on its own. Aaron Vega, director of Planning and Economic Development, told the Finance Committee that the ARTery is close to being self-sustaining. Until then, committee has recommended approving a no-match grant from the Regional Economic Development Organization Project to help sustain the store, which features locally produced art, crafts, and unique items. The ARTery, at 289 High St., opened in September 2022 as a collaboration between the City of Holyoke, Greater Holyoke Chamber, EforAll, and The Print Shop Inc. Arrow Properties leases the space adjacent to the Crave Restaurant. The gallery operates Thursdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Vega said that the ARTery was an initiative of Holyokes Rapid Recovery Plan in 2022 to increase business traffic downtown. One initiative was to create a bricks-and-mortar vendor space, he said. The ARTery features over 100 vendors and hosts events to attract patrons. ARTery manager Sue Kennedy speaks with local artists on Thursday. (Dennis Hohenberger photo) Initially, the Planning Department requested $80,000 to cover one year of operations. However, the project received $30,000. The additional $28,500 grant represents a second award from the same funding source. The City Council is expected to vote on the grant April 18. Vega says the grant will sustain ARTery in coming months and help pay for rent, utilities and staffing. It will become self-sustaining, not just through the vendors, but predominantly through things like the Splatery, renting of the space, and the art shows, Vega said. The Splatery is a party and event space. Vega said the ARTery gives local artists a space to sell their work and earn income. He noted that the ARTery makes a 30% profit from each sale, a better deal for artists than most area galleries. The Planning Department and The Print Shop alert the 100 or so artists of other events in the city to market their works. Prices at the ARTery range from $2 for handmade bracelets to expensive paintings. Its been doing well so far, Vega said. Obviously, times like Christmas and the holidays, they do better. Its trying to get them momentum for getting people back, he said. Councilor-at-large Israel Rivera praised the ARTery and said Holyoke must find ways for pop-up shops to thrive. Vega agreed with Rivera and said vacant spaces downtown are primed for reuse. In a statement, ARTery founder Jeffrey Bianchine said the venture netted artists $15,000 in the last quarter of 2022. This not only brings additional revenue into the nonprofit, but its also bringing families from Worcester, New Hampshire, and southern Connecticut to downtown Holyoke, he said. The ARTery's Splatery party room. The gallery will extend its hours starting in May. It will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. In addition, the ARTery plans a spring fair May 6 outside the store featuring additional vendors. We will soon be posting art workshops for sign-up online, Bianchine said. The ARTery also sells the citys official 150th Anniversary merchandise, including T-shirts, mugs, hats, and buttons. SPRINGFIELD A California man who lobbed death threats at Merriam-Webster employees over how the dictionary publisher defined words such as girl, female and woman was sentenced by a federal judge Thursday to one year in federal prison. Jeremy David Hanson, 35, of Rossmoor, California, pleaded guilty last year to threatening to bomb the Springfield-based dictionary icon and kill its employees after the company updated its gender definitions to align with non-traditional norms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow said the company shut its offices down for 90 days after Hanson sent online messages to its employees last spring. These threats involved assassination, shooting, bombing, arson and were peppered with really, really awful language particularly with a focus on people who were transgendered. The impact on the victims were pretty serious, Breslow told U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni. Breslow highlighted that suicide rates among transgendered youth are the highest in the nation. And its because of the hate of people like Mr. Hanson have spewed out there, Breslow said. Hanson also has a lengthy history of threatening various business and academic entities, elected officials and clerics with violence over political themes particularly focused on race, sexuality and gender identity. In one instance, Hanson sent death threats to a rabbi who was struggling with identifying as non-binary, Breslow told the judge. Hansons attorney Marissa Elkins has said her client has long struggled with various mental illnesses including obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression and anxiety disorder. She also said Hanson never made any move to carry out his threats. While the government encouraged Mastroianni to impose an 18-month prison sentence, Elkins urged a sentence of time served as Hanson has been behind bars for violating his pretrial release conditions by making threats towards his probation officer earlier this year. She said Hanson has not been receiving treatment while behind bars. Mr. Hanson is going to be back in the community and rehabilitation in this circumstance has got to be a primary goal of the court, Elkins said. Hes been denied medication; hes not been in treatment. (Longer incarceration) would actually work contrary to the goal of rehabilitation. Mastroianni landed in the middle of the two sentencing recommendations, also ordering three years of supervised release and folding in strict conditions including no unmonitored internet access, no video games, no drug or alcohol use and mandatory mental health treatment. Mr. Breslow is right. The recipients of these threats are really thinking the worst. Its not their roles to assess whether a threat is real or not real, Mastroianni said. A man whos accused of driving the wrong way and causing an oncoming car to crash into a Roslindale home killing one man and injuring another was charged in connection with the incident Friday. In Boston court Friday, Juan Medina, 20, of Roxbury, was charged with motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, leaving the scene of personal injury or death and failing to yield at an intersection in connection with the fatal March crash that killed 60-year-old Edigio DAntuony, according to the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office. On March 26 at around 5:01 p.m., Medina was driving southbound on Washington Street in Roslindale when he turned his white Honda CRV into the northbound lane, officials stated. Police said Medinas wrong-way driving caused a gray Honda Accord to strike a nearby minivan and then a house located at 3968 Washington St. Two men were on the porch of the house when the car crashed into it. One of the men, DAntuony, was rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead. The other man, 62, was seriously injured in the crash, said officials. Boston police obtained a video that reportedly showed Medina stepping out of his car after the crash, speaking on the phone and then leaving the crash scene minutes after without speaking to police or identifying himself. Investigators said they used surveillance video and witness statements to identify Medinas video and locate his address. The driver of the gray Honda Accord remained on the scene to cooperate with authorities. He has not been charged in the fatal crash. Medina was released on personal recognizance with the condition that he does not drive and has no contact with the surviving victim and with the families of both victims. Hes due back in court on June 26 for a probable cause hearing. This is a tragic incident made all the more tragic by the fact that it was caused by a driver who simply didnt wait until the lane was clear to make a turn. That negligent operating action resulted in one man dead, another seriously injured and the driver facing substantial criminal charges. It was all preventable by adhering to basic driving practices, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said. One person died following a Thursday night shooting on Hancock Street in Springfield. Springfield police responded to a report of shots fired near the 100 block of Hancock Street Thursday at around 9:20 p.m., according to Springfield Police Department Spokesperson Ryan Walsh. After police arrived at the scene, officers found a man inside a car injured from gunshots. First responders rushed the man to Baystate Medical Center for treatment. The man died of his injuries later that same night, police said. Springfield homicide detectives are now investigating the shooting incident. Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call police at 413-787-6355. Those living and working in Springfield might be smelling smoke the next couple of days. But its not a cause for concern, officials say. The Springfield Fire Department said there was a brush fire at Blunt Park, which has been contained as of Thursday night. But residents still might be able to smell the smoke from it. Residents in the vicinity should expect to smell residual smoke for the next 24 to 48 hrs, the fire department wrote on Twitter. Blunt park brush fire update fire has been contained. There are no reported injuries. Residents in the vicinity should expect to smell residual smoke for the next 24 to 48 hrs. pic.twitter.com/1F1Tv8yL4n SPRINGFIELD FIRE (@SFD_HQ) April 14, 2023 The fire spanned about 15 acres and drivers were asked to avoid Roosevelt Avenue and Bay Street at the time. There were no injuries from the fire, officials said. As of Thursday, Massachusetts had 151 wildfires since April 5 and 319 wildfires across the state since the start of the year, according to Dave Celino, the chief fire warden for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. A GoFundMe is raising money for two people in Springfield after their cars were consumed by a brush fire, the GoFundMe states. 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. SPRINGFIELD It didnt hurt, said Springfield Police Capt. Jeff Martucci, of his time Thursday wrapped up like a Spider-Man villain in the last panel of a comic book. But with the BolaWraps 8-foot Kevlar cord wound around his torso pinning his arms to his sides and its barbed fishhook-like weights digging into his shirt he wasnt going to threaten anybody or harm himself. And with the same cord wrapped around his lower legs, rodeo-style, he wasnt about to run. Its not a weapon, he said. Its a restraint. Springfield Officer Anthony Kelliher, a police academy instructor, did his best Spider-Man, as he demonstrated the BolaWrap Thursday for Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and reporters gathered at the departments training facility and indoor shooting range on Page Boulevard. Police are training with BolaWraps starts next week and the new devices will be in the field after that. They take their name from the bola, a traditional weapon of cords with weights South American gauchos used to catch cattle. The Springfield Police Department bought a dozen BolaWraps, along with cartridges for both training and deployments, for a one-time fee of $21,500, said department spokesman Ryan Walsh. Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl C. Clapprood said the BolaWrap launchers each about the size of a TV remote cost $800 to $1,000 each. The cartridges which work like the devices that deploy car airbags and sound like the crack of a .22 rifle run about $200. Buy them, Sarno recalled telling Clapprood. The last thing any of our officers want to do is to use lethal force. Use of restraints Clapprood estimated that a situation in which an officer could and should use the BolaWrap comes up about once a month. This is an important tool. It keeps officers safe. It keeps the public safe she said. And we dont want to have to deploy lethal force. Every once in a while, between mental health or addiction, we get into that really tough spot where someone is just not answering our commands. They may have a knife or a stick. The BolaWraps work at a range of 10 to 25 feet. Its tough sometimes to get close enough with a taser, Clapprood said, referring to another less-than-lethal weapon. Clapprood said the BolaWraps will not be carried on officers duty belts. She is worried that police could confuse their devices. Instead, Clapprood said BolaWraps will be kept in patrol cars staffed with two officers, or brought to the scene of a conflict by the supervisor. Officers will be trained to shout bola or Wrap three times before launching the cords, so no one mistakes it for the sound of gunfire. But its not a problem that the wrap makes a loud noise. It should put the person or suspect a little off guard, she said. This is an example of the BolaWrap law enforcement restraint equipment, as seen at the Springfield police training facility. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican) A device similar to the charge that inflates a car airbag sends the cord out around a target. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican) The BolaWrap wont be used on running subjects, or if the targeted person is operating a vehicle or is in a position where falling down could result in injury. Once the individual is wrapped, officers approach and place the person in handcuffs, then cut the cord away and release the restraint. Springfield police are now retraining to comply with a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice over use of force by the department. Clapprood said the BolaWraps dont fall under the use of force rules because they are a restraint. The department is following statewide guidelines in their use. The BolaWrap is used by 900 police agencies around the world including Pittsfield. Springfields Blunt Park was damaged by a 15-acre brush fire Thursday afternoon. People are urged to avoid the area as authorities put out the flames. Multiple Springfield area fire departments responded to the 15-acre fire at around 4:30 p.m. Thursday. As first responders douse flames and address the situation, people are urged to avoid the Blunt Park area. Firefighters also encourage people to avoid traveling down Roosevelt Avenue and Bay Street until the brush fire is completely put out. Hot early spring weather conditions have caused hundreds of fires across Massachusetts over the past week. The state has seen 151 wildfires since April 5, part of 319 wildfires across the state since the start of the year, according to Dave Celino, the chief fire warden for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. Although Massachusetts has beautiful weather on Friday, some people might find it hard to breathe. Hampshire, Hampden, and southern Worcester counties are under an air quality alert until 11 p.m. on April 14. It was caused by an expected increase in ozone levels, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection said. But it wont impact everyone. It mostly will cause issues for those with heart or lung disease, including asthma, people who are active outdoors and people who are at greater risk from exposure to ozone. MassDEP is advising that people in sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion, take more breaks, do less intense activities, follow asthma action plans, and keep quick relief medicine handy. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath, the department said. Those living and working in Springfield could also smell smoke the next couple of days. The Springfield Fire Department said there was a brush fire at Blunt Park, which was contained as of Thursday night. But residents still might be able to smell the smoke from it. Residents in the vicinity should expect to smell residual smoke for the next 24 to 48 hrs, the fire department wrote on Twitter. MassDEP also declared an Open Burning Advisory for Friday in Central and Western Massachusetts and has banned open burning permits from being issued. Any open burning today would cause and contribute to a condition of air pollution and likely result in further elevating ozone concentrations, the department said. As of Thursday, Massachusetts had 151 wildfires since April 5 and 319 wildfires across the state since the start of the year, according to Dave Celino, the chief fire warden for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. Click here to learn more about your area. An Athol man who was found guilty of attacking police with a shield and pulling an officer toward a violent mob during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection of the U.S. Capitol Building was sentenced in U.S. federal court Friday. On Friday U.S. District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell sentenced Vincent J. Gillespie, a 61-year-old Athol man, to nearly six years for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Gillespie was also ordered to pay $25,000, restitution of $2,000 and to serve 36 months of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office District of Massachusetts. In December 2022, Gillespie was found guilty of multiple felony and misdemeanor charges in connection with the attempted coup, including assaulting, resisting or impeding officers; civil disorder; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; and an act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings. The evidence at trial showed that from around 4:11 p.m. to 4:26 p.m. on the day of the insurrection, Gillespie was among the rioters in the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol who pushed, shoved, yelled and fought with law enforcement officers, according to the records. Prosecutors detailed how Gillespie struggled his way through the crowd, eventually maneuvering through the rioters to the line of law enforcement defending the Lower West Terraces exterior door. At one point, the Athol man gained grabbed a police shield and used it to ram officers. He also grabbed a Metropolitan Police Department sergeant by the arm, yanking him toward the mob, screaming traitor and treason at the police. Gillespie was arrested on Feb. 18 of this year in Athol. A former Easthampton resident, he is the same man who made headlines in 2005 for taking a $15 parking ticket all the way to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. In a profile written about the Athol man in 2012, The Republicans Fred Contrada wrote that Gillespie, a Greenfield resident at the time, had earned an engineering degree and was living off his inheritance. He has interesting theories about the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and about the worlds hidden power structure, Contrada wrote about Gillespie. He will be glad to share them with you if you ask. In the 27 months since January 6, 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 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, federal officials stated. Authorities are still investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. Tax day isnt the usual April 15 this year. Instead, those still needing to do their taxes have until April 18. This also includes filing extensions. Tax day cant be on a weekend or holiday. April 15, 2023 falls on a Saturday. The following Monday is a holiday as Washington, D.C., is celebrating Emancipation Day, the anniversary of the district ending slavery in 1862, and Massachusetts celebrates Patriots Day. It is also the first deadline for first quarter estimated tax payments for tax year 2023, the IRS reminded people. Tax day has been shuffled around for the past few years. Last year, Emancipation Days observed day was on April 15, pushing the tax deadline to April 18 for most of the country. But Massachusetts Patriots Day pushed it again. Residents had until Tuesday, April 19, to file taxes. Similar issued happened prior to the pandemic. And in 2020 and 2021, the IRS provided taxpayers with some flexibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Patriots Day is expected to affect the tax deadline again in 2024, pushing the deadline to April 16. The entire country hasnt been required to pay taxes on April 15 since 2015. And it wont happen again until 2025. A woman who survived an explosion and fire at a Berlin home on Friday was hurt but doesnt have life-threatening injuries, fire officials said. The Berlin Fire Department was notified at about 3:30 a.m. about an explosion in the area of 71 Pleasant St., according to a statement from State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskeys office. Firefighters arrived at the two-and-a-half-story, single-family home showing heavy fire that had sustained catastrophic damage, Ostroskeys office said. One woman was found dead at the scene. NBC 10 Boston reported that neighbors rushed to help the injured woman while she was trapped under debris. Its a life-saving event that they did, rushing in, they lifted debris. My understanding is there was some type of a roof structure almost covering her and it took a couple of them to lift it up to get it off her, Berlin Fire Chief Michael McQuillen told the news channel. It took firefighters about an hour and a half to put out the fire, Ostroskeys office said. The Bolton, Clinton, Harvard, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Northborough, Shirley, Sterling and Stow fire departments helped. The identities of the two women have not been made public. Neighbors told NBC 10 the woman who died turned 79 years old on Thursday. The cause of the explosion has not been determined. The investigation is being led by Berlin Fire Department, the Berlin Police Department and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the State Fire Marshal and Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.s office. A 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsman accused of leaking classified government documents will be held in custody pending a hearing on Wednesday at a Boston federal courthouse, where lawyers will argue whether the man should be detained ahead of a trial. The first court hearing Friday in the case of Jack Teixeira kicks off what is likely to be a lengthy court process where federal prosecutors accuse the airman of leaking highly classified government documents that had information on everything from the war in Ukraine to United States intelligence on allies. The United States Attorneys Office charged Teixeira with unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense information and unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material. Teixeira walked into a crowded courtroom wearing a tan jumpsuit and handcuffed at the wrists. He was led to the defense counsel table, where he was uncuffed and greeted by his public defender, Brendan Kelley, who quickly started talking to him. At one point before the proceedings kicked off, Teixeira turned around and smiled at family members sitting in one of the first rows. A lanky young adult from North Dighton, Teixeiras hair is buzzed and he has a peach fuzz mustache. As he was escorted out of the courtroom, a person in one of the first rows said, We love you, Jack. In court documents, prosecutors accuse Teixeira of at first taking home transcriptions of highly classified government documents from his workplace at Otis Air National Guard Base. But as he started to become concerned someone would find out, prosecutors said he chose another method. He began taking the documents to his residence and photographing them, the court documents said. Court documents said Teixeira is an airman first class with the Air National Guard and holds a top secret security clearance and sensitive compartmented access to other highly classified programs, both of which he acquired in 2021. An FBI investigator wrote that to acquire that clearance, Teixeira would have signed a lifetime binding non-disclosure agreement in which he would have had to acknowledge that the unauthorized disclosure of protected information could result in criminal charges. And prosecutors said Teixeira had access to these secret documents by virtue of his employment with the U.S. Air National Guard. Investigators said they interviewed a user of a social media platform who said an individual using a particular username began posting what appeared to be classified information on the social media platform, which has been widely reported as Discord. The documents Teixeira is accused of leaking cover broad areas. One document, according to a description included in court documents from a member of the Discord channel, described the status of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, including troop movements, on a particular date. The government document is based on sensitive U.S. intelligence, gathered through classified sources and methods, and contains national defense information, the court documents said. An original classification authority has confirmed that the government document is classified at the TS//SCI level. As described above, the unauthorized disclosure of TOP SECRET information reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security of the United States. Prosecutors said Teixeira accessed one document in February, one day before another member of the Discord channel posted them on the internet. In addition, according to a second U.S. Government Agency, which can monitor certain searches conducted on its classified networks, on April 6, 2023, Teixeira used his government computer to search classified intelligence reporting for the word leak, court documents said. The first public reporting of the classified documents appeared on April 6, and court documents said there is reason to believe that Teixeira was searching for classified reporting regarding the U.S. Intelligence communitys assessment of the identity of the individual who transmitted classified national defense information. The leak of sensitive documents has created a massive headache for the United States, which was caught spying on its own allies. The leak of sensitive information regarding the war in Ukraine could also have an impact on the conflict. It remains to be seen what, if any, repercussions will fall on the Massachusetts Air National Guard, where Teixeira is listed as having worked as a cyber defense operations journeyman. He enlisted in September 2019. Federal investigators said they identified Teixeira through Discord billing records, where his social media username was connected to his real name. The Discord billing address pointed back to a residence in North Dighton, which was listed as his primary residence on U.S. Air National Guard employment paperwork. Teixeira was arrested Thursday afternoon without incident at the North Dighton residence, a spokesperson for the FBI said. 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 agency said in a statement. Teixeiras family members exited the courthouse Friday morning but did not answer questions. A 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsman accused of heading up a social media chat where sensitive government documents were leaked will appear in a Boston federal courtroom Friday, a courthouse clerk told a group of reporters Thursday. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced earlier in the day that Jack Teixeira is the main person of interest in a leak of highly classified military documents. The airman was taken into custody at a residence in North Dighton, and video footage shows heavily armed law enforcement personnel escorting him into military-style vehicles. Garland said Teixeira will be charged with unauthorized removal of classified national defense information. It was not clear if Teixeira had a lawyer. A search of electronic court records Thursday afternoon did not turn up any documents related to the case. At Bostons John Joseph Moakley Courthouse, a clerk did not say what judge will oversee the court appearance or if Teixeira had arrived at the courthouse. The clerk said the time of the court appearance was not yet available, though the daily schedule is posted online. A case of classified documents ending up in a Discord channel, a social media application primarily used in video game circles, now has roots in Massachusetts and is likely to prompt serious questions about how some of the nations top secrets ended up in the hands of a young service member. The Massachusetts National Guard declined to comment Thursday afternoon and referred MassLive to the Department of Justice and FBI. A spokesperson for the FBI said Teixeira was taken into custody without incident at the North Dighton residence for his alleged involvement in leaking classified U.S. government and military documents. The FBI is continuing to conduct authorized law enforcement activity at the residence, the statement said. 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. Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins did not offer any more information. At this time, that is all we can say, pending the announcement of federal charges and an initial court appearance in the District of Massachusetts, Rollins said in a statement. The New York Times first reported Teixeiras identity. The National Guard has not confirmed Teixeiras identity, and the Massachusetts National Guard did not confirm his current standing in the military branch. 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 Gaurd said in a statement. At a press briefing, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder referred questions about the case to the Department of Justice. We have rules in place. Each of us signs a nondisclosure agreement. This is a criminal act, a willful violation of those, he said. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton said leaking classified materials threatens all of our lives. The congressman sits on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Select Committee on China and said he received a briefing on the situation Wednesday. It directly threatens the lives of the brave Americans who collect intelligence; it cuts off our means to collect vital intelligence in the future; it undermines our foreign policy; it undermines our allies; and it emboldens our adversaries, Moulton said in a statement. These things make every American less safe. Materials from the Associated Press were used in this report. SPRINGFIELD Springtime is busy for Alexander Sherman, the citys forester. In the greenhouse behind his office in the back of Forest Park, small Kentucky coffeetrees have pushed up from potting soil. Outside the greenhouse, small trees stood in rows: Japanese lilac, London plane and Japanese Zelkova trees. Theyre all destined for locations around the city. Trees in the nursery will all be planted mostly as street trees, but also for park plantings and others maybe (for) schools and things like that, Sherman said. Late last year, the city announced it was using a portion of its federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to plant trees around the city. The current projects Sherman said the forestry division are involved with include making renovations along Page Boulevard a project totaling $395,000 assisting with beautifying the North End neighborhood which costs $839,303.14 and improvements along Main Street, which costs $241,704. There are several others that are still in the planning stages that well see come online and over the next few seasons, Sherman said. Construction and our portion will be all completed this calendar year. In a statement, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said he is appreciative for the forestry divisions efforts to provide maintenance and horticultural services for over 2,400 acres of park and land forestry services. Thanks to their efforts, Springfield is a beautiful city with an award-winning and nationally acclaimed parks system, he said. Our Forestry Division does a wonderful job caring for all of our public shade trees and maintaining our beautiful parks for our urban city. The Forestry Divisions nursery raises around 3,000 to 5,000 trees a year, depending on the spacing. Sherman also said the Forestry Division is working closely with the U.S. Forest Service, to study oak regeneration in urbans forests, by using Forest Park as a living lab for them to conduct their studies. Well be planting some oak seedlings out in the woods within their study plots and monitoring them as they grow old, Sherman said. He added that the city tries to work with researchers from the U.S. Forest Service and researchers and students from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Trees provide a number of ecological, economic, and social benefits, Sherman said. In all, theres been study after study done on the various benefits of urban trees and it ranges from the ecological benefits of cleaning particulate matter out of the air, creating cleaner air, reducing stormwater runoff, shading homes and streets and reducing the heat island effect, which is a major problem in cities. But tree planting across the city isnt all that Sherman does. Later in the day, visited the house of a resident near Forest Park who was wondering if two Eastern White Pines should be cut down. Using a tablet, Sherman pulled up a map of the city covered in green dots. Every dot represented a tree. The data showed the descriptions of the tree, who examined it last and what kind of work was done on it. The citys Forestry Division takes in between 1,000 to 1,500 calls a year for service, which varies by season, according to Sherman. Were not just here to take down bad trees, Sherman said. We want to maintain and trim our existing tree canopies, make sure that theyre safe and fit well with the environment and want to focus on planting trees for the next generation. After studying the trees, he tapped updates on the trees condition into the tablet and headed back to his truck. Hes headed off to oversee the removal of a tree close to American International College. Its just another day in the life of a 21st-century urban forester. SPRINGFIELD The European beech tree hundreds of years old that stands outside the federal courthouse will be taken down this spring. After nursing the tree for more than a decade, the U.S. General Services Administration, the agency that manages federal buildings, said the tree is severely decayed. Because of the spread of beech leaf disease, it decided the trees time had come. Western Massachusetts made the national news on April 3, regarding the controversy over the potential superintendent of the Easthampton school district. Dr. Vito Perrone was hired and fired before he could get started, for the crime of inappropriate language. Perrone emailed the two women who are heads of the school committee for salary negotiations. In the email greeting, he said salutations, ladies. Cynthia Kwiceniski is quoted as saying his language was extremely unprofessional and inappropriate and deemed it to be a microaggression. There are countless examples of how controlled our language has become. And when our language is controlled to such a high degree it controls our lives. I was raised to be polite and gentlemen-like. My grandmother would preach to me to always offer to take the ladys coat for her when she entered a home. I was told to always hold the door open for a lady. During my interactions with those women whose names I do not know, I still say thank you, lady instead of thank you, maam. Colton M. Paszkowski, who was a Millbury firefighter when he was accused of sexual assault two years ago, appeared in Worcester Superior Court on Friday and pleaded not guilty to his charges. Paszkowski, 25, was previously arraigned in Worcester District Court on Dec. 20, 2021, where he posted $1,000 bail. He was indicted by a grand jury, which moved the case to superior court. During his arraignment in that court Friday, he was charged with seven counts of rape of a child and one of witness intimidation. One of the conditions of his prior release was that Paszkowski wear a GPS monitor. On Friday, Paszkowskis lawyer, Maura Jennie Tansley, told the judge her clients new job as a welder could require him to leave the state to work Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Connecticut. Judge James G. Reardon ordered the GPS monitor to remain but will allow Paszkowski to travel for work purposes. The other conditions the judge reiterated to Paszkowski on Friday include staying away and having no contact with the victim, and having no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16. Prosecutor Mark McShera also filed a motion for Paszkowski to take a test to collect DNA from the inside of his cheek. Paszkowskis next court appearance is scheduled for May 19. In 2021, a 15-year-old high school student and her mother reported that the girl had been sexually assaulted by Paszkowski on several occasions, MassLive reported in 2022. As well as a firefighter, Paszkowski also worked as a horse farrier, a specialist who takes care of horse hoofs. The allegations made against him are in connection with his work as a horse farrier, MassLive previously reported. The girl told authorities in 2021 that Paszkowski was a horse farrier working with the girls familys horses, MassLive reported. She said he assaulted her once in Northbridge, followed by two more incidents in Sutton and Millbury. The accusations were corroborated by text messages that the Millbury Police Department had on file, resulting in an arrest warrant. Paszkowski lost his horse farrier job and was placed on unpaid leave from the Millbury Fire Department until his case is solved, Millbury Fire Chief Brian K. Gasco told the Telegram & Gazette in 2022. Millburys deputy town manager Karyn E. Clark said to MassLive that Paszkowski is still on unpaid leave. If you are a victim of sexual assault, you are not alone. Rape Crisis Centers in Massachusetts offer free, confidential services for adolescent and adult survivors as well as their loved ones. Crisis centers operate a 24/7 toll-free hotline for phone counseling, questions and referrals. For a full list of regional crisis centers, click here. SafeLink offers a 24/7 toll-free hotline: (877) 785-2020 and (877) 521-2601 (TTY) A Berlin woman died after an explosion left her house completely leveled and engulfed in flames on Friday, a report says. Neighbors of the Pleasant Street home heard the explosion at around 3:30 a.m., NBC 10 Boston reported. Before firefighters arrived, neighbors stepped in to save the womans adult daughter after lifting a porch roof that fell on her, according to the news outlet. She was then taken to a nearby hospital and the extent of injuries are unknown, the station reported. Berlin firefighters arrived not long after to knock down the blaze. Fire officials told MassLive that they were still working on it where the Pleasant Street home once stood as of 6:45 a.m. The woman, who has not been identified, turned 79 on Thursday, neighbors told NBC 10. No other information was immediately available. The CEO of Old Sturbridge Village is accusing Worcester school officials of using students as political pawns after the Worcester School Committee proposed a boycott of the museum. It is a shame that students would miss out on learning about local history and culture in the name of politics and students being used as political pawns, CEO Jim Donahue said in a statement. Worcester students would be the ones to bear the brunt of a boycott. The 30th Annual Meetings of African Export-Import Bank will take place in Accra, Ghana, from 18 to 21 June 2023. The event will mark the high point of the Banks year-long 30th anniversary celebrations, under the theme Delivering the Vision. Building Prosperity for Africans. The 30th Afreximbank Annual Meetings and 30th Anniversary celebrations will bring together on one platform thousands of people, including African and Caribbean leaders and senior government officials, African, Caribbean and other policymakers, corporate leaders, bankers, academia and other thought leaders. The meetings will include the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and an extensive seminar programme, featuring plenaries and side events. We thank His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Government for graciously accepting to host Afreximbanks 30th Annual Meetings. Thirty years ago, the founding fathers of Afreximbank launched a bold initiative for Africans. The hard work of the past three decades, in pursuit of that vision, has shaped what Afreximbank has become today. Member States, clients, customers and partners, the business and international trade community, all those in Africa and the diaspora who strive for the prosperity of African people are invited to join us in Accra to celebrate the Banks achievements and reflect on its future in an increasingly turbulent world, said Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank. Afreximbank Annual Meetings are open to all those interested and/or active in promoting African trade and supporting the socio-economic development of African economies. Ghanas Finance Minister, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, noted that, It is only fitting that the commemoration of this milestone for Africas key Trade Finance institution is co-organised by the host of AFCFTA Secretariat, the Government, and people of Ghana, who are determined torch bearers for Africas quest for trade expansion and integration. This is another opportunity to deepen cooperation and seek African solutions to Africas challenges. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Northwestern Engineering computer science PhD students Lily Ge and Mara Ulloa have been awarded National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships (GRF) in recognition of their demonstrated potential for significant research achievements. The highly selective GRF program awards a five-year fellowship to outstanding individuals early in their graduate career who are pursuing a full-time, research-based graduate degree in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Ge and Ulloa will receive three years of financial support, including an annual stipend. Lily Ge Ge is a second-year PhD student in computer science advised by Matthew Kay, assistant professor of computer science at the McCormick School of Engineering and of communication studies at Northwesterns School of Communication. She is a member of the Midwest Uncertainty Collective (MU Collective) lab, codirected by Kay and Jessica Hullman, Ginni Rometty Professor and associate professor of computer science at Northwestern Engineering. Being a fellow in the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program is a valuable acknowledgment of my past accomplishments and truly a door to a whole world of possibilities, Ge said. If I keep striving toward what I have started, I will be able to achieve what I can envision. Within the broad scope of human-computer interaction (HCI), Ges research centers around how visualizations can assist in decision-making and problem-solving processes. Ge aims to improve visualization literacy by designing and developing tools to help people build resilience against visualization misinformation to maintain well-informed communities. She plans to test the effectiveness of such tools with improved visualization literacy assessments and, finally, to scale up the interventions to reach a broader audience. Visualizations can be manipulated to exacerbate the spread of misinformation, so it is crucial for the public to be able to distinguish between the accurate and inaccurate visual representations to ensure the quality of the information consumed, Ge said. During her first-year graduate studies at Northwestern, Ge studied visualization misinformation with the goal of broadening the understandings of visualization literacy. The project, Critical Thinking Assessment for Literacy in Visualizations (CALVI), earned a best paper honorable mention at the ACM Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) 2023 conference. Building upon her prior work, Ge also investigates how to foster the critical thinking skills necessary to be less susceptible to misinformation. As a current Design Cluster fellow, she works closely with Kay and Steve Franconeri, professor of psychology at Northwesterns Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and (by courtesy) of computer science at Northwestern Engineering, to develop a framework specifically designed to support data-based reasoning with visualizations. Ge earned a bachelors degree in computer science from the University of Michigan. She was a member of the student team that contributed to the design, development, testing, quality control, and project management for the MI Symptoms App, a statewide online tool to help individuals and employers check for symptoms related to COVID-19, prevent outbreaks, and help inform Michigans reopening. During her undergraduate studies, she was also an instructional aide in web design/development courses and worked closely with Colleen van Lent at the University of Michigans School of Information. Through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, Ge was a member of the University of Michigan team that competed in the semi-finals of Amazons Alexa Prize Socialbot Grand Challenge 3. The students developed Audrey, an open-domain conversational chat-bot that aims to engage customers on informational, personal and relational levels. I would like to emphasize how grateful I am for the support I've gotten from my adviser, mentors, and colleagues. I am especially thankful to Matt, Steve, and Colleen for their support in my research journey and in my GRFP application, Ge said. I feel immensely fortunate to have worked with such amazing people throughout my career and to be a part of the MU Collective. I also want to thank the GRFP reviewers for recognizing the importance of my proposed research. Mara Ulloa Ulloa, a second-year PhD student in computer science, is advised by Maia Jacobs, Lisa Wissner-Slivka and Benjamin Slivka Professor of Computer Science at Northwestern Engineering and assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwesterns Feinberg School of Medicine. I am honored that my fellowship application reviewers found my research goals to have the potential to make significant contributions to the field of computer science, said Ulloa, a member of the NU-PATH Lab directed by Jacobs. Receiving this fellowship is a reflection of my wonderful support network. I am grateful for the encouragement of my adviser, Maia Jacobs, and my two other reference writers and mentors, Eleanor 'Nell' ORourke, and Rachel E. Trana. ORourke is a codirector of the Delta Lab and an assistant professor of computer science at Northwestern Engineering and of learning sciences at Northwesterns School of Education and Social Policy. Trana was previously an assistant professor of computer science at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), an adjunct professor of computer science at Northwestern Engineering, and is currently a manager of product engineering at Grainger. Ulloa designs human-AI collaboration tools and digital mental health interventions that support youths mental wellbeing within computer science education environments and amplify the students personal values and interests. She works with Chicagoland youth to co-design preventive mental health tools, such as an intervention in which students both learn to program robots and learn stress management exercises or relaxation techniques through interaction with the robots. Current digital mental health interventions exist in silos, disconnected from peoples daily lives, and therefore suffer from low engagement and adherence, Ulloa said. In contrast, community CS programs play an important role in youths social and emotional development, and we are seeing increases in enrollment in CS across the country. By co-designing mental health interventions with youth, and embedding them in their community programs, these tools will meet youth where they are. Its an opportunity to teach students positive coping skills and behaviors at an age where long-term health habits are formed. During the term of the NSF fellowship, Ulloa plans to lead participatory design studies with students from community organizations to understand the social support and mental health needs of students with diverse backgrounds, develop mental health interventions and implementation strategies with organization leaders, and, finally, run a longitudinal evaluation of these interventions to assess acceptability, engagement, and impact on youths mental health. A first-generation college student, Ulloa earned an associate degree from Harold Washington College and completed a bachelors degree in computer science at NEIU, where she was awarded TheDream.US scholarship. The award, which allowed Ulloa to become a full-time student, is given to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students with demonstrated commitment to community service and ability to overcome barriers and challenges that DACA students face each and every day. I was fortunate to become a US Permanent Resident a few days prior to the NSF GRFP deadline, which allowed me to submit my application, Ulloa said. Growing up as a Mexican American DACA student in Chicago and the oldest of six siblings from a single parent household disqualified me from following a traditional educational path after high school. Throughout the early years of my academic career, I balanced a full-time job to afford my tuition and helped my mother raise my younger siblings. In recognition of her leadership and service contributions, academic success, and extracurricular achievements at NEIU, Ulloa was named a 2020 Lincoln Academy Student Laureate. by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, April 13, 2023 Arkansas this week became the second state to restrict the use of social media platforms by teens. For years, social media companies have gotten away with exploiting kids for profit. Not anymore, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote Wednesday in a Twitter post announcing that she had signed a statute banning people under 18 from most large social media platforms, without parental consent. The new law also explicitly requires social media platforms to verify the ages of all users. Unless blocked by the courts, the measure will take effect in September. The law's provisions apply to most social media platforms controlled by companies with more than $100 million in annual revenue, but a last-minute amendment appears to exempt Google's YouTube. That amendment excludes companies that offer educational enterprise collaboration tools for kindergarten through grade 12, and that derive less than 25% of total company revenue from operating a social platform. advertisement advertisement The Arkansas law, like a similar one in Utah, is all but certain to face a challenge in court by the tech industry as well as digital rights advocates, who argue both bills violate the First Amendment. Anonymous communications have an important place in our political and social discourse, and the Supreme Court has ruled repeatedly that the right to anonymous free speech is protected by the First Amendment, the digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation wrote to Utah Governor Spencer Cox last month, in an unsuccessful effort to convince him to veto his state's bill. Requiring that all users in Utah tie their accounts to their age, and ultimately, their identity, will lead to fewer people expressing themselves, or seeking information online, the group added. NetChoice and others have also repeatedly noted that minors have well established First Amendment rights -- including the right to access information. As recently as 2011, the Supreme Court voted 7-2 to strike down a California law that banned the sale of violent video games to minors, without parental consent. Justice Antonin Scalia, who authored the opinion in that case, wrote that the government doesn't have a free-floating power to restrict the ideas to which children may be exposed. He added that basic free speech principles do not vary when a new and different medium for communication appears. It's not just red states that are attempting to regulate teens' use of social media. California also recently passed the Age-Appropriate Design Code, which could encourage tech companies to filter posts that are protected by the First Amendment. Specifically, that law requires online companies likely to be accessed by users under 18 to prioritize their best interests and well-being." NetChoice, which is suing to block the law, argued in court papers that terms like best interests, well-being and harmful are subjective -- which will lead companies to err on the side of suppression. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, April 13, 2023 Yelp debuted its first Most Loved Brands list on Thursday based on the companys data, highlighting the best-in-class restaurants and retailers. The list of the 50 most-loved restaurants, food and retail brands, according to the Yelp community, reveals the qualities most desired by those using the platform, such as affordability, great customer service and consistent, high-quality products. Just as we see with local businesses, national restaurants and retailers have a significant impact on their local communities, and this list aims to honor those national brands that Yelpers love the most, said Kadecia Ber, advertising trends expert and director of multilocation solutions at Yelp. We hope brands will recognize and value the impact that they have on their local communities, as well as prioritize qualities consumers value like affordability, great customer service and quality products that brands on the list share. advertisement advertisement Trader Joes, the grocery retailer known for its creative private-label food products, topped the list with its focus on community. Founded in 1967, Trader Joes has more than 500 stores across 42 states and Washington, D.C. The highest-rated Trader Joes store is in Orem, Utah. Consumers praised Trader Joe's employees for their cheerful and quick service, indicating that they go out of their way to shop at that location. Popular restaurants and bakery brands that made the list include specialty shop Nothing Bundt Cakes; Queens, New York-based bubble tea spot Kung Fu Tea; and the Bradenton, Florida-based cafe First Watch. Floor & Decor took the No. 5 spot, while Texas Roadhouse took No. 6 and The Cheesecake Factory came in at No. 7. Bonefish Grill, Costco Wholesale, and World Market round out the top 10. When asked to cite the biggest surprises on the list, Ber said: I love to see fast-growing challenger brands being recognized for their success, such as Jersey Mikes, First Watch and Kung Fu Tea. Ber is a huge fan of Potbelly Sandwich Works. The first location I ever visited was in Chicago over 20 years ago, and I thought Id discovered the best-kept secret in the city, she said. Its been amazing to see this brand grow and spread throughout the country over the years. And its surprising to see so many retail brands make the list. Brands like Floor & Decor, Costco and World Market demonstrate how much of an impact a good retail experience, great products and affordable prices can have on customers. Local communities offer value to consumers. Based on Yelp data, those using the platform tend to love challenger brands the most -- fast-growing brands that offer great customer service and unique, high-quality products. Trader Joes is a great example of a brand that puts service above all. Employees go out of their way to welcome customers with smiles and cheerful attitudes, and that is reflected in their reviews on Yelp, Ber said. April 17 will mark the first day of National Work Zone Awareness Week, which is a campaign every spring near the start of the construction season. According to the Michigan State Police, 236 people have been killed on roadways in 2023 as of April 11, with another 77 seriously injured. This is what Work Zone Awareness Week looks to address when talking about work zone safety. In 2020, 857 people were killed in 774 fatal work zone crashes according to data collected by workzonesafety.org. It added that 117 of the deaths were workers, with the rest being drivers and their passengers. Additionally, the Michigan State Police Department's Office of Highway Safety Planning included data on fatal crashes in utility, construction, and maintenance work zones in the year 2021. The data showed: 5,814 work zone crashes 19 fatal work zone crashes 20 work zone fatalities 1,451 work zone injuries The Huron County Road Commission is no stranger to road worker safety, as it was awarded this past year for its commitment to safety in having one of the lowest employee injury rates in the state. Erik Tamlyn, an engineer for the Huron County Road Commission, told the Tribune why it's important for awareness to be spread, especially in Michigan. "We have a shorter construction season than other states so we are more 'aggressive' with our work," he explained. "It's not just us, there are contract workers (and other crews)... these folks are out there too. We are on the same team when it comes to safety." With the construction season starting, there are a handful of upcoming roadwork projects in the county, with five major paving projects looking to start in early- to mid-May. The other major project this year will be the removal and replacement of the Caseville Road Bridge over the Pigeon River. That project will start in June and is expected to last through October. Tamlyn said there were crews out already though working on smaller projects like shoulder work and motorists should be on the lookout for the crews on the side of the road. "We urge people when they see the orange barrels, cones, or even our people (out working) that they are aware and slow down," he said. The National Work Zone Awareness Week has a scheduled theme for each day starting on April 17 and running until Friday, April 21. More information can be found online from the Michigan Department of Transportation at michigan.gov/mdot Work Zone Safety Training Day - April 17. National kickoff event - April 18 Go Orange Day - April 19 Social media storm - April 20 Moment of Silence - April 21 "We take safety very seriously," said Tamlyn. "Annually, we have meetings covering various safety topics. They cover certain tasks that we do with different equipment or dealing with traffic and they all deal with tasks we do on a daily basis. As an agency, we talked a lot of pride in doing those tasks safely." Any questions on work that the Huron County Road Commission will be doing this season can be found on the Huron County Road Commission website or by calling the office at 989-269-6404. They are located at 417 South Hanselman Street in Bad Axe. Michigan officials are reacting to gun safety laws signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Thursday that are expected to go into effect next year. 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 the new laws introduced in the weeks following the Michigan State University shooting, where a gunman killed three students and injured five others. The laws were drafted after the 2021 Oxford High School mass shooting that killed four students but they saw little movement at the time with Republicans in control of the Michigan Legislature. In November, Democrats won control of the state government for the first time in nearly 40 years. Whitmer signed the laws on the MSU campus in East Lansing, according to reporting by The Associated Press. With students and gun safety advocates standing beside her, Whitmer, a graduate of MSU, told the more than 100 people in attendance to "buckle up, were going to continue this work." Calling gun violence a "uniquely American problem," she drew attention to mass shootings across the country during her Thursday remarks, specifically referencing recent shootings in Nashville and Louisville, according to the AP. Several state legislatures nationwide 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, according to a database maintained by the AP and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who last month introduced a bill to fund Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research on the gun violence epidemic, was in attendance for the Thursday signing. She released the following statement in support of the legislation. "The bills signed into law today in East Lansing are the most statewide action on gun violence in decades and a historic moment for Michigan," Slotkin wrote. "Im so proud of the MI Legislature, student advocates & parent groups, and MSU & Oxford families who worked so hard to make this happen." "Drawn directly from the shootings at MSU & Oxford, this legislation requires universal background checks & safe storage of firearms landmark, common sense provisions that will save lives. Its proof we dont have to accept the false choice between gun ownership & gun safety." The laws are part of an 11-bill gun safety package. 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." Safe storage requirements became a topic of conversation after the mass shooting at Oxford High School. The shooter, Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 years old at the time, admitted the gun he used was not locked in a box at home and had been purchased for him by his father. His parents have been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the acts of Ethan, who has pleaded guilty to terrorism and first-degree murder charges. Gabrielle Giffords, a former congresswoman and founder of a gun violence prevention organization, applauded Michigan for passing the laws. "This is a great day for Michiganders," Giffords said in a Thursday statement. "The gun safety bills signed into law today will undoubtedly save lives and make the state of Michigan a safer place to live. No one should have to go about their lives and fear gun violence. Todays bill signing was a major step forward to stopping gun violence in Michigan." Groups that advocate for the Second Amendment are pushing back. Great Lakes Gun Rights promised in February to work with local political activists and begin recalling anti-gun politicians who vote for gun control legislation being pushed through the Michigan Legislature. On Thursday, Great Lakes Gun Rights joined Michigan Open Carry to announce that they are filing a lawsuit against the Michigan House and Senate, alleging that their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated by both groups by "refusing to let pro-gun testimony be heard in legislative committee hearings regarding new gun control laws in Michigan." "Suppressing speech is just as illegal and unconstitutional as passing these heinous gun control bills," Brenden Boudreau, executive director of Great Lakes Gun Rights, said in a Thursday statement. "Thats why were exercising our right to sue the legislature and hold them accountable for trampling over the gun rights and speech rights of law-abiding Michiganders. This level of blatant corruption cannot be allowed to stand." The lawsuit also explained that the Michigan Legislature has violated the Michigan Open Meetings Act and, "are unquestionably favoring the speech of those who support their political positions while suppressing the speech of those who are critical, are based on the viewpoint of the speech they are discriminating against" "We were repeatedly denied the opportunity to testify in public hearings before our elected officials the officials who work for us," Tom Lambert of Michigan Open Carry said in a Thursday statement. "No legislative body is allowed to supersede our natural rights which are affirmed in the U.S. Constitutional and Michigan law itself. Our lawsuit plainly explains the unconstitutional actions which took place, and what were asking the court to do to rectify the injustices that were carried out by legislators in the House and Senate." A motorcyclist died Wednesday after he struck a deer while riding in Tuscola County. According to a press release from the Michigan State Police Caro Post, troopers responded to reports of a crash involving a motorcycle around 8:47 p.m. Wednesday on M-46 near Phillips Road in Tuscola County's Kingston Township. An initial investigation by troopers showed that Edward Lee Scribner, 53, of Sandusky, was traveling east on M-46 on a 2006 Yamaha when he struck a deer and suffered critical injuries. Scribner was flown by Flight Care air ambulance from the scene to an out-of-area hospital, where he later died from his injuries, according to the press release. The incident remains under investigation. Troopers were assisted at the scene by members of Kingston Fire and Rescue, Marlette Ambulance Service, St Marys Flight Care and 10 Point Towing. MIAMI (AP) Authorities in Venezuela have brought corruption charges against a businessman who is a fugitive in a separate U.S. money laundering case targeting a top ally of the country's president, Nicolas Maduro. Alvaro Pulido, wearing an orange jumpsuit and handcuffed, was among a group of seven Venezuelan officials and businessmen escorted by a masked security agent on their way to an initial judicial hearing in Caracas in images shared Friday by Venezuela's government. The men were taken into custody as part of a sprawling investigation into corruption in the state-run oil company PDVSA focused on the payment of massive bribes in exchange for lucrative contracts to move tankers of Venezuelan crude sanctioned by the U.S. Pulido stands out among the more than 50 alleged schemers already arrested because of his relationship to Alex Saab. The two Colombians were long-time business partners who made a fortune selling food and other items to Venezuela's socialist government over the past decade. The two were criminally charged together in 2019 by federal prosecutors in Miami for allegedly siphoning off $350 million from state contracts to build low income housing. Saab was arrested on a U.S. warrant a year later while en route to Iran. Pulido's arrest in Venezuela, which had been rumored for weeks but not confirmed until now, has no direct relationship to the U.S. criminal case. But it nonetheless could complicate Saab's argument that he is a Venezuelan diplomat entitled to immunity from prosecution in the U.S., said John Feeley, a former U.S. Ambassador to Panama with decades of experience working in Latin America. That issue is set to be With Pulido's arrest, Saab's defense begins to crumble, Feeley said. He will now have a hard time insisting on diplomatic status when his business partner is facing corruption charges in Caracas. A federal district judge in Miami has already ruled that Saab is unable to shield himself from criminal charges and must stand trial. His lawyers have appealed the decision and argue that documents and letters he was purportedly carrying at the time of his arrest during a refueling stop in Cape Verde prove he was conducting official business on behalf of Maduro's government. A group pushing for Saab's immediate release issued a statement in Caracas expressing total support for the latest crackdown and distancing the diplomat" from Pulido. It was not immediately possible to locate an attorney for Pulido. But Joe Schuster, an attorney for Saab, said the Venezuelan investigation into Pulido had absolutely nothing to do with his client. It is also our understanding that the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela continues to fully support Special Envoy Saab, the Miami-based attorney said, referring to Saab's purported diplomatic status as an intermediary in trade deals between Iran and Venezuela. Corruption has long plagued Venezuela. The OPEC nation was the fourth-most corrupt in the world in the latest rankings by Transparency International. Opportunities for graft have proliferated as a result of U.S. sanctions, which has scared away more established oil companies and opened the door for murky middlemen who purchase the crude at a steep discount and transport their valuable cargo on so-called ghost tankers that hide their locations from satellite tracking systems. ___ Associated Press writer Jorge Rueda in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report. ___ Joshua Goodman on Twitter: @APJoshGoodman TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) China sanctioned a United States lawmaker Thursday for his visit to Taiwan, saying he violated the One China principle that says Beijing has sovereignty over the island. The mainlands ruling Communist Party says Taiwan, which split from the mainland in 1949 amid a civil war, must be reunited with China by force if necessary. Beijing says Taipei has no right to conduct foreign relations and views visits by U.S. lawmakers to the island as violating its claims of sovereignty. The sanctions against Rep. Michael McCaul include freezing his assets and properties in China, prohibiting any organization or individual in China from conducting transactions or working with him, and denying him a visa to enter the country, according to a statement Thursday from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It's one of several rounds of sanctions China announced as tensions build between Beijing and Washington. China retaliated for U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthys meeting on April 5 with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen by sanctioning the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and other organizations, adding to strains over the self-governed island democracy Beijing claims as part of its territory. It then launched a large-scale three-day military exercise surrounding the island, sending more than 200 warplanes toward Taiwan. McCaul, R-Texas, visited Taiwan from April 6 to 8 to discuss weapons deals between the U.S. and Taiwan, shortly after the sensitive meeting that drew China's ire. 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, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been advocating for a hard-line stance against China and closer ties with Taiwan. Relations between the U.S. and China have sunk to historic lows. The U.S. has been increasingly critical of Chinas human rights record, its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its actions in Hong Kong in clamping down on protests. China, on the other hand, has been accusing the U.S. of meddling in its internal affairs, and pursuing a containment strategy against China to prevent the country's rise. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Top Republican hopefuls for the 2024 presidential race vowed Friday at the National Rifle Association's annual convention to defend the Second Amendment at all costs, suggesting that new firearms restrictions in the wake of mass shootings around the country would only hurt law-abiding gun owners. The three-day gathering with thousands of the organizations most active members at Indianapolis convention center came mere days after mass shootings at a school in Nashville and a bank in Louisville, Kentucky. Last year's NRA convention followed the massacre at a school in Uvalde, Texas. That illustrated the stark reality that such shootings have become enough of the fabric of American life that the NRA can no longer schedule around them. Nor does it really want to: The convention also fell on the second anniversary of the mass shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis that killed nine people. None of that stopped top Republicans from flocking to the event, underscoring the political power of the NRA. Gun-hating politicians should never go to bed unafraid of what this association, and all of our millions of members, can do to their political careers, said NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre, suggesting that his group could play a dominant role in the 2024 election after turmoil in recent years over a failed bankruptcy effort, a class action lawsuit and a fraud investigation. Instead of fewer guns, former Vice President Mike Pence called for federal funding for armed school officers and more institutions for the mentally ill, though mental illness is not the main driver of mass shootings. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he had resisted implementing any gun restrictions in his state despite that stance being unpopular. Former President Donald Trump crowned himself as the most pro-gun, pro-Second Amendment president in the nations history. I will be your loyal friend and fearless champion once again as the 47th president of the United States, he told the crowd, pledging to create a new tax credit to reimburse teachers for the full cost of a concealed-carry firearm, as well as gun training from highly-qualified experts. Some of the Republican politicians speaking at the event said they were saddened by the recent shootings, but most spent more time criticizing Democrats, slamming COVID-19 restrictions and vaccines, and discussing security along the U.S.-Mexico border. That was fine with many attendees, who don't think gun restrictions are the answer to mass shootings. No one wants to see the violence you see in schools and stuff today, said Randy Conner, a pistol and rifle instructor for the NRA from Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. But I dont think taking the guns away from ordinary citizens is going to change any of that at all. Trump's appearance was his first public event since being arrested and arraigned in New York last week on felony charges stemming from a hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign. His Secret Service protection meant attendees couldn't carry guns at the convention. The former president made a few references to the numerous investigations he's facing. Instead of the government going after hardened criminals, he complained, The only one they want to prosecute is Donald Trump. Friday's appearance was the first time he and Pence have addressed the same campaign event on the same day since their estrangement following the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Pence is considering his own 2024 bid. A former Indiana governor, Pence drew scattered boos as he started speaking, despite it being his home turf. The former vice president had skipped a number of conservative gatherings in recent years after he was booed and heckled during their previous meetings. Taking the stage later, Trump said sarcastically that he hoped the crowd had given his former vice president a warm introduction. Pence noted the two recent mass shootings and said his heart and prayers were with the families of the victims, who included three 9-year-old students. But he said, We dont need gun control. We need crime control. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Trump critic who announced his 2024 campaign after news of the former president's indictment broke, drew at least one yelled obscenity from the Trump-friendly crowd after he suggested President Joe Biden was "praying for a rematch with Trump in 2024 and declared, We dont need a rerun of 2020." Others offering video messages were former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who began her 2024 campaign in February, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who announced a presidential exploratory committee this week. DeSantis, seen as a top rival to Trump even though hes yet to jump into the race, also spoke briefly in virtual remarks. Ive resisted calls to take up gun control, even when such a stand is superficially unpopular, DeSantis said, a reference to calls for stricter Florida laws in the wake of the 2018 Parkland school shooting that killed 17 people. Pain over the Louisville and Nashville shooting rampages has crossed party lines. Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear talked about having a friend killed in the Louisville shooting, while Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said he had friends killed during the Nashville school attack. Yet the NRA convention's tone was as defiant as last year, when the group held its convention in Houston just three days after the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at a Uvalde elementary school. Further overlapping with recent tragedy, Pence and some of the other speakers were following up their NRA speeches by traveling to Nashville to meet with top GOP donors gathered there. Every significant national Republican, every Republican thats thrown their hat in the ring to run for president, is showing up this weekend to pledge their undying loyalty to the NRA and the gun lobby, said Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, who championed bipartisan legislation that passed last year and imposed some new federal gun restrictions after the Uvalde shooting. Our kids are being hunted, and the NRAs business model is to give aid to the hunters. Indeed, support for gun rights among Republican voters remains higher than for voters overall. Some 56% of voters in last falls midterm elections said they want to see stricter nationwide gun laws, compared with just 28% of Republicans, according to AP VoteCast, a wide-ranging survey of the electorate. About half of Republicans said gun laws should be left as they are. Trump, meanwhile, has a contradictory history on guns. The NRA was a key backer of his 2016 campaign, spending some $30 million to support a candidate who sometimes mentioned carrying his own gun and vowed to eliminate gun-free zones in schools and on military bases. Trump also pledged to establish a national right to carry. But, as the country reeled from a series of mass shootings, Trumps administration banned bump stocks, which were used in a 2017 attack on a Las Vegas country music concert that killed 60 people and injured hundreds more. After the Parkland school shooting in Florida the following year, Trump urged congressional Republicans to expand background checks and proposed seizing guns from mentally ill people. He also suggested raising the minimum age to buy assault rifles from 18 to 21, and suggested he was open to a conversation about reviving assault weapons bans. After later meeting with the NRA, however, Trump abandoned his push. Friday's convention largely belonged to Trump, who drew the loudest cheers from the crowd. Donna Alberts, who traveled around 600 miles (965 kilometers) from Greenbriar, Arkansas, for the convention, said nothing could sway her vote for Trump in 2024. Hes a good man," Alberts said, and he does what he says hes going to do, and he loves this country. ___ Weissert reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in New York, Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston, Arleigh Rodgers in Indianapolis and Hannah Fingerhut in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Rodgers is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/arleighrodgers. 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 COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) A senior Norwegian spy agency officer said Friday that the intelligence threat from Russia is not gone, but significantly reduced after Norway expelled 15 Russian diplomats on suspicion of spying. We are sure that they are intelligence officers," said Inger Haugland, head of the counterintelligence unit with the Norwegian Police Security Service, known as the PST. We believe that the measure taken yesterday was a good and important measure. On Thursday, Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said the diplomats were suspected of spying while working at the Russian Embassy in Oslo. Haugland said most of the 15 diplomats were working either as spy handlers or intercepting telephone and data traffic. She said they were employed either by Russia's civilian spy agency, the FSB (Federal Security Service) or by the GRU, which runs military intelligence. Haugland described them as specialists but declined to give further details or say whether they had left the Scandinavian country. Russian intelligence will continue to operate in Norway because Norway is important to Russia, she said. Dag Rhjell, a senior officer with the PST, declined to comment specifically on how long the Norwegian authorities had known about the alleged activities of the 15 diplomats, but pointed at two sectors of special interest to Russia: defense and oil. It is about what Norway contributes to Ukrainian defense capability and energy supply to Europe, Rhjell told reporters. We will contact businesses that we know the 15 intelligence officers have had contact with. Norway, a NATO member, has a 198 kilometer-long (123-mile) border with Russia in the Arctic. In neighboring Sweden, a person was arrested at the largest refinery company in the country on suspicion of corporate espionage, the prosecution authority said Friday. Swedish media said the suspect was a Russian woman. The case was shrouded in secrecy. Dani Backteg, a spokesman for Preemraff, an oil refinery in Goteborg, western Sweden, told The Associated Press that the person arrested Thursday afternoon, was "an employee of one of our subcontractors. He referred to the police for further comment. Swedens security service also said it was a police matter. Police gave no comment. Preem is the largest oil refinery in Sweden, with two plants on the west coast. It accounts for 80% of the country's refinery capacity. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indiana residents could have access to birth control without a doctor's prescription under a bill state lawmakers sent to the governor Tuesday, a move proponents say will prevent unwanted pregnancies in a state that passed an abortion ban last summer. The state House bill is key to providing women quicker access to contraceptives, bill sponsor Republican Sen. Sue Glick said Tuesday, especially in areas where they struggle to receive primary care. Glick, who sponsored the state's abortion ban, called the bill a furtherance of the bills we heard this summer." We have individuals who have been referred to their primary physicians or to a primary physicians. Many of them dont go to the doctor, they cant afford it or they dont have access, she said before the 28-20 vote. This is an effort to give care to individuals who need it. Its an effort to help these individuals have healthy families at their time. If approved by GOP Gov. Eric Holcomb, pharmacists could be reimbursed for their services to Medicaid patients. They would also be able to object to prescribing the medications under ethical, moral, or religious grounds. Prescriptions, however, cannot last more than six months, and pharmacists cannot prescribe a contraceptive to a woman after twelve months unless the woman has been seen by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant in the past year. If you are against abortion, you ought to be for contraceptives, Republican Sen. Vaneta Becker said before voting for the bill. To opponents who want birth control to only be prescribed by physicians, the bill is "unequivocally lowering the standard of care, Republican Sen. Tyler Johnson said Tuesday. The emergency medicine doctor also questioned whether access to birth control would decrease abortions in Indiana. State legislatures across the U.S. have introduced at least 30 bills related to birth control access this year, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy earlier this year signed a law that would allow women in the state to receive some hormonal contraceptives without a prescription. That law goes into effect in May. While the Indiana legislature seeks avenues for contraceptive access, the state's abortion ban remains on hold pending a decision from the Indiana Supreme Court. Abortion clinic operators filed a lawsuit against the ban, which has not been enforced since September. But the drive for pharmacist-prescribed birth control has cropped up in Indiana before this year most recently this summer, when Democratic Rep. Rita Fleming introduced an amendment with such language into a spending bill for low-income women and children that lawmakers advanced alongside the abortion ban. That amendment fell short by one vote. We were awfully close then, Fleming told the Associated Press on Tuesday. I think the good of providing this for women in a safe manner is incredibly important. A House committee earlier Tuesday also unanimously approved a bill that could allow long-acting reversible contraceptives, such as intrauterine devices, to be transferred between Medicaid patients, something that is currently prohibited. If a Medicaid patient does not return for an insertion appointment after 12 weeks for a device they requested, a medical provider could reissue that contraceptive to a different patient, under the bill, which now goes to the full House. Providers do not typically keep the implant devices on the shelf because of their high costs, leaving thousands of dollars of these unclaimed, Democratic Sen. Shelli Yoder, the bills author, said Tuesday. Health care providers are only able to recoup that cost after it's inserted or implanted," she said. The only thing they can do is wait. And if they expire, they throw them away. ___ This story was first published on April 11, 2023. It was updated on April 14, 2023, to correct the type of access to birth control in the Indiana bill. It would be available with a pharmacists prescription, not over the counter. ___ Arleigh Rodgers is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/arleighrodgers This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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 weapon's 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 Korea's 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-18's 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 hasn't 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 wasn't 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 AP's Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific 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. Warning: This story includes discussion of suicidal ideation. Michael Foley drove his purple 1995 Chevrolet Prizm down Galaxy Way to New Hampshire's remote New Boston Space Force Station on May 13, 2022. Then, with his headlights off, he exited, standing outside the gate with a knife in his right hand and an air-powered pellet pistol tucked out of view in his left. "FBI," the 33-year-old Massachusetts veteran reportedly told the guards after they told him to drop his weapons and asked what he wanted. "FBI or your life means nothing to me." A minute after uttering those words, Foley raised the BB gun. One guard pulled the trigger of his rifle, missing the armed man with two rounds. A security contractor also fired a shot, killing the man. Read Next: US Air Base in Greenland Gets New, Inuit Name A report released by New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella late last week ruled Foley's death as justified. Military contractor Peter White, who works with security company Lockwood Hills, fired the round that struck Foley in the forehead. New Boston Police Officer Shane Morton was the officer who fired shots that missed. Both were cleared in the investigation. But the report also offered the first in-depth details and account of what happened 11 months ago at the Space Force installation tucked away in rural New Hampshire, including the background that Foley's family said he previously served in the Army, that he had been in contact with the FBI just days before, and that he had expressed a desire to die to multiple people and law enforcement agencies. Deidre Forster, a spokeswoman for the National Guard Bureau, confirmed to Military.com that Foley served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard from August 2008 to August 2014, where he reached the rank of specialist and served "honorably" as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. Officers received permission to search Foley's car from his family, according to the investigation findings, and believed he was living in his automobile. They also located two propane tanks and a gasoline tank that at first was believed to be a potential explosive device, but was later determined not to be the case. A subsequent search of Foley's phone showed him texting a woman two weeks prior to the incident at New Boston Space Force Station, expressing suicidal thoughts. That woman contacted the police in Massachusetts, in the city where Foley was at the time, to express her concerns for his well-being. Officers pinged Foley's phone, and he spoke with them, assuring law enforcement he was fine; he was put in touch with a community counseling center in the area. Five days later, the local police were notified that Foley had reached out to a suicide hotline. On May 11, 2022, Foley had called another hotline expressing his desire to blow up the community counseling center recommended to him and hoping police would kill him, the report detailed. Once he was contacted by law enforcement again, he apologized for his words and said he wasn't going to hurt anyone. Police put out a notice to be on the lookout for him. Law enforcement agencies contacted his estranged mother, who said that her son "had struggled with mental health, was in the Army before, but left and went to jail for something," according to records of her May 11, 2022, interview with law enforcement. A few hours later that evening, Foley called the FBI's National Threat Operations Center Tip Line, saying he "wanted to do something terrorist to others or himself" and asking for mental health services. He also confessed to "being a veteran and having stolen a Humvee while in the Army National Guard in 2012," the report detailed. Prior to his arrival at the Space Force station on May 13, Foley had done an online search for military bases in New England and read the Wikipedia entry for New Boston Space Station. The station has had a long history in the Department of the Air Force. During World War II, the U.S. Army Air Corps -- the precursor to the Air Force -- used land in New Boston near the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport as a bombing range for airplanes. Following WWII, the range was deactivated and, in the 1960s, the post became a satellite tracking station. In the late '80s, it was transferred to Air Force Space Command. Shortly after the U.S. Space Force became a service, New Boston's satellite operation was transferred to its command in 2021. New Boston is home to the 23rd Space Operations Squadron, which provides satellite capabilities to "more than 190 Department of Defense, national and civilian satellites performing intelligence, weather, navigation, early-warning and communications operations," according to the Space Force. Veterans and service members experiencing a mental health emergency can call the Veteran Crisis Line, 988 and press 1. Help also is available by text, 838255, and via chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net. -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Related: Man Fatally Shot at Gate of Remote Space Force Station Was Reportedly Armed The Russian infantrymen slinked back and forth in twos and threes to a house in one of this embattled city's devastated neighborhoods, ferrying ammunition, an automatic grenade launcher and a heavy machine gun ahead of a planned attack. Hidden in a high-rise, a pair of Ukrainian soldiers watched it all on a feed from the consumer drone they were piloting. One of the pilots, whose military nickname is Liova, trained the camera on a pair of soldiers next to the house. "I see two ... moving," said the other pilot, who calls himself Tezka, speaking into a chat server. In a basement a few miles from the house, commanders from the 251st Battalion studied the drone feed. They barely seemed to notice the steady beat of incoming fire or the bup-bup-bup of a barrage of rockets even when one landed close enough to shake the floor. The battalion's mortar commander, who goes by the name Zeus, called up the GPS coordinates of the house on a tablet, pressed a drop-down menu to select a weapon and ordnance type and put the information into a ballistic calculator. Switching between his smartphone and an encrypted radio, he instructed soldiers at another location to dial in their 82-millimeter mortar. "Time to target, 32 seconds," one responded. The drone watched overhead: The first shot went wide. Zeus stared at the screen. This time he ignored the ballistic calculator and eyeballed the adjustment. A direct hit. The long fight for Bakhmut has been block-by-block, house-by-house savagery grinding up men, materiel and masonry. But backing it is a parallel sort of combat, one that juxtaposes 19th and early 20th century weapons such as artillery and mortars with 21st century consumer tech drones, messaging apps, teleconferencing services, satellite internet terminals, cloud-synced mapping software. An hour after the attack on the house, the Russians were in retreat. Another round took out their cache of explosives. Through the drone, Tezka saw one soldier wounded, another tending to him, while three more brought a stretcher. Zeus spoke into an encrypted radio. The mortar fired again, and the soldiers disappeared in a puff of smoke. The men in the command center cheered as they watched the carnage unfold. One soldier lost his helmet as he crawled and then limped. Another staggered away. A third blast bloomed near them as they escaped, leaving behind at least four dead and one wounded. On Thursday, Russia's Defense Ministry announced that its forces had encircled Bakhmut. Earlier in the week, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian oligarch whose mercenary group Wagner spearheads the campaign on the city, said his fighters controlled 80% of Bakhmut. Ukrainian officials denied both claims but did not specify how much of the city remains under their control. Outnumbered and outgunned, Ukrainian forces have mounted a fierce defense by utilizing tools both primitive and new. They have achieved some success. In a batch of classified documents leaked to social media in recent days, a U.S. government assessment characterized Russia's advances in Bakhmut during the second half of last year as "sluggish," with its forces advancing an average of just 1.7 miles each month. The Times could not verify the authenticity of the document. Still another document, based on the state of the battle on Feb. 25, quoted a Ukrainian military commander saying his forces had only one path to resupply. In recent weeks, the front appears to have stabilized, even as Ukrainian forces prepare for the worst. Three miles outside Bakhmut, near the village of Kalinina, they were digging trenches for a new defensive line in case they had to pull out. Helping keep Ukraine in the fight is its aerial surveillance, which relies mostly on quadcopter drones made by the Chinese company DJI, including models available for under $1,500 at Walmart or Amazon. Far from just flying drones, the 18 pilots who make up the battalion's air reconnaissance team also assist other units navigate the city and evacuate the injured. More than two-thirds of the team has been wounded in action. The pilot's day begins before dawn with breakfast from whatever supplies the brigade can smuggle in. A chunk of moldy bread. Some salo pig fat or oatmeal. Under a faint lightbulb in the basement, they pack the drones, 20 batteries, cable and antenna, a Starlink terminal and enough food to last their 12-hour shift. They don bulletproof vests and carry their assault rifles, then step out for their stealth run to one of their positions, which must be above ground to maintain signal. "You feel exposed, every minute, every day, every morning," said Tezka, who is 36 with an earring and a professorial mien. He worked in IT and built drones before the war. Once in position, the pilots rotate the drones in and out of air while they change the batteries. They have to collect them quickly: The shelling is ceaseless, and some of Bakhmut's few remaining residents have stolen the drones when they land. Drones have also been shot down. But a bigger danger is the Russian army's electronic warfare abilities, which dwarf Ukraine's. In other parts of the country, pilots have jury-rigged drones to drop munitions on their enemies. But because Bakhmut's area is small and Russian jamming powerful and constant, the drone wouldn't get a chance to get close enough. On the other hand, that can also be an advantage, said a 30-year-old pilot who goes by the name Makarena and worked in copyrighting before the war. "We're camouflaged because there's so much signal interference it's hard for them to identify the direction we're flying from," he said. Tezka was tinkering with so-called kamikaze drones that fly into their target and detonate, like the Iranian drones Russia has deployed to devastating effect in Ukraine. One evening, he took out a small quadcopter he was working on. It could fly more than 40 mph with a brick of plastic explosive attached to its belly, but he still needed to perfect the detonator mechanism. Like others in the battalion, Tezka was part of the Territorial Defense Forces, a civilian volunteer force originally employed to man checkpoints and defend local areas. That changed in June when military commanders expanded the force's remit to bolster army troops. Tezka and the rest of the 251st were deployed to Bakhmut more than a month ago, supporting other units including other drone pilots in an increasingly desperate defense. That they were now fighting in the war's longest and bloodiest campaign reflected the government's strategy: Saving its top troops trained and equipped by Western allies for a do-or-die counteroffensive expected to begin soon, while throwing whatever it had left to prevent a Russian advance. But in the meantime the 251st was tired, the tension of being constantly hunted by the Russians' barrage wearing on them. "What was my worst moment in this war?" said Liova, 29, whose wife is due to give birth to a daughter in May. "Every morning, because the circle around us is closing." Exacerbating their exhaustion was frustration with continuous ammunition shortages. To avoid wasting ammo, targets had to be big enough and suspected enemy positions confirmed by multiple sources to warrant launching attacks. Makarena remembered a time he watched a Ukrainian squad get cut down by a heavy machine gun emplacement he had detected but was never attacked because it hadn't been confirmed. The drone-and-mortar warfare plays out not just within the urban hellscape of Bakhmut, but also in the bucolic east Ukrainian towns and villages on its flanks, mostly abandoned and ruined, where Russian troops and mercenaries push for control of entrances into the city. Off a country road some seven miles away, a crew oriented a French mortar in the direction of Russian troops battling to capture one of the main highways into the city. "They're doing everything to seize control," said Sensei, a 42-year-old commander in the 3rd Mortar Brigade. The crew let loose one round, then after consulting a drone operator, adjusted aim and shot again. The men moved quickly back into hiding to avoid detection. The fight continues at night. Back at the 251st's command center, a commander named Volodymyr remained fixated on the drone feed, his eyes red from hours of watching. On a thermal image of Bakhmut, one spot glowed brighter than the others the site of an earlier artillery attack. Just before midnight, after almost 18 hours on station, he finally turned away and walked the few steps to a line of mattresses arrayed against the wall to lie down. Barely six hours later, Liova, Tezka and Makarena picked up their backpacks. Keeping 15 feet between one another in case of shelling, they emerged from the basement and scanned the corner for enemies, assault rifles at the ready. They sprinted across the street, turned down a street, and disappeared into the chaos of the blighted city. This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times. 2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. SEOUL, South Korea -- 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 weapon's 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 Korea's 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-18's 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 hasn't 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 wasn't 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. Congress is gearing up to probe how agencies handle and distribute classified information following the arrest of a 21-year-old National Guardsman on allegations that he carried out one of the biggest leaks of top secret Pentagon documents in decades. The Pentagon had already launched its own review of access to intelligence products in the wake of the arrest of Jack Teixeira, who worked in an IT job for an intelligence unit in the Massachusetts National Guard and is accused of posting photographs of hundreds of pages of documents to a social media platform popular with gamers, while going undetected by authorities for months. But Congress too is vowing to take a hard look at how the leak happened and how to prevent future ones, including examining the security clearance process. Read Next: In Wake of Fatal Black Hawk Crash, Renewed Scrutiny of the Helicopter's Safety Record "There are systemic issues that need to be addressed, including protocols for how intelligence is handled, the security clearance process, and how officials can prevent intelligence leaks like this from ever happening again," Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I., said in a statement Thursday. "Congress will be briefed further, and corrective steps will be taken." House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, similarly promised in his own statement that his panel will "examine why this happened, why it went unnoticed for weeks and how to prevent future leaks." "How did this individual get access to these documents, and what policies and procedures need to be changed?" Turner added in an appearance on CNN. "We need to have hearings as to what is the scope of documents -- especially when you have something as volatile as a battlefield of Ukraine -- where these documents could be accessed by someone who appears to not be in any chain of needing this information." Teixeira was arrested by federal agents Thursday and charged Friday with violations of the Espionage Act. As early as December, Teixeira began posting what appeared to be classified information to a chat group on the social media platform Discord, according to charging documents. Much of the leaked information reportedly centered on the war in Ukraine, as well as on U.S. intelligence assessments of allies and adversaries alike. Teixeira held a top secret security clearance, with the additional designation of being able to access "sensitive compartmented information," according to the charging documents. Sensitive compartmented information is considered to be among the most sensitive of U.S. secrets because it relates to sources and methods of intelligence gathering. More than 1.3 million government employees and contractors have top secret security clearances, according to an April 2020 report. The Government Accountability Office has warned for years about vulnerabilities in the security clearance process, labeling the process as "high risk" in 2018 over concerns about the timeliness and quality of background investigations and weaknesses in IT systems. Efforts were made to reform security clearances and handling of classified information in the wake of Edward Snowden's massive 2013 leak of documents detailing National Security Agency surveillance programs, including limiting the ability to electronically access materials in secure rooms. President Joe Biden said in a statement Friday that he has "directed our military and intelligence community to take steps to further secure and limit distribution of sensitive information." But the Discord leaks are sure to prompt efforts in Congress for more reform. "This is not exactly Beijing and Russia's best cyber operators doing here," Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said in an interview on CNN. "And so, clearly there's an awful lot of work, a lot of congressional oversight work we need to do to fix these systems that are constantly allowing or at least regularly allowing our secrets to get out into the wild." Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., a former CIA officer who sits on the Intelligence Committee, tweeted Friday that "everyone across our federal government must do more to protect classified information." While no specific reforms have been proposed by lawmakers yet, Congress is expected to get its first major chance at oversight next week when lawmakers return to Washington, D.C., from their spring recess. A classified briefing about the leak for all senators has been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, and the House has requested a similar all-members briefing. Meanwhile, some on the far right have begun to cast Teixeira as a hero whistleblower, despite the fact that there is no evidence he intended for the materials to make their way into wider public view or had principled motivations for leaking the information. For example, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who has repeatedly incorrectly called him "Jake," suggested in tweets that he was arrested for "exposing the truth about Ukraine" and that being "white, male, christian and antiwar ... makes him an enemy to the Biden regime." Members of the Discord group that Teixeira allegedly leaked to told The New York Times and Washington Post that he "just wanted to inform some of his friends about what's going on" and did not see himself as a whistleblower. While Republican congressional leadership has not echoed Greene's praise of Teixeira, some have pinned part of the blame for the episode on the Biden administration. "The Biden administration has failed to secure classified information," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., tweeted Friday. "Through our committees, Congress will get answers as to why they were asleep at the switch." Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the state Spanberger represents. -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: Guardsman Arrested in Pentagon Leak Case that Shook the US and Allies A soldier with the 4th Infantry Division competes in Fort Benning, Georgia's annual Best Ranger competition, a three-day exercise in which Ranger-qualified soldiers test their mettle. (Sgt. Woodlyne Escarne/U.S. Army) Related: The Army Is Looking for Its Best Rangers, Snipers and Hand-to-Hand Fighters U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Alixandra Valenti, a communications officer with Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, poses with her trophy after being recognized as Camp Pendleton's Female Marine Athlete of the Year. (Cpl. Angela Wilcox/U.S. Marine Corps) Related: How the Extreme Athlete Prepares for the Military A Philippine Marine launches an unmanned aircraft system, or UAS, during a joint-U.S. exercise at Cagayan Airfield, Philippines. (Cpl. Eric Huynh/U.S. Marine Corps) Related: US, Philippines Hold Largest War Drills Near Disputed Waters U.S. and Philippine Marines engage in martial arts. (Sgt. Patrick King/U.S. Marine Corps) Related: Is Your Martial Arts Training Backward? Apache helicopters prepare to conduct aerial gunnery at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. (Eve Baker/Fort Wainwright Public Affairs Office) Related: AH-64 Apache Longbow Maj. Gen. JP McGee, commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division, renders honors during a memorial ceremony April 13, 2023, in Clarksville, Tennessee. The ceremony was held to honor the nine soldiers from Charlie Company, 6th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, killed in a helicopter accident March 29, 2023. (Pfc. Matthew Wantroba/U.S. Army) Related: In Wake of Fatal Black Hawk Crash, Renewed Scrutiny of the Helicopter's Safety Record -- Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at drew.lawrence@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @df_lawrence. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. While the American public was still reeling from the scenes of the Jan. 6 riot two years ago, a policy sea change kicked into gear to combat the rise of hate and extremism nationwide. That included efforts to address extremism in the military. Some initiatives were long overdue, some innovative and pioneering, and many quickly dwindled. Since then, more than 130 Americans with a military background have been charged after storming the U.S. Capitol (including several on active duty). Multiple service members have been charged with plots to kill people who are racial minorities. A military veteran and neo-Nazi group founder was arrested (again) for allegedly trying to destroy an electrical substation in Maryland. Reported extremism-related cases across the armed services skyrocketed in 2021 to 10 times the number of all cases from 2013 to 2018 combined. And more generally, extremist-related crimes perpetrated by those with a military background surged in the 2010s compared to the 2000s and 1990s. Despite the rise in hate and extremism, the fate of sustainable efforts to counter extremism across the entire military community is uncertain. Those in positions to cause change inside the military and out must embrace the long road ahead to fully address extremism in the ranks. Related initiatives can and should complement broader reforms to reinvigorate one of the nation's largest and most critical institutions. On Feb. 5, 2021, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a stand-down, a short interlude from regular military activity, to address extremism in the ranks. It was a moment in which the military services would be forced to address a problem that has been brewing in the ranks for decades. Commanders were instructed to take one of the following 60 days and work with their units to educate their troops about the dangers of extremism. The stand-down was a worthwhile start, as noted in the report by the Countering Extremist Activity Working Group (CEAWG), the advisory group within the Defense Department designed to help develop ideas consistent with its name, published in December 2021. The DoD updated rules on protest, extremist and criminal gang activities, including information about engagement on social media. It also introduced an audit in January 2022 that would address the military's ability to screen for extremist behavior. While the report offered additional recommendations, political stagnation has rendered toothless or completely halted many proposed counter-extremism programs, leaving the DoD in a state of limbo. These recommendations still require authorization, funding and implementation across the service life-cycle and full force, as well as monitoring and evaluation of their efficacy in addressing extremist behaviors. Unfortunately, a report published by the Senate Armed Services Committee in June 2022 called for an immediate halt in counter extremism programs in the military. According to that report, the proposed resources to address extremism in the military were overcompensating for a problem that is being over-dramatized. The cumulative effect of "counter counter-extremism" efforts was a National Defense Authorization Act stripped of many meaningful new initiatives, including those recommended by the DoD Working Group itself. As momentum stalls and broader bipartisan acknowledgment of the problem remains elusive, the military will fall back on existing prevention practices aimed at intervening in and reducing the impact of extremist behaviors once they have occurred. Intermittent PowerPoint presentations, discussions and good intentions in the military's upper echelons will not be enough to tackle extremism in the ranks. Nonetheless, it appears as though a promising counter-extremism overhaul has devolved into what the Army calls "hip pocket training," or training that soldiers accomplish when there is nothing more important to be done. What is more, efforts that focus only on the visible "symptoms" of extremist behavior in service members -- internet posts, protests, recruitment and other activities outlined in a DoD instruction -- will not only be playing an eternal game of whack-a-mole, they will miss the glaring warnings from available research that the vast majority of extremists with military background were veterans when they perpetrated extremist-related crimes. At a time when right-wing extremist organizations are increasingly targeting both current service members and veterans -- often by entangling narratives of saviorism, patriotism and others with unique meaning to individuals with military background -- a more effective response is needed. That response cannot stop with PowerPoints and support to service members during vulnerable periods of transition. At the same time, many in the nation have become fatigued with preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) policies and practice. With the constant culture wars and the politicization of extremism itself, it remains difficult to break into a useful dialogue about extremism in the military, whether in the halls of Congress or at the platoon level, without devolving into whataboutism and dis/misinformation derailing the conversation. While this is an ongoing challenge, programs and leaders in the military community and without are working hard to find ways forward. Initiatives like Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ), We The Veterans (WTV), and others are working to combat the spread of disinformation and extremism among veteran and current service communities, and strengthening veterans' roles in competing for American democracy once they leave uniformed service. Lasting change will not happen overnight. What lies ahead is a long-term campaign to shape behavior and outcompete extremists for the hearts of our service members. In the long run, increasing resilience to extremist ideologies, narratives and recruitment efforts inherently bolsters counter-extremism efforts as a whole. If Congress cannot empower and adequately fund the DoD and other entities to pursue those efforts, veterans service organizations and other partners in civil society will need to take the reins. -- Carlin Keally is a transitioning Army officer and graduate student with the Harvard Extension School. -- Andrew Mines is a research fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University. The introduction of the M16 as the standard infantry rifle for the U.S. military was supposed to be a revolution. After spending a few years with the bulky M14, American soldiers were going to carry a new, lightweight rifle that had a larger-capacity magazine and lighter ammunition that was just as deadly. Instead of making the lives of U.S. troops easier, it threatened them, almost from the start. The rifles were delivered to troops in Vietnam in 1965 without cleaning kits or manuals on how to clean them. The rifles stopped working in the middle of firefights, spent cartridges were not extracted automatically and American soldiers and Marines were found dead next to disassembled rifles. It wasnt just the rifles engineering that hurt its ability in combat. The new 5.56 round used a dirtier kind of powder as a propellant. It made the weapon more likely to jam. American troops didnt help much, either; they believed the marketing information of the rifle and thought the weapon was self-cleaning. Always a good idea. (U.S. Army) In 1967, the M16A1 was introduced, and the newest iteration included a number of fixes intended to address the problems noted by U.S. troops in combat. A chrome-plated bore was part of the new weapon to fix the corrosion and extraction problems. An improved buffer was added to reduce wear while firing on automatic. Most importantly, the new M16A1 came with a cleaning kit, lubricant and an entertaining field manual, drawn by Will Eisner, the former Army comic artist who designed vehicle manuals in World War II. It was called The M-16A1 Rifle: Operation and Preventative Maintenance, otherwise known as Department of the Army Pamphlet 750-30. The first chapter is titled How to Strip Your Baby and features a female guide who looks like an actress who could have been lifted from any of the teen beach movies of the 1950s and 60s, using GI slang from Vietnam. Another character is a female magazine named Maggie who tells troops how to handle her, especially in the heat and humidity of Vietnams jungles. Other chapters include Sweet-16 and All the Way with Negligee. No innuendo here. (U.S. Army) Eisners comic manual was a masterwork that U.S. troops actually read and learned quickly. The common misconceptions about the rifle, along with the mechanisms that most often saw dirt, debris and damage (and thus special cleaning), were addressed. Maggies issues, corrosion caused by Vietnams humid climate that could cause rifles to jam up, also were addressed by the manual. The comic was easy to read, entertaining and -- above all -- a familiar look to American GIs in Vietnam. Many of them would have been familiar with The Spirit, a comic about a Batman-like masked vigilante that Eisner created before the United States entered World War II. By 1968, more American troops in Vietnam began to accept the use of the rifle as malfunction incidents decreased dramatically. The powder used in the 5.56 cartridge was upgraded to reduce the fouling of various parts of the weapon. By 1969, the M16A1 was fully accepted as the standard infantry weapon for the U.S. military. The manual even featured slang used by GIs in Vietnam. "Numbah One" means "best," and is mimicking the accent of South Vietnamese English speakers. (U.S. Army) Reports even indicated that the M16A1 and its new configuration actually saved more lives in Vietnam than would have been saved if the M14 had been the standard weapon. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. Astros general manager Dana Brown has provided frequent updates throughout Spring Training regarding the clubs extension discussions with a number of players. After Houston got a deal done with Cristian Javier early in the spring, Brown expressed varying levels of optimism about the chances of productive talks with the likes of Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez, Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve. Over the past few days, however, Brown has cast doubt on any short-term agreements with Tucker or Valdez. He pointed to yesterday afternoon as a loose target date for extensions with either player (though he clarified it wasnt an official deadline before cutting talks). No deal has materialized, and Brown similarly indicated its unlikely therell be any forthcoming contracts with Bregman or Altuve. Speaking with Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle, the first-year GM pointed to next offseason as a likelier target for deals with either player. Its probably going to be more like next year, Brown said. We made it clear that we want to keep them both around. This is part of getting through (2025), getting to (2026), some more time to replenish the system without overhauling the roster. While Brown didnt walk back any comments from earlier in exhibition play, its a departure from some of the enthusiasm hed expressed a few weeks ago. Hed told reporters in mid-February the club was hoping to make both Altuve and Bregman career-long Astros. The GM indicated at the time that hed said as much to agent Scott Boras, who represents both players. Of course, putting talks on the back-burner doesnt rule that out for either player. Both Altuve and Bregman have already signed early-career extensions (two, in the formers case) and remain under contract for two more years. Altuve will make $26MM in each of the next couple seasons, while Bregman is due $28.5MM annually through 2024. Altuve is trending towards the open market in advance of his age-35 season. Hes not yet shown any signs of slowing down, as hes coming off one of the best years of his career. He hit .300/.387/.533 with 28 home runs, a career-best 10.9% walk rate and an excellent 14.4% strikeout percentage in 604 plate appearances. Outside of the 60-game schedule, Altuve has remained one of the sports top offensive players. Bregman is slated to hit free agency headed into his age-31 campaign. His bat has taken a step back from its MVP-caliber level of 2018-19, but hes remained a well above-average hitter. Bregman is coming off a .259/.366/.454 line with 23 longballs and more walks than strikeouts (13.3% versus 11.7%) through 656 trips to the dish. Few hitters can match that control of the strike zone, and Bregman generally pairs that consistently strong offense with plus defensive marks at third base. The Astros head into the 2023 campaign with a luxury tax payroll calculated by Roster Resource around $218MM. Thats about $15MM shy of the base threshold. Houston has once paid the CBT, going narrowly above the mark in 2020. They have a little over $100MM in estimated CBT commitments by the 2025 campaign, when new deals for Altuve and/or Bregman would ostensibly begin. Tucker and Valdez will each be in their final season of arbitration eligibility that year barring extensions. Brown and owner Jim Crane could be faced with some difficult decisions a year or two down the line, though the club is in very strong shape for the immediate future. Of the current roster, only veterans Michael Brantley and Martin Maldonado and relievers Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek are headed towards free agency next winter. TRAVERSE CITY, MI - Put a cherry on top of this one. Readers Digest has listed Traverse City as one of its 15 Most Underrated American Cities Worth a Visit with a headline reading, Instead of Chicago, try Traverse City, Michigan. From miles and miles of hiking trails and the Grand Traverse Bay shoreline to wineries, nearby sand dunes, a charming downtown and breathtaking sunsets - not to mention the quality, eclectic restaurant scene - Traverse City has a little bit of everything for everyone. Often likened to hip destinations like Asheville, North Carolina, or Portland, Maine, Traverse City, Michigan is home to incredible dining, wineries, breweries, and beaches; and as such, has been nicknamed the Hamptons of Michigan, Readers Digest wrote about its 15 underrated American Cities list. The national publication also mentioned huge events like the National Cherry Festival in early July and the Traverse City Film Festival later that same month and singled out some of the numerous resorts and beachside hotels like Hotel Indigo and Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. The sweetly named Cherry Capital Airport launched new direct flights this summer from cities including New York, Atlanta, and Chicago, making getting to this Northern Michigan city of 15,000 easier than ever. Readers Digest list of the 15 Most Underrated American Cities Worth a Visit: Instead of Washington, D.C., try Charlottesville, Virginia Instead of Philadelphia, try Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Instead of New York City, try Greenwich, Connecticut Instead of Seattle, try Tacoma, Washington Instead of Portland, try McMinnville, Oregon Instead of Denver, try Missoula, Montana Instead of Minneapolis, try Eau Claire, Wisconsin Instead of Indianapolis, try Bloomington, Indiana Instead of Louisville, try Bowling Green, Kentucky Instead of St. Louis, try Branson, Missouri Instead of Asheville, try Hendersonville, North Carolina Instead of Memphis, try Tupelo, Mississippi Instead of Nashville, try Florence, Alabama Instead of Salt Lake City, try Provo, Utah MORE FROM MLIVE: Michigan has an actual Star Wars Mos Eisley Cantina which opens every May 4th Theres a super rare, secret car collection in Michigan and you can see it for 1 day Michael Myers actor coming to local costume shop for Halfway to Halloween event One of the top skinny-dipping spots in the world is apparently in Michigan 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. ORION TOWNSHIP, MI A man has been sentenced related to the beating death of his coworker at a GM plant in southeast Michigan last summer, WDIV Local 4 reports. Astrit Bushi, 48, of Albania, was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Oakland County court related to the murder of Gregory Lanier Robertson, 49, of Pontiac, during August 2022, the report said. Bushi was found guilty of first-degree murder in March. RELATED: Man charged with open murder, accused of killing co-worker at GM plant Around 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 11, 2022, deputies with the Oakland County Sheriffs Office responded to an incident at General Motors Orion Assembly plant in Oakland County, the report said. They found Robertson unconscious and bleeding, and performed CPR but were unable to revive him. Robertson was pronounced dead at the scene. The men were contracted cleaning employees and were working a dock area at the time of the incident, the report said. Bushi was found standing near the victim and was arrested. Police also found an item used as a weapon in the beating. 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 Dog dies in house fire; neighbors smelled gas before the blaze started DEARBORN, MI A nurse was commuting to work at a Michigan hospital Thursday morning when she passed a vehicle and saw a gun pointed at her out the drivers window, police said. A 26-year-old Detroit man was later arrested and lodged at the Detroit Detention Center related to this incident, according to Michigan State Police. Troopers with Michigan State Police Metro Detroit South Post were dispatched around 8:35 a.m. to Beaumont Dearborn Hospital to take the womans report. The woman was driving southbound in the left lane on M-39 near McNichols when the vehicle in front of her, an older model black Cadillac Escalade, merged right. As she passed, she saw a long gun pointed out the drivers window at her. The victim sped away from the suspect vehicle. She was unable to provide a license plate number. The investigating trooper searched the license plate reader system and found an Escalade that matched the description, area and timeframe provided by the victim. The MSP surveillance team then located the suspect vehicle at an address in Detroit. The vehicle was followed to a second address. A traffic stop was conducted after the vehicle left the second address. Two suspects were taken into custody. An AR pistol and handgun were recovered on or near the suspects in the vehicle. It was determined during interviews that a 26-year-old Detroit man was the suspect in pointing the rifle. He was lodged at the Detroit Detention Center; the other male was released. Charges are pending prosecutor review. READ MORE: 3 rescued, treated for hypothermia after boat flips in Lake Michigan Man sentenced for beating coworker to death at GM plant 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 DETROIT -- WWEs second biggest event of the year is coming to Detroit and tickets for SummerSlam are now on sale. Although a presale has been ongoing throughout the week, the public began Friday morning and as of 10:30 a.m. plenty of tickets were still available. However, if you want to be one of the tens of thousands of fans that pack into Ford Field on Saturday, August 5, youll need to be ready to pay up. According to the seating map on Ticketmaster, third row floor seats are priced at $4,000 per seat for a Platinum VIP experience. Seats in the third row from the back in the same section are $400. If you want to sit off the floor and in the first few rows of the lower bowl, those tickets are around $800 per seat, whiles seats near the back of the lower bowl are around $300. Club seats are in the range of $400 to $550 depending on the section. Upper bowl seats near the top of the stadium are at least $250. Seats in the back rows of the upper bowl have already sold out as they were cheaper than rows closer and secondary retailers have seats in those rows for roughly $90 before fees. WWE has not held a show at Ford Field since 2007s WrestleMania 23 wehn an estimated 80,103 people were in attendance. Earlier this month an estimated 160,000 fans attended WrestleMania in Los Angeles which was held over two nights and feature two separate cards. WWE last held SummerSlam in Michigan in 1993 when the show took place at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Although SummerSlam is nearly four months away, promotional material for the show advertises stars such as WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Raw Womens Champion Bianca Belair, Cody Rhodes, and Brock Lesnar for the show. READ MORE: WWEs Nightmare Cody Rhodes makes dream come true for 7-year-old Detroit girl Report: WWE meets with Michigan officials over possibly allowing gambling on wrestling matches Michigan man owns one of largest hidden, private WWE and wrestling collections anywhere ANN ARBOR, MI -- Jude Walton chose her words carefully, but when she did speak, people listened. She was able to just cut through some of the extraneous stuff and get right to the heart of how we needed to do it, said Lisa Jackson, a commissioner on the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission. Walton, 51, was found dead on Thursday, April 13, when Ann Arbor police were called to do a well-being check, police said. Her death is being investigated as a homicide. Police said Friday morning there was evidence of a break-in at the backdoor of the home, but have not released any information on potential suspects. Walton moved from London to Ann Arbor more than two decades ago, splitting her early time in Ann Arbor between the mail order department of Zingermans Delicatessen and a now long gone video rental shop on Liberty Street, said Mo Frechette, a founding co-managing partner of Zingermans Mail order. For the first time in a very long time, I woke up this morning, looked at my email and there was zero emails in my inbox, which tells me that every single person is just talking to each other and talking about Jude and talking about the shock of this, Frechette said. Ari Weinzweig, co-founder of Zingermans, said most of the staff is still in denial. Walton was introverted more introverted than me, even, Weinzweig said but a thoughtful and integral member of the Zingermans team. If you started after Jude left, you have in many ways unknowingly benefited from good work and generous compassionate spirit, Weinzweig told employees in a note sent out Thursday evening. Walton grew up above a pub her parents managed in north London, according to Frechette, and attended Cambridge University to study English. Waltons parents were unable to be reached. In 1995, Frechette and Walton officially co-founded Zingermans Mail Order, the shipping arm of the popular Ann Arbor deli. Although many knew Walton as reserved, Frechette laughed at the thought, recounting a time early in the mail order business when the pair drove nine hours to New York City to attend a trade show. Id never had anyone speak for nine hours in a row. She had an ability, Frechette said. She had a lot of words at her disposal. But, he added, that is what most wanted of Walton long phone calls and the chance to share their stories, good or bad, with her. You went to Jude first everybody did, Frechette said. Walton stayed with Zingermans from 1993 to 2008, when she joined Avalon Housing, a nonprofit dedicated to developing affordable housing. She worked as the Director of Employee Experience at the nonprofit until her death. Jude was incredibly thoughtful, kind, funny, talented, smart, self-effacing, and wise. She was the person we all came to in the hardest moments at work, wrote Aubrey Patino, executive director of Avalon Housing, in a statement. Its impossible to imagine Avalon without her. When she left Zingermans, the company threw a party and granted her a lifetime 30% discount. Definitely used heavily on tuna, which she pronounced as chuna, because shes British, Frechette said. And that woman ate more tuna than any person Ive ever met in my life. In her free time, Walton enjoyed doing photography and was especially drawn to images of the natural world. Her photography business launched in 2008, according to her LinkedIn profile features many animals from zoos and preserves on its website. Walton also served as one of 11 founding members of ICPOC. The commission, started in 2019, is meant to conduct independent reviews and investigations of Ann Arbor police incidents. She left the commission in June 2022. Jackson, who served as the commissions first chairperson, said Waltons time with the group was punctuated by her quiet demeanor and ability to ask and get answers for the difficult questions. Her voice, layered with an English accent, was often one of reason, Jackson said. She was such a good person, Jackson said. It seems strange to talk about her in the past tense, actually. Frances Todoro-Hargreaves, who served alongside Walton as an initial commissioner, said that demeanor bled over into her personal life, as well. When Todoro-Hargreaves asked Waltons advice on a work issue, she was quick to give it. She was just so genuine, Todoro-Hargreaves said. She was there to help people. That was her goal was to make things better. Jackson said she had a similar experience with Walton, who used her HR experience to speak to a matter on the commission. She brought her reasonableness, Jackson said. People felt that, and people respected her. She did not talk the most, for sure, but she was somebody that we all listened to. Read more from The Ann Arbor News: Former Ann Arbor police oversight commissioners death being investigated as homicide Hello, Ann Arbor: Barn transformed into eye-popping condo; UM strike allowed to continue Gun laws are changing in Michigan. Heres what you need to know. FLINT, MI Flint Community Schools will enter a three-year partnership agreement with the Michigan Department of Education that set goals for academic achievement and specific improvements in two academic areas. The new partnership was announced at the April 12 Board of Education Committee of the Whole meeting by Superintendent Kevelin Jones. Flint schools will become one of 51 partnership districts with the Michigan Department of Education as of Monday, April 17, according to MDE Director of Partnership Districts William Pearson, who spoke at the meeting. The MDE partnership program targets the lowest-performing Michigan districts and partners with them to improve academic achievement using additional state funding. New goals were set for a 3% increase in students who test proficient in reading by June 30, 2025, and a 3% increase in students who test proficient in math by the same date. There was also a systems portion of the agreement that charges the school board and district personnel to increase operational efficiency, Executive Director of Academics Diona Clingman told the board. Several million dollars in funding is allocated to the MDE partnerships division each year through the state budget to assist the more than 50 districts involved. While this years budget isnt yet finalized, Pearson told the board he hopes to have more than $12 million to assist the 51 districts. Jones was not available for comment after the April 12 meeting. Read more at The Flint Journal: Flint, Ajax, community groups explain appeals for controversial asphalt plant permit State police asked to investigate overpayment to Flint schools retiree Flint moves to forfeit vehicle of joyrider accused of reckless driving, warns traffic violators UM-Flint opens 14 gender-inclusive bathrooms on campus FLINT, MI A former Flint police chief was sentenced Friday to one day in the county jail in connection with an illegal gaming case against him. Brad Barksdale, who stepped down as Flints police chief in 2004, was sentenced Friday, April 14, by Genesee County Circuit Judge David J. Newblatt to one day of jail, with credit for one day already served. The sentence handed down following Barksdales February no-contest plea to single counts of attempted gambling activities and reckless use of a firearm also includes financial fines and costs. Barksdale operated West Point Arcade in Flint and was charged in October 2018 along with two others after Michigan Gaming Control Board Regulation Officers discovered alleged gambling activities without a casino license, according to the attorney generals office. The two other defendants indicted in the case, Alvin Crossnoe and his son, Adam Crossnoe, have both been adjudicated through the Genesee County criminal court system. Barksdale was originally charged with single counts of gambling activities, using a computer to commit a crime and possession of a short-barreled shotgun. However, at his plea hearing, those three charges were dismissed and replaced with the amended attempted gambling activities charge and the reckless use of a firearm charge. Investigators previously testified that they visited the establishment that was allegedly operating as a video gambling parlor more than 10 times between April 2017 and December 2017. Testimony was offered that during those months officers worked surveillance on the employees and ownership as well as the officer playing some of the slot-type games on computer terminals. Read more at The Flint Journal: Former Flint police chief charged with felonies after video gaming business raided Former Flint police chief makes court appearance in illegal gaming case Former Flint police chief bound over for trial in illegal gaming case, co-defendants plead guilty (This story has been updated to include comments from the Michigan Attorney Generals Office.) FLINT, MI -- The only person still facing criminal charges related to the Flint water crisis is asking a Genesee District Court judge to dismiss the two misdemeanor counts against him. Attorneys for former Flint Department of Public Works Director Howard Croft filed a motion to dismiss two counts of willful neglect of duty on Thursday, April 13, saying the case cant continue because his indictment was improperly issued by a one-man grand jury that lacked the authority to do so. Croft was one of nine government officials charged with crimes related to the water crisis in January 2021. While his case has languished in district court, charges against the other eight officials, including former Gov. Rick Snyder, have been dismissed following a Michigan Supreme Court ruling in June that said a lone grand juror has the power to investigate, subpoena witnesses and issue arrest warrants but not to issue direct indictments. Following that ruling, felony charges against seven of the government officials were dismissed by Genesee Circuit Judge Elizabeth A. Kelly and misdemeanor charges of willful neglect of duty against Snyder were thrown out by former Circuit Judge F. Kay Behm. Crofts motion to dismiss asks District Judge William Crawford to make the same determination or to find that state laws that allow for the use of a one-person grand jury violate the separation of powers and due process clauses of the Constitution. Despite suffering a series of setbacks in Flint, water prosecutors in the state Attorney Generals Office have said they are continuing to pursue reinstatement of the water crisis charges through appeals, maintaining that the Michigan Supreme Court will ultimately decide the issues surrounding the criminal charges issued here. Danny Wimmer, press secretary for the Attorney Generals Office, said in an email to MLIve-The Flint Journal on Friday, April 14, that water prosecutors look forward to presenting our argument to the court and continuing to pursue justice for the people of Flint. Croft was the department head in charge of Flints water system before and during the water crisis. He has said he had no training, education or experience in dealing with municipal water systems and relied on the expertise of others, including state regulators, to carry out his job. During his time as DPW director, the citys emergency managers made a series of decisions that resulted in Flints water source being changed from Lake Huron to the Flint River in what was designed to be a temporary, cost-saving measure for the city. Experts have said that switch in water sources and the improper treatment of river water resulted in elevated levels of lead, bacteria and chlorination byproducts in Flints water system. Croft was among 15 individuals charged initially with crimes related to the water crisis -- charges that were resolved with plea bargains or through dismissals after Nessel was elected to her first term in 2018. A criminal investigation was restarted in 2019, resulting in the most recent indictments of Snyder, Croft and others. The willful neglect charges Croft is facing claim he failed to communicate information about the risks associated with drinking Flint River water and with failing to ensure the safety and quality of city water. In a video deposition, Croft has said former Flint emergency manager Ed Kurtz set the tone for Flints preparations to switch the citys water source to the Flint River in 2013, telling him and others to only do the minimum required by the (state) -- no extras. Read more at The Flint Journal: Flint water criminal charges dismissed against former Gov. Snyder Court wont hear appeal on dismissal of Flint water crisis criminal charges Michigan Supreme Court appears last chance for Flint water prosecutors OTTAWA COUNTY, MI Police arrested a man who allegedly assaulted a woman last month and fled with a child before leaving the 18-month-old with a family member. The incident happened March 25 at an apartment complex on Westwood Lane in Holland Township. An 18-year-old woman told police that the suspect, armed with a pistol and knife, had assaulted her and was in an apartment with the child. The Ottawa County sheriffs Critical Response Team and crisis negotiators responded. Related: Holland-area standoff ends after suspect flees scene Police evacuated residents at the apartment complex and tried to contact the suspect. About four hours after the ordeal began, police searched the apartment but the suspect and girl were gone. The child was later found safe. On Friday, April 14, Xavier Rose, 19, of Holland, was arrested at an apartment complex on Stratford Way by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force. He was arrested around 11 a.m. without incident. Sheriffs detectives have obtained warrants and expect to reveal charges once Rose appears in Holland District Court for arraignment. Police said that the woman who escaped in March was in a relationship with Oliver but fled after she had been assaulted. She suffered minor injuries. The child was not hurt and was returned to her mother. Read more: Dad was intoxicated when he drove into Lake Macatawa with girls in car, police reports say Michigan home sales jump 28% as mortgage rates simmer Animal remnants spill near Michigan high school, making 8,000-square-foot mess WYOMING, MI -- Wyoming police are investigating after a woman was shot in the abdomen on Delwood Avenue SW about 2:50 p.m. Friday, April 14. Wyoming police are investigating whether the shooting was part of a domestic dispute. The condition of the woman, 37, was not immediately known. Police responded to the area on a report of shots fired and a person down in the road, The shooting happened on Delwood Avenue SW between Chicago Drive and Lee Street SW. Wyoming police said they have identified a person of interest in the shooting but have not located that person. More from MLive Doctor sues Michigan-based health system after acquitted of charges he killed terminal patients Man arrested by fugitive task force after assault at apartment led to standoff JACKSON, MI A Great Dane with a whole litter of puppies to take care of made room for one more fuzzy little one to take care of. Here is that headline and some more you might have missed this week. Great Dane adopts tiny kitten into her litter at Michigan animal shelter Kela arrived at the Jackson County Animal Shelter pregnant, but even after giving birth to 10 puppies she couldnt resist bringing another stray into her litter -- a tiny abandoned kitten. Kela arrived at the shelter from a shelter in Van Buran County. The Great Dane-mix is timid and selective of people, especially around her puppies, which are now 2 weeks old, Animal Shelter Director Lydia Sattler said. Police seize computers from Jackson County pediatrician in connection with daughters death Michigan State Police on Wednesday seized property from the office of a Grass Lake pediatrician in connection with the drug overdose death of his 23-year-old daughter and an investigation into his medical license, officials confirmed Thursday. Police conducted a search as part of investigations related to Sophia Dinvernos death and Dr. Joel Dinvernos license, according to Lt. Tedric Gibbs with the Michigan State Police. Police ask for help identifying man who stole vehicle from Jackson-area asphalt company Police are looking for a man who stole a pickup truck and a bed of equipment earlier this week in Spring Arbor Township, west of Jackson. Surveillance footage shows a man, estimated to be in 20s, breaking into the building of an asphalt business in the 7000 block of King Road at roughly 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, according to Spring Arbor Township police. Officers were notified of the break-in around 9 a.m. the same morning when the owner of the business found a gate dismantled, police said. Pending investigation, resignations leave Jackson County township in turmoil Rives Township is in a state of disarray after the sudden resignation of its clerk and a pending investigation of its treasurer for alleged embezzlement, officials said. At its April 4 meeting, the townships Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to launch a financial audit and investigation by a third party to review possible financial improprieties by township Treasurer Janina Teske. Clerk Judith McCord also submitted her resignation to the board, effective April 30. Jackson County firefighters rescue kayakers overturned in Grand River Crews from two Jackson-area fire departments worked together to rescue a group of kayakers who became stranded along the Grand River Sunday night, officials said. At about 6:45 p.m April 9, the Jackson Fire Department was alerted by the Rives-Tompkins Fire Department that a group of five kayakers were in need of rescue on a portion of the Grand River flowing through Rives Township. Candles with racy names are key to Come to Your Effin Senses in Brooklyn It started in a basement, then moved to a garage, but now Come to Your Effin Senses is opening its first retail location. Amy and Ron Proffitt, with help from shop manager Madison Dunlap, are opening the brick-and-mortar location at 124 S. Main St. in Brooklyn. The candle business began two years ago while they were looking for unique Christmas gifts for family members, Amy said. Jackson County man gets 5 years in prison for meth-fueled shooting spree conviction A man convicted in a methamphetamine-fueled shooting spree will spend at least five years behind bars following his long-awaited sentencing Wednesday. Taylor Breining was sentenced April 12 to spend 60-120 months in prison on charges stemming from a shooting spree across Jackson County in 2020 The Voice finalist Brayden Lape is coming to the 2023 Jackson County Fair Brayden Lape is hitting the stage this summer to perform for a hometown crowd at the 2023 Jackson County Fair. The Grass Lake native is opening for country artists Russell Dickerson and Jameson Rodgers at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, in the grandstand at the Jackson County Fairgrounds/Keeley Park, 200 W. Ganson St., fair officials said. Jackson County family who lost daughter in crash still looking for justice Nearly a year after a fatal crash took their daughters life, a Jackson County family is fighting for a stricter punishment for the man accused of causing her death. Amber Taylor of Concord died June 19, 2022, from injuries she suffered as a passenger in a vehicle crash on Behling Road in Concord Township. She was 27. Historic Jackson prison could become a farmers market under county plan The historic grounds of Michigans first state prison may one day be home to a weekly gathering of farmers and artists looking to sell their wares. The Jackson County Board of Commissioners is considering a proposal from the County Parks Department to fix up several old and unused buildings on the high stone-walled grounds of the historic Jackson Prison, 100 Armory Court, and converting the space into a farmers market. The Rev. James Shaver remembered for singing, caring and dedication to St. Johns church The Rev. Jim Shaver was a man unafraid to get his shoes soiled by the mud of the street, as Pope Francis would have said. Its a fitting statement for Shaver, who spent 19 years as pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Jackson, as he spread faith by giving Mass and communion outside the church, as well as within its walls. For more Jackson-area news, click here (UPDATE: This article was updated with details about the criminal charges the man was arraigned on, April 14.) KALAMAZOO, MI The man who walked into a Kalamazoo TV station and made a bomb threat originally said he had a news tip. Brandon Bazzi, 36, was arrested around 4:30 p.m., April 13, at News Channel 3, 590 W. Maple St., after saying he had an explosive device, according to Kalamazoo Public Safety. He stayed inside the WWMT news building for two hours. Bazzi was arraigned April 14 on one felony count each of false report or threat or terrorism and false report or threat of a bomb in Kalamazoo County District Court. The man is from Greenville, a city northeast Grand Rapids in Montcalm County. He arrived at the building around 2:15 p.m., Thursday, and said he had a story tip and wanted to speak to someone, WWMT said in an article. The stations Chief Engineer George Markle went to talk to him and the man forced his way into the lobby, WWMT Meteorologist Will Haenni said in a TikTok. Related: Man makes bomb threat inside Kalamazoo TV station Markle told the man a reporter wasnt available to talk at the moment and the man then said he had explosives in his backpack, WWMT said. He said he wasnt afraid to die. There are multiple doors before someone can get into the building, Haenni said. Markle locked the man in the lobby and got the employees in the building evacuate, WWMT said. KDPS spent about two hours negotiating with the man before they were able to arrest him without further incident. A bomb robot was used to check the building for explosives and none were found. Although the backpack did have electronics and wiring. We are thankful for the rapid response by the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, FBI and Life EMS, which lead to a quick and safe resolution, WWMT Vice President Fred Corbus said in an email. We are grateful for the quick thinking of our chief engineer. As a result of WWMTs security procedures, all of our employees were quickly evacuated safely. WWMT is West Michigans CBS affiliate TV station. Reporters and anchors still did the stations 5 and 6 p.m. live broadcasts, hosting them across the street while the building was being cleared. I actually did the weather from outside, Haenni said. I wrote a little five-day forecast on a piece of paper. Bazzi was given a $500,000 bond, which has not been posted, according to court records. We improvised, it was an amazing team effort, Haenni said. Hats off to George (Markle), KDPS and everyone that kept us safe today. Im just really grateful that it ended all peacefully. 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: Animal remnants spill near Michigan high school, making 8,000-square-foot mess Iconic shuttered Kalamazoo sports bar auctioning its vintage games, jerseys, furnishings and more Lane closures start Monday for downtown Kalamazoo road work Woman accused of making threats to Paw Paw schools Palisades nuclear plant may land up to $300M in state funds for restart bid KALAMAZOO, MI Police on Thursday, April 13, investigated separate shootings that left victims hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The first happened around 6:45 p.m. in the 2600 block of Heatherdowns Lane. Police responded to reports of multiple gunshots fired and found a 21-year-old Kalamazoo resident with gunshot wounds. The victim was taken to a local hospital. Around 10:10 p.m., a Kalamazoo public-safety officer heard gunshots in the 600 block of Florence Street. While police investigated at the scene of the shooting, police were told that a 28-year-old Kalamazoo resident had shown up at the hospital with a gunshot wound. Police continue to investigate both shootings. Police asked anyone with information to called Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 269-488-8911 or Silent Observer at 616-343-2100. Read more: Man makes bomb threat inside Kalamazoo TV station Meijer Gardens announces 30 acts for its 2023 summer concert series Palisades nuclear plant may land up to $300M in state funds for restart bid SAGINAW, MI Known as much lately for his polarizing political views as his half-century-long music career, Michigan-born rocker Ted Nugent will perform his guitar-shredding songs in August at The Temple Theatre in Saginaw. Its an on-stage appearance theater officials understood could generate discourse from fans and critics alike about Nugents off-stage reputation, a spokesman for the venue said. We recognize that not everybody will appreciate everything in terms of that genre or the artist, said Thor Rasmussen, the marketing and creative manager at the downtown theater. But we also feel like there is an audience that does appreciate his music, and thats worth recognizing in our community. Nugents hit catalogue includes 1970s-era radio mainstays such as Stranglehold and Cat Scratch Fever as well as the cult classic, Fred Bear, from 1995. The 76-year-old Redford natives albums sales reportedly have topped 40 million. A 2012 MLive audience poll even crowned him Detroits greatest guitarist, perhaps a fitting nod for a musician many call The Motor City Madman. If hes inspired a hardcore fandom, Nugent also has animated plenty of critics. For much of his career, detractors have denounced aspects of his personal life as well as Nugents political outspokenness. One of the earliest controversies came in 1977 when Nugent admitted to High Times magazine he purposefully failed a military draft physical during the height of the U.S. conflict in Vietnam, although he has since claimed the admission was a ruse. This century, his firebrand reputation has centered on fervent advocacy for hot-button conservative causes. Most recently, his comments have provoked the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Last month, during a Donald Trump campaign rally in Texas, Nugent called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a homosexual weirdo, a false claim about the Eastern European leaders sexual orientation. Then, as recently as this week, Nugent joined fellow Michigan-born musician Kid Rock in criticizing Anheuser-Buschs commercial partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Despite some of the polarizing views, Nugents following remains large enough that fans began buying tickets at a steady rate for the Temple Theatre concert at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, Rasmussen said. Seven days after the Nugent concert tickets went on sale, the Temple Theatre began selling tickets to a November rendition of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by The State Ballet of Ukraine. A ballet and a hard-rock concert from Nugent have little in common, except that both acts attract a wide variety of performing arts tastes to the downtown Saginaw venue, theater staff pointed out. One of the interesting things is that we do have broad and diverse interests throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region, Rasmussen said. In other words, Temple planners want to appeal to the areas disparate arts-consuming constituencies. For those who may not like Ted Nugent, we respect that, Rasmussen said. We also have to respect that hes been doing this for a long time, and people want to see him. The Adios Mofo 23 Tour kicks off for Nugent in July in Shipshewana, Indiana, before rolling across the United States. The rockers webpage showed the tour includes a Friday, Aug. 11, date at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill in Detroit. Tickets remain on sale for Nugents Aug. 9 concert in Saginaw on The Temple Theatre website. Admission cost ranges from $39.50 to $79.50. Read more on MLive: Broadway classics planned for Saginaw Choral Society production Saginaw, Bay City are among the worst U.S. housing markets, a study says. Is the math sound? Saginaw on Stage fundraiser set for downtown club in April KOCHVILLE TWP, MIThe American Association of Teachers of French has awarded a Saginaw Valley State University student with this years Outstanding Senior in French Award for her proficiency and fluency. The award recognizes senior-level students who have demonstrated excellence in the study of French as well as exceptional commitment to the French language and the cultures where it is spoken. According to a release by the university, Samantha Chew, from Midland, began studying the language in high school. Now, shes on track to graduate in May with a double major in international business and French. Chew said she based her choice to study French in part because of how widely spoken it is in places like Europe and Canada. It has always been a goal to learn another language and eventually become bilingual, Chew 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! Currently, Chew works as a program analyst intern for the USDA and will be continuing in that role through the summer. To be eligible for recognition for the Outstanding Senior in French Award, students 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 overall Participate in extracurricular activities Only one student per school is honored. Chew said in the release that as a member of SVSUs Global Foundation Scholars, she was able to complete a study abroad experience at Universite Grenoble Alpes. 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. Learning French has been a passion of mine for the past four years. She added that she is extremely grateful for the work of Julie Foss, SVSU professor of modern foreign languages. In addition to her time abroad and in SVSUs Global Foundation Scholars, Chew is also 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. More from MLive: Woman suffers severe burns on Bay Citys Middleground Island Saginaw Valley State University hosting FIRST Robotics state championship Bay City Public Schools announces adolescent health center addition Chances, Choices & Change: Latino resource fair to highlight local aid Logan Barnhart, a 42 year-old from Holt, was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison and will pay nearly $5,700 for attacking police with a flagpole during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He was on the front lines of a mob that tried to force its way into the Capitol through an archway on the buildings lower west terrace, a site where prosecutors said many of the most violent confrontations during the attack occurred. Barnhart grabbed an officers neck and torso and dragged him in a prone position from the police line, out of the archway, and down a set of stairs into the violent mob, where the officer was further attacked with weapons, including a flagpole and a baton, and sustained physical injuries, they wrote. He then walked up the stairs and used a flagpole to attack the line of officers preventing the crowd from entering the Capitol. After the sentencing, he told Ryan Reilly, an NBC News reporter, If theres anything Ive learned from this, theres a lot more to life than politics. Theres a lot more to life than being on social media. He said he was ashamed of everything as soon as it happened, and had penned a letter of apology to the officer he assaulted. Still, prosecutors painted a different picture in a memo filed before his sentencing. They wrote Barnhart has failed to offer remorse for his actions and downplayed the attack on the Capitol on social media. The 36-month sentence Barnhart received was less than the maximum 63 months prosecutors had requested, but he will face an additional 36 months of supervised release after his prison sentence. Barnhart pleaded guilty in September after the FBI arrested him in August 2021 in Lansing. Barnharts actions were well-documented in the numerous photos and videos taken that day. He had been given the moniker #CatSweat by open source investigators online who used facial recognition technology to first identify him months before his arrest. A bodybuilder who had modeled for the cover of romance novels, Barnhart had most recently worked in construction, laying pipe. Online investigators found he had appeared on the covers of novels entitled Stepbrother UnSEALed: A Bad Boy Military Romance, Lighter and Crash and Burn. Logan Barnhart, a 40-year-old Lansing resident, was arrested on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021 for his involvement in the U.S. Capitol riot in Washington, D.C. (Image provided by the FBI) Former President Donald Trump cast those prosecuted in the years following the attack as political prisoners and has called for all those convicted of crimes to be released from prison. Hes currently under investigation by a special prosecutor examining his role in the attack. Investigators have arrested more than 1,000 people in connection with the attack at the U.S. Capitol, including 23 from Michigan. At least three Michiganders have been handed prison sentences ranging from nine months to five years. Former Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley also faces charges in connection with his actions at the Capitol on Jan. 6. He has pleaded not guilty, with a trial scheduled to begin July 31. Read more on MLive: Gun laws are changing in Michigan. Heres what you need to know. Senate Democrats propose moving Michigan to 100% clean energy by 2035 Michigan grants $410M to electric vehicle projects, delays Gotion funding Military, overseas voting bill begins Michigan Prop 2 implementation When Democrats took control of Lansing in January, one of their many policy priorities was reforming gun laws in the state of Michigan. Four months later, theyve nearly completed a first round of policy implementation centered on three core issues: Safe storage of firearms around minors; universal background checks on the sale of all guns in the state; and implementing extreme risk protection orders, otherwise known as red flag laws. Two of those three policies have since been signed into law. The acts will officially become law 90 days after the lawmakers adjourn session. Heres what you need to know about the state of gun laws in Michigan. Safe storage: Signed into law Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation requiring the safe storage of firearms and corresponding ammunition around minors on Thursday, April 13, at Michigan State University. The move came two months to the day since a mass shooting on Michigan State University left three students dead and another five wounded. Gun violence is a scourge that is unique to this country, and thats why were taking action, Whitmer told a packed conference room Thursday. Across the nation, too many criminals have an easy time getting their hands on guns and perpetuating cycles of violence, endangering families and law enforcement. ... This uniquely American problem, we are working and taking steps, today, to address. As part of Michigans new safe storage laws: People must lock up their firearms in the presence minors, someone under the age of 18. A person could be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by not more than 93 days in jail, a fine at most $500, or both, if a minor obtains the firearm due to improper storage. If that minor should hurt another person with that obtained firearm, a person could be guilty of a felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment, an up to $5,000 fine, or both. Fines would jump to a potential 15 year prison sentence, up to $7,500 in fines, or both, should that minor kill another person with the obtained firearm. The new safe storage laws do not apply to instances of ranching or farming, target practices, hunting or instruction in the safe use of a firearm. It would also not apply should an employed minor need to possess a firearm. As a way to encourage safe storage, Whitmer also signed a pair of bills that exempt firearm safety devices from the states sales and use tax through December 31, 2024. Universal background checks: (Mostly) signed into law Whitmer also gave the OK to altering how Michigan processes background checks for gun licenses. Prior to the move, a background check was only required on pistol licenses in the state. Once the law takes effect, every person buying a gun in the state will need to undergo a background check for any firearm purchased in order to obtain a license. As part of the act, military members either on leave or discharged from active duty are also required to obtain a license for their firearms within 30 days of arriving in Michigan. This does not apply to firearms bought or obtained prior to the bill taking effect, and once in effect, does not apply to pistols handed down through a will. Firearms handed down through a will, however, would need to be licensed within 30 days of exchanging hands. In order to obtain a license via background check, a person must meet a slew of qualifications, including age requirements. The purchaser has to be at least 18 years old and the seller must be at least 21 years old. A purchaser must not have felony charges pending against them and be considered a legal resident of the state proven by having a valid Michigan drivers license or personal identification card, or being lawfully able to vote among other things. When speaking at Thursdays bill signing, Rep. Ranjeev Puri, D-Canton, acknowledged the change in Michigans laws wouldnt prevent all gun violence but would be a step in the right direction. The harsh reality is that no one bill or policy is going to erase our society of this issue, he said. These are hard challenges that will continue to require bold leadership. But, the amount of gun violence which exists in our country is a symptom of years of government inaction. Not part of the legislation signed Thursday, however, was HB 4143, which handles sentencing guidelines for universal background check violations. House lawmakers approved that legislation Thursday and it now goes to the governor for her signature. Red flag laws: Awaiting a Senate vote Perhaps the most contentious of Democrats three gun-related policy wants are extreme risk protection orders, more commonly known as red flag laws. Though the bills on the topic are still moving through the legislature, House lawmakers April 13 voted to pass along party lines House Bills 4145, 4146, 4147 and 4148, along with Senate Bill 83. 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. Under the four-bill House package, the legislation creates the Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Act, which would: Require courts to issue an order 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 States a served order would take effect immediately, with firearm relinquishment varying by situation, meaning either the person would need to turn over firearms immediately or within a 24-hour period Outlines who can file an order, including family members, former partners, health care providers or police officers Dictates a granted order would be valid for one year, with modifications to the decision possible, including to dismiss the order before that year is up or extend it as needed Allows one motion to modify or rescind the order be filed during the year the order is in effect, with another possible during the year an extended order is in effect SB 83 and HB 4145 are near mirrors of one another, with the main difference being where a person can file a risk protection 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. Sources familiar with the legislation say its likely SB 83, ultimately, will be the red flag bill signed into law once it clears the legislature. That hasnt sat well with Republicans like Rep. Andrew Fink, R-Hillsdale, who maintains red flag laws do not fully afford a person due process and lacks a mental health evaluation component. Michigans state constitution says that the right to keep and bear arms is for the defense of yourself and the state, he said. So, interfering with that right under the Constitution should follow high standards ... I dont think that this legislation is actually effective at preventing gun violence or at least not in the kind of scale that you would want to see in order to justify this kind of potential intrusion into a persons life. SB 83 will need a concurring Senate vote prior to being sent to Whitmers desk, as the House adopted changes to the bill Thursday. The remaining four House bills still need to make their way through the Senate chamber, which next meets Wednesday, April 18. More from MLive Congresswoman Scholten advocates for affordable, high-quality childcare in Grand Rapids Most Michigan hospitals ease mask requirements after 3 years of COVID Senate Democrats propose moving Michigan to 100% clean energy by 2035 Military, overseas voting bill begins Michigan Prop 2 implementation Michigan grants $410M to electric vehicle projects, delays Gotion funding Michigan had four counties meet the medium COVID-19 Community Level threshold this week while the rest of the state remains low. All four medium counties are located in the western Upper Peninsula, each sharing a border with Wisconsin. They include Dickinson, Gogebic, Iron, and Menominee, according to the latest CDC map, updated Friday, April 14. This weeks update included a worsening of COVID levels for the aforementioned U.P. counties, all of which reported low COVID levels last week. The only medium-risk county last week was Monroe, which has since dropped back to low. Federal health officials assess each countys COVID Community Level based on reported coronavirus infections and hospitalizations. Experts recommend residents living in high-risk areas to consider masking indoors, regardless of vaccination status, to limit transmission. Community Levels put counties in one of three buckets: low (green), medium (yellow) or high (orange). The goal is to prevent severe disease and limit strain on hospitals. No county has reached a high COVID level over the last three weeks. Heres the latest map showing the Community Level for each Michigan county. Tap/hover over a county to see details. (Cant see the map? Click here.) For hospitalizations, the CDC looks at three pieces: the percentage of staffed hospital beds occupied by COVID patients, COVID hospital admissions per capita and COVID cases per capita. A county is at a high level when there are 200-plus new cases per 100,000 for the week and either (A) 10-plus new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 or (B) at least 10% of the staffed inpatient beds are occupied by COVID patients. If hospitalizations are particularly high, even a county with low cases can be at a high level, per the CDC formula. (Not every county has a hospital, so each is assigned a health services area, a larger region that contains at least one hospital. Counties are attributed the metrics for the entire area, weighted based on each countys population. For example: Monroe Countys health services area also includes the Toledo, Ohio area.) Heres more on the latest COVID-19 trends in Michigan. Michigan is reporting 431 new, confirmed cases per day in the past week COVID cases decreased from last week when the state averaged 516 new confirmed cases per day. Its also the lowest seven-day average since summer 2021. Five counties reported no new cases last week. They were Chippewa, Crawford, Keweenaw, Luce and Mackinac. The top 10 counties by new cases per 100,000 people were Dickinson (135), Alcona (69), Ontonagon (69), Gogebic (63), Arenac (60), Isabella (54), Hillsdale (53), Marquette (45), Eaton (43), and Macomb (42). The top 10 counties by total new cases without accounting for population were Wayne (640), Oakland (439), Macomb (367), Kent (132), Washtenaw (113), Ingham (98), Genesee (89), Jackson (58), Saginaw (57), and Berrien (54). Cases peaked in January 2022 at the start of the omicron wave with Michigan averaging 17,595 cases per day at one point. Cases are confirmed when theres a positive result from an NAAT/RT-PCR test. Cases are probable when theres a reported antigen (rapid) test or if somebody has symptoms and was exposed to a person with COVID-19. All graphics in this story are based only on confirmed numbers, which differs from the states use of confirmed plus probable data in its reporting. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reports COVID cases once per week. There were 4,646 confirmed and probable cases this week, down from 5,263 last week. Michigan has reported more than 2.64 million confirmed COVID cases and at least 447,824 probable cases since the pandemic began. The chart below shows the seven-day average for new, confirmed COVID cases throughout the pandemic. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) 20 counties saw rise in cases in last seven days Of Michigans 83 counties, 20 had an increase in cases this week compared to last week. See the database below to search/sort case totals by county. The chart also shows the percent change from week to week and the seven-day case average per capita. (Cant see the database? Click here.) Michigan ranks 11th in the U.S. in new cases per capita Michigan had the 11th-most COVID cases per capita of the 50 U.S. states for the week of March 30 through April 5, per the New York Times. States with the most cases per capita this week were Oklahoma, North Dakota, Hawaii, New Mexico and Wisconsin. States with the fewest reported cases per capita were Connecticut, Georgia, and New York. COVID case totals dont tell the whole story. At-home tests are not reported, so those arent included in the data. Thats why its also key to look at percent positivity of reported tests and data on hospitalizations and deaths. For COVID hospitalizations, Michigan was tied for 30th-most per capita during that time. For COVID deaths per capita, Michigan was tied for 10th. Average test positivity is 9.4% About 9.4% of COVID tests submitted to the state this week were positive, which is the lowest rate in recent weeks. The percent positivity rate has hovered between 10% and 13% since late January. Michigans rate peaked at 35% in January 2022. It dipped as low as 2% in early March 2022 before climbing again. However, the rise in at-home, self-testing led to rates typically remaining higher due to fewer people reporting negative test results to their local health departments. The graph below shows the percentage of COVID-19 tests reported that came back positive throughout the pandemic. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) Hillsdale County had the highest percent positivity rate this week of all Michigan counties with 20.1% of tests coming back positive. Dickinson was the only other county that topped 19%. To see the COVID test positivity rate for your county, see the searchable table below. Hospitals treating 596 confirmed or suspected adult COVID-19 patients COVID hospitalizations dropped quite a bit from 732 confirmed or suspected adult cases of COVID-19 last week. Among the adults with COVID hospitalized on Wednesday, April 12, 71 were in intensive care and 27 were on a ventilator. Michigan also had 11 children hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID as of Wednesday, down from 20 a week ago. Michigan is reporting 10 new COVID deaths per day in the past week Michigan had 10 COVID deaths per day this week. Thats up from seven per day last week. Twenty-five counties reported at least one COVID death, led by Wayne and Oakland with 13 each. Kent reported six such deaths, while Macomb, Genesee, and Eaton each had four, Washtenaw and St. Clair had three, and Ingham and Monroe counties had two. Michigan has had 38,373 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 4,240 probable COVID deaths since the pandemic began. During omicrons peak last January, Michigan was averaging more than 100 COVID deaths per day. The chart below shows the seven-day average for COVID deaths throughout the pandemic. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) Vaccinations: 16.7% of residents have received omicron-specific booster About 64.1% of Michigan residents have gotten at least one COVID shot, 59.6% have received the full original regimen and 38.9% have been boosted. The omicron-specific COVID-19 booster is available in Michigan from both Pfizer and Moderna. About 16.7% of residents have received the bivalent booster so far, or about 1.65 million residents. Below is a breakdown by age group of Michiganders whove gotten at least one shot (initiated), those who have two shots (completed) and those who are considered up to date on COVID vaccines, as of Wednesday, March 29. The state didnt update its vaccination data this week due to a technical issue. 75 and older: 87.4% initiated; 82.8% completed, 36.3% up to date 65 to 74: 90.6% initiated; 86.8% completed, 41% up to date 50 to 64: 77% initiated; 73% completed, 22% up to date 40 to 49: 67.9% initiated; 63.3% completed, 12.9% up to date 30 to 39: 66.4% initiated; 60.7% completed, 10.6% up to date 20 to 29: 56.4% initiated; 50.5% completed, 6.4% up to date 16 to 19: 57.3% initiated; 52.5% completed, 6.3% up to date 12 to 15: 50.3% initiated; 46.8% completed, 7.7% up to date 5 to 11: 31.3% initiated; 28.4% completed, 5.2% up to date Younger than 5: 9.9% initiated, 5.9% completed, 4% up to date For more statewide data, visit MLives coronavirus data page. To find a testing site near you, check out the states online test find send an email to COVID19@michigan.gov, or call 888-535-6136 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. Read more on MLive: Most Michigan hospitals ease mask requirements after 3 years of COVID What to know about the abortion pill and efforts to suspend use Red flag bills prompted by MSU shooting clear Michigan House Palisades nuclear plant may land up to $300M in state funds for restart bid The U.S. Supreme Court has placed a temporary pause on a lower courts order to have federal regulators suspend approval of the abortion drug mifepristone. Justice Samuel Alito signed an order Friday, April 14, ordering an administrative stay of the case Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance For Hippocratic Medicine until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, April 19. Both sides of the case have until noon Tuesday, April 18, to submit their responses on the matter. The Biden administration asked the court to preserve access to the abortion drug while the legal battle plays out. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of Texas had ordered the FDA to suspend its approval of the drug last week, which was followed by U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice of Washington ordering the agency to allow continued use of the drug. Mifepristone was first approved by the FDA in 2000. The medication is used to block a hormone needed for pregnancy to continue. It can be used, with a prescription and in a regimen with another medication, misoprostol, to end an intrauterine pregnancy through 10 weeks gestation. Related: What to know about the abortion pill and efforts to suspend use The case in front of Judge Kacsmaryk challenges the safety and approval of mifepristone by the FDA. His ruling was expected to go into effect Saturday if not for the higher court intervening. Federal regulators stand by the safety of mifepristone, when used as indicated and directed. Periodic reviews of data for the drug have not identified any new safety concerns. As of June 30, there were 28 reports of deaths in patients associated with mifepristone since the product was approved in 2000. They included two cases of ectopic pregnancy, and several fatal cases of severe infection. The adverse events cannot with certainty be causally attributed to mifepristone because of concurrent use of other drugs, other medical or surgical treatments, co-existing medical conditions, and information gaps about patient health status and clinical management of the patient, according to the FDA. Michigan residents took to the polls in November to assure access to reproductive rights including abortion. The ballot initiative passed by a nearly 14% margin, and Michigans 1931 abortion ban was formally repealed earlier this month. In response to the Texas court ruling, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer assured residents that abortion remains legal in the state. The state health department echoed the governor and urged families to talk with their health care providers about medication abortion and in-clinic procedures that are available. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said its vital that Michigan maintain access to mifepristone for its residents. She called the Texas ruling an assault on the rights of women. The case is likely to make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which reversed the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in June 2022, leaving the legality of abortion rights up to the states. Read more on MLive: Doctor sues Michigan-based health system after acquitted of charges he killed terminal patients Michigan home sales jump 28% as mortgage rates simmer Jude Walton, slain Ann Arbor community leader, remembered for welcoming spirit Gun laws are changing in Michigan. Heres what you need to know. A former doctor is suing a Michigan-based health system, contending he was unfairly fired and maliciously prosecuted for giving high doses of painkillers to patients who had been taken off life support while in his care. Dr. William Husel was charged with 25 counts of murder for supplying those drugs, which his attorneys argued were meant to provide comfort care for dying patients in the intensive care unit at Mount Carmel West Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. A prosecutor there dismissed eleven of those counts, and a jury found the doctor not guilty of all 14 remaining criminal counts in April 2022. Husel is now suing Trinity Health, which owns Mount Carmel West Hospital, in U.S. District Court. The 59-page lawsuit requests a jury trial and at least $20 million to account for economic, physiological and physical harm the situation has caused the former doctor. A spokesperson for Trinity Health a nonprofit, faith-based system headquartered in Livonia with more than 80 hospitals nationwide responded to the lawsuit with a brief statement: The allegations are unfounded, and we will address the matter as appropriate through the legal process. As this is an active lawsuit, we have no further comment. Husel worked as an intensivist in the ICU at the Ohio hospital for five years before he was fired in December 2018, according to the lawsuit. While employed there, he regularly treated patients who had overdosed on illicit narcotics, as well as other populations with high mortality risk. At times, the unit would admit patients who were too sick to survive, the lawsuit alleged. An investigation conducted by the hospital determined Husel had in some cases used higher levels of opioid medications and benzodiazepines, depressants that produce sedation, than his peers to treat patients that were in the process of imminently dying after being taken off life support. The lawsuit alleges there were no hospital policies regarding dosing guidelines for the use of opioids and benzodiazepines in connection with terminal withdrawals in the ICU setting. Doses of fentanyl ordered by Husel varied by patient, from 200 micrograms to as much as 2,000 micrograms, based on circumstances including the patients prior opioid use. The only hospital policy on the matter stated that pain medications were to be given as medically indicated, a phrase that vested discretion in the physician, the lawsuit reads. Husels legal team alleged Trinity Health directed he be terminated, and directed the Ohio hospital to meet with the Franklin County prosecutor and report a belief that the dosages were intended to hasten death, notwithstanding the fact that they knew this not to be substantiated as every witness they interviewed explained the intent was not to hasten death but to provide appropriate end-of-life care. Shortly after being cleared of the murder charges, Husel voluntarily relinquished his license to practice medicine. Dr. Husel understood that, notwithstanding the acquittal, the reputation damage he endured would prevent him from ever working as a doctor, the lawsuit reads. As such, he agreed with the Ohio Board of Medicine that he had failed to cooperate in their investigation of him during the pendency of the criminal investigation and prosecution by asserting his Fifth Amendment rights. Husel argues Trinity Healths primary purposes were to distract the public from its own administrative failings and/or to support a restrictive/religiously based approach to end-of-life medicine that is not consistent with accepted medical standards by equating non-Catholic views on the sanctity of life with homicide, per the lawsuit. In addition to the lawsuit filed in Michigan, Husel has two other pending suits awaiting trial in Ohio. They were filed in December 2019, before his acquittal. Trinity Health operates several Michigan Catholic hospitals in Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Metro Detroit. Read more on MLive: 4 Northern Michigan counties report medium COVID levels. The rest are low. Most Michigan hospitals ease mask requirements after 3 years of COVID Congresswoman Scholten advocates for affordable, high-quality childcare in Grand Rapids LANSING, MI Michigan leaders may be willing to put up as much as $300 million toward the unprecedented effort to restart a Michigan nuclear power plant. State officials may contribute millions in taxpayer dollars toward Holtec Internationals attempt to get its Palisades nuclear plant upgraded and fired back up to provide 800 megawatts of carbon-free, base load power as the energy sector transitions away from fossil fuels. If successful, it would be the first nuclear plant in the nation returned to generating power after being decommissioned. The plant was shuttered last year when its owner exited the nuclear energy generation business and sold the facility to Holtec. The new owner has now twice applied for federal dollars to help get the plant running again. The Biden administration has a $6 billion fund within the U.S. Department of Energy meant to preserve the U.S. nuclear reactor fleet and associated energy sector jobs. Climate action advocates argue nuclear power provides reliable energy without emitting greenhouse gas emissions. Nuclear energy is considered key to meeting Gov. Gretchen Whitmers climate goals as more solar and wind power infrastructure is built out. Related: Michigan climate plan calls for 60% renewable power by 2030 Whitmer spokesperson Bobby Leddy said the nuclear plant near South Haven is a critical energy source and economic driver for the region. We are in communication with Holtec and working to secure federal funding to move the ball forward, Leddy said. State money may be needed as bridge funding to pay for advancing restart efforts at Palisades should trust fund money for decommissioning plants become unavailable. More will be known when federal energy officials decide on the pending $1 billion grant application, expected to be the primary investment in the nuclear plant restart. Holtec officials said it will take hundreds of millions of dollars for needed facility renovations and to buy more nuclear fuel, and they applauded Whitmers efforts to repower Palisades. As we work with the Department of Energy through the loan application process, the financial commitment from Michigan and a power purchase agreement are both essential to making a return to operations feasible, said Patrick OBrien, Holtec communications director. State lawmakers for the area confirmed Holtec is seeking as much as $300 million from the state, as first reported by The Herald-Palladium this week. Michigan Rep. Pauline Wendzel, R-Watervliet, confirmed both legislators and Whitmer administration officials are actively considering the state funding. Wendzel said that as the GOP leader on the state House Energy, Communications, and Technology Committee, one of her top priorities is maintaining reliable base load electricity for Michigan families and businesses. The last thing we want is to be the next California, without enough reliable generation to meet energy demands, Wendzel said. Natural gas power plants have provided a greater percentage of the states energy supply following the closure of Palisades and some coal-fired generation. Power generation at nuclear plants does not generate greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change, like burning fossil fuels does. However, some environmental advocates remain concerned about ecological degradation from needed uranium mining and radiation risk from toxic waste nuclear plants produce. Michigan utility regulators are currently studying whether the state should build more nuclear power plants, balancing the benefits and drawbacks. A draft report is expected by years end. If you would like to receive our new Lake Effect newsletter for free, enter your email in the box below: Related articles: Should Michigan have more nuclear power plants? State study underway Restart of Palisades nuclear plant would bolster power supply, support climate goals Unprecedented but possible: Owner pitches restart of Palisades nuclear plant DETROIT -- Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matt Manning wont need surgery after fracturing a bone in his foot on Tuesday in Toronto. Manning received multiple opinions from specialists who recommended non-operative treatment, the team said in its twice-weekly injury report. I think youre going to find that were going to be very thorough with reviews, whether its getting second and third opinions or whatever we need to have a more well-rounded view, said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch. Multiple opinions is better than one opinion and just making sure that were not missing anything as we wait for the bone to heal. Thats kind of all there is to do. Manning broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during the final pitch of his last starter. A comebacker from Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk bounced off his foot and skidded to first baseman Spencer Torkelson, who threw to Manning to retire the batter. Manning, 25, is 7-11 with a 4.78 ERA in 32 career starts over parts of three seasons. He was the Tigers first-round pick (ninth overall) in 2016. Its unclear how much time hell miss due to the injury. No surgery recommended for Tigers RHP Matt Manning. pic.twitter.com/1lpQcD4Q1I Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) April 14, 2023 In other injury news, right-hander Beau Brieske (right ulnar nerve entrapment) played catch on Thursday and is slated for a bullpen session next week. Ulnar nerve entrapment can cause numbness and tingling in the forearm and fingers. Rather than surgery, doctors suggested a minimally invasive hydrodissection injection to treat the symptoms. An Ozone Action Day is in effect for part of western Lower Michigan and much of southeast Lower Michigan today. It is rare to see this type of air quality warning this early in Michigans warm season. Ozone levels are expected to be high enough to affect people that are sensitive to higher ozone concentrations. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) issues the Ozone Action Days. The Ozone Action Day is in effect for: In West Michigan- Allegan, Benzie, Cass, Grand Traverse, Kalamazoo, Kent, Leelanau, Manistee, Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa, Mason, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties. In Southeast Michigan- Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. Ozone levels are expected to be high in the counties along the Lake Michigan shoreline and over the highly populated area of southeast Lower Michigan. It is recommended by EGLE that active children and adults, and people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Jim Haywood, senior meteorologist in the Air Quality Division of EGLE, says this unhealthy air situation is highly unusual for mid-April, conditions under a slow-moving high-pressure system have created conditions for elevated ozone, this week. The past few days have seen 1-hour concentrations in the low 70 ppb range and 8-hour averages in the mid-60 ppb range. Haywood says the lower wind speeds today will make changes which create concerns for even higher ozone development. Haywood states, Of concern are lower wind speeds which will allow for stagnation rather than the well mixed atmosphere under the breezy conditions of the past few days. This will affect southeast Lower Michigan the most. Winds will become more southerly which will allow pollutants to stay out over Lake Michigan longer and have a better chance for additional photochemical reaction. An afternoon lake breeze could bring those higher concentrations inland(to the western shoreline counties). The other Lake Michigan states are also posting Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups warnings along the lake shores. In southeast Lower Michigan, the ozone plume will be pushed north of Detroit rather than to the east, according to Haywood. Since the storm system is holding off and not moving into Lower Michigan Saturday, we may also have unhealthy concentrations of ozone to start the weekend. The ozone would be high Saturday if the clouds hold off and sunshine is strong. By Sunday, precipitation moves in and ends this rare early season stretch of increased ozone. The 2023 Cannes Film Festival is set to include a mix of celebrity names, veteran filmmakers and new talent from around the world. The line-up includes the highest number yet of women directors in the main competition, as well as several films from the African continent. Organisers unveiled their picks of the world's best cinema at a press conference in Paris on Thursday. The presence of six women directors out of 19 in the main competition , including Italy's Alice Rohrwacher and Senegalese filmmaker Ramata-Toulaye Sy, beats last year's record of five. In competition for the Palme d'Or are France's Justine Triet with "Anatomy of a Fall", Catherine Breillat with "Last Summer", "Club Zero" by Jessica Hausner from Austria and Tunisia's Kaouther Ben Hania with "Four Daughters". The Certain Regard category promises to take audiences on a round-the-world trip thanks to first-time entries from Sudan ("Goodbye Julia" by Mohamed Kordofani) and Democratic Republic of Congo ("Augure" by Baloji Tshiani). Australian director Warwick Thornton is back with "The New Boy", produced by Cate Blanchett, and in the running for Camera d'Or for first feature is Mongolia's Zoljargal Purevdash and If only I could hibernate. Meanwhile, household name Wes Anderson is in competition with his "Asteroid City" set to bring a cavalcade of stars to the red carpet, including Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie and Scarlett Johansson. Among other red carpet favourites are Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, who appear in "May/December", a romance by director Todd Haynes. Loach, Wenders, Wang Bing Two-time Palme winner Ken Loach is also on the list with "The Old Oak", as is Wim Wenders with "Perfect Days". The competition also includes past Palme winners Nanni Moretti and Nuri Bilge Ceylan, as well as Hirokazu Kore-eda and Aki Kaurismaki. Making a comeback to the Croisette is China, whose filmmakers have been absent from recent editions due to Covid restrictions. This year the country's thriving cinema industry will be represented by Wang Bing with two features, "Shanghai Youth" in competition and "Man in Black" as a special screening. Arthouse fans will be pleased to see the return of British director Jonathan Glazer with a Holocaust-set romance, "The Zone of Interest", based on a novel by Martin Amis. The festival has already announced several Hollywood premieres, including the fifth installment in the Indiana Jones series. "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" will debut in Cannes with none other that Harrison Ford himself, alongside Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Antonio Banderas. Depp times two Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon", starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, will also have its world premiere out of competition though festival director Thierry Fremaux hinted that it may end up running for an award. He also stressed that last-minute decisions were still being made and that films may be added to the official selection in the coming days. Johnny Depp is making his comeback in "Jeanne du Barry", the opening night feature by French director Maiwenn. Depp will be joined on the red carpet 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. 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". Game-changer Victory in Cannes can give a major boost for arthouse films 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. Newly appointed festival president Iris Knobloch told reporters at the press conference in Paris: "Cannes is a game-changer" in the life of a film, calling it an extraordinary springboard for directors of all kinds. She hailed her predecessor Pierre Lescure, congratulated the festival for maintaining its high standards and keeping the public's love for cinema alive. Despite streaming platforms and the rise of individual screens, she declared, the public is back in love with cinema. The Cannes Film Festival runs from 1627 May 2023. Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has said Ghana will finalise ongoing talks with the IMF for a US$3 billion bailout by May this year. Addressing Eurobondholders at an Investors Presentation Forum by the Republic of Ghana in the US, Mr Ofori-Atta called on external creditors to support Ghanas quest in securing the programme. We do at this time expect an IMF board approval in May [2023] and contemplate a rapid negotiation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with our creditors." "We have made significant efforts on all fronts. We hope we could reach an agreement in principle with you our Eurobond holders quickly. We understand this is a challenging time for all of you to commit and offer a financial support to all of you. But please be assured we are fully committed with you and your advisors to ensure an equitable solution, he said. Government intends to deepen the relationship with its external creditors. We reaffirm our commitment to work with our private and commercial creditors in all of our engagements, he added. Stay positive; I'm optimistic $3bn bailout deal'll be swift because you ought to be helped IMF MD to Ghanaians Meanwhile, IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva has said she is hopeful Ghana will clinch a deal soon with the Fund. Asked about when Ghanaians should expect a deal, she told journalists in Washington DC at the launch of the IMF MDs Global Policy on the sidelines of the ongoing IMF/ World Bank Spring Meetings: We have been urging Ghanas creditors to act swiftly. To tell you the truth, I am optimistic that we are going to move swiftly and so stay positive." According to her, we are sure that the creditors are going to move swiftly at next weeks meetings and are also going to move swiftly on Ghanas request. She urged Ghanaians to stay positive. The IMF boss reiterated: I still believe that the challenge that Ghana is going through is not just as a result on the domestic situation but external as well. Ghana has done well in the past to tap into the capital market to finance its budget. Therefore, we believe that if Ghana is facing some challenges this time, it ought to be helped. Ghana is seeking a US$3 billion bailout from the Bretton Wood institution. Source: classfmonline.com Emmanuel Appoh Mensah is a fast-rising star in politics and a zealous aspirant in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ongoing parliamentary primaries for Gomoa East constituency in the Central Region of Ghana. Despite facing huge opposition from some stakeholders to have him disqualified from the race, the young politician still stands as a strong contender for the seat in the primaries. His win in the ongoing primaries offers him the likelihood to secure the Gomoa East parliamentary seat for the NDC in the 2024 general election, considering the love he commands from constituents. An outcome which will turn out to become an advantage for the umbrella fraternity and its potential flag-bearer, John Dramani Mahama judging his passion, energy and vision for the development of the constituency having grown to become a candidate to watch in the upcoming election. At age 34, Emmanuel Appoh Mensah has began making waves in the local political scene as a charismatic and energetic candidate who poses a clear vision towards the development of the Gomoa East constituency. His passionate nature is particularly geared towards improving the livelihood of fellow constituents in areas of education, healthcare, and youth empowerment. Despite his impressive credentials and popularity among many voters, some stakeholders have raised concerns about his eligibility to run for the parliamentary seat. To this, the budding politician has been forthcoming about his qualifications having worked assiduously to address all such issues. "Gomoa East is a key constituency in the region, and having a strong and capable representative in parliament would be crucial for advancing the party's agenda and ensuring that the needs and concerns of the constituents are heard and addressed," he often tells delegates. This was highlighted by the Pulitzer Center where he is the recipient of a grant on Twitter, adding that the photojournalist participated in the contest with the project Alpaqueros (Alpaca farmers) "This story is a great example of solutions-based journalism, telling a story about the climate crisis from a fresh angle. The photographer captures a multilayered story and balances narratives about loss and preservation," said the jury in a comment. One of these stunning pictures appeared on the cover of the Chinese version of the prestigious National Geographic magazine in 2022. According to the Pulitzer Center, in Alpaqueros, Cinque examines how climate change has affected alpacas in the Andean region of Peru. Moreover, the article noted that Cinque's photo stories record the alpacas' seasonal migration, the local economies that depend on them, and the research centers that aim to combat the effects of climate change on the animals. The Pulitzer Center's news item mentioned the fact that his photos are published in two stories: "The High-Altitude Quest To Save Alpacas" in English for National Geographic and "The Resilience of Alpacas" in Italian for Internazionale. According to the project's description section, climate crisis is putting alpacas and the communities they sustain at risk. Shorter rainy seasons and more intense, longer periods of drought are shrinking natural pastures and reducing the quality of the grass on which alpacas feed. In addition, meltwater from Peru's glaciers, which supports high meadows during the long dry season, is declining rapidly. Peruvian glaciers retreated by 53 percent between 1962 and 2016. These challenges threaten not only the alpacas, but the loss of high-Andean cultural identity, as alpaquero (alpaca-farmer) communities are forced to move to even greater altitudes, or to abandon their lifestyles entirely and seek work in low-lying cities. Scientists hope to help address the problem using biotechnology to create alpaca breeds more resistant to extremes in temperature. This would help the animals to survive harsh nights at higher altitudes, as well as thrive at lower elevations, since alpacas also suffer in warmer temperatures, from illnesses not present in highland areas. Jury comment "The jury was impressed by how the story narrates the relationship between people, culture and identity and demonstrates how they are deeply tied to all aspects of the changing environment and the animals living in it," according to the jury. "The project is beautifully photographed, full of humor, and provides the perfect amount of information. Moreover, it is [a] perfect edit from start to finish as each frame is relevant and meaningful to the story, allowing the viewer to become invested," it added. The World Press Photo Contest recognizes and celebrates the best photojournalism and documentary photography. This year, 24 winners were selected from more than 60,000 entries in six world regions. Four global contest winners will be announced on April 20, 2023. The in-person World Press Photo Exhibition will premiere in Amsterdam on April 22, and then start its worldwide tour. We are thrilled that @cinque_ale's project Alpaqueros won a @WorldPressPhoto award. These majestic photos tell the story of how alpaca breeders and scientists, in the Peruvian Andes, are working together to protect alpacas from climate change. ?? ?? https://t.co/fzNLquO1Jh ?? pic.twitter.com/ZCCA1riQoo Pulitzer Center (@pulitzercenter) March 30, 2023 (END) NDP/MAO/RMB The impressive photos taken by Alessandro Cinque, a photojournalist settled in Peru, which tell the story of how alpaca breeders and scientists are working together to protect alpacas from climate change, made it possible for him to win the 2023 World Press Photo Regional Award, in the South America, Stories category.Publicado: 13/4/2023 US President Joe Biden was in and around the Irish capital Dublin on Thursday, holding talks with political leaders in the homeland of his ancestors before addressing a joint-session of the country's parliament. Biden, who is only the second Catholic president in US history, met Irish head of state Michael D. Higgins at his official residence before talks with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. Watched by fellow octogenarian Higgins, Biden tapped into his Irish roots while writing a heartfelt message in the Irish president's guest book. "As the Irish saying goes, your feet will bring you to where your heart is," he quipped as he wrote, joking that he was going to stay in Ireland. Biden joined Higgins in tree-planting and peace bell-ringing ceremonies, calling it "an honour to return and to come home, to the home of my ancestors". Historic address to joint session of Irish parliament Meanwhile, Biden's address to a joint sitting of both houses of the Irish parliament followed in the footsteps of another US president, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. In June, 1963, "JFK" became the first sitting US 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". Unlike JFK, Biden cannot boast of noble ancestors in his lineage, but some of his forebears fled famine under British rule and congregated in Scranton, Pennsylvania. In his emotional address on Thursday, Biden echoed his predecessor in underscoring "the deep and enduring historical, cultural, political and economic ties" between both countries. The US president also referred to the humanitarian and geopolitical contribution Ireland has made in welcoming refugees from Ukraine and championing human rights. He said both nations have known hardship and division. The Irish values of freedom, equality, dignity, and family are grafted into the American character. And remain to this day the core of the historic partnership between our people and our governments." President Biden has now become one of only 14 political figures to address a joint session of the Irish parliament in its 100 year history. 'Bro-mance' and banquets During his meeting with Leo Varadkar on Thursday, Biden further underlined the strong ties between the two countries, writing There is nothing Ireland and the United States cannot achieve when we work together". Biden also referred to the Irish Prime Minister as "a friend" and "a good man". The Us leader last met Varadkar in Washington for Ireland's St Patrick's Day celebrations in March, when the White House fountain ran emerald green. Varadkar returned the favour on Thursday evening, hosting a banquet in Biden's honour at Dublin Castle, the ancient seat of English and then British rule in Ireland. Before flying home on Air Force One on Friday, Biden will head west to Ballina in County Mayo, a jumping-off point for his paternal ancestors who emigrated to Pennsylvania. The National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagba, has commended the his own government for fulfilling its obligations to its citizens amid the economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia invasion of Ukraine. Ahiagba praised the government for being able to pay the salaries of workers despite the financial difficulties it has faced, and urged Ghanaians to continue believing in the NPP government. In a tweet on Thursday, April 13, Ahiagba stressed that Ghanaians should not be swayed by the propaganda of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to "think otherwise" of the Akufo-Addo-led government. The NPPs spokesperson noted that the impact of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war on the global economy, including Ghana is real, and that the government is doing its best to provide essential public services and pay salaries in these difficult times. Ghanaians, we are going through difficulties, but we continue to pay salaries and provide essential public services. The impact of Covid-19 and Russia-Ukraine war on the global economy is real. Let's not be deceived by NDC to think otherwise, his post reads. Ahiagba's comments come as reports emerge about the Kenyan government struggling to pay salary arrears of its workers due to economic hardships. Former President John Dramani Mahama 14.04.2023 LISTEN Former President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated his party's commitment to ensuring a fair and peaceful 2024 election. He stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will train, equip, and empower its executives ahead of the elections to prevent any untoward situation. Mahama made this comment while speaking to party delegates in the Eastern Region as part of his bid to lead the party again in the 2024 general elections. Joyce Bawa Mogtari, the Special Aide to the aspiring presidential candidate, shared the information with party supporters via a tweet. She wrote, "HE John Mahama has promised that all delegates, Branch, Ward, and other Executives of the NDC will be trained, equipped, and empowered to lead the NDC into the 2024 elections! JM interacting with Delegates and Executive in the Eastern Region!" Former National Democratic Congress (NDC) member, Stephen Atubiga has slammed the opposition party for always discrediting the millions of jobs created by the President Akufo-Addos government. Atubiga defended Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia's claim that over 2.1 million jobs had been created, more than any previous administration. Speaking to his party members during a health walk at Mpraeso, the Veep said, During the NDC administration, there were no jobs, they created unemployment, they were not creating jobs, we had the graduate unemployed association, they were creating unemployment, but I have been looking at the data lately and NPP we have created 2.1 million jobs. 975, 000 are in the private sector, 1.2 million in the public sector, this is verifiable and identifiable data which is available. NPP they were creating unemployment but we create jobs. We are not done yet because there are more jobs for us to create. He continued, But when it comes to job creation, no government since Independence has created more jobs than the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, anybody can challenge me and I will provide the data. Every department, we can show progress for this country, but we want to go further, we can get to the promised land. We can be a Dubai, we can be a South Korea, we can be a Singapore, it is possible. It's quite obvious and justifiable for any government to publicize such achievements based on records," Atubiga defended the claim in a lengthy Facebook post after rebuttals from the NDC. From 2013 to 2016, Atubiga said the NDC froze employment and cancelled many contracts due to IMF conditionalities causing contractors to lose capital and jobs. "Most lost their capital as the new government terminated many contracts," he lamented. "The NDC has no grounds to discuss unemployment. See how many positions they abandoned until leaving office," Atubiga stressed. He criticises the NDC for failing to build capacity of the youth and create massive jobs, saying, "Monkeys hoodwinking while baboons toiled even in opposition." Atubiga however hailed Bawumia as "one of Ghana's most reputable, righteous and accountable leaders." While some may differ on government policies, Atubiga advised the opposition that "when Bawumia addresses economic or national issues, abandon your politics and admire his submissions. More jobs were created, though economic troubles saw some losses, Atubiga stressed, telling the NDC to "return and scrutinize policies to viably fashion jobs if re-elected. Meaningful, practical job fashioning." Former Member of Parliament for Manhyia North Collins Owusu Amankwah has taken a swipe at the Managing Editor of Daily Dispatch newspaper, Ben Ephson. He describes him as attention seeker who lacks credibility. According to Mr Owusu Amankwah, who doubles as the Field Commander of Alan Kyerematen Campaign in Ashanti Region, he was saddened to hear Mr. Ephson saying the popularity of Alan Cash, as he is popularly known, is diminishing. Speaking on evening political show GhanaAkoma on Akoma FM in Kumasi with Aduanaba Kofi Asante, the former lawmaker described Mr Ben Ephson as an arm chair election pollster in the country. He called on the people to disregard comments by him on Allan. Stop the wrong accusations because I have observed over time your ill public utterances directed to dent the reputation of the former Former Trade and Industry Minister, he warned. I expect Ben Ephson to know better since his work has to do with gathering of valid and accurate information before making any public pronouncement, but due to the hatred he has for Alan campaign, he drops anything negative that comes up in his head against Ghana's only political and developmental gem, Hon Alan. He said the upcoming NPP Presidential primaries is about competencies, credibility and others. He was surprised about what Mr Ephson made on Alan popularity, indicating strongly that Alan Kyerematen will win no matter the machinations and other tactics. Alan Kyerematen will win the race hands down. The party delegates will vote massively for Alan. He opined that the party has a tradition and they will go by that tradition. To this effect, I want to urge Ben Ephson of Daily Dispatch to desist from character assassination and blue journalism and using of his position to be causing fear and panic to the general public, Mr Owusu Amankwah chastised. Our Allan is untouchable; It is high time for you, Ephson, to know that who Jah Bless Know One curse. 3news.com John Dramani Mahama 14.04.2023 LISTEN Former President, John Dramani Mahama is rallying delegates to vote massively for him in the upcoming Presidential primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). With just 30 days for the NDC to hold its flagbearer polls, the leading aspirant also wants party followers to donate money to support his campaign. In a post on his Facebook page, John Dramani Mahama revealed that his target is to win 99.9% of the votes from delegates. 30 days to NDC presidential primaries. Donate to support John Mahama to win 99.9% votes. Let me thank all who have continued to support my #BuildingGhanaTogether campaign. We have 30 more days to go. Lets do this together, John Dramani Mahama said in his Facebook post. Since announcing his desire to contest for the flagbearership of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama has been touring the various regions of the country. This week, the former President was in the Eastern Region and has held engagements with delegates. Today, John Dramani Mahama is touring a number of Constituencies in the Greater Accra Region. The president of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, recently called on Africa to "save the world from homosexuality", suggesting he would sign into law a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill passed by parliament last month. In Uganda and abroad, activists are mounting last-ditch efforts to try and stop the legislation. The bill imposes the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality and life imprisonment for recruitment, promotion and funding of same-sex acts. It has been widely criticised internationally, with the UN high commissioner for human rights urging the president not to sign it. In Uganda, anti-discrimination activists are calling on the president not to ratify the bill. Nicholas Opiyo, one of Uganda's top human rights lawyers, told RFI that President Museveni, who has 30 days to sign the bill, is in a difficult position on the issue as he faces potential sanctions from his international partners. Museveni has shifted his position a little bit from 2014, when he said that LGBT people were disgusting, Opiyo said. Now, he seems mostly preoccupied with what he calls the promotion of homosexual activities. Nonetheless, he has to deal with a constituency that has always highly supported the anti-homosexuality law, but he also has to take into account the view of the rest of the world." That makes the bill both a domestic matter and a foreign policy matter, Opiyo points out. So it's a very difficult position. But my opinion is that Museveni will sign up to this law, though I'm hoping he doesn't. Opiyo also pointed out the role that conservative American Christian groups have played in promoting anti-LGBTQ+ policies in Uganda. Ugandans have no time to care about who you love and what you do in your private life, he told RFI. There are more pressing issues here. Homosexuality in Uganda, and in the whole of Africa is not imported from the West, but the hatred against it definitely is, he said. Call for travel ban Stella Nyanzi, a prominent Ugandan human rights advocate who was arrested for insulting Museveni and now lives in exile in Germany, has fiercely criticised the bill on social media. I was inside the Constitutional Court when the Anti-Homosexuality Act was annulled in 2014, she wrote on Twitter. I will celebrate again when Uganda revokes homophobic laws. In another post, she warned: Alas, we are witnessing a new wave of exodus and flight from Uganda's homophobia! Another well-known rights activist, Frank Mugisha, shared a petition to the UK parliament calling for a travel ban on Ugandan MPs and clergy who supported the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. "We call for this travel ban in response to requests by LGBT+ Ugandan activists, who have asked the international community to secure action to stop the Bill and support their human rights," the petition states. "The Bill now awaits President Museveni's signature. We must discourage him from signing and penalise those who have voted or advocated in favour of the Bill. Travel bans are known to be one effective way of impacting those responsible for tyrannical legislation." International condemnation In Canada protesters gathered outside the parliament in Ontario last week to call on the Canadian government and private sector to apply pressure to Museveni not to sign the bill. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condemned the bill "in the absolute strongest terms", and urged other world leaders to reject it too. He called on governments around the world, and especially Commonwealth countries, "to come out and clearly condemn this despicable piece of legislation". If the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill is adopted, Human Rights Watch wrote in a submission to Ugandan lawmakers, it would violate multiple fundamental rights guaranteed under Uganda's Constitution and international human rights instruments to which Uganda is a party. According to the campaign group, "the rights at stake include the rights to freedom of expression and association, liberty, privacy, equality, and freedom from discrimination and inhuman and degrading treatment". All eyes on Museveni Museveni's ratification could come any day now. Earlier this month the Ugandan president called homosexuality a danger to the procreation of human race, at an international conference in Entebbe hosted by a fundamentalist Christian lobbying group from the US. Museveni declared that Africa should provide the lead to save the world from this degeneration and decadence, which is really very dangerous for humanity", The Guardian newspaper reported. Homosexuality was criminalised in Uganda under colonial-era laws, but since independence from Britain in 1962 there has never been a conviction for consensual same-sex activity. The 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Bill is not the first time the Ugandan parliament has attempted to expand criminal penalties for non-heterosexual relationships. An earlier anti-homosexuality act prompted the US and several European countries to impose sanctions or cut off aid to Uganda when it was ratified in 2014. Uganda's Constitutional Court subsequently struck the law down on procedural grounds. The parliament passed another bill punishing same-sex relationships in 2021, but Museveni declined to sign it into law. Member of Parliament for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is asking Ghanaians to watch the space for more corruption revelations on the National Cathedral project. He said Ghanaians should expect fresh series in the coming days. He tweeted on Thursday, April 13, 2023 that CHRAJ has written to him that they are continuing with the investigations into the matter. Significant Updates on the National Cathedral Scandal: Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) April 13, 2023 Mr Ablakwa has been making a series of allegations of corruption against some members of the Board of the National Cathedral, especially the Secretary Rev Victor Kusi Boateng. The lawmaker earlier filed a petition at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) against Rev Kusi Boateng after accusing him of registering a company in a different name to transact business with the Secretariat. Passports made available by the lawmaker showed the name, Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, who is registered as one of the three directors of JNS Talent Centre Limited. That firm was cited by National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for receiving about GH2.6 million from the Secretariat for no work done. According to the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Rev Kusi Boateng was the same Kwabena Adu Gyamfi despite differences in age, TINs, professions and addresses on the passports. Rev Kusi Boateng however rejected the allegations made against him. 14.04.2023 LISTEN Food insecurity in Ghana affects about 50% of its population. The World Food Program has attributed this to inefficient food systems in the rural areas which are the agricultural areas in the country. This may leave you wondering, which food systems are currently operational and how can they resolve the issue of food insecurity in our country? Dawadawa impact initiative (DII), is owned and led by smallholder farmers. It was established to promote regenerative farming, reverse climate crisis and fight post-harvest losses. The organisation has provided all agribusiness solutions under one roof. Farmers are now able to access affordable farming products and services and maintain the quality of their produce, without affecting their profits. This has ensured that more than 55,000 smallholder farmers from Ghana and other West African countries are experiencing lowering crop production costs by 30%. Other benefits include a yield increase from 1.5 tons to 3 tons per hectare, which has led to increased incomes in households from living $2 a day to $5. These agricultural technologies bring profit and efficiency to farmers while being environmentally friendly. Food waste is a top three contributor of greenhouse gas emissions globally, whether scrapes from our plates after a meal, or the 40-60% of the inedible waste from animals raised for human consumption. Eno Kobi Organic fertilizer, an innovative of Dawadawa, is a pest repellent natural fertilizer that seeks to improve the soil. It is planet friendly as it utilizes food waste and therefore reduces ozone depleting methane sent to the environment. DII recovers tonnes of waste food from local food markets. Through the process of compost, key nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium are recovered and reused to enrich soil, improve quantity in yield improve food production by 60% helping solve hunger and poverty in communities. This can also be attributed to the 50 professional and nonprofessional employment opportunity created. Dawadawa impact initiative has several post-harvest services that have enabled farmers to increase production, diversify their produce, reduce losses, improve quality and increase their incomes. These services include demonstrations, trainings and services on harvesting, grading, packaging, cool storage and cool transportation, small scale processing, quality measurement,,food safety and marketing of horticultural crops. They also have a retail shop where farmers can access affordable farming products and services to reduce losses and improve quality, while enabling farmers access to premium markets both locally and globally. Eco Solar Power cooling service room is a cold storage for smallholder farmers to extend the shelf life of their produce by reducing losses by up to 90%. They sell them over an extended period of time to maximize on profits at optimum prices, which has led to increasing household incomes by an average of 200%. In the rainy season, farmers may experience problems like increased risk of aflatoxins and mould build up. DII has a solar power drying service that enables farmers to dry their grain to an acceptable moisture level for long term storage. Farmers are empowered to continue producing grains and therefore ensuring food security without experiencing losses. Most farmers are forced to sell their produce soon after harvest due to lack of storage space, they miss out on extra income as commodity prices go up with time. Sustainable warehousing services ensure farmers can keep their produce safe until they are ready to sell increasing their income and profits in the process. This includes use of Gye Nyame hermetic storage bags,the only storage bag that protects the post harvest grains and seeds against both internal and external attacks. It is a ground breaking Innovation by DII that integrates two technologies. It is a triple layered bag with technology that limits the permeability to oxygen and kills insects already living inside,stopping reproduction and damage to grain. The other technology is an insecticide-infused outer layer that kills insects trying to attack grains from outside the bag. These bags can store produce for up to 2 years at a warehouse or at home and are reusable for upto 3 years. DII farmers are offered the Akuafo grain moisture testing meter which can measure moisture content of several commodities including corn,millet and rice. This ensures reduction in post harvest losses and aflatoxins in grains. To enhance farmer productivity, Dawadawa impact initiative has a focus on increasing access to good digital agriculture technology. This will include identifying and providing access to machines suited for various farm operations covering ploughing,harrowing,planting,spraying and harvesting. Digital transformation is having a great impact on the business environment, creating both challenges and opportunities. DII is commercialising use of drones and digital tools for data collection,validation and analysis for decision making. Drones are used to measure the size of the farm,weed pressure and detecting pests and diseases. DII is a shareholder of Dighana foods, a social enterprise that creates a supply chain that connects farmers living in extreme poverty with local and global markets through efficient processing. It trains farmers in improved agronomic practices and gives them needed support from planting to harvesting. Dawadawa Impact Initiative's work contributes to 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's). By providing these services to smallholder farmers, DII has helped in lowering food shortages in the communities it is already operational in and is improving the livelihoods of these farmers in the process. which food systems are currently operational and how can they resolve the issue of food insecurity in our country? Dawadawa impact initiative (DII),is owned and led by smallholder farmers. It was established to promote regenerative farming ,reverse climate crisis and fight post harvest losses. The organisation has provided all agribusiness solutions under one roof. Farmers are now able to access affordable farming products and services and maintain the quality of their produce, without affecting their profits. This has ensured that more than 55,000 smallholder farmers from Ghana and other West African countries are experiencing lowering crop production costs by 30%. Other benefits include a yield increase from 1.5 tons to 3 tons per hectare ,which has lead to increased incomes in households from living $2 a day to $5.These agricultural technologies bring profit and efficiency to farmers while being environmental friendly. Food waste is a top three contributor of greenhouse gas emissions globally,whether scrapes from our plates after a meal,or the 40-60% of the inedible waste from animals raised for human consumption. Eno Kobi Organic bio-fertilizer,an innovative of Dawadawa, is a pest repellent natural fertilizer that seeks to improve the soil. It is planet friendly as it utilizes food waste and therefore reduces ozone depleting methane sent to the environment. DII recovers tonnes of waste food from local food markets. Through the process of compost, key nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium are recovered and reused to enrich soil,improve quantity in yield,improve food production by 60% helping solve hunger and poverty in communities. This can also be attributed to the 50 professional and nonprofessional employment opportunity created. Dawadawa impact initiative has several post harvest services that have enabled farmers to increase production,diversify their produce,reduce losses, improve quality and increase their incomes. These services include demonstrations,trainings and services on harvesting,grading,packaging,cool storage and cool transportation,small scale processing,quality measurement,food safety and marketing of horticultural crops. They also have a retail shop where farmers can access affordable farming products and services to reduce losses and improve quality,while enabling farmers access to premium markets both locally and globally. Eco Solar Power cooling service room is a cold storage for smallholder farmers to extend the shelf life of their produce by reducing losses by up to 90%. They sell them over an extended period of time to maximize on profits at optimum prices,which has led to increasing household incomes by an average of 200%. In the rainy season,farmers may experience problems like increased risk of aflatoxins and mould build up. DII has a solar power drying service that enables farmers to dry their grain to an acceptable moisture level for long term storage. Farmers are empowered to continue producing grains and therefore ensuring food security without experiencing losses. Most farmers are forced to sell their produce soon after harvest due to lack of storage space, they miss out on extra income as commodity prices go up with time. Sustainable warehousing services ensure farmers can keep their produce safe until they are ready to sell increasing their income and profits in the process. This includes use of PICS hermetic storage bags,the only storage bag that protects the post harvest grains and seeds against both internal and external attacks. It is a ground breaking Innovation by DII that integrates two technologies. It is a triple layered bag with technology that limits the permeability to oxygen and kills insects already living inside,stopping reproduction and damage to grain. The other technology is an insecticide-infused outer layer that kills insects trying to attack grains from outside the bag. These bags can store produce for up to 2 years at a warehouse or at home and are reusable for upto 3 years. DII farmers are offered the grain moisture testing meter which can measure moisture content of several commodities including corn,millet and rice. This ensures reduction in post harvest losses and aflatoxins in grains. To enhance farmer productivity, Dawadawa impact initiative has a focus on increasing access to good digital agriculture technology. This will include identifying and providing access to machines suited for various farm operations covering ploughing, harrowing, planting, spraying and harvesting. Digital transformation is having a great impact on the business environment, creating both challenges and opportunities. DII is commercialising use of drones and digital tools for data collection,validation and analysis for decision making. Drones are used to measure the size of the farm,weed pressure and detecting pests and diseases. DII is a shareholder of Dighana foods, a social enterprise that creates a supply chain that connects farmers living in extreme poverty with local and global markets through efficient processing. It trains farmers in improved agronomic practices and gives them needed support from planting to harvesting. Dawadawa Impact Initiative's work contributes to 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's). By providing these services to smallholder farmers, DII has helped in lowering food shortages in the communities it is already operational in and is improving the livelihoods of these farmers in the process. A marriage counsellor has said she would love and respect her husband even more after he cheats and confesses to his sin to her. Juliana Antwi Asante told Korku Lumor on the Class Morning Show: If you come to confide in me, as a wife; when you even tell me [you cheated on me], it gives you another level of respect. You, a husband, a man of your own; going out to do this and coming out to tell me? Oh, arent you a lovely husband? Arent you a darling? she praised. In her view, it is pointless for a wife to fight her cheating husband and his side chick because, after the extramarital coitus, the mans phallus is still intact for the wife to always enjoy at will since it is not plucked away by the other woman. According to the President of Marriage Scaffold, it is important for women to handle cheating husbands and the circumstances around such situations with wisdom, maturity and tact, instead of fighting. So, you go and see your husband even on top of a woman and you go quarrelling? If you bring this to me as a counsellor, Ill tell you theres no need to quarrel because, excuse my French, after the sex, the penis is not plucked off; so, why would I fight? she wondered. In her view, being calm and mature about the whole situation as a wife, could rather save the situation. Mrs Asante said it all depends on the way you [wife] handle the man and he would not even go [cheat] again. And, I bet you, it will get to a time when you serve him, he will have difficulty eating because he doesnt even know what Ill do next, the counsellor told Korku Lumor on Class91.3FMs morning show on Wednesday, 5 April 2023. Theres no need fighting and that respect must be in the home, she insisted. She pointed out: Maybe my stance would be weird but [these] are things weve taught people and they have practised and have really worked; that is what you talk about. Source: Classfmonline.com Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Education Ministry, Kwasi Kwarteng, has reacted to comments by the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer aspirant John Dramani Mahama regarding the poor quality of meals served students in Senior High Schools (SHSs) across the country. The former president challenged journalists to visit SHSs across the country to confirm for themselves if his recent comments about the poor quality of meals being served to the students is not accurate. Mr Mahama urged the countrys journalists to interview students in the various SHSs in order to know the kind of food being served to them. Speaking to party delegates in New Juaben North during his three-day tour of the Easter Region, Mr Mahama noted: Recently, I spoke about the poor quality of meals for students in senior high schools but the NPP insulted me. I want journalists to fact-check." This is a challenge to you [journalists]. Go to the SHS students to ask them about the quality of food being served and, as I said, with apology, that the food being served the children in school not even a dog will eat that food in the house. He urged journalists go to the schools to interview the children and see for yourself if these are the kind of food Senior High School students deserve to eat." Reacting to Mr Mahamas comments in a Facebook post on Friday, 14 April 2023, the GES PRO called on the former President to stop comparing the meals served beneficiaries of governments SHS programme to dogs. We want to remind Mr Mahama that not all of us can afford the expensive feed he gives to his foreign-breed dogs. And so he should allow us enjoy our meals in dignity & with respect. Mr John Mahama should spare Ghanaian children this utter disrespect by comparing their food to that of dogs, Kwasi Kwarteng said. According to the GES PRO, the comparison is unacceptable & inhumane. He noted that: The close to 1.4m children, will forever remain grateful for being fed 3 times in a day whilst in school. And that for us, is most important! He also urged close associates of the NDC flagbearer aspirant to advise him on his public utterances. Going forward people close to the man should advise him on his public utterances. Maybe he should understand that on this subject matter, he misspoke, Mr Kwarteng noted. Source: classfmonline.com Karpowership Ghana has donated to the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, and the general Muslim community ahead of the climax of the 2023 Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection on ones standing with Allah. As such, kind gestures such as donations and visits mark the period. A delegation from Karpowership Ghana paid a courtesy visit to the National Chief Imam at his residence in Fadama to make the presentation. In a brief remark, the Corporate Communications Manager of Karpowership Ghana, Sandra Amarquaye said that the donation was a gesture of support and generosity towards the Muslim community in Ghana. Ramadan is a time for reflection, prayer, and charity. We see this as a good time to give and support Muslims because it is through acts of kindness and compassion that we can create a more inclusive and harmonious society. It also shows our commitment to building strong relationships and promoting goodwill between different religious groups in the country, she said. She also seized the opportunity to seek the Imam's blessings for Karpowership and wished all Muslims in the country and across the world a fruitful Ramadan. The chief Imam commended Karpowership for their kind gesture saying, it is wonderful to see companies like Karpowership Ghana embodying these values by giving back to their community. Donations like this help to alleviate the financial burden that many families face during this time, and they also demonstrate the importance of supporting those in need. I hope that this donation from Karpowership Ghana will inspire others to give generously during Ramadan and throughout the year, he added. Eight persons have so far picked nomination forms to contest the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primary in the Kumawu Constituency by-election in the Ashanti Region. Nominations for the primary are expected to close today, April 14, 2023, after the party announced the picking of the forms from April 11, 2023. Those who have picked the forms are the current Director of Health Promotion at the Ghana Health Services (GHS), Dr Aboagye Dacosta; a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kumawu, Opanyin Yaw Baah; Obaapa Ama Serwaa, Ernest Anim, Dr Philip Yaw Barnor, Edward Kofi Osei, Kwame Appiah Kubi and Owusu Bempah. Opanyin Yaw Baah The Kumawu Constituency Communications Officer of the NPP, Ofori Farried, made this known to the Daily Graphic yesterday. He said as of yesterday, Thursday, April 13, 2023, a day before the closing of nominations, eight people had picked forms to contest the party's primary in the constituency. Replacement After the successful vetting of the aspirants, the party is expected to hold an election on Sunday, April 23, 2023, to select a parliamentary candidate to contest on the ticket of the party in the constituency by-election in the Ashanti Region. The exercise by the party is to replace the sitting MP for Kumawu, Philip Basoah, who passed in the early hours of Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Recall Parliament, before adjourning sine die for the Easter holidays, notified the Electoral Commission (EC) of the need to conduct a by-election in the Kumawu Constituency following the death of Philip Basoah, the NPP MP for the area. The EC is yet to fix a date for the by-election. Mr Bosoah, 53, was also a member of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic. Source: graphic.com.gh France's Constitutional Council will on Friday rule on the legality of President Emmanuel Macron's deeply unpopular pensions overhaul. Police have errected anti-riot barriers and have banned demonstrations around the seat of the council in central Paris until Saturday morning. Two decisions are to announced by the end of the day. First, the nine-member council is to decide whether the legislation on pensions reform is in line with the constitution. Second, the council will consider two separate requests from the left-wing political opposition on the organisation of a referendum on an alternative law limiting the retirement age to 62. An announcement is expected around 6pm. The French daily papers are filled with speculation. Most expert analysts suggest the Constitutional Council will scrap some details of the law, but will probably throw its weight behind the most important and most controversial, elements, including pushing to 64 the minimum legal age for retirement. Left-leaning Liberation says the council decision is supposed to be based on a neutral analysis of the law, without any political bias or personal preference. In fact, says Libe, bias and preference are inevitable, especially given the enormous political consequences the council's decision will have. If they decide to find fault with the government, the political landscape will be profoundly shaken; if they give the legislation the gree light, that will add to the frustrations and bitterness of those who oppose the reforms. Jean Maia, the council's sectretary-general, normally available to answer even the most stupid of journalistic questions, is in airplane mode. Times are tense. Damned if you do . . . Whatever decision is announced, the Constitutional Council is going to be viciously criticised, says former Justice Minister Jean-Jacques Urvoas And the decision won't bring the crisis to an end, one way or the other. Macron has accepted that public debate on the reform will continue. Sophie Binet, leader of the CGT union group, says the law will emerge "damaged" from the council deliberations. The final law will be "stained by a series of judicial, democratic and social failures," she says, calling on Macron to face the consequences. Binet also warns that the union movement remains united and determined, and "will react unanimously". CFDT union leader Laurent Berger has said that if the bill is only partially approved, it should be re-examined in parliament. Senior ruling party MP Eric Woerth said that he expected "the core part" of the law to be approved but he conceded that the government had failed to convince people. "Once the volcano has cooled down and people look at things with a bit more distance, perhaps in the back of their minds they'll say, 'maybe they were right'. The French pension system needed unpopular decisions to conserve it." Towards a referendum? As well as ruling on whether the pensions legislation and the way it was passed are in line with the constitution, the council must also decide on whether to approve an opposition demand for a referendum on an alternative pensions law. The path to such a referendum would be long and uncertain. The opposition would need to collect 4.8 million signatures from voters backing their proposal within nine months. And a referendum could take place only if both chambers of parliament refused to examine the bill in the next six months. 14.04.2023 LISTEN The John Dramani Mahama Campaign team is demanding a retraction and apology from Accra-based UTV for a quote it describes fake but attributed to the former President. The quote is said to put John Dramani Mahama in a bad light as attacking Ashantis. [Former] President Mahama has not made any such statement, either on his campaign rounds or to UTV, a statement issued by Spokesperson Joyce Bawa Mogtari on Friday, April 14 said. We believe this is yet another disinformation campaign to cause disaffection for Mr. John Mahama and demand a retraction and apology from UTV. Mr Mahama is currently on a regional campaign tour, canvassing for votes ahead of the Presidential Primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Saturday, May 13. He is currently in the Greater Accra Region, having ended a three-day campaign tour in the Eastern Region. Mr. Mahama remains focused on his 'Building Ghana we want Together' campaign and will not be distracted by such dirty propaganda, Joyce Bawa Mogtari stated. -3news.com Kumawood actors from the Kumasi-based film industry in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, April 12 2023, paid a working visit to the office of the Minister of Education. The delegation was led by renowned actor Akwasi Boadi, popularly known as Akrobeto, Okyeame Kwame, Koo Ofori, Samuel Nyamekye of Miracle Films, Director Jones, as well as Mikky Berko, who joined by Zoom. The group interacting with Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum expressed their willingness to contribute to the development of the education sector through films. The group further promised to produce films that not only entertain but also educate the masses on various societal issues. The minister for his part highlighted the importance of using films as a tool for education and urged the film producers to ensure that the films they produce will tell the untold stories of Ghana and inspire greatness in children. The sector minister was of the view that with collaborative efforts between the movie industry and the education sector, we will transform and raise the nation through films. Source: Classfmonline.com The Board Chairman for Oxygen Africa Health Forum Apostle Dr. Nii Teiko Tagoe has urged the government to improve the conditions of health practitioners to minimise migration to other countries in search of greener pastures. This, he said will enable health professionals to stay and work in Ghana. "Providing incentives for health professionals, especially for those working in rural and under-served areas, and re-engineering the training and regulation of doctors to include extensive exposure to rural and under-served areas will help improve the situation, he said. Apostle Dr. Nii Tieko Tagoe made this observation at the launch of Oxygen Africa Health Forum to mark "World Health Day" in Accra on Thursday, April 13, 2023. The Oxygen Health Forum is a biennial platform that seeks to bring key stakeholders in the healthcare sector in Africa and global stakeholders to discuss and share ideas about key issues affecting the health sector whilst providing innovative ideas on improving these problems. This forum is an initiative of the Oxygen Health tech powered by Corporate Health Ghana Limited to help foster collaboration and partnership for better health care. Speaking on Oxygen Health Tech, He said it is a digital health marketplace where one can click on multiple health services or dialling a short code * 800*222# to have access to health care services. Dr. Baffour Awuah - Special Advisor to the Minister of Health on Human Resource speaking on behalf of the Health Minister Hon Kwaku Agyemang Manu said over the years successive governments have done extremely well to improve the working conditions of health practitioners in the country. Highlighting on the issue of migration, he stated that "nobody can stop migration in the world, since it is not unique to Ghana even if conditions are good something will compel somebody to move out of the country. Some people travel to experience the naturalization of another country. Migration is something that nobody can solve in this world. Challenges will always be there, and governments are always working to put measures in place. Continuous improvement is the way to go". "The red alert is not entirely true, as far back as 4, or 5 years ago, Ghana has trained enough nursing professionals, what I'm told is, Ghana has not updated some of its courses with WHO, that is why our name is in there. As I said more than 50,000 qualified nurses that we have, if we are employing, we can not employ all of them. So this migration is also a way of stabilizing the system because if people are unemployed is also a threat to security," he explained. At the end of the forum, about 10 devoted and hard-working health practitioners received citations and awards for their tremendous work done towards humanity. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned attacks on the King of Ashanti Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. This comes on the back of viral videos with utterances inciting tribal discrimination towards the Ashanti monarch and Asantes. In a statement issued on Friday, 14 April 2023, signed by the Ashanti Regional Communication Directorate of the party, the NDC noted: Our attention has been drawn to some videos with utterances inciting the National Democratic Congress on tribal discrimination especially towards his Majesty Otumfuo Osei-Tutu and the Asantes in general. It advised the general public to ignore any such persons or people whose sole aim is to divert attention to their social media platforms with no regard for the NDC or what it stands for as a political party. The party emphasised that: Mr Kevin Taylor and others like him are not communicators of the NDC hence, their position on issues especially in relation to various tribes in Ghana do not constitute what the NDC represents. It, therefore, entreated its members, sympathisers and the general public to ignore and condemn such acts especially on social media. The Ashanti Regional Communication Directorate of the party also reassured all NDC members that, the leadership of the party remains focused on the agenda to gain power in 2024 from this wicked, insensitive government and help Ghana succeed as a democratic nation. Source: classfmonline.com 14.04.2023 LISTEN The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has issued a warning to all property rate payers as it moves to raise more revenue for the government. In a notice, GRA said all property rate payers who fail to settle their bills within 42 days of the bill date will be prosecuted in accordance with the law. Among the options under the Local Governance Act 936, Section 154 (1), the Ghana Revenue Authority has warned that the property of defaulters could be sold to recover what is owed. To avoid any issues with GRA, Ghanaians are advised to make prompt payments of all property rate bills. All property rate payers are to settle their bills within 42 days of the bill date. Defaulters will be prosecuted in accordance with the Local Governance Act 936, Section 154 (1), the court may authorize the sale of your property to recover the outstanding amount owed. Pay promptly to prevent any inconvenience, parts of a statement from the Ghana Revenue Authority said. Tax experts in recent times have admonished GRA to focus on property tax to rake in more revenue for the countrys development. Many believe that GRA should direct its officers to move door to door to ensure property owners pay what they owe. The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) has called on the Council of State members to give sound advice to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on current economic hardship and its impact on middle- and lower-income earners. Mr. Abraham Koomson, GFL Secretary General, said even though the Council has a task to advise President Akufo-Addo on issues as stated in Article 91 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the GFL believed that they were not doing enough as policies and some decisions taken by the government do not reflect their advice. He was speaking on the impact of the three billsthe Excise Duty and Excise Tax Stamp (Amendment) Bill, 2022, the Income Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2022, and the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill, 2022 which were passed by a 137-to-136 majority in Parliament when he appeared on the Ghana News Agency-Tema Industrial News Hub Dialogue platform. He said, "Sometimes we blame President Akufo-Addo, but I think those around him are not advising him well. The Council of State must live up to the task of advising him as part of their mandate." According to him, even though there have been a number of public issues, including the head cut and its resultant picketing by pension bondholders at the Finance Ministry, as well as the passage of the tax bills against the wishes of the majority of the people, the members of the Council of State have not been heard commenting on them in public. "Even if they advise the President and he is not taking it, they should let us know; they can also resign if their recommendations are not being taken, instead of just being there and adding to the state's expenditure," he stated. He urged them to listen to the cry of the public about the economic hardship and accordingly advise the President to lessen the burden through good fiscal, social, and developmental policies. The GFLs Secretary General also called on parliamentarians to serve as proper checks on the executive arm of government as required of them by rejecting such bills instead of approving them. He said there was a need for parliamentarians to truly represent the people who voted for them instead of following their parochial interests to the detriment of the citizenry. Mr. Koomson also called on political parties to organize orientations for people who want to be MPs using their political parties, explaining that it would help them know their ideologies and fight for them. He stated, for instance, that even though the New Patriotic Party (NPP) says its ideology is capitalism, and that of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is social democrats, the actions by their representatives in Parliament do 14.04.2023 LISTEN The spokesperson for John Dramani Mahama, Joyce Bawah Mogtari stressed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and other groups attempting to tarnish the image of the former President ahead of the 2024 general election will not be successful. According to her, the flagbearer hopeful of the NDC remains focused on his campaign and wont allow himself to be distracted by dirty propaganda by the NPP or any other group. This is contacted in a disclaimer issued by Joyce Bawah Mogtari in reaction to claims that John Dramani Mahama has launched an attack on Ashantis. The attention of the John Mahama Campaign has been drawn to a fake quote attributed to the former President purportedly attacking Ashantis. The said publication, which has been sourced to UTV, an Accra-based television station is false. Mr. Mahama remains focused on his Building the Ghana we want Together campaign and will not be distracted by such dirty propaganda, Madam Mogtari stated in the disclaimer. Meanwhile, John Dramani Mahama and his team are demanding an apology from UTV for falsely reporting the alleged attack on the Ashantis. We believe this is yet another disinformation campaign to cause disaffection for Mr. John Mahama, and demand a retraction and apology from UTV, the statement signed by Bawah Mogtari added. 14.04.2023 LISTEN One of the most important prayers of our parents was: our children would grow to achieve more than they did. Those prayers and struggle to accomplish better goals for our Youths bestow admiration and respect for elders everywhere, not only in Africa. Even when we disagree with elders, our Youths always had a way of expressing their objections without being disrespectful. We have opponents among learned cultures and reasonable people like ours, they leave enough room to disagree without being disagreeable. Youths everywhere are the social conscience of their communities and countries. It is no longer valid that most Youths are liberals because they have hearts and those over 40 years old are conservatives because they have brains. We can demonstrate good hearts and brains at any mature age. As we get over our 50s, we revert back to good hearts after realizing we cannot take with us what we acquired with brain and experience. All the rush for money boils down to a rat race trumped by good health to enjoy a little more out of whatever we acquired. Elders remain the keepers of culture, etiquette and history. This is the reason Yoruba say: Agba kin wa loja ki ori omo tuntun wo. Where there are elders, kids seldom go astray. One of the sayings in Things Fall Apart was: though age is respected, achievement is revered. So if a kid knows how to wash his hands he would eat with the elders. The same is true in the teachings of the holy Books. Degenerated culture leads to monkey see, monkey do. The greed of some elders leave very little good characters for the Youths to emulate. Youthful exuberance is a highly desirable character of the youth to encourage and further progressive ideas but not to make money at neck breaking speed. Unfortunately, today's youth cannot wait to get into nefarious activities like rituals, 419s, drug peddling and worse, terrorism. Their recruiters pay Youths more money for hopeless deadly missions in order to further their own selfish goals. The aberration we see today in leaders is disheartening to say the least. These recruiters of evil doers and destruction are the same entities that deprive Youths the opportunities they need to solve the pressing needs of their local communities with their skill and talents. So, Youths in desperation fall into their hands as instruments of terrorism or leave for what they think are greener pastures in foreign land as inferior beings. If colonial masters leave your countries in ruins, what makes you think they would love us there? It is no longer a secret that many African countries make good money from natural resources like oil and diamonds far in excess of what they made from Cocoa. Yet, Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana and Awolowo in Western Nigeria made unprecedented progress in Industrial Estates and Education that the colonists repressed to extend Africa dependence as colonial masters. When they were kicked out like the French in Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), the British and Portuguese in East Africa, they abandoned and intentionally left projects uncomplicated. Haiti in the Americas is another case in point. The French not only destroyed projects, they taxed Haiti and demanded heavy compensation as a condition for withdrawal to gain Independence. They made sure Haiti never recovered, even today. African slaves were told to be grateful they were sold outside. Otherwise, they could have been slaughtered and eaten alive. It is strange coming from slave masters that sold their own children by raped slave women, into slavery like cattle. While Africans are running out of their countries where foreigners get rich. Our Youths just want to get out since they believe their salvation is not where others get rich; because they have an indoctrinated neo-colonial mentality. Usually, the obstacles they face outside are greater than the ones they left at home. But they can at least eke out some subsistence living, better or more tasking than where they are well known. If we want to understand how that can happen up to the present day, we have to revisit what Nkrumah meant by Neo-Colonialism. It boils down to handing over power to unscrupulous elements within us that can deliver laundered earnings to them by remote control without being held responsible. It has never been a secret that if Europeans, Americans and lately Asians want to get rich, they rush to Africa. If you do not understand Nkrumah meaning of Neo-Colonialism, study how Lumumba was discarded in Congo and replaced with Mobutu yesterday or what is presently going on in Nigeria that was supposed to become a Regional Power in the 60s. These are well planned orchestrated policies of European domination in Africa. It is still paying dividends today with entrenched long term returns. Ask the Libyans of the quality of life during the time of Gadhafi compared to their lives today. The indelible mark of man's inhuman treatment to man lingers on till today. It was so vicious, many slaves revolted making Slavery a risky business and threats to lives of European slave traders. Since history has become a selective subject or dropped in schools, the pains have escaped presents African leaders basking in money laundering with a sense of false security that their children and relatives would never want while others languish in abject poverty looking for anyway out. Are these the descendants of slaves that revolted at home and abroad? Politicians boast of development as Africans race to the bottom of abject poverty. They entice Youths as thugs and religious fanatics while they disrespect cultural heads like Shaka, Osei, Eze, Sultan, Oba. These politicians are the tools of Neo-Colonialism that distract us from holding their masters responsible for laundering trillions out of Africa. They shuttle between Africa and foreign countries continually on consultations, medical treatment, vacations and religious homages as if there is no God in Africa. Though God taught us he is everywhere. Are you still wondering why we are at one anothers throat, Youths against elders, men against women and children running out in desperation instead of using their God-given talents and education to solve challenges in their villages, towns and countries. Farouk Martins Aresa @oomoaresa Nairobi, April 14, 2023 Ethiopian authorities should cease arbitrarily detaining journalists during times of political tension and investigate allegations that security officers attacked members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Between April 3 and April 13, security personnel in Ethiopias capital, Addis Ababa, arrested at least six journalists and allegedly assaulted two while in custody, according to multiple news reports and statements from local rights groups. Two other journalists were arrested in separate incidents in the Amhara and Oromia states. Six of the journalistsAmhara Media Center chief editor Abay Zewdu; Arat Kilo Media editor Dawit Begashaw; Ethio Selam editor Tewodros Asfaw; Yegna Media reporter Genet Asmamaw; Negere Wolkait Media editor Assefa Adane; and Ethio Nikat Media founder and editor Meskerem Aberaremain behind bars as of Friday, April 14, facing allegations which include inciting violence. All six publish reporting and commentary for privately owned YouTube-based outlets. Abay, Genet, Assefa, and Meskerem mainly report and commentate on political and social issues affecting the Amhara ethnic group, the second-largest in Ethiopia. Their arrests come amid political unrest in Amhara state, as protesters oppose government plans to dissolve regional forces. The latest spate of arrests in Ethiopia, in which at least eight journalists have been arrested since April 3, paints a deeply depressing picture of the state of press freedom in the country, said Muthoki Mumo, CPJs sub-Saharan Africa representative. Authorities should release all detained journalists, investigate allegations that some members of the press have been mistreated or assaulted while in state custody, and ensure that journalists do not operate in an environment of fear. The first arrest came on April 3, when two men who identified themselves as National Intelligence and Security Service members approached Yeayeneabeba Gizaw, managing editor of the privately owned magazine Yehabesha Wog, while she was running errands in Addis Ababa and forced her into a waiting vehicle, according to the journalists phone interviews with CPJ and privately owned satellite broadcaster Ethiopia Media Service (EMS) and a statement by independent watchdog Ethiopia Human Rights Council. The men drove Yeayeneabeba to an unmarked detention facility in Lebu, an outskirt neighborhood of Addis Ababa, where she was held in a room with nine other women. On April 4, a man and woman questioned her about her work in Oromia state, slapped her face, kicked one of her legs, and accused her of using Yehabesha Wog to defame Oromia state officials and the Addis Ababa mayor. She was released unconditionally on April 5. Yeayeneabeba did not suffer significant injury, she said, adding that her abduction was particularly unexpected because the magazine suspended printing in September 2022 due to the prohibitive cost. They plan to resume on a bi-monthly basis when they can, she said. On April 4, Oromia state police arrested Samuel Assefa, an EMS reporter, while he covered demolitions in the town of Legetafo-Legedadi, on the outskirts of the capital, according to EMS editor Wosenseged Gebrekidan, who spoke to CPJ by messaging app, and an Ethiopia Human Rights Council statement. Samuel appeared at the Legetafo-Legedadi town First Instance Court on April 5 and was accused of incitement and attempting to report without authorities permission, according to Wosenseged. The court granted the police an additional five days to hold Samuel, and on April 11, the court closed the case. Samuel was released on April 13 after paying bail of 10,000 Ethiopian birr (US$185). In separate incidents on April 6, federal police officers arrested Abay and Assefa, who is also a professor at Kotebe Metropolitan University, according to a report by Abays outlet and Abays sister, Zoma Zewdu, who communicated with CPJ via messaging app. Later that day, Abay and Assefa appeared at the Arada branch of the Federal First Instance Court in Addis Ababa alongside seven other people, and were accused of using social media platforms to organize youth violence, according to Zoma and court documents reviewed by CPJ. They were remanded to police custody for 10 more days, pending police investigations. Around 5 p.m. on April 6, five federal police officers arrested Genet, according to her lawyer, Henok Aklilu, and her brother, Andualem Demissie, who spoke to CPJ by phone. In an audio published by several media outlets and authenticated by Henok, an officer says, Beat her; kick her, and Genet says, Do not beat me. Why are you hitting me? Why are you kidnapping me without a court order? In an appearance at the Federal First Instance Court on April 7, Genet was accused of inciting violence on social media and other platforms and mobilizing young people to overthrow the government, according to Henok. The court granted police 10 days to hold her in custody pending further investigation. Genet complained to the court about abusive treatment by police, and the court ordered the federal police to investigate, according to Henok. Around 6 p.m. on April 9, 10 federal police officers arrested Meskerem, according to Henok, who represents her, and the journalists husband, Fitsum Gebremichael, who spoke to CPJ by phone. The Federal First Instance Court extended her detention by 13 days on April 11, giving police time to investigate allegations that she incited violence and riots through social media platforms and provided shooting training to unspecified informal groups, according to CPJs review of court documents. Meskerem was previously detained in May 2022 for 23 days and in December 2022 for three weeks. Ethio Nikat announced a hiatus after her December detention, and Meskerem had announced their return to air a week before her arrest. On the evening of Wednesday, April 12, Ethiopian National Defense Force soldiers arrested Dawit, while he was with friends at a hotel in Bahir Dar, the capital of Amhara state. Dawit was transported to the Federal Police detention center in Addis Ababa. In videos published by Arat Kilo before Dawits detention, the journalist vehemently criticized Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and spoke out against the disbandment of the Amhara special force. On the morning of April 13, two federal police officers and two plain-clothes security officers arrested Tewodros at his home on unspecified allegations, according to news reports, and his wife, Enat Tamirat, who spoke to CPJ by phone. Enat said officers searched their home, confiscated his passport and cell phone, and took Tewodros to the federal police detention center. In February, Tewodros was detained for eight days and released on bail. CPJs text and email to federal police spokesperson Jeylan Abdi and CPJs email, Facebook messages, and queries sent through the website of the Addis Ababa mayors office did not receive a response. Emails to the Federal Ministry of Justice, National Intelligence and Security Service, Oromia Communication Bureau, and Amhara Communication Bureau were unanswered or returned error messages. A total of 150 security personnel are expected to be deployed at this year's Muslim traditional procession (gangara) on the streets of Kumasi. The 'gangara,' is one of the rituals performed by Muslims after Ramadan fasting to create a platform for the various tribes to display their rich culture. This year's procession would be held on 22 April 2023, a press statement issued and signed by Naaba Musah Akabonga, the President of the Council of Zongo Chiefs in the Ashanti region had said. It said the procession would start from the Manhyia Roundabout through to Roman Hill and would be led by the Council of Zongo Chiefs. The security personnel, made up of the police, military, fire service and the Ghana ambulance service, would be present throughout the procession to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of participants. The statement assured the Zongo community that, effective measures had been put in place to create a peaceful environment for the various tribes to display their rich culture. It urged all the thirty-three (33) tribal heads and sub heads in the region to mobilise their members to ensure a successful and peaceful 'Gangara' as usual. It is the expectation of the council that all participants would be law abiding during the festive occasion and show up in decent dresses worthy of the Islamic faith, it said. The statement also implored all stakeholders and the public to disregard any claim that certain groups or individuals had been banned from participating in the event, saying the programme was opened to all traditional tribes in the Ashanti region who wanted to take part. The Council also sent their regards to the family of Sultan Umar Farouk Saeed, the immediate past Sarkin Zongo and prayed for Allahs mercy upon his soul. GNA Equities researchers at BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on shares of Darling Ingredients (NYSE:DAR Get Rating) in a research note issued on Thursday, The Fly reports. The brokerage set an outperform rating on the stock. Several other research analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Stephens reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $75.00 target price on shares of Darling Ingredients in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Darling Ingredients from $113.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. StockNews.com cut shares of Darling Ingredients from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday. Cowen reduced their price target on shares of Darling Ingredients from $79.00 to $73.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Darling Ingredients from $84.00 to $82.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $92.18. Get Darling Ingredients alerts: Darling Ingredients Price Performance DAR traded down $0.13 on Thursday, reaching $58.89. The company had a trading volume of 929,166 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,350,700. The company has a fifty day moving average of $61.24 and a 200-day moving average of $66.21. The company has a market capitalization of $9.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.09 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. Darling Ingredients has a one year low of $51.77 and a one year high of $87.59. Insider Buying and Selling at Darling Ingredients Darling Ingredients ( NYSE:DAR Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 27th. The company reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.28 by ($0.20). Darling Ingredients had a net margin of 11.29% and a return on equity of 20.89%. The business had revenue of $1.77 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.80 billion. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Darling Ingredients will post 5.56 earnings per share for the current year. In other Darling Ingredients news, Director Charles L. Adair bought 500 shares of Darling Ingredients stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 16th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $54.15 per share, for a total transaction of $27,075.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 36,551 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,979,236.65. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, Director Charles L. Adair acquired 500 shares of Darling Ingredients stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 16th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $54.15 per share, for a total transaction of $27,075.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 36,551 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,979,236.65. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Patrick Mcnutt acquired 900 shares of Darling Ingredients stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $54.07 per share, with a total value of $48,663.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,287 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $664,358.09. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 2.62% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Darling Ingredients Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its position in Darling Ingredients by 97.9% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 14,145 shares of the companys stock worth $1,133,000 after acquiring an additional 6,999 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can increased its holdings in Darling Ingredients by 20.4% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 21,054 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,697,000 after buying an additional 3,563 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Darling Ingredients in the 1st quarter valued at $141,000. Panagora Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in Darling Ingredients in the 1st quarter valued at $447,000. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can increased its holdings in Darling Ingredients by 8.2% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 89,124 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,366,000 after buying an additional 6,770 shares during the period. 90.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Darling Ingredients Company Profile (Get Rating) Darling Ingredients, Inc engages in the development and production of natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients. It operates through the following segments: Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients, and Fuel Ingredients. The Feed Ingredients segment includes ingredients business such as fats and proteins used cooking oil, trap grease and food residuals collection, the Rothsay ingredients, and the ingredients and specialty products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Darling Ingredients Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Darling Ingredients and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco Perpetual Select Trust plc Balanced Risk Allocation Share Portfolio (LON:IVPB Get Rating) declared a dividend on Wednesday, April 12th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 20th will be paid a dividend of GBX 1 ($0.01) per share on Tuesday, May 16th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.74%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 20th. The official announcement can be accessed at this link. Invesco Perpetual Select Trust plc Balanced Risk Allocation Share Portfolio Price Performance Shares of IVPB stock remained flat at GBX 134.50 ($1.67) during mid-day trading on Thursday. 362 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,583. The firms 50-day moving average is GBX 137.25 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 132.66. Invesco Perpetual Select Trust plc Balanced Risk Allocation Share Portfolio has a fifty-two week low of GBX 110.50 ($1.37) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 163.80 ($2.03). The stock has a market cap of 5.57 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of -2,241.67. Get Invesco Perpetual Select Trust plc - Balanced Risk Allocation Share Portfolio alerts: Invesco Perpetual Select Trust plc Balanced Risk Allocation Share Portfolio Company Profile (Get Rating) Featured Articles Invesco Perpetual Select Trust plc Balanced Risk Share Portfolio is a multi-asset mutual fund launched and managed by Invesco Fund Managers Limited. The fund is co-managed by Invesco Asset Management Limited. It invests in the public equity, fixed income and commodities markets across the globe. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the FTSE World Index World. Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Perpetual Select Trust plc - Balanced Risk Allocation Share Portfolio Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Perpetual Select Trust plc - Balanced Risk Allocation Share Portfolio and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Malvern International Plc (LON:MLVN Get Rating) insider Alan Carroll sold 142,850 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 13 ($0.16), for a total transaction of 18,570.50 ($22,997.52). Malvern International Trading Up 3.7 % Shares of LON MLVN opened at GBX 14 ($0.17) on Friday. Malvern International Plc has a 1-year low of GBX 7 ($0.09) and a 1-year high of GBX 17.45 ($0.22). The company has a market cap of 3.42 million, a PE ratio of -140.00 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a current ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 70.89. The company has a 50-day moving average of GBX 13.67 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 10.39. Get Malvern International alerts: About Malvern International (Get Rating) Featured Stories Malvern International Plc, an investment holding company, provides educational consultancy services in the United Kingdom. The company operates Malvern House London; Malvern House Brighton; Language in Action; Communicate School in Manchester; and Malvern Online Academy. Its colleges offer English language courses, professional teacher training programs, juniors and summer camps, and bespoke group courses; and university pathway programs, such as foundation year, year one, graduate diploma, pre-master's program, and academic and pre-sessional English programs. Receive News & Ratings for Malvern International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Malvern International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Atria Investments Inc lifted its stake in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating) by 5.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 108,136 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 5,637 shares during the period. Atria Investments Incs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $9,003,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of SCHW. Fisher Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Charles Schwab in the third quarter worth about $1,109,194,000. Boston Partners increased its holdings in shares of 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 period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings 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 worth $8,943,291,000 after buying an additional 2,589,952 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 7.4% in the third quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 20,767,564 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,492,565,000 after buying an additional 1,431,879 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 10.9% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 13,495,161 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $969,896,000 after buying an additional 1,322,868 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.49% of the companys stock. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have recently commented on SCHW shares. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Charles Schwab from $90.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on Charles Schwab from $109.00 to $83.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on Charles Schwab from $89.00 to $65.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on Charles Schwab from $98.00 to $75.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley downgraded Charles Schwab from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and reduced their price target for the company from $99.00 to $68.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $76.21. Insider Transactions at Charles Schwab Charles Schwab Stock Down 0.8 % In related news, insider Bernard J. Clark purchased 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $54.83 per share, with a total value of $274,150.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 120,653 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,615,403.99. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link . In related news, insider Bernard J. Clark purchased 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $54.83 per share, with a total value of $274,150.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 120,653 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,615,403.99. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link . Also, President Richard A. Wurster purchased 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $54.39 per share, for a total transaction of $108,780.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 101,391 shares in the company, valued at $5,514,656.49. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . In the last ninety days, insiders have purchased 81,000 shares of company stock valued at $4,706,960 and have sold 728,106 shares valued at $58,067,403. Insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock. SCHW stock opened at $51.49 on Friday. The Charles Schwab Co. has a fifty-two week low of $45.00 and a fifty-two week high of $86.63. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $66.66 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $74.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a current ratio of 0.38. The company has a market capitalization of $92.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 0.88. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.10 by ($0.03). Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 24.94% and a net margin of 34.60%. The firm had revenue of $5.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.55 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.86 EPS. The firms revenue was up 16.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Charles Schwab Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 10th were given a $0.25 dividend. This is a boost from Charles Schwabs previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.94%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 9th. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is currently 28.57%. Charles Schwab Company Profile (Get Rating) The Charles Schwab Corp. is a savings and loan holding company, which engages in the provision of wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. It operates through the Investor Services and Advisor Services segments. The Investor Services segment includes retail brokerage and banking services to individual investors, and retirement plan services, as well as other corporate brokerage services, to businesses and their employees. Read More 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) had its target price dropped by investment analysts at Barclays from $189.00 to $179.00 in a research note issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports. The brokerage presently has an overweight rating on the financial services providers stock. Barclayss price objective points to a potential upside of 38.77% from the stocks previous close. Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. Citigroup boosted their price target on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $150.00 to $165.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 17th. StockNews.com began coverage on JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. UBS Group set a $156.00 price objective on JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Friday, January 13th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $150.00 to $132.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $173.00 to $153.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Six 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.com, JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $148.78. Get JPMorgan Chase & Co. alerts: JPMorgan Chase & Co. Trading Up 0.4 % JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock opened at $128.99 on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 52 week low of $101.28 and a 52 week high of $144.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 0.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $378.13 billion, a PE ratio of 10.68, a PEG ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.10. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $135.19 and its 200-day simple moving average is $130.92. Insider Transactions at JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPMorgan Chase & Co. ( NYSE:JPM Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 13th. The financial services provider reported $3.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.11 by $0.46. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a return on equity of 14.68% and a net margin of 24.34%. The firm had revenue of $34.55 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $34.23 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.33 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 18.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 12.82 earnings per share for the current year. In other news, Director Mellody L. Hobson acquired 375 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 19th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $134.53 per share, with a total value of $50,448.75. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 22,040 shares in the company, valued at $2,965,041.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, Director Mellody L. Hobson acquired 375 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 19th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $134.53 per share, with a total value of $50,448.75. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 22,040 shares in the company, valued at $2,965,041.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Mary E. Erdoes sold 10,340 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $140.29, for a total value of $1,450,598.60. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 544,136 shares in the company, valued at approximately $76,336,839.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 37,887 shares of company stock valued at $5,315,762 in the last three months. 0.79% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of JPM. Twin Lakes Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Twin Lakes Capital Management LLC now owns 13,786 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,849,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the period. Karpas Strategies LLC lifted its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Karpas Strategies LLC now owns 21,608 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,898,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the period. Oxler Private Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Oxler Private Wealth LLC now owns 8,158 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,094,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the period. Sanford Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. Sanford Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,176 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $426,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the period. Finally, Gould Asset Management LLC CA lifted its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Gould Asset Management LLC CA now owns 6,580 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $882,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.89% of the companys stock. About JPMorgan Chase & Co. (Get Rating) JPMorgan Chase & Co is a financial holding company, which engages in providing financial and investment banking services. The firm offers a range of investment banking products and services in all capital markets, including advising on corporate strategy and structure, capital raising in equity and debt markets, risk management, market making in cash securities and derivative instruments, and brokerage and research. Read More Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan Chase & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of BNP Paribas SA (EPA:BNP Get Rating) crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of 54.67 ($59.42) and traded as high as 58.13 ($63.18). BNP Paribas shares last traded at 56.92 ($61.87), with a volume of 3,216,583 shares trading hands. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have issued reports on BNP. Berenberg Bank set a 70.00 ($76.09) price objective on BNP Paribas in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a 60.00 ($65.22) price objective on BNP Paribas in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Credit Suisse Group set a 78.00 ($84.78) price objective on BNP Paribas in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Royal Bank of Canada set a 77.00 ($83.70) price target on BNP Paribas in a report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, UBS Group set a 72.00 ($78.26) price target on BNP Paribas in a report on Monday, March 6th. Get BNP Paribas alerts: BNP Paribas Stock Up 0.8 % The firm has a 50 day moving average of 59.60 and a 200-day moving average of 54.69. BNP Paribas Company Profile BNP Paribas SA engages in the provision of banking and financial services in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates through three divisions: Corporate & Institutional Banking; Investment & Protection Services; and Commercial, Personal Banking & Services. The Corporate & Institutional Banking division offers capital markets, securities services, investment banking, financing, risk management, cash management, and financial advisory services for corporate clients, and institutional investors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for BNP Paribas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BNP Paribas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered shares of Bread Financial (NYSE:BFH Get Rating) from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note released on Tuesday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. The brokerage currently has $30.00 price objective on the stock, down from their previous price objective of $35.00. Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Bread Financial from $39.00 to $32.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Stephens restated an overweight rating and issued a $64.00 price objective on shares of Bread Financial in a report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on shares of Bread Financial from $42.00 to $36.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $44.88. Get Bread Financial alerts: Bread Financial Stock Performance NYSE BFH opened at $27.66 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $1.39 billion, a PE ratio of 6.20, a P/E/G ratio of 0.16 and a beta of 1.92. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. Bread Financial has a twelve month low of $26.21 and a twelve month high of $60.79. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $34.87 and a 200-day simple moving average of $36.14. Bread Financial Announces Dividend Bread Financial ( NYSE:BFH Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 26th. The company reported ($2.68) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($3.67) by $0.99. The firm had revenue of $1.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.01 billion. Bread Financial had a net margin of 5.13% and a return on equity of 9.69%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 20.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.21 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Bread Financial will post 9.67 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 17th. Investors of record on Friday, February 10th were paid a dividend of $0.21 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 9th. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.04%. Bread Financials payout ratio is 18.83%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bread Financial A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BFH. Quantinno Capital Management LP purchased a new position in Bread Financial in the third quarter valued at approximately $224,000. Versor Investments LP purchased a new stake in shares of Bread Financial during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $532,000. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Bread Financial during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $3,142,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Bread Financial during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,130,000. Finally, State of Alaska Department of Revenue purchased a new stake in shares of Bread Financial during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $224,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.62% of the companys stock. Bread Financial Company Profile (Get Rating) Bread Financial Holdings, Inc engages in the provision of payment, lending, and saving solutions. The firm also offers private label and co-brand credit cards and buy now, pay later products such as installment loans and split-pay offerings. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Columbus, OH. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bread Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bread Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed their market perform rating on shares of Chicos FAS (NYSE:CHS Get Rating) in a report issued on Tuesday morning, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a $6.00 price target on the specialty retailers stock. Several other analysts have also issued reports on CHS. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Chicos FAS in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. B. Riley assumed coverage on Chicos FAS in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Get Chico's FAS alerts: Chicos FAS Stock Down 0.9 % NYSE:CHS opened at $5.22 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 1.14. The company has a market cap of $652.87 million, a PE ratio of 5.93 and a beta of 1.20. Chicos FAS has a 52-week low of $3.80 and a 52-week high of $7.30. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $5.49 and a 200 day simple moving average of $5.43. Insider Activity at Chicos FAS Chicos FAS ( NYSE:CHS Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 28th. The specialty retailer reported $0.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $524.05 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $512.00 million. Chicos FAS had a return on equity of 36.01% and a net margin of 5.09%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Chicos FAS will post 0.89 EPS for the current fiscal year. In related news, Director Bonnie R. Brooks sold 30,400 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.15, for a total value of $186,960.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 774,240 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,761,576. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Chicos FAS news, Director Bonnie R. Brooks sold 30,400 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.15, for a total transaction of $186,960.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 774,240 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,761,576. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Bonnie R. Brooks sold 69,600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.28, for a total transaction of $437,088.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 704,640 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,425,139.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 3.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chicos FAS Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its position in shares of Chicos FAS by 109.5% in the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 6,649 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 3,475 shares in the last quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY raised its position in shares of Chicos FAS by 33.2% in the third quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY now owns 7,558 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 1,885 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Chicos FAS in the third quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Sei Investments Co. raised its position in shares of Chicos FAS by 20.6% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 14,093 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 2,404 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mirabella Financial Services LLP acquired a new position in Chicos FAS in the first quarter valued at about $48,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.59% of the companys stock. Chicos FAS Company Profile (Get Rating) Chicos FAS, Inc engages in the retail of womens private branded, sophisticated, casual-to-dressy apparel, intimates, and complementary accessories. It operates through the following segments: Chicos, White House Black Market, and Soma. The Chicos segment sells exclusively designed, private branded clothing focusing on women with moderate-to-high household income levels. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Chico's FAS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chico's FAS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of China CITIC Bank Co. Limited (OTCMKTS:CHCJY Get Rating) hit a new 52-week high on Friday . The stock traded as high as $10.38 and last traded at $10.38, with a volume of 399 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $10.05. China CITIC Bank Stock Up 3.3 % The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.85. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $9.32 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $8.76. Get China CITIC Bank alerts: China CITIC Bank (OTCMKTS:CHCJY Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The company reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $7.16 billion for the quarter. About China CITIC Bank 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. See Also 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. Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY Get Rating) had its price objective raised by Citigroup from $63.00 to $66.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, The Fly reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the oil and gas producers stock. A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on OXY. Mizuho decreased their price target on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $83.00 to $79.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Occidental Petroleum in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Roth Capital reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Occidental Petroleum in a report on Monday, February 27th. Evercore ISI cut shares of Occidental Petroleum from an in-line rating to an underperform rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $74.00 to $60.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, Raymond James decreased their price target on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $80.00 to $75.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $72.94. Get Occidental Petroleum alerts: Occidental Petroleum Stock Performance Shares of Occidental Petroleum stock opened at $64.77 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $58.17 billion, a PE ratio of 5.23, a P/E/G ratio of 0.50 and a beta of 1.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.15. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $61.48 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $64.91. Occidental Petroleum has a one year low of $51.53 and a one year high of $77.13. Occidental Petroleum Increases Dividend Occidental Petroleum ( NYSE:OXY Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 27th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.61 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.83 by ($0.22). The company had revenue of $8.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.21 billion. Occidental Petroleum had a net margin of 35.87% and a return on equity of 52.68%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 97.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.48 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Occidental Petroleum will post 5.78 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 10th will be given a dividend of $0.18 per share. This is a positive change from Occidental Petroleums previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 9th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.11%. Occidental Petroleums dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 5.82%. Insider Activity In other Occidental Petroleum news, major shareholder Berkshire Hathaway Inc bought 1,518,001 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 15th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $56.70 per share, for a total transaction of $86,070,656.70. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 208,040,405 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,795,890,963.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders have acquired 12,371,716 shares of company stock worth $735,557,715 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in OXY. Orion Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Occidental Petroleum in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. purchased a new position in Occidental Petroleum in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Occidental Petroleum in the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Selway Asset Management purchased a new position in Occidental Petroleum in the 3rd quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, Financial Freedom LLC purchased a new position in Occidental Petroleum in the 4th quarter valued at $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.45% of the companys stock. About Occidental Petroleum (Get Rating) Occidental Petroleum Corp. engages in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. It operates through the following segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing. The Oil and Gas segment explores for, develops and produces oil and condensate, natural gas liquids and natural gas. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Occidental Petroleum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Occidental Petroleum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT Get Rating) has been given a consensus rating of Moderate Buy by the six ratings firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $13.88. Several brokerages have recently weighed in on CLVT. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Clarivate from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Morgan Stanley cut Clarivate from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $11.00 to $12.00 in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $14.00 target price on shares of Clarivate in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, Bank of America initiated coverage on Clarivate in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. They set a neutral rating for the company. Get Clarivate alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Clarivate Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Farallon Capital Management LLC raised its position in Clarivate by 65.1% during the 3rd quarter. Farallon Capital Management LLC now owns 40,546,300 shares of the companys stock valued at $380,730,000 after purchasing an additional 15,988,500 shares during the last quarter. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Clarivate by 86.1% during the 3rd quarter. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC now owns 33,781,635 shares of the companys stock worth $317,210,000 after acquiring an additional 15,626,160 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Clarivate by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 24,170,785 shares of the companys stock worth $226,964,000 after acquiring an additional 319,618 shares during the period. Exor N.V. purchased a new position in shares of Clarivate during the 4th quarter worth approximately $138,994,000. Finally, State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of Clarivate by 10.0% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 11,090,387 shares of the companys stock worth $185,875,000 after acquiring an additional 1,011,303 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.34% of the companys stock. Clarivate Price Performance About Clarivate Shares of NYSE CLVT opened at $9.24 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $6.24 billion, a PE ratio of -1.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 1.07. Clarivate has a fifty-two week low of $7.85 and a fifty-two week high of $17.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 0.89. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $10.11 and a 200-day moving average of $9.77. (Get Rating) Clarivate Plc engages in the provision of global information, analytics, and workflow solutions. It operates through the following segments: Academia and Government (A&G), Life Sciences and Healthcare (LS&H), and Intellectual Property (IP). The A&G segment consists of products and services to organizations that plan, fund, implement, and utilize education and research at a global, national, institutional, and individual level. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Clarivate Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Clarivate and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Get Rating) had its price objective upped by Truist Financial from $151.00 to $167.00 in a report released on Tuesday morning, The Fly reports. Truist Financial currently has a buy rating on the energy producers stock. Several other research analysts have also commented on COP. Wolfe Research lowered ConocoPhillips from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 12th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on ConocoPhillips from $122.00 to $115.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Capital One Financial cut ConocoPhillips from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $102.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of ConocoPhillips in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of ConocoPhillips in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, ConocoPhillips currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $137.10. Get ConocoPhillips alerts: ConocoPhillips Stock Up 1.4 % Shares of NYSE:COP opened at $109.04 on Tuesday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $104.78 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $114.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.46, a quick ratio of 1.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. ConocoPhillips has a 12-month low of $78.30 and a 12-month high of $138.49. The firm has a market cap of $132.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.51, a PEG ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.30. ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend ConocoPhillips ( NYSE:COP Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The energy producer reported $2.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.72 by ($0.01). ConocoPhillips had a return on equity of 35.30% and a net margin of 22.74%. The firm had revenue of $19.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $18.16 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.27 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 20.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that ConocoPhillips will post 10.57 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 29th will be issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 28th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.87%. ConocoPhillipss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 14.06%. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director R A. Walker purchased 4,800 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $104.50 per share, for a total transaction of $501,600.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 22,800 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,382,600. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.40% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of ConocoPhillips A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Whalerock Point Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of ConocoPhillips during the 3rd quarter valued at $204,680,000. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 205.8% during the 4th quarter. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 211 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares during the last quarter. Orion Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 149.5% during the 4th quarter. Orion Capital Management LLC now owns 227 shares of the energy producers stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC grew its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips by 93.4% in the 4th quarter. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC now owns 236 shares of the energy producers stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 114 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips during the third quarter worth $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.76% of the companys stock. About ConocoPhillips (Get Rating) ConocoPhillips engages in the exploration, production, transportation and marketing of crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, natural gas liquids, and liquefied natural gas on a worldwide basis. It operates through the following geographical segments: Alaska, Lower 48, Canada, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Asia Pacific, and Other International. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for ConocoPhillips Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ConocoPhillips and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. FLEX LNG Ltd. (NYSE:FLNG Get Rating) has been given an average recommendation of Hold by the seven research firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $158.00. Several research firms have weighed in on FLNG. Danske downgraded FLEX LNG from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a $36.00 target price on shares of FLEX LNG in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Get FLEX LNG alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On FLEX LNG Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FLNG. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in FLEX LNG by 721.8% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,078,965 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,172,000 after purchasing an additional 947,675 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp bought a new position in FLEX LNG during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $13,060,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in FLEX LNG by 147.7% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 338,553 shares of the companys stock worth $9,656,000 after buying an additional 201,876 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in FLEX LNG by 220.6% during the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 281,548 shares of the companys stock worth $7,712,000 after buying an additional 193,733 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp bought a new position in FLEX LNG during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $5,068,000. 20.60% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. FLEX LNG Stock Up 3.8 % NYSE FLNG opened at $35.16 on Friday. FLEX LNG has a 52 week low of $23.25 and a 52 week high of $38.24. The company has a quick ratio of 2.28, a current ratio of 2.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $33.33 and its 200-day simple moving average is $32.99. The firm has a market cap of $1.79 billion, a PE ratio of 9.62 and a beta of 0.94. FLEX LNG (NYSE:FLNG Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 14th. The company reported $1.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.64 by $0.38. The firm had revenue of $97.93 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $91.70 million. FLEX LNG had a return on equity of 16.95% and a net margin of 54.05%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that FLEX LNG will post 3.03 earnings per share for the current year. FLEX LNG Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 23rd were given a $0.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 22nd. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.53%. FLEX LNGs dividend payout ratio is currently 85.23%. FLEX LNG Company Profile (Get Rating) FLEX LNG Ltd. engages in the operation of carrier vessels. It focuses on the engineering and construction of liquefied natural gas producer units. The company was founded by Philip Eystein Fjeld, Trym Tveitnes and Jostein Ueland in August 2006 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for FLEX LNG Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FLEX LNG and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fukuoka Financial Group, Inc. (OTC:FKKFF Get Rating) shares hit a new 52-week low on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $17.36 and last traded at $17.36, with a volume of 0 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.36. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Daiwa Capital Markets lowered shares of Fukuoka Financial Group from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Get Fukuoka Financial Group alerts: Fukuoka Financial Group Price Performance The firms 50-day simple moving average is $17.36 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $17.36. The company has a market capitalization of $14.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -32.14 and a beta of 0.03. 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. Featured Stories 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. Gjensidige Forsikring ASA (OTCMKTS:GJNSY Get Rating) was downgraded by investment analysts at HSBC from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Gjensidige Forsikring ASA Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS GJNSY opened at $17.56 on Wednesday. Gjensidige Forsikring ASA has a one year low of $15.27 and a one year high of $24.94. The companys fifty day moving average is $17.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is $18.20. Get Gjensidige Forsikring ASA alerts: About Gjensidige Forsikring ASA (Get Rating) Read More Gjensidige Forsikring ASA engages in the provision of insurance services. It operates through the following segments: General Insurance Private, General Insurance Commercial, General Insurance Denmark, General Insurance Sweden, General Insurance Baltics, and Pension. The General Insurance Private segment offers insurances related to motor, property, accident and health, and leisure. Receive News & Ratings for Gjensidige Forsikring ASA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gjensidige Forsikring ASA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Greenbrier Companies (NYSE:GBX Get Rating) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Wednesday morning. GBX has been the subject of a number of other research reports. TheStreet upgraded Greenbrier Companies from a c rating to a b rating in a research note on Monday. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of Greenbrier Companies from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Stephens raised their target price on shares of Greenbrier Companies from $36.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $35.33. Get Greenbrier Companies alerts: Greenbrier Companies Stock Performance GBX stock opened at $30.76 on Wednesday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $30.64 and its 200 day simple moving average is $31.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.01 billion, a PE ratio of 26.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a current ratio of 1.74, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. Greenbrier Companies has a 12-month low of $23.80 and a 12-month high of $45.98. Greenbrier Companies Dividend Announcement Greenbrier Companies ( NYSE:GBX Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 10th. The transportation company reported $0.99 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.50 by $0.49. The firm had revenue of $1.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.07 billion. Greenbrier Companies had a return on equity of 4.13% and a net margin of 1.09%. The companys revenue was up 64.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.38 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Greenbrier Companies will post 2.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 25th will be given a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.51%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 24th. Greenbrier Companiess payout ratio is presently 93.91%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Greenbrier Companies A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in GBX. Samalin Investment Counsel LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Greenbrier Companies during the first quarter valued at $39,000. Antonetti Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Greenbrier Companies during the 3rd quarter worth about $44,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its holdings in Greenbrier Companies by 160.2% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,382 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $82,000 after acquiring an additional 2,082 shares during the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI raised its holdings in Greenbrier Companies by 51.5% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 4,338 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $105,000 after acquiring an additional 1,474 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Natixis acquired a new stake in Greenbrier Companies in the 4th quarter valued at about $111,000. 95.95% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Greenbrier Companies (Get Rating) Greenbrier Cos., Inc engages in the design, manufacture and marketing of railroad freight car equipment. It operates through the following segments: Manufacturing, Maintenance Services, Leasing & Management Services, and Corporate. The Manufacturing segment includes double-stack intermodal railcars, tank cars, and marine vessels. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Greenbrier Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Greenbrier Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL Get Rating) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Roth Mkm from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday, Briefing.com reports. They currently have a $6.25 price objective on the basic materials companys stock, up from their prior price objective of $5.50. Roth Mkms price target suggests a potential downside of 9.81% from the companys current price. Several other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com started coverage on Hecla Mining in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a sell rating on the stock. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Hecla Mining from $4.75 to $5.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, January 13th. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their target price on Hecla Mining from $7.25 to $6.25 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Finally, HC Wainwright lifted their price target on Hecla Mining from $7.00 to $8.25 in a report on Friday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $6.14. Get Hecla Mining alerts: Hecla Mining Stock Up 4.4 % NYSE HL opened at $6.93 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $5.71 and a 200 day moving average price of $5.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.50. The company has a market cap of $4.21 billion, a P/E ratio of -98.99 and a beta of 2.06. Hecla Mining has a one year low of $3.41 and a one year high of $7.38. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hecla Mining ( NYSE:HL Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 15th. The basic materials company reported $0.02 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $194.83 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $196.20 million. Hecla Mining had a negative net margin of 5.20% and a positive return on equity of 1.44%. Research analysts anticipate that Hecla Mining will post 0.09 EPS for the current fiscal year. Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Hecla Mining by 200.0% in the 4th quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 4,500 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 3,000 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its position in Hecla Mining by 104.3% in the second quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 9,659 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 4,932 shares during the period. Verition Fund Management LLC purchased a new stake in Hecla Mining in the second quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Private Advisor Group LLC acquired a new position in Hecla Mining during the third quarter worth $42,000. Finally, Nomura Holdings Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Hecla Mining during the second quarter worth $45,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 59.73% of the companys stock. About Hecla Mining (Get Rating) Hecla Mining Co operates as a silver and gold production company. The firm produces lead, zinc and bulk concentrates for custom smelters and brokers and develops unrefined precipitate and bullion bars for precious metals traders. It operates through the following business segments: Greens Creek, Lucky Friday, Casa Berardi, and Nevada Operations. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Hecla Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hecla Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF (NYSEARCA:EWL Get Rating) shares saw strong trading volume on Friday . 917,720 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 15% from the previous sessions volume of 800,897 shares.The stock last traded at $47.16 and had previously closed at $47.32. iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF Trading Down 0.3 % The stocks 50 day moving average price is $44.39 and its 200 day moving average price is $42.51. The company has a market cap of $1.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.35 and a beta of 0.73. Get iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its position in iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF by 66.6% during the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,016 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 406 shares in the last quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $58,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA increased its position in iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF by 247.3% during the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 1,799 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $88,000 after purchasing an additional 1,281 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its position in iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF by 51.6% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,326 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $87,000 after purchasing an additional 792 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $133,000. iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI Switzerland Capped ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Switzerland Capped Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Switzerland 25/50 Index (the Index). Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin Co. (NYSE:LMT Get Rating) by 0.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 124,940 shares of the aerospace companys stock after buying an additional 219 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLCs holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $60,782,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Optiver Holding B.V. purchased a new stake in Lockheed Martin during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Cowa LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA increased its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 700.0% in the 4th quarter. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA now owns 80 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Paragon Wealth Strategies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Finally, EWG Elevate Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $45,000. 75.18% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Lockheed Martin alerts: Insider Transactions at Lockheed Martin In other news, EVP Timothy S. Cahill sold 2,534 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $479.44, for a total value of $1,214,900.96. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 10,460 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,014,942.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, Director John Donovan bought 556 shares of Lockheed Martin stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 25th. The stock was bought at an average price of $451.20 per share, for a total transaction of $250,867.20. Following the purchase, the director now owns 2,324 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,048,588.80. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Timothy S. Cahill sold 2,534 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $479.44, for a total transaction of $1,214,900.96. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 10,460 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,014,942.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Lockheed Martin Stock Performance A number of equities research analysts have commented on LMT shares. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Lockheed Martin from a neutral rating to a sell rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $388.00 to $332.00 in a research report on Friday, January 13th. DZ Bank raised shares of Lockheed Martin from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $523.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 30th. Credit Suisse Group raised shares of Lockheed Martin from an underperform rating to an outperform rating and increased their price objective for the company from $427.00 to $510.00 in a research report on Monday, February 6th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Lockheed Martin in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut shares of Lockheed Martin from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $513.00 target price for the company. in a report on Wednesday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $490.43. NYSE:LMT traded down $4.33 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $487.81. 137,825 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,430,165. The firm has a market capitalization of $124.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.67, a P/E/G ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a 50-day moving average of $476.93 and a 200 day moving average of $465.92. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67. Lockheed Martin Co. has a 1-year low of $373.67 and a 1-year high of $498.95. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 24th. The aerospace company reported $7.79 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $7.41 by $0.38. The firm had revenue of $18.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $18.25 billion. Lockheed Martin had a net margin of 8.69% and a return on equity of 68.01%. Lockheed Martins quarterly revenue was up 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $7.47 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Lockheed Martin Co. will post 26.84 EPS for the current year. Lockheed Martin Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 1st were paid a dividend of $3.00 per share. This represents a $12.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 28th. Lockheed Martins dividend payout ratio is currently 55.27%. Lockheed Martin Profile (Get Rating) Lockheed Martin Corp. is a global security and aerospace company, which engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services. It operates through the following business segments: Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control (MFC), Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS), and Space. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Lockheed Martin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lockheed Martin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JAPAN POST BANK Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:JPPTY Get Rating) was down 5.1% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $8.22 and last traded at $8.22. Approximately 200 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 83% from the average daily volume of 1,175 shares. The stock had previously closed at $8.66. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Citigroup upgraded shares of JAPAN POST BANK from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 16th. Get JAPAN POST BANK alerts: JAPAN POST BANK Price Performance The stocks fifty day moving average price is $8.81. About JAPAN POST BANK JAPAN POST BANK Co, Ltd. provides various banking products and services to retail and corporate clients in Japan and internationally. The company offers liquid deposits, including transfer deposits, savings deposits, ordinary deposits, etc.; fixed-term deposits, such as time deposits, TEIGAKU deposits, etc.; and other deposits, as well as negotiable certificates of deposit. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for JAPAN POST BANK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JAPAN POST BANK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Douglas Emmett (NYSE:DEI Get Rating) had its target price trimmed by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $20.00 to $15.00 in a research report report published on Monday morning, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the real estate investment trusts stock. Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Douglas Emmett in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Piper Sandler raised shares of Douglas Emmett from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the company from $13.00 to $15.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Douglas Emmett from $18.00 to $16.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 16th. Credit Suisse Group downgraded Douglas Emmett from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $16.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Monday, January 9th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on Douglas Emmett from $13.00 to $12.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $15.78. Get Douglas Emmett alerts: Douglas Emmett Stock Performance Shares of DEI stock opened at $12.29 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.35 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $13.64 and a 200 day moving average price of $15.50. Douglas Emmett has a one year low of $10.62 and a one year high of $32.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 2.77 and a current ratio of 2.77. Douglas Emmett Dividend Announcement Institutional Trading of Douglas Emmett The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be issued a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. Douglas Emmetts payout ratio is currently 138.18%. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in DEI. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Douglas Emmett by 63.4% during the third quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 91,198 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,620,000 after buying an additional 35,371 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC grew its position in Douglas Emmett by 400.7% during the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 1,467 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 1,174 shares in the last quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System increased its stake in Douglas Emmett by 21.3% in the 3rd quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 99,512 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,784,000 after buying an additional 17,467 shares during the period. Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its position in Douglas Emmett by 203.1% in the 3rd quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 341,463 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $6,123,000 after buying an additional 228,799 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can acquired a new position in shares of Douglas Emmett in the third quarter worth $4,827,000. 97.25% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Douglas Emmett Company Profile (Get Rating) Douglas Emmett, Inc is a real estate investment trust, engages in the acquisition, development, ownership, and management of real estate properties. It operates through the following segments: Office, and Multifamily. The Office segment comprises rental of office space and other tenant services, including parking and storage space rental. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Douglas Emmett Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Douglas Emmett and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Keybank National Association OH raised its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC Get Rating) by 2,941.1% during 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 158,411 shares of the construction companys stock after buying an additional 153,202 shares during the period. Keybank National Association OH owned 0.12% of Vulcan Materials worth $27,739,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in VMC. Artemis Investment Management LLP bought a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter worth $62,023,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 15.9% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 2,334,985 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $368,250,000 after acquiring an additional 321,137 shares during the period. Palestra Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 46.8% in the third quarter. Palestra Capital Management LLC now owns 907,462 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $143,116,000 after purchasing an additional 289,462 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials by 1.3% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 14,535,907 shares of the construction companys stock worth $2,670,246,000 after purchasing an additional 184,543 shares during the period. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 11,492.2% during the 3rd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 124,268 shares of the construction companys stock worth $19,598,000 after purchasing an additional 123,196 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.08% of the companys stock. Get Vulcan Materials alerts: Vulcan Materials Stock Performance NYSE:VMC opened at $169.46 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.55 billion, a PE ratio of 39.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a quick ratio of 1.38, a current ratio of 1.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. Vulcan Materials has a 12-month low of $137.54 and a 12-month high of $197.76. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $174.78 and a 200 day moving average price of $173.37. Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend Vulcan Materials ( NYSE:VMC Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The construction company reported $1.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.26 by ($0.18). The company had revenue of $1.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.84 billion. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 10.09% and a net margin of 7.87%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.25 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Vulcan Materials will post 5.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 20th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 6th were issued a dividend of $0.43 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 3rd. This is a boost from Vulcan Materialss previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.01%. Vulcan Materialss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.91%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In VMC has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Vulcan Materials from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $188.00 to $212.00 in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $199.00 to $191.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Seaport Res Ptn restated a neutral rating on shares of Vulcan Materials in a report on Friday, February 10th. Finally, DA Davidson increased their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $200.00 to $212.00 in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $206.17. Vulcan Materials Company Profile (Get Rating) Vulcan Materials Co engages in the production of construction aggregates. Its products include crushed stone, sand, and gravel. It operates through the following business segments: Aggregates, Asphalt, Concrete, and Calcium. The Aggregates segment produces and sells asphalt mix and ready-mixed concrete primarily in its mid-Atlantic, Georgia, Southwestern, Tennessee, and Western markets. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Vulcan Materials Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vulcan Materials and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Keybank National Association OH grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV Get Rating) by 0.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 557,584 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,560 shares during the quarter. Keybank National Association OHs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF were worth $40,202,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 97.0% in the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 25,017,562 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,653,661,000 after purchasing an additional 12,316,375 shares during the last quarter. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 7,462.3% during the 3rd quarter. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 7,403,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $112,000 after buying an additional 7,305,304 shares during the last quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the 3rd quarter worth $325,088,000. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 844.3% in the 3rd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 3,858,878 shares of the companys stock worth $255,072,000 after acquiring an additional 3,450,227 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 17.3% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 12,988,250 shares of the companys stock worth $858,523,000 after acquiring an additional 1,917,457 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Stock Up 0.6 % BATS USMV opened at $74.13 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $30.96 billion, a PE ratio of 20.17 and a beta of 0.76. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF has a 52 week low of $47.44 and a 52 week high of $55.45. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $71.74 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $71.53. About iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF The iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of US-listed firms selected and weighted to create a low-volatility portfolio subject to various constraints. USMV was launched on Oct 18, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding USMV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE:LB Get Rating) have been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the eleven research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$40.64. Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. National Bankshares cut their price target on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$44.00 to C$42.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 21st. CSFB increased their price objective on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$34.00 to C$35.00 in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Scotiabank lowered their price objective on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$39.00 to C$38.00 in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Cormark lowered their price objective on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$45.00 to C$42.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Get Laurentian Bank of Canada alerts: Laurentian Bank of Canada Stock Performance TSE:LB opened at C$31.78 on Friday. Laurentian Bank of Canada has a one year low of C$28.23 and a one year high of C$43.32. The stock has a market cap of C$1.38 billion, a PE ratio of 6.53, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.15. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of C$33.34 and a 200 day moving average price of C$32.65. Laurentian Bank of Canada Dividend Announcement Laurentian Bank of Canada Company Profile The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 1st will be given a dividend of $0.46 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 31st. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.79%. Laurentian Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio is currently 37.78%. (Get Rating) Laurentian Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services to personal, business, and institutional customers in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Capital Markets. The Personal Banking segment offers financial services, such as financial advisory services to financial intermediaries; and operates digital direct-to-customer platform to retail clients. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Laurentian Bank of Canada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Laurentian Bank of Canada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. General Mills (NYSE:GIS Get Rating) had its price target increased by Morgan Stanley from $73.00 to $77.00 in a report issued on Tuesday, The Fly reports. The brokerage currently has an underweight rating on the stock. Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on GIS. Credit Suisse Group increased their price target on General Mills from $77.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, December 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on General Mills from $84.00 to $86.00 in a research note on Friday, March 24th. StockNews.com raised General Mills from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. Mizuho increased their target price on General Mills from $75.00 to $80.00 in a report on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on General Mills from $82.00 to $84.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $84.12. Get General Mills alerts: General Mills Trading Down 0.1 % Shares of GIS stock opened at $86.95 on Tuesday. General Mills has a 1 year low of $64.94 and a 1 year high of $88.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 0.54 and a quick ratio of 0.32. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $80.80 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $81.00. The company has a market cap of $51.07 billion, a PE ratio of 18.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.27. General Mills Announces Dividend General Mills ( NYSE:GIS Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 23rd. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.06. General Mills had a return on equity of 24.51% and a net margin of 14.04%. The business had revenue of $5.13 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.97 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.84 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that General Mills will post 4.23 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Monday, April 10th will be given a $0.54 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 6th. This represents a $2.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.48%. General Millss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.65%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other General Mills news, insider Bethany C. Quam sold 21,734 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.86, for a total value of $1,866,081.24. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 47,560 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,083,501.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other General Mills news, insider Bethany C. Quam sold 21,734 shares of General Mills stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.86, for a total transaction of $1,866,081.24. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 47,560 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,083,501.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 8,030 shares of General Mills stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.33, for a total transaction of $685,199.90. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 83,049 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,086,571.17. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On General Mills A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GIS. FWL Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in General Mills in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. James Investment Research Inc. bought a new stake in General Mills during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. bought a new stake in shares of General Mills in the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. AXS Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of General Mills in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Selway Asset Management bought a new stake in shares of General Mills in the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. 74.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. 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. Read More 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. Paradox Interactive AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:PRXXF Get Rating) was the target of a large growth in short interest in March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 6,400 shares, a growth of 966.7% from the March 15th total of 600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 64.0 days. Paradox Interactive AB (publ) Stock Performance Shares of PRXXF remained flat at $22.04 during trading hours on Friday. Paradox Interactive AB has a 52-week low of $14.52 and a 52-week high of $22.81. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $20.90 and its 200 day moving average price is $18.53. Get Paradox Interactive AB (publ) alerts: About Paradox Interactive AB (publ) (Get Rating) Featured Articles Paradox Interactive AB (publ) develops and publishes games and brands for PC, mobile, and console platforms primarily in North and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific region. The company's game portfolio comprises various franchises and brands, including Stellaris, Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron, Crusader Kings, Cities: Skylines, Surviving Mars, Prison Architect, Magicka, Age of Wonders, Victoria, and the World of Darkness. Receive News & Ratings for Paradox Interactive AB (publ) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Paradox Interactive AB (publ) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. A senior lawmaker on April 14 praised the Armenian military for successfully repelling the Azerbaijani attack on April 11 near Tegh village and added that an internal investigation will be conducted into possible shortcomings in their actions, as noted by PM Pashinyan during the latest Cabinet meeting. The Prime Ministers instructions cant go unfilled. But shortcomings could happen. And we will be consistent in revealing them and bringing those guilty to account, MP Andranik Kocharyan, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security Affairs said at a press briefing. PM Nikol Pashinyan had said that they had predicted a potential Azeri provocation and relevant orders were issued to officials in charge in the event of such scenario. Pashinyan said, however, that the implementation of these orders was a failure. Kocharyan said that yesterdays closed meeting in parliament with the top brass sought to rule out such situations in the future. The Armenian Armed Forces gave a counterblow, and if our military didnt act the way it did the Azerbaijani forces wouldve penetrated far deeper, Kocharyan said, highlighting that the militarys capabilities must be on a level allowing it to fulfill its objectives. Whats ours is ours, if the adversary is to make a further encroachment it should know that it will get a response. And here, the existence or non-existence of government instructions dont matter, because the military must fulfill its objectives without instructions as well, Kocharyan said. He said an internal investigation will take place in the National Security Service, and if needed also in the military. The situation became clearer after yesterdays discussion, the military fulfilled its objectives, we suffered casualties, but we stopped the adversarys provocations, he added. Plastiques du Val de Loire (EPA:PVL Get Rating) shares traded down 0.9% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as 3.20 ($3.48) and last traded at 3.21 ($3.49). 7,562 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, The stock had previously closed at 3.24 ($3.52). Plastiques du Val de Loire Price Performance The company has a fifty day moving average of 3.30 and a two-hundred day moving average of 3.50. Plastiques du Val de Loire Company Profile (Get Rating) Plastiques du Val de Loire engages in the production and sale of plastic parts in France, the United States, and the rest of Europe. It offers interior equipment for motor vehicles, such as cockpits, decoration, and mechanisms; exterior appearance parts; technical front facades; seat parts; lighting and signaling parts; and under the hood parts. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Plastiques du Val de Loire Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Plastiques du Val de Loire and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PowerSchool (NYSE:PWSC Get Rating) had its target price trimmed by Barclays from $28.00 to $24.00 in a research report report published on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. PWSC has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on PowerSchool from $27.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. Piper Sandler raised their target price on PowerSchool from $22.00 to $28.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on PowerSchool from $21.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Raymond James raised PowerSchool from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $22.00 price target for the company in a report on Monday, March 20th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $27.00 price target on shares of PowerSchool in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $25.73. Get PowerSchool alerts: PowerSchool Stock Performance Shares of PWSC stock opened at $20.03 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $4.00 billion, a P/E ratio of -133.52 and a beta of 0.91. The businesss 50 day moving average is $20.77 and its two-hundred day moving average is $20.59. The company has a current ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. PowerSchool has a 12-month low of $10.60 and a 12-month high of $26.05. Insider Activity Institutional Trading of PowerSchool In related news, CAO Angelina Hendraka sold 1,396 shares of PowerSchool stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.37, for a total value of $27,040.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 137,997 shares in the company, valued at $2,673,001.89. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . In related news, CAO Angelina Hendraka sold 1,396 shares of PowerSchool stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.37, for a total value of $27,040.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 137,997 shares in the company, valued at $2,673,001.89. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, Director Corp Onex sold 4,295,739 shares of PowerSchool stock in a transaction on Friday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.16, for a total value of $86,602,098.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 71,118,123 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,433,741,359.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 4,460,092 shares of company stock valued at $89,807,514. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in PowerSchool by 63.5% during the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 2,135 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 829 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC purchased a new stake in PowerSchool during the 3rd quarter worth about $39,000. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of PowerSchool in the 3rd quarter valued at about $65,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its position in shares of PowerSchool by 93.9% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,977 shares of the companys stock valued at $66,000 after purchasing an additional 1,926 shares during the period. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank acquired a new stake in shares of PowerSchool in the 2nd quarter valued at about $92,000. 61.21% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About PowerSchool (Get Rating) PowerSchool Holdings, Inc provides cloud-based software to the K-12 education market. Its solution is embedded in school workflows and is used on daily basis by educators, students, administrators, and parents in schools and districts representing approximately 45 million students worldwide. Its cloud-based technology platform helps schools and districts manage state reporting and related compliance, special education, finance, human resource, talent, registration, attendance, funding, learning, instruction, grading, college and career readiness, assessments, and analytics. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for PowerSchool Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PowerSchool and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Progressive (NYSE:PGR Get Rating) had its price objective decreased by research analysts at Evercore ISI from $167.00 to $163.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, The Fly reports. Evercore ISIs price target points to a potential upside of 17.94% from the companys current price. Other analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Roth Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Progressive in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Progressive from $178.00 to $188.00 in a research note on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Progressive from $158.00 to $159.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. StockNews.com cut shares of Progressive from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, April 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Progressive from $130.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, March 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $147.13. Get Progressive alerts: Progressive Stock Performance PGR stock opened at $138.21 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The company has a market capitalization of $80.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 117.13, a P/E/G ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 0.50. Progressive has a 12 month low of $106.35 and a 12 month high of $149.87. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $141.89 and a two-hundred day moving average of $132.66. Insider Activity at Progressive Progressive ( NYSE:PGR Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The insurance provider reported $1.50 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.49 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $13.54 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.33 billion. Progressive had a net margin of 1.45% and a return on equity of 15.70%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Progressive will post 6.48 EPS for the current fiscal year. In other Progressive news, insider Daniel P. Mascaro sold 2,806 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $141.64, for a total transaction of $397,441.84. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 36,082 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,110,654.48. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, insider Daniel P. Mascaro sold 2,806 shares of Progressive stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $141.64, for a total value of $397,441.84. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 36,082 shares in the company, valued at $5,110,654.48. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Susan Patricia Griffith sold 15,473 shares of Progressive stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $142.64, for a total transaction of $2,207,068.72. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 431,811 shares in the company, valued at $61,593,521.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 22,987 shares of company stock worth $3,250,378 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Progressive A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Yarbrough Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Progressive by 41.9% in the first quarter. Yarbrough Capital LLC now owns 11,395 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,630,000 after purchasing an additional 3,363 shares during the last quarter. MRA Advisory Group bought a new position in shares of Progressive in the first quarter valued at $212,000. HB Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Progressive by 7.5% during the first quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,461 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,210,000 after buying an additional 590 shares during the last quarter. Drive Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Progressive during the first quarter worth $226,000. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its holdings in Progressive by 5.1% during the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,267,170 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $181,281,000 after buying an additional 61,997 shares during the last quarter. 83.19% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Progressive Company Profile (Get Rating) Progressive Corp. is an insurance holding company, which engages in the provision of personal and commercial auto insurance, residential property insurance, and other specialty property-casualty insurance and related services. It operates through the following segments: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Property. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Progressive Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Progressive and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Seabridge Gold Inc. (NYSE:SA Get Rating) (TSE:SEA)s share price gapped down prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $13.93, but opened at $13.64. Seabridge Gold shares last traded at $13.81, with a volume of 36,919 shares traded. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Seabridge Gold in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Get Seabridge Gold alerts: Seabridge Gold Stock Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 2.70 and a current ratio of 2.70. The stock has a market cap of $1.10 billion, a P/E ratio of -278.60 and a beta of 0.91. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $11.98 and a 200-day simple moving average of $12.17. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Seabridge Gold ( NYSE:SA Get Rating ) (TSE:SEA) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 30th. The basic materials company reported ($0.23) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.07) by ($0.16). On average, equities analysts expect that Seabridge Gold Inc. will post -0.18 earnings per share for the current year. Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of SA. US Bancorp DE lifted its stake in Seabridge Gold by 897.0% in the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 3,310 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 2,978 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its stake in shares of Seabridge Gold by 203.1% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,334 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 2,234 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc bought a new position in shares of Seabridge Gold during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $47,000. Deutsche Bank AG acquired a new position in shares of Seabridge Gold during the 4th quarter worth approximately $65,000. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can lifted its holdings in Seabridge Gold by 64.0% during the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 3,836 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $75,000 after purchasing an additional 1,497 shares during the last quarter. 29.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Seabridge Gold (Get Rating) Seabridge Gold Inc engages in the acquisition and exploration of gold properties. It operates through the following projects: Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchel (KSM), Courageous Lake, Iskut, Snowstorm, non-core assets, 3 Aces, and building trust. The company was founded by James S. Anthony and Rudi P. Fronk on September 14, 1979 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Seabridge Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Seabridge Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sendas Distribuidora S.A. (NYSE:ASAI Get Rating)s stock price gapped down before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $14.10, but opened at $13.66. Sendas Distribuidora shares last traded at $13.82, with a volume of 134,580 shares traded. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Bank of America cut shares of Sendas Distribuidora from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 31st. Get Sendas Distribuidora alerts: Sendas Distribuidora Trading Down 4.2 % The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.94, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.47. The firms 50-day moving average price is $16.35 and its 200 day moving average price is $17.71. Institutional Trading of Sendas Distribuidora Sendas Distribuidora ( NYSE:ASAI Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The company reported $0.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.21 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $3.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.01 billion. Equities analysts anticipate that Sendas Distribuidora S.A. will post 0.96 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Sendas Distribuidora by 97.2% during the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 196,745 shares of the companys stock worth $3,602,000 after purchasing an additional 96,962 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC raised its holdings in Sendas Distribuidora by 184.3% in the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 143,018 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,307,000 after acquiring an additional 92,714 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Sendas Distribuidora during the 1st quarter worth $1,583,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Sendas Distribuidora by 45.1% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 293,700 shares of the companys stock worth $3,991,000 after purchasing an additional 91,300 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Banco BTG Pactual S.A. purchased a new stake in shares of Sendas Distribuidora in the third quarter valued at $1,263,000. 4.45% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Sendas Distribuidora Company Profile (Get Rating) Sendas Distribuidora SA engages in the retail and wholesale sale of food products, bazaar items, and other products in Brazil. As of March 31, 2022, the company operated 216 stores under the Assai banner, as well as 13 distribution centers. It serves restaurants, pizzerias, snack bars, schools, small businesses, religious institutions, hospitals, hotels, grocery stores, neighborhood supermarkets, and individuals. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Sendas Distribuidora Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sendas Distribuidora and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. (CVE:SPA Get Rating) shares fell 4% on Thursday . The stock traded as low as C$0.24 and last traded at C$0.24. 34,619 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 84% from the average session volume of 217,577 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.25. Spanish Mountain Gold Price Performance The firm has a market cap of C$82.04 million, a P/E ratio of -70.00 and a beta of 1.87. The company has a quick ratio of 3.03, a current ratio of 3.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The businesss 50 day moving average is C$0.21 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$0.18. Get Spanish Mountain Gold alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Spanish Mountain Gold news, Director Lembit Janes bought 443,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 22nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of C$0.21 per share, with a total value of C$93,135.00. Company insiders own 26.08% of the companys stock. About Spanish Mountain Gold Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd., an exploration stage resource company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada. It holds a 100% interest in the Spanish Mountain gold project, which comprises approximately 50 contiguous mineral claims and 6 placer claims covering an area of approximately 10,000 hectares located in the Cariboo region of central British Columbia. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Spanish Mountain Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Spanish Mountain Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com downgraded shares of New York Times (NYSE:NYT Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report released on Wednesday morning. A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on the company. Barclays upgraded New York Times from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and increased their target price for the stock from $25.00 to $36.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on New York Times from $38.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their target price on New York Times from $37.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, New York Times presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $37.08. Get New York Times alerts: New York Times Stock Up 1.8 % NYT opened at $39.89 on Wednesday. New York Times has a 12-month low of $27.58 and a 12-month high of $45.25. The stock has a market cap of $6.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.99 and a beta of 0.99. The business has a 50 day moving average of $38.49 and a 200-day moving average of $34.78. New York Times Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 20th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 5th will be issued a $0.11 dividend. This represents a $0.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.10%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 4th. This is an increase from New York Timess previous quarterly dividend of $0.09. New York Timess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 41.91%. New York Times announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback plan on Wednesday, February 8th that allows the company to repurchase $250.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to buy up to 3.8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued. Insider Buying and Selling at New York Times In other New York Times news, CFO Roland A. Caputo sold 12,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.44, for a total value of $493,000.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 62,853 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,478,922.32. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CFO Roland A. Caputo sold 12,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.44, for a total transaction of $493,000.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 62,853 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,478,922.32. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Levien Meredith A. Kopit sold 29,758 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.05, for a total value of $1,191,807.90. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 74,610 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,988,130.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 2.00% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. BlackDiamond Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in shares of New York Times by 5.4% in the 3rd quarter. BlackDiamond Wealth Management Inc. now owns 12,420 shares of the companys stock worth $364,000 after acquiring an additional 638 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its holdings in New York Times by 37.7% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,709 shares of the companys stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 468 shares in the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of New York Times by 105.6% in the 3rd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 100,675 shares of the companys stock worth $2,893,000 after buying an additional 51,699 shares during the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its stake in shares of New York Times by 775.6% in the 3rd quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 290,380 shares of the companys stock worth $8,348,000 after buying an additional 257,215 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Farallon Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in New York Times by 13.8% in the third quarter. Farallon Capital Management LLC now owns 7,828,073 shares of the companys stock valued at $225,057,000 after purchasing an additional 947,269 shares during the last quarter. 99.15% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About New York Times (Get Rating) The New York Times Co is a media organization, which engages in creating, collecting, and distributing news and information. It offers news products and other interest-specific products, and related content and services. It offers newspapers, print, and digital products and investments. The firm also manages The New York Times, NYTimes.com, and mobile applications. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for New York Times Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for New York Times and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Seibels Bruce Group (OTCMKTS:SBBG Get Rating) and The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE:THG Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation and institutional ownership. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for The Seibels Bruce Group and The Hanover Insurance Group, as provided by MarketBeat. Get The Seibels Bruce Group alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score The Seibels Bruce Group 0 0 0 0 N/A The Hanover Insurance Group 0 3 2 0 2.40 The Hanover Insurance Group has a consensus price target of $156.80, suggesting a potential upside of 25.09%. Given The Hanover Insurance Groups higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe The Hanover Insurance Group is more favorable than The Seibels Bruce Group. Risk & Volatility Profitability The Seibels Bruce Group has a beta of 0.18, suggesting that its share price is 82% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, The Hanover Insurance Group has a beta of 0.69, suggesting that its share price is 31% less volatile than the S&P 500. This table compares The Seibels Bruce Group and The Hanover Insurance Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets The Seibels Bruce Group N/A N/A N/A The Hanover Insurance Group 2.12% 7.98% 1.45% Insider and Institutional Ownership 86.4% of The Hanover Insurance Group shares are held by institutional investors. 55.4% of The Seibels Bruce Group shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 2.5% of The Hanover Insurance Group shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Valuation and Earnings This table compares The Seibels Bruce Group and The Hanover Insurance Groups gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio The Seibels Bruce Group N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A The Hanover Insurance Group $5.47 billion 0.82 $116.00 million $3.21 39.05 The Hanover Insurance Group has higher revenue and earnings than The Seibels Bruce Group. Summary The Hanover Insurance Group beats The Seibels Bruce Group on 8 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About The Seibels Bruce Group (Get Rating) The Seibels Bruce Group, Inc. provides processing, technology, and claims solutions to the property and casualty insurance industry. The company offers processing solutions for coastal markets; business process outsourcing; claims administration solutions; information technology outsourcing; and professional services. It also provides technology solutions, such as IPX enterprise insurance suite, CPX claims management system, FNOL first notice of loss, and reinspection processing xpert solutions; and claims solutions, including third party administration, catastrophe management, first notice of loss, multi-line adjusting and examination, reinspection, and subrogation/salvage services. The company was founded in 1869 and is based in Columbia, South Carolina. About The Hanover Insurance Group (Get Rating) The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is a holding company that engages in the provision of property and casualty products and services. It operates through the following segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines and Other. The Core Commercial segment includes commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers compensation and other core commercial coverage, such as general liability, commercial umbrella and monoline property. The Specialty focuses on Professional and Executive Lines, Specialty Property & Casualty, Marine, Surety and Other. The Personal Lines segment involves personal automobile, homeowners and other personal coverage. The Other segment operates through Opus Investment Management, Inc. The company was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in Worcester, MA. Receive News & Ratings for The Seibels Bruce Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Seibels Bruce Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Theratechnologies Inc. (TSE:TH Get Rating)s stock price crossed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$1.19 and traded as low as C$1.05. Theratechnologies shares last traded at C$1.05, with a volume of 23,389 shares trading hands. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have recently issued reports on TH. National Bankshares dropped their price target on shares of Theratechnologies from C$3.25 to C$2.25 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Leede Jones Gab raised Theratechnologies from a hold rating to a speculative buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 5th. Get Theratechnologies alerts: Theratechnologies Trading Up 13.0 % The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 562.07. The company has a market capitalization of C$125.85 million, a P/E ratio of -1.69, a P/E/G ratio of -8.50 and a beta of 1.58. The firms 50-day moving average price is C$1.19 and its 200 day moving average price is C$1.78. Theratechnologies Company Profile Theratechnologies Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development and commercialization of various therapies to address the unmet medical needs in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The company offers EGRIFTA and EGRIFTA SV, for the reduction of excess abdominal fat in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with lipodystrophy; and Trogarzo, an injection refers to ibalizumab for the treatment of multidrug resistant HIV-1 infected patients. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Theratechnologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Theratechnologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UBS Group cut shares of U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB Get Rating) from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report report published on Monday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. USB has been the subject of several other reports. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on U.S. Bancorp from $56.00 to $46.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on U.S. Bancorp in a research note on Sunday, February 26th. They set a neutral rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on U.S. Bancorp from $55.00 to $49.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on U.S. Bancorp from $57.00 to $53.00 in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Finally, Barclays upgraded U.S. Bancorp from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price target for the stock from $62.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $51.74. Get U.S. Bancorp alerts: U.S. Bancorp Stock Down 0.1 % Shares of NYSE:USB opened at $35.38 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. U.S. Bancorp has a 52-week low of $32.72 and a 52-week high of $53.88. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $42.04 and its 200-day simple moving average is $43.17. The company has a market capitalization of $54.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.53, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.93. U.S. Bancorp Dividend Announcement U.S. Bancorp ( NYSE:USB Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 25th. The financial services provider reported $1.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.11 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $6.37 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.61 billion. U.S. Bancorp had a return on equity of 16.13% and a net margin of 21.26%. The businesss revenue was up 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.07 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that U.S. Bancorp will post 4.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 17th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be issued a $0.48 dividend. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.43%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 30th. U.S. Bancorps dividend payout ratio is currently 51.75%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of USB. BCK Partners Inc. purchased a new position in U.S. Bancorp in the first quarter valued at about $2,514,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in U.S. Bancorp by 3.0% in the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 9,397 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $499,000 after purchasing an additional 276 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its holdings in U.S. Bancorp by 20.8% during the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 21,314 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,176,000 after buying an additional 3,663 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC bought a new position in U.S. Bancorp during the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,731,000. Finally, Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. lifted its holdings in U.S. Bancorp by 5.9% during the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 86,048 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,573,000 after buying an additional 4,827 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.83% of the companys stock. About U.S. Bancorp (Get Rating) U.S. Bancorp operates as a bank holding company, which offers financial services including lending and depository services, cash management, foreign exchange and trust and investment management. The firm also offers mortgage, refinance, auto, boat and RV loans, credit lines, credit card services, merchant, bank, checking and savings accounts, debit cards, online and mobile banking, ATM processing, mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage and leasing services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for U.S. Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for U.S. Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. A senior lawmaker has said that Russia played some role in neutralizing the April 11 Azeri aggression but that it was repelled first of all as a result of the Armenian militarys actions. On April 12, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that Russian troops and Border Guards in Armenia took measures to de-escalate the situation on April 11 near the village of Tegh where an Azerbaijani attack left four Armenian troops dead and six wounded. I dont question Maria Zakharovas words, that Russia participated in some format, but, nevertheless, it is the Armenian military that fought. If we hadnt fought, if not for the ultimate sacrifice, the issue wouldnt have been solved no matter how many phone calls the Russian foreign ministry was to make. The objective was solved first of all as a result of the actions of our military, MP Andranik Kocharyan (Civil Contract), the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security Affairs said at a press briefing. Meanwhile, another Civil Contract MP, Artur Hovhannisyan, who serves as Secretary of the ruling partys parliamentary faction, commented on Zakharovas statement that Russia has asked Armenia to explain its planned participation in NATO drills. Hovhannisyan said that Armenia is moving forward with its national interests and is doing everything for increasing the combat readiness of its military. Armenia continues warm, friendly and strategic relations with its strategic ally, and continues warm relations also with partners of other countries and is doing everything for the benefit of the development and increase of combat readiness of the Armenian military, he said. The Karnataka elections atmosphere has been heating up with parties finalising candidates amidst hectic campaigning. Caste plays an important factor in Karnataka as in most parts of the country. With most caste loyalties already fixed, it is the small communities acting as swing voters which may well decide the course of these elections. Lingayats and Vokkaligas are the most dominant and influential groups of the state. Both are OBCs, however, they are considered to be the forward amongst the backwards just like the Yadavs/Jats in the Hindi heartland. There are more than 700 sub-castes in the OBC list, Kurubas (7 percent), Billavas, Mogaveeras, Vishwakarmas, Kolis etc. There has historically been a tussle for power between the Lingayats and Vokkaligas in the state. Karnataka has till date had four chief ministers from the Vokkaliga community, and eight have been Lingayats. There have been four CMs from the backward classes while Brahmins have managed to hold the top spot in Karnataka twice. In the 2018 elections, 100 MLAs (almost half of house strength of 224) belonged to these two communities, 42 Vokkaligas and 58 Lingayats, which is almost twice their population. Lingayats dominate in North Karnataka, Hyderabad Karnataka and Old Mumbai region. Vokkaligas are the dominant peasant caste of Old Mysuru. Acronyms like LIBRA and AHINDA are commonly used terms in Karnataka politics. LIBRA which is Lingayat plus Brahmins are anchor voting segments of Bharatiya Janata Party. AHINDA which is Alpasankhyataru-Hindulidavaru Mattu-Dalitaru (Dalits, Backward Classes & Muslims) have traditionally supported the Congress. The Vokkaligas are largely backers of Deve Gowdas Janata Dal (Secular). While BJP CM Basvaraj Bommai and stalwart BS Yediyurappa are Lingayats, HD Kumaraswamy and DK Shivkumar are Vokkaligas. Ex CM Siddaramaiah is a Kuruba. The Vokkaligas back the JD(S) overwhelmingly only in Old Mysuru where their population on most seats is 15-30 percent. This community is sort of a floating voter in the rest of Karnataka. Both the BJP and the Congress are attempting to woo this vote bloc: Congress through its state president DK Shivakumar, while BJP through 2 percent additional reservation for the community along with Lingayats. The OBC Breakthrough (1972) The 1972 elections announced the arrival of OBCs in Karnataka politics when D Devaraj Urs led Congress to victory consolidating AHINDA. After the Emergency of 1975, when Congress was wiped out across India, it retained Karnataka only because of unflinching support of AHINDA. In 1983 the Congress lost power for the first time primarily because the tall OBC leader S Bangarappa had formed his own party. The OBCs returned to the Congress in 1989, with Bangarappa back in the fold after losing out in the CM race to Ramakrishna Hegde. In the mid 1990s, some groups veered towards the Janata Dal. In the mid-2000s Siddaramaiah emerged as the tallest OBC leader after his fall out with the Gowdas. He joined the Congress in 2006, revived the AHINDA formation and helped it secure victory in 2013. With the emergence of the BJP and the relative decline of the Janata Dal(Secular) in the past 15-20 years, OBC votes have been divided in the state. The BJP has captured OBCs such as Mogaveeras, Billavas, Vishwakarmas, Kolis etc from the Congress on the back of its inclusion of social groups under its overarching Hindutva umbrella. The Other OBC Voters Majority voters of big groups like Muslims, Vokkaligas, Lingayats, and SC /STs are already aligned to one of the three parties. The smaller OBCs - non-Lingayat, non-Vokkaliga, non-Kuruba communities - cumulatively accounting for a sizable 22 percent of the population, could emerge as kingmakers in this election. They switch loyalties depending upon the ground situation. They swung in favour of BJP in 2008 and 2018 helping it emerge as the single largest party. BJPs vote share is half of its state vote share in Old Mysuru region. Excluding this region, it would be leading amongst OBCs versus Congress in 2008 and 2013. Most parties focus on the bigger chunks and ignore these small groups which may be even less than 1 percent of the population and present only in a few pockets. Lower OBCs have their own issues, needs, demands, leadership and do not behave like a homogeneous voting bloc. Hence it requires a lot of effort and resources to conduct outreach activities. Both Congress and BJP are eyeing lower OBCs to emerge victorious in Karnataka. Which way they will swing could decide the course of this cracker of an election. Amitabh Tiwari is a former corporate and investment banker-turned political strategist and commentator. Twitter: @politicalbaaba. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Air India will reduce the frequency of flights to Oman, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar as a temporary measure to mitigate the problem of crew and plane shortage the airline faces. Air India has cancelled one weekly flight on both sides between Delhi and Muscat, Delhi and Dubai, and Delhi and Abu Dhabi from the last week of April to the end of May, multiple sources said. "Air India and Air India Express are aligning their networks causing several Air India flights to be cancelled," an Air India official said. According to circulars issued by Air India to travel agents, the airline will not be operating its weekly Delhi-Muscat flight on Saturdays from April 29 to May 27 and its weekly Delhi-Doha flights on Sundays from April 30 to May 28. Similarly, Air India will not be operating its Delhi-Dubai flight on Tuesdays from May 2 till May 30, and its Delhi-Abu Dhabi flights on Wednesdays from May 3 to May 31. Another official from Air India said that the airline's decision to cut flights to the West Asian countries is part of the carrier's network restructuring to make the most of its fleet of planes. "Air India will cut flights to the Middle East after Eid-ul-Fitr as traffic falls drastically after the Eid holidays in those countries, while domestic summer traffic in India will rise due to school vacations," the second official said. He added that Air India has also temporarily increased the frequency of flights between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in April to cash in on the traffic around Eid-ul-Fitr. Air India Express has increased its number of services from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai and Abu Dhabi from five to six, Thiruvananthapuram international airport said in a release on April 12. Network alignment The first official also said that in the next few months as Air India and AIX Connect, formerly AirAsia India, align their networks, several flights between India and West Asian countries may be affected. "Air India and Air India Express are aligning their networks causing several Air India flights to Kozhikode, Indore, and Goa to be cancelled and for them to be replaced with Air India Express flights," the first official said. Air India has been struggling with crew and plane shortages for the last six months as the airline looks to expand its international operations and grow under its new owners the Tata Group. Turbulence on US routes as well In March, Air India's Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Campbell Wilson said that the airline would reduce the frequency of flights to the United States (US) due to crew shortage. As of now, six weekly flights to the US three to Newark and three to San Francisco will be trimmed due to crew shortage for the coming two-three months, Wilson had said. Air Indias Delhi to San Francisco flight will be cancelled for over three months, its flight to Newark will be cancelled for over a month, and the flight from Mumbai to New York will be cancelled for the entirety of May. The airline has been facing a shortage of crew after 1,500 employees accepted the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) offered by the airline in June 2022. The airline launched the first phase of VRS to 4,500 eligible employees above 40 years and who have completed 20 years of continuous employment. The airline in March announced a second VRS for around 2,100 eligible employees. According to the memo, permanent employees who are above 55 years of age or who have completed 20 years of service can opt for the VRS package. At the time of its privatisation, the airline had about 12,085 employees, of whom 8,084 were the permanent staff. Air India is also short of pilots for Boeing 777 aircraft and is looking to hire foreign pilots on a temporary basis to meet the demand. Members of the G20 agree that a globally coordinated understanding would be required not only to deal with the challenges posed by crypto assets but also to regulate them, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said. The grouping has responded to the issue with alacrity and during India's presidency of the G20, a "synthesis paper" will be taken up on matters related to crypto assets, the minister told a press conference here on Thursday. "I am glad to say that there is a greater acceptance among all G20 members, that any action on crypto assets will have to be global," Sitharaman and added that "the G20, I think, has responded fairly with alacrity (on the crypto challenge)," she said. On the sidelines of the annual spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, Sitharaman along with Reserve Bank of India Governor Shantikanta Das co-chaired a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from member countries. Issues related to crypto currency and its challenges were discussed at the meet. "The G20 and its members agree that it's not going to be possible to have an independent standalone country dealing with the crypto assets and that it has to have a globally coordinated understanding on how to go about regulating crypto assets," she said in response to a question. "The way in which we are seeing this pan out during our presidency is the IMF's paper is being discussed, FSB's (Financial Stability Board) paper also will be taken up, and a synthesis paper will be prepared from the IMF paper and the FSB paper both put together, Sitharaman said. There will be a discussion in September and October, and in the "end of the day, we will see a roadmap being readied on how and what kind of understanding the members of the G20 have in this, and it can be taken further forward on specific actions of regulation as and when the G20 takes a call on it", the finance minister said. Noting that she does not want to preempt a decision, Sitharaman said the work done by the FSB and the IMF indicate that crypto assets, particularly those that are outside of central banks, being not backed by any sovereign asset, can cause macroeconomic instability. "So, today, we are in the position to see how countries are now recognising that it is not just a crypto asset regulatory issue, where countries will have to come together, but the IMF dealing with it has also brought in this time mention that they can be issues of macro economic stability itself," she said. "Today, I am very glad to have heard the European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde speak about specific examples of how money has been routed into this operation, resulting in too many such companies who are getting involved in it raising questions of where the trail is," the minister said. Sitharaman stressed that it was a "very substantive" discussion and the agreement that all of them had was this: "Yes, it has got to be globally handled". Song wk India will completely protect the interests of farmers and dairy sector in the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal has said. He was here on an official visit to hold discussions with leaders and the private sector on ways to further enhance trade and investment ties between the countries. The minister also went to Paris for the India-France business summit. Goyal said that Italy and France have offered unstinted support for the early conclusion of negotiations for the India-EU trade agreement. During the meetings in Italy and France, he said, India has emphasised about the different economic conditions and per capita income in the two regions. But the kind of business opportunities which India provides for EU businesses are huge and "nobody can provide those in the world", he added. "Keeping all this in mind, we would do the FTA... We will protect the interests of farmers and dairy sector... We have done that with UAE and Australia trade pacts also," Goyal has said. Chief negotiators of India and the European Union (EU) are scheduled to meet from June 19-23 in New Delhi for the fifth round of negotiations. India and the 27-nation bloc resumed negotiations on June 17 last year after a gap of over eight years on the proposed agreements on trade, investments and Geographical Indications (GI). Top officials at the commerce secretary level would meet in August to review the progress of talks. India had started negotiations for a trade pact with the EU in 2007 but the talks stalled in 2013 as both sides failed to reach an agreement on key issues, including customs duties on automobiles and spirits and the movement of professionals. India's merchandise exports to EU member countries stood at about USD 65 billion in 2021-22, while imports aggregated USD 51.4 billion. A GI is primarily an agricultural, natural or manufactured product (handicrafts and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory. Typically, such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, which is essentially attributable to the place of its origin. "India will not compromise on its interests... that is not possible," Goyal has added. On the European Union's announcement of imposing carbon tax on certain sectors like metals, he said that the issue is part of the discussion. India has earlier stated that it is concerned about the European Union's announcement of imposing carbon tax, saying such measures require New Delhi to recalibrate its approach towards a free trade agreement. The EU is introducing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) from October 1 this year. CBAM will translate into a 20-35 per cent tax on select imports into the EU starting January 1, 2026. According to a report by economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), the carbon border adjustment mechanism being implemented by the European Union will have an adverse impact on India's exports of metals such as iron, steel and aluminium products to the EU. In 2022, India's 27 per cent exports of iron, steel, and aluminium products worth USD 8.2 billion went to the EU. For years, commercial banks have dominated lending to Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises (MSMEs). They are now confronting competition from Non-Banking Financial Companies, or shadow banks as they are known, which are turning more aggressing in funding MSMEs. By all accounts, the competition is set to heat up. For borrowers, NBFCs offer the promise of quick loans disbursals, easy and flexible repayment facilities, and non-collateralised loans. And those are the terms that MSMEs like. Take a look at this. On an individual basis, top NBFCs outpaced commercial banks combined in terms of loan growth to small borrowers, according to the latest data available for both sets of lenders. According to the Reserve Bank of Indias February 2023 Sectoral Deployment Credit Growth data, outstanding bank credit to MSMEs was Rs 32.9 lakh crore as of what period, an 8.7 percent Year-on Year (Y-o-Y) growth. Also read: RBI Deputy Governor Rajeshwar Rao pitches for more credit push to MSMEs The MSME portfolios of major NBFCs leapt. Bajaj Finance, in its December quarter results, posted a 33 percent increase in its MSME loans from Rs 23,153 crore a year prior to Rs 30,880 crore in December 2022. Aditya Birla Capitals MSME portfolio recorded a 59 percent rise from Rs 42,034 crore a year ago to Rs 47,856 crore in December 2022. L&T Finances MSME portfolio had reached Rs 538 crore in December 2022 from a mere Rs 16 crore in December 2021. Quick disbursal, flexibility Loans from NBFCs have seen major growth. We can see that because NBFCs now want quick disbursal and flexibility which NBFCs are able to provide more than banks, an NBFC analyst said. Gopinath Rao, Deputy Director of the MSME Development Institute, said banks had a bigger portfolio of MSME loans but borrowers were turning increasingly to NBFCs for credit. Banks, including major public and private banks, have introduced customised platforms and services for MSME customers. Public sector lender Canara Bank, for instance, provides contactless loans and other credit services to MSMEs. Among private sector lenders, ICICI Bank, in May 2022, started a dedicated digital platform for MSME borrowers. This platform could help secure easy credit and other timely loan services. South Indian Bank provides instant approval for a Rs. 1 crore loan to MSME borrowers. These steps, experts said, are aimed at attracting MSME customers towards borrowing more from banks but havent quite worked out for the lenders. Post-loan assistance MSME borrowers are not only looking for digital loans but they also want smooth post-loan assistance. When it comes to that and to repayment, NBFCs are much better than banks, said the analyst quoted above. Hardika Shah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kinara Capital, said NBFCs often had a more flexible approach towards lending and catered to the specific needs of borrowers. NBFCs are more willing to work with borrowers who lack property collateral or a lengthy credit history, which can be a significant hurdle when dealing with traditional lenders, said Shah. Shah added: Since NBFCs take a different approach towards assessing creditworthiness than banks do, they can process loan applications and disburse funds faster. This is crucial for MSMEs that need quick access to working capital to take advantage of growth opportunities. Other than this, experts also said MSME lending was just one of the borrowing windows for full-fledged bans whereas NBFCs were looking at MSMEs as theirs core market. While banks are evaluating MSMEs for sector diversification, existing and new NBFCs see MSME as their core market and clientele, said Amit Shankar, Vice President of Vivriti Capital. Also read: Budget 2023 | Most MSMEs doing well but financing still an issue, says FISME secretary general Credit demand and supply Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor M Rajeshwar Rao said recently that banks and other financial institutions should see MSMEs as an opportunity to push more credit. Another critical issue in Indias credit market has been the consistent gap between the demand and supply of credit to MSMEs. This has to be seen as an area of opportunity by the banks and other financial institutions. The MSME sector contributes around 30 percent to Indias GDP, 45 percent to its manufacturing output, and 48 percent to exports, Rao said. An Avendus Capital report on MSME lending said there exists a credit gap of $530 billion in the MSME sector. India has over 64 million MSMEs but only 14 percent have access to credit, said the report. Experts say the MSME is a growing sector in India and its credit demands need to be fulfilled by financial institutions. Collateral has been an issue for loans with banks. Banks are a huge source of credit for MSMEs, NBFCs have some features which incline borrowers to borrow from them, said JR Bangera, a member of the National Board for MSMEs. Going digital Going ahead, the use of information technology (IT) and artificial intelligence in assisting MSME borrowers will create a huge impact on the MSME portfolios of banks and NBFCs. In line with this, experts said NBFCs have well-positioned data-driven strategies and analytics to cater to MSME borrowers. Also read: Indias NBFCs need funds to meet growing credit demand over next 2 years By adopting digital initiatives like account aggregators, digi locker, India stack, and E-KYC (Know Your Customer), NBFCs are able to better understand customer needs and build solutions accordingly, said Arun Nayyar, Managing Director MD and CEO, NeoGrowth, an RBI-registered NBFC. Infosys will roll out a structure for the financial services team in the next few weeks and has put in place a framework for the delivery organisation, the company leadership said, following the exits of presidents Ravi Kumar S and Mohit Joshi. The IT major lost its presidents, considered potential CEO candidates for the company after Salil Parekhs tenure, in a short span of six months. They moved to competitors in CEO roles Kumar as the CEO of Cognizant and Joshi as the incoming CEO of Tech Mahindra. Infosys Chief Executive Officer Parekh said that they have put in place a structure for the delivery organisation, pertaining to Kumars role. The functions of Kumar, who exited the company last October, were primarily split between Sathish HC and Dinesh Rao. Joshi headed financial services and healthcare, the software businesses, sales operations and transformation and executive responsibility for large deals. Read: Mohit Joshis appointment as Tech Mahindra CEO will bring BFSI and healthcare expertise: Industry experts We've announced and rolled out internally a structure which is focused on delivery when Ravi left, we're now in position now roll out the structure that will be for financial services. What we see is within Infosys, we have a strong leadership team. We are fortunate that the leaders are coming from inside, and that we see more and more at the next level, there is no delayering plan within Infosys at all, Parekh said. In the next few weeks, we'll roll out the new structure for our FS team. So we feel good with the leadership pool that we have within the company who are moving up to take a broader role and a larger role that they will step up and deliver what we are driving to, Parekh told analysts. Joshis tenure will officially end in June, but he has been on leave since March. He will take over as the CEO of Tech Mahindra on December 20 after the retirement of current CEO CP Gurnani. Both Kumar and Joshi held wide-ranging roles, but analysts said that Infosys has a wide leadership bench to compensate for it. A note by Kotak Institutional Equities said that portfolios of leaders who left Infosys to join competitors in the past have largely been handled well by their successors. Read: Infosys is turning out to be the new CEO factory for India Inc ICICI Securities also did not expect disruption due to the exit of Kumar and Joshi. Transition after Ravi Kumars exit in Oct 22 has been smooth. The company has a large bench of ~30-35 EVPs to take over top leadership roles as and when required and does not expect significant disruption due to leadership change, it said in a note. Previously too, the company has filled these roles with the help of internal appointees during previous times when senior management has left the company. In a few cases where it lacked sufficient competencies, such as consulting, the company has used external hires. We believe key portfolios have been handled well by internal successors, Kotak said in a note previously. The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and the BSE will remain shut on April 14 on account of Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti. Wholesale commodity markets, including metal and bullion, will also remain closed. There will be no trading activity in the forex and commodity futures markets either. On April 13, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 38.23 points or 0.06 percent at 60,431.00, and the Nifty was up 15.60 points or 0.09 percent at 17,828. However, for the week, Sensex and Nifty rose 1 percent each. "The benchmark indices maintained their winning streak, but the sharp intra-day gyration shows that the rally could be losing steam given the continuous upward movement over the past week or so. The market seems to be in an overbought zone and profit-taking could emerge in the next few sessions. Technically, the market is trading above 50 and 200-day SMA (Simple Moving Average) and on intraday charts it is holding a higher bottom formation which is largely positive," said Shrikant Chouhan, Head of Equity Research (Retail), Kotak Securities. However, momentum indicators are indicating temporary overbought conditions and this may lead to range-bound activity in the near future. For the bulls now, 17,700-17,600 would be the key support areas while 17,900-18,000 would act as a crucial resistance zone for the traders, according to him. "Positive sentiment is likely to continue in Bank Nifty, and for the trend following traders now 41,500 would be the sacrosanct support zone. Above which, it could move up till 42,500-42,700. On the flip side, below 41,500, the uptrend would be vulnerable," he added. Top gainers on the Nifty were IndusInd Bank, HDFC Life, Eicher Motors, Apollo Hospitals and Power Grid Corp, while losers included Infosys, HCL Technologies, Tech Mahindra, NTPC and TCS. On the sectoral front, the IT index shed 2 percent, while capital goods, pharma and oil & gas indices down 0.5 percent each. On the other hand, PSU Bank and Realty indices rose 1 percent each. The BSE smallcap index was up 0.33 percent and midcap index added 0.16 percent. On April 13, the rupee ended 23 paise higher at 81.85 per dollar against Wednesday's close of 82.08. Markets regulator SEBI put in place a framework for upfront collection of funds from eligible issuers of debt securities to build the Settlement Guarantee Fund of the Limited Purpose Clearing Corporation (LPCC). The eligible issuers would be notified by the LPCC as per its risk management policy, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) said in a circular. LPCC is an entity established to undertake the activity of clearing and settlement of repurchase agreement transactions. Under the framework, SEBI said that an amount of 0.5 basis points of the issuance value of debt securities per annum based on the maturity of debt securities will be collected by the stock exchanges and placed in an escrow account before the allotment of the debt securities. This amount is applicable on a public issue or private placement of debt securities. The stock exchanges would transfer the amounts so collected to the bank account of the LPCC within one working day of the receipt of the amount and inform the details of the same to the LPCC. Details of the amounts so collected would also be disclosed by the stock exchanges on their website. Further, LPCC would provide an illustration of the calculation of the amounts to be contributed by the eligible issuers. The new framework will come into force from May 1, the regulator said. According to SEBI, a well-functioning repo market contributes to the development of the debt securities market by way of boosting the liquidity of the underlying debt securities and allowing market participants to monetize their debt holdings without selling the underlying, thus meeting their temporary need for funds. "The development of an active repo market in debt securities may also be beneficial to the issuers as the enhanced liquidity may positively impact the yield, thereby resulting in reduced costs of raising funds to the issuers in the primary market", it added. In its board meeting in September 2020, SEBI had approved a proposal to facilitate the setting up of an LPCC. The board had also decided that an amount of 0.5 basis points of the issuance value of debt securities per annum be collected upfront before the listing of such securities to build the Settlement Guarantee Fund of the LPCC. AMC Repo Clearing Limited (ARCL) has been granted recognition as LPCC by SEBI. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also gave necessary approvals to ARCL to function as a Clearing Corporation with a limited purpose and to offer central counterparty services for repo transactions in debt securities. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on April 13 said it has cancelled the licence of two non-banking finance companies (NBFC) and 22 NBFCs surrendered their licences. The central bank cancelled the certificate of registration of BRD Securities Ltd and Lakshmi Finance Pvt Ltd. Further, Way2Wealth Capital Pvt. Ltd, Dearborn Barter Pvt Ltd, Emsons Leasing Company Private Ltd, and 19 others surrendered their licence. These entities surrendered their licences because some companies exited NBFC business, some ceased to be a legal entity due to amalgamation/ merger/dissolution/voluntary strike-off, and meeting the criteria prescribed for unregistered Core Investment Companies (CIC) that do not require registration. 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 Russian oil exports in March soared to the highest since April 2020, said International Energy Agency (IEA) in a report. According to the report, the rise in oil exports was driven by products that returned to levels last seen before Russia invaded Ukraine. Total oil shipments by Russia rose by 0.6 million barrels per day (bpd) to 8.1 million bpd, with products climbing 450,000 bpd month-on-month to 3.1 million bpd, said IEA. IEA highlighted that Russias estimated oil export revenues rebounded by $1 billion to $12.7 billion but were 43% lower than a year ago. World oil supply IEA said world oil supply would reduce by 400,000 bpd by end-2023 on account of the cuts announced by Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies. On April 2, OPEC+ announced a surprise supply cut of around 1.16 million bpd from May to the end of 2023. This supply cut is in addition to earlier production cut of 2 million bpd, announced by the oil cartel in October 2022. From March-December, gains of 1 mb/d from non-OPEC+ fail to offset a 1.4 mb/d decline from the producer bloc. For the year as a whole, global oil production growth slows to 1.2 mb/d versus 4.6 mb/d in 2022. Non-OPEC+, led by the US and Brazil, drives the 2023 expansion, rising 1.9 mb/d. OPEC+ is expected to drop by 760 kb/d, said IEA in the report. The supply cut risk aggravating an expected oil supply deficit in the second half of 2023 and boosted oil prices at a time of heightened economic uncertainty, added IEA. For 2023, IEA said world oil demand will climb by 2 million bpd to a record 101.9 million bpd driven by the Chinese growth. Reflecting the widening disparity between regions, non-OECD countries, buoyed by a resurgent China, will account for 90% of growth. OECD demand, dragged down by weak industrial activity and warm weather, contracted by 390 kb/d y-o-y in 1Q23, its second consecutive quarter of decline. Jet/kerosene accounts for 57% of 2023 gains, the report said. YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. The delegation headed by President of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan is participating in the plenary sessions of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS participating states in St. Petersburg. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament of Armenia, Alen Simonyan delivered an extended speech at the plenary session, which was preceded by the speech of the Speaker of the Milli Mejlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova. Gafarova built her speech with famous Azerbaijani-style provocative rhetoric, accusing the Armenian side of not cooperating and creating various obstacles for Azerbaijanis. Misrepresenting the situation related to the Lachin Corridor crisis, deliberately avoiding the facts and relevant assessments of international authoritative structures, she put forward old theses that are pleasing to the ears of the Azerbaijani society and are regularly repeated, based on Armenian hatred. In response to Gafarova's speech, the President of the National Assembly of Armenia presented fact-based situation to the partners of the parliaments of the CIS countries. Distinguished Valentina Ivanovna, Dear colleagues, participants of Plenary Session, The cooperation within the frameworks of the CIS for Armenia has been and remains an important direction of collaboration. The practical experience accumulated by the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS during these years is very valuable. Together with that, now we should establish guidelines for further joint work as a benefit for the economic, social and cultural development of our peoples and states. Colleagues, Today, the world, including our region stands before new challenges. The security crisis and the realities caused because of 44-day war, the aggression followed it and the occupation of 150 km2 sovereign territory of Armenia promise new threats for the whole region. Violating the paragraphs of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020 and ignoring the requirements of the UN General Judicial body the UN International Court of Justice, the Azerbaijani authorities as environmentalists in mink fur coats, under false pretest have blocked the Lachin Corridor already for more than four months. About 120.000 Armenians residing in Nagorno Karabakh because of failure and blockade of the energy infrastructure are deprived of the accessibility of first aid goods and services, including medical supply of vital importance. The Russian peacekeeping troops, the mandate of which, by the way, has not been signed by Azerbaijan until now, as well as due to the presence of the International Committee of Red Cross the humanitarian crisis has not outgrown to humanitarian disaster in Nagorno Karabakh. The illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan under the false ecological veil created real environmental problems in Nagorno Karabakh, as the gas and electricity disruptions resulted in unplanned deforestation, which can result in serious systemized and long-term degradation of the environment. In parallel with the Lachin Corridor blockade, Baku terrorizes the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces regularly violate the ceasefire regime. The peaceful residents doing agricultural work often are shelled. There are numerous announcements of the Russian peacekeeping troops in this connection. Only a few days ago, on April 11, on the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, on the part of Tegh village of Syunik Region, a group of servicemen of the Azerbaijani armed forces approached the servicemen of the Republic of Armenia under the pretext of clarifying the border checkpoints, provoked from firearm, then also from big caliber weapon and opened fire to the direction of the Armenian positions. There are casualties and wounded on both sides. Ladies and gentlemen, all actions of the Azerbaijani military are documented by operative video shooting, which is available on the internet. The implemented provocation is the next encroachment of Azerbaijan against the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia. This policy of Azerbaijan is not new: it is the continuation of the attacks carried out on the Republic of Armenia in May and in November of 2021, as well as in September 2022, as a result of which, Azerbaijan occupied the sovereign territories of the Republic of Armenia. I should state that in the mentioned part the actions of Baku are provocative, and they oppose the joint statements adopted as a result of meetings held in Prague on October 6, 2022 and in Sochi on October 31. It is necessary to withdraw the armed forces from both sides on the distance secure from the border, as a reliable guarantee of the situation stability. We express our readiness in this issue from 2021, besides, such action stems from the logic and quadrilateral agreements of Prague and trilateral one of Sochi. The Armenian side, as before, announces that it has no territorial requirements from its neighbours and towards anybody, and is ready to solve the current issues on the spot through constructive negotiations. Colleagues, Out neiighbour does not stop xenophobic policy and rhetoric. Claims are sounded almost against the whole sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia. I cannot but mention the very important humanitarian issues facing all of us. Until now Azerbaijan illegally holds prisoners of war and the civilians. The issue of preservation of the Armenian cultural heritage on the territories of Nagorno Karabakh that passed under the control of Azerbaijan. The access of the UNESCO Mission into Nagorno Karabakh is blocked, in the event when numerous churches, cemeteries, monuments of marshals and generals of the Great Patriotic War have already been destroyed. The impression is that deleting Armenian letters and breaking to pieces the Armenian cross stones, which are already several hundred years old, is it possible to change the history. It is clear that by that Baku destroys the traces of the centuries-old presence of the Artsakh native people. Summing up the abovementioned, we call on the international community and all colleagues interested in peace and stability in the region to condemn the aggressive actions of Azerbaijan through addressed statements and distinct steps against the Armenians of the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh and by that prevent the further escalation of the situation, which can be spread to other regions of the world. Thanks for your attention, said the President of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan. Auto major Tata Motors on April 14 announced that it is raising the prices of its passenger vehicles (PVs) from May 1. The marginal price hike will be the weighted average of around 0.6 percent, depending on the variant and model, the company told the exchanges. The price hike comes as Tata Motors has absorbed a significant portion of the increased costs on account of regulatory changes and rise in overall input costs. The company said it is compelled to pass on some proportion of the increased costs through this hike. At 17:30 on April 13, Tata Motors was quoting at Rs 469.55, up Rs 4.30, or 0.92 percent. Markets were closed on Friday on account of Ambedkar Jayanti. It touched an intraday high of Rs 471.90 and an intraday low of Rs 463.05 on Thursday. 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 cyber attack group Hacktivist Indonesia which has issued a "red notice" targeting 12,000 government websites, has also, in the past, targeted other countries such as the United States of America (US), Sweden and Israel over incidents which have hurt religious sentiments, or targeted a particular community. Moneycontrol analysed the updates in the Telegram channel where Hacktivist Indonesia regularly posts their claimed exploits, and found that in the past they have allegedly leaked data of Swedish social media users, health and social media data from Israel, and has claimed to have leaked data from a police department in New York, US. While the claimed cyber attacks against Sweden were in response to a Quran burning incident that took place in the country in January, the attacks on Israel were in response to the boiling situation in the country regarding Palestine, the posts made by Hacktivist Indonesia on Telegram, showed. "We address this response to you that the Al-Quran is not to be played with," the group said in a video showing pages of social media related to Swedish citizens, and which seem to have come into their possession. "You can count yourself how many million of your data are damaged (sic)," the post added. The claimed attack against a police department in the US was in response to a row over a painting depicting Prophet Muhammad at a university in the country. All their posts on Telegram also make references to other hacktivist groups such as Anonymous Sudan, which also has been in the news for targeting hospitals in Hyderabad, Dragon Force Malaysia, which last year targeted several Indian websites over comments made against Prophet Muhammad, and so on. On Thursday, the Indian government issued a cyber security alert over the group's announcement that it will target 12,000 government websites, and urged government officials to take preventive measures. Moneycontrol accessed the "red notice" document that the group shared and found the names of thousands of government websites, including that of Aadhaar, departments of police, space, and Income Tax, consulate websites, and so on. This is not the first time that the group has claimed to have targeted India. Moneycontrol also found posts from December where they shared documents listing several phone numbers from the country. The 82.3 MB file shared on Telegram contained thousands of phone numbers. They also claimed to have hacked a social media website and shared data pertaining to Indian users on Telegram. This publication has reached out to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, the body under the Ministry of Home Affairs, which had issued the alert on Thursday. This post will be updated when a response is received. 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. 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 Debt restructuring and resolution are urgent issues for many low and middle income nations, and the G20 agrees that these matters must be speedily dispensed with, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said. She told a press conference here on Thursday that discussions of G20 countries and multiple stakeholders on these issues on the sidelines of the annual spring meeting of the IMF and the World Bank were to ensure that resolution for countries in debt should happen in time. Representatives of some of the countries facing debt such as Sri Lanka, Zambia, Ghana and Ethiopia were present for the discussions. The finance minister said the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable, held on Wednesday, has also brought in a certain avenue for people to talk about how they will have to work towards addressing debt distress and amid an emerging global debt landscape, Sitharaman said. Zambia did mention that it had applied almost a year and a half ago for debt resolution and is still waiting. "That point that it is a very time consuming process and even when the IMF (International Monetary Fund) says it is all right, we are handling your affair, it does take time after that as well," she said. The minister said G20 countries recognise the urgency to address vulnerabilities as well as strengthen multilateral coordination towards countering the increasing debt distress in low-income and middle-income countries. To a question, Sitharaman said, "We found that almost all of them, inclusive of creditors, public creditors, private, all of them said it has to be addressed at the earliest. So, I think even the country that you named China had all agreed that it has to be speedily dispense with that as a greater step forward". "Because once you recognise that you have to do it in time and at the earliest, it moves faster. I expect the resolution for many of these countries, I named a few, maybe there are a few others I didn't name, will have their resolutions done at earliest," Sitharaman said. The Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable was held by the IMF, the World Bank and India that holds the G20 presidency. "There has been absolutely positive discussion going on. There was one held much before we met in Bengaluru. All stakeholders in debt distress related matters were there, private participants were also there, affected countries which have been waiting for one or two years and some others who are now getting relief were also present," the minister said. So, this discussion seems to have gone in a very positive note and "you mentioned China, but I thought in the meeting, all were positively engaged", she said. (With PTI inputs) Here is a collection of the most important stories this evening: Delhi liquor policy case: CBI summons CM Arvind Kejriwal for questioning on April 16 The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on April 16, for questioning in the case related to the alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped liquor policy introduced by his government. The summon has been issued to Kejriwal nearly two months after Manish Sisodia, who was then serving as the deputy chief minister of Delhi, was arrested in connection to the alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. More here Why Mankind Pharma finds Dabur as its man to look up to when it comes to valuations As Mankind Pharma gears up to go public, its 544-page draft IPO paper throws up an interesting name, Dabur India. One wonders why would a century-old fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) major be counted as a pharma companys peer? While Dabur is known for its hair care products, Mankind is famed for its Manforce condoms. Chalk and cheese, to say the least. But a closer look at the details suggests that there might be more to this than meets the eye. More here Growth-hungry shadow banks want a bigger share of MSME loan market For years, commercial banks have dominated lending to Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises (MSMEs). They are now confronting competition from Non-Banking Financial Companies, or shadow banks as they are known, which are turning more aggressing in funding MSMEs. By all accounts, the competition is set to heat up. More here TCS, Infosys warn of subdued demand amid global uncertainty after disappointing Q4 While the underwhelming earnings of Indias top two IT services firms have disappointed the street, some more pain may be on the cards as the management of both companies warned of further subdued demand amid macro uncertainties plaguing the US and Europe. More here MC Exclusive | Volvo to roll out EX90 electric SUV in India, aims for 100% sales from e-cars by 2030 Volvo Car India plans to line up multiple electric cars over the next few years as it aims to generate 100 percent of its product portfolio from zero-emission vehicles by 2030. Among other upcoming models, the Swedish luxury automaker is launching Volvo EX90 SUV, which will be replacing the XC90 globally and is scheduled to go on sale internationally in 2024, a senior company official revealed. More here Air India to slash flights to Oman, UAE and Qatar amid shortage of planes, crew Air India will reduce the frequency of flights to Oman, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar as a temporary measure to mitigate the problem of crew and plane shortage the airline faces. Air India has cancelled one weekly flight on both sides between Delhi and Muscat, Delhi and Dubai, and Delhi and Abu Dhabi from the last week of April to the end of May, multiple sources said. More here How your fuel prices are dictated by international crude oil prices? For over a year now, consumers have been reeling under the weight of high retail prices of petrol and diesel. High fuel prices in India have mostly been attributed to high prices of crude oil in the international markets. More so, since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. The explainer breaks down how your fuel prices are determined and why they are dependent on international prices. More here Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended a high-level meeting on Sri Lankan debt issues and expressed India's commitment to support Colombo in dealing with its current economic crisis. She emphasised that a collaboration among creditors is important to ensure transparency and equality in treatment of all creditors in the debt restructuring discussions. The high-level meeting took place on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)- World Bank (WB) Spring Meetings here on Thursday. Japan Finance Minister Suzuki Shunichi, Sri Lanka State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe and Emmanuel Moulin, Director General of the Treasury, France were present in the meeting. Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe participated virtually, an official statement said. The purpose of the event was to demonstrate the multilateral cooperation regarding the debt restructuring process among the creditors, together with Sri Lanka, it said. In the event, the ministers announced the launch of the debt restructuring negotiation process on Sri Lanka under the three Co-Chairs: India, Japan, and France, to lead coordinated debt restructuring of Sri Lanka, it said. Sri Lanka was hit by an unprecedented financial crisis in 2022, the worst since its independence from Britain in 1948, due to a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves, sparking political turmoil in the country which led to the ouster of the all-powerful Rajapaksa family. The IMF in September last year approved Sri Lanka a UD 2.9-billion bailout package over 4 years pending Sri Lanka's ability to restructure its debt with creditors -- both bilateral and sovereign bondholders. With assurances from creditors, the USD 2.9 billion facilities could get the IMF board approval in March. 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 French president Emmanuel Macron is facing protests against his pension reforms and criticism of his recent China visit and Taiwan remarks. In the midst of all this, he has once again elaborated his plans for the future of Europe during his visit to the Netherlands. The plan was originally presented by him in 2017 at the Sorbonne University. The idea was to reboot the slow and inefficient European Union (EU) under Franco-German partnership. With Britain moving out of the EU and Angela Merkel retiring as a de facto leader of Europe, young Macron was then expected to take over European leadership. Macrons Vision And Realities Since then much has changed in Europe. Apart from the pandemic, the European security architecture has been fundamentally changed by the war in Ukraine. In 2019, Macron described NATO as brain dead. But the alliance is alive and kicking. With Finland and Sweden joining NATO, the organisation's ambitions are growing. The usefulness of the transatlantic alliance is strongly felt in Europe today. This differs significantly compared to the difficult years under the Trump presidency in the United States. At The Hague, Macron talked about a new era of European sovereignty, which he asserted is not just a French idea. His vision contains five pillars: competitiveness, industrial policy, protectionism, reciprocity and cooperation. Many of these ideas are contrary to traditional free market principles, which is the basis for most common EU policies. Throughout his speech, the focus was how to make the European economy competitive to the United States and China. To him, European sovereignty means that Europe must be able to choose its own partners and shape its own destiny, rather than a mere witness of the dramatic evolution of this world. He further stressed that Europeans must strive to be rule-makers rather than rule-takers. This is interesting as many in the world including in India believe that Europeans are in fact over-represented in most institutions of global governance. On trade agreements currently being negotiated by the EU, he argued that sustainability must be an integral part of all of them. While tough green laws are being implemented for the EU industry, Europe must not seal agreements with countries where sustainability laws are less rigorous. He found the EU-New Zealand FTA as the gold standard for sustainability. Eurocentrisms Limits Despite setbacks and drastically changed circumstances in Europe, he is continuing pursuing his theme of strategic autonomy of Europe. He feels that in an emerging geopolitical competition between the United States and China, Europe must pursue its strategic autonomy, possibly under French leadership. Even during his recent China trip, both President Macron and the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen emphasised on de-risking rather than de-coupling as encouraged by the United States. In a recent interview, Macron mentioned that the major risk which Europe faces is that it gets caught up in crises that are not ours, which prevents it from building its strategic autonomy. The part of the interview which has generated a lot of controversy is where he asserted that the question Europeans need to answer is it in our interest to accelerate [a crisis] on Taiwan? No. The worse thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the US agenda and a Chinese overreaction. This is exactly the kind of approach about which the Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had pointed out earlier that Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe's problems are the world's problems but the world's problems are not Europe's problems. US Makes A Comeback President Macron might have noble intentions of making the EU a third pole along with Washington and Beijing in the coming decades through his narratives of strategic autonomy and European sovereignty. The Franco-German alliance has also been a main force behind the European integration project. In the recent past, however, many EU nations have been critical of Franco-German dealings with both Russia and China. They are also aware that without the serious US involvement, Ukraine could not have resisted the Russian aggression. In these circumstances, president Macrons autonomy and sovereignty agenda for an assertive Europe seems ill-timed. Some major West European countries are sympathetic with the idea but uncomfortable with the language and timing due to the war in Ukraine and Chinese military exercises around Taiwan. The European Council president Charles Michel has confirmed that quite a few European leaders think like Macron though wouldn't say things the same way. But still most countries in the Baltics, Nordics and Central and Eastern Europe see the United States crucial to their security. And they have become very assertive in recent years. Gulshan Sachdeva is Professor at the Centre for European Studies and Coordinator, Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. On March 27, the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity behind the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), put out a notice in the media inviting expressions of interest (EoI) from interested bidders for funding of working capital/ raw material requirement against supply of steel by RINL. The instant offer by Telangana Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Chandrashekar Rao to bid for the EoI has triggered a churn in the political discourse in the sibling states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, literally catching Andhras major political players off-guard. YSRC And TDP: Nowhere To Hide It is paradoxical that Andhras big political parties the Jaganmohan Reddy-led ruling YSR Congress and the opposition TDP are soft-pedalling the issue. They are not willing to upset the Narendra Modi government for different reasons, despite the interests of the Visakhapatnam steel plant hanging in the balance. N Chandrababu Naidu has been extending an olive branch to the BJP after burning his fingers in his fight against PM Modi in the 2019 elections. Besides, Naidus party, TDP, was sharing power with the Vajpayee-led BJP government at the Centre when the proposal for the plants privatisation came up in a big way. So, Naidu is disarmed for two reasons in opposing the Modis governments privatisation moves. On the other hand, Jagan, facing trial in money-laundering cases, has the solitary reason of needing to be in the good books of the NDA government. As an anti-Modi crusader since BJPs rise in Telangana, KCR obviously tried to exploit this handicap that is hobbling Andhra politicians. Telanganas Seemandhra Voters KRCs entry in VSPs bidding is viewed as a masterstroke. The astute leader aims at countering the popularity PM Modi enjoys and checking the resurgent BJP with a synergy of Andhra and Telangana sentiments ahead of elections due in his home state. The prospects of KCR achieving the hat-trick as a three-time CM hinges on the support of Seemandhra settler voters predominantly present in 20-25 out of 119 assembly segments in his home state. By defending the cause of Visakhapatnam steel plant the Telangana CM will drive his point home that the NDA government is arbitrarily working against the underlying spirit of the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act, 2014. The law aimed to rebuild the truncated states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh but KCR can use this plant and related issues to allege that the Centre is not helping in realising all the commitments enshrined in the Act. The commitments include establishing steel plants at Bayyaram in Telangana and Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh. The Narendra Modi government dropped the steel plant proposal at Bayyaram, citing as reason the low-grade coal availability there. Ignoring Visakhas Captive Mine Need? KCR and his son KT Rama Rao,who is also the BRS working president, are actively engaged in building a poll-eve narrative around the central ruling partys perceived proximity to the Adani group. KTR, who also holds the industry portfolio in his fathers cabinet, in a letter to the Prime Minister, questioned the rationale behind the awarding of Bailadila iron-ore mine in Chhattisgarh to the Adani group. Visakhapatnam steel plant is about 600 kms from Bailadila and could have benefited from being granted Bailadila as a captive mine, while Bayyaram (site of the proposed steel plant under the Reorganisation Act) is just 150 km away. How could transportation of ore from Bailadila to Bayyaram and VSP be considered not technically feasible when the same facility is being extended to Adanis company located in Gujarats Mundra, 1,800km away, KTR asked. RINL, regardless of its proximity to two ports Vizag and Gangavaram, does not have mine linkages for iron-ore and coal. As a result, the cost of coal and iron ore procurement in FY2021-22 stood at Rs 9,051.13 crore and Rs 7,213.17 crore, respectively. Raw material costs were 64 percent of the companys expenditure during that financial year. From FY2016 to 2018, RINL reported losses to the tune of Rs 1,604 crore, Rs 1,263 crore and Rs 1,369 crore respectively. In FY 2020 and 2021 the company again reported losses to the tune of Rs 3,910 crore and Rs 1,012 crore. The Plants Emotive Past The sorry fate of the steel plant brings to public mind a tide of violent protests that whipped up Andhra sentiment for the steel plant at Visakhapatnam during the regime of Indira Gandhi as the Prime Minister in the mid-1960s. The tagline of the protests was Visakha Ukku, Andhrula Hakku (Visakha steel plant is the right of Andhra people). Over 30 protesters were killed during the agitation, including four from the Telangana region which was part of Andhra Pradesh then. The frenzied mobs uprooted a statue of Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy who was a Union minister in the Indira Gandhi government then from a public place in Vijayawada and threw it into an irrigation canal. Sanjeeva Reddy, hailing from the Rayalaseema region, was targeted by the agitators suspecting that he was acting against the locating of the plant at Visakhapatnam. Finally, the Indira Gandhi government yielded to massive protests, and the first pylon of the Visakha Steel, as it was affectionately known, was laid in 1971. With such a storied history and struggle to get the plant up and running, KCR will hope that it strikes an emotional chord or at least gives him the upper hand in the perception battle against BJP. Andhra politicians, caught in the crossfire, have reason to worry if the issue hots up. Gali Nagaraja is a senior journalist, formerly associated with The Hindu, The Times of India, and Hindustan Times for over three decades. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. India is gearing up to launch an electric vehicle (EV) super-app that will offer EV users detailed information about public charging stations and enable reservations at those stations. The app aims to be a one-stop platform for EV users, making it more convenient for them to locate charging stations and reserve slots easily. This app will be integrated with the UMANG, a mobile app that brings together central, state and local government services on a single platform. The addition of the EV super app to the UMANG platform will enhance the range of services available to Indian citizens, demonstrating the government's commitment to digital transformation. Like a Swiss Army Knife A super-app is an application that provides users with a core set of features, along with access to mini-apps that are independently created. It can be likened to a Swiss army knife, with a range of tools or mini-apps that users can add or remove as required. Super-apps are gaining popularity in Asia, with many companies such as Paytm, Tata Neu, WeChat and Grab developing their own platforms. Governments are interested in developing super-apps due to their potential benefits, which include improved efficiency, enhanced accessibility to government services, and data collection for policymaking purposes. In Singapore, the LifeSG platform enables citizens to register their child's birth, make end-of-life plans, pay parking fines and access a range of other government services. The platform is operated by the Government Technology Agency and has been downloaded by over 1.5 million people to date. In Istanbul, Turkey, the IstanbulKart public transportation card which was functioning as an e-wallet for public transport has evolved into a versatile payment system that enables users to pay for other services like public parking lots, museums, municipal restaurants and even grocery stores. In the United Kingdom, citizens may soon be able to store their financial data on a single super-app, similar to the National Health Service app launched by the government in 2018. The UK Finance, a trade association, has announced that this platform will enable citizens to manage their finances and access a range of financial services easily. In the Philippines, the government plans to launch the eGov super-app, as a one-stop platform for citizens to access national and local government services instead of around 175 government websites. Why Super-apps For Governance Super-apps hold a promise for enhancing the convenience, efficiency, and personalisation of government services for citizens. With governments at the central, state and local levels offering a variety of services to a population of 1.4 billion, a super-app offers a solution to streamline all these services and make them easier to access. From the governments perspective, it has the potential to reduce redundancies and complexities in the existing processes. Lets say an entrepreneur wants to open a restaurant or cloud kitchen. In the existing process, she needs to apply for GST registration, an FSSAI license, and different central and state government licenses and clearances - all on separate websites or offices of their own. While the physical offices cannot be done away with completely, the journey of starting a restaurant can be efficiently replicated online, reducing miscommunication and confusion among aspiring entrepreneurs. This is but one example. The super-app interface can be customised to show local services once a user selects her geolocation. Consider a citizen from a tier-2 or tier-3 town. She can apply for an Aadhaar, link it with their mobile number, submit an application for a bank account, access educational videos for her kids and also information on government schemes on starting a mushroom farming business. There are cost savings from developing a super-app. A streamlined application will only incur maintenance and server costs but can overcome the problem of understaffing in government offices to deal with a growing population. An official app can be a great way to communicate with citizens and an excellent alternative to communicating through social media. It can not only showcase important announcements but also reduce the instances of fake news. Additionally, it can enable administrations to make decisions on the basis of polls, surveys and other feedback received from citizens via an official super-app. It can also be a single platform to post grievances and invoke emergency services like the police or fire station. Challenges To Building Super-apps Government agencies tend to work autonomously and adopt different data standards. So it becomes important for all these agencies to cooperate. Consolidating government services across different agencies requires coordination not only on the digital front but also with retrofitting the ground-level operations into a digital space. For instance, making government services accessible through voice command in all Indian languages requires interoperability among different line ministries, maintaining security and privacy of user data, investing in infrastructure and partnerships with third-party providers and overcoming legal and regulatory hurdles such as compliance with data privacy laws and licensing requirements. Secondly, having a stable government and strong leadership is a must for making a super-app. Cooperation between the Centre, state governments and local bodies is a prerequisite for the apps value proposition. Finally, the apps adoption requires a significant shift in user behaviour and preferences towards a new digital platform. If these challenges could be navigated, a super-app will be an excellent tool in every citizens hand. Anurag Wasnik is Innovation Lead - Atal Innovation Mission at NITI Aayog. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on April 16, for questioning in the case related to alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped liquor policy introduced by his government. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which Kejriwal heads, said in a statement that he would be appearing before the central probing agency. "The Centre wants to put AAP under pressure after it has become a national party. Under this, Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned by CBI. He will appear for questioning on April 16," the party said. The summon has been issued to the chief minister nearly two months after his deputy Manish Sisodia was arrested in connection to the alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. The AAP government in the national capital was accused of introducing the policy to grant licences to liquor traders favoured by certain dealers, who had allegedly paid bribes for it. The ruling AAP has strongly denied the charge. Along with Sisodia, others arrested in the case include businessmen Vijay Nair and Abhishek Boinpally. While the CBI was yet to formally name Kejriwal in the chargesheet, the Centre-ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has described the AAP chief as one the "kingpins" in the alleged scam. "What is the relation between Arvind Kejriwal and Vijay Nair? Was Nair present when the excise policy was designed? The main accused may be Sisodia but the kingpin is Kejriwal," said senior BJP leader and Union Minister Anurag Thakur last month. The contentious excise policy was implemented from November 17, 2021 and discontinued on August 31, 2022. The withdrawal came shortly after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena red-flagged the alleged irregularities, and recommended a CBI probe. Meanwhile, AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh accused the BJP-led Central government of playing vendetta against Kejriwal and his party members. "Kejriwal has received notice and he will certainly go for questioning on April 16. Government's intimidation can't stop AAP to raise the corruption related issues of this government," said Singh. Singh alleged that the notice for questioning has come days after Kejriwal in the Delhi Assembly accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of shielding the crisis-ridden Adani Group, which is under scanner for stock manipulation and debt-related allegations. "PM and his government are completely involved in corruption. This government wants to arrest him (Kejriwal), because he knows the reality and tried to aware people as well," said Singh. YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had a private conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on April 14. The meeting took place within the framework of the session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the CIS held in Samarkand. ARMENPRESS reports, the interlocutors discussed issues related to regional security and stability. The Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, border delimitation and border security, unblocking of all economic and transport links in the region, and the Nagorno Karabakh issue. Ararat Mirzoyan presented the details of the provocation carried out by the Azerbaijani armed forces on April 11 in the Tegh village of Syunik Province of Armenia, noting that it was another manifestation of the aggressive policy of Azerbaijan. Reference was made to the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh resulted by the four-month-long blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan. The need to end the blockade of the Lachin Corridor in accordance with the obligations assumed by the trilateral declaration of November 9, 2020 was emphasized. During the meeting, the Foreign Ministers also referred to issues of the bilateral agenda. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday appealed to the people to ensure BJPs victory in 35 seats out of the 42 in West Bengal in the next Lok Sabha polls, saying that the TMC government would not survive beyond 2025 if the target is achieved. While lashing out at the Mamata Banerjee government for running a Hitler-like regime, Shah said if the BJP returns to power in 2024 by winning more than 35 seats in the state, no one would dare to attack Ram Navami rallies in the state. Violence broke out in various places of the state during the Ram Navami celebration earlier this month. Let me say it clearly that Narendra Modi will be the countrys Prime Minister again. In 2024 Lok Sabha polls, give us more than 35 seats from West Bengal, and I can assure you that the Mamata Banerjee government wont survive beyond 2025, Shah said while addressing a rally here in Birbhum district. The Mamata Banerjee government is scheduled to complete its third term in 2026. Mamata Banerjee might dream of making her nephew the next CM, but the next Chief Minister of West Bengal will be from the BJP. Only the BJP can fight and defeat the corrupt TMC, he said. Banerjees nephew Abhishek is TMCs national general secretary and an MP. The BJP won 18 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in the 2019 elections. Shahs comments drew sharp reactions from the TMC, which termed it as undemocratic and unconstitutional. The Chief Executive Officer of a financial app has been arrested in Bengaluru over allegations of fraud and cheating job aspirants and employees of money with false assurances of jobs. CS Sudheer, the founder and CEO of IndianMoney Ffreedom app, has been sent to judicial custody and will be interrogated in the matter after 22 victims filed complaints against him and employees of the company. The manager, the HR are among the 22 employees of the company who have been named in the complaint. The mode of operation of the accused was simple. The employees of the company assured victims of part-time jobs paying Rs 15,000 per month if they subscribed to the IndianMoney app for Rs 2,999. When the promises were not kept, irate people went to the police. The first case was registered against the CEO on April 4 by one person and 21 other complainants were named as witnesses in the matter. The second case was filed on April 11 by another victim along with 20 others. Sudheer got bail in one of the cases but was kept in custody after another case was registered against him. Police are yet to recover the money of the defrauded victims. IndianMoneys Ffreedom app describes itself as an investment advisory boutique firm offering customized investment services for insurance, loans, property, tax and so on. An anonymous Redditor who claims to work part-time for a food delivery platform has shared pictures of a disgusting cloud kitchen in Bengaluru. The Redditor said he was compelled to take the photographs after noticing that a kitchen worker dropped a dumpling on the dirty floor, picked it up and put it back in the steamer. I work part time in a food delivery platform. Today I couldn't control my mind. I literally saw the guy put the momo back to the steamer after it fell on the dirtiest floor I've ever seen. I have no words to say, he wrote while sharing three pictures that show a kitchen in disarray. Cloud kitchens are disgusting by u/dozing_dog in bangalore The trend of cloud kitchens has picked up in recent times as more and more people discover the advantages of ordering in vs going out to eat at a restaurant. Cloud kitchens are delivery-only restaurants where there is no space for customers to sit or dine in. A lot of the times, food for several delivery-only restaurants is cooked in the same cloud kitchen. Bengaluru residents in the comments section of the post identified it as the cloud kitchen for Kouzina. That looks like Kouzina? The guys who currently own Warm Oven, Kaati Zone, Slurpy Shakes, Sundae Everyday, Indiana Burgers, Dessert Zone, Cupcake Bliss, Biryani Zone, Momo Zone and Burger Up, wrote one commenter. The delivery driver who shared the picture confirmed it was taken at Kouzinas cloud kitchen in Electronic City. This is e-city, he wrote in response to a Redditor who posted: This Cloud Kitchen Kouzina is just 300 mtrs away from my jome. Never going to buy.OP can you confirm if this is from Hulimavu one? A man in China won 365 days of paid leave at his companys annual dinner, leaving his colleagues stunned (and perhaps just a little envious). A video going viral on Chinese social media platforms shows the unnamed employee holding a giant cheque which reads "365 days of paid leave". The man reportedly won the jackpot prize in a lucky draw event organised by his company. According to Today Online, the lucky draw raffle contained both prizes and penalties. The chances of drawing the jackpot prize of a years worth of paid leaves were extremely low, but one employee beat the odds to emerge as the winner. An administrative employee of the firm, surnamed Chen, said that the company dinner was organised for the first time in three years due to the pandemic. She said the administrative department came up with the idea of a lucky draw to boost employee morale. Prizes included a day or two of extra paid time-off, while penalties in the raffle had scenarios like serving as a waiter. No one expected that an employee would draw the grand prize ticket, Chen admitted. We never thought that this (lot) would be drawn by someone, she said. Hahaha, the boss was stunned. The winner now has the opportunity to take time off or encash his leaves. On social media, people speculated about how they would celebrate if they ever won such a prize. Many said the winner should encash half his leaves to get the best of both worlds. FBI agents on Thursday arrested a 21-year-old national guardsman suspected of being behind a major leak of sensitive US government secrets. The arrested US Air National Guardsman was identified as Jack Teixeira, who now faces espionage charges for sharing classified military documents in an online gaming chatroom an act that led to his televised arrest. The security breach revealed sensitive military intelligence about the war in Ukraine and pointed to US spying on allies, including Israel and South Korea. Here is what we know so far about 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, the US Air National Guardsman accused of leaking sensitive government secrets online: Jack Teixeira was a member of the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. His official job title was Cyber Transport Systems journeyman, which the BBC identified as a relatively junior position. In his role as Cyber Transport Systems journeyman, Teixeira was essentially an IT specialist who was responsible for military communications networks. 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. This is how, despite his junior position, Teixeira had high levels of security clearance which allowed him access to top secret government documents. 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 US airman was something of an unofficial leader of the Discord group, where members posted racist memes, talked about God and guns, and discussed Russias invasion of Ukraine. One member of the group who spoke to the Associated Press said Teixeira appeared to be an observant Christian who often spoke of God and prayed with members of the chat group. A former classmate of Teixeira said he was surprised to learn of his arrest and described him as a quiet guy. He's a good kid, not a troublemaker, just a quiet guy, said Eddy Souza, who went to school with the airman. It sounds like it was a stupid kid's mistake. Teixeiras stepfather, Master Sgt. Thomas P. Dufault, had served in the same military where Teixeira was working. He retired after 34 years of service. His mother, Dawn Teixeira, runs a flower shop. (With inputs from agencies) In October 2022, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) levied penalties of Rs 1,337.76 crore and Rs 936.44 crore on Google for abusing its dominant position in the Android and Play Store markets, thereby adversely affecting competition. Curiously enough, in both cases, CCI has noted in its orders that Google did not supply financial data, in the manner the Commission had sought it, to arrive at the penalty amount. In fact, CCI notes that it takes serious note of glaring inconsistencies and wide disclaimers in presenting various data points by Google. While upholding CCIs Rs 1,337.76-crore penalty, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) in fact, made it clear that the anti-trust watchdogs penalty was based on best-estimation since Google did not provide the relevant financial information. Recently, in an interview with Moneycontrol, Additional Solicitor General N. Venkataraman, who argued for CCI at NCLAT, remarked, The Google experience was not a very happy one when it came to imposing penalty because they never cooperated. The NCLAT had, on March 29, upheld the penalty of Rs 1,337.76 crore imposed by CCI on Google, while the tech giants appeal against the Rs 936.44-crore penalty will be heard by NCLAT on April 17. One is left wondering why CCIs penalty is exactly Rs 1,337.76 crore and not rounded off to Rs 1,338 crore. Furthermore, how did CCI arrive at the amount? Why did Google not cooperate with CCI? How are penalties imposed? Section 27 of the Competition Act, 2002, allows CCI to impose penalties on enterprises for violating the competition law by performing actions such as imposing anti-competitive agreements or abuse of a dominant position. Until recently, such penalties were generally based on relevant turnover, linked to the products or services affected. However, with the 2023 amendment, CCI is now empowered to impose penalties based on the global turnover of the enterprise from all products and services. What is relevant turnover? The Competition Act provides that when an enterprise is found to be abusing its dominant position in the market and in the process eliminating competition, CCI can impose a penalty of up to 10 percent of its average turnover for the last three preceding financial years. Since the Act merely mentions the word turnover, CCI used to impose penalties on the total turnover of erring enterprises. For instance, an enterprise like Google provides various services such as Search, Gmail, Google Photos, etc. If it is found to be abusing its dominant position in Gmail, penalty used to be levied on Googles entire turnover, and not just its turnover from Gmail. In 2017, the Supreme Court clarified that penalty is to be levied on the relevant turnover, i.e., the turnover of the company from the product or service, where it is found to be abusing its dominant position. The 2023 amendment however, gives CCI the powers to impose penalties on the global turnover of companies, irrespective of the products. However, since Googles orders came before the competition amendment came into effect, CCI had to calculate the penalty on the relevant turnover, that is, on the Android and Play Store markets. In Googles case, CCI penalty of Rs 1,337.76 crore was calculated at 10 percent of the turnover of the preceding three years in the Android business, while the penalty of Rs 936.44 crore was calculated at 7 percent of the turnover of the preceding three years in its Play Store business. Why did CCI say Google did not cooperate? To impose penalties, CCI asks the enterprises guilty of anti-competitive practices to furnish financial statements. The 10 percent penalty for abuse of dominance is calculated based on these financial statements that are to be certified by chartered accountants. According to CCI, it had asked Google to submit financial statements of the relevant product certified by chartered accountants. However, the company provided data given by its own officers. Furthermore, CCI notes in the order that Googles data had glaring inconsistencies and wide disclaimers. The order states, The Commission is constrained to observe that despite commanding enormous resources, Google has failed to provide the data in the manner sought by the Commission despite grant of sufficient time, as sought by it. Google contested the quantum of penalty at NCLAT. However, the tribunal observed, We also note that Google has not provided the financial information as sought by the CCI. The inadequacy of the data supplied by Google has been mentioned in detail. The CCI points out to significant inconsistencies and wide disclaimers in presentation of the requisite data by Google. In such a situation, CCI has carried out the best estimation on the basis of financial statements and information submitted by Google. Therefore, we agree with the CCIs decision to quantify the monetary penalties on the basis of data presented by Google. When reached for comments on CCIs and NCLATs observations, the tech giant responded saying that they currently do not have any insights to share . Google can challenge NCLATs verdict at the Supreme Court within 60 days from March 29, the day of the verdict. An American man resorted to excruciating height lengthening surgery to increase his height by five inches after being ridiculed for his short frame for years. Moses Gibson, a 41-year-old man from Minneapolis, Minnesota also took the extreme step to have a better dating life and after the surgery, he has even found a girlfriend. Moses is now five inches taller than before and hopes to reach his goal height of 5ft 10in by June, for which he has spent a total of $165,000 (Rs 1.35 crore) on two surgeries. He struggled with "heightism" in his dating life and constant jokes about him being "short," but now he has newfound confidence. Moses, who was 5ft 5in tall, felt insecure about his height from an early age. He tried medications and even reached out to a spiritual healer to get taller. But nothing worked, and he felt that surgery was his only option. "Even when I was in high school, I was always unhappy with my height. It started getting to me gradually. I just didn't feel good about myself, I was unhappy about it most of the time," he said. Moses Gibson spent 170k on 2 height lengthening surgery after being subjected heightism for being 55! He said he long struggled to get a girlfriend due to his 5-foot-5-inch frame, initially turning to medication and a spiritual healer to try to increase his height He pic.twitter.com/HqoTcUyCZR The Cosmetic Lane (@TheCosmeticLane) April 12, 2023 Moses saved $150,000 dollars for the surgery after working as a software engineer during the day and an Uber driver at night. The 'painful' procedure last month broke Moses' tibia and fibula bones and screwed magnetic, limb lengthening nails in them. He now has to use a height lengthening device three times a day, which pulls the cut bone apart a millimeter at a time. This encourages his body to create new bone tissue, which will fill the gap until his desired height of 5ft 10in is achieved. Moses said, "I'm a high achiever, I'm a go-getter, so after the first one I thought, with all the heightism, I've got the money and I can finish the journey." He spoke with the doctor and asked for three more inches but was told that after the second surgery, two inches would be more reasonable. After the first surgery, Moses felt happy to some extent, but he always had in his mind that he wanted to do the second one to complete it. After the second surgery, he became less nervous wearing certain clothes such as shorts. The leg-lengthening process is known as distraction, and it may be an option for those with particularly short legs, according to the NHS website. Using surgery, the leg bone is broken and fixed to a special frame to stretch it, allowing new bone to form in between the two broken ends of the bone. Over time, this bone gets stronger until it's able to support your weight. Distraction can sometimes result in a significant increase in height, but it's a lengthy treatment and has a risk of complications, so it isn't always recommended. Some people have pain during or after the limb-lengthening procedure, and other possible complications include poor bone formation, fracture, infection, bone lengthening at an inappropriate rate, and blood clots. Moses says he's happy with the results despite the painful surgery. "You go home and you have a week or two for some healing to happen before you get the device to start lengthening," he said. Windows XP's "Bliss" wallpaper is one of the most iconic images in the world of technology. Everyone has seen the stock wallpaper that comes with Windows but the backstory behind the photograph is fascinating. The picture, clicked by photographer Charles O'Rear, captured the attention of millions when it was used as the default wallpaper for Microsoft's operating system. The picture was taken in 1996 on a road trip that O'Rear was taking from his home in Napa Valley to visit his girlfriend in San Francisco. He was driving through Sonoma County, California when he noticed the beautiful landscape of green hills and blue skies. He pulled over to the side of the road, took out his medium-format Mamiya RZ67 film camera, and captured the now-famous photograph. ORear, who worked for National Geographic, said he always carried a camera with him and would often stop to click pictures. O'Rear had no idea at the time that his photograph would become so famous. He simply took the picture because he thought it was beautiful. In fact, it wasn't until several years later that Microsoft contacted him about using the image for its new operating system, Windows XP. ORear had submitted the photo to a stock photo agency Corbis. Microsoft paid O'Rear an undisclosed amount of money for the use of the image, but some estimates suggest that it could have been in the range of $100,000 or more. Ladbible claims it was in this range however the exact amount has never been made public due to a non-disclosure agreement. Despite the financial rewards, O'Rear has said that he is proud of the fact that his photograph has become so iconic. He never could have predicted the impact that it would have on the world of technology and beyond. The "Bliss" wallpaper has become more than just a default image for a computer desktop. It has become a symbol of simplicity, tranquility, and natural beauty. It's an image that has touched people all over the world, and it's one that will continue to be admired for generations to come. Pakistan's debt continues to be sustainable, International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday, after the government reiterated it had completed all requirements to receive a critical bailout from the IMF. 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. Pakistan's finance ministry on Thursday said IMF deputy managing director Antoinette Moniso Sayeh was confident of signing the staff level agreement very soon. Asked what Pakistan needed to do to avoid reaching the unsustainable debt positions faced by countries like Sri Lanka, Georgieva said: "We are not there yet, and it is better not to get there." She said the lender has been working very hard with the authorities in Pakistan within the context of the current programme to make sure the country has the policy framework in place to prevent reaching the point of unsustainable debt. "My hope is that with the goodwill of everyone, and the implementation of what has been already agreed by the Pakistan authorities, we can complete our current programme successfully," Georgieva told reporters at a briefing in Washington. The fund is also in talks asking friendly countries of Pakistan to provide financial assurances so it can complete the programme, she said. Pakistan is required to give an assurance that its balance of payments deficit is fully financed for the fiscal year ending in June to unlock the next tranche of IMF funding. Pakistan's government reiterated on Thursday it has completed all requirements to receive the critical bailout money from the fund following a meeting with Sayeh. "The finance minister also shared that all the international obligations have been addressed in time," the finance ministry said in a news release. 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 Board's approval for the 9th Review," the ministry said in a tweet. 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. 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. The number of participants, who took to the streets across France on Thursday, was estimated at 380,000, Tass informs. April 14, 2023, 09:51 Around 380,000 people took to streets to protest pension reform in France STEPANAKERT, APRIL 14, ARTSAKHPRESS: The number of participants is by 190,000 less than during the 11th nationwide protest day on April 7, and by 370,000 less than on the ninth day of protest, on March 28. The record number of protestors - almost 1.3 million people - was registered on March 7. However, Frances national trade union center, the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) estimates the number of participants at 1.5 million, including 400,000 in Paris. Clashes between protestors and police were reported throughout the day. According to reports, ten police officers were injured during the protests in Paris. One of them was rushed to hospital in critical condition. The European Union is preparing to impose its 11th package of sanctions on Russia, European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Mairead McGuinness said in an interview to CNBC. April 14, 2023, 11:03 EU prepares to impose 11th package of sanctions on Russia STEPANAKERT, APRIL 14, ARTSAKHPRESS: "Europe has rolled out 10 packages of sanctions. We will have another package," she was quoted as saying. The European commissioner went on to say that he 11th package of sanctions will focus on circumvention of earlier measures. "We have to make sure that they dont find ways around our sanctions," she added. April 14, 2023 'Leaks' Pinned On Russia And Other Issues With Them Exactly one week ago the British news agency Reuters published the 'report' below which then was widely republished by other news sites. Russia likely behind U.S. military document leak, U.S. officials say - Fri, April 7, 2023 at 4:46 PM GMT+1 By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Russia or pro-Russian elements are likely behind the leak of several classified U.S. military documents posted on social media that offer a partial, month-old snapshot of the war in Ukraine, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday, while the Justice Department said separately it was probing the leak. The documents appear to have been altered to lower the number of casualties suffered by Russian forces, the U.S. officials said, adding their assessments were informal and separate from the investigation into the leak itself. The U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter and declined to discuss the documents in any detail. The author, Phil Stewart, ... ... has reported from more than 60 countries, including Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, China and South Sudan. An award-winning Washington-based national security reporter, Phil has appeared on NPR, PBS NewsHour, Fox News and other programs and moderated national security events, including at the Reagan National Defense Forum and the German Marshall Fund. He is a recipient of the Edwin M. Hood Award for Diplomatic Correspondence and the Joe Galloway Award. One wonders who initiated the contact between Stewart and those 'officials'. Did Stewart asked them for comments or did they call him up to plant the nonsense? I have tried to contact Phil Stewart but it is unlikely that I will hear back from him. One wonders how many other such 'Russiagate' like hoax stories, based on anonymous officials, were published by Phil Stewart and Reuters. Meanwhile one of real purposes of the 'leak' becomes clear: EXCLUSIVE - U.S. intel agencies may change how they monitor social media, chatrooms after missing leaked U.S. documents for weeks - NBC News 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. ... 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 dont have the legal authority to monitor a private online chatroom without probable cause, the former officials said. It is likely that Biden will now push for even more extreme censorship, i.e. the RESTRICT Act, to become law. Former CIA agent Larry Johnson says that the leak can not have come from the alleged 'leaker' who worked in the military as the 'leaked' stash contained at least one CIA document that would never be distributed outside of the agency. The leaked stash also includes many more themes than the slides on Ukraine that have so far have been discussed in the public: A portion of the documents, which have since been widely covered by the news media, focused on Russias invasion of Ukraine, while others detailed analysis of potential UK policies on the South China Sea and the activities of a Houthi figure in Yemen. And even more: Even so, why does this unit need access to intel on such a wide range of topics: spying on Mossad, Egyptian rocket development, Wagner activities in Haiti and Africa? So why have the media, with the help of the British intelligence outlet Bellingcat, spend so much time on hunting the purported 'leaker' instead of writing in depth stories on the 300 plus actual 'leaked' files? Why did they waste their resources on helping the justice department to find the leaker? The push for this was likely initiated by Bellingcat which published the first leads to that part of story. Bellingcat writers were later even bylined by the Washington Post and New York Times in their 'leaker' hunt stories. My hunch: The 'leaks' come from some high position in the 'intelligence community', likely the CIA or DNI. The young airman who was arrested yesterday was somehow used to publish them. The original leak source then contacted the British partner services to launch the 'hunt'. Their subsidiary Bellingcat was used to publish the results. The purpose of the leaks was two fold: With the Ukraine slides published the Biden administration, which has no idea how to continue or shut down the war in Ukraine it had initiated, would have to admit that the war there is lost and that Ukraine must surrender. The second aim is to push for more surveillance, i.e. more jobs for the 'intelligence community'. So far that scheme has worked well. Posted by b on April 14, 2023 at 14:54 UTC | Permalink Comments next page April 14, 2023 Ukraine Open Thread 2023-90 Only for news & views directly related to the Ukraine conflict. The current open thread for other issues is here. Please stick to the topic. Contribute facts. Do not attack other commentators. Posted by b on April 14, 2023 at 14:57 UTC | Permalink Comments next page Close to two thirds of Australians believe working five days a week could soon become a thing of the past, as workplaces look to embrace a new four-day normal, according to a new survey. Almost half the 42,000 workers surveyed in a recent poll conducted by recruitment firm Hays believe they'll be working a four-day week in five years, while another 16 per cent said it would be within 12 months Another fifth said they thought it would take another decade to achieve, while the remaining fifth said the four-day week will never materialise. It comes as research shows a three-day weekend can be like a small holiday, improving worker health, while unions say Aussies are working longer hours and finding it increasingly difficult to balance their work and personal lives. "The optimism and aspiration from workers is clear," Hays Australia New Zealand Managing Director Nick Deligiannis told AAP. "Clearly, from a worker point of view, that's showing that that's what their expectation is," he said. Many employers remain hesitant about switching to a four-day week, as they face potential decreases in productivity, he said. "I think that's one of the crucial elements of it - can we still run our business effectively? Can we still keep high productivity and not compromise the bottom line?" But moving to a four-day week could affect staff retention rates and influence where employees choose to work, he said. The four-day week could provide relief to staff who took on more during the pandemic, when skills and labour were in short supply. "Workers have had to really step up and take on bigger loads, and I think there's a limit to how long people are able to do that or want to do that,"Mr Deligiannis said. Work-life balance is much discussed but is rarely achieved for most workers, ACTU Secretary Sally McManus says. "Australians work some of the longest hours in the developed world, it is definitely time we reduced them and shared hours with those who want more," Ms McManus told AAP. Story continues "A four-day working week is something we should consider." A 13-month University of South Australia study looking at the benefits of time away from work found people on holidays were more likely to be active, socialising, and getting more sleep. While the benefits increased in proportion to the length of the holiday, positive outcomes were seen even from a three-day weekend. "This study provides empirical evidence that people have healthier lifestyle patterns when they have a short break, such as a three-day weekend," senior researcher Carol Maher said. Earlier this month, a parliamentary committee called for a government-backed trial of the four-day work week to see how it improved people's lives. The trial would be based on the 100:80:100 model, which sees workers retain their salary and keep up productivity, but lose one day of work. A number of Australian companies have already made the shift, including Unilever, Bright Agency and Fintech company Indebted. Unilever decided to expand their trial to Australia after promising results in New Zealand, where absenteeism dropped one third, and revenue grew over an 18-month period. A four-day week could be a tool to bring a company a competitive edge, Unliever CEO for Australia and New Zealand Nicky Sparshott said at the trial launch last year. "This is about trying new ways to remove the barriers that potentially limit value creation and slow us down," he said. BETHESDA, Md. (AP) Cuba plans to resume accepting deportation flights from the United States this month, a Cuban official said, echoing U.S. concerns about the highest levels of Cuban migration in six decades. Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, Cuba's deputy foreign minister, said flights are expected before the U.S. ends coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions on asylum on May 11, which is widely projected to increase the number of people seeking entry to the U.S. at the U.S.-Mexico border. The diplomat spoke in an interview with The Associated Press at the Cuban ambassador's residence outside Washington after what he called a productive meeting with U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials to discuss migration. We have a lot of common understanding, both parties, the United States and Cuba, about the nature of the problem, he said. Fernandez de Cossio said there was no agreement on the frequency of flights, which will depend on U.S. and Cuban capacity. But he said there was no reason they can't return to pre-pandemic levels of about twice a month. The last flight was in December 2020. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. Cubans were stopped nearly 43,000 times at the U.S. border with Mexico in December, becoming one of the largest nationalities entering the United States. Numbers plummeted in January after President Joe Biden's administration announced that Cubans could fly to the U.S. if they applied online and had a financial sponsor and that they would be expelled back to Mexico if they crossed the border illegally. Were going to see if we can get one in the coming weeks and then to make that regular so that people can be easily removed, not to Mexico but directly to Cuba, Fernandez de Cossio said late Thursday. He said that numbers of Cubans fleeing on boats, particularly high-powered vessels associated with smugglers, have been rising after a fall earlier this year and that more Cubans were leaving the country to fly to Nicaragua as tourists, typically the first step for Cubans to travel by land to the U.S.-Mexico border. Fernandez de Cassio said the changes announced in January under which people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela can apply for humanitarian parole to come to the U.S. have been successful in reducing the numbers of Cubans trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. But he cautioned that it wasnt a long-term fix. It would be irresponsible for us or naive to think that this will be sustainable in the long term because there will always be a limit on the amount of visas, he said. It is unclear how many flights the U.S. will need to mount a serious deterrent to Cuban migration. The two countries have planned five removal flights since November, but each was called off for various operational issues, said Fernandez de Cossio, emphasizing that Cuba has supported the flights in theory. U.S. Border Patrol agents stopped more migrants last year than at any other time on record, largely driven by arrivals of people from Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, countries with strained diplomatic relations. It has been extremely difficult for the U.S. to sponsor deportation flights to those countries, forcing the Biden administration to turn to Mexico for help hosting the migrants. The Biden administration has gone into overdrive preparing for the end of Title 42, the public health authority under which migrants have been expelled from the U.S. more than 2.7 million times without an opportunity to seek asylum on the grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19. This week, the U.S., Panama and Colombia announced a plan to stop migration through the notorious Darien Gap in Panama, where people are often killed. It also began testing expedited initial screening for asylum at an undisclosed border crossing, hoping to quickly return those who don't pass. Fernandez de Cossio said he pressed during talks in Washington to alleviate economic sanctions against Cuba and changes to the Cuban Adjustment Act, which makes Cubans eligible for legal residency after one year in the United States. A former White House and international development official was killed last week after the business jet she was flying in hit severe turbulence in New England, officials said Monday. Dana Hyde, 55, of Cabin John, Md., was flying with her husband and one of her sons on an aircraft owned by rural broadband consulting firm Conexon, the company said. Neither of her relatives nor the two members of the flight crew were injured, according to the company and the Federal Aviation Administration. Hyde was taken to a hospital in Hartford, Conn., after the Bombardier jet, heading from Keene, N.H., to Leesburg Executive Airport in Virginia, made an emergency landing, Connecticut State Police said. The incident is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board. The family members were returning Friday from a trip to visit schools in New England, Hyde's husband, Jonathan Chambers, said in an email to employees and clients of Conexon, which is based in Kansas City, Mo. "Dana was the best person I ever knew. She was a wonderful mother to our boys and she was accomplished professionally," Chambers wrote. "She loved and was beloved." In addition to probing what it initially described as a turbulence event, the NTSB said Monday, its investigators are "now looking at a reported trim issue that occurred prior to the in-flight upset." The agency did not describe the nature of the reported issue, but trim generally refers to a plane's ability to maintain its altitude. On their way home, Chambers said, "the plane suddenly convulsed in a manner that violently threw the three of us. My wife was badly injured." An ambulance had been waiting, but her injuries were too severe., he said. She died that night. Federal safety investigators will analyze weather data as well as information from the plane's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, the NTSB said. The agency said a preliminary report will be released in two or three weeks. Hyde was a White House special assistant during the Clinton years. She was also a senior adviser at the State Department during President Barack Obama's administration before becoming an associate director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. Earlier in her career, she was counsel on the 9/11 Commission, which investigated the nation's preparedness for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Hyde had a long-standing focus on international development and poverty issues during her years in Washington, including as chief executive of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, an independent U.S. agency that seeks to reduce global poverty. Hyde was seen as a "brilliant and generous colleague," said Jon Purves, a spokesperson at the Aspen Institute, where she was co-chair of the Aspen Partnership for an Inclusive Economy in 2020 and 2021. "The thoughts of our entire Aspen Institute community are with Dana's family and loved ones." Her husband said Hyde was born in rural eastern Oregon and worked her way through college and law school, approaching a long list of federal jobs with a sense of love. "Her desire to help people was evident in her career choices," Chambers wrote, saying she was especially proud of work investing in infrastructure in underdeveloped parts of Africa and Asia. In a statement during her 2013 Senate confirmation hearing for the Millennium Challenge CEO position, Hyde spoke of how U.S. government support had "transformed not only people's lives but entire communities - even entire countries." That foreign development work also serves to improve national security, Hyde said, citing insights from her work investigating 9/11. "We should be using every tool in our toolbox to keep our nation safe," she said at the time. "Helping economic opportunity appear in places where there is little to be found - helping countries create the conditions for their citizens to start businesses, get new skills, and create jobs - is critical to regional and global stability." Chambers is a former Republican staff director of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, where his work included a focus on telecommunications. They have two sons, Judah and Elijah. As part of her confirmation, Hyde offered thanks to generations of supportive family, "especially to my three guys." Hyde spent time studying and working in Israel and "fell in love with the country, the language, and the people," Chambers said. "So, we have decided to lay her to rest in that special place." A Tompkins County man has been charged with having sexual contact with a teenager in Cayuga County. New York State Police said Richard G. Couch, 54, of the village of Freeville, was arrested Thursday on felony charges of third-degree criminal sexual act and luring a child. Police said in a news release that Couch allegedly engaged in sexual contact with a 16-year-old child. He was transported to the Cayuga County Jail and arraigned Friday morning. State police said that their investigators were assisted by the Cayuga County Sheriffs Office. Anyone who may have had contact with Couch is asked to call state police investigators at (315) 255-2767. The city of Auburn is among 70 municipalities, including six in central New York, that will receive more than $8.3 million to install public electric vehicle charging stations. Auburn will use its $80,288 grant to install six electric vehicle chargers at the Dill Street municipal parking lot, according to city Clerk Chuck Mason. "This is great news and will help the city meet what we are expecting to be increased demand, especially with people that are visiting Auburn," Mason said. The city already has an electric vehicle charging station at the Lincoln Street parking garage. There are other charging stations at local businesses in the Auburn area, such as car dealerships and the Inn at the Finger Lakes. The other municipalities in central New York that are receiving funding include the village of Baldwinsville ($35,454) and towns of DeWitt ($261,800), Onondaga ($194,521) and Salina ($199,400) in Onondaga County. The city of Oneida in Madison County has been awarded $450,711 for electric vehicle charging equipment. In neighboring Seneca and Wayne counties, six towns and villages will receive grants to install electric vehicle charging stations: Clyde ($110,862), Lodi ($27,908), Macedon ($25,274), Seneca Falls ($86,022), Sodus ($44,950) and Sodus Point ($62,440). The funding, which Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday, is provided through the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Municipal Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Grant Program. The program is supported by the state Environmental Protection Fund. The latest round of grants will support the installation of 454 level 2 charging ports and 28 direct current fast charger pedestals. "Thanks to initiatives like the Municipal Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure grants, communities across New York state are taking bold action to protect the environment and tackle the climate crisis," Hochul said. "We will continue to invest in clean energy to improve the health and quality of life of New Yorkers and ensure a safe and sustainable future." Hochul also announced a plan led by the state Office of General Services to install more than 1,300 electric vehicle charging stations over the next five years at state facilities, including 130 at the agency's properties. FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Supreme Court building is seen in Washington, U.S., April 6, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo Prairieland United Way has kicked off a community food drive that will continue through May 26. Community members are being asked to donate food for kids through the Live United Food Drive. "When school's out, hunger's not," said Karen Walker, executive director of the Prairieland United Way. "We want to do what we can to make sure our kids have food this summer and encourage all who are able to help, to participate in this worthwhile effort." Food will be collected over the next six weeks and will be distributed mid-June to help kids in need of food through the summer months when school is out. The Live United Food Drive focuses on healthy, nutritious foods for kids, though participants may donate any nonperishable foods. Items most needed include juice, Gatorade, canned chicken, fruit, Jell-O or pudding cups, canned soups, Ramen noodles, canned pasta and meat, peanut butter, jelly, breakfast cereal, macaroni and cheese cups, and oatmeal. Several drop-off locations are available including CNB Bank & Trust, 1211 W. Morton Ave.; Farmers State Bank and Trust, 200 W. State St. and 1718 W. Morton Ave.; First National Bank, 1904 S. Main St. and 1839 W. Morton Ave.; and Petefish, Skiles & Co. Bank, 1342 S. Main St. Volunteers are needed to help with distribution. Collected food will be distributed at Summerfest, a free community event to be held in conjunction with Jacksonville Memorial Hospital's Healthy Jacksonville Food Resource Group, from 4 to 6 p.m. June 14 in Community Park. Summerfest will include food distribution and a resource fair for youths. It will feature free new summer clothing and flip-flops for kids, a food truck, bounce house, Ferris wheel rides, games, and information about summer activities for kids. MOUNT STERLING A prisoner at Western Illinois Correctional Center died Monday and while an investigation into his death is continuing, his mother has questions she said are not getting answered. Valerie Waters of Chicago, the mother of Deon Mathis, said she learned of her son's death when her phone rang at 10:36 a.m. Tuesday. Mathis was 36. "I looked at my phone and could see the call was from the area code of the prison. She said, 'We are calling about Deon.' I asked her, 'What happened to my son?' She said, 'The corrections officers found him in his cell after his cellie (cellmate) found him unresponsive,'" Waters said. Waters said Friday she was disappointed she has heard little from the Illinois Department of Corrections and that the agency has have not been answering her questions. Brown County Sheriff Justin Oliver, who also serves as the coroner, confirmed the death Friday. He said an autopsy found there were no signs of trauma. "The death is still under investigation. We are currently awaiting toxicology reports," Oliver said. "DOC is doing its own investigation, which is common with any death at the prison." Waters said her son had been at the Mount Sterling facility since February when he was transferred from Menard Correctional Center in Chester. Mathis was convicted of being the getaway driver in a 2011 homicide in Chicago. However, Waters said her son was innocent and that she had contacted an attorney who was planning to work on an appeal. Pete Sgro, an attorney in Chicago who had been talking to Waters about an appeal, said the family believed there was evidence that could have overturned the verdict against Mathis. Mathis' prisoner profile on the Department of Corrections website has already been removed. "I just want to know what happened with my son. I talked to him on Sunday, and he said he didn't have a [cellmate]. He said he wondered why they kept moving him to different cells. He felt uncomfortable going to chow because some of the people there were racist and he didn't want anyone to give someone the chance to do something to his food," Waters said. "He just told me to send him money so he can cook in his cell. I only heard from him when he came out of his cell to take a shower. He would call me and go back to his cell. He just wanted to stay in the cell. He didn't want to be out of it," Waters said. "When we got ready to hang up Sunday, I said, 'Baby, are you OK?' He said, 'Yeah, mama, I'm OK.' I said, 'You call me when they do anything like move you and let me know who your cellie is.' I hadn't heard from him about having a cellie, so I just don't know what to think after they told me his cellie found him," Waters said. Waters said she is having difficulty trying to get someone to get his body and bring it home. Mathis' body is still in Springfield, where the autopsy was performed. "He had no health problems, nothing wrong with his liver or heart. When they told me he was unresponsive, I couldn't believe it," Waters said. "I just don't understand what happened. Something is not right." Aside from Waters' confirmation of the death, little information has been provided by the the Department of Corrections. Naomi Puzzello, public information officer for the Illinois Department of Corrections, confirmed there was a death at the prison, but would not elaborate on who died or on the nature of the death. In an email exchange with the Journal-Courier, Puzzello was asked if a report about a death at the facility was true and if any information was available on who died, the nature of the death, when it happened, where it happened, and if there was any further investigation. Puzzello replied "that is accurate" and that Illinois State Police investigators were notified, and it is an active and ongoing investigation. A request for information was made to Illinois State Police about the status of the investigation. "The information I have says that only our CSI is assisting, but we are not leading the investigation. The information will have to come from the Illinois Department of Corrections," was the reply from Joshua Korando, a member of the state police public information office. A second email inquiry to the DOC was made and the reply from Puzzello was, "There's nothing else we can provide." Illinois State Police/Provided MOUNT STERLING An additional charge of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child has been filed against a Mount Sterling man arrested in March on similar charges. The new charge was filed Friday against Gary A. Welty, 71, of Mount Sterling, according to Illinois State Police. He was arrested March 31 on two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child. Jacksonville Police ACCIDENTS Rhiannon E. Lockwood, 40, of New Berlin was cited on a charge of failing to yield after her vehicle and one being driven by David A. Smith, 40, of Jacksonville collided at 4:58 p.m. Wednesday at North Main Street and East Douglas Avenue. Smith was taken to Jacksonville Memorial Hospital for treatment of a possible leg injury, according to police. OTHER REPORTS Police were called at 10:43 a.m. Wednesday to a report of four people fighting at West Morton Avenue and South Diamond Street. Police spoke to the two men and two women believed to be involved in the altercation but did not issue any citations because of conflicting statements. Hyundai Exter has been officially confirmed as the name of the company's upcoming SUV. The Hyundai Exter is expected to be the brands new micro SUV taking on the Tata Punch in the segment. It is expected to be a volume driver for the automaker as its new entry-level SUV, joining the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Creta, Alcazar, Kona Electric, Tucson and Ioniq 5 in the stable. Speaking on the announcement, Tarun Garg, COO - Hyundai Motor India, said, We are proud to announce the name of our new SUV Hyundai Exter that exemplifies the pulse of Gen Z buyers while empowering them with a smart mobility solution to fuel their wanderlust. Hyundai Exter is the eighth model in our lineup with an SUV body style and we are confident that this new member to our family will provide further fillip to our growth in SUV sales." Also Read : Hyundai Motor Group aims to break into top-three EV club soon. Here's how The Hyundai Exter is expected to arrive in a few weeks from now According to the automaker, the Hyundai Exter promises to be an SUV solution for Gen Z. It symbolises the outdoors, travel and leisure." The micro SUV will likely arrive in a few weeks and fill in the void left by the Santro in Hyundai's small car lineup in India. Prices though should start around the 5 lakh mark. Also check these Cars Find more Cars UPCOMING Hyundai Exter 6 - 10 Lakhs* *Expected Price View Details Hyundai Kona Electric 23.79 - 23.98 Lakhs* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare Check latest offers Hyundai I20 6.8 - 11.43 Lakhs* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare Check latest offers Hyundai Venue 1197 cc | Petrol | Manual | 17.52 kmpl 7.53 - 12.72 Lakh* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare Check latest offers Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Electric | Automatic 44.95 Lakhs* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare UPCOMING Hyundai Nexo 65 Lakhs *Expected Price View Details The Exter is expected to be a petrol-only offering, given the low demand for small diesel cars at the moment. While a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol would fit the bill from the Grand i10 Nios, it needs to be seen if Hyundai will offer the 1.0-litre turbo petrol as well on the Exter. Transmission choices should include a manual and automatic, while an iMT would be an interesting addition as well. Expect the SUV to be feature-loaded as all Hyundai cars are with connected tech, a large infotainment screen, LED lighting, and more. More details on the upcoming Hyundai Exter will be revealed in the days to come. The launch will take place in a few weeks from now. First Published Date: As an active-duty officer in one of the largest police departments in the country, I can attest to the deteriorating state of our criminal justice system. The fiction promulgated to the American public that criminals are the victims of society has taken us down a road filled with land mines from which it will be difficult to recover. The crime rate has increased in almost every major city in the United States, with violent crime leading the statistics. From a law enforcement perspective, it is clear that a large percentage of violent crime is driven by the unwillingness of district attorneys and judges to hold people accountable. After an arrest, criminal defendants are frequently released on a personal no cash bond. This is simply the offender swearing that he or she will return to court as ordered. However, there are no real ramifications should they fail to appear. Theoretically, a warrant for arrest should be issued by the court, but too often what happens is a letter is sent to the defendant, and they are automatically given a rescheduled court date. As troubling as that sounds, of the many offenders who are simply released, a large percentage commit new crimes within weeks. This has created a revolving door with the local jail. Across America, radical alterations have been made to our criminal justice system based upon promises that changes would result in vast improvements. Some were plainly ridiculous, such as the presumption that cutting the number of police would lead to less violence. Advocates in Oregon declared that decriminalizing hard drug laws would lead to less drug use. In California, they decriminalized theft for amounts under $950, arguing it would make us safer. Time and evidence have shown the fallacy of these wildly misplaced ideas. The worst fears of law enforcement were confirmed in a study conducted by the district attorney for Yolo County in California. It showed that of 595 people released on zero bail, 420 were re-arrested. The study also concluded that releasing defendants increased crime in every category. The same thing occurs in Harris County, Texas, where I work. Realizing that they will not be held accountable for their actions, members of criminal groups are being rearrested at an extremely high rate. This is not just a matter of officers picking up the usual suspects. Criminal courts are buckling under the strain of so much crime and are nearing collapse. They are overwhelmed by ever-growing backlogs, with retail stores closing because they cannot overcome brazen shoplifting. Meanwhile, companies are moving away because they can no longer provide basic security for their employees. Even with probable cause, there is pressure to dismiss cases to keep our teetering court systems going. This inability to keep defendants, especially violent offenders, behind bars frustrates law enforcement and citizens victimized by these crimes. Across the country, numerous accounts of offenders released on no-cash or low-cash bonds, later assaulting or even killing the victims who reported them. The rate of domestic abuse especially murders is much higher than in the past. It is difficult to tell a victim they will be safe. While their assailant might be going to jail for a moment, we all know they will soon be back on the streets. The many promises supporting bail reform have proved to be false. We must turn away from ideals that may have sounded good on paper but, in practice, have been shown to be unworkable. No officer believes a person should stay in jail just because they do not have the resources to post a bond. But we are seeing too many cases where violent offenders out on bond are re-arrested, then released again on a low or no-cash bond. Public safety is under assault while the cycle keeps repeating. While protecting our communities is the primary job of law enforcement, it can only do so if our courts keep violent offenders from victimizing others in our society. Hong Kong: Internship programmes launched The Home & Youth Affairs Bureau today announced that a new round of Thematic Youth Internship Programmes to the Mainland is now open for applications. The programmes will begin from June to August, providing young people with internship opportunities in cultural, nature conservation and scientific research institutions in the Mainland. Five internship programmes are launched by the bureau in collaboration with relevant Mainland institutions. They include the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Internship Programme at Palace Museum; Youth Internship Programme at Wolong National Nature Reserve, Sichuan; Youth Internship Programme at Chinese Academy of Sciences; Youth Internship Programme at Dunhuang; and Youth Internship Programme at Shandong on Marine Sciences. Lasting for four to six weeks, the programmes will provide more than 80 internship positions, with each of them offering tailor-made internship arrangements and unique experiences for participants to acquire a good understanding of the work of the institutions and play a part in them. Under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Internship Programme at Palace Museum, Hong Kong participants will also work with their counterparts from Guangdong and Macau at the Palace Museum in Beijing to facilitate youth exchanges among the three places. Applicants should be Hong Kong permanent residents who are full-time post-secondary students, including sub-degree, undergraduate and post-graduate students. Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak said given that travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland is back to normal, she looks forwards to resuming the Thematic Youth Internship Programmes this summer to provide Hong Kong youth with diversified, unique and in-depth internship opportunities again. The thematic programmes will help our young people gain a deeper understanding of our country's development in various aspects and enhance their aspiration and passion in pursuing a career in relevant areas. This story has been published on: 2023-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- NIO announced on Apr. 14 that the first 10 NIO third-generation Power Swap stations have come online. The aforesaid battery swap stations are located in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Haikou, Qingdao, Hefei, Harbin, Wuxi, Chengdu, and Zhengzhou cities. As of Apr. 13, 2023, NIO has deployed across China a total of 1,342 Power Swap stations (351 of which are situated along expressways) and 14,541 charging piles. It has also had access to over 680,000 third-party charging piles. Photo credit: NIO The third-generation Power Swap station was introduced at the NIO Day 2022. According to NIO, It achieves more efficient vehicle-station coordination and can complete up to 408 swaps per day, a 30% increase compared with the second-generation Power Swap station. Each third-generation Power Swap station is equipped with two LiDAR units and two NVIDIA DRIVE Orin X chips, achieving a total computing power of 508TOPS. In addition, the third-generation Power Swap station supports the Automatic Summon & Swap feature, where the station is able to communicate with the car and automatically navigates the car to complete the swap. Moreover, with a maximum current of 660A and a maximum power of 500kW, it takes only 20 minutes to charge the 100kWh battery pack from 10% to 80%. NIO plans to build 1,000 new Power Swap stations in China in 2023. To be specific, 400 battery-swapping stations will be along highways and 600 in urban areas with a focus on the country's third- and fourth-tier cities and counties. China sanctions US Congress member for Taiwan visit View Photo TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) China sanctioned a United States lawmaker Thursday for his visit to Taiwan, saying he violated the One China principle that says Beijing has sovereignty over the island. The mainlands ruling Communist Party says Taiwan, which split from the mainland in 1949 amid a civil war, must be reunited with China by force if necessary. Beijing says Taipei has no right to conduct foreign relations and views visits by U.S. lawmakers to the island as violating its claims of sovereignty. The sanctions against Rep. Michael McCaul include freezing his assets and properties in China, prohibiting any organization or individual in China from conducting transactions or working with him, and denying him a visa to enter the country, according to a statement Thursday from Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its one of several rounds of sanctions China announced as tensions build between Beijing and Washington. China retaliated for U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthys meeting on April 5 with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen by sanctioning the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and other organizations, adding to strains over the self-governed island democracy Beijing claims as part of its territory. It then launched a large-scale three-day military exercise surrounding the island, sending more than 200 warplanes toward Taiwan. McCaul, R-Texas, visited Taiwan from April 6 to 8 to discuss weapons deals between the U.S. and Taiwan, shortly after the sensitive meeting that drew Chinas ire. 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, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been advocating for a hard-line stance against China and closer ties with Taiwan. Relations between the U.S. and China have sunk to historic lows. The U.S. has been increasingly critical of Chinas human rights record, its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its actions in Hong Kong in clamping down on protests. China, on the other hand, has been accusing the U.S. of meddling in its internal affairs, and pursuing a containment strategy against China to prevent the countrys rise. By HUIZHONG WU Associated Press In China, Lula seeks help to build back Brazilian industry View Photo BEIJING (AP) The trip by Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to Beijing has made clear he is counting on China to help reinvigorate the South American nations ailing industrial sector particularly by picking up the slack of exiting U.S. companies. After Lula met Friday with Chinas President Xi Jinping, Brazilian finance minister Fernando Haddad told reporters the nations are planning a leap forward in their relationship. President Lula wants a policy of reindustrialization. This visit starts a new challenge for Brazil: bringing direct investments from China, Haddad said. He added that Brazil wants strong bonds with the U.S. as well, but noted with regret that recently some American companies made the decision to leave Brazil. Industrial policy is near and dear to Lula, a former steelworker who became a union leader. Decades later, he launched his bid for a third presidential term on the gritty outskirts of Sao Paulo outside a car factory. That area and the country is churning out ever-fewer manufactured goods. Brazils national statistics institute said in July 2022 that Brazil had lost 1 million industrial jobs over the prior decade, a decline of 11.6%. The institute said in 2021 that the countrys industrial sector represented 18.9% of Brazils GDP, down from 38% three decades earlier. Speaking to journalists before leaving China, Lula said Saturday morning that Brazils relationship with the Asian giant is going beyond that phase of commodity exports. He added he visited the headquarters of Chinese telecommunications company Huawei because he needs to promote a digital revolution in his South American nation. Over the years, Brazil became a big exporter of raw materials, and China has consumed them voraciously. China overtook the U.S. as Brazils biggest export market in 2009, and each year buys tens of billions of dollars of soybeans, beef, iron ore, poultry, pulp, sugar cane, cotton and crude oil. The Asian giant and the Latin American powerhouse had a somewhat frosty relationship over the last four years when far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro held the presidency in Brasilia. Even some of Bolsonaros supporters in the agribusiness sector were critical of outbursts that antagonized China. On Thursday, Lula meet with the CEO of Chinese manufacturer BYD, which produces electric busses and is in talks to start operations at a factory the Brazilian state of Bahia, Lulas office said. The previous owner, Ford Motor Co., announced in 2021 that it was shuttering the plant, along with two others in Brazil. Brazil is already the biggest recipient of Chinese investment in Latin America, according to Chinese state media. And Lula doesnt just want more investment; he is also seeking partnerships that challenge the hegemony of Western-dominated economic institutions and geopolitics, including diplomacy over the war in Ukraine. Lulas visit included the swearing in Thursday of former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff as head of the Chinese-backed New Development Bank, which is funding infrastructure projects in Brazil and elsewhere in the developing world. The bank portrays itself as an alternative to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, which often impose loan conditions that developing nations criticize as punitive. At the swearing-in ceremony, Lula took swipes at both the IMF and the dominance of the U.S. dollar in international trade, hailing an agreement between Brazil and China to use the Chinese yuan in their bilateral commerce Lula and Xi oversaw the signing of agreements in 15 areas, ranging from agriculture to aeronautics, which underscored the improvement in relations since Lula took over in January. As comprehensive strategic partners, China and Brazil share extensive common interests, Xi said, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. China sees the relationship as a high priority on its diplomatic agenda, he said. Charles Tang, who chairs the Brazil-China Chamber of Commerce, told The Associated Press that he expects several new deals for Chinese infrastructure investments after the trip. China tends to put money into that, as it did in Africa. China is filled with reserves for investment and it can take the current risks in Brazil, Tang said by phone. The trip was Lulas third visit to China, but the first with Xi sitting as president. On Friday, the two leaders met for three hours far longer than had been scheduled. The duration of the meeting speaks for itself, Brazils Ambassador Marcos Galvao said afterward at a late-night press conference. Xi had greeted Lula with full military honors, including a 21-gun salute, at the Great Hall of the People adjacent to Tiananmen Square in the heart of the Chinese capital. The two leaders walked to the sound of Brazilian song Novo Tempo or New Time in English. The Brazilian leader is seeking to rebuild ties with China following a turbulent relationship under Bolsonaro, who showed little interest in foreign travel. On Friday, a son of the former president, Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro, criticized Lula for cozying up to China. The only thing missing is to wage a direct war on the United States Lula is walking a dangerous path alongside dictatorships and enemies of democracy, like Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, the younger Bolsonaro said on social media. In February, Lula traveled to Washington, where he and U.S. President Joe Biden stressed the importance of defending democracy and preserving the Amazon rainforest. The trip didnt, however, produce the hoped-for financial pledge for Brazils Amazon Fund. The Lula-Xi talks touched on the conflict in Ukraine, with the leaders agreeing on the need for a negotiated settlement, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. A key piece of Lulas outreach abroad is his proposal that Brazil and other developing countries, including China, mediate peace. However, his suggestion that Ukraine cede Crimea has irked Kyiv and its closest backers, namely the U.S. and Europe. Lula said Saturday morning that China and the U.S. have an important role in the discussion on Ukraine, but added, It is necessary that the U.S. stops stimulating the war and talk about peace. One of roughly 50 leaked classified documents on the platform Discord that have been viewed by the AP said that, as of late February, Russias foreign affairs ministry supported Lulas plan to establish a club of supposedly impartial mediators, as it would reject the Wests aggressor-victim paradigm. The item cited electronic surveillance as the source. 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. Lulas trip to China marks a significant contrast with the low-key visit to Washington and provides leverage against Europe, said Oliver Stuenkel, a political scientist from the Getulio Vargas Foundation university and think tank. This approach with China might actually make Europeans keener to make an agreement with Brazil, so they dont lose even more market share to China in South America, Stuenkel said. ____ Savarese reported from Sao Paulo. AP reporter Frank Bajak contributed from Boston, and senior producer Wayne Zhang contributed from Beijing. By MAURICIO SAVARESE and EMILY WANG FUJIYAMA Associated Press China vows not to sell arms to any party in Ukraine war China vows not to sell arms to any party in Ukraine war View Photo BEIJING (AP) China wont sell weapons to either side in the war in Ukraine, the countrys foreign minister said Friday, responding to Western concerns that Beijing could provide military assistance to Russia. China has maintained that it is neutral in the conflict, while backing Russia politically, rhetorically and economically at a time when Western nations have imposed punishing sanctions and sought to isolate Moscow for its invasion of its neighbor. Qin Gang is the highest-level Chinese official to make such an explicit statement about arms sales to Russia. He added that China would also regulate the export of items with dual civilian and military use. Regarding the export of military items, China adopts a prudent and responsible attitude, Qin said at a news conference alongside visiting German counterpart Annalena Baerbock. China will not provide weapons to relevant parties of the conflict, and manage and control the exports of dual-use items in accordance with laws and regulations. The minister also reiterated Chinas willingness to help find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. At the same news conference, Qin also blamed Taiwans government for heightened regional tensions after Beijing held large-scale military drills in an attempt to intimidate the island it claims as its own territory. In February, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. had intelligence suggesting China was considering providing arms and ammunition to Russia and warned that such involvement in the Kremlins war effort would be a serious problem. The White House on Friday welcomed Qins pledge that China wont supply weapons to Russia, but expressed a measure of trepidation. As weve said all along, we dont believe its in Chinas best interest to move in that direction. We will continue to monitor closely, White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement. European leaders have issued similar warnings, even as they visited China, and the European Unions foreign policy chief lashed out at Beijing, saying its support of Russia during the invasion was a blatant violation of its United Nations commitments. In her remarks, Baerbock also referred to Chinas role as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, saying it bore a special responsibility for helping end the conflict. But I have to wonder why the Chinese positioning so far does not include a call for the aggressor, Russia, to stop the war, she said. We all know that President (Vladimir) Putin would have the opportunity to do so at any time, and the people in Ukraine would like nothing more than to finally be able to live in peace again. A visit to Moscow last month by Chinese leader Xi Jinping underscored how Beijing is increasingly becoming the senior partner in the relationship as it provides Russia with an economic lifeline and political cover. China announced Friday that Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu would visit Russia next week for meetings with counterpart Sergei Shoigu and other military officials. On both Ukraine and Taiwan, Qin articulated well-worn defenses of Chinese policies that underscore Beijings rejection of criticisms from the West, particularly the U.S. Under the ardently nationalist Xi, China has sharpened its rhetoric, particularly on the issue of Taiwan, which split from mainland China amid civil war in 1949. Tensions around the island rose significantly after China deployed 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. China insists that self-governing Taiwan submit to its rule, either peacefully or by force, and Qin said the pursuit of independence by Taiwans government and its foreign supporters a veiled reference to chief ally the United States were the reason for the tensions. Baerbock warned that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, through which much of the worlds international trade passes, would bring global disaster. We therefore view the increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait with great concern, she said. Conflicts must be resolved peacefully. A unilateral change of the status quo would not be acceptable to us as Europeans. Apparently rejecting Baerbocks concerns, Qin said Taiwan was Chinas internal affair. Taiwan independence and peace cannot co-exist, he said. Warsaw Ghetto uprising survivor honored on 80th anniversary View Photo JERUSALEM (AP) Tova Gutstein was born in Warsaw the year Adolf Hitler took power in Germany. She was 10 years old when the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto launched the first act of collective defiance against the Nazis in Europe. Now 90, she is among the few remaining witnesses of the ghetto uprising and a vanishing generation of Holocaust survivors as Israel marks the 80th anniversary of a revolt that has shaped its national consciousness. On Monday night, Gutstein will be one of six Holocaust survivors honored by Israel as torch-lighters in its annual ceremony at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. She said the horrors are still seared in her mind. Over 80 years have passed, and I cant forget it, Gutstein told The Associated Press at her home in central Israel. Israels Holocaust Memorial Day, marked with solemn ceremonies in schools and workplaces nationwide, begins at sundown on Monday. Theaters, concerts, cafes and restaurants close and television and radio broadcasts break into Holocaust commemorations. A two-minute siren brings the country to a standstill; traffic freezes as people exit their cars and stand silently in the streets to commemorate the 6 million Jews killed by Nazi Germany and its allies. A year after occupying Poland in 1939, Nazi Germany confined hundreds of thousands of Jews 30% of Warsaws population into just 2.4% of the citys area in what became known as the Warsaw Ghetto. At the height of the ghettos horrors in 1941, one Jew died on average, every nine minutes from infectious diseases, starvation or Nazi violence, said David Silberklang, a senior historian at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. Gutstein grew up in the ghetto. Her father was forced into a labor camp by the Nazis and never seen again. Fenced in by electrified barbed wire, she and other Jewish children would crawl through the sewers to scavenge for food. Some children fell into the sewage and were swept away to their deaths, she recalled. We only thought about bread, food, how to obtain food, she said. We had no other thoughts. Around two-thirds of the Warsaw Ghetto, some 265,000 people, were deported to the Majdanek and Treblinka death camps in the summer of 1942. The following spring, the Nazis began preparing to deport the ghettos remaining 60,000 Jews to their deaths. The Nazis stationed an army around the ghetto on April 18, 1943. The following day, on the eve of the Jewish Passover holiday, the German forces moved in. Jewish resistance groups fought back. Gutstein was outside the ghetto when the uprising began. German planes and tanks were bombing the ghetto. I was terribly afraid, she said. The skies were red with fire. I saw buildings suddenly collapsing. Returning to the ghetto through the sewers, she discovered that her house, along with many others, was destroyed. I wandered about and looked for my mother and my siblings but couldnt find anyone, Gutstein said. The Warsaw Ghetto fighters fought for their lives in bunkers they made inside the ghettos buildings. Many were killed in the streets or deported to the death camps. After a month of fighting, the Germans destroyed the Great Synagogue. The goal of the uprising was not rescue, said Silberklang, the historian. He said it was last-ditch resistance against inevitable death. The aim was to go down fighting and influence when and how they die and hopefully somebody will survive, Silberklang said. Gutstein fled the ghetto and, against all odds, reached a forest far outside the Polish capital where she met up with a group of partisans. She hid with them until the end of the war, two years later. Gutstein reunited with her mother and siblings in 1946, before immigrating to the nascent state of Israel in 1948. Now a mother of three, grandmother of eight and great-grandmother of 13, she remains haunted by the memory of a man shot in the head outside her house in the ghetto, she said. I go to sleep with this image, and I wake up with it. Its very hard for me to forget it, she said. The ghetto uprising remains a potent national symbol for Israel. In addition to remembering the victims of the Holocaust, memorial day also is meant to remember acts of courage and heroism. At last years Holocaust remembrance ceremony, then-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett described the uprising as the pinnacle of Jewish heroism. Yet with each passing year, the number of those who saw it first-hand continues to dwindle, and with it, the living link to the trauma. Israel, which was established as a refuge for Jews in the wake of the Holocaust, is today home to around 150,600 survivors, according to government figures. That is a drop of over 15,000 from last year. Many of those still alive now were just young children during the war. Many survivors continue to struggle. Between a quarter and a third live in poverty, survivor advocacy groups report. I receive (financial) support from the government, but very little, said Gutstein, who worked as a nurse in Israeli hospitals for over five decades, until she retired at the age of 77. They dont attend to citizens today in general, and disregard Holocaust survivors in particular, she said of the authorities. We are nothing to them. Silberklang said Yad Vashem and similar institutions are already planning for a time when there are no Holocaust survivors left, documenting and promoting awareness of their stories. Theyve had to get creative one group has created a Holocaust survivor artificial intelligence chat bot. A new project called Life, Story connects survivors with volunteers who help relay their stories to future generations. The organization behind the initiative, called Zikaron BaSalon or, Memory in the Living Room says its racing against time. By the year 2035, there will no longer be any Holocaust survivors to tell their stories, the organization says on its website. We are their voice. Gutstein said she has dedicated the past decade to telling her story, so that others may bear witness. That way, she said, it will remain, even when she is gone. By ILAN BEN ZION and AMI BEN TOV Associated Press El Chapo sons among 28 Sinaloa cartel members charged by US View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) The Justice Department on Friday announced charges against more than two dozen members of Mexicos powerful Sinaloa cartel, including sons of notorious drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, in a sprawling fentanyl-trafficking investigation. The three Guzman sons charged Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar are known as the Chapitos, or little Chapos, and have earned a reputation as the more violent and aggressive faction of the cartel. Of the three, only Guzman Lopez is in custody, in Mexico. Attorney General Merrick Garland, standing alongside Drug Enforcement Administration chief Anne Milgram and other top federal prosecutors, unveiled the indictments in three districts aimed at hitting the cartels global network. The defendants span a broad swath of a complex manufacturing and supply network. They include Chinese and Guatemalan citizens accused of supplying precursor chemicals required to make fentanyl, as well as those suspected of running drug labs in Mexico and others accused of providing security, weapons and illicit financing for the drug trafficking operation. The wide-ranging case comes as the U.S. remains in the grip of a devastating overdose crisis largely by fentanyl poisonings. Nearly 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in the U.S. in 2021, a record-setting number. Fentanyl seizures by U.S. Customs and Border Protection have increased by more than 400% since 2019, officials said, and this fiscal years seizures have already surpassed the total for all of 2022. Most of the fentanyl trafficked in the United States comes from the Sinaloa cartel, the Drug Enforcement Administration says. Families and communities across our country are being devastated by the fentanyl epidemic, Garland said. We will never forget those who bear responsibility for this tragedy. And we will never stop working to hold them accountable for their crimes in the United States. The Sinaloa cartels notorious drug lord, known as El Chapo, was convicted in 2019 of running an industrial-scale smuggling operation. At Guzmans trial, prosecutors said evidence gathered since the late 1980s showed he and his murderous cartel made billions of dollars by smuggling tons of cocaine, heroin, meth and marijuana into the U.S. A defiant Guzman accused the federal judge in his case of making a mockery of the U.S. justice system and claimed he was denied a fair trial. In outlining the charges Friday, Garland described the violence of the Sinaloa cartel and how its members have tortured perceived enemies, including Mexican law enforcement officials. That has included people fed to tigers owned by Guzmans sons, sometimes while the victims were still alive, Garland said. Eight of those charged have been arrested and remain in the custody of law enforcement officials in Colombia, Greece, Guatemala and the U.S., Milgram said. The U.S. government is offering rewards for several others charged in the case, including up to $10 million for Guzmans other two sons. Fridays indictments were filed in New York, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. Along with the five defendants from China and Guatemala accused of supplying the cartel with precursor chemicals, two Chinese firms were also sanctioned by the U.S. Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control Friday. U.S. government officials are pressing Chinese officials to do more to stem the shipment of those chemicals. With Washington-Beijing relations strained, the Biden administration says it has looked to allies in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere to make clear to China that the issue is a global problem, according to senior Biden administration officials who briefed reporters following the announcement of the indictment. Ovidio Guzman Lopez, one of Guzmans sons, was arrested in January in the Sinaloa capital of Culiacan. Ovidio Guzman, nicknamed the Mouse, had not been one of El Chapos better-known sons until an aborted operation to capture him three years earlier. This time Mexico successfully got Guzman out of Culiacan. In 2019, authorities had him, but they released him after his gunmen began shooting up the city. Some 30 people among authorities and suspected gunmen died in the operation, which unleashed hours of shootouts shutting down the citys airport. The U.S. government is currently awaiting the younger Guzmans extradition. Ovidio Guzman Lopez and another brother, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, allegedly helped move the Sinaloa cartel hard into methamphetamines, producing prodigious quantities in large labs. They were previously indicted in 2018 in Washington on drug trafficking charges. The other two sons, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, are believed to have been running cartel operations together with Ismael El Mayo Zambada. They were previously also charged in the U.S. in Chicago and San Diego. Zambada had been rumored to be be in poor health and isolated in the mountains leading the sons to try to assert a stronger role to keep the cartel together. The DEA said it investigated the case in 10 countries: Australia, Austria, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Greece, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and the United States. Death and destruction are central to their whole operation, Milgram said of the cartel. Todays indictments strike a blow against the Chapitos and the global network they operate, a network that fuels violence and death on both sides of the border. ___ Sherman reported from Mexico City. Associated Press writers Fatima Hussein and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this story. By LINDSAY WHITEHURST and CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN Associated Press Sacramento, CA The California Capitol was evacuated for a little over an hour yesterday morning as law enforcement investigated what was deemed a credible threat to safety. Lawmakers were moved from the capitol to an offsite space owned by the state, about a block away. It had to do with a suspect who is linked to a pair of shootings in the Sacramento region that occurred the day prior, and was still at large. That person allegedly also made some type of threat against the capitol. The capitol was reopened at around 10:30am when it was deemed safe, and lawmakers and staff were allowed to return. Heightened security remained in place for the remainder of the day. Later, Jackson Pinney of Hayward was arrested at around 4pm, according to the Roseville Police Department, in connection to the earlier shootings and the threat. As for the shootings, Pinney allegedly was firing gunshots from his truck in Citrus Heights the day prior, and also shot at an inhabited dwelling. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. Sonora, CA Over the past five months, Robbie Bergstrom has been leading Tuolumne Countys Economic Development efforts. He will be the guest on this weekends Mother Lode Views. The new position is a Senior Administrative Analyst in the CAOs Office. Bergstrom was most recently the Tuolumne County Assistant Clerk. He will talk about what attracted him to the economic development position, his goals and priorities, early focus, challenges facing businesses, and initial strategies. He will also highlight some local projects of note. The county has gone through various transitions in recent years when it comes to promoting economic development. For over a decade, Tuolumne County and the City of Sonora partnered on an Economic Development Authority, led by Larry Cope. It came under fire from the Tuolumne County Grand Jury, and the city and county decided to end it in early 2019. In July of that year, Cole Przybyla was hired to become the county governments newly created Economic Development Director. Last year Przybyla left for an opportunity with the state government, and the new position (which Bergstrom now holds), was moved under the CAOs office. LOS ANGELES (AP) In every man, of course, a demon lies hidden the demon of rage, says the intellectual brother, Ivan, in Fyodor Dostoevskys The Brothers Karamazov, a theme to which the Russian novelist frequently returns. It is also a theme central to the HBO series, Barry, whose fourth and final season premieres on Sunday, as the shows titular hit man seeks to convince himself and others that he is ultimately a good person. And while Bill Hader, the co-creator and star of Barry, is reluctant to advertise the influence that Dostoevsky and other Russian authors have had on his Emmy-winning series, he disclosed that this kind of exploration of morality played a significant role in his creative process when he set out to make the show. Im always like, Yeah, I dont watch a lot of TV. But I leave out that part, that I was reading big Russian books, Hader laughed. At the suggestion of his friend, author George Saunders, Hader took an interest in Russian literature and immersed himself in novels like Leo Tolstoys Anna Karenina and War and Peace. One aspect of these stories which Hader sought to bring to Barry was their contentment in probing philosophical questions about human nature, violence and revenge without necessarily expecting to find answers. Barry is billed as a comedy, though its dark content can preclude some from being able to enjoy its humor. It follows a Marine veteran-turned-hit man (Hader) who tries repeatedly but fails to denounce his profession after he takes an interest in acting. If the premise sounds absurd, thats because it is. Its a bad, bad logline, said Stephen Root, who plays Fuches, Barrys handler and old family friend. But many of the shows stars, including seasoned actors like Henry Winkler, sang the praises of Barry for its originality. Although limited to 30-minute episodes, Barry isnt afraid to punch above its weight class, with clear inspiration from lauded cinema and prestige television like The Sopranos and Twin Peaks. Hader, described by his co-stars as a total cinephile, relied heavily on his extensive knowledge of film when considering how the series would grapple with weighty questions like whether humans are intrinsically violent. Its always been really interesting to me, actually, is inherent violence within people, Hader said, citing films that have played a role in his meditation on the subject, including A Clockwork Orange, Goodfellas and Terrence Malicks The Thin Red Line. Throughout the show, Barry struggles to break out of a ceaseless cycle of carnage, while maintaining over and over that he is not defined by his past. By the end of the third season, Barrys actions have either directly or indirectly driven nearly every character to the precipice of violence. While those around him frequently describe Barry as a violent guy, they themselves are almost always willing to pull the trigger when the opportunity for revenge presents itself. But although Hader wanted to avoid facile portrayals of characters who are purely good or purely evil, he also hopes it is apparent that Barry is not someone he wants audiences to root for. It was weird how people did have sympathy for him. I think the thing was just trying to make him human, Hader said. But what I always never want to lose focus of is that, you know, he murders people. The final season further explores the implications of its characters descent into crime and punishment, though the line between fantasy and reality is increasingly blurry, prompting the viewer to wonder how much, if any, of season four is meant to be understood as real. Barry often alludes to its self-awareness in its portrayals of both Hollywood tropes and murder. The horror that Barrys former acting teacher (Winkler) expresses in season four at the thought of glorifying a psychopath feels like a kind of nod to the shows humanization of a killer. Barring its bleak subject matter, Barry is very much a comedy whose tendency to get dark is ameliorated by humor, though those moments of respite become increasingly rare and increasingly absurd as the show progresses. But Winkler said that didnt stop their fearless leader from occasionally breaking out of character and into laughter throughout the making of the show. Youd see his shoulders bounce up and down because hes laughing. You have to remind him, Youre in the scene, Bill, he said. ___ Follow Krysta Fauria on Twitter at https://twitter.com/krystafauria LOS ANGELESDavid Hurles, the pioneering gay pornographer who became known in the 1970s for his erotic photographs of San Francisco street hustlers through his company Old Reliable, has died at 78, according to The Bay Area Reporter. Hurles passed away at a nursing home in Los Angeles on April 12 due to complications from a stroke he suffered in 2008, according to the report, which cited an obituary from the Bob Mizer Foundation. Named in honor of the late photographer Bob Mizer, the institution is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of progressive and controversial photography." Dian Hanson, who manages Hurles photo estate, informed the Mizer Foundation, according to the report. Hurles started Old Reliable in the 1970s, seeking out rough-trade types and shooting them posing, stripping and masturbating. He went on to produce and direct more than 270 videos for the brand from 1983-2003, according to IAFD, creating a line that many considered the original reality porn. According to The Bay Area Reporter, Den Bell, founder and president of the Mizer Foundation, said, The Bob Mizer Foundation extends its condolences to Dian Hansen, to David Hurles' friends and family, and to his fans. Davids work for Old Reliable exposed gay audiences to a subculture in which we found excitement and thrills, an encounter with the type of man we have always been told to avoid. His pioneering work in the field has revolutionized the art of desire." A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Hurles attended the University of Cincinnati and had a brief stint in the military before moving to California to work as a photographer for Conrad and Lloyd, The Bay Area Reporter said. His photos were published in several gay magazines, most notably Drummer, where he met editor Jack Fritscher, who would become his longtime friend. Fritscher told The Bay Area Reporter, Before a model in a scene accidentally kicked David in the head in Los Angeles in 1990 and ruined his focus, David shot thousands of photos and 300 feature videos documenting the culture of street hustlers while living in SOMA and Los Angeles. When the scary models in his silent photos began to talk in his wild solo videos in 1981, he spread his income hiring more than 500 often unhoused drifters, ex-cons, and rentboys in his preferred casting order of straight, bi, and gay because in his Reality TV esthetic, they were authentic and could talk dominantly directly into the camera." Fritscher collaborated with Hurles for 47 years documenting Old Reliable at drummerarchives.com, the story said. Hurles work was brought to life in the 2010 illustrated book Outcast and in the 2005 book Speeding: The Old Reliable Photos of David Hurles. According to The Bay Area Reporter, the Mizer's Foundation's flagship publication Physique Pictorial will focus an upcoming volume on Hurles' life and legacy. Photo via OldReliableFund.blogspot.com 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. 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. Steven Puetzer/Getty Images The state of Texas is proposing to spend $545 million to install air conditioning units in prisons across the state, which have been previously reported as extreme conditions for inmates and prison employees. Near 70% of prisons are not air-conditioned in Texas. Inmates incarcerated within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system regularly live within 110-degree temperatures during the summer months, with a temperature of 149 recorded in one prison unit, according to a report from the Texas A&M University Hazard Reduction & Recovery Center. BEIJING (AP) China won't sell weapons to either side in the war in Ukraine, the country's foreign minister said Friday, responding to Western concerns that Beijing could provide military assistance to Russia. China has maintained that it is neutral in the conflict, while backing Russia politically, rhetorically and economically at a time when Western nations have imposed punishing sanctions and sought to isolate Moscow for its invasion of its neighbor. Qin Gang is the highest-level Chinese official to make such an explicit statement about arms sales to Russia. He added that China would also regulate the export of items with dual civilian and military use. Regarding the export of military items, China adopts a prudent and responsible attitude, Qin said at a news conference alongside visiting German counterpart Annalena Baerbock. China will not provide weapons to relevant parties of the conflict, and manage and control the exports of dual-use items in accordance with laws and regulations. The minister also reiterated Chinas willingness to help find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. At the same news conference, Qin also blamed Taiwans government for heightened regional tensions after Beijing held large-scale military drills in an attempt to intimidate the island it claims as its own territory. In February, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. had intelligence suggesting China was considering providing arms and ammunition to Russia and warned that such involvement in the Kremlins war effort would be a serious problem. The White House on Friday welcomed Qin's pledge that China wont supply weapons to Russia, but expressed a measure of trepidation. As weve said all along, we dont believe its in Chinas best interest to move in that direction. We will continue to monitor closely, White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement. European leaders have issued similar warnings, even as they visited China, and the European Union's foreign policy chief lashed out at Beijing, saying its support of Russia during the invasion was a blatant violation of its United Nations commitments. In her remarks, Baerbock also referred to China's role as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, saying it bore a special responsibility for helping end the conflict. But I have to wonder why the Chinese positioning so far does not include a call for the aggressor, Russia, to stop the war, she said. We all know that President (Vladimir) Putin would have the opportunity to do so at any time, and the people in Ukraine would like nothing more than to finally be able to live in peace again. A visit to Moscow last month by Chinese leader Xi Jinping underscored how Beijing is increasingly becoming the senior partner in the relationship as it provides Russia with an economic lifeline and political cover. China announced Friday that Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu would visit Russia next week for meetings with counterpart Sergei Shoigu and other military officials. On both Ukraine and Taiwan, Qin articulated well-worn defenses of Chinese policies that underscore Beijing's rejection of criticisms from the West, particularly the U.S. Under the ardently nationalist Xi, China has sharpened its rhetoric, particularly on the issue of Taiwan, which split from mainland China amid civil war in 1949. Tensions around the island rose significantly after China deployed 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. China insists that self-governing Taiwan submit to its rule, either peacefully or by force, and Qin said the pursuit of independence by Taiwan's government and its foreign supporters a veiled reference to chief ally the United States were the reason for the tensions. Baerbock warned that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, through which much of the worlds international trade passes, would bring global disaster. We therefore view the increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait with great concern, she said. Conflicts must be resolved peacefully. A unilateral change of the status quo would not be acceptable to us as Europeans. Apparently rejecting Baerbock's concerns, Qin said Taiwan was Chinas internal affair. Taiwan independence and peace cannot co-exist, he said. 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. MOSCOW (AP) The entire Russian Pacific Fleet was put on high alert Friday for snap drills that will involve practice missile launches, in a massive show of force amid tensions with the West over the fighting in Ukraine. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the goal of the war games was to test the capability of Russia's armed forces to mount a response to aggression. Along with the missile launches, the drills will also involve nuclear-capable strategic bombers and other warplanes besides the naval aviation of the Pacific Fleet, Shoigu said. The Defense Ministry declared that areas in the southern part of the Sea of Okhotsk, the Peter the Great Bay of the Sea of Japan and the Avacha Bay on the southeastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula would be closed for sea and air traffic for the duration of practice torpedo and missile launches and artillery exercises. The ministry said that Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin briefed foreign military attaches about the drills, emphasizing that they were intended to "test the Pacific Fleet's readiness to repel aggression." The ministry described the briefing as a show of Russia's "voluntary transparency." The Russian military has concentrated the bulk of its forces on the front lines in Ukraine, but has also continued conducting regular drills across Russia to train its forces and demonstrate their readiness. The Russian Defense Ministry released videos showing warships and submarines sailing off to take part in the maneuvers. As part of the drills, marine units deployed to amphibious landing vessels and coastal defense missile systems moved to firing positions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the war games as part of regular training intended to maintain the necessary level of the armed forces' readiness. Shoigu noted that the scenario for the maneuvers envisages a response to an adversary's attempt to make a landing on Sakhalin Island and the southern Kuril Islands. Japan asserts territorial rights to the Kuril Islands, which it calls the Northern Territories. The Soviet Union took them in the final days of World War II, and the dispute has kept the countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their hostilities. Last year, Russia announced it had suspended peace talks with Japan to protest Tokyos sanctions against Moscow over its action in Ukraine. Russia has built up its military presence on the islands in recent years, deploying advanced fighter jets, anti-ship missiles and air defense systems there. The Pacific Fleet drills started days before a planned trip to Moscow by Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu. The Russian Defense Ministry said Shoigu and Li would discuss prospects of bilateral defense cooperation and acute issues of global and regional security. A three-day visit to Moscow by Chinese President Xi Jinping last month demonstrated the two nations' partnership in the face of Western efforts to isolate Russia over Ukraine and gave a political lift to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both Moscow and Beijing have accused Washington of trying to isolate them and to hold back their development as they challenge the U.S. for regional and global leadership. Putin and Xi said they would increase contacts between their militaries and stage more joint sea and air patrols and drills, but there was no hint that China would help Russia with weapons, as the U.S. and other Western allies feared. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine MERIDEN Tax season is a predictably busy time at Meriden Tax Services at 440 West Main St. As tax season ends on Tuesday, owner Jose Mendoza said he works seven days a week to help his clients. Filing taxes can be a complicated and anxiety-inducing process for anyone, but there are additional barriers for Latinos who dont speak English well or are undocumented. Mendoza has filed taxes for other people for over 21 years, but started his own business in 2017 with his daughter. As a Dominican from Queens, New York, he offers tax services in Spanish and estimated that 90% of his clients were Hispanic and 80% Ecuadorian. As a result, he has a large Ecuadorian flag in his office to show gratitude and respect to the Ecuadorian clients that keep him in business. Mendoza is certified to file W-7 with the Internal Revenue Service, a form which allows workers without a social security number to acquire an individual taxpayer identification number so they can file taxes and start businesses. You cant disparage anyone because of their migration status, he said. They contribute and they dont get anything back. They dont get food stamps or healthcare. Mendoza said he often encounters the stereotype that undocumented immigrants take a lot more than they give, but he gave the example of a recent client whose taxes he filed. Mendoza said the client had contributed $53,000 in federal taxes and $14,000 in Connecticut taxes because of income earned by a roofing business. Private filers who earn under $60,000 a year can also get services from volunteer income tax preparers, many of which work with the Human Resources Agency based out of New Britain. The agency is also a certified accepting agency for folks who want to get an individual taxpayer identification number. Dianette Martinez works as the program manager for Financial Services at the Human Resources Agency and helps run the Volunteer Income Tax sites around Connecticut, including a few in Meriden and Wallingford. Even though appointments are available through tax day, a preliminary count yielded 6,532 filed returns, about a 17% increase from previous years, or about $9.4 million in returns. This does not include the online returns from their online national partner GetYourRefund, which also offers online services in Spanish. This year, Martinez said that there were about a hundred volunteer tax preparers. She explained that volunteer season starts in October and runs through April, including recruiting new volunteers, training new volunteers and retraining returning volunteers. People are scared, but the system is pretty easy, she said. Its not hard, we train all the volunteers. For in-person appointments, the agency has a longstanding partnership with the public libraries of Meriden and Wallingford. Wallingford library Assistant Director Julie Rio said tax preparation went really well this year. Rio noticed in-person appointments rose and online filing declined, even if she doesnt have a final count yet. People like to see people in-person and get that personal touch, she said. lguzman@record-journal.com,Twitter: @lguzm_n Latino Communities Reporter Lau Guzman is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. Support RFA reporters at the Record-Journal through a donation at https://bit.ly/3Pdb0re. To learn more about RFA, visit www.reportforamerica.org. 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. Chris Stokes/MySA Indie pop fans got their fill of electronic melodies as French band M83 rocked out inside San Antonio's Aztec Theatre. The show included an 18-song set list with all the hits, including "Run into Flowers," "Gone," and "Midnight City," the latter of 2011's Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. Fronted by founder and Jaque of all trades Anthony Gonzalez, M83 is touring throughout North America with their ninth studio album, Fantasy, which dropped earlier this March. Gonzalez and co. head to Austin, Houston, and Dallas, respectively, next. LauriPatterson/Getty Images Cibolo has been seeing more and more companies ready to call the city home this year. Now a certain New Jersey-based sandwich chain can be added to the list. Jersey Mike's is next in line to plant its first store in Cibolo, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing. Construction will start on April 28 and is expected to finish on June 16, according to the filing. Polly Anna Rocha When MySA last stopped by Mr. Juicy, the burger restaurant was at the early stages of a full blown phenomenon after chef-owner Andrew Weissman introduced a chicken fried steak that brought in an overwhelming rush of eager customers. Now, the team at Mr. Juicy is looking to pivot away from the craze as it ends the reign of its coveted chicken fried steak. As of Thursday, April 13, Mr. Juicy has sold its last chicken fried steak, according to a report from the San Antonio Express-News. This news comes as no shock to anyone who has been following the tumultuous ups and downs of the restaurant's chicken fried sensation. New Braunfels resident and military veteran Mike Zannitto hasn't always lived in Texas. Like many, his journey started somewhere else. In Zannitto's case that place was California. However, not everyone who has packed their bags and headed for the Lone Star State has the story of their move painted in their backyard. Zannitto reached out to a New Braunfels street artist about a month ago to spray paint a mural on the fence of his backyard. The mural begins with the sun setting behind the Golden Gate Bridge and ends in the home of North Star Mall's iconic boots and the gas station company known for its beaver mascot. Other famous San Antonio staples included tubing down the Comal River and a trip to the Alamo. "I'm adjusting, I'm conforming, if you will, to Texas living because this is my forever home," Zannitto said. At the heart of the mural is the depiction of Zannitto's transition from California to Texas. The California side has a grizzly bear with a sack hanging off his shoulder and a beer in his hand under the backdrop of the California state flag. For Texas, the mural pictures a cowboy and taco loving armadillo standing proudly in front of the Lone Star State's flag. While the move from California to Texas transferred smoothly onto the fence, the transition has had it's challenges in real life, especially with the stigma surrounding transplants from other states. Zannitto wants the mural to help change some of the native Texan's attitudes toward people moving to Texas. Courtesy of Mike Zannitto "I just kind of thought I got to do something about this whole mindset of, you know, transplants are kind of ruining this state," Zannitto said. "It's 'We hate Californians, they're causing all the traffic, causing all the problems happening here. We're outgrowing New Braunfels by the day because of the transplants and Californians.' It's just automatic judgement." Zannitto always knew he wanted to commission a mural representing his journey from California to Texas, but it was a tense encounter of California prejudice while leaving a local Buc-ee's that sealed the deal. Courtesy of Mike Zannitto "There were no cars, I didn't cut anybody off," Zannitto told MySA. "This guy lays on his horn, he pulls up alongside me at the red light, rolls his window down, I look over at him and he points a gun at me and says, 'F*** California.'" This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Courtesy of Mike Zannitto Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Courtesy of Mike Zannitto Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Courtesy of Mike Zannitto Show More Show Less 5 of 5 With that experience and a vision for the mural fresh in his mind, Zannitto took it to New Braunfels-based street artist Johnny Duncan, who has garnered attention for his unique eye for spray painting just about any surface. Duncan's work has been featured across New Braunfels, and does tons of work in San Antonio, like the mural he did for Pabst Blue Ribbon Studios and his latest creation on display at the Blue Star Arts Complex. When the urban pop artist, who goes by the professional name of Jenkins2d, first heard about the project he was admittedly a little hesitant to accept the gig given the stigma surrounding transplants to Texas, especially as a transplant himself. As the project got underway, Duncan, who moved from Florida to Texas, soon realized the larger impact of the mural. "I knew this was bigger than both of us," Duncan said. "It is a piece in his backyard, but it has a heavier dialogue that needs to be kind of carried outward." In a lot of ways Zannitto's story mirrored Duncan's. Noticing the parallels, the pair decided to incorporate some of the artist's logos into the design to show the progression of his artistry starting with an emerald in the ocean and ending with a bandage on a horse. "I just think that it was so easy to walk the same tale that we were both communicating. When he asked me to do this I kind of already knew what to do in terms of putting hints of my journey [into it] because this is where I developed my craft," Duncan said. 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. The City of Flagstaffs Planning and Zoning Commission heard more details of the specific plan and zoning map amendments for the proposed new Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC) campus at a meeting Wednesday. It did not take action on the items, but instead voted to continue at a special meeting set for Wednesday, April 19. Residents of nearby neighborhoods, FMC employees and representatives from a variety of organizations came to hear about the plans, with about 30 making comments of their own. By the time the meeting started, all the chairs -- about 85 -- were full, with more attendees standing around the edges of the room. At least another 35 joined virtually. The meeting took place in the Aquaplex's community room rather than Flagstaff City Hall this time, and it was the commissions second meeting to discuss the specific plan and zoning code amendments related to the project. The first was held at Flagstaff City Hall on Wednesday, March 22. If the commission approves the specific plan and zoning map amendments at the next meeting, the product will be moving to Flagstaff City Council for approval -- a process that might take two meetings. As the items up for approval were the same as the previous meeting, presentations and discussion mostly focused on questions about the project that had been brought up by commissioners and public commenters. Fire station funding At the last meeting, commissioners had asked about funding for several aspects of the project, particularly the changes to the city's Fire Station No. 6 that would be needed to service the hospital. As city planning manager Tiffany Antol noted in the findings portion of the presentation, the applicant (Northern Arizona Healthcare) is responsible for a fair share and rough proportional share of the public facilities, services and infrastructure it is developing. She used road improvements as an example. "There will be folks that will be using and will benefit from the use of Beulah -- even though it needs to be rebuilt by the hospital, theres a share of those thats borne by the community as well, she said. Thats true for almost every infrastructure improvement to a degree. But with traffic and our service, we do these very specific impact analyses, because that helps us determine what an applicant's proportional share is. Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) will need to fund its share of the required improvements before the hospital and Ambulatory Care Center open unless the city agrees to cover costs outside of the required proportional share. The city will be helping with grant applications for some of those, according to Antol, including the fire station facilities. NAH will need to pay for half of the facility capital costs -- which includes land acquisition -- while the city will pay for staffing the ladder company (including training) and the vehicles, according to Antol's presentation. For the city, this would mean $1.4 million for staffing each year and a one-time $1.6 million investment in vehicles. The presentation did not give an estimate of the facilitys cost to NAH. One commissioner summarized the costs of the project as including $45 million in infrastructure costs, $9.5 million for the fire station, $2.4 million for the fire truck and company, and $1.2 million for the public transit route. The city plans to fund the new equipment as we feel that is really just a relocation of an existing service, said Rick Tadder, city management services director. Funding has already been prepared for most of the one-time costs (using internal one-time resources and possibly impact or development fees), he said; what is currently being planned is the continuing operational costs. Tadder spoke on ways the city might come up with funding for the ladder company staffing. While it does not yet have a finalized plan, the city plans to apply for a federal grant that would fund the first three years of staffing. After that, the costs would be covered by city resources. Firefighting, as a required service, would be from the citys general fund, which has many revenue resources available to address operational needs, he said, noting that current projections expect revenue growth -- and any extra could be set aside for these costs. Other options he mentioned in the city's toolbox -- despite Tadder saying he was not currently recommending them -- include setting aside funds to level costs over time, increasing primary property taxes (the city can increase this by 2% each year and has not done so for the past three years, he said) and reallocating city programs. Current campus Reuse of the current campus was mentioned in both city and NAH presentations, though without much detail on what those plans might look like. Antol noted in her presentation that, as the current hospital is in a high-density residential zone, NAH retains the right to develop the existing campus under current zoning entitlements (High Density Residential) without additional public participation. If plans for the new campus require a conditional use permit or rezoning, however, there would then need to be a public process. NAH said it has plans to go through a public participation process in deciding what to do with FMCs current campus and has already had meetings with an improvement management company, PUMA, in September. We are committed to seeing the current campus enhance the surrounding neighborhoods and the downtown district, said NAH's vice president for construction and real estate, Steve Eiss, adding that the hospital would not be sitting empty. " ... Our plan and something that were already underway on is to have a true transparent collaborative process through the community development advisory council. He said NAH plans to host community meetings on its plans for the new campus shortly after we get the work started on the new campus. It is also currently meeting with City Planning and Development to make sure the plans align with Flagstaffs regional plan update. NAH gave more information on its plans for its private practices and medical offices currently scattered around Flagstaff. Three of the practices listed (the NorthStar Medical Offices Building, NAH Medical Group Orthopedics and the NAH Orthopedic Surgery Center) were relocating and three (NAH Central Flagstaff, the Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Arizona and Northern Arizona Orthopedics) were staying in their current location. The other 16 were marked as having an opportunity to relocate. We will maintain a presence in central Flagstaff, primarily for those services youre going to access on a regular basis, Eiss said. ...Were working very closely with the physicians to decide who wants to move, who needs to move. ...And once we have all of that dialed up, then we will work with a third-party developer on what an additional medical offices could be on the existing site. Unresolved questions Antol mentioned two issues as still needing to be resolved: a $500,000 credit NAH has requested for part of the fire development fees and the timing of phase one construction on Beulah Boulevards intersection with Purple Sage Trail. The credit request would go toward the 50% of the new fire station facilities for which NAH is responsible. As part of phase one of construction, NAH will be realigning and widening Beulah to four lanes. The Beulah-Purple Sage intersection will one day be connected to an Interstate 17 underpass and will need to be graded to make this possible. City staff is requesting that the road construction that is already happening for the project include that grading, as when youre rebuilding a road it's better to overbuild to some degree because it's far more expensive at the later stages. NAH has requested that the development agreement instead say it will complete the grading once the city is ready to build the underpass -- at least five years in the future. Antol said the city and NAH are working to come to an agreement on both items. Moving to a health village Eiss said NAH has developed five different growth plans at the current location over the past 20 years, none of which were viable options. The development is meant to address health needs beyond the immediate future, including coming population growth in northern Arizona. Each would have led to an unacceptable disruption of care for patients or were insufficient in addressing the region's long-term needs and growth, his presentation said. The reality is that FMC cannot be expanded or remodeled to meet patient needs. Renovations or expansions would require closing or limiting available services during and after remodeling or new construction While the specific plan and rezoning currently up for approval are only for phase one, which focuses on the hospital and ACC, NAH hopes to build an expanded health village, which consists of housing, retail, restaurants and a hotel, in the second phase of the project. Eiss listed two other health villages located in Union Village in Henderson, Nevada, and Minnesota Health Village in Maple Grove, Minnesota, as comparable to what NAH is eventually hoping to build. The true power behind getting this right isn't just taking what other people have done and trying to replicate it. It's really trying to tailor fit what health and wellness is for a community, he said. So our vision is honoring our commitment to providing always better care with a focus on holistic well-being. He also noted that the project will be helping to fulfill more than 100 of the goals and policies listed in Flagstaffs regional plan, including emergency response services, housing options and improvements to the trail system. When asked why NAH was planning the larger village instead of the hospital on its own, interim president and CEO Josh Tinkle mentioned both funding and changing care models. "We believe for us to be sustainable and be successful long term we need to better manage people's healthcare and make sure that they don't always have to go to the facility, and one way that you do that is through health and wellness and the broader village perspective," he said. During the public comments part of the meeting Wednesday, John Ninoler, the lead architect on the project, spoke in favor of the new campus as a Flagstaff resident and answered questions from the commission about aspects of the building's design. Most of the questions were about buildings planned height. In the hospitals design, the patient towers are taller than typically zoned for in Flagstaff. Ninoler said the additional land and travel time between areas of the hospital would make a shorter building with the same number of beds not possible at the site. "At 450 beds, the land use and the land area required to do multiple wings shorter becomes a major hindrance," he said. "They would have to buy a whole lot more land, they would have to cut down a whole lot more trees to be able to get 450 beds off of a chassis that works around all of the central services. "So what we decided to do is stack two towers on top of all the services: imaging, pharmacy, lab, surgery all right below. ...It's one vertical ride down to anything you need in an emergency. When you get multiple wings, it is a long push. ...Minutes mean everything and you're talking about an ambulance trying to get through town and get to the facility. When somebody codes, minutes to the OR are just as critical." A recording of Wednesday's meeting is available online. San Antonio City Councilman Clayton Perry received a deal with no jail time and probation on his DWI and hit-and-run cases on Friday, April 14. He pleaded no contest to both charges brought against him after he was arrested last winter for an alleged hit-and-run on November 6, 2022. The District 10 Councilman was given 12 months of probation, 24 hours of community service, a vehicle ignition lock, and must pay a $500 fee and court costs, according to the San Antonio Express-News. He will also receive random testing and cannot drink alcohol during his probation. Perry will keep the two misdemeanor offenses off his criminal record if he meets the requirements in his probation period. He is not running for re-election in May after serving three terms on the council. In the hit-and-run crash in November, an arrest affidavit revealed that Perry drank 14 alcoholic beverages in a four-hour time frame before the incident. Surveillance footage showed Perry drinking the beverages between 4:45 and 8:45 p.m. at a Northside bar, the Evil Olive bar, before driving away alone in his Jeep Wrangler. Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer The crash occurred around 9 p.m. at Jones Maltsberger and Redland Road, not far from Perry's home. Reports revealed Perry hit a Honda Civic that was stopped at the traffic light and then fled the scene. A witness at the crash followed Perry to his home and called the police. Body camera footage released the same week of the incident showed a disheveled Perry on the ground in his backyard, slurring his words and bleeding from a laceration on his head. In the video, Perry's Jeep is seen parked against the garage and he appears to have soiled himself. When asked about the events leading up to that point, he repeatedly told the responding officer, "I had a good time." Perry was not given a sobriety test or taken into custody on the night of the incident. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News After the deal, District Attorney Joe Gonzales released a statement that addressed how Perry's position on the City Council did not and does not entitle him to special deference. He said, "The District Attorney's Office evaluates each case on its own facts and circumstances." "Mr. Perry sought deferred adjudication which, if successfully completed, would not result in a conviction. Based on the fact that Mr. Perry caused an accident as a result of the DWI and then fled the scene, we believe that a plea offer of deferred adjudication probation was not appropriate," Gonzales said. "Instead, we sought a sentence of one-year probation with a conviction. However, as always, we respect the judgment of the Court." During his eight years in office, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has had countless pardon requests land on his desk. Almost always he waves them off. Even in high-profile cases, in which Republicans and Democrats alike have desperately called for the governor to spare the lives of death row prisoners many believe are innocent after years or decades of court scrutiny, Abbott has not used the limited pardon powers he possesses to step in. Instead, hes deferred to the bedrock of the American legal system: A jury of ones peers determines if someone is guilty of a crime, and appellate courts scour cases for wrongdoings or mistakes. But in one case, the governor is straying from the norm that of a U.S. Army sergeant found guilty of murdering a man protesting police brutality in Austin. After a two-week trial and 17 hours of jurors deliberation, Daniel Perry was convicted last week in the 2020 shooting death of Garrett Foster. Without any indication the governor reviewed the evidence in the complex case involving self-defense claims and gun rights, Abbott called on the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to hand him a pardon recommendation the day after Perry was convicted. I am working as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry, he said on Twitter on Saturday afternoon, after being blasted by hardline conservatives, including firebrand Fox News host Tucker Carlson, on Friday night for his lack of immediate response. The surprising call prompted immediate criticisms that the move is a blatant attempt to score political points with the far right by a governor contemplating a presidential bid. But it is also a remarkable attempt to extend his power over the judicial system. In one tweet, Abbott a former state Supreme Court justice who served three terms as attorney general before moving to the governors mansion made clear he intends to bypass the judge, the jury and the criminal justice systems appeals process to impose his desired outcome on the controversial case. This is unprecedented, state Rep. Ron Reynolds, chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, said in a statement this week. In a state where this governor often touts the rule of law and cracking down on crime, here we see him openly stating his intention of pardoning a convicted murderer who took the life of a protester. An Abbott spokesperson did not answer repeated questions on whether anyone in the governors office sat in on Perrys trial, reviewed evidence in the case or contacted the victims family before his announcement. Nor would they shed light on the motivation behind Abbotts decision. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, an Austin Democrat who previously battled with Abbott while serving on the City Council, said in a statement this week that the governors move was purely political. There are no winners in a murder trial, but Greg Abbott is abusing this pardon to win a presidential primary, Casar said. After this move, Abbott can never again claim that hes for public safety, a fair criminal justice system, or common sense. Puerile dog whistle Attorneys who work in the field say they cannot recall any instance in which Abbott, or any other governor, essentially instructed the Board of Pardons and Paroles to give him the recommendation he needs to legally pardon a defendant. In the past, Abbott has used his pardon authority as an act of compassion, clearing the records of those convicted of low-level crimes committed years or decades earlier. Once, in 2018, he used his pardon powers to resentence a death row prisoner, Thomas Whitaker, to life in prison in large part because Whitakers father, the only remaining member of the family Whitaker had murdered, begged for mercy. But in death penalty cases that raise significant doubts about miscarriages of justice, Abbott has declined to involve himself even under intense public pressure. In 2019, for instance, widespread doubts about the guilt of death row prisoner Rodney Reed prompted a bipartisan call from state lawmakers and a recommendation from the parole board for Abbott to exercise his power and halt the execution. He did not. Reed remains on death row as courts again review his case. Last year, an international outcry reached a crescendo with the approaching execution date of Melissa Lucio, whom many believe is innocent. Abbott said he would weigh the case only after a judgment by the parole board. Lucios case also remains in the courts hands. When a pardon is sought based on a claim of innocence, convicts must typically apply to the board with recommendations from at least two trial court officials or a court ruling of innocence, according to state code. But the board is also required to look into a pardon for anyone at the request of the governor, who alone appoints its seven members. On Monday, a spokesperson for the board said members were immediately beginning an investigation into Perrys conviction. Although Abbotts request itself was unexpected, pardons attorney Gary Cohen said what astonished him most was that the governor appeared to be telling the board how to rule, indicating he intends to pardon Perry. Hes essentially treating them like his minions, like puppets, Cohen said. In my 35-plus years of doing parole work, I have never seen a governor make a request of a parole board like this. Even more disturbing, Cohen argued, is Abbotts disregard for Fosters family, for the jury and for the criminal justice process. He didnt allege any kind of specific misconduct, he just engages in this puerile dog whistle, Cohen said. [Abbott] is a former attorney general. He was a justice for the [Texas] Supreme Court. He should know better. The pardon request has thrown Perrys still-unresolved criminal case into a frenzy. Although he has been convicted, he has yet to be sentenced a punishment that will be between five years and life in prison. His sentencing hearing is not yet scheduled, and Perrys defense attorneys have waved off commenting on the drama unfolding in the political sphere, saying they are focused on the ongoing case. Perry shot and killed Foster from his car in downtown Austin in July 2020, two months after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Foster was carrying an AK-47, which is legal in Texas. After Perry turned into a crowd of marching protesters, he fired repeatedly at Foster from his handgun, sped away and called police. Perry has said Foster had raised his rifle toward him; witnesses said he didnt. Defense attorneys this week filed a motion for a new trial, saying that key evidence was excluded that could have led the jury to believe Foster, not Perry, was the aggressor in the incident. The motion said jurors should have seen evidence that they claim shows Foster had on three other occasions stopped cars during protests by blocking them with his girlfriends wheelchair. His lawyers also said the jury should have been able to review the lengthy police report, in which a detective deemed Fosters death a justified homicide. Its not an uncommon motion, and even if it is denied in the district court, the arguments would undoubtedly reappear in the inevitable appeals process in place to safeguard against wrongful conviction unless Abbott puts his thumb on the scales of justice and pardons Perry first. Self-defense or murder Perrys murder trial was never expected to be an easy win for prosecutors. Its a complicated case embedded within the increasingly dangerous political landscape that often pits police supporters against racial justice advocates. At trial, prosecutors said Perry intentionally and dangerously drove into a crowd of protesters, and that Foster approached Perrys window to speak to him, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Although Foster was armed, prosecutors said his rifles safety was on, he did not have a bullet in the chamber, and the gun was lowered when Perry shot him five times. Defense attorneys said Perry drove into the crowd because he was distracted by a text message. They said a protester forced Perry to stop by jumping in front of his car, and others hit and kicked his car. Foster shouted at him to get out, they argued, and lifted his AK-47 toward Perry when the Army sergeant shot him. Perrys story changed over several interviews with police, including whether he was texting and whether Foster raised his gun, prosecutors said. Multiple witnesses said Foster didnt lift his rifle. In an initial interview with police, which was shown to the jury, Perry sobbed in an interrogation room before telling a detective that he believed Foster was going to aim at me. I didnt want to give him a chance to aim at me, you know? he said. After the shooting, Perrys social media presence fueled speculation. He had responded to a June 2020 anti-protester tweet by then-President Donald Trump with Send them to Texas we will show them why we say dont mess with Texas. Prosecutors at trial also noted that Perry spoke online with a friend about someone intentionally driving into protesters in Seattle and shooting someone and questioned whether the driver in such an incident could say they acted in self-defense. The jury found Perry guilty of murder but did not convict him on an aggravated assault charge related to driving in front of another protester. The conservative backlash was immediate. Texas GOP Chair and hardline conservative Matt Rinaldi said on Twitter that the case should never have been prosecuted and that a pardon by Abbott is in order. Later in the evening, Carlson blasted Abbott for his lack of immediate response to Perrys conviction. Broadcast to his 3.3 million weekly viewers, Carlson said Abbott declined his invitation to discuss the case on his show. He said that meant Abbotts position is there is no right of self-defense in Texas. The next afternoon, Abbott came forward. Texas has one of the strongest Stand Your Ground laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney, Abbotts Twitter post said, referring to Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza. I look forward to approving the Boards pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk. Abbott has made a habit of knocking down progressive Austin officials and policies regarding police. In 2020, protests prompted the local City Council to pass a defund the police measure, which largely aimed to shift police responsibilities, like 911 dispatch, and their coinciding funds to other departments. The move had a powerful backlash. The governor started a Back the Blue campaign, and the next year signed legislation that forced Austin to walk back its policy and would punish other cities that try to reduce police budgets. The department, like many others in big cities, has struggled with staff shortages. Abbott called the budget reductions downright dangerous. Abbott also floated the possibility last year of pardoning Austin police officers who were charged with aggravated assault during the protests. None has yet been convicted. Politics in pardons Perrys fate now lay in the hands of the seven people whom Abbott has placed on the pardons and parole board. Its unclear how independently the board works from Abbott, but gubernatorial intervention has been suspected in at least one other high-profile case: George Floyd. In 2021, the board surprised the state by unanimously recommending a posthumous pardon for Floyd in a 2004 Houston low-level drug conviction. The officer who arrested Floyd, Gerald Goines, has since been found to have routinely lied during alleged drug buys after a botched, deadly raid prompted an investigation. Abbott sat silently on the recommendation for months. In the immediate aftermath of Floyds murder, Abbott had expressed outrage at Floyds death and even hinted at a possible George Floyd Act in Texas to prevent police brutality. But as protests continued, calls for defunding the police grew and his reelection season revved up, Abbott pivoted toward a tough stand in support of law enforcement. In December 2021, nearly three months after the board made its recommendation, it was rescinded citing procedural errors and a lack of compliance with board rules. The announcement was made by the governors office. Last September, the board officially rejected Floyds posthumous pardon request. It did not say why. In Perrys case, Garza sent a letter to the board Tuesday asking members to conduct a full, independent investigation. Before making any decision, I implore you to review the trial transcript, evidence from trial officials that may have an impact on public safety, and request input from the victims family as to how a pardon may impact them, the district attorney said. Cohen, who works exclusively on pardons cases, said he respects all of the board members and understands the tremendous political pressure theyre under. But he hopes they wont succumb to it. If they do, its going to undermine the rule of law that Republicans think so highly of except for when it doesnt suit their purposes, he said. Ken Branca I-35 near O'Connor Road was the site of an onion clean up after an 18-wheeler carrying a large load of onions rear ended a dump truck Friday morning, April 14, according to officials. Police say the driver of an 80,000-pound 18-wheeler truck carrying a full load of onions crashed into a dump truck before 2:30 a.m. The 18-wheeler carrying the onions was reportedly traveling at a high speed when the truck made contact with the dump truck. Some of the contents of the onion truck spilled onto the roadways as a result of the crash. 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. The experimental mRNA COVID-19 vaccines that were developed and launched to market in record time, generating record profits for their manufacturers as well as injuries for untold thousands, will be put to the test before the German courts. The Mainz-based pharmaceutical company and Pfizer partner BioNtech is facing a series of lawsuits in its native Germany for suspected injuries and adverse events caused by its COVID-19 vaccine. The lawsuits were supposed to begin at the end of this month (April 2023) but have been pushed back to July 7. The two law firms bringing the suits, from Dusseldorf and Wiesbaden, are representing 185 claimants, and plan to extend the scope of the suits to include the three other main vaccine manufacturers (presumably in reference to Moderna, Janssen and AstraZeneca). The experimental mRNA COVID-19 vaccines that were developed and launched to market in record time, generating record profits for their manufacturers as well as injuries for untold thousands, will now be put to the test before the German courts. If successful, the class action suit may pave the way for similar suits in other parts of the world. If so, it is likely to be the national governments that bought the vaccines and made them de facto mandatory by making life unbearable for the unvaccinated, rather than the vaccine makers themselves, that will end up bearing the costs. To its minimal credit, the German government, unlike most of its counterparts in Europe, is at least beginning to acknowledge some of the harms caused by COVID-19 vaccines. It has even coined a name for the phenomenon: post-vac syndrom. The Tricky Task of Proving Causation Anyone who suffers permanent health damage as a result of a recognized vaccination complication can apply for at least a modest pension from one of the states pension offices. For all other suspected vaccination complications, it is far more difficult to receive compensation. In early July, the first of the 185 claimants will finally have her day in court. She allegedly suffered heart damage as a direct result of vaccination, reports the Spanish daily ABC (translated by yours truly): The woman, who according to her lawyer works in the medical profession, wants to remain anonymous. She alleges that she was forced to get vaccinated in order to keep her job and she blames (BioNtech) for having put a vaccine on the market whose side effects had not been sufficiently studied. The crux of the matter will be whether her lawyers can demonstrate causality, whether there is a direct connection between the vaccination and the damage, in addition to excluding and ruling out other possible causes. A second female litigant complains of suffering from a herpes-associated illness, lung disease, menstrual disorders, nervous system dysfunction and vision problems, reports Der Tagesspiegel. A third woman experienced, among other things, severe muscle twitching after the vaccination and was bedridden for seven weeks. BioNtech insists that so far in none of the cases [it has] examined has a causal connection between the described health impairments and the vaccination with Comirnaty been proven. We take our responsibility as a vaccine manufacturer very seriously, carefully examining each case, said a company spokeswoman. BioNtech, like all COVID-19 vaccine makers, is essentially immune from liability for any harms its products may produce. It can also fall back on the correlation vs causality argument. When evaluating the case, said the spokeswoman, we can rely solely on the medical facts to evaluate whether there is a causal relationship or not. Unfortunately, that is what is often missing. Germanys Shifting Vaccine Landscape When Pfizer-BioNtechs experimental mRNA COVID-19 vaccine hit the market, in December 2020, it was met with a mixture of relief, excitement and pride in Germany, the country where it was developed. That enthusiasm was not shared by all German citizens, however, with the result that by the autumn of 2021 Germany had somewhat lower vaccination rates than some of its Western European neighbours. The governments response was to ramp up the coercive pressure on the unvaccinated. Germany came closer than just about any Western country to enacting a universal COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Through its vaccine passport system, it systematically discriminated against millions of unvaccinated civilians, depriving them of access to basic government services, public buildings and even the ability to travel or work. Like neighboring Austria, it also experimented with targeted lockdowns of the unvaccinated. In August 2022, by which time it was abundantly clear that the vaccines prevented neither systemic disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 or transmission of the virus and many EU countries, including even Austria, had softened or suspended their COVID-19 vaccine passport restrictions, Germanys Health Minister Karl Lauterbach was talking about taking them to a whole new level. As I reported at the time, this included plans to repurpose the Corona-Warn-App into a color-coded system as a means of more easily corroborating peoples vaccination status. The apps different colors would confer different rights in the future. Those rights would apparently include the ability to access certain public places as well as the right not to wear a mask in hospitality venues. In the end, the plans came to nothing, perhaps due to the intensity of the public backlash. A few months later, the German government was threatening to cancel its vaccine deals as its stockpiles of unused vials kept rising, and Lauterbach found himself at the center of one of the biggest vaccine injury scandals to have emerged since the pandemic. Lauterbachs U-turn On numerous occasions Lauterbach had claimed that the COVID-19 vaccines were without side effects, even as the Paul-Ehrlic-Institute (PEI), Germanys medical regulatory body and research institution for vaccines and biomedicines, was reporting growing numbers of vaccine injuries. By the summer of 2022, it had lodged 323,684 cases of vaccine side effects resulting from a total of 183 million single vaccine jabs: an average rate of 1.8 cases per 1,000 doses. Severe vaccine side effects were clocking in at an average of around 0.3 per 1,000. That was a significant understatement, according to German health insurance firm BKK Vita. In a letter to PEI in late February 2022, the firms board warned of a dramatic under-reporting of the side effects of vaccinations based on the billing data of its health insurance division. According to that data, as many as 2.3% of vaccine recipients an order of magnitude higher than PEIs number were suffering from post-vaccine side effects. For their troubles the firms CEO Andreas Schofbeck and board were dismissed without notice just days after the letter was sent. The firm quickly disassociated itself from Schofbeck, whom it painted as an avid anti-vaxxer. From Tagesschau: It is not the first time that Schofbeck has appeared with well-known opponents of vaccination. In January 2021, the then-head of the health insurance company at the time wrote the foreword to Clemens Arvays book Corona Vaccines Rescue or Risk. In it he questioned whether there were sufficient studies on the (the vaccines) efficacy and side effects and whether it was justifiable to vaccinate so many people without the benefit of long-term studies It is far from clear whose data the PEIs or BKK Vitas was closer to the truth, in part because of the paucity of high-powered studies into COVID-19 vaccine harms. One of the few such papers that does exist, by a team of respected researchers including Peter Doshi, an editor of the BMJ, Robert Kaplan, the Chief Science Officer for AHRQ, and Sander Greenland of UCLA, was published in June last year. One of its main findings was that the mRNA vaccines, combined, were associated with an absolute risk increase of serious adverse events of special interest of 12.5 per 10,000 one in 800. NCs IM Doc described the study as a fascinating piece of work that deserves serious attention: What they found is that more patients were suffering excess severe adverse events with both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines than were being saved from hospital admissions. You heard that correctly more people had severe side effects than people being kept out of the hospital. The numbers were particularly tragic for Pfizer(-BioNtech). The authors absolutely admitted that this was the best they could do with the available numbers. BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES and BIG PHARMA HAVE REFUSED TO RELEASE DATASETS. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY TRAGIC IN ITS UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR. They ended the study with a plea to release the data and given their findings, the urgent need to break out the risk/benefit ratios for different demographics. ie do old people have a satisfactory risk profile while young people do not, etc etc etc. I will reiterate none of these authors are slouches. They are in the top tier of folks in their fields. This has to be taken seriously. Back in Germany, Lauterbachs assertions that the vaccines did not cause any side effects had become so ridiculous that they were no longer tenable. In March, he made a spectacular U-turn, as Thomas Fazi reported at the time: In a recent TV interview, he admitted that vaccine-induced injuries are a serious issue, and that his ministry was planning to launch a programme to investigate the negative consequences of Covid vaccination and improve care as soon as possible. Additionally, Lauterbach said that he hopes pharmaceutical companies will voluntarily help to compensate those harmed by the vaccines. Thats because the profits have been exorbitant, he said. Just a year ago he had said: The pharmaceutical companies will not get rich with vaccines. The revenues of BioNtech alone a company that probably would not exist without the hundreds of millions of euros of seed funding, subsidies and other investments provided by the German federal government increased 190-fold between 2019 and 2021. For the moment there are no signs of BioNtech, or any of the other pharma companies, voluntarily dipping into their vast profits to compensate those injured by the vaccines they created, not to mention the families who have lost loved ones. In Germany at least, the health ministry has begun to recognize vaccine injuries as a serious issue; in many other European countries, including the UK, the vaccine injured are met with a wall of silence. Yet as more and more Germans lodge compensation claims for the injuries they have sustained, it is the state that will be ultimately liable for any vaccine-related damages. In the end, many will end up receiving nothing due to their inability to prove causality. As a recent BMJ paper covered for NC by KLG argues, this lack or reciprocity i.e., the effective inability of anyone harmed by the vaccines to recover financial compensation is one of a litany of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine mandates are both unethical and undesirable. East Vs. West: Whos Better at Fly Fishing? Field and Stream. Readers? Maine lobsterman catches 5-foot military rocket ABC Video: Drunken Idiots Decide to Touch a Moose. See What Happens FIeld and Stream How Bears Hibernate without Getting Blood Clots Scientific American Climate An Edible Rechargeable Battery Advanced Materials. Edible electronics is a growing field that aims to produce digestible devices using only food ingredients and additives, thus addressing many of the shortcomings of ingestible electronic devices. So if your EV fails in the wilderness, you wont starve! #COVID19 Pandemic Preparedness and Response: Lessons from COVID-19 (accepted manuscript) Anthony S. Fauci and Gregory K. Folkers., Journal of Infectious Diseases. Handy table: I dont want to dunk too much on a player as slow-footed and over-the-hill as Fauci though readers may disagree, in which case have at it! Obvious question: Why the complete erasure of non-pharmaceutical interventions? Mucosal vaccines for SARS-CoV-2: scientific gaps and opportunitiesworkshop report Nature. Paragraph one lists the usual suspects workshop hosts, who are who you would expect: The lack of validated correlates of protection for respiratory mucosal protection has implications for clinical research, as well as regulatory and policy considerations. As discussed during the Regulatory and Policy Considerations workshop session, next-generation COVID-19 vaccines can be approved by comparing systemic neutralizing IgG levels to those induced by approved vaccines, a process known as immunobridging, if similar platforms are used22. However, because there are no validated correlates of protection for respiratory mucosal protection, if a vaccine has a unique mode of action that elicits an effective mucosal response but does not induce the same systemic immune markers as current vaccines, it will need to undergo large and expensive Phase 3 trials to show clinical efficacy23. Furthermore, to generate evidence to support a policy recommendation for preferred use as a transmission-blocking vaccine, developers may have to include an infection or transmission endpoint and/or conduct large Phase 4 studies. Despite these challenges, the growing body of work on SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in both animal models and humans is rapidly expanding our knowledge of the sites where a mucosal immune response is induced, elucidating components of this response that are important for protection. I am not a vaccine maven at all. Perhaps somebody who remembers the mRNA development and approval process can tell readers whether slow-walking and double standards are at play here. The workshop recommendations: Notably absent is any mention of Bharats iNCOVACC nasal vaccine, already being distributed in India (RCT; link at NC here), which licenses technology developed at Washington University in St Louis. I would expect those developers to be present, but if theres a list of participants in the workshop, Im missing it. NIH = Not Invented Here? Major health systems dropping mask mandates in momentous shift of pandemic policy MiBiz. Patients with COVID-19 now account for less than 3 percent of the people presently hospitalized at Corewells hospitals, and about half of those patients are there for different reasons, [Dr. Darryl Elmouchi, president of Corewell Health] said. Its hard to take care of people when you cant see them smile.' BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!! More: This is grotesque. @StanfordChild did you talk with any immunocompromised patients and their families before coming up with this? pic.twitter.com/rixThGhjps kaleidoscope of mope (@lizkatsuleres) April 11, 2023 Its rare to see a hospital actually organize a superspreading event. I say yes, and high time, too: Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, flanked by GOP legislators, speaks at an April 12, 2023, press conference at which he advocated for more police officers on Arizona school campuses. Photo by Gloria Rebecca Gomez | Arizona Mirror Flanked by GOP lawmakers, Arizona Superintendent Tom Horne urged schools across the state to add school resource officers to their staff, calling them a critical defense in a time when the country is roiling from an unprecedented surge in mass shootings. I dont want, on my watch or anyone elses watch, for that matter to see somebody invade a school and shoot peoplebecause theres no one there to protect the students or the staff, Horne said, during an April 12 press conference at the state Capitol in which he unveiled the results of a public opinion poll that showed parental support for SROs in schools. The Arizona Department of Education commissioned a poll of 614 parents, the majority of them from Maricopa County, which found that 80% approved of the presence of SROs on public school grounds. That consensus, Horne said, shows that parents want a closer relationship between law enforcement officers and schools. The biggest tragedy that could happen in our state is that a maniac invades a school and kills 20 kids, he said, referencing the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting. And if parents were to find out that school could have had a school resource officer protecting kids, but didnt do it, you can imagine how the parents would feel about that. The public opinion poll is part of an ongoing push by Horne to bolster the ranks of Arizona SROs, and was conducted in response to Phoenix Union High School Districts recent reconsideration of its 2020 decision not to renew an SRO agreement. The district chose not to renew the agreement partly due to the switch to remote learning and also because of a national spotlight on racial inequality in law enforcement. Its governing board is set to discuss a potentially revised role for SROs in district schools on April 13. In an effort to encourage schools to hire SROs, Hornes administration launched a grant program that offers financial aid for schools to do so, dubbed the School Safety Program. Grants also fund juvenile probation officer, social worker and school counselor hires, but after Horne warned that he would refuse to recommend school counselors to the state board if a school didnt have any SROs on staff, the program drew criticism. At the press briefing, he doubled down on that assertion, saying that while he appreciates the importance of school counselors as students across the country grapple with mental health issues, armed officers come first. I think that kids should have somebody to talk to when theyre having emotional problems, he said. Im hopeful well have a school resource officer and a counselor or a social worker in every school, but our first priority is to protect the lives of our students. Lawmakers fight for SROs, school safety legislation Senate President Warren Petersen argued that law enforcement officers are better equipped to handle imminent danger, making them a more valuable asset than counselors. If somebody with force comes into the school, who are you going to go stand behind to protect you? he asked. Do you want to go stand behind a police officer or do you want to go stand behind a counselor? Petersen criticized Democrats, who he said were missing the mark by advocating for more counselors when SROs are the way to protect Arizona children. The Republicans down here at the legislature want to make sure that our children are protected, he said. House Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci agreed, slamming Democrats for voting against Republican bills introduced this session advertised as ensuring greater school and teacher preparedness during school shooting incidents. (Democrats voting no) is the part thats disturbing and really frustrating for us up here as Republicans, Biasiucci said. We are looking for solutions. The Lake Havasu City Republican championed a measure this year that allocated $10 million for a safety pilot program that schools and teachers could opt into, which includes lessons on threat assessment, firearm safety and combat medical care. The bill was widely panned by Democrats, who criticized it as overburdening teachers when the focus should be on restricting gun access. GOP lawmakers also introduced and unanimously backed a proposal to require schools to teach students a course on firearm safety, which drew backlash from gun violence advocates who pointed out its similarity to National Rifle Association talking points. Another bill, sent to the governors office on Wednesday with only Republicans in favor, would decriminalize carrying firearms on school grounds if the carrier is a parent with a concealed gun permit. Students react Michael-Anthony Rodriguez, a high school student from Yuma, showed up at the Capitol with social justice group Rural Arizona Action to express his disapproval of the push for more SROs. Schools need greater overall funding, especially in rural communities like his, he said, and focusing resources on such a small part of the school environment is disingenuous. I feel like theyre trying to put a Band-Aid on a situation instead of actually fixing what the root problem is, he said. Rodriguezs school, Santa Cruz Valley High, has bathrooms in disrepair some stalls dont even have doors and teachers are leaving due to low pay, including a popular teacher who commuted from Tucson but recently resigned because he could no longer afford to make the trip. It kind of feels like our community has always been impoverished, he said. And because our school lacks funding, it lacks opportunities for kids. Samual Kahrs noted that a majority of school shooters gain access to firearms via their families, and said adding even more guns to school campuses via SROs doesnt help. As much as 74% of school shooters used guns obtained from parents, family members or friends. And teen access to firearms has spiked since the pandemic, with gun sale increases resulting in one-third of all homes with children under 18 now having at least one gun. Safety is often on the 17-year-olds mind, because many of his classmates have shared that their families keep guns at home or they themselves have one in their cars. State law allows unloaded guns to be kept in a locked car as long as they are out of sight when visiting a school campus. Lawmakers, Kahrs said, should shift their focus to address gun safety at home, where the issue often arises first. We shouldnt be putting more guns into our schools, Kahrs said. Legislators need to stop pushing to spend what little education money we have on resource officers and they need to spend their time making policies that restrict peoples ability to get access to these weapons of mass murder, as well as legislation that requires safety checks and gun safes. A Democratic proposal seeking to require gun owners to lock away their ammunition, firearms or both in a storage container when not being carried was rebuffed by the Republican-majority, which refused to give it a hearing. (Natural News) Whether out of necessity or because of an addiction, Adderall users are having a lot of trouble accessing the drug right now due to a nationwide shortage. It was first announced back in October that Adderall supplies would be limited for the foreseeable future, and that is still true to this day. Patients, providers, and psychiatrists are unable to get it, and there does not appear to be a fix coming any time soon. When Im not medicated, it is life changing, said Matt Ford, a journalist for The New Republic who has been taking Adderall for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, since he was in elementary school. It has an impact on my quality of life, Ford told VICE News. My family notices it, my wife notices it, my friends notice it. It has a measurable impact on how Im able to function. (Related: Taking Adderall is extremely risky due to potentially serious side effects, but the FDA wants people to keep taking it anyway.) First the government blamed labor shortages and increased demand for Adderall shortage, now nobody seems to know why the drug has disappeared For Ford and millions of other Adderall dependents, accessing the drug in the post-covid age remains a challenge. He is still trying to get his prescription filled but is unable to do so and nobody has an answer as to why. Ive spent all day calling every pharmacy near me in D.C. Theyre all out, Ford complained on Twitter back in March. No idea when itll be back in stock. No idea where I can find a place that might be able to help. I run out later this week. Without going into specifics, my quality of life is about to get a lot worse. The government initially said labor shortages and increased demand were responsible for the ongoing Adderall shortage, but neither of these excuses add up upon further inquiry. In case you are unfamiliar with Adderall, it is a legalized form of meth called mixed amphetamine salts, or MAS. It is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for ADHD, but no longer now that Teva Pharmaceuticals, one of its manufacturers, is said to be suffering manufacturing delays. Even prior to the October shortage announcement, Adderall supplies were dwindling. Teva and three other companies put extended-release Adderall on backorder nearly a year ago, citing a labor shortage. Prior to that, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) put Adderall on its list of drugs currently in shortage. Just three of the nine companies that produce Adderall have fully available supplies of their offerings. According to the FDA, Teva specifically continues to experience unprecedented increase in demand for Adderall, which is supposedly the reason why it remains largely unavailable. Teva initially promised that the shortage would end at the conclusion of 2022, but that did not happen. The FDA continues to claim that the shortage is demand-driven. If one company has a large market share, and that company has a shortage or sudden manufacturing delay, it really puts pressure on the other companies, and they may not be able to make up the difference, said Dr. Erin Fox, an associate chief pharmacy officer at University of Utah Health who compiles drug shortage data, adding that a manufacturing issue alone could produce a snowball effect that makes it increasingly difficult to obtain the medication. Its not always easy for these companies to ramp up supply quickly. Last month, the FDA reaffirmed that it recognizes the impact the shortage may have on health care providers and patients, but that it is no longer the fault of manufacturers because supply is increasing. The global economy is imploding. To keep up with the latest, visit Collapse.news. Sources for this article include: Vice.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Documents reveal that the federal government and insurers incentivized healthcare providers in Kentucky and California to vaccinate Medicaid patients against COVID-19 by offering bonuses based on the percentage of patients successfully vaccinated. (Article by Brenda Baletti, Ph.D. republished from ChildrensHealthDefense.org) The federal government and insurers incentivized healthcare providers in Kentucky and California to vaccinate Medicaid patients against COVID-19 by offering bonuses based on the percentage of patients successfully vaccinated. [This is] truly sickening and I am embarrassed for my profession by this, Dr. Meryl Nass, an internist and biological warfare epidemiologist, wrote on her Substack, where she posted several documents relating to the COVID-19 vaccine provider incentive programs. The documents help to draw a picture of the broader effort at the federal, state and local levels to unleash a range of strategies targeting low-income and people-of-color communities, which tended to have lower vaccination rates. The strategies included providing hundreds of millions of dollars for the creation of culturally tailored pro-vaccine materials and for training trusted and influential messengers to promote COVID-19 and flu vaccines to communities of color in every state. Nass revelations showed these efforts went beyond advertising, fear campaigns, payments to patients and payments to trusted community actors and included, in some cases, direct financial incentives to healthcare providers. Kentucky: Medicaid paid doctors up to $250 per vaccinated Medicaid patient Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicaid in Kentucky told physicians in 2021 it would recognize your hard work by offering incentives for helping patients make the choice to become vaccinated. The more people vaccinated, the higher the per-person incentive. For physicians who treated an Anthem Medicaid cohort with a minimum of 25 patients in their practice, Anthem Medicaid offered incentives for vaccination by Sept. 1, 2021, that ranged from a $20 bonus per vaccinated person for physicians who vaccinated 30% of the cohort, to $125 per vaccinated person for those who vaccinated 75% of the cohort, with several incremental steps in between. As time went on, the rates increased. Between Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, 2021, physicians received payments ranging from $100 per newly vaccinated person for those who vaccinated 30% of their patient cohort, to $250 per newly vaccinated person for those who vaccinated 75% of their patient cohort. In 2022, the Anthem provider incentive program changed to a flat rate. Providers received $50 per newly vaccinated Medicaid patient. This included children ages 6 months to 4 years and kids 12 and older vaccinated between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2022, and children ages 5 to 11 vaccinated between June 1 and Dec. 31, 2022. Medi-Cal: $350 million in incentives to vaccinate low-income children, people of color The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) on Aug. 6, 2021, announced $350 million in incentive payments $250 million to providers and $100 million for direct non-monetary payments, such as gift cards, to vaccine recipients to encourage vaccination among Medi-Cals 14 million beneficiaries. Of the $350 million, $175 million came from state general funds and $175 million from federal funding. The funding period lasted from Sept. 2, 2021, through Feb. 29, 2022. The program offered incentives to managed care plans in the name of health equity. In the press release, DHCS Director Will Lightborne said that raising rates among Medi-Cal beneficiaries was essential because California will only be safe when everyone is safe. Nass noted that this program was rolled out one day after Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky told CNN the vaccines dont prevent virus transmission. Thats clearly a contradiction, Nass told The Defender. The funding targeted Medicaid recipients with low vaccine uptake the homebound, communities of color, youth ages 12 to 25 and people ages 50 to 64 with multiple chronic conditions and incentivized outreach and vaccination activities for providers and pharmacies. At the time of the announcement, only 45.6% of Medi-Cal beneficiaries age 12 and over had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, compared to over 76% of Californians overall. The DHCS funding included payments to community-based organizations, food banks, advocacy groups and faith-based organizations. This key strategy of funding grassroots leaders to act as grassroots proxies spreading the federal governments vaccine message was widespread throughout the pandemic. Providers could also couple this grant with a CAIRVaxGrant, which offered providers up to $10,000 to enter all of their historical electronic health record immunizations into the California Immunization Registry (CAIR). The grant stipulated that after startup costs, payments would be directly tied to meeting specific vaccination goals, similar to the Kentucky program. The incentive payment structure under the California plan was complex, paying a financial reward to healthcare providers who met particular benchmarks that varied by county and demographic but overall increased the percentage of vaccinated patients among their Medicare beneficiaries. Under this incentive structure, providers had to meet particular vaccination targets in order to get paid. Those who were especially successful in increasing vaccination rates in the target groups would be entered into a high performance pool, receiving extra money for substantially moving the vaccination rates for Medicaid recipients 75% higher than baseline or within 10% of a given countys general rate. In the equation that determined the incentive payment structure, different demographic groups were weighted differently. For example, vaccine recipients ages 12 to 25 were weighted more highly than older recipients and those in the two racial/ethnic groups with the lowest uptake were also given greater weight. By Jan. 21 of this year, despite this $250 million push, Medi-Cal vaccination had only increased to 52.9%. Medicaid pays doctors more to administer COVID vaccines than other shots As part of the American Rescue Plan Act, the Biden administration fully funded the COVID-19 vaccination program, making vaccines free regardless of health insurance status. To cover the costs of the uninsured and underinsured, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) paid provider costs of vaccine administration through an Uninsured Program and a COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund. Reimbursements were based on national Medicare rates, but the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which sets those rates, increased the reimbursement rate over time. Through March 14, 2021, HRSA paid $28.93 for a single-dose vaccine or for the second dose in a series of 2, and $16.94 for the first dose in a series of two. On March 15, 2021, those rates increased to $40 per dose and $75.50 for an in-home dose of the vaccine. Nass said the initial payments were in line with Medicaid payments for other vaccines, but the increased payment marked a departure from the usual reimbursement structure. Usually, all CMS changes to Medicare payments for specific services must go through notice and comment rulemaking, but to save time during the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency bypassed that route before increasing payments for administering the vaccines, JAMA reported. CMS said the higher payments were meant to help expand COVID-19 vaccination, supporting actions taken by providers, such as growing existing vaccination sites, conducting patient outreach and education, and hiring additional staff, Healthcare Finance News reported. Read more at: ChildrensHealthDefense.org (Natural News) An explosion at a dairy farm in Texas on Monday night, April 10, killed over 18,000 cows and critically injured one farm worker. The incident occurred at the barn of the South Fork Dairy Farm in Dimmitt in the Texas Panhandle region and is the latest incident in a string of so-called accidents since last year that have crippled the countrys food production infrastructure. (Related: Another attack on the food supply: Chicken farmers report hens are not laying eggs, tainted feed possible culprit.) Castro County officials believe the explosion that caused the fire started from a malfunctioning piece of equipment. The fire then spread to the building where the cattle are hauled before they are brought into the milking area and into a holding pen. Castro County Sheriff Sal Rivera said that was the reason why very few cows survived. The Texas State Fire Marshals Office is still investigating the cause of the fire. Rivera noted that what probably made the fire much worse is a honey badger incident, wherein a fire in a confined space creates a vacuum that sucks out all of the moisture inside, overheating the area. The methane from the cattle probably also ignited and helped the fire spread out. Emergency responders only determined the full extent of the damage caused by the fire after it was extinguished and over 18,000 head of cattle were reported as having perished, or nearly three times the number of cattle that are slaughtered in the United States each day. One dairy farm worker was rescued from inside the structure and was taken to a nearby hospital. As of Tuesday morning, his condition was reported as still critical but stable. No other humans were physically affected by the fire. Its mind-boggling, said Dimmitt Mayor Roger Malone. I dont think its ever happened before around here. Its a real tragedy. Theres some that survived, theres some that are probably injured to the point where theyll have to be destroyed, said Rivera. The 18,000 cattle that perished represent around 90 percent of the farms total herd. The viable survivors were moved to a separate facility managed by the same owner of the South Fork Dairy Farm. South Fork Dairy Farm fire deadliest for cattle since 2013 The Animal Welfare Institute, a Washington-based animal advocacy group, noted that this is the biggest single-incident death of cattle in the country since it began tracking barn and farm fires in 2013. The second-largest single-incident death a dairy farm fire in upstate New York that consumed 400 cows in 2020 doesnt even come close to the death toll of the South Fork Dairy Farm fire. This is the deadliest fire involving cattle we know of, said Allie Granger, a policy associate at the institute. In the past, we have seen fires involving several hundred cows at a time, but nothing anywhere near this level of mortality. With each cow valued roughly at around $2,000, Castro County Judge Mandy Gfeller said the company that manages South Fork Dairy Farm could be looking at tens of millions of dollars in losses. This doesnt even take into account the losses incurred from the damaged and burned equipment and buildings. Youre looking at a devastating loss, she said. My heart goes out to each person involved in that operation. Learn more about the deteriorating condition of Americas food supply at FoodCollapse.com. Watch this video from Michelle of Squirrel Tribe discussing the death of over 18,000 cattle in the Texas dairy farm. This video is from the channel What Is Happening on Brighteon.com. More related stories: WHERES THE BEEF? Data shows US has lowest beef cattle inventory in over 60 years. Government and Big Pharma plan to taint food supply by injecting animals with mRNA vaccines. Is our own government trying to starve us? Whistleblower reveals US government behind attacks on Americas food infrastructure. Millions of heads of American cattle could soon starve to death due to rail, feed crisis. Mass chicken culling based on avian influenza outbreaks just another malicious attack on the FOOD SUPPLY. Sources include: InfoWars.com FoxNews.com NewsChannel10.com USAToday.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Journalist Glenn Greenwald noted Monday that the Nashville shooting, which occurred less than three weeks ago, has already been erased from memory because it was perpetrated by a trans individual and represents an inconvenient narrative. (Article by Steve Watson republished from Infowars.com) Appearing on SiriusXM with Megyn Kelly, Greenwald succinctly noted how Kamala Harris and others within the Biden administration have attempted to sweep the school shooting, in which three children lost their lives, under the rug. This Nashville shooting has been erased from memory even though it happened very recently because its such an inconvenient narrative given that the shooter was not just someone who was trans but very possibly acted on behalf of this radical ideology, Greenwald told Kelly. And amazingly they wont show us the manifesto even though we always see the manifesto when they can link it to the right, greenwald continue, adding Weve retained counsel in Nashville to try to obtain that manifesto because its journalistically in the public interest. The journalist continued, Kamala Harris goes there and pretends there are no victims because they want to forget about that shooting completely except to the extent they can exploit it for gun control issues. So somehow a shooting by what appeared to be somebody motivated by at least in part radical theories of gender ideology and killed Christian children in the name of that ideology, Greenwald continued, Somehow that has been turned around so that whoever is concerned about that competent of the story is now back to being a 1960s Jim Crow racist. Of course it wouldnt work without the medias cooperation, thats how they frame everything in partnership with their partisan allies, greenwald asserted. He then tore into Harris specifically, noting The Democratic Party is about nothing other than criminalizing dissent and protest. Everything she just said there is so cynical and so disingenuous. Its hard to know where to start. Greenwald continued, Lets remember the only good moment of her ill-fated presidential campaign was when she accused Joe Biden of being a racist because he had opposed bussing and desegregation of schools and she had that moment in that debate where she said That little girl was me, Joe. Really strongly implying he was a racist. She shot up in the polls very temporarily and then if she really believed that Joe Biden was animated by racist sentiments, depicted him as this Jim Crow supporter of segregation which is what she said. Its amazing that she turned around and less than a year later embraced him and heralded him as a man of great character when just a year earlier she was claiming he hated black people. That shows you how cynical this game is, Greenwald further urged. Watch: It is now over two weeks after the horrific shooting in Nashville and the transgender killers manifesto has still not been released to the public, although authorities say the attack was planned for months beforehand. Transgender Shooters Manifesto Still Not Made Public It appears this is part of the administrations effort to protect the LGBTQ+ community in order to create a fair and stronger society: Video: White House Press Sec. Says Trans Community Are Under Attack Right Now Video: Biden Says If We Protect LGBTQ+ Individuals, Our Societies Are Stronger Video: White House Press Sec. Says Its Not For Us to Decide If Killing Christian Children Constitutes A Hate Crime Read more at: Infowars.com (Natural News) Italy has declared a state of emergency for a six-month period following a rise in the number of migrants entering the country. The declaration announced on April 11 earmarked 5 million ($5.5 million) to build new holding facilities for migrants. A statement from Italian authorities said they are hoping to set up these facilities suitable both for the reception needs and for the repatriation of migrants who do not have the right to stay in the county. Moreover, the Italian media have reported that a special commissioner is tasked with overseeing the allocation of funds for the state of emergency. While several candidates have been suggested, Rome has not made an official decision on the matter. Civil Protection and Sea Policies Minister Nello Musumeci said overcrowded reception centers as the main reason for the declaration. He also mentioned that the state of emergency had been declared at the behest of Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi. According to Musumeci, there was a 300 percent increase in migration flows something he described as an absolute emergency that threatened to undermine Italys infrastructure. The state of emergency alone would not solve the problem, he stressed, as it would also require a responsible intervention by the European Union. We are talking about a phenomenon never seen in the past, said Musumeci. The islands alone cannot deal with this state of emergency. Meloni government promises to crack down on migrants Even though the government of incumbent Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has managed to reduce the number of ships transporting migrants to Italy, the number of illegals arriving has nevertheless continued to rise. By early March, more than 17,000 migrants had made landfall in Italy almost thrice the figure recorded a year earlier. Meloni assumed the premiership in October 2022, vowing to ramp up deportations and stop vessels operated by non-governmental organizations from bringing migrants to Italian ports. We must stop illegal departures and human trafficking, she emphasized during her inaugural speech before the Chamber of Deputies, the Italian counterpart of the U.S. House of Representatives. (Related: Conservative, pro-family Christian becomes Italys new prime minister as left-wing media, deep state comes unhinged.) We do not intend in any way to question the right of asylum for those fleeing wars and persecutions. All we want to do in relation to immigration is to stop the [human] traffickers from having the choice of deciding who enters Italy. Shortly before Melonis speech, Piantedosi threatened to close ports to two rescue boats the Ocean Viking and Humanity 1 for failing to follow rules. He had played a key role in preventing migrant-filled rescue boats from docking in Italian ports. The last time the Italian government declared a state of emergency over migration was back in 2011, under the leadership of then-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. According to the Library of Congress, the 2011 state of emergency arose from the arrival of 5,000 refugees from Tunisia within a span of five days. The refugees landed on the small Italian island of Lampedusa, located 60 miles away from the North African country and former French colony. While a center for receiving migrants had been reopened on the island, it was already overcrowded. The refugees arrival coincided with the January 2011 Tunisian Revolution, which deposed former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali after 24 years in power. Roberto Maroni, Italys interior minister at that time, said the state of emergency was declared because of a fear that terrorists could have blended in with the migrants to enter the country. Visit Migrants.news for more stories about the migrant crisis in Italy and other European countries. Watch this clip from Bannons War Room about the Italian government barring citizens from entering while allowing migrants at the same time. This video is from the Excellent PODCASTS & Real NEWS channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Open borders politicians in Europe are contributing to the spread of Wuhan coronavirus the same way they allowed their countries to be invaded by refugees. Illegal migrants enjoy life aboard five-star cruise ship moored in the Netherlands while Dutch citizens struggle to eat and stay warm. Ireland under attack: Hordes of violent migrants brawl in their tax-payer luxury hotel, mass stabbings, and arrests. Doctors Without Borders charged with human trafficking, carried out under the guise of humanitarian work. Thousands of illegal immigrants apprehended at Austrian borders. Sources include: RT.com BBC.com 1 BBC.com 2 LOC.gov Brighteon.com (Natural News) Former President Donald Trumps nomination by the Republican National Convention in July 2024 is all but assured, as most polls show Trump with a significant lead among even his most formidable opponents. Since announcing his third run for the presidency on Nov. 15, 2022, Trump has consistently led almost all major polls. Elections-focused news website FiveThirtyEight has found that Trumps current polling average is at 49.3 percent of the national vote. (Related: Trump lays out 2024 presidential run agenda, promises to complete mission and build America up again.) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis who has not officially entered the race received 26.2 percent. Former Vice President Mike Pence, another potential candidate, is at 5.8 percent. The closest declared candidate, former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, is at 4.3 percent. Gene Ho, in an episode of his show About George with Gene Ho on American Media Periscope, commented how the Republican Party has no other option but to nominate Trump. Theres no other solution to this, said Ho. Its going to be Donald J. Trump. Trump contenders dont stand a chance against him The only other major Republican figure that can come close to challenging Trump is DeSantis. Steven Shepard, writing for Politico, noted that DeSantis is widely expected to announce his candidacy after the Florida State Legislature adjourns from its current legislative session in early May. DeSantis is positioning himself to be seen by the Republican electorate as a more effective continuation of the former presidents political movement, wrote Shepard. But he pointed out that it might not be too effective for DeSantis to sell himself as a successor to the Make America Great Again movement while Trump is still in the running. Behind DeSantis, Pence and Haley are far longer shots. The former vice president likely wont survive the early caucuses due to Pence positioning himself firmly within a very small bloc of never-Trump Republicans. Haley is similarly positioning herself as the most politically experienced candidate who can become a viable alternative for Republicans who may not wish to vote for either Trump or DeSantis. Another Republican who may have had a similar shot at the nomination as Pence or Haley is Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. But the senator has officially ruled out another campaign, instead choosing to seek a third term in the Senate. Several other contenders have either officially thrown their hat into the ring or have put the word out that they are considering a run, but these individuals stand even less of a chance at winning the nomination than even Pence, Haley or Cruz. These declared and potential candidates include former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. The senator has already formed an exploratory committee and has put out feelers that he is strongly considering a run for the presidency. With Donald Trump, his popularity is very, very strong, explained Ho, who pointed out that the other candidates do not have the same level of grassroots support as the former president, whose rallies are always dominated by large numbers of supporters. They want the big rallies, and they dont have the big rallies, he added. Trump gets the big rallies, these other candidates do not. For the latest news involving former President Trump, visit Trump.news. Watch this episode of About George with Gene Ho as he discusses why former President Donald Trump will be the Republican Partys nominee for the 2024 election. This video is from the AMPNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Biden regime says memes constitute election interference but arresting your oppositions leading candidate (Trump) isnt. ITS OFFICIAL: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will run as a Democrat in 2024 against Biden. The Zelenko Report: Roger Stone blasts Ron DeSantis over his plan to challenge Trump in GOP primaries for 2024 Brighteon.TV. Sources include: Brighteon.com FiveThirtyEight.com Politico.com NPR.com (Natural News) A cafe in downtown Portland has announced that it will permanently close down, joining the many small businesses succumbing to the citys rampant crimes. Coava Coffee Roasters announced the closure of its SW Jefferson Street location at the City of Roses in an April 10 Instagram post. The establishment wrote: We have decided to permanently close our downtown Portland cafe with the last full day of operation [on] April 13. The team members at this cafe have been on the front line enduring extreme violence and criminal activity on an almost daily basis for the last few years crime and violence that is only increasing in frequency and severity. According to the cafe, both staff members and customers experienced theft, physical displays of violence, threats of harm, break-ins, window smashing and repeated traumatic in-cafe incidents. We cannot continue operation here as we cannot ensure the safety of our team and customers. We opened this cafe in the summer of 2017 and poured our very heart and soul into the design and build-out of this beautiful and unique space. While this is incredibly hard, we know it is the right decision. (Related: Retailers, businesses continue to flee Portland due to rampant violence, theft and lawlessness.) Despite this, Coava Coffee Roasters assured customers that their other locations will remain open. Restaurant owners bearing the brunt of Portlands crime A recent survey by hiring software maker Poached revealed the extent of the damage caused by Portlands crime on the restaurant industry. As reported by the Portland Business Journal, 90 percent of the surveys respondents said their businesses had been broken into in the past year. Seventy-nine percent said their businesses experienced more than one break-in, while 30 percent said their business had been broken into more than five times. Moreover, 94 percent of respondents said their businesses were vandalized in the last year and 35 percent reported the vandalism happening more than 10 times. Poached co-founder and CEO Kirk Thornby said the company was taken aback by the number of respondents concerned about running their businesses in Portland, especially in a city that prides itself on its restaurant culture. He continued: Were sharing these results to raise awareness around the challenges Portland restaurants deal with daily. Several restaurant owners also aired their sentiments about the state of Portland. Crime and vandalism [are] huge [issues] not being addressed in Portland, said Sara Sawicki, co-owner of the buffalo wings joint Fire on the Mountain. We wonder about the long-term viability of our business in Portland due to staff safety and financial costs associated with crime and vandalism. It does not seem like the city is addressing the issues in any meaningful way. Franz Spielvogel, owner of the fast-casual chain Laughing Planet Cafe, remarked: Frankly, its pretty sad. How are we going to climb out of this? How are we going to thrive? Four different locations of his chain were broken into over a five-day span. Peter Bro, who owns the Scandinavian restaurant chain Broder, recounted that his joints location at N Mississippi Avenue suffered two break-ins. He also mentioned an incident where an individual was throwing motor oil on the restaurant window while employees and customers were inside. There are opportunists because there arent many ramifications, police are slow to respond and they can get away with it, Bro said. If you own a business in Portland right now, you kind of feel like you have to figure it out [on your own]. The cops dont show up. Things dont happen as fast as they should, and its disappointing, Spielvogel said. Collapse.news has more stories about restaurant closures in crime-ridden cities like Portland. Watch Fox News host Jesse Watters as he discusses the homeless situation in Portland. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: CITY IN COLLAPSE: Every Walmart in Portland is closing as anti-cop city leaders allow rampant crime to annihilate retailers. More retailers shutting down, leaving crime-ridden Democrat-run cities as they plunge into chaos and violence. Trial lawyer Kristin Olson: 1 in 3 homicides in Portland are committed by and against the homeless. Why is every Walmart in the entire city of Portland being permanently shut down? Bougie clothing store in left-wing Portland shuts down following 15 break-ins. Sources include: ThePostMillennial.com BizJournals.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Around the time that Elon Musk took over Twitter and made the company private, dozens of former federal agents who had previously infiltrated the social media platforms upper ranks fled suddenly, almost like they were scared. Some 28 different former agents at the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), DOJ (Department of Justice), CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), and DHS (Department of Homeland Security) had been working as high-level executives at Twitter prior to Musks takeover, but when the deal was completed last October, all of them were suddenly gone. Most of this mass exodus occurred around the time when Musk first announced the planned purchase last April. By the time Musk took full ownership of the company later that fall, the remaining ones had fled, which was succeeded by Musk deciding to can an additional half of the companys full-time employees. Musk gave the entirety of Twitters employee ranks an ultimatum: either commit to being extremely hardcore or leave. To this, about half responded by deciding to leave of their own volition, probably due to disagreements with the direction Musk was taking the company. (Related: Eleven years ago, Jon Rappoport wrote an eye-opening piece unpacking the ties between Facebook, the CIA, and DARPA it turns out that social media is a deep state honeypot operation.) Many spooks left Twitter following Musks takeover, but there are still nine former FBI agents in the companys ranks One of the former FBI agents who left Twitter last year was Jim Baker, who infamously exited the company after getting caught suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop scandal, as spotlighted in the Twitter Files that Musk released late last year. The other 27 federal employees who fled Twitter included the tech giants embedded security manager, director of strategy and initiatives, senior analyst of global risk intelligence, senior corporate security analyst, senior director for the trust and safety organization, deputy general counsel and vice president, senior staff technical program manager, head of corporate security, along with numerous others. Back in December, a Twitter user who goes by the handle of Name Redacted called for Musk to do a little housecleaning to get rid of the many ex FBI / CIA agents in high ranks still lingering at the company. Not long after Name Redacted tweeted this, along with a list of the LinkedIn profiles of these former spooks, several of them immediately scrubbed their history on the career-based social media platform. As of this writing, there are still nine former FBI agents who work in some of the highest executive roles at Twitter. These include the companys corporate security manager, director of information security, and senior director of trust and safety. All nine of these agents previously worked at the FBI for more than 15 years before switching to working for Big Tech. The CIA has been bringing the propaganda to social media for decades, wrote another. Someone else wrote that he observed more than a decade ago that all mass media in general was churning out the same exact stories from the same exact angles, even using the same terms and sentences in their reporting. Their stories were parroted word for word as though all were issued by a central source and written by a single authority, this person said. Even Fox News parroted the insurrection narrative the very next day before any investigation could even be launched to gather the facts. Says something I guess, another commenter wrote about the spooks who still work at Twitter. Just around the time rats were jumping ship is when I joined. The latest news about the Big Tech cesspool of corruption and evil can be found at BigTech.news. Sources for this article include: DailyCaller.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Newly discovered footage shows Tennessee state representative Justin Jones stopping cars and attacking drivers during protests outside of the state Capitol in 2020. At the time, Jones had denied allegations of violence, according to The Post Millennial. 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. Jones tweeted in 2021. 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. 7/ Rep. Justin Jones (@brotherjones_) June 23, 2021 Local blog Scoop Nashville featured the violent footage in 2021. The site noted: In June of 2020, Justin Bautista-Jones, better known as Brother Jones locally, was one of the publicly visible (often by design) protestors at the State Capitol. He received a lot of pushback from his own community after it was discovered he was often only making appearances when he knew there would be media coverage, and eventually had a falling out with one of the other most visible female members of the group. Throughout the entire time, he has faced over a dozen charges but always denied that he was violent despite multiple assaults, assault on an officer, and reckless endangerment charges. In the newly obtained video, one of his assaults was captured, and presented to the Grand Jury and he was indicted on two counts of reckless endangerment. The New York Post reported: Dressed in all black and a tan-brimmed hat, the future lawmaker could be seen attempting to stop a white truck trying to drive around them by placing a traffic cone in front of the vehicle. Undeterred, the driver runs over the cone, causing the group to approach the truck and yell at him with a megaphone. Appearing angered by the drivers actions, Jones can be seen pulling the cone from underneath the vehicle and using it to repeatedly jab the driver, who attempts to smack it away. As the driver tries to speed up, Jones tosses it into the truck, but the driver quickly pushes it out and makes his getaway. Jones, a Democrat who led an anti-gun protest into the state Capitol last month, was reinstated to the House on Monday after he was expelled. The Nashville Metropolitan Council unanimously voted to reappoint him as an interim representative for the 52nd District. All 36 members of the council voted in favor of reinstating him, marking a unanimous vote. Jones, who is black, naturally claimed that his expulsion was due to a white supremacist system, not the fact that he violated several House rules in helping lead the storming of the state Capitol, which Republicans likened to an insurrection. Though their vote was racist, though their vote was to expel the two youngest Black lawmakers, their attack on democracy hurts all of us, whether youre Black, brown or White, its an assault on all of us, Jones told one of the most racist human beings on the planet, MSNBCs Al Sharpton. During his incarnation as an activist, Jones was previously barred from contacting certain lawmakers and visiting the legislative building until April 22, 2020, according to The Post Millennial. This was the result of a separate incident in which he was accused of throwing a cup of liquid at ex-House Speaker Glen Casada. The fact that he was reinstated so quickly by left-wing Democratic city lawmakers reveals again they only care about power, not the rule of law. Sources include: NYPost.com ScoopNashville.com ThePostMillennial.com 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. (Natural News) Globalists and the mainstream media (MSM) the latter working for the Deep State are colluding to provoke an unfavorable reaction from the Right, especially when it comes to gender-related issues. Veteran investigative reporter Leo Hohmann put forward this claim during his appearance on the Health Ranger Report. He told the Health Ranger Mike Adams that the precedent has been set with the March 27 Nashville school massacre. The 28-year-old shooter Audrey Hale, a female-to-male transgender, killed three children and three adults before being gunned down by police officers. According to Hohmann, NBC News was the first MSM outlet to report that Hale was transgender. The veteran reporter expounded: NBC News is like the heart of the Deep State media. They are like on the leading edge of getting the message out and whatever propaganda the globalists want. Its like they wanted that to get out [ASAP]. He continued that NBC News report sought to provoke a violent response from the right, adding: They would love nothing more than a retaliation from somebody on our side of the political fence to go out to say a gay bar or wherever and shoot up a bunch of transvestites, transsexuals or transgenders. Then make a big huge deal out of that, convincing everyone that people need to be disarmed. Despite the provocations, Hohmann said people from the Right have so far expressed very measured and highly critical responses far from the violent ones the MSM and globalists were expecting. He told Adams: I think that tremendously disappoints these globalists, he said. (Related: Nashville shooting aftermath: Anti-gun and pro-transgender activists storm state capitol buildings.) The Health Ranger agreed, pointing out that their aim is to raise militant transgenderism. People may not be surprised that the world may have come to the tipping point where transgenders will be armed with weapons like AR-15s while mass murdering Christians or burning down churches, Adams said. Provocation also aimed at ushering WWIII, Civil War 2.0 The Natural News and Brighteon.com founder put it out there that the provocation strategy is not only being used in the culture wars, or the Lefts woke ideologies on homosexuality. Adams believes that this move is engineered to evoke World War III, or another civil war. They are trying to provoke Russia into an escalation of thermobaric warheads or even a nuclear attack, he said, stressing that the strategy seems to have permeated the philosophy of Western leaders, who are trying to use violence to oppress their political enemies. Hohmann mirrored Adams stance, saying the ultimate strategy is to drive the U.S. into civil war or the next world war. If you think of all the provocations, both in actions and in rhetoric over the last two years, its just unbelievable. And WWIII and Civil War 2.0 would probably be the biggest dream that they could have come true for America because the U.S. has more weapons than any other country by far. The veteran reporter further slammed President Joe Biden for his assurances that there are no current threats to national security, and that the recent Nashville shooting would not influence the transgender sector and endanger the nation. According to Biden, guns are just for hunting, target practice, sporting or recreation. Hohmann pointed out that the Founding Fathers put the Second Amendment in the Constitution for reasons that had nothing to do with hunting. Check out Journalism.news for more stories about NBC and other MSM outlets. Watch the full episode of the Health Ranger Report with Mike Adams featuring Leo Hohmann below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: The Sheriff Mack Show: Sheriffs stand together against gun control amid Bidens call for gun legislation Brighteon.TV. Texas Senate approves BANS on sex change for minors, FTM athletes in womens sports. Nashville transgender Christian school shooting occurred just days after Trans Day of Vengeance protest. Sources include: Brighteon.com NBCNews.com (Natural News) As opponents of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are getting more vocal in their criticism of this type of digital version of paper money that many countries are either adopting or are close to doing so. This is one of the pillars of financial globalism, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has made its stance very clear. (Article by Didi Rankovic republished from ReclaimTheNet.org) The IMFs Spring Meetings this year saw the announcement of the organizations own, international central bank digital currency called the Universal Monetary Unit (UMU, aka Unicoin). The IMF said in a statement that UMU functions like a CBDC and is a legal and global money commodity. The purpose of this particular iteration of a CBDCs is to make sure banking regulations are enforced, as well as to protect the financial integrity of the international banking system. This currency will be used by banks via SWIFT codes and bank accounts linked to a UMU digital wallet. The scheme is supposed to allow for digital cross-border payments modeled after SWIFT, and promises best wholesale exchange rates of settlement currencies and real-time settlement, while bypassing the correspondent banking system. At the same time, IMF officials are describing the current cross-border payment system as slow, expensive, and risky, while declaring that UMUs goal is not disruption of the international monetary system such as it is but rather, to further strengthen it. Not only that, but the IMF looks set on rebranding the term crypto normally associated with decentralized digital currencies that leave central banks and governments out of the equation. Crypto 2.0 is how the IMF would market UMU, and likely, CBCDs in general. Meanwhile, critics of CBDCs are using strong words to express their opposition to the trend, with some calling it a path toward financial slavery that is always a handy companion to political tyranny. More criticism has to do with CBDCs being seen as a way of introducing social credit scores and digital IDs, thus having individuals fully ceding to the government control over their own assets and/or the amount they spend. Unlike cash and decentralized crypto, CBCDs are feared to spell the end of private financial affairs, and usher in even more surveillance by the authorities. Read more at: ReclaimTheNet.org (Natural News) Leaked Department of Defense (DOD) documents show how the United States intelligence network spies on both its allies and foes. The American Journal host Harrison Smith reported about the leaked documents during the April 10 episode of his program on the InfoWars network. The documents, he said, give a rare window into the depth of American intelligence gathering. According to Smith, the leaked documents have rattled U.S. officials, who fear the revelations could jeopardize sensitive sources and compromise important foreign relationships. He added that many other countries were affected by and discussed in the leaked documents. These document leaks really, hundreds of pages have been leaked. Everything from Ukraine to Russia, to China to South Korea and Israel they are all implicated in it, said Smith. (Related: About that New York Times story concerning the online leak of U.S. Ukraine and geopolitical plans.) The leaked documents revealed the full extent of American efforts to infiltrate the Russian Ministry of Defense and pro-Russian military groups, including private military contractor the Wagner Group. Based on the leaked documents, the U.S. was able to intercept plans to target Ukrainian critical infrastructure, including thermoelectric power plants, electric substations and railroad and vehicle bridges. Much of the information was gathered via intercepted communications, which are now likely to shut down as the Russians learned how compromised their communications networks are. The documents also revealed U.S. efforts to spy on political and military leaders of Ukraine to the dismay of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. These espionage efforts show Zelensky wanting to strike Russian deployment locations in Rostov Oblast using drones last February. If this intelligence is accurate, it could explain public U.S. comments about not wanting to give Ukraine long-range missile systems over fears that they will be used to conduct strikes within internationally recognized Russian territory. Military analysts believe leaked documents are legitimate Some U.S. officials think the Russian government and pro-Russian groups are behind the leaks. But these same officials admit that they still do not have the data to back up this claim. Meanwhile, military analysts believe the leaked documents are legitimate, but altered in some places. One of the documents put Ukraines death toll at about 71,000, a figure military analysts considered believable. But the same document showed Russian fatalities at only around 16,000 to 17,500. This figure is thought to be much greater in reality. U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told lawmakers in late March that the U.S. estimates that the Russians have well over 200,000 casualties. Mykhailo Podolyak, head of the Ukrainian Office of the President, said the edits suggest that the leak is probably a Russian disinformation operation. These are standard elements of operational games by Russian intelligence, and nothing more, said Podolyak. Russia is looking for ways to seize back the initiative. To try to influence the scenarios for Ukraines counteroffensive plans. The leak emerged as preparations for Ukraines long-awaited spring offensive draw to a close. The operation is expected to begin in the coming weeks. Fortunately for Kyiv, none of the leaked documents contain any essential details concerning the coming operation. Follow NationalSecurity.news for more stories about the leaked U.S. intelligence documents. Watch the video below as The American Journal host Harrison Smith goes into detail regarding the leaked Pentagon documents. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Classified military documents detailing US-NATO plans in Ukraine leak online. Leaked Pentagon documents prove that World War III has been in the planning stages for years. Pentagon vows to investigate after classified U.S., NATO plans to build up Ukrainian military leak online. Sources include: Brighteon.com Edition.CNN.com WashingtonExaminer.com (Natural News) A new report has shed fresh light on the connection between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and numerous private-sector drug, vaccine, and health care companies that have been working together to silence vaccine critics from speaking their minds. The Public Good Projects (PGP), as it is benevolently dubbed, describes itself as a public health non-profit group centered around large-scale monitoring programs, social and behavior change interventions. The truth, though, is that it is a fascist public-private operation aimed at keeping a lid on the deadly truth about vaccines. PGP is little more than a mass censorship operation that, especially at the height of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, kept itself busy de-platforming doctors and other medical specialists who tried to sound the alarm about the dangers of Fauci Flu shots. In addition to the CDC and the FDA, other PGP partners include Kaiser Permanente, Rockefeller, and Humana, according to the Tennessee Department of Health, which identified these partners from the biography of PGP CEO Dr. Joe Smyser. (Related: Stanford University also ran an authoritarian censorship operation called the Vitality Project that worked to silence true stories about vaccine injuries.) PGP funding came not from lobbyists but directly from vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer and Moderna Deviating from the norm of receiving funding from industry lobbyists working on behalf of corporations, PGPs operating cash came directly from major industry players such as Pfizer and Moderna, both of which have a vested interest in stamping out so-called vaccine hesitancy. When people think for themselves, Pfizer and Moderna do not make money. So, they funneled gobs of cash into the PGP in an effort to keep people in the dark and the profits flowing. The New York City Health Departments Misinformation Response Unit (MRU) also contributed to the PGP, which also operates an initiative called Shots Heard that is similar to the United Nations Verified Initiative, the Vaccine Confidence Project, and Team Halo. All of these entities have the same goal of bullying and silencing voices like those of Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, a Stanford-educated doctor who found herself in the crosshairs when she questioned covid vaccines and promoted ivermectin on social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok. Social media influencers like Zachary Rubin and Christina Kim, both members of Team Halo, called Bowden problematic while calling for her to be stripped of her medical license. They were also instrumental in getting Bowden suspended from her position at Houston Methodist Hospital. Over the following months, Bowdens life was thrown into chaos as multiple social media influencers targeted her, reads an article from the Houston Chronicle. However, the most dogged was a pharmacist named Savannah, who posts under the handle @rxOrcist. This Savannah character is a member of Shots Heard, and she is even more vile than the others, having falsely accused Bowden of xenophobia and racism because she happened to mention that most of the anti-ivermectin pharmacists she spoke with were of Asian descent. Bowden was ultimately axed from TikTok while YouTube suspended her account. She also received a litany of fake patient reviews on her career pages, which have negatively impacted her career and she is unable to get them removed. In a few instances, Bowdens office was also targeted and security had to get involved. Individual citizens must adopt a here but no further mentality and retaliate against their oppressors who cross the line knowing full well they may lose their lives in the process, one of our readers wrote about all this oppression. They can take our lives, but they cant take our freedom. More of the latest news about the CDCs collusion with Big Pharma and the vaccine industry can be found at CDC.news. Sources for this article include: ReclaimTheNet.org NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Russia announced in March that it reduced its oil output in response to sanctions and a price cap on its petroleum imposed by the West. The announcement came from the Russian Ministry of Energy, which added that the oil cut for March amounted to 700,000 barrels per day (bpd). It was 40 percent larger than the previously pledged reduction of 500,000 bpd. The oil production cuts followed sanctions on Moscow alongside a price cap imposed by the Group of Seven industrialized nations. Russia initially pledged to lower its output through June, but later extended it until the end of the year as part of a wider move by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other allied nations. Eight OPEC members, including founding member Saudi Arabia, agreed to join the voluntary cuts from May 2023 onward. This would bring the total oil reductions to more than 1.6 million bpd. According to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Moscow will cut crude-only output using the February 2023 production as the baseline which Bloomberg calculations pegged at 10.1 million bpd. However, the figures do not align with the countrys seaborne exports and domestic refinery supplies. Moreover, the Kremlin classified Russias oil statistics last year due to their sensitive nature forcing Russian analysts to base crude production on Russian oil exports by sea and domestic oil refining. Both showed no visible declines last month. Nevertheless, the decision to cut oil output set the stage for crude prices to return to $100 per barrel. Russia expects higher oil revenues by end of Q2 Russian President Vladimir Putin is expecting higher oil and gas revenues by the end of second quarter. He added that positive trends across the economy were gathering pace due to rising oil prices worldwide. The country chalked up a budget deficit of $29 billion in the first quarter of 2023 largely due to falling revenues from its crucial energy exports the main target of Western sanctions. During a televised government meeting, Putin said Russias oil and gas revenues a key item in the state budget had dropped by around 1.3 trillion rubles ($15.8 billion) in the first quarter. Despite this, he commended the Russian economys resilience amid Western sanctions and assured that Moscow would prevail. It is expected that by the end of the second quarter, against the backdrop of rising oil prices, the situation will change. Additional oil and gas revenues will begin to flow into the budget, he promised. Putins pledge may indeed come to fruition in the coming months as the Kremlin actively finds new trade routes. Due to the bans on the sale of Russian products, both government authorities and private citizens have been forced to explore all possible ways to sell goods; get a hold of imported products; and transfer or receive money abroad. Viktor Katona, the head of oil analysis at Kepler, a provider of intelligence services for commodity markets, cited India as one country Russia has been forging links with. The Kremlin has built a great relationship of trust with this country: Since the start of the war, there hasnt been a month during which India has stopped increasing its purchases of Russian crude, Katona said. The South Asian countrys imports of Russian crude increased six-fold last year, while India increased its fuel exports to Europe. Much of the diesel products that the European Union used to buy directly from Russia now go through New Delhi at a higher price. (Related: OIL LAUNDERING: India imports Russian oil at a discounted price, refines it and sells to the West for massive profits.) Visit FuelSupply.news for more news related to the Russian oil embargo. Watch this video discussing how the five-member BRICS group is overtaking the Group of Seven in the economic sphere. This video is from dr Meno Peace Terrorist channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Russia to halt oil exports to nations that impose price cap on Russian crude. Putin bans export of Russian oil to US and other nations that implemented a price cap. DUMPING THE DOLLAR: Russian ambassador confirms Russia and Bolivia are now trading in national currencies. Sources include: RigZone.com Markets.BusinessInsider.com Bloomberg.com Reuters.com English.ElPais.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) In order to meet its 2050 zero emissions climate goals, the United Kingdom must eventually shut down all of its airports; ban all of its residents from eating beef and lamb; and put an end to all new construction everywhere. This is the recommendation of scientists from the University of Oxford and Imperial College London (ICL), who fear that allowing humans to live normal lives for too much longer will lead to the downfall of the planet as it melts into a puddle of warming. Between 2020 and 2029, every last airport in the UK, excluding Heathrow in London and the two major airports in Glasgow and Belfast, will need to close its doors. Then, between 2030 and 2049, Heathrow, Glasgow, and Belfast will need to be shuttered as well meaning no more air travel. All of this is necessary in order for the UK to obey the dictates of the Climate Change Act, which prohibits all activities that create any kind of emissions. Since just about every action emits something, the climate cultists are essentially calling for the mass genocide of humanity as a final solution to climate change. (Related: According to NASA, climate change is actually caused by natural changes in Earths solar orbit it has absolutely nothing to do with eating meat or flying on airplanes.) UK globalists want to speed up net zero targets from 2050 to 2035 Just to be sure that humans are no longer allowed to do anything except die after the year 2050, the Oxford and ICL scientists also want UK legislators to prohibit all new construction, including of housing and industrial facilities. The underlying point is that any asset which uses carbon will have essentially zero value in 2050, the report states about how the new green economy will work once most human activity is forced to stop. This in turn may encourage greater use in the run up to 2050 for example, putting up new buildings at a much faster rate for the next 30 years, knowing that construction must then halt. Interestingly, all of these recommendations were made in November 2019 just as the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) was first appearing in communist China. In the years following, all sorts of pandemic restrictions coupled with an ongoing green push have advanced the UKs 2050 agenda considerably. Entitled Absolute Zero, the report was compiled via a collaboration of scientists not just from Oxford and ICL but also from the University of Cambridge, the University of Nottingham, and the University of Bath. The UK is actually legally bound by the net zero emissions imposed upon it by the globalists via the Climate Change Act, which means the recommendations made in the report will likely have to be implemented in order for the country not to breach its prescribed climate guidelines. There is also a very strong possibility that the 2050 goals will be sped up by 15 years to occur by a 2035 deadline instead. The UK government enshrined into law back in April 2021 a new target that leaves just 12 years until all of these climate goals have to be met including the airport closures. In addition to reducing our energy demand, delivering zero emissions with todays technologies requires the phasing out of flying, shipping, lamb and beef, blast-furnace steel and cement, the report further states. There are two key implications for how we live our lives: first, buildings will become much more expensive because the restrictions on building which generate substantial scarcities; second, transport will become much more expensive because the limits on air travel will generate excess demand for other forms of transport. The latest news about climate lunacy taking over the world can be found at GreenTyranny.news. Sources for this article include: Expose-News.com NaturalNews.com UKFires.org (Natural News) Retail giant Walmart announced that it would close four of its eight stores in Chicago, claiming that the four locations were unprofitable. The four stores located in the Kenwood, Lakeview, Little Village and Chatham neighborhoods will close on April 16, although their pharmacies will remain open for up to 30 days. In a statement, the company said the four Walmart locations have not been profitable since we opened the first one nearly 17 years ago. These stores lose tens of millions of dollars a year, and their annual losses nearly doubled in just the last five years. Walmart has faced tough competition from home-grown retailers Target and Albertsons, and the German supermarket chain Aldi. The Arkansas-based Walmart had tried to improve its performance by building smaller stores, localizing its merchandise offerings and investing $70 million in recent years in store upgrades, health facilities and a training center but all in vain. In spite of this, the retail giant denied that competition prompted the closure of the four stores. The company also denied that the closures were to due crime and retail theft, both of which have cast the Windy City in a bad light. Outside of the Windy City, Walmart announced that all of its locations within Portland would be closed by late March 2023. The last two stores within the City of Roses closed for good on March 24. In the same case, Walmart attributed the closure of its Portland stores to their failure to meet financial expectations. Business Insider also reported that Walmart is closing a total of 19 retail locations across the U.S. this year including those in Chicago. Lawlessness in Chicago the real reason for Walmart closure John Nolte, senior writer at Breitbart, said the lawlessness in Chicago and other Democrat-run cities is the actual reason for Walmarts decision to close stores. No one can stay in business under those conditions, he added. Its unlikely Walmart is worried about taxes or even violent criminals. The problem is that shoplifting has been all but decriminalized, and these retailers are losing tens of millions of dollars. In a statement, outgoing Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot urged the big-box retailer to ensure that communities affected by its store closings would continue to have a reliable source of essential goods. She also called on Walmart to work with local communities to repurpose the shuttered stores for new uses. Im incredibly disappointed that Walmart, a strong partner in the past, has announced the closing of several locations throughout the south and west sides of the city, Lightfoot said. Unceremoniously abandoning these neighborhoods will create barriers to basic needs for thousands of residents. According to Nolte, Lightfoot wasnt radical enough for Chicago voters so they elected an even more dangerous left-wing radical in the person of incoming Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Johnson promised to raise a billion dollars in taxes on corporations and to ensure even more violent criminals run free. Chicago voters are obviously happy to live this way and want even more crime, violence, blight, taxes, filth, dangers, failing schools, murder, robbery, gangs and failure. Visit DebtCollapse.com for more stories about store closures. Watch this video about the mass layoffs at Walmart stores. This video is from the Rudyk Report 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? Inflation, economic downturn force Walmart to close under-performing stores. Walmart CEO: Rampant organized shoplifting could lead to price hikes, store closures. Sources include: Breitbart.com Corporate.Walmart.com Bloomberg.com KPTV.com BusinessInsider.com Brighteon.com Weather reports showed heavy rain and flash flood warnings occurred in Fort Lauderdale in South Florida, causing slower commutes and travel disruptions. As parts of the U.S. began to feel a rebound to warm-like temperatures due to spring, some parts experienced severe weather conditions, isolated tornadoes and heavy rain. Staying updated with the weather is essential to anticipate the weather outlook for travel hazards, evacuations and severe weather conditions. The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that some parts of the U.S. experienced severe weather conditions. In the Miami metro, weather reports noted that thunderstorms could impact the area, causing potential flash flooding and flooding concerns. In the Eastern U.S., the NWS forecast said warm temperatures unfolded in the region. In Central Nebraska, reports said that damaging gusts and large hail could likely impact the area, including in Texas Panhandles, Oklahoma and Western Kansas. Flash flooding and heavy rain concerns In the latest report, AccuWeather said that Fort Lauderdale in South Florida experienced heavy rain, causing potential flash flooding and flooding concerns. The weather forecasts added that heavy rain affected significant roadways, causing slower commutes and travel disruptions. Due to the heavy rain and flooding concerns, the report noted that a state of emergency was declared in the affected area. People with scheduled and travel plans were impacted due to the closure of the airport in Fort Lauderdale. Motorists traveling should check the weather conditions for possible closure and floodwaters. While the warm-like temperatures unfolded, the heavy rain caused flood warning concerns in Broward County and Miami-Dade County. Meanwhile, on Facebook, Mayor Dean Trantalis of Fort Lauderdale thanked the public safety personnel that helped with the flooding and affected communities. The update noted that parts of the City were affected by the unexpected rounds of rain. Flooding and rain safety Flash flooding and heavy rain can result in significant travel disruptions and safety concerns. As a result, homeowners should prepare their homes and vehicles for unexpected rain. Also Read: US Weather Forecast: Southeast US to Expect Possible Strong Winds, Isolated Tornadoes This Week Stay updated with the weather. Homeowners and motorists should check the weather conditions before leaving or planning their trips. Heavy rain could result in foggy conditions and flooding. Road closures and flooded conditions could unfold due to rounds of rain. It is best to check for potentially flooded areas before leaving. Check for the rapid rise of floodwater and seawater. Homeowners near the river or flooded areas should stay alert for the potential rapid rise of floodwater. Stay updated with announcements of immediate evacuations, as flooding could result in safety concerns. For motorists, it is advisable to stay at home if there are flooding concerns. Keep an emergency kit at home. Emergency kits are helpful during emergencies or evacuations. Homeowners should keep an emergency bag or kit they can bring if there are evacuations. The bag emergency bag should include the following: Battery-operated flashlights, an extra mobile phone, battery-powered radio, cash, identification cards, medicine kits and non-perishable goods. Related Article: UK Weather Forecast: Yellow Warning Issued Due to Troublesome Wind Gusts, Heavy Rain This Week For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News. Andrew Sterling teaches Advanced Placement U.S. government and Advanced Placement U.S. history classes at a BASIS school in Tucson in 2012. Photo via Jacob Chinn/BASIS Schools By a 2-1 margin, teachers at Tucsons acclaimed BASIS Tucson North school voted to unionize Wednesday evening, making the Northeast Side charter the first in Arizona to have staff organize. During the vote, teachers and teaching fellows cast their ballots 34-17 in favor of founding the local union chapter, the Arizona Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff. That margin surpassed a required 50 percent threshold that allows them to found the union and affiliate with the American Federation of Teachers. Only about 12 percent of teachers in U.S. charter schools belong to unions, and the AFT represents teachers in over 240 charter schools across 15 states and Washington D.C., organizers said. The outcome was exhilarating, said Trudi Connolly, a member of the organizing committee, adding the advocates of the union were still trying to catch our breath just minutes after the vote. The union was needed because we were losing teachers and the essence of the schools culture at an unbelievable rate, said Connolly. We want to protect the aspirations weve always had for our school. Under current circumstances, we cant retain enough teachers to educate our students, let alone provide them with the depth of intellectual experience and support they deserve. She added that the for-profit company that manages BASIS needs to make more money available for the hiring and retaining of teachers, and now we have the ability to move them to do so. Teachers, indeed like all kinds of workers all over the country, are coming together to make sure they have a real voice in what the future of our workplaces look like. In our case, we want our workplace to be one where teachers thrive and students get the education they deserve, Connolly said. BASIS representatives told the Tucson Sentinel that the company is ready to negotiate with the teachers in good faith. The union local at the school will cover about 60 employees, according to documents filed with the National Labor Relations Board last month. That includes full-time and regular part-time subject expert teachers, teaching fellows, and college guidance coordinators. Not covered are all other professional and non-professional employees, including IT employees, special education employees, administrators, operations employees, deans, directors, registers, front office employees, curriculum employees, and other managers and supervisors. Representatives for the administrators of BASIS did not immediately respond to Tucson Sentinels request for comment Wednesday, but sent a statement Thursday afternoon. We respect the teachers at BASIS Tucson North and their right to vote on this matter, said Phil Handler, a spokesman for BASIS Educational Ventures. We remain focused on the best interests of students at BASIS Tucson North, and making sure this school remains one of the best in Arizona and the nation. We will keep working hard to ensure thats the case, while following the law and negotiating in good faith with the union. Attorneys for the school had pushed back against the union organizing effort, contesting a proposal by organizers that would have allowed for mail-ballots. Instead, the school pushed for an in-person manual election be held on Wednesday. The election was held Wednesday from 7-8:30 a.m., with voting again open from 3:30-5 p.m., and was overseen by the NLRB. Under federal law, the schools management must sit at the negotiating table with the new union. There are about 560 charter schools in Arizona, according to the Arizona Charter Schools Association, with around 208,000 students. The BASIS vote follows a national trend as educators at charter schools seek the backing of unions to protect wages and defend curriculum. Founded here in 1998, BASIS Charter Schools expanded from one school in Tucson to 23 schools in Arizona. BASIS has expanded beyond the state, including schools in Louisiana, Texas and Washington D.C., There are four campuses in Tucson, including BASIS Oro Valley, BASIS Oro Valley Primary, BASIS Tucson Primary, and BASIS Tucson North. BASIS charters have regularly been recognized as among of the nations top-ranked schools, getting nods from U.S. News & World Report and earning the top spot on the Washington Posts list of Americas Most Challenging High Schools. Its high time for Arizona charter schools to stop manipulating the right to work laws and taking advantage of our teachers, parents, and students. BASIS should be ashamed of their treatment of their teachers and eagerly welcome negotiating rights for their staff, said Ralph Quintana, the president of the Arizona American Federation of Teachers, part of the larger 1.7-million strong national American Federation of Teachers union. Si se puede, he added, Spanish for Yes, we can. The AFT is part of the larger AFL-CIO umbrella of labor unions. As a BASIS alumni and second-generation BASIS teacher, I am so proud to be a part of this community, said Justine Sleator, an 8th-grade algebra instructor. Our union will allow us to re-prioritize the needs of our students. We will be able to protect new teachers from burnout and retain high-quality educators, as BASIS has been known for, she said. I am indescribably proud of the teachers and teaching fellows who decided to stand up for us and our students, said Duncan Hasman, an 8th and 10th-grade Spanish teacher. Let this step help open the door for workers all across Arizona. Following the vote, the newly minted union local will move to negotiate its first contract with school administrators. Organizers said the union will ensure additional accountability, administrative transparency, and more resources and time to effectively identify and address student needs. The union vote comes as Arizona continues to expand Empowerment Scholarship Account Funding, which allows parents to receive taxpayer funding for education materials, tutoring and private school tuition. By December 2022, there were 44,787 students in the ESA program, including thousands of kids with special needs and well as kids with military parents. On average, students received around $10,000 from the program, though the state sent more than $30,000 for around 4,800 children, according to the Arizona Department of Educations most recent quarterly report. In March, the Arizona Education Association pressed Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and state legislators to increase school funding, raising nearly $2.2 billion to raise Arizona from among the bottom of states on education spending. By Express News Service MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has begun evaluating the bids for IDBI Bank, showing that the process of divestment of government-owned lender is on track. Kotak Mahindra Bank, Canadian investor Prem Watsa-backed CSB Bank and UAE- based Emirates NBD are among the five bidders keen to take control of IDBI Bank in which government holds a majority stake. The government owns 45.48% of IDBI Bank and is planning to divest a 30.48% stake in the lender while Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), which holds 49.24%, plans to offload 30.24% The central bank is assessing expression of interest of a number of bidders. RBI does not comment on individual cases, said a source. The development comes after the government received bids from multiple bidders for IDBI stake sale. After getting the bids, the expressions of interest are sent to the central bank to check whether they pass the fit and proper criteria. A potential bidder can acquire a majority stake in domestic banks only after passing the fit and proper test, which includes extensive background and financial checks by the RBI. Reacting to the news, shares of IDBI Bank surged 10% on the BSE on Thursday. The governments stake sale in the bank is crucial as it will set the course for divestment of other public sector entities. Regulators have cleared the decks for divestment of IDBI Bank by giving the required approvals. In January, capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) allowed the central government to classify its stake in the bank as public after its stake sale on the condition that its voting rights dont exceed 15% of the total voting rights of the bank. As per the Sebi, the governments intent to reclassify its shareholding as the public must be specified in the offer document at the time an open offer is made by the new acquirer of the lender. Currently, the government is classified as a co-promoter of the lender. As per the recent announcement by IDBI Bank, Sebi has directed the new buyer to comply with minimum public shareholding norms within one year of the sale. MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has begun evaluating the bids for IDBI Bank, showing that the process of divestment of government-owned lender is on track. Kotak Mahindra Bank, Canadian investor Prem Watsa-backed CSB Bank and UAE- based Emirates NBD are among the five bidders keen to take control of IDBI Bank in which government holds a majority stake. The government owns 45.48% of IDBI Bank and is planning to divest a 30.48% stake in the lender while Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), which holds 49.24%, plans to offload 30.24%googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The central bank is assessing expression of interest of a number of bidders. RBI does not comment on individual cases, said a source. The development comes after the government received bids from multiple bidders for IDBI stake sale. After getting the bids, the expressions of interest are sent to the central bank to check whether they pass the fit and proper criteria. A potential bidder can acquire a majority stake in domestic banks only after passing the fit and proper test, which includes extensive background and financial checks by the RBI. Reacting to the news, shares of IDBI Bank surged 10% on the BSE on Thursday. The governments stake sale in the bank is crucial as it will set the course for divestment of other public sector entities. Regulators have cleared the decks for divestment of IDBI Bank by giving the required approvals. In January, capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) allowed the central government to classify its stake in the bank as public after its stake sale on the condition that its voting rights dont exceed 15% of the total voting rights of the bank. As per the Sebi, the governments intent to reclassify its shareholding as the public must be specified in the offer document at the time an open offer is made by the new acquirer of the lender. Currently, the government is classified as a co-promoter of the lender. As per the recent announcement by IDBI Bank, Sebi has directed the new buyer to comply with minimum public shareholding norms within one year of the sale. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Mining giant Vedanta on Thursday announced that its Committee of Directors have approved raising up to Rs 2,100 crore by issuing debt financial instruments NCDs (NonConvertible Debentures) on a private placement basis. In a regulatory filing, Vedanta said the Board at this meeting has considered and approved to raise a total of no more than 21,000 NCDs of face value Rs 10,00,000 each in one or more tranches on a private placement basis, taking the total issue size to Rs 2,100 crore. Vedantas Board of Directors had given a green light to the proposal of issuing funds at their meeting held last month. The fundraising via NCDs comes amidst reports that the cash-strapped Vedanta is in advanced negotiations to raise $1.5-2 billion from US hedge fund Farallon Capital Management. Vedanta is expected to utilize fresh funds to meet its debt obligations. Crisil Ratings had recently revised the outlook of Vedantas NCDs and long-term bank facilities to negative from stable, citing higher financial leverage and lower financial flexibility. The rating agency had said that Vedanta Resources, the parent company of Vedanta, has annual debt maturities of about $3 billion each in FY24 and FY25, with high near-term maturities of $1.7 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Billionaire Anil Agarwal-promoted Vedanta had in February said that it is fully confident of meeting its upcoming maturities in the quarter ending June 2023. NEW DELHI: Mining giant Vedanta on Thursday announced that its Committee of Directors have approved raising up to Rs 2,100 crore by issuing debt financial instruments NCDs (NonConvertible Debentures) on a private placement basis. In a regulatory filing, Vedanta said the Board at this meeting has considered and approved to raise a total of no more than 21,000 NCDs of face value Rs 10,00,000 each in one or more tranches on a private placement basis, taking the total issue size to Rs 2,100 crore. Vedantas Board of Directors had given a green light to the proposal of issuing funds at their meeting held last month. The fundraising via NCDs comes amidst reports that the cash-strapped Vedanta is in advanced negotiations to raise $1.5-2 billion from US hedge fund Farallon Capital Management. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Vedanta is expected to utilize fresh funds to meet its debt obligations. Crisil Ratings had recently revised the outlook of Vedantas NCDs and long-term bank facilities to negative from stable, citing higher financial leverage and lower financial flexibility. The rating agency had said that Vedanta Resources, the parent company of Vedanta, has annual debt maturities of about $3 billion each in FY24 and FY25, with high near-term maturities of $1.7 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Billionaire Anil Agarwal-promoted Vedanta had in February said that it is fully confident of meeting its upcoming maturities in the quarter ending June 2023. Express News Service MANGALURU: Coastal Karnataka is BJPs stronghold, but the Mangaluru constituency (previously called Ullal) is a tough nut to crack for them. In the last three decades, BJP has won the constituency just once when K Jayarama Shetty was elected in 1994. In 2018, BJP won seven out of eight seats in Dakshina Kannada, but not Mangaluru. The constituency located on the Kerala border and dominated by Muslims has elected UT Khader in the last four elections. His father UT Fareed had represented the segment four times between 1972 and 2007. In the by-poll necessitated after his death in 2007, Khader entered the fray and since then has never looked back and has been winning continuously with a good margin. It was a direct fight between Congress and BJP in the last many elections, but the scenario has become more dynamic this time with SDPI throwing its hat into the ring. However, this time too, Khader appears to be on a formidable position and many political pundits predict that the fight is between BJP and SDPI for the second place. Whether he is in the ruling party or opposition, Khader is popular among his electorate as a man who brings development to the constituency. Harekala bridge -cum-barrage which significantly reduces the travel time between Mangaluru and Harekala, four-laning of Thokottu-Mudipu road that connects several educational institutions and hospitals, among others have made a big impact in the constituency. SDPI, which has fielded Riyaz Farangipete, is trying to woo the Muslims by accusing Khader of failing to protect the interests of the community when the hijab controversy erupted and when Muslims were arrested in fake cases. On the other hand, BJP and Sangh Parivar which tried to brand Ullal as Mini Pakistan during the last election, are now appealing to people to elect a Hindu MLA. BJP candidate Santosh Kumar Rai Boliyar lost to Khader by a margin of more than 19,000 votes in the last election. This time the BJP has field Satish Kumpala, a Billava, against him. The constituency has majority Muslim voters, followed by Christians, Billavas, Bunts and Dalits. There was a buzz that BJP is planning to field a strong Hindutva leader against Khader. But according to sources, no popular leader is ready to take the risk as they think that chances of victory are very slim. Khader is popular among masses and has built a good rapport with people of all faiths. He hardly misses any religious event organised by Hindus and Christians and has also helps them get government funds. He is accessible to voters and has maintained an image as a clean politician. His good work as a minister in Siddaramaiah and HD Kumaraswamy governments handling Health and Family Welfare, Food and Civil Supplies are still remembered by people here. All these factors are likely to help him in the election. MANGALURU: Coastal Karnataka is BJPs stronghold, but the Mangaluru constituency (previously called Ullal) is a tough nut to crack for them. In the last three decades, BJP has won the constituency just once when K Jayarama Shetty was elected in 1994. In 2018, BJP won seven out of eight seats in Dakshina Kannada, but not Mangaluru. The constituency located on the Kerala border and dominated by Muslims has elected UT Khader in the last four elections. His father UT Fareed had represented the segment four times between 1972 and 2007. In the by-poll necessitated after his death in 2007, Khader entered the fray and since then has never looked back and has been winning continuously with a good margin. It was a direct fight between Congress and BJP in the last many elections, but the scenario has become more dynamic this time with SDPI throwing its hat into the ring. However, this time too, Khader appears to be on a formidable position and many political pundits predict that the fight is between BJP and SDPI for the second place. Whether he is in the ruling party or opposition, Khader is popular among his electorate as a man who brings development to the constituency. Harekala bridge -cum-barrage which significantly reduces the travel time between Mangaluru and Harekala, four-laning of Thokottu-Mudipu road that connects several educational institutions and hospitals, among others have made a big impact in the constituency. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); SDPI, which has fielded Riyaz Farangipete, is trying to woo the Muslims by accusing Khader of failing to protect the interests of the community when the hijab controversy erupted and when Muslims were arrested in fake cases. On the other hand, BJP and Sangh Parivar which tried to brand Ullal as Mini Pakistan during the last election, are now appealing to people to elect a Hindu MLA. BJP candidate Santosh Kumar Rai Boliyar lost to Khader by a margin of more than 19,000 votes in the last election. This time the BJP has field Satish Kumpala, a Billava, against him. The constituency has majority Muslim voters, followed by Christians, Billavas, Bunts and Dalits. There was a buzz that BJP is planning to field a strong Hindutva leader against Khader. But according to sources, no popular leader is ready to take the risk as they think that chances of victory are very slim. Khader is popular among masses and has built a good rapport with people of all faiths. He hardly misses any religious event organised by Hindus and Christians and has also helps them get government funds. He is accessible to voters and has maintained an image as a clean politician. His good work as a minister in Siddaramaiah and HD Kumaraswamy governments handling Health and Family Welfare, Food and Civil Supplies are still remembered by people here. All these factors are likely to help him in the election. By Express News Service CHENNAI: The IIT Madras has constituted a three-member inquiry committee, headed by retired bureaucrat Kannegi Packianathan, to inquire into the alleged suicide of a PhD scholar, Sachin Jain, who was found dead in Velachery on March 31. The committee will also include a student who is not an elected representative. A statement issued by the Students Joint Action Committee, IIT Madras said any student who wishes to appear before the committee would be protected from any action. The students have been protesting in IIT Madras since April 11 demanding a probe by an external committee into the alleged suicide of Jain. The deceaseds family had written a letter to the director citing that Sachin was upset with the treatment meted out to him by his PhD guide. The agitating students demanded action against the professor. The Joint Action Co in its statement has said that IITs director, V Kamakoti had sent an official mail to the students informing them that the accused professor has been restrained from visiting the lab till the investigation is completed. The email issued on Thursday morning to students from Director V Kamakoti said, Professor Ashish Sen is restrained from visiting the lab till the investigation is complete. The students are advised to contact the HoD for any emergencies. CHENNAI: The IIT Madras has constituted a three-member inquiry committee, headed by retired bureaucrat Kannegi Packianathan, to inquire into the alleged suicide of a PhD scholar, Sachin Jain, who was found dead in Velachery on March 31. The committee will also include a student who is not an elected representative. A statement issued by the Students Joint Action Committee, IIT Madras said any student who wishes to appear before the committee would be protected from any action. The students have been protesting in IIT Madras since April 11 demanding a probe by an external committee into the alleged suicide of Jain. The deceaseds family had written a letter to the director citing that Sachin was upset with the treatment meted out to him by his PhD guide. The agitating students demanded action against the professor.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Joint Action Co in its statement has said that IITs director, V Kamakoti had sent an official mail to the students informing them that the accused professor has been restrained from visiting the lab till the investigation is completed. The email issued on Thursday morning to students from Director V Kamakoti said, Professor Ashish Sen is restrained from visiting the lab till the investigation is complete. The students are advised to contact the HoD for any emergencies. Amit Mukherjee By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to appear before it for deposition in connection with the ongoing investigations into the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, which was allegedly tweaked to benefit liquor traders that resulted in losses to the tune of Rs 2873 crores to the Delhi Government. The agency probing the charges of corruption has asked the Delhi CM to reach the CBI headquarters at Lodhi Road around 11 am on April 16 Sunday. This is the first the Delhi CM has been summoned in connection with the scam which has allegedly benefitted a group of liquor traders and caused losses to the Delhi government The central agencies are probing into allegations of corruption and money laundering. Kejriwals name figured in the Delhi Excise scam for the first time when the Directorate of Enforcement made disclosures about the Delhi chief Ministers involvement in the Delhi Excise Case, in the second chargesheet filed before a Special ED Court on January 6. Alleging that Kejriwal had connived with the accused including his colleague and Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, the ED in the chargesheet said that the CM during one of the video calls with the accused number one, Sameer Mahendru, had said that Vijay Nair was is his (Kejriwals) boy and that Sameer should trust him and carry on with him. The call happened when the policy was being formulated. Stating that These facts are relevant to mention so as to establish the abetment of his (Kejriwal) actions in relation to the Excise policy scam by the political leaders of AAP, the ED in the chargesheet filed before special Judge MK Nagpal said, Vijay Nair who orchestrated this entire scam is not an ordinary worker of the AAP bust a close associate of CM Arvind Kejriwal and was closely interacting with Dy CM for the Excise Policy related matters. EDs allegations on Kejriwal were based on the various statements recorded during the investigation including that of C Arvind, a DANICS officer and secretary to Sisodia. The DANICS officer had deposed before the agency regarding the formulation of the policy and the circumstances under which changes were incorporated in it which eventually led to the scam and caused losses to the Delhi Exchequer. The CBI which arrested Sisodia in connection with the case on February 26 for non-cooperation in the investigation has filed one chargesheet so far in the case on November 25, naming seven accused including Vijay Nair, Abhishek Boinpally, Arun R. Pillai, Mootha Gautham, Sameer Mahendru, Kuldeep Singh, who was the then Deputy Commissioner, Excise Narender Singh, the then Asst. Commissioner, Excise Department. The CBI registered the Delhi Excise case in August last year against Sisodia and 14 others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 477A (falsification of records), and section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The FIR was lodged after Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. Sisodia, in-charge of the excise department at the relevant period when the policy was formulated and implemented. It was alleged that the policy, which was brought into effect in November 2021, was influenced at the formulation stage to benefit certain businessmen, liquor distributors and traders. Following the registration of the case the Delhi government had withdrawn the policy with effect from 31 July 2022. NEW DELHI: The Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to appear before it for deposition in connection with the ongoing investigations into the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, which was allegedly tweaked to benefit liquor traders that resulted in losses to the tune of Rs 2873 crores to the Delhi Government. The agency probing the charges of corruption has asked the Delhi CM to reach the CBI headquarters at Lodhi Road around 11 am on April 16 Sunday. This is the first the Delhi CM has been summoned in connection with the scam which has allegedly benefitted a group of liquor traders and caused losses to the Delhi government The central agencies are probing into allegations of corruption and money laundering.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Kejriwals name figured in the Delhi Excise scam for the first time when the Directorate of Enforcement made disclosures about the Delhi chief Ministers involvement in the Delhi Excise Case, in the second chargesheet filed before a Special ED Court on January 6. Alleging that Kejriwal had connived with the accused including his colleague and Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, the ED in the chargesheet said that the CM during one of the video calls with the accused number one, Sameer Mahendru, had said that Vijay Nair was is his (Kejriwals) boy and that Sameer should trust him and carry on with him. The call happened when the policy was being formulated. Stating that These facts are relevant to mention so as to establish the abetment of his (Kejriwal) actions in relation to the Excise policy scam by the political leaders of AAP, the ED in the chargesheet filed before special Judge MK Nagpal said, Vijay Nair who orchestrated this entire scam is not an ordinary worker of the AAP bust a close associate of CM Arvind Kejriwal and was closely interacting with Dy CM for the Excise Policy related matters. EDs allegations on Kejriwal were based on the various statements recorded during the investigation including that of C Arvind, a DANICS officer and secretary to Sisodia. The DANICS officer had deposed before the agency regarding the formulation of the policy and the circumstances under which changes were incorporated in it which eventually led to the scam and caused losses to the Delhi Exchequer. The CBI which arrested Sisodia in connection with the case on February 26 for non-cooperation in the investigation has filed one chargesheet so far in the case on November 25, naming seven accused including Vijay Nair, Abhishek Boinpally, Arun R. Pillai, Mootha Gautham, Sameer Mahendru, Kuldeep Singh, who was the then Deputy Commissioner, Excise Narender Singh, the then Asst. Commissioner, Excise Department. The CBI registered the Delhi Excise case in August last year against Sisodia and 14 others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 477A (falsification of records), and section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The FIR was lodged after Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. Sisodia, in-charge of the excise department at the relevant period when the policy was formulated and implemented. It was alleged that the policy, which was brought into effect in November 2021, was influenced at the formulation stage to benefit certain businessmen, liquor distributors and traders. Following the registration of the case the Delhi government had withdrawn the policy with effect from 31 July 2022. Toby Antony By Express News Service KOCHI: A Haryana-based overseas recruitment firm with an office in Kochi is now on the radar of the Kerala police NRI cell. Following a preliminary probe, Thrikkakara police have registered a case against Trivial Chapter, which mainly recruits people to Portugal and provides post-landing services there. A case was registered under IPC sections 417 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 34 (offences committed by a group of persons). Apart from that, police also charged section 10 of the Emigration Act (function as recruiting agent without a valid certificate). The office of DySP NRI cell received certain complaints against the firm recently. After looking into them, the DySP forwarded the matter to the Thrikkakara assistant commissioner of police for further probe. A preliminary probe based on complaints was carried out by the SHO of Thrikkakara station. Following which, he decided to proceed with registering a case against the firm, an officer with the station said. Trivial Chapter, with its office at Judgemukku, carried out campaigns through social media, especially Facebook, promising to arrange jobs and migration to Portugal. Along with jobs, the firm also promised post-landing services for recruitees in Portugal. Besides charging exorbitant service fees, complaints had emerged that people went to Portugal were not provided with promised jobs and services, an officer said. An FIR was registered by Thrikkakara police on April 10. Police have arraigned Trivial Chapter chairman Ajith Mishra, CEO Anshul Punhani, and employees P G Thomas and Rajesh Sivasanker as accused. We have asked them to produce valid documents issued by the Protector of Emigrants for carrying out recruitment activities. Other details including people recruited and money charged from them have also been sought. We will soon record the statements of the accused. Currently, the probe is in the preliminary stage and more evidence has to be collected, the officer said. KOCHI: A Haryana-based overseas recruitment firm with an office in Kochi is now on the radar of the Kerala police NRI cell. Following a preliminary probe, Thrikkakara police have registered a case against Trivial Chapter, which mainly recruits people to Portugal and provides post-landing services there. A case was registered under IPC sections 417 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 34 (offences committed by a group of persons). Apart from that, police also charged section 10 of the Emigration Act (function as recruiting agent without a valid certificate). The office of DySP NRI cell received certain complaints against the firm recently. After looking into them, the DySP forwarded the matter to the Thrikkakara assistant commissioner of police for further probe. A preliminary probe based on complaints was carried out by the SHO of Thrikkakara station. Following which, he decided to proceed with registering a case against the firm, an officer with the station said. Trivial Chapter, with its office at Judgemukku, carried out campaigns through social media, especially Facebook, promising to arrange jobs and migration to Portugal. Along with jobs, the firm also promised post-landing services for recruitees in Portugal. Besides charging exorbitant service fees, complaints had emerged that people went to Portugal were not provided with promised jobs and services, an officer said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); An FIR was registered by Thrikkakara police on April 10. Police have arraigned Trivial Chapter chairman Ajith Mishra, CEO Anshul Punhani, and employees P G Thomas and Rajesh Sivasanker as accused. We have asked them to produce valid documents issued by the Protector of Emigrants for carrying out recruitment activities. Other details including people recruited and money charged from them have also been sought. We will soon record the statements of the accused. Currently, the probe is in the preliminary stage and more evidence has to be collected, the officer said. Sandra Shinto By Express News Service Meet the man behind the kulukki wave in Kochi Kulukki sarbath, the most talked about drink in Kochi, is on the menu at almost all the outlets in the city. However, the one near the High Court junction deserves a special mention - Shajikkas Kulukki Sarbath. For over 12 years, thousands have thronged the place to sip the beloved drink. Unlike other shops in the city, a glass of kulukki costs only Rs 10 at Shajikkas. Before he took Kochi by storm, For me, its not merely a matter of financial gain. The true joy lies in serving my customers; their satisfaction and happiness truly matter to me, says Shaji. Shajikkas dedication to his craft and the quality of his drinks have made his shop a go-to spot for locals and visitors. Shajikka has also garnered a fan base for his healthy aval milk. Chill with goli soda For over a century, the KKV Cool Drinks in Pachalam has been a beloved purveyor of refreshing beverages. Keerampilly Pavithran, who currently runs the shop, claims the venture is over a hundred years old. It was begun by my great-grandfather, Kunjan Keeranpalli. The drinks are made using natural soda, blended with Nannari syrup. Ginger sarbath is the most sought-after drink here.The kachi soda bottle used in the store has a history dating back 100 years. It is estimated that it was made during the time of the British. The shop still uses the same old stocks of bottles as they are unavailable in the market. A pitstop for milk sarbath Naruneendi Sarbath in Thoppumpady, helmed by Jibin P G from Thrissur and Malappuram native Abdul Lathif, is an iconic establishment that provides appetising naruneendi milk sarbath. Naruneendi, or Indian sarsaparilla, is one of the ideal drinks to gulp down in the summer as it cools down the body heat.Liji Antony, a co-worker of the shop, explains the recipe, It is made by extracting juice from the roots of naruneendi. It carefully mixed with cashew nuts, pomegranate juice and milk.Its been two years since the shop introduced milk sarbath. The shop also has outlets in Palarivattom and Banerjee Road. Fusion is the future As the heat wave becomes intolerable, a chilled glass of mocktails from Fusion Soda is all you need. The mocktail bar has two outlets - in Kakkanad and Kadavanthra. Of the several drinks, the perennial star is the old-fashioned cola served chilled with fresh mint leaves. Apart from that, there are special carrot mocktails, pineapple lime, varieties of mojitos, Mannila - a mango bar dipped in saffron milk, and much-loved popsicle drinks in Kala Khatta, Cola and citrus blue flavours. Check them out on Instagram: @fusionsoda. Joint that made lassi a hit It was the Rawal Lassi Joint that first introduced Kochi to the luscious lassis. The Gujarati family from Mattancherry has been introducing varied flavours in their small take-out counter set-up 30 years ago. Right under the brand name, goes the tagline, Beat the Heat, Drink Lassi. The Sada lassi is prepared using purified milk, curd, water, and sugar, and special lassi, a thick drink with mild cardamom flavour and a dash of powdered dry fruit. Mango and strawberry lassi is served during weekends. Rawal Lassi Joint Compiled by Sandra Shinto with inputs from Aishwarya Prabhakaran Meet the man behind the kulukki wave in Kochi Kulukki sarbath, the most talked about drink in Kochi, is on the menu at almost all the outlets in the city. However, the one near the High Court junction deserves a special mention - Shajikkas Kulukki Sarbath. For over 12 years, thousands have thronged the place to sip the beloved drink. Unlike other shops in the city, a glass of kulukki costs only Rs 10 at Shajikkas. Before he took Kochi by storm, For me, its not merely a matter of financial gain. The true joy lies in serving my customers; their satisfaction and happiness truly matter to me, says Shaji. Shajikkas dedication to his craft and the quality of his drinks have made his shop a go-to spot for locals and visitors. Shajikka has also garnered a fan base for his healthy aval milk.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Chill with goli soda For over a century, the KKV Cool Drinks in Pachalam has been a beloved purveyor of refreshing beverages. Keerampilly Pavithran, who currently runs the shop, claims the venture is over a hundred years old. It was begun by my great-grandfather, Kunjan Keeranpalli. The drinks are made using natural soda, blended with Nannari syrup. Ginger sarbath is the most sought-after drink here.The kachi soda bottle used in the store has a history dating back 100 years. It is estimated that it was made during the time of the British. The shop still uses the same old stocks of bottles as they are unavailable in the market. A pitstop for milk sarbath Naruneendi Sarbath in Thoppumpady, helmed by Jibin P G from Thrissur and Malappuram native Abdul Lathif, is an iconic establishment that provides appetising naruneendi milk sarbath. Naruneendi, or Indian sarsaparilla, is one of the ideal drinks to gulp down in the summer as it cools down the body heat.Liji Antony, a co-worker of the shop, explains the recipe, It is made by extracting juice from the roots of naruneendi. It carefully mixed with cashew nuts, pomegranate juice and milk.Its been two years since the shop introduced milk sarbath. The shop also has outlets in Palarivattom and Banerjee Road. Fusion is the future As the heat wave becomes intolerable, a chilled glass of mocktails from Fusion Soda is all you need. The mocktail bar has two outlets - in Kakkanad and Kadavanthra. Of the several drinks, the perennial star is the old-fashioned cola served chilled with fresh mint leaves. Apart from that, there are special carrot mocktails, pineapple lime, varieties of mojitos, Mannila - a mango bar dipped in saffron milk, and much-loved popsicle drinks in Kala Khatta, Cola and citrus blue flavours. Check them out on Instagram: @fusionsoda. Joint that made lassi a hit It was the Rawal Lassi Joint that first introduced Kochi to the luscious lassis. The Gujarati family from Mattancherry has been introducing varied flavours in their small take-out counter set-up 30 years ago. Right under the brand name, goes the tagline, Beat the Heat, Drink Lassi. The Sada lassi is prepared using purified milk, curd, water, and sugar, and special lassi, a thick drink with mild cardamom flavour and a dash of powdered dry fruit. Mango and strawberry lassi is served during weekends. Rawal Lassi Joint Compiled by Sandra Shinto with inputs from Aishwarya Prabhakaran By Associated Press LONDON: 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 Londons 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. LONDON: 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.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); 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 Londons 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. The two candidates for Lincoln mayor in the nonpartisan 2023 city general election race are State Sen. Suzanne Geist, left, and Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird. (Courtesy of candidates' campaigns) LINCOLN Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird told more than 200 people at a candidate forum Thursday that her opponent, former State Sen. Suzanne Geist, is bad for business, while Geist described Lincoln under Gaylor Bairds watch as a harder place to do business than it should be. Gaylor Baird said Geists legislative record could cost the city young talent and growth. Geist said she would work to make City Hall a friendlier place to builders and developers and make Lincoln a more affordable place to buy a home. The two faced off at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce event for the first time Thursday as general election opponents. Mayor takes a shot During closing arguments, Gaylor Baird hit Geist with the sharpest criticism either candidate has lobbed during a race marked by outside advertising against Gaylor Baird from a third-party group funded by some of Geists top supporters. The mayor said legislation Geist supports makes it harder for the mayor and business partners to attract and keep young professionals. She pointed to bills targeting women and our LGBTQ friends and neighbors. She called Geists support for anti-abortion and anti-trans bills in the Legislature harmful. Gaylor Baird expanded on her statement during a follow-up interview, adding that Geists initial votes supporting legislation legalizing carrying concealed handguns without training or a permit were bad for local police and public safety. On a later round of debate, Geist voted present but not voting. Geist responds Geist, who was endorsed by the Lincoln Police Union, said law enforcement leaders had raised questions about the bills impact in cities. Gaylor Baird was endorsed by the Lincoln Fire Fighters Association. Her voting record at the state Capitol makes it clear that her priorities are not our shared priorities, Gaylor Baird told the Nebraska Examiner. They hurt Lincoln and they hurt Nebraska. Geist, who resigned last week from her legislative seat representing southeast Lincoln, called the mayors criticisms a distraction. Geist said she would remain true to her core values if she gets to City Hall. But once there, she said she would focus on city issues, not divisive ones. City issues or divisive ones? When asked why voters should trust that Geist would govern differently on divisive issues at the city level than she has at the statehouse, Geist said she supported abortion bans and legislation aimed at outlawing gender-affirming care for trans minors because they were state issues. She said she would focus on improving the citys public safety, roads, jobs and business culture, goals Geist and Gaylor Baird spent most of the 45-minute candidate forum discussing, in response to Chamber questions about boosting Lincolns economic competitiveness. Geist focused her answers on streamlining city processes, repeating earlier comments about the city needing to know when to get out of the way. Gaylor Baird touted record investments in public safety and roads and record numbers of housing permits being issued during her term. Both emphasized the need to invest in police officers, firefighters and paramedics. Each stressed the importance of working with private partners to grow local businesses and entrepreneurship. Both backed working with the state to build a new downtown convention center. Both weigh in on outside ads Talking with reporters after the forum, Geist criticized the tone of third-party ads against Gaylor Baird, but she declined to call on her supporters to stop airing them. She referenced one of the latest ads from an outside group, which questions whether Gaylor Baird lives in Lincoln. That is not my character, Geist said. Its not who I am. I know the mayor has a city address, and actually, to me, that is a non-issue. Thats another thing that just is a distraction. I think 80 percent to 90 percent of the public longs for leadership that is uniting and not divisive. Gaylor Baird has acknowledged that her family has a vacation home in the Ashland area, which the ad insinuates is where she lives. Her campaign issued a statement recently clarifying that she and her family live and work in Lincoln. She said that Geist should denounce the ads more strongly and that the public understands who is behind them. Backers of the main outside group funding the ads, Together Nebraska, include Geist donors Tom Peed, a Sandhills Publishing executive, and U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb. Im going to be focused on public safety, on building out infrastructure, on making this an inclusive community where everyone has the opportunity to build their lives and livelihoods, Gaylor Baird said. Thats how we grow a city. Vignesh Madhu By Express News Service Malayalam cinema is now 93 years old, yet the industry has only seen a handful of successful women filmmakers. From societys inherent patriarchy to gender bias to a blatant lack of opportunities, the reasons are aplenty. In a bid to promote women filmmakers, the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) launched a project to fund films helmed by newcomers. Shruthi Sharanyams B 32 Muthal 44 Vare is one such film that was picked up by the KSFDC as part of this initiative. The film, which hit screens on April 6, is an important and insightful commentary on body politicsa topic hitherto unexplored in Malayalam cinema. Shruthi is grateful that the government came forward with such an initiative. Its not easy for women filmmakers out there. Even if a project like this got funding from other sources, it would have vested interests. Independent producers might interfere in the casting and creative choices. But with the governments backing, we didnt have to face any such issues, says Shruthi, while also pointing out a few areas of concern. The usual decision-making delays associated with government functionings impacted the films pre-release promotions. We wouldve loved to have a wider release with proper ground-level promotions, but on the positive side, I can see that they are trying to address the shortcomings. Im sure things will be better for the upcoming set of filmmakers. Despite the limited release for B 32 Muthal 44 Vare, the response has been encouraging, feels Shruthi, who is currently on a social media promotional spree. My job is not done with just releasing the film. Ive been involved in the theatrical distribution and tracking the show counts. I wouldnt have done all this if the film was backed by a private producer. I see it as a learning process and an opportunity to understand more about the trade. Despite her efforts, Shruthi regrets the film hasnt reached its target audience. Our aim was the younger audience, but it was pleasantly surprising to observe that the 30+ crowd are turning up more. Shruthi believes that the low footfalls also have to do with the hate campaign plaguing the film. Ever since the release announcement, a section of social media users have been on a rampage against the film and its makers. Im frustrated and clueless on seeing such hatred. Ours is not a film like Romancham or a biggie eyed at the hundred crore clubs. Theres a niche audience for such films, but even they are kept away thanks to such campaigns. I guess the hatred stems from the fact that the films helmed by a woman. Im sure they wont dare to do it with a man. While the organised attack on social media is carried out mostly by fake accounts, Shruthi and team had to face similar bullying from sections of the media during pre-release promotions. Many had issues with why the government was backing only first-time women filmmakers and not men. The answer is right there before them. If Im not wrong, around 12 films were released on the same weekend as B 32 Muthal 44 Vare and none of them had a woman filmmaker. Its something to think about but people prefer turning a blind eye. I dont think these people can ever be taught about how patriarchy and gender bias work, says a dejected Shruthi. However dejected she is, Shruthis film radiates hope. Through her six protagonists, the director attempts to discuss their insecurities about their bodies, and celebrate the spirit of sisterhood. While handling such pertinent subjects, filmmakersmore often than nottend to preach and spread awareness rather than focussing on making the narrative engaging organically. Agreeing with the same, Shruthi adds, It was a bit difficult to avoid the preachiness. I worked on the script carefully to avoid it, but even now, I feel certain scenes couldve been mellowed down. Shruthi also credits the mentorship she received from the jury members appointed by the KSFDC in helping her fine-tune the script. Initially, there were over 40 of us trying to get our projects greenlit. The selection process had four rounds; each time, the script would get tweaked under the guidance of the jury headed by John Paul Sir. It was a challenging process that lasted for nearly a year, but that grooming helped me immensely. A usual problem that filmmakers endure while helming films with multiple protagonists is finding the right depth and screen time for each character. Shruthi admits that she had to wade through a lot of such uncertainties. Yes, there were times when I had doubts on certain characters and what they had to contribute. I even asked the jury if any character had to be removed, but they were quite convinced. When asked to point out one character she was most uncertain about, Shruthi picks Rachel. Played by Krisha Kurup, it is the role of a budding actor, who gets sexually assaulted by a director posing as a feminist. Yes, that segment is a bit cliched. Despite being a film that has a progressive political stand, many found it strange why Anarkali Marikar, a straight actor, was chosen to play Ziya, a trans person in the film. Shruthi, who is open to constructive criticism, chooses to address the same by explaining the thought process behind that decision. The character Ziya is a man but looks like a female to others. So we had to find a suitable person from the transman community who had breasts and could also act. We did try looking for options, but it was hard to find someone like that because most trans men undergo Mastectomya surgical procedure that removes the entire breast. We didnt have many choices. Just as we end the conversation, Shruthi shares a new update on her Facebook page informing her followers about an added extra show for B 32 Muthal 44 Vare. Heres a determined filmmaker who isnt willing to be bogged down by all the hate campaigns. Malayalam cinema is now 93 years old, yet the industry has only seen a handful of successful women filmmakers. From societys inherent patriarchy to gender bias to a blatant lack of opportunities, the reasons are aplenty. In a bid to promote women filmmakers, the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) launched a project to fund films helmed by newcomers. Shruthi Sharanyams B 32 Muthal 44 Vare is one such film that was picked up by the KSFDC as part of this initiative. The film, which hit screens on April 6, is an important and insightful commentary on body politicsa topic hitherto unexplored in Malayalam cinema. Shruthi is grateful that the government came forward with such an initiative. Its not easy for women filmmakers out there. Even if a project like this got funding from other sources, it would have vested interests. Independent producers might interfere in the casting and creative choices. But with the governments backing, we didnt have to face any such issues, says Shruthi, while also pointing out a few areas of concern. The usual decision-making delays associated with government functionings impacted the films pre-release promotions. We wouldve loved to have a wider release with proper ground-level promotions, but on the positive side, I can see that they are trying to address the shortcomings. Im sure things will be better for the upcoming set of filmmakers.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Despite the limited release for B 32 Muthal 44 Vare, the response has been encouraging, feels Shruthi, who is currently on a social media promotional spree. My job is not done with just releasing the film. Ive been involved in the theatrical distribution and tracking the show counts. I wouldnt have done all this if the film was backed by a private producer. I see it as a learning process and an opportunity to understand more about the trade. Despite her efforts, Shruthi regrets the film hasnt reached its target audience. Our aim was the younger audience, but it was pleasantly surprising to observe that the 30+ crowd are turning up more. Shruthi believes that the low footfalls also have to do with the hate campaign plaguing the film. Ever since the release announcement, a section of social media users have been on a rampage against the film and its makers. Im frustrated and clueless on seeing such hatred. Ours is not a film like Romancham or a biggie eyed at the hundred crore clubs. Theres a niche audience for such films, but even they are kept away thanks to such campaigns. I guess the hatred stems from the fact that the films helmed by a woman. Im sure they wont dare to do it with a man. While the organised attack on social media is carried out mostly by fake accounts, Shruthi and team had to face similar bullying from sections of the media during pre-release promotions. Many had issues with why the government was backing only first-time women filmmakers and not men. The answer is right there before them. If Im not wrong, around 12 films were released on the same weekend as B 32 Muthal 44 Vare and none of them had a woman filmmaker. Its something to think about but people prefer turning a blind eye. I dont think these people can ever be taught about how patriarchy and gender bias work, says a dejected Shruthi. However dejected she is, Shruthis film radiates hope. Through her six protagonists, the director attempts to discuss their insecurities about their bodies, and celebrate the spirit of sisterhood. While handling such pertinent subjects, filmmakersmore often than nottend to preach and spread awareness rather than focussing on making the narrative engaging organically. Agreeing with the same, Shruthi adds, It was a bit difficult to avoid the preachiness. I worked on the script carefully to avoid it, but even now, I feel certain scenes couldve been mellowed down. Shruthi also credits the mentorship she received from the jury members appointed by the KSFDC in helping her fine-tune the script. Initially, there were over 40 of us trying to get our projects greenlit. The selection process had four rounds; each time, the script would get tweaked under the guidance of the jury headed by John Paul Sir. It was a challenging process that lasted for nearly a year, but that grooming helped me immensely. A usual problem that filmmakers endure while helming films with multiple protagonists is finding the right depth and screen time for each character. Shruthi admits that she had to wade through a lot of such uncertainties. Yes, there were times when I had doubts on certain characters and what they had to contribute. I even asked the jury if any character had to be removed, but they were quite convinced. When asked to point out one character she was most uncertain about, Shruthi picks Rachel. Played by Krisha Kurup, it is the role of a budding actor, who gets sexually assaulted by a director posing as a feminist. Yes, that segment is a bit cliched. Despite being a film that has a progressive political stand, many found it strange why Anarkali Marikar, a straight actor, was chosen to play Ziya, a trans person in the film. Shruthi, who is open to constructive criticism, chooses to address the same by explaining the thought process behind that decision. The character Ziya is a man but looks like a female to others. So we had to find a suitable person from the transman community who had breasts and could also act. We did try looking for options, but it was hard to find someone like that because most trans men undergo Mastectomya surgical procedure that removes the entire breast. We didnt have many choices. Just as we end the conversation, Shruthi shares a new update on her Facebook page informing her followers about an added extra show for B 32 Muthal 44 Vare. Heres a determined filmmaker who isnt willing to be bogged down by all the hate campaigns. Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: It's been three weeks since individual charges were levelled against the eight former Indian navy veterans in Doha. However, there is no clarity on what these charges are. The second judicial hearing under Qatari law is expected in May and the Indian embassy in Doha is providing consular and legal assistance. We are engaged with the Qatari authorities and are in touch with the families of the officers living in Doha, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told The New Indian Express. The officers are calling their families every week back home in India, but from hope and optimism of repatriation, fear of the unknown has set in. ALSO READ | No respite for eight Indian Navy veterans detained in Qatar as trial continues The officials were made to sign some documents on the day the charges were levelled against them and nobody has a clue on what they could be as details arent known yet. The judicial trial is based on Qatari law and there is no clarity on what this beholds. Dahra Consultancies is taking care of the incidentals it is learnt. The loss is not just in terms of the time that has gone by since the fateful night of August 30, 2022 when these eight were picked up individually from their houses by officials of Qatars interior ministry -- but also of events. Marriages of children have taken place without the fathers gracing the occasion, some children have joined university while others have taken up jobs. The most tragic is the condition of the mothers of these veterans who are over 80 years old and have no clue on how much longer they may have to wait to see their sons in person again. NEW DELHI: It's been three weeks since individual charges were levelled against the eight former Indian navy veterans in Doha. However, there is no clarity on what these charges are. The second judicial hearing under Qatari law is expected in May and the Indian embassy in Doha is providing consular and legal assistance. We are engaged with the Qatari authorities and are in touch with the families of the officers living in Doha, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told The New Indian Express.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The officers are calling their families every week back home in India, but from hope and optimism of repatriation, fear of the unknown has set in. ALSO READ | No respite for eight Indian Navy veterans detained in Qatar as trial continues The officials were made to sign some documents on the day the charges were levelled against them and nobody has a clue on what they could be as details arent known yet. The judicial trial is based on Qatari law and there is no clarity on what this beholds. Dahra Consultancies is taking care of the incidentals it is learnt. The loss is not just in terms of the time that has gone by since the fateful night of August 30, 2022 when these eight were picked up individually from their houses by officials of Qatars interior ministry -- but also of events. Marriages of children have taken place without the fathers gracing the occasion, some children have joined university while others have taken up jobs. The most tragic is the condition of the mothers of these veterans who are over 80 years old and have no clue on how much longer they may have to wait to see their sons in person again. By PTI NEW DELHI: Killings in police encounters affect the credibility of rule of law and the administration of the criminal justice system, the Supreme Court had said in a 2014 judgement while issuing a slew of guidelines to be followed in matters of investigating police encounters which have led to death or grievous injury. The apex court's verdict in the case of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) 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 judgement, 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 the death of about 135 people between 1995 and 1997. Noting that the right guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution, which deals with the 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 judgement 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 judgement, 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, fibers 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. NEW DELHI: Killings in police encounters affect the credibility of rule of law and the administration of the criminal justice system, the Supreme Court had said in a 2014 judgement while issuing a slew of guidelines to be followed in matters of investigating police encounters which have led to death or grievous injury. The apex court's verdict in the case of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) 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 judgement, 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 the death of about 135 people between 1995 and 1997.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Noting that the right guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution, which deals with the 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 judgement 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 judgement, 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, fibers 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. Pranab Mondal By Express News Service KOLKATA: In an unprecedented row between West Bengals ruling party and the judiciary, the Trinamool Congress on Thursday slammed Calcutta High Court Justice Abhijit Ganguly after he made an observation in an open court that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the CBI should interrogate Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, and Kunal Ghosh. The probe would be in connection with the ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment in schools, which has become an issue of embarrassment for the TMC. Gangulys observation came a day after jailed TMC youth leader Kuntal Ghosh wrote a letter alleging that pressure was being put on him by the ED to name Abhishek, who is also the TMCs national general secretary, in connection with the alleged scam. Branding Ganguly as a cadre of a political party, Kunal Ghosh said that the judge overstepped his limits by targeting Abhishek with a political motive. "He made the statement overstepping his limits. He is misusing the power of his chair. He is acting to strengthen the CPI(M) and the BJP in Bengal," said Ghosh. Hitting out at the judge, Ghosh said, "How can you comment on what the ED and CBI should do? Are you in charge of the investigation? You are influencing the investigation by making such comments." While asking about the progress of the probe into the alleged recruitment scam, Justice Ganguly said, "The investigating agency has only reached up to the waist of the corruption. It should reach the heart and brain of the alleged malpractice. Why is the CBI wasting time? Abhishek Banerjee should be interrogated." "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 also directed. ALSO READ | After losing national party status, TMC exploring legal options to challenge EC decision After the Calcutta High Court ordered central agencies to probe into the alleged recruitment scam, the ED arrested former education minister and Mamatas lieutenant Partha Chatterjee after questioning him for over 20 hours in July last year. During the course of the investigation, the ED arrested a number of TMC functionaries and senior officials of the School Service Commission (SSC), the wing of the education department which supervised the recruitment process, which resulted in massive embarrassment for the TMC. Responding to Kunals letter, Justice Ganguly also passed an order saying West Bengal police would not be allowed to lodge an FIR against any officers of the ED and CBI without the courts approval. Reacting to Ghosh's statement, BJP 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. KOLKATA: In an unprecedented row between West Bengals ruling party and the judiciary, the Trinamool Congress on Thursday slammed Calcutta High Court Justice Abhijit Ganguly after he made an observation in an open court that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the CBI should interrogate Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, and Kunal Ghosh. The probe would be in connection with the ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment in schools, which has become an issue of embarrassment for the TMC. Gangulys observation came a day after jailed TMC youth leader Kuntal Ghosh wrote a letter alleging that pressure was being put on him by the ED to name Abhishek, who is also the TMCs national general secretary, in connection with the alleged scam.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Branding Ganguly as a cadre of a political party, Kunal Ghosh said that the judge overstepped his limits by targeting Abhishek with a political motive. "He made the statement overstepping his limits. He is misusing the power of his chair. He is acting to strengthen the CPI(M) and the BJP in Bengal," said Ghosh. Hitting out at the judge, Ghosh said, "How can you comment on what the ED and CBI should do? Are you in charge of the investigation? You are influencing the investigation by making such comments." While asking about the progress of the probe into the alleged recruitment scam, Justice Ganguly said, "The investigating agency has only reached up to the waist of the corruption. It should reach the heart and brain of the alleged malpractice. Why is the CBI wasting time? Abhishek Banerjee should be interrogated." "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 also directed. ALSO READ | After losing national party status, TMC exploring legal options to challenge EC decision After the Calcutta High Court ordered central agencies to probe into the alleged recruitment scam, the ED arrested former education minister and Mamatas lieutenant Partha Chatterjee after questioning him for over 20 hours in July last year. During the course of the investigation, the ED arrested a number of TMC functionaries and senior officials of the School Service Commission (SSC), the wing of the education department which supervised the recruitment process, which resulted in massive embarrassment for the TMC. Responding to Kunals letter, Justice Ganguly also passed an order saying West Bengal police would not be allowed to lodge an FIR against any officers of the ED and CBI without the courts approval. Reacting to Ghosh's statement, BJP 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. By Online Desk The Defence Ministry has denied sanction to prosecute 30 Indian Army personnel in connection with the killing of civilians in Nagalands Mon district in 2021, the state police said on Thursday. The competent authority (Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Government of India) has conveyed its denial to accord Sanction for Prosecution against all the 30 accused, a statement from the state police headquarters said, as quoted in the Hindustan Times. As required by law, the fact of the denial of the Prosecution Sanction has been communicated to the Court of District & Session Judge, Mon by the State Crime Cell Police Station and the SIT, the statement in the HT report further added. Reacting to the news, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights secretary-general Neingulo Krome told Hindustan Times, In the past 50-60 years, no military personnel have been prosecuted for the atrocities they committed against our people." In July last year, the Supreme Court had stayed criminal proceedings against the 30 accused Army personnel as the state police did not obtain the required sanctions for prosecution from the Centre. The Centres legal sanction is required to initiate any proceeding against security forces personnel for their actions while discharging duties under section 197(2) of CrPC and section 6 of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). On December 4, 2021, six local coal miners in a pick-up van in Tiru-Oting area of Mon district were killed by soldiers of 21 Para Special Forces of the Indian Army who mistook them as militants. Protestors then set fire to Army vehicles which prompted the soldiers to open fire again, killing seven more civilians. On December 5, locals entered a camp of the Assam Rifles in the district headquarters of Mon and one more person was killed after security forces fired in retaliation at the protestors. The incidents once again gave rise to the demand for the removal of the AFSPA from Nagaland with civil societies conducting several protest rallies across the state at the time. A special investigation team (SIT) headed by the Nagaland inspector general of police probed the case and on March 24, 2022 had sought sanction for the prosecution of the accused from the defence ministry. Thirty members of the Special Force Operation team including one Army officer were named by the SIT's chargesheet in the case on May 30, 2022. The probe which preceded the charge sheet had found that the Special Force Operation team had not followed the Standard Operating Procedure and the Rules of Engagement and resorted to indiscriminate and disproportionate firing leading to the immediate killing of six civilians and grievous injury to two more. An FIR filed by the Nagaland Police had said that the Armys 21 Para Special Force blankly opened fire with the intention to murder and injure civilians. On December 4, 2021 at around 4:20 PM, the operation team of 21 Para Special Force who had laid an ambush at Longkhao between Upper Tiru and Oting Village opened fire at a White Bolero pick up vehicle which was carrying eight civilians belonging to Oting Village, most of whom were working as labourers in the coal mines at Tiru without ensuring positive identification or challenging them. The police said that investigation revealed that when the villagers of Oting and Tiru reached the incident spot in search of the missing villagers and the Bolero pick-up vehicle at around 8 PM, they turned violent on discovering the dead bodies and a scuffle ensued between the villagers and members of 21 Para Special Force. (With inputs from Express News Service and PTI) The Defence Ministry has denied sanction to prosecute 30 Indian Army personnel in connection with the killing of civilians in Nagalands Mon district in 2021, the state police said on Thursday. The competent authority (Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Government of India) has conveyed its denial to accord Sanction for Prosecution against all the 30 accused, a statement from the state police headquarters said, as quoted in the Hindustan Times. As required by law, the fact of the denial of the Prosecution Sanction has been communicated to the Court of District & Session Judge, Mon by the State Crime Cell Police Station and the SIT, the statement in the HT report further added. Reacting to the news, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights secretary-general Neingulo Krome told Hindustan Times, In the past 50-60 years, no military personnel have been prosecuted for the atrocities they committed against our people."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In July last year, the Supreme Court had stayed criminal proceedings against the 30 accused Army personnel as the state police did not obtain the required sanctions for prosecution from the Centre. The Centres legal sanction is required to initiate any proceeding against security forces personnel for their actions while discharging duties under section 197(2) of CrPC and section 6 of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). On December 4, 2021, six local coal miners in a pick-up van in Tiru-Oting area of Mon district were killed by soldiers of 21 Para Special Forces of the Indian Army who mistook them as militants. Protestors then set fire to Army vehicles which prompted the soldiers to open fire again, killing seven more civilians. On December 5, locals entered a camp of the Assam Rifles in the district headquarters of Mon and one more person was killed after security forces fired in retaliation at the protestors. The incidents once again gave rise to the demand for the removal of the AFSPA from Nagaland with civil societies conducting several protest rallies across the state at the time. A special investigation team (SIT) headed by the Nagaland inspector general of police probed the case and on March 24, 2022 had sought sanction for the prosecution of the accused from the defence ministry. Thirty members of the Special Force Operation team including one Army officer were named by the SIT's chargesheet in the case on May 30, 2022. The probe which preceded the charge sheet had found that the Special Force Operation team had not followed the Standard Operating Procedure and the Rules of Engagement and resorted to indiscriminate and disproportionate firing leading to the immediate killing of six civilians and grievous injury to two more. An FIR filed by the Nagaland Police had said that the Armys 21 Para Special Force blankly opened fire with the intention to murder and injure civilians. On December 4, 2021 at around 4:20 PM, the operation team of 21 Para Special Force who had laid an ambush at Longkhao between Upper Tiru and Oting Village opened fire at a White Bolero pick up vehicle which was carrying eight civilians belonging to Oting Village, most of whom were working as labourers in the coal mines at Tiru without ensuring positive identification or challenging them. The police said that investigation revealed that when the villagers of Oting and Tiru reached the incident spot in search of the missing villagers and the Bolero pick-up vehicle at around 8 PM, they turned violent on discovering the dead bodies and a scuffle ensued between the villagers and members of 21 Para Special Force. (With inputs from Express News Service and PTI) By PTI NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath has been roped in by the party to play the role of a mediator in resolving the situation arising in the party's Rajasthan unit after Sachin Pilot's day-long fast in Jaipur seeking action against the alleged corruption under the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government. Nath along with Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal met Pilot on Thursday to discuss his side of arguments and the former Rajasthan deputy CM conveyed to them that his fast was only directed at action against corruption and was not "anti-party" at all, sources said. "Though the meeting was cordial nothing concrete came out of it," a source in the know of the developments told PTI. Congress' Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Thursday morning met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge for the second time in two days to discuss the Rajasthan issue. He had also met Rahul Gandhi at his residence to discuss the matter. Leaders close to Pilot have argued that his fast was only against the corruption under Vasundhara government and cannot be termed "anti-party". They claim that the Congress has been raising the corruption plank in the Adani matter and in Karnataka polls and Pilot's action was in line with that. ALSO READ | AAP, RLP keep door open for ex-Rajasthan deputy CM Sachin Pilot As far as the issue of "indiscipline" is concerned, the Pilot side has also raised questions as to why no action has been taken against Gehlot loyalists who had defied party directive for holding a legislature party meeting last year. They have also raised questions as to why Randhawa's statement called the fast anti-party even before it took place. Sources close to Pilot said that there has been no physical meeting between him and Randhawa. The Congress leadership is caught in a peculiar situation and wants to find a middle path to the issue, party sources said. Pilot reached Delhi on Wednesday, a day after he observed a fast in Jaipur. ALSO READ | No Congress symbol at former deputy CM Sachin Pilots fast site Both Gehlot and Pilot were keen on the chief minister's post when the party won the state assembly elections in 2018. But the Congress high command picked Gehlot for the top post for a third time. In July 2020, Pilot and a section of Congress MLAs had rebelled openly against Gehlot, demanding a change of leadership in the state. Pilot was then stripped of the posts of deputy chief minister and Pradesh Congress Committee president. The month-long crisis ended after the Congress central leadership's assurance to look into the issues Pilot raised. Gehlot later used terms like "gaddar" (traitor), "nakara" (failure) and "nikamma" (worthless) for Pilot, and accused him of being involved with BJP leaders in a conspiracy to topple the Congress government. Last September, MLAs in the Gehlot camp boycotted a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting and held a parallel one to stall what they felt was an attempt to make Pilot the new chief minister. Gehlot was then being considered for the party president's post. NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath has been roped in by the party to play the role of a mediator in resolving the situation arising in the party's Rajasthan unit after Sachin Pilot's day-long fast in Jaipur seeking action against the alleged corruption under the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government. Nath along with Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal met Pilot on Thursday to discuss his side of arguments and the former Rajasthan deputy CM conveyed to them that his fast was only directed at action against corruption and was not "anti-party" at all, sources said. "Though the meeting was cordial nothing concrete came out of it," a source in the know of the developments told PTI.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Congress' Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Thursday morning met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge for the second time in two days to discuss the Rajasthan issue. He had also met Rahul Gandhi at his residence to discuss the matter. Leaders close to Pilot have argued that his fast was only against the corruption under Vasundhara government and cannot be termed "anti-party". They claim that the Congress has been raising the corruption plank in the Adani matter and in Karnataka polls and Pilot's action was in line with that. ALSO READ | AAP, RLP keep door open for ex-Rajasthan deputy CM Sachin Pilot As far as the issue of "indiscipline" is concerned, the Pilot side has also raised questions as to why no action has been taken against Gehlot loyalists who had defied party directive for holding a legislature party meeting last year. They have also raised questions as to why Randhawa's statement called the fast anti-party even before it took place. Sources close to Pilot said that there has been no physical meeting between him and Randhawa. The Congress leadership is caught in a peculiar situation and wants to find a middle path to the issue, party sources said. Pilot reached Delhi on Wednesday, a day after he observed a fast in Jaipur. ALSO READ | No Congress symbol at former deputy CM Sachin Pilots fast site Both Gehlot and Pilot were keen on the chief minister's post when the party won the state assembly elections in 2018. But the Congress high command picked Gehlot for the top post for a third time. In July 2020, Pilot and a section of Congress MLAs had rebelled openly against Gehlot, demanding a change of leadership in the state. Pilot was then stripped of the posts of deputy chief minister and Pradesh Congress Committee president. The month-long crisis ended after the Congress central leadership's assurance to look into the issues Pilot raised. Gehlot later used terms like "gaddar" (traitor), "nakara" (failure) and "nikamma" (worthless) for Pilot, and accused him of being involved with BJP leaders in a conspiracy to topple the Congress government. Last September, MLAs in the Gehlot camp boycotted a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting and held a parallel one to stall what they felt was an attempt to make Pilot the new chief minister. Gehlot was then being considered for the party president's post. Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, spoke over the phone with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday evening and extended Baisakhi greetings to him and the Indian community in the UK. "I was pleased to speak with Rishi Sunak and extended Baisakhi greetings to him and to the vibrant Indian community in the UK. We reviewed progress on a number of issues to further strengthen India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which includes the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), said PM Modi. PM Modi also spoke about reigning in anti-India elements in the UK. "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, PM Modi added. PM Modi also sought progress on the return of these fugitives so that they could be tried under the Indian judicial system. These offenders are an obvious reference to the likes of Vijay Mallya, and Nirav Modi amongst others. Both 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 FTA between the two countries. Meanwhile, PM 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 extended an invite for PM Sunak to attend the G20 Summit, which is scheduled to be held in September 2023. Meanwhile, PM Sunak appreciated the progress made under Indias Presidency of the G20 and reiterated the UKs full support of Indias initiatives and their success. Both leaders agreed to remain in touch. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, spoke over the phone with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday evening and extended Baisakhi greetings to him and the Indian community in the UK. "I was pleased to speak with Rishi Sunak and extended Baisakhi greetings to him and to the vibrant Indian community in the UK. We reviewed progress on a number of issues to further strengthen India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which includes the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), said PM Modi. PM Modi also spoke about reigning in anti-India elements in the UK. "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, PM Modi added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); PM Modi also sought progress on the return of these fugitives so that they could be tried under the Indian judicial system. These offenders are an obvious reference to the likes of Vijay Mallya, and Nirav Modi amongst others. Both 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 FTA between the two countries. Meanwhile, PM 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 extended an invite for PM Sunak to attend the G20 Summit, which is scheduled to be held in September 2023. Meanwhile, PM Sunak appreciated the progress made under Indias Presidency of the G20 and reiterated the UKs full support of Indias initiatives and their success. Both leaders agreed to remain in touch. By PTI JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Police has arrested two of the eight accused wanted in the alleged abduction and murder of two Muslim men from Bharatpur in Rajasthan by suspected cow vigilantes in Haryana, an official said on Friday. Inspector General of Police (Bharatpur) Gaurav Srivastava said that the accused Monu Rana alias Narendra and Gogi alias Monu were detained from an isolated hilly area in Dehradun. The accused involved in the case have connections with Bajrang Dal as well as other organisations including Haryana Gau Raksha Dal, he said. Nasir (25) and Junaid alias Juna (35), both residents of Ghatmeeka village in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district, were allegedly abducted by cow vigilantes on February 15. Their bodies were found inside a burnt car in Loharu in Bhiwani in Haryana on the morning of February 16. During the initial interrogation, both the accused revealed that Junaid and Nasir were abducted on suspicion of cow smuggling. They were badly thrashed and when they failed to fetch any information regarding the smuggling from them, they took them to a local police station in Haryana but the policemen refused to take action seeing the condition they were in, the IG said. "When Haryana police refused to take action against the duo seeing their condition, the accused took Nasir and Junaid and murdered them. The bodies were put in a vehicle and it was burnt," he said. On February 17, one of the accused Rinku Saini was arrested and based on his disclosure and other evidence collected by the police, eight others were identified and teams were sent to several states in search of them. The other six accused, each carrying a cash reward of Rs 10,000 each, are still absconding and being searched. Apart from them, the police have issued notices to several other suspects including office bearers and members of Haryana Gau Raksha Dal but no one has turned up. However, the arrest of the two accused will expedite the investigation of the case, IG Srivastava said. On the involvement of cow vigilante Monu Manesar, the IG said that he was on the suspect list and his role will become clear after the questioning of Monu Rana and Gogi. The officer said that several teams of the Rajasthan police camped in different districts undercover in search of the accused. The accused were brought to Bharatpur and placed under arrest on Thursday night under sections 302 (murder), 365 (abduction), 367 (abduction to subject a person to grievous hurt), 368 (wrongful confinement), 201 (Causing disappearance of evidence) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) and 143 (being a member of an unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code. They were produced before a local court where the magistrate remanded them to police custody for 10 days. JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Police has arrested two of the eight accused wanted in the alleged abduction and murder of two Muslim men from Bharatpur in Rajasthan by suspected cow vigilantes in Haryana, an official said on Friday. Inspector General of Police (Bharatpur) Gaurav Srivastava said that the accused Monu Rana alias Narendra and Gogi alias Monu were detained from an isolated hilly area in Dehradun. The accused involved in the case have connections with Bajrang Dal as well as other organisations including Haryana Gau Raksha Dal, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Nasir (25) and Junaid alias Juna (35), both residents of Ghatmeeka village in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district, were allegedly abducted by cow vigilantes on February 15. Their bodies were found inside a burnt car in Loharu in Bhiwani in Haryana on the morning of February 16. During the initial interrogation, both the accused revealed that Junaid and Nasir were abducted on suspicion of cow smuggling. They were badly thrashed and when they failed to fetch any information regarding the smuggling from them, they took them to a local police station in Haryana but the policemen refused to take action seeing the condition they were in, the IG said. "When Haryana police refused to take action against the duo seeing their condition, the accused took Nasir and Junaid and murdered them. The bodies were put in a vehicle and it was burnt," he said. On February 17, one of the accused Rinku Saini was arrested and based on his disclosure and other evidence collected by the police, eight others were identified and teams were sent to several states in search of them. The other six accused, each carrying a cash reward of Rs 10,000 each, are still absconding and being searched. Apart from them, the police have issued notices to several other suspects including office bearers and members of Haryana Gau Raksha Dal but no one has turned up. However, the arrest of the two accused will expedite the investigation of the case, IG Srivastava said. On the involvement of cow vigilante Monu Manesar, the IG said that he was on the suspect list and his role will become clear after the questioning of Monu Rana and Gogi. The officer said that several teams of the Rajasthan police camped in different districts undercover in search of the accused. The accused were brought to Bharatpur and placed under arrest on Thursday night under sections 302 (murder), 365 (abduction), 367 (abduction to subject a person to grievous hurt), 368 (wrongful confinement), 201 (Causing disappearance of evidence) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) and 143 (being a member of an unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code. They were produced before a local court where the magistrate remanded them to police custody for 10 days. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday refuted BJP chief J P Nadda's allegation that Rahul Gandhi compared OBC communities to thieves and accused the ruling party of defending the likes of fugitives Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi, and indulging in "caste politics". Amid a political fight between the BJP and Congress following Gandhi's conviction in a defamation case over the "Modi surname" remarks, Nadda alleged that "lies, personal slander and negative politics is integral" to his politics. "By comparing OBC communities to thieves, Rahul Gandhi has shown a pathetic and casteist mindset. However, his latest tirade is not surprising. For the last many years, he has always reduced levels of political discourse," Nadda said. Hitting back, Kharge, in a tweet in Hindi, said, "Modi government cannot escape from JPC! Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, and Mehul Choksi fled with the money of PNB and the public. OBCs did not do so, then how were they insulted?" "SBI/LIC suffered losses due to your 'best friend'!" he said slamming the government. "'Ek toh chori mein sahyog phir jatigat rajneeti ka prayog' (First providing help in stealing then applying caste politics)," Kharge said and termed it "shameful". Later, interacting with reporters, the Congress president said his party is seeking answers as to who ran away with people's money, while the BJP is trying to distract from the main issue. "They are talking of insult to backward classes. The Congress has always stood with and fought for the backward classes, scheduled castes and minorities. These people who believe in Manu, talk of backward classes," Kharge said. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also lashed out at Nadda, saying he was distorting facts and indulging in "politics of defamation". "By doing he is defending Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi. This truth had to come out and now it has come out. Thank you Nadda ji for your honesty. Now please show some honesty on Adani too," Ramesh said in a tweet in Hindi. He also hit out at Union Minister Bhupender Yadav who attacked the Congress for raising questions on the Gujarat court convicting Rahul Gandhi in the criminal defamation case. "Bhupendra Yadav should spend more time implementing environment and forest laws without fear or favour. Instead, he is busy defending Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi. These two have stolen thousands of crores of public money and are fugitives running from justice in India," Ramesh said in a tweet in Hindi. Gandhi was on Thursday sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "why all thieves have Modi surname" remarks. The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate H H Varma, which held 52-year-old Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500, also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court. Gandhi can escape immediate disqualification as a member of parliament if the appellate court suspends the conviction as well as the two-year jail term. NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday refuted BJP chief J P Nadda's allegation that Rahul Gandhi compared OBC communities to thieves and accused the ruling party of defending the likes of fugitives Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi, and indulging in "caste politics". Amid a political fight between the BJP and Congress following Gandhi's conviction in a defamation case over the "Modi surname" remarks, Nadda alleged that "lies, personal slander and negative politics is integral" to his politics. "By comparing OBC communities to thieves, Rahul Gandhi has shown a pathetic and casteist mindset. However, his latest tirade is not surprising. For the last many years, he has always reduced levels of political discourse," Nadda said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Hitting back, Kharge, in a tweet in Hindi, said, "Modi government cannot escape from JPC! Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, and Mehul Choksi fled with the money of PNB and the public. OBCs did not do so, then how were they insulted?" "SBI/LIC suffered losses due to your 'best friend'!" he said slamming the government. "'Ek toh chori mein sahyog phir jatigat rajneeti ka prayog' (First providing help in stealing then applying caste politics)," Kharge said and termed it "shameful". Later, interacting with reporters, the Congress president said his party is seeking answers as to who ran away with people's money, while the BJP is trying to distract from the main issue. "They are talking of insult to backward classes. The Congress has always stood with and fought for the backward classes, scheduled castes and minorities. These people who believe in Manu, talk of backward classes," Kharge said. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also lashed out at Nadda, saying he was distorting facts and indulging in "politics of defamation". "By doing he is defending Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi. This truth had to come out and now it has come out. Thank you Nadda ji for your honesty. Now please show some honesty on Adani too," Ramesh said in a tweet in Hindi. He also hit out at Union Minister Bhupender Yadav who attacked the Congress for raising questions on the Gujarat court convicting Rahul Gandhi in the criminal defamation case. "Bhupendra Yadav should spend more time implementing environment and forest laws without fear or favour. Instead, he is busy defending Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi. These two have stolen thousands of crores of public money and are fugitives running from justice in India," Ramesh said in a tweet in Hindi. Gandhi was on Thursday sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "why all thieves have Modi surname" remarks. The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate H H Varma, which held 52-year-old Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500, also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court. Gandhi can escape immediate disqualification as a member of parliament if the appellate court suspends the conviction as well as the two-year jail term. Sandip Ghose By The Adani Group continues to dominate headlines even after nearly three months of the Hindenburg report hitting the wires. The issue has been kept boiling not just by the opposition but also by foreign media periodically adding fuel to the fire. The company itself has been nonchalant and the government has doggedly refused to be dragged into the fracas. It has denied demands for appointment of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe, having acceded to a review by a Supreme Court-appointed expert committee. It has left the rest to the independent regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to deal on merit. Meanwhile, retail investors seem unfazed. As per reports, the total number of retail investors across Adani Group companies rose by 47.4% to 6.95 million by the end of March. The timing and method of assault has given rise to several conspiracy theories ranging from corporate rivalry to the invisible foreign hand trying to spoil the India (Growth) Story with the ultimate objective of forcing a regime change. Though the latter apprehensions may be far-fetched or debatable, at least one opposition partynamely, the Congresshas found cannon fodder to mount a full-scale attack on the government, specifically targeting the prime minister. It is reminiscent of Rahul Gandhis Chowkidar Chor Hai campaign of 2018 alleging corruption in the Rafale deal. Even then the original trigger was a report in foreign media, and many saw it as a deja vu of Rajiv Gandhis Bofors moment. The current attempt to link Adani with Narendra Modi has shades of the insinuations of association between the Gandhi family and the Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi during the Bofors saga. The jury is out and it is not for us to jump to any conclusion. However, it does raise some questions that merit consideration. There are essentially three main charges against Adani: First is that of market manipulation through round tripping of money via off-shore vehicles controlled by family entities. Secondly, leveraging the inflated valuation of stocks to raise further funding. Thirdly, being a beneficiary of crony capitalism. Let us take one at a time. Round tripping as practice has existed from time immemorial and is not typical of India. Tax havens across the world thrive on the business of tax engineering. That, however, does not legitimise re-routing operations or make money laundering kosher. The task of tracing the origin of money rests with the central bank of a country. RBI has been doing a fine job of that and has earned the respect of the international financial community for its independence and professionalism. Therefore, to tarnish the reputation of the premier financial institution with unsubstantiated charges has the potential to seriously damage national credibility and climate for foreign investments. Thus, a responsible political party should be cautious in hurling such accusations which could have long-term impact and come back to haunt it if it comes to power by ousting the current dispensation. Valuation is often confused with earnings. It is no more than a temporal index of wealth based on the whims of the stock market, the ways of which are difficult to fathom. The acid test is the asset base and expected future earning streams. In the case of the Adani Group, the bulk of its investments are in infrastructure assets such as ports, airports and power that are poised to grow exponentially as India moves up in the hierarchy of the global economic order. Its recent acquisition of the Holcim cement operations in India are also linked to the infrastructure sector. Another chunk of its businesses are in energyboth traditional and green. This probably explains the faith of the retail investors in the future prospects of the group. Much is being made of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) increasing its stake in Adani stocks, saying the money of ordinary citizens is being used to prop up a faltering crony capitalist. In fact, it can be conversely argued that by not buying Adani shares in the dip, LIC would be doing greater disservice to its shareholders. Finally comes the elephant in the roomthe sensitive question of crony capitalism. As Sharad Pawar pointed out, associating business houses with the government of the day is not new. Only the names keep changing. Post-Independence one used to hear of the Birlas, Tatas, Bajaj, Dalmias and a few other names. Reliance ruled the roost for several decades. Though the Adani Group has been around for a long time, it is seen as the new kid on the block. Some may argue that it has emerged as a foil to Reliance in the Modi era. But the arguments are misplaced. The problem with crony capitalism arises when national interests are traded against favours. But mere facilitation of business cannot necessarily be construed as corruption. The country needs entrepreneurs with a risk appetite. Counterfactually speaking, without swadeshi businessmen like G D Birla, Jamnalal Bajaj and J R D Tataa fledgling economy like India could not have taken strides in industrialisation. Our neighbour which got Independence at the same time is a study of contrast. Now India needs a few enterprises of global scale. Not everyone has either the ambition, audacity and above all, the vision of an Adani or Ambani to take on the world. In global trade, lobbying is not a bad word. The Americans and Europeans have done it all along for their companies. Now the Japanese, Korean and Chinese are emulating them. If our prime minister is doing it for Indian businesses, he is discharging his duty as the chief executive of the country and not as a favour to Adani. To spite Modi, the opposition should not end up cutting the nations nose. (Views are personal) Sandip Ghose Current affairs commentator (sandipghose@hotmail.com) (Tweets @SandipGhose) The Adani Group continues to dominate headlines even after nearly three months of the Hindenburg report hitting the wires. The issue has been kept boiling not just by the opposition but also by foreign media periodically adding fuel to the fire. The company itself has been nonchalant and the government has doggedly refused to be dragged into the fracas. It has denied demands for appointment of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe, having acceded to a review by a Supreme Court-appointed expert committee. It has left the rest to the independent regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to deal on merit. Meanwhile, retail investors seem unfazed. As per reports, the total number of retail investors across Adani Group companies rose by 47.4% to 6.95 million by the end of March. The timing and method of assault has given rise to several conspiracy theories ranging from corporate rivalry to the invisible foreign hand trying to spoil the India (Growth) Story with the ultimate objective of forcing a regime change. Though the latter apprehensions may be far-fetched or debatable, at least one opposition partynamely, the Congresshas found cannon fodder to mount a full-scale attack on the government, specifically targeting the prime minister. It is reminiscent of Rahul Gandhis Chowkidar Chor Hai campaign of 2018 alleging corruption in the Rafale deal. Even then the original trigger was a report in foreign media, and many saw it as a deja vu of Rajiv Gandhis Bofors moment. The current attempt to link Adani with Narendra Modi has shades of the insinuations of association between the Gandhi family and the Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi during the Bofors saga. The jury is out and it is not for us to jump to any conclusion. However, it does raise some questions that merit consideration.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); There are essentially three main charges against Adani: First is that of market manipulation through round tripping of money via off-shore vehicles controlled by family entities. Secondly, leveraging the inflated valuation of stocks to raise further funding. Thirdly, being a beneficiary of crony capitalism. Let us take one at a time. Round tripping as practice has existed from time immemorial and is not typical of India. Tax havens across the world thrive on the business of tax engineering. That, however, does not legitimise re-routing operations or make money laundering kosher. The task of tracing the origin of money rests with the central bank of a country. RBI has been doing a fine job of that and has earned the respect of the international financial community for its independence and professionalism. Therefore, to tarnish the reputation of the premier financial institution with unsubstantiated charges has the potential to seriously damage national credibility and climate for foreign investments. Thus, a responsible political party should be cautious in hurling such accusations which could have long-term impact and come back to haunt it if it comes to power by ousting the current dispensation. Valuation is often confused with earnings. It is no more than a temporal index of wealth based on the whims of the stock market, the ways of which are difficult to fathom. The acid test is the asset base and expected future earning streams. In the case of the Adani Group, the bulk of its investments are in infrastructure assets such as ports, airports and power that are poised to grow exponentially as India moves up in the hierarchy of the global economic order. Its recent acquisition of the Holcim cement operations in India are also linked to the infrastructure sector. Another chunk of its businesses are in energyboth traditional and green. This probably explains the faith of the retail investors in the future prospects of the group. Much is being made of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) increasing its stake in Adani stocks, saying the money of ordinary citizens is being used to prop up a faltering crony capitalist. In fact, it can be conversely argued that by not buying Adani shares in the dip, LIC would be doing greater disservice to its shareholders. Finally comes the elephant in the roomthe sensitive question of crony capitalism. As Sharad Pawar pointed out, associating business houses with the government of the day is not new. Only the names keep changing. Post-Independence one used to hear of the Birlas, Tatas, Bajaj, Dalmias and a few other names. Reliance ruled the roost for several decades. Though the Adani Group has been around for a long time, it is seen as the new kid on the block. Some may argue that it has emerged as a foil to Reliance in the Modi era. But the arguments are misplaced. The problem with crony capitalism arises when national interests are traded against favours. But mere facilitation of business cannot necessarily be construed as corruption. The country needs entrepreneurs with a risk appetite. Counterfactually speaking, without swadeshi businessmen like G D Birla, Jamnalal Bajaj and J R D Tataa fledgling economy like India could not have taken strides in industrialisation. Our neighbour which got Independence at the same time is a study of contrast. Now India needs a few enterprises of global scale. Not everyone has either the ambition, audacity and above all, the vision of an Adani or Ambani to take on the world. In global trade, lobbying is not a bad word. The Americans and Europeans have done it all along for their companies. Now the Japanese, Korean and Chinese are emulating them. If our prime minister is doing it for Indian businesses, he is discharging his duty as the chief executive of the country and not as a favour to Adani. To spite Modi, the opposition should not end up cutting the nations nose. (Views are personal) Sandip Ghose Current affairs commentator (sandipghose@hotmail.com) (Tweets @SandipGhose) Press Release April 14, 2023 STATEMENT OF SEN. NANCY BINAY on Nayong Pilipino Foundation's depleting funds Siguro kailangan balikan at i-review ng DOT yung na-approve ng NEDA na original and the very first PPP model for a cultural theme park ng Nayong Pilipino. That was a P1.5-billion tourism-oriented project under PPP which was in line with NPF's mandated purpose to showcase Filipino culture, and explore alternate sources of income. Given their fiscal situation now, I would side with COA's opinion that Nayong Pilipino needs to come up with alternative revenue sources for its operations, kasi kung walang konkretong plano o proyekto para magkaroon ng income, at walang movement para maging sustainable ang operations ng NPF, paniguradong masisimot kung anumang pondo ang meron sila. Again, DOT can also look into NPF's financial and sales projections in the next 5-10 years. Tingnan din ng DOT ang ibang activities that crossline the department's programs, o yung mga corporate function that somehow duplicate what other agencies are already doing. More than anything else, with income coming from several pieces of prime assets that they own and lease out--including the 15-hectare property they own in Bay City/Aseana which awaits to be developed--the NPF is supposedly a self-sustaining GOCC. It's really up to them as to how they can maximize their property to be of highest and best use. The NPF needs to think out of the box to generate a decent income--but the first step is not getting out of the box. The most important first step for NPF is to 'Think'. The first and second place finishers from the local Optimist International Oratorical Contest competition will advance, along with other students from Western Montana, to the Montana Regional Competition to be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Lockwood High School. All the students competing in the Zone contest did a wonderful job presenting their speeches about the topic posed to them. District Oratorical Chair Gail Strever said. All who heard them speak have no doubt that these students have a bright future ahead of them. The students are sponsored by the Optimist Clubs of Yellowstone County, which have encouraged area students to speak their minds about the topic Discovering the Optimism Within Me as part of the Optimist International Oratorical Contest for the 2022-2023 year. In the past six weeks four local clubs have held competitions, advancing eight students to a Zone competition which was held on April 8th. First and second place finishers from those zone competitions will now compete in the state contest in Lockwood. The First and second place finishers from state will advance to the Alberta, Montana, Saskatchewan and Northern Wyoming District competition to be held in Medicine Hat, Alberta, on May 6. There, they will compete for $5,000 in college scholarships and a chance to compete at Regional and International Levels for a total of up to $22,500 in scholarships. We are extremely proud of the work our local students have done to advance to this level and encourage the public to attend the Montana Regional Competition to show their support. Strever said. Those attending should plan to arrive no later than 10:45 a.m., as the doors will be locked as soon as the competition starts at 11. The contest is open to students under the age of 19 as if October 1, 2023. The voices emanating from the Church in Kerala must be music to BJPs ears. The party knows now that one, and probably the only, way to break its Kerala jinx is to make it into the hearts of the sizeable Christian community. The party, despite its substantial presence, is yet to emerge as a serious political contender in the state, primarily because of its inability, so far, to solve Keralas demographic equation where minorities make up nearly half the population. Now that the church leaders have begun expressing views sympathetic to it, the party cannot be faulted for nursing hopes of making reasonable electoral gains. The first such voice emerged when Thalassery bishop Joseph Pamplany indicated the community could help BJP win if the Centre ensured Rs 300/kg of rubber for farmers. Pamplanys open declaration favouring a quid pro quo electoral deal stunned political parties. It set off a series of similar statements from prelates across church denominations. Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the numerically dominant Catholic Syro-Malabar Church, endorsed the theory that the BJP is gaining support within the community and said Christians do not feel insecure in India. A bishop of the Malankara Orthodox Church said there was no untouchability towards BJP and RSS. These should be read in the context of BJPs enthusiastic Christian outreach programme in Kerala. Christians form about 18% of the population, and BJP feels their support could propel it from being an also-ran to a winnable party. Kerala politics is set for a major change if the party successfully gains the trust and support of a significant proportion of the community. The Congress and the political front it leads will be the biggest losers. However, BJP cannot rely solely on these individual voices of support if it is looking for long-lasting political gains. As Cardinal Alencherry said, the time when bishops dictated peoples political choices is over. While sympathetic words from priests may help BJP gain some extra Christian votes, the party may still come up short of getting the push it needs. In a state with strong ideological affiliations, BJP should look beyond wooing religious leaders to expand its foothold. Besides, it should be careful not to overestimate its influence within the community and be wary of getting carried away by the hype. The voices emanating from the Church in Kerala must be music to BJPs ears. The party knows now that one, and probably the only, way to break its Kerala jinx is to make it into the hearts of the sizeable Christian community. The party, despite its substantial presence, is yet to emerge as a serious political contender in the state, primarily because of its inability, so far, to solve Keralas demographic equation where minorities make up nearly half the population. Now that the church leaders have begun expressing views sympathetic to it, the party cannot be faulted for nursing hopes of making reasonable electoral gains. The first such voice emerged when Thalassery bishop Joseph Pamplany indicated the community could help BJP win if the Centre ensured Rs 300/kg of rubber for farmers. Pamplanys open declaration favouring a quid pro quo electoral deal stunned political parties. It set off a series of similar statements from prelates across church denominations. Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the numerically dominant Catholic Syro-Malabar Church, endorsed the theory that the BJP is gaining support within the community and said Christians do not feel insecure in India. A bishop of the Malankara Orthodox Church said there was no untouchability towards BJP and RSS. These should be read in the context of BJPs enthusiastic Christian outreach programme in Kerala. Christians form about 18% of the population, and BJP feels their support could propel it from being an also-ran to a winnable party. Kerala politics is set for a major change if the party successfully gains the trust and support of a significant proportion of the community. The Congress and the political front it leads will be the biggest losers. However, BJP cannot rely solely on these individual voices of support if it is looking for long-lasting political gains.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As Cardinal Alencherry said, the time when bishops dictated peoples political choices is over. While sympathetic words from priests may help BJP gain some extra Christian votes, the party may still come up short of getting the push it needs. In a state with strong ideological affiliations, BJP should look beyond wooing religious leaders to expand its foothold. Besides, it should be careful not to overestimate its influence within the community and be wary of getting carried away by the hype. Express News Service MANGALURU: S Angara, Minister for Fisheries and Ports and six-time MLA from Sullia reserved constituency in Dakshina Kannada, on Wednesday, announced his decision to quit politics. Angara, the BJPs Dalit face in coastal Karnataka, is the only minister in the government who was denied a ticket. The soft-spoken Angara hit out at the party leadership for the way he was treated. It was all pre-planned and some leaders are behind it. More than me not getting the party ticket, the way they treated me has hurt me, he told reporters, who met him at his house in Sullia. The partys decision to drop him came as a rude shock to Angara as he was not kept in the loop about it. The saffron party has given the ticket to Bhagirathi Murulya for Sullia seat. The 58-year-old leader said that he never lobbied for ticket in his political career spanning over three decades and has honestly worked for the welfare of the people. They should clarify where I have gone wrong, he added. Angara said he will not campaign for the party in the May 10 elections. He will also not take part in any political activities henceforth. If they dont have faith in me, then whats the use? All these years, I toiled for the party and people of my constituency. I was not kept in the loop about the decision of changing the candidate and that has hurt me a lot, said an emotional Angara. To a query, Angara said he had asked state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel to allow him to contest for one last time and the latter had agreed to it. It seems there is no recognition for my 30 years of honest service to the party and people. If I had lobbied, I would have got the ticket. But I stuck to honesty and that cost me dearly. I never went behind money and power. To build a house in Sullia, I had to sell my site in Bengaluru, he said. MANGALURU: S Angara, Minister for Fisheries and Ports and six-time MLA from Sullia reserved constituency in Dakshina Kannada, on Wednesday, announced his decision to quit politics. Angara, the BJPs Dalit face in coastal Karnataka, is the only minister in the government who was denied a ticket. The soft-spoken Angara hit out at the party leadership for the way he was treated. It was all pre-planned and some leaders are behind it. More than me not getting the party ticket, the way they treated me has hurt me, he told reporters, who met him at his house in Sullia. The partys decision to drop him came as a rude shock to Angara as he was not kept in the loop about it. The saffron party has given the ticket to Bhagirathi Murulya for Sullia seat. The 58-year-old leader said that he never lobbied for ticket in his political career spanning over three decades and has honestly worked for the welfare of the people.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); They should clarify where I have gone wrong, he added. Angara said he will not campaign for the party in the May 10 elections. He will also not take part in any political activities henceforth. If they dont have faith in me, then whats the use? All these years, I toiled for the party and people of my constituency. I was not kept in the loop about the decision of changing the candidate and that has hurt me a lot, said an emotional Angara. To a query, Angara said he had asked state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel to allow him to contest for one last time and the latter had agreed to it. It seems there is no recognition for my 30 years of honest service to the party and people. If I had lobbied, I would have got the ticket. But I stuck to honesty and that cost me dearly. I never went behind money and power. To build a house in Sullia, I had to sell my site in Bengaluru, he said. Ramakrishna Badseshi By Express News Service KALABURAGI : There was a rush of leaders, who were denied tickets by BJP and Congress in Kalaburagi and Yadgir districts, to meet former CM and JDS leader Kumaraswamy, who arrived here Wednesday evening. Many leaders, including former BJP MLA Doddappagouda Patil Naribol, who defeated former CM late Dharam Singh in the 2008 elections and contested against Congress candidate Dr Ajay Singh in 2013 and 2018 elections, met him. Followers of Congress leader Krishnaji Kulkarni of Kalaburagi, Dr A B Malakareddy of Yadgir and Guru Patil Shirval of Shahapur also met the JDS leader. Later, Kumaraswamy, who spoke to reporters, said once North Karnataka was the bastion of Janata Parivar, especially of JDS. However, many leaders from the region quit JDS for reasons unknown. Now, they are rejoining JDS . Kumaraswamy said that he cant reveal the names of the leaders who met him. The JDS will soon organise a welcome function to those who have quit BJP and Congress, in Bengaluru on Friday evening. The final list of the partys candidates will be announced on Friday evening or Saturday. KALABURAGI : There was a rush of leaders, who were denied tickets by BJP and Congress in Kalaburagi and Yadgir districts, to meet former CM and JDS leader Kumaraswamy, who arrived here Wednesday evening. Many leaders, including former BJP MLA Doddappagouda Patil Naribol, who defeated former CM late Dharam Singh in the 2008 elections and contested against Congress candidate Dr Ajay Singh in 2013 and 2018 elections, met him. Followers of Congress leader Krishnaji Kulkarni of Kalaburagi, Dr A B Malakareddy of Yadgir and Guru Patil Shirval of Shahapur also met the JDS leader. Later, Kumaraswamy, who spoke to reporters, said once North Karnataka was the bastion of Janata Parivar, especially of JDS. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); However, many leaders from the region quit JDS for reasons unknown. Now, they are rejoining JDS . Kumaraswamy said that he cant reveal the names of the leaders who met him. The JDS will soon organise a welcome function to those who have quit BJP and Congress, in Bengaluru on Friday evening. The final list of the partys candidates will be announced on Friday evening or Saturday. By Express News Service BENGALURU: There is nothing wrong in inviting people to have a delicious biryani. But if you are a politician busy campaigning for elections, that can amount to a violation of the model code of conduct. ST Somashekhar, Cooperation Minister and BJP candidate for Yeshwanthpur constituency in Bengaluru has landed in trouble for inviting his voters for a biryani feast. The election authorities have registered an FIR against the minister for requesting people to have lunch during his electioneering. The Election Commission took note of the offence after a complaint by Janata Dal Secular party. BJPs ST Somashekhar files his nomination in Bengaluru on Thursday Somashekhar was campaigning near Kabbalamma temple at Doddipalya in Kengeri hobli on April 9. He addressed a gathering there and when he was about to end his speech, his followers requested him to announce that lunch is ready for the participants. Somashekhar agreed and announced, Its already late for lunch and the food is ready. That too biryani. All please have it. Based on a video footage of his statement, AP Ranganath, president of the state legal cell of JDS, filed a complaint with the chief electoral officer that Somashekhar had violated the model code of conduct by hosting a biryani feast to lure voters. Based on the video footage, Prakash CP, an official of the flying surveillance team, filed a complaint with Kaggalipura police, who registered an FIR against Somashekhar on Wednesday. BENGALURU: There is nothing wrong in inviting people to have a delicious biryani. But if you are a politician busy campaigning for elections, that can amount to a violation of the model code of conduct. ST Somashekhar, Cooperation Minister and BJP candidate for Yeshwanthpur constituency in Bengaluru has landed in trouble for inviting his voters for a biryani feast. The election authorities have registered an FIR against the minister for requesting people to have lunch during his electioneering. The Election Commission took note of the offence after a complaint by Janata Dal Secular party. BJPs ST Somashekhar files his nomination in Bengaluru on ThursdaySomashekhar was campaigning near Kabbalamma temple at Doddipalya in Kengeri hobli on April 9. He addressed a gathering there and when he was about to end his speech, his followers requested him to announce that lunch is ready for the participants. Somashekhar agreed and announced, Its already late for lunch and the food is ready. That too biryani. All please have it.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Based on a video footage of his statement, AP Ranganath, president of the state legal cell of JDS, filed a complaint with the chief electoral officer that Somashekhar had violated the model code of conduct by hosting a biryani feast to lure voters. Based on the video footage, Prakash CP, an official of the flying surveillance team, filed a complaint with Kaggalipura police, who registered an FIR against Somashekhar on Wednesday. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Many senior BJP leaders have raised the banner of revolt, especially after the announcement of the second list of candidates for the May 10 Assembly elections. On Thursday, several leaders, including MLAs and members of local bodies resigned from the party and openly expressed displeasure against the leadership for not giving them an opportunity to contest the elections. Mudigere MLA MP Kumaraswamy has resigned and Haveri MLA Nehru Olekar has announced that he will quit. The party leadership gave tickets to Deepak Doddaiah ignoring Kumaraswamy and to Gavisiddappa Dyamannavar in place of Olekar. Nine BJP councillors from Shivamogga City Corporation, all followers of senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa, resigned accusing the party of double standards. Former deputy chief minister Lakshman Savadi announced that he will quit BJP on Friday. Hosadurga MLA Goolihatti Shekar may also resign soon. He is likely to join Gali Janardhan Reddys new party. NR Santosh, a ticket aspirant from Arsikere in Hassan district and a relative of former CM BS Yediyurappa, is likely to resign on Friday. His followers staged a protest against the party on Thursday. On Wednesday, MLC R Nagesh resigned from the party and council membership WATCH | Complaining about the manner in which the ticket aspirants were treated by the BJP leadership, a leader said, When Yediyurappa was at the helm of affairs, he used to personally call and speak to leaders and workers. He used to talk to all and ensure that they work for the party. That is not the case now. BJP national general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Arun Singh told The New Indian Express that four to five aspirants had applied for tickets from each constituency. If they fail to get tickets, their followers will also get upset. The party expected it. In BJP, we all work as per its ideology. Of the 212 candidates announced so far, 66 are new faces. Our idea is to give a chance to new faces and also respect elders, he said. ALSO READ | Denied ticket in Karnataka polls, many Congress, BJP rebels meet JDS leader Kumaraswamy BENGALURU: Many senior BJP leaders have raised the banner of revolt, especially after the announcement of the second list of candidates for the May 10 Assembly elections. On Thursday, several leaders, including MLAs and members of local bodies resigned from the party and openly expressed displeasure against the leadership for not giving them an opportunity to contest the elections. Mudigere MLA MP Kumaraswamy has resigned and Haveri MLA Nehru Olekar has announced that he will quit. The party leadership gave tickets to Deepak Doddaiah ignoring Kumaraswamy and to Gavisiddappa Dyamannavar in place of Olekar.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Nine BJP councillors from Shivamogga City Corporation, all followers of senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa, resigned accusing the party of double standards. Former deputy chief minister Lakshman Savadi announced that he will quit BJP on Friday. Hosadurga MLA Goolihatti Shekar may also resign soon. He is likely to join Gali Janardhan Reddys new party. NR Santosh, a ticket aspirant from Arsikere in Hassan district and a relative of former CM BS Yediyurappa, is likely to resign on Friday. His followers staged a protest against the party on Thursday. On Wednesday, MLC R Nagesh resigned from the party and council membership WATCH | Complaining about the manner in which the ticket aspirants were treated by the BJP leadership, a leader said, When Yediyurappa was at the helm of affairs, he used to personally call and speak to leaders and workers. He used to talk to all and ensure that they work for the party. That is not the case now. BJP national general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Arun Singh told The New Indian Express that four to five aspirants had applied for tickets from each constituency. If they fail to get tickets, their followers will also get upset. The party expected it. In BJP, we all work as per its ideology. Of the 212 candidates announced so far, 66 are new faces. Our idea is to give a chance to new faces and also respect elders, he said. ALSO READ | Denied ticket in Karnataka polls, many Congress, BJP rebels meet JDS leader Kumaraswamy Naushad Bijapur By Express News Service BELGAVI: The former deputy chief minister and BJP MLC Laxman Savadi's decision to sever ties with the saffron outfit and cross over to the Congress has come as a shot in the arm for the latter. The expectation in the Congress is that Savadi's presence would have a significant political impact in several assembly constituencies in North Karnataka and also in assembly segments bordering Maharashtra. His links and rapport with the voters, particularly in the Lingayat-dominated constituencies, will give the BJP a run for its money in these assembly segments. If the past records are any indicators, Savadi has been instrumental in the victory of BJP candidates in Kagwad, Athani (by-poll), Sindagi and Basavakalyan in the last assembly elections. According to political experts, his presence would do a world of good for the Congress in Kagwad and Athani. The BJP was largely dependent on him when it managed to clinch the seats in post-2004. Before that, the BJP hardly had a presence in these constituencies. Savadi helped BJP establish its hold on a slew of cooperative organisations and local bodies. Savadi has emerged as a popular leader in areas of Vijayapura and Kalaburgi as well. In both these areas, people have floated Laxman Savadi Abhimanigala Sangha, in his honour. The BJP had not only named him as in charge of several constituencies in Kalaburgi and Vijayapura districts during the last assembly elections, but he was also in charge of elections in several assembly segments in neighbouring districts of Maharashtra during the last two assembly elections. Due to his association with the cooperative movement in North Karnataka and West-Maharashtra, he has been able to strengthen his links with the people of Maharashtra, particularly in the Sangli and Kolhapur districts. WATCH | While recalling the key roles played by Savadi as a leader in the past two decades, several Congress leaders including MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar admitted that his decision to join the Congress would have an impact on several assembly segments in the region. The party would not only be benefit from his presence but his experience would help the Congress to grow stronger in areas of the Belagavi district where it lagged behind BJP politically, said another party leader. ALSO READ | Karnataka polls: Rebellion continues in BJP amid firefighting He has been a close friend of the three-time former Kagwad MLA Raju Kage and the duo together fought several elections in the past. Both of them contested the 1999 assembly elections from Athani and Kagwad as Independents on an aeroplane symbol. Both of them lost their seats narrowly. Later, Savadi and Kage joined the BJP together and went on to win the assembly elections from Athani and Kagwad in 2004, 2008 and 2013. The entry of Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi into Athani politics and the unity shown by Panchamsali Lingayats during the 2018 elections resulted in Savadi's loss in the 2018 assembly elections there. Savadi lost by a narrow margin of 2000 votes against a Panchamsali Lingayat Mahesh Kumatalli who fought the same election on the Congress ticket. However, Savadi remained loyal to the BJP and helped Kumatalli in Athani in 2019 when the latter crossed over to Congress via Operation Lotus. When BS Yediyurappa formed the government after BJP achieved the required numbers via Operation Lotus, the BJP surprisingly named Savadi as Deputy Chief Minister by elevating him to MLC. However, the BJP continued ignoring him ever since Basavaraj Bommai became the Chief Minister and finally dumped him by denying him a party ticket from Athani in the coming elections despite the fact that he was promised a ticket by top leaders of the party. Once a star campaigner for BJP in several constituencies in the past assembly polls, he found himself cornered ahead of the May 10 election. To revive his political career, Savadi has taken a timely decision to join the Congress on Friday. According to the sources, Congress welcomed him into the party, accepting all the "conditions" that he laid down before the Congress leadership in the state. ALSO READ | Denied ticket in polls, many Congress, BJP rebels meet JDS leader HDK Savadi to contest from Athani: Siddharamaiah Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah said that the party has decided to field former DCM Laxman Savadi from the Athani Assembly constituency against BJPs Mahesh Kumatalli. The Congress has decided to ignore all its party leaders seeking party tickets from Athani in the coming election. Speaking in Belagavi on Friday, Siddaramaiah said Savadi has joined unconditionally. Savadi said he should be respected by the party and that the party should help him develop the Athani region if it forms a government, he said. Sad to see Savadi join Congress: Bommai Following former deputy CM Laxman Savadis jump to the Congress, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he was sad to see such a senior leader leave the BJP. Savadi was upset that the party denied him a ticket from the Athani segment in Belagavi. On Savadis political future in the Congress, the CM said. It is natural that there are more aspirants for tickets in the ruling party. Some leaders may have left the party to become MLAs, but workers are with BJP, Bommai said. He said leaders quitting the party in hordes would not hamper the partys poll prospects, as the workers are with the BJP. Congress did not have candidates for more than 60 constituencies, and is inducting leaders from other parties, he added. Bommai will be filing his nomination papers in the Shiggaon assembly segment in Haveri on Saturday. ALSO READ: To beat anti-incumbency, BJP may resort to Gujarat model in Karnataka BELGAVI: The former deputy chief minister and BJP MLC Laxman Savadi's decision to sever ties with the saffron outfit and cross over to the Congress has come as a shot in the arm for the latter. The expectation in the Congress is that Savadi's presence would have a significant political impact in several assembly constituencies in North Karnataka and also in assembly segments bordering Maharashtra. His links and rapport with the voters, particularly in the Lingayat-dominated constituencies, will give the BJP a run for its money in these assembly segments. If the past records are any indicators, Savadi has been instrumental in the victory of BJP candidates in Kagwad, Athani (by-poll), Sindagi and Basavakalyan in the last assembly elections.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to political experts, his presence would do a world of good for the Congress in Kagwad and Athani. The BJP was largely dependent on him when it managed to clinch the seats in post-2004. Before that, the BJP hardly had a presence in these constituencies. Savadi helped BJP establish its hold on a slew of cooperative organisations and local bodies. Savadi has emerged as a popular leader in areas of Vijayapura and Kalaburgi as well. In both these areas, people have floated Laxman Savadi Abhimanigala Sangha, in his honour. The BJP had not only named him as in charge of several constituencies in Kalaburgi and Vijayapura districts during the last assembly elections, but he was also in charge of elections in several assembly segments in neighbouring districts of Maharashtra during the last two assembly elections. Due to his association with the cooperative movement in North Karnataka and West-Maharashtra, he has been able to strengthen his links with the people of Maharashtra, particularly in the Sangli and Kolhapur districts. WATCH | While recalling the key roles played by Savadi as a leader in the past two decades, several Congress leaders including MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar admitted that his decision to join the Congress would have an impact on several assembly segments in the region. The party would not only be benefit from his presence but his experience would help the Congress to grow stronger in areas of the Belagavi district where it lagged behind BJP politically, said another party leader. ALSO READ | Karnataka polls: Rebellion continues in BJP amid firefighting He has been a close friend of the three-time former Kagwad MLA Raju Kage and the duo together fought several elections in the past. Both of them contested the 1999 assembly elections from Athani and Kagwad as Independents on an aeroplane symbol. Both of them lost their seats narrowly. Later, Savadi and Kage joined the BJP together and went on to win the assembly elections from Athani and Kagwad in 2004, 2008 and 2013. The entry of Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi into Athani politics and the unity shown by Panchamsali Lingayats during the 2018 elections resulted in Savadi's loss in the 2018 assembly elections there. Savadi lost by a narrow margin of 2000 votes against a Panchamsali Lingayat Mahesh Kumatalli who fought the same election on the Congress ticket. However, Savadi remained loyal to the BJP and helped Kumatalli in Athani in 2019 when the latter crossed over to Congress via Operation Lotus. When BS Yediyurappa formed the government after BJP achieved the required numbers via Operation Lotus, the BJP surprisingly named Savadi as Deputy Chief Minister by elevating him to MLC. However, the BJP continued ignoring him ever since Basavaraj Bommai became the Chief Minister and finally dumped him by denying him a party ticket from Athani in the coming elections despite the fact that he was promised a ticket by top leaders of the party. Once a star campaigner for BJP in several constituencies in the past assembly polls, he found himself cornered ahead of the May 10 election. To revive his political career, Savadi has taken a timely decision to join the Congress on Friday. According to the sources, Congress welcomed him into the party, accepting all the "conditions" that he laid down before the Congress leadership in the state. ALSO READ | Denied ticket in polls, many Congress, BJP rebels meet JDS leader HDK Savadi to contest from Athani: Siddharamaiah Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah said that the party has decided to field former DCM Laxman Savadi from the Athani Assembly constituency against BJPs Mahesh Kumatalli. The Congress has decided to ignore all its party leaders seeking party tickets from Athani in the coming election. Speaking in Belagavi on Friday, Siddaramaiah said Savadi has joined unconditionally. Savadi said he should be respected by the party and that the party should help him develop the Athani region if it forms a government, he said. Sad to see Savadi join Congress: Bommai Following former deputy CM Laxman Savadis jump to the Congress, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he was sad to see such a senior leader leave the BJP. Savadi was upset that the party denied him a ticket from the Athani segment in Belagavi. On Savadis political future in the Congress, the CM said. It is natural that there are more aspirants for tickets in the ruling party. Some leaders may have left the party to become MLAs, but workers are with BJP, Bommai said. He said leaders quitting the party in hordes would not hamper the partys poll prospects, as the workers are with the BJP. Congress did not have candidates for more than 60 constituencies, and is inducting leaders from other parties, he added. Bommai will be filing his nomination papers in the Shiggaon assembly segment in Haveri on Saturday. ALSO READ: To beat anti-incumbency, BJP may resort to Gujarat model in Karnataka By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The two political parties, the CPM and BJP, in power in Kerala and at the Centre are caught in a political slugfest after the former criticised a section of Christian Church heads, even naming a few of them, for their allegiance towards the latter. In a recent editorial in the CPMs publication, Peoples Democracy, the party accused some church leaders of compromising their stance under the relentless pressure of the BJP government. The editorial mentioned Archbishop Joseph Pamplany of the Thalassery Archdiocese, and even Cardinal George Alencherry, whose petition in the Supreme Court to quash criminal cases against him was rejected, came out in an interview stating that Modi was a good leader and that Christians were not insecure under BJP rule. According to the CPM, the BJP has adopted a two-pronged approach to influence the Christian community in Kerala. Firstly, it has sought to fan anti-Muslim sentiments amongst the Catholic community, particularly the Syro-Malabar Church. Secondly, the Modi government is allegedly using intimidation tactics to subdue anyone who does not fall in line with the BJP-RSS politics. The Enforcement Directorate has initiated investigations against various church leaders, including Bishop Dharma Raj, the moderator of the Church of South India, and religious leaders like K P Yohannan and Paul Dinakaran. Cardinal George Alencherry, Archbishop of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, is also under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. Additionally, pressure is being mounted through the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). TNIE EDITORIAL | BJPs Christian push: Adding to Keralas political matrix The CPM clarified that Christians in Kerala are an integral part of the secular fabric and should not be influenced by political agendas. However, BJP state president K Surendran criticised the CPM for disrespecting the Christian Churches. He stated that it is only the CPMs delusion that they could pressure Church heads to withdraw their support for the BJP through intimidation. The CPM is in discomfort because the Christian community is responding against the LDFs communalism. The Congress is supporting the anti-Christian article, he said. Surendran also claimed that Christians in Kerala were mistreated even when the LDF was in power. The chopping of the palm of Joseph, a college teacher, happened when the LDF was in power. The CPM was with the Popular Front activists who had marched towards the Archdiocese of the Pala Bishop, he INTERVIEW | Christians dont feel insecure in India, says Syro-Malabar Church head THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The two political parties, the CPM and BJP, in power in Kerala and at the Centre are caught in a political slugfest after the former criticised a section of Christian Church heads, even naming a few of them, for their allegiance towards the latter. In a recent editorial in the CPMs publication, Peoples Democracy, the party accused some church leaders of compromising their stance under the relentless pressure of the BJP government. The editorial mentioned Archbishop Joseph Pamplany of the Thalassery Archdiocese, and even Cardinal George Alencherry, whose petition in the Supreme Court to quash criminal cases against him was rejected, came out in an interview stating that Modi was a good leader and that Christians were not insecure under BJP rule. According to the CPM, the BJP has adopted a two-pronged approach to influence the Christian community in Kerala. Firstly, it has sought to fan anti-Muslim sentiments amongst the Catholic community, particularly the Syro-Malabar Church. Secondly, the Modi government is allegedly using intimidation tactics to subdue anyone who does not fall in line with the BJP-RSS politics.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Enforcement Directorate has initiated investigations against various church leaders, including Bishop Dharma Raj, the moderator of the Church of South India, and religious leaders like K P Yohannan and Paul Dinakaran. Cardinal George Alencherry, Archbishop of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, is also under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. Additionally, pressure is being mounted through the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). TNIE EDITORIAL | BJPs Christian push: Adding to Keralas political matrix The CPM clarified that Christians in Kerala are an integral part of the secular fabric and should not be influenced by political agendas. However, BJP state president K Surendran criticised the CPM for disrespecting the Christian Churches. He stated that it is only the CPMs delusion that they could pressure Church heads to withdraw their support for the BJP through intimidation. The CPM is in discomfort because the Christian community is responding against the LDFs communalism. The Congress is supporting the anti-Christian article, he said. Surendran also claimed that Christians in Kerala were mistreated even when the LDF was in power. The chopping of the palm of Joseph, a college teacher, happened when the LDF was in power. The CPM was with the Popular Front activists who had marched towards the Archdiocese of the Pala Bishop, he INTERVIEW | Christians dont feel insecure in India, says Syro-Malabar Church head Unnikrishnan S By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala was left sweating as the maximum temperature in some districts touched the 40 degrees Celsius mark on Thursday, the highest since 2019. Palakkad, with a maximum temperature of 40.1 degrees Celsius, was the hottest, followed by Vellanikkara in Thrissur at 40 degrees Celsius. This is 3.4 degrees Celsius and 4.9 degrees Celsius higher than the respective average temperature in the two districts. To make matters worse, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a maximum temperature warning for Friday. It said the maximum temperature will be around 39 degrees Celsius in Thrissur, Palakkad and Kannur (3-4 degrees Celsius above normal) and around 37 degrees Celsius in Kottayam and Kozhikode (2-3 degrees Celsius above normal) on Friday. The IMD said the maximum temperature was appreciably above normal in Kottayam and Thrissur, above normal in Alappuzha, Kozhikode and Palakkad and normal elsewhere in Kerala. Rajeevan Erikkulam, a meteorologist with the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, said the dry condition is likely to continue for two to three days. The prevailing high-pressure formation in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea is contributing to the dry condition. The situation is likely to get better when summer rain get active by next week, he said. Barring the first week of April, the state has not received summer rain so far this month, which is being attributed to the rise in temperature. Health advisory issued as mercury soars above 40oc The health department on Friday issued an advisory with temperature soaring in the state. The department urges people to remain cautious against sunburn and dehydration. Below are the necessary precautions put forward by the health officials to tackle the increasing heat. Stay away from the sun Avoid going outdoors between 11am and 3pm Drink a lot of water and stay hydrated Avoid carbonated drinks, coffee, tea during daytime Use footwear, cap or umbrella while venturing out Take utmost care against forest fire Do not take pets outside for walking during daytime Its boiling in here! Thursday hottest day in three years Rise in temperature due to lack of summer rain in second week of April No respite from summer heat likely this week State may receive summer rainfall next week THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala was left sweating as the maximum temperature in some districts touched the 40 degrees Celsius mark on Thursday, the highest since 2019. Palakkad, with a maximum temperature of 40.1 degrees Celsius, was the hottest, followed by Vellanikkara in Thrissur at 40 degrees Celsius. This is 3.4 degrees Celsius and 4.9 degrees Celsius higher than the respective average temperature in the two districts. To make matters worse, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a maximum temperature warning for Friday. It said the maximum temperature will be around 39 degrees Celsius in Thrissur, Palakkad and Kannur (3-4 degrees Celsius above normal) and around 37 degrees Celsius in Kottayam and Kozhikode (2-3 degrees Celsius above normal) on Friday. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The IMD said the maximum temperature was appreciably above normal in Kottayam and Thrissur, above normal in Alappuzha, Kozhikode and Palakkad and normal elsewhere in Kerala. Rajeevan Erikkulam, a meteorologist with the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, said the dry condition is likely to continue for two to three days. The prevailing high-pressure formation in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea is contributing to the dry condition. The situation is likely to get better when summer rain get active by next week, he said. Barring the first week of April, the state has not received summer rain so far this month, which is being attributed to the rise in temperature. Health advisory issued as mercury soars above 40oc The health department on Friday issued an advisory with temperature soaring in the state. The department urges people to remain cautious against sunburn and dehydration. Below are the necessary precautions put forward by the health officials to tackle the increasing heat. Stay away from the sun Avoid going outdoors between 11am and 3pm Drink a lot of water and stay hydrated Avoid carbonated drinks, coffee, tea during daytime Use footwear, cap or umbrella while venturing out Take utmost care against forest fire Do not take pets outside for walking during daytime Its boiling in here! Thursday hottest day in three years Rise in temperature due to lack of summer rain in second week of April No respite from summer heat likely this week State may receive summer rainfall next week By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Karnataka Milk Marketing Federations entry into Kerala with its Nandini brand has raised alarm bells for Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF), known by the brand Milma. The KCMMF, which enjoys a near monopoly in milk sales, sees the entry of a neighbouring states brand as a threat to its business interests. Milma chairperson K S Mani came out with a terse statement accusing the Karnataka Milk Marketing Federation of breaching federal principles and cooperative spirit. He warned that the trend of breaching the state territory will only lead to unhealthy competition among states. To prevent such a situation, he demanded the intervention of the Union and state governments to evolve a consensus. The move of Amul (Gujarat Milk Co-operative Federation) to promote its staple products in Karnataka was met with stiff resistance from the stakeholders in that state. But Karnataka Milk Marketing Federation recently opened its outlets in various parts of Kerala to sell its Nandini brand of milk and other products. EXPLAINER | The Amul vs Nandini battle in poll-bound Karnataka How could this be justified? Whoever does this, it is a highly unethical practice which defeats the very purpose of Indias dairy movement and harms the interests of farmers, said Mani. The tendency to enter the markets outside of ones domain by opening sales outlets or roping in franchisees should be avoided, he added. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Karnataka Milk Marketing Federations entry into Kerala with its Nandini brand has raised alarm bells for Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF), known by the brand Milma. The KCMMF, which enjoys a near monopoly in milk sales, sees the entry of a neighbouring states brand as a threat to its business interests. Milma chairperson K S Mani came out with a terse statement accusing the Karnataka Milk Marketing Federation of breaching federal principles and cooperative spirit. He warned that the trend of breaching the state territory will only lead to unhealthy competition among states. To prevent such a situation, he demanded the intervention of the Union and state governments to evolve a consensus. The move of Amul (Gujarat Milk Co-operative Federation) to promote its staple products in Karnataka was met with stiff resistance from the stakeholders in that state. But Karnataka Milk Marketing Federation recently opened its outlets in various parts of Kerala to sell its Nandini brand of milk and other products.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); EXPLAINER | The Amul vs Nandini battle in poll-bound Karnataka How could this be justified? Whoever does this, it is a highly unethical practice which defeats the very purpose of Indias dairy movement and harms the interests of farmers, said Mani. The tendency to enter the markets outside of ones domain by opening sales outlets or roping in franchisees should be avoided, he added. Vishnuprasad KP By Express News Service MALAPPURAM: Setting an example of communal harmony, two temple committees in Malappuram organised mass Iftar for Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. Committees of the Sree Puthuveppu Manaliyarkavu Bhagavathi temple in Othalur and Chathangadu Sree Maha Vishnu Temple in Vaniyannur near Tirur hosted the mass Iftar on the premises of the respective temple grounds on April 7 and March 28, respectively. Both events saw the mass participation of Muslim believers. It was an initiative taken by a group of youngsters in the area. Our aim is to strengthen the bond between people from the Hindu and Muslim communities. Religious harmony is important and we want to celebrate every festival together in a peaceful and jovial atmosphere, said Krishnan Pavittapuram, secretary of the Sree Puthuveppu Manaliyarkavu Bhagavathi temple. No space for hatred, says IUML leader Dijith K, one of the youngsters behind the feast, said a person from the Muslim community had sponsored the annadanam during the temples annual installation festival, which fell during Ramadan this year. We will continue to organise the mass Iftar in the coming years, Dijith said. For the Chathangadu Sree Maha Vishnu Temple, this is the second Iftar they have hosted. Like the previous year, people from the Muslim community could not attend the annadanam this year as our annual installation festival fell during the Ramzan month. So, we organised the mass Iftar a day after the annual festival. We will organise it next year if the date of the annual installation festival falls during Ramzan month, said Lakshmanan K K, temple committee secretary. Panakkad Rasheed Ali Shihab Thangal, an IUML leader who attended the Iftar at Vaniyannur, appreciated the temples move. The temple has set a model for others to follow. All communities should live in harmony in the country. We should move forward while respecting and helping each other. There should be no space for hatred in our hearts, he said. MALAPPURAM: Setting an example of communal harmony, two temple committees in Malappuram organised mass Iftar for Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. Committees of the Sree Puthuveppu Manaliyarkavu Bhagavathi temple in Othalur and Chathangadu Sree Maha Vishnu Temple in Vaniyannur near Tirur hosted the mass Iftar on the premises of the respective temple grounds on April 7 and March 28, respectively. Both events saw the mass participation of Muslim believers. It was an initiative taken by a group of youngsters in the area. Our aim is to strengthen the bond between people from the Hindu and Muslim communities. Religious harmony is important and we want to celebrate every festival together in a peaceful and jovial atmosphere, said Krishnan Pavittapuram, secretary of the Sree Puthuveppu Manaliyarkavu Bhagavathi temple. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); No space for hatred, says IUML leader Dijith K, one of the youngsters behind the feast, said a person from the Muslim community had sponsored the annadanam during the temples annual installation festival, which fell during Ramadan this year. We will continue to organise the mass Iftar in the coming years, Dijith said. For the Chathangadu Sree Maha Vishnu Temple, this is the second Iftar they have hosted. Like the previous year, people from the Muslim community could not attend the annadanam this year as our annual installation festival fell during the Ramzan month. So, we organised the mass Iftar a day after the annual festival. We will organise it next year if the date of the annual installation festival falls during Ramzan month, said Lakshmanan K K, temple committee secretary. Panakkad Rasheed Ali Shihab Thangal, an IUML leader who attended the Iftar at Vaniyannur, appreciated the temples move. The temple has set a model for others to follow. All communities should live in harmony in the country. We should move forward while respecting and helping each other. There should be no space for hatred in our hearts, he said. Bright n' Beautiful, a Yellowstone County nonprofit that seeks a clean, green, and more beautiful community, has named Earth Day April 22, Great American Cleanup Day in Billings. Volunteers across town are invited to come out on Earth Day morning to tackle litter in their neighborhoods and public spaces. In 2023, Keep America Beautiful and its affiliates, like Bright n Beautiful, celebrate the 25th year of the Great American Cleanup. Every year, the Keep America Beautiful network of 700 affiliates mobilizes thousands of volunteers to spring clean the nation. Great American Cleanup is a beloved annual tradition in Billings and communities all across Yellowstone County, said Joanie Tooley, executive director of Bright n Beautiful. Its fun to get out there together and clear away a winters worth of litter to make our home brighter and even more beautiful. If you can, please participate this year on Earth Day, April 22, said Billings Mayor Bill Cole. Its exhilarating and just plain fun to work alongside friends and neighbors to clear away litter that has accumulated over a long and blustery winter. It feels good to refresh our neighborhoods and public spaces just in time for the glories of a Montana spring. Those interested in litter pick-up activities during Great American Cleanup are encouraged to contact Bright n Beautiful at brightnbeautifulbillings@gmail.com, or (406) 248-6617, to sign up for a cleanup spot, arrange to borrow safety vests and litter pickers, and receive free supplies. All cleanup efforts will be included in the Yellowstone County 2023 Great American Cleanup report. Home base on Billings Cleanup Day will be the Billings Community Center, 360 N. 23rd St. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for check-in and supplies. Walk-ins welcome while supplies last. Cleanup Billings will go from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For Earth Day Weekend Billings Public Works has generously provided large roll-off dumpsters at the following locations: Downtown at the parking lot opposite Billings Community Center, 360 N. 23rd St. The Heights at the parking lot of Castle Rock Park, W. Wicks Lane and Nutter Blvd. West End at the parking lot of Stewart Park, 26th Street West and Central Avenue. Additional Yellowstone County Great American Cleanup events this season include: Shepherd Lions Annual Highway Clean-Up at 8 a.m. April 22, meeting at Shepherd Community Center Build a Better Laurel Earth Day Cleanup at 9 a.m. April 22 at Main Street Perk Laurel Community Cleanup on April 29 and 30 at Grace Bible Church, 917 Washington Ave. Worden/Ballantine Cleanup Day at 9 a.m. May 6, meeting on Worden Main Street By Express News Service SAMBALPUR: The state government on Thursday suspended internet services in Sambalpur for 48 hours after the communal violence during a bike rally ahead of Hanuman Jayanti festival. The internet shutdown, which includes blocking of social media platforms, will remain in force till on April 15. A notice issued by Additional Chief Secretary, Home DK Singh said the situation is critical and miscreants are circulating false and inflammatory messages through social media to disturb the public order in Sambalpur. Messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and other such media have the potential to inflame communal passions. express illustration In order to prevent the spread of such inflammatory and motivated messages, notification has been promulgated to prohibit the use and access of the following types of internet and data services including WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and other social media for next 48 hours beginning from 10 am on April 13, it said. Sambalpur SP B Gangadhar also appealed to the public not to believe in rumours and share any unverified information on the internet that might disrupt peace and harmony in the city. The SP further said the situation is completely under control. Adequate security arrangements have been made to prevent any untoward situation. Thirty platoons of police fore have been deployed across the city. We have also asked for additional 10 platoons of force. So far, 43 people directly involved in the clash have been detained. At least 26 persons have been arrested and produced in court. We have also seized swords, petrol bombs and other weapons from the spot. When asked if the violence was pre-planned, Gangadhar said, It seems the incident was sporadic and occurred following a sudden provocation. Further investigation is underway. On the day, police conducted a flag march from Zilla School Chowk via Motijharan to Gengutipali Chowk. Sambalpur collector Ananya Das said discussions were held with all stakeholders in the peace committee meeting. They have promised to extend support to maintain harmony during the procession. Adequate security arrangements will be made to ensure that the procession passes off peacefully on Friday, she added. However, despite the prohibitory orders, the Hanuman Jayanti Samanwaya Samiti decided to observe Hanuman Jayanti on Friday. Boycotting the peace committee meeting held on the day, Samiti members announced to organise a rally on the occasion as per their previous plan. Besides, the Samiti has called for a bandh from 3 pm on Thursday till 5 pm on Friday and has sought support of the people. President of the Samiti Rajkumar Badpanda said, We appeal to the people to shut down their shops during the bandh and join the procession on Friday. On Wednesday, clashes erupted between two groups at Motijharan during a Hanuman Jayanti rally in Sambalpur city. At least 10 police personnel sustained injuries in stone pelting during the clashes. Following the incident, the district administration clamped section 144 across the city. SAMBALPUR: The state government on Thursday suspended internet services in Sambalpur for 48 hours after the communal violence during a bike rally ahead of Hanuman Jayanti festival. The internet shutdown, which includes blocking of social media platforms, will remain in force till on April 15. A notice issued by Additional Chief Secretary, Home DK Singh said the situation is critical and miscreants are circulating false and inflammatory messages through social media to disturb the public order in Sambalpur. Messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and other such media have the potential to inflame communal passions. express illustrationIn order to prevent the spread of such inflammatory and motivated messages, notification has been promulgated to prohibit the use and access of the following types of internet and data services including WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and other social media for next 48 hours beginning from 10 am on April 13, it said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Sambalpur SP B Gangadhar also appealed to the public not to believe in rumours and share any unverified information on the internet that might disrupt peace and harmony in the city. The SP further said the situation is completely under control. Adequate security arrangements have been made to prevent any untoward situation. Thirty platoons of police fore have been deployed across the city. We have also asked for additional 10 platoons of force. So far, 43 people directly involved in the clash have been detained. At least 26 persons have been arrested and produced in court. We have also seized swords, petrol bombs and other weapons from the spot. When asked if the violence was pre-planned, Gangadhar said, It seems the incident was sporadic and occurred following a sudden provocation. Further investigation is underway. On the day, police conducted a flag march from Zilla School Chowk via Motijharan to Gengutipali Chowk. Sambalpur collector Ananya Das said discussions were held with all stakeholders in the peace committee meeting. They have promised to extend support to maintain harmony during the procession. Adequate security arrangements will be made to ensure that the procession passes off peacefully on Friday, she added. However, despite the prohibitory orders, the Hanuman Jayanti Samanwaya Samiti decided to observe Hanuman Jayanti on Friday. Boycotting the peace committee meeting held on the day, Samiti members announced to organise a rally on the occasion as per their previous plan. Besides, the Samiti has called for a bandh from 3 pm on Thursday till 5 pm on Friday and has sought support of the people. President of the Samiti Rajkumar Badpanda said, We appeal to the people to shut down their shops during the bandh and join the procession on Friday. On Wednesday, clashes erupted between two groups at Motijharan during a Hanuman Jayanti rally in Sambalpur city. At least 10 police personnel sustained injuries in stone pelting during the clashes. Following the incident, the district administration clamped section 144 across the city. By PTI BHUBANESWAR: Odisha on Thursday reeled under sweltering heat with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in at least 25 places, a meteorological department official said. Mercury level reached 43.5 degrees Celsius at Baripada, the highest temperature this season so far. Seven places across the state recorded temperatures of 42 degrees Celsius or more on Thursday, while 25 stations witnessed the level of mercury soaring above or at 40 degrees C, the official said, adding that the situation will continue for two more days. The places which recorded 42 degrees Celsius or more are Angul (42.5), Titlagarh (42.2), Sonepur (42.5) and Talcher, Bhawanipatna and Balangir (42 degrees Celsius each). Jharsuguda registered 41.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Sambalpur with 41.6 degrees C, and Cuttack with 41.4. State capital Bhubaneswar sizzled at 40.8 degrees Celsius, Hirakud at 40.6, Jajpur at 40.2, Dhenkanal at 40.5, and Jagatsinghpur at 40.5. Heat wave condition is very likely to occur at one or two places in Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Sambalpur, Deogarh and Angul districts on Friday, the India Meteorological Department said. Meanwhile, Special Relief Commissioner Satyabrata Sahu said all the districts were on alert and asked to take various measures to combat the heat wave situation in the state. He said 'Jal Chhatras' (water kiosks) have been opened in strategic locations such as marketplaces and bus stands in rural and urban localities. Besides, arrangements for the supply of drinking water through tankers have been made in water scarcity areas. Panchayati Raj department has been directed to immediately start preventive maintenance of tube wells and piped water supply systems if not already taken up, he said. Sufficient life-saving medicines, saline and ORS packets in dispensaries, health centres and district hospitals have been stocked to meet the requirement. The state government reviewed the heat wave situation at a meeting chaired by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Pramila Malik. Keeping in view the intense heat-wave condition, the state government has decided to close all schools and Anganwadi centres till April 16. BHUBANESWAR: Odisha on Thursday reeled under sweltering heat with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in at least 25 places, a meteorological department official said. Mercury level reached 43.5 degrees Celsius at Baripada, the highest temperature this season so far. Seven places across the state recorded temperatures of 42 degrees Celsius or more on Thursday, while 25 stations witnessed the level of mercury soaring above or at 40 degrees C, the official said, adding that the situation will continue for two more days.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The places which recorded 42 degrees Celsius or more are Angul (42.5), Titlagarh (42.2), Sonepur (42.5) and Talcher, Bhawanipatna and Balangir (42 degrees Celsius each). Jharsuguda registered 41.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Sambalpur with 41.6 degrees C, and Cuttack with 41.4. State capital Bhubaneswar sizzled at 40.8 degrees Celsius, Hirakud at 40.6, Jajpur at 40.2, Dhenkanal at 40.5, and Jagatsinghpur at 40.5. Heat wave condition is very likely to occur at one or two places in Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Sambalpur, Deogarh and Angul districts on Friday, the India Meteorological Department said. Meanwhile, Special Relief Commissioner Satyabrata Sahu said all the districts were on alert and asked to take various measures to combat the heat wave situation in the state. He said 'Jal Chhatras' (water kiosks) have been opened in strategic locations such as marketplaces and bus stands in rural and urban localities. Besides, arrangements for the supply of drinking water through tankers have been made in water scarcity areas. Panchayati Raj department has been directed to immediately start preventive maintenance of tube wells and piped water supply systems if not already taken up, he said. Sufficient life-saving medicines, saline and ORS packets in dispensaries, health centres and district hospitals have been stocked to meet the requirement. The state government reviewed the heat wave situation at a meeting chaired by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Pramila Malik. Keeping in view the intense heat-wave condition, the state government has decided to close all schools and Anganwadi centres till April 16. SV Krishna Chaitanya By Express News Service CHENNAI: In the last month, a record 13 jumbos died in the state, yet the issue failed to take centre stage in the Assembly on Thursday. The opposition benches were largely quiet, while forest minister M Mathiventhan claimed the government was taking necessary steps to prevent the unnatural death of elephants. A string of electrocution cases and some elephant deaths due to human negligence have rocked the state, calling for drastic management measures. The Madras High Court had summoned Principal Chief Conservator of Forests-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden Srinivas R Reddy and Tangedco chairman Rajesh Lakhoni to the court on April 17 to explain the recent electrocution of four elephants in Dharmapuri district. Against this backdrop, opposition parties, rather than holding the government accountable for wildlife loss, were seen going soft by discussing other topics during the time allocated for the environment, forests and climate change department. Former AIADMK ministers Dindigul C Srinivasan and KC Karuppannan and PMK MLA GK Mani briefly raised the issue, but were more concerned with the property damage and human deaths caused by elephants and sought enhanced compensation. Forest minister M Mathiventhan told the Assembly that measures like joint inspection of power lines with Tangedco officials, creation of spikes on the existing poles, rectification of low sagging overhead lines etc were taken to prevent electrocution of elephants. A State level advisory committee has been constituted to create a framework for wildlife-friendly infrastructure in future for the first time in India, the minister said in the policy note. Environment Secretary Supriya Sahu told TNIE in the past few days several rounds of talks were held with Tangedco for cracking down on illegal electrical fences in and around the forest areas. It was decided to involve the revenue department as well since electrocution deaths are reported even 50km away from the forest boundary. Sahu said the draft on Standardise Solar Fencing Rules was prepared and circulated for comments from the departments concerned. As a long-term measure, we are planning to insulate the power lines. A proposal in consultation with the State planning commission was submitted under Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiatives. It will be first done in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, she said. Electricity minister V Senthil Balaji said 1,509 km of HT and 1,255 km of LT bare overhead lines and 19.9 km insulated conductors exist in forest areas in Tamil Nadu. The above overhead electric lines were laid in the permitted routes of the forest department and have been in existence for so many years. A high-level meeting was conducted at the government level, to save wild animals, especially elephants, from electrocution. Accordingly, a 10-point Action Plan was formed by Tangedco to save elephants from electrocution and it has been planned to complete the works in one year. The action plan includes identification of elephant path areas, raising/heightening of the existing poles at identified locations, converting bare overhead conductors into insulated overhead conductors, the establishment of distribution transformer management system to automatically trip the LT lines at the time of snapping etc, the minister said in the policy note. However, wildlife activists allege the government was slow and most of the preventive measures that it is talking about ought to have been implemented years back. Why is the government taking ages to frame simple guidelines making BIS-compliant solar fence energisers mandatory? Let Madras HC pull the government during the April 17 hearing, an activist said, adding that the National Board for Wildlife in 2019 directed all discoms to use ABC (aerial bunched cables) or underground cable in protected areas. In the pipeline A state level advisory committee has been constituted to create a framework for wildlife-friendly infrastructure in future for the first time in India - M Mathiventhan, Forest minister A 10-point action plan was formed by Tangedco to save elephants from electrocution and it has been planned to complete the works in one year - V Senthil Balaji, Electricity minister We are planning to insulate the power lines. A proposal in consultation with the state planning commission was submitted under Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiatives. It will be first done in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve - Supriya Sahu, Environment Secretary Why is the government taking ages to frame simple guidelines making BIS-compliant solar fence energisers mandatory? Let Madras HC pull the govt during the April 17 hearing - Activist Announcements: Rs 20 cr Slender Loris Conservation Centre, Ayyalur in Dindigul Rs 15 crore International Dugong Conservation Centre, Manora in Thanjavur Rs 20 cr Pallikaranai Conservation Centre, Chennai Rs 3.7 cr Development of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary Rs 9.3 cr Development of Vedanthangal Birds Sanctuary, Ramsar site CHENNAI: In the last month, a record 13 jumbos died in the state, yet the issue failed to take centre stage in the Assembly on Thursday. The opposition benches were largely quiet, while forest minister M Mathiventhan claimed the government was taking necessary steps to prevent the unnatural death of elephants. A string of electrocution cases and some elephant deaths due to human negligence have rocked the state, calling for drastic management measures. The Madras High Court had summoned Principal Chief Conservator of Forests-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden Srinivas R Reddy and Tangedco chairman Rajesh Lakhoni to the court on April 17 to explain the recent electrocution of four elephants in Dharmapuri district. Against this backdrop, opposition parties, rather than holding the government accountable for wildlife loss, were seen going soft by discussing other topics during the time allocated for the environment, forests and climate change department. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Former AIADMK ministers Dindigul C Srinivasan and KC Karuppannan and PMK MLA GK Mani briefly raised the issue, but were more concerned with the property damage and human deaths caused by elephants and sought enhanced compensation. Forest minister M Mathiventhan told the Assembly that measures like joint inspection of power lines with Tangedco officials, creation of spikes on the existing poles, rectification of low sagging overhead lines etc were taken to prevent electrocution of elephants. A State level advisory committee has been constituted to create a framework for wildlife-friendly infrastructure in future for the first time in India, the minister said in the policy note. Environment Secretary Supriya Sahu told TNIE in the past few days several rounds of talks were held with Tangedco for cracking down on illegal electrical fences in and around the forest areas. It was decided to involve the revenue department as well since electrocution deaths are reported even 50km away from the forest boundary. Sahu said the draft on Standardise Solar Fencing Rules was prepared and circulated for comments from the departments concerned. As a long-term measure, we are planning to insulate the power lines. A proposal in consultation with the State planning commission was submitted under Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiatives. It will be first done in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, she said. Electricity minister V Senthil Balaji said 1,509 km of HT and 1,255 km of LT bare overhead lines and 19.9 km insulated conductors exist in forest areas in Tamil Nadu. The above overhead electric lines were laid in the permitted routes of the forest department and have been in existence for so many years. A high-level meeting was conducted at the government level, to save wild animals, especially elephants, from electrocution. Accordingly, a 10-point Action Plan was formed by Tangedco to save elephants from electrocution and it has been planned to complete the works in one year. The action plan includes identification of elephant path areas, raising/heightening of the existing poles at identified locations, converting bare overhead conductors into insulated overhead conductors, the establishment of distribution transformer management system to automatically trip the LT lines at the time of snapping etc, the minister said in the policy note. However, wildlife activists allege the government was slow and most of the preventive measures that it is talking about ought to have been implemented years back. Why is the government taking ages to frame simple guidelines making BIS-compliant solar fence energisers mandatory? Let Madras HC pull the government during the April 17 hearing, an activist said, adding that the National Board for Wildlife in 2019 directed all discoms to use ABC (aerial bunched cables) or underground cable in protected areas. In the pipeline A state level advisory committee has been constituted to create a framework for wildlife-friendly infrastructure in future for the first time in India - M Mathiventhan, Forest minister A 10-point action plan was formed by Tangedco to save elephants from electrocution and it has been planned to complete the works in one year - V Senthil Balaji, Electricity minister We are planning to insulate the power lines. A proposal in consultation with the state planning commission was submitted under Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiatives. It will be first done in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve - Supriya Sahu, Environment Secretary Why is the government taking ages to frame simple guidelines making BIS-compliant solar fence energisers mandatory? Let Madras HC pull the govt during the April 17 hearing - Activist Announcements: Rs 20 cr Slender Loris Conservation Centre, Ayyalur in Dindigul Rs 15 crore International Dugong Conservation Centre, Manora in Thanjavur Rs 20 cr Pallikaranai Conservation Centre, Chennai Rs 3.7 cr Development of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary Rs 9.3 cr Development of Vedanthangal Birds Sanctuary, Ramsar site Thinakaran Rajamani By Express News Service TIRUNELVELI: The Public Information Officer (PIO) at Government Hospital in Ambasamudram has refused to grant medical records of two SC custodial torture victims including a minor sought under Section 7 (1) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act within 48 hours. Instead, the PIO Dr Elayaraja told TNIE he would furnish information within 30 days by treating the applications, filed by the mother of the victims, as a normal one. Rajeswari, the mother of the two custodial torture victims, filed the RTI application two days ago under the life and liberty clause of the Act to urgently approach the High Court as the state government, she said, is delaying to register an FIR against the suspended Ambasamudram ASP Balveer Singh. A fortnight ago, the human rights organisation Peoples Watch, which is assisting victims, filed another application in connection with the custodial torture under Section 7 (1) of the Act to the PIO of the collectorate. The PIO replied to the petition within 24 hours. Rajeswari told TNIE she is planning to file an appeal under the RTI Act to get medical records of her sons. The doctors treated my sons soon after they underwent the custodial torture. The GHs medical records are mandatory for the legal proceedings, she added. Dr Elayaraja said he would furnish information to Rajeswari within 30 days adding he could not treat her petition under Section 7 (1) of the Act. When contacted by TNIE, Latha, Joint Director of Health Services, said that she would talk to Elayaraja in this connection. READ MORE | Ambasamudram custodial violence: Suspended ASP brushed stone against teeth, gum of three suspects Amudha to hold inquiry on Apr 17, 18 Principal secretary of rural development department, P Amudha, conducting a high-level inquiry into the alleged torture will be available at Ambasamudram taluk office on April 17 and 18 from 10 am to 4 pm to record statements of victims. Meanwhile, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), a global network of NGOs for human rights, expressed serious concern about the torture in a communication to Chief Minister MK Stalin. TIRUNELVELI: The Public Information Officer (PIO) at Government Hospital in Ambasamudram has refused to grant medical records of two SC custodial torture victims including a minor sought under Section 7 (1) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act within 48 hours. Instead, the PIO Dr Elayaraja told TNIE he would furnish information within 30 days by treating the applications, filed by the mother of the victims, as a normal one. Rajeswari, the mother of the two custodial torture victims, filed the RTI application two days ago under the life and liberty clause of the Act to urgently approach the High Court as the state government, she said, is delaying to register an FIR against the suspended Ambasamudram ASP Balveer Singh. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A fortnight ago, the human rights organisation Peoples Watch, which is assisting victims, filed another application in connection with the custodial torture under Section 7 (1) of the Act to the PIO of the collectorate. The PIO replied to the petition within 24 hours. Rajeswari told TNIE she is planning to file an appeal under the RTI Act to get medical records of her sons. The doctors treated my sons soon after they underwent the custodial torture. The GHs medical records are mandatory for the legal proceedings, she added. Dr Elayaraja said he would furnish information to Rajeswari within 30 days adding he could not treat her petition under Section 7 (1) of the Act. When contacted by TNIE, Latha, Joint Director of Health Services, said that she would talk to Elayaraja in this connection. READ MORE | Ambasamudram custodial violence: Suspended ASP brushed stone against teeth, gum of three suspects Amudha to hold inquiry on Apr 17, 18 Principal secretary of rural development department, P Amudha, conducting a high-level inquiry into the alleged torture will be available at Ambasamudram taluk office on April 17 and 18 from 10 am to 4 pm to record statements of victims. Meanwhile, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), a global network of NGOs for human rights, expressed serious concern about the torture in a communication to Chief Minister MK Stalin. N Ramesh By Express News Service THANJAVUR: Tension grips Alampallam near Pattukkottai in Thanjavur as revenue officials continue to keep the Mazhai Mariamman temple locked after caste Hindus refused entry to Dalits to offer prayers as part of the temple festival. Sources said the temples consecration was held on February 23, when Dalit residents of the village expressed their keenness to participate to the caste Hindus who manage the temple affairs. After the latter refused, the Dalits led by president of the village panchayat, C Umarani, approached the collector. The SC community residents, could offer prayers amid police security, sources said. Following this, the caste Hindus held a meeting among themselves after which they refused Dalits work in their fields and access to a grazing ground, sources added. Meanwhile, as a follow-up to the consecration, the Mandala Abishekam was scheduled daily till April 12. The Dalits approached the caste Hindus for permission to offer prayers on any one day, but were refused again, sources said. They then approached the tahsildar who called for peace talks on April 9 and April 10. The caste Hindus, however, failed to turn up. The tahsildar then ordered for the temple to be locked up on April 10. When contacted, village Umarani said the Dalits should be given the right to worship in the temple. Pattukkottai municipality councillor Sadha Sivakumar, who participated in the peace talks on behalf of the Dalit residents, told TNIE that the caste Hindus who handed over an advance amount to Dalits to work in their fields are now refusing to entrust it and also demand to return the amount. Meanwhile, police personnel continue to be deployed around the temple in Alampallam. THANJAVUR: Tension grips Alampallam near Pattukkottai in Thanjavur as revenue officials continue to keep the Mazhai Mariamman temple locked after caste Hindus refused entry to Dalits to offer prayers as part of the temple festival. Sources said the temples consecration was held on February 23, when Dalit residents of the village expressed their keenness to participate to the caste Hindus who manage the temple affairs. After the latter refused, the Dalits led by president of the village panchayat, C Umarani, approached the collector. The SC community residents, could offer prayers amid police security, sources said. Following this, the caste Hindus held a meeting among themselves after which they refused Dalits work in their fields and access to a grazing ground, sources added. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Meanwhile, as a follow-up to the consecration, the Mandala Abishekam was scheduled daily till April 12. The Dalits approached the caste Hindus for permission to offer prayers on any one day, but were refused again, sources said. They then approached the tahsildar who called for peace talks on April 9 and April 10. The caste Hindus, however, failed to turn up. The tahsildar then ordered for the temple to be locked up on April 10. When contacted, village Umarani said the Dalits should be given the right to worship in the temple. Pattukkottai municipality councillor Sadha Sivakumar, who participated in the peace talks on behalf of the Dalit residents, told TNIE that the caste Hindus who handed over an advance amount to Dalits to work in their fields are now refusing to entrust it and also demand to return the amount. Meanwhile, police personnel continue to be deployed around the temple in Alampallam. M Abdul Rabi By Express News Service KANNIYAKUMARI: Transport trade unions in the district have condemned TNSTC Nagercoil Region for serving memos to the staff allegedly without proper reasons. Recently, a memo was served to a driver for putting towels on the driver's seat, which ignited the opposition. C Suresh Kumar, General Secretary of CITU Tamil Nadu Government Transport Workers Union-Nagercoil Region, told TNIE that drivers and conductors face many health issues. "Drivers normally place towels on the seat due to extreme heat. The towel provides them relief from the heat," he said. Tamil Nadu Government Transports Workers Anna Trade Union Secretary (Nagercoil-Region) S Vijayakumar alleged a higher official was functioning against the workers. "Memos were served against drivers and conductors for mere reasons such as growing beard and wearing full sleeve shirts. Serving memos without valid reasons would affect the staff's increment," he added. When TNIE contacted a senior TNSTC official, they said there was no rule prohibiting drivers from placing towels on their seats. "A checking inspector had served the memo to the driver on the spot. The memos would come to our notice only after a week. Seeing the served memo on social media, we took action against the checking inspector," said the official, adding that if the memos served violated rules, action would be taken accordingly. KANNIYAKUMARI: Transport trade unions in the district have condemned TNSTC Nagercoil Region for serving memos to the staff allegedly without proper reasons. Recently, a memo was served to a driver for putting towels on the driver's seat, which ignited the opposition. C Suresh Kumar, General Secretary of CITU Tamil Nadu Government Transport Workers Union-Nagercoil Region, told TNIE that drivers and conductors face many health issues. "Drivers normally place towels on the seat due to extreme heat. The towel provides them relief from the heat," he said. Tamil Nadu Government Transports Workers Anna Trade Union Secretary (Nagercoil-Region) S Vijayakumar alleged a higher official was functioning against the workers. "Memos were served against drivers and conductors for mere reasons such as growing beard and wearing full sleeve shirts. Serving memos without valid reasons would affect the staff's increment," he added. When TNIE contacted a senior TNSTC official, they said there was no rule prohibiting drivers from placing towels on their seats. "A checking inspector had served the memo to the driver on the spot. The memos would come to our notice only after a week. Seeing the served memo on social media, we took action against the checking inspector," said the official, adding that if the memos served violated rules, action would be taken accordingly. By Associated Press WASHINGTON: 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 Acts 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 have been reluctant to expand Medicaid and critical of the Biden administrations 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. Bidens 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. 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. 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. WASHINGTON: 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 Acts 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.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The action is likely to generate significant pushback from conservative leaders of states that have been have been reluctant to expand Medicaid and critical of the Biden administrations 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. Bidens 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. 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. 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. By PTI TAIPEI: China sanctioned a United States lawmaker Thursday for his visit to Taiwan, saying he violated the One China principle that says Beijing has sovereignty over the island. The mainlands ruling Communist Party says Taiwan, which split from the mainland in 1949 amid a civil war, must be reunited with China by force if necessary. Beijing says Taipei has no right to conduct foreign relations and views visits by US lawmakers to the island as violating its claims of sovereignty. The sanctions against Rep. Michael McCaul include freezing his assets and properties in China, prohibiting any organization or individual in China from conducting transactions or working with him, and denying him a visa to enter the country, according to a statement Thursday from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It's one of several rounds of sanctions China announced as tensions build between Beijing and Washington. China retaliated to US House Speaker Kevin McCarthys meeting on April 5 with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen by sanctioning the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and other organizations, adding to strains over the self-governed island democracy Beijing claims as part of its territory. It then launched a large-scale three-day military exercise surrounding the island, sending more than 200 warplanes toward Taiwan. McCaul, R-Texas, visited Taiwan from April 6 to 8 to discuss weapons deals between the US and Taiwan, shortly after the sensitive meeting that drew China's ire. 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, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been advocating for a hard-line stance against China and closer ties with Taiwan. Relations between the US and China have sunk to historic lows. The US has been increasingly critical of Chinas human rights record, its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its actions in Hong Kong in clamping down on protests. China, on the other hand, has been accusing the US of meddling in its internal affairs, and pursuing a containment strategy against China to prevent the country's rise. TAIPEI: China sanctioned a United States lawmaker Thursday for his visit to Taiwan, saying he violated the One China principle that says Beijing has sovereignty over the island. The mainlands ruling Communist Party says Taiwan, which split from the mainland in 1949 amid a civil war, must be reunited with China by force if necessary. Beijing says Taipei has no right to conduct foreign relations and views visits by US lawmakers to the island as violating its claims of sovereignty. The sanctions against Rep. Michael McCaul include freezing his assets and properties in China, prohibiting any organization or individual in China from conducting transactions or working with him, and denying him a visa to enter the country, according to a statement Thursday from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It's one of several rounds of sanctions China announced as tensions build between Beijing and Washington. China retaliated to US House Speaker Kevin McCarthys meeting on April 5 with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen by sanctioning the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and other organizations, adding to strains over the self-governed island democracy Beijing claims as part of its territory. It then launched a large-scale three-day military exercise surrounding the island, sending more than 200 warplanes toward Taiwan. McCaul, R-Texas, visited Taiwan from April 6 to 8 to discuss weapons deals between the US and Taiwan, shortly after the sensitive meeting that drew China's ire. 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, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been advocating for a hard-line stance against China and closer ties with Taiwan. Relations between the US and China have sunk to historic lows. The US has been increasingly critical of Chinas human rights record, its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its actions in Hong Kong in clamping down on protests. China, on the other hand, has been accusing the US of meddling in its internal affairs, and pursuing a containment strategy against China to prevent the country's rise. By PTI WASHINGTON: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended a high-level meeting on Sri Lankan debt issues and expressed India's commitment to support Colombo in dealing with its current economic crisis. She emphasised that collaboration among creditors is important to ensure transparency and equality in the treatment of all creditors in the debt restructuring discussions. The high-level meeting took place on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)- World Bank (WB) Spring Meetings here on Thursday. Japan Finance Minister Suzuki Shunichi, Sri Lanka State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe and Emmanuel Moulin, Director General of the Treasury, France were present in the meeting. Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe participated virtually, an official statement said. The purpose of the event was to demonstrate the multilateral cooperation regarding the debt restructuring process among the creditors, together with Sri Lanka, it said. In the event, the ministers announced the launch of the debt restructuring negotiation process on Sri Lanka under the three Co-Chairs: India, Japan, and France, to lead coordinated debt restructuring of Sri Lanka, it said. Sri Lanka was hit by an unprecedented financial crisis in 2022, the worst since its independence from Britain in 1948, due to a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves, sparking political turmoil in the country which led to the ouster of the all-powerful Rajapaksa family. The IMF in September last year approved Sri Lanka a UD 2.9-billion bailout package over 4 years pending Sri Lanka's ability to restructure its debt with creditors -- both bilateral and sovereign bondholders. With assurances from creditors, the USD 2.9 billion facilities could get the IMF board approval in March. WASHINGTON: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended a high-level meeting on Sri Lankan debt issues and expressed India's commitment to support Colombo in dealing with its current economic crisis. She emphasised that collaboration among creditors is important to ensure transparency and equality in the treatment of all creditors in the debt restructuring discussions. The high-level meeting took place on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)- World Bank (WB) Spring Meetings here on Thursday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Japan Finance Minister Suzuki Shunichi, Sri Lanka State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe and Emmanuel Moulin, Director General of the Treasury, France were present in the meeting. Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe participated virtually, an official statement said. The purpose of the event was to demonstrate the multilateral cooperation regarding the debt restructuring process among the creditors, together with Sri Lanka, it said. In the event, the ministers announced the launch of the debt restructuring negotiation process on Sri Lanka under the three Co-Chairs: India, Japan, and France, to lead coordinated debt restructuring of Sri Lanka, it said. Sri Lanka was hit by an unprecedented financial crisis in 2022, the worst since its independence from Britain in 1948, due to a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves, sparking political turmoil in the country which led to the ouster of the all-powerful Rajapaksa family. The IMF in September last year approved Sri Lanka a UD 2.9-billion bailout package over 4 years pending Sri Lanka's ability to restructure its debt with creditors -- both bilateral and sovereign bondholders. With assurances from creditors, the USD 2.9 billion facilities could get the IMF board approval in March. By Associated Press MOSCOW: Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is in failing health because of a new suspected poisoning and is back in a punishment cell after a few days in regular confinement, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. Anna Veduta, a Washington, DC-based vice president of Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation, told The Associated Press the 46-year-old Navalny fell ill last Friday when he was let out of the punishment cell and put in a conventional cell. He had lost about 18 pounds over the past 15 days. On Monday, Navalny wrote on Twitter, he was put back in a punishment cell for another 15-day term. An ambulance was called early 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. We believe he is slowly being administered low doses of poison in pills he is given without identification, Veduta said. A video documentary about Navalny won an Oscar last month. The documentary portrays Navalnys 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 2 1/2 years in prison and last year was convicted 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 letters or have his lawyers visit occasionally. German government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann said Wednesday that Germany took note of reports about Navalnys worsening health with great concern. She added that Berlin 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. MOSCOW: Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is in failing health because of a new suspected poisoning and is back in a punishment cell after a few days in regular confinement, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. Anna Veduta, a Washington, DC-based vice president of Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation, told The Associated Press the 46-year-old Navalny fell ill last Friday when he was let out of the punishment cell and put in a conventional cell. He had lost about 18 pounds over the past 15 days. On Monday, Navalny wrote on Twitter, he was put back in a punishment cell for another 15-day term. An ambulance was called early 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.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); We believe he is slowly being administered low doses of poison in pills he is given without identification, Veduta said. A video documentary about Navalny won an Oscar last month. The documentary portrays Navalnys 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 2 1/2 years in prison and last year was convicted 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 letters or have his lawyers visit occasionally. German government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann said Wednesday that Germany took note of reports about Navalnys worsening health with great concern. She added that Berlin 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. By PTI NEW YORK: 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. 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. NEW YORK: 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.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); 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. By PTI LONDON: 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 BBC's 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 country's 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. LONDON: 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).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "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 BBC's 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 country's 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. By PTI WASHINGTON: The world is leapfrogging in women's empowerment, World Bank President David Malpass has said and praised India's efforts, especially that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he is "deeply interested and concerned." Participating in a panel discussion on 'Empowering Women as Entrepreneurs and Leaders' organised by the World Bank on the sidelines of its spring meetings here on Thursday, Malpass and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with other panelists, discussed the development and empowerment of women in India and the world. "We should continue all that we are doing now for women," Sitharaman said in response to a question as she explained in detail the steps the Modi Government has undertaken for the economic empowerment of women in India. "Malpass commended the efforts of Prime Minister Modi in India, where the World Bank has a massive programme. The prime minister, he said, is "deeply interested and concerned and pushing on this issue." The world is leapfrogging in empowerment, the World Bank president said. For women to be able to communicate, to have digital transactions without having to go to the bank where there might be a male clerk, that doesn't really receive them well, is hugely empowering, he said. "And also just the source of information that women can get on how other women are operating in other parts of the world, that's huge. And so, I think we should push that along as fast as we can," Malpass said. "I'll give you the example of skilling programmes, which are happening in India wherein, I don't know what I can make out of this. If a hundred people are trained and they're trained in such skills which are useful for employment, and immediate recruitment potential, 68 per cent of all those who have been recruited are women." "It just says a lot more about how women are ready once they have the skills in their hands to get going," Sitharaman said. "So, we have to invest in skilling women and legislative support is something which is very important for countries like India. For instance, we had given 12 weeks of paid maternity leave for women, but now we have enhanced it to 26 weeks so that till 26 weeks, you are completely paid, you can take care of maternity duties, and then of course you can, we also have this thing now paternity leave also being provided," she said. Sitharaman said many of the companies which are now in the private sector, want to benefit from this skilled set of women who are willing to come out there and do it. "Particularly in STEM (Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics) now, I find a lot of women coming in and qualifying, but they, the employability is not so good a news for me, because if there are an equal number of boys and girls in universities doing sciences or technology engineering and medicine, nearly 60 per cent of the women do not apply for jobs after that." "So I wonder what happens after that. It is important to have them come back to jobs," she said. "The recruitment patterns are now saying that with the right legislative support, having got skills, women going into jobs are far more productive, are far more part of the team, and therefore companies stand to benefit. So, we should do this even more," Sitharaman said. The minister said a lot of things are happening in different parts of the world and positively for women. "So all of us should go back to say, let me be part of this huge change, huge activity, which is going on to empower women. Each of us should be a part of it," Sitharaman said. WASHINGTON: The world is leapfrogging in women's empowerment, World Bank President David Malpass has said and praised India's efforts, especially that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he is "deeply interested and concerned." Participating in a panel discussion on 'Empowering Women as Entrepreneurs and Leaders' organised by the World Bank on the sidelines of its spring meetings here on Thursday, Malpass and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with other panelists, discussed the development and empowerment of women in India and the world. "We should continue all that we are doing now for women," Sitharaman said in response to a question as she explained in detail the steps the Modi Government has undertaken for the economic empowerment of women in India.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Malpass commended the efforts of Prime Minister Modi in India, where the World Bank has a massive programme. The prime minister, he said, is "deeply interested and concerned and pushing on this issue." The world is leapfrogging in empowerment, the World Bank president said. For women to be able to communicate, to have digital transactions without having to go to the bank where there might be a male clerk, that doesn't really receive them well, is hugely empowering, he said. "And also just the source of information that women can get on how other women are operating in other parts of the world, that's huge. And so, I think we should push that along as fast as we can," Malpass said. "I'll give you the example of skilling programmes, which are happening in India wherein, I don't know what I can make out of this. If a hundred people are trained and they're trained in such skills which are useful for employment, and immediate recruitment potential, 68 per cent of all those who have been recruited are women." "It just says a lot more about how women are ready once they have the skills in their hands to get going," Sitharaman said. "So, we have to invest in skilling women and legislative support is something which is very important for countries like India. For instance, we had given 12 weeks of paid maternity leave for women, but now we have enhanced it to 26 weeks so that till 26 weeks, you are completely paid, you can take care of maternity duties, and then of course you can, we also have this thing now paternity leave also being provided," she said. Sitharaman said many of the companies which are now in the private sector, want to benefit from this skilled set of women who are willing to come out there and do it. "Particularly in STEM (Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics) now, I find a lot of women coming in and qualifying, but they, the employability is not so good a news for me, because if there are an equal number of boys and girls in universities doing sciences or technology engineering and medicine, nearly 60 per cent of the women do not apply for jobs after that." "So I wonder what happens after that. It is important to have them come back to jobs," she said. "The recruitment patterns are now saying that with the right legislative support, having got skills, women going into jobs are far more productive, are far more part of the team, and therefore companies stand to benefit. So, we should do this even more," Sitharaman said. The minister said a lot of things are happening in different parts of the world and positively for women. "So all of us should go back to say, let me be part of this huge change, huge activity, which is going on to empower women. Each of us should be a part of it," Sitharaman said. Skeet shooter Gurjoat shoots a perfect 75 on Day-1 of National Selection Trials New Delhi, April 13: Skeet shooter Gurjoat Singh Khangura shot a perfect 75 on Day One of the Shotgun National Selection Trials here at Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range. Skeet shooter Gurjoat shoots a perfect 75 on Day-1 of National Selection Trials While Punjab's Gurjoat led the men's field of 26 shooters, statemate Ganemat Sekhon was leading the 20-strong women's Skeet field with a score of 72 after three 25-shot rounds.Shooters will come back on Friday for two more qualifying rounds before the finalists are identified.Rajasthan's Anant Jeet Singh Naruka, who missed two targets in Round Two, finished the day with 73. Joint skeet finals world record holder Angad Vir Singh Bajwa was lying third with 72 after missing one target each in each of the three rounds.In the women's competition, India's number one Ganemat began with a perfect 25 but missed two birds in Round Two and one in Round Three, followed by Raiza Dhillon and Parinaaz Dhaliwal with scores of 71 each.Among the juniors, Raiza was leading the women's event with 71 while Harmehar Lally was leading the junior men's competition with an identical score.IANS13 April 2023 Shared Recently! The Longview, Texas, Chamber of Commerce is bringing 42 community leaders to Billings next week for their annual InterCity Visit. The InterCity Leadership Visit is designed to introduce Longview leaders to beneficial ideas from model communities throughout the United States. These trips have yielded valuable lessons that have been applied to the improvement of the Longview area. They chose Billings as their destination this year to learn about our placemaking initiatives, entrepreneurial support, healthcare, education, and our workforce retention strategies. InterCity Visits provide an opportunity for the visiting community to learn and share best practices, said John Brewer, president and CEO of the Billings Chamber of Commerce. This is our opportunity as the host community to roll out the red carpet and connect our guests to our community leaders and ideas that have made Billings a great place to do business and raise a family. During their visit to Billings, participants will have the opportunity to hear from economic development professionals, developers, elected officials, entrepreneurs, and educators. Time will be spent exploring and learning about innovative programs to strengthen our workforce, build a stronger community, and expand commerce in our region. By the end of the trip, participants will have developed stronger relationships to align, vision, and implement initiatives to advance the Longview area. We are so proud Longview chose Billings and we are ready to provide an amazing experience to their attendees, said Billings Chamber Board Chairwoman Julie Seedhouse, Century 21 broker. The InterCity Visit is similar to the Billings Chamber of Commerces Aspirational City Visit & Leadership Exchange in which Billings community leaders visit other cities. In recent years, the Billings Chamber has visited Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Omaha, Nebraska; Allentown, Pennsylvania; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Namami Gange signs agreement with 49 universities to inspire youth towards water conservation, river rejuvenation New Delhi, April 13: Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Wednesday presided over the 'Namami Gange: Universities Connect' event, where an agreement was signed with 49 universities to foster awareness among the youth on water conservation in general and river rejuvenation in particular, Ministry of Jal Shakti said in a statement. Namami Gange signs agreement with 49 universities to inspire youth towards water conservation, river rejuvenation The MoU aims to bring the student community to the forefront of the mass movement for creating a sustainable ecosystem of our rivers. Apart from seeking active public participation, the event will also be historical towards creating knowledge-based short-term programmes, and training sessions, and fostering more research on the water sector.Through the NMCG initiative, many higher educational institutions pledged their support towards the cause of river rejuvenation and water conservation and create holistic platforms for younger generations to become conscious participants towards a sustainable ecosystem. The theme of the event was 'Igniting Young Minds, Rejuvenating Rivers'.Addressing the gathering, Shekhawat asserted "Water is not just an important factor or commodity but no life can be imagined without water and that makes effective water management absolutely essential".Shekhawat stated that ensuring the cleanliness and purity of River Ganga with the rejuvenation of rivers are the prime objectives of the Namami Gange Mission. "Water is a crucial factor in sustaining life. India's cultural history saw water as the holiest source that sustains life in all forms, and over time that culture has eroded. We as a society have an immense responsibility to revive that culture."The Union Minister pointed out certain impacting factors on children's development, including parents, who, in the Indian tradition, used to talk about various aspects of life including nature, culture, country, duties etc. Teachers, he said, also play an important role in creating an impact on the children and, therefore, it becomes, imperative for the teachers to inculcate respect towards natural resources as per our traditional wisdom and practices through educational frameworks.The Union Minister said, likewise, celebrities, media, judiciary and other members of the civil society must come together and start discussing and debating issues related to our natural resources, especially water, to make India a water-wise country.He suggested organising debates and other competitions in the universities to spread awareness of the importance of water conservation and river rejuvenation and urged the leading educators to strive to make their campuses green and water efficient.Shedding light on the fact that the agriculture sector uses the bulk of India's water resources, he said that demand-side management is the need of the hour. "The world is appreciating us and India has invested more than 240 billion dollars in the water sector but the challenge in front of us is also enormous and we must all play our part in contributing to conserving water and increasing water use efficiency," he said, adding, "We are not the owners of our natural resources but only custodians and it is everyone's duty to return to the future generation as we inherited from our forefathers."He reiterated the importance of the 5Ps espoused by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to make such programmes successful including political will, public spending, partnership public participation and persuasion. He said that today nearly 50 universities are signing the MoU and it is not just 50 people joining hands but thousands who would eventually become part of this movement.Delivering the keynote address, G. Asok Kumar said that everyone knows the importance of water. What we are looking for with various collaborations is to spread the net far and wide to catch as many ambassadors of water and rivers as we can. "Water sector was not given the attention it deserves and was viewed as just a water resource. This has changed with the vision of the Prime Minister, who has given a clarion call to make Jal Andolan a Jan Andolan,"DG, NMCG said, adding, "It is the younger generations that will be bearing the brunt of the water scarcity and therefore it is most necessary to ignite them to start respecting water, which was ingrained in our traditional values. We have to bring back the respect towards water and rivers, which is there in our Puranas and our traditional wisdom."In the context of the collaboration between Namami Gange and academic institutions, DG, NMCG said that like Jan Bhagidari, today, we are moving forward in the direction of 'Gyan Bhagidari'. He also drew similarities between the Jal Shakti and the power of the youth, both of which could go astray and wreak havoc if not channelized in a proper way.DG, NMCG congratulated all the participants and dignitaries from the academia and urged them to take steps in the direction of bringing back the respect for water among the young students in their institutions. He also said that the Jal Shakti Abhiyan Catch the Rain Where it Falls, When it Falls campaign launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on the occasion of the World Water Day 2021 is a noble way of nudging people to conserve more water. "More than 4.7 million water harvesting structures were made as part of that campaign," he noted.DG, NMCG informed that Namami Gange has been recognised by the United Nations as one of the top ten World Restoration Flagships and said that India also participated in the UN World Water Conference 2023 which was organised at the UN Headquarters in New York after a gap of more than 40 years."It was a rare privileged moment for us as people initially thought it was impossible to clean Ganga but a lot of success has been achieved in the mainstream of River Ganga evidenced in the form of improved water quality and thriving biodiversity, especially the Gangetic Dolphins. We were picked from among 170 countries around the globe The focus is now on the tributaries of Ganga," he said.DG, NMCG said at the global stage programmes like Swachh Bharat Mission, Jal Jeevan Mission and Namami Gange, covering various aspects of the river rejuvenation, are being acknowledged. He added that India needs more social skills, technology solutions, and data management to make further strides in the water sector.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! CR Kesavan meets PM Modi New Delhi, April 12: Days after joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, CR Kesavan, the great-grandson of the country's first Indian Governor-General C Rajagopalachari on Wednesday, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital. CR Kesavan meets PM Modi Kesavan resigned from Congress on February 23, saying that he had not even seen vestiges of the values that made him work for the party with dedication for over two decades.Rajagopalachari, who was the Governor-General of India, also served as leader of the Indian National Congress, Union Home Minister, Premier of the Madras Presidency, Chief Minister of Madras state, and Governor of West Bengal.Earlier on April 9, Kesavan joined BJP in Tamil Nadu, in the presence of several party leaders.Speaking to reporters after his saffron switch, Kesavan said, "I wish to thank the BJP for having inducted me into the world's largest political party, and, that too, on a day when our PM is scheduled to visit Tamil Nadu.""PM Modi's people-centric policies, corruption-free governance and reform-led inclusive development agenda have transformed India from a fragile economy to the fifth largest economy in the world," he added.Kesavan had shared his resignation letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Twitter saying he could no longer concur with "what the party symbolises, stands for or seeks to propagate".ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Need to address growing debt distress across the globe: FM Sitharaman in US Washington, April 13: 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. Need to address growing debt distress across the globe: FM Sitharaman in US 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.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.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Russian envoy to UK hits out at The Times for removing interview 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. Russian envoy to UK hits out at The Times for 'removing' interview 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.IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! India deploys Shatrujeet Brigade close to LAC in fresh round of multi-domain military exercise 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. India deploys Shatrujeet Brigade close to LAC in fresh round of multi-domain military exercise 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.IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Telangana: Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao expresses grief over deaths in fire at BRS Atmeeya Sammelanam Khammam, April 13: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao expressed grief over the loss of life in the fire incident at BRS Atmeeya Sammelanam, in Khammam district. Telangana: Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao expresses grief over deaths in fire at BRS Atmeeya Sammelanam Two BRS followers died and many were injured in the fire incident that occur after a cylinder blast. The injured were taken to a local hospital for treatment.Chief Minister said that they will support the families of the deceased and injured in all ways. He also directed the officials and leaders to take steps to provide better treatment to the injured in the cylinder blast.Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao after receiving the information about the incident at BRS Atmeeya Sammelanam called Khammam district minister P Ajay and MP N Nageshwar Rao, who were present at the accident spot, on the phone and enquired about the details. CM assured all kinds of assistance would be extended to the bereaved families of the deceased party activists and support them in the difficult times. He also instructed to provide better medical treatment to the injured persons.According to Karepalli SHO, "Today while BRS leaders MP Nama Nageshwar Rao and MLA Naik conducted the Atmiya Sammelana program at Chimalapadu village in Karepalli Police Station limits. After the BRS leaders arrived few of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) followers burst crackers. Meanwhile, a few crackers fell on a hut resulting in a dire accident later to a cylinder blast. In the incident, 8 persons were severely injured and shifted to a local hospital for treatment".Bharat Rashtriya Samithi (BRS) MP Nama Nageshwar Rao said that, due to a cylinder blast in the hut, an explosion took place in which a few people are injured exactly how many injured don't know, now we have reached the hospital. All the measures are taken for better treatment once I meet the doctor I will come to know exactly how many people are injured.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Haryana Govt approves rail connectivity from IGIA Delhi to Maharaja Agrasen Airport in Hisar Chandigarh, April 13: 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 Govt approves rail connectivity from IGIA Delhi to Maharaja Agrasen Airport in Hisar "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.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Temperature primary driver of daily dissolved oxygen dynamics in U.S. rivers: Study Washington, April 13: The amount of dissolved oxygen in a river is a matter of life or death for the plants and animals living within it, but this oxygen concentration varies drastically from one river to another, depending on their unique temperature, light and flow. Temperature primary driver of daily dissolved oxygen dynamics in U.S. rivers: Study To better understand which factor has the greatest impact on the concentration of dissolved oxygen, researchers at Penn State used a deep learning model to analyze data from hundreds of rivers across the United States.Oxygen concentration is an important measure of water quality because fish and other aquatic organisms require dissolved oxygen to breathe, according to Wei Zhi, assistant research professor of civil and environmental engineering and first author of the study, recently published in Nature Water."Studies have shown that three major factors -- flow, temperature and sunlight -- influence the amount of dissolved oxygen found in a river or stream," Zhi said. "We wanted to know, at the U.S. continental scale, which of these competing drivers was dominant."According to corresponding author Li Li, Barry and Shirley Isett Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Penn State, the common perception is that all three factors matter how quickly a stream flows impacts how fast oxygen in the air can dissolve in the water; temperature affects how much oxygen the water can pull from the air; and the level of sunlight shining into the water affects how much oxygen the plants in the water can make on their own."It is challenging, however, to figure out which of these factors is the most important at a continental scale because of different amounts of monitoring data in different rivers at different times," Zhi said. "There has been little consistency in the way dissolved oxygen concentrations have been measured in different rivers. For example, some rivers were measured only in the 1980s in the summers, and some rivers were measured only in the 2000s in the spring."Using 40 years of data from 580 rivers across the contiguous U.S. -- each with unique temperature, flow and sunlight conditions -- the researchers trained a long short-term memory deep learning model to figure out the relationship between the weather conditions and dissolved oxygen."Traditionally, it has been very difficult to predict the dissolved oxygen levels on such a large scale, simultaneously with one model," Li said. "But with a deep learning and big data approach, we can do that. Deep learning models enable large-scale systematic analysis of patterns and drivers."The model revealed that, at a continental scale, temperature outweighed light and stream flow in controlling the dissolved oxygen dynamic. Light was the second-important factor on dissolved oxygen levels, while stream flow had minimal influence, according to the findings."Temperature is the predominant driver of daily dissolved oxygen dynamics in U.S. rivers," Zhi said. "Fairly accurate predictions of oxygen concentration can be made by temperature alone. Dissolved oxygen is declining in warming rivers, which has important implications for water security and ecosystem health in the future warming climate."This project was supported by the Barry and Shirley Isett professorship from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Penn State and by the Office of Biological and Environmental Research of the U.S. Department of Energy. Chaopeng Shen, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Penn State, and Wenyu Ouyang from Dalian University of Technology in China also contributed to this research.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Entrepreneurship Development Centres to come up in higher education institutions of NE Guwahati, April 13: To boost and create an entrepreneurial eco-systems among college students of northeastern region, Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), an institution under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, would set up Entrepreneurship Development Centres (EDCs) as well as Incubation Centres (IC) in higher educational institutions of northeastern region. Entrepreneurship Development Centres to come up in higher education institutions of NE IIE Director Lalit Sharma on Thursday said that in the first phase IIE, with the support of North Eastern Council, would set up 30 EDCs and four ICs in higher educational institutes across the region.Under this project, 50 selected student startups will be supported financially through one-time grant funding of Rs 5 lakh each to start their business.Sharma said IIE is excited to take on this new responsibility and is confident that the initiative would help foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation among college students in the NE region.According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, till March, there were a total of 1,143 registered startups throughout the eight states of northeast including Sikkim while during the same time period, there were 10,808 startups in Karnataka and 6,988 startups in Gujarat.Sharma, who is initiating the project said "Youth has played a significant role in developing startup ecosystems in mature ecosystems like Karnataka and Gujarat. IIE plans to develop the ecosystem of NER through college youth. IIE shall reach out to young college students by developing EDCs and ICs within the higher educational institutions of NER."IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Meghalaya: 2 MLAs of Peoples Democratic Front likely to join NPP Shillong, April 13: Two MLAs of People's Democratic Front (PDF) are likely to join the ruling National People's Party (NPP) in Meghalaya, sources in the know of things said on Thursday. Meghalaya: 2 MLAs of People's Democratic Front likely to join NPP If the two PDF legislators -- Banteidor Lyngdoh and Gavin Miquel Mylliem, join the NPP, its tally would increase from 26 to 28 in the 60-member Assembly.The NPP is the dominant party of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.Sources said that talks around joining of the two PDF MLAs are "in the advanced stage and it is progressing in a positive manner".The PDF was formed in 2017, a year before the 2018 assembly elections.Two of the sitting PDF MLAs, Dohling and Mawlong, joined the NPP before the February 27 assembly polls, and lost their seats from Mylliem and Umsning assembly constituencies, respectively.The NPP, PDF, UDP, BJP and the HSPDP contested the February elections against each other.Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma is the NPP's national president.IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Billings authorities are asking the public for assistance in finding a woman who walked away from a local pre-release center. Billie Boushie, 38, left Passages Women's Community Correctional Facility late Thursday night, according to a statement from Alternatives, Inc. Boushie was serving a sentencing for criminal child endangerment out of Lake County when she left the Passages, and now could face an additional felony escape charge. If seen, she should not be approached or confronted. She stands 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds. Anyone who sees Boushie, or has any information about her whereabouts, can reach the Billings Police Department at (406) 657-8200 or dial 911. Alternatives, Inc. operates Passages Women's Community Correctional Facility and Alpha House, a pre-release program for men. Passages pre-release center is a 74-bed facility on the 1000 block of South 27th Street in Billings. ZPMC hosts Open Day to celebrate Sinhalese New Year, Building Bridge of Cultural Exchange with BRI Partner Countries Shanghai, April 13: Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (ZPMC) recently hosted an open day event at its Indo-Australian subsidiary in Sri Lanka to celebrate the Sinhalese New Year. Themed schoolbag of loving heart, the company invited family members of local employees for the celebrations. ZPMC hosts Open Day to celebrate Sinhalese New Year, Building Bridge of Cultural Exchange with BRI Partner Countries ZPMC's Sri Lankan subsidiary presented gift schoolbags to 86 children of employees that were packed with supplies such as books, stationeries, and notebooks. In addition to this, more than 3,000 pieces of stationery were also given out. The Chinese staff who are stationed in the Sri Lankan office also took the children on a tour of the company and introduced ZPMC, Chinese history, traditional Chinese cultural heritages, pandas, and Chinese food, as well as learning about the children's study and life and encouraging them to work hard, set up ambitious goals, and thrive to build a great life of their own.The open day event was a success, and the company received many thank-you notes from local employees who expressed that the tour has helped the children to broaden their vision and gain knowledge, as well as a great opportunity to bring parents and children closer.Committed to promoting corporate social responsibility, ZPMC Sri Lanka subsidiary has always focused on strengthening cross-cultural exchange with respects to the local culture, while introducing the Chinese culture and heritages to local employees."Children and youth are the hope of future, and it is the responsibility of everyone in society to nurture and support them. In celebrating the New Year of Sri Lanka, we hope the open day can help our local employees and their children, and build a bridge for cultural exchange and friendship," said Li Qiang, general manager of ZPMC's Indo-Australia regional center.As a leading heavy equipment manufacturer, ZPMC often actively carries out various social and public welfare causes and undertakings, and it has hosted many projects for poverty alleviation, wildlife conservation, material donation, volunteer initiatives, community services and more.This story has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Atal Innovation Mission, Ministry of Agriculture collaborate to support agri-related innovations New Delhi, April 13: Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) have come together to promote innovation in the agricultural sector among school students across India. Atal Innovation Mission, Ministry of Agriculture collaborate to support agri-related innovations The two government bodies have agreed to connect Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) and Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMAs) under the initiative.The collaboration is a result of the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who seeded this idea during a conversation and proposed to connect the ATLs with the KVKs across the country.Prime Minister Modi also suggested that both government bodies look into linking soil testing labs to ATL schools.KVKs function as a "Single Window Agricultural Knowledge Resource and Capacity Development Centre," and this collaboration will provide numerous stakeholders with the necessary information, training, and inputs. KVKs, in partnership with ATMA, will collaborate with nearby ATLs to support agricultural-related innovation.During the first phase of the implementation, one KVK under each of the 11 Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) will be involved, providing technology backstopping and facilitating knowledge-sharing and skill-building exercises.KVK experts will also undertake need-based visits to nearby ATLs, while KVKs will provide literature, seeds, planting materials, and other inputs as required. The pilot project will be extended after assessing the positive outcomes after two years.Speaking during the event, Mission Director Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Dr Chintan Vaishnav said, "In my mind, this step is going to be a giant leap towards boosting agriculture innovations in India. There are two aspects of this collaboration that are worth replicating across many sectors--first, the idea of linking the existing government platforms with a purpose. For example, public health centres and ATLs could be linked similarly for better healthcare and so on. Secondly, linking children, the most important change-makers of society to the real, most important challenges, and opportunities."He further said that both AIM and MoA and FW are also mulling creating a quarterly showcase at MoA and FW where a stream of Agri-student innovators would be felicitated by the Atal Innovation Mission.He informed that AIM has mapped and shared a list of 55 ATLs (mapping each of the 11 KVKs, and ATMAs with up to 5 ATLs) based on the list of KVKs and ATMAs shared by MoA and FW.Addressing the gathering, Secretary, DA and FW, MoA and FW Manoj Ahuja spoke about the potential of this collaboration to address the various challenges of Agriculture.He further added that under this framework, MoA and FW and ATL can develop a problem-finding platform and organise hackathons.He stressed the need for adopting an "integrated learning approach" to find solutions to the problems of the farm sector.To familiarize MoA and FW officials with the Atal Tinkering Labs initiative, a school visit was conducted on April 12th, 2023. A delegation from MoA and FW visited the ATL lab at Amity International School, Saket, Delhi, where they had an opportunity to witness innovations made by young school students from various sectors which included agriculture-related innovations.A similar visit is planned for ICAR in the last week of April 2023.This collaboration between AIM and MoA and FW is a significant milestone towards the growth and development of the agricultural sector in India and Atal Innovation Mission is committed to continuing its efforts towards fostering innovation and creativity among the youth of the country.Meanwhile, young student innovators from the ATL schools KV Janakpuri, DAV Vasant Kunj and Amity International School also shared their ATL experiences and spoke about their innovations in the agriculture sector.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Pet care startup Snouters raises angel round from Marquee Investors Bangalore, April 13: Snouters, a pet care services marketplace startup, has announced that it has successfully raised an angel funding round. The startup, founded by Vinod and Srikant (ex-Uber, ex-Cisco), has received investment from a group of seasoned angel investors (senior executives from Google and Meta) who are excited about the potential of the company. The funding round is a result of Snouters winning Accel's decoding marketplace competition in the B2C category last December. Pet care startup Snouters raises angel round from Marquee Investors Snouters offers a range of pet care services, including pet sitting, pet boarding, pet grooming, and dog walking. The startup was founded with a mission to provide that are affordable and accessible to everyone in India. The company's goal is to be the pet care super app for India to help pet parents provide the best possible care for their pets, even when they are busy or away from home. "India has 20 million+ pets today, with more than 10% of Urban homes having at least one pet. The pet services space in India and SEA is largely unorganized, fragmented, and riddled with quality and reliability issues. Snouters is the go-to brand for pet parents in India for anything around pet services," says Srikant, founder of Snouters.With the funding raised in the angel round, Snouters plans to expand its operations and reach more pet parents across India. The company will use the funds to expand the core team, invest in marketing and advertising, and improve its technology infrastructure to better serve its customers. "We are thrilled to have the support of seasoned investors who believe in our mission to be a pet care super app," said Vinod. "With this funding, we can accelerate our growth and reach more pet parents who need our help."Indian pet care market is the fastest growing pet care market in the world, and Snouters is well-positioned to capture a significant share of the market. The company's unique approach to pet care, which combines affordability and accessibility with high-quality service, has already garnered a loyal customer base."We are excited to be part of the Snouters journey," said one of the investors. "The company's focus on providing high-quality pet care services that are accessible to everyone is something that resonates with us, and we believe that Srikant, Vinod and the team have the skills and experience to tackle this unique opportunity in India and SEA."Snouters is now focused on expanding its services and reaching more pet parents across the India and SEA region. The company is committed to providing the best possible care for pets and helping pet parents to feel confident and at ease knowing that their pets are in good hands.This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Ministry of Tourism to organise SCO Millets Food Festival from April 13-19 in Mumbai New Delhi, April 13: Ministry of Tourism to organise the 4th and last event of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Millets Food Festival from April 13 to April 19 in Mumbai at Taj Mahal Palace, as per an official release. Ministry of Tourism to organise SCO Millets Food Festival from April 13-19 in Mumbai Chefs from SCO member countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan and Russia) will attend the 9-day event and showcase their various cuisines and offer to the guest at the hotel.Taj Mahal Palace will be hosting the SCO Millet Food Festival to commemorate the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023).This festival will feature a selection of organic meals made with millet that have been hand-selected by our SCO Member Chefs. From April 14 to April 19 the festival will be open to the public for lunch and dinner at Shamiana Restaurant, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai.The SCO is an Intergovernmental Organisation comprising eight Member States China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, four Observer States and fourteen "Dialogue Partners"India is hosting the presidency of SCO for the year 2023, the Ministry of Tourism Government of India has successfully completed SCO Tourism Mart from February 9 to February112023, SCO Expert Level Tourism Working Group Meeting and SCO Tourism Minister's Meeting in Kashi (Varanasi) from March 13 to March 18, 2023, during the meeting discussed the Joint Action Plan for implementing the Agreement between the Governments of the SCO Member States on the Development of Cooperation in Tourism, stated an official release from the Ministry of Tourism.The Experts from the member countries of SCO prioritised various activities under areas of cooperation such as the Promotion of the SCO tourism brand, the Promotion of the cultural heritage of the SCO Member States in tourism, Sharing and Exchange of information and digital technology in tourism, Promotion of mutual cooperation in medical and health tourism, Improving the quality of services.The SCO countries have a diverse mix of cultures and traditions, which is aptly reflected in their cuisines. The cuisine of SCO countries will offer unique delights to food lovers. With the aim to create awareness and increase the production and consumption of millets, United Nations declared 2023 the International Year of Millets.The idea behind the international year is to promote millets as they are climate resilient and consuming them can help the world meet at least six United Nations-mandated sustainable development goals.Spearheaded by the Prime Minister, the Government of India sponsored the proposal for International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 which was accepted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The declaration has been instrumental for the Government of India to be at the forefront of celebrating the IYM.Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also shared his vision to make IYM 2023 a 'People's Movement' alongside positioning India as the 'Global Hub for Millets'.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Abu Dhabi inaugurates new bridge linking Bani Yas East and Bani Yas West Abu Dhabi, April 13: Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) today inaugurated a new bridge connecting Bani Yas East and Bani Yas West in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi inaugurates new bridge linking Bani Yas East and Bani Yas West The ceremony was attended by Dr. Salem Khalfan Al Kaabi, Director-General of Operational Affairs at the DMT, Saif Badr Al Qubaisi, Director-General of Abu Dhabi City Municipality, and Abdulla Al Marzouqi, Director-General of the Integrated Transport Centre, and various high-ranking officials.The new bridge, located on Abu Dhabi Al Ain Road (E22), 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. The interchange has the capacity to accommodate around 1400 vehicles per hour travelling from E22 Abu Dhabi / Al Ain and 1100 vehicles per hour travelling from East or West Baniyas.The project includes 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.Dr. Salem Al Kaabi and Saif Badr Al Qubaisi praised the new bridge in Abu Dhabi as a significant milestone for the city, showcasing its commitment to modernity and progress. 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 is 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.Al Qubaisi further emphasised that the new bridge underscores the Municipality's dedication to continuously improving and developing critical infrastructure components on Abu Dhabi Island and the mainland. This approach increases efficiency and preserves the emirate's competitiveness in the infrastructure sector, positioning Abu Dhabi as one of the world's top cities in terms of infrastructure systems, roads, bridges and tunnels. These elements form a traffic ecosystem that aligns with the comprehensive development witnessed at all levels in Abu Dhabi.The project comprises the construction of the main bridge, featuring a concrete slab and external and internal pillars, as well as two bridges with a single sea slab, pillars, and foundations. Additionally, the project includes the installation of a CCTV system, traffic lights, pedestrian signs, fibre optic cables, and connectivity to the Abu Dhabi Traffic Management Centre, along with the implementation of natural cosmetics, sanitation, and speed camera transmissions.The interchange boasts 210 energy-saving lighting poles, and the project covers an asphalt area of 195,580 square meters. This bridge is part of a strategic infrastructure plan aimed at providing world-class infrastructure, enhancing community welfare, and creating a business-friendly environment that ensures the best possible quality of life for citizens, residents, and visitors. (ANI/WAM)ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Suhani Popli shines bright in Vikramaditya Motwanes recently released Jubilee New Delhi, April 13: Prime Video's latest offering, 'Jubilee', has become the talk of the town since its release on 7th April. The period drama, created by Vikramaditya Motwane and written by Atul Sabharwal, has left the audience eagerly waiting for the second set of episodes, all set to release on 14th April. Suhani Popli shines bright in Vikramaditya Motwane's recently released Jubilee Jubilee takes the viewers on a mesmerising journey through a golden retro era of filmmaking, celebrating it with an intricately layered narrative and power-packed performances by the cast. The show explores the evolution of cinema through the partition and the years that followed, bringing to life the challenges faced by filmmakers during that period. The stunning costumes, pristine sets, and captivating music complement each scene and add to the overall visual appeal of the show.One of the golden finds of 'Jubilee' is actor Suhani Popli and her impeccable performance as Meena Devi. Suhani's portrayal of the character in the series has been nothing short of remarkable, making her one of the standout performers in the show alongside seasoned actors like Aparshakti Khurana, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Sidhant Gupta, Wamiqa Gabbi, Ram Kapoor and Nandish Sandhu among others. As the best friend and flatmate of Niloufer Qureshi, played by Wamiqa Gabbi, Suhani's character is of an aspiring actress with a strong personality and a heart of gold. Fans and critics alike have praised Suhani's exceptional talent and dedication to the craft, as she brings Meena Devi to life with great finesse, capturing all nuances of the character, and delivering a performance that is both captivating and memorable.Suhani's acting skills are evident in the broad range of roles she has undertaken, each delivered with exceptional ease and authenticity. In Meghna Gulzar's 'Chhapaak', Suhani delivered a powerful and deeply affecting portrayal of Chitra, an acid attack survivor. In 'Bandish Bandits', she stood out as Suzi, the sharp-tongued housekeeping manager, providing a much-needed dose of humour to the show. As Priyanka, the supportive best friend in 'GoneKesh', Suhani's charming and empathetic performance won the hearts of audiences. In the audio show, 'Palace Crimes', Suhani has demonstrated her voice acting expertise and lent her voice to various characters, mesmerising listeners with her range and versatility. Interestingly, she also had a short but notable role to play in Anurag Kashyap's 'Sacred Games'.With a feature film, an anthology, and a lead role in a short film set to release later this year on some of India's largest OTT platforms, the ace actress is sure win hearts of the viewers and fans alike!This story has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK)ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Purple Style Labs, owner of Pernias Pop-Up Shop, Indias largest luxury fashion omnichannel platform, raises USD 14Mn in Series-C funding New Delhi, April 13: Purple Style Labs (PSL), the parent company of Pernia's Pop-Up Shop (PPUS), has secured USD 14 million in Series-C funding from an impressive roster of investors, including ValueQuest S C A L E Fund, Singularity Growth Opportunities Fund I, ValPro, Masaba Gupta, and many other high-profile individuals. The round also saw the continued support of existing investors such as Astarc Ventures, Mukul Agrawal (Param Capital), Neelesh Bhatnagar (NB Ventures) and Yuj Ventures/Sid Yog (Founder, Xander Group). Purple Style Labs, owner of Pernia's Pop-Up Shop, India's largest luxury fashion omnichannel platform, raises USD 14Mn in Series-C funding With respect to the funding round, Abhishek (Monty) Agarwal, founder of Purple Style Labs, said, "Purple Style Labs was started in 2015 with the vision to build India's largest Luxury Fashion House, and it has been extremely fulfilling for our team and investors to see the rapid progress in that journey. We acquired Pernia's Pop-Up Shop in 2018 and have scaled it over 70x in the last five years, transforming it into the country's largest omnichannel luxury fashion platform. In the coming years, we hope to achieve new heights with more key international locations, broadening our presence and taking Indian fashion and design to the next level."Fashion designer extraordinaire Masaba Gupta, now an investor, calls it the "most powerful player in the multi-designer retail space" while expressing her full support for Pernia's Pop-Up Shop. "I am very confident and proud of Abhishek's vision with Pernia's Pop-Up Shop. I have been a part of the brand since its inception and it has only grown from strength to strength. PPUS is the most powerful player in the multi-designer retail space and one of House of Masaba's top retailers, so I am thrilled to have invested in a fast-growing company with a formidable omnichannel model", she adds.PSL has achieved more than 100% Y-o-Y growth for the last two years, closing FY 22-23 with USD 45 Mn+ revenue on a consolidated basis and achieving EBITDA breakeven simultaneously. Furthermore, PSL has revealed that its March 2023 exit gross sales run rate has already hit around USD 75 million, and it anticipates further growth, with a projected run rate of USD 120 million in gross sales by March 2024. Pernia's Pop-Up Shop was also recently featured on the Financial Times' list of 500 high-growth companies in the Asia-Pacific region in 2023. It is the only Indian company that ranks among the top 100 in the apparel and fashion category. These significant achievements are a testament to PSL's unwavering commitment to revolutionizing the luxury fashion industry.Since the acquisition of Pernia's Pop-Up Shop in 2018, PSL has opened 15 Pernia's Pop-Up Studio experience centres across prominent cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad and an international store in Mayfair, London. The next two years will see more international stores opening in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dubai, and Singapore, apart from the current London store. This will be parallel to expanding the existing domestic footprint to cities such as Chennai and Surat. The company is also looking to invest growth capital in younger labels and continue acquiring mature brands as part of the vision to make PSL India's largest luxury fashion house.It opened its most ambitious experience centre in November 2022, spanning 50,000 sq. ft, at an iconic new address in Mehrauli, New Delhi (erstwhile known as the Indian Handicrafts Emporium). Renowned Bollywood actor and style icon Madhuri Dixit, an investor in PSL, inaugurated the store. This brand-new destination offers its discerning clientele a well-researched and curated shopping experience, from modern brides-to-be to their families and fashionistas to connoisseurs of luxury.This one-stop shop for bridal and ceremonial needs houses the country's most sought-after couturiers and showcases the finest in jewellery and accessories. One's spoilt for choice as something suits every occasion and style sensibility. Think bespoke bridal wear, occasion wear, etc., from design mavens like Shyamal and Bhumika, Tarun Tahiliani, Falguni Shane Peacock, Amit Aggarwal, Gaurav Gupta, Seema Gujral, and many more. The expert in-store stylists meticulously cater to your needs in bridal consultation lounges depicting true grandeur.The company has also launched Pernia's Pop-Up Studio. Men - an extension of PPUS business - housing contemporary, ethnic, and occasion wear from some of the most celebrated names such as Rohit Bal, Rahul Mishra, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna, Tarun Tahiliani, Amit Aggarwal, Anushree Reddy, Seema Gujral Men, Jatin Malik, and many more. The dedicated menswear destination has seen tremendous response from India's fashion-savvy male audience and is now one of men's biggest luxury retail platforms.This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! No possibility of missile falling on or near Hokkaido, says Japan Tokyo, April 13: 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. No possibility of missile falling on or near Hokkaido, says Japan 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 755 a.m. and a notification at 756 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 and analyze information, and provide the public speedy and adequate information. Ensure the safety of aircraft, vessels, and 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.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Anil Kapoor shed tears at late friend Satish Kaushiks birth anniversary Mumbai, April 13: 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 shed tears at late friend Satish Kaushik's birth anniversary 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.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! SPJIMRs 1-year PGPM candidates witness over 170 per cent hike in incoming salaries, with a 10 per cent YoY rise in average CTC Mumbai, April 13: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's S.P.Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) announced a significant milestone in their one-year Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGPM) for Executives with a 10 per cent increase in the average CTC year-on-year for its participants, with the batch of 114 participants concluding in Jan 2023. The average CTC for the top 25 per cent of the batch is Rs 33.63 L, while the average CTC for the top 50 per cent is Rs 30.90 L, and the batch's average CTC stands at Rs 25.89 L. This year's average hike over incoming salaries was an impressive 173.60 per cent. SPJIMR's 1-year PGPM candidates witness over 170 per cent hike in incoming salaries, with a 10 per cent YoY rise in average CTC The placements process saw participation from 73 companies, which offered a wide range of roles in diverse fields, with Consulting roles contributing to 44 per cent, followed by Product Management roles at 18 per cent. The graduating PGPM participants secured placements in leading organisations like Accenture, Axis Bank, Blue Yonder, Bristlecone, Chep, Cognizant, DBS, Ernst and Young, Exide, Get Insured, Hitachi Vantara, HSBC, IBM, Infosys, Jio Platforms Limited, KPMG, KPIT, Light Storm, MAQ Software, Publicis Sapient, Quantiphi, Samsung, TheMathCompany, Thoucentric, Tiger Analytics, TVS Motors, Unity Bank, Vector Consulting, Wolters Kluwer, Zee Technology, among others.SPJIMR Associate Dean - Full-time Programmes, Prof. Renuka Kamath, said, "At SPJIMR, we encourage our experienced students to leverage their rich experience into the classroom, apply theory and explore solutions innovatively." Bhishm Chugani, Director - Career Services, SPJIMR, added, "Recruiters have reported consistently that candidates from SPJIMR show a resilient ability to adapt to different situations. They are able to hit the ground running in their roles in a short span of time."SPJIMR has witnessed a big change this year, as applicants with three or more years of work experience can now apply to the full-time Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGPM), unlike earlier, where the minimum experience required was five years. For more information about the programme, please visit .S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) is one of the top ten business schools in India, consistently ranked among the best. With its unique and distinctive approach to management education, SPJIMR aims to influence practice and promote value-based growth through pioneering programs and pedagogical innovationsThis story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! YWCA Billings has opened a new emergency shelter called Gateway Horizons, which will provide safe and secure temporary housing for individuals experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. This facility serves a long-standing need in the community and will be open 24/7, offering a variety of support services to help residents get back on their feet. To celebrate the opening, YWCA Billings will host a ribbon cutting ceremony from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Friday at 909 Wyoming Ave. in Billings. Gateway Horizons offers 25 private studio apartments, 66 beds that gives residents autonomy and privacy during their stay. The new shelter will also house all YWCA emergency services, which include the 24-hour help and text lines, and hospital accompaniment for sexual assault survivors. In addition, all residents have access to YWCAs support services that include case management, legal advocacy, and assistance in finding permanent housing. The shelter will be fully accessible to people with disabilities and will be equipped with safety and security features to ensure the safety of residents and staff. "We are thrilled to be opening Gateway Horizons, which will provide critical support to individuals in crisis," said YWCA Billings interim CEO, Erin Lambert. "Our new shelter will be a safe and supportive place where individuals can heal from the trauma of abuse, find the resources they need to rebuild their lives." Gateway Horizons will be a vital resource for the community, as it will provide a safe haven for individuals who are fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, she said. The shelter will be open to all individuals in need, regardless of their race, religion, or sexual orientation. YWCA Billings is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment where all feel safe and supported. "We are excited to offer this new service to the community and look forward to working with our partners to ensure that individuals in crisis have the support they need," said Lambert. "We encourage anyone who needs our help to reach out to us, and we will do everything we can to provide the resources and support they need to build lives free from violence." For more information, please visit the YWCA Billings website at ywcabillings.org. TATA Projects unveils HACHI - SAFETY MASCOT for its India @100 campaign Mumbai, April 13: one of India's fastest growing and most admired Technology led Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) company, has unveiled HACHI as its safety mascot under its campaign India @100, growing responsibly and safely. TATA Projects unveils HACHI - SAFETY MASCOT for its India @100 campaign India @ 100, growing responsibly and safely is not just a campaign. It is a vision for an India which is future-ready to lead the world towards a more sustainable, resilient, and safer place for the generations to come.This campaign is further supported by a compelling 7-episode YouTube series that features industry mavens sharing their thoughts on different aspects of safety. This series will focus on highlighting the environment, social, and governance (ESG) led growth for the country while ensuring a safe and secure environment for every stakeholder. The upcoming episodes will feature topics such as ensuring safety for site workers, safety in this digital era, road safety, safer homes and work place, diversity - safe place to work for all especially women and more.Tata Projects has chosen a bee as its safety mascot. Bees are considered indispensable to the existence of humankind as they pollinate approximately 35% of the crop species consumed by us. The mascot goes by the name HACHI. Hachi, is a Japanese word, and it means 'Bee'. It epitomizes the six-sigma of safety, respect, and environment. And bees personify perseverance and symbolize community and teamwork.Himanshu Chaturvedi, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, Tata Projects Ltd, said, "In today's world, businesses must make focused efforts to ensure the occupational safety of their workforce. This is because the well-being of workers is crucial for the success of any business. At Tata Projects, we understand the importance of workplace safety and make sure that it is our top priority. We believe that every worker has the right to return home safely at the end of the day.To achieve this, we have put in place various measures to ensure the safety of our workers at our sites. One of the programs we have in place to promote a culture of safety at Tata Projects is the Zero Tolerance Assurance program. This program is designed to reduce the risks for workers on the job and to prevent accidents and injuries. It is a comprehensive safety program that covers all aspects of workplace safety. We provide regular training to our workers on the importance of workplace safety, the hazards they might encounter on the job, and how to protect themselves from these hazards. We also invest in the latest safety gear to protect our workers. Safe construction at project sites is critical not just for the workers, but also for the public. Many construction sites are located in populated areas or are accessible to non-project staff. Stringent protocols ensures that project execution is safe to all persons.At Tata Projects, we are committed to ensuring that our workers are safe and healthy. We believe that safety should be the way of life.""This campaign will enables to promulgate our belief that the safety of stakeholders takes precedence over everything else. With this campaign, we not only endeavor to eliminate accidents at project sites, but also educate and enlighten the masses about industry-wide safety practices."Tata Projects is one of the fastest growing and most admired Technology led Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) company in India. We have expertise in providing sustainable solutions in the execution of large and complex urban and industrial infrastructure projects while also demonstrating strong presence in refineries and petrochemical plants. We leverage our domain knowledge across various business segments to address the shift to clean energy to meet the nation's Net Zero ambitions. We provide ready-to-deploy solutions for refineries, green fuels, roads, bridges, integrated rail and metro systems, commercial building and airports, power generation, transmission and distribution systems, chemical process plants, water and waste management, and mining and metal purification systems. Tata Projects offers one stop service covering entire life cycle of the project, from project conceptualization to operations and maintenance. It uses innovative technology solutions to offer bouquet of services which includes engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, inspection and expediting, operations, repairs and maintenance, and shutdown services. Over the years, Tata Projects has received several awards and recognitions for its project delivery and commitment to safety and quality. We are a part of the TATA Group which operates in more than 100 countries across six continents, with a mission 'To improve the quality of life of the communities we serve globally, through long-term stakeholder value creation based on Leadership with Trust'. In 2021-22, the revenue of Tata companies, taken together, was $128 billion (INR 9.6 trillion). These companies collectively employ over 935,000 people.To Watch the Video, Click on the Link BelowThis story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! India on its way to become global leader in mobile devices segment, says Ashwini Vaishnaw New Delhi, April 13: Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the country is on its way to becoming a global leader in the mobile devices segment with the doubling of smartphone exports from India to over USD 11 billion. India on its way to become global leader in mobile devices segment, says Ashwini Vaishnaw "With the doubling of exports of smartphones to more than USD 11 billion, India is well on its way to become a leader in the mobile device market of the world and play a major role in India's electronic exports. This is a major win for PM Modiji's Make in India programme," Vaishnaw said in a statement on Wednesday.According to the industry body India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), mobile phone exports from India reached close to USD 11.12 billion with iPhone maker Apple accounting for around half of the total exports. Mobile phones exported from India have doubled to surpass Rs 90,000 crore, which is about USD 11.12 billion in the financial year (FY) 2022-23 from Rs 45,000 crore in 2021-22.According to the ICEA, the exports in 2022-23 were led by Apple and the top exporting destinations for mobile phones included the UAE, the US, the Netherlands, the UK, and Italy."No economy or sector in the economy can become a great and vibrant global economy without large exports," ICEA Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo said, adding, "The mobile phone export juggernaut continues. Riding on the 100 per cent growth in mobile phone exports, which have crossed Rs 90,000 crore for FY 2022-23, electronics exports have also grown by 58 per cent to Rs 1,85,000 crore. It is extremely satisfying that we have crossed the targeted figure of Rs 75,000 crore for the year."ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! PM Modi to inaugurate AIIMS Guwahati on April 14 New Delhi, April 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Guwahati on April 14. PM Modi to inaugurate AIIMS Guwahati on April 14 Apart from AIIMS Guwahati, he will dedicate to the nation three other medical colleges in Assam.Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday shared the pictures of AIIMS, Guwahati."Ayushman Northeast! PM @NarendraModi Ji to dedicate to the nation AIIMS Guwahati, the first AIIMS of Northeast, on 14th April. Have a look at the stunning pictures of the New AIIMS of New India!" Mandaviya said in a tweet.Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday shared the details of PM Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to the state and informed that the PM would also be attending the mega Bihu celebration which is scheduled to be held in Guwahati on April 14."Assam will witness a historical moment on April 14 as more than 11,000 boys and girls will participate in Bihu which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will witness. Prime Minister's presence will boost the morale of the people of Assam because we consider Bihu as the lifeline of Assam. The program will be unique and one of its kind and the people of Assam are looking forward to it", said CM Sarma.Listing down the several programs scheduled for PM Modi's visit CM Sarma said, "PM Modi will launch several programs from AIIMS Guwahati. One hospital will be built on the IIT Guwahati premises. PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of an institute and will attend the closing ceremony of the Platinum Jubilee celebration of Gauhati High Court at Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati.""PM Modi will attend the programme at Sarusajai Stadium. He will inaugurate the newly installed Assam Petro Chemicals Limited 500 project TPD Methanol at Namrup, costing Rs 1,709 crores. He will lay the foundation stone of another bridge connecting Palasbari-Sualkuchi on the Brahmaputra river, costing Rs 3,170 crore," CM informed further.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Preksha Edutech introduces zero-cost fee financing for parents, making education more accessible Hyderabad, April 13: Hyderabad-based start-up firm, Preksha Edutech launches an innovative product that helps parents pay educational fees in multiple EMIs at zero-cost. The product has been designed to help parents who may be struggling with the high cost of education in today's economy. By offering zero-cost fee financing solutions, Preksha Edutech hopes to ease the financial burden on parents and make education more accessible to all. With the ability to pay in multiple EMIs, parents can spread the cost of their child's education over a period, making it more affordable and manageable. Preksha Edutech introduces zero-cost fee financing for parents, making education more accessible Help over 2 lakh students our user-friendly platform addresses the issue of financial exclusion that has affected countless families, improving the quality of education for students and reducing cash flow issues for educational institutions. We have partnered with 50 prestigious schools and colleges to provide financing solutions for over 200,000 students.The zero-cost fee financing solutions product is available to all parents who meet the eligibility criteria. To learn more about the product and how it can benefit you, please visit Preksha Edutech's website ().Benefit education institutes In addition to helping parents, the zero-cost fee financing solutions product also benefits educational institutions. By easing cash flow to institutes, the product ensures a steady stream of revenue, which is crucial for their continued operation and growth.Future vision We firmly believe that access to education should not be limited by financial constraints, which is why our platform enables students to pursue their dreams without worrying about the cost."With our new zero fee financing solutions product, we hope to provide parents with an affordable and manageable way to pay for their child's education. At the same time, we also want to help educational institutions by ensuring a steady stream of revenue, which is essential for their continued success."To know more about the product, please visit ().R. Vaithianathan served as the Managing Director of Tata Capital Housing Finance Ltd. (TCHFL) for six years, during which he strategised and successfully built the business from scratch to a book value of Rs. 21,000 crores. He developed a strong network and business relationships with NHB, MCHI-CREDAI, and over 100 super Cat-A builders, contributing to TCHFL's position as one of the top six HFCs today. Vaithianathan ensured a CAGR growth of 35% over six years and created a 2000-strong employee base in the mortgage business and over 100 retail outlets. As Retail Business Head, Vaithianathan turned the division from losses to a profit within three years by offering products such as new and used cars and business and personal loans.Raviteja Koneru (Founder) Hailing from a family of entrepreneurs, Teja has a decade of experience in engineering design, administration, and financial and legal verticals. As a second-generation entrepreneur, he deeply understands business operations and is passionate about innovation and growth. In addition to being a city dweller and avid traveller, Teja is known for his outgoing personality and excellent communication skills. He is an empathetic leader who always looks for opportunities to contribute to the betterment of society. With a strong belief in the transformative power of education, Teja is committed to supporting schools and educational initiatives that facilitate overall development and shape the nation's future.Madhan Mohan Parki (Co-founder) Madhu, popularly known by his first name, brings three decades of industrial experience. He is a pioneer in establishing a 100 Ton Sponge Iron and 6 MW Power plant in Suryapet, Nalgonda district, as well as a 6 MW Power biomass project (KMS Power Private Limited) in Sattenapalli, Guntur district. Madhu's passion for education started at a young age. He strongly believes that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, as his own education and the networks he built over the years helped him become the successful professional he is today. As a result, he has joined Preksha to contribute his knowledge and expertise to help others in society.Sekhar Bhamidipati (Co-founder) is an accomplished professional with a career spanning over 21 years of experience in sales and marketing and business development in retail assets banking. During his 21-year tenure at various organisations, he held senior management positions in companies like Philips India Ltd, ICICI Bank, and TATA CAPITAL Financial Services.In his last assignment as National Sales Head at a corporate level, he managed a book size of Rs-3100 crores. He was key in launching a personal/business loan product at Tata Capital by developing strategies and plans for the organisation's business operations.Bhamidipati has completed his Management Development Program (MDP) at IIM-Ahmedabad and a Diploma in Marketing Management from the National Institute of Sales (NIS). He also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce.Sai Charan Tej Pulla (Co-founder) is a first-generation entrepreneur with a decade of experience in engineering, marketing, and strategic planning. His passion for business and operations has driven him to become an entrepreneur, and he has been instrumental in setting up companies in South India. Charan is well-known for his humble nature and solution-oriented attitude, earning him a reputation as a reliable and effective leader. In his free time, he enjoys travelling and spending time with people around him, which allows him to recharge and stay connected to the world around him.Sneha Lakshman (Co-founder) is one of the team's youngest and most energetic members. As a UX designer, she is deeply passionate about creating effective and sustainable products, which drew her to the startup. Sneha's journey from being a chemical engineer to a UX designer began when she worked for an ed-tech company. During this time, she had her Eureka moment - when she saw one of the products she designed to go live. The joy and satisfaction she felt at that moment made her realise the power she held in making or breaking a product, inspiring her to pursue a career in UX design.This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! UAE Gender Balance Council participates in meetings of G20 EMPOWER Alliance Dubai, April 13: The UAE Gender Balance Council participated in the meetings of the G20 EMPOWER Alliance which were held in the state of Kerala, India, on April 5-6. UAE Gender Balance Council participates in meetings of G20 EMPOWER Alliance The meetings of the EMPOWER Alliance held under the chairmanship of India, which this year holds the presidency of the G20 EMPOWER Alliance, included discussion sessions over two days under the slogan "Empowering Women A Win for Both Sides for Equity and the Economy", during which many issues were discussed, including the challenges being faced by women in entrepreneurship.Ways to advance women's entrepreneurship were also discussed, including through guidance, capacity building, and enhancing their access to markets and financing, and the role of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and innovation disciplines in expanding the scope of women's work in these sectors, empowering women's leadership at all levels, and enhancing their quality of life.The Council's delegation is headed by Hanan Mansoor Ahli, a Member of the UAE Gender Balance Council, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, and participation of Ayat Al Salmi, Lead Projects Manager in the Council.They reviewed the UAE's experience in supporting women in the advanced sciences sector and the mechanisms for achieving the pillars of the gender balance strategy in the country. Hanan Ahli also discussed ways to strengthen relations in the field of gender balance with the representatives of the countries participating in the meetings.G20 EMPOWER Alliance was launched to empower and advance women's economic representation during the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan in 2019, and aims to accelerate women's leadership and empowerment in the private sector by benefiting from the unique cooperation between business leaders and governments in the G20 EMPOWER Alliance.Balance strategyDuring her participation in the meetings, Hanan Ahli affirmed that the UAE government believes in the need to adapt international best practices to the general context of the country, explaining that over the past few years, legislation and policies have been passed that promote gender balance in all fields, and establish women's rights to full and effective participation, not only in economics but also in decision-making.She also shed light on the strategy for gender balance in the country, which was developed by the UAE Gender Balance Council, under the directives of H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and wife of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court.The strategy aims to achieve the UAE's global influence in this file and to enhance the presence of women in leadership positions and the economic sector, pointing out that this strategy includes 4 main pillars economic participation, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion; well-being; protections, and international partnerships and leadership."To achieve these priorities, an empowerment system has been developed that focuses on 4 enablers, the first of which is proposing policies and initiatives that promote gender equality in all sectors, and the second is paying attention to statistical data to follow up the progress of women's economic participation and motivating state institutions by honouring the winners of the gender balance index at the national level," she said.The federal government according to international standards while developing gender-responsive budgeting, and thirdly, using global competitiveness reports as a tool to make improvements and fill gaps through national action plans in which all state agencies participate, in order to enhance the competitiveness of the UAE in international rankings.The fourth mechanism is to enhance social awareness of the importance of balance and its positive impact. Additionally, the Council's work prioritises cooperation and partnership with the private sector to enhance the balance between its institutions. In this context, the UAE Gender Balance Council launched two cooperation initiatives.The first is the "SDG 5 Pledge to Accelerate Gender Balance in the UAE Private Sector" to raise the percentage of women's participation in leadership positions in the private sector to at least 30 per cent by 2025, and 56 national and international institutions from various sectors have joined since 2022. The second initiative is the launch of the Gender Balance Guide, which was developed in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development as a tool to be used and promoted among government and private sector institutions to ensure the development of a work environment to achieve gender balance.Women and the scientific sectorsHanan Ahli participated as a keynote speaker in the panel discussion held under the title " Strengthening Women's Participation in Scientific and Non-traditional Sectors of Work", which discussed the reasons for the increase in the gender gap in sectors that provide some of the fastest growing and highest-paying jobs, such as the information technology and engineering sectors, and the extent to which This is due to the interest of girls and women in developing their skills and motivation to join science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors, and to obtain advanced jobs in these sectors after studying.The session was chaired by Sudha Shivkumar, President of the FICCI Organisation that works for the empowerment of women in India, and a number of women leaders from various countries that participated in the G20 EMPOWER Alliance.Hanan Ahli said that despite the technological developments that have changed the world, including education and remote work due to the closure that accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic, the digital gender gap still exists, which hinders the participation of women and girls in the field of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and others.She highlighted the experience of the UAE as an inspiring model in promoting women's participation in scientific and non-traditional sectors of work as a result of the support provided by wise leadership to women. The availability of legislative and regulatory frameworks contributes to providing a role model for women's success in these sectors. The UAE's constitution guarantees equality in Education and job opportunities for all individuals, and as a result, today women constitute 70 per cent of university graduates in the country, and 56 per cent of graduates of science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.She added that out of interest in preserving women and assuming leadership positions in the work sectors related to these disciplines and maintaining a gender balance in them, partnerships have been concluded with famous technical institutions around the world to support women and girls in the fields of science and prepare them for the labour market, and our focus has shifted from skills development only. In order to ensure readiness for growth and prosperity, educational institutions in the UAE have established multiple cooperation relationships with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Johnson Space Centre in areas such as energy, technology and engineering.She affirmed the UAE's commitment to enhancing women's participation in technology sectors, including space exploration, noting that women constitute more than 50 per cent of the total workers in the UAE's Space Program, and 80 per cent of the scientific team of the Hope Probe project, expressing her pride in the successes of Emirati women in This sector, she said, "We will continue to build on these achievements to enhance the unique contributions of women in key areas." (ANI/WAM)ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Eknath Shinde cried at Matoshree fearing jail: Aaditya Thackeray; Sanjay Raut backs claim Mumbai, April 13:Uddhav Thackeray's son and former Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray claimed that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, before joining hands with Bharatiya Janata Party last year, cried at Matoshree fearing being jailed by the investigative agencies if he did not ally with BJP. Eknath Shinde cried at Matoshree 'fearing jail': Aaditya Thackeray; Sanjay Raut backs claim 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."Eknath Shinde cried after coming to Matoshree and said - If he does not go with BJP, he will be put in jail," Thackeray had claimed on April 11.Raut also claimed that fear of Eknath Shinde being jailed was "clearly visible" in his "mind and heart"."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.Retorting to Thackeray's claims, Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar alleged that Aaditya Thackeray has a "professional team that teaches him how to lie"."There is a team that teaches him to lie. This is what happens in politics," he said.BJP leader Narayan Rane questioned Aaditya Thackeray to reveal when did Shinde visit Matoshree."I will not speak on that. He says anything. There is childishness in him. When did Shinde go? When did he cry? In which year did he cry? This is all nonsense," he said.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! No nation can progress in isolation, have to work together for collective progress of humanity: Jagdeep Dhankhar New Delhi, April 13: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday said that no nation could progress in isolation and we have to work together for global development, peace and harmony. No nation can progress in isolation, have to work together for collective progress of humanity: Jagdeep Dhankhar Citing the example of climate change, he said that it has made us realise that the world is one, and the dangers of climate change have to be countered collectively for the safe future of humanity.According to a press statement from Vice President's Secretariat, the Vice President made these remarks during an interaction with a delegation of Young Leaders from the France India Foundation at Upa Rashtrapati Nivas today.Highlighting that the world has now become a village, Dhankhar said that India's civilizational ethos has always promoted the idea of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'.Referring to the Prime Minister's statement that war is not a solution to any problem, he underlined, "We have to be in a world where collaboration and cooperation are the keywords."Recalling his days in Paris as a member of the International Court of Arbitration, Dhankhar said, "I greatly value French culture, discipline and the strength of French character."Praising various affirmative policies by the Indian Government in recent years, he said that an ecosystem has been created in India wherein every young man or woman is able to fully realise his or her potential.He also highlighted that India has taken a phenomenally large step into modernity and is emerging as a global power.During the interaction, the Vice President asked the young leaders from both countries to work together for societal and economic development for the larger benefit of humanity.The Ambassador of France to India Emmanuel Lenain was also present along with the senior officials from the Vice President Secretariat and MEA.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Sri Balaji University, Pune invites applications to a host of new-age Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes Pune, April 13: 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. Sri Balaji University, Pune invites applications to a host of new-age Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes Prof B. Paramanandhan, Pro-Chancellor SBUP and 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 and 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 University's 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 per cent 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 per cent 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 per cent 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 -This 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! Bhutan and its focus on Gross National Happiness Thimphu [Bhutan], April 13: Bhutan, known for its focus on Gross National Happiness (GNH) has always put forward a unique approach to addressing the country's economic progress with environmental sustainability, social harmony, according to Bhutan Live. Bhutan and its focus on Gross National Happiness One of the primary reasons why the nation is able to focus on the happiness of the people is due to its inclination towards Gross National Happiness (GNH) as an alternative measure to GDP.Bhutan has always presented a distinct view of progress in a world that is increasingly centred on materialism and economic expansion at the price of the environment and social well-being.According to Bhutan Live's report, Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has set out on an ambitious mission to reshape the nation through education, government, and infrastructure initiatives while upholding the country's emphasis on happiness and sustainable development.Moreover, the King is also concerned about the welfare of its people as it works to address rising youth unemployment rates and a growing emigration of young people from Bhutan to other nations (20.9 per cent), the report revealed.His plan for Bhutan includes a number of initiatives, including the new youth volunteer programme "Desuung" (Guardians of Peace), the Bhutan Baccalaureate, administrative and governmental changes, new tourism regulations, and ideas for a connectivity and digital technology hub, Bhutan Live reported.The Desuung programme strives to provide Bhutan's youth with knowledge, training, and a feeling of civic duty so they can support the growth of their country.Another important component of Wangchuk's transformational programme is adjustments to the governance and bureaucratic structures of Bhutan.These changes are meant to increase accountability and openness while streamlining decision-making procedures and public service delivery, Bhutan Live reported.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! J-K: Govt constitutes teams to enroll Kashmiri migrant voters all-over country Srinagar, April 13: Jammu and Kashmir, state election commission have decided to register Kashmiri migrant pandits residing across India as voters. J-K: Govt constitutes teams to enroll Kashmiri migrant voters all-over country In this regard, the government has formed teams who were forced to migrate from the Kashmir valley during adverse conditions to live in Jammu and other parts of the country and are registered migrants.The teams of the Department of Relief and Rehabilitation Organization have been dispatched to the valley and visited Mumbai, Pune and Chandigarh. Apart from this, the team will also visit Bangalore, Karnataka, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, etc., to register the Kashmiri migrants residing there as voters.Officials said that the government's aim is to have as many Kashmiri migrant pandits participate in the assembly and parliamentary elections in Jammu and Kashmir.This campaign has been started on April 5 and will continue till April 20. From April 15 to 20, relief and rehabilitation organization teams will visit NCR Delhi.Sources said the process has already been started in the Jammu region and teams of relief organizations will go door-to-door in areas where Kashmiri migrants are returning to ensure that they are registered as voters.A total of 22 teams consisting of 50 to 60 personnel have been formed for the Jammu region for the registration of migrant voters.Commissioner KK Sidha is personally leading a team that will visit Pune and Mumbai and Bangalore in Maharashtra.Kashmiri Pandits have welcomed this decision of the government and said that for the first time in 30 years, the government has taken a serious step to actively involve the displaced Kashmiri Pandits in the democratic process.Sources said that apart from the 22 teams, two more special teams have been formed which include 16 officers, 56 officials and 50 casual labourers under the supervision of the relief and rehabilitation Commissioner.All the officers and personnel have been declared as booth-level officers (BLOs) and have been tasked with conducting door-to-door awareness programs and registering Kashmiri migrants in electoral rolls.Sources added that the entire special summary revision campaign is being supervised by the chief electoral officer, J-K, PK Paul.It is the government's effort that the Kashmiri immigrants actively participate in the democratic process and exercise their right to vote in the constituencies they belong to in Kashmir.He said that in the upcoming elections if the people of the community participate in voting, they can also become a deciding factor in various constituencies.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! MARION, Iowa For someone considering a Republican presidential campaign such as South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott a visit with a group of pastors in Iowa is part of a decades-old courtship ritual in the state that kicks off the nomination process. Born-again Christians are the most influential group in Iowa's GOP caucuses, giving faith leaders particular sway in helping organize voters and shape the results. But in the early phase of the next presidential campaign, Scott's joyful proclamations of his Christian faith face an unlikely obstacle. Like other Republicans eyeing the White House, he is navigating an evangelical community that is faithful to former President Donald Trump, the thrice-married former reality television star who once supported abortion rights and spent decades boasting of his sexual prowess. That history repelled many Iowa evangelical leaders during the last competitive Republican caucuses in 2016, when they helped push Texas Sen. Ted Cruz to victory in the opening contest. As the 2024 campaign begins, however, many of those same leaders are open to Trump, grateful for his judicial appointments that resulted in the dismantling of a constitutional right to abortion. They are unswayed by the controversy swirling around Trump, including the 34-count New York felony indictment handed down against him stemming from a hush-money payment made to porn actor Stormy Daniels, who alleged having an extramarital affair with him. I believe, and I think many evangelical Christians understand, politics at that level is a blood sport. Donald Trump is fighting. Thats why he got things done, said the Rev. Terry Amann of suburban Des Moines. So, our role isnt to judge him. Trump has denied having an affair with the actress and has characterized the charges along with ongoing investigations related to other matters in Georgia and Washington as politically motivated. But the evangelical support reflects a broader dynamic taking hold with the GOP base rallying around Trump in the aftermath of his indictment even amid signals that he could be vulnerable with the broader public in a general election. An ABC News/Ipsos poll released last weekend found 50% of Americans thought Trump should have been charged with a crime and about as many 48% said he should suspend his campaign. But just 14% of Republicans said he should be charged. That GOP loyalty to Trump was evident in interviews with more than a dozen Iowa pastors in the wake of Trump's indictment. Each cited Trump's role in helping overturn Roe vs. Wade as central to the long-term rethinking about him since his first campaign. Several also pointed to Trump's recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city. I appreciate the fact that, for what seems like the first time in my lifetime, someone did what they said they were going to do, said the Rev. Kerry Jech of Marshalltown. With Donald Trump, what he promised us, he delivered on. Thats one thing I cant get away from." In a new display of pragmatism, Jech and others like him who didn't support Trump in 2016 say the former president is no less imperfect a man now, but that his action on policy they hold dear may erase questions about his moral character. During the 2016 campaign, the Rev. Mike Demastus of Des Moines supported Cruz and called Trump morally loathsome, wicked and a reprehensible man." Today, Demastus calls him the most pro-life president we have ever had, and would consider supporting him in the caucuses, along with others. Even Demastus' qualified support still puts Trump in better position now than his first bid. In a March Des Moines Register Iowa Poll, Trump was viewed favorably by 58% of evangelicals, unfavorably by 39% and 3% were unsure. On the eve of the 2016 caucuses, Iowa evangelicals seemed to have a dimmer view of Trump. The Des Moines Registers Iowa Poll taken on the eve of the caucuses showed Trump with support from only 19% of evangelicals, with Cruz supported by 33%. The awkward position is new for Iowa social conservatives, who have for three consecutive Republican presidential campaigns decidedly backed the more vocally evangelical candidate, though none would go on to win the nomination. Beyond Cruz, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum won the 2012 caucuses as a crusading abortion opponent. In 2008, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister, posted a surprise victory by cobbling together a Christian coalition of pastors and religious home-school advocates. Scott and former Vice President Mike Pence hope to replicate their success in 2024, should they continue taking steps toward running. In a visit to the state on Wednesday, Scott began his day meeting with a few dozen Christian home-school parents, a vital subset of Iowa's evangelical bloc. It's a strategy pioneered by former Christian broadcasting personality Pat Robertson, whose focus on Iowa's network of evangelical Christian churches helped him finish a surprise second place in Iowa's 1988 caucuses, ahead of Vice President George H.W. Bush. The more traditional approach set against Trump's atypical combination of accomplishment and high-drama personal life creates a new dynamic for Iowa social conservatives to weigh. President Trump has stood up for the values that we hold dear, said Brad Sherman, a pastor and Republican state representative from Williamsburg who plans to support Trump in the caucuses. Then we need to pray for him that his personal life comes in line with that. Others say everyone is offered forgiveness. He is no perfect person. No one would say that. He is no King David, said the Rev. Bill Tvedt of Oskaloosa. But even David was tempted. Tvedt also likened Trump to the biblical figure Cyrus, who was not a Christian but is lauded as an Old Testament hero for liberating the Jews from captivity in Egypt. He is more of a Cyrus, a protector, Tvedt said. 5 things the US can do better in the 2024 election All jurisdictions should have paper backups Counties in eight states are still using paperless voting equipment exclusively. We need them to transition to paper-based systems, providing financial resources if necessary. Voting equipment without an auditable paper trail can produce results that are inconsistent with voters choices, either because of hackers or a technical failure. In 2020, more than 90% of votes were cast on paper-based voting equipment, including all of the states President Donald Trump is contesting or that havent been called. Thats an improvement over the 2016 election, when 80% of votes had a paper record. The goal for the 2024 election should be 100%. More audits before official results All states using voting equipment with an auditable paper trail should conduct robust audits before election results are certified. This will ensure all ballots are counted correctly. It will also allow discrepancies to be remedied and reflected in the final results. If any issue threw off the count, election officials would be even more likely to spot it and re-create an accurate count with paper records. All jurisdictions need backup manual processes All areas without backups for each of their election technologies must obtain them. No technology is infallible. Each piece including electronic poll books, electronic voting systems and online voter registration websites has vulnerabilities that can be exploited or could experience technical failures. As we saw with the 2020 presidential election, safeguards such as backup paper poll books ensure that election infrastructure failures only slow down voting, rather than stop it. Bolster the mail-in balloting process Due to the pandemic, far more voters requested absentee ballots this year. Preliminary evidence suggests that relatively few of these ballots have been rejected. Unfortunately, U.S. Postal Service data also show that at least 150,000 ballots arrived the day after the election. To prevent this from happening again, there should be an investigation of USPS processing of election mail. It should determine how many ballots were late to election offices through no fault of the voter. States should also adjust deadlines For the next election, deadlines need to be updated to reflect the realities of mail balloting and provide even more options for returning ballots, including more ballot drop boxes and in-person drop-off locations. These measures would not only improve the administration of mail-in voting, they would counter the misinformation and disinformation surrounding mail-in ballots that weve seen throughout the 2020 cycle. First Nature Conference in India to bring together leading researchers from around the world working in Nanomaterials Pune, April 13: India is set to host its first Nature Conference on 'Nanomaterials in Biomedical Applications', on 26 and 27 February, 2024. This multi-day event will bring together leading researchers from around the world working in the area of nanomaterials to discuss the latest trends, challenges and implications of nanotechnology in healthcare. First Nature Conference in India to bring together leading researchers from around the world working in Nanomaterials Nature Portfolio, part of the Springer Nature Group, has partnered with Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) to host the first Nature conference in India in collaboration with two of Nature's leading journals - Nature Communications and Nature Nanotechnology.Commenting on the occasion, Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor of Manipal Academy of Higher Education, said "MAHE is hoping to have a truly meaningful and long partnership with Nature Portfolio. Hosting the first Nature Conference in India will be a great beginning for the relationship. The conference will witness exceptional expertise and exchange of knowledge in the areas of Nanomaterials and nanotechnology in advancing healthcare. In February 2024, I will be looking forward to welcoming the global scientific and healthcare community to be part of the Nature Conferences' maiden scientific extravaganza in India."Andrew Douglas, VP Commercial Partnerships and Strategic Business Development at Springer Nature Group said, "We are thrilled to be partnering for our first conference in India with Manipal Academy of Higher Education on 'nanomaterials and nanotechnology in advancing healthcare'. The potential applications of nanomaterials in healthcare are incredibly exciting, and we believe that this conference will help everyone advance their understanding of how these materials can be used to improve human health and better real world outcomes."This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! New Delhi, April 13: 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 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, 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 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. AIIMS Bhubaneswar signs MoU with IIT Bhubaneswar on Artificial Intelligence, focus on integrating medical science with technology Bhubaneswar, April 13: All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar and the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote academic and research collaboration in various areas of health and technology using concepts of Artificial intelligence, officials informed on Wednesday. AIIMS Bhubaneswar signs MoU with IIT Bhubaneswar on Artificial Intelligence, focus on integrating medical science with technology "To integrate Medical Science with Technology for providing a better and more equipped health care service, in a first-of-its-kind effort two premier institutes from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education AIIMS Bhubaneswar and IIT Bhubaneswar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote academic and research collaboration in various areas of health and technology," the press release said."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 modelling, Digital health, development of tools, equipment and strategies for diagnostic and therapeutic use," it added.AIIMS Bhubaneswar Executive Director Dr Ashutosh Biswas and IIT Bhubaneswar Director Shreepad Karmalkar signed the MoU at AIIMS Bhubaneswar premises."Dr Ashuotsh Biswas mentioned that this endeavour will aid in finding solutions to the current challenges in public health and patient treatment in the region. The application of cutting-edge technology into health care will have immense translational value in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases," it said."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, Data Sciences enabled Smart health monitoring system, and Early warning systems among others," he further said.Dr Biswas also mentioned that the Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandviya has always encouraged such tie-ups to excel the health care delivery to the people."On the occasion, Biswas also extended gratitude to Union Health Minister and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for their support to make this MoU a successful one," he said. On the occasion, IIT Bhubaneswar Director Shreepad Karmalkar that the societal effect of these two institutions in Odisha and throughout the nation will increase as a result of this MoU."IIT Bhubaneshwar director mentioned that several faculties of IIT Bhubaneswar and AIIMS 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," the official statement said."IIT Bhubaneswar director thanked Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan ji for encouraging the creation of this MoU and further said that the endeavour is to ensure that this MoU produces concrete results," it said."The Institutes will also focus on dedicated laboratory development. An advanced research Centre called "Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology" which includes 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," press release mentioned.In addition, both Institutes have agreed to facilitate Faculty and Student exchange programmes and reorientation/training courses that will bring academic excellence in their respective fields.The Institutes also agreed to develop and offer joint academic programmes involving technology and healthcare as well as an academic credit-sharing mechanism."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 Programmes that include short summer courses for MBBS and BTech Students. Also, research dissertations and Thesis work for Doctoral (PHD/MTech) Students. Patenting, product development, technology transfer, and Industry collaboration are other aspects that this collaboration will address," the official statement said.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! On Ranbir-Alias first wedding anniversary, moms Neetu Kapoor, Soni Razdan drop loved-up posts Mumbai, April 14: Actors Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt are celebrating their first wedding anniversary today, and have been receiving best wishes from fans and family members ever since the clock struck twelve. On Ranbir-Alia's first wedding anniversary, moms Neetu Kapoor, Soni Razdan drop loved-up posts Ranbir's mother and veteran actor Neetu Kapoor put up a special message for the lovebirds on her Instagram Story."Happy anniversary my beautiful people. My heartbeats. Love and blessings," she wrote, adding a beautiful picture from the couple's intimate wedding ceremony.In the image, we can see Alia and Ranbir busy doing pooja. One can also spot the late Rishi Kapoor's photo frame being placed on a table kept next to Ranbir.Alia's mom Soni Razdan also wished the couple in an adorable way.Sharing a string of images of Ranbir and Alia from their D-Day, she wrote, "On this day last year my sweet's promised to be with each other through thick and thin and through good times and all kinds of times. Happy Anniversary you two. Wishing you both a joyous journey onwards."Ranbir's sister Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, who is an active social media user, chose to make Ranbir and Alia's special day more special with a heartfelt post."Happy first anniversary to Raha's mummy and daddy," Riddhima wrote.Alia and Ranbir fell in love during the shoot of their hit film 'Brahmastra'. After dating for a couple of years, the two tied the knot in April last year.Their wedding ceremony took place amidst family and close friends at Ranbir's residence in Mumbai. For the special day, the duo twinned in ivory.Alia ditched the mainstream lehenga and wore a hand-dyed ivory organza saree. The sheer saree was adorned with fine tilla work and was teamed with a matching blouse featuring quarter sleeves and a V-neckline. She accessorised her wedding attire with a heavy choker necklace, matching jhumkas and a matha patti all from Sabyasachi Heritage Jewellery.Ranbir, on the other hand, Ranbir wore an embroidered silk sherwani by the same designer. He accentuated his groom look with shawl decked in zari maori embroidery and a long pearl necklace.2022 became even more special for the two with the arrival of their daughter Raha.Announcing the baby's arrival, Alia via an Instagram post said, "And in the best news of our lives- Our baby is here...and what a magical girl she is. We are officially bursting with love - Blessed and obsessed PARENTS!!!! Love love love Alia and Ranbir.The couple has not disclosed the face of Raha yet.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Ukrainian officials condemn Russian forces over beheading video Kyiv [Ukraine], April 13: 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. Ukrainian officials condemn Russian forces over beheading video 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.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Vatican accuses China of violating bilateral accord on bishops appointment: Report Shanghai, April 13: In an odd move, on the eve of Easter, China appointed a new bishop to Shanghai, the biggest Roman Catholic diocese in China, without apprising the Vatican. This is not the first time when China abandoned the bilateral pact signed with the Vatican over the appointment of Bishops. Its action has contested the Vatican's authority in the world and has set a bad example, reported The Times of Israel. Vatican accuses China of violating bilateral accord on bishop's appointment: Report Holy See aka See of Rome learnt from the media about the transfer of Chinese Bishop Shen Bin to Shanghai, according to Vatican News, as cited by The Times of Israel. The Vatican said that the Holy See was informed "a few days ago" of the decision by China to transfer Bishop Shen Bin from Haimen, in Jiangsu province, to the diocese of Shanghai.The announcement came four months after the Vatican accused China of breaking their bilateral accord on bishop appointments by putting in place a bishop in a diocese that was not recognised by the Holy See. After a lot of efforts, the secret pact was extended in October for the second time since 2018.A report in The Times of Israel reads, Vatican City is tasked with managing Catholic issues around the globe. The power sought by the Roman Curia, particularly the right to choose bishops, inherently infringes upon the sovereignty of other nations, which is the supreme power of internal jurisdiction. In order to resolve the dispute, secular governments promote the idea of "separation of church and state," whereby the state grants the Pope the authority to manage Catholic affairs in accordance with the Canon Law but excludes him from interfering in secular affairs.Strangely, China may be the only nation to have openly challenged the Vatican's authority to demonstrate its supremacy. It is the only nation facing problems with the Vatican, including political ones. The People's Republic of China and the Vatican do not, in fact, enjoy friendly diplomatic relations, especially after Xi assumed power in 2012. Xi Jinping has been enhancing the CCP's predominant role in every perspective, including religion with an intention that the Party exercises overall leadership over all areas of endeavour in every part of the country, reported The Times of Israel.Beijing has its own way of functioning with regard to Bishops. With its autonomous ecclesiastical organisation, the Bishops Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCCC), it chooses and installs its own bishops. The Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA) demonstrates that the Chinese Catholic Church is independent and has cut its links with the Vatican on a political and financial level. The former State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA), which was incorporated into the CCP's United Front Work Department (UFD) as part of China's 2018 institutional reform, used to control the two groups, as per The Times of Israel.As far as Shen in considered, his appointment has unlocked Pandora's box. Ironically, Shen, the leader of the Council of Chinese Bishops, chose himself to become the first-ever bishop of Shanghai. Furthermore, the Holy See has not recognised the Council of Chinese Bishops, which is virtually under the control of the Chinese Communist Party. Shen avoided talking about the status of the churches in China in favour of talking about patriotism. The diocese of Shanghai quoted Bishop Shen Bin on its website as saying that he would uphold the fundamental principles of independence and self-government and carry on the excellent tradition of patriotism and love of the Catholic Church in Shanghai.The status of those churches and questions about who has the power to name bishops are at the crux of the negotiations between China and Vatican. According to the report, China is also closely monitoring the church's position regarding the pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong.The report made it quite evident that Christians and other minorities in China do not enjoy full religious freedom. It should be noted that only six new bishops have been installed since the Vatican and China reached their 2018 agreement.Experts do not completely rule out the possibility of China flagrantly breaking the terms of the agreement reached with the Pope and promoting Xi Jinping's aim of total control over every institution. China also is keeping a close eye on the church's stance on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, according to the report. They fear for the rights of Christians and other minorities under Xi Jinping's rule, The Times of Israel reported.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! We are going to expand our business 50 per cent by 2030: Nayara Energy Chief Alois Virag By Shailesh Yadav, Rome, [Italy], Apr 14 India's second-largest refinery Nayara Energy is going to expand around 50 per cent of business by 2030. We are going to expand our business 50 per cent by 2030: Nayara Energy Chief Alois Virag Currently operating with 6000 retail outlet company has planned to open 3000 more retail outlets across the country, said Alois Virag, CEO, of Nayara Energy after meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on the sidelines of the India-Italy CEO roundtable.In an exclusive interview with ANI, Virag said that Whatever we produce we process 20 million tonnes of crude, which we offer to Indian customers. We have more than 6000 retail outlets and this is one of our growth stories. We want to go up to 9000 by 2030. Virag said that we provide all our goods and services to all the other customers in India and only the excess that is not bought by Indian customers we export. Currently, that's approximately 40 to 45 per cent of our volumes."We expect that India's energy demand will grow. But Indian demand will grow. We heard Prime Minister Modi in Indian Energy Week say he said the current demand is 250 million tons and in 2040 It will be 450 million tons" Virag told ANI."So there is a huge growth story and of course, Nayara Energy wants to be part of it. Virag said that one specific segment which is extremely growing much faster than the rest of the economy is petrochemical demand and here India is a net importer" he added.Nayara Energy Chief said that his company want to contribute to making India more self-reliant and self-sufficient with petrochemical production, which is why they set up 450,000 tonnes of polypropylene production by the end of this year.'We are analyzing and investigating the phase two investment, which would then add another 1.1 mn tonnes of polyethylene and 500,000 tonnes of polypropylene," he said.Nayara Energy is a downstream company of an international scale with prominence across the hydrocarbon value chain from Refining to Retail. Nayara Energy's single-site refinery at Vadinar, Gujarat contains a capacity of 20MMTPA, making it the second largest in India.Nayara Energy Chief said, "it is a great honour to be invited to this esteemed India-Italy CEO roundtable meeting here in Rome, and I'm pleased to be part of it. India is the fastest growing largest economy in the world and it will be the growth engine for the world."This CEO roundtable has a huge impact. In the energy sector, I'm working for Nayara Energy which is a downstream oil company. This roundtable is generating a lot of ideas that we could contribute to support the growth story of India," he said.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Anupam Kher reveals why he decided to celebrate Satish Kaushiks wonderful life on his birth anniversary Mumbai, April 13: Veteran actor Anupam Kher who hosted a musical night to remember his late friend Satish Kaushik on his birthday anniversary on Thursday revealed why he decided to celebrate than mourn the demise. Anupam Kher reveals why he decided to celebrate Satish Kaushik's wonderful life on his birth anniversary Talking to ANI, Anupam Kher said, "Rather than mourning about someone's death, we should celebrate their life. About 11 years ago, my father passed away and my parents were married for 59 years, then I planned to celebrate my father' life, so that my mother can spend rest of her life happily. That way this ritual started. Satish and I have been friends for almost 48 years and will continue to be." He added, "Today I am thankful to the people coming and talking about him fondly. So that we can remember him. In fact it was very funny that I had earlier decided that let me not do it because I was too sad and was still mourning his death. 4-5 days ago, Satish came in my dreams and he said 'Yaar tu mere liye kuch nahi kar raha hai kya?', so then I decided to celebrate Satish's life today." The idea of celebrating the birth anniversary of Satish under the lap of music and nostalgic stories has turned to be so beautiful but still heavy on heart. The event which was attended by numerous celebrities and friends of the actor started with orchestral music of some songs including 'Tere Naam' title track.The celebration consists of a musical night with stories to celebrate the wonderful life lived by Satish Kaushik. Kher at the event mentioned about his first impression of fellow friend and later meeting 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 Azami, Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukherjee and Johnny Lever.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!"Since then, Anupam has posted several videos and notes in memory of his friend and shared how he is trying to heal from this loss and coming to terms with the reality.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! OSL handles First Domestic Export Of Gypsum from Paradip To Gujarat Port Bhubaneswar, April 14: Orissa Stevedores Limited (OSL) on Thursday handled the domestic export of Gypsum from Paradip Port to Pipavav Port in Gujarat, an official statement informed. OSL handles First Domestic Export Of Gypsum from Paradip To Gujarat Port "Eastern India's major stevedoring company, Orissa Stevedores Limited (OSL), handled first of its kind domestic export of Gypsum from Paradip Port to Pipavav Port in Gujarat," the press release said.This entire operation of domestic export was overseen and handled by OSL."While the cargo was first brought through barges from the leading fertilizer firm IFFCO's riverine jetty (which has been developed by OSL) in Paradip, it was unloaded from the barges and shifted to the main berth of the Paradip Port Authority (PPA) and loaded into the bigger vessel named MV Paranassos," it said.OSL in its statement further stated that they have achieved this feat after redeveloping riverine operations in Odisha."OSL has achieved this unique feat by redeveloping riverine operations in Odisha after almost a century. This has proved the possibility of using waterways as a feasible mode of transport," it said.On the occasion, OSL Group founder Mahimananda Mishra mentioned that the use of a multi-modal transport system has begun and this marks a new dimension to the transport sector."The era of a new dimension to the transport sector with the use of a multi-modal transport system has begun and OSL has played a pivotal role in this system. It gives me immense pleasure and it's like a dream comes true for the whole OSL team," he said."He further stated that this lower emission mode transport system will not only boost the country's economy in multiple ways but also protect our environment as well," it added.On this occasion, IFFCO Director KJ Patel, Paradip Port Authority Chairman P L Haranadh, and senior officials of IFFCO, PPA and OSL were present.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Ktaka polls: JD(S) cashing in on rebellion in BJP, Congress Bengaluru, April 14: With the two lists of candidates for the Assembly polls leaving several ticket aspirants disappointed, the national parties are facing rebellion on a large scale in Karnataka. K'taka polls: JD(S) cashing in on rebellion in BJP, Congress While the Congress and BJP are enagaged in fire-fighting, the Janata Dal(Secular) - waging a battle against the national parties - is all set to utilise the rebellion to its advantage ahead of the elections.JD(S) is all set to accommodate rebel candidates who missed out tickets from both the parties in its second list. The party has already announced the first list of 93 candidates ahead of national parties in December, 2022.According to sources, the party is releasing its second list on Friday and will change the allotted tickets in the first list as well to accommodate rebels of national parties.It is yet to announce 131 candidates. The developments in the national parties are only going to strengthen JD(S), across the state, explain party insiders.The JD(S) leaders are very happy about leaders from north Karnataka region considered as a bastion of BJP joining the party. The party has gone closer to the mission of becoming a king maker. It was hoping to win 30 to 35 seats and now, the party is confident of winning more than 40 seats, the sources stated.Y.AS.V. Datta, a senior JD (S) leader, joined Congress ahead of the polls and has come back to the party. The Congress had denied a ticket to him from Kadur constituency. He has been allotted a ticket though the party had announced its candidate earlier.A.Manju, a senior BJP leader, is likely to contest from Arakalagudu constituency on JD(S) ticket. Manohar Tahsildar, a senior Congress leader from Hanagal seat, Doddappa Gouda Patil from BJP from Jevargi, Raghu Achar from Congress party will contest from Chitradurga on JD (S) ticket.Mallikarjuna Khuba (BJP) from Basavakalyan, Veerabhadrappa Halaharavi of BJP from Huballi-Dharwad East seat, Yogesh Babu of Congress from Molakalmuru, Srikanth Ghotnekar of Congress from Haliyal constituency are also likely to contest from JD (S).The JD(S) is also likely to announce a candidate for Hassan constituency which has resulted in family infighting.IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! 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. Will stay with Nitish Kumar till last breath, says Jitan Ram Manjhi Patna, April 13: HAM chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, claimed that he will stay with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar till the last breath of his life and there is no chance of him going into the NDA. Will stay with Nitish Kumar till last breath, says Jitan Ram Manjhi Manjhi met Amit Shah to demand Bharat Ratna for mountain man Dashrath Manjhi."There is no chance of going into the NDA. I have taken an oath to stay with Nitish Kumar till the last breath. Nitish Kumar has all the ability of a Prime Minister and he is making honest efforts to unite the opposition parties of the country."How could we go with the BJP which has only one ideology - to destroy smaller parties of the country? We have a small party in Bihar and it is not possible to go with them," Manjhi said.For the demand of Bharat Ratna for Dashrath Manjhi, a delegation had started a Padyatra from his native village Gahlor in Gaya district on March 5 this year and reached Delhi's Jantar Mantar on April 1.IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! ECR to cancel the letterhead process of confirming railway tickets Patna, April 14: East Central Railway (ECR) has decided to cancel the letterhead process for confirming tickets amid misuse. With this, the lawmakers have to send an official email to get the quota of high officials. ECR to cancel the letterhead process of confirming railway tickets This decision was made after Visakhapatnam RPF and Muzaffarpur police unearthed an interstate racket of confirming the waiting list tickets through letter heads of MPs, MLAs and MLCs a few days ago in Muzaffarpur.The sleuths also seized more than 200 letterheads of law makers during the raid at Sri Krishna Nagar locality under Sadar police station. The kingpin of the racket Satyajeet Kumar named the person who was operating from Muzaffarpur, but he managed to flee before the raid.The ECR has decided to send email from their official e-mail id to avail the high official quota.P.S. Dayanad, CCM of ECR said "Wrongdoings can be detected easily through e-mail but not letterhead. Hence, we have decided to confirm tickets only through e-mails. The location and IP address of the sender can easily be identified through email which is not the case in fax."As per the earlier process, Indian railways offer high official quotas to the members of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Vidhan Parishad for quick confirmation of waiting list. The law makers have to send a fax of PNR number on their letterheads.Using the advantage of the loopholes, railway ticket mafias obtained the letter head of the law makers to confirm waiting list tickets through a high official quota.IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! PM Modi speaks with UK PM, raises security issue of Indian diplomatic establishments New Delhi, April 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday raised the issue of the security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the United Kingdom with his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak and called for strong action against anti-India elements. PM Modi speaks with UK PM, raises security issue of Indian diplomatic establishments In a telephone conversation, PM 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, according to a PIB release.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 an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, the release said.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.PM Modi invited PM Sunak to 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 of India's initiatives and their success.PM Modi also 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.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma receives GI Registration Certification for Assamese Gamosa Guwahati, April 13: Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday received the Geographical Indication Registration Certificate for Asomiya Gamosa. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma receives GI Registration Certification for Assamese Gamosa CM Biswa Sarma received the certificate from the Controller General of Patent, Designs and Trademarks and Registrar of GI Registry Dr Unnat P. Pandit at a function held at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati.It may be noted that eight Gamosa namely Uka or Xadharan Gamosa, Phulam Gamosa, Bihuwan, Tiani or Pani Gamosa, Anakata Gamosa, Telos Gamosa, Dora Boron or Jor Gamosa and Gossain Gamosa have been included in GI Registration.GI Registration is a legal recognition of goods for a definite geographical area or territory and no other can produce and market the product.The GI Tag will also ensure the protection of lakhs of weavers in the state.Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr Sarma said, "It is a moment of honour and pride for the people of Assam just before the Rongali Bihu celebrations as I received the GI Tag for our pride the Asomiya Gamosa.""As a result of this honour, our pride Asomiya Gamosa will receive legal recognition for Assam which will protect its quality and distinctiveness. It will ensure the protection of the interests of our weavers," he added.Observed in the first week of the month Bohag (mid-April) every year, Rongali or Bohag Bihu heralds the Assamese New Year and is widely celebrated among the community. The Assamese celebrate Bihu thrice a year, which signifies the distinct cycles of farming - Bhogali or Magh Bihu in January, Bohag or Rongali Bihu in April, and Kongali Bihu in October.The Assam Chief Minister on the occasion congratulated the people of Assam on earning the honour. He said that this GI tag would be yet another step for taking Assam and placing it on the world stage.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! PM Modi has made India a powerhouse of exports in various sectors: Ashwini Vaishnaw New Delhi, April 14: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said that India has become a powerhouse export in the last nine years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi has made India a powerhouse of exports in various sectors: Ashwini Vaishnaw While talking to ANI, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "In the last 9 years, Prime Minister Modi has made India a powerhouse of export in several sectors. When we talk about sectors like Defence, Information technology or electronics we see that these are the sectors which have shown a considerable rise in the numbers of exports."Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw further stated that Railways is working on a dedicated test track which will help it become a major exporter to various countries and it will help in the growth of the Indian economy."For India to emerge as an exporter in the Railways sector too, a dedicated test track is essential. This dedicated track has multiple benefits where trains and signalling systems on different parameters are tested. Speed, curvature, and stability are some of the parameters on which the test track will be useful. Work is ongoing rapidly on it. Today some countries are having discussions on importing our Vande Bharat trains so in near future this technology will also play a vital role in our exports," he said.Earlier Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced that India's overall exports have touched USD 770 billion in 2022-23, registering 14 per cent growth compared to the previous year's figures.Piyush Goyal was addressing the India-Italy Business summit on Thursday."It is an all-time high record, growing from USD 500 billion in 2020-21 to USD 676 billion in 2021-22. 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.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Sony India Pvt. Limited, Dr Caroline Molloy from UCA, Farnham at Woxsen Universitys International Photography Seminar Hyderabad, April 14: School of Arts & Design, Woxsen University hosted an International Photography Seminar on Society and Pedagogy, in partnership with Sony India Pvt. Ltd. The event, which took place on 12th April, 2023, at Woxsen University campus aimed to provide a forum for discussing the scholarly dialogue needed for photography in social & pedagogical contexts. With the university's relentless commitment to ERS activities, a group of 26 students pursuing photography at Telangana Tribal Welfare Residential Fine Arts Academy (TTWR-FAA) were invited to take part in this insightful event. Sony India Pvt. Limited, Dr Caroline Molloy from UCA, Farnham at Woxsen University's International Photography Seminar The seminar was planned in 2 segments i.e., 4 keynote lectures and 2 roundtable discussions. Dr Caroline Molloy, Programme Director of Digital and Fine Arts and Photography at UCA Farnham, delivered a lecture on 'Living with Photography' which gave insights on how to develop one's unique voice and style in photography. 'Instafake Filtered Photography' by Dr. Amit Chawla, Professor at Amity University, addressed the issue of manipulated and stereotyped lifestyles caused by social media and Ethical issues in photography caused by the influence of social media.'Art and Rework with Tribals How Tribals Think,' a lecture by Raghu Thomas, HOD and Lecturer, Dept. of Photography, TTWR-FAA, Sircilla, shed light on the use of photography and Shift from traditional to digital photography. He said, "Creating images is a language that represents our thoughts when viewing something. It is our purpose to express ourselves through it."The high-impact event also drew a notable list of senior academic luminaries and industry experts, such as Dr Deepak John Mathew, Former Head, Department of Design and Coordinator DIC,IIT, Hyderabad; Prof. Noopur Tiwari, Visual Communication Design Educator, Adjunct Faculty, Jagran Lakecity University, Venkata Ramana Mallojala, Founder at Photriya Studios, TEDx Speaker, Hyderabad, and Bhaskar Raju YB, Lecturer, TTWR-FAA.The panel discussions offered a platform for examining the multi-dimensional aspects of photography, both as an art form and as a tool for activism and social change. The discussions delved into topics ranging from the ethical considerations of photography to the role of photography in shaping cultural perceptions and stereotypes. The impact of new technologies on the production and distribution of photography was also explored, alongside the need to promote inclusivity and diversity in photography education.A workshop conducted by SONY team in the latter half of the day focused on the technical and aesthetical appraisal of photography. The team had delivered multiple talks on the technical aspects of photography such as managing lights, using different tools as per expected outcome, and how to construct a narrative using all these tools. These discussions and talks had provided students a perspective on how to express the untold and hidden stories of the nature realistically with the help of natural/artificial lights, lens and a sensitive eye for detail."International photography seminars can play an essential role in developing discourse in the context of photography study and research in India by promoting cross-cultural exchange, providing exposure to new ideas and techniques, and creating networking opportunities for students, academicians and enthusiastic photography audiences. This seminar is unique in the Indian context to bridge cultural and systemic diversity, social implications and industry gaps," said Dr Adity Saxena, Dean-School of Arts and Design, Woxsen University.This impactful seminar was a huge success and exemplifies the institution's commitment to providing a platform for intellectual discourse, creative expression, and educational excellence. The partnership with Sony will further drive internship and career opportunities for design students of Woxsen University.Woxsen University, located in Hyderabad, is one of the first private universities of the state of Telangana, India. Renowned for its 200-acre state-of-the-art campus and infrastructure, Woxsen University offers new-age, disruptive programs in the fields of Business, Technology, Arts and Design, Architecture, Liberal Arts and Humanities, Law, Sciences. With 90+ Global Partner Universities and Strong Industry Connect, Woxsen is reckoned as one of the top universities for Academic Excellence and Global Edge. Woxsen is Ranked #13, All India Top 150 B-Schools by Times B-School Ranking 2022, Rank #15, All India Top Pvt. B-School, BusinessWorld 2022 and features in India's Best B-Schools beyond IIMs by Dalal Street Investment Journal.This story has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! EAM Jaishankar meets President of Assembly of Mozambique Esperanca Bias Maputo [Mozambique], April 13: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday met the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique Esperanca Bias. EAM Jaishankar meets President of Assembly 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.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Very important area: Nirmala Sitharaman on strengthening of global financial architecture, next steps Washington, April 14: Describing the Global Financial Architecture as a very important area, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that through India's G20 Presidency, several sessions will be taking place to get into the details on how we want to look at the financial architecture itself. Very important area: Nirmala Sitharaman on strengthening of global financial architecture, next steps She underlined that there have been a lot of discussions going on regarding what should be the next steps to strengthen the global financial architecture.Responding to the media queries on the margins of the 2nd G20 finance ministers and central bank governors' meetings in Washington on Thursday (local time) on the next steps on International Financial Architectural reform which is also one of the themes of India's G20 Presidency, Sitharaman said, "That is a very important area. In fact, there have been a lot of discussions, getting into details on how the global financial architecture should be strengthened and what are the next steps and so on. Through the India presidency, we will be having several sessions to get into the details of how we want to look at the financial architecture itself."On the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), the Finance Minister said, "If I may add, the expert group which is looking at the MDBs (Multilateral Development Bank) reforms, is also actively looking at the reforms and actively progressing in this direction. They had one meeting after the terms of reference were agreed upon by the G20 members. they are now here also sitting together with diff members getting their input."At this point, I can now identify the following steps, but I believe it will be decided once the conversations take place here and we come up with a formulation on how to go, Sitharaman added.Addressing the press briefing, the Union Finance Minister talked about the ongoing meetings in the US. She said that it is the second of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors' meetings under the Indian Presidency which is held at the margin of the 2023 spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank group.She stated that the meeting saw the participation of around 350 delegates and various international and regional organisations. The governor of the Indian central bank Reserve Bank of India (RBI) co-chaired it with Sitharaman. During the presser, Ajay Seth, the Economic Affairs Secretary of the Ministry of Finance said there is a process where World Bank has made major progress and other MDBs are also looking into this."On one side, there is traditional development agenda which is sustainable development goals, and there is an unfinished poverty agenda settled in a larger number of LICs. At the same time, there are new challenges, which are 21st-century challenges around climate action issues are there," Ajay Seth asserted.Talking further, the Economic Affairs Secretary also laid emphasis on the capital adequacy framework (CAF) in all MDBs and said, "All that needs to be taken forward. it is a good first step which has been met. thereafter there is an active discussion going around the capital adequacy framework (CAF) in all MDBs that ministers endorsed last year. I will say not almost all, all MDBs are working towards the CAF implementation."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 in Washington on Thursday (local time) 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 the Capital Adequacy Framework Review Panel and sought G20 member's views on the way forward of the expert group on strengthening MDBs set up by G20 India Presidency, according to the finance ministry.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Civic volunteers, ration dealers not permitted to contest Bengal panchayat polls Kolkata, April 14: The West Bengal State Election Commission (WBSEC) has barred certain sections of professionals from contesting the forthcoming polls for three-tier panchayat system in the state. The prominent among them include the civic volunteers and ration dealers. Civic volunteers, ration dealers not permitted to contest Bengal panchayat polls Although civic volunteers are contractual staff unlike regular policemen, sources said they have purposely been kept in the list of professionals not permitted to contest to avoid any controversy on this count in the future.Similarly, other contractual staff with the state government, namely education associates, panchayat tax collectors and contractual Group D staff are also not allowed to contest the rural civic body polls.Although there is no bar on the government contractors to contest in the polls, the state election commission has imposed certain conditions for them on this count.The first condition is that before filing the nomination the contractor concerned will have to withdraw himself from any government contract which he or she has bagged. In case, the work is in progress for a particular job contract, the contractor concerned will have to complete the work before becoming a candidate in the rural civic body polls.However, the opposition parties have questioned how far these restrictions will actually be fruitful, since there will be no bar on spouse or close family members of such professionals like civic volunteers, government contractors and ration dealers among others from contesting the polls.The opposition parties have alleged that the guidelines of the state election commission have been carefully drafted in such a manner that the contractors close to ruling Trinamool Congress can somehow remain associated in the poll-fray either directly or indirectly through their family members.The Trinamool Congress leaders have, however, rubbished such allegations.IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Ukraine expects $115 bn in long-term support from partners: PM Kiev, April 14: Ukraine is counting on receiving $115 billion in long-term support from its partners, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. Ukraine expects $115 bn in long-term support from partners: PM This year, Ukraine needs $14 billion for rapid reconstruction projects, said Shmyhal on Thursday, adding that Kiev is in talks with foreign partners over raising the necessary funds.The Prime Minister listed the US, the EU, the World Bank, the IMF, and the countries of the G-7 as key partners supporting Ukraine, Xinhua news agency reported.On Wednesday, Shmyhal arrived in the US for a visit to discuss military, financial, and sanctions support for Ukraine, as well as investment and assistance for reconstruction.IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! 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. IPL 2023: Disney Star elated with the response, says 30.7 cr viewers tuned in for first 10 matches New Delhi, April 14: Sanjog Gupta, Head - Sports, Disney Star, is elated with the overwhelming response to the network's coverage of the IPL 2023 as the official television broadcaster of the cash-rich league has clocked 6230 crore minutes of watch time for the opening 10 matches of the ongoing season. IPL 2023: Disney Star elated with the response, says 30.7 cr viewers tuned in for first 10 matches Citing the BARC data, the broadcaster stated that it has garnered 23% more viewers with a cumulative reach of 30.7 crore viewers for the first 10 matches in comparison to previous IPL editions (excluding editions played during lockdown) and is optimistic that fans will be glued to their TV screens for the remainder of the season.Notably, the peak concurrency on TV for the opening match of 5.6 cr was also the highest ever in IPL history excluding the Covid-19 period.The network also mentioned that the TVR among affluent male urban sports audiences has grown by almost 25% in comparison to the last edition."We are elated with the overwhelming response to Disney Star's broadcast of IPL 2023. We have received viewing figures, or ratings, as you call them, for the first 10 matches and we've seen records being broken. It's the second-highest, most-watched IPL in history as far as the first 10 matches are concerned, other than two years of Covid-19."We keep those (numbers of Covid-19 phase) out of our consideration because you know, everyone used to be home and it's not fair to compare those two editions with other editions of IPL but this edition of the league has gone off to a fantastic start and has received an overwhelming response from fans on television. We've had three 30.7 crore viewers watching the first 10 matches, which as I said is second highest ever and second highest is not by too much, it's a very small, small margin," Sanjog Gupta, Head - Sports, Disney Star told IANS in an exclusive interview."The consumption, the overall viewing which is the watch time is also up, it is at 6230 crore minutes, which is again unprecedented and it shows the power of IPL, Star Sports and Disney Star in being able to provide viewers with the kind of coverage they want to watch. It also shows the power of the brand that we've been able to create over many years, association with cricket and the deep love that it has from fans across the country," he added.The ongoing 2023 season has produced back-to-back five last-over finishes and thrillers and Sanjog feels this is what makes the IPL -- the ultimate cricketing League -- the best-in-class sports competition in this country and gives the channel confidence about their investment in the league."It's fantastic. It just reinstates our faith and deep belief in IPL, being the ultimate cricketing League and the best-in-class sports competition in this country. And it also to some extent, gives us even more confidence in the investment that we have made in IPL because at the end of the day, what viewers and fans really want to watch are exciting games and great performances, just the kind of thrillers that we've been having over five consecutive days from Sunday to Thursday," he said."I think the fundamental truth about sport is that exciting competitive sport brings together people and it allows people to express themselves and feel a range of emotions during three hours in which they otherwise wouldn't feel. And also feel a sense of excitement, mixed with nervousness, which perhaps no other content genre can provide and all of it is real and all of it is live, which makes it that much more compelling. So in every sense, these last five days have been really exciting. And I think this sets up the league for what it promises to be," he added.For the time in the history of IPL, there are two different broadcasters -- TV and digital -- which have definitely increased the competition between the broadcasters to rope in the best commentators and analysts of the game on their platform. And for Disney Star, the challenge is even bigger as a few of their contracted analysts -- Gautam Gambhir (LSG mentor), Sanjay Bangar (RCB head coach) and others -- get involved with the franchises in different capacities during the IPL.While the Sports Head of the channel admits to the competition from rivals, he believes to have hired the best of the talent. According to him, more than 80 former cricketers are working on various feeds with them, ranging from Harbhajan Singh to Irfan Pathan in Hindi, Krishnamachari Srikant and Badrinath in Tamil, Venugopal Rao and MSK Prasad in Telugu and others.They also have a few new comers in their team -- Steven Smith and Jacques Kallis (English), Yusuf Pathan (Hindi), Murali Vijay (Tamil and English) and S. Sreesanth (Malayalam and English)"There are two sides to this challenge. One side is that a lot of our long-term contracted talent leaves us for the IPL to become a part of the coaching staff. Actually, some of our experts turned into players for the IPL. Two years back we had Tim Southee, who's playing IPL now. So we lose some of our experts to IPL, either in coaching positions or playing positions, but that we frankly see as a compliment," says Gupta."The fact that we have experts on our panel, who are being poached by IPL teams because of their knowledge of the game and what they can do on the field for some of them shows that the panel of experts we have is credible and has the kind of knowledge of the game that we want on it.The other part of the challenge is of course competition. So, we do have another entity which is streaming the tournament and they have taken talent as well. We believe we have retained and recruited the best talent that's available across," he added.Asked about the innovations in the broadcast on Disney Star, the Sports Head highlighted the Dolby Atmos audio and other features like live subtitling, Holobox, Traxis, and Hawkeye 4K Cam, etc."In terms of innovations, most of our innovations this year have to do with the coverage itself. Whether it's producing a big part of our coverage this time is about the audio in the stadiums. So we have reconfigured the entire audio settings of the stadium and we're producing every game in Atmos in Dolby Atmos and that is because we want viewers at home to really feel the atmosphere," said Sanjog."We wanted to bring alive that facet of our coverage by enhancing the sound of the match itself. There's a lot of focus that we've always given video, but somewhere we found that audio was not getting the same attention and by producing the tournament in Dolby Atmos, we are actually trying to deliver the same actual atmosphere and feel to people's living rooms as you would have if you were in the stadium. So that's a big innovation," he added.This year, the channel has also focused on its coverage in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi, Malayalam, Bengali and other popular languages as IPL has returned to its home and away format and is being played in 12 different venues.As per regional market viewership data, the Hindi Speaking Markets (HSM) has clocked a massive 4400 crore minutes consumption, a 25% increase for the first 10 matches in comparison to last year.Significant centres for growth in HSM markets are UP, Bihar, MP, Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Haryana. Apart from HSM, the Southern markets have also witnessed a substantial growth of 21% increase in consumption to the last edition. Karnataka, with 31%, and AP/Telangana with 33% saw the highest growth in consumption for South Markets."...because IPL was going to travel to 12 different venues and there was going to be a lot of fan fervour around India for our coverage, we felt that it's that much more important for us to focus on the feeds that bring the life and fervour and truly represent the regions where the teams are from. And thus we decided to double down on Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati and Malayalam and Bengali, and others this year," Sanjog concluded.IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Yoons approval rating falls to 27 pct: poll Seoul, April 14: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating fell below 30 per cent for the first time in five months, a poll showed on Friday. Yoon's approval rating falls to 27 pct: poll In the poll of 1,002 adults conducted by Gallup Korea from Tuesday to Thursday, the positive assessment of Yoon's performance declined 4 percentage points from the previous week to 27 per cent, Yonhap News Agency reported.Yoon's disapproval rating was 65 per cent, up 4 percentage points from the previous week.This marked the first time that Yoon's approval rating has sunk below the 30 per cent mark since the third week of November.After taking office in May last year, Yoon's approval rating fell below the 30 percent mark for the first time in late July in the wake of internal turmoil at the ruling party and a controversy surrounding the launch of a police bureau within the interior ministry.It had stayed in the 30 per cent range since late last year after dipping to an all-time low of 24 percent in early August and late September amid public outcry over an unpopular policy to lower the school entry age and a hot-mic incident during Yoon's trip to the United States that went viral.In the latest poll, diplomacy was the most mentioned factor in making both positive and negative assessments of Yoon's performance.The pollster said this appeared to be relevant to recent U.S. media reports on allegations that the US eavesdropped on Yoon's office and the government's ensuing response.The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Large crowds throng gurdwaras in Punjab, Haryana to celebrate Baisakhi Chandigarh, April 14: Crowds of devotees thronged gurdwaras across Punjab and Haryana on Friday to celebrate Baisakhi, one of biggest festivals that marks the foundation day of the Khalsa Panth (Sikh order) by the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh. Large crowds throng gurdwaras in Punjab, Haryana to celebrate Baisakhi Also it marks the start of harvest season.The Golden Temple in Amritsar, one of Sikhism's holiest shrines, was tastefully decorated and saw huge crowds to offer prayers.The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages gurdwaras in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, has deployed task force staff to manage crowds.Barricades have been put up at all roads leading to the Golden Temple to prevent overcrowding, a police official told IANS.A sea of devotees was also witnessed at the Takht Kesgarh Sahib in the holy city of Anandpur Sahib, where the Khalsa Panth was founded in 1699.A jatha of pilgrims this week left for Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib in Pakistan to participate in the religious congregation to be held to mark Khalsa Sajna Diwas (Baisakhi).Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann extended greetings on Baisakhi and on Sajna Diwas of Khalsa Panth.In a message, Purohit said Baisakhi has a multifarious significance. It marks the ripening of the rabi harvest, a time of great joy for the farmers to gather the fruits of their hard labour.The Governor said this auspicious occasion has a special significance in the glorious history of Sikhism as on this day Guru Gobind Singh founded the 'Order of Khalsa' to fight against the tyranny of the Mughals and to preserve human and secular values."This day also marks the watershed in our freedom movement. In 1919 many known and unknown martyrs sacrificed their lives in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, for attainment of freedom. This massacre gave a great impetus to the freedom movement," he added.IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Empowering women in food and agriculture untapped source of growth: FAO Rome, April 14: Improving access to knowledge and resources for women working in the food and agriculture sectors can boost global growth and contribute to feeding millions, according to a new report released by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Empowering women in food and agriculture untapped source of growth: FAO Entitled the "Status of Women in Agrifood Systems", the report released on Thursday says that gender inequalities like less pay and limited access to education for women account for a 24 per cent gap in productivity between women and men farmers on farms of equal size, Xinhua news agency reported.Given the fact that more than one-third of the world's working women are employed in agrifood systems, which include the production of food and non-food agricultural products, as well as related activities from food storage, transportation and processing to distribution, finding ways to increase their productivity would potentially increase global GDP by nearly $1 trillion and reduce the number of food-insecure people by 45 million, the report says.It also reveals that despite improvements over the last decade or more, women remain "significantly disadvantaged in landownership compared with men," including weak protection for women's land rights in 40 of 46 countries surveyed for the report."If we tackle the gender inequalities endemic in agrifood systems and empower women, the world will take a leap forward in addressing the goals of ending poverty and creating a world free from hunger," FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said in a statement issued by the organisation.FAO's 264-page report intends to provide governments and companies with a comprehensive analysis of the available evidence on the gender gap and women's empowerment in agriculture and food systems.The report is a follow-up on an earlier study entitled the "State of Food and Agriculture 2010-11 Women in Agriculture".IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Delhi LG visits Qutabgarh village, reiterates making it a model village New Delhi, April 13: Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena visited Qutabgarh village in North West Delhi on Thursday and directed concerned officials to undertake all possible steps to develop it into a model village, said a release issued by the LG's office. Delhi LG visits Qutabgarh village, reiterates making it a model village According to the statement, the LG, during the onsite inspection, directed concerned officials to undertake 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 same model of development will be replicated in other villages, reads the statement.He distributed 2000 guava and grape saplings (1000 saplings each) to the villagers, with an aim to promote the cultivation of grapes and guava in the area and strengthen the farmers financially, the release added."On this occasion, the LG also visited a local city forest developed by the Forest Department and planted Guava saplings there. Member of Parliament (North-West Delhi), Hans Raj Hans, Chief Secretary, Naresh Kumar, Principal Secretaries of the Environment and Forest Department, GNCTD, I and FC, GNCTD, Commissioner, MCD and senior officials of DDA and other stakeholder agencies were present on the occasion", reads the statement.Addressing the villagers, the LG said that with the participation of the local farmers, Qutabgarh could develop into a major producer of Guava, which is at present coming to Delhi from neighbouring states including Rajasthan. Similarly, the plantation of Grapes in Delhi also aimed at enhancing the diversity of flora in Delhi.The LG also added that the local production of Guava and Grapes would 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.Speaking on the occasion, LG said, "The Forest Department has also planted 600 saplings of various flower and fruit-bearing trees including Jacaranda, Gulmohar, Gudhal, Guavas, etc. This City Forest is also witnessing various other development works like a walking track of 1 km, the widening and deepening of the pond, the installation of bamboo huts and the construction of toilets and other public amenities. This development will promote eco-tourism in the village and also support sustainable and healthy living among the villagers."LG also visited a private plantation site where the villagers planted guava saplings on their own. The LG was informed that the villagers have identified 6.5 bighas of land for guava plantation and more such land is being identified, the release said.The release further added that hundreds of farmers who had assembled to welcome the LG, profusely thanked him for all the steps being taken under his guidance to develop Qutabgarh into a model village. The LG inspected an MCD dispensary in the village and directed officials to upgrade this into a polyclinic and make it operational at the earliest. The LG was informed that 3 specialized doctors have already been posted at the Dispensary recently and other necessary equipment and facilities will be put in place soon.The villagers urged the LG to provide a wrestling facility for women in the village, which has produced a number of wrestlers and athletes in recent years. To this, the LG immediately directed DDA to identify a suitable space and make the necessary arrangements at the earliest, reads the statement.The LG also visited the Mungeshpur drain site where the I and FC Department is working on desilting and beautification of the drain. A 200-meter walking track has already been built by the Department while bamboo saplings have also been planted along the drain, so as to give an aesthetic makeover and increase the green cover in the area.The LG has also directed the DDA to develop 2 water bodies and 4 parks in the village and carry out the necessary maintenance works at an existing pond in the village.According to the statement, this is the second time LG is visiting Qutabgarh village. Previously, he had visited on September 2, 2022, where he had distributed 1000 saplings of Sandalwood to 500 local farmers, in order to provide the city with a fragrant green cover.The statement also added that around 10 initiatives have been in progress to develop Qutabgarh into a model village. Setting up a post office which will be first-of-its-kind in the village, new bus routes to strengthen local public transport, and MCD Dispensary being upgraded into a polyclinic are among many others which are under progress in the village, according to the release.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Study finds mitochondrial mutations in single cells Thuwal, April 13: New knowledge about mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations has been obtained through the use of a high-throughput single-cell, single-mitochondrial genome sequencing technique known as iMiGseq. This technology also provides a platform for evaluating mtDNA editing techniques and genetically diagnosing embryos before implantation. Study finds mitochondrial mutations in single cells The genetic maps of mtDNA in individual human oocytes (immature eggs) and blastoids (synthetic embryos derived from stem cells) have recently been quantitatively described by an international team of researchers lead by KAUST stem cell biologist Mo Li[1]. Research has uncovered the molecular characteristics of uncommon disorders caused by maternally inherited mtDNA abnormalities.Mitochondria, the "powerhouses" of cells, play a crucial role in cellular communication and metabolism. Human mtDNA is a circular genome containing 37 genes, encoding 13 proteins and a noncoding D-loop region. Heteroplasmic mutations, inherited from egg cells, can cause congenital diseases, like maternally inherited Leigh syndrome, and are associated with late-onset complex diseases."Next-generation sequencing has been used to sequence mtDNA and implicated heteroplasmic mutations as significant contributors to metabolic disease. Yet the understanding of mtDNA mutations remains limited due to the constraints of traditional sequencing technologies," said lead author Chongwei Bi."Our new iMiGseq method is significant because it enables complete sequencing of individual mtDNA in single cells, allowing for unbiased, high-throughput base-resolution analysis of full-length mtDNA," said Bi. iMiGseq resolves several key questions in the field.Using third-generation nanopore sequencing technology, the researchers have characterized mtDNA heteroplasmy in single cells and described the genetic features of mtDNA in single oocytes. They have examined mtDNA in induced pluripotent stem cells derived from patients with Leigh syndrome or neuropathy, ataxia or retinitis pigmentosa (NARP). This has revealed complex patterns of pathogenic mtDNA mutations, including single nucleotide variants and large structural variants. "We were able to detect rare mutations with frequencies far below the traditional detection threshold of one percent," said Mo Li.In another experiment using the new technology, iMiGseq revealed the potential risks of unexpected large increases in the frequency of off-target mutations, known as heteroplasmy, in a mitochondrial genome editing method called mitoTALEN - a genome editing tool that cuts a specific sequence in mitochondrial DNA. It is used to cut a mutation that causes mitochondrial encephalomyopathy and stroke-like episodes syndrome in patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells."This highlights the advantages of full-length mtDNA haplotype analysis for understanding mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy change; other distant mtDNA genetic variants may be unintentionally affected by the editing of a genetically linked disease-relevant mutation and there is a need for ultrasensitive methods to assess the safety of editing strategies," said li.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Progress of Centres social security schemes reviewed in meeting with heads of Public Sector Banks New Delhi, April 14: Department of Financial Services Secretary Dr Vivek Joshi chaired a day-long review meeting with heads of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) here today. Progress of Centre's social security schemes reviewed in meeting with heads of Public Sector Banks During the meeting, the progress under various social security (Jan Suraksha) schemes including Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY), Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, Stand Up India and PMSVANidhi was reviewed.Joshi exhorted the PSBs to achieve the targets allocated to them under the various schemes for financial inclusion in a time-bound manner.During the meeting, Joshi also discussed with banks the three-month-long saturation campaign of PMJJBY and PMSBY schemes from April 1, 2023, to June 30, 2023.He 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.According to an official release, the progress of the Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) scheme was also discussed in the meeting with a special focus on the issuance of KCC for animal husbandry and fisheries. The 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 meeting was attended by several senior officials.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! NHRC issues notice to Bihar govt over reported deaths of sanitation workers New Delhi, April 13: After taking suo moto cognizance of a media report about the death of two sanitation workers in Transport Nagar in Bihar's Patna district, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notice to Bihar government on Thursday. NHRC issues notice to Bihar govt over reported deaths of sanitation workers It has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Bihar, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Patna, and the Commissioner, Patna Municipal Corporation calling for a detailed report within six weeks.The Commission observed that the contents of a media report, if true, amount to a serious issue of violation of the right to life of the victims."It is expected to include the status of the FIR registered in the matter, departmental action taken against the responsible persons, and the relief and rehabilitation provided to the aggrieved families by the state authorities", the notice said.The Commission has been consistently advocating a complete ban on the activities of hazardous cleaning without adequate and proper protective/safety gear or equipment. It also issued an Advisory to the centre, states, and local authorities in this regard on September 24, 2021.According to the media reports, two workers were choked to death after they entered to clean an underground drain in the Transport Nagar area in Patna, Bihar on April 11 this year. The employer company involved in cleaning drainage did not provide them with any safety gear, the reports said.Earlier NHRC had issued notices to the State Governments of Gujarat and Haryana, through their Chief Secretaries and DGPs for reports about the deaths of seven sanitation workers in two different incidents.Issuing the notices, the Commission has observed that the contents of the media reports indicate negligence of the concerned authorities resulting in the violation of the victim's right to life. Just because the incident has occurred on private property, this cannot allow the authorities concerned to get rid of their responsibility of supervising such hazardous activities being conducted under their jurisdiction.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Sitharaman participates in event on Sri Lankan debt issues on sidelines of WB-IMFs Spring Meeting Washington, April 14: Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman participated in the high-level meeting on Sri Lanka's debt issues on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)- World Bank (WB) Spring Meetings in Washington DC on Thursday (Local Time), according to the statement released by Ministry of Finance. Sitharaman participates in event on Sri Lankan debt issues on sidelines of WB-IMF's Spring Meeting The purpose of the meeting was to demonstrate the multilateral cooperation regarding the debt restructuring process among the creditors, together with Sri Lanka.At the event, the ministers announced the launch of the debt restructuring negotiation process in Sri Lanka under the three Co-Chairs -- India, Japan, and France, to lead the coordinated debt restructuring of Sri Lanka.Apart from Sitharaman, Suzuki Shunichi, Finance Minister of Japan and Emmanuel Moulin, Director General of the Treasury, France, and Shehan Semasinghe, State Minister of Finance of Sri Lanka, were also present at the meeting. Ranil Wickremesinghe, President and Finance minister of Sri Lanka also participated in the event virtually.Union Finance Minister Sitharaman expressed India's commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in dealing with its current economic crisis. She emphasised that collaboration among creditors is important to ensure transparency and equality in the treatment of all creditors in the debt restructuring discussions, the release read.India, under its 'Neighbourhood First' policy, has always come forward to help debt-ridden Sri Lanka, and in the latest instance, New Delhi has also distributed the ration in Kalmunai on March 16.Earlier, in February, the Union Finance minister met the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Milinda Moragoda where they discussed the ways and means to utilize the available resources in the 1 billion USD Indian line of credit to import urgently required essential pharmaceuticals, which are in short supply in Sri Lanka, read High Commission of Sri Lanka in India press release.Meanwhile, in the IMF-WB Spring Meetings, Sitharaman stated, "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 about 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."ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Afghanistan needs regional cooperation, not US-led intervention: Iranian FM 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. Afghanistan needs regional cooperation, not US-led intervention: Iranian FM 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.IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! 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. N.Korea says it tested new solid-fuel ICBM to improve nuclear counterattack posture Seoul, April 14: North Korea said on Friday the missile used in its recent launch was its new solid-fuel Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with leader Kim Jong-un saying that the weapon will radically promote the country's nuclear counterattack posture. N.Korea says it tested new solid-fuel ICBM to improve nuclear counterattack posture The North launched the new ICBM on Thursday, guided by its leader Kim, in a test of "the future core pivotal means" of war deterrence, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It did not reveal details of the missile's specifications, such as flight distance and maximum altitude, Yonhap News Agency reported.South Korea's military said Thursday it detected the North's launch of an intermediate-or longer-range ballistic missile in the vicinity of Pyongyang into the East Sea. The missile, fired at a lofted angle, flew about 1,000 kilometers, it said.The new ICBM will "radically promote the effectiveness of its nuclear counterattack posture and bring about a change in the practicality of its offensive military strategy," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA in an English-language dispatch.While expressing "satisfaction" with the launch, the North's leader vowed that Pyongyang will take "fatal and offensive counteractions" so that its enemies suffer from "extreme uneasiness and horror," it added.The test marked the recalcitrant regime's latest apparent progress to develop a solid-fuel ICBM, which is one of the five major defense projects it put forward at a key party congress in January 2021.Solid-fuel missiles are known to be harder to detect ahead of a launch, compared with liquid-fuel ones that relatively take more time during preparation.In December, Pyongyang tested a solid-fuel engine for a new strategic weapon and displayed a new ICBM during its military parade in February, raising speculation whether it employed a solid-fuel engine.The KCNA said the latest test-firing aimed to confirm the "performance of the high-thrust solid-fuel engines for multi-stage missiles and the reliability of the stage-jettisoning technology and various functional control systems."The missile's first stage landed in waters 10 kilometers off Kumya County, South Hamgyong Province, while the second stage fell into waters 335 km east of Orang County, North Hamgyong Province, according to the KCNA.The latest launch came just days ahead of the 111th birthday of the late Kim Il-sung, the North's national founder and the current leader's grandfather, on Saturday.It also came amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula as the North has not responded to routine cross-border calls through inter-Korean liaison and military communication lines since last Friday.Pyongyang has recently conducted other major weapons tests, such as the launch of the Hwasong-17 ICBM on March 16 and what it claimed to be underwater nuclear attack drones, in protest against combined springtime military drills between South Korea and the US.IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! High targets must be set in India-Italy partnership in light of new potential: Goyal New Delhi, April 14: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that high targets must be set in the India-Italy partnership as there is a lot of new potential especially in light of the recently elevated Strategic Partnership. High targets must be set in India-Italy partnership in light of new potential: Goyal The Minister elaborated on how a plethora of opportunities in India make it one of the world's most trusted business and investment destinations during his address at the CEOs Business Interactive session in Rome, Italy. He said that India is an open country with global linkages with the trade negotiations underway with EU and EFTA.The Minister said that India has witnessed 55 per cent growth in the overall exports in the last two years. He said that there are about 700 Italian companies operating in India and this is the most opportune time to be in India. The Minister also mentioned that India will provide a very robust and forward-looking policy framework with retrospective changes.The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Italy, Antonio Tajani also participated in the interactive session and addressed the industry captains. Tajani expressed that there is a need to work together to create a better line of next generation in both the countries by backing MSMEs and industry.Goyal appreciated Tajani for the deep engagement and said that there is a tremendous potential for growth in the India-Italy partnership and through this visit new ideas have emerged.He said that the countries are connected by tradition, culture, shared values, rule of law and aspiration to achieve more and to work as one. He also expressed that India-Italy will grow together, achieve together, and conquer together.The CEOs Business Interactive session was organised by the Embassy of India in Rome, Italy in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the General Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria). The session had participation from more than 70 CEOs from Indian and Italian companies.The Italian business was represented by giants like Sparkle, Elettronica, Piaggio, Lamborghini, ITA, etc. The CEOs mentioned that India is an important economic player and it is time to step up the cooperation at both the government and industry level. They also mentioned that Italian companies are exploring various investment opportunities present in India.Vice President CII and Chairman and Managing Director, ITC Limited, Sanjiv Puri, emphasised that signing of India-EU FTA could be a catalyst for further enhancing India-Italy relationship.IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Ambedkar: A feminist both at home and in public life ( Book Excerpt) In an unusual instance, Ramabai had wholeheartedly participated in Ambedkar's idiosyncratic shraddha ceremony for his deceased father. Instead of offering a meal and sweets to Brahmins after the ceremony as the ritual normally requires, Ambedkar offered a meal of meat and fish to 40 students from his community. Ambedkar: A feminist both at home and in public life ( Book Excerpt) Ambedkar was shattered by the death of his beloved Ramu (the diminutive by which he called her). She had suffered much for him, endured his neglect and his preoccupation with public life stoically, starved to keep her family fed, borne the burdens of the years when the family could barely make ends meet, and mourned the loss of three sons and a daughter."She did not flinch from carrying basketfuls of cow dung on her head during periods of financial distress," Ambedkar had written in a revealing article in 'Bahishkrit Bharat' in 1928. "And this writer could not find even half an hour in 24 hours for this extremely affectionate, amiable and venerable wife."Ambedkar ensured his wife was cremated according to traditional Hindu rituals, though wearing her favourite white sari rather than the green one tradition required. He then retired to his room and wept all night.Five years later, when he published his book 'Pakistan or the Partition of India', Ambedkar dedicated it to Ramabai Inscribed to the memory of Ramu."As a token of my appreciation of her goodness of heart, her nobility of mind and her purity of character and also for the cool fortitude and readiness to suffer along with me which she showed in those friendless days of want and worries which fell to our lot."Ambedkar was an early feminist. His relationship with his first wife, Ramabai, founded upon friendship and debate despite disagreement, in many ways is an accurate representation of one of the most powerful feminist slogans of the twentieth century, 'The Personal Is Political'.Ambedkar's feminism within the home was certainly unusual for an Indian and practically unknown at the time for an Indian male. He spoke extensively on the role of women in Indian society; he did not exclude women from his emphasis on equality, placing equal emphasis upon both caste and gender-based discrimination.Ambedkar had argued in his pioneering 1916 Columbia lecture on 'Castes in India' that endogamous marriage -- marriage exclusively within the same caste and community -- was the primary reason for the perpetuation of caste. His challenge to privilege and hierarchy extended to questioning the norms that extended these notions within the home.He elaborated further on the thought in a talk to a female audience at the All-India Depressed Classes Women's Conference (1942) "Give education to your children. Instil ambitions in them... Don't be in a hurry to marry marriage is a liability. You should not impose it upon children unless financially they are able to meet the liabilities arising from them... Above all let each girl who marries stand up to her husband, claim to be her husband's friend and equal, and refuse to be his slave."His courageous undermining of the sanctity of marriage in a society where great importance is given to the marital status of a woman, and his demand for women to stand as equals with men within marriage, constituted an unparalleled and audacious assertion of dignity for Indian women within their own families. In this he was a rare and pioneering male voice in a tradition of Dalit feminism ranging from Muktabai Salve in the mid-nineteenth century to Jaibai Chaudhari in the early twentieth.Ambedkar would go on to declare in 1938 to the Bombay Legislative Assembly, "If men had to bear the pangs which women have to undergo during childbirth none of them would even consent to bear more than a single child in his life."In his work in the Assembly, Ambedkar also highlighted women's limited recourse to medical assistance, and loss of lives due to inadequate affordable healthcare, an issue that is still largely unresolved.Instead of having children in rapid succession, and subsequently opting for risky abortions, Ambedkar boldly recommended birth control in the interests of the woman's health and well-being. Ambedkar sought to pass a resolution in support of government-funded birth control in the Bombay Legislative Assembly in 1938, but his resolution was defeated with 11 members voting in favour of the Bill and 52 members opposing it (on the grounds that it would spread immorality and cause a breakdown of the Indian family unit). His reaction can only be imagined.(Excerpted from 'Ambedkar A Life' by Shashi Tharoor with the permission of the publisher, Aleph)IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! CM Yogi Adityanath recognizes Galgotias Universitys achievements in education and innovation for Uttar Pradeshs future Lucknow, April 14: Galgotias University founder and Chancellor, Suneel Galgotia and CEO Dhruv Galgotia, recently met with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, to discuss the multi-fold development in the state of Uttar Pradesh. CM Yogi Adityanath recognizes Galgotias University's achievements in education and innovation for Uttar Pradesh's future During the meeting, Galgotia discussed a range of topics related to the education sector and the overall development of the state. He highlighted the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in driving economic growth and emphasized the need for greater investment in education and research. Galgotia also mentioned that Galgotias has achieved the milestone of 100 registered startups in the university.Galgotia also discussed the challenges faced by the education sector in Uttar Pradesh, including the need to upgrade the quality of education and increase access to higher education for students from all backgrounds. The Chief Minister also added that the investment proposals will lead to the creation of 1 crore employment opportunities in the state. He added that Uttar Pradesh will become a trillion-dollar economy soon and the government is working to make it the biggest economy of the country.Chief Minister emphasized that with the development of the Noida International Airport and the creation of the mega industrial and manufacturing hub will lead to the generation of lacs of jobs which will create massive employment opportunities to the youth of Uttar Pradesh. While asserting that Uttar Pradesh is the safest destination for investments, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that investment proposals worth Rs 33.5 lakh crore were received at the Global Investors Summit 2023.The Chief Minister expressed his appreciation for Galgotias University achieving the NAAC A+ Accreditation in the very first cycle of accreditation with the highest score of 3.37 and also appreciated the fact that Galgotias is now Top 5 in the country for filing patents in India. CM assured the chancellor of his government's commitment to promoting education and innovation in the state.He also highlighted several initiatives that his government has undertaken to promote the development of Uttar Pradesh, including the establishment of industrial corridors and the creation of upto 1 crore jobs. "With the kind of development taking place in the state and the potential of its youth, Uttar Pradesh is on the way to become the number one state of the country. the government is aggressively pursuing its development agenda, while dealing sternly with anti-social elements threatening the state's security."Overall, the meeting was a productive discussion about the future of Uttar Pradesh and the role that education and innovation can play in driving its development. Galgotia expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to meet with the Chief Minister and for his commitment to promoting the holistic development of the state.This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Manprit Rayat revolutionizes Indian music with two new tracks Tanha Hua & Sawwan Barso on Zee Music New Delhi, April 14: Zee Music is set to release two new songs, Tanha Hua featuring Akasa Singh and Sawwan Barso featuring Bhanwari Devi. The tentative release date for both songs is May 20th, with music composed by Ali-Ghani for Sawwan Barso. The unique aspect of these songs is that they do not feature any models or ad faces, with the focus solely on the artists. Manprit Rayat revolutionizes Indian music with two new tracks 'Tanha Hua' & 'Sawwan Barso' on Zee Music The creative call for these songs was arranged by Manprit Rayat, a renowned creative director and casting agent with an impressive track record. Rayat has worked on over 400 brand campaigns and has been a part of three web series, including two for Alt Balaji. He has also worked on three regional films, "Chustune Amja," "Sarwan," and "Sardaarji-2."Recently, Rayat has ventured into the world of music collaborations as a creative. He has worked on shoots for Rolling Stones and has been part of the Talent and Cultural research team for Coke Studios. The first song from Coke Studios, "Taqdeer," has already been released, and two more songs featuring Devashi Sehgal, Kanwar Grewal, and Vijay Yamla are set to come out soon.With "Tanha Hua," Rayat has brought his creative touch to the table, ensuring that the song's production values and artistic vision are of the highest standard. The song features the talented Akasa Singh, and its unique selling point is the focus on the artist's talent rather than models or ad faces. The song promises to be a unique and refreshing addition to the Indian music scene, and fans eagerly await its release.This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Sharmila offers to gift copy of Constitution to KCR Hyderabad, April 14: YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) president YS Sharmila on Friday offered to gift a copy of the Constitution to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to advise him to read it and govern the state accordingly. Sharmila offers to gift copy of Constitution to KCR While paying tributes to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar at Tank Bund on his birth anniversary, she lashed out at the Chief Minister for "insulting" the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb.She slammed KCR for his utter "disregard in keeping promises" made to Dalits. She wanted to proceed to the Chief Minister's official residence to gift him a copy of the Constitution but was stopped by the police."On this occasion, YSRTP is happy to gift Indian Constitution to KCR. We hope it opens his eyes and compels him to respect and implement the Constitution," said Sharmila.Sharmila alleged that KCR time and again insulted Babasaheb and the Constitution with his words and deeds."In Telangana, KCR's constitution reigns supreme, where there is no freedom of speech and right to protest. KCR's constitution is all about corruption, nepotism, and fake promises. From Dalit Chief Minister to Dalit Bandhu, Dalits have been cheated and neglected," she said."The government has failed to keep three-acre land promise, loans and employment promises, empower SC Corporation, while atrocities and attacks on Dalits go unchecked in the state," she claimed.IANS14 April 2023 Shared Recently! S.Korea, Japan to hold first joint security talks of diplomats, defence officials in 5 yrs Seoul, April 14: Diplomats and defence officials from South Korea and Japan will hold joint talks next week for the first time in five years, Seoul's defence ministry said on Friday. S.Korea, Japan to hold first joint security talks of diplomats, defence officials in 5 yrs The director-general-level policy consultation meeting, which will take place Monday in Seoul, comes after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to mend ties soured by historical disputes and step up security cooperation during a summit last month, Yonhap News Agency reported.South Korea will be represented by Seo Min-jung, director-general for Asia and Pacific affairs at the foreign ministry, and Woo Kyung-seok, deputy director-general for international policy at the defense ministry.Their Japanese counterparts are Takehiro Funakoshi, director-general of Asian and Oceanian affairs, and Atsushi Ando, deputy director-general of the Defense Policy Bureau.During the session, the two sides will discuss common interest issues, including the security situation in Northeast Asia and on the Korean Peninsula, their respective defence and security policies, and the direction for bilateral security cooperation, it said.The two countries' leaders agreed in a summit in Tokyo last month to resume various government dialogue channels that had been suspended amid strained ties due to historical disputes stemming from Japan's colonisation of the Korean Peninsula from 1910-45.The two sides last held the 11th session in Tokyo in March 2018. The joint consultation meeting first took place in 1998.IANS15 April 2023 Shared Recently! IPL 2023: Rishabh Pant visits Delhi Capitals training session in Bengaluru ahead of match against RCB Bengaluru, April 14: Rishabh Pant paid a visit to the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday to meet his Delhi Capitals (DC) squad, which is presently training at the venue ahead of the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. IPL 2023: Rishabh Pant visits Delhi Capitals' training session in Bengaluru ahead of match against RCB Royal Challengers Bangalore will host Delhi Capitals on Saturday in the 20th match of the IPL 2023. Pant, who led the Capitals for the past three seasons, has been ruled out of the current edition because the wicketkeeper batter is still recovering from multiple injuries sustained in a car accident last year.In a post shared by IPL on their official Twitter handle, the injured wicketkeeper batter can be seen interacting with various Delhi squad members."Look who made a visit to the @DelhiCapitals training here in Bengaluru. Hello there @RishabhPant17 #TATAIPL | #RCBvDC," IPL official Twitter handle captioned the post.Last week, Pant attended the Delhi Capitals' home match against Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. His presence boosted the Capitals' confidence, but it wasn't enough to get them the two crucial points. The fans chanted for the home team, but it wasn't a happy homecoming for the Capitals, as Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans won comfortably by six wickets.After losing four consecutive games, the Delhi Capitals have yet to open their account on the points table. So far in the tournament, the David Warner-led side has failed to put up a collective effort on the pitch, and their batting has been underwhelming.ANI15 April 2023 Shared Recently! Celebrating Diversity: Our brands mission to create inclusive mens Polo t-shirts for all New Delhi, April 14: Greylongg is committed to disrupting the men's fashion trend with the latest polo t-shirts, designed from recyclable products to reduce the carbon footprint. Check how it's breaking stereotypes and embracing cultural diversity to cater to men's unique fashion needs. Celebrating Diversity: Our brand's mission to create inclusive men's Polo t-shirts for all If they don't embrace diversity and sustainability, the fashion industry runs the risk of losing customers and damaging its reputation. Unfortunately, social sustainability receives far less attention from the general public than economic and environmental sustainability.Treating all employees decently in the fashion supply chain is just as critical, if not more so, from raw material suppliers to garment makers, distribution partners, and clothes retailers., an established manufacturer of Men's Polo T-shirts, promotes the idea that rather than causing conflict, cultural differences can help people bond and grow.Every civilization has a rich history and set of customs. Furthermore, one should respect the viewpoints of those who value cultural diversity.Creating a Wide Range of Men's Polo T-Shirts for All GreylonggGreylongg is a high-quality wholesale manufacturer in India. While producing men's Polo t-shirts, the company is constantly mindful of, attentive to, and respectful of various cultures and other religious views and practices.Trends shift quickly, and it can be challenging to know how to modify them to fit our distinct (and gorgeous!) body types. According to Greylongg, fashion is about people feeling fantastic about themselves and the looks they adore. Thus, Greylongg fosters a more lively and inclusive society while also recognizing the depth and diversity of the human experience. They always take the initiative to teach guys how to dress for their body types and highlight their best features using wardrobe items they already own or should have.Everyone has a unique physical makeup. It's okay if you're not one of these shapes! And let's face it, most men combine a number of these traits! All you have to do is mix and match things until you find what works best for you. The brand values all body types and sizes, which is why they offer soft, adaptable fabric as well as a variety of bright hues like pink, orange, corals etc.All Polo t-shirts are composed of moisture-wicking material, which makes them comfortable to wear. Additionally, the organization's committed team of manufacturers uses cutting-edge equipment and technologies to transform single-use plastic bottles into threads, thus lowering their carbon impact.The wearer's comfort has always been Greylongg's first goal when producing Polo t-shirts. To ensure that the cloth is lightweight, breathable, and comfy, their team makes these checks. The company takes care of every detail to ensure that each Polo t-shirt is of the highest quality and pleases our consumers.There is constant cultural diversity. Even without traveling, one can see tremendous diversity. Customers know how other people differ from them in terms of their behavior, customs, and religious views. These differences can be difficult, but as long as they are acknowledged, respected, and welcomed, Greylongg can profit from them and keep things harmonious.Bottom LineThe exchange of ideas, beliefs, and traditions between various groups of people is made possible by cultural variety in an adaptable way. It encourages the development of a more vibrant and welcoming community that recognises the variety and depth of the human experience. To achieve this, Greylongg effectively leverages different themes, colors, and hues to manufacture high-quality men's Polo T-shirts.Visit and explore a range of inclusive Polo T-shirts to make a style statement!This story has been provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)ANI15 April 2023 Shared Recently! Press Release April 14, 2023 Senator Alan bats for regular employment status, better pay for Barangay Health Workers For Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, a good way to strengthen the country's primary health care system is to appoint a sufficient number of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) across the country and raise their status from being volunteers to government workers. Cayetano is pushing for this through Senate Bill No. 68 or the Mahal Ko, Barangay Health Worker Ko Law which he filed on July 7, 2022. Inspired by their invaluable service and contribution during the pandemic, Cayetano said BHWs should be given sufficient incentives, benefits, and just compensation for all their hard work in the country. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, BHWs were notably at the forefront of response where they served as the bridgeway of communication between the health centers and constituents," Cayetano said in his bill's explanatory note. He said BHWs had been particularly helpful especially "through door-to-door delivery of medicines, assistance in the vaccination drives, participation in contact tracing efforts, among others." Cayetano said the need for adequate healthcare workers, facilities, and equipment were highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in remote areas. To address this and to strengthen the country's healthcare system, he said the government should begin by looking out for the welfare of BWHs. "The goal of improving the Primary Healthcare System necessarily carries with it the responsibility of taking care and supporting those in charge of implementing the same," the senator said. Through SB No. 68, Cayetano wants to elevate their status by directing cities and municipalities to hire BHWs as employees of the Local Government Units (LGUs). "BHWs hired... will receive all the compensation and benefits given by the city or municipality to its Job Order, Contractual, Casual, or Regular Employees," the senator proposed through the bill. In addition, Cayetano is seeking the coordination between the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in creating a Special Barangay Health Workers Assistance Program that will provide additional financial and technical assistance, training, and other support to selected LGUs for their BHWs. "The program will prioritize assistance to LGUs that do not have or have little capacity to give regular and adequate salaries and allowances to its BHWs for the next 10 years, as determined by the DOH and DILG," he explained. Cayetano said the City of Taguig has already proven that the promotion of BHWs is possible as it has started implementing this kind of upgrade and support through multiple incentives. "Aside from their regular salary, they receive bonuses and other benefits like training, overtime pay, and hazard pay. We have elevated their status to be formally employed under our LGU as Job Order (JO) and Casual Employees," he said. "Such benefits should not be limited only in Taguig because all the Filipinos deserve the best social services. We should start properly compensating, assisting, and building up the skills of our health workers, because they are our backbone for the efficient delivery of our overall health system," he added. ### Senador Alan, tinutulak ang mataas na sahod at regular na trabaho para sa Barangay Health Workers Para kay Senador Alan Peter Cayetano, isang magandang paraan upang palakasin ang primary healthcare system ng bansa ay ang pagtatakda ng sapat na bilang ng Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) sa iba't-ibang bahagi ng bansa at itaas ang kanilang status mula volunteer sa pagiging empleyado ng mga lokal na pamahalaan. Itinutulak ito ni Cayetano sa pamamagitan ng Senate Bill No. 68 o ang Mahal Ko, Barangay Health Worker Ko Law na inihain niya noong July 7, 2022. Dahil sa kanilang napakahalagang serbisyo at kontribusyon nitong pandemic, sinabi ni Cayetano na dapat bigyan ng nararapat na insentibo, benepisyo, at tamang sahod ang mga BHW. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, BHWs were notably at the forefront of response where they served as the bridgeway of communication between the health centers and constituents," wika ni Cayetano sa explanatory note ng SB No.68. Aniya, naging matulungin ang mga BWH lalo na sa pamamagitan ng "door-to-door delivery of medicines, assistance in the vaccination drives, participation in contact tracing efforts, among others." Dagdag niya, ipinakita ng COVID-19 pandemic ang kakulangan ng healthcare workers, pasilidad, at mga kagamitan sa bansa, lalo na sa mga liblib na lugar. Upang tugunan ang problemang ito at palakasin ang healthcare system ng bansa, sinabi ni Cayetano na marapat lang na alagaan ng gobyerno ang kapakanan ng mga BHW. "The goal of improving the Primary Healthcare System necessarily carries with it the responsibility of taking care and supporting those in charge of implementing the same," aniya. Sa pamamagitan ng SB No. 68, nais pataasin ni Cayetano ang katayuan ng mga BHW sa pamamagitan ng pagtakda sa kanila bilang mga empleyado ng Local Government Units (LGUs). "BHWs hired... will receive all the compensation and benefits given by the city or municipality to its Job Order, Contractual, Casual, or Regular Employees," paliwanag ng senador sa panukala. Sa ilalim ng SB No. 68, magkakaroon ng koordinasyon ang Department of Health (DOH) at ang Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) upang maglikha ng isang Special Barangay Health Workers Assistance Program na magbibigay ng karagdagang tulong sa financial at technical assistance, training, at iba pang tulong sa mga mapipiling LGU para sa kanilang mga BHW. "The program will prioritize assistance to LGUs that do not have or have little capacity to give regular and adequate salaries and allowances to its BHWs for the next 10 years, as determined by the DOH and DILG," wika ni Cayetano. Ayon sa senador, ginagawa na ang ganitong pag-alaga sa mga BHW sa lungsod ng Taguig at maaari itong gawin sa buong bansa. "Aside from their regular salary, they receive bonuses and other benefits like training, overtime pay, and hazard pay. We have elevated their status to be formally employed under our LGU as Job Order (JO) and Casual Employees," sabi niya. "Such benefits should not be limited only in Taguig because all the Filipinos deserve the best social services. We should start properly compensating, assisting, and building up the skills of our health workers, because they are our backbone for the efficient delivery of our overall health system," dagdag ng senador. As Montana Secretaries of State, both Democratic and Republican, for 24 years we supervised Montanas elections. Working with the extremely competent county, city and school district clerks, administrators other local government entities, and an army of bipartisan and nonpartisan volunteers in communities across the state, we have helped establish a record of safe, secure, efficiently-run and accurate Montana elections. HB 774 is a clear and present danger to that sterling Montana record a hasty and poorly thought-out attempt to force virtually all elections onto one day and one ballot. This 118 page bill will bring chaos, complications and confusion to Montana voters, not clarity. Picture a six-foot long ballot with everything on it including federal races (president, senate and congress); state races (governor/lt. governor, secretary of state, attorney general, auditor, superintendent of public instruction, clerk of the supreme court, supreme court justices); regional races (Public Service Commission, district judges); legislative races (for 150 state representatives or state senators); county races (commissioners, sheriffs, clerks and recorders and all other elected officials); city and town races (mayors, council members, clerks, etc.); school board races; local bond and levy issues of all kinds; state legislative referenda and Constitutional Amendments; all citizen-driven initiatives; local districts such as soil conservation districts, irrigation districts, recreation districts, and more. Citizens deserve elections where they can see candidates and issues with clarity. Passage of HB 774 will rob voters of their capacity to cast a knowledgeable vote on all of those offices and issues. We all know how important the work of our local government and school district officials is to the everyday functioning of our communities. Flooding the even year election this way will affect the ability of candidates in smaller, local races to get their message heard. At the bottom of the six-foot-long ballot, competing with all those federal, statewide, legislative races, ballot issues etc., they will not get the public attention and awareness they deserve. With millions of dollars of advertising for the high profile, partisan races barraging voters, consuming their attention and often confusing them, what is to happen to our important local decisions that require voter attention and voter participation? By the time voters get toward the bottom of that six-foot-long ballot, fatigue will set in. Many voters will give up before they find the bottom of the ballot. That is a fact: the longer a ballot, the more likely it is that voters dont complete it. Montanans our local governmental structures, offices and issues deserve better. In addition to voter chaos and confusion, administration of this monster of an election structure would be a nightmare. Roosevelt Countys election officials testified to the Legislature that they would have 105 distinct ballot styles to manage (create, send out, and count). Multiply that by 56 counties. Those who run our safe, secure and accurate elections call this whole idea a mess. Where did this idea come from? You wont find a single legislative candidate who ran for election based upon this concept. But once 150 legislators get together with time on their hands, plenty of strange ideas to emerge and become bills. As of today, a record 1,535 bills have been introduced to create or change Montana law. We know from experience, and you know from common sense, that hundreds of those bills do not deserve to become law. HB 774 is one of them. Our election system isnt broken, dont try to fix it with this recipe for disaster. Before Montana leaps off the electoral cliff, hoping for a soft landing, HB 774 ought to be killed outright. Montana voters deserve better. 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 would 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 would 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 United States 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 United States 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 now need to set political games aside and protect Montanas primacy over water rights and water resources of Montana by passing SB 72. With policing back in the news tonight, we check in with downtown business owner Al Allison and highlight notable items in the proposed agreement that will go before Champaign's city council for AGB Investigative Services to provide downtown security three nights a week through year's end. Not only could Scott Bennett light up a room with his enthusiasm and warmth, but he brought an important political perspective to Springfield that gave him the ability to bring together conservative and progressive viewpoints to accomplish important tasks, former UI Law classmate Kristian Werling said in announcing the endowment of the colleges Senator Scott Bennett Memorial Scholarship for Government Service. 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. 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 healthcare 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. 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." Dr Juliana Betts, Study Co-Author, Monash University Many infant formulas promise a lot. Several products claim that they help develop the brain, increase immunity and promote children's growth and development, among other things. Now a research group led by Imperial College London has looked at whether these promises have any substance to them. The article has recently been published in BMJ. "Most of the claims about the health-giving and nutritional properties of breast milk substitutes seem to be based on little or no evidence," the research group says. Claims surrounding these replacement milk products are controversial. They can give the impression that infant formulas are just as good as breast milk, and perhaps even better, without any scientific basis for the claim. Many breastfeeding mums in Norway The researchers examined products from 15 countries with different social and economic conditions. Norwegian data are also included. Norway has a tradition of breastfeeding infants for a long time. Four out of five infants in Norway still receive breast milk when they are six months old, and only two per cent never receive any breast milk (in Norwegian). Supportive social arrangements and long parental leave contribute to allowing many mothers in Norway to breastfeed." Melanie Rae Simpson, Associate Professor at NTNU's Department of Public Health and Nursing Simpson has contributed data to the new survey. She is happy about the social arrangements. "Strict rules for marketing breast milk substitutes mean that advertising doesn't influence how long women in Norway breastfeed," says Simpson. At the same time, some infant formulas make a lot of promises. Norwegian claims maybe not so crazy, but could be better "A relatively high proportion of the products available in Norway include one or more claims about being beneficial for health," says Simpson. But that doesn't necessarily mean that the situation in Norway is that bad. "With so many women who breastfeed, we don't have as many different types of infant formula in our grocery stores compared to some of the other countries in the study," she says. This means that a relatively high proportion of the products in Norway are sold in pharmacies. "These are basically made for children with special needs," Simpson points out. The claims of these products are therefore often linked precisely to the special needs of children, but not always. Norway has clear legislation to prevent undocumented claims from being used in connection with breast milk substitutes. Nevertheless, the documentation was characterized by the same challenges around transparency, independence from industry and scientific quality that the research group saw in the other countries. 608 out of 757 made claims The research group examined the websites of the various companies that make infant formula. They also inspected the packaging of the products and checked all the health and nutrition claims against the documentation. The research group found 41 different ingredients linked to these claims, but several companies also market their products without referring to specific ingredients. The group tested a total of 757 products, and 608 of them were included at least one of a total of 31 different claims about nutrition and health. Industry runs its own research Only 161 of the 608 products referred to scientific research to support their claims. But only a small number, about 14 per cent of the investigations, were clinical investigations carried out on humans. Of these, the researchers found that 90 per cent had a high risk of biased research. This was either because they had received money from the industry or the research was simply carried out by the industry itself. Much of the so-called "research" consists of reviews, opinions and other forms of research that do not meet high enough quality requirements, such as research on non-human species. On average, the products included two claims. But the aggressiveness of the marketing varies greatly, from an average of one claim in Australia to as many as four claims in the USA. Calls for stricter rules The research group wants stricter rules, and quickly. This is to better protect users, and to avoid aggressive marketing having unwanted consequences for children's health. The researchers are supported by Professor Nigel Rollins from the World Health Organization (WHO). He believes that self-regulation, where the industry itself largely runs the research on product effectiveness, is clearly not good enough. Regulatory authorities in the various countries should therefore consider whether they need to do something to improve conditions. Products from Norway, Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Great Britain and the USA were included in the study. In a recent study on the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers explored the global surveillance of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants. Study: Global surveillance of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants. Image Credit: Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock.com *Important notice: medRxiv 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 ongoing pandemic is fueled by new SARS-CoV-2 variants, which are causing illness and death and have the potential to cause societal disruption. Early implementation of government policies to curb the impacts proved to be more effective but can be costly and should be applied only if necessary. Determining an appropriate response to an emergent variant threat necessitates gathering evidence over time. However, some countries lack the ability and resources to carry out national surveillance in a timely manner, leading to gaps in global monitoring. The UK adopted large-scale hospital surveillance, but research suggests that detecting new variants by testing UK arrivals would be more efficient. About the study In the present study, researchers produced simulations to model the emergence and importation of new SARS-CoV-2 variants with varying infection hospitalization rates (IHR) to the United Kingdom. The study compared the time taken to detect variants through hospital admission, UK arrivals, and the general community. An epidemic curve that started in a region with a population of 60 million resulted in a single wave. On day zero, the index case was reported. The initial two generations' offspring distribution was fixed at two to establish the epidemic. The epidemic was assumed to have spread for 16 weeks before the average offspring distribution was decreased to account for control measures and a decrease in susceptible individuals in the population. Between the 17 and 26 generations, the mean distribution decreased by 0.1 for each successive generation, resulting in a reproduction number of one in the 26th generation. The average of the offspring distribution decreased by 0.01786 from the 27th generation. The daily prevalence was calculated by adding the simulated cases for each day following the index case's occurrence. The epidemic curve was limited to 300 days in the simulation. A binomial distribution determined the number of incoming travelers incubating or infectious daily. The daily number of travelers was fixed at 250, and the probability was based on the prevalence of the infection in the origin area on that day. This assumed that infected individuals were as likely to travel as non-infected individuals. A representative sample of travelers, ranging from 10% to 50%, was selected for testing at the border, given that the simulations included at least one infected traveler. Community cohort surveillance sizes ranging from 20,000 to 200,000 were utilized to detect a simulated infection case within a community setting. Subjects in the surveillance were tested every two weeks. The study involved running simulations on 1,000 destination country epidemics. The simulations used a binomial distribution to determine the number of daily detections based on daily tests and the simulated prevalence. The test's sensitivity and the percentage of positive tests sequenced were also considered. Results The study simulated the time required to detect an imported novel variant by varying the sampling fractions of traveler arrivals in England. The prevalence of infection within the passenger population was assumed to be equivalent to the epidemic curve noted for the origin country over time. Furthermore, the study found a non-linear correlation between the increase in sampling fraction and the decrease in days to detection. This relationship was observed from 131 days till detection via sampling of 10% of passenger arrivals. The most significant decline in time to detection occurred when sampling fractions were between 10% to 20%, resulting in a median reduction of eight days. The time gained decreased as the sampling fraction increased. The study simulated the detection time by testing 50% of hospital presentations in England. The team assumed that the incidence growth in England was equivalent to that in the origin country. Simulations were conducted for scenarios with variant IHRs of 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5%. In addition, the study found that even with increased IHR, hospitals required over ten days more to detect a new variant compared to sampling a percentage of travelers arriving in England. The study simulated the earliest time for detecting an imported novel variant by testing a community group. The time for detection decreased by three weeks when the community cohort size was increased from 0.04% to 0.36% of the community population. The earliest time to detect the sample size of the existing community in England, consisting of approximately 140,000 tests conducted every two weeks, was 157 days. Conclusion The study findings showed that sampling only 10% of inbound travelers for surveillance could detect the first case of an imported novel variant of SARS-CoV-2 in England 26 days earlier than existing community surveillance. A 50% increase in the sampling fraction of travelers could result in a speed benefit of 43 days. Sampling 10% of inbound travelers, according to IHR, could detect a variant faster than surveillance testing of hospital admissions by 11 to 19 days. International collaboration can be useful in achieving high global coverage of surveillance, which can inform national approaches to surveillance. This can also give governments more time to formulate policy decisions in response to new variants of SARS-CoV-2. *Important notice: medRxiv 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. More than 9,000 North Dakotans will receive refund checks as part of a $287,000 consumer protection settlement with Intuit Turbo Tax, according to North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley. The multistate settlement involved Turbo Tax customers who were tricked into paying for tax preparation services that should have been free, Wrigley said. Checks for about $30 each will go to 9,700 North Dakota consumers. Eligible customers will receive email alerts between April 17 and April 29. The checks will be mailed between April 24 and May 10. 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 13th, 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 which 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 course which 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." 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." Zach Mainen, one of the study's senior authors 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. Air India will launch TaxiBot operations at Delhi and Bengaluru airports for its Airbus A320 family of aircraft. A 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 from the terminal gate after landing (taxi-in phase) without utilising the aircrafts engines, thus saving jet fuel. The pioneering technology curbs fuel consumption, carbon emissions, noise levels, as well as costs for airlines. Also Read: Mangaluru International Airport Records 76 Percent Growth in Passenger Traffic Elaborating on the adoption of TaxiBot, Campbell Wilson, CEO and MD, Air India, 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 reduce emissions and fuel consumption. This collaboration with KSU will allow us to better assess the capabilities of TaxiBots, and potentially lead to greater deployment across Air Indias 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 deployment of innovative technology. Last year, the Air India group had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Indian Institute of Petroleum to collaborate on research, development, and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). Air India has partnered with KSU Aviation Pvt. Ltd. for Taxibot operations. The partnership is aligned with Air Indias commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, as the adoption of TaxiBots envisages a potential saving of nearly 15,000 tonnes in fuel consumption over three years. Ashwani Khanna, Director, KSU Aviation, said, We are excited about the formal induction of TaxiBot as part of Air Indias 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 partner with like-minded organisations like Air India to leverage modern-day technology in reducing carbon footprint and accelerate the pursuit of being net zero." Read all the Latest Auto News here Citroen India has introduced a new range-topping Shine variant in the C3 hatchback line-up at a sticker price of Rs 7.60 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) in the country. Citroen C3 Shine comes loaded with a plethora of exclusive features. Furthermore, the company announced that the C3 range now complies with the BS6 Phase II emission norms. Also Read: All-Electric Citroen eC3 Launched in India, Price Starts at Rs 11.50 Lakh Saurabh Vatsa, Brand Head, Citroen India added, We are excited to launch the new Shine variant of the Citroen C3 with the latest features that customers in this segment are aspiring for. With the new Citroen Connectivity 1.0 now on board the C3, this hatch with a twist will truly be perfect all-round package for the young and progressive customer in this competitive segment." Talking about Citroen C3 Shine features, it boasts of electrically adjustable ORVM, rear parking camera, day/night IRVM, 15-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, front fog lamps, rear skid plates, rear wiper & washer, and rear defogger. In addition, the French brand has equipped the Shine trim with My Citroen Connect app with 35 Smart connectivity features as part of the Citroens Connectivity 1.0 plan. Interested buyers can book and test drive the updated C3 range along with the Shine grade at the brands La Maison phygital showrooms across India. The customers can also book and buy the hatch online. Below are Citroen C3 BS6 Ph II Variant wise prices (ex-showroom Delhi): 1.2P Live 6,16,000 1.2P Feel 7,08,000 1.2P Feel VIBE PACK 7,23,000 1.2P Feel DUAL TONE 7,23,000 1.2P Feel DUAL TONE VIBE PACK 7,38,000 1.2P Shine 7,60,000 1.2P Shine VIBE PACK 7,72,000 1.2P Shine DUAL TONE 7,75,000 1.2P Shine DUAL TONE VIBE PACK 7,87,000 Read all the Latest Auto News here MG Motor India has commenced the series production of the upcoming Comet EV at the Halol factory in Gujarat. Based on the globally acclaimed GSEV platform, MG Comet EV will be unveiled on April 19 in the Indian market. The company has officially released a few images of the exterior as well as interior of the upcoming EV. MG Motor claims that the Comet EV is build on a Solid Steel Chassis while coming with a High Strength Vehicle Body. The company further states that the GSEV platform is highly versatile and spacious. The British brand has sold more than 1 million units so far with the GSEV architecture in global markets. The Comet EV, reportedly, takes safety to the next level, with 17 hot stamping panels spread across the body-in-white. Also Read: MG Comet EV Interior Details Revealed Ahead of Launch, Check New Features Commenting on the first production roll-out of Comet, Biju Balendran, Chief Operating Officer, MG Motor India said, The recent Urban Mobility Happiness Survey conducted by Nielsen unequivocally brings out the fact that a compact smart electric vehicle is the preferred choice of urban commuters when it comes to commuting. At MG, we are committed to providing innovative and sustainable mobility solutions, and with the MG Comet we shall offer a futuristic and practical Urban EV with many fun-to-drive elements. With the first Comet rolling off the production line, we are delighted to welcome the beginning of a new EV future for India. MG Comet EV will get multiple smart features including Internet of Vehicles (IoV), multimedia, and connected car tech. It is expected to be launched in a price range of Rs 10-15 lakh (ex-showroom) with rivals such as Tata Tiago EV and Citroen eC3 in India. Read all the Latest Auto News here Hyundai India has announced the name of its upcoming small SUV as the Exter in the country. As per the company, the name Exter draws inspiration from the natural world around it and reflects an identity that is external and focused on the outside. It will be the brands entry-level offering in the SUV segment which will rival Tata Punch and Maruti Suzuki Ignis in the Indian market. Also Read: Hyundai Announces All-New SUV for India, Could be Tata Punch Rival Speaking on the announcement, Mr. Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., said, We are proud to announce the name of our new SUV Hyundai EXTER that exemplifies the pulse of Gen Z buyers while empowering them with a smart mobility solution to fuel their wanderlust. Hyundai EXTER is the 8th model in our line up with a SUV body style and we are confident that this new member to our family will provide further fillip to our growth in SUV sales. Presently, Hyundai has several SUV models in its portfolio in India which includes Venue, Creta, Tucson and Alcazar. The South-Korean brand also retails a couple of electric SUVs in the form of Ioniq 5 and Kona EV. Hyundai is expected to start the bookings of Exter in May across all its dealer outlets in the country. It is also believed that Hyundai Exter will also be exported from India to several global markets. It will be locally developed at the brands Chennai factory. Hyundai Exter is expected to launch in the next couple of months in India in an expected price range of Rs 6-10 lakh (ex-showroom). Read all the Latest Auto News here Bernard Arnault, the richest person on the Earth, has added a whooping $14.1 billion in his fortune within a day. On Friday, the total net worth of Arnault, who is the CEO of luxury brand Louis Vuittons parent company LVMH Moet Hennessy, stood at $240.3 billion, which is up by $14.1 billion or 6.22 per cent, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List. He was followed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose net worth was up $3.5 billion or 1.88 per cent to $188.5 billion. The worlds third-richest person is Amazons Jeff Bezos with a net worth of $125.5 billion, followed by Oracles Larry Ellison ($120.2 billion), Warren Buffett ($112.6 billion), Microsofts Bill Gates ($978 million), Telecoms Carlos Slim Helu & Family ($95.5 billion), Bloomberg LPs Michael Bloomberg ($94.5 billion), LOreals Francoise Bettencourt Meyers & Family ($92.4 billion), and Googles Larry Page ($92.4 billion). On December 8, Elon Musk ceded his No. 1 position as the richest person on the planet to Bernard Arnault. Elon Musk overtook Amazons Jeff Bezos as the worlds richest person for the first time on September 27, 2021. He continued to be the richest person on Earth for 14 months, until now when Arnault overtook him twice in a day. Bernard Arnault joined the $100 billion club in June 2019. Bernard Arnault was born in the northern French town of Roubaix in 1949. After graduating with an engineering degree in Paris, he joined his familys company and persuaded his father to exit its construction business and focus on the real estate sector. Arnault entered the luxury goods market in 1984, when he took over the bankrupt textile group that owned Christian Dior. He sold all of the companys other businesses and used the proceeds to buy a controlling stake in LVMH. In 1989, Bernard Arnault became the majority shareholder of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, creating the worlds leading luxury products group. He has been chairman and CEO of the company since that date. Read all the Latest Business News, Tax News and Stock Market Updates here IT Earnings Q4: IT majors Infosys and TCS left the street unimpressed post their March-quarter results. Both Infosys and TCS, which together comprise 11 per cent of the Nifty 50 index weightage, missed analysts estimates in quarterly profit as companies curtailed spending on tech to prepare for a cooling economy following turmoil in the US banking sector. Indias two biggest software services companies saw a miss on both revenue and margins during the March quarter. While TCS missed expectations, Infosys delivered a shocker. Among the positives would be large deal wins and a sharp decline in attrition rate in Q4 for both companies, however, broadly the performance elevated uncertainty ahead. On Wednesday, Infosys share price closed at Rs 1,388.60 apiece down by 2.79 per cent on BSE. TCS tumbled by 1.61 per cent to end at Rs 3189.85 apiece. Heres a comparison of the major highlights between TCS, Infosys Net profit TCS: Net profit at TCS surged to Rs 11,392 crore from January to March, 14.8 per cent higher than the previous corresponding period. Analysts estimated Rs 11,530 crore on average. Infosys: The company posted a net profit of Rs 6,128 crore, a growth of 7.8 per cent over the previous year. Analysts expected a profit of Rs 6,613 crore. Revenue TCS: Revenue from operations for the Mumbai-headquartered firm came in at Rs 59,160 crore, a 16.9 per cent on-year increase. Infosys: The revenue growth in constant currency for FY23 came in at 15.4 per cent, lower than the guidance. Notably, during the December quarter earnings announcement, Infosys which competes in the market with TCS, Wipro and other IT firms had raised FY23 revenue guidance to 16-16.5 per cent (against the previously projected band of 15-16 per cent). Top and bottomline figures TCS: The company managed to report double-digit growth in the topline and bottom in Q4FY23. Both the top and bottomline figures were below Street estimates. Its outgoing CEO Rajesh Gopinathan conceded that the 0.6 per cent growth in the topline over the December quarter has been weaker than anticipated" because of the setbacks in North America. Infosys: The company missed analysts estimates for both bottomline and topline. Deal wins TCS: Despite mounting economic challenges, Mumbai-based TCS has won some large contracts in recent months, including a deal worth more than $700 million, its largest in the UK in three years, with an insurance services provider. Its January-March order book stood at $10 billion, down 11.5 per cent from a year ago, but with an all-time high number of large deals. Infosys: Infosys large deal total contract value stood at $2.1 billion in the three months to March. Dividend TCS: The board approved a final dividend of Rs 24 per equity share. Infosys: The board has recommended a final dividend of Rs 17.50 per equity share for the financial year ending 31 March, 2023. Headcount, attrition TCS: During the March quarter, TCS turned back to its historical trend by becoming a net hirer, and added 821 employees to take the overall strength to 6.15 lakh people. Employee attrition, a key metric for IT companies, was at 20.1 percent, up from 15.3 percent in the previous quarter. Milind Lakkad, the Chief Human Resources Officer, said the company is maintaining the 40,000 freshers-hire target for FY24 and has already made 46,000 offers. The salary revisions will be like usual, and the top performers will get a 12-15 per cent hike, he said. Infosys: Infosys head count witnessed a net reduction of 3,611 employees in the March 2023 quarter as compared to the previous quarter, and the total workforce strength slipped to 3,43,234 as of 31 March, 2023. Infosys voluntary attrition a metric keenly watched by analysts showed improvement, easing worries. The attrition rate stood at 20.9 per cent in Q4 FY23 against 24.3 per cent in Q3. So What Went Wrong For Both The Companies? Outgoing TCS CEO Rajesh Gopinathan said that the sequential decline seen in the North America business caught the company by surprise and that the demand bounceback they anticipated did not come through. Gopinathan said that the company was anticipating constant currency revenue growth of 1.5-2 per cent during the quarter and ended up with 0.6 percent. He attributed the miss to the decline in the North America business, particularly in the US. BFSI, which is TCS biggest segment by revenue, grew by 9.1 percent in the quarter, compared to 11.1 per cent during the same period last year. Infosys MD & CEO Salil Parekh said that there were unplanned ramp downs seen in some of the companys clients and that the delays in decision-making resulted in lower volumes. He further said that the unplanned ramp down took place in telecom, hi-tech, and retail segments, and within the financial segment, it came in the asset management and investment banking businesses. In addition we had some one-time revenue impact. While we saw some signs of stabilisation in March, the environment remains uncertain. This has led to our Q4 year on year growth of 8.8 per cent in constant currency and quarter on quarter decline of 3.2 per cent," he said. Read all the Latest Business News, Tax News and Stock Market Updates here There has been an insane increase in the crimes that are committed inside a plane, while in mid-air. One such incident recently occurred on a flight from Seattle, Washington to Anchorage, Alaska. A man named Adam David Seymour sexually assaulted a female passenger, asking her to make love with him, citing they were going to die. The woman revealed that he appeared friendly at first, but his behaviour changed when he pulled out three bottles of liquor and drank all of them. She added that he also ordered two bottles of Jack Daniels and Coke. She explained that after consuming a high amount of alcohol, Adam started slurring and began moving physically closer to her. He even tried to rub her lower thighs and knees on the inner and outer sides and rested his head on her shoulder. She further added that this was all done without her consent. The man allegedly made several comments about her sexuality and asked her to make love with him, claiming that the flight was going to crash and they all would die. All this time, the woman tried to ignore his behaviour out of fear that replying back to him would trigger him. She tried to gather the flight attendants attention when Adam made the comment about the flights crash. The man created a ruckus inside the plane. He lit a cigarette in the flights bathroom. He even told an off-duty officer on the flight that he would kill him. The attendants then decided to stop offering him alcohol, but he drowned another bottle, claiming that it was a hand sanitiser. On his arrival at the airport, Adam was detained by the airport police, but he refused to take the breathalyser test. He was charged at the Anchorage Federal Court with assault with the intent to commit a felony. There have been several instances of unruly and aggressive air passengers in India as well. There have also been cases of flights off-loading passengers due to their misbehaviour on the flight. Read all the Latest Buzz News here Actor-turned-politician Hema Malini has issued an apology for mistakenly calling Bihu a festival that is celebrated in Bihar. The controversy began when the Bharatiya Janata Party MP took to social media to wish her followers on the occasion of Bohag Bihu. While extending her greetings on the harvest festival, she mistakenly referred to Bohag Bihu as a festival that is celebrated" in Bihar, instead of Assam, reported news agency ANI. The error soon caught the eye of Twitter users, who wasted no time in criticising the Sholay actress. After facing the ire of internet users, Hema Malini apologised for her mistake. On April 13, Hema Malini wrote in a tweet which has now been deleted, It is the Harvest season now. Tamizh Puthandu (New Year), Baisakhi (Punjab), Bihu (Bihar) and Pohela Baisakh or Naba Barsha (Bengal) are some of the festivals celebrated. Wish you all a wonderful festival month," the report added. The tweet left users fuming as many schooled Hema Malini on where Bihu is actually celebrated. You are absolutely wrong madam, Bihu belongs to Assam only, we just achieved the Guinness world record today for the maximum number of group dance performers in a single venue, read a comment. You are absolutely wrong madam, Bihu belongs to Assam only, we just achieved Guinness world record today as maximum number of group dance performers in a single venue Manoj Kumar Goswami (@journalistMKG) April 13, 2023 Some people could not resist posting memes about Hema Malinis gaffe. One meme used a hilarious dialogue from the Akshay Kumar starrer Phir Hera Pheri. A few individuals asked the BJP leader to correct her mistake. Ma'am Bihu belongs to Assam. Kindly Correct your tweet.. (@manishkrshuklaa) April 13, 2023 Bihu is the festival of Assam not Bihar. Bihu is the cultural heritage of Assam, a comment read. Bihu is the festival of Assam not Bihar. Bihu is the cultural heritage of Assam.#Bihu#BohagBihu #GuinnessWorldRecord Devashree Nath (@DevDevashree) April 13, 2023 Others jokingly reasoned that going by Hema Malinis mistake, Chhath Puja would be an Assamese festival. Happy chath puja to assam guyss iykyk.!!! saurav Kakati (@sauravKakati15) April 14, 2023 Hema Malini, later, issued an apology, saying, By mistake, I have put Bihu is a festival celebrated in Bihar. I am sorry! That should read Bihu, a festival of Assam," reported ANI. She has deleted this tweet, as well. The BJP leader had created a buzz a few days ago when she was spotted riding the Mumbai Metro. Hema Malini had claimed that it took her two hours to reach Dahisar by car. In the evening, she decided to go home by taking the metro. Calling the experience a joy, the Seeta Aur Geeta actress said that she reached Juhu in half an hour. 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 pic.twitter.com/2OZPMtORCu Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) April 11, 2023 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 pic.twitter.com/Whr7mOIRM8 Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) April 11, 2023 Hema Malini revealed that after her metro ride, she decided to continue from DN Nagar to Juhu via auto. For the star, the experience was wonderful" and pleasurable". Read all the Latest Buzz News here Sarah Kirlew, the Australian Consulate-General for South India, extended warm greetings for Tamil New Year via Twitter on Friday, April 14. The spring festival, which is known as Puthandu in Tamil Nadu and Vishu in Kerala, is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm in the southern states. Australian Consulate-General donned a traditional Indian saree to wish people on the auspicious occasion. But what also stole the limelight was her attempt at speaking the local language. In the video shared by her, Kirlew is seen greeting people in Tamil with a bright smile on her face. She begins her message with a warm Namaskaram before she dwells deeper into explaining an event organized during the weekend. Called Jarracharra, the event is going to be a display of Australias indigenous artwork at Kingsley, Chetpet. We wish you all a very joyous Tamil New Year and Vishu. If you have some spare time this long weekend, do visit our showcase of Australian Indigenous art Jarracharra at Kingsley, Chetpet (Chennai), stated the Australian Consulate-General for South India. Take a look at the video here: We wish you all a very joyous #TamilNewYear and #Vishu. If you have some spare time this long weekend do visit our showcase of Australian Indigenous art #Jarracharra at Kingsley, Chetpet. pic.twitter.com/Lc7r0BDYVv Aus Consulate Chennai (@AusCGChennai) April 14, 2023 For those unaware, the Australian Consulate Generals office works for their countrys interests in South India which includes Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, and the Union Territories of India. The members often attend prominent festivals to understand the culture of Indian communities. This also led Kirlew to the Panguni festival, which was hosted in Chennai. She previously shared multiple photos and videos of herself taking part in the famous event organized by the Kapaleeswarar temple. Be it the chariot-pulling or the essence of camphor and jasmine in the air, the Australian Consulate-General was quite moved by the vibrancy of the community event. Delighted to witness the joyful Panguni festival in Mylapore this morning. The majestic hand-pulled Ther chariot, colourful clothes and kolams, and all smelling beautiful with rich camphor and jasmine in the air. Truly a wonderful experience of South India in Chennai, she wrote. Check out the glimpses below: Delighted to witness the joyful Panguni festival in #Mylapore this morning. The majestic hand pulled Ther' chariot, colourful clothes and kolams, and all smelling beautiful with rich camphor and jasmine in the air. Truly a wonderful experience of #SouthIndia in #Chennai. pic.twitter.com/VMKSL48H2w Aus Consulate Chennai (@AusCGChennai) April 3, 2023 Vishu marks the first day of the Malayalam calendar and hence on this special day, devotees seek blessing from Lord Vishnu, the god of time. Read all the Latest Buzz News here Ice jams caused the Heart River to quickly rise at Mandan on Friday. No damage was immediately reported, though three horses had to be rounded up and moved from a southeast Mandan pasture off state Highway 1806. The National Weather Service issued a warning for minor flooding of wooded banks and lowlands, with an expected crest of 17.9 inches Friday afternoon. Flood stage is 17 feet. The Heart empties into the Missouri River. Morton County Emergency Management was monitoring the situation, and the Mandan Police Department asked residents to stay away from river areas. Flood warnings are in effect throughout central and eastern North Dakota, mostly for minor, localized river and stream flooding, and closed rural roads. The main flood concern this spring is in the eastern Red River Valley. Sunshine and warm temperatures this week cut dramatically into the snowpack in the Bismarck-Mandan area. The official snow depth in Bismarck dropped from 8 inches on Tuesday to 6 inches on Wednesday to 1 inch on Thursday, according to weather service data. The metro area forecast for the weekend calls for high temperatures in the 40s and no precipitation. Saturday could be breezy, with winds up to 20 mph. Red River A slow thaw could mean rivers in the east stay high well into the month of May, according to Amanda Lee, hydrologist at the weather service office in Grand Forks. Coupled with low soil moisture and normal river levels at freeze-up last fall, the slow spring thaw seems to be another factor in a more favorable spring flood outlook for the Red River Valley, Prairie Public's Danielle Webster reported. Lee said the melt has been slow to reach the river systems due to the amount of room in the soil, but that extra room is running out in many areas -- meaning any excess precipitation will run off immediately. A storm system next week may add more uncertainty to the mix, but temperatures have been lowering as well, and with that comes a slower melt. "The slower melt in some areas is really working in our favor, so then ... the timing won't overlap where all the water from everywhere gets to the same spot at the same time. So we might see, you know, like here in Grand Forks -- the Red Lake River water may get here before the push from the southern Red, and things like that," Lee said. "The timing might be just right to not see the highest crests that were potentially possible; but with that said, in that southeast North Dakota area, since they're still pretty locked up and frozen, that's going to be the area to watch as it enters the Red." Crests on the mainstem Red River could still be a couple of weeks away, and with the slower melt and additional precipitation, it could mean rivers will stay high into the month of May. A case has been registered against the officials of a school here for allegedly making a 12-year-old boy sit outside the classroom for not paying the fees, police said on Thursday. The boys mother filed a complaint with the suburban Vakola police station on Tuesday, accusing the school officials of harassing her two sons, the 12-year-old who is studying in Std 8th and his younger brother. The family could not pay the annual fees of Rs 7,500 of her 12-year-old son due to some financial problems, the woman told the police. Her husband was a tuberculosis patients and could not work, she said. For the last four months, the boy was being made to sit outside the classroom as he had not paid the fees for the current academic year, the woman alleged in the complaint. The boy would often return home crying because of the humiliation he faced, she stated. He was also not allowed to appear for the unit test in January. A case was registered against two teachers and a school official under section 23 (cruelty to child) of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, and investigation is underway, the official said, adding that no arrest has been made in the case. Read all the Latest Education News here A special court here on Thursday extended till April 15 the police remand of IIT Bombay student Arman Khatri who has been accused of abetting the suicide of his hostel mate Darshan Solanki. Solanki, who hailed from Ahmedabad in Gujarat and was a first-year student of the B Tech (Chemical) course, allegedly ended his life by jumping off the seventh floor of his hostel building located on the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay campus in suburban Powai on February 12 this year. While seeking further remand, the police told the Special Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe court that Khatri had threatened Solanki with a paper cutter after the latter allegedly abused his caste and religion. The prosecution said Solanki committed suicide due to Khatris threats and, therefore, the statements of other students need to be recorded for details of the incident. The mobile phone used by Khatri had been sent for forensic examination and its analysis report was awaited, the prosecution further told court. Allowing the polices plea for extension of Khatris remand, Special Judge AP Kanade said, In my view, for further investigation the presence of the accused with the police is justified. Khatri, who stayed on the same floor of the hostel as Solanki, was arrested earlier this month. Disclaimer: This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata) Read all the Latest Education News here Anna University has announced the Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test (TANCET) 2023 result today, April 14. Students can check their results by visiting the official website at tancet.annauniv.edu. The TANCET 2023 Master of Computer Application (MCA) exam attracted a total of 24,468 applicants this year. However, 1,715 of those students failed to show up for the exam. According to reports, 5,41 students did not show up for the TANCET Master of Business Administration (MBA) exam, which had approximately 9,820 registered candidates. The final answer key for TANCET 2023, which was administered on March 25 and 26 at various examination centres throughout the state, was made available by Anna University on April 11. Students will be able to apply for admission to university departments and other institutions once the results are released and their scorecards are obtained. The minimal eligibility score will only be made available by the relevant universities and colleges in their official result notifications following the result declaration. TANCET 2023 Result: How to Check Step 1: Visit tancet.annauniv.edu, the official website of TANCET Step 2: Click on the link that reads TANCET 2023 Results that will appear on the homepage Step 3: Login using the required credentials. Step 4: Your TANCET 2023 result will appear on your screens. Step 5: Download the PDF and save it for future reference. TANCET 2023 Result: Whats next The Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), Tamil Nadu will carry out the counselling process for enrollments to the PG programmes offered across government and government-aided colleges (engineering, arts, and science colleges), self-financing colleges (engineering, arts, and science colleges including stand-alone institutions), the constituent institutions of Anna University, and Annamalai University in the state once the results are released. The TANCET 2023 is held for students who wish to apply for admission to the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Computer Applications (MCA), Master of Engineering (ME), Master of Technology (MTech), Master of Architecture (MArch), and Master of Planning (MPlan) programmes offered by Anna University. Read all the Latest Education News here There is a massive demand for Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath to join the BJPs election campaign in Karnataka for the upcoming assembly elections. The state unit wants the chief minister to be seen with different candidates at public rallies and the demand may go up now after the police encounter of Asad Ahmed and Yogis hit slogan of Mitti mein mila denge. News18 has learnt that the BJP state unit has requested at least six trips by Adityanath to the poll-bound state for multiple rallies and road shows. Multiple candidates want the UP CMs rallies in their constituencies, especially coastal Karnataka, where Hindutva is a major issue, said a BJP leader in Bengaluru. Adityanath could, however, make around four trips from the last week of April for about a dozen rallies and road shows in the state. Sources said Adityanath will also be busy in the two-phase urban local body elections to be held in Uttar Pradesh on May 4 and 11. Sources further said the Asad Ahmed encounter case could make Adityanath a big draw, where issues like action against the Popular Front of India (PFI), have been significant in the coastal Karnataka region. Adityanaths strict approach towards gangsters and criminals could make its way into his campaign speeches in Karnataka, which the BJP feels will have good resonance. Another BJP CM who could campaign in a big way will be Himanta Biswa Sarma. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, an OBC face, will also be doing rallies in Karnataka. Adityanath has emerged to be a successful star campaigner for the BJP in other states and has been extensively used during the elections in Gujarat, Tripura, Uttarakhand and southern states too. Read all the Latest Politics News here Karnataka is set to see a high-voltage battle on the seat of Kanakapura, just 65 kilometres away from Bengaluru, where senior BJP leader and revenue minister R Ashok will enter the lair of state Congress chief DK Shivakumar and take him head on. Shivakumar, who has won seven consecutive elections since 1989, has also won this seat for three consecutive terms. Ashok also a Vokkaliga leader like Shivakumar hopes to cash in on the Narendra Modi factor to capture votes in favour of the BJP. Ashok will contest from two seats Padmanabh Nagar in Bengaluru and Kanakapura. In an exclusive interview to News18, Ashok said he is all fired up to make Kanakapura a BJP constituency. Explaining why a large number of sitting MLAs were denied tickets, the BJP leader clarified that they were facing high anti-incumbency in their seats, forcing the central leadership to take tough decisions. Edited Excerpts: How do you see the election this time as you will be fighting from two seats? Is it going to be easy for you? I have won elections six times thrice from Padmanabha Nagar and thrice from Uttarahalli. It was a surprise to me that I will be contesting from two seats. Both are very important. Padmanabh Nagar is where Deve Gowda resides and Kanakapura is from where Congress party president DK Shivakumar will contest against me. Shivakumar too has won elections seven times. I think this election is a challenge for me. I am a sainika (soldier) and my captain and commander have given me the order to fight. I will fight and win both constituencies. What will be your strategy for Kanakapura where you will be fighting against Shivakumar? The region is a Vokkaliga belt as well. Two Vokkaligas are going to fight against each other. Shivakumar is a familiar figure, so am I. I am a revenue minister at present and naturally, it is going to be a big fight there. All communities, including Vokkaligas, want a Narendra Modi government. Those who want Modi will vote for BJP and me. There is a Modi trend across India. Take the Northeast, where there is a high Christian population. There too we have won due to the Modi wave. I will make Kanakapura a BJP constituency. You are saying people of Kanakapura who want to vote for Modi should vote for you and you will go to the people with Modis governance? Yes, naturally. He is my leader. Every villager knows who Modi is. Kanakapura is a tough constituency An election is like a war. In the last Lok sabha election the BJP got more than 50,000 votes in Kanakapura which means Modi is popular. When I enter the constituency, naturally the Vokkaligas will support me. I have received many calls from people saying they will back me. How is the BJP trying to control the rebellion in the party? The central leaders have spoken to Eshwarappa and Jagadish Shettar. The problem is the people who have come from other parties. BJP in the Centre and state are very strong and they will manage the issues smoothly. They will be resolved in two to three days. We have announced more than 200 seats which no other party has done so, naturally, everybody wants to contest as an MLA. Our leaders are very capable of handling this. Wherever Amit Shah goes, the BJP wins be it UP or the Northeast, there is victory. Wherever Rahul Gandhi goes, the Congress loses. Amit Shah told me in the core committee meeting recently that he will come to Karnataka and leave only after the formation of the BJP government. That is the kind of confidence we have. When Modi-ji starts campaigning, we get an additional 20 seats for the BJP. Senior leaders like Angara and Raghupati Bhat said they felt humiliated by the way they were denied tickets. How do you respond? Our party leaders will discuss this with the leaders. There were four to five surveys that were conducted in Karnataka. There was no partiality in the selection of candidates. The central leaders took into consideration the caste combination and the result of the survey reports before taking a decision. The reports showed that many MLAs had anti-incumbency in their seats. You are saying those who have been dropped faced anti-incumbency? Yes. Usually, the level of anti-incumbency could be minus one or minus two, or even three. We can increase the chances in such cases with visits and campaigns by our central leaders, BS Yediyurappa, and Basavaraj Bommai. But more than five per cent anti-incumbency is unmanageable and that is why the party high command decided to deny them tickets. Has the increase in reservation for the Lingayats and Vokkaligas and the building of the Kempegowda statue helped garner more support of the Vokkaligas towards the BJP? Yes, it certainly has. There will be an increase of four to five per cent in Vokkaliga support. PM Modi visited Mandya and held a big rally, inaugurated the Mysore-Bengaluru expressway, the Kempegowda statue at the airport, and the one that I helped install in front of Vidhan Soudha. It will all help us. In the last 70 years, there was not a single statue of the man who built Bengaluru Kempegowda. All this will work positively for all communities, including Vokkaligas. Were you upset when you faced posters that said Go back, Ashok? I was not upset. It is bound to happen that when a strong person enters Mandya, rivals will protest. The police report is with me. I have a body of work to show, including my Grama Vastavya (village stay) programme, handing over Hakku Patras (title deeds) to beneficiaries by Modi-ji in Gulbarga. I want to do a similar one in Davanagere. As a revenue minister, I have done all this. What do you think of Siddaramaiah reconsidering contesting from Kolar? Whichever constituency Siddaramaiah goes to, be it Varuna, Badami, or Chamundeshwari, he will not deliver to the people of that constituency. He has never been stable in any constituency. In the 224 seats, there is not a single safe seat for Siddaramaiah. He faces rebellion from his own leaders everywhere. DK Shivakumar is trying to defeat him, Parameshwara is trying to defeat him, and KH Muniyappa wants to defeat him. That is why he fears contesting from any constituency in the state. What would be your political mantra to fight your opponent Shivakumar? It is war and I am a soldier. My commander (Modi) will also come to campaign and it will benefit me. Shivakumar has no commander. He needs to handle everything on his own. Mere paas Modi hai, Amit Shah ji hai, uske paas (DKS) kya hai? I will fight and win against DK Shivakumar. Read all the Latest Politics News here Karnataka Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader KS Eshwarappa was on Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Popular Front of India (PFI)s target, as the groups were allegedly planning to kill him, revealed gangster Jayesh Pujari. According to a Times Now report, the gangster had given a supari" to one of his associates in Karnatakas Belagavi, to kill the BJP leader. The news organization also got in touch with Eshwarappa himself, who reportedly said he wasnt afraid of any threats. He said he works towards saving Bharat Mata" and that patriots are not afraid. He went on to call himself an Hindutvawadi", and said nobody can kill Hindutva, the news report further stated. Ahead of Karnataka assembly elections due soon, Eshwarappa recently announced that he would not contest the polls this year. He told BJPs central leadership that he wished to retire from electoral politics and requested it to not consider fielding him from any constituency in the May 10 Karnataka Assembly polls, a PTI report said. Notably, Jayesh Pujari alias Kantha alias Salim Shahir Kantha, a murder convict, is accused of making threatening calls to Union Minister Nitin Gadkaris public relations office first in January and then in March. Officials of the Intelligence Bureau have questioned him since Nagpur police took his custody from jail in Belagavi, police sources said. Nagpur Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar on Thursday said that the probe revealed that he had connections with the Dawood gang, PFI, and LeT. He has been radicalised. He was hatching a conspiracy in jail with other D-gang (Dawood gang) members," PTI quoted Kumar as saying. The Dhantoli police in the city have invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against him. Read all the Latest Politics News here Laxman Savadi, former deputy chief minister of Karnataka, joined the Congress on Friday. Upset over being denied a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket from Athani in Belgaum district, Savadi flew to Bengaluru, held a meeting with Congress leaders and joined them, vowing to defeat the saffron party. Savadi, who lost the 2018 Assembly election to a Congress candidate may not be a big leader with a clout over a larger area. But what matters is his caste Lingayat. ALSO READ | Karnataka Reservation Row: A Look at Significance of Lingayats, Vokkaligas in the State Ahead of Polls Any Lingayat joining the Congress closer to polling day is a big boost and bonus for the party which is desperately trying to woo the community back. Following Savadis entry, many more Lingayat leaders from north Karnataka are expected to switch sides, claim Congress sources. The BJPs rise in Karnataka is directly linked to Lingayats. THE LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP Economically and politically the most powerful community with 16% population share, Lingayats have had a love-hate relationship with the Congress since 1972. After the emergence of Other Backward Class (OBC) politics under then Congress CM D Devaraj Urs, the Lingayats crossed over to opposition Janata Parivar and played a major role in toppling the Gundurao-led Congress government in 1983. With their support, a Brahmin, Ramakrishna Hegde, became the CM twice. The secondmost powerful caste Vokkaligas were also with the Janata Parivar because of H D Deve Gowda. ALSO READ | Overconfidence, Caste Matrix, 40% Corruption, Rs 2,000 Aid, Modi Magic: 5 Factors in Karnataka Polls Lingayats returned to the Congress briefly in 1989, when they went to the Assembly polls under the leadership of a powerful Lingayat leader, Veerendra Patil. The Congress swept that election by winning a record 181 seats in the 224-member Assembly. But his unceremonious sacking by Congress president Rajiv Gandhi in 1990 and back to OBC politics under Bangarappa and Veerappa Moily once again forced them to leave the Congress. Once again, the Lingayats and Vokkaligas together voted for Janata Dal, routing the Congress in 1994 Assembly elections. BSY, BJP & COMMUNITY After the collapse of Janata Parivar, Lingayats moved to BJP under their caste leader BS Yediyurappa and brought the BJP to power twice in the past 15 years. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is not comfortable with the Lingayat party tag, has been trying to make BJP an all-caste, Hindutva party in Karnataka since 2018. It has not gone down well with the Lingayats and a section in the party is looking at other alternatives. The Congress, which is fighting the election in an organised way, is trying to get as many Lingayats as possible on board. Like Savadi, many more Lingayat leaders, who are upset with the BJP leadership for making them feel not so important, may join the Congress soon. Two more BJP MLAs who have been denied tickets Mahadevappa Yadavada and Chikkanagouder are reportedly in touch with the Congress. The Congress is also trying to get former MP Prabhakara Kore back into the party fold. A BJP leader from Dharwad, Mohan Limbikayi, has already been fielded on a Congress ticket. The Congress has kept its doors open for Lingayats who wish to return or join triggering panic in the BJP camp. The BJP took us for granted. They are now realising that we are not their slaves, thundered Savadi, after joining the Congress. ALSO READ | BJPs 2nd List of 23 Candidates Out; 4 Sitting Ktaka MLAs Denied Ticket, 12 Seats Yet to be Announced So far, of the 166 seats declared, the Congress has given tickets to 42 Lingayats. The BJP has fielded leaders from the community in 63 of the 212 seats declared so far. The Lingayats joining the Congress will help the party in perception battle. Will it work electorally? One will have to wait for the answer till May 13. Read all the Latest Politics News here Actress Kranti Redkar has made a special place in the hearts of audiences with her acting chops and glamorous persona. Recently, she shared a funny video about how to lose weight in a week. The clip is now doing rounds on the internet. She discloses the secret of losing two and a half kilos in no time. In the video, Kranti jokingly said, I have lost two and a half to three kilos in the last one and a half weeks. Now you say how did you do it? What is the secret of this? So there is no secret. The secret is very simple. Apply white nail polish on the right hand. If it has gel in it and is a bit more expensive, youll do it. She further said, We are used to eating with our hands. If you eat fish curry with a fork and then you dont even taste it. So what will you do? You will eat less. Doing this, I have not been eating properly for the last one and a half weeks. Because I cant taste it with a fork. So this white nail polish is very important for weight loss. At least for me. Thank me later. This funny post of hers is making a huge buzz on social media. Her sense of humour and wit is what everyone admires her for. Social media users have commented on the video. One user wrote, What a way to lose weight". Another user wrote, You are too cute". Kranti Redkar is best known for her exceptional performance in films such as Gangaajal, Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho, and Majha Navra Tujhi Bayko. Some of her other notable projects include Karaar, Rocky, Baalaa, Murder Mestri, and Yudh.. Astitvachi Ladai, The Letters, and Mata Ekveera Navsala Pauli. She made her debut as a director with the 2015 film Kaakan. Kranti is married to IPS officer Sameer Wankhede. After a few years of marriage, the duo welcomed twin children, Zyda and Ziya. Kranti is a doting wife, who supported her husband Sameer when he was attacked by Maharashtra politicians for his inadequate probe into the narcotics matter involving Shah Rukh Khans son Aryan Khan on the Mumbai cruise. Read all the Latest Bollywood News and Regional Cinema News here Spy stories have witnessed a massive surge in the Indian content space in the last few years. It wouldnt perhaps be wrong to state that such narratives have hit the point of saturation. But filmmakers, unfazed, continue to make spy dramas and thrillers galore. The latest to join the espionage bandwagon is debut director Anushree Mehtas Mrs Undercover starring Radhika Apte in the title character. The fact that its story is laced with feel-good humour could have set it apart from the other spy films. But unfortunately, it doesnt land quite well and fizzles out too soon. Mrs Undercover revolves around the life of Durga. Much like a regular middle-class homemaker, she spends her days taking care of everyone in her family comprising of her sexist and unappreciative husband, mother-in-law, father-in-law and school-going son. She wakes up in the morning to prepare breakfast for the whole family, drops her son off to school, goes to the local market to pick up vegetables and fish, cooks lunch, makes sure that her in-laws are being fed and give medicines on time, brings her son back home and helps him with his homework, cooks lunch, waters the plants and is the last member in the family to go off to sleep after wrapping up everything. But underneath this subservient homemaker is a special force agent, who had to go undercover years back and get married into a family she didnt want to, which may remind you of Raazi. But living this life for so many years caused her to brush agent 091 under the rug. And then one day, the chief of Special Forces, Kolkata, decide to assign her to a case to find out The Common Man who has been ruthlessly murdering strong, independent and empowered women in the city. With rusty skills and a whole lot of reluctance, she re-enters the world of an undercover spy. What works for the film is its one-liner concept a homemaker who turns into a spy. On the surface, this might seem similar to Manoj Bajpayees critically acclaimed series, The Family Man. Much like Shrikant Tiwari, Durga straddles both the worlds, that of a family and an espionage system. They not only take care of their families but are also on the run to chase down the most notorious criminals. They are unassuming and simple people and are dealing with spouses who may or may not have cheated on them. But it is the treatment of Mrs Undercover that makes it fall flat. Homemakers are change-makers and it is no doubt that they are still looked down upon and are taken for granted. Anushree tries to reinforce the same throughout the course of the film. The word homemaker is used so many times that most of the dialogues seem to be rehashed versions of the same line of thought. With the world being a misogynistic and sexist space to live in, conversations on feminism and womens empowerment are pertinent and should continue to remain so unless we create a place that screams equality. And kudos to Anushree, who is also the writer and the producer of the film, for weaving a story that salutes women, who go unnoticed every single day. But she takes it too far. She makes use of one stereotype to defy another stereotype and that defends the entire purpose of having a story of a woman told by a woman through the lens of feminism. The comparison of the protagonist Durga with the goddess Durga only makes her an aspirational being. Anushree puts her on a pedestal and deifies her to such an extent that it rids her of all the qualities that make her humane. To further make a statement on how women are indeed earthly and tangible forms of the divine, many scenes are shot in Kumartuli, a potters quarter tucked away in the northern part of Kolkata, against the backdrop of numerous clay idols. Yes, the Kahaani template spills over in this film as well. In Mrs Undercover, almost all the men are demonised. That men and women are equal might have been the core intent of the story but it defies every notion pertaining to equality. Durgas husband is ungrateful and thinks of her as just a homemaker. He doesnt allow her to go to work and justifies his mistakes by saying Im a man. The Common Man, on the other hand, is obsessed with killing modern, liberal, and unyielding women but we never really come to know the reason for his hatred towards them. Mrs Undercover might have had potential on paper but it is largely undercooked. Theres no greater joy than watching a female star engage in combat sequences and bring down bad guys with her physical prowess. But here, even the fight sequences are jerky, amateurish, and lack a seamless finish. Yes, is it truly mesmerising to watch a saree-clad woman fight a man but theres no explanation as to how she has her saree still impeccably draped with her hair perfectly pinned and jewellery completely in place. Mrs Undercover is also largely predictable and even unintentionally funny in parts. The story lacks the finesse that can keep you engaged. Unfortunately, the actors dont get the chance to lift the film up with their performances because their characters are under-baked and have no arcs to play around with. An artist of the caliber and stature of Radhika doesnt get to bring her true potential to the table. Having said that, her subdued and straight-faced humour does crack you up but those scenes are far and few in between. If you really want to watch her play out comic scenes with a rare rawness, you should instead revisit Lust Stories and Monica O My Darling. Sumeet Vyas seems too unconvincing as a serial killer. We dont get a glimpse into his life that has made him the villain that he is. Establishing what drives his dark psyche would have gone a long way in making The Common Man a realistic character. Yet another actor whos wasted is Rajesh Sharma. His character suffers because the line between comedy and frivolousness gets blurred. Mrs Undercover is a good attempt gone wrong. Though most statements on man-woman equality go awry and are lopsided, Anushree deserves applause for redefining the quintessential undercover agent. Here, Radhikas Durga is not made to fit into the mould of a stylish and chic spy draped in a latex black bodysuit. Shes clumsy, fearful of stepping out at night to stalk an offender, take her mother-in-law to crack a case, and prioritises her sons unit test over an assignment. But these bits of novelty dont really create an impact due to the writing that lacks spark and gumption. In short, Radhika deserves a better film. Mrs Undercover is now streaming on Zee5. Read all the Latest Bollywood News and Regional Cinema News here Congress leader Rahul Gandhi lost his Lok Sabha seat as he was convicted and sentenced to two years of imprisonment in a criminal defamation case. Gandhi was accused of defaming a particular community by branding them thieves and a case was filed against him in Surat, Gujarat, by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi. It is important to recall that in May 2016, the Supreme Court of India upheld the constitutional validity of sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that provide for criminal defamation, observing that the law has no chilling effect on free speech. In its judgment, the apex court observed: Right to free speech is not absolute. It does not mean freedom to hurt anothers reputation which is protected under Article 21 of the Constitution. Defamation is defined in the IPC in four sections: Section 499 states: Whoever, by words either spoken or intended to be read, or by signs or by visible representations, makes or publishes any imputation concerning any person intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm, the reputation of such person, is said, except in the cases hereinafter excepted, to defame that person. Section 500 states: Whoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with a fine, or with both. Section 501 states: Whoever prints or engraves any matter, knowing or having good reason to believe that such matter is defamatory of any person, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. Section 502 states: Whoever sells or offers for sale any printed or engraved substance containing defamatory matter, knowing that it contains such matter, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. The IPC also provides explanations of the above-mentioned instances of defamation which are enumerated below. Explanation 1: It may amount to defamation to impute anything to a deceased person, if the imputation would harm the reputation of that person if living, and is intended to be hurtful to the feelings of his family or other near relatives. Explanation 2: It may amount to defamation to make an imputation concerning a company or an association or a collection of persons as such. Explanation 3: An imputation in the form of an alternative or expressed ironically, may amount to defamation. Explanation 4: No imputation is said to harm a persons reputation, unless that imputation directly or indirectly, in the estimation of others, lowers the moral or intellectual character of that person, or lowers the character of that person in respect of his caste or of his calling, or lowers the credit of that person, or causes it to be believed that the body of that person is in a loathsome state, or in a state generally considered as disgraceful. Important judgments related to defamation There are several landmark judgments related to the defamation law, the most important and recent being the Subramanian Swamy versus the Union of India case which was decided in 2016 by the apex court. In 2014, Swamy accused former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa of corruption against which the Tamil Nadu government filed a defamation case. Swamy in turn challenged Sections 499 and 500 of the IPC under which he was booked. While upholding the constitutional validity of sections 499 and 500, the apex court stated: The international human right treaties explicitly provide for the right to reputation as well as right to free speech and expression. The Universal Declaration on Human Rights, 1948, in Article 12 clearly stipulates that no one shall be subjected to attack on his honour and reputation. Scrutinising on this score, it cannot be said that reputation should be allowed backseat whereas freedom of speech and expression should become absolutely paramount. Though certain countries have kept the remedy under common law and have decriminalised defamation, yet it does not mean that where the law criminalising defamation is maintained, the said law is unreasonable and, therefore, unconstitutional. Other important cases that need to be read for a fair understanding of defamation law in India are DP Choudhary & others versus Kumari Manjulata, SMC Pneumatics India Pvt. Ltd versus Jogesh Kwatra, Avnish Bajaj vs. State, and Vyakti Vikas Kendra versus Jitender Bagga. While Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was convicted and sentenced for defamation, usually defamation cases end with an apology or settlement between the contending parties. Commenting on the defamation law, eminent jurist Fali Nariman in his book God Save The Honble Supreme Court writes: Defamation actions in India are a luxury at that. They are too often filed in a hurry and repented only at leisure. And then it is too late. I dissuade clients from filing such action civil or criminal. Read all the Latest Explainers here Three Bismarck gambling equipment distributors are accused of violating state laws and regulations by paying excessive rent and attempting to influence bars charitable gambling operations through a nonprofit veterans organization. North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley in an administrative complaint alleges a scheme involving the Wall of Honor nonprofit as an "enticement" to get bars to use electronic pull tab machines provided exclusively by the companies, and to influence bars into switching charitable gambling organizations. Wrigley seeks to revoke the distributor licenses of Western Distributing Company, Plains Gaming Distributing Inc. and Midwest Gaming Distributing Inc., fine them $120,000, and impose another $5,000 fine against Western for allegedly loaning startup money to an American Legion post. The alleged violations have significantly impacted charitable gaming organizations in North Dakota by creating an unfair advantage for the companies, the attorney general said in the complaint. He added in a statement, This conduct has resulted in millions of dollars in charitable gaming being diverted to charitable organizations aligned with Western, Plains, and/or Midwest as a distributor." The companies have not yet answered the complaint, which was dated April 11. They have a 20-day window to do so. Deb Stoltman, listed as an owner and chief financial officer on Westerns website, said the companies have done business in North Dakota for many years, been licensed consistently by the Attorney Generals Office without interruption, and been through numerous audits by the office. Some of the people associated with the companies are veterans themselves and proud to support the Wall of Honor, Stoltman said, and added it is a separate organization with its own board of directors, managers and finances. It is unfortunate the (state) Gaming Division has misconstrued individual support for the Wall of Honor as a violation of gaming rules, Stoltman said. We are confident that a full airing of the facts will show that Western, Plains and Midwest are innocent of the charges against them, and we are hopeful that the Gaming Division will work with us to address its concerns in an open and non-adversarial manner. Wall of Honor Executive Director Tammy Ibach said there is "not one thing illegal" that was done by the nonprofit. She also claimed the organization as a 501(c)3 nonprofit "is not under the rules and regulations of the attorney general or gaming," and said she was surprised by some of the comments in the complaint. The complaint Wall of Honor uses indoor digital billboards to honor veterans and first responders. The billboards display photographs along with military branch and dates of service information. The organization in early 2021 stated that it was the idea of an anonymous North Dakota founder. The complaint alleges David Wisdom, stockholder, officer and agent of Plains and Western, was instrumental in forming and facilitating financing for Wall of Honor in the year prior to its formation. Midwest is owned by Sherry Wick, Wisdoms sister. Bismarck attorney Jonathan Sanstead is the registered agent for Western and Plains, as well as for Advanced Gaming Solutions, which provides bookkeeping and gambling services for licensed organizations. He did not immediately respond to a phone message or email seeking comment. Wrigley alleges that Wisdoms vision for Wall of Honor was locating sites for charitable gambling organizations that were aligned with the companies as their distributors. Wall of Honor sales personnel visited sites throughout the state with the intent of enticing them -- through a potential payment for the Wall of Honor billboard -- to switch charitable gambling organizations to a fraternal organization aligned with the companies. The fraternal organizations in return would use funds from gambling to donate back to Wall of Honor, the complaint states. Wrigley in the 17-page complaint alleges the Bismarck American Legion obtained two of its three sites -- bars that have charitable gambling -- through Wall of Honor paying 'rent' for its billboards contingent upon the site changing gaming organizations. Bar payments State law limits e-tab rent to $100 monthly per machine for the first five machines, and $50 per additional machine. Wrigley alleges the three companies facilitated rent payment in excess of state law through the Wall of Honor payments, as much as $1,000 more than allowed in e-tab rent for the placement of a billboard. The top amount was in exchange for changing Jack's Steakhouse's gambling organization to the Bismarck American Legion, the attorney general said. The Legion was paying Western, Plains and Midwest collectively over $30,000 per month in the fall of 2022, the complaint alleges. The Legion as of May 2022 continued to donate trust funds from gaming directly to Wall of Honor, the complaint states. The three companies have been the distributors for the gambling machines at Jacks in Bismarck and at Rustys Saloon and Grill in St. Anthony since the gambling organizations were changed in July 2021. Rustys received an additional $650 per month above the maximum allowed by law, the complaint alleges. The Legion expressed concerns about a proposal that required all gambling equipment be acquired from the three companies, but the agreement was entered into when the concerned representative was out of town for the winter, the complaint states. Wall of Honor representatives who questioned whether the actions were appropriate were told by Sanstead that it was legal, according to the complaint. It also alleges that illegal rent payments were made to Gundys Bar and Grill in Medina, ReUnion Grill and Bar in McClusky, and a one-time payment to Totten Trail Bar and Grill in Coleharbor. The complaint further alleges attempts were made to influence relationships with other bars -- The Drink in Mandan, Harbor Bar in Coleharbor, and Gunny's Bar in Elgin -- to switch charitable organizations through the use of Wall of Honor billboards. Ibach said "I'm not aware" of any businesses taking rent for billboards contingent on the site changing gambling organizations. She said payments to bars or restaurants are "similar to indoor advertising," as the placement of one billboard can sometimes lead to the placement of another. Jack's Steakhouse in Bismarck "became a huge referral for us," Ibach said. "It's a busy restaurant where veterans hang out." Wrigley in the complaint said Ibach offered Harbor Bar in Coleharbor $500 to display a Wall of Honor billboard. The bar understood the proposal carried a contingency that it switch its charity to the Bismarck American Legion, the attorney general said. Ibach denies the claim. Nope. Not me, she said. A site acquisition representative for the New Salem American Legion -- retained by Wisdom and directed by the three companies -- quit her job over concerns about the agreements. She called Sanstead, the attorney for the companies, and was told to proceed, the complaint alleges. The New Salem Legion also became uncomfortable with the involvement by Wall of Honor and the companies, and ended its relationship with them. The Legion released ReUnion Grill and Bar from its site agreement after ReUnion was approached by Wall of Honor as a "lure" for a charitable gambling organization aligned with Western, Plains and Midwest, according to Wrigley. Westerns books show a $20,000 loan to a veterans liaison officer with Wall of Honor, but it was actually a loan to establish financing "for the Hazelton American Legion to become a gaming organization, the complaint states. The Hazelton American Legion has paid back $7,500 to Western. Probe continues Wrigley declined to comment on further action in the civil regulatory case when asked about the roles of or potential repercussions for the Wall of Honor and bars named in the complaint, "except to say that the investigation continues as well, and it has been extensive." "There are prohibitions that are clear in North Dakota law and the regulatory oversight regimen here, and we believe that it to be very clear, and our investigation was focused on those matters because they're in place to maintain the integrity of gaming in North Dakota, and that you don't then allow in inappropriate pressures and undercurrents, if you will, into the industry," Wrigley told the Tribune. Ibach said, If they want to drag the Wall of Honor into a case, let them." The group has the backing of every one of the 1,890 veterans honored on the billboards, she said, adding that the Wall of Honor is in good standing with taxes and the Secretary of States Office. Its the most honorable work Ive done or will ever do, she said. Those stories need to be told. The glitzy e-tab gambling devices have become prolific after the 2017 Legislature approved of them. The 2023 Legislature has handled a bevy of bills this session related to gambling and e-tabs, including ones on siting, rent increases and regulatory control. Manufacturers made over $69 million and distributors nearly $700,000, all from e-tabs in fiscal year 2022, according to the state's top gambling regulator, Director of Gaming Deb McDaniel. Ignoring calls to stop interfering in the domain of parliament, Pakistans Supreme Court on Thursday stopped operationalisation of a bill aimed at clipping the powers of the chief justice. The lawmakers on Monday passed for the second time the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 to dilute chief justices power to take suo motu action and form a panel of judges for hearing of cases. An eight-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial held the first hearing of at least three petitions challenging the bill which is yet to become a law because President Arif Alvi has not endorsed it. However, it would become a law even without Alvis signature next week after passing of ten days since it was passed by the parliament. The bench observed that prima facie the proposed law infringed the powers of the apex court to frame its own rules and it merits a hearing by the court. The court in its order after hearing stated that any intrusion in its practice and the procedure, even on the most tentative of assessments, would appear to be inimical to the independence of the judiciary, no matter how innocuous, benign or even desirable the regulation may facially appear to be. It is therefore hereby directed and ordered as follows. The moment that the bill receives the assent of the president or (as the case may be) it is deemed that such assent has been given, then from that very moment onwards and till further orders, the act that comes into being shall not have, take or be given any effect nor be acted upon in any manner," the court stated. But what is the contentious bill? News18 explains: The Bill includes three crucial provisions: the decision of what suo motu cases can be heard will be made by a committee made up of the Chief Justice and the two senior most judges rather than just the Chief Justice; the committee will also choose the benches to hear these cases rather than the top judge; any case involving constitutional interpretation will not have a bench with fewer than five judges; and decisions made in such cases will be subject to appeal. In Article 184 of the Pakistani Constitution, Original Jurisdiction of Supreme Court" is defined. If it considers that a question of public importance with reference to the enforcement of any of the Fundamental Rights is involved, suo motu cases can be taken up by the SC under Article 184 (3), according to a report by the Indian Express. As of now, the Chief Justice had sole discretion over all proceedings under this. In the past it has been observed that suo motu notice had been taken on petty matters like lack of parking space outside a hospital, submerging of a street in rainwater, or recovery of a bottle from an accused. Therefore, it is the need of the hour to form a mechanism to ensure transparency, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, speaking in the National Assembly, was quoted as saying by Pakistani daily Dawn. Presently, there is no right of appeal in suo motu cases but in the proposed Bill we have given the right to the accused to file intra-court appeal within 30 days, he added. Importantly, this right is also retroactively enforceable, and parties who have been wronged may file a lawsuit within 30 days of the effective date of this Act." This has the potential to trigger a wide range of laws; in the 2017 Panama Papers case, Article 184(3) even barred Nawaz Sharif from holding public office, as per the Indian Express report. One further important clause states that an application pleading urgency or seeking interim relief, filed in a cause, appeal, or matter, shall be fixed for hearing within fourteen days from the date of its filing." What do legal experts say Some legal experts believe that while the governments planned modifications to reduce the Supreme Courts authority are desirable, the way the parliament is going about doing so is suspect, according to a report by Al Jazeera. What the government is attempting to do is something that ought to have been done years ago." A constitutional expert and lawyer from Lahore named Abuzar Salman Niazi told Al Jazeera that the way they are going about it is questionable. According to Niazi, the majority of the governments measures are constitutional modifications, which call for a two-thirds majority in the parliament, which the Sharif administration does not have. Additionally, he questioned the bills timing. He declared, It seems they are only doing this to put pressure on the chief justice of Pakistan." The independence of the judiciary, which is a fundamental component of our constitution, might be at odds with a straightforward act of parliament regulating the judiciary with regard to procedural and substantive legislation. If reviewed or contested in court, the courts might invalidate it," he had added. But Salaar Khan, a constitutional expert and lawyer based in Islamabad, told Al Jazeera that he did not think the proposed amendment would limit the Supreme Courts authority. He said the law just concerns power restructuring, and that taking suo motu notices was now the unique prerogative of the courts chief justice. Since the Supreme Court is defined to include more than simply the chief justice, one can contend that the proposal seeks to increase the involvement of other judges as well," he told the publication. What Triggered this Court-govt Clash? Imran Khans ouster from office as prime minister by a parliamentary vote of confidence in April of last year served as the catalyst for the conflict, explained the Al Jazeera report. Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, started a nationwide campaign to demand early elections for the nations legislature, which are currently slated for later this year. He then decided to dissolve the provincial assemblies in the provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in January after the administration rejected his petition. Given that Pakistan traditionally holds both provincial and national elections at the same time, the action was part of Khans effort to force the elections. However, the constitution of Pakistan mandates that elections be held 90 days after a legislative assembly is dissolved. But when the ECP failed to release an election timetable, a standoff resulted, prompting President Arif Alvi, a supporter of Khans PTI, to unilaterally set April 9 as the election date in the two provinces. Three days later, on February 23, Pakistans Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial decided to take a suo motu notice of the matter and convene a hearing on his own as observers questioned the validity of Alvis pronouncement. The Supreme Court ordered the ECP to uphold its constitutional duty and declare an election schedule for the provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on March 1 in a 3-2 decision after four judges recused themselves from the original nine-judge bench convened to hear the case. The ECP announced that the election in Punjab province would take place on April 30 two days later, on March 3. Three days later, on February 23, Pakistans Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial decided to take a suo motu notice of the matter and convene a hearing on his own as observers questioned the validity of Alvis pronouncement. The Supreme Court ordered the ECP to uphold its constitutional duty and declare an election schedule for the provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on March 1 in a 3-2 decision after four judges recused themselves from the original nine-judge bench convened to hear the case. The ECP announced that the election in Punjab province would take place on April 30 two days later, on March 3. However, the election commission cancelled its plan last week, claiming that security and financial difficulties made it impossible to hold the election in April. It declared October 8 as the new Punjab election date. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing whether the ECPs action is permissible after being contacted by an angry PTI. This compelled the administration to introduce a resolution that targeted the court directly, the report by Al Jazeera said. Now What Has the Court Said? The SC bench also issued notices to the political parties, the federal government, Attorney General, Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan and other respondents in the case. Later, the proceedings were adjourned till May 2. Earlier in the day, representatives of the political parties which are part of the coalition government criticised the court for scheduling the hearing of petitions against the bill. Addressing a press conference they demanded the stop hearing. The parties also showed strong reservations against the members of the bench. Separately, the parliament passed a resolution calling for the dissolution of the eight-judge larger bench. The resolution tabled by the Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Agha Rafiullah was approved by a majority vote. According to the resolution, the lower house rejected the eight-member bench, which excluded two senior judges of the apex court. It argued that constitution-making is the sole responsibility of the Parliament and that the house views the decision of the apex court with concern". It expressed concern over the non-inclusion of senior judges in the larger bench. With inputs from pti Read all the Latest Explainers here The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) seems to have made the proposed privatisation of Vizag Steel Plant the hook to expand its base in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. BRS working president Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao not only wrote an open letter to the Centre opposing the privatisation of the plant, but the Telangana government is also mulling participating in an Expression of Interest through its Singareni Collieries Company Limited. For this purpose, they have sent a team of officials to the plant to study relevant issues. Heavy metal In the letter, KTR wrote that an Expression of Interest (EoI) notification was issued in the garb of mobilising funds for working capital and raw materials. He said that the Narendra Modi government was indirectly attempting to hand over the PSU to private entities through the notification. The Telangana IT minister demanded that the Centre should immediately cancel the EoI notification. The minister in his letter laid out a detailed plan to revive the PSU. He said that Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has already announced its expansion plans with a cost of around Rs 1 lakh crore. He said that the company can be merged with the Vizag Steel Plant, which has several advantages when compared to selling the steel plant to private companies at a low price. This will contribute towards SAILs expansion goals. If the company moves in this direction, then an ecosystem can be created to fulfil a longstanding demand of a steel factory in Bayyaram, Telangana, and a steel plant in Kadapa, said KTR. The minister also opposed the central governments veiled attempts to privatise Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). Maha dharnas were held against the Centres decision to auction SCCLs coal mines on April 8. Stating that the Centre issued a notification to auction the mines in Sathupalli Block 3, Shravan Palli, Penagadapa, KTR demanded that the auctioning process, which was scheduled to be conducted from March 29 to May 30, be rolled back. From the past The decision to privatise Vizag Steel Plant was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in January 2021. It cited huge losses made over the years as the reason behind the move. Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited) is a Navaratna PSE under the ministry of steel. It is the largest, single-location, shore-based steel plant in the country. After the announcement, the employees of the plant started an agitation against the privatisation. Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee was formed to carry on the protests and till now, they have successfully held back the privatisation of the plant. Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had extended his full support to the stir at that time. He also took up the matter with the Prime Minister. However, the matter was left in the cold storage till BRS stirred the pot. Political sense This is not the first time KTR has shown support for the agitating employees of VSP. In 2021, the workers had performed a milk abhishekam on KTRs photo when he had supported their agitation. This time too, Visakhapatnam Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee chairman Ch Narasinga Rao has welcomed the delegation sent from Telangana to study the feasibility of an Expression of Interest. The move has triggered a war of words in both the Telugu states. Responding to KTRs letter, Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar said, It is ridiculous that the chief minister who cannot pay salaries to his government employees on the first day of the month and implement his promises of waiving crop loans and unemployment allowance is talking about bidding for the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Forget Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, first KCR should fulfil his promise of establishing the Bayyaram Steel Plant in Khammam and providing jobs to 20,000 people." In retaliation, KTR said that steel plants can be set up in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh if Bailadila is freed from the clutches of the Adani Group. Bailadila is at a distance of 150 km from Bayyaram and 600 km from VSP. It has 134 crore metric tons of iron ore. It is the nucleus of both the steel plants," the minister added. Andhra Pradesh industries minister Gudivada Amarnath maintained that YSRCP is opposed to the privatisation of the plant. There is no official statement from the Telangana government, he said. Political experts feel that stirring up the issue is a masterstroke by the BRS. It is an emotive issue, and KTR has evoked Telugu pride through his statements. The move also makes Andhra CM Jagan Mohan Reddy lose face as he is being accused of being silent on the matter. The BRS is aiming to split the anti-incumbent votes by raising the subject. BRS has also appointed Thota Chandrasekhar, a leader from the Kapu community, as its Andhra Pradesh president. This community has a strong presence in the state. Read all the Latest Explainers here India recorded 11,109 new coronavirus infections, the highest in 236 days, while the active cases increased to 49,622, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. The death toll climbed to 5,31,064 with 29 deaths. While three deaths each were reported from Delhi and Rajasthan, two each were from Chhattisgarh and Punjab and one each from Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh ,Maharastra, Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh besides nine reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 5.01 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was pegged at 4.29 per cent. The rise in cases has alarmed public with many not wanting a repeat of the dreadful second wave in 2021 due to the Delta Covid-19 variant, which saw many deaths as healthcare facilities could not structurally handle the number of serious cases. The government had emphasised Covid-19 precautions after and a rigorous vaccine drive, but after two years of the incident and three to the pandemic itself, authorities are having to reiterate Covid-19 norms. Read more on how to protect yourself against Covid-19. But why are cases rising again? News18 takes a look at some of the factors which might be contributing to a spike in Covid-19 infections: 3 Main Reasons Indian Medical Association (IMA) has stated that the current increase in Covid cases in India may be due to the relaxation of Covid-19 norms, a low testing rate, and the advent of a new Covid variant, according to reports. Many people are now less cautious about the coronavirus. Those who had symptoms declined to get checked. According to IMA, this might have made it possible for the virus to propagate undetectedly and infect additional people. The vaccination drive has developed a false sense of security, and as a result we lowered the guard against the infection," the statement read. The virus that causes Covid is constantly evolving, giving rise to new strains like XBB.1.16. Compared to the other versions, this new one is thought to be more contagious but fortunately less deadly, reports say. The newly discovered Covid variant XBB.1.16 might be to blame for the rise in instances. Rising cases show that the corona has not vanished and that care must be taken. Stay Safe by taking a few easy steps as Covid-19 is spreading around our neighbourhood, it advised. Talking to IANS, Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-Chairman, National IMA COVID Task Force and former President, IMA, said that the gradual waning of immunity, dropping of precautions, and genetic mutations are some reasons for the rising cases. Covid-19 is a cyclical viral disease, which means that periodically there will be surges. Reasons include gradual waning of immunity, dropping of precautions, greater mingling, travel, and genetic mutations that allow the virus to escape the human immune response from either vaccination, prior infection or both. The good news is that all the recent sublineages isolated from India are exclusively Omicron, which unlike Delta, is less likely to directly attack the lungs. However, Omicron is known to aggravate underlying disease conditions and result in serious outcomes, especially in older people. It is also known to cause less severe disease among vaccinated adults," he said. More About the Variant The omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 is the main cause of the upsurge, as per a BBC report. According to the WHO, they were keeping an eye on the subvariant and its growth in India. But it isnt known to be fatal, and has been circulating for a while. Its been in circulation for a few months. We havent seen a change in severity in individuals or in populations, but thats why we have these systems in place," Maria Van Kerkhove, WHOs COVID-19 technical lead, was quoted as as saying in the report. XBB.1.16 was first detected in SARS-CoV-2 sequences from India. The XBB 1.16 subvariant is a highly transmissible variant with high infectivity rate. The subvariant has mutations on the amino acids and nucleotide space that gives it the capacity to escape hybrid immunity achieved by vaccination and previous exposure to the virus," Dr Charu Dutt Arora, Infectious Disease Specialist, Consultant Physician, AmeriHealth, Asian Hospital told Hindustan Times. The signs and symptoms of the XBB.1.16 variant are very similar to that of the Omicron variant, which includes a high-grade fever for over 48 hours, cough, sore throat, body pain, severe headache, cold and abdominal discomfort. There is no loss of smell or taste seen in the patients, so far. Most of them have mild to moderate disease and are being managed on home isolation," according to Dr Arora. Read more about the variant here Who Should Get Tested? People with symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, headache, body ache, loss of smell or taste, breathlessness should get tested for corona," the IMA said. 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)," the IMA has further advised, adding that its important to wear a mask in crowded places. Wearing a mask, especially in crowded places, the statement said. The warning advised citizens to avoid congested areas and poorly ventilated areas whenever feasible. With inputs from PTI Read all the Latest Explainers here An actress has filed a molestation case against a financier in Mumbais Juhu, the Mumbai Police said in a statement on Friday. Based on her complaint, the Juhu police have registered a case against the accused under sections 354, 506, and 509 of IPC and an investigation has been initiated, an ANI report said. The actress has alleged that she was molested on the pretext of being paid for a video recording. When she opposed it, the accused abused her, the actress claimed in her complaint. She also said that the accused threatened to kill her. Further details awaited Read all the Latest India News here The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it on April 16 in connection with the excise policy scam case, in which his former deputy Manish Sisodia was arrested. Kejriwal has been called to appear at the CBI headquarters in the national capital at 11 am to answer queries of the probing team as a witness in the case. News agency PTI quoted CBI sources as saying that there are allegations that money raised from tweaking the policy in favour of certain liquor dealers and the South lobby was suspected to be pumped in for election purposes by the AAP, which is under the probe as part of the money trail. They said the process of policy formulation and influence of South lobby, besides changes in the draft stages, was in the know of the chief minister, which makes it necessary to put questions to him. Kejriwal may also be asked about an untraceable" file containing details of the expert committee and public comments when the policy was at a nascent stage of formulation and referral of the issue to Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Sisodia; besides his possible conversation with suspects in the case, they said. Sources have stated that the final role of Kejriwal, whether as a witness or an accused, will be decided while filing a charge sheet in the case after considering multiple factors. As of now, he is expected to answer questions as a witness. The agency had adopted the same strategy when Sisodia was called at the CBI headquarters where he was grilled for eight hours before being taken into custody. The allegations revolve around the Delhi governments excise policy for 2021-22, which is accused of granting licences to liquor traders who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by the AAP. The policy was later scrapped. AAPs Reaction Reacting to the summon, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) called it a conspiracy" and confirmed that Kejriwal will appear before the agency on Sunday. Taking to Twitter, party leader Sanjay Singh said that an end to tyranny is certain". Addressing a press conference, Singh said: Delhi chief minister had spoken about the Adani issue in Delhi Vidhan Sabha. That same day, I had told him that you will be next. Narendra Modi-led Centre is corrupt from head to toe and Kejriwals fight against corruption wont stop due to such notices." This notice is a conspiracy to arrest CM Kejriwal. This notice will neither be able to silence the AAP nor Kejriwal," he said. Meanwhile, Delhi minister and AAP leader Atishi said that no matter how many notices are issued or attempts are made to incarcerate them, the party will persist in their fight against corruption". You can give us as much notice, you can send us to jail but we will keep fighting against corruption," she said, adding, We are not afraid of ED and CBI." Another AAP leader Raghav Chaddha said that Kejriwal has been causing restless nights for the BJP leadership. Day and night only Kejriwal comes in his dreams and scares him in his sleep. This summon of CBI shows the Kejriwal Phobia of BJP. We are not afraid of your CBI-ED" he said in a Twitter post. Natural for Kejriwal to be Summoned, Says BJP BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya told CNN-News18 that it is natural for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to be summoned by the CBI in the alleged liquor scam since his cabinet member, Manish Sisodia, is already in jail in connection with the case. As the Chief Minister, Kejriwal is responsible for all the decisions taken by his cabinet, he said. Malviya emphasised the need to let the law proceed and wait for the investigation to unfold. Another BJP leader Kapil Mishra said, It is no more a secret now. Cloud data, chat and other evidences are out. All of those deals happened on instructions of Kejriwal. The CBI will call you for questioning, will cross examine the claims and then you have to go to jail as well." Opposition Unity Responding to the AAP national conveners summon, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) said the investigating agencies are summoning every opposition leader who questions Prime Minister Modi. The party stated this trend will continue until the 2024 general elections, and believes it is a vendetta against the opposition. The party also said the case against BRS leader, K Kavitha, daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in relation to the Delhi liquor scam case is false" and that the BRS is being targetted." Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) stated that it creates a strong suspicion in the minds of the people when a states CM is called by an investigating agency. The TMC also expressed concern that every opposition leader is being subjected to witch hunts." Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar has criticized the BJP for using agencies like the CBI for political gains, following the summoning of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the CBI. Shivakumar stated that political scores should not be settled through the use of such institutions and called for the BJP to refrain from such actions. #WATCH | "BJP should not use this agency for any political settlement. You should not settle political scores by using these institutions," says Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar on CBI summon to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal pic.twitter.com/ydgIWwvAbz ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2023 Meanwhile, Kejirwals summons came a day after he accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of misleading" the court with false evidence in the excise policy case. Kejriwal has accused the ED of taking false statements by torturing people and pressuring them. He also mentioned that the accused gave a different statement in the case of Sanjay Singh, but the ED has written something else in the charge sheet. Kejriwal was responding to a question regarding the EDs charge that his former deputy Manish Sisodia destroyed his mobile phones. The ED is misleading the court with false evidence, torturing people, taking false statements. There is nothing in this whole matter, the whole matter is fabricated and is based on false evidence. This is not a good thing," he said. The ED informed a Delhi court on Wednesday that Manish Sisodia had created false emails to portray public approval for the policy. The agency made this claim while opposing Sisodias bail plea before Special Judge MK Nagpal. (With inputs from PTI) Read all the Latest Politics News here Slain Asad Ahmed, son of dreaded gangster Atiq Ahmed, will be buried on Saturday in Prayagraj at the family burial ground used by don politicians family. He will be buried next to the resting place of his grandfather, sources said. Atiqs son Asad and his close aide, Ghulam, were gunned down by Uttar Pradesh police in an encounter in Jhansi on Thursday. Both were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case and had a reward of Rs 5 lakh on their heads. Asad was last seen in a CCTV footage doing rounds, where he was attacking Pal. He had been on the run since. Police said that Asads body would be handed over to his family members after postmortem. However, there has been a suspense over the location as officials have been changing the place of body handover since Friday morning. Sources initially said that Asads body would be handed over in Jhansi. They then said that there was a last-minute change and the body will be brought to Prayagraj by the police and then handed over to distant relatives there. News18 has now learnt that Prayagraj police has again informed Asads relatives to take the body from Jhansi, as they will not bring the mortal remains to the city. Asads grave has been dug at the same kabristan in Kasari Masari village in Chakiya area of Prayagraj, where his grandfather was laid to rest. Meanwhile, family of aide Ghulam has refused to accept his mortal remains, saying that they abide by law and cannot accept a criminals body. A relative also claimed that someone had brainwashed him". #AsadAhmeds body to be handed over to his family, the burial will take place at #Prayagraj; #AtiqueAhmed has requested the permission to attend his sons funeral@pranshumisraa shares detailsJoin the broadcast with @poonam_burde | #AsadAhmedEncounter #UP pic.twitter.com/GgkgtUVqe3 News18 (@CNNnews18) April 14, 2023 Sources said that jailed Atiq will not be allowed to attend his sons burial. A Prayagraj court sent both Atiq and his brother Ashraf to 14-day judicial custody on Thursday in connection with the triple murders of lawyer Umesh Pal and his two police guards. The two were produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gautam at 11:10 am amid heavy security, even as a bystander hurled a bottle at the gangster while he was being taken inside court. #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 Atiq reportedly broke down in a Prayagraj court after learning about his son Asads death. Umesh Pals mother and wife, however, thanked chief minister Yogi Adityanath and said that justice has been served". Atiq Ahmed Pleaded to Attend Sons Last Rites According to sources, Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were grilled separately on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. The questioning began at Prayagrajs Dhumanganj police station around 1 am and continued till 7 in the morning. Sources said that Atiq wept for his son and kept saying he and his family have been ruined. He pleaded the officers for permission to attend the last rites of Asad. A short while ago, News18 learnt that the gangster-turned-politician apparently broke down again and repeated chief minister Yogi Adityanaths warning. Mitti mein mil gaye hum (Weve been reduced to dust)," an inconsolable Atiq said. He further said, Its all my fault. Asad had nothing to do with any of it. No one can can take the responsibility of my young sons and brothers." Sources quoted the gangster as saying that the worlds biggest sorrow is when an elderly father has to lift the body of a young son on his shoulders. Atiq also requested officials to let him meet his wife as their son was no more. Atiq and his brother Ashraf are presently kept at an undisclosed location in Prayagraj. Sources said that some raid based on their inputs are possible on Friday. The two are in police custody till the evening of April 17. Asad was Atiqs third son. His eldest son came into the limelight in 2018 when he kidnapped a property dealer in Lucknow, Mohit Jaiswal. His son number two, Ali, has cases for attempted murder and extortion against him. Both had surrendered last year in fear of being encountered. Atiq has two more sons, Azham and Aban, who are minors and are studying in Class 10 and 8 respectively. They are presently lodged in a juvenile centre. Atiqs wife Shaista Parveen is said to be missing. ALSO READ | Asad Ahmed, Who Took Over Reins of Fathers Gang, Killed in Encounter | All About Atiq Ahmeds 5 Sons Many Opposition leaders criticised the encounter. Senior Congress leader PL Punia on Friday said that events leading to the encounter are suspicious". Political war erupts after gangster Atiq Ahmeds son Asad Ahmeds encounter, opposition parties call the encounter fake;Possibility of Atiq attending sons funeral is negligible," reports News18s @pranshumisraa with details @Arunima24 | #UttarPradesh #AtiqAhmed pic.twitter.com/5kNrJVXN97 News18 (@CNNnews18) April 14, 2023 Blow-by-blow Account of How Asad Ahmed was Encountered After Umesh Pals murder, a team of Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) was tasked to track down Asad Ahmed. The team chased him for nearly 50 days as he kept changing his location frequently between Prayagraj, Kanpur, Noida and Delhi. He reportedly stayed in Delhis Jamia for 12 days. According to a report in Times Now, Asad was giving the STF officials a slip by taking the help of local aides who picked and dropped him at several locations. He was in Jhansi for the last four days before the encounter. In Jhansi, Asad had planned to attack the police convoy to free his father Atiq after the gangster had said that he fears being encountered. The STF team, meanwhile, was continuously in search of Asad and Ghulam. Led by DSP Navendu and DSP Vimal, a 12-member team of UP STF personnel finally cornered the two near Jhansis Parichha Dam, and following a gun battle between 12:30pm and 1pm, the two were killed. The Times Now report stated that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath himself was in touch with the UP STF and used to take regular updates on the Umesh Pal murder case and the whereabouts of Asad and other murder accused. The STF personnel were chosen from Lucknow, Prayagraj and Noida. Asad Ahmeds Killing is Encounter Number 183 of Yogi Govt According to a report in Indian Express, Asads killing is Encounter Number 183 since the Yogi Adityanath government first took charge in March 2017. The report further stated that its the third encounter in the case related to the February 24 murder of Umesh Pal. It is also the third encounter in the first 13 days of April by the Uttar Pradesh police. #WATCH | Today the Constitution is in danger. Institutions are being destroyed one by one BJP is doing encounters keeping elections in mind. Why does UP Police have the maximum number of notices regarding fake encounters?: SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh pic.twitter.com/rGGRSeOXAA ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2023 Since the encounter and resurfacing of CM Yogis hit slogan of Mitti mein mila denge, the star value of the Uttar Pradesh chief minister has risen. There is a massive demand for him to join the BJPs election campaign in Karnataka for the upcoming assembly elections. The partys Karnataka unit wants the CM Yogi to be seen with different candidates at public rallies. Another accused in the case, Guddu Muslim, is now on STFs radar. He is said to be hiding in Rajasthans Ajmer. Read all the Latest India News here After allegedly switching passports at Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, two international passengers swapped places and flew to each others travel destinations. They were arrested by the Mumbai Police, an official said on Thursday. The exchange took place between a Sri Lankan native and a German citizen in a toilet at the airport. The 22-year-old Sri Lankan citizen flew to London with the 36-year-old German nationals passport, as he flew to Kathmandu instead, a PTI report said. The Sri Lankan passenger was caught upon arrival in the UK and was deported back to Mumbai. During inquiry, he told the police that he wanted to go to the UK for a better career opportunity. He revealed his original identity to London airport authorities, the news report further said. The police also apprehended the German citizen who had the Kathmandu-bound boarding pass. Investigation into the matter revealed that the passengers had been staying in a plush hotel near the airport in Mumbai on April 9, which is when they hatched the plan to switch their boarding passes, an official said. The details came to light during an interrogation of the two foreigners. Discrepancies were first observed when an attendant of an airline company noticed that the departure stamp on the passport of the Sri Lankan citizen appeared to be forged, he said. It was also found that the departure stamp number on the passport was different from the stamp number on his boarding pass, the official said. The Sahar police have booked two persons under sections for cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy and the police are investigating if more people involved in the crime. Read all the Latest India News here Covid cases in India have been on the rise over the past few weeks, forcing states to bring back some curbs and stress on protocols to cut the chain of transmission. India has reported today over 11,000 fresh Covid cases, highest single-day tally in nearly eight months. Yesterday, India recorded a 24-hour tally of over 10,000 fresh Covid cases. Among the major contributors to Indias total cases are Delhi and Maharashtra, which reported 1,527 and 1,086 cases respectively yesterday. Director of Delhis LNJP Hospital said on Thursday that Covid cases in the national capital will peak in the next couple of weeks. Maharashtra has seen 53 Covid deaths since January, with over 58 per cent among the fatalities being patients with comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension, as per an analysis by state government mentioned in a TOI report. In other Covid-related development, Uttar Pradeshs Noida on Thursday issued a set of recommendations that included practising social distancing and use of face masks at offices, schools, colleges, shopping malls, hospitals, among other public places. Noida admin also advised work from home (WFH) for those showing flu symptoms. All Thats Up With Covid: -Indias Covid Cases Today India has reported 11,109 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, which have taken the active tally to 49,000-mark. The country now has 49,622 active cases. India also reported 20 Covid deaths in the last 24 hours. Todays Covid Bulletin: Fresh Cases Today: 11,109 Active Cases: 49,622 Recoveries in 24 Hours: 6,456 Total Recoveries: 4,42,16,583 Daily Positivity Rate: 5.01% Weekly Positivity Rate: 4.29% Active Cases Stand At: 0.11% Recovery Rate Currently At: 98.70% -Indias Covid Cases on Thursday India recorded 10,158 new Covid cases and 19 deaths on Thursday. The jump of over 10,000 cases was countrys highest single-day tally in nearly eight months, while 19 deaths included four reconciled fatalities by Kerala. According to the Union Health Ministry data, the number of active cases stood at 44,998. Todays data is yet to be released. The 19 fresh deaths took the total toll due to the virus to 5,31,035. The new recorded deaths included nine from Maharashtra, two from Gujarat and one each from Delhi, Kerala, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu and four reconciled by Kerala, the data stated. The 10,158 cases reported on Wednesday are highest in 230 days. A total 10,256 cases were recorded on August 26 last year. India had reported 7,830 coronavirus infections on Wednesday. -Delhi Records Over 1,500 Fresh Covid Cases Delhi recorded 1,527 fresh Covid cases and two deaths on Thursday. The positivity rate in Delhi stood at 27.77 per cent. According to the Thursdays bulletin, in one of these two fatalities, Covid was the primary cause, while in the other, Covid was incidental. Delhis single-day Covid cases count breached the 1,000-mark for the first time in more than seven months on Wednesday, April 12, while the positivity rate stood at 23.8 per cent. Delhi on August 18 last year recorded 1,964 cases, with a positivity rate of 9.42 per cent and eight fatalities due to Covid. -Maharashtra Registers 1,086 New Cases, One Death Maharashtra on Thursday recorded 1,086 Covid cases and one death, which took the tally to 81,53,377 and the toll to 1,48,471, a health official said. It is the second consecutive day when the state recorded a single-day tally of over 1,000 cases. On Wednesday, the state had recorded 1,115 cases. Mumbai accounted for 274 cases, followed by 85 in Thane, 76 in Nagpur and 65 in Pune, while the sole death took place in Dhule, the official said. -Wear Face Masks, WFH if Cough: Covid Guidelines Issued in UPs Noida Amid rising Covid cases, the Gautam Buddh Nagar Health Department on Thursday issued a set of guidelines that includes practising social distancing and use of face masks at offices, schools, colleges, shopping malls, hospitals, among other public places. For workplaces, the guidelines recommend the use of sanitisers, proper cleaning of offices, thermal temperature scanners at office entries, and work-from-home option for employees showing signs of cold, cough, fever, and flu and suggested Covid test for them. The guidelines came as Gautam Buddh Nagar, adjoining Delhi, registered 114 more positive cases of Covid on Thursday, pushing the tally of active patients across Noida and Greater Noida to 396 the highest so far this year as per official data. Read all the Latest India News here The Uttar Pradesh Police believe Asad Ahmed had planned to attack the police convoy and free his father Atiq Ahmed en route from Ahmedabad to Prayagraj, and this is what led to him being chanced upon in Jhansi on Thursday morning and gunned down in an encounter. Additional DG (Law and Order) of UP, Prashant Kumar, said the police had intelligence inputs that Atiqs gang members could attack the police convoy to free him, and hence the route was sanitised from Ahmedabad to Prayagraj. The route passed through Jhansi and Atiq Ahmed was brought from Ahmedabads Sabarmati jail on Tuesday morning to Prayagraj on Wednesday for a court hearing. Kumar said there was a chance encounter with Asad Ahmed and his aide Ghulam on Thursday morning in Jhansi around 12.30pm. Sources said Atiq Ahmeds repeated statements fearing that he will be killed by the police on the way may have prompted his son to plan a daring attack on the convoy and free his father. It was reported on Thursday that Atiq Ahmed, on hearing of his sons death, had said he died because of me. Police said Asad had foreign-made pistols when he was gunned down. Our preparation was so strong that Atiqs gang could not attack the convoy, Kumar said. UP Police officials told News18 that Asad Ahmed was in Jhansi to do a recce for an attack on Atiqs convoy when it passed the area. UP STF is still searching for other suspects who were aware of the plan for the ambush. Jhansi FSL team has found 24 empty cartridges from the crime spot and police claim they chased Asad for almost a kilometer before he fell into a ditch and opened fire on them. Sources said Asads presence was first detected in Jhansi late in March when a UP STF team had quietly visited the district, questioned some people and followed up on those leads. Atiq Ahmed had earlier been brought from Ahmedabad to Prayagraj on March 28 and was taken back to Ahmedabad on March 30 after being convicted with life imprisonment in the Umesh Pal murder case. Asads confirmed presence in Jhansi was detected earlier this week too before Atiq was brought again from Ahmedabad to Prayagraj on April 11 and 12. This seems to have made the police more cautious and led to Asad and his aide being spotted on a motorcycle on the highway in Jhansi. Asad was in disguise and tried to flee on realising the police was after him. He went towards Paricha Dam where was gunned down in a jungle in an encounter. This completed a 50-day meticulous search for Asad after the killing of Umesh Pal on February 24, during which the police came very close to catching him but had missed him by a whisker. (With inputs from Anshul) Read all the Latest India News here Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday accused the Enforcement Directorate of "misleading" the court with false evidence in the excise policy case. He was talking to reporters after attending the Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations at the Delhi Assembly. The ED is taking false statements by torturing people and pressuring them. Even in the case of Sanjay Singh, it has come to the fore that the accused gave a different statement and the ED has written something else in the charge sheet," Kejriwal said, replying to a question about the EDs charge that his former deputy Manish Sisodia destroyed his mobile phones. The chief minister said that the ED has claimed that Sisodia has broken his phones but many of those phones are in agencys custody. The ED is misleading the court with false evidence, torturing people, taking false statements. There is nothing in this whole matter, the whole matter is fabricated and is based on false evidence. This is not a good thing," he said. Kejriwal also said his government was following the footsteps of B R Ambedkar by giving utmost importance to education. Today is the birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, the biggest shining star in the history of India, who got higher education after a lot of struggle and finally wrote the Constitution of India, he said. Babasaheb gave the biggest message in his life that everyone should get good education. And following his path, we too are giving utmost importance to education. Whether it is the child of the poor or the child of the rich, everyone should get good education," he added. The Enforcement Directorate had Wednesday told a Delhi court that Sisodia, arrested in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise case, had planted fabricated e-mails to show that there was a public approval for the policy. The agency made the submissions before Special Judge M K Nagpal while opposing the bail application of the former Delhi deputy chief minister. Read all the Latest India News here Gov. Doug Burgum has rejected a bill addressing patient choice for health care services. The governor on Thursday vetoed House Bill 1416 by Rep. Dwight Kiefert, R-Valley City. The bill is for freedom of choice for health care services, and would prohibit health insurers, including Medicaid, from excluding certain health care providers. Burgum said the bill targets only one health insurance plan offered in North Dakota Sanford Health Plans Focused Network and would risk increasing costs for more than 13,000 people. The bill if signed also would likely invite legal challenges based on a North Dakota constitutional prohibition on special legislation targeting one specific business or entity, according to Burgum. He did suggest a joint legislative/executive branch task force with Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread to build upon prior efforts and continue a comprehensive review of affordability, accessibility and quality of North Dakotas health systems during the 2023-24 interim, for recommendations for the 2025 Legislature. The state House of Representatives had passed the bill in a veto-proof 89-3 vote, but the Senate approved it more narrowly, 27-20. It takes a thirds-vote of each house to override a veto, being 63 votes in the House and 32 in the Senate. The veto is Burgums fifth of the 2023 session. Since 2014, India has responded to China on multiple occasions, at times through strong messaging, signalling or by issuing strong statements on issues concerning national security and by showcasing ongoing infrastructure projects at strategic locations. In the past one month, India has been batting on the front foot. With every development, India is posturing itself strongly against China in terms of messaging, strong statements and showcasing the mighty border infrastructure it is building. If China is highlighting its foreign engagements after Xi Jinping came to power for the third time, India, too, is a new diplomatic capital of the world, with G20 Summit and SCO meetings, where each month, on an average, New Delhi receives two Heads of State, various dignitaries, foreign ministers and delegations working in various fields. As per the data provided by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to Parliament, there were 102 visits to India by foreign dignitaries, including presidents and prime ministers, in the past two years between January 2020 and March 2022. Since January, Australian PM Anthony Albanese, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida were some of the high-profile state visits. IN RECENT PAST Recently, tensions grew between India and China when China released invented names of places in Arunanchal Pradesh. It received a strong reaction from New Delhi. Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson of the MEA, said, Arunanchal Pradesh was, is and will always be remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Even when newly appointed foreign minister of China Qin Gang met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi on the sidelines of G20, the photo of the meeting was tweeted from the latters Twitter handle with a caption, Discussions were focused on addressing current challenges to the bilateral relationship, especially peace and tranquility in the border areas. India had made its stand clear that the relationship between two countries should be based on three factors mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest. Bhutans Prime Minister Lotay Tshering made a controversial statement which raised several eyebrows and which was not received well in New Delhi where he, in a way, gave China equal say as one of the parties after India and Bhutan in the resolution of the TriJunction dispute. A few days post that, India received Wangchuck and discussed the entire gamut of ties, including border issues. Post the visit, the Foreign Secretary made a statement in a press conference saying, India and Bhutan remain in close touch relating to our shared interest, including security interest. Besides this exemplary and unique relationship between India and Bhutan, we also have a time tested framework of security cooperation, said Vinay Mohan Kwatra. INDIAS VVP VS CHINAS XIAOKANG China claims 90,000 sqkm of Arunanchal Pradesh as its territory. It calls the area Zangnan in the Chinese language and makes repeated reference to South Tibet. The list, naming 11 places, was the third one, before the ones released in 2017 and 2021. This time, India not only countered China with a statement, but with a high-profile visit of Home Minister Amit Shah to Arunanchal Pradesh, with a launch of Vibrant Village Programme for Bordering Districts. India plans to develop border villages in Arunanchal Pradesh as tourist hubs through a civil military partnership as an answer to Chinas model village Xiaokang close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC). China has built more than 628 Xiaokang villages across LAC in areas stretching from eastern Ladakh to Arunanchal Pradesh in the past decade. According to officials in the know, These villages will act as a buffer and watch posts along the border and help prevent infiltration." They can act as extended troop cantonments in times of hostilities. It is also an attempt to change the demographics of people living in area. As the Indian government is doing the needful in the border villages of LAC, the plan is also to actively consider promoting tours to World War II plane crash sites, with emphasis on developing homestays, treks, camping sites and spiritual activities to promote tourism and also setting up a commercial landing ground for helicopters at Walong to make access to the remote state easier. After Shah, other senior minister Nitin Gadkari also made a visit to Kashmir to review the work of Zojila tunnel. The tunnel, said to be Asias longest of its kind, will provide all-year, all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Leh and also significantly cut down travel time. As part of the ongoing project to improve connectivity in the region, 19 tunnels are being constructed at a cost of Rs 25,000 crore. OBSERVERS SAY Namrata Hasija, a scholar on China, said, China is doing everything to discredit this government, they are not liking Indias border development. They did not like when Ladakh was made a separate Union Territory and the way we reacted in Galwan. We did not show a complacent attitude. We still have the largest force deployment along the LAC. India is reacting and giving stern signals to China which Xi Jinpings administration is not liking." The way the government has taken India on a world stage and postured, even if not the first, surely India has become a second favourite destination for diplomacy and trade in the past few years. The only dominant power in Asia is India after China which is giving tough fight. Observers say that as Jinping has repeated his third term, the pressure is enormous on him to perform on the various issues on the agenda of the Communist Party. Some even say that China may be giving a sense that Taiwan is its priority, but the possibility of some action related to India cannot be denied as Jinping wants to show its people that he is delivering on the core agendas. The support of the US and that they dont share a border acts a deterrent in case of Taiwan. In case of India, taking advantage of the land border, China could plan some action. Given the track record, China only speaks on Taiwan issue, but with India, the Chinese PLA had skirmishes and even lives of soldiers were lost. Observers even say that the Indian governments strategy to respond to every statement of China strongly is well-thought out. India does not use Tibet issue as a diplomatic tool anymore, or does not engage with Taiwan in public view to upset China. India only counters China, responds with strong statements and actions such as building infrastructure in border areas, deploying largest ever forces on LAC, and not being complacent, which also gives out a strong message to China that India will fight for its own territory no matter what. Read all the Latest India News here Mumbai Police has added two more sections under the Atrocities Act in the case against IIT Bombay student Arman Khatri who has been accused of abetting the suicide of his hostel mate Darshan Solanki. Darshan Solankis father recently wrote a letter to the SIT team of the Mumbai Crime Branch asking them to take the case of caste discrimination against his son seriously. According to top sources at Mumbai Police, section 506(2) of the Indian Penal Code and 3(2) of the SC/ST (PoA) Act have been added against Khatri. IPC 506 (2) deals with criminal intimidation, where an accused can be arrested for a term up to two years or fine, or both. A special court in Mumbai on Thursday extended till April 15 the police remand of Khatri. Khatris call data record is being extracted to find out conversations that he had with Solanki and others. However, Solankis father Ramesh Solanki has expressed doubts about the investigation stating that the police are not looking into caste discrimination. He has addressed this letter to Mumbais Joint Commissioner Crime and SIT Chief Lakhmi Gautam, DCP Krishnakant Upaghaya and ACP Bhosle. On the basis of Darshans handwriting, a student named Armaan Khatri has been arrested and the investigation is on. However my daughter and I do not agree with this because we are of the opinion that this isnt Darshans handwriting, Ramesh stated in the letter. According to Ramesh, a few days before his sons death, excerpts of some of Darshan Instagrams chats reveal that some people at the IIT got to know that his son is from a reserved category. After this, behaviour of students towards him changes and thats how Darshan got lonely, his father claimed. Darshans father has asked for a cloned copy of his sons mobile phone. Last week, on the basis of the suicide note found in Darshans room, which read - Armaan Killed me, Mumbai police arrested Armaan. The handwriting expert confirmed that the note was written by Darshan. Darshan Solanki, who hailed from Ahmedabad in Gujarat and was a first-year student of the B Tech (Chemical) course, allegedly ended his life by jumping off the seventh floor of his hostel building located on the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay campus in suburban Powai on February 12 this year. Disclaimer: This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata) Read all the Latest India News here The questioning of Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case will be done as part of normal process, a Central Bureau of Investigation official, who wished to remain anonymous, told CNN-News18 on Friday. AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, while addressing a press conference on Friday, said that a conspiracy has been hatched to arrest Kejriwal. The probe agency has summoned the chief minister on April 16. There are reports that AAP may organise a protest on the day, apprehending Kejriwals arrest. Reacting to this, the CBI official told CNN-News18 that it is not the agencys concern. The CBI in February arrested Delhi deputy CM and AAP leader Manish Sisodia after questioning him for over eight hours in the Delhi excise policy case. In July last year, Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the allegations that the AAP governments new excise policy gave undue benefits to private liquor vendors. The Enforcement Directorate has also questioned the Delhi CMs personal assistant Bibhav Kumar in connection with the case. Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the press conference, Sanjay Singh stated, The day Arvind Kejriwal had said in Delhi Assembly that PMs friends black money is the PMs black money, I told him its your number next. They will do everything to cover up PMs corruption. Read all the Latest India News here A fresh row broke out between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena after Power Minister and AAP leader Atishi accused the Lt Governor of not approving a file that would result in the discontinuation of power subsidies for almost 46 lakh people in the national capital from Friday onwards. People will get inflated bills without subsidy: Atishi Amid the ongoing tussle between the city government and the Lt Governor office, the minister said she has sought a meeting with Saxena over the issue but there has been no response. The subsidy we give to 46 lakh people will stop from today. From Monday onwards, people will get inflated bills without subsidy, she said in a press conference here. According to the minister, the Delhi Cabinet has given its approval for extending the power subsidy for the year 2023-24. However, the file regarding this matter is still awaiting clearance in the LGs office. Till the file is approved we cant give subsidy. I even sought time from the LG office to discuss the matter but its been more than 24 hours and I have not been given time. The file has also not come back yet, she alleged. Atishi said that the file was sent a few days back and a response is still awaited. The budget for this subsidy has been passed by the Vidhan Sabha. The government has money for subsidy but we cannot spend it, she said. Baseless False Allegations: LG Office However, shortly after her statement, the LG office responded to the allegations stating the file in question was approved. The decision dated April 4, 2023 of the Councils of Ministers, endorsed by Power Minister and Chief Minister and sent on file for my consideration on April 11, 2023 is approved," a document seen by News18 stated. The file was signed yesterday and sent to CM today, before a press conference by Atishi. They are trying to save face, having obviously been caught on a very very embarrassing and wrong foot," officials at the LG office said. In a statement, the LG office advised the minister to refrain from engaging in unnecessary politicking and making baseless false allegations against the LG. The office has urged her to stop misleading the public with false statements, the official statement read. The LGs office has also asked Atishi and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to explain to the people of Delhi why the decision on this matter was delayed until April 4, even though the deadline was April 15. They questioned why the file was only sent to the LG on April 11", and why there was a need for drama on April 13 with the letter writing and press conference today." The AAP-led government in Delhi offers free electricity to consumers who use up to 200 units per month. For those consuming between 201 to 400 units per month, there is a 50 per cent subsidy capped at Rs 850. Last year, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal declared that power subsidy would only be given to those consumers who applied for it. As per official records, over 48 lakh out of more than 58 lakh domestic consumers have applied for the power subsidy. The AAP-led government has allocated a budget of Rs 3,250 crore for power subsidy in the fiscal year 2023-24. (With inputs from PTI) Read all the Latest India News here Heavy vehicles will not be permitted to travel on the Mumbai-Goa highway, the Expressway, the old Mumbai-Pune highway, and the Gujarat-Mumbai stretch on April 15 and 16 for the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony in Navi Mumbais Kharghar, official said on Friday. The joint secretary of the state transport department, Rajendra Holkar, has issued an order stating that the ban on heavy vehicles is necessary to prevent traffic congestion on these roads as followers of the renowned social worker Appasaheb Dharmadhikari are expected to attend the function scheduled for Sunday. The Kharghar to Insuli stretch of Mumbai Goa highway number 66, Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the Mumbai-Pune old highway will remain closed for heavy vehicles like dumpers, trucks, tankers, multi-axle 16 tonne-plus trailers from the midnight of April 14-15 till midnight of April 16-17," an official said. On April 16, a ceremony will be held to confer the prestigious award upon Dharmadhikari, a well-known reformer who has organized various social activities such as tree plantation drives, blood donation and medical camps, and de-addiction work in tribal areas. The event will be graced by the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. According to the order, the ceremony is expected to be attended by 15-20 lakh followers of Dharmadhikari who will be coming from various parts of the state, including Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nashik, Mumbai, and Thane. These followers are expected to travel to the ceremony on private vehicles, state transport (ST) buses, and trains. Vehicles Carrying Essential Commodities Exempted The ban on heavy vehicles, as per the order, will exempt those carrying essential commodities such as milk, cooking gas cylinders, petrol and diesel, medicines, liquid oxygen, food grains, and vegetables, as well as ambulances and vehicles supplying materials for highway and road construction. These vehicles will be permitted to ply as usual. Palghar Notification The authorities of Palghar district, which borders Gujarat, have also issued a similar notification. As per the notification, the Ahmedabad-Mumbai highway number 48 will be closed for heavy vehicles from 2 pm on April 15 to 11 pm on April 16. However, vehicles can move towards Gujarat from Mumbai as usual during this period, traffic police said. Earlier this week, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced that the coveted Maharashtra Bhushan award for 2023 will be presented to Dharmadhikari at a ceremony in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai on April 16. He had said Union Home Minister Amit Shah would attend the function, which will be held at the Corporate Park in Palghar. Meanwhile, Mahendra Lulle, representing the Maharashtra Rajya Truck Tempo Tankers Bus Vahatuk Mahasangh, has stated that if the state government imposes a ban on heavy vehicles on major routes during these two days, it should refund the tax paid by transporters for those days. (with inputs from PTI) Read all the Latest India News here Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the newly built All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Assams Guwahati. AIIMS-Guwahati was planned under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY). PM Modi dedicated the Rs 1,123 crore medical facility, the first AIIMS in the North East, to the nation and also virtually inaugurated three medical colleges at Nalbari, Nagaon and Kokrajhar. PM Modi is dedicating Rs 14,300 crore worth of development projects on the first day of the Assams spring festival Rongali Bihu. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates AIIMS Guwahati in Assam.The foundation stone of AIIMS Guwahati was laid by PM Modi in May 2017 and it has been built at a cost of more than Rs 1,120 crores. pic.twitter.com/Y8uxA4F7Cb ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2023 PM Modi, after inaugurating the medical facilities, extended his wishes on Rongali Bihu and said that the health infrastructure of Northeast and Assam has got has got new strength on this auspicious occasion. PM Modi also took a swipe at Opposition and said, Whenever I talk about the development of the Northeast that has been done in the last nine years, some people get disturbed because they are not getting the credit for growth in the state." Speaking at the inauguration of AIIMS, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said, I want to inform the people of Assam that today we have prepared 1.10 crore Ayushman Bharat cards and in the next 1.5 months we will make and give Ayushman Bharat cards to 3.3 crore people. With its help, every person can avail health services in AIIMS, Government Medical College or private hospital up to Rs 5 lakh per year, without any payment." About AIIMS Guwahati AIIMS Guwahati will start operating with 150 beds from April 14 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit, said a top official of the premier medical facility. Patient care services at AIIMS, Guwahati had started with telemedicine from August last year and limited OPD for local residents began in September, Executive Director Ashok Puranik said. He said 85 per cent construction work at the project site is already complete. Most of the clinical departments are functional with the out patient department handling an average of 150 patients per day. The services include day care, pharmacy, laboratory facilities and radiological investigations, he said. We are taking baby steps at present with 150 beds to become functional from April 14, but within the next three or four years, the hospital will be fully functional with a capacity of 750 beds, Puranik said. High Quality Patient Care Services The hospital will provide high-quality patient care services in various specialities and super specialities including cardiology, neurology, burns and plastic surgery, cardiothoracic and vascular surgery and interventional radiology, the official said. AIIMS, Guwahati was established with the three-pronged objective of state-of-the-art patient care, high-quality medical education and cutting-edge research, which will not only benefit Assam, but also its neighbouring states of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Manipur, he said. It will also provide cancer care, advanced laparoscopy facilities, trauma care and futuristic interventions like robotic surgery, organ transplantation, regenerative medicine, genetics and simulation lab. Regarding its academic activities, Puranik said at present, there are three batches of students, with the fourth to join in July-August this year. The institute has 199 MBBS students, 78 faculty members, 125 nursing officers and 12 senior residents, he said, adding, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with Maligaon Railway Hospital to facilitate clinical exposure and clinical postings for fourth and fifth semester students. Read all the Latest India News here Vijaywada police has called the complaint" filed against a dog for removing Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddys poster as an act done to defame the leader. Vijaywada police confirmed that no FIR has been filed after a video of a dog peeling off Andhra CMs poster from a wall went viral with the claims that a complaint has been filed against the dog over the same. The police clarification comes after reports surfaced that a group of women led by a opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) worker filed a complaint with the police in Vijayawada after a video of a dog tearing off Andhra Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddys poster from a wall went viral on social media. There, however, was a catch. The complaint was filed by opposition TDP worker sarcastically". A TDP worker sarcastically lodged the complaint with the police. She, along with some other women, demanded that action be taken against the dog and those behind it for insulting the chief minister. In a bizarre incident, a police complaint by a group of women has been filed against a dog for tearing a poster of #AndhraPradesh CM Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.#YSJagan pic.twitter.com/U7vbqkWO9n IANS (@ians_india) April 13, 2023 Video of the dog tearing off the sticker with Jagan Mohan Reddys photo on it had gone viral. The sticker with slogan Jagananna Maa Bhavishyathu (Jagan anna our future) was pasted on the wall a house as part of the ongoing state-wide survey by the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). Read all the Latest India News here Rajasthan Police has arrested two accused involved in the alleged abduction and murder of two men from Bharatpur in Haryana by suspected cow vigilantes, an official said on Friday. Nasir (25) and Junaid alias Juna (35), both residents of Ghatmeeka village in Rajasthans Bharatpur district, were allegedly abducted by cow vigilantes on February 15. Their bodies were found inside a burnt car in the Loharu area of Bhiwani in Haryana on the morning of February 16. A police spokesperson said, Monu Rana and Gogi have been arrested by Rajasthan Police. They were wanted in the abduction and murder case of Junaid and Nasir. The Inspector General of Police (Bharatpur range) and the district Superintendent of Police will disclose further details later in the day, the spokesperson added. Read all the Latest India News here Who will claim Asad Ahmeds body? This has become the million-dollar question since Thursdays encounter of don-turned-politician Atiq Ahmeds son, especially when almost all of his family members are either in jail or on the run. Atiqs son Asad and aide Ghulam, who were also wanted in Prayagrajs Umesh Pal murder case and carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh each, were gunned down in an encounter with Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force in Jhansi. Locals said Asads maternal grandparents or one of the three aunts who were not named in the murder of Umesh Pal may claim the 23-year-olds body. Asads 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. After autopsy on Friday, the police may hand over Asads body for burial, if anyone in the family comes forward to receive it. Generally, police wait for 72 hours for the family to claim the body. In case no one turns up, as per the procedure, police dispose of the body considering it unclaimed. Atiq Ahmad has four sisters. Of the four, 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 is not named as accused or wanted in any case, may come forward to claim the body, neighbours in the Chakia area said. Atiq has also sought permission to attend his sons burial. The court may grant permission to Atiq but it can also be denied on security grounds, a police officer said. If clerics are to be believed, as per Islam, it is important for the family members to perform last rites of the deceased. Generally it is considered that family members should perform last rites, including giving bath to the deceased and giving permission for Namaaz-e-Janaza, which only the family members can do, said Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, Imam Eidgah, Lucknow. Read all the Latest India News here VISHU KANI 2023: Vishu is a Hindu festival celebrated in Kerala, the Tulu Nadu region of Karnataka, Mahe district of Pondicherry, some districts in Tamil Nadu and in some other countries where there is a significant Malayali population. It is usually celebrated on the first day of the Malayalam month of Medam (usually falls on April 14 or 15 in the Gregorian calendar). This year it will be celebrated on April 15. VISHU 2023: HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE According to legends, it is believed that Vishu marks the day when Lord Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, revealed his true form to his devotees. It is also celebrated to mark the onset of spring and harvest season in the country. It also marks the triumph of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura. One of the most significant events of Vishu is seeing the Vishu Kani. People observing and celebrating the festival see Vishu Kani as the first thing during dawn. It is said that the sighting of Vishu Kani can make the entire year better and bring good luck to people. Vishu is a time for families and communities to come together, celebrate the new year, and pray for prosperity and happiness in the year ahead. VISHU 2023: KEY RITUALS AND CELEBRATIONS KANI KANAL This is one of the most important rituals of Vishu, where the first thing people see upon waking up on Vishu day is a set of auspicious items arranged in front of a mirror. This is known as Kani Kanal, and is believed to bring good luck and prosperity for the rest of the year. VISHUKANI Vishukkani is the collection of items that are arranged in front of the mirror for Kani Kanal. It typically includes items like rice, golden lemon, coconut, betel leaves, coins, and a metal mirror, among others. VISHU SADYA Vishu Sadya is a traditional feast that is prepared on Vishu day. It typically includes a variety of vegetarian dishes, including sambar, avial, thoran, and payasam. FIREWORKS Fireworks are a common sight during Vishu, especially in Kerala. People light up firecrackers and other fireworks to celebrate the occasion. VISHUKAINEETTAM Vishukaineettam is a custom where elders give money or gifts to younger members of the family, as a token of good luck and blessings for the coming year. Read all the Latest Lifestyle News here In response to the elimination of late Attorney General Wayne Stenehjems emails, North Dakota lawmakers have passed legislation that would raise the bar for retaining records belonging to top public officeholders. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives unanimously approved House Bill 1528, which lays out how state agencies should preserve email records and what happens if they dont. The proposal goes to Gov. Doug Burgum, whose spokesman declined to comment. Rep. Corey Mock, D-Grand Forks, previously said he devised the legislation after the deletion of Stenehjems emails revealed a lack of checks and balances in the states record retention policies. Three days after Stenehjems death in January 2022 at age 68 due to cardiac arrest, state information technology officials deleted the late officeholders state email account at the direction of Liz Brocker, a longtime assistant to the Republican attorney general. Brocker also instructed state IT officials to eliminate former Deputy Attorney General Troy Seibels email account after he resigned in May. Stenehjems appointed successor, Drew Wrigley, discovered while fulfilling a public records request that Brocker had orchestrated the deletion of the accounts. Brocker, who was not charged with any crime related to the incident, stepped down from her post in July. IT officials and a third-party company later found that the deleted emails could not be recovered. If signed into law, Mocks bill would require state agencies to maintain email data belonging to top officials for at least one year. Agencies would have to create policies to review the emails of top employees who die or leave their jobs. The proposal says administrators who find that records have been improperly deleted could either recommend training for the agency at fault or report the destruction of records to human resources, the state auditor or the attorney general. Officials handling reports of deleted records would determine whether the offending employees should face disciplinary action. The bipartisan bill also comes with an option for leading lawmakers to study records management policies before the 2025 legislative session. The new policies would not apply to legislators emails, which are exempt from open records laws. Sen. Jeff Barta, R-Grand Forks, told colleagues last month that the bill aims to rebuild public confidence in North Dakotas ability to preserve public records. Our commitment to openness, transparency and proper accounting of records are features that highlight the strength of our democracy, Barta said. HAPPY BIHU 2023: April 14 marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year, also known as Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu. Bihu is the harvest festival of Assam which marks the change of seasons. Assamese celebrate this festival by performing their unique dance from Bihu and also enjoy a hearty meal with their loved ones. People usually make dishes from rice, coconuts, jaggery, sesame and milk. Here are some easy traditional recipes prepared on Bihu. ALSO READ: Bohag Bihu 2023: Rongali Bihu Wishes, Images and Messages to Share on Assamese New Year Coconut Laddoo Coconut laddoos are made of grated dry coconuts, cow milk. white sugar and a pinch of camphor. It is one of the easiest recipes, also known as Narikalor Laru. Apart from serving as a Bihu recipe, coconut laddoos can also be relished with a hot beverage. Ghila Pitha Pitha is a type of famous sweet dish in East Indian states. Also known as a pancake, Ghila Pitha is a delicious snack prepared during Bihu, made up of sticky rice flour, jaggery, cardamom powder. The fritters are then deep-fried in mustard oil. The glutinous rice Bora Saul is what makes the dish scrumptious. Kharbuja ka Beej Another interesting dish prepared on Bihu is Kharbuja ka beej. Melon seeds are dried and cleaned thoroughly and later sauteed in clarified butter in a pan. After the seeds turn golden brown the seeds are tossed in sugar and served hot. Omitar Khar We cannot speak of Assamese cuisine without mentioning Khar. Omitar Khar is another traditional Bihu recipe prepared at festivals. It is prepared using papaya and potatoes and does not require much time. Papaya is low in cholesterol and is the main ingredient of the dish tossed in spices. Jolphai Gurir Chutney Jolphai Gurir Chutney is a unique Assamese dish, consumed on Bihu. Olives, Jaggery and mustard oil are the three main ingredients in the side dish. Several are unaware that olives are also grown in India, in the wild interiors of Assam. Jolphai Gurir Chutney is relished with puris or parathas. Read all the Latest Lifestyle News here NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE DAY 2023: National Fire Service Day commemorates the 71 Fire Service personnel who lost their lives during an unfortunate and massive explosion at Mumbai dockyard on April 14, 1944. On this day, everyone gives tribute to all those brave firefighters. The government of India also honours fearless firefighters on NFS day who have done extraordinary work in their service. National Fire Service Day 2023: Theme This year the theme of the National Fire Service Day is Learn Fire Safety, Increase Productivity". National Fire Service Day: History During World War II, a major fire broke out on April 14, 1971 in the British freighter SS Fort Stikine on Victoria dock at Bombay port in which 71 firefighters lost their lives to save lives and assets. SS fort Stikine ship held up a million litres of lubricating oil barrels, ammunition, detonators, cotton bales, currency note, gold, and currencies. The ship was parked at the port on April 12 without any safety concerns but on April 14, it caught fire and was exploited due to the storage of 1400 tonnes of explosives. The ship was razed by two giant blasts and its debris was dissipated in the surrounding areas. The entire Victoria dock was abolished due to fire and explosion. In this catastrophe, approximately 800 to 1300 people lost their lives. The explosions intensity was tremendous. Consequently, the ravaging fire also destroyed some of the highly developed and economically workable areas of Bombay. National Fire Service Day: Significance Remembering the tragic incident at the Mumbai Dockyard, people pay their respect and homage to the outstanding firefighters for their incredible commitment and sacrifice. To prevent such fire explosions in the future, and increase awareness among civilians and school children, several organisations conduct training, drills and rehearsals to ascertain the preparedness to fight fire emergencies. Additionally, Fire service week is observed from April 14 to April 20 throughout India to spread awareness among the public regarding fire safety. During the week, different types of public engagement activities are executed in India. Read all the Latest Lifestyle News here With the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) coming out with new textbooks, the high-decibel debates have begun again about the rewriting of history books. A debate on a media channel within the editors/anchors, led by a senior journalist, that bordered on excitement and noise set me thinking. The journalist was representing the Khan Market Gang that is out to create a righteous outrage over the distortion of history by so-called Right-wing ignoble who have no sense of history nor competence. Is this government rewriting history or only writing or bringing back the history already written by authoritative historians? First major project of rewriting Indian history But wait, I am moving ahead of myself. Even contemporary history was not spared. The project to write the history of the freedom movement was given to the doyen of Indian historians, Prof R C Majumdar. However, the committee was dissolved to get rid of him. Here is what Sandeep Balakrishna notes: Three crucial observations emerge from this saga. The seeds for the politicisation of the history establishment were sown when politicians were appointed to a scholarly board, a place they had no business to be. The precedent of slaughtering historical truths was set because Majumdar would critically examine the roles played by Gandhi and Nehru in the freedom struggle, a taboo that would certainly infuriate the first and currently-serving, socialist prime minister. In the words of Dr NS Rajaram, What was Majumdars crime? He refused to bend history to suit the interest of the Congress. And so, the stage was set for rampant historical distortions at the hands of Marxist pamphleteers for the next fifty-odd years at all levels: from the school to the university. On one hand, we have a project that begins at the dissolution of the board in 1955 to restarting the project in 1956-57 to its eventual publication by the government in 1967: a project that had the complete backing of the government and resources on demand. On the other, we have the illustrious example of a committed scholar working alone, who published the monumental three-volume HFMI five years before the official version of the same epoch. Second major project of rewriting Indian history The second major and successful rewriting of academic history books began in 1981 with new guidelines about how to write history. In 1981, NCERT set out the following guidelines: Muslim rulers cannot be identified as foreigners except for early invaders who did not settle here. Aurangzeb can no longer be referred to as the champion of Islam. Shivaji cannot be over-glorified in Maharashtra textbooks. Characterisation of the medieval period as a dark period or as a time of conflict between Hindus and Muslims is forbidden. Historians cannot identify Muslims as rulers and Hindus as subjects. The state cannot be described as a theocracy, without examining the actual influence of religion. No exaggeration of the role of religion in political conflict is permitted. Coomi Kapoor has given a summary of the guidelines prepared by NCERT in The Indian Express datelined New Delhi, January 17, 1982. She writes: History and Language textbooks for schools all over India will soon be revised radically. In collaboration with various state governments, the Ministry of Education has begun a phased programme to weed out undesirable textbooks and remove matter which is prejudicial to national integration and unity and which does not promote social cohesion. The Ministry of Educations decision to re-evaluate textbooks was taken in the light of the recommendations of the National Integration Council of which the Prime Minister is Chairman. The Ministrys view was that history had often been used to serve narrow sectarian and chauvinistic ends. Accordingly, Twenty states and three Union Territories have started the work of evaluation according to guidelines prepared by the NCERT. In September (1981), two evaluators from each state attended a course at NCERT headquarters in New Delhi. The evaluators are now scrutinising the relevant texts in their home states and submitting their reports. The evaluations will be examined by an expert committee appointed by the state. (Sita Ram Goel, The Story Of Islamic Imperialism In India, p 7, Voice of India, New Delhi.) Third major project of rewriting Indian history In 1989, West Bengal, ruled by Communists, already existing history books were to be sanitised to help the cause of national integration based on falsehoods. Arun Shourie has given some examples of how Marxists tried to make history harmless. He had received a copy of circular from concerned teachers relating to textbooks for class IX dated April 28, 1989, issued by the West Bengal Secondary Board. In Bengali, it carried the number Syl/89/1. The circular marked certain writings as aushuddho (incorrect) that needed partial or complete deletion, and shuddho (correct) version given by it - Bharat Katha, prepared by the Burdwan Education Society, Teachers Enterprise, published by Sukhomoy Das. Page 140 Aushuddho In Sindhudesh, the Arabs did not describe Hindus as Kafir. They had banned cow slaughter. Shuddho Delete, They had banned cow-slaughter. Page 141: Aushuddho Fourthly, using force to destroy Hindu temples was also an expression of aggression. Fifthly, forcibly marrying Hindu women and converting them to Islam before marriage was another way to propagate the fundamentalism of the ulema. Shuddho Though the column reproduces the sentences only from Fourthly., the Board directs that the entire matter from Secondly. to ulema be deleted. Bharatvarsher Itihash, by Dr. Narendranath Bhattacharya, published by Chakravarty and Son. Page 89: Aushuddho Sultan Mahmud used force for widespread murder, loot, destruction and conversion. Shuddho There was widespread loot and destruction by Mahmud. That is, no reference to killing, no reference to forcible conversions. Page 89: Aushuddho He looted valuables worth 2 crore dirham from the Somnath temple and used the Shivling as a step leading up to the masjid in Ghazni. Shuddho Delete and used the Shivling as a step leading up to the masjid in Ghazni. Page 112: Aushuddho Hindu-Muslim relations of the medieval ages is a very sensitive issue. The non-believers had to embrace Islam or death. Shuddho All matter on pages 112-13 to be deleted. Itihasher Kahini, by Nalini Bhushan Dasgupta, published by B. B. Kumar. Page 132: Aushuddho According to Todd [the famous chronicler of Rajasthan annals], the purpose behind Allauddins Chittor expedition was to secure Rana Rattan Singhs beautiful wife, Padmini. Shuddho Delete. Page 161: Aushuddho The early Sultans were eager to expand the sway of Islam by forcibly converting Hindus into Islam. Shuddho Delete. Bharuter Itihash, by P. Maiti, Sreedhar Prakashini. Most extensive deletions are ordered in regard to the chapter on Aurangzebs policy on religion. Every allusion to what he actually did to the Hindus, to their temples, to the very leitmotif of his rule to spread the sway of Islam is directed to be excised from the book. [] He is to be presented as one who had an aversion an ordinary sort of aversion, almost a secular one to music and dancing, to the presence of prostitutes in the Court, and that it is these things he banished. The only allusion to his having done anything in regard to Islam which is allowed to remain is that By distancing himself from Akbars policy of religious tolerance and policy of equal treatment, Aurangzeb caused damage to Mughal rule. Shourie noted that Muslim historians of those times were, actually, in raptures at the heap of Kafirs who have been dispatched to hell. Muslim historians are forever lavishing praise on the ruler for the temples he has destroyed, and for the hundreds of thousands he has got to see the light of Islam. The teachers furnished extracts from the textbook for Class V to Arun Shourie that wrote - . after the Revolution in Russia - the first exploitation-free society was established. . Islam and Christianity are the only religions which treated man with honour and equality. There is no mention of these religions having no women gods and secondary status of women in both religions. There is no mention of slavery being legitimised by many of their holy scriptures. For these eminent historians, Kashmir had no Hindu past. There is no mention of Acharya Abhinav Gupt, or of the great emperor Lalitaditya who ruled from Caspian seas to Bengal, Assam. We know of Bakhtiar Khilji blazing along the Gangetic plains to Bengal after burning of Nalanda University but not about Assamese King Prithu who stopped and defeated him, nor of brave Lachit Borphukan who did not allow Aurangzeb entry into Assam. We know that Vasco de Gama discovered India but not that a Gujarati trader in innocence guided him to India and he had better and bigger ships than Vasco. The inhuman inquisition of Hindus and Muslims by imperialist Church backed by the Portuguese is obliterated from mainstream history. We hardly read about the wonderful marine history of India or of the great empires of Chola, Pallavas and Pandian of South India that spread over the entire Southeast Asia. Left historians whitewashed the Moplah violence, conversions, and rapes as a peasant uprising. How many tribal freedom fighters like Birsa Munda or Rani Gaidinliu are mentioned in school history books? Why is Marxist historians history being defended ferociously even after new data has come to light? Research on the Saraswati-Indus civilisation link and the submerged city of Dwarka was sought to be stopped by Marxists. Any self-respecting historian would be celebrating this discovery that connects many dots of our ancient history with the discovery of an approximately 9000-year-old city. Thoroughly researched works of Gandhian Dharampal based on authentic documents of British that talked about scientific, technological and educational achievements were sidelined and never allowed to be made mainstream. Suppressing historical facts deliberately is not history writing. To conclude, let us reframe the debate. It is about writing of Bharatiya history, not rewriting of history. The reviewer is a well-known author and political commentator. Views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest Opinions here The dancers move quickly with their hands, take fast steps, and swing their hips rhythmically while donning traditional Assamese attire and gorgeous accessories. (Photo: News18) Comparing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees regime to German dictator Adolf Hitlers, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said she has been dreaming that her nephew Abhishek Banerjee will become Bengal CM but the next chief minister will be from the BJP. Shah reached Andal airport in Paschim Bardhaman at around 12:40 and addressed a public meeting in Birbhum in the afternoon. The BJP leader said Mamata is dreaming that her nephew Abhishek Banerjee will become Bengal CM but the next chief minister will be from the BJP and its trailer will be shown in the 2024 general elections. I am giving you a guarantee that BJP will not let Mamata Didis Hitler rule in Bengal. Mamata didi, you might be dreaming that your nephew will become the CM after you. From here in Birbhum, I say that the next CM is going to be from BJP. The trailer has to be shown in 2024 (general elections)," he said. #WATCH | Mamata didi, you might be dreaming that your nephew will become the CM after you. From here in Birbhum, I say that the next CM is going to be from BJP. The trailer has to be shown in 2024 (general elections)," says HM Amit Shah in Birbhum, West Bengal. pic.twitter.com/08E006QSqw Give Us 35 Plus LS Seats from Bengal in 2024: Shah Shah appealed to the people to ensure the BJPs victory in 35 seats out of the 42 in West Bengal in the next Lok Sabha polls. In Bengal, you have to give BJP 35 seats and make Modi prime minister again. Tell me if Mamata can give a befitting reply to Pakistan and stop terrorism in Kashmir. Only Modi ji can do it, no one else," he added. He also said the Mamata Banerjee government wont survive beyond 2025. In 2019, the BJP won 18 out of 42 parliamentary seats in West Bengal. Shah arrived in West Bengal on Friday on a two-day visit to the state. During the visit, he will take stock of the organisational strength of the BJP in the state. Shah is visiting the state ahead of the rural polls due next month, and the party seeks to strengthen its organisational machinery. Later in the evening, he will meet with the state party leaders and take stock of the organisational situation at a city hotel. Shahs programme in Bengal is part of BJPs Pravas campaign to strengthen its organisation in 144 Lok Sabha seats in the country that it had lost by slender margins in the 2019 general election. Mamata Urges Oppn to Fight Unitedly Against BJP in 2024 The TMC supremo has urged all political parties to unitedly fight the BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha election. Stating that the 2024 Parliamentary polls will be a fight between the citizens of the country and the BJP, she said people from all religions Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Parsi must unite to defeat the saffron party to save Indian democracy. She also called the BJP party Dushasana which has devastated the country by selling the LIC and SBI. Every political party in India must unite to oust this BJP government. Remove Dushasana BJP and save the common man of the country and Indian democracy," she had said. (With PTI inputs) Read all the Latest Politics News here Union Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah will address a Booth Maha Sammelan in Rajasthans Bharatpur district on Saturday. Shah is scheduled to address the booth presidents at Bharatpur College ground at 2.30 pm, party sources said. BJP state president CP Joshi, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rajendra Rathore, state general secretary Bhajan Lal, division incharge Mukesh Dadhich and district president Rishi Bansal were among the leaders who visited the programme site and reviewed the preparations for the meeting. . Read all the Latest Politics News here On the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday took a swipe at the government, saying the culture of forcing silence" and branding people anti-nationals" is a dangerous trend that will finish our democracy and destroy the Constitution. In his message on Ambedkar Jayanti, Kharge also alleged that Parliament has been converted into an arena of combat rather than debate, and not by the opposition, but by the ruling party. He recalled that Ambedkar had warned about the ills of hero-worship or Bhakti in the context of Indian politics. On the behalf of Indian National Congress, we bow in reverence to the tremendous contribution of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on his 132nd Jayanti today. Babasaheb was a champion of the democratic principles of liberty, equality, fraternity, and justice," he said. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi also paid tribute to Ambedkar saying, Equality, liberty, fraternity & justice the universal values Babasaheb Ambedkar championed, will always remain our guiding light & strength! Tributes to the Architect of Indias Constitution on his birth anniversary". Kharge also noted that Ambedkar was firm in his commitment to the transformation of India and its society, both economically and socially. We all greatly respect him as the Architect of Indias Constitution. He was instrumental in establishing a large number of robust institutions and made several important interventions to end caste discrimination, gender inequality and divisive politics," the Congress president said. As a leading economist of those times, Ambedkar also contributed to Indias agriculture, its water resource management, and our banking sector by conceptualising the Reserve Bank of India, he said. His finest inheritance needs constant care for preservation, Kharge stressed. Today, the very foundation of our constitutional democracy as envisaged by Babasaheb and our distinguished makers of modern India like Pandit Nehru ji, Sardar Patel ji, Maulana Azad, Netaji Subhash Chandra ji is in grave danger," he said Parliament has been converted into an arena of combat rather than debate. Not by the opposition, but by the ruling party itself," Kharge alleged. The Congress president also quoted Ambedkars closing speech in the Constituent Assembly in November 1949 The working of a Constitution does not depend wholly upon the nature of the Constitution. The Constitution can provide only the organs of state, such as the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary. The factors on which the working of those organs of the state depend are the people and the political parties. They will set up as their instruments to carry out their wishes and their politics. Who can say how the people of India and their parties will behave?" Kharge said the culture of forcing silence on anyone be it opposition parties, civil society groups, activists, NGOs, judiciary, media and ordinary citizens and branding them as anti-nationals" is a dangerous trend that will finish our democracy and destroy the Constitution. Dr Ambedkar had warned us about the ills of hero-worship or Bhakti in the context of Indian politics," Kharge said Quoting Ambedkar, he said, For in India, Bhakti or what may be called the path of devotion or hero-worship, plays a part in its politics unequalled in magnitude by the part it plays in the politics of any other country in the world. Bhakti in religion may be a road to the salvation of the soul. But in politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship. In his message to fellow citizens, Kharge said, It is time for serious introspection whether we would allow the degradation of our democracy and pave the way for dictatorship or try to preserve and protect the finest ideals of our Constitution makers." The choice remains with us and only us, he added. Read all the Latest Politics News here In the run-up to the 2024 general elections, the Congress is trying to get all anti-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parties together and form an alliance at the national level. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently met Bihars Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar. ALSO READ | Mission 2024: Sharad Pawar Meets Kharge, Rahul Gandhi; Cong Leader Says Process of Uniting Oppn Started According to sources, Pawar has advised Gandhi to meet Shiv Sena UBT chief and former CM of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray at his residence in Mumbai. If this happens, the meet will be of political importance, as recently the Congress and Shiv Sena UBT differed on the Savarkar issue. Thackerays party not only criticised Gandhi, but also advised him to learn from the sacrifices of Savarkar. Also, Gandhi will become the first member of his family to visit Matoshree. AFTER PAWAR-THACKERAY MEET According to Shiv Sena UBT leaders and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, the Opposition will come together against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as this is what every party wants". The initiative of the Congress is to meet all opposition leaders and unite before 2024. Even Thackeray and other leaders have the same thought regarding Opposition unity. The Congress is a national party, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and their leader Rahul Gandhi have started this initiative and we welcome it. ALSO READ | The Maha Picture: Pawar Play to Limit Cong Field? What it Means for Oppn Unity in 2024 Match Pawar and Thackeray also met in Mumbai. The information we have is that Rahul Gandhi will be meeting Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee too. On Monday, Congress senior leader KC Venugopal will meet Thackeray at 5 pm. I feel that after a meeting with Kharge, Gandhi could also meet ThackerayWhen I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi, I invited them to come to Mumbai and Maharashtra, said Raut. ANTI-BJP PARTIES After losing the membership of Lok Sabha, Gandhi has taken the initiative to form a firm alliance of the Opposition parties that are against the BJP. Gandhi and the Congress have started their preparation for the 2024 general elections, with an aim to defeat the BJP. According to sources, Gandhi will also meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. In these meetings with top leaders of anti-BJP regional parties, Gandhi will make an attempt to iron out the differences. The Congress and its top leadership are working with an aim to remove the BJP. Earlier, we saw how they broke the Maha Vikas Aghadi by giving the threat of Central agencies, but it wont happen again. The way Gandhi is meeting other opposition leaders shows that he wants to give a message that we all are together and united, said a senior Congress leader and Mumbai Congress chief Bhai Jagtap. ALSO READ | Scared, Greedy: Cong Lashes out at Pawar Over SC Panel for Adani Probe; BJP Calls it Appalling Another senior Congress leader, who is part of the decision-making team related to Maharashtra, told News18: If this meeting takes place, the Congress will benefit from it. Right now, the Congress has to depend on the NCP to have a word with the Shiv Sena UBT. With the barriers of a mediator down, the bargaining power of the NCP will reduce. Like Gandhi, his mother Sonia had made similar efforts in 2004. Will Gandhi succeed in uniting all anti-BJP parties and will the united Opposition under the Congresss leadership be able to defeat the BJP? Read all the Latest Politics News here The BJP on Friday intensified its attack on AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of being the "mastermind" of the alleged liquor policy scam as the CBI summoned him for questioning on April 16 in connection with the case. According to CBI sources, there are allegations that money raised from tweaking the policy in favour of certain liquor dealers and the South lobby was suspected to be pumped in for election purposes by the AAP, which is under the probe as part of the money trail. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, at a press conference, said the day is not far when "three friends" who miss each other Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain will sit in the same barrack of Tihar jail. "The Delhi BJP has all along been saying that Kejriwal is the mastermind of the liquor scam in which his minister Manish Sisodia is in jail. Kejriwal is directly involved in the scam because the excise policy was approved by his Cabinet under his chairmanship," Sachdeva alleged. He claimed that the Kejriwal government by introducing the excise policy caused a loss to Delhi's revenue and also hurt the society. The Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 was scrapped by the Kejriwal government soon after LG VK Saxena in July 2022 recommended a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in its implementation. The CBI in February this year arrested former deputy CM Manish Sisodia, who also held the excise portfolio in the Kejriwal government, in connection with the case. Satyendar Jain, a former minister in the Kejriwal government, is also in jail for nearly a year following his arrest by the ED in a money laundering case. The AAP dispensation has termed the probe by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the excise policy a "move by Modi government to obstruct good works of Delhi government in health and education sectors". Sachdeva said the investigation into the liquor scam case has now reached its decisive phase and "the day is not far when Kejriwal will join Sisodia and Jain in Tihar". BJP MP Parvesh Verma asked why was the AAP government paying massive fees to lawyers to defend it in the courts if it had done nothing wrong. How can Kejriwal escape responsibility when Sisodia, who was his deputy, is in jail over alleged irregularities in a policy approved by his own cabinet, Verma asked. Read all the Latest Politics News here As the principal author of home rule used by cities and counties, I have taken a proprietary interest in the development of home rule. North Dakota now has over 100 cities and around 15 counties with home rule charters. In 1969, my graduate assistant, Dave Gipp, and I collected the charters used in other states. None of them were feasible so we designed a system that is unique to North Dakota. It has worked well. Except the legislature has methodically stifled its use by rendering a second judgment and prohibiting any creative action that some city or county may choose. Unfortunately, our home rule is statutory and may be amended at any session of the legislature. Several states have home rule in their constitutions, putting it out of reach of the meddlers in state legislatures. In this session, the legislature once again demonstrated its inability to restrain pure power. It has been processing a bill that would prevent the citizens in Fargo from using home rule to adopt its own election rules. Gov. Doug Burgum should be appreciated for his veto of the legislative curtailment of home rule, called it an overreach of legislative power. Unfortunately, the bill passed both houses with veto-proof majorities, making an override of the veto possible. None of the Fargo legislators advocated for the bill, but 18 legislators outside of Fargo sponsored the punitive action. So a compelling point must be made to these 18: This is none of your business. Protecting the integrity of the home rule concept is important for local government. It allows cities and counties to tailor administration to fit their peculiar needs. The model charter repeats the original legislation. Whereas cities and counties without home rule are under strict interpretation of powers, the model charter says that interpretation of home rule powers must be liberally construed. For one thing, we have a legislature that chooses for its own convenience to stick with the biennial session when cities and counties may need immediate action. Second, the governor and the legislature have bigger fish to fry than fooling around with peculiar problems of individual counties and cities. Third, one size does not fit all. Every city and county has a personality of its own and this individualism needs room to blossom. The history, demography, ethnicity and diversity all vary in cities and counties and certain forms of government fit in some local governments more than others. While cities and counties have been moving slowly toward more professional management, Minot has had a city manager for decades. And Minot prospers. In cities with a large professional component, city managers and the commission form can survive. In this regard, Minot is unique in that academically it is more suited to a mayor-council form but it has had exceptional, flexible managers for the last 60 years. Councils are needed where cities are diverse and require opportunities for this diversity to manifest itself. This may be true about counties that have only limited representation with three- and five-member commissions. Here, too, each is unique. Home rule is important for cities and counties so they can design governmental structures best suited to their constituencies. This brings us back to the overreaching legislature that, according to Gov. Burgum, blatantly infringes on local control. North Dakota friends and members of the legislature like to tout the idea that it is a citizen legislature so they have an excuse to keep meeting biennially. In the case of home rule, maybe the legislature is too citizen to understand the impact of unbridled power. In closing, the 18 sponsors need to be reminded: how Fargo wants to elect its local officials is none of your business. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has said that 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 Ahmads son Asad in a gunfight. Speaking here on Thursday, 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 Ahmads 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. 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 dont have faith in the Constitution, he said, attacking CM Adityanath. Specifically asked whether Atiq Ahmads son was killed in a fake encounter, Yadav said questions have been repeatedly raised against 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. Read all the Latest Politics News here Amid the Oppositions efforts to put up a united fight against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, ruling party leader and Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi on Friday said this would not make a difference in the results. Kya farak padta hai? Geedad ikatthe hokar bhi ladein toh sher ka muqabla karte hain kya? We should not give attention to such a thing," ANI quoted the minister as saying. #WATCH | Kya farak padta hai? Geedad ikatthe hokar bhi ladein toh sher ka muqabla karte hain kya?.., says MoS Meenakashi Lekhi when asked about efforts being made for Opposition unity ahead of the 2024 general elections pic.twitter.com/0z2kaNCQKG ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2023 Several opposition leaders have held meetings recently to unify opposition for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Earlier on Thursday, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in the national capital. After the meeting, Rahul Gandhi said the process of uniting the opposition has started. This is a beginning, all parties are committed towards forging unity." Bihar CM Nitish Kumar recently met Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal as part of the efforts. After his meeting with Nitish 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. 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," the CPI(M) general secretary said. In Kerala, the Congress and our party are arch rivals. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not in a fight there," he said. 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. Meanwhile, more deliberations with other leaders are expected in the coming days, even as Congress will convene a meeting of top opposition leaders very soon. Read all the Latest Politics News here Shivani Wadettiwar, daughter of former Maharashtra minister Vijay Wadettiwar, is at the centre of a controversy due to her latest statement about VD Savarkar. Shivani, who is also general secretary of Maharashtra Youth Congress, posted a video clip of her speech on her Twitter handle in which she claimed that Savarkar was of the opinion that rape should be used as a political weapon against opponents. When a few weeks ago Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made some critical comments about Savarkar, ally Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) had asked him to take lessons of sacrifice from the freedom fighter who devoted his entire life to the country". Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar also gave political advice to Rahul Gandhi and the Congress to not make any further statements about Savarkar. The Congress appeared to agree. But now this statement just two days before the grand Vajramuth rally of Maha Vikas Aghadi, which will happen on April 16 in Nagpur, has created a controversy, and there is a fear that the momentum, which this public meeting was expected to receive, may get diverted. What was the statement? Shivani Wadettiwar, who claims to carry forward the legacy of Phule-Shahu-Ambedkars ideas, made this statement at a gathering. Speaking against the Savarkar Gaurav Yatra organised by the Shiv Sena and BJP, she claimed that Savarkar advised rape to be used as a political weapon against opponents. Shivani said that the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP alliance will never take out a Phule-Shahu-Ambedkar Gaurav Yatra. They will take out Savarkars Gaurav Yatra only. But how can a woman, sister like me feel safe? Because Savarkar had ordered to use rape as a political weapon against opponents," she said. What will be Shiv Sena (UBT)s reaction? Uddhav Thackeray had announced in his recent Malegaon rally that he would not tolerate defamation of VD Savarkar. However, Savarkar continues to be insulted by Congress leaders who are constituents in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Observers say it will be interesting to see what stand Thackeray adopts now. When News18 tried to get reactions from Congress leaders on the matter, many refused to speak on the record. But, according to some senior leaders, including a former minister, who reacted on the condition of anonymity, its a sign of how immature the Youth Congress leader is". The state chief of the party will take a decision on this issue, they added. Read all the Latest Politics News here Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said SP is hopeful of forming an alliance of opposition parties to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in next years Lok Sabha polls and that the Congress should join regional parties in their bastions to fight the BJP. I am hopeful that chief ministers like K Chandrasekhar Rao, Mamata Banerjee and Nitish Kumar and the way we are trying, some alliance or front will be formed which will take on the BJP (in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls), Yadav told reporters at the Indore Press Club. Earlier, the SP chief also paid tribute to Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar on his 132nd birth anniversary at the Dalit icons memorial in Mhow. Replying to a question on opposition unity against the BJP, he said the Congress is a national party and it has to decide its own role in this regard. The Congress has got an opportunity to stand with regional parties in places where the latter are strong to take on the BJP, he said. He added that since the Congress is a big party, the SP is not giving any suggestions to it, but is definitely presenting its point of view to it. They (Congress) did a padyatra (foot march), but it didn't ask us anything about it," the SP president said, referring to the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by former Congress president Rahul Gandhi. A day after gangster Atiq Ahmeds son Asad and his accomplice were killed in an encounter with the Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh police in Jhansi, Yadav once again attacked the ruling BJP by raising the issue of "fake encounters". He alleged that people were being killed in fake encounters in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh "in view of elections". We have faith in the judiciary. The judiciary can take suo motu cognisance of cases of fake encounters. Those who feel that their kin have been killed in fake encounters should go to court against it, Yadav said. Asked about the deaths of dreaded gangsters in police encounters in Uttar Pradesh, the SP president said his party was not with any criminal, but asked why the UP government was discriminating against people on the basis of caste and religion? Hitting out at the BJP, he said, In which direction are you taking the country? These people want to divide the society to rule. Read all the Latest Politics News here At a time when opposition unity has been in focus on the national political front, the rumblings within the Nationalist Congress Party are giving jitters to the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) leader Sanjay Raut recently said that an experiment similar to the Shiv Sena split is underway for the NCP. The statements of Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule are not confidence-inspiring either. The Supreme Court verdict on the power tussle in Maharashtra is still pending. While both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde have denied speculation about a change in the power structure or a threat to the incumbent government, buzz about the inclusion of Ajit Pawar in the equation is also growing. Some sources said that a change in the political scenario is expected by April 22. There is definitely a problem within the NCP. And it is a big one. But the speculation about whether Ajit Pawar will go against the wishes of his uncle is baseless. Yes, there is pressure within the party. There is a sentiment within the party that several leaders might feel the heat due to agencies now. There is also growing pressure on Saaheb (Sharad Pawar) about it, an NCP leader told CNN-News18 on condition of anonymity. But some leaders gave a mahurat about Ajit Pawars big exit plan. It is likely that changes will take place by the 21st or 22nd of this month. Those dates will be crucial. Something big is likely to happen, a leader close to Ajit Pawar said. Interestingly, Ajit Pawar has steered clear of issuing any statement about the controversy. Cant stay without power The tentative approach from within the NCP has also raised several eyebrows. When asked if there would be a situation again in Maharashtra politics like the 2019 early morning swearing-in ceremony of Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar recently said that nothing could be said at this juncture, but that it will be a personal decision if any such step is taken. Supriya Sule, when asked about the possible move of Ajit Pawar, said that the future cannot be predicted. It cant be predicted if it will rain in the next one minute, she told reporters. Meanwhile, some leaders from within NCP said that living without power was definitely getting challenging for them. There is fear that the leaders will be targeted by the central agencies. That Saaheb himself may not be touched due to his stature, but that other leaders might have to pay the price of being in opposition, a leader said. The NCP is known to be a party of local chieftains brought together under one umbrella by Sharad Pawar. Many senior leaders of the party hold clout in their respective regions due to their individual might. Political experts say that the nature of the NCP is such that it cannot stay out of power for long. Sharad Pawar has so far resisted the BJP, but due to the tussle within his own party at present, questions are being raised on how far the stance will continue. Uddhav Thackerays importance growing Within the MVA, the importance of Uddhav Thackeray has been growing. The first show of strength of the MVA, a Vajramuth rally in Sambhajinagar, established Thackeray as the leader of the alliance. Uddhav Thackeray as the CM face for the opposition and the growing importance of the saffron leader may also have upset some NCP leaders, sources said. Any impact on Maharashtra govt? There is much speculation against the backdrop of the pending Supreme Court verdict on the Maharashtra power tussle: whether the ruling will lead to the disqualification of 16 MLAs and whether Ajit Pawar will fill in that gap with his own legislators. These reports have been denied by both the BJP as well as the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Both have said that irrespective of the judgement, the government will be stable. But interestingly, neither has denied the buzz about Ajit Pawar. What is the problem if we take Ajit Pawar too with us? It will only strengthen us further. The discussion about cabinet expansion can happen later, a senior leader told CNN-News18. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar, the man at the centre of the controversy, has decided to avoid questions about this, thus deepening the mystery further. Leaders from across the three parties (Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena UBT) say though that this will not affect the next Vajramuth rally to be held in Nagpur under the leadership of the Congress. But all three parties agree that there is an elephant in the room that nobody is talking about. Something is off. There is definitely a problem. Things are not smooth, a leader said. Read all the Latest Politics News here A Varanasi traffic police officer used a strange yet hilarious tactic to punish a car driver who left his vehicle in a no-parking zone. It so happened that the unidentified person ended up parking his car in the middle of a road. The bystanders who werent happy with the drivers antics reportedly posted a photo of the car on social media. When the photos caught the attention of police officer Anurag Tyagi, he reached the location to teach the driver a memorable lesson. The traffic cop arrived with a flower garland, which he presented to the driver before imposing a Rs 2,500 fine, reported Times Of India. Bystanders were spotted clapping as the cop garlands the car owner. A video of the moment has now found its way to social media. In the clip, a bystander can be heard saying Sahi hai while many are laughing and clapping upon witnessing the strange event. Take a look at the video here: Rs 2500 fine with new style by Varanasi Police. Car was parked in no parking zone pic.twitter.com/uotsMginPG Atulkrishan (@iAtulKrishan) April 12, 2023 This is not the first such incident of traffic violation ending up as a viral post on social media. In another post, two female cops riding on a scooter without helmets ended up sparking a heated debate on social media. The traffic rule violation was captured by a civilian, who also posted the photo on Twitter along with the vehicle plate number. In the picture, it was clearly evident that the female officers were flouting traffic norms. The civilian tagged multiple authorities, including Mumbai Police, in this tweet posing a poignant question. What if we travel like this?? Isnt this a traffic rule violation? he asked. Things escalated quickly thereafter as multiple users began demanding the authorities hold the lady officers accountable for their mistake. Suitable action has been taken on the policewomen riding the bike without helmet at Chunabhatti Police Station & Traffic Department for violating the law. Compounding amount of Rs 500/- each has been recovered from both the police personel pic.twitter.com/jdUvFgNuES Mumbai Traffic Police (@MTPHereToHelp) April 12, 2023 The Mumbai Police Department quickly addressed the tweet and confirmed the issue has been escalated with the concerned authorities. Days later it was also followed up with a fine for the officials seen in the photo. Suitable action has been taken on the policewomen riding the bike without helmets at Chunabhatti Police Station & Traffic Department for violating the law. A compounding amount of Rs 500/- each has been recovered from both the police personnel, stated the Mumbai police. Suitable action has been taken on the policewomen riding the bike without helmet at Chunabhatti Police Station & Traffic Department for violating the law. Compounding amount of Rs 500/- each has been recovered from both the police personel pic.twitter.com/jdUvFgNuES Mumbai Traffic Police (@MTPHereToHelp) April 12, 2023 The incident took place in Mumbais Matunga-Dadar area. Read all the Latest News here A man, swallowed up to his waist by a hippo, has shared the secret to surviving such a situation. Paul Templer, a former tour operator, was 28 years old when he was attacked by a large hippo while leading a tour in his home in Zimbabwe. In 1996, he revealed to CNN Travel that he had served time in the British Army and had only recently started working as a tour guide again. Paul was leading a canoe safari down the Zambezi River. He said, I loved that stretch of the river. It was an area I know like the back of my hand. Three trainee guides and six tour participants were distributed among three three-person canoes and a one-person safety kayak for the excursion. Things were going the way they were supposed to go. Everyone was having a pretty good time. They were surprised to find about a dozen hippos because they werent expecting to see them on the Zambezi River. The plan called for going around, but things didnt work out. He doesnt know how that happened, but his boat was in front while the others lagged behind, according to Daily Star. He further said, Suddenly, theres this big thud and I see the canoe, like the back of it, catapulted up into the air. And Evans, the guide in the back of the canoe, catapulted out of the canoe. When they returned for Evans after getting the tourists to safety, things had already started to go awry for Templer. He claimed to have seen a bow wave approaching in the shape of a torpedo and realised it was either a hippo or a sizable crocodile. Paul explained, I slapped the water, and as it was supposed to do, the torpedo wave stops. It wasnt enough though. Happened so fast that I didnt see a thing. Everything went dark and weirdly quiet as he tried to figure out what had just happened. From the waist down, I could feel the water. I could feel I was wet in the river. From my waist up, it was different. I was warm, and it wasnt wet like the river, but it wasnt dry either. And it was just incredible pressure on my lower back. I tried to move around, but I couldnt." When they returned for Evans after getting the tourists to safety, things had already started to go awry for Templer. He claimed to have seen a bow wave approaching in the shape of a torpedo and realised it was either a hippo or a sizable crocodile. He added, I realised I was up to my waist down a hippos throat. But I got lucky I guess I was wedged so far down its throat it must have been uncomfortable because he spat me out. So I burst to the surface, sucked a lungful of fresh air and I came face to face with Evans, the guide who I was trying to rescue. And I said, We got to get out of here!" Evans swam for him because he still needed assistance, but he has eaten again: WHAM! - I was struck from below. Im now down the hippos throat to my waist once more. However, this time my hands are free but my legs are confined. He spat out once more, but the hippo kept moving. He added, Im making pretty good progress and Im swimming along there when I come up for the stroke and swimming freestyle and I look underneath my arm - and until my dying day Ill remember this - theres this hippo charging in towards me with his mouth wide open bearing in before he scores a direct hit." The third time, as it attempted to tear him apart, he found himself sideways in its stomach. Fortunately for me, everything was moving slowly. I would thus hold my breath as he submerged, he stated. He promised to take a deep breath when the hippo surfaced. Amazingly, Mack, one of the other tour leaders, was able to save him. He recalled, Showing incredible bravery, risking his life to save mine pulls his boat in inches from my face. Mack dragged me to the relative safety of this rock. Despite having holes in several different places of his body and pierced lungs, Evans drowned despite also losing his left arm in the attack. He said, Normally if a hippo is going to be attacking, youll see it coming way before," when talking about how to withstand an attack. That bow wave definitely will come. 99.9 out of 100 times, turning a hippo will result from slapping the water. Get out of the canoe if a hippo knocks you into the water while youre in it. The hippo is attempting to push this large form outside of its domain. He said to try not to panic, When dragged underwater. Remember to suck in the air if on the surface. after happening all these things he still recommends safari though, My biggest counsel would be: Absolutely go and do it. But hook yourself up with someone who knows what theyre doing out there. But by all means, go out and experience it. Read all the Latest News here Arab countries gathered in Jeddah on Friday to discuss ending Syrias long spell in the diplomatic wilderness, as regional relations shift following Saudi Arabia and Irans decision to resume ties. Ministers and top officials from the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates plus Egypt, Iraq and Jordan have arrived in Saudi Arabia at the kingdoms request, the foreign ministry said. There was no mention of Syria taking part in the talks which were preceded by a meeting on Friday between Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and US National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk. The kingdom has yet to disclose details of the Jeddah meeting, but up for discussion is Syrias suspension from the Arab League, imposed when President Bashar al-Assads government launched a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2011. Backed by Iran and Russia, Assad has been shunned by many Middle Eastern countries and is a Western pariah over the war, which has killed more than half a million people and forced about half of Syrias pre-war population from their homes. But on Wednesday, in the latest sign of an easing in tensions with Damascus, Syrias Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Jeddah, the first such visit since the war began. Mekdad and his Saudi counterpart discussed the necessary steps" to end Damascuss isolation, according to a Saudi statement on Wednesday. Any recommendation to reinstate Syria in the 22-member Arab League, whose next meeting is due to be held in Saudi Arabia in May, is likely to draw protests from Western capitals. - Betrayed - Syrias rehabilitation sends a message to the opposition that Assad will triumph in the end and that their foreign backers will betray them", Aron Lund of the Century International think tank told AFP. Inhabitants of rebel-held Idlib, in northern Syria, said they felt betrayed" by the moves to rehabilitate Assads government. We, the people who live in northern Syria, felt extremely betrayed when we heard about the normalisation with Assad," Rama Sifu, 32, who lives in Idlib, told AFP. How come after 12 years of struggle and revolution, they come today and tell him: here is your seat back at the Arab League? This is unacceptable, we really felt let down." But late Thursday, the prime minister of Qatar an opponent of Assads government poured cold water on talk of Syrias possible return to the Arab League. There is nothing proposed, it is all speculation," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said in a television interview. The Jeddah meeting is one of a flurry of initiatives following Saudi Arabia and Irans landmark, Chinese-brokered announcement on March 10 that they would resume ties, seven years after an acrimonious split. Also on Friday, an exchange of nearly 900 prisoners from Yemens civil war between the Iran-backed Huthi rebels and a Saudi-led coalition got under way when flights carrying captives travelled between rebel- and government-controlled areas. The Saudi ambassador to Yemen this week held talks with Huthi forces aimed at ending the devastating civil war that has raged since the Saudi-led military intervention started in 2015. - Overcome Gulf differences - And late on Wednesday, gas-rich Qatar and its tiny but strategic Gulf neighbour Bahrain agreed to re-establish relations, putting aside a long-running diplomatic feud. Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia, the worlds biggest oil exporter, and Shiite theocracy Iran have long been vying for influence around the region, with Yemen and previously Syria among their proxy conflicts. But analysts say Saudi Arabia is now trying to calm the region to allow it to focus on ambitious domestic projects aimed at diversifying its energy-dependent economy. Although the Arab League takes decisions by consensus, unanimous agreement is unlikely, said a Riyadh-based diplomat who declined to be identified. The meeting aims to overcome the Gulf differences over Syria as much as possible," the diplomat told AFP, singling out Qatar. The Saudis are trying at least to ensure that Qatar does not object to Syrias return to the Arab League if the issue is put to any vote," the diplomat added. Read all the Latest News here German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock and Chinese counterpart Qin Gang on Friday traded barbs at each other while addressing a joint press conference in Beijing after the former said destabilising Taiwan would lead to a horror scenario. Baerbock is currently in Beijing and her remarks will anger the Communist Party of China chief and President Xi Jinping, who found some relief from Europe after French President Macron during his visit to Beijing said Europe should not necessarily follow the US lead when it comes to China and Taiwan. Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warns of a "horror scenario" in case of "military escalation" in the Taiwan Strait, days after China carried out military drills near the island. pic.twitter.com/mDwwqJVNoo DW Politics (@dw_politics) April 14, 2023 We remain committed to our one China policy, but at the same moment we are concerned about the current situation in the strait of Taiwan. (A) military escalation would be a horror scenario for the whole world, Baerbock was quoted as saying by news agency Bloomberg. She further added that a change in Taiwans status would be unacceptable. Qin Gang was quick to fire back, the Bloomberg report pointed out. Theres only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inseparable part of it. The Chinese government and its people are defending the countrys territorial integrity, Gang said, adding that the world needs to respect that Taiwan is part of China. China says democratic, self-governing Taiwan is part of China and it will be reunified with the Motherland if needed, by force and has warned US and other nations against forging diplomatic relations with Taipei. Germany earlier this week criticised the war drills China conducted around Taiwan to express its displeasure over Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wens visit to the US and meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. We have the impression that measures such as threatening military gestures increase the risk of unintended military clashes, the German foreign ministry said at that time. On Thursday, at Tianjin, Baerbock was cryptic in her response to Macrons stance on Taiwan, where he said that France will not be vassal of the US when it comes to the East Asian nation. 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, Baerbock said, according to AFP. 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 EUs largest trading partner, she further added. On Friday, Qin Gang was also irked when Baerbock made some observations regarding Beijings global leader aspirations. Baerbock said the world is watching which path China will take as it announces its intention to become a world power pointing out that Europe chose to become a global power through a policy of expansionism, oppression and colonialism. Europe has achieved its own rise 150 years ago with expansionism, oppression and colonialism. Many people are therefore now listening carefully when China today announces its goal to become a world power until 2049. These people are asking themselves which path China will choose, Baerbock was quoted as saying by Bloomberg. Qin said that China will not use such means during its ascent. Western colonisation brought a lot of suffering to the world. China will not use the old paths of Western colonialism, but will instead build a world in which humanity will find peace and security, Qin said. He said that there should be mutual respect between China and Western nations. What China doesnt need is a master teacher from the West, Qin said. Read all the Latest News here Pakistans worsening financial health and depreciating local currency has led to an acute shortage of imported and life-saving medicines in the debt-ridden country. Pakistan, currently in the throes of a major economic crisis, is grappling with high external debt and dwindling foreign exchange reserves. Public and private healthcare facilities are facing an acute shortage of imported vaccines, cancer therapies, fertility drugs and anaesthesia gasses after vendors stopped their supplies due to dollar-rupee disparity, according to media reports. Although most oral medicines, including syrups, tablets and injections are produced locally, Pakistan imports a majority of biological products like vaccines, anti-cancer medicines and therapies from India, China, Russia, European countries as well as the United States and Turkey. The pharmaceutical firms have blamed the financial and commercial system for the crisis in the healthcare system, alleging that the State Bank of Pakistan has not been issuing new Letters of Credit (LCs) for imports. Hospitals and medical stores in the country are said to be running out of life-saving drugs, like insulin and paracetamol. Medicines for hypertension and heart disease are also in short supply in local markets. Pakistan is currently scrambling to boost its dwindling forex reserves, which are estimated to be at $4.8 billion after China refinanced $500 million last week. Cash-strapped Pakistan is awaiting a much-needed $1.1 billion tranche of funding from the Washington-based global money lender, which was originally due to be disbursed in November last year. The funds are part of a $6.5 billion bailout package the IMF approved in 2019, which analysts say is critical if Pakistan is to avoid defaulting on external debt obligations. Read all the Latest News here Pakistan finance minister Ishaq Dar on Friday said the United Arab Emirates (UAE) confirmed its commitment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the bilateral financial support of $1 billion to the country. The finance minister took to Twitter to make the announcement. UAE authorities have confirmed to IMF for their bilateral support of US $1 billion to Pakistan. State Bank of Pakistan is now engaged for needful documentation for taking the said deposit from UAE authorities, Dar said in a tweet. The Dawn in a report said that this is expected to lead to staff- level agreement (SLA) between the international lender and the Pakistan government and lead to unlocking of multilateral disbursements. IMF program 9th Review Update:UAE authorities have confirmed to IMF for their bilateral support of US $ One billion to Pakistan. State Bank of Pakistan is now engaged for needful documentation for taking the said deposit from UAE authorities. AlhamdoLilah! Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) April 14, 2023 The negotiations between Pakistans finance ministry and the IMF have been going on since early February. The Pakistani government wants the IMF to revive the $7 billion bailout programme to secure a $1.1bn tranche. The report by Dawn said that the IMF tranche is critical for Pakistan and it will unlock other external financing avenues amid fears that Pakistan could default on its debt obligations. Pakistans forex reserves dipped by $170m to $4bn, largely due to debt payments, the State Bank of Pakistan said earlier this week. Pakistans overall foreign currency reserves, which includes bank reserves, decreased by $195 million or 2% to $9.56 billion compared to the previous week. Pakistans dwindling foreign currency reserves put pressure on the import-heavy economy, leading to business closures and rising prices. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in March said the IMF wanted external financing commitments fulfilled from friendly countries before releasing bailout measures. The Dawn in its report claimed that Saudi Arabia, China and the United Arab Emirates made commitments to help Pakistan fund its balance of payments. The IMF earlier this week, too, expressed hope that its current programme with Pakistan will be completed successfully. My hope is that with the goodwill of everyone, with the implementation of what has been already agreed by the Pakistani authorities, we can complete our current programme successfully, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said at a news briefing in Washington, according to the Dawn. Read all the Latest News here Hundreds of thousands of protestors marched across France on Thursday against President Emmanuel Macron governments plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. The turnout in the ongoing protests fell during the final day of protests before a key court decision on the legislation. However, violent clashes between police and protesters were reported in western France, AFP reported. The demonstrators in Paris also stormed the headquarters of the French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, which owns brands such as Louis Vuitton and Moet. If Macron wants to find money to finance the pension system, he should come here to find it, Fabien Villedieu, a union leader outside the LVMH building said, according to CNN. Protesters in Paris stormed the headquarters of Louis Vuitton pic.twitter.com/PIkNtMmv89 Lauren McKenzie (@TheMcKenziest) April 13, 2023 Videos showed protestors holding flares storming into the headquarters of the luxury goods and forcing their way inside. The protestors were seen inside the LVMH building while police sirens glared in the background. The attack against the luxury brand comes on a day when shares of the company jumped to a record high. The Thursdays protests marked the 12th day of nationwide agitation since they began in January this year. The protest march in the French capital also passed by the Constitutional Councils headquarters, opposite the Louvre museum in central Paris, which was protected by a phalanx of anti-riot police in body armour brandishing shields. The French Revolution ContinuesProtesters storming Louis Vuitton HQ Silence still from fascist tyrannical authoritative dictator Macron - Im sure his WEF puppet masters are disapproving as he awaits instructions.#France #Paris #Macron pic.twitter.com/6zMKhxxOmT Concerned Citizen (@cotupacs) April 13, 2023 The report said that the protestors engaging in intense scuffles with police who resorted to smoke bombs, projectiles and tear gas. Violence was also reported at Paris Place de la Bastille as riot police clashed with angry protestors. The interior ministry said 380,000 people took part in rallies nationwide, far fewer than the nearly 1.3 million who demonstrated in March at the height of the protests against the reforms, which include raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. But the movement is far from over", the head of the CFDT union Laurent Berger said and added there will be major protests on the May 1 labour day. The CGT has called for new strikes by refinery workers and rubbish collectors, whose walkout left the streets of Paris heaving with trash for three weeks in March. Read all the Latest News here Debt restructuring and resolution are urgent issues for many low and middle income nations, and the G20 agrees that these matters must be speedily dispensed with, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said. She told a press conference here on Thursday that discussions of G20 countries and multiple stakeholders on these issues on the sidelines of the annual spring meeting of the IMF and the World Bank were to ensure that resolution for countries in debt should happen in time. Representatives of some of the countries facing debt such as Sri Lanka, Zambia, Ghana and Ethiopia were present for the discussions. The finance minister said the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable, held on Wednesday, has also brought in a certain avenue for people to talk about how they will have to work towards addressing debt distress and amid an emerging global debt landscape, Sitharaman said. Zambia did mention that it had applied almost a year and a half ago for debt resolution and is still waiting. That point that it is a very time consuming process and even when the IMF (International Monetary Fund) says it is all right, we are handling your affair, it does take time after that as well," she said. The minister said G20 countries recognise the urgency to address vulnerabilities as well as strengthen multilateral coordination towards countering the increasing debt distress in low-income and middle-income countries. To a question, Sitharaman said, We found that almost all of them, inclusive of creditors, public creditors, private, all of them said it has to be addressed at the earliest. So, I think even the country that you named China had all agreed that it has to be speedily dispense with that as a greater step forward". Because once you recognise that you have to do it in time and at the earliest, it moves faster. I expect the resolution for many of these countries, I named a few, maybe there are a few others I didnt name, will have their resolutions done at earliest," Sitharaman said. The Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable was held by the IMF, the World Bank and India that holds the G20 presidency. There has been absolutely positive discussion going on. There was one held much before we met in Bengaluru. All stakeholders in debt distress related matters were there, private participants were also there, affected countries which have been waiting for one or two years and some others who are now getting relief were also present," the minister said. So, this discussion seems to have gone in a very positive note and you mentioned China, but I thought in the meeting, all were positively engaged", she said. The first G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under Indias presidency of the grouping was held in February in Bengaluru. Read all the Latest India News here A person from the minority Hindu community, working with a private news channel in Pakistan, was abducted from his residence in Karachi on Thursday night. Akash Ram, who was working as marketing head of Bol News, was kidnapped from his house and taken in a silver vehicle that was often seen taking rounds outside his office, a report in Bol News said. The report said the marketing head was kidnapped along with his security guard and two other servants at 6 am. #Pakistan's Leading News Channel #BOLNews Marketing Head Akash Ram (Hindu) was abducted outside of his residence in the wee hours on Tuesday.the marketing head was abducted through a silver vehicle that was also often seen taking rounds outside #BOL Akash's mother's appeal pic.twitter.com/KrvrKqLG0B Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) April 12, 2023 Ghulam Abbas Shah, a broadcast journalist at Bol News, tweeted a video of Akash Rams mother pleading authorities to bring her son back home safely. We were sleeping at 8 am when my younger son called me and said someone abducted my elder son. There is no news of his whereabouts. Why have they kidnapped my son? My son is innocent. Please bring my son back," the mother said in the video. The abduction of Bol News Marketing Head Akash a Hindu is highly condemnable. Akash has been absent for several days. He's said to have been kidnapped by unknown agencies. Though most likely to be establishment goons again..#6___#Nikkah#__ pic.twitter.com/ksFD5htxlp Mr Virgo (@awanz05) April 12, 2023 Why does it (abductions) happen in this country everytime? He (Akash) has done a lot for Pakistan. He helped the poor. Then what was his fault? I just want to see my son again. I just want him back, nothing else," she added. The car involved in the kidnapping was also seen earlier going round the office. The CCTV cameras of the area were destroyed before the incident. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry condemned the act. Meanwhile, Bol News Senior Anchor and President Sami Ibrahim said the abduction of Akash is destroying the face of Pakistan. He said the reason behind the channel being victimized is because it decided not to air the voice of those who were abusing the judiciary of Pakistan. We have been doing a press conference to apprise the world what is status of human rights violations in Pakistan particularly Bol, he said. Crime against minorities including kidnapping and forced conversion are common in Pakistan, especially the Hindu minorities. Last month, Dayal Singh was shot in Peshawar while he was sitting in his shop. In the same month, Birbal Jenani, a Hindu doctor, was also shot dead in Karachi. Read all the Latest News here Less than a week after reports of leaks of highly classified military documents surfaced, the FBI on Thursday took US airman Jack Teixeira into custody in connection with the disclosure of top-secret information about the Ukraine war and other top national security issues. FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate joined Attorney General Merrick B. Garland to announce that 21-year-old Teixeira was arrested from his residence in North Dighton, Massachusetts. 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 federal 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 statement added. Today, #FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate joined Attorney General Merrick B. Garland to announce the FBI took 21-year-old Jack Douglas Teixeira into custody without incident for his alleged involvement in leaking classified U.S. government and military documents. pic.twitter.com/7ynmytGgrb FBI (@FBI) April 13, 2023 Jack Teixeira, who is an IT specialist and an employee of the US Air Force National Guard, was identified by The New York Times prior to his arrest. He reportedly led a private Discord group where a small group of men posted memes and discussed shared interests, including gaming and guns. The Washington Post reported that the classified documents originated in a small Discord server known as Thug Shaker Central. Addressing a press conference, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the US airman is to be charged with removing or transmitting classified national defence information, a crime under the Espionage Act. Garland said that Teixeira was arrested in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defence information." News footage of the operation showed the suspect dressed in red shorts and a t-shirt with his hands behind his head, backing slowly toward camouflage-clad law enforcement personnel who took him into custody, AFP reported. US Defence Sectary Loyd Austin praised the Justice Department for swift arrest in connection with the document leak probe. I want to commend the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their swift arrest in connection with this investigation. I pledge the full support and cooperation of the Department of Defense to the DOJs investigation," he said in a press statement. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a US defense official told the Associated Press that Teixeira was a cyber transport systems specialist, essentially an IT specialist responsible for military communications networks. According to The New York Times, a trail of digital evidence" pointed to Teixeira as the leader of the private group on Discord where the documents surfaced. The high-level security breach has revealed US unease over the viability of a Ukraine counteroffensive against Russian troops. Besides this, concerns were raised about Ukrainian air defences, and pointed to the US spying on allies. (With inputs from multiple agencies) Read all the Latest News here Army chief General Asim Munir on Friday urged lawmakers to focus on our Pakistan instead of debating over Naya or Purana Pakistan and extended Armys full support to them in the countrys journey toward development and success. His remarks came as the militarys top brass briefed the lawmakers on the prevailing security situation, days after the county decided to launch a fresh operation against militants. According to a National Assembly Secretariat, the agenda of the in-camera meeting was the current issues of National Security. General Munir and his senior officers came to Parliament for the briefing session which was presided over by the National Assembly Speaker, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari after attending the briefing told the media that national security was the focus of the session. No statement was issued after the briefing which was held after the top civil and military leadership last week reaffirmed their commitment to thwart terrorism threats and launch a new operation against militants following a spike in attacks by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. The Express Tribune reported that during the briefing General Munir urged lawmakers to focus on our Pakistan instead of on the debate over naya (new) or purana (old) Pakistan. The term Naya Pakistan was used by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: Chairman Imran Khan when he came to power in 2018. Pakistan has no dearth of resources and manpower, the Army chief said, adding the elected representatives of the people should determine the countrys destination, and that the Army would fully support them in the journey towards Pakistans development and success. According to sources, members of the National Assembly welcomed the army chiefs views by clapping. The Army chief emphasised that the people of Pakistan are the centre of gravity, and that the Constitution of Pakistan and the Parliament are the reflections of their opinions. The people express their opinion through the Constitution and the Parliament, he maintained. The Army chief said there are no longer any no-go areas in Pakistan due to the sacrifices of soldiers. He asserted that terrorists have no other option but to accept the states writ. General Munir said that the security forces are prepared to maintain peace in the country, and are conducting intelligence-based operations on a daily basis to achieve this goal. Earlier during the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the countrys law enforcement agencies including the army, rangers, and police, for their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. Peace was restored by the great sacrifices of our martyrs, and this hard work was wasted in four years, said the premier, in an apparent reference to the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: government. The demand for the briefing was made by lawmakers from the tribal region which had been badly hit by the fighting against the militants. The TTP has become a threat to national security. According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, an Islamabad-based think-tank, January 2023 was one of the deadliest months since July 2018, as 134 people lost their lives in at least 44 militant attacks across the country. Read all the Latest News here In a horrific incident, over 18,000 cows died in an explosion leading to a fire at a family dairy farm in the southern US state of Texas, reports said. The explosion, which caused the deadliest barn fire in the history of Texas, injured one agricultural worker, authorities said on Thursday. According to a report in AFP, the explosion and fire ripped through the Southfork Dairy Farms near the town of Dimmitt in the Texas Panhandle on Monday night. Reports said that the number of cattle killed in the incident was almost three times the number of cattle slaughtered every day across the US. Explosion at South Fork Dairy Farm in Dimmitt Texas last night. The fire spread into the dairy cow holding pens, and an unknown amount of dairy cattle were killed by the fire and smoke. The cause of the fire is unknown.Yet another incident affecting food supply. pic.twitter.com/4syPJicbng Janebond (@Janebon34813396) April 11, 2023 Visuals of the incident shared on social media showed a large cloud of black smoke billowing out of the farm. Firefighters and police were rushed to the scene and determined that one person was trapped inside," the Castro County Sheriffs Office said on Facebook. The injured person was rescued and rushed to a hospital. The cause of the explosion and fire was not immediately clear. Officials said that a system to remove manure from the barns may have gotten overheated." Officials also said that methane may have ignited and then spread out with the explosion and the fire." Texas officials are still investigating the real cause of the incident. The 18,000 cows that died in the accident accounted for about 90 percent of the farms total herd, with each cow valued at around $2,000. Officials said they believed that it might impact the milk production in the state, according to Wion. Read all the Latest News here Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Friday said the countrys Pacific Fleet had launched surprise combat drills as tensions rage with the West over Ukraine. The Kremlin called the exercises routine" and said they were aimed at developing Russias armed forces. At a meeting with Russias top brass, Shoigu said the Pacific Fleet, headquartered in the port of Vladivostok, was on high alert during snap exercises begun on President Vladimir Putins orders. The main goal of this exercise is to build up the armed forces ability to solve the tasks of repelling the aggression of a potential enemy from the direction of ocean and sea," Shoigu said. The aim was to evaluate the state and increase the readiness of military command, troops and forces to undertake missions in all strategic directions," Shoigu added. The defence minister said the forces will prevent the enemy from deploying in the operationally important region of the Pacific Ocean the southern part of the Sea of Okhotsk" and repulse an enemy landing in the southern Kuril Islands and Sakhalin Island. The southern Kuril islands, which Tokyo calls the Northern Territories, are at the heart of a long-running feud between Russia and Japan that has prevented them signing a formal World War II peace treaty. The head of the Russian navy, Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, is overseeing the drills, Shoigu said. During the exercises, Russian forces will practise searching and destroying submarines, repelling large-scale rocket and aviation attacks" and launching rockets, torpedoes and artillery fire against seaborne and ground targets. The exercises were announced as China said its defence minister will visit Russia between Sunday and Wednesday. Both Russia and China have expressed concern" over NATOs growing presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Read all the Latest News here An employee of drugstore chain Walgreen opened fire on a pregnant woman who allegedly was shoplifting from a store in Tennesses Nashville, the New York Post said. The incident occurred earlier on Wednesday evening (local time). The employee shot the woman multiple times but miraculously missed hitting the baby. The lady was seven months pregnant. The doctors were forced to perform an emergency C-section to save her baby on the same night. The store is located in the 2500 block of Gallatin Avenue in East Nashville. The report by the New York Post said the worker witnessed the woman and another individual stealing items from the store and confronted them. A separate report by Nashville-based broadcaster WKRN-TV said the employee was first made aware of the shoplifting by a coworker. The employee then began recording the women with his cell phone and followed them as they left the store without paying for the items. The women loaded the stolen items into the shopping cart and a large bag that they were carrying. He watched both women reach the parking lot and unload the stolen items onto the cars trunk. When he confronted them in the drugstores parking lot there was an exchange of mace and bullets as one of the women opened a mace can and sprayed at him. Police later said the shooting occurred around 8pm (local time). The employee then brandished his semi-automatic gun at the woman and started shooting at the alleged shoplifters. The WKRN report citing police officials said the employee shot the 34-year-old pregnant woman multiple times fearing that the woman could be armed. Both women jumped into their car and fled the spot. The accomplice of the pregnant woman dropped her off at General Hospital and drove off. The lady was then transferred to Vanderbilt University Medical Center via an ambulance where the doctors performed an emergency C-section to cut out the 7-month-old baby. The bullets miraculously missed the seven-month old child. The woman and her baby are in critical but stable condition and a probe has been launched into the incident but no arrests have been made, WKRN and the New York Post said. Read all the Latest News here 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. 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. 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 Indian flag at the High Commission in London was pulled down during a protest by pro-Khalistani elements last month. Prime Minister Modi raised the issue of the security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK during the telephonic conversation with his British counterpart Sunak and called for strong action against anti-India elements, a statement said in New Delhi. 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. According to the Downing Street spokesman, the two 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. In New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday that the next round of talks between India and the UK on the proposed free trade agreement will take place later this month. Bagchi said the talks will take place around the period from April 24 to 28. With reference to an attack by pro-Khalistan separatists at the Indian High Commission in London on March 19, the Downing Street spokesperson said that the British Prime Minister reiterated his condemnation of the unacceptable violence outside the Indian High Commission in London. 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. 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 Read all the Latest India News here In recent weeks, conservative activists have thrown an epic tantrum over the fact that Bud Light launched a Pride promotional campaign with a trans influencer because we live in capitalism and it is profitable for companies to launch PR campaigns that make their products appeal to different audiences. Now, a conservative political operative who previously worked on Donald Trump's presidential campaign has launched a Bud Light alternative called "Ultra Right Beer." At $20 per six-pack and roughly $12 in shipping, here's what you get: America's been drinking beer from a company that doesn't even know which restroom to use. That's why we made Conservative Dad's ULTRA RIGHT 100% Woke-Free American Beer. If you know which restroom to use, you know what beer you should be drinking. Stop giving money to companies who hate our values. 100% made in America in Northern Illinois. Our airy special golden ale blend is currently in production and will ship on approximately 5/11/23. ONLY 4 INGREDIENTS! Water Hops Barley Yeast ABV 4% ONLY 110 calories In other words: it's a Bud Light knockoff that costs more than three times as much as actual Bud Light (a 6-pack of Bud Light 16oz tallboys cost $9.99 at my local packy today; these are only 12oz cans). Here's a little more about the entrepreneur behind this, courtesy of Paste Magazine: So, who is this guy? His name is Seth Weathers, a far-right Twitter troll and grifter whose profile proclaims him as the CEO of "Freedom Speaks Up" and founder of "conservativebody.com". He says he's "on a mission to help conservatives unlearn the Gov lies about food, lose weight, & get in shape!" And naturally he's also selling Ultra Right Beer, as doctors everywhere are known for their agreement that nothing helps one lose weight and get in shape quite like beer. Oh, and he also claimed on Twitter EARLIER THIS MONTH that beer "increases estrogen and decreases testosterone," so he doesn't even believe men should be drinking beer in the first place. Truly, it's a remarkable grift: blame "wokeness" for one of the most basic tenets of your beloved capitalism, and then unabashedly ripoff the suckers who fall for it. Because a $30+ sixer of Bud Light definitely isn't aimed at the hard-workin', salt-of-the-Earth Americans! Especially if you have to wait at least a month before the beer actually ships (assuming it's not a complete scam, and actually does ship eventually). To be fair: beer takes a while to make, because it has to ferment. And four weeks isn't totally unreasonable for a mass-produced light lager although it is curious that no actual R&D has gone into this beer, given that timeline. But what really caught my eye was that vague detail that the beer is being brewed in "Northern Illinois." Given the right-wing media push over this beer, one would assume that Weather and co are expecting a large number of sales. In order to satisfy that demand, you're going to need to contract with a large brewery. A small local craft brewery just wouldn't be able to compete. And what's the biggest option for beer-making facilities in Northern Illinois? I'm pretty sure it's Goose Island which is owned by Anheuser-Busch and InBev. Oops. (Note: I'm not linking to the promo video for this beer, or the actual company website, because I don't want to feed their PR game anymore. It's out there; it's easy to find, if you want it. But I wouldn't recommend it.) The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday ordered the countrys primary state-run bank to release funds for the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces that it has ordered, thus deepening the judicial leaderships rift with a poll-wary government. The Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government did not give the money even after the April 10 deadline set by the court, which earlier this month ordered elections on May 14 in Punjab and KP, both of which were ruled by former PM Imran Khans party. The SC bench headed by the Chief Justice has now set a 72-hour deadline for the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to directly give the money to the poll panel. This simply bypasses the government, at a time when the Sharif regime appears reluctant to face an electoral test. Set to go to polls anyhow after the courts orders, Punjab is the fulcrum of the action in Pakistans politics. In recent times, Imran Khan has gathered significant support here but now-PM Shehbaz Sharif was its chief minister for years when his elder brother Nawaz Sharif served as PM. As for KP, the Pashtun-dominated region next to Afghanistan is seen as the backyard of Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). On the funds for elections, the State Banks governor is to submit a compliance report on April 18, as per the order now by a three-judge bench comprising CJP Umar Ata Bandial and Justices Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Munib Akhtar. The Election Commission had on April 11 formally told the court that the federal government had not given the funds yet. The court then summoned the government officials concerned, who were asked to explain themselves. The order for the bank to release the funds came after an in-chamber hearing. The Chief Justice had summoned officials from the finance ministry, SBP and poll panel to his chamber to seek a reply on the funds, warning that non-compliance would have consequences. Read all the Latest News here Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned Afghanistans 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 well have to hit them, he said. Well 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. Read all the Latest News here The President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili's planned appearance to deliver a speech at the European Parliament on April 18 was postponed.The President's administration published a statement regarding the postponement and cited the process of receiving 'artificially prolonged approval' from the Georgian government as the reason.As mentioned in the statement of the press service, the "appropriate time" for the speech in the European Parliament will be selected together with the President of the European Parliament."Due to the artificially protracted approval process on the part of the Georgian government, the President of Georgia has decided to postpone the most important visit to the city of Strasbourg, because the President believes that this should be a step towards depolarization and not the other way around.The address to the European Parliament and the opportunity to meet with the highest representatives of the European Union should be used as much as possible to strengthen our candidacy status, and therefore the appropriate time for the speech will be selected together with the President of the European Parliament," the statement reads.The US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan responded to the question regarding David Kezerashvili's alleged global fraud scheme.The question asked whether the BBC information is reliable for the USA and if the USA is considering the sanctioning of Davit Kezerashvili."We do not prejudge sanctions. This is a good example of how important investigative journalism is, the investigations carried out by the authorities to provide such information to the public, obtained from open and closed sources, which form the basis for these types of measures.Of course, we ourselves carry out a thorough process to evaluate information before taking any action. An investigation like the BBC's is an important component. I hope that the Georgian authorities will have the opportunity to investigate such accusations and conduct the investigation themselves.This is the type of information that could become a part of all of this," said Kelly Degnan. Under new ownership, the platform will be temporarily shut down so Starboard can develop a plan to revamp the site. Starboard is a digital media conglomerate and was named the 13th fastest growing company in the United States on the INC 5000. The company houses business lines focused on digital advertising, fundraising, publishing, and consumer brands. "Parler's large user base and additional strategic assets represent an enormous opportunity for Starboard to continue to build aggressively in our media and publishing business. The team at Parler has built an exceptional audience and we look forward to integrating that audience across all of our existing platforms." said Ryan Coyne, CEO of Starboard. As part of the deal, George Farmer, CEO of Parlement Technologies will be stepping down from his role. South Korea's government will offer $500 per month to young recluses in a push to get them to leave their homes. As Bloomberg reports, the country's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced a measure Tuesday that could see thousands of dollars put toward education, job counseling, and health support for the so-called "hikikomori." The popularized Japanese term used in South Korea refers to both a person with acute social withdrawal, who rarely if ever leaves their home, and their condition. Coined by Japanese psychologist Saito Tamaki in 1998, it "essentially means 'to pull back' and 'shut oneself in,'" per Wired. The government is "strengthening its support to enable reclusive youth to recover their daily lives and reintegrate into society," the ministry said. The effort is also envisioned to address South Korea's shrinking working-age population, which is tied to the country having the lowest fertility rate in the world, per Bloomberg. President Yoon Suk Yeol recently declared a decline in productivity as a "crucial national agenda." About 3% of South Koreans between the ages of 19 and 39, or some 350,000 people, are considered lonely or secluded, according to Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. There have been efforts to encourage them to socialize for years. In 2019, the private Korea Youth Foundation began funding a group facility for young hikikomori in Seoul, as the Asahi Shimbun reported, with one official claiming many young people "have no opportunity to work." Youth unemployment stands at 7.2%, per Bloomberg. Under the new provisions, qualifying recluses aged 9 to 24 will receive $490 per month for general living costs. (Read more South Korea stories.) The Republican-dominated Florida Legislature on Thursday approved a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, a proposal supported by GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis. Florida currently prohibits abortions after 15 weeks. A six-week ban would give DeSantis a political victory among Republican primary voters before officially launching a presidential candidacy built on his national brand as a conservative standard bearer. The policy would also have wider implications for abortion access throughout the South in the wake of the US Supreme Court's decision last year overturning Roe v. Wade and leaving decisions about abortion access to states, the AP reports. Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi have banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy, while Georgia prohibits the procedure after cardiac activity can be detected, which is around six weeks. "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," said Republican Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, who carried the bill in the House. Democrats and abortion-rights groups have criticized Florida's proposal as extreme. "This ban would prevent 4 million Florida women of reproductive age from accessing abortion care after six weeksbefore many women even know they're pregnant," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. The bill contains some exceptions, including to save the woman's life. Abortions for pregnancies involving rape or incest would be allowed until 15 weeks of pregnancy, provided a woman has documentation such as a restraining order or police report. DeSantis has called the rape and incest provisions sensible. Drugs used in medication-induced abortionswhich make up the majority of those provided nationallycould be dispensed only in person or by a physician under the Florida bill. Florida's six-week ban would take effect only if the state's current 15-week ban is upheld in an ongoing legal challenge that is before the state Supreme Court, which is controlled by conservatives. (Read more anti-abortion laws stories.) Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed a near-total ban on abortion into law after the state's legislators passed it this week. The law bans abortion after the 6th week of pregnancy. NBC News reports that DeSantis, still hoping to become president, signed the law "quietly" without publicizing it until nearly midnight. The Florida law bans abortions at six weeks but creates new exemptions for rape and incest up to 15 weeks of pregnancy. It does not change existing exemptions for life and the health of the mother up to 15 weeks. The Florida law bans abortions at six weeks but creates new exemptions for rape and incest up to 15 weeks of pregnancy. It does not change existing exemptions for life and the health of the mother up to 15 weeks. Even in Florida, 75% of people are opposed to the ban. This calls for some more "why Dems should avoid talking about democracy, abortion and culture war" stuff from the centrist liberal types. President Biden linked Ireland and the US repeatedly as he wrapped up his visit on Thursday, talking of the roles the two nations must play while emphasizing that he felt like he belongs in the land of his ancestors. "I'm not going home," he said, per the Washington Post, as he stood in the president's residence and noted that the place reminded him of the White House. In a speech to parliament, he said: "If you forgive the poor attempt at Irish: Ta me sa bhaile. I'm at home." Turning to issues including the war in Ukraine, preserving democracy, and the need for clean energy, Biden told the lawmakers, "In this moment the world needs Ireland and the United States and our limitless imaginations." The 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement was the backdrop of Biden's visit, and he celebrated the landmark Northern Ireland deal in earlier remarks at the president's house, per the BBC. An "entire generation of young people's lives have been shaped by confidence that there are no checkpoints on their dream," he said, adding, "Political violence must never again be allowed to take hold on this island." But he told parliament that the UK "should be working closer" with the Republic of Ireland to support Northern Ireland. Leo Varadkar, Ireland's prime minister, praised US assistance in the peace effort. "By looking always to the future, you have helped us to move beyond the past, and build something better," he said. Biden felt at home enough to say something in a pub that wasn't appreciated in the UK. In telling a story about his rugby-playing cousin, Biden said Rob Kearney's Irish team "beat the hell out of the Black and Tans." He meant to say the All Blacks, New Zealand's stellar team, per USA Today. The Black and Tans were a British force that conducted a bloody battle against the Irish Republican Army in the 1920s. Most Irish commentators seemed to laugh it off, per the Guardian, with an Irish Times headline calling it a "delicious gaffe" while one Twitter post said, "Good one, Joe." Biden got the name right in his speech to Parliament, and the White House transcript corrected the earlier slip. The Wikipedia entry for the Black and Tans briefly credited Biden's cousin with "ending their reign of terror." (Read more President Biden stories.) Airman Jack Teixeira, the suspected leaker of military documents who was arrested by the FBI on Thursday, is a Christian and a gun enthusiast but not a whistleblower or foreign agent, according to friends in the close-knit gaming community where he posted the documents. A "Thug Shaker Central" member with the screen name "Vahki" tells the New York Times that the 21-year-old was trying to impress members of the invite-only group of 20 to 30 people and "inform them about what was going on." But Vahki and other members say Teixeira wasn't trying to bring the information to wider attention and the documents were never meant to be shared outside the small group. Vahki says Teixeira shared hundreds of documents and they remained within the group for months until a 17-year-old member shared them in another gaming forum. More: He is due in court Friday . Teixeira, who served in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, has been charged with unauthorized removal and transmission of classified information and is due in court in Boston on Friday, the BBC reports. The files Teixeira allegedly leaked include information that could damage the war effort in Ukraine and America's relationships with key allies. . Teixeira, who served in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, has been charged with unauthorized removal and transmission of classified information and is due in court in Boston on Friday, the BBC reports. The files Teixeira allegedly leaked include information that could damage the war effort in Ukraine and America's relationships with key allies. Glocks and Catholicism. A friend who knew Teixeira online before the Thug Shaker Central was set up in 2020 tells the Washington Post that they bonded over their shared interest in Glocks and Catholicism. The friend says he met Teixeira on a Discord server that focused on guns and libertarian politics. Other friends say Teixeira had criticized the government and the military in the past and they were surprised when he signed up. His role in the military . The Air Force says Teixeira worked at the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base as a "cyber transport systems specialist." Critics are asking why somebody as young and inexperienced as Teixeira had access to so much classified information, the Guardian reports. "I hope this guy isn't the leaker, because I'm gonna have some questions about how a Mass Air Guard guy got CJCS briefing slides," Atlantic contributor Tom Nichols tweeted Thursday, using an acronym for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. . The Air Force says Teixeira worked at the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base as a "cyber transport systems specialist." Critics are asking why somebody as young and inexperienced as Teixeira had access to so much classified information, the Guardian reports. "I hope this guy isn't the leaker, because I'm gonna have some questions about how a Mass Air Guard guy got CJCS briefing slides," Atlantic contributor Tom Nichols tweeted Thursday, using an acronym for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Pentagon says young service members are trusted . "We entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age," Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said when asked why somebody Teixeira's age had access to high-level classified information. "Think about a young combat platoon sergeant, and the responsibility and trust that we put into those individuals to lead troops into combat." . "We entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age," Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said when asked why somebody Teixeira's age had access to high-level classified information. "Think about a young combat platoon sergeant, and the responsibility and trust that we put into those individuals to lead troops into combat." He was relatively easy to find. The AP reports that Teixeira left "traceable digital fingerprints" behind that made it relatively easy for federal investigatorsand journaliststo track him. He was named by the New York Times and investigative website Bellingcat before the FBI said he was a person of interest. (Read more leaked documents stories.) A fraternity pledge at San Diego State University says he was dumped at a hospital entrance with a blood alcohol level of 0.489 and a 1% chance that he'd live. Benjamin Brennan, now 21, is suing Kappa Sigma fraternity and members, alleging hazing practices that left him with a big medical bill and injuries, including potential permanent damage, that mean he is unable to work or attend school, per the Washington Post. As a 19-year-old freshman, Brennan spent six weeks pledging Kappa Sigma. For his last pledge event in April 2021, he was paired with a mentor and ordered to do everything asked of him. According to the lawsuit, that included giving up his car keys and phonemeaning he was unable to leave or seek helpand drinking a fifth of rum (750ml) within 30 minutes. He claims he kept drinking even after losing the ability to stand or speak. He was also forced to smoke tobacco and marijuana, the lawsuit claims. The next morning, frat members allegedly struck him with paddles while he lay unconscious. He remained that way for 90 minutes before members took him to a hospital, leaving him vomiting at the entrance, according to the suit. Brennan was placed on life support and given a 1% chance of survival, the suit adds. Though he did survive, "at times he feels like hed be better off if he didn't," lawyer James Frantz tells the Post. He says Brennan is unable to work and ultimately dropped out of school due to cognitive impairment. The Pittsburgh native also has severe depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, Frantz tells BuzzFeed News. "It's supposed to be a brotherhood when you go into a fraternity," Frantz tells the Post. "These boys just abandoned their brother and left him for dead. That's not brotherhood," adds Brennan's mother, Lindsay Gibson, per WLS. Mitchell Wilson, executive director of the fraternity's national office, says action has been taken against the individuals involved and "we continue to adamantly oppose hazing, the misuse of alcohol and placing the health and safety of any person at risk." A university rep adds the SDSU chapter, which was under suspension at the time of the incident, was expelled for hazing in 2022. Brennan's lawsuit seeks damages for emotional distress and compensation for medical expenses and other economic losses. Lawyers are also recommending criminal charges, per WLS. (Read more hazing stories.) The Florida judge who sentenced school shooter Nikolas Cruz to 34 life terms last year after a jury couldn't reach a unanimous decision on the death penalty has been disqualified from another death penalty case. The Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Judge Elizabeth Scherer had shown unfair sympathy to prosecutors in the Cruz case, the AP reports. After sentencing Cruz, Scherer left the bench in her judicial robe and hugged prosecutors and relatives of Cruz's victims, reports CBS. One of the prosecutors she hugged was Assistant State Attorney Steven Klinger, who was also handling the case of Randy Tundidor, a death row inmate who is appealing his conviction and sentence. Tundidor, who was found guilty in 2012 of the 2010 murder of his landlord, asked for Scherer to be disqualified from his case. According to the Florida Supreme Court's unanimous opinion, Scherer asked Klinger how he was doing at a hearing in Tundidor's case two days after the Cruz sentencing, which Tundidor viewed as "commiserating over their shared disappointment at the outcome." The court said Scherer's actions "would create in a reasonably prudent person a well-founded fear of not receiving a fair and impartial proceeding," per CBS. She has been removed from overseeing any post-conviction proceedings for Tundidor. When sentencing Cruz, Scherer had no option but to sentence him to life without the possibility of parole for 17 murders and 17 attempted murders because the jury voted 9-3 in favor of the death penalty and Florida law requires unanimity. But that could change soon: The state legislature passed a bill Thursday that will allow the death penalty when at least 8 out of 12 jurors support it, the AP reports. (Read more Florida stories.) The 21-year-old Air National Guardsman accused of leaking Pentagon documents online faces serious charges under the Espionage Act. But Jake Teixeira already has some big-names on the right coming to his defense, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Tucker Carlson of Fox News. "Jake Teixeira is white, male, christian, and antiwar," Greene tweeted. "That makes him an enemy to the Biden regime." The real villain in all this, she suggested, is not Teixeira but an "administration that is waging war in Ukraine, a non-NATO nation, against nuclear Russia without war powers." Both Greene and Carlson praised Teixeira for posting a document suggesting that 14 US special forces were stationed in Ukraine. However, the Hill notes that the Pentagon has publicly stated since last year that a team of Marines has been deployed at the US embassy in Ukraine. Carlson and other critics of the US support of Ukraine see it as a bigger deal: The United States is a direct combatant in a war against Russia," he said Thursday night, per Rolling Stone. "This is a hot war between the two primary nuclear superpowers on Earth. And yet, this war has never been formally declared. It has not been authorized by Congress. And for that reason, this war is a violation of American law. It is a crime. Mediaite notes that other figures on the right, including Mike Cernovich, are making similar points. But Republican lawmakers may not share the view. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner told me the charges will likely reveal Teixeira 'betrayed his country,'" tweeted Jake Tapper of CNN, in response to Greene's tweet. (Read more Jake Teixara stories.) Interstate 5 in Eugene was apparently the place to be around 7:30pm Tuesday. Oregon State Police said a 38-year-old man threw fistfuls of $100 bills from his car window, causing other drivers to stop their vehicles to collect the cash. Colin Davis McCarthy reportedly told policewho were concerned about the potential hazard he was causing and asked the public not to go to the scene to look for moneythat he was in a good financial place and wanted to use the money to "bless others." Law enforcement was also reportedly concerned about littering, though perhaps needlessly: They looked for bills in the hope of "prevent[ing] further hazards," but say the bills appeared to have all been collected, reports Oregon Live. KEZI reports McCarthy said he dispersed $200,000 in total, and MySuncoast reports his family would like it back. Oregon State Police Lt. Jim Andrews said the cash came from a bank account McCarthy shared with relatives, and that because his name is on the account and he accessed the funds legally, the family has no recourse in terms of seeing it returned. Still, they've asked that anyone who collected bills turn them over to police because the cash is "very much needed." McCarthy won't face any charges over the incident. (Read more strange stuff stories.) There have been 12 days of protests organized over the past three months against French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to up the retirement age from 62 to 64, and a 13thand more beyond thatare looking likely. France's top court on Friday approved the unpopular plan and rejected requests that a referendum be held. CNN reports Macron is expected to enact the law this weekend, putting in place a gradual plan that will see the age at which workers can receive their state pensions pushed to 64 by 2030. The Guardian explains Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne had asked the constitutional council to determine whether the pension plan was constitutional. After the ruling, she tweeted, "tonight there is no winner, no loser." The BBC reports demonstrations had been barred in front of the Constitutional Council building until Saturday morning, but protesters were clustered nearby and decried the news, with some vowing to keep up the protests. Indeed, French political analyst Antoine Bristielle told the BBC, "I think we will see in the upcoming hours and at the weekend a lot of riots and strikes in the country because there are still 70% of the French population against the reform." (Read more retirement age stories.) Nicolas Cage is back to his vampire roots. In Chris McKay's Renfield, Cage plays the mighty Dracula, while Nicholas Hoult plays his beleaguered and eponymous servant, whose duties include finding bodies for his boss to feed on. Only Renfield is a bit fed up with this toxic relationship, which is why he joins a support group. Hoult, of course, plays the leading role, but criticswho give the film a 62% rating on Rotten Tomatoesgenerally agree that it's Cage who steals the show. Four takes: For Kristy Puchko, Cage is the best thing going for this "cloyingly mediocre" film. He's "exactly what we wish for ... bringing the horror comedy to intoxicating heights of hilarity and strangeness." Indeed, he makes "a punchline out of any dialogue just through the zest of his delivery," Puchko writes at Mashable. Hoult's Renfield, on the other hand, is "about as engaging as boiled chicken" and has "zero chemistry" with his love interest, a police officer played by Awkwafina. Brian Lowry argues the film fails to fully capitalize on Cage's "full-throated performance" and would have been better if the moviemakers played up the comedy more than the horror. It "derives most of its humor from over-the-top gore, an amusing-in-theory notion that inevitably yields diminishing returns," he writes at CNN. In particular, violent scenes in which Renfield battles mobsters cater "to a subset of the horror audience at the expense of those who might show up expecting something closer to a Mel Brooks-like spoof." Yet "sometimes all you want from a movie is 93 minutes of well-wrought absurdity," and Renfield delivers, writes Manohla Dargis at the New York Times. "Fast, tight and blunt, the movie gets right to the point with a characteristically American mix of therapy-speak and jokey violence, and it largely stays on point." Cage steals every scene he's in, but Hoult impresses, too, she writes. He "externalizes Renfield's turmoil with precision" and "helps sell, passably, some flirty business" with Awkwafina's cop. Hoult proves himself "an engaging rising star," in this "wickedly funny update" to a classic story, writes Amy Nicholson at the Wall Street Journal. "He's an actor with range: comedy and pathos, ambition and ignorance, sensitivity and selfishnessthe ignoble, forgivable fool." But "Cage is simply doing a burlesque of Mike Myers's Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers franchise" and is "in the movie just enough not to overstay his welcome," she writes. (Read more movie review stories.) Billing records of an Internet social media platform and interviews with another user helped the FBI identify a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman as a suspect in the leak of highly classified military documents, according to court records unsealed Friday. The new details came as Jack Teixeira, 21, appeared in court to face charges under the Espionage Act of unauthorized removal and retention of classified and national defense information, the AP report. A federal magistrate judge ordered him held until a detention hearing next Wednesday. Teixeira was arrested by heavily armed tactical agents on Thursday following a weeklong criminal investigation into the disclosure of the government records, a breach that exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments on the war in Ukraine, the capabilities and geopolitical interests of other nations, and other national security issues. Investigators believe Teixeira was the leader of an online private chat group on Discord, a social media platform popular with gamers. Billing records the FBI obtained from Discord, which has said it was cooperating with the bureau, helped lead investigators to Teixeira, according to an FBI affidavit. According to the document, the FBI interviewed someone familiar with Teixeiras online posts on Monday. That person, who is not identified in the affidavit, told the FBI that a username linked to Teixeira began posting what appeared to be classified information roughly in December. The affidavit also alleges Teixeira was detected on April 6the day the New York Times first published a story about the breach of documentssearching for the word "leak" in a classified system. The FBI says that was reason to believe Teixeira was trying to find information about the investigation into who was responsible for the leaks. (Friends say Teixeira "wasn't a whistleblower.") The Justice Department on Friday announced a sweeping operation against fentanyl trafficking by Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, including the indictment of four sons of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and two dozen other people. Attorney General Merrick Garland unveiled the charges at a news conference with federal prosecutors and the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The charges "exemplify the comprehensive approach the Justice Department is taking to disrupt and hold accountable those who bear significant responsibility for this fentanyl epidemic," Garland said. That includes China, per ABC News. Those indicted include four Chinese nationals accused of involvement in the network that delivers chemicals needed to make fentanyl to the cartel; the Treasury Department is simultaneously imposing sanctions on two Chinese companies over the same issue. China's government "must stop the unchecked flow of fentanyl precursor chemicals that are coming out of China," Garland said. Investigators reported confiscating more than 2.5 million pills laced with fentanyl and 105 kilos of fentanyl powder as part of their operation. In addition to Guzman's sons, suspected chemical suppliers, lab managers, fentanyl traffickers, security leaders, financiers, and weapons traffickers are among those charged. Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar have developed a reputation as the most violent wing of the Sinaloa cartel, per the Union-Tribune. Only one of the sons is in custody, jailed in Mexico. Garland described violence attributed to the sons' operation: Competing drug traffickers were fed to tigers dead or alive, and one woman was injected with fentanyl until she died. Other victims were tortured using electrocution and waterboarding, the attorney general said. Administrator Anne Milgram said the DEA infiltrated the cartel and the operation run by the sons, called the Chapitos, per CBS News. (Read more Sinaloa drug cartel stories.) Fort Lauderdale was hit with a historical two feet of rain Wednesday and Thursday, with officials responding to more than 900 rescue calls, while their so-called governor was nowhere to be seen. Ron DeSantis had better things to do, pulling a Ted CanCruz move as he galavanted around Ohio to sign some books and schmooze. And now he's paying for it as not just Democratic but also MAGA leaders pounce. In Fort Lauderdale, Mayor Dean Trantalis, who is a Democrat, admitted at a press conference, "Governor DeSantis has not yet called. I'm not sure what's going on." And for a sample of the MAGA backlash: "Fort Lauderdale, Florida was slammed with mass flooding last night. Floridians lost their cars, and many FL homes were flooded and destroyed by water damage," far-right activist Laura Loomer tweeted yesterday, according to Newsweek. "Instead of doing his job, today @GovRonDeSantis is flying to Ohio to campaign for President." "He should cancel his trip & be there for the Floridians who are struggling!" MAGA consultant Alex Bruesewitz tweeted, accusing DeSantis of "continu[ing] to put the people of Florida LAST." Even Junior piled on, no doubt pushed by Daddy Trump as he tweeted, "Fort Lauderdale is under water and DeSantis is campaigning in Ohio right now instead of taking care of the people suffering in his state." Of course the angry MAGA voices all kneel to Donald Trump, who has been gifted a wide-open vulnerability by his potential, fellow narcissistic 2024 contender. If Republicans want to beat Trump in the primaries in order to have a chance at taking the prize in the next election, they better do a lot better than lightweight DeSantis. President Biden was moved to tears on Friday during a stop at a Catholic shrine in Ireland when he discovered that a chaplain working there had performed last rites on his late son Beau Biden. "It was incredible to see him," Biden said later during remarks at the foot of a cathedral in Ballina, which is near Knock, the AP reports. "It seemed like a sign." Knock Shrine is a pilgrimage site where, according to Catholic lore, the saints Mary, Joseph, and John the Evangelist appeared near a stone wall in 1879. Biden touched the remaining old wall and toured the site with the Rev. Richard Gibbons. Gibbons said he discovered earlier in the day that the Rev. Frank O'Grady working at the site was the same one who'd performed last rites, a ceremony in the Catholic faith that spiritually prepares people for death, for the president's son. O'Grady is a former US Army chaplain and was formerly assigned to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where Beau Biden died in 2015 of brain cancer at age 46. But Gibbons said he did not know about the connection until Friday. "I told the president that," Gibbons told BBC Ulster. "He wanted to meet him straightaway, so he dispatched a Secret Service agent to go and find him." "He was crying, and it really affected him," Gibbons said of Biden. "Then we said a prayer, we said a decade of the rosary for his family, we lit a candle." O'Grady told Irish national broadcaster RTE that Biden "gave me a big hug, it was like a reunion. He told me he appreciated everything that was done." Biden misses his son, O'Grady said. "He has been grieving a lot, but I think the grief is kind of going down a bit. We talked a little bit about how grief can take several years." During a speech to the Irish parliament this week, Biden said it was his son who should have been standing there as president. (Read more President Biden stories.) TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain will join its Gulf Cooperation Council neighbours along with Egypt, Iraq and Jordan in Jeddah for an Arab regional meeting on ending Syrias isolation 12 years after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was shunned. The nine-nation talks in Jeddah, the Red Sea gateway to Mecca also comes after the landmark March 10 announcement of Saudi and Iran that they would resume ties, seven years after an acrimonious split. According to a Saudi statement on Wednesday, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad and his Saudi counterpart had discussed the necessary steps to end Damascuss isolation. 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 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. However, a Riyadh-based diplomat told AFP that a unanimous agreement is unlikely on the topic when the 22-nation Arab League meets next month in Saudi Arabia. The meeting aims to overcome the differences over Syria as much as possible, the diplomat said. It was possible that Foreign Minister Mekdad would attend the meeting to present the Syrian point of view, another diplomat said. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com A new era for Middle East! The late-night decision by Bahrain and Qatar on Wednesday to mend a long-running diplomatic rift and re-establish ties was hailed as such. The move, top officials said, was a major step to bolstering regional security and stability. Welcoming the diplomatic thaw, in a statement yesterday, the Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, said the decision would further strengthen the Gulf unity and the bonds of kinship shared by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations. He stressed that the decision has the support of GCC leaders, and reflects the success of the second meeting of the Bahraini-Qatari Follow-up Committee held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf in Riyadh. Bahrain had been the last holdout of four Arab nations that imposed a boycott on Qatar in 2017. In statements, the Bahraini and Qatari foreign ministries said the neighbours have decided to resume diplomatic relations. The announcement comes close on the heels of last months landmark, Chinese-brokered announcement that Iran and Saudi Arabia will work towards resuming ties. Bahrains agreement on the reconciliation with Qatar, ministries said, follows talks at the Gulf Cooperation Council headquarters in Saudi Arabia and two years after an Arab boycott of Qatar was lifted. The latest action also follows talks by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, with Qatari leader, in January. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt, in June 2017, slapped a boycott on Qatar over claims it backed Islamist groups. The quartet agreed to lift the restrictions at a summit in the Saudi desert city of Al-Ula, following a flurry of energetic diplomacy from the Trump administration. The four countries had banned Qatari planes and ships from using their airspace and territorial waters. The reconciliation accord was sealed in January 2021. In a late-night statement on Wednesday, the Bahraini-Qatari Follow-up Committee after a meeting in Riyadh said they decided to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries according to the principles of the United Nations charter and the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961. The two sides affirmed that this step stems from the mutual desire to develop bilateral relations and enhance Gulf unity and integration, it added. Qatars foreign ministry released a similar statement, the countrys state news agency reported. The three other states have already renewed relations, though the UAE and Qatar have yet to reopen their embassy. On January 4, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Ahmad Nasser Al-Sabah announced on state television that a deal had been agreed to open the airspace and land and sea borders between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar. Substack is a complicated platform. It is reinvigorating blogging and enabling writers to get paid for their work without giving up the rights to it. That's why I signed up for a Substack of my own (though I haven't quite figured out how best to use it for myself). At the same time, the company has struggled to avoid public tantrums and has angered many by creating a profitable platform for racists, transphobes, anti-vaxxers, and vitriol-spewers in general. This is where things get complicated: like it or not, I can understand the company's argument that their service is merely a tool, and that they have no right to dictate how people use that tool. While it has provided grants for some controversial writers, the company argues that it has not itself "platformed" them by injecting their content into users' feeds without consent. In this way, Substack has differentiated itself from more "traditional" social media platforms. Until recently. Substack just launched "Notes," a supplementary service to the standard subscription models which more-than-slightly resembles Twitter (much to the chagrin of some). To promote this new service, Substack CEO Chris Best spoke with Nilay Patel at The Verge for an hour-long chat on their Decoder podcast. During the conversation, Best does offer what I think is at least an interesting argument about the difference between "censorship" and "content moderation": If we draw a distinction between moderation and censorship, where moderation is, "Hey, I want to be a part of a community, of a place where there's a vibe or there's a set of rules or there's a set of norms or there's an expectation of what I'm going to see or not see that is good for me, and the thing that I'm coming to is going to try to enforce that set of rules," versus censorship, where you come and say, "Although you may want to be a part of this thing and this other person may want to be a part of it, too, and you may want to talk to each other and send emails, a third party's going to step in and say, 'You shall not do that. We shall prevent that.'" And I think, with the legacy social networks, the business model has pulled those feeds ever closer. There hasn't been a great idea for how we do moderation without censorship, and I think, in a subscription network, that becomes possible. But it's after that where things get interesting. Patel lobs Best what he himself admits is a softball. He asks if, in the scenario that Notes catch on as a Twitter replacement and begins to serve as a more broad social media platform, then will Substack moderate hateful content that explicitly goes against their terms of service. Here's the start of the exchange: PATEL: I just want to be clear, if somebody shows up on Substack and says "all brown people are animals and they shouldn't be allowed in America," you're going to censor that. That's just flatly against your terms of service. BEST: So, we do have a terms of service that have narrowly prescribed things that are not allowed. That one I'm pretty sure is just flatly against your terms of service. You would not allow that one. That's why I picked it. So there are extreme cases, and I'm not going to get into the Wait. Hold on. In America in 2023, that is not so extreme, right? "We should not allow as many brown people in the country." Not so extreme. Do you allow that on Substack? Would you allow that on Substack Notes? I think the way that we think about this is we want to put the writers and the readers in charge No, I really want you to answer that question. Is that allowed on Substack Notes? "We should not allow brown people in the country." I'm not going to get into gotcha content moderation. The exchange ends up being about 2000 words worth of Best equivocating with generic platitudes about free speech without actually answering Patel's question. You would think that even the most based CEO would know enough to smile at the reporter and offer their own bland platitude of "Hate has no place here" or "Well xenophobic displacement and genocide obviously go against our terms of service, so of course we'd handle it." Instead Best just keeps trying to talk around the subject. As Patel notes: I thought it was a gimme because, well, obviously, but also because I read Substack's content guidelines a little too loosely. [] Now, I think it's debatable whether calling to kick brown people out of the country incites violence I think it does, but I can see the argument that, in my example, it literally does not. I wish I had used a clearer example. That's on me. But I think it's more notable that Chris didn't correct me either way and actually didn't engage the question at all, which well, you'll see how that went. Not gonna lie: I was excited about Substack Notes, even despite the company's occasionally questionable decisions in the past. But this interview did not leave a good taste in my mouth. Is Substack Notes a 'Twitter clone'? We asked CEO Chris Best [Nilay Patel / The Verge] TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com On March 22, Bahrain and the Arab countries celebrate the seventy-eighth anniversary of the establishment of the League of Arab States. On this day in 1945, the Charter of the League of Arab States was signed. It was established to facilitate ties between Arab countries, safeguard the independence of member states, coordinate plans and policies. The movement also aims to achieve cooperation in economic, cultural, social and health affairs, protect Arab interests, and cooperate with international bodies to ensure security and peace and to regulate economic and social relations. Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the support of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, joined the Arab League on September 11, 1971. Since that day, Bahrain has been an active participant in the Leagues work and activities with its firm commitment to its charter and principles. The Kingdom presided over the fifteenth Arab Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Arab Republic of Egypt, in March 2003. The Kingdom of Bahrain interacts with the various bodies of the League of Arab States on all economic, developmental and social levels and has hosted a number of its meetings for that reason. History bears witness to the Kingdom of Bahrains defense of its Arab identity and being an integral part of the Arab nation, when the people of Bahrain affirmed their adherence to their Arab identity and nationality in the referendum conducted by the United Nations in 1971. Not to mention the initiatives taken by the Kingdom, under the leadership of His Majesty the King and the directions of the government headed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to support and develop joint Arab action, and its honorable stances in defending the interests of Arab states and people. Bahrain has supported many important Arab issues, including security, stability and regional peace, combating terrorism and piracy, sustainable development, food security, trade exchange, and youth support and care. On the economic front, the Kingdom played a prominent and effective role during the first economic development summit held in the State of Kuwait in January 2009. Bahrain also hosted the third summit of the ministerial meeting of the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum in May 2007, which had an important impact on advancing the process of Arab cooperation with China. The Kingdom was also a founding member of the Arab Free Trade Zone, which was launched on January 1, 1998 to reach the goal of the Arab common market. For Arab integration, the Kingdom has put forward many initiatives to develop and document joint Arab action, including the Arab Court for Human Rights, the joint Arab Stock Exchange project by the Kingdom, the home projects initiative and many other initiatives. Kingdom has ratified most of the agreements, treaties and charters issued by the League of Arab States. Bahrain always welcomed hosting any Arab institution for the promotion of Arab action, including hosting the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY) affiliated to the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC). Bahraini has also assumed many positions since its accession to the Arab League: Ambassador Abdulnabi Musayyib, former Head of the Arab League Mission in Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Najdi, former Advisor to the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, and . Faeqa Saeed Al-Saleh, former Advisor to the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. Bahrainis also handles several key positions currently in the League of Arab States, which confirms its constant keenness to participate in the Leagues efforts. Ambassador Khalil Ibrahim Al-Thawadi holds the position of Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Arab Affairs and National Security Sector, and Ambassador Youssef Jamil is the Head of Mission of the League of Arab States in New Delhi, and Representative Adel Al-Asoomi is the Speaker of the Arab Parliament. On the other hand, the Arab League was the supporter of Bahrain. The League declared more than once its full solidarity with Bahrain in confronting terrorist acts and activities aimed at destabilizing its security and stability, and strongly supporting the efforts made by the security services in the Kingdom to eradicate the threat of terrorism from across Bahrain. As the Arab League celebrates its 78th anniversary, it presents an opportunity to eval[1]uate the current circumstanc[1]es and capabilities, and reflect on the required performance and role amidst the exception[1]al conditions in the region, in order to facilitate the Leagues progress. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Ridgefield man convicted of crushing a police officer in a door frame during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was sentenced Friday to more than seven years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden ordered Patrick McCaughey III to a 90-month sentence or 7 years followed by two years of supervised release and $2,000 in restitution, the U.S. Department of Justice said. The sentence is less than half of the nearly 16 years 188 months that prosecutors had originally requested, which was the maximum allowed under federal sentencing guidelines. If applied, the sentence would have been the longest handed down so far to a Jan. 6 rioter, after Thomas Webster, a former New York City Police Department officer, was sentenced to 10 years in prison last year. During Friday's sentencing, McFadden described McCaughey, 25, as a poster child of all that was dangerous and appalling about the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. Your actions are some of the most egregious crimes that were committed on that dark day, the judge told McCaughey. McCaughey expressed shame for joining the mob of then-President Donald Trump's supporters who violated the Capitol. I'm sorry that I conducted myself less like a citizen and more like an animal that day, he said. McCaughey's 90-month sentence matches the second-longest prison sentence so far for a Capitol riot defendant. Its the same length as the sentence that another judge handed down to Albuquerque Cosper Head, a Tennessee man who dragged Metropolitan Police Department Officer Michael Fanone into a crowd of rioters. Assistant U.S. States Attorney Kimberly Paschall argued in a court filing last week the lengthy sentence was necessary for McCaughey to deter others from acts of domestic terrorism. The violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6 was cultivated to interfere, and did interfere, with one of the most important democratic processes we have: the transfer of power. And it is important to convey to future rioters and would-be mob participants especially those who intend to improperly influence the democratic process that their actions will have consequences, Paschall wrote in a sentencing memo on behalf of the government. There is possibly no greater factor that this court must consider. McCaugheys lawyers asked for their client to serve one year behind bars, arguing in his sentencing memo that the Connecticut man knows he was wrong for his actions during the riot. Although his conduct is indeed serious, it represents the only legal transgression this hard-working person has ever committed. It is also significant to note that his actions were not motivated by any desire for personal financial gain or any other type of benefit, attorney Dennis Boyle wrote on behalf of McCaughey. Rather, his actions, which he himself admits were reprehensible, were motivated by a misunderstanding as to the facts surrounding the 2020 election. Boyle said McCaughey knew next to nothing about the 2020 election and claimed he was heavily influenced by his fathers political views. In September, McFadden found McCaughey guilty on nine offenses after a bench trial, including aiding or abetting or assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers with a dangerous weapon. McCaugheys lawyers have indicated he intends to appeal the conviction and have argued he didnt purposely attack police with a riot shield as prosecutors have claimed. Attorney Lindy Urso, one of the lawyers representing McCaughey, said in an interview last year that his client made an idiotic decision to follow the mob trying to break into the Capitol. He was young, he broke some laws, but we do not believe that he wielded a shield as a weapon, Urso said in an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media Group following his clients conviction. In court documents, prosecutors alleged that McCaughey joined a mob attempting to break into the building through an entrance on the lower west terrace of the Capitol. During the scuffle, Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges became pinned in a door frame by a clear police riot shield wielded by McCaughey, according to the governments court filings. A video from the riot posted to YouTube shows Hodges screaming in pain as his gas mask was ripped off, exposing his bloodied mouth. Hodges testified before the U.S. House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack that he feared being dragged out and lynched by the mob. My arms were pinned and effectively useless, trapped between either the shield on my left or the door frame on my right with my posture granting me no function strength or freedom of movement. I was effectively defenseless and gradually sustaining injury from the increasing pressure of the mob, Hodges told the Jan. 6 committee. While pinned, another rioter grabbed his gas mask and used it to beat my head against the door, Hodges said. He was crushed further as the crowd began a heave-ho motion against the line of law enforcement officers trying to hold the entrance to the Capitol, according to Hodges and government court filings. A rioter also stole his baton and used it to beat Hodges, the video shows. Hodges was later able to retreat back within the ranks of law enforcement officers guarding the entrance. At trial, McCaughey was found guilty of seven felony charges: Three counts of aiding or abetting or assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers, including one involving a dangerous weapon; one count of obstruction of an official proceeding; one count of interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder; one count of disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and one count of engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. He was also found guilty of two misdemeanor charges: disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and committing an act of violence in the Capitol building or grounds. McCaughey was arrested on Jan. 19, 2021 in South Salem, N.Y. RIDGEFIELD When he arrives at work every day on Main Street, Mark Travaglini looks over at the store his late father owned and operated for decades Squash's Ridgefield Office Supply. "I can still see his (gold Cadillac) in the back where he parked in the same spot every day because he was the first one there," said Mark Travaglini, 66, who works as a Realtor at Houlihan Lawrence. His office is just two doors away from the store his father, Aldo "Squash" Travaglini, opened in 1953. But after 70 years in business, that store, which had been in the Travaglini family for more than four decades, will be closing its doors for good May 6. "Back then, it was the center of town," Mark Travaglini said of the store. "It had the big wall of magazines, comic books and rows and rows of greeting cards. You could get everything you wanted there from school supplies to Bayer Aspirin." Squash's has had four owners Aldo Travaglini and then Mark Travaglini, followed by Greg and Judy Peterson, who owned it for 10 years. "It's a beloved store," said Whitney Williams, the owner since 2015. But she said she's closing because sales have gone down significantly since COVID-19. Williams said she'll miss her customers, who made the store the hub of the community. "We have customers that come in three or four times a day, just to say hello or check their emails if they don't have a computer," said Williams, who hugs everyone who comes inside the store. "It's been just such a wonderful experience to be a part of such a special town," said Williams, a Ridgefield resident. "Serving our customers has been a pleasure. I'm so grateful for the experience. It's like family ... and we're going to miss that." 'A staple' H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media As he recalled the store's heydays, Travaglini said that when he was a kid, fathers worked long hours away from home to support their families. "You don't really know the other side of your dad, especially from our generation, because he was working all the time. He was out of the house before us kids were up, to get to the store, which opened at 5 in the morning," said Travaglini, who worked for his father when he was in his late 20s, before owning the store himself. "We were open seven days a week, 365 days a year even a half-day on all the major holidays because he felt it wasn't fair to make his customers drive out of town to get a paper on a holiday," he said. "He told that story a bunch of times, especially when I started working on the holidays because I didn't want to," Travaglini said of his father, who died in 2007 at age 93. Working with his dad gave Travaglini a chance to know him as a person, "and the relationship he had with all the hundreds of people that would come in every day and talk to him. That's pretty cool," he said. Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi remembers working for Squash on weekends as a teenager. It was his first job. "Squash's, years ago, was where you got the New York Times. We would stack them in the front of the store, and they would be (very) high. You could just barely get by on the sidewalk," Marconi said. Marconi said Aldo Travaglini was referred to as "Big Squash" while his brother Lou Travaglini, the dispatcher for the Ridgefield Police Department, was "Little Squash." The Main Street store was "a staple" during the time "when newspapers were thriving," Williams said. She had worked at an office job in Manhattan for 25 years. But Williams left to spend more time with her three children, who were teenagers at the time she started working at the store. "I came into Squash's just to get a folder and I saw a 'help wanted' sign on the door for a clerk position," she said. "The owner approached me about five months in and said, 'Listen, we see how much you love working here, do you want to buy it?'" Williams said. "I jumped." All of her kids have since worked in the store. "This was their first paycheck," Williams said. Jelly beans to journals H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media The store is also known for its jelly beans, Williams said, after Aldo Travaglini decades ago found a secret recipe for them. "That was kind of his way to bring in more money during the slow months of January, February, March and around Easter," she said. "People, to this day, still come in to get the jelly beans. They start poking their heads in like February. 'Are they here yet? Are the beans in yet?'" she added. Customers also went to Squash's for its print shop and fine stationery "people still do write letters" as well as journals, art and school supplies, greeting cards and fountain pens, Williams said. Years ago, Squash's even boasted a soda fountain. "We get people grown up coming to the shop that remember coming in and having a cherry coke for five cents, 30 years ago," Williams said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BEIJING (AP) Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu will visit Russia next week for meetings with counterpart Sergei Shoigu and other military officials, China's Defense Ministry said Friday. Lis visit underscores Chinas strengthening engagement with Russia, with which it has largely aligned its foreign policy in an attempt to reshape the world order to diminish the influence of the United States and other Western democracies. China has refused to criticize Russias invasion of Ukraine and blamed the U.S. and NATO for provoking Moscow. During a 2022 visit to Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping issued a joint statement declaring a no limits relationship between the two countries. Li will also visit Russias military academy during his April 16-19 trip, Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Tan Kefei said. The trip follows an official visit to Moscow last month by Xi that emphasized how China is increasingly becoming the senior partner in the relationship as it provides Russia with political cover and an economic lifeline during its war on Ukraine. Officially, however, China remains neutral in the conflict and has yet to offer a full-throated endorsement of Russia's actions. While Moscow and Beijing have said they would increase contacts between their militaries and stage more joint sea and air patrols and drills, the Chinese foreign minister said Friday that China would not be helping Russia with weapons, as the U.S. and other Western allies have feared. Sino-Russian military relations have continued to operate at a high level, and new progress has been made, Tan was quoted as saying in a ministry news release announcing Li's visit. The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era has been enriched by strategic communication, joint exercises and practical cooperation at the military level, Tan said. Military power in China is concentrated in the ruling Communist Party's Military Affairs Commission led by Xi and two vice chairs. An aerospace engineer by training, Li is under U.S. sanctions over Chinese purchases of Russian fighter jets and air defense missiles. He was appointed minister in March at the annual meeting of China's ceremonial legislature. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PARIS (AP) Frances Constitutional Council on Friday approved an unpopular plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 in a victory for President Emmanuel Macron after months of mass protests that have damaged his leadership. The decision dismayed or enraged critics of the pension plan. Hundreds of union activists and others gathered peacefully in Paris Friday evening before some groups broke off in marches toward the historic Bastille plaza and beyond, setting fires to garbage bins and scooters as police fired tear gas or pushed them back. Unions and Macron's political opponents vowed to maintain pressure on the government to withdraw the bill, and activists threatened scattered new protests Saturday. Macron's office said he would enact the law in coming days, and he has said he wants it implemented by the end of the year. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said Friday's decision marks the end of the institutional and democratic path of this reform, adding that there was no victor" in what has turned into a nationwide standoff and France's worst social unrest in years. The council rejected some measures in the pension bill, but the higher age was central to Macrons plan and the target of protesters anger. The government argued that the reform is needed to keep the pension system afloat as the population ages; opponents proposed raising taxes on the wealthy or employers instead, and said the changes threaten a hard-won social safety net. In a separate but related decision, the council rejected a request by left-wing lawmakers to allow for a possible referendum on enshrining 62 as the maximum official retirement age. The council will rule on a second, similar request, next month. Carl Pfeiffer, a 62-year-old retiree protesting outside City Hall, warned that the Constitutional Councils decision wont spell the end of tensions. The council members are irresponsible, because the anger that will come right after in the country, its their fault, he said. Bartender Lena Cayo, 22, said she was disappointed but not surprised by the decision. We are protesting for so many weeks and the government didnt hear us, she said. "Workers who have gone on strike or protested the legislation since January are fighting for their rights, but nothing changes. As tensions mounted hours before the decision, Macron invited labor unions to meet with him on Tuesday no matter what the Constitutional Council decision was, his office said. The unions rejected Macrons invitation, noting that he had refused their previous offers of a meeting, and called for mass new protests on May 1, international workers rights day. Unions have been the organizers of 12 nationwide protests since January and have a critical role in trying to tamp down excessive reactions by protesters. Violence by pockets of ultra-left radicals have marked the otherwise peaceful nationwide marches. The plan to increase the retirement age was meant to be Macron's showcase measure in his second term. The council decision caps months of tumultuous debates in parliament and fervor in the streets. Spontaneous demonstrations were held around France ahead of the nine-member council's ruling. Opponents of the pension reform blockaded entry points into some cities, including Rouen in the west and Marseille in the south, slowing or stopping traffic. The prime minister was interrupted while visiting a supermarket outside Paris by a group of people chanting, We don't want it, referring to the way she skirted the vote by lawmakers to advance the pension reform. The governments decision to get around a parliamentary vote in March by using special constitutional powers heightened the fury of the measure's opponents, as well as their determination. Another group awaited Borne in the parking lot. Union leaders have said the Constitutional Council's decisions would be respected, but have vowed to continue protests in an attempt to get Macron to withdraw the measure. The leader of the moderate CFDT, Laurent Berger, warned that there will be repercussions. Holding out hope to upend the decision, unions and some protesters recalled parallels with a contested 2006 measure about work contracts for youth that sent students, joined by unions, into the streets. That legislation had been pushed through parliament without a vote and given the green light by the Constitutional Council only to be later scrapped to bring calm to the country. Far-right lawmaker Marine Le Pen denounced the pension reform as brutal and unjust. In a statement, she said that once the reform is put into practice it will mark the definitive rupture between the French people and Emmanuel Macron." Polls have consistently shown that the majority of French citizens are opposed to working two more years before being able to reap pension benefits. The legislation also requires people to work 43 years to receive a full pension, among other changes to the system. ___ Jade le Deley and Jeffrey Schaeffer in Paris contributed. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the French government at https://apnews.com/hub/france-government This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MOSCOW (AP) Russian President Putin on Friday signed a bill allowing authorities to issue electronic notices to draftees and reservists amid the fighting in Ukraine, sparking fears of a new wave of mobilization. Russias military service rules previously required the in-person delivery of notices to conscripts and reservists who are called up for duty. Under the new law, the notices issued by local military conscription offices will continue to be sent by mail but they would be considered valid from the moment they are put on a state portal for electronic services. In the past, many Russians avoided the draft by staying away from their address of record. The new law closes that loophole in an apparent effort to create a tool for quickly beefing up the military ahead of a widely anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive in the coming weeks. Recipients who fail to show up for service would be prohibited from leaving Russia, would have their drivers licenses suspended and would be barred from selling their apartments and other assets. The bill signed into law by Putin was published on the official register of government documents. Kremlin critics and rights activists denounced the legislation as a step toward a digital prison camp that gives unprecedented powers to the military conscription offices. Lyudmila Narusova, the widow of former St. Petersburg mayor Anatoly Sobchak, was the only house member who spoke against the measure when the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, considered the bill Wednesday. Narusova, whose late husband was Putin's mentor, charged that the bill contradicts the countrys constitution and various laws, and strongly objected to its hasty approval. The swift enactment of the law fueled fears of the government initiating another wave of mobilization following the one that Putin ordered in the fall. Russian authorities deny that another mobilization is being planned. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this week that the measure was needed to streamline the outdated call-up system in view of the flaws that were revealed by last falls partial mobilization. There was a lot of mess in military conscription offices, he said. The purpose of the bill is to clean up this mess and make the system modern, effective and convenient for citizens. Putin announced a call-up of 300,000 reservists in September after a Ukrainian counteroffensive that pushed Russian forces out of broad areas in the east. The mobilization order prompted an exodus of Russian men that was estimated to number in the hundreds of thousands. Observers say the new law appears to give authorities a mechanism for quickly beefing up the ranks in preparation for a new Ukrainian attack. A possible reason is that they see that the Ukrainians are getting ready for an offensive, said Abbas Gallyamov, a former Putin speechwriter turned Kremlin critic who has left Russia. Gallyamov has been labeled a foreign agent by the Russian authorities, a designation that implies additional government scrutiny and carries strong pejorative connotations aimed at undermining the recipients credibility. He also has been put on a wanted list for criminal suspects. Gallyamov said the law could fuel smoldering discontent but would be unlikely to trigger protests. On the one hand, there is a growing discontent and reluctance to fight, but on the other hand there is a fear of escalating repressions, he said. People are put before a difficult choice between going to battle and dying, or landing in prison if they protest. MOSCOW (AP) Belarusian air force crews have completed their training for using tactical nuclear weapons as part of Russia's plan to deploy the weapons to its ally Belarus amid the fighting in neighboring Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday. The ministry released a video in which a Belarusian pilot said that the training course in Russia had given the crews of the Belarusian air force's Su-25 ground attack jets the necessary skills for using the weapons. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared last month that Moscow planned to put some of its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. It was another attempt by the Kremlin leader to dangle the nuclear threat to discourage the West from supporting Ukraine. Russia has a union agreement with Belarus that envisions close political, economic and military ties. Russian troops used Belarusian territory to roll into Ukraine from the north in February 2022 and have maintained a presence in Belarus. The deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus would put them closer to potential targets in Ukraine and NATO members in Eastern and Central Europe. Belarus shares a 1,250-kilometer (778-mile) border with NATO members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Such weapons are intended to destroy enemy troops on the battlefield. They have a relatively short range and much less power compared with nuclear warheads fitted to long-range strategic missiles, which are capable of obliterating whole cities. Putin said that construction of storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons would be completed in Belarus by July 1. Russia also has helped modernize Belarusian warplanes to adapt them to carrying nuclear weapons and provided the country with Iskander short-range missiles that could be fitted with a nuclear warhead. Putin has emphasized that Russia would retain control over any nuclear weapons deployed to Belarus, just as the U.S. controls its tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of its NATO allies. The authoritarian president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has suggested that some of Russias strategic nuclear weapons might also be deployed to Belarus along with part of Moscows tactical nuclear arsenal. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin again mentioned the possibility Friday, saying it could be the next step, if the West continued what he described as its hostile course. We will respond to force only with force. Otherwise, they don't get it in the West, Khrenin said. We are already preparing the sites that we have. Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine had Soviet nuclear weapons stationed in their territory but handed them over to Russia after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. In Fairfax County, Virginia, police are investigating two incidents when drivers of "suspicious" buses attempted to pick up elementary school children. In one case, a citizen attempted to talk with the driver of a white bus but he shut the door and drove away. In another, the driver of a yellow bus pulled up to a stop and encouraged kids to come aboard. Fairfax County Police have since identified one of the drivers, tweeting that "the bus was there for another pick up and no criminal activity suspected." They are still looking for the driver of the other bus. From WTOP: A little more than three years after the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, significant portions of southern Connecticut's economy are faring better than the economies of New York City, according to an analysis released Thursday by the New York Federal Reserve Bank. The New Haven and Milford metro area has seen modest employment growth of 1.5 percent after having surpassed the number of jobs lost at the start of the pandemic. Fairfield County has recovered all of the jobs that it lost at the start of pandemic and has added jobs in eight of 12 employment categories. Jaison Abel, head of Urban and Regional Studies for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, said Fairfield County has benefited from "strong gains in the transportation and warehousing sector and business service jobs that lend themselves to remote work." "It's a result of a massive shift from in-person retailing to purchasing online," Abel said of the employment gains in the transportation and warehouse sector. "It's a shift that is likely to become somewhat permanent." Between February 2020 and February 2023, employment in the transportation and warehousing sector in Fairfield County grew by 12 percent. Employment in Fairfield County's construction sector also grew by 12 percent over the same period. Jason Bram, an economic research advisor in urban and regional studies for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, said Fairfield County's gains in construction employment reflect a housing shortage in southwestern Connecticut. "The lack of housing affordability is particularly noticeable in Fairfield County," Bram said. One employment sector in Fairfield County that hasn't fully recovered yet is the financial services sector, he said. Employment levels in the sector are 4 percent lower now than they were at the start of the pandemic and Bram said the number of financial services jobs was already declining long before the pandemic started. "Overall employment in the sector (in Fairfield County) was at 42,000 by the end of 2008 recession," he said. "By the start of pandemic, that number had declined by 10 percent." Bram said employment levels in Manhattan "remain in a deeper hole than the outer boroughs," Employment in Manhattan is still at 3 percent below pre-pandemic levels, he said, with the brunt of job losses coming in businesses that serve tourists as well as office workers who commute into the city. But Bram said it would be unrealistic to expect New York City's economy to have fully recovered from the pandemic-related job losses. "It took five years to recover from the 2008 recession and four years to recover from the one in 2000," he said. "It doesn't seem like such a negative thing to me that pandemic job loss hasn't fully been recovered." NEW HAVEN An executive administrative assistant of the city's Office of Building Inspection & Enforcement has been arrested Friday for a charge involving alleged larceny for falsification of her overtime records. Mayor Justin Elicker brought that information forward Friday afternoon at a City Hall press conference after the police couldnt locate the individual. She turned herself in hours after her charge was made public. Denise "Dennice" Pair, whose job duties included collecting weekly timesheets for the entire department into a software called MUNIS, is accused of fraudulently entering additional, unapproved overtime hours for herself. The alleged falsification was discovered through an audit into overtime across the departments in October when the city found "an abnormal amount" of overtime payments for Pair, according to the mayor. As a result, she was put on administrative leave in November, Elicker said. In the first four months of the current fiscal year, Pair allegedly collected about $11,500 in overtime pay, which Elicker said far exceeded any authorized approval. According to the investigation report, Pair received a total of $105,471.70 in overtime payments during fiscal years 2015-23. The Police Department secured an arrest warrant for the case last Thursday and made several unsuccessful attempts to serve the warrant prior to the press conference. The arrest warrant includes a first-degree larceny charge, a class B felony that carries a range penalty of one to 20 years of prison and up to a $15,000 fine. "By and large, the City of New Haven has dedicated, hardworking employees that are serving our residents and city with integrity and professionalism," Elicker said. Noting that Pair was an "unfortunate exception," Elicker said she "stole money," and the city will do everything it can to hold her accountable "for this abuse of taxpayer and government funds." Pair couldn't be immediately reached for comment Friday afternoon. Because the police had yet to be able to locate Pair, Elicker said the Police Department had an open be-on-the-lookout-for order. "At this point, we are urging Ms. Pair to turn herself in and to face accountability for her actions," Elicker said before she turned herself in shortly afterward. Pair has a bond of $5,000, police said in a press release notifying her surrender. The mayor said the city is moving forward with its employee disciplinary process to determine whether termination is recommended. The city's website lists Pair's position as vacant. If Pair were to be found guilty, Elicker said the city will seek restitution of the funds and would make a request to seize her pension funds through the state attorney general. Pair has been with the city for about 12 years. She worked as an administrative assistant for the Department of Transportation, Traffic, & Parking from September 2011 through 2013. Her current job at OBIE pays an annual base salary of approximately $57,177. "Over the course of those 12 years, Ms. Pair received over $145,000 in overtime pay," Elicker said. "It is possible and frankly probable that Ms. Pair's fraudulent activity was ongoing prior to this fiscal year," and an investigation is looking into it. Elicker said there will be system improvements to ensure something like this doesnt happen again, including improved audits, more random spot checks by the Finance Department and a new timekeeping system across the City Hall. In direct response to the alleged incident, Elicker said the city is adding an additional layer of managerial review of timesheets department heads will now be required to review all overtime both before and after an overview submission every week. Mayoral candidates criticism Shafiq Abdussabur, a retired police officer and former alder, said the details the city disclosed today were another testament of a poorly-run, top-down government at City Hall. With City staff dwindling and low morale, all-time record lows for our school system, and violent crime on the rise, its going to take a strong leader to build the bridges needed for our City to flourish, he said. Moments like these are a reminder that we deserve a Mayor to unite and inspire New Haven from the bottom up. Liam Brennan, a former prosecutor, said what happened called into question the administrations managerial competence. As the former head of a statewide federal anti-corruption taskforce, a statewide legal services organization, and an inspector generals office, I will return trust, transparency and responsible management to city hall, Brennan said. Tom Goldenberg, a consultant, said Elicker has failed to live up to his promise of a well-run City Hall, noting that the city hasnt confirmed a controller since March 2020 something he claimed is in violation of the citys charter. (The current one is in an acting capacity.) Goldenberg said: The fact that there has not been a confirmed City Controller for three years contributes to unfortunate incidents like this." Note: The story has been updated to include information about Pair's surrender. NEW HAVEN Mayor Justin Elicker said a mistake was made when police stormed into the wrong apartment last week while conducting a raid associated with an investigation into child sex abuse material. Stacey Wezenter, the woman living in the mistaken apartment, filed a complaint against the police department Tuesday after she said officers broke down her door and put her in handcuffs. Authorities were looking for the womans downstairs neighbor, who was a suspect in the investigation. In a statement released Thursday, Elicker said he spoke with Wezenter earlier this week. She shared how it was a very traumatic event for her, which is completely understandable, Elicker said in the statement. In addition to extending my apologies, I let her know that whatever the city can do to help support her and her family, to please let me know. The suspect was determined to be Tim Yergeau, marketing and communications director for Long Wharf Theatre, officials said. Five days after the botched raid, officials said Yergeau died by suicide in his apartment. In a phone call Thursday, Wezenter said shes not only upset about the police intrusion, but also about her neighbors death. Wezenter recalled him as always being very respectful and never made her feel uncomfortable about her young son. Though New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson would not identify the suspect, he confirmed, The person who died was definitely the suspect in a child pornography investigation and the person who committed suicide. The police department has declined to provide records in the case, including the search warrant and the complaint filed by Wezenter, noting they are part of an open and active investigation. The raid occurred around 6 a.m. on April 6. Wezenter heard a loud noise and realized police had broken down her door. She watched as officers went through her apartment with guns drawn and flashlights, clearing each room. They put her up against a wall and handcuffed her, repeatedly asking her where the man was located, she said. Confused and scared, Wezenter told officers she was with her children and asked why she was in handcuffs. They then asked her, Whos Tim? and she explained he was her downstairs neighbor. She said officers realized they were in the wrong apartment when they saw her 4-year-old sons toys. Once police took off the restraints, they asked Wezenter to show her Tims apartment, she said. In his statement, Elicker said Jacobson "has opened an Internal Affairs investigation and will work to ensure this doesnt happen again. When the police department obtains a search warrant and enters a residents home, it (is) obviously important to make sure its the right one and that, by and large, is almost always the case, Elicker said in the statement. Further, any criminal activity involving child pornography and young minors that may be at-risk are situations that we want our law enforcement officers to act on as expeditiously as possible to prevent any additional harm. Clearly, there was some confusion in this instance on what the right floor was, and a mistake was made, he said. To report cases of child exploitation, visit www.CyberTipline.com. Anyone who has thoughts of harming themselves, or seeks access to free and confidential mental health support, can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-8255 (en Espanol: 888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of Hearing dial 711 and then 988) or visit 988Lifeline.org. People in need can also text the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. 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 Mariupols theater. In a statement Thursday, Wikimedias senior legal manager, Leighanna Mixter, said the organization has not taken down the disputed content and will continue to challenge the rulings as without foundation. She said the the steady stream of takedown orders Wikimedia has received in recent months challenge information that is well-sourced and in line with applicable Wikipedia policies improved by Wikipedia volunteer editors with more citations and up-to-date information. Wikimedia has two active appeals for fines related to takedown notices for topics regarding the invasion of Ukraine and the latest case does not present any new legal issues, she said. These orders are part of an ongoing effort by the Russian government to limit the spread of reliable, well-sourced information in the country, she added, asserting that Wikimedia would resist all attempts to try to curb free knowledge. A Wikipedia page on the issue notes, 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 more action against specific articles is planned. - AP Technology Writer Frank Bajak contributed from Boston. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court said Friday it was temporarily keeping in place federal rules for use of an abortion drug, while it takes time to more fully consider the issues raised in a court challenge. In an order signed by Justice Samuel Alito, the court put a five-day pause on the fast-moving case so the justices can decide whether lower court rulings restricting the Food and Drug Administrations approval of the drug, mifepristone, should be allowed to take effect in the short term. The justices are being asked at this point only to determine what parts of an April 7 ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas, as modified by an appellate ruling Wednesday, can be in force while the case continues. The order expires late Wednesday, suggesting the court will decide that issue by then. The court finds itself immersed in a new fight involving abortion less than a year after conservative justices reversed Roe v. Wade and allowed more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright. President Joe Biden's administration and New York-based Danco Laboratories, the maker of the pill, asked the justices to intervene. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement Friday evening that the administration continues to stand by FDAs evidence-based approval of mifepristone, and we will continue to support the FDAs independent, expert authority to review, approve, and regulate a wide range of prescription drugs. She added, The stakes of this fight could not be higher in the face of ongoing attacks on womens health, and we will continue to fight to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade. A lawyer for the anti-abortion doctors and medical organizations suing over mifepristone said the court's action Friday was standard operating procedure and urged the justices to allow the appeals court-ordered changes to take effect by the middle of next week. The type of order issued by the court Friday, an administrative stay, ordinarily is not an indication of what the justices will do going forward. It was signed by Alito because he handles emergency filings from Texas. Alito also is the author of last years opinion overturning Roe v. Wade. The Justice Department and Danco both warned of regulatory chaos and harm to women if the high court doesn't block the lower-court rulings that had the effect of tightening FDA rules under which the drug, mifepristone, can be prescribed and dispensed. The new limits would have taken effect Saturday if the court hadn't acted. "This application concerns unprecedented lower court orders countermanding FDAs scientific judgment and unleashing regulatory chaos by suspending the existing FDA-approved conditions of use for mifepristone," Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, wrote Friday, less than two days after the appellate ruling. The Biden administration and Danco now want a more lasting order that would keep the current rules in place as long as the legal fight over mifepristone continues. As a fallback, they asked the court to take up the issue, hear arguments and decide by early summer a legal challenge to mifepristone that anti-abortion doctors and medical organizations filed last year. The court rarely acts so quickly to grant full review of cases before at least one appeals court has thoroughly examined the legal issues involved. A ruling from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals late Wednesday would prevent the pill, used in the most common abortion method, from being mailed or prescribed without an in-person visit to a doctor. It also would withdraw the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone for use beyond the seventh week of pregnancy. The FDA says its safe through 10 weeks. Still, the appeals court did not entirely withdraw FDA approval of mifepristone while the fight over it continues. The 5th circuit narrowed an April 7 ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, whose far-reaching and virtually unprecedented order would have blocked FDA approval of the pill. He gave the administration a week to appeal. To the governments knowledge, this is the first time any court has abrogated FDAs conditions on a drugs approval based on a disagreement with the agencys judgment about safety much less done so after those conditions have been in effect for years, Prelogar wrote. Erin Hawley, a lawyer for the challengers, said in a statement that the FDA has put politics ahead of health concerns in its actions on medication abortion. The 5th Circuit rightly required the agency to prioritize womens health by restoring critical safeguards, and well urge the Supreme Court to keep that accountability in place, said Hawley, a senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group that also argued to overturn Roe v. Wade. Mifepristone was approved by the FDA more than two decades ago and is used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol. Adding to the uncertainty, a separate federal judge in Washington on Thursday clarified his own order from last week to make clear that the FDA is not to do anything that might block mifepristones availability in 17 Democrat-led states suing to keep it on the market. Its unclear how the FDA can comply with court orders in both cases, a situation that Prelogar described Friday as untenable. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, in a statement Friday night, said the April 7 ruling out of Texas poses an existential threat to the FDAs authority to review and approve a wide range of drugs. If it stands, no medicine approved by the FDA would be safe from these attacks. Use of medication abortion jumped significantly after the FDA's 2016 rule expansion, according to data gathered by the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. In 2017, medication abortion accounted for 39% percent of abortions, but by 2020 it had increased to become the most common method, accounting for 53% of all abortions. Experts have said the use of medication abortion has increased since the court overturned Roe. 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. 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 ruling late Wednesday 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. ___ Associated Press writers Paul Weber in Austin, Texas, and Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SANAA, Yemen (AP) An exchange of more than 800 prisoners linked to Yemens long-running war began on Friday, the International Committee for the Red Cross said. The United Nations-brokered deal, in the works for months, comes amid concerted diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict. The three-day operation will be the most significant prisoner exchange in Yemen since the Saudi-led coalition and their rivals, the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, released more than 1,000 detainees in October 2020. Thousands of people are still believed to be held as prisoners of war since the conflict erupted, with others missing. But Fabrizio Carboni, the Red Cross regional director, said the release gives a sense of momentum for efforts to end the war. "This will show that there is no way back to violence," Carboni told journalists. The Red Cross later said that a total of 318 detainees were released on Friday. In Sanaa, the Houthi-held capital of Yemen, dozens of former prisoners descended from a plane to a marching band and traditional Yemeni dancers, wearing ribbons with the colors of the Yemeni flag. Family members and a reception line of Houthi political leaders greeted the released with hugs and kisses. An injured man was seen supported by medical workers. Carboni acknowledged some former prisoners needed medical care before making their flight, but nothing out of the ordinary. Meanwhile, prisoners released by the rebel Houthis took flights to Aden, the seat of the countrys internationally recognized government allied with Saudi Arabia. Two rounds of simultaneous flights Friday between Aden and Sanaa transferred the prisoners. As part of the exchange, flights will transport prisoners from government-controlled cities inside Yemen and Saudi Arabia to Sanaa, said Majed Fadail, a deputy minister for human rights for Yemens government. Yemens conflict began in 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa and much of the countrys north. The internationally recognized government fled to the south and then into exile in Saudi Arabia. The Houthi takeover prompted a Saudi-led coalition to intervene months later and the conflict turned into a regional proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with the United States long involved on the periphery, providing intelligence assistance to the kingdom. However, international criticism over Saudi airstrikes killing civilians saw the U.S. pull back its support. The war has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the worlds worst humanitarian disasters. The prisoner exchange had been scheduled to start earlier in the week but was delayed because of apparent logistical reasons. The deal calls for the Houthis to release more than 180 prisoners, including Saudi and Sudanese troops fighting with the Saudi-led coalition, and four Yemeni journalists. The journalists were detained in recent years and sentenced to death by a Houthi-controlled court in a trial described by Amnesty International as grossly unfair. The deal also includes the release of top military officials held by the Houthis since the start of the war. Among those released Friday were Maj. Gen. Mahmoud al-Subaihi, who was the defense minister when the war erupted, and Nasser Mansour Hadi, the brother of former Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. In return, the Saudi-led coalition and Yemeni government are scheduled to release more than 700 Houthis they hold, the rebels said. Saudi Arabia has already freed 13 Houthi detainees who returned to Sanaa on April 9, ahead of a trip by Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed bin Saeed al-Jaber, to the Yemeni capital. Including those detainees, the deal should see 869 prisoners released, the Red Cross says. Al-Jaber's visit to Sanaa was part of Oman-brokered talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, aiming to revive a nationwide cease-fire that expired in October and relaunch inter-Yemeni peace talks to end the conflict. Those talks concluded on Friday and were serious and positive, said Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the chief Houthi negotiator, adding there will be another round of talks. He didn't give further details. A deal last month between Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore ties has boosted negotiations between the kingdom and the Houthis and invigorated hopes of a negotiated settlement to the Yemeni conflict. You need a form of political courage to agree on a peace plan and thats in the hand of the parties, said Carboni, the Red Cross official. Hans Grundberg, the U.N. envoy for Yemen, lauded the release and said that thousands of Yemeni families are still waiting for the return of their loved ones." He also urged for a U.N.-brokered solution to end the war. However, some analysts fear that Saudi Arabias withdrawal could see a new version of the conflict erupt between Yemens rival administrations. There are also secessionists who want to restore a separate country of South Yemen, which existed from 1967 to 1990. I see prospects for temporary peace between the Saudis and the Houthis but escalation of violence within Yemen, said Nadwa Dawsari, a nonresident scholar with the Middle East Institute, a Washington-based think tank. Yemen also remains home to al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, viewed by Washington as a dangerous offshoot of the Islamic extremist group. The group has been able to take advantage of the conflict's chaos to establish bases in the south of the country. The Arab world's most impoverished country, Yemen is also struggling with devastated infrastructure and gutted medical services that the prisoners, many of whom are injured and seriously ill, will be coming home to, said Afrah Nasser, a nonresident fellow at the Arab Center Washington DC. This is the sad part of this happy news," she said. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PANAMA CITY (AP) Two U.N. groups said Thursday that the number of migrants crossing the dangerous Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama could soar to as many as 400,000 this year. That would represent a huge increase from the 250,000 migrants estimated to have crossed the roadless, jungle-clad route in 2022. The U.N. agencies for refugees and migration said in a report that nearly 100,000 people may have already made the crossing so far this year, six times more than in the similar period of last year. If that trend keeps up, it could mean many more migrants seeking to reach the United States through Central America and Mexico. The groups called it an unprecedented movement (of people) through the Americas. The United States pledged its forces will assist their Colombian and Panamanian counterparts with intelligence gathering to dismantle smuggling rings operating in the Darien Gap, which is a key route for migrants heading to the U.S. from South America, a senior Biden administration official said Wednesday. The area 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 campaign to shut down the Darien Gap route. 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 May 11. 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. A controversial residential project at South and Hamburg streets in Buffalo's Old First Ward is poised to get underway, after the developers won a legal victory over opponents and demolished a house on part of the site in recent days. "We're proceeding," said Joseph Carubba. "Hopefully we'll be breaking ground in the next month or month and a half." Sign up for the Buffalo Next free newsletter The News' Buffalo Next team covers the changing Buffalo Niagara economy. Get the news in your inbox 5 days a week. Carubba's JC Properties QOZB LLC and Utah-based J.B. Earl Co. are planning to construct four buildings with 85 apartments, using four properties at 12 and 31 Vandalia St., 32 Hamburg and 148 South. The $25 million to $30 million project would occupy a total of 1.4 acres on the three streets, but would be separated by other homes and properties. The RIV project was approved by the Planning Board in January 2022, after the panel accepted the standard environmental and waterfront consistency reviews in November 2021. But a group of 19 residents and businesses in the Old First Ward and Valley neighborhoods sued the City of Buffalo and the developer, arguing that the Planning Board failed to follow its own procedures in granting the approval. The group, led by Gene McCarthy's Brewery & Kitchen owner William Metzger, asserted that the developers submitted inaccurate information to the Planning Board, which in turn failed to detect and challenge the "errors, omissions and obvious inconsistencies" among various documents. Those alleged errors were found by an environmental and civil engineer Robert Gallucci who was hired by the group to evaluate the project, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged that the developer failed to include a required environmental form among its documents, while the city panel failed to lay out its findings in writing. Besides Metzger and his business, the plaintiffs included the Old First Ward Association, the Valley Community Association, Elevator Alley Kayak, and 18 residents who live within a half-mile of the project site. "It wasnt that we want to stop the development," said Peg Overdorf, former executive director of the Valley Community Association. "We just wanted him to work with us for a good development." State Supreme Court Justice Catherine Nugent Panepinto initially ruled in favor of the challengers last summer, but that was overturned last month when the Appellate Division ruled that the lawsuit was filed after the statute of limitations expired. The opponents are discussing their options which could include appealing to a higher court or hiring a watchdog to monitor the development project. "We didnt have a lot of pathways forward, but folks are still concerned, and still want to do whatever they can," said Patrick Gormley, executive director of the Old First Ward Community Association. In the meantime, the developers aren't waiting. A few days ago, demolition crews tore down a house at 148 South, clearing the way for Phase 1 of the two-phase project to begin. That will take about 18 months, followed by another 18 months for the second phase of construction, Carubba said. Another house will be demolished on Vandalia for the second phase. Both phases account for about 40-45 units, Carubba added. "Were excited about it. Were going to do Phase 1, just as planned," Carubba said. Two young Hamilton men convicted of manslaughter for organizing and participating in a parking lot ambush that led to the stabbing death of 19-year-old Ali Mohummad have been handed an adult prison sentence. Ontario Court Justice Bernd Zabel said the pair arranged a mob swarming at a 310 Limeridge Rd. W. parking lot early on July 19, 2020, against a peaceable group who met to talk out an ongoing issue. The serious offences ... merit a stiff sentence, he said, in sentencing the pair to eight years for manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. They were 17 at the time and tried as youths, so they could not be named. On Thursday, Zabel sentenced the pair as adults, meaning the Youth Criminal Justice Act publication ban on their identities is automatically lifted. Ihab Al Bayati and Salvatore (Gino) Graci will be transferred from youth facilities to adult prisons. After credit for time already served in custody, the pair each have about six and a half years left. Both men have said they intend to appeal. Neither chose to address the court before sentencing. Family members for both convicted men and Mohummads family filled the courtroom Thursday. They sat silently, some wiping tears, as it became clear the pair were getting a significant sentence. Defence had asked for 18 months with any time left in custody served at a youth facility, while the Crown asked for eight years. When the sentence became clear, the high school friends, who were seated side-by-side in the prisoners box, looked at each other and Al Bayati shook his head in disbelief. Court heard the pair had an ongoing issue with Mohummads older brother, Hamza Chaudry, after a run-in at a birthday party earlier that summer for one of three Hamilton sisters they all knew. Chaudry, the oldest sister and a couple of his friends were hanging out separately from the younger group, some of whom were smoking and drinking. Both sides found the other disrespectful and it led to a further run-in at a stop light just hours before the ambush. Chaudry called friends for backup and the two sides agreed to meet in the secluded parking lot. Court heard Chaudry and friends thought the meeting was to talk, but instead they were ambushed by a large group armed with weapons including knives, rocks, sticks and a Taser. Police collect evidence near the Kendale Court scene where Ali Mohummad was found fatally stabbed in July 2020. Hamilton Spectator file photo Zabel found the group immediately set upon Chaudrys distinct blue Mustang. He was the target of their obsession and animosity. Chaudry and another friend were stabbed and other hit in the head. During the chaos both Al Bayati and Graci were hit with a car. The chaotic scene was captured on video from a nearby apartment balcony, including Mohummad running out of the parking lot, chased by two unknown people. Its not clear who stabbed Mohummad not one witness said they saw him get out of the car but Zabel found the 19-year-old was stabbed twice in the chest in the parking lot. He ran and collapsed against a fence behind an apartment building, where his body was found hours later. Referencing pre-sentence reports and other assessments, Zabel detailed each mans history and why it was no longer appropriate for them to remain at youth detention facilities, despite the request of their lawyers that they remain at youth centres. Court heard Graci had a difficult childhood, where he was exposed to trauma, drugs and crime. His mother, who was always in court to support her son, had five children with his father during their 10-year relationship. Graci told a pre-sentence report interviewer that he is close with his father but that his father was incarcerated right now, but declined to say why. In fact, the Spectator has confirmed that Gracis father, Angelo Graci, and his half-brother, Angelo Miller, are awaiting trial on a charge of first-degree murder in an unrelated homicide of Mike White. While the younger Graci was in custody awaiting sentence, the youth detention centre reported three incidents of violence and threats. Graci has been deemed a safety and security threat to other youth and staff. He denied these incidents. Graci has graduated high school and is interested in auto mechanics. He wants to go back to his dads house when he gets out to work on restoring old cars. Ali Mohummad was stabbed to death in a Hamilton Mountain parking lot on July 19, 2020. GOFUNDME Court heard he also has ongoing back pain from being hit by a car. Experts have also recommended treatment for ADHD, oppositional defiance disorder, PTSD, depression and anxiety. Al Bayati declined to participate in pre-sentence report interviews, so all information on him was gathered by collateral sources, including family interviews. He was born in Iraq, the youngest of five children in a tight-knit family who routinely supported him in court. The family moved to Syria and then Turkey before eventually settling in Canada in 2014. In custody, he was considered a role model to younger youths; he never had issues and followed rules. He completed high school, but respectfully declined to meet with counsellors or clinicians. The youth detention centre where he was housed said there was no further rehabilitation for him there. Zabel noted that Al Bayatis parents told the report interviewer that what has happened is catastrophic and indescribable. It has shocked and shaken the foundation of the entire family. They maintain their son is innocent and ought to be released. In addition to prison sentences, the pair was also ordered to give a DNA sample, and they are prohibited from possessing weapons and from contacting the Mohummad family or witnesses in the case. A co-accused who was tried separately earlier this year was found not guilty. Nicole OReilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@thespec.com SHARE: MONTREAL - Under the banner of Canadian Pacific Kansas City, the merger of North Americas two smallest Class 1 railways became official Friday morning as CEO Keith Creel drove home a platinum spike at a ceremony in Kansas City, Mo. Combining Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. with Kansas City Southern Railway Co., the fusion creates the only railway stretching from Canada through to the U.S. and Mexico and marks the continents first major rail merger in more than two decades after a U.S. regulator approved the US$31-billion deal last month. It also opens the gate to higher cargo volumes and faster transport, despite several hitches on the network. We can control our own destiny for our customers, as opposed to being tied to interchanges or being cut out of markets for the lack of a stronger network, Creel said, in a phone interview from Kansas City. He pointed to grain, lumber and shipping containers as key areas for growth, including a stronger competitive position against trucking rivals. We can operate across the border 24-7 as opposed to the trucks which are very congested getting to and from Mexico, Creel said. But weve got to make sure that we methodically build out this network and dont get ahead of ourselves and jeopardize our ability to be able to provide service to the customers that were obligated to provide to today. Stretching from Vancouver to Saint John, N.B., the 142-year-old Canadian Pacific network will now fasten onto KCS at their meeting point in Kansas City. The merged Canadian Pacific Kansas City line snakes down through New Orleans and Houston to Mexico City, reaching ports in the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. Some hurdles remain, however, including labour shortages, falling freight levels and logistical snags. Backups on the KCS line north of Mexico City were a periodic problem over the past year, Creel acknowledged, citing labour and railcar capacity. That they had some congestion, that they had some challenges with labour, with hiring enough people, with retaining enough people perhaps so. I think the entire industry has faced that, Creel said. But he insisted staffing is not a significant issue, with a higher-paying collective agreement to be implemented on several lines before June as an incentive for workers. I would suggest that if it was a choke point yesterday, were going to create a whole lot of capacity, he said. In the short term, rail traffic is waning amid a wobbly economic outlook for the year. In March, container traffic in Canada dropped nearly 12 per cent year over year, according to the National Bank of Canada. We see international intermodal as a segment that is particularly at risk of volume declines as retail inventory levels in North America have remained high, which is leading to lower international container imports, said National Bank analyst Cameron Doerksen in a note to investors. CPKC and its bigger rival Canadian National Railway Co. have both pointed to continued softness on container shipments abroad, Doerksen said. Longer term, however, the prospects look brighter. We believe CPKC will have the most compelling growth of the Class 1 railroads in the coming years, he said. Canadian Pacific Kansas City broke ground Friday on a new yard office for its U.S. operations centre in Kansas City, Mo., though its headquarters remains in Calgary. CPKC will operate almost 33,000 kilometres of rail and employ nearly 20,000 people. Despite that vast network, the railway does not own the tracks it runs along between Chicago and Detroit and depending on other railroad operators lines to move its to cargo across the international border at Windsor, Ont., as well as Buffalo, N.Y. Moreover, the 113-year-old tunnel under the Detroit River cannot accommodate railcars stacked with larger shipping containers. I wouldnt call it a roadblock or a nuisance; Id call it an opportunity, Creel said. CP Rail bought the Detroit River Rail Tunnel from pension fund manager OMERS for US$312 million in December 2020. Five to 10 years out, with the right growth on the network, could we potentially, certainly justify building a double-stack tunnel in Windsor? The answer is yes, Creel said. But CN Rail, with tracks stretching from Vancouver and Halifax to New Orleans, still offers an appealing alternative to its rival, said railway consultant Greg Gormick. The KCS is a pretty rough piece of railway. It goes up and over the Ozarks, its a razorback railway. If youre looking to get to the Gulf of Mexico, KCS is not the way to go, he said, citing CNs water-level route that traces the Mississippi Valley. Last months green light from the U.S. Surface Transportation Board cleared the final hurdle in CP Rails bid to buy KCS. STB chair Martin Oberman said in March the combined company will speed up freight travel time and encourage tighter competition with the continents other five railways. CN Rail had fought a long battle over the acquisition before CP closed the deal in December 2021, placing the KCS shares into a voting trust, which ensured the U.S. railway operated independently during a regulatory review. CN had wooed KCS away from an initial CP offer with a US$33.6-billion proposal in May 2021 before the U.S. regulator rejected CNs bid in August of that year. CPKCs shares in the railway will remain listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CP and are expected to begin trading under the new moniker on Tuesday, the company said. Conditions on the deal include keeping connection points between the CPKC system and other railways open on commercially reasonable terms and formally justifying any rate increases over a certain level on interline movements, according to the U.S. regulator. The agreement also stipulated that four KCS board members would continue on as directors with the amalgamated company: David Garza-Santos, chairman of machinery manufacturers Madisa, based in Monterey, Mexico; Antonio Garza, a Mexico City-based lawyer and former U.S. ambassador to Mexico; Henry Maier, ex-CEO of FedEx Corp. subsidiary FedEx Ground; and Janet Kennedy, former vice-president for Google Clouds North American region and erstwhile president of Microsoft Canada. The four appointees will also be nominated for election to the board at CPKCs annual shareholder meeting on June 15, the company said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2023. Companies in this story: (TSX:CP, TSX:CNR) Read more about: SHARE: Gary Howard and Julia Niblett signed an agreement in 2015 to buy a house to be built by a company operating as Above All Building. The sale price of the house on Applewood Lane in South Frontenac, Ont., was $794,000. At the time, Above All Building did not own the lot on which the house was to be built. As is typical with many pre-construction contracts in Ontario, the lot was owned by land developers: Magenta Waterfront Development Corporation, and a numbered company, 1324789 Ontario Inc. (132). A separate agreement between the builder and the developers provided that, when the house was finished, title would be transferred to the buyers directly from the landowners. The sale price would then be divided between the landowners and the builder as they had previously agreed. Howard and Niblett paid a deposit of $118,800.25 to Above All, including monies for upgrades and extras. The parties agreed to extend closing beyond the original contract date to Sept. 7, 2016, but, by that time, the house was less than half finished. Above All effectively had abandoned the job the month before, and the agreement between Above All and the developers was never completed. Ultimately, the buyers had had enough and notified Above All that they were terminating the contract. They demanded a refund of their deposit, but only recovered $40,000 from the deposit protection coverage of Tarion Warranty Corporation. Above All never refunded any money. After completion by another builder, the house and lot were eventually resold to another buyer and the balance of the original deposit money was paid into court. Last December, Howard and Niblett applied to court to get their money back, and Magenta and 132 also asked the court to award them the same money. In her ruling on Feb. 9, Justice Robyn Ryan Bell awarded the deposit to Magenta and 132, and the buyers were out of luck. The law protecting the deposits of innocent buyers is that they can claim a lien against the land only if they pay the deposit to the owner of the land. In this case, there was no contract between the buyers and the landowner. Howard and Niblett had paid their deposit to Above All Building, which was not the owner of the land, but was just the builder who was going to build a house on land owned by third parties. Today, Tarions deposit protection for freehold homes selling for $600,000 or less is $60,000. For homes priced higher than $600,000, the deposit is covered for 10 per cent of the price up to $100,000. The deposit protection levels have not been increased since Jan. 1, 2018, and are today woefully inadequate. If Tarion and the Ontario government truly care about consumers, deposit protection levels should at least double or triple. Its also time to change the law to protect consumers who buy pre-construction homes from builders who do not own the underlying land. Meantime buyers and their lawyers should be careful about buying homes from builders who do not own the land where the house will be built. Bob Aaron is a Toronto real estate lawyer and a contributing columnist for the Star. He can be reached at bob@aaron.ca or on Twitter: @bobaaron2 SHARE: SASKATOON - Onion Lake Cree Nation is suing the Saskatchewan government over autonomy legislation meant to reassert the provinces control over natural resources. The First Nation, which straddles the Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary, filed its statement of claim in Court of Kings Bench in Saskatoon this week, saying the Saskatchewan First Act infringes on treaty rights. Our Nation has consistently spoken out against this law as it is contrary to our treaty, constitutional and inherent rights, Okimaw Henry Lewis, the chief of the First Nation, said in a news release. The First Nation is arguing the bill was enacted without input, consultation or consideration of Indigenous people, calling it utterly repugnant to the letter and spirit of the treaty. The province has said the bill, which passed in March, is to protect Saskatchewans opportunity to grow without federal infringement. The NDP Opposition voted against it, saying the Saskatchewan Party government failed to consult Indigenous communities. The bill also lets the government set up a tribunal to study the effects of federal environmental policies. The province said in an email that the government is confident the legislation is constitutionally sound and is prepared to defend the bill against a legal challenge. The province added the legislation does not restrict or limit existing Indigenous rights. About 35 First Nations chiefs in Saskatchewan warned the province last December that there could be lawsuits or blockades if the legislation was not scrapped. Lewis said Premier Scott Moe was given the opportunity to withdraw the act and go back to the drawing board. We still retain full access, control and jurisdiction over the natural resources in our territories and in what is now called Saskatchewan, Lewis said. The statement of claim argues the legislation also violates the rights of the people of Onion Lake Cree Nation to hunt, fish, trap and perform transitional ceremonies. Onion Lake Cree Nation filed a similar lawsuit against the Alberta government last year over that provinces sovereignty act, also known as Bill 1. We are again challenging this similar legislation and we remind Saskatchewan that they cannot pass laws without talking to the treaty peoples and nations, Lewis said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2023. SHARE: KYIV, Ukraine (AP) The battle for Bakhmut is heating up again, analysts and Russian officials said Friday, as Ukrainian defenders of the devastated city resisted a coordinated three-pronged attack by the Kremlins forces and efforts to stop supplies from reaching them. Russia has re-energized its assault on Bakhmut, the U.K. Ministry of Defense said of recent developments in the eastern Ukraine city, which for eight and a half months has been the stage for the war s longest and bloodiest fight. The Ukrainian defense still holds the western districts of the town but has been subjected to particularly intense Russian artillery fire over the previous 48 hours, the ministrys assessment said. Until recently, a notorious private Russian military contractor, the Wagner Group, spearheaded the campaign to take Bakhmut, making slow, grinding progress at the cost of thousands of lives on both sides. Now, regular Russian units have joined the thrust. Military analysts have said that seizing Bakhmut would have public relations and tactical military value for Moscow though it would be unlikely to prove decisive in the wars outcome. The Russian Defense Ministry also noted the stepped-up fighting in western parts of the city Friday. Wagner assault detachments are engaged in high-intensity combat operations to capture areas of western Bakhmut with airborne forces supporting on the flanks, the ministry said in a statement. It added: The units of the airborne forces operating on the flanks are providing support to the assault squads and stop the enemys attempts to deliver ammunition to the city and bring in reserves. Bakhmut lies in Donetsk province, one of four provinces Russia illegally annexed last fall. Moscow controls about half of the province. Bakhmut is a stepping stone to seizing the remaining half. Ukrainian officials have said theyre buying time by depleting Russian forces in the battle while Kyiv prepares a counteroffensive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy argues that if Russia wins the Bakhmut battle, Russian President Vladimir Putin might be able to begin building international support for a deal that would require Ukraine to make unacceptable compromises to end the war. The Ukrainian presidents office said Friday that fighting over the previous 24 hours in Bakhmut destroyed two kindergartens and residential buildings. The city already resembles a ghost town. The British military observed that regular Russian troops have increasingly joined the battle. Wagner assault groups continue to conduct the main advance through the center of town, while Russian airborne forces have relieved some Wagner units securing the northern and southern flanks of the operation, the British military said on Twitter. It noted, however, that though the Ukrainian defenders have significant resupply issues their withdrawals from Bakhmut positions have been made in an orderly fashion. Fighting continued elsewhere in the Donetsk region that includes Bakhmut. Five people were killed when Russian missiles struck the city of Sloviansk on Friday, said regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Earlier, the presidential office said at least three civilians were killed and nine wounded from Thursday to Friday. ___ Associated Press Writer Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Read more about: SHARE: SANAA, Yemen (AP) An exchange of more than 800 prisoners linked to Yemens long-running war began on Friday, the International Committee for the Red Cross said. The United Nations-brokered deal, in the works for months, comes amid concerted diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict. The three-day operation will be the most significant prisoner exchange in Yemen since the Saudi-led coalition and their rivals, the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, released more than 1,000 detainees in October 2020. Thousands of people are still believed to be held as prisoners of war since the conflict erupted, with others missing. But Fabrizio Carboni, the Red Cross regional director, said the release gives a sense of momentum for efforts to end the war. This will show that there is no way back to violence, Carboni told journalists. The Red Cross later said that a total of 318 detainees were released on Friday. In Sanaa, the Houthi-held capital of Yemen, dozens of former prisoners descended from a plane to a marching band and traditional Yemeni dancers, wearing ribbons with the colors of the Yemeni flag. Family members and a reception line of Houthi political leaders greeted the released with hugs and kisses. An injured man was seen supported by medical workers. Carboni acknowledged some former prisoners needed medical care before making their flight, but nothing out of the ordinary. Meanwhile, prisoners released by the rebel Houthis took flights to Aden, the seat of the countrys internationally recognized government allied with Saudi Arabia. Two rounds of simultaneous flights Friday between Aden and Sanaa transferred the prisoners. As part of the exchange, flights will transport prisoners from government-controlled cities inside Yemen and Saudi Arabia to Sanaa, said Majed Fadail, a deputy minister for human rights for Yemens government. Yemens conflict began in 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa and much of the countrys north. The internationally recognized government fled to the south and then into exile in Saudi Arabia. The Houthi takeover prompted a Saudi-led coalition to intervene months later and the conflict turned into a regional proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with the United States long involved on the periphery, providing intelligence assistance to the kingdom. However, international criticism over Saudi airstrikes killing civilians saw the U.S. pull back its support. The war has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the worlds worst humanitarian disasters. The prisoner exchange had been scheduled to start earlier in the week but was delayed because of apparent logistical reasons. The deal calls for the Houthis to release more than 180 prisoners, including Saudi and Sudanese troops fighting with the Saudi-led coalition, and four Yemeni journalists. The journalists were detained in recent years and sentenced to death by a Houthi-controlled court in a trial described by Amnesty International as grossly unfair. The deal also includes the release of top military officials held by the Houthis since the start of the war. Among those released Friday were Maj. Gen. Mahmoud al-Subaihi, who was the defense minister when the war erupted, and Nasser Mansour Hadi, the brother of former Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. In return, the Saudi-led coalition and Yemeni government are scheduled to release more than 700 Houthis they hold, the rebels said. Saudi Arabia has already freed 13 Houthi detainees who returned to Sanaa on April 9, ahead of a trip by Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed bin Saeed al-Jaber, to the Yemeni capital. Including those detainees, the deal should see 869 prisoners released, the Red Cross says. Al-Jabers visit to Sanaa was part of Oman-brokered talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, aiming to revive a nationwide cease-fire that expired in October and relaunch inter-Yemeni peace talks to end the conflict. Those talks concluded on Friday and were serious and positive, said Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the chief Houthi negotiator, adding there will be another round of talks. He didnt give further details. A deal last month between Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore ties has boosted negotiations between the kingdom and the Houthis and invigorated hopes of a negotiated settlement to the Yemeni conflict. You need a form of political courage to agree on a peace plan and thats in the hand of the parties, said Carboni, the Red Cross official. Hans Grundberg, the U.N. envoy for Yemen, lauded the release and said that thousands of Yemeni families are still waiting for the return of their loved ones. He also urged for a U.N.-brokered solution to end the war. However, some analysts fear that Saudi Arabias withdrawal could see a new version of the conflict erupt between Yemens rival administrations. There are also secessionists who want to restore a separate country of South Yemen, which existed from 1967 to 1990. I see prospects for temporary peace between the Saudis and the Houthis but escalation of violence within Yemen, said Nadwa Dawsari, a nonresident scholar with the Middle East Institute, a Washington-based think tank. Yemen also remains home to al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, viewed by Washington as a dangerous offshoot of the Islamic extremist group. The group has been able to take advantage of the conflicts chaos to establish bases in the south of the country. The Arab worlds most impoverished country, Yemen is also struggling with devastated infrastructure and gutted medical services that the prisoners, many of whom are injured and seriously ill, will be coming home to, said Afrah Nasser, a nonresident fellow at the Arab Center Washington DC. This is the sad part of this happy news, she said. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden is hosting Colombian President Gustavo Petro at the White House for talks next week, offering a high-profile visit to the leftist leader who has vowed to bring total peace to his nation of 50 million after six-decades of conflict. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that Biden and Petro during the April 20 visit will discuss economic and security cooperation as well as efforts to combat climate change, counter narcotics trafficking, migration, and more. Colombias government and its largest remaining rebel group - the communist-inspired National Liberation Army, known as ELNlaunched talks in November shortly after Petro was elected president. Petro has called the talks with the ELN a cornerstone of his plan aimed at resolving a conflict that dates back to the 1960s. Some rural areas of Colombia are still under the grip of drug gangs and rebel groups despite a 2016 peace deal with the larger Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. SHARE: MONTREAL - A student newspaper at McGill University has dropped McGill from its name and is calling on the university to stop using the name because the schools founder enslaved people. Madison Edward-Wright, a managing editor at The Tribune, said the papers editorial board made the decision because it didnt want to continue honouring someone who enslaved Black and Indigenous people. We dont feel that the legacy of James McGill is something that we can continue to have appear on our paper, on our masthead, she said in an interview Friday. Its not something that we think aligns with our values as journalists and as an institution that works to voice the concerns of students. Removing McGill from the papers name will also help create a welcoming atmosphere for Black, Indigenous and other racialized students at the publication, Edward-Wright said. Its not about pushing ourselves away from McGill, Edward-Wright said of the newspapers move. It really is trying to encourage the university to change. Calls on campus to change the universitys name have gained little traction, but Edward-Wright said Ryerson Universitys recent transformation to Toronto Metropolitan University over its namesakes ties to the residential school system shows that change is possible. She said the paper wants to encourage the Montreal university to think about the message it sends by continuing to use McGills name, adding that a name change would demonstrate the schools commitment to fighting racism. McGill University acknowledges on its website that its founder a wealthy merchant from Scotland owned at least five Black and Indigenous people, including two children who both died around the age of 10. He also traded in goods produced by enslaved people. When he died in 1813, McGill left money and 46 acres of land for the creation of a college bearing his name, which became McGills main campus in what is now downtown Montreal. The university, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, removed a statue of James McGill from its campus in 2021 after it was vandalized. The statue had previously been the target of a petition and protests calling for its removal. Edward-Wright said she doesnt think a name change would affect McGills strong international reputation for research and higher education. We dont have anything against the university itself, were very proud of the researchers and everybody who makes up the community, because thats really what it is. Its a community, she said. That community would remain if the name were changed, she said. It might be under a different label, but the work, the work ethic, the dedication, all of that stays the same, because were still talking about the same people, she said. The Tribune is legally independent of McGill University and is funded through a fee that must be approved by students through a referendum every five years. The most recent referendum took place this year, Edward-Wright said, adding that the paper receives no funding from the university. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: OTTAWA - The federal government wants to keep the street in front of Parliament Hill closed and has offered to take it over from the City of Ottawa, but the city says it is not interested in a temporary handover. In a letter to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe earlier this month, Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek says her government wants to reimagine the parliamentary precinct and keep Wellington Street closed to traffic. I have a mandate to engage with you directly on the transfer of Wellington Street and Sparks Street into federal jurisdiction with the view to maintaining the closure of Wellington Street to private vehicles, Jaczek wrote on April 4. Part of the street has been blocked off since early 2022, after thousands of Freedom Convoy protesters who were demonstrating against COVID-19 measures took over downtown streets for several weeks, blocking roads with big-rig trucks and blaring their horns for days on end. The governments decision to invoke the Emergencies Act in response to the protests sparked a number of reviews at the municipal and federal levels, including a study by the House of Commons procedure committee and a public inquiry called the Public Order Emergency Commission. The House committee recommended the government expand the parliamentary precinct for security reasons. And the final report from Justice Paul Rouleau, who led the commission, said governments, police and the Parliamentary Protective Service, which provides security on the Hill, should continue discussions about changes to the division of responsibilities for policing and security in the National Capital Region. Jaczeks letter says the federal government wants its jurisdiction to include Wellington Street and Sparks Street, a pedestrian corridor one block south, as a way to address security issues and to create a vibrant public space. It is my desire to work collaboratively with you to realize this vision, which I believe provides great potential to revitalize downtown Ottawa as a destination befitting of a modern capital city, Jaczek wrote. The letter asks the city to sign an interim care and control deal, which would allow the federal government to pay for things such as bike lanes, seating, beautification and possibly a bistro in time for Canada Day. In a written response on April 6, Sutcliffe reminded Jaczek of the city councils decision back in February to reopen the iconic street, and said it would be premature to sign such a deal before the city has finished its internal review. City staff are actively working on implementing the actions emanating from this motion. Wellington Street will be opened with one traffic lane and bike lane in each direction, he wrote. The city is working on a long-term plan for the area, and it is expected that staff will present a traffic study report to council for consideration early in 2024. Council also voted to continue discussions about a redefined parliamentary precinct, and directed staff to ensure that transportation plans and land valuation are included in talks with federal officials. In the meantime, Sutcliffe said staff will work with the federal government on ways to animate the section of Wellington Street that faces Parliament Hill for special events. His letter did not address Sparks Street. Neither Sutcliffe nor Jaczek were made available to answer questions on Friday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: An unidentified butcher has reportedly stabbed his wife to death in Warri, Delta State. The incident occurred yesterday evening. The matter is before the Police and the suspect is cooling his heels in a police cell. It was learnt that the suspect tried to scoop hot water from the fire to bathe when he returned from the market where he butchers and sells meat, however, his wife refused and asked him not to touch the gas claiming he does not give them money for upkeep or to fill the gas at home. The suspect reportedly ignored his wife and went straight to the gas to scoop the hot water. His wife attacked him and a fight broke out between the couple. In the ensuing scuffle, the deceased wife rushed a knife with the intention to stab her hubby who in turn overpowered her, collected the knife and used same to stab her severally until she collapsed. At that point, the suspect rushed his wife to a private hospital for treatment where he lied that she was involved in a ghastly accident. Pained by the development, his daughter rushed to the Police Station and reported the matter and the suspect was immediately arrested. The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe confirmed the report in a telephone chat with Our Correspondent in Warri. He said, Confirmed without providing much details. Starbucks Corp. will head back to court Monday to answer a complaint by the National Labor Relations Board alleging union-busting activities at Buffalo-area stores. The complaint comprises more than 30 charges filed from May 2022 to January, which were initially filed by workers, investigated by the NLRB, found to have merit and are now being prosecuted by the NLRB. As charges piled up, the complaint was consolidated a total of four times. Starbucks denies all charges. "We believe the allegations made by Workers United and the NLRB as part of the consolidated complaint are meritless and that actions taken in our Buffalo-area stores were lawful and in alignment with long-established partner policies not in retaliation for any partners participation in, or support of, concerted union activities," said Andrew W. Trull, a Starbucks spokesperson. Last month, the federal board ruled against Starbucks on another bundle of charges, ordering the company to rehire fired workers and remedy several other unlawful actions. It was a major victory for the union, and has mobilized support for workers from around the globe. Starbucks is appealing the decision. Monday's proceedings come shortly after former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz testified at a Senate hearing about the company's labor practices. Schultz faced accusations of labor violations from the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, chaired by Sen. Bernie Sanders. Also last month, Starbucks shareholders approved a proposal asking the company to undergo an independent workers' rights review a proposal the company's board advised shareholders to vote against. This month, 43 pro-labor groups representing more than 60 million workers sent a letter to new CEO Laxman Narashimhan, calling on him to stop resisting unionized stores and work with them instead. Charges in the latest complaint are divided into such categories as threats, coercion, retaliation, discriminatory enforcement of workplace rules and failure to bargain. The current complaint does not include charges filed after Jan. 17, including the termination of labor leader Lexi Rizzo and what is alleged to be a constructive discharge of organizer Casey Moore. "The first Buffalo trial represented Starbucks' union busting at the very beginning of our campaign, and this case is representative of how Starbucks doubled down on their union busting," said Moore, a Starbucks worker and union organizer who has since separated from the company and begun working in communications for Workers United. Among the charges are the termination of 10 different labor organizers, including Samuel Amato, who worked at the company for 13 years and also helped organize the union. Starbucks said Amato was fired for poor performance and violating company policy, which Amato denied. Tatiayna Gurskiy, another organizer who led a walkout after Amato was fired, was terminated in November. "You have all of these people that have been fired and it's just so obvious that this was targeted retaliation against some of the key leaders in the city," Moore said. The union is seeking reinstatement of all fired workers with back pay. Among other violations, the complaint alleges: Workers were threatened with more onerous and rigorous terms and conditions of employment because they elected the union, and implied that non-striking workers would be rewarded. Starbucks temporarily transferred workers to the Williamsville Place store from another store in order to disrupt the union vote. Threatened workers with the loss of benefits if they were to unionize. Implemented a new "three strikes" discipline police to retaliate against union organizers. Refused store transfers when requested by workers involved in the union. Inconsistently enforced rules to discriminate against labor organizers. Retaliated against labor-involved workers by cutting their hours or sending them home early. Starbucks insisted that none of the NLRB's orders in the first ruling are final until the appeal process is finished, and said it supports workers' right to "engage in lawful union activities without fear of reprisal or retaliation." The company also accused the NLRB of "attempting to use cases against Starbucks to change existing law." "To the extent claims have been brought against Starbucks for violation of labor laws including in this matter the company strongly denies any wrongdoing and has committed to exercising its right to defend itself," Trull said. President-elect, Bola Tinubu, has explained that there is no exclusive obligation that a candidate must score 25 per cent in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to be returned president in an election. Tinubus position is contained in a preliminary objection he filed against the petition by the Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja, seeking the dismissal of the petition for failing to disclose any cause of action. Most of the five political parties, including the LP, that are challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election, have contended that APC and Tinubu did not secure the 25 per cent of the total votes cast in the FCT as mandatorily required in Section 134(2)(b) of the Constitution of Nigeria, and was, therefore, ineligible to be declared. But in the reply by his legal team led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Tinubu argued that the Nigerian election is not based on the electoral college as it particularly relates to the FCT, adding that the residents are not super voters conferred with any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups and places of origin. He noted that the territory was created by adjusting the boundaries and excising land from the neighbouring states of Kwara, Niger, Plateau and Kaduna states, etc. He said, The petitioners themselves agree in their paragraph 25 that Nigeria is one single constituency for the purpose of the presidential election. Thus, no part of that single constituency is superior to the other or carries a special status requiring a minimum threshold of votes not mandated in others. Tinubu also maintained that the order of a United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division in case No 93C-4483, which on October 4, 1993, ordered the forfeiture of the sum of $460,000 in his Heritage Bank account linked to narcotics and money laundering allegations, cannot be enforced in Nigeria as it was not an offence created by an Act of the National Assembly. The case of the petitioners, as pleaded, has not disclosed any disqualifying factor as prescribed by Section 137 (1) (d) and (e) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), he said. Shortly afterwards, the governor at a press conference in Makurdi said he decided to withdraw the case in the interest of peace. But the PDP governorship candidate, Titus Uba, earlier vowed to reclaim his mandate in court. Ahead of the Saturday supplementary elections in Kano State, Governor-elect Abba Kabir Yusuf has alleged that the incumbent governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has given a huge sum of money to local governments. The governor-elect made the allegations in a public advisory signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa. He alleged that at least N181 million has so far been released to three local government areas to fund the election. He said: We wish to issue another public advisory on the purported use of public funds to finance the supplementary elections on Saturday. We have credible information that the Kano State Government under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has directed the release of over N60 million to Nasarawa, N61 million to Doguwa and over N60 million to Wudil. Other local government councils are also listed to receive hundreds of millions of Naira to fund elections, he alleged. Nigeria forward, Victor Osimhen is back in full training with Serie A club, Napoli. Osimhen has missed the Partenopeis last three games across all competitions as a result of a muscle injury. Luciano Spallettis side have won once and lost twice in his absence. The 24-year-old took part in full training at the clubs training centre on Friday morning. Osimhen and Gaetano carried out the entire session in a group. Simeone did therapies, reads a statement on the clubs official website. The forwards return to full training will be music to the ears of Napoli fans who are looking forward to seeing their talismanic forward return to action for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash against AC Milan next week Tuesday. Napoli will be in action against Hellas Verona on Saturday. Following the expected rise in sea level and tidal surge that may negatively impact agriculture, human settlements and transportation, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mustapha Ahmed has warned that there is a high risk coastal flooding in Bayelsa, Delta, Lagos and Rivers States. Ahmed, on Thursday, gave this in Abuja during the public presentation of the 2023 Climate-related Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Strategies, jointly produced by Nigerian Hydrological Services and Nigerian Meteorological Agency. The NEMA boss said no fewer than 665 people died while 3,181 persons were injured across the country during the 2022 flood. Ahmed added that a total of 4,476,867 persons were also affected by the flood while 2,437,411 persons were displaced, about 944,989 farmlands were damaged and 355,986 houses were partially or totally destroyed by floods. He said: Sequel to the public presentation of the 2023 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) by NiMet on January 24, 2023, and Annual Flood Outlook by NIHSA on February 17, 2023, the National Emergency Management Agency convened a technical meeting to review the two forecast documents. The technical meeting was attended by experts from relevant stakeholder organizations that thoroughly appraised the risk implications of the forecasts and developed an early warning document based on thematic sectors covered by both NIHSA and NIMET. The Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi has been cautioned over his followers popularly known as Obidients. President Muhammadu Buharis Special Assistant on Digital Communication, Bashir Ahmad claimed that Obis supporters are damaging him at home and abroad. Ahmad said Obidients are making Obis chances of ever reclaiming his alleged stolen mandate slimmer daily. In a tweet, the presidential aide noted that Obidients may soon destroy Obi beyond redemption. He wrote: No matter how people see it, Peter Obis so-called supporters, the headless mob, are damaging him at home and abroad and making his chances slimmer daily. He may not see it now until they destroy him beyond redemption. As for us, politically, we love to see it. Thats politics. Obi is currently at the Presidential election tribunal challenging the victory of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu. The LP flagbearer, who came third, had insisted that he won the presidential election but was robbed of his victory. The PDP Young Democrats have called for the immediate resignation of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in the Imo State gubernatorial election, Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu, from his position as the partys National Secretary. The group, a movement within the PDP, with about 134 members drawn from the 36 states of the nation, made the call on Friday during a press conference in Abuja. One of the members, Alaibi Nnana Joseph, who read the press statement, said Anyanwus resignation would save the party from litigations in the future. Alaibi described Anyanwus stay in the office as repugnant to justice and fair play, hoping that the lawmaker would resign very soon to face his task in Imo. He said, One of the issues in the recent time is the continuous stay in office of Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu as the PDP National Secretary despite his ambition of contesting the Imo State Governorship election. We would like to reiterate that the PDP Young Democrats strongly support the call for the immediate resignation of Anyanwu as the PDP National Secretary. We strongly believe that this is the right thing to do as his continued stay in office is wrong and repugnant to justice and fair play. This will also save the party from needless and avoidable litigations in the future. We hope this will be done in the coming days. It was reported that Anyanwu emerged at the PDP primary election held at the partys secretariat along the Okigwe Road in Owerri, Imo, on Wednesday. Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th House of Representatives, a coalition has said rebellion would deny the administration of Bola Tinubu the opportunity to deliver its mandate to Nigerians. The coalition vowed to respect the decision of the majority party in the House of Representatives. The coalition, known as the Joint Task 10th Assembly, with 283 members-elect from all the major political parties, is made up of returning and new members-elect from all political parties. A statement by its chairman and co-chairman, Usman Bello Kumo and Kingsley Chinda said members of the coalition are in agreement with the decision of APC on zoning. Their statement reads partly: 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. Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, says voters should shun violence in the supplementary elections billed for Saturday. Supplementary governorship elections will hold in Adamawa and Kebbi states, five senatorial districts, and 31 federal and 58 state assembly constituencies. In a statement on Thursday, Tinubu, who described the scheduled supplementary polls as the last leg of the 2023 general election, said the exercise must be brought to a peaceful conclusion. I urge all Nigerians in areas where the additional polls will take place to eschew violence and conduct themselves in an orderly and peaceful manner, he said. We should desist from acts prejudicial to the conduct of orderly polls or that will threaten the very existence of the country. Its only when there is a country that aspirants to political offices can have seats to contest for and the electorate have people seeking their votes. Like the INEC officers, the candidates and the electorate, therefore, have a solemn responsibility in this election. They must ensure that the additional polls are conducted not only freely and fairly, but also devoid of tension, acrimony, and violence that will threaten the very fabric that holds the country together. I must also use this opportunity to enjoin my All Progressives Congress members and the teeming supporters in the areas listed for the polls to come out in their large numbers to cast their votes for the partys candidates. The former governor of Lagos said APC members should vote for the party to solidify the victory recorded in the earlier polls. This will no doubt help in the effective functioning of government at the federal and state levels for the benefit of our people, he said. On this note, I wish INEC, all voters in the various polling units in these elections, the candidates and parties involved a very successful supplementary poll. Astha Rajvanshi, a staff writer for Time 100 has locked her Twitter account, an action which was believed to be connected with criticisms she has received over the inclusion of Nigerias president-elect, Bola Tinubu, on the latest Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world. Rajvanshi received a bombardment of denigration on social media for the article she wrote for Tinubu, which painted his role as a longtime political power broker and his efforts in helping to restore Nigerias democracy in 1999. Many Nigerian Twitter users, who are mostly supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, known as Obidients lambasted the writer for decorating Tinubus contentious political career, which includes allegations of corruption and drug case in the United States, among others. Tinubus addition to the Time 100 list has also been disparaged by some Nigerian youths, who argued that he did not merit the credit given the ongoing controversies surrounding his election victory and his apparent role in the countrys economic woes. In response to the backlash, the writer, Astha Rajvanshi locked her Twitter account and has not commented publicly on the matter. Despite the criticism, Tinubus supporters have hailed his inclusion on the list as a validation of his leadership and political influence, both in Nigeria and on the global stage. Some of the reactions are below: One of the critics One Nigeria! @Gen_tuu69 on Twitter wrote, Above is Astha Rajvanshi @astharajvanshi repost on LinkedIn, thanks to @ChiomaChuka for the thoughts shared to clear up the TIME 100 Tinubus feature. I think Agbados didnt bother to read the Article and Obidients wonjured her too fast. Na Journey we dey go, and we go finish am. In reaction, Emeka Azuka Okoye @EmekaOkoye said, Dear #ObiDients, Attacking Astha Rajvanshi was uncalled for and unnecessary. She didnt do it because she doesnt like Nigeria. The bigots lobbyists sold the idea to Time Magazine. We should have just educated her with all that has been going on. This was just not right IMHO (in my honest opinion). Meanwhile, another Twitter user, Tosin Hexemty @Hexemty1 cautioned, Okay now; I think the Obidients needs to be cautioned and sensitized appropriately. Bcos why do u have to go hard on anyone that has a contrary opinion to yours. Dont people especially of the press reserve/have the right to carry out their assignment again?! A chief spokesperson to Tinubu, Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, has asked Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, to call his supporters, which he described as a verminous mob, to order. Onanugas statement is contained in a post via his verified Twitter handle on Friday. He was reacting to a tweet by one JJ. Omojuwa @Omojuwa, who alleged that the TIME staff that wrote the Bola Tinubu: Most Influential People of 2023 story was under attack by the renowned headless mob. The tweet further claimed that she had locked her Twitter account. However, Onanuga said Obi should call them to order before they commit murder in his name. He wrote, Peter Obis verminous mob continues to embarrass our country because it cant stomach the reality that he woefully lost the presidential election. Obi should please call these noxious characters to order before they commit murder in his name. The host and executive producer of Good Deeds Buffalo, a good news program carried by WBBZ-TV weekly on Saturday mornings, has announced he is pulling the program off the air due to recent public comments against members of the LGTBQ+ Community by station owner Phil Arno. Jordan James, the shows executive producer and host, was referring to comments made by Arno in a recent post on his own Facebook page in which the station owner entered a national controversy concerning a transgender spokesperson for a beer company. A digital ad carried on social media that features a transgender person and well-known TikToker, Dylan Mulvaney, has sparked outrage among conservatives and led to anti-trans backlash. For example, Kid Rock shot up cases of the beer in protest. If you approve of their new spokesperson, a guy pretending to be a woman trying to convince you that it is fashionable and desirable to drink the beer, then support these products, Arno wrote on the Facebook post. If you think there is something destructive to our society and culture in this effort, then you should express that by avoiding their products. Please make a statement on what you think is in the best interests of our country and our children. Arno did not return several telephone calls for comment about his post and James decision to leave the station. But the stations production and promotion manager, John DiSciullo, confirmed the owner posted the message on Facebook and released a statement separating the station owner's comments from the station's conduct. The post was made by Phil Arno on his personal social media page, with his opinion," wrote DiSciullo. "The WBBZ-TV team has supported, and will continue to support, the LGBTQ+, and all facets, of our community. The first part (of the post) is what really angered me, James said in a telephone interview. He started out the conversation by calling a transgender woman a man dressing up in females clothes for pretend. He is purposely misgendering the person from the start of the conversation. He worded it in a certain way that he was trying to spark conversation and anger, even bringing in children in the conversation. James noted that one survey reports about 30% of LGTBQ+ students face bullying and feel unsafe and uncomfortable going to school. That is unacceptable, he added. Comments such as Arnos are reasons that kids feel unsafe in our communities. In an earlier statement announcing his removal of Good Deeds from the WBBZ lineup, James wrote: Mr. Arnos comments, which includes depicting transgenderism as destructive to our society and culture are anti-LGBTQ+ in nature. Statements such as these generate HATE and may provoke dangers that are dangerous and target LGBTQ+ people. As a longtime LGBTQ+ advocate and the creator of a program that celebrates kindness, I am unable to stand by or associate myself with hateful, divisive comments and language that not only cause emotional pain but also may cause physical harm or even death through violence. And as a member of the LGBTQ+ Community, I have personally felt profound fear that I would be the target of a hate crime because of who I am. Comments such as those made by Mr. Arno on social media are traumatic and a reminder to anyone who, because of who they are, has felt vulnerable and threatened. In addition, as the founder of Blood is Blood, a group that seeks to end discrimination when it comes to blood donations from the LGBTQ+ Community, there is no question that this is the right decision. James added that he will seek a new media partner for Good Deeds Buffalo, which he said, celebrates good news, the best people and the best news about Western New York. The program has aired on WBBZ for almost three years. James buys the time from the station for the half-hour program and recoups the cost with sponsorships. He was not paid by the station. Two New Jersey State Police troopers injured after their vehicle was slammed into from behind during a traffic stop Thursday morning in Atlantic County have been released from an area hospital, officials said. The troopers were standing outside the State Police vehicle while conducting a traffic stop on the right shoulder of the Black Horse Pike in Hamilton when their vehicle was hit by another SUV, according to a spokesman. Both troopers were taken by ambulance to an area hospital. The driver of the other vehicle remains in Cooper University Hospital in Camden after being flown there, officials said. A photo from the scene show the left side and rear of the State Police SUV badly damaged. The vehicle that had been pulled over also sustained damage. State Police declined to offer additional information on the crash, which took place near milepost 40.3 at about 11 a.m. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. A man who drove his car into a New Jersey Air Force base and struck two military police vehicles has been sentenced to 33 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Hal Wander, 26, of Port Charlotte, Fl., pleaded guilty to information charging him with assault on two federal officers using a deadly and dangerous weapon on Feb. 8, 2022, prosecutors said. Wander drove his vehicle onto the McGuire Air Force Base site in Burlington County on Nov. 16, 2020, without stopping at the checkpoint, officials said. Vehicles entering the base are required to stop at the checkpoint and check in with either an official military ID or visitors pass. U.S. Air Force police in marked vehicles pursued Wander before one officer positioned his vehicle in front of Wanders car in an effort to stop him, authorities said. Prosecutors said Wander intentionally rammed the military police vehicle and reversed his car into the second police vehicle. When Wanders car stopped, an officer reached inside to turn off the engine, officials said. Wander is also subject to three years of parole supervision upon his release, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Officials did not comment on the motive for the actions. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. The College of New Jerseys president is stepping down at the end of the school year, officials announced on Friday. Kathryn A. Foster will join the colleges political science faculty following a year-long sabbatical. Foster, the colleges president since July 2018, shared the news via a campus-wide email. After nearly 40 years in higher education, the last 11 of them as a president, I am motivated to return to the classroom. There are few things I have enjoyed more in life than working with students and supporting their success, wrote Foster in a portion of the message provided to NJ Advance Media. Foster arrived at The College of New Jersey following six years as president of the University of Maine at Farmington. She is the colleges 16th president in its 168-year history. Rebecca Ostrov, chair of the colleges Board of Trustees, cited Fosters steadfast leadership over the past five years in a message to the campus. The compassion and thoughtfulness she brought to every aspect of her job as president was felt by all members of our community and brought us together in ways which were critically important during the most challenging of times, Ostrov wrote. Ostrov said the college will soon begin a search for an interim president. Foster was raised in Verona and is a 1975 graduate of Verona High School. She was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Kingdom of Swaziland, a country in Southern Africa that is smaller in size than New Jersey, from 1987 to 1989. In 1993, she received a PhD in public and international affairs from Princeton University. Before moving to Maine in 2012, Foster held administrative roles during her 18 years at the State University of New York at Buffalo. At The College of New Jersey, Foster established the Kathryn A. Foster Distinguished Visitor Series in December 2022 via a $250,000 donation. It has been an immense personal and professional privilege to serve The College of New Jersey as its president. I have no doubt that TCNJ will continue to shine in public higher education, and I look forward to contributing in a new way to our shared good fortune, Foster wrote. The College of New Jersey enrolls approximately 7,281 students including 6,715 undergraduates and 566 graduate students on a 289-acre campus in Ewing, a spokesperson said. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Three honorary degrees to a member of Congress, a retiring New Jersey state legislator and a prominent journalist will be awarded when Bloomfield College holds its final commencement ceremony in May before the schools merger with Montclair State University. The honorees U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th District, State Assemblywoman Mila M. Jasey, D-Essex, and CBS News chief investigative and senior national correspondent Jim Axelrod will address the graduates, college president Marcheta P. Evans said Friday. As the historic strike of three Rutgers University faculty unions reached the end of its first week Friday, the unions announced a potentially transformative tentative agreement on job security for non-tenured full-time professors. These 1,005 faculty members will no longer have to reapply for their jobs at the end of each contract; the presumption will be their contracts will be renewed, according to a union statement. This is game-changing for faculty members who havent had the protection of tenure, said Rebecca Givan, president of the largest striking union, Rutgers AAUP-AFT. Weve taken an important step toward confronting the precarity faced by over 70% of the educators, researchers, and clinicians at Rutgers. The other 30% are tenured or tenure-track professors, who have job security. The union considered this a core proposal in the negotiations, according to the statement. Rutgers had no comment on the issue but said in its morning statement that after Thursdays negotiations, we are making significant progress with the continued help, engagement, and leadership of the governor and his senior staff. Two mediators from the Public Employment Relations Commission have also been at the bargaining table. The Rutgers statement concluded we are optimistic we will reach agreement on fair contracts for all of our employees. Givan said other critical bargaining issues remain on the table. Compensation and benefits, bargaining agreements for instructors who are on fellowships, housing costs and a $15 minimum wage for all campus workers remain unresolved, union officials said. Negotiations are expected to continue throughout the weekend. Weve already accomplished more in a few days than we did in months, thanks to Gov. (Phil) Murphys invitation for us to bargain in Trenton and the strength of our members on the picket line, Givan said. Now the administration needs to finish the job by assuring adjunct faculty that they, too, will have real job security and wont have to reapply every semester. Many classes have been canceled across Rutgers campuses in New Brunswick-Piscataway, Newark, and Camden, as 67,000 students approach the end of the spring term on May 1. The strikers number about 9,000 and include members of the Rutgers AAUP-AFT (American Association of University Professors-American Federation of Teachers), representing full-time faculty, graduate workers, postdoctoral associates, and Educational Opportunity Fund counselors; the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union (PTLFC-AAUP-AFT), representing part-time lecturers and the AAUP-BHSNJ (American Association of University ProfessorsBiomedical and Health Sciences of New Jersey), representing physicians, researchers, and health science faculty. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Tina Kelley may be reached at tkelley@njadvancemedia.com. If youve ever watched a mid-century American musical and thought to yourself, This would be great if only it were more like The West Wing, well, heres the show for you. In the new Broadway revival of the King Arthur musical Camelot, Aaron Sorkin rewriting the original script by Alan Jay Lerner serves up his familiar mix of snappy repartee and brainy one-liners, and he significantly downplays any magical notions of slain dragons or enchanted swords. The idea, presumably, is to make these legendary characters feel modern and relatable, or at least more modern and relatable than Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave in the 1967 movie version, with their gilded headpieces and high British diction. Ricardo and Norma Fernandez first met when they both attended the only Catholic school in their small hometown in Cuba. He was in first grade when they first met, he recalled, but she didnt remember him. They started dating as teenagers. A few years later, they were married in a Catholic church on the island, on July 28, 1962. Now, more than 60 years later, the North Arlington couple will celebrate their diamond anniversary at a special Mass in Newark on Sunday. I think the main thing is, we know we have a sacrament, said Ricardo Fernandez, 81. The other components of a long marriage include mutual respect, communication and faith, he said. After six decades of marriage, Fernandez said he cant imagine living without his wife. I hope we die the same day, he said, prompting a laugh from his wife. The pair are joining more than 100 couples who are celebrating at least five decades of marriage in a Golden Anniversary Mass on Sunday. The couples will be blessed by the head of New Jerseys largest Catholic diocese at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. Cardinal Joseph Tobin will bless and personally congratulate each couple, and present each one with gold pins, which depict interlocked wedding rings in front of a cross. A few couples are marking 65 or 70 years together, a diocesan spokesman said. Its a joy to host this Mass every year because these couples deserve to be recognized they are a great testament to marriage, said Brian Caldwell, the director of the archdiocesan Office for Family Life Ministry, in a statement. Theyre an example of the strength and enduring love couples experience when they put God at the center of everything, he said. Families get busy, and a lot of struggles come at them. But couples like these who are rooted in faith and grounded in prayer are able to deal with the difficult times. Norma and Ricardo Fernandez in a recent photo.Provided by Ricardo Fernandez Families of the couples are welcome to attend the Mass, a spokesman said. The Office for Family Life Ministry started the Mass many years ago, church officials said. Some couples are traveling to receive the blessing from places outside the archdiocese. Other Catholic dioceses in the state hold similar celebrations. The Diocese of Metuchen is holding a Silver and Gold Anniversary Prayer Service celebrating couples 25th or 50th wedding anniversaries with Bishop James F. Checchio in October. The Diocese of Trenton is also hosting an anniversary blessing for parishes in its region in October. Couples celebrating their first, 25th or 50th anniversaries are invited to celebrate at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine in Freehold or the Cathedral of St. Mary in Trenton. The dioceses of Paterson and Camden have also held similar events in previous years, church officials said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com. Its no hidden truth that Philadelphia is a hub for some of the best cheesesteaks in the country. Popular food publication Bon Appetit thought so, too, as they named eight of the best cheesesteaks in Philadelphia. However, one of these places isnt found in the City of Brotherly Love at all its in New Jersey! Donkey's Place in Camden, Monday, June 1, 2015. Donkey's Place was featured on Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown New Jersey episode, which first aired Sunday night on CNN. (Lori M. Nichols | For NJ.com) SJNSJN Donkeys Place in Camden, with additional locations in Medford Lakes and Mount Holly, is about a 15-minute drive from Philadelphia and known for serving the beloved sandwich on a poppy seed kaiser roll. Heres what Bon Appetit said about their cheesesteak: Cheesesteak, Donkey's Place, Camden This is one of the most unique cheesesteaks youll find. Serving the sandwich on a round poppyseed Kaiser roll as opposed to the traditional long roll is a bold move, but it works for Donkeys. The Kaiser roll sops up the steaks juices, with enough integrity to not succumb to the weight of the hefty strips of beef. In 2015, the late Anthony Bourdain agreed that the best cheesesteak in Philly might well come from Donkeys Place. The cheesesteak also ranked No. 5 on our recent best cheesesteaks list. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Lauren Musni may be reached at lmusni@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Laurengmusni. Find NJ.com on Facebook. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders congratulated the workers on strike at Rutgers University in a Twitter post as professors and other workers continue picketing to demand, among other things, higher wages. Sanders, I-Vt., posted the tweet late Wednesday along with a video in which he spoke about his support for the staffs decision to vote to authorize a strike and work towards getting a contract for three of the universitys unions. Let me thank the 9,000 workers at Rutgers University for taking the courageous vote to authorize a strike, Sanders said in the video. I know that youve been on strike this week and I understand your strike line has grown to thousands. I want to congratulate the workers at @ruaaup for taking the courageous step to go on strike. You are inspiring the labor movement across this country. I am proud to stand in solidarity with you. pic.twitter.com/3806ZfDtO8 Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 13, 2023 By Wednesday, the third day of picketing, union leaders said picketing lines grew stronger and longer, with more undergraduate students and supporters from outside the university joining. Sanders added that faculty and staff members at the state university have inspired higher education workers around the country. What you are doing is enormously important and is inspiring workers in higher education all across this country, the Senator said. Thank you for helping to lead way for decent wages and working conditions on our college campuses. Demonstrations have been held near the New Brunswick, Newark and Camden campuses since Monday. Union leaders have been bargaining in Trenton with members of Gov. Phil Murphys staff for the past three nights and bargaining efforts are expected to continue into late Thursday night. The situation has upended life and caused a string of canceled classes at New Jerseys largest university with about three weeks to go before the end of the spring semester for 67,000 students. Three unions are on strike at the university in an effort to achieve a contract agreement -- 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 have not given any specifics of the contract negations, but have said that they have made progress for the past three nights. In a public videoconference update on Wednesday night, union leaders said they had made progress on the economic side. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. Zachary Latham called his neighbor a Karen. Over several weeks, he posted videos of confrontations with the womans family on social media. When the dispute boiled over into a brief but violent melee at Lathams home that left the womans husband dead, lawyers for the family argued Latham killed the man for social media fame. The woman arrived in Buffalo three weeks ago, exhausted, creases surrounding her pained eyes. She is staying at the refugee shelter Vive with her five children: the eldest, a young adult; the youngest, preschool age. They came here from their home in Colombia, where kidnapping and violent crime are commonplace. Her teenage daughter was raped there, and gave birth to a baby girl. We dont even know who it was, said the woman, who spoke through an interpreter on the condition of anonymity, for the protection of her family, and we decided to leave before facing even greater danger. The woman, her five children and her baby granddaughter left Colombia in September, fleeing by foot through the rugged Darien Gap, a 100-mile-wide jungle that separates Colombia from Panama. They walked for eight days, passing dead bodies that rolled down the mountainside into the river. Her baby granddaughter became dehydrated. Her 7-year-old boy was swept into the river, but some man came out of nowhere, she said, and was able to save him. The family made it through Central America to Mexico, then Texas and zigzagged by bus through the United States. On the way, the woman met a group that was fleeing to Canada, which has become a destination for people seeking refuge from danger. She kept in touch, learned they made it to Canada and decided that would be the best place for her family, too. Her best route into Canada would be by crossing the border in the northeastern corner of New York. She bused her family to Buffalo and came to Vive to stay temporarily, gathering the money and supplies she would need to take her family by bus to Plattsburgh, a small city near the New York-Vermont line. From there, they would take a 45-minute taxi ride to a nondescript country road that has become an international, and unofficial, pathway into Canada. Roxham Road runs northward, past a horse pasture, a trailer and a few old homes. Then it stops, abruptly, with signs telling people to travel no farther. The end of Roxham Road is also the end of the United States. Across a small gravel and dirt patch is Canada, open and available, a five-second walk from where Roxhams pavement stops. Since 2016, when Donald Trump's electoral victory ensured that America's stance on immigration enforcement would become steelier, tens of thousands of migrants crossed the border there. They were arrested immediately, but then claimed asylum and were given the chance to make their case to stay in Canada. Roxham was a beacon, and for many, Buffalo was a stop on the way. Thats why this woman and her family came here. But then in late March, with no notice and little time for planning, Roxham Road closed. That closure effectively served as a broken link in a chain for those seeking asylum. And it has had a direct impact on shelters like Vive, where thousands of journeys have ended for now and where resources are stretched to their limit as refugee advocates plead for help from the government. People dont stay long at Vive, a former school on Buffalos East Side that is now a shelter for refugees. Their stays are typically measured in weeks, even days. Many leave and head to Canada, where they hope to seek asylum, making the case for why they are fleeing violence and terror in their home countries and seeking a new life. On March 23, a pair of families arrived at Vive, hoping to stay briefly while getting ready to trek northward to Canada. That day, the director of Vive, Matt Tice, received word that Roxham Road would likely be closing very soon. Were scrambling to help along the folks in the building who were planning to head that way, Tice said that night. Vive doesnt encourage people to head to Canada, or transport them to Roxham, but it does provide information on regulations and processes. In this case, the information was clear: If youre heading to Roxham, you need to hurry. (We) dont want them ending up stuck, Tice said. The United States and Canada had agreed on a revision to the Safe Third Country Agreement, a pact that requires asylum seekers to make their claim in whichever of those two countries they are in first. For years, asylum seekers have made use of a loophole in the agreement: If people seeking asylum found their way into Canada between a port of entry, they would be arrested for an irregular crossing. But they would also be allowed to stay in Canada and make their claim. Except in rare or limited circumstances such as when the cross-border traffic was largely closed for a 20-month stretch during the pandemic they would not be returned to the United States. The flow of people in Canada nearly 40,000 in 2022 alone created a border crisis in Canada and ignited political pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Unlike the U.S.-Mexico line, where Border Patrol agents are apprehending large groups of people traversing land and river borders en masse, Roxham Road was orderly. People lined up, one by one and family by family, to cross the border to be arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who years ago set up a processing center at the site. But Trudeau and President Joe Biden reached an agreement to close the loophole. Canada agreed to accept 15,000 migrants annually. In return, anyone who crosses at Roxham or anywhere else between ports of entry along the northern border will be returned to the United States. (The reverse is also true: People crossing southward will be returned to Canada.) For refugees, their road to freedom was closing. They just didnt know when. Knowing when to cross at Roxham is not a snap decision. People need money for bus tickets to Plattsburgh, a taxi ride to the end of Roxham, information on what to do and what to avoid. For example, when an asylum seeker would show up at Roxham Road and was still on the American side of the border, Canadian police officers delivered a loosely scripted warning: If you choose to enter this way, its illegal and youre going to be arrested. They told the asylum seekers to go to a port of entry. But this doesn't work, unless the person crossing has a direct family member in Canada in which case, they wouldnt have come to Roxham in the first place. By walking into Canada, getting arrested and claiming asylum, those crossing would be given shelter and food, education for their children, and the opportunity to build a case. There are no guarantees, but it's a chance. That Thursday night, five families decided they were ready to go. They were 14 people in all, half of them children, from Congo, Angola and Colombia. Around 8 p.m., the group headed from Vive to the Buffalo bus station. Their eastbound Greyhound was scheduled to depart shortly after midnight. About an hour later, Tice received further word: The official announcement was coming the next day, when Biden and Trudeau were meeting in Ottawa, and the closing would be near-immediate. He started making contingency plans in case the 14 people made it to Plattsburgh but could go no farther. Hes part of a large network of immigration advocates and volunteers and reached out to his contacts in the Plattsburgh area. Tice and his staff also kept an eye on the Greyhound schedule, hoping there were no bus delays. That was all they could do. The closure of the loopholes in the Safe Third Country Agreement will have implications that play out in Buffalo and across the 5,525-mile U.S.-Canadian border. Because crossing northward at Roxham Road now guarantees a quick return to the United States, its likely that more migrants will try to slip into Canada or southward into the United States undetected through fields and waterways. The geography is dangerous. Last month, eight people were found dead in the St. Lawrence River in Akwesasne, the Indigenous territory that straddles the U.S.-Canada border where Ontario, Quebec and New York meet. The six adults and two children, including an infant, were from two families: one from India and the other of Romanian descent. All are believed to have been attempting illegal entry into the U.S. from Canada, said Lee-Ann O'Brien, the deputy chief of police for the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service, in a March 31 news briefing. When Safe Third Country Agreement revisions became public, Dr. Myron Glick, the founder of Vives parent organization, Jericho Road Community Health Center, criticized the decision. The closing of Roxham Road will cost lives," he said in a statement. "When someone flees from their home, they are doing what so many have done before partaking in the centuries-long tradition of seeking freedom and safety, elsewhere. We believe that caring for asylum seekers is caring for our neighbor. We are deeply troubled by the decision to further restrict access to safety. These children, parents, and individuals have lost all but what they could carry on their back some have even lost their lives along the way. The decision to now turn them away flies in the face of this country's promise, and of our humanity. Glicks statement revealed that in the last year, 2,000 people stayed at Vive on their way to Canada. Under this new policy, half of that group would be immediately barred from the country. (The other half, presumably, had direct family in Canada and could make an official application for entry.) Now, more of those people will be staying in Buffalo, elevating an already dire need for housing and support. In the week following the closure of Roxham, the staff of Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, was in contact with state officials and the Western New York agencies that support refugee resettlement. Higgins, who is co-chair of the Houses Northern Border Caucus, sent a letter March 31 to President Biden urging increased funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Immigration agencies in Western New York work tirelessly to assist asylum seekers, Higgins wrote, noting that the organizations already operate under significant strain and will require additional resources to increase capacity and bandwidth in order to meet their mission. Three days after Higgins wrote that letter, a group of 21 people, most of them from Peru, showed up at Vive. They saw a set of four bright yellow signs on the door, with the same message in four languages: VIVE IS FULL. Vive is almost always full. The shelter has room for 120 people, is consistently at or over capacity, and is seven months into a capital campaign to raise $6 million for a new, expanded facility. Today, those signs stay up longer because people will need lengthier stays. The Vive staff doesnt simply turn people away; instead, they work to find other places in Buffalo for them to stay, which is what happened with the Peruvian families. When people show up, we've completely run out of cots, beds, emergency space, Tice said, so we're looking for outside placement all over the place. Late in the morning on March 24, Tice received news: His group of 14 was on schedule for arrival in Plattsburgh by early afternoon. But Roxham Road was closing at midnight. His group en route would make it. But nobody else from Vive could go. Tice and his staff held a meeting with the people still at Vive to deliver the news. There was a sense of dread in the room, recalled Maria Perez-Gomez, Vives assistant director. Beyond the perceived stoicism, there was an unspoken hopelessness. The woman from Colombia was part of that meeting. Though she appeared stolid in the room, she later broke down. I couldnt stop crying, she said. After leaving a horrifying reality in her home country, surviving a journey through the most dangerous jungle on the planet, and finding her way across countries and states, she was so close to Canada. And now, so far. But then she considered her priorities. The most important is her childrens education. She spoke with officials at Vive, and took steps to enroll her school-age children in the Buffalo Public Schools. She is grasping opportunity for the moment, but nothing is settled: To stay, she still has to make, and win, an asylum case. I want to be where my children can do well. she said. If theyre going to do well here, then itll be OK. Four people, including a New Jersey man and a couple who formerly lived in New Jersey, have been indicted in a $4.5 million internet romance scam, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Martins Inalegwu, 34, of Philadelphia, and Steincy Mathieu, 26, of Brooklyn, New York, who used to reside in Burlington County, along with Nigerian national Moses Chukwuebuka Alexander, were indicted on April 6 on various charges including wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering, prosecutors said. Oluwaseyi Fatolu, of Springfield, was indicted on a charge of conducting an unlawful money transmitting business, in which she allegedly helped the scammers transfer the stolen funds between accounts in the U.S. and oversees for a fee, officials said. Alexander is currently considered a fugitive, authorities said. Inalegwu, Mathieu and Alexander, along with multiple coconspirators, allegedly contacted more than 100 users across the U.S. on dating and social media websites between 2016 and 2020, using fake personas and pretending to develop romantic relationships with them, according to court documents. They then communicated with the victims via phone and email before asking them to send money for false emergency needs, documents said. The victims sent money via wire transfers, paper checks and money transferring services such as Western Union, authorities said. Inalegwu and Mathieu are also accused of being involved in a rental scam, in which they advertised apartments for rent that they did not own and collected application fees and security deposits from the victims before cutting off communication, officials said. Fatolu was arraigned on Wednesday. Inalegwu and Mathieu are scheduled to be arraigned on April 20. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. 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. A Buffalo man convicted on murder and weapons charges was sentenced Thursday to 40 years to life in prison, according to the Erie County District Attorney's Office. Cortez Foster, 33, was tried in Erie County Court for the March 14, 2021, fatal shooting of 29-year-old Marcus Spain. Spain was sitting in a parked vehicle in the 200 block of Johnson Street, located in the city's Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood. Prosecutors said Foster at about 4:31 a.m. intentionally fired multiple shots at Spain with an illegal gun. Spain was transported by ambulance to Erie County Medical Center, where he later died. Erie County Court Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes sentenced him as a second felony offender. After 2 hours of deliberation following a five-day trial, a jury found Foster guilty of one count each of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in the case. Foster also pleaded guilty Thursday to one count each of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest in a separate criminal case that arose from a Jan. 7, 2020, traffic stop. Foster was stopped by Buffalo police on William and Monroe streets after officers observed him going through a stop sign. Police said they smelled marijuana while speaking to Foster and saw a small amount of loose marijuana in the backseat of his vehicle, which prompted a search. Officers found a bag containing over a half an ounce of fentanyl inside of the glovebox of the vehicle. Officers said that when they returned to their patrol vehicle in advance of placing Foster under arrest, he attempted to escape. They said he resisted their commands and fought with them. Officers, however, were able to subdue Foster and take him into custody for possession of narcotics. Foster faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced May 15 for these charges. In August 2022, it seemed that long-awaited relief would finally come for the residents of Brad Pitts Make It Right development in the Lower Ninth Ward. After four years of courtroom wrangling, the owners of the flawed homes, built by the Hollywood stars nonprofit organization, were to be compensated for the shoddy construction. Make It Right agreed to pay $20.5 million, to be divided among 107 eligible homeowners. Global Green, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit environmental organization, offered to pick up the tab. But, according to Orleans Parish Civil District Court documents, Global Green didnt come through. Unable to Make It Right In a November 2022 memo to the court, Global Green CEO William Bridge explained that, although Global Green agreed to provide the funds within 10 days, the organization didnt actually have the money to back up its pledge. According to Bridge, the plan was to begin seeking donations from philanthropists. Global Green made it clear from the beginning, Bridge wrote to the court, that raising this large sum of money would require adequate time to identify and secure individual and corporate donors. Bridge told the court that in the face of the nonprofits inability to pay, both the chairman of the Global Green board and the organizations New Orleans lawyer had resigned. Bridge told the court that Global Green had become a scapegoat, but that it nonetheless remains committed to raising the funds needed to resolve the dispute... Looking for trouble Why Global Green got involved in the costly and humiliating culmination of Pitts flawed development remains a mystery. In 2006, Pitt lent his celebrity to Global Greens plan to build a cluster of eco-friendly homes in the Holy Cross neighborhood of the Lower Ninth Ward. The homes had been flooded by a levee failure during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. But by 2008, Pitt had struck out on his own, founding Make It Right, an alternative to Global Green, with a similar goal of building affordable, futuristic homes in the Ninth Ward to replace those lost in the catastrophe. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson is asking voters on April 29 to nearly double the amount of property taxes her office collects each year from roughly $13 million to some $25 million but she has provided few details about how, exactly, the additional $12.4 million a year would be spent. With the election nearing, Hutson has done little to convince voters to support her proposed tax increase or even to explain it. In fact, based on what weve seen so far, it appears the sheriff hopes to sneak the tax hike past voters by putting it on the ballot during a low-turnout special election that coincides with the first weekend of Jazz Fest. For these and other reasons, we recommend voting NO on Hutsons proposed property tax increase. Early voting runs Saturday, April 15, through Saturday, April 22. The Sheriffs Office currently levies a 2.8-mill property tax, which voters approved in 2015. That tax expires at the end of 2025. Hutson wants voters to combine the existing tax with a new, additional 2.7-mill property tax. The combined 5.5-mill tax would take effect in 2024 and remain in effect through 2033. We have several concerns about Hutsons proposal. For starters, we believe she has been less than transparent even misleading about the proposition itself. For example, a presentation explaining her proposal states that the sheriffs existing 2.8-mill property tax expires at the end of this year rather than at the end of 2025. Even if thats an innocent typo, it misstates a critical fact and falsely suggests theres an urgency to Hutsons tax proposal. Truth is Hutson has more than two years to convince voters to renew or increase her property tax millage. Even if she felt the need to act now, she should have mounted a full-blown campaign for the proposition. The City Council gave Hutson a chance to make her case during an April 13 budget hearing, but the sheriff couldnt answer many of the councils questions about how she would spend the additional money. She said most of it would cover pay hikes, renovate facilities, and generally help her comply with a federal consent decree but she was unable to itemize those expenses. After Hutson spent more than $19,000 on downtown hotel rooms during Carnival, she needs to account for every penny if she expects voters to give her an extra $12.4 million a year. Hutsons timing also makes us suspicious. In a March 17 letter to Mayor LaToya Cantrell and council members, the sheriff said she chose April 29 as the referendum date because it will not have a crowded ballot. Thats a study in understatement. Only one other item appears on the ballot that day a low-key special election runoff for Criminal District Court judge. The March 25 special primary generated about 10% voter turnout. It could be even lower on April 29. Whatever the turnout, we urge voters to say NO to Hutsons tax proposal and we urge the sheriff to re-think how she goes about asking voters to raise taxes. Find details about your polling location and a sample ballot at geauxvote.com. The death of former Louisiana Attorney General Richard Ieyoub on April 10 and the decision of current Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin one day later not to seek reelection put into stark relief the importance of two often-overlooked statewide offices and the stakes of this falls elections. Both Ieyoub and Ardoin served admirably during difficult circumstances. Since Ieyoub left office in 2004, the AGs office has become increasingly politicized and the AGs themselves increasingly unspectacular, to put it mildly. Ieyoub served as AG for 12 years and will be remembered for courageously taking on Big Tobacco and earning the state a $4.6 billion settlement. Trust funds established with that money still help pay for education, health care and smoking cessation programs. Ieyoub also helped create a host of Black-majority judicial districts, defended the independence of the Southern University System and fought for consumer protection, school safety and prevention of substance abuse. Current AG Jeff Landry demagogically took on librarians and LGBTQ persons, earning himself some cheap headlines and a devoted political base among right-wingers and election deniers. He hopes they, and his early endorsement by the Louisiana GOP, will get him elected governor in the fall. Comparing the records of Ieyoub and Landry is like comparing lions to hyenas. Ardoin served as the states chief elections officer for five years, starting in 2018, and as first assistant Secretary of State for eight years before that. As Secretary of State, he oversaw glitch-free elections amid Covid pandemic lockdowns, in the wake of devastating hurricanes, and in the face of false concerns about the potential for election fraud when he advocated for increased early voting. Ardoin also stood tall against fellow Republicans who spread what he called pervasive lies that have eroded trust in our elections by using conspiracies so far-fetched that they belong in a work of fiction. Truth is Louisiana has some of the most reliable election returns in the country, as attested to by independent auditors. In contrast to the steady decline in the quality of our attorneys general after Ieyoubs impactful tenure, the Louisiana Secretary of States office has consistently been the best-run state agency for more than half a century. During that span of time, each successive Secretary of State has wisely kept in place a corps of highly qualified and dedicated employees who provide exceptional service to the states legal, business and journalism communities as well as to the general public. Each Secretary also had the wisdom to continue hiring top-notch employees. But that could all change in the fall, depending on who succeeds Ardoin. Likewise, the next AG could follow in Ieyoubs footsteps. Or Landrys. The governors race inevitably grabs virtually all the attention at election time, which is understandable. Louisianas governor wields enormous power. But Ieyoub and Ardoin have shown that the contests for AG and Secretary of State matter just as much as the race for governor, particularly in perilous times such as these. At the invitation of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Francisco Bustillo Bonasso will pay a visit to China from April 16 to 20. CCTV: On the announced visit of Gabonese President Bongo to China, can you share more details about the program and Chinas expectations for the visit? How does China view the current China-Gabon relations? Wang Wenbin: Gabon is an important country in Central Africa. China and Gabon enjoy a traditional friendship. Since our two countries established diplomatic ties nearly 50 years ago, with the care of generations of leaders of both sides, China and Gabon have cemented and grown our relations, and firmly supported each other on issues that bear on the core interests and major concerns of each side. In recent years, the two countries have deepened political mutual trust, engaged in fruitful practical cooperation and worked closely with each other in international and regional affairs. President Ali Bongo Ondimba will be the first African head of state to be received by President Xi Jinping since his reelection as Chinese President. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will hold a welcome ceremony and a welcome banquet for President Ali Bongo. The two heads of state will hold talks and jointly attend a signing ceremony of cooperation documents. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao Leji will meet with President Ali Bongo respectively. We are confident that this visit will provide new impetus for the comprehensive and deep-going growth of China-Gabon relations, and generate new outcomes in the friendly cooperation between the two countries. TASS: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is on an official visit to China. She said in an interview earlier that China is Germanys competitor, partner and systemic rival. Whats your comment? Will this affect China-Germany relations? On Taiwan, her position is very clear. Speaking after the PLAs military drills around Taiwan between April 8 to 10, she said that Germany does not accept escalation in the situation across Taiwan Strait. How do you view all these comments? Wang Wenbin: Chinas positions on China-Germany and China-EU relations and on the Taiwan question are consistent and clear. I would like to take this opportunity to update you on Foreign Minister Baerbocks visit to China. Early this morning, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, returning from an overseas trip, went to Tianjin and visited a German business there together with Foreign Minister Baerbock. Afterwards they took a high-speed train to Beijing. This is Foreign Minister Baerbocks first official visit to China. We believe her activities in Tianjin with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang provide a first-hand impression of Chinas development and China-Germany mutually beneficial cooperation. This morning, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock co-chaired the 6th round of China-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy and Security. They held candid, in-depth strategic communication on bilateral ties and international and regional hotspot issues. They agreed to conduct exchange across the board to enhance strategic mutual trust, avoid strategic miscalculation, and shape correct mutual understanding; to advance cooperation in various sectors for win-win results in a practical and open spirit; to stay committed to mutual respect, mutual trust, equality, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and respect for each others core interests; to step up communication and coordination in international affairs and jointly address common risks and challenges facing humanity. The Chinese side also elaborated on its position on the Taiwan question. On the Ukraine issue, China stressed that the only viable way out of the crisis lies in peace talks. We stand ready to work for peace. We also hope relevant parties will stay objective and calm and make joint efforts towards a negotiated resolution of the crisis. This year will see robust exchange and cooperation between China and Germany. Both sides will take this visit as an opportunity to enhance dialogue and communication, deepen mutually-beneficial cooperation, work for the sound and steady growth of our all-round strategic partnership, and add stability and fresh impetus for world peace and development. Well share more information about Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbocks visit. Please check back for updates. CCTV: You just announced that Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay Francisco Bustillo Bonasso will visit China. How does China view the current China-Uruguay relationship? Could you share the program of this visit and Chinas expectations? Wang Wenbin: China and Uruguay enjoy long-standing and profound friendship. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Uruguay. Over the past 35 years, especially since the establishment of strategic partnership in 2016, China and Uruguay have made good progress in our bilateral relations, which brings tangible benefits to the two peoples. Under the new circumstances, China stands ready to work with Uruguay to follow through on the important common understandings between the leaders of the two countries, deepen friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation and add new dimensions to the China-Uruguay strategic partnership. During the visit, the two sides will have an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. It is believed that this visit will further consolidate the traditional friendship between China and Uruguay, deepen our political mutual trust, boost practical cooperation and take bilateral relations to a new height. CGTN: The second Informal Meeting on Afghanistan Between Foreign Ministers of China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran was held on April 13. Could you share more details? Wang Wenbin: Yesterday, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang chaired the second Informal Meeting on Afghanistan Between Foreign Ministers of China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran in Samarkand. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Pakistani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar attended the meeting. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin noted that since the first informal meeting of foreign ministers of the four countries on the Afghan issue, China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran, as the core force for regional coordination on Afghanistan issue, have worked together to ensure the smooth transition of the situation in Afghanistan. Under the new circumstances, the Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation must be abandoned for the political settlement of the Afghan issue. All countries concerned need to adhere to the principle of indivisible security, address both the symptoms and root causes, and guide the Afghan Taliban to exercise governance in a moderate and prudent way through equal consultation and friendly dialogue with mutual respect. China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran should work together to make the international community pay more attention to terrorism-related security issues in Afghanistan to help the country effectively address terrorist threats and make a clean break with all terrorist forces. The four countries will encourage and support the Afghan Taliban in pursuing a modernization path suited for its national conditions, and help Afghanistan enhance self-driven development capacity and integrate itself into the regional economy. This meeting of foreign ministers produced positive outcomes and reached a number of important consensus. First, the Ministers reiterated respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, and support for the Afghan-led, Afghan-owned principle to determine the countrys political future and development path. Second, the Ministers emphasized their deep concerns regarding the terrorism-related security situation in Afghanistan, and urged the Afghan Interim Government to take more visible measures in upholding its stated commitments on counter-terrorism, dismantling and eliminating all sorts of terrorist groups, with a view to preventing the soil of Afghanistan from being used by any terrorist group. The Afghan authority should take effective measures to protect the safety, security and legitimate rights of foreign institutions and citizens. Third, the Ministers called on the Afghan authority to build an inclusive government and protect the basic rights and interests of all Afghans, including women, children and ethnic minority groups. Fourth, the Ministers pointed out that the US and its allies, who bear historic responsibility for the predicament in Afghanistan, should instantly lift unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan and return its overseas assets, for the benefits of Afghan people. They firmly opposed the reestablishment of military bases in and around Afghanistan. Fifth, the Ministers called on the international community to continue providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, help Afghanistan effectively fight narcotics and develop alternative crops cultivation, and help the country strengthen capacity for self-driven and sustainable development. Sixth, the Ministers supported all diplomatic efforts conducive to facilitating the political settlement of the Afghan issue, and support the international community, in particular the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Foreign Ministers Meeting among Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan and Moscow Format Consultations, in playing a substantive role in this regard. After the meeting, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin took questions from the press. He said that since the Afghan Taliban came to power, they have repeatedly stressed the need to respect and protect womens rights and interests, which we hope can be translated into actions, and we hope that the Afghan Taliban will heed the concerns of the international community and resolve related issues through friendly consultations with various parties. The international community should view the Afghan issue in a comprehensive, balanced and objective manner. The Afghan issue calls for a comprehensive and systematic solution. Only with a stable society, manageable safety and security and a growing economy, can womens rights and interests be fundamentally safeguarded. China advocates that the international community should continue to help Afghanistan develop its economy and improve peoples livelihood, continue to provide humanitarian and development assistance, and promote moderate and prudent governance in Afghanistan through dialogue, communication and guidance, so as to effectively protect the basic rights and interests of all the Afghan people, including women, children and ethnic minorities. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin said that the US failure in Afghanistan is multifold. First, it was a military failure. The military subjugation did not bring a moment of peace to Afghanistan, and the 20 years of occupation by the US military had been 20 years of conflicts and turmoil in Afghanistan. Second, it was a political failure. The democratic transformation carried out by the US and other Western countries in Afghanistan failed to fit into local conditions, and the issue of national reconciliation in Afghanistan has dragged on unresolved till today. Third, it was a counter-terrorism failure. With the US interference, the terrorism issue has got from bad to worse in Afghanistan. The number of Afghan terrorist groups has increased from single digit 20 years ago to more than 20 today, leaving a huge security black hole. The troop withdrawal by the US does not mean that it could shirk off its responsibility. The US should not sit back and ignore the current plight of the Afghan people, and the Afghan peoples hard-earned money forcibly seized by the US must be returned as soon as possible. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin expressed the hope that the US will truly draw a lesson from what happened in Afghanistan, and change its wrong course at an early date. The US should not judge or interfere in other countries systems based on Western standards, nor should it attempt to reset military forces in Afghanistan and the region, still less supporting and employing terrorism. CCTV: The fourth Foreign Ministers Meeting among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan was held yesterday. Can you share more about State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gangs activities and remarks at the meeting? Wang Wenbin: On April 13 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang attended the fourth Foreign Ministers Meeting among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan in Samarkand. Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov chaired the meeting. Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Vepa Hajiyev and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Hina Rabbani Khar attended the meeting. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang noted that currently Afghanistan is at a crucial stage of adjusting and transforming its domestic and foreign policies and in dire need of more attention and support from the international community, especially its neighboring countries. Relevant parties should act in the spirit of good neighborliness and mutual help and take the lead in helping Afghanistan overcome difficulties and challenges and achieve stable development. First, we need to crack down on terrorist forces in Afghanistan, eliminate the breeding ground for terrorism, deepen regional cooperation on counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics and the refugee issue, and effectively prevent terrorist elements from fleeing across borders, growing in strength and creating chaos. Second, we urge the US to perform its duties, immediately lift unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan, and return the overseas assets of Afghanistan. Third, we call on the Afghan Taliban to build an inclusive government. On the basis of respecting the independence, sovereignty and national dignity of Afghanistan, we will encourage the Afghan Taliban to be more inclusive and progressive in building political authority and policy formulation. Fourth, we will carry out practical cooperation related to Afghanistan, accelerate the implementation of the Tunxi Initiative, help make Afghanistan part of the regional connectivity network and economic integration process and improve its capability for self-driven, sustainable development. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang noted that China will continue to provide support to the best of our capability for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. We stand ready to work with neighboring countries in the spirit of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness as well as good neighborliness, deepen friendship, mutual trust and convergence of interests with neighboring countries, jointly work for a proper settlement of the Afghan issue, and contribute to the universal security and common development of the region. The ministers agreed that countries in the region need to enhance coordination and cooperation, work together to implement the Tunxi Initiative, and promote connectivity in the region. They noted that it is important to maintain communication with the Afghan interim government and encourage it to live up to its commitments to both the country itself and the international community, build an inclusive government, exercise moderate governance, protect the rights and interests of women, restore the economy and improve peoples livelihood. They call on the Afghan Taliban to take seriously and respond to the major concerns of neighboring countries, and take concrete steps to fight terrorism and narcotics trafficking. The ministers also expressed their opposition to forces outside the region undermining the security and stability of Afghanistan and the region, and to the country that bears the primary responsibility for the current situation in Afghanistan shirking responsibilities and closing the door of contact and dialogue with the Afghan side. The Samarkand Declaration of the Fourth Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Afghanistans Neighboring States was adopted at the meeting. After the meeting, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, along with other ministers, attended the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan Plus Afghanistan Foreign Ministers Dialogue. On the same day, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov and Acting Foreign Minister of the Afghan interim government Amir Khan Muttaqi respectively. China and Russia agreed to continue to enhance coordination and cooperation under multilateral frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, work together for a multi-polar world and greater democracy in international relations, form greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union, and explore the possibility of a feasibility study on a free trade area in a bid to achieve early harvests. Foreign Minister Muttaqi expressed his appreciation to China for its long-standing political support for Afghanistan. He noted that the Afghan Taliban appreciates and welcomes Chinas Position on the Afghan Issue released by the Chinese side, respects Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity, and understands the security concerns of China. The Afghan Taliban will never allow any force to use Afghanistans territory to harm Chinas interests, and will make utmost efforts to protect the safety of Chinese institutions and citizens in Afghanistan. He also expressed the Afghan Talibans willingness to take an active part in cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative and strengthen trade and economic cooperation between Afghanistan and China. Reuters: The Chinese side yesterday told a G20 meeting of central bank chiefs and finance ministers that China will work with all parties to implement the common framework of debt disposal. Does that mean China will drop its demand that multilateral lenders share in debt restructuring losses and will offer refinancing assurances to states currently trying to use the common framework to access new IMF loans? Wang Wenbin: Properly addressing the debt issue matters to global economic recovery and financial stability. China attaches high importance to the sovereign debt issue of developing countries. Our position is consistent. We always believe that to effectively resolve the debt issue, the key lies in joint participation of multilateral, bilateral and commercial creditors in debt treatment under the principles of joint actions and fair burden-sharing. According to my knowledge, China put forward a three-point proposal at the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) recently. First, multilateral creditors need to come up with solutions on their participation in debt treatment as soon as possible; second, the IMF needs to take actions in information-sharing on debt sustainability assessments as soon as possible; third, parties concerned need to agree on the specific ways for creditors to participate on comparable terms as soon as possible. We hope parties concerned will take credible steps to implement the G20 Common Framework and seek an effective, systemic and comprehensive solution to the debt issue. Beijing Daily: April 15 is the National Security Education Day. I noticed that this years theme is take a holistic approach to national security, enhance peoples awareness and ability regarding national security, and cement the public foundation for shoring up the new development paradigm with the new security paradigm. My question is, how is the holistic approach to national security reflected in the diplomacy work? Wang Wenbin: Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era and Chinas national security situation has seen profound and complex changes. With an overall review of the national security situation, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core put forward innovatively the holistic approach to national security, providing the guidelines for safeguarding and shaping national security in the new era. Under the sound guidance of this approach, the work related to national security in the new era has made historic achievements, our sovereignty, security and development interests are safeguarded in an all-round way, and the society overall has been stable over the years. China has become one of the safest countries in the world. The international security situation is experiencing various types of disorder, with traditional and non-traditional security issues intertwined. Human society is facing unprecedented challenges and standing once again at a crossroads where choices must be made. The holistic approach to national security emphasizes the coordination between ones own security and the common security of all, and champions win-win for all countries and a security path where all countries can benefit. In face of the world fraught with changes and chaos, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Security Initiative, which advocates the common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security vision, rejects the Cold-War mentality, and opposes unilateralism, group politics and bloc confrontation. It represents Chinas plan for resolving global security difficulties and eliminating international security deficit, and it displays Chinas firm resolve and sense of responsibility for safeguarding global security. Chinas diplomacy in the new era will continue to act in accordance with the requirement of the holistic approach to national security. We will contribute to global common security while protecting our own security. We will firmly safeguard our national interests and the nations dignity, and in the meanwhile take an active part in the improvement of global security governance, promote joint efforts of all countries to respond to security risks and challenges, and make relentless efforts to build a safer and more beautiful world. Reuters: Chinas maritime authority has said it will ban vessels from an area north of Taiwan on Sunday due to potential falling rocket debris and a no-fly zone has also been put in place in that area. Can you clarify what this relates to? Wang Wenbin: Chinas civil aviation authorities and relevant maritime authorities have both issued announcements. According to what we have learned from competent authorities, as is customary practice, civil aviation authorities notify the public in advance of the airspace that may be affected by space activities. This is aimed to alert relevant air traffic service departments and airspace users to possible impacts of such space activities. This is a responsible action to ensure aviation safety. The latest notices and announcements issued for the space activities identified the area that may be affected. I noted some earlier reports which said that China has set up a no-fly zone. This is not accurate. Relevant air traffic service departments have a responsibility to take measures accordingly to ensure flight safety. Bloomberg: Sri Lanka and its major creditors have formally launched talks to restructure that nations debt without China, which is Sri Lankas biggest bilateral lender. This appears to be a sign of current frustration with Beijings approach to debt woes in the developing world. How does the foreign ministry respond to these talks going forward without Beijing? Wang Wenbin: Weve shared Chinas position on Sri Lankas debt issue several times. You may refer to our previous response. I would like to reiterate that China calls on commercial and multilateral creditors to jointly participate in Sri Lankas debt restructuring under the principle of fair burden-sharing. We have been in close communication with Sri Lanka and supported Chinese financial institutions in actively discussing debt treatment arrangements with Sri Lanka. Bloomberg: The US is pressing the need for its allies to coordinate against what it views as Chinese economic coercion and not just military threats as Japan prepares to host diplomats at the G7 foreign ministers meeting that is upcoming. How does the foreign ministry respond to this push by the US? Wang Wenbin: As far as economic coercion and military threat are concerned, the US is an expert with a long track record. The US needs to reflect on the harm its coercive diplomacy has done, rather than pin the label on others. A 3-year-old Lockport girl who was mauled by a family member's dogs Thursday morning remained in critical condition at Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo, Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti said Friday. The child was attacked by four pit bulls who belonged to a family member, he said. The attack took place at a home on Glendale Drive in the Town of Lockport. Sheriff's deputies responded after receiving a 911 call at about 9:40 a.m. regarding the attack. Deputies and EMS personnel rendered first aid and the child was then taken to the hospital. The SPCA of Niagara County took possession of the dogs. Filicetti said his office's criminal investigation bureau is consulting with the SPCA and the Niagara County District Attorney's Office regarding how to proceed with the case. The 40th French Quarter Fest kicks off with good vibes and no rain, a big highway project aims to fix "the four corners," tenants of The Willows accuse the building's owners of mistreatment and more. Here's a look at today's top stories in New Orleans for Thursday, April 13, 2023. Did you know that you can now submit your own suggested clues for Clue Dat? Play today, and submit your best ideas! Two months after a triple shooting at Club Marcella that left one man dead and two others wounded, the suspected 20-year-old gunman was indicted on one count of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree attempted murder and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. One dead, two injured in overnight shooting at Buffalo nightclub The shooting happened around 2:30 a.m. during an argument inside Club Marcella in the 100 block of Michigan Avenue, according to a statement from Buffalo police. Sharief McBroom of Buffalo, dressed in a black sweater, gray sweatpants and sneakers, was arraigned Friday afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case, who remanded him without bail. His next court date is 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Prosecutors said that at about 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 12, McBroom of Buffalo launched "a brazen and outrageously violent attack inside a crowded nightclub" that was observed by multiple eyewitnesses and captured on surveillance video. He also is accused of engaging in conversations on Facebook where he reportedly identified himself as the shooter. Prosecutors said McBroom later fled the area and was tracked by U.S. Marshals to Columbus, Ohio, and Binghamton, before he was located Friday in a South Buffalo home, where he was arrested on a warrant for a sealed indictment. McBroom faces a maximum of 50 years to life in prison if he is convicted on the highest charge against him. In recent weeks, Crime Stoppers Buffalo circulated McBroom's photo and offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest. The award was later raised to $7,500. $2,500 reward offered for suspect in Club Marcella killing Crime Stoppers Buffalo released a photo of Sharief McBroom and said he is "wanted regarding the homicide." Jorge Garcia-Leon Jr., 21, died at the scene of the shooting, on Michigan Avenue on the edge of downtown. Two others were injured in the shooting. During a news conference in his office Friday following McBroom's court appearance, Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn described the wounded victims as a male and a female. A few days after the shooting, police arrested a 17-year-old from Buffalo accused of providing the illegal gun that was used in the shooting. Flynn on Friday said the youth could be tried as an adult, though some of the initial charges against him are likely to be re-evaluated based on conflicting evidence that calls into question whether the teen provided the weapon to McBroom. That suspect, whose name was not released because of his age, was charged with three counts of first-degree assault, one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment and two counts of criminal possession of a firearm all felonies. Youth Part Judge Brenda Freedman ordered him held without bail. Kids holding signs against Critical Race Theory stand on stage near Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as he addresses the crowd before publicly signing HB7 at Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School in Hialeah Gardens, Fla., on April 22, 2022. Republican groups that sought to get hundreds of parents rights activists elected to local school boards largely fell short in Tuesdays elections. The push has been boosted by Republican groups including the 1776 Project PAC, but just a third of its roughly 50 candidates won. (Daniel A. Varela/Miami Herald via AP, file) A former legislative director to Assemblyman Patrick B. Burke has filed a claim accusing the Orchard Park Democrat of sexual harassment, saying Burke repeatedly commented on women's appearances, joked about genitalia and discussed the sex lives of both his teenage son and fellow legislators in the office. The director, Nicole Golias, worked with Burke from September 2021 to May 2022, when the assemblyman dismissed her and two other staff members following a well-publicized disagreement about Burkes response to the Tops massacre. Assemblyman Patrick Burke fires three top staffers in exchange over his response to Tops shooting The Orchard Park Democrat said he fired them for gross insubordination following a heated exchange Tuesday in his West Seneca district office during which he said they accused him of being a political coward. But serious problems in Burkes office predated the May 2022 firings, Golias said in a complaint filed April 7 with the New York Division of Human Rights and in interviews with The Buffalo News. The former aide accuses Burke of fostering what she called a highly personal and inappropriate office culture. Burke categorically and individually denied each of her accusations. Matthew T.H. Dearing, Burkes former director of community relations, told The Buffalo News that he witnessed several of the interactions mentioned in the complaint. In January, Dearing and Golias notified Burkes office of plans to file a joint wrongful termination suit. Two other people with firsthand knowledge of Burkes behavior in his district office also said they witnessed conversations in which the assemblyman used language they considered inappropriate and commented on womens looks. In a statement and interview with The Buffalo News on Thursday, Burke called Golias' accusations demonstrably false and defamatory, and said they represented the continuation of a public campaign against him that Golias began after she was fired. During Golias time in his office, Burke said, it was she who made vulgar, crass and sexually explicit comments and displayed what he described as unprofessional behavior. The New York Assembly has opened an independent investigation into the accusations, Burke confirmed, as is standard under the Legislature's harassment policy. Burke said he looked forward to the investigation, which he said would show Golias had invented or misconstrued her complaints. Ms. Golias' behavior was egregious during her brief tenure in my office, and it is an outrage that she would accuse me of the very behavior she not only participated in, but fostered, Burke said. She has twisted the truth and outright lied in the past, and she is doing it again for monetary gain. Golias is seeking unnamed damages for lost wages and emotional distress in her sexual harassment complaint, her attorney said. 'Entirely inappropriate behavior' Golias complaint does not accuse Burke of making sexual advances toward her. Rather, Golias said the assemblyman engaged in what she called inappropriate and offensive behavior in his district office and at other events with staffers. The four people he employed at the time were all in their 20s, and three of them became friends, Golias and Dearing said. He would do anything he could to appear cool and attractive," Golias said of Burke, 38. "And I don't know if he was trying to convince others or himself. But it ended up just veering into entirely inappropriate behavior. In one incident in April 2022, which Burke called "absurd" and "a lie," the assemblyman told his staff that he had viewed sexually explicit videos of his son and female partners on his sons Snapchat account, Golias said. Burke sometimes discussed personal and family matters in the office, Golias said, and the videos came up as part of a discussion of the teenagers behavior. Burke called his teenage sons sexual partners hot, Golias said. Golias said she told Burke that the people were minors. According to Golias complaint, Burke, using a profane term, told his staff that if the partner had large breasts and "a size zero waist," "she's hot." Burke said that while he did discuss his son's Snapchat account with staff, he "absolutely" did not comment on women's bodies in that or other conversations. Golias said Burke made the comments in front of Dearing and Brendan Keany, his former communications director. Dearing confirmed the incident to The News and said he recalled feeling very taken aback by what he called Burkes comments about the girls physique. Golias also discussed the incident with a college friend in April 2022, soon after it occurred, she said. The friend confirmed that she and Golias discussed the video, and Golias shared a May 2022 text message with The News in which her friend referred to it. Burke later asked staff if the conversation had made them uncomfortable, Golias said, and they downplayed the incident. Pat would do stuff that made us pretty uncomfortable with regularity, Dearing said, adding that discussion of womens appearances, dating lives and sexual histories were routine in the office. The two other witnesses to Burkes behavior, who requested anonymity out of concern that commenting politically would damage their careers, confirmed that they heard Burke comment on women's appearances or express attraction to them. Burke said that he allows a "casual environment" in his office and "jokes all the time," but not in a way that is sexually explicit. On one occasion, Golias and Dearing said, Burke commented on the genitalia of a man Golias was dating. Burke said no such conversation occurred. Another time, Golias and Dearing both said, Burke told staff that a woman had pressed her breasts against him at a public event and asked Golias if she did the same when she flirted with men. Burke also denied that conversation happened. In March 2022, Golias was marching with the assemblyman in the City of Buffalo St. Patricks Day Parade when they encountered several of Golias friends. Golias said Burke looked them all up and down in a way that led her to believe he found the women attractive. He later commented that he would like to hang out with Golias and her friends after she shared a story about singing karaoke with them, Golias said. Burke said he never thought to "check out" Golias or her friends, and said she had misconstrued or misrepresented benign conversations. "She's trying to make it sound like I'm some leering creep, and I just don't comport myself in that way at all," Burke said. Separately, Golias said that Burke once brought mushrooms to the office that she understood to be psychedelic. Burke has sponsored legislation to partially legalize psilocybin, a chemical found in certain mushrooms, for the treatment of mental health conditions. Burke said he never brought psychedelic mushrooms to the office. Public hearing could follow Burke denied creating a toxic culture in the district office, where he said he rarely worked. Instead, he said Golias had displayed egregious behavior during her time as his legislative director, and that he had verbally corrected her for making vulgar, crass, and sexually explicit comments. On one occasion, Burke said, he reprimanded Golias for asking two of her colleagues if they would perform a sex act on a prominent female politician. After Golias was fired, Burke said, he also discovered staff text message threads and personal papers in which Golias shared a link to a satirical article about a sex toy and made a joke about menstruation, among other comments that Burke said were inappropriate. The office did not keep written records of disciplinary actions or performance issues, Burke said. But Golias received a pay raise during her tenure. Golias never filed a complaint or considered quitting her job, she said, because she considered the work too important and believed that women often put up with work environments they find uncomfortable in order to progress in their careers. That changed, she said, when Burke fired her and two colleagues for what he called gross insubordination following a May 2022 disagreement about Burkes response to the Tops massacre. I think most people who would go through this would still keep it quiet I think most women don't want to rock the boat, she said. But I'd already kind of been thrown overboard. So I'm in an interesting position to be able to speak my mind. In the immediate aftermath of the mass shooting, Dearing said, Burke had told staff he planned to give dual speeches denouncing white supremacy on both the Assembly floor and in his largely white, suburban district. Burke did make such a speech to the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus. But he then told the three staffers they should return to their normal work on other policy issues, Golias said. Burke denied ever planning a speech in his district and cited media interviews in which Dearing and Golias said Burke had done too little to address white supremacy, despite his caucus speech and documented messages with his staff discussing further proposals and activities. The next day, Golias said, Burke got into a heated phone argument about that decision with Dearing, who is Black, while traveling back to Western New York from Albany. The conversation became personal when it turned to their families experiences with racism, both men have acknowledged in prior interviews. Golias and Dearing said that when Burke arrived back at the office, he told them and Keany that they should resign if they didnt support him. He then fired all three on the spot, Golias and Dearing said. Golias said she burst into tears and began packing her things, having not spoken at all during the confrontation. Golias and Dearing also plan to sue Burkes office for unlawful termination this month, the former staffers said. In a letter to Burkes office dated Jan. 9, Nathan McMurray, the attorney for the staffers and a former candidate for Erie County executive, accused Burke of firing them for their political beliefs and claimed that Burke mischaracterized the circumstances of their dismissal in comments to the press. Former Assembly staffer sets sights on Buffalo Common Council seat Matt Dearing joins a crowded field of candidates for the Ellicott District seat. Media coverage of the firings made it difficult for Golias to find another job in local politics, she said, though she interviewed for several between May 2022 and March 2023. In March, she found a job in the private sector and is no longer involved in politics, she said. Dearing worked briefly as a contractor for an out-of-state advocacy organization and is now running for a Buffalo Common Council seat in the Ellicott District. The Human Rights Division, an alternative to the civil court system, will next investigate the claim to determine whether there is probable cause that discrimination occurred. If so, the case may proceed to a public hearing before an administrative law judge. The letter McMurray sent to Burke in January about the termination case indicates that Golias and Dearing previously sought to settle privately with the office. Should Cuomo resign now? WNY's Democratic lawmakers check in Where do Western New York Democrats in power in Albany stand on whether Cuomo should resign now? In public statements and in response to questions from The Buffalo News, all but one laid out their positions. Burke won re-election to his third term as assemblyman in 2022 and previously served in the Erie County Legislature. The Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee contributed more than $150,000 to his most recent campaign, The News has reported. Burke was among the first lawmakers from the region to call on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign following allegations of sexual harassment in 2021. If its proven to be true that the Governor abused his power by sexually harassing subordinates then he must resign, Burke wrote on Twitter then. Its very hard for people like us to speak up, Dearing said. Its not something you do frivolously or spur of the moment. Its a scary thing. The formula for Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz's State of the County address is the same for any elected leader's annual speech: reflect on the past year's accomplishments, touch on major events and promote a positive agenda for the future. But Poloncarz faced a more difficult challenge Thursday as he delivered his State of the County address because of so much community pain over the past 12 months. He had to strike an appropriately solemn tone during some parts of his speech, and then transition to showcase a bright, optimistic future. Erie County to allocate at least $72 million out of $96 million year-end surplus The bones of a deal is in place to allocate at least $72 million of it to new county priorities and programs this year, ranging from new weapons detectors at the Central Library to millions in construction aid to SUNY Erie Community College. He touched on the Covid-19 omicron wave that killed hundreds, the record number of opioid-related overdose deaths this year, the May 14 massacre fueled by a white supremacist's racial hatred, fires that killed a family of six and Buffalo Firefighter Jason Arno, and the cardiac arrest suffered by Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Then there was the crippling November snowstorm, as well as the December blizzard that took the lives of nearly 50 county residents. "We have more than our share of grief and heartache in the past year, more than any community should ever have to bear," he said in the newly renovated auditorium at the downtown Central Library. He then called for a moment of silence before transitioning to a long list of county spending priorities. "Just like past generations overcame adversity, we will overcome these challenges by addressing the fundamental issues we face today and focusing on a stronger Erie County for all," he said. For each major challenge faced by the community, he asked those who answered the call for help to stand and be recognized. Then, he focused on investments going forward. How unspent Covid money could translate into millions for affordable housing in Erie County $20 million in unspent federal stimulus money would be redirected into a new Affordable Housing Fund that developers could tap into to build new affordable housing units across Erie County under a proposal by Mark Poloncarz. As previously reported by The Buffalo News, he highlighted the creation of a new county ambulance service, a $20 million affordable housing fund, initial funding toward a new county jail, and millions for new winter storm equipment and small business storefront grants. He also touted accomplishments that will likely serve as talking points for the remainder of the year as he campaigns for re-election: one of the lower county property tax rates in the state, population growth, investments in sewers and roads and new park playgrounds in all parts of the county. There are also anticipated groundbreakings for two big projects: the countywide ErieNet broadband network and a new Buffalo Bills stadium. Near the end of his address, he promoted the benefits of the new Bills deal at length, which garnered the most repeated and enthusiastic applause of any topic. What to expect in Mark Poloncarz's State of the County address In laying out priorities in this year's State of the County address, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is focusing on matters that touch on a broad cross section of people and places. Here's what to expect in his address. Then Poloncarz returned to his theme of community resilience in the face of hardship. He stressed that the community doesn't need a silver bullet or white knight to pull it from a "long economic malaise." "What turned around our community was us," he concluded. "We were the change that created this new Buffalo, this new Erie County. Because of the public and private sector investments we've made and to be made we are facing a future of unlimited possibilities. Despite the terrible adversity we've faced, it is truly an exciting time to be part of a robust and resilient community that is moving forward." Poloncarz allocates $2.5 million to lay groundwork for a new, unified county jail "It's time to begin the process to build a new, unified jail," Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said in a meeting this week with The Buffalo News. "The Holding Center is a disaster. It's just so old and antiquated." Poloncarz's State of the County address was generally well received by his audience, though protesters stood outside the auditorium entrance before the start to protest Poloncarz's announcement of $2.5 million in funding for a new, unified Holding Center. They chanted, "No new jail!" as attendees walked in. Many points in his speech were punctuated by applause from the friendly audience. Both Republican and Democratic legislators praised his address as being inclusive, extending credit to others and touching on all different parts of the community. "It was a good program," Republican Minority Leader John Mills said, "one of the best, I think, we've had." He noted that it was helpful to have so much money at the county's disposal this year to build a positive message, and said the community deserves a break. "Let's face it," he said. "Last year was hard for everybody." Legislature Chairwoman April Baskin said she was particularly excited about his strategy for encouraging more affordable housing, and appreciated Poloncarz's effort to appeal to the needs of residents countywide. "I just think the county executive is looking at things from an inclusive standpoint," she said. Faculty, alumnae and parents have been demanding changes at Nardin Academy. Turmoil at Nardin Academy as faculty, parents, alums question school leadership Since President Sandra Betters arrived, enrollment at Nardin 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. On Thursday, it was the students' turn. More than 250 high school students, led by seniors, poured out of the front doors of Nardin at noon to rally for 30 minutes to show support for their teachers and call for a change in the school's leadership. "We are very frustrated," said Lillian Morgan, a senior. "We love our teachers. They are making us who we are now, and we don't want them in an uncomfortable environment, nor do we want to be in an uncomfortable environment ourselves." The school has been gripped in discord during the past school year, with a majority of teachers signing letters to the board of trustees expressing grave concerns about President Sandra Betters' management style and leadership. Group letters from parents and alumnae have also gone to the board in recent weeks calling for Betters' removal. A petition on change.org calling for her ouster has more than 1,400 signatures. Nardin's board is also divided over Betters, who came to the school 21 months ago. A statement from Nardin Academy didn't directly address the student protest, but said, "We encourage and teach our students to use their voices, to think through issues critically and understand what truth and civil discourse mean, and how they can put that into action." Nardin restated that an "internal investigation thoroughly investigated all faculty input and found it factually wrong," claiming "misunderstandings, baseless rumors borne out of a reluctance to change." There are 367 girls at Nardin's high school, and there are also co-ed students in lower, middle and Montessori schools on its Cleveland Avenue campus. Morgan said she doesn't like the idea of leaving her school behind while things are in limbo. "I was here when the president first came and saw the start of everything, and how things are turning out this year, and I don't want to leave my school like this," she said. About 25 supportive family members and former students watched the rally from across the street. "It's very empowering that they feel comfortable and confident enough that they have a voice to come out and say something," said Mia Sidor, who graduated in 2021. "Clearly what is going on inside is not OK." After several minutes, the boisterous students walked over to the entrance to the high school and erupted in loud cheers when high school teachers stepped outside. "I was here before Sandra Betters was, and I remember how great of a school we were," said Molly Griffin, a junior. "Under this new leadership, there has been nothing but a divide between the teachers and the administration. We want it to go back to normal." "I felt a part of something really important," senior Mary Scimia said after the protest ended. "Private school teachers sacrifice so much by working at a private school, and I think it's important that we stand up for them because they do so much for us." Therese Forton-Barnes, one of five siblings to attend Nardin, said she is deeply upset over what's happening. Tears welled up in her eyes as she watched the girls in front of the school. "We were taught at Nardin as kids to stand up for what you believe in," Forton-Barnes said . Joan Ricca, who taught music and theater at Nardin for 40 years before retiring in 2020, also watched. "I am absolutely stunned. What's happening here is deplorable," Ricca said. "It's not only Sandra Betters, it's the board members who are standing by her." The new group Hoosiers for Community Solar hopes to shine a light on renewable energy options across the state, such as powering ones home or business with solar energy without having to install panels on ones property. The group promotes community solar, works to improve solar access and pushes for public policies favoring solar energy. Renewable energy sources, like solar, are key to reducing pollution to protect vulnerable birds, other wildlife and communities across Indiana. Polling released by Audubon Great Lakes last year found that 70% of Hoosiers believe the state government should do more to expand the use of solar power, said Adam Forrer, policy director of Climate for Audubon Great Lakes. Programs like community solar make it possible for those who cannot put solar panels on their own rooftop to still receive the benefits of solar, while helping to speed up Indianas transition to a reliable, renewable and affordable energy future. Hoosiers for Community Solar seeks to advance a system in which people, small businesses, schools, churches and other customers can subscribe to solar to get a credit on their utility bill for a share of the power produced by the solar panels. Across party lines, Indiana voters crave the freedom to determine their own solutions for clean, cheap, reliable energycommunity solar is a win for all Hoosiers, said Indiana Conservation Voters Executive Director Chris Chyung, a former state representative. Hoosiers for Solar Energy member organizations include Audubon Great Lakes, Citizens Action Coalition, Citizens Climate Lobby Indiana, Coalition for Community Solar Access, Conservatives for a Clean Energy Future, Evangelical Environmental Network, Faith in Place, Hoosier Environmental Council, Indiana Conservation Voters, Indiana Conservative Alliance for Energy, Indiana DG, Indiana Nature Conservancy, Land and Liberty Coalition and Solar United Neighbors. Authorizing third-party owned and operated community solar is a no-brainer. All consumers, regardless of their zip code or their income, should be able to participate in the 21st century energy economy and realize the economic benefits associated with solar energy, Citizens Action Coalition Executive Director Kerwin Olson said. The coalition is touting benefits like cost savings, competitive markets for solar development and equitable access to renewable energy, especially for those who cant afford the expense of installing panels. Hoosier Environmental Council enthusiastically supports bringing local community solar to Indiana, Exeuctive Director Sam Carpenter said. Hoosiers deserve a choice in how they get their power, and community solar will enable more Hoosiers to make that choice. Our states energy demands are growing, we need community solar as part of the mix to meet that demand. GARY A Crown Point man is facing six felony charges after he fled from a traffic stop because an officer asked the passenger of his car to exit the vehicle. Around 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, an officer with the Lake County Sheriffs Department observed a white SUV traveling 30 mph over the speed limit, heading north on Cline Avenue near the Gary Road exit. The officer conducted a traffic stop south of the Airport Road exit, Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said. The officer approached the vehicle and eventually asked the female passenger to exit the SUV, but the driver reportedly refused to let her. He rolled up his window and drove off, exiting east onto Airport Road. Law enforcement deployed stop sticks, Martinez said, and the driver ran over a set of stop sticks near Fifth Avenue. The officer ordered the driver to exit the vehicle, but he refused. The driver resisted but was taken into custody as was the passenger, a 41-year-old woman from Chicago. Police recovered two pipes that tested positive for crack cocaine at the scene. The man faces felony charges of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, battery on law enforcement, forcibly resisting law enforcement, criminal recklessness, possession of drug paraphernalia with prior offense and reckless driving. The woman faces a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Police did not release their names. The case is still under investigation, Martinez said. A cryptic email threat written in Arabic, which was received by at least 40 schools across Indiana, triggered a police search of the local Hanover Community School Corp. properties Friday morning, officials said. "Each school was searched inside and out with the assistance of K-9 officers and their dogs from the Lake County Sheriffs Department and Dyer Police Department," Cedar Lake Police Deputy Chief Carl Brittingham said. "Nothing of suspicion was located, and once cleared, students and staff were allowed back into the schools." Indiana State Police said they were made aware Friday morning of "an email sent to several dozen Indiana schools threatening the use of explosive devices that had allegedly been planted on various school campuses." "We immediately allocated all intelligence resources to investigate the validity of the threat, to include communication with the Department of Education, our local, county, and federal law enforcement partners," ISP said. "At this time no suspicious or explosive devices have been found in any of our schools. The investigation into the origin of this threat is ongoing." "The safety of our children will always be a top priority. The Indiana State Police will continue to offer any and all resources we have to schools to ensure safety for our students," ISP Superintendent Doug Carter said. Brittingham said, "Several schools did not receive the emails, due to the source, which was an email address commonly blocked by email servers as spam. The email was written in Arabic and needed translation." The scare comes just a couple days after law enforcement agencies in 19 Illinois counties received threats directed toward schools, 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 did not locate any evidence of credible threats, the agency said. A potentially transformational plan for development in Lake County, especially Gary, is close to reaching the governors desk. The Indiana House voted 89-6 Thursday, with the entire Northwest Indiana delegation in support, to advance Senate Bill 434 for final adjustments and approvals. An earlier version passed the Senate, 48-0. The legislation authorizes the establishment of a Lake County convention center, designates funding for a new Metro Center transit hub in downtown Gary, and supports the demolition of blighted buildings in the Steel City. Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville, the sponsor of the measure, said hes optimistic that, once the framework hes created in the proposal is fully implemented, the plan will spur millions of dollars in ancillary development benefiting the Region and the state, just as the South Shore Line expansion projects have. Those hopes are shared by Reps. Ragen Hatcher and Vernon Smith, both D-Gary, and Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, who are optimistic that a new Metro Center, and clearing nearby areas for new construction, is a first step toward restoring Gary to its former glory. This is going to be beneficial for the city of Gary, its going to be beneficial for Northwest Indiana, and its going to be beneficial for the state as a whole, Harris said. The legislation requires the state put up about $8 million a year from the $18 million a year the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary is due to begin paying Indiana starting July 1, 2025, when a tax break linked to the development of the land-based casino expires so long as the state money is matched locally on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The $5 million in annual matching money for the convention center is expected to come from the community selected to host the facility or another entity qualified to fund and operate a convention center and, ideally, an adjacent 225- to 275-room convention hotel. The Lake County Board of Commissioners must solicit proposals for the development and operation of a convention center between July 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024; convene public hearings on the plans; and decide by Dec. 1, 2024, whether a convention center should be built, where it should go and how it will be run, according to the proposal. At the same time, the Lake County Council is empowered to decide whether to increase up to 10% the countys innkeepers tax thats sat at 5% since 1993 to create a reserve fund for convention center additions, refurbishment or similar expenses. The city of Gary, meanwhile, is directed by the legislation to negotiate with the Hard Rock Casino to obtain an additional $3 million a year to satisfy the local-match requirement for building demolition initially and then the Metro Center reconstruction project. The convention center and the Metro Center, if they obtain sufficient approvals and matching funds to move forward, will be overseen by separate seven-member boards supported by the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority. The measure authorizes the RDA to front Gary $3 million in the 2024 and 2025 state budget years, so long as the city puts up a matching amount, to support the demolition of blighted buildings in the area around the Metro Center to speed reinvestment as that project moves forward. The state would repay the RDA in 2026 for the temporary use of its money. Funding for blight removal in subsequent years would come from any excess revenue in the Metro Center account, according to the legislation. Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary, the Senate sponsor of the plan, said he hopes the proposal still can be revised to designate additional financial support for public safety agencies in Gary. I look forward to continued efforts with the Lake County delegation to get this proposal on its way to the governors desk, he said. More than anything, this legislation will provide the people of Gary and Lake County with critical tools to grow our own economy and invest back into our communities. In response, Slager said hes not inclined to make further changes because all the relevant stakeholders at the local, county, regional and state level have signed off on the plan as-is. Im pleased with the broad team effort that took place in this process and hope for significant economic benefit for all of Lake County, Slager said. Ultimately, the legislation must be approved with identical language by the House and the Senate to be sent to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb to be signed into law. 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 VALPARAISO City leaders have decided to use Valparaiso's share of the National Opioid Settlement to hire a community recovery care coordinator. The position will be hosted through Porter County PACT, which works with individuals referred by the court, offering substance-abuse treatment, case management and community service restitution. The City Council approved a funding agreement Monday with PACT. Councilman Peter Anderson, R-5, said the recovery care coordinator will make seeking treatment easier. When someone decides to get help, a laundry list of questions begin to pile up. "You have the concerns of where, when, how much is it going to cost, what about my family, what about my job," Anderson explained. "For people who have ample resources, thats an overwhelming proposition. If we look at someone who is addicted and is very likely just scraping by every single day, it becomes even more overwhelming." Anderson said it becomes "easier to just keep using than it is to get treatment." The care coordinator will serve as an "easy button," connecting individuals directly with treatment, Anderson said. Valparaiso will ultimately receive $1.2 million from the opioid settlement, but it will be distributed over 18 years. Forty-six states and many other local units of government brought litigation against the three largest pharmaceutical distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen and pharmaceutical manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. The four companies agreed to pay $26 billion to settle allegations that they fueled the deadly opioid crisis. Indiana will receive $507 million. Indiana has been hit hard by the opioid crisis; according to the Indiana attorney general's office, the rates of opioid prescribing in the Hoosier state peaked in 2012 when, on average, there were 112 opioid prescriptions for every 100 residents in the state. From 2012 through 2016, 58 of Indiana's 92 counties had opioid prescribing rates greater than 100 prescriptions per 100 residents. Since 1999, the number of overdose deaths in Indiana has increased by 500%. According to the Indiana State Department of Health, Hoosiers are more likely to die from a drug overdose than in a car accident. The idea for a care coordinator grew out of a panel discussion in January. The panel was convened to discuss potential uses for the opioid settlement money and featured experts versed in the many elements of addiction: those who work in the court system, run halfway houses, lead prevention efforts in the Valparaiso school district, physicians who specialize in addiction. Multiple panelists said they liked the idea of a care coordinator. "One of the gaps I've seen that I didn't originally anticipate was how difficult it is to actually get people to treatment once they were ready to go," Sam Burgett, a social worker with the Valparaiso Police Department, said during the panel. The PACT funding was approved 5-1: Councilman Robert Cotton, D-2, was the sole "no" vote; Councilman Casey Schmidt, R-3, was absent. Cotton urged the council to spend more time considering the position before approving the funding. He had concerns about the position not being housed within the city and the lack available beds for people seeking rehabilitation. Were going to have all of our money go and serve a manager of a queue, of a waiting list," Cotton said. Anderson said the bed shortage is most prevalent in halfway houses, places people go when they have completed some treatment. The care coordinator would get people into treatment, a process that occurs before individuals are placed in a halfway house. City Attorney Patrick Lyp said the current agreement will go through Dec. 31, 2025, then automatically renew every year. However, the city or PACT can terminate the agreement with 90 days' notice. The City Council will receive a monthly report detailing what the coordinator is doing, and the coordinator will appear before the council twice a year. Councilwoman Diana Reed, D-1, urged the council to "get the ball rolling. There are people out there who need help. We've got to start somewhere ... we can shift gears later." PHOTOS: Valparaiso hosts panel on National Opioid Settlement Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel Valparaiso hosts opioid solutions panel 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 years presidential election, each choosing to hold their national conventions in the region. Republicans will have theirs in July 2024 in Milwaukee, the largest city in the swing state of Wisconsin. Democrats announced Tuesday that they would hold theirs the in August in Chicago, 90 miles south, 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 Bidens 2020 victory, as well as his party's success in last falls midterm elections. That overlooked Trumps 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. Were seeing the importance of those states and the recognition by the Democratic Party that we must win them, said Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who was a leading advocate for Chicagos 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 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. Youre 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. Chicago, the nation's third-largest city, 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 doesnt 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 Georgias Republican-controlled Legislature and the states 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 chairwoman, said the bid went beyond Chicago and her state, calling the convention site the gateway to the Midwests blue bastion." Her party noted that Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota voted Democratic in every presidential election but 2016 over the past 30 years, and each state reelected its Democratic governor last fall. Organizers of Chicago's bid also argued to White House officials from the start that it represents 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 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. Theyll likely have the opportunity to counter an 1849 statewide ban on abortion triggered by the U.S. Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade, 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 Obamas presidential campaigns and is advising 2024 U.S. Senate candidates in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. But youve got to have the blue wall first or the Georgias and the Arizonas dont matter. The United States appears less and less like the republic promised by our Founders as defined in our Constitution. For years Ive believed democracy is non-existent in both national and New York State governments. Hearing citizens speak as though democracy still exists pains me. These people appear uninformed and/or foolish. Politicians who claim democracy are disingenuous. Decades ago political correctness emerged and now exists as censorship, enforced by government actions and social sanctions. Some remember Vietnam War supporters upset by war protesters flag burning. However, U.S. courts confirmed the protesters actions were a form of free speech, guaranteed by the Constitutions First Amendment. We do not always agree, but we must safeguard free speech. It is a hallmark of any democracy. The chaos of President Donald Trumps administration seemed mostly generated by vociferous Democrats bolstered by billionaire-owned corporate mass media. Some Democrats called for Trumps impeachment prior to his inauguration. Those people knew the buttons to press on a president personally flawed by narcissism. Trump is a demagogue by definition. None of that justifies un-Constitutional behaviors by detractors. A dearth of facts was displayed by the State of New York in a New York City debacle imitating an legal move on Trump. In my opinion, the rule of law has been massively corrupted by Trump opponents in government positions. Their actions, often with bribes (read campaign contributions) from billionaires, are aiding in the destruction of our republic. Harassment, lawsuits, false analogies and insults are designed to bankrupt and deter persons with opposing views. Attackers are fearful of the national movement of populist-oriented American citizens who want to restore the United States republic. This scenario is scarily Soviet-esque. Our situation is as complicated as it is dire. American billionaires are more interested in accumulating great wealth and power in a global reality than preserving the U.S. republic. Founder Thomas Jefferson cautioned the republic could not survive when great wealth gaps exist. Wake up America! Lynda Stephens Tonawanda Pierre Lacotte, a French choreographer and dance historian who was known for researching and restaging 19th-century ballets and also for playing a modest role in helping the dancer Rudolf Nureyev defect from the Soviet Union in 1961, which made headlines around the world died on Monday in La Seyne-sur-Mer, in southern France. He was 91. The National Opera of Paris posted news of his death on its website. His wife, the dancer Ghislaine Thesmar, told Agence France-Presse that the cause was sepsis from an infected cut. Mr. Lacotte had a long career in dance; just two years ago, at age 89, he choreographed and designed an adaptation of the 1830 Stendhal novel The Red and the Black for the Paris Opera Ballet. But the real-life drama in which he was involved more than 60 years ago brought him almost as much attention as his dance works. Mr. Nureyev was 23 and already generating buzz for his powerful dancing when he went to Paris in 1961 with the Kirov Ballet of Leningrad. At a reception after the Kirovs opening performance on May 16 (in which Mr. Nureyev did not perform), the Soviet dancers were keeping to themselves, as were the French dancers who had been invited, Mr. Lacotte among them. But eventually, Mr. Nureyev began inching across the divide. Outside the Nederlander Theater last Saturday night, hundreds of eager ticket holders lined up for the new Broadway musical Shucked. What exactly was the plot of the show? Few in the crowd seemed sure. I just know it is about corn, said Roe Woolf, who was visiting from Nashville. Apparently, that was enough of a draw. Who doesnt like corn? said Danielle Chamberlin, who had come in from Clayton, N.J. Food has long been a staple of Broadway musicals. Carousel has a clambake. Oliver! has gruel. Waitress and Sweeney Todd have pies, both fruit- and flesh-based. But Shucked seems to be the first to star a vegetable. An ear of corn, its gilded kernels shimmering like a yellow brick road, dominates the marquee. The in-house merchandise store sells key chains, magnets, hats and tote bags all adorned with corn. The bar serves Corn Nuts, candy corn and corn-themed cocktails like Honk if Youre Corny and Corn to Be Wild. A 78-year-old Brooklyn man was shot and killed by police officers who responded to a call about a possible burglary at his apartment, New York Police Department officials said on Thursday. The man, whose name had not been released Thursday evening, had pointed a gun at two officers, Jeffrey Maddrey, the chief of department, told reporters. They shot him several times inside his building in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, Chief Maddrey said. The encounter on Thursday, which took less than two minutes from the time the officers arrived, occurred after the mans nephew called 911 and said he believed a person was breaking into his uncles home, Chief Maddrey said. When the officers, in uniform, arrived at the building on Lewis Avenue near Hancock Street, they climbed one flight of stairs and walked into a narrow hallway, their body camera footage showed, Chief Maddrey said. Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn and a harsh critic of former President Donald J. Trump, has helped pay for a lawsuit by E. Jean Carroll, the New York magazine writer who sued Mr. Trump for rape and defamation, according to newly filed court papers in the case. Mr. Hoffmans support for Ms. Carrolls lawsuit, which was first disclosed in a letter to a judge on Thursday by Mr. Trumps lawyers, has sparked a sharp dispute in the case, which is scheduled for trial in federal court in Manhattan on April 25. Mr. Trumps lawyers, writing to the judge, accused Ms. Carroll of concealing Mr. Hoffmans role, which they said they only learned of this week from her lawyers. They said the disclosure raised significant questions about Ms. Carrolls credibility and whether her allegations against Mr. Trump were, as he has claimed, a hoax brought to advance a political agenda. They asked for a one-month postponement so they could investigate the funding issue. The judge, Lewis A. Kaplan, on Thursday evening said he would allow Mr. Trumps lawyers the opportunity to conduct a narrow inquiry into the funding issue, but he declined to delay the case. Youre not the only one obsessively browsing real estate listings. Zillow, one of the most popular listing sites, drew 10.5 billion visits in 2022 nearly doubling the 6.3 billion visits it got in 2017. Much of that was sparked by the pandemic, which upended the housing market and caused a wave of wishful scrolling. (It even inspired a 2021 Saturday Night Live skit where surfing home listings became a substitute for sex.) But where does everyone actually want to go? A new study by HouseFresh examined average daily search traffic for more than 108,000 active Zillow listings in the 100 largest U.S. metros as of Oct. 25, 2022. The company, which specializes in air purifiers, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, initially pulled the data for a proposed study comparing air quality and real estate preferences, but it was inconclusive. What remained was a list of neighborhoods ranked from most to least popular based on average daily visits to local listings. This weeks chart shows the 20 most popular on the list. (Neighborhoods with fewer than 10 average daily visits were excluded from the results.) Each day last summer, a black-and-white notification appeared simultaneously on millions of phone screens. As if in a trance, many people paused their conversations or lowered their video game controllers. It was time to BeReal. BeReal, a French photo-sharing app founded in 2020 that took off on college campuses, prompts users at a different time each day to take shots with their front and rear phone cameras. The app billed itself as an alternative to the artifice of social media: If Instagram had become a catalog of cosmetic enhancements and painstakingly arranged tableaus, BeReals feed full of limp salads, messy apartments and unflattering selfies appeared an attractive refuge. By July, BeReal had soared to the top of the iPhone app store. The spell seems to have broken. Some users have discovered that seeing the monotony of their own lives reflected back at them is compelling for only so long. When Night Norona, 17, a high school student in Redding, Calif., downloaded the app in August, he liked seeing that his friends lives were less glamorous than the highlight reels they posted to Instagram suggested, he said. But after a few months, he tired of scrolling through nearly identical pictures of their laptop screens and deleted the app. Most of his friends no longer use it either, he said. Thats not a problem a rewrite could readily solve, or at any rate its not one that Aaron Sorkin did. His revisions for the director Bartlett Shers spare-no-expense production visually and sonically gorgeous do make some improvements. The silly supernatural subplots have been excised (along with a beautiful song, Follow Me) and Guenevere, Arthurs involuntary queen, has been strengthened with snappy backtalk. Shes now a kind of medieval Katharine Hepburn. But Sorkin cannot solve the riddle of the love triangle connecting Guenevere (Phillipa Soo) to the boyish Arthur (Andrew Burnap) on one side and the hunky Lancelot on the other. The riddle is: When is a triangle a flat line? Because only by rigging up questions of fidelity that make everyone look silly does Lerners plot engine turn over at all. Is Arthur still in love with the sorceress Morgan Le Fey, a woman he hasnt seen since he was 15? Does Guenevere desire Lancelot? Who doesnt? And why, in any case, should we care? Sorkin tries to shore up Lerners droopy stories by rooting the personal conflict in the political and social experiments of the time or of some time, anyway. The new book, which is set on the eve of the Enlightenment, even though that was about a millennium post-Arthur, is not fussy about period. Indeed, it winks at its muddled chronology: The Middle Ages wont end by itself, Arthur says, as if he knew he were middling. The historical backfill is present in Whites and Lerners versions, too: The idea of changing a culture of violence to one of justice is at the heart of the story. (Its the reason Arthur convenes his knights.) The problem is that the musical doesnt musicalize that, which is why after an hour of brittleness you desperately need the sword fight. (The fight director, still full of surprises, is the great B.H. Barry.) Even the title number, which Sorkin has Guenevere call that stupid song about the weather, praises the Camelot revolution in purely sybaritic terms. The rain may never fall till after sundown sounds like a boast on Airbnb. The 911 calls came in rapid succession, with reports of an explosion and fire on Monday that officials would later say had trapped one employee and thousands of cattle inside a milking parlor at a dairy farm in Dimmitt, Texas. As emergency responders approached after 7 p.m., they witnessed the thick plume of smoke, mushrooming over the plains. The worker, a woman whose name the authorities have not released, was rushed by helicopter to a hospital in Lubbock, Texas, where she was still being treated on Thursday, officials said. While devastating, Im grateful that there were no further injuries, Sid Miller, the Texas agricultural commissioner, said in a statement. As for the cattle, he noted, around 18,000 had died. This was the deadliest barn fire for cattle in Texas history, Mr. Miller added. The investigation and cleanup may take some time. While talking with friends online, Jack Teixeira, the air national guardsman who was arrested by federal investigators on Thursday for his role in the leak of a cache of classified U.S. intelligence documents, assumed the role of a leader. He guided a group of 20 to 30 people, mostly young men and teenagers, as they bonded over guns, racist memes, video games and international politics. Offline, Mr. Teixeira, a 21-year-old from North Dighton, Mass., followed several other relatives into the military after graduating from high school. He even missed his graduation ceremony because of basic training obligations at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, according to posts on social media. He finished his technical training the following year and officially entered active duty with the Massachusetts Air National Guards 102nd Intelligence Wing in October 2021, according to military service records. He achieved the rank of Airman First Class and was decorated with an Air Force Achievement Medal, which is awarded to junior airmen for notable achievements. WASHINGTON Justice Clarence Thomas did not disclose that he had sold a series of properties to a longtime conservative donor from Texas in 2014, in an apparent violation of reporting requirements. The transaction, reported earlier by ProPublica, is the first known instance of money going directly from the billionaire donor, Harlan Crow, 73, to the justice. The revelation cast greater scrutiny on Justice Thomas, who has long raised eyebrows over questions of conflicts of interest, in part because of the political activism of his wife, Virginia Thomas. The nature of Justice Thomass relationship with the real estate magnate has elicited particular attention after ProPublica detailed last week how he accompanied Mr. Crow on lavish trips for nearly 20 years without disclosing them, including island-hopping in Indonesia and staying at Mr. Crows 105-acre lakeside retreat in the Adirondack Mountains. The disclosures have fueled calls by Democratic lawmakers and court transparency advocates for the justices to face tighter ethics constraints. In 2014, a real estate company linked to Mr. Crow bought a single-family home and two vacant lots on a quiet Savannah street, paying $133,363 to Justice Thomas and his family for the property, according to records filed at Chatham County courthouse dated Oct. 15, 2014. With the latest shooting of kids in Tennessee, prompts me to write this letter. Trey Gowdy, current TV host and past congressman said if someone could write legislation that could make this problem go away, he would give up some of his Second Amendment rights. This is how we mitigate the problem. We have all heard of quid pro quo, (it means this for that). This is what the Republicans will have to give away. They will have to stop the sale of all guns that use a magazine to reload. The magazine is the reason these sick people are so successful in killing people. They will also have to turn in their magazine guns and get a buy back from the government. WASHINGTON Why would a 21-year-old national guardsman be in a position with access to top secret documents to begin with? The dramatic arrest on Thursday of Jack Teixeira, an airman in an intelligence unit in the Massachusetts Air National Guard who federal authorities believe is linked to a leak of reams of classified documents, lays bare the sheer volume of people who have clearance to view a swath of national security documents that the government categorizes as top secret. From National Guard members on bases in Massachusetts to generals at NATO headquarters in Brussels to American bureaucrats all over the world, the top secret level of clearance gives bearers an extraordinary level of access. With it, they can see secure Pentagon and other intelligence sites, daily intelligence briefings, situation maps and detailed analyses of the state of the world as seen through the eyes of the American intelligence community. American service members with top-secret clearance include nearly all of the more than 600 or so generals in the various services. But that level of clearance also extends to some of their military aides, many colonels who work in the Pentagon, captains of Navy ships, a wide array of junior officers, and even, in the apparent case of Airman Teixeira, enlisted service members working in intelligence units. North Korea said on Friday that it had test-launched a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time, technology that would be a significant step forward for its missile program if developed successfully. The launch on Thursday, off the Norths east coast, was reported at the time by South Koreas military, which said only that it had been an intermediate- or long-range missile. On Friday, the Norths state media said it had been a three-stage Hwasong-18 ICBM, a new model with solid-fuel technology. A solid-fuel missile is easier to hide and transport, and it takes less time to prepare one for launch. That makes it harder to target in pre-emptive strikes than the Norths Hwasong-14, -15 and -17 ICBM models, all of which use liquid propellants. After further analyzing data from the launch, South Korea confirmed on Friday that the missile was a solid-fuel ICBM, but said the North would need more time and effort before completing its development. Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, said he would create a clearer security crisis for the United States and its allies by escalating the Norths nuclear capabilities in the face of growing military cooperation between Washington and Seoul, the Norths state media report said on Friday. Follow the latest news on the leak of classified intelligence documents. The 21-year-old National Guard airman was frantic as he joined a call with members of a small online gamer community that has improbably ended up at the center of a federal investigation into a major U.S. security breach. It sounded as if the airman, Jack Teixeira, was in a speeding car, said a member of the group who uses the screen name Vahki. Guys, its been good I love you all, Airman Teixeira said, Vahki recounted. I never wanted it to get like this. I prayed to God that this would never happen. And I prayed and prayed and prayed. Only God can decide what happens from now on. On Thursday, the F.B.I. arrested Airman Teixeira, an hour and a half after The New York Times identified him as the administrator of the online group, Thug Shaker Central, where a cache of leaked intelligence documents that riveted the world for a week first appeared. The tap dancer and choreographer Ayodele Casel often tells the story of learning, for the first time, about the African American roots of tap. She grew up loving Ginger Rogers, but it wasnt until college that a friend introduced her to names like Jimmy Slyde, Bill Robinson, Gregory Hines and the Nicholas Brothers. It opened my whole world, she said on the conversation series Black Dance Stories in 2020, because finally I realized that this thing I was so in love with and drawn to, even though I didnt know that much about it, was really rooted in ancestry and a legacy that was mine. From then on, she vowed to present tap and herself with the utmost integrity, in honor of my ancestors, in honor of all the progenitors of the form. That story came to mind watching Casels characteristically generous and vivacious program at New York City Center, which had its premiere on Thursday as part of the Artists at the Center series. The two-act show begins with five short new works, each by a pair of choreographers selected by Casel. After intermission comes her Where We Dwell V.2, an expanded version of a piece she presented at Fall for Dance in 2021. While the evening roves among the varied aesthetics of its contributors in a way that at times feels scattered, a consciousness of history grounds and guides it. Vivid illustrations of the underworld are currently on view at the Asia Society, where in a new exhibition the dead dance among the flames in illustrated manuscripts and other artworks, some dating to the 16th century. The society describes its show, Comparative Hell: Arts of Asian Underworlds, as the first comprehensive exhibition in the United States to showcase images of eternal damnation from the religious traditions of Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism and Islam. But the presentation of two of the images, pages from illustrated manuscripts that depict the Prophet Muhammad, have ignited debate. Those images were blurred out on the museums online tour of the show, a decision that several scholars, including the director of a museum that lent one of the manuscripts, have described as concerning. I am highly surprised to see our painting blurred on the websites tour, said Kjeld von Folsach, director of the David Collection, a museum in Copenhagen that lent a 15th-century manuscript depicting the blazing flames behind hells gates during the night of the Prophet Muhammads celestial ascension. So much of what I had grown up with, whether it was Warhol or a minimalist, was the artist as every person, he said, adding, I think Warhol created art that anyone could have made, and I guess I still think thats what an artist does. Or should do. Halley considers Warhol a personal hero, and models much of his career after his strategies: repetition, taking the hand out, embracing ideas that may not make any sense. He met Warhol twice, once at a dinner for David Salle at Mr. Chow, and once at the Factorys final iteration in the old Con Ed building on Madison Avenue, in 1986. Reflecting on the experience later, Halley wrote, its completely strange to think about meeting someone youve thought about every day for 15 years. Warhol photographed Halley for a portrait, which Halley recalls as an oddly sexual experience: He used the Big Shot camera, and sort of rocked back and forth as he took the picture. It was like being very gently humped. He likes to point out that his portrait, a double exposure that makes him seem to vibrate with thought, is hung over his studios toilet. Halleys dedication to the conceptual bend of his practice can feel extreme, at once overly cerebral and naive. I grew up with the idea of the artists oeuvre as based on a thought experiment, Halley said, adding, So much of the art that I was interested in, in the 60s and 70s, was based on a premise that nobody else would in their right mind pursue. I think about these cells and prisons as aligned with that experiment, which I think has almost disappeared from contemporary art. For Mollie Gathro, live theater was a once-a-year indulgence if the stars aligned perfectly. Gathro has degenerative disc disease and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, resulting in joint pain, weakness and loss of mobility. Because of her disabilities, going to a show meant having to secure accessible seating after hourslong phone calls with her nemesis, Ticketmaster; finding a friend to drive her or arranging other transportation; and hoping her body would cooperate enough for her to actually go out. But when live performance was brought to a halt three years ago by the coronavirus pandemic, and presenters turned to streaming in an effort to keep reaching audiences, the playing field was suddenly leveled for arts lovers like Gathro. From her home in West Springfield, Mass., Gathro suddenly had access to the same offerings as everyone else, watching streams of Gore Vidals drama The Best Man and of a Guster concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado. For a while, it seemed, everything was online: performances by the Berlin State Opera or the Philadelphia Orchestra; dances by choreographers like Alonzo King and a New York City Ballet Spring Gala directed by Sofia Coppola; blockbuster movies that were released to streaming services at the same time they hit multiplexes; even the latest installment of Richard Nelsons acclaimed cycle of plays about the Apple family for the Public Theater was streamed live. I was overjoyed, but there was also this tentative feeling like waiting for the other shoe to drop because they could take the accessibility away just as easily as they gave it, Gathro, 35, said, which feels like is exactly what is happening. Edward Koren, the New Yorker cartoonist who created a fantasy world of toothy, long-nosed, hairy creatures of indeterminate species that articulated the neuroses and banalities of middle-class America for six decades, died on Friday at his home in Brookfield, Vt. He was 87. His wife, Curtis Koren, said the cause was lung cancer. In the gentle, affable kingdom of Koren, the beasts form a polite queue in the woods at a 24-hour banking A.T.M. attached to a tree. They line up to board Noahs Ark, but must pass through security-gate metal detectors. And as smiling cockroaches, they cluster like tourists with a city skyline in the backdrop. One takes a group selfie. With Charles Addams, James Thurber and Saul Steinberg, Mr. Koren was one of the most popular cartoonists in The New Yorkers long love affair with humor. To connoisseurs, his bristling pen-and-ink characters, with or without captions, were instantly recognizable nonconfrontational humans and a blend of fanged crocodile and antlered reindeer who poked fun at a society preoccupied with fitness fads (bike-riding), electronic gadgets (cellphones) and pop psychology. In a bed for three, a grimacing psychiatrist squeezed between battling spouses takes couples therapy notes. 5. John Cale and Terry Riley: Ides of March (1971) Heres something from the more avant-classical side of Cale: a long, gloriously cacophonous composition driven by piano and not one but two drummers, from Church of Anthrax, a collaborative and mostly improvised album he made with the experimental musician Terry Riley. Ides of March basically sounds like a bunch of stuff falling out of a closet for 11 minutes straight, in the most compelling way possible. Im a huge fan of this album and was delighted to find in my reporting that Todd Haynes is, too its one of the more obscure in Cales discography, but we enthusiasts are quite passionate about it. (Listen on YouTube) 6. John Cale: Honi Soit (La Premiere Lecon de Francais) (1981) As I was researching Cale, this album, Honi Soit from 1981, was my most thrilling discovery. (Hey, the guy has released 17 solo albums; even a fan like me cant always keep up!) Cales approach was so consistently ahead of its time that he was easily able to slot into various emerging genres as the decades went on. Fear, along with his production for Smith and the Stooges, heralded him as a godfather of punk, while Honi Soit proves he understood post-punk and new wave just as intuitively. The refrain in this pummeling track is Honi soit qui mal y pense, an old Anglo-Norman phrase that is still the motto of the British chivalric Order of the Gartner; its roughly translated as shame on anyone who thinks evil of it. Leave it to Cale to make something so esoteric sound immediately catchy. (Listen on YouTube) 7. Lou Reed and John Cale: Work (1990) Reed and Cale met up again for the first time in years at Warhols funeral in 1987; their friends unexpected death hit them both hard and they wanted to find a way to pay tribute. Their offering was the 1989 album Songs for Drella, which they workshopped at various locations around New York City, like St. Anns Warehouse and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. LCD Soundsystems James Murphy (a John Cale superfan) told me that the albums starkly minimalist production had an impact on him. Up until then I didnt know you could leave a song like that and be confident enough to say it was done, he marveled. I, too, love the clean outlines of Cales antic piano and Reeds insouciant guitar, all the better to hear them clash. (Listen on YouTube) 8. John Cale: Hallelujah (Fragments) (1991) Before it was the woefully over-covered, culturally ubiquitous standard that it is today, Hallelujah was a semi-obscure Leonard Cohen track that hadnt made much of an impact when it was first released in 1984. It was, however, the song that Cale chose to cover on a 1991 Cohen tribute album which turned out to be the version that initially caught Jeff Buckleys ear. The rest, for better or worse, is history. Cale and I discussed the song quite a bit, and we both bemoaned the way Hallelujah has transformed into a solemn, self-serious dirge. Cales expertly inhabited version certainly gets at the wry, Cohenian humor that most other interpreters miss, especially in his delivery of the line, There was a time when you let me know whats really going on below/But now you never show it to me, do ya? Said Cale, correctly: Its cheeky, isnt it? (Listen on YouTube) 9. Brian Eno and John Cale: In the Backroom (1990) Though their time in the studio together was contentious, Cale and fellow art-rocker Brian Eno created something compelling and unexpectedly accessible in Wrong Way Up, a collaborative album released in 1990. The album is best known for the songs that Eno sings especially the bright, poppy Spinning Away but I like this more laid-back, poetic number that Cale sings in a cool murmur. (Listen on YouTube) 10. The Velvet Underground: Lady Godivas Operation (1968) And heres one more Velvets classic for good measure, from the final VU album Cale appeared on, the caterwauling White Light/White Heat. With all due respect to Reed, I love the few moments when Cale sang lead with the Velvets. Theres something so deliciously creepy about his vocals here, but at the same time theyre always imbued with a signature elegance. (Listen on YouTube) People werent quite sure what to make of Miguel Angel Payano Jr. when, like some kind of prodigal son, he came back to New York in 2016, after making a life in Beijing. His family had long known he was a wanderer, ever since he went to boarding school at his own insistence at age 11. But in the graduate art program at Hunter College, where Payano showed up on his return from China older than most classmates, with a prior M.F.A., exhibition history and collectors he stood out. There was his style, for one. A painter and sculptor interested in hybrids of the two forms, Payano arrived at Hunter with a talent for fine-detailed realism in a recognizably Chinese tradition. His visual language mixed figuration and grand landscapes with recurring surrealistic motifs. Most of all, there was the journey that shaped him. Payano moved to China right after college and lived in Beijing continuously for 15 years. He attended Chinas top art school. He married a Chinese woman. He had a studio in the city. He spoke fluent Mandarin, with a Beijing accent. News / Local by Staff reporter The allegations of dubious conduct arise as the IT boss Mr Samson Madzokere with some top managers are already reeling in the eye of a storm amid allegations of spending US$20 000 per trip on numerous occasions to South Africa to canvas for the US$51 million deal.Blessings Chidakwa-Municipal ReporterSerious potential corruption has rocked the IT department of the CCC-led Harare City Council amid allegations from the mayor himself that officials from the department are pushing for a US$51 million financial system opting to dump the last one that actually worked in which council was objecting to paying US$75 000 a year and the useless replacement which cost US$350 000.The allegations of dubious conduct arise as the IT boss Mr Samson Madzokere with some top managers are already reeling in the eye of a storm amid allegations of spending US$20 000 per trip on numerous occasions to South Africa to canvas for the US$51 million deal.Despite Madzokere being on record saying the trip was being funded by a prospective supplier across Limpopo, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume speaking during the 1 918th ordinary full council meeting on Wednesday said the trips were council funded."Right now, the IT person has conspired with everyone in town to lie about enterprise resource planning. We are receiving anonymous emails stating we want to contract an ERP worth US$51 million."We came away from an ERP which was at US$35 000 which got to US$75 000. We had a dispute over US$75 000. We then took SAGE which cost us US$350 000 and never functioned. We can't produce an audit," he said.Mr Madzokere defended the US$51 million system."US$51million is for acquiring the system. The US$ 75 000 being reported for the previous system was payment for annual licences not entirely buying the system."The old system had its price about R500 million and then we were annually paying US$75 000. We went to tender to look for a new system even though the previous firm on the bid list was outclassed. Each had its score and the US$51 million was number one on scoring," he said.Mr Madzokere also defended the expenditure during a trip to South Africa."The bidders provided us with air tickets, accommodation and meals as per our agreement, but each time an employee leaves the country he or she is entitled to out-of-pocket allowance consummate with the grade."There were five companies during the bidding process but two pulled out. Among the three left, two were local, implying we only had one trip to South Africa," he said.Mr Madzokere said of the eight people that travelled the out-of-pocket allowance barely reached US$8 000 for all and they are yet to receive it.The council's ERP was initially supplied by Quill Associates, before its contract was terminated in 2019 over a dispute for less than US$40 000 a year.During the full council meeting Mayor Mafume said that: "The IT department is never going to work. They are concentrating on corruption. There is an addiction to corruption of immense appetite. We do not have internet at the office, here (Town House) we hardly have the internet.""We don't have internet at Cleveland house, for functions of the city we are still operating on a manual basis yet we have one of the biggest IT departments.""When they go to conferences in Victoria Falls we sign for too many people. Every year they say in justification that they want to learn new skills.To further expose more rot in the council's IT department, employees at Cleveland House are failing to benefit from international training being offered under its twinning arrangement by the city of Munich virtually due to lack of internet connectivity.Mayor Jacob Mafume said he received a letter dated March 28 from the city of Munich department of Labour and Economic Development about the lack of internet connection."The absence of internet connection at Cleveland has affected the training of staff officers by Munich, the development advisor who is based at Cleveland house since the training is done virtually," he read part of the letter.Mayor Mafume said he has since been given a deadline to respond to the issue of internet availability."May you kindly ask the worship Mayor Mafume to look into this issue as it is slowing some of the good projects that we are working on. We are looking forward to your feedback before April 17 2023," he read the letter. Some conservative commentators and celebrities have called for a boycott of Bud Light after the beer was featured in a social media promotion by a transgender influencer, Dylan Mulvaney. Ms. Mulvaney is popular on TikTok, where she has more than 10.8 million followers and has been documenting her transition online. The controversy began on April 1, when she posted a video on her Instagram account, where she has 1.8 million followers, to promote a Bud Light contest. Ms. Mulvaney, 26, celebrated one full year of her Days of Girlhood series in March with a live show at Rockefeller Center called Dylan Mulvaneys Day 365 Live! Her Bud Light promotional post is less than a minute long and is mostly about a $15,000 giveaway that the company sponsored during March Madness. She mentions that the company sent her a tallboy can with her face on it to celebrate the 365-day milestone. Heres something we know we have to fix, and we mostly know how to fix it. Im talking about the buildings in which we live and work. They play a big role in heating the planet. In some cities, theyre the biggest single source of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. New laws in a handful of cities, including mine, New York, now compel building owners to reduce those emissions or face fines. The European Union recently enacted a law that requires all buildings to be zero-emissions by the middle of the century. I wanted to learn more about all this. So I reached out to John E. Fernandez, an architect and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Airtight equals efficiency Not long ago, I went to see an office building under construction in downtown Boston. On what was once a city-owned parking lot, Millennium Partners Boston, a developer, had erected a 21-story, 800,000-square-foot tower called the Winthrop Center. Fernandez was a consultant on the project. A rolex can be as elaborate or as superficial as you need it to be. There is freedom to experiment, said Sophie Musoki, the Ugandan food writer and photographer who produces the podcast Our Food Stories. Fry the egg with onion, cabbage and, if you want, tomatoes, she said. The tomatoes can be cooked or raw, so theres an element of freshness and acidity. A standard rolex doesnt require much. Of course, its origins are far more complex. How a chapati, a South Asian staple, ended up in East Africa is a journey as complex as humanitys own. As with many of the worlds best dishes, the intermingling of cultures has something to do with it. Chapati, samosas, kachumbari, chips mayai and certain spice blends like what is often referred to as curry powder are all examples of how the Indian diaspora has influenced the cuisine of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and other East African nations. Think of the rolex as another footnote in the story of colonialism, forced exile, adaptation and acceptance. What were your takeaways from the hearing on March 23? I was really struck by the harsh tone lawmakers took with Shou Chew. It seemed like the 50-plus lawmakers who questioned him were interested in using their five minutes to either express an opinion they had about TikTok or pursue a very specific line of questioning that matters to their constituents. It was quite aggressive, and showed that theres not a lot of love for TikTok in our government right now. How much of the of that skepticism do you believe is tied to anti-China sentiments among politicians right now? No politician is going to be faulted for being too tough on China right now, and that is definitely part of whats going on. But theres certainly a fair bit of criticism from lawmakers that could apply to other social media companies. TikToks C.E.O. really tried to defend the platform by bringing that up several times. If youre talking about anxiety, depression and self-esteem issues among teenagers who use TikTok, it is reasonable to bring up similar concerns with Instagram. Similarly, with data privacy issues, TikToks C.E.O. has repeatedly said that its user data is in an even safer position than with American technology companies. But people were really not interested in having that conversation during the hearing. Where do you guess TikTok goes from here? What makes this an incredibly compelling story to cover is that it is completely unprecedented in the United States. When you look to history for examples, theres never been an instance of the government trying to ban an app that 150 million Americans are using on their smartphones. A lot of this is really to be determined, which makes it an exciting beat to cover. Many of the new constitutions gave the high courts clear authority to safeguard the rights of minorities and the democratic system. Some of the courts vigorously wielded this power to set aside majoritarian decisions that appeared to undermine democracy over the longer run. In 1998, after a referendum for secession nearly passed in Quebec, the Canadian Supreme Court ruled that such a vote would not be constitutionally sufficient because it violated the principles of federalism and the protection of minorities. When lawmakers in Colombia proposed a referendum in 2010 allowing President Alvaro Uribe to run for a third term, the Constitutional Court ruled that a president who served for 12 years would amass too much power, through appointments, over the institutions charged with checking him. The South African Constitutional Court asserted its independence from the ruling African National Congress party at several critical junctures, allowing corruption charges to proceed against a former president. These courts appeared to pick their battles carefully. If courts abdicate their responsibility to protect democracy, theyre not doing their job, says Dixon, a law professor at the University of South Wales in Australia. But if they are too robust about confronting the political branches, theyre almost certain to be subject to attack and derailment in the long run. They have to allow society to recalibrate so that people dont see the court as a massively political institution. The Israeli Supreme Court became vulnerable to attack in part because the country does not have a constitution granting the court the power to interpret it. When Israel was founded in 1948, efforts to draft a constitution broke down. Leaders of the dominant and secular Labor Party saw little reason to limit their own power and didnt want to jeopardize their shaky accord with the ultra-Orthodox parties, which wanted religious law to be sovereign. In the 1980s, as Israels Jewish population became more religious and traditional, secular Israeli law professors drafted provisions for a constitution, consulting with their American peers and Aharon Barak, an Israeli Supreme Court justice. In 1992, the Knesset passed a Basic Law (a statute setting a national standard) that guaranteed dignity and liberty. Barak proclaimed a constitutional revolution with new sway for the judiciary. Nothing falls beyond the purview of judicial review, he wrote. The Israeli Supreme Court has tried over the years in various ways to mediate the tension between the countrys twin commitments to being both a Jewish and a democratic state. It ruled in favor of gender and sexual equality and the status of Conservative and Reform Jews, rejecting ultra-Orthodox positions. But it has backed away from the role of protecting Palestinians in Israel, who lack equal rights, and Palestinians in the West Bank, who have no vote in Israeli elections.The court has not said, Our role is to ensure the rights of those who are least able to protect themselves through the democratic process, says Omar Dajani, a law professor at the University of the Pacific. Instead, the court says again and again: The state is in a fragile situation. We are deeply mindful of the security concerns it faces. Were going to create a framework for balancing interests. And then the balancing almost inevitably leads to privileging state interests over Palestinian interests. The court seems to be taking into account right-wing frustration in other ways. Over the last 20 years, the Israeli Supreme Court, while issuing valuable rulings on the rights of women, L.G.B.T.Q. people, refugees and asylum seekers, has actually been in gradual retreat from the Barak revolution and the all-out progressive line, says Ran Hirschl, a professor of political science and law at the University of Texas, Austin, and author of the 2004 book Towards Juristocracy. Yet the courts image as secular and elite remained a potent political tool for the right. Having seen Paravel and Castaing-Taylors other work, Cremieux, now chief executive for Marseilles university hospitals, recognized that he had no idea what they would make. Whatever the rational discussion could be at the beginning of the project, I knew that there would be no way of knowing in advance what the end of the project would be, which for a C.E.O. of a hospital is strictly different from the relationship we usually have with filmmakers and documentarists and TV people, he said by Zoom. But these are also public hospitals, and he felt that reputable anthropologists should have access to them. I think that we owe that to the public, and we owe that to citizens, he said. He also noted that forbidding access would have meant losing a chance to preserve whats happening in hospitals today for future generations. Doctors became active collaborators in the project, introducing Paravel and Castaing-Taylor to other physicians and patients, and even recommending procedures to capture, the filmmakers said. Some doctors, Castaing-Taylor added, were wary, not knowing whether to view the pair as scientists or journalists. If they thought of us as scientists because we said were not really journalists, were anthropologists then they would want to know what our hypothesis was, what were we testing, he said. And as anthropologists, were not really scientists, even though some people think of anthropologists as scientists. The goal wasnt to test but to observe. Jean Kolaczek the retired chemist who has the screw turned in his head was undergoing an operation to ease the pressure of liquid in his brain. He said that his surgeon introduced him to the filmmakers, and that his comfort with his doctor led him to say yes. I was interested in seeing the operation from the outside, too, he said through an interpreter. I was the sick person, I was the patient, but I was also interested in seeing what happens in the operating room and around it. Even when he was awake in the scene, he pointed out, he was medicated and not completely conscious. You dont often see a realistic story about sabotaging Texas oil infrastructure on American movie screens, but How to Blow Up a Pipeline dramatizes in detail the bombing plot of a group of young environmental activists. Like their super-focused characters, the filmmakers moved from conception to production in under a year. The team, lead by the director, Daniel Goldhaber, prioritized their characters convictions and technical authenticity. Heres a look at the road to creating the movie. Hatching the Plan Andreas Malms call-to-action treatise How to Blow Up a Pipeline was published in January 2021. Goldhaber read it while feeling both creative and political powerlessness, and was inspired. He and Jordan Sjol got together with the actor Ariela Barer to co-write the screenplay after another project with her had fallen through. The movie felt like the first time I could express some things that I had felt for most of my conscious adult life in a format that I felt people might be able to listen to, Goldhaber said. He had grown up around climate science both parents worked in the field and had worked on a climate documentary. Infinite Sea Rent or buy on Amazon or Vudu. The writer-director Carlos Amarals debut feature seems to be set in the 1980s, including repeated shots of boxy computer consoles with flickering data scrolling on their tiny screens. But this is not the decade we know. Most people seem to have decamped to the planet Proxima Centauri b the reasons are never explained but Earth appears to be slowly dying and Miguel (Nuno Nolasco), who has been left behind, looks forlornly at the rockets that take off nightly. He types away on his computer and hacks into the space programs files; in the evening he drinks at a restaurant whose only other customer is a lonely silent woman. Infinite Sea moves at a slow, contemplative pace, and is soaked in existential anomie. At times it feels as if Michelangelo Antonioni had branched out into science fiction. Amaral uses a lot of aquatic imagery, as if Miguel, who has a complicated relationship with water, were suspended in a kind of netherworld. That is, until he falls for Eva (Maria Leite) and comes out of his shell. Eventually the couple take off for humanitys new home. Or do they? In this gentle, poetic Portuguese film, its hard to differentiate between dream and reality, or between past, present and future. What is certain, however, is that Amaral switches to a higher gear as he enters the final stretch into the films stunningly beautiful conclusion. Spiderhead Stream it on Netflix. The small cluster of brick houses his father built on adjoining Locust Point lots were meant for the family to live together in what they called Zottolas Court, Salvatore Zottola testified. Mottos like Our foundation is built from love were carved into the homes facades. In making their case, prosecutors outlined a broad conspiracy that included a network of hit men hired by Bushawn Shelton, described by the authorities as a high-ranking member of the Bloods street gang. At times, according to testimony and evidence, the hit men resembled the hapless criminals in Jimmy Breslins 1969 novel The Gang That Couldnt Shoot Straight. A tan minivan they employed as a getaway car often would not start, and a getaway driver parked on a quiet street near Salvatore Zottolas home once infuriated Mr. Shelton by smoking marijuana the gang leader believed might signal their presence. There were several unsuccessful attempts to kill Sylvester Zottola. Someone tried to shoot him as he drove on the Throgs Neck Expressway, prosecutors said, but he escaped by driving in reverse. Later, men lurking inside his home stabbed him in the neck. Another time, an assailant broke into the Zottola family office with a gun with the goal of killing Mr. Zottola but fled after he accidentally tripped a panic alarm. One hired killer, Ron Cabey, testifying as a government witness, described how he strode up to Sylvester Zottola on a Bronx street in summer 2018, pointed a pistol at him and pulled the trigger, only for the weapon to misfire. Mr. Cabey said Mr. Zottola began firing at him as he fled. Why It Matters: Area Residents Feared Contamination of Drinking Water Releasing water from the spent-fuel pools into the Hudson had always been part of Holtecs plan for dismantling Indian Point, in Buchanan, N.Y. But a recent notice from the company that it might speed up the process alarmed some environmental activists, who oppose discharging the wastewater because it contains tritium, a radioactive element. Riverkeeper, an organization that advocates for clean water in New York, opposed the plan, saying: Ingestion of tritium is linked to cancer, and children and pregnant women are most vulnerable. Riverkeeper called for the wastewater to be stored in tanks on the site until a safer method of disposal could be devised. In an April 6 letter to the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, New Yorks Democratic senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, said that Holtecs sudden announcement had shocked the community and would increase public opposition and distrust of Holtec as it continues the decommissioning of Indian Point. On Thursday, Mr. Schumer said in a statement that he was relieved that Holtec has heeded our call and will put a stop to its hastily hatched plan to dump radioactive wastewater into the Hudson this May. Background: Holtecs Job Is To Handle Indian Points Nuclear Waste Holtec is in the business of decommissioning shuttered nuclear power plants. It bought Indian Point, which had two reactors that produced about 25 percent of the power consumed by New York City, in 2021 from its operator, Entergy. Holtec had a 15-year plan to dismantle the plant and store its spent fuel in concrete casks. That plan included the release of more than 1 million gallons of filtered wastewater into the Hudson. One of those discharges was scheduled to happen in late summer, with the approval of federal regulators and state authorities, Holtec said. But the company told an oversight board this month that, as soon as early May, it might start releasing 45,000 gallons of water into the river from a pool that was used to cool spent fuel rods removed from a reactor. Holtec tried to assure community leaders that the safest way to dispose of the wastewater was to put it in the river. But elected officials proposed legislation in Albany that would ban the discharge of any radiological agent into the waters of the state. Whats Next Holtec has not abandoned its plan to discharge the wastewater. Mr. OBrien said the company hoped to further engage with elected officials and state agencies and that regulators would gain time to continue explaining the science and regulations at public meetings. The Indian Point Decommissioning Oversight Board has scheduled a special online meeting for public comment on April 25. News / Local by Staff reporter 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 Citizen's 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 candidate's 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 will 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. TAIPEI, Taiwan I just returned from visiting China for the first time since Covid struck. Being back in Beijing was a reminder of my first rule of journalism: If you dont go, you dont know. Relations between our two countries have soured so badly, so quickly, and have so reduced our points of contact very few American reporters are left in China, and our leaders are barely talking that were now like two giant gorillas looking at each other through a pinhole. Nothing good will come from this. The recent visit by Taiwans president, Tsai Ing-wen, to the United States which prompted Beijing to hold live-fire drills off Taiwans coast and to warn anew that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are incompatible with any move by Taiwan toward formal independence was just the latest reminder of how overheated this atmosphere is. The smallest misstep by either side could ignite a U.S.-China war that would make Ukraine look like a neighborhood dust-up. Thats one of the many reasons I found it helpful to be back in Beijing and to be able to observe China again through a larger aperture than a pinhole. Attending the China Development Forum Beijings very useful annual gathering of local and global business leaders, senior Chinese officials, retired diplomats and a few local and Western journalists reminded me of some powerful old truths and exposed me to some eye-popping new realities about whats really eating away at U.S.-China relations. Hint: The new, new thing has a lot to do with the increasingly important role that trust, and its absence, plays in international relations, now that so many goods and services that the United States and China sell to one another are digital, and therefore dual use meaning they can be both a weapon and a tool. Just when trust has become more important than ever between the U.S. and China, it also has become scarcer than ever. Bad trend. Fox News, which is defending itself from Dominion Voting Systems $1.6 billion lawsuit, is going to trial on Monday in a hole. In an unusual move, the judge has already ruled that on-air statements those asserting that Dominions voting machines played a role in causing Donald Trump to lose the 2020 election were false. The main task left for the jury is to decide whether Fox made those false statements with whats known as actual malice. Its remarkable that Dominions suit has gotten this far and may even ultimately prevail, thanks in part to a raft of incredibly damaging Fox emails, text messages and other evidence that show deep internal misgivings about on-air claims about the 2020 election. But proving actual malice is difficult: Dominion must show that Fox News either knew that its reporting was false or entertained serious doubts about the truth of the reporting. This high bar, set by the Supreme Court in 1964, often is insurmountable for plaintiffs. Given the evidence against Fox that already has been made public, it might seem unfair that Dominion continues to face such an uphill battle in this case. But it is a very good thing for our democracy that it is so difficult to prove actual malice. A movement to erode this legal protection has gained steam in recent years, but the main push has not come from Fox critics. Rather, conservatives have characterized the protections as unfairly enabling liberal news outlets to lie. Commentators, politicians, judges and two Supreme Court justices have urged the court to reconsider these protections. About six months ago, Elon Musk bought your favorite neighborhood bar. Then he fired veteran bouncers and bartenders, tried to stiff the landlord and at least one vendor, and demanded that regulars pay a cover charge. Hes frequently struggled to serve his customers, yet hes penalized them for mentioning the competition. Hes tamped down the revelry in general, really a lot of conversation at his watering hole has been drowned out by Musks own never-ending stage act, which consists mainly of him yelling dad jokes at customers through a bullhorn. Pour one out for Twitter, then. Id been open to Musks purchase of the social network, but half a year in, its been an unmitigated disaster. Musk moved fast and broke nearly everything the speed and totality with which hes ruined the site have been almost impressive. By Musks own reckoning, the company is now worth less than half of what he paid for it. It has lost many large advertisers, most of its employees and, with them, much of its functionality. More than that, Twitter under Musk appears to have lost the thing that made it impossible to quit: Its centrality. The site was once the most consequential place online, not just a disseminator of breaking news and commentary, but something like an arbiter. At its cultural peak, from about 2015 to perhaps 2020, what people talked about on Twitter seemed to set the agenda for discussions elsewhere. Even last year, it still mattered: After years of mismanagement and glacial innovation, Twitter, on the eve of Musks reign, was still the one place to visit when anything big happened anywhere. Whatever Twitter is now, it is no longer that venue. Cultural relevance is difficult to quantify, but you know it when you feel it. And now, when somethings going down, Twitter rarely feels like the place where everyone is gathering to watch. To the Editor: Re Readers Torn by Push to Revise Classics for Modern Sensibilities (front page, April 6): One of the purposes of art is to offer a window on the values of its time. Offensive passages in the works of Agatha Christie, Roald Dahl and others are a reflection not only of those writers sensibilities, but also of what the commercial and cultural powers of the day and the public found acceptable. They are part of the historical record of our problematic journey toward enlightenment. While there may be an argument for expurgated versions of some books for young children, adult readers should face squarely our literature as it is flaws and all. Al McKee San Francisco To the Editor: Efforts by literary executors, editors and school systems to sanitize the writing of past generations is nothing new. Notoriously, the 19th-century Bowdler editions of Shakespeare scrubbed away all unsettling sexual content. They have been viewed with scorn ever since. Unfortunately, the cost of bowdlerizing texts is not just literary or aesthetic. This retroactive censorship has dangerous political implications. Victorian translations of classical texts scrubbed away all references to homosexuality, creating an illusion of heteronormativity where it never existed. Late 20th-century library shelves were purged of books that expressed racist, antisemitic and eugenic beliefs, creating a comfortable delusion that such opinions were rare. It was the summer of 2005, and Kia Dawn Zalewski, a recent graduate of Florida State University with a bachelors degree in communications, landed a position in sales and marketing at Nikki Beach Miami, a luxury beach club. While working in the corporate office, she often crossed paths with the then-V.I.P. manager, Michael Anthony Sin-Suarez. Each thought the other was attractive, but there was something else that caught their attention. I came in one day and she was talking about Grease 2 with a co-worker, Mr. Sin-Suarez, an 80s movie aficionado, said. No one knows Grease 2, but it was one of my favorite movies. She said a line from the movie and I said the following one. A year later, she left Nikki Beach to work for a public relations firm in Miami. But a surprise encounter would lead them back to each other. In September 2012, Ms. Zalewski was visiting friends in Marbella, Spain, and one of them turned out to be roommates with Mr. Sin-Suarez. He was by then a manager at Nikki Beach Marbella. After that trip, the two kept in touch. In early January 2013, Mr. Sin-Suarez traveled to New York, where Ms. Zalewski was living, for a friends wedding. Michael asked me to meet up with him in Rockefeller Center, Ms. Zalewski said. She nearly declined. When I graduated I said, OK, I am going to try to do this for a year, and if I am broke then I will go to grad school, Mr. Marttila said. Instead, in 2015, he landed his first book deal, for Shop Cats of New York. He met Ms. Shaw a few months before the book published by Harper Design. The two quickly found synergy in their love for cats and began inspiring each others work. When I met Andrew I was thinking I wish I could just focus on writing a book about kitten welfare, and then Andrew had a book coming out and it was so cool to see another young person really doing these things, Ms. Shaw said. I was looking at getting another job, but Andrew was the one who said to me, Just try for three months. She said having someone believe in her enough to say just try shifted her perspective. I already had this passion for something that there was no job for, and so that made me go and create it myself. Mr. Marttila said that Ms. Shaw renewed his passion for animals as well, and that her hustle inspired him to amp up his own work ethic. They say they are each others hype person. After 10 months of dating long-distance, Ms. Shaw told Mr. Marttila that if he wanted their relationship to continue, he would have to move to Washington. So I rented a U-Haul on Valentines Day 2017 and moved in, Mr. Marttila said. Andrew told me when we met that his dream was to be a stay-at-home cat dad, Ms. Shaw said. And I was like, I have a lot of dreams in life, so I think I can make that happen. Ms. Tompkins is the subject of Wild Life, a new documentary from Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, the Oscar-winning duo behind Free Solo. The film tells the story of Ms. Tompkins and her husband, Doug Tompkins, a founder of the North Face and the apparel company Esprit, as well as the ambitious and controversial conservation projects they started after leaving their corporate careers behind. In an interview, Ms. Tompkins said she was as committed as ever to her conservation efforts, helping her find purpose seven years after a deadly kayaking accident upended her life. In a way, her life as an environmentalist began when Ms. Tompkins was a teenager in Southern California, where she befriended Yvon Chouinard; her familys beach house neighbored his. She started working in shipping at his climbing-equipment company, and, after college, she became one of the first six employees at a company he founded in 1973, Patagonia. She had her fingerprints on many parts of the business, helping pick the typeface in the original logo, producing catalogs and heading imagery. Eventually, she rose to lead the company for years in the 1980s and 1990s. Despite loving the work, she started to feel that something was missing. I was really kind of choking and sensing a kind of desperate need to figure out something else that would be as interesting and engaging as Patagonia, she said, adding, Sometimes your body hangs there, but your heart is gone, your mind. The Montana House of Representatives on Friday approved a total ban on TikTok inside the state, setting up the states Republican governor to sign the first-of-its-kind prohibition into law. The legislation, which would also bar app stores from carrying TikTok, the wildly popular viral video app, was approved 54 to 43 in the last of two votes in the State House. The State Senate passed it in March. Gov. Greg Gianforte must decide whether to sign the bill into law, veto it or do nothing for 10 days after receiving the bill and let it become law without his signature. A spokeswoman for Mr. Gianforte, Brooke Metrione, said he would carefully consider any bill the Legislature sends to his desk. A TikTok spokeswoman, Brooke Oberwetter, said in a statement that supporters of the bill had admitted they didnt have a feasible plan for carrying out the ban. Theres been surprisingly little post-Trump-indictment polling of the Republican race. As a result, were still in wait-and-see mode here at the Tilt and weve been waiting long enough that it has become easy to forget what we were even waiting for. In the interim, lets jump into the mailbag. Off-season? As I wrote a few weeks ago, wed like the mailbag to be a regular feature during the off-season, which brings us to our first question: What is meant by during the off-season? Off-season of what? Jan Panella I suppose its off election season or campaign season. Theres a predicable ebb and flow to the pace and import of political news, with a slow first half of odd-numbered years ramping up to the heart of the campaign season in the fall of even-numbered years. Reacting to announcements Of course, it hasnt exactly been the slowest news week. Tim Scott, a Republican senator from South Carolina, announced an exploratory presidential committee on Wednesday. What, if anything, do you do or look for when you see a presidential announcement from a lesser-known candidate, like Sen. Scott or Nikki Haley? Kevin in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn I watch a lot of YouTube videos. I watch the speeches the candidates gave at the last party convention. I watch their interviews on Fox News. I watch their victory speeches on election night, and so on. I do not read their books. What am I looking for? A lot of it is entirely superficial: I want to know if they have that it factor that might help them catch fire. This is fairly subjective, of course, but there isnt usually much debate about the truly special candidates, and it usually takes a pretty special candidate to rise from obscurity on the strength of performance on the trail or on the campaign stage. Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., has long been an important stop for Republican politicians and conservative celebrities eager to reach the campuss undergraduates. It is the stage where Senator Ted Cruz of Texas announced his candidacy in 2015. It is also where Mr. Trump introduced himself to a wider evangelical audience, pitching himself as the defender of a Christianity under attack and famously referred to Two Corinthians in a fumbled attempt to speak the same language as his listeners. Ultimately, Mr. Trump did not need to speak evangelical to win them over. He won an even higher share of the white evangelical vote in 2020 than he did in 2016. Though some evangelical leaders have signaled they would consider supporting another Republican candidate, many remain loyal to Mr. Trump and have so far shown few signs of abandoning him en masse over his recent indictment. For Mr. DeSantis, the question is whether he can loosen that extraordinary bond. Jesse Hughes, a junior at Liberty, had been hoping to hear Mr. DeSantis offer a more intimate account of how his faith influenced his approach to governing and helped him navigate challenges like his wifes cancer diagnosis. Instead, he said he mostly heard material he recognized from Mr. DeSantiss other speeches. Still, he is impressed with Mr. DeSantiss record in Florida, including his approach to abortion legislation, education, and how hes willing to take bold stances and not cave to media pressure. Under Mr. DeSantis, the state has banned discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in some elementary school grades. News / Local by Staff reporter Loose-tongued gold baron Ewan MacMillan, who once branded Vice President Constantino Chiwenga a dunderhead, has returned with a racial slur against United Kingdom based Zimbabwe preacher Uebert Angel whom he described as a "black guy" who could not be trusted.MacMillan was filmed by undercover Al Jazeera journalists posing as gangsters offering his services to launder over a billion US dollars on their behalf.He also featured in the fourth and final instalment of the "Gold Mafia" documentary which aired Friday morning.The bossy dealer's racial comment was about Angel, the under-fire Zimbabwe ambassador-at-large who has featured prominently in the corruption busting film as the face of Zimbabwe's dirty gold smuggling scandal.In the documentary, MacMillan features as competitor to Angel, who featured in the first episode offering to use his diplomatic bag to launder US$1,2 billion.In so doing, the dealer, who claims to be a business associate to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, makes a racial remark.Macmillan warns the undercover journalists never to do business with a "black guy" whom he brands as sly."Do me a favour; whatever you do, listen to what I say."Don't invest with a black guy. You will die. They will tell you just lies."You'll invest, you'll lose all your money. Do not trust any black person," says the convicted gold smuggler.Meanwhile, in the final documentary titled, "Have The King With You", Al Jazeera journalists posing as gangsters try to compare who between MacMillian and Angel has a better deal.Angel nearly falls off his chair during one of the back-and-forth meetings with the undercover journalists when he hears they have made inroads with MacMillian.Angel, on his part, toils to persuade the "gangsters" to engage controversial Zanu PF politician and gold dealer Pedzisai Scott' Sakupwanya in the deal.Sakupwanya, Zanu PF's aspiring Mabvuku parliamentary candidate, is also thought to be a front for some corrupt political elites who are key fundraisers for the ruling party's campaign in this year's election.During the meeting with the journalists, Angel laughs sarcastically, saying, "You met a white guy" before pulling his mobile phone to show them an image of Sakupwanya.He adds, "You know this guy right here; he is one of my guys. He is the biggest gold buyer in Zimbabwe."Angel tells the undercover journalists that Sakupwanya has overtaken MacMillan as the country's biggest gold dealer because of his close relations with Mnangagwa.The self-styled prophet proceeds to call and put on speaker, Sakupwanya who confirms selling "six tones" of gold in 10 months.Angel asks, "Okay, so if somebody wants to invest with you, what happens?"Sakupwanya responds, "I guess I can do 10 percent per month".Angel goes on to ask, "So, if you get cash from someone, you give them 10 percent per month for every money they give you?", to which Sakupwanya responds with a "Yes."In the conversation, Sakupwanya gives assurances that the funds will be paid in full and that he does not have any challenges transferring them from any part of the world. The group appeared to have a tense exchange, according to a video posted on Twitter, in which Ms. Camper, 65, could be heard ordering the lawmakers off the floor. In an interview later, Ms. Camper said her intent was to protect them from expulsion, and she acknowledged the pair had provided a burst of energy to the Democrats. I did reflect on the 60s, she said. Mr. Towns said it was a lawmakers duty to be effective and bring things back for the district. Theres always a time to protest and theres a certain way you can do it, but in any environment you go into, you must know the rules, he said. This week, Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, whose wife lost a friend in the shooting, called for the legislature to take up a measure that would give courts the ability to restrict someones ability to access guns if the person is deemed dangerous, and signed an executive order intended to strengthen background checks. Republicans have not yet publicly rallied behind such a measure, and the legislative session will soon end. Both Mr. Pearson and Mr. Jones say the movement is evidence that their strategy is working. On Thursday morning, after Mr. Pearson was reinstated, the pair embraced in the chamber. Mr. Pearson held his fist up high after retaking his oath of office. Almost immediately, the two men plunged into a heated debate with Republicans over an education bill they warned would stifle efforts to teach about racism and sexism in the United States. Republicans abruptly cut off debate over the bill, over the objections of Democrats. They really tried to silence those two young men like they have the rest of us, but they have a different way, Mr. McKenzie said. Its just a different generation. They have a different way of communication. They have a different tolerance level. Theyre more immediate, I want my say right now. Eliza Fawcett contributed reporting. Many Republicans are also not eager for things to work the other way around for Mr. Trump to take political shots at Mr. DeSantis. The former presidents attacks against Mr. DeSantis were met with a muted response from the crowd at the Trump rally in Waco, Texas, last month. On Friday, a TV ad attacking Mr. DeSantis aired on CNN, Fox News and Newsmax from MAGA Inc., the super PAC supporting Mr. Trumps presidential bid. The spot mocked the Florida governor for supposedly once eating pudding with his fingers while also attacking him for supporting cuts to Social Security and Medicare as a member of Congress. Ron DeSantis loves sticking his fingers where they dont belong, a narrator says in the ad while an anonymous man in a suit eats pudding with his three fingers. But the spot may not go over well with some Trump supporters. He needs to stay away from going after DeSantis, said Mark Johnson, a 65-year-old Iowa electrical engineer who remains open to supporting Mr. DeSantis. I understand him going after deep-staters and the Bush family and all that. But DeSantis is not part of the Bush family. Mr. DeSantiss initial strategy has been to build his own base of support without much mention of Mr. Trump. Federal officials announced a flurry of charges on Friday against the four sons of the notorious Mexican drug lord known as El Chapo, saying the men were leading their imprisoned fathers empire and were responsible for moving vast quantities of fentanyl into and throughout the United States. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said at a news conference in Washington that in addition to the four sons collectively known as Los Chapitos federal indictments in Manhattan, Chicago and Washington had charged more than two dozen other people in what he described as a global fentanyl manufacturing and distribution operation run by the Sinaloa drug cartel. El Chapo, whose real name is Joaquin Guzman Loera, led the organization for years and after his conviction in Brooklyn in 2019 is serving life in prison in the United States. Mr. Garland said the defendants named in the five separate indictments included suppliers in China who sold so-called precursor chemicals used in manufacturing fentanyl; a broker based in Guatemala who bought the chemicals on behalf of the Chapitos; operators of clandestine fentanyl labs in Mexico; and a weapons supplier who provided the cartel with weapons smuggled into Mexico from the United States. The indictments, taken together, provided a panoramic view of how fentanyl was created, transported and ultimately sold on the street in cities from New York to Nashville to Los Angeles. The charges noted that the fentanyl business earned the cartel millions of dollars while causing as many as 200 deaths in the United States each day. The two laws cited in the F.B.I.s criminal complaint against Airman First Class Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard who is accused of leaking classified documents, center on protecting government secrets. Patrick M. Lueckenhoff, an F.B.I. special agent, told a federal judge on Friday that there was probable cause to believe Airman Teixeira had violated two parts of Title 18 of the federal code: Section 793 and Section 1924. Section 793, better known as the Espionage Act, is part of a World War I-era law that criminalizes the mishandling of closely-held information related to the national defense that could be used to harm the United States or to aid a foreign adversary. A conviction carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years per violation. Mr. Lueckenhoff said Airman Teixeira had violated two separate provisions of Section 793. One covers the unauthorized retention of such information, and the other covers the transmission or disclosure of the information to a person who is not authorized to receive it. It is hard to predict how the case against Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old Air National Guardsman accused of leaking classified documents to friends on a gaming server, will play out both because the matter is still very preliminary and because the facts are so unusual that there is limited value in comparing it to the general pattern of leak cases. Based on the charging documents in his case, Airman Teixeira does not appear to have been acting as a foreign agent, differentiating him from classic spying cases. He also does not appear to have been acting as a whistle-blower or otherwise trying to educate the general public by sharing secrets with the news media for publication, making his case different from another sort that has become more common in the 21st century. He also does not fit a third category of past cases of mishandling classified information: the hoarder. Prosecutors have charged people who are neither spying nor trying to enlighten the public for taking files home and keeping them. But because Airman Teixeira is accused of transmitting large numbers of files to other people who were not authorized to see them, his case is more serious. These differences show how past cases may be poor guides for how this will play out. For example, leak-related cases have often been resolved by plea deals. Prosecutors have an incentive to avoid a trial so the government does not have to deal with the legal and bureaucratic problems from discussing classified evidence in court. WASHINGTON Nearly every living economist who led the White House Council of Economic Advisers in a Republican administration including the three chairs under President Donald J. Trump signed a letter urging Congress to confirm President Bidens new nominee to lead the council, Jared Bernstein. The letter, obtained by The New York Times, praises Mr. Bernstein for engaging with economists across ideological lines and for his work drafting the original proposal for the opportunity zones program that was included in the 2017 tax package that Mr. Trump signed into law. The Senate Banking Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on Mr. Bernsteins nomination on Tuesday. Democrats had worried about his chances of clearing a committee vote after Senator John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania, was hospitalized in February for treatment of depression. They had stepped up efforts to court Republican senators to support Mr. Bernstein. Mr. Fetterman has since returned to work in the Senate. Mr. Bernstein has been a member of the council since the start of Mr. Bidens administration. The president tapped him to succeed Cecilia Rouse, who stepped down at the end of last month to return to her post at Princeton University. Before then, Mr. Bernstein was an adviser to Mr. Biden when he was the vice president, a longtime fixture at liberal think tanks in Washington and a frequent sparring partner with conservative economists on cable news. Mike Pompeo, who served in the Trump administration as director of the C.I.A. and then as secretary of state, said on Friday that he would not seek the Republican nomination for president in 2024. While we care deeply about America, and the issues that Ive been talking about this last year and half, and frankly for decades, matter an awful lot, this isnt our moment, Mr. Pompeo said, referring to himself and his wife, during an interview with Bret Baier on Fox News. Mr. Pompeo, 59, had indicated his interest in running as he toured early primary states. He said he had not made his decision based on former President Donald J. Trumps lead in early polls of the Republican race. He also declined to endorse Mr. Trump and obliquely criticized him, saying, I think Americans are thirsting for people making arguments, not just tweets. I want to find that person who can not only talk about the things that matter to every family in America, but who can actually build an organization, create a team and deliver that for the American people, he said, adding that this might not be Mr. Trump. The Tester campaign accused Montana Republicans of attempting a power grab. Republicans are trying to change local election laws to look more like Californias in an attempt to gain political power for themselves, said Shelbi Dantic, a spokeswoman for Mr. Testers re-election campaign. So far, no front-runner has emerged to challenge Mr. Tester in November. Republicans in Helena expect Representative Matt Rosendale, a conservative who voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election, to explore a run. Tim Sheehy, a wealthy businessman and military veteran, is being recruited by some Republicans in Washington to run, as first reported by Axios, though he has not made any formal announcement. As news about the bill spread around the state, Republican lawmakers said they were receiving calls and texts from constituents claiming an unease with the bill. Senator Jeff Welborn, a Republican state senator, noted that the complaints werent coming from just Democrats. Mr. Welborn said that he had received multiple text messages, including one from a constituent who said the bill amounted to election interference. This guy also has Republican candidate signs in his yard, Mr. Welborn said. He saw this as a really, really bad look on Montana as a state for trying this one on. Former Republican leaders in the state have also been vocal in their opposition. It's a horrible commentary about how you value the votes of your fellow citizens, said Marc Racicot, a former Republican governor and former chair of the R.N.C. They didnt sign up as guinea pigs. Republicans in favor of the bill said that they believed it would cut down on the interference by major parties with third-party candidates. In the past, Democrats have attempted to promote Libertarian candidates to try and divert votes from Republicans, and Republicans have fought to get Green Party candidates on the ballot to try and draw support away from Democrats. I think at least with the top-two primary you eliminate some of that nonsense, Mr. Fitzpatrick said, adding, Its dirty politics at its worst. They cited Scripture and issued calls for prayer. They applauded law enforcement and demanded tighter security in schools. They lamented the nations mental health crisis and offered tough talk about the death penalty. But as the most prominent current and potential Republican presidential candidates spoke before the annual gathering of the National Rifle Association, most virulently rejected the idea that more gun restrictions could curb bloodshed, even as two American cities are still mourning the latest massacres in the nations gun violence epidemic. This is not a gun problem, insisted former President Donald J. Trump in a dark and meandering speech on Friday afternoon. The only way to stop these wicked acts is to ensure that any sicko who would shoot up a school knows that within seconds, not minutes, they will face certain death. He also nodded to the partys focus on crime, saying that the issue is not too many guns, but too many thugs, hoodlums and savage criminals on our street. Mike Pence, Mr. Trumps vice president, who faced boos as he took the stage, also toed the line. Stop trampling on the God-given rights of the American people every time tragedy happens, Mr. Pence said, directing his comments at gun control extremists. On Wednesday night, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in New Orleans, issued a mixed decision, staying the most sweeping aspects of a decision from Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk that would have wholly overridden the Food and Drug Administrations approval of the pill after more than two decades. But the appeals court, in an unsigned order from a divided three-judge panel, temporarily let stand other aspects of Judge Kacsmaryks ruling, including by requiring in-person visits with doctors, rolling back the availability of the pills from the first 10 weeks of pregnancy to seven weeks and barring dispensing them by mail. The panels ruling was provisional, and the court put the appeal itself on a relatively fast track, scheduling arguments for May 17. The case was brought by several doctors and medical groups, including the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, which was incorporated in August in Amarillo, Texas, where the case was filed. Judge Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee who is a longtime opponent of abortion, is the only federal judge in the Amarillo division in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Texas. The appeals court majority wrote that the statute of limitations appeared to bar a challenge to the F.D.A.s initial approval of the pill in 2000. But it said that later expansions of access to the pill were properly before the judge and that there were authentic safety concerns warranting suspension of regulations making it easier to obtain the pills. Human Life International Hungary Marks April 18 Anniversary of Pro-Life Constitutional Protection of the Preborn Dr. Imre Teglasy Leads Decades Long Battle to Defeat Socialist Abortion Mindset to Save 50k Babies NEWS PROVIDED BY Human Life International April 14, 2023 FRONT ROYAL, Va., April 14, 2023 /Standard Newswire/ -- April 18 marks the anniversary of Hungary's constitutional protection of preborn children by parliament. Drafters and supporters called the country's new foundational document the Easter Constitution, as it was signed on Easter Monday 2011. It is a date known well by Dr. Imre Teglasy, Director of Human Life International Hungary. At its adoption by Hungary's parliament in 2011, the constitution established that "the life of the fetus shall be protected from the moment of conception." Teglasy explained that while this was a step in the right direction, it meant very little without any laws to support pro-life practices. A September 2022 passage of a Hungarian law that requires expectant mothers to hear their baby's heartbeat prior to obtaining an abortion is the only one of its kind in Europe. Even this "heartbeat law" did not shift societal attitudes in the traditionally Catholic country, and a similar initiative failed in neighboring Slovakia. Nonetheless, Teglasy and his Hungarian team are working hard to foster a culture of life in the eastern European nation. "We have our work cut out for us," remarked Teglasy. "We are fighting decades of misinformation - communist, socialist, and fascist policy forced on the people as a result of first, Nazi, and then Russian occupations. And from 1956 until 1988, abortions were not only promoted, but funded, by the socialist government's public health agency." Under communist Hungary, abortion became the primary means of birth control. At one point, in 1968, there were more than 130 induced abortions for every 100 live births. In 2011, abortions in Hungary were still so widespread that the number of abortions remained close to the number of births. Today, Hungary's abortion rate has dropped to 25 abortions for every 100 live births. What has served to dramatically decrease Hungary's abortion rate is not the nation's 2022 heartbeat legislation, or even the constitutional declaration that all human life is to be protected, but rather the dedicated and innovative work of Hungary's pro-life community. Teglasy, himself an abortion survivor, is a charismatic leader in the movement to change hearts and open eyes to the sanctity of human life. In his work leading Human Life International's Hungarian affiliate, known as Alpha Alliance for Life, Teglasy has seen nearly 50,000 babies and their mothers rescued from abortion by the programs he oversees. Teglasy emphasized the importance of connecting with women where they are. When he became aware of a popular online abortion Q&A website, Teglasy trained a team of volunteers to monitor the site and help provide real time information and encouragement to help these expectant mothers choose life for their children. In order to support this online work occurring out of Budapest, Teglasy formed a network to connect women with pregnancy care centers in six different cities around the country, where they receive material, emotional, and spiritual support through pregnancy and beyond. In the case of Hajnalka, who connected with Human Life International Hungary via the online abortion Q&A, volunteer Angelika was able to raise financial support for her on Facebook. It was enough to pay Hajnalka's rent until she could go back to work after the birth of baby Hanna. Teglasy observed that women who hear their child's heartbeat and want to have the baby sometimes face difficult circumstances. He learned how Brigitta, who is blind, struggled with what to do. She had been taking birth control pills, but still conceived. In economic distress, already having a two-year-old son, she believed that she and her husband could not afford another child. Brigitta posted her cry for help via a Facebook video and Human Life International Hungary reached out to Brigitta and her husband Janos. Despite the location of appropriate employment for Brigitta and affordable housing for the family, she decided to go through with an abortion. At the hospital, having signed all of the paperwork and about to enter the operating room, Brigitta had a change of heart. She and Janos left the hospital, looking forward to the birth of the child whose heartbeat Brigitta had heard. Some of the programs headed up by Human Life International Hungary include: Adoptive Parent Internships For a woman who chooses to pursue adoption, Human Life International Hungary connects her with an adoptive family for her child. Those couples who wish to become adoptive parents volunteer with the organization for up to two and a half years. These open adoptions are handled free of charge to birth mothers and adoptive parents, and the volunteerism is geared to help prepare families to welcome a newborn baby and understand the lifesaving work done to protect babies and birth mothers from abortion. For a woman who chooses to pursue adoption, Human Life International Hungary connects her with an adoptive family for her child. Those couples who wish to become adoptive parents volunteer with the organization for up to two and a half years. These open adoptions are handled free of charge to birth mothers and adoptive parents, and the volunteerism is geared to help prepare families to welcome a newborn baby and understand the lifesaving work done to protect babies and birth mothers from abortion. National Health Department Pro-Life Nurses Training Human Life International Hungary provides the 4,000 Registered Nurses working for the National Directorate of Hospitals in Hungary with life affirming education and resources for helping expectant mothers. Pro-life mentors encourage the nurses in life advocacy, and they share with them informational leaflets, posters, and life-sized fetal development models. Nurses are given prenatal vitamins, baby items such as clothing, car seats, and toys, to pass on to their pregnant patients, along with a directory of shelters and safe havens. Human Life International Hungary provides the 4,000 Registered Nurses working for the National Directorate of Hospitals in Hungary with life affirming education and resources for helping expectant mothers. Pro-life mentors encourage the nurses in life advocacy, and they share with them informational leaflets, posters, and life-sized fetal development models. Nurses are given prenatal vitamins, baby items such as clothing, car seats, and toys, to pass on to their pregnant patients, along with a directory of shelters and safe havens. Three Days Abortion Free Human Life International Hungary conceived and implemented a program to enlist the help of hospitals and physicians in reducing the abortion rate. On a designated day, local clergy and pro-life civic leaders join in a cross denominational pilgrimage to a community hospital, where they speak with Directorate of Health members and the leader of the obstetrics and gynecology department, asking them to join in the observation of three abortion free days each year. The group brings life-sized fetal development models, red roses, and white crosses. The baby models are then buried, and a "tree of life" is planted to commemorate the doctors' commitment to refrain from performing abortions on three days out of the year. The group then journeys to a nearby river bridge, where at the ringing of bells the names given to the aborted babies are recited as a rose for each is thrown into the river. Teglasy noted that the program developed by Human Life International Hungary has inspired similar approaches in Salzburg, Austria, and Rome, Italy, and has elicited the idea of national legislation before parliament for enacting Three Days Abortion Free throughout Hungary. A devout Catholic and father of twelve children, Teglasy believes that his life is a miracle from God. Under communist oppression, his mother tried repeatedly to abort him. That fact that he survived against all odds has helped motivate and invigorate him with a passion to prevent other children from becoming victims of abortion and that determination helped fuel the ministry of care and compassion that is Human Life International Hungary. About Human Life International Human Life International is the only US-based authority on global life issues, including abortion, contraception, and end-of-life concerns. Human Life International is engaged in providing aid, training, and advocacy around the world and is the largest global pro-life and family organization, active in more than 100 countries on six continents. Human Life International provides resources and education on life issues from a Catholic perspective, while providing assistance around the globe, and prepares those training for and those active in ministry to address these matters in their vocation. For more information, visit hli.org. SOURCE Human Life International CONTACT: Thomas Ciesielka, 312-422-1333, tc@tcpr.net News / Regional by Staff Reporter The Beitbridge Border Post plant and animal quarantine centre is now operational. The facility is part of the US$300 million Beitbridge Border Post modernisation project, which is being undertaken by the Government in partnership with the ZimBorders Consortium.The plant and animal quarantine centre is located about 5km north of the border post. It is one of the key projects that the Government has undertaken to improve the efficiency and capacity of the border post.The facility will help to decongest the border post and enhance the country's capacity to control the export and import of agricultural-related products. It will also go a long way in boosting disease control.Within the facility, there are various laboratories with a special focus on animal health, general hazards, and farming-related equipment that will be examined for conformity with import and export regulations.Some of the laboratories are being managed by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), the Department of Veterinary Services, the Agriculture Plant, and the National Biotechnology Authority (NBA).According to the Chronicle, Inspector-in-charge of the facility, Mr Levy Gama said the new facility is a one-stop shop for importers and exporters, which has resulted in improved services considering that the laboratory analyses are now being conducted on-site unlike in the past when samples would be taken to Harare.Mr Gama said the new plant has laboratories and incinerators to destroy rejected products."The plant is also ideal for citrus and horticulture farmers since we will be able to do all the necessary checks for exports and imported raw materials closer to them. We are also now able to do our inspections without creating congestion at the border, and we have enough storage for intercepted consignments," he said.Mr Gama said depending on the period of the month and the movement of commercial cargo, on a daily basis, they handle an average of 10 trucks carrying agricultural products.Prior to the latest development, related services were being offered within the border area albeit under limited space.Livestock Farmers' Union official, Mr Sifiso Sibanda said the facility is critical for disease control as well as farm produce exports and imports.Mr Sibanda said the facility is also a boost for farmers in Beitbridge District who rely mostly on livestock production as a source of livelihood."For us farmers, we will have unlimited access to the new facility, considering that most of us were importing better goats and sheep breeds from South Africa. We will also be able to export or import disease-free animals and everything will be done according to the book," he said.ZimBorders chief executive officer, Mr Francois Diedrechsen said they handed over the facility to Government for further management late last year."We have completed the animal and plant quarantine facility and handed it to Government and the process of operationalising it has started," he said.Beitbridge district development co-ordinator, Mrs Sikhangezile Mafu said: "We welcome this initiative by our Government and its partners as it will go a long way in strengthening the protection of livestock and plants from imported diseases, thereby boosting production of healthy livestock supported with good pastures."A villager from the Malala area, Ms Remaketsi Mbedzi said communal farmers are happy to access technical knowledge from experts at the new animal and quarantine facility."We are delighted to have such a huge facility in our district which is critical in minimising the spread of diseases such as foot-and-mouth," she said.The plant and animal quarantine centre is a welcome development for the Beitbridge Border Post and the country as a whole. It will help to improve the efficiency of the border post, boost trade, and protect the country's agricultural sector. Billy Waugh, a near-legendary covert operative who honed his skills in unconventional warfare during the Vietnam War, helped the C.I.A. hunt down the terrorists Carlos the Jackal and Osama bin Laden, and, in his 70s, fought in Afghanistan, died on April 4. He was 93. His death was confirmed in a statement on Twitter by the Armys First Special Forces Command, which lauded him as having inspired a generation of special operations. It did not say where he died. The service website Military.com, using the colloquial name for Special Forces made famous during the Vietnam War, called Mr. Waugh the unparalleled godfather of the Green Berets for his long years of service and numerous missions with them. The New York Times once described him as a former C.I.A. paramilitary officer who seems to have cut quite a swashbuckling path through the back alleys, as they say, of half the world. He was just one of those guys who wanted to be on the edge of the empire, as far as he could get, living large and defending his country, Cofer Black, a former C.I.A. counterterrorism chief, who supervised Mr. Waugh, said in a phone interview. President Biden, who spent most of this week exploring his family lineage in Ireland, broke down in tears on Friday after an impromptu meeting with a person from his more recent past: the priest who had administered last rites to his son, Beau Biden, who died of brain cancer in 2015. Mr. Biden became emotional after seeing the priest, Father Frank OGrady, who was given a last-minute security approval for the meeting at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock, a sacred shrine for Roman Catholics, who have reported seeing apparitions of the Virgin Mary and other holy figures there. A White House official who confirmed the meeting called it spontaneous, in that Father OGradys presence in Knock was not known to officials who spent weeks poring over the details of the trip. According to the Irish Independent, Mr. Biden had one reply when he was told by Father Richard Gibbons, the Knock Parish priest, that Father OGrady was living in Knock and working as a chaplain: I gotta meet him, I gotta meet him. Father OGrady, a former U.S. Army chaplain, had been assigned to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., when Beau Biden died at age 46. Even a quick look at the bunkers the Russians carved out in the most contaminated parts of the zone made clear how careless they had been. The soldiers also set fires and cooked on dirt so radioactive that it made a Geiger counter leap off the charts when tested on a recent visit. There are conflicting reports about whether Russian soldiers fell sick from radiation poisoning. For the small band of aging residents who remain in the zone, the Russian invasion and the nuclear disaster are catastrophes that bookend their lives. They recall both events in intimate detail. Visitors are rare these days, but Ms. Voloshyna was a bundle of energy as she set out a spread of food for her visitors and grabbed a bottle of vodka infused with local herbs. Three shots, she said, was customary for visitors. Before the meltdown, Ms. Voloshyna said, Chernobyl was a company town known for its great natural beauty. She was 36 and the director of the local kindergarten when the night sky lit up before dawn on April 26, 1986. In the days after the meltdown, she joined other residents in shoveling sand into sacks that were flown by helicopters and dumped in the reactor. Two plant workers died within hours of the meltdown, and in the months that followed, 28 more people died from radiation poisoning. Though estimates of the total fatalities to date vary widely, thousands have died from cancers and other radiation-associated illnesses. The evacuation orders came in May, and ultimately around 200,000 people were relocated, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency but Ms. Voloshyna was not among them. She hid inside her house after the police ordered residents to leave, even as the authorities sealed her home from the outside. The next day, she watched as police officers shot all the dogs. Then the power and water were cut off. But Ms. Voloshyna was determined to stay in the home built by her grandfather more than half a century earlier, nestled on the banks of the Pripyat River. Valerie Corbeaux lives on a rocky hilltop in the dry southwest part of France with her herd of goats. She doesnt butcher them, or use their milk for cheese. Instead, the former Parisian walks with them, feeds them hay and stays up all night in an ancient stone barn to comfort them when they are sick. They are living creatures, she says, no less worthy of love or freedom than humans. The problem is the goats keep breeding. And roaming farther afield, scrambling up onto regional highways and into distant vineyards, where they have been known to nibble on the leaves of vines that form the regions economic lifeline Corbieres wine. After they munched through two hectares of her Vermentino vines in 2020, Julie Rolland called Ms. Corbeaux and tried to resolve the issue the country way woman to woman, agriculturalist to agriculturalist, enthusiast to enthusiast. It began as a movement of pacifists chaining themselves to fences outside nuclear power plants. Five decades later, the effort to close German nuclear power plants will end with echoes of the Cold War era in which it began, as Russias war in Ukraine is a reminder of both the risks and promise of nuclear energy. Germanys three remaining reactors will be shut down by Saturday ending nuclear power generation in Europes largest economy. But it comes as the continent grapples with questions over whether it can secure enough energy to drive its economies and keep homes warm while also reaching ambitious climate targets. Germanys move makes it an outlier in much of the industrialized world. Britain, Finland and France are doubling down on nuclear energy as a source of reliable electricity and extremely low carbon emissions. Last year, Poland signed with Westinghouse Electric to build its first nuclear power plant, some 200 miles east of the German border. In the United States, the Biden administration is backing technology to build a new generation of smaller nuclear reactors as a tool of mass decarbonization. Russias ambassador to the United States said that Washington had threatened to retaliate if Moscow did not release the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in Russia and charged with espionage, marking a new low in tensions between the two countries. The ambassador, Anatoly Antonov, told Russian televisions Channel One that he recently had a very tough conversation with Victoria Nuland, the under secretary of state for political affairs, who he said had accused Russia of illegally detaining Mr. Gershkovich. The Americans threatened us with retaliatory measures if we do not release Gershkovich in the near future, Mr. Antonov said in the televised interview on Thursday. I tried to calm them down, he said. We shall see how they will act. It was not immediately possible to verify Mr. Antonovs claim. Ms. Nuland had summoned the Russian ambassador to a meeting at the agencys headquarters on the same day that Mr. Gershkovich appeared in a court in Moscow, where he was formally arrested on charges of espionage. The State Department said at the time that Ms. Nuland had criticized Russias detention of the Wall Street Journal reporter. Electric trams are running again in Kyiv, and electric scooters dot the sidewalks. With curfew extended to midnight, the streets are bright and buzzing. Portable generators, nearly impossible to find as they flew off the shelves in December, are being sold at half price. The Kremlins campaign to break the Ukrainian will to fight by turning winter into a weapon and knocking out power ultimately failed but there were moments when it seemed that all might be lost. The darkest week in a long, cold season came in mid-November, when Russian missiles streaked in from three directions, bearing down on Ukrainian power plants. Energy officials, gathered in a secret bunker in Kyiv, watched alarms flash on the large screens mapping the countrys energy grid as critical substations, thermal power plants and hydroelectric facilities all went dark. Then something happened they had never seen before over weeks of bombardment: All of the nations nuclear power plants were thrown into blackout. The federal rule that requires funeral homes to list their prices didnt envision the internet. Now, regulators are weighing an update that would require the homes to reveal their prices online. People are at their most vulnerable when theyre grieving, Lina M. Khan, the chair of the Federal Trade Commission, remarked on the proposed change. The goal of the rule is to prevent consumers from being taken advantage of, she said, adding that funeral providers are not required to list prices on their websites. The commission is considering the rule change as the Justice Department, on behalf of the F.T.C., reached a settlement this month with a company, Legacy Cremation Services, it accused of using bait and switch tactics to trick bereaved people into overpaying for cremation services offered online and even, in some cases, threatening to withhold remains to force families to pay. As part of the legal action, the government is requiring the company to post accurate details about charges and services on its website. Last year, the government sued Legacy Cremation Services and related companies and their owner, Anthony Joseph Damiano. The civil complaint contended that they misrepresented themselves as local cremation providers, rather than as brokers arranging services potentially hours away from buyers. The United States still gets most of its energy by setting millions of tiny fires everywhere. Cars, trucks, homes and factories all burn fossil fuels in countless engines, furnaces and boilers, creating pollution that heats the planet. To tackle climate change, those machines will need to stop polluting. And the best way to do that, experts increasingly say, is to replace them with electric versions cars, heating systems and factories that run on clean sources of electricity like wind, solar or nuclear power. But electrifying almost everything is a formidable task. Other Other Heavy-duty trucks Heavy-duty trucks Buses and rail Buses and rail <0.1% Medium- duty trucks Medium- duty trucks Other Other 0% Transportation Construction Construction 24.5 quads <1% electric Aviation Aviation Industrial 0% Passenger vehicles Passenger vehicles 18.2 quads 14.1 7% Water heating Water heating Chemicals Chemicals 7.3 Food and animal feed Food and animal feed Space heating Space heating 16% Paper products Paper products Residential Iron and steel Iron and steel 11.7 quads Commercial 8.7 quads Other Other Other Other 5% Space heating Space heating Light. Light. Other Other Heavy-duty trucks Heavy-duty trucks 0% 2% 3.8 <0.1% Buses and rail Buses and rail Machinery and electronics Machinery and electronics Medium- duty trucks Medium- duty trucks Shipping Shipping Other Other 1.9 1.5 Agriculture and forestry Agriculture and forestry Transportation Construction Construction 24.5 quadrillion B.T.U. 2.0 <1% electric Aviation Aviation Passenger vehicles Passenger vehicles 2.3 0% Industrial 14.1 18.2 quads 7% Wood, glass and plastic products Wood, glass and plastic products Chemicals Chemicals Water heating Water heating 7.3 1.8 Food and animal feed Food and animal feed Cement and lime Cement and lime Space heating Space heating Washing and drying 5.6 Washing and drying Air conditioning Refrigeration Refrigeration Air conditioning 16% Paper products Paper products Residential Iron and steel Iron and steel Air conditioning Air conditioning 11.7 quads Cooking Cooking Refrigeration Refrigeration Commercial Water heating Water heating Lighting and electronics Lighting and electronics 8.7 quads Other Other Other 3.0 Other 2.1 5% Space heating Space heating Lighting and electonics Lighting and electonics 2.1 Cooking Cooking 0% Heres how Americans use energy today. Total energy consumed in 2021, in quadrillion B.T.U. Heres how much of that energy comes from electricity. Electricity as a percent of total energy consumed in 2021 Transforming the economy so that more things run on clean electricity is a cornerstone of President Bidens plan to slash emissions to nearly zero by 2050. The New York Times used data from Evolved Energy Research, an energy modeling firm, to visualize what the nations energy use might look like in 2050 if the United States were able to meet the presidents climate change goals, using technology available today or just over the horizon, while minimizing costs. In this future, far more of Americas energy would come from electricity. The country would also use less energy overall, since electric devices are often more efficient than ones that burn fossil fuels. For example, a gasoline-powered car uses only about 30 percent of the energy in its fuel to move its wheels, with most of the rest wasted as heat. An electric car uses about 80 percent of its energy. By 2050, electricity would play a much bigger role: Electricity as percent of total energy consumed in a high-electrification scenario Medium- duty trucks Heavy-duty trucks Other Passenger vehicles 89% Construction Transportation Chemicals Aviation 25% electric Other Industrial Water heating Food and feed Space heating Cement and lime 63% Air cond. Residential Iron and steel Machinery Paper Air cond. Other 39% Commercial Space heating Other 96% Light. Less energy use in 2050 2021 Medium-duty trucks Shipping Other Heavy-duty trucks Buses and rail Passenger vehicles Construction 89% Transportation Industrial Aviation Chemicals Wood, glass and plastic products Other 25% electric Water heating Food, bev. and feed Space heating 63% Cement and lime Washing and drying Agriculture and forestry Residential Machinery and electronics Air conditioning Refrigeration Paper products Iron and steel Air conditioning Other Water heating Refrigeration Commercial Lighting and electronics Space heating Other Lighting and electronics Cooking 63% Cooking Less energy use in 2050 2021 There are signs the United States is already moving in a more plugged-in direction. Sales of electric vehicles broke records last year, accounting for 5.8 percent of new cars sold, and the administration has proposed regulations to ensure they make up two-thirds of sales by 2032. Electric heat pumps outsold gas furnaces for the first time last year. A new climate law is providing billions of dollars in subsidies to hasten the transition. Plugging in isnt the only way to cut emissions. Other options include clean hydrogen fuels, biofuels or technologies that capture pollution from the air, smokestacks or machines. But for many activities, the most straightforward solution is to go electric. If you ask, How on Earth are we going to power the modern economy cleanly, nothing else makes sense, said Saul Griffith, founder and chief scientist of Rewiring America, an advocacy group. All roads point to electrification. Still, widespread electrification faces huge obstacles. It would mean replacing more than 280 million gasoline-powered cars and 200 million home appliances that run on natural gas such as furnaces, water heaters, stoves and dryers. Many Americans might balk at switching due to costs, logistics or a simple lack of interest. And some activities, such as long-haul trucking or chemical manufacturing, are difficult to electrify. Its also not enough to shift to electric machines if their electricity comes from power plants that burn fossil fuels. Power plant emissions have declined 40 percent since 2005 as cheaper and cleaner gas, wind and solar energy sources have replaced coal. But much of the nations electricity is still generated by burning gas and coal, and it is getting harder to build and connect new sources of renewable power to antiquated grids. There are people who say this is impossible, and people who say this isnt challenging at all, said Ben Haley, an energy expert and co-founder of Evolved Energy Research. Id say its somewhere in between: Its challenging, but its not impossible. Transportation Current Electricity Use 2050 Net Zero Pathway Electricity as percent of total energy consumed in 2021 Electricity as percent of total energy consumed in a high-electrification scenario Medium-duty trucks Heavy-duty trucks Buses and rail Other Heavy-duty trucks Shipping 2% < 0.1% Buses and rail Shipping Medium-duty trucks Passenger vehicles 89% electric Passenger vehicles Aviation <1% electric Aviation Other Less total energy use in 2050 2021 Current Electricity Use Electricity as percent of total energy consumed in 2021 Heavy-duty trucks Buses and rail Other 2% <0.1% Medium- duty trucks Shipping Passenger vehicles <1% electric Aviation 0% 2050 Net Zero Pathway Electricity as percent of total energy consumed in a high-electrification scenario Medium-duty trucks Heavy-duty trucks Shipping Buses and rail Passenger vehicles 89% electric Aviation Other Less total energy use in 2050 2021 Americas transportation system, which includes everything from cars to boats to airplanes, still runs almost entirely on fuels derived from oil. Only a tiny fraction of cars and trucks today are electric. Passenger vehicles are widely considered the most feasible to electrify as battery-powered cars, S.U.V.s and pickup trucks enter the mainstream, though high costs and the availability of charging stations remain major hurdles. By contrast, heavy-duty trucks that carry goods thousands of miles cross-country could prove harder to electrify, particularly if they require large batteries that take hours to charge. Some truck makers like Daimler and Volvo have said that a better alternative would be hydrogen fuel made from wind or solar power, though that would require extensive new infrastructure to make and distribute all that hydrogen. Batteries are in the lead right now, especially since we already have a charging network being built, said Tom Walker, the transportation technology manager at Clean Air Task Force, a nonprofit environmental group. But its not clear that electrification will make the most sense everywhere, so we should keep our options open. Aviation is even tougher. Todays batteries are too bulky to power all but the smallest planes. For longer flights and bigger jets, airlines may need other options, such as fuels made from agricultural waste or more elaborate fuels that recycle carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which are still extremely costly. Residential and Commercial Buildings Current Electricity Use 2050 Net Zero Pathway Electricity as percent of total energy consumed in 2021 Electricity as percent of total energy consumed in a high-electrification scenario Water heating Space heating 63% 36% Washing and dry. Water heating Air conditioning Space heating Refrigeration Washing and dry. 99% electric Air cond. Refrigeration Air conditioning 16% electric Water heating Other Refrigeration Air conditioning Residential Cooking Space heating Refrigeration Other 96% Lighting and electronics Lighting and elec. Water heating Commercial 63% Lighting and electronics Other 53% Cooking Cooking Other 86% 5% Less total energy use in 2050 Space heating Lighting and elec. Cooking 2021 Current Electricity Use Electricity as percent of total energy consumed in 2021 36% Washing and drying Water heating Space heating 16% electric Refrig. Air cond. Residential Air cond. Cooking Refrigeration Water heating Commercial Lighting and electronics Other Other 5% 53% 86% Space heating Lighting and elec. Cooking 2050 Net Zero Pathway Electricity as percent of total energy consumed in a high-electrification scenario Water heating Washing and drying Space heating 63% Air conditioning Refrig. Other Water heating Air cond. 99% Refrig. Space heating 96% Other Lighting and electronics Lighting and elec. Cooking Cooking Less total energy use in 2050 2021 Most homes and businesses already use electricity to power air-conditioners, lights, refrigerators and other appliances. But millions of buildings also burn fossil fuels, mainly natural gas or fuel oil, to power furnaces, hot water heaters, stoves, ovens and clothes dryers, together producing 13 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Electric alternatives already exist for most gas appliances. Electric heat pumps, for instance, essentially act as two-way air-conditioners that can provide cooling in the summer and heating in the winter. Heat pump technology has steadily improved in recent years, with many models able to operate efficiently in subzero temperatures. But for many single-family homes or apartment buildings, the economics of switching from gas to electric heat may be forbidding, since natural gas is cheap. Some homes require costly upgrades to electric panels, or new ductwork. And while last years climate law offers subsidies for electric appliances, many contractors are still unfamiliar with heat pumps and electricians are in short supply. The gas industry has also fought hard against electrification policies. Every home is different and the costs of electrification can vary pretty widely, said Ryan Jones, a co-founder of Evolved Energy. Another potential challenge: Many electric grids today are set up to deal with power demand peaking in the summer, when air-conditioners run full blast. But if electric heating becomes widespread, utilities will have to figure out how to handle surging demand in the winter when, incidentally, there is less solar power available. (Currently, utilities stockpile vast quantities of natural gas underground for wintertime, which is much tougher to do with electricity.) Industry Current Electricity Use 2050 Net Zero Pathway Electricity as percent of total energy consumed in 2021 Electricity as percent of total energy consumed in a high-electrification scenario Other Machinery and electronics Construction Other 27% Agriculture and forestry Construction Chemicals 13% 25% electric Wood, glass and plastic products Chemicals 7% electric Food and animal feed Wood, glass and plastic products Cement and lime Agriculture and forestry Food and animal feed Paper products Iron and steel Machinery and electronics Cement and lime 39% Paper products Iron and steel Less total energy use in 2050 2021 Current Electricity Use Electricity as percent of total energy consumed in 2021 Machinery and electronics Other Agriculture and forestry Construction 13% Chemicals 7% electric Wood, glass and plastic products Food and animal feed Cement and lime Paper products Iron and steel 2050 Net Zero Pathway Electricity as percent of total energy consumed in a high-electrification scenario Other Construction 27% Chemicals Wood, glass and plastic products 25% electric Food and animal feed Cement and lime Agriculture and forestry Paper products Iron and steel Machinery and electronics 39% Less total energy use in 2050 2021 American industries often need huge amounts of heat for a dizzying array of activities: creating steam, melting aluminum, tempering glass, processing sugar, even drying car parts. Today, much of this heat is created by burning natural gas or coal. In theory, many companies could instead generate heat using electricity. One recent study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that about half of industrial energy use had high or medium potential for electrification, including production of aluminum, machinery, wood, rubber and some plastics. But that is often significantly more expensive than generating heat by burning natural gas. Other industrial processes are trickier to electrify. Cement kilns and glass manufacturers, for instance, often need temperatures in excess of 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. The chemical industry, a major source of emissions, often uses fossil fuels as a raw material for its products, with no easy substitute. Perhaps the biggest hurdle to electrifying industry is the lack of incentives. While the government offers tax credits for electric cars and home heat pumps, it has largely ignored the industrial sector, whose energy use is expected to keep growing in the coming decades. Many companies are wary of testing out new processes without government support. If we just waited around for another century, industry would probably move to electrification on its own, because its more efficient than burning things for heat, said Chris Bataille, a research fellow at the Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy. But thats obviously not fast enough to meet our climate goals. Can the Grid Handle It? Electrification would require sweeping changes to the nations power grids. Under the scenario visualized above, total electricity demand in the United States would roughly double by 2050, even as overall energy use went down. To meet that demand, electric utilities would need to add staggering amounts of new emissions-free power while making sure that all those newly electrified cars, homes and factories dont strain the system and cause blackouts. They would also have to construct large new power lines across the country, both to accommodate far-flung renewable projects and to improve the reliability of the grid. Yet transmission projects have become notoriously hard to build. And some experts have warned that the clean energy transition will falter without them. If were going to rely on the grid for so much more of our daily life, then we better start planning now to make sure its a lot more resilient than it is today, said Susan Tierney, an energy consultant with the Analysis Group. Its not a small concern. Last summer, amid a severe heat wave and electricity crunch, California asked residents to avoid charging their electric cars during peak hours. That raised questions about whether the grid could handle a surge of new demand at a time when climate change is already fueling extreme weather. There are potential solutions. Utilities, for instance, could get better at scheduling when electric vehicles and other appliances are charged, so that they dont all power up at the same time and strain equipment or require the construction of costly new power plants. More battery storage could help, too. Even so, some experts remain skeptical. To assume this will be the world we live in, in a few decades, is premature, said David Rapson, an economist at the University of California, Davis. He has said that rigid electric vehicle mandates such as those by California or the Biden administration may be too aggressive, potentially driving up costs and stifling other climate solutions. Others point out that electrifying everything or at least most things will have broad benefits, including deep cuts in air pollution. Matteo Muratori, an analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, likened the transition from fossil fuels to electric to going from analog to digital. Theres a lot more you can do with electricity as a fuel, he said, more efficiency, less waste, avoiding pollution its not just about greenhouse gases. Canada's Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa By Yuka Obayashi and Katya Golubkova SAPPORO, Japan (Reuters) -Canada is ready to become a reliable provider of critical minerals to its international allies including Japan, a senior official said, as the Group of Seven (G7) countries deem such minerals essential for climate goals and energy security. Canada has signed a joint action plan with the United States to advance secure supply chains for critical minerals and has similar critical minerals cooperation agreements with Japan and the European Union. "We view this resource has been very strategic, not only from an economic point of view, but also from a security point of view," Canada's minister of environment and climate change Steven Guilbeault told Reuters in Japan where he will take part in a G7 ministerial meeting on climate, energy and environment. The April 15-16 meeting in Sapporo, part of Japan's G7 presidency this year, will discuss the growing importance of critical minerals for the clean energy transition and the need to prevent economic and security risks caused by vulnerable supply chains and monopolization, among other topics, the latest draft communique seen by Reuters showed. China dominates the market for critical minerals used to make electric vehicle batteries, central to developed nation goals to decarbonise, and Russia - which invaded Ukraine last year - is also a major player. Last year, Canada asked three Chinese companies to sell their stakes in Toronto-listed lithium explorers following a national security review. Guilbeault said this was for "strategic security reasons". "We have a lot of those critical minerals, we have almost all of them in Canada with a few exceptions. We can become a reliable provider of these resources or products for our international allies like Japan, for example," he said. FOSSIL FUELS AND COAL POWER PLANTS The main battle among G7 environment and energy ministers this year is focused on whether investments in fossil fuels, in particular liquefied natural gas (LNG), can continue and how long coal-fired power plants should continue to operate. Story continues Energy-poor Japan wants to keep LNG as a transition fuel to cleaner energy for at least 10-15 years and to co-fire ammonia with coal at its thermal power plants. Climate activists content that approach helps extend the life of coal power plants and supports big corporations rather than decarbonisation. Canada's position is that phasing out coal is one of the most effective ways to fight climate change and there are a lot of alternatives to coal-fired electricity, Guilbeault said. "So it's a message that we are conveying to all of our peers whether it's Japan, China or India... We are very much aware that any new large investment in fossil fuels infrastructure will be with us for many, many years," he said. "It doesn't mean that there won't be any more fossil fuel investment. But they have to be very limited and we have to make sure they are in line with our climate change commitment, not just for 2030, but for 2050 to be net zero." (Reporting by Katya Golubkova and Yuka Obayashi; editing by Jason Neely) BIRR Historical Society are delighted to note that two important lectures will be held in Birr Library on Friday 21st April from 7.30pm-9pm. Dr Joseph Flahive, Assistant Editor, The Dictionary of Medieval Latin from Celtic Sources, The Royal Irish Academy will give a short presentation on the manuscripts produced in Birr and its Environs: Heartland of Insular Script (literature and art of the Islands of Britain and Ireland). Dr Donncha MacGabhann, will give a talk on The MacRegol Gospels. In the course of researching Insular Manuscripts, Donncha visited Birr Library to consult the facsimile of the MacRegol Gospels and he spent a week at the Bodleian Library in Oxford, studying the original MacRegol Gospel manuscript. The survival of early Irish Christian illuminated manuscripts associated with monasteries close to Birr, give us an insight into the richness of our local history and monastic heritage. For example, The Book of Durrow (Co. Offaly), dates c.700AD (written in Latin), site founded by Colum Cille. The Book of Dimma, (written Latin) an 8th century pocket Gospel Book from the Abbey of Roscrea, founded by St Cronan, The Stowe Missal (written in Latin with some Old Irish) late 8th century found hidden inside a stone wall at Lackeen Castle, near Lorrha in the 18th century. The most recent discovery of the Fadden More Psalter, (Latin) an 8thcentury manuscript wrapped in a leather cover was found buried in a bog about five miles from Birr on Thursday July 20th, 2006 by Eddie Fogarty who was harvesting turf. Birr, located in the centre of Ireland, close to the Slieve Bloom mountains and the river Shannon, was the site of an important monastery founded by the cleric St Brendan the Elder in the mid sixth century. In the wider context of Christian political areas, monasteries such as Clonmacnoise, Durrow, Roscrea, Terryglass, Clonfert all formed part of the fabric of Irish society. It is interesting to note, in international history, that Birr was chosen by Adomnan, who was Abbott of Iona and Head of the Columban federation of churches in Ireland and Scotland as the location for a meeting with key leaders in 697AD to discuss and agree a law for the protection of women, children and non-combatants in warfare. This law is known as the Cain Adomnain. In the early Christian history of Ireland, Birr would have been part of the focus on learning through art and writing. C. 800 AD, MacRegol, who was Bishop, Abbott and Scribe at Birr produced a beautiful illuminated manuscript, known as the MacRegol Gospels. It is the only known relic of the great monastery of St Brendan. In the tenth century, this book ended up in an English monastery at Harewood, on the borders of Northumbria and Mercia where two monks called Farman and Owun wrote in between the original Latin text, Anglo-Saxon. This gloss is one of the earliest surviving translations of the Gospels into the English language and it is an important source for students studying the origins of the English language. In the long history of this manuscrip, (surviving Viking raids and the dissolution of the monasteries) it was also known as the Rushworth Gospels. It was once owned by John Rushworth, who was a lawyer and politician who died in 1690. He donated the manuscript to the Bodleian Library in Oxford. The acquisition of a facsimile of the MacRegol Gospel Manuscript is an outstanding achievement for Birr Historical Society and its dedicated project team comprising of Margaret Hogan, Rev. Irene Morrow, Teresa Ryan-Feehan and Bridget Sullivan. The production of the facsimile was made possible by 21st century digital technology. The original manuscript was digitally photographed in Oxford by James Allen, downloaded onto 60 CDs and sent to Diarmuid Guinan, Brosna Press in Ferbane to be printed. The facsimile was bound by the Conservation book binder, Tony Cains in Dublin. The facsimile took many years to complete and one of the conditions for copying the manuscript, which was agreed with the Bodleian Library in Oxford, was that there would be one-only exhibition copy made for Birr, to be exhibited to the public free of charge and all copyright images be retained by the Bodleian Library. Birr is a beautiful heritage town and the facsimile of the MacRegol Gospels are exhibited in the 19th century Pugin-designed Convent (formerly the Sisters of Mercy) Building on Wilmer Road. In September 2006, The MacRegol Gospel Facsimile Conference was held in Birr. Key speakers included Dr Pat Wallace, Director of the National Museum of Ireland, Bernard Meehan, Head of Manuscripts from Trinity College, Dublin. Dr Wallace spoke about the Fadden More Psalter miraculously discovered in a bog a few weeks previously outside Birr. Dr Bernard Meehan spoke about the challenge of conserving the Psalter. There were several lectures which included talks on the early medieval church in Offaly, abandoning ones homeland for Christ, writing in the life of the early Irish monastery, the lives of the saints, Irish monks, illumination and their meaning, calligraphy in the MacRegol Gospels, art history, the site of the Birr Monastery and the making of the facsimile. The MacRegol Conference symbolised the wonderful community spirit present in Birr and celebrated this unique manuscript. It is inspiring to know, that our early Christian books continue to be studied and academic research continues to explore our early Christian heritage. The talks on the 21 April 2023 in the Birr Library will be of great local interest. Admission free. THE Heritage Sub-committee of Lorrha Development Association hosted a special event called Treasured Memories, an on-going project, which involves the video and sound recording of the life stories of Lorrha men and women who lived through a period that was very different from the Ireland we know today. As part of the project, the first three videos were aired to a very appreciative audience on Saturday April 1st in Lorrha Community Hall at 7.30pm. Michael Brophy and members of the Heritage sub-committee had been warmly welcomed into the homes of Paddy and Nuala Dermody, Michael and Nancy Liffey and Sheila Dillon, all of whom were eager to share the story of their lives with them. All the interviewees experienced life during World War Two. Hardship and scarcity were used to describe early years. Items such as fuel, razor blades, tyres, tea and sugar were difficult to come by. Women contributed hugely to the family income by selling eggs, butter and fowl. Visiting neighbours houses for a chat, a sing-song or a card-game were popular social outlets in the 40s and 50s. Gradually, families modernised from horse power to motorisation. In 1952 a new car could be purchased for 300 pounds. Driving lessons consisted of a few excursions around the field. A farm tractor in 1961 cost 600 pounds Paddy Dermody recalled the 1960s when farmers were in the process of creating a representative body. Their struggle to achieve government recognition was not easy. One protest involved a day-long blockade of Portumna Bridge. The Gardai arrested several people on the Galway side, but only one on the Tipperary side. Later the farmers marched to Leinster House and sat on the steps to progress their cause. Paddy, Michael and Sheila played significant roles in public life. Paddy Dermody joined Macra na Feirme in the 1950s and was chairman of the GAA in the 1980s. At the time of the planning, building and funding of the new church in Rathcabbin, he was chairperson of the Parish Council. In all, the princely sum of half a million pounds was raised. Michael Liffey played with a superb juvenile hurling team in the 1950s. He remarked that the players were fit before they even got to the field because of all the walking. They trained in Gerry Moylans field, near Sakie OBriens house. Players included Michael Lack, Noel and Jim Lane, Liam King and Phelim Doherty. In 1957 the team won the Tipperary juvenile county final. Tony Reddin was fondly remembered. Michael recounted his ability to hit the ball high into the air and catch it on the way down without moving from his position. Paddy Dermody noted that a bad harvest could set one back a couple of years. He often sold cattle for less than the purchase price. He had great praise for his wife, Nuala, who supported him during the tough years of farming. His mother was an active member of Cumann na mBan and from a young age crossed the fields at night to avoid detection while delivering despatches. In Paddys opinion, the women of Cumann na mBan did not receive due recognition for their contribution to the struggle for independence. Sheila Dillon acted in one act and three act plays for decades. She fondly remembered her co-star, Michael OMeara of the Hill. They took part in Scor competitions with one-act plays. Her most memorable role on the big stage was that of Big Maggie by John B Keane. Men and women usually met at dances. Michael Liffey recalled his pursuance of Nancy. He once went to a ploughing dance hoping for a chance; unfortunately she was there with another gent. After a marquee in Mullagh, Co. Galway, to the dulcet tones of Maurice Mulcahy, a courtship ensued. They married in 1973, the same year she joined the staff of Rathcabbin NS. The couple will be fifty years married this year. Michael started work in Liffey Mills in 1971 and joined Williams Waller in 1979 later becoming manager in both Borisokane and Roscrea. Sheila met Bobby Dillon when she was 18. They married a few years later when she was 23. In the late 1950s Bobby and Sheila bought a site in Lorrha from the Hardings and built a shop and a house. They sold petrol, groceries, shoes and bed linen. In 1969, having sold the shop to John Jo Molloy, Bobby and Sheila purchased a site from Jack Burbidge at the Ferry in Portumna. Again, they built a business and a home. In 1998 they sold the shop at the Ferry to Joe Duggan and bought a house in Portumna. The showing of Treasured Memories was well supported and received by the community. Regularly, during the presentation, anecdotes caused laughter and rounds of applause. The event proved to be a special night for the community. More interviews and showings are planned. The night concluded with lots of chat and light refreshments. Fact Check: Is this man criticising CM Yogi for the killing of Atiq Ahmed Fact Check: Is this the image of Asad who was killed in UP encounter? Fact Check oi-Vicky Nanjappa Since the killing of gangster Atiq Ahmed's son, Asad Ahmed in an encounter by the Uttar Pradesh police, many media organisations had shared images of Asad. The images were shared with the claim that this is the picture of Asad, who along with his aide Ghulam was killed in an encounter, following the murder of Umesh Pal. Several top media organisations have shared the image claimScreenshot 2023-04-14 at 8.39.20 AM.pnging that this is Asad. However what we have found that is that the image is not that of Asad.It that of Atiq Ahmed's second son, Ali Ahmed. Fact Check: Has the Swiss government halted the COVID-19 vaccine programme? Ali is in jail following an extortion case that was reported 2021. He is currently lodged in the Naini Central Jail in UP's Prayagraj. In March, the Allahabad High Court had rejected his bail stating that letting him out would threaten not just the witnesses, but the society as well. We also found an article in Zee which identified the man as Ali Ahmed. Several other media houses like Live Hindustan and Dainik Jagran have used the image and identified the man rightly as Asif Ahmed. Atiq Ahmed's son, Asad and his aide Ghulam were both killed in an encounter carried out by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) in Jhansi. The police team had acted on the basis of information provided by the Intelligence agencies. Both Asad and Ghulam have been on the run since the murder of Umesh Pal, a key witness in a murder case since February. Fact Check: Has Russian President Vladimir Putin embraced Buddhism? Hence going by media reports, it is clear that the photographs that are in circulation claiming that this is the image of Asad Ahmed who was killed in an encounter are false. The image that has been wrongly shared are that of Asif Ahmed, the second son of Atiq. He is currently lodged in jail in connection with an extortion case and was denied bail by a court in March. Fact Check Claim This is the image of Asad Ahmed who was killed in an encounter by UP police Conclusion The image is that Atiq Ahmeds second son, Asif Ahmed Rating False Raise your request for FACT CHECKING. Mail us at [email protected] Getty Images Dancing on Ice star Vanessa Bauer has finally spoken about her rumoured romance with Joey Essex, confirming they are an item. The pair were partnered on the most recent series of the ITV skating show, though speculation has been rife that they were involved more intimately. Speaking to The Sun, Vanessa explained: "Me and Joey, we're doing very good we are doing really good at the moment." When asked if they are romantically happy, the skater then added: "I'm very happy." Related: Dancing on Ice's Frankie Seaman opens up on cancer scare Vanessa also addressed speculation of a split after she was seen holidaying recently without Joey, though explained that she just needed to refuel after Dancing on Ice. "Dancing on Ice is so intense and I feel everybody needs downtime after the show," she said. "I needed time out after the show and I feel after six seasons of doing it, I feel like Thailand is my happy place. There is a lot more bikini pictures to come." She also praised Joey, saying: "Joey is a very serious guy behind closed doors, he worked so hard it's been an incredible series. We were close to winning but it was never about winning, we won anyway." ITV Related: Dancing on Ice's Dan Whiston defends Joey Essex's finale placement Last month, ahead of the recent series' finale where she and her partner placed second behind winners Nile Wilson and Olivia Smart Vanessa spoke about the strong bond she had formed with Joey over the series. "This time I've got Joey with me," she said (via The Sun). "Obviously we have a bond like I didn't have with any of my other partners. It's going to be special." Dancing on Ice airs on ITV1 and ITVX. You Might Also Like Villagers to skip Eid after Army trucks was ambushed in Poonch Poonch terror attack: Around 30 people detained for questioning, hunt on for terrorists 80 injured as footbridge collapses during Baisakhi celebration in Jammu India oi-Deepika S At least 80 people, including several children, were injured when a footbridge collapsed in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district on Friday. The incident took place at Beni Sangam in the Bain village of Chenani block during Baisakhi celebrations. Divisional Commissioner (Jammu) Ramesh Kumar said the bridge collapsed due to overloading as a large number of people had gathered on it. "At least 80 people were injured, including 20-25 who are critical. We have referred 6-7 people to District Hospital. The others are here in Chenani and are being looked after by the medical staff," said Manik Gupta, chairman of Chenani Municipality. Police and relief teams rushed to the spot and began rescue operations. Videos and pictures purporting to show the extent of damage in the far-flung Chenani block have become widely circulated on social media. The Baisakhi festival was celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervour across the country. Celebrated every year in April, Baisakhi is one of the prominent festivals of the Sikhs. It marks the birth of Khalsa Panth under Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru. 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. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 14, 2023, 18:20 [IST] Karnataka polls: PM Modi likely to visit Udupi with UP CM Yogi Now mafia can't threaten anyone in UP: Yogi warns after Atiq killing 'Mafia who had a free run in 2017 are now begging for life': UP CM 4 gunned down since UP CMs mafia ko mitti me mila denge comment India oi-Vicky Nanjappa "Iss House mein keh raha hoon. Iss mafia ko mitti me mila denge," were the words of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath on the floor to the assembly. The comments were made on February 25, following the murder of Umesh Pal, a lawyer and key witness in the murder case of Raju Pal, a BSP MLA in 2005. The assembly was convened to discuss the Governor's address. During the address, the Opposition Samajwadi Party questioned the law and order situation in the state, while raising the Umesh Pal murder case. Yogi Adityanath had said then that the mafia will be destroyed. Who was Asad, son of Atiq Ahmed killed in an encounter with UP police Within 50 days of that statement being made, four of the five people involved in the Umesh Pal murder case have been killed in three separate police encounters. Dreaded gangster Atiq Ahmed, the main accused in the Umesh Pal murder case along with his brother are in jail. His son, Asad and an aide, Ghulam were killed in an encounter on Thursday. Atiq Ahmed is in jail after he was handed out a life-term. In the case. On February 24 this year, UmeshPal was shot dead in Prayagraj. His family accused Atiq, his wife Shahista Parveen, brother Ashraf and Asad among those responsible for the murder. The murder that took place in day light was captured on camera. The police had identified Vijay Chaudhary alias Usman, Arbaz, Asad Ahmed, Ghulam and Guddu Muslim as those involved in the murder. How the encounter that killed gangster Atiq Ahmeds son unfolded All the five accused have been on the run since the murder of Umesh Pal. On February 278, just two days after the murder of Pal, Arbaz was killed in an encounter. On March 6, Vijay Chaudhary was also killed in an encounter. Thursday's encounter in which two were killed marks the fourth since the murder of Umesh Pal. Guru Nanak is watching: Hymn singer lashes out after Kamal Nath attends Sikh event in MP Kamal Nath cuts Temple-shaped cake with Hanuman on it: Gets lambasted Setback to Cong in MP as Narendra Saluja joins BJP in wake of Kamal Nath-Sikh event row 'More crowd at my rally than at Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra', says Kamal Naths son Can Kamal Nath defuse Rajasthan crisis? India oi-Deepika S In a bid to avert a Punjab-like debacle in Rajasthan, the Congress leadership has roped in senior party leader Kamal Nath to mediate between chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot. Reportedly, Kamal Nath met with Pilot and party general secretary KC Venugopal in Delhi on Thursday to find potential solutions to the ugly, bitter feud between the two warring leaders. Ahead of the upcoming Rajasthan assembly election, Pilot has emerged as a major headache for Gehlot than the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in the state. Pilot, who is a CM hopeful has been voicing allegations of corruption against the previous Vasundhara Raje government in Rajasthan. Stepping up his attack, Pilot also sat on a day-long fast against his own government, putting Congress in a difficult situation. Gehlot govts schemes have put Rajasthan in leadership position: Cong on Pilots criticism While the party initially backed Ashok Gehlot and warned Pilot of actions, it has now changed its stance and is trying to broker peace between the top two leaders in the state. The Congress leadership is also upset with the way the newly appointed in-charge of Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa handled the situation. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wants an early solution to the rift as the party is also aware of the huge anti-incumbency wave against Gehlot ahead of the crucial polls slated later this year. Kamal Nath, who is known as a troubleshooter for Congress has had several meetings with the Rajasthan leaders, to pacify the situation. This is not the first time that Congress has roped in Nath, a former Union minister who had been a Lok Sabha MP for nine terms, to troubleshoot. Stand like a rock...: Vasundhra Raje amid attacks by Sachin Pilot on corruption Nath was sent to Maharashtra to save the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress following a rebellion within the Sena. However, the then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray resigned in June owing to a lack of numbers, paving the way for rebel Eknath Shinde to take oath as the CM with the support of the BJP. AAP, BJP lock horns over Delhi CM Kejriwals CBI summon in excise policy case India oi-Deepika S The AAP on Friday alleged that the CBI summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as he spoke about the Adani issue and asserted that such notices will not deter their fight against corruption. Kejriwal has been summoned by the central agency on April 16 for questioning in the Delhi liquor policy scam case. This is for the first time that the AAP chief and Delhi chief minister has been called for questioning in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy case that led to the arrest of his deputy Manish Sisodia. The development comes days after the AAP was officially recognised as a national party by the Election Commission. Addressing a press conference, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the CBI summon was a conspiracy to arrest CM Kejriwal. The CBI has summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the excise policy scam case on April 16, officials said on Friday. Kejriwal has been asked to be present at the agency headquarters at 11 AM to answer queries of the investigating team, they said. "Delhi chief minister had spoken about the Adani issue in Delhi Vidhan Sabha. That same day, I had told him that you will be next. Narendra Modi-led Centre is corrupt from head to toe and Kejriwal's fight against corruption won't stop due to such notices," Singh said. "This notice is a conspiracy to arrest CM Kejriwal. This notice will neither be able to silence the AAP nor Kejriwal," he said. Days ago, Kejriwal had told the AAP volunteers to be prepared to go to jail if need be and said those who are scared of it should quit the party. AAP leader and then Delhi's Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was arrested on February 26 in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi excise policy. Delhi liquor scam: HC seeks CBI's response on Sisodia's bail plea He was arrested under Section 120 b (criminal conspiracy), 477 A (intent to defraud) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena last month recommended the CBI probe over alleged violations of rules and procedural lapses in the formulation and implementation of the Excise Policy 2021-22. Saxena's action was based on a report submitted by Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar. The CBI alleges that AAP received kickbacks in exchange for benefits in liquor vending. On the other hand, the BJP has intensified its attack on the AAP convener, accusing him of being the "mastermind" of the alleged liquor policy scam as the CBI summoned him for questioning on April 16 in connection with the case. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, at a press conference, said the day is not far when "three friends" who miss each other - Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain - will sit in the same barrack of Tihar jail. "The Delhi BJP has all along been saying that Kejriwal is the mastermind of the liquor scam in which his minister Manish Sisodia is in jail. Kejriwal is directly involved in the scam because the excise policy was approved by his Cabinet under his chairmanship," Sachdeva alleged. The risk factor for India as Pakistan goes from one crisis to another Hours after showdown with AAP, Delhi LG clears power subsidy file India oi-PTI Delhi LG VK Saxena has given consent to the Kejriwal government for a special audit of power subsidy amount disbursed to the distribution companies (discoms) since 2016-17, expressing "surprise" over delay in it so far, officials at the LG office said Friday. Saxena, in a note to the chief minister, has criticised the government for not conducting the audit of Rs 13,549 crore given to the discoms over the past six years, they said. The LG has reiterated his stand that power subsidy should be provided to the poor, pointing that amounts being given to discoms be audited to ensure non-pilferage. He has also asked the Kejriwal government to expedite its appeal in the Supreme Court against a High Court order quashing CAG audit of discoms, that has been pending for more than seven years, officials said. The LG and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) dispensation are engaged in a tussle over power subsidy in Delhi, with the latter alleging Saxena of trying to stop the subsidy through a conspiracy with the BJP. The LG in his note has underlined that audit by the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) empanelled auditors cannot and should not be considered as substitute to CAG audit. Repeating his consent and commitment to power subsidy for the poor, Saxena has iterated that such subsidies are public funds collected as revenue from the people of Delhi and it is the prime responsibility of the government to ensure that benefits reach the targeted population rather than getting pilfered for the gain of vested interests. AIIMS Delhi issues new advisory; mandates face masks Allowing the proposal of the government to conduct audit through auditors empanelled with CAG, the LG has underlined that audit of huge amounts of public money should be conducted by the CAG. The AAP government had been perfunctorily asking the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) to conduct the audit since 2015, though it could have invoked Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003 and given binding directions to the DERC for the same, said the LG note. However, the DERC did not conduct any audit, upon which the Power department through the Chief Secretary moved a file for asking the DERC to compulsorily carry out audit invoking the Act in December, 2022, which was turned down by the then Dy. Chief Minister and Power Minister Manish Sisodia on January 27, 2023, officials said. The LG in his file noting to the chief minister has written, "What is even more astounding is the fact that even after the proposal to get special audit done by the DERC by invoking Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003 was much belatedly put forward by the department in December, 2022, the same was turned down by the then Dy Chief Minister on January 27, 2023". Heat wave alert: Delhi govt advisory to schools, bans afternoon assembly Expressing surprise, the LG said "..public funds to the tune of Rs 13,549 crore have not been audited for the past six years and have been passed on to private discoms without any substantive scrutiny as to whether the subsidies meant for the poor are reaching the targeted population or not. " "It has further surprised me that it has taken the government six years to finally invoke its power under section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to issue directions to the DERC to conduct special audit, instead of perfunctorily taking Cabinet decisions to this effect for the last six years and conveying it to the DERC, but to no avail," Saxena further noted. The amount of Rs 13,549 crore was disbursed to the discoms from 2016-17 to 2021-22. The government provides free electricity to people having monthly consumption of 200 units. Those using 201-400 units per month get 50 per cent subsidy capped at Rs 850. Dog under police radar for tearing up AP CM Jagan Reddys poster India oi-Vicky Nanjappa A police complaint has been filed against a dog for allegedly removing the poster of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy. The complaint was lodged by Telugu Desai Party leader Dasari Udaya Sri. The same was lodged against the dog with the Payakaraopet police station. A video of the dog had surfaced on the social media, where it can be seen removing the power. The incident took place at Vijayawada. Dalai Lama apologises to boy, his family over viral 'kissing video' In her complaint the TDP leader Udaya Sri said that was an insult for the CM, Jagan Reddy. She demanded that the real culprits be arrested. A #TDP leader has filed a case against a #dog for allegedly removing the #poster of #AndhraPradesh CM #jaganMohanReddy . A video has also surfaced in which a dog can be seen removing the poster. The incident took place in #Vijayawada pic.twitter.com/xkIFASvXQp Surabhi Tiwari (@surabhi_tiwari_) April 13, 2023 An NDTV report said that the complaint by the TDP leader appears to be sarcastic. The TDP leader said that those who instigated the dog to remove the poster of Jagan Mohan Reddy, must be held responsible for the incident. "We have requested the police to arrest the dog and those behind the dog who insulted our beloved chief minister," she was quoted as saying. Karnataka BJP MLA files complaint after 'intimate photos with woman goes viral The dog tearing the poster of the AP CM had gone viral. The sticker on the slogan read, "Jagananna Maa Bhavishyathu" (Jagan anna our future) and was affixed to a house as part of the ongoing state-wide survey conducted by the ruling YSR Congress party. "TDP members submitted a written complaint in regards to the video that's going viral. The said video is just to defame the CM and has no basis for the complaint. No FIR has been filed in this regard." Vijayawada Commissioner of Police, Kanti Rana Tata said. Doordarshan airs first of two-part documentary on India's glory under PM Modi India oi-Prakash KL The first of the two-part documentary Dharohar Bharat ki - Punruthaan ki Kahaani was aired on Doordarshan National on Friday evening at 8. It deals with "India's Heritage: The Story of its Resurrection". Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveils his architectural vision through a two-part Doordarshan documentary that will invoke the soldier as the inspiration for much of the non-infrastructure construction on his watch. The documentary showcases the huge strides made by India in the last few years for the revival of India's spirit of cultural unity and pride, including the Ram Janmabhoomi project. Themes Presented in the Documentary Ascertaining the security as well as the sanctity for patriotic sites such as the Jallianwallah Bagh; resuscitating the splendid fervour of our civilizational centres such as Ram Janmabhoomi, Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Somnath Dham and Kedarnath Dham according respect to such spiritual sites such as Kartarpur Sahib, celebrating the lives of our freedom fighters at inspirational sites such as the Cellular Jail, centre-staging the contribution of Netaji Bose through the grand Netaji statue at India gate canopy, and honouring the legendary contribution of our patriots- past and present - through the War Memorial are some of the themes presented in the documentary. The series, anchored by popular digital media presenter Kamiya Jani, traces PM Modi's vision and its execution to build new national iconic sites. A quote from the Prime Minister for the documentary - shared by the information and broadcasting ministry with the media on Thursday - states: "Our soldiers devote their entire lives and sacrificed their every being to safeguard every inch of our motherland. Their sacrifice cannot just be measured in words; its grandeur and import have to be brought alive to inspire future generations." Over the years the PM Modi government has laid an emphasis on showcasing India's glorious heritage. Right from setting up the National War Memorial to honour the sacrifice of our soldiers to the Police Memorial as a mark of respect to the fallen policemen, has been to imbibe the clarion call by the prime minister. Spiritual sites like Ram Janmabhoomi, Somnath Temple, Mahakal Temple Corridor, Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor, and Kartarpur Sahib Corridor have been some of the most prominent steps undertaken to protect India's cultural and religious heritage. BJP has to go if democracy is to survive: Cong chief Kharge Former Karnataka Dy CM Laxman Savadi joins Congress India oi-Deepika S In a major blow to the ruling BJP ahead of the May 10 Karnakata elections, former deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi has decided to join the Congress on Friday. His decision came after a meeting with Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah and Congress general secretary and party in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala. "Savadi wants to become a member of Congress family on his own volition," Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru. "We have not put any condition. Savadi feels that he has been humiliated. It is our responsibility to take such great leaders into the Congress Party. There are more than 9-10 sitting MLAs who want to join us but we don't have space to accommodate them," said Shivakumar. Savadi, a BJP MLC is likely to meet the Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti to tender his resignation from the Upper House this afternoon, after which he would formally join the Congress. Laxman Savadi resigns from BJP On April 12, Savadi quit the BJP, a day after the ruling party denied him a ticket to contest the upcoming Karnataka polls. "I have certainly taken a decision. I have decided to resign from the primary membership of the party,'' Savadi said in a press conference. Denied ticket, BJP MLA Kumaraswamy quits party in Karnataka He went on to say that he was not the one who goes around with a begging bowl. "I am not the one who goes around with a begging bowl. I am a self-respecting politician. I am not acting under the influence of anyone," he said. Savadi, currently a BJP MLC, is a three-time MLA from Athani but lost in the 2018 elections to Kumathalli, who contested on a Congress ticket. Kumathalli was among the group of defectors who helped the BJP to bring down the Congress-JD(S) coalition and form its government under the leadership of B S Yediyurappa in 2019. Controversy surrounding Savadi In 2012, Savadi was caught watching a porn clip on his phone in the state assembly along with another minister, CC Patil. He had denied watching porn in the assembly and said that he was "watching the footage to prepare for a discussion on the ill-effects of a rave party". Savadi's move is a major setback for the BJP as he was the party's second most influential leader from the prominent Lingayat community in Karnataka. Give us 35 MP seats, Didi govt will collapse: Shah in Bengal India oi-Prakash KL Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday slammed Mamata Banerjee's Bengal government over the recent violence during the Ram Navami celebration and urged the people to give BJP 35 seats in the state in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "Can't Ram Navami processions be taken out in Bengal? Will they be attacked?" India Today quoted him as saying at a rally in Birbhum. "It is Didi's (Mamata Banerjee) appeasement that has led to thisa Once the BJP government is formed in the state, no one will have the courage to attack the Ram Navami procession," Shah said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday arrived in West Bengal on Friday on a two-day visit to the state. During the visit, he will hold a public meeting and take stock of the organisational strength of the BJP in the state. The BJP workers presented a 'trishul' to Union Home Minister Amit Shah at 'Jan Sampark Samavesh' rally in Birbhum. The Union Home Minister said that Mamata is dreaming to make her nephew the next Chief Minister. "From here in Birbhum, I say that the next CM is going to be from BJP. The trailer has to be shown in 2024 (general elections)," says Shah in Birbhum, West Bengal. He said, "The only way to fight against the crimes of Didi and Bhaipo is BJP. The only way to free Bengal of terror is BJP. The only way to stop infiltration in Bengal is BJP... Give us 35 seats in 2024, there will be no need for 2025 (West Bengal polls); before 2025, Mamata Didi's govt will collapse." Shah is visiting the state ahead of the rural polls due next month, and the party seeks to strengthen its organisational machinery. He arrived at the Andal airport in Paschim Bardhaman on Friday noon. He was received by BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari and other senior BJP leaders. Shah's programme in Bengal is part of BJP's 'Pravas' campaign to strengthen its organisation in 144 Lok Sabha seats in the country that it had lost by slender margins in the 2019 general election. The party won 18 of the total Lok Sabha 42 seats in Bengal in the 2019 elections. 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 killed gangster Atiq Ahmeds son unfolded India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The Uttar Pradesh police has gunned down four people since the murder of Umesh Pal. The latest encounter involved the killing of gangster Atiq Ahmed's son, Asad. According to the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), the operation was planned after a tip-off was received that Asad and his aide Ghulam were planning to attack a police convoy carrying Atiq Ahmed. They were trying to help Atiq escape the STF said. Asad and Ghulam had hatched a plan to help Atiq escape while he was being produced before a court in UP in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. UP's special director general (law and order) Prashant Kumar said that teams of civil police and special forces had been deployed following concrete Intelligence inputs. Based on the same two teams were deployed and Asad was intercepted. The police said that the duo were travelling on a bike. Who was Asad, son of Atiq Ahmed killed in an encounter with UP police The duo were killed in retaliatory firing, Kumar said while adding that the STF undertook the entire operation. Police officials said that to divert their attention, heavy force had been deployed near the Jhansi border from April 11, when Atiq Ahmed was being brought to a court in Prayagraj. On the other hand a special police team in civilian clothes was surveying the area near the hideout of Guddu Muslim, an aide of Atiq. A small team had been deployed secretly near the Parichha power plant with surveillance and technical assistance from the headquarters. "On April 12, night activity at the hideout of Guddu Muslim was witnessed which alerted us and teams were stationed near the four routes. Afterwards, a team equipped with bulletproof jackets was designated to confront any potential threats head-on, while another team was tasked with scouting potential escape routes to neighbouring districts and conducting inspections." A Times of India report said while quoting an official. Mafioso-turned politician Atiq Ahmed's son killed: How the encounter unfolded The encounter took place at 12.45 pm when two team intercepted Asad and Ghulam on the Kanpur-Jhansi highway. One British Bulldog Revolver .455 bore and a Walther P88 7.63 bore pistol were recovered following the encounter. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 14, 2023, 8:12 [IST] The Wichita area could see a stormy or fiery start to the weekend on Friday. Strong winds and warm temperatures could pose a threat of high fire danger early Friday afternoon, followed by a chance of severe storms with hail and damaging winds Friday evening into the night, the National Weather Service in Wichita says The high for Friday is expected to be 84 degrees with wind gusts as high as 36 mph, a detailed forecast shows. Those strong winds and warm, dry air could contribute to grass fires across parts of central, south central and southeast Kansas. As of Thursday evening, the National Weather Service had not issued any type of warning for the fire danger. The chances for severe storms will start around 5 p.m. and run into the night, with the greatest chance forecast from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. That daytime high is expected to drop to a low of 50. Residents could see a 40% chance of hail up to a half dollar in size and 70 mph winds, according to a NWS hazardous weather outlook report. Counties at risk for both fire danger and severe storms include Sedgwick and surrounding Butler, Reno, Harvey, Kingman, Sumner, Marion, Chase, McPherson and Cowley counties, the hazardous weather outlook said. There is a slight risk for severe storms Friday evening. The main threats will be large hail up to half dollar size and damaging winds to 70 mph. #kswx pic.twitter.com/rLnxRjrJCB NWS Wichita (@NWSWichita) April 13, 2023 Saturday is not out of the clear completely with a 20% chance of storms before 8 a.m. and a slight chance of rain from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The high will be 57 and will drop to 40 at night. Fire danger remains for Saturday but anticipated rainfall could lessen the threat, the hazardous weather outlook report said. Sunday will see clear skies with a breezy high of 66 and possible fire danger due to gusty winds and low humidity. Fact Check: Is this the image of Asad who was killed in UP encounter? Gangster Atiq Ahmed, brother shot dead in UP: What we know so far Won't even see his face: Asad's mother refuses to take his body India oi-Madhuri Adnal A day after gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad and an accomplice Ghulam, were shot dead in an exchange of fire with the Uttar Pradesh Police near Jhansi, Ghulam's mother on Friday declared the state government's action to be 'absolutely correct'. She further asserted that all gangsters and criminals will take a lesson from this. ''I had no idea that he (my son) used to work for gangster Atiq Ahmed. I will not receive his body, maybe his wife will receive it,'' she was quoted by news agency ANI. #WATCH | Prayagraj, UP: "The action taken by the government is absolutely correct. All gangsters and criminals will take a lesson from this. I had no idea that he (my son) used to work for gangster Atiq Ahmed. I will not receive his body, maybe his wife will receive it," says pic.twitter.com/9oqwnwYd2i ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 14, 2023 Rahil Sarkar, brother of Ghulam, also said that the action taken by the police is correct. ''He has done a very heinous act that we do not support. We will not go to collect his dead body. We have told our point to the police station chief. How can you support someone who acts like this?.'' Fact Check: Is this the image of Asad who was killed in UP encounter? Ghulam Hasan, a resident of Prayagraj's Mehndauri area, was the brother of ex-BJP minority cell district president Rahil Hasan. 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 near Jhansi on Thursday, officials said. The police had announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for information on Asad and Ghulam who were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case. On February 24 this year, Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal, was shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj. His family accused Atiq, his wife Shahista Parveen, brother Ashraf and Asad among those responsible for the murder. 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. Special anti-corruption courts in every district: SC to take up plea next week Jacqueline Fernandez withdraws plea for permission to go abroad, court says case at crucial stage Illegal land sale, money-laundering: ED arrests seven from Jharkhand India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested seven persons including a government official, following raids in Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar. The raids were conducted in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged illegal land sale. The ones who have been taken into custody have been identified as Afshar Ali, Imtiaz Ahmed, Pradeep Bagchi, Md Saddam Hussain, Talha Khan, Faiyaz Khan and Bhanu Pratap Prasad. Prasad is a circle inspector in the Jharkhand government, while the rest are middlemen according to the ED. All have been arrested under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). ED registers FEMA case against BBC India for irregularities in foreign funding The raids were conducted at 22 places in the three states, including the premises f the 2011-batch Jharkhand Indian Administrative Service officer, Chhavi Rajan. He had served as a deputy commissioner in the state capital of Ranchi earlier. He was questioned by the agency earlier. The ED has been looking into a number of land deals, including a defence land, where a group involving the land mafia, middlemen and bureaucrats allegedly connived in forging land deeds and documents from as early as 1932. ED officials said that the lands of the poor had been usurped as part of this land fraud. The agency has recovered a number of fake seals, land deeds and registry documents during the searches. SC rejects Opposition plea to stop 'misuse' of CBI, ED by Centre The leader of the BJP Babulal Marandi had asked what action will the chief minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren taken following the latest action by the ED. This is the second case where a cadre of the Jharkhand IAS has come under the scanner of the ED. The ED had last year raided and arrested IAS officer, Pooja Singhal in connection with a money laundering case. In coastal belt of Karnataka, BJP fields new faces India oi-Madhuri Adnal The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), known for springing surprises during elections, has done it once again in coastal districts of Karnataka by fielding new faces and denied the party ticket to five of its MLAs, of whom three are seniors. Of the MLAs who were denied the ticket is S. Angara, Minister for Fisheries, Ports and Inland Water Transport, who had won from Sullia (reserved for Scheduled Castes) consecutively for six times. The BJP has fielded a new face - Bhagirathi Murulya - for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections. In Udupi district, four candidates have been announced. In the 2018 assembly elections, the saffron party swept coastal Karnataka with an aggressive Hindutva campaign. It had won from all the five constituencies in the district. In the prestigious Udupi seat, firebrand activist Yashpal Suvarna has been given a party ticket replacing sitting MLA Raghupati Bhat. Yashpal has a strong support among the party cadre with his campaign for cow protection and the fight against hijab in educational institutions that raged in the coastal district in early 2022. In Kaup constituency, Bunt community leader Gurme Suresh Shetty has been given ticket replacing sitting MLA Lalaji R Mendon. Vedavyasa Kamath has secured the ticket again from Mangaluru South constituency while Dr Bharat Y Shetty will contest from Mangaluru North and Satish Kumpala from Mangaluru. Gururaj Gantihole, a partyman with strong RSS background, has been fielded as a candidate from Byndoor by replacing sitting MLA B M Sukumar Shetty. Meanwhile Kiran Kumar Kodgi, a nominee of sitting MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty, who announced his retirement from electoral politics, was given ticket in Kundapur. Among the five seats in the district, only Energy Minister V Sunil Kumar could get the party's renomination from Karkala constituency. In Kaup, BJP fielded a new face in Gurme Suresh Shetty, replacing sitting MLA Lalaji R Mendon. In Karkala, where the party retained minister V Sunil Kumar as its candidate, a tough fight is expected in view of Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik's decision to contest polls. Karnataka tweak in quota fulfulls long-time demand of Pasmanda Muslims At Mangaluru segment (Ullal), a stronghold of the Congress, the party has given ticket to Satish Kumpala, former vice-president of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat (DKZP) to take on four-time MLA UT Khader of the Congress. Meanwhile, Harish Poonja will contest from Beltangady, Asha Thimmappa Gowda from Puttur, Umanatha Kotyan from Moodbidri and Rajesh Naik from Bantwal. Yogi Adityanath in high demand for Karnataka polls As the parties exert full force ahead of polls, the state leadership of the BJP wants Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to be seen with different candidates at public rallies. The demand may have gone up after the latest police encounter of Asad Ahmed and Ghulam. It may be recalled that Yogi Adityanath had once said,''Iss House mein keh raha hoon. Iss mafia ko mitti me mila denge. The comments were made on February 25, following the murder of Umesh Pal, a lawyer and key witness in the murder case of Raju Pal, a BSP MLA in 2005. No doubt that the BJP has significantly increased his poll rallies ever since Adityanath was made the chief minister. Defying all odds, Adityanath, however, established himself as one of the most popular Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh and also a prominent leader of the saffron party over the years. Now Adityanath is popular for his strict actions against mafias and criminals. According to a News18 report, Karnataka BJP leaders want to cash on the popularity and strict image of CM Yogi Adityanath. They want more rallies by Yogi Adityanath especially in coastal Karnataka where Hindutva is reportedly a major issue. Karnataka Assembly election 2023 will be held in a single phase on May 10 and the counting of votes will be held on May 13. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 14, 2023, 17:58 [IST] Jailed gangster Atiq Ahmed disallowed to attend son's funeral India oi-Madhuri Adnal Dreaded gangster Atiq Ahmed has been denied permission by a court to attend the funeral of his son Asad, who was killed in an encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) in Jhansi. Another accused in the case, Ghulam, was also killed in an encounter led by Deputy SP Navendu and Deputy SP Vimal. The body of Asad was taken in an ambulance after he was killed in an encounter. The police had announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for information on Asad and Ghulam who were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case. Fact Check: Is this the image of Asad who was killed in UP encounter? Will Shaista Parveen, wife of accused Atiq Ahmed surrender? Atiq Ahmed's family has been in the radar of the Uttar Pradesh police for the last decade. At present, there's no one in Atiq's family to claim Asad's body. Atiq, his brother Khalid Azeem aka Ashraf and sons Ali and Umar are all in jail. According to latest reports, Shaista Parveen, wife of accused Atiq Ahmed who is on the run with a reward of Rs 50,000 on her head is planning to surrender. She will surrender in the court to attend the funeral of son Asad. Who will claim Asad Ahmed's body? According to reports, Asad's maternal grandparents or one of the three aunts who were not named in the murder of Umesh Pal may claim the body. Asad's body has been taken to the mortuary in Jhansi for a post-mortem examination. On February 24 this year, Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal, was shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj. His family accused Atiq, his wife Shahista Parveen, brother Ashraf and Asad among those responsible for the murder. 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. Are you hit by the heatwave: Here are 8 things you should do States where schools changed timings as heatwave sweeps India India oi-Madhuri Adnal As the rise in mercury and sweltering heat continues across the country, several states have changed the schools' timing. While some have shifted regular schools hours ahead and started schools as early as 7 in the morning, other states have postponed the classes, and some have announced early summer holidays. Here is the list of states which have made changes due to the onging heatwave. Bihar The Met department's warning of intense heat during the next few days led the Patna district administration to direct all school authorities in the capital city to revise their timings. The administration has also issued guidelines to prevent incidences of heat stroke among students. Heat wave warning issued for these 4 states: Check latest IMD forecast "The district administration prohibits the academic activities for all classes (including in pre-schools and anganwadi centers) after 11.45 am in all schools of the district. The school authorities are hereby directed to reschedule their timings of academic activities in conformity of the order. The order will come into force from April 15," said the order issued by Patna district magistrate Chandra Shekhar Singh on Friday. Delhi 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. 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: IMD forecasts rise in temperatures for these states Odisha The state government has decided to close all schools and Anganwadi centres till April 16. The decision has been taken in view of the heatwave. Considering the health of the students, the authorities have announced the closure for 5 days from April 12 to 16, 2023. Fact Check: Is this the image of Asad who was killed in UP encounter? 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 Mitti mein mil gaye hum: cries Atiq Ahmed as son Asad is set to be buried India oi-Prakash KL The last rites of slain Asad Ahmed, son of dreaded gangster Atiq Ahmed, will be performed on Friday. He will be buried in Prayagraj at the family burial ground, according to reports. 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. Asad Ahmed will be buried next to the resting place of his grandfather, News18 reported citing sources. A grave has been dug in Kasari Masari village in Chakiya area. The postmortem has been conducted at the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi. Jailed gangster Atiq Ahmed disallowed to attend son's funeral Dr Narendra Sengar, Principal of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, Jhansi, said that Asad had two bullet injuries whereas his accomplice Ghulam had only one. "Under the legal process, the postmortem was conducted. The whole body X-Ray was done. The post-mortem examination was carried out by a team of doctors in the medical college," ANI quoted Sengar as saying. "Asad had two bullet injuries whereas Ghulam had only one. There were no signs of 'rigor mortis'. I think they died 1.30-2 hours before they were brought here. Their post-mortem has been conducted," Dr Narendra Sengar added. His body will be handed over to his family members after the completion of postmortem procedures, police said. Initially, reports had claimed that the body of Asad Ahmed will be handed over in Jhansi. Then it was said that the body would be brought to Prayagraj and will be handover to his distant relatives. However, the cops have now informed the deceased's family to take the body from Jhansi, News18 has learnt. On the other hand, the family of Ghulam is reluctant to accept his body saying they cannot take the body of a criminal. Reports claim that Atiq Ahmed has been denied permission by a court to attend the funeral of his son Asad. I'll not even see his face: Mother of Asad Ahmed's aide refuses to take his body According to latest reports, Shaista Parveen, wife of accused Atiq Ahmed who is on the run with a reward of Rs 50,000 on her head is planning to surrender. She will surrender in the court to attend the funeral of son Asad. 'Mitti Mein Mil Gaye Hum' According to the same report, Atiq Ahmed was inconsolable as he pleaded the cops to allow him to attend the funeral of his son. He also repeated Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's warning and said "Mitti mein mil gaye hum (We've been reduced to dust). He claimed that it was all "fault". "Asad had nothing to do with any of it. No one can can take the responsibility of my young sons and brothers," he told the cops as per the sources. He then said that the world's biggest sorrow for a father is to life the body of his young son. It has to be noted that hashtag "mitti me mila dunga" (reduce to dust) was trending on Twitter after Atiq Ahmad's son and an accomplice was eliminated by cops. Facing flak over the brazen killing of Pal, a prime witness in the 2005 case of a BSP MLA's murder, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on February 25 accused the Samajwadi Party of nurturing mafias and vowed to destroy them. Fact Check: Is this the image of Asad who was killed in UP encounter? "The mafioso whose name is emerging ... is it not true that the Samajwadi Party had made him an MP... He was a mafioso nurtured by the SP. Our government is working to break their back. 'Mitti me mila denge'," Adityanath said in the Assembly. On Thursday, several users made a hashtag of Adityanath's statement as they tweeted about the alleged encounter in Jhansi. The hashtag was trending at the top for a major part of the day as several users supported the police action. Till late evening, close to 60 thousand people had tweeted using the hashtag. With inputs from agencies Nagaland civilian killings: Centre denies permission to prosecute 30 Armymen India oi-Madhuri Adnal The Nagaland Police has informed that the department of Military Affairs under the Ministry of Defence has refused to grant permission to prosecute 30 army personnel, who were allegedly involved in a botched counter-insurgency operation in Nagaland in December 2021, in which 13 young men were killed. In a statement, the Nagaland Police informed that the competent authority (Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Government of India) has conveyed its denial to accord sanction to prosecute all 30 accused. "As required by law, the fact of the denial of the Prosecution Sanction has been communicated to the Court of District and Session Judge, Mon by the State Crime Cell Police Station and the SIT," the statement said. On December 4, 2021, six local coal miners returning from work were killed by soldiers of 21 Para Special Forces of the Indian Army at Tiru-Oting area of Mon district. The incident sparked protests and outrage in the region, with various groups demanding justice and accountability for the killings. Following the incident, the Nagaland government ordered an inquiry into the incident, and the Indian Army also initiated a court of inquiry to investigate the matter. Installing 'opposition-less govt in Nagaland will be mockery of democracy: Political analysts A special investigation team (SIT), headed by the Nagaland police chief, probed the incident and on March 24, 2022, sought the Defence Ministry's sanction to prosecute the army men. The SIT also submitted names of 30 personnel of the 21 Para Special Force team team including the team leader, a Major rank officer and a case under section 120B/302/307/326/201/34 of the Indian Penal Code in its chargesheet in the court on May 30, 2022. It must be noted that the Centre's legal sanction is required to initiate any proceeding against security forces personnel for their actions while discharging duties under section 197(2) of CrPC and section 6 of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The Police further pointed out that meanwhile the wives of the accused Security Forces personnel had also approached the Supreme Court for a stay of the proceedings in the case. The Apex Court in an interim order dated July 19, 2022 had stayed any further proceedings in the case. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 14, 2023, 14:10 [IST] NCP to fight in 45 seats in Karnataka: What impact will it have India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is planning on contesting at least 45 seats in the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections. The BJP, Congress and JD(S)are locked in a triangular fight in elections which will be held on May 10. The results of the elections will be out on May 13. Pawar has summoned a meeting of his party leaders in Mumbai on Saturday, following which the final list of candidates will be decided. "We are meeting in Mumbai on Saturday and will finalise our plans for Karnataka," Pawar said. We know how that ended in UP: Malviya on on BJPs Karnataka battle Although the NCP does not have any base in Karnataka, the move is still an interesting one in the wake of the developments that took place last week. The NCP had lost its national party status due to its depleted fortunes in Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya. The NCP had recently written to the Election Commission of India seeking allocation the 'alarm clock' symbol for the Karnataka Assembly elections. The request was acceded by the poll authority. The NCP said that the party is planning to contest on at least 40-45 seats. There are 224 constituencies in Karnataka and the magic number is 113. The NCP is also planning to extend support to the Maharashtra Ekikarna Samithi, which has a presence in the Belagavi region that borders Maharashtra. The announcement by the NCP comes a day after Pawar met with Congress chief, Mallikarjuna Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on the need to forge a stronger opposition to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections next year. Former Karnataka Dy CM Laxman Savadi joins Congress Experts tell OneIndia that the move by the NCP is unlikely to have any impact in the state as the party has no presence here. On the question whether it will cut the votes of any party, the expert said that it is unlikely. The battle is a clear one between the BJP, Congress and JD(S) and no other party is expected to make any difference. The announcement by the NCP is more symbolic in nature and it would be interesting to see, what the vote share of the party would be. People should read Ambedkar's speeches on Apr 14, Dec 6 every year: RSS chief India oi-Prakash KL People should read Babasaheb BR Ambedkar's speeches in Parliament every year on April 14 and December 6 for introspection, said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday. Speaking at Samaj Sangam Shakti program in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, he said, "We got independence on August 15, 1947. After that, we drafted our Constitution under the leadership of Dr Babasaheb. When that Constitution was unveiled in India's parliament, Dr Babsaheb delivered two speeches. Babsaheb's speeches are a guide for us to make ourselves qualified for that independence". "We should read that speech every year on April 14 and December 6, and self-introspect whether we are on the right path or not," he added. The RSS chief claimed that India was colonised because of the differences and infighting within the country. "In the speeches, Babasaheb talks about the importance of unity. He says that our country was not colonised due to some powerful external power. It was because of our own differences and infighting that he presented our country to the powers. Or else, no one would have dared to colonise us," he said. He further stressed upon the need for 'societal equality', and said that without that the meaning of freedom can't be fulfilled. "Today, different ideologies are sitting in the Parliament by making their camps. We also have to keep in mind, that for the country we all have to stay together, despite all the differences. There is provision for political and economic independence in the Constitution, but without societal equality, the political and economic independence won't come into effect. So, we will also have to work against the inequalities in the society and work for bringing societal equality," the RSS chief further said. While April 14 happens to be the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, his death anniversary falls on December 6. Born in 1891 in a Dalit family in Maharashtra, Ambedkar rose from a humble background to become a leading voice of the marginalised people during the freedom struggle and is credited with introducing several social reforms. 40% BJP government would get only 40 seats in Karnataka: Rahul Gandhi 'GST implemented only to help rich...': Rahul Gandhi in Karnataka Rahul Gandhi vacating house after being disqualified as MP India oi-Prakash KL Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has started the process of vacating his house in Lutyens' Delhi after being disqualified as Lok Sabha MP. In the videos shared by news agency ANI, trucks from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 12 Tughlak Lane bungalow are seen leaving for his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's residence at 10 Janpath. The notice to Gandhi to vacate the bungalow was served by the Housing Committee of the Lok Sabha last month after a local court in Gujarat had convicted Gandhi in a criminal defamation case on March 23 and sentenced him to two years in jail. The two-year jail term triggered his automatic disqualification as Lok Sabha member. #WATCH | Trucks at the premises of Delhi residence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He is vacating his residence after being disqualified as Lok Sabha MP. pic.twitter.com/BZBpesy339 ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2023 According to a senior official, a disqualified Lok Sabha member has to vacate the official bungalow within one month of losing his membership. He was reportedly given April 22 as the deadline to vacate the house. #WATCH | Trucks from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 12 Tughlak Lane bungalow leave for his mother and UPA chairperson, MP Sonia Gandhi's residence at 10 Janpath. He is vacating his residence after being disqualified as Lok Sabha MP. pic.twitter.com/t4gANaLaRm ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2023 Another official said that Gandhi can write to the Housing Committee seeking an extended stay, a request that can be considered by the panel. The notification issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat was marked to various departments, including the Directorate of Estates, New Delhi Municipal Council, and all the benefits available to Gandhi as a member of Parliament too are under review. Surat Court will pass order on an interim application filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking a stay on his conviction in a 2019 defamation case on 'Modi surname' remark on April 20. 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. There is still no race to rival the Randox Grand National at Aintree and Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore can today win it for the second time in three years, this time with Aint That A Shame. In a global sense, the 561,000 purse for first prize is not especially noteworthy the richest event in world racing is the Saudi Cup, a 16.6m sprint over the Riyadh dirt with 8.3m available for the winner but nothing compares to a handicap chase over unique fences and four and a half miles. With 13 of the first 14 in the betting trained in Ireland, it illustrates the seismic movement of good horses across the Irish Sea in recent years not that the British are without a chance of keeping the National at home. CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW THE GRAND NATIONAL LIVE! Blackmore created history aboard Minella Times two years ago when she became the first female jockey to win the Aintree showpiece and she rides Aint That A Shame for De Bromhead, with the nine-year-old available at 20-1. Stamina is the main concern, however. De Bromhead says he is hopeful his charge will get the distance. He tends to be ridden prominently in his races, and it will be fascinating to see if Blackmore rides him as if he is likely to get home. He should get into a nice jumping rhythm regardless. Big-race tips 1 Aint That A Shame 2 Mr Incredible 3 Noble Yeats 4 Corach Rambler 5 Longhouse Poet A great deal was made of the inexperience of the novice Noble Yeats before he won the race 12 months ago but Aint That A Shame is lesser raced. The Emmet Mullins runner had appeared 11 times on the track going into the extravaganza. Aint That A Shame has only seen the track 10 times. The De Bromhead runners form stacks up really well. He battered Macs Charm at Gowran last time and that runner made his handicap debut on Monday at Punchestown, winning quite easily. At Leopardstown at Christmas, he was backed into favourite in a big handicap and arguably travelled best of all, finishing just behind Panda Boy, who ran a blinder in the Irish National. Story continues The Irish probably have Corach Rambler to worry about. His success in the Ultima at last months Cheltenham Festival for the second year running means he is officially 10lb well-in tomorrow. Derek Fox rode the horse with remarkable patience. That might be easier in a big-field handicap at Cheltenham than at Aintree but the horse has a powerful finish and it will be captivating to see how Fox plots his route. Queen of Aintree: Rachael Blackmore has a great chance of winning the Grand National again (REUTERS) A bigger threat to the selection might be the Willie Mullins-trained Mister Incredible, who has his own ideas over how to race but has now put two really solid efforts back to back. He is owned by Paul Byrne, who sold Noble Yeats prior to his National triumph. Byrne has developed an obsession with finding horses for the National. Mr Incredible was a rather left-field option he refused and then pulled up on his last two starts for De Bromhead but has taken well to life at Mullinss barn. Could Noble Yeats do it off a 19lb higher mark 12 months later? Sam Waley-Cohen has since retired, so Sean Bowen will be on board a horse who ran a fine race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Longhouse Poet represents a stable that knows all about winning the big race, with Martin Brassil having trained 2006 victor Numbersixvalverde. He did seem to lack stamina badly in last years race, however. Expect his jockey JJ Slevin, among the winners yesterday at Aintree, to take his time. Blackmore will do just that, too. Or could Davy Russell ride Galvin to glory and retire on the spot? It is a race not to be missed. 'Mafia who had a free run in 2017 are now begging for life': UP CM Our law & order model changed sab chalta hai attitude: Special DG L&O India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Uttar Pradesh has been a tough state when it comes to manning law and order. However the situation is witnessing change with a no-nonsense policy towards the mafia. On Thursday, Asad Ahmed, the son of gangster Atiq Ahmed was gunned down in connection with the ,. This is the third encounter in the case since the murder took place on February 24. OneIndia caught up with Special DG Law and Order, Uttar Pradesh, Prashant Kumar who said that a free hand without any political interference in the working of the police has installed a sense of security among the people. How the encounter that killed gangster Atiq Ahmeds son unfolded When asked about how tough it is to man UP, which is ridden with gangsters and criminals, he said that it takes time for any system to improve. "After the initial problems there is a take-off stage. There is an incremental increase in the action that is being taken and that is apparently visible," he said. "In UP for long there was a normal saying, 'sab chalta hai.' This is changing today and criminals and gangsters cannot continue to terrorise the people of the state," he said. "The position that we have taken is that there will be zero tolerance towards crime and we should demolish them both economically and legally. We have been given a free hand by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to clean up the system," Special DG Kumar also said. While giving a free hand, he also propped up people who were capable f doing this, he said. In UP, a 'no nonsense' approach has been followed. When the CM said, 'mafia ko mitti me mila denge,' he meant that everyone will be accountable. When asked if the comments made by some questioning the encounter bothered them, Kumar said that ultimately it is the society at large which is benefited. Speaking further about the problem of the mafia in Uttar Pradesh, Special DG Kumar said that these persons interfered in everything including internal problems, tenders, mining just to name a few. "Earlier a big company could not take a contract without paying off these gangsters. However now the situation has changed. On the allegation that the UP police is targeting only the minority community, Special DG, Law and Order, Kumar said that this is false. Till date since Yogi Adityanath took over as CM, 183 encounters have been taken place. In the police action that we take, we do not distinguish religion, region or caste, he added. Who was Asad, son of Atiq Ahmed killed in an encounter with UP police "Those who are hurt of killed in encounters are hardcore criminals. All the agencies are working as per the directive of the CM of zero tolerance against crime and criminals," he added. Official data also shows that 183 criminals had been killed, while 5,046 of them had been arrested. Further the data also shows that 13 policemen had been martyred during the past six years, while 1,443 of them had been hurt. The maximum numbers of criminal killings took place in 2018, when CM Yogi Adityanath was re-elected. Tharoor tells Jaishankar to 'cool a bit' on West's attitude towards others Jaishankar speaks to his Saudi, UAE counterparts over situation in Sudan Jaishankar's veiled dig at Pak: 'Difficult to engage with a neighbour who...' Watch: S Jaishankar takes ride in 'Made in India' train in Maputo India oi-Madhuri Adnal External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took a ride in a 'Made in India' train during his visit to the capital of Mozambique. He was accompanied by Mozambican transport minister. The two discussed about India's partnership in helping expand the train networks electric mobility and waterways connectivity. Jaishankar arrived 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. Taking to micro-blogging Twitter, Jaishankar wrote,''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.'' Tharoor tells Jaishankar to 'cool a bit' on West's attitude towards others 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 A novel experience: conducting a Press Conference in a moving train. pic.twitter.com/1gYAG0JwaZ Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 13, 2023 "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. 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. pic.twitter.com/1zwIMMhYS4 Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 13, 2023 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. Offered my prayers at the Shree Vishvambhar Mahadev Mandir in Maputo this evening. So glad to interact with the Indian community there. pic.twitter.com/oRD9OIk3Li Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 13, 2023 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. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 14, 2023, 9:21 [IST] Will expose all scams of Stalin govt: Annamalai releases DMK files India oi-Deepika S Stepping up his attack on the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai on Friday released DMK files alleging top ministers and Chief Minister MK Stalins family members of having unaccounted assets worth Rs 1.34 lakh crore. Annamalai, referring to the DMK rule between 2006 and 2011, alleged that payments were received by the party as kickbacks from a company that won a bid related to the execution of Chennai Metro Rail Phase I project. "We have released DMK files part 1 today. It is going to be a series throughout the year. We have only disclosed the direct assets, their shareholdings in a company and the valuation of the properties they own. We haven't gone beyond it. The most concerning question is, how is DMK becoming part of the largest money laundering business worldwide," Annamalai was quoted saying by ANI. "Not only DMK scams, but we will oppose scams by all parties. I will open up everything to the Tamil Nadu people. Let's see who the Tamil Nadu people are going to vote for. This is a fight against corruption and not just our fight against one party. I will not stop here," he said. Dare you to touch me: BJP leader Annamalai gives 24 hours deadline to Stalin govt in migrant labour case "We want to reflect the true vision of PM Modi, that we're a party that takes up issues that matters to the public. We're starting a 'Padyatra' to expose DMK scams from the first week of June, our party leaders will walk across Tamil Nadu," he added. The TN BJP leader alleged that the company which won that bid paid "Rs 200 crore" to Stalin for "DMK's 2011 election fund" through two shell companies, one Singapore-based and another based in Hong Kong. Though late M Karunanidhi was the chief minister at that time, the subject related to the Metro project came under Stalin's purview, he claimed. "I am going to lodge a complaint today to the CBI Director to probe the receipt of Rs 200 crore bribe through two shell companies. This is a direct allegation against the Chief Minister by us," he said. CBI had the authority to probe into it, he added. The BJP leader claimed that only part 1 of the DMK file has been released today, and the series will go on throughout the year. Earlier this month, the Bharatiya Janata Party also released a similar "Congress Files" video in which it alleged that the party had looted lakhs of crores from Indians. At least five injured as powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake jolts Pakistan Earthquake of 7.0 magnitude jolts Indonesia International oi-Madhuri Adnal A strong earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter Scale jolted 96 km north of Tuban, Indonesia, on Friday. According to Xinhua News Agency, the epicentre of the tremor, which struck the region at 09:55:45 GMT, was initially located at 6.0255 degrees south latitude and 112.0332 degrees east longitude. The tremor was felt over a large part of the island of Java, and as far away as the island of Bali. Meanwhile, Indonesia's geological agency ruled out a tsunami after the epicentre was detected to be at a depth of 594 kilometres (370 miles). Indonesia is prone to earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area with high seismic activity, and has experienced numerous earthquakes in the past. Earthquake of magnitude 4.3 hits Bihars Araria On April 3, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Sumatra island in Indonesia, shaking homes of panicked residents but causing no casualties or damage. The Pacific Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped region surrounding the Pacific Ocean, stretching from the west coast of South America, up to Alaska, down through Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia, and then along the western coasts of North and South America. The reason why Indonesia experiences a lot of earthquakes is due to its location along the boundary of two tectonic plates: the Australian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. These two plates are constantly moving, with the Australian Plate being pushed northwards and downwards beneath the Eurasian Plate. As a result, the friction between the two plates builds up, causing the release of energy in the form of earthquakes. Moreover, Indonesia has a large number of active volcanoes, which also contributes to the seismic activity in the region. When a volcano erupts, it can cause earthquakes as the magma and gases move around beneath the Earth's surface. Overall, the combination of tectonic activity and volcanic activity makes Indonesia prone to earthquakes. N. Korea claims it tested new solid-fuel ICBM, warns of 'extreme' horror International oi-Madhuri Adnal North Korea said on Friday it test-launched 'Hwasong-18', a newly developed solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) aimed at 'radically' pushing the country's nuclear counterattack capability. North Korea's state media said its recent weapons test involved a new long-range missile powered by solid propellants, which it described as 'the most powerful' piece of its growing nuclear arsenal targeting the United States and its allies in Asia. The confirmation by the state media came a day after its neighbors said the North fired an ICBM, likely based on solid propellants. KCNA said Thursday's test was successful, as reported by news agency PTI. It called the weapon 'the most powerful method' to deter external aggressions and guarantee the country's safety. The new type of ICBM is the first time that North Korea has used solid propellants, Reuters quoted analysts as saying. An ICBM with built-in solid propellants would be easier to move and hide and could be fired more quickly, reducing the opportunities for opponents to detect and counter the launch. Before Thursday's launch, North Korea's all previous ICBM tests used liquid fuels. Japan had briefly issued an order asking people living on Hokkaido to take shelter as a precautionary measure. 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 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. Solar eclipse: 5 myths associated with it busted by scientists Karnataka polls: How parties are fielding strong candidates to pin down opponents New Delhi oi-Deepika S When Karnataka goes to the polls on May 10, it will seal the fate of stalwarts across party lines who have been locked in tough contests. Raising the stakes for the May 10 assembly elections, the ruling BJP pitted senior Minister R Ashoka against Shivakumar in Kanakapura, while V Somanna would take on Siddaramaiah in the Varuna Assembly segment. Somanna, a prominent Lingayat community leader enjoys a good rapport with the mutts and he would hope that this would work in his favour in Varuna. In the case of Shivakumar, the Kanakapura seat has always been a cakewalk for him. With the entry of Ashoka, who like Shivakumar hails from the Vokkaliga community, the battle would be an interesting one. With this, the BJP aimed at ensuring that both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are tied down to their respective segments to the extent possible so that their campaigning and strategising in other constituencies for Congress' victory would be limited. Likewise, the Congress is now mulling to field former minister Vinay Kulkarni from Shiggaon in Haveri, a segment currently represented by chief minister Basavaraj Bommai. Reportedly, Ajjampeer Khadri, who had contested unsuccessfully contested the seat against Bommai since 2008 is ready to make way for Kulakarni's candidature. According to two-pre-poll surveys conducted by the party, Congress has a good chance of upsetting Bommai if it fields a formidable candidate, from the Lingayat community. Notably, Panchamasali Lingayats, Muslims, and Kurubas in the constituency have openly expressed anger against the Bommai government. Meanwhile, DK Shivakumar has said that there is pressure within the party that his brother and Bangalore Rural MP DK Suresh must contest against BJP's R Ashoka at Padmanabhanagar. This could be Congress's plan to tie down Ashoka at Padmanabhanagar, just like BJP came out with a strategy to limit DK Shivakumar to Kanakapura. In Kolar, the second seat from where Siddaramaiah is planning to contest, BJP has fielded Varthur Prakash, who has won twice from the segment as an independent. Former Minister C P Yogeshwar from BJP would once again cross swords with Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in Channapatna. Karnataka will go to polls on May 10 and results will be announced on May 13. Jack Douglas Teixeira is an American former airman in the 102nd Intelligence Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. In April 2023, Teixeira was accused of violating the Espionage Act after disclosing hundreds of Pentagon documents onto a Discord server. There's a sense of "lawlessness'' aboard buses in Metro Vancouver that will require a "culture shift'' to fix, said a director of the bus drivers union in relation to a spate of violent incidents on transit in B.C. and beyond. A California man who made violent anti-LGBTQ-related threats against dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster over its updated gender definitions has been sentenced to a year in prison. The sentence imposed on Jeremy Hanson by a federal judge 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. His defense attorney blamed his history of mental health struggles. 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. 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. Newsy 13 Apr 2023 ViewAuthorities in Daytona Beach, Florida, say they are in contact with former Nickelodeon star Jared Bell, also known as Drake.. For the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US has sanctioned a Hungary-based bank. Prime Minister Orban's government seems unimpressed but has announced it will withdraw its staff from the institution. Daily Star 15 Apr 2023 Leroy Sane couldnt hide his busted lip as the Bayern Munich star returned to action for the first time since he was punched by.. One of Canadas intelligence agencies says a cyber threat actor had the potential to cause physical damage to a piece of critical infrastructure recently. Newsy 10 Apr 2023 ViewFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to make his first public appearance in South Carolina, a state where votes will be critical if.. The mercenary group has been targeted over its involvement in the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Germany's foreign minister is expected to discuss Russia's invasion on her inaugural trip to China. DW has the latest. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned China against using force in Taiwan and discussed Ukraine during strategic talks in Beijing. She also expressed concern about the human rights situation in China. Upworthy 15 Apr 2023 Japan has approved plans for the nations first casino, paving the way to open up what is seen as one of Asias largest.. Thomas Tuchel was keen to draw a line under the incident between Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane that allegedly saw the former Liverpool.. SoccerNews.com 14 Apr 2023 Russia appears to have found a second wind in its assault on Bakhmut according to British intelligence. Meanwhile, Germany's foreign minister has called on China to urge Russia to stop the war. DW has the latest. While many do love Niagara Falls' natural beauty, others can't seem to get over the tourist trap nature of the Ontario city. (Credit: Getty Images/The Canadian Press) If you're planning to visit Niagara Falls this summer, you might want to think twice. According to reviews, the city is being deemed the number one biggest "tourist trap" in Canada and one of the biggest in the world. Casago, a vacation rental company out of the U.S., went on a journey to gather a list of the biggest tourist traps worldwide. These are commonly known as popular or world-famous attractions meant to target tourists with overpriced experiences, gifts and souvenirs. We searched for the phrase tourist trap on TripAdvisor to find the global attractions with the most mentions of tourist trap in accompanying reviews, noted the Casago report. The results were then narrowed down to countries and states, leaving us with the Ontario city, Niagara Falls, as the number one tourist trap in the nation. Although the report rated Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco as the number one biggest tourist trap in the world with 1,049 mentions in reviews Niagara Falls did not fall far behind. With over 475 reviews that included the word tourist trap on TripAdvisor, it seems that the general consensus is simple. Even though many praise the natural beauty of Niagara Falls, the city itself is expensive and overcrowded, with tacky surroundings and underwhelming attractions. The problem of being a "tourist trap" doesn't only seem to apply to Niagara Falls. (Courtesy: Casago) One reviewer in particular, complained that every attraction dumped you into a gift shop, while another wrote "everything is overpriced ... everything is a scam." One reviewer compared it to a popular city in the U.S. that was highlighted in Casago's report, saying "it feels like mini Vegas and a total tourist trap." Travellers are looking to avoid the attraction, some even recommending that you simply attend Niagara Falls only on a day trip in order to avoid spending too much time in a rundown tourist trap town, where everything seems to be overpriced, from parking, to restaurants, to its wax museums. "It is like going back in time to the 1990s. Outdated big chain restraints (My Cousin Vinnys, Hard Rock, Rainforrest Cafe, etc) that havent seen a touch of renovations since then," wrote the TripAdvisor reviewer. "Everywhere we went everything was dirty and worn out." Story continues If you're not a fan of tourist traps, you might want to especially avoid these 10 stops worldwide. (Courtesy: Casago) It seems that tourist traps are among the biggest nightmares for travellers, with a notorious reputation for long lines, colossal crowds and bank-breaking gift shops. Others in the review section did defend the tourist trap nature of the city, saying "those have a place and a demand or they wouldn't be there. We have had no trouble during our visits avoiding those establishments ... you won't either. I certainly wouldn't avoid this beautiful city because of their existence." While many praised the boat ride that takes you up close to the Falls, another reviewer chimed in saying "the rest of it is a tourist trap, but who doesnt need a trap once in a while. ... Lots for kids and adults as well." However, that doesn't seem to be the main consensus, as the Falls' magnificence and beauty doesnt seem to make up for the "tourist trap" experience. Tips to avoid falling into a tourist trap The Casago report also includes some tips to help you avoid tourist traps, even while visiting some of the world's most iconic landmarks. Among them include: 2008-2023 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. With German and other European troops leaving the Sahel region of Africa, German officials are looking for new ways to keep extremist groups there at bay. The Nigerian army says an alleged secret abortion program for women rescued from Boko Haram never took place. However, human rights groups insist a thorough probe into the claims is crucial. China won't sell weapons to either side in the war in Ukraine, the country's foreign affairs minister said Friday, responding to Western concerns that Beijing could provide military assistance to Russia. A toddler is among those killed in a strike on houses and flats in Slovyansk, officials say. Louisville reacts to bank shooting, Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones reinstated and flooding in Florida. See 12 of the weeks most interesting images from around the world, as selected by The Washington Post Photo Editors. A man charged with firebombing a Wisconsin pro-life advocacy group's office has pleaded not guilty to the charge after being arrested at a Boston airport last month. Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira will appear in court Friday morning after his arrest by the FBI for allegedly leaking classified intelligence documents. By Harsh V. Pant* Just when it seemed the European Union was finally achieving strategic coherence as a global.. Eurasia Review 13 Apr 2023 Alexander Dreymon (AFP via Getty Images) In late February 2022, the cast of Netflixs roaring historical drama, The Last Kingdom, were in icy Budapest. They were filming the final scenes of the franchises movie spinoff, Seven Kings Must Die. It was also the month that Putins Russian army invaded Ukraine, around 700 miles east of Hungarys capital. There are no words for a situation like that, says Alexander Dreymon, the 40-year-old German star and producer of Seven Kings, as he recounts the influx of refugees that came through the Budapest train station. You know, a lot of Hungarian families opened their doors to Ukrainians. He recalls how he and his castmates lent a hand by shuttling Ukrainians to Hungarian homes. We met a lot of people who had fled Ukraine, he says, solemnly. It was very moving. We would go to the train station to see if people needed rides. Its heartbreaking. And its incredible that its still going on. Its been more than a year since Dreymon wrapped in Budapest, and were speaking in a hotel office next to the Paris Theatre in New York, where a red carpet will soon be rolled out for a special screening of Seven Kings. He greets me with a warm smile, noting that my name is the same as his grandmothers, except hers ended with an e short for Ingeborg. Hes about to sit beside me on a velvet couch, but then remembers he has pictures to pose for later and cant wrinkle the suit. (He opts for a less threatening seat on a wooden coffee table, instead.) His grey-blue eyes are intently focused on me as he speaks; the flowing brown locks that made him such a heartthrob to fans of The Last Kingdom are no more. Dreymon has led The Last Kingdom as the fictional Uhtred, Lord of Bebbanburg, for eight years now. Across five seasons adapted from the 13 novels in British author Bernard Cornwalls The Saxon Stories Uhtreds tragic life, plagued with violence and incomprehensible familial loss, unfolds against the backdrop of ninth-and 10th-century England. Born a Saxon and raised by Danes, who take him in after he witnesses the murder of his father by Vikings, young Uhtred swiftly adapts to Pagan culture. But its the devastating demise of his surrogate family, who die in a brutal arson attack years later, that sets the series in motion, as Uhtred seeks to avenge his adoptive fathers death and reclaim his homeland. Story continues Seven Kings picks up immediately after the series powerful season five finale, which saw Uhtreds successful recovery of his ancestral birthright of Bebbanburg. Returning to the sprawling greenery of provincial Northumberland (which the Hungarian countryside is a stand-in for), the film seamlessly links Uhtreds fictional storyline with historical figure Athelstan (played by Harry Gilby) and his bloody conquest to become the first medieval king of England. The plan was always to do five seasons, says Dreymon, although he does call the end of the franchise bittersweet. Its been such a wonderful opportunity to play this character for so long because he goes through every imaginable human emotion. Its been such a wonderful playground to explore that. The shows first two seasons aired on BBC Two, before Netflix acquired it for its final three, growing its global audience exponentially, with dedicated fans flocking to Englands Bebbanburg Castle just to capture a piece of history. The Last Kingdom has been likened to current Norse mythology series Vikings: Valhalla and HBOs behemoth success Game of Thrones. But unlike the latter, which is infused with fantastical elements of dragons roaming the sky and ice zombies battling humans, The Last Kingdom is firmly rooted in reality. Dreymon is not afraid, though, to give credit to the fantasy juggernaut, acknowledging that Game of Thrones opened the door for shows like ours. Dreymon was born in Mainz, a small city in western Germany, and was raised by his mother, who was a language and history teacher. As a child, he spent his time between the south of France, Switzerland and South Dakota, where much of his extended family were based. Hes unclear on the details, only offering small tidbits. The beginning of the moves were always tough, he admits, citing that the constant changing of schools and learning new languages make you feel alone for a bit. But he quickly shifts to a more positive note. Ultimately, it was the best thing to happen to me, he says. Getting to experience new cultures and ways of living, it just adds so much to your life. Alexander Dreymon in The Last Kingdom (Netflix) It wasnt until he graduated high school that he began acting. The more I did it, the more I got hooked. I was obsessed, he remembers. Eventually, he found himself in Paris, stage acting, before he felt he needed in-depth classical training and chose to attend Londons Drama Centre. Nearly 10 years later, Dreymon landed his first major on-screen role in 2013 as the well-mannered, naive neighbourhood new boy Luke Ramsey in the fan-favourite third season of Ryan Murphys American Horror Story. The following year, he secured his breakout role as Lord Uhtred. Alongside shooting The Last Kingdom, Dreymon starred in indie movies, such as the 2020 Swedish thriller Horizon Line, opposite Allison Williams (Girls), his now fiancee. As I attempt to broach the pairs relationship, Dreymons publicist steps in to ask that I avoid personal questions. This shouldnt come as a surprise, given that theyve spoken very little about each other publicly. The couple reportedly welcomed their son Arlo in December 2021, one year before Dreymon announced their engagement on Instagram. He wrote Im so proud of my gorgeous fiancee alongside photos of their first red carpet outing as a couple, at the December premiere of Williams recent cult horror film M3GAN. Alexander Dreymon and Allison Williams (Getty Images) Dreymon is secretive about what hes got coming up next, although something is in the works. I would love to mix it up, but first of all, it has to be something contemporary where it doesnt take three people to open your costume if you need to go pee, he says, laughing. I feel ready for anything. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die premieres on Netflix on 14 April A federal judge in Boston has ordered Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, to remain in custody until his detention hearing next week. Rumble 18 Apr 2023 The FBI has arrested a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard on suspicion of leaking hundreds of US.. Newsy 13 Apr 2023 ViewPBS has joined NPR in quitting Twitter over the social media platform's decision to label their accounts as "government-funded.. Rumble 10 Apr 2023 ran Khan is a former international cricketer and is the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan. Other than being the captain of the.. President Biden took a picture with Gerry Adams, a prominent Irish nationalist barred from British broadcasts for his position as the Irish Republican Army's public face. The Alabama attorney general is taking control of prison litigation and moving it into his office. The governors office directed questions about the issue to the prison system. A public meeting got heated as activists railed against a proposed ban on homeless camping. But other San Diego residents said the crisis is out of control. Kourou (AFP) April 13, 2023 The European Space Agency's JUICE spacecraft is to blast off Thursday on an eight-year journey through the Solar System to discover whether Jupiter's icy moons are capable of hosting extraterrestrial life in their vast, hidden oceans. The JUpiter ICy Moons Explorer (JUICE) has received the green light for its scheduled launch on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Gu AFP English 10 Apr 2023 The picturesque town of Ballina on the banks of the River Moy in northwest Ireland hums with activity ahead of a visit by its.. A new poll released by Emerson College and Fox 56 shows Kelly Craft gaining on current frontrunner for the GOP gubernatorial nomination Daniel Cameron, just six points behind him trailing 30% to 24%. GOP Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles has also made gains, separating himself from the rest of the pack in third place at 15%. Unlike Cameron and Craft, Quarles has yet to spend any money on advertising. The results came from a survey of 900 Republicans deemed very likely voters. Attorney General Cameron received just over 30% of the vote to former ambassador Craft posting just under 24%. Quarles logged 14.9%. 20.7% of those polled are still undecided about who they will support in the race. Coming in fourth place in the poll was Northern Kentucky firebrand and media personality Eric Deters, who got 6% of the vote. The numbers have changed significantly from the last publicly available poll. Cameron has dropped since that poll, while Craft, Quarles and Deters rose. Cameron had 39% of the vote in a Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy survey conducted in late January. At that time, Craft and Quarles posted 13% and 8%, respectively. Deters rose from 2%, while Auditor Harmon dropped from 5% and Somerset Mayor Alan Keck last posted 2% support. Kecks 0.6% posting in the Emerson College poll is hovering around that of candidates who have raised very little compared to the rest of the field, like Robbie Smith and David Cooper. The margin of error for the poll is 3.2%. It was conducted April 10-11. The group did not poll a general election audience, and unlike the previous survey from Mason-Dixon it did not pit the candidates against Beshear in a hypothetical matchup. That January poll saw Beshear with major leads over all top GOP contenders. Data website fivethirtyeight.com gives Emerson College high marks in its pollster ratings, giving the group an A- over 256 races analyzed. A heated race The poll showed a unique trend among GOP voters: women were more likely to support Cameron (29%) over Craft (19%), the only woman in the race, and almost as likely to support Quarles (18%) as Craft. Meanwhile, men were almost equal in their support of the two leading candidates, supporting Cameron at a rate of 31% and Craft at 29%. Story continues Across age groups, Camerons support stays near a steady 30%. Craft, on the other hand, has much stronger support among older voters, and Quarles is strongest with younger voters. The poll found that 63% of the very likely Republican voters had a favorable view of Cameron while 16% had an unfavorable view of the attorney general. Craft logged 47% favorability and 21% unfavorability. Quarles had a 39% to 15% favorability rating. Of those three, voters knew the least about Quarles. 46% said they were unsure how they felt about him or had never heard of him, compared to 33% and 22% figures for Craft and Cameron. The results showing Camerons lead slipping and Craft and Quarles rising comes after months of Craft and a political action committee (PAC) that supports her airing ads critical of Cameron. The attorney general has been attacked on television and in direct mail for past decisions related to coal, lawsuits, crime and more. In all, the Craft campaign and the pro-Craft PAC have spent nearly $4.5 million on advertisements thus far. Cameron and a PAC that supports him have cleared $1.1 million, only recently starting its ad war by defending his conservative values. Deters is the only other candidate spending on media buys as of now, having dropped more than $100,000 on cable television ads. Quarles has yet to spend money on advertising. Tonights poll is even more evidence that we are in a great position to win the GOP nomination, Quarles tweeted in response to the poll. Without a single dime spent on media, our strong grassroots support, 120 county approach, and 235+ endorsements show our own conservative brand is working. Other issues The poll also took the temperature of Kentucky Republican voters on a wide-ranging number of topics including former president Donald Trump, guns, transgender care and more. The recent indictment of Trump in New York has caused a stir among national Republicans and, at least per the poll, has galvanized his support among Kentucky Republicans. 46% of those polled said that the indictment made them more likely to support Trump in the 2024 GOP presidential primary while only 6% said it made them less likely to vote for Trump the remainder said it made no difference. Trump led a hypothetical 2024 GOP presidential primary matchup tested in the poll with 61.5% support to potential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis 22.6%. The pollster also asked the 900 respondents how important they find restricting sex reassignment surgery, also known as gender affirmation surgery for minors in Kentucky. 66% said it was very important, compared to 5.4% somewhat important, 17.9% very unimportant, and the remainder who found it only somewhat important, were unsure or had no opinion. The issue came to the fore during this years legislative session via Senate Bill 150, which initially codified a teachers right to not use transgender students pronouns but later added several provisions to become an omnibus bill dealing with LGBTQ issues banning transgender students from using the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity, banning gender-affirming surgery and puberty blockers, and banning any instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in schools. A majority though not overwhelming of Republicans polled opposed legalizing recreational marijuana at 50.2%. 33.8% supported making it legal in Kentucky while 16.1% were undecided. The poll found that younger Republicans were much more likely to support legalizing recreational marijuana than older voters. On gun laws, 70.6% of respondents said that Kentuckys gun laws were just right. 17.9% said they were too strict while 11.5% believe theyre too lenient. Rounding out a day of diplomacy, President Joe Biden celebrated the close ties between the United States and Ireland at an evening banquet at Dublin Castle. 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. (Apr 13) In a brief decision, the US Supreme Court refused to block the $6 billion student debt settlement that educational institutions had agreed to. The laws cited in the F.B.I.s criminal complaint against Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old National Guard airman accused of leaking classified documents, center on protecting government secrets. Alaska Airlines has canceled about two dozen flights in Alaska because of an ash cloud from a Russian volcano. #alaskaairlines #alaska #russian Former President Donald Trump answered questions for nearly seven hours Thursday during his second deposition in a legal battle with New York's attorney general over his company's business practices, reversing an earlier decision to invoke his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination #donaldtrump #fifthamendment #letitiajames #trump #manhattan #alinahabba #habba #trumptower #michaelcohen #fivestocks Violence on public transit and in city spaces across Canada has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, Calgary police Chief Mark Neufeld said in relation to a spate of assaults in his city as well as Edmonton, Metro Vancouver and Toronto. Rumble 15 Apr 2023 The Bulls pulled off a crazy come from behind win over the Raptors thanks to Demar Derozans daughter, Donald Trump was in court.. FBI agents on Thursday arrested a 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, suspected of being behind a major leak of sensitive US government secrets, including about the Ukraine war. China on Friday hit back at comments by the Polish prime minister that linked the war in Ukraine to a possible Chinese attack on Taiwan, accusing him of interfering in its internal affairs. At least five people were killed and 17 were wounded on Friday from a Russian airstrike in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk. According to Ukraine's National Police, S-300 missiles struck 10 apartment buildings and other sites. The two top floors of a five-story building collapsed after the strike. Rescue teams were looking... Newsy 25 Apr 2023 ViewPresident Biden made it official today, launching his highly-expected reelection campaign. The announcement came in the form of.. 2023 is scaring us already with rising Covid-19 numbers, repeated earthquakes across countries and other natural calamities. But, that hasn't dampened the spirit of the increasing number of mountaineering enthusiasts across the world. As per reports, more than 500 climbers might attempt to scale the Himalayas this year. In 2021, 409 permits were issued and apparently it was considered a record number. In 2022, it was 325 due to tensions in European countries due to war. But this year again, the mountaineers have decided to come back strong. Mountaineers from China Various organisers are reportedly worried that the rising COVID numbers might affect the turnout, but the Seven Summit Treks, the largest expedition organiser in Nepal reportedly claimed that they have so far received more than one hundred confirmed bookings. On March 15, China had lifted a three-year-old ban to allow its citizens to visit Nepal again. But Beijing has not opened its side of the Everest to foreign climbers for the fourth consecutive year. China has also passed a new rule which requires its citizens to climb an 8,000 metre peak before making an attempt on the Everest, which might bring Chinese climbers to Nepal in large numbers. The organisers expect more than one hundred climbers from China alone. Safety concerns Adventure lovers and mountaineers who reach the base camp in the Khumbu region, with hopes and enthusiasm, spend millions of rupees to fulfill their dream of successfully climbing Mount Everest. However, there are many who wonder whether climbing the highest peak would be safe this year, because of the effects of climate change on Khumbu Glacier. Just a few days ago, three mountaineers were trapped in the massive ice movement in the region and they are feared dead. There were also reports that as the Khumbu Glacier is rapidly thinning out, Nepal is planning to relocate the Everest base camp from here. Tourism department's arrangements The tourism department here reportedly said recently that a nine-member-committee has been formed to help the mountaineers, oversee the activities and preparations at the base camp. The department would also coordinate with the Meteorological Department to provide weather data. Arrangements have been made to ensure that the climbers would get data about the weather conditions at least three days before an expedition begins. Besides, measures would be taken to avoid long queues on the way to the summit. In order to avoid long queues and delays, only a fixed number of climbers would be allowed on a particular day. Guide mandatory The reports suggest that the authorities have collected up to 1.84 million dollars as climbing fees from 178 applicants until 7 April. Usually, the permits are issued until the end of April. The authorities, meanwhile, are issuing safety guidelines in the light of avalanches in the mountain range. On 1 April, the tourism board has passed a law that makes it mandatory for a guide to accompany the trekking parties in Nepal. However, the local authorities in the Everest region hasnt executed it yet. Greg Abbott and John Cornyn highlight Crime Stoppers Month. (Image by Wikipedia (commons.wikimedia.org), Author: Office of Senator John Cornyn) Details Source DMCA On July 25, 2020, libertarian activist Garrett Foster stood his ground: With his wheelchair-bound wife nearby, and his rifle held at "low-ready" position, he told a driver who had run a red light and driven into a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters in Austin Texas, to "move along." The driver, Daniel Perry, proceeded to shoot Foster three times with a pistol, killing him, then claimed "self-defense" and protection under the state's "stand your ground" law. Police apparently bought Perry's "self-defense" claim, but a prosecutor didn't, and neither did the 12 jurors who unanimously convicted Perry of the murder in early April 2023. Why? Perhaps it had to do with Perry's prior social media messaging: "I might have to kill a few people on my way to work ..." "I might go to Dallas to shoot looters." "Send [protesters] to Texas we will show them why we say you don't mess with Texas." He even speculated, in a Facebook chat, that he could get away with it by, you guessed it, claiming "self-defense." Daniel Perry is no Kyle Rittenhouse, who made a poor decision to visit Kenosha, Wisconsin, but was rightly acquitted on charges of murder after defending himself from violent attackers. Nor is Perry a Michael Drejka, imprisoned for manslaughter in Florida for defending himself from a violent attacker. Perry's just a cold-blooded killer who publicly fantasized about murdering protesters, pre-fabricated a bogus "self-defense" claim, went through with his scheme, and couldn't sell his garbage defense to a jury. Perry has yet to take any responsibility for his actions, or express remorse, or demonstrate the possibility that he might ever stop posing a clear and present danger to the public. But, hey, it was a Black Lives Matter rally. So, naturally, Texas governor Greg Abbott has indicated his intent to pardon the courageous killer of an "antifa terrorist," decrying the killer's purely political persecution by a "Soros-backed" prosecutor. Is Abbott plotting a presidential run? Or jockeying for a cabinet position in a future Republican administration? Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). The foreign ministers of Russia, China, and Iran and Pakistan Thursday expressed deep concern about the security situation related to terrorism in Afghanistan and noted that all terrorist groups, including ISIL-Khorasan, Al-Qaeda, ETIM, TTP, BLA, and Jaish al-Adl, based in Afghanistan, that pose a serious threat to regional and global security. This came in a joint statement issued after a meeting in Uzbekistan's Samarkand on Thursday within the framework of a ministerial conference of Afghanistan's neighboring countries. The ministers discussed steps on facilitating Afghanistan's political settlement, the stabilization of the humanitarian and socio-economic situation in the country as well as the development of regional economic integration, and the implementation of transport and energy projects with Kabul's participation. The ministers urged the interim government of Afghanistan to take visible and verifiable measures to fight terrorism and eliminate all kinds of terrorist groups to prevent the use of Afghan soil by any terrorist group particularly ISIL-Khorasan, Al-Qaeda, ETIM, TTP, BLA, and Jaish al-Adl. East Turkestan Islamic Movement The East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) is a Muslim separatist group founded by militant Uighurs, members of the Turkic-speaking ethnic majority in northwest China's Xinjiang province. Xinjiang province, where the group is based, is a vast, sparsely populated area that shares borders with eight countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the first mention of ETIM surfaced around 2000, when a Russian newspaper reported that Osama bin Laden had pledged funds to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and ETIM during a 1999 meeting in Afghanistan. It seeks an independent state called East Turkestan that would cover an area including parts of Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The Islamic State - Khorasan The Islamic State - Khorasan Province is an affiliate of the so-calledIslamic State militant group active in South Asia and Central Asia. ISIS- Khorasan has been active in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, where they claimed attacks. According to a November 2021 statement of Deborah Lyons, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the IS- Khorasan Province became increasingly active in 2020 and 2021 and gained ground across all provinces. Another source stated that IS-KP had a strong presence in eastern Afghanistan (Nangarhar and Kunar provinces), as well as in Kabul and northern Afghanistan. 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). By Joel D. Joseph Depositors fled from Silicon Valley Bank and other banks because they had deposits over $250,000 that were uninsured and they feared that they would lose money if they didn't cash out. If we eliminate the cap on FDIC insured deposits and insure all deposits in banks no matter how much is deposited, there will be no reason to have runs on banks. During the Great Depression, bank deposits were not insured at all. This caused massive runs on banks and made the Depression even more severe. During the depths of the Great Depression, on June 16, 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Banking Act of 1933. This significant legislation established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The insurance limit was initially $2,500 per ownership category. In 1935 it was increased to $5,000, then to $10,000 in 1950. In 1966 it was increased to $15,000 and three years later to $20,000. In 1974 the coverage was bumped up to $40,000 and then to $100,000 in 1980. In 2008 the insurance cap reached $250,000 where it stands today. This insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the United States, and according to the FDIC, "since its start in 1933 no depositor has ever lost a penny of FDIC-insured funds." The FDIC receives no funding from the federal budget. It assesses premiums on each member and accumulates them in a Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) that it uses to pay its operating costs and the depositors of failed banks. The amount of each bank's premiums is based on its balance of insured deposits and the degree of risk that it poses to the FDIC. The DIF is fully invested in Treasury securities and earns interest that supplements the premiums. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, the FDIC is required to fund the DIF to at least 1.35% of all insured deposits; in 2020, the amount of insured deposits was approximately $8.9 trillion and therefore the fund requirement was $120 billion. As of December 31, 2022, the FDIC maintained an insurance fund of $128 billion. To Ted Cruz, John Cornyn, Randy Webber, Greg Bonnen, Mayes Middleton: You believe in an imaginary social hierarchy with you, your owners and your guns at the top. Most everyone else is ranked lower according to your authoritarian-based prejudices. The result is massive social and economic inequality. Inequality you mistakenly believe is righteous, justifiable and an excuse for abuse. Abuse that includes expelling members of the other party when they point out your shameful acceptance of murdered children. Your commensurate belief in maximizing inequality means you reward those like you and punish everyone else. The wealthy, white, Christianist, prejudice, heterosexual, male gets tax cuts and corporate subsidies. Everyone else has their pubic support defunded and/or eliminated. You protect and empower the oligarchs. You enable the theft of worker wages and their wealth, especially during and after recessions. You are a lackey to the oligarchs of oil, gas and guns and make sure 'lesser' citizens will die at the hands of a mass murders and/or the climate crisis. Representative Justin Pearson told his suddenly former colleagues how he saw it: "You say to protest is wrong because you spoke out of turn, because you spoke up for people who are marginalized. You spoke up for children who won't ever be able to speak again; you spoke up for parents who don't want to live in fear; you spoke up for Larry Thorn, who was murdered by gun violence; you spoke up for people that we don't want to care about. In a country built on people who speak out of turn, who spoke out of turn, who fought out of turn to build a nation." Thanks to the Republican Party, fully 82 percent of all the human beings living in the world's wealthy countries killed by firearms lived in the USA. -- Guns Don't Kill America: Republicans Do Maximizing inequality is anti-democratic. You fear democracy because it will place limits on your power to abuse others. You fear democracy will allow others to improve their ranking in your imaginary hierarchy. You maximize inequality through fear, hate and a strong desire to use punishment to maintain that inequality. You use fear, hate and punishment on those who cherish democracy. Scare people, point to an "other" as the threat, and then promise to "deal with" that threat in the most brutal and thus instantly effective way possible. ... But fear as a GOP political weapon goes back much farther than Trump. Nixon did it when he declared his racist "war on drugs." Reagan did it when he referred to black people as "monkeys" and "cannibals" who are "uncomfortable wearing shoes." George HW Bush did it with his Willie Horton ads. George W. Bush did it to justify two illegal wars while torturing and extrajudicially murdering Afghan and Iraqi civilians. -- Why the GOP, Fox-So-Called "News" & Rightwing Hate Radio Use Fear as Their Primary Tool You use fear and hate, combined with your acceptance of legalized bribes from the anti-democratic 0.1%, bribes sanctioned by your Christianist SCOTUS, to abuse your political power and subvert democracy. Today's anti-democratic oligarchs keep you in power to protect them from any limitations on their abuse that might be imposed by democracy. You magnify non-existent issues and support laws that go far beyond limiting those fabricated threats to further limit the democratic process. You purge voter roles of those not like you. You close polling places in neighborhoods you are afraid of. You support new voter-suppression laws enabled by SCOTUS's overturning part of the Civil Rights Act. Your prime objective, to destroy all forms of public support, is killing citizens. You are so determined to destroy K-12 public education, you do nothing about the horrific murders of our school children with military-like weapons. Your determination to privatize higher public education is enslaving students to a life of insecurity, dependency and servitude to the one percent. You are so determined to stop Medicare for All, that you are advancing the privatization of Medicare beyond the stealth privatization of "Medicare Advantage"(?). Your efforts to make the GOP the one and only political party that controls all levels of government are destroying our form of democratic republic. You use redistricting to keep your minority GOP in power. You minimize the voting power of minorities and maximize the voting power of a minority of white voters. You lie perpetually to appease your minority base so they won't desert you or stop giving you their hard-earned cash. You lie because your base has been shrinking since he founding of this country. In the 2020 election, your shrinking base represented less than a third of all registered voters. That translates to about 22% of the general population. GOP is a minority party and cheats to win! 2020 Eligible Voter Summary (Image by Andy Hailey) Details DMCA Registered voter data available here Your shrinking base of white supporters is no longer enough to keep you in office, so you cheat. You do all you can to suppress those not like you. You pass laws to limit our maturing democratic republic as it awakens to who you and your GOP cult really are: a mafia with nothing to offer other than blame, distraction and destruction. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). raccoon dog (Image by Photo by Thomas Dils) Details DMCA It's taken longer to find the origin of Covid-19 than it has been to find vaccines for it. Three years ago the pandemic landed down in Seattle in the body of a man who had just come back from Wuhan, sick and needing to be hospitalized with symptoms of Covid-19. Donald Trump's first impeachment was ending as a pointless exercise in partisan bickering, (pointless, because Democrats had no chance of seeing Trump convicted by an all-Republican Senate.) The farcical ordeal left many Americans drained and with lowered moral immune systems, if not IQs. The masses were taking succor in Super Bowl Sunday and Hangover Monday. Many people were talking about making that Monday a permanent national holiday. Later, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis would admit to the press that the Super Bowl in Miami was probably a superspreader of Covid-19, folks coughing and spraying on each other for half the day, then returning to whence they'd come from all parts of the country. Then the lockdowns came. Citizens with symptoms had to stay home, maybe even isolated in their rooms, for days, with TV and the Internet as their constant companions. When they went out there was a national kerfuffle over whether to wear masks or not. President Trump used his office bully pulpit, to tell the nation, essentially, don't bother. Which exacerbated the problem and left medical experts flummoxed. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the highest paid civil servant, in government for forty years, and likely the only servant in American history to enter of modest means and leave service as a multimillionaire, was delicate. On the other side of the world Slavoj Sisek ranted about Fauci's faux oracular power. Then an interest in the origin of the pandemic "burst upon the scene," as Dylan would say. The Chinese were coy. And, apparently, destroying evidence of what happened. A Chinese whistleblowing doctor caught Covid-19 and died after trying to have his warning words go viral. A Wuhan wet market pangolin was blamed. And then it was learned that the US government had partially funded gain-of-function research at the nearby Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). The Washington Post was reporting that shadowy state department figures had visited the Wuhan lab out of concern for the safety of the research being conducted there. Not a whole lot of chase-down of these figures was exercised by the press. Then the Intelligence Community (IC) leaked an assessment that had as much value as Sergeant Schultz uttering his famous words: "I know nutting." The IC wouldn't say whether the origin was the pangolin or some other wet market varmint or bats or a lab accident. Apparently, they were content, for the first time, to leave it alone and to let science determine what happened. Such professional hesitancy is as it should be. But we still don't know the origin, and scientists are still weighing on both sides, in such a way, that science is not served; indeed, with each contradictory "revelation" or "assessment" science loses some of its credibility, as it reveals to the public how political its persuasions can be. The ping pong just continues. We know what happened: We don't know what happened. Then partisan divisions ensued. We almost had a major breakthrough when the Trump administration announced that the Chinese were responsible. In an interview with a teenaged reporter "from Kazakhstan," Rudy Giuliani, Trump's loyalest lawyer, "revealed" in a 2020 Borat film that "China manufactured the virus and let it out, and they deliberately spread it all around the world." But this news, presumably from an authoritative source, was lost in the hanky-panky that followed the interview when America's Mayor followed the girl into the bedroom and proceeded to lie on the bed and look down his trousers for his keys (let's say). Borat, in women's underwear, rushed in to save him from sinning. This might have been the key to the origin story right here but the MSM didn't take it seriously -- maybe because it was seen as a mockumentary. Me? I would have called Rudy RICO on his China assertion. From 2020 to the end of 2022, it's just been a downward path to wisdom, as Katherine Anne Porter would say. And just as many of us came to the conclusion years ago that we would never find out what actually happened, and that situation seemed set up to bring about a conspiracy theory on purpose that reminds me of a recent film that took the viewer through the bungled chain of possession of the magic bullet from the JFK assassination. Afterall, the MSM decides what's 'conspiracy' or not. And then when many of us were busy two-man talking about the necessary trades the Sox would have to make in the winter meetings to be competitive again and if the Yankees would ever again be our strawman daddys in the exciting frisson days of Pedro Martinez and the blood-stained sock, suddenly what rock through yon window broke? A "whistleblower" came forward in December 2022 to "reveal" that the Covid-19 virus had leaked from the lab, after we'd settled into leaning toward believing the authority of scientists who had concluded the virus was a spillover event. This scientist, Andrew Huff, is a former executive of EcoHealth Alliance, the agency that received grant money from the Fauci-controlled National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and which, then, contracted services for the WIV, who were ensconced in bat coronavirus research. Huff contradicts what he sees as the unscientific bias toward a now- dominant wet market causal explanation. By the time that Huff arrived on the scene with his new allegations, put together in a book titled, The Truth About Wuhan: How I Uncovered the Biggest Lie In History, tired followers of the origin story had already had their attention switched from pangolins (wet market) to a lab leak and the back to spillover theories. Huff regards himself as a whistleblower. Who is Huff though? In the biographical section of his report sent to Congress, urging them to investigate with subpoena power, the reader is told: Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Donald Trump has poisoned politics in the United States, photo by Gage Skidmore 5. (Image by Wikipedia (commons.wikimedia.org), Author: Gage Skidmore) Details Source DMCA Tennessee GOP legislators showed the world their depravity by expelling two Black Democratic state representatives merely for using bullhorns and joining forces with young protestors nonviolently demanding gun control laws after a recent mass shooting at a Nashville school. This terrible fiasco could not have happened but for the bitter political climate of recent years that was the result of the influence of our 45th president, Donald J. Trump. His bullying, aggression, empty promises, and overconfidence fooled tens of millions of dissatisfied voters into thinking he was a leader capable of "Making America Great Again." Our country has not recovered. The Republican state House action in Tennessee was an unprecedented reaction to a nonviolent act of protest. Stripping the power of two two young Black legislators, (and letting the White representative off, even though she joined the same demonstration) sent a clear message about the intention of the House Republicans. They wanted even more power to make the rules, no matter how egregious their decisions were. They wanted to see their political adversaries weakened, or better yet, completely out of the picture. How did Donald Trump's corrosive influence contribute to this ugly debacle? Let's start with his racist history which was evident long before he won the presidency in 2016. In 1973 Nixon's Department of Justice sued the Trump family business for refusing to rent to Black tenants. Then came the infamous "Central Park 5" incident in 1989 when four Black and one Latino teenager were accused of attacking and raping a jogger in New York City. Trump ran spectacular ads demanding "BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY! BRING BACK OUR POLICE!" But after years in jail, the young men were exonerated by DNA evidence. Unsurprisingly, Trump never apologized and continued to maintain their guilt. Most of us remember how Trump spent years trying to prove that Barack Obama was not a real American. After all, Barack's father was a black man from Kenya, therefore Barack must have been born in Kenya, not in the U.S., and for that reason not eligible to be president. And clearly, Obama certainly didn't look like any other U.S. president Trump had seen. All that racist rambling escalated when he campaigned in the 2016 presidential election and while he served in office, starting with calling Mexican immigrants "rapists" who were bringing crime and drugs into our country. Soon he advocated banning immigration of Muslims. His incidents of racist rhetoric are too long to list. But we can highlight one particularly egregious incident. White supremacist protests were planned in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017. White Nationalists and neo-Nazis held a "Unite the Right" rally also attended by counter-protesters. The torch-carrying White Power crowd shouted chants like the Nazi slogan "blood and soil" as well as "Jews will not replace us!" One counter-protester, 32-year-old Heather Heyer was deliberately run down by a car and killed. The reaction to the Charlottesville events from President Trump was a condemnation of the violence. But then he shocked many when he added, "there's blame on both sides," and there were "very fine people, on both sides." It should be obvious that Donald Trump has poisoned the political atmosphere. Sensing that their president was not remotely tolerant, racists and right-wing extremists felt liberated to express their bigoted point of view, and the Republican Party rarely, if ever, pushed back on that kind of hateful rhetoric. These bigoted views helped Republicans win elections in some states during Trump's heyday and GOP officeholders feared going against Trump and his "Make America Great Again (MAGA)" followers. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Elnur Enveroglu The French government continues to take a traditional pro-Armenian position. The statement of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the latest provocation by Armenia against the Azerbaijani army shows once again that the French government is not aware of the norms of democracy and international law. In fact, the French officials, parliament, government circles and the presidential administration are well aware that the incident is a part of a plan prepared by the wishes of all pro-Armenian forces, especially the Armenian leadership. Yes, by resorting to this kind of military provocation, Armenia also proved that destabilization in the region can be permanent. This also shows that the Armenian authorities and their patrons are not interested in the establishment of peace and security in the region. It is regrettable that, while the incident was a direct result of Armenian provocation, the French government makes a baseless statement against Azerbaijan. Here the question arises: - First, by what right does the French government issue such a statement regarding the events taking place in the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan? - secondly, on the basis of which right does France deal with the internal problems of Azerbaijan and tries to intervene in the process of territorial delimitation? - and thirdly, why France is not interested in restoring peace and security in the region? It is known that France, which has declared that it supports the territorial integrity of Armenia, has never made a statement about Azerbaijan's territorial integrity during the decades of co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group. The incident that happened two days ago took place in the territory of Azerbaijan, and there was no delimitation in those territories. If France has any doubts about the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, then it would be more appropriate to look at history. It should be noted that the map of the territory of Azerbaijan before the Soviet rule was approved in Paris in 1918. On that map, the territories where Armenia is located are shown within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Here, instead of recalling the map it approved with its own hand, France, which is trying to fight for Armenia, pokes its nose into Azerbaijan's internal problems. It seems that France is not aware of the colonies it left behind by pretending to be a noble fan of democracy. If official Paris is talking about the territorial integrity of a sovereign country 3,600 km away, it would be appropriate to first discuss its colonial policy, the language restriction it imposed on the Corsican islands and its disgraceful policy in New Caledonia. As for the delimitation of borders, France should know unequivocally that these are the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan. France would do well to deal with the protests, police violence and human rights abuses taking place in its own territory. As for Armenia, the EU mission encourages Armenia to the next provocation, and Armenia turns this mission into a part of its aggressive policy. The resulting processes show that the mission of the EU is quite incompetent in restoring peace and security. The EU mission acts on the dictates of Armenia and serves the dangerous interests of the French government and Armenia, not the common interests. It should be noted that the Armenian media itself stated that Armenia wanted to send the EU mission to the place of the incident with all its might, but it was not possible. For this reason, the objectives of the mission are generally not clear. The only thing to be clear is that Armenia is currently involved in a dangerous game. The Pashinyan authorities should understand that all rules are determined not according to the dictates of France, but according to the principles within the region. Montana lawmakers gave final passage Friday to a bill banning the social media app 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 many national lawmakers have envisioned. The measure now goes to Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte for his consideration. The state House voted 54-43 to pass the bill, which goes further than prohibitions in place in nearly half the states and the U.S. federal government that prohibit TikTok on government devices. Montana already bans the app on state-owned devices. TikTok spokesperson Brooke Oberwetter said in a statement that We will continue to fight for TikTok users and creators in Montana whose livelihoods and First Amendment rights are threatened by this egregious government overreach. The bills supporters have admitted that they have no feasible plan for operationalizing this attempt to censor American voices and that the bills constitutionality will be decided by the courts, Oberwetter said. 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 have not presented any evidence that 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. TikTok has said its servers containing information on U.S. users are in Texas. -- The Associated Press An emotionally charged debate over Oregons gun-related legislation recently brought lawmakers on different sides of the issue near tears, reflecting a passionate divide over gun rights that is also playing out nationwide. One of the most sweeping bills being proposed in Oregon would increase the purchasing age to 21 for AR-15s and similar types of guns, impose penalties for possessing undetectable firearms and allow for more limited concealed-carry rights. Republican lawmakers in Oregon said community safety depends on access to firearms, while Democrats conversely called for greater restrictions in the name of safety. The debate in the Oregon Capitol comes as Democrats and Republicans across the country spar over gun rights, and as the number of gun violence deaths nationwide has risen to 11,767 so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. "Ghost guns" are displayed at the headquarters of the San Francisco Police Department in 2019. A federal judge issued a court order on March 9, 2023, that immediately halts 10 gun distributors from selling or shipping gun parts and kits to New York the types of materials officials say can be used to build untraceable ghost guns which can then be sold without background checks, eventually ending up in the wrong hands. (AP Photo/Haven Daley, File)AP Legislation in state capitals across the nation this week similarly highlights the red-blue divide on guns: -- In Washington state, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to sign, as early as this week, legislation going through the Democrat-majority state Legislature that would ban many semi-automatic rifles, including AR-15s and other rifles that fire one bullet per trigger pull and automatically reload. The bill passed both the state House and Senate but needs an additional vote in the House. -- In Michigan, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is scheduled to sign legislation Thursday that will implement stricter background checks and safe storage requirements for firearms. The legislation is part of an 11-bill gun safety package that was introduced after a gunman killed three students at Michigan State University on Feb. 13 the states second mass shooting in 15 months. -- In Florida, a bill passed by the Republican-dominated statehouse allows people to carry concealed firearms without a permit, and without training or a background check. Signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis this month, it takes effect July 1. -- In Kentucky and Tennessee, each of which experienced a mass shooting in the past two weeks, GOP lawmakers who dominate both statehouses have long resisted limiting gun access. However, Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee asked lawmakers Tuesday to pass legislation that would keep firearms out of the hands of people who could harm themselves or others. One of those killed in the March 27 school shooting in Nashville was a close friend of Lees wife. In Oregon, the Joint Ways and Means Committee sent the broad gun safety bill to the House floor for a vote last week. An extraordinary number of Oregonians about 1,000 submitted written testimony for or against the 17-page measure. The measure was scheduled for a vote on the House floor on Wednesday. But bills are stacked up because minority Republicans have insisted that each one be read in full, to slow the Democrats agenda. A machine is being used to speed-read the bills. Passage by the House would send it to the Senate for consideration. The Oregon bill would also make the manufacture or importation into the state of an undetectable firearm a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine up to $250,000. Possession of a so-called ghost gun, such as one made with a 3D printer, would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and/or a fine up to $6,250. In 2021, the Legislature gave local school districts the authority to prohibit firearms on school grounds. The new bill would expand that, giving locally elected governments the ability to adopt rules restricting firearms and concealed carry in their facilities and adjacent grounds. -- The Associated Press Prosecutors are relying on eyewitness evidence as they make a second bid to convict Quentin P. Blackmon of murder after botching a trial earlier this year. The second murder trial began Thursday as a judge rejected a motion to dismiss the case by defense attorneys who claimed a prosecutor intentionally triggered a mistrial in January by letting slip to jurors that Blackmon was a felon not allowed to carry a gun. A 19-year-old Portland man accused of gunning down a man beneath the Burnside Bridge last year has been linked to another slaying in Old Town that occurred hours earlier. Prosecutors last month filed a second-degree murder charge accusing Rizo E. Lucas of fatally shooting 33-year-old Jennifer Drain about 10 p.m. April 7, 2022, near West Burnside Street and Sixth Avenue. Lucas was already in custody and receiving treatment at the state hospital. He had been arrested shortly after police said he fatally shot 33-year-old Fars Gebrehiwot in the neck about noon on April 8, 2022. Lucas is charged with second-degree murder in that case. Last month, prosecutors filed a second indictment accusing him of killing Drain, but a judge dismissed the charge March 24 after Lucas defense attorney objected to her client being transported for an arraignment while in the midst of undergoing mental health treatment. Prosecutors can refile charges in Drains killing later. A spokesperson for the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office didnt immediately return a request for comment Zane Sparling; zsparling@oregonian.com; 503-319-7083; @pdxzane Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Newly obtained surveillance footage reveals the mad dash of a Hillsboro man who fled from the Washington County Circuit Courthouse after a judge ordered his arrest on a probation violation. The grainy tape shows a man identified as 34-year-old Jaime R. Regalado-Pina making an apparent rude gesture at Circuit Judge Ricardo Menchaca as he rapidly departs from the third-floor courtroom around noon Monday. A statement from the Washington County Sheriffs Office said the judge had recognized Regalado-Pina as being under the influence, though it didnt specify what substance. Another angle of the footage shows a sheriffs deputy entering the courtroom from a side door just as Regalado-Pina appears to head toward the main entryway, spurring three people in plainclothes to rapidly give chase. WATCH: Deputies catch Hillsboro man fleeing Washington County courthouse Regalado-Pina collided with a parked or moving car near the perimeter of courthouse grounds and was arrested at Northeast Lincoln Street near First Avenue in downtown Hillsboro, according to sheriffs spokesman Sgt. Danny DiPietro. (Regalado-Pina) got up and kept running. A detective was in the area and jumped out and was able to take him into custody, said DiPietro. Regalado-Pina suffered bumps and bruises from his collision with the car, DiPietro said. The pursuit was the second such incident in less than 45 days at the courthouse. Edi Villalobos, 28, accused of murder, ran out of a courtroom, eluded deputies and hid inside a nearby empty apartment for hours before his capture on Feb. 27. Unlike Regalado-Pina, Villalobos was in custody at the time of his escape. Regalado-Pina was originally charged with harassment and fourth-degree attempted assault in 2020, but stopped attending a domestic violence intervention program last December and didnt respond to calls from his probation officer, according to court records. Regalado-Pina also faces charges of first-degree theft, credit card fraud and third-degree escape after he allegedly racked up $1,000 in debt on an acquaintances charge card and then ran from officers when they spotted him April 1. Regalado-Pina remains in custody on the probation violation at this time, jail records show. Zane Sparling; zsparling@oregonian.com; 503-319-7083; @pdxzane Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Exactly one year ago, Josh Conerly Jr. signed with the Oregon Ducks, becoming the programs 13th five-star recruit of the modern era. Now the heralded offensive tackle, who didnt start playing on the line until his sophomore year in high school, is taking reps mostly with the first-team offense in spring practice and vying for the starting job at left tackle. A long stewed-over plan to restrict the ability of Portland Public Schools parents to raise money to add educators at their own childs school has been put on ice, again. At a forum at Portland Public Schools headquarters Wednesday evening, it became abundantly clear that there was not enough common ground to change the policy on parent fundraising for the 2023-2024 school year. 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. In this photo provided by Mandy Iworrigan, is Nanuq, a 1-year-old Australian shepherd, after it was returned to Gambell, Alaska, on April 6, 2023. The dog disappeared a month ago from St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, and wound up walking on the Bering Sea ice about 150 miles to Wales, Alaska, on the state's western coast. (Mandy Iworrigan via AP)AP 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. Oregons wet April rained more than water Tuesday night, when 38-year-old Colin Davis McCarthy threw handfuls of $100 bills outside his car window on Interstate 5 in Eugene, according to Oregon State Police. Troopers located his car and warned him against littering and creating potential hazards for other drivers. McCarthy, who is from Eugene, agreed to stop throwing cash, but not before he had already tossed out thousands of dollars, according to an estimate by law enforcement. Drivers stopped to gather bills, slowing traffic, so police searched the area for the remainder of the money to prevent further hazards, but they did not find any. OSP is urging the public not (to) go searching for money on the highway which is very dangerous and contributes to a hazardous condition, state police spokesperson Capt. Kyle Kennedy wrote in an email. McCarthy told police he was doing well financially and wanted to bless others with money, Kennedy said. Police said he got his money elsewhere but declined to say from whom. McCarthy couldnt be reached for comment. My understanding is the money was taken from accounts the individual had access to, Kennedy said in an email. At this time, McCarthy faces no charges, according to Kennedy. -- Lisa Moreno; lmoreno@oregonian.com Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe In response to Bryce Fishers impassioned letter pleading for freedom at the pump, I have several responses, (Readers respond: Come on, Oregon, we can handle self-serve gas, April 9). First, is finding enough staff just a gas station problem? You can hardly find a business in Oregon that isnt looking to hire. If station owners paid a living wage, you would not see as many help wanted signs. Second, the writer ignores the reason for this law: safety. Yes, technology has improved, but my father - a weights and measures inspector - witnessed a number of pump accidents caused by the careless in other states. He never favored self-service gas for that reason. Third, jobs may be lost if the bill under consideration passes. I guarantee one thing - prices at the pump will not go down to reflect the savings realized by the owners. All you have to do is look at gas prices in our neighboring states to prove that. I am so tired of receiving less service and paying more for it. If this bill passes, greedy station owners will find a way to charge those who want service. Fourth, how many Oregonians want to stand out in the rain and end up smelling like gasoline, because they now have to? Im betting very few. Fifth, the writer demands his right to pump his own gas. If he wants freedom at the gas pumps, all he has to do is purchase an electric vehicle. Thats the kind of freedom we should all be seeking. Ed Curtis, Beaverton To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. " " Just how vulnerable is your cloud computer network? Aitor Diago/Getty Images Whether you have years of computing behind you, or you've just bought your first laptop or desktop PC, tablet or smartphone, you've probably already heard about the dangers of not protecting yourself from malware viruses, worms, trojans and other programs used by hackers to damage computers and other devices, steal your personal data, hijack your machine and turn it into a bot, or even lock up your device and hold it for ransom. [source: Fruhlinger] To protect yourself from such threats, you need security software. One increasingly popular option is to use a cloud antivirus product. In contrast to a conventional antivirus program, cloud antivirus does most of its processing on the internet rather than your computer's hard drive. Advertisement Cloud antivirus software consists of client and web service components working together. The client is a small program running on your local computer, which scans the system for malware. Full locally installed antivirus applications are notorious resource hogs, but cloud antivirus clients require only a small amount processing power. Instead, the heavy lifting is done by software running on cloud servers, which continually update their lists of malware files and risky websites. Cloud antivirus is capable of transmitting real-time data on those threats to your device, so that you don't have to rely upon manual or scheduled automatic updates to keep your defenses up-to-date. [source: Kapersky] Cloud antivirus can provide more powerful protection for your devices, and it has numerous other benefits as well. Here are a few: Your malware database is updated without the need to download all the signatures the clues that a program is malicious on your device. The service can do behavioral-based scanning, which can spot new threats. Less demand on your device's storage space and memory. The ability to use artificial intelligence, machine learning and other advances, so that your protection evolves with the threats [source: Steinberg ]. Cloud antivirus has some disadvantages, too. One drawback is that you have to remain connected to the internet, and if your connection is slow, that can interfere with files being scanned. And since everything is checked against cloud databases, some scans may take longer [source: Steinberg]. In this article, we'll tell you more about the features of cloud antivirus programs and how you can use them to protect your devices. 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 17-year-old suspect in the fatal shooting of a Portland woman was arrested last week after he was found in rural southern Oregon, police announced Friday. Portland homicide detectives, U.S. marshals and Klamath County sheriffs deputies arrested the teenager April 8 in Chiloquin, a town of about 800 north of Klamath Falls, according to authorities. They did not release his name. Coming off a frustrating 1-0 loss at the Vancouver Whitecaps, the Portland Timbers return home for a pivotal rivalry tilt with the Seattle Sounders on Saturday. The Sounders (5-1-1, 16 points) sit atop the Western Conference standings, while the oft-injured Timbers (1-4-2, 5 points) sit perilously close to the bottom in 12th place. Here are Three Points to watch for Portland vs. Seattle: 1. KEEP THE CUP? A loss to Seattle on Saturday would put the Timbers hopes of repeating as Cascadia Cup champions in jeopardy. Dropping three points to Vancouver created an uphill battle, but Portland still has two matches remaining against both the Sounders and Whitecaps after Saturday, so there will plenty of chances to make up ground. Still, a home loss to the Sounders especially given the disparity between the two clubs so far this season would sting. 2. WHOS NEXT TO DIEGO? If Portland returns to its typical 4-2-3-1 formation now that more players healthy, the question becomes: who will start in defensive midfield next to Diego Chara. Eryk Williamson is done for the year because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament, so the best options remaining seem to be David Ayala and Cristhian Paredes, who is now healthy. Ayala is most likely to get the start against Seattle based on fitness. But Paredes, who is more experienced and more suited to a defensive midfield role, seems most likely to take over once he is closer to 90 minutes fit. How many matches that takes and whether Giovanni Savarese decides to keep with the 4-2-3-1 or switch permanently to something closer to a 4-3-3 remains to be seen. 3. OPTIMISM? IN THIS ECONOMY? The most significant storyline of the Timbers 2023 season has been injuries. A swath of key contributors have been missing every week, but it appears the list is getting shorter despite the devastating loss of Williamson. Paredes returns from a hamstring injury on Saturday, as does Marvin Loria. Evander is ready for more minutes after playing 45 last week, as is Ayala after a stint with T2 and time with the first team. Yimmi Chara is out against the Sounders, but is closer to a return after an early-season hamstring injury, and the clock is ticking for Sebastian Blancos highly anticipated return from chronic knee issues. Who Portland trots out on Saturday, and for how long, could be reason for cautious optimism on the part of Timbers fans. Portland vs. Seattle kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Providence Park, with a live broadcast available on the Apple TV app with a subscription to MLS Season Pass. -- Ryan Clarke, rclarke@oregonian.com, Twitter: @RyanTClarke The Big One is making headlines again and inspiring some dark humor. The Big One, a.k.a. the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, is the megathrust earthquake thats expected to happen in the Pacific Northwest at some point, likely within the next 100 years. On Tuesday, University of Washington scientists announced a new discovery about the subduction zone: its leaking. The Daily Beast immediately dubbed the leak a harbinger of doom, and tweeted out an article featuring a GIF of an ominous-looking vent in the sea floor. Scientists believe this fault line will likely be the source of the next Big One, an anticipated megathrust earthquake so powerful itll wreak death and destruction the likes of which weve never seen before from a geological event.https://t.co/Zn5hy1ygly The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) April 11, 2023 In a segment on Thursday nights Late Show, Stephen Colbert was very concerned about how this newly discovered tectonic lube will affect the Cascadia megathrust. After the announcement of the studys findings, Twitter was flooded with tweets predicting an imminent disaster on par with an eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano and predictions that Los Angeles would be wiped off the map in the ensuing mega tsunami caused by a global pole shift. Before you start stocking your bunker, lets be clear: None of those scenarios are supported by science. So, how scared should we be of this discovery? Heres what the UW team published in Phys.org on Tuesday: Fluid released from the fault zone is like leaking lubricant, [study co-author Evan] Solomon said. Thats bad news for earthquake hazards: Less lubricant means stress can build to create a damaging quake. That means, in a nutshell, that this finding indicates that were getting closer to an inevitable quake along the fault. The Oregonian/OregonLive environment reporter Gosia Wozniacka interviewed the UW researchers about the discovery, and what it potentially means for our earthquake risk in the Pacific Northwest. The Cascadia fault is a 600-mile fault that runs from northern California up to British Columbia and is about 70-100 miles off the Pacific coast shoreline, according to the Oregon Office of Emergency Management. Its been 323 years since the last large quake along the fault, and scientists say were overdue. OEM says that there is about a 37 percent chance that a megathrust earthquake of 7.1+ magnitude in this fault zone will occur in the next 50 years. In the meantime, if youre worried about The Big One (and you should be, but not too much), here are some tips on how to keep yourself and your family safe: Around 3,500 seismic tremors of magnitude 2.5 or greater that have roiled the Cascadia fault zone off the Oregon coast since 1970. " " The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G, the latest tablet presented by the South Korean multinational, is exhibited at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, 2022. Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images The T-Mobile G1, launched in October 2008, was the first major mobile device to use the Android operating system. Only four years later Android had the largest mobile operating system market share, a distinction it continues to hold as of this writing. True, more of those installations are on phones. There are still more tablets using Apple's iPadOS, but Android is making up ground there, too. Each operating system developer has its own method of distinguishing revisions of its operating systems so that users and developers know what system they're using. Sometimes that can be a little confusing. Microsoft's Windows began with version 1.0 in 1985, but 10 years later started using years to identify versions with Windows 95. After Windows 2000 and ME (Millennial Edition), Microsoft switched to Windows XP, then Vista. In 2009 the company moved back to numbers with Windows 7 and is sticking with it through Windows 11. For now. Advertisement Apple used numbers for the Macintosh operating system too. Then the company purchased NeXT, the firm Apple co-founder Steve Jobs started after he left Apple. The Nextstep operating system became Mac OS X (as in the Roman numeral 10). After that, releases got a code name with the number, starting with man-eating felines (Mountain Lion, Snow Leopard). Suddenly with version 10.9 Apple switched its code names to places in California (Mavericks, Catalina). Big Sur was the first version of macOS 11, but so far Apple's still sticking to locations for code names. It still uses plain old numbers for its iOS releases. Although multiple organizations release distributions of the free and open-source software platform Linux, it's something of a tradition to give new versions code names in alphabetical order. Ubuntu Linux uses animal names (Jammy Jellyfish, Bionic Beaver). Linux Mint uses women's names (Debbie, Elsie). Not all Linux distributions use that scheme, but many do. Android, which uses the Linux kernel at its core, followed a similar path using confectionary delights: Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean. In late 2019, however, Google announced that version 9 Pie would be the last in the chain and the next version would simply be named Android 10 (what is it with computer companies and the number 10, anyway?). In 2022, Google removed its sugary-styled Android release statues from its campus, perhaps signaling a permanent departure from the style. Back to Android tablets, before we even talk about upgrading anything, take a few minutes to back up your entire tablet using Android's built-in tools. On many most Android devices, begin by opening the Settings app. Then, choose Backup from the Google menu. For other Android-based devices you may find the backup controls elsewhere within your settings app. You may also find that this online backup uses the manufacturer's own cloud-based storage instead of Google's. It's a good idea to back up to the cloud anyway, but especially before an upgrade. This way, if things go badly and you have to reset your device, at least your data will be saved off your tablet. Now that we have that formality out of the way, we're ready to talk about upgrading your Android software. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer reminds graduating high school seniors that the deadline is approaching to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for some state financial aid programs. The application, commonly known as "FAFSA," should be filled out by May 1 to be given "priority consideration" for the Michigan Competitive Scholarship and Michigan Tuition Grant, according to Whitmer's office in a Friday press release. Last year, students received more than $22.4 million in Michigan Competitive Scholarships and more than $31.5 million in Michigan Tuition Grants. Students who wait to complete their FAFSA after the deadline may not receive all the financial aid they could have been entitled to receive. "Every senior should fill out their FAFSA to save thousands of dollars on the cost of community, private or public college," Whitmer said in a Thursday statement. "By filling out this federal form, you can unlock grants, scholarships and other forms of assistance that can put you on a path to getting an associate or bachelors degree." The FAFSA also includes the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which the majority of graduating seniors are eligible for, according to Whitmer. The scholarship lowers the cost of college by up to $27,500 over 5 years. "You are probably eligible for more financial aid than you realize," Whitmer continued. In addition to state assistance, completing the FAFSA unlocks federal aid such as Pell Grants, student loans, work-study jobs and institutional grants. "My team is standing by and ready to help students and families understand what state financial aid assistance is available," State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said in a Thursday statement. "Completing the FAFSA is really the first step for unlocking financial support. There are many state awards available to students right now." Before completing the FAFSA online, students must obtain a Federal Student Aid ID. The ID serves as a legal signature and confirms an applicant's identity when accessing financial aid information through certain U.S. Department of Education sites. More information about state scholarships and grant programs is available on MI Student Aid's website. Students who graduate from high school in Michigan with a diploma, or certificate of completion or achieved a high school equivalency certificate in 2023 or after may be eligible for additional financial aid from the state of Michigan through the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, according to Whitmer's Office. Possible student awards include: Credit for time served of 226 days and five years probation is what a 35-year-old Shepherd received Thursday in Midland County Circuit Court for felony aggravated stalking. Prior to Jonathan Dennistons sentencing, his attorney Peter Durance said his client is now older and wiser than he was when he committed the crime. I agree hes certainly old enough to be wise enough not to do stuff like that, said Midland County Assistant Prosecutor Atea Duso of the stalking occurrence. Denniston has been lodged in the Midland County Jail since Aug. 31, when Midland County Sheriff deputies arrested him for violating a personal protection order and stalking a woman. Denniston was served with a PPO on Aug. 23 and was ordered to stay away from the victim. He broke a window in her house, purposely causing fear, as he admitted to Midland County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Carras on Feb. 2 when he pleaded guilty to the stalking charge. When Denniston pleaded guilty, he also admitted to Carras that he knew he wasnt supposed to be at the victims house. Aggravated stalking is a felony punishable by no more than five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. More Information Shepherd man sentenced in aggravated stalking, violating a personal protection order days after it was served See More Collapse Midland County Sheriff Myron Greene emphasized that people should get personal protection orders if they have been assaulted or physically harmed by someone. He said there are several circumstances where people are justified in seeking a PPO, such as harassment, stalking and intimidation. Greene said personal protection orders are traditionally used for domestic situations, but they can also be used in situations with co-workers and neighbors. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Leaders in a rural Texas county held a special meeting Thursday but drew back from the drastic option of shutting their public library system rather than heeding a federal judge's order to return books to the shelves on themes ranging from teen sexuality and gender to bigotry and race. Following public comments both for and against a possible shutdown, the Llano County Commissioners Court decided to remove consideration of a possible closure from the agenda, assuring its three libraries remain open. We will try this in the courts, not through social media or through news media, said Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham, who presides over the commissioners court and is one of the defendants in a lawsuit filed a year ago by library patrons. The struggle in Llano County, home to about 20,000 people in the Texas hill country outside of Austin, reflects an explosion of attempts in recent years to ban books around the U.S. amid escalating cultural wars. The special meeting was called after U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman granted a temporary injunction last month that ordered almost 20 books be returned to library shelves. Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Associations Office for Intellectual Freedom, said this was the first incidence she was aware of in which officials moved to consider closing a system altogether. Beginning in 2021, the lawsuit says, the defendants began using various tactics to keep certain books out of the hands of patrons, from moving childrens books they objected to into the adult section to temporarily suspending use of their digital library. The suit also said steps involved dissolving a previous library board and then packing it with appointees, including many of those who had been pressuring the system to ban books. The other defendants include the four county commissioners, the library system's current director and some new members of the library board. One of the new library board members is Bonnie Wallace, who was among those speaking at Thursday's meeting. Wallace, who said there were over 200 additional books she thinks should be banned, was among those who read aloud explicit sex scenes from books they said were currently on the shelves. I am in favor of closing the libraries temporarily until we find a solution to the pornographic filth we do have, Wallace said. Resident James Arno, who supported keeping the libraries open, said parents can monitor what their children are reading without denying access to others. Its not our job to burn this thing to the ground to prevent kids from reading what these people are reading, said Arno, referring to explicit material read aloud at the meeting. Its the parents job to know what their kids are into. Caldwell-Stone said the books targeted in Llano County fit into trends they are seeing nationwide. The demands that were seeing are to remove books that reflect the lives and experiences of LGBTQIA persons or reflect the lives and experiences of persons of color, in particular Black persons, she said. The books that were being kept off the shelf include Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson, They Called Themselves the K.K.K: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak, Its Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex and Sexual Health by Robie H. Harris and Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen" by Jazz Jennings. Others were picture books for children including Larry the Farting Leprechaun by Jane Bexley and My Butt is So Noisy! by Dawn McMillan. These are books that we have found over the years appeal particularly to young male readers and are really great tools for encouraging early literacy and a love of reading, Caldwell-Stone said. Over 1,200 challenges were compiled by the ALA last year, by far the most since the association began keeping data over 20 years ago. The 2022 number was nearly double the then-record total for 2021. The uproar in Llano County has drawn interest from notable conservatives. The attorney representing the county is Jonathan Mitchell, an architect of a Texas anti-abortion law in 2021 that was briefly the strictest in the country before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Mitchell, who has appealed the judge's order in the library case, argued in a recent filing that the plaintiffs' claims that their First Amendment rights were violated cannot get off the ground because the books were currently available to check out through the library's in-house system. But the judge wrote in his order that books hidden in a back room and absent from the catalog wouldn't be within reach of the public. This is, of course, an obvious and intentional effort by Defendants to make it difficult if not impossible to access the materials Plaintiffs seek, Pitman wrote. Americas child care market is an abject failure. Even at prohibitively high prices, supply doesnt meet demand, preventing children, parents and the entire economy from reaching their full potential. This is a problem that only government intervention can solve. For far too long, the debate around how to look after our children has been stuck in the 1970s, when then-President Richard Nixon vetoed an affordable child care bill in part on the grounds that it would weaken families. While liberals and conservatives argue about whether government subsidies would or should endorse mothers choice to work, society has already moved on: More than 70% of women with children under 18 are in the labor force. The political ambivalence is reflected in piecemeal and largely ineffective policies. Programs such as subsidy vouchers for low-income parents and Head Start, which provides limited pre-kindergarten and after-school supervision, reach only a fraction of those eligible. Tax credits and tax-preferred spending accounts are hard to navigate and too small to make enough of a difference. The Biden administrations Chips Act implementation requiring manufacturers applying for federal subsidies to provide on-site child care is far too narrow to turn things around. The result is a market that doesnt adequately serve anyone it should. Over the past 30 years, the cost of daycare has risen at an average annual rate of 3.8%, compared with 2.5% for consumer prices overall. As of March, it was up 6.8% from a year earlier, the largest increase since records began in 1991. In one 2022 survey, more than half of families said they spend more than 20% of their income on child care. Yet supply remains inadequate and poorly compensated: Employment in the sector remains 7% below its pre-pandemic level, and the median worker earned $13.22 an hour in 2021, well below the national median wage. The economics of the industry will never align. For one, parents tend to need child care at the beginning of their careers, precisely when they can least afford it. Costs stay high because its labor intensive and hard to scale: One person can take care of only so many kids. Also, because quality care produces broader social benefits that arent reflected in the price, the market inevitably supplies too little. What, then, can the government do? It should start by reducing the markets scope. Establish federal paid family leave for the first three months of life (at a minimum), so parents can do the initial caring themselves. Add two years of universal preschool to the existing public school system, so kids have somewhere to go when their parents return to work. If policymakers want to maintain some semblance of a market, theyll still need to subsidize both supply and demand. This would entail funding the development and maintenance of child care centers and augmenting staff salaries, in exchange for services of a certain quality and price and installing government centers where the private sector wont go. It would also require expanding low-income vouchers to cover as many as 13 million children, compared with fewer than a million today. Given the markets dysfunction, even generous subsidies might not be enough. In that case, the best solution would be full-on government-provided child care, along the lines of public education. Radical as public child care might sound, its not a risky move. Like most early-childhood investments, it delivers a high return through improved outcomes for children into adulthood as well as an increase in mothers labor force participation and earnings. Building it would be difficult but doable: The Department of Defense did so after the Military Child Care Act of 1989, and its accredited centers now provide quality care. Certainly, such deep government involvement would be disruptive, though that could be more a feature than a flaw. Paying federal wages and benefits to child care workers would apply upward pressure on the compensation of the entire underpaid service sector as well as teachers, whose real salaries have barely budged in decades. The idea of creating good-paying public jobs to expand opportunity and raise wages isnt new. A federal job guarantee was a key part of the civil rights movements economic agenda, including the 1967 Freedom Budget written by A. Phillip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, and endorsed by Martin Luther King Jr. Although they didnt mention child care specifically, more recent proposals do. Where young children spend their days, and whether both parents work, is a question for each family to decide on its own. Whats crucial is having economically viable options. If the market cant provide, the government must. Kathryn Anne Edwards is a labor economist and independent policy consultant. Tom Petsinis isnt sure how his restaurant was selected for a feature on Americas Best Restaurants, but on Thursday morning a film crew van pulled into Rustic Taverns parking lot. Based in Florence, Kentucky, the national media and marketing company travels across the country to highlight independently owned restaurants as part of its Americas Best Restaurants Roadshow, the company said in a news release. We look for restaurants that consumers would eat at weekly, that are easy to get to, clean and have a solid reputation in their community, Americas Best Restaurants founder and CEO Matt Plapp said. Restaurants can either apply or be nominated by customers. Petsinis said he received a phone call from Americas Best Restaurants for a feature on Rustic Tavern. I really didnt know anything about it, he said. It sounded like fun, and we can do it. Petsinis bought the restaurant at 823 Newville Road in North Middleton Township with his wife, Penny, in August 2002 and opened for business in December that year. Rustic Taverns name pays tribute to Petsinis father, who owned a restaurant in Shippensburg called the Rustic Inn, he said. The space previously housed the Fireside restaurant, and The Sentinel reported in 2012 that it was converted from a gas station to a restaurant in the 1950s. We kind of bought a bar ... that had a little bit of food, and pretty much turned it into a restaurant with a bar, Petsinis said. Rustic Tavern is known for its crab cakes and steaks, as well as other seafood and pasta and has won several Best of Cumberland County awards. On top of fitting the type of local restaurant we love to feature, I was impressed by the awards theyve won over the years for their crab cakes, seafood and steaks, Plapp said. When a restaurant is voted for year over year by customers, that says a lot. That food could be on the menu for the episode itself. The team will discuss that onsite with the owners when they meet before filming, Plapp said. We typically feature a few of their staples and then items that are in your face. In addition to diving into Rustic Taverns menu, Americas Best Restaurants will also air an on-camera interview with the Petsinis. After 21 years of business, Tom Petsinis continues to work the grill and complete prep work while Penny Petsinis runs operations at the front of the house. Were honored to get to help tell the story of restaurants like Rustic Tavern, Plapp said. To be brought into their lives and help others hear the journey theyve been on, its a truly great experience. Tom Petsinis said his favorite part about owning the restaurant is really good customers and employees who helped Rustic Tavern pull through difficult times like the COVID-19 pandemic. You know, were lucky to be in Carlisle, [its] a great community and [were] looking to do if for another 20-some years, he said. The episodes premier date will be announced on Rustic Taverns Facebook page and will be available to view on Americas Best Restaurants website. State Rep. Bill G. Schuette must be watching too much TV as he has confused the existence of zombies with math and facts. While the Midland Republican is entitled to his own opinion, Schuette isnt entitled to his own facts about the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (Senate Bill 126 and House Bill 4156). The compact is a nonpartisan reform with bipartisan support. Republicans supporting it include two former speakers of the state House, including Kevin Cotter of Mt. Pleasant; four former Senate majority leaders; a former lieutenant governor; two former Michigan Republican Party chairmen; and dozens of legislators. Even former President Donald Trump supports a popular vote. In 2018, he said: I would rather have the popular vote because its, to me, its much easier to win the popular vote. The compact preserves the Electoral College. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact does not amend, alter, abolish or otherwise abrogate the constitutional framework for electing a president of the United States, Hillsdale College professor Gary Wolfram said before the Michigan House Elections Committee. It is a compact among the states meant to overcome the shortcomings of the winner-take-all method adopted by all of the states except Maine and Nebraska to decide how their electors will vote within the Electoral College. If enacted, the compact would only change Michigans winner-take-all method. To claim otherwise is to deny what the U.S. Constitution says. Under Article II, Section 1, each state shall appoint, in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors. It is also preposterous to claim that big states would control the outcome. Ignoring the fact that California has more registered Republican voters than any other state, 82% of Americans dont live in California and New York. Its mathematically impossible for 18% to out-vote 82%. Similarly, its also false to invoke big cities. The five-biggest cities are just 5.8% of the population, according to the census. In reality, one out of five voters live in rural America and one out of five voters live in the biggest hundred cities. Confused math and facts seem to be Schuettes way of saying he doesnt believe the presidential candidate with the most votes should win, which is ironic because thats how he won. While elections for the Legislature and every other elected office in the United States are won by the candidate who gets the most votes, the one office that represents the country as a whole doesnt always go to the candidate with most votes. Over my 43 years in Republican politics, I have seen Michigan ignored by presidential candidates. Under the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, no Michigan voter is disenfranchised. No voter will have their vote cancelled out at the state level because their choice differed from majority sentiment in their state. Instead, every voters vote will be added directly into the national count for the candidate of their choice. This will ensure that every voter in every state will be politically relevant in every presidential election, regardless of where they live. This means we would elect a president of the United States, not a president of the Battleground States. Saul Anuzis is a former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party and former member of the Republican National Committee. Last fall while knocking on doors in Midland, a resident described to me their frustration with what he called zombie policies. What he meant by this are those bad ideas that never seem to quite die and go away. A perfect example of a zombie policy, the National Popular Vote, is once again making the rounds in Lansing. This zombie bill is just as bad as the previous times it has been considered and would have scary impacts on our Constitutional Republic. Michigan Democrats are pushing House Bill 4156, which would enter our state into a so-called National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Entering this compact would silence Michigans voice in presidential elections and corrupt the constitutional process designed by our founders that ensures every state and region has a voice in choosing our nations president. Under this compact, it would not matter if every single Michigander voted for one candidate. If a different candidate got the bare majority of the national popular vote, all of Michigans electoral college votes would go to that candidate. There are 15 states plus the District of Columbia that have adopted the National Popular Vote Compact, putting it at 195 out of the 270 electoral college votes needed for the compact to kick in. Our current electoral college system ensures that even small states like Rhode Island have a voice in national politics that cannot be drowned out by larger states like California and Texas. The National Popular Vote Compact surrenders our electoral process to the countrys most populous areas. For more than 230 years the electoral college has helped ensure that presidential candidates must have wide appeal across the spectrum of the United States. Rural, urban and suburban voters on the coasts, in the Midwest, on the plains and in the mountains are all crucial to every presidential campaign. Under the National Popular Vote Compact that will no longer be the case. The costal elites in megacities in New York and California will dominate our political landscape and leave those of us living in flyover country behind. The National Popular Vote Compact also ignores the reality of elections. Sometimes no candidate wins the national popular vote and often the exact popular vote in individual states is not known for weeks after the election. A close election would require a nationwide recount, which will quickly bog down into legal minutia over states differing recount requirements. Do we really want more elections litigated in our courts? The National Popular Vote movement is a zombie policy scarier than an episode of the Walking Dead. It is not good for Michigan or our country, and our Legislature should soundly reject it. Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland) is in his first term representing the 95th District in Michigans House of Representatives. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Chief of General Staff of the Libyan National Army loyal to the government of national unity in the West, Lieutenant General Mohamed al-Haddad, and the Chief of General Command of the Libyan National Army based in the East, Lieutenant General Abderrazak al-Nadhouri, met in Benghazi, the country's second largest city, on Thursday to continue discussions on the unification of the military institution Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Mali's Minister of Economy and Finance, Alousseni Sanou, will present his country's economic, financial and budgetary policy guidelines at the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WB), from 10 to 16 April, in Washington, United States, announced a statement from his ministry DHL has shipped more than 60,000 care packages free of charge from Germany to Ukraine since the beginning of April 2022. ') } // --> ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> Just a few weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, DHL initiated a campaign whereby private customers could send care packages free of charge to support people who are in urgent need of food, medical products, household items (such as blankets) and hygiene articles (such as diapers). All they had to do is download the specially prepared label addressed to Humanitarian Aid Ukraine from the DHL website and post their labeled parcels of up to 20kg at a local retail outlet. DHL then transported the parcels by truck from Germany to the transfer points in Poland, where they are handed over to Ukrposhta, the Ukrainian national postal service. From there, Ukrposhta transported the relief supplies into Ukraine and distributed them where they are most needed. ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write(' ') } // --> ') } else if (width >= 425) { console.log ('largescreen'); document.write('') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> However, the company warned that it is not possible to ship parcels to specific addresses in Ukraine through the free DHL service. Items such as weapons, cash or perishable foodstuffs are also prohibited. The Ukrainian postal service also requests that no clothing donations be sent by this means. Furthermore, the free shipment offer only applies to parcels up to 20kg, and not express shipments, letters or heavy freight. Ole Nordhoff, who is in charge of domestic and international product management at Post and Parcel Germany, explained, It is encouraging to see the tremendous willingness to help in Germany and the strong solidarity among European postal service providers when it comes to helping people in Ukraine. Of course, a special logistical process like this cannot be a lasting solution, but it was important to us to initiate a relief process together with the Ukrainian postal service at very short notice and without red tape, and to offer assistance together with many people from Germany at a time when conventional relief processes were not yet established. Igor Smelyansky, CEO of Ukrposhta, said, Germany has supported Ukraine and its population since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. This support was made possible by the fact that Deutsche Post DHL very quickly began collecting care packages and handing them over to us for further distribution. When the invasion began, Ukrposhta appealed to all postal companies around the world for help. Some then introduced free shipping of parcels and some collected humanitarian aid through their post offices and sent them to charity funds, while others assisted Ukrposhta. Thanks to the coordinated activities and to many donors, relief has been provided to 487,765 households, particularly in the Donetsk, Dnipro and Kharkiv regions. Ukrposhta thanks Deutsche Post DHL and the people in Germany for supporting Ukraine in its fight for independence and democratic values. Read more key delivery updates from the parcel and postal technology industry, here. Photo: (Photo : JOSEP LAGO / Getty Images) Jennifer DeStefano, shared a frightening encounter where phone scammers utilized AI voice cloning technology to deceive her into thinking that her teenage daughter was abducted. According to DeStefano, a mother from Arizona, she received a call from an unfamiliar number while her daughter, 15, was away prompting her to answer the phone out of worry that something had happened to her. DeStefano recounted that the caller's voice sounded just like her daughter's, which led her to believe that it was her daughter on the other end of the line. Arizona Mother Got Scammed Using AI According to Fox News, the caller, who had a voice that sounded exactly like her daughter's, told DeStefano that she had messed up and began crying. The voice said, "Mom, I messed up." Suddenly, a man came on the line, threatening to harm her daughter. The Arizona mother recalled the man saying that they would put her daughter on substances and have their way with her. The man also made a threat to leave her daughter in Mexico. DeStefano started trembling uncontrollably when she heard her daughter's desperate cries for help in the background, saying "Help me, Mom. Please help me. Help me." She was at her other daughter's dance studio at the time, and other mothers there helped her by calling 911 and her husband. As reported by WKYT, they were able to confirm after a few minutes that her daughter was safe. DeStefano believed the call was genuine because her daughter was on a ski trip, and she answered out of concern for an accident. However, it turned out that the voice on the phone was generated by an AI voice clone, and her daughter had no knowledge of it. DeStefano was still shaken by the experience and felt that the voice sounded like her daughter's and had the same inflection and tone, which unnerved her deeply. Read Also: Florida Legislature Passes 6-Week Abortion Ban, Includes Exceptions for Rape, Incest AI Technology's Voice Cloning The recent news reveals that scammers are using voice clones generated by AI to deceive people into giving them money by claiming they have taken their loved ones hostage. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a warning to people to be cautious of such calls. The FTC has mentioned that these criminals use AI to improve their schemes, and they ask for payment through wire transfers, cryptocurrencies, or gift cards. To prevent falling victim to these scams, the FTC advises people to disconnect the call and reach out directly to the concerned person to confirm the story. According to The Washington Post, the number of impersonation scams has been rising, and in 2022, over 36,000 people reported being scammed by imposters pretending to be friends or family. The FTC officials also reported that more than $11 million was lost due to over 5,100 such incidents that happened over the phone. In summary, scammers are using AI-generated voice clones to trick people into giving them money through impersonation schemes. It is crucial to be careful and not trust such calls, but instead verify the story with the concerned person. The number of such scams has been rising, resulting in significant financial losses for people. Related Article: Texas County Leaders Avoid Library Shutdown After Public Outcry Against Book Ban in Llano 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 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. My wife and I went out to dinner last night with a former student of mine and her husband, who himself recently retired as a professor of biology at a university in Texas. They have been in the MTC lately and will soon begin eighteen months as a Church service couple in Egypt. She was a participant in an intensive Arabic program that I led, quite poorly, for BYU in Jerusalem back in the first half of (gulp!) 1993. We were joined by another student in that program, along with his wife and two of his children. He has had a fascinating career in international business, with residencies in more countries all over the world than I can name right now off the top of my head. Until a few years ago, he was the president of the Churchs Cairo Egypt Branch. Needless to say, the conversation was fascinating, with lots of good information and pointers and discussions about life in Cairo and about the state of the Church there. Good food, good company. It doesnt get much better in this life. In the words of the apostle John, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children [umm, as it were] walk in truth (3 John 1:4). Yesterday, I posted a fairly large number of links about transgenderism that I had been saving up for future sharing. Doing so brought a considerable amount of obfuscatory irrelevance from one commenter who refused to read the links, but also drew some excellent suggestions from other people here for further reading and viewing. Im very grateful for their recommendations, and I share them with you here: Hannah Barnes, Time to Think: The Inside Story of the Collapse of the Tavistocks Gender Service for Children Abigail Shrier, Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters Jamie Reed, I Thought I Was Saving Trans Kids. Now Im Blowing the Whistle. There are more than 100 pediatric gender clinics across the U.S. I worked at one. Whats happening to children is morally and medically appalling. The Trans Train a 58-minute Swedish documentary, available for free on YouTube The writer Jesse Singal was also suggested, but I dont yet have a specific reference for him. This seems to me an urgently important issue for the public to be informed about. There are strong social and ideological tides at work right now, backed by powerful social, political, and media elites. But I fear that they and we may be acting like lemmings rushing toward a cliff. And here, in a rather brighter mood, are four somewhat amusing additional links that are more or less related to the issue of transgenderism. However, you should be warned that the fourth of these contains language that, umm, is not appropriate for either the lips or the ears of good Latter-day Saints: Even Hells Kitchen? Bud Light Doesnt Seem to Understand Its Own Consumers Budweiser Clydesdale Events Canceled as Bud Light Boycott Grows The Top Ten Reactions to Bud Lights Dylan Mulvaney Campaign In the spirit of full disclosure here, I think that I need to publicly declare that I myself will be drinking no Bud Light whatever for the foreseeable future. Sometimes the always-urgent search for angles of attack against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints runs into obstacles. It seems that this one wont be quite as effective as some critics plainly wished: Arizona Supreme Court upholds Latter-day Saint priest-penitent privilege in sex abuse case: Court rules that the confidential spiritual confession made to a Latter-day Saint bishop was protected by Arizona law Heres some very useful background: Perspective: Eliminating the clergy exemption can have unintended consequences: Studies on mandatory reporting show these laws dont always work as intended Mandatory Reporting Isnt the Solution: Its increasingly common to hear people point towards laws compelling reporting as the answer to our child abuse crisis. Yet the research doesnt back this up highlighting a number of complications that need more attention. And heres a prior blog entry on the topic, with further references: Should a member of the clergy report sex abuse of the penitent? A look inside the priest-penitent privilege Im being accused over at the Peterson Obsession Board of having deleted a lengthy exchange, including ten or fifteen posts in which I supposedly assaulted this blogs stunningly dogmatic resident atheist commenter, gemli, as stupid and ignorant. Presumably, I deleted it because I found it somehow embarrassing. Now, its absolutely the case that I believe gemli to be by conscious choice remarkably and determinedly ignorant of the subjects on which he presumes to comment here, but I have never called him stupid and I dont believe him to be so. Much more importantly, I remember no such exchange and Im quite confident that Ive never deleted any of gemlis comments nor ever deleted a lengthy exchange of comments here, whether with gemli or with anybody else. The accusation was leveled by an individual who routinely invents malicious fictions about me (some of them quite elaborate) for his eagerly credulous audience. As is commonly the case with him, its flatly false. I share with you links to three recent entries from the Neville-Neville Land blog. It is sadly evident that Jonathan Neville intends to continue his war of misrepresentation and calumny against those who dont share his views on the geography of the Book of Mormon. Accordingly, Neville-Neville Land will continue to chronicle Mr. Nevilles war: The story of Neville-Neville Land, as told to Robert Boylan My response to a thoughtful comment by Greg McIver Jonathan Neville misrepresents Jack Welch, Stephen Smoot, and BYU Studies Quarterly The Sikh Tradition A Small Celebration James Ishmael Ford There is one god, named truth, the creator, without fear, without hate, timeless in form, beyond birth, self-existent, (known by) the grace of the Guru. It was today, the 13th of April, in 1699 that the Guru Gobind Singh created a formal initiation into the community of Sikh believers, the Khalsa. The traditions founder was the Guru Nanak. Nanak was born in 1469 into a Hindu family in the Punjab. When he was thirty while bathing in a river, the Kali Bein, he vanished. Everyone feared he had been swept away and drowned. But on the fourth day he appeared in the village. By all accounts he seemed transformed. From this point on he was seen as somehow special, touched by the divine. When first asked what had happened, he would only reply There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim. For the rest of his life he preached about God as Ek Onkar, the one reality. During his life he visited what we would count as nine countries, offering his vision of divine love. Among his teachings he rejected caste and preached the equality of men and women. Before his death, despite the fact the guru was married and had two sons, he named a non relative as his successor. This led to some conflict, but the line of gurus continued. The thirteen word verse that opens the Guru Granth Sahib is often called the Sikh creed. It has numerous translations. But the first words naming the divine are perhaps crucial. It is sometimes translated as There is one god. But other common translations are this Being is one, and One reality is. Eleanor Nesbitt (whose translation leads this meditation), suggests that this shows Guru Nanaks mystical awareness of the one that is expressed through the many. At its heart is this vision of God. From one angle is seen as monotheistic. From another pantheistic. And from another panentheistic. There would be a succession of nine more gurus, until the tenth, Guru Gobind Singh. In addition to formalizing initiation into the community invested the authority of the Guru to that community and to a collection of hymns and prayers gathered as sacred scripture and called the Guru Granth Sahib. The Sikh communitys formative years were hard and the community suffered persecution, not least for its attracting both Muslims and Hindus into a new faith. Two of the gurus would be murdered. Scholars classify the tradition as an Indian Religion, but its not usually listed as a Dharmic tradition. In its formation most scholars see deep influences from the Hindu Sant tradition, and ecstatic mystical movement, whose most famous figure was the poet Kabir. And in its earlier years most Hindus saw it as a Hindu reform. But, there were substantial differences and before long it was seen as an independent spiritual stream, with influences from both Hinduism and Islam. Today in North America Sikhs are often mistaken for muslims, partially for the color of their skin and because orthodox Sikhs usually have beards and wear turbans. They have been the target of prejudice and sometimes violence. Infamously Sikh-American businessman Balbir Singh Sodhi was the first victim of American domestic retaliations following 9/11. A brief overview of the Sikh tradition at the University of Cambridge site gives a very good summary of the faith. Sikhism is a progressive religion well ahead of its time when it was founded over 500 years ago, The Sikh religion today has a following of over 20 million people worldwide and is ranked as the 5th largest religion in the world. Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind and denounces superstitions and blind rituals. Sikhism is open to all through the teachings of its 10 Gurus enshrined in the Sikh Holy Book and Living Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The number of Sikhs is usually listed as more than 25 million adherents. The majority in India, and the majority of those in the Punjab. Noting all this, there is today. It is said on this day in 1699 the guru called the community together, drew a sword and asked for five Sikhs who would offer their heads for him. Five stepped forward. He gave them a taste of amrit, a nectar created by water infused with sugar and stirred with a doubled edged sword accompanied by the singing of hymns. They were given swords, steel bracelets, combs, special undershorts, and vowed to no longer cut their hair. Today this rite is the central initiation into the Sikh community, the Khalsa. May the line continue a blessing on the world Stephen Yeun, who first gained notoriety with his portrayal of fan-favorite Glenn on nine seasons of the AMC series The Walking Dead, appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and spoke about his background growing up in church. Discussing his newest series, Beef, where his character has a similar background, he briefly talked about his experience in church and, when prompted, quoted his favorite Scripture. Like his character Danny, Yeun recounted his time playing guitar in a church praise band for a a time. I dont do that anymore, I actually dont go to church anywhere, but that was a time, its cool, he said. Colbert responded, But at a certain level, it sticks with you. Do you have a favorite verse if I may ask? I do have a favorite verse, he said. I was taught this in sixth grade. Its Romans 12:2: Do not conform to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then youll be able to test Gods good and perfect will. Yeun then explained his confusion on leaders who interpreted that to mean Dont do secular things, just do Christian things. I was like, Thats doesnt seem at all like what the verse said, he said. And Ive been unpacking it ever since. Yeuns newest series, Beef, is now airing on Netflix. The official synopsis is: BEEF follows the aftermath of a road rage incident between two strangers. Danny Cho (Steven Yeun), a failing contractor with a chip on his shoulder, goes head-to-head with Amy Lau (Ali Wong), a self-made entrepreneur with a picturesque life. The increasing stakes of their feud unravel their lives and relationships in this darkly comedic and deeply moving series. One of the defining features of Twitter since its inception has been the character limit, forcing users to be direct and concise. Its such a big deal that when the limit was doubled, from just 140 characters to 280, it became a subject of primetime TV gags. But under the guiding hand of new owner Elon Musk, there appears to be no line that New Twitter wont cross. So if you pay up for the Twitter Blue premium service, you can now post up to ten thousand characters in a single tweet. In case youre not in the habit of counting your keystrokes, 10,000 characters is approximately 1,800 English words, or six pages of a standard paperback book. Twitter Blue subscribers will also have access to bold, italic, and underline tools denied to everyone else, as reported by The Verge. If that seems antithetical to the very concept of Twitter as a platform for short messages, well, its hardly the first time that Twitter has undermined itself in the last year. The move is a fairly obvious response to would-be rival Substack, which recently created a Twitter-style Notes feature that focuses on you guessed it short messages. Notably, Twitter blocked embedded tweets in Substack newsletters on Thursday, just one day after Substack announced the Notes feature. Its a harsh blow to independent writers who treat Substack as a method of both communication and income, and Twitter as the public square of opinion and news that attracted Musk to its purchase in the first place. The New York Times quotes Hung Up writer Hunter Harris: Its incredibly petty. Its merely the latest in a string of controversial moves by Twitter under Musks leadership. Twitter briefly blocked links to social competitors like Mastodon and Instagram, replaced its entire public relations team with a poop emoji, and appeared to openly endorse joke cryptocurrency Dogecoin by replacing its logo. A recent spat with National Public Radio led NPR and PBS to exit the platform. While blocking competitors seems to be against Musks oft-repeated philosophy of free speech absolutism, the platform itself is becoming a welcome home to hate speech, including racial slurs in the handles of verified Twitter Blue users. The relevant account was suspended after the story broke, so Twitter may not be entirely immune to press criticism, poop emoji or not. 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. Source: Graphiconline 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 With the flush of a toilet or the removal of a bathtub drain, the water within disappears in a final, tiny whirlpool never to be seen again. Well, not quite. Discharged water eventually makes its way to a wastewater treatment plant where it is purified and released back into local waterways. Barry Cupp, Upper Allen Townships Sewer Department director, said that while specific treatment procedures might differ among municipalities, all share a desired result. Everybody has whats called an NPDES permit, he said. Its a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, and that permit contains treatment parameters ... so there are numerous types of treatment processes, but they all have a common goal of meeting the permit requirements, and its strictly monitored too by DEP (Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection). Wastewater, which is synonymous with sewage, is generated when water is used within a home or commercial building. First its conveyed through a building sewer out to the street where, in Upper Allen Townships case, it enters the townships public sewer lateral. Cupp said the township has several collection lines that discharge into trunk sewers, which are slightly larger than the collector sewers. From there, multiple trunk sewers flow to one of Upper Allen Townships several interceptor sewers, which serve as the main line, according to Cupp. Interceptors allow sewage to flow to water treatment plants, with one-third of the townships wastewater traveling to Grantham Wastewater Treatment Plant at 400 Creekside Drive and the rest going to Lower Allen Townships regional facility. Once at the Grantham Wastewater Treatment Plant, wastewater goes through a screening process that removes larger particles in the sewage, Cupp said. Anything that passes through continues for further treatment, while materials that are screened out are compressed, dewatered and bagged for disposal. The flow then continues into a pumping station that transports it to tanks called sequencing batch reactors. There wastewater experiences periods of aeration, where air is introduced to the sewage, and periods of settlement. Solids that settle out are discharged into a digester tank where they are further aerated and allowed to settle before digesters are dewatered. A belt filter press, which will soon be replaced with a screw press in Upper Allen Township, is then used to further extract the solids, which are also referred to as sludge. After as much water content as possible has been removed and treated, remaining sludge cakes are placed on a conveyor belt that rolls into a dumpster. When dumpsters fill up, they are transported to a landfill for disposal and replaced with an empty container, Cupp said. Upon the completion of computerized, timed cycles, the batch reactor tanks are also dewatered and the clear water that comes out of them is transported to a chlorine contact tank for disinfection. After water is disinfected and is tested throughout the process to meet various parameters, it is discharged into the Yellow Breeches Creek. Photos: An inside look at Carlisle's Water Treatment Plant 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 A group of African Americans currently on a visit to Ghana has entreated all 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, Ms Patricia Lawton, who is also the Chief Executive of Quansah Travel and Tours, a US-based tour operator, who facilitated the trip in partnership with Kaya Tours, a Ghanaian based company and Bays Lodge Hotel said this on behalf of the group. The US team was hosted by Bays Lodge Hotel located at the Nungua Police barrier 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 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 has 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 are looking forward to working with our brothers and sisters in Ghana to ensure the speedy development of the country and support a prosperous Ghana. Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey a.k.a Abeiku Santana, the Chief Executive of Kaya Tours, commended the group for choosing Ghana and said his outfit will 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, 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' where each member of the group was decorated with a Kente sash with an inscription 'Greetings from Ghana'. 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 Montgomery County-based Davids Bridal, which sells wedding dresses and other clothing and accessories for special occasions, could lay off thousands of people across the country and is exploring a sale of the company. The company filed a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry informing the state that about 9,236 people nationwide could be laid off, including employees at its Pennsylvania stores. The retailer didnt say how many people could be laid off in the state. Davids Bridal has a number of stores in Pa., including one in Lower Paxton Township. Although the company doesnt know for certain what the ultimate outcome will be, it said it notified the state of the possible layoffs in order to fulfill legal requirements. This is to advise you in accordance with the requirements of the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (the WARN Act) that Davids Bridal, LLC (the Company) is in the process of evaluating its strategic options, including a sale as a going concern, a sale of certain assets and intellectual property, or a potential winddown of some or all of the business and a resulting limited or Company-wide reduction in force and job elimination of employees within the State, the company said in the notice. The company said the corporate layoffs would take place in three phases: Phase 1 would be April 14; Phase 2 would be May 13-27; and Phase 3 would run from June 12 to Aug. 11. The distribution center layoffs would take place between June 12-26. The field/store layoffs would take place between June 12 and Aug. 11. The timetable for closing is based on the best information available, although it is subject to change as the Company continues to evaluate its options, the WARN notice said. The layoffs are expected to be permanent, although new opportunities may become available depending on the outcome of the Companys sale efforts. The layoff announcement comes just days after the New York Times reported that the company is struggling to manage its costs after emerging from bankruptcy four years ago, and it is exploring options. Laura McKeever, a spokesperson for Davids Bridal confirmed that a sale process is underway. We are evaluating our strategic options and a sale process is underway, she said in an email. At this time, there are no updates to share. As ever, providing excellent service remains our focus and we are committed to serving and delivering for our brides and customers and being part of magical moments. The WARN Act is federal legislation that offers protection to workers, their families, and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of a covered-business closing and covered-business mass layoff. Although there are some exceptions to the 60-day rule. The WARN notice was dated April 13. Unfortunately, the Company was not able to provide early notice of the layoffs as it qualifies under the faltering company and unforeseeable business circumstances exceptions set forth in the WARN Act, the company said in its notice. Sign up for Eat, Shop, Go, a weekly report on food, restaurants, business, retail centers, things to do and places to go all around central Pa. Sign up for free by clicking here. NEWPORT NEWS, Va. 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 womans 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 mothers gun, which was legally purchased. FILE - Police look on as students return to Richneck Elementary on Jan. 30, 2023, in Newport News, Va. A grand jury in Virginia has indicted the mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher on charges of child neglect and failing to secure her handgun in the family's home, a prosecutor said Monday, April 10. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP, File)AP 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 prosecutors 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. Students return to Richneck Elementary on Jan. 30, 2023, in Newport News, Va. A grand jury in Virginia has indicted the mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher on charges of child neglect and failing to secure her handgun in the family's home, a prosecutor said Monday, April 10. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP, File)AP 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 boys 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. More: Family, friends flood central Pa. church to mourn slain 12-year-old boy Vehicle hit cars, mailboxes in central Pa. neighborhood crash: police The daughter of late The Young and the Restless star Kristoff St. John was arrested this week in Idaho after she stripped naked inside of a supermarket, according to reports. Boise police said they received a call from a WinCo Monday at 8 p.m. and when they arrived an employee told them that Paris St. John was naked, praying and meditating inside the store. Police said they found Paris, whose mother is former professional boxer Mia St. John, naked in a front office. They said that a woman there was eventually able to get her to put her clothes back on. According to TMZ, which said it obtained the arrest affidavit, Paris St. John was arrested for indecent exposure. But thats not where the story ends because police say that once they got St. John to the jail, she tried to run out of a door. That getaway attempt didnt work, though, because the site said that St. John was booked in on charges of indecent exposure, escape and resisting or obstructing officers. The site said that Paris is receiving mental health treatment. Kristoff St. John died back in February of 2019, reportedly from heart disease. His son and Paris brother, Julian, committed suicide in 2015, so Paris has definitely been through a lot. Kristoff St. John was 52 when he died. Although he had a list of credits, he was perhaps best known for his long-running role as Neil Winters on The Young and the Restless. Epps, who has spent nearly four decades at the university, told the Philadelphia Inquirer before the announcement that she believes she was selected in part for her ability to sort of calm waters. A new concert has been announced for the summer concert series at Hollywood Casino. Danish heavy metal group Volbeat has announced that the venue will be one of the stops on their upcoming 2023 tour, as one of their 18 concerts in North America this season. The band is known for hits such as Still Counting, For Evigt, A Warriors Call and The Devils Bleeding Crown. Joining them in concert at Hollywood Casino are special guests Halestorm. Originally from Red Lion, the band consists of siblings Lzzy and Arejay Hale as lead guitarist/vocalist and drummer, respectively, as well as guitarist Joe Hottinger and bassist Josh Smith. They are known for songs including I Miss The Misery and Love Bites. The show will be held at the MyHeroes outdoor stage at Hollywood Casino, starting at 7 p.m. on Aug. 6. Tickets go on sale to the general public starting April 21 at 10 a.m. For more details, visit the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course website. Todays world is full of scams. And Pennsylvania, unfortunately, is among the states most vulnerable to them. Secure Data Recovery which is, as their name implies, a data recovery service that can retrieve information from any type of failed digital device conducted and published a study that first established a list of the most common scams as well as spams in the nation. From there researchers analyzed Google search data to see where people are struggling the most with said scams and spams. The data was then ranked accordingly. Pennsylvania fell among the top 20 states deemed the most susceptible to scams in the 18th overall spot. The Secure Data Recovery study went as far as to reveal what kind of scams were the most prominent by location as well. For Pennsylvania, one of the top ones was being tricked by scammers posing as Facebook. Scammers often pose as well-known brands to trick people into providing their personal information, explains the study. When it comes to the brands most frequently mentioned in scam-related searches, Facebook tops the list. According to our research, Facebook is mentioned in scam-related searches in 18 different states. Paypal, Cash App, Amazon, and Geek Squad round out the top five. Other scams included those of the romance variety (which people in Wyoming are particularly affected by) as well as everyones favorite: bogus area code calls (the most frequent in Hawaii). The top three states were Washington and Florida tied at third; Virginia and Maryland tied at second; and Colorado all by its lonesome in first. By Summer Lin and Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times (TNS) New details are emerging about the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee last week and the tech consultant who has been charged with murder in his killing. 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. Nima Momeni, 38, a tech consultant and entrepreneur, was arrested and charged with murder Thursday. According to a source familiar with the circumstances of the events leading up to the killing, Momeni, Lee and a group of friends had gone out the night of the killing. At some point, Momeni and Lee were in a car alone together, and Momeni became upset at Lee and blamed him for someone in the party having too much to drink, said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Momeni and Lee were in the same friend group but didnt know each other very well, the source said. Cash App founder Bob Lee was stabbed to death in San Francisco. (MobileCoin/TNS, file)TNS Authorities said Thursday that the case is still under investigation and did not disclose a motive. Lees 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 companys mobile payment service Cash App in 2013. He lived in Mill Valley, California. After his mother died in 2019, 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. Lee and Momeni had friends in common but were not close, Dalton said. It appears that like most homicide victims in the U.S., Lee knew his attacker. 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. Momeni owned a business called Expand IT, which he operated from the Emeryville, California, live-work building where he was arrested Thursday morning. A teacher in Wisconsin has been placed on administrative leave after stating that the school district she worked for banned students from performing the Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton song Rainbowland. Melissa Tempel is a dual-language first grade teacher at Heyer Elementary in Wisconsin who confirmed to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via text that she was put on leave. She told the news outlet to ask Alliance for Education in Waukesha for further questions. READ MORE: Wisconsin school bans Miley, Dolly duet with LGBTQ acceptance theme from concert The alliance consists of mostly Waukesha parents. The group of parents called for superintendent James Sebert to be investigated, claiming repeated discrimination against LGBTQ+ students and staff members, the news outlet reported. This Superintendent and Board began the march toward marginalization last year, and it has only served to stoke fear and sow distrust in the Waukesha Community, which has yielded a pattern of bullying against anyone who calls out the districts bias and harassment, the alliance said in a statement. Now Waukesha is a national laughingstock and the blame for that falls squarely to the feet of the districts leadership, not those who have the courage to hold them accountable, like Ms. Tempel. Sebert confirmed Tempel was placed on leave on Wednesday but did not provide any further comment. He referred a reporter to Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Sharon Thiede who also declined to comment. The Waukesha School Board met in a close session on Wednesday. Though its unknown if Tempel being placed on leave was a topic of discussion. We cannot discuss any of the details of our closed sessions, so unfortunately, I cannot answer your other questions, Waukesha School Board President Kelly Piacsek said in an email. In March, the superintendent said the songs banishment had to do with whether it was appropriate for the age and maturity level of the students. Read more via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. READ MORE: A Franklin County resident has been identified as the man found dead in the Susquehanna River Thursday after the boat he was in went over the Harrisburg Dock Street Dam and capsized. Michael Brook, 64, of Waynesboro, was found in the river near the Harrisburg International Airport about five hours after he fell into the water, according to the Dauphin County Coroners Office. His body was found about seven miles downstream. Brook was with another man in the boat when it capsized around 7:15 a.m. Thursday, according to Harrisburg spokesman Matt Maisel. The man Brook was with was rescued by another boater and taken to shore. The coroners office said Brooks cause and manner of death will be examined during an autopsy on Tuesday. Rescuers in boats and by helicopter and drones searched for Brook for 1 hour and 40 minutes Thursday morning before transitioning into a recovery mode. The mens boat is still trapped in the powerful circulating waters behind the low-head dam as of Friday. Maisel said the river needs to lower by about a foot before Harrisburg fire officials can retrieve the boat. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is still investigating how and why the boat ended up so close to the dam. The water levels are dangerous at the dam right now, Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline said, adding that the moving water can make the river tricky to navigate. This river is not a lake. This river is constantly moving and theres constant velocity. That velocity kills. And we see it time and time again, he told reporters. Moving water kills people, and you have to be able to respect that. Harrisburg officials said there were about six warning buoys scattered around the dam area Thursday morning, mostly below the dam. Each year, about 36 buoys are placed near the dam; 18 on the north side and 18 on the south side to mark the exclusion zone that exists near the dam. They were left in and most washed away during the winters high water, according to Matt Maisel, the citys spokesman. He said the fire department typically retrieves them as the water calms and water levels lower. Maisel said they install the buoys around May, no later than Memorial Day, to prepare annually for recreation on the river. They wait until the water height is at 4 feet or less. It is currently at 5 feet high, he said. In recent years, the city started putting out the buoys in April because thats when people would start putting more boats in. Before that, city officials placed the buoys out in May. Before 2019, city officials placed buoys only on the upstream side of the dam each May, even though state law requires buoys on both sides. City officials said they had a verbal waiver from state officials for the downstream buoys because the water was too swift to safely deploy the buoys. Questions about the lack of buoys and some warning signs were raised last year after a man crashed his boat into the dam in the dark May 7, 2018, from the downstream side, killing his girlfriend, their 3-year-old daughter and the family dog. The city then added new signs and more buoys on both sides of the dam as part of their annual preparation for recreation. At least 30 people have died near the Dock Street Dam since 1935. Zahriah Balentine and Christine Vendel contributed to this report. READ MORE: Remains found in Dauphin County identified as missing Harrisburg man In the years-long fight to counter the expansion of the spotted lanternfly footprint, researchers at Virginia Tech have decided to call in the dogs. According to a school-produced story that Wine Business Daily picked up Thursday, the project thats unofficially called the Canine Citizen Science Study began two years ago in an olfactory lab at Texas Tech and has recently expanded to the East Coast. Erica Feuerbacher, an associate professor of applied animal welfare and behavior in the School of Animal Sciences, and her assistants are working with dog owners to encourage their canines to sniff out spotted lanternfly egg masses.. RENOVO-Plans for a $1 billion natural gas-fired power generating plant on the site of former railroad yards in a borough northwest of Lock Haven in Clinton County have been scrapped. Its a sad and disappointing time, Michael Flannigan, president and CEO of the Clinton County Economic Partnership, said Friday about the decision of the Bechtel Corp. of Reston, Va. Bechtel cited the ongoing appeals from environmental groups as the reason for discontinuing the project that had been in the planning stages for eight years. The company referred to the appeal filed two years ago by the Clean Air Council, Penn Future and the Center for Biological Diversity over the approval by the state Department of Environmental Resources of the air quality permit. Only recently did the Environmental Hearing Board schedule a hearing on the appeal for later this year. After more than eight years, we do not see a path to a reasonable conclusion of the projects air permit appeal and have made the difficult decision to discontinue development, Bechtel said in a statement. It noted the opponents were poised to appeal any further permit renewals. An environmental hearing judge asked the parties to discuss settlement talks but it was to avail, the company stated. This could have meant a lot to an area that badly needs growth, Flannigan said. There was tremendous community and local and state official support for this project. In the end, the delay tactics of the environmental groups won out. The Clean Air Council, Penn Future and the Center for Biological Diversity praised Bechtels decision stating in a release: After many years of community opposition and nearly two years of litigation, the residents of Renovo can breathe easier. Bechtels decision to cancel this dangerous plant is a crucial win for the health, welfare and safety of the residents of Renovo, who have been peddled lies about this projects purported benefits and illegally cut out of the permitting process, said Joseph Otis Minott, executive director and chief counsel of the Clean Air Council. It is a win for Renovo and for all Pennsylvanians when we realize that the fracked gas industry doesnt make sense - from an economic, energy or environmental health perspective, said PennFutures senior attorney Jessica ONeill. The cancellation of this proposed fracked gas burning power plant helps move us forward to a future powered by wind and solar power, said Robert Ukeiley, an environmental health lawyer at the Center for Biological Diversity. As a great-grandparent, Im grateful that this power plant didnt come to fruition because we are now able to protect what is most important - the health of our children, said Sue Cannon, co-founder of Renovo Residents for a Health environment. Environmental groups had contended the proposed 1,240-megawatt generating plant would be one of the most polluting facilities in the commonwealth. The Clean Air Council claimed it would annually emit more than 200 tons of particulate matter, 300 tons of nitrogen oxides and 100 tons of volatile organic compounds. Last September the Environmental Hearing Board found the approved air quality plan set emission levels too high for sulfur dioxide. Renovo Energy agreed to the lower limits. The three organizations appealed challenging the approved emission levels of volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide from the auxiliary boilers. The power plant was to be built on the site where up to 1,200 were employed after World War II repairing engines and cars for the former Pennsylvania Railroad. You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on any of your favorite apps including Alexa, Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit! Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | April 14, 2023 Central Bucks School District is receiving backlash for its plans to monitor students online activity. A new lawsuit claims Excela Health secretly gave Facebook and Google personal patient information. Pennsylvanias public schools got poor marks in a recent poll. Finally, this kid got a job everyone would want. Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa., a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa. is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa. Todays episode refers to the following articles: If you enjoy Today in Pa., consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too. As sponsored by Renewal by Anderson of Central PA A bullet pierced through the window of a Philadelphia daycare in the Lawncrest neighborhood Thursday during a shootout outside of a recreation center, according to news sources. It all happened around 5:30 p.m. outside of the Lawncrest Recreation Center at Rising Sun Avenue and Comly Street. A witness said three teenagers tried to break into a parked Mustang when the vehicles owner spotted them and tried to stop them, according to reports from 6ABC and NBC10. Breaking into the car while the owner was walking from the deli, Elizabeth C. said to NBC10. And he saw them and he was like, What yall doing? They said, Were taking your car, like it or not. And he just pulled the gun out. Shot a couple times. It got jammed up and they just started shooting at each other. The owner of the car, who has a legal permit to carry, and one of the car thieves pulled out their weapons and were entrenched in a gun battle. In total, 27 shots were fired, according to reports. Not only did the Mustang sustain bullet holes, but another car and the daycare did as well. The bullet went through the window of the daycare, traveled about 30 feet through the room, and struck a wall. Five employees and five children were inside. Fortunately, the bullet didnt hit anyone inside and no one was hurt, 6ABC reported. The children were all between the ages of two and four and they were in the play area, and thats where the bullet entered the property, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said to 6ABC. Bullets missed the Lawncrest Recreation Center as well, where 10 kids were inside. No one was hurt. As for the shooters, the owner of the car wasnt hurt either, and the thieves fled the scene. Since there was blood at the scene, authorities believe at least one of the thieves was shot, NBC10 reported. We also found a small amount of blood at the scene, Small said to NBC10. So we believe that there is a shooting victim. But at this time no one has showed up at the hospital. A few hours later after the shooting, a man suffering from a gunshot wound went to a nearby hospital. Now, authorities are investigating to find out if the individual was involved, NBC10 said. Read More: 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. Arie Kruglanski, Professor of Psychology, University of Maryland This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. An area man faces charges of sexual trafficking of a child and molestation in Washington County after officials say he allegedly participated in forcing sexual contact on a child. Authorities are still seeking information about two unidentified teen females alleged to have been directed to also participate in the sex acts involving the male child. Vincent Sterling Price, Jr., 38, of Potosi, has been charged in Washington County with four counts of first-degree sexual trafficking of a child and four counts of first-degree child molestation. Price was charged this month by an eight-count felony complaint filed in the Associate Circuit in Washington County. The complaint alleges that between Oct. 1, 2019, and Feb. 16, 2021, Price, on four separate occasions, directed two unidentified minor females to hold down the male child, who was less than 12 years old, on a bed and then take turns touching the boy's penis while Price watched. According to the charging documents in the case, the alleged acts were reported by the child's mother last April, and an investigation was initiated. During a forensic interview, the report states the child recalled details of the alleged encounters, which he said happened in Potosi. Washington County Prosecuting Attorney John I. Jones, IV said in a recent press release that his office is looking to the public for information about the two minor females mentioned in the complaint. "The sexualization of children we see today is out of control and completely unacceptable," said Jones. "My office will do everything in its power to bring every child sex trafficker in Washington County to justice. The first step is prosecuting the cases we know about, but we need the public's help in identifying victims who are presently being hidden from law enforcement." Anyone with information concerning the identities of the two minor females is asked to contact the Potosi Police Department at 573-438-5468 or the Washington County Prosecutor's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Jones and First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Caleb J. Aponte. The alleged incidents were investigated by the Potosi Police Department. Price was booked at the Washington County Jail, where he remains in custody on a $1 million cash-only bond. If released on bail, the man is prohibited from having contact with children and is ordered to comply with GPS monitoring. At a hearing last week, Price waived formal arraignment and entered pleas of not guilty to each of the eight counts. He is scheduled to appear in court again for a counsel status hearing on Tuesday. Court records show that Price has a pending case in Iron County in which the man is charged with two counts of first-degree child molestation. The case was filed last year on July 27, alleging the molestations happened in -February 2019. The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a jury whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. Gov. Josh Shapiros administration came under fire Friday for its decision to launch a website offering information on abortion-related services in Pennsylvania in the wake of court decisions restriction access to medication abortions. Accessing Abortion Care in Pennsylvania, provides information about how to access abortion care in the state and how to pay for it. Other features include an interactive map that identifies the location of providers. That doesnt sit well with Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-York County, who questioned its legality and appropriateness during a budget hearing with representatives of Gov. Josh Shapiros administration. The website went live on Monday just days after a federal judge in Texas reversed the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations approval of the abortion medication mifepristone. In announcing the website, Shapiro made it clear that federal ruling had no bearing on abortion rights and freedoms in Pennsylvania. As your governor, I believe decisions on reproductive care are to be made between women and their doctors, not extremist politicians or radical court rulings, he said in a statement. Given that position, Phillips-Hill said, If that is the case, utilizing taxpayer dollars by any politicians for a marquee website for abortion is probably not appropriate. Phillips-Hill, R-York County, then asked Shapiros Budget Secretary Uri Monson who paid for the website. Monson said the funding came from the administrations Office of Digital Content. Phillips-Hill reminded him of the states Abortion Control Act which prohibits public funds going toward abortion-related care with few exceptions that include when the mothers life is at risk or in the case of rape or incest. She asked Monson if he felt that law applied to the website. Monson indicated he saw it as no difference from other websites the state had set up to provide assistance about issues that impact citizens. He justified it as tantamount to recent websites created to provide emergency information to people impacted by the East Palestine train derailment or about the potential water contamination in Philadelphia. I think part of our job is being responsive to constituents, he said. Phillips-Hill asked how much was spent to market the site that appears at the top of the page when searching the terms Pennsylvania and abortion on Google. I dont know. Id have to get back to you on that one, Monson said. Phillips-Hill isnt alone in her concerns about this website. The conservative Pennsylvania Family Institute sees it as contrary to the states Abortion Control Act which is to encourage childbirth over abortion. Pennsylvania taxpayers should not be forced to become sales agents for Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry. But that is exactly what is happening with this new abortion-promoting website from the Shapiro administration, said institute spokesman Dan Bartkowiak. Shapiro was critical of the court ruling out of Texas another attack on a womans right to choose. President Joe Bidens administration was filing an emergency appeal of that ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court to restore access to the abortion medication. This is about protecting our freedoms and I wont back down from that fight, Shapiro said, in announcing the website. Phillips-Hill further questioned Monson about the lack of information about abortion alternatives on the website. Monson said he would have to get back to her about what information is available on that website versus other state websites. Afterward, Phillips-Hill made it clear she was unsatisfied with the secretarys responses. She said, With the state advertising abortion services on its main website without any other alternatives or options for expectant mothers, it is very concerning and something I think taxpayers deserve to know how this is being funded and at what expense. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau embraces Wayne Christian (Wenecwtsin), right, First Nations Health Authority Deputy Chair, as he jokes about knowing the prime minister's late father, former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, while speaking during an announcement about First Nations health-care funding at the Squamish First Nation, in West Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Delta-8 THC products like this cherry seltzer can be sold in stores in Missouri because the intoxicating ingredient, THC, is derived from hemp, not marijuana which is a controlled substance (Rebecca Rivas/The Missouri Independent). As he was checking out at a convenience store one day, state Rep. Kurtis Gregory said he looked down and saw delta-8 THC products being sold. He had no idea THC, the intoxicating component mostly associated with marijuana, could be sold openly outside of dispensaries. I messaged a few folks and to my surprise, yep, that is completely at this point legal to be sold, Gregory, a Republican from Marshall, said during a House committee hearing on Tuesday. The products that caught Gregorys eye give people a high by way of a concentrated amount of delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) thats typically manufactured from hemp-derived cannabidiol, or CBD. Because hemp is legal, hemp-derived THC products avoid the intense scrutiny marijuana receives. In fact, they are completely unregulated by the state and federal government. Theres no law saying teenagers or children cant buy them or stores cant sell them to minors though some stores and vendors have taken it upon themselves to impose age restrictions of 21 and up. And theres no requirement to list potential effects on the label or test how much THC is actually in them. Gregorys bill would task the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services with regulating these products, as the agency currently does for the states marijuana program. And the products would have to be sold at DHSS-licensed dispensaries. The reason Im doing this right now is theres currently no age limits on it, Gregory said. I feel like this is operating under a loophole right now. During the Tuesday hearing, a number of people from delta-8 businesses and law enforcement to the American Academy of Pediatrics and lawmakers agreed that there needs to be age restrictions and regulations in product labeling and testing. But both Republican and Democratic lawmakers pushed back on the idea of forcing the industry under the umbrella of DHSS, saying that would allow the marijuana monopoly to take over this market given the limited number of licenses for dispensaries available. Rep. Ben Baker, R-Neosho, talked about a business owner who went through the expensive medical-marijuana license application and was denied. Now hes selling hemp-derived THC products. The ones behind the initial rollout of the medical marijuana werent greedy enough, Baker said, and now theyre coming after the businesses that made the best of it. The marijuana instantly became big business in Missouri after voters passed a constitutional amendment allowing medical marijuana in 2018. Competition for licenses became fierce when the state capped the number of applications it would approve, initially issuing 338 licenses to sell, grow and process marijuana the minimum required in the constitution. Widespread reports of irregularities in how applications were scored fueled criticism of the industry and accusations that insiders were building a monopoly. That criticism spilled into last years campaign to legalize recreational marijuana. Another concern, critics said, is that hemp is federally legal, and lumping it in with the regulations of a controlled substance could result in lawsuits. Gregorys bill also states that no facility shall manufacture or sell any product that contains synthetic cannabinoids or cannabimimetic agents, which opponents say would hurt hemp businesses overall. Im not inclined to think that the closing of the loophole should entail as effectively torpedoing the entire industry, said Rep. Tony Lovasco, R-OFallon. Democratic Rep. Peter Merideth of St. Louis agreed. This bill sounds like its sort of using a hammer, he said, instead of a scalpel to address this problem. The federal farm bill The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp and hemp seeds from the Drug Enforcement Administrations (DEA) schedule of controlled substances. But at the time, lawmakers likely didnt realize that with some technology and chemistry, people could extract enough THC to create products that have lots of different feelings, Josh Grigaitis, owner of the Mighty Kind Company, told The Independent in an interview last month. And the federal government hasnt caught up to figure out how to regulate these products. Its moving way faster than they know how, said Grigaitis whose company produces hemp-derived delta-8 and delta-9 seltzers. So for the last five years, this has been bounced around between the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] and currently, they have put it on Congress to enforce or regulate the space of hemp. In January, the FDA issued a statement that the regulation needs to happen, and the agency is prepared to work with Congress on this matter. Missouri does not have a regulating agency for hemp. The state punted that regulation to the U.S. Department of Agriculture last year. A USDA spokesperson said the agency only regulates the concentration of total delta-9 THC in raw hemp. The 2018 Farm Bill did not specifically address delta-8 and the USDA regulation does not regulate hemp products. Delta-8 is manufactured in laboratory facilities for which USDA has no jurisdiction or enforcement capabilities. In March 2021, the USDA issued a rule stating: Delta-8 THC is unrelated to the 0.3 percent delta-9 THC limit or the post-decarboxylation delta9 THC. Lisa Cox, spokeswoman for DHSS, said the agency is only authorized to regulate medical and adult-use of cannabis, not hemp-derived products. The lack of authority on a state and federal level presents a problem for people in the hemp industry who are advocating for regulations. The federal government kind of leaves us out in limbo, said John Grady, owner of Slaphappy Beverage Company, which sells delta-8 drinks, on Tuesday. It goes back and forth between agency and agency that nobody actually wants to pull the trigger and regulate things. Hemp vs marijuana Both hemp and marijuana belong to the same species, Cannabis sativa, and the two plants look somewhat similar. The defining difference between hemp and marijuana is their psychoactive component: THC. The term THC most often refers to delta-9 THC, which is the most prominently occurring THC in cannabis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marijuana refers to all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa with more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. Any part of the plant containing 0.3% or less THC by dry weight is defined as hemp. In its natural form, delta-8 THC only exists in only small quantities in the plant and is estimated to be about 50-75% as psychoactive as delta-9 THC. But theres a synthetic way to amp that up, and this is what Gregorys bill takes aim at. Hemp tends to have more CBD than marijuana, which is a compound or cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant that is not psychoactive. However, CBD can be synthetically converted into delta-8 THC, as well as delta-9 THC using a solvent, acid, and heat to produce higher concentrations of delta-8 THC than those found naturally in the plant. These synthetic cannabinoids are what Gregory was surprised to see in the convenience story, and its what his bill would ban the manufacturing of. Theres little research on delta-8, but one collaborative study from the University of Buffalo and University of Michigan found delta-8 had better effects than delta-9, as far as causing less paranoia, anxiety, particularly among pediatric cancer patients. Its paradoxical that different states and municipalities are opening up to delta-9, its becoming more available and increasingly legalized, and yet theyre putting the brakes on delta-8, even though it seems to have a better profile in terms of its effects, said Daniel Kruger, an affiliated research professor at UBs School of Public Health and Health Professions. It takes a $500,000 machine to extract delta-8, which is why there are only about 20 companies in Missouri doing it, Sean Hackmann, president of the Missouri Hemp Trade Association, told The Independent. Through his company Grandpas Family Farms, Hackmann produces and sells delta-8 gummies and CBD. They call it unregulated, which technically, it is, he said. Its self regulated, except for the fly-by-night idiots who dont care. We spent a lot of money on testing these products to make sure theres no metals contaminants or anything in these products. There isnt a requirement to put anything on his labels, but his 20mg edibles say: This product produces a similar effect to THC. Do not operate machinery during or after consumption. Effects may exceed 8 hours. The association strongly urges its members to put an age restriction of 21 and up on their delta-8 products. Theyve been working on legislation that would outline this restriction and other regulations for hemp-derived products, he said but it has not yet been filed. The association is opposed to Gregorys bill. Anthony David, owner and CEO of Green Precision Analytics, a DHSS-licensed Missouri marijuana testing facility, testified Tuesday in favor of the bill. We dont know exactly whats in the product and often where it came from, David said. The process of isomeric conversion and these hemp products is massively dangerous and can include corrosive chemicals. David said he hopes the bill isnt seen as an attack on the hemp industry. Its purely a safety issue, he said. Cases of poisoning in children Julie Weber, director of the Missouri Poison Center, said that since recreational use was legalized in November, the number of poisoning cases from delta-8 has dropped. It doesnt mean that the exposures are not occurring, Weber told The Independent in an interview last week. But the turn has really been to the edible cannabis products that we are seeing a definite increase in our cases. In 2022, they had 25 cases involving delta-8 cases for all ages. And so far this year, there have been three cases. None were children. The growing cause of poisoning is the marijuana edibles, she said. For cases of children five and under, its increased from seven cases in 2018 to 125 cases in 2022. Both forms of intoxicants concern Weber. One may just cause a more potent high or a stronger reaction than the other, she said. Either way, Im sure that its not a good feeling for the children. And as a poison expert, the lack of regulation is a big concern. Do we really know what is being put into that product? she said. Thats the scary part. Brandon Owens, left,a resident of Jefferson City, speaks with Glen Farrow of the Office of Workforce Development as he checks in at a state job fair Wednesday in Jefferson City (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent). Hes recovering from a back injury, but Brandon Owens still needs a job. And on Wednesday the Jefferson City resident joined dozens of others at a job fair intended to fill the thousands of open jobs in state government. Owens ideas for the kind of job were fairly vague hes generally done factory work in the past and has been a mechanic for 15 years. He knows what kind of job he doesnt want. Id like to stay as physical as possible, he said. I dont necessarily want to be stuck behind a desk. It wasnt long before Glen Farrow, a community development specialist in the Office of Workforce Development, was keying information about Owens into a screening form. The goal, Farrow said, is to direct applicants to jobs that fit their experience and interests. There are all different types of positions out there, Owens said. The four-hour event in Jefferson Citys Capital Mall featured booths for 22 agencies, including 17 state departments and three elected officials along with separate recruiting stations for the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Office of Public Defender. In all, 252 people interested in possible state employment participated, Office of Administration spokesman Chris Moreland wrote in an email to The Independent. The state budget for this year authorizes the equivalent of 53,358 full time employees, with 45% assigned to the Corrections, Mental Health and Social Services departments. But low pay, harsh working conditions in state institutions and private employers offering more and more incentives in a tight job market has meant massive turnover and long-term vacancies. During fiscal 2022, one in eight budgeted jobs were unfilled. In the mental health department, the rate was one in six. In corrections, the number was one in five. Among frontline Childrens Division staff including child abuse and neglect investigators and foster care case managers the turnover rate last year was 55%, according to data provided by DSS. The result has been delays in services, employees stressed by overwork and major adjustments in state operational plans, such as when the Department of Mental Health canceled its project to shift all sex offender treatment to a single facility in Fulton. To adjust state salaries to the job market, Gov. Mike Parson has requested and received two extraordinarily large pay raises and authority to set a $15 an hour base wage for state jobs. State employees have received raises totaling 16.2% since the start of January 2022 and the differential for night work in state institutions was increased to $2 per hour in March. A person willing to work a night shift in a state prison can start at $21.96 per hour, said Darin Gerke, talent acquisition officer for the corrections department. That is just under $46,000 a year. Over the past two years, the Department of Corrections has reported turnover rates over 25%, with more than half of new corrections officers quitting within six months of completing their training. The qualifications are simple at least 18 years old and no felony convictions. The job does not require a high school diploma or a drivers license. The biggest staffing needs are in central Missouri, where the department operates prisons in Audrain, Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Moniteau and Randolph counties, and northwest Missouri where populations are declining, Gerke said. We are working hard to find people to work up there, he said. At the Department of Labor, lead administrator Tatiana Lane was in search of 18 employees, ranging from claim center representatives to administrative leaders. The qualifications for entry jobs are not difficult to meet, Lane said. That is the message we are bringing to the people, that there is no bad candidate, she said. Bringing the agency recruiters together is a way to offer something for every interest and aptitude, Commissioner of Administration Ken Zellers said. The economic inducements to work for the state arent just pay, he said. Recruiters emphasize job satisfaction in public service as well as other benefits pension benefits equal to half-pay for 30 years work, 13 paid holidays, health insurance and three weeks of paid leave. The message they are delivering is simple, Zellers said. Whether you have a college degree or not, the state has lots of jobs and opportunities, he said. One of the biggest deficits in its workforce is in the Department of Social Services. Along with turnover and vacancies, the department is planning to add 100 employees in the Childrens Division to reduce child abuse caseloads. The department is trying to hire about 600 people, said Robert Knodell, the agencys acting director. The department needs everything from entry level employees to pharmacists and physicians. The greatest difficulty in hiring, he said, is in the Interstate 70 corridor from St. Louis to Kansas City, where the states population is concentrated. The qualifications for state employment range from a willingness to do the job, like corrections officer, all the way up to advanced professional degree. The state has far more of the former than the latter and wages play a big role in recruiting. For the corrections department, Gerke said, raises are making jobs in the department attractive again. When they used to laugh at us, he said, they take us seriously now. CXP Racing: CNC Machined Goodness from Auckland The mountain bike stem is one of CXP's signature products. Bruno's BMX background is still visible in his Auckland workshop. One of his daughters races BMX too. A Raleigh Chopper waiting for a service. Bruno has a small collection of bikes which includes one of the rare Lahar bikes. CXP Racing chainrings and cog. A BMX crankset for kids. A shaft clamping tool and socket tool. CXP Racing's take on BMX stems. The CXP Racing suspension socket tool. Dogbone suspension links for GT frames. Bruno and his Haas TM1P. Sometimes, things go wrong. An olds chool lathe in Bruno's workshop. Everything you need for wheelbuilding. Details - Various products available, including stems, chainrings and suspension tools - Made in New Zealand - Website: - Instagram: - Various products available, including stems, chainrings and suspension tools- Made in New Zealand- Website: https://cxp-racing.myshopify.com/ - Instagram: @cyclexpress_howick Passchier Bamboo Handlebars A batch of nearly finished Passchier bamboo handlebars. Passchier is based in New Brighton, Christchurch. Dirk Passchier started to make bamboo paddles for kayaking in 1978. Dirk's workshop. Putting a bamboo handlebar on his old bike was the best thing he could do, says Dirk. The handlebars start as seven 3 mm bamboo sheets. They are glued together and then put in a press at a secret temperature. Each handlebar shape has its own press. After the press, a spindle moulder is used to remove some material. Some more material is removed in a secret step. Making the carbon sleeves for the clamping area. A batch of finished handlebars. Dirk has also been experimenting with bamboo springs. Mike Baddeley and Dirk Passchier in the workshop. Details - Made in New Zealand - Three different handlebar options - Intended use: Touring, bikepacking, commuting - Price: from 250 NZD (= 160 USD) - Weight: from 240 g - Website: - Instagram: - Made in New Zealand- Three different handlebar options- Intended use: Touring, bikepacking, commuting- Price: from 250 NZD (= 160 USD)- Weight: from 240 g- Website: https://www.passchier.co.nz - Instagram: @passchiernz Zerode: The Gearbox Bike Pioneers A particularly nice build, owned by Zerode director Ali Quinn. A Zerode G1, as raced by James Dodds. Some earlier prototypes can still be seen at the Zerode HQ. Everything is ready to build more bikes. The team at Zerode builds wheels too. Photos by Zerode Bikes. Prototypes and a Katipo. You will find a lot of tools in the Zerode workshop. However, however you won't find a bottom bracket or cassette tool for obvious reasons. Photos by Zerode Bikes. A light rear wheel with little unsprung mass makes the suspension active and supple. Dream spec on this build. Zerode Bikes moved to Carbon Drive belts a few years ago. The much debated but perfectly functional twist shifter. Before we went on the test ride... ... Tom prepared this yellow frame for assembly. Ali Quinn putting the Katipo through its paces. When we came back from the test ride, the new bike was ready to ride. The crew certainly knows how to build bikes! Details - Frames made in Taiwan; designed and assembled in New Zealand - Framesets: 6920 NZD (4300 USD) + tax + shipping - Voyager Builds: 9460 NZD (5890 USD) + tax + shipping - Deluxe Builds: 10340 NZD (6430 USD) + tax + shipping - Zerode EU has its own tax-inclusive prices for Europe - Bikes come with Pinion C.Line gearboxes and Carbon Drive Belt - Website worldwide: - Website for Europe: - Instagram: - Frames made in Taiwan; designed and assembled in New Zealand- Framesets: 6920 NZD (4300 USD) + tax + shipping- Voyager Builds: 9460 NZD (5890 USD) + tax + shipping- Deluxe Builds: 10340 NZD (6430 USD) + tax + shipping- Zerode EU has its own tax-inclusive prices for Europe- Bikes come with Pinion C.Line gearboxes and Carbon Drive Belt- Website worldwide: https://zerodebikes.com/ - Website for Europe: https://zerode.eu/ - Instagram: @zerodebikes CXP Racing is a brand of Cyclexpress Howick, a bike shop that is based in Howick, Auckland. The shop and CXP Racing were founded by Bruno Pfister, a Swiss toolmaker who came to New Zealand more than 20 years ago.Bruno has a background in BMX racing and has strong bonds with the local BMX club. One of his daughters races BMX bikes too, and she's also involved in @therubyprojectnz , a local initiative that aims "to get girls on bikes and develop a passion for shredding."Bruno and his team work on all kinds of bikes - they certainly don't shy away from difficult tasks such as working on a 40 year old Raleigh Chopper bikes. His shop is well equipped with everything you'd expect in a bike shop and much more - not every bike shop has a spoke cutter, and certainly only a few have their own CNC and laser machines.Over the last couple of years, Bruno has designed an impressive range of bike products, which are mostly made from 7075 and 6082 aluminum:- Chainrings: There are several chainrings to choose from, including Cinch, SRAM, and 5-bolt mounts as well as larger BMX chainrings.- Rear cogs (for Shimano and Profile Racing hubs)- Stems: After designing a BMX stem, Bruno worked on a sturdy MTB stem - and it looks absolutely fantastic I think.- Suspension tools: CXP Racing offers a nice selection of suspenion tools, including topcap sockets and clamps.- Dogbone suspension links for GT frames: The CXP option comes with bearings instead of bushings.Bruno bought his first Haas TM1P a few years ago and just got another TM1P and a ST15 recently, so he's more than ready to ramp up production and make some more chips. Over the years he built a nice collection of cutting tools (mostly carbide) - from time to time something goes wrong and he keeps the most bizarre and destroyed tools in a special box. Bruno tries to automate the process as much as possible for his small batch runs. Of course, they recycle all the offcuts and chips. The anodising and diamondising is done in NZ too, and the last step - laser engraving - is done in-house.For easy jobs, Bruno also uses an old school lathe - as a toolmaker he certainly knows how to use this one.Dirk Passchier (pronounced Pash-Air) hails from the beautiful suburb of New Brighton in Christchurch, so his passion for kayaking is easy to understand. He started to make bamboo kayak paddles back in 1978. After a lot of testing and refinements, he was able to build paddles that provided comfort and a good amount of flex that usual paddles didnt offer.When a friend of his, Tim Taylor, paddled around New Zealand, Dirk loaned him one of his bamboo paddles the next day and 86 kms later, Tim didnt want to give them back, as it was the first day on his trip that he finished without sore shoulders.A few decades later, Dirk got to meet Mike, who saw a lot of potential in using bamboo for making comfortable handlebars. Again, a lengthy R&D period followed, and Dirk came up with the first handlebar that certainly stood out from the crowd.Today, Passchier is a team of three: Dirk Passchier crafts the handlebars in his workshop, Mike Baddeley acts as Business Manager and Rebecca Baddeley is in charge of marketing.The handlebars are tested according to ISO 4210-2:2015, Clause 4.7.6.2 and 4.7.7 (fatigue and strength for commuting and trekking bikes) and are mostly aimed at commuters, bikepackers and touring. The team says that youd be fine to use them on Level 1, 2 and 3 trails (according to the New Zealand trail grading system), but in case you weigh more than 110 kg (240 lbs) or want to ride gnarly Enduro/DH tracks, these handlebars are not the right choice. Dirk made some versions with carbon layers, however he says that this only made the bars stiffer, but not more sturdy.Each handlebar starts as a set of seven 3mm bamboo sheets. These are glued together and and then put in a custom made press, where under a lot of pressure and at the correct (and secret) temperature the sheets are pressed into their future shape.After this, a spindle mould and some secret steps remove the correct amount of material, which results in a raw handlebar. After varnishing, the handlebar gets a carbon sleeve in the middle, to distribute the forces of the stem more evenly.As with many raw materials, the bamboo comes from China, where it is sustainably grown.At this stage, the unique feature of the handlebars are comfort and vibration reduction. However, the team is working on more environmentally friendly versions, which they say will be fully compostable. This mainly includes changes to the varnish and resin.Passchier handlebars are sold directly and through dealers in Canada, USA, Japan, Australia and Germany.Currently, there are three different Passchier handlebars, all delivering the renowned Passchier comfort:- Astaire (620 mm, 10 backsweep, 240 g)- Gump 760 (760 mm, 22 backsweep, 330 g)- Gump 650 (650 mm, 22 backsweep, 250 g)Theres probably no other mountain bike brand on the planet that has built such a strong reputation for making gearbox bikes as the Zero derailleur company. Zerode has come a long way - its founder Rob Metz started to build unique bikes more than 20 years ago. For a few years, Rob worked together with Rotorua trailbuilder and racer James Dodzy Dodds, who helped to bring the Zerode G1 into production in 2011. Sadly, Dodzy was killed in a tragic hunting accident a year later.After Rob released the G2 (which used a gearhub, as did the G1), it didnt take long before he got his hands on a Pinion P1.18 gearbox that he used for a new prototype. Soon IT guru Ali Quinn got a chance to ride this bike and he was so blown away by the performance that he decided to join Rob at Zerode Bikes. This gave Rob the opportunity to focus on bike design, while Ali became responsible for the business side of the company. Today, Zerode is an operation with several employees at their HQ in Lower Hutt in the Wellington Area.While the frames are made and painted by one of the leading carbon frame manufacturers in Taiwan, most of the bikes are assembled at the HQ in New Zealand. Bikes for the European market are assembled at the recently opened office in the Netherlands.Their 10 year long dedication to Pinion gearboxes means that Zerode has basically become synonymous with gearbox bikes, especially when talking about top-shelf carbon mountainbikes. But is it just the nearly indestructible drivetrain that makes Zerode Bikes stand out from the crowd? The gearbox and use of a Carbon Drive belt allow us to reduce the unsprung mass significantly, which results in a more active suspension, says Ali Quinn. The bikes are very silent too, and low maintenance of course. They might even be cheaper to run in the long term, as you save money by not having to buy expensive cassettes and chains.Today, all Zerode bikes come with a Gates Carbon Drive belt as standard. If a rider really wants to use a chain, Zerode can cater for that too. However, Ali says they only ship two or three chain-equipped bikes per year. Zerode uses Pinion C.Line gearboxes, which come with either 9 (568% gear range) or 12 gears (600% gear range). The new G3 will be shipped with a C1.6 gearbox with 6 gears.Each bike is individually built for its new owner, so if youre after some non-standard components, the team at Zerode will most likely be able to help you.Currently Zerode offers these bikes:- Taniwha: 27.5 wheels, 160 mm travel- Taniwha Trail: 27.5 wheels, 140 mm travel- Taniwha Mulet, 29 front, 27.5 rear wheel, 140 or 160 mm travel- Katipo: 29 wheels, 160 mm travel- Katipo Trail: 29 wheels, 140 mm travel- G3: Mullet, 200 mm travelAs you might have guessed, the Taniwha and Katipo bikes are based on two frames. Using different aluminum links and a different shock will transform a Taniwha into a Taniwha Trail, and a Katipo into a Katipo Trail.If you want to read more about the new G3 downhill bike, you can find an article here When buying a Zerode, you can either get a frameset, the Voyager Build or the Deluxe Build. Framesets come with a Pinion C.Line gearbox, 170mm forged Pinion cranks, crank screws, Pinion 30t front chain ring, Zerode 30t rear sprocket, Pinion shifter, Pinion chain tensioner and a Fox X2 shock. Voyager Builds come with a Rockshox Lyrik or Cane Creek Helm fork and aluminum rims. The Deluxe Builds are equipped with a Fox Factory fork and carbon rims. For see all the details, please head over to Zerodes website. Hands of the Week: Royal Flush, Seven-Deuce & a Six-Deuce Jam at the 2023 Irish Poker Open April 14, 2023 Chad Holloway Executive Editor U.S. The PokerNews Live Reporting Team was on-site at the 2023 1,150 Irish Open Main Event, which drew 2,491 entrants and offered up a 2,428,475 prize pool. It marked the biggest-ever Irish Open Main Event and the largest poker tournament ever held in Ireland. Scotland's David Docherty, who qualified after winning a $109 online satellite on PokerStars, emerged as the champion to claim a 365,000 ($398,780) top prize. Here's a look at some of the biggest and most exciting hands captured by the PokerNews Live Reporting Team during the tournament. David Docherty Turns $109 into 365,000 After 2023 Irish Open Main Event Victory Johnson Busts Hartigan in Two Hands James Hartigan On Day 1cd of the tournament, it was Level 5 (100/300/300) when EPT commentator James Hartigan had been moved from the live-streamed table to an outer table but that did not work out for him. In the first hand, Mitch Johnson opened from early position, which Hartigan three-bet to 2,000 from the button. Johnson then responded with a four-bet to 5,300 after inquiring about Hartigan's stack and Hartigan called. The flop came down K87 and Johnson continuation-bet for 2,800. Hartigan took one last peak at his cards before passing them to the dealer. Johnson would bust Hartigan not much later when Johnson had a full house with 33 on Q366. The rest of Hartigan's stack went in with 67 for turned trips. The river was the A, which resulted in Hartigan's exit. However, he speeded to the reentry desk to fire another bullet. Nitsche Doubles with Seven-Deuce Dominik Nitsche On Day 2 in Level 12 (800/1,600/1,600), Dominik Nitsche and Ian O'Flynn were involved in a blind-on-blind battle for a pot worth roughly 35,000. On a completed board of 47J23 O'Flynn had checked to Nitsche. Nitsche went all-in for 28,900 chips and O'Flynn asked the dealer for an exact count. After the correct number was given, O'Flynn called. Nitsche had a surprise in store for O'Flynn as he showed 72. Nitsche turned two pair and doubled up with the worst starting hand in hold'em. You know what they say, ''Seven-deuce, never lose''. Button Confusion Leads to Glaser's Seven-Deuce Victory Benny Glaser Speaking of Seven-Deuce, a big hand took place on Day 3 in Level 26 (20,000/40,000/40,000). There was a lot of commotion over at Benny Glaser's table. Two floormen were discussing with the players and the dealer how to handle the situation that just occurred. Allegedly, Glaser had put in a big blind and ante, thinking that he was in the appropriate position. However, the button was actually three seats prior, leading to two people putting in a small blind before Glaser's big blind. No one at the table realized this before significant action had taken place, in the form of an 80,000 raise from Darren Harbinson and a fold. The floor ruled that Glaser would get his 40,000 ante back and his big blind would count as an under the gun call. Meanwhile, the second small blind Daniel Rankin had to put in the additional 60,000 chips to cover the big blind and ante. With the ruling set in stone, the hand continued as normally as it could. The action folded around to Rankin, who called, as did Glaser. The flop was A47 and both ''big blinds'' checked to Harbinson, who fired a continuation-bet of 110,000. Rankin abandoned this ludicrous situation, but Glaser stuck around with a call. The turn fell the 9 and Glaser check-called another bet from Harbinson, this time for 190,000. The river 2 saw Harbinson complete the triple barrel, firing for 255,000 after another check from Glaser. Glaser remarked ''This pot is f-ing crazy, I call''. Harbinson replied by saying ''You're good, I missed my flush draw'', after which Glaser tabled a very surprising 72 for a rivered two pair. The showdown got some laughter from the crowd that had gathered around the table, but Glaser was the one who had the last laugh as he raked in a big pot that should not have ever happened in the first place. Black Hits Royal Flush to Bust Beresford Also on Day 2, albeit in Level 24 (10,000/25,000/25,000), two players were all in preflop with Andy Black holding the A10 and Conor Beresford the A10. The flop came 2JK and the turn came the Q to give Black the rarest of hands, the Royal Flush. Beresford was eliminated from the event in 67th place. You can check out that hand below: just setting up my twttr jack (@jack) Andy Black Jams with Six-Deuce Andy Black The above hand helped Black make it all the way to the final table, and as the poker world knows from his play at the 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event final table, he isn't afraid to mix it up. That was evidenced by a hand on Day 4 in Level 38 (300,000/600,000/600,000) when Declan Rice limped the small blind. Black shoved from the big blind and Rice looked him up. The commentators on stream were urging Rice to make the call. He thought for a bit and then called. Andy Black: 62 Declan Rice: A8 Black had attempted a blind steal and Rice had caught him at it. The flop ran out 976. Black hit a pair of sixes and audible gasps came from viewers on the rail. The turn came the Q and the river was the 5 to give Rice the straight. It was a legendary bust for a legendary player, who made the exit on his own terms. Black was eliminated in 5th place for 95,500. Game-Changing Heads-Up Hand Declan Rice Rice made it all the way to heads-up play against Docherty, and in Level 41 (600,000/1,200,000/1,200,000) a game-changing hand took place. Docherty made it 2,400,000 from the button and Rice called from the big blind. The flop of 5KJ was dealt and Docherty continuation-bet for two million chips. Rice then responded with a check-raise to 5,000,000, which Docherty called. All the signs of a big hand were in the air as the 8 turn was put on the felt. Rice continued with another bet, this time of 6,000,000. Again, Docherty obliged with a call. The river was the 3 and Rice checked the flush-completing card. Docherty thought for a little while before moving all in for a bet worth 18,075,000. Rice responded with a rapid call and all onlookers spectated the situation in awe. David Docherty: AK Declan Rice: K8 Docherty rivered the nuts against Rice's turned two pair. He now has a six-to-one chip lead, with Rice being left with only eight big blinds. Rice finished as runner-up a short time later for 228,700. Sharelines Check out some of the biggest hands from the recently-completed 2023 1,150 Irish Open Main Event. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Potential Republican 2024 presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) ducked and dodged when asked if he would sign a six-week abortion ban as president. Video: Potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) dodges when asked if he would sign a national six-week abortion ban as president, "I'm not going to talk about six or five or seven or ten." pic.twitter.com/GHYvi3FUbj Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) April 14, 2023 Here was Sen. Scotts exchange with NBC News: Q: Is six weeks the right mile marker? Scott: The people have decided that their elected leaders have the opportunity to do so I say absolutely as the culture of life is being protected, we should celebrate that yes, if I were president, I would sign the most conservative pro-life legislation that they can get through congress. Q: Even if it was six weeks? A: Im not going to talk about six or five or seven or ten. For More Stories Like This, Subscribe To Our Newsletter: Sen. Scotts refusal to answer the abortion ban question illustrates how the political dynamics have changed on the issue since the Supreme Court overturned Roe. Republicans spent a half-century loudly proclaiming that they would ban all abortions if Roe was overturned. Since the Dobbs decision, Republicans have lost election after election on the issue of abortion, so now when they are challenged on their positions, they become a moving target and refuse to answer. Republican candidates are trapped between having to court extremist right-wing evangelicals who have an outsized voice in any presidential primary and trying to win a general election where the evangelical position is unpopular. Tim Scotts refusal to take a strong stand is the worst of all worlds politically. His answer turns off both evangelicals and the broader general election, and it is a sign of potentially losing candidate. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) complained at the NRA Leadership Forum about being sued by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg. Video: Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) complains to the NRA about getting sued by Alvin Bragg, "It is crazy to use federal tax dollars to indict a former president for no crime, and then when we try to investigate, they take us to court." pic.twitter.com/RFYUPGuPtt Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) April 14, 2023 Jordan said, It is crazy to use federal tax dollars to indict a former president for no crime, and then when we try to investigate, they take us to court, but thats what they did. Rep. Jordan left out the part where he is abusing his committees oversight power to illegally interfere in a local criminal prosecution. Jordan went from Donald Trump being charged to getting sued, while leaving the very important reason that he is being sued. If Jordan was attempting to abuse his power and interfere in a local criminal investigation, DA Bragg would not be suing him. For More Stories Like This, Subscribe To Our Newsletter: Jordans complaining to the NRA shows that Republicans are used to being the bullies who cant handle when Democrats stand up and fight back. Jim Jordan thought that Alvin Bragg was going to step aside and let him interfere in the criminal case against Trump. When Bragg acted to defend the rule of law, Rep. Jordan went total snowflake and tried to play the victim. The Republican Party has been remade in Trumps image. The party is weak, soft, and constantly playing the victim while complaining. Qabil Ashirov The Azerbaijani Ambassador to Qatar, Mahir Aliyev, met with the Speaker of the Shura Council of Qatar, Hasan bin Abdulla Al-Ghanim, Azernews reports. According to the information received from the embassy, during the meeting, our diplomat presented the letter of Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Azerbaijan Milli Majlis, and the Speaker of the Shura Council of Qatar. The letter contains the ways to expand cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries, as well as the issues of Hasan bin Abdulla Al-Ghanim's visit to Azerbaijan in May 2023 and his participation in the Milli Majlis session. Expressing his gratitude for the invitation, the chairman of the Qatari Shura Council of Qatar noted the high level of relations between the legislative bodies of the two friendly countries and emphasized that the expansion of the cooperation of the parliaments is a contribution to the strengthening of interstate relations. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Foxs Tucker Carlson pushed false information on his show about Russias success in their invasion of Ukraine and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) called him out on it. Lieu tweeted: I have attended a number of classified briefings about Ukraine. What Tucker Carlson said below is false. https://t.co/awLzqc6XA8 Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) April 14, 2023 Carlson apparently knowingly repeated on his show a Russian-altered infographic that claimed 7 Ukrainian causalities are suffered for each Russian one. For More Stories Like This, Subscribe To Our Newsletter: The numbers were inverted the real numbers are that seven Russians are dying for each Ukrainian. Tucker Carlson and his producers knew the real number and lied. (The Carlson video wont be embedded or linked to here, because we will not play a part in any way in sharing Russian propaganda You can watch it by clicking the tweet above.) It is important for people like Rep. Lieu who have been in the briefings and know the facts to call out Tucker Carlsons lies and misinformation. The Fox News host is trying to help Putin win by undermining US support for Ukraine. Tucker Carlson is spreading dangerous anti-democracy propaganda to at least a few million Americans each weeknight. It is easy for elected officials to ignore Carlson, but ignoring a threat will not make it go away. Only when people collectively stand up to correct and condemn propaganda will American democracy be saved. Daisies, lavender, tomato plants, ferns and tons of other greenhouse denizens are available for sale in some unusual locations Saturday and into next week, with at least three local high schools having their annual FFA plant sales. Aiken High has two groups in action, having started Thursday and planning to have the Saturday event from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The students have one sale and the Aiken High FFA Booster Club, a few yards away, has another. The campus includes three FFA greenhouses and another for the booster club. The booster club's proceeds support scholarships for Aiken High students who are planning to pursue a college degree in agriculture, according to Gloria Wade, the club's president. Customer traffic was extremely heavy early Thursday, when the sale started "so busy, it was hard to keep up," she said. "It's our ... main fundraiser for the school year," said Alex Derrick, who teaches agriculture and leads the FFA program at the high school. He noted that hanging baskets and "lots of veggies" are highly popular. "We always get veggie requests." Joe Wilson, who died in 2022 and spent 33 years in agricultural education at Aiken High, was instrumental in making the sale "a huge event," with proceeds going to support scholarships and also to help FFA students afford a trip to attend FFA summer camp and the organization's national convention, Derrick added. This year's student advisor, Emma Farris, added, "We've been planting plants all year long ... We had a fall plant sale and we also had a Christmas plant sale, so when we got back from Christmas break, we started planting these plants." Farris, a senior, noted that Derrick has six classes, each with about 30 students, and all are on board for sales and the related preparation. Her plans include studying agriculture in college. "I haven't really decided if I want to go into a teaching career or ... management, around plants and animals," she said. At least two similar sales are taking place over the next few days, with the first being at Ridge Spring-Monetta High School Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon. "We are selling out and breaking records," said agriculture teacher Michael Crim, at RS-M, assessing the situation Friday morning. Midland Valley High is starting its sale Saturday, running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Monday through Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wagener-Salley High's FFA program has already had one sale this season, but will probably have another, May 13, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to teacher Ethan Busbee. The overarching entity is the National FFA Organization, with the acronym standing for "Future Farmers of America," described on the FFA website as "the premier youth organization preparing members for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture." The state website notes, "FFA also welcomes members who aspire to careers as teachers, doctors, scientists, business owners and more. For this reason, the name of the organization was updated in 1988 after a vote of national convention delegates to reflect the growing diversity and new opportunities in the industry of agriculture." A cluster of just six Lego bricks can be combined in over 915 million different ways. Lego Groups Chesterfield County factory, which is expected to be running by the end of 2025, will be pumping out billions of those small, colored bricks for customers worldwide. Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced 10 months ago that the Danish toymaker had chosen Meadowville Technology Park as the site for U.S. manufacturing. That $1 billion investment includes a 1.7 million-square-foot manufacturing facility with a pledge of 1,761 jobs for the area. Lego on Wednesday held a groundbreaking ceremony for the plant with Youngkin; national, state and local officials; and economic development groups. The factory will soon span over 340 acres of land with an initial opening date scheduled in 2025. On these grounds we will continue our traditions of super strong craftsmanship rooted in high quality, in a sustainable manufactured way with state of the art technology to produce billions of these. Im excited, said Carsten Rasmussen, Legos chief operations officer. Each Lego brick is made with the precision of a tenth of a hair. By completion of the facility and a full ramping up of its workforce, the factory will manufacture the full array of Lego products. This year also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Legos move into the U.S.; Rasmussen said the factory had an initial planned lifespan of 50 years, with the possibility that it could last for up to 100 years. We have built strong foundations in the U.S., Rasmussen said. Today, it is one of our biggest markets, and we have still a lot of potential to strengthen our presence but, more importantly, to delight many more children with fantastic play experience that will help them with creativity and learning. Eco-friendly design planned with project Rasmussen said the factorys design is also slated to have a major component of environmental friendliness when it comes to operational aspects like water usage, waste treatments and energy usage. The initial structure is set to be powered entirely by a solar park at the sites grounds and rooftop. Youngkin and legislators signed a bill for the Precision Plastic Manufacturing Grant Fund. Identical bills in the state House and Senate are offering $56 million on grants between 2027 and 2035. The bills do not specifically mention Lego by name but refer to a company making precision plastic products with expected capital investments of $1 billion creating 1,761 new full-time jobs. We will see the spirit of Virginia further breathe life into this facility. And that facility will build tools to inspire the imagination and we will hear that click over and over again that kids love, Youngkin said. This will be the best. This facility, this culture and this opportunity. The best business climate in Virginia, the best education in Virginia. The best sites in Virginia, the best infrastructure, the best trained workforce. This is what we come together to deliver. Kevin Carroll, chair of the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors, said the countys Economic Development Authority, or EDA, had been intentionally saving the last undeveloped parcel at the Meadowville Technology Park for just the right partner. We found that strong partner was LEGO Group; what a lucky break, Carroll said. The future economic impact of the plant ... cannot be overstated, as we will see the creation of 1,761 jobs coupled with the contributions to the commercial tax revenue will significantly help fund public safety, schools and other public services while reducing the countys reliance on residential property taxes. Other investments in area The Meadowville Technology Park, at Interstate 295 and the James River, is also home to an Amazon fulfillment center and a Capital One data center among other tenants. The Chesterfield EDA expanded the parks footprint in 2020 by purchasing the now-Lego property. The Chesterfield board contributed $3 million of the $21 million price tag, with the rest coming from the EDA. The land was formerly part of an 800-acre American Tobacco cigarette plant site. Virginia Economic Development Partnership said in a statement that Lego cited more than 100 factors and sub-factors when choosing Meadowville. Virginias solution, that statement said, was focused on an attractive, pad-ready site with strategic access to markets, comprehensive custom workforce solutions from talent recruitment to training, a competitive state and community incentive package, and a commitment to renewable energy. The ultimate 1,700-member workforce is being hired in two states. The first stage of 500 employees is already underway with around 20 people hired so far. That first batch of workers will work out of a local facility until the full factory is built. Rasmussen said the initial operations will package around 35 to 40 different products that are molded at its site in Monterrey, Mexico. Rasmussen said Lego Group is still determining the average salary for a worker at the plant, but it should be competitive with the market with other great benefits. The Chesterfield facility is one Legos seventh worldwide: two in Asia, three in Europe and the one in Monterrey. Rasmussen said the Chesterfield factory will have to ramp up production over an unspecified number of years before making its full assortment of products. While ramping up, it will work in tandem with the Mexico factory. He said the Chesterfield operations will start with around 40 products. A scale model of the factory, made out of 34,174 Lego bricks, includes a line representing where the facility could possibly expand in the coming years. Rasmussen said the facility has space to double its operations on the current parcel of land, but that a timeline for that growth is unknown. Its going to take us some years before we were going to expand. That could be done in sections, so not necessarily everything at one time, Rasmussen said. It could be some section first. Its like the brick. Its very, very modular. You can build it together. Site work on the land began this week. Rasmussen said vertical construction would start within the next couple of months. Charlie Hartz is preparing to launch a new venture, and its focus will be dogs instead of doughnuts and coffee. The local entrepreneur is a former Dunkin franchisee and the owner of three of the chains shops two in Aiken and one in North Augusta. I sold them in February to a guy named Peter Patel, Hartz told the Aiken Standard recently. They were great businesses. They were some of the highest performing stores in North and South Carolina. But I wanted to slow down and take it a little bit easier. In four months or so, Hartz is planning to open Scenthound in the Eastgate Shopping Center on Aikens Southside. Scenthound will offer routine care and grooming for dogs. Its a franchise as well, Hartz said. I wanted to do something that I had never done before. Im stepping outside of my box. Hartz explored various business opportunities before settling on Scenthound, which had a concept that intrigued him. I went to Florida to meet the founder (Tim Vogel) and the executive team, Hartz said. I was impressed with their expertise and their culture. Theyre very passionate about dogs and dog welfare. Hartz is a self-described dog lover, and he and his wife, Kitsie, have a small white canine companion, Cola Bleu. She is our baby, Hartz said. In South Carolina, there is a Scenthound location in Mt. Pleasant. There also are Scenthounds in Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and other states. Scenthound customers can purchase membership plans, but services still are available to their dogs if they dont. In addition to a bath, ear cleaning, nail clipping and teeth brushing are included in the basic Scenthound hygiene package. You make an appointment, drop your dog off at 2:30 in the afternoon and in 30 minutes, hes ready to go, Hartz said. Well be in the shopping center with Publix, so you drop your dog off, do your grocery shopping and come back and pick your dog up and go home. Among the other Scenthound services offered in Aiken will be haircuts, facial scrubs and plaque reduction and problem skin treatments. Well be preselling memberships before we open, he said. I think were going to be swamped. There will be six to eight employees at the Scenthound in Aiken. I wont be washing dogs, but Ill be out there greeting people and working with the staff to develop a great culture, said Hartz, who still is the co-owner of The Village Cafe in The Village at Woodside. He also is a former chairman of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce. For more information about Scenthound, visit scenthound.com. A British manufacturer of fine bone china is busy making God Save The King commemorative plates and mugs for King Charles II's May 6 coronation. Craftspeople at the Duchess China factory in the central England city of Stoke-on-Trent painted delicate gold edges on more teacups and saucers this week to make sure there are enough to meet the expected demand for royal souvenirs. Its range of commemorative china features the Union Jack colors of red, white and blue, and come emblazoned with the words God Save the King. The manufacturer said the design was inspired by china produced in the 1930s for the coronation of King George VI, Charles grandfather. Read moreUK china maker rolls out souvenirs for king's May coronation Aiken, SC (29801) Today Showers early with some clearing overnight. Low 52F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Showers early with some clearing overnight. Low 52F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Intervals of clouds and sunshine in the morning with more clouds for later in the day. High 72F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds from time to time. Low 58F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. A former pizzeria in downtown Charleston soon will house a retailer with locations in major U.S. cities. Uncommon James, founded in 2017 in Nashville by former reality TV personality Kristin Cavallari, plans to open by late summer or early fall in the two-story, 5,057-square-foot structure at 309 King St., according to Andrew Webb, president and managing partner at Charlotte-based Redline Property Partners. Redline bought the former Mellow Mushroom pizzeria site last fall for $4 million. The restaurant closed in 2020 after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The building was sold later that year to JPMorgan Chase & Co., which had planned to use it for a bank branch but changed its mind. The new tenant will sell jewelry made from delicate metals and gemstones, skincare products, apparel, accessories and home-decor items such as candles and kitchenware. It also will offer in-house piercings and engraving services. Sign up for our real estate newsletter! Get the best of the Post and Courier's Real Estate news, handpicked and delivered to your inbox each Saturday. Email Sign Up! Site plans show a first-floor sales area with storage and a breakroom in the back. The second floor includes a display area for dining and housewares as well as an indoor lounge and outdoor roof deck in back. The retailer is seeking renovations to the storefront through the city's Board of Architecutural Review. A representative for the company did not immediately respond for further comment April 11. Cavallari first rose to fame in 2004 as a cast member on the MTV reality television show "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County," which ran from 20042006. She then appeared on the spin-off MTV series "The Hills" from 20092010, and was later given her own E! reality series called "Very Cavallari" in 20182020. She also starred as an actress on television shows and in films, including National Lampoon's "Van Wilder: Freshman Year." Cavallari also has a Charleston connection. She is friends with "Southern Charm" cast members Craig Conover and Austen Kroll. Uncommon James operates other stores in Chicago and Dallas. A vacant lot in downtown Charleston that was to be developed into a contemporary office building could instead become a small boutique hotel that would push King Street's lodging boundary farther uptown. Plans have been filed with the city of Charleston for the five-story proposal, just north of Line Street. Greenville-based Atlantic South Development is listed in documents as the owner, though the sale of the property has not yet been finalized. According to the plans, the developer is proposing to build an 18-room hotel at 657 King and an adjacent parcel, just south of the overpass where Interstate 26 meets the Septima P. Clark Expressway. It would include a rooftop area, meeting space and two commercial spaces for retail or restaurant uses. The properties, which are across King Street from Barsa Tapas Lounge & Bar, have been vacant for years. A previously approved project for the site fell through. Real estate investor Richards Gregory purchased the land in 2015 through a company called The Twisted Bubble LLC, according to county land records. He had planned to develop a four-story, solar-powered office building with a unique curving architectural design. Gregory said the deal didn't come together because of financial reasons, and he decided a few years ago to sell the lots and reinvest the proceeds. I believed in this project, in great architecture and art, in spreading good will, Gregory said this week. It was a beautiful design, and while it was imperfect like any design, I think it was very appropriate for the site. It didnt work out, but it's something I am proud to have taken part in. The newly proposed project will require a zoning change to allow for an accommodations business to operate on the property. It would be the northernmost hotel on King Street if approved by the city. Atlantic South Development, led by Mitch Norville, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Upstate firm previously built a five-story office structure at 677 King, just north of the proposed hotel site. GEORGETOWN A second consecutive rate increase for Georgetown County taxpayers is necessary in the coming year to pay for a new detention center to avoid the possibility of reaching the county's limits to pay off bonds, government leaders said. That was a key takeaway from an April 11 meeting among the council that kicked off the county's public discussions of the fiscal 2024 budget, forecast by County Finance Director Karis Langston at $98 million. The 2-mill increase Langston proposed, a 3 percent hike over current rates, would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $8 in taxes a year and generate about $1.1 million in revenue for the county. If work goes forward on the $65 million detention center without a tax increase, the county will hit its bond debt ceiling in 2027. "If we do nothing," Langton said, "that is not going to be enough to pay the debt service payments." County leaders, in recent years, have cited overcrowding and problems with ventilation, heating/air conditioning and plumbing at the present detention center on Browns Ferry Road. The proposed tax hike would be the second in a row after a 2-mill tax increase applied this past year. The recent tax increase is expected to save $590,000 in debt to pay off bonds. Another 2-mill increase in the coming fiscal year, Langston said, would save $959,000, raising the county's account to pay off bond debt to nearly $10 million. But the $65 million price tag attached to the detention center project still requires further "engineering" just to reach that figure, County Administrator Angela Christian said. "What happens if that cost of construction is higher than the projected or desired $65 million? Where do we go from there?" Councilman Everett Carolina asked. "You downsize the project," Christian replied. Summerville, SC (29483) Today Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low near 55F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low near 55F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. 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 FLORENCE The real work in South Carolina's 7th Congressional District happens in the district offices, U.S. Rep. Russell Fry said. Fry was in Florence on April 14 for the opening of the Pee Dee District Office, 1831 W. Evans St., Suite 300. What happens in Washington, D.C., makes the news, the Republican congressman said. But district offices answer constituents' questions and help them navigate the intricacies of the federal government. "Constituent service is what this job is all about. That's what makes this job work. Being responsive to you on your needs and how we can better the community." The Pee Dee District Office staff can help constituents with problems they are having with the federal government, Fry said. Fry was sworn in to the 118th Congress on Jan. 7. He is the second representative to serve the 7th District. The district includes Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Georgetown, Horry, Marion and Marlboro counties as well as parts of Florence County. The Pee Dee District Office is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday to Friday. It can be reached at 843-353-5377. The Grand Strand District Office opened Feb. 17 in Surfside Beach. Surfside Beach was chosen for the Grand Strand office because it is halfway between North Myrtle Beach and Georgetown, Fry said. The Grand Strand office is located at 1500 U.S. Highway 17, Suite 304 in Surfside Beach. It is also open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. Grand Strand residents can call 843-353-5377 for assistance. The opening of the Pee Dee office means all 7th District constituents have local representatives, Fry said. "We are finally fully staffed. We have phones. We have internet. We have personnel and we have some furniture, too. We need a little bit more, but we have some," he said. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is widely expected to announce a presidential bid in the coming weeks, courted evangelical voters Friday at Liberty University, a day after signing a bill that would ban most abortions in his state after six weeks. DeSantis, who appeared to hint at a presidential bid, saying he looks forward to the battles ahead, only glanced off his abortion stance, saying his administration has backed a culture of life. But in introducing the Florida governor at Liberty, Jonathan Falwell, a minister, and the schools next chancellor, praised DeSantis for flying back from Ohio on Thursday to sign the bill in Florida. He flew all the way back to Florida and last night, after the legislature there in Florida passed a bill, he signed the heartbeat protection act, Falwell said, drawing cheers from the convocation crowd at the Vines Center. As he signed that into the law in the state of Florida it will protect all unborn babies because he recognizes and knows that life is a gift from God, Falwell said. Liberty, a Lynchburg-based Christian school founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr., is a traditional stop for GOP presidential hopefuls. Liberty is the states largest college, boasting 130,000 students, with about 115,000 of them fully online. Libertys on-campus students are expected to attend convocation, a regular Wednesday and Friday gathering that brings about 80 speakers to campus throughout the year to advance the schools mission of training champions for Christ. In his 22-minute speech DeSantis characterized Florida as a ray of hope that better days may still lie ahead. He traced his administrations actions fighting COVID-19 restrictions and what he termed the woke left. He portrayed Florida as a promised land of sanity in a world that has increasingly gone off its rocker. We have embraced freedom. We have maintained law and order. We have protected the rights of parents. We have elevated the importance of family and promoted a culture of life, DeSantis said. We have respected our taxpayers and we have rejected woke ideology. He portrayed Florida as the top state in the country in metrics such as net in-migration and new business formation. DeSantis served in Congress from 2013 to 2018, when he was first elected governor in a contest that went to a recount. He was reelected last year by more than 1.5 million votes and nearly 20 percentage points. Floridas current 15-week abortion law faces challenges in that states Supreme Court. The fate of the new six-week law could depend on the outcome of that case. The six-week Florida law includes exceptions to save the womans life and in cases of rape and incest. The U.S. Supreme Courts decision last summer to overturn Roe v. Wade sent the issue of whether to allow or restrict abortion back to the states. Florida is among a number of Southern states to pass further restrictions. Abortion is still legal in Virginia for any reason up until 26 weeks of gestation, or the second trimester, and later in a pregnancy if physicians have attested that carrying a fetus to term will put the pregnant persons life or mental health at serious risk. During this years Virginia General Assembly session, Democratic senators blocked a number of proposed abortion curbs, including a bill Gov. Glenn Youngkin backed to bar most abortions after 15 weeks. Democratic U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginias 7th District said in a Twitter post Friday: What happened last night in Florida shows whats at stake in Virginia in 2023, with all 140 General Assembly seats up for election. Virginias Governor has made clear that he wants to roll back our rights. We cant let that happen. The right to choose is on the ballot this November when we vote for Virginias General Assembly. Virginia Democrats posted on Twitter: Thats whats on the line this November. Who gets to make womens health care decisions Glenn Youngkin or women? In the meantime, abortion could be headed back to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Biden administration on Friday urged the high court to block a lower court ruling restricting access to an abortion drug. Youngkin, who addressed Liberty students last year, is often mentioned as a potential candidate for national office but has taken no overt steps toward a bid. In recent weeks, he has noted that he is not campaigning in Iowa, but is focused on Virginia issues such as his push for tax cuts in the budget negotiations. The six-week Florida abortion law could help DeSantis with conservative voters in a GOP nominating contest, but it could prove a general election challenge in states like Virginia, where large suburban counties in Northern Virginia and greater Richmond helped Democrat Joe Biden beat then-President Donald Trump by about 10 percentage points in 2020. A recent Virginia poll from the Washington Post and the Schar School at George Mason University found that 34% thought abortion laws should remain as they are and 41% said they should be less strict, while 17 percent thought abortion statues should be more strict. A Virginia poll that Roanoke College released last month found that Youngkins job approval ratings are rising, but he lagged far behind Trump and DeSantis as Virginia Republicans first choice for the partys presidential nomination. Youngkins Virginia job approval rating hit 57% in February five points better than in November and his disapproval rating was 35% down six points from three months before. When Republican respondents were asked their first choice for president, 39% chose Trump and 28% picked DeSantis. Youngkin finished a distant third with 6%, just ahead of Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and ambassador to the United Nations, and someone else, each at 5%. Nationally, Trump has appeared to grow his lead over DeSantis in recent GOP presidential polls since Trumps indictment in New York. Other GOP hopefuls who have spoken at Liberty in recent years include Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, Haley and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 57F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 57F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Former South Carolina congressman John Jenrette Jr., a rising Democratic star before his 1980 conviction in the Abscam bribery scandal, was remembered April 14 as a charismatic character of great highs and lows no fiction writer could match. Jenrette died last month at age 86 following battles with dementia and cancer. His funeral was held in Charleston. "He was like no other," his wife, Rosemary Long Jenrette, said repeatedly while giving remarks at his service at the French Huguenot Church downtown where he was a member. She noted that her mother, one of Jenrette's teachers, knew from an early age "he will go somewhere." Rosemary didn't meet Jenrette until a Christmas party in 1987, two decades after pointing to a campaign poster on a utility pole and telling her girlfriends who wanted to meet Elvis that she'd rather meet "that man right there running for office." The couple married in 1992. "Thats a perfect example of look out what you wish for," she said to laughter from attendees. She described her husband as someone who never met a stranger. It was his ability to make instant friends that got them home after being stranded in the Paris airport for three days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. He saw a pilot in uniform, struck up a conversation, learned his family loved Myrtle Beach, and they ended up on the first flight back to Atlanta, she said. "He greeted everyone. He even talked to people in the elevator. There were many times conversations led to adventures," she said. "We had dinner at our tour guides house. After being with him all day he said, 'Lets go to your house for dinner,' and we did." Jenrette, who grew up poor on a farm in Loris, graduated from Wofford College and the University of Law School, then worked as a lawyer and city judge before his first election to the state House in 1964 representing Horry County. He was first elected to Congress in 1974 to represent South Carolina's 6th District, which at the time stretched across the region of his roots in the Pee Dee and Grand Strand, after losing a bid two years earlier. An early supporter of Jimmy Carter for president in 1976 and beloved by his constituents, he was on a path for party leadership when he was caught up in the FBI's Abscam sting and convicted of accepting a $50,000 bribe. The corruption case involved a middleman approaching a public official with word that a fictitious Arab sheik named Abdul was interested in making a large investment in the United States, but only in exchange for assistance immigrating to the country. Politicians were trapped and indicted if they accepted money in exchange for immigration assistance. Jenrette was among 12 people convicted, mostly congressmen and local officials from the Philadelphia area. According to his obituary, Jenrette later explained that he struggled with alcohol abuse at the time and was drunk when he was arrested. He was sentenced to two years in prison but served 13 months. After his conviction, Jenrettes second wife, Rita Carpenter, posed nude in Playboy magazine and said she had sex with her husband behind a column on the U.S. Capitol steps during a break in a late-night U.S. House session. The escapade was the inspiration for the group The Capitol Steps, which did political satire songs and skits for almost 40 years. The couple divorced in 1981, and she went on to marry an Italian prince. She did not attend the service. The Rev. Philip Bryant, the pastor of the Huguenot church, told The Post and Courier she was in Italy. Family member Scott Bessent pointed to the marriage as another example of Jenrette's larger-than-life personality. "John was one of most fascinating, frustrating, engaging people Ive ever met," Bessent wrote in a eulogy read by Jenrette's grandson, Beau Teal. "Think for a moment: This son of Horry County farmers was husband to a woman who went on to become an Italian princess with a $400 million castle," his eulogy continued to laughter from attendees. After prison, Jenrette took on various ventures that included advocating for tobacco, marketing an experimental balloon-operated flotation device; running (and then folding) a national chain of timeshares; breeding horses in Bulgaria; and selling cigarettes in Eastern Europe immediately after the fall of the Soviet Union. In 2017, two of his former aides wrote the book, Capitol Steps and Missteps: The Wild, Improbable Ride of Congressman John Jenrette." "Only a man who refused to play by the rules could have scaled to the heights he did and yet, his rejection of established behavior led to his downfall," Teal read. Bessent, who could not attend, wrote that he's grateful for Uncle Johnny's example. "I was able to imagine I could achieve great heights," he wrote. "Because of his downfall, I was also able to see that guardrails were required to maintain solid values and good relationships and close friendships." It was his third wife, Rosemary, who "provided a stable, nourishing final chapter to what had been a volatile life of meteoric rises and Icarus-like falls," wrote Bessent, who also penned Jenrette's obituary. "When we look back at his life, it reads like a Hollywood film no one would believe was a documentary rather than fiction," he wrote. "No writer couldve matched the imagination." In addition to his wife Rosemary, Jenrette's other survivors include his two children and two grandsons, as well as Rosemary's son and grandchildren. GOOSE CREEK In the first 72 hours of testing a future White House bid, Tim Scott has been learning a hard lesson: There's no such thing as a soft launch for the presidency. The South Carolina Republican thrust himself into the national spotlight this week when he announced his presidential exploratory committee, vowing in his launch video to "protect the right to life." But when faced with repeated questions about his firm stance on abortion, the senator struggled to give a consistent answer as he traveled to the three early states that weigh in first in the presidential contest. In Iowa, he was vague when asked whether he would support a federal prohibition on abortion, according to media reports. In New Hampshire, Scott said in a TV interview he would support a federal abortion ban after 20 weeks of pregnancy. And in an exclusive interview with The Post and Courier in South Carolina, Scott said he would support a federal ban at 20 weeks, adding that he was comfortable with 15 weeks as "an appropriate federal backstop." He pledged, if elected president, to sign "the most pro-life piece of legislation that can pass through both houses of Congress." "From my perspective, if it gets through Congress you're talking about the American people's objective, their desire," said Scott, who added, "I'm not going to deal in hypotheticals." Scott also said he would support exceptions to abortion in cases of rape or incest, and instances where the life of the mother is at risk. His responses illustrate the potentially perilous road ahead he will have to navigate should he decide to go from could-be White House candidate to official presidential contender. This election cycle, Republican candidates are facing pressure from powerful anti-abortion groups to support a national ban like the 15-week suggestion proposed by U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, Scott's South Carolina counterpart. Meanwhile, Democrats have sought to codify the right to an abortion, which is setting up as the line of divide so far in the election season. "Abortion has always been a hot-button issue, but certainly after the Dobbs decision we've seen it become a complicated one, as well," said Gibbs Knotts, a political scientist at the College of Charleston. "When Roe was the law of the land, people could say 'I'm pro-life,' but now it's so much more than that," he added. "What about at 15 weeks? What about when the woman's life is in danger? What about fetal abnormalities? It's become a lot more complex issue." But for Scott, who is making an early play for evangelical Christian conservatives that make up a core base of GOP primary voters, the issue is even more complicated as he tries to appease conservatives who want more abortion restrictions without alienating more moderate factions of the GOP and independents he will need to win over in a general election. Plus, former Vice President Mike Pence, who has called for a national ban on the procedure, could be entering the 2024 race soon. In an April 14 Fox News interview, Pence promised he will make a decision on a 2024 run "in weeks, not months." Like Scott, Pence is widely expected to court evangelical voters. His visits to early states often include meetings with pastors and remarks in churches. Scott's interview with The Post and Courier on April 14 came shortly after he found himself moving easily between tables inside Alex's Restaurant in Goose Creek, where he was welcomed with a standing ovation from some of the local diners. The patrons gave a loud cheer when he said, "It's always good to come home." Scott declined to say when he would decide whether to officially enter the 2024 Republican presidential primary race. "Nothing's holding me back," Scott, 57, told the newspaper when asked what was stopping him from making his White House bid official. "I'm doing what I've always done, which is being thorough about the prospects of leading the greatest country on Earth. The fact of the matter is I think everyone should take it seriously because more important than what I'm trying to do is who am I trying to this for. The mission is always more important than the position." As Scott made his way through the restaurant, Michael Young and Sarah Bridgewood waited for the hubbub to subside but stood to shake Scott's hand when he stopped at their table. "I was debating whether to leave, but then he started coming over," Young said. "That's when I knew we had to stay. It'd be seen as an insult otherwise." Young said he eats at the restaurant regularly and had no idea he was getting a front-row seat to 2024 campaign politics. He also said he'd like to see Scott run for president, but he hasn't been won over by anyone yet. "It's very early," Young said as he pushed his empty plate forward and sat back to watch Scott do a national TV interview in a corner of the diner. SPARTANBURG Brother-in-law duo Jacob Holland and Jared Rimmer plan to open a Pokemon lovers paradise this month in the former location of Beans and Bookmarks on Reidville Road in Spartanburg. Last year, the two created a Facebook group, The Cheerful Charmander, so they and others could buy, sell and trade Pokemon-related items. Their community has grown to thousands of followers. We built this giant community based off of kindness where we have been nothing but keeping our word on our end as far as making sure that we've put the community first, Holland said. We did the legwork, and we're really hoping it pays off for us this Friday." The two have expanded their footprint by opening a hobby store in April 14 at 2811 Reidville Road in Spartanburg. Cheerful CTG will have a variety of cards, protective gear, sleeves and top loaders, and will offer Pokemon league play tournaments and game nights. Customers can stop by for Pokemon monopoly, trivia and trade nights. The store will also have around 40,000 cards. Rimmers love for trading Pokemon cards began when he was age 6. He got his first set of Fossil Pokemon cards at a 7-Eleven and has been trading cards ever since. Holland remembers getting stockings full of cards for Christmas in the late 1990s also at age 6 when the first edition set of Pokemon cards were sold in the U.S. Holland said he would buy cards from time to time, but it was Rimmer who spiked his interest again in picking up the hobby of buying, selling and trading Pokemon-related items. Rimmer and Holland met each over eight years ago while working as assistant managers at Papa Johns. Rimmer married Hollands wifes sister. The two see into business together as a great fit because they bring opposite personalities to their business. Holland describes himself as being the soft-hearted, people person and Rimmer as the big brain of the duo. The first livestream we ever did in the group was just me and my kids opening stuff in the front yard, Holland said. In addition to members being able to buy, sell and trade items, Holland and Rimmer also host their own live streams, giveaways, rip and ships, game nights and claim sales within their Faceboook group. The two estimate that theyve donated around $10,000 worth of products to their Facebook community. Holland and Rimmer allow other card shops and other Pokemon communities to advertise within their group for free. The only ask is that if people are wanting customers to buy from their businesses, they as business owners should also be giving back to their communities in some way. Holland and Rimmer also ask people who advertise to donate to their giveaways. Because, in the end, people have given us so much that giving back is never an issue, he said. Before starting their Facebook group, Holland and Rimmer set up a booth at the Barnyard Flea Market in Greer every Saturday and Sunday to trade items and sell products. Rimmer believes a big reason for his and Hollands popularity is their focus on kindness in all they do. Rimmer said the two have replaced 4,000 cards out of their own pockets. Many children come to their booth at the flea market and are able to replace fake cards that theyve gotten because of scams. We have to rip them up in front of them," Rimmer said. "That's the only rule that we have." Though Cheerful TCG will have cards that are nearly $1,000, Rimmer said he values fair pricing. He plans to give people the best deal on cards or other products within the store. It's exciting just walking in and knowing it's something that we are in control of, he said. Its our domain. For Rimmer, the hobby of trading and selling cards has allowed him to interact with people he might not have otherwise met. When his store opens, hes hoping to share his joy of ripping open a new pack of cards with other people. The two dont plan to leave the flea market behind. For the first month their business is open, Hollands wife will take over the booth. Going forward, Rimmer and Holland will take turns alternating the weekends they sell at the flea market. PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 13:21:25 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/ # 1000 Words 1st Floor, The Work Lab, Model Colony, Shivajinagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411016CEO+91-7400-24-24-24 The global Advanced Driver Assistance Systems market research report is focuses on an overall consumption patterns, development trends, sales patterns and sales in key countries of the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems market. The report focuses on global Advanced Driver Assistance Systems 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=344 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 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems market is segmented on the basis of solution, industry, and end user. Based on solution, the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems market is segmented into component, services. On the basis of industry, the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems market is segmented into manufacturing, others. Based on end user, the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems market is segmented into consumer and enterprises. The global Advanced Driver Assistance Systems market report includes a detailed analysis of the segmentation of this industry by Types and Applications.Global Advanced Driver Assistance Systems by Segments: By Systemo Adaptive Cruise Control Systemo Tire Pressure Monitoring Systemo Drowsiness Monitor Systemo Automated Parkingo Blind Spot Object Detection Systemo Traffic Sign Recognitiono Automated Emergency Brakingo Lane Departure Warning Systemo Adaptive Front-lighting Systemo Others By Sensor Typeo Lidaro Imageo Ultrasonico Radaro Lasero Others By Vehicleo Passenger Carso Truckso BusesCompetitive Landscape:The competitive landscape of the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems 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.AISIN SEIKI Co., Ltd., Continental AG, DENSO CORPORATION, HYUNDAI MOBIS, MAGNA International Inc., Mobileye, NVIDIA Corporation, NXP Semiconductors, Panasonic Corporation, Renesas Electronics Corporation, Robert Bosch GmbH, Texas Instruments Incorporated and VALEO, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, amongst others.Advanced Driver Assistance Systems 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 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems market.Ask for Discount: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=344 The Study Objectives are: A comprehensive insight into key players operating in the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems 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, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems market segments by application, study goals and years considered.Market Landscape: Here, the global Advanced Driver Assistance Systems 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 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems 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 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems 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 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems 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 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems 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=344 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: 2023-04-14 04:52:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 444 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until May 8, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE:CS), if they purchased the Company's securities between March 10, 2022 and March 15, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Credit Suisse and would like to discuss your legal rights and how these cases might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-cs/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court by May 8, 2023.About the LawsuitsCredit Suisse and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On February 9, 2023, the Company announced its 2022 financial results, disclosing that, contrary to its prior statements, it had continued to experience large customer outflows through yearend 2022, specifically, outflows of 110.5 billion Swiss francs in the final three months of 2022, a figure which far exceeded market expectations. On this news, shares of Credit Suisse fell $0.56 per ADS, or 15.64%, to close at $3.02 per ADS on February 9, 2023. Then, on March 15, 2023, news media sources revealed that the Company's "biggest backer," Saudi National Bank, would not buy any more of the Company's shares on regulatory grounds. On this news, shares of Credit Suisse fell 13.94% to close at $2.16 per ADS.The case is Calhoun v. Credit Suisse Group AG, et al., No. 23-cv-01297.A subsequently-filed case, Turner v. Credit Suisse Group AG, et al., No. 23-cv-01476, expanded the class period.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ CONTACT:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC For Thomas Jeffersons 280th birthday on Thursday, Monticello hosted a full morning of festivities on the mountaintop that honored tradition and highlighted the Founding Fathers philosophy that our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost, with two awards that celebrate local, national and international journalism. As all of us know, freedom of the press in the United States is memorialized in the First Amendment in the Constitution, said Tobias Dengel, chair of the board of trustees of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which oversees and operates the historic home of the former president. What some of us, perhaps, less know is that it is also memorialized in the current constitution of Iran. Under Articles 24 and 25, publications and press have freedom of expression the inspection of books and press is prohibited. Each year the University of Virginia, which Jefferson founded in 1819, and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation present the highest honors that both institutions have to offer: the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medals in architecture, law and citizen leadership. The medals honor individuals whose work exemplifies Jeffersons commitment to the duty and virtue of public service, according to the two organizations. This year, the university and foundation selection committee chose Washington Post opinion writer Jason Rezaian as the 2023 Thomas Jefferson Foundation Citizen Leadership medal recipient. A first-generation American of Iranian and Turkish origin, Rezaian became chief of the Washington Posts Tehran bureau in 2012. Two years later, Iranian officials arrested Rezaian and his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, on unsubstantiated espionage charges. On Jan. 16, 2016, Rezaian was released, along with three other prisoners, in exchange for the release of seven Iranian prisoners under the agreement that the U.S. would also drop charges against 14 other Iranians. One of the only good things that happened while I was in prison was that, after many months, when Yeganeh has finally been released and became a fearless and tireless advocate for me, she fought and won the right to bring me books, Rezaian told the audience of about 200 people at Monticello on Thursday. One of the unlikeliest books she found in Tehran in the back of her van was a well-worn paperback copy of Jeffersons rights. Rezaian said that, seven years later, two ideas from the rights listed in Jeffersons Declaration of Independence resonate most with him. It was of the importance of press freedom and the responsibility and his fellow founders felt in protecting the rights of all citizens, Rezaian said. Jefferson wrote, If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and will never be. He was warning us about the natural tendency for those with power to abuse it and offering one possible shield that we could use ourselves against that. Freed after 544 days of imprisonment, Rezaian has since used his platform to advocate for freedom of the press on a global scale while supporting the stories of other journalists who have been imprisoned for their work or nationality. Today, he is a writer for the Washington Posts global opinion section. Jasons speech was inspiring, said Gardiner Hallock, interim president of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. His commitment to an informed citizenry, to free press he has lived this every day, and it is wonderful to have him here in Monticello. In line with the theme of uplifting journalists, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation also presented an award to the local nonprofit newspaper, Charlottesville Tomorrow, for their great service to the community and strong ties to journalism, Hallock said. Hallock said Founders Day presents an opportunity to honor Jeffersons legacy while bridging the community together for a scenic and informative day at the Founding Fathers home. The day began with the 23rd annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Jefferson gravesite at Monticello and ended with a Founders Day celebration on the West Lawn. Jeffersons descendants sat inside the Monticello Graveyard while the Old Line Fife and Drum Corps escorted attendees in and out of the ceremony. There were 11 wreaths laid before the obelisk over Jeffersons grave: from President Biden, the Albemarle chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Charlottesville City Council, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, James Madisons Montpelier, the Jefferson Foundation, UVa and more. The Graveyard is owned by the Jefferson descendants of the Monticello Association, who limit burial in the cemetery to lineal descendants of Jefferson through his daughters Martha and Madison, according to the associations website. Throughout the day, community partners, including Getting Word: The Monticello African American History Project, the League of Women Voters of the Charlottesville Area, the Monacan Nation Cultural Foundation, Tom Tom Festival and several others pitched a tent and booths to speak with event attendees about their respective roles in the community. After the ceremony, UVa and the Jefferson Foundation held a private luncheon with all of this years award recipients, including Andrew Freear, the Auburn University professor who is the 2023 recipient of the architecture prize, and lawyers Menaka Guruswamy and Arundhati Katju, who received the medal in law after winning a case in Indias Supreme Court that overturned a 157-year-old law that made gay sex illegal. PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 04:52:38 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 410 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until May 1, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Dutch Bros Inc. ("Dutch" or the "Company") (NYSE:BROS), if they purchased the Company's securities between March 1, 2022 and May 11, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Dutch and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-bros/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by May 1, 2023.About the LawsuitDutch Bros and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On May 11, 2022, the Company disclosed dismal 1Q2022 financial results including a net loss of $16.3 million, compared to a net loss of $4.8 million for the first quarter of 2021 and an adjusted net loss of $2.5 million (a loss of $0.02 per share), which fell below analysts' expectations, due to its failure to "perceive the speed and magnitude of cost escalation within the quarter," among other things.On this news, shares of Dutch fell $9.26, or 26.9%, to close at $25.11 per share on May 12, 2022.The case is Peacock v. Dutch Bros Inc., et al., No. 23-cv-01797.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 04:52:35 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 467 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until May 5, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS), if they purchased the Company's shares between February 9, 2021 and February 10, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.What You May DoIf you purchased shares of Fidelity National and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-fis/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by May 5, 2023.About the LawsuitFidelity National and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On July 31, 2019, the Company announced it had completed the acquisition of payments company Worldpay, Inc. for $43 billion, which became part of the Fidelity National Merchant Solutions business. The Company subsequently, assured investors that the integration of Worldpay was "ahead of schedule," achieved "success in revenue synergies," and ultimately was "successfully completed" throughout the Class Period. Then, on February 13, 2023, the Company disclosed that it would be spinning off Worldpay and recording a goodwill impairment charge of $17.6 billion related to its Merchants Solutions business, a write-down of more than 40% of the purchase price for Worldpay just a few years earlier.On this news, shares of Fidelity National fell more than 12%, from a closing price of $75.43 per share on the prior trading day of February 10, 2023 to a closing price of $66.00 per share on February 13, 2023.The case is Palm Bay Police and Firefighters' Pension Fund v. Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., No. 23-cv-252.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ CONTACT:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 20:45:38 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 483 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: Apr. 26, 2018 - Mar. 13, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 19, 2023Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/RAD Contact An Attorney Now: RAD@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Rite Aid Corporation (RAD) Securities Fraud Class Action:The litigation focuses on Rite Aid's compliance with federal regulations concerning its pharmacies' prescriptions practices and its federal healthcare program reimbursement billing.According to the complaint, Defendants made false and misleading statements or failed to disclose that Rite Aid: (1) filled hundreds of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose until June 2019; (2) ignored evidence that its stores were dispensing unlawful prescriptions and intentionally deleted internal notes about suspicious prescribers written by concerned pharmacists; (4) violated the Controlled Substances Act by knowingly filling unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances; and (5) violated the False Claims Act when it sought reimbursement from federal healthcare programs.Investors began to learn the truth on Mar. 13, 2023, when the US Department of Justice announced it filed a lawsuit against Rite Aid alleging that the company knowingly filled hundreds of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances and knowingly submitted false or fraudulent reimbursement claims for such prescriptions to federal healthcare programs. The DOJ alleges these activities violate the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act and states, in part, "[w]hile making millions of dollars [Rite Aid] opened the floodgates for millions of pills of opioids and other controlled substances to flow illegally out of [its] stores." This news sent the price of Rite Aid shares sharply lower."We're focused on investors' losses and proving Rite Aid's decision to put profits ahead of safety enabled it to record illegally-generated revenues," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in Rite Aid and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Rite Aid should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email RAD@ hbsslaw.com About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 00:00:21 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 425 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Venues across Brisbane are opting for HeadBox's Power Host product to increase leads and exposure. The premium product provides elevated marketing and priority access to HeadBox's corporate event bookers.BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Leading event tech platform HeadBox's lead retrieval software, Power Host, offers function venues Brisbane-wide the ability to enhance the ranking of their venue to increase the frequency of relevant enquiries. In addition to the large corporate event briefs, hosts can also go after an unlimited amount of leads under $15k from a collection of qualified event briefs.HeadBoxHeadBoxAccording to HeadBox, in just two months, the platform has seen more than $3.7m worth of Brisbane event briefs come through the platform and Power Host function rooms Brisbane-wide are getting in front first.HeadBox prioritises Power Hosts and features them across paid ads, social media, website landing pages and blogs. Additionally, the HeadBox team of event planners also keep Power Hosts front of mind when venue sourcing for corporate bookers.Corporate events are an integral part of the business world and finding the right venue is crucial to their success. For venue owners and managers, securing more corporate events can be challenging. However, with the help of HeadBox, it is possible for any function room Brisbane wide to attract and secure more corporate events.HeadBox is an online platform that connects event planners with venue hire Brisbane-wide. With its extensive database of venues and powerful search tools, HeadBox makes it easy for event planners to find the perfect venue for their corporate event. Venues listed on HeadBox can tap into a vast network of potential clients and increase their chances of securing more corporate events in Brisbane.One of the key features of HeadBox is its ability to showcase venues in the best possible light. By creating a detailed profile of a venue, including high-quality photos and a virtual tour, hosts can give event planners a clear idea of what the venue has to offer. This can be particularly helpful for corporate events, where the venue plays a significant role in creating the right atmosphere and impression.To learn more or to search for function rooms hire Brisbane-wide, visit HeadBox online.About HeadBoxHeadBox is Australia's fastest-growing event tech company, on a mission to reinvent the global events industry through technology. With a focus on building human-kind event tech, HeadBox is the easy way to plan meetings and events with confidence, connecting people with spaces to make brilliant things happen, everywhere.Contact InformationHeadbox AUMarketing Managerpress@ headbox.com SOURCE: HeadBox PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 00:15:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 594 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Hive Media Marketing, a digital marketing agency based in Atlanta, is pleased to announce that it plans to grow and expand with new software to help business owners. The company, pioneered and founded by B. Johnson-Gray, was started to help novel or experienced e-commerce brands scale. Hive Media Marketing hopes to continue to take a personalized approach to digital marketing with the aid of the new software, further exploring its mission of exposing valuable and useful brands to their respective audiences and the world."We've always believed in helping business owners scale in the most organic and natural way possible," states Johnson-Gray. With a history of helping out the underdogs, Hive Media Marketing is known in the digital marketing sector for taking a hand-held approach to growing its clients' companies."During COVID, when things were not easy for small businesses," says Johnson-Gray. She notes that, during the pandemic, many agencies weren't taking on startups, and one had to have at least $20,000 in the market to receive support. This wasn't helpful to many business owners who were attempting to scale in a bad situation, as they were just handed course content and had to learn and do it themselves. "We were and are deeply committed to assisting company owners throughout the entire process," states Johnson-Gray."We typically start with a complimentary audit of the state of a company's marketing efforts," states Bernadette. Then, Hive Media Marketing strategizes and researches to create a comprehensive plan that involves everything marketing related. "We specialize in Paid Media Marketing Campaigns, Content Production, Business/Brand Consulting, and more," says Johnson-Gray."Our female-owned digital marketing business took on about four or five customers at the height of the epidemic and generated 1.7 million dollars for them all." She notes that some of these clients were startups, while others were established companies looking to expand."We also connected our clients to a program for small company owners who could demonstrate they were generating at least $5,000 in income, in which the program would provide them with $10,000 in funding," Johnson-Gray says. Hive Media Marketing has reshifted this model to not only aid firms in expanding at the startup stage, but to also teach them the pitfalls of e-commerce. "We wanted them to understand the intricacies of marketing," mentions Johnson-Gray, "so we hold in-depth discussions and film all meetings so our clients can go back and study what we taught them and which funnels we recommended." Now, the company plans to expand with a new software that intends to aid in these efforts. "We are excited to offer this new software to our customers," says Johnson-Gray. "We hope for it to help them to better understand the complexities of digital marketing and how to maximize their return on investment. We believe this will be a game-changer for small businesses and entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their business online." About Hive Media MarketingHive Media Marketing is a digital marketing agency based in Atlanta. It was founded by B. Johnson-Gray to offer small and large businesses personalized and tailored digital marketing services. The company is excited as it expands with new software and hopes that it will aid its efforts to save business owners from unnecessary marketing pitfalls and expenses. To learn more contact B. Johnson-Gray at Support@ hivemediamarketing.agency and visit the company website at https://www.hivemediamarketing.agency/ Contact:B. Johnson-GraySupport@ hivemediamarketing.agency SOURCE: Hive Media Marketing PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 13:45:27 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 388 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Icreon Hires Experienced Leader Mitsy Lopez Baranello to Drive Client Digital Strategy Amidst Rapid GrowthNEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2023 / Icreon, a leading digital transformation agency, is proud to announce the appointment of Mitsy Lopez Baranello as its Strategy Officer. In her new role, Lopez Baranello will lead the company's consulting and strategy efforts, ensuring that Icreon continues to deliver innovative solutions to its clients across the globe. The move comes as Icreon looks to scale operations and double-down on its strategic capabilities in serving businesses and enterprises.Icreon - Times SquareIcreon displayed at New York, Times Square "For over two decades, Icreon has aimed to be a strategic partner for brands as they embark on their digital transformation journey. Because of this, we're extremely excited to have Mitsy join our leadership team. Her experience in driving change in organizations through her deep expertise in digital business strategy will be invaluable to our entire client portfolio," said Himanshu Sareen, Icreon's Founder and CEO.Lopez Baranello brings more than 25 years of experience in digital and experience strategy consulting to her new role at Icreon. Most recently, she was the Global Vice President for Experience Strategy at Huge, an IPG company, leading end-to-end experience strategy and digital transformation for the agency's largest businesses. Prior to Huge, she held strategic leadership roles at Publicis and Digitas, her career has spanned transformative work with the Fortune 500, consistently using strategic insight and technology to drive growth for her clients."I am thrilled to join Icreon and contribute to its strategy and consulting practice. In today's global market, digital transformation is becoming more critical than ever, as businesses seek to unlock new opportunities through personalized and AI-driven digital experiences. I believe Icreon is uniquely positioned to help businesses achieve these goals, and I am excited to be a part of that journey," said Lopez Baranello.This appointment comes at a time of rapid growth for Icreon as the company continues to expand its footprint across North America. Icreon drives growth and operational improvements for its clients by placing data, technology, and AI at the core, and creating personalized digital experiences at scale across various touchpoints such as mobile, cloud, connected, and other interactive digital experiences.Contact InformationBenjamin PowellVP of Marketing(706) 714-7006SOURCE: Icreon PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 14:31:05 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 988 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2023 / Mako Mining Corp. (TSX-V:MKO)(OTCQX:MAKOF) ("Mako" or the "Company") is pleased to provide financial results for the three months ended December 31st, 2022 ("Q4 2022"), which is the sixth full quarter of financial results since declaring commercial production on July 1, 2021 at its San Albino gold mine ("San Albino") in northern Nicaragua. For detailed Q4 2022 operating results, please see the Company's press release dated January 18, 2023.All dollar amounts referred to herein are expressed in United States dollars unless otherwise stated.Q4 2022 HighlightsFinancial$16.1 million in Revenue$7.8 million in Adjusted EBITDA(1)$8.8 million in Mine Operating Cash Flow ("Mine OCF") (1) (3)$0.8 million in Net Loss after $3.2 million of depreciation, depletion(4) and amortization and $3.1 million in exploration expenses$715 Cash Costs ($/oz sold) (1) (2)$733 Total Cash Costs ($/oz sold) (1) (2)$1,062All-In Sustaining Costs ("AISC") ($/oz sold) (1) (2)Three monthly repayment installments totaling $1.1 million were made on the Sailfish Loan during Q4 2022Refers to a Non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of National Instrument 52-112 - Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure ("NI 52-112"). Refer to information under the heading "Non-GAAP Measures" as well as the reconciliations later in this press release.Refers to a Non-GAAP ratio within the meaning of NI-52-112. Refer to information under the heading "Non-GAAP Measures" later in this press release.Refer to "Chart 1 - Q4 2022 - Mine OCF Calculation and Cash Reconciliation (in $ millions)" for a reconciliation of the beginning and ending cash position of the Company, including OCF.Growth $3.1 million in exploration and evaluation expenses ($1.1 million in areas surrounding San Albino and $1.9 million at Las Conchitas)Subsequent to December 31st, 2022Three monthly repayment installments totaling $1.1 million were made on the Company's loan with Sailfish Royalty Corp. ("Sailfish").On March 1, 2023, the Company signed a binding letter of intent with Sailfish for an initial 24- month silver stream for $6 million silver stream to repay outstanding principal owing under the Company's loan from lenders controlled by Wexford Capital LP.Akiba Leisman, Chief Executive Officer, states that "Q4 2022 was the sixth full quarter of financial results since declaring commercial production at San Albino. Record gold sales of 9,956 ounces along with AISC approximately $300 lower from Q3 helped drive Mine OCF and Adjusted EBITDA to approximately $8.8 and $7.8 million for the quarter respectively. Year to date, Mako has generated $28.8 million in Mine OCF, which allowed the Company to invest $11.5 million in growth exploration and repay $8.5 million of debt without the need for external financing. Throughput is now consistently above 600tpd (120% of nameplate capacity), which was achieved with no additional capex and minimal recovery losses. In Q1 2023, the incremental mill feed to support a 600tpd operation has been coming from the Central Pit, the new SW Pit, and lower grade stockpiles, as the Company transitioned from Phase 2 to Phase 3 mining at the primary San Albino West Pit. Mining of high-grade material from the Phase 3 West Pit, and permits to begin mining Las Conchitas are expected later this month, at which point the Company expects that new record production numbers should be achieved." Table 1 - RevenueRealized price before deductions from Sailfish gold streaming agreementTable 2 - Operating and Financial DataRefers to a Non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of NI 52-112). Refer to information under the heading "Non-GAAP Measures" as well as the reconciliations later in this press release.Refers to a Non-GAAP ratio within the meaning of NI-52-112. Refer to information under the heading "Non-GAAP Measures" later in this press releaseRealized price before deductions from Sailfish gold streaming agreementTable 3 - EBITDA ReconciliationRefers to a Non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of NI 52-112. Refer to information under the heading "Non-GAAP Measures" later in this press release.Chart Q4 2022 - Mine OCF Calculation and Cash Reconciliation (in $ millions)Refers to Non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of NI 52-112. Refer to information under the heading "Non-GAAP Measures" later in this press release.Includes all expenses incurred to sustain operations. Excludes Nicaraguan Taxes and Royalties, changes in Non-cash Working Capital, and Exploration expensesChart 2Accumulated 12 months ending Dec 31st - Mine OCF Calculation and Cash Reconciliation (in $ millions)3. Refers to Non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of NI 52-112. Refer to information under the heading "Non-GAAP Measures" later in this press release.4. Includes all expenses incurred to sustain operations. Excludes Nicaraguan Taxes and Royalties, changes in Non-cash Working Capital, and Exploration expensesFor complete details, please refer to the year-end audited consolidated financial statements and the associated management discussion and analysis for the twelve months ended December 31st, 2022, available on SEDAR ( www.sedar.com) or on the Company's website ( www.makominingcorp.com) Non-GAAP MeasuresThe Company has included certain non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios in this press release such as EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Mine Operating Cash Flow cash cost per ounce sold, total cash cost per ounce sold, AISC per ounce sold. These non-GAAP measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. In the gold mining industry, these are commonly used performance measures and ratios, but do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's underlying performance of its core operations and its ability to generate cash flow."EBITDA" represents earnings before interest (including non-cash accretion of financial obligation and lease obligations), income taxes and depreciation, depletion and amortization."Adjusted EBITDA" represents EBITDA, adjusted to exclude exploration activities, share-based compensation and change in provision for reclamation and rehabilitation."Cash costs per ounce sold" is calculated by deducting revenues from silver sales and dividing PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 09:45:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 325 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2023 / Maven Bridge Capital, one of the leading companies in the financial service industry in California and the United States, has announced its fast, free, anonymous Foundational Financial plans to help individuals achieve financial freedom. The company believes that having a foundation understanding of where one stands when it comes to debt, emergency fund reserves, and credit are crucial steps toward moving in the right direction to financial freedom. After addressing these initial elements, Maven Bridge Capital provides personalized advice and planning to guide clients toward achieving their financial goals."As a financial advisor serving families for almost two decades, I have seen the power of providing a financial plan to my clients. It provides the foundation for establishing your financial goals while acting as your roadmap to help you feel secure and keep you focused on your goals during those uncertain times," said Kristoffer Fu, founder of Maven Bridge Capital. A financial plan helps our clients stay organized and on track with their finances. Most importantly, it provides security with peace of mind knowing that they have control of your money. Maven Bridge Capital will review their past, present, and future financial situations to help them understand how to prioritize and address specific issues to minimize tax liability using their opportunities, such as contributing to retirement plans.Maven Bridge Capital is a financial planning partner founded in Orange County, California, in February 2021 by Kristoffer Fu to provide holistic wealth management services to women in transition and business owners. The company provides comprehensive services to help clients reach their financial goals and build generational wealth. The company plans to create more pathways to help entrepreneurs and office workers achieve their financial goals in the coming months.For more information about Maven Bridge Capital, go to www.mavenbridgecapital.com Media DetailsWebsite URL: www.mavenbridgecapital.com Company Name: Maven Bridge CapitalEmail address: hello@ mavenbridgecapital.com SOURCE: Maven Bridge Capital PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 23:15:21 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 688 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2023 / EvokAI Creative Labs Inc. (TSXV:OKAI) ("EvokAI" or the "Company"), a leading MedTech AI-powered company dedicated to the development of transformational and innovative technologies for the healthcare sector, is pleased to announce that today it has launched on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") under the symbol OKAI. With headquarters in Finland and Canada, and rapidly growing its global reach, EvokAI is set to become a major player in the field of neurotechnology advancing the understanding of brain health and developing innovative and personalized solutions to help people with brain-related disorders."We are thrilled to launch EvokAI in one of the most prestigious stock exchanges in the world, broadening our exposure and making awareness of our cutting-edge technology that combines the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to create personalized treatments for patients suffering from a wide range of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. We are facing a global crisis with a tremendous burden for the global healthcare system; with the aging population neurological disorders are a rapidly increasing fundamental threat to society and quality of life, several diseases can be triggered at any time without notice, affecting cognitive functions and in many cases causing irreversible damage with long-term consequences. The place where all this happens is the brain, the least controlled organ of the human body," said Alejandro Antalich, CEO and Director of EvokAI."Our artificial intelligence-enhanced diagnostic profiles provide a solid basis to monitor mental fitness and enable advances in medical diagnoses, a practical solution that goes beyond patients, learning from every interaction human-machine to improve the algorithms that will bridge the gap between traditional medicine and precision medicine. EvokAI's non-invasive, affordable and accessible integrated solutions enable a new synergy between prevention, early detection, training and treatment. Our main objective as a team at EvokAI is to make a real difference in the quality of life of millions of people around the world, aiming at guaranteeing brain health for everyone at any stage of their life," concluded Antalich.About EvokAI Creative Labs Inc.EvokAI is a MedTech AI-powered company dedicated to the development of transformational and innovative technologies for the modern healthcare sector. It deploys machine learning models to search medical data and uncover insights to help improve health outcomes, patient experiences, drug development, preclinical and clinical decisions and provide more accurate diagnoses. EvokAI tailors its AI algorithms across the whole healthcare system, from hospitals, private clinics, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, to medical professionals, patients, healthy individuals aiming at preventing any kind of disease and beyond, protecting the aging genome.On behalf of the Board of Directors of EvokAI Creative Labs Inc.Alejandro AntalichCEO & DirectorFor more information, please contact:EvokAI Creative Labs Inc.Alejandro AntalichChief Executive OfficerEmail: hello@ evokailabs.com Phone: +358 50 5512 848Neither 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.Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning EvokAI's plans, intentions, and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forwardlooking statements". Forwardlooking statements may be, but are not always, identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forwardlooking statements, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties (including geopolitical risk, regulatory and exchange rate risk) that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forwardlooking statements. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will prove to be accurate or that management's assumptions underlying such statements, including assumptions concerning the Company or future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this new release and the Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking information included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.SOURCE: EvokAI Creative Labs Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 08:20:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1037 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2023 / Re:NewCell AB (publ) (FRA:6QP)(STO:RENEW) Re:NewCell AB, Reg. No. 556885-6206, with its registered office in Stockholm, gives notice of the Annual General Meeting to be held on 16 May 2023 at 10:00 a.m. CEST at IVA Konferenscenter (Wallenbergsalen) Grev Turegatan 16, SE-114 46 Stockholm, Sweden. Registration starts at 09:30 a.m. CEST.Right to participate in the Annual General Meeting and notice of participationA shareholder who wishes to participate in the Annual General Meeting must (i) be recorded as a shareholder in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB relating to the circumstances on 8 May 2023, and (ii) no later than 10 May 2023 give notice by post to Cardellgatan 1, SE-114 36 Stockholm, Sweden or via e-mail to agm@ renewcell.com . When providing such notice, the shareholder shall state name, personal or corporate registration number, address, telephone number and the number of any accompanying assistant(s) (maximum two assistants) as well as information about any proxy.If a shareholder is represented by proxy, a written, dated proxy for the representative must be issued. A proxy form is available on the company's website, www.renewcell.com . If the proxy is issued by a legal entity, a certificate of registration or equivalent certificate of authority should be enclosed. To facilitate the registration at the General Meeting, the proxy and the certificate of registration or equivalent certificate of authority should be sent to the company as set out above so that it is received no later than 15 May 2023.Nominee-registered sharesTo be entitled to participate in the Annual General Meeting, a shareholder whose shares are held in the name of a nominee must, in addition to providing notification of participation, register its shares in its own name so that the shareholder is recorded in the share register relating to the circumstances on 8 May 2023. Such registration may be temporary (so-called voting right registration) and is requested from the nominee in accordance with the nominee's procedures and in such time in advance as the nominee determines. Voting right registrations completed by the nominee not later than 10 May 2023 are taken into account when preparing the share register.Proposed agendaOpening of the Annual General Meeting.Election of Chairman of the Annual General Meeting.Preparation and approval of the voting list.Approval of the agenda.Election of one or two persons to attest the minutes.Determination of whether the Annual General Meeting has been duly convened.Presentation by the CEO.Presentation of the annual report and auditor's report, and of the consolidated accounts and consolidated auditor's report.Resolution on:a. adoption of the income statement and balance sheet, and the consolidated income statement and consolidated balance sheet,b. appropriation of the Company's result according to the adopted balance sheet,c. discharge from liability for the members of the Board of Directors and the Managing Director.Resolution on the number of members of the Board of Directors.Determination of fees to the members of the Board of Directors.Election of members of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board.Resolution on the number of auditors and deputy auditors.Determination of fees to the auditor.Election of auditor.Resolution on authorization for the Board of Directors to resolve upon issues of shares, warrants and/or convertible instruments.Resolution on principles for appointment of a Nomination Committee.Resolution on adoption of a warrant-based incentive program for a maximum of two new key persons.Closing of the Annual General Meeting.Proposed resolutionsItem 2 - Election of Chairman of the Annual General MeetingThe Nomination Committee proposes that Michael Berg, or in the event of his absence, the person appointed by the Nomination Committee instead, be elected Chairman of the Annual General Meeting.Item 9 b - Appropriation of the Company's result according to the adopted balance sheetThe Board of Directors proposes that no dividend is paid and that available profits are carried forward.Item 10 - Resolution on the number of members of the Board of DirectorsThe Nomination Committee proposes that the number of members of the Board of Directors shall be five.Item 11 - Determination of fees to the members of the Board of DirectorsThe Nomination Committee proposes that the fees to the Board of Directors shall be the following (fees for 2022 in brackets):SEK 300,000 (300,000) to the Chairman of the Board and SEK 150,000 (150,000) to each of the other Board members elected by the Annual General Meeting. However, no fee shall be paid to Board members who are employed in the Company or dependent in relation to major shareholders, andSEK 150,000 (125,000) to the Chairman of the Audit Committee and SEK 60,000 (60,000) to each of the other members of the Audit Committee, and SEK 20,000 (20,000) to the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and SEK 15,000 (15,000) to each of the other members of the Remuneration Committee.Item 12 - Election of members of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the BoardThe Nomination Committee proposes re-election of the Board members Michael Berg, Mia Hemmingson, Anna Attemark, Helene Willberg and Henrik Ager. All members are elected for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting. The Nomination Committee proposes that Michael Berg is elected Chairman of the Board.Item 13 - Resolution on the number of auditors and deputy auditorsThe Nomination Committee proposes that one registered accounting firm be appointed as auditor, without deputy auditors.Item 14 - Determination of fees to the auditorThe Nomination Committee proposes that the auditor's fees be paid as per approved invoice.Item 15 - Election of auditorThe Nomination Committee proposes, in accordance with the recommendation of the Audit Committee, that the registered accounting firm KPMG AB is elected as the Company's new auditor for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting. KPMG AB has informed that the Authorized Public Accountant Johanna Hagstrom Jerkeryd will be appointed auditor in charge, should KPMG AB be elected as auditor.Item 16 - Resolution on authorization for the Board of Directors to resolve upon issues of shares, warrants and/or convertible instrumentsThe Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to authorize the Board of Directors to, on one or several occasions until the next Annual General Meeting, with or without preferential rights for the shareholders, resolve upon issues The Ivy-area teenager accused of slipping into a sorority house and fondling the breasts of two women while they slept must remain in jail, despite pleas for his release. Judge Andrew Sneathern said Thursday that what 18-year-old Harry Benjamin Sedwick V allegedly did at the University of Virginia chapter of the Kappa Delta sororitys house prevented the judge from envisioning how local women could feel safe. I cannot get there, said Sneathern, and I cannot set bond at this time. These are extraordinarily serious charges, said prosecutor Andrew Wilder, noting that each of the two counts of aggravated sexual battery can bring a sentence as long as 20 years. The charges are aggravated, Wilder said, because the victims were sleeping. Its a parents nightmare, Wilder told the Charlottesville General District Court. You send your child, your daughter, to UVa, and a strange man has entered. Wilder said the events at the 136 Chancellor St. sorority house around 4 a.m. on April 7 have harmed all the women living there. They are victimized as well, said Wilder. The sanctity of their home was broken. Wilder said that Sedwick had posted video to Snapchat earlier on the night of his arrest showing fraternity members chasing him out of another house. It shows that he has knowledge that what he was doing was wrong, said Wilder. However, Sedwicks lawyer, Orange-based attorney Amy Harper, presented a different picture. I dont disagree with Mr. Wilder when he says its a parents nightmare, said Harper. But its also the Sedwicks nightmare. Harper presented the court with a stack of letters allegedly attesting to the young mans good character and lack of any prior trouble with the law or with women. Prior to this event, Harry was a great kid, said Harper. Its clearly an aberration. Harper conceded that, while her client initially denied going into the house, he ultimately confessed to police officers and didnt commit any violence beyond what was alleged. One of your ladies, Harper said, had a conversation with Harry, and he asked, Do you want me to leave? and she said, Yes, I do, and he left. Sunshine Sedwick testified that her son may have been self-medicating to deal with anxiety and ADHD. My client has very little recollection of what happened that night, said Harper. On track to graduate from Western Albemarle High School in June, Sedwick was studying culinary arts at the Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center, said the mother, who noted that her son turned 18 in late February. He just turned 18, said Harper. I would like to see Harry graduate from high school, and I would like to see him get the help he needs. Sedwicks mother told the court that she quit her work as a baker to keep watch over her son. Upon the judges ruling denying bail, Sedwick, who had been watching the nearly hourlong proceedings on video from the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, crumpled into tears. Harry, his lawyer called out to the sobbing on-screen image, Ill be there soon to see you and appeal the courts decision. Carissa Kochan, a third-year student at UVa, resides at Kappa Delta and was one of 17 student residents watching the proceedings on Thursday. We came here today because our personal space was violated, Kochan told The Daily Progress. We should feel safe at home and not worry that someone will be looming over us, Kochan said. This is not how women should live. None of Sedwicks family members, who included his grandparents who reside in Orange, commented after the ruling. Sedwicks next scheduled hearing date is May 4. PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 12:17:18 Press Information Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting Private Limited +91 7580990088 email www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com Published by Parmeet Singh 7580990088 e-mail https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/ # 1105 Words +91 7580990088Parmeet Singh7580990088 Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting recently released their most comprehensive study on the global hinged knee braces market. This research report provides a detailed overview of the market's drivers and restraints, as well as a thorough analysis of the current trends that are likely to shape its future. To create this in-depth report, the team of analysts used both primary and secondary research methods. The report offers an unbiased perspective on the hinged knee braces industry, allowing clients to make well-informed business decisions. The report reveals key insights about the global hinged knee braces industry, such as the market's size and potential for growth. It also examines the impact of technological advancements, regulatory changes, and consumer behaviors on the market's performance. Analysts also take a closer look at the market's competitive landscape, highlighting the strategies used by leading players to gain a competitive edge. Additionally, the report outlines potential threats and opportunities that may arise in the near future.Overall, this comprehensive report offers an invaluable resource for those looking to better understand the global hinged knee braces market. With the help of the study's data-driven insights, clients can gain a better understanding of the current market dynamics, allowing them to make informed business decisions.Request a Sample of this Report at: https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Hinged-Knee-Braces-Market/request-for-sample-report The global hinged knee braces market was in a state of flux, and the future direction was uncertain. To gain clarity, a comprehensive research study was conducted to analyze the market using Porter's five forces analysis and SWOT analysis. By combining these two methods of analysis, the research could gain a clear perspective of the global hinged knee braces market's expected direction.The SWOT analysis focused on identifying the market's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It was a useful tool in determining the potential of the market to succeed and develop, as well as its potential vulnerabilities. The Porter's five forces analysis, on the other hand, provided a detailed look into the competitive landscape, examining the level of competition, the bargaining power of customers, the bargaining power of suppliers, the threat of new entrants, and the threat of substitute products.The research report delved into the trends that were shaping the market, as well as consumer behavior patterns. It was found that the competition among the existing players in the market was intense, and new entrants posed a major threat. The bargaining power of customers was also strong, and suppliers had to come up with innovative products to keep their customers satisfied. Additionally, the threat of substitute products was also present, and companies had to be prepared to face this competition.Overall, the research study provided a comprehensive understanding of the global hinged knee braces market's expected direction. By combining Porter's five forces analysis and SWOT analysis, the research was able to gain a clear picture of the market's future. The report gave readers a better understanding of the trends and consumer behavior patterns that would shape the market's evolution.Highlights of Global Hinged Knee Braces Market ReportThe global hinged knee braces market report is a comprehensive overview of the current state of the industry and provides an in-depth analysis of its future trends and developments.The report details the market size, growth rate, industry trends, and other noteworthy information. It also highlights key products and services that are driving the growth of the market, as well as their respective market shares.One of the most important aspects of the global hinged knee braces market report is the analysis of the competitive landscape. The report details the competitive positioning of the leading players in the market and the various strategies they are using to stay ahead of their rivals.The report also examines the recent technological developments that are disrupting the industry and the effect they will have on the market in the long term. It also covers the impact of government regulations and policies on the industry and provides an insight into the future trends in the industry.The global hinged knee braces market report provides an insightful look at the current state of the industry and a comprehensive overview of its future prospects. It is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to gain an understanding of the market and its potential.Scope of the ReportHinged Knee Braces Market SegmentsThe market by product type is segmented into single type, double type.The market by application is segmented into hospital, clinics, other.Regions Covered in the Global Hinged Knee Braces Market:North America (the United States and Canada)Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Russia, and Rest of Europe)Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Korea, Australia, and Rest of Asia Pacific)The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries, South Africa and Rest of the Middle East & Africa)Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Rest of Latin America)The hinged knee braces market has been under intense scrutiny over the past few years, and the latest report released by the market research division provides a comprehensive overview of the leading players in the industry. The report contains a detailed chapter on company profiles which provides an overview of the strategic objectives of the leading players, their primary products and services, and an in-depth analysis of their strategic initiatives.The report reveals that the leading players in the hinged knee braces market are taking aggressive steps to strengthen their position in the industry. Many of the organizations have embarked on R&D activities to stay ahead of the competition and remain competitive. Their strategic initiatives have also been designed to capitalize on the technological advances in the industry.The report also provides an overview of the financial outlooks of the leading players in the industry. An overall analysis of the organizations' financial statuses reveals the current trends in the market. This allows readers to gain a better understanding of the potential of the hinged knee braces market and its expected trajectory.It is clear that the hinged knee braces market is a highly competitive industry and the leading players have to continuously innovate to keep up with the competition. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the industry and its key players and provides readers with an understanding of the industry's current and future prospects. This research aims to provide readers with an informed assessment of the anticipated trajectory of the hinged knee braces market.The following Companies as the Key Players in the Global Hinged Knee Braces Market Research Report:Breg, DJO, Dynamic Techno Medicals, Kao Chen, AssurContact UsDhirtek Business Research and Consulting Private LimitedContact No: +91 7580990088Email Id: sales@ dhirtekbusinessresearch.com PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 20:22:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 742 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2023 / WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds investors in BlockFi Interest Accounts ("BIAs") between March 4, 2019 and November 28, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"), against Zac Prince, Flori Marquez, Amit Cheela, David Olsson, and Samia Bayou (together, "Defendants"), of the important May 1, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you invested in BlockFi Interest Accounts ("BIAs") during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the BlockFi class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12656 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@ rosenlegal.com or cases@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 1, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, the Defendants made false and misleading statements to promote BlockFi Interest Accounts ("BIAs"), including that BIAs were a secure method of collecting interest. In addition, the Complaint alleges, among other things, that the defendants omitted and concealed material information concerning the risks associated with BIAs, including through BlockFi's exposure to FTX Trading, Ltd. ("FTX") and Sam Bankman-Fried's trading firm Alameda Research ("Alameda"), both of which collapsed in the wake of revelations that FTX and Alameda were engaging in fraud on a massive scale. In the wake of the FTX collapse, the lawsuit alleges that BlockFi froze withdrawals in BIAs, harming BIA investors. Further, investors in BIAs were not aware of conflicts of interest and self-dealing between BlockFi and other entities, such as Gemini Trust LLC, controlled by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss. The Complaint further alleges BlockFi and the Individual Defendants engaged in the unlawful offer and sale of securities in violation of Sections 5, 11, 12(a)(2), and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 by selling BIAs to investors. The lawsuit also alleges claims for violation of Section 10(b) and 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Massachusetts General Law Chapter 110A.To join the BlockFi class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12656 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@ rosenlegal.com or cases@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827lrosen@ rosenlegal.com pkim@ rosenlegal.com cases@ rosenlegal.com SOURCE: Rosen Law Firm PA PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 14:00:32 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 431 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2023 / The San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield Association and the Texas Historical Commission are proud to announce the 2023 San Jacinto Day Celebration on April 22, 2023. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site.San Jacinto Celebration This year's event promises to be a fun-filled day of history and reenactments, celebrating the 187th anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto. Visitors can expect to hear the booming of cannons, the cracking of musket fire, and the shouts of "Remember the Alamo!" as reenactors dressed in period clothing make the epic events of April 1836 come alive. Reenactments throughout the day will recreate the dramatic events that led to one of the most decisive and impactful military victories in the history of North America.Representatives from the other major Texas Revolution sites will also be present to share their parts in the story that ended with the Battle of San Jacinto. Visitors can step back in time to revolutionary Texas and participate in hands-on, interactive activities. All events are family-friendly.Food trucks and a variety of vendors will be available for on-site purchases. The San Jacinto Museum will also be open to visitors.Due to limited parking, ride shares, and carpooling are encouraged and appreciated. A drop-off location near the San Jacinto Monument will be provided.Don't miss this opportunity to experience history come alive at the 2023 San Jacinto Day Celebration!About Us the San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield AssociationThe San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield Association (SJMBA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of the Battle of San Jacinto and its impact on the history of Texas. Founded in 1938, SJMBA is the oldest and largest organization of its kind in the state of Texas.SJMBA is comprised of dedicated volunteers and staff who work to preserve and promote the history of the Battle of San Jacinto and its impact on the history of Texas. In addition to collecting and preserving artifacts, SJMBA also conducts educational programs, hosts events, and works to promote historical awareness.SJMBA's mission is to ensure that the historical significance of the Battle of San Jacinto is not forgotten. Through its programs and events, SJMBA strives to inspire current and future generations to remember the events that took place on April 21, 1836, and to recognize the importance of the Battle of San Jacinto in the history of Texas.Contact InformationCait JohnsonLead Educator/Interpreter Texas Historical Commissionsan-jacinto-battleground@ thc.texas.gov 281-479-2431 x. 321SOURCE: San Jacinto Museum and Battleground PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 01:01:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 818 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Search Manipulator, an online reputation management company based in San Francisco, has received the highly prestigious Impact Company of the Year' award from Dotcom Magazine for their outstanding success and growth in 2022. Founded 13 years ago by engineer Matt Peters, Search Manipulator has been recognized as a trailblazer in search engine optimization. Their use of smart technology and techniques to maximize quality content and relevance of search results has always been admired by users worldwide. It is no surprise that Search Manipulator holds much success in providing cost-effective solutions helping businesses and individuals to manage their online reputation whenever negative comments come along. With such remarkable achievement, it is no doubt that the "Impact Company of The Year" award is justly deserved by Search Manipulator.DotCom Magazine has become the go-to publication for businesses, entrepreneurs, and influencers looking to share their stories with the world. It features an editorial team of experienced professionals who know how to craft content that resonates with readers. Whether you are a start-up trying to get noticed in an increasingly crowded market or an established household brand aiming to remain on top of the industry. The magazine offers business owners a unique opportunity to connect with customers, create long-term relationships, network with industry leaders and elevate their profile.Matt Peters realized the potential of providing SEO services with a technical focus when many other companies were simply attempting to incentivize customers by applying sales techniques to "product packages". Search Manipulator is an amazing asset for anyone wanting to control their online presence. Clients can leverage the expertise in SEO of this service to bury any unsavory articles they may find and boost content that highlights their positive attributes. This provides greater control than merely reacting to slander since it allows such issues to be addressed proactively, thereby forming a more positive image before issues even arise. Furthermore, Search Manipulator allows individuals to proactively manage what prospective employers, customers, or colleagues may see when searching through their background. The ability to make one's own destiny by crafting one's online reputation can help make all the difference in major life events or opportunities but also ensure peace of mind as slanderous articles become a thing of the past.Matt Peters and the Search Manipulator team have developed a revolutionary approach to online reputation management that actually works. Search Manipulator reviews each client's situation, curating a strategy and plan to meet the specific needs of the client. Their system is designed to leverage results in order to grow their client's business and increase its audience by removing unflattering reviews, promoting positive content, and also by carefully analyzing each customer's online presence individually in order to create a customized strategy for success. This strategy is far beyond any cookie cutter approach of generic solutions that many other companies use, thus giving the client an edge over their competitors. As one of the leading online reputation management companies, they are dedicated to helping clients take full control of their online presence with an effective and reliable service.Search Manipulator is a company highly regarded for their outstanding customer service and effective techniques for online success. They have achieved an impressive rating of 5.0 on Google, which is even more impressive considering the large number of positive reviews they have already received from satisfied customers. One business owner reported that working with Search Manipulator resulted in exponential growth and even surpassed their expectations, thanking them for their knowledge and expertise. It's clear that Search Manipulator is successful at getting business noticed across the web and delivering exceptional results time after time. Their attention to detail and dedication make them a great choice for those needing help boosting their online presence.Founder Matt Peters states, "Myself and the team at Search Manipulator are honored to receive the 2022 "Impact Company of the Year" by Dotcom Magazine. I look forward to continuing to produce great results, executing strategies and making an impact on the reputation management industry." Search Manipulator is on a mission to redefine online marketing and make it easier than ever for businesses to stay ahead of their competition. Boasting an innovative suite of services and the industry's best support team, Search Manipulator makes sure its clients can focus on their core operations without worrying about the technical aspects of SEO. At an affordable price-point, they offer performance guarantees backed by a 30 day money back assurance that instills confidence in those looking to bring their website up to the highest standards of search engine optimization. With years of experience combined with cutting-edge techniques, you can rest assured that Search Manipulator will never miss an opportunity to optimize your website and maximize returns.Learn more about Search Manipulator and their services at searchmanipulator.com Contact Search ManipulatorPhone: (415) 837-8371Email: sales@ searchmanipulator.com website: https://searchmanipulator.com/ SOURCE: Search Manipulator PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 13:20:16 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/ # 959 Words 1st Floor, The Work Lab, Model Colony, Shivajinagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411016CEO+91-7400-24-24-24 The global Time Series Intelligence Software market research report is focuses on an overall consumption patterns, development trends, sales patterns and sales in key countries of the Time Series Intelligence Software market. The report focuses on global Time Series Intelligence Software 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=342 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 Time Series Intelligence Software market is segmented on the basis of solution, industry, and end user. Based on solution, the Time Series Intelligence Software market is segmented into component, services. On the basis of industry, the Time Series Intelligence Software market is segmented into manufacturing, others. Based on end user, the Time Series Intelligence Software market is segmented into consumer and enterprises. The global Time Series Intelligence Software market report includes a detailed analysis of the segmentation of this industry by Types and Applications.Global Time Series Intelligence Software by Segments: By Componento Solution Integrated Standaloneo Services By Platformo Web basedo Cloud based By Applicationo Data Exploration & visual anomaly detectiono Operational Analysiso Advanced Analyticso Others By End Usero Data Analystso Data Scientistso OthersCompetitive Landscape:The competitive landscape of the Time Series Intelligence Software 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.Anodot Ltd., Axibase Corporation, Datapred SA, Microsoft Corporation, Seeq Corporation, SenX S.A.S., Shapelets, Trendalyze, Inc., TrendMiner amongst others.Time Series Intelligence Software 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 Time Series Intelligence Software market.Ask for Discount: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=342 The Study Objectives are: A comprehensive insight into key players operating in the Time Series Intelligence Software 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, Time Series Intelligence Software market segments by application, study goals and years considered.Market Landscape: Here, the global Time Series Intelligence Software 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 Time Series Intelligence Software 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 Time Series Intelligence Software 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 Time Series Intelligence Software 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 Time Series Intelligence Software 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=342 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: 2023-04-14 15:00:53 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 529 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Travel Quest Network is traveling the country to bring together local travel professionals and suppliers for a day of learning, networking and fun.ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2023 / Travel Quest Network, a leading host agency and the premier platform for building and growing a travel business in America is excited to announce its upcoming events designed to assist travel professionals in growing their businesses. Travel Quest Network events provide opportunities for travel advisors to connect with other professionals and leave with the tools they need to increase sales and expand their networks.According to Jason Block, CEO of Travel Quest Network, "Events are a great way for Travel Quest Network to show what we're all about. We want to bring our members together and allow them to work with us hands-on. We ensure we do that through our diverse events." Travel Quest Network's one-day roadshows allow members to connect locally with travel partners and colleagues through intensive courses, stopping in several cities over the coming months, including Houston, Texas; Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Atlanta, Georgia; Orlando, Florida; Washington, D.C.; and Minneapolis, Minnesota.Joshua Harrell, Chief Revenue Officer at Travel Quest Network, added, "Connecting via video chat or phone call is helpful, but the real magic happens when we meet with our members in person and listen to their stories. Travel Quest Network is a community, and there's no better way to foster that community than to bring everyone together." Travel Quest Network's presence at major travel industry events extends this ideology. Its CORE (Cultivate Opportunities to build Relationships and Elevate your business) Summit, held Sunday, May 7th, is a marketing and sales-focused event in Nashville, Tennessee, preceding Travel Leaders Network's EDGE conference.CORE is interactive and geared toward helping attendees create sales plans and develop marketing plans to achieve their business goals. CORE is also a celebration - attendees and those interested in networking are treated to a cocktail reception once their day is done.Travel Quest Network also has events under its own banner - Travel Quest World, its premier event, held September 8-10, will be at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, Florida, giving attendees a chance to meet and learn from each other, business experts, and the Travel Quest Network team. Those in attendance will leave with new connections made, armed with the resources they need to take their business to the next level.Through Travel Quest World and all of its events, Travel Quest Network is committed to providing diverse opportunities for travel professionals to sharpen their skills and feel more connected to their work.To learn more about Travel Quest Network's upcoming events, visit https://www.travelquestnetwork.com/events About Travel Quest Network: Travel Quest Network is a leading host agency and the premier platform for building and growing a travel business in America. Dedicated to providing travel advisors with the tools, resources, and support needed to thrive in the ever-evolving travel industry, Travel Quest Network empowers its members to deliver exceptional travel experiences and create lasting memories for their clients.Contact Information:Angela ShindelarMarketing Manager, Travel Quest Networkashindelar@ travelquestnetwork.com 470-264-7992SOURCE: Travel Quest Network PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-14 13:17:57 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/ # 983 Words 1st Floor, The Work Lab, Model Colony, Shivajinagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411016CEO+91-7400-24-24-24 The global Business Travel Accident Insurance market research report is focuses on an overall consumption patterns, development trends, sales patterns and sales in key countries of the Business Travel Accident Insurance market. The report focuses on global Business Travel Accident Insurance 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=338 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 Business Travel Accident Insurance market is segmented on the basis of solution, industry, and end user. Based on solution, the Business Travel Accident Insurance market is segmented into component, services. On the basis of industry, the Business Travel Accident Insurance market is segmented into manufacturing, others. Based on end user, the Business Travel Accident Insurance market is segmented into consumer and enterprises. The global Business Travel Accident Insurance market report includes a detailed analysis of the segmentation of this industry by Types and Applications.Global Business Travel Accident Insurance by Segments: By Typeo Single Trip Coverageo Annual Multi Trip Coverageo Others By Distribution Channelo Insurance Companyo Insurance Brokerso Bankso Insurance Aggregatorso Others By End Usero Corporationso Governmento International Travelers and Employees (Expats)Competitive Landscape:The competitive landscape of the Business Travel Accident Insurance 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.ASSICURAZIONI GENERALI S.P.A., MetLife, Inc., Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Zurich, AWP Australia Pty Ltd., AXA, American International Group, Inc., Chubb, Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc., Woodward Markwell Insurance Brokers Ltd., The Hartford, Tata AIG General Insurance Company Limited, STARR INTERNATIONAL COMPANY, INC., amongst othersBusiness Travel Accident Insurance 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 Business Travel Accident Insurance market.Ask for Discount: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=338 The Study Objectives are: A comprehensive insight into key players operating in the Business Travel Accident Insurance 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, Business Travel Accident Insurance market segments by application, study goals and years considered.Market Landscape: Here, the global Business Travel Accident Insurance 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 Business Travel Accident Insurance 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 Business Travel Accident Insurance 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 Business Travel Accident Insurance 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 Business Travel Accident Insurance 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=338 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 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. Fidelity Bank received two applications from investors looking to acquire approximately 3.04 billion shares by way of a private placement, the lender said Friday. The development sets the scene for the bank to raise about N14 billion in fresh capital. The bank opened the window for investors to subscribe between 22 and 23 February, during which only two applications were found to be valid, accepted and duly processed. While the first application was for 287.4 million shares, the second was for about 2.75 billion units. One hundred per cent subscribed, the private placement was priced at N4.60 per share. The Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC or Commission) has cleared the Basis of Allotment stated above as well as this announcement, Fidelity Bank said in a regulatory filing. CSCS accounts of successful allottees will be credited with shares allotted, not later than Friday, May 05, 2023, it added. Iron Global Markets acted as the issuing house for the transaction. Fidelity Bank is aspiring to join the rank of tier-1 bank by 2025, one of the pet projects of CEO Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, who first revealed the plan shortly after she took office two years ago. READ ALSO: Fidelity Bank appoints former MD of UBA Benin Republic as executive director To ramp up its assets, the lender entered a pact with Union Bank last year to buy the latters United Kingdom unit. The current capital raise move is hoped to strengthen its credentials to number among banks with top-tier capital, a group comprising FBN Holdings, United Bank for Africa, Guaranty Trust Holding Company, Access Holdings and Zenith Bank. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. On Thursday, Nigerian comedian Bright Okpocha, popularly called Basketmouth, clarified speculations about his marital status in an interview with a Ghanaian Television station, TV3News. Basketmouth, who was previously married to Elsie Okpocha for 12 years, broke the news of his separation in an Instagram post in December 2022. The comedian, who was recently in the news over his beef with his colleague, Ay Makun, said that it was necessary to set the record straight because people thought that it was a publicity stunt. During the interview session, he, however, refused to divulge the reasons for the separation, saying it was for reasons best known to him. The father-of-three, who hails from Abia State, noted that he does not bring his private life on social media, but he needed to tell the people the truth. He said, I am separated right now, and people thought it was a joke. Some said that it was a way of promoting a show, and I let them know that they do not know my design. I do not bring my matter to such platforms and put my things out there. It was something I needed to do, and for reasons best known to me, I did that. We are cool, and everything is fine. It was after 12 years; we completed the 12 years in November, and that happened in December. Difficult Decision In December 2022, the comedian released a statement on social media announcing that he and Elsie were going their separate ways. Basketmouth announced on his verified social media page, where he disclosed the difficult decision to part ways with his wife. The comedian noted that he and Elsie would not deprive their children of all necessary attention as parents. READ ALSO: He further asked the public to respect their privacy to go through their separation phase. He wrote, As much as it pains me to bring my personal life to the public space, this is an unavoidable situation. After much deliberation, my wife and I have made the difficult decision to end our marriage. As we move forward separately, we will continue to work together to give our beautiful children all the care and loveguidance and support they need. We humbly ask that you respect our privacy as we navigate these times. Thank you. Love gone sour As celebrity marriages continue to stir reactions and conversations when they separate, one would wonder why Basketmouth and Elsies love suddenly went sour. In 2019, during an interview on a YouTube TV, Wedding Channel Africa TV, Basketmouth and his wife described their union as a good marriage and divorce wont be an option for them. Elsie, during the interview session, said divorce was not possible because she loves her husband too much to do that. Basketmouth said, Nothing can cause our divorce. The thing is, there is no good marriage that ends up in divorce, and we have a good marriage, so nothing, Also, in November 2021, the couple gushed over each other as they celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary. Following the news of their separation fans wondered what would have gone wrong in a year. 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. For 38-year-old Aisha (name adopted to protect the survivors identity), getting married in Adamawa State, North-east Nigeria, in 2017 was the realisation of a lifelong goal. She looked forward to a happy union. But her joy was fleeting. A few months into the marriage, I noticed a change in my husbands behaviour. He became withdrawn; this progressed to his shouting at me and then the beatings started. He said my disability had kept him from enjoying sex because it requires a lot of patience, which he does not have, Aisha, who lost the use of her legs due to childhood polio, told PREMIUM TIMES. He complains that whenever we want to have sex, he has to assist me in getting into a suitable position and undressing me, and this makes him lose his sexual desire. Surviving economic abuse While Aisha contends with physical assault, Mariam (real name withheld), who also lost the use of her legs as a child due to polio, is subjected to physical as well as economic abuse. Her husband, whom she married in Adamawa State in 2020, has prevented her from starting a business and does not provide for her or their three childrens needs. As a result, their children do not go to school. According to her, her husband did these things because he was unaware that she requires constant assistance, and became fed up and frustrated, and transferred the aggression to their children too. He shut me down, never allowed me to express myself, and prevented me from associating with people. I always stayed indoors with my children because they were not going to school. He also did not allow me to work, so I was solely dependent on him, she recounted. According to a 2013 report by the United Nations 53rd Committee on the Status of Women, women (and girls) with disabilities like Aisha and Mariam are more likely than other women to be victims of gender-based violence (GBV). They are more vulnerable because they are particularly targeted by perpetrators of violence due to social exclusion, limited mobility, a lack of support structures, communication barriers, and negative social perceptions. Further, statistics from the World Health Organisation reveal that one in three women worldwide is a victim of physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner. This statistic has remained unchanged in the past 10 years. The 2018 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey, carried out between 2013 and 2018, indicated that 36% of married women in Nigeria have experienced physical abuse at the hands of their partners. Women in violent relationships may also experience economic abuse in a variety of forms, like being denied access to bank accounts, information, and decision-making rights regarding finances, according to a publication by the Canadian Center for Womens Empowerment. Unlike other forms of gender-based violence, economic violence is a form of gendered violence that is usually hidden and invisible because prominence is given to physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological violence. Although there are no studies to show the ratings of economic abuse in comparison to other forms of gendered violence, a 2013 study demonstrated that increased experiences of economic abuse were significantly related to increased experiences of physical, psychological and sexual abuse. A former director of the Center for Gender Security Studies and Youth Advancement at the University of Abuja, Mabel Evwierhoma, a professor, corroborated these findings and told PREMIUM TIMES that more research is needed on the various forms of GBV, particularly for persons with disabilities. The WHO indicated that the social and economic costs of intimate partner and sexual violence have ripple effects, causing women to suffer isolation, inability to work, loss of wages, lack of participation in regular activities, and limited ability to care for themselves and their children, as seen in Mariams case where she and her children were financially deprived. For Aisha and Mariam, relief came after attending training for women with disabilities in 2022. Godiya Simon, the woman leader of the Nigerian Association of Persons with Disabilities in Adamawa State, who facilitated the training, introduced them to Smart Reporting and Referral (Smart RR), a mobile phone application for reporting GBV cases. GBV app saving lives since COVID-19 pandemic The Smart RR app was developed by Dirug Samuel, the founder of the Big Family 360 foundation. The app was launched in time to help women and girls during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria in 2020. According to him, two weeks after the launch, they had 500 downloads and over 70 reported cases. Later, they got a Google grant for free advertisements, which gave the app more reach, making it visible to more people. During this period, they connected the survivors to service providers on the mobile application. The app, which is in Hausa, has a chat feature with prompts to talk to a counsellor, report a case for yourself, and report a case for someone. It also has a list of mapped information with email addresses and phone numbers of womens support organisations, shelters, and state authorities. Depending on the service requested, the app links the user to a Sexual Assault Referral Centre within their location for medical treatment, a counsellor for psychosocial support, security agencies for safety, or the International Federation of Female Lawyers, Nigeria (FIDA) for free legal representation. The free app is available on the Google Play Store for Android phones and requires internet access. For those without smartphones, the foundation purchased a USSD code, *347*108#, which can be dialled free of charge to report these cases. This USSD option comes in handy for Nigerian women who are affected by the gender gap in smartphone usage in the country. According to the 2022 GSM Association Mobile Gender Gap Report, 92 per cent of Nigerias adult male population have mobile phones compared to 88 per cent of the nations adult female population. Only 32 per cent of Nigerian women, compared to 51 per cent of Nigerian men, own smartphones. READ ALSO: As of January 18, over 400 people in seven statesAdamawa, Borno, Osun, Lagos, Calabar, Delta, and Abujahad anonymously reported GBV cases on the app. They also had access to information on GBV and sexual and reproductive health. For persons with disabilities, the app has assistive technology for ease of use. The voice-command feature allows visually-impaired users to report cases by themselves and while there are no sign language features for deaf and mute women, the assistive technology and prompts are tailored for use by persons with physical disabilities. Users can also report cases with assistance from another person. The foundation also hired focal people, like Mrs Simon, the woman leader of the Nigerian Association of Persons with Disabilities in Adamawa State, who are given smartphones to report cases on behalf of women with disabilities who do not have access to a phone. Aisha and Mariam reported their cases after attending a training session facilitated by Mrs Simon. When a woman reports a case of domestic violence, the responders inform her of her rights as stipulated in the countrys gender protection laws. She is then given the option of going to court or for mediation and counselling to reconcile with her husband. If they choose reconciliation, the counsellor invites a community leader and a civil defence official for a visit to the home for intervention and to keep the husband in check. Other services like psychological or medical help are deployed, depending on the situation. Aisha and Mariam chose counselling and their cases were referred to marriage counsellors, who visited their spouses together with community leaders and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The women and their spouses got counselling and the husbands were asked to stop further abuse. My husband initially resisted the discussion with the counsellor. He eventually caved in when the counsellor invited our community leader and a civil defence official to participate in the mediation to hold him accountable. Since then, the beating has stopped, said Aisha. Similarly, after a session with a marriage counsellor, Mariams husband halted the physical assault, and she has now started her business. After meeting the counsellor, the Foundation assisted me with money to start selling eggs. It is profitable for me because it helps me send my children to school, and I no longer rely on my husband to cater for myself, said Mariam. Other countries tackling GBV with mobile technology Mobile technology is changing how survivors of GBV get access to vital resources and get help across the world with applications like Smart RR. In South Africa, Kwanele, a mobile app, has a panic button that GBV survivors can use to alert emergency contacts like friends and family or armed responders of their location. It includes video and audio streaming options of the incident. Across Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Germany, and the United Kingdom, TecSOS, a mobile device, has saved over 100,000 survivors of domestic abuse through the press of a button that connects them to the police or support services. In the UK, the button is linked to the 999 emergency system, which gives the police the users location and details and automatically records any audio. Other forms of technology-facilitated support systems like hotlines and SMS chats have been helpful to prevent, mitigate, and respond to violent situations. Overcoming apps challenges Despite the help that mobile technologies like Smart RR have provided for GBV survivors, there are still some limitations that prevent them from giving optimal responses. Of the over 400 reported GBV cases received on Smart RR, only 118 have been resolved. Whether a case is considered resolved or not is determined by the survivors satisfaction with the outcome. Mr Samuel said some cases are still in court because survivors abandon them due to community and religious pressure to forgive the perpetrator, while others are affected by the complexities and weaknesses of the countrys legal system. But this is not his only challenge; the application is still restricted to certain states Abuja, Adamawa, Lagos, Oyo, Cross River, and Delta due to the foundations limited financial resources. He said with additional funding, the foundation will scale up the use of the application to the remaining 31 states in the country. In the meantime, he plans to conduct widespread awareness campaigns about the app to get more registered service providers and GBV responders, include a follow-up mechanism to track reported cases, and introduce more language options. With these, he hopes to rescue or help more women like Mariam and Aisha in other parts of the country from their abusers. This report was supported by the Africa Women Journalism Project (AWJP) in partnership with the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and with the sponsorship of the Ford Foundation. Page planned and produced by George Ogala. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Fire and Linn County Sheriffs officials investigated an apparent industrial accident Wednesday, April 12 at a Shedd grass seed processor after responders say someone was seriously injured by heavy equipment. A caller to 911 around 3:42 p.m. Wednesday afternoon reported someone trapped at Plainview Seed Co., near Boston Mill Roads intersection with Highway 99 East. Dispatchers called Halsey-Shedd Rural Fire Protection District crews to rescue someone from the industrial agricultural site, tucked between grass fields off of Goracke Lane, a private dead-end drive. Dispatch records show firefighters were at the site for nearly two hours. A Linn County Sheriffs Office deputy investigated a nonlife-threatening accident at the same address, according to computer aided dispatch records, when someone was seriously injured by heavy machinery. Sean Johnson, a captain with Halsey-Shedd Fire, said he couldn't talk about the rescue because only the district's top employee is authorized to talk with news media. "The chief likes to handle public information," Johnson said. 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. Messages left with Plainview Seed, a sheriffs office patrol lieutenant and Halsey fire Chief Travis Hewitt seeking more information were not returned before deadline. Plainview Seed incorporated in Oregon in 1997, according to state business filings. The company was dissolved in 2000, then reinstated in 2004. 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. Fridays governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi took a dramatic turn on Thursday as the deputy governor, Edward Onoja, stepped down for the states Auditor-General, Ahmed Usman-Ododo. Mr Onoja was considered the leading aspirant for the APC ticket and many had tipped him to win the primary. Seven other aspirants, including a former Commissioner for Finance, David Adebanji-Jimoh, Ashiru Idris and Okala Yakubu, also stepped down following Mr Usman-Ododos endorsement by Governor Yahaya Bello. Others are Abdulkareem Asuku, chief of staff to Governor Bello and the states Accountant-General, Momoh Jibrin. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that eight aspirants voluntarily withdrew from the race at a meeting held at the partys secretariat in Lokoja on Thursday and presided over by Governor Bello. The Chairman of the primary election committee, Governor Mohammed Bello-Matawale of Zamfara, confirmed the development after Thursdays meeting. All other aspirants who have not withdrawn from the race are free to participate in Fridays direct primary election to be held across the state. The gentlemanly agreement was reached and announced at a stakeholders meeting of the party held on Thursday in Lokoja, he said. Mr Matawalle said Governor Bello, who hosted the meeting, unveiled his anointed candidate in the person of Mr Usman-Ododo. While announcing his withdrawal from the race, Mr Onoja thanked his leader, Governor Bello and all his supporters for their love and prayers. Mr Onoja enjoined his supporters to allow love, patience and perseverance to lead at Fridays primary election and at the 11 November governorship election in the state. The main opposition party in Kogi, PDP, is expected to also hold its primary on Friday. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Thursday dismissed a suit seeking the nullification of the PDPs delegates lists for the primary. 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. Nigerias foremost investigative newspaper, PREMIUM TIMES, has written the United Kingdom government requesting the details of the arrest and detention of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, by its immigration officials at Heathrow airport in London last week. In the letter dated 13 April to the UK Home Office, the newspaper sought to understand the circumstances surrounding Mr Obis ordeals in the European country during Easter. On Wednesday, the Head, Obi-Datti Media, Diran Onifade, in a statement announced that the LP candidate was last week detained in London by UK immigration officials over alleged impersonation. Mr Onifade, however, said Mr 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, he said in the statement. He added that Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, was harassed by the London immigration officials and placed in detention where he spent the Easter holidays. The statement did not, however, highlight the necessary details of Mr Obis arrest and his subsequent release before returning to the country. Similarly, the UK government has yet to provide any information surrounding Mr Obis ordeal in London. The inquiry Based on these concerns and its desire to accurately report the incident amidst unsubstantiated claims on the issue on social media, PREMIUM TIMES placed a telephone call on Thursday to the UK Home Office for further details on Mr Obis ordeal. However, this newspaper was requested to write a letter formally requesting the details. In the letter, signed by the newspapers Editor-in-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, it specifically sought clarification on Mr Obis offences, when and how he was released, the conditions upon which he was released, the current status of the case against him and other related issues. Our newspaper is interested in understanding the circumstances surrounding the arrest and detention of Mr Obi, including: -details of when he was arrested, his offences, when and how he was released, the conditions upon which he was released, the current status of the case against him and whether he was arraigned and in which court, the letter read. LP mute on alleged offences by Peter Obi Meanwhile, a similar request, among which include the inquiry into the crimes committed by the impersonator that led to Mr Obis detention as well as his current access status to the UK, which were forwarded to Mr Onifade, were left unanswered as of the time of filing this report. ALSO READ: How Peter Obi spent Easter in detention in London Also, a check on the LPs website by this paper also revealed that the party has deleted the statement issued by Mr Onifade about Mr Obis London ordeal which it published earlier. No apology for Peter Obi from UK authorities Meanwhile, the LP has denied reports that the UK government had apologised to Mr Obi over his arrest, detention and harassment at the London airport as claimed by his party in the statement. 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, Mr Onifade said in a statement on Thursday. The LP spokesperson said while the party continues to examine any dubious or political motive on the part of the perpetrators of the identity theft, it had every confidence in the ability of the British authorities to resolve the matter to a 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, the statement said. The LP presidential candidate has yet to speak on his ordeal in London. Mr Obi was one of the 18 candidates in Nigerias recent presidential election in which he came third. The electoral commission declared the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, winner of the poll with over eight million votes against Mr Obis over six million votes. The LP candidate is currently challenging the result in court. 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 of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has called for capacity building of members of the 10th National Assembly to ensure effective service delivery. Mr Lawan spoke on Thursday when he received the 2020 to 2022 annual reports of the National Assembly Service Commission in Abuja. What is critical to us is what happens when we leave. Everybody knows the turnover rate has been very costly and this is without prejudice to anybody elected, costly in the sense that when you have only about 30 per cent of members of the ninth National Assembly going to 10th Assembly, you know that you have lost capacity. You have lost experience, you have lost skills, enterprise and so on and so forth. These are traits that you need to hit the ground running immediately. And I use the word costly deliberately because what this means is that, the 10th Assembly, we must make provisions immediately for capacity building for new members of the National Assembly If we want to achieve our goals and set targets, he said. Mr Lawan added: Everybody is enthusiastic, everybody is ready, we want to come in and continue to contribute to making Nigeria better but the parliament is not like the executive. Therefore, I am using this channel to sound that advisory that the National Assembly will need money, will need more resources for capacity building for members of the National Assembly that are coming new, as well as those staff that we will be working with. I am not speaking for the 10th National Assembly, that is yet to be inaugurated, but I know having met many of our senators-elect, they are all ready to start work immediately we are inaugurated and sworn in. (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 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday, urged voters in Adamawa and Kebbi to vote for the party at the April 15 supplementary elections. INEC fixed April 15 for supplementary governorship elections in the two states and in five senatorial districts, 31 federal constituencies and 58 state assembly constituencies. Atikus call is contained in a statement issued by his spokesman, Paul Ibe in Abuja. He called on voters in Adamawa and Kebbi to ensure that they conducted themselves peacefully during and after the elections. In both Adamawa and Kebbi where the elections would be held, I make a special appeal to voters to ensure that PDP enjoys overwhelming support, Atiku pleaded. (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 Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) says it has deployed 100 armed operatives to combat vote buying in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa during Saturdays supplementary elections in the states. The Kano Zonal Commander of EFCC, Farouk Dogondaji, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Friday. We have deployed 20 personnel to monitor the conduct of the state Assembly elections in Kafur, Kankara in Katsina State, he said. He explained that adequate personnel were also deployed to monitor the exercise in Tudun Wada/Doguwa, and Takai federal constituency, as well as some state assembly elections in Kano State. Mr Dogondaji said other personnel were also deployed for House of Assembly elections in Katsina and Jigawa, to prevent vote buying. We have also deployed officers to Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano and the metropolis to monitor the exercise. We will be visible in all the polling units in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa to carefully monitor the entire exercise during and after the elections. We will be physically present at collection centres to prevent tampering with results from the Local Government Areas to the state. We are carefully monitoring the entire exercise along with state security agencies, towards providing a peaceful atmosphere for eligible voters to elect their leaders, he said. He said the deployment was part of the commissions commitment towards ensuring credible and transparent elections in the zone. The commander said the EFCC had also adopted measures that would make it difficult for any person or group to tamper with the results of the elections. Mr Dogondaji called on the personnel to be thorough and professional in carrying out the national assignment. Our presence is to add value to the electoral process by preventing vote buying and change of results at collation centres, he said. He advised parents not to allow their children to be used as political thugs, as anyone found wanting would be arrested and prosecuted. (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 All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun has condemned the sacking of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilesa, Kayode Ijaduola, the Registrar, Oluwole Dada, and the Liberian, Adedokun Ojelabi, by Governor Ademola Adeleke. Tajudeen Lawal, the APC acting chairman in the state, described the sacking of the principal officers of the university as reckless. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the university was established by the immediate past governor of the state, Adegboyega Oyetola, on 31 March 2022, when he upgraded the College of Education, Ilesa, to a full-fledged university. Mr Oyetola backed the establishment of the university with a law made on 27 September and inaugurated the university governing council and principal officers in November 2022. But on Thursday, Mr Adeleke announced the appointment of new principal officers for the university. Commenting on the development, Mr Lawal, in a statement issued by the partys spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, said it was a pity that the governor was politicising the appointments of principal officers of a citadel of learning. The APC acting chairman said he saw no reason Governor Adeleke should be struggling to rubbish the legacy of his predecessor simply because they share different political ideals. According to him, the new University of Ilesa is a creation of the law which makes his removal of the tenured principal officers, duly approved by his predecessor, illegal. The process of the appointment of the new principal officers of the Ilesa University is crude, illegal and stinks to high heavens as it would be an impossible Utopia for it to surmount legal firepower in any court of law. (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. Relevant agricultural and media professionals on Tuesday and Wednesday met in Abuja to discuss the roles of farmers, academia and the media in achieving sustainable animal feed production and food security in Nigeria. The experts spoke at the second edition of the National Animal Feed Summit organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and other relevant partners including the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), its sister organisation, PREMIUM TIMES, and Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited in Abuja. This years summit, themed Harnessing Alternative Feed Resources for Sustainable Animal Feed , brought together several relevant agriculture experts from the private and public sectors, feed millers (toll, commercial and on-farm), media experts and academia in an effort to chart the way forward for the development of Nigerias feed sector and agricultural value chains at large. Animal Feed During the first panel session of the event moderated by a project officer at Sahel Consulting, Hammed Jimoh, on Wednesday, the panellists discussed the theme Achieving feed and food security in Nigeria through the commercialisation of alternative feed utilisation. One of the discussants, Mope Omotosho, a registered animal scientist, said several sustainable agricultural practices are available but that the farmers are not aware of such initiatives. We need extension services to achieve this, she said. She noted that by the time Nigeria starts compounding or processing feed for animals, the nation would be in trouble because it is not harnessing its potential effectively. Mrs Omotosho explained that in the feed milling industry, the major crops being used are maize and Soya beans and the nation needs to improve its production level. Alternative While making her presentation on the Prospects of Alternative Feed Resources Utilisation (Insect), Cordelia Ebenebe, a professor of Animal Science at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, said insects are essential components in the production of highly nutritious animal feeds. She said insects have the potential to meet the animal protein needs of feed milling and poultry industries. Speaking on insect availability, Mrs Ebenebe described insects as ubiquitous, adding that they have adapted to many environments and that they have a high rate of multiplication making them available at all times except for seasonal ones. Mrs Ebenebe said the more reason why farmers should use insect meals is that they contain bioactive substances such as antimicrobial peptides, antioxidants, immune system stimulation and microbiota modulation. With these bioactive substances in livestock feeds, she said, it will help develop the immune system of the livestock, preventing the animals from falling sick. In his presentation, Yarama Ndirpaya, director of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, said Nigeria is facing a feed and food security crisis that is compounded by the COVID-19 global pandemic and its effects on the food value chain in the country. He added that the pandemic, insecurity, climate change and post-harvest losses, among others, have significantly disrupted already fragile value chains across the country, including peoples ability to produce, process, and distribute food. Mr Ndirpaya said Nigerias animal feed sector remains underdeveloped, largely due to high production costs. 70 per cent of the operational costs of most poultry, aquaculture and other livestock operations go to feed, he said, adding that climate change has affected human lives and has changed the world. On his part, Adekeye Adetayo, a crop pasture expert, said in an attempt to feed animals, experts must not create another problem for the environment. He said degraded lands can be converted into pasture cultivation in an effort to curb climate change. In a swift intervention, Mrs Ebenebe said the integrated farming system is the right way to go in order to curb the emission of greenhouse gases as a result of agricultural activities in the environment. Media Role Speaking on the roles of the media, PREMIUM TIMES Managing Editor, Idris Akinbajo, lamented that there is no proper synergy among government agencies to ensure that people dont suffer the way they did during the last flooding in many Nigerian communities. However, Mr Akinbajo noted that the media is really trying to deepen climate change and food security reporting in the country. The media does not change society. The media will report, the media will investigate but it is the responsibility of the citizens to hold their government officials more accountable as much as possible, he noted. On agricultural policies like the Anchor Borrowers Program launched in 2015, Mr Akinbajo said the problem of the programme was the lack of transparency. He said due to a lack of transparency, many of such programmes failed. If you want success for the agriculture sector, ensure transparency, he added. He explained that factors such as desertification and insecurity are also some of the challenges that affected some of the enrollees of the ABP from paying back their loans. In the Ministry of Agriculture, it is so difficult to get details of who is benefitting from what, he said. In his remarks, CJIDs Executive Director, Tobi Oluwatola, said it is important to ask ourselves the question of what we need to do to improve the agricultural business environment. He queried how much of the money budgeted for farmers in the country truly gets to the farmers. It is important that relevant individuals within the agriculture space should collaborate with the media to keep the government accountable, he said Mr Oluwatola said: We all need to work together to make sure that we can track how agriculture funds in the country are being utilised. Naira scarcity Speaking on the impact of the cash crunch on farmers, one of the discussants, Ogechi Okebugwu, programme director of Small Scale Women Farmers Association of Nigeria (SWOFON), said the naira scarcity period was a challenging time for farmers. She said most of them (farmers) didnt have cash and recorded no sales. They were giving out ( selling off) their goods at cheaper prices, she added. She said during the International Womens Day celebrations, they collaborated with other partners in Abuja to visit rural communities to educate women on the need to open accounts so that they can have alternatives. Way forward In his presentation, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Modern Agricultural and Allied Practices, Hakeem Ajeigbe, urged farmers to increase dry season cultivation of grains including legumes for food, feed and crop residue. He said long-duration photosensitive cereals are essential for high biomass production (silage/hay) in feed production. On his part, the President of the Potato Farmers Association, Daniel Okafor, during his presentation on potatoes as an alternative feed for livestock, urged researchers to train farmers to know more about extension services. Mr Okafor said farmers need more irrigation and water pumps to be able to produce more feed for both humans and livestock sustainably. Speaking on quality assurance, Mrs Omotosho said those who are into feed milling should have their protocol for receiving their materials. They should have facilities for testing the materials they are receiving, she said. She noted that the nation needs a feed central laboratory in Nigeria with properly calibrated equipment for feed millers. In his intervention, Mr Adetayo said there is a need to do more surveys to add more feed resources to existing data banks. Speaking on the regulatory framework for supporting the utilisation of innovative technology for feed production, Godwin Oyediji, the founder of Animal Science Association of Nigeria, said the nation needs regulation to support the upstream industry in Nigeria. He said Nigeria has so many regulations and that in any standard regulation, there is a need for proper consensus. 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 daughter of the late Nigerian Head of State, Murtala Muhammed, Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, has authored a book in honour of the abducted Chibok school girls. She wrote the book through her Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO), Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF). Mrs Muhammed-Oyebode, who is a development specialist, said the book was issued to mark the ninth year of the abduction of the school girls in Borno State in 2014. She said women and girls, particularly in Nigeria, need security, education and a better future. She said the book, titled The Stolen Daughters of Chibok, was released on 4 April in New York, United States of America (USA) by PowerHouse Books Inc and is being released internationally. 276 school girls were abducted from their school by Boko Haram in Chibok in 2014. Mrs Muhammed-Oyebode said the book collected their families testimonies of loss and hope beginning in 2015 before any of the girls was found. As a collection of narratives, the book is a call to action for the restoration of balance in Nigerias Chibok community. It features photographs by award-winning photographer Akintunde Akinleye, interviews with the families, and chapters and excerpts by a team of experts, including journalists and psychologists, who have collaborated to create a comprehensive account and thorough examination of this tragedy, she stated. The foreword for the book is written by the Chairman Board of Trustees of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation Former President Olusegun Obasanjo with essays on violence, gender, and more from writers, novelists, academics, public figures, including Nobel Laurette Professor Wole Soyinka, Mozambique and South Africas former first lady, Graca Machel-Mandela, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, Bishop Mathew Kukah, Professor Femi Oyebode and beyond. The result is a heart-rending portrayal of the cost of this tragedy, which has touched the lives of communities in Nigeria and across the globe, she said Mrs Muhammed-Oyebode said that her foundation is determined to work with partners to improve the status of women and girls, prioritising safety, education, and economic opportunity. While progress has been made, it is evident that more needs to be done to develop clear routes that bring women and girls from conflict to safety. The Stolen Daughters of Chibok is a tribute to the resilience and courage of the Chibok families, who have refused to relinquish hope despite adversity. This book should be read by anyone who cares about the fate of these brave girls and their families and anyone who believes in the transformative power of literature. The Murtala Muhammed Foundation is one of Nigerias largest charitable foundations with operational expertise across the six key geopolitical zones of the Federation and programs that address the most significant economic and social challenges of our time. As a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of Africans, the Foundation focuses on engendering self-reliance and fulfilment by working tirelessly on policy and advocacy for issues that impact ethics, equity, good governance and economic empowerment, encouraging education, development, and providing disaster relief, Mrs Muhammed-Oyebode 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 police in Kano North-west Nigeria said they are ready to prosecute at least 781 electoral offenders who were arrested on various offences during the conduct of the 2023 general elections across the state. The police commissioner in charge of elections in Kano, Muhammad Gumel, announced this to reporters on Friday. Its in the record of the Nigeria Police Force that a total of 489 major electoral infractions occurred during the February 25 and March 18 rounds of elections, leading to the arrest of 781 offenders and the recovery of 66 assorted firearms. The summary indicates that a total of 185 major electoral offences were reported during the presidential and National Assembly elections with 203 arrests made and 18 firearms recovered. A total of 304 electoral offences were recorded during the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, with a total number of 578 arrests recorded and 48 firearms recovered. This included 161 suspects in Kano State, the police commissioner said. Mr Gumel said all police commands have been directed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali, to collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in ensuring that all electoral offenders are expeditiously and transparently prosecuted. He said the prosecution will not only be in the interest of the criminal justice delivery but will further the vision of the police to sanitise the countrys democratic space. The commissioner said election tribunals have been set up in all 36 States and FCT and the police are committed to efforts towards mitigating electoral malfeasance with more arrests, prosecution and sanctioning of the mother spiders to end their reign of impunity. The fact that most of those arrested tried and convicted so far for electoral offences are foot soldiers rather than the sponsors of electoral violence and other violations, many political elites have engaged in or supported violence in their bid to illegally shape the outcome of contests. In light of the foregoing, the Police hierarchy directed all the Commands Commissioners to collaborate with INEC in the prosecution of all electoral offences. This is to serve as deterrence and effective enforcement against individuals and organizations whose violations of the electoral laws are undermining the Constitution and threatening our democracy. The State Police of this Command is by this development committed to the implementation of this system of vigorous prosecution and punishment of all electoral offenders arrested and investigated during the last elections. This is to serve as a deterrent to others and help build confidence in our elections, Mr Gumel said. Supplementary elections in Kano Mr Gumel said the police will arrest troublemakers and their sponsors during the supplementary elections. The supplementary elections according to the commissioner will hold in the federal constituencies of Fagge, Tudun Wada / Doguwa House of Representatives. He said the supplementary election will also hold at 14 House of Assembly seats for Ajingi, Danbatta, Dawakin Tofa, Gwarzo, Gezawa, Makoda, Takai, Ungogo, Warawa, Gabasawa, Tudun Wada, Gaya, Wudil and Garko. Its expected that this time politicians and all the relevant stakeholders in our electoral processes will be on the same page with the Police and other relevant security agencies by upholding their pledges of being transparent, peaceful and as well as playing politics by the rules. They must not only shun violence but also ostracize their members who might want to engage in any form of violence. We must collectively and at individual levels also educate our youths on the dangers of allowing themselves to be used by desperate individuals, the police commissioner warned. INEC fixed 15 April for the conduct of supplementary elections across Nigeria. 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. Nine years after the abduction of the students of the Government Girls College, Chibok, Borno State, a group of youths in Nigerias northern region have appealed to the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, to prioritise the release of the students who are still held in captivity. At least 98 of the 276 abducted school girls are reportedly still in captivity and school abductions have lingered on over the years in Nigeria. The group- Northern Christian Youth Professionals, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Isaac Abrak, also suggested non-kinetic approaches to fighting terrorism and strengthening school security. While the Christian group commended the outgoing administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for securing the release of some of the abducted students, it emphasised that the incoming government should take decisive actions to rescue and reunite these innocent girls with their families. The group added that the government should prevent further degeneracy development, saying the recent abduction of 10 school children in Awon Community of Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, is disturbing. Non-kinetic approaches The group further emphasised in the statement that it identified non-kinetic approaches to the warfare as a strategic tool in finally weakening, containing and even defeating all forms of terror in Nigeria. These non-kinetic approaches include addressing the root causes of terrorism, such as poverty, unemployment, and social inequality, as well as countering extremist propaganda and ideology through education and public awareness campaigns, the importance of this can never be overemphasised, it added. The Christian group also noted that protecting schools from terrorism will encourage education in the Northern region and empower the minds of the children and youths to reject the falsehoods that foster terrorism and will naturally weaken and eventually defeat Boko Haram and other forms of terror in our land. We encourage the incoming government to engage in the fight against terrorism with renewed determination by equipping the security personnel with state-of-the-art weapons and improving their emoluments, it said. The group also reiterated its commitment to advocating the rights of all Nigerians, especially the vulnerable and marginalized, adding that they will continue to work with the government, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to ensure that the rights and dignity of all Nigerians are respected and protected. Chibok abduction, others Since the abduction of the Chibok girls in 2014, efforts by the Nigerian government to secure the release of the remaining girls in captivity have not yielded much result. Fifty-seven of the Chibok schoolgirls reportedly escaped immediately after the incident by jumping from the trucks conveying them, and others have been rescued on several occasions by the Nigerian Armed Forces. Amidst the security crisis and continued abduction of school children, the Nigerian Military secured the release of some of the girls, as many of them were enrolled in various academic institutions including the American University of Nigeria. According to Amnesty International in a statement Friday, there have been at least five reported cases of abductions in northern Nigeria, including from schools, between December 2020 and March 2021, while the threat of further attacks has led to the closure of over 600 schools in the region. The group also confirmed that 98 of the Chibok girls have remained in captivity, while more than 61 children are still being held in captivity two years after they were abducted by gunmen. 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. President-elect, Bola Tinubu, says voters must shun any form of violence during and after the supplementary elections scheduled for Saturday. Mr Tinubu, who is out of the country, stated this on Friday in a statement he personally signed. The Independent National Electoral Commission will conduct supplementary governorship elections in Adamawa and Kebbi States, five senatorial districts, and 31 federal and 58 state assembly constituencies across the federation. I call on Nigerians in the areas slated for the polls to conduct themselves peacefully and eschew violence and any act prejudicial to orderly electoral processes, Mr Tinubu said. We must ensure that the electoral processes are brought to a final, peaceful conclusion. I urge all Nigerians in areas where the additional polls will take place to eschew violence and conduct themselves in an orderly and peaceful manner. Mr Tinubu also urged the supporters of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to come out to vote. He described the supplementary elections as the last leg of the 2023 general election that will solidify the victory of his party. I must also use this opportunity to enjoin my All Progressives Congress members and the teeming supporters in the areas listed for the polls to come out in their large numbers to cast their votes for the partys candidates. Our party members and supporters should vote overwhelmingly for APC to complement and solidify the victory we recorded in the earlier polls. This will no doubt help in the effective functioning of government at the federal and state levels for the benefit of our people, he said. The ruling party is counting on the supplementary elections to expand its majority in both chambers of the National Assembly. 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 Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the bill seeking an end to the discrimination between Bachelors Degree and Higher National Diploma (HND) holders in the Nigerian civil service into law. The National Assembly has passed the Bill for an Act to Abolish and Prohibit Dichotomy and Discrimination between First Degree and Higher National Diploma in the Same Profession/Field for the Purpose of Employment; and for Related Matters, and has presented it to Mr Buhari for assent before it can become a law. The bill is seeking to legislate the discrimination of polytechnic graduates from their university counterparts in employment and promotion in the workplace. The bill also seeks to end the discrimination that stakeholders in the polytechnics have, which for long they sought an end to. As it currently stands, Bachelors holders offered in the universities are ranked better than the HND awarded in the polytechnics. Unlike the graduates of universities, HND holders cannot rise to Grade Level (GL) 17 in the civil service. Also, at the entry level in the civil service, polytechnic graduates are placed on GL07 while university graduates are placed on GL08. NATEs call After multiple agitations proved futile, legislation became the last hope in getting the dichotomy abolished, NATE President, Dominic Idoatan, said at a briefing on Friday. Since 2006, the government has attempted to end the discrimination by pronouncing and constituting committees to look into the matter. But it is sad to observe that even when the White Paper was released on the above subject matter, some people are thwarting the implementation of the recommendations of the White Paper, he said. The only option left was the legislative route. By November 2021, both chambers of the National Assembly had passed the bill sponsored by Ayo Akinyelure, a senator. Mr Idoatan, therefore, called on Mr Buhari to sign the bill into law before the end of his tenure on 29 May. He said the continuous discrimination against polytechnic graduates, whom he described as technologists, has set the country back in areas of technology-driven development. He said: The discrimination against HND holders in Engineering, in particular, has dampened and demoralised the morale of technologists, thereby resulting in low productivity. Nigeria, yet to embrace technology and technologists, has over the years become net importers of manufactured goods and has generally witnessed a poor standard of living, net negative balance sheet, and low per capita income. Mr Idoatan also appealed to the Head of Service of the Federation and the Attorney General of the Federation to give their support for the signing of the bills. We wish to appeal to Mr President to assent to the bill on the abolition of HND, a first-degree signed dichotomy that is now before him. If the bill is graciously signed by the president, posterity will forever remember him as the president that has signed bills such as the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), 22 Electoral Amendment Bill, and Hopefully the 2023 HND, First Degree Dichotomy abolition bill that has touched the lives of Nigerians and Nigeria Economy, he said. Background The leadership and members of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), and the Senior Staff Union of Polytechnics (SSANIP) among other groups have long described the policy as discriminatory and unfair. They also made several calls for the government to abolish the policy that forces polytechnic graduates to retire in lower cadres of civil services than their counterparts who graduated from the universities. The bill passed by the national assembly has been a major leap for the agitations, but the president has yet to assent to the bill. Despite saying the government was committed to ending the discrimination, in a leaked letter in August 2022, the head of the civil service of the federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, reiterated the discrimination to the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC). In the letter, she maintained that all HND holders terminate on SGL.14 in the Public Service; whether with or without Professional Qualification. Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe 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. As the cacophony of bigotry gets lauder, no one is even posing the key question: Was the 2023 general elections organised in SUBSTANTIAL COMPLAINCE WITH THE ELECTORAL ACT? If and when we return to this question, we may begin to find out that all the identity questions posed are real AND in addition, the elections have substantial credibility if you ask all the powerful incumbent governors who failed to get the tickets to their normal retirement home, the Senate. The 2023 general elections have taken their pride of place in the long line of elections that have traumatised Nigerians due to the extremely high levels of ethno-regional and religious bigotry that marked them. The 1964 elections might have been the most acrimonious, following the controversy that came on the heels of the rejection of the 1962 census and divergent attitudes to the 1963 census, alongside the creation of the Midwest and then Operation Wetie in Western Nigeria. In short, all the key ingredients pertaining to the survival of the Nigerian state were on the table in that election. The result was a complete breakdown of public trust and the civil war. The core lesson from the 1964 elections was that the abuse of powers of incumbency to impose the will of a section of the political class on the people was a threat to the survival of the state itself. The outcome was that the First Republic fell. The next major trauma for the Nigerian state on elections was in 1983. The ruling National Party of Nigeria steered the polls from the arithmetical normal rigging to the exponential level of creating new results sheets that bear no resemblance with numbers from the polling units. The centre of the trauma was the attempted gubernatorial imposition of Omoboriowo over Ajasin, and that trauma of the Ondo people represented the angst of the entire nation, with a clear question posed: why bother with elections if you can write any result you like? A maigaskiya (man of truth) called Major-General Muhammadu Buhari stepped up, and disturbed the transition-to-new year (1983 to 1984) parties with a coup detat. The lesson from the 1983 elections was that the abuse of powers of incumbency to impose the will of a section of the political class over the others was a threat to the survival of the state itself. The outcome was that the Second Republic fell. The next trauma was the 12th June, 1993 election, when the process was successfully conducted. MKO Abiola won and it was a beautiful occasion for nation building, with both a transition from military to civilian rule and power shift from the North to the South occurring at the same time. A certain General Ibrahim Babangida decided that power was too sweet and refused to hand it over, precipitating a major crisis of survival for the Nigerian state. The lesson from the 12th June election was the abuse of the powers of incumbency to impose the will of a section of the militaro-political class over the others, and this constituted a threat to the survival of the state itself. The political transition programme collapsed, the junta went into crisis and General Sani Abacha, the most brutal junta member, took over power, until he was removed from the scene with help from two exotic prostitutes. Right from the beginning, the elections were defined by the determination of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling APC to contest with a Muslim-Muslim ticket and the religious label stuck. A new phenomenon emerged on the political terrain with the entry of Peter Obi on a platform of youth mobilisation, for the establishment of a competent and technocratic government. His label failed to stick. Then a strange thing happened, trauma took leave from Nigerian elections. The two most rigged elections in Nigerian history, in my assessment, were the 2003 and 2007 elections, where the 1983 rule book on the most efficient way of rigging through the re-writing of result sheets was re-invented, and INEC rewrote results with reckless abandon. Turnout in the said elections was very high, not because people came out to vote, but because officials were ready to write that they came out. We screamed a little bit but the mobilisation of ethno-religious bigotry was minimal and civil society, where I was, took the decision to simply focus on improving the integrity of future elections. The lessons from the 2003 and 2007 elections were dont bother, your votes will not be counted. Nonetheless, we did not scream bigotry. Then the Nigerian magic started to happen at the point of the nations lowest political despondency. President Goodluck Jonathan appointed a competent man with integrity called Attahiru Jega as INEC chairman and then a series of reforms, leading to a steady improvement in the credibility and integrity of Nigerian elections started. The next Chairman, Mahmoud Yakubu sustained the reforms and the 2023 elections can in no way be considered to be on the list of the most rigged elections in our history. The lesson from the 2023 elections is that technical improvements anchored on the successful use of the BVAS voters accreditation system was not sufficient to prevent one of the most explosive mobilisation and expressions of ethno-regional and religious bigotry related to elections in our history. Right from the beginning, the elections were defined by the determination of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling APC to contest with a Muslim-Muslim ticket and the religious label stuck. A new phenomenon emerged on the political terrain with the entry of Peter Obi on a platform of youth mobilisation, for the establishment of a competent and technocratic government. This label failed to stick. Irrespective of what he and his movement wanted, political reductionism brought them down to the level of the Christian alternative to the Muslim-Muslim ticket. The clergy on both sides, but even worse, the intellectuals on both sides, sealed the deal by producing massive evidence that the core issues that defined the elections were ethnicity and religion. The key issues of contestations in the elections are all cast in ethno-regional and religious terms. Power shift to the South. In the South, is it the turn of the Igbo or the Yoruba? The Muslim-Muslim ticket is the marginalisation of Christians. Voter suppression was used against some ethnic groups, mainly the Igbo. The Electoral Commission played its part with the failure of the electronic transmission of results from polling units to the IReV public portal. The failure became evidence that the election was rigged and non-transmission was evidence of the grand INEC conspiracy. No one was interested in hearing that the integrity test was BVAS and for the most part it worked. Serious discussions of the elections have become very difficult because the partisans have taken their positions and they repeat their conclusions to justify their bigotry. The key issues of contestations in the elections are all cast in ethno-regional and religious terms. Power shift to the South. In the South, is it the turn of the Igbo or the Yoruba? The Muslim-Muslim ticket is the marginalisation of Christians. Voter suppression was used against some ethnic groups, mainly the Igbo. The Labour Party Vice Presidential candidate is a fascist because he said Tinubu is not even qualified to run, says our Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka. No replied our great novelist, Chimamanda Adichie, the fascist is Mahmoud Yakubu, the INEC chairman. When fascism is reduced to an invective against individuals, clearly, the purpose is to stop the conversation. As the cacophony of bigotry gets lauder, no one is even posing the key question: Was the 2023 general elections organised in SUBSTANTIAL COMPLAINCE WITH THE ELECTORAL ACT? If and when we return to this question, we may begin to find out that all the identity questions posed are real AND in addition, the elections have substantial credibility if you ask all the powerful incumbent governors who failed to get the tickets to their normal retirement home, the Senate. The voters who are so happy that they stopped their hated governors from continuing in power may have even more interesting narratives to share. When we get to these conversations, we will get on the pathway to recovering from our collective trauma over the 2023 general elections. A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. Your last joke was: E be like say me too will take a huge break on Facebook. Thank you lovers of NIGERIA. I will be back in few hours time. This is still being shared round as we speak. We know its no longer going to be a few hours. We know you are gone for interminable years Adenike Adewunmi Adebisi, your sudden exit took me to the depths of sorrow. Only one solace we shall all live withYour larger than life memory which no one will ever take away from us! I launched the Corruption Not In My Country project on 3rd of May, 2016. Before the end of 2016, I got the gracious support of TVC in a broadcast partnership that lasted close to a year. It was facilitated by my friend and brother, Mojeed Jamiu, who went round Morayo Afolabi Brown and Funke Sogunle. While this project debuted on TV, I made intentional efforts to populate the social media space with it. I started sharing the videos all around. It is a national reorientation project that is dear to my heart. I wanted to leave nothing untouched in amplifying the messages. I had such conviction that if we could recalibrate citizens engagement tools for national rebirth and achieve a resetting of our values, fifty per cent of our problems as a nation would have been solved. On the 8th of June 2017, you came into my inbox asking me to send the videos to you through WhatsApp platform, so you that you could share them on your wall. Before that day ended, you came back to say, I have just mentioned your name to Wunmi Abiodun, the younger sister to Babajide Otitoju, anchor of the Journalists Hangout programme on TVC. I told her youre the brain behind Corruption Not In My Country and she has started posting your audio visual messages on police corruption on her page. Its a great initiative that Im excited about; so Im proud to tell people about it. And by the way, I have shared them on my platform. I responded: Wow, thank you so much. That selfless gesture from you was rare. How many people in this word really celebrate others genuinely? On the 9th of January, 2018, you teased me in my inbox that: A de matchmake o. I want to link you to one beautiful and brainy girl. I laughed and laughed and sent you the laughter emojis. You said you were serious. I said motigbo in Yoruba meaning, Ive heard you. On 11th of March, 2019, about a week after the sudden death of Professor Pius Adesanmi, a death that shattered my peace and that of the world for years, I did a post that irked a mutual friend and Director at the Ministry of Health, Dr Okolo Oteri-Eme. Okolos comment didnt sit well with me and I went for her. We had an altercation. You came inbox to pull me back. You told me: No, you cant do that. Infact Im disappointed in you. I know youre hurting but take it easy. All of us are hit by Pius death but dont let this escalate into another crisis. Then you asked me: Can you make peace with Okolo? I promised you that I would. There and then, I placed a call to her. On Okolos birthday, I got her a nice pair of shoes and dispatched them to Abuja through our mutual friend, Temitope Ajayi. Okolo was very happy and pleasantly surprised. We gained our friendship back. Such was your power of peace-building and crisis management capability. You hated strife, you always wished the whole world would be a paradise where no one hurt the other . On the 6th of October, 2021, at 12:57 pm, you came to me inbox: How are you brother, longest time. I am looking in to check on you. Again on 25th of November, 2021, at 9.45am: Howre you doing? Checking on you. 6th January, 2022, 11:19am: Happy New Year, hope youre fine? Checking on you. Thursday, 13 April was a day of complete gloom and darkness. We all experienced the pin-drop loud silence that wreaked our joy and kept us wondering if this was another joke from you. Your humour was soothing. One post from you will gather ants on sugar. There was no political disagreement, no matter how hot that you didnt reduce to humour. 5th May, 2022, 1:39pm: I am here to check on you and tell you thank you for everything. Everything here meant my moral contribution to our friendship, maybe by spreading word about your ankara or packaged yam flour businesses. Yes, you were that industrious. On the 5th of July, 2022, at 1:45pm, you came inbox to me once more: Thank you again, I appreciate you for everything you do. And, I replied: Haba, my sister, its what I must do. But youre the Angel here! Towards the end of 2022, you had a major issue with a younger mutual friend on Facebook. We call him Dewunmi Lagos. You were highly incensed. I got to know and was concerned. Not because it was not normal to have these occasional contretemps on social media, but because you were the wide-berthed umbrella or better still, big tree, under which many quarrels were settled. I worried that that spaces toxicity humidifier, arguably the last person standing must not be allowed to fall into the Fuji house of commotion whirlwind that social media can occasionally represent. I told you: we must resolve this right away. But, still greatly miffed, you insisted: No way, that boy really misbehaved. But, I pointed to you that, Oh, Im not asking for your opinion, its an order. You burst into your signature, winning, childlike laughter and said: Okay o, oya do it. There and then, I connected Dewunmi on WhatsApp, spoke with you both and implored him to apologise to you. He did. We settled. Here are your testimonials in past 24 hours: The Honourable Commissioner for Information, Ondo State, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju described you as a, Pacifist, demure humorist whose disharmonious dance steps is as amusing as it is enthralling. Petra Akinti-Onyegbule, the former chief press secretary, Kogi State Government observed that: You were a delight. A pure soul in whom there was neither guile nor hatred. For Olufunmilayo Odunaike: You had a good heart. A giving heart. More than once or twice, you asked for my account number. To Mayegun Asake Okin: This life!!! Nothing!! Here today, gone tomorrow! Abiodun Atobatele; an enterpreneur said: I wish I had just a minute control over who lives, Ill bring Adenike Adebisi back without hesitation. Adekunle Shotubo, an energy expert stated: Vintage Adenike, this is so painful. For Richard Akinnola, the executive director, Media Law Centre: I dont even know what to say. Each time the death of someone confounds me like that of Adenike Adebisi, my recourse to spiritual catharsis is to listen to the last message of Archbishop Benson Idahosa on The Benefit of Death. Authorities on the shock that death comes with were spot on when they said, Life can change in the blink of an eye, but love is eternal; Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, but love leaves a memory no one can steal. The list is endless on the outpouring of emotions on Facebook. Thursday, 13 April was a day of complete gloom and darkness. We all experienced the pin-drop loud silence that wreaked our joy and kept us wondering if this was another joke from you. Your humour was soothing. One post from you will gather ants on sugar. There was no political disagreement, no matter how hot that you didnt reduce to humour. People of different political persuasions converged on your wall like a comedy rendezvous. You had the heart of a child and your kindness was effortless without any egocentric drama. This was how much you evoked our passion and impacted our virtual space. As was said of Marcus Brutus in Julius Caesar, you were decent and noble and, of course, you bestrode the Facebook world like a colossus. You didnt have to be a politician or a business mogul to earn this celebration. In your modest self-effacing calm life, more than 22,000 followers you had have been literally weeping. To write this is difficult. To refer to you in the past tense is heart-wrenching. Authorities on the shock that death comes with were spot on when they said, Life can change in the blink of an eye, but love is eternal; Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, but love leaves a memory no one can steal. Your last joke was: E be like say me too will take a huge break on Facebook. Thank you lovers of NIGERIA. I will be back in few hours time. This is still being shared round as we speak. We know its no longer going to be a few hours. We know you are gone for interminable years. Adenike Adewunmi Adebisi, your sudden exit took me to the depths of sorrow. Only one solace we shall all live withYour larger than life memory which no one will ever take away from us! Akin Fadeyi is founder/executive director, Akin Fadeyi Foundation. 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. There does not seem to be much enthusiasm for the Iran-Saudi Peace deal in the West, mainly because it has strived to portray China, the peacemaker, as a belligerent country and a danger to world peace. Secondly, the agreement signifies a major shift of Saudi Arabia from the Western orbit. Whatever be the case, the face of universal Islam will change with the Iran-Saudi Arabia Peace Agreements. The world seems unaware that a peace process of seismic proportions is under way. Islam is a religion with over 1.8 billion followers but its two broad movements, the Sunnis led by Saudi Arabia and the Shiites led by Iran, have been in disagreement for long, sometimes leading to violent confrontations. A major difference between the movements is that while the Shiites believe that the religion should be led by descendants of the Prophet (SAW), the Sunnis do not agree with this. Over the ages, other differences emerged. However, the 1979 Iranian Revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeni, which abolished the 2,500 old monarchy and radicalised the populace, led to a further divide, with the Iranians being anti-America and the Saudis being pro-monarchy and pro-America. This polarisation has led to violent conflicts in parts of the world, one of the bloodiest being the Yemeni Civil War now in its eighth year. The war saw the Houthis, who are minority Zaydiyyah Shiite Muslims, overrunning the capital, Sanaa, and large parts of the country. Only the military intervention by Sunni-dominated countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stopped the march of the Houthis to the sea. Those countries carried out crimes against humanity, such as deliberately bombing schools, school buses, markets, hospitals, marriages, funerals and other civilian targets. But holding off the Houthis has also come at high costs for the Saudis, who have had to endure missile attacks on their towns. Also, the UAE has broken off from the alliance by backing anti-Saudi rebels in South Yemen. One of the most devastating wars today is the Syrian Civil War, which began on 11 March, 2011. It is a war in which the majority Sunni groups, led by the terrorist al-Nustra Front and the Islamic State (ISIS), with the backing of the US, some Western allies and Gulf States, have tried to uproot the government of President Bashar al-Assad, an Alawite Shiite. The latter was able to rally minorities in the country, including other Shiite groups, Jews and Christians. It also has the backing of Russia and Iran. The war has claimed some 600,000 lives and reduced the country to ruins. The Syrian War witnessed one of the greatest mistakes in world history. In planning the war, a Western-Gulf States alliance established a Sunni organisation, the ISIS, which was trained in Jordan, funded by the Gulf States and armed with weapons purchased mainly from the US. It was intended to take out the Shiites. The Arab Spring revolt, which actually started from Tunisia before spreading to the Gulf, made a windfall in Bahrain where the populace demanded democracy. The problem was that neither the Western powers nor the Gulf States would allow democracy in a country where Shiites are the majority and the ruling Al Khalifa monarchy is made up of the minority Sunni. Democracy would mean the end of the monarchy and minority Sunni rule. But like a Frankenstein monster, the ISIS spun-out of control and like a mad dog, not only attacked the Syrian government and its supporters, but also the Iraqi government put in place by the US. ISIS, which was also peopled by international fighters initially encouraged by the West, created an Islamic Caliphate from lands it grabbed mainly from Iraq. It became a mission of America to put down the monster it had helped to create. The civil war in Iraq was triggered by the invasion of Western powers, led by US and Britain, under the false premises that that the country led by President Saddam Hussien had weapons of mass destruction, which it was about to use. Hussein was from the minority Sunni, which accounted for 35% of the population. The invasion led to the majority Shiites and the minority Kurds reaching for power. The Arab Spring revolt, which actually started from Tunisia before spreading to the Gulf, made a windfall in Bahrain where the populace demanded democracy. The problem was that neither the Western powers nor the Gulf States would allow democracy in a country where Shiites are the majority and the ruling Al Khalifa monarchy is made up of the minority Sunni. Democracy would mean the end of the monarchy and minority Sunni rule. Since the Bahrain military, despite its violent crackdown, could not overwhelm the populace, a decision was taken to bring in the overwhelming firing power of the Saudi and UAE against the civil society. The foreign invasion began on 14 March, 2011. While the Saudis sent in their national guard, the Emiratis sent in armed policemen, the Kuwaitis sent their navy, while a 7,000-strong American military force waited in their base 10 miles from the centre of the pro-democracy protests. Three years later, the invaders were still in Bahrain. Seven years ago, Saudi Arabia and Iran decided to severe relations, while their proxy wars escalated. So, you can imagine the shock waves around the world on 10 March when it was announced that both countries had decided to restore diplomatic ties and work towards peace. It was the outcome of a four-day discussion by both sides in China! The immediate implication of this is the prospects for peace in parts of the world, including Yemen, Syria and Iraq, and better cooperation amongst Muslims in places like Lebanon, where the Hassan Nasrallah-led Shiite group, Hezbollah, has built a formidable military force. In a quick follow-up to the peace deal, a Saudi delegation was on 9 April in Sanaa, capital of the Houthi-controlled half of Yemen, for peace talks, the most promising so far. Both countries agreed to resume diplomatic relations, re-open their embassies and missions within two months, respect each others sovereignty, and ensure non-interference in the internal affairs of states. The agreement also provided for a meeting by their foreign ministers to implement the agreement, arrange for the return of their ambassadors, and discuss means of enhancing bilateral relations. They also reached back to the old Security Cooperation Agreements signed in the fields of economy, trade, investment, technology, science, culture, sports, and youth, and agreed to implement them. China, the peacemaker, joined the two countries in their pledge to work towards enhancing regional and international peace and security. The immediate implication of this is the prospects for peace in parts of the world, including Yemen, Syria and Iraq, and better cooperation amongst Muslims in places like Lebanon, where the Hassan Nasrallah-led Shiite group, Hezbollah, has built a formidable military force. In a quick follow-up to the peace deal, a Saudi delegation was on 9 April in Sanaa, capital of the Houthi-controlled half of Yemen, for peace talks, the most promising so far. The talks with an Omani delegation as observer, aim to stabilise a truce and cease-fire, complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Yemen, lifting of restrictions on air and sea ports, prisoner exchange, resumption of Yemeni oil exports, and a comprehensive peace plan for Yemen. These peace talks would be a prelude to a wider one that would bring in the rival Saudi-backed Yemeni government in Aden and a rebel offshoot funded by the UAE. Reconciliation still seems far off as the two different economies, central banks and currencies would need to be merged. There does not seem to be much enthusiasm for the Iran-Saudi Peace deal in the West, mainly because it has strived to portray China, the peacemaker, as a belligerent country and a danger to world peace. Secondly, the agreement signifies a major shift of Saudi Arabia from the Western orbit. Whatever be the case, the face of universal Islam will change with the Iran-Saudi Arabia Peace Agreements. Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author. 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 Kaduna State Government says its high-impact cost-effective nutrition interventions have led to a steady decline in the number of children dying of severe malnutrition in the state. The State Nutrition Officer, Ramatu Haruna, made this known in Kaduna on Thursday at a two-day review meeting of the State Committee on Food and Nutrition. Mrs Haruna, who was represented by the State Integrated Data Control Coordinator, Jibril Isah, explained that the number of deaths decreased from 672 in 2017 to 221 in 2018. She added that the number increased to 323 in 2019 and continued a downward trend to 142 in 2020; 58 in 2021; 37 in 2022 and three as of February 2023. Mrs Haruna also lauded the steady rise in the number of people attending Support Group Meetings under Community Infant and Young Person Feeding services. The nutrition officer said that the attendance increased from 96,673 in 2018, to 137,343 in 2019; 169,569 in 2020; 205,469 in 2021 and 316,203 in 2022. She disclosed that 68,769 had attended the support group meeting as of February of 2023. Mrs Haruna explained that through the support group meetings, mothers and caregivers openly discussed and learned about infant and young child feeding (IYCF) information and practices. She said the impressive performance indicated a growing level of confidence that the communities had in the services being provided. She attributed the successes recorded in improving the nutrition indices of children in the state to massive interventions by the state government, with support from development partners. There is also increased access to services from 77 health facilities in 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 2021, to 117 facilities in the 23 LGAs in 2022 under the Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP), she said. The Director of Development Aid Coordination, PBC, Linda Yakubu, said the objective of the review meeting was to collate updates on nutrition interventions from implementing MDAs. Ms Yakubu said the meeting was also organised to build the capacity of Nutrition Desk Officers in MDAs on optimal nutrition modelling and introduce participants to biofortification recipes. We will also deliberate and come up with a key message for a proposed nutrition billboard as outlined in the KDMSPAN, she 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 Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal says it has so far received 19 petitions challenging the outcomes of some of the elections in the state. The Secretary of the tribunal, Ezenta Obioma, made this known to journalists at his office in Abeokuta, on Friday. Mr Obioma said two of the petitions were received from the governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ladi Adebutu, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Olufemi Oguntoyinbo. They are challenging the reelection of Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The tribunal secretary said the 17 other petitions are in respect of the state House of Assembly elections. Sixteen out of the Assembly elections petitions were filed by candidates of the PDP while the other was filed by a candidate of the APC. We are still at the filing stage, so I cannot tell you precisely when the tribunal is going to commence sitting. READ ALSO: Filings PDP and NNPP had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC and Mr Abiodun in their separate petitions. The governorship candidate of the PDP, in his petition is seeking to be declared as the winner of the election or that INEC be ordered to conduct fresh election in 99 polling units in 41 wards across 16 local government areas of the state. He alleged that elections were either not held in the polling units or were cancelled due to disruption and over-voting. On its part, the NNPP said its name was omitted on the ballot paper for the governorship election. In an affidavit deposed by its chairman in Ogun, Oginni Olaposi, NNPP said it is dissatisfied with the outcome of the election. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print ( Read 2033 Times) 14 Apr 23 Share | Print This Page This Article/News is also avaliable in following categories : Your Comments ! Share Your Openion 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 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, 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 SOURCE Global Mobility Call 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 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" "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 LIYANG, China, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2023 China Liyang Tea Festival and Tianmu Lake Tourism Festival, themed "Pursue Qulity Liyang & A better life", kicked off in the Jiangsu Province city of Liyang on April 10. At the opening ceremony, Ye Minghua, Secretary of the Liyang Municipal Party Committee, delivered a speech, inviting visitors from all over the world to visit Liyang and experience the wonderful humanistic, ecological and peaceful environment, and share in the city's easy-going lifestyle while taking in the area's many outstanding achievements. The easily accessible Liyang is known for its long and rich history, alongside its traditions that have been handed down through the generations. Liyang has historically been a place that has attracted eminent poets and scholars who have left behind a treasure trove of popular poems and writings. Every nook and cranny of the land bears a profound imprint of the awe-inspiring spirit and determination of its inhabitants. Surrounded by natural beauty at all times of the year - the majestic mountains, flowing rivers and lakes, and picturesque farmland, the city is an ideal place to enjoy "fragrant flowers for ten miles" in the spring and a snow-bedecked wonderland in winter. In addition to Liyang's peaceful and happy living environment, Liyang is also thriving due to local government policies that foster quality-driven growth, reflected in a city that is full of vitality, innovation, entrepreneurship, and a welcoming spirit. The city offers a favorable environment for investment and business. Mr. Ye said that he looks forward to Liyang forging closer ties and collaborating on new projects with new and old friends via the two festivals. Tea, a drink that is often shared with likeminded people, is representative of the shared growth opportunities on offer for a better future. The two festivals serve to facilitate not only the quality-driven growth of the city, and the expansion of green development throughout the surrounding region, but also contribute to the success of the region's roadmap for growth. The launch ceremony witnessed the signing of several major projects with the local government. Since the beginning of the year, Liyang has focused on the theme of "building a quality city" by mobilizing local communities to leverage its advantages, in an effort to build an environmentally-friendly outstanding city in southern Jiangsu with a strong commitment to exceptional performance. The 2023 China Liyang Tea Festival and Tianmu Lake Tourism Festival will run for a month. With the successful conclusion of the opening ceremony, the exciting and diverse lineup of events that follows is packed with activities that are sure to have something of interest for everyone. SOURCE Liyang Tea Festival OSLO, Norway, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aker Capital AS, 100 percent owned by Aker ASA (together referred to as "Aker"), and The Resource Group TRG AS ("TRG") have agreed to sell their shares in Aker Energy AS ("Aker Energy") to AFC Equity Investment Ltd, a company owned by Africa Finance Corporation ("AFC"). Aker today holds 50.79 percent of the shares in Aker Energy, and TRG holds 49.21 percent. The management team of Aker Energy will remain unchanged and will work towards submission of the Plan of Development ("PoD") for the Pecan field to Ghanaian authorities in April 2023. Through the transaction, AFC will become the sole shareholder of Aker Energy, and thereby 50 percent owner of the Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points (DWT/CTP) block offshore Ghana, comprising discoveries of 450-550 million barrels of oil equivalents, including the Pecan field. Africa Finance Corporation has previously invested USD 200 million in senior secured bonds in the DWT/CTP block development and AFC's CEO currently serves on the Aker Energy board. "Aker still believes in the resource potential of the DWT/CTP block in Ghana. AFC is already invested in this field development and is well-positioned to continue this development. In-line with Aker's capital allocation priorities, we have thus made a strategic decision to sell our stake in the Ghana assets with an earn-out model as a consideration. This way we share the risk and reward of this future development," said yvind Eriksen, President and CEO of Aker ASA. "The sale to a reputable African institution, such as the AFC, was considered to be the best way forward to ensure the development of the Pecan field, as well as the whole DWT/CTP block. We are therefore very pleased to have reached this agreement with AFC." The consideration for the share purchase by AFC is an earn-out model based on potential future sales and/or production proceeds from the Pecan project. Aker will on an ongoing basis assess the value of the potential earn-out consideration compared to its current book value, which forms part of Aker's Net Asset Value reporting. AFC is a pan-African multilateral development finance institution with a proven track record in providing pragmatic solutions to Africa's infrastructure deficit, having assembled a USD 10.5 billion portfolio of loans and other investments across six sectors, and accession to the Corporation by 40 member countries. The Republic of Ghana became an AFC sovereign shareholder in 2018, having acceded to membership in 2011. AFC has invested in several projects in Ghana across various real sectors over the last 15 years, both as equity and debt providers. "AFC reaffirms its commitment to catalyzing economic growth and development in Africa. AFC will continue to ensure that Africa's natural resources, including its vast oil and gas reserves, are developed sustainably within the global framework on energy transition and the UN Sustainable Development Goals," said Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of AFC. "The DWT/CTP Project, which aims to develop Ghana's proven resources, has the potential to create jobs, increase government revenues, and spur development in the country. Our continuing collaboration with Aker entities for technical support to the development will ensure that the PoD is submitted on time and in line with the framework agreed with the Government of Ghana. This is a positive step toward achieving the project's goals and significantly contributing value to the Ghanaian economy." Media contact: Atle Kigen, Head of Media Relations and Public Affairs, Aker ASA Tel: +47 907 84 878 Email: [email protected] Investor contact: Fredrik Berge, Head of Investor Relations, Aker ASA Tel: +47 450 32 090 Email: [email protected] This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This stock exchange release was published by Fredrik Berge, Head of IR, Aker ASA, on April 14, 2023 at 14:20 CEST SOURCE Aker ASA IRVINE, Calif., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpha Motor Corporation (Alpha) announced today that the company successfully debuted its Wolf and Wolf Plus Electric Trucks at the Seoul Mobility Show. Over 500,000 visitors attended Korea's premiere automotive exhibition with 164 affiliated companies participating from 12 countries. The Seoul Mobility Show is said to be the largest mobility show in Korea. March 31, 2023: Commemorative photo taken at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Seoul Mobility Show held at KINTEX, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. Top right row 2, Jada Lee, Co-Founder, Vice Chairman of Alpha Motor Corporation. Image provided by the 2023 Seoul Mobility Show. Copyright 2023 Alpha Motor Corporation. All rights reserved. Alpha's exhibition at the Seoul Mobility Show is now available to view at https://youtu.be/IaOuurt36uo. High resolution photos from the event are accessible at https://www.alphamotorinc.com/sms2023. Edward Lee and Jada Lee, Founders of Alpha Motor Corporation presented to the public at the 2023 Seoul Mobility Show, where the Wolf and Wolf Plus Electric Trucks made their international debut. "We are incredibly honored to be here today to share a memory with you, which we hope will spark a chain reaction. Our vision to Move Humanity is intended to provide anyone who wishes to contribute to our goals and vision an opportunity to follow their own passion. At the heart of our creation, we aspire to create a culture that positively reinforces giving recognition where it is due. This is an important pillar for a venture that will shape the way people are motivated and inspired, which will consequently bring about remarkable innovations. Success of Alpha Motor will hinge on its authenticity, empowerment, and support from all of its believers. We are created for those believers. We invite you to experience our Wolf, Wolf+ and our vision moving forward. Please come witness how a dream became reality," said Jada Lee Co-Founder, Vice Chairman of Alpha Motor Corporation. The 2023 Seoul Mobility Show opened on March 30 to Press and Media organizations. Alpha's exhibition was located at the front of the main entrance of the Seoul Mobility Show, which made it easy for visitors to find Alpha. News and media outlets in Korea provided reviews of Alpha which also included interviews with its leadership. The Seoul Mobility Show officially opened to the general public from March 31 and continued into the weekend when the highest number of visitors were recorded with an estimated 200,000 people. The event concluded on April 9. Through the experience at the 2023 Seoul Mobility Show, Alpha was able to receive confirmation on its direction: Authentic Brand People of the Seoul Mobility Show resonated with Alpha's Move Humanity vision of innovating mobility to accelerate a green economy. Alpha's genuine commitment to commercialize its EVs was presented to and welcomed by the public. Alpha's brand was perceived to be on par with what the market in Korea may consider to be a premium brand. Unique Market Position Consumers in Korea felt that Alpha's trucks were a much-needed innovation to the EV segment as well as a solution for niche markets such as camping, which have been rapidly rising in popularity. Considering Alpha's ability to swiftly bring about tangible products, consumers in Korea expressed their interest for more vehicles in Alpha's lineup including SAGA, JAX, ACE, and REX. Product Design Excellence An ongoing strength of Alpha, visitors of all ages were drawn to Alpha's EV designs. Several people commented that they could relate with Alpha and at the same time felt that its designs were refreshingly new and functionally well resolved. Commercial Feasibility Wolf and Wolf Plus electric trucks demonstrated mature and detailed execution in feasibility. Spanning across the overall footprint, architecture, materials, fit and finish, to projected performance specifications within such footprint, Alpha's products were well accepted as a desirable future product by potential consumers in Korea. Visionary Leadership Visitors of the Seoul Mobility Show looked favorably towards Alpha's industry experience, positive vision to Move Humanity, and the company's product roadmap which was presented at the Seoul Mobility Show. "We are moving forward in commercializing Alpha because the world needs our electric vehicles. Alpha is committed to Move Humanity and we are closer to achieving our goal after successfully exhibiting to over 500,000 people at the Seoul Mobility Show," said Edward Lee, Founder, CEO of Alpha Motor Corporation. About Wolf Plus Electric Truck The Alpha Wolf Plus puts an additional emphasis on utility, while preserving the persona of Alpha's revolutionary Wolf Plus electric truck. The multipurpose Wolf Plus is built for utility and adventure. It has an extended cabin that accommodates four passengers, with access provided through two full-size doors for the driver and front passenger, and two three-quarter size doors that hinge backwards for open rear seat occupancy. Wolf Plus vehicle dimensions measure approximately 5,287mm (208in) in length, 1900mm (75in) in width, and 1765mm (69in) in height. The truck bed measures approximately 1652mm (65in) in length, 1490mm (59in) in width, and 450mm (18in) in depth for a total of 40 cubic feet of truck bed storage. About Alpha Motor Corporation Alpha Motor Corporation (Alpha) is an award-winning American automobile company focused on manufacturing mobility solutions that Move Humanity. We innovate sustainable transportation for the wellness of people and our environment by implementing advanced automotive technologies and disruptive industrial practices. Based in Irvine, California, Alpha is committed to creating the kinds of electric vehicles we believe the world has always wanted to see but that have not existed until now. About Seoul Mobility Show The Seoul Mobility Show is a biannual international event and is the only automobile exhibition in Korea accredited by the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. The first show was held in 1995. Please contact [email protected] for more information. Related Links https://www.alphamotorinc.com SOURCE Alpha Motor Corporation SOURCE Alpha Motor Corporation Communities join the fight against suicide by coming together to save lives and support those impacted by suicide CHICAGO, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Communities across Illinois will join the fight against suicide in local Out of the Darkness Community Walks this fall and students will participate in Out of the Darkness Campus Walks this spring, sponsored by the Illinois Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The walks provide an opportunity for people impacted by suicide to come together to connect and support one another, as well as raise awareness and funds for AFSP. This spring, Campus Walks will be held at several colleges and universities, including: Community Walkers smile in front of a sign reading: "Why We Walk" Illinois Institute of Technology , 2:00 p.m. , April 15 , Keating Center, 3040 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL , , , Keating Center, 3040 S. Wabash Avenue, Lewis University , 10:00 a.m. , April 15 , Burnham Nature Trail, Romeoville, IL , , , Burnham Nature Trail, McHenry County , hosted by Huntley High School 6:00 p.m. , May 6 , Huntley High School Field House , Huntley, IL , hosted by , , , Stillman Valley High 1:00 p.m. , May 7 , Stillman Valley High School , Stillman Valley, IL Community Walks are held in LaSalle County, Macomb/McDonough County, Springfield, the Quad Cities, and other cities and towns throughout Illinois in September and October: In 2020, suicide was the third leading cause of death for people in Illinois ages 10-24 and 25-34. Almost five times as many people died by suicide in 2019 than in alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents. "Along with my co-chairs, we decided to bring back the IIT campus walk because we felt that mental health is an important issue that needs to be discussed," said Magnus Mikhail, co-chair of the Campus Walk at IIT. In 2020, 54% of Americans had been affected by suicide in some way. AFSP works to prevent suicide through education, advocacy and support for those impacted by suicide. The Out of the Darkness Community and Campus Walks raise awareness of these efforts and funds, which are split between Illinois and national efforts. Community walks in Illinois raise more than $400,000 annually. This is in addition to the annual Out of the Darkness Chicagoland Walk, being held on Oct. 21, 2023 this year, which is the largest of the AFSP community walks in the country. "I walk for my son Adam, every day, every week, every year. He doesn't have a voice now so I am his voice," said Susan Denecke, Macomb/McDonough County Walk Chair. "I want others to feel they are not alone, they are seen, they matter. The AFSP Walks give visibility to the idea we need to pay attention and do positive work in our community and our world." Since the first walk was held in 2004, these walks have provided a platform to create awareness about mental health issues. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to individuals affected by suicide. There is no fee to register for an Out of the Darkness Walk. Individuals wishing to participate can find the registration page for their local walk at www.afsp.org/ILTogether. Register today and be part of the movement coming #TogetherToFightSuicide. For more Information about the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention go to https://afsp.org/. To find out more about the nearest local community walk, check www.afsp.org/ILTogether. About the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to individuals affected by suicide. The organization creates a culture that is smart regarding mental health through educational programs, advocation for suicide prevention, and providing support for those affected by suicide. All donations go towards these efforts with the goal to greatly reduce the national suicide rate. About Out of the Darkness Community Walks: The mission of The American Foundation of Suicide Prevention's Community Walks is to allow a platform for individuals to come together in support of suicide prevention. Held in hundreds of cities across the country, these events give people the courage to open up about their own connections to suicide, and also provide an easier venue for mental health discussion across diverse backgrounds. If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, please call or text 988 for the Suicide Crisis Lifeline. Or call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text TALK to 741741 or go to https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention GREENWICH, Conn. and STAMFORD, Conn., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlas Holdings ("Atlas") and Olympus Partners ("Olympus") jointly announced today the signing of a definitive agreement whereby Olympus will acquire a majority ownership stake in International Wire Group Holdings, Inc. ("IWG"). Atlas, which acquired IWG in April 2019 and has worked closely with the IWG team to execute a business transformation that enabled strong growth and drove operational excellence, will continue as an investor in the company. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2023. Following the close of the transaction, longtime industry leader Gregory J. Smith will continue as President and Chief Executive Officer of IWG. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Headquartered in Camden, New York, IWG is the largest non-vertically integrated copper and copper-alloy wire products manufacturer in the United States and maintains operations in Europe, all supported by unparalleled global engineering capabilities. IWG is highly regarded for its capacity and broad product portfolio, servicing a wide range of applications in energy, green electrification, industrial, automotive, aerospace, data communications and other major markets. "When we acquired IWG, we partnered with Greg Smith to transform and grow the business. In the four years since, we have seen IWG cement its industry-leading position and create a unique platform for continued growth. We are looking forward to continuing to support the company in this new chapter with Olympus Partners," said Atlas Partner Neil Mahajan. "I remain deeply proud of our team and all we have accomplished together in making IWG the best wire fabricator in the industry. With the support of our partners at Atlas, we have made significant investments to grow our core business and provide the industry's most robust product portfolio. I'm looking forward to continuing to serve our long-standing customers and continuing our growth with our new partners at Olympus," said Gregory Smith, President and CEO of IWG. "IWG has distinguished itself as a leader in the wire and cable industry with their skilled team, breadth of products, and engineering capacity. We're excited about the opportunity to further bolster IWG's position as an industry leader and continue to drive their industry leading growth," said Dave Cardenas, Managing Partner at Olympus. About Atlas Holdings Headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut and founded in 2002, Atlas and its affiliates own and operate 26 companies, which employ approximately 50,000 associates across more than 300 facilities worldwide. Atlas operates in sectors such as aluminum processing, automotive, building materials, capital equipment, construction services, food manufacturing and distribution, packaging, paper, power generation, printing, pulp, supply chain management and wood products. Atlas' companies together generate approximately $16 billion in revenues annually. For additional information, please visit www.atlasholdingsllc.com. About Olympus Partners Olympus Partners is a private equity firm focused on providing equity capital for middle market management buyouts and for companies needing capital for expansion. Olympus manages funds in excess of $8.5 billion mainly on behalf of corporate pension funds, endowment funds and state-sponsored retirement programs. Founded in 1988, Olympus is an active, long-term investor across a broad range of industries including business services, consumer products, healthcare services, financial services, industrial services and manufacturing. For additional information, please visit www.olympuspartners.com. About International Wire Group Holdings, Inc. International Wire Group Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a manufacturer and marketer of wire products for other wire suppliers, distributors and original equipment manufacturers. Its products include a broad spectrum of copper wire configurations and gauges with a variety of electrical and conductive characteristics and are utilized by a wide variety of customers, primarily in the industrial and energy, electronics and data communications, automotive/specialty vehicles, aerospace and defense, and consumer and appliance industries. The Company has nineteen manufacturing facilities and one distribution facility located throughout the United States, France, Italy and Poland. For additional information, please visit www.internationalwiregroup.com. MEDIA CONTACTS For Atlas: [email protected] For Olympus Partners: (203) 353-5900 SOURCE Atlas Holdings LLC; Olympus Partners Alabama Gov. Ivey, Auburn Board of Trustees members help celebrate Roberts at Gogue Center AUBURN, Ala., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Auburn University President Christopher B. Roberts spoke of his aspirations for the future of the land-grant institution at his official Presidential Installation ceremony at the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center on Thursday afternoon. With Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey an Auburn alumna and president of the Auburn University Board of Trustees and several other dignitaries looking on, Roberts was thankful, humbled and inspired while giving his remarks at the special celebration. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, right, joined Auburn University Board of Trustees President Pro Tempore Bob Dumas, left, in presentingAuburn University President Christopher B. Roberts with the Presidential Medallion at Thursday's installation ceremony. "What an overwhelming feeling," said Roberts, who began serving as Auburn's 21st president on May 16, 2022. "Gov. Ivey, thank you for your support of Auburn, and I really want you to know how honored I am to have this position. In this role, I'm often asked what the Auburn Family means to me, and it means everything. "The Auburn Family and the spirit we have on this campus is a true mark of distinction. As your president, I am going to dedicate myself to the vision I have discussed. I believe in educating the next generation of brilliant scholars and citizens who will serve the needs of Alabama, the nation and the world." Ivey presented Roberts with the President's Medallion, which was first presented to President Harry Philpott at his installation nearly 60 years ago. The medallion features the inscription "Truth flourishes where the student's lamp has shone" on one side and the Auburn University seal and its three pillars of research, instruction and extension on the other. "President Roberts, as someone who cares deeply about this campus, I am thrilled we have you serving at the helm," said Ivey, a 1967 Auburn graduate. "There's no one better for the job. There are three characteristics a leader must have character, competence and commitment. Chris no doubt has all three, and I am confident he will take this university we all love to even greater heights. "I look forward to working with you as we strive for excellence for Auburn and our state, and I share your vision and your belief that Auburn University can change Alabama and the world for the better." Roberts told stories about his first visit to Auburn's campus, the moment he realized he wanted to become part of the Auburn Family and thanked those who have helped him along the way during his nearly 30-year career on the Plains. He also outlined a vision for the future of the land-grant institution, a plan that includes three main areas of focus creating the best student-centered experiences in the nation, doubling the university's growing research enterprise and committing to a culture of excellence and innovation that will propel the institution to extraordinary levels. "We've earned the right to dream the biggest dreams," said Roberts, who began his Auburn career in 1994. "That's what I'm asking each person on this campus to do push yourself to dream bigger, to be bolder, to pursue excellence in all that you do. By becoming a little bit uncomfortable and pushing ourselves to even greater heights, we will emerge as an even stronger institution. "What we do really matters, and the effort we pour into our students and to our work can change the trajectory of people's lives. Our goal should be to leverage our unique strengths to achieve an elevated level of excellence." Bob Dumas, president pro tempore of the Board of Trustees, joined Ivey, 2022-23 Auburn Student Government Association President Jake Haston and Harbert College Advisory Council Associate Professor Kerry Inger from the Harbert College of Business with turns at the podium as Roberts was officially welcomed as the university's chief administrator. "On behalf of the board, I thank you all for investing your time, your trust and your support in Dr. Christopher Roberts as Auburn University's 21st president," said Dumas, who served as the event's host. "Throughout Auburn's distinguished 167-year history, we have only gathered a handful of times to install a new president. Today is important to our university because it is an extraordinary opportunity to symbolically transition the leadership of our institution to an individual who represents the very values and ideals that we all collectively share. "Chris, in accepting the call to lead our institution, you join a distinguished group of educators and scholars who have played integral roles in shaping its history, guiding its direction and chartering its success. We charge you with safeguarding Auburn's rich heritage and guiding its future, strengthening its role as a leading institution and continuing our tradition of excellence across our academic, research, scholarship and extension programs through service to our communities." Past and present members of the Auburn Board of Trustees, Auburn's Interim Provost Vini Nathan, Auburn University at Montgomery Chancellor Carl Stockton and the deans of Auburn's various colleges also attended the celebratory event, along with numerous members of the Auburn Family, including faculty, staff, administrators and alumni. Inger, winner of the 2020 Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, spoke on behalf of Auburn's thousands of faculty members. "The installation of President Roberts comes at an important time for our campus, as it signifies the growth and evolution that Auburn is well-positioned to undertake," said Inger, who teaches in the School of Accountancy. "Realizing the impact that Auburn faculty have in developing the next generation of scholars who will solve the most critical societal challenges, President Roberts celebrates the work of faculty by recognizing the value of our contributions, promoting interdisciplinary approaches, attracting and retaining outstanding talent and building partnerships that result in new fields of inquiry. "President Roberts has already shown us what we can achieve and how Auburn faculty can impact the world. I believe President Roberts will continue to demonstrate integrity and passion, building Auburn into a stronger institution where education, research and service flourish." Lila Meadows, a senior majoring in music, sang the national anthem to begin the festivities, which included the playing of inspirational videos and the singing of the Auburn Alma Mater. Haston spoke for the university's more than 30,000 students in warm remarks for the former Samuel Ginn College of Engineering dean. "It is an incredible honor to be here to celebrate Auburn and share our excitement for our institution's future," said Haston, a senior majoring in journalism. "From our first meetings with students, to our first day of classes, President Roberts has consistently demonstrated his deep and unique care for Auburn and its students. He has been eager to help on numerous student-driven initiatives and projects, including initiatives focused on making Auburn a more equitable campus for all students. "As I prepare to graduate in a few weeks, I know that my fellow graduates and I leave Auburn in the hands of a leader who understands how special Auburn students are and the value every student, faculty and staff member brings to our campus community. I am confident that, years from now, Auburn will be a better university thanks to the vision and leadership of President Roberts." Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn's commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact. Auburn's mission to educate, discover and collaborate drives its expanding impact on the world. SOURCE Auburn University SALT LAKE CITY, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Biomerics, the leading vertically integrated medical device contract manufacturer in the interventional device market, announced the completion of a 24,000 sq. ft. expansion of manufacturing operations at their Athens, TX, facility. Driven by growth in the single-use endoscopy market, this investment includes 8,500 sq. ft. of production space and the expansion of Biomerics' Center of Excellence for Balloons & Balloon Catheters with a 4,900 sq. ft. engineering laboratory adjacent to a CNC-machining (computer numerical control machining) tool shop. "This expansion reflects our 30-year pursuit of innovation and manufacturing excellence. I'm thrilled to see our vertical integration on full display in one building," stated Chris Richardson, President of Biomerics Interventional Advanced Catheter. "Our Center of Excellence for Balloons & Balloon Catheters in Athens has a long history of producing class-leading interventional products for our customers. The expansion will fuel our growth with best-in-class speed-to-market capabilities." The expansion increases the Athens campus to approximately 100,000 sq. ft. and includes an exterior refresh, additional engineering and lab space, manufacturing space and an employee break room. The Biomerics balloons and Interventional Advanced Catheter business operates out of three locations: Athens, TX; Brooklyn Park, MN; and Cartago, Costa Rica. Biomerics will celebrate the completion of the new campus expansion with a ribbon-cutting event today. "The new building expansion in Athens Industrial Park is such a great demonstration of our partnership with Biomerics. They are a great corporate citizen and one of our largest employers. We are excited about the increase in investment, new jobs and what the future holds," stated Joanie Ahlers, Director of Athens Economic Development Corporation. "I am thrilled Biomerics continues to expand and reinvest in Athens," Mayor Toni Clay said. "Here in Athens, we have some of the best talent in the nation. This makes our city and state a perfect fit for innovative companies like Biomerics. I look forward to seeing the continued growth and furthering our partnership for many years to come." "This investment says a lot about the performance of this team, our markets and our commitment to this community," commented Travis Sessions, Chief Executive Officer of Biomerics. "We appreciate the support of the local community, state leaders and our many supply partners." About Biomerics Founded in 1994, Biomerics is the leading mid-market medical device contract manufacturer serving the interventional device market. Trusted as a vertically integrated partner with extensive engineering expertise and solutions, Biomerics supplies 20 of the top 30 medical device OEMs globally. Biomerics provides engineering design and development services, technology transfer manufacturing services and contract manufacturing servicesincluding sterilization and packagingfor medical device components, subassemblies and finished medical devices through eight locations in the United States, Ireland and Costa Rica to meet immediate and long-term strategic needs. With our engineering Centers of Excellence, Biomerics is a leader in materials, interventional medical plastics, complex extrusion, micromachining of metals and polymers, laser processing, balloons and balloon catheters, advanced catheters and steerables, image guided intervention and finished device assembly. In addition to operating under a certified ISO 13485:2016 quality system, Biomerics is FDA registered and compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 820. SOURCE Biomerics, LLC CHICAGO, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BPOC, a pure-play healthcare investor, today announced the closing of its first continuation vehicle, a $425 million transaction co-led by investment funds affiliated with Apollo S3, Blackstone Strategic Partners and Five Arrows. The continuation fund consists of five healthcare services companies previously held by Beecken Petty O'Keefe & Company Fund IV, L.P. and Beecken Petty O'Keefe & Company Fund IV-A, L.P. (together "BPOC Fund IV"), 2013 vintage funds with $503 million in combined total capital commitments. The continuation fund will provide more time and, in certain cases, additional capital to assist each portfolio company in further accelerating its full growth potential. As part of the transaction, existing investors in BPOC Fund IV were provided with the choice to receive full liquidity or to fully or partially re-invest into the new continuation fund. JP Morgan, Newbury Partners, Committed Advisors and Kline Hill Partners also invested in the continuation vehicle. "We are grateful for the support of our new investors and believe this new vehicle will enable us to continue to create value at certain Fund IV companies, while providing liquidity options for our existing Fund IV investors," said Gregory Moerschel, Managing Partner of BPOC. "We are pleased to partner with BPOC and the other investors to help address liquidity, duration and capital considerations for BPOC's investors and portfolio companies. We think this transaction is an excellent example of the strength of our underwriting and our partnership-oriented approach," said Steve Lessar, Partner at Apollo S3. Asante Capital Group Advisors LLC acted as exclusive advisor to BPOC on the transaction. Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Paul Hastings LLP served as legal counsel to BPOC, while Proskauer Rose LLP represented Apollo S3, Blackstone Strategic Partners and Five Arrows. About BPOC BPOC is a Chicago-based private equity firm that invests exclusively in healthcare companies. With an extensive network of industry contacts and dedicated operating executives, BPOC has a track record of successfully partnering with companies through multiple economic and healthcare regulatory cycles. Founded in 1996, BPOC has completed over 60 platform investments and has raised six funds with over $2.2 billion in total capital commitments. BPOC has invested in numerous providers, manufacturing, outsourcing, distribution and information technology companies through growth equity, management buyouts and leveraged recapitalizations. For more information, visit www.bpoc.com About Apollo S3 S3 is Apollo's Sponsor & Secondary Solutions business. S3 provides flexible capital solutions to asset managers and limited partners across the yield, hybrid, and equity spectrum. Since inception, S3 has committed or deployed more than $13 billion across these strategies. S3 is a natural extension of Apollo's global investment platform, offering partner-oriented capital across asset classes including private equity, private credit, infrastructure and real estate. As of December 31, 2022, Apollo had total assets under management of approximately $548 billion. About Blackstone Strategic Partners Blackstone Strategic Partners is a global leader in illiquid fund investing including secondaries, coinvestments and primary advisory. Founded in 2000, Strategic Partners has $68 billion of investor capital under management (as of December 31, 2022) and is one of the most prolific secondary market participants in the world, having closed over 1,900 transactions across its private equity, infrastructure, and real estate platforms, representing more than 5,100 underlying fund interests managed by over 1,550 managers. Strategic Partners provides a range of solutions across illiquid asset classes for investors and financial sponsors, including LP liquidity solutions and GP-focused solutions such as GP-led secondaries and coinvestments. About Five Arrows Five Arrows is the alternative assets arm of Rothschild & Co and has 23 billion AuM with offices in Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Luxembourg. Rothschild & Co is family-controlled and independent and has been at the centre of the world's financial markets for over 200 years. With a values-driven culture, the Group brings expertise, intellectual capital and a global network to provide a distinct perspective that makes a meaningful difference to its clients. Five Arrows deploys the firm's capital, alongside leading institutional and private investors, through a series of funds dedicated to corporate and secondary private equity, multi-managers funds and co-investments, as well as private credit. Five Arrows Secondary Opportunities ("FASO") has provided tailor-made liquidity solutions for investors and general partners for two decades. Its proven expertise in complex transactions makes FASO a reliable partner for secondary transactions in Europe and in the US. FASO also shares the guiding principles of Rothschild & Co, a strategic and responsible financial services partner known for its creative thinking and innovative investment solutions combined with a commitment to absolute discretion. About Asante Capital Group Advisors LLC Asante is a leading independent global advisory for private markets. Founded in 2010, Asante has raised over $55 billion for primary capital raises, secondary transactions and direct investments from investors based across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Asante's secondaries advisory team has advised on a wide range of GP-led transactions including single and multi-asset continuation funds, tender offers, NAV financings and other GP liquidity solutions. For more information on Asante, please visit its website at www.asantecapital.com . Media Contacts Alex Nye M: 814 671 7497 E: [email protected] SOURCE BPOC FAIRHOPE, Ala., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In March of 2023, Dr. E. Toganazzo, et. al, gynecologists from Geneva, Switzerland, published (in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal) their observations in a study treating women suffering sexual dysfunction following female genital mutilation (FGM). All five women were treated with surgical exposure of the clitoris followed by direct injection of the clitoris with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) using O-Shot procedure injection techniques. Charles Runels, MD After the treatment, all five women experienced "easier access and stimulation of their clitoris as well as improved sexual arousal, lubrication, and pleasure and claimed to be satisfied with their restored body image." Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been known for at least two decades to help with the repair and restoration of nerve tissue. This is the most recent of other research papers showing the benefit of PRP for women suffering from FGM. Dr. Charles Runels (the inventor of the O-Shot procedure) said, "These brilliant researchers made use of the power of what the body normally uses to healthe growth factors in platelets, or PRP. Combining their expert surgical skills to restructure the scarring from FGM with injected PRP to restore nerve function and promote healing of the tissue is a very powerful combination that I think will bring hope to many women." "When there is no encasing scar tissue to remove, other studies have shown that simply injecting the remnant clitoris (post-FGM) with PRP can help restore sexual function in some women. Nothing works all the time for all women, and there is still much work to be done to perfect the combination techniques, but our O-Shot procedure is changing the lives of thousands of women who were without hope. I look forward to more physicians contributing to the much-needed research," said Dr. Runels. Dr. Runels and his colleagues of the Cellular Medicine Association conduct and consult regarding research in the areas of esthetics, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, orgasmic dysfunction, lichen sclerosus, & the treatment of scarring using blood-derived growth factors. Contact: Charles Runels, MD Medical Director Cellular Medicine Association 888-920-5311 phone 251-650-1251 fax [email protected] https://OShot.com https://CellularMedicineAssociation.org SOURCE Cellular Medicine Association Guangdong Province in South China is seen as a pacesetter of the country's reform and opening-up. BEIJING, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- During his inspection tour of Guangdong from Monday to Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of remaining steadfast in comprehensively deepening reform and expanding high-standard opening-up, and urged the province to take the lead in advancing Chinese modernization. 'National treasure' On Monday President Xi visited Zhanjiang City in Guangdong Province and learned about its efforts in strengthening the protection of mangrove forests at Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve, the biggest single mangrove forest in China. Calling mangrove forests a national treasure, Xi said, "We should protect mangrove forests like we protect our eyes." As the country is advancing the progress of "ecological civilization," protecting wetlands, including the mangrove forests, is increasingly in the spotlight. According to official data released by the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources, about 55 percent of the mangrove wetlands in China are under state protection, higher than the world average of 25 percent. Data also shows that China's mangrove forests have increased from 22,000 hectares in 2001 to 27,000 hectares today, against the backdrop of global shrinkage. China will build an international mangrove center in Shenzhen, President Xi said in a video speech at the opening ceremony of the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP14) last November. 'The door of China's opening-up will never shut' On Wednesday, President Xi visited LG Display's manufacturing base in Guangzhou where he learned about Guangzhou's efforts to promote high-level opening-up and advance high-quality development in manufacturing, and how local enterprises boost innovation and build their own brands. Amid sluggish global economic growth, China has accelerated the construction of a new development paradigm and improved its business environment, Xi pointed out, adding that China's market advantages will become more obvious. He voiced the hope that foreign investors will seize the opportunity to come to China, to Guangdong and to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, to be deeply rooted in the Chinese market and to create new glories for business development. Under the policy of high-standard opening-up, China has issued a series of measures to level the playing field, so that foreign companies can enjoy a better business environment in the country. Last year, China renewed the Catalogue of Industries Encouraged for Foreign Investment, which implemented provisional import tax rates lower than that of the most-favored nations for 1,020 commodities, and further reduced the most-favored-nation tariff rates for 62 IT products. Its overall tariff level will drop from 7.4 percent to 7.3 percent after the adjustment. China has established various platforms to reach overseas companies, such as the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the China International Consumer Products Expo, and the China International Fair for Trade in Services. In 2022, foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Chinese mainland, in actual use, increased by 8 percent year on year to $189.13 billion. When visiting a research and development center of Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd., Xi also stressed China's reform and opening-up policy will remain unchanged for a long time and the door of China's opening-up will never shut. "We are willing to meet halfway all countries that are willing to cooperate with us for a win-win outcome to promote the common prosperity and development of the world economy," said the Chinese president. 'Solid step by step' President Xi also pledged solid efforts to advance the country's modernization drive during this inspection tour. He visited a lychee orchard and a longan and lychee cooperative on Tuesday to learn about local efforts to develop a distinctive planting industry and advance rural revitalization at Baiqiao Village in Genzi Township, Gaozhou City of Maoming. "To advance Chinese modernization, we must comprehensively promote rural revitalization and solve the problem of unbalanced development between urban and rural areas," Xi noted. The integration of agriculture, e-commerce and tourism is a breakthrough for Baiqiao Village to realize rural revitalization. By 2022, the per capita income of villagers is estimated to be around 51,000 yuan ($7,410). Xi told researchers, entrepreneurs, workers and representatives from the overseas-funded enterprises that Chinese modernization is based on China's realities, in line with its national conditions and with clear goals, plans and strategies. "We shall work steadily, step by step, to move forward [Chinese modernization]," said Xi at the research and development center of Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd., adding that Chinese modernization is fundamentally different from the Western one, and China cannot take the path of Western modernization, which he said features polarization and plundering of other countries, since it will not work. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-04-13/China-takes-steps-to-deepen-reform-opening-up-advance-modernization-1iYtOEeCkVO/index.html SOURCE CGTN TORONTO, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, ChargeLab is announcing the addition of $15 million in new financing to their Series A, doubling funds previously raised and bringing the round's total to $30 million. This expansion includes $10 million in new equity financing at an increased valuation and $5 million in venture debt. The company's first Series A tranche of $15 million led by King River Capital was previously announced on May 18, 2022 . ChargeLabs team at a recent company off-site As part of this equity financing, ChargeLab is welcoming two new strategic investors: EV charging network operator, Silver Comet, and intelligent power management company, Eaton. Both strategic investors are collaborating with ChargeLab commercially. Silver Comet plans to build a network of DC fast charging stations leveraging ChargeLab's technology, while Eaton has bundled a version of ChargeLab's platform with its line of EV chargers in North America. "The EV charging industry remains nascent, making strategic partnerships essential for building a resilient ecosystem," said Zak Lefevre, co-founder and CEO of ChargeLab. "With Eaton as an investor, we're thrilled to be working closely with one of the world's leading providers of EV charging hardware. We've also expanded our portfolio of strategic investors by welcoming Silver Comet as a shareholder." "What I'm most excited about today is the robustness and scalability of our product," added co-founder and CTO, Ehsan Mokhtari. "Silver Comet and Eaton are incredibly sophisticated players. I'm proud that the product we've built met their high standards for quality and security." ChargeLab builds software to operate and optimize electric vehicle charging equipment. ChargeLab's software runs at the edge and in the cloud, empowering fleets, building operators, and utilities to deploy large numbers of EV chargers and manage them as an intelligent network. ChargeLab's API-first architecture makes its platform more modular and scalable than those of its competitors. Key capabilities of the ChargeLab platform include automated monitoring of EV chargers, management of pricing and access rules, payment processing, and electrical load balancing. This additional financing will extend ChargeLab's runway, allow the company to expand its engineering team, and help introduce new products into the market. ChargeLab's objective is to become the most ubiquitous back-end platform for managing smart EV chargers. About ChargeLab ChargeLab builds a hardware-agnostic software platform for managing electric vehicle chargers. The company's customers include fleets, building owners, convenience stores, and utilities. About Silver Comet Silver Comet Energy, formed in 2022, is a new EV charging network operator and technology provider based in Atlanta, Georgia. Silver Comet Energy partners with convenience store operators to help them deploy and operate DC fast charging sites. About Eaton Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to improving the quality of life and protecting the environment for people everywhere. Founded in 1911, the company is marking its 100th anniversary of being listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Media contact: ChargeLab Inc. [email protected] 1 (800) 636-0986 ext. 210 Note to reader: all monetary figures are in U.S. dollars. SOURCE ChargeLab NEW YORK, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The chlorine trifluoride market size is set to grow by USD 11.73 million from 2022 to 2027, progressing at a CAGR of 4.31% during the forecast period. The increasing demand for UF6 is notably driving the market growth, although factors such as the toxicity of chlorine trifluoride may impede the market growth. Make informed business decisions based on qualitative and quantitative evidence highlighted in Technavio reports. View a Sample Report! The chlorine trifluoride market covers the following areas: Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Chlorine Trifluoride Market 2023-2027 Chlorine Trifluoride Market Sizing Chlorine Trifluoride Market Forecast Chlorine Trifluoride Market Analysis Vendor Landscape The chlorine trifluoride market is concentrated and the vendors are deploying organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. Companies Mentioned Air Liquide SA Awishkar Chemicals Industries Central Glass Co. Ltd. Inhance Technologies LLC Iwatani Corp. Kanto Denka Kogyo Co. Ltd. Linde Plc Merck KGaA Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. Vendor Offerings Air Liquide SA - The company offers chlorine trifluoride in a compressed form. The company offers chlorine trifluoride in a compressed form. Awishkar Chemicals Industries - The company offers chlorine trifluoride in white powder form. The company offers chlorine trifluoride in white powder form. Central Glass Co. Ltd. - The company offers chlorine trifluoride, which is used as a cleaning gas for semiconductor manufacturing equipment. For market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings - View a sample PDF report now! Key Market Segmentation This chlorine trifluoride market report extensively covers market segmentation by application (semiconductor manufacturing, rocket propellant systems, and others), material (gas, liquid, and solid), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The market share growth by the semiconductor manufacturing segment will be significant for the market growth during the forecast period. The growth of the segment can be attributed to factors such as the rising popularity of smartphones as a key component of consumer electronics. The demand for chlorine trifluoride (cleaning gas) will increase as a result of the rising semiconductor manufacturing demand during the forecast period. The demand for semiconductor devices such as switches, amplifiers, and power transistors also rises as a result of the rising demand for 5G technology in the communication sector. View a Sample Report for more highlights of the various market segments. Regional Market Outlook APAC is estimated to account for 57% of the global market growth during the forecast period. An increase in automotive manufacturers' presence, rapid urbanization, steady economic growth, and rising demand for high-tech vehicles can be observed in the region. Additionally, the presence of both international and local vendors as well as the rising demand for semiconductors from the aerospace, electronics, and other end-user industries in developing nations such as China and India are the main factors promoting the growth of the chlorine trifluoride (CIF3) market in APAC. Moreover, nations such as India, China, South Korea, and Japan are consistently increasing their defense budgets. Hence, it is anticipated that the growing demand for semiconductor equipment from the armed forces of various nations in APAC will have an impact on the development of aerostat systems. For more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries, buy now! Market Analysis Emerging Trends An emerging market trend that is expected to have a positive impact on market growth is the increase in chlorine trifluoride utilization in numerous military applications. Due to its high reactivity and high energy output, chlorine trifluoride is an excellent rocket and missile propellant. Moreover, it is a good choice for military applications, as it can easily ignite fuels that are challenging to ignite, such as hydrazine. In addition, a variety of materials used in military applications, including ceramics and composites, are produced using chlorine trifluoride. Hence, such factors are expected to boost the growth of the global CIF3 market during the forecast period. Key Challenges A major challenge hampering the CIF3 market growth is the toxicity of chlorine trifluoride. Chlorine trifluoride is a liquefied compressed gas that is highly toxic, corrosive, and packaged in cylinders, and the amount of chlorine present and the frequency of exposure determine the effects of chlorine trifluoride on human health. The impact varies depending on a person's health or the state of the environment at the time of exposure, and chlorine trifluoride has negative effects on the human respiratory system when inhaled in small amounts for brief periods of time. Such effects can include coughing, chest pain, and lung water retention. Hence, the toxicity of chlorine fluoride will result in challenges in its storage and operations, which, in turn, will negatively impact the CIF3 market during the forecast period. Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports including market size, segments, and other key dynamics details. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The ultraviolet (UV) disinfection equipment market is projected to grow by USD 717.48 million with a CAGR of 4.69% during the forecast period 2021 to 2026. The report extensively covers ultraviolet (UV) disinfection equipment market segmentation by application (drinking, waste, industrial, and others) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and the Middle East and Africa). The evolving benefits of UV disinfection equipment are notably driving the ultraviolet (UV) disinfection equipment market growth. The chlorine market size is expected to increase by USD 5.88 billion from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 3.34%. The report extensively covers market segmentation by application (EDC/PVC, organic chemicals, Isocyanates, chlorinated intermediates, and others) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA). The growing uses in the pharmaceutical industry are notably driving the chlorine market growth. Chlorine Trifluoride Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.31% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 11.73 million Market structure Concentrated YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 3.55 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 57% Key countries US, China, South Korea, India, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Air Liquide SA, Awishkar Chemicals Industries, Central Glass Co. Ltd., Inhance Technologies LLC, Iwatani Corp., Kanto Denka Kogyo Co. Ltd., Linde Plc, Merck KGaA, and Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for Technavio's Materials Reports Key Topics Covered: 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Application Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Material Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 09: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 10: Parent market Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 13: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2022 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027 Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 4 Historic Market Size 4.1 Global chlorine trifluoride market 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size Data Table on Global chlorine trifluoride market 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.2 Application Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size Application Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.3 Material Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size Material Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 5 Five Forces Analysis 5.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027 5.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027 5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.7 Market condition Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027 6 Market Segmentation by Application 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 30: Chart on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Application Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Application Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Application 6.3 Semiconductor manufacturing - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 34: Chart on Semiconductor manufacturing - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Semiconductor manufacturing - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 36: Chart on Semiconductor manufacturing - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Semiconductor manufacturing - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 Rocket propellant systems - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on Rocket propellant systems - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Rocket propellant systems - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 40: Chart on Rocket propellant systems - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Rocket propellant systems - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 42: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 44: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.6 Market opportunity by Application Exhibit 46: Market opportunity by Application ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Market opportunity by Application ($ million) 7 Market Segmentation by Material 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 48: Chart on Material - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on Material - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 7.2 Comparison by Material Exhibit 50: Chart on Comparison by Material Exhibit 51: Data Table on Comparison by Material 7.3 Gas - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 52: Chart on Gas - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Gas - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 54: Chart on Gas - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 55: Data Table on Gas - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 Liquid - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 56: Chart on Liquid - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 57: Data Table on Liquid - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 58: Chart on Liquid - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 59: Data Table on Liquid - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Solid - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 60: Chart on Solid - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Solid - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 62: Chart on Solid - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 63: Data Table on Solid - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.6 Market opportunity by Material Exhibit 64: Market opportunity by Material ($ million) Exhibit 65: Data Table on Market opportunity by Material ($ million) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 66: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Geographic Landscape 9.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 67: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 68: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) 9.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 69: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 70: Data Table on Geographic comparison 9.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 71: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 72: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 73: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 74: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.4 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 75: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 77: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 78: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 79: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 80: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 81: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 82: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 83: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 84: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 85: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 86: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 87: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 88: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 89: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 90: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.8 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 91: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 92: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 93: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 94: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.9 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 95: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 96: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 97: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 98: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.10 South Korea - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 99: Chart on South Korea - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 100: Data Table on South Korea - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 101: Chart on South Korea - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 102: Data Table on South Korea - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.11 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 103: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 104: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 105: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 106: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.12 India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 107: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 108: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 109: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 110: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 111: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) Exhibit 112: Data Tables on Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10.1 Market drivers 10.2 Market challenges 10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 113: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 114: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 11.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 115: Overview on factors of disruption 11.4 Industry risks Exhibit 116: Impact of key risks on business 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 117: Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 118: Matrix on vendor position and classification 12.3 Air Liquide SA Exhibit 119: Air Liquide SA - Overview Exhibit 120: Air Liquide SA - Business segments Exhibit 121: Air Liquide SA - Key news Exhibit 122: Air Liquide SA - Key offerings Exhibit 123: Air Liquide SA - Segment focus 12.4 Awishkar Chemicals Industries Exhibit 124: Awishkar Chemicals Industries - Overview Exhibit 125: Awishkar Chemicals Industries - Product / Service Exhibit 126: Awishkar Chemicals Industries - Key offerings 12.5 Central Glass Co. Ltd. Exhibit 127: Central Glass Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 128: Central Glass Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 129: Central Glass Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 130: Central Glass Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 12.6 Inhance Technologies LLC Exhibit 131: Inhance Technologies LLC - Overview Exhibit 132: Inhance Technologies LLC - Product / Service Exhibit 133: Inhance Technologies LLC - Key offerings 12.7 Iwatani Corp. Exhibit 134: Iwatani Corp. - Overview Exhibit 135: Iwatani Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 136: Iwatani Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 137: Iwatani Corp. - Segment focus 12.8 Kanto Denka Kogyo Co. Ltd. Exhibit 138: Kanto Denka Kogyo Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 139: Kanto Denka Kogyo Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 140: Kanto Denka Kogyo Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 141: Kanto Denka Kogyo Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 12.9 Linde Plc Exhibit 142: Linde Plc - Overview Exhibit 143: Linde Plc - Business segments Exhibit 144: Linde Plc - Key news Exhibit 145: Linde Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 146: Linde Plc - Segment focus 12.10 Merck KGaA Exhibit 147: Merck KGaA - Overview Exhibit 148: Merck KGaA - Business segments Exhibit 149: Merck KGaA - Key news Exhibit 150: Merck KGaA - Key offerings Exhibit 151: Merck KGaA - Segment focus 12.11 Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. Exhibit 152: Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. - Overview Exhibit 153: Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 154: Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. - Key news Exhibit 155: Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 156: Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. - Segment focus 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 157: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 158: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 159: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 160: Research methodology Exhibit 161: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 162: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 163: 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 HILLSDALE, Mich., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CNB Community Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: CNBB), the parent company of County National Bank, today announced earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Earnings during the first quarter of 2023 totaled $2.9 million, an increase of $687,000 over the $2.2 million earned during the three months ended March 31, 2022 predominately as a result of an increase in net interest margin. Basic earnings per share for CNB Community Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") increased to $1.34 during the three months ended March 31, 2023, up $0.31 from $1.03 during the first quarter of 2022. The annualized return on average assets ("ROA") increased to 1.00% for the three months ended March 31, 2023, up from 0.77% for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The annualized return on average equity ("ROE") increased to 13.2% for the current quarter, up from 11.1% for the first quarter of 2022. Book value per share increased to $41.99 at March 31, 2023, up $4.15 from $37.84 at March 31, 2022 while tangible book value per share increased to $40.79 at March 31, 2023, up $4.16 from $36.63 at March 31, 2022. Joseph R. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer of CNB Community Bancorp, Inc. and County National Bank, remarked, "As the economy digests the moves by the Federal Open Market Committee in significantly increasing the rate environment, CNB has maintained its commitment to developing our clients through consistent lending practices and deposit options. The rest of 2023 will have its challenges for the country as well as for our Company. However, we believe that our fundamental focus on developing our communities, maintaining a strong deposit base and being consistent in our leverage of capital will support CNB through any potential economic turmoil." Financial Highlights Total assets remained consistent at $1.19 billion compared to March 31, 2022 and increased $29.0 million , or 2.5% from December 31, 2022 . compared to and increased , or 2.5% from . Net loans (exclusive of PPP loans) increased $93.1 million , or 11.7%, to $890.3 million at March 31, 2023 compared to $797.2 million at March 31, 2022 and increased $10.3 million , or 1.2%, from December 31, 2022 . , or 11.7%, to at compared to at and increased , or 1.2%, from . Total deposits increased $26.9 million , or 2.5%, to $1.09 billion at March 31, 2023 from $1.09 billion at December 31, 2022 and increased $5.2 million , or 0.5% from March 31, 2022 . , or 2.5%, to at from at and increased , or 0.5% from . Book value per share increased $4.15 , or 11.0%, to $41.99 at March 31, 2023 , up from $37.84 at March 31, 2022 and up $1.22 from $40.77 at December 31, 2022 . Tangible book value per share increased $4.16 , or 11.4%, to $40.79 at March 31, 2023 , up from $36.63 at March 31, 2022 and up $1.21 from $39.58 at December 31, 2022 . , or 11.0%, to at , up from at and up from at . Tangible book value per share increased , or 11.4%, to at , up from at and up from at . Total equity increased $9.5 million to $90.8 million from March 31, 2022 . Accumulated other comprehensive income fluctuated along with the rate environment as the negative balance increased from $1.2 million to $2.6 million then decreased to $2.2 million from March 31, 2022 , December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023 , respectively. Shares outstanding were 2,188,837 as of March 31, 2023 , down from 2,189,581 at December 31, 2022 and up from 2,180,191 at March 31, 2022 . to from . Accumulated other comprehensive income fluctuated along with the rate environment as the negative balance increased from to then decreased to from , and , respectively. Shares outstanding were 2,188,837 as of , down from 2,189,581 at and up from 2,180,191 at . Net income increased $687,000 , 31.0%, to $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2023 and basic EPS increased $0.31 , or 30.2%, to $1.34 from $1.03 in the first quarter of 2023. , 31.0%, to in the first quarter of 2023 and basic EPS increased , or 30.2%, to from in the first quarter of 2023. Net interest income for the first quarter of 2023 increased $1.2 million to $10.1 million . to . Pre-tax, pre-provision income increased $798,000 to $4.0 million in the first quarter of 2023, compared to $3.2 million in the first quarter of 2022. About CNB Community Bancorp Inc. CNB Community Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX:CNBB) is a one-bank holding company formed in 2005. Its subsidiary bank, County National Bank, is a nationally chartered full-service bank, which has served its local communities since its founding in 1934. CNB Community Bancorp, Inc. is headquartered in Hillsdale, Michigan and through its subsidiary bank offers banking products along with investment management and trust services to communities located throughout South Central Michigan. Safe Harbor Statement This news release and other releases and reports issued by the Company may contain "forward-looking statements." The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company is including this statement for purposes of taking advantage of the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. SOURCE CNB Community Bancorp, Inc. SEAT PLEASANT, Md., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Held on April 13, the Second Chance Month Expungement Fair at the Cedar Heights Community Center was hosted by Employ Prince George's in partnership with local organizations and community leaders. The successful fair helped returning citizens through the process of expunging their records in order to gain greater employment opportunities and a brighter future. During the event, close to 80 individuals with criminal records had the opportunity to learn about the expungement process and connect with our partnered legal professionals, Maryland Legal Aid, who provided guidance on the expungement process and helped individuals understand their rights. Additionally, attendees were able to network with employers and community organizations that offer resources and support for returning citizens. The fair is just one of many events that Employ Prince George's is hosting for Second Chance Month, a national campaign to raise awareness about the barriers that individuals with criminal records face when re-entering society. Next, EPG will host the Second Chance Month Job & Resource Fair on April 27, also at Cedar Heights Community Center. Returning citizens are encouraged to attend and can register by visiting tinyurl.com/SecondChance23. For more information about Employ Prince George's and their programs and services for job seekers, visit their website at EmployPG.org. Employ Prince George's (EPG) provides workforce intelligence and solutions for the job seeker and business. EPG's mission is to contribute to the economic vitality of Prince George's County by providing a demand-driven system that delivers qualified workers to business and provides job seekers with opportunities for careers in high-demand/high-growth industries. For more information, please visit www.EmployPG.org. SOURCE Employ Prince George's PARSIPPANY, N.J., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Coyne Public Relations is proud to announce that it has won an unprecedented three distinct honors recognizing the firm as the Best Place to Work. Winning the trifecta this awards season, Coyne PR has earned recognition from PRWeek, Ragan Communications and, most recently, PRovoke Media. Coyne PR Company Photo "This is an amazing milestone," said CEO Tom Coyne. "Being recognized as the Best Place to Work unanimously across the industry affirms our mission of creating an agency culture centered around employees and their growth. At Coyne PR, we do everything in our power to ensure employees feel valued, respected and inspired every day." Founded in 1991 by CEO Tom Coyne, the agency's mission statement has never wavered: "Our mission is not to be the best agency in America, but the best one to work for. If we are the best place to work, we will attract the best people. If we have the best people, we will attract the best clients. If we have the best people and clients, how can we not be the best agency in America?" "We are immensely proud of this recognition and what it means for our agency," said Rich Lukis, President. "Being recognized by the industry's most prestigious publications as the best place to work is not something we take for granted. We understand this is not something that happens overnight. It takes dedication, hard work and commitment from everyone to ensure people feel valued, respected and inspired every day they come into work. We remain committed to always being a great place to work." While this award represents much of what Coyne PR does internally, it also has a major impact on its clients. With the highest retention rate in the industry, Coyne PR's clients avoid the constant turnover they might experience elsewhere in the industry. The singular culture also helps to attract many of the industry's top talent who produce amazing client results. "Our North Star has always been to create a workplace where everyone feels like they belong," said Coyne. "These recent honors are further proof that we have achieved exactly that. By continuing to invest in our team members, we can ensure that employee retention remains at an all-time high." Best Midsize Place to Work by PRWeek: PRWeek's Best Places to Work initiative honors the leading agencies and in-house teams ranked a cut above by their associates on essential issues, including workplace culture and salary. "Culture is critical at Coyne PR, and employees credit founder and CEO Tom Coyne with creating one that zeroes in on best practices," said PRWeek. PRWeek's Best Places to Work initiative honors the leading agencies and in-house teams ranked a cut above by their associates on essential issues, including workplace culture and salary. "Culture is critical at Coyne PR, and employees credit founder and CEO with creating one that zeroes in on best practices," said PRWeek. Top Place to Work by Ragan Communications: The Top Places to Work initiative honors organizations who keep their employees engaged and inspired, championed a more diverse and equitable workplace and delivered powerful stories. The Top Places to Work initiative honors organizations who keep their employees engaged and inspired, championed a more diverse and equitable workplace and delivered powerful stories. Best Small Agency to Work For by PRovoke Media: PRovoke Media's Best Agencies to Work For are determined by a comprehensive survey of nearly 3,500 agency employees throughout North America . Respondents were asked to rate their agency on topics related to agency leadership, personal empowerment, people and co-workers, workplace culture, diversity and inclusion, interesting and rewarding work, internal communications, ethical standards, work-life balance, professional development, and benefits and compensation. "Collaborative," "creative," and "fun," are the three words respondents use most frequently when describing the Coyne culture. ABOUT PROVOKE MEDIA: PRovoke Media was founded as the Holmes Report in 2000 by Paul Holmes, founder and chair, who has more than three decades of experience writing about and evaluating the public relations business and consulting with both public relations firms and their clients. PRovoke Media delivers against its mission by providing the most sophisticated reporting and analysis on public relations trends and issues, along with an extensive global footprint of events and awards. For more information, visit www.provokemedia.com. ABOUT PRWEEK: PRWeek is the authoritative, objective, go-to resource for PR professionals, serving daily news, analysis, case studies, opinion and insight on the critical issues facing the communications industry, through a multitude of channels. For more information, visit www.prweekus.com. ABOUT RAGAN COMMUNICATIONS: Ragan Communications has been delivering trusted news, training and intelligence for more than 50 years to internal and external communicators, HR professionals and business executives via its conferences, webinars, training, awards, subscriptions and membership divisions. Its daily news sitesPRDaily.com and Ragan.comare read by more than 600,000 internal and external communicators monthly. Its Communications Leadership Council is one of the fastest-growing membership groups for communications executives and its PR Leadership Network is the go-to membership group for PR, marketing and social media professionals. For more information, visit www.ragan.com. ABOUT COYNE PUBLIC RELATIONS: Founded in 1991, Coyne PR has grown to become one of the top independent public relations firms in the United States. Recognized throughout the industry as "The Best Place to Work," we have wildly creative offices in New York and New Jersey as well as colleagues in 115 cities, 49 countries and six continents through our partnership in The Worldcom Public Relations Group. Our clients include many of the world's most respected companies and those that want to be. Our reputation is built upon three decades of creativity, strategy and service. It is confirmed by more than 1,000 industry awards. For more information, visit www.coynepr.com. SOURCE Coyne Public Relations, LLC The Company is opening its 59th and 60th Florida Dispensaries this Month and Will Expand its Grassroots Brand to the Sunshine State NEW YORK, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf" or the "Company"), a leading international provider of consumer cannabis products, today announced the opening of Curaleaf Boca Raton Glades, the company's 59th dispensary in Florida and 151st dispensary nationwide. Located at 7875 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL 33434, Curaleaf Boca Raton Glades is the first of two new locations to open in the Sunshine State this month. The company will open its 60th Florida dispensary, Curaleaf West Palm Beach, 300 Clematis St, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, by the end of the month pending regulatory approvals. Curaleaf continues to prioritize the Florida market through the expansion of its retail footprint and the continued innovation of its assortment of products and brands. As part of these efforts, the Company also announces it will be expanding Grassroots , a premium brand of cannabis flower and pre-rolls, into the state on April 21st. Florida becomes the ninth market to offer Grassroots' carefully cultivated products. Bringing creativity to cultivation, Grassroots is a Chicago-born premium brand that celebrates cannabis and community in their most honest forms. For consumers at any point of their cannabis journeys, Grassroots offers carefully cultivated pre-rolls featuring the highest quality flower. The cannabis brand also supplies flower in 3.5g, 3.5g minis and a pre-roll 5-pack in 0.4g offerings for controlled dosing. The brand is the most recent addition to Curaleaf's expansive collection of cannabis products which include BlueKudu Chocolate, Select Squeeze, Select X-Bites, Select Live Rosin, the breakthrough vape hardware, Cliq by Select and JAMS , a line of cannabis-infused treats in a wide range of dosage options that can take effect in as few as 15 minutes. "I'm proud of how we are continuing to evolve the Curaleaf patient experience in Florida through new, conveniently located dispensaries and our growing assortment of high-quality products and brands like Grassroots," said Matt Darin, CEO of Curaleaf. "Our patients are the heart of our program and to thank them for their loyalty we have made it easier than ever to earn rewards and savings on their purchases through our revamped loyalty program." Patients at all Curaleaf locations in Florida have access to the industry leading Curaleaf Rewards program. The free program provides patients with the opportunity to earn loyalty points that can be redeemed for savings on future purchases made at any Curaleaf-operated dispensary nationwide. Interested patients can join the program by providing their first name, last name, and email address to the dispensary associate when completing a purchase. For more information on Curaleaf locations and hours of operation in Florida please visit https://curaleaf.com/locations#florida . About Curaleaf Holdings Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf") is a leading international provider of consumer products in cannabis with a mission to enhance lives by cultivating, sharing and celebrating the power of the plant. As a high-growth cannabis company known for quality, expertise and reliability, the Company and its brands, including Curaleaf, Select, and Grassroots provide industry-leading service, product selection and accessibility across the medical and adult-use markets. In the United States, Curaleaf currently operates in 19 states with 151 dispensaries and employs nearly 5,500 team members. Curaleaf International is the largest vertically integrated cannabis company in Europe with a unique supply and distribution network throughout the European market, bringing together pioneering science and research with cutting-edge cultivation, extraction and production. Curaleaf is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol CURA and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol CURLF. For more information, please visit https://ir.curaleaf.com . FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This media advisory contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forwardlooking statements or information. Generally, forward-looking statements and information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or, "proposed", "is expected", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information concerning the expansion of Grassroots and the opening of Curaleaf Boca Raton Glades and Curaleaf West Palm Beach Clematis. Such forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the company with respect to the matter described in this new release. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are based on current expectations as of the date of this release and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained under "Risk Factors and Uncertainties" in the Company's latest annual information form filed March 9, 2022, which is available under the Company's SEDAR profile at http://www.sedar.com, and in other filings that the Company has made and may make with applicable securities authorities in the future. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as to the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward looking statements contained in this press release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release. INVESTOR CONTACT Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Camilo Lyon, Chief Investment Officer [email protected] MEDIA CONTACT Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Tracy Brady, SVP of Global Corporate Communications [email protected] SOURCE Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. LOS ANGELES, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr.Buho Inc., a leading macOS productivity software company, today announced the official release of BuhoCleaner version 1.9.0, introducing the innovative Compact Mode in BuhoCleaner Menu, greatly improved File Shredder, more intelligent Duplicates feature and other exciting improvements. BuhoCleaner 1.9.0 by far is one of the very few Mac Cleaner apps that're fully optimized for the latest macOS Ventura 13.3.1. Best of all, BuhoCleaner (Single Plan) is in Spring Sale by offering 50% OFF discount for all Mac users with this coupon code: PR04SP23. BuhoCleaner 1.9.0 - the top-notch Mac Cleaner app What is BuhoCleaner With more than 550,000 overall downloads since 2020, BuhoCleaner takes the Mac disk cleaning experience to a whole new level with the remarkable capabilities to help users free up space, uninstall stubborn or bloated apps, remove old/large/duplicated files, manage startup items, clear system data, etc. The main purpose of designing BuhoCleaner is to keep a Mac running fast and light. BuhoCleaner 1.9.0 introduced an array of new features like the Compact Mode for BuhoCleaner Menu app, which enable users to flexibly choose what Mac status is about to showing in the menu bar, like CPU Load/Temp, RAM, Network, etc. It would be greatly useful if users use a Mac with notch, which may limit the menubar display area. "Our BuhoCleaner is designed for opening up more possibilities for Mac users who are suffered from endless Mac storage cleaning headaches," said Andy, the founder and CEO at Dr.Buho. "With a minimized interface and simplified workflow, BuhoCleaner managed to create a feeling that Mac disk cleaning could be easier than ever." More Highlights in BuhoCleaner 1.9.0: Improved MicroSoft Office Uninstall Workflow - Optimized App Uninstall solution for the most recent version of Microsoft 365 for Mac app suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and OneDrive . Optimized solution for the most recent version of Microsoft 365 for Mac app suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and . Improved File Shredder - The completely rebuilt File Shredder feature comes with highly improved file scanning speed and more secure file erasing result. The completely rebuilt File Shredder feature comes with highly improved file scanning speed and more secure file erasing result. Redesigned Duplicates feature - BuhoCleaner 1.9.0 comes with the whole new redesigned UI/UX in Duplicates feature. Now the duplicated file scanning engine gets tremendous speedup thanks to the more powerful algorithm. Price and Availability. BuhoCleaner 1.9.0 is now compatible with macOS Ventura 13.3.1 (the latest release) and Apple M2-empowered Macs. In this spring season, BuhoCleaner is offering 50% discount for the Single Plan, customers can use this coupon code to get the offer: PR04SP23. Take the offer here: https://www.drbuho.com/buhocleaner/buy About Dr.Buho Inc. Dr.Buho Inc. is a leading software development company dedicated to building finely crafted macOS apps. It aims to bring easy-to-use Mac software to users around the world for further improving the experience with their Macs. Know more at https://www.drbuho.com/ . This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com SOURCE Dr.Buho Inc. CLEVELAND, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Corvus Janitorial Systems is proud to be ranked #10 in Entrepreneur Magazine's highly sought after list "Top Franchises for Less than $50,000". This achievement highlights the phenomenal value Corvus conveys to its franchisees, and follows another ranking in Entrepreneur's March/April issue as the #6 Fastest Growing Franchise. "We're thrilled that Entrepreneur Magazine has acknowledged us as a top ten Franchisor in the United States for opportunities that require less than $50,000.00 in capital. Since 2004, our team has been committed to helping our franchisee-partners achieve their business goals but also making the opportunity accessible, since business ownership should be accessible," remarked Justin Douglas, Corvus Founder and Co-CEO. Entrepreneur Magazine Ranks Corvus Janitorial Systems Top Ten Franchises under $50,000 Tweet this In 2023 alone, Corvus Janitorial Systems climbed over a hundred spots in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list, doing so as a result of its success in franchisee growth, franchisee satisfaction surveys, financial strength, brand recognition, and attractive fee structure. According to Corvus Franchisee Chad Weaver, "It's a terrific validation of what I've always known and that's precisely the reason I became a franchisee back in 2005, and will continue to expand my operation in Kentucky moving forward." Recognized as a leader in franchising media and publications, Entrepreneur magazine and Entrepreneur.com provide solutions, information, inspiration and education read by millions of entrepreneurs and business owners worldwide. ABOUT CORVUS JANITORIAL SYSTEMS: Corvus Janitorial Systems is a franchisor of commercial and office cleaning systems which delivers customized janitorial and office cleaning services to a range of industries and organizations by its national network of locally owned owner-operated franchisees. The company has 21 regional support offices across the United States with more than 1,000 franchisees. Corvus has been recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's 2023 lists: Franchise 500, Top Ten Franchises for under $50,000, and Fastest Growing Franchises. Other recognition includes Top Disinfection and Sanitization Company by HR magazine and Most Trusted Disinfection and Sanitization Companies by The Enterprise World. Existing ownership and management has been in place since 2004. Visit https://corvusjanitorial.com or https://corvusjanitorial.com/franchise/ Follow Corvus Janitorial Systems on Instagram: @corvus_janitorial_franchising CONTACT: Tanja LeMotte [email protected] SOURCE Corvus Janitorial Systems LEUVEN, Belgium and STRASBOURG, France and PHILADELPHIA, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Flamingo Therapeutics ("Flamingo") today announced a presentation at the 2023 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, taking place April 14-19, 2023, in Orlando, Florida. Flamingo will present preclinical results highlighting the candidate selection and characterization of FTX-001, a novel antisense oligonucleotide targeting MALAT1 for the treatment of cancer. Flamingo is currently advancing FTX-001 through Phase 1 enabling preclinical activities and is planning for a First-in-Human trial in solid tumors. Details of the poster presentation are below: Title: "Preclinical development of FTX-001: First-in-class inhibitor of the long non-coding RNA MALAT1" Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics Session Title: New Drug Targets Session Date and Time: Sunday Apr 16, 2023, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM Location: Poster Section 16 Poster Board Number: 14 Published Abstract Number: 450 Abstracts and full session details are available through the AACR Annual Meeting planner: AACR Annual Meeting 2023 | Meetings | AACR About Flamingo Therapeutics Flamingo is pioneering RNA-targeted therapies for oncology with state-of-the art chemistries and a clinical-stage pipeline targeting undruggable transcription factors and splice variants. Flamingo has an alliance with Ionis Pharmaceuticals and is supported by well-known biotechnology investors including Andera Partners, Bpifrance Large Venture, Bpifrance through its FABS and Fonds Biotherapies Innovantes et Maladies Rares funds, Eurazeo - Kurma Partners, Perceptive Advisors, PMV, Pontifax, Sphera, funds managed by Tekla Capital Management LLC and VIB. Flamingo is initiating a Phase II trial 'PEMDA-HN' evaluating the STAT3 targeting agent danvatirsen, in combination with pembrolizumab, in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). For more information on Flamingo, please visit https://flamingotx.com and engage with us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/flamingo-therapeutics. Flamingo Media and Investor Contact: Amy Conrad Juniper Point (858) 366-3243 [email protected] SOURCE Flamingo Therapeutics Sentry combines performant integration with intelligent real-time analytics BOSTON, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Forum Systems Inc., a leader in API gateway technology, releases the next generation of its flagship product, Forum Sentry, Version 9.1. The company continues to redefine excellence in API integration, security, and identity management. "CIOs are often scrambling to manage the growing complexity of their business systems. A simple API integration service might be deployed. But then the traffic comes. These platforms can only scale by adding more vCores, which is unsustainable," warns Mamoon Yunus, CEO of Forum Systems. He continued, "integration is as much a part of our product now as security and identity. We're proud of how Sentry's low-code/no-code environment is saving our clients millions in computing costs by optimizing performance." To continue to serve its users well, Sentry v9.1 comes with several new featureseach designed to be resource-efficient and performant. Sentry now supports: PostgreSQL, Cobol Copybooks, OpenAPI v3.0, JSON Web Tokens, direct JSON mapping, as well as running custom scripts. Caching in Sentry is now faster and more flexible. It can leverage Redis as a fast in-memory cache that is safer for runtime. And users have finer control over Sentry's caching behavior through Read and Store: Sentry can apply a task list before a cached response is returned, which allows, for example, distinct responses based on client-specific attributes. A typical organization manages hundreds of APIseach with its own size, latency, and invocation schedule. Normally a human would set thresholds to monitor performance, but this becomes intractable as the number of APIs grows. A few rules cannot handle the complexity and the false positives drown out real anomalies. Sentry now leverages machine learning to automate performance monitoring: it captures baseline API characteristics and alerts on deviations from what is expected, which enables real-time proactive business monitoring. Forum Systems encourages all organizations to assess their current API strategy and identify pain points. For further information on Sentry v9.1, check out the release notes or schedule a product demo . About Forum Systems Forum Systems is a leader in intelligent API gateway technology, deep data analytics, and cloud technologies. Forum technology, used by some of the largest global companies for building intelligent business workflows, is certified and secure. Along with industry-leading performance, interoperability, and security, Forum Systems takes pride in its customer-driven innovation and simplified user experience. SOURCE Forum Systems Inc. IRVINE, Calif., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Minnesota Real Estate Developer Sentenced To 78 Months in Prison And $1.5 Million Special Assessment for Tax Evasion, Mail and Wire Fraud Why you should use an Attorney to represent you in an audit The evidence presented at trial proved that from 2009 until January 2012, the real estate developer willfully evaded the payment of employment and excise taxes owed by him and the three businesses he controlled. One of the ways he avoided paying taxes was by transferring over $1.1 million into a bank account in the name of a shell company with no legitimate business purpose but used by him to pay personal expenses. The developer evaded payment of more than $700,000 in taxes. He had also filed a fraudulent financial statement, making numerous misrepresentations to the IRS to avoid paying the taxes he owed. For example, he failed to disclose multiple personal vehicles that he owned, and he denied the existence of the shell company's bank account, which he was using to receive monthly compensation of $50,000 from two of his companies. The developer also falsely claimed to be living in Bayport, Minnesota, when, in truth, he had already moved into a $1.4 million house he was purchasing in Knoxville, Tennessee. Read on to know how you can save yourself from becoming a similar cautionary tale. Who is a Real Estate Professional? To be a real estate professional, an individual must spend the majority of his or her time in real property businesses: Development or redevelopment Construction or reconstruction Acquisition or conversion Rental Management or operation Leasing Brokerage Furthermore, to qualify as a real estate professional, the taxpayer must spend: more than 50 percent of his/her time in real estate activities; AND, more than 750 hours in real estate activities. From our experience, we know that your examiner will give serious attention to the fact whether you are able to satisfy him that you materially participate in one or more of the specific real estate trades or businesses listed above. The examiner will try to determine who is the real estate professional, husband or wife. The auditor will request and closely examine your documentation regarding time. You are required under the law to provide proof of services performed and the hours attributable to those services. We advise you to seek legal guidance from a dually California licensed Tax Attorney and CPA immediately if you or your business entity (S Corp, C Corp, LLC, Partnership, etc.) have received an audit notice from the IRS or a California Taxing Authority, such as Franchise Tax Board (FTB), the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) and the Employment Development Department (EDD) concerning a tax audit. Depending on what the federal or California auditor finds, an examination of your business and personal tax filings could lead to devastating outcomes, including an unexpected tax assessment, costly accumulated interest, and/or substantial civil penaltiesnone of which even begins to approach the danger involved in an IRS or California criminal tax investigation. If the government believes that there is strong enough evidence to prosecute you for tax evasion or related offenses successfully, you will be at risk of jail time, in addition to much higher financial fines and criminal restitution. Material Participation A taxpayer materially participates in an activity if he or she works on a regular, continuous, and substantial basis in operations. If a taxpayer does not materially participate, losses are passive, which means they generally are not deductible in the absence of passive income. Material participation is time sensitive. Under an audit, you shall be required to identify the amount of your participation in a trade or business activity for each year. The type and quantity of time documented shall determine whether an activity should be treated by you as passive or non-passive. Please note that you can have a significant financial interest in a business and yet not materially participate. Real estate investing is generally passive under the tax code but can rise to the level of trade or business depending on the individual facts and circumstances of your case. Material participation is a year-by-year determination. Consequently, it is conceivable you could be passive in one year and non-passive (in other words, materially participating) in the subsequent year. An examiner will try to determine if reported losses are classified properly on your given return. Losses from businesses, whether conducted as a Schedule C, Schedule Form, partnership, or S Corporation, are passive if the taxpayer does not materially participate. Material participation does not apply to the following activities: Rentals are generally passive, whether or not the taxpayer materially participates. However, rental real estate interests of real estate professionals are subject to the material participation tests. Working interests in oil and gas activities are excepted from the passive loss limitations. If liability is not limited, the taxpayer has a "working interest." Income from a partnership or S Corporation that trades in stocks, bonds, or securities for the accounts of the partners or shareholders is non-passive. Income or losses, even from a limited partnership interest, may be deducted as non-passive. You should know that The IRS and California taxing authorities, such as the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), and the Employment Development Department (EDD), have been aggressive in auditing real estate professionals. To survive the audit and prove that the statutory requirements have been met, it is critical that taxpayers establish credibility by maintaining detailed, accurate records. Let us discuss some of the common issues faced by taxpayers involved in the real estate industry. Passive Active Loss Prior to 1986, a taxpayer could generally deduct losses in full from rental activities and trades or businesses regardless of his or her level of participation. This gave rise to significant numbers of tax shelters that allowed taxpayers to deduct non-economic losses against wages and investment income. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 added IRC 469, which limits the taxpayer's ability to deduct losses from businesses in which he or she does not materially participate and from rental activities. Federal tax law disallows any deduction for a taxpayer's net loss from passive activities for the year. Passive activities include, by definition, any rental activity, including any rental activity conducted through the means of a separate entity, such as a partnership or limited liability company. An exception to this disallowance rule prevails if the taxpayer is deemed a "real estate professional." Passing muster as a real estate professional requires the taxpayer to meet certain statutory tests (see above). Difficulties can arise in meeting these tests, especially if taxpayers are nonchalant about keeping good records. Section 469(a) of the Internal Revenue Code provides that no tax deduction is allowed for the taxpayer's net passive loss for the year. The passive loss rule applies to all taxpayers other than taxable corporations, so called C corporations. Losses from one passive activity are allowed only to the extent that there are other passive activities that generate a net profit. Passive activities can include more than rental operations. For example, allocations of income and loss from limited partnerships, no matter what the business purpose of the partnership, are generally considered passive in nature. Any excess passive loss not deductible in the current year is suspended and can be carried forward indefinitely into future years and can be deducted if there are net profits from passive activities. Alternatively, if a passive activity is sold, the taxpayer can deduct all suspended losses at that time. There is no expiration of the suspended losses as long as the taxpayer still owns the property in question. Rental activities are passive activities by definition. The passive loss rules are extraordinarily complex and obtuse. Let's use some examples to depict the basics of the passive loss rules as they apply to rental activities. Julia is a full-time attorney who leases a single-family residence to tenants. This is her only passive activity. Her adjusted gross income (AGI) for the current year, Year 1, is $200,000 before considering any rental loss. For Year 1, the rental had a loss of $(15,000). Julia is not allowed to deduct any of this loss for the current year. Rather, the loss is suspended and carried forward into future tax years, starting with Year 2, when it can offset future profits generated by the rental residence or profits generated by any other passive activity. Continuing with Example 1, assume that during the following year, Year 2, the rental residence shows a net loss of $(5,000) through July 1, at which time Julia sells the residence. Julia can now deduct all $20,000 of the losses from the rental, as she has disposed of her entire interest in this passive activity. She is allowed to deduct all these losses in Year 2 even if the rental residence had been sold at a loss. The foregoing examples included a mention of adjusted gross income (AGI) for the taxpayers. AGI is basically the taxpayer's gross taxable income for the year, less business deductions, rental losses, and contributions to retirement accounts. Readers may know this as the so-called "bottom line" on page 1 of Form 1040. From AGI, various other deductions, such as home mortgage interest, property taxes, and charitable contributions, are deducted in deriving taxable income. How are Real Estate Professionals Audited? You must understand that your examiner will scrutinize your situation thoroughly. Expect to be asked: What are your real property trades or businesses? Where do you materially participate? Are you or is your spouse the real estate professional? You will be requested to provide documentation of your timekeeping; the auditor is likely to closely examine your log. The examiner will scrutinize all activities you are involved ineven if they are not related to real estate and even if you are not getting paid. You will be interviewed. You will be asked questions about your personal life, business, civic activities, philanthropy, family obligations, and hobbies. Be mindful that the examiner is building a case around all of your time spent in all activities to determine the remaining time available for real estate. The examiner is going to assess your credibility. Knowing what to say and, more importantly, what not to say is the key to the entire process. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial that you are thoroughly prepared for an audit. While representing you, we strive not to be surprised by anything raised by the IRS or a California taxing authority conducting the audit or disclosed by you during the course of the audit. That is where our years of experience comes in. Once we determine that you might be facing potential criminal tax liabilities, your primary goal becomes the prevention of initiation of a criminal tax investigation, and we do whatever we can to achieve that. Our Approach to Dealing with Audits During an eggshell audit, the IRS or a California taxing authority is looking for the possibility that you, as a subject of a civil audit, will make a mistake and provide information leading to the initiation of a criminal tax investigation. As your attorney representing you in an eggshell audit, our goal is extremely clear: the resolution of the audit without a referral by the civil examiner to the IRS's criminal investigation division (CID). However, as simple as that goal is, reaching it is cumbersome and perilous. That is where we come in! Using our decades of experience, we have distilled our approach to four key aspects while we represent you as you undergo an eggshell audit: Understanding deeply how civil audits arise and the steps that need to be taken as your counsel to prepare you for the audit; Recognizing when you are facing an eggshell audit and recognizing whether you might have committed criminal tax fraud; Key techniques to employ when representing a real estate entity going through an eggshell audit and the signals to look for when evaluating whether a civil investigation has turned criminal; and Steps to take after a criminal investigation has started to lessen the possibility of referral for prosecution. The IRS is very thorough in its approach and has a deep understanding of all vulnerable areas related to the tax filings of those in the real estate industry. The IRS audits real estate entities so frequently that it has even developed a Passive Activity Loss Audit Technique Guide to assist its IRS Revenue Agents during audits by providing insight into the issues, accounting practices, and methods unique to the real estate industry. In general, the guide identifies issues unique to the real estate industry of which the Revenue Agents should be aware. It directs Revenue Agents to look for certain vital sources of information and outlines steps and techniques to be taken in conducting effective and focused audits/investigations of real estate entities. However, using our extensive experience, we use the same tools to the advantage of our clients. In other words, we know what weapons and strategies the other side might deploy, making us ready to defend every blow that might come our way. If you know you cheated on your tax returns, the biggest mistake you can make is to consult the original preparer. The reason is that they are likely to become the primary witness against you if the government decides to initiate criminal tax proceedings. They would have absolutely no incentive to protect you and are likely to reveal everything, including the information that you thought was confidential. A CPA, EA, or CTEC certified preparer generates most of his income from tax accounting and preparation; thus, they are strongly motivated to protect their reputation with the taxing authorities at the expense of your reputation. As uniquely qualified and extensively experienced Criminal Tax Defense Tax Attorneys, Kovel CPAs our firm provides a unique platform to efficiently achieve the optimal and predictable results that simultaneously protect your liberty and your net worth. If you have failed to file a tax return for one or more years or have taken a position on a tax return that could not be supported upon an IRS or state tax authority audit, eggshell audit, reverse eggshell audit, or criminal tax investigation, consider hiring the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing. Hiring our firm can make all the difference between paying the proper amount of income taxes due, as opposed to doing jail time, paying a hefty penalty, and paying for the cost of a long and agonizing prosecution. Here is a link to our YouTube channel: click here! More Commonly Asked Tax Audit Questions California Sales Tax Questions and Answers Questions and Answers for Criminal Tax Representation Questions about delinquent payroll taxes and trust fund recovery penalty Public Contact: Dave Klasing Esq. M.S.-Tax CPA, [email protected] SOURCE Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing, PC IRVINE, Calif., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. citizens who hold foreign bank accounts valuing more than $10,000 on any day of the year are required to report file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Those who commit willful violations on their FBAR forms may face fines calculated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In some cases, account holders seek to challenge the IRS's calculation of these fines. New OVDP However, if you are facing a penalty for a willful FBAR violation, then the IRS calculation is likely to be upheld by the court. This is evidenced by the 11th Circuit's decision in U.S. vs. Schwarzbaum. In Schwarzbaum, the court determined that courts cannot take over the role of the IRS when calculating penalties for FBAR violations. It is best to avoid putting yourself in a position where you may be charged with an FBAR violation. If you have concerns regarding FBAR reporting for your foreign bank accounts, our lawyers can help. Get in touch with our experienced Dual-Licensed International Tax Lawyers & CPAs by calling the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing at (800) 681-1295 for a case review. Summary of U.S. v. Schwarzbaum The 11th Circuit case of U.S. v. Schwarzbaum deals with how the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) calculates willful penalties. Schwarzbaum was a naturalized U.S. citizen who held foreign bank accounts in Costa Rica and Switzerland. Between 2006 and 2009, the foreign bank account holder failed to satisfy FBAR reporting requirements on multiple occasions. In 2011, Schwarzbaum voluntarily disclosed information to the IRS pertaining to the existence and balance of his foreign bank accounts that he did not properly report. Accordingly, the IRS concluded that he should be liable for willful FBAR penalties. The government then initiated a lawsuit against Schwarzbaum in federal court. The district court in this case found that the foreign bank account holder, Schwarzbaum, did commit a willful FBAR violation by signing a federal tax return while failing to file an FBAR. In regard to penalties, the district court held that the IRS had miscalculated the willful penalties. Accordingly, the district court re-calculated and imposed new penalties. Upon review, the 11th Circuit affirmed that Schwarzbaum's violation was willful. However, the appellate court also determined that the district court does not have the power to calculate its own penalty for an FBAR violation. The 11th Circuit reasoned that the court's preparation of their own FBAR penalty calculation violated 5 U.S.C. 706(2)(A) because the court unlawfully exercised an abuse of discretion. The court cannot take over the role of the IRS as it pertains to FBAR penalty calculation. What Leads to a Willful FBAR Penalty? A willful FBAR penalty is a fine that the IRS can impose if they determine that a tax payer was willful in failing to meet their FBAR obligations. When proving whether an FBAR violation was willful, the government does not need to prove intent. Tax payers can commit willful violations through reckless disregard of their obligations. Furthermore, actual knowledge of an FBAR violation is also not required to constitute a willful error. Willful penalties can be administered when foreign bank account holders are willfully blind to their violations. Simply put, a willful penalty can also apply when the tax payer did not actually know of the violation at the time it happened. There is no clear test to determine whether an FBAR violation was willful. It is most beneficial to tax payers to avoid such violations all together. If you are concerned whether you have complied with FBAR requirements pertaining to your foreign bank account, then you should contact our lawyers right away. Our experienced Dual-Licensed Tax Lawyers & CPAs can help review your case and determine the best course of action. Calculating Willful FBAR Penalties Willful FBAR penalties can be severe. If you were found to have committed a willful FBAR violation, then you may face penalties reaching upwards of 50% of your maximum account value per year. If you are facing a willful FBAR penalty, then you should contact our Dual-Licensed Tax Lawyers & CPAs for help determining whether the penalties were appropriately calculated. Are There Lower Penalties for Non-Willful FBAR Violations? There is no certain definition of what constitutes a non-willful FBAR violation. Courts will need to review the totality of the circumstances on a case by case basis when determining whether violations were willful. Unfortunately, the IRS has contributed to making this analysis even more difficult and ambiguous because the word "violation" can accompany several different meanings and outcomes. Still, the penalties assigned for non-willful violations are less severe than willful penalties. Typically, penalties start at $10,000 per non-willful violation. Additionally, IRS agents do not have discretion to minimize or reduce FBAR penalties. What to Do if You Were Assigned an FBAR Penalty It is important to act quickly if the IRS has assigned you an FBAR penalty. The sooner you get in touch with our experienced international tax attorneys, the more efficiently we can act when fighting to have your penalties minimized or removed. The U.S. government usually has two years to file a lawsuit enforcing an FBAR penalty. Unfortunately, since the FBAR form is not a tax form, Tax Court is not an available option for litigating the penalty. Rather, foreign bank account holders will have to fight the U.S. government in district court or in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. If you have to challenge an FBAR penalty in court, our attorneys can offer guidance and support throughout each step of the legal process. Still, it is best to avoid encountering any issues altogether. In Schwarzbaum, the foreign bank account holder got into trouble because he relied on his accountant's word that he had complied with FBAR reporting requirements. If you are concerned with FBAR reporting requirements as they pertain to your foreign bank account, then you should contact our attorneys right away. If possible, our team will try resolve any issues you may have before your case goes to court. If You Need Help with FBAR Filings, Our Lawyers Can Help If you have concerns regarding FBAR reporting for your foreign bank accounts, especially where you have not reported taxable offshore income or failed to file other offshore foreign information reports, seek support from our experienced Dual-Licensed Tax Lawyers & CPAs by calling the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing at (800) 681-1295 for a review of your case. Note: As long as a taxpayer that has willfully committed tax crimes (potentially including non-filed foreign information returns coupled with affirmative evasion of U.S. income t ax on offshore income) self-reports the tax fraud (including a pattern of non-filed returns) through a domestic or offshore voluntary disclosure before the IRS has started an audit or criminal tax investigation / prosecution, the taxpayer can ordinarily be successfully brought back into tax compliance and receive a nearly guaranteed pass on criminal tax prosecution and simultaneously often receive a break on the civil penalties that would otherwise apply. It is imperative that you hire an experienced and reputable criminal tax defense attorney to take you through the voluntary disclosure process. Only an Attorney has the Attorney Client Privilege and Work Product Privileges that will prevent the very professional that you hire from being potentially being forced to become a witness against you, especially where they prepared the returns that need to be amended, in a subsequent criminal tax audit, investigation or prosecution. Moreover, only an Attorney can enter you into a voluntary disclosure without engaging in the unauthorized practice of law (a crime in itself). Only an Attorney trained in Criminal Tax Defense fully understands the risks and rewards involved in voluntary disclosures and how to protect you if you do not qualify for a voluntary disclosure. As uniquely qualified and extensively experienced Criminal Tax Defense Tax Attorneys, Kovel CPAs and EAs, our firm provides a one stop shop to efficiently achieve the optimal and predictable results that simultaneously protect your liberty and your net worth. See our Testimonials to see what our clients have to say about us! If you have failed to file a tax return for one or more years or have taken a position on a tax return that could not be supported upon an IRS or state tax authority audit , eggshell audit , reverse eggshell audit , or criminal tax investigation , it is in your best interest to contact an experienced tax defense attorney to determine your best route back into federal or state tax compliance without facing criminal prosecution. See our 2011 OVDI Q and A Library See our FBAR Compliance and Disclosure Q and A Library See our Foreign Audit Q and A Library Here is a link to our YouTube channel: click here. Public Contact: Dave Klasing Esq. M.S.-Tax CPA, [email protected] SOURCE Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing, PC The market is expected to witness a CAGR of 24.35% during the forecast period 2022-2032. FREMONT, Calif., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BIS Research, the global leader in providing market intelligence on deep technologies, has released its latest study titled Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Medical Device Market A Global and Regional Analysis. According to this study, the global artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) medical device market was valued at $4.01 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $35.45 billion by 2032, growing at a staggering CAGR of 24.35%. The following factors are responsible for the increase in demand for artificial intelligence/machine learning medical devices: Presence of a large ecosystem of companies offering AI solutions targeting the diverse range of applications of AI in the healthcare Growing demand in the field of radiology and cardiology increasing adoption of AI-enabled solutions due to their ability to shorten waiting times and reduce the burden on the healthcare system Growing demand for wearable sensors to increase the adoption of AI-enabled medical devices for home-based care A large number of government initiatives advancing the research and development of AI-enabled medical devices The detailed study is a compilation of 15 market data tables and 139 figures spread across 208 pages. Check Out the Detailed Table of Contents Here https://bisresearch.com/requestsample?id=1477&type=toc Analyst's Take on the Market Projection According to Swati Sood, Principal Analyst, BIS Research, "AI in healthcare is an emerging topic and has immense potential to reduce wait times and decrease the increasing burden on the global healthcare system. This market is expected to register significant growth during the forecast period 2022-2032." Request a Free Sample of this Report Here https://bisresearch.com/requestsample?id=1477&type=download Radiology to be the Leading Clinical Area Segment for AI/ML Medical Device Market AI-enabled medical devices are being developed for a wide range of clinical applications, such as radiology, cardiology, hematology, obstetrics, gastroenterology, and pathology. According to the study conducted by BIS Research, radiology held the largest share in the global artificial intelligence/machine learning medical device market, with 49.05% in 2022. The study further suggests that this trend is expected to continue, with radiology accounting for 55.36% by 2032, registering a CAGR of 25.86% during the forecast period 2022-2032. The integration of AI in radiology can help assist radiologists in interpreting data and confirming the diagnosis. AI in radiology is being implemented for various tasks such as the detection of suspicious lesions, enhancing imaging quality, image contouring and segmentation, and reconstruction of images. Major Industry Leaders in the AI/ML Device Market The companies profiled have been selected based on input gathered from primary experts and analyzing company coverage, product portfolio, and market penetration. Some of the established names in the market are Aidoc Medical, Ltd., Canon Inc., CellaVision AB, Clarius Mobile Health Corp., General Electric Company, Hyperfine Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Medtronic plc, Nanox.AI Ltd., Paige.AI, RadNet, Inc., Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd., Siemens Healthineers AG, Tempus, Viz.ai, Inc., and more. Recent Developments in the Global AI/ML Device Market In October 2022 , Koninklijke Philips N.V. received the U.S. FDA 510(k) approval for its AI-enabled MRCAT head and neck radiotherapy application. , Koninklijke Philips N.V. received the U.S. FDA 510(k) approval for its AI-enabled MRCAT head and neck radiotherapy application. In June 2022 , Aidoc Medical, Ltd. raised a $110 million Series D round investment to address the challenges faced by health systems by using AI. , Aidoc Medical, Ltd. raised a Series D round investment to address the challenges faced by health systems by using AI. In June 2022 , Hyperfine Inc. received FDA 510(k) clearance for the MRI device Swoop. The Swoop system software uses deep learning to deliver clear images that aid in clinical diagnosis. , Hyperfine Inc. received FDA 510(k) clearance for the MRI device Swoop. The Swoop system software uses deep learning to deliver clear images that aid in clinical diagnosis. In April 2022 , Clarius Mobile Health Corp.'s range of ultra-portable scanners, Clarius HD, was approved by Health Canada. , Clarius Mobile Health Corp.'s range of ultra-portable scanners, Clarius HD, was approved by Health Canada. In March 2022 , Clarius Mobile Health Corp. raised $20.0 million in funding to expand its commercial-scale activities. Want to Learn More about the Latest Trends in Digital Health? Speak to Our Analysts Exclusive DeepTech MAP Analysis for Healthcare by BIS Research: Global AI-Enabled X-Ray Imaging Solutions Market Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Operating Room Market Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Neurology Operating Room Market Global AI in Healthcare Market About BIS Research: BIS Research is a global B2B market intelligence and advisory firm focusing on deep technology and related emerging trends, which can disrupt the market dynamics in the near future. We publish more than 200 market intelligence studies annually that focus on several deep technology verticals. Our strategic market analysis emphasizes on market estimations, technology analysis, emerging high-growth applications, deeply segmented granular country-level market data, and other important market parameters useful in the strategic decision-making for senior management. BIS Research offers syndicate as well as custom studies and expert consultations to firms, providing them with specific and actionable insights on novel technology markets, business models, and competitive landscapes. Contact: Head of Marketing Email: [email protected] Ph no: 1-510-404-8135 BIS Research Inc. 39111 PASEO PADRE PKWY STE 313, FREMONT, CA, 94538-1686 Visit our Blog @ https://bisresearch.com/news Get Expert Insights @ https://community.insightmonk.com Connect with us on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/company/bis-research Connect with us on [email protected] https://twitter.com/BISResearch Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/495163/BIS_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE BIS Research DUBLIN, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Biodegradable Cutlery Market Size, Share & Trend Analysis Report By Raw Material (Wood, Husk, Paper), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific), And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global biodegradable cutlery market size is expected to reach USD 71.1 million by 2030, expanding at a CAGR 7.0% from 2023 to 2030. Companies Mentioned Huhtamaki Oyj Biotrem BIOPAK BETTER EARTH LLC Vegware Pactiv LLC Eco Guardian Genpak, LLC Bionatic GmbH & Co. KG GreenGood USA The increasingly stringent regulations against non-biodegradable plastic across the globe are the primary factor expected to drive the market growth of biodegradable cutlery over the forecast period. Most countries around the world are expected to ban plastic usage in any form as it has become a prominent global issue. According to a press release by the European Commission in December 2018, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union framed policies and rule to reduce marine litter through the ban on single-use plastics. In addition to this, in 2015, European Commission proposed a 'plastic bags' directive to regulate and restrict the usage of plastic bags. According to this directive, the 28 EU countries were required to adopt any one of the two proposals either to ensure that the usage of plastic bags was reduced to 40 units per year per person from 90 units per year per person. These regulations will increase the awareness as well as the demand for biodegradable cutleries over the forecast period. The usage of biodegradable tableware is increasing as the global trend to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions and plastic waste makes rapid progress. Cutlery such as spoons, bowls, plates, and other products that can degrade within weeks of being thrown away, is referred to as biodegradable tableware. The amount of packaging trash in municipal solid garbage has been noted to be high, which has raised environmental concerns. Oil-based polymers, a common component of modern packaging, are essentially non-biodegradable. Certain packaging options are also challenging to discard and cannot be used again. Europe was the largest market in 2022 accounting for around 36% of the total market share globally. On the other hand, North America is expected to become the fastest-growing market with a CAGR of 7.2% from 2023 to 2030. Over the past few years, North America has witnessed a substantial reduction of plastics by major food chains. For instance, Starbucks Corporation, one of the largest coffeehouse chain targets phased out the use of plastic straws and lids, key components of its drinks, conventionally. This initiative will ensure significant growth in the demand for biodegradable cutlery over the forecast period. Biodegradable Cutlery Market Report Highlights In terms of revenue, the paper biodegradable products segment is projected to ascend at a CAGR of 7.3% over the forecast period Wood and husk are dominant raw materials which are expected to foresee a high growth rate in the global market over the forecast period Europe dominated the global biodegradable cutlery industry in 2022 and constituted around 36% of the total market share. This trend is projected to continue over the next few years dominated the global biodegradable cutlery industry in 2022 and constituted around 36% of the total market share. This trend is projected to continue over the next few years The increasing awareness of the ill effects associated with non-biodegradable plastics is fueling demand for the product over the forecast period The industry is competitive owing to the increasing R&D, product innovation, and new entrants with the latest technology Key players includes Huhtamaki Oyj; Biotrem; BIOPAK; BETTER EARTH LLC; vegware; Pactiv LLC; Eco Guardian ; Genpak, LLC; Bionatic GmbH & Co. KG; and GreenGood USA ; Genpak, LLC; Bionatic GmbH & Co. KG; and GreenGood Various manufacturers are concentrating on new product launches, mergers and acquisitions, and technological innovation to capture the largest share of the existing and future demand Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope Chapter 2. Executive Summary Chapter 3. Biodegradable Cutlery Market Variables, Trends & Scope 3.1. Market Introduction 3.2. Industry Value Chain Analysis 3.2.1. Sales/Retail Channel Analysis 3.2.2. Profit Margin Analysis 3.3. Market Dynamics 3.3.1. Market Driver Analysis 3.3.2. Market Restraint Analysis 3.3.3. Industry Challenges 3.3.4. Industry Opportunities 3.4. Business Environment Analysis 3.5. Market Entry Strategies Chapter 4. Consumer Behavior Analysis 4.1. Demographic Analysis 4.2. Consumer Trends and Preferences 4.3. Factors Affecting Buying Decision 4.4. Consumer Product Adoption 4.5. Observations & Recommendations Chapter 5. Biodegradable Cutlery Market: Raw Material Estimates & Trend Analysis 5.1. Raw Material Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2022 & 2030 5.2. Wood 5.3. Husk 5.4. Paper 5.5. Plastic 5.6. Others Chapter 6. Biodegradable Cutlery Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis Chapter 7. Competitive Analysis 7.1. Key global players, recent developments & their impact on the industry 7.2. Key Company/Competition Categorization (Key innovators, Market leaders, Emerging players) 7.3. Vendor Landscape 7.3.1. Key company market share analysis, 2022 Chapter 8. Company Profiles For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/y07lef 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 DUBLIN, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Digital Printing Packaging Market- Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028 Segmented By Printing Ink, By Printing Technology, By Format, By Packaging Type, By End User Industry, By Region and Competition" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Global digital printing packaging market is estimated to grow at an impressive rate through 2028. Increasing Demand from End Users for Packaging Purposes Digital printing may assist an organization in providing adequate packaging to attract customers to purchase the product. Packaging is a sometimes-overlooked chance to convey a brand's marketing message or information, which is much more impactful than logos, color palettes, and slogans. Marketing is a method of how the items are packaged and can spread crucial information that conveys a message to the clients when an effective and ecological packaging method is used. Thus, demand for flexible packaging and a rising, increasing interest in ecologically friendly printing have propelled the growth of the digitally printed packaging market. Apart from these, speedy turnaround time, excellent color accuracy, customizable, and affordability, it is highly demanded by the end-user, such as food & beverage, pharmaceutical, consumer goods, and cosmetic products, and others. Thus, it increased demand for the digital printing packaging market. Printing plays an important role in the food and beverages industries providing accurate data about food conditions. These led to saving many foods and human life by providing data such as date of manufacturing, types of foods, composition, and others. Here, digital packaging helps manufacturers and consumers to print and read detail clearly. All the above factors led to the growing demand for digital printing packaging market products and are expected to drive the market share development worldwide. Recent Developments Huge investment made by various players operating in the market has significantly increased the research & development activities in the field of digital printing packaging. This, in turn, is leading to advancements in existing offerings and new product launches, thereby driving the growth of the global digital printing packaging market. In addition, to acquire new customers, organizations are collaborating and acquiring small companies to use their proficiencies and increase market growth & revenue share. Other key developments happening in the market include product launches. Various companies are following the above-mentioned strategies in order to stay competitive and have the edge over other players operating in the market. In April 2022 , CCL Industries Inc. signed an agreement to acquire privately owned Adelbras Industria e Comercio de Adesivos Ltda. and Amazon Tape Industria e Comercio de Fitas Adesivas Ltda. This acquisition will help CCL Industries Inc to enter a new market and experience additional operations in Manaus in the Amazon tax-free zone. Report Scope: In this report, global digital printing packaging market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends, which have also been detailed below: Global Digital Printing Packaging Market, By Printing Ink: Solvent-Based UV-based Aqueous Others Global Digital Printing Packaging Market, By Printing Technology: Thermal Transfer Printing Inkjet Printing Electrophotography & Electrostatic Printing Others Global Digital Printing Packaging Market, By Printing Format: Fill Color Printing Variable Data Printing Large Format Printing Others Global Digital Printing Packaging Market, By Packaging Type: Corrugated Folding Cartons Flexible Packaging Others Global Digital Printing Packaging Market, By End User Industry: Food & Beverage Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Household & Cosmetic Products Others Global Digital Printing Packaging Market, By Region: North America United States Canada Mexico Europe Germany France United Kingdom Spain Italy Asia-Pacific China India Japan Australia South Korea South America Brazil Argentina Colombia Middle East & Africa & South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Voice of Customer 5. Global Digital Printing Packaging Market Outlook 6. North America Digital Printing Packaging Market Outlook 7. Europe Digital Printing Packaging Market Outlook 8. Asia-Pacific Digital Printing Packaging Market Outlook 9. South America Digital Printing Packaging Market Outlook 10. Middle East and Africa Digital Printing Packaging Market Outlook 11. Market Dynamics 12. Market Trends & Developments 13. Competitive Landscape 14. Strategic Recommendations A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes CCL Industries, Inc. Quad/Graphics Inc. DS Smith plc Smurfit Kappa Group plc Printpack, Inc. Thimm The Highpack Group Krones AG EPAC Holdings, Inc. Nosco Inc. Quantum Print & Packaging Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/wz1msp 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 Leading Denver plumbing provider to recognize Food for Hope during celebration at FlyteCo Brewing April 20 DENVER, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- High 5 Plumbing, a family-owned and operated plumbing company serving residents in the greater Denver metropolitan area, is welcoming homeowners and clients alike to its National High Five Day event from 4-6 p.m. at FlyteCo Brewing on April 20. This special event will feature a happy hour where a select number of attendees over the age of 21 will receive a free beer or beverage ticket. In addition, there will be music, giveaways and plenty of fun to go around. High 5 Plumbing is welcoming homeowners and clients alike to its National High Five Day event from 4-6 p.m. at FlyteCo Brewing on April 20. "High Five Day is always a fun time for us," said Levi Torres, co-owner of High 5 Plumbing. "We use this event as an opportunity to connect with our clients and homeowners in the area. Without them, we wouldn't be the thriving company that we are today. They drive us to end every service call with a high five, and it's always fun getting to socialize with them during our National High Five Day events." In addition to the fun and games, High 5 Plumbing will also be taking donations for High 5 Cares recipient Food for Hope. The nonprofit helps empower and strengthen the future of the Denver community by providing nutritious food to children in need. Each student enrolled in the program receives nutritional assistance throughout the school year. "We love highlighting our High 5 Cares nonprofits whenever we have the opportunity," said Cassi Torres, co-owner of High 5 Plumbing. "They mean so much to our community, so what better way to assist them than collecting donations during our National High 5 Day event?" High 5 Plumbing offers a variety of plumbing services to residents in the Denver area, including repair and installation, drain cleaning, pump plumbing, piping, garbage disposal services, sewer line repair, gas plumbing, water heater installation and much more. In addition, the company offers 24/7 emergency services. To join High 5 Plumbing in celebrating National High Five Day, come to FlyteCo Brewing at 4499 W 38th Ave #101 in Denver. To learn more about High 5 Plumbing, visit https://high5plumbing.com/. About High 5 Plumbing Founded in 2012, High 5 Plumbing is a local, family-owned company serving residents in the greater Denver metropolitan area. With a professional team that has extensive experience and a commitment to service, High 5 Plumbing offers comprehensive plumbing, sewer and drain services. The company was built on the values of solving plumbing problems and serving every customer with professionalism and respect. For more information about High 5 Plumbing, visit https://www.high5plumbing.com/. MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Ripley Ripley PR (865) 977-1973 [email protected] SOURCE High 5 Plumbing Elnur Enveroglu Unfortunately, European parliamentarians are big fans of Armenia; they always blame Azerbaijan and never talk about Armenia's atrocities, the Dutch writer and author of a book about the war and genocide in Karabakh Henri Van Rens said in an interview with Azernews, speaking of Armenian vandalism in the past century. "It was about two years ago when I visited Karabakh for the first time with a group of journalists from all over the world. When I saw these ruins, I thought that it was impossible that people could be capable of the horrors that the Armenians committed in Karabakh. I decided that a book should be written about it because there is too little information in my country and in Europe as a whole about Karabakh and Azerbaijan," he said. As regards the time to complete his book, Henri said he is in search of more evidences and facts about Armenian atrocities, in order to bring the truth to the world community about the Karabakh events. "I will visit Aghdam again soon to gather more information. I also mentioned the work of Azerbaijan's Mine Action Agency, which is extremely complex and difficult, in my book. I hope that I will be able to transfer to the Azerbaijani people the income that I will receive from my book to contribute to the process of reconstruction in Karabakh," said Van Rens. The writer noted that he plans to visit Azerbaijan in the fall too in order to present his book. Regional flavors, non-traditional ingredients on the horizon for pizza lovers AUSTIN, Minn., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hot out of the oven from the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas, Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global-branded food company, the maker of the best-selling retail pepperoni in the United States and a market leader in foodservice pizza toppings, has a pulse on the latest topping trends to help pizzaiolos, aficionados and home cooks everywhere elevate their pizza games. With the popularity of cupping pepperoni reaching an all-time high, Hormel Foods is excited to introduce yet another cupping item to its portfolio of foodservice products. From familiar favorites like chorizo to bold flavors like salsa verde and chicken tinga, Mexican-inspired toppings are capitalizing on consumer interests and elevating foodservice operators menus. Its no secret that spicy flavors have long been a staple on pizzas. Consumers want spicy, complex flavors on their pizza pies. Whether customers prefer thin, hand-tossed or deep-dish pizza, who doesnt love piling on the pepperoni? Pizza-topping experts Kyle Flottman and Colby Strilaeff, both brand managers at Hormel Foods, have spent years working in the pizza-toppings business, and after experiencing the annual Vegas trade show and its 444 exhibitors, Flottman and Strilaeff identified the five key trends to look for in the coming months: The rise of culinary travel and regional flavors "One of the fastest growing trends in pizza is international flavors, with Thai, Vietnamese and Mexican flavors topping that ever-growing list," Flottman said. From familiar favorites like chorizo to bold flavors like salsa verde and chicken tinga, a new line of Mexican-inspired toppings from Burke Corporation (Nevada, Iowa) a Hormel Foods subsidiary is capitalizing on consumer interests and elevating foodservice operators' menus. Use of non-traditional ingredients According to Flottman, plant-based, dairy-free and pickle pizza are just a few variations that have recently taken the pizza world by storm. Hormel Foods continues to be an industry leader in the plant-based game. Its Happy Little Plants pepperoni-style topping offers the burst of flavor people love and expect from real-meat pepperoni, but with a plant-based spin. Pickle pizza, paired by some with ranch dressing, has also been growing in popularity since first going viral in 2018. Cupping sausage With the popularity of cupping pepperoni reaching an all-time high, Hormel Foods is excited to introduce yet another cupping item to its portfolio of foodservice products. "We recently launched and introduced the new Fontanini cup-and-char sausage at this year's International Pizza Expo with great success," Strilaeff said. "We couldn't think of a better combination than Rosa Grande pepperoni and Fontanini cup-and-char sausage on any size or style of pizza, including deep dish." Spicy and complex flavors It's no secret that spicy flavors have long been a staple on pizzas. However, Flottman expects this trend not only to continue, but also to intensify. "Many consumers tie food choices to self-expression," Flottman said. "Consumers want spicy, complex flavors on their pizza pies. And we're not just talking sweet and spicy. Consumers are bending the flavor system with some unlikely matchups, such as chili-dog pizza and Thai curry chicken pizza." Cup-and-char pepperoni post bake Whether customers prefer thin, hand-tossed or deep-dish pizza, who doesn't love piling on the pepperoni? Vincent Rotolo from Good Pie in Las Vegas helped launch this trend on social media by heaping a pound of pepperoni onto the restaurant's signature "Triple Pep" pizza, a culinary creation that involves cooking half of the pepperoni in a pan and then placing it on top of the finished pizza. Hormel Foods has a long-standing reputation for creating innovative and delicious products for foodservice providers and retailers, including its new Fontanini cup-and-char sausage and famous signature curl-and-charred Rosa Grande pepperoni. For more information about Hormel pizza toppings, including recipes, nutritional information and where to buy, visit: https://www.hormelfoods.com/brand/hormel-pepperoni/. ABOUT HORMEL FOODS Inspired People. Inspired Food. Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters, SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, WHOLLY, Hormel Black Label, Columbus, Jennie-O and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list by 3BL Media 13 times, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement Inspired People. Inspired Food. to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/. SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation GIBRALTAR, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In March 2023, IQ Option, the leading online trading platform, introduced Islamic accounts to its Android users. Islamic accounts are meant for Muslim traders who were unable to trade due to religious restrictions on overnight commissions or swaps, which are considered usury and prohibited by Sharia law. Thanks to the IQ Option Islamic account, Muslim traders can now operate the market without consequences for their faith and from the device of their choice. Benefits of the IQ Option Islamic account Islamic account IQ Option (PRNewsfoto/IQ Option) Islamic assets (PRNewsfoto/IQ Option) IQ Option traderoom (PRNewsfoto/IQ Option) Zero-swap trading. The Islamic account has no swaps traders can extend their positions to the next trading day for free, without having to pay any overnight commissions. This feature is great news for Muslim traders who were previously unable to trade on this platform. The Islamic account has no swaps traders can extend their positions to the next trading day for free, without having to pay any overnight commissions. This feature is great news for Muslim traders who were previously unable to trade on this platform. Exclusive halal assets. Islamic account users have access to 21 exclusive halal stocks. These are shares of companies that do not sell alcohol and tobacco, as well as companies known in the Islamic world and traded on Islamic exchanges. List of IQ Option Islamic account assets Infographic - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053692/IQ_Option_Islamic_assets_Infographic.jpg One-time fee. IQ Option's Islamic account is cost-effective, with a one-time commission of just $1 . Unlike with other competitors, traders are not required to make huge deposits to open an account. Instead, they just pay a small fixed amount once and use the Islamic account for life. IQ Option's Islamic account is cost-effective, with a one-time commission of just . Unlike with other competitors, traders are not required to make huge deposits to open an account. Instead, they just pay a small fixed amount once and use the Islamic account for life. Personal account manager. All IQ Option Islamic account holders are assigned a personal account manager, a feature previously reserved only for VIP account holders. All IQ Option Islamic account holders are assigned a personal account manager, a feature previously reserved only for VIP account holders. Easy switch. The registration process is easy, and traders can get an Islamic account on their own without contacting support. Note that for now, registering an Islamic account is only possible on desktop, but after the registration, traders can log in to this account from any Android device. How to register the IQ Option Islamic account If you are new to IQ Option: 1. Register a standard account on the IQ Option website first. You will only need your email. 2. Log in with your email and password and click on your profile icon. 3. Press the Islamic account activation link. Infographic - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053694/IQ_Option_traderoom_Infographic.jpg 4. Deposit $10 or an equivalent in your account currency. 5. Soon after that, your Islamic account will go live and you'll be able to trade on the IQ Option platform. If you already have an IQ Option account: Log in with your email and password and click on your profile icon. Press the Islamic account activation link. Make sure you have at least $1 on your account balance. Enjoy your Islamic account! Just as standard IQ Option accounts, Islamic accounts are also available in regular and VIP statuses. To upgrade your account to VIP, you need to deposit $3,000+. IQ Option Islamic account geography The Islamic accounts are available for traders from 20 countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Bottom line IQ Option's new feature aims to cater to the needs of Muslim traders, who were previously excluded from the trading market due to religious restrictions. With the introduction of Islamic accounts, IQ Option hopes to promote inclusivity and provide equal opportunities for all traders. The IQ Option Islamic account comes at a one-time fixed fee of $1 and features 21 halal stocks for trading. Users can trade without any "haram" swap fees and get a personal account manager to address any questions. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053693/Islamic_Account_IQ_Option.jpg SOURCE IQ Option Appointment of Danny Lyons to CEO of Kele, Inc. Existing CEO Richard Campbell will remain as Executive Chairman Appointment of Rob Benson to President of Kele Commercial MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kele, Inc. ("Kele" or the "Company"), a portfolio company of The Stephens Group, LLC, today announced recent leadership changes to position the business for continued success. Effective immediately, the Board has appointed Danny Lyons to CEO. Mr. Lyons will assume the responsibilities of outgoing President and CEO, Richard Campbell, who will remain with the Company as Executive Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Campbell will remain actively involved in the Company's M&A strategy, key stakeholder relationships and corporate strategy. The Stephens Group is grateful for Mr. Campbell's leadership over the last six years. He has helped grow the business both organically and inorganically, built out a high-quality executive leadership team, executed various strategic initiatives, and entered new markets. Grant Jones, Managing Director at The Stephens Group, said, "Richard has been an excellent partner to The Stephens Group and we are both pleased and proud of how Richard has helped Kele push to the next level." "It has been a great privilege to lead the Kele team over the past six years and I'm proud of what we have accomplished in that time. I look forward to my role as Executive Chairman as we continue to build value in the Kele platform," said Mr. Campbell. Danny Lyons has been appointed CEO from CFO. Mr. Lyons has served as the CFO of Kele for over four years and previously served as Kele's corporate controller for three years between 2014 and 2017. In addition to maintaining overall financial discipline, Lyons has focused on M&A integration, leading distribution and manufacturing operations from 2020-2023, and paving the way for strategic growth. He has led the efforts for an aggressive acquisition plan and executed and integrated four acquisitions since rejoining in 2018. "We couldn't be happier to appoint Danny as CEO of Kele. He has been an integral part of the Kele story and a key contributor to Kele's recent growth and success," said Mr. Jones. "Danny not only brings a tremendous balance of financial experience and strategic skill, he also understands the markets in which Kele operates and where the Company is headed." "I am honored to succeed Richard and lead Kele. Kele is a unique business with a 40-year history of delivering exceptional value to its customers in the commercial and industrial automation markets. I look forward to working with The Stephens Group and Kele team as we continue to execute our strategic initiatives and further our mission of simplifying the supply chain through unparalleled technical support, industry-leading technology, and world class logistics," said Lyons. Lyons began his career as an auditor for BDO USA before moving to KPMG. He worked with multiple private equity-owned clients, which paved the way for his first stint at Kele. Lyons is a Memphis native. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Mississippi State University and master's degree in accounting from the University of Mississippi. The Company is also pleased to announce a leadership reorganization of the Kele Commercial and Kele Industrial business units. Effective immediately, Rob Benson will be promoted to President of Kele Commercial, reporting directly to Danny Lyons and managing the P&L for all aspects of the building automation business. Mr. Benson's most recent role was Chief Commercial Officer. Mr. Lyons added, "Rob's 35+ years of industry experience and his success driving growth at Kele make him well-suited for this expanded leadership role." Mike DeLacluyse will remain President of Kele Industrial reporting directly to Danny Lyons. Under Mike's leadership, Kele's industrial business has grown rapidly, both organically and through acquisition. About Kele, Inc. Kele, Inc. is a leading distributor of Commercial and Industrial Automation products and controls solutions globally. Kele serves the $275+ billion Commercial and Industrial Automation markets with more than 300 brands and 3+ million parts in stock, including sensors, transmitters, switches, gauges, valves, actuators, relays, and more. Value-added services include custom panel assembly, specialized sourcing, and technical support. Strategically headquartered in America's logistics hub, Memphis, Tenn., and with regional locations organized under the Kele Companies umbrella in Boston, Seattle, Portland, Ore., Dallas, Fort Worth, Texas, Austin, Texas, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Okla., Chicago and Milwaukee, Kele provides building automation and industrial customers with fast and reliable services. Kele is a portfolio company of The Stephens Group, LLC of Little Rock, Ark. To learn more about Kele, visit kele.com. About The Stephens Group, LLC The Stephens Group, LLC is a private investment firm that partners with talented management teams to help build valuable businesses. Backed by the resources of the Witt Stephens, Jr. and Elizabeth Campbell families, the firm combines the operational expertise of a private equity firm with the flexibility provided by long-term capital. With nearly $2 billion of private equity assets under management, the firm has a long history of providing informed, sophisticated expertise and working with owners and managers to help them successfully achieve their strategic visions and build long-term value. Since 2006, The Stephens Group has invested in over 50 companies, targeting investments in industries across the U.S., including industrial and commercial products and services, specialty distribution, technology infrastructure and vertical software. CONTACT: Allie Laborde Principal, Business Development The Stephens Group, LLC [email protected] 501.377.3401 John Strawn CMO Kele, Inc. [email protected] 901.359.4012 SOURCE Kele, Inc. NEW YORK, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- KraveBeauty , the popular direct-to-consumer skincare brand, aims to humanize the beauty industry for the people and the planet to create a more sustainable and equitable world. As part of KraveBeauty's commitment to sustainability, the brand announces the launch of its Anti-Consumer Consumer Grant , committing $15,000 to support sustainability-focused creators. The grant is designed to fight overconsumption in the influencer industry and support sustainability-focused creators by providing financial support to help them promote mindful consumption, zero waste, and sustainable living. The Anti-Consumer Consumer Grant is a bold step towards promoting sustainability and responsible consumerism in the influencer/creator industry. With the rising trend of product promotion and brand deals, creators who advocate for mindful consumption, zero waste, and sustainable living often struggle to monetize their content. This grant aims to bridge that gap and empower sustainability-focused creators by providing them with the financial support they need to continue spreading their message. "Our purpose is clear: we want to encourage creators to use their platform to promote conscious and sustainable consumption. We believe that influencers and creators have the power to inspire positive change and create a more sustainable future," Liah Yoo , Founder and CEO of KraveBeauty. "We recognize that the current influencer/creator culture is deeply rooted in consumerism, and we want to challenge that narrative. We believe that this grant will not only support creators financially but also inspire a positive shift in the industry towards sustainability and responsible consumerism." Aside from alignment with values, applicants will be evaluated based on the following factors Purpose: What is the purpose of your mission and what do you wish to achieve? What is the purpose of your mission and what do you wish to achieve? Impact: What's the impact of your work in promoting sustainable living and conscious consumption? What's the impact of your work in promoting sustainable living and conscious consumption? Creativity: How are you using innovative and creative ways to promote sustainable living and conscious consumption? What is the uniqueness of your approach and the potential to stand out and reach a wider audience? How are you using innovative and creative ways to promote sustainable living and conscious consumption? What is the uniqueness of your approach and the potential to stand out and reach a wider audience? Simplicity: How are you breaking down complex and nuanced climate/sustainability topics in a more easily digestible language? How would you appeal to the mass audience who's just starting their sustainability journey? The application window is open now through April 30, 2023 at 11:59 PM PT. Click here to apply. Grant Recipients will be notified in May 2023. In addition to the grant, KraveBeauty has launched a new media vertical, the Anti-Consumer Consumer Club , which seeks to empower the younger generation to become more conscious and sustainable in their consumption habits. With the launch, KraveBeauty is taking an active role to change consumers' values and behaviors to drive businesses to operate in a more sustainable and conscious manner, ultimately creating a better world for all. About KraveBeauty KraveBeauty was founded by beauty influencer, Liah Yoo , to #PressReset on the way we think about skincare. KraveBeauty's mission is to humanize the beauty industry for the people and the planet to create a more sustainable and equitable world. KraveBeauty seeks to inspire the industry to press reset on every harmful industry norm and prioritize stakeholder capitalism over shareholder capitalism through its #SlowDownSkincare campaign and its venture studio, PressResetVentures . To learn more, visit KraveBeauty.com and follow along with the brand on Instagram, @kravebeauty . About Anti-Consumer Consumer Club Anti-Consumer Consumer Club is KraveBeauty's new media vertical that aims to empower the younger generation to consume better by promoting conscious and sustainable consumption. We believe that by changing the consumers' values and behaviors, we can drive businesses to operate more sustainably and intentionally, creating a better world for all. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE KraveBeauty Complaint filed by The Button Law Firm claims Discovery Children's Academy failed young child due to lack of supervision and safety violations MIDLOTHIAN, Texas, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The father of a Midlothian infant has filed a lawsuit against Discovery Children's Academy, claiming his 18-month-old son was severely burned by an unsecured bottle warmer. The incident, which took place at the center in May 2022, was the result of daycare workers leaving the child unsupervised, just one of the many violations of Texas childcare safety laws by the daycare, according to the complaint. Daycare workers were occupied with other tasks when they left Mark Mattox's infant son alone to play nearby and on a changing table shelf. According to the complaint, an unattended and unsecured bottle warmer filled with scalding hot water fell on his legs and body. The suit describes the young boy being in excruciating pain and skin peeling off his legs. However, Discovery Children's Academy, which advertised its dedication to providing a safe learning environment, failed to follow state-mandated safety protocols including actively supervising children, seeking immediate medical attention for the boy, and submitting an incident report to the state of Texas. Furthermore, the suit alleges Discovery Children's Academy workers downplayed the incident to Mattox by providing him with false information about his son's injuries. The complaint reads that it wasn't until Mattox arrived at the daycare at the end of the workday and saw the obvious severity of his young son's wounds that the infant was rushed to the emergency room to receive treatment on his legs and body for severe burns. An independent investigation conducted by Texas Health and Human Services and Texas Department of Family Protective Services substantiated Mattox's allegations regarding the daycare's lack of supervision and safety practices, according to the suit. Discovery Children's Academy was cited more than 27 times starting in April 2018. The last citation came in November 2021, just seven months prior to this infant's burn incident. "Common sense safety standards mandated by the state only work if daycares follow them. This little boy should not have had to experience severe burns on nearly half of his body," says The Button Law Firm attorney Russell Button, who represents the Mattox family. "The persistent disregard for the safety of vulnerable young children at Discovery Children's Academy is shocking." The case is Mark Mattox, Individually and as Next Friend of M.M., a minor child, vs. Discovery Children's Academy, LLC, Cause No. 110869 in Ellis County, Texas. About the Button Law Firm The Button Law Firm (https://www.buttonlawfirm.com) is a Texas-based personal injury law firm that advocates for children and their families in meaningful litigation to make local communities safer. The firm focuses on daycare and child-related injuries such as abuse and neglect cases, finger injuries, toy-related injuries, and catastrophic injuries. With attorneys in Dallas, Houston, and Midland, The Button Law Firm helps families across the Lone Star State. SOURCE The Button Law Firm NEW YORK, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in five years, the gender disparity in physician salaries narrowed, with the most significant change seen in primary care, according to the results of the 2023 Medscape Physician Compensation Report. In a year when physician salaries overall continued to climb, women in primary care earned 19% less than male physicians, compared to 25% less in 2018. The disparity also narrowed within specialties, from a 36% difference in 2018 versus 31% in 2022. Women in primary care earned an average $239,000 in 2022 as compared to $286,000 for male physicians. For specialists, men earned an average $415,000 versus $327,000 for women. The racial disparity gap did not budge, however, with African American and Black physicians earning 13% less than white physicians, as seen in previous reports. Highest and Lowest Salaries, by Specialty and Region As in previous years, the highest paid specialties included plastic surgery ($619,000), orthopedics ($573,000), cardiology ($507,000) and urology ($506,000). Lowest paid specialties were infectious disease ($262,000), family medicine ($255,000), pediatrics ($251,000) and public health and preventive medicine ($249,000). States with the highest earning physicians were Wisconsin, Indiana, Georgia, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The lowest salaries were in Maryland, Colorado, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Arizona. More than 10,000 U.S.-based physicians were surveyed for the report across 29 specialties. The survey was conducted from October 7, 2022, to January 14, 2023. The Medscape Report is the most comprehensive and widely used physician salary survey in the U.S., assessing compensation, hours worked, time spent with patients, and what they find most rewarding -- and challenging -- about their jobs. Click here to view the full report: https://www.medscape.com/2023-compensation-overview Additional Highlights: Salary Increases and the Physician Shortage The report showed the average physician salary at $352,000, up about 4% over the previous year and more than 17% percent higher than in 2018. Specialty salaries also rose, from $368,000 in 2021 to $382,000 in this year's report. The rise in physician incomes is the result, in part, of a physician shortage, exacerbated by retirements and the impact of burnout, with more physicians making career shifts within medicine, including reduced shifts, shift work, and a move to virtual care. Satisfaction, Challenges, Competition Although more than half of physicians (52%) are satisfied with their salary, the report showed growing concern with reduced insurance reimbursements, notably from Medicare and Medicaid, and competition from allied health professionals. While most physicians said they would continue to see Medicare and Medicaid patients, the percentage dropped from 71% to 65% from the previous year. Similarly, insurance reimbursement was among the issues cited by the 27% of doctors who said they would not choose medicine as a career if they could do it all over again. Other factors included industry issues (rules and regulations, long hours) and frustrating patients. More than 1 in 4 physicians said the most significant competition for patients was from allied healthcare professionals, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants and alternative practitioners, i.e., chiropractors and naturopaths. Still, most physicians (73%) said they would choose medicine again, citing the rewards of doing something they're good at (30%), gratitude from and relationships with patients (24%), and helping others (19%). "While there is more work to be done, the progress on gender pay disparities was a positive development in this year's report," said Leslie Kane, MA, Senior Director, Medscape Business of Medicine. "That said, the issue of physician burnout, fueled by long hours and bureaucratic burdens, continues to have an impact on how physicians view their careers, their satisfaction with pay, and other aspects of medicine. "At a time of growing physician shortages, it's important for institutions and organizations to continue to examine industry norms and practices that can hinder physician satisfaction with their career choices." Medscape Survey Methods: The 2023 Medscape Physician Compensation Survey was completed by 10,011 physicians representing 29 specialty areas. Respondents were invited to respond to the online survey. The margin of error for the survey was +/- 0.98% at a 95% confidence interval. About Medscape Medscape is the leading source of clinical news, health information, and point-of-care tools for health care professionals. Medscape offers specialists, primary care physicians, and other health professionals the most robust and integrated medical information and educational tools. Medscape Education (medscape.org) is the leading destination for continuous professional development, consisting of more than 30 specialty-focused destinations offering thousands of free C.M.E. and C.E. courses and other educational programs for physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals. Medscape is a subsidiary of WebMD Health Corp. About WebMD WebMD Health Corp., an Internet Brands Company, is the leading provider of health information services, serving patients, physicians, health care professionals, employers, health plans, and health systems through public and private online portals, mobile platforms, and health-focused publications. The WebMD Health Network includes WebMD Health, Medscape, Jobson Healthcare Information, MediQuality, Frontline, Vitals Consumer Services, Aptus Health, Krames, PulsePoint, The Wellness Network, SanovaWorks, MedicineNet, eMedicineHealth, RxList, OnHealth, Medscape Education, and other owned WebMD sites. WebMD, Medscape, CME Circle, Medpulse, eMedicine, MedicineNet, theheart.org , and RxList are among the trademarks of WebMD Health Corp. or its subsidiaries. SOURCE Medscape 2030 national strategy outlines 45 objectives and 224 anti-corruption activities ULAAN BAATAR, Mongolia, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mongolian Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC) or 'Anti Corruption Agency' unveiled a comprehensive 2030 national strategy to combat corruption across all facets of Mongolian public life. The strategy was formally submitted to the State Ikh Khural and will be considered shortly by the Parliament's Standing Committee. His Excellency K.H.Nyambaatar, Minister of Justice and Home Affairs commented: "History has been made today. The government welcomes this comprehensive strategy which complements the steps we are already taking in this, the 'Year of Fighting Corruption' previously announced by the government." "At a time when global trust in governments is low, we know there is work to do to gain and maintain the trust of our people. That's why we're committed to working with the IAAC on the implementation of the strategy through to 2030," said Nyambaatar. The strategy's objectives include strengthening a corruption-free public service; effective participation of citizens, civil society and media; the independence of state institutions; reducing the risk of corruption in budgeting and procurement; and tackling theft, embezzlement, and waste. The IAAC undertook recommendations from international financial institutions and development organisations as well as adapting more than 40 laws, including the Criminal Law, the Anti-Corruption Law, the Law on the Regulation of Public and Private Interests in Public Service, and the Prevention of Conflict of Interest. The national strategy complements the government's previously announced "Tavan-sh" anti-corruption initiative focusing on 5 key programme areas: whistleblowing, removal of corrupt public officials; extradition and repatriation of those under indictment; asset recovery; and transparency. The government has also recently submitted three laws for the protection of whistleblowers, campaign finance reform, and the transparency of state-owned companies. "The strategy is an ambitious undertaking and is aimed at preventing the risk of corruption in public institutions, officials, private sector, civil society, political parties and groups. Together, we will work with the government to work towards a more transparent, open and responsible society," said Dashdavaa Zandraa, Director General of the Mongolian Anti-Corruption Agency. "We are making significant progress in our anti-corruption efforts, but there is more to do. This strategy gives us a clear pathway to continue and enhance our anti-corruption measures, and confirms we are on the right track to building a society of trust and confidence in government and in our country," said the Mongolian Minister of Justice. SOURCE The Government of Mongolia CHICAGO, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The artist entity from Chicago is producing their second signature JB Skating album "The Book of Enoch". JBGODS is the leading music entity for their brand known as JB Skating. The artist entity is responsible for documenting and disseminating their skate music and their skate brand. The gods are the first to create original JB SKATE music for Chicago and to bring their brand from the shadows of a hidden subculture to the forefront of the music industry. JBGODS release new album The Book of Enoch for skaters all over the US. Tweet this JBGODS Skater Mix "We inspire people to aim for the impossible and achieve it. Les Brown said, 'It's possible' and I believe him." -Pharaoh Pharaoh is the ambitious owner of the JBGODS company and lead artist behind the music. JBGODS is not just a music entity, it's a business and a team, which started when Pharaoh met Skotty and Keem from Milwaukee. The team went from 3 members with no songs to 13 members with two albums in 6 months. The gods are known for their deep bass, melodic instrumentals and Chicago influenced JB SKATE mixing. Pharaoh studied music in California where he attained his bachelor's degree in music, which he plans to use towards more exciting projects on picture. The gods are known to be the most intense entity in skate music. In between albums they share free mix tapes on YouTube for their followers, fans and supporters to enjoy. "Some cities don't have good JB music, some cities have none at all. We are here to change that. The gods are bringing JB to the whole country. It's ours to give." The Book of Enoch is scheduled to drop in the summer of 2023. The gods attest that skaters everywhere will be satisfied with this brand new genre of skate music. Media Contact: JBGODS Chicago, IL 213-880-7994 [email protected] The Evolution Continues - JBGODS The Evolution Continues. JBGODS SOURCE JBGODS LLC Projects exceed 800 megawatts, enough clean energy to power 200,000 Virginia homes Customers will see more than $250 million in fuel savings in first 10 years of operation RICHMOND, Va., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) approved today nearly two dozen new solar and energy storage projects to help meet the growing needs of Dominion Energy Virginia customers. Once in operation, the projects will generate more than 800 megawatts (MW) of carbon-free electricity, enough to power about 200,000 Virginia homes at peak output. Because renewable energy does not require fuel, the projects are expected to deliver more than $250 million in fuel savings for customers during their first 10 years of operation. "This is another big step forward in delivering reliable, affordable and cleaner energy to our customers," said Ed Baine, President of Dominion Energy Virginia. "These projects will bring jobs and economic opportunity to our communities, and they will deliver fuel savings for our customers. That's a win-win for Virginia." The SCC approval includes nine solar projects and one energy storage project totaling nearly 500 MW that will be owned and operated by Dominion Energy Virginia. Two of the projects Kings Creek Solar and Ivy Landfill Solar will be built on previously developed land. Ivy Landfill Solar will be the company's first solar project developed on a former landfill. The SCC also approved power purchase agreements (PPAs) with 13 solar and energy storage projects totaling more than 300 MW that are owned by independent developers. Construction of the projects is projected to support thousands of jobs and more than $920 million in economic benefits across Virginia. Additional details about the utility-owned projects are below: Bridleton Solar 20 MW Henrico County Cerulean Solar 62 MW Richmond County Courthouse Solar 167 MW Charlotte County Ivy Landfill Solar 3 MW Albemarle County King's Creek Solar 20 MW York County Moon Corner Solar 60 MW Richmond County North Ridge Solar 20 MW Powhatan County Racefield Solar 3 MW James City County Shands Storage 15.7 MW Sussex County Southern Virginia Solar 125 MW Pittsylvania County The SCC's approval today will add approximately $0.38 to the average residential customer's monthly bill, with construction of the fuel cost-free renewable projects expected to be complete by 2025. Dominion Energy Virginia's rates remain below the national, mid-Atlantic and east coast averages. About Dominion Energy About 7 million customers in 16 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to safely providing reliable, affordable and sustainable energy and to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. Please visit DominionEnergy.com to learn more. SOURCE Dominion Energy HICKSVILLE, N.Y., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: NYCB) (the "Company") today announced that it expects to issue its earnings release for the three months ended March 31, 2023 at approximately 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Friday, April 28, 2023. The release will be posted to the Investor Relations portion of the Company's website, ir.myNYCB.com, upon issuance. The Company will conduct a conference call at 8:30 a.m. (ET) on the same date, during which President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas R. Cangemi and Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer John Pinto will discuss the Company's first quarter 2023 performance. The conference call will be simultaneously webcast at ir.myNYCB.com and archived through 5:00 p.m. on May 26, 2023. Conference Call Details: Conference ID for Live and Replay: 20459132 Dial-in for Live Call: Domestic: (888) 259-6580 International: (416) 764-8624 Dial-in for Replay: Availability: April 28 (10:30 a.m.) May 2 (11:59 p.m.) Access Code: 459132 # Domestic: (877) 674-7070 International: (416) 764-8692 About New York Community Bancorp, Inc. New York Community Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Flagstar Bank, N.A., one of the largest regional banks in the country. The Company is headquartered in Hicksville, New York with regional headquarters in Troy, Michigan. At December 31, 2022, the Company had $90.1 billion of assets, $69.0 billion of loans, deposits of $58.7 billion, and total stockholders' equity of $8.8 billion. Flagstar Bank, N.A. operates 395 branches across nine states, including strong footholds in the Northeast and Midwest and exposure to high growth markets in the Southeast and West Coast. Flagstar Mortgage operates nationally through a wholesale network of approximately 3,000 third-party mortgage originators. New York Community Bancorp, Inc. has market-leading positions in several national businesses, including multi-family lending, mortgage origination and servicing, and warehouse lending. The Company is the second-largest multi-family portfolio lender in the country and the leading multi-family portfolio lender in the New York City market area, where it specializes in rent-regulated, non-luxury apartment buildings. Flagstar Mortgage is the 8th largest bank originator of residential mortgages for the 12-months ending December 31, 2022, while we are the industry's 6th largest sub-servicer of mortgage loans nationwide, servicing 1.4 million accounts with $346 billion in unpaid principal balances. Additionally, the Company is the 2nd largest mortgage warehouse lender nationally based on total commitments. On March 20, 2023, the Company announced that Flagstar Bank, N.A. acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of the former Signature Bank from the FDIC. The purchase included approximately $38 billion of assets, including $25 billion in cash and $13 billion in mostly commercial loans. In addition, it assumed approximately $34 billion of deposits, its wealth management and broker-dealer business, and all of their 40 locations. The transaction includes all of legacy Signature Bank's core deposit relationships, including both the New York and West Coast Private Banking teams. Investor and Media Contact: Salvatore J. DiMartino (516) 683-4286 SOURCE New York Community Bancorp, Inc. VANCOUVER, BC, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Numinus Wellness Inc. ("Numinus" or the "Company") (TSX: NUMI) (OTCQX: NUMIF), a mental health care company advancing innovative treatments and safe, evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapies, today announced that it has launched a new client website at www.numinus.com as part of its branding strategy to align all wellness clinics under the Numinus brand. "Our new website serves as a key connection point to our brand and an extension of our in-clinic services, further supporting our clients throughout their journey with Numinus.Our clients' wellbeing is our number one priority, and an enhanced digital experience, including easier navigation and more efficient appointment booking tools, should allow us to provide greater support to our clients and other people seeking new mental health treatments," said Payton Nyquvest, Founder and CEO, Numinus. "This initiative is the next major step towards offering more robust online support tools for clients and the sector, and brings us closer to meeting our goal of creating a secure and superior way for our community to connect, learn and heal." The new Numinus website features enhanced navigation, which may help clients seeking mental wellness services find treatments specific to their needs, indications, and locations more easily. Its advanced functionality can allow for a faster and more effective process in connecting clients with the people and treatments to support their path forward. Supported by leading technology and tools, it utilizes geo-location technology to ensure that services offered to clients within each region accurately reflect those services which are or may be available to them where they reside. This functionality is of key importance as Numinus believes the timelines for future regulatory approvals for MDMA-assisted therapy and psilocybin-assisted therapy may vary between the jurisdictions where Numinus currently operates clinics. This new website completes the digital rebranding effort by Numinus, as all digital assets will now reflect the Numinus brand. All former clinic-specific websites (and sub-brands) have been retired and users of those sites will now be redirected to www.numinus.com. Numinus is in the process of investing in its digital service platform, with a view to providing technology-enabled practitioner training, client booking, and patient support tools, as a foundation for continued clinic and service expansion. The Company expects its digital platform could become a key driver of growth as it pursues industry partnerships and expands its psychedelic-assisted therapy practitioner training programs. About Numinus Numinus Wellness (TSX: NUMI) helps people to heal and be well through the development and delivery of innovative mental health care and access to safe, evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapies. The Numinus model - including psychedelic production, research and clinic care - is at the forefront of a transformation aimed at healing rather than managing symptoms for depression, anxiety, trauma, pain and substance use. At Numinus, we are leading the integration of psychedelic-assisted therapies into mainstream clinical practice and building the foundation for a healthier society. Learn more at www.numinus.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Forward-looking statements Statements and other information contained in this press release about anticipated future events constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including use and uptake of services through the new website, the company's ability to launch of any new features or other digital tools, continued functionality, availability and security of the website and any technology underlying the website and any future digital offering, ability to commercialize the new website or other digital tools, and other risks that are set forth in our annual information form dated December 12, 2022 and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. There is no assurance that Health Canada will approve the application. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements even if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. SOURCE Numinus Wellness Inc. 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 is the neighborhood bakery cafe where communities come together and connect over their expertly crafted baked and brewed goods 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. "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 [email protected] SOURCE Paris Baguette DUBLIN, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Personal Care Electrical Appliances Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global personal care electrical appliances market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.91% during 2022 to 2028. MARKET TRENDS & OPPORTUNITIES Rising Number of Working Women In Developing Countries The demand for personal care electrical appliances has increased as the female workforce population has increased. In a professional lifestyle, an individual's appearance is important to their role and designation. Thus, with the rise in the female population, the usage of personal care electrical appliances products is also expected to increase in further years. The rising female labor workforce has also augmented the need for personal care products, especially electrical appliances, in the personal care electrical appliances market. Moreover, major beauty & personal care industry players have expanded their product portfolio in the personal care electrical appliances apart from their fast-moving electrical goods. These vendors mainly focus on manufacturing women-based products compared to males, as women are more concerned about their beauty and personality than men. Many existing vendors in these developing countries are expected to increase their presence across other countries to expand the market. For instance, Nova India is a leading fast-moving electrical goods company. The company offers a wide range of women's care electrical appliances, including bikini trimmers, hair styling kits, hair dryers & blow dryers, and hair straighteners. Rising Demand Among Men For Personal Grooming Some common personal grooming habits include applying make-up, bathing, hair removal, dressing, skin care, and teeth care. Personal grooming is highly based on an individual's feelings and perceptions and highly varies among males and females. Moreover, personal grooming plays a major role in self-grooming, mainly due to the social arena and for uplifting an individual's confidence and self-esteem. There has been a rise in the use of personal care & cosmetic products such as disposable razors, aftershave balm, beard trimmers, beard oil, shampoo & conditioner for beards, nourishing balm, nose hair trimmers, hair clippers, all-in-one shower products, eye cream, hydrating body lotion, and others. Thus, many men are inclined towards their looks related to body health, grooming, and increasing self-confidence. Many men are getting habitual to these habits with the growing use of personal grooming products, which is contributing to the personal care electrical appliances market. Furthermore, many key vendors have initiated raising awareness about wellness and beauty products, especially among men, to build a strong customer base. Rising conversations about the products bring higher resonance among young men, especially millennials and gen Z, who align themselves with branded products. INDUSTRY RESTRAINTS Low Penetration Among Low- And Middle-Income Countries The penetration of personal care electrical appliances products remains low in low-& middle-income countries as compared to the developed nations. The low awareness about electrical appliances in developing markets, the high cost of personal care products, and the lack of awareness about personal care and hygiene are major growth inhibitors for the personal care electrical appliances market. Further, end-users in many countries such as APAC, the Middle East & Africa perceive personal care electrical products as luxurious. Thus, their penetration among households for personal usage of these products remains low in these regions. Moreover, due to a lack of personal hygiene awareness, low-and middle-income populations are less aware of other personal care, cosmetics, beauty, and hygiene products. People are unaware of the benefits of using a facial steamer, hair straightener, or hair dryer. Thus, unawareness of these products leads to a lack of adoption of personal care electrical appliances. SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS INSIGHTS BY PRODUCT The global personal care electrical appliances market by product has been broadly classified into hair, oral care, facial care, and others. The significantly increasing technological advancement in hair care appliances dominated the hair segment, with a nearly 60% market share in 2022. Growing urbanization and improving ruralization have increased the demand for personal care electrical appliances, especially hair tools. Moreover, this type of tool is highly preferred among young populations, especially millennials & gen Z; thus, the demand for these tools is high among young adults. Many key beauty players have expanded their product portfolio in the personal care electrical appliances portfolio. For instance, VEGA is a well-known vendor for manufacturing personal care appliances, beauty care accessories, men's grooming, and others. Segmentation by Product Hair Hair Styling Hair Removal Hair Care Oral Care Toothbrush Oral Irrigator Face Care Others INSIGHT BY POWERED SUPPLY The global personal care electrical appliances market by powered supply is classified into electric-powered and battery-operated. The electric-powered segment held the larger personal care electrical appliances market share in 2022. Some of the personal care electrical appliances that are electrically powered mainly include men's grooming products, hair tools, face tools, and a few oral tools. The rise in technological innovations in personal care products and increasing demand for personal care electrical appliances, especially among men, are some of the market's major trends. A few top vendors have expanded their product portfolio and initiated by introducing new forms of electric-powered personal care products in the industry. For instance, HTC, a well-known electronic manufacturing firm, has initiated its brand HTC Personal Care built by Yongkang Xinji Hairdressing Appliance Factory, to manufacture and produce electric-powered personal care electrical products in the market. These products include HTC Men Electric Shaver, HTC Hair Dryer, HTC Hair Straightener, and HTC Lady Shaver. Segmentation by Powered Supply Electric Powered Battery Operated INSIGHT BY GENDER The female segment held the most substantial global personal care electrical appliances market share in 2022, accounting for more than half of the industry share. The female segment is expected to grow faster than the male segment in the market as women prefer to use hair tools, especially hair dryers, hair straighteners, and others, for their daily routine. Moreover, the rising working women population, especially in developed countries, is also expected to boost the demand for personal care electrical appliances. Segmentation by Gender Male Female INSIGHT BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL The offline distribution channel dominated the global personal care electrical appliances market in 2022. Serval stores are usually located in the center parts of several localities and attract a huge customer base. Consumers in different countries intend to go for B2B stores. Therefore, major sales of personal care electrical appliances products happen via B2B supermarkets and hypermarkets. The offline channel also witnesses high sales directly to end-users by distributors. Distribution via retail stores is a substantial revenue-generating opportunity for several vendors in the personal care electrical appliances market. Retail stores, in general, are a powerful market-capturing platform for several vendors in the industry. It becomes equally important for vendors to pitch and promote their products so that they can earn brand loyalty from consumers. Segmentation by Distribution Channel Offline Online GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS North America dominated the global personal care electrical appliances market, accounting for a significant revenue share in 2022. High disposable income, strong awareness about self-care and hygiene, and the culture of smaller and nuclear households are the major elements that have led to such huge demand in the region. Apart from that, deep penetration of some largest distribution channels such as supermarkets and hypermarkets and significant internet and online shopping access has made the market growth easy. The U.S. and Canada are the major countries driving the demand in the North American personal care electrical appliances market and are expected to keep leading the forecast period. Segmentation by Geography North America US Canada Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain APAC China Japan India Australia South Korea Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa & Saudi Arabia UAE South Africa Key Company Profiles Colgate-Palmolive Company Procter & Gamble (P&G) Lion Corporation Havells India Helen of Troy Spectrum Brands Shiseido Company Groupe SEB Panasonic Group Koninklijke Philips Other Prominent Vendors Nobby by TESCOM VEGA Wahl Clipper Corporation ANDIS COMPANY Flyco POVOS Yongkang Xinji Hairdressing (HTC Personal Care) CONAIR Dyson Bio Ionic Elchim Farouk Systems John Paul Mitchell Systems Syska Bruush Nova India KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED: 1. How big is the personal care electrical appliances market? 2. What is the growth rate of the personal care electrical appliances market? 3. Which region dominates the global personal care electrical appliances market? 4. What are some of the latest trends that will shape the future of the personal care electrical appliances market? 5. Who are the key players in the global personal care electrical appliances market? 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 Rising Number of Working Women in Developing Countries 9.2 Rising Demand Among Men for Personal Grooming 9.3 Technological Innovations in Hair Care Appliances 10 Market Growth Enablers 10.1 High Disposable Income and Personal Expenditure in Developed Countries 10.2 Growing E-Commerce & M-Commerce Industry 10.3 Rapid Urbanization in Developing Countries 11 Market Restraints 13 Product 14 Powered Supply 15 Gender 16 Distribution Channel 17 Geography 18 Apac 19 North America 20 Europe 21 Middle East & Africa 22 Latin America 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/yom039 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: 646-607-1904 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 leading publication for business education plans significant growth through acquisition deal SAN FRANCISCO, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Poets&Quants, the leading publication for business education, is pleased to announce its acquisition by Times Higher Education (THE), the world's leading provider of higher education data and insights. The acquisition represents a commitment to strategic growth in the business education market and beyond for Poets&Quants. THE has been at the heart of higher education for more than 50 years, working with thousands of universities across the world and producing the global renown World University Rankings. Its products and services also include unrivaled data and insights, strategic consultancy, branding expertise, agenda-setting events, and hiring services enabling everyone involved with higher education to make smarter, more informed decisions.. "This is a match made in heaven," said John A. Byrne, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief of Poets&Quants, "We'll be joining a news and data-gathering organization that deeply understands the higher education market. With THE's additional resources, we'll be able to vastly extend our reach around the world and expand our current offerings for both our readers and clients. I'm excited to work with THE CEO Paul Howarth over the next few years so Poets&Quants will have an even bigger impact on the lives of people who want to pursue a business education." Formerly Executive Editor of Businessweek, Editor-in-Chief of Businessweek.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Fast Company, Byrne founded Poets&Quants in 2010, ultimately expanding the franchise to include five content websites as well as a conference business. Poets&Quants has been the world's leading resource for graduate and undergraduate business education. This acquisition provides growth through expanded reach and a wider range of custom solutions for Poets&Quants partners. The core leadership at Poets&Quants will continue to drive growth with the resources, expertise, and reach of THE supporting an aggressive growth strategy. Having celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021, THE continues to provide news, insights, and thought leadership, collecting data from more than five million data points about more than 6,700 institutions from 155 countries, and working with clients across its data, consultancy, and hiring services. It is also known for its events for higher education professionals, including its flagship World Summit Series, which engaged more than 19,000 people globally in 2022. About Poets&Quants: Poets&Quants is the leading resource for complete coverage of business education. We feature multiple tools and authoritative content, including consolidated B-school rankings, news and in-depth features, videos, podcasts, two searchable directories, and events, empowering our community with information needed to make decisions along their journey from pre- to post-MBA. About THE: THE is the trusted global data partner for higher education. Drawing on five decades of expertise in the sector, millions of individual data points, and with more unique institutions participating in our flagship university rankings than any other, we offer deeper and richer insight into university performance than anyone else. From powerful data-driven insights and strategic consultancy support to agenda-setting events and hiring solutions, our products and services enable everyone in higher education to make smarter, more informed decisions. For more information, visit Times Higher Education or find us on Twitter: @timeshighered @THEworldunirank This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE Poets&Quants WASHINGTON, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Precision Cancer Consortium (PCC) is pleased to announce the addition of AstraZeneca as its newest member. The PCC now consists of seven member organizations, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Eli Lilly and Company, GSK, Janssen, Novartis, and Roche, who are collaborating to support efforts to improve patient access to comprehensive genomic testing in routine care and in clinical trials globally. Cecilia Schott, Head of Global Precision Diagnostics at Novartis, has been appointed Chair of the PCC Board for a one-year term and Nicole St Jean, Global Head of Precision Medicine External Business Strategy at GSK, has been appointed as the Vice-Chair. Since its formation in April 2022, the PCC has driven a variety of initiatives aimed at increasing patient access to precision diagnostics using comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP), including next generation sequencing (NGS). The PCC's 2022 annual report includes several noteworthy achievements from last year, including: The launch of a value framework initiative with the London School of Economics and Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy and Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy Developing several pilot programs for matching patients living with cancer to ongoing clinical trials Conducting its first in a series of educational sessions on bringing precision oncology closer to community care with the goal of generating ambassadors for CGP testing who feel confident to advocate for early and broad testing in clinical care Kristina Rodnikova, Head of Global Commercial Diagnostics, Oncology, AstraZeneca, said about the Company's decision to join the PCC, "We are pleased to join the Precision Cancer Consortium and look forward to collaborating with its members who share the common goal of improving patient access to genomic testing. Improved testing is critical to ensure physicians and their patients can better understand their disease and receive the most optimal treatment." Cecilia Schott as the incoming PCC Chair of the Board remarked, "I am looking forward to continuing to build on the great work delivered to-date in collaboration with all members. The PCC is poised for a bright year ahead and to grow its impact to ensuring patient access to quality CGP testing to inform treatment selection." About the Precision Cancer Consortium (PCC) The Precision Cancer Consortium is composed of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies focused on fostering collaboration on issues and opportunities related to precision oncology with the goal of improving patient outcomes by increasing cancer patient access to comprehensive genomic testing, including next generation sequencing, and addressing major gaps in precision diagnostics availability. Inquiries regarding PCC membership can be submitted to the PCC's Administrator at [email protected] SOURCE Precision Cancer Consortium HELSINKI, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Caverion Corporation's Interim Report for JanuaryMarch 2023 will be published on Thursday, 27 April 2023, at approximately 8:00 a.m. (Finnish Time, EEST). The stock exchange release and presentation materials in Finnish and in English will be published at that time on the company's website at www.caverion.com/investors. News conference for investors and media Caverion will hold a news conference on the Interim Report on Thursday, 27 April 2023, at 10.00 a.m. Finnish time (EEST) at Hotel Kamp, Kluuvikatu 2, 2nd floor, Room Symposion, Helsinki, Finland. The presenters at the event are President and CEO Jacob Gotzsche and CFO Mikko Kettunen. The event is in English and targeted for investment analysts, portfolio managers and the media. Webcast and conference call The news conference and the presentations by the management can be viewed live at www.caverion.com/investors. The live webcast will start at 10.00 a.m. (EEST). A recording of the webcast will be available at the same address at approximately 12.00 noon (EEST). It is also possible to participate in the event through a conference call by registering beforehand on the following link: https://palvelu.flik.fi/teleconference/?id=1009621 Phone numbers and the conference ID to access the conference will be provided after the registration. To ask a question, press *5 on your telephone keypad to enter the queue. During the webcast and conference call, all questions should be presented in English. Schedule in different time zones Interim Report published The news conference, conference call and live webcast Recorded webcast available EEST (Helsinki) 08.00 10.00 12.00 CEST (Paris, Stockholm) 07.00 09.00 11.00 BST (London) 06.00 08.00 10.00 EDT (New York) 01.00 03.00 05.00 For additional information, please contact: Milena Hggstrom, Head of Investor Relations, tel. +358 40 5581 328, [email protected] The following files are available for download: SOURCE Caverion Now demoing at the new site facility, the team also announces the commercial launch of QU-SOURCE, an atomic source that can preserve entanglement with high fidelity, ideal for interfacing with various quantum devices and what might be the highest-performing entanglement source for quantum networking to date. BROOKLYN, N.Y., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Qunnect, an industry leader in quantum-secure networking technology, announces the expansion of its facilities in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The newly constructed 4000 sqft R&D facility and a 1500 sq. ft. Network Research Hub for the GothamQ Network will support Qunnect's networking technology, designed for scalable deployment on existing telecom fiber infrastructure. Qunnect's entanglement source is the first of its kind to support interfacing quantum devices to telecom fiber networks. Tweet this Meet Qunnect and discover their quantum network, GothamQ, distributing entangled photons throughout the fibers of NYC. "GothamQ is the first network of its kind in the US dedicated to the practical distribution of useful entanglement to perform quantum networking protocols over metropolitan distances," notes Qunnect CEO Noel Goddard. "This network will not only host new forms of secure communication, but it will also support other quantum devices, including computers and sensors. This collection of capabilities will serve as the foundation for the Quantum Internet." On the occasion of Quantum Day, Qunnect is also very proud to announce the commercial launch of its QU-SOURCE product. QU-SOURCE is the only entanglement source on the market that produces exceptionally pure polarization photon pairs that are readily compatible with telecom fiber and atomic-based quantum devices. A manuscript describing the underlying physics can be viewed here on ArXiv (link) Qunnect's QU-SOURCEs are installed on the GothamQ network where the company is performing pilots on 34km loops traversing Brooklyn and Queens. These products are supported by another recently launched product, the QU-APC, (link to OFC press release), which corrects for damaging fluctuations in the fiber channels caused by environmental perturbations. "We are introducing a source capable of generating more than ten million pairs of high fidelity polarization entangled photons with sub-GHz linewidth, high heralding efficiency and bichromatic wavelength to be compatible with telecom fibers and atomic devices," explains Co-Founder and CSO Mehdi Namazi. "Additionally, by leveraging GothamQ, we proved the practicality of distributing these entangled photons over 34km of New York City deployed fibers, while maintaining high rate, high entanglement fidelity, and very high, uninterrupted network uptime." To learn more about Qunnect's metropolitan grade product suite, please visit: qunnect.inc About Qunnect Qunnect innovates and commercializes the core technologies needed for scalable quantum-safe communication. In 2021, the company commercialized the world's first quantum memory. The memory serves as the cornerstone to Qunnect's product suite, offering integrated solutions for Metropolitan-Scale and Long-Distance distribution of entanglement across existing telecommunications infrastructure. The company is headquartered in the Brooklyn Navy Yard where it operates GothamQ, a quantum network spanning across New York City. Qunnect recently announced its Series A financing round led by Airbus Ventures and is grateful for research support from the US Department of Energy, the US Air Force, and Activate Global, sponsored by the DARPA-MTO Innovate Program. Media Contact [email protected] SOURCE Qunnect MEDINA, Ohio, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rainforest Car Wash in Medina, has suffered damage from a vehicle fire that occurred inside the tunnel. Based on preliminary investigations by the fire department, the origin of the fire is attributed a malfunction within the vehicle. However, a conclusive determination of the vehicle fire's cause is yet to be ascertained. Fortunately, thanks to the quick thinking and swift action of the staff at Rainforest Car Wash, no one was injured in the incident. The car wash will be closed for a period of time while the necessary repairs are made. We understand that this may cause inconvenience to our customers, but the safety of our customers and employees is our top priority. For our Unlimited Members at our Medina location, their subscription charge will be paused during the store's temporary closure. Our Medina Unlimited Members can still access our car wash services at any of our four locations in NE Ohio. Our Brunswick location, which is the closest to Medina, is located at 3365 Center Rd, Brunswick, OH 44212, and provides the same exceptional and high-quality car wash services that our patrons have come to expect from Rainforest Car Wash. "We are grateful that everyone is safe and sound," said Anthony Bencivenni, President of Rainforest Car Wash. "We would like to thank our dedicated staff for their quick response to the situation. We are currently working to assess the damage and begin the repairs as soon as possible. We appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers during this time." Rainforest Car Wash has been a fixture in the Medina community for many years, providing high-quality car washing and an unforgettable experience to the residents of Medina and the surrounding areas. The team at Rainforest Car Wash is committed to reopening and serving the community as soon as possible. "We love our customers and we are committed to providing the best possible service to them," said Anthony Bencivenni. "We appreciate the outpouring of support from the community and we are looking forward to reopening and washing the city of Medina again soon." The team at Rainforest Car Wash is working tirelessly to get the car wash up and running again as quickly as possible. Updates on the reopening date will be posted on the Rainforest Car Wash website and social media pages. SOURCE Rainforest Car Wash National trial firm Reid Collins & Tsai LLP represents Insys Liquidation Trust in lawsuit against former directors of Insys Therapeutics, a public company which played a key role in the national opioid crisis. Lawsuit alleges that failures of oversight by the former directors enabled company's officers to engage in unlawful scheme to sell and market a dangerous fentanyl spray in violation of multiple federal and state statutes. Settlement terms include $175 million judgment against the former directors, partial payment from their personal assets, and assignment of their claims to recover the balance from insurance companies. AUSTIN, Texas, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, national trial firm Reid Collins & Tsai LLP ("Reid Collins") representing the Insys Liquidation Trust (the "Trust") announced a $175 million settlement agreement with certain former directors of Insys Therapeutics, Inc. ("Insys"), partially resolving civil litigation arising from its bankruptcy case. Insys, a former public company, marketed and sold a highly addictive and inherently dangerous fentanyl spray to millions of people. The Trust, as the successor to Insys, alleges in its lawsuit that the company's executives engaged in a multi-faceted unlawful scheme involving off-label marketing of the drug (non-FDA approved uses), titration of drug dosages (higher than FDA-approved doses), and payment of bribes and other kickbacks to doctors who prescribed the drug. Due to the alleged misconduct, Insys and its executives became the target of multiple criminal proceedings, class actions, and other civil cases, as well as intense media scrutiny, including an HBO documentary and feature stories on 60 Minutes, Frontline, and NBC News. Ultimately, several of the company's executives were convicted of racketeering charges, and the company agreed to a $225 million settlement with the federal government before collapsing into bankruptcy. The Trust, as the successor to Insys in its bankruptcy case, then brought a lawsuit against the former directors of the company, alleging that their failures of oversight enabled this unlawful sales and marketing scheme. The Trust has settled its claims with the company's former outside directors Patrick Fourteau, Pierre Lapalme, Steven Meyer, and Brian Tambi. The settlement includes a $175 million judgment against these former directors, a partial payment from their personal assets, and assignment of their claims to recover the balance from XL Specialty Insurance Company and other insurers that issued D&O policies to Insys and its directors. Reid Collins partner Eric D. Madden, who leads the prosecution of the lawsuit, on the settlement's significance: "The alleged misconduct by defendants in this case contributed to the opioid crisis in this country and the demise of the company. The $175 million settlement, a substantial portion of the damages sought by the Trust, is an excellent result for the company's creditors, the culmination of hard-fought litigation and extensive negotiations, and comprised in part from personal assets of the defendants." Madden further stated: "This settlement is also noteworthy as a successful resolution of a Caremark claim, which Delaware courts have described as 'possibly the most difficult theory in corporation law upon which a plaintiff might hope to win a judgment.'" Reid Collins was retained as special litigation counsel to investigate and pursue claims on behalf of the Trust in early 2021, after an extensive interview process. The Insys bankruptcy case is captioned In re Insys Therapeutics, Inc., No. 19-11292 (Bankr. D. Del.), and the Trust's lawsuit is captioned Henrich v. Kapoor, et al., C.A. No. 12696-JTL (Del. Ch.). The Trust's claims in that lawsuit remain pending against John Kapoor and Michael Babich, the company's former Chairman and CEO, who were convicted on racketeering charges. About Reid Collins Reid Collins & Tsai LLP is one of the nation's leading plaintiffs' trial firms, litigating complex business disputes and achieving billions of dollars in settlements and judgments for its clients. Its team is comprised of accomplished trial lawyers who have extensive experience prosecuting financial fraud, corporate wrongdoing, bankruptcy and insolvency related litigation, employment and partnership disputes, professional liability claims, and cross-border disputes. The firm represents fund managers, investor groups, trustees, receivers, liquidators, international banks, companies, governmental entities, and individuals in federal and state courts across the country. For more information visit www.reidcollins.com Austin | Dallas | New York | Washington D.C. | Wilmington Contact: Alexander Coxe 212.365.4792 [email protected] SOURCE Reid Collins & Tsai LLP Presented by the Smart Business Dealmakers Association, the award highlights Mr. Goad's significant investing impacts and philanthropic efforts over the last half-century. NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Relevance Ventures , a leading Native American-operated venture capital firm, today announced the prestigious recognition of the firm's long-standing General Partner, Fred Goad, by the Smart Business Dealmakers Network and his induction into the group's Hall of Fame. The award recognizes business leaders who have demonstrated exceptional ability in dealmaking, mergers and acquisitions, and capital sourcing and is a testament to Mr. Goad's track record in these areas. Fred Goad (left) and Ryan McLaughlin Wood (right), Market Head of the Nashville, TN Branch Office at the Smart Business Dealmakers Conference. Mr. Goad has made significant contributions to the healthcare industry, leading numerous successful early-stage investments at Relevance Ventures and his firm, Voyent Partners LLC, a private investment group focused on early-stage startups in healthcare and beyond. In addition to leading his firm, Mr. Goad has served on Relevance Ventures' board since 2018. Mr. Goad has drawn on his deep expertise in healthcare to not only guide critical investment decisions but to help organizations make choices that improve the overall well-being of patients and users. In turn, Mr. Goad has used investing primarily to better humanity rather than simply yielding investor returns. In addition to his work with Voyent Partners and Relevance Ventures, Mr. Goad's vast and impressive resume includes President and Chief Executive Officer of ENVOY Corporation, Co-CEO of the transaction services at WebMD Corporation, and leading roles at UCCEL Corporation, Financial Institution Services, Inc. (now CompuCard International), Docutel (now Olivetti USA), and IBM Corporation, as well as Chairman of the Board of Vanderbilt Hospital. "Fred has been one of our biggest champions. As a partner, investor and mentor, our firm has learned invaluable investing practices and personal values from Fred," said Cameron Newton, Founder and General Partner at Relevance Ventures. "Investing in everything from Change Healthcare to Digital Reasoning, Fred has a strong set of business principles that he has shared with Relevance Ventures. Furthermore, his charitable work has set the bar for giving back to the community, a core value of ours." Dean Newton, Relevance Ventures' Chairman and General Partner, also offered praise of his work with Mr. Goad: "Fred's business track record is only exceeded by his kindness and generosity. He's been a mentor to us, providing knowledge about investments and deal structures unmatched at even coastal firms. And he's the most giving person I've ever known, having contributed substantial resources to charitable organizations like the Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital and the YMCA," explained Mr. Newton. "While he is known for his investing prowess, Fred's selflessness and charitable efforts truly define him, serving as an inspiration to all business leaders and a shining light that transcends the occasional chaos of the venture world." Additionally, the Smart Business Network Chief Content Officer, Dustin Klein, offered high praise of Mr. Goad and his extensive reputation of excellence: "Fred Goad has made a tremendous impact on the healthcare industry through his investments and leadership," said Mr. Klein. "His visionary approach to early-stage investments in healthcare companies has had a transformative effect on the industry, and we are thrilled to honor him with this award." The award ceremony took place on March 30 during the Smart Business Dealmakers Conference in Nashville, TN, at the Hillwood Country Club. About Relevance Ventures Relevance Ventures is the only Native American privately owned and operated venture capital firm. Relevance Ventures provides strategic venture assistance and guidance to entrepreneurs working to foster harmony while delivering a positive communal impact. With over $115 million under management, the firm focuses on opportunities within the health & wellness and fintech/enterprise software industries. The firm specializes in identifying proven management teams with a solid business plan to bring harmony to an addressable market of at least $1 billion. Relevance Ventures was founded by Cameron and Dean Newton and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. SOURCE Relevance Ventures MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Richardson International ('Richardson') is pleased to announce a significant investment in its Wesson Oil facility in Memphis, Tennessee. This multi-phase project will replace the existing refinery with a new, state-of-the-art refinery plant, furthering Richardson's ability to fulfill customer requirements and a growing global demand for vegetable oil. [Memphis, Tennessee] Richardson Oilseed Products (US) Ltd. produces Wesson brand oil for international retail markets, in addition to frying blends and shortenings for industrial and food service markets. (CNW Group/Richardson International Ltd.) "The Wesson Oil facility in Memphis provides Richardson a strong retail brand and a great location supported by a very dedicated team of employees," said Tobias Dewey (Vice-President, Oilseed Operations). "Collectively, these elements provided the confidence to support meaningful investment and innovation in the Memphis plant's operations including significantly expanding our industrial and food service offerings. We are excited that this plan will soon become fully realized." When completed, the new refinery will modernize the site and significantly increase production and refining capacity. Improved efficiencies will also drive substantial reductions in water, energy, and wastewater volumes, aligning well with Richardson's focus on responsible and sustainable business operations. Richardson continues to remain true to their philosophy of being a business in which customers and employees can place their trust. "There is a 360-degree aspect to what we do. In considering our employees, our plant, and the local community, Richardson strives to be a responsible operation," said Jason Medawar (Senior Director, Operations, Memphis). "This latest announcement underscores our commitment to business sustainability, to best-in-class facilities, and to our team at Memphis. It also underscores a broader commitment to Shelby County, the city of Memphis, and the state of Tennessee. We are all proud to be part of a company that is here for the long term and an organization that is committed to making a positive impact in the broader community where we do business." Expansion and modernization of the Memphis site follows closely behind additional initiatives from Richardson's oilseed processing division, including a three-year expansion project at their facility in Yorkton, Saskatchewan which is more than doubling crushing and refining capability and an increase in crushing and refining capability at their Lethbridge, Alberta facility. Investments such as these underscore a commitment to delivering efficiency and quality, while reducing impacts on the environment. "We seek opportunities for enhancing our capabilities and providing an increasingly efficient means for meeting the needs of our food ingredient customers and a broader consumptive marketplace," said Darrell Sobkow (Executive Vice-President, Processing, Food, and Ingredients). "With best-in-class assets, and by leveraging synergies in our integrated network, we are focused on maintaining our reputation as a reliable supplier and a partner of choice." About Richardson International Since 1857, Richardson International Limited has been recognized as a global leader in agriculture and food processing. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the company is a worldwide handler and merchandiser of all major Canadian-grown grains and oilseeds and a vertically-integrated processor and manufacturer of oats and canola-based products. Over the past two decades, Richardson has become a significant player in the global food business, producing a wide variety of food products and ingredients for the retail, food service, and industrial markets. Richardson continues to grow, thanks to the dedication and innovative spirit of over 3,000 employees worldwide. About Wesson Oil Wesson Oil is America's best-selling cooking oil brand. First established in 1899, Wesson's Made in Memphis story began almost three decades later, in 1936, when the brand moved its manufacturing operations to the city it continues to call home today. Wesson has been a staple in kitchens for generations and is the go-to ingredient for home cooks and professional chefs around the world. Wesson is owned by Richardson International. Learn more about the brand by visiting www.purewesson.com. SOURCE Richardson International Ltd. VANCOUVER, BC, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Scout Minerals Corp. (CSE: SCTM) ("Scout" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the "Agreement") to acquire 100% of a large-scale land package prospective for spodumene-bearing lithium pegmatites in Northern Quebec's under-explored Nunavik region which hosts two operating nickel mines. Scout's plan is to carry out an extensive near-term exploration program that includes drill testing of high priority targets over the coming months given abundant outcrop including many mapped pegmatites over 1,408 sq. km of Scout's leading Nunavik land position. The Agreement includes the acquisition of large strategic claim blocks in three areas of Nunavik never previously recognized for the potential of hosting high-grade lithium mineralization. Nunavik comprises more than one-third of Quebec, underscoring the scale potential of this geologically rich part of the province. Scout Nunavik Lithium Projects: Raglan West District - 443 sq. km claim block beginning 33 km southwest of the community of Salluit which has year-round airport access and a seasonal port for barge landing; - 443 sq. km claim block beginning 33 km southwest of the community of which has year-round airport access and a seasonal port for barge landing; Raglan South District - 229 sq. km claim block which contains 12.3% of the 99.96 percentile lithium samples in lake sediments in the Quebec government data base (7 widely spaced samples out of the top 57 samples in the province's entire data base) that contain >60 ppm Li), approximately 80 km southwest of the Raglan Nickel Mine; - 229 sq. km claim block which contains 12.3% of the 99.96 percentile lithium samples in lake sediments in the government data base (7 widely spaced samples out of the top 57 samples in the province's entire data base) that contain >60 ppm Li), approximately 80 km southwest of the Raglan Nickel Mine; New Leaf District - 736 sq. km covering multiple claim blocks in areas of overlapping geochemical and geophysical anomalies in favorable geology, 120 km southwest of the community of Tasiujaq and approximately 350 km south of Raglan South. Each of the above project areas has district scale discovery potential and features some of the highest lithium and cesium values in lake sediments (99th percentile and above) in the Quebec government data base. In addition, a review of historic data for the region reveals the presence of mapped pegmatites in multiple rock units, compelling overall geology, and geophysical anomalies that point to deep-seated structures that may have created an ideal environment for the discovery of lithium mineralization across broad areas. Mr. Jeffrey Wilson, Scout CEO, commented: "We are extremely fortunate to have first-mover advantage in Quebec's next lithium frontier where there is deep sea port access and two operating nickel mines, including the province's largest (Raglan). Outcrop is abundant which will speed up the exploration process. This region has long been regarded for its nickel and gold potential, but lithium just wasn't on the radar screens of geologists until just recently." Mr. Wilson added: "This acquisition from Shawn Ryan, Canada's most famous gold prospector, and his was based on months of extensive research by Shawn who leveraged his data collection and analysis expertise to identify the best untapped lithium potential in Canada. We're thrilled to be working with Shawn to unlock the full value of this leading land position in Nunavik." The Agreement also includes the acquisition of 333 sq. km in the North Shore region of Quebec, also considered prospective for spodumene-bearing lithium pegmatites. In total, including the Nunavik properties, the Agreement with Shawn Ryan and Syndicate comprises 3,819 active claims and 21 pending claims covering approximately 172,681 hectares. The Exploration Plan A thorough and systematic first pass exploration program will be executed by a sizeable, highly trained team to locate and sample pegmatite outcrops across Scout's vast holdings. Zones of interest will be surveyed by drones producing high detail imagery and 3D models to completely map the mineralized systems on surface as they are identified for follow-up program planning. This strategy will quickly vector toward the most prospective areas for a targeted drilling program using a lightweight and mobile Rotary Air Blast GT RAB Drill for initial drill testing, leading to high confidence diamond drilling of the top priority targets. The Deal Scout is purchasing the above-mentioned claims from Shawn Ryan and Syndicate in exchange for $1,200,000 in cash, 8,000,000 common shares of the Company (the "Consideration Shares"), and the grant of a 1% net smelter return (NSR) royalty. The Consideration Shares will be subject to an escrow arrangement whereby one-third (1/3) of the Consideration Shares will be released from escrow every six (6) months after the closing of the Agreement ("Closing"), with the first such release date to occur on the date that is six months from Closing. The Agreement is subject to customary closing conditions. Closing is expected to occur on or about May 5, 2023. Concurrent Subscription Receipt Financing In connection with this Agreement, the Company intends to complete a concurrent non-brokered private placement financing (the "Concurrent Financing"), in one or more tranches, of: (i) up to 4,615,385 flow-through subscription receipts of the Company (the "FT Subscription Receipts"), at a price of $0.65 per FT Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of approximately $3,000,000; and (ii) up to 10,000,000 non-flow-through subscription receipts of the Company (the "Non-FT Subscription Receipts"), at a price of $0.50 per Non-FT Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of $5,000,000. Proceeds of the Concurrent Financing will be held in escrow, pending the completion of the transactions contemplated in the Agreement (the "Condition Precedent"). Upon satisfaction of the Condition Precedent, each: (i) FT Subscription Receipt will be automatically converted into one unit of the Company comprising one common share in the capital of the Company that qualifies as a "flow-through share" as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) and one-half of one flow-through common share purchase warrant that qualifies as a "flow-through share" as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each whole flow-through common share purchase warrant, a "FT Warrant"), with each FT Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share in the capital of the Company (a "FT Warrant Share") at a price of $0.85 per FT Warrant Share for a period of two years after the date of issuance; and (ii) each Non-FT Subscription Receipt will be automatically converted into one unit of the Company comprising one common share in the capital of the Company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a "Non-FT Warrant"), with each Non-FT Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share (a "Non-FT Warrant Share") at a price of $0.75 per Non-FT Warrant Share for a period of two years after the date of issuance. If the Agreement is not completed on or before May 5, 2023, the Concurrent Financing proceeds will be returned to subscribers. Finder's fees may be payable to arm's length parties who introduce subscribers to the Concurrent Financing, in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. About Scout Minerals Corp. Scout Minerals Corp. is a junior mining company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. Qualified Person The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Afzaal Pirzada, P. Geo., who is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Contact Information: For more information please contact: Jeffrey Wilson Chief Executive Officer E-mail: [email protected] Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts, such as statements regarding the completion of the transactions contemplated in the Agreement and the Concurrent Financing, are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's expectations and are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct, nor that the transactions contemplated in the Agreement will be completed as contemplated, or at all, or that the Concurrent Financing will be completed as contemplated, or at all. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release. SOURCE Scout Minerals Corp. LEICESTER, N.Y., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheds By Fisher of Leicester, NY is excited to announce the launch of its brand-new website, built in partnership with E-Impact Marketing. The new website offers customers looking for custom built sheds in NY an attractive and easy way to find a portable building that fits their needs. Chalet Garden Shed built by Sheds By Fisher Sheds By Fisher company logo Besides building storage sheds, the small family business also builds customized and prefabricated garages, portable animal run-ins, portable cabins, pool houses and more. The goal of the new website was to showcase the work that Sheds by Fisher has done for others and provide inspiration to others looking for a portable structure in Northern New York. The new website boasts a sleek, modern design allowing visitors to easily navigate the site and browse the company's selection of high-quality sheds, portable cabins, prefab garages , and animal run-ins. It is easy to request a customized quote by filling out an online form. E-Impact Marketing is a digital marketing agency working with multiple storage shed builders across the United States. Chris Stoltzfus, president of E-Impact Marketing said "we love partnering with small shed builders to help them grow their companies via digital marketing." ABOUT SHEDS BY FISHER Sheds By Fisher is a small family storage shed company in Leicester, NY whose goal has been to build customized portable sheds, barns, garages and cabins to unique uses. A visit to their website quickly reveal structures which do not so easily fit into the a cookie cutter styles. While they offer standard sheds, Nate Stoltzfus, the owner of the company stressed that what they love to do is l create customized building to match the taste and style of their owners. The business's experienced and skilled team can work with customers to create a custom solution that meets their unique needs. To learn more about Sheds By Fisher please visit their new website at www.shedsbyfisher.com. Contact Us: Nate Stoltzfus (585)-382-9580 [email protected] SOURCE Sheds By Fisher TORRANCE, Calif., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shimadzu Medical Systems USA, a subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation, is proud to announce the release of the Glassless Flat Panel Detector from Konica Minolta on our RADspeed Pro (Premium Radiographic Table System) and MobileDaRt MX8-k series (Mobile DR System). Shimadzu's MobileDaRt MX8-k portable is now available with Konica Minolta's new AeroDR Glassless Flat Panel Detectors. These panels are incredibly light. The 14x17 panel is 4 lbs.; and the larger 17x17 panel is 5 lbs., which helps reduce stress and strain on healthcare workers. Konica Minolta shatters the glass ceiling with the latest innovation in wireless digital detectors. With the AeroDR Glass Flat Panel Detectors there is no glass substrate, just a thin film transistor (TFT), further decreasing the panel weight and, as important reducing the distance between the scintillator and electronics for superior sensitivity and outstanding image quality. The AeroDR family of flat panel detectors are renowned for durability, a powerful 7-year power cell warranty and exceptional high-definition resolution at 100 m and 200 m. AeroDR Glassless Flat Panel Detectors are available for Shimadzu Medical Systems RADspeed and MobileDaRt MX8-k to help facilities take advantage of a smart imaging solution for greater efficiency and optimal image quality. About Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc. Konica Minolta Healthcare is a world-class provider and market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and healthcare information technology. The company's focus is to contribute to life-changing advances through the transformation of primary imaging, allowing the invisible to be seen. Primary imaging, the most used medical imaging technologies, include X-ray, ultrasound, and imaging management systems. By advancing these readily available technologies, we can bring greater diagnostic capabilities to the greatest number of people. About Shimadzu Medical Systems USA Shimadzu Corporation, founded in 1875 in Kyoto, Japan and the parent of Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS), is a global provider of medical diagnostic equipment including conventional, interventional and digital X-Ray systems. Shimadzu Medical Systems USA is headquartered in Torrance, California with Sales and Service offices throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Canada with a Sales and Marketing office located in Cleveland, Ohio and Direct Operations headquartered out of Dallas, Texas; Kenmore, WA and the greater Chicago area. Visit SMS at: www.shimadzu-usa.com or call (800) 228-1429. For further information contact: Frank Serrao 800-228-1429 [email protected] SOURCE Shimadzu Medical Systems USA Airline dedicates aircraft to the Adopt-A-Pilot Program that has inspired thousands of fifth-grade students with an early interest in aviation DALLAS, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today celebrated 25 years of its bridge-building Adopt-A-Pilot Program by unveiling an aircraft adorned with a nose decal and fuselage artwork dedicated to nearly 14,000 Pilots and half-million students that participated in the award-winning Program. In a quarter century, Adopt-A-Pilot has impacted the lives of more than 556,000 fifth-grade students in classrooms across the country. The aircraft, unveiled at a celebration at the Southwest Airlines Maintenance Hangar in Dallas, brought together fifth-grade students enrolled at a local elementary school who have "adopted" a Pilot, along with current and past participants of the Adopt-A-Pilot Program. Southwest Airlines Pilots attend Adopt-A-Pilot 25th Anniversary celebration in Dallas. Southwest Airlines dedicates aircraft to the Adopt-A-Pilot Program that has inspired thousands of fifth-grade students with an early interest in aviation. Fifth-grade students attend Adopt-A-Pilot 25th Anniversary celebration in Dallas. "Southwest Airlines leads with Heart, whether in the sky or with the communities in which we serve," said Linda Rutherford, Chief Administration & Communications Officer at Southwest Airlines. "The Adopt-A-Pilot Program allows our dedicated Pilots to share their vast knowledge, experience, and life lessons with students who are the future leaders of America. It's inspired more than half a million kids over the past 25 years, and we are honored to have a window seat view to watch these students soar. Our Pilots get as much out of this program as the students do." Adopt-A-Pilot, which began in 1997, brings Southwest Pilots into classrooms to engage students in interactive, aviation-related lessons that help define future successes, and sparks interest in aviation careers. Each school year, students in more than 1,500 classrooms across the country "adopt" Southwest Pilots who mentor students in the fifth-grade. As part of the award-winning Adopt-A-Pilot Program, students research careers and develop life skills, while Pilots underscore the importance of staying in school. The Adopt-A-Pilot curriculum is a supplementary way to educate students through aviation-themed activities related to science, geography, math, writing, and other core subjects. Southwest is committed to bringing America's future leaders unique learning opportunities by committing resources and time to inspire students and help them define, articulate, and plan for future success. Students who were in classrooms which adopted Southwest Pilots have gone on to pursue careers in aviation, including: Southwest First Officer Joe, who joined the Southwest Family in 2022. His fifth-grade classroom adopted a Southwest Pilot and completed the Adopt-A-Pilot curriculum in 2009. Southwest Destination 225 Program Cadet Jett. His longtime Adopt-A-Pilot mentor of more than ten years, Captain Nancy, inspired him to pursue aviation. High school students, Josh and Philip. They are continuing their mentorship with Southwest Pilots Wendy and Nancy to pursue pathways into professional pilot careers. Continuing its commitment to bring resources to support education and student development, Southwest announced a $10,000 donation to Ethridge Elementary School in The Colony, Texas. The school intends to use the funds to procure necessary supplies and equipment for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Fifth-grade students at Ethridge Elementary School adopted a Southwest Pilot for the 2022-2023 school year and attended the unveiling event. To learn more about the Southwest Adopt-A-Pilot Program, please visit Southwest.com/AdoptAPilot. For more information on becoming a Pilot at Southwest Airlines, visit Southwest.com/careers. About Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world's most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 121 airports across 11 countries. Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline1. Based in Dallas and famous for an Employee-first corporate Culture, Southwest maintains an unprecedented record of no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its history. By empowering its more than 66,0002 People to deliver unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among as many as 130 million Customers carried a year. That formula for success brought industry-leading prosperity and 47 consecutive years3 of profitability for Southwest Shareholders (NYSE: LUV). Southwest leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including harnessing the power of its People and Purpose to put communities at the Heart of its success. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship. Southwest is also continuing to develop tangible steps toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, including offering Customers an opportunity to help the airline offset its carbon emissions. To be part of the solution, visit Southwest.com/wannaoffsetcarbon. 1U.S. Dept. of Transportation most recent reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded 2Fulltime-equivalent active Employees 31973-2019 annual profitability SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co. ISTANBUL, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Established in 1958 by Borusan Group as its first industrial venture, Borusan Mannesmann has recently finalized an acquisition in the United States, further scaling up its presence in the global market. Through a transaction of 162 million U.S. Dollars, the company has acquired 100% of Berg Pipe, one of the leading manufacturers of large-diameter line pipe in the United States. With this acquisition, Borusan Mannesmann now strengthens its presence as a leading player in the North American energy pipe industry. Borusan Mannesmann - Berg Pipe Acquisition Established 65 years ago by Borusan Group one of Turkiye's leading conglomerates as its first industrial venture, Borusan Mannesmann has recently finalized an acquisition in the United States, further scaling up its presence in the global market. In line with its global growth strategy of expanding its manufacturing capacity in target markets, Borusan Mannesmann has acquired Berg Pipe, a corporation operating in the U.S. for the past 44 years with its two facilities located in Florida and Alabama. Borusan Mannesmann has been operating steadily in the United States since 2014, with a facility located in Baytown, Texas. With this acquisition and a second facility being constructed in Baytown, where production will start in 2023, the company will own four manufacturing plants in the United States. The company's total manufacturing capacity in the U.S. will reach 1 million tons, and around 1 billion U.S. Dollars in turnover. With this latest acquisition of Berg Pipe for 162 million U.S. Dollars, Borusan Mannesmann will have a total of 11 facilities located in Turkiye, Italy, Romania, and the United States, as well as a production capacity of nearly 2 million tons and 2,800 staff members by the end of 2023. "Our focus is sustainable growth." Noting that Borusan Mannesmann has added sustainable value to Turkiye since its inception, Borusan Group CEO Erkan Kafadar commented on the acquisition that was carried out in line with Borusan Mannesmann's strategy of localization across global markets: "Pipe manufacturing, the first industrial sector in which we operate as Borusan Holding, and its first industrial venture Borusan Mannesmann has been adding value to our country for the past 65 years. It contributes to the country's economy by way of its exports to global markets. As Turkiye's number one brand in its sector, our company has been focusing on expanding into global markets to promote sustainable growth. Having scaled up its growing presence since the early 2000s across different pipe segments with its facilities operating in Italy, the U.S., and most recently, in Romania, Borusan Mannesmann's recent acquisition of Berg Pipe strengthens the company's presence as a key player in the North American energy pipes market, which we believe holds great potential. In addition, Borusan Mannesmann happens to be one of the largest Turkish industrial investors in the United States. As part of its sustainable growth strategy, our company will continue to evaluate opportunities to help increase its share in target markets." A new era for Borusan Mannesmann Borusan Mannesmann entered the European automotive market after it acquired the Vobarno precision pipe plant in Italy in 2001, its first international investment. As a result, today the company is the number one manufacturer in the automotive segment in Europe, thanks to additional investment in its facilities in Gemlik, Turkiye in 2018. Kafadar said: "In line with our sustainable growth and globalization strategy, we achieved remarkable success over the course of 9 years after commissioning a facility in 2014 with an investment of 150 million U.S. Dollars in the United States energy pipe market. With this facility in Baytown, Texas, where we manufacture oil country tubular goods and line pipe for the energy sector, we received the 'Pipe and Tube Manufacturer of the Year' award three times from American Metal Market, one of the most prestigious pipe industry publications in the United States. Thanks to the new investment we have now launched in Baytown, which will be finalized by the end of this year, we will be a local manufacturer also in the construction and general industry segments. This remarkable growth coupled with the latest acquisition of Berg Pipe marks the beginning of a new era for our company." Borusan Mannesmann strengthens its presence in the U.S. Considering Borusan Mannesmann's past success and prestige in exporting large-diameter line pipes from Turkiye to the United States, following the acquisition of Berg Pipe, the company will now be considered a "local player" in the North American large diameter pipe market. Kafadar explains: "Berg Pipe owns two facilities, one in Florida, where longitudinal seam-welded pipes are manufactured, and one in Alabama, where spiral seam-welded large-diameter pipes are manufactured. Having championed remarkable growth in the energy sector recently, the company stands out as a leading supplier of major pipeline projects in the United States, which is a country with great market potential especially now that it has evolved from its role of an energy importer to that of an energy exporter. By acquiring Berg Pipe, a company with a total manufacturing capacity of 550 thousand tons, we have secured a strategic position in the large-diameter pipe sector." Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2054272/Borusan_Mannesmann.jpg SOURCE Borusan Mannesmann LUZHOU, China, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 18th China International Alcoholic Drinks Expo (hereafter referred to as "CIADE") kicked off in Luzhou, China on April 13, 2023. On this occasion, merchants from all over the country gathered in this City of Wine. According to China Alcoholic Drinks Association, sponsor of the event, the expo attracted over 800 enterprises and more than 1,500 industrial influencers to attend. The event this year set a record of number of activities and guests. Greece, the guest of honor this year, set up a 390 square meters pavilion to exhibit the Greek wine, history and culture, and humanistic attraction, and systematically promoted the wine, tourism, culture and other characteristic resources of Greece. The Chinese-Greek Civilization Appreciation Center was established in Athens, Greece this February to offer a platform for in-depth study on basic elements of the two civilizations. With wine as the belt, this expo intends to deepen the exchange, communication and cooperation between the two ancient civilizations. Luzhou, hosting city of the event, has been reputed as the "City of Wine". As a major spirits production area in Sichuan and even China, the city prides itself on renowned wine brands such as Luzhou Laojiao and Langjiu. Its winemaking history began as early as in Qin and Han dynasties. The "ceramic drinking cup" in Qin and Han dynasties and the bricks with winemaking process in East Han dynasty discovered in Luzhou by archeologists indicate that Sichuan back then already had a complete winemaking system. Since the CIADE was made to permanently host in Luzhou in 2014, the city has taken it as a platform to link the urban development with the wine culture to promote the quality development of the wine industry. In 2022, the value-added growth rate of Luzhou's wine industry reached 8.1%, and the revenue of the liquor industry broke the RMB100 billion threshold again. Under the strong support of the government, the expo has constantly innovated the brand and improved the event quality. Since 2014, the expo has taken a cumulative exhibition area of over 500,000 square kilometers, and attracted nearly 4,200 enterprises, and over 10,000 industrial experts and influencers from over 60 countries/regions to attend. Georgia, Australia, France, Italy, Chile, and Argentina have served as the guest of honor in a row. With growth of the vigor of the event, Luzhou makes friends with wine to open wider to the outside world. Now, it has two international sister cities, and ten international cities with partnership. With expansion of its "network of friends", it will attract more people to enjoy the charm of the Chinese liquor culture. SOURCE China Alcoholic Drinks Association Inside the "Everyone Wins" Gift Bag for Top Oscar Nominees is The Royal Essence Collection by Benigna Parfums, to honor Hollywood's biggest night. The Royal Essence Collection comprises of seven exquisite fragrances, created to imbue every wearer with regal splendor and luxury. MIAMI, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The famous "Everyone Wins" Gift Bag for Top Oscar Nominees and winners. Our gender-neutral, environmentally responsible, Royal Essence collection were gifted to these 26 legendary Oscars' nominees and winners: Best Fragrance in the world Royal Essence Collection Austin Butler, Colin Farell, Brendan Fraser, Paul Mescal, Bill Nighy, Cate Blanchett, Andrea Riseborough, Michelle Yeoh, Brendan Gleeson, Brain Tyree Henry, Judd Hirsch, Barry Keoghan, Ke Huy Quan, Angela Bassett, Hong Chau, Kerry Condon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Stephanie Hsu, Martin McDonagh, Daniel Scheinert, Steven Spielberg, Todd Field, Ruben Ostlund, Diane Warren, and Jimmy Kimmel. The Benigna Parfums Royal Essence Collection, - High luxe, cut-crystal crown cap filled with divine and transformative scents, is presented in diamond-shaped bottles and topped with distinct jewelry-crafted, hand-cut crystal crown caps embellished with Ruby and Emerald Stones, adorned with Swarovski crystals circling the 24-karat gold-plated neck. The collection embodies luxury and royalty, and comprises: Supreme Majesty Extravagant Ancient Wisdom Greatness Worthiness Splendor grandeur Royal Bouquet These ethereal creations span the time and the vast continents of the world which the eminent royalties represent. The Royal Essence collection is an exquisite craftsmanship in the world's finest, and most sustainable natural ingredients, giving a feel of luxury, majesty from the first spray. Please learn more via https://benignaparfums.com/ Emerging from a belief that every individual is imbued with royalty within, and inspired by the history of royalties, - its fittingly finished with a royal crown cap. The fragrance that takes one on an olfactory journey to a realm of royalty, splendor, power, and opulence, reminiscent of kings and queens. The Upcoming Global Media Tour with The Royal Essence Collection Following the huge awareness from the inclusion of The Royal Essence Collection inside the "Everyone Wins" Gift Bag for the 2023 Oscars Nominees and Winners, Benigna Parfums plans on hosting a fragrance experience at select countries. This will also give the press an opportunity for questions and answers on The Collection, our brand, and the experience with the Hollywood Oscars Nominees and winners on receiving The Royal Essence collection in their Gift Bag. We plan for few countries in North America, Asia, Europe, Africa and GCC countries. For United States, we have Miami, Atlanta, New York and LA on the schedule, followed by other countries which will be announced later. Learn more via https://benignaparfums.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/benignaparfums/ Benigna Parfums Charity work In following the legacy of the brand's founder, Benigna, the brand dedicates a percentage of her profits to non-profit STEM organizations dedicated to inspiring young girls around the world. Benigna is currently working on an exclusive $3 million, high-end fragrance to help generate revenue for several other STEM organizations. About Benigna Parfums HQ in Miami Florida, Benigna Parfums is an inspirational luxury gender-neutral fragrance brand that produces exquisitely transformative scents to inspire joy, harmony, and luxury. A brand that is a fusion of artistry and storytelling. A prestigious brand known for its elegant and invigorating luxurious scents. For Your Request For Live Coverage and Interviews For any questions or request for interviews, please send email to [email protected] Please visit https://benignaparfums.com/ to learn more about this remarkable collection by the top master Perfumers and also follow us @Benignaparfums on our social media for updates with our global media tour. Media Kit https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CGv5Wd2V6lRzR3G6zD0zd7EMfyxXcsvO/view?usp=share_link Media Contact: Beatriz Clair 305.777 2200 [email protected] SOURCE Benigna Parfums SEOUL, South Korea, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2023 IPMC Conference held at KINTEX in Goyang on April 12 under the title of "Beyond Longevity: Live 120 like 50," was successfully completed after discussing futures of the longevity industry and ways to build the Goyang Int'l Precision Medicine Center (IPMC). IPMCC 2023 Opening remarks by Jang Young Woo, president of BOIMA at IPMCC 2023 Wrap-up discussion of IPMCC 2023 Mr. Jang Young Woo, President of Bio Open Innovation Makers Association (BOIMA), the 2023 IPMCC organizer, said in his opening remarks, "Longevity Industries that make the elderly do as a productive and healthy member of the society in a super-aged society are promising industries including beauty, anti-aging, precision agriculture, and digital healthcare." In addition, he also predicted that "the longevity industry based on precision medicine will become the future industry leading the next 100 years." Dr. Robert Hariri, co-founder of Celularity, emphasized that cell gene therapy will play an important role in curing diseases and extending life span and health span, and expressed his expectation that the IPMC to be established in Goyang City of Korea will be an opportunity for bio-health-related companies. Former U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner, Dr. Scott Gottlieb also said that cell treatments will play a decisive role in anti-aging, and suggested that collaboration among researchers in various fields will be important to create and succeed a bio cluster like Boston. And he said, "I think there will be an opportunity for U.S. FDA and Korea FDA to work together in the field of cell therapy. Signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between two regulatory agencies will be a good starting point." Dr. Joshua Hare, a professor of medicine of Miami Univ. and co-founder of Longeveron, stressed that aging should be recognized as a disease that can be cured. In a wrap-up discussion, discussing ways to establish the Goyang IPMC, all panels expressed high expectations for the role of the IPMC. Dr. Robert Hariri predicted, "it will be an opportunity for start-up growth in particular," and Dr. Scott Gottlieb said, "the development of small clinical trial specialists based on IPMC will contribute to the development of the pharmaceutical industry." "We aim to create a new bio-health industry ecosystem centered on precision medicine, longevity mobility, precision nutrition, conventions, big data, and AI through the Goyang IPMC," said Mr. Jang, who is leading to building of the IPMC. The Goyang IPMC is a bio-cluster complex platform that comprehensively conducts R&D, product production, medical care, and services of longevity industry-related technologies. The BOIMA is gradually implementing the establishment of the IPMC that will lead the global standard of the longevity industry by signing the MOU with Goyang City of Korea and holding a global conference, the 2023 IPMC Conference. SOURCE BIO OPEN INNOVATION MAKERS ASSOCIATION This is the first time the EXPO has a powerhouse Latino hosting NEW YORK, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York Empire State Tattoo Expo, one of the largest gatherings of elite international tattoo artists worldwide, announces this year's host, Stefano Alcantara . The Expo presented by Inked Magazine will be held in New York from May 12 - May 14, 2023. The EXPO brings together hundreds of tattoo artists, collectors, and spectators for three days to celebrate the tattoo culture. The New York Empire State Tattoo Expo Announces Stefano Alcantara as an Official Host. Tweet this NY Empire State TATTOO EXPO 2023 Hosted by YOMICO and STEFANO Event Details: New York Hilton Midtown | 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019 10019 Friday, May 12th at 4 pm , open until 12 midnite at , open until 12 midnite Saturday, May 13th , opens from noon to 12 midnite , opens from noon to 12 midnite Sunday, May 14th , begins from 12 pm to 7 pm Stefano Alcantara, Founder of Stefano Tattoo Studio in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, will host alongside Yomico Moreno, Founder of the 1983 Art Studio in Brooklyn, New York. Both are elite celebrity tattoo artists. This year for the first time, the EXPO has two powerhouse Latinos representing their culture and passion for art that powers self-expression. I am delighted to be the host this year. I look forward to working with the team at the EXPO to address essential matters about the industry, elevate the experience, and push the boundaries of creativity," said Stefano Alcantara. The Expo will include curated programming, workshops, live tattooing, and exhibitor's meet and greet of world-famous tattoo artists, including Inkmaster artists as seen on television. Confirmed speakers at the New York Empires State Expo include: Carlos Torres Dave Paulo Jess Yen Tatu Baby Sponsors of the event include Maluma's Contraluz Cristalino Mezcal, Hustle Butter Deluxe, FK Irons, Bishop Rotary, Cam Supply, Gorilla Gloves, and Tatu Derm. For more information on The New York Empire State Tattoo Expo, please visit https://www.empirestatetattooexpo.com/ . About Stefano Alcantara Stefano Alcantara was born and raised in Lima, Peru. He earned a degree in Graphic Design at the Peruvian Institute of Advertising. In addition to his graphic design background, Stefano has taken numerous painting classes and was influenced by comic books as a child. His fascination with art turned into a career, and he opened his shop, Stefano s Tattoo Studio, in 1999, which remains thriving today. He now leads the biggest Tattoo Convention in the world, New York Emire State Tattoo Expo, which he plans to expand into different cities. Stefano does not see art as a business but as his passion. About New York Emire State Tattoo Expo It is the largest gathering of the tattoo community in New York. The event brings together more than 7,000 attendees during the three-day event. Now in its 7th year, the Expo will host meet and greets and the opportunity to get tattooed by world-famous tattoo artists, sponsor activations, entertainment, performances, and take workshops. Preferred vendors include World Famous Tattoo Supply, Hustle Butter Deluxe, Custom Body Jewelry & Fashion, Hush, Fusion Ink, Radiant Colors Ink, Kuro Sumi, Derma Numb, Sullen, Bishop Rotary, Cam Supply Inc, Tatu Derm, and more. SOURCE Stefano Alcantara Senegals telecoms regulator announced plans to introduce national roaming between operators to bolster coverage in the country. Karim Sall, director general of LAutorite de Regulation des Telecommunications et des Postes, ARTP) told news agency APS, talks are underway between Orange, Free and Expresso Telecom to lay the necessary framework for the agreements. The director general also revealed an assessment would take place at the end of April to determine whether operators have achieved prior coverage targets, stipulated in mobile licenses. Sall said: We will measure obligation by obligation the level of achievement or the level of respect of these obligations by the operators. The announcement follows President Macky Sall calling on the Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Economy to bolster efforts to achieve nationwide coverage sooner, reported CommsUpdate. Think Together and Orange County School of The Arts launch new afterschool and expanded learning programs focused on arts education for students at Fairhaven Elementary School. SANTA ANA, Calif., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Think Together, California's leading nonprofit provider of afterschool, expanded learning and school improvement programs, is proud to announce it has launched the Think Together Arts Accelerator to widen the opportunity for students to engage in visual and performing arts curriculum and exploration. Fairhaven Elementary School students showcase their talents in a culminating performance, as Think Together and Orange County School of The Arts introduce new afterschool and expanded learning programs with a focus on arts education through its Arts Accelerator. The Arts Accelerator launched in collaboration with Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) for students enrolled at Fairhaven Elementary School in Orange Unified School District. The new program is being piloted at Fairhaven, with programs underway to serve 180 students across California Elementary School, Sycamore Elementary School and Esplanade Elementary School within Orange Unified as well. "We are thrilled to work with Orange County School of the Arts to bring the best of both of our programs arts and afterschool to students who aren't always exposed to this kind of learning," said Randy Barth, founder and CEO of Think Together. "This collaboration allows us to expand our collective reach and provide students with the opportunity to explore and develop their artistic talents while receiving a quality education." The Arts Accelerator will offer afterschool programs in theatre, dance, visual arts, and music, where students will gain experience and exploration of various art forms, techniques, and performance opportunities. Students will learn foundational skills, vocabulary, and the importance of all roles involved in a visual and performing arts presentation. By leveraging the expertise of OCSA's decades of involvement in arts educational spaces alongside Think Together's years of partnering with school districts to develop quality afterschool programs, the two organizations have come together to create a unique and dynamic arts educational experience for elementary school students. The new collaboration aims to bridge the need for specialized educators and the increased demand for arts and enrichment for students. "This meaningful partnership with Think Together is a mission-aligned program for OCSA. We believe deeply in the power and value of a quality arts education for all students," said Teren Shaffer, president and CEO of Orange County School of the Arts. "It is a privilege to collaborate with the visionary leaders at Think Together and within Orange Unified School District to increase access to the arts for deserving young students." Through the Arts Accelerator, specialized arts instructors were recruited, selected and trained with the expertise of OCSA staff to develop lesson plans and lead afterschool programs at Think Together's school partner sites. Orange Unified School District leveraged Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) grants to bring the Arts Accelerator program to its students first. The program aims to bring hands-on, engaging learning experiences to students. "By leveraging the ELOP grants, Orange Unified has been able to provide additional support for students to expand their learning beyond the traditional classroom setting," shared Barth. "This program not only enriches students' education but also provides them with the tools to thrive emotionally and mentally by providing access to the performance arts." Each class culminates as a "step into the classroom" event for friends and family. The first such event was at Fairhaven Elementary School on Wednesday, April 12 and featured students that learned the art of Baile Folklorico showcasing their newfound skills and techniques. About Think Together Think Together partners with schools and communities to pursue educational equity and excellence for all kids. As a nonprofit organization, Think Together innovates, implements and scales academic solutions that change the odds for hundreds of thousands of California students. Think Together's program areas include early learning, afterschool, school support services and leadership development for teachers and school administrators. For more information, call (888) 485-THINK or visit www.thinktogether.org. About Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) Established in 1987, Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) provides an unparalleled arts and academic education in a creative, challenging, and nurturing environment to a diverse student body passionate about the arts, preparing them to reach their highest potential. OCSA serves more than 2,300 students in grades 7-12. About Orange Unified School District The Orange Unified School District educates approximately 26,000 Preschool-12th grade students in the cities of Orange, Villa Park, Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and unincorporated county areas. The District is committed to providing rigorous and engaging education to all students to lead them to college, career, and life readiness. OUSD was formed in 1953 and has a long history of excellence that continues to be enriched by the accomplishments of its students, teachers, staff, and community. SOURCE Think Together A celebrity chef and cattle rancher discuss how beef is raised sustainably and share tips for creating flavorful beef dishes. HUNGERFORD, Texas, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The farm to fork trend is everywhere and with summer grilling season approaching the Beef. It's What's For Dinner. brand, funded by the Beef Checkoff, is sharing how raising sustainable beef and grilling up a juicy steak are closely connected. Celebrity Chef Lamar Moore and Rancher John Coleman Locke, owner of J.D. Hudgins Ranch, got together to talk more about sustainability and recipes. Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9104252-ncba-beef-sustainability-trends-recipes/ Cattle rancher and celebrity chef discuss sustainable beef and recipes. Miso Butter Steak Frites Sixth-generation rancher, John Coleman Locke, works every day to sustain the family ranch, as his father and those before them have been doing since 1908. Known for raising pure-bred Brahman cattle, the Locke family has a saying that if you take care of those Brahman cows, they will take care of you. "Our controlled grazing has allowed us to quit using herbicides and put more carbon back into the soil," said John Coleman Locke. "Since we've been doing that the impact we've had on the soil has been positive for both the land and the cattle." After more than 100 years, the Locke family knows how important it is to care for the land and the cattle. Not only does that care benefit the environment, it also produces a high-quality product for chef's like Lamar Moore. A staple on Moore's menus, beef is one of his favorite ingredients to cook with and he's always looking for ways to learn more about how the food he cooks is raised and grown. "The more I learn, the better I am as a chef," says Moore. As summer grilling season approaches, Moore has recipes and tips for helping everyone up their grilling game. He recommends his Strip Steak Au Poivre and Miso Butter Steak Frites for anyone looking to impress their guests. "No matter what cut of steak you're cooking, an instant read thermometer is key to ensuring a perfectly done steak," said Moore. "You should also try not to flip your steaks as much, one flip should do the trick and will help keep the steak nice and juicy." For more beef recipes and to learn more about how farmers and ranchers across the country are raising sustainable beef, visit BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com. About NCBA, a Contractor to the Beef Checkoff The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. The Beef Checkoff Program is administered by the Cattlemen's Beef Board, with oversight provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. About the Beef Checkoff The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The Checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States may retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval. CONTACT: Hailey Thayn, [email protected] SOURCE National Cattlemen's Beef Association A roundup of the week's most newsworthy energy industry press releases from PR Newswire, including Chipotle's new responsible restaurant design and GM's investment in EnergyX. NEW YORK, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the energy and natural resources industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. PR Newswire Weekly Energy Press Release Roundup, April 10-14, 2023. Photo provided by Toyota Motor North America. https://prn.to/3o6Oh7E Read more of the latest energy-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNenergy on Twitter. Can't-Miss Earnings In addition to these popular releases, several must-read earnings reports crossed the wire this week, including the quarterly results for New Gold Inc. and CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. Catch up on all the latest earnings reports here. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. For questions, contact the team at [email protected]. SOURCE PR Newswire A roundup of the week's most newsworthy environment industry press releases from PR Newswire, including a new customer sustainability platform from PepsiCo. NEW YORK, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the environment industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. PR Newswire Weekly Environment Press Release Roundup, April 10-14, 2023. Photo provided by Green Energy Partners LLC of Virginia. https://prn.to/3KUUbSk Read more of the latest environment-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNenv on Twitter. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. For questions, contact the team at [email protected]. SOURCE PR Newswire A roundup of the week's most newsworthy culture press releases from PR Newswire, including PepsiCo's accelerator program for Hispanic-owned startups. NEW YORK, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering different cultural groups stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. PR Newswire Weekly People & Culture Press Release Roundup, April 10-14, 2023. Photo provided by Carol's Daughter. https://prn.to/3Kp7d94 Read more of the latest culture-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNmltcult on Twitter. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. For questions, contact the team at [email protected]. SOURCE PR Newswire A roundup of the week's most newsworthy technology industry press releases from PR Newswire, including identity verification on LinkedIn and an AI prompt library for small businesses. NEW YORK, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the business technology industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. PR Newswire Weekly Technology Press Release Roundup, April 10-14, 2023. Photo provided by SAS. https://prn.to/41sdLuj Read more of the latest business technology releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNtech on Twitter. Can't-Miss Earnings In addition to these popular releases, several must-read earnings reports crossed the wire this week, including the quarterly results for Infosys and Acer Inc. Catch up on all the latest earnings reports here. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. For questions, contact the team at [email protected]. SOURCE PR Newswire SHENZHEN, China, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Introducing the COOLIFY 2S wearable air conditioner, the perfect solution for outdoor enthusiasts looking to beat the heat. With its groundbreaking COOLIFY technology and TORRAS Coology power source, the COOLIFY 2S provides a more sensory and immersive cooling experience. PhotoCOOLIFY 2S The COOLIFY 2S wearable air conditioner is the perfect solution for anyone who enjoys lightweight outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, or climbing. This innovative device provides personal cooling on-the-go, keeping you comfortable and refreshed even in the hottest and most humid conditions. COOLIFY 2S is ultra-lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry in your backpack or attach to your clothing. It features a powerful fan and is also powered by a long-lasting 5000mAh battery, ensuring you stay cool all day long with a single charge, ensuring that you stay cool and comfortable for the entire duration of your outdoor adventure. Whether you're hiking up a steep mountain trail or setting up camp in a remote wilderness area, the COOLIFY 2S is the ultimate accessory for anyone who wants to stay cool, comfortable, and focused on their outdoor experience. With its lightweight design, powerful cooling performance, and long battery life, this device is the perfect companion for any lightweight outdoor enthusiast. COOLIFY 2S is designed with a unique airflow system that can deliver instant cooling by 30F, thanks to its Surround HyperVortex Cooling and advanced wind tunnel technology. The COOLIFY 2S also features an ergonomic design that fits comfortably on all body types, and it comes equipped with a Smart App Control that allows you to customize your cooling experience. Plus, the device is rechargeable while in use, so you can enjoy coolness all day long. With hundreds of cooling particles delivering coldness up to 8040mm, the COOLIFY 2S is the perfect solution for anyone looking to stay cool during any outdoor activity. The all-new KU 3.0 chip ensures that you get personal cooling that surrounds your neck and face, making the COOLIFY 2S a must-have accessory for anyone who wants to beat the heat. To tackle the issue of climate change, our product COOLIFY 2S wearable air conditioner offers a pollution-free alternative to traditional air conditioning systems. Its innovative semiconductor cooling technology eliminates the need for harmful refrigerants like Freon, significantly reducing emissions. Additionally, COOLIFY 2S has a conditioning system that boasts impressive cooling efficiency, ensuring a comfortable and sustainable indoor environment for everyone who uses it. Price and Availability COOLIFY 2S is now on TORRAS' Official Website and Amazon Store. Check them out now. About TORRAS Founded in 2012, TORRAS is an innovative brand with a design philosophy of "Simple but Unique". They now have an R&D laboratory that spans over 2,000 square meters, and has obtained more than 1,100 patents thus far, with 36 of its products winning prestigious international design awards including the German Red Dot Award. TORRAS Contact: [email protected] TORRAS PR Manager: [email protected] SOURCE TORRAS BOSTON, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Trillium Capital LLC announced that it has requested that its Managing Partner, Scott Murray, join the Board of Directors of Getty Images Holding, Inc. (NYSE: GETY) ("Getty" or the "Company"). The principles of Trillium Capital LLC own over 500,000 shares of common stock and common stock equivalents of Getty. We believe that the Board of Directors of Getty (the "Board") has a fiduciary responsibility to maximize shareholder value for all stockholders. TRILLIUM CAPITAL REQUESTS SEAT ON GETTY IMAGES BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tweet this Trillium Capital has already approached Getty to elect its Managing Partner, Scott Murray, to its Board. Murray would make an excellent member of the Audit or Compensation Committees. Murray has decades of experience. These include such things as: Serving as the Chief Financial Officer of The Learning Company. Serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Modus Media, 3Com, and Stream Global Services. Serving as the Chairman of the Board of H3C Technologies in China , Protocol Communications and Stream Global Services. , Protocol Communications and Stream Global Services. Led private companies owned by large private equity firms that have led to substantial returns. Expert in turnaround situations and launching new strategy and revenue growth programs. Founder and Chairman of the Board of Global BPO Corp and raised $250 million in a Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. ("SPAC") in 2007. in a Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. ("SPAC") in 2007. Invented the current PIPE & Tender SPAC process in 2008 that has been used in recent years to raise billions of dollars. Is a Chartered Accountant and a Financial Expert according to the rules of the United States Securities & Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Substantial experience leading public companies and making related filings with the SEC. Completed and led over forty (40) M &A transactions. &A transactions. Completed over $2 billion of financings both public and private issuances. of financings both public and private issuances. Deep experience with the financial community including leading investment banks and private equity firms. Murray said; "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join the Board of Getty. If elected I would continue to hold shares of the Company that I own and would accept no compensation for my services on the Board." Trillium Capital believes there is over $1 billion of untapped value in Getty and that the stock should trade above $12 per share. Murray would be a strong proponent of Getty conducting a strategic review process to identify a potential suitor. Getty is a unique opportunity to create value for its shareholders. Trillium Capital believes that Murray would be an ideal candidate to join the Getty Board. We hope that he will be included in the upcoming proxy and that shareholders will vote FOR him at the upcoming Annual General Meeting. In the event that Getty does not include Murray in its Proxy Material, you might be able to vote for him or change your vote at the Annual General Meeting. SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING THIS LETTER : THIS LETTER CONTAINS OUR CURRENT VIEWS ON THE VALUE OF SECURITIES CONDUENT INCORPORATED AND CERTAIN ACTIONS THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF GETTY MIGHT TAKE TO ENHANCE THE VALUE OF ITS SECURITIES. OUR VIEWS ARE BASED ON OUR OWN ANALYSES OF PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND ASSUMPTIONS WE BELIEVE TO BE REASONABLE. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE INFORMATION WE CONSIDERED AND ANALYZED IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. SIMILARLY, THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT OUR ASSUMPTIONS ARE CORRECT. THE ACTUAL PERFORMANCE AND RESULTS OF GETTY MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM OUR ASSUMPTIONS AND ANALYSES. THIS LETTER ALSO REFERENCES THE SIZE OF OUR RESPECTIVE CURRENT HOLDINGS OF GETTY. OUR VIEWS AND OUR HOLDINGS COULD CHANGE AT ANY TIME. WE MAY SELL ANY OR ALL OF OUR HOLDINGS OR INCREASE OUR HOLDINGS BY PURCHASING ADDITIONAL SECURITIES. WE MAY TAKE ANY OF THESE OR OTHER ACTIONS REGARDING GETTY WITHOUT UPDATING THIS LETTER OR PROVIDING ANY NOTICE WHATSOEVER OF ANY SUCH CHANGES (EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY LAW). FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS : Certain statements contained in this letter are forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements that are predications of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Due to such risks and uncertainties, actual events or results or actual performance may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of the future tense or other forward-looking words such as "believe," "might, "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "should," "could," "may," "will," "objective," "projection," "forecast," "continue," "strategy," "position" or the negative of those terms or other variations of them or by comparable terminology. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations set forth in this letter include, among other things, the factors identified in the public filings Getty. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed considering such factors, and we are under no obligation, and expressly disclaim any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE Trillium Capital LLC The iconic lingerie brand will launch the Vanity Fair Lingerie Support Award to help women working to achieve their dreams during Morgan's "Just Getting Started" stand-up tour BOWLING GREEN, Ky., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vanity Fair Lingerie has partnered with comedian Leanne Morgan to provide support for women in a brand-new way this year. The lingerie brand will hit the road with Morgan as a part of her new stand-up tour, entitled "Just Getting Started," popping up with an interactive activation at select venues beginning in April. In conjunction with the brand's onsite activation, Vanity Fair will launch the "Vanity Fair Lingerie Support Award," which will give five women an award of $5,000 each, for a program total of $25,000, to help them to pursue their dreams, passions, or begin something entirely new in 2023. Vanity Fair Lingerie Leanne Morgan Morgan, a Tennessee-native and mother of three, has always focused and highlighted the ups and downs of the female experience in her 23-year comedy career; from marriage to motherhood, work to friendshipsand even finding the perfect-fitting panty (which happens to be the Vanity Fair Lingerie Beyond Comfort Hi-Cut panty! ) After discovering her passion for stand-up comedy later in life, and finding the time and confidence to pursue her dream, Morgan has now cemented herself as a must-watch comedian. "Vanity Fair Lingerie has been serving women for over 100 years with comfortable and stylish intimate apparel, having supported women throughout their different stages of life," said JoAnna Beddingfield, vice president at Vanity Fair Lingerie. "We are so excited to partner with Leanne Morgan on her new tour and to connect and support women as they pursue their dreams. Leanne is such a genuine person who embodies our brand's mission of supporting women and their journeys. Her hilarious and light-hearted comedy resonates with women of all ages, and her natural ability to connect with women in a relatable manner is what makes her so unique." "You know that when I named my recent stand-up tour, The Big Panty Tour, that I meant business when it comes to panties - and all lingerie for that matter. I believe in freedom and comfort with my panties and I'm a big dreamer," said Leanne Morgan. "I'm thrilled to be partnering with Vanity Fair Lingerie in helping some women get started in achieving their dreams. I'm "Just Getting Started" and so are they." Inspired by Morgan's message for women to get started on whatever makes them happy, Vanity Fair Lingerie created the "Vanity Fair Lingerie Support Award," designed to give five women a jumpstart on pursuing their passions by providing each with a $5,000 cash award. Women who are interested in submitting an entry for this award can create a submission to enter at VanityFairLingerie.com for a chance to win. The first 100 submissions will automatically receive a free bra from Vanity Fair Lingerie. Additional prize packages are available as well. See vanityfairlingerie.com for details and Official Rules. Vanity Fair Lingerie's onsite activations will begin at the following locations and tour dates on Morgan's "Just Getting Started" tour, with additional dates announced in the coming weeks: Knoxville, TN at the Knoxville Coliseum - April 15 & 16 at the Knoxville Coliseum - & 16 Nashville, TN at the Grand Ole Opry - April 19 at the Grand Ole Opry - Charlotte, NC at Ovens Auditorium - April 22 & 23 Vanity Fair Lingerie is also included in Morgan's new Netflix special, released on April 11, 2023, Leanne Morgan: I'm Every Woman, where Morgan shares her unfiltered love and adoration for the brand's soft and comfortable Beyond Comfort Hi-Cut panty. The special was filmed last year at the Lexington Opera House in Lexington, Kentucky during her last 100-city stand-up tour, titled "The Big Panty Tour." For more information on the Vanity Fair partnership with Leanne Morgan, and the Vanity Fair Lingerie Support Award, visit VanityFairLingerie.com. For more information on Leanne Morgan and her Just Getting Started tour, visit LeanneMorgan.com. ABOUT VANITY FAIR LINGERIE: For more than 100 years, Vanity Fair has been creating fashionable, comfortable lingerie inspired by the needs of the modern woman. The brand's rich history of design leadership, fashion, quality and comfort continues to serve as the foundation in its enduring legacy to always make women feel fabulous. Founded in 1919, the Vanity Fair brand is part of the Fruit of the Loom, Inc. family of brands. MEDIA CONTACTS Hayley Keown, Vanity Fair Lingerie [email protected] Elizabeth Much, Leanne Morgan [email protected] SOURCE Vanity Fair Lingerie VIDAA, the leading provider of connected TV operating systems tailored for local markets, announces the launch of the latest version of its innovative platform. The new release gives brands and factories access to the state-of-the-art technology normally reserved for premium brands. The new VIDAA OS is faster, more reliable, more secure, and offers more customization options than ever before. GUANGZHOU, China, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VIDAA, a global leader in Smart TV operating systems, today announced the launch of the latest version of its cutting-edge platform. As the fastest-growing Smart TV OS platform among the top Smart TV manufacturers in the world, VIDAA offers a compelling value proposition for brands and factories looking to provide exceptional user experiences and future-proof their products. The new VIDAA platform boasts an impressive range of features and benefits. First and foremost, VIDAA customizes and brands its user interface for its OEM partners, provide long-term support to ensure optimal performance over time, and offer a "just connect and use" approach that simplifies the user experience with no need to search for and download apps. With the new VIDAA OS, any brand can have access to an affordable and high performing operating system that supports over 180 different countries and territories and offers a free voice assistant that speaks 22 languages. VIDAA's localization capabilities ensure that the platform remains relevant and appealing to users in markets worldwide. Apart from that, VIDAA provides excellent support for its partners with a dedicated international marketing team spread across the world and an OEM support team with direct relationships with all its manufacturing partners. Shipping over 10 million devices annually, it provides security for its partners in the scale of its global operations. Yaniv Gruenwald, COO of VIDAA, emphasizes the company's commitment to its partners and users: "At VIDAA, our mission is to be the ultimate success partner for OEM brands in the Smart TV industry. We are dedicated to providing an unmatched user experience for our platform users and driving innovation that differentiates VIDAA-powered Smart TVs from other Smart TV OS platforms. Our commitment to our OEM brand partners' success, our users' experience, and our relentless pursuit of innovation is what sets VIDAA apart." VIDAA would like to extend its gratitude to its OEM manufacturing partners for their ongoing support and collaboration. The company invites Smart TV brands interested in exploring a partnership to reach out and discuss the benefits of choosing VIDAA as their Smart TV OS platform partner. With its commitment to long-term performance, ease of use, and affordability, VIDAA is poised to continue its rapid growth in the Smart TV industry. As a partner-focused company, VIDAA is dedicated to working with Smart TV brands of all sizes to ensure their success and deliver exceptional Smart TV experiences to consumers around the world. Join us for VIDAA's keynote presentation and demonstration session on Sunday, April 16th at 2:30 p.m. at the Langham Hotel in Guangzhou, China during the Canton Fair events. The event will be livestreamed at https://live.laimanhui.com/live/page/1999734712?v=1680517918870 About VIDAA VIDAA is a global leader in connected TV operating systems, providing an innovative platform tailored for local markets around the world. The company is committed to offering unparalleled value to OEM partners, enhancing user experience, and driving innovation that sets VIDAA-powered Smart TVs apart from competitors. With a focus on performance, ease of use, and affordability, VIDAA is the ultimate success partner for OEM brands in the Smart TV industry. Established in 2019, VIDAA USA is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and is the developer of Smart TV operating systems. Its flagship product, VIDAA TV OS, is currently in its sixth generation and provides advanced solutions to a multitude of leading Smart TV manufacturers globally, including Hisense, JPE, Genius Fashion, Expressluck, HKC, MCTV, SQY, ASANO, TPV, and BOE. Its award-winning Linux based licensed operating system with voice control, applications store, billing, and payments capabilities provides a turnkey solution to factories and brands, including licensed access to leading global and local premium streaming video content providers. VIDAA USA partners include over 140 Smart TV brands and over 400 content providers globally. Social tags: @vidaatv Instagram, @vidaatv Facebook, @VIDAATV Twitter, vidaatv Linkedin For more information on the latest version of VIDAA and partnership opportunities, please visit www.vidaa.com Media Contact: Jose Rivera-Font [email protected] SOURCE VIDAA CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Waterdrop will join other reputable brands in the water filtration industry at the 2023 Water Quality Association Convention and Exposition in Nevada, Las Vegas, between April 19 and 20. The WQA Convention and Exposition is the premier water treatment industry education, sales, and networking event. For over four decades, it has provided an excellent opportunity for dealers, manufacturers, and consultants to make an impact in the water treatment industry. Waterdrop will join 2023 WQA Convention and Exposition The convention is also a great avenue for customers to learn about the latest research, technology, and products in the water industry. Waterdrop's rich collection of new and established products will be on display at the 2023 WQA Convention and Exposition. So, if you want to be treated to Waterdrop's mastery of the best practices and advanced solutions in the water industry, the convention is the place to be. Here are some of the products you can look forward to seeing: 1. Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO Water Filter System Let's start with the star of the show. The Waterdrop G3P800 is a multi-certified cutting-edge tankless reverse osmosis water filtration system that packs a lot of modern, advanced features, including a tankless, space-saving design, an efficient water-saving finish, a large filtration capacity, a smart LED reminder, and upgraded filtration capabilities. The 9-stage filtration and the UV sterilizing light combine to give you outstanding filtration, removing most impurities in water, such as PFAS, fluoride, heavy metals, salts, and chloride. 2. Waterdrop Instant Hot RO System K6 The Waterdrop K6 water filter system, a new product launched by Waterdrop last year, is the second entry on this list is the first-to-market RO system with a heating function. It combines water purification with heating capabilities to give you an unlimited supply of hot and filtered water on demand. The 5-in-1 filter setup includes an RO membrane, a carbon block, and other filtration substances and reduces most contaminants in water. A high-end smart display faucet out of the box shows you the TDS level and filter condition. 3. Waterdrop Countertop Water Cooler This Waterdrop Countertop Water Cooler is a new product launched by Waterdrop this year. The instant hot RO system K6 is widely praised by vast users, and to meet demands of more people for cold water, Waterdrop's R&D workers have been dedicated to developing this water cooler. It integrates cooling, heating and purification functions, and accordingly, you can get cold or hot purified water from one water filter system. Besides its RO filtration function, it is also provided with double UV sterilization functions. This brings more convenience for people with demands for cold water and hot water. 4. Waterdrop Ultrafiltration Under Sink Water Filter System The Waterdrop Ultrafiltration Under Sink Water Filter System is powered by a 0.01-micron ultrafiltration membrane that effectively reduces 99.99% of chlorine, lead, fluoride, VOCs, heavy metals, and other impurities in water. In addition, it has an innovative integrated waterway design that prevents leakages. There is also a smart indicating system where you can see water quality in real-time. Installing this under sink water filter system is easy, quick, and requires no prior plumbing experience. 5. Waterdrop Countertop Faucet Water Filter System Another filter system you should look forward to seeing is the Waterdrop CTF-01. It is made from 304 BPA-free, food-grade stainless steel. This faucet water filter relies on a comprehensive five-stage filtration process to reduce the most common contaminants in water, including chlorine, heavy metals, sediments, and colloid. In addition to removing impurities, this filter system adds beneficial minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium to the filtered water. It is easy to install on your countertop and is compatible with most standard kitchen tap faucets. Waterdrop's sterling reputation as a leader in the purification industry is evident in its wide range of innovative products. The brand remains committed to its mission of making water purification solutions accessible to everyone across the globe. Apart from the products mentioned above, there will be other to exhibit, such as pitchers, water filter straw, and so on. We look forward to having you at the 2023 WQA Convention and Exposition. Come, let's explore together! SOURCE Waterdrop NORTHAMPTON, Mass., April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Winning Writers is pleased to announce the results from its 20th annual Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest, judged by Soma Mei Sheng Frazier with assistance from Michal 'MJ' Jones. The Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest is sponsored by Winning Writers and co-sponsored by Duotrope. Learn more at winningwriters.com/tompoetry Maurya Kerr of Oakland, CA and Tamara Panici of Washington, DC won the 20th annual Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest sponsored by Winning Writers Maurya Kerr of Oakland, California won the Tom Howard Prize of $3,000 for a poem in any style or genre, for "Orion". Tamara Panici of Washington, DC won the Margaret Reid Prize of $3,000 for a poem that rhymes or has a traditional style, for "Elegy for Childhood Written in a Language I Did Not Yet Speak, Addressed to the God I Once Knew". These two winners also each received a two-year gift certificate from Duotrope, the contest co-sponsor. 2,495 poets competed from around the world. "Orion" weaves a dream within a dream, in which the narrator's young son enters her room with oracular pronouncements, trying to rearrange the family archetypes into a constellation that can describe his journey out of childhood. Mother, father, child; deer, hunter, hounds? Frazier said, "We are the ones who stumble after meaning, after message, to find it standing naked in the nightstronger, brighter, surer than expected. Wiser and humbler too." "Elegy for Childhood" ponders the fall of the sparrow and creates a new language for divine absence. Frazier said, "The poem sings out in happiness and sorrow. Its methodically jumbled form, at once certain and sracmbled [no, that's not a typo!], reflects our thrashing attempts to put things in order; to understand what and why and how we are, and in whose image, if anyone's, our world was made." Ten Honorable Mentions of $200 went to Alfredo Aguilar, jason b. crawford, Jane Ebihara, James Evans, Richard Haney-Jardine, A.D. Lauren-Abunassar, Jed Myers, Dion O'Reilly, Liz Schroeder, and Gail Thomas. All the winning entries and the judge's remarks are free to read online. The 2023 contest is open now through September 30, 2023. The prize pool is increasing to $9,000. After several years of outstanding service, Ms. Frazier is handing off the final judge role to Michal 'MJ' Jones. MJ will work with the contest's new assistant judges, Briana Grogan and Dare Williams. See the contest guidelines. Founded in 2001, Winning Writers has been named one of the "101 Best Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest, 2022). In addition to the Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest, Winning Writers also sponsors the Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest, the North Street Book Prize, and the Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest (no fee). All of these contests are recommended by Reedsy. Media Contact: Adam Cohen 413-320-1847 [email protected] SOURCE Winning Writers Tehran, April 14 : At least three people were killed in flash floods in western Iran over the past 24 hours, Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported. The victims were from the provinces of West Azarbaijan, Ilam and Qazvin, Morteza Moradipour, deputy head for operations at Iran's Relief and Rescue Organisation, was quoted as saying. Moradipour blamed heavy rainfall for the floods, stressing that rescue teams were ready to set up temporary camps to accomodate the flood-hit people, Xinhua news agency reported. He said that rescuers saved 861 people in 11 cities and 21 villages affected by the floods, relocated 24 people to safe areas, and provided emergency accommodations for 385 people. Helsinki, April 14 : Finnish President Sauli Niinisto called for a better understanding of the increasing geopolitical tensions and Finland's role in global politics as a new member of the NATO while addressing the opening session of the Finnish Parliament. Speaking of the need for continued alertness to safeguard the security of the Baltic Sea region, he said on Thursday that it was "not in Finland's best interest to aggravate that power struggle or to deepen the division into blocs with its own actions". "Our own diplomacy is needed not only in Europe but also in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We must also talk with those -- and perhaps in particular with those -- who see the world differently from us," he added. Referring to what he saw as possible repercussions of the country's NATO membership, Niinisto told a press conference after his speech that he was "not comfortable" with the idea of Finland potentially hosting nuclear weapons. He said he didn't oppose Finland's participation in NATO nuclear planning and training but it "does not mean that nuclear weapons would be coming to Finland", Xinhua news agency reported. "Multilateral agreements are the lifeline of a small country. That is a thought we should hold on to," he added. However, "the changed conditions and the rapidly developing military technology may affect the current application of the existing agreements". -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Riyadh, April 14 : Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud have 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 on Thursday. 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, Xinhua news agency reported. "Saudi Arabia welcomes investors from all around the world to see first-hand the historic opportunities we have to offer," he added. 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 favourable 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 programme to encourage foreign direct investment, attract the most talented professionals worldwide, and promote entrepreneurship and economic development. Nairobi, April 14 : The humanitarian and security situation in eastern Congo remains precarious hence the need for speedy political and military intervention to pacify the volatile region, a regional peace mediator said. Uhuru Kenyatta, the former Kenyan President and facilitator of the East African Community (EAC)-led Nairobi Peace Process, said on Thursday that eastern Congo remained volatile despite concerted efforts to end skirmishes pitting rebels against multinational troops. "Building trust among combatants including rebels, the government and communities affected by insecurity in the eastern parts of Congo remained a challenge," Kenyatta said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, after meeting with Xia Huang, the UN Secretary-General's special envoy for the Great Lakes region. He added that the EAC-led Nairobi Peace Process will in the next few weeks intensify confidence-building activities targeting combatants as a means to secure long-term stability in eastern Congo, Xinhua news agency reported. In addition, Kenyatta during his meeting with Xia stressed the need for support toward the Political and Military Tracks of the Nairobi Process, adding that the East African Regional Force should be supported by all parties to the peace process in the eastern Congo and help it achieve its mandate of pacifying the region. The former Kenyan President said the humanitarian situation for refugees and internally displaced persons in eastern Congo remained dire, requiring urgent intervention from the international community. He emphasised that enhancing security, relocation, resettlement and rebuilding of livelihoods for refugees and internally displaced persons should inform efforts to realise durable peace and stability in eastern Congo. Other discussions that featured during Kenyatta's meeting with Xia focused on challenges facing the cantonment of armed groups, especially in regard to securing them and providing them with food, water and accommodation. Xia briefed Kenyatta on his continued work to secure lasting peace and stability in the Great Lakes region, and in particular Congo, while disclosing he was engaged in high-level consultations ahead of his briefing to the UN Security Council in New York next week. Tunis, April 14 : Tunisian National Guard has said that the number of bodies of illegal immigrants retrieved off the country's southeastern coast rose to 25 with the recovery of 15 more bodies. "By carrying out the necessary technical examinations, it was discovered that one of the bodies belonged to a 20-year-old Tunisian, and the rest belonged to people from sub-Saharan African countries, including six women," Tunisian National Guard's Spokesman Houcemeddine Jbabli said in a statement on Thursday. On Tuesday, the Tunisian guard units rescued 72 people and retrieved 10 bodies of illegal immigrants off the Louata coast in the Sfax province, Xinhua news agency reported. Hatem Cherif, the regional director of health of the Sfax province, recently told media that the number of bodies of illegal immigrants from sub-Saharan African countries, currently deposited in the morgue of the University Hospital Center Habib Bourguiba, exceeded its capacity. Located in the central Mediterranean, Tunisia is one of the most popular transit points for illegal immigrants seeking to reach Europe. The number of undocumented immigrants attempting to reach Italy via Tunisia has been on the rise, despite the strict measures taken by the Tunisian authorities to tackle illegal immigration. Jakarta, April 14 : The Indonesian police's Densus 88 counterterrorism squad arrested four suspected terrorists linked to the Jemaah Islamiyah terror group in Lampung, police said. Two other suspected terrorists were killed in the raid on Wednesday in a forest in Pringsewu Regency, with a member of Densus 88 also injured, Xinhua news agency reported. "The police confiscated some evidence, including 9-mm homemade weapons," said Police Spokesperson Aswin Siregar on Thursday. They have been fugitives since 2015 and 2020 who were affiliated with Zulkarnain, one of Jemaah Islamiyah's leaders and actor in the 2002 Bali Bombing, which killed more than 200 people, Siregar added. Further investigation is underway. Palghar : , April 14 (IANS) Two men were electrocuted and four more injured when they were returning home after the Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations, officials said here on Friday. The tragedy took place in the Kargil Nagar area of Virar town around 11 p.m. on Thursday, after a colourful procession of Bauddhjan Panchayat Samiti and other groups to mark the 132nd birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar being celebrated all over the country on Friday (April 14). As they stood atop a slow moving vehicle in the procession, an iron rod apparently hit an electric transformer, resulting in massive electric jolts to the victims. While Sumit Sut, 23, and Roopesh Surve, 30, succumbed instantly, the others were rushed to a nearby hospital in Mumbai, where the condition of two persons is said to be critical. The Palghar police are probing the incident and further details are awaited as the tragedy cast a pall of gloom in the town. Washington, April 14 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday expressed satisfaction with the progress on multiple subjects that were discussed at the second meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bankers that took place here under the presidency of India, including the vexatious issue of sovereign debt servicing. Sitharaman said that at a roundtable discussion on debt servicing on Wednesday was "absolutely positive" with all stakeholders, including China, "positively engaged". The first meeting of the G20 finance ministers and central bankers had taken place in Bengaluru in February and because of the lack of unanimity among the members over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the group failed to issue a joint statement and had gone instead with a "Chair's statement", which is India's statement summarising the discussions. The second meeting took place here in Washington D.C. on the sidelines of the annual World Bank Group's Spring Meetings this week. And the bar was set decidedly low to perhaps prevent a repeat of Bengaluru. "We were very clear that we are not talking about communique or chair's statement," Sitharaman said. A Co-Chairs Press Statement issued by the three hosts of the roundtable -- India as the G20 chair and the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank -- said that among other things members vowed to "urgently improve information sharing including on macroeconomic projections and debt sustainability assessments at an early stage of the process". Global debt -- money owed by both countries and non-government entities -- stood at $235 trillion in 2022, according to IMF's debt database. Though not as listed by the fund, worst cases of sovereign debt -- money owed by countries -- are Lebanon, Russia, Sri Lanka, Suriname and Zambia, which are officially in default; and Argentina, Ghana, Pakistan, and El Salvador may be on the brink. The IMF estimates that 15 per cent of low-income countries are in debt distress and negotiations to help them resolve their obligations through restructured repayment plans are in a standoff between Western-backed multilateral lenders like the Fund and China, which is a top bilateral lender to developing countries. Beijing wants these institutions to take losses, "haircuts", to bail out nations in distress. The second meeting of G20 finance minister and bank chiefs gave a renewed push to the efforts to end the standoff. And despite an absent joint statement, all participants, including China, were "positively engaged", as the Minister said. Sitharaman also expressed satisfaction with progress on five other issues that India is prioritising since it took over the G20 presidency. Reforming multilateral development banks was second. It's an issue that India chose to focus on during its presidency. The Minister said it's been "very well received" and cited as proof the acceptance of an expert committee that has been set up to lay out the path forward -- comprising Lawrence Summers, an American economist who served as Treasury Secretary, and N.K. Singh, an Indian bureaucrat and economist. Their report is expected by July. Climate finance was Sitharaman's third. "This discussion on climate finance is also moving in a very positive direction, not just the current flow, but also the quantum that is required for meeting current climate challenges. And also looking at transitional costs, the technology that is required." India has been critical of advanced economies who have failed to fulfill their commitments to a green fund set up to help less developed economies -- and therefore, less polluting historically -- meet their self-determined goals to mitigate emission of greenhouse gases. The fourth, the Minister said, was the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion -- a 2010 G20 initiative on financial inclusion. "We've had discussions in Bengaluru and we are having the discussions here as well. Leveraging DPI -- that is Digital Public Infrastructure -- for achieving global financial inclusion, is a subject which every country has taken keen interest in, and people are looking at how best they can catch up with bringing inclusion through the use of technology." The fifth, Sitharaman said, is the issue of international taxation. It's about how to tax e-companies such as Amazon that are based in one geographical location but have businesses around the world. Lucknow, April 14 : The Lucknow police have cracked the murder of a woman with the help of a strip of sedatives that were found near the body. The charred body of the woman was found on a vacant plot in Sarauna village under Sairpur police station area on Thursday. Those arrested were identified as Arshad, 21, of Alinagar Khadra locality under Madeyganj police station area and his aide Mohammed Avesh, 19, of Hardoi district. The two have admitted to the crime during interrogation. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North, Qasim Abidi, a strip of sedatives was found at the crime scene. The police took the strips and contacted the wholesale drug stores which sell the sedatives and got a lead about the prime accused. "In the meantime, another police team found footage in which two youths were seen sitting on an e-rickshaw along with a woman and going towards the Saruana village. The man in the footage was identified by the owner of a medical store," said the official. Another CCTV footage surfaced of the same group of youths, who were seen returning from Saruan village but the woman in the previous footage was missing in the photo frame. Later the police traced Arshad and he disclosed the identity of the woman. Arshad was the live-in partner of the woman identified as Saba Khan, 20, residing in Adilnagar in Gudumba. Abidi said Saba was pressuring Arshad to marry her and the latter was unwilling due to his parents' refusal. Thereafter, he planned to kill her and gave her an overdose of the sedative on the way to Sarauna village, making her unconscious. Arshad with the help of his aide Mohammed Avesh, killed her and they burnt her body with a lighter. Amritsar: Students performing Punjabi folk dance 'Bhangra' ahead of the Baisakhi festival in a wheat field on the outskirts of Amritsar on Thursday, April 13, 2023. (Photo: Pawan sharma/IANS) Image Source: IANS News Amritsar: Devotees offer prayer at Golden Temple on the eve of Baisakhi festival, in Amritsar on Thursday, April 13, 2023. (Photo:Pawan sharma/IANS) Image Source: IANS News Chandigarh, April 14 : Crowds of devotees thronged gurdwaras across Punjab and Haryana on Friday to celebrate Baisakhi, one of biggest festivals that marks the foundation day of the Khalsa Panth (Sikh order) by the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh. Also it marks the start of harvest season. The Golden Temple in Amritsar, one of Sikhism's holiest shrines, was tastefully decorated and saw huge crowds to offer prayers. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages gurdwaras in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, has deployed task force staff to manage crowds. Barricades have been put up at all roads leading to the Golden Temple to prevent overcrowding, a police official told IANS. A sea of devotees was also witnessed at the Takht Kesgarh Sahib in the holy city of Anandpur Sahib, where the Khalsa Panth was founded in 1699. A jatha of pilgrims this week left for Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib in Pakistan to participate in the religious congregation to be held to mark Khalsa Sajna Diwas (Baisakhi). Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann extended greetings on Baisakhi and on Sajna Diwas of Khalsa Panth. In a message, Purohit said Baisakhi has a multifarious significance. It marks the ripening of the rabi harvest, a time of great joy for the farmers to gather the fruits of their hard labour. The Governor said this auspicious occasion has a special significance in the glorious history of Sikhism as on this day Guru Gobind Singh founded the 'Order of Khalsa' to fight against the tyranny of the Mughals and to preserve human and secular values. "This day also marks the watershed in our freedom movement. In 1919 many known and unknown martyrs sacrificed their lives in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, for attainment of freedom. This massacre gave a great impetus to the freedom movement," he added. Bengaluru, April 14 : With the two lists of candidates for the Assembly polls leaving several ticket aspirants disappointed, the national parties are facing rebellion on a large scale in Karnataka. While the Congress and BJP are enagaged in fire-fighting, the Janata Dal(Secular) - waging a battle against the national parties - is all set to utilise the rebellion to its advantage ahead of the elections. JD(S) is all set to accommodate rebel candidates who missed out tickets from both the parties in its second list. The party has already announced the first list of 93 candidates ahead of national parties in December, 2022. According to sources, the party is releasing its second list on Friday and will change the allotted tickets in the first list as well to accommodate rebels of national parties. It is yet to announce 131 candidates. The developments in the national parties are only going to strengthen JD(S), across the state, explain party insiders. The JD(S) leaders are very happy about leaders from north Karnataka region considered as a bastion of BJP joining the party. The party has gone closer to the mission of becoming a king maker. It was hoping to win 30 to 35 seats and now, the party is confident of winning more than 40 seats, the sources stated. Y.AS.V. Datta, a senior JD (S) leader, joined Congress ahead of the polls and has come back to the party. The Congress had denied a ticket to him from Kadur constituency. He has been allotted a ticket though the party had announced its candidate earlier. A.Manju, a senior BJP leader, is likely to contest from Arakalagudu constituency on JD(S) ticket. Manohar Tahsildar, a senior Congress leader from Hanagal seat, Doddappa Gouda Patil from BJP from Jevargi, Raghu Achar from Congress party will contest from Chitradurga on JD (S) ticket. Mallikarjuna Khuba (BJP) from Basavakalyan, Veerabhadrappa Halaharavi of BJP from Huballi-Dharwad East seat, Yogesh Babu of Congress from Molakalmuru, Srikanth Ghotnekar of Congress from Haliyal constituency are also likely to contest from JD (S). The JD(S) is also likely to announce a candidate for Hassan constituency which has resulted in family infighting. Tokyo, April 14 : The major part of the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force (GSDF) helicopter that went missing off the southern prefecture of Okinawa , local media reported. The UH-60 multipurpose chopper disappeared from radar on April 6 about 18 km northwest of an airport in Okinawa prefecture's Miyakojima Island, and was believed to have been caught up in an aircraft accident, Xinhua News Agency reported. What appears to be the body of a missing member aboard the helicopter was also spotted near the debris, with efforts to confirm the details still underway, according to the reports, citing defence ministry sources. All 10 GSDF members on board remain unaccounted for, including Lieutenant General Yuichi Sakamoto, commander of the GSDF's 8th Division in charge of the defense of southwestern Japan. Multiple government sources confirmed that the major part of the helicopter was found late Thursday evening northeast of Irabu Island, a nearby island of Miyako, Yomiuri Shimbun reported Friday. The aircraft was detected underwater by the sonar of a Japanese minesweeper in search efforts and was later confirmed in the images taken by underwater cameras, according to the Japanese newspaper and other local media. Hyderabad/Amaravati, April 14 : Chief ministers and governors of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Friday paid rich tributes to the architect of the Indian Constitution Dr B. R. Ambedkar on his birth anniversary. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said that the life of Ambedkar is a proof of the philosophy in encountering the obstacles with self-confidence. Chief Minister KCR praised Ambedkar as a brave and noble person who did not give up despite facing discrimination in the name of colour and caste and the social evil of untouchability from his childhood. In his message on Ambedkar jayanti, the CM said that Ambedkar is a universal man who reached the heights of success with his broad thinking without getting stuck in self-deprecation and vulnerability. CM KCR said that Ambedkar was a global intellectual who removed the prejudices prevailing in the society with the light of knowledge. CM KCR remembered Dr Ambedkar on his 132nd birth anniversary as the father of Indian Constitution, his role in changing the course of the country and yeomen services to the nation. The Chief Minister said that Ambedkar's writings, speeches and criticisms on many topics including democracy, abolition of caste, untouchability, religious conversions, women's rights, religion, economic reforms, history and economy have made the whole world ponder. He described Ambedkar as a role model who sacrificed his entire life for equal rights in all systems to create a modern India without inequalities. He noted that Ambedkar outlined the world's largest written constitution and the fruits enjoyed by the oppressed sections today are formulated with his intelligence. CM KCR said that the installation of a 125 feet statue of Ambedkar in the heart of Hyderabad on his birth anniversary is a matter of pride not only for Telangana state but also for the entire country. The Chief Minister said that the Telangana society is paying a big tribute to the 'Telangana Bandhu" Ambedkar, who incorporated Article 3 in the Constitution which facilitated the formation of the Telangana state. Unlike anywhere else in the country, the CM said that the new Telangana state Secretariat building is named after 'Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat as part of continuation of the aspiration of the great leader. CM KCR said that the state government is implementing special schemes to the upliftment of the SC communities who are facing social discrimination. The Telangana government introduced the 'Telangana Dalit Bandhu' scheme specially aiming to bring a qualitative change in the lives of Dalits. The Dalit Bandhu scheme is a revolutionary in the history of the country. The beneficiaries do not need to repay Rs 10 lakh under the Dalit Bandhu. The government also created 'Rakshana Nidhi' to help them in case of any kind of financial difficulties faced in the future. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan also paid tributes to Ambedkar. She said that he is one of India's greatest sons, having shaped the country's Constitution. He was a zealous social reformer and a renowned lawyer. "Respected Babasaheb's life is a shining example of the human soul's triumph over repression, as well as a trumpet appeal for justice for the impoverished and downtrodden and ensuring basic constitutional rights of each and everyone," she said. "Let us all follow the ideals and mandates of the Constitution respecting the constitutional office / Institutions created under it, for our Nation to achieve the glory of her yore days," the governor added. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy described Dr. Ambedkar as one of the greatest intellectuals the country can be proud of. He said Ambedkar was a multifaceted personality with immense knowledge in legal, social, political, economic, spiritual and other fields. He noted that the constitution maker laid solid foundations for the country's political, democratic and social systems. "His efforts to forget the differences and make humanity flourish cannot be forgotten. Walking in the footsteps of that great man, we have taken historic steps in poverty eradication and social justice empowerment," said Jagan Mohan Reddy. Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer said in his message that Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was an eminent jurist, chief architect and father of Indian Constitution. Throughout his life, he fought for the empowerment of the socially, economically and educationally weaker classes of the society. Kathmandu, April 14 : Is the Nepal government gifting a hydropower project in Nepal that has a generation capacity of 669 megawatts to India? Probably, yes. The 53rd meeting of the Investment Board Nepal chaired by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Thursday evening approved an investment worth Rs 92.68 billion proposed by India's state-owned Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) to develop the 669 MW Lower Arun Hydroelectric Project. This is the third project undertaken, all through negotiation windows, on the Arun river after the 900 MW Arun-III and 695 MW Arun-IV hydroelectricity projects. The investment cost of Arun III is $1.04 billion. The SJVN is currently developing Arun III, another hydroelectric project in the same river basin. Nepal is also mulling to award Phukot Karnali Hydro Electric Project to India's NHPC. The installed capacity of the project is 480 megawatts. Some other slew of agreements are expected to be signed during the visit of Prime Minister Prachanda that is expected to happen in May. According to a statement issued by the Investment Board, the board of directors decided to form a 'project development agreement negotiation committee' led by the board's chief executive officer, instructing it to submit the document of consensus to the board. The three projects will generate nearly 2,300 MW electricity from the river in eastern Nepal. The SJVN is almost going to complete the Arun III project. During the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Lumbini, Nepal, the both sides signed the agreement for the development of Arun-IV on behalf of their respective governments. In July 2021, Nepal signed a pact with India's state-owned SJVN to develop the 679-megawatt Lower Arun Hydropower project in eastern Nepal. The $1.3 billion project, the single biggest foreign investment project, as per the 2017 cost estimates, is located in Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur districts of eastern Nepal. While signing the MoU in 2921, the SJVN would complete the detailed project study of the project and submit the detailed project report for approval at the board within two years from the agreement date. With the completion of the study, now the government is all set to award the development of the project to SJVN. SJVN Chairman and Managing Director Nand Lal Sharma told the Indian media last year that they aim for projects generating 5,000 MW in Nepal by 2030. In August last year, Nepal formally awarded the much-touted West Seti Hydropower Project and Seti River Project in western Nepal to India through a negotiation window, nearly four years after China withdrew from it. Investment Board Nepal signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with India's state-owned NHPC Limited to develop the two projects-West Seti and Seti River (SR6)-joint storage projects totalling 1,200MW. Many in Kathmandu believe that after India refused to buy energy invested other than its own investors, there is no other option left for Nepal to give some potential hydropower projects to India. New York, April 14 : The 64-year-old priest of a Sikh temple in Pennsylvania has been arrested for allegedly sexually-assaulting a girl when she was five-year-old by "inappropriately touching" her for at least seven years, a media report said. Balwinder Singh of Drexel Hill in Delaware County was recently charged with unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault of a person less than 13 years old, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children -- all felonies, Delaware-based Daily Times newspaper reported. According to an affidavit written by Upper Darby Special Investigations Detective Kevin Knapp, the victim, now an adult, reported the alleged assaults at police headquarters on January 24 this year with an intent to "seek justice". In a recorded statement, she stated that the assaults began when she was a first-grader attending classes on religious hymns at the temple on Fridays. The girl said she had spoken about the alleged assaults with a school staff member in January 2014, when she turned 12. She had also provided a recorded statement to a detective from Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division but the probe didn't go further as her family reached an agreement with the temple and Singh. According to the agreement, Singh would have no further contact with the girl, and the victim's family would not go ahead with criminal charges, according to the affidavit. Defence Attorney Chris Boggs declined to comment, the Daily Times said. Singh was preliminarily arraigned last week before Magisterial District Judge Andrew Goldberg, who set bail at 10 per cent of $100,000, which was posted on the same day, according to court records. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Goldberg on April 20. Kolkata, April 14 : The West Bengal State Election Commission (WBSEC) has barred certain sections of professionals from contesting the forthcoming polls for three-tier panchayat system in the state. The prominent among them include the civic volunteers and ration dealers. Although civic volunteers are contractual staff unlike regular policemen, sources said they have purposely been kept in the list of professionals not permitted to contest to avoid any controversy on this count in the future. Similarly, other contractual staff with the state government, namely education associates, panchayat tax collectors and contractual Group D staff are also not allowed to contest the rural civic body polls. Although there is no bar on the government contractors to contest in the polls, the state election commission has imposed certain conditions for them on this count. The first condition is that before filing the nomination the contractor concerned will have to withdraw himself from any government contract which he or she has bagged. In case, the work is in progress for a particular job contract, the contractor concerned will have to complete the work before becoming a candidate in the rural civic body polls. However, the opposition parties have questioned how far these restrictions will actually be fruitful, since there will be no bar on spouse or close family members of such professionals like civic volunteers, government contractors and ration dealers among others from contesting the polls. The opposition parties have alleged that the guidelines of the state election commission have been carefully drafted in such a manner that the contractors close to ruling Trinamool Congress can somehow remain associated in the poll-fray either directly or indirectly through their family members. The Trinamool Congress leaders have, however, rubbished such allegations. Patna, April 14 : East Central Railway (ECR) has decided to cancel the letterhead process for confirming tickets amid misuse. With this, the lawmakers have to send an official email to get the quota of high officials. This decision was made after Visakhapatnam RPF and Muzaffarpur police unearthed an interstate racket of confirming the waiting list tickets through letter heads of MPs, MLAs and MLCs a few days ago in Muzaffarpur. The sleuths also seized more than 200 letterheads of law makers during the raid at Sri Krishna Nagar locality under Sadar police station. The kingpin of the racket Satyajeet Kumar named the person who was operating from Muzaffarpur, but he managed to flee before the raid. The ECR has decided to send email from their official e-mail id to avail the high official quota. P.S. Dayanad, CCM of ECR said: "Wrongdoings can be detected easily through e-mail but not letterhead. Hence, we have decided to confirm tickets only through e-mails. The location and IP address of the sender can easily be identified through email which is not the case in fax." As per the earlier process, Indian railways offer high official quotas to the members of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Vidhan Parishad for quick confirmation of waiting list. The law makers have to send a fax of PNR number on their letterheads. Using the advantage of the loopholes, railway ticket mafias obtained the letter head of the law makers to confirm waiting list tickets through a high official quota. Seoul, April 14 : South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating fell below 30 per cent for the first time in five months, a poll showed on Friday. In the poll of 1,002 adults conducted by Gallup Korea from Tuesday to Thursday, the positive assessment of Yoon's performance declined 4 percentage points from the previous week to 27 per cent, Yonhap News Agency reported. Yoon's disapproval rating was 65 per cent, up 4 percentage points from the previous week. This marked the first time that Yoon's approval rating has sunk below the 30 per cent mark since the third week of November. After taking office in May last year, Yoon's approval rating fell below the 30 percent mark for the first time in late July in the wake of internal turmoil at the ruling party and a controversy surrounding the launch of a police bureau within the interior ministry. It had stayed in the 30 per cent range since late last year after dipping to an all-time low of 24 percent in early August and late September amid public outcry over an unpopular policy to lower the school entry age and a hot-mic incident during Yoon's trip to the United States that went viral. In the latest poll, diplomacy was the most mentioned factor in making both positive and negative assessments of Yoon's performance. The pollster said this appeared to be relevant to recent U.S. media reports on allegations that the US eavesdropped on Yoon's office and the government's ensuing response. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level. Kadapa : , April 14 (IANS) Stepping up the investigation into the 2019 murder case of former Andhra Pradesh minister Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday made a key arrest. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the CBI arrested G. Uday Kumar Reddy at Pulivendula in Kadapa district. He is said to be a close follower of Kadapa MP Y. S. Avinash Reddy, the nephew of the deceased, who has been questioned by the agency multiple times in recent months. The CBI team arrested Uday after issuing him a notice under section 41 A of the Criminal Procedure Code. He was earlier questioned by the CBI in the past. The investigation agency was shifting Uday to Hyderabad, where a CBI court is hearing the case since November last year following direction of the Supreme Court. The development has come a couple of weeks after the Supreme Court constituted a new Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the CBI and directed it to complete the investigation by April 30. Uday, said to be an employee of Uranium mine at Tummalapalli in Kadapa district, had filed a private case against CBI S.P. Ram Singh in Kadapa Court last year. On the court's direction, police had booked against Ram Singh in February last year following a complaint by Uday that the officer coerced him to give false testimony in the murder case. However, Andhra Pradesh High Court later stayed the case against the CBI SP. On the day when Vivekananda Reddy was murdered at his residence, Uday had allegedly gone there along with Avinash Reddy and Shiva Shankar. Uday was allegedly present at the residence of Y. S. Bhaskar Reddy, brother of the deceased and father of Avinash Reddy. Vivekananda Reddy, brother of former chief minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and uncle of present Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, was found murdered at his residence in Pulivendula of Kadapa district on the night of March 15, 2019, a few days before the elections. The 68-year-old former state minister and former MP was alone at his house when unidentified persons barged in and killed him. The CBI took over the investigation into the case in 2020 on the direction of Andhra Pradesh High Court while hearing a petition of Vivekananda Reddy's daughter Suneetha Reddy, who raised suspicion about some relatives. The Supreme Court transferred the case to Hyderabad in November last year while observing that doubts raised by Suneetha Reddy about getting a fair trial and investigation in Andhra Pradesh were reasonable. Deceased's brother Bhaskar Reddy and the latter's son Avinash Reddy are facing allegations for their involvement in the murder. Avinash, cousin of the chief minister, has denied the allegations. Lucknow, April 14 : The FIR lodged soon after the encounter with Asad Ahmad, son of gangster Atiq Ahmad, and shooter Ghulam in Jhansi, says that the police tried to catch the two accused alive. The encounter took place on Thursday. The FIR says, "Just as we instructed our car driver to overtake the motorcycles the two accused were trying to flee in, and loudly asked them to stop, they accelerated and tried to take a turn at a side road to escape, though another team had already surrounded them." The two were repeatedly warned but they did not stop and their motorcycles slipped and fell near a babool tree. "Asad and Ghulam took cover, started abusing the police and fired with the intent to kill," it added. The police said they stopped their vehicle, took cover, and walked into their firing range to try to capture the two alive 'without caring for their safety'. They had to shoot back as the accused started firing indiscriminately, the police said, adding that the firing from the other side stopped after a while when they inched closer and found Asad and Ghulam injured. "They still showed signs of life, so we immediately sent them to a hospital in two separate ambulances, but later found out that they had died," the FIR said. Pistols, bullet shells, live bullets, motorcycles, and other evidence were collected from the spot, the report stated. The police said that they were told by an informant on April 13, that Asad and Ghulam were in Jhansi, after which they started laying a dragnet. Asad and Ghulam were spotted approaching on two unnumbered Bajaj Discovery motorcycles from Chirgaon town in Jhansi, after which the police chased them for 1.5 km. Asad's body will be received by his maternal family and will be taken to a family graveyard at Kasari Masari in Prayagraj for burial in the afternoon or early evening. Atiq Ahmed and his family came under the scanner as CCTV footage showed that Umesh Pal was murdered by indiscriminate firing and a bomb blast in Prayagraj on February 24. Asad, 19, was seen chasing Umesh Pal with a gun in hand in the footage. Asad, who has no criminal record, was not named in the FIR lodged immediately after the killing of Umesh Pal. His name surfaced during the investigation, the police said. Both Asad and Ghulam had a reward of Rs 5 lakh on their heads. Umesh Pal, the key witness in the 2005 BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case, and his police security guards Raghavendra Singh and Sandeep Nishad, were also shot dead outside his home in Dhoomanganj on February 24. With Thursday's encounter, four people linked to Umesh Pal's murder have so far been gunned down. Police are still looking for Guddu Muslim, who allegedly lobbed a bomb during the shooting, and another alleged shooter, Sabir. The FIR said Guddu Muslim had also gone to Jhansi immediately after Umesh Pal's murder and stayed at the house of one Satish Pandey. According to police sources, Asad Ahmad had fled to Lucknow after the killing of Umesh Pal. He later moved to Kanpur and then Meerut before reaching Delhi, it is learnt. He then decided to flee to Madhya Pradesh. He reached Jhansi and was on his way to the state border on a bike when police intercepted him. Asad was reportedly in disguise. Mumbai, April 14 : Actress Kaveri Priyam, who is known for a variety of roles on the small screen, spoke about how she wanted to be a film actor in the initial days but then she got good opportunities on TV. However, she refrains from getting tagged as a TV actor as she feels that actors are actors at the end of the day, and can act equally well irrespective of the medium. Talking about the same, Kaveri said: "When I started out I always wanted to be a film actor. But destiny had some other plans. When I was giving auditions, I wanted to work, Just work! And that's when TV welcomed me with open arms. I am not a television actor, I am an actor who is here to work on all the mediums." Kaveri is known for shows such as 'Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke', 'Ziddi Dil Maane Na', 'Dil Diyaan Gallaan', among others. She shared about the role she aspires to play on screen: "There are many. I want to play all sorts of roles but I would love to do some action on screen or be a part of a spy universe. I also want to be a commercial heroine and do some pathbreaking roles on screen." Chandigarh, April 14 : Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday said Haryana is the first state in the country that is procuring 14 crops at minimum support price (MSP). Also, the rest of the crops are being procured through Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana. He assured that the farmers would be given compensation till May for the crop loss due to recent unseasonal rains and hailstorms. The Chief Minister was interacting with people during a Jan Samvad programme in Palwal's Hodal town. He also extended wishes to them for the festival of Baisakhi. Khattar said the government stands with the common man, and along with basic infrastructural development, the benefits of government services are being provided to the citizens through Parivar Pehchan Patra. Giving relief to 'safai karamcharis' of the Municipal Council in Hodal, the Chief Minister ordered release of 75 per cent of their pending salary. The Chief Minister said Ayushman cards of 12,833 people in Hodal with a population of about 60,000 have been made, and out of them, 128 people have got free treatment of about Rs 26 lakh. He said that under the Parivar Pehchan Patra, 1,160 new ration cards have been made in Hodal. Earlier, 5,500 ration cards were made. "The government is now automatically making pension for the elderly people who are above 60 years under which the pension of 44 elderly people in Hodal has been made so far. The government has increased the annual income limit of the elderly from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh," he added. The Chief Minister also announced Rs 2.5 crore for the development of the Hodal main "mandi'. He accorded approval for various development schemes, including road network, and said the construction work of the new bus stand would start soon. New Delhi, April 14 : Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that high targets must be set in the India-Italy partnership as there is a lot of new potential especially in light of the recently elevated Strategic Partnership. The Minister elaborated on how a plethora of opportunities in India make it one of the world's most trusted business and investment destinations during his address at the CEOs Business Interactive session in Rome, Italy. He said that India is an open country with global linkages with the trade negotiations underway with EU and EFTA. The Minister said that India has witnessed 55 per cent growth in the overall exports in the last two years. He said that there are about 700 Italian companies operating in India and this is the most opportune time to be in India. The Minister also mentioned that India will provide a very robust and forward-looking policy framework with retrospective changes. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Italy, Antonio Tajani also participated in the interactive session and addressed the industry captains. Tajani expressed that there is a need to work together to create a better line of next generation in both the countries by backing MSMEs and industry. Goyal appreciated Tajani for the deep engagement and said that there is a tremendous potential for growth in the India-Italy partnership and through this visit new ideas have emerged. He said that the countries are connected by tradition, culture, shared values, rule of law and aspiration to achieve more and to work as one. He also expressed that India-Italy will grow together, achieve together, and conquer together. The CEOs Business Interactive session was organised by the Embassy of India in Rome, Italy in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the General Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria). The session had participation from more than 70 CEOs from Indian and Italian companies. The Italian business was represented by giants like Sparkle, Elettronica, Piaggio, Lamborghini, ITA, etc. The CEOs mentioned that India is an important economic player and it is time to step up the cooperation at both the government and industry level. They also mentioned that Italian companies are exploring various investment opportunities present in India. Vice President CII and Chairman and Managing Director, ITC Limited, Sanjiv Puri, emphasised that signing of India-EU FTA could be a catalyst for further enhancing India-Italy relationship. Seoul, April 14 : South Korea and the US held joint air drills, involving at least one B-52H strategic bomber, on Friday, Seoul's defence ministry said, a day after North Korea test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The North's state media has confirmed the country conducted its first test of a solid-fuel Hwasong-18 ICBM on Thursday, raising tensions already heightened by its earlier weapons tests, including those of underwater nuclear attack drones, Yonhap News Agency said. The South Korean Air Force mobilised its F-35A radar-evading fighters and F-15K jets for the drills, while the US side deployed F-16 fighters in addition to the bomber, according to the ministry. It did not specify in which part of the Korean Peninsula the drills took place. "It is assessed that (the drills) represented a close-knit, coordinated response demonstrating the powerful 'strength of the alliance' and the US will to provide extended deterrence against the recent series of North Korean provocations," the ministry said in a press release. The drills reaffirmed the capability to swiftly deploy US strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula as well as the allies' enhanced combined operational capabilities and interoperability, it added. The ministry also said the allies will demonstrate "through action" their resolve not to accept any nuclear attack from the North by strengthening the frequency and intensity of the deployments of US strategic assets. Strategic assets usually refer to high-profile military assets, such as nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, submarines and strategic bombers. The latest deployment of the B-52H bomber followed its earlier dispatch to the Korean Peninsula for allied drills on Wednesday last week and on March 6. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Colombo, April 14 : Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for a fresh start as the crisis-hit island nation celebrated the traditional Sinhala and Tamil new year, which fell on Friday. Wickremesinghe on Thursday said in a new year message that Sri Lankans took part in the traditional new year rituals in 2022 amid the worst economic crisis faced by the country, Xinhua News Agency reported. "Last year, amid the unprecedented economic crisis which disrupted our daily lives, we partook in the new year rituals with untold hardship and were confined to a struggle in alleviating from this adversity," he said. Wickremesinghe said that he is gratified that 2023 has presented a salubrious environment for Sri Lankans, and therefore the country should strive to be more affluent and prosperous than today. "We can undoubtedly achieve this aspiration by unitedly moving forward as one Sri Lankan nation. Accordingly, despite differences in political affiliation, ethnicity and religion, a fresh beginning is imperative to create a brighter future for us and our nation, in this new year," he said. Traditional new year celebrations were held across the country this year, far more than what was seen in 2022. Sri Lanka is currently recovering from an economic crisis, which saw a shortage of fuel and gas, and daily power cuts in 2022. Islamabad, April 14 : The Pakistan Supreme Court on Friday ordered the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to release funds for the Punjab province elections, deepening the rift with the federal government, a media report said. A three-member SC bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, issued the directives after an in-chamber hearing as per sources, Geo News reported. On April 4, the apex court directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold elections in Punjab province on May 14, and the federal government to provide funds amounting to Rs 21 billion to the electoral body by April 10. However, the ECP submitted a report to the apex court on Tuesday stating that the federal government had not provided funds for the polls, Geo News reported. Subsequently, notices were issued to the concerned officials to appear before the court and explain the delay. In line with the summons, SBP Deputy Governor Sima Kamil, special secretary finance, additional secretary finance, ECP Secretary Omar Hameed and Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan appeared before the bench today. During the hearing, according to sources, judges expressed annoyance over the non-implementation of the court orders and told the government that the orders will have to be implemented, Geo News reported. The officials, privy to the details, said that AGP Awan was grilled over the government's stance during the hearing. Patna, April 14 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was accorded a grand welcome on Friday after his return from New Delhi, where he had gone on a mission to unify the opposition. The Janata Dal (U) workers welcomed him with rose petals in the party's head office in Patna. The party workers chanted slogans -- "Desh Ka Neta Kaisa Ho, Nitish Kumar Jaisa Ho (The country's leader should be like Nitish Kumar". The Chief Minister was in the party office to celebrate the birth anniversary of Bhim Rao Ambedkar. A large number of supporters were already present there and they welcomed him wholeheartedly. They showered rose petals on his car and him when he stepped out from the vehicle. The party workers were enthusiastic about the success Nitish Kumar met during his three day visit to Delhi. He met with several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Arvind Kejriwal, D. Raja, Sitaram Yechury and others. All the leaders have supported Nitish Kumar's cause for a united front against the BJP. Kumar is said to have given the formula of -- one candidate for one seat -- and sources have said that many leaders have supported this. Hyderabad, April 14 : Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Friday demanded that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao apologise to Dalits for what he called betraying the community. Sanjay said Chief Minister KCR "failed" to fulfill the promise to make a Dalit the first chief minister of Telangana. He alleged that KCR also went back on his promise to give three acres of land to every Dalit family. Sanjay alleged that the lands of Dalits were being encroached in the state. He was talking to reporters after paying tributes to Dr B. R. Ambedkar on his birth anniversary at BJP office. The BJP leader asked didn't KCR take part in Ambedkar Jayanti and Vardhanthi programmes all these years. "Didn't KCR insult Babasaheb by asking to rewrite the Constitution," asked Sanjay. He said if KCR was sincere about economic empowerment of Dalits, he should release white paper on Dalit Bandhu scheme. He also wanted to know why the BRS government was taking education and medicine away from the poor without providing funds for fee reimbursement and Arogyasri. On the installation of the 125-feet statue of Ambedkar in Hyderabad, the BJP leader claimed that the statue has seen the light of the day only because BJP raised the issue. He alleged that KCR was only focused on the Secretariat and had stopped work on the statue. Terming KCR "anti-Dalit", Sanjay said KCR had no right to unveil the statue of Ambedkar as he had insulted the late leader by not participating in his birth and death anniversary programmes in the past and by demanding to re-write the Indian Constitution. Noida, April 14 : The cyber police have arrested a man for online fraud of Rs 1.68 crore from Uttar Pradesh's Basti district. The accused, who had been absconding since two years, was arrested on Thursday. Station in-charge Rita Yadav stated that the accused - Durga Prasad Mishra, a resident of Nindaur police station area used to contact people through Facebook as a mediator of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Limited Company based in Canada and used to lure them to engage in online business of dry fruits. Several people had lodged complaints against him in 2021. According to the police, in 2018, the accused had opened an account in the name of DP Enterprises in Gujarat's Ankleshwar along with Sachiv aka Lallan Pandey and Santosh Tiwari, for which he was given a commission of Rs 50,000. The police has frozen around Rs 30 lakh in the accused's accounts. Hyderabad, April 14 : YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) president YS Sharmila on Friday offered to gift a copy of the Constitution to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to advise him to read it and govern the state accordingly. While paying tributes to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar at Tank Bund on his birth anniversary, she lashed out at the Chief Minister for "insulting" the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb. She slammed KCR for his utter "disregard in keeping promises" made to Dalits. She wanted to proceed to the Chief Minister's official residence to gift him a copy of the Constitution but was stopped by the police. "On this occasion, YSRTP is happy to gift Indian Constitution to KCR. We hope it opens his eyes and compels him to respect and implement the Constitution," said Sharmila. Sharmila alleged that KCR time and again insulted Babasaheb and the Constitution with his words and deeds. "In Telangana, KCR's constitution reigns supreme, where there is no freedom of speech and right to protest. KCR's constitution is all about corruption, nepotism, and fake promises. From Dalit Chief Minister to Dalit Bandhu, Dalits have been cheated and neglected," she said. "The government has failed to keep three-acre land promise, loans and employment promises, empower SC Corporation, while atrocities and attacks on Dalits go unchecked in the state," she claimed. New Delhi, April 14 : Cyber-security researchers on Friday expressed concerns after the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a cybersecurity alert that an Indonesian hacker group is planning to target hundreds of state and central government portals. "There have been reports that state and federal government websites may be targeted" by an Indonesian "hacktivista organisation, according to a cybersecurity notice issued by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), a division of the Ministry of Home Affairs. According to the notice, the Indonesian cyber attack group is purportedly targeting 1,200 government websites in the country. Ashish Tandon, Founder and CEO, Indusface, said that the massive wave of attacks launched by Indonesian hackers is a major cause of concern for the central and state governments. "While we are rapidly advancing down the path of digital transformation, there is still a major lack of attention given to cybersecurity aspects. DoS and DDoS attacks are among the largest attack types as they are easy to mount and can be crippling in effect," Tandon said in a statement. On-premises tools and website hosting, as is the case with most government departments, are inadequate to counter these threats. "While these might have worked a decade or two back, today, even hackers are using advanced cloud-based AI tech to launch attacks. It is time that the government focuses on shifting its digital infrastructure to the cloud," he advised. According to the I4C alert, the Indonesian hacktivist organisation has also issued a list of government websites that it claims to be targeting. In 2022, the Indian government registered 19 ransomware attacks on various government websites. Last year, a massive ransomware attack disrupted the systems at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), crippling its centralised records and other hospital services. New Delhi, April 14 : One month after his release from prison, the 53-year-old super thief alias Bunty chor, who inspired Bollywood movie 'Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!' and even participated in Big Boss season 4, was arrested by Delhi Police from Lucknow, an official said on Friday. With the arrest, luxury stolen items worth in lakhs were also recovered from his possession The official said that with the arrest of Devender Singh alias Bunty, two criminal cases of house burglaries and motor vehicle theft registered in Delhi have been worked out. According to police, on April 13, an FIR was registered in which a woman, a resident of M block, GK-II reported the theft of three expensive mobile phones, purse, two laptops, branded shoes, wrist watch and her Baleno car. Upon the same day, another case of house burglary was reported in which electrical items - a steam press, five Sony TVs with a set top box, and an LG Printer - were stolen from the CR Park area. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chandan Choudhary said that information about two house burglaries raised alarm in the area and a police team was tasked to work on the modus operandi and electronic surveillance on the both reported incidents. "The team started looking at the trail of CCTV footage of the suspect on route of the stolen car which revealed that it was going towards Noida through Alaknanda in CR Park," said the official. During investigation, the team checked the locations of stolen mobile phones and found one of the mobile phones switched on and its location was found near Agra, Uttar Pradesh on a highway. "The stolen mobile phone was kept on surveillance. Th team spotted the stolen car on a highway near Ettawah moving towards Kanpur. It started chasing the car and waited for the moment to stop the high speeding car running at a speed of around 120 km/hour safely and chased the car for a run of about 100 kms," said the official. "The car was intercepted at a toll booth in the area of Kanpur Dehat where Bunty tried to escape but he was apprehended," said the official. As per police, Bunty Chor has more than 250 previous involvements in the criminal cases registered across the national capital. Bunty started commission of burglary at the age of 14 in 1993. He gained fame when he went to the renowned reality show 'Big Boss' Season 4 in 2010 but was evicted from the show due to misbehaving with the maker and host Salman Khan. In 2013, he was arrested by the police of Thiruvantpuram, Kerala for committing night burglary in a house of a renowned businessman Nayyar where he stole the household articles and a high-end Mitsubishi Outlander car. Bunty was also convicted for a term of 10 years in the case which was completed by him in March, 2023. "He returned to Delhi after completing his sentence," said the official. The DCP said that the accused is pretending to be mentally unsound to avoid confrontation with the facts and recovery as he is very professional and a hardened criminal with knowledge of all the police procedures. Seoul, April 14 : Diplomats and defence officials from South Korea and Japan will hold joint talks next week for the first time in five years, Seoul's defence ministry said on Friday. The director-general-level policy consultation meeting, which will take place Monday in Seoul, comes after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to mend ties soured by historical disputes and step up security cooperation during a summit last month, Yonhap News Agency reported. South Korea will be represented by Seo Min-jung, director-general for Asia and Pacific affairs at the foreign ministry, and Woo Kyung-seok, deputy director-general for international policy at the defense ministry. Their Japanese counterparts are Takehiro Funakoshi, director-general of Asian and Oceanian affairs, and Atsushi Ando, deputy director-general of the Defense Policy Bureau. During the session, the two sides will discuss common interest issues, including the security situation in Northeast Asia and on the Korean Peninsula, their respective defence and security policies, and the direction for bilateral security cooperation, it said. The two countries' leaders agreed in a summit in Tokyo last month to resume various government dialogue channels that had been suspended amid strained ties due to historical disputes stemming from Japan's colonisation of the Korean Peninsula from 1910-45. The two sides last held the 11th session in Tokyo in March 2018. The joint consultation meeting first took place in 1998. Mumbai, April 14 : Former 'Bigg Boss 13' contestant Arti Singh has been roped in to play the role of Chandra Chachi in the new show 'Shravani'. Arti expressed her excitement about playing a negative role for the first time and said that she wanted to push the boundaries and surprise her fans with every project. She said: "I want to keep surprising my fans and myself with the roles I take on. I don't want to limit myself to playing just one type of character. That's why I am excited to play the role of a villain, it's a completely new challenge for me and I am ready to give it my all." 'Shravani' is inspired by the character of Shravan Kumar from 'Ramayana', who is known for his love and devotion towards his blind parents. Similarly, the lead character of the show, Shravani, played by Gaurika Sharma takes care of her parents who are visually impaired. Arti, who is known for 'Thoda Hai Bas Thode Ki Zaroorat Hai', 'Parichay', and 'Waaris', talked about her role and getting an opportunity to be part of the show. "I am grateful to the makers for trusting me with such a significant role in the show. I hope that through my performance, I can showcase my versatility as an actor and continue to evolve in my craft," she concluded. 'Shravani' will be airing soon on Shemaroo Umang. Naypyidaw, April 14 : Eight people, including five children, were killed and 31 others injured by a drone attack in Myanmar's Sagaing region, the Information Team of Myanmar's State Administration Council reported on Friday. The bomb attack carried out by a drone happened at around 5:40 p.m. local time on Thursday near a government school at a village in Sagaing township of Sagaing region, the report said, Xinhua News Agency reported. Four bombs were dropped by a drone in the attack on the eve of the traditional Thingyan water festival, it added. The victims are villagers including children who were celebrating the traditional Thingyan water festival, it said, adding that they were sent to the Sagaing hospital for medical treatment. On the same day, a bomb blast occurred in Lashio town of eastern Myanmar's Shan state, which also killed four people and injured 11, it said. Operations are underway to locate the perpetrators, it added. Los Angeles, April 14 : 'Django Unchained' star Jamie Foxx's medical emergency is said to be causing havoc with the filming for his latest movie. The star, 55, is in the middle of filming scenes for 'Back In Action', which also features Cameron Diaz and Glenn Close, reports Mirror.co.uk. However, the Hollywood veteran was rushed to hospital this week after experiencing a "medical complication." His family initially asked for fans to prayer for the star and he is now said to be recovering. His daughter Corinne Foxx said at the time, "Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time. Much love, The Foxx Family." However, as per Mirror.co.uk, while Jamie is said to be joking with his family once again, the incident is said to have left movie bosses scrambling to find the time to complete production. The Netflix film is being produced and directed by Horrible Bosses director Seth Gordon and was initially set for release later this year. Following the incident, it's reported a stand-in was used in Jamie's place. Kolkata, April 14 : Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday claimed if the BJP manages to win 35 of 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in the next year's general elections, the Trinamool Congress government in the state will collapse much before its term (till 2026). "If the people of West Bengal gift BJP 35 seats in 2024, then they will not have to wait even till 2026. Mamata Banerjee's government will collapse even before that," Shah said at a public rally at Suri in Birbhum district of West Bengal. However, during his 20-minute speech, the Home Minister did not utter a single word about the forthcoming polls for the three-tier panchayat system in West Bengal which is scheduled in 2023 only. Political observers feel that from his speech it is clear that just like in other states, the BJP has set the tone for 2024 Lok Sabha polls for West Bengal as well. During the speech, his attack against Trinamool Congress and the state government were mainly on two points, namely the incidents of scams, especially in recruitments and the recent clashes over Ram Navami processions in the state. The Union Home Minister even went to the extent of claiming that the high-handed approach of the chief minister had resulted in several Trinamool Congress leaders going behind bars. "It is just because of the 'Didi's Dadagiri' that so many leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress are currently behind bars. However, the chief minister may wish, but she would not be able to see her nephew (Abhishek Banerjee) as the next chief minister. Someone from the BJP would be the next chief minister of West Bengal," Shah said. Commenting on the recent clashes in Howrah and Hooghly districts over Ram Navami processions, Shah said the clashes were the result of the appeasement politics of Trinamool Congress and CM Mamata Banerjee. "If Narendra Modi returns as the Prime Minister for the third term in 2024, no one will dare anywhere in the country to stop Ram Navami processions," said the Home Minister. New Delhi, April 14 : Rafael Nadal, who has been struggling with an ongoing hip injury, on Friday announced that he will not compete at the upcoming Barcelona Open, saying he is still in the preparation process for his return. The 22-time Grand Slam winner remains doubtful for the French Open in May, where he is defending champion, as he has been out of action since his Australian Open second-round loss to American Mackenzie McDonald, where he aggravated a hip injury. The 36-year-old Spaniard had also withdrawn from the Indian Wells Masters and Miami Open as well as the ongoing Monte Carlo Masters due to grade 2 injury in the iliopsoas muscle in his left leg. "Barcelona is a special tournament for me because it's my adopted club and because playing at home is always a unique feeling," Nadal tweeted. "I'm still not prepared and therefore I'm still in my preparation process for the return to competition," he added. The Barcelona Open, where Nadal is a 12-time champion, starts on Monday and is one of the last big clay-court events before the French Open begins in Paris on May 28. Earlier, the Spaniard had fallen out of the top 10 in the ATP rankings for the first time since 2005 after missing nearly three months on tour. This year he has played four matches -- two at the United Cup and as many as at the Australian Open and lost three of them. His only win came against Britain's Jack Draper in the first round at Melbourne Park. Prayagraj : , April 14 (IANS) Top UP Police officials said on Friday that Asad and Ghulam, who were killed in an encounter of Thursday, had planned to attack convoy transporting dreaded gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed from Ahmedabad to Prayagraj. The two did not plan to attack the convoy and free Atiq Ahmad - as is being claimed by a section of media-- but to embarrass the UP government, create a sensation and prevent Atiq's frequent trips to UP. Asad, sources said, wanted questions to be raised on Atiq's security so that his transfer from Sabarmati jail in Gujarat to UP would be halted. Atiq's family was apparently worried about his security since he had been brought to Prayagraj twice in a month. The plan to kill Umesh Pal was hatched on February 11, officials said. Eight associates of Asad were also present in the meeting, reportedly arranged in collusion with prison authorities, with Atiq's brother Ashraf in Bareilly jail. There were no security cameras at the spot. Umesh Pal was murdered 13 days later. Atiq and Ashraf have confessed to the meeting, police sources said. After Umesh Pal's murder on February 24, Asad hid at a house in Prayagraj for a day, police sources said. He went to Kanpur on February 26 on a motorcycle, then to Delhi's Anand Vihar on a bus, and stayed at Jamia Nagar and Sangam Vihar areas in the south of the national capital. Asad left for Ajmer in Rajasthan on March 15 and headed to Mumbai later, after which he travelled to Jhansi through Nashik and Kanpur. He stayed for a few days at all of these places, police sources said. Asad did not travel by train and kept using buses or other means of road transport for his almost 4,000 km journey. On March 28, Atiq Ahmed was convicted by an MP-MLA court and sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment in the abduction case of now-dead Umesh Pal. Atiq Ahmed and his family came under the scanner as CCTV footage showed how Pal was murdered by indiscriminate firing and a bomb blast. Asad was seen chasing Umesh Pal with a gun in hand. Seoul, April 14 : South Korea's chief nuclear negotiator will visit Sweden and Germany next week to discuss issues related to the Korean Peninsula and North Korea's nuclear weapons programme, the foreign ministry said on Friday. Kim Gunn, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, will visit Stockholm on Monday and meet with Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Jan Knutsson, Yonhap News Agency reported. Kim plans to request Sweden's constructive role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between Seoul and Stockholm. Sweden holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of this year. The envoy will also meet with the chiefs of key research institutes in Sweden, including the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, to exchange views on the South Korean government's policy for North Korea and recent developments in the North. From Tuesday, Kim will visit Berlin for two days and meet with Minister of State Tobias Lindner to discuss ways the two countries can work together to counter North Korea's nuclear threat. New Delhi, April 14 : The Supreme Court collegium has recommended three judicial officers for appointment as judges of the Delhi High Court. The collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K.M. Joseph, in its recommendation dated April 12, recommended the elevation of Girish Kathpalia, Dharmesh Sharma, and Manoj Jain, as Judges of the High Court of Delhi. A statement uploaded on apex court's website said: "On 22 December 2022, the Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi in consultation with his two senior-most colleagues recommended the elevation of judicial officers as judges of the High Court of Delhi. The file was received in the Supreme Court from the Department of Justice on 07 April 2023." The collegium said for the purpose of assessing the merit and suitability of the above-named judicial officers for elevation to the High Court of Delhi, "we have scrutinised and evaluated the material placed on record including the observations made by the Department of Justice and certain complaints/representations placed before us". On Kathpalia, the collegium said the Judgment Evaluation Committee has graded judgments authored by him as "outstanding" and he is the senior-most member of the Delhi Higher Judicial Service. "The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has reported that he has a good personal and professional image and that nothing adverse has come to notice against his integrity. We have considered the opinion of consultee-Judges with regard to his suitability for elevation... the Collegium is of the considered opinion that Girish Kathpalia is fit and suitable for appointment as a Judge of the High Court of Delhi", it added. On Sharma, the collegium said the inputs of the IB are evaluated in conjunction with the opinion of consultee judges who have with their long years of experience in the High Court of Delhi observed the conduct and work performance of the officer and the Judgment Evaluation Committee has graded judgments authored by him as "outstanding". "In view of the above and on an overall consideration of the proposal for his elevation, the Collegium is of the considered opinion that Dharmesh Sharma is suitable for appointment as a Judge of the High Court of Delhi", it added. On Jain, the collegium said the IB has reported that he has a good personal and professional image and that nothing adverse has come to notice against his integrity. "In view of the above, the Collegium is of the considered opinion that Manoj Jain is suitable for appointment as a Judge of the High Court of Delhi," it added. The collegium further added, "While considering the above proposal, the Collegium has also taken note of the fact that the above proposal involves non-recommendation of a senior Judicial Officer. In this regard, we have gone through Minutes of the High Court Collegium, which has duly recorded reasons for not recommending the name of the Judicial Officer. We are in agreement with the justification given by the High Court Collegium in its Minutes for not recommending the senior Judicial Officer". New Delhi, April 14 : An associate of Neeraj Bawana-Parvesh Mann gang, tasked with collecting money after getting directions from his handlers, has been arrested, a Delhi Police official said on Friday. The accused has been identified as Shubham Sehrawat, a resident of Rohini and a semi-automatic pistol, a country-made firearm and seven bullets were recovered from his possession. According to police, on Tuesday, specific inputs were received that one associate of Neeraj Bawana-Parvesh Mann gang will come near Sector-11, Rohini and may be carrying illegal weapons with him. "Acting on the inputs, a police team was formed. A raid was conducted and Shubham was intercepted while he was travelling in his Hyundai Creta SUV near Sector-11, Rohini. He was apprehended," Deputy Commissioner of Police, Outer North, Ravi Kumar Singh said. On interrogation, Shubham told police that he used to collect money on the direction of Bawana and Mann from various persons as directed by his handlers. "He was properly brainwashed by his handlers and was ready to do anything on their directions. Shubham's cousin Sanju Sehrawat was an associate of Neeraj Bawana-Parvesh Mann through which he came in contact with those people. He is already involved in one case of attempt to culpable homicide," the DCP said. Hyderabad, April 14 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) President and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday exuded confidence of coming to power at the Centre in the next year's elections. "We will form the government in 2024," he said while addressing a public meeting after unveiling 125-feet statue of Dr B. R. Ambedkar in Hyderabad. KCR, as Rao is popularly known, claimed that his BRS is receiving tremendous response in Maharashtra. "The response is beyond our expectations. Tomorrow we will get a similar response from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal and everywhere," he said. He recalled that when he had left for Delhi in 2014, he had stated that he was leaving Andhra Pradesh and will return to Telangana. "With the same self-confidence, I am saying the next government in the country will be ours," he said. KCR remarked that this may look far-fetched to their rivals but it all needs a spark to bring the change. He vowed to follow on the path shown by Babasaheb Ambedkar and fight to keep the country in line until the last drop of his blood. KCR said after the formation of the government, the Dalit Bandhu scheme will be implemented across the country, benefiting 25 lakh Dalit families every year. Under the scheme being implemented in Telangana, every Dalit family is being provided Rs 10 lakh financial assistance to start economic activity of its own. He said 50,000 Dalit families in Telangana have so far benefited under the scheme while another 1.25 lakh families will be benefited during the current financial year. The Chief Minister announced that the state government will spend Rs 3 crore every year to give awards in the name of Ambedkar to those making valuable contributions in different fields at the national and state levels. He said a Rs 51 crore corpus for the award would be set aside immediately. Stating that Ambedkar's ideals are still relevant, the BRS chief called for efforts to fulfill his dreams. KCR said it was unfortunate that even 70 years after the Indian Constitution came into effect, Dalits from Kashmir to Kanyakumari remained poor. "Parties are winning. One party comes to power after another but people are not winning. This situation should change. There is a need for people, especially Dalit intellectuals to ponder over this," he said. The Chief Minister said Ambedkar's tallest statue has been installed close to the Secretariat so that the Chief Minister, ministers, secretaries and other staff coming are constantly reminded of the ideals and vision of the great leader. Mumbai, April 14 : Bollywood star Alia Bhatt is celebrating one year of marital bliss with actor Ranbir Kapoor on Friday. To mark the occasion, the 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' actress took to her Instagram to share a few throwback pictures of her with Ranbir with the caption "Happy Day". As soon as she shared the pictures, her friends from the industry took to the comments section to wish the actress. Actor-director Riteish Deshmukh wrote, "Happy 1st." Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar reacted to the pictures with heart emojis, while 'Brahmastra' co-actor Mouni Roy wrote, "Happy first you both". Actress Bipasha Basu, who recently welcomed a baby girl, said, "Happy anniversary to both you cuties." Alia and Ranbir tied the nuptial knot on April 13, 2022 at Ranbir's 'Vastu' residence in the Pali Hill area of Mumbai. The two fell in love on the sets of 'Brahmastra' and materialised their union in an intimate ceremony. In November 2022, Ranbir and Alia became parents to their daughter Raha. New Delhi, April 14 : A 35-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a shopkeeper following a quarrel between the two in the national capital's Shahdara area, the police said on Friday. The arrested individual has been identified as Anil Kumar, a resident of Shanti Mohalla. A police officer said that the knife used in the commission of crime has been recovered from his possession. On Tuesday, an FIR was registered under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code at Krishna Nagar police station on the basis of a complaint filed by the victim, Shokeen -- a resident of Gandhi Nagar. Shokeen mentioned in the complaint that on Tuesday, at around 8.30 p.m., a person, who was drunk, had come to his shop to buy cigarettes. A quarrel took place between them, and the accused went away. After five minutes, he again came back and stabbed Shokeen with a knife. "The accused was apprehended from Loni near Ghaziabad on the basis of call details record, CCTV footage and through extensive human intelligence," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Rohit Meena said. New Delhi, April 14 : Researchers have started monitoring a smishing campaign in which malicious SMS texts are being sent out trying to trick users of certain Indian banks, a new report said on Friday. According to cybersecurity company Sophos, the smish campaign consists of a text with a link addressed to customers of the most popular Indian banks. It sends a text falsely claiming that the recipient's bank account will be blocked, and telling the recipient to update their PAN and AADHAR card information on their accounts. The text also includes a link to an Android Package (APK) file. According to the researchers, this campaign is targeting customers looking to file returns in tax season and to update their year-end financial results. Moreover, the report mentioned that the link downloads an APK and after installation, this APK opens fake (but lookalike) bank login pages - abusing not only recipients but the banks' brands. The APK then tries to acquire the recipient's login, password, debit card number, and ATM pin. If the recipient enters any personal information, the data gets exfiltrated to a remote server owned by the attackers rather than the bank. Further, the report explained that the APK also has the ability to read the contents of SMS texts when they are received, possibly to extract any OTP codes issued by the bank. Mumbai, April 14 : One person has been arrested for allegedly making a hoax call that three terrorists with Pakistani links have entered the city from Dubai, police said on Friday. The threat call was received at the Mumbai Police Control Room on April 7 from Raja Thonge of Pune, claiming that the three desperadoes had sneaked into Mumbai that morning, with possible nefarious motives. He even identified one of the terrorists as Mujib Mustafa Syed, provided his mobile phone numbers, the registration number of the vehicle in which they were travelling and other details. The Mumbai Police, along with the Nashik Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS), launched simultaneous investigations to catch the so-called 'terrorists' but found that actually the caller had given false information. "The caller's real name is Yasin Yakub Syed, and he is actually the cousin of the alleged terrorist Mujib Mustafa Syed whose identity he had tipped off in his call," said the officials. Armed with the information, the police and ATS tracked Yasin through tech-intel, CCTV and picked him up. He cracked down under sustained police questioning and spilled the beans. He confessed to making the fake terror threat call ostensibly to trap his cousin Muji) in a police case as they had an ongoing old dispute over an ancestral property of over 5,500 square feet in their native place Bhavaninagar in Ahmednagar district. After the revelations, the Azad Maidan Police Station has arrested Yasin under various IPC sections and further investigations are underway for the fraud played on them that led to the chase by the police and ATS teams. New Delhi, April 14 : India and Spain are looking forward to considerable progress in the ongoing India-European Union (EU) free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations during the upcoming Spanish presidency of the EU from July to December this year. Both the nations have also agreed to further extend cooperation in sectors like civil aviation, automation, surveillance, high speed railways and related segments. These aspects came under discussion during the 12th session of the India-Spain joint commission for economic cooperation (JCEC), which was held on April 13 here. Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal and Xiana Mendez, Spanish Secretary of State for Trade, co-chaired the session, as both the sides celebrated the Golden Jubilee edition of the India-Spain Joint Commission mechanism which was established in 1972. With an investment of $3.7 billion, 250 Spanish companies are active in India and 40 Indian companies are present in Spain, working in different sectors such as IT, pharma, renewable energy, automobiles and infrastructure, among others. Xiana emphasised on the importance of the India-Spain relationship and the Spanish partnership in India's development stories. Both sides also agreed on further cooperation in the field of renewable energy, shipping, ports, tourism, infrastructure, etc. Both sides also discussed various market access issues faced by their exporters and agreed to resolve the same through bilateral discussions. Chandigarh, April 14 : Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal on Friday sought repeal of all "anti-democratic and repressive black laws" like the National Security Act (NSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and called for stoppage of their "rampant and brazen abuse" by the AAP government in Punjab. "It is an attempt to distract attention of the people from the brazen incompetence and failures of the ruling party to honour its commitments to Punjabis," said Badal. The Akali Dal chief shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention for repeal of these "black laws" in the light of experience and their adverse impact on the country's image as the world's largest democracy. Badal said the AAP government has turned these repressive laws into weapons against members of the Khalsa Panth, especially the innocent Sikh youth. "Even innocent members of Sikh families, including the elderly, the women and children are being subjected to repression." Slamming the state government for "launching an unprecedented crackdown against the innocent and patriotic Sikh community", Badal said the government was picking up Sikh youth on mere suspicion and booking them under repressive laws and sending them to far-off places like Dibrugarh. Seeking the intervention of the Prime Minister to repeal such laws, former state Home Minister Badal said such law is being abused to target the political opponents, including democratically elected leaders. New Delhi, April 14 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday said that branding everyone as "anti-nationals" is a dangerous trend. "The culture of forcing silence on anyone - be it opposition parties, civil society groups, activists, NGOs, judiciary, media and ordinary citizens and branding them as 'anti-nationals' is a dangerous trend, that will finish our democracy and destroy our Constitution," he said in a statement. The Congress chief also alleged that the Parliament has been converted into an arena of combat rather than debate and not by the opposition, but by the ruling party itself. "It is time for serious introspection whether we would allow the degradation of our democracy and pave the way for dictatorship or try to preserve and protect the finest ideals of our Constitution makers. The choice remains with us and only us," he added. Kharge hailed Dr B.R. Ambedkar, on his birth anniversary on Friday, as a champion of the democratic principles of liberty, equality, fraternity, and justice. "He was firm in his commitment to the transformation of India and its society, both economically and socially. We all greatly respect him as the Architect of India's Constitution," he said. Ambedkar was instrumental in establishing a large number of robust institutions and made several important interventions to end caste discrimination, gender inequality and divisive politics, he added. Kolkata, April 14 : A fresh tiff has erupted between the Raj Bhavan and the state secretariat in West Bengal with Education Minister Bratya Basu on Friday launching a scathing attack against Governor C.V. Ananda Bose over the latter's recent survey visits to different state universities. "The manner in which the Governor is roaming around like a white elephant to different universities is not realistic, proper or as per the norms. We never showed any arrogance towards the new Governor. We want to cooperate with him. But he is misusing his powers and going beyond his limits again and again," Basu told mediapersons on Friday. The minister also questioned the Governor's authority to sanction funds for the universities. "The funds announced by the Governor will come from the state exchequer. How can he make such announcements without consulting the education department," Basu asked. He also referred to the Bill passed in the state Assembly replacing the Governor with the Chief Minister as the chancellor of state universities, which is yet to be cleared by the Raj Bhavan. "Either he should clear the Bill or send it back to the state government. For me, the Chief Minister is the chancellor of state universities," Basu said. Recently there have been tiffs between the Governor's House and state secretariat on a number of issues, which began with the replacement of Nandini Chakraborty as the principal secretary to the Governor. Later, issues like attack on the convoy of Union minister Nisith Pramanik, slanderous postering in front of the residence of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha of the Calcutta High Court, and the recent clashes over Ram Navami processions drew strongly-worded statements from the Governor. Trinamool Congress also did not take the Governor's decision to review the security arrangements for Hanuman Jayanti lightly, with party spokesman Kunal Ghosh taking jibes at the Governor on that issue. Sabina Mammadli The United States Embassy in Azerbaijan commented on the videos of the torture of the missing Azerbaijani servicemen by Armenians, Azernews reports. Similarly, UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan Fergus Auld noted that such cases of violence must be condemned to achieve sustainable peace in the region. The envoy noted that such treatment is unacceptable under international humanitarian law. In the circulated video, an Azerbaijani military serviceman is being beaten with his hands tied, and his dignity is being humiliated. 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. Kohima/Dimapur, April 14 : Days after four influential Naga organisations urged the Central government to "honour its word" in the Ceasefire Agreement (1997) and Framework Agreement (2015) and "resolve the Naga political impasse accordingly", Central government envoy on the Naga political issue A.K. Mishra has held separate meetings with the NSCN-IM and other Naga bodies. Sources in the know of things said on Friday that Mishra, a retired Intelligence Bureau officer, held separate meetings with a high-level 20-member delegation of the NSCN-IM led by its Secretary General Thuingaleng Muivah and the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) on Thursday at the Chumoukedima police complex in Dimapur. NSCN-IM leader Rh Raising Thangkul said that they have reiterated to solve the Naga political issue on the basis of the Framework Agreement, signed in August 2015. Like previous occasions, Mishra and other leaders of the NSCN-IM and the NNPG did not disclose any details of the closed-door meeting. In the meetings, Mishra was accompanied by Intelligence Bureau joint director Mandeep Singh Tulli and Nagaland's intelligence officer Don Jose. However, an NNPG leader on the condition of anonymity said that they expressed their displeasure on the delay of the decades-old unresolved Naga political issue. The Centre has been in talks with the NNPGs since 2017. Four influential Naga organisations, including the powerful Naga Hoho, last week urged the Central government to honour its word in the Ceasefire Agreement (1997) and Framework Agreement (2015) and "resolve the Naga political impasse accordingly". The four Naga bodies -- the Naga Hoho, the Naga Mothers' Association, the Naga Students' Federation, and the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights, in a joint statement had said that the government must "stop its militarisation and military operations". "The Naga political conflict cannot be solved militarily and must be solved politically, as admitted by no less than three Indian Army Generals and others," the statement noted. The Centre has been holding separate negotiations with the dominant Naga outfit NSCN-IM since 1997 and the NNPG, comprising at least seven groups, since 2017. A Framework Agreement was signed with NSCN-IM in 2015 and Agreed Position with NNPGs in 2017. The stalemate continued as the NSCN-IM remained firm on its demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas. Kolkata, April 14 : West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay on Friday reminded the judiciary of its limits. After attending an event to mark the 132nd birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar in the Assembly premises, Bandopadhyay said that if the judiciary considers itself as supreme in every matter, it is not a good signal for democracy. "Everyone has a specific sphere of operation. The administration should perform administrative duties, and the judiciary should perform its related duties. The judiciary should allow the state government to perform independently," the Speaker said. His observations came just a day after Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay gave permission to the CBI and the ED to question Trinamool Congress' national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee over the allegations levelled by expelled youth Trinamool leader Kuntal Ghosh that the central agencies are putting pressure on him to name Banerjee in the multi-crore teacher recruitment scam in West Bengal. In fact, Trinamool spokesman Kunal Ghosh had also launched a scathing attack against Justice Gangopadhyay following the latter's observations in the court on Thursday. However, unlike Ghosh, Bandopadhyay did not take the name of Justice Gangopadhyay. When specifically asked by mediapersons the reason for his observations about the judiciary, the Speaker said that instances of judicial interference have become quite common in recent days. "If someone feels he can summon anyone, tomorrow he might feel like summoning the Assembly speaker. But that will not be desirable. He should understand that no such message should go out that the court is getting biased at any point," Bandopadhyay said. Visakhapatnam, April 14 : In another U-turn on the disinvestment process of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, the Centre on Friday said that the process is in progress. A day after Union Minister of State for Steel Faggan Singh Kulaste said in Visakhapatnam that the Centre will not go ahead with the privatisation, the ministry of steel on Friday issued a statement that there is no freeze on the disinvestment process of RINL. Clarifying about some media reports regarding hold on the disinvestment process of RINL, the Steel Ministry said that disinvestment process of the RINL is under progress and efforts are being made by the company and supported by the government to improve the performance of RINL and keep it as a going concern. Kulaste had said in Visakhapatnam on Thursday that the Centre will focus on strengthening Vizag Steel Plant (VSP) rather than privatising it. Meanwhile, protesting against the new U-turn, VSP employees took to the streets on Friday. They sat on a dharna on the national highway near Kurmannapalem crossroads and set afire the effigy of the Central government. Police tried to detain the protestors but they resisted the attempt. This led to mild tension. The VSP employees have threatened to intensify their protest. The employees, who have been protesting for more than two years, demanded that the Centre take back its disinvestment plan. Employees said people of Andhra Pradesh made many sacrifices for the plant and they will not allow the sale of the plant. Patna, April 14 : A man, who allegedly snatched a mobile in Bihar's Bettiah on Friday, was brutally thrashed by a mob after he could not escape the spot, police said. Residents of Bettiah are facing the problem of mobile and chain snatching for the past few months. On Friday, two snatchers, travelling on a bike, tried to snatch a mobile phone of a person in Muharram area under the town police station. The local residents chased them, and in a process, the bikers met with an accident at Muharram Chowk. While the man driving the bike escaped, but the snatcher, who was riding pillion, was caught and brutally assaulted, as per the video going viral on social media. "After hearing the incident of a robber who was brutally assaulted by local residents, we immediately went there and rescued him. The accused was an active member of the snatcher gang. One of the robbers managed to flee from the spot. We are making efforts to identify his location. He will be arrested soon," said Rajiv Kumar, SHO of the town police station. Sonipat, April 14 : Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday said "our ancestors gave lives to enable India to get freedom and frame the Constitution and now the Congress will make any sacrifice to protect the Constitution". Addressing the Samvidhan Bachao Rally as part of the Jai Bharat Satyagrah here, the Leader of Opposition said such a large turnout showed that the people have now decided that they just have to wait for the elections. The crowds turned up despite the peak season of crop harvesting and mercury crossing 42 degrees Celsius. Hooda recounted the legacy of the Congress and said "our elders fought for freedom and made sacrifices for making the Constitution of the country. In the present situation, some forces want to weaken the Constitution". "The BJP government cancelled the membership of party leader Rahul Gandhi to suppress the voice of the Opposition," he said. He said the Congress would not allow the Constitution to be weakened, nor it would allow the voice of Rahul Gandhi to be suppressed. "A strong India needs a strong Constitution. On the birth anniversary of Bhimrao Ambedkar, let us take a pledge that we would not allow anyone to weaken the rights enshrined in the Constitution," he said. Haryana unit party president Uday Bhan said on the ideology of Bhimrao Ambedkar, the Congress made laws like the Right to Education, the Right to Information and the Right to Food. "The Congress brought the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to empower the weak, backward, exploited and deprived sections of society," he said. Kaza : , April 14 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Friday reached the picturesque Spiti Valley on his three-day visit to Lahaul-Spiti district where locals accorded a grand welcome to him with traditional costumes and musical instruments. The Chief Minister offered prayers at the famous Kungri and Dhankhar Gompa and wished for the happiness and prosperity of the people. Residents of the valley, largely the Buddhist, welcomed the Chief Minister by presenting the traditional attires to Sukhu and his wife, Kamlesh Thakur. Starting the speech by saying 'Jule', meaning hello, while addressing a gathering at Kungri Gompa, the Chief Minister said the emphasis would be laid on the maximum use of technology to strengthen the infrastructure in the region with focus on economy. He said 4G mobile phone services would be extending up to the Spiti Valley. The government was well aware of the difficulties faced by the tribal areas and was working with commitment to make their daily life more comfortable and accessible. He said to solve their problems, a plan would be prepared and implemented in consultation with local MLA Ravi Thakur. After assuming office, he has come on a visit to Spiti for the first time and the rich cultural heritage of the valley was invaluable, said Sukhu. The government is determined for the development of the tribal areas and this year a state-level function is being celebrated at Kaza on Himachal Day, which falls on April 15. "This would further strengthen the culture of the region and connect with the people here," he added. The Chief Minister said the government was taking concrete steps to bring back the economy which was in the trough due to the financial mismanagement of the previous government and the positive results would be seen in the next four years. He assured that with the cooperation of all, Himachal would be among the most prosperous states of the country in the next 10 years. He said with the aim of strengthening the rural economy, special provisions have been made in this state Budget. He added along with providing financial assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh to eligible widows for house construction, a provision has been made for education loan at one per cent interest to poor children for higher education. Linking solar energy with self-employment, the state government has made a provision of 40 per cent subsidy for solar power projects ranging from 250 kW to 2 MW, which would provide means of income to the youth, he said. The Chief Minister announced Rs 50 lakh for the Kungri monastery on the occasion. While welcoming the Chief Minister, MLA Ravi Thakur thanked him for his three-day stay in the area and organising the state-level Himachal Day here at Kaza for the first time. He said during his stay, the Chief Minister would also get an opportunity to know the customs and traditions of the valley. Forty global leaders including former US secretary of state Hilary Clinton have expressed "deep concerns for...[the] well-being" of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus in an open letter to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The letter appeared as a full-page ad in the Washington Post on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 but was not considered worth a news item by the Post. Topping the list of signatories was Hilary Clinton, a well-known friend of Muhammed Yunus. The letter comes at a time the US is putting huge pressure on Bangladesh to play ball on strategic issues (like support for a no-fly zone over Myanmar) and has weaponized the human rights issue by issuing sanctions against seven top officials of Rapid Action Battalion including Banazir Ahmed who later became Bangladesh police chief. This is a move calculated to demoralize the Bangladesh security apparatus which has fought the jihadi menace successfully so far, an effort that even earned praise from a former FBI counter-terrorism chief. The timing of this "open letter" seems to anticipate some strong penal action against the Nobel Laureate as the inquiry started by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against the board of directors of Grameen Telecom, including its former Chairman Dr Muhammad Yunus over embezzlement of the welfare funds of the employees and laundering of Tk 3,000 crore, is reportedly nearing its end. The anti-graft body initiated the inquiry following a report submitted by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments of the Ministry of Labour and Employment against the board of directors of the telecom company. The company's board of directors allegedly embezzled Tk 2,977 crore by transferring it to other affiliated companies of Grameen Telecom, ACC officials have said. It is an open secret that Yunus tried to float a political party with US backing during the military-backed caretaker regime (2006-2008). Muhammad Yunus, appeared to have been aware of the risks involved in entering Bangladesh politics when he told Henry Jardine, the US Consul General in Kolkata at that time, that he was aware of the "potentially bruising response" it would provoke. A cable (>96421: unclassified) sent on February 13, 2007 from the U.S. Consulate details the conversation between Mr. Jardine and Mr. Yunus. Now as a lawyer of some consequence, let me pose four questions for these 'bleeding heart' westerners who are so worried about Yunus. Is Yunus above the law just because he won the Nobel Prize and received other awards? The open letter highlights Muhammad Yunus as one of seven people in history to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, and the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. Now my question is why is the USA's present government trying to bring to justice Donald Trump for allegedly making away with state secrets? Perhaps because the US Constitution talks of equality before law and equal treatment of all citizens. Not even past presidents can get away if they have violated the law of the land. So, if Yunus is found conclusively guilty of the charges levelled against him, he will be punished under provisions of the Bangladesh Constitution. The US makes much of its commitment to fight against terror (Islamist terror, isn't it) but its actions in Bangladesh are weakening the party and the government that has fought Islamist terror since it came to power in Dec 2008. Does Mr Biden believe someone like Yunus, who is trying to sneak into the helm with US backing, will be able to hold fort against the fundamentalist forces who are active as never before? He seems to be another Ashraf Ghani in the making. Sheikh Hasina has demonstrated single-minded toughness in fighting terror and put down these elements even after the Holey Artisan Bakery terror strike. If Yunus is the all-popular messiah of the poor as he is made out to be and if, as he once threatened, Grameen Bank beneficiaries account for one-fourth of the country's population, why did he want to enter politics through the backdoor with support of a military junta which was backing a caretaker that had clearly exceeded its constitutional brief of holding elections within the specified constitutional time frame. In West Bengal, Nobel Laureate and celebrated economist Amartya Sen had to defend his case with documents and legal advice when the Vishwa Bharati University alleged he had illegally encroached on some of the university lands. He did not enjoy any special favours - so the same be the case with Dr. Yunus. He can't get away just because he is a Nobel laureate and has donated a lot of funds to the Clinton foundation. I pitch for Dr Yunus' democratic right to form a political party and fight elections - we would love to take him on. But my only request to Dr Yunus is face the people and prove yourself. Politicians parachuted by the US have not been able to stay in power despite US military backing - Ashraf Ghani, former Afghan president, is a classic example. Indian president Pranab Mukherjee once told Hilary Clinton that the battle against Islamist terror in Bangladesh has to be fought by "home-grown secular forces" and not by "Us Marines with bulging biceps". So, my request to Mr Biden and Ms Clinton - please let us fight our battles and if Yunus is worth his salt, please advise him as leaders of a democratic country to contest elections and win them if possible. (Tarana Halim is an actress-playwright, lawyer and former minister who is now a Central Executive Committee Member of Awami League) (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative New Delhi, April 14 : Notorious gangster and an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Prince Tewatia was allegedly killed by his rival gang members in Tihar jail on Friday. Sources said that Tewatia was lodged in central jail number-3 of Tihar. "The incident occurred around 5 p.m. and an investigation has been initiated into the matter," said an official. In December last year, Tewatia was arrested by the Crime Branch for his involvement in a sensational case of carjacking in the national capital. The 30-year-old Prince Tewatia was previously also involved in 16 cases, including murder and attempt to murder. Tewatia had come out from jail on parole for a month and had to surrender on October 27 but he did not. Instead, he along with his associates planned to take revenge from rival gangsters at whose direction one Kunal had attacked him with a blade and caused injuries to his face while he was in jail, the police said. Tewatia had then allegedly threatened an SUV owner with a loaded pistol and robbed his Fortuner car at gunpoint. He was first arrested by police in 2010 for murder. While appearing for his case in Court, he produced a fake birth certificate so that he could be treated as a juvenile but was caught and a forgery case was registered against him on the court's orders. New Delhi, April 14 : The four accused in the grisly Kanjhawala case -- where a 20-year-old woman was killed after being dragged under a car for several kilometres -- were identified on the basis of a CCTV footage, witnesses' statements, and scientific evidence, the Delhi Police said in its 800-page charge sheet. The four accused, namely Amit Khanna, Krishan, Manoj Mittal and Mithun, were present in the car, according to the final report. Including the victim Anjali Singh's friend, the charge sheet mentions statements of total six eyewitnesses. The others are the person who informed police about the body, an autorickshaw driver, and a person who was in the car with the four accused but was dropped at Sultanpuri before the incident. "It has also been revealed by the footage that the accused knew that the victim was entangled. The accused didn't try to save the life of the woman. After getting back in the car, they intentionally dragged her for a long distance to kill her," the charge sheet claimed. It stated that the DNA profile generated from the strands of hairs recovered from the car matched with the profile generated from the blood samples of Khanna, Mittal, and Krishan. According to the charge sheet, blood spots on the accused's clothes matched the DNA profile generated from the blood sample of the victim. Police charge sheet said: "A forensic science laboratory team lifted the blood in gauze from the offending car and the spot where the body of the deceased was found. The DNA profile thus prepared matched with the DNA profile prepared from the blood in gauze preserved during the post-mortem of the deceased." Accused and car owner Ashutosh Bhardwaj had given it to Amit Khanna, who did not possess a valid driving licence, as per the report. Moreover, alcohol above the permissible limit was present in Khanna's blood test, the report said. "During the interrogation, Bhardwaj disclosed that when he came to know about the incident and that the person driving the car did not possess a valid driving licence, he, Ankush Khanna and other accused planned to plant another person possessing a valid driving licence as the driver of the offending car at the time of the incident," the charge sheet said. "Bhardwaj helped in the disappearance of the evidence of offence and gave false information to shield the accused," it said. Delhi's Rohini court on Thursday took cognisance of the charge sheet against seven accused filed by the police. 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. Accused Deepak Khanna, 26, Amit Khanna, 25, Krishan (27), Mithun (26) and Manoj Mittal were arrested on January 2. Two other co-accused Bhardwaj and Ankush Khanna, 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) 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 km. New Delhi, April 14 : Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud on Friday said that the Centre should adopt mediation in a big way instead of taking recourse to litigation for resolving disputes. Mediation is a process that involves resolving disagreements, bringing together various stakeholders, and finding a common ground, he said at a national seminar on 'Mediation: At The Dawn of a Golden age' held at the Delhi High Court. The event was organised by the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre, Samadhan under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority and the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee. The CJI stressed said that when the government, which is the largest litigator in the country, mediates, it sends a message that in the framework of law, the government is not an adversarial opponent to the citizens. "The government must adopt the robes of a friend, a partner and a problem solver," the CJI said. "The framers of the our Constitution recognised the need to create a document should reflect the will and aspirations of our people. They had to create a framework to resolve many disagreements," he highlighted. He said that in today's fraught times, mediation has an important message for us as citizens. "Are we losing our ability to talk to each other across the spectrum? Are we losing our ability to engage in reasoned dialogue?" he asked, pointing out how mediation helps in listening to others' viewpoint. "Is it not necessary therefore that we should pick up something from mediation which is, importantly, being good listeners, understanding the other's point of view and not only insisting that the dogma we espouse is the only dogma which is relevant to the times," he said. Patna, April 14 : After his visit to Delhi to meet prominent opposition leaders, Bihar Chief Nitish Kumar on Friday said that he had decided to go across the country to unite opposition parties. Addressing a gathering at the JD-U office here on the occasion of B.R. Ambedkar's birth anniversary, he made a dig at the Narendra Modi government, saying that people sitting at the Center do not believe in work, but only believe in publicity. "We believe in work and doing many things for the welfare of common people. On the other hand, people sitting in the Centre have nothing to do with the work. They just want to do advertisements. These people have no contribution in the freedom struggle and hence they want to change the history of the country," he said. As Nitish Kumar reached the JD-U office, he was given a grand welcome with rose petals showered on him and the chant of slogan 'Desh ka PM kaisa ho Nitish Kumar jaisa ho'. On his Delhi visit, he said: "We have had deep discussions with leaders of Congress, AAP and left parties. All of them agreed on opposition unity. I have decided to visit across the country to unite the maximum number of people of the opposition parties. "I have been advocating for opposition unity ever since the formation of the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar. Everyone appreciated my decision to leave the NDA. I was waiting for the call for 7 months and when they (Congress leaders) called me, I went there and interacted with them." Patna, April 14 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday appealed to his supporters to avoid chanting his name as the next Prime Minister of the country. Addressing a gathering of JD-U workers at the party headquarters here, Nitish Kumar said that such slogans would derail the work he is doing at the moment. "I request all of you with folded hands to avoid chanting my name as the Prime Minister of the country. I am working on uniting the opposition parties in the country to fight against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Such an act may hurt our aim. So please avoid chanting my name," Nitish Kumar said. The reaction of the Chief Minister came after his party workers gave him a grand welcome at the head office of JD-U on Friday, throwing rose petals on him after his tour of Delhi where he met key opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Arvind Kejriwal, Sitaram Yechuri and D. Raja. Nitish Kumar also appealed to the people of Bihar not to vote for the BJP. "The BJP has done nothing for the people of the country. We had demanded special status for Bihar, but they did not accord that. They only believe in framing the leaders of the opposition parties in false cases. "They have nothing to do with the common people. If you vote for them, you would destroy yourself, and if you vote against them, your state and the country will progress on the development path," the Chief Minister said. Patna, April 14 : Thieves made off an entire mobile tower in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, police said on Friday. The mobile tower, belonging to GTAL company, was installed in the house of Manisha Kumari, located in Shramjivi Nagar area under Sadar police station in the city. The mobile phone tower was found missing when company officials reached the house of Manisha Kumari to inspect it. A generator set, shelter, and stabiliser were also missing from the place. Company official Shahnawaz Anwar lodged an FIR against unknown persons in Sadar police station of the district. During investigation, Manisha Kumari told police that some persons, claiming to be employees of GTAL, came a few months ago and said that the mobile tower is not functional and hence, they are removing it. They had removed all the equipment, loaded it onto a pick-up van and taken it away. The value of equipment was estimated to be Rs 4.5 lakh. This is the second time when a mobile tower was stolen in Bihar. Earlier, a mobile tower was stolen from the Sabji Bagh area of Patna in a similar fashion. New Delhi, April 14 : Delhi Police has apprehended five persons, including three juveniles, for allegedly killing an 18-year-old youth here in the Ambedkar Nagar area, an official said on Friday. The official said that the accused had some enmity going on between the deceased, identified as Rahul, and one of the juveniles. According to the official, one of the accused wanted to speak with Rahul's female friend but was not allowed to do so. As a result, he and a group of others gathered near MB Road with the intent of "punishing Rahul", and attacked him with knives. Rahul, a resident of Dakshinpuri, was stabbed to death in the Ambedkar Nagar area on Tuesday night. "At around 10.07 p.m., the Ambedkar Nagar police station received a call regarding a stabbing incident following which a police team rushed to the spot. Rahul succumbed to his injuries during treatment and a case under section 302 (murder) of the IPC has been registered," a police officer said. During the investigation, with the help of CCTV footage, two out of the five culprits were identified. "Through extensive surveillance and technical analysis, their location was zeroed down. Immediately, the police team tasked with the investigation conducted a raid and apprehended two persons. On the instance of the apprehended accused, the remaining three persons were also apprehended," said the official. "Three minors and two accused, Akshay (18), a resident of Krishna Park, and Rahul (18), a resident of Devli, have been apprehended and further investigation is going on," the police officer added. Aden, April 15 : Yemen's warring parties began a three-day exchange of more than 880 prisoners, marking a significant step toward peace in the warn-torn Arab country. About 320 detainees were released on Friday, including 70 Yemeni government prisoners who were sent from Sanaa to Aden onboard two flights, and 250 Houthi captives on flights from Aden to Sanaa, according to Yahya Kazman, chief of the negotiation committee from the internationally-recognised Yemeni government. High-profile figures, including Nasser Mansour Hadi, the brother of former Yemeni president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and Mahmoud Al Subeihi, the country's former Defence Minister, are among those being freed. After the planes touched down at Aden's airport, the families of the released detainees shed tears of joy and greeted their loved one with flowers, Xinhua news agency reported. More flights are planned for Saturday and Sunday to carry the remaining prisoners between cities in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, the ICRC said. The exchange of prisoners is regarded as a crucial confidence-building gesture aimed at building trust between the warring factions and preparing the ground for upcoming peace talks. The move has raised hopes for a peaceful resolution to the devastating conflict that has plagued Yemen for more than eight years and caused immense suffering to its citizens. Yemen has been embroiled in a protracted war since the Houthi militia, backed by Iran, took control of several northern cities and ousted the Saudi-backed Yemeni government from the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. The ongoing conflict has resulted in a staggering number of casualties and has pushed Yemen to the brink of a humanitarian crisis. United Nations, April 15 : UN humanitarians have issued an urgent plea to redouble support for Malawi, which is still reeling from Tropical Cyclone Freddy's strike last month. "Our $71-million flash appeal for the flood response in Malawi is just 11 per cent funded," said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Friday. It said 60 UN agencies and non-governmental organisations have supported the government-led response, including in hard-to-reach areas. As of Wednesday, the World Food Programme airlifted more than 189 metric tons of food and 300 kilogram of food used to treat malnutrition. "We're also providing emergency shelter, healthcare, hygiene services, and water and sanitation facilities," OCHA said. "This is especially critical in light of the ongoing cholera outbreak in Malawi." Schools are to re-open next week. The UN Children's Find is working with the government and UN partners to support children who lost everything due to the storm, said the humanitarian office as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. In mid-March, Freddy roared into Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world, lashing it with rains, and triggering deadly flooding and mudslides. Published reports later in the month said the death toll in Malawi was more than 300. Boucher Hyundai of Waukesha Provides Test Drive for New Hyundai Vehicles in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Modern-day vehicles are equipped with cutting-edge technological features that create an elevated driving experience. Hyundai vehicles are popularly known for hosting a series of advanced engineering and state-of-the-art convenience features that focus on improving driving comfort as well as enhancing on-road safety. With newer technologies coming every day, it is vital to gain a firsthand experience of these tech features before purchasing the vehicle. Potential new car buyers near the Waukesha, Wisconsin, area can head over to Boucher Hyundai of Waukesha, a popular car dealership that specializes in selling the latest Hyundai vehicles. The dealership hosts a Hyundai Drive program that allows interested parties to schedule a test drive online at the customers convenience. This program will help the drivers familiarize themselves with the latest technologies and features offered by Hyundai vehicles. The Hyundai Drive experience can be used to test drive the latest Hyundai models available in the dealerships inventory. Customers can select their desired sedan, SUV, truck or electric vehicle and schedule a preferred date and time via the dealerships official website. Also, Boucher Hyundai of Waukesha offers its customers multiple payment methods, including auto loans and trade-in deals to purchase a new Hyundai Vehicle. Interested customers can check the showrooms inventory page to explore the variety of models. Individuals can also sell their previously owned vehicles at Boucher Hyundai of Waukesha. For more information, car shoppers can get in touch with the Boucher Hyundai of Waukesha dealership by dialing 262-522-1000. Customers are also encouraged to visit the showroom located at 1537 E Moreland Boulevard in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Drivers can get a free multi-point inspection at Hyundai of Moreno Valley in Moreno Valley, California. Hyundai of Moreno Valley, a leading Hyundai dealership serving the Moreno Valley community, is offering a free multi-point inspection to all Hyundai owners. The dealership has a team of certified technicians who use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and tools to conduct a 27-point inspection. Moreover, after the inspection, the dealership will provide a detailed report on the vehicle's condition, highlighting any areas requiring attention. To take advantage of this service, drivers can download the coupon from the dealerships official website by May 31, 2023. The multi-point inspection comprehensively assesses a vehicle's health, safety and performance. It includes a thorough examination of the engine, brakes, tires, suspension and other important components. With this inspection, owners can identify potential problems before they become major issues, helping them save money and prevent unexpected breakdowns. Hyundai owners in Moreno Valley can schedule a free multi-point inspection by calling 951-900-4248 or visiting Hyundai of Moreno Valley's website, https://www.hyundaiofmorenovalley.com/. Besides providing maintenance services for Hyundai vehicles, Hyundai of Moreno Valley has a team of highly skilled technicians to perform all kinds of repairs. These technicians ensure that every repair is of the highest quality and done right the first time, using genuine Hyundai parts. In addition to a state-of-the-art service department, the dealership offers a wide range of new and used Hyundai vehicles along with easy financing options. They have partnered with several reputable lenders to offer financing options that suit every budget. Car enthusiasts can take advantage of these easy financing options and get the service and repairs they need for their vehicles at Hyundai of Moreno Valley. For more information, individuals can visit the dealership at 27500 Eucalyptus Avenue in Moreno Valley, California. Sign up to run, walk, or jog in healthy lifestyle event from GOLO "The GOLO Virtual 5K continues to be an important event for the entire GOLO family, and we look forward to welcoming even more participants this year from all around the country," says Jennifer Brooks, President and Co-founder of GOLO. GOLO, the health and wellness solutions company, is bringing back its successful GOLO Virtual 5K event this spring. Scheduled for April 22 - 23, 2023, the event is free and open to the public. GOLO Virtual 5K event participants can compete at their own pace by either running, walking, or jogging. After completing the virtual 5K, competitors are encouraged to submit their results, route, and pictures to enter a special drawing to win GOLO prizes. Click here to learn more and to sign up. This spring, the GOLO Virtual 5K will also help raise awareness and funds for Girls on the Run of Delaware, a non-profit that offers programs designed to inspire girls of all abilities to recognize and embrace their inner strength and make meaningful connections with others. Girls on the Run uses running and other physical activities as a platform for teaching life skills and promoting positive social, emotional, and holistic health outcomes for girls. "The GOLO Virtual 5K continues to be an important event for the entire GOLO family, and we look forward to welcoming even more participants this year from all around the country," says Jennifer Brooks, President and Co-founder of GOLO. "I'm especially thrilled that this event will again benefit the Delaware chapter of Girls on the Run and their impactful work to strengthen young girls' social, emotional, physical, and behavioral health." "We are grateful for the support of local corporations like GOLO, which allows us to continue our strategic goals of reaching many of the underserved girls in our community who may not have otherwise been able to participate in our program," says Kim Chitty, Executive Director, Girls on the Run Delaware. Headquartered in Newark, Delaware, GOLO empowers individuals and communities by helping them take control of their wellness goals. The semi-annual GOLO Virtual 5K reinforces the companys ongoing commitment to supporting community-based health and wellness initiatives. Click here to learn more about our charitable giving initiatives. About GOLO GOLO products provide safe solutions to weight-loss and wellness while helping individuals transition to a healthier and sustainable lifestyle. GOLO has reached over two million people worldwide who now have a chance at healthy, sustainable, and affordable weight loss. For more information about the GOLO for Life plan, visit golo.com or call 800-730-4656. # # # Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP opened an office in Singapore, the firms fourth in the Asia-Pacific region and 45th globally. The office is opening with the team that recently launched the firms Asia Energy & Infrastructure Practice, including Practice Head Joseph Kim and Shareholders Jared Raleigh and William Wu. Singapore is renowned as a vital gateway to Southeast Asia and an international trade and financial hub. The Singapore office will collaborate with the firms Seoul, Shanghai, and Tokyo offices, as well as other offices around the globe, to provide seamless support for a broad range of client matters. Singapore is a fast-growing center of business activity in industries and practices where we already focus, including Energy & Infrastructure, Energy Transition, Real Estate, Venture Capital, Private Equity, Wealth Management, Finance, Arbitration, and Disputes, Greenberg Traurig Executive Chair Richard A. Rosenbaum said. When we found the opportunity to welcome highly acknowledged industry leaders with deep experience and strong on-the-ground presence in the region, it was time to move forward. Singapore will serve as a link to our other offices in Asia, where we are well-established, and to clients in Taiwan and around the world. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, Southeast Asian countries must annually invest an average of approximately $210 billion to achieve their climate goals. Greenberg Traurigs Energy & Infrastructure Practice is well-positioned to assist clients in the entire lifecycle of renewable energy, hydrogen, EV battery and related supply chain, and digital infrastructure projects, ensuring comprehensive support throughout each stage. The firms experience in energy transition strategies will be instrumental in helping clients navigate the evolving legal landscape and achieve their sustainability goals. It is a privilege collaborating with Greenberg Traurigs highly regarded attorneys spanning practices and industries in worldwide locations at the forefront of finance, banking, technology, regulatory, energy and natural resources, and other critical capabilities to provide broader service and better value to clients in the region and to grow the Singapore office, Joseph Kim said. With Joseph, William, and Jared, we found an extremely well-known and highly sought-after energy and infrastructure group with decades of experience in the region and broad diversity of skills and experience in complex transactions, Greenberg Traurig Vice Chairman Richard A. Edlin said. Population growth and the need to commit to alternative energy sources is a reason why we believe this is a critical area in which to expand our legal services. Greenberg Traurig has been expanding its Energy & Natural Resources capabilities around the globe with other recent additions including Jeffrey A. Chester in Los Angeles and John Eliason in Washington, D.C., who serve as global co-heads of the Energy Project Finance & Development Practice, and Practice Shareholder Noah Pollak, also in Washington D.C.; Renewable Project Finance Shareholders Audrey Louison in Washington, D.C. and Eric W. Macaux in Boston; Energy Mergers & Acquisitions Shareholder Paolo Esposito in Milan; and the new Head of the Energy & Natural Resources Practice in Poland, Konrad Kosicki. The Singapore office opens on the heels of Greenberg Traurigs affiliation with Khalid Al-Thebity Law Firm in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last month. Our strategy has always been to open offices where business and technology are thriving and that further strengthen the reach of our leading global platform. Singapore, much like Riyadh, is experiencing significant economic growth. In keeping with that strategy, we are also exploring expansion opportunities in Dubai and Brazil, Richard Rosenbaum added. About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2650 attorneys in 45 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm is a 2022 BTI Highly Recommended Law Firm for superior client service and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100 and NLJ 250. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab. The firm is recognized for powering its U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy as certified by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e Energy program and is a member of the U.S. EPAs Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com. For more information about the class action lawsuit against Pepe International, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The San Francisco employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action lawsuit against Pepe International, Inc., alleging the company violated the California Labor Code. The lawsuit against Pepe International, Inc. is currently pending in the Monterey County Superior Court, Case No. 23CV000949. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here. According to the lawsuit filed, Pepe International, Inc. allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to reimburse employees for required expenses, (f) failed to provide wages when due, and (g) failed to pay sick wages, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections 201-204, 226, 226.7, 233, 246, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 2802, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct. Additionally, Plaintiff participated in protected activity by complaining to supervisors and employees of Defendant about Defendant's alleged unlawful employment practices. Defendant allegedly subjected Plaintiff to adverse employment actions by retaliating against Plaintiff. Plaintiff complained to his supervisors regarding the alleged unlawful employment practices, and was terminated a couple months later. For more information about the class action lawsuit against Pepe International, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County, and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and other types of illegal workplace conduct. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** This is the first time we have placed a dog with someone who has autism, so we are excited that we can help in this situation. This is a dedicated military family to whom we are thrilled to give back, explains Robert Misseri, co-founder of Paws of War. April is Autism Awareness Month and the first anniversary of the autism pilot program by Paws of War. A year ago this month, they paired a child with a service dog, and they are pleased to say that it's been a successful program so far. When 11-year-old Cales dad was deployed with the U.S. Marines, it created a lot of anxiety and stress in his son, who has autism. Paws of War stepped in and provided the child with a service dog named Lexi, and its made a world of difference. "This is the first time we have placed a dog with someone who has autism, so we are excited that we can help in this situation. This is a dedicated military family to whom we are thrilled to give back, explains Robert Misseri, co-founder of Paws of War. Unfortunately, not every child with autism will benefit from a service animal, but in Cale's case, it's ideal. Itll help him navigate anxiety and sleep issues, and Lexi will play many roles in his life as a service animal and therapy animal. It'll give Cale the ability to give back. We know the dog is perfect for Cale, and he will work with Lexi regularly with a trainer to accomplish everything he wants." Cale lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with his parents, Brandi and Chris Nolting. Chris serves in the U.S. Marines and often works demanding hours. During this, Cale becomes deeply unsettled, struggling with insomnia, anxiety, and being overwhelmed. Nothing worked to help him, so he had to resort to medication. During a doctor's visit, Cale met a therapy dog, and his parents noticed how he gravitated to the dog and was comfortable in his presence. That chance encounter led to reaching out for assistance from Paws of War, which typically provides service dogs for Veterans with traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the organization has the means and wants to help a hero's son - knowing the difference service dogs make. Misseri delivered Lexi, a rescued 3-year-old English cream, to the family to ensure she would be the perfect match when Cale and Lexi instantly connected. She has been by his side since. Cale is doing well, and he and Lexi have formed a strong bond. His level of distress has greatly reduced, and the hope is that he will be able to gradually reduce his medication as he becomes even more confident and can regulate his routine. Cale also feels much more confident now that he has Lexi by his side during stressful situations like school assemblies or fire drills. In fact, she even helps him get through difficult conversations with other kids who don't understand his disability. The bond between these two has grown stronger every day since they met last spring. Cale has also been able to learn responsibility through his training with Lexi. He knows that he must care for her as she cares for him, and this has helped him develop an understanding of the structure and outcomes of his actions. "They can rely on each other. With her being a rescue, she can learn from Cale, I hope. They can grow together and have a better foundation among each other, adds Chris Nolting. If we could do anything to further Paws of War's cause, it would be a win for everybody if other kids like Cale were able to receive similar support." The presence of a service dog in the home brings peace of mind to military members who have to leave for deployment - knowing the dog is a comfort to their child and the family. Service dogs provide friendship, confidence, and calming ability to children who find social interaction and many daily situations over-stimulating, and the dogs offer calm reassurance. They can reach children on a level that other people often can't. Paws of War provides ongoing training for Lexi and assistance for the family. To help support the pilot program, visit its site at: http://pawsofwar.org. To see Cale's story, visit YouTube. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 1 in every 68 children has autism spectrum disorder. It's a condition that affects children from all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. They report that there is no "cure" for autism spectrum disorder, but several interventions can help children learn essential skills that improve everyday life. Paws of War currently has three other service dogs in training. Due to the success they have seen with Cale, they will be placing the other dogs as well. Currently, they are providing service dogs to children of veterans, active military, and first responders. Paws of War has been operating worldwide since 2014, helping the military save the animals they rescue while deployed overseas. They have helped veterans with numerous issues, including suicide prevention, service and support dogs, companion cats and dogs, food insecurity, veterinary care, etc. Paws of War has a large loyal following of supporters and looks forward to working with new corporate sponsors to support these life-saving programs. To donate, visit its site at: http://pawsofwar.org. About Paws of War Paws of War is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization that assists military members and their pets, rescues and trains dogs to be service dogs and provides companion animals to veterans. To learn more about Paws of War and the programs provided or donate, visit its site at: http://pawsofwar.org. ### Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. 10 Facts about Autism Spectrum Disorder. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/10-facts-about-asd By engaging brand ambassadors with Staffing Referrals, agencies can turn their talent pool into a competitive advantage. ~David Folwell, Staffing Referrals president and CEO Staffing Referrals, the #1 automated referral management (ARM) platform for the staffing industry, is proud to announce that it has generated over 1.5 million brand ambassadors for its customers. Brand ambassadors are people who have joined an agencys candidate referral program. That means that agencies have more than 1.5 million people referring friends and family to their organizations, giving them access to a unique network of talent they cant find on job boards. As the labor shortage continues and job boards get more expensive, staffing agencies are looking for more effective ways to source candidates. Referrals provide higher-quality candidates than other sources, resulting in faster hires, higher retention, and a lower cost per hire, said David Folwell, Staffing Referrals president and CEO. By engaging brand ambassadors with Staffing Referrals, agencies can turn their talent pool into a competitive advantage. The staffing software has also been recognized as a High Performer in the Recruitment Marketing and Employee Referral categories in G2s Spring 2023 Grid Reports. To be a High Performer, products must have high customer satisfaction scores in their respective categories. Staffing Referrals received a total of 11 awards: Employee Referral category Best Estimated ROI Best Support - Mid-Market Easiest To Do Business With Easiest To Do Business With - Mid-Market High Performer High Performer - Mid-Market Recruitment Marketing category Best Support Easiest Setup Easiest To Do Business With High Performer Additional Reward Users Love Us The G2 reports are based on user ratings. One user called Staffing Referrals the simplest tool for marketing in our staffing agencys arsenal. Another said: Our referral program boomed after partnering with Staffing Referrals! When we launched Staffing Referrals in 2017, very few agencies were thinking strategically about referrals. Today, the most successful agencies recognize referrals as a competitive advantage and are looking for ways to automate their referral process, Folwell said. Leading agencies choose us because we elevate the candidate experience, reduce dependency on job boards, and eliminate administrative workload. Visit http://www.staffingreferrals.com for more information or to get a demo. About Staffing Referrals As the #1 automated referral management (ARM) platform, Staffing Referrals is changing the way staffing agencies source, engage, and place qualified candidates by enabling them to turn their talent pool into a competitive advantage. Founded in 2017, the staffing software elevates the candidate experience, reduces agency dependency on job boards, and eliminates administrative workload. Staffing Referrals is integrated with leading applicant tracking systems (ATSs). To learn more about Staffing Referrals, visit https://staffingreferrals.com/. MONTGOMERY Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $100,000 grant to Auburn University Montgomery for a program that offers crime-prevention training for law enforcement officers and community groups statewide. Grant funds will assist the Alabama Crime Prevention Clearinghouse in identifying and delivering a minimum of 30 one-day training sessions hosted in locations around Alabama. The program offers training courses in a wide range of topics. Examples include officer safety, fraud and financial crime investigations as well police leadership and accountability. The sessions are offered at a very low cost or at no cost to assist Alabama law enforcement agencies in obtaining quality training while reducing travel expenses. Our law enforcement officers deserve our gratitude for putting their lives on the line every day to protect and serve our communities, Ivey said. Therefore, we must ensure they have sufficient training to prevent crimes while also doing their jobs safely and effectively. I commend the work of the Alabama Crime Prevention Clearinghouse in helping train officers in the latest tactics and methods to keep our communities safe. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Justice. ADECA supports Gov. Iveys efforts to ensure that law enforcement officers across Alabama have access to resources they need in order to continue serving our communities, ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. ADECA manages a wide array of programs that support law enforcement and traffic safety, energy conservation, water resource management, economic development and recreation. 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. As we reported for Publishers Weekly, residents in Llano County were able to exhale after county commissioners this week decided that closing down the library systemin the glare of a national media spotlightwasn't such a good idea after all. Llano County commissioners had called a special session for this week to discuss shutting down its libraries after a federal judge in late March ordered more than a dozen censored books returned to Llano County library shelves. But after significant media attention and a rally by local library supporters, the commissioners voted to keep the library open and table discussion of the library's future, at least for now. In a tweet yesterday from the ALAs Unite Against Book Bans account, ALA officials, who helped organize a response to the county's action, praised local library advocates for showing up to support their library. #UniteAgainstBookBans is grateful to those who spoke up for the freedom to read today in Llano County, the tweet said. This is the power of organizing as a community. The Texas Tribune reports that 100 local library supporters rallied outside the hearing in support of the Llano County libraries. The article also points out an interesting perspective expressed by the county commissioners: it's the community members suing the county over its illegal book bans that are actually to blame for imperiling the library's future. "[A] public library simply cannot function if its librarians, county judge, commissioners, and even the volunteers who serve out the goodness of their heart, can be sued every time a library patron disagrees with a librarians weeding decision, Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham said in a statement, according to the report. Cunningham's dissembling statement omits the fact that there are well-established practices in place for removing books. And in his March 30 opinion and order, judge Robert Pitman specifically rejected the argument that Llano County officials were engaged in a "weeding" exercise. Although libraries are afforded great discretion for their selection and acquisition decisions, the First Amendment prohibits the removal of books from libraries based on either viewpoint or content discrimination, Pitman wrote in his 26-page decision. Here, the evidence shows defendants targeted and removed books, including well-regarded, prize-winning books, based on complaints that the books were inappropriate. For Salon, senior writer Amanda Marcotte recognizes the implications of what's happening in Llano County as well in Missouri, where the House voted this week to pull funding for the state's libraries as payback for challenging a controversial new "harmful to minors" law enacted there. "Republicans behind the book-banning typically deny that they have a larger agenda against education or literacy, instead claiming their goals are limited to keeping a small number of books out of people's hands. But there's good reason to think there's a much larger goal afoot, of stigmatizing the very idea of reading and education," Marcotte writes. "Now the anti-reading mania is morphing into a campaign to defund libraries." At Popular Information, Judd Legum and Rebecca Crosby also write about the gathering funding threat to defund libraries. It's a threat that EveryLibrary executive director John Chrastka previously warned about after the midterm elections last November, when voters in Jamestown, Michigan, rejected a second attempt by the Patmos Library to renew their basic levy after a local group attacked the library for over its LGBTQ content; And In Arkansas, where the Craighead County Jonesboro Library was defunded by 50% in the wake of an 18-month campaign to ban LGBTQ books. The "effort to tie library funding to censorship efforts" was likely just beginning, Chrastka told PW last November, suggesting that defund the library could become the new end game for book banners unable to achieve their goals by other means. If they can't ban the book, will they burn the whole place down? Chrastka asked. Meanwhile, the Texas Tribune also reports that the Texas Senate has passed a bill that will give the state broad new powers over school libraries in the state. If it becomes law, Senate Bill 13, "would let parents receive notice each time their children obtain school library materials; prohibit the acquisition or retention of 'harmful' and indecent materials' and create local councils to help districts ensure 'community values' are reflected in each school library catalog," the report notes. "Under the bill, school boards would have to approve all new library materials and publicly release lists of proposed library purchases 30 days ahead of acquiring new materials." The bill passed by an 18-12 margin, and now heads to the House, which is already considering a similar measure. With the Texas Library Association annual conference underway next week in Austin, the Dallas Observer reports that the current climate in Texas is leading to a shortage of librarians. "As the culture wars rage on with no end in sight, North Texas school librarians have increasingly found themselves in the crosshairs. Some are now opting to flee the profession, and advocates warn that certain districts are having a tough time finding qualified new candidates," the article states. Seeing more money poured into awareness campaigns on the ground, with actionable tools and scripts for people to use to get out in their communities would make a difference. Because the reality is, this is what the book banners have, and this is what theyre doing... Local NBC affiliate KSDK reported this week on the Missouri House passing a budget this week that zeroes out all funding for public libraries in the state, payback for Missouri librarians joining with the ACLU in a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of Senate Bill 775, which bans libraries and teachers from sharing allegedly 'sexually explicit' material under the threat of criminal prosecution. "The House budget committees choice to retaliate against two private, volunteer-led organizations by punishing the patrons of Missouris public libraries is abhorrent," ACLU Missouri spokesman Tom Bastian told reporters. "As with every case when the ACLU represents someone, we are not charging our clients to challenge the unconstitutional book ban the legislature passed last year." The House voted to strip library funding despite the Missouri Senate pledging to restore library funding in any final budget. At Book Riot, Kelly Jensen delivers a dose of much-needed truth to start her weekly censorship roundup: we're past the point of fighting book bans with online campaigns. And while she acknowledges the good work of many local groups, freedom to read advocates are still getting outworked where it matters most: on the ground. "What would help is seeing more community engagement. Seeing more money poured into awareness campaigns on the ground, with actionable tools and scripts for people to use to get out in their communities would make a difference. Because the reality is, this is what the book banners have, and this is what theyre doing," Jensen writes. "Book banners are in the offices of their representatives, coaxing from them bills which codify hate and censorship. Theyre not taking pictures of themselves in anti-book ban shirts on Twitter to show their support of anti-censorship." In Illinois, the News Gazette gets mixed feedback from librarians about a bill designed to combat book banning, House Bill 2789, which would require libraries in the state to adopt the American Library Associations Library Bill of Rights or a similar policy that prohibits book banning as a condition of funding. "I agree with the motivation behind the policy," one librarian commented. "As to whether the possible loss of state funding for libraries is the best way to ensure that libraries can continue to offer materials expressing a variety of viewpoints, I am not yet certain that this is the most effective method to bring about that result. The American Library Association has announced a new initiative of the ALA Policy Corps focused on combating book bans and defending the freedom to read. Launched in partnership with ALAs Office for Intellectual Freedom, the new cadre will work to showcase how libraries and library workers provide essential information resources to their communities while increasing awareness about the importance of intellectual freedom and its centrality to American democracy and society. The group will be led by ALA Senior Fellow Kent Oliver and advised by ALA Senior Fellow Christopher Harris. ALA members can engage directly with the group at a Saturday morning program titled: Changing the Narrative: ALA Policy Corps Takes On Book Banners at the 2023 ALA Annual Conference set for June 22-27, in Chicago. Becky Calzada, Library Services Coordinator in the Leander Independent School District (ISD) based in Leander, Texas, has been elected the 2023-2024 president-elect of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). She will serve as the AASL President during the 2024-2025 term. Calzada, a member of the ALA Policy Corp, currently serves on the Texas Library Association Legislative Committee and is a co-founding member of #FReadom Fighters, the grassroots effort led by four Texas librarians to fight censorship. Time has named ALA executive director Tracie D. Hall as one its 100 most influential people of 2023. "Halls lifes work teaches each of us that the love of libraries and books can free us from hatred and lies not just for the present generation but for the liberation of all to come." From Patch, an alarming story in Mamaroneck, just north of New York City, where the public library needs $1.4 million to continue operation after it discovered an embezzlement scheme has drained its coffers. "Our finances were built on false information received from our business manager who worked at the library for 27 years," Mamaroneck Public Library Board President Ellen Freeman told trustees at a special meeting on Monday. Paywalled, but in the Atlantic, Adam Serwer weighs in on a federal judge's decision that the Internet Archive's program to scan and lend library books is copyright infringement. "There should be a reasonable middle ground that is not publishers gouging libraries or giving away works for free en masse," Serwer writes. "Knowledge is too precious to be abandoned entirely to the whims of the profit motive." Via Readers First, library advocates this week launched a new website to advocate for new library e-book laws called the eBook Study Group. The initiative comes as revised e-book legislation begins to move in a handful of states, and in response to a recently launched lobbying effort to stop such bills from the major publishers. "The goal of these bills is to firmly ground e-book contracts and licenses under state law," an FAQ on the eBook study group site states. "The bills do not include any language that 'forces' publishers to grant a license; the language proposes an approach that does not demand that publishers license to libraries, but instead merely utilizes existing state law to make sure e-book license and contract terms are fairly balanced and are an effective use of taxpayer money." Meanwhile, a reminder that time is winding down on the OverDrive App. On May 1, the OverDrive appwhich OverDrive effectively replaced in 2017 with its popular Libby appwill no longer be supported and will disappear from various app stores. The move should take no one by surprise: it's been in the works for over a year, and Libby's popularity has likely already enticed the vast majority of library e-book users to make the switch. As this article from TechCrunch notes, libraries have been posting notices and tutorials to switch from the OverDrive app to Libby. But the clock is ticking. This handy FAQ from OverDrive will tell you everything you need to know about making the switch. And in more OverDrive news, Digipalooza, OverDrive's digital book conference for the library community is back in OverDrive's hometown of Cleveland this year. The conference is scheduled to run August 9-11, bringing together hundreds of public librarians and industry experts from around the world to discuss the state of digital library lending. This week, OverDrive announced that actor, director, producer and author Eriq La Salle (Dr. Peter Benton from ER) will deliver the show's keynote. You can learn more about the show and register here. The Week in Libraries is a weekly opinion and news column. News, tips, submissions, questions or comments are welcome, and can be submitted via email. Previous columns can be viewed here. Premium online access is only available tosubscribers. If you have an active subscription and need to set up or change your password, please click here New to PW? To set up immediate access, click here. NOTE: If you had a previous PW subscription, click here to reactivate your immediate access. PW site license members have access to PWs subscriber-only website content. If working at an office location and you are not "logged in", simply close and relaunch your preferred browser. For off-site access, click here. To find out more about PWs site license subscription options, please email Mike Popalardo at: mike@nextstepsmarketing.com. OZARKWith the remaining motions ruled on by 33rd Circuit Judge William Filmore late Thursday, the capital murder trial of Coley McCraney is set to begin with jury selection at the Dale County Courthouse Monday morning. 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 Dothan teens J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett, 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 identified through genetic genealogy testing. At a one hour hearing before Filmore Thursday morning, McCraneys attorneys David Harrison and Andrew Scarborough asked the courts permission for the jury to visit the site on Herring Avenue where Beasleys car had been found. In his final ruling, Filmore denied that request noting that there is no reason to suspect that the place or scene where the car was found looks anything like it did in 1999 and any changes would only mislead the jury. The defendants reason given for jury view was to show distances, Filmore said in his ruling. Distances are shown every day in a court of law through the use of pictures and demonstrative evidence. Filmore also denied the defendants motion to remove any potential jurors who are biased in favor of the death penalty. The court will use the chart provided to (both the state and defense attorneys) concerning death qualification questions which provides for the constitutional concerns of the defendant, he said in his ruling. 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, noting that the state says it has no allegations that it intends to introduce. Also at Thursday mornings hearing, 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. The judge also denied the defense request for the judge to review the personnel file of former Ozark Police Chief Marlos Walker, who had been chief when McCraney was arrested in 2019, to see if Walkers credibility played a part in his termination by the Ozark City Council. 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. Filmore said that the trial will start immediately following jury selection. Americans on the ground in Ukraine think their country needs to do more for Ukrainian society than passively sending dollars. While the West has given billions in military and humanitarian aid to the country, Ukrainians are dealing with complex wartime issues and internal corruption on their own. I spoke with two Americans working in Ukrainean independent contractor and a non-profit leaderto hear how they think America can help reconstruct the countrys democratic institutions and businesses after the war. In order to earn a say in the countrys reconstruction, the U.S. needs to support and mentor Ukrainian private and civil society organizations now, before the window of opportunity closes. American support for Ukraine has been almost totally financial. According to Michael Kupier, a former Naval Officer and American crisis response consultant in Ukraine, this is because the U.S. doesnt want a strong physical presence in the country to feed Putins U.S. proxy war narrative. On top of this, rather than funding U.S. organizations in the region, a Biden-era USAID initiative has prompted the U.S. to focus on localizing funding to the Ukrainian military, government, and other regional organizations. While localizing funds is critical for making projects sustainable, Ukraine needs and wants more guidance to integrate with the West. The country recently became a candidate for E.U. membershipprovided it addresses corruption. Ukraine ranks as one of the most corrupt countries in Europe, and the government and powerful oligarchs run many industries. The U.S. and international community are tracking aid and demanding accountability to limit corruption, but it may not be enough for lasting change. Meanwhile Ukranians are fed up. Kupier thinks western companies and civil society organizations should have the support of the U.S. government to go to Ukraine and partner on projects with Ukrainian organizations, sharing some hard won tools and expertise. By sharing democratic values and promoting transparency in business, the U.S. could help empower Ukrainian organizations to mitigate corruption in the nation. Localization shouldnt mean that its only Ukrainian organizations leading some of these efforts we think are important, Kupier said, its also having the oversight and the mentorship from western companies that have experience in other countries doing some of these things. Kupier works on demining and security operations in Ukraine, and has seen opportunities for mentorship and growth across various industries like media, transportation, logistics, and civil society. He says that Ukrainian industries have been doing things in the Soviet Union method for so many years they dont know how to not or it's very hard for them to shift their mentality. Supporting this shift could include sharing independent fundraising methods, helping Ukrainians identify and avoid corruption, or sharing modern transportation and logistics strategies. One American non-profit is already demonstrating the power of this kind of partnership. The Ukrainian Freedom Fund is a U.S. based nonprofit established in Ukraine by Nicolas Woods, also a former Naval Officer. Woods said regional nonprofits and civil society organizations have been the ones filling humanitarian and logistical gaps left by governments and international aid groups. Woods lives in Kyiv and has transported humanitarian aid throughout Ukraine since the start of the war. He frequently works with Ukrainian non-government organizations and volunteers, and said theyre often surprised to see a foreigner working alongside them. According to Woods, no commercial organizations, or even the United Nations, were bringing goods past Lviv for a long time. Whether because of physical danger, or the fear of fueling Putins narrative that westerners are fighting a proxy war in the country, governments and international organizations are opting to send money instead of being physically involved. I think there is an immense amount of pressure placed on Ukrainians, Woods told me from his apartment in Kyiv. For some, that increases their drive to perform well as an NGO, but for others it just makes them pessimistic. Physically working alongside Western partners makes these groups feel like theyre not standing alone against Russia. Kupier and Woods independently shared their concerns about how fragile the war has rendered Ukrainian democracy. Even if Ukraine prevails, the aftermath will leave the country physically and institutionally shattered. Whoever is in charge after the war, they better be for the people, otherwise democracy is at stake, Kupier told me. There is going to be a lot of money in rebuilding Ukraine, and if nationalized industries arent transitioned to public-private partnerships, there's going to be a lot of really bad feelings. Without intervention by western mentorship, Ukraine could fall into another military or authoritarian regime. The window of opportunity is closing for the international community to get involved in Ukrainian reconstruction. Right now is the time to help them, because they need the help, and they know that they need the help on all levels, Kupier told me. After the war anyone wanting to help rebuild the nation will have to give an account of how they contributed during the hard times to prove they can be trusted. Physically operating in Ukraine carries serious risks, but it could powerfully impact the future of Ukraine. By creating supportive connections with civil society organizations and businesses in Ukraine, U.S. organizations could build trust for future reconstruction projects and give communities much needed hope. Emily Schroen (@emschroen) is a global nonprofit development specialist with a focus on humanitarian aid, education, and international relations. She has worked with refugees and displaced people in the U.S., Spain, Poland, and recently returned from a humanitarian aid mission in Ukraine with Americans for Ukraine, a U.S.-based nonprofit supporting refugees in Poland. Her recent work has been featured in The Diplomat. The views expressed are the author's own. Property details: Only 15 easy miles to Hays , Kansas ( I-70 , Walmart , Home Depot , University , Airport - $95 fly to Denver ), this 3 bedroom , 1 bath is move -in now ready. Or only 8 miles to Lacrosse , KS. Seller Occupied . 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When asked where he's going or staying, his answer's the same: "I don't know." ADVERTISEMENT Davidson, 29, plays himself in Bupkis, which streams on Peacock starting on May 4. But it's the self that can command a Peacock deal to allow him to write about his life poking fun at it along the way. It's Davidson if his mother was industry stalwart Edie Falco and his grandfather was Joe Pesci, and he was actually living in his parent's basement, instead of generating headlines for his celebrity girlfriends, which include Ariana Grande and Kim Kardashian. In the trailer, Davidson and Pesci are seen smoking on a park bench until someone comes along to tell them there's no smoking in the area. "Who are you, a forest ranger?" barks Pesci. His mother is trying to figure out why Pete's running around with a Klingon sword and his sister is upset that people are always asking about her brother. "I Googled myself yesterday," Davidson says. "It was bad." Guest stars who make appearances in the trailer include Bobby Cannavale, Method Man, Al Gore, Kenan Thompson, John Mulaney, John Stewart, and Ray Romano. Other guest stars appearing on Bupkis include Machine Gun Kelly, La La Anthony, Brad Garrett, Charlamagne the God, Marissa Jaret Winokur, John Stewart and Charlie Day. 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! Davidson wrote the series with Judah Miller as showrunner, who he also worked with on The King of Staten Island. Though Davidson left Saturday Night Live at the end of last season, there are no hard feelings. SNL creator Lorne Michaels executive produced Bupkis and Davidson is hosting the show on May 5, the day after it comes out. "I just want a regular-type life," Davidson says. From the trailer, Bupkis doesn't appear to be a step in that direction. Shonda Rhimes' Netflix juggernaut Bridgerton is set in the United Kingdom as is its prequel Queen Charlotte. So it makes perfect sense that the British Academy of Film and Television Arts would honor the television pioneer for her work in television. ADVERTISEMENT BAFTA announced Friday that Rhimes would receive a special award at an event in New York City. It's the first in-person award handed out by BAFTA in the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic. Rhimes "built the foundation and platform to launch global careers," said BAFTA chair Krishnendu Majumdar. She started her TV career out at ABC, eventually launching the long-running hit series Grey's Anatomy as well as Private Practice, Scandal, and How to Get Away With Murder. The latter two shows were groundbreaking as they were the first successful TV dramas to center around a Black female character. Rhimes was also the first woman to achieve the 100-episode mark with three different shows -- Scandal, Grey's and Private Practice. Shondaland signed a deal with Netflix in 2017, reportedly worth $100M. It paid off with the very first series, Bridgerton, which set viewing records from its debut in December 2020. It has been renewed for a third and fourth season. A six-episode prequel, Queen Charlotte, begins on May 4. Rhimes will participate in a fireside chat and a cocktail reception at the event which happens on May 3. 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! "Shonda's trailblazing work has captured our hearts and inspired audiences around the world," BAFTA North America Board Chair Kathryn Busby told Deadline. "We are honored to be presenting a BAFTA mask to such a deeply respected and admired artist." Australias deep tech investment fund, Main Sequence, founded by CSIRO, has announced the appointment of Dr Jason Whitfield on secondment from the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Dr Whitfield is a former researcher and currently manages UNSWs Synthetic Biology startup accelerator, SynBio10x. With this new addition to the team, Main Sequence aims to strengthen its synthetic biology (SynBio) capabilities. Dr Jason Whitfield Gabrielle Munzer, Partner at Main Sequence, stated that tapping into the talent and deepening their relationship with universities is crucial to unlock real impact and elevate the conversation from company building to industry building in Australias SynBio space. Our goal is to continue making our fund purpose-built for deep tech founders, and bringing Jason into the Main Sequence tent is the natural next step in this journey. His experience in this field means he speaks the same language as our founders, helping us to bridge the gap between the entrepreneurial and academic worlds. Dr Whitfield expressed his enthusiasm for joining Main Sequence, saying he was excited to work with a team passionate about unlocking the potential of SynBio to address worldwide challenges. He believes that Main Sequence is catalysing a shift in the sector, building a strong ecosystem of companies, and empowering more researchers who dare to become entrepreneurs. Main Sequence has also recently announced the promotion of Senior Associates Alezeia Brown and Jun Qu, to the title of Investment Manager. Main Sequence Ventures transforms scientific discoveries into future industries to tackle global challenges. It collaborates with scientists, researchers, and industry partners to establish, finance, and accelerate new companies and industries in health, food, space, transport, security, and deep tech. The firms first and second funds have invested in 42 companies that are changing the way healthcare is delivered, food is produced, and spaces are connected, among other things. Main Sequences Fund II has been particularly successful, giving rise to Quasar Satellite Technologies, Endua, Eden Brew, and Samsara Eco, thanks to the firms innovative Venture Science model. This model involves forming a research team to tackle a significant global challenge. In its upcoming Fund III, Main Sequence will continue to focus on biologically-based solutions to address some of the worlds most pressing issues through Venture Science. With support from the business community, CSIRO believes that SynBio-enabled solutions could significantly impact the world and put Australia in a position to seize a $27 billion opportunity that could create 44,000 new jobs by 2040. Main Sequence was launched in Australia in 2017 to handle the CSIRO Innovation Fund, which was established by the Australian Government and the national science agency to reinvest its historic contributions into future triumphs. Focused on deep tech, has made notable investments in a range of innovative companies, including Advanced Navigation, which provides navigation and robotics solutions for the marine, automotive, and aerospace industries; Morse Micro, a semiconductor chipmaker specialising in wireless connectivity for IoT and smart city applications; and Q-CTRL, a Sydney-based start-up specialising in quantum computing control solutions. The investment fund has also invested in a number of companies in the SynBio space, including Samsara Eco, ULUU, Eden Brew, Psylo, and Cauldron. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. On Sunday, at approximately 12:40 a.m., the Athens-Clarke County Police Department responded to a shooting that occurred at Coleridge Court, according to an ACCPD press release. A 29-year-old female was shot and received non-life-threatening injuries. EMS transported the woman to a local hospital, the report said. 'The aim is also to probe how the ministry and testing agencies made negligence in examining these OEMs, so that such negligence is avoided in the future.' Photograph: Aditi Shah/Reuters After initiating a probe into the import of components by electric two-wheeler makers following allegations of wrongly claimed subsidies under the FAME scheme, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) is widening the investigation net to include its own departments, too. Having one of the highest numbers of public sector utilities under its aegis, the MHI is looking to reduce imports and boost domestic manufacturing, says Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister for Heavy Industries, in an interview with Nitin Kumar/Business Standard. What is the status of the investigation into FAME subsidy defaults in both localisation and ex-factory price? What kind of penalty is being considered for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) which erred? All the complaints related to localisation and ex-factory price have been referred to testing agencies for re-verification. The investigation committee will submit its report soon. The ministry is considering every direction (regarding penalty) but we will take a decision based on the recommendation in the investigation report. The ministry has also joined hands with non-banking financial companies and private consultants for the FAME scheme. Why? We onboarded these agencies to make the scheme more transparent. The aim is to find out how OEMs have bypassed the FAME norms. The aim is also to probe how the ministry and testing agencies made negligence in examining these OEMs, so that such negligence is avoided in the future. Two-wheeler sales are about to touch the targeted 1-million mark. Would the ministry continue to support two-wheelers once the target is met? We have already created an electric ecosystem in the country. We are supporting more buses than what we had aimed for. We will decide (on supporting electric two-wheelers) based on the requirements at that time. More than Rs 5,000 crore is still unutilised in the FAME's budget for automobiles. Will the ministry divert funds to charging infrastructure? The way we are supporting electric vehicles, I feel we will achieve all our targets. Yes, if the budget remains unutilised, after discussing with our expert committee, we will give support to the segments which need more funds. What is the MHI's plan for reducing imports across key manufacturing sectors? The MHI is working on various measures, such as setting up new manufacturing facilities, providing incentives and subsidies to domestic manufacturers, promoting the development of local supply chains, and facilitating technology transfers. The capital goods sector has worked to address trade barriers or non-tariff measures that are affecting Indian manufacturers' ability to compete in global markets. Moreover, the capital goods sector works with other government bodies to negotiate favourable trade agreements with other countries or address any unfair trade practices. Reducing imports can be a complex issue that involves multiple stakeholders and requires a coordinated and sustained effort. The capital goods sector, after working closely with industry associations and other relevant bodies, has submitted to us effective strategies to reduce imports and promote domestic manufacturing. Several public sector utilities under the MHI have fallen behind in terms of innovation and market share. Given that these PSUs are mega job generators, how is the Centre planning to push for their growth? The MHI has been supporting all its CPSEs (central public sector enterprises) with necessary guidance through continuous monitoring, facilitating additional workload on them through industry, and providing administrative support as required from time to time. These CPSEs are also encouraged to enter tie-ups and establish R&D (research and development) facilities to develop state-of-art products and technologies in their respective fields. I have been personally communicating with my minister colleagues and chief ministers to sort out issues requiring my intervention to support CPSEs under the MHI. What are the plans for Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) to diversify its interests beyond conventional sectors? There were some hiccups for BHEL because the country was going towards alternative sources of power; BHEL has a stronghold in thermal power. It has been working at its full capacity after the Ukraine crisis when the demand for thermal power revived. In the alternative sector, BHEL has been making Railways' electric engines. It has also received contracts to manufacture and maintain many Vande Bharat trains. BHEL has around 35,000 trained workers. With this skilled workforce, it is exploring new avenues of growth. Recently, it set up India's largest floating solar PV plant in Telangana. 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. AI start-up Fivecast raises AU$30m Series A with US and AU investors Australian AI start-up Fivecast has successfully raised AU$30m in its Series A investment round. Led by US-based cyber security VC firm Ten Eleven, the round also saw contributions from existing backers, including the CSIROs Main Sequence and the South Australian Venture Capital Fund. Fivecast plans to use the funds to expand into key global markets, prioritising the US and UK, and to add new staff and enhance its product capabilities Electric car-sharing platform Evee reaches crowdfunding target in record time In just 124 minutes, Evee, Australias leading electric car-sharing platform, reached its minimum crowdfunding target of $300,000 during the private round of its Birchal equity fundraising campaign. The platforms popularity among electric car enthusiasts was so immense that Birchal convinced Evees CEO and Founder, Slava Kozlovskii, to open the offering to the public 24 hours early. As of March 29th, the campaign had raised $727,291 from 261 investors, with an average investment of $2,788 significantly higher than Birchals average campaign contribution of $1,600. Circle In has secured $2 million Circle In, an employee benefits platform, has secured $2 million in funding led by Sydney-based venture capital firm, Alberts Impact Ventures. The investment will be utilized for the platforms global expansion plans and to enhance its capabilities for working families and caregivers. The funding round also saw participation from existing investors including Leigh Jasper, Carol Schwartz, Rob Phillpot, Andrew Sypkes, and Ben Thompson from Employment Hero. Additionally, female founder-focused investors Scale Ventures and LaunchVics Alice Anderson Fund also backed the fundraising efforts. CO-architecture banks $330,000 pre-seed round CO-architecture, a community platform for professional designers and creatives, has successfully raised $330,000 in a pre-Seed funding round. The Western Australian startup secured the investment from Skalata Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Victoria, with additional support from several local angel investors such as Sandy Anghie, an architect and former Perth deputy lord mayor, and Peter Lee, a director at Hassell. Global Crypto startups experience a significant drop in VC funding in Q1 According to recent reports, global cryptocurrency startups have witnessed a notable decline in venture capital (VC) funding in the first quarter of 2023, raising only $2.4 billion. This figure represents a substantial decrease of around 80 per cent compared to the $12.3 billion raised during the same period last year. Queensland SMEs advised to make the most of government funding: NRA As the Queensland Government continues to inject steady funding into the economy, the National Retail Association (NRA) is urging small and medium-sized retailers to take full advantage of the opportunity before it winds back. Greg Griffith, the NRAs Chief Executive Officer, has commended the governments commitment to providing hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and financial incentives, making the state an attractive destination for both people and businesses. The result of this is that an average of 2000 people are moving to Queensland each week. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. India's forex reserves increased by $6.31 billion to $584.76 billion for the week ended April 7, the RBI said on Friday. Photograph: Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters In the last reporting week, the forex kitty snapped a two-week rising trend to decline by $329 million to 578.45 billion. It can be noted that in October 2021, the country's forex kitty reached an all-time high of $645 billion. The reserves have been declining as the central bank deployed the kitty to defend the rupee amid pressures caused by global developments. For the week ended April 7, the foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, increased by $4.74 billion to $514.43 billion, according to the Weekly Statistical Supplement released by the RBI on Friday. Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves. Gold reserves rose by $1.496 billion to $46.7 billion, the RBI said. The Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) were up by $58 million to $18.45 billion, the apex bank said. The country's reserve position with the IMF was up by $13 million to $5.18 billion in the reporting week, the data showed. Chinas Vivo said on Thursday it will export more than one million Made in India smartphones in 2023 to achieve a target announced last year when it sent out its first indigenous shipment to Thailand and Saudi Arabia. Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters Vivo India, known for its economical phones, has proposed investing Rs 7,500 crore in the country and it is set to spend Rs 3,500 crore of that amount by end of this year. According to the firms India Impact Report 2022, it will start production at a new state of the art manufacturing facility by early 2024 after regulatory clearance. The new facility, in a yet undisclosed location, will spread across 169 acres and will produce 120 million smartphones annually upon completion of all its phases. The company, officially named vivo India, has a manufacturing facility in Greater Noida, employing 10,000 people there to make its smartphones sold in the country. In line with the governments Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Vivo said all its smartphones sold in the country are made indigenously. 100 per cent of our motherboard assembly is happening in India. Furthermore, Vivo procures 95 percent of its battery and 70 percent of its charger components locally, Yogendra Sriramula, head, Brand Strategy, Vivo India, told Business Standard. We strongly believe that boosting manufacturing capabilities is vital to bring the nation on the global map, and expanding our plant in India is our step forward in that direction, he said. The company sells phones across India through 70,000 retail touchpoints and more than 650 exclusive stores. The (Indian) smartphone market is valued at $35 billion. "Of this, the offline retail market makes up a big chunk. For the last 13 consecutive quarters, vivo has been the biggest player in offline retail, Sriramula said. Vivo is the third largest company in India in terms of overall smartphone shipments, according to data from the market intelligence platform IDC India. The company ended 2022 with 22.9 million shipments, behind Xiaomi and Samsung. Backed by technologically advanced and innovative offerings, we have won the hearts of proud owners of 100 million vivo smartphones, and have created a socio-economic impact on the lives of around 1.6 million Indians, said Sriramula. Vivo is a leader in the affordable smartphones segment and entered the premium market by launching the X series in 2022. Its foldable smartphone series is also reportedly in the works. During the pandemic, purchases were need-based. "Now they are upgrade-based. Our primary focus at the moment is to keep a track of changing consumer needs, Sriramula said. We are planning for the long term. Ups and downs occur in the near term but we are committed to our future investments in India. "The India Impact Report said smartphone design will be important for the companys growth in India. "Vivo has established a team focused on industrial design and cameras suited for Indian users. "Vivos V27 phone has a dedicated portrait mode for Indian weddings. We have approximately 5,000 patents for 5G inventions and made about 10,300 submissions to the 3GPP for developing technical specifications of 5G technology, said Sriramula, adding, Vivo has been able to add more than 10 million users to over 100 million users owning a 5G smartphone. The World Bank must become Archimedes' lever to help change the world into a more prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable planet in the 21st century. The change in leadership now provides that opportunity, observes Ajay Chhibber. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/ Rediff.com IMAGE: Ajaypal Singh Banga, the World Bank's next president. With Ajay Banga nominated to be the next World Bank president, there is great hope in his abilities to revamp this vital global institution. What the world needs today is a global institution, tasked with guiding a global transformation towards a sustainable planet and promoting shared prosperity. The World Bank is largely missing in action, according to former US vice-president Al Gore, in the climate fight. Instead, the World Bank, which earlier adapted well to addressing global poverty, is now seen as a multi-purpose development bank that tries to provide support to countries for their perceived needs without a broad strategic vision. It used to be a leader in thinking on economic development, but has lately fallen behind and is often seen as a laggard on how it addresses these issues. Another major critique of the World Bank is that it has been overly conservative and much too risk-averse in the use of its capital base, and, as a result, it's not been able to lend as much and leverage private capital flows for infrastructure and climate change. It has underutilised its guarantees and focused largely on loans, and has not financed insurance facilities as much as it could have. It's also been criticised for being too slow and laden with bureaucratic procedures that cause costly delays to its borrowers and make it difficult for the private sector to do business with it. Its country focus has improved performance but neglects its ability to meet global and regional financing needs. It needs a substantial overhaul of its objectives and much more innovative use of its capital base and financial instruments. Just as we needed a Marshall Plan to help the world recover from the ravages of World War II, we now need actions on a similar scale internationally to engineer the energy and ecological transformation for a more sustainable planet. Its new role should be as the global institution for climate change and sustainability -- not just another multipurpose development bank. It must also be able to provide monitoring and advice on climate action in the entire world -- not just to developing countries -- on a range of issues such as climate adaptation, mitigation, carbon pricing, environmental, social, and corporate governance and net-zero transformation. Climate change cannot be yet another add-on activity like agriculture, industry, and infrastructure. It is not sufficient to create a climate change department in the WB that allows all others to continue business-as-usual, with sustainability being handled by the new department. The entire organisation must be transformed to make it the premier global institution for helping the world deal with climate change and shared prosperity. The World Bank must also shift the focus from lending to catalysing resource flows. It must help build the institutions and regulatory systems that will help to draw in more capital from the private sector and from sovereign wealth funds. Loans for more schools, health centres, roads, dams, irrigation systems, power plants or rail lines will not be enough. If, in addition, it works to build regulatory and public financial systems and the judicial and governance frameworks, it will help the countries attract more private capital for this social infrastructure, and also meet the badly needed infrastructure financing needs of these countries. Its success must be judged not just by how much it lends -- but by how much resources it can catalyse to address social and physical infrastructure and climate finance needs. More innovative use of its financing instruments is needed especially in the way it books and uses guarantees and insurance backstops. A guarantee or an insurance back-stop facility has only a probability of being called and must be booked differently from a loan as otherwise it creates a huge disincentive in using these instruments. They remain a very small part of the World Bank's portfolio. Its private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation, is also a big player in private finance as it spends enormous effort on looking for and financing individual companies, where it should spend much more effort on helping develop systems for SME finance, which can attract international capital. The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency part of the World Bank also remains very small in its work so far and it covers political and non-commercial risk. The World Bank must continue its country-based assistance and also focus more on global problems -- much more than it has done so far. The World Bank has huge leverage and convening power to address these issues -- working in partnership with specialised agencies at the UN and elsewhere. It may need new and more innovative sources of financing for this purpose, including green bonds. The World Bank's capital base must also be increased, but at the same time, there must also be changes to the way it uses its capital. The World Bank and other regional banks now provide an exceedingly small share of net flows to emerging markets. They have been overly conservative in their equity to loan ratios despite having preferred creditor treatment and AAA ratings based on their shareholder ratings. They could also be allowed more leeway in the use of capital -- by changing their capital adequacy ratios and by allowing them to use a small share of callable capital -- not just their paid-in capital, without hurting their credit ratings. The World Bank must become Archimedes' lever to help change the world into a more prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable planet in the 21st century. The change in leadership now provides that opportunity. Ajay Chhibber is distinguished visiting scholar, Institute for International Economic Policy, George Washington University, and a senior visiting professor, ICRIER. 'The Opposition thinks since the ruling party is following Savarkar's Hindutva philosophy, they want to regain their lost political mileage (by attacking Savarkar).' 'By doing so, they think they will get their power back.' IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaks at the Chatham House think- tank in London, March 7, 2023. Photograph: Photograph: @INCIndia/Twitter Satyaki Savarkar, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's grandnephew, has moved a Pune court with a criminal defamation complaint against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Satyaki's move came after Rahul's statements at an event in London against Savarkar, which the grandnephew feels are "false and baseless". Satyaki's grandfather Narayan Damodar Savarkar was Savarkar's brother . "I am filing this defamation case because I am a blood relative to him," Satyaki tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com over the telephone. "Many of my friends and colleagues have started asking me about the legacy of Veer Savarkar and about his contribution to the freedom struggle. And when Rahul Gandhi makes such statements, it is defamatory to us as a family and insulting," he adds. Rahul Gandhi has been speaking against Savarkar for years now, so what prompted you to file a defamation case against him now? Rahul Gandhi's speeches against Veer Savarkarji has reached the masses. He is all the time talking about his mercy petition and pension, whereas the truth is that the masses know these allegations against him are not true. This time Rahul Gandhi said in London that Savarkar along with 5-6 friends beat up one Muslim man and that scene was enjoyable to him. He further said that this act of Savarkar, which he wrote about, was an act of cowardice. This statement of Rahul Gandhi has insulted Veer Savarkar in many ways because this incident is imaginary. Veer Savarkar never wrote anything like this as Rahul Gandhi is stating. If you look at Veer Savarkar's thoughts you will see that he talks about every human being should be looked up to as human first, which is above his caste, creed and religion. He was a rational thinker. He was pro-democracy. You are saying that the objectionable part that he beat up a Muslim man is not true as claimed by Rahul Gandhi. Is that the only reason you are filing a case against him? Yes, because this incident never happened. Veer Savarkarji has not written about this incident in his lifetime, so how can Rahul Gandhi make a statement like this? It is a false statement from his side. He is creating a bad image in the eyes of the public for Veer Savarkar. I consulted my lawyer, Sangram Kolhatkar, and we did a fact check on whether Rahul Gandhi's statement on video is true and to our surprise we found out that this video is indeed true. It is available on his YouTube channel. We confirmed it and only then filed a case of defamation against Rahul Gandhi. I interviewed Vikram Sampath about his book on Savarkar where he has written about the incident in which Savarkar as a teenager attacked a mosque. So, it is possible that the incident referred to by Rahul Gandhi cannot be denied, isn't it? But Veer Savarkarji has not written about this incident that Rahul Gandhi is talking about. He never wrote that as a teenager he was enjoying the beating up of a Muslim man with 5-6 friends. You mean to say some other author must have written about this incident, but Savarkar himself never wrote about it? Exactly, because Rahul Gandhi says, 'Savarkarji ne kitab likha hai usme yeh likha hai -- and the fact is Savarkar never wrote about this incident. In 1926 there was a biography of Savarkar by an author, Chitragupta. Apparently, Chitragupta was Savarkar himself writing under a pseudonym so maybe Rahul Gandhi was referring to this book? This author Chitragupta was not Savarkar, he was someone else. And if you go back in history no one knows who this author is, but it surely is not Veer Savarkarji. For sure he wrote the book My Transportation For Life, but not any other book under the pseudonym of Chitragupta. This is the allegation against Savarkar, that he wrote his own biography under a pseudonym in which he gave himself the 'Veer' title and since then became known as 'Veer Savarkar'. This is a false story. He never gave himself the name Swatantra Veer Savarkar. It was given to him by the public and then I believe by Vaishampayanji who called Savarkarji as 'Veer'. Later Acharya Pralhad Keshav Atre called him 'Swatantryaveer'. Have you read this book by Chitragupta on Savarkar? Is there any mention in it about the beating up of a Muslim man which Rahul Gandhi has mentioned? No, I have not read this book. Moreover, this book is not written by Veer Savarkar, so how can Rahul Gandhi make such claims about the Muslim beating incident? When Indira Gandhi praised Savarkar after his death, how did he get the tag of a coward? It is due to Mani Shankar Aiyar in 2004. He (as petroleum minister) removed the plaque commemorating Veer Savarkar at the freedom fighters memorial in Andaman's Cellular jail where he was imprisoned by the British. He then started this campaign on Savarkar's clemency petition and sustenance allowance. I believe he did it because Savarkar coined the word 'Hindutva'. Now, we have a pro-Hindutva government at the Centre and the Opposition thinks that since the ruling party is following Savarkar's Hindutva philosophy, as he is the father of Hindutva, then they want to regain their lost political mileage (by attacking Savarkar). By doing so, they think they will get their power back. With the killing of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad and his aide in Jhansi, the number of alleged criminals gunned down in police encounters in Uttar Pradesh has risen to 183 in the six years of Yogi Adityanath's government, officials said. IMAGE: 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 on April 13, 2023. Photograph: PTI Photo The UP Police data showed that more than 10,900 police encounters have taken place in the state since March 2017, when Adityanath took over as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh for the first time. In these encounters, 23,300 alleged criminals were arrested and 5,046 were injured. The number of policemen injured in them was 1,443 and 13 were killed, the data showed. Of the 13 policemen killed in encounters since March 2017, eight were ambushed in a narrow lane of Kanpur by the aides of notorious gangster Vikas Dubey. Dubey was shot dead by police when he tried to escape while being brought to UP from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. Police said Dubey's vehicle had overturned during the transit and he had snatched a policeman's gun. "As many as 183 criminals have been gunned down in police encounters in the state since March 20, 2017," Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar told PTI. However, the critics of the government and opposition parities have alleged that many of these encounters were "fake" and demanded a high-level probe to bring out the facts. The UP government and the police have denied these allegations and said law and order has improved since the BJP came to power in 2017. The demand for a thorough probe was most recently raised by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati after Asad and his aide Ghulam were shot dead in Jhansi on Thursday. Both Asad and Ghulam were wanted for the daylight murder of Umesh Pal, a key witness in the killing of then BSP legislator Raju Pal in 2005, and his two security guards in Prayagraj in February this year. Hours after their killing in Jhansi, Yadav suggested the police encounter could be "fake". "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," he said in a tweet in Hindi. Shortly thereafter, Mayawati too demanded a "high-level" investigation to bring out "complete facts and truth" of the incident as "many types of discussions" were happening. She also linked the encounter to Dubey's killing. But Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has congratulated the police on the action. "Nobody will touch you if you don't commit a crime. And nobody will be spared if they commit a crime," Maurya said, asserting that this was a BJP government and not an SP regime that criminals would be spared. On Friday, the SP released a list on Twitter, asking whether those on it were close to Adityanath. It alleged everyone on the list belonged to the chief minister's caste and so were alive and running criminal gangs. The party's media cell, using the handle @MediaCellSP, said, "Are these special to Yogi ji? Actually, they all belong to the same caste as that of Yogi ji. Hence, they are still alive, committing crime, running the gangs, and indulging in murder, rape, loot, dacoity and extortion." "Note the list is old, but most of the criminals in it are BJP-supported and are active," it added. The list contained the names of several politicians with the alleged number of cases registered against them. Among them were Kuldeep Singh Sengar (Unnao, 28 cases), Brijesh Singh (Varanasi, 106 cases), Dhananjay Singh (Jaunpur, 46 cases) and Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias "Raja Bhaiyya" (Pratapgarh, 31 cases). Some activists too have raised questions over the high number of police encounters in the state. "We are of the view that the National Human Rights Commission has some guidelines on police encounters. And there should be a magisterial probe as per the guidelines of the NHRC. It will make the picture clear," Lenin Raghuvanshi, the founder-convenor of People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights, told PTI. Thursday's encounter killing of Atiq Ahmad's son and his aide was the seventh under Prayagraj police commissionerate. It was also the third such encounter in the Umesh Pal murder case. In February and March, two men who allegedly took part in Umesh Pal's killing were gunned down. Asad was caught on CCTV when Umesh Pal was killed and was on the run for 50 days, police said. Atiq Ahmad, a former SP legislator, has expressed fear that he himself could be killed by UP Police while being brought to Prayagraj from an Ahmedabad prison, where he was lodged in connection with another case. The body of Asad Ahmad, who was killed along with another person in a police encounter, will be collected by his uncle from Jhansi, a family advocate said on Friday. IMAGE: 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. Photograph: PTI Photo Asad Ahmad, the son of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad, and his accomplice Ghulam, 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. The alleged encounter took place apparently at the time Atiq Ahmad was in a Prayagraj court, where he was presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in connection with the same murder case and was remanded to 14-day judicial custody. The court also allowed a five-day remand for the UP Police to question him. Asad's maternal uncle has gone to Jhansi to take the body, advocate Manish Khanna said. He is expected to be buried at a graveyard in the Dhoomanganj area Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. Asad was the third of five sons of Atiq Ahmad and was absconding since the Umesh Pal murder case. Among other sons of Atiq Ahmad, the eldest son Umar is lodged in Lucknow jail, while the second son Ali is lodged in Naini Central Jail in separate cases. The fourth son Ahjam and the youngest son Aban are housed in a juvenile home in Prayagraj. Atiq Ahmad is presently serving life imprisonment in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case. A police official said a large number of policemen be deployed during the last rites of Asad to avoid any untoward incident. Asad was caught on CCTV when Umesh Pal was killed and had been on the run for the past about 50 days, police said. On Thursday, police said an STF team led by two deputy superintendents of police reached Badagaon area in Jhansi district after getting information about the presence of gangsters. Asad and Ghulam, who carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh each, tried to flee on a motorcycle, police said. They opened fire at the STF team when it surrounded them and the policemen retaliated, they said, adding the two men were killed in the exchange of fire. Police on Friday said they are coordinating with the Army in connection with the killing of four soldiers at the Bathinda Military Station earlier this week but there has been no breakthrough. Photograph: ANI Photo The Army jawans were killed in their sleep in the firing which took place in their barracks early Wednesday morning. The next day, the Army reported the death of another soldier who succumbed to a gunshot wound at the same base, but said it was not linked to the initial case. Officials suggested it could be a case of suicide or accidental firing. A massive hunt was launched for two unidentified men seen near the site of the firing in which the four jawans were killed. But no breakthrough has been reported. "There is no clue yet. We are coordinating with the Army authorities," Bathinda Cantonment SHO Gurdeep Singh said. When contacted, another Bathinda police official said, "There is no further update other than the facts about the case which are already in public domain." According to the FIR, a jawan saw two unidentified men in white kurta-pyjamas, 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 FIR. The suspects went towards a forested area near the barracks on seeing the jawan, the FIR said. Later, 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. It is suspected that an INSAS rifle, which was reported missing along with 28 rounds earlier this week, was used in the firing. Nineteen empty shells of an INSAS rifle were found at the spot. The weapon was also found later. Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has approved the extension of power subsidy in Delhi, a move that came amid a row between the LG office and the Aam Aadmi Party government after Power Minister Atishi said the scheme would end from Friday as the file to extend the subsidy was held back by Saxena. IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. Photograph: ANI Photo In the ensuing blame game, the Lt Governor office said the file of power subsidy was received from the government as late as April 11 and it was dispatched back on Friday morning. "The file was signed on Thursday and sent to the CM on Friday, before a press conference by Atishi. They are trying to save face, having obviously been caught on a very very embarrassing and wrong foot," said an officer at the LG office. A Delhi government functionary admitted the file to extend the power subsidy in the city was signed by the LG. "The file of subsidy was held back by the LG and a press conference was held by the Power minister in this issue," he said. Atishi in a media briefing earlier in the day said power subsidy of 46 lakh consumers will stop from Friday due to lack of approval by the LG. However, the Lt Governor's office said the power subsidy extension for the year 2023-24 has been approved by Saxena and accused Atishi of levelling false allegations. In what could emerge as the latest flashpoint between the city government and the Lt Governor office, the minister said she has sought a meeting with Saxena over the issue but there has been no response. "The subsidy we give to 46 lakh people will stop from today. From Monday onwards, people will get inflated bills without subsidy," she said in a press conference. The minister said the Delhi Cabinet has approved the extension of power subsidy for the year 2023-24 but the file is still pending in the LG office. "Till the file is approved we can't give subsidy. I even sought time from the LG office to discuss the matter but it's been more than 24 hours and I have not been given time. The file has also not come back yet," she alleged. Atishi said the file was sent a few days back and a response is still awaited. "The budget for this subsidy has been passed by the Vidhan Sabha. The government has money for subsidy but we cannot spend it," she said. Reacting to her allegations, an LG House official said, "The power minister is advised to refrain from unnecessary politicking and baseless false allegations against the LG. She should stop misleading people with false statements. If at all she and the CM should answer the people of Delhi as to why was a decision in this regard kept pending till April 4 when the deadline was April 15? Why was the file sent to LG on April 11? And what was the need for a drama on April 13 by writing a letter and then a press conference today?" The AAP government in Delhi provides free electricity to consumers with 200 units of monthly consumption. Those having 201 to 400 units of consumption per month get a 50 per cent subsidy capped at Rs 850. Last year, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that a power subsidy would be provided to only those consumers who apply for it. According to official figures, over 48 lakh among more than 58 lakh domestic consumers have applied for power subsidy. The AAP government has allocated Rs 3,250 crore for power subsidy in its budget for 2023-24. Former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, who announced his decision to resign from the primary membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party after being denied a ticket to contest in the May 10 assembly elections, on Friday joined the Congress. IMAGE: Former BJP leader and former Karnataka deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi joins the Congress party in presence of Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar and others, at party office, in Bengaluru on Friday. Photograph: ANI Photo Savadi would now be the grand old party's candidate in Athani in Belagavi district, Congress leaders said. His decision came after a meeting with Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar, Leader of Opposition in the assembly Siddaramaiah and Congress general secretary and party in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala. "Our meeting with Savadi took place in a cordial manner. We are aware of his dignity and position. He has agreed to become a member of our (Congress) family of his own volition. He is coming with us after accepting the party's ideology and leadership," Shivakumar, who was flanked by Savadi and Siddaramaiah, told reporters. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he was 'saddened' by Savadi's decision to part ways with the BJP and join the Congress. "...I'm feeling very sad, we shared a close bond. Sometimes such political situations arise," Bommai said. "He might have found his political future in Congress. We will do our job in our party." Savadi, who resigned as an MLC on Friday, said he had been loyal to the BJP and helped the party candidates win in other parts of the state as well, but it did not live up to its promise of fielding him in the 2023 assembly election from Athani. On his decision to join the Congress, Savadi, a three-time MLA from Athani, said he had only demanded a ticket to contest the elections, besides completion of some irrigation projects in his constituency that are pending, in the event of the Congress coming to power. Ignoring Savadi's request, the BJP had earlier this week given the Athani ticket to sitting MLA Mahesh Kumathalli. Savadi had lost the 2018 elections to Kumathalli, who was then with the Congress. Kumathalli was among the group of defectors who helped the BJP bring down the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government and form its own government under the leadership of B S Yediyurappa in 2019. Kumathalli later joined the BJP and successfully contested the Athani by-election on the party ticket. Attacking the BJP, Savadi said he had not demanded the deputy chief minister's post from the ruling party in 2019 but they had given it to him and thereafter removed him from the position without informing him, which he perceived as an insult. "After losing the election (in 2018), I was made an MLC and then the deputy chief minister. But later they removed me. Why did they make me a minister and then remove me," he asked. Replying to a question, he said the BJP should answer why he was denied a ticket to contest in the May 10 assembly elections. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday set a target for the Bharatiya Janata Party to win 35 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in next year's election and claimed that the Mamata Banerjee government in the state won't survive beyond 2025 if the goal is achieved. IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah being felicitated with a 'Trident' during the 'Jan Sampark Samavesh' rally, at Suri, in Birbhum on Friday. Photograph: ANI Photo Asserting that Narendra Modi would again be the country's prime minister in 2024, Shah said that leaders like Mamata Banerjee can never give a befitting reply to Pakistan or fight militancy in Kashmir. Shah's comments drew sharp reactions from the Trinamool Congress, which asked how a union minister could 'openly threaten to topple an elected government'. While the party's virtual number two Abhishek Banerjee, whom Shah had targeted in his speech, chipped in to say in a tweet that he would quit politics if the home minister released the 'Rs 1.15 lakh crore rightfully due to my state'. "Let me make it very clear that in 2024, Narendra Modi will again be the country's Prime Minister. The people of Bengal have given us great responsibility by giving us 77 seats in the last assembly polls. "Give us more than 35 Lok Sabha seats from West Bengal, and I can assure you that the corrupt TMC government won't survive beyond 2025," Amit Shah claimed while addressing a rally in the Suri area of Birbhum district, under a smouldering sun. The Mamata Banerjee government is scheduled to complete its third term in 2026 and her party's leaders saw the 2025 ouster claim made in a speech ahead of Bengal's panchayat polls as an 'unconstitutional' threat. However, Banerjee personally refrained from making any comments unlike in earlier years. The BJP won 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in the 2019 elections and observers said doubling this number would require an immense organisational challenge. Later in the evening, while visiting Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Kolkata, Shah again exuded confidence about winning 35 Lok Sabha seats from the state and said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi would return to power by bagging more than 300 seats across the country in 2024 parliament polls." Leaders like Mamata Banerjee can 'never give a befitting reply to Pakistan, fight militancy in Kashmir', the BJP leader said, adding that only Prime Minister Modi can handle such national issues. Shah criticised the TMC over the arrest of its ministers and leaders in graft cases by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and said the party should be ashamed of itself. Referring to the criticism that central agencies have targeted the TMC for political reasons, Shah said those who engage in corruption and loot will eventually end up in prison. Hitting out at the TMC over dynasty politics, the former BJP president repeatedly used the phrase 'Didi aur Bhatija (Elder sister as Mamata Banerjee is called by her supporters and her nephew)' during his speech. He claimed Banerjee does not care about the youth of Bengal who were being duped in the school jobs scam, as her only target is to make 'her nephew the next chief minister of this state'. "But let me clarify, the next West Bengal chief minister will be from the BJP. Only the BJP can fight and defeat the corrupt TMC. Under Mamata Banerjee's rule, West Bengal has become a hub of bomb-making factories," the Union home minister claimed. Banerjee's nephew Abhishek is TMC's national general secretary and a two-time MP. Abhishek Banerjee in a tweeted reply tagging Shah, said, 'If my existence pains you to this extent, release the Rs 1.15 lakh crore rightfully due to my state and I'll withdraw myself from the political arena.' Citing the example of Assam, where infiltration and cow smuggling stopped after the BJP came to power in 2016, Shah said the same would be replicated in Bengal if the saffron camp comes to power. 'TMC's affinity towards corruption can be gauged from the fact that the party is yet to remove the person (Anubrata Mondal) as its district president even after he was arrested in the cattle smuggling case,' he said. He also referred to the ongoing investigation in the seizure of a huge cache of explosives from Birbhum recently. On recent clashes during Ram Navami rallies in West Bengal, Shah blamed it on 'appeasement politics' of the TMC government and said once the BJP wins more than 35 seats, 'no one would dare attack Ram Navami rallies in the state'. Prohibitory orders were imposed in West Bengal's Hooghly and Howrah districts, where clashes broke out between two groups during the Ram Navami procession. A youth from Bihar's Munger was also arrested for carrying arms during a Ram Navami procession, whom the TMC has claimed was a BJP supporter. Later after offering puja at Dakshineswar Temple, Shah said he prayed before Goddess that the 'law and order situation improves in the state'. Shah's comments drew sharp reactions from the TMC. "He can dream of winning 35 seats, just like bagging 200 plus seats in the 2021 assembly polls. How can a union minister openly threaten to topple an elected government before it completes its full term? It is now proven that a conspiracy is on to topple the state government," TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said. Referring to Shah's attack on TMC on the issue of dynasty politics, Ghosh said, "It seems Shah has forgotten that its leader in Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari himself, is a product of dynasty politics." Suvendu is the son of Sisir Adhikari, a TMC MP, who has joined the BJP. Several of his family members are also political leaders in Bengal. After speaking at the rally in Suri, Shah inaugurated the district party office in Suri. He also met family members of the Bogtui massacre in Birbhum district, where nine persons were charred to death in March last year in the rivalry between two groups. MindX, a startup that offers training in technology and programming, has received a US$15 million investment from a group of international funds in the Series B round. The funding round was led by Singaporean fund Kaizenvest, which has invested in many famous startups in the field of education technology (edtech), including unicorns Byju's and upGrad in India, and Yola English Center in Vietnam. The other participating investors are Thai education group Aksorn, Japanese human resources group Mynavi, and venture capital funds like Wavemaker Partners and Beacon Fund. MindX, founded in 2015 in Hanoi, specializes in technology training for people of various age groups. It has centers in many cities, and also provides training online. In November 2021 it had raised $3 million in a Series A round. Sandeep Aneja, founder of Kaizenvest, said the demand for learning technology in Vietnam, and Southeast Asia in general, is increasing. "This investment is commensurate with the market potential and our belief in today's growing demand for technology learning." Nguyen Thanh Tung, MindXs co-founder and CEO, said being equipped with skills and critical thinking to apply new tools and technologies is the way for Vietnam to have a pioneering generation of innovation considering how technology is constantly evolving today. With the new funding, the company plans to expand its scale and portfolio of products and services and optimize the user experience and data systems. MindX is also partnering with more than 200 firms in countries like Singapore, Australia and Thailand, allowing the world to access Vietnams highly skilled digital workforce. The $15 million represents one of the largest amounts raised by edtech in Vietnam this year. According to the e-Conomy report by Google and Bain&Company, investments for startup projects in Vietnam went down to $0.7 billion in the first half of 2022. In January, Nitish Kumar assured the Rajputs that he has been making efforts to release Anand Mohan from jail. IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pays tribute to Emperor Asoka on his birth anniversary at the SKM hall in Patna, March 29, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Jailed former MP Anand Mohan Singh, who is serving a life sentence for lynching district magistrate G Krishnaiah, is once again out on parole for 15 days. Two days ago, Anand Mohan, who was lodged in the Saharsa district jail, was granted parole. It is the third time in the last six months that Anand Mohan was granted parole. In November 2022, Anand Mohan secured his first parole, followed by the second in February 2023 to attend his daughter's marriage, and now the third parole to attend his son's marriage. In January, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar assured the Rajputs -- the community to which Anand Mohan belongs -- while addressing a rally in honour of the legendary Maharana Pratap that he has been making efforts to release Anand Mohan from jail. Lovely Anand -- Anand Mohan's wife and former MP -- is a Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and his son Chetan Anand is an RJD MLA; both are considered close to Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav. The Mahagathbandhan may field Lovely Anand from a parliamentary seat having enough Rajput voters to challenge the BJP that is seen as the party popular in the community. Anand Mohan reportedly enjoys strong support among Rajputs in the flood-prone Kosi region, from where he hails, and the neighbouring Seemanchal and Mithilanchal regions as well. For many in his home district of Saharsa and neighbouring Supaul with its sizeable population of Rajputs, Anand Mohan is considered a messiah. With the Lok Sabha election hardly a year away, the ruling Mahagathbandhan consisting of Kumar's Janata Dal-United, the RJD, the Congress, the Hindustani Awam Morcha, hopes to make a dent in upper caste votes, considered a strong and loyal social support base of the BJP in Bihar. Anand Mohan has been imprisoned for over a decade after the life sentence awarded to him in the 1994 murder of then Gopalganj district magistrate G Krishnaiah. In 2007, the Patna high court awarded Anand Mohan a death sentence. The court pronounced the verdict 13 years after a mob led by the husband-wife duo of Anand Mohan and Lovely Anand shot at and then stoned to death Krishnaiah, the Gopalganj district magistrate, on a national highway near Muzaffarpur. Later, the court converted the death sentence awarded to him to a life term. Krishnaiah, a 1985 batch Indian Administrative Service officer, who belonged to Andhra Pradesh, was forcibly dragged out of his official vehicle and killed by henchmen of Anand Mohan in Vaishali district when he was on the way to Patna to attend a meeting. According to the police investigation report, after being attacked and beaten to near-death, Krishnaiah was also shot. The police officials reportedly said Krishnaiah's vehicle was intercepted by a mob led by Anand Mohan. The mob was protesting the killing of Kaushalendra 'Chutan' Shukla, a leader of Anand Mohan's Bihar People's Party. Anand Mohan faced several criminal cases, including those related to murder, attempt to murder, extortion and abduction, in various courts. He formed the Krantikari Samajwadi Sena in 1980, but lost the Lok Sabha election that year. He became a Janata Dal legislator in 1990. The next year, he was accused of killing an Independent candidate from Madhepura. He formed the Bihar People's Party in 1993, but failed to win any of the three assembly seats he contested in 1995. He entered the Lok Sabha in 1996 from Sheohar. After Anand Mohan was convicted in Krishnaiah's murder, the Bihar People's Party slowly lost ground. He then joined hands with the Samata Party led by George Fernandes and Nitish Kumar and worked with them when they formed the Janata Dal-United. Since the late 1990s till the early 2000s, he joined all the political parties in Bihar one after another except the Left. Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath has been roped in by the party to play the role of a mediator in resolving the situation arising in the party's Rajasthan unit after Sachin Pilot's day-long fast in Jaipur seeking action against the alleged corruption under the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government. IMAGE: oth Gehlot and Pilot were keen on the chief minister's post when the party won in the state assembly elections in 2018. But the Congress high command picked Gehlot for the top post for a third time. Photograph: ANI Photo Nath along with Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal met Pilot on Thursday to discuss his side of arguments and the former Rajasthan deputy CM conveyed to them that his fast was only directed at action against corruption and was not "anti-party" at all, sources said. "Though the meeting was cordial nothing concrete came out of it," a source in the know of the developments told PTI. Congress' Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Thursday morning met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge for the second time in two days to discuss the Rajasthan issue. He had also met Rahul Gandhi at his residence to discuss the matter. Leaders close to Pilot have argued that his fast was only against the corruption under Vasundhara government and cannot be termed "anti-party". They claim that the Congress has been raising the corruption plank in the Adani matter and in Karnataka polls and Pilot's action was in line with that. As far as the issue of "indiscipline" is concerned, the Pilot side has also raised questions as to why no action has been taken against Gehlot loyalists who had defied party directive for holding a legislature party meeting last year. They have also raised questions as to why Randhawa's statement called the fast anti-party even before it took place. Sources close to Pilot said that there has been no physical meeting between him and Randhawa. The Congress leadership is caught in a peculiar situation and wants to find a middle path to the issue, party sources said. Pilot reached Delhi on Wednesday, a day after he observed a fast in Jaipur. Both Gehlot and Pilot were keen on the chief minister's post when the party won in the state assembly elections in 2018. But the Congress high command picked Gehlot for the top post for a third time. In July 2020, Pilot and a section of Congress MLAs had rebelled openly against Gehlot, demanding a change of leadership in the state. Pilot was then stripped of the posts of deputy chief minister and Pradesh Congress Committee president. The month-long crisis ended after the Congress central leadership's assurance to look into the issues Pilot raised. Gehlot later used terms like "gaddar" (traitor), "nakara" (failure) and "nikamma" (worthless) for Pilot, and accused him of being involved with BJP leaders in a conspiracy to topple the Congress government. Last September, MLAs in the Gehlot camp boycotted a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting and held a parallel one to stall what they felt was an attempt to make Pilot the new chief minister. Gehlot was then being considered for the party president's post. Hours after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) summoned Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party on Friday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party was conspiring to arrest the Delhi chief minister in the 'fabricated' excise policy case, and stressed that their fight against corruption won't be hampered. IMAGE: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. Photograph: ANI Photo The BJP welcomed the CBI move, claiming that it had been saying all along that Kejriwal was the 'mastermind of the liquor scam'. Addressing a press conference, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the Delhi chief minister will appear before the CBI on April 16. The CBI has summoned Kejriwal in connection with the excise policy scam case on April 16, officials said on Friday. Kejriwal has been asked to be present at the agency headquarters at 11 am to answer queries of the investigating team, they said. The central probe agency has already arrested former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the case. It is alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by the AAP. The policy was later scrapped. "He exposed the alleged ties between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani during the assembly session. The day he did so, I told him that he will be next on BJP's hitlist now," Singh claimed. Describing the summons as a desperate attempt by the BJP to silence their opposition, Singh said these summons will only strengthen Kejriwal's anti-corruption crusade. "The fact remains that the Centre is tainted with accusations of wide-scale corruption and nothing can change that. "CM Arvind Kejriwal swore to expose the reality of the PM in the assembly that day. But now, this expose will stir up a storm across the nation," he said. He also alleged that the BJP is hatching a conspiracy to arrest Kejriwal inside CBI headquarters. "But no conspiracy, no tactic, no trap can muffle the voice of CM Arvind Kejriwal, his fight will go on regardless of what happens to him. This fight will spread to every nook and corner of this country now. The whole country will now speak against the PM's corruption," he said. Singh also talked about the Kejriwal model of world class education and healthcare, saying, "CM Arvind Kejriwal let go of his plush job as an Income Tax Commissioner to reform this nation. He went on a 13-day hunger strike to fight corruption, do you think a notice can scare him?" He emphasised how this is not the first time CM Kejriwal is being targeted. "The Delhi CM was earlier subjected to raids and searches at his office and residence. Two senior ministers of his cabinet were arrested. Several of his MLAs have been thrown into jails," Singh said. "But despite all this, Kejriwal did not let Delhi's progress falter," he stressed. Singh challenged the CBI and said it can go ahead and arrest every single AAP leader and volunteer and yet 'they won't bow down before the BJP'. "This notice is not going to scare, the BJP can do whatever it wants, but it won't be able to shake AAP's spirits," he said. Senior AAP leader Atishi also lashed out at the Centre, saying AAP leaders and workers are 'not scared' and the party will keep fighting 'against corruption'. "None of the AAP leaders or workers are scared of the Centre and their threats. Our party was born out of a movement against corruption. Even if they (Centre) send us CBI or ED notice or put us behind the bars, we will keep fighting for the citizens of this country. We will keep up our fight against corruption," she said. Opposition parties, however, said the summons by CBI show that Kejriwal is also involved in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy case. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva congratulated the people of Delhi over the CBI summons to Kejriwal. "Delhi BJP has all along been saying that Kejriwal is the mastermind of liquor scam in which his minister Manish Sisodia is in jail. Kejriwal is directly involved in the scam because the excise policy was approved by his Cabinet under his chairmanship," Sachdeva alleged. Delhi Congress chief Anil Chaudhary said the summons validate the Delhi Congress assertion from the very beginning that 'Kejriwal was the mastermind behind the liquor scam'. "The PA of jailed former Excise minister Manish Sisodia had disclosed that the controversial liquor policy was formulated at the residence of Kejriwal and it was finalized with his approval. "Kejriwal was the mastermind behind the liquor deal. The day will not be too far, when Kejriwal would be put behind the bars," he said. Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Friday appeared before the Vigilance Bureau in connection with a disproportionate assets matter. IMAGE: Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi addresses a press conference before reaching Vigilance Bureau's office. Photograph: ANI Ahead of entering the bureau's Mohali office at 11.10 am, the Congress leader slammed the state's Aam Aadmi Party government over his date of appearance being advanced and claimed that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's regime was indulging in "vendetta politics". The vigilance bureau had initially asked Channi to appear for questioning on April 12. He, however, requested for another date to join the investigation, which the bureau allowed, asking him to appear on April 20. Later, the bureau advanced the date to Friday. Asked about being questioned in the matter before he entered the bureau's office, Channi said, "The probe is totally political. Let them do what they want." Addressing a press conference before he reached the bureau's office, Channi launched a scathing attack on the state's AAP government and said he may be tortured, arrested or even killed but he is prepared to face it. During an earlier media interaction in Jalandhar where he was campaigning for the bypoll to the vacant Lok Sabha seat, Channi had attacked the AAP government on a host of issues and alleged that it said it failed to meet the Dalit community's expectations. Channi on Thursday accompanied Congress candidate Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary, who filed her nomination papers for the Lok Sabha bypoll. Speaking to the media on Friday, Channi said, "I held a press conference (in Jalandhar) where I raised some issues. And when someone speaks the truth, the one who is a liar feels the pinch -- that is what has happened with the AAP government." The former chief minister was flanked by senior party leaders, including the Congress' Punjab unit chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Harish Chaudhary and Partap Singh Bajwa. He also slammed the AAP government over his date of appearance date being advanced and alleged it was part of the dispensation's "vendetta politics". "They summoned me on a public holiday when offices are shut. For torturing Channi, the offices have been specially opened and the day they have chosen is (the day) of Baisakhi and Dr BR Ambedkar's birth anniversary," he said. Channi said, "They may arrest me, beat me, torture me and send me to jail, do whatever you want. They can send me behind bars today, too. They can even kill me but I am prepared." "Today is the day of Dr Ambedkar sahib, who taught us to struggle... Since my childhood, I have been habituated to struggles," Channi said. The Congress leader also asserted that he can not be stopped from raising his voice for the poor. Channi also took on Mann who had last month hit out at Giani Harpreet Singh, the Akal Takht jathedar, for "provoking" people by issuing an ultimatum to the AAP government to release all Sikh youths nabbed during the police action against radical preacher Amritpal Singh. "What the CM said against the Akal Takht jathedar, when I spoke against this and raised some questions, they (government) felt how could I raise (such) questions?" said Channi. He said he wanted to ask Mann, "How did you speak against the jathedar of our (Sikh) community... the CM has so far not apologised before the Akal Takht jathedar." Channi said he also raised the sacrilege issue and demanded justice. "Amarinder Singh was our chief minister, we had nothing personal against him but we changed our government on these issues. We proceeded on the sacrilege issue later," he said. "I raised some issues of the Dalit community, I talked about the farmers and other matters," he said and claimed that the government did not like the questions he raised. The Vigilance Bureau has been inquiring into allegations of Channi amassing assets disproportionate to his known source of income. Last month, the bureau had issued a lookout circular against the former chief minister. He returned to India towards the end of last year after spending several months in the US and Canada. Channi, who was the Congress' chief ministerial candidate in the 2022 assembly elections, went abroad shortly after his party's defeat in the polls. He had contested from the Chamkaur Sahib and the Bhadaur assembly constituencies but lost from both. Channi succeeded Amarinder Singh in September 2021 following the latter's unceremonious exit as chief minister. The Centre has denied to accord sanction to prosecute 30 Army men who were allegedly involved in the December 2021 killing of 13 innocent civilians in a botched ambush at Oting in Nagaland's Mon district, an official said. IMAGE: Charred remains of vehicles of security personnel after the vehicles were put on fire by some miscreants over the death of 13 people, who were allegedly killed by armed forces in Mon district on Sunday, December 5, 2021. Photograph: PTI Photo This has been communicated to the Mon district and sessions judges court, where the charge sheet has been filed by the state police as required by law, IGP of CID, Nagaland, Roopa M said in a release here on Thursday. The competent authority (Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Government of India) has conveyed its denial to accord sanction for prosecution against all the 30 accused, she said. The sanction by the Government of India is mandatory for intitiating legal suit against any personnel of the security forces for any action taken by them while discharging their duties under section 197(2) Cr.P.C and Section 6 of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the release said. The charge sheet in the case was filed by Nagaland police on May 30, 2022, Roopa said. The Army had set up a court of inquiry' on the incident but the findings have not been made public. At least six daily wage earners returning home in a vehicle from Tiru valley coal mine bordering Assam were gunned down allegedly by the security forces in a failed counter-insurgency operation at Oting village in Mon district on December 4, 2021. Seven more villagers were shot dead later reportedly by the security forces following a scuffle with a group of villagers who had found the bodies in an army vehicle. The SIT of Nagaland Police was constituted by the state home department the very next day. The SIT after completing the probe on March 24, 2022 had sought the sanction for prosecution from the department of military affairs of the defence ministry against the accused security forces personnel who were involved in the incident, the IGP said. It had reported involvement of 30 Army men - a major, two subedars, eight havildars, four naiks, six lance naiks and nine paratroopers of 21 Para security Force. But their wives approached the Supreme Court for a stay of the proceedings in the case. The apex court in an interim order dated July 19, 2022, stayed further proceedings in the case, Roopa said. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has started shifting his belongings from his 12, Tughlaq Lane residence as he was asked to vacate the premises by April 22 following his disqualification from Lok Sabha. IMAGE: Trucks from Rahul Gandhi's 12 Tughlak Lane bungalow, carrying his belongings, arrive at the residence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's 10 Janpath residence, in New Delhi on Friday. Photograph: ANI Photo Two trucks were seen parked outside his residence and the belongings were later shifted to his mother's 10, Janpath residence. Sources said Gandhi is likely to soon vacate the official bungalow allotted to him. While Rahul Gandhi has seen a number of houses, he may also opt to stay with his mother and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi. The Lok Sabha Secretariat had sent Gandhi a notice asking him to vacate the premises by April 22 following his disqualification as MP after his conviction and two-year sentence by a Surat court in a defamation case. A few years ago, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also asked to vacate her Lodhi Estate bungalow as SPG cover was removed from her security. Setting a precedent, the Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has recommended a retired district judge for appointment as judge of the Madhya Pradesh high court. IMAGE: Supreme Court of India. Photograph: ANI Photo The collegium, which also includes Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph, recommended the name of Roopesh Chandra Varshney, who joined judicial service on September 28, 1987 and is a senior member of the Madhya Pradesh Higher Judicial Service, for judgeship of the high court. Prior to this, Justice Baharul Islam (1980) and Justice Fathima Beevi (1989) were appointed as apex court judges after they had retired as judges of a high court. Referring to the Intelligence Bureau report, the collegium said Varshney has a good personal and professional image and that nothing adverse has come to notice against his integrity. His judicial performance, as assessed by the evaluation committee of judges, is very good and the annual confidential reports of the candidate are noteworthy, it said. The collegium said on the date of the recommendation by the collegium of the high court, he was about 59.10 years of age and has since retired from judicial service on reaching the age of superannuation. It noted that on the date of the vacancy against which his name has been recommended, his age was 58.03 years and so qualifies with reference to the prescribed age criterion. "Having regard to the above and the legitimate expectation based on the long period of service rendered by him, the collegium is of the considered opinion that Shri Roopesh Chandra Varshney is suitable for appointment as a judge of the high court of Madhya Pradesh," the collegium said. Besides Varshney, the collegium recommended the names of Anuradha Shukla, Sanjeev Sudhakar Kalgaonkar, Prem Narayan Singh, Achal Kumar Paliwal, Hirdesh, and Avnindra Kumar Singh for judgeship of the Madhya Pradesh high court. The resolution said 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 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 added. Opposition parties have broadly agreed to keep contentious issues aside and contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections together to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party, a senior opposition leader and former Union minister said on Friday amid efforts by top leaders of non-National Democratic Alliance parties to forge a united front. IMAGE: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addresses a joint press conference with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, State Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, party leader Rahul Gandhi, Janata Dal-United president Lalan Singh and others, at his residence, in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Photo Earlier this week, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi held a series of meetings, including with Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav and Janata Dal-United president Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan. During these meetings, top opposition leaders broadly agreed that they will go to the people with issues on which there is consensus, the leader said. A proposal to form a committee, comprising leaders like Pawar, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury and Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav was also discussed during these meetings to reach out to political fence-sitters, the leader said. The Trinamool Congress, the Aam Aadmi Aadmi Party, the Samajwadi Party and the Bharat Rashtara Samiti have not clearly spelt out their views on contesting the next Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the Congress and other like-minded parties. A suggestion for a common minimum programme of the opposition alliance was also discussed during the meetings chaired by Kharge. Rahul Gandhi's strident criticism of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar had created unease among the opposition camp with Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) saying that hurling such insults at the freedom fighter will not help the Congress. 'By insulting Savarkar, the sympathy for Rahul Gandhi will go down. In fact, it will be difficult for the Congress leaders in the state to face the public as Savarkar is present in every nook and corner of the state,' read an editorial in Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray mouthpiece Saamana last month. Another issue is also the Congress' constant targeting of the Adani Group. Pawar's remarks about the Adani Group being targeted by 'little known' financial research groups and the NCP leader favouring a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the group instead of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was seen as a divergent view from that of Congress. However, Pawar later said he had merely stated his views and would defer to the collective opinion of the opposition favouring a JPC probe on the Adani issue after the United States-based short seller Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations against the Group. The Adani Group has denied all allegations. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Friday lashed out at the opposition parties for extending support to criminals after gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahemd's son Asad, and another accused, Ghulam, were killed in an encounter by the Special Task Force (STF) on Thursday. IMAGE: Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad. Photograph: ANI Photo While speaking to ANI, Brajesh Pathak said, "We have a policy of zero tolerance, we will not spare any criminal. The people of the state are looking at parties standing in support of the criminals. They will not forgive them." "As the findings come, we will proceed forward. The matter is in the hands of the court. Whatever the decision of the court is, we will follow it. According to the police investigation being done under CrPC, all the facts will be collected and a chargesheet will be filed," Pathak added. Hours after Asad was killed in an encounter, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said that questions have been raised over 'fake' encounters in Uttar Pradesh and the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state has received maximum National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) notices on such actions. 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. 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 CM Adityanath. Specifically asked whether Atiq Ahmad's son was killed in a fake encounter, Yadav said questions have been repeatedly raised against 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. -- with PTI inputs Exuding confidence that the Bharat Rashtra Samiti would form the government at the Centre after the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Friday said that the Dalit Bandhu scheme would be implemented across the country after the party came to power. IMAGE: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and Dr B R Ambedkar's grandson and Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi president, Prakash Ambedkar at the public meeting organised after the unveiling of the 125 ft-tall statue of Dr Ambedkar, in Hyderabad on Friday. Photograph: ANI Photo The Dalit Bandhu scheme, launched in 2021, offers Rs 10 lakh to Scheduled Caste families as a 100 per cent grant to start a business. The funds given under the direct benefit transfer scheme need not be repaid. Addressing a public meeting after unveiling a 125 ft-tall statue of Dr B R Ambedkar in Hyderabad, Rao said the BRS was getting a tremendous response from Maharashtra and was expecting a similar reaction from West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. "I will tell you certain things. In this 2024 Parliament elections, the next government is ours, ours, and ours. Some of our enemies may not be able to digest this. But one spark is enough to light," he said. Unveiling the Ambedkar statue in Hyderabad on a grand scale on Friday, the birth anniversary of the architect of the Constitution, he said even after 70 years after the Constitution came into effect, Dalits were still the poorest in the country, which was shameful. Pitching for change in the country, Rao said political parties may win or lose, but the people of the country should win. Rao said his government had spent over Rs 1.25 lakh crore during the past 10 years (including this year's budget) for the development of Dalits, as against the Rs 16,000 crore spent by the earlier government in the same amount of time. The Telangana CM said the welfare scheme for Scheduled Castes would be extended to 1.25 lakh families during the current fiscal year, and added that 'Dalit Bandhu will be given to 25 lakh Dalit families every year across the country once our government is formed (at the Centre)'. Speaking about Ambedkar, he said India's first law minister was still relevant in present-day politics and it was everyone's responsibility to ensure that his dreams for an equal society were fulfilled. Rao said everyone should attempt to practise what Dr Ambedkar preached. The BRS government would allot a Rs 51 crore corpus for an award in the name of Ambedkar to be given to people in the field of service, the CM announced. According to an official release, the statue is the largest Ambedkar statue in the world. Dr Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar was the sole chief guest at the unveiling of the 125-ft statue. Prakash Ambedkar said his grandfather had been of the opinion that there was a need to declare another city as the second capital of India and that it should be Hyderabad. He said as of now there were no national leaders in the country after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He also expressed appreciation for KCR and the Telangana government for implementing the Dalit Bandhu scheme. Flower petals were showered from a helicopter on the statute in floral tributes to Ambedkar. Costing Rs 146.50 crore, the statue is made out of 360 tonnes of stainless steel and 114 tonnes of bronze. Thai durians are flooding into Vietnam with prices up to five times higher than domestic fruit to compensate for the shortages created by a surge in exports to China. Hoang Anh, a fruit seller in Ho Chi Minh Citys Go Vap District, said that before this year she had never seen this many Thai durians being imported to Vietnam. She bought Thailand's Fumani durian from a supplier, a variety of the fruit with smaller sizes and thin skin, and she sells them for VND190,000-VND250,000 ($8.10-$10.66) per kilogram, double that of the Ri6 variety that is grown in Vietnam. Many Vietnamese sellers are importing several other Thai durian varieties such as Kanyao, Mongthon and Krathung. They are priced at VND200,000-VND350,000 per kilogram, triple that of Vietnamese durian. Black Thorn is the most expensive durian variety imported from Thailand, priced at VND600,000-VND900,000 per kilogram. Krathung durian sold in Hanoi. Photo by Thuy My Xuan, a vendor in Binh Thanh District, said that customers need to order one week in advance as there is a limited supply. Industry insiders say that as around 70% of Vietnamese durians are exported to China this year, the domestic supply is low and therefore vendors import from Thailand to meet domestic demand. Durian was the fastest-growing export to China among fruits in the first two months of this year, rising by 291% year-on-year to $56.9 million, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. A media representative of durian exporter Van Hoa said that Chinese buyers are still craving Vietnamese durian and exports to China are showing no sign of declining. This is why Vietnamese vendors are importing from Thailand to satisfy the demand of domestic consumers. They say that in northern Vietnam, Thai durians account for the bulk of durians purchased, and not Vietnamese durians. Hoang, a vendor in Hanois Cau Giay District, said that he imports 20-30 tonnes of Thai durian every day, but that it is difficult to buy even 10 tons of Vietnams Ri6 from the Mekong Delta region. "The highest quality durians in southern Vietnam are being sold to China," he said. "Some farmers sell them domestically but in low quantity and therefore I cannot buy them." Vietnam imported nearly $8.5 million worth of fruit from Thailand in the first three months of this year, up 9% year-on-year. Durians, pineapples and mangosteens are among the top imports. This year, Thailands durian production from three provinces in the eastern region are set to rise more than 3% from last year to 756,465 tons. The country plans to export 200,000 tons to China this year. There is, between Rao's tenure as PM and the current Modi regime, a powerful resonance of how transition can be managed. Rao's tenure saw many scams -- one where he was supposedly approached by Harshad Mehta with a bribe for making the securities scam go away. The Opposition insisted on a JPC. Despite knowing a JPC report would undermine him politically, Rao agreed to one, saying he had 'nothing to hide'. IMAGE: Then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao being garlanded by Maninder Singh Bitta, then Youth Congress president, November 28, 1995. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/Reuters It could have happened to anyone, but the incident makes the book. In 1995, Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao was to make a statement about the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir ahead of elections in the state. There was no enthusiasm in his Cabinet for the proposal, but Rao was determined to go ahead, after holding extended talks with Farooq Abdullah. The question was the logistics of the announcement: He was to go to New York for the UN general assembly via Burkina Faso where the flight stopped for refuelling. Rao's broadcast had to be recorded between November 2 and 3, 1995, and transmitted to Delhi through an international satellite that passed over Burkina Faso once in 24 hours, but for less than an hour. A special Doordarshan cameraman had been detailed to travel with the PM's team and transmit the recorded broadcast. After chopping and changing many drafts, the PM recorded his historic broadcast. Rao chose his words carefully, sticking to recorded history and announced that the 'sky was the limit' for discussing Jammu and Kashmir's autonomy within the Indian Constitution. Afterwards, the PM waited for the cameraman to say okay before a farewell call to the head of Burkina Faso on his way to the airport. Then came the bombshell: The cameraman had forgotten to load a tape in the video camera! S Narendra, as spokesman for the government and the prime minister, was incandescent. But he had presciently asked the cameraman of private news agency ANI to record the speech. The backup recording was procured and duly transmitted. Many books have been written on P V Narasimha Rao, one of India's most consequential prime ministers -- including his own, the thinly disguised The Insider. But this one -- India's Tipping Point: The View from 7 Race Course Road (Bloomsbury India) is important because Mr Narendra not only enjoyed a close relationship with the prime minister but was also privy to the political pulls, pressures and decisions taken to manage contradictions. At many points in the book you can sense that Mr Narendra knows a lot more but is holding back. For instance, lore has it that when the 1994 securities scam broke, Rao's finance minister Manmohan Singh offered to resign, but Rao turned this down as faxes from world leaders poured into the PMO urging him not to jettison one of the government's tallest leaders. Mr Narendra does not confirm this. What he does confirm is the persistent undermining of Rao's authority by then human resources and development minister Arjun Singh, who eventually left the Congress to form his own group, hoping Sonia Gandhi would oblige by blessing the move. She never did, and for all his reputation as a master strategist, it turned out to be a dud move. Between Rao and Sonia Gandhi, there was great tension. IMAGE: Narasimha Rao and Sonia Gandhi attend a prayer meeting to mark the fourth death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi in New Delhi, May 21, 1995. Priyanka Gandhi is also seen. Photograph: Sunil Malhotra/Reuters Mr Narendra describes the turning point as a meeting at Raj Ghat where the PM arrived a few minutes after Ms Gandhi and greeted those present including her. She responded by turning away. That happened in 1992, well before those close to the Gandhi clan claimed the various enquiries into Rajiv Gandhi's assassination were simply not pursued with the vigour expected from a Congress government. The greatest challenge, however, was to handle how economic reforms, some extremely painful, were presented to the public. Privately Congress politicians had made it clear they were underwhelmed by the government's new economic policy. The 1992 Tirupati party session was the crucial test. As Congress president, Rao himself drafted the economic resolution, seeking to emphasise the continuity-with-change element, the famous 'bypass' model. It was reform with a human face, and the idea of pitching the poor as daridranarayan came from Mr Narendra. He writes that there were times Dr Singh and commerce minister P Chidambaram's use of words such as divestment, exit policy and labour reforms were politically unsettling. Rao tried to balance the unease of the political leadership. Indeed, the whole Rao tenure, Mr Narendra believes, was about balancing. IMAGE: Narasimha Rao with then finance minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Photograph: PTI Photo There is, between Rao's tenure as PM and the current Modi regime, a powerful resonance of how transition can be managed. Rao's tenure saw many scams -- one where he was supposedly approached by Harshad Mehta with a bribe for making the securities scam go away. The Opposition insisted on a joint parliamentary committee. Despite knowing a JPC report would undermine him politically, Rao agreed to one, saying he had 'nothing to hide'. Mr Narendra describes the demolition of the Babri Masjid and Rao's personal anguish, describing all the efforts he took to ensure consultation to prevent that from happening. For the first time we hear the importance of the role of then Rajasthan chief minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Rao believed he had been made a scapegoat. He could not have dismissed the Kalyan Singh government in UP because in court the chief minister had given undertaking that no harm would come to the structure. This argument that the demolition could have been avoided had Rao sacked the government and imposed President's rule, was offered by Arjun Singh and then home minister S B Chavan who, in his memoirs, blamed Rao for the demolition. Mr Narendra writes that at no point during Cabinet meetings did Chavan ever say the UP government should be sacked. This book offers many insights into a period of India's economic and political transformation. Its understated style, barring a few proofing mistakes (the founder of Amul was V Kurien, not P J Kurien, for instance) makes it an invaluable reference book for everyone who wants to understand the 1990s. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today A shower is possible early. Partly cloudy. Low 33F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight A shower is possible early. Partly cloudy. Low 33F. Winds light and variable. One hand-crocheted blanket came with a note saying Welcome to the USA" and advising the recipient to dress warmly in Vermont Michael Clough, managing director of the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum, holds an owl while Ostara Davis, 3, of Brattleboro, views it during Gallery Walk on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022. Samsung signage is seen in a store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., November 22, 2021. Photo by Reuters/Andrew Kelly Samsung considers Vietnam a global manufacturing hub and wants to make it a center of research and innovation, the South Korean giants CFO, Park Hark Kyu, has said. In a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh Thursday, he said he highly regarded Vietnam's investment and business environment and Samsung wants to make Vietnam the "center of centers" for research and development. Last year the company set up an R&D center in Hanoi and provided training to ensure there would be more Vietnamese in its leadership ranks. Over 2,000 engineers work at the center. The number of level 1 and 2 Vietnamese suppliers in Samsung's global supply chain has increased tenfold since 2014, from 25 to 257. Park also spoke to Chinh about the use of "made in Vietnam" products, and the global minimum tax. Chinh hailed Samsung's business activities in Vietnam as helping shift the country's economic structure, promoting exports and creating millions of jobs. Last year Samsungs profits in Vietnam topped US$4.6 billion. It has invested $18 billion in the country so far, and is planning to increase it to $20 billion. Photographer / Multimedia Editor Has been working as a photojournalist since 2007, before moving into newspapers, he worked with an NGO called Project HOPE. He then went to work for the Press and Sun-Bulletin in New York, and then in New England working for the Brattleboro Reformer. People play traditional tug-of-war game at the Sankranta festival in Siem Reap province, Cambodia on April 14, 2023. Cambodia kicked off the three-day Sankranta festival, or the Khmer New Year celebration, at the famed Angkor Archeological Park on Friday. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua) SIEM REAP, Cambodia, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia kicked off the three-day Sankranta festival, or the Khmer New Year celebration, at the famed Angkor Archeological Park on Friday. Speaking to thousands of officials and revelers at the event, Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen attributed the resumption of the Sankranta festival to the government's successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The Sankranta festival is organized to inspire the Cambodian people, especially the younger generations, to understand, love and promote Cambodia's invaluable culture, civilization, tradition and custom," he said. "And it is also aimed at maintaining national identity and upholding national pride." A variety of events, including cultural show, traditional games, dancing, singing, martial arts, trade exhibition, food show and modern concert, is being held at the festival from Friday to Sunday. Hun Sen was confident that the Sankranta festival would give a boost to the recovery of the pandemic-devastated tourism industry. "It is expected that we will be able to attract more than 4 million international tourists this year," he said, noting that the Southeast Asian nation received 2.28 million foreign visitors in 2022. Cambodia received 6.6 million international visitors in 2019, and the number had sharply dropped to 1.3 million in 2020 and 200,000 in 2021, according to the country's Ministry of Tourism. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen (L, front) beats a gong during the opening ceremony of the Sankranta festival in Siem Reap province, Cambodia on April 14, 2023. Cambodia kicked off the three-day Sankranta festival, or the Khmer New Year celebration, at the famed Angkor Archeological Park on Friday. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua) A large Chapei Dang Veng, the long-necked, two-stringed lute, is displayed at the Sankranta festival in Siem Reap province, Cambodia on April 14, 2023. Cambodia kicked off the three-day Sankranta festival, or the Khmer New Year celebration, at the famed Angkor Archeological Park on Friday. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua) People play traditional tug-of-war game at the Sankranta festival in Siem Reap province, Cambodia on April 14, 2023. Cambodia kicked off the three-day Sankranta festival, or the Khmer New Year celebration, at the famed Angkor Archeological Park on Friday. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has congratulated the Orthodox Christian community of Azerbaijan on the Easter holiday. Dear fellow compatriots! I sincerely congratulate you on the occasion of the holy Easter and convey my heartfelt wishes to you. Representatives of various ethnic groups and faiths live in peace, calm, mutual respect and trust in Azerbaijan, which is the homeland for everyone who has settled and lived here for hundreds of years. The protection of inter-ethnic friendship and inter-religious harmony in our country, the promotion of coexistence cultures and democratic social and moral values, the promotion of inter-civilizational dialogue on a global scale are among the main directions of our state policy based on progressive national and historical traditions. Extensive opportunities have been created for all ethnic and religious minorities, including the Christian community, to properly benefit from their national and spiritual values, to cherish their traditions, language and culture in the modern Republic of Azerbaijan, which is known as one of the addresses of multiculturalism in the world. It is commendable that our citizens of the Orthodox faith, who live in such a democratic and tolerant environment, are closely involved in all areas of our public and political life together with members of other faiths, making worthy contributions to the comprehensive development of our independent state. Dear fellow compatriots! Easter is a symbol of revival, renewal, feelings of mercy and compassion. I once again wish happiness to each of you, happy holidays and prosperity to your families on the occasion of this dear day. Happy holiday! Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 14 April 2023 Students gather around a three dimensional artwork, based on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, that was painted on a school ground in Makati city, Philippines, March 17, 2014. Photo by Reuters/Romeo Ranoco Netflix has removed the first episode of MH370: The Plane That Disappeared as demanded by the Vietnamese government. The Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information had demanded that the misinformation about Vietnam contained in the British docuseries about missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 be removed. In response, Netflix removed the entire first episode of the three-part series on Thursday afternoon from its platform in Vietnam, head of the department, Le Quang Tu Do, said. It inaccurately claims that Vietnam did not cooperate in international efforts to search for the missing plane. At a press conference in Hanoi on April 6 deputy spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pham Thu Hang, described assumptions made in the film as "untrue, baseless and inaccurate reflections of Vietnams efforts." It ignored Vietnamese authorities' official conclusions, and caused "frustration among the Vietnamese populace," she said. The film about the fate of flight MH370 inaccurately asserted that Vietnam did not cooperate in international efforts to search for the missing plane. She pointed out that Vietnamese authorities had promptly deployed response teams in cooperation with Malaysia and other countries, and shared information pertaining to its search operations. Vietnam had gone to lengths to support foreign reporters covering news of the aircrafts disappearance, she said. "Vietnams efforts at the time were recognized by the international community, as well as both the domestic and foreign media. "We ask the company that produced the film and the filmmakers [to remove or modify information] to accurately reflect Vietnams contributions to the search and rescue efforts for Malaysias flightMH370 aircraft." The Boeing 777-200ER aircraft was carrying 239 people from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, when it lost contact with the ground less than an hour after taking off. Following news of the missing plane, Vietnam deployed 10 ships and 11 planes on search missions. Vietnamese forces scoured a sea area spanning over 100,000 km2 for over a week, but did not find any traces of the plane. Vietnam then brought its efforts to a close and called on foreign search and rescue forces to do the same and leave Vietnams territorial waters. The Malaysian government said on March 24, 2014, that analyses of satellite signals showed MH370 had veered thousands of kilometers away from its designated route to the southern Indian Ocean. Its tragic journey ended southwest of the Australian city of Perth. After an unsuccessful search, the Malaysian government declared on January 1, 2015, that all of the planes 239 passengers and crew members had likely perished. Authorities in Malaysia, China and Australia announced in January 2017 that they were suspending the search for MH370, ending a nearly three-year campaign in waters covering an area of about 120,000 square kilometers. The cause of the aircrafts disappearance remains unknown to this day, and its fuselage and black box have never been found. BOSTON (AP) A Massachusetts Air National Guardsman accused in the leak of highly classified military documents appeared in court Friday as prosecutors unsealed charges and revealed how billing records and interviews with social media comrades helped pinpoint the suspect. Among the revelations: That the platform Discord provided information that helped lead the FBI to guardsman Jack Teixeira, and that Teixeira used his government computer to search for the word leak on the day last week when news media reports revealed that classified documents had been improperly disclosed. President Joe Biden said the government was working to determine the validity of the leaked documents. In the meantime, he said in a White House statement, I have directed our military and intelligence community to take steps to further secure and limit distribution of sensitive information, and our national security team is closely coordinating with our partners and allies. Friday's new details about the highest-profile intelligence leak in years shed light on how investigators came to zero in on Teixeira, 21, even though a motive for the disclosures remains publicly unexplained. The Justice Department has said its investigation is continuing, and the Pentagon, which earlier in the week called it a serious national security breach, said it would conduct its own review of access to sensitive intelligence to prevent a similar leak in the future. Teixeira appeared in federal court in Boston to face charges, under the Espionage Act, of unauthorized retention and transmission of classified national defense information. He did not enter a plea, but a federal magistrate judge ordered him jailed until a detention hearing next week. The court appearance came less than 24 hours after Teixeira was arrested by heavily armed tactical agents on Thursday following a weeklong criminal investigation into the disclosure of the government records, a breach that exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments on the war in Ukraine, the capabilities and geopolitical interests of other nations and other national security issues. "This is not just about taking home documents. That is of course itself illegal. But this is about the transmission, both the unlawful retention and the transmission of the documents. Everyone knows here that the documents in the end were transmitted, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Friday at the Justice Department. Investigators believe Teixeira was the leader of an online private chat group on 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. The eight-page court affidavit details several steps in the FBI investigation, including an interview Monday with a Discord user familiar with Teixeira's online posts. The document does not identify the person or say how he or she was located. But the source told the FBI that a username linked to Teixeira began posting what appeared to be classified information roughly in December in an online chat that the user said was meant for the discussion of geopolitical affairs and past and current wars. The person provided the FBI with basic identifying information about Teixeira, including that he called himself Jack, claimed to be part of the Air National Guard and appeared to live in Massachusetts, according to the affidavit. Billing records the FBI subsequently obtained from Discord, which has said it was cooperating with the bureau, helped lead investigators to Teixeira, according to the FBI affidavit. The person also told the FBI that Teixeira switched from typing out documents in his possession to taking them home and photographing them because he had become concerned that he may be discovered making the transcriptions of text in the workplace. Thats different from what posters have told The Associated Press and other media outlets, saying the user they would call the O.G. started posting images of documents because he was annoyed other users werent taking him seriously. Known as Thug Shaker Central, the group drew roughly two dozen enthusiasts who talked about their favorite types of guns and also shared memes and jokes. The group also held a running discussion on wars that included talk of Russias invasion of Ukraine. The affidavit also alleges Teixeira was detected on April 6 the day The New York Times first published a story about the breach of documents searching for the word leak in a classified system. The FBI says that was reason to believe Teixeira was trying to find information about the investigation into who was responsible for the leaks. The Justice Department has not alleged a particular motive. Accounts of those in the online private chat group where the documents were disclosed have depicted Teixeira as motivated more by bravado than ideology. His court appearance Friday was brief. He entered the room in tan jail clothes and sat at the defense table next to his lawyer. At the end, a man who appeared to be a family member in the front row told Teixeira he loved him and the defendant responded I love you, too." His lawyer did not return a message seeking comment. The Biden administration has scrambled to contain the potential diplomatic and military fallout from the leaks since they were first reported, moving to reassure allies and assess the scope of damage. The classified documents which have not been individually authenticated in public 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. Classified documents have strict guidelines on how they must be handled, secured and destroyed. They are required to be kept in secure facilities, protocols Teixeira would have violated if copies were taken to his house. Its still not known how Teixeira, an information technology specialist, allegedly obtained the documents, or what safeguards had been in place. The FBI said that he has held a top secret security clearance since 2021 with access to highly classified programs. 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. At the Justice Department, Garland noted government officials and others who have clearance to review classified documents sign agreements that acknowledge the importance to national security of not disclosing those documents. We intend to send that message: how important it is to our national security, he said. ___ AP writers Tucker and Merchant reported from Washington. AP writers Lindsay Whitehurst and Tara Copp contributed to this report. VnExpresss Hope Foundation plans to set up hygiene projects and clean water supply systems at 20 schools in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang this year, with support from Sanofi Vietnam. The foundation signed an agreement Thursday to receive sponsorship from the pharmaceutical company to carry out the "School Hygiene" project in Ha Giangs Dong Van District. Representatives of Hope Foundation (R) and Sanofi Vietnam sign an agreement to carry out the "School Hygiene" project at schools in Vietnam's northern highlands, April 13, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Ngo Loc The project is part of Hope's "Schools of Sunshine" campaign, which was launched in June 2022 and which has been accompanied by Sanofi Vietnam. After six months, the campaign has built 49 new toilets at schools in Van Ho District of Son La Province and Muong Nhe District of Dien Bien Province, both in the northern highlands, benefiting 7,000 students and teachers. A boy runs past makeshift toilets at his school in Dien Bien Province in northern Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh The campaign this year focuses on the northernmost province of Ha Giang, one of the poorest localities in Vietnam. In Dong Van District, where 61% of families are poor, there are almost no proper toilets and no clean water supply. Many school toilets are makeshift ones or do not have separate rooms for boys and girls and their teachers. Some schools even have no toilets. Truong Thanh Thanh, chairwoman of the Hope Foundation Management Council, said at the signing ceremony Thursday that poor toilets have been a haunting problem for generations of students in Vietnam, where toilets are considered an extra part of a building, instead of a main part. "The 'School Hygiene' project hopes to ring a bell to remind everyone that building clean toilets is an important issue," said Thanh, "and that the work requires the long-term support of all of us." Hope Foundation to install toilets, clean water supply in northern mountainous schools Hope Foundation to install toilets, clean water supply in northern mountainous schools Students use unhygienic toilets at schools in Dong Van District, Ha Giang Province. Video by VnExpress/Anh Phu According to UNICEF, 40% of diarrhea cases among children in Vietnam start from school hygiene problems. Sanofi, known for innovations in its global healthcare projects, has launched campaigns aimed to lower children's deaths from diarrhea. The company has brought that initiative to Vietnam starting with building school toilets in Son La Province in 2022. "We've seen positive results from the project, which gave children better access to essential facilities," a Sanofi Vietnam representative said. "We've also witnessed changes in the children's habits and the community's increased awareness about how small acts can bring big differences to public health." As many as 33% of school toilets in Vietnam do not meet hygiene standards, according to the Ministry of Education and Training. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is all set to participate in Exercise Orion at Mont-de-Marsan, an Air Force base of the French Air and Space Force (FASF). In order to participate in the multilateral international exercise, the IAF contingent will be departing for France on Friday, April 14. The exercise will start on April 17 and will conclude on May 5, 2023. According to the Ministry of Defence, the IAF will participate in 'Excercise Orion' with the contingent comprising four Rafale, two C-17, two ll-78 aircraft, and 165 air warriors. Notably, 'Exercise Orion' will be the first overseas exercise for the IAF's Rafale aircraft which helped India regain its supremacy over the skies of the Indian subcontinent with long-range air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles. 'Exercise Orion' includes ground troops, warships, aircraft carriers, and combat aircraft and is meant to boost military cooperation and interoperability among participating nations. First overseas exercise for IAFs Rafale After the last batch of 36 Rafale jets was delivered to India in December last year, the country decided to send its fighter jets to France for the multinational exercise. The Rafale is a 4.5-generation aircraft with long-range air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles along with advanced radar and electronic warfare capabilities. Notably, the Indian government signed a deal with a French firm, Dassault Aviation, to take care of the maintenance of the aircraft. Other countries to participate in 'Excercise Orion' Besides the IAF and the FASF, Air Forces from Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the United States will also take part in this multilateral exercise hosted by the French government. Participation in this exercise would further enrich the employment philosophy of the Indian Air Force, by imbibing the best practices from other Air Forces. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday released a joint statement after the conclusion of the first meeting of the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Chabahar Port located in Southeastern Iran. Held in Mumbai on April 12-13, the meeting was attended by Secretary (ER) Dammu Ravi along with the Deputy Ministers and Senior Officials of the central Asian countries namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. According to the MEA's release, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani proposed holding the next round of JWG in Iran with the participation of the private sector, a proposal that was accepted by all participants. 1st meeting of India-Central Asia Joint Working Group on Chabahar Port was held in Mumbai on April 12-13. Please read Joint Statement here https://t.co/sm35HU7D3L@MEAIndia @MFA_Kyrgyzstan @shipmin_india India in Kyrgyz Republic (@IndiaInKyrgyz) April 14, 2023 Participants agree on key subjects The joint statement of the JWG revealed that the participants agreed on several key subjects which included the role of Chabahar port in sending aid to Afghanistan, the development of regional connectivity and initiating more connectivity projects to improve trade and economic cooperation. Below are the points that the participants agreed upon. 1. The nations appreciated the role played by Shahid Behesti Terminal, Chabahar Port in facilitating the shipments of humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people. They also acknowledged the shipment of 2.5 million tons of wheat and two thousand tons of pulses to Afghanistan since the India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) took over in December 2018. 2. They noted that the further development of regional connectivity is essential for enhancing trade and commerce between India and Central Asian countries in the context of their land-locked nature and lack of overland connectivity with India. 3. They reaffirmed that the connectivity initiatives should conform to international norms, rule of law, respect for international commitments, and are based on mutually agreed principles of sustainable connectivity, transparency, broad participation, local priorities, financial sustainability and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. 4. The participants emphasised that the connectivity projects deserve priority attention and could be a force multiplier for trade and economic cooperation and contacts between countries and people. 5. They also agreed that connectivity requires the active participation of the private sector. In order to facilitate large-scale private investments in sustainable connectivity, the sides expressed their commitment to implement relevant international standards, to ensure a level playing field for companies and to ensure reciprocal access to markets. 6. Moreover, the Indian side offered capacity-building programs to the officials and relevant stakeholders of participating countries in the field of port management and logistics. In 2016, India stuck a tripartite agreement with Iran and Afghanistan to develop the International Transport and Transit Corridor for connectivity and vowed to invest $85 million at the Shahid Behesti Terminal. The development project halted after the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021 and is no longer in the picture. So far, India has spent around $25 million by providing equipment including six Mobile Harbour Cranes for the project. The Nashik unit of Maharashtras Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a 47-year-old businessman for making a hoax call to police claiming that three terrorists with Pakistan links had entered Mumbai, an official said on Friday. The accused, a resident of Ahmednagar, is locked in a property dispute with his relatives and he made the hoax call naming his cousin just to harass him, the official said. The Mumbai police control room received a call on April 7, with the person on the other side claiming that three terrorists from Dubai with a Pakistan connection had sneaked into Mumbai. The caller identified himself as one Raja Thonge from Pune and gave the name of one of the terrorists as Mujib Mustafa Sayyad. He also provided a mobile number and a vehicle purportedly being used by the trio, said the official. The mobile number was registered in the name of a man from the Beed district but he had no clue about any terrorists, the official said. Further investigations confirmed that the call was a hoax, he said. While a first information report (FIR) was registered at Azad Maidan police station in south Mumbai, the Nashik unit of the ATS also launched a probe. With the help of technical analysis and other inputs, the ATS apprehended a certain Yasin Yaqub Sayyad, he said. Yasin Sayyad, who runs an iron coating business, told the ATS that he made the hoax call giving it a terror angle because he wanted police to harass his cousin, the official said. He intentionally used his cousins name as one of the terrorists, the official said. The accused said he has a dispute with his relatives over a plot of land. The ATS handed Yasin Sayyad over to the Azad Maidan police who formally arrested him, the official said. Even if hoax calls are a drain on police machinery, they cannot be ignored, the official said, appealing to citizens to desist from playing such mischiefs. Mumbai witnessed deadly terror attacks when ten Pakistani terrorists struck on November 26, 2008, killing 166 people and injuring more than 300 in four days, before nine of them were shot dead. Chinese leader Xi Jinping was due to meet visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday in Beijing as the leaders seek to boost ties between two of the world's largest developing nations. The meeting comes on the second day of Lula's visit to his country's most important trading partner and ally in his bid to challenge Western-dominated economic institutions. The visit included the swearing in on Thursday of former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff as head of the Chinese-backed New Development Bank, which is funding infrastructure projects in Brazil and elsewhere in the developing world. That NDB portrays itself as an alternative to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, which often impose loan conditions that developing nations criticize as punitive. The Brazilian government says the sides are expected to sign at least 20 bilateral agreements, underscoring the improvement in relations since Lula took over from predecessor Jair Bolsonaro in January. China is Brazil's 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. Lula's China visit follows trips to Argentina and Uruguay in January and to the US in February, signalling the importance he places on international affairs in contrast to Bolsonaro. A key piece of Lula's 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, criticised economic sanctions on Russia and accused the US 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 Lula's, such as ceasing hostilities and starting negotiations, but says nothing about the return of Ukrainian territory seized by Russia and its separatist allies. Army chief General Asim Munir on Friday urged lawmakers to focus on "our Pakistan" instead of debating over 'Naya' or 'Purana' Pakistan and extended Army's full support to them in the country's journey toward development and success. His remarks came as the military's top brass briefed the lawmakers on the prevailing security situation, days after the county decided to launch a fresh operation against militants. According to a National Assembly Secretariat, the agenda of the in-camera meeting was the current issues of National Security. General Munir and his senior officers came to Parliament for the briefing session which was presided over by the National Assembly Speaker, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari after attending the briefing told the media that national security was the focus of the session. No statement was issued after the briefing which was held after the top civil and military leadership last week reaffirmed their commitment to thwart terrorism threats and launch a new operation against militants following a spike in attacks by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. The Express Tribune reported that during the briefing General Munir urged lawmakers to focus on "our Pakistan" instead of on the debate over naya (new) or purana (old) Pakistan. The term 'Naya Pakistan' was used by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan when he came to power in 2018. "Pakistan has no dearth of resources and manpower," the Army chief said, adding the elected representatives of the people should determine the country's destination, and that the Army would fully support them in the journey towards Pakistan's development and success. According to sources, members of the National Assembly welcomed the army chief's views by clapping. The Army chief emphasised that the people of Pakistan are the "centre of gravity", and that the Constitution of Pakistan and the Parliament are the reflections of their opinions. "The people express their opinion through the Constitution and the Parliament," he maintained. The Army chief said there are no longer any no-go areas in Pakistan due to the sacrifices of soldiers. He asserted that terrorists have no other option but to accept the state's writ. General Munir said that the security forces are prepared to maintain peace in the country, and are conducting intelligence-based operations on a daily basis to achieve this goal. Earlier during the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the country's law enforcement agencies including the army, rangers, and police, for their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. "Peace was restored by the great sacrifices of our martyrs, and this hard work was wasted in four years," said the premier, in an apparent reference to the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. The demand for the briefing was made by lawmakers from the tribal region which had been badly hit by the fighting against the militants. The TTP has become a threat to national security. According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, an Islamabad-based think-tank, January 2023 was one of the deadliest months since July 2018, as 134 people lost their lives in at least 44 militant attacks across the country. A hacker group named Hacktivist Indonesia claimed to have attacked 12,000 Indian government websites. According to ANI, the list of sites include several websites of Indian central and state institutions. On Thursday, the Ministry of Home Affairs Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C) stated that the hacker group has the potential to attack these Indian governmental websites in the coming days. The Centre has sent an alert to several state and governmental wings about the issue. In the midst of all the chaos, the Centre also made it clear that the Indian government websites are regularly updated and is capable to handle such threats from malicious hackers. The threat was detected by the Cyber Threat Intelligence wing of the I4C. The wing stated that the Hacktivist Indonesia group has been involved in an illegal operation to hack Indian websites as well as those in some foreign countries as well. The alarm was raised by the wing on Thursday. "A group named 'Hacktivist Indonesia' has been targetting India, and it has created a narrative that it will attack 12,0000 Indian government websites that include Central and those linked to States," a source told ANI, citing the governmental alert. The source also stated that it is, however, not necessarily whether the group belongs to Indonesia ''. The Thursday input was first shared with the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, which is a nodal agency of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The group might have links with Malaysia The source said Hacktivist Indonesia might have links with Malaysia or other sets of Islamic countries. "The hacktivist group can also attack China or Ukraine. They also attack different countries," the source told the news outlet. "The 'Hacktivist Indonesia has been attacking not only Indian websites but also the websites of other countries. They have circulated a list of 12,000 Indian government websites which they want to target. I4C unit through its open source intelligence alerted the Cert. In about such ongoing activities, suggesting to be aware, the source added. A cyber expert from the Ministry of Home Affairs asserted that such narratives have been doing rounds since last year. "Such hackers attack government websites and try to slow down these websites using different means. However, government websites are updated. This is not a new thing. Last year too, similar attempts were made by such hackers to attack several websites in Gujarat. The hackers try to send heavy internet traffic to slow down the websites so that users get affected and they could not access or connect online services and sites," the cyber expert said. "The hackers used to check government websites through Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack which is a cybercrime in which the attacker floods a server with internet traffic to prevent users from accessing connected online services and sites, the expert added. Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday as part of a push to boost ties between two of the worlds largest developing nations. The meeting came on the second day of Lulas visit to China, his countrys most important trading partner and key ally in his bid to challenge Western-dominated economic institutions. Lula was greeted with full military honors, including a 21-gun salute, at the Great Hall of the People adjacent to Tiananmen Square in the heart of the Chinese capital. The two leaders walked to the sound of Brazilian song Novo Tempo or New Time in English. The Brazilian leader is seeking to rebuild ties with China following a turbulent relationship under his right-wing predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, who showed little interest in foreign travel and under whom relations with China were often tense. The Lula-Xi talks focused largely on trade ties and other forms of cooperation, but also touched on the conflict in Ukraine, with the leaders agreeing on the need for a negotiated settlement, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. As comprehensive strategic partners, China and Brazil share extensive common interests, Xi said, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. China ... sees the relationship as a high priority on its diplomatic agenda, he said. At a late-night news conference by the Brazilian delegation, Brazils ambassador to China, Marcos Galvao, said that Lula had met with the Chinese president for about three hours in what he indicated was a positive sign. The visit speaks for itself, Galvao said. The duration of the meeting speaks for itself. Brazils finance minister Fernando Haddad said that his country was planning a leap forward in the quality of our relationship with China. President Lula wants a policy of reindustrialization. This visit starts a new challenge for Brazil: bringing direct investments from China, Haddad said. Haddad said that the relationship with China does not affect Brazils interest in having strong bonds with the United States too, adding that he regretted some American companies made the decision to leave Brazil recently. We want partnerships with the three big trade blocs: the U.S., the European Union, and China, Haddad said. The leaders oversaw the signing of agreements in 15 areas, ranging from agriculture to aeronautics, which underscored the improvement in relations since Lula took over in January. Under Bolsonaro, the former presidents lawmaker son Eduardo Bolsonaro blamed the COVID-19 pandemic on the Chinese Communist Party in 2020. Later that year, Eduardo referred to the giant Chinese technology company Huawei as Chinese espionage. Other government ministers openly criticized the Asian nations government. Last year, China did not have an ambassador in Brasilia for eight months. Lulas visit included the swearing in on Thursday of former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff as head of the Chinese-backed New Development Bank, which is funding infrastructure projects in Brazil and elsewhere in the developing world. The bank portrays itself as an alternative to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, which often impose loan conditions that developing nations criticize as punitive. It was established as part of a larger framework of cooperation between countries known as BRICS Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and has approved 99 loan projects totaling more than $34 billion, mainly for infrastructure projects, according to Chinas Foreign Ministry. Rousseff is Lulas former chief of staff and succeeded him as Brazils first female president. In remarks at the swearing-in ceremony at the banks Shanghai headquarters, Lula took swipes at both the IMF and the dominance of the U.S. dollar in international trade, hailing an agreement between Brazil and China to use the Chinese yuan in their bilateral commerce. The New Development Bank is the product of a partnership among BRICS countries with a view to creating a world with less poverty, less inequality and more sustainability, Lula said, according to an NDB statement. China is Brazils biggest export market, each year buying tens of billions of dollars 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. Lulas China visit follows trips to Argentina and Uruguay in January and to the U.S. in February, signaling the importance he places on international affairs in contrast to Bolsonaro. A key piece of Lulas outreach abroad is his proposal that Brazil and other developing countries, including China, mediate peace in 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. Also Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said China would not sell weapons to either side in the Ukraine conflict, while the Defense Ministry said Minister Li Shangfu would visit Moscow next week for talks with his Russian counterpart. Russian threats to nuke Ukraine. China's belligerent military moves around rival Taiwan. North Korea's unprecedented run of missile testing. The top diplomats from some of the world's most powerful democracies will have plenty to discuss when they gather in the hot spring resort town of Karuizawa on Sunday for the so-called Group of Seven foreign ministers' meeting. Some believe that with the weakening of the United Nations, amid Russian and Chinese intransigence on the Security Council, global forums like the G7 are even more important. But there's also considerable doubt that diplomats from mostly Western democracies can find ways to influence, let alone stop, authoritarian nations that are more and more willing to use violence, or its threat, to pursue their interests. Besides the global hotspots, foreign ministers from Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and the European Union are expected to discuss ways to improve human rights and democracy and also issues important to poorer nations that may feel underrepresented by the focus on wealthy countries with stable governments. The agenda will be dominated, however, by worries over Russia, China and North Korea, and an awareness of the unmistakable interconnectedness of these and other foreign policy headaches. This year's G7 meetings are the most important in the gathering's history, given the pressing need to end Russia's war in Ukraine and to stop a potential invasion of Taiwan by China, according to Yuichi Hosoya, an international politics professor at Keio University in Japan. With the stakes so high, here is a look at what diplomats will face in talks that end Tuesday: ___ THE WAR IN UKRAINE A broad concentration on nuclear issues was always going to be important at this year's G7 talks, which culminate with the main leaders' summit next month in Hiroshima, the target of the first nuclear bomb used in war. The issue is more urgent amid fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin, as he becomes desperate over failures in Ukraine, might use a tactical nuclear weapon to win the war. China is seen as one of the few nations that might influence Russia's moves in Ukraine, and the foreign policy alignment between the world's two largest autocracies will be a major focus in Karuizawa. Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who appears increasingly emboldened to pursue his authoritarian impulses, recently traveled to Moscow and committed to deepening bilateral relations. That has cast a shadow over hopes that Beijing would pressure Putin to draw down (his) conflict, according to Stephen Nagy, an Asia expert at International Christian University in Tokyo. During his visit to Beijing this month, French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to Xi to bring Russia to its senses, but received only a tepid response and additional calls for a political resolution. Japan might use the G7 to announce a boost to its already substantial support of Ukraine, said Jeffrey Hall, a lecturer at Kanda University of International Studies. Japan's leadership sees cooperation on security issues related to Ukraine as a possible avenue towards greater security cooperation in the Pacific," Hall said. CHINA'S RISE China's increasingly bold attempts to intimidate self-governing Taiwan were on full display when Beijing recently sent planes and ships to conduct a simulated encirclement of the island, which China claims as its territory. China's broad military expansion, including a rapid jump in its nuclear warheads, a tougher line on its claim to the South China Sea and recent statements from Xi painting a scenario of impending confrontation have galvanized fears among G7 nations. Beijing and Pyongyang are especially worried about Japanese military expansion, which they see as an attempt to "weaken both capitals' efforts to rewrite the regional security architecture in their favor, Nagy said. Under Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Tokyo has made a major break from its self-defense-only post-World War II principles, looking to acquire preemptive strike capabilities and cruise missiles to counter growing threats from North Korea, China and Russia. While the G7 examines ways to manage China's rise, Beijing is bolstering relations with countries from Pakistan to Argentina eager for trade and investment. This will massively expand China's global footprint and challenge North American and European attempts to link investment to good governance and respect for human rights. Kishida's decision to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the leaders' summit next month signals Japan's desire to strengthen security cooperation with one of China's rivals. When Japan calls for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific,' it is calling for nations to stand against the way China and Russia conduct themselves internationally, Hall said. ___ NORTH KOREAN THREATS This year's G7 talks are crucial in revitalizing diplomacy aimed at pressuring a hostile North Korea to return to disarmament negotiations, especially with a dysfunctional U.N. Security Council that's divided between permanent members, according to Park Won Gon, a professor at Seoul's Ewha Womans University. Since last year North Korea has test-fired around 100 missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that showed the potential of reaching the U.S. mainland and a variety of other shorter-range weapons that threaten South Korea and Japan. Leader Kim Jong Un may be looking to use the global distraction of Russia's war on Ukraine to expand a nuclear arsenal he sees as the strongest guarantee of his family's dynastic rule. Beijing and Moscow last year blocked a U.S.-led drive to tighten Security Council sanctions on North Korea over its major missile tests. It's unlikely that the Security Council will tighten sanctions even if North Korea conducts what would be its first nuclear test since 2017. But a meaningful punitive response could be generated by a network of unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States, its allies and like-minded European partners gathered at the G7, a tact similar to the way Washington pressures Moscow over its aggression in Ukraine, Park said. The importance of the G7 has been greatly strengthened as it's obvious that the role and function of the U.N. Security Council is being unraveled by Russia and China and there is a need to find something new to replace it, Park said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed on Friday that Ukraine is economically unsustainable and reliant on support from the United States and Europe to sustain its existence. Orban's remarks suggest that he believes the conflict in Ukraine would come to an end if such support were to cease. "In fact, Ukraine is a non-existent country in financial terms. The fall in economic indicators is huge, which is completely understandable. Obviously, Ukraine cannot finance itself. The question is whether we support Ukraine," he said to a Hungarian broadcaster, as per a report from Sputnik. The moment Europe and America decide that no they won't, the conflict will end, suggested the Hungarian Prime Minister. He added that Europe has spent billions of dollars on Ukraine, which can't continue forever. A look at Hungary's relationship with rest of the EU Since Viktor Orban became Prime Minister of Hungary, the country's relationship with the rest of the European Union (EU) has been marked by tensions and disagreements on various issues. Orban's leadership has been characterised by a shift towards populist and nationalist policies, which have led to clashes with EU institutions and other member states. One significant area of contention has been Hungary's stance on migration and asylum policies. Orban's government has pursued a hardline approach, refusing to accept quotas for resettling refugees and constructing border fences to prevent migration flows. This has put Hungary at odds with the EU, which has called for a more coordinated and cooperative approach to the migration crisis. Another point of contention has been the erosion of democratic institutions and the rule of law in Hungary under Orban's leadership. The EU has raised concerns about measures taken by the Hungarian government that are seen as undermining the independence of the judiciary, media freedom, and civil liberties. These concerns have led to investigations and legal action by the EU against Hungary, including triggering Article 7 of the EU Treaty, which could result in sanctions and the suspension of Hungary's voting rights in the EU Council. Orban's government has also been critical of the EU's policies on economic and social issues, advocating for a more sovereign and nationalist approach. Hungary has clashed with the EU on issues such as budgetary policies, taxation, and labor regulations, often seeking exemptions or special treatment that goes against EU principles of economic integration and solidarity. Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) Reef in Vietnam's Truong Sa Islands was labeled with China's illegal name "Nansha District" on Grab ride-hailing app's map. Ride-hailing firm Grab has been fined VND60 million (US$2,577) after using a map that mislabeled Vietnamese islands as China's on its app. The decision to fine the company was made in line with a government decree on punishments for violations in telecommunications, information technology, journalism and publishing activities, Vo Thi Thu Suong, chief inspector of Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Information and Communication, said Friday. A Grab representative said at a meeting with the city authorities that a third party provided the map data but Grab has failed to regularly monitor updates, leaving misinformation to go public. "The department has asked the company to establish measures to prevent similar incidents," Suong said. People booking Grab rides discovered the misinformation on the app's map last weekend. Among islands in the Truong Sa archipelago, only Son Ca and Sinh Ton were labeled with their Vietnamese names while others carried English or Chinese names, including illegal ones. Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) Reef, which China has occupied illegally, was labeled as "Nansha District," the name that China has been using illegally for Vietnam's Truong Sa Islands. Vanh Khan (Mischief) Reef was also labeled with the illegal Chinese name Meiji Jiao of Sansha, a city that China established illegally to administer islands including Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel Islands) and Truong Sa (Spratly Islands). Last Sunday, the company apologized for the information, with a representative saying the map was provided by a third party, and its violations had nothing to do with Grabs respect for Vietnam and its people. "We have taken the complaints seriously and we are sincerely sorry," the representative said. Vietnam has consistently affirmed that it has a full legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands. China seized the Paracel Islands from South Vietnam by force in 1974, and has been illegally occupying a number of reefs in the Spratly Islands since 1988. The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, has denied reports of his country selling arms to Ukraine, following a leaked Pentagon report that alleged Belgrade had agreed to provide weapons to Kyiv. Speaking to reporters, Vucic stated that Serbia has not and will not export weapons to Ukraine, according to a report from the Guardian. He further emphasised that Serbia, a traditional ally of Russia, has not and will not send ammunition to either Ukraine or Russia and claimed that there is no documentation to support such claims. The classified Pentagon documents that leaked apparently suggested that Serbia had agreed to send arms to Ukraine. Milos Vucevic, the Defense Minister of Serbia, swiftly denied the allegations as well, stating that his country "has not and will not sell weapons to either Ukraine or Russia." In a statement, Vucevic claimed that "someone obviously aims to drag Serbia into that conflict, but we adhere to our policy consistently." The leaked Pentagon report, which is a summary of European governments' responses to Ukraine's requests for military training and "lethal aid", has raised concerns about Serbia's potential involvement in the conflict. Apart from Belarus, Serbia is the only European nation that has not sanctioned Russia Serbia is the only European nation apart from Belarus that has abstained from joining Western sanctions against Moscow. However, as it aspires to join the European Union, it has supported several United Nations resolutions condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, A Look at Serbia's Ties with the West and Russia Serbia's geopolitical position at the crossroads of Eastern and Western Europe has shaped its relationships with both the West and Russia. Over the years, Serbia has maintained a delicate balance between its aspirations to join the European Union (EU) and its historical ties with Russia. Serbia has expressed a desire to join the EU and has made progress in its accession negotiations. It has implemented various reforms to align with EU standards and has sought closer economic and political ties with Western countries. However, the EU membership process has been slow, and Serbia has faced challenges in meeting the stringent requirements for accession. Despite its EU aspirations, Serbia has also maintained strong historical and cultural ties with Russia. The two countries share a Slavic Orthodox heritage, and Russia has often been seen as a traditional ally of Serbia. Serbia has been cautious not to jeopardise its relationship with Russia, as it considers Russia an important partner in areas such as energy, trade, and defense. Former President Donald Trump spoke at length about the US evacuation from Afghanistan in 2021, claiming that America left behind a number of dogs, particularly German Shepherds, in the country. During a recent interview with Fox News' Tucker Carlson, Trump highlighted the issue of the abandoned dogs, expressing concern and noting that he has received questions about their fate. His comments reflected his personal fondness for dogs and his perception that leaving them behind was a mistake. They left the dogs you know the dog lovers, and there are a lot of them, I love dogs, you love dogs, but they left the dogs. One of the first questions I got: What did they do with the dogs? Mostly German Shepherds. They left them," said the former President. Trump says US should not have left military equipment The former President added that US should not have left behind all the expensive military equipment. To see the way we got out like we were surrendering, taking the military out first, leaving $85bn worth of equipment behind, giving up Bagram. I was going to keep Bagram," Trump said. This is the first time Trump has disclosed that he intended to keep Bagram, which is quite significant. What is Bagram? What is Bagram? The Bagram Air Base, located in Afghanistan, was of significant importance for the United States during its military operations in the country. Here are some key reasons why Bagram Air Base was considered crucial for the U.S.: Strategic Location: Bagram Air Base was strategically located in the northeastern part of Afghanistan, near the capital city of Kabul. Its proximity to major population centers, highways, and the Kabul International Airport made it a vital military installation for conducting operations and maintaining control over key transportation routes. Military Operations: Bagram Air Base served as a key hub for conducting military operations against various threats, including the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and other extremist groups in Afghanistan. It housed essential facilities such as hangars, warehouses, and logistics centers that supported the deployment of troops, equipment, and supplies for combat missions. Intelligence Gathering: Bagram Air Base was also a critical center for intelligence gathering and analysis. The base housed advanced surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, including drones, radar systems, and other intelligence collection assets. This allowed the U.S. military to monitor and gather crucial information about enemy activities in Afghanistan and the surrounding region. Logistics and Transportation: The air base served as a logistical hub for the U.S. military, facilitating the movement of troops, equipment, and supplies in and out of Afghanistan. It had extensive infrastructure for storing, maintaining, and distributing military equipment, fuel, and other resources necessary for sustained military operations. Force Protection: Bagram Air Base provided a secure and fortified location for U.S. troops to operate from, with perimeter defenses, air defenses, and other security measures in place to protect against potential attacks from adversaries. It offered a relatively safe and controlled environment for conducting military operations and supporting the overall security objectives of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. Why was the interview noteworthy? The interview with Tucker Carlson is noteworthy because it comes just weeks after Carlson's text messages were revealed as a result of the Fox News - Dominion trial. In his text messages, Carlson texted to his colleagues that Trump was a "demonic force", adding that he hated Trump "passionately". The interview took an odd turn when Trump started talking about Chinese President Xi Jinping's interpreter. Trump said that it is politically incorrect to point out but Xi Jinping's interpreter was "very beautiful". The former US President struggled for a few moments to find the right word, before settling with "beautiful". Carlson can be seen struggling to suppress his laughter. French President Emmanuel Macron, whose state visit to China featured six hours with China's President Xi Jinping, has come under fire for comments seen as distancing Paris from Washington and many European capitals. Europe must reduce its strategic dependency on the U.S. to avoid getting "caught up in crises that are not ours," Macron said. Xi and the Chinese Communist Party have enthusiastically endorsed Macrons diplomatic concepts, but critics said his remarks were poorly timed, while most of Europe is reassessing relations with Beijing in the face of Xi's domestic repression, international aggression, economic coercion and support for Russia over Ukraine. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, his wife, Bun Rany, and others attend the Angkor Sangkran in Siem Reap province on April 14, 2023. Prime Minister Hun Sen and his youngest son kicked off a lavish Khmer New Year celebration at the Angkor temples complex on Friday as several thousand volunteers set a world record for the largest display of origami hearts. The arrangement of more than 3.9 million origami hearts at the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Siem Reap province was organized by Hun Many, the chairman of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia and a parliamentary candidate in the upcoming July general election. Cambodia has between 16 and 17 million people. We can make about 4 million hearts, so if China and India can make more hearts then the committee must consider, the prime minister said, referring to the Guinness World Records officials who determine whether a record has been set. They must think about the percent of the countrys population. The Angkor Sangkran 2023 celebration near Angkor Wat temple Cambodias top tourist attraction has been decorated with lights, souvenir shops, food stalls, concerts and floating boats. Volunteers from the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia, which is made up of supporters of the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party, did much of the work for the event. But the festival hasnt done anything to promote the countrys culture, political analyst Kim Sok told Radio Free Asia. Money was spent out of the national budget and civil servants were put to work just to make people happy ahead of the election, he said. Hun Sen doesnt think about the country and its people. He organized the event for his face and for his family, he said. Hun Many is currently a lawmaker from Kampong Speu province. Hun Sens eldest son, Hun Manet, has also been named a parliamentary candidate. He is currently the deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and is expected to eventually succeed his father as prime minister. Left: A scene from the Angkor Sangkran festivities. Right: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife, Bun Rany, look at part of the worlds largest display of origami hearts at the Angkor Sankram festival on April 14, 2023. Nearly 4 million folded hearts were created at the Angkor Wat temple ahead of the new year. Credit: Hun Sen Facebook page Another Guinness record attempt A member of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia, Kean Savong, told RFA that another world record will be attempted at the festival on Saturday, when thousands of people will gather to do the Madison line dance. People are volunteers so we dont spend much money, he said. A villager from Siem Reap province, Siem Vann, said Angkor Sangkran will make people happy for a short time but wont really do anything to help the country when so many people are facing financial difficulties, are indebted to banks or are considering moving abroad to find work. He urged the government to think about increasing local markets for farmers and resolving political conflict. The government should use the budget to appropriately help the poor and restore democracy so that people will have freedom, he said. Siem Reap authorities wouldnt elaborate on how much the event will cost, but the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia said private donations from rich businessmen known by the honorific Okhna will cover most of the expenses. Translated by Samean Yun. Edited by Matt Reed. The arrests come after pro-Beijing media claimed those firing water guns meant to 'cause trouble.' One of the two men sprays water at police officers during the Songkran festival in Hong Kong. Police in Hong Kong have arrested two men for firing water guns at police officers and TV crew from a pro-Beijing news organization at a popular street festival in Kowloon. Officers with the serious crime squad are now investigating the case following the arrests of two men, aged 25 and 26, police told journalists. "The two arrested men and four other men kept using water guns and bottles to shoot water at police officers and media workers ... at very close range, in an attempt to disrupt social order," chief inspector Cheung Lok-chuen told reporters on Thursday. "The whole incident lasted for three minutes." "Later, they added inflammatory speech into a video and posted it to an online platform," Cheung said. "We do not rule out that this was a premeditated action, and more arrests could follow." Cheung was referring to a video posted by YouTuber @Bravedogdog, who shared a video titled "The Jedi Strikes Back" from the incident at the Songkran Festival in Kowloon, which takes its inspiration from the Thai water splashing festival. In the video, a group of men approach the police officers and reporters from the pro-China Television Broadcasts (TVB) station, shouting, cursing and shooting water at them at close range, while the theme song from a Hong Kong movie "Young and Dangerous" plays under the footage. A similar report appeared in the Chinese Communist Party-backed Wenhui Takung news site. Taking a harder line Current affairs commentator Sang Pu, who is a lawyer by training, said even firing a water gun can be regarded as a matter of "national security" amid an ongoing crackdown on public dissent under a draconian national security law imposed on the city by the ruling Chinese Communist Party from July 2020, criminalizing public dissent and peaceful political opposition. "Hong Kong isn't what it used to be," Sang said. "They might have thought they were safe, but others might think they had the intention of attacking [the police]." "As long as those in power and those enforcing the law believe that you did have such an intention, they can charge you with a crime," he said. The evidence the police collected from the two men. Credit: Hong Kong Police The incident wasn't the first time police have had water or powder thrown at them during the festival, but now appear to be taking a harder line, according to retired police superintendent Lai Ka Chi. "While the police were expecting to get wet, they were surrounded and drenched, which must have made them think they should do something," Lai said. "It usually depends very much on the attitudes of both the police and the civilians at such events [whether action is taken]." "It could be that some people in the crowd thought it was too much, and that was the triggering factor [for the arrests]." The men were arrested on suspicion of "incitement to cause a breach of the peace," leading to speculation that even water guns are now regarded as weapons under the national security law. Changing attitudes towards police "It's inevitable that people will have their doubts about what the police motivations were, or their attitude, given that the general public's attitude to the police has changed ... since 2019," Lai said in a reference to the police crackdown on the 2019 protest movement, which was widely criticized by the international community. The mass, peaceful protests of 2019 grew into pitched street battles between protesters armed with bricks, Molotov cocktails, catapults and other makeshift weapons against riot police who fired tear gas, rubber bullets and occasionally live ammunition at protesters and journalists. Rights groups and protesters alike criticized the unsafe and indiscriminate use of tear gas and other forms of police violence during the months-long protest movement, as well as rampant abuses of police power and abuse of detainees. Police violence against young and unarmed protesters early in the movement brought millions onto the city's streets and prompted the occupation of its international airport. In other incidents, unarmed train passengers were attacked by both armed riot police at Prince Edward station and by white-clad mobsters at Yuen Long, who laid into passengers and protesters with rods and poles while police took 39 minutes to answer hundreds of distress calls from the scene. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Case highlights the plight of hundreds of thousands of Kazakhs separated from loved ones, advocates say A 6-year-old ethnic Kazakh girl who was born in China's northwestern Xinjiang region but denied a birth certificate by local authorities there has been reunited with her parents in neighboring Kazakhstan after her case was reported by Radio Free Asia. Reyan Abils case highlights the plight of possibly hundreds of thousands of Kazakh families who have been separated by the actions of the Chinese government, advocates say. She was born to Xinjiang-born Nazgul, the second wife of her father Abil Dililhan but then denied a birth certificate because local authorities refused to recognize Abil's divorce, granted by a court in Kazakhstan's Xiyelek county in 2016. Both of Reyans parents are now citizens of Kazakhstan, yet the lack of official papers meant she was unable to enroll in a local school, or travel back to Kazakhstan, where her family is based. "Our child was born in China, but the Chinese government refused to issue a birth certificate," Abil told Radio Free Asia earlier this year. "We asked them to do a DNA test, and we had one done ourselves, but they still refused." After the report was aired by RFA Mandarin, officials appeared to have a change of heart, and eventually issued Reyan with a birth certificate, enabling her to join her parents in Kazakhstan on Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands of families separated Her familys story highlights the Chinese Communist Party's policies targeting ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, where Beijing continues to incarcerate Kazakhs and Uyghurs in large numbers, despite claiming that the regionwide network of "re-education" camps is closing. Serikzhan Bilash, founder of the Kazakhstan-based rights group Atajurt told Radio Free Asia that "hundreds of thousands of Kazakhs have had their families separated between Xinjiang and Kazakhstan, and they're not allowed to communicate with each other by phone." "They pretend that the re-education centers or vocational training centers have been closed, but they are still putting Uyghurs or Kazakhs they don't like in psychiatric hospitals or in industrial parks claiming to provide 'employment opportunities for ethnic minorities'," he said. Under intense questioning by UN experts over two days in February, a delegation of 40 Chinese officials denied any human rights violations against Uyghur and Tibetan minorities, or efforts to eradicate their religious lives. Official figures show that there are around 1.5 million Kazakhs in China, mostly concentrated in and around the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. China once welcomed Kazakhs who wished to relocate from Kazakhstan, but the ongoing mass targeting of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang has prompted many Kazakhs with Chinese nationality to head back in the other direction. Chinese restrictions on the free movement of ethnic Kazakhs with Chinese nationality to neighboring Kazakhstan have sparked cross-border tensions in recent years. Restricted phone calls Meanwhile, any ethnic minority resident of Xinjiang with family outside China's borders has to submit an application to their local police station in advance if they wish to call friends and relatives overseas, Serikzhan said. "Some local authorities only allow people to talk to relatives and family members abroad on the phone within a specific period of time," he said. "In some places, people even have to apply to the local police or the state security police in advance, specifying a particular month and a particular day." "Phone calls can only be made after the authorities give permission," he said. Many Kazakhs in Xinjiang are limited to one or two phone calls a month to relatives overseas. "After the call, they have to provide [the state security police] with a written report detailing how many minutes the call lasted," Serikzhan said. Fear of being harassed For Reyan's family, their worries aren't over yet. "His concern now is that the Chinese police will harass his wife's brother-in-law [who brought Reyan to Kazakhstan] after he goes back to China," Abil's friend Nurbek said. And Reyan's birth certificate still doesn't show her biological parents, but an unrelated "uncle and aunt" from Xinjiang, who are now her legal parents, according to Serikzhan. "The child now has identity papers following the report by Radio Free Asia ... yet the Chinese authorities deliberately gave this girl a fake identity," he said, adding that there is still a long process ahead before Reyan can obtain Kazakhstan citizenship. "The Xinjiang authorities are deliberately making things difficult, and creating all kinds of problems, so as to prevent these Kazakhs from emigrating to Kazakhstan," Serikzhan said. "They could still try to pin some crime on [the brother-in-law] ... like child trafficking." Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Solid-fuel missiles can be launched faster, but North Korea needs more testing, experts say. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae watch a test launch of a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-18 at an undisclosed location in this still image of a photo used in a video released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) April 14, 2023. North Korea on Friday said it had successfully launched a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, representing a significant upgrade to its arsenal that experts told Radio Free Asia would, once perfected, allow it to fire missiles with shorter wait times. The countrys leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test launch on Thursday, and said that the new missile would reform North Koreas strategic deterrence components and enable Pyongyang to more effectively respond with a nuclear counterattack, the state-run Korea Central News Agency reported. Kim said the technology would make a potential offensive military strategy more practical. The new missile constantly strikes extreme uneasiness and horror into [the enemy] by taking fatal and offensive counter-actions until they abandon their senseless thinking and reckless acts, thus making them feel regret and despair for their wrong choice by surely exposing them to an irresistible threat, the report said. Fired from a launch site near the capital Pyongyang, the new Hwasong-18 missile flew about 620 miles (1,000 kilometers), landing in waters east of the Korean peninsula, Reuters reported. Experts told RFAs Korean Service that although a solid-fuel rocket takes less time to prepare for launch, North Korea needs further testing to perfect the technology. Pyongyang has been moving towards a solid-fuel missile propulsion system, with Kim Jong Un saying it was a goal for this year to have operational solid-fuel ICBMs, Ankit Panda, a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told RFAs Korean Service. If successfully developed, solid-propellant ICBMs would complicate wartime planning for the U.S.-South Korea alliance as these missiles would be much more responsive in a crisis, he said. Unlike liquid-propellant missiles, solid-fuel missiles do not need fueling immediately prior to use. North Korea will continue its developmental missile testing and exercises as the year continues. A view of a test launch of a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-18 at an undisclosed location in this still image of a photo used in a video released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) April 14, 2023. Credit: KCNA via Reuters The effectiveness of an ICBM is dependent on its survivability, said Joseph Dempsey, Research Associate for Defence and Military Analysis at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. Solid-fuel missiles are typically only more survivable than liquid-fuel counterparts in that they require less preparation to launch, he said. This means there is less time and visual indicators for an opposing force to react. He said that regardless of fuel type, the ability of a warhead to withstand reentry into Earths atmosphere was most important. To date all North Korea ICBM tests have been conducted at lofted trajectories. If launched at a more maximum range trajectory, the stresses and strains of reentry at a shallow angle over a longer period could pose additional challenges, he said. This is not to say it would not survive, just that that technical hurdle has not been physically demonstrated with a test launch. Increasing missile capability is a priority for the North Korean government, but not necessarily for attacks on South Korea or the U.S., said Patrick Cronin, Asia-Pacific security chair at the Washington-based Hudson Institute. A space launch is still expected and a nuclear test remains possible, but thus far North Korea has simply poured its limited resources into firing missiles that land in the sea, he said. While this theoretically improves its ability to puncture allied air and missile defenses in a war, any aggressive use of missiles to destroy or kill poses an existential threat to the Kim regime. He said that the U.S, and its allies prefer peace through deterrence, but North Korea prefers military symbols over economic development. Former acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Rob Rapson told RFA that if Thursdays missile test indeed involved solid fuel, its another significant improvement in Pyongyangs strategic capabilities. Whether or not its a game-changer technology with respect to defeating ROK and U.S. missile defenses is uncertain, but it certainly complicates the mission, he said, adding that North Korea is likely to conduct additional tests ahead of the U.S.-ROK Summit in Washington on April 26 and the G7 Summit in mid-May. It still remains unclear as to whether North Korea will conduct its long-forecasted 7th nuclear test, he said. Its been six years since the last one. In a phone call with RFA, Shin Jong-woo, a senior analyst at the Korean Defense Security Forum, said of Thursdays launch that North Korea took steps to prevent the missile from inadvertently falling on Japan. This first test had a low altitude and a unique launch method, a normal launch for the first stage, and a high-angle launch for the second and third stages, which is believed to have been intended for range control, he said. He also said that instead of launching the missile from the usual launch site in Sunan, where Pyongyangs airport is located, the North Korean government chose a launch site in the outskirts of Pyongyang, in case things did not go as planned. North Korea is preparing for Day of the Sun, a major holiday on Saturday that celebrates the birth of the nations founder Kim Il Sung, and a publicly known failure so close to the holiday would reflect badly on the government. Further tests will likely try to fire the missile at a higher angle and an altitude of about 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) to showcase the missiles maximum capabilities, he said. I think there is a high possibility that they will conduct a second launch ahead of the South Korea-U.S. summit." Written in English by Eugene Whong. Residents in the Armenian village of Tegh are worried that violence along the Azerbaijani border could escalate further after a deadly skirmish between soldiers from both countries. The Armenian and Azerbaijani defense ministries reported a total of seven deaths among members of their armed forces in renewed fighting at one of the sections of the restive border between the two South Caucasus nations. The United States, in coordination with the United Kingdom, has imposed sanctions on individuals and companies supporting the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad through the illegal drug trade, in particular, the production and distribution of the dangerous amphetamine Captagon. The Captagon trade is estimated to be a billion-dollar criminal enterprise. Syria has become a global leader in the production of highly addictive Captagon, much of which is trafficked through Lebanon, said Andrea Gacki, Director of the U.S. Treasury Departments Office of Financial Assets Control. Many of the individuals designated on March 28, including under the Caesar Act, are either family members or close allies of Syrian President al-Assad. Two cousins, Samer Kamal al-Assad and Wassim Badi al-Assad, were sanctioned for their involvement in the production and distribution of Captagon and other drugs. Khalid Qaddour is a Syrian businessman and close associate of Maher al-Assad, the brother of Bashar al-Assad, who was sanctioned by the United States for his leading role in the regimes escalation of violence against the Syrian people. Qaddour is reportedly responsible for managing revenues generated by illicit activities, including the production and trafficking of Captagon. Also sanctioned was Imad Abu Zureik, a former Free Syrian Army commander now leading a Syrian Military Intelligenceaffiliated militia, with an important role enabling drug production and smuggling in southern Syria. Two Lebanese nationals with close ties to Hezbollah - Noah Zaitar, a known arms dealer and drug smuggler, and Hassan Muhammad Daqqou, dubbed by the media The King of Captagon, - were designated as well, as were two of Daqqous companies. The new sanctions come at a time when several Arab countries have indicated a willingness to normalize relations with the Assad regime. During a recent UN Security Council briefing on the Political and Humanitarian situation in Syria, Acting U.S. Deputy Representative to the UN Jeffrey DeLaurentis cautioned that Assad is still the brutal dictator whose regime repeatedly used chemical weapons against the Syrian people...His regime has conducted attacks on civiliansand has detained, tortured, or murdered hundreds of thousands of people. Assad is also flooding the region with Captagon, spreading addiction and criminality. As State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel declared, The United States will continue to coordinate with our allies and partners to target traffickers of illicit drugs and those who provide support to the Syrian regimes vicious war. Raman Pratasevich, a Belarusian journalist who was detained in Belarus in 2021 after the commercial flight he was on was forced to land in Minsk, has been handed a new felony charge and now faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Prosecutors at the Minsk regional court on April 14 added a charge against Pratasevich and one of his co-defendants, Yan Rudzik, who is being tried in absentia. They have now also been charged with "repetitively forming and leading an extremist group" over their running of the Lithuania-based Telegram channel called Belarus Golovnogo Mozga (Belarus of the Brain), which was also critical of the authoritarian ruler of Belarus, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, and his regime. The high-profile case against the Poland-based Nexta Live Telegram channel, which extensively covered unprecedented protests against the official results of an August 2020 presidential election that the opposition and many Western countries say was rigged, started in mid-February. Pratasevich, Rudzik, and a third co-defendant, Stsyapan Putsila, who like Rudzik is being tried in absentia, were previously 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 disorder, conducting acts of terrorism, and other actions aimed at undermining national security. Those charges carried a potential maximum sentence of 15 years. Putsila was additionally charged with orchestrating the activities of a terrorist organization. The court on April 14 adjourned the trial until April 19. State-run media had reported that Pratasevich pleaded guilty to all previous charges. It is not known how he pleaded to the new charge. Pratasevich, who used to work as an editor and a key administrator of the Nexta Live channel on Telegram, fled Belarus in 2019. In May 2021, he and his then-girlfriend, Russian citizen Sofia Sapega, were arrested after their commercial flight from Greece to Lithuania was forced to land in Minsk. Belarus said it had ordered the plane to land after an anonymous bomb threat. Evidence later revealed that Belarusian officials conspired to fake the bomb threat as a pretense for diverting the plane so they could detain the pair. Sapega was accused of administering a channel on Telegram that published the personal data of Belarusian security forces and sentenced to six years in prison in May last year. Earlier this week, officials at the Russian Embassy in Minsk said Sapega will be extradited to Russia soon. Pratasevich made several appearances on Belarusian state television in 2021 that prompted the opposition and Western officials to accuse Lukashenka and his regime of extracting video confessions through torture. The officials also called for Pratasevich and Sapega's immediate release. In 2017-2018, Pratasevich was a Vaclav Havel Journalism fellow in the Czech capital, Prague. The Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellowship -- a joint initiative of RFE/RL and the Czech Foreign Ministry -- is awarded to aspiring independent journalists in the European Union's Eastern Partnership countries and Russia. Pratasevich did not work for RFE/RL either before or after obtaining the fellowship. Lukashenka has denied stealing the election and has since cracked down hard on the opposition, whose leading members have been jailed or forced to flee the country in fear for their safety. 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."When it comes to the economy, actions speak louder than words. My record speaks for itself and it is clear that I have the experience and vision to fix the economy within two years. With my leadership, we will create jobs, stabilize the economy, and ensure that our country's pic.twitter.com/vNzAh8Lz5I
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor (@DrDuffuor) April 13, 2023